Seahawks Activate George Fant From IR
The Seahawks have activated George Fant from injured reserve, making the veteran offensive tackle eligible to play on Sunday for the first time since injuring his knee in Week 1.
Fant signed a two-year, $9.1MM deal with the Seahawks this offseason to start at right tackle with Abraham Lucas beginning the year on the Physically Unable to Perform list after offseason knee surgery. Fant started in Week 1, but played just 13 snaps before exiting the game with a knee injury. Seattle held him out for Week 2 before ultimately deciding that an IR stint was necessary.
Stone Forsythe finished Week 1 at right tackle and took over the starting job through Week 6, when a hand injury forced him onto injured reserve as well. Rookie Michael Jerrell struggled in two subsequent starts at right tackle, allowing four pressures in both games, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
Fant will likely retake his starting role after his activation, but another week or two of practice could yield a return for Lucas, as well. Fant’s performance this week could be crucial for his chances to retain his spot at right tackle for the rest of the season.
To make room for Fant on the roster, the Seahawks placed nose tackle Cameron Young on injured reserve with a knee injury. Young appeared in just one game for Seattle this season with just three total snaps. He appeared in 16 of the Seahawks’ games last year and will now be sidelined until at least Week 13.
The Seahawks also used standard practice squad elevations on cornerback Josh Jobe and wide receiver Cody White. Seattle elevated Jobe from the practice squad for their last two game, playing him for 116 snaps on defense. With his third elevation this week, Jobe will have to be added to the 53-man roster to play again in Seattle this year. White, meanwhile, is set to see his first NFL action since 2022 when he was with the Steelers.
Chargers Activate DJ Chark From IR
The Chargers have activated DJ Chark from injured reserve, setting up the veteran wide receiver to make his season debut against the Browns on Sunday.
The Chargers signed Chark to a one-year, $3MM contract in the offseason as they rebuilt their offense after new head coach Jim Harbaugh hired ex-Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman for the same job in Los Angeles.
Chark injured his hip before the start of the regular season, forcing him on IR on September 7. The Chargers turned to rookie Ladd McConkey and Josh Palmer as their starting receivers in their first seven games, but their passing offense still ranks close to the bottom of the league.
Chark may not provide a major boost to the Chargers offense, but he is still coming off back-to-back seasons with at least 500 receiving yards and has a stronger veteran pedigree than any other wideout on the roster. Rather than stepping into a starting role right away, Chark is more likely to be used in a rotational capacity behind McConkey, Palmer, and 2023 first-rounder Quentin Johnston.
The Chargers also used standard practice squad elevations on cornerback Eli Apple and wide receiver Jalen Reagor ahead of Sunday’s game. Both players are former first-round picks who joined Los Angeles’ practice squad earlier this season.
Vikings Activate Dalton Risner From IR
The Vikings have activated guard Dalton Risner from injured reserve ahead of their Week 9 tilt with the Colts, giving them more options along their offensive line as they contend with Christian Darrisaw‘s season-ending injury.
Darrisaw’s absence has left a hole at left tackle in Minnesota, with the team trading for Cam Robinson to fill the void last week. But Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell declined to name Robinson his new starter ahead of Week 9, according to Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Blake Brandel, who won the left guard job after Risner injured his back in training camp, made three starts at left tackle in 2022 with 273 total snaps at the position across five games. He could slide back outside with Risner retaking his spot at left guard, where he started 11 games for Minnesota last year.
“I feel great about having Dalton available,” O’Connell said Friday, per Goessling. “He knows he’s got my confidence and he’ll be ready to go when called upon.”
The Vikings could also call upon veteran David Quessenberry to start at left tackle if they want to maintain their current offensive line unit but don’t feel that Robinson is ready to start.
However, the swift move by Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to acquire Robinson in the wake of Darrisaw’s injury suggests that Minnesota intends to slide him into the starting lineup as quickly as possible. Ideally, he would be a one-for-one replacement for Darrisaw without forcing any other changes across the offensive line.
The Vikings also placed defensive lineman Taki Taimani on injured reserve, opening a roster spot for Risner’s activation. Minnesota also used a standard practice squad elevation on defensive lineman Jalen Redmond for Week 9.
Bills Activate Von Miller After Four-Game Suspension
The Bills have activated outside linebacker Von Miller after he served a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
The NFL did not specify why Miller was suspended, but the three-time All-Pro was arrested in December 2023 for a domestic violence charge that sparked a league investigation. Miller denied the allegations, and commissioner Roger Goodell declined to impose a suspension after initial review in March, but it is possible that additional details came to the league’s attention and forced them to act.
Miller’s suspension sidelined him for all four of the Bills’ games in October, but Buffalo still went 3-1 with that span, holding opponents to fewer than 16 points per game. Their pass rush took a small step back in Miller’s absence, recording eight sacks over their last four games after 12 in their first four.
