Bears To Sign S Duron Harmon Off Ravens’ Practice Squad
Duron Harmon joined the Ravens’ practice squad in a bid to find playing time in 2023. Rather than doing so in Baltimore, however, he is set to see the field in Chicago. 
The Bears are expected to sign Harmon to their active roster, reports Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. The team had an open roster spot, so no corresponding move will be required. Harmon will give Chicago a needed depth option in the secondary, a unit which has been hit hard by injuries early in the season.
Safety Eddie Jackson was among the many defensive backs who missed the Bears’ Week 4 loss, and his availability for the team’s upcoming Thursday night game is in question. The same is true for cornerback Jaylon Johnson, whose absence on Sunday compounded that of Kyler Gordon and Josh Blackwell, both of whom are on injured reserve. The Bears signed former Viking Joejuan Williams last week to help their thin CB room.
Harmon could have seen time on the Ravens’ active roster (at least as a gameday elevation for a limited time) given Baltimore’s own injury troubles on the back end. Starting safety Marcus Williams suffered a pectoral injury in Week 1, and he has not seen the field since then. The 2022 free agent addition has elected to forego surgery, though, meaning he avoided an IR stint and is on track to return at some point in the campaign.
In Williams’ absence, special teamer Daryl Worley – who has seen time on and off Baltimore’s practice squad – was added to the Ravens’ active roster last month. The former Raiders starter suffered an injury in Week 4, however, which could leave Baltimore without much in the way of depth behind Kyle Hamilton and Geno Stone for the time being. It will be interesting to see if they make a taxi squad addition in Harmon’s absence.
The latter is best known for his tenure with the Patriots, a seven-year stretch which saw him win three Super Bowls. He has since had one-year stints with the Lions, Falcons and Raiders, logging over 1,000 snaps in each season. Harmon will likely have a path to immediate playing time in Chicago if he is able to suit up in time for the Bears’ next attempt to secure their first win of the campaign.
Patriots’ Matt Judon To Undergo Surgery; OLB Out Indefinitely
The torn bicep which forced Matt Judon to exit New England’s Week 4 loss will lead to surgery and an extended absence. The team’s top edge rusher will undergo surgery on Wednesday, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter. 
As Schefter notes, Judon’s intention is to return at some point this season. For the time being, though, he will be out indefinitely. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network adds that the 31-year-old will be sidelined for at least the next two months, an absence which be acutely felt along New England’s defensive front.
Judon has earned a Pro Bowl nod in each of the past four years, making his transition from the Ravens to the Patriots a smooth one. The former fifth-rounder racked up 28 sacks in his first two years in New England, giving him leverage in asking for a raise in term of 2023 compensation. His restructured pact upped his earnings for this season, giving him $14MM in guaranteed money. With 2024 still the final year of his contract, however, there was an expectation another strong campaign would lead to a new round of extension talks.
In the early going, Judon was well on his way to another productive season with a team-leading four sacks. He added 11 pressures and five tackles for loss in his three-plus games, putting him on track to secure either another lucrative restructure or a new multi-year pact in the offseason. In the wake of this injury, however, Judon’s bargaining position will no doubt be negatively affected.
The Patriots have registered six sacks so far from players other than Judon, so missing the latter for an extended stretch will put considerable strain on their edge rush group. Former second-rounder Josh Uche, who is in a contract year and posted 11.5 sacks last season, will be counted on to repeat his 2022 performance without Judon in the fold. New England currently has just over $4.2MM in cap space, meaning the team could afford a low-cost addition amongst the league’s remaining unsigned edge rushers. No member of that group would be able to replicate Judon’s impact, however, as the Patriots look to rebound from Sunday’s lopsided defeat.
Steelers TE Pat Freiermuth Facing Multi-Week Absence
The Steelers’ offense will be down another starter for the time being. Tight end Pat Freiermuth is expected to miss two to three weeks with a hamstring injury, reports Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 
The team’s passing attack is already without wideout Diontae Johnson, who is on injured reserve due to his own hamstring ailment. Losing Freiermuth for an overlapping stretch will leave the Steelers without their top pass-catcher at the TE spot and thus hinder a passing attack which has failed to live up to expectations so far in 2023.
