49ers, Deommodore Lenoir Agree To Extension
The 49ers have locked in one of their top cornerbacks for the foreseeable future. Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports that the 49ers have inked Deommodore Lenoir to a five-year, $92MM extension.
Lenoir was set to hit free agency following the 2024 campaign. The former fifth-round pick had been mentioned as an extension candidate throughout the offseason, especially with Charvarius Ward having not received a long-term pact. Talks between the 49ers and Lenoir appeared to be heating up right before the regular season, and the two sides have now agreed to an extension.
A former fifth-round pick out of Oregon, Lenoir quickly established himself as a foundational piece in San Francisco. After starting 13 of his 17 appearances as a sophomore, Lenoir started all 17 games in 2023. The 49ers clearly valued his versatility, with the team using him as an outside CB and in the slot. He finished the 2023 campaign with 84 tackles, three interceptions, and 10 passes defended, with Pro Football Focus grading him 23rd among 127 qualifying cornerbacks.
Lenoir has continued to produce in 2024. The 25-year-old has started all nine of his appearances, compiling 53 tackles, six passes defended, and a pair of interceptions. He currently ranks 41st among 109 qualifiers on Pro Football Focus’ positional rankings, although his coverage grade ranks 22nd among CBs. Lenoir has played 337 snaps in the slot this season, and he’s also made appearances as a wide CB (130 snaps) and in the box (80 snaps).
The cornerback will now be committed to San Francisco through the 2029 campaign. His upcoming $18.4MM average annual salary would currently rank outside the top-10 at the position, so the 49ers may have secured a slight discount if Lenoir continues to develop.
Jets Claim C Connor McGovern
And just like that, Connor McGovern is back in New York. The Jets announced that they’ve claimed the veteran offensive lineman off waivers. McGovern was waived by the Saints yesterday.
[RELATED: Saints Waive Connor McGovern]
McGovern started the 2024 campaign in New York after catching on with the team’s practice squad. The Saints snagged the lineman in early October and added him to the active roster, where he proceeded to start five of his six appearances. However, with both Erik McCoy and Shane Lemieux nearing full health, the Saints decided to suddenly move on from their fill-in.
Back in New York, McGovern’s situation will be similar to what he faced earlier in the year. 2023 second-round pick Joe Tippmann is firmly entrenched as the team’s center, with backup center Alec Lindstrom generating only three special teams snaps this year. There’s a chance McGovern only makes a brief stop on the active roster before inevitably landing back on the practice squad.
Still, McGovern represents some worthwhile depth for the organization. The lineman joined the Jets ahead of the 2020 campaign and proceeded to start all 48 of his appearances through his first three seasons with the team. He suffered a dislocated kneecap last October that limited him to only seven starts in 2023.
Broncos Assistant HC Mike Westhoff Steps Away From Role
Broncos assistant head coach Mike Westhoff has resigned from his role as he monitors “a potential health issue,” according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
The 76-year-old coach experienced vision problems last week and underwent testing, including an MRI. Westhoff made his decision to step away after consulting with doctors and head coach Sean Payton.
“It’s not easy to make this decision, but this was a wake-up call that I needed to put my health first,” Westhoff said. “This team is very much headed in the right direction with a strong foundation and a winning culture. I’m grateful to Sean for giving me the opportunity to contribute to a first-class organization and wish the Broncos the very best.”
According to Mike Klis of 9News in Denver, Payton was naturally hoping that Westhoff would stick around for the stretch run of the season. With the coach turning 77 later this month, Westhoff decided to prioritize his health and head home to Florida.
Westhoff has earned a reputation as one of the league’s most respected ST minds. He spent more than a decade as the special teams coordinator with the Dolphins, and he had another decade-plus stint with the Jets in the early 2000s. He retired following the 2012 campaign but returned to join Payton in New Orleans for most of the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Following another retirement, Westhoff reunited with Payton in Denver, where he’s spent the past season-plus as the assistant head coach and ST coordinator.
Westhoff is the second Broncos coach to step away from their role in 2024. Pass-game coordinator Zach Grossi stepped away last month as he seeks treatment for cancer. Klis notes that Grossi has been in close communication with the team while undergoing treatment.
DE Vinny Curry Retires
Vinny Curry is officially calling it a career. The former Super Bowl champ is set to retire as a member of the Eagles this Thursday, per Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
The move doesn’t come as a huge surprise considering Curry has only appeared in 11 games since the 2020 campaign. The pass rusher signed with the Jets during the 2021 offseason but ended up missing that entire season after being diagnosed with a rare blood disorder. He worked his way back to appear in 11 games for the Jets in 2022, although he was only limited to a part-time role. Curry went unsigned during the 2023 season and didn’t find a gig to start the 2024 campaign.
