Colts sign 9 to futures contracts among several roster moves

The Colts made 14 roster moves Monday to begin the 2024 offseason.

The Indianapolis Colts officially got their offseason underway Monday by making several roster moves, including the signings of nine players to Reserve/Future contracts, the team announced.

Along with the nine futures contracts the team signed, all of which include players from the practice squad, the Colts also signed four players to one-year contract extensions while waiving another player. So in total, the Colts made 14 moves.

As is typical protocol following the end of the regular season, the Colts will be preparing to expand their roster to 90 players for the offseason. Much of that includes signing players to futures contracts.

The expansion of the roster to 90 players doesn’t go into effect until the start of the new league year, which is March 13. That’s why it’s technically a reserve contract. It is essentially stating the player will be on the 90-man roster when the time comes.

There is no limit to how many futures contracts the Colts have as long as they are within the 90-man limit when the new league year rolls around.

Here’s a look at the 14 moves the Colts made to begin the offseason:

Colts promote WR Juwann Winfree to the active roster

Juwann Winfree was promoted to the active roster.

The Indianapolis Colts signed wide receiver Juwann Winfree to the active roster from the practice squad, the team announced Tuesday.

Winfree will be taking the spot of tight end Andrew Ogletree, who was placed on the Commissioner Exempt List last weekend following an arrest for domestic battery.

While Ogletree is essentially on paid leave, Winfree will be taking his spot as the No. 5 wide receiver.

Winfree had a solid preseason, but has played only 21 snaps on offense this season. He’s spent much of the campaign on the practice squad and has had a role on special teams when he’s active on gamedays.

Also, the Colts signed tight end Eric Tomlinson to the practice squad.

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Ravens sign 3 players to the practice squad, release Dontay Demus Jr.

The Baltimore #Ravens signed TE Eric Tomlinson, DB DeAndre Houston-Carson and CB Tre Swilling to the practice squad via @Thacover2NFL

The Ravens announced four practice squad moves, signing tight end Eric Tomlinson, cornerback Tre Swilling, and veteran safety DeAndre Houston-Carson.

Baltimore released wide receiver Dontay Demus Jr. from the practice squad in a subsequent move.

Projecting the Chargers’ 17-man practice squad

The Chargers can start constructing their practice squad on Wednesday. Here is who we think will make it.

The Chargers trimmed their roster to 53 on Tuesday, but the work in building the roster is not yet done. More moves will come before the opening of the season, beginning with the construction of LA’s practice squad on Wednesday afternoon.

While the NFL has a limit of 16 players on the practice squad, Los Angeles has an exemption to add defensive lineman CJ Okoye as a 17th player through the International Player Pathway Program. For that reason, this projection includes 17 players.

Texans sign ex-Broncos OLB, cut ex-Denver TE

The Texans signed ex-Broncos OLB Jake Martin and released ex-Denver TE Eric Tomlinson.

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It didn’t take long for Jake Martin to find a new home after being released by the Denver Broncos.

Martin, 27, was cut on May 10 in a move that saved the Broncos about $3.8 million in salary cap space. One and a half weeks later, Martin signed with the Houston Texans on a one-year deal.

This will mark Martin’s second stint with the team. He previously played in Houston from 2019-2021. Martin totaled six tackles and one sack in five appearances with the Broncos last season.

In addition to signing Martin, the Texans also released former Denver tight end Eric Tomlinson. The veteran tight end totaled nine receptions for 79 yards and two touchdowns in 17 games with the Broncos last fall.

Elsewhere on the free agency front, the Detroit Lions signed defensive lineman Christian Covington. Denver fans might recall that Covington went to training camp with the Broncos in 2020 but was unable to make the 53-man roster.

Former Denver outside linebacker Wyatt Ray also tried out for the Lions at their rookie minicamp but was not signed. Detroit also waived ex-Broncos cornerback Mac McCain earlier this month.

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Texans place DT Taylor Stallworth on reserve/injured list, release TE Eric Tomlinson

The Houston Texans placed DT Taylor Stallworth on the reserve/injured list while also releasing tight end Eric Tomlinson.

The Houston Texans continue to refine their offseason roster as organized team activities begin next week.

The Texans placed defensive tackle Taylor Stallworth on the reserve/injured list Thursday. Stallworth had four combined tackles and a tackle for loss in just one game with the Texans last season.

The Texans also released tight end Eric Tomlinson. The Klein High School product signed with Houston on May 3. Tomlinson originally spent time with the Texans on their practice squad in 2015 and 2016. The 6-6, 263-pounder has spent time with eight different NFL teams since going undrafted out of UTEP in 2015.

Houston also announced they have officially signed cornerback Shaquill Griffin.

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Ex-Broncos find new homes in free agency; Denver restructures TE contract

Ex-Broncos TE Eric Tomlinson signed with Houston. Meanwhile, new TE Adam Trautman restructured his contract to have a lower salary cap hit.

Another member of the 2022 Denver Broncos squad has found a new home in free agency.

Two days after offensive tackle Billy Turner signed with the New York Jets and running back Latavius Murray signed with the Buffalo Bills, ex-Denver tight end Eric Tomlinson is signing with the Houston Texans, according to a report from KPRC-TV’s Aaron Wilson.

A more-distant former Broncos player, quarterback Trevor Siemian, inked a deal with the Cincinnati Bengals on Wednesday.

