Texans re-sign QB Josh Johnson, place Corey Moore on IR

The Houston Texans re-signed quarterback Josh Johnson with backup Taylor Heinicke still under the NFL concussion protocol, and placed safety Corey Moore on injured reserve with a Grade 2 sprained medial collateral ligament.

The Texans also signed offensive guard Erik Austell to the practice squad and cut former Arizona Cardinals offensive guard Dorian Johnson from the practice squad.

Johnson, a Tampa Bay Buccaneers fifth-round draft pick, has played for the Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, New York Jets, Indianapolis Colts, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens. He was cut by the Giants prior to the start of the regular season. For his career, Johnson has passed for 1,042 yards, five touchdowns and 10 interceptions and rushed for 274 yards.

Seahawks sign DE Freeney to bolster pass rush

The Seattle Seahawks added veteran defensive end Dwight Freeney to bolster their pass-rushing depth as the two sides agreed to terms on a one-year contract late Tuesday night.

The 37-year-old Freeney spent the first 11 seasons of his career in Indianapolis, earning Pro Bowl honors seven times and first-team All-Pro honors three times.

Freeney was in Seattle on Tuesday to work out and take a physical for the Seahawks. He later tweeted: "Time to get loud, 12s. #GoHawks Seahawks."

Freeney was expected to practice for the first time with the Seahawks on Wednesday and could make his debut when Seattle hosts the Houston Texans on Sunday.

Freeney's 122.5 career sacks rank 18th all-time, and he is second among active players behind Carolina's Julius Peppers. He also has 47 career forced fumbles.

Following a run with the Colts, which included a Super Bowl championship, Freeney spent two seasons in San Diego and one with Arizona, where he had 8.0 sacks in 11 games as an in-season signing. Last year he appeared in 15 games for the Atlanta Falcons, recording 3.0 sacks.

Freeney also recorded a sack in the Falcons' Super Bowl loss to New England, one of his 11 career postseason sacks. He has been a free agent since the end of last season.

The 6-foot-1, 268-pound Freeney gives the Seahawks an extra pass rusher to help compensate for the loss of Cliff Avril, who was placed on injured reserve last week with a neck injury. The Seahawks had not filled Avril's spot on the 53-man roster, leaving an opening for Freeney.

Quarterback Russell Wilson welcomed his new teammate, tweeting: "Excited to have my homie DwightFreeney join the squad! #SackKing."

Buccaneers sign K Hocker to compete with Folk

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers added a second kicker on Sunday, signing Zach Hocker one day after releasing Roberto Aguayo.

Bucs coach Dirk Koetter said Saturday the team would sign another kicker to share training camp reps with Nick Folk.

Hocker originally entered the league as a seventh-round selection of the Washington Redskins in the 2014 NFL Draft out of Arkansas. During his career, he spent time with the Redskins, Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints and then-St. Louis Rams.

Hocker has played in eight career games (six with the Saints and two with the Rams), going 10 of 14 (71.4 percent) on field-goal attempts and 12 of 13 on extra-point attempts. He also punted once for 43 yards while with the Saints.

Aguayo, whose 71 percent field-goal percentage was the worst in the NFL as a rookie, likely sealed his fate by missing an extra point and a 47-yard field-goal attempt in Friday night's 23-12 loss at Cincinnati in the preseason opener. Aguayo made a 20-yard field goal on the Bucs' opening possession.

Aguayo lasted just one season with the Buccaneers after Tampa Bay traded up in the second round of the 2016 draft to select the Florida State product.

Folk, who was brought in during the offseason to compete for the kicking job, made his lone field-goal attempt from 45 yards on Friday night.

The 32-year-old Folk spent the last seven seasons with the New York Jets (2010-16), converted 27 of 31 field goals (87.1 percent) in 2016, tied for sixth-best in the NFL, while making 24 of 26 extra-point attempts.

