Cowboys Want To Re-Sign Aldon Smith
The Cowboys took a chance on Aldon Smith this offseason and, so far, it’s paid off. After resisting trade inquiries earlier this month, owner Jerry Jones confirmed that he’s interested in extending their arrangement.
“The idea here is that Aldon is getting better,” Jones told 105.3 The Fan (via Patrik Walker of CBSSports.com). “He’s a bigger man than he was when he played earlier in his career. But that has a lot of positives to it, too. But every time he’s stepping out there, he’s gaining on it, and that’s interesting to be at this stage of his career. But he’s an absolute unique in every way pressure player. We want to maximize our relationship with him. We’ve all got a good one with him. Proud of him. Proud for him. Proud that he’s given himself this chance, and we’re going to help him do it. So, as I’ve said earlier, I’m a fan of his.”
Smith’s one-year deal — which caps out at $4MM — proved to be a solid bargain. After four years away from the game, Smith has managed five sacks across nine games. He only figures to add to his career total of 52.5 sacks from here, and he figures to do it at a rate to match his production.
At the bargaining table, Jones & Co. will politely point to Smith’s age in order to tamp down the price. In turn, the 31-year-old’s camp will probably note his relatively low odometer — his off-the-field trouble arguably means that he has less wear-and-tear than your average vet. Those negotiations will be interesting to watch, especially since the Cowboys will be prioritizing a new deal for Dak Prescott.
Giants To Place Devonta Freeman On IR
The Giants will place running back Devonta Freeman on injured reserve, according to a source who spoke with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). If all goes well, he’ll be able to return after the minimum three-week period. 
Freeman joined the Giants on a one-year deal worth up to $3MM in late September. The deal came with a base value of just $1.07MM (prorated to $944K), however, with $280K in per-game active roster bonuses and other incentives. Freeman will miss out on nearly $900K in pay while he heals up, and possibly more depending on how things go from here.
The 28-year-old has averaged just 3.2 yards per carry with the G-Men and it’s been a while since he’s shown his Pro Bowl form. Injuries limited Freeman to just two games in 2018, and he averaged a meager 3.6 yards per carry in 14 games last season. That underwhelming performance led to him being ranked 41st among 43 running backs in success rate, per Football Outsiders, and his divorce from the Falcons.
The Giants have done about as well as you’d expect without Saquon Barkley on the field, though Freeman was hoping for a stronger showing given the opportunity. The 2-7 Giants will try their hand against the Eagles this week before their Week 11 bye.
Texans Gareon Conley Done For Year?
Texans cornerback Gareon Conley is unlikely to return to the field this year, according to head coach Romeo Crennel (via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle). Houston initially had higher hopes for Conley back in September when they first placed him on injured reserve.
“He’s got an injury that he’s working through and he’s had it evaluated. It’s not where it needs to be,” Crennel said.
Conley underwent arthroscopic ankle surgery earlier this year, a minor procedure that typically cleans up lingering issue. Unfortunately, he’s experienced complications in his recovery. Conley has been going through the rehab process and trying new treatment options, but his ankle hasn’t responded well to any of it.
The Texans turned down Conley’s fifth-year option, bypassing a $10.244MM placeholder that would have been guaranteed for injury only. In theory, that should have positioned the cornerback for a tremendous platform opportunity. Instead, he’s now facing the prospect of limping into the open market after making just $1.892MM in base pay this year.
The former Raiders first-round pick quietly impressed as Johnathan Joseph‘s replacement last year. He started in six of his eight games for the Texans, compiling 27 tackles and 11 passes defended. He also started both of Houston’s playoff games, collecting 11 tackles and one sack.
Packers’ John Lovett Done For Year
Packers fullback John Lovett will miss the rest of the season after tearing his ACL, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). It’s a bad break for the special teams regular, who has now ended both of his pro seasons on injured reserve. 
Lovett played quarterback at Princeton before signing with the Chiefs last year as an undrafted free agent. With the Packers, he’s seen time at fullback, tight end, and running back, but he’ll mostly be missed in the third facet of the game. Rookie Josiah Deguara — who was initially set for those H-back snaps — is also out with a torn ACL, so the Packers will have to look elsewhere for help. That could mean new work for Jace Sternberger, or a step up for a practice squader like Dax Raymond or Dominique Dafney.
