NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/13/22
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Joe Walker
- Released: LB Tahir Whitehead
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: WR John Brown
- Released: RB Darwin Thompson
DeAndre Hopkins Out For Cardinals’ WC Game
While the Cardinals may be welcoming back one of their key veterans for Monday’s Wild Card game against the Rams, they will be missing their No. 1 receiver. DeAndre Hopkins is not ready to come back to game action yet, according to an update from Pro Football Talk’s Charean Williams. 
Hopkins was placed on IR in December after he suffered a torn MCL. That move, as expected, ended his regular season with an estimated recovery time of six weeks. While there was some hope he would be ready in time for Wild Card Weekend, the later stages of the playoffs were always the more realistic target for his return.
The 29-year-old’s second season in Arizona ended with a less than stellar stat line: 42 catches for 572 yards and eight touchdowns; the receptions and yardage totals are career lows thanks in large part to the fact he only played 10 games in 2021. Regardless of if he is able to come back at some point in the postseason, he is still under contract through 2024, with his cap hits scheduled to jump to $12.5MM next season and a maximum of $27.2MM in 2023.
The other injury news to keep an eye on is in relation to defensive end J.J. Watt. The 32-year old was designated to return from IR last week, opening the door to him returning in time for the playoffs. The news was surprising, given that the surgery he had to address a shoulder injury suffered in October was widely believed to have ended his season. Instead, he may be able to continue his inaugural season in the desert.
The Cardinals will finish the Wild Card round on Monday night when they visit the Rams.
NFL COVID-19 List Updates: 1/12/22
Today’s updates for the reserve/COVID-19 and practice squad/COVID-19 lists:
Arizona Cardinals
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Maxx Williams (remains on IR)
Atlanta Falcons
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Jonathan Bullard, T Jason Spriggs
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Nick Boyle, FB Patrick Ricard (remains on IR)
- Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: DB Mazzi Wilkins
Carolina Panthers
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Stephon Gilmore, WR Shi Smith
Dallas Cowboys
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Francis Bernard, LB Micah Parsons, T Tyron Smith, T Josh Ball (remains on IR/Designated to Return)
- Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: DT Josiah Bronson
Green Bay Packers
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: G Lucas Patrick
Houston Texans
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Justin Reid, QB Jeff Driskel (remains on IR)
Kansas City Chiefs
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: TE Mark Vital
New England Patriots
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: T Yodny Cajuste
San Francisco 49ers
- Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: QB Tyler Bray
Seattle Seahawks
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Ryan Neal, DE Alton Robinson, DT Al Woods, DB Gavin Heslop (remains on IR)
Washington Football Team
- Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: DT David Bada
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/12/22
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: DT Zach Kerr
- Released: DT Matt Dickerson
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: LB Austin Calitro
- Injured: K Elliott Fry
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: G Ben Braden
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: DB Blake Countess, DB Sharrod Neasman, DB Eric Weddle (story)
New England Patriots
- Signed: DB Cre’von LeBlanc
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: P Ryan Winslow
- Restored from Injured: DB Doug Middleton
Weddle Returns To Rams For Playoff Run
The Beard is returning to the playoffs. Eric Weddle has agreed to a deal returning to the Los Angeles Rams for a playoff run. The two-time All-Pro is coming out of retirement for one more attempt at a Super Bowl ring. 
Weddle announced his retirement shortly after the 2019 NFL season and did not see any time on an NFL field last year. In his lone year on the Rams, Weddle was a team captain and defensive signal-caller.
The new comes shortly after hearing that starting safety Jordan Fuller would require ankle surgery that will hold him out for the remainder of the season. The Rams’ other starter in the defensive backfield, Taylor Rapp, is also in concussion protocol.
Weddle, despite continuing to be a leader on the defense, saw his impact change a bit in his last two years of football. The 37-year old hasn’t forced a turnover in a little over four years, but his last season on the Rams saw him finish second on the team in tackles.
