Offensive tackle Rashawn Slater is finally signing his rookie deal. Next up: training camp.
The Chargers agreed to terms with Slater on Tuesday, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported. The four-year, fully guaranteed deal was reached just as Los Angeles was opening camp. The deal was made official via the league's transaction wire.
That leaves just two unsigned first-rounders from the 2021 class: quarterbacks Zach Wilson and Trey Lance. Locking up Slater was a formality but no less important for the Chargers. He will slot in immediately as their left tackle, a.k.a. Justin Herbert's blindside protector. It's been a problem position for L.A. in recent years.
The front office addressed the need by grabbing Slater with the No. 13 overall pick. The Northwestern product opted out of the 2020 season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Putting pen to paper as camp breaks ensures he won't miss any more time.
The team also signed third-round pick Tre' McKitty, a tight end, per the wire and placed running back Justin Jackson on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
Other news and notes we're tracking on Tuesday:
- The Cowboys signed free-agent safety Malik Hooker. The former first-rounder worked out with Dallas on Tuesday upon completing required COVID-19 protocols. Hooker registered seven interceptions over his first three seasons with the Colts but appeared in just two games last year before tearing his Achilles. The team also placed offensive lineman Mitch Hyatt on the reserve/injured list.
- The New Orleans Saints officially placed receiver Michael Thomas on the active/physically unable to perform list. Thomas underwent surgery to repair ligaments in his ankle in June. New Orleans also placed offensive lineman Dennis Kelly on the active/non-football injury list and signed defensive back Brian Poole and defensive lineman Kendall Donnerson.
- Baltimore Ravens running back Gus Edwards tested positive for COVID-19 and will be placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported. The Ravens also announced the signing of veteran defensive end Chris Smith.
- The Packers released quarterbacks Blake Bortles and Jake Dolegala. Green Bay placed offensive tackle David Bakhtiari on the PUP list. Wide receiver Allen Lazard signed his exclusive-rights free agency tender. Defensive backs Kevin King and Will Redmond and linebacker Za'Darius Smith were placed on the non-football injury list.
- Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was excused from practice Tuesday for personal reasons and is expected to return Wednesday.
- New York Giants wide receiver Kadarius Toney was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list. Linebacker Blake Martinez and safety Joshua Kalu were placed on the list. Linebacker Reggie Ragland (hamstring) was placed on the NFI list.
- Cleveland Browns wideout Odell Beckham, who's working his way back from an ACL tear, has passed his physical and won't start training camp on the physically unable to perform list, per Rapoport.
- Major League Soccer franchise Sporting Kansas City announced that Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has joined its ownership group. Chiefs offensive lineman Kyle Long was placed on the physically unable to perform list and wide receiver Chris Finke was placed on the reserve/injured list from the waived/injured list.
- The Broncos signed veteran defensive back Tedric Thompson and center Brett Jones. Thompson appeared in eight games with the Chiefs last year as a reserve. Denver waived center Patrick Morris.
- The Detroit Lions claimed defensive tackle Bruce Hector off waivers from the Titans and placed defensive tackle Brian Price on the reserve/retired list.
- The Miami Dolphins signed second-round offensive tackle Liam Eichenberg to his rookie deal and waived tight end Jibri Blount.
- The Cincinnati Bengals signed tackle Gunnar Vogel.
- The Carolina Panthers placed linebacker Frankie Luvu on the reserve/COVID-19 list and placed defensive back Delano Hill on the PUP list.
- The Cardinals waived defensive lineman Ryan Bee and placed safety Shawn Williams on the NFI list. Arizona also signed defensive back Daryl Worley and center Marcus Henry.
- The New England Patriots released wide receiver Devin Smith and placed offensive tackle Trenton Brown and linebacker Kyle Van Noy on the PUP list. Tight end Devin Asiasi was put on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
- The Washington Football Team made a series of moves Tuesday, including placing wide receiver Curtis Samuel and defensive back Greg Stroman on the PUP list, waiving tight end Deon Yelder and defensive end Jalen Jenks, placing Devaroe Lawrence on the NFI list and defensive back Deshazor Everett and defensive tackle Tim Settle on the non-football illness list.
- The Atlanta Falcons placed tight end Lee Smith, defensive tackle John Atkins, defensive end Kobe Jones and center Willie Wright on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
- The Texans placed wide receiver Taywan Taylor, running back Buddy Howell and offensive tackle Geron Christian on the reserve/COVID-19 list and released wide receiver Donte Moncrief with a non-football injury designation. Houston placed defensive back Cornell Armstrong, tight end Pharoah Brown, defensive back Lonnie Johnson and defensive end DeMarcus Walker on the NFL list.
- Jets offensive tackle George Fant was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. New York signed defensive end Jeremiah Valoaga and placed safety Marcus Maye, defensive linemen Foley Fatukasi and Jonathan Marshall on the active roster.
- San Francisco 49ers defensive back Emmanuel Moseley was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. The Niners signed defensive linemen Eddie Yarbrough and Anthony Zettel.
- Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Jaylen Twyman, who was shot four times this summer, cleared waivers and reverted to the NFI list.
- In the aftermath of trading wide receiver Anthony Miller to the Texans, the Chicago Bears signed former Falcons wide receiver Justin Hardy, per Rapoport.
- The Seattle Seahawks released defensive back Saivion Smith and signed wide receiver Darece Roberson.
- The Las Vegas Raiders waived kicker Dominik Eberle.
