Buccaneers Activate DB Logan Ryan From IR
DECEMBER 5: Ryan is back on the Bucs’ active roster. The team moved the veteran defender back onto its 53-man roster Monday, representing its third injury activation this season. Five remain for Tampa Bay. Ryan has been out since going down in Week 4 with the foot ailment.
NOVEMBER 30: It sounds like the Buccaneers will soon be getting some reinforcement on defense. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter), Tampa Bay has designated defensive back Logan Ryan to return from injured reserve. The Buccaneers will now have three weeks to activate the veteran to the active roster.
Ryan suffered a foot injury back in October that ultimately required surgery. Prior to that, the Buccaneers were leaning on Ryan in their secondary. In his four games (two starts), the veteran appeared in more than half of Tampa Bay’s defensive snaps, with Ryan collecting nine tackles, one forced fumble, and one interception.
At the beginning of the year, Ryan generally took the field alongside safeties Mike Edwards and Antoine Winfield whenever the latter was moved to the slot in sub packages. However, whenever Ryan returns, he could end up seeing a different role. Winfield is dealing with an ankle injury that forced him out of Sunday’s loss, while cornerbacks Jamel Dean and Sean Murphy-Bunting are dealing with their own injuries.
Ryan’s versatility could end up coming in handy as the Buccaneers approach the final stretch of the season. The veteran made a name for himself as a cornerback in New England, and following four seasons and two championships with the Patriots, Ryan landed a lucrative contract from the Titans in 2017. He ended up playing out his deal in Tennessee, and when he joined the Giants in 2020, he decided to switch to safety. It’s been a bit since the 31-year-old played cornerback, but considering his more than 100 games of experience at the position, he could surely fill in if needed.
Latest On Steve Wilks’ Future With Panthers
There’s not much optimism that Steve Wilks will retain the Panthers head coaching gig after this season, but it sounds like the organization will at least give him a chance. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler writes that people around the NFL believe Wilks is a “long shot for the long-term job.”
However, Fowler cautions that the Panthers have held off on the hiring process as they look to give Wilks a legitimate chance to keep the full-time gig. Meanwhile, Joseph Person of The Athletic writes that owner David Tepper will use the final five games to determine Wilks’ future with the organization.
While sources believe Tepper could be targeting an offensive-minded coach, there’s plenty going for Wilks. Tepper is reportedly a fan of the coach, and Wilks has also won over the locker room in recent weeks. The head coach also told reporters that he’s in “constant communication” with the team’s owner, although the discussions generally revolve around “team-related topics” vs. the coach’s future with the squad.
“We don’t get into the future. I’m not about the future right now. It’s about winning the day,” Wilks said recently (via Person). “As I told you guys from Day 1, I’ve got 13 weeks. And I’m gonna try to do it my way within those 13 weeks and whatever happens at the end, we’ll deal with it.”
Wilks was named interim head coach after the Panthers fired Matt Rhule in early October. The Panthers have gone 3-4 with Wilks at the helm despite uncertainty at the quarterback position and the subtraction of star RB Christian McCaffrey. Wilks was a long-time collegiate coach before getting hired by the Bears in 2006. He had a six-year stint with the Panthers before getting hired as the Cardinals head coach in 2018. Wilks went 3-13 in Arizona before getting canned. He was the defensive coordinator with the Browns and Missouri before re-joining the Panthers as their defensive passing-game coordinator and secondary coach for the 2022 campaign.
AFC East Notes: Robinson, Patriots, Judon
James Robinson was a surprise inactive for the Jets win over the Bears on Sunday. Naturally, the midseason acquisition wasn’t happy to be a healthy scratch.
“Obviously, I didn’t come here not to play,” Robinson told ESPN’s Rich Cimini. “Obviously, they brought me here for a reason. I don’t expect anything unless I work for it, and I’ve been working my ass off. Me not playing pisses me off.”
Robinson was told that he’d be inactive last Wedneday, with the running back stating that he was “upset” with the decision. The 24-year-old was acquired from the Jaguars following the season-ending injury to rookie standout Breece Hall. Robinson had 27 touches for 80 yards and one touchdown in his first three games with the Jets. When asked why he was suddenly replaced in the lineup, Robinson didn’t have an answer.
“I mean, picking up the runs, that’s easy,” he said. “The thing is getting used to the pass game, protections and I feel like I’ve picked up that stuff up pretty good…You probably have to ask them what their game plan is for me. I’d do the same, but obviously I’m going to continue to work my ass off. I can’t go in there begging. They can see what I do on the field.”
