Tag: Jonathan Ward

Steelers add yet another RB to the practice squad in response to injuries

The Steelers running back situation isn’t looking great heading into Sunday’s game with the Cowboys.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are only a month into the season but the injuries are already starting to mount. In particular, the Steelers have become incredibly thin at running back over a very short period of time.

When the Steelers take on the Dallas Cowboys this week, there’s a real possibility that both Jaylen Warren and Cordarrelle Patterson will be out or at the very least limited. In response, the Steelers brought back a running back they had on their offseason roster in La’Mical Perine and added him back to the practice squad.

This gives the Steelers several options this week against the Cowboys to back up Najee Harris. Last week the Steelers called up Aaron Shampklin to the 53-man roster as the team’s third back but we expect it to come down to Perine and Jonathan Ward and it could be both guys on the gameday roster by the time Sunday gets here.

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Steelers bringing preseason star back to practice squad

The Steelers are signing Jonathan Ward to the practice squad.

The Pittsburgh Steelers got some solid performances from several of their backup running backs during training camp and the preseason. According to NFL reporter Aaron Wilson, the Steelers are bringing at least one of them back to the practice squad.

Wilson says the Steelers are planning to sign Jonathan Ward back to the practice squad after a strong preseason. We were hoping that either Ward or La’Mical Perine would be back after the Steelers kept only three running backs and no fullback on the initial 53-man roster.

Steelers key backup running back Jaylen Warren suffered an injury in the preseason but said he will be ready to go in Week One against the Atlanta Falcons.

The Steelers have reportedly also signed former Philadelphia Eagles running back Boston Scott to the practice squad. The Steelers might be loaded up at the position to sort out if they want to carry a true third running back on the roster as opposed to using hybrid Cordarrelle Patterson.

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Steelers backup running backs stand out vs Texans

There’s a real position battle brewing at running back after Friday night.

There wasn’t a whole lot to get excited about on Friday night about the Pittsburgh Steelers offense. With third-string quarterback Kyle Allen playing the bulk of the snaps, the passing offense didn’t do much against the Houston Texans defense.

But if there was an aspect of the offense that we did like on Friday night it was the play of the backup running backs. Starter Najee Harris only had three carries for nine yards and main backup Jaylen Warren had three carries for 11 yards.

Meanwhile, reserves Jonathan Ward and Daijun Edwards were great in limited action. Ward had 26 yards on just 2 carries, getting 20 on one touch. Diajun Edwards was even better with 28 yards on only three carries and a touchdown.

The Steelers will need to decide when it is time to trim down to the final 53-man roster if that wildcard spot on offense will go to an extra running back, a true fullback or an extra tight end. After one game, we want to see Edwards get that spot and be the team’s No. 3 back with Cordarrelle Patterson as more of a return specialist.

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Titans promote 2, elevate 2 ahead of game vs. Dolphins

The Titans announced a total of four roster moves ahead of their Week 14 game against the Dolphins.

The Tennessee Titans announced a total of four moves ahead of their “Monday Night Football” game against the Miami Dolphins.

The team announced it has promoted both punter Ty Zentner and running back Jonathan Ward to the active roster from the practice squad.

Also, linebacker JoJo Domann and defensive lineman Marlon Davidson are standard practice squad elevations for the game against the Dolphins. Both will revert back following the contest.

Zentner will be making his Titans debut as he replaces injured punter Ryan Stonehouse, who is out for the season. Ward will serve as the third running back behind Derrick Henry and Tyjae Spears and will help on special teams.

If they’re active and see the field, Domann and Davidson would also be making their Titans debuts.

Domann was signed this week and interim special teams coordinator Tom Quinn mentioned him as someone who could serve as a personal protector for punts, along with Ward.

Davidson was inked to the practice squad back in October but has yet to play a game.

The Titans and Dolphins will kick off from Hard Rock Stadium at 8:15 p.m. EST.

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Titans sign Matthew Jackson, Jonathan Ward to practice squad

The Titans brought back two recently-waived players on the practice squad on Tuesday.

The Tennessee Titans made two additions to their practice squad on Tuesday, with the team bringing back running back Jonathan Ward and safety Matthew Jackson. Both were waived prior to the Week 11 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

After appearing in three games for Tennessee last season, Ward was brought back this past offseason but suffered an injury during training camp that led to his being waived.

He was brought back on the practice squad late last month before eventually being promoted to the active roster. Ward has played in two games for the Titans this season.

Jackson was an undrafted free-agent signing of the Titans and was one of the bigger surprises on the initial 53-man roster. The Eastern Kentucky product has played two snaps on defense and 133 on special teams.

Tennessee made three moves in total on Tuesday, with the team also waiving defensive lineman Jaleel Johnson, who took to Twitter to voice his frustration with the situation in Nashville after.

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Titans promoting RB Jonathan Ward to 53-man roster

The Titans are reportedly promoting RB Jonathan Ward to the active roster.

The Tennessee Titans are adding another running back to their active roster to go along with Derrick Henry and Tyjae Spears.

