Tag: Tony Jones

Cardinals sign ex-Broncos running back to practice squad

The Cardinals signed running back Tony Jones to their practice squad on Wednesday.

The Arizona Cardinals have signed former Denver Broncos running back Tony Jones to their practice squad, the team announced Wednesday.

Jones (5-11, 224 pounds) played under coach Sean Payton with the New Orleans Saints from 2020-2021 before later joining the Seattle Seahawks in 2022. He reunited with Payton in Denver during the 2023 offseason.

Jones rushed for 66 yards and totaled 29 receiving yards in three preseason appearances with the Broncos that summer. He failed to make the team’s active roster as Payton opted to carry Javonte Williams, Samaje Perine and Jaleel McLaughlin on the 53-man roster to begin the 2023 season.

After being cut by Denver, Jones returned to New Orleans and he spent half the season with the Saints. Jones was picked up by the Cardinals last October. He was cut during training camp this summer and now returns to Arizona on their practice squad.

Jones, 27, has 370 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns in 25 career games in the NFL (six starts).

Elsewhere on the ex-Bronco front, the Cardinals also designated kicker Matt Prater to return from injured reserve after recovering from a meniscus injury. Prater, 40, played in four games earlier this year before suffering the injury.

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Cardinals add RB, LB to practice squad

The Cardinals signed running back Tony Jones Jr. and linebacker Keshawn Banks to their practice squad on Wednesday in Week 16.

The Arizona Cardinals entered Week 16 with one opening on their practice squad, as cornerback Divaad Wilson was signed by the New York Giants to their active roster. An additional vacancy was created on Wednesday when punter Michael Palardy was signed to the active roster.

The team announced two signings to the practice squad, adding a linebacker and a familiar face at running back, both of whom had tryouts on Tuesday.

They signed running back Tony Jones Jr. and linebacker Keshawn Banks.

Jones played for the Cardinals last season and was with the team all offseason and training camp. He got hurt in the preseason finale, was placed on injured reserve and waived with an injury settlement. He has not been with a team since then. The 5-foot-11, 224-lb running back is needed practice depth as rookie Trey Benson has an ankle injury that kept him out of practice on Wednesday and Emari Demercado was placed on injured reserve with a back injury on Saturday.

Banks is an outside linebacker who is 6-foot-3 and 255 pounds. He played three games with the Patriots earlier this season, playing 61 snaps on special teams, and was also on their practice squad.

Outside linebacker Jesse Luketa injured his thigh on Sunday, so Banks is added depth there.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

Host of ex-Broncos appear on NFL’s transaction wire

Ben DiNucci, Jonathan Harris and Andrew Beck were among the former Broncos players who showed up on the NFL’s transaction wire on Tuesday.

Tuesday was a busy day for former Denver Broncos players.

Seven ex-Broncos appeared on the NFL’s transaction wire on Oct. 22. Here’s a quick rundown of each move.

  • DL Jonathan Harris was signed by the Panthers (off the Dolphins’ practice squad). Harris will face Denver, his former team, on Sunday.
  • WR Phillip Dorsett signed to the Falcons’ practice squad. Smith spent last season on the Broncos’ practice squad.
  • FB Andrew Beck was cut from the Packers’ practice squad. Beck spent 2019-2022 in Denver.
  • QB Ben DiNucci worked out for the Saints. DiNucci was the Broncos’ third-string quarterback in 2023. New Orleans tried and failed to poach DiNucci from Denver’s practice squad last fall.
  • WR Kaden Davis worked out for the Colts. Davis has had three different stints with the Broncos, including two short stints on the practice squad this season.
  • WR Tre’Quan Smith was released from injured reserve by the Lions. Smith spent part of last season on Denver’s practice squad.
  • RB Tony Jones worked out for the Texans. Jones went to training camp with the Broncos in 2023.

Tuesday was a relatively quiet day in Denver, but seven former Broncos players made headlines elsewhere.

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6 ex-Broncos will face Denver in Week 3 of NFL preseason

Six former Broncos players will return to Empower Field at Mile High to play against their former team on Sunday.

