Craig James (defensive back) explained

Craig James
Position:Cornerback
Birth Date:29 April 1996
Birth Place:Springfield, Illinois, U.S.
Height Ft:5
Height In:10
Weight Lb:195
High School:Edwardsville
(Edwardsville, Illinois)
College:Minnesota,
Southern Illinois
Undraftedyear:2018
Pastteams:
Statseason:2023
Statlabel1:Total tackles
Statvalue1:18
Statlabel2:Sacks
Statlabel3:Forced fumbles
Statlabel4:Fumble recoveries
Statvalue4:1
Statlabel5:Interceptions
Pfr:JameCr01

Craig James (born April 29, 1996) is an American football cornerback who is a free agent. He played college football at Southern Illinois.

Early life and high school

James was born and grew up in Edwardsville, Illinois and attended Edwardsville High School, where he played football and ran track.[1] WNBA player Kate Martin's dad, Matt Martin, was Craig James's and Buffalo Bills defensive end A. J. Epenesa's football and track coach as well as Riley Patterson's football coach during their student years at Edwardsville High School.[2]

College career

James played his first two seasons at the University of Minnesota, serving as a reserve corner and the team's primary punt returner until breaking his leg during his sophomore season. James transferred to Southern Illinois for his final two seasons.[3] As a junior, James recorded 30 tackles and led the Salukis with three interceptions and nine passes broken up and was named to the Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Newcomer team.[4]

Professional career

Minnesota Vikings

James was signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent on April 30, 2018.[5] He was cut by the Vikings at the end of the preseason.[6] James was re-signed to the Vikings' practice squad on October 16, 2018.[7] James was promoted to the Vikings' active roster on November 27, 2018.[8] James made his NFL debut on December 2, 2018 against the New England Patriots.[9] James played three games during his rookie season, appearing exclusively on special teams.[10]

James was waived during final roster cuts on August 31, 2019.[11]

Philadelphia Eagles

James was signed to the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad on September 2, 2019.[12] He was promoted to the team's active roster on September 11, 2019.[13] He was waived on September 17, and re-signed to the team's practice squad the next day.[14] [15] He was promoted to the active roster again on September 24 after an injury to Ronald Darby.[16] In the following game against the Green Bay Packers and in the third defensive snap of his career, James deflected a pass at the Eagles three-yard line that was then intercepted by linebacker Nigel Bradham with 28 seconds left to preserve a 34-27 Eagles win.[17] James made his first career start the next week on October 6, 2019 against the New York Jets, making three tackles.[18]

On September 4, 2020, James signed a one-year contract extension with the Eagles through the 2021 season.[19] He was placed on injured reserve on September 15, 2020.[20] He was designated to return from injured reserve on October 7, and began practicing with the team again.[21] He was activated on October 10.[22] He was placed back on injured reserve on November 16 with a shoulder injury.[23]

On August 31, 2021, James was waived by the Eagles and re-signed to the practice squad the next day.[24] [25] He was placed on the COVID list on January 1, 2022 and activated three days later, missing just one game.[26] [27] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Eagles on January 18, 2022.[28] He was released July 18, 2022.[29]

New York Jets

On July 21, 2022, James signed with the New York Jets, but was released five days later.[30] [31] He was signed to the practice squad on September 1, 2022.[32] He signed a reserve/future contract on January 9, 2023.[33]

On August 29, 2023, James was released by the Jets and re-signed to the practice squad.[34] [35] He was released on September 26.[36] He was re-signed on October 3, and released again on November 15.[37] [38] He was re-signed on November 21 and released again on November 28.[39] [40]

