Minor NFL Transactions: 12/21/24
Today’s minor transactions and standard gameday practice squad elevations:
Arizona Cardinals
- Elevated: T Jackson Barton, RB Michael Carter
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed to active roster: WR Chris Blair
- Elevated: WR Dylan Drummond
- Waived: LB Rashaan Evans
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: S Kareem Jackson, WR Jalen Virgil
Carolina Panthers
- Elevated: RB Mike Boone, T Brandon Walton
Chicago Bears
- Signed to active roster: RB Darrynton Evans
- Placed on IR: G Ryan Bates
Cincinnati Bengals
- Elevated: DE Isaiah Thomas
Cleveland Browns
- Elevated: CB Kahlef Hailassie, WR James Proche
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed to active roster: CB Andrew Booth
- Elevated: LB Darius Harris, T Dakoda Shepley
- Placed on IR: CB Trevon Diggs (story)
Detroit Lions
- Activated from IR: S Ifeatu Melifonwu
- Signed to active roster: OLB Mitchell Agude, WR Tom Kennedy, DL Chris Smith
- Elevated: RB Jermar Jefferson, S Loren Strickland
- Waived (via injury settlement): DT David Bada
- Waived: WR Maurice Alexander
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed to active roster: CB Kyu Blu Kelly
- Elevated: TE John Samuel Shenker
Los Angeles Rams
- Elevated: CB Charles Woods
Miami Dolphins
- Activated from reserve/PUP: LB Cameron Goode
- Elevated: WR Erik Ezukanma
- Waived: DT Neil Farrell
Minnesota Vikings
- Elevated: S Bobby McCain, TE Nick Muse
New England Patriots
- Signed to active roster: RB Terrell Jennings
- Elevated: WR Alex Erickson, LB Monty Rice
New York Giants
- Signed to active roster: DB Raheem Layne
- Elevated: OLB Boogie Basham, T Tyre Phillips
New York Jets
- Elevated: DT Bruce Hector, S Jarius Monroe
Philadelphia Eagles
- Elevated: FB Khari Blasingame
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed to active roster: LB Jalen Graham, T Austen Pleasants
- Elevated: DT Alex Barrett, RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn
- Waived: T Sebastian Gutierrez
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed to active roster: QB Jaren Hall
- Elevated: CB Artie Burns
- Placed on IR: OLB Trevis Gipson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Elevated: P Jack Browning
Washington Commanders
- Elevated: DT Carl Davis
After being activated from injured reserve in early November, Bates only played two games before suffering a concussion. The 27-year-old has not played since Week 11 and will now miss the remainder of the season on IR. Bates is under contract through 2025.
Texans WR Tank Dell Suffers Serious Knee Injury
5:55PM: According to an update from Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Dell has suffered a dislocated knee cap. Doctors at the hospital Dell was taken to have been working the determine the extent of the damage. Surgery is reportedly on the table, but it has not happened just yet.
Head coach DeMeco Ryans told the media in his postgame interview that Dell’s injury is significant. Ryans was already aware that Dell would need to remain just over the state line in Kansas to stay the night at the University of Kansas Medical Center for further evaluation. He’ll have to rejoin the team at a later date, once stabilized.
2:35PM: The Texans know already that they are headed to the postseason by way of an AFC South title, but it looks like they may be doing so without a two key weapons in the passing game. Already short veteran wide receiver Stefon Diggs to a season-ending ACL tear, it looks like Houston will also be without Tank Dell after the second-year wideout suffered what looked to be a serious knee injury in today’s game against the Chiefs, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. 
Dell’s injury comes as an unfortunate result of friendly fire. As Dell caught a 30-yard touchdown in the back of the endzone, practice squad call up Jared Wayne collided with his knee as he dove for the ball, thinking the pass was intended for him. Dell was able to secure the ball with one hand, while his second hand shot immediately to his left knee.
The immediate aftermath was a somber scene as carts rushed out to the endzone and Dell’s teammates huddled around. Dell’s knee was stabilized, and he was carted off the field and, eventually, transported to the hospital. A vacuum splint was used to stabilize his entire left leg. That type of splint is usually used as when a training staff is worried about severe instability or fracture.
