Today’s practice squad moves:
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: K Taylor Bertolet
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: LB Ryan Connelly
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: LB Wyatt Ray
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: G Koda Martin
- Placed on IR: OL Lachavious Simmons
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: DT Jaleel Johnson
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: WR Bailey Gaither
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: S Richard LeCounte III
Detroit Lions
- Signed: K Michael Badgley
Houston Texans
- Signed: WR Davion Davis, TE Nick Eubanks
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: WR Dezmon Patmon
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: WR Keelan Doss
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: S Mike Brown
New England Patriots
- Signed: OT Sebastian Gutierrez
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DB Bryce Thompson, WR Kevin White
New York Giants
- Signed: OL Solomon Kindley
- Released: RB Antonio Williams
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: WR Willie Snead
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: C Joey Hunt
- Released: CB Quandre Mosely
Washington Commanders
- Signed: T Christian DiLauro
- Released: CB Troy Apke
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Designated to return: CB Antonio Hamilton, QB Colt McCoy, WR Antoine Wesley
Atlanta Falcons
- Designated to return: CB Isaiah Oliver
Cincinnati Bengals
- Designated to return: DE Khalid Kareem, CB Cam Taylor-Britt
Cleveland Browns
- Designated to return: CB Greedy Williams
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed to active roster: QB Will Grier
- Activated from IR: LB Damone Clark
- Placed on IR: LS Jake McQuaide
Detroit Lions
- Signed to active roster: WR Tom Kennedy
- Designated to return: CB Jerry Jacobs, DE Josh Paschal
Miami Dolphins
- Designated to return: S Clayton Fejedelem
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: DL Khyiris Tonga
- Waived: LB Ryan Connelly
New England Patriots
- Signed to active roster: OT Marcus Cannon
- Designated to return: WR Tyquan Thornton
New Orleans Saints
- Signed to active roster: TE J.P. Holtz
- Designated to return: DL Malcolm Roach
Philadelphia Eagles
- Designated to return: OT Andre Dillard
Seattle Seahawks
- Designated to return: DE L.J. Collier
Tennessee Titans
- Designated to return: LB Monty Rice
Washington Commanders
- Designated to return: C Tyler Larsen
A number of players who were placed on IR after the preseason and prior to the regular season returned to practice today. These players will have a three-week practice window until they have to be activated to the active roster. Otherwise, they’ll be ineligible to return this season.
One of the most surprising returns is Cardinals cornerback Antonio Hamilton. The former undrafted free agent rode a strong preseason to a potential starting gig, but he was sidelined with second-degree burns after spilling hot oil on his legs and feet. Kliff Kingsbury previously said an early-October return may be a “little aggressive” (per ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss on Twitter), but the cornerback ended up working his way back to practice.
Today’s practice squad moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: CB Jordan Miller, DT Justin Zimmer
- Released DT C.J. Brewer, DT Prince Emili
Chicago Bears
- Signed: DL Jalyn Holmes
- Released: K Michael Badgley
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DE Sam Kamara
- Released: DE Curtis Weaver
Detroit Lions
- Signed: TE Shane Zylstra
Houston Texans
- Signed: Davion Davis
- Released: WR Chris Conley
Kansas City Chiefs
- Released: WR Corey Coleman
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: LB Blake Martinez
Minnesota Vikings
- Released: WR Travis Toivonen, DL Jaylen Twyman
New England Patriots
- Signed: QB Garrett Gilbert
- Released: WR Laquon Treadwell
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DB Jordan Brown, RB Adam Prentice
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: K Cameron Dicker
- Released: TE Dalton Keene
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: OL Ryan McCollum, DB Scott Nelson
- Released: P Jordan Berry, WR Jaquarii Roberson
Seattle Seahawks
- Released: CB Quandre Mosely
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: DB Shyheim Carter, RB Julius Chestnut
- Released: OL Christian DiLauro
Washington Commanders
- Signed: G Keaton Sutherland
- Released: C Jon Toth
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Placed on IR: RB Jerome Ford
Green Bay Packers
- Signed off Saints’ practice squad: LB Eric Wilson
Houston Texans
- Designated for return from IR: OLB Mario Addison
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted: K Chase McLaughlin
- Waived: WR Dezmon Patmon
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed off Falcons’ practice squad: NT Khyiris Tonga
- Placed on IR: S Lewis Cine (story)
- Activated from reserve/PUP list: LB Ryan Connelly
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Designated for return from IR: WR Calvin Austin
San Francisco 49ers
- Released: WR Willie Snead
Tennessee Titans
- Promoted: DL Sam Okuayinonu
- Waived: OLB Wyatt Ray
- Released from IR via injury settlement: TE Tommy Hudson
Cine has now undergone two surgeries in London to repair his leg fracture. The first-round pick underwent a preparatory procedure before his Tuesday operation to repair the compound fracture he sustained. The Georgia product will stay in England for the time being, with Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press noting (via Twitter) doctors want to ensure no infections develop. Cine could travel back to Minnesota as soon as this weekend.
