Tag: practice squad

Saints shuffle roster posts, lose Austin Carr to injured reserve

The New Orleans Saints sent WR Austin Carr to injured reserve and called up practice squad TE Jason Vander Laan, adding RB Ricky Ortiz.

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The New Orleans Saints shuffled the bottom of their depth chart on Friday in a series of roster moves. Third-year wide receiver Austin Carr was sent to the injured reserve list after missing practice with an ankle injury; in his place, the Saints called up practice squad tight end Jason Vander Laan. The open spot on the practice squad was filled by Ricky Ortiz, who the official NFL transactions wire listed as a running back.

Ortiz’s (6-foot-0, 233 pounds) exact position is a little unclear, though it doesn’t mean much in the bigger picture (teammate Taquan Mizzell, also on the practice squad, is listed as a wide receiver but wears No. 44, a number restricted to running backs and fullbacks). Oritz’s previous NFL experience came as a fullback with the Atlanta Falcons, where he was listed as a fullback and appeared in a dozen games last season, totaling 139 snaps on offense and 89 snaps on special teams.

Vander Laan (6-foot-4, 245 pounds) has been on the Saints practice squad since Oct. 23. His NFL experience has been limited to appearances with the Indianapolis Colts, Carolina Panthers, and New England Patriots practice squads. Before that, he played quarterback at Ferris State, where he set the NCAA all-division record for rushing yards (5,953).

With starting fullback Zach Line sidelined by a knee injury and backup tight end Josh Hill returning from a mild concussion, opportunities are there for fresh faces like Vander Laan and Ortiz to make an impression right away. Carr’s loss on offense is minimal; he’s proven to be a capable blocker out of the slot, but struggles to get open or catch the ball when it’s thrown to him. The Saints are working with second-year wideout Keith Kirkwood in his return from injured reserve in the next few weeks. Hopefully he’ll be able to create a spark where Carr couldn’t once he’s back.

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Seahawks place TE Ed Dickson on IR, promote Tyrone Swoopes

The Seattle Seahawks placed TE Ed Dickson back on the injured reserve, promoting Tyrone Swoopes from the practice squad to take his place.

Ed Dickson’s second season with the Seattle Seahawks was over nearly as soon as it began. The veteran was placed back on the injured reserve just two days after he was activated, meaning he will not play a single snap in the 2019 season.

The Seahawks recalled tight end Tyrone Swoopes from the practice squad to take his place on the active roster. Swoopes will likely serve as the backup tight end behind Jacob Hollister, with Luke Willson (hamstring) not expected to suit up on Sunday against the Eagles.

Dickson missed the first six games of the 2018 season on the injured reserve before coming back and hauling in three touchdowns down the stretch. Seattle no doubt hoped for more of the same from the veteran in 2019, but a lingering knee injury never managed to resolve itself, ending his season and putting the 32-year-old’s career in jeopardy.

Swoopes originally joined the Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2017, converting from quarterback to tight end. He has appeared in two games over the past two seasons, hauling in one reception.

Sunday will likely be his first game on the active roster in 2019, and he could see regular action for Seattle at least until Willson is healthy.

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Report: Seahawks tight end Ed Dickson headed back to injured reserve

In an unexpected turn of events, Seahawks TE Ed Dickson – who was just activated this week – could be headed back to the injured reserve.

Just days after the Seattle Seahawks activated tight end Ed Dickson back to the 53-man roster, he might be headed back to the injured reserve.

A report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler indicates that’s exactly what is likely to happen.

“Seahawks expected to place TE Ed Dickson back on IR, according to sources,” Fowler tweeted early Thursday evening. “Dickson was activated this week but there’s concern over his recovery from injury.”

This report contradicts what coach Pete Carroll had said earlier in the week – that Dickson would actually be able to carry a full workload Sunday against the Eagles.

“He’s going to play a regular load if the week works out fine,” Carroll said Wednesday. “He’s been conditioning for a long time. He’s been practicing with us for quite a while. He should be ready to go. Weight’s in a good spot. He looks like he’s in good shape. He won’t play the whole game because we’ll be moving guys in and out. We expect him to play a regular role.”

If the Seahawks do place Dickson back on the injured reserve, they will undoubtedly have to active Tyrone Swoopes up from the practice squad.

