Latest On Mike Vrabel’s 2025 Coaching Candidacy
The offseason head coaching market will be loaded with names. While iconic HC Bill Belichick, Lions OC Ben Johnson, and even Colorado HC Deion Sanders will steal headlines, another name may be the most sought-after individual among the options.
According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, Mike Vrabel is getting the “most hype” among the player-turned-coach options. Russini notes that team owners are targeting “culture-builders” as they pursue head coaches. Vrabel earned that reputation during his time as the Titans head coach, and he’s known for relating to his players while also holding them accountable.
Considering the positive view on Vrabel, he was one of the most surprising casualties during last year’s coaching carousel. Tennessee’s 13-21 record between 2022 and 2023 naturally led to his demise. However, there were many pundits who believed Vrabel deserved a longer leash after guiding the Titans to 41 wins between 2018 and 2021 (with three-straight playoff nods, including an AFC Championship appearance).
The 49-year-old was a finalist for the Chargers and Falcons openings this past offseason, and he was loosely connected to a reunion with the Patriots. Ultimately, Vrabel took a consulting gig with the Browns while he eyes a job for the 2025 campaign.
Fortunately for Vrabel, there should be plenty of gigs to choose from. Russini says coaching vacancies could reach double digits, with the reporter comparing the upcoming offseason to 2021, when 10 teams added head coaches. Josina Anderson shares a similar sentiment, noting that she’s heard of seven head coaches who are currently on the hot seat (beyond the interim HCs with the Saints and Jets).
Panthers Place TE Ian Thomas On IR; LB Amaré Barno Returns To Practice
With the Panthers coming off their bye week, the front office made a series of moves today. Most notably, the team placed tight end Ian Thomas on injured reserve. The team also signed cornerback Caleb Farley to the active roster.
Thomas suffered a calf injury during the team’s Week 10 win in Germany. The tight end will now be sidelined for at least the next four games, but there’s still a chance he could appear in a handful of December contests if he requires only a minimum stint on IR. Thomas also missed a chunk of games to begin the year as he nursed a calf injury.
Thanks in part to his absences, the veteran has been limited to only three catches this season. This performance came on the heels of a 2023 campaign where Thomas hauled in only five receptions. The former fourth-round pick did have a moderate offensive role between 2018 and 2022, with Thomas averaging 22 receptions for 200 yards per season.
Elsewhere on the roster, Farley will now have a secure role on the active roster after having been elevated three times from the practice squad. A former first-round pick by the Titans, Farley has seen time on 29 defensive snaps during his first season in Carolina. He’ll continue to play a depth role behind Jaycee Horn, Mike Jackson, and Dane Jackson.
The Panthers are also getting close to welcoming back some linebacker depth, as Amaré Barno returned to practice today. The organization will now have 21 days to activate the LB to the active roster. The 2022 sixth-round pick tore his ACL during last year’s Christmas Eve game, and there’s a chance his recovery won’t even span an entire year. After getting into nine games as a rookie, Barno appeared in 15 games in 2023, finishing with 21 tackles while splitting time between defense and special teams.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/18/24
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: S Andre Chachere
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: DT Sam Roberts
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: DT Trysten Hill
Las Vegas Raiders
- Released: WR Jalen Guyton
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: DB A.J. Green
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: NT Brandon Pili
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/18/24
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived: OT Charlie Heck
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived from IR: LB Deion Jennings
Dallas Cowboys
- Placed on IR: QB Dak Prescott (story)
- Signed to active roster: DB Josh Butler
- Promoted: TE Princeton Fant, DB Kemon Hall
Green Bay Packers
- Activated from IR: RB MarShawn Lloyd
Houston Texans
- Promoted: DT Tommy Togiai
New England Patriots
- Activated from IR: CB Alex Austin
- Waived: CB Marco Wilson
New York Jets
- Signed to active roster: K Anders Carlson
- Waived: DL Bruce Hector
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived: TE Tyler Mabry
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed to active roster: CB Troy Hill
- Waived: S Kaevon Merriweather
MarShawn Lloyd‘s path back to the Packers active roster has taken an unusual turn. The rookie third-round pick landed on IR in September with an ankle injury. He returned to practice last week but suffered appendicitis only a few days later, putting his activation within the 21-day window in doubt.
Worried that Lloyd wouldn’t be ready to play by his early-December activation deadline, the Packers consulted with the NFL about the best route forward (per ESPN’s Rob Demovsky). That ultimately led to today’s transaction, which is only the start of several transactional machinations. As Tom Silverstein of Milwaukee Journal Sentinel notes, Lloyd will temporarily join the active roster before landing on the non-football injury list. That means he won’t count against the team’s roster limit until he’s healthy enough to return to the field.
Lloyd doesn’t have a return timetable from this recent setback. While the rookie entered the year as the hopeful RB2 behind Josh Jacobs, there’s a good chance he’ll also behind Emanuel Wilson for the stretch run of the season.
