Saints To Sign Desmond Trufant
The Saints are expected to sign cornerback Desmond Trufant, (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). The veteran impressed in his Monday workout and will join the club just in time for Week 1. 
Trufant missed the Bears’ final cut but also missed the last couple weeks of training camp due to a family situation. A first-round pick of the Falcons back in 2013, the Washington product became a quality starter in Atlanta. He was a full-time first-stringer for all seven of his Falcons seasons and made the Pro Bowl in 2015. He received a massive payday when the Falcons gave him a five-year, $68.5MM extension in April of 2017.
The terms of Trufant’s new deal are unknown, but he’s still going to collect $3.5MM from the Lions for this season. Meanwhile, the soon-to-be 31-year-old will look to fortify the Saints’ banged up secondary.
Ravens Work Out Le’Veon Bell, Devonta Freeman
The Ravens’ running back search is underway. After losing Justice Hill to a torn Achilles, the Ravens auditioned running backs Le’Veon Bell, Devonta Freeman, and Elijah Holyfield, per the league’s official list. 
[RELATED: Ravens’ Hill Done For Year]
Bell is undoubtedly eager to prove that he still has upper-echelon ability. He did not record a 20-yard run as a Jet or as a Chief. Bell’s most recent 100-yard rushing game came in 2017, during his Steelers heyday. In Pittsburgh, Bell posted 1,800-plus scrimmage yards three times en route to the 2014 and ’17 All-Pro teams. He added three 75-catch seasons in that span, so he could provide Lamar Jackson with an intriguing short-range option.
Freeman is also out to prove that he’s more than just a name at this stage of his career. The former Pro Bowler ended up with the Giants last year and averaged just 3.2 yards per carry on 54 totes. The Saints picked him up towards the end of July, but his New Orleans run ended after just one month.
Defensive tackle Reginald McKenzie and quarterback Kenji Bahar also worked out for the Ravens on Monday. And, in other Ravens news, they’ve locked up standout tight end Mark Andrews on a four-year, $56MM deal.
Ravens’ Justice Hill Done For Year
Ravens running back Justice Hill tore his Achilles at a recent practice (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). Hill is out for the year, leaving the Ravens with only two healthy RBs. 
[RELATED: Ravens Sign Mark Andrews To $56MM Extension]
It’s been a rough stretch for the Ravens, who just lost starter J.K. Dobbins for the year. With Dobbins out, Hill was slated to serve as the No. 2 RB behind starter Gus Edwards. Now, they’re left with Edwards, UDFA Ty’Son Williams, and no other options currently on the practice squad.
Hill, 24 in November, ran for 225 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie. Last year, he saw just 12 carries for 60 yards in the Ravens’ crowded backfield — 5.0 ypc in an admittedly small sample size. Unfortunately, he’ll have to wait until next year to retake the field.
Hill’s injury would help to explain the Ravens’ recent interest in Royce Freeman. The Panthers beat them out on the waiver wire, but it stands to reason that the Ravens will add another experienced tailback soon.
Ravens Sign Mark Andrews To $56MM Extension
The Ravens have signed Pro Bowl tight end Mark Andrews to a four-year, $56MM deal (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). With a new money average of $14MM, Andrews now stands as one of the NFL’s highest-paid TEs. 
“Mark Andrews, in my opinion, is one of the best TEs in the NFL. We’d be foolish to not try and keep him,” GM Eric DeCosta said back in January. “Those discussions will start up at some point.”
It took a little while, but he got his payday. Andrews, who turned 26 today, enjoyed a solid encore to his 2019 Pro Bowl season. In 2020, he reeled in 58 grabs for 701 yards and seven touchdowns. Over the course of three pro years, he’s got 156 catches, 2,105 yards, and 20 TDs to his credit.
As one of the Ravens’ 2018 third-round picks, Andrews was extension eligible for the first time this offseason. Fellow ’18 third-rounder Orlando Brown is no longer in the picture, but a new deal for quarterback Lamar Jackson could be just around the corner.
On a per year basis, 49ers star George Kittle ($15MM/year) remains the league’s highest-paid TE, followed by Travis Kelce of the Chiefs ($14.3MM). Andrews, at $14MM per annum, has leapfrogged new Patriots TEs Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith for third.