Miller will return to a rotational role among the Bills’ edge rushers on Sunday against the Dolphins. 76.3% of his 93 defensive snaps this season were spent rushing the passer, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), consistent with Miller’s usage since arriving in Buffalo in 2022.
Miller agreed to a pay cut this offseason that reduced his 2024 salary from $17.5MM to $8.855MM, though he can earn up to $20MM with incentives. The move appears to be a shrewd one by the Bills as Miller’s suspension greatly reduced the chance that he can hit all of his incentives.
The Bills also used standard practice squad elevations on DT Eli Ankou and WR Jalen Virgil ahead of Sunday’s game
Falcons Place Ruke Orhorhoro On IR
The Falcons have placed defensive lineman Ruke Orhorhoro on injured reserve, according to The Athletic’s Josh Kendall, sidelining the rookie for at least four weeks.
Orhorhoro injured his ankle in Week 8 against the Buccaneers, a disappointing setback after he finally saw his first NFL action at the beginning of October. His debut was delayed by healthy inactive designations in Weeks 1-4 as the 35th overall pick acclimated to the pros. He recorded just five tackles across his four appearances this year while playing no more than a third of the Falcons’ defensive snaps in each game.
Atlanta was not relying heavily on their second-round pick, with a deep defensive line group headlined by Pro Bowler Grady Jarrett. Veterans Eddie Goldman and David Onyemata have started alongside Garrett, with Zach Harrison, Kentavius Street, and Ta’Quon Graham all filling rotational roles. Fourth-rounder Brandon Dorlus could be in line for his NFL debut after spending the first eight weeks on the sidelines as a healthy scratch.
The Falcons signed linebacker Rashaan Evans to fill Orhorhoro’s spot on the 53-man roster, per Kendall. The veteran started all 17 games for Atlanta in 2022 and led the team with 159 tackles, though that was in a different defense than the one currently ran by head coach Raheem Morris.
Linebacker Kaden Elliss has started every game for the Falcons this season, with Nathan Landman and 2022 second-rounder Troy Andersen splitting time next to him. Evans will bring more of a veteran presence to Atlanta’s linebacker room as they attempt to maintain their lead in the NFC South.
Vikings Activate T.J. Hockenson For Week 9
The Vikings have officially activated T.J. Hockenson from the reserve/PUP list, setting up the Pro Bowl tight end to make his 2024 debut against the Colts on Sunday night.
Hockenson tore his ACL in December 2023, ending his year and sidelining him into the 2024 season. The No. 8 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft averaged a career-high 6.3 receptions and 64.0 yards per game in his first full season in Minnesota before his injury. He was traded to the Vikings by the Lions at the 2022 deadline and earned a four-year, $66MM extension after quickly assimilating to head coach Kevin O’Connell‘s offense.
Hockenson’s return will be a massive boost to a Vikings squad that has lost their last two games after starting the season 5-0. Star left tackle Christian Darrisaw injured both his ACL and MCL in Week 8, requiring season-ending surgery that will place more pressure on quarterback Sam Darnold.
Hockenson won’t make up for Darrisaw’s absence as a blocker, but he will join Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Aaron Jones to round out one of the best pass-catching corps in the NFL. 2022 seventh-rounder Jalen Nailor has been a pleasant surprise in Minnesota this year, recording 32.7 yards per game and three touchdowns as a tertiary target for Darnold with little receiving contributions from his tight ends.
Josh Oliver and Johnny Mundt have combined for just 165 yards on 21 receptions this year. Hockenson should easily surpass their 23.6 yards per game average and add a more dynamic threat to the Vikings offense.
Texans’ Kenyon Green Headed For IR
The Texans offense added injury to insult in their 21-13 loss to the Jets on Thursday night with an injury to starting guard Kenyon Green, who is expected to be placed on injured reserve, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
There remains an outside chance that Green could return this season, depending on his rehab from his dislocated shoulder and the Texans’ progression in the postseason, per Rapoport.
Green started all nine of the Texans’ games at left guard this season, though he has struggled in pass protection with 27 pressures and five sacks allowed, both league-highs among guards, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). The 15th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft has not lived up to expectations as part of a struggling Houston offensive line this season.
This is the second year in a row that Green has suffered a significant injury to his left shoulder. He missed all of the 2023 season after hurting his shoulder in the preseason, forcing the Texans to trade for former third-round pick Kendrick Green from the Steelers.
Green finished Thursday night’s game at left guard, and he will likely take over the starting job for the rest of the regular season. He did the same after Kenyon Green‘s injury last year, but only made three starts before a torn meniscus ended his season. Kendrick Green will need to stay healthy to keep the Texans from having to rotate their offensive line once again this year.
Houston will also need additional guard depth to see out the season with 2023 seventh-rounder Nick Broeker as the only guard on the active roster. Quality offensive linemen are rarely available on the trade market during the season, so the Texans may turn to practice squad center Scott Quessenberry, who hasn’t played in the regular season since 2022 but does have some experience at offensive guard.
More to come.
