Tag: Dominique Dafney

Panthers announce flurry of practice-squad moves, including 4 additions

The Panthers have signed RB Emani Bailey, TCU’s leading rusher from 2023, to their practice squad along with three others.

The Carolina Panthers made a handful of moves to their practice squad on Tuesday.

As announced this afternoon, the team has signed four players to the group—including running back Emani Bailey. The 23-year-old is an undrafted rookie out of Texas Christian University.

A Dallas, Texas native, Bailey played his first two seasons of collegiate ball (2020 to 2021) at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Over 16 games as a Ragin’ Cajun, he rushed for 702 yards and eight touchdowns on 112 carries.

Bailey transferred over to TCU in time for the 2022 campaign, where he was positioned behind Kendre Miller and Emari Demercado on the Horned Frogs’ depth chart. He took over starting duties in 2023, running for 1,209 yards and eight scores in 12 games.

The 5-foot-8, 201-pounder broke into the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs this past spring. Bailey would, however, be selected in 2024 UFL draft in July—as he was taken in the third round by the Birmingham Stallions.

He’d remain with the Chiefs through the summer and go on to appear in all three of their preseason contests, amassing 29 rushing yards on 10 attempts.

Carolina also added wide receiver T.J. Luther, tight end Dominique Dafney and outside linebacker Thomas Incoom—who was waived from the 53-man roster this past Saturday.

To make room for the signings, the Panthers released wide receiver Sam Pinckney and safety Alex Cook from the practice squad.

They also placed running back Dillon Johnson and tight end Stephen Sullivan on the practice squad/injured list. Sullivan, as noted by head coach Dave Canales on Monday, sustained a “pretty significant” knee injury in Sunday’s loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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Colts officially place RB Jonathan Taylor on IR among several moves

Colts placed Jonathan Taylor on IR, waived DE Ifeadi Odenigbo and added a pair to the practice squad.

As expected, the Indianapolis Colts placed running back Jonathan Taylor on the injured reserve list Tuesday due to the ankle injury he suffered in Week 15.

It wasn’t the only move the Colts made, though, and there was at least one mildly surprising move that involved the release of a productive, rotational defensive end in the form of Ifeadi Odenigbo. The Colts also made some moves to the practice squad.

Here’s a recap of the moves the Colts made Tuesday, some of which had already been covered:

Broncos add linebacker depth to practice squad

ICYMI — with Josey Jewell (knee) sidelined, the Broncos signed veteran LB Harvey Langi to the practice squad.

After losing starter Josey Jewell to a knee injury, the Denver Broncos added inside linebacker depth to the practice squad on Monday.

Denver signed Harvey Langi, a sixth-year defender who has spent time with the New England Patriots and New York Jets. Langi (6-2, 250 pounds) joined the Patriots as an undrafted free agent out of BYU in 2017.

After playing in just one game as a rookie in New England, Langi spent two years with the New York Jets, playing in 30 games from 2019-2020.

Langi then returned to the Patriots in 2021. He played in seven games last year and two games this season before being released last month.

Langi (30) has totaled 80 tackles, two pass breakups and one fumble recovery in 40 career games (10 starts). He will likely be a candidate to be elevated from the practice squad to the game-day roster over the next three weeks.

To make room for Langi on the practice squad, the Broncos released tight end Dominique Dafney.

Jonas Griffith and Alex Singleton are expected to start at inside linebacker with Justin Strnad and Langi providing depth behind them.

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Broncos made a change on the practice squad

Dominique Dafney will presumably serve as a practice squad backup to Andrew Beck.

The Denver Broncos made a tight end swap on the practice squad Tuesday, signing Dominique Dafney and releasing Dylan Parham, the team announced.

Dafney (6-2, 243 pounds) was with the Green Bay Packers from 2020-2021, playing under then-Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. Dafney was a tight end in Green Bay, but he earned second-team All-MVFC recognition as a fullback at Indiana State University in 2019.

