NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/5/24
Here are the latest practice squad transactions from around the NFL:
Detroit Lions
- Signed: S Loren Strickland
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: WR Laviska Shenault
- Released: WR Dez Fitzpatrick
The Seahawks waived Shenault on Monday after being a non-factor on offense all year. He played just 45 offensive snaps across 11 games, but carved out a role on special teams with 168 snaps between returns and coverage. Shenault was Seattle’s primary kick returner for much of the year with an average of 28.7 yards per return. His 97-yard touchdown in Week 6 was one of the league’s six kickoff return scores this season.
However, the Seahawks had to make room for Uchenna Nwosu‘s activation from injured reserve. He will get another chance in Los Angeles where he could quickly factor into the special teams picture.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/5/24
Here are the latest moves from around the league, including game day elevations for Thursday Night football:
Arizona Cardinals
- Designated to return from injured reserve: CB Elijah Jones
Detroit Lions
- Signed to active roster: WR Maurice Alexander
- Elevated to the active roster from the practice squad: S Jamal Adams, OLB Mitchell Agude
Green Bay Packers
- Elevated to the active roster from the practice squad: CB Kalen King
Houston Texans
- Placed on reserve/suspended list: LB Azeez Al-Shaair
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Activated from injured reserve: CB Cory Trice
Seattle Seahawks
- Awarded via waivers: WR Jaelon Darden
- Waived: CB Dee Williams
The Lions signed Adams to their practice squad on Sunday after a slew of injuries on Thanksgiving. The onetime All-Pro played 20 snaps across three games for the Titans this year before he landed on the Non-Football injury list and requested his release. Though he’s still listed as a defensive back, Adams is likely to play in the box after Malcolm Rodriguez joined three other Lions linebacker on injured reserve.
NFL Relaxes Policies On Substance Abuse, Performance-Enhancing Drugs
The NFL has reached an agreement with the NFLPA to make several changes to the league’s policies regarding substance abuse and performance-enhancing substances, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson and CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones.
Modifications regarding banned non-performance-enhancing substances – termed substances of abuse – are more lenient and forgiving. For example, a positive THC test now requires 350ng/ml, more than double the previous amount of 150ng/ml.
When players test positive for a banned non-performance-enhancing substance, teams will no longer be notified which substance was detected. They will only be informed of the violation and the resulting punishment.
The scale of fines has also been reduced and restructured. Under the previous policy, fines were proportional to game paychecks, with half-game, whole-game, and two-game penalties for first, second, and third violations. Now, a first violation will result in a $15K fine, followed by $20k for a second violation and one game check for a third.
For performance-enhancing substances, new changes relate to testing time and reinstatement. Previously, players had to test within three hours of notification; now, if notified before team activities in the morning, they have to test before afternoon activities.
Suspended players no longer have to test negative for the performance-enhancing substance before reinstatement. Now, they can be reinstated as long as “the presence of a substance(s) provides no performance enhancing effect,” per an NFLPA memo.
Ravens Suspend WR Diontae Johnson
The Ravens have suspended veteran wide receiver Diontae Johnson for one game, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
General manager Eric DeCosta issued the following statement on the team’s decision, one that stems from Johnson refusing to enter the team’s Week 13 game against the Eagles.
“We have made the difficult decision to suspend Diontae Johnson for our upcoming game against the New York Giants for conduct detrimental to the team,” DeCosta said. “Diontae’s suspension stems from refusing to enter our game against the Philadelphia Eagles.”
DeCosta added that the Ravens would not have any additional comment on the situation moving forward.
Johnson did not play a single snap in the Ravens’ Week 13 loss to the Eagles despite a knee injury that knocked starter Rashod Bateman out of the game. Head coach John Harbaugh declined to elaborate on Johnson’s absence after the game, though his comments hinted at the sort of internal issue that DeCosta’s statement revealed.
