Minor NFL Transactions: 12/26/24
Thursday’s minor moves around the NFL:
Arizona Cardinals
- Reverted to season-ending IR (practice window expired): CB Elijah Jones
Chicago Bears
- Elevated: G Chris Glaser
Cleveland Browns
- Placed on IR: DT Shelby Harris
- Signed to active roster: WR James Proche
Detroit Lions
- Waived: LB Kwon Alexander
New York Jets
- Designated for return: K Greg Zuerlein
San Francisco 49ers
- Placed on IR: LT Trent Williams (story)
- Signed (to two-year deal): OL Matt Hennessy
Seattle Seahawks
- Elevated: CB Artie Burns
Harris’ second season with the Browns saw him play a key role with 13 starts and a 59% snap share on defense. The 33-year-old remained consistent against the run (37 tackles) while chipping in as a pass rusher (1.5 sacks), but his campaign is now over as he deals with an elbow injury. One year remains on Harris’ contract, although none of his scheduled $1.26MM base salary is guaranteed.
Alexander joined the Lions late last month as part of the team’s bid to add healthy options at the linebacker spot. He made a pair of appearances with Detroit prior to today’s move, one which may not mark the end of his time with the team. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the Lions hope to be able to sign Alexander, 30, to their practice squad provided he clears waivers. Teams will be able to put in a claim until tomorrow afternoon, by which point he will become a free agent if no interested parties emerge.
Zuerlein has been on injured reserve since the end of October, spurring the Jets to turn to other kicking options. If the veteran is activated in the near future, he will be able to make a late-season return in 2024, his third campaign with the Jets. Failing that, New York will still have Anders Carlson and recent practice squad addition Greg Joseph in place at the position.
LB David Long Fails Titans Physical
David Long was placed on waivers by the Lions Tuesday. The veteran linebacker was claimed by the Titans yesterday, setting him up to close out the campaign via a reunion with Tennessee. 
However, the team announced on Thursday that Long has failed his physical. As a result, he will not be joining the Titans’ active roster and he will return to the waiver wire with an injury designation. Teams will once again be able to add him through that route, although given today’s development it would come as no surprise if Long were to reach free agency.
The 28-year-old began the season with Miami, but partway through the year he lost his starting role. Shortly thereafter, Long was waived; the Lions moved quickly in adding him on a practice squad deal to provide needed linebacker depth. The West Virginia product wound up making a total of five appearances with Detroit, including one start. Long only logged a snap share of 23% (albeit with a regular special teams role), though, and his time in the Motor City came to an end with other several roster changes taking place as certain defenders return to the lineup.
Long was drafted by the Titans in 2019, and during his first two seasons in the league he was a mainstay on special teams while handling rotational defensive duties. The former sixth-rounder emerged as a full-time starter for the final year of his rookie contract, and he landed a two-year, $10MM free agent deal with Miami as a result. Long set a career high with 113 tackles last season, but his Dolphins tenure came to an abrupt end once he was relegated to backup duties.
With a Long reunion now off, the Titans will finish out the year with their current LB corps. Kenneth Murray suffered a wrist injury on Sunday, and Tennessee placed him on injured reserve yesterday. His debut Titans campaign is over as a result, and losing the team’s leading tackler made the waiver claim on Long an understandable move. The latter will not return to the Titans, though, and it will be interesting to see if he manages to catch on with a different team before the end of the season.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/26/24
Thursday’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: OL Matthew Jones
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: QB Emory Jones
Detroit Lions
- Signed: LB DaRon Gilbert
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: LB Michael Tutsie
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: DL Jonathan Harris
- Released: CB Kelvin Joseph
New York Giants
- Signed: DB Alex Cook, DT Casey Rodgers
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: OL Sebastian Gutierrez
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: K Matthew Wright
- Released: T Kellen Diesch
Washington Commanders
- Signed: WR Chris Moore
DeSean Jackson To Become HC At Delaware State
DeSean Jackson ended his playing career roughly one year ago, and his retirement brought to a close one of the NFL’s most decorated careers in terms of deep threats at the receiver position. It has not taken Jackson long to find a new opportunity in football. 
The 38-year-old is finalizing an agreement to become head coach at Delaware State, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reports. An in-person interview recently occurred, and the sides are expected to have a formal deal in place shortly. This will mark Jackson’s first foray into coaching.
