Chiefs WR Justyn Ross Lands On Commissioner Exempt List
Justyn Ross will not be available for the Chiefs going forward. After an arrest on misdemeanor domestic battery and misdemeanor property damage charges this week, Ross landed on the Commissioner Exempt list Friday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets.
Placement on the list will prevent the second-year wide receiver from practicing or playing in games for the Chiefs. Kansas City signed Ross as a UDFA in 2022, marking an opportunity for a player who was once on track to be a highly drafted receiver. A neck injury at Clemson scuttled those hopes, and a foot injury nixed Ross’ rookie season. His career is now at an early crossroads.
Used when unusual circumstances cloud a player’s status, the exempt list is essentially paid leave. While players frequently play after arrests — as recent Chiefs defensive end pickup Charles Omenihu did after a domestic violence charge before the 2022 NFC championship game — and face suspensions at later dates, the seldom-utilized exempt list will prevent Ross from suiting up. Ross had been active for the Chiefs’ first seven games.
Ross was arrested Monday following an incident involving his ex-girlfriend. The alleged victim said in a 911 call Ross was “dragging her through the house and has torn up the house.” TMZ also reported Ross broke his ex-girlfriend’s phone, as she called police from a neighbor’s house. Ross, 23, pleaded not guilty to both charges. Ross, who could also face a suspension once this matter is adjudicated, must appear in court Dec. 4.
The above-referenced neck injury halted Ross’ promising run at Clemson. Joining Tee Higgins as a key Trevor Lawrence target for a 2018 Tigers team that won a national championship, Ross totaled 1,000 yards and nine touchdown receptions as a freshman. He remained in a prominent role as a sophomore, but the injury kept him off the field as a junior and altered his draft trajectory. Ross returned in 2021 but only tallied 514 yards (11.2 per catch) and went undrafted. Thus far with the Chiefs, Ross has three catches for 34 yards.
While Ross flashed during Kansas City’s preseason slate, the 6-foot-4 pass catcher has not carved out a steady role in an inconsistent receiving corps. Issues separating in practice have plagued the young receiver. Although Ross remains a developmental player, this arrest could certainly affect his chances of remaining with the Chiefs going forward.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/26/23
Today’s minor moves around the NFL:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed to active roster: CB Bobby Price
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived: OLB Jeremiah Moon
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: WR Andy Isabella, CB Josh Norman
- Placed on IR: TE Dawson Knox (story)
Las Vegas Raiders
- Designated to return from IR: LB Curtis Bolton
New England Patriots
- Signed to active roster: WR Jalen Reagor
Seattle Seahawks
- Placed on IR: OLB Uchenna Nwosu (story)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Elevated: CB Richard LeCounte, DT Deadrin Senat
Reagor has been called up as a standard gameday elevation three times now for the Patriots, the maximum under a single practice squad contract. It remains to be seen if he will stick on the team’s active roster, but if he’s going to see any more game action this year, the promotion was a necessary one. He’s obviously able to play while on the active roster, but if the team were to release him and re-sign him to the practice squad, he would have the ability to be elevated three more times on the new deal.
The Bills and Buccaneers are making their standard gameday elevations for Thursday Night Football tonight. Veterans Isabella and Norman will both be making their season debuts if they see the field tonight in Buffalo, as will LeCounte and Senat for the Bucs. Norman has a good chance to see the field with Kaiir Elam out and Tre’Davious White still on injured reserve. Senat likewise should get a chance to rotate in for Tampa with Vita Vea currently inactive.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/26/23
Here are Thursday’s practice squad transactions from around the league:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: CB Quavian White
Houston Texans
- Signed: CB Kris Boyd
Seahawks Sign Frank Clark
OCTOBER 26: Clark has passed his physical, Anderson reports. As a result, his Seahawks reunion is now official. Clark may be in Seattle’s lineup as early as Sunday, Anderson adds. With Nwosu out for the remainder of the campaign, a notable workload should await Clark in his return to the Emerald City.
Field Yates of ESPN provides a further report with contract details for the deal. Clark’s deal is a one-year, $1.17MM deal that will be prorated over the remaining 11 weeks of the season. This will be in addition to the $3.75MM Clark has already been paid by the Broncos this year.
OCTOBER 25: A Frank Clark reunion will end up taking place, just not the one previously rumored. The Seahawks will reunite with the veteran pass rusher, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero report.
