Latest On Falcons WR Calvin Ridley
It doesn’t sound like Calvin Ridley‘s return is coming any time soon. While the Falcons wideout is now eligible to be activated off the non-football injury list, head coach Arthur Smith told reporters that he doesn’t have an update on the former first-round pick (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Twitter).
The wideout announced in late October that he’d be stepping away from football to deal with his mental health. The organization later placed him on the reserve/non-football injury list, meaning he’d miss at least three additional games. The 26-year-old is now eligible to come off the list, but it doesn’t sound like he’s ready to return to football.
The 2018 first-round pick emerged as one of the NFL’s top wideouts in 2020, finishing with 90 receptions for 1,374 yards and nine touchdowns. This was going to be a pivotal year for the former first-round pick. The Falcons picked up his fully guaranteed fifth-year option but have not yet signed him to an extension. The team also traded Julio Jones to the Titans, firmly establishing Ridley as Atlanta’s No. 1 wideout.
His numbers were a bit underwhelming through the first four games, with Ridley hauling in 27 catches for 255 yards and one touchdown. Since that time, he’s only seen time in one game, when he caught four passes for 26 yards and one touchdown.
Giants Activate OT Andrew Thomas
Daniel Jones will have his left tackle back in the lineup tonight. The Giants announced that they’ve activated Andrew Thomas from injured reserve.
Thomas suffered an ankle injury back in October that landed him on injured reserve for several weeks. The former fourth-overall pick had previously missed a game this season due to a foot injury, so the Giants decided to be cautious with their young lineman. The lineman discussed juggling a pair of injuries when he spoke with reporters earlier this week.
“Just managing both, trying to do what I can,” Thomas said (via Michael Eisen of the team’s website). “It depends on the day and how they feel, so just doing what I can to make sure I’m ready to play.
“It’s not easy, but it puts a lot of emphasis on my technique. Plays that I might not be able to make athletically, if I have the right technique, I’ll be in the right position, so that’s what I’m trying to do.”
Thomas started 15 of his 16 games during his rookie campaign. He started each of his five appearances in 2021, and he appeared in 100 percent of his team’s offensive snaps through the first four weeks. Matt Peart slid in as the starter while Thomas was out of the lineup.
Buccaneers Activate CB Sean Murphy-Bunting
The Buccaneers will be getting some reinforcement at cornerback for tonight’s game against the Giants. The team announced that they’ve activated cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting off injured reserve.
The former second-round pick suffered a dislocated elbow in Week 1, but he returned to practice earlier this month. Murphy-Bunting started 23 games through his first two seasons in the league, collecting four interceptions and 114 tackles. He also came up big during last season’s Super Bowl run, snagging three picks in four games. He’ll surely slide right back into the lineup for the defending champs.
Murphy-Bunting was the first of a few Tampa Bay corners to go down this season. The Bucs subsequently lost Jamel Dean and Carlton Davis, though Dean has since returned. Davis, who has been out since Week 4, was previously eyeing a Week 10 return, and his return appears to be imminent. The cornerback brought in because of this injury run, Richard Sherman, later landed on injured reserve, and fellow replacement Dee Delaney was knocked out of last week’s contest with a concussion.
The Buccaneers also activated long snapper Zach Triner from IR today. The veteran was also injured during the season opener, with Carson Tinker filling in. The team is temporarily holding two long snappers, and the team will surely make a decision at the position before next weekend.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/20/21
We’ll keep track of today’s stream of minor moves right here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Placed on IR: LB Tanner Vallejo
- Promoted: LS Beau Brinkley, RB Tavien Feaster, LB Joe Walker, LB Tahir Whitehead
Baltimore Ravens
- Placed on IR: OLB Pernell McPhee
- Activated from IR: G Ben Cleveland
- Promoted: G/DT Khalil McKenzie, QB Trace McSorley, LB Joe Thomas
Carolina Panthers
- Promoted: G John Miller
- Placed on IR: CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver
Chicago Bears
- Activated from IR: S Deon Bush
- Promoted: WR Isaiah Coulter, OLB Ledarius Mack
Cincinnati Bengals
- Promoted: TE Mason Schreck
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted: WR Lawrence Cager, DE Porter Gustin, CB Herb Miller
- Waived: RB John Kelly
Dallas Cowboys
- Promoted: CB Kyron Brown, CB Deante Burton
Denver Broncos
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: QB Drew Lock
- Activated from IR: CB Michael Ojemudia, LB Justin Strnad
Detroit Lions
- Promoted: WR Tom Kennedy, OL Tommy Kraemer, K Aldrick Rosas
- Waived: DL Kevin Strong
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted: La’Darius Hamilton, WR Juwann Winfree
Houston Texans
- Activated from IR: DB Terrence Brooks
- Placed on IR: LB Hardy Nickerson
- Promoted: DL Derek Rivers
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted: S Jahleel Addae
- Waived: CB Anthony Chesley
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Promoted: WR John Brown
Kansas City Chiefs
- Waived: TE Daniel Brown
- Promoted: WR Daurice Fountain
Las Vegas Raiders
- Activated from IR: S Roderic Teamer
- Placed on IR: FB Alec Ingold (story)
- Promoted: FB Sutton Smith
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted: DL Andrew Brown, DL Forrest Merrill, CB Kiondre Thomas
Miami Dolphins
- Promoted: RB Duke Johnson
Minnesota Vikings
- Promoted: DB Myles Dorn
New Orleans Saints
- Activated from IR: RB Tony Jones Jr.
