Rams Activate Steve Avila, Jonah Jackson
As expected, Steve Avila and Jonah Jackson have been activated from injured reserve. Both starting offensive linemen are thus in line to play for the Rams tonight. 
Avila suffered an MCL sprain in Week 1, forcing him onto IR right away. Jackson managed to make it through his Rams debut that week, but during the following contest he went down with a shoulder injury which also led to a lengthy period on the sidelines. Getting both back will be a signficant and welcomed development as the Rams look to field a consistent unit up front.
Avila worked at left guard during his rookie campaign, and at times this offseason it appeared he was on track to move over to center in Year 2. That role was given to Jackson, however, with the free agent addition’s placement in the middle allowing Avila and Kevin Dotson to remain in place at guard. Jackson was added on a three-year pact including $25.5MM in guarantees. His ability to remain healthy now that he is back in the fold will be crucial for Los Angeles up front.
The tackle spot has also seen plenty of shuffling this year for the team. Alaric Jackson was suspended for the first two games of the year, and Joe Noteboom has been limited to one game so far. The latter was activated last week, paving the way for him to suit up tonight as well. Right tackle starter Rob Havenstein is not expected to be available for Week 10, though, so the Rams will still not have their ideal lineup along the O-line against the Dolphins. Still, the unit’s health is in a much better place now than it has been for much of the year.
In a corresponding move, Logan Bruss has been waived. The 2022 third-rounder did not make any appearances during his first two seasons with Los Angeles, and even amidst the multiple injuries being dealt with up front this year he has made only three starts amongst eight appearances. Bruss will available for any interested teams on the waiver wire; if he clears, he will become a free agent and thus have the chance to re-join the Rams on a practice squad deal. Los Angeles now has one IR activation remaining for the year.
Seahawks Waive LB Tyrel Dodson
The Seahawks are underperforming on defense this season, and a notable move is on tap at the linebacker spot. Seattle plans to waive Tyrel Dodson, ESPN’s Brady Henderson reports. The move has now officially been made. 
Dodson spent his first five seasons with the Bills, serving in a depth capacity as a rookie and taking on a key special teams role across the 2021 and ’22 seasons. The former UDFA saw his playing time jump to 51% last season, though, and he responded with career highs in tackles (74) and sacks (2.5). That landed him a free agent deal with the Seahawks in March.
The 26-year-old has logged over 600 snaps through nine games this year, already more than what he handled in any previous season. Given his major workload – which has included a team-leading 71 tackles along with a pair of sacks, two pass breakups and a forced fumble – today’s news comes as a surprise. Dodson’s one-year deal had a base value of $4.26MM, but its only guarantees consisted of a $1MM signing bonus which has already been paid out.
Dodson was in line to continue collecting per-game active roster bonuses through the remainder of the season, but that will not be the case if he is not retained by the organization. After the trade deadline, all players let go by their respective teams are subject to waivers. An interested club could therefore put in a claim and send the Texas A&M product to a new environment. If not, Dodson will become a free agent, keeping open the possibility of re-signing to Seattle’s practice squad.
This move represents another notable change at the linebacker spot for the Seahawks. The team sent Jerome Baker to the Titans last month, receiving Ernest Jones in return. Jones has started each of his two Seattle contests so far, and that is set to continue moving forward. 2023 UDFA Drake Thomas or fourth-round rookie Tyrice Knight could step into a first-team role to replace Dodson.
Seattle started the year 3-0 under first-time head coach Mike Macdonald, hired in no small part for his potential in delivering improvement on defense. The team now sits at 4-5 on the year, and it ranks outside the top 20 in several defensive categories. Dodson could play a role in helping generate a turnaround if he remains in the fold, but it remains to be seen if that will be the case.
Eagles Designate Jordan Mailata For Return
The Eagles face a quick turnaround ahead of Week 11, but they could have their starting left tackle back in time for that contest. Jordan Mailata has been designated for return from injured reserve, the team announced on Monday. 