The Packers, sans Lovett, will look to advance to 7-2 this weekend when they take on the Jaguars at Lambeau Field.
49ers Place S Jaquiski Tartt On IR
THURSDAY: Shanahan confirmed the team expects Tartt to miss the rest of the season due to turf toe. Tartt is set to be a 2021 free agent.
WEDNESDAY: The 49ers’ injured reserve list will house another starter for the time being. The team placed safety Jaquiski Tartt on IR on Wednesday.
Despite being questionable to suit up for Week 9 with a groin injury, Tartt played in the 49ers’ loss to the Packers. But he left the game because of a foot issue and will now miss at least three weeks.
San Francisco has used Tartt as a first-string safety for most of his career. The 2015 second-round pick has started under three 49ers head coaches. Although the Trent Baalke regime selected Tartt, he signed an extension during the John Lynch–Kyle Shanahan era.
Injuries have been an issue for Tartt throughout his career, however. He landed on IR in 2017 and ’18 and missed four games during the 49ers’ most recent NFC championship season. This year, he follows numerous 49ers in being forced to miss extensive time due to injury.
Tartt will join Nick Bosa, Richard Sherman, George Kittle, Jimmy Garoppolo, Dee Ford and Raheem Mostert as key 49ers on IR. Centers Weston Richburg and Ben Garland, and wide receiver Deebo Samuel, are also currently unavailable. Though, Samuel is not on an injured list.
The 49ers promoted running back Austin Walter to take Tartt’s place on their 53-man roster.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/12/20
Here are Thursday’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: S Deon Bush
- Placed on IR: DL Roy Robertson-Harris (story)
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted: DE Cassius Marsh
New York Jets
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Travis Ross
Tennessee Titans
- Promoted: P Trevor Daniel, LS Matt Overton
COVID-19 Latest: Chiefs, 49ers, Ravens
The NFL has not needed to adjust its schedule since Week 7, though Division I-FBS certainly has. But more teams are dealing with COVID-19 issues over the past several days. Here is the latest on this NFL season’s defining subject:
- The Chiefs asked the NFL and NFLPA to conduct an investigation after a recent meeting involved a union rep speaking to the entire Chiefs roster without wearing a mask, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. The unnamed union rep is not subject to the same testing the players are, which prompted the Chiefs’ concern after the meeting, Schefter adds (on Twitter). The NFLPA has addressed this matter, per Terez Paylor of Yahoo.com (on Twitter).
- Iman Marshall tested positive for the coronavirus Thursday, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports. He becomes the second Ravens defensive back to test positive in two weeks, following Marlon Humphrey. The latter’s positive test resulted in several Baltimore defenders missing each Ravens practice last week. Marshall, however, cannot play this season due to the Ravens placing him on IR in August. The Ravens announced the infected player, without identifying him, had no high-risk close contacts among the team. Humphrey is no longer on the team’s reserve/COVID-19 list.
- Kendrick Bourne‘s positive test decimated the 49ers‘ receiving corps last week, but an NFL investigation found the team to be compliant with COVID-19 protocols. They will not be punished, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle tweets. As for Bourne, he has endured a complicated several days. After testing negative twice and being removed from the 49ers’ reserve/COVID-19 list, he tested positive again and was back on it Monday. He has tested negative this week, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area notes. If Bourne were cleared to make the trip to New Orleans, he would do so after missing most or all of this week’s 49ers practices.
- The NFL placed the Eagles in its intensive COVID protocols after a coach tested positive, Tim McManus of ESPN.com notes. While Philadelphia’s facility remains open, all Eagles meetings this week will be conducted virtually.
- A Bengals practice squad player tested positive for COVID-19 Wednesday, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. The Bengals placed cornerbacks Brian Allen and Winston Rose on their practice squad COVID list. The team currently has five players — Allen, Rose, Trae Waynes (on IR), Margus Hunt and offensive lineman Fred Johnson — on its reserve/COVID list going into its game against Pittsburgh. The Steelers currently have five players — Ben Roethlisberger, Vance McDonald, Vince Williams, Jaylen Samuels and offensive lineman Jerald Hawkins — on their COVID list.
