Tag: Royce Freeman

Vikings cut ex-Broncos QB; Rams add former Denver RB

The Vikings waived ex-Broncos QB Brett Rypien and the Rams signed ex-Denver RB Royce Freeman on Tuesday.

A pair of former Denver Broncos players hit the NFL’s transaction wire on Tuesday.

First, former Broncos backup quarterback Brett Rypien was waived by the Minnesota Vikings to make room for Daniel Jones to be activated to the active roster from the practice squad. If he clears waivers, Rypien might be a candidate to re-sign on Minnesota’s practice squad.

Rypien, 28, signed with Denver as an undrafted free agent out of Boise State following the 2019 NFL draft. He spent four years with the Broncos, going 2-1 as a fill-in starter. Rypien has since spent time with the Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, New York Jets, Chicago Bears and Vikings.

The second move involving an ex-Denver player today was running back Royce Freeman joining the Rams. Just one day after having his contract terminated by the Bears, Freeman quickly landed on L.A.’s practice squad.

Freeman might now get a chance to appear in a playoff game with the Rams, a team he is familiar with after spending the 2023 season in L.A.

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Rams finally activate John Johnson III from IR, make 3 other roster moves

The Rams made a handful of roster moves on Tuesday, including the long-awaited activation of John Johnson III from IR

John Johnson III was placed on injured reserve way back on September 18 after he injured his shoulder in Week 2’s loss to the Arizona Cardinals. He was given a return timeline of 4-6 weeks but he sat and sat on IR, waiting to be activated to the 53-man roster.

Finally, the Rams made that move official on Tuesday nearly four months after Johnson landed on IR.

The team announced Johnson has been activated, taking the place of Blake Corum, who has been placed on injured reserve with a broken forearm. Johnson has been added to the active roster and is eligible to play in Monday’s playoff game against the Vikings.

In addition to activating Johnson and placing Corum on IR, the Rams also signed veteran running back Royce Freeman to the practice squad, taking the place of safety Quindell Johnson, who was cut from the practice squad.

The reason it took so long for the Rams to activate Johnson despite him being healthy for weeks is they were only allowed to bring back one more player from IR. Now that they’re in the playoffs, they were given two more IR-return spots, making it an easier decision to bring Johnson back.

Johnson has only played two games this season, recording one interception and eight tackles. The Rams are flush with talent at safety now, with Kamren Curl, Kamren Kinchens and Jaylen McCollough all playing big roles, along with Quentin Lake covering the slot, so Johnson may not see playing time right away.

Freeman’s return to Los Angeles gives the Rams some needed depth at running back with Corum out for the year.

Bears terminate contract of ex-Broncos running back

The Bears terminated the contract of former Broncos running back Royce Freeman.

Story update: One day after being cut by the Bears, Royce Freeman landed with the Los Angeles Rams. See our original post below.

The Chicago Bears have terminated the contract of former Denver Broncos running back Royce Freeman, according to KPRC-TV’s Aaron Wilson.

Freeman, 28, spent the first three years of his career with the Broncos before being waived. He was initially picked up by the Carolina Panthers before later joining the Houston Texans. After a year and a half in Houston, Freeman joined the Los Angeles Rams ahead of the 2023 season.

Freeman spent time with the Dallas Cowboys and Cleveland Browns in 2024 before landing on Chicago’s practice squad in December. He last appeared in a regular season game with the Rams in 2023.

Freeman has rushed 471 times for 1,792 yards and 10 touchdowns in 79 career games (nine starts) in the NFL.

Elsewhere on the ex-Bronco front, offensive lineman Christian DiLauro signed with the UFL’s Birmingham Stallions, and 13 ex-Denver players signed reserve/future contracts with NFL teams.

The Broncos’ own reserve/future contract signings will begin once Denver’s season comes to an end.

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Browns sign ex-Broncos wide receiver to practice squad

Ex-Broncos wide receiver Kaden Davis joined the Browns’ practice squad this week.

Kaden Davis has had quite a bumpy season.

The 26-year-old wide receiver signed with the Denver Broncos‘ practice squad on Sept. 11. He was then released on Oct. 1, re-signed on Oct. 8 and released again on Oct. 14.

He has now found a new home with the Cleveland Browns, joining their practice squad earlier this week. Davis (6-1, 190 pounds) entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of Northwest Missouri State with the Broncos in 2022. He has since spent time with the Michigan Panthers (USFL), Carolina Panthers and Detroit Lions.