- Waived: CB Ken Crawley, WR Kevin White
- Promoted: T Caleb Benenoch, DT Josiah Bronson, OL Will Clapp, CB KeiVarae Russell
- Placed on IR: DT Malcolm Roach
New York Jets
- Promoted: FB Nick Bawden, DE Ronald Blair
Philadelphia Eagles
- Placed on IR: OL Jack Anderson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Promoted: DL Daniel Archibong, LB Delontae Scott
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted: CB Gavin Heslop
Tennessee Titans
- Activated from IR: TE Tommy Hudson
Steelers Activate QB Ben Roethlisberger
Some good news for the Steelers’ offense as the team prepares for tomorrow night’s game against the Chargers. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will be activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list and is “is on track to play Sunday night.” The news was first reported by Steelers PR man Burt Lauten (on Twitter).
The Steelers have made the move to activate their 18th-year passer, indeed putting Big Ben in line to play Sunday night in Los Angeles. The Steelers also promoted safety Karl Joseph, who stands to help a team missing Minkah Fitzpatrick, who remains on the COVID list. Kevin Dotson is now on IR as well. Dotson, who moved into Pittsburgh’s starting lineup after mixing in as a rookie, is dealing with a high ankle sprain.
Big Ben landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list last weekend, forcing him to miss Sunday’s game against the Lions. The 39-year-old passer had self-reported COVID symptoms to the team and subsequently tested positive for the virus. Roethlisberger has reportedly passed the NFL’s COVID-19 protocols, and while he’s not traveling with the team to California, he is on a separate flight and intending to play on Sunday.
The Steelers offense predictably struggled last weekend against the lowly Lions. While backup QB Mason Rudolph did pass for 242 yards, he only completed 30 of his 50 passing attempts, and that came with an extra period of play before the eventual tie. Rudolph also tossed a touchdown and an interception.
Prior to last weekend, the Steelers had won four in a row to bring themselves squarely into the AFC playoff picture. During that streak, Roethlisberger — whose early-season struggles prompted speculation about his job security — was over 200 passing yards per game, had thrown six TDs, zero interceptions, and posted a 104.6 QB rating (h/t Aditi Kinkhabwala of the NFL Network on Twitter).
Eagles To Activate RB Miles Sanders From IR
SATURDAY: Philadelphia will have its starting running back available Sunday, with Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweeting the veteran running back is off IR and back on the active roster. The Eagles have seen Howard and Scott fare well in Sanders’ absence, forming a three-pronged rushing attack with Jalen Hurts, Nick Sirianni said Sanders will return to his role as Philly’s starter (via ESPN.com’s Tim McManus, on Twitter).
WEDNESDAY: Miles Sanders is back at practice. The Eagles running back was designated to return from IR today, according to the team (on Twitter). Sanders’ 21-day practice clock now starts, meaning the RB should be back by Week 15 (following Philly’s bye) at the latest.
Sanders landed on injured reserve in late October with a knee injury. The team initially thought their starting RB might be able to avoid IR, and it sounds like they’re optimistic that he’ll return when first eligible. That would be this weekend against the Saints.
So far this year, Sanders has amassed 300 rushing yards off of 63 totes, good for a 4.8 yards per carry average. He also has 19 grabs for 118 yards, though he’s yet to find paydirt via the air or the ground. The 24-year-old has amassed 1,985 rushing yards since making his debut in 2019. In 2020, he finished out with a career-high 5.3 ypc and a total of 867 rushing yards despite missing four regular season games.