Johnson has been active for all five games since his arrival in Baltimore, but only played 39 snaps on offense with just one catch for six yards on five targets. Bateman’s injury appeared to be an opportunity for the veteran wideout to see more targets from Lamar Jackson, but Johnson refused to enter the game, leading to his suspension. Nelson Agholor and Tylan Wallace filled in for Bateman instead, with Agholor unable to reel in his two targets while Wallace caught both of his for 14 yards.
The suspension continues a tumultuous contract year for Johnson in which he was averaging 51.0 yards per game in Carolina before his trade to the Ravens. Johnson quickly grew frustrated with his minimal role in Baltimore’s offense, though it is unclear why he would turn down the opportunity for more snaps when it arose.
The Ravens’ decision to suspend Johnson signals that the team is considering moving on from the veteran receiver. Baltimore still thinks that Johnson “could help them down the stretch,” according to FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz, especially if Bateman misses time. However, a team with strong playoff chances and Super Bowl aspirations needs “everyone to be fully committed and team-focused,” per Schultz, forcing the Ravens to determine if Johnson is worth keeping around.
Baltimore has some time to weigh their options with a bye week before their Week 15 matchup against the Giants in which Johnson will be ineligible to play. Keeping him on the roster after the bye would indicate that the Ravens have resolved the situation with Johnson.
This is not the first internal issue the Ravens have dealt with this season. Marcus Williams has been reduced to a healthy scratch multiple times after his struggles in coverage, and Eddie Jackson was released after refusing to travel with the team to Pittsburgh in Week 11.
Jaguars Place Trevor Lawrence On IR
10:00pm: While Lawrence technically could have returned in time for the Jaguars’ season finale, he’ll indeed be out for the rest of the season. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport says the quarterback will have surgery to repair the “significant” AC joint sprain in his non-throwing shoulder. By going under the knife now, Lawrence should be ready to go for the start of the 2025 campaign.
3:05pm: The Jaguars have placed Trevor Lawrence on injured reserve, per an official team announcement, likely ending the veteran quarterback’s season after he suffered a concussion against the Texans in Week 13.
Lawrence was carted off the field after being hit while sliding by linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, who was suspended for three games for the play. Lawrence will be sidelined until at least Week 18, but with an existing shoulder injury and virtually no shot at the playoffs, Jacksonville may instead choose to shut down its franchise quarterback for the year.
Lawrence has been considering surgery for an AC joint sprain in his non-throwing shoulder, though he opted to return to the field in Week 13 after taking the Jaguars’ Week 12 bye to heal up. Now that he’s already on injured reserve, Lawrence can now undergo his surgery and get a head start on his recovery for next season.
Jacksonville saw Lawrence battle a few injuries last season, a campaign that involved a concussion. The team slid from 8-3 to 9-8 but still bet big on its quarterback during the first offseason he was extension-eligible. The Jags picked up Lawrence’s fifth-year option, but rather than wait for the QB to prove it for another season like the Dolphins did with Tua Tagovailoa, the team paid the going rate by extending Lawrence at a then-record $55MM per year.
This came during an offseason in which the Jaguars also extended Josh Hines-Allen and Tyson Campbell, with the two defenders respectively collecting the second- and third-largest contracts in franchise history. With the Jags tumbling to 2-10 after this spree of extensions, this has proven a wildly disappointing season — one that will almost definitely result in Doug Pederson’s firing. It remains to be seen if GM Trent Baalke will be booted as well, but that is believed to be in play.
If Lawrence is indeed done for the year, it will mark the end of his worst season since he led the Jaguars to a 3-14 record as a rookie. His 204.5 passing yards per game are a career-low, as were his 17.2 completions and 28.4 attempts per game. Mac Jones is slated to start the rest of the season under center for the Jaguars, with former Lawrence backup C.J. Beathard set to reprise his QB2 role.
