Steelers Activate QB Ben Roethlisberger, Three Others
Following a brief stint on the COVID-19 reserve list, Ben Roethlisberger will be under center tomorrow against the Bengals. The Steelers announced that they’ve activated their quarterback from the COVID-19 list. The team also activated offensive lineman Jerald Hawkins, running back Jaylen Samuels, and linebacker Vince Williams.
The four players didn’t test positive, but they were close contacts of tight end Vance McDonald, who had a positive test earlier this week. As a result, these players had to isolate for several days and test negative before rejoining the squad.
“I’m doing good,” Roethlisberger said (via Gerry Dulac of the Post-Gazette on Twitter). “I feel great. If my body enjoyed the week off, my mind teaching pre-kindergarten did not enjoy the week off. It’s fun to be home, but I definitely missed the guys.”
Naturally, the team is now making up for lost time in their preparation for Cincinnati. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler tweets that Roethlisberger was expected to participate in the Steelers walkthrough this morning, with the team hoping to get their veteran quarterback some extra time on the practice field.
After being limited to only a pair of games in 2019, the 38-year-old has played a major role in the Steelers undefeated record in 2020. Roethlisberger has completed 68.1-percent of his passes (a mark that would be a career high) for 1,934 yards, 18 touchdowns, and four interceptions.
Vikings Release OL Pat Elflein
After being activated from the injured reserve yesterday, Pat Elflein is now a free agent. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the Vikings have released the offensive lineman. The 26-year-old is now fully healthy and hopes to get an opportunity for “some real playing time elsewhere.”
The former third-round pick earned a spot on the All-Rookie Team in 2017 after starting 14 games at center for the Vikings. He played the same role in 2018, but he was switched to guard in 2019 after Minnesota drafted Garrett Bradbury in the first round of that year’s draft.
Elflein started 15 games at guard in 2019, and he started the 2020 season opener before tearing a thumb ligament. That injury forced Elflein to land on the IR, and after returning to practice three weeks ago, his IR-DTR window had recently come to an end. Therefore, the Vikings had no other choice than to activate Elflein.
As our own Sam Robinson noted yesterday, the Vikings have used veteran Dakota Dozier as a guard starter all year, and they recently moved second-round rookie Ezra Cleveland into their starting lineup at guard. Considering the recent performance of Dalvin Cook and the Vikings running game, the coaching staff apparently thought it was better to roll forward with their current grouping.
Free Agent RB Mark Walton Suspended Eight Weeks
Mark Walton was already facing an uphill battle when it came to returning to the NFL. Yesterday’s ruling is going to make that comeback a whole lot tougher. Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com passes along that the free agent running back has earned an eight-week suspension.
The 2018 fourth-round pick spent his rookie campaign with the Bengals, compiling 75 yards from scrimmage and five tackles. However, he subsequently ran into off-the-field issues, as Walton was arrested three times during the 2019 offseason. That ultimately led to him begin cut by Cincinnati.
Walton caught on with the Dolphins later that offseason, and he proceeded to start four of his seven appearances for Miami during the 2019 campaign. However, in early November of 2019, Walton was suspended four games by the NFL for violating the league’s personal conduct and substance abuse policies, and he was cut after being arrested in Florida later that month.
Walton was ultimately charged with a second count of aggravated battery of a pregnant woman, and he was arrested in February of 2020 after violating the terms of his restraining order. Those aforementioned charges were eventually dropped, but this latest suspension likely stems from the same matter.
NFC East Notes: Eberflus, Eagles, Giants
Matt Eberflus may resurface on the coaching carousel in 2021, given the Colts’ defensive resurgence. This is Eberflus’ third year as the Colts’ defensive coordinator, with the would-be Josh McDaniels assistant coming to Indianapolis after seven seasons as Cowboys linebackers coach. The Cowboys were ready to make a major change to prevent Eberflus from leaving. They were prepared to promote him to defensive coordinator in 2018, Ed Werder of ESPN.com reports, in a move that would have meant Eberflus replacing Rod Marinelli (Twitter link). Eberflus, however, refused to accept that promotion out of respect for Marinelli. The latter served as Dallas’ DC from 2014-19, with his tenure ending after Jason Garrett‘s 2020 firing.
Here is the latest from the NFC East:
- For the first time since Week 14 of last season, Alshon Jeffery will suit up for a game. The Eagles did not give Jeffery an injury designation going into Week 10, putting the ninth-year wideout on track to make his season debut against the Giants. The Eagles shopped Jeffery for several months, but given the injury-prone receiver’s contract, the team was essentially forced to hang onto the 30-year-old target and wait for his recovery from a Lisfranc injury. Jeffery also battled a calf ailment this season. Jeffery will join previously injured cogs Jalen Reagor, Miles Sanders and Dallas Goedert in Philadelphia’s lineup. It will be easily the healthiest Eagles skill-position group this season.
