NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/28/24
Here are Thanksgiving’s practice squad moves around the league:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: WR Sam Pinckney
Houston Texans
- Signed: FB Andrew Beck
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DT Myles Adams
- Released: DT Quinton Bohanna
Raiders Activate QB Aidan O’Connell, Place CB Jakorian Bennett On IR
Aidan O’Connell will indeed be in place for the Raiders for their Black Friday contest. The second-year quarterback was activated from injured reserve on Thursday, per a team announcement. 
O’Connell was designated for return earlier this week with the expectation he would be activated in time to start against the Chiefs tomorrow. The QB1 gig will be his the rest of the way this year given Gardner Minshew‘s broken collarbone. Minshew was officially moved to IR in a corresponding move.
The Raiders have been linked to a quarterback pursuit this offseason given their struggles on offense, although both Minshew and O’Connell are under contract for 2025. The latter has made 12 total starts in the NFL, but after showing a degree of promise late last season the current campaign has not gone according to plan. O’Connell, 26, will be joined on the depth chart by Desmond Ridder over the coming weeks but it would come as no surprise if one or more new signal-callers were to be added this offseason.
Vegas also placed cornerback Jakorian Bennett on IR Thursday. The 2023 fourth-rounder handled rotational duties as a rookie but he has been a mainstay in the secondary this season. Bennett has logged a defensive snap share of 71% this season, posting 26 tackles and eight pass deflections. In coverage, the Maryland product has allowed a completion percentage of just 52.3% and has yet to surrender a touchdown as the nearest defender. His absence (which will last at least the next four games) will be acutely felt in the Raiders’ secondary.
The Bennett move opened up a spot on the active roster, and it has been filled by wideout Terrace Marshall. The former Panthers draftee was waived during roster cutdowns and he briefly spent time on the 49ers’ practice squad. Marshall has most recently been with Vegas, and has been used as a gameday elevation once already. The former second-rounder will now get a look on the roster as he looks to carve out a role in the team’s receiving corps.
Rams WR Demarcus Robinson To Play In Week 13
Demarcus Robinson was arrested on suspicion of DUI earlier this week, putting him in danger of facing league discipline. While the legal process plays out in his case, the veteran wideout will remain in the Rams’ lineup. 
Robinson will suit up for Week 13, per head coach Sean McVay. Team officials met with the ninth-year wideout to discuss the situation, and Robinson added no timeline is currently in place with respect to any league action taking place. For the time being, then, he will continue in his current role for Los Angeles.
“I think it was a bad decision he made,” McVay said (via ESPN’s Sarah Barshop). “I don’t think that makes him a bad person. And I do believe this is something that with the words that he said, our guys will learn from it, and hopefully nobody’s ever going to repeat something like this.”
With Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua both healthy, Robinson is currently positioned to occupy a complementary role in Los Angeles’ passing attack. The 30-year-old has been productive when given the opportunity so far this season, though, posting 384 yards and six touchdowns on 26 catches. Robinson was a rotational option in 2023, and his success in that capacity landed him a second Rams contract this offseason.
That one-year deal carries a base salary of $4MM but it includes an additional $1MM in incentives. Robinson will therefore continue having the chance to add to his 2024 earnings for now as the Rams prepare to play the Saints on Sunday.
Jags’ Trevor Lawrence Considering Surgery
Trevor Lawrence has missed the Jaguars’ last two games while dealing with an AC joint sprain in his non-throwing shoulder. The door is open to a return in Week 13, but surgery aimed at correcting the issue is also receiving consideration. 
Such a procedure would shut Lawrence down for the remainder of the campaign, and with Jacksonville not in touching distance of a postseason berth it would make sense to play it safe on the injury front. The former No. 1 pick returned to practice this week, however, giving him the chance to suit up for the first game after the Jags’ bye. How he manages this issue over the near future will determine if the surgical route is to be taken.
“[Surgery is] definitely something that I’m considering and not off the table at all,” Lawrence said when addressing the matter (via ESPN’s Michael DiRocco). “It’s something that we’re going to have to just [approach] truly day-by-day, week-by-week.
“Hopefully I’m able to get back out there this week or as soon as possible and then it’s going to be just every week kind of evaluating it, seeing where it’s at. Obviously up until this point I’ve been doing everything I can to avoid that and want to be back out there with my guys and finish the season. So that’s my goal.”
Lawrence was available for every game during each of his first two seasons, and he missed only one contest in 2023 despite playing through a number of lingering ailments. The 25-year-old’s QBR for this season (61.8) is the highest of his career, but he in particular and Jacksonville’s offense as a whole has not lived up to expectations. A rebound over the coming weeks could boost head coach Doug Pederson and general manager Trent Baalke‘s job security, but notable changes in the offseason should still be expected given the 2-9 team’s struggles.