With Sanders out of the lineup, Jordan Howard and Boston Scott have garnered the majority of the carries, with Kenneth Gainwell also seeing a minor role.
Eagles Extend CB Avonte Maddox
The Eagles have extended another member of their 2018 draft class. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports (via Twitter) that cornerback Avonte Maddox has signed a three-year extension.
The three-year deal is worth $22.5MM and includes $13.3MM in guaranteed money, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). The deal will keep Maddox in Philly through the 2024 season.
The former fourth-round pick has developed into an important piece in the Eagles’ secondary. Despite starting only two of his 10 games, Maddox has been having a career year in 2021, collecting 48 tackles, four tackles for loss, two QB hits, two forced fumbles, and one pick. The 25-year-old has generally seen time in more than 60 percent of his team’s defensive snaps. In total, Maddox has appeared in 45 career games (25 starts).
Philly is still rosteirng four of their five picks from the 2018 draft, and each of those four players have now received extensions. Tight end Dallas Goedert signed a four-year extension with the team yesterday, while offensive tackle Jordan Mailata and defensive end Josh Sweat got new deals back in September.
Giants WR Dante Pettis Done For Season
Dante Pettis is done for the year. Giants head coach Joe Judge told reporters that the wideout’s shoulder injury will knock him out for the rest of the season (per ESPN’s Jordan Raanan on Twitter).
Pettis landed on injured reserve earlier this month, leaving the door open for a potential return. However, it sounds like the player’s shoulder injury required surgery, and the recovery time will extend through the rest of the regular season.
The former second-round pick was barely relevant during his stint in San Francisco, and after getting waived last November, he was claimed by the Giants. Pettis appeared in two games down the stretch for New York in 2020, and he stayed with the organization throughout the offseason. He landed on the team’s practice squad following the end of the preseason, but he ended up seeing time in three games for the Giants in 2021, hauling in 10 receptions for 87 yards and one touchdown.
The Giants’ depth chart won’t see much of an impact with this news. Kenny Golladay, Sterling Shepard, and Kadarius Toney still lead the depth chart, with Darius Slayton, John Ross, and Collin Johnson also holding spots on the active roster.
Falcons’ Cordarrelle Patterson Out Tonight
The Falcons will be without a key offensive weapon tonight against the surging Patriots. The team announced that Cordarrelle Patterson will miss tonight’s game thanks to an ankle sprain.
The veteran suffered the injury last weekend, and there were whispers that Patterson could end up missing a few weeks. The fact that Atlanta hasn’t placed him on IR is promising, although it remains to be seen if Patterson will suit up for his team’s matchup against the Jaguars in Week 12.
Patterson joined the Falcons on a one-year, $3MM deal this offseason. After serving as a Swiss Army Knife-type player during his stints with the Patriots and Raiders, the 30-year-old has taken it to another level in 2021. Through nine games this season, Patterson has collected 776 yards from scrimmage and seven touchdowns on 116 touches, which are all already career-high marks.
The Matt Ryan-led offense is already without leading wideout Calvin Ridley, meaning someone besides rookie tight end Kyle Pitts will have to step up against a tough New England defense. Mike Davis should get the bulk of the carries with Patterson out of the lineup, with Wayne Gallman serving as the main backup.
Bruce Irvin Signs With Bears
Bruce Irvin has found his next gig. The veteran linebacker has signed with the Bears, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter). Irvin confirmed the signing himself on Twitter.
Irvin made a name for himself back in Seattle, collecting 22 sacks between the 2012 and 2015 seasons. He later spent two-plus seasons with the Raiders (adding another 18 sacks), and after finishing the 2018 campaign with the Falcons, Irvin compiled another 8.5 sacks with the Panthers in 2019.
Irvin returned to Seattle prior to the 2020 season, and he started each of the team’s first two games. However, he suffered a season-ending ACL tear, and he’s remained unsigned throughout the entire 2021 campaign.
Now 34, Irvin will have a tough time replicating the pass-rushing prowess he displayed earlier in his career. However, he will add some reinforcement to a banged up Bears edge. Khalil Mack missed the Bears two games prior to their Week 10 bye, and his foot injury has lingered into this week. However, the team is optimistic that the former Defensive Player of the Year will be able to play this weekend.