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.
Cardinals Open Practice Window For Jonah Williams
The Cardinals are opening the practice window for offensive tackle Jonah Williams, head coach Jonathan Gannon announced on Wednesday, bringing the veteran lineman one step closer to rejoining Arizona’s offense after suffering a knee injury in Week 1.
Williams signed with the Cardinals on a two-year, $30MM deal in the offseason to start at right tackle opposite 2023 sixth overall pick Paris Johnson on the left side. He played just 22 snaps in Arizona before injuring his knee and landing on injured reserve on September 11.
Veteran Kelvin Beachum took over for Williams in Week 1 and has started at right tackle since outside of a Week 3 absence that required Jackson Barton and Charlie Heck to play crucial snaps. Beachum took some time to settle in, allowing nine pressures across Weeks 1-5, but has not allowed one since with clean pass protection performances in Weeks 6-8, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
Williams will have 21 days to practice with the team and get up to full strength before he must be activated or revert to season-ending injured reserve. Arizona has declined to disclose the specific nature of Williams’ injury, so they may continue that cautious approach and hold the 26-year-old out until later in November.
The Cardinals’ 53-man roster is full as of Wednesday, so they will need to clear a roster spot in the coming weeks to make room for Williams. Rookie Christian Jones was activated from injured reserve last week, so Arizona could move one from one of their other offensive linemen with multiple tackles back in the fold.
Cowboys To Activate DaRon Bland From IR
Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland is expected to be activated from injured reserve on Wednesday, according to WFAA’s Ed Werder. The activation is a go, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz tweets.
Dallas opened Bland’s 21-day practice window on October 9, so he will need to be activated or revert to season-ending injured reserve. He required surgery to repair a foot fracture suffered in training camp, sidelining him for the Cowboys’ first seven regular-season games.
Bland was a full participant in his first two practices during Week 6, but has not practiced since after experiencing discomfort in his foot. Dallas won’t want to lose him for the rest of the season, but he may require more time to get fully healthy and back into game shape.
Rookie Caelen Carson has struggled in Bland’s place, allowing completions on two-thirds of his targets, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). A return from the 2023 first-team All-Pro alongside Trevon Diggs would help the Cowboys withstand a myriad of injuries to their pass rush. Sam Williams landed on season-ending injured reserve during training camp, and both Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence have been sidelined since Week 4 with injuries of their own.
The Cowboys have missed Bland’s production after he recorded a league-high nine interceptions in 2023, including five pick-sixes. Dallas has just four interceptions this year with a 6.6% turnover rate that ranks eighth-worst among NFL defenses after forcing a turnover on 14.6% of opponent drives last season, the fourth-highest rate in the league.
Dallas currently has 54 players listed on its active roster, so they will need to clear two spots to open space for Bland’s activation.
Bills Open To Trading S Mike Edwards
The Bills signed Mike Edwards to a one-year, $2.8MM contract this offseason, but he has appeared in just three of the team’s eight games so far this season.
Edwards has played just 20 total snaps – seven on defense and 13 on special teams – with Bills defensive coordinator Bobby Babich preferring Taylor Rapp and Damar Hamlin to start at safety with Cam Lewis and Cole Bishop providing rotational depth.
As a result, Edwards is available on the trade block, according to ESPN’s Dan Fowler, with interest from the veteran safety in finding a new home and more consistent playing time this year. Four of Edward’s five absences this year have been healthy scratches with an illness holding him out of the Bills’ Week 7 matchup.
Edwards has just under $1MM remaining in salary and per game roster bonuses and will likely only cost a late Day 3 pick on the trade market, making him an affordable acquisition for a team looking for secondary help.
The Bills, however, could use improved play from their safeties, according to The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia. Rapp and Hamlin has sufficed as a starting duo, but Bishop and Lewis have registered Pro Football Focus grades of 50.3 and 45.5, respectively (subscription required).
If Buffalo elects to deal Edwards to another team, they may re-sign Micah Hyde, who hit free agency this past spring and declared that he would either retire or return to his longtime team. The Bills have left the door open to a reunion with Hyde, per Buscaglia, and his experience next to Rapp in 2023 would allow him to easily slide back into the defense.
Patriots Shopping Multiple Receivers, Not Interested In Trading Jonathan Jones
The Patriots made their first trade deadline move on Monday, sending edge rusher Josh Uche to the Chiefs for a sixth-round pick, and New England may have more moves in store as November 5 approaches.
The Patriots are “fielding calls on corners and receivers,” per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, with Tyquan Thornton and K.J. Osborn as the wideouts of interest.
New England has already been shopping Thornton for a few weeks, and Osborn may be frustrated after his playing time dropped in recent weeks. He is the more proven receiver after recording at least 500 receiving yards in each of the last three seasons for the Vikings, but he’s only averaging 27.3 yards per game this year as part of a struggling Patriots offense with turnover across the offensive line and under center. Osborn would also be an affordable acquisition for nearly any team; he is owed just over $1MM in salary and per game roster bonuses across the rest of the season.
Thornton also has just over $1MM of salary remaining this season, and he is under contract for 2.24MM in 2025, though that is not guaranteed. He has just four catches for 47 yards this season, but his speed is undeniable after a 4.28-second 40 yard dash at the Combine in 2022. He could be an affordable, speedy addition to a team that believes they can still get the best out of the 24-year-old.
New England is not interested in trading veteran cornerback Jonathan Jones, according to Breer, despite the fact that the 31-year-old Jones is a pending free agent who does not fit in the team’s long-term roster plans. Jones is set to earn $5M for the rest of 2024, making him a pricier acquisition for a team in need of secondary help. If the Patriots aren’t looking to trade him, Jones is unlikely to leave New England this season unless he requests a trade.
