Seahawks’ Abraham Lucas Expected To Debut In Week 11
The Seahawks are expecting to have right tackle Abraham Lucas back in the starting lineup for their Week 11 matchup with the 49ers.
Head coach Mike Macdonald said that it is a “realistic expectation” that Lucas would make his season debut next Sunday, according to ESPN’s Brady Henderson.
Lucas started the 2024 on the Physically Unable to Perform list while recovering from offseason knee surgery. He first injured his knee in Week 1 last year and did not play again until Week 13. Lucas then started Seattle’s next five games before leaving Week 17 with a recurrence of the same injury that required corrective surgery and a lengthy rehab process.
Seattle relied on Stone Forsythe and Jake Curhan to replace Lucas in 2023, but both players struggled in their starts. The Seahawks signed George Fant in the offseason to fill in at right tackle during Lucas’ recovery, but he could be in line for his second stint on injured reserve this season after re-injuring his knee last week, per Henderson. Fant first landed on IR in September, forcing Forsythe to step into starting duties for a second year in a row with Curhan now in Chicago.
Lucas’ extended absence has negatively impacted Geno Smith‘s pass protection this season. The Seahawks allowed 38 sacks in 2023, the 10th-fewest in the NFL, but have already allowed 28 sacks in nine games this year, the 10th-most in the league. A successful return from Lucas would help Seattle stay in contention for the NFC West crown.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/11/24
Here are today’s NFL practice squad updates:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: S Russ Yeast
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: CB Lamar Jackson
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: RB Gary Brightwell
Houston Texans
- Signed: CB D’Angelo Ross
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: CB Nick McCloud
- Released: S Adrian Amos
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: TE N’Keal Harry
The Bengals signed Brightwell after hosting several veterans for workouts on Monday, per FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz. Leonard Fournette and Xavien Howard were among the players who auditioned in Cincinnati, but neither player left with a deal.
Bills To Open Matt Milano’s Practice Window
Bills head coach Sean McDermott said that the team plans to open the 21-day practice window for linebacker Matt Milano to return from injured reserve.
However, Milano will not play in Buffalo’s crucial Week 11 tilt with the undefeated Chiefs.
Milano tore his bicep during training camp, forcing him onto IR in August and raising concerns about the 30-year-old’s ability to play this season. The Bills remained optimistic about his recovery and will now give their veteran linebacker a chance to prove his health in practice. He will have three weeks to ramp up before he must be activated to the 53-man roster or revert to season-ending injured reserve.
Milano’s torn biceps was his second major injury in the last two seasons. He fractured his leg in October 2023, ending his season after just five games. The Bills struggled to cover the middle of the field in his absence, an issue that has continued into this year with Milano on injured reserve.
Like last year, Buffalo has relied on multiple young linebackers to fill Milano’s role. 2023 third-rounder Dorian Williams has started all 10 of the Bills’ games and leads the defense with 93 tackles. Terrel Bernard started all 17 games last season, but missed three games this year with a pectoral strain. Third-year linebacker Baylon Spector stepped up in Bernard’s place for the first three starts of his career.
Despite Milano’s absence, the Bills have remained a top-10 scoring defense with just 19.3 points allowed per game. Even though the 2022 All-Pro won’t play in Week 11 against the Chiefs, his successful return to the field could give Buffalo a major boost as they vie for the AFC East crown and an elusive Super Bowl appearance.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/11/24
Here are today’s minor moves around the NFL:
Dallas Cowboys
- Reinstated from suspension: DE Sam Williams
Detroit Lions
- Waived: LB Abraham Beauplan
Green Bay Packers
- Designated for return from injured reserve: RB Marshawn Lloyd
Houston Texans
- Reinstated from suspension, one-game roster exemption granted: DE Mario Edwards
Los Angeles Rams
- Elevated from practice squad: DE Jonah Williams
Miami Dolphins
- Elevated from practice squad: LS Tucker Addington, OT Jackson Carman
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed to active roster from practice squad: CB Josh Jobe
- Claimed off waivers: NT Brandon Pili
- Placed on injured reserve: S K’Von Wallace
Williams completed his three-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. He remains on injured reserve after a season-ending knee injury suffered during training camp.
