Minor NFL Transactions: 12/27/23
Wednesday’s minor NFL transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed to the active roster: DT Phil Hoskins
- Designated to return from IR: DT Leki Fotu
Carolina Panthers
- Placed on IR: OLB Amare Barno
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed off Bengals’ practice squad: TE Zach Gentry
- Placed on IR: TE Jesper Horsted
- Waived: T Justin Herron
Minnesota Vikings
- Placed on IR: TE T.J. Hockenson (story)
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: T Matt Pryor
- Designated to return from IR: WR Danny Gray
- Waived: RB Jeremy McNichols
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Designated to return from IR: DL Mike Greene
Washington Commanders
- Designated to return from IR: LB De’Jon Harris
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/27/23
Here are today’s post-holiday practice squad adjustments:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Caleb Johnson, DT Jacob Slade
- Released: TE John Samuel Shenker
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: T Ryan Swoboda
Carolina Panthers
- Activated from practice squad IR: RB Tarik Cohen
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: DT Domenique Davis
Denver Broncos
- Signed: S Keidron Smith
Houston Texans
- Signed: CB Troy Pride
- Released: WR Davion Davis
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: QB Max Duggan
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: S Nate Meadors
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: T Sebastian Gutierrez, WR Willie Snead
- Released: OL Ilm Manning
Seattle Seahawks
- Activated from practice squad IR: LB Levi Bell
Patriots Place RB Rhamondre Stevenson On IR
The Patriots added to their defense on Wednesday by claiming cornerback Marco Wilson off waivers from the Cardinals. The corresponding move will leave the team’s offense shorthanded, however. 
New England placed running back Rhamondre Stevenson on injured reserve, confirming that he will not return this season. The Patriots have only a pair of games remaining in what has been an underwhelming 2023 campaign, and IR stints are guaranteed to be at least four weeks in length. Stevenson has missed the past three contests, and with the team out of contention is comes as little surprise he will not see the field again.
Stevenson suffered a high ankle sprain in the Patriots’ loss to the Chargers earlier this month, an injury which has now officially put an end to his third season with the team. The former fourth-rounder entered the year with high expectations coming off a 1,000-yard campaign the season prior. Splitting time with veteran Ezekiel Elliott, Stevenson saw his yards per carry drop one full yard in 2023 (from five to four) when on the field.
In spite of that, along with the missed time, the 25-year-old still leads the team in rushing with 619 yards and four touchdowns. Stevenson added 38 catches for 238 yards in the passing game, demonstrating his two-way value and his status as a focal point of New England’s offense. That unit has struggled mightily both with and without him in the lineup, but his absence will be felt to close out the campaign.
With Stevenson out of the picture, the Patriots will continue to lean heavily on Elliott. The latter has received 45 carries in the last three games, scoring a pair of receiving touchdowns in the process. On a one-year deal following the end of his Cowboys tenure, Elliott could help his market value late in the year by continuing to shoulder a starter’s workload. Stevenson, meanwhile, will be eligible for an extension this offseason.
Patriots Claim CB Marco Wilson
DECEMBER 27: Wilson did not manage to pass through waivers unclaimed, something which would have set him up for free agency. The Patriots have claimed him, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. As a result, Wilson will finish off the season in New England, a team which has endured plenty of turnover at the CB spot this season. The 24-year-old could see immediate playing time as he looks to earn a roster spot for the 2024 campaign. Schefter’s colleague Field Yates tweets the Broncos and Titans (who sit lower in the priority) also put in claims.
DECEMBER 26: Following Patrick Peterson‘s defection to the Vikings, Marco Wilson became an immediate Cardinals starter. He remained a first-stringer entering this season, and the Cardinals were counting on him after the Vikes also lured Byron Murphy from the desert in March. In a new scheme, Wilson’s stock dropped.
Wilson has not played a defensive snap since Week 11, with the Cards relegating the third-year cornerback to special teams duty. They officially moved on from the former fourth-round pick Tuesday, sending him to waivers. Barely $110K remains on Wilson’s 2023 salary; while his rookie contract runs through 2024, no guaranteed money remains on the deal.
Vance Joseph immediately installed the Florida alum as a starter in 2021, pairing him with Murphy as Arizona’s top corners over the previous two seasons. Wilson started in Week 1 of his rookie year and has made 37 starts over the course of his career. That run came to a halt last month. Wilson has allowed 702 yards in coverage this season, per ESPN.com’s Josh Weinfuss; that is 300-plus more than any other Cardinal corner has ceded this year. Despite Wilson not playing defense since Week 11, that yardage number still ranks fourth in the NFL.