Prior to his Jets stint, Curry made a name for himself in Philly. A former second-round pick out of Marshall, Curry evolved into a key rotational defender for the Eagles for much of the 2010s. While he only started 16 of his 84 appearances during his first stint with the Eagles, he still contributed 22 sacks, five forced fumbles, and 63 QB hits. Curry also started each of the Eagles three games during their run to a Super Bowl LII championship.
Following a one-year stop in Tampa Bay, Curry returned to Philly for the 2019 and 2020 seasons. His 41 tackles for loss and 85 QB hits rank in the top-10 in franchise history, so it’s only fitting that he’ll sign an honorary contract to finish his career with the Eagles.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/12/24
Today’s practice squad moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: WR Jakeem Grant
- Released: LB Tyreek Maddox-Williams
Carolina Panthers
- Released: LB Cam Johnson
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: QB Will Grier
- Released: S Emany Johnson
Detroit Lions
- Signed: WR Maurice Alexander, DE Isaiah Thomas
Houston Texans
- Signed: OL Cameron Erving, CB D’Angelo Ross
- Released: CB Desmond King, OT David Sharpe
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: OT Mason Brooks
- Released: DE Derek Rivers
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: OL Jerome Carvin, OL Dieter Eiselen
- Released: LS Peter Bowden, QB John Rhys Plumlee
New York Giants
- Signed: OT Joshua Miles
- Released: P Matt Haack
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: RB Patrick Taylor
- Released: RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: OL Chandler Brewer
The Falcons have added a notable name to their special teams corps in Jakeem Grant. The long-time Dolphins returner has collected six ST touchdowns in his career (four via punts, two via kickoffs), and he’s even hauled in 100 catches. However, the veteran hasn’t seen the field since the 2021 campaign while spending the past few years on Cleveland’s practice squad.
With Dak Prescott done for the season, the Cowboys have added some extra QB depth. In comes old friend Will Grier, who spent the 2021 and 2022 campaigns in Dallas. The former third-round pick has since bounced around the NFL, including stops with the Bengals, Patriots, and Chargers in just 2023. Grier still only has two career appearances on his resume, both coming with the Panthers in 2019.
The Texans have added some experienced OL depth in Cameron Erving. The veteran is coming off a 2023 campaign where he started two of his three appearances for the Saints, and he barely played in 11 appearances with the Panthers in 2022. Still, the 32-year-old brings 98 games (58 starts) of experience to Houston, a factor that could be valuable down the stretch. To make room on the practice squad, the Texans moved on from cornerback Desmond King. The veteran has only seen time in one game for Houston this season, although he’s not far removed from a 2022 campaign where he started 13 games for the Texans.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/12/24
Today’s minor moves:
Denver Broncos
- Waived: DB Keidron Smith
Miami Dolphins
- Placed on IR: TE Tanner Conner
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived: TE Jack Stoll
Tennessee Titans
- Claimed off waivers (from Rams): OL Logan Bruss
Bruss was waived by the Rams yesterday to make room for returning linemen Steve Avila and Jonah Jackson. A former third-round pick, Bruss didn’t make an appearance through his first two seasons in the NFL but started three of his eight appearances in 2024.
Raiders TE Michael Mayer Returns To Practice
Michael Mayer will soon resume his sophomore campaign. The Raiders announced that the second-year tight end returned to practice today. With Mayer having been designated for return, the team will now have 21 days to activate the player to the active roster.
Mayer landed on the non-football injury list in early October due to personal reasons and has missed the Raiders’ last six games. Assuming the tight end doesn’t require an extended ramp-up period, he should be back for Sunday’s matchup with the Dolphins.
The 2023 second-round pick showed flashes as a rookie. In 14 games (12 starts), the Notre Dame product hauled in 27 catches for 304 yards and two touchdowns. With Austin Hooper hitting free agency this past offseason, Mayer had an opportunity to solidify himself as the team’s long-term answer at the position. Unfortunately for the player, the Raiders used a first-round pick on Brock Bowers, meaning Mayer will be locked in as a backup for the foreseeable future.
