Cardinals To Place TE Zach Ertz On IR
The Cardinals have seen their offense – and perhaps their outlook for the upcoming trade deadline – take an unwanted turn. Tight end Zach Ertz is headed to injured reserve, reports NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. 
Ertz suffered a quad injury in Week 7, and it will keep him sidelined for an extended stretch. Going on IR will guarantee at least a four-week absence, though Garafolo notes the three-time Pro Bowler is expected to be back at some point in the season. The news could have short- and long-term implications for Arizona.
The 32-year-old has remained a consistent presence in the Cardinals’ passing game, drawing double-digit targets twice this season. Ertz has recorded 187 yards and one touchdown on 27 catches, making him the team’s third-leading receiver (albeit on one of the league’s least-productive offenses). His absence will open the door for 2022 second-rounder Trey McBride to handle a larger workload.
The latter has already seen an uptick in receptions (29) and yards (265) compared to his rookie campaign, despite seeing a drop in snap share while splitting reps with Ertz. It will be interesting to see how McBride handles a starter’s workload as the Cardinals continue to work with Josh Dobbs at quarterback while Kyler Murray ramps up toward a return.
Ertz saw his 2022 campaign – his first full one in Arizona – come to an end in November with ACL and MCL tears. He recovered well in the offseason, but this latest ailment will put him on the shelf once again and hinder his trade value. The veteran has been floated as a potential trade chip given the rebuilding Cardinals’ 1-6 record. One week remains until the deadline, but an acquiring team would now be required to wait at least a few weeks until Ertz became available to suit up.
The longtime Eagles starter made it known this offseason that a trade which would have sent him to the Bills was nearly completed in 2021. Buffalo will likely be without tight end Dawson Knox for a stretch, but adding Ertz at this point would carry signficant financial implications. The latter has an $8.76MM salary this season (which would be prorated for an acquiring team), along with just over $10MM due next year, the final season of his current contract. Ertz’s cap hit for 2024 is $12.55MM, which always made a trade around this time a tricky proposition. Given his injury, it will be interesting to see if a market still exists for him in the coming days.
Titans, Eagles Agree To Kevin Byard Trade
The Eagles have made a signficant addition to their secondary. Philadelphia has agreed to a trade which will see them acquire safety Kevin Byard from the Titans, as first reported by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reports that fellow safety Terrell Edmunds, along with 2024 fifth- and sixth-round picks will be headed back to Tennessee. The Eagles have long been named as a candidate to make an addition in the secondary – particularly at the safety spot – and now that has taken place. The move marks an end to Byard’s seven-plus year run in Nashville. 
With that said, this move will represent a homecoming for the Philadelphia native. Byard’s time with the Titans appeared to be on shaky ground in the offseason, with new general manager Ran Carthon approaching him (unsuccessfully) about agreeing to a pay cut. In spite of that, the 30-year-old made it clear he was not looking to be moved out of Tennessee. He ultimately agreed to a restructured contract, a move which lowered his base salary to $4MM this season.
Given the ease which which his 2023 earnings could be absorbed – along with the fact no guaranteed money is in place in 2024, the final year of his deal – Byard represented an attractive trade chip. He was recently reported to be the subject of interest from teams, but doubts remained regarding the compensation Tennessee could fetch in return. Instead of seeing Byard potentially become a cap casualty in the offseason, the Titans will now receive a pair of Day 3 picks along with a short-term replacement in Edmunds, who signed a one-year deal this offseason.
The picks exchanged here will be the Eagles’ highest pick in the 2024 fifth and sixth rounds, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones tweets. Both are conditional selections, per GOPHNX.com’s Howard Balzer. It is unknown at this point what conditions are included here, but this will bring an end to an eight-season partnership between Byard and the Titans.
Byard earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro acclaim in 2017 and ’21, and he has remained productive across his time in Nashville. He has recorded multiple interceptions every full year since his rookie campaign, and eclipsed 100 tackles twice. His ball production and coverage marks have taken a step back this year, but he will be joining a more talented defense upon arrival with the Eagles, a team which has lost a number of key members of its secondary since their Super Bowl appearance.
That included the free agent departure of both Marcus Epps and C.J. Gardner-Johnson, and Philadelphia has been in search of a true replacement for the latter’s playmaking in particular early in the season. Byard will have the chance to take on a starting role alongside Reed Blankenship (when healthy) in the team’s new-look safety arrangement. Their performances when paired together will go a long way in determining the secondary’s success, especially given the season-ending injury suffered by slot corner Avonte Maddox.
