Bucs Designate CB Jamel Dean For Return
The Buccaneers’ defense could receive a boost in time for Week 12. Cornerback Jamel Dean returned to practice on Monday, per a team announcement. 
As a result, his 21-day activation is now open. Dean must be brought back onto the active roster within that span to avoid reverting to season-ending IR. Once he is back in place, he will be positioned to reprise his role as a starter in Tampa Bay’s secondary.
A hamstring injury set Dean up to miss multiple weeks, so it came as little surprise when he was moved to IR. After spending the required four games on the sidelines, it is an encouraging sign that the 28-year-old has returned to practice when first eligible to do so. The Buccaneers’ defense will certainly welcome Dean back into the fold once he is cleared to do so.
The Auburn product has been a first-team presence for much of his six-year Tampa Bay tenure, and that includes the 2024 campaign. Dean has amassed 43 tackles and four pass deflections this season, and he has yet to allow a touchdown in coverage. His return could provide a much-needed boost to a defense which ranks 30th against the pass and which has dealt with other injuries in the secondary over the course of the year.
Dean remained with the Bucs when he inked a four-year, $52MM deal last March. Especially with Carlton Davis no longer in place, that pact has increased expectations for the former third-rounder to be an impactful player in the secondary. If the 4-6 Buccaneers are to make a run at the postseason (either in the form of another NFC South title or a wild-card berth), Dean’s level of play once healthy will be a key determining factor.
Tampa Bay will have four IR activations remaining once Dean returns to the active roster. If that moves takes place within the coming days, he will be in line to return to action against the Giants.
Jaguars WR Gabe Davis To Undergo Season-Ending Meniscus Surgery
12:56pm: Head coach Doug Pederson confirmed (via Rapoport) Davis is indeed out for the year. Thomas will be relied on to shoulder much of the workload at the receiver spot down the stretch with Davis and Kirk out of the picture until 2025.
10:35am: The Jaguars’ offense has suffered multiple notable injuries in 2024, and the unit is set to be further shorthanded. Wideout Gabe Davis is feared to have suffered a meniscus tear, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network report. 
[RELATED: Trevor Lawrence Could Make Post-Bye Return]
Surgery is on tap as a result, and that procedure will dictate the length of Davis’ absence. A trim would entail a multi-week recovery and likely a stint on injured reserve, but it could leave the door open to a return late in the campaign. A full repair would, on the other hand, shut Davis down for the rest of the season.
Of course, with Jacksonville sitting at 2-9 on the year, there is little reason to rush the 25-year-old back onto the field. A full repair carries a better long-term outlook, and Davis’ attention will no doubt be focused primarily on 2025 with a playoff berth out of reach for this season. The former Bill signed a three-year, $39MM deal in free agency, so being fully healthy by Week 1 of next year will be a priority for team and player.
Davis was set to play a key role in Jacksonville’s new-look receiving corps in 2024 after the team lost Calvin Ridley on the open market. Davis has logged a 72% snap share during his debut campaign in Duval County, but it has not yielded a consistent role in the passing game. The former fourth-rounder has received three or fewer targets four times this year, amassing 239 yards and a pair of scores on 20 receptions.
Those totals have yielded a yards per catch average of 12.0, the lowest of Davis’ career. Having been brought in to serve as a deep threat, the UCF product has seen first-round rookie Brian Thomas Jr. succeed in that capacity. Thomas has posted a 42-689-5 statline this season, cementing his status as a key member of the team’s offense now and for years to come. Christian Kirk – who was the subject of considerable trade talk in general and negotiations involving the Steelers in particular – is under contract for next year.
Most of Davis’ compensation for 2025 ($12.5MM) is guaranteed, so he is set to remain in Jacksonville for at least one more season. Week 1 of that campaign may represent the next time he is available to the team, which is already the case for Kirk given his broken collarbone. For the time being, Thomas will be positioned to handle a heavy workload atop the WR depth chart after the Jags’ bye week.
Titans LB Jack Gibbens Undergoes Season-Ending Surgery
Jack Gibbens suffered an ankle injury on Sunday which knocked him out of the game. The third-year Titans linebacker will now be sidelined for the remainder of the season. 