Jaguars Claim WR Josh Reynolds
The Jaguars have claimed veteran receiver Josh Reynolds after he was waived by the Broncos on Tuesday, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
With an available spot on their 53-man roster after placing Trevor Lawrence on injured reserve, the Jaguars opted to add veteran reinforcements at receiver with Christian Kirk and Gabriel Davis currently on IR.
Reynolds has been through a tumultuous season, initially landing on injured reserve in October due to finger surgery before being wounded in a shooting in Denver later that month. He only made 12 catches for 183 yards and a touchdown in his five games pre-injury, though his 9.6 yards per target represented a career-high.
Reynolds was designated to return from injured reserve on November 13, but the Broncos opted to waive him rather than use one of their three remaining IR activations.
Denver has found a rhythm in their passing game over the last month with young wideouts Devaughn Vele and Marvin Mims. Rather than retain Reynolds in a reserve role, the Broncos waived him to give him a chance to earn more targets with another team.
Indeed, Reynolds could be in line for some immediate playing time in Jacksonville. Rookie wideout Brian Thomas leads the team with 46 catches for 765 yards, but the next-best healthy Jaguars receiver is Parker Washington with just 16 catches for 221 yards in 12 games. Reynolds nearly surpassed that production in his five games already this year, and his recent history with five different teams since 2020 suggests that he should be able to integrate into his new offense quickly.
The Jaguars will owe Reynolds just over $623K for the rest of the season, per the Denver Gazette’s Chris Thomasson, while the Broncos save the same amount against their salary cap. Reynolds is under contract for $3.99MM in base salary next year with an additional $510k in per-game roster bonuses, though none of that money is guaranteed, per OverTheCap. If he impresses his new team, he could stick around in Jacksonville in 2025, but the Jaguars could still cut him without any dead cap hit after this season.
Jets Open Practice Window For Allen Lazard, Wes Schweitzer
The Jets have opened the practice window for wide receiver Allen Lazard and offensive guard Wes Schweitzer to return from injured reserve, per ESPN’s Rich Cimini.
Lazard landed on injured reserve at the end of October due to a chest injury after a solid start to the year. With 412 yards and five touchdowns in seven games, he already surpassed his 2023 production and was on pace for career-highs in both categories. Lazard was also leading the Jets’ receivers with a 63.6% receiving success rate and still made four catchs for 58 yards in Davante Adams‘ Jets debut despite the increased competition for targets.
Schweitzer was placed on injured reserve before Week 1 with a hand injury, his second year in a row with an IR stint after appearing in just six games in 2023. He started two games at right guard, plus fill-in duties at center and right guard in Week 8, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
The Jets are currently 3-9 with virtually no chance of making the playoffs, so returns from Lazard and Schweizter won’t have much of an impact. Lazard is still under contract for 2025 and 2026 but has no guaranteed money remaining on his deal, so he could be a cap casualty in the offseason. Schweizter, meanwhile, is set to be a free agent after this season. While neither player can change the course of the Jets’ season, returning to the field could be crucial for both players’ value in free agency this offseason.
Both Lazard and Schweizter will have three weeks to practice with the team before they must be activated to the 53-man roster or revert to season-ending injured reserve.
Bengals To Sign K Cade York
The Bengals have signed kicker Cade York to their practice squad after Evan McPherson suffered a groin injury, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
McPherson will be sidelined for a few weeks with a groin injury, per Garafolo, which forced Cincinnati to work out some veteran free agents on Wednesday morning. York had the most successful tryout, and he will take over as the Bengals’ kicker while McPherson heals up.
A stint on the sidelines might be a blessing in disguise for the struggling McPherson, who, like his AFC North counterpart Justin Tucker in Baltimore, is having the worst year of his career. He’s made just 72.7% of his kicks, a significant drop from his 83.9% conversion rate over his first three seasons. Crucially, McPherson has missed four field goals in three Bengals’ losses that were decided by one possession. Whether the problem is physical or mental, the 2021 fifth-rounder could benefit from a few weeks of rest. He signed a three-year extension with the Bengals before the regular season that the team may already be regretting.
