Tag: practice squad

Sean Payton says young players struggle to understand NFL’s roster puzzle

“The hardest thing for a young player is understanding the pro roster, the inactives, the gameday and the practice squad,” Sean Payton said.

The Denver Broncos will have to do some roster juggling in the coming weeks.

The Broncos had an open roster spot for center Luke Wattenberg to return from injured reserve this week after trading outside linebacker Baron Browning, but the team will need to create more space soon.

In addition to Wattenberg, Denver also has six other players who will likely return to the 53-man roster sooner than later. While bracing for the possibility of future injuries, the Broncos will attempt to maximize their roster flexibility by utilizing practice squad elevations.

This week, for example, Denver elevated linebacker Zach Cunningham from the practice squad to the game-day roster because fellow linebacker Kwon Alexander has already used up his three elevations this season. The Broncos do not yet have room for Alexander on the active roster, so Cunningham is using the first of his three possible elevations.

Denver coach Sean Payton said the roster juggling is one of the hardest things for young players to understand during the season.

“I think the hardest thing for a young player is understanding the pro roster, the inactives, the gameday and the practice squad,” Payton said on Friday. “They’ve just come from — there’s 105, 110 players and doubled up numbers [in college]. You look at an NFL sideline on game day, it’s pretty thin. There’s more people that aren’t playing within our sideline box — sometimes drives me crazy — but more people [than players] when there’s 11 on the field.

“There’s moving parts. Three maximum practice squad elevations for a player then you have to make a decision. We think such-and-such is coming back on to the roster, we have to make a decision. So I think it’s hard. I talked to some of the younger players yesterday. Even where you just bring them in and show them the depth chart and you show them the columns of inactives, practice squad, here’s the 53 [man roster], here’s short-term injury reserve and long-term injury reserve. I think it’s hard for anyone to understand that puzzle.”

The pieces of the puzzle change throughout the season as players suffer injuries and the Broncos move players up and down from the practice squad. With several players waiting to return from IR and the PUP list, more transactions are on deck for Denver in the coming weeks.

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Recapping the roster moves Broncos made ahead of Chiefs game

Broncos C Luke Wattenberg was activated from IR and FB Michael Burton and LB Zach Cunningham were elevated to the game-day roster.

The Denver Broncos made a few roster moves leading up to Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

The first domino fell on Monday when the Broncos traded pass rusher Baron Browning to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick. To fill Browning’s old spot on the active roster, Denver activated center Luke Wattenberg (ankle) from injured reserve to the 53-man roster on Saturday.

Additionally, Denver elevated fullback Michael Burton and linebacker Zach Cunningham from the practice squad to the game-day roster for Week 10. Burton and Cunningham will revert back to the practice squad on Monday.

Broncos roster moves

  1. Traded OLB Baron Browning to Cardinals
  2. Activated C Luke Wattenberg to 53-man roster
  3. Promoted FB Michael Burton to game-day roster
  4. Promoted LB Zach Cunningham to game-day roster

Sunday’s game will be regionally televised on CBS (view the TV map). Playing at home, KC is considered a heavy favorite against the Broncos.

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Broncos elevate 2 players from practice squad for Chiefs game

The Broncos have elevated FB Michael Burton and LB Zach Cunningham from the practice squad to the game-day roster for the Chiefs game.

The Denver Broncos are calling up some reinforcements from the practice squad ahead of their Week 10 showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Broncos elevated fullback Michael Burton and linebacker Zach Cunningham from the practice squad to the game-day roster on Saturday. They will revert back to the practice squad on Monday.

Players can be elevated up to three times during the season without having to clear waivers to return to the practice squad. This will mark Burton’s third and final practice squad elevation. He will likely return to the 53-man roster when a spot opens up, perhaps as early as next week.

Burton has dressed for all nine games this season, playing 90 snaps on offense and 164 snaps on special teams. This week marks the first time Cunningham has been elevated this season. He will likely play on special teams while providing depth behind Justin Strnad at linebacker.

Sunday’s game will be regionally televised on CBS (view the TV map). Playing at home, KC is considered a heavy favorite against the Broncos.

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Chiefs Dave Toub sees potential in a recently elevated tight end: ‘A three-phase player for us’

Kansas City #Chiefs Dave Toub sees potential in tight end Peyton Hendershot: ‘A three-phase player for us’ | @EdEastonJr

The Kansas City Chiefs’ special teams unit has played well this season, as players rotate often due to injury and needs in the offensive and defensive gameplans. Coordinator Dave Toub is proud of his group but acknowledged the work and potential of former practice squad tight end Peyton Hendershot.

