NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/5/23
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: DL Antwaun Woods
Washington Commanders
- Signed: RB Reggie Bonnafon
Woods appeared in 46 games for the Cowboys and Colts between 2018 and 2021. He joined the Cardinals this offseason, and after being among the team’s final preseason cuts, he caught on with the organization’s practice squad. He only got into one game with the big-league club this season.
Bonnafon is taking the practice squad spot previously held by Jaret Patterson, who joined the active roster today. After getting into 16 games as a rookie in 2019, Bonnafon was limited to only six combined games in 2020 and 2021.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/5/23
Today’s minor moves:
Washington Commanders
- Placed on IR: RB Antonio Gibson
- Signed to active roster: RB Jaret Patterson
Gibson missed Week 17 with a knee injury, and the issue will also force him to miss the regular season finale. Despite an uncertain role with Brian Robinson and J.D. McKissic on the roster, Gibson still managed to put up solid numbers, finishing the campaign with 899 yards from scrimmage and five scores. Of course, this was a far cry from his first two seasons when he collected 21 touchdowns and more than 2,000 yards from scrimmage.
Patterson will be taking the open spot on the depth chart. After collecting more than 300 yards in 17 games for Washington last season, the RB has only seen time in a pair of games in 2022.
Cardinals WR A.J. Green Considering Retirement
After 12 years in the NFL, A.J. Green is considering hanging up his cleats. The Cardinals receiver admitted to Darren Urban of the team’s website that he’s considering retirement following the season.
[RELATED: J.J. Watt Addresses Retirement Decision]
“It’s a decision I have to make with my family, but whatever the decision is, I’m at peace with it,” Green said. “I feel I’ve been true to this game my whole career, I did everything the right way, so if it’s my time to walk away, I’ll be ready.”
As Urban notes, Green doesn’t have any interest in moving his sons to another school, with the family eventually planning to settle down in Georgia. That makes it sound like Green would only continue his career if he was going to stick around Arizona, but there’s no guarantee that the front office will look to retain the 34-year-old wideout.
Green’s numbers have dropped during his second season with the Cardinals. After finishing with 54 catches for 848 yards in 2021, the wideout has only hauled in 21 receptions for 145 yards this year. Green, of course, earned seven-straight Pro Bowl nods to start his career with the Bengals, with the receiver averaging more than 1,100 receiving yards and eight touchdowns per season during that stretch.
The Cardinals are facing a number of potential retirements this offseason. J.J. Watt, who was selected seven slots after Green during the 2011 draft, has already announced his plans to retire. Urban adds that offensive linemen Rodney Hudson and Justin Pugh considered calling it a career last offseason.
WR Davante Adams Says He’s Sticking With Raiders
Davante Adams‘ friendship with quarterback Derek Carr led to the duo teaming up in Las Vegas. It looks like Carr’s tenure with the Raiders has likely come to an end, but even with the change at quarterback, the wide receiver has made it clear that he’ll be staying put. Adams told Tashan Reed of The Athletic that while he’d appreciate some input regarding the QB decision, he’ll “absolutely” be sticking with the Raiders regardless of how things unfold.
[RELATED: Raiders Expected To Retain Josh Jacobs]
“I wouldn’t have ended up here if Derek [Carr] wasn’t here, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that I won’t be here in the event that he’s not here,” Adams told Reed (Twitter link).“… My dream was to play for this team before he was a Raider, obviously, [and] at this point I want to try to make this thing work.”
We heard earlier today that Adams was likely heading toward a second season in Las Vegas, mostly due to his contract. The wideout is under contract through the 2026 season, so the team would have plenty of leverage if the player suddenly asked out. Plus, as former NFL agent Joel Corry points out on Twitter, the Raiders did a salary conversion back in July that ultimately resulted in Adams earning $43MM during his first year in Vegas. Ownership would surely push back at paying that amount for only one season of production.
Plus, for what it’s worth, it sounds like the receiver trusts head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler to figure out the Raiders’ quarterback situation.
