Steelers, Titans, Chargers Tried To Claim Khalil Davis
The Colts snagged defensive tackle Khalil Davis this week, but they weren’t the only team with interest. The Steelers, Titans, Chargers also submitted claims for the ex-Buccaneer (Twitter link via Field Yates of ESPN.com). 
Davis was blocked in Tampa by Vita Vea and Rakeem Nunez-Roches, but he showed plenty of potential in the preseason. To date, he has just two career games to his credit, but the 2020 sixth-round pick has uncommon athleticism for a player of his size.
The 1-3 Colts won out, but Davis could have joined up with his twin brother, Carlos Davis, in Pittsburgh. The 1-3 Steelers (who had lower priority due to their strength of schedule) could have used Khalil while Carlos recovers from a knee injury. Instead, the Steelers pivoted to Eli Ankou, who could quickly go from the taxi squad to the 53-man roster.
Davis and the Colts will face the Ravens on Monday night in search of win No. 2. On the other side of the ball, they’ll be without All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson, who was placed on IR with a high-ankle sprain.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/8/21
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Placed on IR: OL Justin Murray
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted: LB Elijah Lee
- Waived: DE Joe Jackson
Latest On Packers, Jaylon Smith
How’s this for a bargain? Linebacker Jaylon Smith will collect just $770K from the Packers this year (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport).
[RELATED: Packers Sign Jaylon Smith]
Of course, Smith will still collect $7.2MMM in salary from the Cowboys. Before his release, the Cowboys asked Smith to waive his injury guarantee for 2022 (Twitter link via Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram). He declined, prompting the Cowboys to cut him loose.
It all worked out for Smith, who figures to see a larger role with another NFC contender and some additional coin. And, with a strong year, he’ll see a huge payday in March. Smith, still just 26, was a Pro Bowler just two years ago. That year, he racked up 154 tackles, good for the second-highest total in the league. Meanwhile, the advanced metrics are still high on his work — Pro Football Focus ranks him as a top-15 linebacker at the one-quarter mark.
It’s a strong pickup for Green Bay, especially after they missed out on Stephon Gilmore. The cornerback was set to reach free agency on Wednesday morning, but the Patriots traded him to the Panthers instead. Trading for Gilmore would have meant taking on $5.8MM in base salary this year; Smith comes at a fraction of the price. He also figures to thrive under the tutelage of Matt LaFleur, who coached him at Notre Dame.
“Nothing’s official yet, but I go back a long time with Jaylon,” said LaFleur (via ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky). “I’ve always had a lot of respect for him, not only as a football player but as a man. He was one of my favorites when I was at Notre Dame. I just think a veteran guy who’s played at a really high level and just can bring kind of a mentality and leadership to our defense.”
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/7/21
Keeping tabs on the latest taxi squad moves:
Chicago Bears
- Signed: WR/KR Nsimba Webster
- Released: OL Alex Taylor
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/7/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Tennessee Titans
- Designated for Return: RB Darrynton Evans
NFLPA To Vote On DeMaurice Smith’s Future
DeMaurice Smith‘s time as NFLPA executive director could be coming to a close. On Friday, the union’s 32 player reps will hold a vote on Smith’s future, as Mark Maske of the Washington Post writes. 
If Smith doesn’t win two-thirds of the vote, the NFLPA will conduct an open search for his position. The union’s bylaws require the union to identify 2-4 candidates for the job, though could conceivably be among those considered. If Smith does win two-thirds of the vote, he’ll remain under a new contract.
Smith has held the position since 2009 and he’s been reelected twice (2012; 2015). And, in 2017, the selection committee voted unanimously to extend his contract for another four years. This time around, the selection committee was split, leaving Smith’s future up to the player reps.
Clearly, Smith’s showing in the last round of CBA talks didn’t sit well with everyone. The players’ union secured a larger revenue share, but they also agreed to give the NFL an extra regular season game. Aaron Rodgers, Richard Sherman, and others were vocally opposed. If Smith’s job becomes available, Mike Florio of PFT suggests that former Colts first-round pick and current congressional representative Anthony Gonzalez could seek election.
Packers To Place Chauncey Rivers On IR
Packers edge rusher Chauncey Rivers suffered a non-contact knee injury that will force him to the injured reserve list (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). The injury may or may not be a season-ender, but he’ll be out for a good while either way. And, by placing him on IR, they’ll make room for newly-signed linebacker Jaylon Smith. 
[RELATED: Packers To Sign Jaylon Smith]
Rivers, 24, spent much of the offseason with the Ravens before getting cut in August. The Packers pounced quickly, picking him up off the waiver wire. Rivers stuck in Green Bay as a reserve, saw time in all four games, and recorded two tackles. To date, the UDFA out of Georgia and Mississippi State has five NFL appearances to his credit.
It’s likely an ACL tear for Rivers, which would automatically rule him out for the season. Even with Smith, the Packers may look to reshuffle their depth chart in order to replace Rivers’ special teams work. In the first quarter of the year, Smith played on 44 special teams snaps, in addition to 54 on D.
Packers To Sign Jaylon Smith
Jaylon Smith wasn’t out of work for long. Days after his release from the Cowboys, the linebacker has agreed to a one-year deal with the Packers (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). 
Terms of the contract are not yet known, but it’s likely a low-cost deal since the Cowboys are still on the hook for Smith’s $7.2MM base salary.
Smith, a former second-round pick, was slowly being displaced by rookies Micah Parsons and Jabril Cox, as well as Keanu Neal this year. But, before that, he was a shining star for Dallas. Smith made the Pro Bowl in 2019, and his 154 tackles last season finished behind only the Texans’ Zach Cunningham. And, through four games this year, Pro Football Focus has him slotted as a top-15 linebacker.
The Notre Dame product figures to play a key role in Green Bay’s defense, alongside fellow 2016 draftee De’Vondre Campbell. As of this writing, the Packers’ ranks 25th in yards allowed per game and 16th in points allowed. Smith will try and help the cause starting Sunday when the Packers face the Bengals.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/6/21
Today’s taxi squad moves:
Detroit Lions
- Signed: LB Rashod Berry, G Parker Ehinger
- Released: WR Javon McKinley
Houston Texans
- Signed: WR Damon Hazelton
New England Patriots
- Signed: DB Elijah Benton
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: RB Ryquell Armstead
Philadelphia Eagles
- Released: LB Christian Elliss
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: DL Willington Previlon
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/6/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Darrell Daniels
Cincinnati Bengals
- Designated for return: S Ricardo Allen
Cleveland Browns
- Designated for return: LB Anthony Walker
Detroit Lions
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: K Austin Seibert
Green Bay Packers
- Signed off Cardinals’ practice squad: CB Rasul Douglas
Houston Texans
- Activated off reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Zach Cunningham
- Designated to return: LB Kevin Pierre-Louis
- Signed off Browns’ practice squad: WR Davion Davis
Miami Dolphins
- Designated for return: DT Raekwon Davis
New England Patriots
- Placed on IR: DL Henry Anderson (story)
New Orleans Saints
- Placed on IR: RB Tony Jones Jr.
New York Jets
- Designated for return: LB Blake Cashman