Running back Zonovan Knight ended up getting the open roster spot, and the rookie had 103 yards from scrimmage in his NFL debut. The Jets could make Robinson an inactive once again this weekend if Michael Carter is able to play through his ankle injury. If Carter can go, he’d join a RB corps that would also include Knight and Ty Johnson. Coach Robert Saleh has acknowledge that the RB room is “a week-to-week thing.”
More notes out of the AFC East…
- Before Bill Belichick settled on Matt Patricia and Joe Judge to guide his offense, there were whispers that the Patriots could recruit former offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien. After serving as Alabama’s OC over the past two years, O’Brien has most recently been linked to Georgia Tech’s head coaching vacancy, although Jeff Schultz of The Athletic recently passed along that the coach could prefer to return to the NFL, particularly as New England’s offensive coordinator. For what it’s worth, Belichick said he hasn’t talked to his former assistant about re-joining the organization. “I haven’t talked to Bill in a little while,” Belichick said during an appearance on WEEI (via Mark Daniels of MassLive.com). “So, I don’t know, I wouldn’t really want to comment on his situation. I think that’s something for him to comment on.”
- The Patriots opened up a chunk of cap space by restructuring Matt Judon‘s contract today, according to ESPN’s Field Yates (on Twitter). The move created more than $2MM in cap space for the organization. Judon, who inked a four-year, $56MM deal with the Patriots in 2021, leads the NFL with 13 sacks this season.
- The two-year extension that linebacker Jahlani Tavai recently inked with the Patriots is technically a three-year pact considering the bump in 2022 money, according to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe (on Twitter). Tavai got a raise from $1.15MM to $2MM this season, plus $500K in incentives. The linebacker can earn $1.625MM ($1.15MM guaranteed, $1.958MM cap hit) in 2023 and $1.875MM ($2.158MM cap hit) in 2024. The former Lions second-round pick has started seven of his 11 appearances this season, compiling 38 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
Eagles TE Dallas Goedert Eyeing Week 15 Return
Dallas Goedert is hoping to return to the field as soon as possible. The tight end told ESPN’s Tim McManus (Twitter link) that he’s hoping to play when first eligible in Week 15.
Goedert suffered a shoulder injury in mid-November that landed him on injured reserve. The tight end revealed to McManus that he actually suffered a small fracture of the glenoid bone in his shoulder. Fortunately, the injury was never expected to knock Goedert out for the season, and it sounds like he’s hoping to return when first eligible. Even if the pass catcher needs a bit more time, it sounds like he’ll definitely be back before the end of the regular season.
The 27-year-old had a career season in 2021, finishing with 830 receiving yards. Through nine games this season, Goedert hauled in 43 receptions for 544 yards and three touchdowns. At the time of his injury, Pro Football Focus ranked him fourth at the position, and Goedert had totaled the third-most snaps at his position before being sidelined.
In the two games that Goedert has missed, the Eagles have mostly relied on a combination of Jack Stoll and rookie Grant Calcaterra, with a sprinkle of Tyree Jackson. The trio hasn’t done a whole lot offensively, combining for two catches for five yards in Philly’s two games with their starter.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/1/22
Today’s minor moves:
New England Patriots
- Promoted: OL Bill Murray, K Tristan Vizcaino
The Patriots promoted two players as they prepare for their showdown with the Bills tonight. Murray was promoted to the active roster with a number of lineman questionable. Fortunately for the Patriots, both David Andrews and Trent Brown are active for tonight’s game, although Isaiah Wynn and Yodny Cajuste are inactive. Meanwhile, Vizcaino has been promoted to handle kickoff duties for New England. Nick Folk has struggled in the role since punter Jake Bailey went down with an injury, but Folk will still continue to be the team’s field goal and extra point kicker.
Bears Add QB Tim Boyle
The Bears could be down their top two QBs when they take on the Packers on Sunday, so the team has added some reinforcement at the position. ESPN’s Courtney Cronin reports (via Twitter) that the Bears have signed quarterback Tim Boyle off the Lions’ practice squad.
Starting quarterback Justin Fields is currently dealing with an injury to his non-throwing shoulder that forced him to miss Sunday’s game against the Jets. Trevor Siemian gutted through an oblique injury to play in that loss to New York, and it’s uncertain if he’ll be able to suit up this weekend. That would leave Nathan Peterman as the only healthy quarterback on the roster, so the team ended up snagging Boyle off Detroit’s taxi squad.
