Minor NFL Transactions: 8/8/24
Thursday’s minor moves around the league:
Carolina Panthers
- Released from IR via injury settlement: TE Stephen Sullivan
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: DT Carlos Davis
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: LS Rex Sunahara
- Waived: CB Faion Hicks
Dallas Cowboys
- Released from IR via injury settlement: WR Corey Crooms
Green Bay Packers
- Reverted to IR: CB Don Callis, WR Rory Starkey
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: DE Breeland Speaks
- Waived (injury designation): DE De’Shaan Dixon
New Orleans Saints
- Released from IR via injury settlement: TE Tommy Hudson
New York Jets
- Reverted to IR: WR Hamze El-Zayat
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: S Jalen Elliott
- Waived (injury designation): S Nate Meadors
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DT Mario Kendricks, CB Willie Roberts
- Waived: DT Rodney Matthews
- Waived (injury designation): DT Matt Gotel
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: G Ryan Johnson
- Placed on IR: G Silas Dzansi
Dixon exited Jacksonville’s Tuesday practice early, and head coach Doug Pederson confirmed on Thursday he has suffered a torn ACL. The former UDFA started his career with the Jaguars, making three appearances as a rookie in 2022. He resided on the team’s practice squad last season, and he could remain in the organization by reverting to IR in the event he goes unclaimed.
Speaks will take Dixon’s place as he aims to translate an effective UFL campaign into a return to NFL action. The 28-year-old earned Defensive Player of the Year honors while playing for the Michigan Panthers. He collected 9.5 sacks in the spring, and that production has landed him the chance to carve out a roster spot with Jacksonville. Speaks last played with the Chiefs in 2018.
49ers Sign DE Jonathan Garvin
In the wake of Drake Jackson being shut down for the 2024 campaign, the 49ers have made an addition along the edge. Jonathan Garvin has been added on a one-year deal, per his agency. 
Garvin is among the players who have parlayed a strong showing in the UFL into a new opportunity at the NFL level. The 25-year-old played a key role on the league champion Birmingham Stallions, collecting 3.5 sacks this season. He worked out for the Cowboys in June, but that did not produce a deal. Now, Garvin will head to the Bay Area to finish training camp and the preseason.
The former seventh-rounder began his NFL career with the Packers, spending three seasons with the team. His best year came in 2021, when he logged a 39% defensive snap share and totaled 1.5 sacks. He will compete for a similar rotational role upon arrival in San Francisco, a team with the top of the edge depth chart relatively sorted out even with Jackson no longer in the picture.
Nick Bosa is set to remain the focal point of San Francisco’s defense and occupy one starting spot at the defensive end position. The team added Leonard Floyd and Yetur Gross-Matos in free agency, and they will continue competing for playing time opposite Bosa in the coming weeks. Garvin will provide another option in a backup capacity if he manages to survive roster cutdowns at the end of the month.
The 49ers entered Thursday with over $52MM in cap space, leaving the team with plenty of flexibility to make additions. That total will drop slightly with Robbie Chosen now in the fold, along with Garvin. Both players will no doubt be attached to league-minimum pacts as they attempt to return to a regular NFL role.
Titans CB Caleb Farley Facing Multi-Week Absence
Injuries have plagued Caleb Farley‘s career to date, and his availability for the start of the 2024 season is now in question. The former first-round Titans corner is dealing with a hamstring injury, head coach Brian Callahan said on Thursday. 
Farley was limited to only three games in his rookie campaign and another nine in 2022. The 25-year-old missed last season altogether while recovering from back surgery, adding further to his time spent on the sidelines. Callahan said this latest setback will keep Farley on the mend for “a few weeks,” and questions will be raised as a result regarding his readiness for Week 1.
The Virginia Tech alum had an intriguing college career, but the risk incurred by the Titans in selecting him has not paid off so far. Farley started only one game in each of his healthy seasons, recording an interception both years. He was competing for a starting gig during training camp, but today’s news means he will likely not be able to participate in the remainder of the offseason.
Tennessee returns Roger McCreary at the cornerback spot, and the team made a pair of notable additions at that position this offseason. L’Jarius Sneed was acquired via trade with the Chiefs and subsequently extended on a four-year, $76.4MM pact. The team also signed Chidobe Awuzie, a familiar face for Callahan given his previous time with the Bengals. Awuzie is a veteran of 74 starts across his time in Cincinnati and Dallas.
