Buccaneers Not Considering WR Addition
At 4-3, the Buccaneers are in the thick of the NFC South race. Another division title could be within reach by the end of the season, but winning it will require new contributors at the receiver spot. 
Chris Godwin is likely out for the season due to his dislocated ankle, and Mike Evans‘ hamstring injury is expected to leave him sidelined until after Tampa Bay’s bye week. Even with the latter set to return later in 2024, questions have been raised about the possibility of a receiver acquisition before the trade deadline. That position has certainly seen plenty of recent movement, with Davante Adams, Amari Cooper and DeAndre Hopkins being dealt.
A number of other pass-catching options are still on the market, the most notable of which being Cooper Kupp. The Bucs should not be expected to be a contender to land the Rams All-Pro in the event he gets dealt, but other wideouts could be brought in as a rental. Darius Slayton of the Giants is among the receivers who are pending free agents and who could therefore be on the move ahead of the November 5 deadline. However, Tampa Bay is not interested in finding a stop-gap replacement for Godwin and (to an extent) Evans.
“We think Mike is coming back, but we really like our young guys,” head coach Todd Bowles said when asked about the state of the team’s WR room (via ESPN’s Jenna Laine). “There are guys out there, but for what we would have to give up to get them, in the long run, it’s probably not worth it.”
Tampa Bay invested a third-round pick in Jalen McMillan this April, and the rookie saw eight targets – by far his highest total to date – during Monday’s contest. He should be expected to handle an increased workload moving forward, as should 2023 sixth-rounder Trey Palmer. Veteran Sterling Shepard – added in the offseason after being recruited by quarterback and former Oklahoma teammate Baker Mayfield – has managed to carve out a notable role early in his first Tampa Bay campaign. He could be in line for a full-time starting gig at least until Evans returns.
With $10.4MM in cap space, Tampa Bay could afford a modest addition at the receiver spot. Given Bowles’ remarks, though, a likelier usage of those funds would be a move aimed at helping the team’s defense, which currently sits 29th in points and 31st in yards allowed.
Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin To Undergo Ankle Surgery
OCTOBER 23: Godwin will undergo surgery today to repair his dislocated ankle, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. While the veteran receiver is not expected to return this season, a playoff run by the Buccaneers could give Godwin an outside chance at playing after his recovery.
OCTOBER 22: Chris Godwin‘s recovery process will begin soon. The Buccaneers wideout is scheduled to undergo ankle surgery this week, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. 
Godwin was injured in the final minute of Tampa Bay’s loss on Monday, and after the game head coach Todd Bowles indicated the team’s fear that a dislocated ankle had been suffered. Evaluation will take place today to determine the full extent of the damage, per Rapoport, whose report does indeed deem Godwin’s injury to be a dislocation. He is not expected to return this season.
Bowles has since said Godwin is “probably” out for the year, though the third-year Bucs HC added (via Fox Sports’ Greg Auman) a return late in the playoffs — should the team be left standing by that point — is not out of the question entirely.
While Godwin is expected to make a full recovery in time for the 2025 campaign, his situation marks a major blow to Tampa Bay’s offense. Especially in the event Mike Evans – whose hamstring injury forced him to leave last night’s contest early – misses considerable time, Godwin would have been in line to handle a heavy workload moving forward. The 28-year-old sits second in the NFL in receiving yards (576), an illustration of how impactful he is for the Bucs and how his 2024 campaign was shaping up.
Now, Godwin’s attention will turn to rehab in advance of a trip free agency. The Pro Bowler’s value was set to reach a notable height if his production had continued through the rest of the season, but his health status will now be a factor which could hinder his market. Shortly after being franchise-tagged for a second straight year in 2022, he inked a three-year, $60MM pact. That deal carried risk given the ACL tear he had suffered the previous season, but the Penn State product managed to top 1,000 yards in 2022 and ’23. After being well on his way to reaching that for a fifth year (and fourth in a row), his future is uncertain.
To little surprise (based on how the Buccaneers have operated with respect to many of their top players), it was reported in the spring no extension talks have taken place with Godwin. That will no doubt remain the case now given his injury, although he could of course remain firmly in the team’s plans for 2025 and beyond. With Godwin out of the picture – and, potentially, Evans as well – it will be interesting to see if the 4-3 Bucs are active ahead of the trade deadline in terms of pursuing a wideout addition.
