Dawn Aponte Drawing Interest For Front Office Jobs
Dawn Aponte could soon make history as the first woman to lead an NFL front office. Dianna Russini of The Athletic writes that Aponte is drawing “real” interest from NFL teams that are seeking either new general managers or team presidents.
Aponte is no stranger to high-level roles. She currently serves as the NFL’s chief administrator of football operations, and she previously held high-ranking roles with the Jets, Dolphins, and Browns. Aponte started gaining momentum for GM gigs last offseason when she interviewed for the Chargers job, and she also met with the Commanders about a top front office role.
In a sport that’s historically been dominated by male leadership, Aponte’s inclusion in these job searches isn’t “about optics” nor an attempt “to demonstrate [the league’s] commitment to diversity and women in leadership,” per Russini. Rather, the executive has earned a reputation as a strong front office leader, with one source saying she’d be the perfect choice to “carry out ownership’s vision while creating streamlined processes, forcing accountability, and aligning the organization at all levels.”
Due to her lack of scouting and player personnel experience, Russini says Aponte would likely be paired with an executive who could focus solely on “the roster-building side of things.” This would better allow Aponte to handle “structure and alignment,” and her leadership and strategy skills would make her the natural leader among the new hires.
“She’s a tough, no-nonsense leader with a better resume and background in football than most of the men up for these jobs,” one coach told Russini. “This should be the year she gets a shot.”
Aponte’s name recently popped up in relation to the Jets’ front office opening. Former Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum was recently brought on by his former team to help assist in the GM search. Tannenbaum and Aponte worked alongside each other in Miami, and there’s a sentiment that Tannenbaum’s desire “to do things differently” could lead to Aponte earning a role with the organization.
Lions Waive LB James Houston
James Houston‘s stint in Detroit has come to an end. The Lions announced that they waived the pass rusher today.
A 2022 sixth-round pick, Houston made his NFL debut late in his rookie campaign. The Florida/Jackson State product ended up being a standout down the stretch of that season, compiling eight sacks in seven appearances. The Lions were hoping for even more in 2023, but Houston was limited to only a pair of games thanks to a fibula injury.
Houston has seen an inconsistent role in 2024. He was pushed out of the lineup towards the beginning of the season by Marcus Davenport, but he started seeing more snaps once Aidan Hutchinson went down. Houston has seen time in each of the past six games for Detroit, but the team has also given extended looks to Al-Quadin Muhammad, Za’Darius Smith, Isaac Ukwu, and Isaiah Thomas opposite Josh Paschal. Ultimately, Houston was the odd man out.
“It just never quite worked out,” coach Dan Campbell said today (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press). “And look, wish him the best of luck, and sometimes you just need a fresh start and this could be great for him, so wish him the best.”
Based on Campbell’s comments, it sounds like Houston won’t resurface on Detroit’s practice squad. Instead, the third-year player will look to revive his career elsewhere.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/26/24
Today’s minor moves:
Houston Texans
- Placed on IR: CB Ka’dar Hollman (story)
Kansas City Chiefs
- Placed on IR: TE Peyton Hendershot
- Waived: DE Cameron Thomas
New England Patriots
- Claimed off waivers (from Dolphins): G Lester Cotton
- Waived: G Michael Jordan
New Orleans Saints
- Designated for return: DE Tanoh Kpassagnon
Seattle Seahawks
- Claimed off waivers (from Chargers): S A.J. Finley
- Waived: DT Myles Adams
The Patriots moved on from one of their OL starters today. Michael Jordan started all 11 games for New England this season, although that was mostly due to necessity. The veteran lineman ranks 73rd among 77 qualifying guards on Pro Football Focus’ positional rankings. A former fourth-round pick, Jordan also has starting experience with the Bengals and Panthers.
New England will be replacing Jordan with Lester Cotton, who has spent the past few seasons in Miami. The lineman started a career-high eight games for the Dolphins in 2023, but he basically split his 100ish snaps between offense and special teams in 2024. The former UDFA could have a chance at more OL opportunities with his new squad.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/26/24
Today’s practice squad moves:
Houston Texans
- Signed: S Russ Yeast
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: OL Tyler Shatley
- Released: OL Dieter Eiselen
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: K Matthew Wright
- Activated from IR: TE Baylor Cupp
- Released: DE Truman Jones, OT Lucas Niang
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: TE McCallan Castles
New York Jets
- Signed: RB Zonovan Knight, WR Easop Winston Jr.
