Tag: Joel Iyiegbuniwe

Lions place 2 players on I.R., officially add LB Joel Iyiegbuniwe

The Detroit Lions placed WR Tre’Quan Smith and LB Malik Jefferson on I.R. and officially add LB Joel Iyiegbuniwe

A day after the addition was known to be coming, the Detroit Lions made it official. The team signed free agent linebacker Joel Iyiegbuniwe to a one-year contract ahead of the Lions’ final preseason game.

Iyiegbuniwe has years of considerable special teams experience in the NFL, though the one-time Bears fourth-round pick has barely played on defense in his six years in the league.

He fills the roster spot of linebacker Malik Jefferson, who was one of two players the Lions placed on injured reserve. Jefferson and veteran wideout Tre’Quan Smith had their Lions seasons ended with the move to I.R.

Detroit also reached injury settlements with two undrafted rookies who were previously waived, DB Morice Norris and LB DaRon Gilbert.

The Lions are signing another linebacker to the preseason roster

The Lions are signing another linebacker to the preseason roster in veteran Joel Iyiegbuniwe, who last played in the UFL

The roster tinkering during Detroit Lions training camp continues, and it rolls forward with another linebacker joining the den.

The Lions are signing veteran LB Joel Iyiegbuniwe. A 2018 fourth-round pick by the Chicago Bears out of Western Kentucky, the 28-year-old has 65 games of NFL experience between the Bears and Panthers franchises. He was most recently with the San Antonio Brahmas of the UFL.

Iyiegbuniwe has played almost exclusively on special teams throughout his NFL career. He racked up over 1,300 snaps on punt and kick units but saw the field for less than 50 defensive snaps in his five active NFL seasons.

The roster move is not official yet, nor have the Lions made any corresponding releases from the roster.

Detroit recently added LBs Malik Jefferson, Ty Summers and Abraham Beauplan since the start of training camp. All are effectively special teams specialists.

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List of Panthers 2023 free agents who remain unsigned

2023 Panthers free agents who remain unsigned

The Carolina Panthers re-signed two of their own free agents before closing out the month of May—offensive tackle Cameron Erving and guard Michael Jordan. But there remains a handful of the team’s players from the 2022 roster who are currently out on the open market.

Here are those seven free agents . . .

Panthers add two players to practice squad on Tuesday

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

The Carolina Panthers just made some moves! But, uh, they’re probably not the type of moves you’d first think of on this trade deadline day.

As reported by Darin Gantt of Panthers.com on Tuesday afternoon, the team added two players to its practice squad—running back Nate McCrary and linebacker Joel Iyiegbuniwe.

McCrary cracked into the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2021. The Saginaw Valley State University product played in 33 games at the collegiate level—recording 1,889 yards and 28 touchdowns off 377 carries.

He went right on to be a summer standout for Baltimore, leading the team in rushing yards (163) during the preseason. McCrary, however, would later be waived and has since picked up stops with the Denver Broncos and the Ravens (again) between 2021 and 2022.

Iyiegbuniwe, who initially signed with the Panthers on Oct. 20, returns to Carolina’s practice squad less than a week after his release.

The team parted ways with running back John Lovett, who Iyiegbuniwe was released for last Thursday, and CB Gavin Heslop to make room for the moves.

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Panthers sign former Bears 4th-round pick to practice squad

The Panthers signed LB Joel Iyiegbuniwe to the practice squad on Thursday. He is now the fourth addition to the group this week.

As announced by the team on Thursday afternoon, linebacker Joel Iyiegbuniwe has been signed to the Carolina Panthers’ practice squad.

Iyiegbuniwe was a fourth-round pick of the Chicago Bears in 2018 out of Western Kentucky University. In four years as a Hilltopper, he totaled 201 tackles (22.5 for a loss), 5.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.

Then, over the next four seasons of his career, Iyiegbuniwe appeared in 58 games for the Bears—collecting 29 tackles and a forced fumble between 2018 and 2021. He primarily served on special teams in Chicago under Carolina’s current special teams coordinator Chris Tabor.

