Jim Harbaugh On NFL Coaching Radar?
NOVEMBER 23: In an update on how Harbaugh is viewed in NFL circles, Jay Glazer of Fox Sports notes teams initially had doubts before further details emerged on the sign-stealing scheme. Now, however, the scandal is not likely to stop interested teams from proceeding with inquiries into Harbaugh (video link). With the path to an NFL return clear, it will be worth watching closely how many teams make a push to interview him and how committed he is to remaining at Michigan if firm offers do not emerge.
NOVEMBER 16: For the second time this season, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh finds himself in the midst of a three-game suspension. His latest disciplinary troubles have led many to believe he would not be under consideration for another NFL gig, but that does not appear to be the case. 
The Athletic’s Mike Jones reports Harbaugh could be interested in a return to the pro game, adding that such interest is expected to lead to interview consideration this coming offseason (subscription required). Jones names the Bears and Raiders as teams which could be worth watching on that front, noting the connection Harbaugh has to each franchise.
The 59-year-old – who was suspended by Michigan at the beginning of the season due to alleged recruiting violations and was recently sidelined for the remainder of the regular season by the Big Ten due to the school’s sign-stealing scandal – was a first-round pick of the Bears in 1987. He spent seven of his 14 years in the Windy City as a player, and has a relationship with new Bears president Kevin Warren. Prior to his current posting, the latter served as commissioner of the Big Ten. Chicago has Matt Eberflus at the helm right now, and though he has received support from the organization recently, his job security has been called into question in Year 2.
Harbaugh worked as the Raiders’ QB coach from 2002-03 in what was his first coaching position in the NFL. He has since maintained a relationship with owner Mark Davis, who will be on the lookout for a Josh McDaniels replacement this offseason (unless interim HC Antonio Pierce does enough in the coming weeks to earn the job on a full-time basis). A recent report named the Raiders as a logical landing spot for Harbaugh in the event Davis followed through on his interest in interviewing him, with the caveat that any longstanding punishment handed down by the Big Ten or NCAA may still apply in the NFL.
The most recent NFL looks Harbaugh has received have come in 2022 (from the Vikings) and this past offseason (when he was the first candidate to interview with the Broncos). Not long after the latter meeting, he made the commitment to remain at Michigan and publicly expressed an aversion to future NFL interest. Having taken the 49ers to the Super Bowl during his long head coaching stint at the pro level, though, speculation has frequently tied him to leaving the Wolverines in pursuit of unfinished business.
Harbaugh (who signed a five-year deal with Michigan last winter) would no doubt command a large share of personnel decisions in the event he were to take on an NFL gig. As the 2024 coaching carousel takes shape in the coming months, it will be interesting to see how often his name comes up with respect to interview requests and the degree to which he reciprocates.
Jets Activate T Duane Brown
Today marked the final day of Duane Brown‘s 21-day practice window after he was designated for return from injured reserve. The Jets have elected to use an IR activation on the veteran offensive tackle. 
New York activated Brown from injured reserve on Thursday, per a team announcement. If the team had allowed his three-week practice period to expire, he would have reverted to season-ending IR. Instead, Brown will be eligible to return to a Jets offensive line which has been ravaged by injuries during the year. New York will have six IR activations remaining moving forward.
The 38-year-old started the year as New York’s starting left tackle, the role he held for 12 games last season. Brown entered the year facing questions about not only his age, but also his ability to remain healthy for a full campaign; that question took on added significance with 39-year-old Aaron Rodgers in place as the projected starting quarterback for 2023. Like the latter, though, Brown has run into injury troubles.
A hip injury caused Brown to be placed on IR after only two games at the start of the year. That move guaranteed a four-week absence, but that has stretched deep into November given the length of time he spent on injured reserve after retuning to practice. Brown’s absence has led to shuffling along New York’s offensive front, with Mekhi Becton shifting over to the blindside. The former first-rounder suffered an injury of his own in Week 11, though, leaving his availability for tomorrow’s contest in doubt.
Brown’s return would thus be a welcomed development for a Jets O-line which will be without right guard Alijah Vera-Tucker for the rest of the season due to an Achilles tear. Xavier Newman-Johnson has been signed to the active roster, a sign that he will get the start at RG tomorrow. Meanwhile, Chris Glaser – who got the nod in Week 11 – has been waived. While the team’s upcoming Black Friday matchup will feature yet another new combination up front for the Jets, Brown will be a familiar option on the blindside.