Gibbens was carted off the field shortly after an air cast was placed on his leg, pointing to a long-term absence. He will now undergo surgery, and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports a four-month recovery timeline is in place. The 25-year-old should be healed well before the start of the 2025 campaign, but his absence will be felt on defense in the meantime. Head coach Brian Callahan has since confirmed the procedure has taken place.
A former UDFA, Gibbens handled a notable role on defense in 2022 (62% snap share) while also being a regular contributor on special teams. He was limited to only five games that year, but he made 14 appearances in 2023 while remaining a key figure in Tennessee’s linebacking corps. Gibbens made 95 tackles last season, so it came as no surprise he was tendered as an exclusive rights free agent in March.
That decision set up the Minnesota product to continue his tenure with the Titans, although his defensive workload had taken a step back in 2024 prior to the injury. Gibbens nevertheless showcased his ability against the run, totaling 29 tackles in his final two full contests of the season. Once again on track to find himself as an ERFA, this injury will hurt his value.
Tennessee sits at 2-8 on the year despite boasting the league’s No. 2 total defense. That unit will be shorthanded the rest of the way with Gibbens no longer in the fold, but he should be back in the fold for spring workouts provided he is retained by the team once again.
Zac Taylor: Bengals Will Not Make Staff, Lineup Changes During Bye Week
The Bengals suffered another one-score loss on Sunday, and the team now sits at 4-7 as a result. The bye week could present the opportunity to make changes in the lineup and/or on the sidelines, but that will not be the case. 
“I think we all watch the game and we can see it’s just coming down to one play in every single game,” head coach Zac Taylor said (via Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer). “So why would you make a big wholesale change? That to me is just panic. That’s not what we’re about. We believe in what we’re doing.”
Quarterback Joe Burrow leads the league in completions (274), yards (3,028) and touchdown passes (27) through 11 games, but that effectiveness has often not translated to wins in 2024. Cincinnati was beaten handily by Philadelphia in Week 8, but otherwise the team’s losses have been decided by an average of 3.8 points. That lends itself to continuity amongst the coaching staff; Taylor and Co. nevertheless certainly have a number of areas to improve on during the bye.
The Bengals rank 28th in the league in points allowed, and the team has amassed underwhelming totals against both the pass and run this season. Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo has been in place since Taylor’s HC tenure began in 2019, and his unit posted a sixth-place finish in scoring defense in 2022. A repeat of that showing was not expected this year – nor would it be necessary for sustained success given the level of Burrow’s performances – but an uptick in play after the bye would help Cincinnati’s chances of a late wild-card run. Anarumo has drawn head coaching interest in the past, although 2024 has likely not helped his stock.
Taylor operates as the offense’s play-caller, so the role of offensive coordinator is one which is also unlikely to receive considerable attention over the coming days. Dan Pitcher is in place as OC after Brian Callahan took the Titans’ head coaching gig this past offseason. The Bengals have not been effective on the ground in 2024, but their passing efficiency has left them sixth in the NFL in scoring and ninth in total offense.
Special teams have generally been a strength under Taylor, but the kicking game has been an issue in 2024. Evan McPherson (who landed a three-year extension this summer) has connected on only 15 of 21 field goal attempts this season, a critical factor given the team’s close losses. A rebound in that regard could go a long way toward a late-year playoff push. In any event, Cincinnati will maintain the status quo coming out of the bye.
Examining Cowboys’ 2025 Financial Outlook
With Dak Prescott officially out for the remainder of the season, the chances of a turnaround on the Cowboys’ part are bleak. Sitting at 3-6 on the year, Dallas’ struggles with him in the lineup have left the goal of a playoff berth a rather difficult one for his replacement(s) under center to achieve. 
Given the Cowboys’ distance from contention in the NFC East and the unlikeliness of a wild-card berth, attention has for many shifted to the coming offseason. Like every other team, the spring will require a number of critical decisions on Dallas’ part as owner and general manager Jerry Jones attempts to keep all three members of the Prescott-CeeDee Lamb–Micah Parsons trio intact. As 2024 has illustrated, though, changes at a number of positions will be needed for a return to postseason contention to be possible.
