Vikings To Place Justin Jefferson On IR
The hamstring injury Justin Jefferson suffered in Week 5 will sideline him for an extended stretch. The Vikings wideout will be placed on injured reserve, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. 
As a result of the move, the reigning Offensive Player of the Year will be shut down for at least the next four weeks. The Vikings will use the IR designation to ensure Jefferson has a sufficient period to heal in full and avoid a rushed recovery which could lead to a setback. Still, the news marks a crippling blow to the 1-4 team’s offense and overall prospects for the season.
“We’re going to have to medically make a good decision and help almost protect him from himself a little bit in a way where we’ve got to take care of him and get him back to 100 percent,” head coach Kevin O’Connell said, via ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, when asked about Jefferson’s prognosis and how the team would proceed with his recovery.
The 24-year-old, as expected, has had a highly productive start to the 2023 season. Jefferson currently ranks seventh in the NFL in catches (36) and third in yards (571) through five contests. He will now be sidelined for the first time in his career, after availability during his first three seasons helped him break the all-time record for the most receiving yards during that opening stretch of a player’s pro tenure. Replacing the LSU product will be a notable challenge for Minnesota.
Jefferson has drawn the fourth-most targets in the league (53), and O’Connell admitted the team’s offense is founded in very large part on the former first-rounder. With Jefferson no longer in the picture for the time being, the workload for first-round rookie Jordan Addison and former fifth-rounder K.J. Osborn will increase. The former has posted a 19-243-3 statline so far despite seeing the field for only 67% of offensive snaps. An uptick in playing time should yield a continuation of his encouraging start in the NFL. Of course, recently-extended tight end T.J. Hockenson will also be in line to see more targets in his first full campaign in Minnesota.
The Vikings have expressed confidence in their ability to rebound from an 0-3 start, making it clear that a seller’s status ahead of the October 31 trade deadline was not in the cards. As a result, consideration has not been given to finding a deal for quarterback Kirk Cousins to be sent elsewhere (something which would require the 35-year-old, who is in the final year of his contract, waiving his no-trade clause). It will be interesting to see if that mindset changes as the team now faces a stretch of three out of four games on the road – the lone exception being against the 5-0 49ers.
For Jefferson, an extended layoff could have an effect on his bargaining position in the offseason. He and the Vikings held extension talks in the offseason, but a deal – one which will likely make him the league’s highest-paid receiver – could not be finalized. Negotiations are now on hold until the spring, and having a signficant injury on his resume could hurt Jefferson’s leverage to a degree. The 2025 fifth-year option is in place for him, in any event, and his historic production when on the field will no doubt still land him a massive second contract. For the time being, though, he will be absent as the Vikings look to find a new recipe for offensive production.
Jets WR Mecole Hardman On Trade Block?
Mecole Hardman was a healthy scratch in Week 5, as his Jets tenure continues to disappoint so far. The wideout’s time in New York may soon be coming to an end as a result. 
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports the Jets are exploring their options with Hardman, which could include a trade. The former Pro Bowl returner has made just one catch this season, and his absence from the team’s offensive gameplans has been questioned by many. Hardman himself recently went public with his frustration about essentially being an afterthought with his new club.
“I’m probably the best in the league in space,” the 25-year-old said in advance of the Jets’ Week 5 win. “Maybe (the coaches) see something different. I’m just waiting for the opportunity to present itself. I think when I was in K.C., I proved that I was probably the most dangerous guy on the jet sweep, or whether it be on the end-around or on the screen, I think I proved year-out that I was that guy you had to worry about doing that.”
Hardman was a dangerous kick and punt returner during his four-year run in Kansas City, and he showed promise as at least a gadget player on offense. His best season came in 2021 when he posted 693 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 59 catches. Similar complimentary production was expected when he headed to New York on a one-year, $4MM deal.
Incentives in the pact provide a maximum value of $6MM, proving the expectations the Jets had for Hardman upon arrival. He, like former Packer Allen Lazard, was positioned to serve as a depth option in the passing game behind 2022 Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson. With Aaron Rodgers‘ 2023 campaign having essentially ended before it began, though, the team’s offense has generally struggled to find a rhythm under quarterback Zach Wilson.