Following Latavius Murray off the Saints’ practice squad this week, Wilson did not see any action for the team this season. The former multiyear Vikings starter signed a one-year, $2.75MM Eagles deal in 2021, but Philadelphia bailed on that contract during the season. Wilson, 28, finished last season with the Texans. In his lone full season as a Vikings starter (2020), Wilson made 122 tackles, registered three sacks and intercepted three passes.
Addison signed with the Texans shortly after the draft, joining fellow ex-Bills edge rusher Jerry Hughes in joining the rebuilding team on a two-year deal. The Texans placed Addison on IR with a groin injury; he is eligible to be activated to the 53-man roster this week. Teams can make eight activations from their injured lists — be it IR, PUP or NFI — this season.
The Vikings’ trip to London resulted in a win, but also a major injury to a key young member of their secondary. Rookie safety Lewis Cine was carted off the field with a fractured left leg, and will undergo surgery before returning to Minnesota, reports ESPN’s Kevin Seifert. 
Cine suffered the injury during a punt return in the first quarter of today’s game against the Saints. An air cast was fitted, demonstrating the severity of the play. The news marks a major blow for the 22-year-old, who had played all-but exclusively on special teams to begin his NFL career.
The Georgia product was the final pick of the first round of April’s draft, after Minnesota traded back with the Lions. One of several highly acclaimed members of the Bulldogs’ title-winning defense, he took a step forward with each of his three seasons in college. Best known for his physicality, Cine carries high expectations for the long-term, but attention will now turn to his recovery.
“Very tough moment for our team,” head coach Kevin O’Connell said after the game. “[Cine is] obviously a guy that, from Day 1, has been a personal favorite of mine and does everything we’ve asked. He was continuing to progress in his rookie year and really had a dynamic role for us on special teams.”
With Cine sidelined, the Vikings will continue to use 2021 fourth-rounder Camryn Bynum as a starter at safety alongside Harrison Smith. The injury could open up more playing time for Josh Metellus, who has primarily played on special teams since being drafted in 2020.
OCTOBER 1: As noted (on Twitter) by Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio on Sunday, Cook is expected to wear a brace, allowing him to suit up for tomorrow’s game. Pelissero tweets that the 27-year-old has since been taken off the injury report, which should clear him to handle a full workload against the Saints.
SEPTEMBER 25: The Vikings veteran running back Dalvin Cook suffered a familiar injury this week versus the Lions, dislocating his right shoulder, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Cook has long dealt with an unrepaired torn labrum that he’s been able to play through in the past. He wasn’t wearing a harness today, which led to the dislocation, but he should be okay to play next Sunday against the Saints with a harness. 
Cook has made a habit of missing time each season, having not played for the entire regular season in any of his six years in the league, so the fact that he shouldn’t miss anything time due to the injury should be a relief for Minnesota. Despite routinely missing two to five games per year, since losing most of his rookie season to an ACL tear, Cook has been extremely productive with his time on the field, earning Pro Bowl appearances in each of the last three seasons.
Even if shoulder pain does force Cook to miss some time, or even just to take a smaller share of snaps, the Vikings have a reliable backup running back in Alexander Mattison. In three years with the Vikings, the 24-year-old has amassed rushing totals of 462, 434, and 491 yards. In addition to his consistency running the ball, Mattison has improved as a pass catcher each season. When Mattison was asked to start four games last year, the Boise State alumnus delivered for his team. As a starter last year, Mattison totaled 356 rushing yards for two touchdown and 19 receptions for 162 yards and a touchdown in those four games.
Cook should be fine to contribute next week and, if not, the Vikings will be completely comfortable trotting Mattison out there. Behind those two, Minnesota rosters kick returning ace Kene Nwangwu and rookie fifth-round pick Ty Chandler.
As we exit September, trade rumors will become a steady NFL topic. This year’s deadline falls on Nov. 1. That will return cap-space discussions to the forefront. Here is how every team stacks up financially going into October, via Over The Cap.