Detroit Lions

On December 21, 2023, James was signed to the Detroit Lions practice squad.[41] He signed a reserve/future contract on January 30, 2024.[42] On June 13, 2024, he was released by the Detroit Lions.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Minnesota Football Recruiting: Craig James Commits. Matt. Humbert. TheDailyGopher.com. SB Nation. February 5, 2014. September 27, 2019.
  2. News: Brannan . Dan . Tigers' Football Head Coach Matt Martin Steps Down, Leaves Legacy With Vast Contributions . River Bender (RiverBender.com) . . February 16, 2023 . June 22, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240622161013/https://www.riverbender.com/articles/details/tigers-football-head-coach-matt-martin-steps-down-leaves-legacy-with-his-vast-contributions-63973.cfm . June 22, 2024.
  3. Web site: Craig James transferred from Minnesota, but now he's back in town with Vikings. Chris. Tomasson. Duluth News Tribune. St. Paul Pioneer Press. December 1, 2018. December 3, 2018. December 2, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181202142618/http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/sports/football/4537036-craig-james-transferred-minnesota-now-hes-back-town-vikings. dead.
  4. Web site: Four Salukis Named to MVFC All-Newcomer Team. SIUSalukis.com. November 29, 2016. September 2, 2019.
  5. Web site: Vikings' UDFA tracker: All the undrafted free agents. Andrew. Krammer. StarTribune.com. Star Tribune. April 30, 2018. December 3, 2018.
  6. Web site: Vikings Roster Cuts: Minnesota Vikings release Craig James. Christopher. Gates. DailyNorseman.com. SB Nation. September 1, 2018. December 3, 2018.
  7. Web site: Vikings sign CB Craig James to practice squad, release CB Jalen Myrick. Kyle. Radke. Vikings Wire. USA Today. October 16, 2018. December 3, 2018.
  8. Web site: Vikings finally place Andrew Sendejo on injured reserve. Mike. Florio. Pro Football Talk. NBC Sports. November 27, 2018. December 3, 2018.
  9. Web site: Craig James Career Game Logs. Pro-Football-Reference.com. December 3, 2018.
  10. Web site: Craig James 2018 Fantasy Stats. Pro-Football-Reference.com. January 1, 2018.
  11. Web site: CB Craig James released. Ted. Glover. DailyNorseman.com. SB Nation. August 31, 2019. September 2, 2019.
  12. Web site: Report: Eagles fill out 10-man practice squad by signing a cornerback. Brandon. Lee Gowton. BleedingGreenNation.com. SB Nation. September 2, 2019. September 2, 2019.
  13. Web site: Eagles promote CB Craig James from the practice squad to active roster. Glenn. Erby. Eagles Wire. USA Today. September 11, 2019. September 11, 2019.
  14. News: McPherson, Chris . Eagles promote TE Alex Ellis from practice squad . PhiladelphiaEagles.com . September 17, 2019 . September 18, 2019.
  15. Web site: Eagles bring back cornerback Craig James to practice squad. Dave. Zangaro. NBC Sports Philadelphia. September 18, 2019.
  16. News: Schaller, Olivia . Eagles promote CB Craig James from the practice squad to the active roster . PhiladelphiaEagles.com . September 24, 2019 . September 24, 2019.
  17. News: Eagles' Craig James unlikely hero in win over Packers. Jeff. McLane. The Philadelphia Inquirer. September 27, 2019. September 27, 2019.
  18. Web site: Philadelphia Eagles snap counts: Miles Sanders, Jordan Howard split time; Craig James, Dallas Goedert carry heavy loads; and more. Daniel. Gallen. The Patriot-News. October 7, 2019. October 9, 2019.
  19. Web site: Eagles sign Craig James to extension through 2021. Alper, Josh. Pro Football Talk. NBC Sports. September 4, 2020.
  20. Web site: Roster Moves: Eagles sign G Sua Opeta to the active roster. McPherson, Chris. PhiladelphiaEagles.com. September 15, 2020. September 16, 2020. September 16, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200916181344/https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/news/roster-moves-eagles-sign-sua-opeta-to-the-active-roster. dead.
  21. News: McPherson, Chris . Roster Moves: Eagles activate practice window for DE Vinny Curry and CB Craig James; sign RB Adrian Killins to the practice squad . PhiladelphiaEagles.com . October 7, 2020 . October 26, 2020.
  22. Web site: Roster Moves: Eagles sign DB Grayland Arnold; activate CB Craig James and WR Quez Watkins; and elevate TE Jason Croom and DB Elijah Riley. McPherson, Chris. PhiladelphiaEagles.com. October 10, 2020.
  23. Web site: Eagles activate 21-day practice window for TE Zach Ertz; place CB Craig James on Injured Reserve. McPherson, Chris. PhiladelphiaEagles.com. November 16, 2020.
  24. Web site: Eagles announce initial 53-man roster. McPherson, Chris. PhiladelphiaEagles.com. August 31, 2021.
  25. Web site: Eagles agree to terms with 15 players to join the practice squad. PhiladelphiaEagles.com. September 1, 2021.
  26. News: Barnett Returns From COVID List As Two More Enter Protocols . Bowman, Paul . SportsTalkPhilly.com . January 1, 2022.
  27. News: Eagles activate WR John Hightower, CB Craig James from the Practice Squad Reserve/COVID-19 list . McPherson, Chris . PhiladelphiaEagles.com . January 4, 2022.
  28. Web site: Eagles sign 11 players to Reserve/Futures contracts. McPherson, Chris. PhiladelphiaEagles.com. January 18, 2022.
  29. Web site: Eagles release Craig James. Alper, Josh. Pro Football Talk. NBC Sports. July 18, 2022.
  30. Web site: Jets Place Five Players on PUP List; Sign CB Craig James. NewYorkJets.com. July 21, 2022. July 25, 2022. July 28, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220728172134/https://www.newyorkjets.com/news/jets-place-five-players-on-pup-list-sign-cb-craig-james. dead.
  31. Web site: Jets Sign QB Chris Streveler, WR Rashard Davis, OL Isaiah Williams. Greenberg, Ethan. NewYorkJets.com. July 26, 2022.
  32. Web site: Jets Sign CB Craig James, LB Chazz Surratt to Practice Squad. Lange, Randy. NewYorkJets.com. September 1, 2022.
  33. Web site: Jets Sign Seven Players to Reserve/Future Contracts. Greenberg, Ethan. NewYorkJets.com. January 9, 2023.
  34. Web site: Final Cuts: Jets Move 31 More to Get Their Roster to 53 Players. Lange, Randy. Greenberg, Ethan. NewYorkJets.com. August 29, 2023.
  35. Web site: Jets Add 10 Players from Their Preseason Roster to the Practice Squad. Lange, Randy. NewYorkJets.com. August 30, 2023.
  36. Web site: Greenberg . Ethan . Jets Release CB Craig James from Practice Squad . New York Jets . 28 September 2023.
  37. Web site: Jets Sign 3 Players, All Cornerbacks, to Practice Squad. Greenberg, Ethan. NewYorkJets.com. October 3, 2023.
  38. Web site: Greenberg . Ethan . Jets Sign DL Tanzel Smart to Practice Squad, Release DB Craig James . newyorkjets.com . 16 November 2023.
  39. Web site: Ulrich . Logan . Jets Promote QB Trevor Siemian, Sign CB Craig James To PS . NFL Trade Rumors . 21 November 2023.
  40. Web site: Greenberg . Ethan . Jets Sign CB Anthony Brown to Practice Squad . newyorkjets.com . 29 November 2023.
  41. Web site: Risdon . Jeff . Lions add CB Craig James to the practice squad . Lions Wire . 22 December 2023.
  42. Web site: Detroit Lions sign 11 players to futures contracts. Pride of Detroit. SB Nation. January 30, 2024.

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