The Cal product played a total of 15 seasons in the NFL, with his most memorable moments coming during his tenure as an Eagle. Jackson wound up suiting up for six teams overall, and he totaled three Pro Bowl nods while recording five 1,000-yard seasons and leading the league in yards per reception on four occasions. Once he elected to hang up his cleats, it was unclear if he intended to pursue a career on the sidelines. Now, though, that will be the case.
Delaware State had been coached by Lee Hull since the start of last season, but the program will now move in a different direction. The FCS outfit posted a 2-21 record under Hull, so plenty of room exists for improvement moving forward. Jackson will look to guide the Hornets to a step forward in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference starting in the 2025 campaign.
Once the agreement is in place, Jackson will be in line to become the latest ex-NFL player to quickly transition to a head coaching position at the college level (particularly at HBCUs such as Delaware State) upon hanging up their cleats. It will be interesting to see how he fares on the sidelines and if success in this gig will lead to opportunities elsewhere in the coaching world.
Latest On Potential Russell Wilson Steelers Extension
The Steelers’ push for the AFC North title will continue with today’s matchup against the Chiefs. A large part of Pittsburgh’s success this season has been improved play under center, and as a result Russell Wilson could turn out to be much more than a one-year rental. 
Since the former Super Bowl winner took over from Justin Fields as the Steelers’ starter, Wilson has provided stability at the quarterback spot, something which had been lacking since Ben Roethlisberger retired. Given the nature of his Broncos release, Wilson has been a cost-effective starter this year, and signs have pointed since November to a new pact being worked out. For now, the 36-year-old is on track for free agency, and he would be one of the more intriguing names on the market if no deal was to take place.
A mutual interest exists in continuing this relationship, however, with Wilson recently issuing a public desire to remain in Pittsburgh beyond 2024. It would thus come as no surprise if a multi-year pact were to be worked out this offseason (even with Fields potentially still in the picture). In that event, Wilson would be in line for a notable raise compared to the veteran minimum he is playing for – in terms of Pittsburgh’s financial obligation – this year. With age as a complicating factor, however, the length of any potential contract could be a sticking point in addition to compensation.
On that note, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports there is a “very good chance” the Steelers work out a new pact with Wilson similar to other recent veteran QB deals (video link). Specifically, he names Baker Mayfield‘s Buccaneers pact as a comparable situation. Mayfield impressed in 2023, his debut Tampa Bay season. That landed him a three-year, $100MM contract – a major raise relative to his prior deal, but an AAV nowhere near the top of the position’s market.
Wilson securing a similar deal this winter would provide him with the opportunity to continue his Steelers tenure, while the structure of such a pact could give the team flexibility from a cap perspective. Keeping the nine-time Pro Bowler in the fold could prove to be beneficial on a medium-term commitment in particular, but Pittsburgh also has to sort out Fields’ future since he is a pending free agent. The same is true of left tackle Dan Moore Jr., cornerback Donte Jackson as well as both members of the Najee Harris–Jaylen Warren running back tandem.
Wideout George Pickens will also be eligible for an extension once this season ends, and keeping him in place long term will require a notable commitment. Plenty of key decisions will need to be made with respect to keeping the Steelers’ core in place on offense in particular, and Wilson’s situation will be central to that effort. It will be interesting to see how the rest of the campaign plays out, and whether or not his chances of working out a new Steelers accord will be affected down the stretch.
Poll: How Will Giants Proceed With HC Brian Daboll, GM Joe Schoen?
The 100th season in Giants history will not produce a playoff appearance, something which owner John Mara did not require for the 2024 campaign to be considered a success. Still, this year has not gone according to plan on a number of fronts. 
New York sits at 2-13 on the year, and losing the final two games of the season would ensure the No. 1 pick in April’s draft. While that would represent a notable consolation for this year’s struggles, major organizational decisions will need to be made before that point. The job security of head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen will be a talking point once the campaign comes to an end.
Hired together after their shared time with the Bills, the pair has been in place since 2022. That year produced a surprise playoff run, with Daboll earning Coach of the Year honors as a result. Since then, the rebuilding effort Schoen has overseen has not produced the desired results. The Giants have gone 8-25 since the start of last season, including a record of 0-8 at home this year. A loss on Sunday would ensure a winless campaign at MetLife Stadium and add further to the speculation regarding changes taking place on the sidelines and/or in the front office.