Ravens sign arena league QB Olson with Flaaco sidelined

The Baltimore Ravens signed arena league quarterback David Olson as Joe Flacco deals with a back injury, the team announced Friday.

The Ravens began training camp Thursday without Flacco, who told the team of a disc issue in his back just before the first full-team meeting. He is expected to miss at least a week.

Olson, who worked out for the Ravens on Thursday, likely will have a temporary role right with Flacco sidelined, joining Ryan Mallett and Dustin Caughan as quarterbacks on the roster. Mallett has taken Flacco's spot with the first-team offense and Vaughan is a second-year player out of Division II West Texas A&M.

With a quarterback short at the first practice of camp, the Ravens used offensive assistant coach Matt Weiss to line up under center and hand off to running backs in drills.

This season is expected to be a bounce-back year for Flacco, who has gone 29-29 since winning the Super Bowl in 2012. He has thrown 80 touchdown passes, but 61 interceptions -- third most in the NFL -- over that four-year span.

Coach John Harbaugh likely will bring in another quarterback and is considering Colin Kaepernick, who opted out of his contract with the San Francisco 49ers on March 3. Kaepernick has been a polarizing figure for his refusal to stand during the national anthem prior to games last season.

"He's a really good football player," Harbaugh said of Kaepernick after practice Thursday. "I believe he's a really good person. It all depends on a lot of things. It depends on Colin first of all and what's his passion, what's his priority, what's he want to do, what kind of shape he's in. So we'll just see where it goes. I don't think it's different for us than any other team."

Olson played under Harbaugh's brother, Jim, at Stanford. For his senior season, he transferred to Clemson and most recently played for the KC Phantoms of Champions Indoor Football.

Bills sign LB Hodges

(TSX / STATS) -- The Buffalo Bills signed free agent linebacker Gerald Hodges, the team announced Thursday.

He signed a one-year contract, according to NFL.com.

Hodges, 26, is coming off the most productive season in his four-year NFL career. He was a starting inside linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers in their 3-4 front in 2016. He compiled 83 tackles, two pass breakups, two interceptions and a forced fumble in 15 appearances (12 starts).

Hodges also visited with the Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Giants before signing with the Bills.

He figures to be in the mix for a weak-side linebacker role in the Bills 4-3 defensive front.

Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier was Hodges' head coach during his rookie year with the Minnesota Vikings.

To make room on the roster, the Bills released cornerback Charles Gaines.

Bears agree to deal with WR Cruz

(TSX / STATS) -- Free agent wide receiver Victor Cruz has agreed to a one-year contract with the Chicago Bears, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Thursday.

Wide receiver was a position of need for the Bears after losing Alshon Jeffery, a free agent who signed with the Philadelphia Eagles. But the Bears have a number of wide receivers who will vie for playing time, including Cameron Meredith, Kendall Wright and Markus Wheaton.

Cruz, 30, spent his previous six seasons with the New York Giants, and he had big seasons in 2011, 2012 and 2013, catching 241 passes for 3,626 yards and 23 touchdowns in 46 games in those three seasons.

But his production has decreased in recent seasons, largely because of injuries. He had 39 catches for 586 yards and one touchdown in 2016, when he appeared in 15 games, including 12 starts.

The Giants released him on Feb. 13.

Cruz is 2 1/2 years removed from major knee surgery and would have counted $9.4 million against the Giants' salary cap in 2017.

Ex-Jets QB Fitzpatrick lands with Bucs

(TSX / STATS) -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers reached an agreement with free agent quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick on Friday to serve as the backup to Jameis Winston.

The deal is for one year and worth a reported $3 million that includes incentives to take the base salary higher.

The 34-year-old Fitzpatrick has started 116 games over his 12 seasons in the NFL, including 27 the past two years with the New York Jets. He made $12 million last season.

Fitzpatrick will be joining his seventh NFL team after playing for the St. Louis Rams (2005-06), Cincinnati Bengals (2007-08), Buffalo Bills (2009-12), Tennessee Titans (2013), Houston Texans (2014) and Jets (2015-16).

