Tag: Alabama in NFL

Former Alabama TE Irv Smith Jr. released by the Kansas City Chiefs

Chiefs release former Alabama second-round draft pick.

After less than six months with the organization, the Kansas City Chiefs have released former Alabama Crimson Tide tight end Irv Smith Jr.

Smith was a breakout star for the Crimson Tide in the 2018 campaign where he caught 44 passes for 710 yards and seven touchdowns. He was named a Second-team All-SEC member and was eventually selected in the second round, No. 50th overall, of the 2019 NFL draft by the Minnesota Vikings.

Alongside two-time Pro Bowler T.J. Hockenson, Smith struggled to find consistent playing time in his four years with Minnesota and ended up with the Cincinnati Bengals for the 2023 season.

Smith will certainly land on a practice squad, but there is no telling whether or not he will make an active roster this year.

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Buffalo Bills sign two former Alabama players to practice squad

The Buffalo Bills finalized their practice squad on Wednesday. It features two former Alabama players.

On Tuesday, the Buffalo Bills parted ways with multiple players including former Alabama safety Kareem Jackson and Tyrell Shavers. One day later, the Bills signed both Jackson and Shavers to their practice squad.

Shavers was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Bills following the conclusion of the 2023 NFL draft. He spent last season as a member of the team’s practice squad. During the preseason, Shavers hauled in four receptions for 28 yards. Despite not having much production, many expected Shavers to be a part of the 53-man roster. Instead, he will be a part of the practice squad for now.

On the other hand, the Bills signed Jackson several weeks ago. The veteran safety has spent time with both the Denver Broncos and Houston Texans over the course of his 14-year career. The former first-round pick has had a solid NFL career. He will have to work his way up from the practice squad this time around. However, it is something that Jackson should be able to do sooner rather than later.

Eventually, I anticipate that both Shavers and Jackson will be a part of the Bills active roster.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow the latest regarding former Alabama players in the NFL.

Former Alabama safety Ronnie Harrison Jr. released by Indianapolis Colts

In a series of roster moves, the Indianapolis Colts released former Alabama safety Ronnie Harrison Jr. on Tuesday.

The final Tuesday in the month of August is the day that NFL organizations finalize their 53-man roster. During the preseason, NFL teams are allowed to have 90 players. Meaning a large majority of the players that see action in the preseason will be waived or released. On Tuesday, the Indianapolis Colts released former Alabama safety Ronnie Harrison Jr.

Harrison Jr. played in all three games for the Colts this preseason. He recorded five tackles. The Florida native spent last season with the Colts.

Prior to joining the Colts, Harrison Jr. spent time with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Cleveland Browns, and the Colts.

It will be interesting to see if an organization takes a chance on Harrison Jr. He is 27-years old and entering his seventh season in the NFL.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow the latest regarding Alabama players in the NFL.

Mr. Irrelevant, former Alabama safety Jaylen Key cut by New York Jets

On Tuesday, the New York Jets cut former Alabama safety Jaylen Key. He was the final pick of the 2024 NFL draft.

One of the more difficult paths in the NFL is usually held by former Mr Irrelevants. That describes the final pick in each NFL draft. In 2024, the final pick of the draft was former Alabama safety Jaylen Key who was selected by the New York Jets. On Tuesday, Key was cut by the Jets in a series of roster moves.

Key performed well for the Jets this offseason. He played in 132 defensive snaps and recorded 11 tackles in three preseason games.

Given the fact that Key has been waived, other teams will now have the opportunity to claim him off of waivers. If he goes unclaimed, he will then have the opportunity to sign with any team.

Key’s NFL journey will likely continue. He will likely sign with a team on a practice squad deal. Key bring value at the safety position given his range and versatility. In one season at Alabama, Key played in 12 games. He recorded 60 tackles and one interception.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow the latest regarding former Alabama players in the NFL.

San Francisco 49ers part ways with former third-round pick, Alabama TE Cameron Latu

On Tuesday, the San Francisco 49ers released former Alabama tight end Cameron Latu.

In a series of moves, the San Francisco 49ers have parted ways with former third-round pick and Alabama tight end Cameron Latu. Today is the day where NFL teams are required to cut their roster down to 53 players. Unfortunately, Latu was one of the players that was cut by the organization.

Latu had a strong preseason with the 49ers. In three games, Latu reeled in eight receptions for 84 yards. The Utah native did not play in any games during his rookie season after suffering a torn ACL prior to the start of the season. To many, it seemed like Latu was well on his way to earning a spot on the active roster. However, it appears that the two sides have moved on.

There will likely be multiple suitors for Latu. He is a receiving threat that can be an in-line blocker when called upon. Needless to say, it will be interesting to see which organization gives Latu an opportunity to prove his worth.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow the latest regarding former Alabama players in the NFL.

Former first-round pick, Alabama OT Alex Leatherwood waived by Los Angeles Chargers

On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Chargers waived former Alabama offensive tackle Alex Leatherwood.

A tumultuous NFL career continues to trend in the wrong direction for former Alabama offensive tackle and first-round draft pick Alex Leatherwood. On Tuesday, Leatherwood was waived by the Los Angeles Chargers.

Since entering the league in 2021, Leatherwood has played for four different teams. He was drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders in the first round of the 2021 NFL draft. The Florida native spent one season with the Raiders before being waived. During his rookie season, he started in all 17 games.