Instead of selling players, the Patriots could be buyers at the deadline despite their 2-6 record. After their Week 8 victory over the Jets, New England is “monitoring the trade market to potentially add talent,” per veteran NFL reporter Josina Anderson.
The Patriots are specifically looking to upgrade at wide receiver, defensive tackle, and offensive tackle. Several offensive and defensive linemen are on injured reserve, forcing the Patriots to cycle multiple units in the trenches on both sides of the ball this year. However, sacrificing significant draft compensation for short-term upgrades in a losing season would be a surprise for a Patriots regime that seems committed to rebuilding under head coach Jerod Mayo and first-round quarterback Drake Maye.
Bucs Sign CB Troy Hill To Practice Squad
The Buccaneers are signing veteran cornerback Troy Hill to their practice squad, per Greg Auman of Fox Sports, fortifying Tampa Bay’s injured secondary.
Hill, a 10-year veteran, appeared in six games with two starts for the NFC South rival Panthers this season, recording 32 total tackles across 236 defensive snaps. He was released on October 18 as Carolina elected to give their young cornerbacks more developmental playing time after a 1-5 start.
With 119 total appearances and 60 starts under his belt, the 33-year-old Hill brings valuable veteran experience to the Buccaneers as they contend with multiple recent injuries to defensive backs. Bryce Hall suffered a fractured fibula and dislocated ankle in Week 1, and Jamel Dean joined him on injured reserve with a hamstring injury on October 21.
Tampa Bay used just three cornerbacks on defense in Week 9’s loss to the Falcons, so Hill could be in line for elevations from the practice squad as soon as he acclimates to his new team. The Buccaneers will be his sixth NFL team, suggesting that the veteran corner should be able to pick up the scheme and contribute to the defense quickly.
The Buccaneers released undrafted rookie linebacker Kalen DeLoach from their practice squad in a corresponding move.
Packers Sign LB Jamin Davis To Practice Squad
The Packers announced the signing of former first-round pick Jamin Davis to their practice squad on Tuesday.
The Commanders originally selected Davis with the 19th overall pick in 2021, but never lived up to his draft billing in Washington. He earned a starting role partway through his rookie year after an injury to Cole Holcomb and held onto it in 2022 and 2023, though he was place on injured reserve to end both seasons. Davis led the Commanders with 104 tackles in 2022, but only played in 13 games in 2023 before Washington declined his fifth-year option in the offseason.
Davis converted to defensive end under the Commanders’ new regime in 2024 and made the team’s 53-man roster to start the regular season. He appeared in five games with 13 tackles and a 30% snap share on defense. Washington then waived him on October 22; after going unclaimed, Davis became a free agent.
The Packers have a deep and healthy defensive line, so Davis is unlikely to see much playing time in Green Bay right away. Instead, he will have time to learn the playbook and refine his craft at defensive end behind veterans Rashan Gary and Preston Smith.
The Packers released linebacker Chris Russell from the practice squad in a corresponding move. The undrafted rookie had not appeared in any games for Green Bay this season.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/29/24
Here are the most recent practice squad transactions from around the NFL:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed to practice squad: DL Anthony Goodlow
Carolina Panthers
- Released from practice squad: LB Shaquille Quarterman
Chicago Bears
- Signed to practice squad: OL Austen Pleasants
- Released from practice squad: LS Jake McQuaide
Indianapolis Colts
- Restored to practice squad from injured reserve: QB Jason Bean
- Signed to practice squad: CB Tre Flowers, RB Evan Hull
- Released from practice squad: DT Josiah Bronson, WR Ethan Fernea, CB Kelvin Joseph
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed to practice squad: LB Caleb Murphy
Miami Dolphins
- Released from practice squad: OT Anderson Hardy
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed to practice squad: RB Myles Gaskin, OT Julian Pearl
- Release from practice squad: LB Dallas Gant, OT Marcellus Johnson
New England Patriots
- Signed to practice squad: WR Braylon Sanders
New Orleans Saints
- Signed to practice squad: DB Tre Herndon, RB Jordan Mims
- Released from practice squad: C Sincere Haynesworth
New York Giants
- Released from practice squad: S Gervarrius Owens
Philadelphia Eagles
- Released from practice squad: DT Siaki Ika
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Released from practice squad: RB La’Mical Perine, CB Thomas Graham
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Released from practice squad: LB Kalen DeLoach
Tennessee Titans
- Signed to practice squad: DL Abdullah Anderson, DB Justin Hardee, OG Arlington Hambright
- Released from practice squad: OG Cole Spencer
Washington Commanders
- Signed to practice squad: OT Bobby Hart
- Released from practice squad: OT Anim Dankwah
The Vikings cut Gaskin from their active roster on Tuesday, but as a vested veteran, he did not need to pass through waivers before re-signing to Minnesota’s practice squad. Gaskin played in the Vikings’ first five games this season, but has not appeared since October 6. His familiarity with the offense could lead to activations from the practice squad if Minnesota needs running back depth.
Herndon will join the Saints after playing in Jacksonville for six seasons, with 83 total appearances and 34 starts for the Jaguars since 2018. The veteran cornerback only started five games over the last two years, but played in 15 games for almost 900 snaps as a rotational member of the Jaguars’ secondary. His experience could lead to quick elevations from the practice squad once he learns the Saints’ defense.
The Commander signed the 30-year-old Hart to give them more depth at offensive tackle. The veteran has 67 starts and 98 total appearances over his eight-year career, though he hasn’t played in the NFL since a 2022 stint with the Bills.