Tag: harrison hand

Falcons sign cornerback Harrison Hand, cut Anthony Sao

The #Falcons have signed cornerback Harrison Hand, releasing UDFA Anthony Sao in a corresponding transaction.

The Atlanta Falcons signed cornerback Harrison Hand on Tuesday afternoon while releasing undrafted free agent Anthony Sao in a corresponding transaction.

Hand, 25, was originally selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL draft. The former Temple standout appeared in 14 games for the Vikings during his rookie season, recording 14 solo tackles, three passes defended, and one interception.

In 2021, Hand appeared in nine games but was later released during the offseason. After spending some time on the New York Giants practice squad in 2022, Hand signed in Chicago where he appeared in four games for the Bears.

Check out the Falcons’ updated 90-man roster following Tuesday’s transaction HERE!

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    Ennis Rakestraw starts out in the slot CB role at Lions rookie minicamp

    Second-round CB Ennis Rakestraw starts out in the slot role at Lions rookie minicamp

    Lions second-round rookie Ennis Rakestraw was an outside cornerback for nearly all of his college career at Missouri. In his first practice in Detroit, however, the lanky Rakestraw spent the day in the slot role.

    Instead of pairing with Terrion Arnold on the outside to give the Lions a 1-2 draft duo on the outside, Rakestraw was inside in the initial practice. Camp invitee Harrison Hand, a three-year vet, ran with the first team with Arnold on the outside.

    After practice, Rakestraw seemed unfazed by playing inside. He noted he played in the slot in his freshman year at Missouri. The 5-foot-11, 190-pounds (as listed by the Lions, perhaps generously) Rakestraw showed the quick feet and change-of-direction skills necessary to thrive in the slot.

    It’s also worth noting defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn has cross-trained defensive backs at multiple positions throughout his tenure in Detroit. Rakestraw projects as a reserve CB in his rookie season, so being able to fill in at multiple spots makes him even more valuable.

    Rakestraw was pulled early from drills by the training staff, a planned precaution. The rookie is coming off core muscle surgery following the conclusion of Missouri’s college season, and his recovery limited his pre-draft workout ability.

    Rakestraw did not appear to be limited or inhibited while doing drills, but the Lions are clearly playing this one carefully.

    “That’s just the plan they already had set for me,” Rakestraw said after practice. “I was trying to go, but they was like, ‘Nah, you trying to exceed your reps we already had for you.’ But what I got to do a great job of is sticking to the plan. They’ve been here, they’ve got a ton of experience and just keep it like that.”

    20 days until Vikings season opener: Every player to wear No. 20

    Last worn by Duke Shelley and Harrison Hand, 14 players have worn No. 20 for the Minnesota Vikings.

    The Minnesota Vikings will kick off their 2023 regular season in 20 days at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 10.

    From now until then, we will take a trip down memory lane and count each day by revisiting the players that have worn that specific jersey number.

    With 20 days until kickoff, here’s a look at every player to wear No. 20 in a regular season with the Vikings (via Pro Football Reference):

    38 days until Vikings season opener: Every player to wear No. 38

    Mostly defensive backs, eight players have worn No. 38 for the Minnesota Vikings.

    It’s the final countdown…

    Well, sort of.

    The Minnesota Vikings will kick off their 2023 regular season in 38 days at home against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 10.

    From now until then, we will take a trip down memory lane and count each day by revisiting the players that have worn that specific jersey number.

    With 38 days until kickoff, here’s a look at every player to wear No. 38 with the Vikings (via Pro Football Reference):

    Bears 2023 NFL draft preview: Where does Chicago stand at CB?

    Up next in our Bears draft preview is cornerback, which features a pair of solid young players but could still be improved.

    The Chicago Bears have had a busy offseason, working to improve the team following their historic 3-14 run during the 2022 season during general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus’ first year with the team. Now going into Year 2, Poles and Eberflus are working to get the Bears back to relevancy and build a foundation that will eventually lead to postseason success.

    Following their free agency frenzy, the Bears are setting their sights towards the 2023 NFL draft, which is quickly approaching. After initially winding up with the No. 1 overall pick, the Bears moved down to No. 9 following a lucrative trade with the Carolina Panthers. They will look to shore up certain positions such as offensive tackle and defensive line that still have glaring holes.

    Here at Bears Wire, we’re going position by position to break down where Chicago stands entering the NFL draft. Up next is cornerback, which appears set at two spots but could still use an upgrade in the draft.

    Bears 2022 CB review: Jaylon Johnson and young players make strides

    Our next Bears position review focuses on the cornerbacks, a group of young players who were tested all season but showed progress.

    The Chicago Bears wrapped the 2022 season with a 3-14 record, which culminated in a 10-game losing streak. But there’s still reasons to be optimistic about the future, including a boatload of salary cap space, the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft and the emergence of quarterback Justin Fields.