Still, that doesn’t mean Mayer will go unused in Las Vegas. Before landing on NFI, the tight end was getting into more than 50 percent of his team’s offense snaps, and although Bowers has seen his snap count increase throughout the season, there’s a good chance the Raiders go back to a similar arrangement for the stretch run of the season. With Mayer out of the lineup, the Raiders have turned to the likes of Harrison Bryant and John Samuel Shenker to soak up leftover snaps at the position.
Ravens Trade For Calais Campbell Fell Short
The Ravens were especially aggressive at the trade deadline as they looked to improve their defense. The team made an aggressive bid for Marshon Lattimore before landing Tre’Davious White from the Rams. If the front office had their way, they also would have reunited with an old friend.
[RELATED: Ravens Acquire CB Tre’Davious White From Rams]
According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, the Ravens were close to completing a trade with the Dolphins for defensive tackle Calais Campbell. However, the deal ultimately fell apart at the last minute.
The veteran defensive lineman had a three-year stint in Baltimore between 2020 and 2022, starting 40 of his 41 appearances. Over that span, he collected 11 sacks, 14 tackles for loss, and 36 QB hits, and he got into another three playoff games for the organization. Campbell was cut by the team at the end of the 2022 campaign and caught on with the Falcons, where he spent one season.
The 38-year-old joined the Dolphins this past offseason and has started all eight of his appearances for his new squad, collecting 28 tackles and two sacks. Despite getting up there in age, Campbell still ranks fourth on Pro Football Focus’ rankings of interior defensive lineman, an improvement from his 23rd-place showing in 2023. The Ravens could have used some DL depth with Michael Pierce sitting on injured reserve and Brent Urban dealing with a concussion.
As for the trade they did make, Breer notes that White agreed to remove all playing-time incentives to help facilitate a trade to Baltimore.
Saints WR Chris Olave Expected To Land On IR, May Be Done For Season
Chris Olave may have already played his last snap of the 2024 campaign. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the Saints wide receiver is expected to land on injured reserve today. Olave suffered a concussion in Week 9 and was already ruled out for tomorrow’s game against the Falcons. Olave will now be out for at least the next four games.
[RELATED: Saints’ Chris Olave Visiting Concussion Specialists]
As we learned earlier this week, Olave is set to visit specialists as he determines his future in the NFL. Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.football says the “expectation” is that Olave won’t play again during the 2024 campaign. Rapoport echos that sentiment, citing the nature of the injury, Olave’s impending visits with specialists, and the Saints’ unlikely chances of making the postseason.
This latest concussion marks the second time this season that Olave has dealt with a brain injury, continuing a troubling trend for the wideout. The 2022 first-round pick also dealt with concussions in each of his first two seasons, and this latest occurrence prompted meetings with specialists. When Olave returned to the field in Week 8 following a one-game absence, he was sporting a new helmet, although the player opted against wearing a Guardian Cap.
As Olave navigates his latest concussion, it sounds like the Saints are opting to play it safe with their young star. Following a 2-0 start, the Saints are in the midst of a seven-game losing streak, leading to Dennis Allen‘s firing earlier this week. With fellow wideout Rashid Shaheed having already been lost for the season, the Saints receivers room will be down to the likes of veterans Cedrick Wilson Jr. and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, plus UDFAs Mason Tipton and Jermaine Jackson.
Steelers Cut S Terrell Edmunds
Terrell Edmunds‘ second stint with the Steelers has come to an end. The team announced today that they’ve released the veteran safety. Edmunds will now be subject to waivers before officially hitting free agency.
Edmunds was snagged off the Jaguars practice squad in early September and proceeded to get into five games with Pittsburgh. He was splitting time between defense and special teams in 2024, getting into each of the Steelers five games before their bye. This past week, the veteran missed a handful of practices with an illness designation.
The former first-round pick spent the first five seasons of his career in Pittsburgh, starting 75 of his 84 appearances while compiling 417 tackles, five sacks, and five interceptions. He joined the Eagles ahead of the 2023 campaign but was dealt to the Titans midway through that season. He spent this past preseason with the Jaguars before landing on Jacksonville’s taxi squad to begin the campaign.
The Steelers weren’t done making moves today, as both linebacker Tyler Matakevich and wideout Ben Skowronek were activated from IR. Matakevich (hamstring) and Skowronek (shoulder) both suffered injuries in Week 2 that ultimately landed them on IR. The duo will likely make their main contributions on special teams for the stretch run of the season.
To make more room on the roster, the team also cut running back Jonathan Ward. The veteran journeyman got into four games with Pittsburgh this season, collecting 22 yards from scrimmage on five touches.