The Seahawks drafted Clark back in the 2015 second round and franchise-tagged him four years later, but the team executed a tag-and-trade transaction to send the former Michael Bennett–Cliff Avril sidekick to the Chiefs. While the Chiefs were viewed as perhaps the lead candidate to sign Clark, the recent Broncos cut will make his way back to the Pacific Northwest. This marks the third defensive reunion to commence in Seattle this year; Clark follows Bobby Wagner and Jarran Reed back to town.
This is a one-year deal, per ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter, with NFL.com adding Clark will be added to the 53-man roster. CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson first reported Clark, 30, intended to sign if his visit went well. This process has accelerated quickly, and it almost definitely stems from Uchenna Nwosu‘s upcoming surgery. The recently extended outside linebacker suffered a pectoral injury that will require season-ending surgery.
While the two Super Bowls Clark won in Kansas City will tie him to that organization closely when his career wraps, the 2015 draftee’s best production came in Seattle. Clark went 0-for-4 in double-digit sack seasons as a Chief; his most recent 10-plus-sack slate came with the Seahawks in 2018. Clark registered a career-high 13 sacks in 2018, leading to the tag, and also posted 10 in 2016 despite mostly working as a backup. The Seahawks will likely move Nwosu to IR soon, but this Clark move will still ensure a four-second-rounder arrangement exists at outside linebacker. Clark will join Boye Mafe, Darrell Taylor and Derick Hall upon coming back to Washington.
Drafting Clark months after a domestic violence arrest led him off the Michigan roster, the Seahawks were leery of giving the former No. 63 overall pick a big-ticket extension back in 2019. They signed off on a trade that brought back first- and second-round picks, along with a third-round pick swap. The Seahawks chose hopeful D-end replacement L.J. Collier in the 2019 first round; that proved to be one of the John Schneider era’s worst picks. Seattle did better with the 2020 second-rounder, trading down with Green Bay to draft guard Damien Lewis. With the 2019 Round 3 pick swap, the team traded up for linebacker Cody Barton.
In the years since Clark’s Seattle stay, he became the NFL’s No. 3 all-time playoff sacks leader. His 13.5 postseason QB drops rank behind only Willie McGinest (16) and Bruce Smith (14.5). Clark’s regular seasons in Kansas City left much to be desired, as he did not quite live up to the five-year, $104MM extension he signed upon being traded to the Chiefs. Clark topped out at eight sacks in a Chiefs season; that came back in 2019. Clark accepted a pay cut to stay in 2022, and while he added 2.5 playoff sacks this past season, the Chiefs still made him a cap casualty in March.
Clark’s Broncos fit did not pan out. Denver gave the street free agent a one-year, $5MM deal but used him as a backup to start the season. Coming off the bench behind Randy Gregory and Jonathon Cooper, Clark soon suffered a groin injury in practice that sidelined him for three games. Upon returning in Week 5, he saw only 11 defensive snaps. Playing time became an issue for Clark, and after shopping the rotational edge rusher in trades, the Broncos agreed to cut him. Despite a rumor about a Chiefs return, Clark will attempt to help his initial NFL team back to the playoffs.
Nwosu agreed to a three-year, $45MM extension in July but is out of the picture for the 2023 Seahawks. Mafe has taken a step forward in his second season, having totaled a team-high four sacks. Taylor tallied 9.5 sacks last season but has worked as a backup behind Nwosu and Mafe this year. The Seahawks chose Hall 36th overall in April.
Steelers Designate Cam Heyward For Return
The Steelers’ defense is set to receive a major boost in the near future. Defensive lineman Cam Heyward returned to practice on Thursday. 
As a result, his 21-day activation window has now been opened. The Steelers must activate him from injured reserve within that timeframe to avoid having him revert to season-ending IR. While today’s news means Heyward could be back in the lineup as early as Week 8, the team’s Thursday night game following that (Nov. 2) is likely the earliest point at which he will suit up, per Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Heyward suffered a groin injury in the regular season opener, and it was immediately understood he would be shut down for an extended stretch as a result. Surgery was needed, and an eight-week recovery timetable was in place at the time of the procedure. Bringing the three-time All-Pro back into the fold in time for the next game or so would fall in line with timeframe. Whenever it takes place, his return will be welcomed by the Steelers’ defense.