According to Justin Melo of The Draft Network, the Titans are promoting running back Jonathan Ward from the practice squad to the active roster.

Ward appeared in three games for the Titans after signing in Nashville last season. He was then brought back in 2023 before an injury ended his bid to make the 53-man roster out of training camp.

Ward was then signed to Tennessee’s practice squad in late October and has been elevated for two games since. He’s played just three snaps on offense and 36 on special teams over those two contests.

The Titans have been carrying just two backs on their active roster, thus Ward gives them a third. However, his primary focus will be playing on special teams, where he’s proven to be an asset during his career.

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Titans elevate RB Jonathan Ward for Week 9

The Titans have elevated RB Jonathan Ward for the Week 9 game against the Steelers.

The Tennessee Titans are making one practice squad elevation for the Week 9 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night.

Tennessee announced it is elevating running back Jonathan Ward from the practice squad, which will give the Titans a third running back, along with Derrick Henry and Tyjae Spears, and an extra hand on special teams.

Ward was first signed by the Titans in 2022 and appeared in three games last season, playing mostly on special teams. He also handled five carries for 25 yards and caught two passes for seven yards.

The Central Michigan product was brought back this past offseason and had a good shot to make the initial 53-man roster before suffering an injury that led to him being waived with an injury designation.

Tennessee brought Ward back late last month on the practice squad and he was elevated for the Week 8 game against the Atlanta Falcons, where he played 24 snaps on special teams and three on offense.

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Titans release Jacques Patrick from practice squad among 3 moves

The Titans made three practice squad moves on Tuesday.

The Tennessee Titans released running Jacques Patrick from the practice squad among three practice squad moves made on Tuesday. The team also signed linebacker Joseph Jones and running back Jonathan Ward to the practice squad, as was previously reported.

Patrick, 26, was on his seventh NFL team since entering the league in 2020. The Orlando native signed with the Titans prior to the 2023 season. He was waived at the end of August and re-signed to the team’s practice squad in mid-September.

Patrick had yet to appear in a regular season game for Tennessee but notably rushed for 76 yards on 15 carries in the Titans’ 23-7 preseason win over New England. With San Francisco in 2021, the Florida State product had two carries for 12 yards, including a rushing attempt that resulted in a first down.

Jones, 29, is familiar with the Titans, having first been signed to the practice squad in Sept. 2021. Following the season, the Plano, Illinois, native signed a reserve/futures contract. Prior to the start of the 2022 season, he was waived and signed to the team’s practice squad.

The Northwestern alum appeared in 24 games for the Titans, recording 24 tackles while primarily playing a special teams role. However, he did see 38 defensive snaps in 2022.

Ward returns to the Titans after signing to the practice squad in December 2022. Ward was brought back this past offseason and had a shot to make Tennessee’s roster before he suffered an injury and was waived.

The 26-year-old has seen 35 games in the NFL, including three games for the Titans last season. Ward accumulated five carries for 25 yards, including two for first downs. He also hauled in two catches for seven yards and played a role on special teams.

The Central Michigan standout originally signed with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent and saw a fair amount of the field.

In 32 games, Ward picked up 14 carries for 58 yards with the Cardinals between 2020 and 2022. He briefly spent time with the New York Jets organization before the Titans scooped him up late last year.

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Titans signing RB Jonathan Ward to practice squad

The Titans are reportedly signing RB Jonathan Ward to their practice squad.

After being a bit short-handed at the position over the first six games of the 2023 season, the Tennessee Titans are adding a running back.

Per Justin Melo of The Draft Network, the Titans are signing running back Jonathan Ward to the practice squad after hosting him for a pair of workouts this month.

This is the second addition the Titans have made to the practice squad in recent days, as the team is also signing linebacker Joe Jones.

Ward joined the Titans late last year and appeared in three games, playing mostly on special teams. He was brought back this past offseason and had a good shot to make the 53-man roster before suffering an injury.

With Ward in the mix, the Titans now have four running backs, with two on the active roster in Derrick Henry and Tyjae Spears, and one more on the practice squad in Jacques Patrick.

The Titans may need more help at the position come Halloween if the team decides to trade Henry, which is very much a possibility after the Titans dealt Kevin Byard to the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday.

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Titans held tryouts with 7 players on Thursday

The Titans brought seven players in for tryouts on Thursday, including three familiar faces.

The Tennessee Titans are on their bye week and are taking the extra time this week to get a look at some players, according to the league’s transactions wire.

Among the players to try out for the Titans on Thursday were three familiar faces in running back Jonathan Ward, linebacker Joseph Jones and defensive back Josh Thompson.

Ward and Thompson were both with the Titans during the offseason, also, but suffered injuries that thwarted their bids at the team’s initial 53-man roster.

This is Ward’s second meeting with the Titans this month. Tennessee only has two running backs on the active roster, so there’s a need for depth there. Thompson and Ward can offer help on special teams, also.

Jones appeared in 24 games with the Titans from 2021 through 2022, playing mostly on special teams. He saw just 64 snaps on defense in that span.

Now, a look at the rest of the players the Titans worked out, along with some information for each.