Texans Confident Nico Collins Will Return For Week 10
Despite a disappointing loss to the Jets, the Texans have reason to be hopeful looking into the future with wide receiver Nico Collins expected to return to the lineup in Week 10.
Collins was placed on injured reserve after injuring his hamstring in Week 5, sidelining him until at least Week 9. The Texans expected him to be “ready to go” after those four weeks off, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
After playing on Thursday night, Houston now has a mini-bye with 10 days before their next game, a Sunday night matchup against the Lions. The team has “great optimism” that Collins will return for that game, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.
Collins’ return could not come at a better time for a Texans offense that just lost Stefon Diggs to a season-ending ACL tear. Against the Jets, C.J. Stroud only completed 11 of his 30 passing attempts – a career-low 36.7% completion percentage – for 191 yards and zero touchdowns, taking eight sacks in the process. Houston’s lackluster offensive line was certainly a factor in Stroud’s struggles, but he lacked another consistent receiving target outside of Tank Dell.
Despite his lengthy absence, Collins still ranks ninth in the NFL in receiving yards with an average of 113.4 yards per game before his injury. With more than a week to ramp up his participation in practice, the fourth-year receiver should be able to hit the ground running in Week 10.
Diggs’ injury stirred speculation that the Texans could get involved in the NFL’s active wide receiver trade market. Diggs’ 496 receiving yards accounted for 23.1% of Stroud’s production this year, and any setback to Collins would leave Dell and Dalton Schultz – who have combined for just 72.1 yards per game – as the team’s top two targets. No other receiver has more than 100 yards this season, but the Texans feel confident that Robert Woods, Xavier Hutchinson, and John Metchie can all step up if needed.
However, Houston made “some cursory calls to teams shopping receivers” after Diggs tore his ACL, according to Breer, indicating that they could add a wideout before the deadline if the price is right. A Day 3 pick swap like the Ravens used to acquire Diontae Johnson might bring in enough talent without sacrificing too much future draft capital.
Ravens Place NT Michael Pierce on IR
The Ravens have placed veteran nose tackle Michael Pierce on injured reserve after suffering a calf injury in the team’s Week 8 loss to the Cleveland Browns.
The move will sideline Pierce for at least the Ravens’ next four games, making him eligible to return as early as Week 13 against the Eagles. This is not viewed as a season-ending injury, per John Harbaugh.
Baltimore’s defensive line depth has reached alarming levels with veteran Brent Urban also exiting Sunday’s game with a concussion and Travis Jones already limited to just 15 defensive snaps with an ankle injury. That placed a huge burden on Nnamdi Madubuike and Broderick Washington, who both saw season-high snap shares but struggled to stay fresh enough to slow the Browns’ second-half comeback. Outside linebackers Tavius Robinson and Odafe Oweh even slide inside for a handful of snaps throughout the game.
The Ravens will be hoping that Urban can quickly clear concussion protocol and Jones can return to his starting role, but even with both players fully healthy, the team will need additional depth along the interior of their defensive line. The Ravens reunited with Chris Wormley in September; after a few weeks on the practice squad, he should be ready for some game day elevations in the coming weeks.
The Ravens also signed Josh Tupou to the practice squad this week after the veteran defensive tackle spent the preseason in Baltimore alongside undrafted rookie C.J. Ravenell. Both players’ familiarity with the Ravens defense could lead to playing time in the next few weeks depending on the statuses of Urban and Jones.
Pierce’s placement on injured reserve only heightens the need for Baltimore to reinforce their league-worst passing defense. While the poor play of Marcus Williams and Eddie Jackson has led to calls for safety help, general manager Eric DeCosta may now look for an addition to his defensive line to boost his pass rush and make life easier for his secondary.
Bears Designate OL Ryan Bates For Return
The Bears have designated guard Ryan Bates to return from injured reserve, per KPRC’s Aaron Wilson, bringing reinforcements to a Chicago offensive line that has endured multiple injuries this season.
Bates now has 21 days to practice with the team before he must be added to the active roster; otherwise, he will revert to season-ending injured reserve.
Bates signed a two-year, $17MM deal with the Bears this offseason, capitalizing on a league-wide explosion in the offensive guard market. He did not earn the Bears’ starting right guard job out of training camp, but played 38 snaps to starter Nate Davis‘ 18 in Week 1 before shoulder and elbow injuries landed Bates on injured reserve.
Davis only made two more starts at right guard due to a groin injury with veteran Matt Pryor taking over primary snaps at the position since Week 3. Pryor entered the season as the Bears’ backup right tackle, so Bates could push for a spot in the starting lineup upon his return. However, Chicago’s offense has improved in recent weeks with more than 35 points in Weeks 6 and 7 before scoring just 15 against the Commanders in Week 8. Offensive coordinator Shane Waldron could opt to stick with his current offensive line instead of shaking up the unit once more.
Starting left guard Teven Jenkins was limited in Wednesday’s practice with a knee injury, so Bates could be a potential replacement if he can quickly assimilate back into the offense this week.