That doesn’t mean that York is an upgrade. He entered the regular season as the Commanders’ kicker, but lost his job after missing both of his attempts in Week 1. Since then, he has worked out for the Bills and the Jets (twice), though he was unable to win either available opportunity. York spent the 2023 seasons shuttling between practice squads, but appeared in every game for the Browns as a rookie in 2022 with a disappointing 75.0% conversion rate after Cleveland drafted him in the fourth round.
York will reunite with former LSU teammates and fellow 2019 national champions Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase in Cincinnati, where he will hope to re-establish his place in the NFL. The Bengals will likely use up his practice squad elevations over the next three weeks with the hope that McPherson can return before the end of the regular season.
Andrew Luck Returns To Stanford As GM
Former Colts quarterback Andrew Luck is returning to his alma mater to become the general manager of Stanford’s football program, per ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Luck’s new role at his old school “will place him above the entire program and is a distinct evolution from the traditional college GM,” according to Thamel.
The Cardinal are have finished with a 3-9 record in each of the last two years since hiring Troy Taylor as head coach, especially struggling on defense in both seasons. Luck will aim to bring his former program back to relevance after going 2-7 in conference play in Stanford’s first year as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Luck shocked the NFL when he announced his retirement in 2019 at the age of 29. The 2012 No. 1 overall pick was headed into the third year of a six-year, $140MM extension with the Colts – the largest in league history at signing – when he abruptly walked away from the NFL due to the mental and physical toll of his injuries in 2015 and 2017.
Luck has been linked with a return to football multiple times since his retirement, including a 2022 accusation of tampering by the Commanders. However, Luck remained steadfast in his desire to stay away from the playing field, though he repeatedly emphasized that he still loved the sport.
Now, he will have a chance to return to football in a management capacity, overseeing the entirety of the Cardinal football program. Thamel’s report indicates that Luck will have a non-traditional role at Stanford. That will certainly involve recruiting players for in classes, many of whom grew up watching Luck’s gutsy play for the Colts. His status as a respected college and pro quarterback may help Stanford lure better recruits to help turn their team around. Luck’s celebrity may also bring more NIL interest that can help the Cardinal compete with their new ACC competitors.
Bills Activate Matt Milano Off IR
The Bill have activated Matt Milano off of injured reserve, as first reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The veteran linebacker is in line to make his season debut on Sunday night against the 49ers.
Milano has been sidelined since tearing his bicep during training camp in August. The Bills placed him on IR after 53-man roster cuts with a designation to return, indicating that the team expected Milano to play at some point this season.
His practice window was opened on November 11, but Milano needed a few weeks to ramp up before retaking the field in the middle of the Bills defense. Just like last year when Milano missed most of the season with a fractured leg, Buffalo has been vulnerable in the middle of the field without the 2022 All-Pro. The Bills are also allowing 4.9 yards per carry this year, the fifth-highest in the league.
However, Buffalo’s opportunistic defense has only surrendered 214 points, the seventh-fewest in the NFL, largely due to a league-high 17.9% turnover rate. Adding Milano back into the fold won’t take away their turnover potential, but it will shore up their weaknesses, raising the defense’s floor without taking away their disruptive ceiling.
Dorian Williams and Terrel Bernard have started at linebacker in Milano’s absence, with 11 starts and a 77.4% snap share for Williams and eight starts and a 62.14% snap share for Bernard. Both players will likely see a reduction in playing time now that Milano is healthy, especially with the Bills’ propensity to run three-safety dime packages in obvious passing situations.
The Bills also elevated tight end Zach Davidson and quarterback Mike White from the practice squad for Sunday night’s game, per a team announcement. This will be Davidson’s second appearance of the season after serving as the offense’s third tight end against Kansas City. White has yet to be active in a game this year, and he will likely serve as the Bills’ emergency third quarterback.