If Lawrence manages to suit up on Sunday against the Texans, he and the team will get a better sense of the feasibility of remaining on the field for the rest of the year. If not, it will be Mac Jones getting the nod once again; the offseason trade acquisition has thrown three interceptions (with no touchdowns) and taken four sacks during his two starts so far, so expectations would be limited if he were to remain in place under center.
Jerry Jones Open To Retaining Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy Beyond 2024
Following the Cowboys’ postseason elimination last year, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones elected to keep head coach Mike McCarthy in place. He did not offer the former Super Bowl winner a new deal, however, leaving many to believe the 2024 campaign would be followed up by a change on the sidelines. 
Before Dak Prescott‘s season-ending injury, Dallas struggled in a number of categories and the team now sits at 4-7 with Prescott out of the picture. Optimism is low regarding a playoff push, but at a minimum McCarthy will remain in place for the remainder of the season. As for 2025, Jones is (at least publicly) open to the idea of giving McCarthy a second contract.
“I don’t think that’s crazy at all,” Jones said during an appearance on 105.3 The Fan regarding an extended McCarthy tenure (via Jon Machota of The Athletic). “Listen, Mike McCarthy is an outstanding coach… This is a Super Bowl-winning coach. Mike McCarthy has been there and done that. He has great ideas. Bottom line is that no place in my body language or anything else have you seen indications about what we’re going to be doing relative to this [coaching] staff at the end of this year. And we shouldn’t. We got a lot of football left.”
Hired in 2020 as Jason Garrett‘s replacement, McCarthy came to Dallas with the mandate of delivering postseason success. That process did not get off to a strong start with a 6-10 campaign, but each of the following three seasons resulted in 12-5 records. The Cowboys’ inability to translate those regular season marks into a playoff run – McCarthy has won just one postseason game with Dallas – has resulted in his lame duck status. Jones has remained confident in the team’s 2024 prospects, so it comes as little surprise he has left the door open to maintaining the status quo on the sidelines for at least one more year.
Still, an improved showing the stretch would no doubt go a long way in helping McCarthy’s chances of remaining in place. The 61-year-old will be hard-pressed to keep the Cowboys in playoff contention even in the wake of Sunday’s wild win over the Commanders, but more consistent play on both sides of the ball could at least offer optimism for the 2025 season. The team has received reinforcements at some positions on the health front, something which could help lead to something of a turnaround over the coming weeks.
Plenty of key decisions loom in the near future from a roster-building perspective, but before free agency and the draft a call will need to be made regarding Dallas’ coaching staff. For now, at least, McCarthy could be in play to carry on in his current capacity.
Dolphins OLB Shaquil Barrett Applies For Reinstatement
TODAY, 8:20pm: The Dolphins are considering Barrett’s reinstatement, but the team won’t have much time to make a decision. According to NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe. the Dolphins will have to make a choice by this Thursday at 4:00pm ET. Week 13 is the deadline for retired players to return and play during the 2024 campaign.
If the Dolphins accept the player’s return, no additional transaction is needed (per Wolfe). If the Dolphins deny the player’s return, then Barrett will remain on the retired/reserve list for the rest of the season and won’t be eligible to play.
TODAY, 10:10am: Shaquil Barrett announced his retirement in July, a decision which seemed to bring his career to an end. The veteran pass rusher is now interested in a comeback, however. 
Barrett has applied for reinstatement, per his agents (via NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport). He remains under contract to the Dolphins, who placed him on the reserve/retired list during the summer. The decision to step away from football came as a surprise to the team, although at the time the door remained open to a return.
Barrett’s five-year run with the Buccaneers came to an end this offseason, but he was in place to continue playing in 2024 when he inked a one-year Dolphins pact. That set him up to play a notable role in the team’s edge contingent, and Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports the 32-year-old is willing to suit up for the Dolphins provided he is reinstated.
Miami has been without Jaelan Phillips for most of the year after he suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 4. The team also has Bradley Chubb in the fold, but he has yet to make his 2024 debut as he continues rehabbing the ACL tear he suffered late last season. Those absences could allow Barrett to take on at least a rotational role down the stretch. First-round rookie Chop Robinson has shown promise in recent weeks, but added depth along the edge would certainly be welcomed by a Dolphins team looking to make a postseason push.
