HEADLINES

Year: 2023

Vikings Place Nick Mullens On IR, Bring Back Sean Mannion; Kene Nwangwu Designated For Return

October 11th, 2023 at 1:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

In addition to making the Justin Jefferson IR move official, the Vikings made a few more notable transactions Wednesday. The team now has a familiar face back in the quarterback room.

Sean Mannion is returning on a practice squad deal, the team announced. Kirk Cousins‘ on-again, off-again backup spent last season on the Seahawks’ practice squad but has not been with a team since January. The team also moved Cousins’ current backup, Nick Mullens, to IR.

Mullens is battling a back injury, one that kept him from dressing in Week 5. The former 49ers spot starter has been with the Vikings for the past two seasons, arriving as an August 2022 trade acquisition and backing up Cousins last season. Minnesota re-signed the seventh-year veteran to a two-year, $4MM contract in March. This move will drop Mullens off the 53-man roster for at least four weeks.

Mannion, 31, spent the better part of three seasons with the Vikings. Initially signing with Minnesota after his Rams rookie contract expired in 2019, Mannion operated as Cousins’ backup from 2019-20. While Mannion signed with the Seahawks in August 2021, he ended up back in place as Cousins’ top reserve — over third-rounder Kellen Mond, who quickly wore out his welcome with the team — soon after. The Vikings released Mannion in August 2022, going with Mullens after the Browns trade.

These transactions leave Cousins and fifth-round rookie Jaren Hall as the only QBs on Minnesota’s 53-man roster. Mannion would make sense as an elevation for Week 6, seeing as he has spent extensive time in this role. That said, Mannion was Minnesota’s QB2 before Kevin O’Connell‘s arrival. The ex-Jared Goff St. Louis/Los Angeles QB2 did play under former O’Connell Rams coworker Shane Waldron in Seattle. This is basically a moot point, as Cousins as not missed a game due to injury in his six Vikings seasons.

The Vikings also designated running back/kick returner Kene Nwangwu for return from IR. Nwangwu hit IR shortly after cutdown day. The third-year back has been Minnesota’s kick returner for the past two seasons. The Iowa State product already has three kick-return touchdowns since debuting; he finished as a second-team All-Pro last season. Only one other player — Nyheim Hines — has more than one kick-return TD since 2021, highlighting the upgrade the Vikes’ special teams could receive once Nwangwu is activated. The Vikings, who have not used any IR activations this season, have three weeks to activate the 25-year-old specialist.

To wrap this brigade of Wednesday Minnesota moves, the team signed N’Keal Harry to the active roster from its practice squad. The former Patriots first-rounder has played in two games as a P-squad elevation. The team also signed receiver Trishton Jackson from its P-squad. Tight end Troy Fumagalli and wideout Dan Chisena will join Mannion in catching on with the team’s taxi squad.

Cowboys Expected To Sign LB Rashaan Evans

October 11th, 2023 at 11:34am CST by Sam Robinson

11:34am: Although the Cowboys worked out four linebackers today, they are expected to go with the highest-profile name among that contingent. Rashaan Evans is expected to sign with the team, Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News reports. This would be a fourth NFL home for Evans, though his third (Philadelphia) did not produce any game action. The former Titans and Falcons starter, however, figures to be part of the Cowboys’ 53-man roster — via direct signing or the practice squad promotion route — soon. Per Archer, Evans will initially land on the P-squad. Though, it should be expected he will vault to the 53-man roster in the near future.

8:53am: Leighton Vander Esch is expected to land on IR, opening the door to questions at the Cowboys’ linebacker position. Although 2022 stopgap Anthony Barr remains unattached, the Cowboys are looking in another direction in the aftermath of Vander Esch’s latest neck issue.

Rashaan Evans will meet with the team Wednesday, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler reports. Evans spent time with the Eagles recently but requested a release from the defending NFC champions’ practice squad, eyeing other opportunities. This would qualify as a high-profile chance, should the Cowboys view the former first-rounder as a fit.