- Released: OL Zack Bailey
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: DE KJ Henry
- Released: DT Siaki Ika, WR Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: LB Julius Welschof
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: CB Ryan Cooper, WR Cornell Powell
- Released: RB Brittain Brown, CB Faion Hicks
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: LB Antonio Grier
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: WR Stanley Morgan
Washington Commanders
- Signed: DT Viliami Fehoko Jr.
- Released: G Marquis Hayes
The Chiefs are set to roll with their third kicker of the season. With Harrison Butker on IR and Spencer Shrader sidelined with a hamstring injury, Kansas City had to add yet another leg to the roster. The team opted for Matthew Wright, who already has experience kicking with the franchise. Wright filled in for Butker twice in 2022, connecting on three field goals and eight extra points.
Wright has only got one extended look as a starter (when he got into 14 games with the Jaguars in 2021), but he’s still managed to get into at least one game per season over the past few years. Wright has already made an appearance in 2024, when he was responsible for 12 points in the 49ers win over the Seahawks last month.
Vikings Sign LB Jamin Davis, Place LB Ivan Pace On IR
The Vikings made a handful of changes to their linebackers corps today. The team’s newest addition is Jamin Davis, who was signed to the 53-man roster from the Packers practice squad. The team also activated linebacker Gabe Murphy off injured reserve and placed linebacker Ivan Pace on IR.
A former first-round pick by the Commanders, Davis was let go by Washington last month. The linebacker showed flashes through his first three seasons in the NFL, including 2022 and 2023 campaigns where he started 28 games while compiling 193 total tackles, six sacks, and two forced fumbles. With a new staff in Washington, Davis found himself on the outside looking in with his squad. After having his fifth-year option declined, the fourth-year player only saw time on 86 defensive snaps in five games this year.
Davis was quickly scooped up by the Packers, who stashed the new addition on the practice squad. After spending almost one month on Green Bay’s taxi squad, Davis will return to an active roster in Minnesota.
The newest addition will likely be taking the spot held by Pace, who has started all nine of his appearances in 2024. The former UDFA has settled into an important role as a sophomore, collecting 59 tackles and three sacks. Pace suffered a hamstring injury on Sunday that limited him to only five defensive snaps. He’ll now have to miss at least the next four games, with his earliest return marked for December 29 against the Packers.
Blake Cashman will continue to lead the linebackers depth chart, with Kamu Grugier-Hill and Brian Asamoah mixing in with Davis for the leftover snaps. The team clearly likes Murphy, a UDFA out of UCLA, but the rookie will likely be eyeing a special teams role for the stretch run of the season. Murphy landed on IR before the season with a knee injury.
Rams TE Tyler Higbee To Return To Practice This Week
Tyler Higbee is set to practice for the first time since suffering a torn ACL and MCL last January. Rams head coach Sean McVay told reporters that he’s expecting his tight end to return to practice this week (per ESPN’s Sarah Barshop). Higbee isn’t expected to play on Sunday, and the team could use most of his 21-day activation window before adding the veteran to the active roster.
Higbee tore his ACL during the Rams’ playoff loss to the Lions last January. The tight end landed on the reserve/PUP list to begin the season and has missed each of his team’s first 11 games of the 2024 campaign. Fortunately, the 31-year-old should have an opportunity to add to his resume before the season is through.
“He has made amazing progress, I think we want to get him out on the practice field,” McVay said (via Adam Grosbard of the Orange County Register). “He provides such a great leadership, such a great spark for us in a variety of ways. I don’t know that this week would be the week that he would return, but for him to even be back on the practice field and starting his clock, it’s a real credit to him, to our medical staff and just the overall resolve and resilience of that individual who I have a lot of love and respect for.”
The former fourth-round pick has spent his entire career in Los Angeles, with this ACL tear representing his first prolonged absence in nine seasons. He’s been especially productively over his last five healthy campaigns, averaging 59 receptions per season. Higbee has also come up big in the playoffs, hauling in 19 catches in 10 games.
Los Angeles added Colby Parkinson in free agency on a two-year, $22.5MM deal, and the former Seahawk has earned the bulk of the snaps at the position in 2024. With Higbee back, the Rams will have the opportunity to evaluate their TE grouping ahead of the 2025 season. Higbee is on the books for one more season, with $2MM of the tight end’s 2025 roster bonus already guaranteed.
The Rams are set to receive some additional reinforcement on the offensive line, as McVay said Rob Havenstein is “trending” towards returning to the field this week (via Stu Jackson of the team’s website). The veteran lineman has missed the past three games while nursing an ankle injury. The 32-year-old has started all seven of his appearances in 2024.
