Browns Place LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah On IR
The Browns will be without one of their key defenders for at least the next four games. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the team has placed linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah on injured reserve.
[RELATED: Browns LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah Suffers Neck Injury]
Owusu-Koramoah was carted off the field during the third quarter of last weekend’s game. Fortunately, the linebacker avoided a serious, career-altering injury, but it could still be a bit before he takes the field again. In fact, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com warns that Owusu-Koramoah could ultimately be lost for the rest of the 2024 campaign.
The Browns will now have to navigate at least the next month without one of their defensive leaders. After earning his first Pro Bowl nod in 2023, Owusu-Koramoah has carried his elite production into 2024. The former second-round pick leads the Browns with 61 tackles, and he’s also added three sacks, one interception, and one forced fumble to his 2024 stat line.
“JOK is a leader of our defense,” safety Juan Thornhill told Cabot. “He’s a guy that’s going to make a lot of plays, that spark for our defense and losing a guy like that, it hurts. That’s our brother. You never want to see anybody go down like that. But everybody out there, they’re going to play hard for him each and every week until they get back out there and I’m praying for my boy.”
Owusu-Koramoah has been the one consistent for the Browns linebackers corps in 2024. Jordan Hicks has missed three games and most of a fourth, and Mohamoud Diabate had a stint on IR while recovering from a hip injury. Devin Bush has stepped up and ranks second at the position in snaps played, and the Browns may have to lean on the likes of Winston Reid and Nathaniel Watson depending on the status of Hicks.
Patriots Eyeing OL Help; Latest On K.J. Osborn
The Patriots’ chances of making the playoffs are slim to none. However, that won’t stop the front office from seeking some reinforcement ahead of the trade deadline. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Patriots are on the lookout for some offensive line help.
Specifically, New England’s front office looked into acquiring Cam Robinson before the veteran was dealt from the Jaguars to the Vikings. The team has also reached out to free agent OL D.J. Humphries, who took a visit with the Giants last week. The Patriots probably won’t overspend on a veteran stopgap, but the team is at least looking at options that can help keep their quarterback(s) upright.
The Patriots offensive line has been responsible for allowing 27 sacks this season, the third-highest total in the NFL. While veteran seat warmer Jacoby Brissett presumably knew he’d take his fair share of hits in 2024, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Patriots are a bit more wary of their OL woes with Drake Maye guiding the offense. The third-overall pick suffered a concussion last weekend (on a scramble play), and considering the team’s investment in the QB, they’ll surely do everything in their power to keep him healthy moving forward.
While the Patriots didn’t do a whole lot to improve their offensive line this past offseason, the team also hasn’t received a whole lot of luck on the health front. New England has already turned to 11 different OL starters this season, and the different line combinations have naturally led to inconsistent play from the unit. Mike Onwenu is the only lineman who’s received a plus-grade from Pro Football Focus, so a lack of health can’t be entirely to blame for the team’s struggles.
Elsewhere in New England, Fowler says wideout K.J. Osborn is the Patriots player he’s watching closest as we approach the trade deadline. There’s been rumblings that the offseason acquisition already wants out of New England, and the veteran was recently demoted to the team’s WR4 or WR5 role following the return of Kendrick Bourne. In six games this season, Osborn has been limited to seven catches.
If the Patriots are unable to find any takers in a trade, the club may simply release Osborn, per ESPN’s Mike Reiss. Osborn has reportedly been a consummate professional even as his workload has decreased, and rather than have him languish on the sidelines as they seek to get a look at their younger talent, the Pats may be willing to do him a favor and let him catch on elsewhere.
Bills Still Optimistic About Matt Milano Return
The Bills are still counting on their veteran linebacker to make a late-season return. Coach Sean McDermott told reporters that the Bills still see a path where linebacker Matt Milano plays during the 2024 campaign (per Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic).
The coach added that Milano continues to move “in the right direction” as he recovers from a torn bicep. McDermott also noted that Milano continues to have an impact on the current squad, with the coach lauding the player’s leadership during the rehab process (per ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg).
“There is [hope that he’ll return],” McDermott said (h/t Kyle Silagyi of SI.com). “I don’t know a lot of the detail, I just kind of know a big-picture view of Matt. He’s moving in the right direction, I see him every day. He’s one of the leaders on our football team, and I’ve even felt that more this year even than I did last year.”