Browns Sign Bailey Zappe Off Chiefs’ Practice Squad, Place Deshaun Watson On IR
1:17pm: The Browns made this move official. Zappe will take Watson’s roster spot, with the high-priced starter being moved to IR following his Week 7 Achilles tear. Watson will undergo surgery in the near future, though, it is not yet known if a full repair or an Aaron Rodgers-like speed-bridge procedure will take place.
8:42am: In need of a healthy depth option at quarterback, the Browns are making an addition. Cleveland is set to sign Bailey Zappe off the Chiefs’ practice squad, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. 
Deshaun Watson is out for the year with a torn Achilles, leaving the team with Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Jameis Winston at the quarterback position. Thompson-Robinson took over for Watson on Sunday, but he suffered a finger injury and was also forced to exit the contest. It remains to be seen when the 2023 fourth-rounder will next be available, so Zappe could find himself dressing as the backup as early as Week 8.
The 25-year-old began his career with the Patriots, making a pair of starts during his rookie campaign. The promise he showed during that spell proved to be rather short-lived, though, and he was briefly out of the organization ahead of last season. Zappe was brought back, and with Mac Jones struggling he finished off the year atop New England’s depth chart. Despite having eight starts to his name, Zappe again found himself on the outside looking in this past summer, as the Patriots waived him. They have moved forward with veteran Jacoby Brissett along with rookies Drake Maye and Joe Milton under center.
The Chiefs acted quickly by signing Zappe to their practice squad. That move added depth behind Patrick Mahomes and new backup Carson Wentz, signed in free agency to take on QB2 duties. Both of those passers have remained healthy this season, leaving Zappe without a clear path to a place on the 53-man roster. He will now head to Cleveland in a bid to compete for a spot on the team’s roster even after Thompson-Robinson is healthy. Zappe has completed 63.2% of his passes while throwing more interceptions (12) than touchdowns (11) and adding sparse production in the running game during his career.
Those figures are not particularly encouraging, but this move will give him a fresh start at the NFL level. The Western Kentucky product could earn a stay beyond 2024 with the Browns in the event he were to see playing time and deliver solid performances. If not, how Cleveland proceeds in the offseason will become even more uncertain with Watson not being assured of the starting gig once he is healthy.
For the time being, Winston will likely be in line to make his first start of the year as Thompson-Robinson continues to recover. The 1-6 Browns sit last in the NFL in total offense and 29th in scoring, and whichever quarterbacks are used moving forward will look to usher in improvement on that side of the ball (something which could be feasible with Nick Chubb now healthy). Cleveland will look to end Baltimore’s five-game winning streak in Week 8 with a notably different looking QB room.
Eagles To Release WR Parris Campbell
Parris Campbell‘s time with the Eagles has proven to be short-lived. The veteran receiver is being released, Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports.
Campbell had a forgettable one-year stint with the Giants last year, and he made an intra-NFC East move to Philadelphia in the hopes of landing a depth role. That effort proved unsuccessful, though, and he was let go ahead of roster cutdowns. The 27-year-old did not originally intend to remain with the Eagles, but he had a change of heart and signed to the practice squad.
In the end, Campbell wound up making four appearances with Philadelphia. He recorded six catches and one touchdown across a two-game span, but with the team in a better spot health-wise at the receiver spot, he has fallen back down the pecking order. Both A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith are back in the fold, and they will of course account for a heavy target share moving forward. Campbell could once again find himself on the taxi squad, but otherwise he will need to find a new opportunity.
The former Colts second-round pick saw injuries plague him in Indianapolis, but after a productive contract year — one largely obscured during the AFC South team’s Jeff Saturday-led season — he has shaken the injury trouble. Though, both the teams who took fliers on Campbell over the past two years have not seen much despite the Ohio State alum staying healthy. Campbell caught just 20 passes for 104 yards with the Giants last season, finishing the year as a healthy scratch. In Philly this season, Campbell has turned his six receptions into just 30 yards.
Campbell’s 2022 season (63 catches, 623 yards) marked his only time beyond 150 yards in a single campaign, but it has proven to be an outlier for the slot player. While it would surprise if no team gave Campbell an opportunity — barring another return to Philly’s P-squad — the sixth-year vet is trending in the wrong direction.
