NFL Player News
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Sam Howell QB | SEA
Seahawks' Sam Howell: Receiving trade interest
The Seahawks have received trade inquiries about Howell and are open to trading him, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Howell served as Seattle's backup last season and threw just 14 passes behind the mostly healthy Geno Smith. With Smith now in Las Vegas, Seattle has revamped its quarterback room, bringing in both Sam Darnold and Drew Lock. GM John Schneider said earlier this week that Howell would compete with Lock for the backup QB role, but the organization's reported willingness to deal Howell suggests that Lock has the inside track on the job. Howell could be an intriguing option for teams in need of a backup QB -- despite his struggles in a very limited sample last season (he completed just five of those 14 pass attempts), he has ample experience as a starter, completing 63 percent of his pass attempts for 3,946 yards and a 21:21 TD:INT over 17 regular-season games with Washington in 2023.
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Irv Smith TE | HOU
Texans' Irv Smith: Returning to Houston
The Texans signed Smith to a one-year contract Friday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Smith hooked on with Houston's practice squad last September and ended up getting signed to the team's active roster in December. The veteran tight end played in five total regular-season games and didn't see a target on offense, though he did catch one pass for two yards in the Texans' playoff loss to Kansas City. Smith figures to again be buried on Houston's depth chart when the team's tight-end corps is healthy, though Brevin Jordan is recovering from a torn ACL and Cade Stover fractured his collarbone in the team's wild-card win against the Chargers in January.
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Khalid Duke LB | TEN
Khalid Duke: Cut with injury tag
The Titans waived Duke (undisclosed) on Friday with a non-football injury designation, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.
Duke, who went undrafted out of Kansas State last season, logged two regular-season appearances with Tennessee as a rookie. Across 12 combined defensive snaps, he tallied one solo tackle.
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Justin Hardee DB | TEN
Justin Hardee: Let go by Tennessee
The Titans released Hardee (undisclosed) on Friday with an non-football injury designation, Jim Wyatt of the team's official site reports.
Hardee contributed exclusively on special teams (184) across his nine regular-season appearances with Tennessee in 2024. The veteran re-signed with the team early April, but he appears to have since picked up an injury, leaving him among the Titans' roster cuts leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft.
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Greg Dortch WR | ARI
Cardinals' Greg Dortch: Signs RFA tender
Dortch signed his one-year restricted free-agent tender Friday, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Dortch was extended a tender by Arizona back in March, and he now officially re-signs with the team on the one-year deal worth $3.3 million. He played all 17 games with the Cardinals last season, securing 37 of 50 targets for 342 yards and three touchdowns. Now heading into his fifth consecutive year with Arizona, Dortch is again positioned for a role on offense behind Marvin Harrison and Michael Wilson.
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Sam Howell QB | SEA
Seahawks' Sam Howell: Competing for backup job
Howell will compete for the No. 2 job behind Sam Darnold after the Seahawks signed Drew Lock on Friday, Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times reports.
GM John Schneider added that he looks forward to Howell's development in the new scheme after the Seahawks fired OC Ryan Grubb after just one season and replaced him with Klint Kubiak. Schneider also stated that Lock's arrival doesn't mean the team won't add another quarterback during the draft. Howell played just 25 snaps during 2024, completing five of 14 passes for 24 yards and an interception. Such a small sample size isn't determinative of Howell's future, however, as he was a serviceable option in Washington in 2023 with 3,946 yards, 21 touchdowns and 21 interceptions in addition to five rushing scores. Meanwhile, Lock's career numbers aren't much better, but he has familiarity with the organization and may be a more steady backup as the Seahawks look to perform a quick rebuild with Darnold's lead.
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Ryan Ramczyk OT | NO
Saints' Ryan Ramczyk: Announces retirement from NFL
Ramczyk announced his retirement from the NFL on Thursday.
The 32nd overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Ramczyk injured his knee in Week 14 of the 2023 season and was never medically cleared to play again, missing the entirety of the 2024 campaign. Prior to the injury, Ramczyk was one of the best right tackles in the league, earning first-team All-Pro honors once and second-team All-Pro twice. He started all 101 games he appeared in during his seven seasons with the Saints.
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Tre'Davious White CB | BAL
Bills' Tre'Davious White: Returns to Buffalo
The Bills signed White to a one-year contract worth up to $6.8 million Thursday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
White, of course, was the 27th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft by the Bills and spent the first seven seasons of his career with Buffalo, making a pair of Pro Bowls while being named a first-team All-Pro once. Injuries then took a toll on the cornerback, and the 30-year-old spent last season splitting time with the Rams and Ravens, playing in 11 regular-season contests. He'll try to rebound his career in a familiar environment.
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Jake Tonges TE | SF
49ers' Jake Tonges: Re-signs with San Francisco
Tonges re-signed with the 49ers on a one-year, $1.03 million contract Thursday.
It's the value of the exclusive rights tender for Tonges, who appeared in 16 regular-season games last season but saw just 34 snaps on offense. He played 232 snaps on special teams, and that figures to be where he'll fit in next season, should he make the 53-man roster.
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Hakeem Adeniji OG | DAL
Cowboys' Hakeem Adeniji: Inks with Dallas
The Cowboys signed Adeniji to a contract Thursday, Clarence Hill Jr. of AllDLLS.com reports.
Adeniji worked out for Dallas on Wednesday and he now signs with the team. The veteran offensive lineman is healthy after a knee injury forced him to sit out the entire 2024 season with Cleveland, and he'll now compete for a depth role with the Cowboys. Adeniji is capable of contributing at both tackle and guard.