The 2021 second-rounder recorded at least 60 catches in each of his first two seasons in Pittsburgh, proving his value as a consistent complimentary option on offense. This year, however, Freiermuth has posted just eight grabs for 53 yards (though two of them have resulted in touchdowns). In spite of the underwhelming totals, his absence will be felt on a unit which does not feature a similarly established option at the position.
Pittsburgh has 2022 sixth-rounder Connor Heyward – who has made 14 catches to date in his career – and third-round rookie Darnell Washington available as replacements. The latter, who established himself as an athletic standout in a deep tight end class at the Combine and proved to be a highly effective blocker at Georgia, has received only one target to date. That total will likely increase in the near future with Freiermuth unavailable.
The status of quarterback Kenny Pickett is uncertain at this point after he exited the Steelers’ Week 4 loss with a knee injury. That ailment is not serious, though, meaning he could suit up for Week 5. Regardless of who is under center for Pittsburgh – a team which has the bye coming up in Week 6 – this Sunday, the offense’s skill-position corps will be shorthanded. With the Steelers’ offense coming under fire after a 2-2 start, it will be interesting to see how the unit fares at less than full strength.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/2/23
Today’s taxi squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: DL Jacob Slade
Cincinnati Bengals
- Released: QB Reid Sinnett
Detroit Lions
- Signed: WR Trey Quinn
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: TE Noah Togiai
Minnesota Vikings
- Released: DL Junior Aho
New Orleans Saints
- Released: LB Terrell Lewis
Ravens OLB David Ojabo Could Miss Remainder Of Season
The Ravens are already without David Ojabo for the next month, but his absence could be quite lengthy. The second-year edge rusher is in danger of missing the remainder of the season, head coach John Harbaugh indicated on Monday (via The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec). 
Ojabo is already on injured reserve, a move which ensured he will be sidelined for at least one month. Ankle and knee injuries are the cause of his absence, which began midway through Week 3. Harbaugh said the former second-rounder “has some decisions to make” regarding the direction of his recovery.
An Achilles tear suffered during Michigan’s Pro Day hurt Ojabo’s draft stock and forced him to miss most of his rookie season. He was limited to a pair of regular season games at the end of the year, as well as Baltimore’s wild-card postseason loss. The 23-year-old posted one sack and added a forced fumble in limited action in 2022.
Expectations were high for his follow-up campaign, given his production in his only full season with the Wolverines. Ojabo totaled 11 sacks, 12 tackles for loss and five forced fumbles while playing opposite eventual No. 2 pick Aidan Hutchinson on the edge. Translating that production to the pro game has proven to be challenging for Ojabo, though he has had limited opportunities to do so.
In two-plus contests this year, he recorded one sack and a pair of QB pressures while logging a 38% snap share. Ojabo’s PFF grade (which sat at an impressive 81.5 in limited action last season) dropped to 59, a notable step down and a reflection of his second year jump not taking place as anticipated to start the year. If he returns this season, Ojabo’s ability to make a larger statistical impact will be a key story to follow.
In the meantime, Baltimore will lean on an edge rushing unit which contains veterans added on one-year deals (Jadeveon Clowney and, more recently, Kyle Van Noy) as well as fourth-round rookie Tavius Robinson and former UDFA Jeremiah Moon. Tyus Bowser – who is currently on the NFI list, but is now eligible to be designated for return at any point – will certainly be welcomed upon return.
If Ojabo does indeed miss the remainder of the season, he will have been limited to just six games across two years while failing to establish a full-time starting role. The potential he has flashed in his brief action will keep expectations high when he next takes the field, but it will be interesting to see how many insurance-type moves the Ravens make along the edge by the time that takes place.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/2/23
Monday’s minor moves around the league:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: CB Kris Boyd, OL Ilm Manning, CB Christian Matthew
Detroit Lions
- Reinstated from suspension: WR Jameson Williams
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Reinstated from suspension: LT Cam Robinson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Waived: WR Dez Fitzpatrick
Seattle Seahawks
- Elevated: WR Cody Thompson, CB Lance Boykin
Tennessee Titans
- Reinstated from suspension: T Nicholas Petit-Frere
As part of the new terms regarding the NFL’s gambling policy, players hit with six-game bans for gambling on non-NFL events while at team facilities have seen their suspensions reduced. As a result, Williams and Petit-Frere will be able to return as early as Week 5. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network notes that each player will receive a one-week roster exemption, after which they will need to be activated.