Barrett led the NFL with 19.5 sacks in 2019, and he racked up 18 across the following two seasons. His workload and production declined after that, though, and he posted three sacks in 2022 before following it up with 4.5 last year. Incentives are present in his Dolphins pact, including $250K in per-game roster bonuses. Returning to action would boost the two-time Super Bowl winner’s earnings while also helping his case for playing in 2025 if he so desires.
If Barrett were to be placed on waivers, he would be available to interested teams if any were willing to put in a claim. Failing that, the two-time Pro Bowler would become a free agent. If the Dolphins match his willingness to play in Miami over the remainder of the campaign, though, he could see time for them in the near future.
Bucs’ Jordan Whitehead To Miss Time
NOVEMBER 26: The MRI has brought back encouraging news, and NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo notes no surgery will be required in this case. Whitehead is set to miss time, but he could return to the Buccaneers later in the campaign or during the postseason.
NOVEMBER 25: The Buccaneers’ Week 12 win may have included a notable injury in the secondary. Safety Jordan Whitehead is believed to have suffered a torn pec, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. 
An MRI will take place today to confirm the diagnosis, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times adds. Provided the team’s fears turn out to be true, Whitehead will be sidelined for the remainder of the campaign. His absence would leave the Buccaneers without a full-time safety starter down the stretch.
Whitehead spent his first four seasons with Tampa Bay, and upon seeing his rookie deal expire he joined the Jets. The former fourth-rounder started all 34 of his games for New York, racking up six total interceptions along the way. He returned to the Bucs in free agency, inking a two-year, $9MM pact. Prior to going down on Sunday, Whitehead recorded 76 tackles and three pass deflections in 2024.
Antoine Winfield Jr. has missed time this year, but his return to action paved the way for his starting safety tandem with Whitehead to continue through to the end of the campaign. Instead, the latter’s injury will create a first-team vacancy at the position. Mike Edwards – who was claimed off waivers less than two weeks ago – could be in line for an increased workload during his second Tampa Bay stint.
Edwards played for the Bucs from 2019-22, and after falling out of the rotation for the Bills this season he was waived following the trade deadline. Tampa Bay’s decision to claim him marked another safety reunion not long after the one with Whitehead, and it could prove to be key to the team’s postseason push over the coming weeks. The Buccaneers sit at 5-6 on the year, one game behind the Falcons for top spot in the NFC South.
Defense has been a sore spot in a number of categories this season, with Tampa Bay ranking 29th in passing yards allowed per game. Losing Whitehead would hinder the team’s secondary, although having a familiar option in the form of Edwards could help smooth out the process of replacing him in the starting lineup. Whitehead is owed $4.5MM next year, but none of his scheduled base salary for the season ($3.75MM) is guaranteed, so his progress in recovering from the injury could be key in determining whether or not he remains with the team for 2025.
Seahawks’ Uchenna Nwosu To Return To Practice
Uchenna Nwosu has been out of the Seahawks’ lineup since October, but he is making progress in his recovery. The team’s highest-paid edge rusher is set to practice today, per head coach Mike Macdonald. 
“This week is going to be pretty limited,” Macdonald acknowledged when speaking about Nwosu’s immediate workload in practice (via ESPN’s Brady Henderson). “So we won’t be seeing him this week, and then we’ll take it from there.”
Nwosu suffered a thigh injury in Week 5, his season debut. The 27-year-old missed Seattle’s first four games due to an MCL sprain; that did not lead to time on injured reserve, but he was moved to IR after the thigh ailment was suffered. Nwosu’s 21-day activation window will open once he officially takes part in practice, and Macdonald’s remarks confirm he will spend a portion of that time ramping up before he returns to game action.
Once that takes place, the Seahawks’ pass rush will receive a notable boost. Nwosu set a career high with 9.5 sacks during his debut Seattle campaign (2022), and expectations were high entering this season after he was limited to only six games the previous year. Remaining healthy the rest of the way would allow for Nwosu – who is on the books through 2026 – to reprise a starting role along the edge as Seattle looks to remain in contention to win the NFC West.
In his absence, the Seahawks have relied on Derick Hall and Boye Mafe for pass rush production. Hall leads the team with six sacks, and Mafe is tied for second with five; adding Nwosu to the mix will give Seattle a notable trio of options on the edge along with Leonard Williams on the interior. Sitting at 6-5 on the year, the Seahawks rank only 17th in the league in sacks, so improving in that department could be key in reaching the postseason.
Seattle has six IR activations remaining, and using up one of them will be required to bring Nwosu into the fold. Doing so will allow him to make an impact in 2024 as he looks to move past his recent injury troubles.
Mike Tannenbaum, Rick Spielman To Participate In Jets’ HC, GM Searches
The Jets’ process of finding their next head coach and general manager will include outside consultation. The 33rd Team has been hired to assist in the search for Robert Saleh and Joe Douglas‘ replacements, Brian Costello of the New York Post reports. The news is now official.