Edwards served a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy and is now eligible to be reinstated to the Texans’ active roster. Houston requested and received a one-game roster exemption to give Edwards an additional week to practice with the team before being added back to the 53-man roster.
Saints Waive Connor McGovern
The Saints have waived center Connor McGovern, per ESPN’s Katherine Terrell, potentially to make space for Erik McCoy, who was designated for return from injured reserve last week.
New Orleans signed McGovern off the Jets’ practice squad at the beginning of October after a rash of injuries to their offensive line, including McCoy’s groin injury that required surgery and a stint on IR. With Shane Lemieux landing on injured reserve after Week 4, the Saints needed another center on the roster until McCoy completed his recovery.
Lucas Patrick started Week 5 at center for New Orleans, but had to move back to left guard after an injury to Nick Saldivieri. McGovern finished the game at center and started the next five games, allowing just eight pressures and zero sacks across 369 total snaps, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
But with Lemieux coming off injured reserve last week and McCoy nearing full health, the Saints moved on from McGovern. Since he was released after the trade deadline, he is subject to waivers and can be claimed by any NFL team. As an experienced lineman who has proven he is healthy after an injury ended his 2023 season, McGovern could draw interest on waivers by a team that needs center depth for the rest of the season. If he clears waivers, he is free to sign to any team’s active roster or practice squad.
The Saints recorded their third win of the year after firing head coach Dennis Allen last week. McCoy’s return should help stabilize the offensive line in front of Derek Carr, but his top receivers, Rashid Shaheed and Chris Olave, are both on injured reserve, limiting the ceiling of a Saints offense that scored 91 points across their first two games but has averaged just 17 points per game since.
Matt Eberflus Open To Play-Calling Change
Bears head coach Matt Eberflus isn’t ruling out major changes to his offense after putting up just three points in Chicago’s Week 10 loss to the Patriots.
“We’ll look at everything,” said Eberflus, per Marquee Sports Network’s Scott Bair, including taking play-calling duties away from offensive coordinator Shane Waldron.
The Bears entered Week 10 with the fewest total yards (2,357) and fourth-fewest yards per play (4.6) in the NFL, though their 21.5 points per game ranked 19th. The offense looked even worse against the Patriots, averaging 2.4 yards per play, allowing nine sacks, and converting one of 14 third downs. No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams completed 16 of 30 passes for just 120 yards, while D’Andre Swift only managed 59 yards on 16 carries.
Waldron insisted that he would not make any changes just to keep the support of the locker room and showed confidence in his personnel.
“I do believe in those guys. They have faith in us,” said Eberflus, per Bair. “And it’s working together. I believe in our football team. I believe in the leaders on our football team. And we’ll just have to get back to work.”
The Bears host the 6-3 Packers next week in their next opportunity to get their offense back on track. Green Bay ranks just outside the top 10 in points per game, yards per game, and yards per play allowed, giving Chicago a stiff but not unconquerable challenge in Week 11.
Diontae Johnson Sought Exit From Panthers
Panthers general manager Dan Morgan revealed that Diontae Johnson “wanted a change of scenery” before he was dealt to the Ravens at the end of October, per Joe Person of The Athletic.
Morgan also indicated that the desire to part ways was mutual in a recent press conference.
“We felt at the end of the day that it was best for the team and best for Diontae that we both part ways and get the compensation there that we got,” said Morgan, according to team reporter Kassidy Hill.
The Panthers received a 2025 fifth-round pick in exchange for Johnson and a 2025 sixth-rounder while eating a significant portion of the wideout’s contract. The Ravens will only owe Johnson the veteran minimum salary for the remainder of the season.
This is the second time in eight months that Johnson has sought a trade away from his current team. He first arrived in Carolina in March after requesting a trade from the Steelers, who sent him to the Panthers along with a seventh-round pick for cornerback Donte Jackson and a sixth-rounder.
