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Craig James (defensive back)

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Craig James
Personal information
Born: (1996-04-29) April 29, 1996 (age 28)
Springfield, Illinois, U.S.
Height:5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight:195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school:Edwardsville
(Edwardsville, Illinois)
College:Minnesota,
Southern Illinois
Position:Cornerback
Undrafted:2018
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Total tackles:18
Fumble recoveries:1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

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

Early life

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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

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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

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split
5 ft 10 in
(1.78 m) 		193 lb
(88 kg) 		30+1⁄4 in
(0.77 m) 		8+5⁄8 in
(0.22 m)		 4.50 s 1.59 s 2.63 s
All values from Pro Day[5]

Minnesota Vikings

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James was signed by the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent on April 30, 2018.[6] He was cut by the Vikings at the end of the preseason.[7] James was re-signed to the Vikings' practice squad on October 16, 2018.[8] James was promoted to the Vikings' active roster on November 27, 2018.[9] James made his NFL debut on December 2, 2018 against the New England Patriots.[10] James played three games during his rookie season, appearing exclusively on special teams.[11]

James was waived during final roster cuts on August 31, 2019.[12]

Philadelphia Eagles

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James was signed to the Philadelphia Eagles practice squad on September 2, 2019.[13] He was promoted to the team's active roster on September 11, 2019.[14] He was waived on September 17, and re-signed to the team's practice squad the next day.[15][16] He was promoted to the active roster again on September 24 after an injury to Ronald Darby.[17] 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.[18] James made his first career start the next week on October 6, 2019 against the New York Jets, making three tackles.[19]

On September 4, 2020, James signed a one-year contract extension with the Eagles through the 2021 season.[20] He was placed on injured reserve on September 15, 2020.[21] He was designated to return from injured reserve on October 7, and began practicing with the team again.[22] He was activated on October 10.[23] He was placed back on injured reserve on November 16 with a shoulder injury.[24]

On August 31, 2021, James was waived by the Eagles and re-signed to the practice squad the next day.[25][26] He was placed on the COVID list on January 1, 2022 and activated three days later, missing just one game.[27][28] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Eagles on January 18, 2022.[29] He was released July 18, 2022.[30]

New York Jets

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On July 21, 2022, James signed with the New York Jets, but was released five days later.[31][32] He was signed to the practice squad on September 1, 2022.[33] He signed a reserve/future contract on January 9, 2023.[34]

On August 29, 2023, James was released by the Jets and re-signed to the practice squad.[35][36] He was released on September 26.[37] He was re-signed on October 3, and released again on November 15.[38][39] He was re-signed on November 21 and released again on November 28.[40][41]

Detroit Lions

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On December 21, 2023, James was signed to the Detroit Lions practice squad.[42] He signed a reserve/future contract on January 30, 2024.[43] On June 13, 2024, he was released by the Detroit Lions.

References

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