Steelers announce multiple roster moves

The Steelers placed Trenton Thompson on IR and activated Damontae Kazee.

The Pittsburgh Steelers announced a handful of roster moves on Wednesday ahead of this week’s playoff showdown against the Buffalo Bills. First and foremost, the team activated safety Damontae Kazee after serving his three-game suspension.

The team also placed safety Trenton Thompson on IR. Thompson did a nice job filling in with the rash of losses in the Steelers secondary. Pittsburgh also brought back wide receiver Dan Chisena and signed him to the practice squad. To make room on the practice squad, the team released running back Jake Funk.

Pittsburgh won their final three games of the season and got some help from the Tennessee Titans to get into the playoffs. The Steelers not only got Kazee back but should have Minkah Fitzpatrick back as well against the Bills.

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Steelers S Trenton Thompson OUT vs Seahawks

The Steelers will be short-handed at safety again this week.

When the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, they will once again be short-handed at safety. On Friday, head coach Mike Tomlin announced that safety Trenton Thompson won’t play against the Seahawks and might not be available the following week against the Baltimore Ravens either.

This is just the most recent of the rash of injuries to befall the Steelers safety position. Pittsburgh will also be without Minkah Fitzpatrick who continues to deal with a knee injury. This is in addition to Keanu Neal who is also dealing with an injury and Damontae Kazee who is suspended.

This week the Steelers will once again look to some combination of Patrick Peterson, Eric Rowe and Elijah Riley to hold down the starting spots. Pittsburgh also has Miles Killebrew but he’s primarily a special teams ace.

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Steelers HC Mike Tomlin gives Trenton Thompson his flowers

The Steelers may have just got themselves a steal in defensive back Trenton Thompson.

The Pittsburgh Steelers may have just got themselves a steal in defensive back Trenton Thompson.

Expectations weren’t high for the undrafted free agent out of San Diego State after he joined Pittsburgh late in training camp. But after a solid preseason, Thompson made the cut. And yesterday, he got his second start in the Black and Gold.

His promotion from the practice squad was due to a rash of injuries in the Steelers’ secondary, but his play is what will keep him in the lineup.

Thompson tied only T.J. Watt in the most tackles (5) against the Cincinnati Bengals and, on a critical 3rd & 7 in Pittsburgh territory, stepped in front of Pro Bowler Ja’Marr Chase and came down with an interception.

It was a play he just missed making in the Week 11 loss to the Browns, and according to All Steelers Noah Strackbein, Mike Tomlin challenged Thompson to make up for it.

“This guy has been excited about his opportunity and we’re excited for him,” Tomlin said. “He delivered.”

Thompson understood the gravity of his first career interception. “Game changer,” he said. “We needed a turnover for sure, just to get us pumped up and get the offense rolling. And obviously, it took away some momentum from their sideline.”

With Keanu Neal on injured reserve, Thompson should see more opportunities come his way.

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Steelers sign ex-Giants DB Trenton Thompson

Former New York Giants defensive back Trenton Thompson signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday.

Former New York Giants defensive back Trenton Thompson has found a new home with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Steelers announced the signing on Wednesday but the terms of the deal were not immediately disclosed. Thompson joins cornerback Isaiah Dunn, who was also signed by Pittsburgh.

A former undrafted free-agent signing of the Giants in 2022 out of San Diego State, Thompson had multiple stints on the team’s practice squad during his first season but did see one promotion to the active roster.

He appeared in just one game for Big Blue, playing 12 snaps on special teams. Thompson was inked to a futures deal earlier this offseason before being waived last month.

The Steelers are missing two of their safeties in training camp, with Minkah Fitzpatrick absent due to personal reasons and Damontae Kazee missing because of an ankle injury.

Regardless, the 6-foot-1, 196-pound defensive back faces an uphill climb in trying to make the team’s roster out of training camp.

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Giants waive OL Devery Hamilton, DB Trenton Thompson

The New York Giants have waived OL Devery Hamilton and DB Trenton Thompson, with both expected to return on the practice squad.

Just days after signing them from the practice squad to the active roster, the New York Giants have waived offensive lineman Devery Hamilton and defensive back Trenton Thompson.

Both players have subsequently cleared waivers and are expected to sign back to the Giants’ practice squad.

Hamilton and Thompson were active for the Giants’ 28-20 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving, but their snaps were limited. Thompson took just 12 snaps on special teams and Hamilton just four. Neither player factored in.

With Hamilton and Thompson having been waived, the Giants now have two open spots on their 53-man roster. They are likely to be filled by linebacker Azeez Ojulari and offensive lineman Ben Bredeson, who are both now eligible to come off injured reserve (IR).

In order to sign Hamilton and Thompson back to the practice squad, two corresponding releases or contract terminations must take place.

The Giants will return to East Rutherford on Monday.

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Giants sign two to 53-man roster in flurry of roster moves

The New York Giants made a series of rosters moves ahead of their Week 12 game, which included two signings, two releases and two elevations.