If the injury is as serious as it appeared to be, this continues what has been an extremely unfortunate start to Dell’s career. The 25-year-old got off to a hot start as a third-round rookie out of the nearby University of Houston. His impressive rookie campaign was unfortunately cut short when he suffered a fractured fibula that required season-ending ankle surgery. Still, in only 11 games, Dell produced a commendable 47 catches for 709 yards and seven touchdowns. Dell’s recovery took a crazy turn when, early in the offseason, he found himself as a victim in a public mass shooting outside a nightclub in Sanford, Florida.
The compounding injuries did not deter his recovery to the point that he missed any regular season time this year. Dell opened the season with the rest of the Texans, only missing a Week 4 contest due to a chest injury. With Nico Collins handling WR1 duties and the arrival of another star in Diggs, Dell had been operating in a reduced role this year, until Diggs suffered the season-ending injury of his own.
Coming into today, Dell had only one 100-yard receiving day and only two touchdowns on the year. Still, he was second on the team in receiving yards and third on the team in both receptions and receiving touchdowns. When Dell exited today, he was having perhaps the best game of his 2024 campaign. The play that resulted in his early exit left him with six catches for 98 yards and a touchdown on the day. He was on track to record season highs in all three categories today if he had been able to continue.
The Texans passing attack will face a tough task in replacing both Diggs and Dell in the playoffs this January. Collins will continue in his leading role, while John Metchie and Robert Woods will be asked to step up in major ways in the weeks to come.
They’ve got a couple weeks to feel out how their offense will work without Dell. While they can improve their playoff seeding with some wins and some help, they’re guaranteed a home playoff game as (at worst) the fourth seed. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the team playing it extremely safe for the remainder of the season, while Dell will likely need to begin his work getting back to the field in 2025.
Titans Sign K Brayden Narveson From Practice Squad With 2025 Extension
The Titans made an interesting roster move today. Tennessee signed practice squad kicker Brayden Narveson to the active roster, which by itself isn’t that interesting. What’s interesting is that Narveson’s stay on the active roster seems to have been made fairly permanent (for this season). Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports that the kicker’s deal with the team has another year tacked on, securing Narveson for the 2025 season, as well. 
The immediate use of signing Narveson from the practice squad to the active roster is as a backup kicker. The Titans’ regular kicker, Nick Folk, is listed as questionable this week after only participating in one practice this week in a limited capacity as he deals with an abdomen injury. The veteran kicker played through a groin injury last week, but it’s his abdomen bothering him in Week 16. While he’s listed as questionable, there’s belief that he won’t be active against the Colts, hence Narveson’s promotion.
The secondary use of signing Narveson, especially with the additional year added on, is as a potential kicker for the future. This isn’t a knock on Folk in the slightest. In his two years as the primary placekicker in Nashville, Folk has been an incredible 50 for 52, making 11 of 12 from over 50 yards. He led the NFL in field goal conversion percentage last year, and he’s leading the field in that stat this year, as well. He missed two extra point attempts last year, but with a perfect 2024 season, he’s 53 of 55 as a Titan after touchdowns. If Folk misses tomorrow’s divisional matchup, it’ll be his first missed game since 2019.
If anything, Narveson is being brought on as kicking competition for Folk for next year. If Tennessee decides to re-sign Folk, who’s playing on a contract year, the 40-year-old will likely be looking for a pretty good deal. If the Titans fear Folk will regress after crossing the 40-year-old mark, Narveson will provide competition; if they fear Folk will fetch too high a price, Narveson will be available as a cheaper option.
Narveson, an undrafted rookie out of NC State (after stops at Iowa State and Western Kentucky), was originally signed by the Titans. He wasn’t renowned for his accuracy, only connecting on 78 percent of his kicks in college, but he had a big leg, with a long of 57. After losing his first kicking competition with Folk, Narveson was waived and claimed by the Packers. He was named Green Bay’s primary kicker to start the season but was waived after missing five of his 17 attempts. He re-signed to Tennessee’s practice squad after clearing waivers.
Joining Narveson from the practice squad for tomorrow’s gameday will be defensive end Khalid Duke and offensive guard Arlington Hambright. Unlike Narveson, both Duke and Hambright will revert back to the team’s practice squad after this weekend.