Fitzpatrick had a career season in 2015, his first year with the Jets, leading the team to 10 wins and setting the franchise record with 31 touchdown passes.

A contract impasse caused him to miss the next offseason program that may have contributed to a subpar 2016 when the Jets finished 5-11. He was benched twice last season and threw 17 interceptions and only 12 touchdowns, with a league-low passer rating of 69.6.

Fitzpatrick entered the league as a seventh-round pick of the Rams in 2005 out of Harvard. He is 46-69-1 as a starter and for his carrer has thrown for 25,888 yards with 166 touchdown passes and 133 interceptions.

Ex-Pats RB Blount joins Eagles on one-year deal

(TSX / STATS) -- The Philadelphia Eagles agreed to a one-year contract with former New England Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount on Wednesday.

The deal is worth up to a reported $2.8 million for the 30-year-old Blount, who entered free agency after the best season of his seven-year NFL career in 2016.

"LeGarrette Blount is a tough, physical runner who has enjoyed a great deal of success in New England and we are excited about adding him to this football team," Eagles executive vice president of football operations Howie Roseman said in a statement. "We feel good about the depth and competition that we have created at the running back position and we are looking forward to getting the guys out on the field next week for OTAs."

The Patriots issued a $1.1 million free agent tender to Blount last week in a move that now means Blount will count toward the 2018 compensatory pick formula.

The 6-foot, 250-pound Blount rushed for 1,161 yards on 299 carries and a league-high 18 touchdowns in the 2016 regular season. He gained 109 yards and scored a touchdown in the Patriots' three postseason contests last season, which ended with a second Super Bowl ring for the power running back.

Blount broke into the NFL in 2010 with Tampa Bay and played three seasons for the Buccaneers. The Patriots acquired Blount in a trade with the Bucs in 2013.

Blount appeared in all 16 games for the Patriots in 2013, then started the 2014 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers before rejoining New England.

In 100 career games, Blount has 5,122 rushing yards on 1,168 carries (4.4 yards per attempt) and 49 rushing touchdowns.

Vikings sign ex-Bears DT Will Sutton

EDEN PRAIRIE, MN – The Minnesota Vikings announce today that they have signed DT Will Sutton, and waived DT Toby Johnson.

Sutton joins the Vikings after spending the first three years of his career with the Chicago Bears. Sutton has played in 36 career games with 18 starts and has compiled 60 career tackles. The fourth-year pro was a third round pick (82nd overall) by the Chicago Bears in the 2014 NFL Draft.

Johnson, 25, spent last season on Minnesota's practice squad before being signed to the 53-man roster and playing in the final two games, making two tackles. He was undrafted in 2015.

Buffalo Bills agree to sign 13 undrafted rookie free agents

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) — The Buffalo Bills have reached deals with 13 undrafted rookie free agents, including West Virginia receiver Daikiel Shorts.

The additions up Buffalo's roster to 92 players, two over the limit, putting the team in a position to make two cuts.

Shorts led the Mountaineers with 894 yards receiving and five touchdowns last season. Nebraska receiver Brandon Reilly was among the additions.

The Bills addressed depth at tight end by adding Tennessee's Jason Croom and Louisville's Keith Towbridge.

Buffalo also agreed to sign defensive backs B.T. Sanders (Nicholls State), Marcus Sayles (West Georgia) and Jeremy Tyler (West Virginia); defensive linemen Marquavius Lewis (South Carolina) and Nigel Williams (Virginia Tech); guards Greg Pyke (Georgia) and Zach Voytek (New Haven); running back Jordan Johnson (Buffalo); and punter Austin Rehkow (Idaho).

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Lions use fifth-year option on TE Eric Ebron

Today, the Detroit Lions exercised the fifth-year option on TE Eric Ebron's contract, locking up the offensive player for the 2017 NFL season.

