Vikings Place WR Adam Thielen On Reserve/COVID-19 List
Following one of his best performances of the 2020 campaign, Vikings star wideout Adam Thielen has landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list (per an announcement from the organization).
The team didn’t provide any specific details on Thielen’s status, but we can assume the receiver either tested positive for COVID-19 or was within close contact of someone who did test positive.
The Vikings have recently placed six players on the COVID-19 list, but we know of only two players who definitively tested positive (linebacker Todd Davis and guard Dru Samia). ESPN’s Courtney Cronin observes that wide receivers coach Andrew Janocko wasn’t on the sideline for Sunday’s loss to the Cowboys, but there was no explanation for his absence.
The 30-year-old Thielen is having a bounce-back season, hauling in 49 catches for 646 yards and a league-leading 11 touchdowns (including two on Sunday). As Andrew Kramer of the Star Tribune writes, the “NFL requires a minimum five-day quarantine for high-risk close contacts and asymptomatic cases.” That means Thielen could be back in the lineup on Sunday against the Panthers.
Richie Incognito Won’t Return This Season
Richie Incognito is done for the year. Raiders head coach Jon Gruden revealed today that the offensive lineman underwent “season-ending foot surgery” (per ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez).
Incognito landed on IR in late September after suffering an Achilles injury. The veteran avoided a tear, so there was some optimism he’d return to the lineup once his stay on the IR ended. Instead, the 37-year-old decided to go under the knife.
“I hate to admit that, but we’ve tried everything we can,” Gruden said. “Richie’s tried everything he can to get back on the field. His season is over.”
The Raiders took a risk on the polarizing Incognito last offseason, and Incognito’s impressive performance ultimately earned him a two-year $14MM extension. As Gutierrez points out, the organization has only seen three snaps from their pricey offensive line grouping (which also includes Kolton Miller, Rodney Hudson, Gabe Jackson, and Trent Brown).
Fortunately, the Raiders have received solid production from Incognito’s backup, Denzelle Good. Gruden referred to the former seventh-rounder as the team’s “unsung hero,” while quarterback Derek Carr declared him the team MVP (per Gutierrez).
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/23/20
Today’s practice squad moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: RB Tony Brooks-James, WR Devin Gray
Las Vegas Raiders
- Released: DT Datone Jones
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: CB DeMarkus Acy, C Brad Lundblade
- Placed on IR: RB Bo Scarbrough, TE/DE Stephen Sullivan
Washington Football Team
- Placed on COVID-19 list: RB Javon Leake
Texans DB Michael Thomas Done For Season
Texans defensive back Michael Thomas is done for the year. NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports (via Twitter) that the veteran has a torn pectoral and will undergo season-ending surgery.
The 30-year-old apparently suffered the injury during last week’s loss to the Browns, but he still managed to finish the contest. The former Pro Bowler is set to hit free agency following the 2020 campaign, and Pelissero notes that Thomas should be “healthy in plenty of time for camp.”
The 2012 undrafted free agent out of Stanford has put together a very solid NFL career. Following a stint with the 49ers to kick off his professional career, Thomas ended up spending five seasons with the Dolphins, starting 25 of his 56 games.
He got a two-year deal from the Giants prior to the 2018 campaign, and he earned his lone Pro Bowl nod that season after compiling 59 tackles, one sack, and two picks. Thomas inked a one-year deal with Houston this past offseason.
Washington Promoting DB Cole Luke, Signing Him To Two-Year Deal
The Washington Football Team is making a (relatively) significant commitment to one of their practice squad players. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that Washington will promote defensive back Cole Luke from their practice squad and sign him to a two-year deal.
It’s not every day see a team sign one of their practice squad players to a multi-year deal…especially a player who has seen only 14 NFL snaps in four professional seasons. Of course, the organization has presumably seen plenty of progression from Luke behind the scenes, and as Sam Fortier of the Washington Post points out, head coach Ron Rivera previously coached the defensive back when the two were in Carolina.
Luke, a 2017 undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame, spent most of the first three seasons of his career on the Panthers practice squad. He finally made his NFL debut in 2019, collecting three tackles in eight games. He joined Washington’s practice squad back in September.
As Fortier observes, Luke could end up seeing time at one of two positions. The coaching staff still hasn’t found a solution at safety, while Jimmy Moreland has occasionally struggled at nickle corner. The 25-year-old Luke has the versatility to fill in at either of those spots.
Patriots Activate RB Sony Michel
Following a six-game absence, Sony Michel is back with the Patriots. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that New England has activated the running back from injured reserve. The team will waive Hjalte Froholdt to make room on the roster. Jeff Howe of The Athletic tweets that the Patriots have also waived defensive end Derek Rivers.
Michel started each of New England’s first three games this season, but a quad injury has kept him out of the lineup for the past month-plus. It’s unlikely the 25-year-old will slide back to the top of the Patriots depth chart; former third-rounder Damien Harris has three 100-plus-yard performances since Michel went down, while both Rex Burkhead and James White continue to see work out of the backfield.
The Georgia product has been a bit trick-or-treat since being selected with the 31st-overall pick in the 2018 draft. He had a dynamic playoff run in 2018, rushing for 336 yards and six touchdowns in three games en route to a Super Bowl championship. However, Michel only averaged 3.7 yards per attempt in 2019, and he didn’t play more than 38-percent of his team’s offensive snaps through the first three weeks of the season.