Pittsburgh’s underwhelming offense has understandably drawn signficant criticism this season, but the team’s defense has signficant room for improvement as well. The latter unit sits 30th in the NFL in yards allowed per game, and it is surrendering more than 142 yards per contest on the ground. Heyward should especially help in that category, though his double-digit sacks in each of the past two seasons prove he will make a major impact in the pass-rush department as well.
Heyward, 34, has been a mainstay of the Steelers’ defense throughout his 13-year career with the team. He has earned a Pro Bowl nod in each of the past six seasons, proving he remains one of the team’s most important contributors on either side of the ball. With one more year on his current deal after this one (with a non-guaranteed salary and a cap hit of $22.4MM), there will also be financial implications to Heyward returning to full health and continuing his elite form.
The Steelers have seven IR activations remaining, and bringing the Ohio State alum back will use up one of them. The same is true of running back Anthony McFarland, whose practice window was opened last week, as well as tight end Pat Freiermuth, who was placed on IR ahead of Week 7.
DE Chase Winovich Announces Retirement
Former Patriots third-round pick Chase Winovich announced his retirement on Instagram, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. After a little over four years in the NFL, Winovich has decided to hang up his cleats. 
Winovich shined brightest in Ann Arbor, where he played four years for the Wolverines of Michigan. After starting out his college career unsure of whether he belonged on offense or defense, he found his place at defensive end, collecting 43 tackles for loss and 18.5 sacks over three seasons of extensive play. His disruptive abilities landed him in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft with a ticket to New England.
While not finding the same domination in the NFL, Winovich still gave strong contributions as a Patriot. While coming off the bench in his first year and earning nine starts in his second, Winovich totaled 11.0 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, and 22 quarterback hits in those two seasons. In 2021, though, Winovich found himself in the doghouse and, after a mostly ineffective season, was traded to Cleveland in exchange for Mack Wilson last year.
Winovich spent most of the season on injured reserve before getting to appear in six of the team’s last eight games, including two starts. After his rookie contract expired, he signed with the Texans, who released him before the roster cut deadline this preseason. He found himself on Miami’s practice squad and would appear in three games, playing mostly on special teams.
The reasoning behind Winovich’s decision is not immediately clear aside from his post mentioning that “the time has come for (him) to serve the universe in other ways.” He also seemed to leave the door open for a potential return, quoting his grandmother in saying, “It’s only bye for now.”
Packers Place Darnell Savage, Eric Stokes On IR
The Packers announced a flurry of roster moves today to take care of some injury business. Green Bay had to send safety Darnell Savage and cornerback Eric Stokes to injured reserve, requiring the signing of two practice squad defensive backs to come up and fill their place. 
Savage, the Packers starting free safety of the past five years, is playing in a contract year after having his fifth-year option picked up. Unfortunately, this last season before hitting the open market will include a stint on IR after the Maryland alum suffered a calf injury, according to ESPN’s Rob Demovsky. With Savage expected to need a month or so to heal, former Houston starter Jonathan Owens will likely take his place in the starting lineup next to Rudy Ford.
Stokes is returning to IR after a heart-breaking four days. The young cornerback out of Georgia missed the back half of last season with an ankle injury then underwent both foot and knee surgeries in the offseason. Not fully healed at the start of this year, Stokes has been on Green Bay’s reserve/PUP list all season, up until four days ago.
Green Bay partially activated Stokes out of necessity in order to ensure he would be able to avoid spending the full season on the PUP list, after being designated to return. After only four special teams snaps in Week 7, though, Stokes will land on IR for a second straight season. The injury sending him back to IR is being designated as a hamstring malady.
The Packers decided to fill the two vacant roster spots by signing practice squad players to the active roster, one of whom came from another team’s practice squad. The team decided to add cornerback Robert Rochell off the Panthers’ practice squad and promote cornerback Corey Ballentine from their own. Cornerback Zyon Gilbert will join the Packers’ practice squad, filling the spot vacated by Ballentine.
With Stokes on IR and Jaire Alexander continuing to battle the injury bug, the focus on cornerbacks is completely understandable. With a three-game upcoming stretch that includes games against the Chargers, Lions, and Chiefs, Green Bay will be working hard to get their secondary right.
Rams Release K Brett Maher; Team Signs K Lucas Havrisik Off Browns’ Practice Squad
OCTOBER 25: Havrisik may be a break-glass-in-case-of-emergency option in Los Angeles, as the Rams have shown they may not view him as a permanent solution. Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 reports that the team hosted a mass tryout for kickers today. In addition to veteran kickers Mason Crosby and Randy Bullock, the team also tried out Austin Seibert, Matthew Wright, and Tucker McCann.