A hamstring injury made it clear a multi-week absence would be in store, and Mailata was indeed moved to IR in October. Fortunately for he and the team, the seventh-year blocker has had his practice window opened after missing the minimum four games. Mailata will need to be activated within the next 21 days.
The 27-year-old Australian has started each of his appearances since 2021, serving as a key member of Philadelphia’s offensive line. Mailata’s 88.4 PFF grade so far this season is the highest of his career, and his return will be welcomed on the Eagles’ offense. The former seventh-rounder signed a three-year, $66MM extension this offseason, a deal which came in the wake of only one missed game across the past two years.
Remaining healthy moving forward will be key Mailata as he returns to practice. Teams generally perform light workouts on short weeks, and that will be the case for the Eagles as they prepare to face the Commanders on Thursday night. That contest will be crucial in determining this year’s NFC East winner, so returning to full strength on the blindside will be key (provided Mailata is activated in time).
Fred Johnson has handled starting duties in Mailata’s absence. While the Eagles have managed to win five straight games coming off their bye week, Johnson has been charged with five sacks in the past three games and seven overall by PFF. Philadelphia’s pass protection has plenty of room for improvement moving forward, and getting Mailata back in the fold soon should help. Bringing him back into the picture will leave the team with five IR activations.
CB Xavien Howard, RB Leonard Fournette Visit Bengals
12:57pm: Howard received an offer after his workout concluded, Garafolo notes in an update. No deal was reached between team and player, however. As a result, Howard will now resume training on his own as he awaits another opportunity.
9:53am: Xavien Howard has remained on the market past the trade deadline, and he has not been connected to any potential suitors since well before the regular season started. The former All-Pro corner is now on at least one team’s radar, however. 
Howard is set to visit the Bengals today, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. Cincinnati’s defense has been a sore spot during the year, and the team ranks 22nd against the pass. Adding in the secondary would thus come as no surprise, especially in the wake of Dax Hill‘s October ACL tear.
The Dolphins released Howard this offseason, and it quickly became clear a new Miami deal at a reduced rate would not be in the cards. The four-time Pro Bowler (and Houston native) expressed interest in joining the Texans, but that feeling did not turn out to be mutual. Despite being medically cleared in May, teams did not show interest in Howard; in spite of that, he has remained intent on suiting up at some point in 2024.
The 31-year-old was named in a lawsuit in July; criminal charges have not been sought up to this point but they could include sexual cyber harassment, invasion of privacy by public disclosure of private facts and intrusion of privacy if that were to be the case. A resolution has not arrived (at least publicly) in Howard’s legal situation, but the Bengals could look to add him depending on how today’s visit goes. The Baylor product has a relationship with defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo dating back to their time together in Miami.
Howard is not the only veteran receiving a look in Cincinnati. Garafolo’s colleagues Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport report Leonard Fournette is set for a free agent on Monday as well. The Bengals lost Zack Moss for the season due to a neck injury, something which prompted the trade acquisition of Khalil Herbert from the Bears. Herbert logged only two snaps in his Cincinnati debut, fumbling his first handoff with the team.
In Moss’ absence, Chase Brown has operated as the team’s lead back. Brown has recorded 40 carries and 14 receptions over the past two games, and he figures to maintain a heavy workload moving forward. Even with Herbert in place as a backup option, though, the team could afford to add further insurance in the backfield. Fournette made a pair of appearances with the Bills last season, but he saw only 12 carries during that time.
The 29-year-old met with the Colts just before the start of the regular season, but that visit did not produce an agreement. Fournette’s last sustained gig came during his three-year Buccaneers stint, one which ended in his release last February. He has topped 1,100 scrimmage yards four times in his career.
The Bengals currently have $8.32MM in cap space, so a modest deal for Howard and/or Fournette would be feasible from a financial standpoint. The team sits at 4-6 on the year, but additions on either side of the ball could assist in a late-season playoff push.
Steelers’ Alex Highsmith To Undergo MRI; Multi-Week Absence Likely?
