Vikings Place OL Mason Cole On IR
The Vikings will continue their push for a wild-card spot without one of their starting offensive linemen. Mason Cole is now on IR.
Minnesota’s right guard starter for the past few games, Cole suffered an elbow injury Monday night in Chicago. He will miss at least the next three games. This news comes a day after the Vikings learned they will be without Dalvin Cook against the Rams. Cole suffered a hyperextended elbow, per Mike Zimmer, but could make it back for the playoffs — should Minnesota qualify.
Coming over via trade after multiple seasons as the Cardinals’ starting center, Cole has started the past seven games for the Vikings. He broke into Minnesota’s lineup at center, replacing Garrett Bradbury during the starting snapper’s COVID-19 hiatus, and then moved to right guard. Cole started 32 games with Arizona from 2018-20. He is set for free agency in 2022.
Minnesota will turn to Oli Udoh to replace Cole, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press tweets. Udoh has started 13 games, at guard and tackle, for the Vikes this year but was on the bench in Week 15. Pro Football Focus slots the third-year blocker as its No. 61 overall guard this season.
Saints To Sign QB Blake Bortles
Severely shorthanded at quarterback, the Saints will add an emergency backup option. Blake Bortles is expected to sign with the team Friday, Jeff Duncan of NOLA.com tweets.
Taysom Hill and Trevor Siemian landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday, moving Ian Book to the top of the depth chart. Book is still set to start, with Duncan adding Bortles will be New Orleans’ backup against the Dolphins on Monday night.
Bortles caught on with the Packers on multiple occasions this year, during Aaron Rodgers‘ holdout and his subsequent COVID-induced absence, but has not seen any game action in two years. Although Bortles stopped over with the Rams and Broncos in 2019 and ’20, he has taken just two snaps since the Jaguars cut him.
The former top-five pick has 73 starts to his credit; all came with Jacksonville from 2014-18. The Jags cut bait on their 2018 extension a year into the deal. Bortles, 29, has bounced around since. With Book having never taken a regular-season snap, Bortles at least serves as an experienced arm for a suddenly thin Saints team.
Bills To Place WR Gabriel Davis, OL Cody Ford On Reserve/COVID-19 List
Already down Cole Beasley due to his placement on the reserve/COVID-19 list, the Bills will be without one of their other receiving weapons against the Patriots. Gabriel Davis is going on the virus list, Sean McDermott said (via ESPN.com’s Alaina Getzenberg, on Twitter).
Offensive lineman Cody Ford will join Davis on the COVID list. Ford has bounced in and out of Buffalo’s starting lineup this season; Davis has become a key target for Josh Allen. Davis is unvaccinated, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). He will miss Week 16, and his Week 17 status is up in the air due to the 10-day quarantine period for unvaccinated players.
A 2020 fourth-round pick, Davis stepped into a more prominent role last week due to Emmanuel Sanders‘ injury absence. Davis has four touchdown receptions over the past three games, including two during a five-catch, 85-yard game against the Panthers in Week 15. The Central Florida alum has 13 touchdown grabs in two seasons.
While Beasley and Davis are set to be out of the picture in the Bills’ pivotal Patriots rematch, Sanders is looking likely to return after missing Week 15. The 12th-year veteran, who is battling a knee injury, practiced fully Thursday. His presence will be crucial, given the Bills’ sudden receiver availability issues.
Ford, selected in Round 2 in 2019, has started seven games for the Bills this season. Seeing time at tackle and guard, Ford has struggled, with Pro Football Focus rating the Oklahoma product as its fourth-worst guard this season. The Bills were already shorthanded up front last week, with left tackle Dion Dawkins and left guard Jon Feliciano going on the virus list. This pushed Ford back into the starting lineup. Both Dawkins and Feliciano remain on the list. Dawkins dealt with complications from his previous COVID bout this summer, while Feliciano said this week (via WIVB) he was also hospitalized due to the virus.
The Bills activated tackle Bobby Hart from their practice squad reserve/COVID list Friday but could certainly benefit from news of Dawkins or Feliciano being cleared.
Seahawks Activate WR Tyler Lockett From Reserve/COVID-19 List
The Seahawks will welcome back a key offensive player on Sunday. Following a one-game absence, wideout Tyler Lockett has been activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list.
[RELATED: Tyler Lockett Wants To Finish Career With Seahawks]
Lockett tested positive for the virus last week, forcing him to miss Tuesday’s loss to the Rams. Russell Wilson and the offense had issues in the passing game, and head coach Pete Carroll referred to the receiver’s absence following the loss.