DT Calais Campbell Could Go To Contender On Waivers If Miami Is Eliminated
At 38 years old, Calais Campbell is still playing as a focal point on defense in Miami. There was a chance that the team would trade him at the deadline, giving him an opportunity to return to Baltimore for the first time since 2022, but the trade was ultimately vetoed, seemingly guaranteeing he would finish the year as a Dolphin. Per Joseph Furones of the Sun Sentinel, Campbell confirmed recent rumors he may still find his way out of Miami on waivers. 
Just prior to the trade deadline, a Ravens team who was desperate to improve a struggling defense made a number of stabs in the trade market, including offers for Campbell and veteran cornerbacks Marshon Lattimore and Tre’Davious White, the latter of which they successfully acquired. The Campbell-trade was reported to have fallen just short at the finish line, and it was later uncovered that head coach Mike McDaniel personally vetoed the deal that would’ve sent the six-time Pro Bowler back to Baltimore in exchange for a 2026 fifth-round pick.
Now, it appears that Campbell could still depart Miami, but this time, the Dolphins wouldn’t be receiving anything in return. In his conversation with Furones, Campbell indicated that, should Miami be eliminated from playoff contention — something the team is dangerously close to — Campbell could request to be waived, giving him an opportunity to sign with a contender and win his first Super Bowl.
The Dolphins are currently 6-8. If they win out, they could finish the season as high as the fifth seed in the AFC for the playoffs — a top wild card spot. Note that this would require the Broncos, Chargers, and Ravens to lose all of their remaining games. If the Dolphins win out and any of the other three wild card teams lose out, the Dolphins would secure a playoff spot. If Miami suffers one loss, though, in games against the 49ers, at the Browns, and at the Jets, that would be enough to eliminate them from playoff contention.
There’s no deadline on when a player can be waived, so if any of the above matchups result in a loss, Campbell could be cut lose, and should he pass through waivers unclaimed, he would be able to sign wherever he chooses. It’s assumed he would want to sign with a contender. This could mean that he’ll chase after a roster spot with one of the division-leaders of the AFC in Kansas City, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, or Houston. He could also head back to the NFC in favor of the Eagles, Lions, or Vikings, especially considering how thin Detroit’s defensive line has been spread due to injuries.
More likely, though, Campbell may choose a contender with whom he has a history. This leaves the door open for a potential return to the Ravens, a team that would likely still embrace him with open arms. Only time will tell. The job is not finished in Miami. Though a playoff spot seems like a long shot for the Dolphins, it’s still within reach. One more win by the Broncos, Chargers, and Ravens or one more loss by the Dolphins will eliminate that possibility, but it would also create the potential to open the door for Campbell to win a championship, nonetheless.
2025 NFL Draft Rumors: Sanders, Beck, Campbell
The 2025 NFL Draft is fast approaching as the college football season comes to an end and the pre-draft process begins. Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders has likely solidified himself as a first-round pick — even a top-five draft pick — but according to Jeff Howe of The Athletic, he isn’t currently projected to be the first quarterback off the board.
Per Howe, that honor currently belongs to Miami Hurricanes journeyman passer Cam Ward. Both had impressive seasons; Ward finished the year second in the nation with 4,123 passing yards while leading college football with 36 passing touchdowns to only seven interceptions, while Sanders was third in passing yards (3,926) and just a step behind Ward in touchdowns (35) and interceptions (8). Both received Heisman-buzz — an award Sanders’ teammate, Travis Hunter, won — but Ward was a finalist, finishing fourth in voting, while Sanders finished eighth in voting.
In order to overcome Ward as QB1 of the class, Howe posits that “Sanders will need to nail the interview process.” Both players have committed to participating in their respective bowl games, and it doesn’t appear that either will gain or lose much ground through the Scouting Combine or their respective pro days, having already had their play thoroughly evaluated throughout the season. If Sanders can establish in the interview process that he can be a stand-alone leader without his father on the coaching staff, he may be able to edge out Ward.
