HEADLINES

Lions OC Ben Johnson Won’t “Chase” HC Interviews

December 7th, 2024 at 10:35pm CST by Ben Levine

Ben Johnson will once again be one of the most popular names on the coaching market this offseason. However, unlike past hiring cycles, the Lions offensive coordinator will be a bit more methodical with the process.

According to Albert Breer of TheMMQB, Johnson is taking a “different approach” this offseason. Specifically, the OC doesn’t intend to “chase interviews,” and he’ll only talk with teams that he’s genuinely interested in joining. We heard a similar sentiment last month, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter noting that Johnson intends to be “highly selective” with his next gig.

Further, Johnson is seeking “organizational alignment” between the head coach and general manager. Considering HC-needy teams will mostly be seated towards the bottom of the standings, the coach is also seeking “recognition” from organizations about their shortcomings. This would require interested teams to explain where things have gone wrong and how they intend to fix the issues.

As the Lions have climbed into a Super Bowl-contending position, Johnson has become a hot name on the coaching market for each of the past two offseasons. He was viewed as the leader for the Panthers’ HC job in 2023, and he was in pole position to replace Ron Rivera in Washington this past offseason. Both times, Johnson decided to stick in Detroit, and after receiving a raise several years ago, his current Lions deal runs through 2025. The Lions would surely pony up if Johnson wants to stay with the organization, but it seems like the coach is finally set to lead his own staff. The Bears have already been mentioned as a potential suitor, and other teams will surely emerge as the season comes to an end.

On the other side of the ball, Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn is also expected to be a popular name as the coaching market heats up. Breer points to two squads that already have a connection to the coach: the Jets (where Glenn spent the first eight seasons of his playing career) and the Saints (where Glenn coached for five years prior to his stint in Detroit).

Panthers DC Ejiro Evero Expected To Receive HC Interest

December 7th, 2024 at 9:54pm CST by Ben Levine

The Panthers defense has struggled to take a step forward during defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero‘s second season at the helm. The team has allowed a league-leading 2,002 rushing yards, and while the passing defense has generally been up and down, they’ve still allowed the fourth-most passing touchdowns in the league (22).

Considering the underwhelming performance, some pundits have questioned if Evero will still be a popular candidate on the head coaching market this offseason. Dave Canales believes his defensive leader will once again be in contention for a head job, with the first-year Panthers HC citing his coordinator’s consistent messaging and next-man-up mentality.

“It’s echoing all through the building,” Canales said (via ESPN’s David Newton). “It’s just the fundamentals and not backing off of those things. If we can keep the principles the same and our messaging simple, then the guys have something that they can really grasp onto.”

There’s a few reasons to believe that Evero will remain a hot name on the coaching carousel. For starters, the Panthers defense wasn’t a whole lot better in 2023, and he still garnered interest for Carolina’s top job (along with head coaching gigs with the Falcons and Seahawks). Further, rival teams aren’t necessarily looking at the stat sheet when determining their next franchise leader. As Newton notes, former Panthers offensive coordinator Thomas Brown guided an underwhelming 2023 squad before earning a promotion to pass-game coordinator in Chicago. When Bears coach Matt Eberflus was fired last week, the organization felt comfortable enough to promote Brown to interim HC despite the lack of track record.

In other words, even if the Panthers defense finishes towards the bottom of the league in 2024, Evero’s reputation should still be intact. Plus, there are recent signs of improvement in Carolina. As Newton notes, the Panthers have allowed 24.3 points per game over their last three contests, down 8.2 points from their previous league-worst standing. This stretch coincided with improved health from the defense, so Evero may be able to end the campaign on a high note before once again entering the coaching cycle.

Injured Reserve Return Tracker

December 7th, 2024 at 9:49pm CST by Sam Robinson

This offseason brought a change in how teams could construct their 53-man rosters while retaining flexibility with injured players. Clubs were permitted to attach return designations to two players (in total) placed on IR or an NFI list before setting their initial rosters.

In prior years, anyone placed on IR before a team set its initial 53-man roster could not be activated in-season. All August 27 IR- or NFI-return designations, however, already count against teams’ regular-season limit of eight. This introduces more strategy for teams, who will be tasked with determining which players injured in-season will factor into activation puzzles as the year progresses.

All players designated for return on August 27 are eligible to be activated beginning in Week 5, though any player placed on IR after a team set its initial 53 has not been designated for return and therefore does not yet count toward a club’s eight-activation limit. Players who receive return designations after Week 5 also appear on this list.

