NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/24/24
Here are Tuesday’s taxi squad moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Released: LB Joe Evans
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: S Alex Cook, Justin Hardee
- Released: OLB Eku Leota
Chicago Bears
- Signed: TE Teagan Quitoriano
Detroit Lions
- Signed: DB Morice Norris
Green Bay Packers
- Released: TE Johnny Lumpkin
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: DT Josiah Bronson, DE Derek Rivers
- Placed on IR: QB Jason Bean
- Released: CB Kelvin Joseph
Los Angeles Chargers
- Released: TE Luke Benson, CB Nehemiah Shelton
New England Patriots
- Signed: WR John Jiles
New York Giants
- Signed: TE Joel Wilson
- Placed on IR: TE Lawrence Cager
New York Jets
- Signed: LB Brandon Smith
- Released: S Jaylen Key
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: WR John Ross
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: LB Marcus Haynes
- Released: TE Matt Sokol
San Francisco 49ers
- Released: S Tracy Walker
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: CB Ty Hall, DT Matt Gotel
- Placed on IR: RB George Holani
- Released: S Marquise Blair
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: P Trenton Gill, CB Keenan Isaac
- Released: P Seth Vernon
This year’s ‘Mr. Irrelevant,’ Key did not make the Jets’ initial 53-man roster. The 24-year-old was retained via the practice squad, but he did not see any regular season action. Now a free agent, Key will look to latch on with another organization.
Ross signed with the Eagles in May as part of his bid to return to the NFL. The former Combine 40-yard dash record holder was released during roster cutdowns, however, after he was unable to carve out a depth role on offense. Ross will rejoin the team in a bid to provide Philadelphia with a complementary receiving option as the team deals with a number of injuries at the WR spot.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/24/24
Tuesday’s minor moves around the NFL:
Chicago Bears
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Stephen Carlson
Detroit Lions
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Tim Patrick
- Placed on IR: DE Marcus Davenport (story)
Las Vegas Raiders
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Sam Webb
- Placed on IR: S Marcus Epps (story)
New York Giants
- Released: FB Jakob Johnson
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Jack Stoll
- Placed on IR: WR Britain Covey
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Promoted from practice squad: CB James Pierre
- Placed on IR: DB Cory Trice Jr.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted from practice squad: LS Zach Triner
- Placed on IR: LS Evan Deckers
Patrick was among the Broncos’ final roster cuts but he quickly landed a deal with the Lions on their practice squad. Healthy after back-to-back years featuring major injuries, the 30-year-old has twice been a gameday elevation so far this year and logged a 44% offensive snap share. He will aim to remain in a depth role while now permanently on the active roster.
Covey will be sidelined for at least the next four weeks given today’s move. His injury is particularly notable given the fact A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith are both injured at the moment, thinning out the team’s receiver room. Covey, 27, received seven targets across the past two games and Philadelphia will need to turn to other options for a complementary role at wideout (along with the return game).
Panthers Place S Jordan Fuller On IR
In addition to wideout Adam Thielen, the Panthers will be without Jordan Fuller for an extended period. The veteran safety was placed on injured reserve Tuesday, per a team announcement. 
Fuller will now be unavailable for at least four weeks. His absence will leave Carolina without a starting safety, as Fuller has logged an 82% snap share early in the campaign. The team does have Nick Scott in the fold, and he will now take on a starter’s workload alongside Xavier Woods.
Signed to a one-year deal in March, Fuller joined a Panthers secondary which lost Vonn Bell following his release. The move allowed Fuller to reunite with defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero after their time together with the Rams from 2020-21. The 26-year-old was one of many safeties who were unable to secure a long-term pact on the open market this offseason, but his Carolina pact provided him with the opportunity to boost his value.
Prior to going down with the injury, Fuller collected 15 tackles. He amassed seven interceptions and 17 pass deflections during his four-year run in Los Angeles, and a campaign with notable ball production would of course be welcomed on a Panthers defense which is without Pro Bowl defensive lineman Derrick Brown. Carolina currently ranks 17th against the pass with an average of 202 yards per game allowed through the air.
In addition to moving Thielen and Fuller to IR, the Panthers waived tight end Messiah Swinson, who was previously signed off the Packers’ practice squad but did not see game action. To fill those roster spots, Carolina promoted wideout Jalen Coker along with safeties Demani Richardson and Russ Yeast. Richardson is an undrafted rookie who spent the offseason in Carolina, while Yeast is a veteran of 33 games and 10 starts with the Rams. He profiles as a logical candidate for a depth role behind Scott while Fuller recovers.
