Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Our practice squad tracker is updated.
The Seattle Seahawks lost their second-year outside linebacker Tyreke Smith this week when he was signed by the Arizona Cardinals off their practice squad. The team has just announced that they’ve signed former Oregon State defensive end Hamilcar Rashed to take Smith’s place.
This morning's @Seahawks roster moves: https://t.co/2ZQzqH7gUB
— Seahawks PR (@seahawksPR) December 15, 2023
Our practice squad tracker is updated (Dec. 15).
The team just announced that the following five players have been waived.
The Seahawks began their offseason program today. Before the football begins, they had some spring cleaning to do.
The team just announced that the following five players have been waived.
The Seattle Seahawks are working out free agent wide receiver Easop Winston today, according to a report by Doug Kyed at Pro Football Focus.
The #Seahawks are working out free-agent WR Easop Winston today, per source.
— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) October 18, 2022
The Seattle Seahawks are working out free agent wide receiver Easop Winston today, according to a report by Doug Kyed at Pro Football Focus. Winston played his college ball at Washington State, where he posted 137 catches, 1,624 yards and 19 touchdowns in 26 games.
Winston (5-foot-11, 190 pounds) has played three games in the NFL, all with the Saints last season. All together he was on the field for 14 offensive snaps and 23 on special teams. Most of his work came as a punt returner and he averaged a strong 11.9 yards on 10 attempts. That experience is likely the main reason why the Seahawks are interested.
Update:
Tom Pelissero at NFL Network reports they are signing Winston to the practice squad.
The #Seahawks are signing WR Easop Winston to the practice squad, per source.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) October 18, 2022
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Winston is in his third NFL season and has some punt return experience in New Orleans
The Browns have added another wide recevier to the mix. On Tuesday, the Browns successfully claimed wideout Easop Winston off the NFL waiver wire.
Winston was waived on Monday by the New Orleans Saints. The 25-year-old spent the 2021 season with the Saints, primarily on the New Orleans practice squad. Winston caught one pass in three games while also showing some vitality as a return man, averaging 11.9 yards on 10 return attempts. He was on the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted rookie out of Washington State in 2020.
The corollary roster move by the Browns was not available at press time. All teams must be at 85 players as of Tuesday at 4 p.m.
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The Saints filed a dozen roster moves ahead of Tuesday’s NFL roster cuts deadline, signing three new players before joint practices with the Packers this week:
Whew: the New Orleans Saints were required to thin out their roster from 90 players to just 85 ahead of Tuesday’s NFL deadline, but they took it to another level by filing a dozen roster moves with the daily transactions wire. Three players have been signed ahead of this week’s joint practices and preseason game with the Green Bay Packers, while seven others have been waived (two with injury designations), a backup offensive lineman has been placed on injured reserve, and a young defensive back was released with an injury settlement. Here’s instant analysis on each move:
New Orleans Saints: Rookie draft pick Kawaan Baker among roster cuts
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The New Orleans Saints have begun the difficult process of cutting their roster down from 80 players to just 53, and one of the first to go was rookie wide receiver Kawaan Baker. The team’s seventh round draft pick out of South Alabama struggled to separate from the pack in training camp. While he should be a favorite to land on the practice squad for more development, he has to clear waivers first.
Additionally, the Saints also waived wide receiver Easop Winston, who handled the bulk of returns duties on punts and kickoffs during their two preseason games. He made our final roster projection as an option to fill in for Deonte Harris, but the All-Pro returns specialist still has not officially received notice of his two-game NFL suspension following an offseason DUI charge. If Harris is cleared to start the regular season, Winston doesn’t have a role on the team.
This is an ongoing process that will continue to see roster moves filed in the hours and days ahead, so stay tuned for updates. For now, the Saints wide receiver corps includes two injured starters (Michael Thomas and Tre’Quan Smith) whose Week 1 availability is in doubt, along with Marquez Callaway, Ty Montgomery, Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Chris Hogan, and Kevin White. The team rarely rosters more than five receivers so keep an eye out for more movement.
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The New Orleans Saints brought in three free agents before their rookie minicamps, adding Albert Huggins, Easop Winston, and Sutton Smith.
The Saints veteran players have already said through the NFLPA that they won’t be attending voluntary workouts this offseason while the COVID-19 pandemic persists, but rookies and inexperienced pros hunting for roster spots are already setting their sights on New Orleans. The Saints still have jobs up for grabs, which these players can get an early leg up on during rookie minicamps from May 14 to May 16.
Here’s what you need to know about each new addition, which brings the total roster up to 81, with nine spots remaining before the Saints hit full capacity:
A 7-round mock draft for the Cleveland Browns following the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine
Now that the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine is over, it’s time to freshen up the Cleveland Browns mock draft choices.
These projections represent the choices I would make, with a nod to what I expect the Browns would consider realistic options as well. Without further ado…
The pick: Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa
Wirfs is the second OT off the board in this mock, following Mekhi Becton to the Giants at No. 4. He played right tackle for the Hawkeyes and thrived as both a run blocker and pass protector. His outstanding athletic performance at the combine proves he can move to the left side if desired. Considering the Browns need major upgrades at both tackle spots, he’s an easy choice here.
The pick: Antoine Winfield Jr., safety, Minnesota
A natural playmaker with NFL bloodlines and local ties, Winfield is too obvious of a choice to ignore. The Browns don’t currently have anyone at safety who can come close to the productivity Winfield showed in 2019. Injury issues are indeed real, but so is the Pro Bowl potential.
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The picks: Matt Peart, OT, UConn and Leki Fotu, DT, Utah
Building up the lines on both sides of the ball here. Peart is a smooth-moving left tackle who excelled at the Senior Bowl. He can handle the zone scheme the Browns expect to run under Kevin Stefanski. Fotu is the immovable object in the middle of the defensive line, though he does have some ability to disrupt in the backfield too.
The pick: Amik Robertson, CB, Louisiana Tech
A playmaking gnat of slot cornerback, Robertson stands just 5-8. That didn’t stop him in college from picking off 14 passes and consistently undercutting routes with his quickness and fast eyes. His size limits him to playing inside, but the Browns don’t have anyone on the roster who can do that right now.
The Browns do not currently have a fifth-round selection
The pick: Dustin Woodward, OL, Memphis
A four-year starter with experience at both center and guard, Woodward was an All-AAC performer the last two seasons. He’s undersized, playing in the 285 range, but he moves incredibly well. With agility and technique more important than bulk in the new Browns offense, he’s a good late-round fit.
The pick: Easop Winston, WR, Washington State
Winston was a wildly productive wideout in college in an offense familiar to what Baker Mayfield operated. He’s got some length and incredibly sticky hands, and Winston understands how to work back to the QB when things go off-schedule.