Los Angeles will take whatever version of Weddle they can get as their secondary limps into the playoffs. They face their division rivals Monday night as they host the Cardinals for Super Wild Card Weekend.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/11/22
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: DL Matt Dickerson, LB Tahir Whitehead
Detroit Lions
- WR Geronimo Allison, G Parker Ehinger, TE Nick Eubanks, OT Darrin Paulo, CB Nickell Robey-Coleman, TE Ross Travis
Houston Texans
- Released: DB Cre’von LeBlanc
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: DL Isaiah Buggs, TE Daniel Helm, LB Justin March-Lillard
- Released: LB Asmar Bilal, LB Will Compton, WR Javon Wims
Los Angeles Rams
- Released: K Ryan Santoso, LS Carson Tinker
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: WR John Hurst
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: RB Jeremy McNichols
Giants Request Interviews With Quentin Harris, Joe Hortiz For GM Vacancy
Two more names have entered the race to be the next Giants GM. Per Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports (on Twitter), the organization requested permission to interview Cardinals vice president of player personnel Quentin Harris.
Meanwhile, Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News tweets that the Giants also requested permission to interview Baltimore Ravens director of player personnel Joe Hortiz. Harris will interview for this post Thursday, Albert Breer of SI.com tweets.
Harris stuck around the NFL for more than half a decade as a player before transitioning to scouting in 2008. He eventually worked his way up to the Cardinals director of pro scouting, then to director of player personnel, and then his current role of vice president of player personnel, a role he took on this past offseason. The Giants are also planning to interview Cardinals vice president of pro personnel Adrian Wilson.
Hortiz joined the Ravens organization way back in 1998, and his time with Baltimore included a stint as the director of college scouting. He was promoted to director of player personnel when Eric DeCosta took Baltimore’s GM gig in 2019.
Harris and Hortiz join a list of candidates that includes Wilson, Bills assistant GM Joe Schoen, Chiefs Executive Director of Player Personnel Ryan Poles, Titans VP of player personnel Ryan Cowden, Titans director of player personnel Monti Ossenfort, 49ers assistant GM Adam Peters, and 49ers Director of Player Personnel Ran Carthon.
Dolphins Request HC Interviews With Cardinals’ Vance Joseph, Cowboys’ Kellen Moore
Vance Joseph has enjoyed some eventful years since leaving Miami in 2017. The Dolphins, however, are interested in bringing the veteran defensive coach back to south Florida.
The Dolphins requested a head-coaching interview with Joseph, Albert Breer of SI.com tweets. This follows the team’s interview summons for Brian Daboll, Mike McDaniel, and Dan Quinn. Joseph, however, has more familiarity with the franchise. This marks Joseph’s first connection to an opening this year.
In addition to the Joseph inclusion, the Dolphins sent out a request to meet with Cowboys OC Kellen Moore, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
Prior to taking the Broncos HC job, Joseph spent the 2016 season as the Dolphins DC. That did not go particularly well, with Miami ranking 29th in total defense that year. Nevertheless, Joseph impressed enough to beat out Kyle Shanahan to become Denver’s HC. The Broncos fired him after two years, however. Joseph went 11-21 in Denver, starting the franchise’s run of sub-.500 seasons. Joseph, 49, has run the Cardinals’ defense since 2019. Following two relatively mediocre seasons, Arizona’s defense has turned it around in 2021, including them ranking seventh in passing yards allowed.
Moore inked a three-year extension with the Cowboys towards the close of the 2020 season, but he’s remained a hot name in coaching circles. The rival Eagles requested an interview with him in January of 2021 before ultimately going with Nick Sirianni.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/11/22
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived: LB Joe Walker
Cincinnati Bengals
- Designated to return to practice: WR Auden Tate
Detroit Lions
- Claimed off waivers: S Juju Hughes (from Rams)
Houston Texans
- Signed: OL Sam Cooper
Kansas City Chiefs
- Designated for return: DE Joshua Kaindoh
Las Vegas Raiders
- Designated for return: LB Nicholas Morrow
San Francisco 49ers
- Activated from IR: RB Trey Sermon
Washington Football Team
- Extended: CB Corn Elder, RB Jonathan Williams
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/10/22
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: LB Nate Hall
Green Bay Packers
- Released: G Ben Braden
New England Patriots
- Signed: WR Jaylen Smith
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: WR Tyler Vaughns
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: TE Tanner Hudson
Tennessee Titans
- Released: OL Paul Adams