WR Darius Slayton Expects To Remain With Giants
Darius Slayton has long been floated as a trade candidate, and he could draw interest as an expiring contract ahead of the 2024 deadline. The veteran wideout does not anticipate being moved by the Giants over the coming weeks, however. 
“It’s not the first time in my career I’ve been a trade deadline topic,” the 27-year-old said (via Ryan Novozinsky of NJ.com). “It’s probably like the third or fourth time. It’s nothing I haven’t been through before. Obviously all those other times, I still remained here. As for now, I expect that to happen once again — that I’ll be here.”
The 2024 offseason resulted in a short-lived contract dispute between team and player in this case. Slayton was absent from spring practices while attempting to land a new or revised contract. He and the Giants ultimately agreed to a restructure carrying incentives for the 2024 campaign. While New York did not give thought to moving on from Slayton, a deal would not have come as a surprise to the former fifth-rounder.
Slayton’s role in the Giants’ offense was a talking point during the summer, and he would have been on board with a change of scenery if the team planned to lessen his workload in 2024. Instead, Slayton has logged a snap share of 81% this season, remaining a top option in the passing attack. Given the heavy reliance on first-round rookie Malik Nabers, though, Slayton has only received 15 targets through four games. That has resulted in 10 catches for 122 scoreless yards, although a larger role could await him if Nabers’ concussion keeps him out of the lineup in Week 5.
Jalin Hyatt spent the offseason competing with Slayton for a starting spot alongside Nabers and Wan’Dale Robinson. Hyatt impressed during training camp, but he has been confirmed to backup duties so far this year. In spite of that, and a reported expression in frustration during the summer, the Giants are not looking to move the 2023 third-rounder. Both Hyatt and Slayton are likely to remain in place for the time being, although New York could adopt a seller’s approach toward the trade deadline depending on the team’s record.
Slayton changed agents in August, a notable move considering 2024 represents a walk year. Strong production from the Auburn product (who led the Giants in receiving during four of his first five years with the team) would help his market value provided he reaches free agency. As things stand, that will be the first time at which joining a new team will be possible.
Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson To Resume Practicing
Shortly before the Vikings’ upcoming London game, the team will designate T.J. Hockenson for return. The Pro Bowl tight end will practice for the first time this season tomorrow, head coach Kevin O’Connell said. 
Hockenson has been rehabbing the ACL and MCL tears which ended his 2023 campaign. That injury brought an abrupt end to his first full season in Minnesota, one in which he delivered career highs in receptions (95) and yards (960). Week 5 marks the first point at which he can return to practice, although an activation from the PUP list after only one session should of course not be expected.
Minnesota’s decision to open Hockenson’s return window is nevertheless a sign of his progress in rehabbing his knee. The former first-rounder will not be in the picture for Sunday’s game, and the Vikings will have their bye week following the London contest. Week 7 had been floated as a realistic return date for Hockenson, although that may no longer be the case. The Vikings’ next game after that Lions contest will be against the Rams on a Thursday, something which was taken into account regarding the timing of this decision.
“Friday gives us 21 days, and 21 days from then gives us the bye weekend, two football games with us playing on Thursday, the second week after the bye,” O’Connell said (via the team’s website). “So that gives us some flexibility at 20 days to have him either ready to go, see where he’s at and his availability for the Lions game, and then, like I said, we have the flexibility for the following [week].”
Whenever Hockenson is back on the roster, his return will be welcomed on an offense which has fared surprisingly well with Sam Darnold at quarterback. Minnesota ranks fourth in the NFL in scoring and ninth in total offense; being at full strength at the skill positions could help sustain that early success. Hockenson is attached to the four-year, $66MM extension he signed last summer which made him one of the highest-paid tight ends in the league. The Iowa product’s long-term health will thus remain a key priority for the team, but he is in line to return soon.
In another injury update, O’Connell noted guard Dalton Risner will likely not have his practice window opened this week. The 29-year-old was placed on injured reserve (but designated for return) before the roster cutdown deadline, using one of Minnesota’s eight IR activations in the process. Risner was forced to miss the first four weeks of the season as a result, but it appears he will also be sidelined for at least one more until he returns to practice.
