Tag: Dane Cruikshank

Falcons sign two veteran players following Friday’s tryout

The Falcons signed defensive lineman Bradlee Anae and defensive back Dane Cruikshank following Friday’s tryout

The Atlanta Falcons began their rookie minicamp on Friday with 40 total players in attendance. This group featured 18 rookies, nine veterans and 13 players trying out. Apparently, two of the tryout players impressed the coaching staff enough to land contracts.

According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Falcons signed defensive lineman Bradlee Anae and defensive back Dane Cruikshank to their 90-man offseason roster on Friday.

Anae, 26, was selected in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL draft by the Dallas Cowboys. He’d spend his first two NFL seasons in Dallas, appearing in 11 total games. Anae signed with the New York Jets in 2022 but didn’t appear in a game and finished the 2023 season on the injured reserve list.

Cruikshank was selected in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL draft by the Tennessee Titans, where he’d spend the first four years of his career. The 29-year-old appeared in 46 games for the Titans, racking up 65 tackles, two passes defended and an interception.

Check out Atlanta’s updated 90-man roster following these two transactions.

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Dolphins work out former highest-paid guard, 5 others

Miami works out a former All-Pro.

The Miami Dolphins are always looking for ways to improve their roster, and it’s important to continue doing this throughout the season.

On Tuesday, the team held workouts for six players – offensive linemen Andrew Norwell, Colby Gossett and Wes Martin, and defensive backs Bubba Bolden, Dane Cruikshank and A.J. Moore.

Norwell, 32, went undrafted in 2014 out of Ohio State, but he caught on with the Carolina Panthers, playing four seasons there and making one All-Pro First-team. He became the league’s highest-paid guard the following offseason when he signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Norwell spent four seasons in Duval before playing with the Washington Commanders in 2022.

Gossett, 25, was a sixth-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings in 2018 after a collegiate career at Appalachian State. He’s bounced around a bit in his time in the NFL, spending time with six teams. Overall, he’s appeared in 19 games and started five.

Martin, 27, was a 2019 fourth-round selection by Washington out of Indiana. He’s also spent time with the Jaguars, New York Giants and Cleveland Browns, playing 38 games and starting 11 over the last five years.

Bolden, 24, went undrafted in 2022 after playing collegiately for USC and Miami which included Second-team All-ACC honors in 2020. He signed with the Seattle Seahawks but spent his rookie season on the Browns practice squad.

Cruikshank, 28, was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the fifth round of the 2018 draft out of Arizona. He played four years with Tennessee and spent time with the Chicago Bears and New York Jets since. He’s appeared in 54 games, recording 66 tackles, two passes defensed, one interception and a forced fumble.

Moore, 27, was an undrafted free agent signed by the New England Patriots back in 2018 after playing for Ole Miss in college. He was claimed by the Houston Texans during roster cuts in his rookie year and played out his rookie contract with the team before spending last season with the Titans. He’s played in 56 games, recording 69 tackles, two forced fumbles, one pass defensed and a sack.

While the Dolphins have yet to make a signing from the group, these will certainly be names to follow considering Miami’s health at guard and safety.

Titans sign Dane Cruikshank to the practice squad

The Titans are reuniting with safety Dane Cruikshank.

The Tennessee Titans are bringing back a familiar face in 2018 fifth-round pick and safety, Dane Cruikshank.

The Titans announced on Monday they’re is signing Cruikshank to the practice squad. There was an open spot so no corresponding move was necessary.

Cruikshank appeared in 44 games over four seasons with the Titans from 2018-2021.

He signed with the Chicago Bears in 2022 but played in just eight games before being placed on injured reserve, ending his season. He spent this past offseason with the New York Jets before his release in August.

The Arizona product shined in 2021 when the Titans used him to cover opposing tight ends. In 400 snaps, Cruikshank finished the season allowing completions on 17-of-24 passes (70.8 percent) thrown his way for 147 yards, amounting to a passer rating of 86.6.

The Titans could use all the help they can get in coverage after another lackluster showing on Sunday. Cruikshank has a good chance to get an opportunity to help.

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Jets sign former Titans DB Dane Cruikshank

Former Titans DB Dane Cruikshank has signed with the Jets.

Former Tennessee Titans and Chicago Bears defensive back Dane Cruikshank has found a new home in free agency.

According to his agent, David Canter, Cruikshank has signed with the New York Jets. The length and financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

A former fifth-round pick of the Titans in 2018, Cruikshank spent four years with Tennessee, appearing in 44 games (four starts). He proved to be one of the more underrated players on Tennessee’s impressive defense in 2021, thriving in his role of matching up with opposing tight ends.

He was not retained by the Titans when he hit free agency in 2022, opening the door for him to join the Bears.