    Here at Bears Wire, we’re going position by position through the 2022 Bears and grading every player. Up next is cornerback, where young players such as Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon made strides throughout the season.

    3 takeaways from the Bears’ Week 18 loss to the Vikings

    The Bears lost their 624th game of all time and it might be the biggest one in team history. Here are our takeaways from Bears vs. Vikings.

    The 2022 regular season has mercifully come to an end for the Chicago Bears, and it featured one more loss that had significant ramifications. The Bears fell 29-13 to the Minnesota Vikings, losing their 10th game in a row. But this loss, coupled with a win by the Houston Texans, gave the Bears the top selection in the 2023 NFL Draft.

    As far as the actual game goes, the Bears pulled out all the stops to ensure they wouldn’t win. Justin Fields was out due to a hip injury, so head coach Matt Eberflus rolled with two quarterbacks. Nathan Peterman got the start and Tim Boyle shuffled in throughout the day. Neither was particularly effective, but it didn’t matter as the defense was carved up by the Vikings starters before they exited the game to rest up for the postseason.

    With the final loss of the season, the Bears finish 3-14 but have numerous possibilities that await this offseason. Here are our takeaways from Sunday’s game.

    Bears activate WR Byron Pringle from IR

    Byron Pringle returns to the Bears after missing the last six weeks with a calf injury.

    Reinforcements are on the way for the Chicago Bears receiving corps. The team announced they have activated wide receiver Byron Pringle from injured reserve ahead of their matchup with the Detroit Lions.

    Pringle has missed the last six weeks after injuring his calf during the team’s Week 3 victory over the Houston Texans. The former Kansas City Chief has three catches for 33 yards in his first season with the Bears. He rejoins a suddenly crowded receiving room that features Darnell Mooney, Chase Claypool, Equanimeous St. Brown, Dante Pettis, and Velus Jones Jr.

    In addition to Pringle, the Bears also announced they have elevated defensive end Gerri Green and cornerback Harrison Hand from the practice squad. With injuries to defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad and cornerback Kindle Vildor, the Bears will look to Green and Hand to fill in, respectively.

    Titans hosted four players for tryouts on Wednesday

    The Titans hosted four players for tryouts on Wednesday.

    The Tennessee Titans continue to do their due diligence with free agents ahead of the 2022 campaign.

    Per the league’s transactions wire, the Titans hosted four players for tryouts on Wednesday, including linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu, defensive end Gerri Green, and defensive backs Harrison Hand and Jovante Moffatt.

    The most notable name of that group is Attaochu, an eight-year veteran who can play inside and out and has spent time with the Los Angeles Chargers, New York Jets, Denver Broncos and Chicago Bears.

    He has appeared in 79 games (23 starts) during his career and spent the 2021 campaign with the Bears, where his season was cut short due to a torn pectoral.

    The year prior, Attaochu finished with 31 combined tackles and five sacks in 13 games (five starts) for the Broncos.

    A former fifth-round pick of the Vikings, Hand spent two years in Minnesota, appearing in 23 games (one start) and tallying one interception and three passes defensed.

    Like Hand, Moffatt has two years of experience in the NFL. In 14 games (no starts), he has 10 combined tackles. Moffatt, Hand and Attaochu are also experienced in playing special teams.

    Green, on the other hand, has never played a snap in an NFL game.

    Perhaps the Titans will do more roster shuffling in the days leading up to their Week 1 matchup against the New York Giants, which kicks off on September 11 at 4:25 p.m. ET at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.

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    Giants sign DB Fabian Moreau to practice squad, release two

    The New York Giants have signed DB Fabian Moreau to their practice squad and released two, including RB Sandro Platzgummer.

    The New York Giants continued their roster tinkering as Week 1 of the 2022 regular season opened on Monday.

    The team announced that defensive back Fabian Moreau had been signed to the practice squad as part of a series of moves. In order to clear room for Moreau, defensive back Harrison Hand was released from the reserve unit.

    The 28-year-old Moreau was a third-round pick of the Washington Commanders in the 2017 NFL draft. He spent four seasons with the team before joining the Atlanta Falcons last season. He also spent a portion of this summer with the Houston Texans but was released as a part of final cuts.

    In 76 career games (34 starts), Moreau has recorded 186 tackles (4 for a loss), one QB hit, three forced fumbles, 25 passes defensed and six interceptions. He earned a 57.7 Pro Football Focus grade in 2021.

    Also waived was running back Sandro Platzgummer, who had spent the past two-plus years with New York as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program.

    Platzgummer is likely to return to the Giants’ practice squad given his available roster exemption. He would not count toward the 16-player limit.

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