Here is how teams’ activation puzzles look going into Week 14:

Arizona Cardinals

Designated for return:

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 5

Atlanta Falcons

Designated for return from IR (August 27): 

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 3

Baltimore Ravens

Designated for return:

Eligible for activation:

Activated: 

Activations remaining: 5

Buffalo Bills

Designated for return from IR (August 27):

Designated for return: 

Activated

Activations remaining: 5

Carolina Panthers

Designated for return:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 1

Chicago Bears

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 4

Cincinnati Bengals

Activated: 

Activations remaining: 5

Cleveland Browns

Reverted to season-ending IR:

Designated for return: 

  • CB Myles Harden (Nov. 27)

Eligible for activation:

Activated: 

Activations remaining: 2

Dallas Cowboys

Designated for return: 

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 4

Denver Broncos

Reverted to season-ending IR:

Eligible for activation:

Activated: 

Activations remaining: 3

Detroit Lions

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 5

Green Bay Packers

Eligible for activation:

Activated: 

Activations remaining: 6

Houston Texans

Designated for return from IR (August 27):

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 2

Indianapolis Colts

Designated for return from IR (August 27):

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 4

Jacksonville Jaguars

Activated: 

Activations remaining: 3

Kansas City Chiefs

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 6

Las Vegas Raiders

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 5

Los Angeles Chargers

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 3

Los Angeles Rams

Designated for return from IR (August 27):

  • OL K.T. Leveston (practice window opened Nov. 20)

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 1

Miami Dolphins

Designated for return from reserve/NFI list:

Eligible for activation from IR:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 3

Minnesota Vikings

Designated for return from IR (August 27):

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 3

New England Patriots

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 5

New Orleans Saints

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 2

New York Giants

Designated for return:

  • LB Dyontae Johnson (Dec. 4)

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 5

New York Jets

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 2

Philadelphia Eagles

Designated for return from IR (August 27):

Designated for return:

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 5

Pittsburgh Steelers

Designated for return from IR (August 27):

  • OL Dylan Cook (released Oct. 31)

Designated for return:

Eligible for activation:

Activated: 

Activations remaining: 3

San Francisco 49ers

Reverted to season-ending IR: 

Eligible for activation:

Activated: 

Activations remaining: 3

Seattle Seahawks

Designated for return:

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 4

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Designated for return: 

Eligible for activation:

Activated: 

Activations remaining: 4

Tennessee Titans

Designated for return:

Eligible for activation:

Activated: 

Activations remaining: 6

Washington Commanders

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 5

Saints Activate Kendre Miller, Place Nick Saldiveri On IR

December 7th, 2024 at 9:01pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Saints’ offense will once again have another option in the backfield starting tomorrow. Running back Kendre Miller has been activated from injured reserve, per a team announcement.

Miller made a pair of appearances in October upon returning to action the first time this season. He was given the IR/designated for return designation many other players received during roster cuts this summer, ensuring missed time at the start of the campaign. Miller healed in full from his offseason hamstring injury, but he was again sidelined not long after making his season debut.

Now, the 2023 third-rounder will again have the opportunity to see playing time upon being activated from IR. Miller only received nine carries when he was in the lineup, but veteran Jamaal Williams has seen between zero and three carries per contest each game since Week 3. At least a somewhat notable workload could be in place for Miller moving forward while serving as a complement to Alvin Kamara.

In a corresponding move, guard Nick Saldiveri has been moved to IR. The 2023 fourth-rounder made only four appearances (and no starts) during his rookie campaign, but he has been a much more prominent O-line figure this year. Saldiveri has made six starts amongst his 11 total games in 2024, all of which have come at left guard. He currently ranks 60th out of 73 guards in terms of PFF grade, but his absence will add further to the injuries which have been felt at multiple spots up front this year in New Orleans.

The Saints have only two IR activations remaining for the season, and with five games left in the campaign Saldiveri (who will miss at least the next four contests) will likely not return in 2024. New Orleans’ latest changes on offense come as the 4-8 team prepares to play the Giants on Sunday.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/7/24

December 7th, 2024 at 8:17pm CST by Ely Allen

Saturday’s minor transactions, including gameday practice squad elevations:

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Eagles starting tight end Dallas Goedert has been placed on injured reserve, so Jenkins will come up from the practice squad for a little added depth.

Egon Durban, Michael Meldman Have Deals In Place To Purchase Raiders Stakes

December 7th, 2024 at 7:30pm CST by Adam La Rose

DECEMBER 7: Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal notes the Raiders deals will indeed be on the agenda at the upcoming league meeting. Full ratification could therefore take place soon.

NOVEMBER 21: Earlier in 2024, the deals allowing Tom Brady, Tom Wagner and Richard Seymour to purchase a total of 10.5% of the Raiders was approved. Agreements are now in place for two more minority owners to join the organization.