Jahan Dotson and sixth-round rookie Johnny Wilson round out the Eagles’ depth chart. With Campbell again being cut, the team — with only four WRs left on its 53-man roster — will need to make a move soon to add another backup piece.
Jaguars LB Foye Oluokun, S Andrew Wingard To Resume Practicing
The Jaguars secured a win during the second London contest, and they could have a pair of defensive reinforcements in place ahead of their next game. Linebacker Foye Oluokun and safety Andrew Wingard have both had their 21-day practice windows opened, the team announced on Tuesday. 
Oluokun was dealing with plantar fasciitis which he suffered in September, leading to his placement on injured reserve. An absence of at least four games was guaranteed by that move, with Week 8 marking the earliest point at which he could be activated. Today’s update is an encouraging sign with respect to Oluokun’s progress in recovery.
The 28-year-old has been as advertised in terms of tackle production since he signed in Jacksonville in 2022. Oluokun led the league in total stops (184) during his debut Jags campaign, and his 111 solo tackles last year also topped the league. He posted 22 through three games to begin the current season while remaining a full-time starter. The former Falcon logged over 1,100 snaps each year from 2021-23, and his durability was a factor which helped him earn a three-year, $30MM extension this offseason. His return to the linebacking corps will be welcomed.
Like many teams, the Jaguars took advantage of the NFL’s new roster-building rules in August. Wingard – along with running back Keilan Robinson – was placed on IR while being designated for return. That kept him eligible to play in 2024 but used up one of Jacksonville’s eight in-season activations. Once he is brought back onto the roster, Wingard will likely reprise his role as a key special teams contributor. The 27-year-old served as a defensive starter in 2021, but otherwise his presence has primarily been felt in the third phase.
Since Oluokun’s IR stint took place after the season began, he will count toward the remaining activation count once he is officially positioned to return. Jacksonville will have four left after Oluokun gets moved to the active roster. The team will hope his return helps spark improvement on defense, a unit which has struggled in a number of areas (but not when it comes to stopping the run) in 2024.
The 2-5 Jaguars also released Tre Flowers on Tuesday. The veteran corner made four appearances this season, his first in Jacksonville. He played sparingly on defense and special teams, making three tackles. As a veteran being let go before the trade deadline, Flowers will not be subject to waivers and as such he will be free to join a new team at any time.
Chiefs CB Jaylen Watson Suffers Fractured Ankle; 2024 Return Unlikely
OCTOBER 22: Testing confirmed Watson’s diagnosis, and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports surgery will take place in the coming days. He adds a return during the postseason has not been ruled out, but any further action in 2024 remains unlikely. Kansas City will need to rely on other cornerback contributors moving forward as the team looks to remain undefeated.
OCTOBER 21: Receiver injuries have been a central storyline for the Chiefs in 2024, but the team’s secondary will also be shorthanded moving forward. Cornerback Jaylen Watson suffered a fractured ankle on Sunday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. 
Further testing will take place today to determine to severity of the injury. The outcome of that process, Rapoport adds, will dictate whether or not Watson will be available later in the season. Missing him for the remainder of the campaign would deal a notable blow to Kansas City’s cornerbacks room.
Watson carved out a notable role as a rookie in 2022, making six starts and logging a 56% snap share on defense. His workload took a step back last season, although the former seventh-rounder remained a regular on defense and special teams. L’Jarius Sneed was franchise-tagged this offseason before ultimately being traded to the Titans, a move which came as little surprise given Kansas City’s preference to devote cap resources elsewhere. It also opened up a full-time starting role for Watson this year.
The 26-year-old has played nearly every defensive snap so far in 2024, serving as a key figure on one of the league’s top defenses. Kansas City ranks fifth in points allowed this year and 10th in total defense; the team’s play against the pass in particular has been less impressive than in other areas, though, so thinning out the CB room could present a challenge. Watson has allowed a completion percentage of 51.7% and a passer rating of 73.9 as the nearest defender this year, both the best figures of his career.
The Chiefs still have first-team All-Pro Trent McDuffie in place at the cornerback spot, and he will continue to be leaned on heavily without Watson available for the time being. More clarity will emerge in the latter’s case based on testing, but at a minimum a stint on injured reserve (ensuring a four-game absence) should be expected. Ahead of the 2025 offseason – during which he will first be eligible for an extension – any missed time on Watson’s part will be unwelcomed by team and player, but that situation is now in play.