“Yeah, he (Peyton Hendershot) was a good player in Dallas. I talked to (Cowboys Special Teams Coordinator John) Fassel down there, and he called me immediately as soon as we traded for him, and he said, ‘You got my guy.’ He does a good job.” said Toub. “He can run and does a good job; he’s real physical. He understands, has good instincts, and helped us in that game. He was able to step in on a short – you know, obviously, when he (Jared Wiley) got hurt – he got (called up)on short notice and was able to be a three-phase player for us in that game, so it helped.”

Hendershot made his season debut for the Chiefs in last Monday’s overtime victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He will likely play prominently on special teams, but, as Toub said, he should see time on offense filling in for injured tight ends Jody Fortson and Jared Wiley. He had 15 receptions for 141 yards and a touchdown during his career with the Dallas Cowboys.

Saints add former Giants defensive end to their practice squad

The New Orleans Saints added another defensive end to their practice squad. Here’s what you need to know about Ryder Anderson:

The New Orleans Saints added another defensive end, announcing Thursday that Ryder Anderson had signed with their practice squad. Listed at 6-foot-6 and 276 pounds, Anderson played college football at Ole Miss and Indiana before turning pro in 2022; he had spent his NFL career to this point with the New York Giants.

He’s the second defensive end the team signed this week after releasing Niko Lalos, along with Trajan Jeffcoat, an undrafted rookie who tried out at Saints training camp earlier this year. They haven’t gotten enough production out of guys at the bottom of the rotation like Isaiah Foskey and even Cameron Jordan, so it makes sense to churn the depth chart and see if someone new can show something special.

And here’s an updated look at the Saints defensive ends group, ordered by snaps played:

  • Carl Granderson (453 in 9 games)
  • Chase Young (412 in 9 games)
  • Cameron  Jordan (248 in 9 games)
  • Payton Turner (147 in 8 games)
  • Isaiah Foskey (33 in 5 games)
  • Trajan Jeffcoat (PS)
  • Ryder Anderson (PS)
  • Tanoh Kpassagnon (PUP)

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Lions add some familiar names and a newcomer to the practice squad

Lions add Chris Smith and Abraham Beauplan, plus a newcomer to the practice squad ahead of the Week 10 matchup with the Houston Texans

The Detroit Lions filled out all the vacancies on the team’s practice squad ahead of Wednesday’s practice session in Allen Park. With three spots open, the Lions brought back two familiar names and one new player–who has ties to this week’s opponent, the Houston Texans.

As expected, the Lions re-signed defensive tackle Chris Smith and linebacker Abraham Beauplan to the practice squad. The defensive duo had been on the practice squad all season before being signed to the active roster last week as Detroit dealt with an injury crunch. Smith played 10 snaps in the win over the Packers, while Beauplan didn’t get in on defense but played extensively on special teams while filling in for injured Malcolm Rodriguez.

The Lions also added veteran linebacker Ezekiel Turner to the practice squad. The 28-year-old spent the 2018 through 2023 seasons playing for the Arizona Cardinals, primarily on special teams. The Lions are his fourth team in 2024, with practice squad stints with the Texans and Seattle Seahawks during the regular season and offseason time with the San Francisco 49ers. He was on the Texans practice squad for the first four weeks of the season.

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Saints make a couple of roster moves amid blockbuster Marshon Lattimore trade

The Saints made a couple of roster moves amid their blockbuster Marshon Lattimore trade, including the return of a rookie who was injured at training camp:

After an eventful day with the New Orleans Saints shipping their Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore to the Washington Commanders, they made a couple of low-level transactions along the offensive and defensive lines.

The Saints re-signed guard Kyle Hergel to their practice squad while also releasing defensive end Niko Lalos and rookie defensive end Trajan Jeffcoat. Jeffcoat suffered a dislocated elbow at the start of Saints training camp so he’s back for another look.

The undrafted free agent Hergel has been active in five games this season, serving as a young depth piece along the interior offensive line. With an impressive training camp it isn’t surprising that the Saints want to continue to develop him if they can.

Lalos on the other hand, has been a guy the Saints have viewed highly of the last few seasons, as they’ve continued to add him back to the roster when  available. He has shown many flashes in the preseason over the years, and it wouldn’t surprise me if the team decided to bring him back at some point. Jeffcoat needs to practice hard and prove he’s a better option.

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Saints sign another running back to their practice squad

The Saints brought in some running back depth on Tuesday, signing second-year player Xazavian Valladay to the practice squad:

The New Orleans Saints have brought in additional running back depth by signing second-year player Xazavian Valladay to the practice squad, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler The Saints currently have three running backs on the  53-man roster: Alvin Kamara, Jamaal Williams, and Jordan Mims.