The Jets managed to move to 2-3 on the year with a win over the Broncos on Sunday, but their 407 yards of offense came in large part on the ground, and their success through the air came without Hardman in the lineup. Since he is on an expiring contract, teams in need of receiving help could be interested in a rental which would allow club and player to move on from a situation which has not gone according to plan.
Lions’ Emmanuel Moseley Suffers Torn ACL
Week 5 marked Emmanuel Moseley‘s return to action after missing most of the 2022 campaign to a torn ACL. On Sunday, however, he was met with the exact same fate, as noted by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. 
Mosely tore his left ACL in Week 5 last season, an injury which ended his campaign and dealt a signficant blow to his free agent value. The 27-year-old tore his right ACL yesterday, Schefter notes. Instead of locking down a starting role in Detroit’s revamped secondary, Mosely will now be forced to begin the lengthy rehab process again.
Across five season with the 49ers, he established himself as a starting-caliber cover man. The major knee injury suffered in his contract year unexpectedly put him Detroit’s price range, and paved the way for a move out of the Bay Area for the first time in his career. Mosely signed a one-year, $6MM deal – a sign of the damage done to his market value by the injury, which required a cleanup procedure in August.
That surgery further delayed his 2023 debut, but expectations were still high for him once he was able to suit up. Moseley recorded one interception in each season between 2019-22, totaling 33 pass breakups over that span. The former UDFA generally put up strong coverage numbers as well, making him a prized acquisition for the Lions as part of their defensive renovations this offseason. Unless he is retained on what will no doubt be another low-cost deal, Mosely’s Detroit tenure will have lasted just two defensive snaps.
The Lions signed Cameron Sutton in free agency, and the ex-Steelers starter will remain a crucial part of their CB room moving forward. The same is true of second-round rookie Brian Branch, whose impressive performances in the summer as a slot corner forced C.J. Gardner-Johnson to move to safety. Third-year Lion Jerry Jacobs – who has gotten off to a flying start with three interceptions – will also be a key member of the team’s secondary, a unit which will be without Moseley for the remainder of the season.
Two of the Lions’ three free agency secondary additions are facing extended rehab timetables. Gardner-Johnson’s torn pec is not certain to sideline him for the rest of the season, but that is in play.
Bills Fear Season-Ending Knee Injury For LB Matt Milano
OCTOBER 9: The standout linebacker will require surgery, Sean McDermott said Monday. While the seventh-year HC did not confirm Milano is done for the season, that is the expectation at this point. The Bills have lost three defensive starters — Milano, Jones and White — to major injuries in a seven-day span.
OCTOBER 8: The Bills suffered a loss to the Jaguars in Week 5, but the team was dealt a more significant blow in the process. Linebacker Matt Milano is feared to have suffered a season-ending knee injury, per Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. 
Milano was carted off the field in the first quarter, and Rapoport notes he has since been diagnosed with a fractured leg. Further tests are set to be conducted to see if an ACL tear has occurred as well, and confirmation on that front would confirm he will miss the remainder of the year. The Bills’ defense has already lost top corner Tre’Davious White to a torn Achilles, and being without Milano would add substantially to the unit’s injury woes.
The latter has been in Buffalo since 2017, serving as a full-time starter for most of that time. Milano has eclipsed 100 tackles only once in his career, but his versatility has made him one of the league’s most valued linebackers in the passing game in particular. The former fifth-rounder has 10 interceptions and 39 pass breakups to his name, and he has chipped in as a complimentary pass rusher as well.
The Bills lost fellow linebacker Tremaine Edmunds in free agency, creating a notable vacancy in the middle of their defense. An open training camp competition produced Terrel Bernard as the Edmunds replacement, but his ascension to a starting role came with the presumption of being insulated by the veteran presence and consistent production of Milano. Losing the latter for an extended stretch would tax Buffalo’s second level considerably given their lack of proven players at the outside linebacker spot.
Milano signed a two-year extension this offseason in a move which freed up cap space in the immediate future while keeping him on the books through 2026. He will remain an integral (and, at an AAV of $14.17MM, expensive) member of the Bills’ defense moving forward, but his ability to return to form when healthy – something which seems destined to take place no earlier than the beginning of the 2024 campaign – will be worth watching.