To little surprise, the Titans declined Farley’s 2025 fifth-year option this spring. As a result, he enters this campaign as a pending free agent with plenty riding on his performance in 2024. Farley should be expected to suit up at some point in the fall barring a setback, but this update marks another unwanted development from a health perspective.
49ers DE Drake Jackson Out For Season
Drake Jackson will be sidelined for the 2024 campaign as he continues to recover from a knee injury. The third-year defensive end has been placed on the reserve/PUP list, per a team announcement. 
Players moved to the active/PUP list at the start of training camp are permitted to be activated and return to practice at any time. The reserve/PUP designation, however, guarantees players are out for the entire campaign, just like injured reserve at this point in the offseason. Jackson’s absence will be felt along the edge for San Francisco.
The former second-rounder was limited to eight games last season due to the injury, and an update from earlier this week noted he would be absent for at least the remainder of training camp. Today’s news is a notable step beyond that, and it means Jackson’s attention will need to turn to the 2025 campaign. That year doubles as the end of his rookie contract.
San Francisco has depended on Nick Bosa as an anchor on the edge, but Jackson was drafted to turn into a full-time starter to complement him. The latter posted three sacks as a rookie, matching that total in the first half of the 2023 campaign. He will face questions about his health and ability to produce on a consistent basis once he returns to full health.
The 49ers signed Leonard Floyd in free agency, and the veteran is positioned to operate as a first-teamer in 2024. San Francisco also added Yetur Gross-Matos on a two-year deal this offseason as part of a general strategy aimed at providing relative stability along the edge. Jackson would have been counted on to at least hold down a rotational role this season, so it will be interesting to see if a late-summer addition is made in the wake of his injury.
The team has over $52MM in cap space, flexibility which could allow for a move to be made in the near future. Anyone brought in at this point will face a short ramp-up period given how close Week 1 is, though. Jackson, 23, will need to make considerable progress in the coming months as he aims to return to the field next year. His designation created the roster spot needed for the 49ers’ signing of safety Tracy Walker to become official.
Panthers Waive S Caden Sterns
Caden Sterns‘ time with the Panthers has proven to be very brief. The former Broncos safety has already been placed back on waivers after failing a physical with his new team, Carolina announced on Thursday. 
Sterns’ health has been a concern this offseason after he was limited to only one game in 2023 due to a torn patellar tendon. A failed physical was not the reason he was let go by the Broncos, but struggles in recovering from that injury – or a new ailment altogether – should keep him on the open market for a period moving forward. The 24-year-old will join a new team if another claim is put in, but it would come as a surprise if that took place.
In the event Sterns clears waivers, he will be a free agent. The former fifth-rounder could draw interest when healthy given his performances in 2021 and ’22. Across those seasons, he totaled four interceptions and nine pass deflections while making five starts. Sterns logged a defensive snap share of 84% in 2022, a campaign in which he was held to only five games played.
The Texas alum likely would have competed for playing time at safety with the likes of Xavier Woods, Jordan Fuller and Nick Scott while Sam Franklin recovers from a broken foot. Sterns has seen time at slot corner in his career, though, and he could have met the Panthers’ goal of adding depth at that position had he been healthy. Instead, team and player will now go their separate ways.
Carolina has roughly $6.1MM in cap space. That should allow the team to pursue a modest veteran addition in the secondary late in the summer. Sterns, meanwhile, will turn his attention to recovery in the hopes of landing a deal with another new team in time for the start of the season.
Falcons WR Rondale Moore Suffers Season-Ending Knee Injury
Rondale Moore‘s debut Falcons campaign has already come to an end. The fourth-year receiver was carted off the field in practice yesterday, and the worst-case scenario has been confirmed after testing. 
Moore suffered a season-ending knee injury, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network report. He has now been placed on injured reserve by the Falcons, per a team announcement. The 24-year-old’s attention will therefore turn to recovery ahead of free agency.
Entering the league as a second-rounder, Moore faced high expectations with the Cardinals. He occupied a regular role in Arizona’s passing game for the past three seasons, drawing between 56 and 64 targets each year. The Purdue product did not deliver a strong statistical output during that span, however, with his best campaign coming in 2023 (530 scrimmage yards, two total touchdowns).