“Me, Josh and Ziegler, we’ve got a really good dynamic and it’s something that I really appreciate,” Adams told Reed. “I’ve mentioned it to them, as well. Obviously, they don’t have to do anything. I’m not a part of the front office, but obviously the reason why I came here. A step like this is obviously something that means a lot to me in my personal career and obviously what I’m trying to chase as far as the ultimate pursuit to get that ring.
“I’m not a guy that’s just going to come in here just saying anything. They know whether it’s about the scheme or if it’s about personnel, whatever it is, there’s a rhyme to the reason. I’m definitely going to have something behind whatever it is that I’m thinking or I’m saying. We’ve obviously got a good understanding for one another and that helps this whole process.”
Adams has been productive during his first season in Las Vegas, hauling in 95 catches for 1,443 yards and 14 touchdowns. He showed what he can do with a different quarterback under center during Week 17, as the receiver collected 153 receiving yards and two scores with Jarrett Stidham tossing him the ball.
Latest On Eagles DE Josh Sweat
Despite a scary incident last weekend that saw Josh Sweat transported to the hospital with a neck injury, the Eagles defensive end may not miss much time. During the “Inside The Birds” podcast, Adam Caplan said the defensive end could be back for Philly’s first playoff game.
“What we have heard is that the first playoff game is absolutely in play as of now,” Caplan said (via InsideTheBirds.com). “He’s just super sore. They’ll know in a series of days how he really feels. Everything checked out well.”
Naturally, coach Nick Sirianni was quick to note that the Eagles will operate with caution when it comes to Sweat’s return to the field. However, Sweat himself already added some optimism regarding his return when he tweeted that he’ll “be back this season.”
“We’ll take Josh one day at a time,” Sirianni said (via the team’s website). “I’m just really thankful that it wasn’t more serious there and I know everybody in that stadium was holding their breath because anytime that stretcher comes out, that’s tough to deal with. Josh was saying, ‘Hey, let me get up. I can get up.’ The doctors in that scenario have to make sure they go through all the right scenarios. I felt a little more at ease because of what Josh was saying out there.”
Sweat was carted off the field during the first quarter of Sunday’s loss to New Orleans following a headfirst collision into Saints fullback Adam Prentice. Sweat was on the ground for several minutes before being positioned onto a stretcher and carted off the field. He was later transported to the hospital before being released on Sunday, with the team reporting that Sweat had movement in all of his extremities.
The 25-year-old is less than one calendar year removed from a life-threatening medical condition which emerged during the postseason and forced him to miss Philadelphia’s first-round matchup with Tampa Bay. He’s returned to have a career year for the Eagles, collecting career-highs in sacks (11), QB hits (23), and TFLs (15).
Chiefs Activate WR Mecole Hardman
The Chiefs will be getting some offensive reinforcement just in time for the postseason. The team announced that they’ve activated wideout Mecole Hardman from injured reserve. To make room on the roster, the team waived offensive tackle Geron Christian.
Hardman last saw the field during Kansas City’s win over the Titans in early November. He was listed on subsequent injury reports with an abdominal injury before ultimately landing on IR. He returned to practice back in December and his three-week activation window was set to expire this week. Hardman was a limited participant at practice today with a pelvis injury, per ESPN’s Adam Teicher.
The former second-round pick had more than 500 receiving yards in each of his first three seasons in the NFL, including a 2021 campaign where he had a career-high 739 yards from scrimmage. Hardman has also served as the team’s primary punt returner, and he earned a Pro Bowl nod for his punt/kick returning during his rookie campaign.
In eight games (five starts) this season, Hardman already hauled in a career-high six touchdowns to go along with 328 yards from scrimmage.