Chiefs Promote Kareem Hunt To Active Roster, Waive RB Keaontay Ingram
Kareem Hunt‘s time on the Chiefs’ practice squad has not lasted long. The veteran running back has been promoted from the practice squad to the active roster, as noted by ESPN’s Field Yates. 
Hunt worked out with Kansas City last week in the wake of Isiah Pacheco‘s fractured fibula. The latter is on injured reserve and facing a lengthy recovery period as a result. A practice squad deal was quickly worked out with Hunt, though, and he is now in position to handle a role in the team’s backfield.
The 29-year-old spent the past five seasons in Cleveland, including a 2023 campaign which saw him on the free agent market at the beginning of the season. Once Nick Chubb went down, Hunt returned to Cleveland and remained with the team to close out the campaign. He only logged a 31% snap share last year, however, and his 3.0 yards per carry average was the lowest of his career. That helped explain his lengthy stay on the open market this year.
Hunt began his career in Kansas City, earning Offensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2017 after leading the league in rushing. He was released midway through the following campaign after video of an incident in which he pushed and kicked a woman became public. When reflecting on the recent reunion between team and player, Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said the organization was satisfied Hunt had earned a second chance with the organization after his time in Cleveland did not include any off-field incidents.
Kansas City is without Clyde Edwards-Helaire for the time being after began the campaign on the reserve/NFI list. His absence, coupled with that of Pacheco, led to a reliance on undrafted rookie Carson Steele and pass-catching veteran Samaje Perine during the Chiefs’ Week 3 win. Hunt will look to carve out a role alongside that pair.
In a corresponding move, Keaontay Ingram has been waived. The former sixth-rounder was promoted from the practice squad following Pacheco’s injury, and he made his season debut on Sunday. Ingram did not see any touches, though, and he logged only five special teams snaps. He is unlikely to be claimed off waivers, and presuming he goes through unclaimed he will be a prime candidate to return to Kansas City’s taxi squad.
Falcons Place C Drew Dalman On IR
Losing two starting offensive linemen significantly hindered the Falcons’ effort in a narrow loss to the Chiefs, and the NFC South team will be without one of those players for an extended period. 
Drew Dalman is heading to IR, per NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo, due to the ankle injury he sustained Sunday night; the team has since announced the move. Early in his third season with as the Falcons’ starter, Dalman is in a contract year and cannot return until around the midseason point. The Falcons will be without Dalman until at least Week 8.
This news deals a blow to Atlanta’s offensive line, a unit which enjoyed continuity carrying over from the 2023 campaign. Dalman, 25, has been a key contributor up front since taking on a first-team role; he graded out as PFF’s third-best center last season. He sat in the top five for his performance during the early portion of the 2024 campaign. While this news does not come as a surprise, it will leave a notable vacancy in the middle for the Falcons.
Ryan Neuzil filled in for Dalman in Week 3, and he is positioned to handle a starter’s workload moving forward. The former UDFA has seen time with Atlanta since 2022, making four starts last season. Neuzil logged nearly 200 O-line snaps that campaign, all of which came at center. He drew a PFF grade of 55.3, however, so team and player will be hoping for a step forward in play while Dalman is on the mend. Missed time carries the risk of hindering the latter’s market value during the spring, of course.
In a corresponding move, the Falcons added depth up front by promoting Elijah Wilkinson from the practice squad to the active roster. A veteran of 77 games and 45 starts, Wilkinson logged a first-team role with Atlanta in 2022. He has seen time at guard and tackle during his career, making him a candidate to serve as a right tackle option in the near future. Starter Kaleb McGary is believed to have suffered an MCL sprain, so he could miss time. Wilkinson’s most common position at the NFL level is right tackle, although he exclusively played at left guard during his first Falcons stint.
Atlanta has also signed Matt Hennessy to the practice squad. The 26-year-old was drafted by the Falcons in 2020, and he primarily played at center during his first two years with the team before shifting to guard in 2022. Hennessy has not seen regular season action since then, and he was unable to land a roster spot with the Eagles this offseason. He will now provide Atlanta with interior depth while Dalman recovers.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.
Cowboys Not Considering Personnel Changes
The Cowboys dropped to 1-2 on Sunday after a second straight home defeat. Sunday’s game against the Ravens included a late comeback attempt but it was defined in large part by another poor showing against the run. 
Baltimore amassed 274 rushing yards during the win, one which followed a blowout loss to the Saints including major production on the ground. Struggles in that department – along with an ineffective rushing attack – have led to renewed questions about changes in the lineup or on the sidelines. When speaking after the the game, though, owner Jerry Jones confirmed no such moves are imminent.
