NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/1/22
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: OL Sage Doxtater, OL Danny Isidora
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: DE Amani Bledsoe
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: CB Daryl Worley
Buffalo Bills
- Relased: CB Jordan Miller
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: LB Joel Iyiegbuniwe, RB Nate McCrary
- Released: CB Gavin Heslop, RB John Lovett
Denver Broncos
- Signed: LB Zach McCloud
- Released: LB Kana’i Mauga
Detroit Lions
- Signed: S Brady Breeze
Green Bay Packers
- Released: LB Kobe Jones
Houston Texans
- Signed: LB Buddy Johnson
Miami Dolphins
- Released: QB Reid Sinnett
New England Patriots
- Signed: OL Hayden Howerton, P Michael Palardy
- Released: DL Ron’Dell Carter, K Tristan Vizcaino
New Orleans Saints
- Released: DB Jordan Brown, QB Jake Luton
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: WR Willie Snead
- Released: WR Malik Turner
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: WR Laquon Treadwell
- Released: WR JJ Arcega-Whiteside
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: OT Justin Skule
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/1/22
A handful of minor moves on a busy deadline day:
Buffalo Bills
- Released: DT Brandin Bryant, WR Isaiah Hodgins
Chicago Bears
- Waived: WR Isaiah Coulter
Denver Broncos
- Waived: RB Devine Ozigbo
Green Bay Packers
- Released: RB Patrick Taylor
Kansas City Chiefs
- Activated from IR: CB Trent McDuffie
Minnesota Vikings
- Placed on IR: TE Irv Smith Jr.
San Francisco 49ers
- Released: DT Akeem Spence
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived: OL Fred Johnson
Free Agency
- Suspended: DT Israel Antwine (six weeks)
Ravens Activate Tyus Bowser, David Ojabo
NOVEMBER 1: As the team confirmed on Tuesday, both Bowser and Ojabo have been officially activated, which will provide a significant boost to the team’s edge rush as early as Week 9. The Ravens now have five activations remaining in 2022.
OCTOBER 31: The Ravens added a major piece to their defense today when they acquired linebacker Roquan Smith from the Bears. Shortly after pulling off the trade, John Harbaugh revealed that the team will also be activating two key defenders from the reserve list. Linebackers Tyus Bowser and David Ojabo will be activated this week, Harbaugh told reporters (via the team’s website). Bowser will be activated from the reserve/PUP list while Ojabo will be activated off the reserve/NFI list.
[RELATED: Ravens To Acquire Roquan Smith From Bears]
Bowser is expected to be ready to go and should make his first appearance of the 2022 season on Monday against the Saints. Ojabo may need a bit more time, but the Ravens have no choice but to activate him from NFI after designating the linebacker for return three weeks ago.
Bowser suffered a torn Achilles during the 2021 season finale. The former second-round pick had a breakout campaign last year, leading the Ravens with seven sacks while also contributing 59 tackles and 15 QB hits. He only started two games through his first four seasons in the NFL, collecting 10.5 sacks in 63 games.
Ojabo was a projected first-round pick before suffering a torn Achilles during his Pro Day. The injury didn’t force the Michigan product to fall too far down the draft board, with Baltimore scooping him up with the 45th pick. The rookie’s familiarity with defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald (dating back to their time at Michigan) should help reduce some of the NFL growing pains, but Harbuagh cautioned that Ojabo will have to get his feet wet at practice before he’s thrown into the fire.
“We’ll see where he’s at with it in terms of being ready,” Harbaugh said. “He’s a rookie, but he would also be possible as far as playing in the game.
“We’ve got to get him out there to practice more and see what he looks like. He hasn’t really been in any team period yet. We’ve got to take a look at the team period, look at how much he knows of the defense.”
In addition to Smith, the Ravens will be adding three linebackers to an already-formidable linebackers room. Patrick Queen, Josh Bynes, and Malik Harrison have received a lot of run at the position to begin the season.
Latest On Ryan Jensen, Buccaneers’ Deadline Plans
A recent report indicated that Buccaneers offensive lineman Ryan Jensen could make his return as soon as next week. However, Greg Auman of The Athletic is throwing some cold water on that idea, writing that Jensen “has only a small chance of returning from his knee injury.”
[RELATED: Ryan Jensen November Return In Play?]
The veteran center suffered a knee injury during training camp that was initially feared to be season-ending. Subsequent reports provided a bit more optimism about his prospects of returning during the 2022 regular season or playoffs, and his IR placement reflected that sentiment. A few weeks ago, there were whispers that the Buccaneers were hoping Jensen would be back on the field at some point in November, with the team specifically targeting a November 6th return. The team’s Week 11 bye could also be a target return date, but now it’s sounding like we shouldn’t count on an imminent return.