This story is continuing to develop.

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Seahawks activate tight end Ed Dickson, waive cornerback Jamar Taylor

The Seattle Seahawks activated tight end Ed Dickson off the injured reserve, waiving veteran cornerback Jamar Taylor to make room.

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The Seattle Seahawks made a long-awaited move on Wednesday, activating veteran tight end Ed Dickson off the injured reserve, a mere hours before the deadline that would have prevented him from playing all season.

In order to make room on the roster, the team waived nickel cornerback Jamar Taylor.

After clearing the 53-man roster, Dickson began the season on the injured reserve with a knee injury for the second year in a row. He returned last year and hauled in 12 receptions (on 13 targets) for 143 yards and three touchdowns – serving primarily as a run-blocker.

The Seahawks will certainly hope for more of the same from the veteran, who will be counted on in a big role following the season-ending injury to Will Dissly and the current hamstring injury that Luke Willson is battling.

Taylor struggled in Seattle’s last game against San Francisco out of the nickel position, and the recent performance of rookie Ugo Amadi may have prompted his release.

“He’s one of those guys that have been with us long enough, it’s time for him to get some more opportunities,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said regarding Amadi on Monday. “Still a great competitor for us on a number of positions for us for playtime. Coming off the break we have a chance to revisit some of that stuff so, if it fits with different positions, and guys, and individuals, we’re looking to take advantage of that.”

Taylor signed with Seattle this offseason, got cut, and signed back with the team after Week 1. He’s played in nine games this year, recording 20 combined tackles and three passes defended, but has struggled in pass coverage.

The Seahawks also added linebacker Pita Taumoepenu to the practice squad, taking the spot vacated by Adrian Colbert’s departure to Miami.

Taumoepenu was a sixth-round pick by the 49ers back in 2017. He spent training camp with the Cardinals but was waived/injured during roster cuts and eventually waived off the injured reserve in September.

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Jags add OL Ryan Pope to practice squad

The Jags added their second offensive lineman to the practice squad.

The Jacksonville Jaguars had an available spot their practice squad and filled it with the signing of offensive tackle Ryan Pope, putting them back at 10 players on the unit. Per Arron Wilson, the move came after the Jags worked Pope out this week with two other offensive tackles in Tyler Jones and Marcus Applefield.

Pope, 22, signed with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted rookie free agent in May and later found himself with the San Fransisco 49ers in September. He played collegiately at San Diego State University where he participated in 38 games and had 24 starts with the Aztecs. During his senior campaign in 2018, he started all 13 games for San Diego State and earned Second-Team All-Mountain West honors in the process.

He and Blake Hance are currently the only two offensive lineman on the Jags’ practice squad. If Pope sees the field in all probability it will be next preseason as the Jags will likely look to develop him this season.

Lions promoted RB Bo Scarbrough, release RB Paul Perkins

The Detroit Lions announced they have promoted running back Bo Scarbrough to the active roster and released running back Paul Perkins in a corresponding move.

The Detroit Lions announced they have promoted running back Bo Scarbrough to the active roster and released running back Paul Perkins in a corresponding move. Additionally, the team has re-signed punter Matt Wile to the practice squad, filling the opening created after the Scarbrough move.

It’s fitting Scarbrough was promoted this week, as he will get a chance to play against the Dallas Cowboys, the team who drafted him in the seventh round (pick 236) of the 2018 NFL Draft.

Scarbrough is a power runner who plays to contact, something that is missing in the Lions’ current backfield. He can contribute in the passing game — he’s an excellent blocker — which will get him opportunities to see the field on Sunday, but it’s important to set your expectations for him accordingly.

Positives

  • Bruising back who runs behind his pads
  • Won’t shy away from contact and often falls forward
  • Creates extra yards with power in both short game and at the end of long runs
  • Terrific pass blocker

Negatives

  • He rarely makes defenders miss due to his upright running style
  • He is often injured as his running style forces his body to take a pounding
  • He won’t be a threat as a pass-catcher
  • He can be explosive but it takes him time to get up to speed

The Lions have a clear two options at the top of the running back rotation with Ty Johnson and J.D. McKissic. When Johnson left the game last week with an injury, third running back Paul Perkins only saw the field for 12 offensive snaps. When Johnson was healthy the week prior, Perkins only saw three snaps total.