Moore was dealt to the Falcons as part of a straight swap for quarterback Desmond Ridder in March. That deal was a welcomed one on Moore’s part, given his dissatisfaction with his usage in Arizona. A change of scenery had him lined up to play with Kirk Cousins ahead of his walk year, providing him the opportunity to showcase himself in a new offense before landing a new Atlanta contract or reaching the market. Instead, Moore’s value will take a notable hit and Atlanta’s offense will be shorthanded during Cousins’ debut campaign.
The Falcons still have Drake London in place atop the WR depth chart. The former No. 8 pick has shown potential with underwhelming quarterback play so far in his Atlanta tenure, but expectations are high for a step forward in production with Cousins in place. Atlanta also signed Darnell Mooney in free agency, and the former Bear will be counted on to serve in a starting role on the perimeter.
Moore was competing for the first-team slot spot before going down with the injury. The Falcons were high on his potential in a new system, but Josh Kendall of The Athletic notes Ray-Ray McCloud was ahead of him based on how training camp had progressed (subscription required). Now, McCloud – who has seen his best performances come in the return game – will be counted on to produce on offense.
In a corresponding move, the Falcons signed undrafted rookie punter Ryan Sanborn. The Texas product was part of Atlanta’s UDFA class, and he will again have the chance to spend time with incumbent Bradley Pinion for at least a brief period. The team will now need to evaluate if a receiver addition is necessary ahead of roster cutdowns.
Ravens Expected To Sign WR Anthony Miller
The Ravens are set to make another veteran addition at the receiver spot. Baltimore is expected to sign Anthony Miller, veteran insider Jordan Schultz reports. 
[RELATED: Ravens Sign Russell Gage]
Miller’s last regular season action came in 2021. He split his time between the Texans and Steelers that year, making just six receptions. That production fell well short of that from his tenure with the Bears, which lasted from 2018-20. That spell included a seven-touchdown rookie campaign and a career-high 656 yards and 52 receptions the following season.
The former second-rounder caught on with the 49ers late in the 2023 offseason, but he did not survive the team’s roster cutdown. That led Miller to a brief tenure on the Colts’ practice squad and, later in the campaign, a futures deal with the Chiefs. Kansas City prioritized additions via free agency and the draft at the receiver position, though, and in May Miller was let go.
The 29-year-old had not been connected to any visits or interest from teams until today. Baltimore’s offseason did not consist of much in the way of roster moves amongst receivers, but the team will once again add depth presuming this Miller deal goes through. He will compete for a spot in a WR room consisting of Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Nelson Agholor, fourth-round rookie Devontez Walker and returner Deonte Harty in addition to recent signing Russell Gage.
The Ravens have not had a pass-happy offense during the Lamar Jackson era, and the addition of Derrick Henry in the backfield has led to the expectation of a ground-based attack continuing in 2024. Miller’s sparse production will no doubt limit his value to the league minimum on a Baltimore pact, and he will have work to do to carve out a roster spot. The team’s remaining training camp practices and preseason schedule will provide him with the opportunity to do just that, though.
Latest On Steelers, Brandon Aiyuk
The Steelers remain a team to watch closely with respect to Brandon Aiyuk. The 49ers wideout has drawn considerable attention in recent days, but plenty is unresolved at this time. 
Pittsburgh is one of a number of teams engaged in ongoing negotiations with San Francisco, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports. The Steelers were not initially mentioned in Monday’s report regarding the framework being worked out on a trade. The Browns were named in that respect, along with the Patriots. New England is now believed to be out of the running, however.
The Patriots do not represent Aiyuk’s intended landing spot, something which may be the case for the Steelers. Pittsburgh has long been considered a contender to land the 26-year-old, and the team re-engaged in negotiations in the wake of Cleveland and New England making progress. While this situation remains fluid, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette confirms no agreement – formal or informal – is currently in place between the Steelers and 49ers.
Dulac adds that if a trade is to be worked out for Aiyuk, the Steelers will not include any players in the package coming back to San Francisco. Cleveland’s ability to acquire the Arizona State alum could require Amari Cooper heading the other way, but no comparable wideout exists for the Steelers. Pittsburgh already traded away Diontae Johnson earlier in the offseason.