Soon after being waived, Leatherwood was signed by the Chicago Bears. He would spend one season with the Bears before being released. He played in four games with the Bears. Three days later, Leatherwood was signed to the Cleveland Browns practice squad. He spent last season with the Browns. He did not play in a single game.

During this offseason, Leatherwood signed with the Chargers. However, as it seems, he will no longer be a part of the organization. Leatherwood has struggled in each of the last three seasons to earn a spot on the active roster. If he doesn’t ressurect his career in the near future, his dreams of being in the NFL could be over.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow the latest regarding former Alabama players in the NFL.

WATCH: Former Alabama safety Jordan Battle records pick-six in Cincinnati Bengals final preseason game

On Thursday night, former Alabama safety made a huge play as he returned an interception to the endzone for a pick-six.

Former Alabama Crimson Tide safety Jordan Battle had an impressive rookie campaign last season with the Cincinnati Bengals. On Thursday, he proved that he is capable of having yet another impressive season in year No. 2 in the NFL. Battle picked off former first-round pick and Indianapolis Colts starting quarterback Anthony Richardson for a 14-yard pick-six.

Battle played a lot in 2023 for the Bengals. He saw action in 17 games and recorded 48 tackles, five pass deflections, and an interception. The expectation is that he will be another impact player on the back end of the Bengals defense in 2024.

If he continues to make big-time plays like he did on Thursday night, it will be difficult for the Bengals coaching staff to keep Battle off the field.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow the latest regarding former Alabama players in the NFL.

WATCH: Former Alabama WR Jermaine Burton reels in 21-yard TD pass in Cincinnati Bengals preseason game

On Thursday night, former Alabama wide receiver Jermaine Burton reeled in a 21-yard pass for a touchdown reception.

Former Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver Jermaine Burton has had quite an impact for the Cincinnati Bengals during the preseason. On Thursday, during the Bengals final preseason game, Burton reeled in a 21-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Logan Woodside.

The California native recorded four receptions for 56 yards and one touchdown. Burton has performed as well as any former Alabama player during the NFL Preseason. He has eight total receptions for 157 yards and two touchdowns.

There is a good chance that Burton sees the field during his rookie season in the Queen City. He was drafted by the Bengals in the third round of the 2024 NFL draft.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow the latest regarding former Alabama players in the NFL.

Miami Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa speaks honestly on former HC Brian Flores

The former Alabama QB didn’t bite his tongue as he speaks honestly on his first NFL head coach Brian Flores.

Being a rookie quarterback in the NFL is insanely hard in the first place, now add in a head coach who makes it known he didn’t want to draft you and doesn’t like you. Such was the reality for former Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

After one of the most remarkable collegiate careers ever, the Miami Dolphins used the No. 5 pick in the 2020 NFL draft on Tagovailoa. The Dolphins coach at the time, Brian Flores, never seemed to fully buy in on Tua. Flores was more so interested in the idea of bringing in Tom Brady or trading for Deshaun Watson.

During his two years with Flores, Tagovailoa was in and out of the lineup and was even benched in the middle of multiple fourth quarters. Despite no consistency at all, he was able to go 13-8 as a starter completing 66.2% of his passes for 4,467 yards and 27 TDs to 15 INTs.

Following the 2021 season, the Dolphins relieved Flores of his duties to hire one of the best young offensive minds in football Mike McDaniel. Since taking over in Miami, McDaniel has praised of Tagovailoa’s abilities saying he’s one of the best and most accurate quarterbacks in the whole league. The Dolphins backed up that talk as they extended Tua this off-season to a four-year deal worth $212.4 million, $167.1 being guaranteed.

Despite Tagovailoa’s obvious dislike for Flores he has always done a great job biting his tongue about the situation. That was until he appeared on the Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz this week and he spoke candidly of how he was treated saying,

“I don’t care who you are. You could be the president of the United States, you have a terrible person telling you things that you don’t want to hear or probably shouldn’t be hearing, you’re going to start believing that about yourself. And so that’s what sort of ended up happening. It was, it’s basically been what two years of training that out of not just me but a couple of guys as well that have been here my rookie year all the way until now.”

The Dolphins have a real chance to compete for an AFC title this year, and things have never looked better for Tua. With all the support he needs in the building and all contract talks resolved, it is time to just go play ball.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Sam Murphy on Twitter @SamMurphy02.

Former Alabama long snapper announces retirement from NFL

The former Alabama product played a decade in the NFL.

After a decade in the league, former Alabama Crimson Tide long snapper Carson Tinker officially announced his retirement from the NFL this past Monday.

Tinker, a three-time national champion with the Crimson Tide, spent the 2008-12 seasons at Alabama as a long snapper, starting for multiple seasons at the position prior to going undrafted in the 2013 NFL draft.

After going undrafted, Tinker would sign with the Jacksonville Jaguars as a free agent in 2013, which is where he remained through the 2018 campaign prior to being released in early 2019. Tinker would go on to see time with numerous other teams from that moment through 2023, a list that includes the New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Rams, and Seattle Seahawks.

The former Alabama long snapper last played during the 2023 season with the Rams, and concludes his NFL career with a combined stat line of 18 tackles, 13 of which were solo, across 99 games.