However, it was a disappointing season overall for the Arizona product, as he saw just one defensive snap over eight games before landing on injured reserve, ending his season.

Cruikshank, who can also play safety on top of his ability to match up with tight ends, joins a talented Jets defense where he’ll fight for a roster spot and look to carve out a role as a backup and on special teams.

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Jets to sign DB Dane Cruikshank

Jets to sign DB Dane Cruikshank

The Jets are adding to their defensive back group in the beginning of camp. Per Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic, the Jets are signing Dane Cruikshank.

Cruikshank has played five seasons in the NFL. He spent 2022 with the Chicago Bears following four seasons with the Tennessee Titans.

Cruikshank has mostly been a special teams player in his career. He did record 43 tackles in 14 games in 2021 with the Titans. He is mostly a safety but can move to cornerback if needed.

Bears 2023 free agency preview: Is it worth bringing back Dane Cruikshank?

Dane Cruikshank was brought in to be a key reserve and special teams contributor. Unfortunately, he struggled staying healthy.

NFL free agency will be here before we know it, and the Chicago Bears have plenty of players set to hit the market. From key starters to valuable reserves, general manager Ryan Poles will have important decisions to make about who to bring back.

Here at Bears Wire, we’re going through each individual player and breaking down their 2022 performance and whether or not they fit in the Bears’ long-term plans.

Next up is Dane Cruikshank, who was brought in to be a key reserve and special teams contributor. Unfortunately, he struggled staying healthy.

Grading the Bears 2022 free agency class

Ryan Poles made many low-risk moves for the Bears last year in free agency. Here’s how we graded his signings.

The 2023 free agency period is almost here and the Chicago Bears are sure to be active with what should be an exciting offseason. With the most available cap space in the NFL, the Bears should be able to pay top dollar to the free agent of their choice. It’s a big difference from where the team was last offseason during Ryan Poles’ first year as general manager.

Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus took a more conservative approach to free agency, focusing on quantity with one and two-year deals as they had to manage millions of dollars in dead cap. None of their 2022 signings broke the bank, ensuring they had plenty of flexibility this offseason after they had a chance to evaluate the team.

Now that nearly a full year has passed since last free agency began, we graded each significant free agent signing the Bears made in 2022.

8 pending free agents the Bears should let walk in 2023

Ahead of free agency, we’re looking at some in-house free agents the Bears shouldn’t re-sign in 2023.

The offseason is in full swing, and we’re just over a month away from the start of the new league year and free agency. And the Bears have some important decisions to make when it comes to in-house free agents.

The Bears are slated to have nearly $98.6 million in salary cap space — which is the most in the league (by a wide margin) — and there are plenty of holes to fill on the roster for new general manager Ryan Poles. Perhaps a few of those roster spots will be filled by some of Chicago’s in-house free agents, including some key contributors from last season that could be back as starters or reserves.

Ahead of free agency, we’re looking at some in-house free agents the Bears should let walk in 2023.

WATCH: WR Velus Jones Jr. scores long TD in Bears training camp

Rookie WR Velus Jones Jr. showcased his speed in one of the best highlights from Friday’s Bears training camp practice.

The Chicago Bears see a lot of potential in rookie wide receiver Velus Jones Jr., especially when it comes to his speed. The third-round pick out of Tennessee has the ability to take the top off a defense and it was evident during Friday’s training camp practice.

Jones showcased his speed and burst on a deep pattern early on in practice during team drills. Quarterback Justin Fields took the snap and faked a handoff to running back David Montgomery to set up the play-action pass. Fields then fired deep to Jones, who had easily beaten veteran defensive back Dane Cruikshank for the long would-be touchdown reception.

Fields and Jones have been establishing their chemistry all throughout camp and it appears to be paying off. The long touchdown pass was easily one of the best highlights of Friday’s practice.

Bears remove S Dane Cruikshank from non-football injury list

The Bears are getting back safety Dane Cruikshank from the NFI list as they head into their sixth training camp practice.

The Chicago Bears have removed safety Dane Cruikshank from the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list, the team announced Tuesday. He’s missed the first five practices of training camp.

Cruikshank signed a one-year deal with the Bears this offseason, where he’s expected to earn a spot as a reserve safety and serve as a valuable special teams contributor.

Cruikshank, a former fifth round pick in the 2018 NFL draft, spent the last four seasons with the Tennessee Titans. He’s played in 44 games, including four starts. Last season, Cruikshank appeared in 14 games with four starts, totaling 43 tackles, one pass breakup and one forced fumble.

Cruikshank earned the moniker of “tight end eraser” during his time in Tennessee. While Cruikshank will likely be a depth piece at safety, he’s someone who can step in and hang with some of the best when needed.

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