Minor NFL Transactions: 12/9/24
Today’s minor moves:
Dallas Cowboys
- Activated from IR: CB Amani Oruwariye
- Signed to active roster: CB Kemon Hall
- Elevated: CB Andrew Booth
- Placed on IR: CB Josh Butler, G Zack Martin (story)
Cincinnati Bengals
- Elevated: K Cade York
New England Patriots
- Designated for return: OT Caedan Wallace
Patriots third-round rookie Caedan Wallace is set to return to practice for the first time since suffering an ankle injury in early October. Per ESPN’s Mike Reiss, the rookie lineman “stayed close” to veteran David Andrews as the two went through their respective rehabs. Considering New England’s current patchwork OL, Wallace should get some run before the season ends.
Broncos Host CB Jerry Jacobs
The Broncos are eyeing some potential cornerback depth. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports that the team hosted veteran CB Jerry Jacobs on a workout today. Mike Klis of 9News in Denver notes that “are no plans to sign him at this time,” although things could change as the Broncos get through the week.
That’s because Riley Moss is currently dealing with an MCL issue that will surely put his status in doubt for Week 15. The starting CB suffered the injury back in Week 12, and he was inactive for Week 13. Even with the Week 14 bye, the Broncos seem to at least be planning for another absence.
Jacobs would represent some experienced depth for Denver. The former UDFA had a consistent role in Detroit between 2021 and 2023, starting 29 of his 40 appearances while compiling 131 tackles, four interceptions, and 23 passes defended. Jacobs never graded out as an above-average CB by Pro Football Focus, and he’s gone unsigned since a brief offseason stint with the Rams.
The Broncos currently have an open practice squad spot and could easily bring Jacobs on, but the team may simply be eyeing a contingency in case they lose more depth at the position throughout the week. Levi Wallace was the main beneficiary of Moss’s recent injury, with the veteran earning more snaps alongside Patrick Surtain II and Ja’Quan McMillian. The rest of the team’s positional depth consists of Damarri Mathis, Tremon Smith, and Kris Abrams-Draine.
49ers To Place OL Ben Bartch On IR
The injury woes continue for the 49ers. Ben Bartch has been a bright spot for the 49ers over the past few weeks, but the offensive lineman will now miss the remainder of the regular season. The guard is expected to land on injured reserve later this week, per ESPN’s Nick Wagoner.
Bartch suffered a high ankle sprain during yesterday’s win that will require an IR stint. The fifth-year player will now have to miss at least the next four games. With only four contests remaining on the schedule, Bartch’s only hope of playing again during the 2024 campaign would be in the playoffs.
A former fourth-round pick by the Jaguars, Bartch moved around the offensive line in Jacksonville, shifting in and out of the starting lineup. He was snagged by the 49ers off the Jaguars practice squad midway through the 2023 season, and he managed to get into five games down the stretch in San Francisco.
The 26-year-old was buried on the depth chart to begin the 2024 campaign and only recently got into the lineup after left guard Aaron Banks suffered a concussion. Bartch started each of the past two games for the 49ers, and he’s appeared in 65 snaps across the past three weeks. In his small sample size, Bartch has graded as the second-best OL on the 49ers this season, per Pro Football Focus.
When Bartch went down with his injury yesterday, Spencer Burford stepped in at LG. Fortunately for the 49ers, Banks passed concussion protocol and could also be inserted back into the starting lineup for Week 15 (per Wagoner).
Lions OC Ben Johnson Won’t “Chase” HC Interviews
Ben Johnson will once again be one of the most popular names on the coaching market this offseason. However, unlike past hiring cycles, the Lions offensive coordinator will be a bit more methodical with the process.
According to Albert Breer of TheMMQB, Johnson is taking a “different approach” this offseason. Specifically, the OC doesn’t intend to “chase interviews,” and he’ll only talk with teams that he’s genuinely interested in joining. We heard a similar sentiment last month, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter noting that Johnson intends to be “highly selective” with his next gig.
Further, Johnson is seeking “organizational alignment” between the head coach and general manager. Considering HC-needy teams will mostly be seated towards the bottom of the standings, the coach is also seeking “recognition” from organizations about their shortcomings. This would require interested teams to explain where things have gone wrong and how they intend to fix the issues.
As the Lions have climbed into a Super Bowl-contending position, Johnson has become a hot name on the coaching market for each of the past two offseasons. He was viewed as the leader for the Panthers’ HC job in 2023, and he was in pole position to replace Ron Rivera in Washington this past offseason. Both times, Johnson decided to stick in Detroit, and after receiving a raise several years ago, his current Lions deal runs through 2025. The Lions would surely pony up if Johnson wants to stay with the organization, but it seems like the coach is finally set to lead his own staff. The Bears have already been mentioned as a potential suitor, and other teams will surely emerge as the season comes to an end.