The top tight end in the 2014 NFL Draft after a three-year career at North Carolina, Ebron’s massive frame and fluid movement to get downfield create a versatile weapon for the Lions offense. Selected by the Lions with the 10th overall pick, Ebron is one of only four tight ends (Brandon Pettigrew, 2009; Jermaine Gresham, 2010; Tyler Eifert, 2012) to be drafted in the first round since 2009.

In Week 11 in 2016, Ebron caught three passes for 70 yards in a win over Jacksonville. Among his receptions included a career-long 61-yard catch in the fourth quarter. His 61-yarder is the longest by a Lions tight end since TE Marcus Pollard’s 86-yard reception vs. Carolina on October 16, 2005. Two plays following the 61-yard reception, Ebron scored on a one yard rush. Ebron became the first Lions tight end to score on a rushing touchdown since TE Rob Rubick rushed for a one yard touchdown against Green Bay on January 2, 1983. 

Ebron was drafted by the Lions in the first round (10th overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft.

AP source: Raiders agree to deal with Marshawn Lynch

By JOSH DUBOW
Associated Press

ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) -- A person familiar with the deal tells The Associated Press that the Oakland Raiders have agreed to a two-year contract to bring running back Marshawn Lynch out of retirement.

The person says the sides have agreed on the terms pending a physical for Lynch on Wednesday. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the contract has not been finalized. The NFL Network first reported the deal.

Once Lynch passes the physical, the Raiders will need to acquire his rights in a trade with Seattle. That's expected to be mostly a formality because the Seahawks don't want to pay Lynch the $9 million he would be owed when he comes out of retirement. The teams are expected to swap draft picks.

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Saints, Adrian Peterson finalize deal

Yesterday, the New Orleans Saints and running back Adrian Peterson reached an agreement to play for the team in 2017, paying him $3.25 million for the season.

In 2012, Peterson became 3rd Vikings player to earn NFL MVP honors, joining Alan Page (1971) and Fran Tarkenton (1975). He has led the NFL in rushing 3 times and posted the 2nd-best rushing yardage season in NFL history in 2012 at 2,097 yards.

Peterson set NFL single-game rushing record with 296 yards vs. San Diego in 2007, the 8th game of his career.

Panthers sign DT Kawann Short to 5-year extension

By STEVE REED
Associated Press 

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) – The Carolina Panthers have signed Kawann Short to a five-year contract extension, keeping the defensive tackle with the team through the 2021 season.

A person familiar with the deal says the extension is worth $80 million. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Monday because the team doesn't release financial terms of contracts.

Carolina had placed the franchise tag on the 6-foot-3, 315-pound Short earlier this offseason.

The 28-year-old Short has started 41 games in four seasons with the Panthers, including 32 in the past two seasons.

He had 55 tackles in each of the past two seasons, and combined for 17 sacks - 11 of those coming in 2015 when he helped the Panthers reach the Super Bowl.

Giants re-sign DE Jason Pierre-Paul; will sign former Jets QB Geno Smith

The New York Giants re-signed defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul to a four-year deal on Friday, and announced that they will sign former New York Jets QB Geno Smith

Pierre-Paul recorded 7.0 sacks, 53 tackles and 3 forced fumbles in 12 games (all starts) played in 2016. He has played in 75 regular-season games with 49 starts and started all 4 postseason games in which he’s played. Career regular-season totals include 319 tackles (234 solo), 42.0 sacks, 8 forced fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries, 2 interceptions (each returned for a touchdown) and 32 passes defensed. In the postseason, JPP has 18 tackles (15 solo) and a half-sack. The 42.0 sacks place Pierre-Paul 8th on the Giants’ career list, 4 sacks behind George Martin.