Jensen, who has started all 65 of his appearances since joining Tampa Bay in 2018, would naturally provide a boost to Tampa Bay’s offensive line, although the unit has generally ranked among the top-1o through the first chunk of the season. Pro Football Focus has generally ranked Jensen among the best centers in the NFL, and the veteran earned his first career Pro Bowl nod in 2021.
Auman discussed Jensen’s potential return in the context of Tampa Bay making a trade to upgrade their offensive line. Second-round guard Luke Goedeke has struggled so far in 2022, and backup Nick Leverett doesn’t have much of a track record. Both Jensen and his current fill-in, Robert Hainsey, are under contract for next season. While the team could look for a temporary upgrade for Goedeke, Auman opines that the organization would be better off pursuing a rental before having Goedeke and Hainsey compete for one of the guard spots opposite Shaq Mason in 2023.
Who could fit that bill? For starters, Auman suggests the team could look to deal from a position of strength and pursue another team’s depth piece. The writer also points to someone like Commanders guard Andrew Norwell, who doesn’t have any guaranteed money owed beyond this season. Panthers guard Austin Corbett is also an affordable option, although he’s under contract for the 2023 campaign.
Colts Receiving Calls On RB Nyheim Hines
The Colts made it pretty clear that they were focused on the future when they replaced Matt Ryan with second-year QB Sam Ehlinger. It didn’t take long for rival squads to start sniffing around at some of Indy’s available players. One player that’s drawn interest is Nyheim Hines, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter reporting (on Twitter) that teams have inquired about the offensive weapon’s availability.
Hines has had a consistent role on the Colts offense since entering the league as a fourth-round pick in 2018. The running back topped 500 yards from scrimmage in each of his first four NFL seasons, including a 2020 campaign where he finished with 862 offensive yards and seven touchdowns. In seven games this season, Hines has collected 224 yards from scrimmage and one touchdown, and he’s returned 11 punts for 111 yards.
Jonathan Taylor‘s emergence over the past two years meant Hines was eyeing a future backup role with the organization. He still inked a three-year, $18MM extension with the Colts last September, and the team has managed to keep him active in the passing game and on special teams.
The Colts could be inclined to move on from the 25-year-old thanks to the recent emergence of Deon Jackson. The 2021 UDFA out of Duke proved to be more-than-capable when he had a significant role with Taylor and Hines sidelined. In Week 5 and Week 6, Jackson collected 104 rushing yards on 25 carries, and he added another 108 receiving yards on 14 receptions. On the flip side, if the Colts are worried that Taylor’s struggles this season aren’t an anomaly, they may want to keep as much RB depth as possible.
Inquiring teams could be eyeing Hines as a third-down RB and/or a ST option. Doug Kyed of Pro Football Focus tweets that Hines has drawn trade interest in the past, although he cautions that there are “more running backs available than teams that need running backs.”
Jerry Jones: Ezekiel Elliott’s Role Won’t Change
Cowboys running back Tony Pollard ran wild with Ezekiel Elliott out of the lineup on Sunday, collecting 147 yards on offense while finding the end zone on three occasions. While you could make a compelling argument that Pollard has outperformed his teammate in recent weeks, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was adamant that Elliott remains atop the depth chart.
“There’s no argument,” Jones said yesterday (h/t to Michael Baca of NFL.com). “Zeke’s ability to punish, Zeke’s ability to deliver, Zeke’s ability, what he does for us in pass protection, and, frankly, Zeke’s ability to make big plays are there, and we’re going to go as Zeke goes. I really mean he’s that integral to our success this year.”
Elliott is one of the most productive offensive players in Cowboys history, collecting 1,000-plus yards from scrimmage in each of his first six years in the NFL. However, the 27-year-old hasn’t looked like his dominant self in 2022. He 4.1 yards per touch is a career-low, and he’s generally been invisible in the passing game (eight receptions in seven games). Meanwhile, following a 2021 season that saw him top 1,000 yards from scrimmage for the first time in his career, Pollard has improved his numbers in 2022. Through eight games, the 25-year-old has averaged 6.7 yards on his 93 touches.
Elliott is almost halfway through a six-year contract he signed with the organization in 2019, and while he’s reworked his deal a few times, he still has significant cap hits in upcoming seasons. Perhaps Jones’ consistent public support of Zeke has something to do with financials, especially if the front office intends to engage in future restructures. By nurturing Elliott’s spot atop the depth chart (and, for that matter, atop the roster), the player may have more reason to continue working with the organization, especially with a pivotal option on his contract after this season.