The Eagles entered today with roughly $4.3MM in cap space, so this move will likely be the most notable one the reigning NFC champions can afford. Still, it proves the team’s all-in approach as they look to go one step further than they did last year. From Tennessee’s perspective, meanwhile, this move will invite questions about Carthon and Co. being willing to part with other veterans. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill and running back Derrick Henry are not believed to be on the block, but at 2-4 it would not come as no surprise if the Titans were to act as sellers in other moves ahead of the October 31 deadline.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/23/23
Here are Monday’s practice squad additions and subtractions:
Dallas Cowboys
- Released: LB Mikel Jones, T Alex Taylor-Prioleau
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: DL Henry Mondeaux
- Released: DL Ross Blacklock
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: RB Jordan Mims
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: LB Joe Jones, RB Jonathan Ward
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/23/23
Here are Monday’s minor moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: RB Deon Jackson
Houston Texans
- Waived: CB D’Angelo Ross
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Designated for return from IR: CB Gregory Junior
Minnesota Vikings
- Elevated: WR Trishton Jackson, OLB Luiji Vilain
New York Giants
- Signed off Panthers’ practice squad: RB Jashaun Corbin
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: WR Chris Conley, CB Shemar Jean-Charles
This marks a New York return for Corbin, who went to training camp with the Giants. A UDFA out of Florida State, Corbin signed a reserve/futures contract with the Giants in January but did not make their 53-man roster. The Panthers had kept Corbin on their practice squad since early September. Rather than promote Corbin to their 53-man roster to block this New York return, Carolina will let him join the Giants’ 53. Corbin joins Saquon Barkley, Gary Brightwell and fifth-round rookie Eric Gray as running backs on Big Blue’s 53-man roster. Both Brightwell (hamstring) and Gray (calf) suffered injuries in Week 7, creating a need at the position.
Giants, WR Gunner Olszewski Agree To Deal
Not long after Gunner Olszewski was released, he has found a new opportunity. The veteran receiver and returner has agreed to a deal with the Giants, reports Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. 
Olszewski joined Pittsburgh last March in a move which marked an end to his highly-acclaimed time in New England. The 26-year-old didn’t receive as many looks in the return game with the Steelers as he did with the Patriots, and his pair of fumbles in limited action helped lead to his release last week. Now, he will look to regain his previous form in New York.
This is a practice squad agreement, Pelissero adds, but teams have routinely taken the gameday elevation path with notable players in situations such as this one. Olszewski should have an immediate path to playing time with the Giants, given the team’s struggles in the return game this season. Rookie Eric Gray‘s issues with respect to ball security continued on Sunday, as he muffed a punt for the third time this year.
That caused the Giants to turn to fellow wideout Sterling Shepard, then Darius Slayton, in the punt return role. The former fumbled a punt during the Week 7 win, illustrating the need for further moves to be made. As a vested veteran, Olszewski did not pass through waivers and was free to immediately sign with any interested team. He will provide New York with a more experienced third phase contributor as he looks to provide them with a repeat of his 2020 performance.
That year, the former UDFA led the NFL in punt return average (17.3 yards), and ran one punt back for a touchdown. He also averaged 23.2 yards per return on kickoffs, which helped earn him first-team All-Pro honors. If he can return to that form, the Giants (who entered the day with just $2.3MM in cap space) will have alleviated their issues in the return game and Olszewski could play his way into an extended look in the Big Apple.
Rams Elevate Darrell Henderson; RB Kyren Williams Placed On IR
OCTOBER 22: The Rams are expected to give the majority of the workload to Freeman and Henderson in today’s matchup against the Steelers, per Schefter. Evans will get some touches, while Gaskin is likely to be a healthy scratch (though the plan is for him to be active for the club’s Week 8 bout with the Cowboys).
Each player’s performance in today’s game will help determine how McVay divvies up the work until Williams returns from IR. None of the current backs, however, are expected to dominate touches the way that Williams did, as McVay plans to distribute the opportunities more evenly. In a disappointing development for fantasy coaches, a more equitable distribution could continue even when Williams is activated.
OCTOBER 21: Williams is headed to injured reserve, the Rams announced on Saturday. That move means he and Rivers will be shut down until at least Week 12. Henderson, to no surprise, has indeed been promoted to the active roster, and ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes he is expected to suit up tomorrow. Henderson could have a notable workload available in the short- and intermediate-term future given how banged up the Rams’ backfield has suddenly become.