In college, Pierre-Paul played at 3 colleges - College of the Canyons in Santa Clarita, Calif., in 2007, Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College in 2008 and South Florida in 2009. In his 3 stops, Pierre-Paul played in 35 games, recording 161 tackles (119 solo) with 31.0 sacks for minus 180 yards, 56.0 stops for losses totaling 248 yards and 13 pressures…He forced seven fumbles and recovered 3 others, deflected 9 passes and intercepted 2 more for 38 yards in returns. In 2009, he was a 1st-team All-America selection by Pro Football Weekly and consensus All-Big East 1st-team choice. He earned team Rookie of the Year honors. A late arrival to fall camp, Pierre-Paul was originally going to be red-shirted, but the coaches relented and allowed him to play. In 2008, Pierre-Paul earned All-America and All-Jayhawk Football Conference 1st-team honors at Fort Scott Community College.

Giants re-sign backup QB Josh Johnson, says agent

The New York Giants re-sigbed backup quarter back Josh Johnson on Friday, Johnson's agent announced.

Johnson has completed 96 of 177 passes for 1,042 yards, 5 TDs and 10 INTs in 29 career games (five starts).

Johnson started four of six games in 2009, throwing for a careerhigh 685 yards and 4 TDs while with Tampa Bay. Hjs first-career TD pass came in his first-career start at Washington on 10/4/09, and completed 26 of 50 passes for 240 yards and 2 TDs at Philadelphia on 10/11/09. Johnson led Tampa Bay to a 24-21 victory at Cincinnati on 10/10/10 after stepping in for a injured QB Josh Freeman, and he recorded 1 rush for 8 yards on a fourth-and-1 situation, later leading to a TD and win, vs. Indianapolis 10/3/11.

In college, Johnson saw action in 41 games (34 starts) in his four seasons with San  Diego (2004-07),  totaling  724  completions  on  1,065 attempts for 9,699 yards and 113 TDs. He led the Pioneer Football League in pass efficiency (198.3) during his senior season, while tallying 206 completions on 301  attempts,  2,988  passing  yards  and a career-high  43 TDs. Johnson also  rushed for 726 yards and 2 TDs  on 101 carries before declaring for the 2008 NFL Draft. He was named Offensive MVP of the 2008 East-West Shrine game. In 2006, Johnson earned third-team All-American by the Associated Press  as  a  junior,  after  completing  246  of  371  passes  for 3,320  yards and 34 TDs. Johnson rushed for 720 yards and 11 TDs on 107 carries. He totaled four 300-yard passing games, including  a  game-high  384  yards  and  4  TDs  in  a  victory at Jacksonville. Johnson garnered several league honors in his sophomore season, including first-team All-PFL and PFL Offensive Player of the Week (three times), after completing 260 of 371 passes for 3,256 yards and 36 TDs. Johnson also ran for 379 yards and 4 TDs. He tied school record with 7 TD passes (in the first half) in a win at Valparaiso, and served as backup QB for Todd Mortensen in five games as a freshman in 2004, completing 12 of 22 passes for 135 yards.

Seahawks Agree To Terms With Running Back Eddie Lacy

The Seahawks added a Pro Bowler to their backfield Tuesday, agreeing to terms on a deal with former Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy.

Lacy, who was selected with the 61st pick in the 2013 draft—one pick before the Seahawks selected running back Christine Michael—should add a physical presence to the running game, something head coach Pete Carroll has long maintained is a key element to his team’s success. The 5-foot-11, 234-pound back has rushed for 3,435 yards and 23 touchdowns in his four-year career while also proving to be a threat in the passing game, catching 101 passes for 900 yards and six scores.

As a rookie, Lacy rushed for 1,178 yards and 11 touchdowns, earning Pro-Bowl, second-team All-Pro and Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. He followed that up with 1,139 rushing yards and 427 receiving yards in 2014.

Lacy’s 2016 season was cut short due to an ankle injury, with him landing on injured reserve after rushing for 360 yards in five games. Lacy, who turns 27 in June, joins a Seahawks backfield that has shown considerable potential, but that last season struggled to stay healthy, something Carroll admitted was a concern during his year-end press conference. Thomas Rawls, who as a rookie in 2015 led the NFL with 5.6 rushing yards per attempt, missed seven games last season with a leg injury. Rookie C.J. Prosise, who was dynamic both as a runner and pass-catcher when healthy, missed 10 games due to multiple injuries, including a broken scapula that caused him to miss the final six games of the regular season and both of Seattle’s playoff games.