Alex Highsmith has already missed three games this season, and he could be in line to spend further time on the sidelines. The fifth-year edge rusher exited Sunday’s Steelers win with an ankle injury, and further testing will take place to determine the full extent of the damage. 
While team and player await those results, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette notes an absence of two to three games is “likely.” Highsmith dealt with a groin injury earlier in the year, but he returned in time to play in the Steelers’ last three games. Missing him for any further period of time would deal a blow to the team’s edge rush.
Highsmith has formed a highly effective tandem with T.J. Watt during his Pittsburgh tenure. The former third-rounder emerged as a full-time starter in 2022, posting six sacks that year. Highsmith followed that up with a career-best 14.5 (along with five forced fumbles), and last season he added another seven to his career total. That production landed him a four-year, $68MM extension and raised expectations for the current campaign.
The 27-year-old has totaled three sacks so far this year, and he will be counted on to remain a starter once he is healthy. Pittsburgh has made it a priority to have veteran depth in the OLB3 role during recent seasons, however, and 2024 is no different. The Steelers acquired Preston Smith ahead of last week’s trade deadline after the Packers granted his request to be moved. The 31-year-old has 156 games to his name, so he will be capable of filling a first-team role for the time being.
As Dulac adds, Nick Herbig is expected to be back in the lineup this week. He has made a pair of starts in his five appearances this year (which, of course, came before the Smith addition), so he will be a candidate to handle a rotational role along the edge while Highsmith recovers. The latter’s return will give Pittsburgh an impressive list of options to complement Watt late in the year.
Pittsburgh’s win on Sunday leaves the team atop the AFC North with a 7-2 record. A crucial divisional matchup against the 7-3 Ravens looms, and not having Highsmith available for that game would be notable for the Steelers’ defense. Further updates on his prognosis will be worth watching closely.
Cowboys’ Mike McCarthy Addresses Week 10 QB Usage; No Future Starter Decision Made
As a final decision is sought out in terms of how Dak Prescott will proceed with respect to his hamstring injury, the Cowboys need to sort out who will start under center for the remainder of the campaign. Discussions will take place on whether Cooper Rush will get the nod next week or if he will be replaced by Trey Lance. 
[RELATED: Jerry Jones Confirms No In-Season Coaching Changes Will Be Made]
Rush played most of Sunday’s contest – a blowout loss to the Eagles in which Dallas mustered only two field goals – completing 13 of 23 passes for 45 yards. He also fumbled twice, something which contributed to the Cowboys’ overall turnover problem in the loss. The 30-year-old now has seven starts to his name, all with the Cowboys.
Lance saw time at different parts of the game, and overall he went four-for-six passing with an interception. The former 49er added 17 yards on three carries, and his rushing ability gives him a different skillset than Rush as the Cowboys contemplate their options. Heading into Week 10, it was clear Rush was the team’s preferred choice under center; it ultimately came as little surprise that Lance was included in certain aspects of the game plan, however.
“We’re not there yet,” head coach Mike McCarthy said in his post-game press conference (video link). “I mean, we had a package for him. We wanted to get him into the flow of the game was the thought process coming in here. Then to get him in when we did, then I took him out on the third down… I put Cooper back in for that play, for third down, we had the fumble, the turnover there. Something I’ll obviously discuss tomorrow.”
Acquired via trade after the 49ers elected to move on from him, Lance did not see any playing time last year. Prescott’s injury has opened the door for the former No. 3 pick to receive a look during the second half of the campaign, though, something which would greatly influence his market value. Lance, 24, joins Rush in being a pending free agent.
Sitting at 3-6 on the year, the Cowboys’ prospects of a postseason berth are increasingly bleak. Once Prescott’s attention fully turns to rehab, the quarterback spot will no doubt be one focused largely on evaluation to close out the season. It would thus come as no surprise if both Rush and Lance were to see notable time, but no decision for Week 11 has been made yet.