[RELATED: Jets Targeting Experienced HC, GM Candidates]
Specifically, Mike Tannenbaum and Rick Spielman will take part in the process of identifying and interviewing candidates. Owner Woody Johnson will lead the search, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones notes, but having the 33rd Team onboard will allow for a pair of experienced former front office members to assist. This marks the NFL think tank’s first such collaboration with a franchise for a hiring process.
Tannenbaum founded the 33rd Team in 2019, one year after his tenure as the Dolphins’ EVP of football operations came to an end. That, in turn, was preceded by a run as general manager of the Jets from 2006-12. The 55-year-old constructed the team’s most recent playoff roster and has a familiarity with Johnson which could help over the coming months. Tannenbaum was in place when Rex Ryan was hired as head coach; the latter has publicly campaigned to return to that position, but Costello notes there have been no signs the organization reciprocates that desire.
Spielman worked his way to the title of general manager of the Dolphins for the 2004 season before ultimately having an extended tenure in that role with the Vikings. He took charge of the franchise in 2012 and remained in place until he was fired following the 2021 campaign. Since then, the 61-year-old has had a number of media-related roles. He also assisted the Commanders in their general manager search this past offseason.
Johnson fired Saleh after Week 5 in the hopes a change on the sidelines would spark a turnaround. Instead, the Jets are 1-5 under Jeff Ulbrich. Those continued struggles led to the decision to move on from Douglas early rather than waiting for his contract to expire at the end of the campaign. Interviews with executives employed by other teams cannot take place at this point, but those unaffiliated with the Jets’ competitors are free to speak with Johnson and Co. at any time.
On that note, Jones lists Dawn Aponte as a name to watch. A former Jets exec – who also worked under Tannenbaum in Miami – she currently serves as the NFL’s chief administrator of football operations. Aponte interviewed for the Chargers’ GM gig this past winter and was mentioned as a candidate for a high-ranking position in the Commanders’ front office.
It will be interesting to see if Aponte is interviewed by the Jets in the near future as the team sorts out its front office and coaching targets. However that process unfolds, Tannenbaum and Spielman will play an important role along the way.
Updated 2025 NFL Draft Order
The Week 12 slate of games is in the books. For many teams, attention is increasingly turning toward the offseason with a playoff berth no longer in reach.
Plenty of time remains for the draft order to change over the coming months, and it will be interesting to see which teams wind up in position to add at the quarterback spot in particular. The crop of prospects for 2025 is not held in high regard after Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward, meaning the demand for potential franchise passers is set to outweigh demand at the top of the board. Of course, players like Sanders’ Colorado teammate Travis Hunter will be among the ones worth watching closely as well.
The Jets have moved on from head coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas, inviting questions about a reset under center as well. Aaron Rodgers wants to play in 2025, but it remains to be seen how his relationship with the organization will take shape down the stretch and if a new regime will prefer to move on at the position. The Giants, meanwhile, confirmed they will be in the market for a new signal-caller with Daniel Jones no longer in the fold.
Teams such as the Raiders have long been mentioned as a team to watch regarding a rookie QB pursuit. Jayden Daniels was a target for head coach Antonio Pierce last spring, and it would come as no surprise if Vegas were to make a push for a long-term starting option this time around. Other franchises not on track to qualify for the playoffs figure to give the Raiders plenty of competition in that department, though.
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:
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 2-9
- New York Giants: 2-9
- Las Vegas Raiders: 2-9
- New England Patriots: 3-9
- Carolina Panthers: 3-8
- Tennessee Titans: 3-8
- New York Jets: 3-8
- Cleveland Browns: 3-8
- New Orleans Saints: 4-7
- Cincinnati Bengals: 4-7
- Dallas Cowboys: 4-7
- Chicago Bears: 4-7
- Indianapolis Colts: 5-7
- Miami Dolphins: 5-6
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 5-6
- Los Angeles Rams: 5-6
- San Francisco 49ers: 5-6
- Arizona Cardinals: 6-5
- Atlanta Falcons: 6-5
- Seattle Seahawks: 6-5
- Washington Commanders: 7-5
- Houston Texans: 7-5
- Denver Broncos: 7-5
- Los Angeles Chargers: 7-4
- Baltimore Ravens: 8-4
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 8-3
- Green Bay Packers: 8-3
- Minnesota Vikings: 9-2
- Philadelphia Eagles: 9-2
- Buffalo Bills: 9-2
- Kansas City Chiefs: 10-1
- Detroit Lions: 10-1