Silver Lake co-CEO and Endeavor board chairman Egon Durban has a deal with Raiders controlling Mark Davis, as first reported by Ben Fischer of the Sports Business Journal. Durban will be joined by Discovery Land Company founder and chairman Michael Meldman provided their purchases are formally approved. Each will acquire a 7.5% stake should the deals go through.

Davis will still maintain control of the organization in the event the Durban and Meldman purchases receive approval. At least 24 of the league’s 32 owners will need to give the deals the green light, something which could happen during the NFL’s special league meeting next month. The finance committee has already reviewed the terms of the agreements, Vic Tafur of The Athletic notes (subscription required). A recommendation for approval could pave the way to the ownership group at large finalizing the deals.

One potential issue on that front is the fact that Endeavor has a sports agency arm called WME Sports. Durban owns a stake in the company, which has (among other athletes) NFL players as its clientele. By rule, NFL owners cannot also represent players or coaches; as a result, Durban will need to divest from WME as a condition of his Raiders purchase being approved. Fischer reports Durban has given assurances to the NFL that such a move will take place within four months of the deal being going through.

“WME Sports’ football group continues to operate business as usual, and we are prepared for various scenarios as it relates to our football representation business, which is thriving,” a company statement reads. “Our priority remains creating growth and opportunity for our clients and partners.”

Durban and Meldman’s purchases will come in part from Davis’ equity in the Raiders, as well as from the Boscacci and Lovingfoss families, descendants of some of the franchise’s original investors. Full financial terms are not known, but Fischer reports the deals will check in at a “much higher price” than the ones Brady, Wagner and Seymour paid for their shares (which valued the franchise at $3.5 billion).

Mark Davis has been in place as the Raiders’ controlling owner since his father Al passed away in 2011. The 69-year-old is set to remain in his current capacity for the foreseeable future, but further additions to his ownership group could be coming soon.

Titans Activate Chidobe Awuzie, Place Logan Bruss On IR

December 7th, 2024 at 6:43pm CST by Adam La Rose

Chidobe Awuzie is set to see his first game action since September. The veteran corner was activated from injured reserve on Saturday, per a Titans announcement.

Awuzie went down with a groin injury in Week 3, and he was quickly moved to IR. He has remained out of the picture since then, but by returning to practice last week it was clear he would soon be an option to be activated. Plenty of time still remained on Awuzie’s 21-day window to be brought back into the fold, but today’s news means he will be available for Tennessee’s Week 14 matchup.

The 29-year-old had a three-year run with the Bengals which included 32 starts and 37 appearances. Fully recovered from his 2022 ACL tear, Awuzie took a free agent deal with the Titans this offseason which allowed him to continue working under former Cincinnati OC Brian Callahan. Given the nature of that three-year, $36MM pact, expectations were high for the former second-rounder but his injury interrupted his debut Tennessee season. Awuzie should return to the starting role he held at the start of the campaign now that he is healthy.

The Titans are out of playoff contention, but they rank No. 1 in the NFL against the pass and No. 2 in total defense this season. Getting Awuzie back will provide a boost to the team’s secondary (which is without L’Jarius Sneed) down the stretch and allow him to see game action ahead of 2025. Tennessee has six IR activations remaining on the year.

In a corresponding move, offensive lineman Logan Bruss has been moved to injured reserve. The former third-rounder was claimed off waivers from the Rams last month, and he has made three appearances with Tennessee to date. This move guarantees at least a four-game absence, however, meaning Bruss will not be eligible to return until the final week of the regular season.

Seahawks RB Kenneth Walker III Out For Sunday

December 7th, 2024 at 5:55pm CST by Ely Allen

The Seahawks have a big divisional matchup this week with only a one-game lead in the division and only a two-game lead on the last-place team in the division. Looking to sweep the Cardinals and establish a tiebreaker over them, Seattle will be heading into the game without leading rusher Kenneth Walker, who is set to miss the contest with ankle and calf issues.

Despite missing two games early on in the season, Walker is the team’s leading rusher with 542 yards and seven touchdowns. He also leads the running backs room with 38 receptions and 271 yards through the air. He was questionable just yesterday, but the team opted to officially rule him out today.

Luckily, Seattle has an effective backup in Zach Charbonnet was extremely effective in relief-duty when Walker was out earlier this year. In those two contests, Charbonnet had 129 rushing yards and three touchdowns. On the year, he’s second in the running backs room with 266 rushing yards and five touchdowns, adding 29 catches for 204 yards and a touchdown receiving, as well.

