HEADLINES

Month: January 2025

Saints Expected To Have Interest In Matt Nagy For HC Job

January 4th, 2025 at 10:43pm CST by Ben Levine

We heard previously that Matt Nagy should be in the mix for head coaching vacancies this offseason, and the Chiefs offensive coordinator is now being connected to definitive gigs. According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, the Saints are expected to show interest in the veteran coach.

[RELATED: Chiefs OC Matt Nagy Could Be 2025 HC Candidate]

After starting his coaching career with the Eagles, Nagy made a name for himself while guiding the Alex Smith iteration of Kansas City’s offense. Nagy ended up spending two years as the Chiefs offensive coordinator (plus an additional three as QBs coach) before getting a shot at the top job in Chicago.

Nagy hit the ground running during his first year as the Bears head coach in 2018, helping guide the squad to a 12-4 record before losing to the Eagles by one point in the Wild Card Round. The coach followed that up with two-straight underwhelming 8-8 showings, and the Bears had another one-and-done playoff appearance during the 2020 postseason. The team somewhat bottomed out in 2021, with the Bears finishing 6-11. That performance ended up spelling the end of Nagy’s tenure in Chicago, as the coach was fired following that campaign.

After being let go by the Bears, Nagy returned to Kansas City. He initially served as Patrick Mahomes QBs coach in 2022, and he was promoted back to offensive coordinator after Eric Bieniemy left for Washington ahead of the 2023 season. Nagy hasn’t been responsible for calling plays during his time in Kansas City, a factor that could work against him as he searches for another HC gig.

The Saints fired Dennis Allen back in November and promoted Darren Rizzi to interim head coach. Per Russini, Rizzi is also expected to get a shot at the full-time job, and even if the team goes in another direction, the coach is expected to stick around New Orleans in some capacity. Rizzi has served as the team’s special teams coordinator since 2019. Russini also mentions Mike McCarthy as a potential candidate for the Saints job if the coach isn’t retained by the Cowboys.

Bucs S Jordan Whitehead Placed On NFI

January 4th, 2025 at 10:22pm CST by Ben Levine

As the Buccaneers push for one of the league’s final unresolved playoff spots, they’ll be without a key defender. The Buccaneers placed safety Jordan Whitehead on the reserve/non-football injury list today, per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.

Per Stroud, Whitehead was involved in an automobile accident this morning. The veteran “suffered injuries significant enough” to warrant placement on NFI. Stroud notes that the player is okay but is still expected to miss multiple weeks, making it unlikely he’ll play again until the 2025 campaign. ESPN’s Jenna Laine reports that Whitehead’s accident occurred on his way to the facility this morning. He’s at the hospital undergoing tests, he’s alert, but he will miss some time.

Whitehead, a seventh-year veteran, has been a starter in the league ever since the early days of his rookie season after getting drafted by the Buccaneers in the fourth round in 2018 out of Pitt. Following four strong seasons on his rookie contract, in which he totaled five interceptions, 25 passes defensed, 22 tackles for loss, and two sacks, Whitehead signed a two-year $14.5MM deal with the Jets. After two more strong seasons as a starter in New York — six interceptions, 17 passes defensed, seven tackles for loss — Whitehead found his way back to Tampa Bay on a two-year, $9MM contract.

Whitehead has dealt with a couple minor injuries in the past, missing six games over his first four years with the Buccaneers. Following two completely healthy years with the Jets, Whitehead’s season will end with a career-low 12 games played in 2024. He’d recently worked his way back from a pectoral injury that landed him on injured reserve after four missed games, but today’s accident will put him back on an injured list to end the year.

In addition to Tampa Bay’s postseason push, this development comes as the Buccaneers are navigating a number of injuries to their safeties corps. Greg Auman of FOX Sports observes that the team will be without their top three safeties tomorrow Whitehead, Antoine Winfield Jr. and Christian Izien, leaving the team with Kaevon Merriweather, Mike Edwards, and Tykee Smith at the position (along with Tavierre Thomas as potential depth).

In a statement released by the team, it was announced that the team would sign practice squad safety Ryan Neal to the 53-man roster in light of Whitehead’s injury. Neal was elevated recently for one of the games Whitehead missed on IR, playing on special teams and sparingly on defense.

Ely Allen contributed to this post.

Lions Activate Kalif Raymond, Alex Anzalone; Emmanuel Moseley Moved To NFI List

January 4th, 2025 at 10:18pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Lions will have reinforcements on both sides of the ball for tomorrow night’s pivotal game. Receiver Kalif Raymond and linebacker Alex Anzalone have both been activated from injured reserve, per a team announcement.