Panthers Designate OLB Yetur Gross-Matos For Return
The Panthers may be nearing the return of another important defender. Edge rusher Yetur Gross-Matos was designated for return from injured reserve on Thursday, per a team announcement. 
[RELATED: Panthers Open Jeremy Chinn’s Practice Window]
Gross-Matos, like safety Jeremy Chinn, was placed on IR last month. That move required an absence of at least four weeks, a timeframe which has now transpired. The former now has up to 21 days to resume practicing before being activated. His return will give Carolina’s pass rush a welcomed boost.
The Panthers have been led off the edge by two-time Pro Bowler Brian Burns, to no surprise. He has posted five sacks in nine games in his contract year, but Gross-Matos has chipped in while serving in a rotational capacity. The 25-year-old recorded 2.5 sacks, six pressures and five quarterback hits in six games before going down with a hamstring injury. With fellow edge rusher Justin Houston also on IR, Gross-Matos should be in line to reclaim a starting spot upon his return to the lineup.
The latter logged a career-high snap share of 73% last season, and he responded with a personal best in tackles (54) among other categories. Gross-Matos has failed to surpass 3.5 sacks in a season, however, and he faced questions about how well he would fit in new defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero‘s 3-4 scheme. Setting a new benchmark in sacks – as he will likely be able to do if he can remain healthy for the rest of the year – will help the Penn State alum in advance of his first foray into free agency.
Gross-Matos is set to see his rookie contract expire this offseason, so a strong showing over the next few games would boost his market either on a new Panthers deal or one with an outside team. Carolina has six IR activations at the moment, but bringing Gross-Matos (along with Chinn and cornerback Jaycee Horn) back into the lineup will leave the team with three in the near future.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/21/23
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Placed on IR: DL Leki Fotu, LB Kyzir White (story)
- Signed: S Qwuantrezz Knight
- Promoted: DL Ben Stille
Baltimore Ravens
- Designated for return from IR: CB Damarion Williams
Cleveland Browns
- Placed on IR: S Rodney McLeod (story)
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted: S Ronnie Harrison
Los Angeles Chargers
- Placed on IR: LB Tanner Muse
- Promoted: LB Blake Lynch
Miami Dolphins
- Placed on IR: RB Salvon Ahmed
- Promoted: WR Robbie Chosen
Minnesota Vikings
- Promoted: DT Sheldon Day
- Waived: Trishton Jackson
New York Giants
- Signed off Vikings’ practice squad: LB Benton Whitley
San Francisco 49ers
- Placed on IR: S Talanoa Hufanga (story)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: LB J.J. Russell
Harrison was among the Colts’ final roster cuts in August, but he was immediately retained via the practice squad. Despite that move, the 26-year-old has yet to make an appearance in Indianapolis as a gameday elevation. He will now have the chance to make his Colts debut, having taken the 53-man roster spot of Shaquille Leonard after the latter’s surprise cut.
Muse will be required to miss at least the next four weeks as a result of the IR move. The former Seahawk has played exclusively on special teams to date during his first season with the Chargers, logging a 73% snap share in that capacity. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports Muse could still play later this season, something which will give Los Angeles a boost in the third phase if they are still in playoff contention down the stretch.
Ahmed’s foot injury, coupled with a new round of uncertainty regarding the healthy of rookie sensation De’Von Achane, could leave Miami shorthanded in the backfield. While it remains to be seen if the latter will miss time after coming back from an IR stint, the former will not be available moving forward. Ahmed is out for the season, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports. The 24-year-old scored two total touchdowns on 38 touches this year, his fourth with the Dolphins. He is set to hit free agency this offseason, but the injury will no doubt hurt his market.
Titans Waive DL Jaleel Johnson
Jaleel Johnson has seen his latest Titans stint come to an end. The veteran defensive lineman was waived on Tuesday, per a team announcement. 
Johnson had been elevated from the practice squad multiple times this season, leading to Tennessee’s decision to add him to the active roster last month. The 29-year-old originally joined the Titans in May, but he was among the team’s final roster cuts ahead of Week 1. Now, he will hit the waiver wire with the chance of heading elsewhere via a claim.