While ex-Denver players are finding new homes, the Broncos are preparing to welcome at least 35 players to rookie minicamp next weekend.

After rookie camp, vets will arrive for the start of organized team activities on May 23. One of the team’s new arrivals at OTAs will be tight end Adam Trautman, who was acquired in a trade with the New Orleans Saints during the draft last week.

In order to help the trade get done, Trautman agreed to restructure his contract in Denver. Trautman was set to have a $2.743 million salary this season, which has been lowed to $1.5 million, according to ESPN’s Field Yates. The tight end will be able to earn some of it back through incentives.

While the Broncos finalize their undrafted free agent signings, the team might also consider a few veteran in-house free agents who are still available. At the time of this writing, safety Kareem Jackson and offensive tackle Cam Fleming are among the team’s free agents who are still unsigned. Guard Dalton Risner is available as well.

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After NFL draft, Broncos should consider these 12 free agents

With the NFL draft now complete, should the Broncos sign any of these free agents who remain available?

The Denver Broncos improved their roster over the weekend by selecting five players in the 2023 NFL draft and adding a tight end via trade.

While the new arrivals should help, the Broncos did overlook a few positions during the draft, most notably including running back and the defensive line. Denver could also still use more depth at guard and tackle, and a Week 1 starting-caliber center wouldn’t hurt.

After signing their draft class, the Broncos are expected to still have around $7 million worth of salary cap space available. That’s not much — and Denver will want to carry some of it into the season — but it is enough to make another budget signing or two.

With the above positions (and a few others) in mind, here’s a quick list of 12 free agents who are still available and could provide more depth for the Broncos as the team prepares to go into organized team activities in May.

Broncos were happy to get ‘viking’ Eric Tomlinson a touchdown

“It is great to see a guy like that get a touchdown,” Broncos coach Nathaniel Hackett said of blocking tight end Eric Tomlinson.

The Denver Broncos scored a touchdown through an unlikely source against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

In the fourth quarter, Broncos quarterback Brett Rypien pulled off a clever play-action pass to find tight end Eric Tomlinson in the end zone for a score.

That marked Tomlinson’s eighth catch of the season, and his first touchdown as a Bronco. He’s not typically a receiving threat for Denver, but the coaching staff wanted to reward the hard work he’s put in this year.

“We call him the Viking,” coach Nathaniel Hackett said of Tomlinson after a 24-15 win. “He does not say anything. He is primarily a run-blocker and pass-protector. He puts his head down every day and comes to work. He wants to know how he can do the next blocking pattern. He never asks about catches or anything. …

“To be able for him to get that touchdown is huge for a guy that puts his head down, works every day, does everything that he can, does not talk much. He just uses his play to show the type of person he is. It is great to see a guy like that get a touchdown. It just rallies the whole group together.”

That marked just the second touchdown of Tomlinson’s career — his first came in his second season with the New York Jets five years ago. Blocking tight ends are often overlooked by fans, but Tomlinson’s efforts have not gone unnoticed by his coaches and teammates this season.

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Broncos make 2 changes to 53-man roster

The Broncos officially brought back DL Mike Purcell and TE Eric Tomlinson on Wednesday. The 53-man roster appears to be set for Week 1.

After setting an initial 53-man roster on Tuesday, the Denver Broncos were not awarded any players off the waiver wire on Wednesday morning. The Broncos also didn’t have any of their cut players claimed off the wire by other teams.

So far, the Broncos have brought back 13 cut players on their practice squad.

Denver also made a few expected tweaks to the 53-man roster on Wednesday. First, the Broncos placed tight Greg Dulcich (hamstring) and cornerback Michael Ojemudia (elbow) on injured reserve. Then the Broncos re-signed nose tackle Mike Purcell and tight end Eric Tomlinson, who were cut Tuesday to reach the 53-man roster limit.

Dulcich and Ojemudia will be eligible to return to the active roster after four games. Purcell and Tomlinson didn’t have to clear waivers because they’re both veterans, so it was easy for Denver to bring them back.

Following those changes on Wednesday, here’s how the Broncos’ 53-man roster stands as the team prepares for Week 1 of the regular season.

Offense

QB: Russell Wilson, Brett Rypien

RB: Javonte Williams, Melvin Gordon, Mike Boone

FB: Andrew Beck

TE: Albert Okwuegbunam, Eric Tomlinson, Eric Saubert

WR: Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, KJ Hamler, Montrell Washington, Jalen Virgil, Tyrie Cleveland

OT: Garett Bolles, Billy Turner, Calvin Anderson, Cam Fleming

G: Dalton Risner, Quinn Meinerz, Graham Glasgow

C: Lloyd Cushenberry, Luke Wattenberg

Defense

DE: Dre’Mont Jones, DeShawn Williams, Eyioma Uwazurike

NT: D.J. Jones, Mike Purcell, Matt Henningsen

OLB: Bradley Chubb, Randy Gregory, Baron Browning, Nik Bonitto, Jonathon Cooper, Aaron Patrick

ILB: Josey Jewell, Jonas Griffith, Alex Singleton, Justin Strnad

CB: Pat Surtain, Ronald Darby, K’Waun Williams, Damarri Mathis, Essang Bassey

S: Justin Simmons, Kareem Jackson, Caden Sterns, P.J. Locke, Delarrin Turner-Yell

Special Teams

K: Brandon McManus

P: Corliss Waitman

LS: Jacob Bobenmoyer

Denver also still has room for three more players on the practice squad.

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