After another stint in Denver this fall, Davis will now get a fresh start in Cleveland, his fourth NFL team.

Elsewhere on the ex-Bronco front, defensive lineman DeShawn Williams re-signed with the Carolina Panthers’ practice squad after being cut from the active roster earlier in the week.

Meanwhile, offensive lineman Austin Schlottmann has been designated to return from injured reserve with the New York Giants, quarterback Ben DiNucci joined the New Orleans Saints’ practice squad and running back Royce Freeman landed on the practice squad of the Chicago Bears.

As for the Broncos, their active roster and practice squad are full going into Week 15.

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Bears sign former Broncos running back to practice squad

The Bears signed former Broncos third-round draft pick Royce Freeman to their practice squad.

Former Denver Broncos running back Royce Freeman has found a new home in the NFL.

Freeman (6-0, 238 pounds) has signed with the Chicago Bears’ practice squad, according to multiple reports. He joins a backfield in Chicago that includes D’Andre Swift, Roschon Johnson, Travis Homer and Darrynton Evans.

Freeman entered the league as a third-round pick out of Oregon with the Broncos in 2018. He spent the first three years of his career in Denver, rushing 297 times for 1,187 yards and eight touchdowns in 46 games (eight starts). The Broncos cut Freeman ahead of the 2021 season and he landed with the Carolina Panthers.

After half a season with the Panthers, Freeman joined the Houston Texans. He appeared in 11 games with the Texans from 2021-2022 and then signed with the Los Angeles Rams in 2023. He rushed 77 times for 319 yards and two touchdowns in 14 games with the Rams last fall.

Freeman went to training camp with the Dallas Cowboys this summer and he spent time on the practice squad of the Cleveland Browns earlier this season. The 28-year-old running back will now get a fresh start with the Bears.

Freeman has 2,324 career yards from scrimmage and 11 touchdowns on his resume.

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Browns sign ex-Broncos running back to practice squad

The Browns have signed former Broncos running back Royce Freeman to their practice squad.

The Cleveland Browns have signed free agent running Royce Freeman to their practice squad, the team announced Tuesday. Freeman will provide depth behind fellow Browns running backs Jerome Ford, D’Onta Foreman and Pierre Strong.

Freeman (6-0, 238 pounds) entered the league as a third-round pick out of Oregon with the Denver Broncos in 2018. He rushed for 1,187 yards and eight touchdowns in three seasons with the Broncos while adding 69 receptions for 409 yards and another score as a receiver out of the backfield.

Since being cut by Denver in 2021, Freeman has spent time with four NFL teams, most recently going to training camp with the Dallas Cowboys this summer. He’ll now get a chance to continue his career in Cleveland.

Elsewhere, a Broncos division rival is also adding a running back. The Kansas City Chiefs are signing Kareem Hunt after losing Isiah Pacheco to an ankle injury. Hunt spent the first two years of his career in KC and he has totaled 386 yards from scrimmage and scored three touchdowns in five career games against Denver.

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Is there hidden fantasy value among Dallas Cowboys running backs?

Is Zeke totally washed? Can Rico Dowdle emerge? Will Deuce Vaughn shine?

As the NFL’s top scoring offense last year, the Dallas Cowboys finished 14th in rushing (112.9 yards per game), led by running back Tony Pollard, who signed with the Tennessee Titans during the offseason. It was a swift fall from grace for the Memphis product after he was anointed RB1 following a tremendous 2022 campaign while splitting time with running back Ezekiel Elliott. Thrust into the primary role, he never recaptured that form.

Even with Pollard moving on, the Cowboys elected to invest zero draft capital at the position, instead handing out a pair of one-year deals in free agency, one to journeyman RB Royce Freeman and the other to Elliott, who returns after a season with the New England Patriots. They join last season’s No. 2 back, Rico Dowdle, and preseason darling Deuce Vaughn.

On paper, it’s a suspect unit, made doubly so by head coach Mike McCarthy’s well-established love of the passing game. Still, that doesn’t mean there won’t be fantasy value to be found. With that in mind, let’s look at Dallas’ backfield options for 2024.

Cowboys expected to sign free agent RB Royce Freeman

From @ToddBrock24f7: Freeman spent his first 3 pro seasons in Denver, then bounced around before playing 2023 with the Rams.

