NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/9/20
We’ll keep track of the latest practice squad moves here:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: CB Chris Williamson
Detroit Lions
- Signed: TE Jerell Adams
Houston Texans
- Signed: OL Beau Benzschawel
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: LS Colin Holba
New England Patriots
- Signed: DB Dayan Lake, WR Devin Smith
- Released: LB Jack Cichy
New Orleans Saints
- Activated from practice squad injured list: WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: DB Briean Boddy-Calhoun, TE Daniel Helm
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: QB Alex McGough
Browns, Rashard Higgins Talk Extension
The Browns and Rashard Higgins have begun preliminary talks on a contract extension, Josina Anderson of ESPN.com (on Twitter) hears. The wide receiver is currently on track for free agency after his one-year, $910K deal expires. 
Higgins, a fifth-year pro, enjoyed a solid 2018 with 39 grabs for 572 yards and four scores. Unfortunately, a knee injury kept him from building on that in 2019, but he still drew a fair amount of interest as a free agent. Despite having more lucrative offers on the table, Higgins opted to re-up with the Browns, favoring his chemistry with Baker Mayfield over short-term dollars.
So far, that decision has paid off. Higgins has 25 grabs for 400 yards and three TDs through ten games, and he could be on the verge of a pay bump in Cleveland. And, after a 6/95/1 showing to help beat the Titans, there couldn’t be a better time for him to negotiate. If the season ended today, Higgins’ 16.0 yards per grab would represent a career best, and the season is far from over. The 9-3 Browns — with the Ravens on the horizon — are on track to break the league’s longest-standing playoff drought.
Bengals Place Jonah Williams On IR
The Bengals have placed offensive tackle Jonah Williams on injured reserve, per a club announcement. In a corresponding move, they’ve activated cornerback Darius Phillips from IR. 
[RELATED: NFL Suspends Bengals S Shawn Williams]
Between Williams and quarterback Joe Burrow, the club’s last two first round picks have landed on IR. It’s especially frustrating for Williams, who lost his would-be rookie season in 2019 with a lorn labrum. He returned this year, though he was briefly interrupted by a neck stinger in Week 7. On Sunday, he was forced out by a knee injury, and it appears to be a season-ender. Williams can technically return after three games, but there are only four games to go and they won’t mean much for the 2-9-1 Bengals.
The good news is that Williams is not believed to have torn a ligament. He’s looking at a fairly straight-forward rehab, which is more than the Bengals can say for Burrow following reconstructive ACL surgery.
Latest On 49ers’ Jimmy Garoppolo, George Kittle
We might not see Jimmy Garoppolo or George Kittle back on the field this year. After last night’s loss to the Bills, Kyle Shanahan indicated that both players have a long way to go as they work to bounce back from injury.
“Those guys are working their tails off right now,” Shanahan said (via Chris Biderman of The Sacramento Bee). “But they’re still part of the rehab, just trying to get back and be a part of this, but it’s not anytime soon right now.”
GM John Lynch was a little more optimistic, saying he’s “hopeful” that Garoppolo and Kittle will be back by season’s end (Twitter link via Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area).
The Niners are still technically in the playoff mix, but their odds have dwindled significantly. At 5-7, the reigning NFC champs will need wins against the Washington Football Team, Cowboys, Cardinals, and Seahawks. The double dose of NFC East opponents should help, but if San Francisco should fall completely out of contention, it wouldn’t make sense for the club to rush key players back from injury.
Injuries have ravaged the Niners on both sides of the ball this year. On the plus side, they have returned star cornerback Richard Sherman, though he’s not so sure about his future beyond 2020.
Tony Dungy, Jimmy Johnson To Guide Texans’ Search
The Texans’ GM and head coaching search is underway. In addition to big-time firm Korn Ferry, owner Cal McNair has also enlisted the help of several notable names (via Mark Berman of FOX26). That list includes Hall of Fame coaches Tony Dungy and Jimmy Johnson, plus Texans legend Andre Johnson, and Spurs architect RC Buford.
“I’m very excited,” McNair said. “These guys are all so experienced and had a lot of success in the various areas they’ve been working and they all want to help and make the Texans the best we can be and it’s really quite a testament that they want to do that. I’ll be talking to them. [Team president Jamey Rootes] and I will have conversations with them, get their ideas on how they see the landscape and try to put together the best group that we can.”
For now, the head coaching position belongs to Romeo Crennel, though there are conflicting reports on whether he’ll be a real candidate for the gig in 2021. The GM role is also vacant and the Texans swear that they will not be filling it with fast-rising exec Jack Easterby.
“It’s a relentless search for greatness is what we’re after, and these guys have gotten there and we’ll use some of their intuition and intelligence to help us get there as well,” said McNair. “This search is going to be really, really exciting.”
The Texans could certainly use some excitement — their latest loss to the Colts has dropped them to 4-8 on the year. They’ll look to get back in the win column this weekend when they face the Bears in Chicago.