A half-dozen ex-Denver Broncos players will return to Empower Field at Mile High to play against their former team on Sunday.

The Arizona Cardinals have six ex-Broncos on their roster — two on offense, two on defense and two on special teams. Denver is set to host Arizona in Sunday’s preseason finale.

Cardinals offensive lineman Elijah Wilkinson joined the Broncos as an undrafted free agent out of UMass in 2017. He dressed for 45 games in four years in Denver, earning 26 starts moving between guard and tackle.

Arizona running back Tony Jones went to training camp with the Broncos last summer but did not make the squad after preseason.

Cardinals defensive back Delonte Hood spent time on Denver’s practice squad in 2022 before being released in 2023.

Arizona cornerback Michael Ojemudia was picked by the Broncos in the third round of the 2020 NFL draft out of Iowa. He played in 21 games with 12 starts from 2020-2022 before being waived.

Cardinals long snapper Aaron Brewer landed in Denver as an undrafted free agent out of San Diego State in 2012. He spent four years as the team’s long snapper before being released in 2016.

Arizona kicker Matt Prater played for the Broncos from 2007-2014, converting a then-NFL record 64-yard field goal in 2013. Denver replaced Prater with Brandon McManus during the 2014 season.

Sunday’s game will be nationally televised on CBS.

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Cardinals sign RB Tony Jones Jr. to active roster

Jones was on the practice squad and likely will be the backup running back on Sunday against the Browns.

The Arizona Cardinals, needing running back depth, made a roster move to ensure they have players available this Sunday when they go on the road to face the Cleveland Browns.

They announced Thursday that running back Tony Jones Jr. was signed from the practice squad to the active roster. He will likely get to play this weekend.

James Conner is still on injured reserve for at least one more game. Emari Demercado, who has started the last two games, injured his toe on Sunday and was unable to practice on Wednesday and Thursday, putting his availability this weekend very much in doubt. Even Damien Williams, who played the last two games, getting elevated from the practice squad, is hurt and was placed on the practice squad injured reserve this week.

Before adding Jones to the roster, Keaontay Ingram was the only other running back on the roster.

Jones originally joined the Cardinals on a waiver claim. Less than a week later, he was released and subsequently signed to the practice squad.

In 22 career games with the Saints and Seahawks, Jones has 88 rushing attempts for 249 yards and two touchdowns.

To replace Jones on the practice squad, the Cardinals signed defensive lineman Kendal Vickers, a 6-foot-3, 295-pound interior defender who has played in 27 games since entering the NFL in 2018 as an undrafted free agent.

He has two career sacks and 22 career tackles.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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Cardinals cut QB Jeff Driskel from practice squad, add RB Tony Jones

Kyler Murray’s return made Driskel’s spot on the roster unnecessary.

The Arizona Cardinals announced a pair of roster moves on the practice squad on Friday. With quarterback Kyler Murray practicing again, having been designated to return from PUP, the team cut quarterback Jeff Driskel from the practice squad.

With Murray back on the practice field, the three who would get reps are him, Josh Dobbs and rookie Clayton Tune.

Driskel is no longer needed.

Replacing him on the practice squad is running back Tony Jones. Jones was released earlier in the week.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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Cardinals claim RB Tony Jones off waivers

Jones had 70 yards and two touchdowns in four games for the Saints before being released.

The Arizona Cardinals added a running back to their roster on Monday. They announced they were awarded running back Tony Jones Jr., recently released by the New Orleans Saints.

Jones, 5-foot-11 and 224 pounds.

He was signed by the Saints as an undrafted rookie in 2020 out of Notre Dame. He has spent time with the Saints, Seahawks and Broncos.

In four years, he has 249 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 88 attempts and 14 receptions for 80 yards.

Through four games this season, he had 70 rushing yards and two scores in 21 attempts before being released by the Saints.

His addition gives the Cardinals a bit more depth as James Conner injured his knee on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Cardinals also added veteran Damien Williams to the practice squad last week.

They now have Conner, Jones and rookie Emari Demercado on the active roster.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

 

6 players cut by Broncos signing with new teams

The Chiefs are expected to sign ex-Broncos receiver/returner Montrell Washington to their practice squad.