The Cowboys have made a free agency addition to their roster just nine days before the first round of the 2024 draft, signing running back Royce Freeman.

The 6-foot 238-pounder will reportedly join the team on a one-year deal.

Freeman, 28, was a third-round draft pick out of Oregon in 2018. Originally with Denver, he amassed 1,187 rushing yards over three seasons as a Bronco while splitting time with Phillip Lindsay and, later, Melvin Gordon.

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Freeman signed with Carolina as the 2021 season began, but he lasted just eight games with the Panthers before being released. Houston signed him to finish off the season and then re-signed him for 2022, though he stayed mostly on the practice squad. He was most recently with the Los Angeles Rams, compiling just over 300 yards in 14 games.

The Cowboys are in obvious need of depth at the running back position after the recent departure of Tony Pollard. Freeman will join Rico Dowdle, Deuce Vaughn, Hunter Luepke, Malik Davis, and Snoop Conner as the team’s ball carrier platoon.

Freeman’s signing comes a month after running backs ranging from Saquon Barkley to Derrick Henry agreed to big deals with new teams. Ezekiel Elliott, Dalvin Cook, and J.K. Dobbins are among the rushers still available on the market.

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Dallas has been widely expected to look closely at running backs in the upcoming draft, using official visits on the likes of Jonathon Brooks (Texas), Trey Benson (Florida State), Bucky Irving (Oregon), and Braelon Allen (Nebraska).

Freeman has averaged 3.8 yards over 471 career carries, scoring 10 touchdowns. He’s added 532 receiving yards on 86 catches.

The Cowboys pulled off a similar RB signing last year, inking veteran Ronald Jones II to a deal in late March. He was released in mid-September without ever seeing the field.

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Zack Moss agrees to deal with Bengals, what that means for Colts

Zack Moss is heading to Cincinnati. What does that mean for the Colts?

Indianapolis Colts pending free agent running back Zack Moss found a new home in free agency, agreeing to a two-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals late Monday night.

It was expected that Moss could have outpriced himself in the market for the Colts after his impressive showing during the early portion of the 2023 season while Jonathan Taylor was absent between an ankle injury and a contract dispute.

Now, the Colts have to find a new backup running back to supplant Moss’ role as a change-of-pace option.

Losing Moss isn’t a massive deal in terms of the on-field impact. He’s a good player, of course, but there are plenty of running backs capable of filling the void behind Taylor, who will continue to be the starter.

Moss will be missed in the locker room, though, and there’s a good chance he works his way into the starting role in Cincinnati, especially after the team cut Joe Mixon.

Where the Colts go from here will be interesting. They can look to free agency to add a veteran backup. If they do, we shouldn’t expect them to go after any big names or sink any significant salary-cap space into the position.

Maybe they re-sign Trey Sermon, who served in a depth role during the 2023 season. They’re expected to get 2023 fifth-round pick Evan Hull back from a knee injury that claimed his entire rookie season, but it isn’t clear how the Colts view his outlook.

They could also go after a bruiser like D’Onta Foreman or opt for cheaper options like Rico Dowdle and Royce Freeman.

There’s a chance the Colts use another draft pick at the position, but that likely wouldn’t come until Day 3.

Either way, the Colts have another backup position to fill this offseason after Moss got a well-deserved contract with the potential to be a starter.

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5 RBs the Colts should target in 2024 free agency

Some intriguing free-agent RBs for the Colts to consider.

The Indianapolis Colts have plenty of positional needs entering free agency in 2024 and even though the running back position isn’t at the top of the list, some depth could be added.

With Jonathan Taylor returning in the first year of his new contract extension, the Colts know who the leader in the backfield is and should be. Zack Moss, who was impressive during his stint as a starter, is set to hit the market. They also have second-year back Evan Hull, but he missed his rookie season due to a knee injury.

Re-signing Moss is certainly an option the Colts should entertain, but they shouldn’t be willing to overpay. Moss may be seeking a chance to compete as a starter, but we also know the running back market is extremely down right now.

So for this article, we’re taking the mindset that Moss walks in free agency, and the Colts would need to find his replacement.

Here are five running backs the Colts should target in free agency:

Disclaimer: We should note that we understand a handful of these players won’t even hit the market, but we’re working under the hypothetical scenario that they become available, regardless of how slim the chances are.