Plus, when it comes down to it, the Cowboys have shown that they can support both Elliott and Pollard in their offense, and the two players will continue to coexist for at least the rest of the 2022 campaign. Pollard is sit to hit free agency following the season, and if he continues to perform (and if the Cowboys continue to insist that they’re sticking with Elliott), then then RB may end up finding a more significant role (and payday) elsewhere.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/31/22
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: WR Dazz Newsome
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: CB Michael Jacquet
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: WR Keith Kirkwood
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: CB Javelin Guidry
- Released: WR Deon Cain
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: WR Tyler Johnson, CB Ryan Smith
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: TE Antony Auclair
- Released: DB Steven Parker
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/31/22
Today’s minor transactions:
Baltimore Ravens
- Released: CB Daryl Worley
Cincinnati Bengals
- Promoted: DT Domenique Davis, WR Trenton Irwin
Cleveland Browns
- Signed to active roster: CB Thomas Graham Jr., CB Herb Miller
- Promoted: LB Dakota Allen, TE Miller Forristall
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Claimed off waivers (from 49ers): G Blake Hance
Los Angeles Chargers
- Designated for return: TE Stone Smartt
San Francisco 49ers
- Released: WR Willie Snead
Tennessee Titans
- Waived: DB Ugo Amadi
Packers Not Planning To Shake Up Defensive Coaching Staff
Packers defensive coordinator Joe Barry got a vote of confidence from head coach Matt LaFleur last night, but it sounds like frustration may be mounting among players. LaFleur said the team is “absolutely not” going to make a coaching change following their loss to the Bills last night.
However, sources told ESPN’s Rob Demovsky that members of Green Bay’s defense are frustrated with the defensive scheme and playcalling. Specifically, a source said that there was “a declining confidence in the defensive scheme and what’s being called, and it’s led to overall frustration with the defense.”
“Well, first of all, it’s impossible to please everybody,” LaFleur said when asked about growing frustrations. “Everybody has their own opinions, their own ideas. It’s like anything else in life. You have to get the staff on the same page, first and foremost, in making sure that everybody is confident in the plan and then you teach it to the players.”
Barry joined the Packers in 2021 after having served as a defensive coordinator for only two years. The Packers finished top-10 in yards allowed in 2021 and they’re similarly ranked in 2022, but the team ranks towards the bottom of the NFL in many run-stopping statistics. As Demovsky notes, the latest breakdown came last night when Green Bay allowed Buffalo to score on five straight possessions. Speaking after the contest, LaFleur wouldn’t reveal whether players have expressed frustration with the defense.
“I think we’d be foolish not to listen to our players at certain times,” LaFleur said. “Ultimately, we have to make the best decision for our football team in terms of how do you go about winning the game? You know, there were some great moments and then there were some not-so-great moments. It was great that we were able to get a couple turnovers.
“I think from a consistency standpoint, way too many explosive gains, some poor tackling. I think we need to be more physical. I think you look at the teams that are toughest to deal with in this league, especially from a defensive standpoint and physicality, it jumps out to you. There were moments where we’re not always getting that.”
The defense currently consists of seven former first-round picks and a handful of high-priced acquisitions, as Demovsky points out, and the unit was expected to help keep the team afloat while Aaron Rodgers and the offense figured things out on the other side of the ball. Instead, Green Bay’s defensive struggles have contributed to the team’s 3-5 start, and despite LaFleur’s assertion, a change could be coming if things aren’t turned around.
Colts DE Tyquan Lewis Done For Season
Tyquan Lewis is done for the season. The Colts defensive end ruptured his patellar tendon and will miss the rest of the campaign, per Joel A. Erickson of the Indy Star (on Twitter). The Colts placed Lewis on injured reserve, according to Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com (on Twitter).
Lewis was carted off the field during the fourth quarter of yesterday’s loss to the Commanders. The injury came nearly one year after Lewis suffered a ruptured patellar tendon in his other knee, ending his 2021 season prematurely.
“Our hearts go out to Tyquan,” said head coach Frank Reich (via the team’s website). “He was having a great year. … We’ll support him every step of the way.”
Lewis came off the bench to begin the season, but he started each of Indy’s last four games. In seven appearances this year, the 27-year-old defensive lineman collected 14 tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble. Pro Football Focus ranked him 93rd among 116 qualifying edge defenders in 2022, but the site graded him much more favorably in 2021 (31 of 110). Lewis inked a one-year deal to stay with the Colts this past offseason and will hit free agency following the season.
To fill the open roster spot, the Colts activated safety Trevor Denbow from injured reserve, per Wilson. The undrafted rookie made the roster out of preseason, and there’s hope that he can develop into one of Indy’s key special team gunners. He landed on IR right before Week 1 and was designated to return last week.