The same holds true of Robinson, who was suspended for the season’s opening month due to a PED violation. That ban cost the 27-year-old over $3.5MM in salary and voided the remaining guarantees in his deal, which runs through 2024. The Jaguars have had an up-and-down start to the season on offense, but the unit has fared well in pass protection so far with only eight sacks allowed. Still, Robinson’s return to the blindside will be welcomed in Jacksonville.
Lions Designate Julian Okwara For Return
The Lions’ edge rush contingent will receive a boost in the near future. Julian Okwara has been designated for return from IR, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network notes. 
Okwara suffered a knee injury in Detroit’s preseason finale, and his IR designation required at least a four-week absence. The fact his practice window has been opened at the first opportunity is an encouraging sign for his ability to return to game action quickly. Players designated for return have 21 days to be activated once they resume practicing.
The younger brother of teammate Romeo Okwara, Julian has yet to remain healthy for a full season in his NFL career. The 25-year-old missed 21 regular season games across his first three seasons in the Motor City, and his latest injury will delay his 2023 debut until October. When on the field, though, Okwara has proven to be an effective rotational contributor with seven sacks and 22 pressures combined in 2021 and ’22.
The former third-rounder saw three starts during that span, while logging snap shares of 40% and 32% along the way. A path to an increased workload may be hard to come by with the elder Okwara, along with Aidan Hutchinson and Charles Harris in place on the pass-rush depth chart. That group has helped the Lions rack up 13 sacks through four games, and in turn guide the team to a 3-1 start.
Okwara’s rookie deal is set to expire at the end of the season, so a return to the playing field and a strong contract year performance would help his free agent stock. He will first be eligible to play in Week 5 when the Lions look to continue their strong start against the winless Panthers. Okwara will aim to carve out at least a repeat of his depth role upon his return.
Vikings Not Looking To Trade Kirk Cousins; Jets Have Not Inquired About QB
After an 0-3 start to the season, many named the Vikings as a potential seller in advance of the 2023 trade deadline. Quarterback Kirk Cousins would be a notable trade chip in such a scenario, but that is not the case at this point. 
[RELATED: 49ers Were Willing To Trade No. 2 Pick For Cousins In 2017]
The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports the Vikings “have no plans” of trading the 35-year-old (subscription required). Cousins’ future in Minnesota has been in question throughout the offseason, since 2023 marks the final year of his contract. Talks on a new deal are expected to take place after the season, and he has acknowledged his play this year will go a long way in determining his free agent value on a new Vikings pact or one in a new home.
Optimism has been expressed on both sides that another short-term arrangement can be made. Cousins has played on a fully-guaranteed three-year, $84MM pact after joining the team in free agency, as well as a two-year, $66MM extension. He will make $30MM this season as a result of the restructured deal which has him on track for free agency. As a rental, there would no doubt be a number teams interested in adding him.
One of those would be the Aaron Rodgers-less Jets, of course. As Russini notes, however, New York has not called Minnesota about Cousins’ availability, and it is unlikely that will change any time soon. The Jets have signed Trevor Siemian to serve as another veteran option behind much-maligned starter Zach Wilson, but no further moves under center are expected. That increases the chances of Cousins staying put through the remainder of the campaign.
The Vikings as a whole are not committed to a seller status ahead of the deadline, meaning a number of other veterans will likely not be on the trade block in the coming weeks (at least barring a continuation of their early losing streak). Cousins – who has posted the most passing yards (1,075) and touchdowns (nine) through three games this season – is safe in Minnesota for the time being, and it will be worth watching if he can help guide the team to a rebound in October. His absence from the trade market would also no doubt have a number of effects on the rest of the league as teams begin to evaluate if they will be aggressive in pursuing help in the near future.
Latest On Job Security For Jets HC Robert Saleh, GM Joe Douglas
The Aaron Rodgers injury has threatened to derail what appeared to be a promising season for the Jets. While a poor finish would have consequences on the field, the same would likely be the case on the sidelines and in the front office. 