OCTOBER 20: Henderson’s ramp-up period will be short. The Rams are planning make their former starter a gameday elevation, McVay said Friday. Teams can elevate two practice squad players each week. Henderson will join Evans, Freeman and Gaskin in this reconfigured RB mix. Introducing obvious complications for deeper-league fantasy GMs eyeing this backfield, McVay said, “all four of those guys are possibilities” to contribute. McVay did stop short of indicating all four would be active, pointing to one of the new additions potentially being a healthy scratch.
Henderson has not played in a game since Week 11 of last season. The Rams waived him soon after, and although the Jaguars made a claim, they parted ways with the former third-round pick. He of two 600-plus-yard rushing seasons, Henderson will be back in action Sunday.
OCTOBER 18: The Rams’ running back corps will look much different in Week 7 compared to how the situation looked to start the season or even in last week’s Cardinals matchup. As expected, Ronnie Rivers is heading to IR. But Kyren Williams is not expected back soon.
Los Angeles’ starting back is expected to miss multiple games because of the ankle injury he sustained in Week 6, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler tweets. Williams suffered a sprain during his career-high rushing day. Sean McVay confirmed Williams will miss Sunday’s matchup but did not rule out the second-year back going on IR, though The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue notes the team will not make that decision today.
Coming out of training camp, the Rams rostered Williams and Rivers behind expected starter Cam Akers. Sixth-round pick Zach Evans rounded out the group. After Williams operated as Los Angeles’ starter to open the season, the team went back to the healthy-scratch well with Akers but moved him this time. Following the Williams and Rivers setbacks, Evans is the only healthy option left among the Rams’ originals.
The team brought in reinforcements this week. Royce Freeman, who has worked as a gameday elevation in three games this season, is now on L.A.’s 53-man roster. So is Myles Gaskin, who spent time with ex-McVay OC Kevin O’Connell in Minnesota to start this season. The Rams signed the ex-Dolphins starter off the Vikings’ practice squad. Darrell Henderson is back with the Rams as well, though the former starter is on their P-squad. Teams have regularly used the taxi squad as a bridge for veterans to return to an active roster, so Henderson’s status will be worth monitoring given his knowledge of McVay’s system.
Rivers will be out until at least Week 12, with the Rams’ bye coming in Week 10. The 2022 UDFA suffered a PCL sprain Sunday. Williams is not a lock to return before the bye, per Fowler, though he adds the Notre Dame product should be back by Week 11 at the latest. Still, a three-game absence would certainly cut into Williams’ rookie-year performance. The 2022 fifth-round pick had showed quality form in his first games as the starter, dominating backfield snaps and touches. He finished with 158 rushing yards — 154 of those in the second half — in the Rams’ come-from-behind win over the Cardinals.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/21/23
Here are the minor moves made around the league in advance of the Week 7 slate of Sunday games:
Arizona Cardinals
- Activated from NFI list: CB Garrett Williams
- Elevated: RB Damien Williams, CB Bobby Price
Atlanta Falcons
- Elevated: DL Lacale London, TE Tucker Fisk
Baltimore Ravens
- Elevated: S DeAndre Houston-Carson
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: DT Kendal Vickers
Chicago Bears
- Activated from IR: OL Doug Kramer
- Elevated: CB Joejuan Williams
Cleveland Browns
- Signed to active roster: RB Deon Jackson
- Elevated: QB P.J. Walker, LB Charlie Thomas
Denver Broncos
- Placed on IR: TE Greg Dulcich
Detroit Lions
- Activated from IR: DE Josh Paschal
- Released: TE Darrell Daniels
- Elevated: RBs Mohamed Ibrahim, Devine Ozigbo
Green Bay Packers
- Released: OLB Justin Hollins
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Waived: QB Nathan Rourke
Kansas City Chiefs
- Restored to active roster (from suspension exemption): DE Charles Omenihu
Las Vegas Raiders
- Elevated: CB Cornell Armstrong
Los Angeles Chargers
- Elevated: WR Keelan Doss, S Mark Webb
Miami Dolphins
- Elevated: TE Tanner Conner
New England Patriots
- Elevated: WR Jalen Reagor, DT Trysten Hill
New York Giants
- Elevated: QB Tommy DeVito, G Jalen Mayfield
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed to active roster: C Joey Hunt
- Waived: OL Ben Brown
- Elevated: WR Easop Winston, RB SaRodorick Thompson
Washington Commanders
- Elevated: DT Abdullah Anderson, CB Tariq Castro-Fields
Dulcich already had one IR stint this season due to an aggravation of last year’s hamstring injury. The 2022 third-rounder has appeared in only two contests so far this season, and in the most recent one he suffered yet another setback. As a result, he will once again be shut down for at least four weeks.
