NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/26/23
Here are the NFL’s Boxing Day practice squad updates:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: LB Frank Ginda
- Released: P Pat O’Donnell
Denver Broncos
- Released: DB Keidron Smith
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: LS Alex Matheson
- Released: RB Darrell Henderson
New England Patriots
- Signed: TE La’Michael Pettway
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: LB Jaylon Smith
- Released: LB David Perales
San Francisco 49ers
- Released: DT Taylor Stallworth
Seattle Seahawks
- Released: LB Hamilcar Rashed
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: TE Devin Asiasi, LB Tae Crowder, DT David Moa, DB Darius Phillips, DB Kendall Sheffield
Washington Commanders
- Signed: RB Jaret Patterson
Smith will make his way to a third team this season. The Saints signed the former Cowboys mainstay just before the season, but the Raiders later poached the eighth-year veteran off New Orleans’ practice squad. The Steelers, who have lost regulars Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander for the season, will turn to him now. This move come after the Steelers added Mykal Walker, who is on team No. 4 this year, to their linebacking corps.
Henderson resurfaced with the Rams midway through this season, coming back after the team lost Kyren Williams and Ronnie Rivers in one game. Williams made his way back to action last month, while Rivers moved back to the 53-man roster last week. With Royce Freeman in place as veteran insurance, the Rams will again cut Henderson.
The Broncos are planning to bring Smith back to their P-squad soon, per the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson. The team initially planned to cut Smith to clear a spot for Kareem Jackson. With the Texans making another high-profile waiver claim — this one to reunite with Jackson, who was primarily a Houston cornerback from 2010-18 — the Broncos no longer have to clear a P-squad spot.
Colts Place S Julian Blackmon On IR, Sign S Henry Black Off Steelers’ Practice Squad
Already facing injury issues on offense, the Colts will be shorthanded on the other side of the ball during their late-season playoff push. The team announced on Tuesday that safety Julian Blackmon has been placed on injured reserve. 
As a result of the move, Blackmon will be shut down for at least four weeks, leaving him out of the lineup for Indianapolis’ two remaining regular season contests. James Boyd of The Athletic reports, though, that he could return to the lineup if the Colts manage to make a deep postseason run. The former third-rounder has remained a full-time starter in his fourth season, making his absence a notable one.
Blackmon entered the season as a pending free agent, and he has upped his value on a new Colts deal or the open market with his level of play in 2023. The 25-year-old has enjoyed a career year with 88 tackles, four interceptions, eight pass deflections and a pair of fumble recoveries. He has been a key contributor for an Indianapolis defense which has struggled in a number of categories but ranks in the top half of the league against the pass.
As part of the team’s young array of contributors on the backend, the Colts were already using 2022 seventh-rounder Rodney Thomas as a starter. The 25-year-old has amassed six interceptions in his young career, and he will be counted on to remain productive with Blackmon out of the fold. The latter’s starting spot will likely be given to Nick Cross, who has largely played on special teams to date in the NFL.
To fill Blackmon’s roster spot, the Colts brought back fellow safety Henry Black. The former UDFA signed a futures deal with Indianapolis this winter before spending time (as he did in 2022) on the team’s practice squad. He was most recently with Pittsburgh’s taxi squad, but this Colts reunion will allow him to remain on an active roster for the time being.
One of three teams still in contention to win the AFC South, the Colts have games against the Raiders and Texans remaining on their schedule. Their ability to reach the postseason in any capacity will take a hit without Blackmon available down the stretch.
Vikings TE T.J. Hockenson Out For Season
Signs from the aftermath of the Vikings’ loss over the weekend pointed to an extended absence for T.J. Hockenson. That has now been confirmed, as head coach Kevin O’Connell said Tuesday the Pro Bowl tight end will require surgery to repair ACL and MCL tears. 
Hockenson was forced to exit Minnesota’s game against Detroit due to the injury, and O’Connell admitted not long after that signs were pointing to a lengthy absence. After further testing, the 2022 trade acquisition is now out for the year. The news puts an end to a productive campaign, and leaves the Vikings without another key member of their offense due to a major injury.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins suffered an Achilles tear earlier in the year, something which threatened to derail the team’s season. Especially given the time missed by star wideout Justin Jefferson, Minnesota’s playoff prospects appeared to take a turn for the worse. The Vikings are now 7-8 on the year, but they face uncertainty under center and they will now be without a major weapon in their passing game as they push for an NFC wild-card berth.
Hockenson was acquired at the trade deadline last season in a deal which put an end to his hot-and-cold tenure with the Lions. The intra-divisional swap resulted in a strong showing in the second half of the season, however, as he posted a 60-519-3 statline in 10 games. That production proved his effectiveness in O’Connell’s system, and set him up for a major payday in the offseason.
The 26-year-old signed a $16.5MM-per-year extension in August, keeping him on the books through 2027 and making him the league’s second-highest paid tight end in terms of annual compensation. That pact raised expectations for Hockenson, and he delivered in 2023 despite Cousins’ missed time. The Iowa alum set new career highs in catches (95) and yards (960) in 15 games this season. As a result, his absence will deal a substantial blow to the Vikings’ offense.