Texans To Start Tyrod Taylor
As expected, the Texans will roll with Tyrod Taylor as their starting quarterback. Head coach David Culley made the announcement on Monday, which means Taylor will be backstopped by rookie Davis Mills as embattled star Deshaun Watson remains in limbo. 
Taylor, entering his age-32 season, has started just four games since 2018. Prior to that, however, the dual-threat QB did operate as Buffalo’s starter for three seasons and overlapped with Culley in ’17. While the risk-averse passer did well to limit turnovers, he has yet to show the kind of big play upside that Watson has brought to the table.
It’s an opportunity for Taylor to reassert himself in the NFL. He’ll also have a chance to more than double his base salary. Taylor is slated to make $5.5MM, but he can also reach up to $12MM via incentives. That includes $4MM if he serves as the QB1 for the whole year — he’ll get $1MM for each playtime marker of 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%.
In addition to Taylor and Davis, the Texans will also have veteran Jeff Driskel nearby on the practice squad.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/6/21
Today’s practice squad moves:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Re-Signed: DT Mike Daniels
Giants, Josh Jackson Rework Deal
Giants cornerback Josh Jackson has agreed to revise the final year of his rookie contract (Twitter link via Field Yates of ESPN.com). Now, he’ll earn a base salary of $920K, down from his previously scheduled $1.33M. 
The Giants were nearing the cap limit, so Jackson’s revamped pact will give them some much needed breathing room. It’s also possible that Jackson would have been released if he didn’t agree to the new terms.
Jackson, 25, was widely projected to be a mid-to-late first rounder in 2018. Instead, the Big Ten defensive back of the year slipped to the middle of the second round, where the Packers pounced on him at No. 45. He’s yet to break out as a pro, however. The Packers shipped him to the Giants in mid-August, taking on cornerback Isaac Yiadom instead.
Jackson started in more than half of his games as a rookie, but he was first-string for only five contests between 2019 and 2020. Now, in his walk year, he’ll fight for time behind starters James Bradberry and Adoree Jackson.
Raiders To Waive LB Tanner Muse
The Raiders are waiving linebacker Tanner Muse (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). The news comes as a surprise, given that Muse was a third-round pick just last year. 
Muse missed his entire rookie season with a toe injury. This summer, he’s seen reps with the first string unit while also working as a special teams player.
The Clemson product was first-team All-ACC in his final year on campus and drew league-wide attention. He registered 73 tackles, six tackles for loss, two sacks, and a team-high four interceptions in 2019, prompting the Raiders to take him No. 100 overall in 2020.
It’s worth nothing that the move has not officially hit the NFL’s transactions wire yet. Given the 6’2″, 230-pounder’s potential, it’s possible that the Raiders could find a trade for Muse before he hits the waiver wire.
In any event, this marks a clear miss for GM Mike Mayock & Co. Muse was one of three Raiders third-round picks in 2020. Now, two of those players are gone — wide receiver Lynn Bowden was shipped to the Dolphins before the start of last season for a fourth-round choice.
Rams, Johnny Hekker Shorten Deal
Last week, punter Johnny Hekker agreed to rework his contract in order to stay with the Rams. As a part of the agreement, Hekker has the option to cancel his 2023 season in order to reach free agency one year earlier, according to ESPN.com’s Field Yates (Twitter link). 
Hekker’s revised deal will allow him to earn up to $2.75M in 2021 and 2022. Then, in 2023, he can make as much as $3MM via incentives. The Rams, meanwhile, get approximately $1MM in additional cap space for this year.
The Rams had another option in Corey Bojorquez but they traded him to the Packers before final cuts. That paved the way for Hekker to stay put and keep his mantle as the Rams’ longest-tenured player.
The four-time first-team All-Pro has spent his entire career with the Rams, starting in St. Louis before moving on to Los Angeles. He’ll add another game to his perfect attendance streak on Sunday when the Rams open the season against the Bears.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/6/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Chicago Bears
- Waived: LB Josh Woods
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Waived: DE Aaron Patrick
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived: K Jose Borregales
Tennessee Titans
- W
- Waived: CB Chris Jones