Nick Sirianni just announced the addition of a formidable new talent to further strengthen his team’s offensive attack.
Reservists and potential signees almost exclusively choose to remain with the NFL team that had them on the practice squad at the conclusion of the regular season.
However, there are certain exceptions, and the Philadelphia Eagles added former Alabama linebacker Terrell Lewis and former UAB wide receiver Austin Watkins on reserve/future contracts on Thursday.
Regarding his NFL return, Calvin Ridley said, “It wasn’t the best season at all personally.”
Derrick Henry, a former Alabama All-American, will not participate in the Ravens’ playoff opener because “I’ll always be a Titan, even if I don’t come back.”
Watkins had ended the season as a member of the Cleveland Browns practice squad. After being cut from the New Orleans Saints practice squad on October 2, Lewis had been out of the league.
When an NFL team extends its roster for the offseason from 53 to 90 players on March 13, the opening day of the NFL’s 2023 business year, a player signed to a reserve/future contract may be added. The newly signed players are now able to join the squad for summer drills, minicamps, and open practices.
To sign reserve/future contracts, a player must not be on an NFL active roster.
In the 2023 NFL regular season, neither Lewis nor Watkins made an appearance.
After playing for the 2023 USFL championship squad of the Birmingham Stallions, Watkins inked a contract with the Browns in July. He played on Cleveland’s practice squad the entire season.
On August 17, in an 18–18 draw in a preseason game against Philadelphia, Watkins had seven receptions for 139 yards and one touchdown.
In addition to playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and San Francisco 49ers, Watkins was a 1,000-yard receiver for UAB in 2019.
Lewis was a member of the 53-player active roster for Chicago on August 28, the day the Bears cut their preseason roster in order to comply with the NFL’s regular-season cap. Lewis has logged three sacks in the preseason, two of which resulted in forced fumbles. However, Lewis was among the players Chicago released to make room on the roster for the waiver claims; the Bears were given two players off waivers the day following the roster cuts.
On September 13, Lewis worked out for the Saints before signing a contract.