Browns Likely To Inquire On Raiders’ Davante Adams; Jets Viewed As Frontrunners
To no surprise, several potential suitors have emerged for Davante Adams. The Raiders All-Pro is on board with a trade, and Vegas has begun reaching out to teams which could be interested in acquiring him midway through the campaign. 
The Browns should also be labeled as a candidate to add Adams, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com writes. Sitting at 1-3 on the year, the team has work to do on offense to contend for a postseason berth. Adding a premier wideout would certainly help in that regard, although the status of Amari Cooper would become a key factor in any serious Adams pursuit on the part of the Browns.
Cooper’s short- and long-term future was a talking point during the offseason, one in which he agreed to a revised contract. The pending free agent was part of the Browns’ offer to the 49ers for Brandon Aiyuk, but the second-team All-Pro did not want to be dealt to Cleveland. As such, Cooper has remained atop the team’s WR depth chart in 2024, his third season since being dealt by the Cowboys. The 2022 and ’23 campaigns resulted in a total of 2,410 yards and 14 touchdowns, showcasing the former first-rounder’s continued ability to operate as a No. 1 receiver.
Cooper’s contract status makes him a logical candidate to be dealt ahead of the 2024 deadline (November 5), especially if the Browns are unable to rebound from their poor start. Adams will require a reworked deal upon arrival with a new team, however, and any long-term commitments from Cleveland will need to keep in mind the outstanding compensation due to quarterback Deshaun Watson. Two years remain on Watson’s deal, and all of his remaining money is fully guaranteed. Cleveland made a notable receiver addition in the spring by trading for and extending Jerry Jeudy; the former Broncos first-rounder is on the books through 2027.
Elsewhere on the Adams front, both The Athletic’s Dianna Russini and veteran insider Jordan Schultz report the Jets are seen around the league as the frontrunner to finalize a trade. New York represents an obvious landing spot given the mutual interest in a reunion between Adams and former Packers teammate Aaron Rodgers. The pair spent eight years together in Green Bay, and both spoke during the offseason about the possibility of teaming up with the Jets.
As expected, New York is one of the teams which has called about Adams’ availability in a deal. The Raiders – believed to want a compensation package beginning with a second-round pick – have also been linked to the Bills, Saints and Steelers regarding a trade for the six-time Pro Bowler. The Cowboys are not expected to pursue Adams, although Vegas should still have a number of offers to choose from in the near future. Further details have emerged regarding how the situation has reached this point.
Adams was away from the Raiders during training camp due to the birth of his first son. He was absent for 10 days, a period which Vic Tafur of The Athletic notes was longer than the team expected (subscription required). Upon return, Adams made it clear he preferred not to play in Vegas’ second preseason contest. Head coach Antonio Pierce replied that he expected the three-time All-Pro to play if healthy. Adams was listed as injured one day later.
As the Fresno State product rehabs the legitimate hamstring injury which sidelined him for Week 4, Pierce remains at the center of this ongoing saga. The first-year head coach liked an Instagram post suggesting Adams would be dealt, something which sparked the latest round of speculation regarding a move being made. When asked to comment on the matter, Pierce declined (h/t Tafur).
Healthy or otherwise, Adams could easily find himself out of the lineup for Week 5 as the Raiders seek out a suitable trade agreement. The relationship between Adams and Pierce has been strained recently, and a change of scenery for the former could be beneficial to all involved. It will be interesting to see how the trade market emerges over the coming days.
Dolphins’ Jaelan Phillips To Undergo Season-Ending Knee Surgery
Jaelan Phillips has once again run into injury trouble which will cut his season short. The fourth-year Dolphins edge rusher announced on Wednesday he will miss the remainder of the campaign. 
Phillips’ statement notes he suffered a knee injury during Miami’s Week 4 loss on Monday night. As Rapoport detailed in a subsequent report, Phillips sustained a partially-torn ACL, which will require reconstructive surgery and set him up for another lengthy rehab process that will hopefully allow him to be ready for the start of the 2025 campaign. As a result, the Dolphins will be without one of their top defenders the rest of this season while attempting to rebound from a 1-3 start.
Medical red flags were present when Phillips entered the NFL, but he did not miss any time during his first two seasons. That situation changed last year when the former first-rounder suffered an Achilles tear on Black Friday. Phillips was limited to eight games as a result, and his promising campaign came to an abrupt end. As expected, he was back to full strength in time for the start of the 2024 slate, but in short order he has once again been sidelined by a major injury.