The Daboll-Schoen regime inherited quarterback Daniel Jones, but by virtue of committing to a four-year, $160MM extension last offseason the former No. 6 selection was confirmed as having a central role in the team’s short-term future. That decision was matched by using the franchise tag on running back Saquon Barkley, who departed this past March and has put himself in contention to break the single-season rushing record during his debut Eagles campaign. Jones and the Giants parted ways earlier this year, although by that point it was clear a reset at the QB spot would be required this spring.
Indications with respect to whether or not Daboll or Schoen would be let go have been tracked throughout the campaign. Mara offered a vote of confidence for both in October, but the Giants have not won since that point. Given the owner’s track record of changing coaches quickly, many have pointed to Daboll being on thin ice. Indeed, a report from last month stated the 49-year-old’s future in New York would be tied to the team’s performance the rest of the way. Amidst a slew of injuries and several underwhelming individual performances, the Giants have not come close to engineering a turnaround in the second half of the season.
While that would suggest Daboll could be among the coaches let go on ‘Black Monday’ following the end of the regular season, that report was quickly followed by one suggesting he could join Schoen in being relatively safe. The latter has seen several players find success upon leaving New York; Barkley has drawn considerable attention for obvious reasons but safety Xavier McKinney is another free agent departure who has delivered a strong showing in 2024. The Packers safety leads the NFL with seven interceptions, more than double the Giants’ collective total in 2024.
Schoen’s draft classes have drawn criticism at times as well, with Evan Neal serving as a key example in that respect. The seventh overall pick in 2022 has fallen well short of expectations during his career, and finding a replacement at right tackle (along with improvements along the interior of the offensive line) will be key objectives moving forward. The secondary is also a sore spot in spite of recent draft investments, and making moves there will be important for improvement to take place.
Presuming the Giants wind up with the top pick in the draft, though, the defining storyline of the coming offseason will be the team’s addition of a new franchise passer. If Daboll and/or Schoen are kept in place, they will be counted on to oversee the quarterback’s development and by doing so move past the Jones era. If Mara prefers to clean house at a critical organizational juncture, though, new faces could be added to take the franchise in a different direction. Of course, the possibility remains that one member of the pair (likely Schoen) receives a longer leash and is kept in the fold for at least one more season.
How do you see things playing out this offseason? Will the Giants elect to keep both Daboll and Schoen around, move on from both or keep only one in place for 2025? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and have your say in the comments section.
Geno Smith Dealing With Knee Injury; Mike Macdonald On QB’s 2024 Performance
The Seahawks are still in contention for a postseason berth, but their chances of winning the NFC West are slim at this point. Quarterback Geno Smith will need to deliver a pair of strong performances if Seattle is to finish the campaign at 9-8, something which will also be key in determining his candidacy for an extension. 
[RELATED: Smith Aiming For 20-Year NFL Career]
Doing so will require continuing to play through the knee injury he suffered in Week 15. Smith exited that contest with Sam Howell taking over at quarterback, but the veteran managed to play on Sunday without missing time. The issue is lingering, though, and that will remain the case moving forward.
“Nah, it’s not,” Smith confirmed when asked whether the injury is behind him at this point (via Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic). “It’s going to be there for a while. But gotta keep pushing.”
Smith had another uneven performance in the Seahawks’ loss to the Vikings on Sunday, adding to his middle-of-the-road showing on the whole this year. The 34-year-old has thrown 17 touchdowns in 2024, but his 15 interceptions are the second most in the NFL this year. Seattle’s offense has had issues up front, though, and the team’s ground game has left plenty to be desired. As a result, head coach Mike Macdonald has remained complimentary when speaking about Smith over the course of the year.
“He makes it go,” the first-time head coach said about Smith, via Dugar (subscription required). “It’s really simple. We put a lot on his plate, and rightfully so. He’s earned the right to have a lot on his plate operationally.”
Smith has been in Seattle since 2020, and this season is his third in a row operating as the team’s starting quarterback. The former second-rounder impressed during his first campaign atop the depth chart, and it landed him an extension and accompanying raise last spring. One year remains on that deal, but none of Smith’s base salary for 2025 ($14.8MM) is guaranteed and his projected cap hit ($38.5MM) could prove to be cumbersome. The Seahawks will have time to move on before a $10MM roster bonus comes due this March, if the team elects to reset at the position.
Seattle’s 2025 QB outlook has been unclear since the attempts made by Smith’s camp to negotiate a new contract this summer came up short. Indications from earlier this month pointed to a long-term commitment on the part of the Seahawks being unlikely, although that could of course change depending on how the rest of the season plays out. As the team appears set to miss the postseason again, however, it would not come as a surprise if other options at the position were to be explored.