- The Giants deactivated Golden Tate for their Week 9 game, citing his recent effort and performance. They shopped Tate ahead of the trade deadline, and Tate’s wife expressed frustration about her husband’s role on Instagram. Tate liked another Instagram post championing a change of scenery for him. The 11th-year wide receiver, however, said Friday he did not want to be traded. “No, I wouldn’t say I was trying to get traded,” Tate said, via the New York Post’s Paul Schwartz (on Twitter). “I love this organization, to be honest. I love everything it stands for, and I want to do my part and help us win any way I can.” Waiving Tate would cost the Giants a few million in dead money, but the team is expected to cut or trade him in 2021.
- Patrick Graham has impressed many around the NFL with his work leading the Giants’ defense this season, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com notes. The former Dolphins DC and Patriots assistant may soon receive looks for HC opportunities. While the Giants’ defense ranks 22nd in DVOA, that is up from 28th last season. New York entered the season thin at cornerback and at edge rusher but still has one of the league’s best defensive lines.
- The Giants worked out two former second-round cornerback picks Friday. Former Florida teammates Quincy Wilson and Teez Tabor reunited for a Giants workout. The Jets acquired Wilson from the Colts earlier this year but cut him. Tabor has not played since the 2018 season.
- The Eagles will be without defensive assistant Jeremiah Washburn this week, Tim McManus of ESPN.com tweets. An Eagles coach tested positive for COVID-19 this week. The team has not identified the staffer, but Washburn’s absence provides an indication he contracted the coronavirus. Washburn serves in an interesting capacity with the Eagles, working as a senior defensive assistant and director of player personnel. He previously coached the Bears and Lions’ offensive lines.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/13/20
Here are Friday’s practice squad decisions:
Dallas Cowboys
- Placed on practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Walter Palmore
New England Patriots
- Placed on practice squad injured list: OL Caleb Benenoch
- Released: TE Dylan Cantrell, QB Jake Dolegala
New York Giants
- Signed: OT Kyle Murphy
- Waived: TE Eric Tomlinson, G Kenny Wiggins
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/13/20
Here are Friday’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Placed on IR: LB Del’Shawn Phillips
Carolina Panthers
- Placed on IR: RB Reggie Bonnafon, DE Stephen Weatherly
Miami Dolphins
- Promoted: DT Benito Jones, TE Chris Myarick
New Orleans Saints
- Activated from IR: LB Chase Hansen
New York Giants
- Promoted: DB Montre Hartage, RB Alfred Morris
Vikings Activate OL Pat Elflein From IR
After returning to practice nearly three weeks ago, Pat Elflein may be back in a Vikings game uniform Monday. The Vikings are activating the veteran interior lineman from IR.
As was the case with Titans cornerback Adoree’ Jackson, Elflein may not play in Week 10. The Vikings needed to activate the guard starter because his 21-day IR-DTR window was set to close. Elflein is now back on Minnesota’s 53-man roster, but he did not practice Friday.
Elflein suffered a torn thumb ligament during practice ahead of the Vikings’ Week 2 game and underwent surgery. Minnesota drafted Elflein in the third round in 2017 and slotted him as its starting center as a rookie. The team moved him to guard in 2019, upon drafting Garrett Bradbury, and he started at right guard in Week 1 against the Packers.
The Vikings have used veteran Dakota Dozier as a guard starter all year and recently moved second-round rookie Ezra Cleveland into their starting lineup at guard. Dalvin Cook has reeled off back-to-back dominant performances behind Minnesota’s reconfigured line, so Elflein’s role upon return will be interesting. He has, however, started 43 of his 44 career games. Elflein’s rookie contract expires at season’s end, making the second half of this campaign critical for his hopes at an extension or a big free agency payday.
Bears OC Bill Lazor To Call Plays
Matt Nagy will make a notable change to help jump-start the Bears’ offense Monday night. The third-year Chicago head coach is handing off play-calling responsibilities to offensive coordinator Bill Lazor.
Lazor is in his first season with the Bears, coming over after a season at Penn State. Previously, Lazor served as Bengals OC. He called Cincinnati’s plays from 2017-18. Nagy did not say Lazor would keep the play-calling reins beyond Week 10, however. The Bears HC will reassess during the team’s Week 11 bye.
