Patriots Activate CB Jack Jones, Place OL Riley Reiff On IR
The Patriots made a number of roster moves on Saturday which will see the return of a key defender on one hand, but an extended absence of a veteran O-linemen on the other. Per a team announcement, cornerback Jack Jones was activated from injured reserve while tackle Riley Reiff was placed on IR. 
Jones was designated for return earlier this week, a move which opened his three-week practice window. It comes as no surprise that the Patriots are moving quickly bringing him back into the fold given their injury woes at the cornerback spot. First-round rookie Christian Gonzalez is out for the year with a torn labrum, while Marcus Jones is on IR. Those injuries led to New England’s re-acquisition of J.C. Jackson earlier this month.
Jack Jones had a signficant role as a rookie last year, posting a 54% defensive snap share. That playing time resulted in a pair of interceptions, six pass defections and one forced fumble. The Arizona State product also posted strong coverage statistics, allowing a completion percentage of 54% as the nearest defender. A hamstring injury led to his IR stint ahead of Week 1, so Sunday’s game will mark Jones’ 2023 debut.
Reiff, by contrast, has only made one appearance this year. The 34-year-old missed the beginning of the campaign due to a leg injury, with his first IR stint shutting him down for the first month of the season. He suited up in Week 5 and saw time at both left and right guard. Signed to a one-year deal to provide depth at a number of spots, Rieff could have been option at right tackle as well when healthy. Now, though, he will be sidelined for at least another four weeks.
The Patriots also activated veteran special teamer Cody Davis from the PUP list. His return will lead to his 2023 debut, and it will not count against the Patriots’ IR activations count. Bringing back Jones, on the other hand, will use up one of the team’s six remaining activations. The same will be true of Rieff if he is brought back during the second half of the campaign.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/21/23
Today’s taxi squad moves:
Chicago Bears
- Released: T Austen Pleasants
Denver Broncos
- Re-signed: WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey
- Released: WR Michael Bandy
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: WR Montrell Washington
Humphrey was let go yesterday, but he will immediately find himself back in Denver’s lineup on Sunday. The team announced he has been elevated upon re-signing with the practice squad, meaning Week 7 will be his third and final gameday elevation. The Broncos will need to sign him to the active roster after that point to keep him in the fold for the rest of the season.
49ers’ Deebo Samuel Facing Multi-Week Absence
After finishing their Week 6 contest without Christian McCaffrey and Deebo Samuel on the field, the 49ers are set to be without at least the latter for the time being. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said on Saturday that Samuel is dealing with a hairline fracture in his shoulder and that he will miss a minimum of the next two games as a result. 
San Francisco is set to play Minnesota on Monday to close out Week 7, followed by a home matchup against the Bengals. The 49ers then have their bye week, so Samuel’s next game will come no earlier than Week 10, giving the team plenty of time to determine their course of action with the 27-year-old. Another evaluation will take place after the bye week, Shanahan added.
Regardless of the length of Samuel’s absence, his injury will leave San Francisco without one of its highly versatile offensive weapons. The All-Pro has posted a 20-302-1 statline in the passing game to date, while adding 95 yards and another score on the ground. Today’s news adds to Samuel’s injury history, however, which has seen him miss time in each of his five seasons in the NFL.
Samuel was limited to seven games in 2020, his second campaign in San Francisco. Various ailments have popped up since then, though the South Carolina alum managed to play 16 games the following season and 13 last year. His lack of an extension last offseason led to a public trade request, but he ultimately signed a three-year, $71.55MM deal. Samuel failed to duplicate his 1,770 total-yard performance from the previous year in 2022, and this latest injury will hurt his production as well.
The 49ers also have wideout Brandon Aiyuk in place as a key cog in their passing game, as is the case for tight end George Kittle. That pair will assume a larger share of the 49ers’ targets on offense, while 2020 seventh-rounder Jauan Jennings (who has posted a 41% snap share this season) could be in line for an uptick in playing time. McCaffrey has been the subject of speculation for his Week 7 availability, but he practiced on Saturday and appears to be on track to suit up on Monday. Regardless of if that happens or not, though, Samuel will not be available for at least a short stretch.
Packers Activate CB Eric Stokes
The Packers are set to have another high-profile cornerback available in time for their Week 7 contest. Eric Stokes was activated from the PUP list on Saturday, clearing the way for a return to game action tomorrow. 
