Minor NFL Transactions: 10/8/24
Tuesday’s minor moves around the league:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed to active roster: OL Charlie Heck
- Placed on IR: G Will Hernandez (story)
Carolina Panthers
- Signed (off Giants’ practice squad): OL Cade Mays
- Promoted: OLB Thomas Incoom, DE DeShawn Williams
Cincinnati Bengals
- Placed on IR: CB Dax Hill (story), OL Jaxson Kirkland
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: G Javion Cohen, DT Sam Kamara, TE Blake Whiteheart
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed to active roster: DE Carl Lawson
Denver Broncos
- Signed to active roster: LB Levelle Bailey
Detroit Lions
- Designated for return from reserve/PUP list: OL Christian Mahogany
Houston Texans
- Signed (off Ravens’ practice squad): CB Ka’dar Hollman
- Placed on IR: RB British Brooks
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed to active roster: CB David Long
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed to active roster: RB Myles Gaskin
- Released: TE Robert Tonyan
New England Patriots
- Released: DE Jamree Kromah
Tennessee Titans
- Waived: OL John Ojukwu
Kirkland is out for the season due to a biceps tear, head coach Zac Taylor said on Monday. That injury resulted in the addition of Andrew Stueber off Atlanta’s practice squad, a move which became official today. Kirkland, a former UDFA, made a pair of appearances this season, seeing sparse usage on offense and special teams.
Panthers, Shaq Lawson Agree To Deal
Still on the lookout for veteran help along the edge, the Panthers are set to make another addition. Shaq Lawson has a deal in place with Carolina, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson reports. The move (a practice squad agreement) is now official, per a team announcement. 
Wilson noted earlier today that Lawson visited the Panthers. The news of an agreement quickly coming together thus comes as little surprise, and it will add considerable experience to the team’s edge rush group. The 30-year-old is a veteran of 109 games, all of which came in the AFC East.
Lawson spent his first four seasons in Buffalo, with his most productive campaign coming in 2019 (6.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss). That stretch was followed by single campaigns with the Dolphins and Jets before a return to the Bills. After handling a notable role in Miami and New York, the former first-rounder returned to Buffalo; he remained there for 2022 and ’23.
During his second Bills stint, Lawson made seven total starts and recorded 4.5 sacks. He did not have a strong market during the spring, however, resulting in several weeks of the regular season playing out until interest picked up. In the wake of Jaelan Phillips‘ season-ending knee injury, Lawson was among the veteran edge rushers who visited the Dolphins on a workout last week. That process did not yield an agreement, but he did not need to wait long to find another suitor.
Carolina traded away Brian Burns this offseason, one in which Yetur Gross-Matos departed in free agency. Preseason injuries to both D.J. Wonnum and Amare Barno left the team thin on healthy options along the edge, and a reunion with Marquis Haynes was recently worked out. After Jadeveon Clowney suffered a shoulder injury in Week 5, Lawson’s addition will provide another healthy depth option. It will be interesting to see how quickly he finds himself on the active roster.
Eagles Release LB Devin White
Devin White‘s free agent spell with the Eagles has come to an abrupt end. The former first-round linebacker was released on Tuesday, per a team announcement. 
White began his career in Tampa Bay as a highly impactful player from a statistical perspective. He lost his starting role late in the 2023 season, however, and as a result it came as little surprise when he departed on the open market. White took a one-year deal with the Eagles, but he has yet to make a regular season appearance. Now, the team will move on.
The former No. 5 pick was once attached to an asking price on a Bucs extension which would have made him one of the league’s highest-paid middle linebackers. By contrast, White took a one-year deal worth only $4MM to join Philadelphia’s efforts at finding a suitable setup at the position. With $3.5MM of that total being guaranteed, this move figures to create a dead money charge of just over $3MM. Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer notes White worked out an agreement which could grant the team “potential savings,” however. Still, today’s news marks an unceremonious ending to this relationship.
