Chargers Place TE Hayden Hurst On IR
Ahead of tonight’s Harbaugh Bowl, the Chargers made a handful of changes to their roster. Most notably, the team announced that they’ve placed tight end Hayden Hurst on injured reserve.
After not being listed earlier in the week, Hurst popped up on the injury report this past Friday with a hip injury. That issue ended up being severe enough to sideline the player for at least the next four games. Hurst will be first eligible to return in Week 16.
After getting cut by the Panthers this offseason, Hurst quickly caught on with the Chargers. The veteran led the Chargers TE grouping in snaps through the first four weeks, but he’s since been passed by both Will Dissly and Eric Tomlinson on the depth chart. In seven appearances this year, Hurst has hauled in seven catches. The tight end topped 50 catches in both 2020 and 2022.
The Chargers made additional moves today, including activating Deane Leonard from IR. The cornerback has missed the past five games while nursing a hamstring injury. After garnering three starts last season, Leonard reverted back to primarily a special teams role in 2024.
The team added more defensive depth ahead of tonight’s game. The Chargers signed cornerback Eli Apple to the active roster while promoting safety Tony Jefferson and outside linebacker Caleb Murphy from the practice squad. To open extra roster space, the team waived safety AJ Finley.
Jabrill Peppers Removed From Commissioner’s Exempt List
Following his October arrest for an alleged domestic violence incident, Jabrill Peppers was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list. The Patriots safety missed the following seven games, but he’ll now have a chance to play for the stretch run of the season. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, Peppers was removed from the commissioner’s list today.
[RELATED: NFL Places Patriots S Jabrill Peppers On Commissioner’s Exempt List]
Peppers is accused of choking a woman and shoving her head against a wall outside his Braintree, Mass., apartment in early October. He was hit with charges of assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, strangulation and the possession of a class B substance; Peppers pleaded not guilty to each of those charges.
As the league prepared their investigation, Peppers sat in limbo on the commissioner’s list. In addition to being barred from games, Peppers’ placement on the list meant he couldn’t even attend games nor practice with the team. In a statement (via Christopher Price of the Boston Globe), the NFL said their “review will remain ongoing and is not affected by this change in Peppers’ roster status.” The NFL will likely wait for the legal process to play out before handing out any unpaid suspensions.
Source told Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald that Peppers’ stay on the list played a role in his sudden activation. The “baseline suspension” for a similar violation of the personal conduct policy is six games. Since Peppers has already sat out seven contests, the NFL decided to remove the player from the list.
The Patriots also released a statement, acknowledging Peppers’ removal from the list while not addressing the player’s future with the team. Patriots owner Robert Kraft previously stated that Peppers will be released if the accusations he faces are proven true. The safety inked a three years, $24MM extension with the team this past offseason, and his 2025 salary is connected to some guaranteed money. With Peppers now eligible to play, it’s uncertain if the team will allow the player back on the field. Peppers has a court date set for January.
Aaron Rodgers Benching Or IR Stint ‘Appears Increasingly Likely’
The Jets are expected to move on from Aaron Rodgers ahead of the 2025 campaign. However, there’s a chance the quarterback doesn’t even stick on the active roster through the end of the 2024 season.
[RELATED: Jets Likely To Move On From Aaron Rodgers In 2025]
Dianna Russini of The Athletic writes that the team is considering multiple options regarding Rodgers’ roster status. While no decision has been made, Russini says it “appears increasingly likely” that the quarterback could be benched for the stretch run of the season. The Jets could also help Rodgers save face by placing the veteran on injured reserve. After suffering his season-ending Achilles tear in 2023, the 40-year-old has dealt with hamstring, knee, and ankle injuries this season, so an IR stint wouldn’t be completely unfounded.
There are even some around the NFL who wouldn’t be surprised if the Jets simply cut Rodgers before the end of the 2024 season. The financial implications of such a move would make this route unlikely. In addition to his untenable (albeit prorated) $66MM dead cap hit for 2024, the Jets would also be hit with a $25.5MM charge for the 2025 campaign. If the Jets were to designate Rodgers as a post-June 1 cut, then the front office could actually realize some savings (around $9.5MM of cap relief). While a divorce seems inevitable, there’s really no benefit to the Jets being hasty and moving on now.
The Jets’ disappointing 2024 campaign has naturally led to both sides seeking fresh starts. It also sounds like the broken relationship between Rodgers and owner Woody Johnson may also be playing a role. We heard earlier this week that Johnson suggested benching the franchise star earlier this season, and Russini says the owner has “lost confidence” in Rodgers’ ability to guide the franchise to the postseason. On the other side, Rodgers’ relationship with Johnson has been “strained for months,” and while the quarterback intends to play in 2025, he isn’t enthusiastic about returning to the Jets.
If the Jets do bench Rodgers for the final chunk of games in 2024, then Tyrod Taylor would be the logical fill-in for the organization. What isn’t so clear is who would replace Rodgers in 2025. Russini points to Russell Wilson or a reunion with Sam Darnold, although the reporter is skeptical that either QB will leave their current situation. Russini also notes that Justin Fields, Daniel Jones, and previous target Derek Carr will likely be available, but none of those options provide much hope for contention.