[RELATED: IR Return Tracker]

Raymond had been on injured reserve since November due to a foot injury, but he returned to practice last week. That opened his 21-day activation window, but of course bringing him onto the active roster in time for Week 18 required today’s transaction. Raymond will be in place to provide complimentary production in the passing game behind top wideouts Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams along with tight end Sam LaPorta. Detroit’s offense has remained much healthier than the team’s defense this year, but having additional depth at the receiver spot (not to mention the top punt return option) in time for the playoffs will be a welcomed development.

Getting Anzalone back will also be key as the Lions look to lock up the top seed in the NFC. The 30-year-old had his practice window opened on Wednesday, although questions remained about his ability to suit up for tomorrow’s game. Anzalone is listed as questionable for Sunday due to the broken forearm which induced his IR stint, but his ability to recover to the point of activation is a strong sign he will be in the lineup. If so, Detroit’s linebacking corps will see a starter return to the fold and the team’s defense as a whole will get a key presence back.

The news is not all positive for the Lions on the injury front, however. Cornerback Emmanuel Moseley has been placed on the reserve/non-football injury list. That designation requires at least a four-game absence, meaning he is all-but assured of missing the remainder of the campaign. Moseley’s debut Lions season (2023) ended with an ACL tear in Week 1, and the follow-up has not gone according to plan either. The pending free agent has been limited to only two games this year, something which will hurt his stock. Being without Moseley (who last played in Week 16) will be especially notable given the absence of fellow corner Carlton Davis.

The Lions have a long list of other players who could be in contention to be activated down the road, especially if they can manage a deep playoff run. Winning the NFC North and securing the first-round bye would be helpful in that regard, but losing to the Vikings in the NFL’s final regular season contest would drop Detroit to the No. 5 seed. In any case, adding to the list of healthy contributors will be key for the Lions.

Minor NFL Transactions: 1/4/25

January 4th, 2025 at 9:47pm CST by Ely Allen

The last minor moves and standard gameday elevations of the 2024 NFL regular season:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Ross’ new deal to the Texans’ 53-man roster is good through the 2025 season, as well. Ditto for Jones, signed to the active roster in New England today.

Sanders returned to practice this week, and his activation will allow him to close out his second Panthers season on the field rather than on the mend. His Carolina tenure has fallen well short of expectations and a release in the near future could be in the cards. Given the team’s backfield injuries, though, Sanders could handle a notable workload tomorrow while potentially auditioning for free agent suitors.

Gilman’s return will be welcomed by the Chargers’ defense. The 27-year-old has remained a full-time starter this season, his second straight handling first-team duties. Los Angeles is assured of a wild-card spot, but moving up to the No. 5 seed in the AFC playoff picture could be possible on Sunday. In any case, Gilman’s presence will be key for a Bolts defense which leads the league in points allowed per game (17.6).

Gardner’s campaign will come to an end after 15 games played. He fell short of a Pro Bowl nod for this first time in his young career, but the fourth pick of the 2022 draft remained a critical member of the team’s secondary when healthy. Gardner is eligible for an extension this offseason, and his financial future (which will include a fifth-year option decision in the spring) will be a key point of focus once New York’s head coach/general manager tandem is in place.

Jaguars Not Certain To Fire Doug Pederson, Trent Baalke?

January 4th, 2025 at 8:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

JANUARY 4: It still remains to be seen if one or both members of the Pederson-Baalke pairing will be let go soon, but a change in the front office could be needed if Khan targets a notable coaching move. Schultz reports many around the league believe firing Baalke will be a requirement for the top HC candidates to consider the Jacksonville gig, provided it becomes available. The Jaguars will remain one of the teams worth watching closely once the regular season ends.

JANUARY 3: One of the NFL’s two active second-chance GMs has overseen one of the NFL’s most disappointing teams. After authorizing the three most lucrative extensions in Jaguars history (for Trevor Lawrence, Josh Hines-Allen and Tyson Campbell), Trent Baalke has seen the team tumble to a 4-12 record.

It would seem likely Doug Pederson is heading into his final game as Jags HC, based on the unraveling that has taken place since December 2023, but Shad Khan has not made any clear indications about which way he is leaning. Many around the NFL expect Pederson to be fired, per ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler, but the former Super Bowl-winning HC may have a sliver of hope to stay.

Pederson has been “projecting confidence,” according to some in the NFL, Fowler adds. With the Jags following back-to-back 9-8 seasons with a campaign that can max out at just five wins, it would be difficult to overstate how hot Pederson’s seat would be if Khan gave him another chance.