With Walker out, Charbonnet is likely to serve as the lead back for the team’s trip to Arizona. Second-year back Kenny McIntosh will back up Charbonnet and George Holani has been called up from the practice squad as a standard gameday elevation. It’s likely precautionary, but with Charbonnet also on the injury report, the depth could be crucial.

The other practice squad elevation for the week will be punter Ty Zentner. Zentner appeared in a game earlier this season for the Rams. This is likely a precaution, as well, as regular punter Michael Dickson is listed as questionable with a back injury.

49ers Activate S Talanoa Hufanga

December 7th, 2024 at 4:19pm CST by Ely Allen

The 49ers have been bombarded with injuries this year, but today they’ll get a bit of relief. San Francisco has officially made the move to activate safety Talanoa Hufanga from injured reserve. After attempting to make a comeback earlier this year, the hope is that, this time, Hufanga will be healthy enough and here to stay.

Hufanga’s initial return was from a torn ACL that he suffered just over a year ago. The team activated him from the active/PUP list just prior to the start of the regular season to ensure that he wouldn’t miss the first four games of the year. A limited runup to the season meant a limited snap share when he finally did return to the lineup, though, and after missing the first two games of the season, Hufanga made his official return in Week 3.

Hufanga missed a game after his 2024 debut before getting his second start, but he left that second game early and did not return. In the process of his comeback, Hufanga had suffered ligament damage in his wrist, necessitating an unfortunate return to IR. There was seemingly no guarantee that he would return this season, but the team ended up opening his practice window earlier this week. Hufanga, who is in a contract year, will not be 100 percent in his return as he still needs support for his injured wrist. With a potential free agency run coming, though, Hufanga will attempt to give it a go.

In order to make room on the 53-man roster for Hufanga, the Niners officially made the move to place running back Jordan Mason on IR. Joining Mason on IR will be backup safety George Odum, who has missed the past week of practice dealing with a knee issue that will seemingly end his season.

With an additional roster spot being made available, San Francisco will sign practice squad offensive tackle Sebastian Gutierrez to the active roster. Signed to the practice squad last week after some time in Indianapolis, Gutierrez was elevated for last weekend’s contest but hasn’t appeared in a game since 2022.

Joining Gutierrez for gameday from the practice squad will be linebacker Jalen Graham and running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn. As standard practice squad elevations, Graham and Vaughn will revert to the practice squad after the game, while Gutierrez will remain on the 53-man roster.

Chiefs Place WR Mecole Hardman On IR

December 7th, 2024 at 2:38pm CST by Ely Allen

Veteran wide receiver Mecole Hardman continues to struggle to live up to his second-round draft status with the Chiefs. His sixth NFL season appears to be coming to an early end as Kansas City places him on injured reserve with a knee issue that surfaced this week.

Since making the Pro Bowl and earning second-team All-Pro honors as a return man his rookie year, Hardman’s role in the NFL has continued to evolve. While he maintained his role in the return game, his targets as a receiver increased over the years immediately following his rookie season. While his yardage increased, he never matched the six touchdowns he caught in his first year. In the last year of his rookie deal, Hardman’s role seemed to be on a similar pace until an injury saw him miss the final nine games of the season.

As a free agent, Hardman signed a deal to join the Jets, but his turbulent five games in New York only amounted to three targets and one catch for six yards. He was traded back to the Chiefs, despite their lack of plans to re-sign him in the prior offseason, and spent the rest of the season as a minor piece of the offense, missing a five-game stretch with injury. This year, Hardman’s role on the offense is virtually nonexistent as he currently ranks 10th on the team in targets, but he has served as the Chiefs’ primary punt returner while splitting kickoff return duties with Carson Steele and Samaje Perine.

With Steele and Perine able to handle kick return responsibilities in Hardman’s absence, the focus will be on filling his role as a punt returner. Hardman is the only player on the team to return a punt this year, but practice squad wide receiver Montrell Washington got some experience in the role last year.

It looks like the Chiefs will favor a different option, though, as they moved to sign second-year undrafted receiver Nikko Remigio to the active roster from the practice squad. As a graduate transfer at Frenso State after four years with Cal, Remigio broke out with the Bulldogs recording 852 receiving yards and six touchdowns on 74 catches. Perhaps more importantly, Remigio led the Mountain West conference with 259 yards and two touchdowns on 13 punt returns. He looks to have earned an opportunity to field punts in his NFL debut with Hardman out.

Joining Remigio off the practice squad tomorrow will be linebacker Swayze Bozeman and tight end Baylor Cupp. Their promotions are simply standard gameday practice squad elevations, so while Remigio will remain on the 53-man roster following the game, Bozeman and Cupp will revert to the practice squad.

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