Kevin Stefanski Declines To Name Deshaun Watson Browns’ 2025 Starter; Dorian Thompson-Robinson Could Miss Time
For the remainder of the 2024 campaign, the Browns will not have Deshaun Watson available at quarterback. His Week 7 Achilles tear will require season-ending surgery and lead to further speculation about how Cleveland will proceed at the position. 
When speaking to the media on Monday, head coach Kevin Stefanski noted Watson will undergo surgery this week to begin his rehab process. On that point, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reports Watson is expected to have Packers team physician Dr. Robert Anderson perform the procedure. She adds that while consideration was given to the ‘speed bridge’ option which offers a shorter recovery timeline, the traditional operation is likely in this case. With Watson not in consideration to heal before the end of the season, the latter path is a sensible one.
A full recovery is expected for Watson, whose three-year Browns tenure has seen him play only 19 games. In the wake of this year’s struggles, Stefanski repeatedly offered public endorsements of the three-time Pro Bowler as Cleveland’s starter, stating that keeping Watson atop the depth chart was a call on his part and not that of ownership. Today, Stefanski offered further positive reviews of the 29-year-old but did not confirm Watson will hold the QB1 title once he is healthy in 2025.
“Obviously I believe in Deshaun, but I also think it’s important just to acknowledge that he just had a bad injury and a bad break for him and we’re feeling bad for him,” Stefanski said. “[I] know that he’ll bounce back, but not getting into all those things down the road. I’m looking forward to him getting the surgery and obviously getting his body back.”
Two years and $92MM in fully-guaranteed compensation remains on Watson’s pact, one which has been restructured multiple times. The resultant cap charges will make it difficult to continue with Watson absent any further adjustments, but cutting or trading him is not feasible. Stefanski noted (via Tony Grossi of The Land on Demand) the Browns will add a quarterback to fill the vacancy created by Watson’s injury, but it remains to be seen what role a new signal-caller will have to close out the season.
2023 fifth-rounder Dorian Thompson-Robinson and free agent addition Jameis Winston remain as Cleveland’s healthy quarterbacks. A change in the backup pecking order allowed for Thompson-Robinson to take over after Watson went down, although he suffered a finger injury which forced him to leave the contest as well. Testing on the 24-year-old’s injury will take place to determine if surgery is required; Stefanski noted Thompson-Robinson should be available at some point but his Week 8 status is in question (h/t Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal).
Winston might be needed during at least the short-term future as a result. The former Buccaneer and Saint has 80 starts to his name, and as a pending free agent he has plenty of incentive to deliver a strong showing and boost his market value. Of course, Winston could find himself competing for playing time with the Browns in 2025 depending on Watson’s health status and how the team views his grip on the starting gig once he is back in the fold.
Dolphins Place WR Braxton Berrios On IR, Activate CB Cam Smith
Braxton Berrios exited the Dolphins’ Week 7 loss with a signficant knee injury, and it will lead to a notable absence. The veteran receiver/returner has been placed on injured reserve, per a team announcement. Confirming a return will not take place this season, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Barrios suffered an ACL tear. 
[RELATED: Tua Tagovailoa Positioned To Return In Week 8]
Berrios has not made a catch this season, although his absence will thin a receiving corps which has been dealt a number of blows on the injury front already this season. Most notably, Miami’s return game will suffer with him out of the fold. Berrios has averaged 14.7 yards per punt return in 2024, the highest figure of his career.
As a pending free agent, the nature of the 29-year-old’s injury will no doubt affect his market value during the spring. Berrios will sidelined for the rest of the season, leaving Miami in need of a new primary returner option. Tyreek Hill and De’Von Achane could handle those duties, but their importance to the team’s offense could lead to another candidate receiving a look.
In a corresponding move, the Dolphins activated cornerback Cam Smith from IR. The second-year cover man was among the many NFL players who were moved to IR during roster cutdowns while being designated for return. As a result, he already accounts for one of Miami’s eight in-season activations. Smith returned to practice when first eligible, and this moves ensures he will not revert to season-ending IR before his 21-day activation window expires.