Colts Activate DE Tyquan Lewis
The Colts will soon get some reinforcement on the defensive line. The team announced today that they’ve activated defensive end Tyquan Lewis off the injured reserve. Lewis is still questionable for tomorrow’s game against the Lions.
Lewis dealt with a long list of injuries to begin the season, with the defensive end suffering wrist, calf, and elbow issues. He landed on injured reserve in early October and has been on the shelf for the past month-plus. He returned to practice earlier this week, and the Colts didn’t take long to add him to the active roster.
The 2018 second-round pick has spent his entire career in Indy. He hasn’t necessarily lived up to his draft billing, as Lewis has only started 20 of his 69 appearances. He’s also spent much of his Colts tenure dealing with injuries, as the Ohio State product has missed 41 games in six-plus seasons with the team.
Still, he’s proven to be a useful rotational pass rusher. The defensive end has collected 15 career sacks, including a career-high four sacks (along with a career-high 13 QB hits) in 2023. That performance earned him a two-year extension from the Colts, and Lewis proceeded to start each of the team’s first four games of the 2024 campaign. 2021 second-rounder Dayo Odeyingbo and 2024 first-rounder Laiatu Latu have both garnered more opportunities with Lewis out of the lineup. With 2021 first-round pick Kwity Paye also sticking around, it’s uncertain if Lewis will continue to start once he’s ready to take the field.
The Colts made a handful of additional moves in anticipation of Week 12. The team announced that they’ve waived defensive end Genard Avery and elevated guard Atonio Mafi from the practice squad.
Vikings Waive CB Akayleb Evans
The Vikings are moving on from a former defensive starter. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Vikings have waived cornerback Akayleb Evans.
A 2022 fourth-round pick, Evans had occasional defensive cameos as a rookie before taking on a significantly larger role as a sophomore. The cornerback started all 15 of his appearances in 2023, finishing with 65 tackles, seven passes defended, one interception, and three forced fumbles. The added responsibility didn’t necessarily lead to a bump in effectiveness, as Pro Football Focus only ranked Evans 99th among 127 qualifying CBs last season.
The Vikings reworked their CB depth chart this past offseason, bringing in both Stephon Gilmore and Shaq Griffin to pair with Byron Murphy. As a result, Evans has been limited to only three defensive snaps in 2024, with the third-year player even falling behinds the likes of Jay Ward and Theo Jackson on the depth chart. While Evans seemingly fell out of favor, Ben Goessling of the Minnesota Star Tribune points out that he was one of the few CBs signed beyond the 2024 campaign, meaning the organization may be eyeing yet another positional makeover this offseason.
As ESPN’s Kevin Seifert notes, there’s a chance that Evans still lands back on Minnesota’s practice squad. Of course, that would require the player to pass through waivers unclaimed, so the Vikings can’t necessarily count on the roster machination.
Raiders Likely To Prioritize Robert Spillane Deal
Robert Spillane has evolved into a reliable starter in Las Vegas, and the Raiders will likely look to retain the impending free agent. According to Vic Tafur of The Athletic, “it’s hard to imagine” that the organization wouldn’t make the linebacker a priority this offseason.
Following a brief cameo with the Titans, Spillane spent several seasons with the Steelers, collecting 191 tackles while starting 16 of his 50 appearances. He inked a two-year deal with the Raiders during the 2023 offseason and quickly established himself as one of the team’s most productive defenders.
Spillane finished his first season in Las Vegas with 148 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and three interceptions. He’s carried that production into 2024. Through 10 starts, the linebacker has compiled 97 tackles, one sack, and one pick. Pro Football Focus currently has Spillane ranked 37th among 82 qualifying linebackers, with the site giving him one of the highest positional grades for run defense.
While Spillane was signed under the former McDaniels/Zieger regime, it sounds like current coach Antonio Pierce and GM Tom Telesco would welcome back their starter. It will surely cost more to sign the linebacker this time around, but the organization may have no choice but to pony up. As Tafur notes, the Raiders lack reliable depth at the position. Former third-round pick Divine Deablo has started all 30 of his appearances over the past two-plus years, but he still lacks the consistency to lead the LBs room. Tafur notes that the organization is also high on fifth-round rookie Tommy Eichenberg, although it’d be unrealistic to expect the linebacker to start as a sophomore.
Jerry Jones: QB Cooper Rush Gives Cowboys ‘Best Chance’ To Win
Cooper Rush has delivered two-straight underwhelming showings as the Cowboys starting QB, leading to some calls for Trey Lance to take over atop the depth chart. If owner/GM Jerry Jones has his way, the Cowboys will continue to roll with their current quarterback hierarchy. Jones told reporters that he thinks Rush offers the team the “best chance” to win.
“I don’t know about that,” Jones said about Lance as a starter (via Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com). “I want to give our team the very best chance it can — in all phases — to be successful. So, we’re going to go here with the quarterback that gives us the best chance to win the game.”