Howell, like Smith, is on the books through 2026 thanks to the term remaining on his rookie contract. The former Commanders draftee could be seen as a backup option moving forward, but replacing Smith with a new starter would be a central offseason objective if the team were to take that route. Given Macdonald’s public stance on the matter, maintaining the status quo through next season could nevertheless be on the table.
Updated 2025 NFL Draft Order
Two weeks remain in the regular season, and while a number of teams are jockeying for playoff spots several others are still in contention to land a coveted draft slot. It remains to be seen where the No. 1 selection will wind up.
The Giants and Raiders entered Sunday’s action with two wins apiece, and New York’s loss kept the team strongly in contention to kick off the draft in April. By virtue of winning against the Jaguars, though, the Raiders hurt their chances of finding themselves in that position. A top-two spot (or thereabouts) may be required to draft either of this year’s top passers, but a small move up the order positioning Vegas to add one could still be on the table.
Five teams currently sit a 3-12, and a head-to-head matchup between the Titans and Jaguars on Sunday will be key in deciding where each of them wind up. Another three squads own a 4-11 record, so plenty of potential exists in terms of changes being made to the order at the top of the board. Numerous expected suitors for a Day 1 quarterback (including teams like the Browns and Jets) may very well find themselves out of reach for Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders without a trade-up being necessary. The Panthers’ starting situation with Bryce Young is certainly not settled for 2025, but adding a passer on Day 1 would come as a surprise at this point.
For non-playoff teams, the draft order will be determined by the inverted 2024 standings — plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule — with playoff squads being slotted by their postseason outcome and regular-season record. Here is an updated look at the current draft order:
- New York Giants (2-13)
- New England Patriots (3-12)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (3-12)
- Tennessee Titans (3-12)
- Cleveland Browns (3-12)
- Las Vegas Raiders (3-12)
- Carolina Panthers (4-11)
- New York Jets (4-11)
- Chicago Bears (4-11)
- New Orleans Saints (5-10)
- San Francisco 49ers (6-9)
- Miami Dolphins (7-8)
- Indianapolis Colts (7-8)
- Cincinnati Bengals (7-8)
- Dallas Cowboys (7-8)
- Arizona Cardinals (7-8)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-7)
- Seattle Seahawks (8-7)
- Atlanta Falcons (8-7)
- Los Angeles Chargers (9-6)
- Houston Texans (9-6)
- Denver Broncos (9-6)
- Los Angeles Rams (9-6)
- Washington Commanders (10-5)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (10-5)
- Baltimore Ravens (10-5)
- Green Bay Packers (11-4)
- Philadelphia Eagles (12-3)
- Buffalo Bills (12-3)
- Minnesota Vikings (13-2)
- Detroit Lions (13-2)
- Kansas City Chiefs (14-1)
Jets, Aaron Rodgers Have Not Discussed Future; QB Still Undecided On Retirement
As continues to deal with his latest nagging injury, Aaron Rodgers confirmed he will play the Jets’ final two games this season. Whether those matchups represent the final ones of his tenure with the team – if not of his career – remains to be seen. 
[POLL: Where Will Aaron Rodgers Play In 2025?]
Signs have long pointed to a parting of ways between the parties, and Rodgers himself admitted on Monday he could be released once the regular season ends. The four-time MVP’s preference would be to remain in New York if he elects to continue his career for at least one more season. It is still uncertain at this point, though, if Rodgers will suit up for the 2025 campaign.
On the Jets’ side of things, major organizational decisions loom which will no doubt have an impact on Rodgers. The team needs a new general manager and head coach, and it would come as no surprise if the new regime (once in place) elects to move in a different direction under center. Indeed, the Jets have been named as a team to watch regarding the addition of a quarterback through the draft, although Rodgers appears to be on board with taking a pay cut if it helps him stay in place for one more year. With plenty still to be sorted out, the 41-year-old noted on Tuesday his future is up in the air.
“There’s a GM that has to get hired, I would assume first, and then he’s going to be a part of hiring the head coach,” Rodgers said (via ESPN’s Rich Cimini). “And then so I have to be in the plans of multiple people, starting with the ownership and then the GM and then the head coach. So that’s why to me, that would not be a conversation I’m expecting anytime soon until those things are in place.”