Daniel Jones Fallout: Jones’ Reaction, DeVito, Lock Incentives
The Giants ripped off the band-aid today, benching Daniel Jones for Week 12 and likely beyond. The move didn’t come as a complete surprise considering Jones’ subpar play in 2024, especially during the Giants’ active five-game losing streak. While the pivot atop the depth chart seemed inevitable, the team’s trio of quarterbacks only found out this morning.
[RELATED: Giants To Start Tommy DeVito In Week 12]
While speaking to reporters today, coach Brian Daboll revealed that he had a meeting with the Giants’ three QBs to discuss the team’s “direction” (per Connor Hughes SNYtv). Naturally, Jones didn’t take well to his demotion.
“Certainly you’re not going to be happy about that as a competitor, and I respect that,” Daboll said of his former starter (via Ralph Vacchiano of FOX Sports).
Daboll also admitted he talked with Jones about the player’s future with the organization, but the coach kept those conversations private (per Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post). While the QB is still attached to his four-year, $160MM extension, he doesn’t have any salary locked in beyond the 2024 campaign. Jones’ $23MM injury guarantee for 2025 likely played into the organization’s thinking, especially with the front office having an easy out ($30.5MM in cap savings, $11.11MM in dead cap) this offseason.
So, the team will now pivot to Tommy DeVito. The QB went 3-3 as a starter last season, and Daboll acknowledged that DeVito’s 2023 performance played a role in the team’s 2024 decision (via Hughes). The Giants’ decision to go with DeVito over Drew Lock could have also been financially motivated. Michael Ginnitti of Spotrac notes that Lock could have still achieved a handful of incentives, most notably $250K bonuses based on passer rating, completion rate, and touchdowns/receiving yards. With Daboll coaching for his job over the next month, the coach probably only gave minor consideration to this factor.
Of course, Lock could still see the field if DeVito gets injured or benched. The Giants will roll with Lock as their primary backup, meaning Jones won’t even dress as the team looks to avoid an injury to the highly paid QB.
Patriots Activate DL Christian Barmore
The Patriots will welcome back one of their defensive leaders for Week 11. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the team is activating defensive lineman Christian Barmore off the non-football illness list. Barmore is expected to play tomorrow.
[RELATED: Pats’ Christian Barmore Returns To Practice]
The 25-year-old was sidelined indefinitely after being diagnosed with blood clots in late July. He was subsequently placed on NFI, and the seriousness of Barmore’s diagnosis led to speculation that he could be out for the entire 2024 season.
Fortunately, things seemed to be trending in the right direction for the former second-round pick, as the organization expressed continued optimism surrounding his recovery. The organization all but confirmed Barmore’s impending return when they welcomed him back to practice earlier this week. There was some initial skepticism surrounding the DL’s Week 11 availability after he missed yesterday’s practice, but it sounds like he’ll be ready to make his season debut tomorrow.
After showing flashes through his first two seasons in the NFL, Barmore seemed to put it all together in 2023. The defensive lineman established new career-highs in sacks (8.5), tackles (64), pressures (19), and tackles for loss (13). With Barmore eyeing the final season of his rookie pact in 2024, the Patriots eagerly handed him a a four-year, $84MM extension this past spring.
The Patriots’ pass rush and run defense haven’t been completely helpless in 2024, but Barmore should still help to improve those middle-of-the-road units. While New England doesn’t have a whole lot to play for down the stretch, the organization would gladly take continued development from Barmore as they head towards the offseason.
Patriots Cut WR Tyquan Thornton
As one of only three squads to carry seven wide receivers for much of the campaign, the Patriots are finally clearing some of their depth. The team has cut wideout Tyquan Thornton, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
A 2022 second-round pick out of Baylor, Thornton struggled to carve out a role in New England. The wideout showed some flashes as a rookie, hauling in 22 catches for 247 yards and two touchdowns while starting nine of his 13 appearances. Thanks in part to inconsistent QB play, Thornton struggled as a sophomore, finishing with only 13 catches while missing a chunk of the season with a shoulder injury.
While the Patriots underwent significant changes during the offseason (including to their offense), Thornton hasn’t been able to revive his career. The wideout saw a fair share of snaps to start the season with Kendrick Bourne and Kayshon Boutte sidelined. However, as the receivers room got back to full strength, Thornton found himself on the outside looking in.
Over the past six weeks, the third-year WR has seen the field for only 13 offensive snaps (with 12 of those snaps coming in Week 8). In addition to Bourne and Boutte, Thornton also found himself behind the likes of Demario Douglas, Ja’Lynn Polk, and K.J. Osborn in the pecking order.
While Osborn is an impending free agent, the Patriots decided to move on from Thornton despite one year remaining on his rookie contract. Another squad could inherit that contract by making a waiver claim, and NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe notes that the receiver is healthy and “ready for his next opportunity.”
Saints Activate C Erik McCoy From IR
4:42PM: As expected, New Orleans has announced the activation of McCoy from injured reserve. The team also activated reserve linebacker Nephi Sewell off of the reserve/physically unable to perform list. To clear some roster space, the Saints waived wide receiver Jermaine Jackson. Jackson had been filling duties as a return man, appearing in the team’s last four contests.
In the announcement, New Orleans also designated wide receivers Kevin Austin and Dante Pettis as their standard gameday practice squad elevations for the second straight week.