Boyle served as a backup to Aaron Rodgers to begin his career before catching on with the Lions in 2021. He ended up getting three starts for Detroit last year, completing 61 of his 94 pass attempts for 526 yards, three touchdowns, and six interceptions. The 28-year-old re-signed with the Lions this past offseason, and after getting cut at the end of the preseason, he caught on with the organization’s practice squad.
He’ll likely be a temporary piece in Chicago once the team’s QB corps is completely healthy. However, Boyle wasn’t just a random fill-in. Cronin notes that the Bears signed him because of his familiarity with offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, who was the Packers’ QBs coach when the two were in Green Bay.
The Bears made two more moves today, placing defensive back Dane Cruikshank on injured reserve and signing defensive lineman Andrew Brown off the Cardinals practice squad. Cruikshank has gotten into eight games for Chicago this season, but a hamstring injury will sideline him for at least the next four games. Brown has 23 games of NFL experience, with the former fifth-round pick having collected 18 tackles and one sack in time with the Bengals, Texans, and Chargers.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/30/22
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: WR Andre Baccellia
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: WR Shemar Bridges
Denver Broncos
- Signed: LB Harvey Langi, RB Devine Ozigbo
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: WR Jaquarii Roberson
New York Jets
- Released: WR Diontae Spencer
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: WR Kawaan Baker, OL Tyrese Robinson, WR Auden Tate
- Released: DT Marvin Wilson
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/30/22
Today’s minor NFL transactions:
Atlanta Falcons
- Designated for return: G Elijah Wilkinson
Los Angeles Rams
- Designated for return: LB Daniel Hardy
Minnesota Vikings
- Placed on IR: CB Andrew Booth (story)
- Activated from IR: TE Ben Ellefson
Tennessee Titans
- Designated for return: LB Ola Adeniyi
Matt Ryan To Remain Colts Starting QB
Matt Ryan returned to the lineup and guided the Colts to a victory in Week 10, but Indy has since dropped each of their past two games. Following the Colts’ loss last night to the lowly Steelers, head coach Jeff Saturday told reporters that the veteran quarterback will remain under center.
“Matt’s going to continue to be the guy,” Saturday said (via NFL.com’s Kevin Patra). “We’re going to keep moving forward, keep pressing forward with what we got. I tell the guys in the locker room, we’ve got the players in the locker room to do it. We’ve got the plays to do it. We gotta figure out how to execute in moments that matter. That’s really what we have to focus in on and hone in on.”
Following his unexpected hiring, Saturday gave Ryan an immediate vote of confidence by inserting the QB back into the starting lineup over Sam Ehlinger. The interim head coach has continually asserted that Ryan gives the Colts the best chance to win each week, and while the 37-year-old’s production has been down during his first season with the organization, he’s still completing passes at a 68.8 percent clip while going 4-5-1 as a starter.
On the flip side, the Colts’ offense was mostly responsible for each of the past two losses, with Ryan tossing one touchdown and one interception over that stretch. Plus, with the Colts sitting at 4-7-1, the team effectively has nothing to play for, so it makes some sense to give their second-year QB more playing time. In his two starts, Ehlinger completed 32 of his 52 pass attempts for 304 yards and one interception. He also added another 54 yards on the ground.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/29/22
Today’s practice squad moves:
Chicago Bears
- Signed: S Adrian Colbert
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: LB Owen Carney, WR Tyron Johnson
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: LB Tae Davis
Denver Broncos
- Signed: DB Lamar Jackson
- Released: WR Kaden Davis, RB Tyreik McAllister
Detroit Lions
- Signed: CB Jarren Williams
- Released: WR Josh Johnson
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: TE Nick Guggemos
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: LB Kenny Young
- Placed on IR: OL Drew Desjarlais
New York Giants
- Signed: OL Devery Hamilton, LB Quincy Roche, DB Trenton Thompson
- Released: WR Robert Foster
New York Jets
- Signed: S Kai Nacua, RB Jonathan Ward
- Released: WR Diontae Spencer, DL Marquiss Spencer
Philadelphia Eagles
- Released: RB Kennedy Brooks, T Roderick Johnson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: DE Renell Wren
- Released: WR Josh Malone
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: DE Kemoko Turay
- Released: CB Ka’dar Hollman
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: LB J.J. Russell
- Activated from IR: CB Anthony Chesley
- Released: DL Khalil Davis, CB Quandre Mosely
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: WR Reggie Roberson Jr.