Panthers Pursued Clemson OC Tony Elliott For HC Job
It was not hard to see the candidate atop the Panthers’ list to succeed Ron Rivera. The team gave Matt Rhule a seven-year, $62MM deal to lead a rebuild.
But the Panthers identified another college coach they wanted to meet with during their hiring process this offseason. Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott landed on Carolina’s radar, with Tom Pelissero of NFL.com noting the Panthers wanted to interview the longtime Dabo Swinney assistant for their HC position.
Elliott declined the interview, but this marks the former Clemson wide receiver’s first major connection to an NFL jump. The Panthers did extensive research on the 40-year-old assistant, per Pelissero, and that intel may be relevant at some point down the road. Joe Brady has impressed in his first season as Carolina’s OC and may well land an interview with a team in 2021, even though he is 31 and has only been a coordinator for half a season. Carolina’s staff is filled with recent college coaches, with Rhule naming Brady and longtime lieutenant Phil Snow as offensive and defensive coordinators, respectively, this year.
Elliott has been with Clemson since the 2011 season, rising from the Tigers’ running backs coach to a co-offensive coordinator post during Deshaun Watson‘s ascent to the team’s solo OC this season. Considering Clemson’s status as one of college football’s powers — a relatively new status for the ACC program — Elliott is bound to receive more interest from NFL teams to move up to a pro coordinator or HC post.
Cory Littleton Lands On Raiders’ Reserve/COVID-19 List
The Raiders continue to run into issues with the coronavirus. They placed top tackler Cory Littleton on their reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday.
An offseason addition, the former Rams linebacker has registered 48 tackles this season. He joins Trent Brown on the Raiders’ COVID list. While Brown is out for Sunday’s game against the Broncos and is without a firm return timetable, Littleton’s status will come down to when he last came in contact with someone who contracted the virus.
The NFL requires players who land on the reserve/COVID list to isolate for five days, even if they did not test positive. This in-season policy change resulted in the Raiders practicing without their first-string offensive line prior to their Week 7 game against the Buccaneers.
While the Titans led the NFL in players placed on a reserve/COVID list, the Raiders have incurred the stiffest punishment for violating coronavirus protocols. The NFL docked the team a sixth-round pick and has levied more than $1MM in fines against the organization this season.
One of the NFL’s top coverage linebackers over the past two seasons, Littleton opted to sign with the Raiders this offseason. Pro Football Focus has not viewed Littleton’s Raiders debut as a success so far, interestingly rating him as one of the league’s worst coverage ‘backers through Las Vegas’ eight games.
Latest On Jets’ Sam Darnold
Sam Darnold won’t just end the season. After consulting with several specialists, the Jets quarterback says the possibility of shoulder surgery is “not on the table,” (Twitter link via Rich Cimini of ESPN.com). 
Darnold, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 draft, has been limited throughout the year. With his team now at 0-9, many would argue that surgery is the sensible move, especially since the Jets aren’t exactly committed to him beyond 2020. The Jets may be in line to draft Clemson superstar Trevor Lawrence in the spring, a move that would immediately put Darnold on the trading block.
A fresh start would probably benefit Darnold, though opinions are split on what exactly he has to offer. Recently, one NFL GM told Mike Sando of The Athletic that Darnold’s ceiling appears to be much lower than back in his USC days.
“Darnold has talent,” the GM said. “You just wonder if they have ruined it. He has played behind a poor offensive line, has had no weapons, he was throwing to really Jamison Crowder as his No. 1. If the Jets keep losing and get the top pick, you could see another team that needs a quarterback and has a better supporting cast acquiring Darnold in the offseason figuring maybe he can be an average starter, and you can win with that.”
For now, Darnold will focus on rehabbing his shoulder. It’s not clear if he’ll be active for Week 11 against the Chargers, but he does have the benefit of the bye week.