Since Rush took over for an injured Dak Prescott in Week 9, the fill-in has completed 58 of 103 pass attempts (56.31 percent) for 514 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. The Cowboys have dropped each of those three games, and the offense has only found the end zone twice over that span.
Rush did provide a spark while filling in for Prescott in 2022, guiding the Cowboys to a 4-1 record. But with a career completion percentage below 60 percent, a 10/6 career touchdown/interception ratio, and little rushing upside, it seems unlikely that the former UDFA can engineer a similar run in 2024.
As for Lance, the Cowboys gave up a fourth-round pick for the former third overall pick ahead of the 2023 campaign. Lance has only seen the field for one regular season game across his one-plus seasons in Dallas. That came this past weekend, when he completed four of six passes while tossing an interception. The Cowboys staff sees Lance everyday at practice, so they presumably haven’t gotten enough from the young QB to warrant a promotion to QB1.
While Lance will continue to serve as the backup, that doesn’t necessarily mean he’ll receive all DNPs. Coach Mike McCarthy told reporters (including Jon Machota of The Athletic) that the Cowboys have a package prepared for the fourth-year player, an option that could be used as soon as this Sunday against the Commanders.
Chiefs Exec Mike Borgonzi Expected To Be Popular GM Candidate
GM-needy teams could turn to Kansas City for a front office leader. Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda.com writes that Chiefs assistant general manager Mike Borgonzi is already the “hot name” that’s circulating ahead of the offseason hiring cycle.
Borgonzi has worked in Kansas City for 16 years, working his way up from college scouting administrator to his current role as right-hand man to general manager Brett Veach. Borgonzi has worked under three GMs during his tenure with the Chiefs (Scott Pioli, John Dorsey, Veach), and it sounds like he’ll finally get a serious shot at running his own front office. The Brown graduate has been linked to several GM gigs over the years. He was connected to the job in Carolina several years ago, and he garnered an interview with the Commanders this past offseason.
Pauline also mentions Bengals senior personnel executive Trey Brown as a name to watch. Brown was already popular during last year’s cycle, with the executive earning an interview with the Raiders while also landing on the Patriots’ short list of candidates. Brown got his front office start in New England before joining Philly’s operation in 2013. He ended up spending six years with the Eagles, working his way up to director of college scouting. After a few years in the AAF and XFL, he landed with the Bengals in 2021.
Fortunately for both Borgonzi and Brown, there should be plenty of gigs to go around. Josina Anderson recently pointed to at least five GM gigs that will open this offseason (not including the recently fired Joe Douglas with the Jets).
League Considering More Tom Brady Broadcasting Restrictions
Tom Brady already faces several restrictions as he juggles his roles as part-owner of the Raiders and as an announcer for FOX Sports. As the iconic QB’s television gig continues to evolve, the NFL may implement even more rules to prevent any competitive advantages for the Las Vegas franchise.
[RELATED: Bigger Role In Vegas For Tom Brady In Future?]
According to Ben Fischer of Sports Business Journal, some NFL owners recently discussed complications surrounding Brady’s one-on-one player interviews. The league pointed to a recent chat between Brady and Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes, and there are concerns that the NFL may need to create additional conditions “to ensure Brady does not receive information he shouldn’t as a Raiders partner.”
Specifically, the NFL is considering restricting Brady to “live or recorded interviews for broadcast only,” which will ensure that his conversations are shared publicly. The NFL would also prohibit Brady from having private one-on-one conversations with players, and the NFL could force Brady to conduct broadcast interviews outside of team facilities and even outside of team hotels. The interviews could also require prior approval and monitoring by the league.
The NFL has already prohibited Brady from attending pregame production meetings with coaches/players. Brady is also barred from visiting opposing teams’ practice facilities, and he’s not allowed to publicly criticize officials. As Fischer notes, these restrictions are common for any team owners, although they naturally provide some obstacles for Brady as a broadcaster. According to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com, one team attempted to waive these restrictions and allow Brady to attend a pre-production meeting. However, the NFL refused, and Florio says there was a sense that neither FOX Sports nor their broadcaster were interested “in pushing back.”
Beyond Brady’s announcing role, the former QB’s role as a Patriots team ambassador is also under the microscope. The future Hall of Famer will always be connected to the franchise, and per Fischer, he agreed in 2023 to occasionally attend Patriots events. The league is debating whether it’s “appropriate” for Brady to have a role with one team while serving as a part-owner of another franchise.
If the finance committee decides to act on any of these restrictions, the matter could be taken up by all of the league’s owners. NFL owners are set to meet in mid-December.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/21/24
Just one minor move to pass along:
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted: TE Blake Whiteheart
As the Browns prepare for tonight’s matchup with the Steelers, they’ve added some tight end depth to the active roster. Blake Whiteheart is positioned to make his fifth appearance for the Browns this season, with the former UDFA having hauled in three receptions for 13 yards and one touchdown. With fellow TE Geoff Swaim sidelined with a concussion, Whiteheart will likely slide in as the team’s third tight end behind David Njoku and Jordan Akins.