Wilson’s quick ascent under Joseph notwithstanding, he has rated outside Pro Football Focus’ top 100 at corner in each of his three seasons. The advanced metrics site slots the 6-foot cover man as the third-worst CB regular this year. Wilson logged 83% and 85% snap rates for the Cardinals in 2021 and ’22, respectively, working as a starter in the team’s wild-card loss to the Rams as a rookie. Wilson still leads Cardinals corners in defensive snaps (694). That total tops Antonio Hamilton‘s snap figure by more than 200. The Cardinals have also used Starling Thomas V as a starter in recent weeks, with third-round rookie Garrett Williams manning the slot.
Hamilton was with the team last season, but the Jonathan Gannon–Monti Ossenfort regime has mostly turned the page from the Joseph-era corners. Arizona, which is finishing up a rebuilding year, has not allocated much in the way of resources to corner in recent years. Peterson started for 10 seasons in the desert, crafting a Hall of Fame-caliber resume, while Murphy was in place for four. The Cards will enter the 2024 offseason with many needs; cornerback remains one of them.
Jaguars Open LT Cam Robinson’s Practice Window
Looking to rebound in the closing weeks of the season, the Jaguars could soon receive a boost along the offensive line. The team announced on Wednesday that left tackle Cam Robinson has been designated for return. 
As a result of the move, the veteran’s 21-day practice window is now open. He must be activated within that span to avoid reverting to season-ending injured reserve. Robinson was placed on IR last month due to a knee injury, guaranteeing a four-week absence. The fact he has returned to practice when first eligible is an encouraging sign for his Week 17 availability.
Robinson has remained a full-time presence on the blindside in 2023, his seventh season in Jacksonville. The 28-year-old faced a reported recovery timeline of three to six weeks in the aftermath of being injured, so managing to suit up for the final two games of the Jags’ season would represent a positive with respect to his rehab process. In need of consistency on offense, the team could stand to return to health up front.
Once seen as a lock to win the AFC South, the Jaguars now find themselves in a three-way tie atop the division. That is due in large part to a four-game losing streak in Robinson’s absence, during which quarterback Trevor Lawrence has dealt with a number of injuries. The latter is now saddled with an AC joint sprain, and his availability for Sunday’s game against the Panthers is in question as a result. Having a healthy Robinson protecting whichever Jacksonville quarterback suits up would be a welcomed sign.
Attached to a three-year, $52.75MM deal, Robinson has delivered a level of play similar to his previous seasons when on the field this year. The Alabama product has earned an overall PFF grade of 63.5, which is in line with his career averages. He has, though, drawn a personal best 79.6 mark in pass protection. Both of those figures are higher than those produced by Walker Little, who has stepped in for Robinson during his absence.
Set to play the Panthers and Titans to close out the campaign, the Jaguars remain in contention for both the top spot in the division and a wild-card berth. Improved play on offense will be crucial to a securing a postseason position of any kind, and Robinson will look to help in that regard when he suits up. The Jaguars have four IR activations remaining.
Packers Suspend CB Jaire Alexander
Jaire Alexander has missed an extended stretch for the Packers this season, but the sixth-year cornerback is now healthy. He will not be available for Green Bay’s Week 17 game, however, due to a team-imposed suspension.
The Packers suspended Alexander for one game for conduct detrimental to the team, GM Brian Gutekunst said Wednesday. This is believed to be for Alexander’s strange coin-toss moment in Carolina, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. Not a captain, Alexander crashed the Packers’ coin toss and forgot to use the word “defer.” Had the referee not assisted the Packers, they could have been forced to kick off in both halves against the Panthers.
Week 16 marked Alexander’s first game back from a shoulder injury. The highly paid cornerback had not played since Week 8. While Alexander obviously resides as an important piece for the Packers — on a defense that has struggled under third-year DC Joe Barry — the team will attempt to set an example with this one-game ban.
“The decision to suspend a player is never easy and not one we take lightly. Unfortunately, Jaire’s actions prior to the game in Carolina led us to take this step,” Gutekunst said. “As an organization, we have an expectation that everyone puts the team first. While we are disappointed, we had a good conversation with Jaire this morning and fully expect him to learn from this as we move forward together.”
A Charlotte native, Alexander called the toss despite not being designated to be part of that process with the captains. This strange sequence came in a game the Packers barely won against a two-win opponent. Alexander, 26, has missed nine games this season. While it is not quite the lost year his 2021 became due to injury, it is pretty close. The Packers have Alexander on a four-year, $84MM extension that runs through 2026. That $21MM AAV remains the most among corners.
Bills Activate CB Kaiir Elam From IR
The Bills let Kaiir Elam‘s 21-day activation window reach the deadline, but they still have the former first-round pick in their plans for this season. Elam will come off IR on Wednesday, according to the team.
Designated for return on Dec. 6, Elam spent the past three weeks ramping up during practice. Had the Bills not activated the young cornerback today, he would have reverted to season-ending IR. The team is in good shape regarding injury activations, however, still holding five after this transaction.