“I’m sick that we didn’t have a chance to play with Tyler in this game because this is the kind of game that he would have been a factor in for sure,” Carroll said (via ESPN’s Brady Henderson).
The 29-year-old has already exceeded 1,000 receiving yards for the third-straight year. In 13 starts this season, Lockett has hauled in 62 receptions for 1,023 receiving yards and five touchdowns.
While the Seahawks are welcoming back Lockett, they still have a number of players remaining on the reserve/COVID-19 list, including tight end Will Dissly, running back Travis Homer, defensive end Kerry Hyder, cornerback D.J. Reed, offensive tackle Brandon Shell, and defensive tackle Bryan Mone (h/t to Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com).
Colts OLs Ryan Kelly, Mark Glowinski To Miss Saturday’s Game
The Colts continue to climb the AFC standings, but they’ll have to take on the formidable Cardinals on Saturday without two starting linemen. According to The Athletic’s Stephen Holder (on Twitter), linemen Ryan Kelly (personal) and Mark Glowinski (reserve/COVID-19 list) will both miss this weekend’s game.
Kelly was just named to his third-straight Pro Bowl, and the 28-year-old is having another standout season for Indy. He’s appeared in at least 90 percent of his team’s offensive snaps in his 12 starts. 2020 fifth-round pick Danny Pinter will likely get the start in place of Kelly.
Glowinski was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list earlier today. The former fourth-round pick has generally been a starter throughout his time with the Colts, and he’s started 12 of his 14 games in 2021. Chris Reed could get the nod in Glowinski’s stead.
While the team’s going to have to deal with some absences on their offensive lineman, they can rest easy knowing All-Pro Quenton Nelson will be in uniform. Per Holder, the offensive lineman was back at practice today after dealing with an illness earlier this week.
In other injury news, Holder notes that the team will also be without Andrew Sendejo (concussion) on Saturday. The 34-year-old defensive back joined the Colts back in September, and he’s started 10 of his 12 games this season. collecting 40 tackles.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/23/21
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: TE David Wells, P Ryan Winslow
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: OT Adrian Ealy
- Placed on COVID-19 list: QB Chris Streveler
Carolina Panthers
- Placed on COVID-19 list: DE Austin Larkin
Chicago Bears
- Signed: LB Ledarius Mack
Dallas Cowboys
- Placed on COVID-19 list: RB JaQuan Hardy
Denver Broncos
- Signed: RB Damarea Crockett
- Placed on COVID-19 list: OT Drew Himmelman
- Released: LB Avery Williamson
Detroit Lions
- Activated from COVID-19 list: CB Corey Ballentine, CB Nickell Robey-Coleman
Houston Texans
- Signed: K Dominik Eberle
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: P Johnny Townsend
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: DB Tony Brown
- Released: TE Matt Bushman
Minnesota Vikings
- Activated from COVID-19 list: G Kyle Hinton
- Placed on COVID-19 list: CB Tye Smith
- Signed: RB A.J. Rose
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: OT Casey Tucker
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: LB Lakiem Williams
Washington Football Team
- Released: QB Jordan Ta’amu
NFL COVID List Updates: 12/23/21
We’ve compiled a list of players who were placed or activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list today. In some instances, players activated from the list remain on IR:
Atlanta Falcons
- Placed on list: DE Marlon Davidson
Baltimore Ravens
- Placed on list: TE Josh Oliver
Buffalo Bills
- Activated from list: LB Tyrel Dodson
Carolina Panthers
- Placed on list: OL Dennis Daley, C Pat Elflein
Chicago Bears
- Activated from list: QB Andy Dalton, DE Mario Edwards Jr.