White appeared to be on track to handle a starting workload during the summer, be instead he began the campaign in a backup capacity. Since the 26-year-old does not have extensive experience on special teams, he found himself a healthy scratch in Week 2 (after an ankle injury kept him out of the season opener). Rather than remaining out of the picture – barring injuries further up the depth chart – team and player have elected to part ways, Since this move has been made before the trade deadline, White will not be subject to waivers.
As such, the LSU product will be free to sign with any interested team in a bid to rebuild his market value. Interest figures to be limited given the way White’s career has gone recently, but he posted at least 124 tackles each year from 2020-22 and racked up 23 sacks during his Tampa Bay tenure. He could serve in a rotational capacity with a team seeking out linebacker depth, especially one which was planning on addressing the position via trade.
In the meantime, the Eagles will move forward with Zack Baun and Nakobe Dean – who beat out White for a first-team role during the lead-in to the season – as starters at the second level of their defense. It will be interesting to see if a depth addition is made with special teams contributions being targeted. Regardless of how that transpires, White will turn his attention to another fresh start.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/7/24
Here are the minor moves made around the NFL on Monday:
Arizona Cardinals
- Received one-game roster exemption: WR Zay Jones
Atlanta Falcons
- Designated for return from IR: LB Nathan Landman
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed (off Falcons’ practice squad): G Andrew Stueber
Cleveland Browns
- Received one-game roster exemption: DT Mike Hall
Green Bay Packers
- Released: CB Robert Rochell
Philadelphia Eagles
- Opened practice window: S Sydney Brown, WR Ainias Smith
New Orleans Saints
- Signed to active roster: G Kyle Hergel
- Placed on IR: OL Shane Lemieux
- Elevated: S Johnathan Abram, LB Isaiah Stalbird
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Placed on IR: OLB Markees Watts
Tennessee Titans
- Designated for return from IR: LB Cedric Gray
Both Jones and Hall were issued suspensions under the personal conduct policy leaving them sidelined for the first five weeks of the season. Their roster exemptions will allow them to make their debuts in Week 6, but after that point a corresponding move will be needed for them to be permanently activated to their respective 53-man rosters.
Lemieux served as New Orleans’ starting center in Week 4 after being promoted from the practice squad. He stepped into a first-team role in place of Erik McCoy, who is dealing with a groin injury. Losing Lemieux for at least the next four games will deal another blow to the Saints’ O-line. Connor McGovern was added to the mix recently, but Lucas Patrick has received the nod at center to begin the team’s Week 5 matchup.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/7/24
Monday’s taxi squad moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: TE Armani Rogers
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: K Spencer Shrader
- Released: CB Gregory Junior
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: LB Anthony Pittman
- Released: S Andre Chachere
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: WR Tanner Knue
- Placed on IR: WR Cody Thompson
Colts Waive CB Dallis Flowers
Part of a competition to commandeer one of the Colts’ outside cornerback jobs this offseason, Dallis Flowers has fallen out of favor with the team’s coaching staff. The backup corner has tumbled far since losing that summer position battle.
The Colts waived Flowers on Monday and opened up another roster spot by placing guard Will Fries on IR. A starting guard, Fries is set for leg surgery after being carted off during Indianapolis’ latest loss in Jacksonville.
These moves leave the Colts with some roster calls to make, as this move leaves them with only three boundary corners — leaving slot bastion Kenny Moore out of this equation — on the 53-man squad. Gus Bradley‘s defense ranks 29th against the pass.
Flowers started all four games he played for the Colts last season, before an injury shut him down. A JuJu Brents injury impacted the Colts’ CB group in Week 1; the 2023 second-round pick is out for the season. Flowers, a 2022 UDFA, had competed with 2023 seventh-rounder Jaylon Jones to start opposite Brents. Jones won the competition, and among the Colts’ top three boundary corners going into camp, he is now the last man standing.