The 27-year-old defender was one of six players the Panthers brought in for a look this past Monday. Carolina has since added four players from that tryout session—with running back Spencer Brown, defensive end Raequan Williams and linebacker Delontae Scott already signed to the practice squad on Tuesday.

To make room for Iyiegbuniwe, the team released defensive lineman Frank Herron.

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Former Baylor LB among 6 players Panthers bring in on Monday

In addition to holding tryouts for five players on Monday, the Panthers brought former Baylor LB Blake Lynch in for a visit.

Now that the Carolina Panthers have fired head coach Matt Rhule, are the pipelines from both Temple University and Baylor University set to be dismantled?

It seemed that way, at least early on. Defensive coordinator Phil Snow and assistant special teams coach Ed Foley, longtime staffers of Rhule, followed their leader out the door last week. Heck, former Owl Robbie Anderson just got the boot today.

But one Bear just squeaked through to Charlotte, as linebacker Blake Lynch made a visit to the Panthers on Tuesday. Lynch played three seasons, and three different positions, under Rhule at Baylor.

A holdover from the previous regime led by Art Briles, the 6-foot-3, 233-pounder transitioned from wide receiver to safety to linebacker between 2017 and 2019 with Rhule. He would later go undrafted, however, and sign with the Minnesota Vikings on April 28, 2020.

Lynch played in 20 games for Minnesota in 2020 and 2021. He totaled 47 tackles, 2.0 sacks, an interception and a forced fumble.

Carolina, additionally, held tryouts for five players on the afternoon—running back Spencer Brown, defensive linemen Delontae Scott and Raequan Williams and linebackers Joel Iyiegbuniwe and Dorian O’Daniel.

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Seahawks announce they’ve waived 5 players to get roster down to 80

Here is a review of today’s announced moves.

NFL teams have until Tuesday to trim their rosters from 85 players down to 80 as Phase 2 of the offseason cuts. The Seattle Seahawks got a head start on Saturday afternoon, waiving five players to get in compliance.

Here is a review of today’s announced moves.

Seahawks: 7 sleepers to watch at 2022 training camp

One week from today the Seattle Seahawks will report to training camp.

One week from today the Seattle Seahawks will report to training camp.

The theme of this offseason has been one of change. While the team might look much the same on paper compared to last year, Seattle went through a revolution in leadership. From sending their franchise quarterback away to totally upending their defensive coaching staff, there’s been a lot of shakeups around the VMAC. In theory, that should create opportunities for younger players and undrafted free agents to make their mark as this team begins a new chapter. Here are seven sleepers to keep an eye on during camp.

Seahawks agree to terms with former Bears LB Joel Iyiegbuniwe

According to a report by Mike Dugar at the Athletic, the Seahawks have agreed to terms with former Bears linebacker Joel Iyiegbuniwe.

According to a report by Mike Dugar at the Athletic, the Seahawks have agreed to terms with former Bears linebacker Joel Iyiegbuniwe.

Iyiegbuniwe (6-foot-1, 235 pounds) played his college ball at Western Kentucky and then was a fourth-round pick by Chicago in the 2018 NFL draft. Since then he’s appeareed in 58 games, mostly putting in work on special teams. To date he’s played 1,214 snaps on special teams and just 49 on defense.

Seattle fans should expect more Bears to sign with the Seahawks this offseason. Associate head coach Sean Desai was their defensive coordinator last season and will want to bring over some talent with him. The team has also signed former Chicago cornerback Artie Burns to a one-year deal.

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Bears 2021 ILB review: Roquan Smith continues to shine

We’re taking a look at how the Bears inside linebackers fared in 2021.

The Chicago Bears wrapped another disappointing season that resulted in the firings of general manager Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy. With the offseason in full swing, it provides an opportunity for the new regime in GM Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus to look back at went right, what went wrong and how to improve in 2022.

Here at Bears Wire, we’re going position by position through the 2021 Bears and grading every player. Next up is inside linebacker, the position group that boasts arguably the team’s best player in Roquan Smith.

PREVIOUS POSITION REVIEWS: QB, RB, WR, TE, OL, DL, OLB