News briefs: Niners fill Clemens gap, sign Keith Smith
CBSSports.com wire reports
SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The San Francisco 49ers have signed cornerback Keith Smith to a one-year contract, boosting their secondary a day after learning Nate Clements would be sidelined up to eight weeks with a broken shoulder blade.
San Francisco (3-4) also released receiver Micheal Spurlock and cut tight end Carson Butler from the practice squad.
Smith was released by Detroit before the season. The Lions selected him in the third round of the 2004 draft. Smith has played in 71 career games with five starts and 118 tackles, four interceptions, a sack, a forced fumble and one touchdown.
Bengals release veteran guard Kooistra
CINCINNATI -- The Bengals have released offensive guard Scott Kooistra, ending his seven-year career in Cincinnati.
Kooistra was a seventh-round pick in 2003. He appeared in 82 games with Cincinnati, including two this season. He was inactive for the other five games.
The move on Tuesday left the Bengals (5-2) with an open roster spot.
The Bengals filled out their practice squad on Tuesday by signing rookie offensive tackle Gerald Cadogan, a free agent from Penn State who played in one preseason game with Carolina before he was waived.
Bucs sign kicker Barth, release kicker Andrus
TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed kicker Connor Barth and released kicker Shane Andrus.
Barth was cut by the Miami Dolphins in August after kicking in 10 games for Kansas City last season. He made 10 of 12 field goals and converted all 24 of his extra-point attempts with the Chiefs.
Andrus signed with Tampa Bay after Mike Nugent struggled early this season. He appeared in three games, going 0-for-1 on field goal attempts while converting six extra points without a miss.
The Bucs also announced Tuesday that they signed cornerback Mike Mickens from the Dallas Cowboys practice squad. To make room on the roster, cornerback Marcus McCauley was released.
Rams sign corner Gorrer, waive receiver Carter
ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Rams have signed cornerback Danny Gorrer and waived wide receiver Tim Carter.
Gorrer is a rookie who was on the practice squad for the New Orleans Saints, who signed him as an undrafted free agent May 4. He was a two-year starter at Texas A&M where he had 141 tackles, two sacks, one interception, 13 passes defended and two forced fumbles.
In two games for St. Louis, Carter had one catch for six yards.
Cardinals place defensive tackle Dykes on IR
TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Arizona Cardinals have placed defensive tackle Keilen Dykes on the practice squad injured reserve list with a biceps injury.
The club also signed defensive tackle Antoine Holmes to the practice squad.
Holmes was released by Minnesota on Sept. 5.
Bucs waive kicker Cundiff, DB Madison
BEREA, Ohio -- No longer needed, kicker Billy Cundiff has been waived by the Cleveland Browns.
Cundiff filled in while Phil Dawson missed five games with a pulled right calf muscle. Cundiff made all six field-goal tries for the Browns (1-7). Dawson returned for last week's game against Chicago and had his extra point blocked in a 30-6 loss to the Chicago Bears.
The Browns also waived defensive back Anthony Madison.
Cleveland has a bye this week and hosts Baltimore in a Monday night game on Nov. 16.