An examination of Dallas’ salary cap and free agency situation reveals the number of key contributors who will need a new deal to remain with the franchise beyond 2024. Finding the funds to retain them while also managing Prescott and Lamb’s monster extensions signed before the start of this season and – after team and player put talks aside for the campaign – work out a second Parsons contract will be central in determining the Cowboys’ path for years to come.
A pair of franchise pillars headline Dallas’ upcoming free agent class. DeMarcus Lawrence and Zack Martin have combined for 13 Pro Bowls in their Cowboys careers, both of which date back to 2014. Each has played out multiple contracts past their respective rookie deals, and they could be in line for at least a short-term accord this spring. It remains to be seen if that will come from Dallas or if an unprecedented departure on the open market becomes possible.
Lawrence will be 33 at the start of the 2025 season, and age will obviously be a factor taken into consideration on the Cowboys’ part regarding upcoming negotiations. The former second-rounder previously played on a five-year, $105MM extension after receiving the franchise tag for the second time. That pact was followed by the three-year, $40MM one which is set to expire after this season.
The Boise State product was limited to only seven games in 2021, but he remained fully healthy for each of the following two seasons. Lawrence has been a starter when on the field this year, although a Lisfranc injury has kept him out of the lineup since September. With three sacks in four games in 2024, a repeat of his early-year production would help his market value (something which, of course, is also driven by his play against the run). Making another commitment to Lawrence would ensure stability along the edge but it would complicate the Cowboys’ other efforts with respect to Parsons in particular and their front seven in general.
Martin has also played on multiple veteran contracts, including a six-year, $84MM pact. Last offseason, the future Hall of Famer engaged in a training camp holdout and ultimately worked out a new agreement including a raise and signficant guarantees. A first-team All-Pro showing (the seventh of his career) justified that commitment on Dallas’ part, but it remains to be seen if another one will be in the picture.
In June, Martin said retirement will be a consideration after the 2024 campaign. He will be 34 at the start of next year should he elect to continue playing, and expectations will still be high if that winds up being the case. If the 2010s All-Decade team member were to hang up his cleats, Dallas would be forced to reset at the right guard spot just as the team did this past offseason after left tackle Tyron Smith departed. That position became an immediate draft priority (with Tyler Guyton being selected in the first round), and the same would be true along the interior if Martin needed to be replaced. 
Given the nature of their respective contracts, void years are present for both Lawrence and Martin. If neither were to be retained – with no adjustments being made to their deals – they would account for a dead cap charge of over $24MM. That figure would kick in at the start of the 2025 league year in March, so re-signing one or both of them before that point would go a long way in determining Dallas’ outlook for the rest of the offseason.
A number of other position groups could see notable turnover shortly in the Cowboys’ case. That includes the quarterback spot; Prescott is under contract through 2028, but Cooper Rush and Trey Lance are both on track for free agency. The veteran is currently set to finish the year atop the depth chart, something which would leave Lance sidelined after that was also the case in 2023.
Dallas acquired Lance last offseason for a fourth-round pick, capital much lower in value than that which was invested in him by the 49ers. The former No. 3 selection did not see the field during his first year with his new team as Prescott remained healthy, but the door is now open to an audition period. Lance could have upside remaining given his age (24) and lack of regular season starts (four), although little time remains in the year for him to help his market value down the stretch. An inexpensive backup – from inside or outside the organization – will be required on Dallas’ part.
The team’s backfield figures to once again be a talking point this spring. The Cowboys have relied on Rico Dowdle as their lead back for the first time in his career this season. The former UDFA has already set a new personal best with 374 rushing yards, and his 4.5 yards per attempt average suggests he could be effective in a notable role beyond this season. Dowdle could make himself a priority for the Cowboys’ front office this offseason even if multiple outside running backs are targeted.