Rivers was a third-round pick by the Patriots in 2017, and he’s already missed a pair of seasons due to injuries. In total, the 26-year-old has seen time in 14 games, compiling six tackles and 2.5 sacks. Froholdt, a fourth-round pick by the Patriots in 2019, appeared in eight games this season.
Titans To Add QB DeShone Kizer To Practice Squad
The Titans had an open spot on their practice squad after losing Trevor Siemian to the Saints, so they’ve replaced the quarterback with another. NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports (via Twitter) that Tennessee will be adding DeShone Kizer to their practice squad.
As a rookie, Kizer started 15 games for the Browns, throwing 11 touchdowns and running for five scores. While the second-rounder showed some exciting flashes on the field, he was also incapable of leading Cleveland to a win, as he went 0-15 and tossed 22 interceptions.
Kizer hasn’t really been able to get a steady gig since that time. He got into three games as the Packers backup in 2018, and he later lingered with the Raiders for about a year. This year, he’s had workouts with the Titans, Lions, and Bears, and one of those auditions eventually turned into a job (albeit three months later).
The Titans are only rostering a pair of quarterbacks, with Logan Woodside currently serving as the backup to Ryan Tannehill. If one of those two were to get injured, Kizer could see himself back on an NFL active roster.
Saints Sign QB Trevor Siemian
With Drew Brees going on the injured reserve, the Saints have brought in a veteran option to fill his roster spot. NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports (via Twitter) that New Orleans has signed quarterback Trevor Siemian from the Titans practice squad.
The 28-year-old is joining a backup grouping that includes Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill. Despite the starting experience of the former, it’s sound like the Saints will turn to the latter this weekend against the Falcons. Siemian will temporarily serve as extra depth until Brees is eligible to return from IR; the 41-year-old passer is believed to have fractured at least five ribs and punctured a lung, and his placement on injured reserve indicates that he’ll be out until at least Week 14.
Siemian, a 2015 seventh-round pick, started 24 games for the Broncos between 2016 and 2017, going 13-11 while completing 59.3-percent of his passes for 5,689 yards, 30 touchdowns, and 24 interceptions. He started a game for the Jets in 2019, but he suffered a season-ending leg injury in that same contest.
He joined the Titans this past offseason, and there was an expectation that he’d be the backup to starter Ryan Tannehill. Instead, he was released by the team prior to the season, and he subsequently landed on Tennessee’s practice squad.
Patriots Host DT Akeem Spence
The Patriots had a number of players in for workouts and/or visits today, including veteran defensive tackle Akeem Spence, per NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter).
The 2013 fourth-round pick spent the first four seasons of his career with the Buccaneers, where he compiled 195 tackles, 10.5 sacks, and four fumble recoveries in 56 games (30 starts). He’s bounced around the league a bit since, including a 2018 campaign where he had two sacks in 16 starts for the Dolphins.
The 28-year-old started the 2019 campaign with the Eagles, but he was released after compiling only seven tackles in six games. He signed with the Jaguars soon after, and he compiled 11 tackles in nine games with Jacksonville. Spence worked out for the Bills back in August, but it’s otherwise been quiet for the veteran.
The Patriots also auditioned offensive linemen Zack Bailey, Sam Jones, Timon Parris, Ross Reynolds, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter). Jones has the most NFL experience, having appeared in five games for the Broncos in 2018. The 24-year-old started the 2020 campaign with the Cardinals.
Injury Notes: Stafford, Bridgewater, Bears
Matthew Stafford is dealing with a hand injury, but there’s hope the ailment won’t sideline the veteran. NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports (via Twitter) that the Lions quarterback suffered a “partial tear in a ligament in the thumb on his throwing hand.”
The team will evaluate Stafford’s ability to throw the ball throughout the week, but it’s expected that Stafford will ultimately be in uniform on Sunday against the Panthers.
2019 aside, Stafford has been remarkably durable throughout his NFL career. Prior to his season-ending injury last season, Stafford had appeared in 136 consecutive regular season contests, the sixth-longest mark in NFL history. The 32-year-old has had a solid comeback season for the 4-5-0 Lions, completing 63.7-percent of his passes for 2,403 yards, 17 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
If Stafford were to miss any time, the Lions would likely turn to backups Chase Daniel or David Blough.
Let’s check out some more injury notes from around the league…
- Speaking of Lions/Panthers, Teddy Bridgewater‘s MCL sprain “is consider minor,” according to Pelissero (via Twitter). The Panthers quarterback is expected to practice on a limited basis at tomorrow’s practice, and as the reporter notes, head coach Matt Rhule had previously expressed optimism that Bridgewater will play against the Lions. Bridgewater suffered the injury during the fourth quarter of his team’s loss to the Buccaneers on Sunday.
- Despite being carted off the field yesterday, Bears quarterback Nick Foles could be available following his team’s bye. While the veteran is dealing with both hip and glute injuries, coach Matt Nagy said Foles should be alright. “It wasn’t as bad as we once thought,” Nagy said (via Gene Chamberlain of the Associated Press). “He’ll be working through that here as we go, keeping an eye on that, kind of day to day.”
- While Foles could play against the Packers in two weeks, Nagy wasn’t so confident that backup Mitch Trubisky will be in uniform. “I think there’s a possibility, but I don’t know that for sure,” Nagy said. “I think it’s going to be day by day. I don’t know if he knows that. So we’ll just keep an eye on that.” The former second-overall pick has seen only one snap since Week 3.