While Evans has a Falcons past, he did not overlap with Dan Quinn in Atlanta. The Falcons used Evans as a one-and-done starter in 2022, with ex-Titans OC Arthur Smith bringing in the former Tennessee top pick. Evans started throughout the ’22 season and loomed as an option to stay in Atlanta, but nothing materialized. Evans then waited for several months for an opportunity. Evans caught on with the Eagles’ P-squad shortly after the team lost Nakobe Dean in Week 1, but he was gone days later, aiming for a chance to sign elsewhere. Teams can poach players off P-squads, but the player’s options narrow in those transactions.

Evans going this long without another opportunity is a bit strange. The Alabama product led the Falcons in tackles — by a substantial margin — last season, totaling 159. That number doubled as a runaway career-high mark, as Evans only topped 100 tackles in one Titans season. Tennessee did not pick up Evans’ fifth-year option in 2021, leading to his 2022 defection. The Falcons landed Evans on a one-year, $1.75MM contract.

Pro Football Focus rated Evans just outside the top 50 among off-ball linebackers last season. A buyer’s market formed at the position, however, limited young veterans’ options. Many starter-caliber linebackers fetched deals worth between $5-$7MM per year. Vander Esch landed just south of this bracket, scoring a two-year accord worth $8MM. Evans, 27, was among those on the outside looking in. But the six-year Cowboys starter’s injury could lead to a shot with a third team.

Vander Esch, 27, is expected to miss at least a month with a neck strain. Considering the neck trouble the 2018 first-round pick has battled in the past, it would not surprise to see his recovery timetable lengthened. Vander Esch, who went off the ’18 draft board three spots before Evans, has seen neck injuries limit his earning potential. The Boise State product has missed time with neck trouble in multiple seasons, with a spinal stenosis issue leading to lower-level second and third contracts with the Cowboys. While Dallas kept Vander Esch in its plans, a lucrative extension path never formed despite a dominant rookie season.

In not re-signing Barr, the Cowboys went with second-year player Damone Clark alongside Vander Esch. Quinn said the prospect of Micah Parsons playing more at linebacker is in play, but considering the Defensive Player of the Year candidate’s value as an edge rusher, that might ultimately be deemed counterproductive. Dallas also lost third-round rookie linebacker Demarvion Overshown to an ACL tear this summer. The team has used P-squad elevation Malik Jefferson as a backup option this season; he figures to factor in more prominently following Vander Esch’s injury.

The Cowboys have also brought in Tanner Vallejo, Brandon Smith and Jordan Evans for this linebacker workout, per the Dallas Morning News’ Calvin Watkins and ESPN’s Todd Archer. Jordan Evans started nine games for the Bengals from 2017-18; he has not played in a regular-season game since 2021 but saw action for the XFL’s Seattle Sea Dragons. A six-year veteran who started seven Cardinals games from 2021-22, Vallejo did not make the Vikings’ 53-man roster out of camp. The Panthers drafted Smith in the 2022 fourth round; he played in 12 games as a rookie.

Texans Sign CB Jason Verrett

October 11th, 2023 at 10:55am CST by Sam Robinson

Close to assembling an ex-49ers-only cafeteria table to start DeMeco Ryans‘ tenure, the Texans now have another defender who spent multiple seasons in San Francisco in the fold.

After working out Jason Verrett last week, the Texans signed the veteran cornerback to their practice squad. Verrett’s addition comes a day after Houston added ex-San Francisco defensive end Kerry Hyder on a P-squad deal. The Texans also have Jimmie Ward and Hassan Ridgeway, though the latter is currently on IR.

Coaches frequently bring in players familiar with their system, and Verrett has extensive knowledge of Ryans’ scheme. Texans defensive pass-game coordinator Cory Undlin was also with the 49ers during Verrett’s tenure. Though, the former first-round cornerback has a strong claim to be labeled the NFL’s most injury-prone player. Verrett, 32, is a former Pro Bowler but a player who has mostly seen maladies define his career. The 5-foot-10 corner spent the past four seasons with the 49ers, showing plus form when he was available, which was rarely the case.

