Pro Hockey News

Monday, July 31, 2023

NFL Today: Dolphins Activate Armstead; Bucs Re-Sign Vet Gholston

By Mike Bonts, Florida Sports Wire

MIAMI GARDENS (www.sportsdayjax.com) – The Miami Dolphins have activated tackle Terron Armstead off the physically unable to perform list.

Armstead started 13 games at left tackle for Miami last year and was selected to the Pro Bowl for the fourth time in his career. He has played in 110 regular-season games with 106 starts and 10 postseason contests in his career.

Armstead joined the Dolphins as an unrestricted free agent from New Orleans on March 24, 2022. He was originally a third-round pick (75th overall) by New Orleans in the 2013 NFL Draft following his collegiate career at Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

The Dolphins have signed cornerback Eli Apple and activated tackle Isaiah Wynn off the physically unable to perform list.

Apple enters his eighth NFL season having played in 88 career games with 78 starts for four teams – the N.Y. Giants (2016-18), New Orleans (2018-19), Carolina (2020) and Cincinnati (2021-22). He’s recorded 332 tackles (273 solo), five interceptions, 51 passes defensed, three forced fumbles and seven fumble recoveries.

Apple started 30 games the past two seasons for Cincinnati, helping them win the AFC in 2021. He played collegiately at Ohio State where he won a CFP National Championship in 2015 before being selected with the 10th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft by the Giants.

Wynn signed with Miami after spending five years (2018-22) in New England. He’s played in 43 career games with 40 starts, including 33 at left tackle, six at right tackle and one at left guard. He also started a playoff contest in 2019.

Wynn was originally a first-round pick (23rd overall) by New England in the 2018 NFL Draft following his collegiate career at Georgia.

TAMPA BAY

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers re-signed defensive lineman William Gholston.

Gholston (6-6, 281) returns for his 11th season in Tampa Bay, making him the second-longest tenured Buccaneers player behind only Lavonte David. Since being selected by Tampa Bay in the fourth round (No. 126 overall) of the 2013 NFL Draft, Gholston has played in 153 career regular season games, with 87 starts. His 153 games played with the Buccaneers rank ninth in franchise history.

Dating back to 2017, Gholston has appeared in 88 consecutive games for Tampa Bay

 With Gholston up front, the Buccaneers became the first defense since the Minnesota Vikings (2006-08) to lead the NFL in rushing yards allowed in back-to-back seasons when they did so from 2019-20. Under Todd Bowles’ defensive scheme, Tampa Bay has allowed 92.3 rushing yards per game and 3.95 yards per rush dating back to 2019 – both marks led the NFL over the last four seasons.

Tampa Bay signed second-round pick Cody Mauch, the No. 48 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft. Tampa Bay has now signed all eight members of its draft class.

Mauch (6-5, 302) spent six years at North Dakota State University (2017-22), appearing in 62 games, including every game from 2019-2022. During Mauch’s time with the program, the Bison boasted a .907 winning percentage, with four FCS national championships and four Missouri Valley Football conference titles.

Mauch was named Associated Press first-team All-America in 2022, second-team All-America in 2021 and was recognized three times as an All-Missouri Valley Conference performer (2020-22). In addition, Mauch was named the 2022 Phil Steele FCS Offensive Lineman of the Year after starting all 15 games at left tackle for a team that ranked fourth nationally in rushing yards per game (265.7).

The Buccaneers have waived linebacker Jeremy Banks.