Bucs’ Tristan Wirfs Suffers MCL Sprain
NOVEMBER 11: An MRI has confirmed that Wirfs is indeed dealing with an MCL sprain, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. A short-term absence should be expected as a result, but the worst-case scenario has certainly been avoided.
NOVEMBER 10: The Buccaneers’ offensive line has been dealt a notable blow in Week 10. Left tackle Tristan Wirfs exited the game with a knee injury and needed assistance to make it back to the locker room. 
Wirfs was ultimately ruled out for the rest of the day, and it remains to be seen what his full prognosis is. At this point, however, the possibility exists for a notable injury. The three-time Pro Bowler is believed to be dealing with an MCL sprain, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports.
An MRI will be needed to determine the full extent of the damage, but a sprain would certainly not constitute the worst-case scenario. Wirfs would likely be able to return to the lineup at some point during the regular season if he does indeed wind up with a sprain being confirmed. Of course, missed time of any duration would be acutely felt up front for Tampa Bay.
Wirfs had a strong start to his career at right tackle, then took over on the blindside last season. The Iowa product continued his streak of top-10 PFF evaluations in 2023, remaining the anchor of the Buccaneers’ O-line during his debut at left tackle. Given his age and status as one of the league’s top tackles, it quickly became clear the 25-year-old be in line for a monster extension this offseason. One was worked out in August, and Wirfs secured an AAV of $28.13MM on a five-year pact. That deal makes him the league’s highest-paid offensive lineman.
As a result, Wirfs’ health over both the short and long term will be a major priority for the Buccaneers. The former No. 13 pick entered today as PFF’s eighth-ranked tackle, so being without him for any stretch would be signficant up front. Of course, Tampa Bay is already shorthanded on offense with Chris Godwin out for at least the remainder of the regular season. Fellow receiver Mike Evans could be back by Week 12, but the team’s passing attack will be tested regardless of which pass-catching options are in place if Wirfs misses time.
The Buccaneers have just lost to the 49ers, leaving them with a 4-6 record. Top spot in the NFC South is not yet out of reach, but overtaking the Falcons in that respect would be difficult with further injuries on offense. Wirfs’ outlook will be worth watching closely given his significance to Tampa Bay’s O-line and the team’s postseason chances as a whole.
49ers To Sign CB Nick McCloud
Nick McCloud has not needed to wait long to find a new home. The former Giants corner has a deal in place with the 49ers, Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports. 
McCloud was let go last Tuesday after he declined to take a pay cut. New York attempted to reduce his base salary before the start of the campaign, and with no agreement being reached on that front a decision was made to move on at the trade deadline. McCloud started five of his seven appearances this season, handling a rotational role on defense while remaining a core special teams contributor. Heading to a contender as a midseason free agent was a priority for him, ESPN’s Jordan Raanan adds.
The 26-year-old will now join San Francisco’s practice squad with the potential to be used as a gameday elevation up to three times. McCloud will offer depth in the secondary, although his third phase ability may represent his largest addition to the 49ers. San Francisco currently ranks 30th in special teams DVOA, and taking a step forward in that department would help the 5-4 team’s chances of reaching the postseason.
The 49ers have a number of options to choose from at the cornerback spot for the remainder of the 2024 season, but questions loom at that position with respect to free agency. Both Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir are set to hit the open market this spring, and keeping both in place will be a challenge given San Francisco’s multitude of financial commitments on offense (not to mention the pending extension for quarterback Brock Purdy). McCloud could play his way into an extended stay in the Bay Area based on how he performs down the stretch with his new team.
The former UDFA was attached to a deal with just under $3MM in base pay prior to the Giants moving on from him. McCloud will be in line for much smaller earnings in San Francisco, but he could help his market value with a strong showing over the coming weeks.
Brian Daboll: Giants Not Considering Staffing Changes
The Giants fell to 2-8 on the year with today’s loss to the Panthers. New York will now prepare for the bye week, a logical point in the schedule for changes on the sidelines to be made. 