Provided that takes place through free agency or (as was anticipated last spring) the draft, Ezekiel Elliott faces an uncertain future. The former rushing champion returned to Dallas this offseason, but his regression in terms of efficiency has continued in 2024. Elliott has spoken with the organization about his usage this year, and an internal disciplinary measure resulted in him remaining away from the team from a road game earlier this month. A parting of ways could be mutually beneficial and pave the way for new backfield options.
A number of role players are also on track to hit the market in March. That includes Brandin Cooks, who scored eight touchdowns in his debut Cowboys campaign but he is currently on IR after being injured in September. 31 at the start of next season, Cooks is joined by Lamb as the only Dallas receiver not attached to a rookie contract. The trade acquisition of Jonathan Mingo provided the team with another young wideout option on the books beyond the current season, something which could lessen the need to retain Cooks as a vertical option in the passing game.
In the front seven, the likes of linebacker Eric Kendricks along with defensive tackles Osa Odighizuwa and Chauncey Golston are on expiring deals. The Cowboys enter Week 11 ranked 31st against the run, so a number of changes should be prioritized in the spring to improve in that respect. Significant turnover could therefore be on tap.
Looming over all the retain/replace decisions Dallas is set to face is the fact that Parsons is in need of a long-term extension. The 2021 Defensive Rookie of the Year’s financial future was less urgent than that of Prescott and Lamb this past offseason, and he made it clear to the team no in-season extension talks would take place in 2024. Banking on a jump in the cap ceiling and the potential for the edge market to see a spike driven by new deals for the likes of Myles Garrett and T.J. Watt, Parsons could very well attempt to become the league’s highest-paid defender this spring. 
That title currently belongs to Nick Bosa at an annual average value of $34MM. Parsons – whose resumé includes three Pro Bowls and a pair of first-team All-Pro nods – will be hard-pressed to continue his trend of incrementally upping his sack total in 2024 given his missed time through injury. The 25-year-old’s leverage should nevertheless be sufficient to command a massive second contract, something which could leave Dallas as one of the few teams with two big-ticket edge rush deals on the books simultaneously (if Lawrence is re-signed).
March 2025 will mark Year 2 of Lamb’s accord, which calls for a $34.45MM cap hit. A restructure may be in order to lower that figure, but that will all-but certainly be necessary in Prescott’s case since he is on track to count for $89.9MM against Dallas’ cap next year. Creating immediate space will be key in generating flexibility for the 2025 offseason, one which figures to be rather busy for the Cowboys.
As things stand, Dallas, a team with only 39 players under contract for next year, is set to have roughly $9MM in effective 2025 cap space (h/t Over the Cap). That number will change considerably as the new league year approaches and the team attempts to meet several offseason goals with respect to roster alterations. With nine draft picks – including three in the top 75 – the Cowboys are set to have a rookie class which plays a key role at a number of positions. Before the draft takes place, though, impactful decisions on several financial fronts will need to be made.
Lions’ Alex Anzalone Suffers Broken Forearm
The Lions enjoyed a blowout victory on Sunday, but the team’s defense did suffer a notable injury along the way. Linebacker Alex Anzalone is dealing with a broken forearm. 
As a result of the injury, head coach Dan Campbell pointed to an absence of six to eight weeks (h/t ESPN’s Eric Woodyard). Anzalone’s presence will certainly be missed by the NFC’s top seed, although that recovery timeline could still allow him to return to action in time for the playoffs. In the meantime, Detroit will be notably shorthanded at the second level.
Anzalone has remained a full-time starter in 2024, his fourth Lions season. The 30-year-old topped 1,000 defensive snaps during each of the past two campaigns, and he exceeded 100 tackles both times while totaling 4.5 sacks. This year, he has amassed 56 stops (including seven tackles for loss) to go along with four pass deflections. Replacing that production over the next several weeks will be challenging for Detroit.
Derrick Barnes resides on injured reserve, and it remains to be seen if he will be able to return at any point in 2024. Anzalone’s continued high-level play has helped compensate for Barnes’ absence, but being without both for the foreseeable future could prove to be difficult. The Lions – who improved to 9-1 on the year with their 46-point win over the Jaguars – still have 2023 first-rounder Jack Campbell in place as a first-team option. Jalen Reeves-Maybin was recently moved to IR, which leaves Malcolm Rodriguez as a candidate for increased usage moving forward.