Five players who were cut by the Denver Broncos earlier this week have found new homes, including one landing with a division rival.

After being released on Tuesday, kicker Brett Maher has signed with the Los Angeles Rams. Maher will now get a fresh start in L.A. after the Broncos brought in Wil Lutz through a trade with the New Orleans Saints.

Meanwhile, running back Tony Jones is expected to land on the practice squad of the New Orleans Saints, where he played from 2020-2022.

Elsewhere, the Minnesota Vikings are signing ex-Broncos offensive lineman Henry Byrd to their practice squad, and the Atlanta Falcons signed ex-Denver offensive lineman Isaiah Prince to their active roster.

Finally, the fifth and most disconcerting signing: the Kansas City Chiefs are expected to sign former Broncos receiver/returner Montrell Washington to their practice squad. Washington eventually making KC’s active roster and burning Denver would be quite a disappointing development for Broncos Country.

Update: Another ex-Bronco WR is signing with a division rival — the Las Vegas Raiders are adding Marquez Callaway to their practice squad.

8 ex-Saints reunited with Sean Payton on Broncos’ roster

Broncos coach Sean Payton has brought in eight former Saints who played for him in New Orleans. Here’s the full list.

Since becoming the Denver Broncos’ head coach in February, Sean Payton has signed several former New Orleans Saints. The veteran coach also traded for a former Saints during the draft, acquiring tight end Adam Trautman in April.

The ex-Saints coach has also signed seven former New Orleans players as free agents. In addition to Trautman, Payton also brought in fellow tight end Chris Manhertz, who is known for his blocking ability.

Denver has also signed former Saints wide receivers Marquez Callaway and Lil’Jordan Humphrey, plus running backs Tony Jones and Dwayne Washington. To block for those running backs, fullback Michael Burton was also signed.

On special teams, Payton signed kicker Brett Maher, who kicked for the Saints in 2021.

Additionally, the Broncos have a ninth former Saint, defensive lineman Jordan Jackson, but he played in New Orleans last fall when Payton was taking a break from coaching.

Here’s a look at each former Saint who reunited with Broncos coach Sean Payton in Denver.

Tony Jones could be a sleeper to watch for during Broncos preseason

One advantage Tony Jones has over Tyler Badie and Jaleel McLaughlin is his experience playing in Sean Payton’s offense.

The Denver Broncos are pleased with the recovery of Javonte Williams, who has bounced back from a 2022 knee injury and is on track to be ready for Week 1.

Denver’s staff is also happy with Samaje Perine, who signed a two-year, $7.5 million contract with the team this spring. Williams and Perine will serve as a one-two punch as the primary running backs in the Broncos’ offense this fall.

The team’s third-string running back position is still up for grabs. The candidates for the RB3 job are Tyler Badie, undrafted rookie Jaleel McLaughlin and Tony Jones.

McLaughlin and Badie both have their strengths, and either one of them could end up making the team, but Jones has the advantage of having experience playing in a Sean Payton offense.

“He’s a young player,” Payton said of Jones on Aug. 3. “That had a lot to do with [signing him]. We felt somewhat positive about him in New Orleans. He had a couple of injuries — got hurt against Carolina in a game he was going to play quite a bit. We had kind of a COVID-19 [issue] with the running backs.

“He’s young, and we felt like we wanted to give him a good evaluation here. He’s smart, and I think he can be a steady back. I think the key — and I mentioned this to him before he left for the spring — he’s going to have to open some eyes in the kicking game. What else can you do? That will be important.”

Payton made it clear to Jones that if he’s going to make the team, the 25-year-old running back will have to contribute on special teams. Jones played under Payton with the Saints from 2020-2021, earning five starts during that time. He has 67 career carries for 179 yards and 10 receptions for 59 yards in 18 career games.

Jones will have to separate himself from Badie and McLaughlin during preseason if he wants to make the 53-man roster. In order to do that, Jones will have to excel not only on offense but also on special teams. He’ll get his first opportunity when the Broncos face the Arizona Cardinals on Friday.

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