During his eight-year career, Verrett has suffered two ACL tears and two Achilles tears. The former Chargers first-rounder has played more than six games in a season just twice — in 2015 and 2020. Those seasons produced a Pro Bowl (2015) and a top-15 Pro Football Focus ranking (2020). But injury absences have overshadowed those talent glimpses. Verrett ended last season with a 40-to-106 games-played to games-missed ratio.

Ryans was in San Francisco throughout Verrett’s stay, being in place as the team’s inside linebackers coach during Verrett’s 2020 run of mostly good health. Verrett’s game counts from 2017-22 are as follows: one, zero, one, 13, one, zero. In that 13-game sample in 2020, Verrett notched seven passes defensed and intercepted two passes. He held QBs to a collective 76.2 passer rating as the closest defender. This earned him a more lucrative contract in 2021 (one year, $5.5MM). The TCU alum suffered a torn ACL in Week 1 of the 2021 season, and after the 49ers re-signed him on a veteran-minimum deal, Verrett endured his second Achilles tear just before he was to make his 2022 debut.

The Verrett signing comes after Shaquill Griffin missed the Texans’ Week 5 game with a calf strain. Slot corner Tavierre Thomas has also missed the past three games, while top outside cover man Derek Stingley is on IR. Houston also worked out Anthony Averett, but the Lions added him to their practice squad Tuesday.

Dolphins To Place De’Von Achane On IR

October 11th, 2023 at 10:34am CST by Adam La Rose

OCTOBER 11: Achane will indeed be placed on IR, Schefter tweets. After a blazing start to his NFL career, the third-round rookie cannot return until Week 11. Easily one of the fastest running backs in NFL history, having run 10.18 seconds in the 100-meter dash at Texas A&M, Achane has showcased that speed over the past three games. But the Dolphins will shut him down for an extended stretch. The team may soon have its 2022 duo back, however, with Mostert still healthy and Wilson close to returning from IR.

OCTOBER 10: Just as the Dolphins are set to get one member of their backfield healthy, another is facing the prospect of missed time. Rookie De’Von Achane is dealing with a knee injury which will likely sideline him for “multiple weeks,” per Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

While further evaluations are yet to be made to determine the next course of action, ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds that an IR stint is a possibility at this point. Placing the third-rounder on injured reserve would guarantee at least a four-week absence and interrupt what has been a promising campaign so far. Missing Achane for any length of time will deal a blow to Miami’s ground game.

The Texas A&M product only saw one carry through the first two weeks of the season, but he has taken on an increased workload since then with 35 carries in the past three contests. Achane has translated that into 455 yards and five touchdowns on the ground, including a monster performance in the Dolphins’ blowout win over the Broncos. Falling in line with the overarching offensive plan for the team, he has proven to be one of the league’s fastest skill-position players, something which has helped him average 12.1 yards per carry in his relatively limited action so far.

Miami boasts the league’s top rushing attack with an average of 186 yards per game on the ground. Missing Achane could hinder the team, but Raheem Mostert has been productive as well with at least 78 scrimmage yards in three of the past four games. The veteran could be joined by Jeff Wilson as early as this Sunday, since he is set to return to practice in advance of being activated from IR. A Mostert-Wilson tandem should be expected to continue the Dolphins’ success in the run game as a compliment to the their prowess through the air.

Miami also has Salvon Ahmed in the fold as a depth option while Achane is away. The latter has already earned a notable workload in the early part of his career, one which is expected to increase when he returns. Down the road, though, Achane could be in line for a full-time starting role as Wilson and Mostert are only under contract through 2024; neither is owed guranteed money that season, making their long-term future in South Beach something to watch. For the time being, though, that pairing will carry the load at the RB spot.

Jets Add T Dennis Kelly To Practice Squad

October 11th, 2023 at 9:48am CST by Sam Robinson

The Jets were the first team to meet with La’el Collins since the veteran right tackle hit free agency. While they may still be in play to sign the experienced starter, they are adding immediate insurance while Collins takes other visits.