O’Connell also confirmed that edge rusher D.J. Wonnum is headed to injured reserve due to a torn quad. That was the expected outcome in this situation, but it confirms his season is over, something with signficant financial implications given his status as a pending free agent. Minnesota’s defense will be shorthanded as the team approaches a pair of must-win games, while the offense will likewise be without a top contributor.
With Hockenson out of the picture, Josh Oliver will likely assume starting duties at the TE spot. A free agent addition from this past offseason, Oliver has established himself as a strong blocker in recent years, which led to a three-year, $21MM contract. The former third-rounder has made only 19 catches this season serving as a complement to Hockenson this season, though. Johnny Mundt and Nick Muse have likewise seen small workloads in the passing game to date, but that could change in the immediate future.
Browns Place QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson On IR, Sign P.J. Walker
Joe Flacco comfortably sits atop the Browns’ quarterback depth chart, but a new backup will be in place for the foreseeable future. Dorian Thompson-Robinson has been placed on injured reserve, the team announced on Tuesday. 
The fifth-round rookie is dealing with a hip injury, and it will shut him down for an extended stretch. The move guarantees at least a four-week absence for Thompson-Robinson, meaning he will not be available for the remainder of the regular season. In a corresponding move, P.J. Walker has been signed from the practice squad to the active roster.
The quarterback spot has been in flux for Cleveland, a team which has managed to win games with four different signal-callers. Thompson-Robinson has logged three starts and eight appearances with starter Deshaun Watson finding himself in and out of the lineup before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery. The UCLA alum had been in place as Flacco’s backup during his impressive run at the helm, but the QB2 spot will now belong to Walker.
The latter has made a pair of starts in 2023, his first season with the Browns. Walker has made a total of six appearances, the most recent of which came in Week 12. The former XFLer has struggled when on the field, throwing five interceptions and just one touchdown. Those totals cost him an active roster spot to make way for the Flacco-Thompson-Robinson pairing, but he is now in position to close out the season as the team’s backup.
Flacco has been highly impressive since arriving with the Browns last month. As a result, he may be playing his way into a new Cleveland contract this offseason. The former Super Bowl MVP will be counted on through the remainder of the season and into the playoffs, but the latest injury-induced change to the quarterback depth chart will leave the Browns thin under center moving forward.
When speaking to the media on Tuesday, head coach Kevin Stefanski also announced that kicker Dustin Hopkins will miss Cleveland’s Thursday night contest against the Jets. Hopkins exited the Browns’ Week 16 win with a hamstring injury, and the team responded yesterday by signing Riley Patterson. Still in the running for the AFC’s No. 1 seed, the Browns will have a new face at the kicker position while bringing back a familiar one to fill the QB2 role.
Browns To Sign P Matt Haack
In their upcoming Thursday night matchup, the Browns could have new faces at both the kicker and punter positions. Cleveland has agreed to a deal with Matt Haack, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports. 
Incumbent punter Corey Bojorquez suffered a quad injury during the Browns’ win over the Texans, Garafolo notes. As a result, he joins kicker Dustin Hopkins (who left the game with a hamstring injury) as a Browns specialist in danger of missing the game against the Jets. Cleveland signed kicker Riley Patterson on Sunday to provide insurance against Hopkins being unable to play.
Like the Patterson deal, this Haack agreement is a practice squad signing. The latter has not played this season, having briefly spent the summer with the Cardinals. Arizona released Haack in August, leaving him on the open market until today’s move. The 29-year-old is an experienced mid-season addition, as he has 98 NFL games under his belt.
Haack began his career with the Dolphins, and his play in Miami earned him a three-year deal with the Bills when he reached free agency. He spent only one year in Buffalo, however, after he was released last summer. That quickly led to an agreement with the Colts, and he remained in Indianapolis throughout the season. Haack recorded a personal-best 44.8 yards per punt average in 2022, and his net average (39.6) was an improvement from the previous season’s performance.
Bojorquez has had a strong second season in Cleveland. Having punted a career-high 80 times this campaign, the 27-year-old has posted a 49.5 yard gross average and a 42.0 net average; both figures are the second highest of his career. Missing Bojorquez for any stretch could thus deal a blow to Cleveland’s special teams, but in case he is unable to suit up on Thursday, an experienced option is now in place.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/25/23
Here are the Christmas Day practice squad moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: K Riley Patterson (story)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: RB Anthony McFarland
Browns Sign K Riley Patterson
Cut once again by the Lions, Riley Patterson cleared waivers on Christmas Day. After making more than 88% of his field goal tries this season, the young kicker has another gig.
The Browns added Patterson to their practice squad Monday, doing so after playing much of their Week 16 game without a kicker. Dustin Hopkins sustained a hamstring injury against the Texans, putting his availability for the Browns’ Thursday-night game in jeopardy.
Hopkins, whom the Browns traded for after Cade York struggled during the preseason, has kicked in all 15 Cleveland games this season. Patterson operated as Detroit’s kicker in 13 games this year, but after an ongoing competition against Michael Badgley during practices, the 24-year-old specialist lost his Lions job for the second time. Detroit also waived Patterson just before the 2022 season.