“I don’t have any concern about our players buying into the coaching staff, or the staff buying into the players,” Jones said (via WFAA’s Ed Werder). “That’s not it.”
Dallas leads the league in passing yards per game, but the team ranks 29th with an average of less than 74 yards per game on the ground. Defensively, the team sits at or near the bottom in a number of categories; that includes the NFL’s worst run defense (186 yards per contest allowed).
Plenty of work therefore needs to be done by defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer and Co. during his first year back as the Cowboys’ defensive play-caller. Head coach Mike McCarthy is of course in a lame-duck season at the moment, and continued struggles could lead to increased calls for a change on the sidelines. Jones’ remarks illustrate his confidence in the veteran staffers, however.
With respect to personnel, a similar mindset is in place. No major in-season move is currently being contemplated, something which could of course change closer to the trade deadline. With nearly $24MM in cap space, the Cowboys have more financial flexibility than most teams at the moment. Jones is confident Dallas’ in-house players will be able to rebound from a disappointing start and render a midseason addition unnecessary.
“Well, I love out quarterback, highest paid guy in the NFL,” Jones added (via ESPN’s Todd Archer). “Love our receiver,” a reference to CeeDee Lamb. “Like our offensive line. And, frankly, I like some of the things we’re doing on the defensive line… I say ‘all-in’ on personnel… I don’t see personnel changes out here. I see everybody doing better. Getting better.”
The Cowboys’ offseason consisted of few outside additions while negotiations with Lamb and Prescott took place. The former landed the second-highest AAV for receivers ($34MM) while the latter agreed to a record-breaking $60MM-per-year pact hours before Dallas’ first regular season game. An accord similarly moving Micah Parsons to the top of the edge rush market is expected for next offseason. In the meantime, the incumbent staff members and players will be counted on to deliver another postseason appearance after a slow start to the campaign.
Steelers RT Troy Fautanu To Undergo Surgery; Postseason Return In Play
Over the weekend, the Steelers placed Troy Fautanu on injured reserve. That move guaranteed the first-round rookie would miss at least four games, but a subsequent report indicated a season-long absence could be in store. 
Indeed, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports Fautanu will undergo surgery on his dislocated kneecap. He will miss the remainder of the regular season as a result, leaving Pittsburgh with a vacancy along the O-line. Rapoport adds Fautanu could be back in time for the playoffs, but this news represents a notable blow to the team’s offense.
Just as they did in 2023, the Steelers used their top pick on an offensive tackle during the first round of April’s draft. Fautanu spent time at left tackle during his Washington tenure, and some teams viewed him as a guard. Pittsburgh saw the former Huskie as a tackle, however, and rated him higher as a prospect than 2023 first-rounder Broderick Jones. It thus came as no surprise Fautanu started at right tackle during his regular season debut (Week 2).
His knee injury occurred in practice leading up to Sunday’s win, leaving Pittsburgh in need of a change up front. Jones took over at the RT spot, one in which he struggled during Week 2 with three penalties. The Georgia product is set for another long-term stint at the position due to Fautanu’s injury, though, after he primarily played on the right side during his rookie year. Pending free agent Dan Moore Jr. will remain in the startling lineup along the blindside.
Even before the Fautanu ailment, injuries along the offensive line were an issue early in the year for Pittsburgh. Center Nate Herbig‘s torn rotator cuff is expected to keep him out for most (if not all) of the campaign, thrusting second-round rookie Zach Frazier into a starting role. Guard Isaac Seumalo has yet to play this year while he rehabs a pectoral injury, leading to further inexperience along the interior.
The Steelers were among the teams which designated two players for return from IR before the roster cut deadline. That move leaves the team with six activations for the regular season, although that figure will not come into play with Fautanu out of the picture until the playoffs. Teams will receive an additional two IR activations during the postseason, so the 23-year-old could still be in the fold down the road. In the meantime, Pittsburgh could be in the market for offensive tackle depth.
Raiders Eyeing Roster Changes?
The Raiders were handily beaten by the Andy Dalton-led Panthers on Sunday. In his post-game press conference, head coach Antonio Pierce suggested roster moves could be coming in the near future in response to his team’s performance. 
“As the game went on… I think there was definitely some individuals that made business decisions,” Pierce said while declining to name specific players (via ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez). “And we’ll make business decisions going forward as well.”
The Panthers racked up 437 yards of offense en route to a 36-22 victory. Dalton – inserted into the starting lineup in place of the struggling Bryce Young – became the first quarterback in 2024 to amass at least 300 passing yards and three touchdowns in a game. Pierce’s comments suggest notable changes could be coming in the near future to at least the depth chart at certain positions.