Then again, Khan kept Gus Bradley on for a fourth season after he had strung together three straight years with at least 11 losses. Doug Marrone also coached four full seasons, having finished with double-digit losses in three of those. By that standard, firing Pederson would represent a quick hook. Then again, more was expected from Lawrence-centered Pederson teams — especially over the past two seasons.

The longtime Jags owner said before the season this year’s team carried the most talented roster in franchise history. Even in the moment, that appeared to significantly underrate the franchise’s late-1990s rosters, but Khan making that comment only to see what has transpired points to Pederson being days away from an ouster. Baalke is undoubtedly on thin ice, too, though he has survived after being at risk of an in-season dismissal. Khan had projected confidence in his power duo, doing so around the same time John Mara professed support for his. Both the Jags and Giants have moved toward the No. 1 overall pick in the weeks since.

Promoted to GM during Urban Meyer‘s disastrous year in charge, Baalke was given the green light to hire Pederson in 2022. In mid-December, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz predicted the Jags would stay the course with Baalke. Considering Baalke has been in Jacksonville for both the franchise’s recent No. 1 overall picks — which featured a Travon Walker-over-Aidan Hutchinson call — it would be somewhat surprising if Khan did not clear the decks in hopes of hiring a new regime to better maximize his roster.

Most around the NFL expect Baalke to be canned, but Fowler adds some league personnel are pointing to the former 49ers GM’s resiliency in reminding not to assume this is a lock. Baalke memorably won a power struggle with Jim Harbaugh, leading the latter to Michigan after the 2014 season. The 49ers’ fortunes significantly worsened in the two years Baalke operated without Harbaugh, and the GM was fired after the ’16 campaign. This Jags effort has not provided the kind of bounce-back offering Khan hoped for when appointing Baalke to the GM post.

The relationship between Baalke and Pederson was believed to be strained as early as September, and a subsequent report had Baalke urging Pederson to fire OC Press Taylor — a Pederson lieutenant in Philadelphia and Jacksonville — after last season. Pederson kept Taylor on and continued with him calling plays. That decision has played a role in the Jags’ descent, though other factors — Lawrence’s injuries among them — have been part of this tumble as well. Will Sunday be it for Pederson and Baalke in Jacksonville or will one of them continue on without the other?

Eagles Activate TE Dallas Goedert

January 4th, 2025 at 7:22pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Eagles will have their top tight end available in time for the postseason. Dallas Goedert was activated from injured reserve Saturday, the team announced.

Goedert landed on IR one month ago due to a knee injury, ensuring at least a four-game absence. After missing the minimum time, though, he was designated for return in an encouraging sign for his recovery. As a result, today’s move comes as little surprise.

The Eagles will be resting several starters tomorrow since they are locked into the NFC’s No. 2 seed. Goedert might not play in the regular season finale as a result, but he will be available for the wild-card round of the playoffs. Philadelphia will welcome his return to the lineup, something which will give the team its top pass-catcher at the TE position at a critical time. The 30-year-old has once again provided notable production in the passing game while serving as a complementary option to wideouts A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.

Grant Calcaterra has seen an increased workload with Goedert sidelined recently, and his 68% offensive snap share for the season represents a career high. The latter will of course be expected to handle a notable workload upon returning to action, though. This move leaves the Eagles with three IR activations (along with the additional two they will receive for for the playoffs).

In addition to bringing Goedert into the fold, the Eagles have elevated linebacker Dallas Gant and defensive end Charles Harris for tomorrow’s game. Philadelphia will take on the Giants before the team turns its attention to a postseason matchup against the NFC’s No. 7 seed.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/4/25

January 4th, 2025 at 6:34pm CST by Adam La Rose

Saturday’s lone practice squad deal:

Detroit Lions

Kennedy was waived on Thursday, and after passing through the wire without a claim he became a free agent. The 28-year-old, to no surprise, has remained with the Lions via the taxi squad after making four appearances this season. Kennedy has played 24 total games in his career, all with Detroit. He will remain an elevation option for the postseason.

Commanders Activate Austin Ekeler From IR

January 4th, 2025 at 5:49pm CST by Ely Allen

The Commanders are getting healthy at the right time, getting an offensive reinforcement a week ahead of their first playoff appearance since a 7-9 campaign was enough to win the division in 2020. When they head on the road for the first round of the playoffs, Washington will be doing so with backup running back Austin Ekeler back on the active roster. The team has activated him off injured reserve today.