In spite of that – coupled with the Giants’ increasingly bleak prospects for the 2024 campaign – no such moves should be expected. Head coach Brian Daboll said after the game he remains confident in the team’s incumbent personnel. A turnaround in the win-loss column remains the obvious goal for the remainder of the campaign.
“I believe we’ve got the right people,”Daboll said when asked about the possibility of any changes being under consideration (video link). “Results aren’t there yet.”
The Giants entered Week 10 last in the league with an average of just 15.4 yards per game. The team did not help its average very much in that respect with a 17-point outing against Carolina. Quarterback Daniel Jones threw a pair of interceptions while in scoring range, a key factor in today’s loss. The sixth-year passer has not developed as hoped under Daboll, and it remains to be seen if he will be retained at the end of the campaign. Replacing Jones under center could be coupled with a new approach on the sidelines and/or the front office by way of moving on from general manager Joe Schoen.
Both Daboll and Schoen – in the midst of their third year together at the helm of the Giants – recently received a vote of confidence from owner John Mara. A postseason berth was not deemed mandatory ahead of the 2024 season, but improvement on last year’s 6-11 record was expected. Reaching that goal will be difficult as things stand, and executives around the league are skeptical the Daboll/Schoen pairing is firmly safe at this point.
New York has Mike Kafka (whose tenure has seen him handle and be stripped of play-calling duties) in place as offensive coordinator along with Shane Bowen in charge of the team’s defense. The latter is in his first year on Daboll’s staff, and he has overseen a strong showing in certain categories on that side of the ball. It would come as a surprise if major changes were to be made at the coordinator level based on Daboll’s remarks, although criticism will likely continue if the Giants maintain the status quo in terms of coaches coming out of their bye.
Chiefs OC Matt Nagy Could Be 2025 HC Candidate
After his first NFL head coaching gig came to an end following the 2021 season, Matt Nagy returned to the Chiefs’ staff. The ex-Bears head coach has served as Kansas City’s offensive coordinator since the start of last year, and his work in that capacity could have him on the radar of another HC gig. 
Nagy “should be in the mix” for a second opportunity to be a head coach during the 2025 hiring cycle, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reports. The 46-year-old served in that capacity for the Bears from 2018-21, winning Coach of the Year honors during his first season at the helm. The Bears went 12-4 that year, one which represented the high point of Nagy (and quarterback Mitch Trubisky‘s) time in Chicago. The team went 8-8 each of the following two campaigns, qualifying for the postseason once during that span.
The Bears lost in the wild-card round both times they made the playoffs under Nagy, and the 2021 season produced a record of just 6-11. He was fired and replaced by Matt Eberflus, who oversaw Chicago’s unsuccessful attempt to develop Justin Fields as a long-term answer at quarterback. Expectations are higher for Eberflus and Co. in 2024, the first year with Caleb Williams and an upgraded offensive skill-position corps in place. The Bears’ defense will play a key role in their ability to reach the playoffs, something which would ease doubts about Eberflus’ job security.
Regardless of how Chicago proceeds this offseason, a number of openings are sure to be in place. The Jets and Saints have made mid-season coaching changes, and while Jeff Ulbrich and Darren Rizzi will be eligible to be retained on a full-time basis, those teams will no doubt conduct outside searches as well. Once Black Monday comes and goes after the end of the regular season, more potential suitors will be in play to at least consider looking into Nagy.
“He does everything,” Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said of Nagy. “He sets up the offense. He coordinates the offense is what he does. And he’s so creative. I knew that when he was a quarterbacks coach, and I saw it when he was a coordinator, and then you saw it in Chicago as their head coach. And then he comes back here, and I want the best out of the guys. So with him you just cut him loose and let him go.”
2024 marks Nagy’s eighth total season on Reid’s staff with the Chiefs, and his third as OC. Of course, the fact he does not call plays is a factor which could work against his candidacy for a second head coaching gig, and other staffers with the same title (like Ben Johnson of the Lions) figure to once again be in high demand. Nevertheless, Nagy’s name could be one to watch over the coming months.