Anzalone re-signed with the Lions on a three-year, $18.75MM deal this offseason. That pact underscores his importance to Detroit’s defense (a unit which ranked eighth in scoring entering Sunday’s action) for this season and beyond. The Lions’ eight-game winning streak has not resulted in much breathing space atop the NFC North, and wins by the Vikings and Packers on Sunday will keep the pressure on to remain in pole position. With plenty still at stake down the stretch, Detroit will need at least a temporary contingency plan at the linebacker spot.
Browns’ Dawand Jones To Undergo Season-Ending Ankle Surgery
Dawand Jones went down midway through the Browns’ Week 11 contest. The second-year offensive tackle had an air cast applied before being carted off the field, and he was quickly ruled out for the remainder of the contest. 
Jones suffered a fractured ankle, head coach Kevin Stefanski said after the game (via Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal). Surgery will be required, and the 23-year-old will be out for the remainder of the campaign as a result. This news marks another blow to Cleveland’s offensive line.
The team selected Jones in the fourth round last year, but he saw considerable time as a rookie. Jack Conklin‘s absence vacated the starting right tackle spot, and Jones made 11 total appearances and seven starts. His play resulted in a strong PFF evaluation for pass protection but left plenty of room for improvement in the run-blocking department. With a number of changes being made up front this year, Jones has had plenty of playing time.
The Ohio State product had logged a 77% snap share heading into Sunday’s action, with right tackle once again being his primary position. Jones had also seen time on the blindside, and that could have remained the case moving forward depending on the status of Jedrick Wills. Wills was demoted recently as he continues to recover from the MCL injury which ended his 2023 season. The former first-rounder’s absence for Week 8 was a talking point over the past several days, and remaining a second-string option would have left the door open to Jones handling starting duties.
Now, Jones’ attention will turn to recovery ahead of the 2025 campaign. Two years remain on his rookie contract, so he will still have the opportunity to carve out a full-time starting gig at either tackle spot once healthy. This news will likely force Wills back into the starting lineup to close out the campaign, a crucial stretch given his status as a pending free agent.
Cleveland’s loss to New Orleans on Sunday leaves the team with a 2-8 record. With the postseason not in reach, individual performances will be key down the stretch. Wills in particular will be worth watching as the Browns contemplate their tackle setup for next year.
Dolphins T Kendall Lamm May Continue Playing After 2024 Season
Kendall Lamm contemplated retirement after the 2023 season, but he elected to remain with the Dolphins. Team and player agreed to a deal in April which allowed him to reprise his role as a swing tackle for one more year. 
Lamm is a veteran of 113 games across his time with the Texans, Bears, Titans and Dolphins. He entered Week 11 with one start this year, giving him 38 for his career and 10 during his Miami tenure. The 32-year-old has been a valuable contributor up front for his current team, meaning an extended stay could be in the cards. That is a reversal of where things stood prior to the start of the campaign.
“When I said that [2024] would be my last year my grandfather had just passed,” Lamm told Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald. “I wanted to spend more time with my family. But if we get towards the end of the year and I feel good we’ll keep it going.”
The Dolphins’ play up front has been consistent this season, one which has been defined by missed time on the part of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Remaining strong along the O-line will be central to Miami’s efforts to make a second half playoff push. Lamm could easily play his way into another deal as a top backup up front or, if needed, a spot-starter.
The former UDFA has not fully committed to playing in 2025, so his health and level of play over the coming weeks will be key. Lamm is attached to $2.5MM in compensation for the season, and another one-year, low-cost pact would not doubt be in Miami’s interest if it were to be possible. Family will once again be a central factor in Lamm’s decision this offseason with respect to whether or not he suits up next year.
“The mental state I was in, the level of importance, [family] outweighed football,” Lamm added. “If I get to the end of the year and they still outweigh football you’ll never see me again. But at the end of the year if I talk to my grandmother, and talk to my family and they are OK, especially my grandmother cause she’s the oldest one, you might see me again.”