This Flowers cut comes after he was involved in Brian Thomas Jr.‘s 85-yard touchdown reception in the Jaguars’ 37-34 win. Flowers has played 89 defensive snaps thus far this season. Flowers came to the Colts as a former Division II and NAIA standout, but he now represents the second multiyear Indianapolis CB contributor cut since the team finalized its 53-man roster in late August. Indy waived Darrell Baker to make room for a subsequent Samuel Womack waiver claim. Baker is now with the Titans.
Facing criticism for showing too much faith in their roster this offseason, the Colts resisted outside calls to add at cornerback. They did not draft one, keeping the Brents-Jones-Flowers-Baker setup in place. Three of those cogs are out of the picture now, with veteran Chris Lammons now playing a key role behind Jones and Womack. The August waiver claim moved into the starting lineup following Brents’ injury; Pro Football Focus has viewed the ex-49er’s Indianapolis start well, ranking him sixth at the position. Four corners, including former Cowboys second-rounder Kelvin Joseph, are on the Colts’ practice squad.
49ers Place DE Yetur Gross-Matos On IR
OCTOBER 7: Gross-Matos is unlikely to be ready when first eligible, with Kyle Shanahan confirming Monday (via The Athletic’s Matt Barrows) the free agent pickup underwent surgery that will sideline him for four to eight weeks.
OCTOBER 5: The 49ers’ defense has encountered another notable injury. Defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos was placed on injured reserve Saturday, per a team announcement. 
A knee injury will keep the free agent pickup sidelined for at least the next four games. Gross-Matos was inactive for the season opener, but he handled a regular defensive workload during each of the following three games. His absence will compound the injuries San Francisco is already dealing with in the front seven in particular.
Defensive tackle Javon Hargrave is likely out for the remainder of the season due to a partial triceps tear. Along the edge, 2022 second-rounder Drake Jackson was shut down for 2024 back in August, after he was unable to recover from the knee injury which limited him to eight games last year. Jackson’s absence paved the way for Leonard Floyd and Gross-Matos to handle a notable workload in their respective debut 49ers campaigns.
The latter began his career in Carolina. He played out his rookie contract while spending time as both a base end and a stand-up outside linebacker. Gross-Matos served as a full-time starter in 2022, and his 4.5 sacks that year marked a career high. He inked a two-year, $18MM pact in free agency in a bid to return to a permanent starting role. The former second-rounder logged a 46% snap share without recording a sack in his first three San Francisco contests. It will be several weeks until he returns to action and has the opportunity to make more of a statistical impact.
In the meantime, Floyd will continue handle starting duties alongside Nick Bosa on the edge. Floyd also signed a two-year pact during the spring, and the 32-year-old came to the Bay Area with high expectations after logging at least nine sacks in each of the past four seasons. He has only registered one so far, but with Jackson and now Gross-Matos out of the picture the Bosa-Floyd tandem will be leaned on heavily in the pass-rush department. Notable production from those two would help the 49ers overcome at least some of their injury problems as they look to improve from a 2-2 start.
Dolphins Activate WR Odell Beckham Jr.
Odell Beckham Jr. is set to make his Dolphins debut. The Dolphins have activated the wide receiver from the PUP list, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. OBJ is expected to play in Miami’s Week 5 matchup against the Patriots.
[RELATED: Dolphins Open Odell Beckham Jr.’s Practice Window]
The 31-year-old inked a one-year deal with the Dolphins back in May. The veteran was subsequently sidelined with an undisclosed injury and landed on PUP to begin the 2024 season. Following his return to practice this week, we got clarity that OBJ was dealing with a knee injury, a hint that he likely had a knee operation this past offseason.
Considering Beckham’s experience with torn ACLs, it made sense that the Dolphins took it slow with their offseason investment. Fortunately, it sounds like the wideout is past his rehab and finally ready to hit the field. While the organization will happily welcome the former star to their receivers room, he can’t be counted on to turn around a struggling offense that’s still navigating Tua Tagovailoa‘s latest concussion.