Rams WR Demarcus Robinson Arrested
Rams wide receiver Demarcus Robinson was arrested early Monday morning on suspicion of DUI, according to a California Highway Patrol press release obtained by NFL Media (via Grant Gordon of NFL.com). TMZ Sports was first with the news.
According to the report, officers observed a white sedan traveling at speeds of 100 miles per hour on US-101 northbound around 5 a.m. this morning. After stopping the vehicle, officers identified the driver as Robinson, with the report noting that there were “observed signs of alcohol impairment.”
Robinson refused to perform a sobriety check and was subsequently arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor DUI. The 30-year-old was cited before being released to a “responsible party.”
The arrest came only hours after the Rams loss to the Eagles on SNF. The receiver finished the game with two catches, including a two-yard touchdown reception. In his second season with the Rams, Robinson has hauled in 26 catches for 384 yards and six touchdowns. Thanks to absences for both Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, the veteran leads the WRs room in snaps this season. The long-time Chiefs wideout is attached to a one-year, $5MM deal he signed this past offseason.
Robinson could eventually face punishment from the league via the NFL’s personal conduct policy. There’s not a whole lot of time for the process to play out this season, but if Robinson does miss games, it’d provide more opportunities for the likes of Tutu Atwell and Tyler Johnson.
Panthers Waive LB Charles Harris
The Panthers have moved on from their co-leader in sacks. The team announced that they’ve waived linebacker Charles Harris. The move was made to accommodate cornerback Akayleb Evans, who was claimed off waivers from the Vikings.
The Panthers added Harris ahead of Week 2, and the veteran linebacker came in and immediately played a role for his new squad. After coming off the bench in his debut, the 29-year-old proceeded to start the next six games for Carolina. But with D.J. Wonnum recently returning to the lineup, Harris found himself quickly falling down the depth chart.
Harris was suddenly inactive for Week 10 when Wonnum returned to the lineup. Following the team’s bye week, Harris returned to the field and played 33 snaps yesterday. However, his Week 12 appearance coincided with D.J. Johnson‘s absence with a concussion. The Panthers now have their full edge rusher grouping, and Joe Person of The Athletic notes that the team wants to give young players like Cam Gill and Kenny Dyson more reps. That meant there was no spot left for a temporary veteran like Harris.
The linebacker’s Panthers tenure will end with him having compiled three sacks, 21 tackles, and seven QB hits. Harris hinted at some top-end pass-rush ability when he collected 7.5 sacks with the Lions in 2021, but his three-sack cameo with Carolina represents his highest total in three years. Harris should find another gig elsewhere, but he may be hard pressed to earn significant playing time with a new squad.
A 2022 fourth-round pick by the Vikings, Evans started all 15 of his appearances as a sophomore, finishing with 65 tackles, seven passes defended, one interception, and three forced fumbles. Minnesota brought in Stephon Gilmore and Shaq Griffin this offseason, and Evans found himself buried on the depth chart. After getting into only three defensive snaps (along with 83 ST snaps) in seven games, the defensive back was waived by the Vikings this past weekend.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/25/24
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: LB Tyreek Maddox-Williams
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: CB Tre Flowers, DE Durell Nchami
- Released: OT Sebastian Gutierrez, DE Derek Rivers
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: LS Zach Triner
- Waived: LS Tucker Addington
New York Giants
- Signed: LB Tomon Fox
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: DE K.J. Henry
With Blake Ferguson still injured and the Dolphins having used Tucker Addington‘s three promotions, the Dolphins are turning to a new long snapper. In comes Zach Triner, who is coming off a long stint in Tampa Bay. Triner ultimately spent five-plus seasons with the Buccaneers, getting into 81 games. He was cut by the team earlier this month after his replacement, Evan Deckers, returned from injury.
The Eagles are set to add K.J. Henry to their practice squad, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. The 2023 fifth-round pick has already bounced around the league in his short career, spending time with the Commanders, Bengals, and Cowboys. He cleared waivers today after getting cut by the Cowboys this past weekend. The defensive end got into a pair of games for Dallas this season, and he’s collected three sacks in 17 career games.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/25/24
Today’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Promoted: NT Josh Tupou
Minnesota Vikings
- Waived: TE Nick Muse
The Vikings reduced their tight end depth today by moving on from Nick Muse. The 2022 seventh-round pick has spent the past three seasons in Minnesota, appearing in 15 games. He was limited to only nine offensive snaps in 2024, and he has a single catch on his career resume. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Muse will land back on Minnesota’s practice squad if he clears waivers.