The UCLA and Miami product had an encouraging rookie campaign, notching 8.5 sacks. He followed that up with seven one year later and 6.5 (before the injury) last season, leading to high expectations for his production in 2024. Phillips, 25, managed only one sack and a pair of pressures before going down, but his absence will still be acutely felt on a Dolphins team dealing with key injuries at a number of positions.
Of course, Miami’s edge contingent has been without Bradley Chubb so far this season. The two-time Pro Bowler remains on the PUP list as he rehabs the ACL tear which ended his 2023 campaign. With the first four weeks of the season in the books, Chubb is eligible to return to practice and be activated at any time. It remains to be seen, however, when the former Bronco will be healthy enough to suit up. Without Chubb (for the time being) and Phillips for the season’s remainder, Miami will rely on the likes of veteran Emmanuel Ogbah and rookies Chop Robinson and Mohamed Kamara along the edge.
The Dolphins picked up Phillips’ 2025 fifth-year option, tying him to a salary of $13.3MM that year. A long-term deal loomed as a logical path for the team to take given his early production, but back-to-back injuries creating lengthy absences will no doubt affect Miami’s approach to negotiations on that front. Phillips will turn his attention to rehab ahead of an offseason in which his financial future will be a key talking point.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/2/24
Wednesday’s practice squad updates:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: K Chad Ryland
- Placed on IR: DL Angelo Blackson
Houston Texans
- Signed: LB Shaun Bradley
Los Angles Rams
- Signed: DB Cam Lampkin
New England Patriots
- Signed: OL Jerome Carvin, TE Jack Westover
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: DL Jonathan Garvin, WR Terique Owens
- Released: DL Shakel Brown
The Cardinals have added some necessary kicker depth. Per Tyler Drake of AZSports, Matt Prater is dealing with a left knee issue, necessitating the addition of Chad Ryland. The former fourth-round pick spent his rookie campaign in New England, where he converted 16 of his 25 field goal attempts and 24 of his 25 XP tries. Ryland lost out on the Patriots kicking gig this season to Joey Slye, leading to him being among New England’s final cuts.
Ravens’ Arthur Maulet Returns To Practice
The Ravens’ secondary could have a veteran contributor back in the fold soon. Cornerback Arthur Maulet returned to practice Wednesday on a limited basis. 
Maulet was placed on injured reserve/designated for return before the roster cut deadline. As a result, he was eligible to be activated by Week 5 at the earliest. The fact he is back at practice is an encouraging sign the 31-year-old could suit up on Sunday. At a minimum, Maulet should be back in action relatively soon.
“It’s a little bit of a process,” head coach John Harbaugh said (via the team’s website). “You’ve been down for four or five weeks. He’s going to have to ramp his way back up. We’ll see here day to day how he does with that, but it’s great to have him out there.”
Maulet signed with Baltimore on a veteran minimum deal last offseason, and that pact proved to be worthwhile from the team’s perspective. The former UDFA logged a rotational role with a 43% snap share, and he recorded a pair of sacks and one interception. Maulet was effective in the slot, allowing a passer rating of 65.8 – the lowest figure of his career – in coverage. While a number of high-profile defenders departed the Ravens in free agency, Maulet was among the players who were retained this offseason. He inked a two-year, $4MM pact to remain in Baltimore.
The Ravens recently placed fellow corner Jalyn Armour-Davis on IR; an open roster spot thus exists for Maulet to be activated. Once the latter is brought back (something which has already seen one of the team’s IR activations used), he will see considerable time on the inside. Baltimore has Marlon Humphrey, Brandon Stephens and first-round rookie Nate Wiggins as options on the perimeter, while Ar’Darius Washington and versatile safety Kyle Hamilton have seen time in the slot. Maulet will give Baltimore another contributor in that respect once he is ready to return.
Rams Designate Darious Williams For Return
The Rams have been faced with a number of challenges on the injury front this offseason, but help on defense could be coming soon. Cornerback Darious Williams was designated for return from injured reserve on Wednesday, per a team announcement. 
Williams dealt with a hamstring injury during the summer, and it lingered into the start of the campaign. He was placed on IR ahead of Week 1, guaranteeing an absence spanning at least the first four games of the season. The 31-year-old is now eligible to practice at the first opportunity, though, suggesting he could be available in time for Week 5.