Overall, the Panthers’ two trades involving Johnson turned Jackson and two sixth-round picks into fifth- and seventh-rounders plus seven games, 357 receiving yards, and three touchdowns from the 28-year-old. Jackson, meanwhile, is tied for sixth in the NFL with three interceptions, one shy of his career-high.
Cowboys’ Jerry Jones Not Interested In Midseason Coaching Change
Despite a 34-6 loss to the Eagles dropping Dallas to 3-6 on the year, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is not interested in firing head coach Mike McCarthy before the end of the regular season, according to The Athletic’s Jon Machota.
Jones added that he regretted firing Wade Phillips after a 1-7 start to the 2010 season, per Pro Football Talk’s Charean Williams, and also referenced moving on from Chan Gailey in 2000 after just two years as head coach, both of which included playoff berths.
Jones’ comments indicate that McCarthy’s job is safe at least through the end of the regular season. He entered 2024 with a .627 winning percentage as Dallas’ head coach, the best in franchise history, but has dropped to fourth place with a .592 winning percentage to date. Additionally, he is 1-3 in the playoffs during his tenure.
Jones even seemed to give McCarthy some cover if the Cowboys struggle during Dak Prescott‘s absence, which could be anywhere from six weeks to the rest of the season depending on a final opinion from a New York specialist.
“Anybody that loses their top quarterback has some adjustments to make and they’re usually adjusting uphill,” said Jones on Sunday, per Clarence Hill Jr. of DLLS.
One of those adjustments could be starting Trey Lance in Week 11, something McCarthy will consider this week, according to Hill. Lance played 15 snaps in Week 10 after Cooper Rush only managed 45 passing yards on 23 attempts. Lance completed four of his six attempts for 21 yards plus an interception to close out Dallas’ blowout loss.
Jets’ Tyron Smith Suffers Neck Injury
Starting left tackle Tyron Smith is doubtful to return to the Jets’ Week 10 matchup with the Cardinals due to a neck injury, according to a team announcement.
Smith played left tackle for every Jets offensive snap this season until his injury on Sunday. He was replaced by rookie Olumuyiwa Fashanu, who was drafted by New York with the 11th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Fashanu started two games at right tackle this year and played 37 snaps at right guard in Week 9.
Smith signed with the Jets in March to give Aaron Rodgers a proven blindside protector for his second year in New York. Though the team still drafted Fashanu to be a potential franchise left tackle, Smith’s presence ensured that the Jets did not have to risk Rodgers’ health behind a rookie lineman.
Additionally, cornerback Brandin Echols is out for the remainder of Week 10 with a concussion.
The 2021 sixth-rounder played in the Jets’ first nine games with starts in Week 2 and Week 7 and a key role on special teams. As a pending free agent, he garnered some trade interest ahead of last week’s deadline.
Rams To Activate OLs Steve Avila, Jonah Jackson
NOVEMBER 10: Both Avila and Jackson are expected to be activated off of IR and suit up against the Dolphins tomorrow night, per Stu Jackson of the team’s official website.
NOVEMBER 7: The Rams are one step closer to major reinforcements to their offensive line after opening the practice window for Steve Avila and Jonah Jackson to return from injured reserve.
Both players landed on IR in September, Avila with a sprained MCL that required surgery and Jackson with a broken scapula suffered in Week 2. Rookie Beaux Limmer has started the last seven games at center, while both Justin Dedich and Logan Bruss have stepped up at left guard.
The injuries to Avila and Jackson prevented the Rams from getting a solid look at their new-look offensive line. After drafting Avila with the 36th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Rams spent almost $100MM to sign Jackson in free agency and retain starting right guard Kevin Dotson in 2024. The trio played just 37 snaps together before Avila’s injury, though all three players are under contract through at least 2026 and will have plenty of time to gel.
Los Angeles is getting healthy at the right time after winning their last three games. Their star wideout duo of Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua is back catching passes from Matthew Stafford, who will be playing behind his intended starting offensive line for the first time since Week 1.
Avila and Jackson both have 21 days to practice with the team before they must be added to the active roster or revert to season-ending IR.