With Johnson clearing the NFL’s concussion protocol today, both he and McKissic are fully healthy heading into tomorrow’s game. That should make snaps difficult for Scarbrough to come by and he may be relegated to situational work.

Wile being added back to the practice squad could be a preemptive move to give Sam Martin rest early in next week’s practices, but this is his second stint with the Lions in the last three weeks, indicating there’s something about his game that they like. With Martin in a contract year, Wile may be getting an extended try out for a contract this offseason.

Sojourn Shelton added to Arizona Cardinals practice squad

The Arizona Cardinals signed former Wisconsin Badgers cornerback Sojourn Shelton to their practice squad ahead of their Week 11 matchup.

The Arizona Cardinals have brought back former Wisconsin Badgers defensive back Sojourn Shelton, signing him to their practice squad.

Shelton was originally signed by Arizona after going undrafted in 2017, but was released before the season started. He ended up spending his entire first season on the Bengals practice squad.

He caught on with the Eagles in August but was cut at the end of the preseason, and the 24-year-old has remained a free agent until now.

Shelton will provide the Cardinals with added depth at the cornerback positions, and could sneak onto the team as a special teams contributor as well.

Shelton had a very solid career at Wisconsin, playing with the Badgers from 2013-2016 and racking up 129 total tackles, nine interceptions and 30 passes defended, which ranks sixth in the BIG-10 since 2005.

However, his lack of size (five-foot-nine, 168 pounds) has limited him to precious few opportunities in the NFL. He’ll have to really fight to earn his way onto Arizona’s roster before the season is up.

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Colts add 4 players to the practice squad

The Colts make some changes to their practice squad.

The Indianapolis Colts made four additions to the practice squad, including wide receiver Deon Cain, defensive tackle Kyle Peko, running back Darius Jackson and offensive tackle Gerhard de Beer.

The news of Cain and Peko was given on Monday. Both players were waived before the Week 10 matchup with the Miami Dolphins. As they cleared waivers, the Colts decided to bring both of them back.

Jackson had an earlier stint with the Colts this season in September. He was added to the practice squad after Bruce Anderson was placed on the practice squad injured list on Tuesday.

de Beer likely takes the place of Jackson Barton, who was signed to the Kansas City Chiefs active roster this week. de Beer signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent following the 2018 NFL Draft. He also spent some time with the Green Bay Packers.

Broncos sign 2 players to practice squad

The Broncos have added outside linebacker Malik Carney and safety Tyvis Powell to their 10-man practice squad.

After placing quarterback Joe Flacco (neck) and linebacker Corey Nelson (biceps) on injured reserve, the Denver Broncos promoted quarterback Brett Rypien and linebacker Josh Watson from the 10-man practice squad to the 53-man roster last week.

To fill the two spots on the practice squad vacated by Rypien and Watson, the team has signed outside linebacker Malik Carney and safety Tyvis Powell, according to The Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala.

Carney (6-3, 235 pounds) is a rookie who totaled 176 tackles — including 32.5 tackles for losses — and 17 sacks during his four years at North Carolina. Before this year’s draft, NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein compared Carney to ex-Denver outside linebacker Shaq Barrett.

Powell (6-3, 210 pounds) is a third-year defensive back who has spent time with six different NFL teams, most recently with the Dallas Cowboys in August. He dressed for seven games with the San Francisco 49ers last season and totaled six tackles and forced one fumble.

Before the 2016 draft, NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein compared Powell to Kendrick Lewis, who had an eight-year career in the NFL.

The Broncos’ 10-man practice squad and 53-man roster are now both full.

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Jags sign DE Chuck Harris to practice squad

The Jags filled out their practice squad with some help on the edge by adding DE Chuck Harris.

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The Jacksonville Jaguars filled their last practice squad spot by signing defensive end Chuck Harris to the unit. The team announced the move Monday though Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle previously announced it last week.

Harris, 21, played collegiately at the University of Buffalo where he accumulated 149 total tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss and 12 sacks while participating in 40 games. Afterward, he went undrafted in the 2019 NFL Draft to the Chicago Bears. While there he played in all four preseason games and accumulated four tackles.

According to the Jags official page, he’ll wear the No. 96.