After a Los Angeles spell which lasted from 2018-21, Williams took a deal with the Jaguars in free agency. That three-year, $30MM pact saw him serve as a key starter in Jacksonville. The former UDFA was released this offseason with one year remaining on the contract, however, allowing him to return to the Rams on the open market. Williams inked a new three-year deal in the spring, this time worth $22.5MM ($7MM guaranteed).
He will be in line for a first-team role once healthy, something which has been the case so far for fellow free agent pickup Tre’Davious White. The former Bills All-Pro took a one-year deal after his Buffalo tenure was marred by multiple injuries, but he has managed to remain available through the first month of the season and has logged a 98% snap share to date. He and Williams will provide plenty of experience on a Rams defense featuring a number of younger contributors.
The team also opened Larrell Murchison‘s practice window on Wednesday. The fifth-year defensive lineman was designated for return before the roster deadline, using one of the Rams’ IR activations in the process. He made 15 appearances and three starts last season, handling a 25% snap share. With Aaron Donald no longer present along the defensive interior, that figure could increase in 2024 once Murchison is activated.
Commanders’ Marcus Mariota, Efe Obada, Jordan Magee Return To Practice
The Commanders have enjoyed a strong start to the season, and they could have a number of reinforcements in the fold soon. Among the players who returned to practice on Wednesday is backup quarterback Marcus Mariota. 
The 30-year-old was placed on injured reserve just before the start of the regular season. That move guaranteed a four-game absence, so today’s news is a sign he has recovered in full while returning to action when first eligible. Mariota will be able to dress as Jayden Daniels‘ backup provided he is activated in time for Week 5.
After the Commanders traded away Sam Howell, it became clear the organization would invest in a new passer via the draft. Mariota was brought in on a one-year deal to provide experienced depth capable of handling first-team duties on a temporary basis if needed. The play of Daniels to date has not created any doubt about his readiness for NFL duties, although Mariota did see some starter’s reps during the summer before this year’s second overall pick was placed atop the depth chart.
After the end of his five-year run in Tennessee, Mariota has bounced around the NFL. The Oregon product spent the 2020 and ’21 seasons as a backup with the Raiders before his single campaign in Atlanta the following year. Mariota logged 13 starts during his Falcons tenure, but neither he nor the team’s offense impressed in that time. Last season, he worked as the Eagles’ QB2 and made just three appearances.
As long as Daniels remains healthy, he will remain atop the depth chart for the 3-1 Commanders. Mariota’s return would leave Jeff Driskel as Washington’s third-string passer while letting undrafted rookie Sam Hartman develop on the practice squad. Mariota seeing the field at some point would allow him to help his free agent value ahead of next offseason and add to his 90 games (including 74 starts) of experience.
In other roster news, defensive end Efe Obada has been designated for return from the PUP list. The 32-year-old was limited to only five games with Washington last season, but he recorded between 3.5 and 5.5 sacks in each of the three previous campaigns. Obada should continue in a rotational role along the edge once he is activated. Fifth-round round rookie linebacker Jordan Magee, meanwhile, had his practice window opened after he was designated for return from IR before the roster cutdown deadline.
Washington also placed Jamison Crowder on injured reserve. The veteran wideout is dealing with a calf injury, and he will now miss at least four games. Crowder, 31, returned to the nation’s capital in 2023 after beginning his career there, and he played all 17 games. The pending free agent will look to get back on the field and into the Commanders’ receiver rotation once healthy.
Raiders Gauging Interest In Davante Adams; WR Prefers To Be Traded
Davante Adams‘ name has frequently been floated in trade rumors, and that remains the case through four weeks of the season. While nothing is imminent, a deal is at least receiving consideration on the part of the Raiders. 
Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports the team is “growing open to the idea” of a trade sending Adams elsewhere, adding the Raiders have reached out to teams to gauge his market.. Such a development was speculated in advance of the 2024 campaign, one in which expectations were low for the Raiders. Sitting at 2-2 on the year, Vegas is certainly not out of the playoff picture; still, a deal involving Adams would not come as a surprise.