Even if Milano is able to take the field this year, it will still prove to be a second-straight lost season for the veteran. Milano suffered a fractured leg as well as a knee injury in Week 5 of the 2023 season, ending that campaign prematurely. The veteran was able to return in time for this year’s minicamp, but he then suffered a bicep injury during training camp that’s kept him on the shelf for the entire 2024 campaign.
Another significant injury was a tough blow to Milano ahead of his age-30 season. Despite the ongoing injury issues, the Bills still slapped the linebacker with an IR-Return Designation, a sign of optimism from the organization. While the Bills shouldn’t expect a whole lot from the veteran, he would provide a fresh body to the LB depth chart. Dorian Williams has been the only consistent for the Bills at the position in 2024, with Baylon Spector filling in whenever Terrel Bernard has been knocked out of the lineup.
The last time he played in a full season, Milano earned his only career All-Pro nod after finishing with 99 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and three interceptions (including a pick-six). That performance helped earn the linebacker a two-year extension that would keep him in Buffalo through the 2026 campaign. Unfortunately, the Boston College product might not see the end of that pact. As Jay Skurski of the Buffalo News writes, Milano and his $16MM cap hit for the 2025 campaign will lead to plenty of speculation about his roster status heading into the offseason.
Saints GM Mickey Loomis Talks Deadline Approach
The Saints have dropped six-straight games and sit towards the bottom of the NFC standings. The team would be a logical seller ahead of the deadline, and the front office is willing to consider trades…on their terms.
During an appearance on WWL Radio this week, GM Mickey Loomis acknowledged that the Saints have received calls from potential buyers. However, the executive cautioned that the Saints have generally received “undervalued offers.”
“When you’re in a losing streak, you’re calling those teams looking to see if they’re sellers, right, and so we’ll get a number of calls and we’ll respond accordingly,” Loomis said (h/t Jeff Nowak of the station’s website). “I’m not really one who thinks that trading away half your roster makes a lot of sense at this point for, generally, what I think are undervalued offers.”
This could be some natural gamesmanship from Loomis with the trade deadline less than a week away. The Saints have some obvious trade candidates, including Marshon Lattimore and his impending team option. The veteran cornerback has seemingly been on the block for the past year, and with his 2025 status in doubt, the team may finally decide to move on. The Saints also have impending free agent edge rusher Chase Young, who was involved in a trade during last year’s deadline.
On the flip side, the Saints could sincerely be hoping to build some momentum as they look towards the 2025 campaign. Derek Carr is set to return to the Saints for the first time since Week 5. The veteran QB guided the Saints to their Week 1 and Week 2 victories, but he was also under center for their three subsequent losses. Carr’s return should provide a small spark to the organization, but he shouldn’t be expected to single-handedly turn around the team’s fortunes.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/30/24
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Milo Eifler, DL Anthony Goodlow
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: LB Tyreek Maddox-Williams
- Released: OL Matthew Cindric
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: WR Dax Milne
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: RB Jake Funk
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: CB Kendall Williamson
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: DE Shakel Brown
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: RB Jacob Kibodi
New York Giants
- Signed: OT Garret Greenfield
New York Jets
- Released: S Jaylen Key
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: OL Braeden Daniels
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: RB Aaron Shampklin
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: LB Michael Dowell
- Released: LB Jamie Sheriff.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/30/24
Today’s minor moves:
Dallas Cowboys
- Placed on IR: CB Amani Oruwariye
Denver Broncos
- Designated for return: S Delarrin Turner-Yell
Detroit Lions
- Designated for return: DT Brodric Martin
Houston Texans
- Signed to active roster: RB J.J. Taylor
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: C Sam Mustipher
Miami Dolphins
- Designated for return: WR River Cracraft
New England Patriots
- Designated for return: CB Alex Austin
New Orleans Saints
- Designated for return: C Shane Lemieux, LB Nephi Sewell
New York Jets
- Signed to active roster: LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball
Latest On Job Security For Giants HC Brian Daboll, GM Joe Schoen
Giants owner John Mara recently gave a vote of confidence to his HC/GM tandem. Unsurprisingly, many NFL executives aren’t buying the public support. As Dianna Russini of The Athletic writes, sources around the league aren’t buying the job security of head coach Brian Daboll and GM Joe Schoen.