Here are a few other draft rumors in the aftermath of college football’s regular season:
- After Ward and Sanders, there’s a big perceived dropoff in quarterback talent in this year’s draft class with other prospects like Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, Texas’ Quinn Ewers, and Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart all being projected as Day 2 or 3 picks. While Georgia passer Carson Beck is also projected to fall past the first round, that wasn’t the case last year, per Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. Breer claims that scouts gave him the impression that Beck had a chance to be among the six other quarterbacks who were drafted in the first round of last year’s draft. Instead, Beck stayed in Athens, in hopes of perhaps bettering his chances and draft slot. A year later, three separate three-interception performances and an otherwise disappointing redshirt senior season for Beck has plummeted his draft stock. The injury to his throwing arm in the SEC championship game has a chance to hurt that draft stock even more.
- The 2025 draft class is projected to be disappointing in its depth at left tackle with no elite options sticking out at this point in the process. LSU tackle Will Campbell has received a good amount of buzz as the class’s best prospect at the position, but according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, many believe Campbell is a bit overrated. Short arms and questions about his overall game have scouts doubting whether or not he can solidify the left tackle spot of an NFL team for the next five-plus years.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/20/24
Friday’s minor NFL transactions and some standard gameday practice squad elevations for tomorrow’s games:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed to active roster: LB Milo Eifler
- Placed on IR: LB Jesse Luketa
Baltimore Ravens
- Elevated: CB Desmond King, WR Anthony Miller
Houston Texans
- Signed to active roster: TE Irv Smith Jr.
- Elevated: FB Andrew Beck, WR Jared Wayne
- Waived: WR Steven Sims
Indianapolis Colts
- Waived (with injury designation): CB Ambry Thomas (story)
Kansas City Chiefs
- Elevated: S Deon Bush, TE Anthony Firkser
Thomas will hit the waiver wire once again after getting claimed off waivers by Indianapolis and failing his physical. He was first waived off of the 49ers’ injured reserve with an injury settlement, so it’s not a surprise that injury prevented him from passing his physical, but a 28th-ranked Colts pass defense was looking forward to adding an additional defensive back.
NFL Scouts Leaning CB For Colorado’s Travis Hunter
The 2024 college football season was one full of novelty, highlighted by the Heisman Trophy being awarded to a non-quarterback for the first time since 2020 (Devonta Smith) and a player who played significant snaps on the defensive side of the ball for the first time since 1997 (Charles Woodson). Colorado prospect Travis Hunter exudes novelty as a player who played nearly equal time on both offense and defense, leading NFL scouts to debate which side of the ball he’ll play on in the NFL. 
Hunter’s playing on both sides was not just a novelty, though; it was a dominant display of versatility. He played 709 snaps on offense, grading out as the team’s second-best player on that side of the ball, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), behind only presumed top draft pick quarterback Shedeur Sanders. His 85.3 PFF grade on offense graded out as the eighth-best score for a receiver in the NCAA this year. That wasn’t his best side of the ball, though. With 713 snaps on defense, Hunter graded out as the Buffaloes’ best defensive player by a good amount and also graded as the nation’s second-best cornerback.
He leaves college football as the first player in college football history to win both the Chuck Bednarik Award for the nation’s best defensive player and the Fred Biletnikoff Award for the nation’s best wide receiver. Those, along with the Heisman, are just three of several awards crowding Hunter’s shelf from the 2024 season.
The NFL will be a different story for Hunter. In Boulder, coaches knew that, because of the heightened load of playing on both offense and defense on Saturdays, Hunter needed a lightened load in practice during the week. It was also impossible for Hunter to attend both offensive and defensive meetings (as well as broken-down meetings with individual position groups) simultaneously, so he had to budget his time between meetings.
Once he’s in the NFL, that won’t fly. The jump from college to professional football often presents a giant learning curve for rookies. Hunter will most likely have his plate full getting up to speed in practices and meetings for one position, let alone both. So, the question arises: which side will be the focus for Hunter in the NFL? In order to make that decision, scouts must confront another question: on which side of the ball does Hunter have the greatest chance to be a top-shelf player and add the most value to his team?
The resounding answer from scouts, per Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, has been cornerback. Jay Glazer of FOX Sports spoke with 13 NFL general managers who agreed with Breer’s scouts, as 12 GMs claimed their preference was on defense. While it’s been a long time, this situation isn’t totally without precedent. Woodson, Champ Bailey, and Chris Gamble were all full-time, two-way players in college (Woodson less so), and all three became defensive backs at the next level.