Christian got into 10 games for the Chiefs this season, with the majority of his snaps coming on special teams. He started 16 games for Washington and Houston between 2019 and 2021.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/4/23
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: WR Isaiah Coulter, WR Auden Tate
- Released: OL Koda Martin
Dallas Cowboys
- Placed on IR: S Juanyeh Thomas
Denver Broncos
- Signed: OL George Moore, TE Hunter Thedford
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: DL Daniel Wise
- Released: WR Bryan Edwards
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: OL Sage Doxtater
- Placed on IR: G Yasir Durant
Washington Commanders
- Signed: LB Ferrod Gardner
- Activated from IR: G Nolan Laufenberg
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/4/23
Today’s minor NFL transactions:
Baltimore Ravens
- Designated for return: CB Daryl Worley
Buffalo Bills
- Signed off Jets practice squad: S Jared Mayden
- Waived: CB Xavier Rhodes
Chicago Bears
- Placed on IR: CB Josh Blackwell, G Teven Jenkins, OT Michael Schofield III
- Signed to active roster: LB DeMarquis Gates, DE Jalyn Holmes, LB Terrell Lewis
Dallas Cowboys
- Designated for return: G Matt Farniok
Detroit Lions
- Designated for return: CB Chase Lucas
Indianapolis Colts
- Placed on IR: CB Kenny Moore II
- Signed off Jaguars practice squad: DE Rashod Berry
Minnesota Vikings
- Designated for return: DL Jonathan Bullard
New Orleans Saints
- Placed on NFI: RB Dwayne Washington
- Signed to active roster: WR Keith Kirkwood
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed to active roster: TE Tyler Mabry
Washington Commanders
- Placed on IR: LB De’Jon Harris
Dolphins DC Josh Boyer On Hot Seat?
The Dolphins have dropped five straight and find themselves out of the postseason picture, a major disappointment for an organization that was looking to take a step forward this season. Heads will surely roll if Miami fails to qualify for the playoffs, and a source told Armando Salguero of Outkick.com that defensive coordinator Josh Boyer could be a casualty.
Boyer’s job status could somewhat be connected to that of Mike McDaniel, with Salguero noting that if the head coach survives the offseason, then there’s no guarantee Boyer sticks in his position. Boyer was a holdover from Brian Flores’ staff, so it wouldn’t be surprising if McDaniel looks to shake things up with his own defensive coordinator. Even then, if McDaniel is canned following the season, there’s little chance Boyer would manage to stick around with a third head coach.
Boyer joined the NFL coaching ranks with the Patriots, where he worked his way up from defensive assistant to cornerbacks coach. He joined Flores in Miami in 2019 and earned the title of defensive pass game coordinator, and he was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2020. After ranking top-1o in points allowed during his first season at the helm, the Dolphins dropped to 16th in 2021 and 27th this season. The defense has been especially bad during the team’s current streak; after allowing around 23 points per game during their 8-3 start, opponents have averaged more than 30 points per game during the active five-game losing streak.
The defensive coordinator’s fate will be one of many decisions for Dolphins executives to make in anticipation of the offseason. Salguero explored the job security of McDaniel in particular, with the writer wondering if the coach has done enough to prevent the organization from pursuing someone like Sean Payton. The Dolphins will also have to make a decision on Tua Tagovailoa, with Salguero noting that owner Stephen Ross would be interested in Aaron Rodgers if the veteran QB was willing to play in Miami.
Latest On Dre Greenlaw, 49ers Injuries
A pair of 49ers players suffered injuries during Week 17, but it sounds like the organization got good news on the duo. Coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters that guard Aaron Banks and linebacker Dre Greenlaw won’t miss much time with their respective injuries.
“As bad as both of them (injuries) looked, (we) didn’t know if it would be for the whole season or not,” Shanahan said (via Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area). “Feel like we got some good news on that so far.”
Brooks is dealing with ankle and knee sprains that will force him to miss the regular season finale, but the offensive lineman is expected to be back for San Francisco’s first playoff game. The 2021 second-round pick has settled into a starting role for the 49ers this season, starting all 16 of his appearances. Pro Football Focus ranks Brooks 40th among 79 qualifying offensive guards, with the site giving him particularly good grades for his pass-blocking ability.
Greenlaw exited Sunday’s win over the Raiders with a back injury, and while the player still hasn’t gotten a full evaluation, he’s not expected to miss a whole lot of time. After being limited to only three games in 2021, Greenlaw has stormed back this year, leading the 49ers with 127 tackles. PFF ranks Greenlaw seventh among 84 qualifying linebackers, including a top-five mark in coverage.
Elsewhere on the injury front, Shanahan recently revealed that defensive tackle Kevin Givens should be back for the start of the playoffs, per Maiocco on Twitter. The defensive lineman hasn’t played since suffering a knee injury in Week 14.