With Crosby’s time in Green Bay coming to an end after 16 years as a Packer, he’s aiming to join the second franchise of his NFL career. Bullock, after starting out in Houston, has had decent stints with the Bengals and Titans over the past several years. Seibert and Wright have both had a single decent season, Seibert with the Browns and Wright with the Jaguars, but both have bounced around a bit since.
Havrisik may have first dibs, already being under contract, but with the Rams continuing to explore other options, his grip on the kicking job may be tenuous at best.
OCTOBER 24: After struggling in Week 7, Brett Maher now finds himself on the lookout for a new opportunity. The veteran kicker was released by the Rams on Tuesday, per a team announcement. 
Maher missed a pair of field goals, along with an extra point, in the Rams’ 24-17 loss to the Steelers on Sunday. That drew understandable criticism from head coach Sean McVay, and led to questions about whether or not a change at the position would be deemed necessary. Today’s move confirms Los Angeles’ stance on that front.
The 33-year-old had his second Cowboys stint end in disappointing fashion in last year’s postseason. Maher had delivered a strong performance in the regular season, but he missed four extra point attempts in the wild-card round and another in the divisional round. To no surprise, Dallas looked elsewhere for a replacement, which left Maher in search of a new home.
That initially sent him to Denver in a reunion with head coach Sean Payton. Maher spent the 2021 season with the Saints in Payton’s final year in New Orleans. By the time the season started, though, the Broncos had acquired another Payton-era Saints alum (Wil Lutz) to handle kicking duties. The latter has missed only one field goal and one extra point to date, so Denver likely does not regret that decision.
Maher had been busy during his brief Rams stint. His 23 field goal attempts through seven weeks (along with 17 makes) lead the NFL. However, that 74% success rate is the second-lowest of his career, and a recurrence of his XP issues will likely make it difficult to find another NFL gig in the near future. With respect to his replacement, the Rams appear to have a successor in mind.
Los Angeles plans to sign Lucas Havrisik off the Browns’ practice squad, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The 24-year-old initially joined the league with the Colts last season, but after a long stretch as a free agent, he joined Cleveland’s taxi squad this summer. The Browns ran into kicking trouble in the preseason, which led to Cade York‘s departure. He was replaced by Dustin Hopkins, who has been nearly perfect to start the year. Now. Cleveland will lose its backup plan at the kicking spot while the Rams (who have confirmed the signing) will give Havrisik his first opportunity in regular season NFL action.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/25/23
Here are Wednesday’s minor moves from around the league:
Baltimore Ravens
- Designated to return from IR: WR Tylan Wallace
Denver Broncos
- Signed to active roster: WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey
Houston Texans
- Designated to return from IR: DT Hassan Ridgeway
Los Angeles Rams
- Designated to return from IR: TE Hunter Long
Miami Dolphins
- Designated to return from IR: WR River Cracraft
Seattle Seahawks
- Designated to return from IR: RB Kenny McIntosh
- Designated to return from PUP: NT Austin Faoliu
Tennessee Titans
- Claimed off waivers (from Cardinals): S K’Von Wallace
- Placed on IR: DT Taylor Stallworth
After being waived yesterday by the team who submitted a waiver claim for him at the start of the season, Wallace finds himself on the third NFL team of his career. While the trade that sent star Titans’ defender Kevin Byard to Philadelphia returned another safety in Terrell Edmunds, Wallace will come in and attempt to compete for some key playing time with Edmunds and Amani Hooker.
Humphrey has been promoted as a standard gameday elevation three times already, the limit for a practice squad contract, so in order to see any further game action, he needed to be on the active roster. If he is released and re-signs to the team’s practice squad, he’ll be able to be elevated three more times under a new practice squad deal.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/25/23
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: WR Davion Davis, DT Jacob Slade
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: LB Donavan Mutin
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: DT Eli Ankou
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: QB Jake Luton, TE Jordan Matthews
Denver Broncos
- Signed: WR Michael Bandy
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: CB Zyon Gilbert
Las Vegas Raiders
- Released from practice squad IR with injury settlement: T Sebastian Gutierrez
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: OLB Quincy Roche
New England Patriots
- Signed: QB Malik Cunningham
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: CB Mario Goodrich
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: DT Marlon Davidson