Tag: Khari Lee

Lions activate Jalen Elliott from reserve/COVID-19, release Khari Lee from practice squad

The Detroit Lions have activated safety Jalen Elliott from the reserve/COVID-19 list and released tight end Khari Lee from the practice squad in a corresponding move.

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The Detroit Lions announced they have activated safety Jalen Elliott from the reserve/COVID-19 list and released tight end Khari Lee from the practice squad in a corresponding move.

After activating Matthew Stafford on Saturday, Jarrad Davis on Monday, and Elliot today, the Lions reserve/COVID-19 list is once again emptied.

While the player’s list is empty, the Lions did announce on Saturday that a staff member had tested positive for COVID-19. As of yesterday, the team did not have any updates on this situation.

“I think from that standpoint, I’m definitely not going to comment on anybody’s health status from those situations,” coach Matt Patrica said at Monday’s press conference. “We’ll report as we’re following all the policies and guidelines from that standpoint. I totally respect the questions, and I appreciate that, but just trying to do the best I can to follow all the guidelines, and certainly when we talk about people’s health, and just the team in general, I try to do a good job of respecting all that.”

Elliot will likely rejoin the team’s practice squad when they take the practice field again tomorrow as they begin preparation for the Washington Football Team.

Detroit Lions sign TE Khari Lee to the practice squad, release RB Dalyn Dawkins

The Detroit Lions announced they have signed tight end Khari Lee to the practice squad and released running back Dalyn Dawkins in a corresponding move.

The Detroit Lions announced they have signed tight end Khari Lee to the practice squad and released running back Dalyn Dawkins in a corresponding move. This is Lee’s second stint with the Lions organization.

Undrafted in 2015, Lee began his NFL career with the Texans but was traded to the Bears and spent his entire rookie season in Chicago. In 2016, Lee was released at cut downs and the Lions used a waiver claim to acquire him. He lasted two months on the active roster before being released and then was added to the Lions practice squad. He would be released by the Lions at cutdowns in 2017.

Lee would then join the Bills or 2017 and half of 2018, but wouldn’t see the football field again until 2019 when he joined the XFL’s DC Defenders. In 2020, Lee signed with the Falcons but was released at cutdowns with an injury settlement.

Lee has historically been viewed as a blocking tight end but he found success in the passing game with the DC Defenders. Over his five games in the XFL — before the league shut down — Lee caught all eight of his targets for 91 yards and two touchdowns, and was PFF’s highest-graded tight end in the league.

It’s worth noting that Lee’s offensive coordinator in the XFL was Tanner Engstrand, who was recently hired by the Lions as an offensive assistant coach.

Falcons waive QB Kurt Benkert, WR Laquon Treadwell

It appears the Falcons will again carry just two quarterbacks on their 53-man roster this season after the team released third-string QB Kurt Benkert on Saturday morning.

It appears the Falcons will again carry just two quarterbacks on their 53-man roster this season after the team released third-string QB Kurt Benkert on Saturday morning, per ESPN’s Vaughn McClure.

Benkert could be another practice-squad candidate since the team gets to keep 16 players in 2020. Atlanta waived quarterback Kyle Lauletta on Saturday morning as well, just two days after signing him.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting the team has also released wide receiver Laquon Treadwell, the former first-round pick.

Stay tuned for more roster news as the NFL’s cut deadline is today at 4 p.m. ET.

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Falcons waive QB Kyle Lauletta

The Falcons signed quarterback Kyle Lauletta on Wednesday and according to ESPN’s Vaughn McClure, the team waived him Saturday morning ahead of the NFL’s 4 p.m. cut deadline.

The Falcons signed quarterback Kyle Lauletta on Wednesday and according to ESPN’s Vaughn McClure, the team waived him Saturday morning ahead of the NFL’s 4 p.m. cut deadline.

Lauletta is the sixth player to be released over the past two days. On Friday, Atlanta cut safety J.J. Wilcox, DL Hinwa Allieu, OL Evin Ksiezarczyk, RB Craig Reynolds and FB Mikey Daniel.

As McClure indicated, Lauletta is a prime candidate to land on the Falcons’ 16-man practice squad. Stay tuned for more roster news as we get closer to the cut deadline.

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Falcons release 5 players ahead of Saturday’s cut deadline

On Friday, the Atlanta Falcons cut a total of five players in preparation for Saturday’s 53-man roster deadline.

On Friday, the Atlanta Falcons cut a total of five players in preparation for Saturday’s 53-man roster deadline.

The team informed safety J.J. Wilcox, RB Craig Reynolds, FB Mikey Davis, DL Hinwa Allieu and OL Evin Ksiezarczyk that they had been released, as reported by D. Orlando Ledbetter and Jason Butt of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Wilcox was essentially on the bubble, but the other four — all undrafted free agents — were expected cuts and are strong candidates for the practice squad.