However, Williams is dealing with a groin injury right now and missed the Saints’ Week 9 game. They also have Jacob Kibodi on the practice squad as of this moment.

Valladay was an exceptional running back at the college level, putting together four 1,00-yard rushing seasons, including in 2019 when he led the PAC-12 in rushing attempts (247), rushing yards (1,265), and plays from scrimmage (258). Over his five years in college, he played in 54 games accruing 841 rush attempts, 4,473 yards (5.3 yards per carry), 35 rushing touchdowns, as well as 88 receptions for 873 yards and 4 receiving touchdowns.

Overall he was very good at both Wyoming and Arizona State, but would go undrafted in the 2023 NFL draft class. He has signed three practice squad deals since then, with the Houston Texans and Pittsburgh Steelers in 2023, and New York Jets from late 2023 to 2024, before being released in September.

Though he does only have one game on the active roster of an NFL team, he is still only one year into his tenure and showed flashes of promise in college. Also a fun fact, if he were to make the 53-man roster, he would be the first Saint to do so with their first name starting with the letter “X”. One of the few exceptions from him being the only Saint to ever sign with the team under those circumstances is Xavier Rush, who signed in Aug. 2017 for a few weeks.

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Predicting 14 roster moves Broncos could make in second half of season

The Broncos have seven players who could be returning to the 53-man roster soon. Here’s how they could make room for them.

The Denver Broncos could be getting a flurry of reinforcements in the coming weeks.

Broncos wide receiver Josh Reynolds (hand) and center Luke Wattenberg (ankle) are now eligible to return from injured reserve, safety Delarrin Turner-Yell (ACL) returned to practice last week and linebacker Drew Sanders (Achilles) is “close to returning.” His timeline is uncertain, but running back Tyler Badie (back) is also eligible to return from IR.

Meanwhile, linebacker Kwon Alexander is out of practice squad elevations and coach Sean Payton hinted last week that Alexander will eventually end up on the 53-man roster. Denver also bumped fullback Michael Burton down to the practice squad last week. Burton can be elevated one more time. After that, he will likely be a candidate to return to the active roster as well.

Reynolds, Alexander and Wattenberg are presumably candidates to all return to the 53-man roster this week. Sanders, Burton, Turner-Yell and Badie might also return at some point in the future.

The Broncos don’t have to make room for all of them right away — new injuries could open spots in the coming weeks — but the team will have to make some roster decisions, soon.

Denver opened up one spot by trading outside linebacker Baron Browning to the Arizona Cardinals on Monday. The Broncos could open another spot by bumping offensive lineman Calvin Throckmorton down to the practice squad.

Denver could open three more spots if they traded tight end Greg Dulcich, cornerback Damarri Mathis and quarterback Zach Wilson ahead of Tuesday’s deadline. If they aren’t traded, Dulcich and Mathis might be candidates to attempt to get down to the practice squad. And given Payton’s recent frustrations with the team’s receivers, even Lil’Jordan Humphrey could be in danger of losing his spot on the active roster.

So with as many as seven players potentially returning to the active roster in the second half of the season, here are predictions on how the Broncos could make room for them. Keep in mind that these are projections — this is not a report of what the team will do. Rather, it’s a projection of what the team could do.

  1. WR Josh Reynolds activated from IR
  2. OLB Baron Browning traded (confirmed)
  3. C Luke Wattenberg activated from IR
  4. OL Calvin Throckmorton cut from 53
  5. LB Kwon Alexander promoted to 53
  6. TE Greg Dulcich traded or cut
  7. LB Drew Sanders activated from PUP
  8. CB Damarri Mathis traded or cut
  9. FB Michael Burton activated to 53
  10. QB Zach Wilson traded
  11. DB Delarrin Turner-Yell activated from IR
  12. WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey demoted to PS
  13. RB Tyler Badie activated from IR
  14. Future player placed on IR

Denver seems likely to make at least a few moves this week. Stay tuned.

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Steelers announce roster move ahead of this week’s game

The Steelers bring back Dylan Cook to the practice squad.

On Monday, the Pittsburgh Steelers announced they had signed offensive tackle Dylan Cook to the practice squad. This move came less than a week after the team released Cook.

Cook had spent all of the season on injured/reserve designated to return. He returned to Steelers practice just two weeks ago but was released on Halloween.

The return of Cook makes perfect sense for the Steelers. We were shocked when the team released him as he provides solid depth at multiple spots on the offensive line.

This week the Steelers return to action after the bye week to take on the Washington Commanders on the road.

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