Dafney’s experience at fullback likely means he’s going to provide depth behind Andrew Beck on Denver’s practice squad. Beck is also listed as a tight end, but the Broncos use him in a fullback-like role on offense.

In 15 career games with the Packers (four starts), Dafney caught four passes for 60 yards and one touchdown. He also played 106 snaps on special teams in Green Bay last season.

Beck was a key part of the Broncos’ offense in Week 1, catching two passes for 52 yards and delivering key blocks on several big runs. If anything happens to Beck during he season, Dafney would presumably be his replacement.

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Former Packers TE Dominique Dafney signs with Broncos practice squad

Former Packers TE Dominique Dafney is joining former Packers assistant Nathaniel Hackett in Denver.

Former Green Bay Packers tight end Dominique Dafney re-joined former Packers assistant coach Nathaniel Hackett in Denver.

Dafney, who was released by the Packers via injury settlement in August, signed with the Broncos practice squad on Tuesday, per the league’s transaction wire.

In Denver, Dafney will get a chance to contribute as an H-back or move tight end in Hackett’s scheme, which is similar to the one deployed by Matt LaFleur in Green Bay.

Dafney, 25, played in 15 games for the Packers over the last two seasons. He caught four passes for 60 yards and a touchdown while playing 235 snaps on offense and 150 on special teams.

Dafney suffered a knee injury during training camp and missed time. The issue was minor, which is why he was able to be released from injured reserve with an injury settlement and given a chance to sign elsewhere.

The Packers kept just four tight ends on the 53-man roster: Robert Tonyan, Marcedes Lewis, Josiah Deguara and Tyler Davis. Dafney and Deguara have redundant skill sets and play similar positions.

Former Packers quarterback Kurt Benkert also worked out for the San Francisco 49ers on Tuesday.

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Packers reach injury settlement with TE Dominique Dafney

The Packers and TE Dominique Dafney have reached an injury settlement, representing a parting of ways for team and player.

The Green Bay Packers and tight end Dominique Dafney have agreed to an injury settlement, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

Dafney was waived-injured last week, went unclaimed on waivers and reverted back to the Packers’ injured reserve list. With an injury settlement, Dafney and the Packers will officially part ways, giving the team a financial benefit (settlement cost is less than paying a player on injured reserve all season) and the player a chance to catch on elsewhere this season.

Dafney was dealing with a knee injury at the time the Packers waived him. The issue is minor and not season-ending.

Per Pelissero, several teams are already interested in working out the former Packers tight end.

Dafney, 25, played in 15 games for the Packers over the last two seasons. He caught four passes for 60 yards and a touchdown while playing 235 snaps on offense and 150 on special teams.

While not a traditional tight end type, Dafney worked as a H-back or move tight end in Matt LaFleur’s offense. He’ll likely be looking for a team with a similar scheme now that he’s free.

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TE Dominique Dafney reverts back to Packers injured reserve list

Dominique Dafney cleared waivers and reverted back to the Packers injured reserve list. An injury settlement could be in the cards at some point.

After being waived-injured on Tuesday, tight end Dominique Dafney cleared waivers and reverted back to the injured reserve list of the Green Bay Packers on Wednesday.

Dafney, who played in 15 games over the last two seasons for the Packers, was dealing with a knee injury during training camp.

While Dafney’s release was a surprise in terms of timing, it’s certainly possible that the injury situation, the team’s need for healthy bodies at tight end and the fact that Dafney plays a similar position and role as Josiah Deguara all contributed to the decision to waive him injured this week in an effort to get the roster down to 85 players.

It’s also worth wondering if a player such as Alize Mack – who was signed earlier this year – has been impressing enough within the move tight end role to squeeze an injured player like Dafney off the roster.

More than likely, Dafney’s injury isn’t significant and an injury settlement will provide an opportunity for him to sign elsewhere and potentially during the 2022 season.