Shuffling on and off Tennessee’s roster, Johnson made six total appearances. He served in a rotational capacity behind starters Jeffery Simmons, Teair Tart and Denico Autry, logging a 22% snap share on defense and making 12 tackles. He also failed to register any quarterback pressures, something which has yet to happen over a full season during his career. The former fourth-rounder has made a slight impact in the passing game in past campaigns, including the 2019 season in which he posted a career-high 3.5 sacks.
Johnson spent the first four years of his career in Minnesota, before bouncing around the NFL. He spent time with the Texans, playing 15 games across the 2021 and ’22 seasons. The Iowa product also had a brief stint with the Falcons last year. Overall, he has totaled 137 stops and 6.5 sacks in 80 career games.
That experience could make him an attractive option to teams looking for depth along the defensive interior. In the event he were to pass through waivers unclaimed, however, Johnson would be free to sign with any team, including another stint on the Titans’ taxi squad.
Packers’ Aaron Jones Dealing With MCL Sprain
The Packers were shorthanded in the backfield to close out their Week 11 win, and they appear to be on track to not have Aaron Jones in the fold in the immediate future. Green Bay’s lead back is dealing with an MCL sprain, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter. 
Jones is considered week-to-week as a result of the injury he picked up during Sunday’s win over the Chargers. While nothing has been completely ruled out at this point, the news makes is highly unlikely Jones will be available for the Packers’ upcoming Thanksgiving game against the Lions. In the wake of third-string back Emanuel Wilson going down in Week 11 as well, Green Bay has added a couple of depth RB options.
The Packers brought back Patrick Taylor by signing him off the Patriots’ practice squad yesterday. They also added James Robinson to the taxi squad once again, giving them a pair of familiar faces in time for Thursday’s game in the event Jones is unable to suit up. If that turns out to be the case, the latter will have missed four games this season, after a hamstring ailment cost him a trio of contests earlier in the year.
Jones has had a down year so far, averaging a career-low 3.7 yards per carry. The 28-year-old has received double-digit carries only twice this season and eclipsed 70 rushing yards once. Those struggles – which of course can be explained to a degree by Green Bay’s injury woes along the offensive line – have contributed to the Packers’ poor overall showing on the ground. The team currently sits 21st in the NFL with an average of 102 rushing yards per game.
Head coach Matt LaFleur indicated (via Matt Schneidman of The Athletic) he does not think Jones will require a stint on injured reserve. Being placed on IR would require an absence of at least four weeks, so avoiding such a scenario would leave the door open to a return in the near future. Still, missing Jones for any length of time will deal a blow to the Packers’ Jordan Love-led offense, a unit which has struggled to find consistent production in 2023.
Presuming Jones misses at least Green Bay’s Week 12 matchup, AJ Dillon will serve as the team’s lead back against the Lions. The latter has also been less efficient than normal this season, but he will be counted on to shoulder an increased workload in at least the short term.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/21/23
Tuesday’s taxi squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: WR Daniel Arias
- Released: WR Davion Davis
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: TE Scotty Washington
- Placed on IR: CB Kevon Seymour
Chicago Bears
- Signed: DB Adrian Colbert, DL Michael Dwumfour
- Released: QB Trace McSorley
Cleveland Browns
- Released: RB John Kelly
Houston Texans
- Signed: LB Marcell Harris
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: FB Jakob Johnson
- Released: TE Jesse James
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: OLB Ty Shelby
Los Angeles Rams
- Released: DB Cameron McCutcheon
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: RB Darrynton Evans
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: OLB Austin Bryant
- Released: WR Dan Chisena
New York Giants
- Signed: RB Deon Jackson, T Joshua Miles
- Released: RB Hassan Hall
New York Jets
- Signed: CB Craig James
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: DB Henry Black
- Released: LB Tyler Murray
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: T Jake Curhan
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: WR Raleigh Webb, LB Vi Jones, CB Quandre Mosely
- Released: CB Don Gardner, S Jaquan Johnson
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: S Matt Jackson, RB Jonathan Ward
Commanders LB Cody Barton To Return In Week 12
NOVEMBER 21: When speaking publicly about Barton’s status, head coach Ron Rivera confirmed he will be activated tomorrow (h/t ESPN’s Joh Keim). That will allow Barton to suit up for the Commanders’ Thanksgiving contest against the Cowboys and return to his starting role.
NOVEMBER 20: Cody Barton has been absent from the Commanders’ defense for the past month, but he could be in line for a return soon. The veteran linebacker was designated for return from injured reserve on Monday, per a team announcement. 