After spending the 2022 season with the Jaguars, Patterson returned to the Lions — via a trade featuring a late-round pick swap — following Jacksonville’s May Brandon McManus addition. Patterson made 15 of 17 field goals and 35 of 37 extra points during his second Lions stint, but Badgley — who closed out last season as Detroit’s kicker — evidently outperformed him in practice. Badgley has kicked in the Lions’ past two games.
Hopkins, 33, re-signed with the Chargers last year but missed 12 games. Cameron Dicker beat him out for the Bolts’ kicking job during training camp this summer. With Cleveland, Hopkins has made 91.7% of his field goals, connecting on an NFL-high 33 attempts. He is 24-for-26 on PATs.
The former Washington- and Los Angeles-based specialist landed on IR due to a midseason hamstring injury last year, making this his latest malady something to monitor for a Browns team closing in on what would be its third playoff berth since rebooting the franchise in 1999. The Browns placing Hopkins on IR would sideline him for the rest of the regular season and two playoff games, depending on how far Cleveland’s season goes. This P-squad move, thanks to Badgley’s quality practice work, gives the Browns some proven insurance.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/25/23
Today’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Elevated: OLB Jeremiah Moon, WR Laquon Treadwell
- Reverted to season-ending IR: LB Malik Hamm
Cincinnati Bengals
- Waived: DT Domenique Davis
Los Angeles Chargers
- Waived: QB Max Duggan
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed to active roster: WR Willie Snead
- Waived: T Matt Pryor
- Elevated: DL T.Y. McGill, CB Jason Verrett (story)
The Ravens designated Hamm for return on Dec. 4, making Christmas Day the linebacker’s activation deadline. Rather than activating Hamm to their active roster, the Ravens let his 21-day practice window close. A rookie UDFA out of Division I-FCS Lafayette, Hamm will end up missing his entire rookie season. The Ravens carried Hamm over to their 53-man roster after training camp, placing him on IR a day later.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/24/23
Sunday’s minor moves around the league:
Kansas City Chiefs
- Elevated: DT Mike Pennel, WR Montrell Washington
Las Vegas Raiders
- Activated from IR: CB Brandon Facyson
- Elevated: TE Cole Fotheringham, FB Jakob Johnson
New York Giants
- Placed on IR: T Evan Neal
- Activated from IR: T Matt Peart
- Elevated: K Mason Crosby (story), LB Tomon Fox
Philadelphia Eagles
- Elevated: DB Tristin McCollum, KB Brandon Smith
Facyson has not played all season, but the Raiders opened his practice window on Dec. 6, making him eligible to return to the field. The 29-year-old played for the Colts last season, but he spent the previous year with the Raiders, starting nine of his 12 games. Facyson is under contract through 2024, but none of his $2.27MM salary is guaranteed. Logging some game action down the stretch could thus be beneficial to his roster security.
Neal has missed the past five games due to an ankle injury, and today’s move means he will be shut down for the remainder of the season. The 2022 first-rounder underwhelmed when on the field, to the point where a switch to guard was suggested. No such move has been given consideration, but Neal will nevertheless face considerable expectations to rebound in 2024. Peart will have the chance to see playing time late in the year after suffering a shoulder injury in Week 5.
Chiefs Place RB Jerick McKinnon On IR
The Chiefs’ backfield will be shorthanded through the remainder of the regular season. The team announced on Sunday that running back Jerick McKinnon has been placed on injured reserve. 
Players moved to IR are forced to miss at least four weeks, meaning McKinnon will be sidelined for Kansas City’s three remaining contests in the regular season. The Chiefs will need to progress to at least the divisional round of the playoffs for the 31-year-old to be eligible to return. That could entail a win in the wild-card round with him out of the lineup, though the defending champions are still in play for the AFC’s No. 1 seed and a first-round bye.
McKinnon missed practice all week due to a groin injury, and he was ruled out today for the team’s Christmas Day contest against the Raiders. Given the subsequent move to IR, though, Kansas City will need to rely more heavily on starter Isiah Pacheco and former first-rounder Clyde Edwards-Helaire. Losing McKinnon will likely not represent the loss it would have in previous seasons, however.
The Georgia Southern alum has been much less involved in the run game compared to last season, receiving no more than four carries in a game this season. McKinnon’s two most productive games on the ground in 2023 came in the team’s two most recent contests, with only 19 and 11 rushing yards. The former third-rounder has remained a consistent option in the passing game, though, totaling 192 yards and four touchdowns on 25 receptions.
In spite of a career-low 2.9 yards per carry average, McKinnon’s role will thus need replacing in large part by Pacheco and Edwards-Helaire. The Chiefs have filled McKinnon’s roster spot with another option in the backfield, though, signing La’Mical Perine from the practice squad. The latter has made just two appearances in his debut Chiefs campaign, receiving a single carry. Perine’s usage will likely be restricted to special teams duty.
Kansas City currently has six IR activations remaining, although one of those will be needed for wideout Mecole Hardman, who was designated for return earlier this week. McKinnon will look to return to health in time for the postseason after playing a signficant role in the Chiefs’ title run last year.