On the other side of the ball, Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn is also expected to be a popular name as the coaching market heats up. Breer points to two squads that already have a connection to the coach: the Jets (where Glenn spent the first eight seasons of his playing career) and the Saints (where Glenn coached for five years prior to his stint in Detroit).
Panthers DC Ejiro Evero Expected To Receive HC Interest
The Panthers defense has struggled to take a step forward during defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero‘s second season at the helm. The team has allowed a league-leading 2,002 rushing yards, and while the passing defense has generally been up and down, they’ve still allowed the fourth-most passing touchdowns in the league (22).
Considering the underwhelming performance, some pundits have questioned if Evero will still be a popular candidate on the head coaching market this offseason. Dave Canales believes his defensive leader will once again be in contention for a head job, with the first-year Panthers HC citing his coordinator’s consistent messaging and next-man-up mentality.
“It’s echoing all through the building,” Canales said (via ESPN’s David Newton). “It’s just the fundamentals and not backing off of those things. If we can keep the principles the same and our messaging simple, then the guys have something that they can really grasp onto.”
There’s a few reasons to believe that Evero will remain a hot name on the coaching carousel. For starters, the Panthers defense wasn’t a whole lot better in 2023, and he still garnered interest for Carolina’s top job (along with head coaching gigs with the Falcons and Seahawks). Further, rival teams aren’t necessarily looking at the stat sheet when determining their next franchise leader. As Newton notes, former Panthers offensive coordinator Thomas Brown guided an underwhelming 2023 squad before earning a promotion to pass-game coordinator in Chicago. When Bears coach Matt Eberflus was fired last week, the organization felt comfortable enough to promote Brown to interim HC despite the lack of track record.
In other words, even if the Panthers defense finishes towards the bottom of the league in 2024, Evero’s reputation should still be intact. Plus, there are recent signs of improvement in Carolina. As Newton notes, the Panthers have allowed 24.3 points per game over their last three contests, down 8.2 points from their previous league-worst standing. This stretch coincided with improved health from the defense, so Evero may be able to end the campaign on a high note before once again entering the coaching cycle.
Browns Place OL Jedrick Wills On IR
Jedrick Wills‘ disappointing 2024 campaign has likely come to an end. The Browns announced today that they’ve placed the former starting lineman on injured reserve.
[RELATED: Browns To Demote LT Jedrick Wills]
After dealing with a nagging knee injury to start the season, Wills suffered a hyperextended knee in Week 7 that’s sidelined him for four of the past five weeks. While the lineman has been a mainstay on the injury report over that span, it sounds like he wouldn’t have seen the field even if he was healthy.
With Dawand Jones running with the LT gig, Kevin Stefanski revealed that Wills would serve as a backup when he was healthy enough for the 53-man roster. The former first-round pick’s knee injury made sure the backup plan never came to true fruition, but it was already clear that Wills was out of Cleveland’s plans for the 2024 campaign.
Wills has been the Browns’ full-time LT since joining the organization in 2020. He stayed relatively healthy through his first three seasons in the NFL, but he’s struggled to stay on the field in 2023 and 2024. An MCL injury limited him to only eight contests last year, and he’ll likely end his 2024 campaign with only five appearances. This is especially poor timing for the lineman, as Wills is set to hit free agency after this season.
The Browns weren’t done making moves today. The team announced that defensive tackle Maurice Hurst has also landed on IR. Hurst suffered injuries to both his ankle and foot on Monday night, and the issues will likely sideline him for the rest of the campaign. Both Wills and Hurst will be eligible to return for the regular season finale, but there’s a good chance the team opts to play younger players vs. forcing a veteran back from injury.
In corresponding moves, the Browns signed wideouts Kadarius Toney and Michael Woods from the practice squad to the active roster. Defensive tackle T.Y. McGill and receiver James Proche earned standard promotions from the practice squad.
Eagles Place TE Dallas Goedert On IR
Dallas Goedert‘s knee injury will sideline him for at least the rest of the month. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the Eagles are placing Goedert on injured reserve.
The veteran tight end will first be eligible to return for Philly’s regular season finale. Rapoport notes that the organization is hoping this break will have Goedert “full speed” for the postseason. While Week 18 would serve as a low-risk return, the Eagles could just wait to activate the tight end during the playoffs.
Goedert suffered his knee injury during last Sunday’s win over the Ravens. The 29-year-old still finished the contest having hauled in three catches for 35 yards and a score while appearing in 40 snaps.
The former second-round pick has been limited to only nine games this season thanks to a previous hamstring issue that sidelined him for three games (and most of a fourth). When he’s been on the field, he’s been plenty productive, hauling in 38 catches for 441 yards. His 49-yards-per-game mark represents the third-highest average of his career, and that includes his no-show in Week 6.