Head coach Sean McDermott said after the game that defensive lineman DaQuan Jones suffered a pectoral injury, adding that his prognosis “doesn’t look good.” Jones has been a full-time starter in his two Bills campaigns, providing an interior pass rush. The 31-year-old recorded a pair of sacks last season, upping that total to 2.5 through the first four games of the 2023 slate. As is the case with Milano, however, it remains to be seen if he will be able to suit up again before next year.
Jets OL Alijah Vera-Tucker Suffers Torn Achilles
2:27pm: Further testing has, unexpectedly, revealed the worst-case scenario. Vera-Tucker has suffered a torn Achilles, Rapoport notes. The news confirms the 24-year-old will be sidelined for the rest of the season, and marks a massive blow to the team’s offensive line. At least one year remains on his rookie contract, but the team can keep him in place through 2025 if they elect to exercise his fifth-year option in the spring.
12:03pm: The Jets won what was dubbed the ‘Nathaniel Hackett Bowl’ on Sunday, delivering an impressive offensive performance in the process. The unit was dealt a notable blow on the injury front, however. 
Alijah Vera-Tucker suffered a calf injury in Week 5, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Further testing is required, but Rapoport adds that an Achilles injury is not expected to be in play. Major injuries of the latter nature are usually known before an MRI confirms them, so a shorter-term absence should be expected in this case.
Still, losing Vera-Tucker for any stretch would be signficant for a Jets team which has struggled to find stability up front. The 2021 first-rounder took over at right tackle following the injury suffered by blindside blocker Duane Brown – something which forced Mekhi Becton to move to the LT spot. Vera-Tucker’s play at tackle (rather than guard) had prompted New York to consider a full-time switch. Those plans will now be put on hold, though.
The USC product had experience on the inside and outside coming out of college, and finding the ideal spot for him has been a talking point for the Jets amidst their struggles up front. Vera-Tucker played exclusively at left guard as a rookie, but he has split time at guard and tackle on the right side since then. Strong run blocking has led to overall PFF grades in the low 70s in 2022 and the early stages of this season. Comparative struggles in pass blocking (something which has plagued many Jets O-linemen) have, however, remained a constant in his young NFL career.
Becton’s ability to log an every-down role this season has been a welcomed development given his lengthy injury history, and much will be expected of him with Brown on injured reserve and Vera-Tucker set to miss time. MRI results will go a long way in determining how long the latter is sidelined, but even a brief absence would tax the Jets’ tackle depth even further. Veteran Billy Turner and 2022 fourth-rounder Max Mitchell – neither of whom have seen signficant playing time this year – would be in line to fill in for Vera-Tucker in the starting lineup.
Dolphins To Open RB Jeff Wilson’s Practice Window
The Dolphins have had plenty of success on the ground already this season, but the team will soon have another option in the backfield. Jeff Wilson is set to be designated for return, agent Drew Rosenhaus informs Josh Moser of WSVN 7. 
Wilson was placed on injured reserve at the end of August while dealing with finger and midsection injuries. That designation guaranteed at least a four-week absence to begin the campaign, but head coach Mike McDaniel‘s remarks suggested a lengthier absence may have been in store. After five missed contests, Wilson will be able to return as early as this Sunday if he is activated in the coming days.
Players have 21 days to be activated once they are cleared to return to practice. The Dolphins will thus have plenty of time to evaluate Wilson this week before deciding if will be immediately be brought back into the team’s RB rotation. A role of some kind will no doubt await the 27-year-old when he is able to suit up, though, as he will look to continue the success he had in Miami last season and carry on the team’s production on the ground.
Wilson spent his first four-plus NFL seasons with the 49ers, but after their Christian McCaffrey acquisition he was traded to the Dolphins. That move saw the former UDFA log a similar workload to the one he had in San Francisco, and he averaged 4.7 yards per carry while recording 486 scrimmage yards and four total touchdowns. Wilson – like fellow back Raheem Mostert – was retained in the offseason as Miami looked to maintain stability at the RB spot.