Both scouts and GMs asserted that, though his primary position should be cornerback, they would certainly find packages in which to utilize his elite ball skills on offense. Likely this would be in third down and passing down situations. They could also utilize his playmaking ability on special teams in the return game, as well. A true shutdown cornerback can be harder to find and can be more impactful than a top receiver, though, so defense will likely be the early focus as Hunter adjusts to the NFL-level of play.
Now, with those questions answered, the next question of his draft stock arises. While viewed as an elite player at both positions in college, he’s likely not viewed as the top draft prospect at either position, per Breer. Players like Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan and Michigan cornerback Will Johnson have been trending ahead of Hunter at both positions in early draft board rankings.
What will this mean for Hunter’s draft stock? Does his potential to impact both sides of the ball raise his value as a draft prospect? Or do teams in need of a wide receiver or cornerback target players like McMillan or Johnson before Hunter? The Colorado athlete is likely guaranteed to hear his name on the first night of the draft, but the answers to the above questions will determine where exactly he falls in the first round and just how much money he’ll get on his rookie contract as a result.
Raiders Place DE Maxx Crosby, RB Sincere McCormick On IR
The Raiders opened up two roster spots today after placing defensive end Maxx Crosby and running back Sincere McCormick on injured reserve, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. They filled one 53-man roster spot by signing defensive end Andre Carter II off of the Vikings’ practice squad. The other was filled with the promotion of practice squad running back Chris Collier to the active roster. 
The Crosby move is no surprise after reports that he would undergo season-ending surgery on his ankle. Carter won’t likely add much on defense for the Raiders, but his addition adds much-needed depth along a beleaguered defensive line.
The loss of McCormick hurts a team that has struggled mightily in the run game this year. The Raiders currently rank dead last in the NFL in rushing offense.
After going undrafted out of UTSA in 2022, McCormick finally made his NFL debut this season and earned two starts in place of an injured Alexander Mattison, even remaining the starter last week when Mattison returned. He earned his first start after rushing for 64 yards on 12 carries in Week 12, a total Mattison had only reached once all season and that Zamir White failed to reach in any of his starts. McCormick followed that up with a 78-yard rushing performance in his first NFL start the next week.
With McCormick out, Mattison should retake starting duties with Ameer Abdullah continuing in his backup role. Collier will add depth behind those two and sixth-round New Hampshire rookie Dylan Laube.
In addition to all the active roster updates, Las Vegas signed defensive end Ovie Oghoufo and running back Isaiah Spiller to the practice squad.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/18/24
Wednesday’s minor NFL moves across the league:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed to active roster: P Michael Palardy
Cleveland Browns
- Signed off Jets’ practice squad: TE Brenden Bates
- Placed on IR: RB Nick Chubb (story)
Indianapolis Colts
- Claimed off waivers (from 49ers): CB Ambry Thomas
- Designated to return from IR: CB JuJu Brents
New York Jets
- Designated to return from IR: DT Leki Fotu
- Placed on IR: S Jalen Mills
Seattle Seahawks
- Activated from IR: T Stone Forsythe
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Reverted to season-ending IR: OLB Markees Watts
Mills, the former Eagles’ and Patriots’ starter had taken on a bigger role in New York as usual starter Tony Adams took fewer snaps due to a hamstring injury. He’ll miss the remainder of the season due to a broken collar bone.
Forsythe had taken over as the starting right tackle following an injury to George Fant in the season opener before ending up on injured reserve himself with a hand injury.
Watts’ 21-day practice window has come and gone without an activation. As a result, he’ll revert back to IR without the ability to be activated.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/18/24
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Keshawn Banks, RB Tony Jones Jr.
Atlanta Falcons
- Released: K Tanner Brown
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: WR Dax Milne, LB Jackson Mitchell
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: DE Isaiah Thomas
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: RB Jacob Kibodi
New England Patriots
- Signed: WR Alex Erickson
New Orleans Saints
- Released: DT Kendal Vickers
New York Jets
- Signed: OLB Bradlee Anae, RB Zach Evans, TE Neal Johnson
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: TE Kevin Foelsch