Veteran Dennis Kelly is joining the Jets on a practice squad agreement, the team announced Wednesday morning. Kelly, who spent the 2020 season as the Titans’ full-time right tackle starter, worked out for the Jets last month. This move comes shortly after Alijah Vera-Tucker‘s Achilles tear; the guard/tackle is now on IR.

Kelly, 33, adds another potential stopgap option for the Jets, who have post-draft pickup Billy Turner on their roster. Max Mitchell was initially summoned to replace Vera-Tucker against the Broncos, logging 38 offensive snaps to Turner’s six. Kelly would stand to represent more insurance for the Jets, who have now placed two tackles on IR. Either Michell or Turner will be in line to start at right tackle in Week 6.

Vera-Tucker cannot be classified as a full-time tackle just yet, but the organization has discussed the prospect of shifting the former first-round guard to the edge on a full-time basis. That is on hold for now, with the USC alum facing another extended rehab timetable. Vera-Tucker suffered a triceps tear last year in Denver and returned this offseason back at right guard. Duane Brown‘s early-season injury prompted the Jets to slide Vera-Tucker back to right tackle, where he was playing when he went down last year.

Tackle issues have gripped the Jets for a bit now. Both Brown and then-starter George Fant missed time last season, and Mitchell’s rookie year ended early due to blood clots. Mekhi Becton missing 33 games from 2021-22 and needing an extensive rehab effort to make it back by training camp this year. Becton needed to miss a bit of time in Week 5, though he has started every Jets game — at both right tackle and then back on his preferred left side — this season.

A 12th-year veteran, Kelly has 54 starts on his resume. Ten of those came back in 2012, as an Eagles rookie, but he has mostly worked as a spot starter since. Kelly was technically a spot starter in 2020, with the Titans’ preferred right tackle option — first-rounder Isaiah Wilson — becoming a historic bust. En route to an AFC South title, Tennessee used Kelly as a 16-game starter that year. Kelly spent the 2021 season with the Packers and was with the Colts last year. The Eagles brought him back this summer but did not retain him on their 53-man roster or practice squad.

The Jets also signed wide receiver Irvin Charles to their active roster from the practice squad and added defensive end Elerson Smith to their P-squad. The team released defensive end Jalyn Holmes from its taxi squad.

Rams To Send WR Van Jefferson To Falcons

October 10th, 2023 at 9:45pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Rams moved fast with Van Jefferson. Shortly after sending out a last call of sorts Tuesday, the Rams are moving on from one of their ancillary pass catchers.

The Falcons have agreed to acquire Jefferson, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, who notes the teams will swap 2025 seventh-round picks. Following Brandin Cooks, Robert Woods and Allen Robinson out of Los Angeles via trade, Jefferson’s price tag is more in line with those the Rams collected for Robinson and Woods.

Atlanta will send the Rams a 2025 sixth-rounder in exchange for Jefferson and a seventh, per Rapoport. While Jefferson has seen Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell change his role with the Rams, he has still started four games this season. The Falcons will bet on him in a contract year. Jefferson has an 800-plus-yard season on his resume, getting there for the Super Bowl-winning Rams iteration two years ago.

Jefferson’s availability came up shortly before this trade commenced, and although the Rams found a quick taker, it is clear not much of a market formed for the fourth-year receiver. The son of former NFL wideout and current Panthers receivers coach Shawn Jefferson, Van has produced for a Super Bowl champion. But his work since has not moved the needle too far. The Falcons will still take what amounts to a flier on a former second-round pick. Shawn Jefferson played for the Falcons during Michael Vick‘s early years, suiting up for the team from 2000-02.

A knee injury stalled Jefferson last season, and Nacua and Atwell’s promise affected his standing this year. In 2021, however, Jefferson delivered for a Rams team that suddenly needed him. The Rams won the Odell Beckham Jr. sweepstakes in November 2021. Days after forming a Beckham-Woods-Cooper Kupp trio, however, Woods’ ACL tear kept Jefferson as a regular. The Florida alum delivered, finishing out a 50-catch, 802-yard, six-touchdown season. He added nine receptions for 102 yards in Los Angeles’ four postseason games.