Lacy is the second free-agent addition made by the Seahawks since the new league year began last week, joining former Jacksonville offensive linemen Luke Joeckel.

- Seattle Seahawks

Eagles sign QB Nick Foles

The Philadelphia Eagles were able to get back one of their former players on Monday, signing QB Nick Foles to a two-year deal.

Foles will serve as the backup to Carson Wentz.

Foles was a third-round draft choice of the Eagles in 2012 when head coach Doug Pederson was the quarterbacks coach. In five NFL seasons, Foles has completed 60.4 percent of his pass attempts for 9,215 yards with 56 touchdowns against 27 interceptions for an 88.1 passer rating. In his last two years with the Eagles from 2013-14, Foles was 14-4 as the starting quarterback.

Pederson left for Kansas City following Foles' rookie year, one in which the quarterback started six games. In 2013, Foles lost the battle for the starting quarterback job to Michael Vick in Training Camp, but was thrust into the starting lineup in Week 6 due to injury.

Foles took command of the team and had a season for the ages as he threw 27 touchdowns against only two interceptions. He tied the NFL record for most touchdown passes in a single game with seven in a 49-20 win over the Oakland Raiders. In Week 17, Foles took the Eagles on the road as Philadelphia beat Dallas to win the NFC East title. Foles was named to the Pro Bowl and won Offensive MVP honors of the all-star game.

In 2014, Foles and the Eagles started 6-2 before suffered a broken collarbone in a win over the Texans, ending his season and first stint with the team. Following the year, Foles was dealt to St. Louis as part of the package to bring Sam Bradford to Philadelphia. Foles struggled as the Rams' starting quarterback, and was benched midseason. The Rams used the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft on Jared Goff signaling that Foles was not a critical part of the team's future plans. Foles was released on the eve of Training Camp, and went to Kansas City to rejoin head coach Andy Reid. Foles served as the backup to Alex Smith. In three games (one start) with the Chiefs, Foles was 36-of-55 for 410 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions, and a 105.9 passer rating.

Bills sign free-agent DE Ryan Davis

The Buffalo Bills signed free agent DE Ryan Davis (6'2, 275 lbs.) on Monday.

Davis was with the Dallas Cowboys last season and served in a part time role. He appeared in nine games for Dallas until he suffered a knee injury in Week 16 that landed him on injured reserve at the close of the regular season.

Davis, 28, is known as a steady run defender capable of setting the edge. He spent the first four years of his career in Jacksonville. The Jaguars signed him out of Bethune-Cookman as an undrafted free agent in 2012.

His most productive season came in 2014 when he posted 19 tackles, 6.5 sacks, a pair of pass breakups and two forced fumbles for the Jaguars.

Eagles sign WR Torrey Smith

The Philadelphia Eagles announced on Tuesday that tbey have signed frew-agent WR Torrey Smith.

Smith (6-0, 205) was released by the San Francisco 49ers on Tuesday. He originally signed with San Francisco on March 11, 2015, and appeared in 28 games (24 starts) and registered 53 receptions for 930 yards (17.5 average) and seven touchdowns over the past two seasons. In 2016, he started all 12 games in which he appeared and finished with 20 receptions for 267 yards and three touchdowns.

A 28-year-old native of Falmouth, VA, Smith attended the University of Maryland, where he appeared in 38 games (28 starts). He finished his collegiate career ranked third in school history with 152 receptions and second with 2,215 yards, while adding 19 touchdowns in three seasons.

An active member in the community since middle school, Smith’s charitable contributions span from coast-to-coast as he was named the 49ers Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year in 2016. This past season marked the third time Smith had been selected for the prestigious accolade, as the Ravens nominated Smith twice (2013-14) during his four seasons in Baltimore.