Stokes was designated for return more than two weeks ago, so the Packers could only have afforded for him to miss one more contest before risking him reverting to season-ending IR. Instead, the former first-rounder will now be able to suit up for the first time since last November, the point at which his second NFL campaign came to an end.
Stokes underwent foot and knee surgeries this offseason to address the ailments which limited him to nine contests last year. Those injuries also added to the time both he and fellow CB Jaire Alexander have missed during their time in Green Bay, which has severely limited their ability to take the field together. Alexander is comfortably set to continue his starting role upon the team’s return from the bye, but the same cannot be said of Stokes.
The latter, as foreshadowed in the offseason, is likely to take on backup duties as he works his way back into the fold. Green Bay has Alexander, along with Rasul Douglas and Keisean Nixon in place atop the CB depth chart, and no member of that trio will be asked to move positions or take on second-team duties with Stokes now in play. The Georgia alum has started 23 of his 25 games to date, and he showed considerable promise as a rookie with one interception and 14 pass deflections.
Last year, however, Stokes allowed a completion percentage of 80% when in coverage, leading to an opposing passer rating of 123.5. The Packers’ defense as a whole has generally failed to live up to expectations under DC Joe Barry, but Stokes will personally face notable scrutiny upon return in whatever capacity he serves in. Sitting at 2-3, Green Bay ranks ninth in the NFL against the pass, so it comes as little surprise that the team will not alter its backfield to accommodate Stokes’ return. At a minimum, he will provide depth at the CB spot as he prepares to suit up for the first time in nearly one calendar year.
Broncos To Activate OLB Baron Browning From PUP List
The Broncos’ altered edge rush group will welcome back a key member as early as tomorrow. Baron Browning is set to be activated from the reserve/PUP list, reports ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. 
Denver began the season with veterans Randy Gregory and Frank Clark as notable members of their pass-rush contingent. However, the former has been traded to the 49ers, while the latter was released after no interested teams could be found in a pick swap. Those moves cleared a path to increased playing time for the team’s younger contributors, a group which includes Browning.
The 24-year-old figures to take on snaps alongside Nik Bonitto and Jonathan Cooper, who have combined to post 9.5 of the Broncos’ 14 sacks this season. Drafted as an inside linebacker, Browning was shifted to the outside last season and he showed considerable promise after the move. The Ohio State alum was limited to 58 tackles and one quarterback hit as a rookie, but the transition to an OLB alignment the following season resulted in five sacks, 12 QB hits and 18 pressures.
Browning suffered a meniscus injury this offseason, something which required surgery back in June. As a result of the procedure, he was moved to the reserve/PUP list during roster cutdowns, a designation which guaranteed at least a four-week absence. A recent report indicated Week 7 was the likely point at which he would make his debut, though, so today’s news comes as little surprise.
The Broncos’ defense has been the league’s worst in a number of categories this season, contributing in large part to the team’s 1-5 record. Denver is thus well-positioned to be in the sellers category in advance of the October 31 trade deadline, though offensive contributors appear likelier to be on the move compared to defensive ones. In any event, Browning’s return will be welcomed given the promise he showed in his first campaign as an edge rusher, along with the depth it gives the team with respect to healthy OLB options.
Cardinals Activate S Budda Baker
Kyler Murray‘s 2023 debut will have to wait at least one more week, but the Cardinals will have another top player back in the fold tomorrow. Safety Budda Baker has been activated from injured reserve and is expected to play in Week 7, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. The team has since confirmed the move.
Baker, like Murray, was designated for return earlier this week. That move opened up both players’ 21-day practice window during which activation is required to avoid season-ending IR. Murray’s ramp-up period will give backup quarterback Josh Dobbs at least one more game at the helm, but Arizona’s defense will welcome Baker’s return to game action.
The latter suffered a hamstring injury during practice in advance of Week 2, which led to his IR stint. That marked the longest injury absence of his career, and left Arizona without the two-time All-Pro on the backend. Baker will give a notable boost to an Arizona defense which ranks 22nd in the league in passing yards allowed per gam (243) and which has seen only two defensive backs record an interception so far.
The 27-year-old had an eventful offseason, with his desire for a market-leading contract leading to a trade request which eventually went public. In the end, team and player worked out a compromise which guaranteed his 2023 compensation (including a $13.1MM base salary), but he remains signed through 2024 at a non-guaranteed figure of $14.6MM. With the Cardinals sitting at 1-5, many expect the rebuilding team to adopt a sellers stance ahead of the upcoming deadline.