- Placed on list: DT Akiem Hicks
Dallas Cowboys
- Placed on list: S Malik Hooker
Denver Broncos
- Placed on list: C Lloyd Cushenberry
Detroit Lions
- Placed on list: WR Trinity Benson
Houston Texans
- Placed on list: OL Justin Britt, OL Tytus Howard, DE Jordan Jenkins, CB Lonnie Johnson, DT Roy Lopez, S Eric Murray
Kansas City Chiefs
- Activated from list: DE Chris Jones, CB Charvarius Ward
Las Vegas Raiders
- Placed on list: OL Jermaine Eluemunor, S Roderic Teamer
Los Angeles Rams
- Activated from list: S Antoine Brooks, S JuJu Hughes, TE Johnny Mundt
Miami Dolphins
- Activated from list: S Jevon Holland
- Placed on list: FB Cethan Carter, C Greg Mancz, LB Duke Riley
Minnesota Vikings
- Activated from list: WR Dan Chisena
New York Giants
- Activated from list: WR Kadarius Toney
New York Jets
- Placed on list: QB Joe Flacco, OL Laurent Duvernay-Tardif
Philadelphia Eagles
- Placed on list: DE Ryan Kerrigan
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Placed on list: DE Isaiah Buggs, RB Anthony McFarland Jr.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Placed on list: WR Jaelon Darden, DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches
Washington Football Team
- Activated from list: S Darrick Forrest, QB Taylor Heinicke, TE Temarrick Hemingway, LB David Mayo
- Placed on list: G Zack Bailey
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/23/21
Here are Thursday’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
- Signed to active roster: LB Sam Kamara
Houston Texans
- Designated for return: WR Danny Amendola, DL DeMarcus Walker
New York Jets
- Signed off 49ers’ practice squad: S Kai Nacua
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted: DE Cameron Malveaux
San Francisco 49ers
- Promoted: RB Brian Hill, LB Curtis Robinson, S Jarrod Wilson
Seattle Seahawks
- Designated for return: OL Jamarco Jones
Tennessee Titans
- Activated from IR: WR A.J. Brown (story), DB Chris Jackson
- Promoted: T Christian DiLauro, OL Daniel Munyer, DL Kevin Strong
Washington Football Team
- Designated for return: K Joey Slye
Lavonte David Done For Regular Season
THURSDAY: Both David and Fournette are now on IR. The Bucs ended the regular seasons of both starters with these moves, but the door will be open for each to return by Tampa Bay’s first playoff game.
WEDNESDAY: The Buccaneers’ sudden availability concerns now stretch to their defensive second level. They are set to be without Lavonte David for the regular season’s remainder, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.
David suffered a foot injury during Tampa Bay’s shutout loss to New Orleans. He will join Leonard Fournette in missing the regular season’s final three games. Both starters are obvious IR candidates, with three games remaining until the playoffs.
The team’s longest-tenured player, David re-signed on a third deal to stay in Tampa this offseason. The 10th-year linebacker has been a starter since being chosen in the 2012 second round. He missed two games earlier this year but has played in the Bucs’ past seven, running his tackle total to 97 and mixing in two sacks. David, 31, played a key role in keeping the Saints at nine points, recording 11 tackles and a sack.
While Sunday night’s Saints game cost the Bucs David and Fournette for a while, Chris Godwin endured the worst blow in suffering a torn ACL months away from free agency. Tampa Bay may also be without Mike Evans for multiple weeks, though the eighth-year wideout’s timetable is not yet certain. Fournette, who is also months away from what should be a more lucrative run in free agency, sustained a hamstring injury that led to him leaving Raymond James Stadium on crutches.
After entering Week 15 tied with Green Bay at 11-3, Tampa Bay’s odds to obtain a bye for the first time since 2002 are down to 5% — per FiveThirtyEight.com — going into Week 16. The Bucs’ homestretch does feature three winnable games — two against the Panthers, one against the Jets — but the defending champs will be missing some of their top players going into the postseason.
Rams Designate RB Cam Akers For Return
The Rams made an interesting transaction Thursday, putting the wheels in motion for a potential Cam Akers return. Akers, who suffered an Achilles tear in July, is now on the Rams’ designated-to-return list.
Akers has spent the past five months on IR, but Sean McVay said in late October the second-year back had a chance to come back if the Rams made the playoffs. With the team once again on track for the postseason, Akers may be in that equation.
Akers must be activated 21 days from today, or he will revert to season-ending IR. He would need to be moved to the active roster before a Rams wild-card game.
Late-season returns from offseason Achilles tears have happened in the not-so-distant past. Terrell Suggs came back in late October of the 2012 season, after sustaining a tear in early May. Michael Crabtree was out a bit longer in 2013, going down in late May before returning to the 49ers in early December of that season. The Rams are keeping the door open to Akers making a late return.
Los Angeles used Akers as its primary back down the stretch last season. He started both of L.A.’s postseason games as a rookie, rushing for 131 yards in a wild-card win against the Seahawks. The Florida State product also delivered a 171-yard effort in his first start, against the Patriots, late in that regular season. He would be an interesting weapon for the Rams, who added Sony Michel via trade after Akers went down this summer.
The Rams have used Darrell Henderson as their primary back this year, though he has run into injury and COVID-19 issues. Henderson returned Tuesday, but the Rams kept Michel as their lead back. Michel carried 18 times to Henderson’s six in the Rams’ win in Seattle.