Stay up to date on each move with our Falcons roster tracker. Plus, make sure to check out our final 53-man roster and 16-man practice squad projections.

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Hayden Hurst feels he is a ‘perfect fit’ for Falcons offense

Tight end Hayden Hurst has yet to live up to his first-round pick status, but intends to do so as a member of the Falcons in 2020.

Tight end Hayden Hurst has yet to live up to his first-round pick status, but intends to do so as a member of the Falcons in 2020. Baltimore traded Hurst to Atlanta during the offseason as a replacement for Austin Hooper.

Entering his third year in the league, many feel the 27-year-old is primed for a breakout season playing in Dirk Koetter’s offense. Despite putting up underwhelming receiving totals — 30 catches, 349 yards and two touchdowns — in 2019, Hurst was projected by The Huddle to finish with 700 yards and five touchdowns as the Falcons’ No. 1 TE option.

Playing in a more pass-happy offense with a coordinator that loves to utilize the tight end position, Hurst is ready to prove he was in fact worthy of being drafted in the first round back in 2018. He joined NFL Network to talk about his expectations for the season and why he believes he’s a “perfect fit” in Atlanta.

Watch the full video segment below, as shared by the NFL Network’s Twitter account.

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Falcons release tight end Khari Lee with injury settlement

The Falcons signed free-agent tight end Khari Lee in the offseason, but announced on Thursday that they have released the 28-year-old with an injury settlement.

The Falcons signed free-agent tight end Khari Lee in the offseason, but announced on Thursday that they have released the 28-year-old with an injury settlement.

Lee was excelling as a pass-catching specialist at Falcons training camp and was someone many thought would make the final 53-man roster.

He’s played four NFL seasons with the Bears, Lions and Bills, but has just two career catches for 12 yards. Lee played well during last year’s stint in the XFL.

The team still has tight ends Luke Stocker, Jaeden Graham and Jared Pinkney competing to back up starter Hayden Hurst with camp winding down.

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Video: Falcons TE Khari Lee on what he can bring to the team

After trading a second-round pick for Hayden Hurst, the team signed Khari Lee.

The Atlanta Falcons added two tight ends to their roster once Austin Hooper left for the Browns in free agency. After trading a second-round pick for Hayden Hurst, the team signed Khari Lee.

Lee played most recently with the XFL, pulling in eight catches for 91 yards and two touchdowns for the DC Defenders before the season was cancelled.

Falcons reporter Kelsey Conway recently caught up Atlanta’s new tight end. Watch Lee talk about what he can bring to the team in Conway’s interview below:

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Falcons agree to terms with TE Khari Lee on one-year deal

The Falcons are adding a new tight end to the roster, announcing on Wednesday that they had agreed to terms with free-agent TE Khari Lee.

The Falcons are adding a new tight end to the roster, announcing on Wednesday that they had agreed to terms with free-agent TE Khari Lee:

Lee, 28, was an undrafted free agent out of Bowie State and played in 15 games with the Bears as a rookie back in 2015. He bounced around between Detroit and Buffalo over the next three seasons before playing well this year with the DC Defenders, an XFL franchise.

Outside of Hayden Hurst, the Falcons had little depth at the tight end position. Lee gives the team another big body and has improved as a pass-catcher. Look for Atlanta to add another tight end in the middle rounds of the 2020 draft.

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Former Bills make mark in XFL’s opening weekend

Here’s how several former Buffalo Bills fared in the opening week of XFL action.

The second edition of the XFL has given an opportunity for several former Bills to continue their professional football journey. A few of the players who frequented Buffalo’s roster in the past made some history in the XFL this weekend.

Here’s how several former Bills players fared in the opening week of XFL action:

DC Defenders

DC Defenders quarterback Cardale Jones. Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

The Defenders had several familiar faces to those who have suited up with the Bills over the past number of years. Quarterback Cardale Jones made the most of his time on the field, going 16-of-26 passing for 235 yards and a passer rating of 116.7. He also rushed the ball nine times for 28 yards. 

Former practice squad candidate Tyree Jackson played sparingly, rushing the ball once for five yards and not throwing a pass during the game. His brief time on the field was mostly a change-of-space for the Defenders offense. 

Tight end Khari Lee and wide receiver Malachi Dupree were involved in the aerial attack. Dupre caught two passes for 14 receiving yards. Lee, who played primarily as a blocking tight end for the Bills, was on the receiving end of a 39-yard touchdown reception which was a trick play also involving Jones: 

Former Buffalo prospects were also on display on the defensive side of the ball. Linebacker A.J. Tarpley, who retired from the NFL in 2015 due to concerns about concussions, returned to the field in the AAF and continues his comeback in the XFL. He registered five total tackles on the day. Cornerback Bradley Sylve returned an interception for a touchdown as well:

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