The play of Baker – who has earned Pro Bowl acclaim in each of the past four seasons and five overall – will no doubt go a long way in determining his potential trade market. He has eclipsed 100 tackles four times in his career along with multiple interceptions every year from 2020-22. It will be worth watching how much interest he generates upon return, as the Cardinals look to continue their trend of better-than-expected performances this season.
Bringing Baker back will use up one of Arizona’s seven remaining IR activations. Murray’s return (from the PUP list) will not count toward that total, but it will likewise be a notable development for the Cardinals as they look to get healthier in the coming weeks.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/20/23
Today’s minor moves around the NFL:
Chicago Bears
- Released: CB JoeJuan Williams
Denver Broncos
- Claimed off waivers (from Chiefs): DT Keondre Coburn
- Released: WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey
Indianapolis Colts
- Claimed off waivers (from Patriots): CB Ameer Speed
- Waived: WR Amari Rodgers
Miami Dolphins
- Placed on IR: RB Chris Brooks
New Orleans Saints
- Waived: G Tommy Kraemer
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/20/23
Friday’s taxi squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Re-signed: RB Tony Jones Jr.
- Released: QB Jeff Driskel
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: CB Kindle Vildor
- Released: LB Brandon Smith
Raiders To Start Brian Hoyer In Week 7
With Jimmy Garoppolo set to miss another contest on Sunday, the Raiders have a decision to make regarding who they start under center in Week 7. Rookie Aidan O’Connell and veteran Brian Hoyer represent the team’s options, and a commitment appears to have been made. 
Las Vegas will start Hoyer against the Bears, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports. That means Week 7 will mark his first start since last season in his second stint in New England. Hoyer signed a two-year deal in free agency this offseason despite giving serious consideration to retirement, a move which reunited him with Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels.
The latter tapped O’Connell in Week 4 to make his NFL debut, a sign of confidence in the fourth-rounder. He went 24-for-39 for 238 scoreless yards and one interception in a loss to the Chargers. O’Connell added one rushing touchdown, but his three fumbles no doubt gave McDaniels and the coaching staff pause about when to give him another opportunity in regular season action.
Garoppolo is dealing with a back injury which caused him to be transported to hospital midway through the Raiders’ Week 6 win over the Patriots. It came out yesterday that he will miss Sunday’s game, opening the door to Hoyer seeing an extended look. It was the 38-year-old who came in as relief after Garoppolo’s exist last week, delivering a 94.6 passer rating in limited action while helping guide the team to a victory.
Now sitting at 3-3, the Raiders will turn to Hoyer against a Bears team which will also be without its starter on Sunday. Justin Fields‘ thumb injury will sideline him for at least one full contest, clearing the way for undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent to get his first NFL start. The last time Hoyer won a game he started, meanwhile, came back in 2016 when he played for the Bears. His next opportunity to end that drought will come in Chicago on Sunday in a battle of the backups.
Bills Place RB Damien Harris On IR
The neck injury Damien Harris suffered in Week 6 will keep him sidelined for an extended stretch. The Bills announced on Friday that the veteran running back has been placed on IR. 
As a result of the move. Harris will miss at least the next four weeks. He was hospitalized after suffering a stinger, but initial indications suggested the worst-case scenario had been avoided. Still, the 26-year-old’s absence will be felt in the Bills’ backfield moving forward. Buffalo signed ex-Lions and Jets backup Ty Johnson to the active roster in a corresponding move.
Johnson’s continued presence in the organization led to a Leonard Fournette visit being canceled earlier this week. The latter remains unsigned and his addition would have given the Bills a veteran depth presence at the RB spot, but instead that will now fall to Johnson and Latavius Murray. The Bills are already without pass-catching specialist/returner Nyheim Hines, who was involved in a jet ski accident before the season started.
James Cook has, as expected, seen a major uptick in usage this season, his second in the NFL. The 2022 second-rounder’s snap share sits at 56% through six weeks, more than double that figure from his rookie campaign. Cook will continue to be leaned on with Harris (who has totaled 25 touches to date this year) no longer in the fold for the time being. Murray saw a season-high 12 carries last week when Harris was injured, and he is in line to handle RB2 duties moving forward.
Bringing Harris back will require using one of the team’s seven remaining IR activations. His return will be welcomed by a Bills offense looking to find a rhythm both on the ground and through the air. For the foreseeable future, though, the team will need to consider adjusting its snap share in the backfield with another Cook compliment no longer available.