While technically a backup to starter Brian Robinson, Ekeler still holds tremendous value to the offense. Despite Robinson starting 12 games this season, the Commanders have made sure to get Ekeler on the field, as well, granting him six starts in his 11 appearances this year. The team’s leading rusher has been rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels (864), but Robinson (789), Ekeler (355), Jeremy McNichols (261), and Chris Rodriguez (173) have all contributed to a rushing attack that ranks third in the NFL behind only the Eagles and Ravens.

Ekeler’s influence also comes as the primary pass-catching back in Washington. As has been the case in Ekeler’s career, his contributions this year have come through the air as much as on the ground. In his career, Ekeler has 4,230 receiving yards to 4,710 rushing yards, and this year, his 346 receiving yards are just as much a factor as his rushing contribution.

With Ekeler returning to the fold, Washington nearly has their full offensive battery back on the field. They’re missing wide receiver Noah Brown (on IR), and starting center Tyler Biadasz is listed as doubtful for this week, but the rest of the offense is primed for playoff action.

In order to make room for Ekeler on the active roster, undrafted rookie safety Tyler Owens has been placed on IR. The Texas Tech alum has played primarily on special teams in his rookie campaign, tallying 11 tackles and a forced fumble.

Joining Ekeler on the active roster tomorrow will be offensive tackle Bobby Hart and cornerback Bobby Price, who have been promoted as standard gameday practice squad elevations this weekend.

AFC Injury Updates: Jets, Cooper, Jaguars

January 4th, 2025 at 5:04pm CST by Ely Allen

On Monday, the Jets placed starting safety Chuck Clark on injured reserve without disclosing the reason for the transaction. Similarly, the next day, kicker Greg Zuerlein was placed on IR, as well, though his transaction flew a bit further under the radar as a minor move.

Today, ESPN’s Rich Cimini reported reasons for both transactions today. Clark was reportedly placed on IR with a torn pectoral muscle. Clark had recently worked his way back from injury, being activated off IR in mid-November after missing a month with an ankle injury. Since leaving Baltimore in 2022, Clark has been absolutely plagued by injuries. He missed the entire 2023 season with a torn ACL and only appeared in 12 games this year.

Zuerlein was placed on IR after reportedly experiencing some back tightness in pregame warmups last Sunday. Greg Joseph was available for the game in replacement duty, but he didn’t attempt a kick in the loss to Buffalo.

Here are a couple other injury updates heading into the final week of the regular season:

  • The Bills have been locked into the No. 2 seed in the AFC no matter what happens in Week 18 of the regular season, so they will likely have a number of starters remaining on the sideline for most of the game. One starter, wide receiver Amari Cooper, will not even be available to play, being downgraded to out today due to a personal family matter, per Adam Schefter of ESPN. Cooper will not even travel with the team this week.
  • Similarly, Jaguars defensive end Josh Hines-Allen will not be traveling to Indianapolis with his teammates this weekend. He also has been ruled out due to personal reasons, according to Schefter. Hines-Allen will miss his first game in three years.

Packers Placing CB Jaire Alexander On IR

January 4th, 2025 at 3:38pm CST by Ely Allen

The Packers will be playing the final week of the regular season without star cornerback Jaire Alexander, much like they have the last six weeks. In fact, after the team placed him on injured reserve — first reported by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network — Alexander is set to miss nearly all of the postseason, as well. Forced to miss at least four games before activation becomes an option, Alexander’s only chance at making another appearance this season requires a Super Bowl berth by the Packers.

Such a return remains extremely unlikely, though. Alexander underwent knee surgery earlier this week following a PCL tear that he suffered in November. Alexander hasn’t played since the injury was announced a month and a half ago. The team delayed placing him on IR in hopes that he could make a return, but the surgery and IR-placement seem to indicate that his season is over.

The Packers’ effort to replace Alexander’s production has mostly consisted of starts by Carrington Valentine, who started 12 games in an effort to replace Alexander during another injury-plagued campaign last year. He’s received help from Keisean Nixon and Eric Stokes to fill in this year, as well.

The Packers have put forth a strong, 11-5 effort in 2024, yet they find themselves sitting in third place in the NFC North division behind herculean campaigns by the Lions and Vikings, who both sit at an incredible 14-2. Green Bay is locked into the playoffs as a wild card team, but all they can do in Week 18 is improve their seeding from seventh to sixth with a win and a Commanders loss; this would be the difference between traveling to Philadelphia for the first round of the playoffs and traveling to Los Angeles, Tampa Bay, or Atlanta.

Green Bay also announced their two standard gameday practice squad elevations for this week. Linebacker Michael Barrett and safety Omar Brown will spend the last week of the regular season on the active roster before reverting to the practice squad for the postseason.

Load More Posts