[RELATED: Giants Owner Doesn’t Anticipate HC/GM Changes]
Part of the skepticism is based on precedence. Since Tom Coughlin‘s departure, the Giants have employed four head coaches in eight-plus seasons (not including 2017 fill-in Steve Spagnuolo). While Mara intended to be patient with his Buffalo imports, he clearly isn’t immune from reactionary decisions.
Plus, things could get much, much worse for the Giants between now and the end of the season. Russini points to last year’s saga in Tennessee, where head coach Mike Vrabel was deemed safe as late as Thanksgiving. The organization’s decision makers were adamant that Vrabel was a key member of the Titans…before firing him less than two months later. The Giants have already added another L to the loss column since last week’s report, and a continued lack of progression could change Mara’s mind.
More interestingly, sources are also skeptical about the duo’s long-term job security considering the organization’s alternative options…specifically a future Hall of Fame coach who is currently without a HC job. As Russini writes, it’s a “well-known secret around the league” that Mara is a fan of former Patriots coach Bill Belichick, and some NFL sources wonder if the owner could resist if Belichick later shows interest in the New York gig.
Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com takes it a step further, with the pundit believing Belichick is using his current media gigs to force his way into possible destinations. Florio points to Belichick’s recent remarks that questioned Schoen’s decision to let Saquon Barkley walk in free agency. If Belichick is interested in the Giants job and wants the “power to which he’s accustomed,” he would need Mara to make “a clean sweep” of the team’s leadership.
Daboll and Schoen could end up guiding the Giants to some kind of success in 2024, which would surely cool their hot seat. However, until Belichick lands a gig elsewhere, the duo won’t have 100-percent job security.
Bengals Not Planning Any Deadline Trades
The Bengals currently sit at 3-5 and face an uphill battle to make the playoffs, and the front office isn’t planning to help (or hurt) the team’s aspirations. According to Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic, the organization doesn’t “have plans to make moves with the trade deadline approaching.”
As Dehner writes, the Bengals front office doesn’t have any intention of “waving the white flag,” but they also don’t intend to give up draft assets that may help them in the future. The organization believes there’s still a path to the playoffs with their current roster, and they’ll rely on their young pieces to patch any weaknesses.
Specifically, the team will be hoping for elevated play from 2023 first-round pick Myles Murphy and 2021 third-round pick Joseph Ossai on the edge, and they’ll be counting on second-round rookie Kris Jenkins to add some interior DL help opposite Sheldon Rankins and B.J. Hill. The team has also made some OL tweaks via the practice squad circuit, and Dehner believes they’ll continue to tap into that well moving forward.
Similarly, the Bengals won’t deal any of their popular trade candidates, including wideout Tee Higgins and defensive end Trey Hendrickson. As Dehner observes, the Bengals have been reluctant to make in-season sales. The team has sold off only a pair of disgruntled players over the past 13 deadlines: quarterback Carson Palmer in 2011 and defensive end Carlos Dunlap in 2020. Those players effectively had “hostile relationship[s] beyond repair,” and those issues aren’t apparent on this year’s squad.
Dehner also points to the lost 2019 season, when the Bengals refused to sell veteran wideout A.J. Green and veteran defensive tackle Geno Atkins despite clearly being out of it by the trade deadline. While the front office has changed their thinking on some antiquated mentalities (like their approach to QB contracts), Dehner believes the team will be stubborn with their deadline strategy…a factor that bodes well for Higgins and Hendrickson still being on the squad next week.
Jets’ Kicker Workout Includes Zane Gonzalez, Brayden Narveson, Cade York, Others
OCTOBER 29: Zane Gonzalez and the recently cut Brayden Narveson took part in the Jets’ kicker workout, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets. The workout also included Patterson, York, Spencer Shrader and Andre Szmyt. Shrader kicked in one game for the Colts this season, filling in for Matt Gay. Szmyt has never kicked in an NFL game.
Narveson missed five field goals in six Packers games, doing so despite not attempting a 50-plus-yarder during his rookie season. The Pack cut him for Brandon McManus this month. Gonzalez has not kicked in a regular-season game since 2021 but was a regular for five straight seasons. The Commanders cut Patterson and traded for York in August, eventually moving on from the latter after Week 1. The Jets have not yet made a signing, but several options are on the radar.