Grant Calcaterra saw the bulk of the snaps at tight end when Goedert was sidelined earlier this season. The third-year player was productive atop the depth chart, hauling in eight catches for 88 yards between Week 8 and Week 9. During that span, Jack Stoll served as the team’s TE2, but the journeyman has since caught on with the Dolphins. C.J. Uzomah was recently brought in for some spot fullback snaps, but the former Bengal could easily soak up some snaps at his natural position.
Fortunately for the Eagles, the offense should continue to hum with their starting TE out of the lineup. DeVonta Smith‘s return from a hamstring injury will certainly help, but Philly should continue to cruise as long as Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, and A.J. Brown lead their respective depth charts.
Cardinals Extend RB James Conner
DECEMBER 5: Details of Conner’s contract have emerged via OverTheCap. The deal includes $10.39MM in total guarantees, including $8.25MM of fully-guaranteed money. Conner’s $6.75MM signing bonus and his $1.5MM guaranteed salary in 2025 are both fully guaranteed, with an additional $2.14MM of 2025 salary that becomes fully guaranteed on the fifth day of the league year.
The contract also includes $100k in workout bonuses and $510k in per-game roster bonuses in both 2025 and 2026, as well as a $1MM roster bonus due on the fifth day of the 2026 league year. Connor’s 2024 salary cap number rose to $11.24MM to account for the $2.25MM prorated portion of his new signing bonus. His cap hit will be $6.5MM in 2025 and $10.25MM in 2026.
Overall, the deal rewards Conner for his success this season with solid guarantees while the structure minimizes risk for the Cardinals if his effectiveness dips next year. Conner can be released after the 2025 season with just $2.25MM in dead money while saving $8MM against the cap.
NOVEMBER 30: James Conner is sticking in Arizona. The impending free agent running back has signed a two-year extension with the Cardinals, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The deal is worth $19MM. The extension will keep Conner in Glendale through the 2026 campaign.
The 2025 campaign will represent Conner’s age-30 season, a milestone that teams have generally been wary of investing in. While the RB missed time in each of his first three seasons with the organization, he’s still topped 1,000 yards from scrimmage each year. He’s collected 35 touchdowns over that span, including an 18-score campaign during his debut in Arizona.
Conner has avoided the injury bug for the first chunk of the 2024 campaign, and he’s continued to produce. In 11 games, the 29-year-old has collected 993 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns. As Schefter notes, the Cardinals are 5-1 when Conner reaches 100 scrimmage yards…and 1-4 when he doesn’t. The team continues to be especially reliant on their RB1, and he should continue to be a focal point over the next few seasons.
The former third-round pick started his career as Le’Veon Bell‘s backup in Pittsburgh. When the starter sat out the 2018 campaign due to a contract dispute with the Steelers, Conner literally and figuratively ran with the job. Conner finished his sophomore campaign with 1,470 yards from scrimmage and 10 touchdowns. Thanks in part to injuries and a drop in efficiency, Conner’ was barely able to match his 2018 numbers to his 2019 and 2020 outputs; between those two campaigns, the RB collected 1,651 scrimmage yards and 13 scores.
The Cardinals were somewhat taking a chance on Conner during the 2021 offseason, signing the RB to a one-year deal. His 18-touchdown performance earned him a new three-year pact with the organization, so today’s extension represents his third contract with the Cardinals.
The front office could have been preparing for a post-Conner backfield when they selected running back Trey Benson in the third round of this year’s draft. The Florida State product will move forward as high-end insurance behind the oft-injured starter.
Nikhil Mehta contributed to this article.
Chargers Designate LB Junior Colson For Return
It sounds like Junior Colson will soon resume his rookie season. The Chargers linebacker is expected to return to practice this week, coach Jim Harbaugh told reporters (including Daniel Popper of The Athletic).
[RELATED: Chargers Place Junior Colson On IR]
Colson suffered an ankle injury in Week 9 that’s sidelined him for the past four weeks. Based on Harbaugh’s comments today, there’s a chance the player only requires a minimum stay on injured reserve. The Chargers will have 21 days to activate the rookie to the active roster.
A former standout at Michigan, the linebacker was selected in the third round of this past year’s draft. Thanks to an unrelated hamstring injury that knocked him out for Week 3 and Week 4, Colson has only made six appearances this season. In three of those games, he exceeded a 50-percent snap count, and he collected 11 of his 14 tackles during that stretch.
Colson could be in line for some playing time during the stretch run of the season. Daiyan Henley will continue to lead the depth chart, but the rookie should compete with Denzel Perryman (who is nursing his own groin injury) for leftover snaps. Colson’s return could also knock Troy Dye to mostly a special teams role.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/4/24
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Activated from IR: OL Jackson Barton
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: S Dane Cruikshank
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: S Dee Delaney, CB Troy Pride Jr.
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: WR Shedrick Jackson, LB Brandon Smith
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: CB Jason Maitre
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: CB Kelvin Joseph
New York Jets
- Signed: G Zack Bailey
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: WR Parris Campbell
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn