Tag: River Cracraft

Falcons sign cornerback who had brief stint with Broncos

The Falcons signed ex-Broncos cornerback Lamar Jackson to their practice squad ahead of Sunday’s game in Denver.

The Atlanta Falcons are signing a former Denver Broncos cornerback to their practice squad ahead of their game in Denver this week.

Atlanta has signed cornerback Lamar Jackson (not to be confused with the quarterback Lamar Jackson), via Matt Urben of Falcons Wire. It’s probably not a signing made to gain intel on their opponent because Jackson hasn’t played with the Broncos since 2022, and the team’s staff and scheme have changed over the last two years.

Jackson, 26, initially joined Denver’s practice squad in 2022 before later being promoted to the active roster. He dressed for three games with the Broncos and totaled three tackles. Jackson has recorded 31 tackles and four pass breakups in 23 career games (six starts) in the NFL.

Elsewhere on the ex-Bronco front, the New Orleans Saints released offensive lineman Connor McGovern on Monday, and the Miami Dolphins activated wide receiver River Cracraft from injured reserve. McGovern (2016-2019) and Cracraft (2017-2019) started their NFL careers in Denver.

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Dolphins activate seventh-year receiver from injured reserve

The Dolphins added a veteran wide receiver back into the mix hours ahead of their Monday night matchup.

The Miami Dolphins moved wide receiver River Cracraft from the injured reserve to the active roster Monday, hours ahead of a Week 10 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams.

Cracraft’s activation was an expected move after the Dolphins cleared a space on the 53-man roster Saturday by waiving defensive tackle Brandon Pili.

The seventh-year receiver began his career with the Denver Broncos before joining the San Francisco 49ers in 2020. He then followed coach Mike McDaniel to Miami in 2022 and caught 18 passes for 223 yards and three touchdowns in his first two seasons with the Dolphins.

Earlier this year, Cracraft was re-signed by the Dolphins, but he suffered an upper body injury in preseason and landed on injured reserve at the end of August.

The Dolphins have struggled to find a productive third receiving option behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. While tight end Jonnu Smith has emerged as a weapon and running back De’Von Achane is a pass catching threat, the team’s third leading wide receiver through eight games is Dee Eskridge with two receptions for 36 yards.

“He’s been very reliable and dependable for us,” Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith said of Cracraft a couple weeks ago. “He’s made plays when we’ve needed it in the past, and we’ll be excited to add him to the mix whenever we’re able to bring him back.”

Following the move, the Dolphins have six wide receivers on the active roster: Hill, Waddle, Cracraft, Eskridge, Malik Washington, and Odell Beckham Jr.

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Dolphins waive second-year DT from active roster

The Dolphins are likely clearing a roster spot for River Cracraft to make his return.

The Miami Dolphins waived second-year defensive tackle Brandon Pili, the team announced Saturday.

Pili, 25, was one of the feel-good stories of training camp in 2023 when he became the first native Alaska on an NFL active roster in nearly a decade, earning a spot with the Dolphins as an undrafted rookie. He appeared in four games during his first season in Miami before he was waived in early November and added to the practice squad.

The Dolphins will likely look to once again retain Pili on the practice squad, so long as he first clears waivers.

After the roster move, Miami has an open spot on its active roster. While no corresponding move was made to fill that vacancy, the Dolphins have two players — wide receiver River Cracraft and rookie safety Patrick McMorris — who had their practice windows opened as they prep for a return from the injured reserve.

Cracraft is the likelier player to slide to the active roster with Tyreek Hill dealing with a wrist injury and Dee Eskridge ruled out for Week 10 due to personal reasons.

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River Cracraft to return to practice Wednesday, nearing return from IR

The Dolphins will begin working the veteran receiver back into the mix this week.

The Miami Dolphins are opening the 21-day practice window for wide receiver River Cracraft to return from the injured reserve, head coach Mike McDaniel announced Wednesday.

Cracraft, who turns 30 on Friday, suffered an undisclosed upper body injury during the Dolphins’ second preseason game in August and was placed on IR when the team cut its roster to 53 players.

The veteran receiver is in his third season with the Dolphins after following McDaniel from the San Francisco 49ers. In his first two seasons in Miami, Cracraft recorded 18 receptions for 223 yards and three touchdowns. In preseason, he recorded three receptions for 40 yards and a touchdown.

Miami has struggled to find much production at the receiver position in 2024. Through seven games, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle lead the team in receiving yards with 366 and 314, respectively. The next leading wide receiver is Dee Eskridge, who has only played three games and has 36 yards.

Odell Beckham Jr. is yet to catch a pass in three appearances, Braxton Berrios landed on IR, and sixth-round rookie Malik Washington has three receptions for 17 yards.

Cracraft will begin practicing with the Dolphins on Wednesday and won’t count against the team’s 53-man roster limit until he’s moved to the active roster, which can happen at any time in the next three weeks.

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The Dolphins may need Malik Washington to step up early as a rookie

With only four receivers on the roster, there’s a huge opportunity for Malik Washington to step up.

One of the Miami Dolphins’ biggest issues in 2023 was their wide receiver depth. Miami’s initial 53-man roster shows this position group’s depth will be put to the test almost immediately in 2024.

With offseason signee Odell Beckham Jr. starting the season on the PUP list and returning receiver River Cracraft sent to the short-term IR, Miami has only four receivers on their 53-man roster.

That could mean a lot is placed on rookie receiver Malik Washington’s plate.

Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle form debatably the best wide receiver tandem in the NFL, and Braxton Berrios has been a reliable short-yardage target throughout his career. But those are the only three receivers on the current iteration of the roster outside of Washington.

Just like last season, the Dolphins already find themselves depleted at the position.

While the season is yet to start, though, the team has liked what it’s seen from Malik Washington. The Virginia product put together his best preseason performance came in the final game against the Buccaneers. He had two impressive returns, a seven-yard catch and a 40-yard rush. That provide hope for a banged up wide receiving corps.

And according to head coach Mike McDaniel, Washington showed something they saw in his college tape: his aggressiveness.

“We hadn’t gotten the chance to see something we saw in college from him that he put on display tonight, which is his balance and ability to break tackles,” McDaniel said after the game. “It was definitely a big spark for us, and I was happy to see him really own the moment.”

Can Washington show it in the regular season too? It would certainly help the Dolphins if he could.

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Dolphins place CB Cam Smith, WR River Cracraft on short-term IR

Cam Smith and River Cracraft will both miss at least four games after landing on the IR with a designation to return.

The Miami Dolphins placed cornerback Cam Smith and wide receiver River Cracraft on the injured reserve with a designation to return Tuesday.

The ability to place up to two players on injured reserve at the cuts deadline is a new rule added by the NFL in 2024. Previously, players had to occupy one of the final 53 roster spots for at least a day before being moved to the short-term IR. Players added to the IR prior to the cut deadline were ruled out for the remainder of the year.

Thanks to the change, the Dolphins were able to save two additional places on the roster and will be able to bring Smith and Cracraft back after they miss at least four games.

Both players were injured in the Dolphins’ second preseason game earlier this month. It was a hamstring injury for Smith and an undisclosed “upper body” issue for Cracraft.

Miami also kept Odell Beckham Jr., Bradley Chubb, Cam Goode, and Isaiah Wynn on the PUP list, ruling those four players out for at least four games, as well.

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Dolphins re-sign WR River Cracraft

Miami is re-signing their second wideout of the offseason.

The Miami Dolphins entered the offseason with a clear need for depth at wide receiver behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, and after re-signing Braxton Berrios last week general manager Chris Grier has brought back a second.

On Wednesday night, wide receiver River Cracraft shared on social media that he’s back with the team.

Cracraft, 29, was originally signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent out of Washington State in 2017. After other stints with the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers, Cracraft joined the Dolphins in 2022.

Through two seasons with Miami, Cracraft has played in 21 games, recording 18 receptions for 223 yards and three touchdowns.

The former Cougar will likely compete for one of the last roster spots in the wide receiver room, and if he doesn’t make the team, he’ll probably be brought back on the practice squad.

Dolphins free agent profile: Does River Cracraft get a third year?

Should the Dolphins bring the wideout back for a third year?

The Miami Dolphins have a slew of players who are expected to hit free agency this month, including a wide receiver who has spent the last two years with the team – River Cracraft.

Cracraft, 29, was originally signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2017 following a collegiate career at Washington State.

He spent parts of three seasons with Denver playing mostly special teams before finishing out his third NFL season on the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad.

Cracraft spent 2020-21 with the San Francisco 49ers, where he bounced back and forth from the practice squad but played on offense more than he had with Denver.

He signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins in 2022 to follow Mike McDaniel from San Francisco. After failing to make the initial roster, he was elevated for each of the first three games before being signed to the active roster for the rest of the year.

Cracraft re-signed on another one-year deal this past year, this time making the 53-man out of camp, but he missed time with an injury that landed him on injured reserve.

So far with the Dolphins, Cracraft has recorded 18 receptions for 223 yards and three touchdowns.

Now, he’s heading into free agency again at 29 years old. Miami doesn’t have a ton of wide receiver depth with Cedrick Wilson Jr., Braxton Berrios, Robbie Chosen and Chase Claypool also hitting the market, so they should be looking to add at the position through free agency or the draft.

Cracraft won’t be an expensive deal. He’ll probably cost around $1 million again in 2024, and he already knows the offense. Having him come back and at least compete with the other depth options seems like a smart move for the cheap money.

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Grading the Dolphins wide receivers after their 2023 season

A look at Miami’s wideouts, and the year they had in 2023.

The Miami Dolphins finished their 2023 campaign with an 11-6 record and made the postseason for the second time in as many years under head coach Mike McDaniel. Unfortunately, it came to an end with a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the wild-card round.

While other teams are in the midst of their playoff run, it’s time to do some reflecting on the team in South Florida.

Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll be reviewing and evaluating different positions for the Dolphins in 2023. Today, we’ll look at the wide receivers.

WATCH: Dolphins share custom cleats for ‘My Cause My Cleats’

A look at what initiatives the Dolphins will be playing for “My Cause My Cleats.”

During Weeks 13 and 14 across the NFL, players and coaches are given the opportunity to wear custom cleats as part of the league’s “My Cause My Cleats” initiative, which allows them to deviate from their usual kicks to support some incredible causes.

The Miami Dolphins have a number of players joining this year to support different foundations and movements that are special to them.

Here’s a look at the causes that some Dolphins will be supporting:

  • Alec Ingold – ChildNet
  • Andrew Van Ginkel – Alex’s Lemonade Stand
  • Blake Ferguson – Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
  • Brandon Jones – TXAF — Texas Against Fentanyl
  • Braxton Berrios – Paws4You Rescue
  • Cam Smith – Layups for Lupus
  • Cedrick Wilson Jr. –  Lous House
  • Connor Williams – Michaels Memories
  • Durham Smythe – Austin Pets Alive
  • Elijah Campbell – MS Foundation
  • Emmanuel Ogbah – American Cancer Society/Emmanuel Ogbah Rise Above Foundation
  • Isaiah Wynn – Alzheimer’s Asscoation
  • Jalen Ramsey – Safety Corner Foundation
  • Jason Sanders – Wounded Warrior Project
  • Jaylen Waddle – American Cancer Society
  • Jeff Wilson Jr. – MADD
  • Jerome Baker – Expand the Land
  • Jevon Holland – Alex’s Lemonade Stand
  • Justin Bethel – Save The Music
  • Liam Eichenberg – Then Adrew Weishare Foundation
  • Mike White – FARE
  • Nik Needham – 4dfam
  • Parry Nickerson – Redd’s World Foundation
  • Raheem Mostert – Raheem Mostert Waves of Success Foundation and Melanoma Research Foundation
  • River Cracraft – Hilinski’s Hope
  • Robbie Chosen – Amazing Wishes Inc.
  • Robert Jones – Everytown for Gun Safety
  • Skylar Thompson – The Sky is the Limit Foundation
  • Terron Armstead – RISE
  • Tua Tagovailoa – Tua Foundation
  • Zach Sieler – Sieler Safe Haven Foundation

Miami’s content team also put together a nice video of the players speaking about the causes and what they mean to them.

While there will be a lot of eyes on the Dolphins’ Monday night matchup, take an extra close look at what they’re wearing on their feet.