[RELATED: Raiders Seeking Second-Round Pick, More For WR]
The lines of communication between team and player appear to be open at this point. Adams has informed the Raiders his preference is to be traded, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network report. Nothing is imminent as things currently stand, but that could could certainly change in relatively short order.
The three-time All-Pro had made it clear multiple times this summer he remained committed to the Raiders. That sentiment was reciprocated by the team, one now led by general manager Tom Telesco and head coach Antonio Pierce. No thought was given to a trade in the build-up to the campaign, and that sentiment reportedly remained the same before Week 4. Adams missed that contest due to a hamstring injury, and the 31-year-old is considered week-to-week.
Despite the desire expressed by both parties in continuing their relationship, Adams was seen around the league as a potential trade target before the season kicked off. Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers remarked about his interest in reuniting with the former Green Bay Pro Bowler in the future, and when speaking about a hypothetical trade Adams named the Jets as a desirable destination. It remains to be seen if New York is among the teams which Vegas has been in contact with while exploring a potential deal, but the Jets are of course a logical suitor.
Three years remain on the Fresno State product’s deal, but only 2024 contains guaranteed salary. Adams’ base compensation for this season is $16.89MM; any acquiring team would take on a prorated portion of that figure before no doubt engaging in talks on a reworked contract covering future campaigns. Adams has yet to go public with any trade request, but actions from Pierce has led to a new wave of speculation on the subject.
The first-year head coach (in a full-time capacity) liked an Instagram post from Sports Illustrated suggesting Adams will be dealt. When asked about the matter during an appearance on the Up and Adams show, the 11th-year veteran said he has not yet spoken with Pierce (video link). Adams added that he is not aware of any actions on the team’s part regarding a trade being sought out.
“I don’t really know exactly what that was about,” he said. “It’s one of those situations where I just keep my head down and keep doing my thing and let the chips fall where they may. There’s been no communication with anybody from the team since that became a thing… It’s always some sort of drama… So, people can say what they want, but I’m just chilling and trying to be the model for not stirring the pot and just locking in and doing what I got to do.”
As noted by Tashan Reed of The Athletic, the Raiders declined to comment on the situation (subscription required). Provided Bonsignore’s report is accurate, though, this situation will become one of the league’s central storylines leading up to the trade deadline. 18 teams currently have eight figures’ worth of cap space to work with, meaning a number of suitors could emerge especially later on in the campaign as Adams’ acquisition cost (in terms of finances) drops.
After a strong campaign reunited with Derek Carr for 2022, Adams’ production dipped last season. Still, his 103-1,144-8 statline demonstrates his potential at this stage of his career, and he would be an attractive trade piece for any number of teams. Whether or not the Raiders proceed with serious talks on a swap in the near future will be worth watching closely.
Bills’ Von Miller Issued Four-Game Ban
Von Miller has remained healthy this season, but he will be absent from the Bills for a notable stretch. The All-Pro edge rusher has been an issued a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy, per a league announcement. 
Miller was arrested last December on a domestic violence charge. The 35-year-old – who faced a third-degree felony charge – denied the allegations during his first public remarks on the matter, calling them “100% false.” A league investigation into the matter took place, and in March commissioner Roger Goodell said a suspension “was not appropriate based on the facts.” The incident remained under league review after that point, however.
It is possible further investigation has now led to a ban, although the NFL did not specify which incident led to today’s suspension. Miller was not placed on the commissioner’s exempt list ahead of the campaign, something which is common in cases of domestic violence. The three-time All-Pro appeared in all four of Buffalo’s games this season, albeit in a rotational capacity. Miller has logged a snap share of 35%, which is roughly in line with his usage from a 2023 campaign in which his effectiveness was hindered by his ACL recovery.
Miller was one of many Bills whose contracts was restructured this offseason. As a result of that move, no guaranteed salary remains on his pact beyond 2024. The two-time Super Bowl champion’s value took a nosedive in 2023 when he was held without a sack. His debut Buffalo campaign included eight sacks in 11 games, though, so expectations were high for a rebound provided he remained healthy. Miller has notched three sacks this season.
In his absence, the Bills will move forward with the likes of Gregory Rousseau, A.J. Epenesa, Dawuane Smoot and Javon Solomon along the edge. The team sits at 3-1 on the year but a defense which has been dealing with several impactful injuries has now lost another contributor for one month.