Browns Claim WR Marvin Hall
The Lions dropped Marvin Hall over the weekend, but he’s caught on with a new team. The Browns have claimed the 27-year-old wide receiver, per a club announcement.
Hall, a 2016 undrafted free agent out of Washington, seemed to have found a home in Detroit. After wandering the league early in his pro career, he managed 17 catches for 290 yards and two scores with the Lions in 2020. But, in an effort to see more from their younger players, the Lions cut him loose.
Hall — who previously suited up for the Raiders, Cardinals, Falcons, and Bears — enjoyed a breakout performance in Week 8, catching four passes for 113 yards. He’ll do his best to replicate that for the Browns, who are riding a four-game winning streak and pushing to end their longstanding playoff drought. Hall will have a chance to make his debut on Monday night, when the Browns take on the Ravens in Cleveland.
Cowboys’ Zack Martin Done For Year
The Cowboys have placed guard Zack Martin on injured reserve with a calf injury. The All-Pro guard must be shelved for at least three games and this could very well mark the end of his season. 
In the dreadful NFC East, the playoffs are still possible for the 3-8 Cowboys. Their late-November loss to the Washington Football Team didn’t help matters, but they could still theoretically leapfrog the first-place Giants (5-7) and the rest of the division. They’ll have their work cut out for them on Tuesday night against the Ravens, when undrafted lineman Terence Steele is expected to start in his place.
Martin has done his best work on the interior, but Steele’s poor play forced the Cowboys to reshuffle the front five a few weeks back. Before they made the swap on Nov. 22, Steele ranked as the worst offensive tackle out of 78 qualified players this season, per Pro Football Focus’ metrics.
The Cowboys will also be without cornerback Anthony Brown and safety Donovan Wilson as they look to upset Baltimore. A loss — even in the NFC East — would almost certainly take them out of the postseason conversation.
Chargers To Evaluate Anthony Lynn After Season
Anthony Lynn is safe, for now. The Chargers head coach is on the hot seat, but the Bolts plan to evaluate their head coach after the season is through (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). 
Things aren’t looking great for Lynn after the Bolts were blanked 45-0 by the Patriots on Sunday. The home loss dropped them to 3-9 and, unless they finish on a much stronger note, Lynn probably won’t see a fifth season in L.A.
Out of respect for Lynn, the Chargers plan to at least let him finish out the season. He’s widely regarded in the building (and across the league) and it was just two years ago that he guided the club to a 12-4 finish. This year, the Chargers were cautiously optimistic about their prospects with Tyrod Taylor serving as the bridge to No. 6 overall pick Justin Herbert. Up until Sunday, Herbert exceeded all expectations. Unfortunately, the Chargers have blown several potential wins, thanks in part to iffy play-calling.
The Chargers haven’t canned a coach midway through the season in more than 20 years. They plan to keep it that way, even after Sunday’s debacle.
Jets Bump Frank Bush To Interim DC
The Jets have named Frank Bush as their new interim defensive coordinator, as Connor Hughes of The Athletic tweets. Bush will take over for Gregg Williams, who was given the hook on Monday morning.
[RELATED: Jets Fire Gregg Williams]
Bush has served as Adam Gase‘s assistant head coach and inside linebackers coach in New York over the last two years. Prior to that, he was Gase’s AHC/LB coach in Miami and the DC for the Texans in 2009 and 2010. He may have an opportunity to carve out a future role with the Jets, though it’s unlikely that his rabbi will be part of the plan in 2021.
The Jets are 0-12 following Sunday’s heartbreaking loss, which proved to be the final straw for Williams. Instead of properly defending against a Hail Mary, Williams sent the house. Ultimately, that left speedster Henry Ruggs wide open to score the game-winning touchdown.
Bush’s first assignment as interim DC will come this Sunday in Seattle. The Jets currently stand as +14 underdogs against the 8-4 Seahawks.
Jets Fire DC Gregg Williams
The Jets have fired defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter). The move comes after the Jets latest loss to the Raiders, dropping them to 0-12. 
[RELATED: Jets Eyeing Eagles HC Doug Pederson?]
Fans have mostly directed their ire towards head coach Adam Gase this year, but, so far, the Jets have resisted calls for his firing. For now, Williams is the lone coach to get the heave-ho, but no one would be surprised to see additional house cleaning between now and the end of the year. It’s worth noting that the Jets also employ Williams’ son — Blake Williams — as a defensive assistant.
Williams has built a career as a defensive guru, but his Jets unit ranked 29th in the NFL this year. The last straw might have come on Sunday when he called an all-out blitz on the final play, leaving one outmatched cornerback to guard Henry Ruggs III. Ruggs burned him and scored a 46-yard touchdown, costing the Jets their first W of the season.
In Williams’ defense, this Jets team was clearly not built to win. That was clear when the Jets shipped safety Jamal Adams to the Seahawks and later sent linebacker Avery Williamson to the Steelers. They’ve also been sans C.J. Mosley, though it’s fair to wonder how much the high-priced linebacker would have helped.