The 2024 offseason produced a number of changes, with ex-Chargers general manager Tom Telesco being hired as Vegas’ new GM. Owner Mark Davis previously expressed regret over not retaining Rich Bisaccia as head coach after he held the title at the end of the 2021 season. Pierce, by contrast, had the interim tag removed this spring, allowing him to carry on following his stint to close out last year. That makes 2024 his first full season as a head coach at the NFL level.
The 45-year-old will be tasked with overseeing development on the part of the Raiders, a team which faces questions at quarterback in particular. Gardner Minshew won a summer competition for the starter’s role over Aidan O’Connell after the team was active in seeking a move up the draft board to add a signal-caller. Both Minshew and O’Connell are under contract for 2025, but struggles on offense will no doubt lead to continued speculation about a move at the position during the spring.
On defense, the Raiders rank near the bottom of the league in a number of categories. Improvement on that side of the ball will be a goal moving forward, although the team’s edge rush group is shorthanded in the absence of Malcolm Koonce. It will be interesting to see how the coaching staff reacts to Sunday’s loss after it dropped the Raiders to 1-2 on the year.
Chargers RT Joe Alt Expected To Miss Time; LT Rashawn Slater Suffers Pectoral Injury
It remains to be seen who the Chargers will have at quarterback for Week 4. Regardless of if Justin Herbert is on the field or not, the team will likely be shorthanded up front. 
Right tackle Joe Alt suffered an MCL sprain during the Chargers’ loss on Sunday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. As a result, this year’s fifth overall pick is expected to miss time. Rapoport does add, however, that surgery will not be needed.
Alt exceled on the blindside during his time at Notre Dame. He emerged as the top prospect in a deep offensive tackle class, and by the time his name was called by the Bolts it came as little surprise he would be joining the team. With Rashawn Slater in place on the left, Alt took on the right tackle gig as a rookie. Prior to the injury, he had thrived in that role.
The 21-year-old is unlikely to be available against the Chiefs in Week 4. Los Angeles is on the bye in Week 5, however, so Alt’s absence could prove to be short-lived especially since no surgery will not take place. The team will hope the same holds true of Slater, whom Rapoport notes is dealing with a strained pectoral muscle. The 2021 first-rounder exited Sunday’s loss to the Steelers.
In the second half of that game, Los Angeles recorded negative-five yards of total offense. Taylor Heinicke was at quarterback for much of that time, and the team’s injuries at both tackle spots were obviously a contributing factor to that production. Slater is set to collect $19.04MM next season on the fifth-year option, but it would not come as a surprise if the Chargers were to pursue an extension. Any injuries affecting him during the campaign could alter his value, though, of course.
As expected, Jim Harbaugh‘s first season as head coach of the Chargers has included a run-heavy approach on offense. That will remain especially true if Herbert cannot play in Week 4, but in addition to questions about his status it will be interesting to see how the team’s O-line looks when that game takes place.
Ravens To Sign Yannick Ngakoue
Yannick Ngakoue is set to reunite with one of his former teams. The veteran edge rusher has a deal in place to return to the Ravens, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. 
Ngakoue was acquired via trade by the Ravens in 2020. That move ended the brief Vikings stint which came after his tenure in Jacksonville, and led to high expectations. The Maryland product played nine games with Baltimore, but he only recorded three sacks during that span. As a result, this move comes as something of a surprise as the team eyes pass rushing depth.
This will be a practice squad agreement, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic adds. Ngakoue will therefore have time to acclimate to Baltimore defense – coordinated by first-year DC Zach Orr – before making his way onto the active roster. Today’s news adds to the 29-year-old’s journeyman status, as his first Ravens stint was followed by one-year tenures with the Raiders, Colts and Bears.
Ngakoue remained productive in terms of pass rush success during his time in Vegas and Indianapolis, totaling 19.5 sacks. His Bears tenure did not go as planned, though, and he was limited to a 13 games and four sacks due to a broken ankle. Now healed, Ngakoue was frequently linked to a Bears reunion during the offseason, although Chicago added a veteran presence along the edge by trading for Darrell Taylor. That took the Bears out of the running for Ngakoue, who will look to deliver a better year in 2024 than he did during his first Baltimore tenure.
The Ravens (who have totaled nine sacks in three games) lost Jadeveon Clowney in the offseason, though they were able to retain fellow veteran Kyle Van Noy. The latter is joined by Odafe Oweh, David Ojabo, Tavius Robinson and Adisa Isaac, a young group of pass rushers. Not known for his run defense at any stop along the way, Ngakoue will be tasked with providing the Ravens with an experienced artist for the 2024 season. Succeeding in the role will help his free agent market next spring.