OCTOBER 28: Greg Zuerlein‘s days in New York may be numbered. Following another dreadful outing from the Jets kicker, coach Jeff Ulbrich acknowledged that his team would hold a kicker competition this week (per ESPN’s Rich Cimini). Ulbrich added that the team intends to make a choice before Thursday’s matchup with the Texans, and he strongly hinted that Zuerlein may be sent packing.
“We’re exploring all the options right now,” Ulbrich said (via Brian Costello of the New York Post). “We really are. So we’re going to bring the kickers in for a workout, see where they stand and make a decision after that.”
This isn’t the first time this season that the Jets have considered pivoting away from Zuerlein. The team brought in Cade York, Riley Patterson, and Matt Coghlin earlier this month, but the Jets ended up sticking with the veteran for the time being.
Zuerlein has struggled during his age-37 season, with the kicker missing six of his 15 field goal attempts. In a three-point loss to the Patriots, ‘Greg The Leg’ missed a 44-yard attempt and an extra point. He previously missed a field goal in a one-point loss to the Broncos, and he missed a pair of FGAs during the Jets’ three-point loss to the Bills.
Following an underwhelming start to his New York tenure in 2022, Zuerlein seemed to bounce back in 2023, connecting on 35 of his 38 field goal attempts and 15 of his 16 XP tries. The Jets brought in Austin Seibert as some competition this offseason before ultimately deciding to stay with their incumbent. Seibert proceeded to join the Commanders, where he’s made a league-leading 23 of his 25 field goal attempts.
49ers Eyeing Week 10 Return For RB Christian McCaffrey
OCTOBER 28: While the 49ers are on their bye this week, McCaffrey will “hit it hard” and simulate a practice to determine how close he is to a return, Shanahan told reporters (via The Athletic’s Matt Barrows). If McCaffrey can exit those simulated sessions without any pain, then the 49ers would plan to open the RB’s practice window next Monday. The team would then give McCaffrey a full week of real practice before activating him to the roster ahead of Week 10.
OCTOBER 21: While a definitive activation date hasn’t been set, it sounds like Christian McCaffrey is getting closer to his return. Coach Kyle Shanahan said there’s “hope” that the star RB could make his return following the team’s bye (per ESPN’s Nick Wagoner). That Week 10 target would be dependent on McCaffrey’s continued progress in his recovery from Achilles and calf issues.
While the coach acknowledged that the running back hasn’t experienced any setbacks, he also admitted that it’d be a surprise if McCaffrey returns to practice this week and plays against the Cowboys on Sunday. A post-bye return to practice would provide the All-Pro RB with another two weeks of recovery time, and considering the performance of fill-in Jordan Mason, it’s not a surprise the organization is opting to take it slow.
McCaffrey went to Germany last month to seek treatment on his Achilles tendinitis, a lingering issue that has affected both of the player’s lower limbs. The trip apparently had a positive impact, as the RB was spotted taking part in light on-field work earlier this month. After sitting out the season opener, McCaffrey landed on IR prior to Week 2, so he was only recently eligible for activation.
The 49ers have been snake bitten by injuries this season, with Brandon Aiyuk‘s season-ending ACL tear being the latest inclusion on a long list of ailments. Despite sitting at 3-4, the defensive NFC champs only sit a game behind Seattle in the NFC West standings. If McCaffrey is indeed able to return for Week 10, he’ll provide an instant spark as the 49ers look to make a postseason push.
Speaking of absences, Deebo Samuel exited yesterday’s loss to the Chiefs after getting into only four snaps. Shanahan has since revealed that the wide receiver has since been hospitalized with fluid in his lungs, which Matt Barrows of The Athletic notes is technically pneumonia. Shanahan noted that Samuel’s illness first popped up on Sunday morning, and after the receiver was struggling to breathe during the early portion of yesterday’s game, it was decided the player should exit the contest (per Barrows).
Shanahan also said he’s unsure when Samuel will be able to return to the lineup. When coupled with Aiyuk’s season-ending injury, this could make the 49ers especially light at WR this weekend. Jauan Jennings had a standout Week 3 performance and should lead the depth chart, although the veteran missed yesterday’s game with a hip issue. Ricky Pearsall should also have an opportunity for a significant role. After getting shot in the chest in early September, the first-round rookie made his season debut yesterday, hauling in three catches while getting into 48 snaps.