While a knee injury cost Jefferson six games last season, he has not been an injury-prone player. Those six absences are the only games Jefferson has missed as a pro. After coming back from knee surgery midway through last season, Jefferson kept his yards-per-catch average north of 15 by hauling in 24 passes for 369 yards and three scores. One of those came to close out a shocking Rams comeback win over the Raiders, as that game came on Baker Mayfield‘s third day with the team.

This season, however, Jefferson has only eight receptions for 108 yards and no TDs — for a Rams team that has seen Nacua deliver a historic start. Nacua’s 46 catches lead the league, and he has totaled 572 yards — an NFL record for a player’s first five games. After Atwell did not catch a pass as a rookie and amassed 298 yards throughout an inconsistent second season, the diminutive Louisville alum is at 279 through five games this year. With Kupp back, the Rams booted Jefferson from their starting lineup in Week 5.

Jefferson will head to a Falcons team rostering Drake London atop its receiving corps. Behind London, however, the team is low on surefire options. Only one other Atlanta wideout — Mack Hollins — has surpassed 50 receiving yards this year. Hollins is at 143 through five games. The Falcons do not have a reliable passing attack just yet, with Desmond Ridder offering an inconsistent start to his run as a full-fledged starter. But the second-year passer posted his best game as a pro in Week 5, totaling 329 yards in a narrow win over the Texans.

The Falcons signed KhaDarel Hodge and Scotty Miller this offseason; neither have been factors for the team just yet. Jefferson presents a better option, with his 2021 season the best a current Falcons London sidekick has offered as a pro. The Falcons are now responsible for the remainder of Jefferson’s rookie salary; they will owe the former No. 50 overall pick just more than $800K for the season’s remainder.

The Rams received a 2024 second-round pick for Woods, whom they sent to the Titans in May 2022. The player the Rams signed to replace Woods — Robinson — ended up being costly to move, with the team paying much of his 2023 salary to secure a seventh-round pick swap with the Steelers in March. This Falcons-Rams exchange matches the compensation the Bears and Dolphins agreed to in last week’s Chase Claypool trade.

Vikings To Place Justin Jefferson On IR

October 10th, 2023 at 9:43pm CST by Adam La Rose

The hamstring injury Justin Jefferson suffered in Week 5 will sideline him for an extended stretch. The Vikings wideout will be placed on injured reserve, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

As a result of the move, the reigning Offensive Player of the Year will be shut down for at least the next four weeks. The Vikings will use the IR designation to ensure Jefferson has a sufficient period to heal in full and avoid a rushed recovery which could lead to a setback. Still, the news marks a crippling blow to the 1-4 team’s offense and overall prospects for the season.

“We’re going to have to medically make a good decision and help almost protect him from himself a little bit in a way where we’ve got to take care of him and get him back to 100 percent,” head coach Kevin O’Connell said, via ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, when asked about Jefferson’s prognosis and how the team would proceed with his recovery.

The 24-year-old, as expected, has had a highly productive start to the 2023 season. Jefferson currently ranks seventh in the NFL in catches (36) and third in yards (571) through five contests. He will now be sidelined for the first time in his career, after availability during his first three seasons helped him break the all-time record for the most receiving yards during that opening stretch of a player’s pro tenure. Replacing the LSU product will be a notable challenge for Minnesota.

Jefferson has drawn the fourth-most targets in the league (53), and O’Connell admitted the team’s offense is founded in very large part on the former first-rounder. With Jefferson no longer in the picture for the time being, the workload for first-round rookie Jordan Addison and former fifth-rounder K.J. Osborn will increase. The former has posted a 19-243-3 statline so far despite seeing the field for only 67% of offensive snaps. An uptick in playing time should yield a continuation of his encouraging start in the NFL. Of course, recently-extended tight end T.J. Hockenson will also be in line to see more targets in his first full campaign in Minnesota.