Despite having Wilson’s two-year deal on the books, the Dolphins were considered a favorite to sign Dalvin Cook, and they were suitors in a potential trade acquisition of Jonathan Taylor. In the end, though, the only main addition made at the running back spot was the selection of De’Von Achane in the third round of April’s draft, a move which has proven to be shrewd. The Texas A&M product has turned 38 attempts into 460 rushing yards, good for an absurd 12.1 yards per carry average, while scoring seven total touchdowns. He and Mostert have helped power the Dolphins to a league-leading average of 186 rushing yards per game.
Wilson will likely displace Salvon Ahmed (who has been used sparingly to date) in the lineup when he is activated. The latter entered roster cutdowns in a precarious position given the logjam of capable backs already on the team, something which led to Myles Gaskin‘s departure. It will be interesting to see how the Dolphins proceed with Ahmed once three backs are again ahead of him on the depth chart – including Achane, who is expected to handle an increased workload moving forward. Miami has its full complement of eight IR activations available at the moment.
Bears Designate CB Kyler Gordon For Return, Sign QB Nathan Peterman To Practice Squad
The Bears could have their starting slot corner back in the fold as early as Week 6. Kyler Gordon was designated for return from injured reserve on Monday, per a team announcement. Backup center Doug Kramer has also had his practice window opened. 
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As a result of the move, both players are now clear to return to practice. They can do so for up to 21 days before Chicago will be required to activate them or see them revert to season-ending IR. Bringing back the pair will use up two of the team’s seven remaining IR activations.
Gordon suffered a broken hand in the season opener, and the surgery he underwent opened the door to an IR stint the following week. The team was optimistic he would be able to return at the first opportunity, and that would prove to be the case if he were to be activated this week. A 2022 second-rounder, Gordon played on the outside as a rookie but has moved to the slot for the 2023 campaign. His return will allow Chicago to have its top trio of Gordon, Jaylon Johnson and rookie Tyrique Stevenson in place at the CB spot.
Gordon, 23, showed plenty of promise last season, racking up 71 tackles, three interceptions and six pass deflections. The Washington alum left plenty to be desired in coverage, though, allowing three touchdowns and a passer rating of 102 as the nearest defender. That led to a poor PFF grade of 49.8, but a return to action will give him the chance to show improvement and in doing so give a boost to the Bears’ secondary.
In other roster news, the Bears retained quarterback Nathan Peterman by signing him to the practice squad. The veteran was released last week in a move which confirmed undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent‘s status as the backup to Justin Fields. Chicago did not have another passer in the organization beyond that pair for a time, however, so it comes as little surprise that Peterman will remain in the Windy City. The 29-year-old spent last season on and off the team’s taxi squad, and that arrangement is now set continue in 2023.
Colts Did Not Receive Jonathan Taylor Trade Offers
Week 5 saw the return of Jonathan Taylor to the Colts’ lineup, after he agreed to a three-year extension over the weekend. That deal marked an end to the questions surrounding his future in Indianapolis, and confirmed a lack of interest on the part of other teams with respect to acquiring him. 
Taylor’s trade request – borne out of the team’s decision not to engage in extension talks – was initially denied, but in time the 2021 rushing champion was allowed to seek out a deal sending him elsewhere. The teams most closely linked with Taylor were the Dolphins and Packers, both of which were reported to be willing to pay him at or near the top of the market. That ended up being the case for the former second-rounder, but his $42MM pact came from Indianapolis after trade talks slowed down.
As The Athletic’s Dianna Russini confirms, the Colts did not receive any firm offers or engage in “serious conversations” regarding a potential Taylor swap (subscription required). Indianapolis was believed to have included wideouts Jaylen Waddle and Christian Watson in their asking price for hypothetical deals with Miami and Green Bay, respectively. To no surprise, those players proved to be non-starters. Another factor which represented a barrier to a deal getting done, of course, was Taylor’s contract status.
2023 marks the final year of the Wisconsin alum’s rookie contract, meaning he would have needed to be franchise tagged or signed to a multi-year extension by an acquiring team to justify sending draft capital to the Colts to finalize a trade. Indianapolis initially set the price at a first-round pick (or a package of similar value), but that later came down as the relationship between team and player seemed to be beyond saving. Instead, Taylor’s return to practice paved the way for a warming of relations and an agreement being struck which will seem him earn $26.5MM in guaranteed money. Russini notes that the commitment required on a new deal, rather than the cost of a trade, was the main roadblock to a swap being worked out.