DaQuan Jones and wide receiver Justin Shorter have also returned to practice, likely representing two more of the team’s IR-return moves. The team also has Matt Milano on IR, but Sean McDermott said earlier this month the All-Pro linebacker is unlikely to return this season. Defensive tackle Jordan Phillips landed on IR last week. While the veteran could factor into the team’s postseason plans — should this late-season rally produce a playoff berth — he cannot return to practice until the week of the divisional round. Roster math could have conceivably played a role in the Bills’ Elam decision, but the team being in relatively good shape in terms of activations will allow for the corner to attempt a bounce-back effort as this season winds down.
Through 1 1/2 seasons, Elam has not justified the Bills’ first-round investment. The Florida product has been unable to carve out a consistent role, representing a disappointing development for a team that had hoped he would become a long-term fixture opposite Tre’Davious White. The Bills have needed Elam more this season, with White suffering an Achilles tear. Prior to Elam landing on IR due to an ankle injury, he had only been active in three games.
Elam could not become a regular starter last season, even with White not debuting until Thanksgiving, but his ankle injury has hindered his 2023 effort from the start. Elam tore a ligament in his ankle prior to the start of the regular season. After attempting to play through the injury, the second-year defender was shut down for an extended stretch. Elam appears ready, having logged three full practices last week. The Bills will hope a healthier version of last year’s No. 23 overall pick will help their defense down the stretch.
This will be Buffalo’s first opportunity to use Elam alongside Rasul Douglas, whom the team acquired to stem the tide following White’s injury. Douglas and Christian Benford have lined up alongside veteran slot player Taron Johnson as Buffalo’s cornerback regulars. Elam was unable to beat out Benford, a 2022 sixth-round pick, last season. It should be expected Elam comes back as a depth piece. For a Bills team that has run into numerous defensive injuries, that could be valuable despite the young cover man’s early-career struggles.
49ers To Sign DT Sebastian Joseph-Day
Sebastian Joseph-Day cleared waivers on Christmas Day, closing the book on the $8MM-per-year Chargers contract he signed in 2022. But the veteran interior defensive lineman will not be out of work for long. He is set to head north.
The 49ers agreed to terms with Joseph-Day on Tuesday, according to NFL.com’s Jason McCourty. CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson indicates Joseph-Day is finalizing a one-year deal with the NFC West champions. Joseph-Day will follow Chase Young and Randy Gregory as high-profile 49ers D-line additions this season. To clear a roster spot, the 49ers are waiving wide receiver Willie Snead, who has bounced on and off the team’s practice squad for two years now.
San Francisco has been without longtime starter Arik Armstead for the past three games. Armstead is not on IR, but he is dealing with foot and knee issues after missing much of last season. Javon Hargrave returned to action against the Ravens but missed Week 16 due to injury. Joseph-Day, who started in his final three seasons with the Rams before trekking across town to sign with the Bolts last year, will add some important depth for the 49ers.
Not long after firing Brandon Staley and GM Tom Telesco, the Chargers moved on from Joseph-Day and D-line coach Jay Rodgers. Staley had made a push for a defensive overhaul last year. That led to Joseph-Day and J.C. Jackson joining the team as free agents and Khalil Mack arriving via trade. As the 2023 season winds down, only Mack remains among those pickups. The Chargers traded Jackson back to the Patriots, as that fit proved poor. Joseph-Day, however, started 30 games for the team over the past two years.
Before signing with the Chargers, Joseph-Day generated free agency interest on the heels of his Rams run. A chest injury sidelined Joseph-Day for much of the Rams’ Super Bowl-winning 2021 season, though he did play a few snaps in Super Bowl LVI. But the former sixth-round pick started throughout the 2019 and 2020 seasons alongside Aaron Donald. Pro Football Focus graded Joseph-Day as a top-20 defender in 2020, as the Rams returned to the playoffs and upset the Seahawks in the wild-card round.
This season, the advanced metrics site slotted Joseph-Day 67th overall among interior D-linemen. In Staley’s scheme, Joseph-Day had performed fairly well pressuring QBs. The 28-year-old defender matched his career high with three sacks, and the 11 QB hits accumulated are nearly double his season-best total. Joseph-Day looks set to become a rotational cog in San Francisco, with Armstead’s injury potentially determining how big a role the newcomer will receive. Javon Kinlaw and Kevin Givens round out San Francisco’s interior D-line group.
While a starter for the Rams, Joseph-Day did not eclipse a 43% snap rate in 2019 or 2020. His usage climbed before the 2021 injury, however, and the Chargers used their free agency addition on 71% of their defensive snaps last season. Joseph-Day’s work rate dropped to 58% in L.A. this year.