The Vikings have expressed confidence in their ability to rebound from an 0-3 start, making it clear that a seller’s status ahead of the October 31 trade deadline was not in the cards. As a result, consideration has not been given to finding a deal for quarterback Kirk Cousins to be sent elsewhere (something which would require the 35-year-old, who is in the final year of his contract, waiving his no-trade clause). It will be interesting to see if that mindset changes as the team now faces a stretch of three out of four games on the road – the lone exception being against the 5-0 49ers.

For Jefferson, an extended layoff could have an effect on his bargaining position in the offseason. He and the Vikings held extension talks in the offseason, but a deal – one which will likely make him the league’s highest-paid receiver – could not be finalized. Negotiations are now on hold until the spring, and having a signficant injury on his resume could hurt Jefferson’s leverage to a degree. The 2025 fifth-year option is in place for him, in any event, and his historic production when on the field will no doubt still land him a massive second contract. For the time being, though, he will be absent as the Vikings look to find a new recipe for offensive production.

Colts Add QB Kellen Mond, WR Anthony Miller To Practice Squad

October 10th, 2023 at 8:58pm CST by Ben Levine

With Anthony Richardson sidelined with a shoulder injury, the Colts are adding some quarterback depth. Jordan Schultz reports that the Colts have signed QB Kellen Mond to the practice squad. The signing is pending a physical, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

[RELATED: Colts QB Anthony Richardson Suffers Shoulder Injury]

Mond was one of several QBs to work out for the Colts today, with NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reporting that the team also took a look at Holton Ahlers, Trace McSorley, and Anthony Brown. Ultimately, the Colts decided to go with the former Vikings third-round pick.

Mond was selected with the 66th-overall pick in the 2021 draft, and there was hope that he could eventually replace Kirk Cousins as Minnesota’s starting QB. Instead, the Texas A&M product lasted a year with the organization before getting waived prior to the 2022 campaign. He spent all of last season with the Browns and stuck around Cleveland for the 2023 preseason.

The 24-year-old will be a temporary QB3 in Indianapolis. Gardner Minshew will be the starter with Richardson sidelined, and former sixth-round pick Sam Ehlinger will serve as the QB2.

Since being diagnosed with a Grade 3 AC joint sprain, Richardson has been seeking multiple opinions before deciding his next step. That additional testing will determine whether the rookie requires a trip to injured reserve, a move that would put Minshew in position to start for at least the next four games.

The Colts weren’t done making moves today. Schultz reports that the organization has also added wide receiver Anthony Miller to the practice squad. The former second-round pick was productive through his first three seasons in the NFL, averaging 50 catches for 570 yards per season. He’s bounced around the league a bit since getting traded during the 2021 offseason, spending time with the Texans, Steelers, and 49ers.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/10/23

October 10th, 2023 at 7:30pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad transactions:

Atlanta Falcons

  • Released: WR Xavier Malone

Chicago Bears

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Indianapolis Colts

Las Vegas Raiders

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New York Giants

Pittsburgh Steelers

  • Signed: FB Jack Colletto

Anthony Firkser will provide the Lions with some veteran tight end depth. Darrell Daniels has mostly transitioned to a fullback role and James Mitchell is sidelined with a hamstring injury, leaving Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright as the two healthy TEs on the roster. Firkser has seen time in 69 regular season games, hauling in 115 catches for 1,207 yards and five touchdowns. The 28-year-old tight end got into 11 games for the Falcons in 2022, finishing with nine catches for 100 yards.

Yodny Cajuste is back in New York after getting cut by the Jets back in August. The former third-round pick got into 17 games (five starts) for the Patriots between the 2021 and 2022 seasons. He was waived by New England back in May before catching on with the Jets for the preseason.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/10/23

October 10th, 2023 at 6:27pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Carolina Panthers

Green Bay Packers

The Panthers already used up their three practice-squad promotions for Dicaprio Bootle, so now the cornerback will be joining the active roster on a full-time basis. The former UDFA out of Nebraska has exclusively played on special teams this season.

Justin Hollins was waived yesterday to make room for running back Patrick Taylor on the active roster. Hollins has nine tackles in four games with Green Bay this season, with the LB splitting his time between defense and special teams. Taylor has also seen the field for four games this season, collecting 59 yards from scrimmage on 16 touches.

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