Among those who were also waived-injured and reverted back to the Packers injured reserve list so far during training camp are receiver Osirus Mitchell, center Cole Schneider and kicker Gabe Brkic.

At tight end, the Packers claimed Nate Becker to provide depth. The team has seven tight ends entering Friday’s preseason game against the Saints.

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Packers release 3 players, including TE Dominique Dafney, to get roster to 85

The Packers released three players ahead of Tuesday’s joint practice with the Saints, reducing the roster to 85 players before the deadline.

The trimming of the Green Bay Packers’ roster to 85 players on Tuesday morning included a few surprises.

According to Matt Schneidman of The Athletic, the Packers released a trio of players – tight end Dominique Dafney, running back BJ Baylor and offensive lineman George Moore – to get to the roster to 85 players.

UPDATE: The Packers also released rookie linebacker Ellis Brooks before practice on Tuesday, meaning the roster is actually at 84 players.

Dafney, who had been dealing with a knee injury but returned to practice on Monday, is the big surprise. He’s played in 15 games for the Packers over the last two seasons and has received first-team reps as a move tight end during training camp. It’s possible his knee injury is a bigger deal than originally believed, and he could be waived with an injury designation.

Baylor, an undrafted free agent out of Oregon State, is another moderate surprise. He caught a 68-yard pass from Danny Etling during the Packers’ preseason opener in San Francisco. Just last week, general manager Brian Gutekunst signed Dexter Williams to bolster the depth at running back entering a grueling week that will include two joint practices and a preseason game against the Saints.

Moore is a rookie undrafted free agent out of Oregon who was a long-shot to make the roster.

On Monday, the Packers released outside linebacker Randy Ramsey, center Cole Schneider and cornerback Donte Vaughn while claiming tight end Nate Becker.

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Packers designate TE Dominque Dafney for return from injured reserve

The Packers could get back versatile tight end Dominique Dafney as early as this week against the Chicago Bears. 

The Green Bay Packers could get back versatile tight end Dominique Dafney as early as this week against the Chicago Bears.

The Packers officially designated Dafney for return from injured reserve, and he practiced with the team on Wednesday.

Dafney, a backup tight end, was placed on injured reserve ahead of Week 3 with a hip injury. He missed games against the San Francisco 49ers, Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals, making him eligible to return.

Dafney played 48 snaps on offense and 22 more on special teams during the first two weeks. Athletic and versatile, he is an ideal player to handle the H-back roles ingrained into Matt LaFleur’s offense.

The Packers have a full roster after signing receiver Equanimeous St. Brown from the practice squad, meaning a roster move would be required to activate Dafney to the 53-man roster.

Last season, Dafney caught his first career touchdown pass against the Bears in Chicago. The Packers are returning to Soldier Field on Sunday.

The one big question regarding his return: How will the Packers use Dafney and Josiah Deguara? They both occupy similar roles. Dafney was solid the first two weeks, but Deguara has struggled in 2021 after missing most of his rookie season with an ACL injury.

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Packers place TE Dominique Dafney on injured reserve

The Packers placed TE Dominique Dafney on injured reserve due to a hip injury.

The Green Bay Packers will be without one of their tight ends for at least the next three weeks.

The team placed Dominique Dafney on injured reserve on Saturday.

Dafney landed on the injury report this week with a hip injury. He missed Friday’s practice and was originally designated as questionable before he was downgraded to out on Saturday.

Players are eligible to be designated for return from injured reserve after three missed games. The Packers play the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night.

Through two games, Dafney played 48 snaps on offense and 22 special teams snaps. He caught two passes for 26 yards and a touchdown over five games last season.

Tight end Josiah Deguara will likely take over many of Dafney’s snaps. He recovered from a concussion suffered in Week 1 and fits the profile of a versatile move tight end.

The Packers did not immediately replace Dafney on the 53-man roster.

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