Still, Beckham provides some experienced depth behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. After sitting out the 2022 campaign, OBJ spent the 2023 season in Baltimore and proved he still has something left in the tank. In 14 games (six starts) with the Ravens, Beckham hauled in 35 catches for 565 yards and three touchdowns.
While the Dolphins are seeking an offensive spark, they still might take it slow as Beckham works his way back into game shape. The team has mostly relied on Braxton Berrios as their third receiver in 2024, with the likes of Grant DuBose, Robbie Chosen, Dee Eskridge, Malik Washington, and Erik Ezukanma all getting looks behind the top-three WRs.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/5/24
Saturday’s gameday elevations and other minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Elevated: OL Charlie Heck, K Chad Ryland
Baltimore Ravens
- Elevated: RB Chris Collier, OLB Yannick Ngakoue
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: WR Tyrell Shavers, DT Branson Deen
Carolina Panthers
- Elevated: LB Thomas Incoom, DT T.J. Smith
- Placed on IR: LB Shaq Thompson (story)
Cincinnati Bengals
- Elevated: CB Jalen Davis
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed to active roster: LB Nick Vigil
- Elevated: DE Carl Lawson, CB Amani Oruwariye
Denver Broncos
Green Bay Packers
- Signed to active roster: CB Robert Rochell
- Elevated: FB Andrew Beck
Houston Texans
- Elevated: RB J.J. Taylor
Indianapolis Colts
- Elevated: RB Evan Hull, CB David Long
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Elevated: LB Tanner Muse, S Matthew Jackson
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed to active roster: DE K’Lavon Chaisson
- Placed on IR: LB Luke Masterson
- Elevated: RB Sincere McCormick, WR Alex Bachman
Los Angeles Rams
- Elevated: WR Xavier Smith, CB Ahkello Witherspoon
Miami Dolphins
- Elevated: CB Nik Needham
Minnesota Vikings
- Elevated: RB Myles Gaskin, S Bobby McCain
New England Patriots
- Signed to active roster: DT Jaquelin Roy
- Elevated: OL Bryan Hudson, LB Ochaun Mathis
New York Giants
- Activated from IR: LB Matt Adams
- Waived: LB Benton Whitley
- Elevated: WR Isaiah Hodgins, RB Dante Miller
New York Jets
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Activated from IR: OLB Jeremiah Moon
- Elevated: WR Brandon Johnson, RB Jonathan Ward
San Francisco 49ers
- Activated from IR: DT Kalia Davis
- Elevated: DL T.Y. McGill, WR Trent Taylor
Washington Commanders
- Activated from IR: QB Marcus Mariota
- Elevated: CB Kevon Seymour, WR Brycen Tremayne
Mariota returned to practice on Wednesday, which was the earliest point at which he could be designated for return. As a result, it comes as little surprise he has been brought back onto Washington’s active roster. The 30-year-old is in his first season with the Commanders, and today’s move paves the way for him to handle backup duties moving forward.
Ngakoue remained on the free agent market into the start of the regular season. He was not connected to a Ravens reunion, but one took place last week. The journeyman sack artist had a brief spell with Baltimore in 2020, and he posted three sacks in 11 games. Ngakoue, 29, had one-and done campaigns in Vegas, Indianapolis and Chicago before taking a Ravens practice squad deal. He will make his debut tomorrow and aim to provide depth along the edge.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/5/24
Saturday’s taxi squad moves:
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: CB Alex Johnson
- Released: RB Trent Pennix
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: QB Tim Boyle
Boyle was released on Friday, but the team announced today he has been re-signed. In addition, Boyle has been elevated for tomorrow’s contest, meaning he will dress as one of the Dolphins’ quarterback options behind Tyler Huntley and Skylar Thompson. The return of Tua Tagovailoa will push Boyle, 30, further down the depth chart.