Minor NFL Transactions: 9/29/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Josh Doctson
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted: OL Sua Opeta
Seattle Seahawks
- Designated to return: OT Cedric Ogbuehi
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Placed on IR: Scott Miller
NFL Waiver Priority For Week 4
Starting today, the NFL’s waiver claim order will be reflective of 2021 records, rather than 2020, as ESPN.com’s Field Yates tweets. As is the case with the NFL Draft, the order of priority is inverted based on win/loss record.
[RELATED: The NFL’s Waiver System, Explained]
In cases of ties – and there are many at this stage of the season – they are broken by the cumulative record of the team’s previous opponents. For example, the Jaguars and Jets’ (0-3) opponents have a combined record of 7-2; they have priority over the Colts and Lions, whose opponents have a combined record of 6-3. If two teams with the same record, and same opponent record, happen to claim the same player (as would be the case with the Jaguars/Jets, Colts/Lions, and so on), the dispute is settled with a coin toss.
With that in mind, here’s the full rundown of every team’s current waiver priority as we get set for Week 4:
- T-1. Jaguars
- T-1. Jets
- T-3. Colts
- T-3. Lions
- 5. Giants
- T-6. Bears
- T-6. Steelers
- T-8: Chiefs
- T-8: Dolphins
- T-8: Vikings
- T-11: Eagles
- T-11: Texans
- 13: Washington Football Team
- T-14: Falcons
- T-14: Patriots
- T-14: Seahawks
- T-17: Buccaneers
- T-17: Saints
- 19: Cowboys
- T-20: Chargers
- T-20: Packers
- T-20: Ravens
- T-20: Titans
- T-24: 49ers
- T-24: Bills
- T-24: Bengals
- T-24: Browns
- 28: Raiders
- T-29: Cardinals
- T-29: Panthers
- T-29: Rams
- 32: Broncos
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/28/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Promoted: CB Antonio Hamilton
Baltimore Ravens
- Promoted: LB Josh Bynes
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Brandon Williams
Carolina Panthers
- Promoted: C Sam Tecklenburg
Denver Broncos
- Promoted: QB Brett Rypien
- Placed on IR: LB Jonas Griffith
Green Bay Packers
- Signed off Colts’ practice squad: TE Tyler Davis
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DL Tyler Lancaster
Los Angeles Rams
- Placed on IR: LB Justin Hollins
New York Jets
- Waived: S Saquan Hampton
Philadelphia Eagles
- Placed on IR: S K’Von Wallace
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Promoted: OLB Derrek Tuszka
- Waived: LB Jamir Jones
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted: DT Robert Nkemdiche
- Waived: QB Jake Luton
Panthers Place Juston Burris On IR
The Panthers have placed Juston Burris on IR with a groin injury, per a club announcement. Fortunately, it sounds like this will be a short-term injured reserve stint, so the safety can return after a minimum of three games.
Burris suffered the injury during last Thursday’s win over the Texans. Before that, he tallied two stops, giving him ten for the season. And, in Week 2 against the Saints, he nabbed an interception, giving him six for his career.
The Panthers can turn to Sam Franklin and Sean Chandler in his absence, but it’s yet another blow to their banged up secondary. They’re already without rookie cornerback Jaycee Horn, who will be out for at least a couple of months with a broken foot. Meanwhile, on the other side of the ball, the Panthers are keeping their fingers crossed for Christian McCaffrey and his ailing hamstring.
In a related move, the Panthers have added Sam Tecklenburg to the 53-man roster. He’ll be eligible to play on Sunday when the 3-0 Panthers face the Cowboys.
Eagles’ Isaac Seumalo Done For Year
Eagles guard Isaac Seumalo will undergo season-ending surgery for his Lisfranc injury, per a club announcement. Seumalo will be placed on injured reserve, leaving the Birds with a major gap on their interior line.
A regular starter since October 2018, Seumalo is in his second year of his contract extension. This also marks his second straight year marred by injuries. In 2020, a knee injury limited him to just nine games. This time around, he’s done after just three starts — this was the outcome doctors feared after Seumalo had to be carted off in the fourth quarter.
Of course, this comes after the Eagles also lost Brandon Brooks for the year. They’re also awaiting word on left tackle Jordan Mailata, who was unable to play in last night’s 41-21 loss to the Cowboys. For now, Nate Herbig will likely take over Seumalo’s place in the lineup.
Meanwhile, defensive back K’Von Wallace is expected to miss three-to-six weeks with a partially separated shoulder (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). While he avoided major structural damage, he’s expected to be placed on the short-term IR list.
