Tag: Braxton Hoyett

Saints release 4 players from their practice squad including former Navy QB Malcolm Perry

The Saints released four players from their practice squad, including former Navy QB-turned-WR Malcolm Perry:

The New Orleans Saints released four players from their practice squad following Week 16’s loss tot he Miami Dolphins, including former Naval Academy quarterback Malcolm Perry. He was inactive for that game but the other three practice squad players being let go did suit up. Here’s what you need to know about each departure:

Saints bring in 4 free agent linemen for tryouts

Saints bring in four free agent linemen for tryouts, including training camp right tackle Kyle Murphy

The New Orleans Saints auditioned four free agents for tryouts on Monday’s update to the daily NFL transactions wire, all of them linemen — two on offense and two on defense. It makes sense to restock the trenches given the injuries and losses New Orleans has sustained, having recently lost backup defensive tackle Josiah Bronson on waivers with starting offensive tackles Terron Armstead and Ryan Ramczyk missing multiple weeks with injuries.

While none of them have been signed just yet, here’s what you need to know about the four tryout players:

Chiefs make several transactions on Tuesday

It might be the bye week, but the Kansas City Chiefs are still making transactions to improve the team.

The Kansas City Chiefs might be on their bye week, but the front office is still hard at work managing the roster. According to the NFL’s official transaction report the team made three transactions on Tuesday.

The most significant of the transactions is the activation of OT Martinas Rankin from the reserve/PUP list. Rankin’s practice window opened up back in late October and the team was running out of time to activate him to the 53-man roster. Thankfully, he’ll make his return from injury after the bye week.

Rankin was acquired ahead of the 2019 season in a trade with the Houston Texans for RB Carlos Hyde. He suffered a serious knee injury last year after starting five games for Kansas City at left guard. His return comes at the perfect time as the Chiefs have dealt with some injuries at guard and tackle. Rankin has the flexibility to play both positions for the team.

In a corresponding move, the Chiefs waived DE Demone Harris from the 53-man roster. It’s a peculiar move given the fact that the team has presumably lost DE Taco Charlton for a chunk of time with an ankle fracture. Harris was signed to the 53-man roster from the Ravens practice squad late in 2019 after the team had lost Alex Okafor for the season. Harris is eligible to return to the practice squad for Kansas City. This move actually might signal that Okafor will be ready to return from his latest stint on injured reserve with a hamstring injury.

The last move made by the Chiefs is one that bears watching. The team placed practice squad DT Braxton Hoyett on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Remember, this doesn’t necessarily mean that the player tested positive for the virus. He could simply be deemed a close contact to someone that has tested positive. Hoyett becomes the second practice squad player to land on the list after former Chiefs QB Jordan Ta’amu was placed on the list earlier this season.

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Chiefs protect two practice squad players ahead of Week 4 vs. Patriots

A pair of late practice squad protections for the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Kansas City Chiefs have protected a pair of practice squad players ahead of their Week 4 meeting with the New England Patriots.

According to the NFL’s official transaction report, the Chiefs have protected DB Chris Lammons and DT Braxton Hoyett. One of the new features of NFL practice squads this year is the ability to protect players from poaching each week. Teams can choose up to four new players to be protected beginning every Tuesday. This gives the team the ability to elevate these players using standard elevation procedures on game day without the threat of them being signed away during the practice week.

The Chiefs are currently dealing with depth issues at the cornerback position following an injury to star rookie L’Jarius Sneed. Sneed was placed on injured reserve this afternoon. With Charvarius Ward still appearing on the injury report, it necessitates a backup plan. Lammons is certainly that backup plan for Kansas City. He played in 12 career games with the Miami Dolphins in 2019 before joining the Chiefs’ practice squad late in the season.

As for Hoyett, he’s the backup plan if the Chiefs need depth in place of DT Chris Jones. Jones is dealing with a groin injury and was limited in practice on Wednesday. The fact that he could get any work in is a good sign in terms of his availability, but the front office is playing things smart by being prepared for the worst-case scenario.

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Chiefs protect first practice squad player of 2020 season

DT Braxton Hoyett is the first player the Kansas City Chiefs have protected in 2020.

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The Kansas City Chiefs have protected their first practice squad player of the 2020 season.

According to the NFL’s transaction report on Tuesday, the Chiefs have protected practice squad DT Braxton Hoyett. A new feature of NFL practice squads this season allows for teams to protect up to four players from poaching each week. Teams can choose four new players to be protected every Tuesday.

Last week, 21 NFL teams protected players on their practice squad, but the Chiefs were not among them. They risked all 16 of their players being signed away by other NFL teams. Now, for Kansas City, this isn’t as big of a risk as it is for other teams. Players know they have a chance to win a Super Bowl ring playing on the practice squad after seeing 2019’s practice squad players get rings ahead of the season.

Hoyett, 24, got his NFL start with the Tennesse Titans. He first signed to the Kansas City practice squad in October of 2019. He spent the entire season with the Chiefs and he eventually signed a reserve/future deal to return for the 2020 season. The 6-2 and 302-pound defender is known as a run-stuffer on the defensive line.

It makes sense for the team to protect Hoyett from poaching this week. Rotational DT Khalen Saunders suffered a dislocated elbow in Week 1 against the Houston Texans. This certainly signals that Saunders could miss the Week 2 matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers and that Hoyett could be elevated to provide depth at the position. Either way, the Chiefs want to ensure they have a suitable replacement available for Sunday.

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Chiefs re-sign DT Braxton Hoyett

A familiar face rejoins the Kansas City Chiefs.

A familiar face is back in the building for the Kansas City Chiefs.

According to the NFL’s official transaction report, the Chiefs have re-signed DT Braxton Hoyett. The 24-year-old defensive tackle was waived along with five other players on July 29 in an effort to trim the roster to 80 players. With Lucas Niang opting out of the 2020 season, Kansas City was left with 79 players and an open roster spot.

Hoyett joined the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent out of Mississippi State in 2019. The 6-2 and 302-pound defensive tackle recorded 41 tackles, two sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery in 32 games with the Bulldogs in college. He ultimately didn’t make it through 53-man roster cuts with Tennessee.

The Chiefs first signed Hoyett to their practice squad in October of 2019. He spent the entire season with Kansas City, through Super Bowl LIV. He’d eventually sign a reserve/future deal to return to the Chiefs for the 2020 season.

Instead of deciding to bring in a new player, Brett Veach brings back a player who has already been through COVID screening, knows the system and can jump right in. It’s a smart move that keeps the Chiefs’ roster full and practicing without any holdups.

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