With a significant number of injuries entering a Thanksgiving Day game against the Dallas Cowboys, the New York Giants were forced to make a string of roster moves beforehand.

The team announced on Wednesday evening that they have signed offensive lineman Devery Hamilton and defensive back Trenton Thompson from the practice squad to the active roster.

Hamilton and Thompson help provide depth at two positions truly ravaged by injury. Four offensive line starters are out in Week 12 — four and a reserve if you include Ben Bredeson — and three members of the secondary, including safety Xavier McKinney. Two others (Dane Belton and Jason Pinnock) are questionable.

In order to clear space for Hamilton and Thompson on the 53-man roster, the Giants waived linebackers Austin Calitro and Quincy Roche.

The Giants also announced that defensive back Terrell Burgess and offensive lineman Korey Cunningham have been elevated from the practice squad, again adding depth at positions of need.

Linebacker/safety Landon Collins was once again passed over for elevation.

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2022 Giants training camp preview: Safety

The New York Giants are going to look very different (and somewhat thin) at safety in 2022.

The New York Giants are entering a new era at safety in 2022 after parting ways with last year’s two starters — Jabrill Peppers and Logan Ryan.

New defensive coordinator Wink Martindale likes to use his safeties in pressure packages and they are expected to be very aggressive in the new scheme.

The unit is coached by Jerome Henderson and Mike Treier, holdovers from Joe Judge’s staff.

Here’s a quick rundown of the key names to know at safety heading into training camp.

Giants officially sign 13 undrafted rookie free agents

The New York Giants have officially signed 13 undrafted rookie free agents ahead of their three-day minicamp.

The New York Giants will hold their three-day rookie minicamp beginning on Friday and that meant the arrival of many players on Thursday. It also meant the time had come to officially sign some contracts.

Following the NFL’s schedule release, the Giants officially announced the signing of 13 undrafted rookie free agents — many of whom we had been made aware of previously.

The 13 signees were as follows:

  • TE Austin Allen
  • DB Yusuf Corker
  • DT Jabari Ellis
  • DB Darren Evans
  • DB Zyon Gilbert
  • FB Jeremiah Hall
  • DT Christopher Hinton
  • TE Andre Miller
  • G Josh Rivas
  • DB Trenton Thompson
  • DT Antonio Valentino
  • RB Jashaun Corbin
  • EDGE Tomon Fox

In addition to those 13 players, the Giants have invited a slew of others for tryouts. And while those names have not yet been released, it’s expected that several NFL veterans will also be trying out for a spot on the 90-man roster.

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Fab Four: Selecting Georgia football’s Mount Rushmore of all-time recruits

On the eve of early signing day, UGA Wire recalls the most hyped commits in school history.

The University of Georgia rests in the heart of one of America’s most fertile recruiting grounds as it relates to high school football.

Each year, the Bulldogs reel in some of the nation’s top recruits. In fact, in five of the last six recruiting cycles, Kirby Smart has landed a signature from a top-five player in the country.

It was a daunting task to narrow Georgia’s top recruits of all-time to four, but we gave it a go. Remember, this list is solely based on how high-profile the player was coming out of high school and does not take into consideration the players’ collegiate or professional careers.

More Mount Rushmore’s from the College Wire Network:

Bama / Aub / Fla / LSU / Tenn. / UGA // Mich. / Mich St. / Ohio St. / Wisc. // Okla. / Texas // ND // USC

NEXT: Let the debate begin with honorable mentions

2020 CFB season countdown: 78 days until Georgia football

Join us as we count down the days until Georgia football!

There are 78 days before Georgia kicks-off versus Virginia in Atlanta Sept. 7.

Former Georgia defensive tackle Trenton Thompson (2015-2018), who wore #78 for the Bulldogs, was the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2015 recruiting class.

Thompson was the USA Today Defensive Player of Year coming out of Albany (GA) Westover Comprehensive High School in 2014. The previous year, he was Rivals’ Junior of the Year. He was the highest rated recruit in the country and the center of a ferocious recruiting battle among Auburn, Alabama and Georgia.

Jan 8, 2018; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (13) runs with the ball against Georgia Bulldogs defensive tackle Trenton Thompson (74) in the 2018 CFP national championship college football game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Thompson had a great career at Georgia, recording 127 career tackles and six sacks in 37 games, but struggled to stay healthy, dealing with a lot of nagging injuries during his career.

Thompson left Georgia in 2018, signing to the Cleveland Browns after going un-drafted in the 2018 NFL Draft. He was released just three months later.

Thompson played for the Arizona Hotshots of the Alliance of American Football. He was named by Pro Football Focus to their Week 1 AAF Team of the Week.

Following the ceased operations of the AAF in April of 2019, Thompson bounced around different teams from the Arena Football League, CFL and XFL.

He recently signed a deal with the Canadian Football League’s Saskatchewan Roughriders.