The Bears have lost three straight and are careening toward slinking out of the NFC playoff race despite starting 5-1. Chicago holds a minus-12 point differential and ranks 28th in offensive DVOA. The team’s switch to Nick Foles has not made a major difference, and the Bears’ defense has been tasked with carrying a low-end offense — as it did last season when Mitchell Trubisky declined considerably.
In Lazor’s two seasons running the Bengals’ offense, they ranked 22nd and 21st in DVOA. The second mark came in just one spot behind Nagy’s first Bears offense, which went to the playoffs after the team won the NFC North that season.
The 2018 NFL Coach of the Year, Nagy came to the Bears after enjoying the opportunity to call the Chiefs’ plays for part of the 2017 season. But he will turn to Lazor, whom the Dolphins employed for barely a season as their OC from 2014-15, to help stop the Bears’ skid this week.
Coaching Notes: Campbell, Smith, Dolphins
Prior to hiring Adam Gase, the Jets requested an interview with Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell. The Browns were interested as well, before promoting Freddie Kitchens. Instead, the Big 12 leader signed an extension to stay in Ames. But Campbell is intrigued by the prospect of coaching in the NFL, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero. Known for his offensive acumen and the revitalization effort he authored at Iowa State — which has started 5-2 this season — Campbell could be a more serious contender to fill one of the league’s coaching vacancies next year. Since the last time he popped up on the NFL radar, Kliff Kingsbury and Matt Rhule have made the jump. The Cyclones’ 40-year-old HC may be next.
Here is the latest from the coaching ranks:
- Unsurprisingly, Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith has emerged as a coaching candidate. “A lot of intrigue” surrounds Tennessee’s second-year OC, Pelissero adds. Smith, 38, did not receive looks last season, but Ryan Tannehill‘s sustained success — Thursday night’s underwhelming performance notwithstanding — after a mediocre Miami career has turned heads. Smith figures to receive interview requests in 2021.
- Despite the NFL’s recent trend of preferring offense-oriented coaches, Brandon Staley is viewed by some as a future head coach. The Rams plucked Staley off Vic Fangio‘s Broncos staff, making the 37-year-old assistant their defensive coordinator. He is viewed by current and former colleagues as a future HC, Pelissero adds. However, teams may want to see Staley be a coordinator for more than one season. Prior to his Los Angeles arrival, he served as outside linebackers coach in Chicago and Denver.
- Shifting to current coaching situations, a few teams will be without staffers Sunday. The Dolphins will be hit hardest on this front. After placing Christian Wilkins and Kyle Van Noy on their reserve/COVID-19 list, the Dolphins will be without quarterbacks coach Robby Brown, defensive line coach Marion Hobby, outside linebackers coach Austin Clark and quality control staffer Kolby Smith against the Chargers because of coronavirus protocols, per ESPN.com’s Cameron Wolfe (on Twitter). Running backs coach Eric Studesville and former Texans OC George Godsey will assist Chan Gailey with QB responsibilities.
- The Bengals and Steelers have a combined 10 players on their respective COVID lists. The Bengals will also be without wide receivers coach Bob Bicknell because of “COVID-19 reasons,” the team announced. Assistant wideouts coach Troy Walters will take on more responsibility.
Browns Reopen Team Facility
2:16pm: The Browns placed offensive lineman Chris Hubbard on their reserve/COVID-19 list, and NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets Hubbard indeed tested positive. However, the team reopened its facility after successful contact tracing efforts.
While the Browns remain in the league’s intensive COVID-19 protocols, they are holding a practice this afternoon. That bodes well for their game against the Texans unfolding on schedule, as each NFL game has since Week 7.
9:16am: A positive COVID-19 test has forced the Browns to close their team facility, per a club announcement. The Browns are currently slated to face the Texans on Sunday, but that game may be in jeopardy.
“Earlier this morning, the Cleveland Browns were informed that a player’s test results have come back positive for COVID-19,” the team said in a statement. “The individual has immediately self-isolated and the Browns facility is closed this morning while contact tracing is being conducted. The team will continue to hold meetings remotely (part of the NFL-NFLPA intensive protocol) and will consult with the league and medical experts on the appropriate next steps as the health and safety of our players, coaches, staff, and the entire community remains our highest priority.”
COVID-19 positives have become an almost-daily occurrence in the NFL this year, leading to safety concerns and logistical nightmares across the league. Just yesterday, the Dolphins learned that they could be without two key defenders against the Chargers — they were forced to park Christian Wilkins and Kyle Van Noy on the reserve/COVID-19 list.