That move (which was followed up by the release of Allen Robinson) has led to many naming the Steelers as a logical landing spot for a receiver. Aiyuk would certainly add considerable pedigree to a WR room led by George Pickens and third-round rookie Roman Wilson at the position as things stand. Pittsburgh is expected to rely on a run-heavy approach under new OC Arthur Smith in 2024, but Aiyuk has a pair of 1,000-yard campaigns to his name.
San Francisco entertained trade calls for both the former first-rounder and Deebo Samuel at the draft, though no deals were struck. The 49ers have several big-money commitments on offense already, and quarterback Brock Purdy will be eligible for an extension next offseason. Aiyuk is due $14.12MM in 2024 on the fifth-year option, but an extension will check in at a much higher rate.
The Patriots were reportedly willing to eclipse $28MM per season on a multi-year deal, and a New England agreement would have served the notable purpose (from San Francisco’s perspective) of sending him to an AFC team. Despite not having a no-trade clause, Aiyuk’s preference in this case appears to carry notable weight. Whether a potential desire to continue his career in Pittsburgh results in a trade will continue to be a top storyline for the Steelers and 49ers.
Colts WR Josh Downs Suffers High Ankle Sprain
The Colts’ receiver room may be shorthanded at the start of the season. Josh Downs is dealing with a high ankle sprain, as first reported by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. 
Such injuries typically carry a four-to-six week recovery timeline, but in this instance the worst-case scenario may have been avoided. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network adds Indianapolis is hoping Downs can return to action on the short end of that timeframe. As a result, he could be back in the fold in time for Week 1.
Plenty of attention will be paid to the 2023 third-rounder’s progress in recovery over the coming weeks. Downs had a strong rookie season, recording 771 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 68 receptions. He received at least five targets in a game 10 times, demonstrating his potential to serve as an effective complementary option behind Michael Pittman Jr. on the WR depth chart.
The latter received the franchise tag this offseason before agreeing to a three-year, $68MM extension. Pittman will therefore remain the focal point of Indianapolis’ passing attack for the foreseeable future, but the team will rely on recent draftees at the receiver positions as well. The Colts added Alec Pierce in the second round in 2022 before making another Day 2 investment the following year in the form of Downs. The North Carolina product showed promise in the slot, and he should be expected to handle that role when healthy in 2024.
Indianapolis added further youth at the receiver spot this spring by selecting Adonai Mitchell in the second round. The Texas product is competing with Pierce for the other starting outside spot, and that process will continue through the remainder of training camp and the preseason. Downs will be sidelined for the time being, something which could open up further opportunities for Mitchell and Pierce in the short term. As things stand, though, the Colts should be back to full strength relatively soon.
Jets Activate WR Mike Williams From PUP List
Mike Williams has reached a notable checkpoint in his ACL rehab. The free agent addition was activated from the active/PUP list by the Jets on Wednesday. 
Williams was limited to three games in 2023, his final one with the Chargers, as a result of the injury. It was clear in March that being back to full speed in time for the start of training camp was not a goal for team or player in his case. Returning to health in advance of the regular season, though, was a target. Today’s move clears Williams to take part in practice.
The longtime Bolts deep threat was released in one of many cost-shedding moves Los Angeles undertook this offseason. Williams’ latest health issue limited his long-term earning power on the open market, but he managed to land $8.3MM in guarantees on a one-year pact. His Jets contract includes $5MM in incentives, so plenty will be riding on his ability to remain healthy on his new team. Today’s news is a positive step toward taking the field when the regular season starts.
The top of the Jets’ receiver depth chart is of course led by Garrett Wilson. The former top-10 picks faces high expectations for 2024 with a healthy Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, but New York’s other pass-catchers are the subject of questions entering the season. Big-money 2023 free agent signing Allen Lazard did not have a strong debut Jets campaign, while third-round rookie Malachi Corley will likely face an acclimation period at the NFL level as he develops his route running in particular.
That should leave Williams, 29, in place to occupy a key role on offense this season. The Clemson alum has twice topped 1,000 yards in his career, and his yards per reception mark has ranged between 13.1 and 20.4 every year since his rookie campaign. Providing New York with a dependable deep threat would be crucial to the team’s ability to deliver a bounce-back season on offense; it would also help Williams’ free agent stock ahead of 2025.
The Jets begin their preseason slate on Saturday, and it would come as a surprise to see Williams play in that contest. The team will no doubt proceed with caution as he ramps up, but by virtue of being cleared for practice, he will have ample time to prepare for the season opener.