9:07AM: The Saints’ season is all but in the gutter, but the team will still welcome back their starting center for the stretch run of the season. The team is expected to activate starting center Erik McCoy from IR in time for tomorrow’s game against the Browns, per ESPN’s Katherine Terrell.
McCoy suffered a groin injury only a few snaps into Week 3 and subsequently underwent surgery. He’s missed each of New Orleans’ last seven games, although a return seemed imminent when he returned to practice earlier this month. While the Saints sit three games out of a playoff spot in the NFC, the staff is still more than happy to slot the veteran OL back atop the depth chart.
“Should be good to go,” interim coach Darren Rizzi said of McCoy. “I thought we did the right thing here the last couple of weeks with his volume in practice, amped it up a little bit every day, and he looks like he’s ready to go. Unless we have a setback between now and Sunday, I imagine he’d be in there.”
There have been plenty of changes in New Orleans since McCoy went down with an injury. Most notably, the team moved on from head coach Dennis Allen, and the offense has lost two major pieces in Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed. While Derek Carr made a relatively quick return from his oblique injury, he’s had to play behind an inexperienced OL. With McCoy out of the lineup and Ryan Ramczyk lost for the season, Cesar Ruiz represented the only holdover from the Drew Brees/Sean Payton era.
A 2019 second-round pick, McCoy has been a full-time starter since joining New Orleans. After missing nine combined games between the 2021 and 2022 seasons, the center managed to get into all 17 games in 2023, leading to his first career Pro Bowl nod. He’ll step right back into his starting center spot, and the Saints won’t have to juggle any additional depth after they cut fill-in Connor McGovern earlier this week.
Raiders Activate TE Michael Mayer
The Raiders will add some tight end depth for the second half of the season. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports that the Raiders have activated tight end Michael Mayer from the non-football injury list.
[RELATED: Raiders TE Michael Mayer Returns To Practice]
Mayer landed on the NFI list in early October due to undisclosed personal reasons and has missed the Raiders’ last six games. The tight end returned to practice earlier this week, and the Raiders are expecting to throw him right into the fire.
“I think there’s obviously an opportunity there for him,” coach Antonio Pierce said (via Vic Tafur of The Athletic). “The more we can get him involved, the better.”
Through the first three weeks of the season, Mayer had appeared in 56 percent of his team’s offensive snaps. Even with the expected emergence of first-round TE Brock Bowers, there should still be a role for the second-year pro in Las Vegas. Mayer looked the part of a potential TE1 as a rookie, finishing the year with 27 catches for 304 yards and two touchdowns. Harrison Bryant and John Samuel Shenker will likely slide down the depth chart with Mayer back in the lineup.
The Raiders made a handful of additional moves in anticipation of tomorrow’s matchup with the Dolphins. The team announced that they’ve waived wideout Alex Bachman, and they also promoted receiver Terrace Marshall and center Will Putnam from the practice squad as standard gameday elevations.
Bill Belichick’s “Lieutenants” Ready To Join HC At New Job
Bill Belichick is expected to be the most sought-after individual in this upcoming offseason’s head coaching market. While the iconic coach got shut out of the 2024 campaign, there seems to be a general sentiment that he’ll be roaming the sideline in 2025.
In fact, there’s so much confidence in a Belichick return, many of his “lieutenants” are ready to follow. As Jeff Howe of The Athletic writes, some of Belichick’s former assistant coaches are “preparing to join him” at his new destination. Howe adds that Belichick’s impending staff could look very similar to his staffs in New England.
Howe doesn’t provide any specifics, but there are some former Belichick disciples who could be readily available. Josh McDaniels had two long stints in New England during his coaching career, including 13 combined years as the Patriots offensive coordinator. While McDaniels has failed multiple times as a head coach, he’s still shown he can guide an offense without Tom Brady leading the way; the former OC played an instrumental role in Mac Jones‘ Pro Bowl rookie campaign. With McDaniels having been unemployed since getting canned by the Raiders last year, the coach would presumably be more than willing to join Belichick’s next coaching staff.
On the defensive side of the ball, Belichick could just attend a family outing to recruit his top assistant. Steve Belichick served as the team’s co-de facto defensive coordinator (alongside current Patriots HC Jerod Mayo) during the older Belichick’s latter seasons. When his dad parted ways with the Patriots, the younger Belichick left for Washington to serve as the Huskies’ defensive coordinator. Steve’s Washington defense has allowed more than 30 points per game over the last four games, and with the school eyeing a lost season, the younger Belichick probably wouldn’t receive much push back for joining his father.
Of course, before Belichick can start forming his staff, he’ll need to find his next gig. As Howe notes, the future Hall of Famer won’t be receptive to joining a rebuilding squad as he chases Don Shula’s wins record. The former Patriots architect will likely require full control of the roster, so it’s uncertain if win-now squads like the Cowboys (who have a built-in hierarchy led by owner Jerry Jones) would even be a logical suitor. Ultimately, there seems to be confidence that Belichick will eventually settle on a gig, and he appears to have a full coaching staff ready to go.