- Cleveland Browns: $35.94MM
- Philadelphia Eagles: $10.89MM
- Denver Broncos: $10.67MM
- Carolina Panthers: $10.47MM
- Las Vegas Raiders: $10.35MM
- Dallas Cowboys: $9.25MM
- Pittsburgh Steelers: $8.64MM
- Green Bay Packers: $8.57MM
- Indianapolis Colts: $7.97MM
- Atlanta Falcons: $7.92MM
- New York Jets: $6.97MM
- Chicago Bears: $6.84MM
- San Francisco 49ers: $6.75MM
- Miami Dolphins: $6.51MM
- Arizona Cardinals: $6.25MM
- Los Angeles Chargers: $5.83MM
- New York Giants: $5.49MM
- Jacksonville Jaguars: $5.41MM
- Los Angeles Rams: $5.38MM
- Baltimore Ravens: $4.51MM
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $3.87MM
- New England Patriots: $3.5MM
- Cincinnati Bengals: $3.16MM
- New Orleans Saints: $2.86MM
- Detroit Lions: $2.64MM
- Washington Commanders: $2.58MM
- Buffalo Bills: $2.44MM
- Tennessee Titans: $2.41MM
- Seattle Seahawks: $2.28MM
- Kansas City Chiefs: $2.12MM
- Houston Texans: $1.64MM
- Minnesota Vikings: $1.47MM
The Eagles’ number is certainly far closer to the Vikings’ last-place figure than what the Browns have stockpiled. Cleveland would stand to have room to augment its 2022 roster, via a patient free agent or a trade. That could depend on where Jacoby Brissett has the team stationed going into the Nov. 1 deadline. But the Browns also appear to be preparing for their Deshaun Watson future. Watson’s unprecedented contract spikes from a $9.4MM cap number (2022) to a record-shattering $54.99MM numbers from 2023-26. As that reality awaits, the Browns rolling over cap space to 2023 would be prudent.
With Sterling Shepard‘s ACL tear moving the veteran wide receiver to IR, the Giants will need to both cover that cost ($6.3MM) and add a contract to fill the roster spot. Every team will go through versions of that issue this season, as injuries pile up. The Giants are prepared to eat a significant chunk of Kenny Golladay‘s 2022 base salary ($13MM) to move him, eyeing an escape from his $4.5MM 2023 guarantee. No takers have emerged, though it will be interesting to see if a market for the former Pro Bowler forms once injuries affect more teams’ receiver situations.
Since their Jimmy Garoppolo restructure, the 49ers agreed to a two-year extension with Dre Greenlaw. The team is not expected to extend Nick Bosa until 2023, however. The Texans, Falcons, Bears and Eagles all sit north of $60MM in dead money, meaning more than a quarter of their respective cap space is tied to players no longer on the roster. Watson, Matt Ryan and Khalil Mack are responsible for massive dead-money hits on the Houston, Atlanta and Chicago payrolls. Philadelphia still has Alshon Jeffery, Malik Jackson and Brandon Brooks dead money on its cap sheet.
Here are Tuesday’s practice squad additions and subtractions:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: G Zack Johnson
- Released: WR Makai Polk
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: LB Jermaine Carter, DE Curtis Weaver
Detroit Lions
- Signed: WR Josh Johnson
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: CB Ryan Smith
- Released: LB Forrest Rhyne
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: DT Nick Thurman
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: TE Jacob Hollister
- Released: CB Parry Nickerson
New York Giants
- Released: LB Charles Wiley
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: RB Godwin Igwebuike
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: WR Kaylon Geiger
- Released: TE David Wells
Carter spent last season as a full-time Panthers starting linebacker, but after signing a one-year deal with the Chiefs, the vested veteran could not make his new team’s 53-man roster. The former fifth-round pick has 30 career starts. The Browns just lost linebacker starter Anthony Walker for the season.
An NFLer since 2017, Hollister signed with the Raiders this offseason. But the team released him from IR via settlement earlier this month. Hollister, who caught six touchdown passes with the Seahawks from 2019-20, spent last season with the Jaguars.
Smith, 29, spent five years with the Buccaneers, ending that run as a backup cornerback and special-teamer for Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl LV-winning team. A starter for the 2017 and ’18 Bucs, Smith played in four Chargers games last season.
Lots of moves leading into gameday. Remember that players promoted from the practice squad for games will revert back to the practice squad after:
Arizona Cardinals
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Andre Baccellia, CB Jace Whittaker
Atlanta Falcons
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Frank Darby
Baltimore Ravens
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Brandon Copeland, WR Raleigh Webb
Carolina Panthers
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Daviyon Nixon
Chicago Bears
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Joe Thomas
Cincinnati Bengals
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Keandre Jones
Denver Broncos
- Promoted from practice squad: DL Jonathan Harris, WR Kendall Hinton
Detroit Lions
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Anthony Pittman, T Dan Skipper
Houston Texans
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Jordan Akins, CB Grayland Arnold
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted from practice squad: K Chase McLaughlin
Kansas City Chiefs
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Dicaprio Bootle, K Matt Ammendola
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Richard Rodgers
Miami Dolphins
- Promoted from practice squad: WR River Cracraft, T Larnel Coleman
Minnesota Vikings
- Promoted from practice squad: S Myles Dorn, CB Duke Shelley
New England Patriots
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Harvey Langi
New Orleans Saints
- Promoted from practice squad: DB DaMarcus Fields
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Britain Covey
San Francisco 49ers
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Akeem Spence
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Xavier Crawford, LB Christian Jones
Tennessee Titans
- Signed to active roster: OLB Wyatt Ray
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Josh Gordon, G Jordan Roos
Washington Commanders
- Promoted from practice squad: DE William Bradley-King, DE Benning Potoa’e