The Jets will miss the postseason once again this year, so moves on the coaching and GM fronts will likely take place relatively soon. Owner Woody Johnson will of course have a key role to play in the latter search in particular, and whether or not the new group of decision-makers wants to keep Rodgers around. A rift between owner and QB has been suggested multiple times, with Johnson having wanted to bench Rodgers at least once earlier this year. The longtime Packer has reportedly been frustrated with the handling of former offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett‘s demotion, a move which stripped power from one of the many people brought in with connections from his time in Green Bay.
When asked if he feels Johnson wants him back at this point, Rodgers simply replied (via Cimini), “you should ask Woody.” Notably, Rodgers added no conversations have taken place regarding how team and player will proceed once the season ends. New York’s offense has not delivered on expectations in 2024, although in recent weeks (sparked in no small part by the reunion between Rodgers and wideout Davante Adams) the unit has shown signs of improvement. Still, resetting under center – and quite probably moving on from Adams along the way – will be a feasible move for the team this offseason.
Rodgers reiterated his desire to remain a Jet for 2025, but he added there would be “no offense” taken if a release were to take place. Even if the team’s top brass express a willingness to keep him on board, the future Hall of Famer said he would take time to contemplate his situation. Rodgers, of course, nearly retired prior to arriving with the Jets via trade in the spring of 2023. His Achilles tear four snaps into his debut with his new team set up a pay cut and a return for this season, but things have not gone according to plan (as evidenced by the midseason firings of Robert Saleh and, later, Joe Douglas).
Rodgers has increasingly found himself in the spotlight during the waning years of his career, and questions about his future will continue until clarity emerges. It will not be for some time until that point arrives, but his situation will serve as a central storyline for the Jets as the franchise approaches a critical offseason.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/24/24
Tuesday’s minor NFL moves, including elevations for tomorrow’s Christmas Day doubleheader:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed to active roster: OL Jackson Barton, LB Benton Whitley
- Placed on IR: LT Paris Johnson Jr., RT Jonah Williams
Baltimore Ravens
- Elevated: WR Anthony Miller
Buffalo Bills
- Placed on IR: LB Baylon Spector
Carolina Panthers
- Signed (off 49ers’ practice squad): LB Chandler Wooten
Chicago Bears
- Signed to active roster: S Adrian Colbert
Dallas Cowboys
- Designated for return: T Asim Richards
Detroit Lions
- Waived: LB David Long
Denver Broncos
- Signed to active roster: RB Blake Watson
- Waived: CB Levi Wallace
- Designated for return: RB Tyler Badie
Houston Texans
- Elevated: CB D’Angelo Ross, WR Jared Wayne
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed to active roster: G Mark Glowinski
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed to active roster: LB Joe Giles-Harris
Kansas City Chiefs
- Activated from IR: TE Peyton Hendershot
- Elevated: LB Swayze Bozeman, S Deon Bush
New England Patriots
- Designated for return: LB Curtis Jacobs
New York Giants
- Activated: LB Dyontae Johnson
- Designated for return: DL Armon Watts
- Waived: DL Casey Rogers
New York Jets
- Signed to active roster: S Jarius Monroe
- Placed on IR: T Olu Fashanu (story)
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived: TE Kevin Foelsch
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed (off Cardinals’ practice squad): T Charlie Heck
The Cardinals – who were eliminated from playoff contention Sunday – will close out the season without either of their starting tackles. Both Johnson and Williams are dealing with knee injuries, and they will be shut down for the remainder of the campaign. The former was a full-time starter as a rookie last year and made 14 appearances in 2024 upon switching to the blindside. Williams signed a one-year deal in free agency to handle RT duties, but two separate knee ailments will limit him to six games played this year. The 27-year-old’s free agent stock will take a hit as a result.
Wallace has made 13 appearances in 2024, his first season with the Broncos. The veteran has handled part-time defensive duties along the way, while also chipping in on special teams. As Denver returns to health at the CB spot, though, Wallace will hit the waiver wire. Should he clear, head coach Sean Payton said the Broncos would like to re-sign him via a practice squad deal (h/t Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette).
Fashanu exited the Jets’ Week 16 contest on crutches, and it was recently reported he would miss the rest of the season as a result. Today’s move thus comes as no surprise. Interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich said on Tuesday surgery to repair the first-round rookie’s plantar fascia would be needed, but the team has since clarified a procedure will not take place. Fashanu is expected to recover in full through rehab.