Smith faced high expectations as a rookie, but the second-rounder did not manage to carve out a role under then-defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. He handled a notable special teams workload, something which may remain the case upon return, but it will be interesting to see if Smith can work his way up the depth chart under new DC Anthony Weaver. On the other hand, Miami’s pass defense is the best in the league at 155 yards allowed per game, so any major lineup changes in the secondary would come as a surprise.
Buccaneers Place CB Jamel Dean, WR Kameron Johnson On IR
The Bucs’ secondary will be shorthanded for tonight’s game and a notable stretch beyond that as well. Cornerback Jamel Dean was placed on injured reserve Monday, per a team announcement. 
Dean is dealing with a hamstring injury, and a multi-week absence was recently floated as a possibility. Today’s move ensures he will be sidelined for at least the next four games, something which will be acutely felt at the cornerback spot for Tampa Bay. Dean has remained a full-time starter in 2024, his sixth season with the Buccaneers.
The former third-rounder saw a notable jump in playing time during the 2020 campaign, and since then he has been a staple in the secondary. Especially with Carlton Davis being traded away in the offseason, Dean’s presence has been key this year. He has amassed 43 tackles and four pass deflections while not allowing a touchdown in coverage. With Tampa Bay ranking 29th against the pass this year, losing a first-team corner contributor will hinder the team’s ability to improve over the short term.
2022 fifth-rounder Zyon McCollum has handed starting duties this season, and he will be counted on to remain a central figure on Tampa’s defense moving forward. Tykee Smith has had a strong rookie campaign in the slot, but it will be interesting to see who takes over for Dean on the perimeter. Free agent addition Bryce Hall is uncertain to return this season after he suffered a fractured fibula and dislocated ankle in Week 2; with Dean now out of the picture, the team’s CB depth will be tested.
In addition to Dean, undrafted rookie receiver Kameron Johnson has been moved to IR. The latter has made four appearances this season, seeing rotational usage on offense and special teams. Bringing him back into the fold, just as in Dean’s case, will require using an in-season activation.
On that note, the Bucs activated defensive end Earnest Brown from IR in time for tonight’s contest against the Ravens. Brown had his 21-day practice window opened on October 9, so the team had time to wait with respect to activating him, but he will now be positioned to make his season debut. Tampa Bay has six IR activations remaining.
Seahawks QB Geno Smith Aiming For 20-Year Career
Geno Smith has enjoyed a strong starting tenure in Seattle, and the 34-year-old is under contract through next season. He does not intend to hang up his cleats any time soon, though. 
“My goal is to play 20 years,” Smith said during an interview with Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. “My idol Kobe Bryant [and] another idol of mine, Tom Brady, they both were able to play 20 years. So, you know, that’s something I’m chasing. Honestly, I really feel like I can.”
2024 marks Smith’s 12th season in the NFL, so he has a long way to go to reach his goal. His career began with two underwhelming campaigns as a Jets starter, a span which was followed by several years without handling a full-time starting gig. The former second-rounder made only 15 appearances and five starts from 2015-21, and it appeared at that point he would not manage to land another opportunity to lead an offense.
Following the trade which sent Russell Wilson out of Seattle, though, Smith was positioned to compete for the starting gig with Drew Lock in 2022. The veteran wound up starting every game and helping guide the Seahawks to the playoffs en route to a Pro Bowl nod and Comeback Player of the Year honors. That earned him a new deal, although things did not go as planned last year.
This past offseason, new head coach Mike Macdonald incrementally committed to Smith as Seattle’s starter over trade acquisition Sam Howell. Through the first seven weeks of the 2024 campaign, Seattle sits at 4-3 with Smith leading the NFL in passing yardage (along with attempts and completions). The West Virginia product sought out an extension this summer, but no talks on that front took place. As things stand, he is set to earn $25MM next year, including a guaranteed base salary of $12.7MM. A raise in line with the QB market’s upward trend would not come as a surprise if Smith continued to deliver solid performances this year, while an extension would ensure he remained in the Emerald City moving forward.
“I prepare, I eat the right things and take care of my body so it allows me to you know still be fast at 34,” Smith added. “I guess I’m not supposed to, I don’t know, but you know I think when I’m in my forties I think I’ll still be fast.”
With respect to when his playing career does come to an end, Smith noted he intends to return to his alma mater in a coaching capacity. If all goes according to plan, however, it will be several years until he begins his next football chapter.