[Poll: Who Will Log Most Jets QB Starts In 2023?]
Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports that owner Woody Johnson “made no guarantees” regarding the futures of head coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas before or after the Rodgers injury (subscription required). The latter’s Achilles tear left New York without the accomplished veteran passer the team committed to adding this offseason, something particularly crippling considering the efforts made elsewhere on the coaching staff (with offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett) and elsewhere on the roster to cater to the four-time MVP.
In Rodgers’ absence, Zach Wilson has been in place as the starter under center, and his struggles from last year have carried over into 2023. In spite of that, Saleh has remained committed to the former No. 2 pick, something which has not sat well in the Jets’ locker room. The return of Rodgers in time for the team’s primetime Week 4 contest could help in the latter regard, but the big-picture implications of a disappointing season could be notable.
Douglas took over in 2019, and his tenure has seen a multi-year rebuild undertaken after a 7-9 season in his first campaign at the helm. Another seven-win campaign in 2022 showcased the talent outside the QB spot in place for the foreseeable future at a number of positions, making this year’s win-now approach a logical one with Rodgers becoming available. Failing to find a long-term successor to the latter (as appears to currently be the case with Wilson’s shortcomings) could put Douglas on thin ice, though.
Saleh, meanwhile, is in his third season in the Big Apple. Carrying signficant pedigree after his time as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator, the 44-year-old faced major expectations on that side of the ball. The Jets improved from last in total and scoring defense to fourth from 2021 to ’22, and a number of young pillars of the unit (including the recently-extended Quinnen Williams and reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year Sauce Gardner) are in place for years to come. Another year of poor play under center – and a resultant underwhelming output from the offense as a whole – though, would lead to sustained criticism of the Hackett hire and the continued backing of Wilson on Saleh’s part.
Plenty can change over the course of the rest of the season, one in which Russini notes the Jets will be forced to adapt a week-by-week gameplan for Wilson rather than relying on the scheme installed this offseason for Rodgers. If things don’t go according to plan in the coming weeks and months, it will be interesting to see how ownership responds with the organization’s top decision-makers.
49ers HC Kyle Shanahan Signed Extension Before Regular Season
When 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan joined general manager John Lynch in signing a new extension, the timing was notable with the team off to a 3-0 start. As the former recently admitted, however, his deal was in place well before that point. 
Shanahan said earlier this week that his new contract was in place before the regular season kicked off. That revelation illustrates the confidence the 49ers’ ownership group has in both the 43-year-old and Lynch, who have been in San Francisco since 2017. Shanahan is now set to be in place until at least 2027 after previously being on the books for the next three seasons on his previous pact.
“I feel very grateful,” Shanahan said, via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. “Being a coach anywhere for a long time, I know what that means. I’m extremely grateful for that. To have that opportunity, mainly for my family to be somewhere for so long, is very cool.”
Given the team’s success since Shanahan and Lynch took over, their latest round of extensions came as little surprise. A number of notable misses at the QB position have taken place during their tenure – highlighted, of course, by the shortcomings of the Trey Lance gamble – but the 49ers have been among the NFC’s elite in recent years. A trip to the Super Bowl, along with conference title game appearances in each of the past two seasons, have earned the team’s decision-makers a longer leash for the time being.
As Shanahan noted in his remarks, he had yet to remain in one NFL posting for more then four years until his current one (seven and counting). The longtime offensive coordinator helped establish his reputation as one of the league’s top minds on that side of the ball during his time with the Falcons in particular (which included a Super Bowl appearance), and his success as a play-caller has continued with the 49ers. When reflecting on his accomplishments in the Bay Area to date, Shanahan noted ownership’s patience in allowing he and Lynch to build the roster into what it has become.
“The commitment [Jed York] gave us and what he said: I really feel like that made us make the right decision those first couple years,” Shanahan added. “Helped build it the right way. That’s really what got us to come here. It allowed us to be patient, do it right and he hasn’t changed ever since.”
Shanahan and the 49ers will look to improve to 4-0 on Sunday, a feat which would make them one of only two teams to sport a perfect record through the first month of the campaign. Continued success this season and beyond would help prove the 49ers’ commitment on the sidelines to be a wise one.