Minor NFL Transactions: 9/23/20
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
New York Jets
- Signed: DB Marqui Christian
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted: DT Anthony Rush
- Reinstated: OL Kyle Fuller
- Placed on IR: DB Marquise Blair, DE Bruce Irvin
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: Promoted: TE Tanner Hudson
Tennessee Titans
- Placed on IR: CB Senorise Perry
49ers To Place Tevin Coleman On IR
The 49ers are preparing to place running back Tevin Coleman on injured reserve, head coach Kyle Shanahan says (Twitter link via Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News). Between this and Raheem Mostert‘s knee strain, the Niners’ backfield is looking thin. According to Shanahan, Coleman’s issue is also more severe than Mostert’s. 
Coleman, 27, joined the 49ers last offseason after spending the first four seasons of his career in Atlanta. The veteran was solid in his 14 games (11 starts), compiling 544 yards and six scores on 137 carries. He also hauled in 21 receptions for 180 yards and one touchdown. The emergence of Mostert relegated Coleman to more of a backup role, although he still had 18 totes (albeit for only 30 yards) through his team’s first two games this season.
The injury bug has shown no mercy to the 49ers, nor has it been exclusive to the offensive side of the ball. In the past week, the 49ers have also lost star defensive end Nick Bosa and defensive lineman Solomon Thomas to season-ending ACL tears.
Meanwhile, they received better-than-expected news on Jimmy Garoppolo‘s high-ankle sprain, but Nick Mullens is still likely to start in his place on Sunday against the Giants. The Niners – currently at 1-1 – will hope to have Jimmy G under center in Week 4 against the Eagles.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/23/20
Today’s practice squad adds and drops:
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: TE Nakia Griffin-Stewart
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: WR Marcus Johnson
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: LB Cale Garrett
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: RB Austin Walter
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: CB Ross Cockrell, C Zach Shackelford
Chargers’ Tyrod Taylor Has Punctured Lung
A Chargers team doctor accidentally punctured quarterback Tyrod Taylor‘s lung just prior to Sunday’s game while administering a pain-killing shot, sources tell ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (Twitter links). Taylor was preparing to play through broken ribs before matters were made worse by the complication. 
Taylor is now looking at an extended absence and doctors have advised him to stay home “indefinitely,” according to Schefter. Rookie Justin Herbert — who was thrust into action against the Chiefs — is now slated to start against the Panthers on Sunday. Odds are, Taylor will need even more time to heal after that point.
The NFLPA is looking into the matter, Schefter hears. Meanwhile, Chargers head coach Anthony Lynn insists that Taylor will resume his role as the team’s starter once he’s able to return to the field. For what it’s worth, the Bolts pushed the defending champs to overtime on Sunday with Herbert under center. If he’s able to keep up the good work, the Chargers could be looking at a tricky situation when Taylor is finally cleared.
Taylor, 31, was a three-year starter for the Bills between 2015 and 2017. During his 2015 Pro Bowl campaign, Taylor averaged 8.0 yards per pass, threw 20 touchdown passes, six interceptions and ran for 568 yards. All in all, he owns a career 23-21-1 record as a starter. Taylor is historically safe with the football: among quarterbacks with at least 1,000 attempts since 2015, Taylor ranks third in interception percentage.
49ers Promote Dion Jordan
The 49ers have promoted defensive end Dion Jordan from the practice squad to the active roster, per a club announcement. Jordan will provide reinforcement up front following the Niners’ rash of injuries, which includes season-ending ACL tears for defensive end Nick Bosa and defensive lineman Solomon Thomas.
[RELATED: 49ers DE Nick Bosa Has Torn ACL, Done For Season]
Jordan’s NFL career has taken some odd turns, to say the least. After being selected No. 3 overall by the Dolphins, Jordan did little to justify his pre-draft hype. After some underwhelming seasons, missed seasons, and a number of suspensions, Jordan found his way to the Seahawks in 2017. In 2018, he showed some promise as a rotational piece, and he parlayed that into a one-year deal with the Raiders.
He hooked on with the Niners in early August, only to be dropped from the roster before the season opener. After landing on their taxi squad, Jordan now has another opportunity at redemption, by way of the injury bug.
In 2019, Jordan saw time in seven games for the Raiders. He finished out with a grand total of five tackles, two sacks, and one pass defensed. His first chance to play in 2020 will come this Sunday against the Giants at the Meadowlands.
Giants Sign Devonta Freeman
It’s officially official. On Wednesday morning, the Giants announced the signing of running back Devonta Freeman. To clear a spot for him on the active roster, the Giants have placed wide receiver Sterling Shepard on injured reserve with a turf toe injury.
[RELATED: Giants Place Sterling Shepard On IR]
It’s a one-year deal worth up to $3MM, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network adds that the contract has a base value of $1.07MM (prorated to $944K) and includes $280K in per-game active roster bonuses (Twitter link). Freeman can earn up to $1.15MM in rushing yards/TD incentives, he will earn $250K if he makes the Pro Bowl, and he will pull down another $250K if he gets a First Team All-Pro nod.