This will be Joseph-Day’s first time in a 4-3 defense, though the lines between the two primary NFL base fronts have blurred over the past several years. The 49ers have an expensive D-line in place, having extended Nick Bosa after signing Hargrave to a $21MM-per-year deal in March. Armstead remains on the big-ticket extension he signed in 2020. Joseph-Day figures to slot in alongside Gregory as a low-cost veteran; the Broncos are paying the bulk of Gregory’s base salary.
Texans Claim S Kareem Jackson Off Waivers, Place S Jimmie Ward On IR
After his Broncos tenure came to an unceremonious end, Kareem Jackson will return to where his career began. The veteran safety was claimed off waivers Tuesday, as first reported by Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. 
Jackson’s roster exemption for his second suspension of the 2023 season expired on Monday. After Denver elected not to activate him in time for the team’s Week 16 game, though, questions were raised about his future with the franchise. The Broncos waived Jackson with the intention of retaining him via the practice squad.
That will no longer be the case, as he will now head to Houston for the first time since his Texans tenure came to an end in 2018. Jackson was once a teammate of head coach DeMeco Ryans, and he spent nine years with the franchise after arriving in the NFL as a first-round pick. He could have a path to immediate playing time, given the corresponding move made alongside his addition.
The Texans placed fellow safety Jimmie Ward on injured reserve due to a quad injury, per Wilson. After nine years in San Francisco, Ward followed Ryans to Houston this offseason. He has served as a full-time starter in his first Texans campaign, collecting 50 tackles and one interception while providing experience to a transitioning team. Jackson will look to do the same as Houston chases a postseason berth over the final two weeks of the season.
“I’m thrilled to be back with the Texans,” the 35-year-old said, via Wilson. “It’s all coming full circle, having spent a lot of time in Houston. I’m really excited and happy for DeMeco and all the success he’s having. I’m here to be a piece of the puzzle and help them win these last two games and get to the playoffs.”
The Broncos are still alive for a wild-card berth, but their playoff hopes took a major blow with Sunday’s loss to the Patriots. Jackson officially leaving the organization confirms that P.J. Locke, who filled in as a starter during his suspensions, will remain in a first-team role to close out the season. Houston is one of three teams still eligible to win the AFC South, but failing that a wild-card spot is still within reach. If Jackson does see time in the 2023 postseason, it will be with his original NFL team.
Jaguars Sign QB Matt Barkley Off Giants’ Practice Squad
Dealing with yet another injury this season, Trevor Lawrence is not a lock to play in a pivotal Week 17 spot. Although the former No. 1 overall pick has continued to play through his myriad health issues this year, the Jags now have some additional insurance at quarterback.
They signed Matt Barkley off the Giants’ practice squad Tuesday. Because Barkley is being plucked from another team’s P-squad, he must remain on the Jags’ active roster for at least three weeks. The Jags’ prospects of extending their season into the playoffs have suddenly become foggy, but Barkley will be part of Jacksonville’s 53-man roster for the regular season’s remainder.
This is team No. 11 for Barkley, who came off the 2013 draft board 98th overall. The Jaguars were the team that traded the Eagles that pick, moving down three spots 10 years ago. Barkley has not played for all 10 of his previous teams — the Eagles, Cardinals, Bears, 49ers, Bengals, Bills, Titans, Panthers, Falcons and Giants — but is perhaps Josh Johnson‘s chief competition for the top spot among active QB journeymen.
The Giants added Barkley to their practice squad in late October, following Tyrod Taylor‘s rib injury, and bumped him up to their 53-man roster in the wake of Daniel Jones‘ ACL tear. Taylor has since returned, and Barkley did not factor into the team’s plans with both Taylor and Tommy DeVito on the active roster.
Succeeding Mark Sanchez as USC’s starter and starting four seasons with the Pac-12 program, Barkley has managed to play 11 NFL seasons without ever being viewed as a team’s preferred starter. Barkley, 33, has not seen game action since 2020 with the Bills. A Josh Allen backup for multiple seasons, Barkley did not make Buffalo’s 53-man roster this summer. Six of Barkley’s seven career starts came for the 2016 Bears, who had lost Jay Cutler for the season.
Lawrence has battled through a knee sprain, an ugly-looking high ankle sprain and a concussion this season. The 2021 No. 1 overall pick now has a sprained AC joint, per Doug Pederson. The injury led Lawrence out of a Week 16 blowout loss in Tampa, and the Jags have plummeted to 8-7. While Lawrence has never missed a game as a pro, he has seen injuries impact him significantly this season.
The Jags, who played their Week 16 game without wideouts Christian Kirk and Zay Jones, have C.J. Beathard in line to start if Lawrence cannot go. Barkley would be in line to back up Beathard in that event. E.J. Perry remains on Jacksonville’s practice squad. To make room for Barkley on the 53-man roster, the Jags placed backup safety Daniel Thomas on IR.