The Giants’ decision to again promote DeVito points to starter Daniel Jones missing another game. Indeed, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports Jones is considered a “longshot” to play tomorrow against the Commanders. It will in all likelihood be Tyrod Taylor under center for New York in Week 7 while Jones continues to recover from his neck injury.
Patriots Activate CB Jack Jones, Place OL Riley Reiff On IR
The Patriots made a number of roster moves on Saturday which will see the return of a key defender on one hand, but an extended absence of a veteran O-linemen on the other. Per a team announcement, cornerback Jack Jones was activated from injured reserve while tackle Riley Reiff was placed on IR. 
Jones was designated for return earlier this week, a move which opened his three-week practice window. It comes as no surprise that the Patriots are moving quickly bringing him back into the fold given their injury woes at the cornerback spot. First-round rookie Christian Gonzalez is out for the year with a torn labrum, while Marcus Jones is on IR. Those injuries led to New England’s re-acquisition of J.C. Jackson earlier this month.
Jack Jones had a signficant role as a rookie last year, posting a 54% defensive snap share. That playing time resulted in a pair of interceptions, six pass defections and one forced fumble. The Arizona State product also posted strong coverage statistics, allowing a completion percentage of 54% as the nearest defender. A hamstring injury led to his IR stint ahead of Week 1, so Sunday’s game will mark Jones’ 2023 debut.
Reiff, by contrast, has only made one appearance this year. The 34-year-old missed the beginning of the campaign due to a leg injury, with his first IR stint shutting him down for the first month of the season. He suited up in Week 5 and saw time at both left and right guard. Signed to a one-year deal to provide depth at a number of spots, Rieff could have been option at right tackle as well when healthy. Now, though, he will be sidelined for at least another four weeks.
The Patriots also activated veteran special teamer Cody Davis from the PUP list. His return will lead to his 2023 debut, and it will not count against the Patriots’ IR activations count. Bringing back Jones, on the other hand, will use up one of the team’s six remaining activations. The same will be true of Rieff if he is brought back during the second half of the campaign.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/21/23
Today’s taxi squad moves:
Chicago Bears
- Released: T Austen Pleasants
Denver Broncos
- Re-signed: WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey
- Released: WR Michael Bandy
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: WR Montrell Washington
Humphrey was let go yesterday, but he will immediately find himself back in Denver’s lineup on Sunday. The team announced he has been elevated upon re-signing with the practice squad, meaning Week 7 will be his third and final gameday elevation. The Broncos will need to sign him to the active roster after that point to keep him in the fold for the rest of the season.
Packers Activate CB Eric Stokes
The Packers are set to have another high-profile cornerback available in time for their Week 7 contest. Eric Stokes was activated from the PUP list on Saturday, clearing the way for a return to game action tomorrow. 
Stokes was designated for return more than two weeks ago, so the Packers could only have afforded for him to miss one more contest before risking him reverting to season-ending IR. Instead, the former first-rounder will now be able to suit up for the first time since last November, the point at which his second NFL campaign came to an end.
Stokes underwent foot and knee surgeries this offseason to address the ailments which limited him to nine contests last year. Those injuries also added to the time both he and fellow CB Jaire Alexander have missed during their time in Green Bay, which has severely limited their ability to take the field together. Alexander is comfortably set to continue his starting role upon the team’s return from the bye, but the same cannot be said of Stokes.
The latter, as foreshadowed in the offseason, is likely to take on backup duties as he works his way back into the fold. Green Bay has Alexander, along with Rasul Douglas and Keisean Nixon in place atop the CB depth chart, and no member of that trio will be asked to move positions or take on second-team duties with Stokes now in play. The Georgia alum has started 23 of his 25 games to date, and he showed considerable promise as a rookie with one interception and 14 pass deflections.
Last year, however, Stokes allowed a completion percentage of 80% when in coverage, leading to an opposing passer rating of 123.5. The Packers’ defense as a whole has generally failed to live up to expectations under DC Joe Barry, but Stokes will personally face notable scrutiny upon return in whatever capacity he serves in. Sitting at 2-3, Green Bay ranks ninth in the NFL against the pass, so it comes as little surprise that the team will not alter its backfield to accommodate Stokes’ return. At a minimum, he will provide depth at the CB spot as he prepares to suit up for the first time in nearly one calendar year.