With Taylor having secured the third-highest AAV ($14MM) amongst running backs, it will be interesting to see if the position’s market can rebound in the coming free agent period after seeing its downward trend continue in 2023. With a long list of notable names on expiring contracts, though, it would come as a surprise if teams spent considerable resources at the RB spot, as their aversion to acquiring Taylor illustrated.
Raiders Eyeing Edge Rush Addition
Having moved on from Chandler Jones, the Raiders are without a projected starter amongst their edge rush contingent. The team is eyeing a replacement for at least the remainder of the season. 
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Jones was inactive throughout the beginning of the campaign as his off-field situation spiraled quickly. After the four-time Pro Bowler was arrested, though, Vegas made the expected move of releasing him. The Raiders still have Maxx Crosby in place as their pass-rushing anchor, but a new veteran presence would be welcomed. The team is eyeing a trade acquisition in that regard, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports (subscription required).
Russini adds that Vegas has been active contacting teams for a potential addition, and that a player-for-player swap would be preferred. That comes as little surprise, as the 1-3 outfit would be well-suited to retain as much of its draft capital as possible. The Raiders might not be prepared to pay a signficant price in a rental move, Russini notes.
Crosby has posted a team-leading four sacks this year, but no other Raider has recorded more than one, and no other edge rusher has any. Collectively, Vegas’ total of seven ranks just 26th in the league, proving the need for reinforcements along the edge. Given the fact any move would likely involve a player on an expiring deal being acquired, a relatively small addition would likely be involved. A starting-caliber arrival would, on the other hand, allow first-round rookie Tyree Wilson to continue operating in a rotational role.
The No. 7 pick in April’s draft was originally ticketed for a part-time workload behind Crosby and Jones, but the latter’s departure altered those plans. Wilson has logged a 41% snap share through four games, and he has yet to register a sack or QB pressure. Providing a veteran insurance policy would be a welcomed move for his development, but it will be interesting to see how interested teams are with respect to moving on from a depth member of their own edge rush group.
The Raiders currently have just under $11MM in cap space, which puts them in better financial shape than most teams around the league. While their record would suggest a seller’s status, their interest in making at least one addition before the October 31 trade deadline will be an interesting story to follow.
Latest On NFL’s International Series
Week 5 saw the Jaguars play their second straight game in London as a continuation of this year’s NFL International Series. As the league continues to stage regular season contests overseas and explore new markets, the possibility remains that games played in foreign locations becomes a regular fixture for all teams. 
With a 17-game schedule in place, many have pointed to an arrangement being made down the road in which teams play eight games at home and on the road, along with one international contest. Expansion or relocation seeing a full-time team established in London – or even an all-European division – remains on the NFL’s radar, but for the time being a likelier scenario would see all teams playing a single contest per season outside of the U.S.
“I think both or either of those paths… is in the realm of possibility,” NFL EVP Peter O’Reilly said when asked about further additions to the international schedule. “And I think it just is a testament to what we’re seeing in these markets. The passionate fan response. The great partnerships with stadiums and government officials in these markets. So, that’s why we’re doing this diligence around the opportunity to potentially expand number of games played or have the capacity and the infrastructure in place if there were a scenario in the future where there was potential relocation or as discussed maybe even expansion” (h/t Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk).
2023 will see one more game played in London, followed by two in Germany. An increase in overseas games would, of course, require new markets in future seasons. As O’Reilly recently noted, the league has conducted fact-finding missions in Spain and Brazil to explore the possibility of playing games there. The Dolphins have marketing rights in both countries, while the same is true of the Bears in Spain. Other potential sites are under consideration as well, though.
O’Reilly also mentioned (via Mark Maske of the Washington Post) France and Australia as hypothetical locations for NFL games. Logistics in the latter country in particular would be a notable challenge to overcome, and no league officials have been sent to conduct due diligence as of yet. If the NFL remains intent on making international contests an annual staple for all teams, however, it will be worth watching how aggressive the league is in the future with respect to finding new foreign markets.