Agent Drew Rosenhaus claims that his client “turned down more money from other teams because he likes the opportunity with the Giants best.” That may or may not be typical agent spin. Not long ago, Freeman was one of the NFL’s highest-paid running backs. But, since his fall from the top, he’s had a hard time finding the type of money he’s accustomed to.
The 28-year-old turned down a Seahawks offer believed to be worth a concrete $3MM and rebuffed inquiries from the Eagles earlier this offseason. Freeman’s tepid market coupled with his pickiness led to a divorce between him and his longtime agent, leading him to Rosenhaus.
It’s been a while since the 28-year-old has flashed his Pro Bowl talent. Injuries limited Freeman to only two games in 2018, and he averaged just 3.6 yards per carry in 14 games last season. That underwhelming performance led to him being ranked 41st among 43 running backs in success rate, per Football Outsiders.
In New York, he’ll look to carve out a role following Saquon Barkley‘s season-ending injury. It’s not a given that he’ll be the Giants’ lead back right off the bat, as Dion Lewis and Wayne Gallman are also on the depth chart.
Giants Place Sterling Shepard On IR
The Giants are placing Sterling Shepard on injured reserve with turf toe, per a club announcement. The move will open up a spot for the arrival of running back Devonta Freeman. 
Shepard has been a focal point of the Giants’ offense so far this year, reeling in eight grabs for 76 yards off of ten targets. Fellow wideout Darius Slayton and tight end Evan Engram are the only Giants to have received more looks from Daniel Jones in 2020.
The Giants are now facing a season without star running back Saquon Barkley and a three-game stretch (at minimum) without Shepard. The addition of Freeman will help maintain some of their offensive firepower, but this is a Giants team that is clearly in trouble. After falling to the Steelers and Bears to open the year, the Giants will take on the 49ers at home, the Rams on the road, and the rival Cowboys in Dallas.
Without Shepard, the Giants are left with Slayton, Golden Tate, Damion Ratley, and C.J. Board as their wide receivers. They may look to draw from their expanded practice squad for help, where WRs Austin Mack, Binjimen Victor, and Derrick Dillon are at the ready.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/22/20
We’ll keep track of today’s taxi squad moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: OL Rick Leonard
Atlanta Falcons
- Released: DB Tyler Hall, QB Kyle Lauletta, DT David Moa
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: TE Sean Culkin
- Placed on practice squad IR: Xavier Grimble
Chicago Bears
- Signed: DB Marqui Christian
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: G Alex Redmond
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DE Jalen Jelks, K Matthew McCrane
- Released: DT Tanzel Smart
Denver Broncos
- Signed: LB Deyon Sizer
Detroit Lions
- Released: RB Jonathan Williams
Green Bay Packers
- Released: LB Greg Roberts
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: TE Hale Hentges, TE Ethan Wolf
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: DB Josh Nurse
- Released: RB Craig Reynolds
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: S Jahleel Addae
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: DB Nate Meadors
New York Giants
- Signed: LB Jermaine Grace
- Released: OL Tyler Haycraft
New York Jets
- Released: LB Paul Worrilow
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: DL Alex Barrett
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: TE Daniel Helm
Colts Place Parris Campbell On IR
The Colts have placed wide receiver Parris Campbell on injured reserve with a PCL injury, per a club announcement. Campbell’s timetable for return is unclear, but he’ll miss at least three weeks per the league’s modified IR rules for 2020. 
[RELATED: Colts’ Malik Hooker Suffers Torn Achilles]
Campbell went down in the first quarter of the Colts’ Week 2 contest against the Vikings and had to be carted off of the field. He did not return to the field, but he could return for the Colts before the year is through. It’ll all come down to whether Campbell gets surgery. If doctors determine that the ligament can heal on its own, Campbell might be able to come back.
The Colts had high hopes for the second-year slot receiver, especially after his 4.3-second 40-yard-dash speed was on full display in the season opener. Against the Jaguars, Campbell notched six catches for 71 yards, good for nearly 12 yards per grab. Now, the Colts will have to find inside help elsewhere. Running back Nyheim Hines could see some time as a receiver, but it might behoove the club to explore outside options.
Although Campbell has a chance to return, the same can’t be said for former first-round pick Malik Hooker. The safety is out for the year after suffering a torn Achilles, his latest in a line of serious injuries.
Vikings To Meet With LB Todd Davis
Todd Davis will travel to meet with the Vikings once he clears COVID protocols, according to Mike Klis of 9News (on Twitter). This marks the first known visit for the linebacker since he was released from the Broncos earlier this month. 
[RELATED: Vikings’ Barr Done For The Season]
Davis had been with the Broncos since 2014, and, over time, he evolved into one of the organization’s most productive players. Despite appearing in only 14 games last season, the 28-year-old finished with a career-high 134 tackles. Over the course of six NFL seasons – including a brief stint with the Saints – Davis has appeared in 85 games while logging 63 starts. Davis was set to count for $6MM against the Broncos’ cap this year. Instead, they dropped him to gain $1.5MM in additional wiggle room.
If signed, Davis would help provide support in the wake of Anthony Barr‘s season-ending pectoral injury. There’s no question that the Vikes could use the help, especially after their rough start to the 2020 season. This week, they’ll try to get on the right track against the Titans.