Barton was placed on IR due to the high ankle sprain he suffered in Week 7, a move which required at least a four-week absence. The fact he has returned to the practice field at the first opportunity to do so, though, is an encouraging sign for his prospects of suiting up as early as Week 12. He can be activated any time within the next 21 days.
The-27-year-old signed with the Commanders on a one-year, $3.5MM deal this offseason. That contract sent him out of Seattle after a four-year run with the Seahawks. Barton logged 16 starts during his time in Seattle, but his move to Washington resulted in a jump in playing time. Prior to the injury, he had logged a defensive snap share of 88% while starting all seven of his appearances.
Barton has parlayed that increased workload into 61 tackles, having reached double-digits in that department during a game on three occasions this season. The former third-rounder sits third on the team in stops despite having missed one month, an illustration of his importance to Washington’s defense. That unit has struggled in recent weeks in particular, and the team now sits 21st in the league in rushing yards allowed per game (114).
The return of Barton should help in that department. The Utah alum has posted the worst PFF rating of his career to date with a 45.9 rating, but his impact on Washington’s LB corps have been evident when he is on the field. Bringing him back into the fold will use up one of the Commanders’ six remaining IR activations.
Saints Place WR Michael Thomas On IR
After leaving the Saints’ last game with what was labeled a signficant injury, Michael Thomas will be shut down for an extended stretch. The All-Pro wideout has been placed on injured reserve, per a team announcement. 
In the aftermath of New Orleans’ Week 10 game, head coach Dennis Allen made it clear both Thomas and cornerback Marshon Lattimore were facing extended absences. The former now finds himself in familiar territory, having been placed on IR for the fourth season in a row. Thomas will be forced to miss at least four weeks as a result of today’s move.
The three-time Pro Bowler had managed to suit up for every game in 2023 until this point, marking a welcomed sign of availability after years of injury troubles. His list of ailments includes the ankle injury which cost him the entire 2021 season and put his Saints future in doubt. In his best run of form and health since his record-breaking performance in 2019, Thomas had posted a 39-448-1 statline before the injury.
Now, the 5-5 Saints will move forward without a key member of the passing attack. Thomas sits third on the team in receiving yards behind Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed. That pair will remain central to New Orleans’ offense, a unit which may be without quarterback Derek Carr as he continues to recover from a concussion. Thomas – who agreed to a one-year, $10MM deal this offseason – is now set to miss many (if not all) of the incentives present in his pact ahead of a potential tip to free agency.
In a move to add depth at the WR spot, the Saints have brought back Marquez Callaway by signing him to the practice squad. The 25-year-old has played in 42 career games, all with New Orleans. He could be designated a gameday elevation to provide a complementary pass-catching option in Thomas’ absence. To fill the 53-man roster spot opened by Thomas moving to IR, the Saints promoted cornerback Cameron Dantzler from the taxi squad. The team currently has six IR activations available, one of which will be needed to bring Thomas back into the fold if he is able to return in 2023.
Rams Waive RB Darrell Henderson
With Kyren Williams back to full health, Darrell Henderson has seen his latest Rams stint come to an end. The latter was waived on Tuesday, per a team announcement. 
Williams’ move to injured reserve prompted a reunion with Henderson, who spent his first four years with Los Angeles. With the vacancy created in the Rams’ backfield by Williams going down (along with the trade which dealt away Cam Akers), Henderson was able to shoulder a notable workload in his short-lived return.
The 26-year-old received 46 carries and caught 10 passes during his four games on the active roster. Henderson turned that into 112 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, along with 103 yards through the air. Those figures were not enough to earn him an extended look upon Williams’ return, so Henderson will not hit the waiver wire. It will be interesting to see if an interested team puts in a claim for him, as the Jaguars did in 2022.
Failing that, Henderson will be a candidate to re-sign to the Rams’ practice squad. In any case, Los Angeles will look to improve on the ground in the second half of the campaign, with the team sitting 20th in the NFL at an average of 103 yards per game on the ground. Despite his missed time, Williams (who can be expected to be activated from IR in the coming days) still comfortably leads the Rams with 456 rushing yards. He and veteran Royce Freeman will carry the load moving forward.
The Rams improved to 4-6 with a win in Week 11, quarterback Matthew Stafford‘s return to action. With he and Williams now back in the fold, Los Angeles will attempt to make a late playoff push. Unless he is retained via the taxi squad, though, Henderson will not play a role in that effort.