Colts Shopping Marlon Mack
The Colts and running back Marlon Mack are going their separate ways (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). The two sides have mutually agreed to seek a trade, allowing Mack to find a better opportunity elsewhere. 
Jonathan Taylor is firmly entrenched as the Colts’ workhorse tailback while pass-catching specialist Nyheim Hines has just inked a three-year, $18.6MM deal with $12MM guaranteed. That doesn’t leave much left for Mack, who is finally back to 100% health after last year’s Achilles tear. There’s nothing imminent yet, per Pelissero’s sources, but a deal could come together between now and the early November trade deadline.
Mack, 25, isn’t far removed from his two impressive seasons with the Colts. Between the 2018 and 2019 campaigns, he compiled 2,184 yards from scrimmage and 18 touchdowns. He also added another 200 yards and one touchdown in a pair of playoff games. However, he was limited to only a single game and seven touches after tearing his Achilles in last year’s season opener.
To the surprise of many, the Colts re-upped Mack on a one-year, $2MM deal in the spring. His low-cost contract should hold appeal for contenders in need.
Buccaneers Host Richard Sherman
The Buccaneers are meeting with Richard Sherman (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). This marks Sherman’s first free agent visit of the season, though he has interest from multiple contenders (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). 
Sherman, a five-time Pro Bowler, could join the Bucs in time for this week’s matchup against the Patriots. He’d go a long way towards filling in for the Bucs’ litany of injuries in the secondary. So far, they’re down Sean Murphy-Bunting (elbow), Jamel Dean (knee), and Carlton Davis (abdomen; ribs). Dean should return sometime soon, but he probably won’t be ready for Week 4.
Sherman made headlines for all the wrong reasons this summer, but he has reportedly received counseling since his July arrest. Meanwhile, his former employers — the 49ers and Seahawks — have both expressed interest in recent months. Ultimately, the defending champs could come away with the former Legion of Boom leader, who is reportedly back to the weight of his salad days.
The 33-year-old turned in a so-so 2018 for the Niners, rebounded for a strong 2019, and lost much of 2020 to injury. Even though he’s no longer in his prime, Sherman could provide a big and timely boost for the Bucs.
Chiefs To Sign Josh Gordon
The Chiefs are set to sign newly reinstated wide receiver Josh Gordon (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com). The former All-Pro will be joining Kansas City’s practice squad, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter). The goal is for Gordon to get up to speed before getting elevated to the active roster.
Gordon last played for the Seahawks, where he had seven catches for 139 yards across five games. Before that, he registered 60 grabs for 1,007 yards and four touchdowns for the Patriots between 2018 and 2019. Gordon played in just 17 games for New England between those years — a common theme for Gordon between his off-the-field issues and constant suspensions. Technically speaking, his last pro football action came in the Fan Controlled Football League, alongside ex-teammate Johnny Manziel.
The Chiefs will likely part ways with one of their lower-tier receivers to make room. As of this writing, Gordon gives KC seven WRs in Tyreek Hill, Mecole Hardman, Demarcus Robinson, Byron Pringle, Marcus Kemp, and Daurice Fountain.
Gordon, 30, has not played a full season since his 2012 rookie year. Still, we all remember his superstar potential as a young player — his 14-game 2013 campaign still sits sixth on the NFL’s receiving yards-per-game list (117.6). Before long, the Chiefs will add him to their world-class offense and find out whether he’s still got some juice left.
Patriots’ James White Out Indefinitely
Patriots running back James White has been diagnosed with a subluxation of the hip (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). The injury will shelve him indefinitely so, at minimum, he’ll be placed on the short-term injured reserve list. 
White, 29, was quickly forced out of Sunday’s loss to the Saints. Through three games (really, two games), the veteran has 12 catches for 94 yards plus ten carries for 38 yards and one score. After registering 25 touchdown catches for New England between 2014-2020, White was expected to see an increase in touches throughout the year. Now, everything’s up in the air for the pass-catching back.
White has only taken the field for the Patriots since entering the league as a fourth-round pick. More than just a valuable third-down tailback, he’s also a longstanding team captain. After tallying 994 all-purpose yards in 2019, he saw less time in 2020. Still, White had 49 grabs for 375 yards and a touchdown to lead all Pats RBs in receiving.
The Pats are now left with four running backs on the 53-man roster: Damien Harris, J.J. Taylor, rookie Rhamondre Stevenson, and Brandon Bolden.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/27/21
We’ll keep track of today’s taxi squad moves here:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: G Mike Horton
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: K Matthew Wright
- Released: WR Phillip Dorsett (story)
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: T Blake Brandel