Steelers Place CB C.J Henderson On IR
C.J Henderson has yet to make his Steelers debut, and that will remain the case for an extended period. The former first-rounder corner was placed on injured reserve, the team announced Saturday. 
Henderson joined the Steelers in September, initially inking a practice squad deal. He was promoted to the active roster last month amidst interest from other teams, but he has still yet to make an appearance. A neck injury will now keep Henderson sidelined for at least the next four games as Pittsburgh looks to remain atop the AFC North.
Pittsburgh enters Week 11 with a 7-2 record ahead of a critical matchup with the Ravens. The team’s defense has remained among the league’s best units with both Justin Fields and Russell Wilson at the helm; the Steelers have allowed 16.2 points per games this year, the second-best mark in the NFL. The team’s secondary has not been as strong, as Pittsburgh sits just 19th against the pass.
Henderson’s absence will require the Steelers to continue leaning heavily on Joey Porter Jr. and Donte Jackson as starters at the cornerback spot. The likes of undrafted rookie Beanie Bishop along with Cameron Sutton – recently reinstated from suspension – are in place to handle rotational roles in the secondary. Missed time will further hinder Henderson’s ability to carve out a role with the Steelers.
The 26-year-old entered the league with high expectations but he played only 10 games with the Jaguars before being traded during his second season to the Panthers. Henderson made 22 starts with Carolina, but his struggles in coverage continued during his time with the team. The Florida product took a one-year deal with the Texans in free agency, but he did not survive roster cutdowns. Having yet to make an impact in Pittsburgh, Henderson is no doubt looking at another tepid market this spring.
In a corresponding move, the Steelers signed running back Jonathan Ward to the active roster. Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren have handled the bulk of the rushing load in 2024, as expected. Ward, 27, has received only five carries so far this season but he has contributed on special teams. He will feature in that capacity tomorrow provided he is part of the gameday lineup.
Jets Activate S Chuck Clark, Elevate K Anders Carlson
Chuck Clark is set to return to the Jets’ lineup in Week 11. The veteran safety was activated from injured reserve on Saturday, per a team announcement. 
Clark has been out of the lineup for the past month due to an ankle injury. The 29-year-old missed the minimum four games before returning to practice earlier this week. Given the timing of his 21-day activation window having been opened, today’s move comes as no surprise. New York now has six IR activations remaining for the year.
Signed in free agency last offseason, Clark was set to handle a starting role upon arrival with the Jets. The former Raven was out of the fold all season due to an ACL tear, however, leaving this past September as his first game action with his new team. Having logged a snap share of 85% prior to his injury, Clark played a key role in the Jets’ secondary when healthy and he will no doubt do so again moving forward.
New York ranks second in the league against the pass with an average of 168 yards per game allowed through the air. Maintaining that success will be necessary if the team is to make a push for the postseason over the second half of the year. The Jets sit at 3-7 and their offense sits 26th in scoring, so posting strong totals on the other side of the ball will be crucial. Clark, a pending free agent, will aim to help his market value by remaining on the field the rest of the way.
The team also elevated kicker Anders Carlson from the practice squad. Carlson was let go by the Packers ahead of roster cutdowns after just one season with the franchise. The 2023 sixth-rounder had an audition period with the 49ers over a two game span while filling in for the injured Jake Moody. Carlson was ultimately added to the Jets’ taxi squad last week as part of the team’s efforts to find a suitable Greg Zuerlein replacement.
Riley Patterson handled kicking duties for one game and went three-for-three on extra point attempts in New York’s 21-13 win. He was waived after that outing, however, with Carlson being added. Spencer Shrader was also in the picture at that point, but with Harrison Butker landing on IR he was signed by the Chiefs to fill in for the time being. That leaves Carlson – who connected on all five of his field goal attempts and three of his four extra point kicks with San Francisco – to serve as the Jets’ kicker for at least one contest.
To make room for Clark’s activation, offensive lineman Alec Lindstrom was waived. The 26-year-old has found himself on and off the Jets’ roster this season, and he made his first career regular season appearance in Week 9. provided he clears waivers, Lindstrom will be a prime candidate to be retained via a practice squad deal.