Bills Place RB Damien Harris On IR
The neck injury Damien Harris suffered in Week 6 will keep him sidelined for an extended stretch. The Bills announced on Friday that the veteran running back has been placed on IR. 
As a result of the move. Harris will miss at least the next four weeks. He was hospitalized after suffering a stinger, but initial indications suggested the worst-case scenario had been avoided. Still, the 26-year-old’s absence will be felt in the Bills’ backfield moving forward. Buffalo signed ex-Lions and Jets backup Ty Johnson to the active roster in a corresponding move.
Johnson’s continued presence in the organization led to a Leonard Fournette visit being canceled earlier this week. The latter remains unsigned and his addition would have given the Bills a veteran depth presence at the RB spot, but instead that will now fall to Johnson and Latavius Murray. The Bills are already without pass-catching specialist/returner Nyheim Hines, who was involved in a jet ski accident before the season started.
James Cook has, as expected, seen a major uptick in usage this season, his second in the NFL. The 2022 second-rounder’s snap share sits at 56% through six weeks, more than double that figure from his rookie campaign. Cook will continue to be leaned on with Harris (who has totaled 25 touches to date this year) no longer in the fold for the time being. Murray saw a season-high 12 carries last week when Harris was injured, and he is in line to handle RB2 duties moving forward.
Bringing Harris back will require using one of the team’s seven remaining IR activations. His return will be welcomed by a Bills offense looking to find a rhythm both on the ground and through the air. For the foreseeable future, though, the team will need to consider adjusting its snap share in the backfield with another Cook compliment no longer available.
Steelers To Release WR Gunner Olszewski
A Steeler since signing with the team in March 2022, Gunner Olszewski looks to be on his way out of Pittsburgh. The Steelers are releasing the veteran receiver and return specialist Friday, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets.
Olszewski saw more time as a return man with the Patriots, earning first-team All-Pro honors back in 2020. He has only served in that capacity on a part-time basis in Pittsburgh. Thus far this season, Olszewski has logged just three combined returns. This move could clear the way for Diontae Johnson to return. The fifth-year starter is expected to be activated from IR ahead of Week 7. As of Friday, the Steelers only have four receivers on their 53-man roster.
The fifth-year specialist has fumbled twice, however, despite only logging four touches in his two games. The Steelers will save nearly $1MM by making this move. Because the 27-year-old backup is a vested veteran, he will avoid the waiver wire. Had the Steelers hung onto Olszewski past the trade deadline, he would have needed to pass through waivers. This transaction also would allow Olszewski to immediately pass through to the Steelers’ practice squad, though it is unclear if the team wants to retain the veteran in any capacity.
After spending his entire rookie season on IR, Calvin Austin is in place as Pittsburgh’s punt returner. The Steelers used Desmond King as one of their kick returners this season, making this week rather key regarding Pittsburgh’s special teams. King received his walking papers earlier this week, having only played one defensive snap during his brief run with the AFC North franchise. Olszewski only totaled five offensive snaps and eight ST plays this season.
Last year, Olszewski was closer to a part-timer, He logged 216 offensive plays and 106 on special teams. While the Steelers only deployed Olszewski as a sporadic return man, he spent three years as the Patriots’ primary punt returner. The former UDFA’s 17.3-yard average led the NFL in 2020, producing the All-Pro nod.
Giants Place OL Joshua Ezeudu On IR
OCTOBER 20: After tests on the second-year blocker’s injury, Brian Daboll revealed the situation “doesn’t look good,” per the New York Post’s Ryan Dunleavy. The 2022 third-round pick may not return this season, which would be another blow to a Giants O-line that remains without Thomas, center John Michael Schmitz, swing tackle Matt Peart and guard Shane Lemieux. All four are out for Week 7, with Lemieux done for the year after suffering a biceps tear in practice Thursday.
OCTOBER 17: The Giants are down yet another offensive lineman. The Giants have placed offensive tackle Joshua Ezeudu on injured reserve, per Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News. Ezeudu suffered a toe injury during Sunday’s loss to the Bills.
The 2022 third-round pick found himself starting for the Giants at left tackle after Andrew Thomas went down with a hamstring injury. After starting two of his 10 appearances as a rookie, Ezeudu has already started five of his six appearances in 2023. Pro Football Focus hasn’t been very fond of his performance, ranking him 71st among 74 qualifying offensive tackles, but his injury will still force the Giants to dig deeper into their OL depth.
Ezeudu’s exit from Sunday night’s game forced the Giants to play Justin Pugh at LT despite the veteran only having six career snaps at the position. Pugh was elevated from the practice squad with the expectation that he’d chip in at left guard, but Ezeudu’s injury changed those plans. It’s uncertain if Pugh is indeed the organization’s top healthy option at LT or if he was merely an emergency, in-game solution.
The Giants were busy adding some depth at the position today. According to ESPN’s Jordan Raanan, the team has signed offensive lineman Josh Miles off the Falcons’ practice squad. The former seventh-round pick saw time in 17 games with the Cardinals between the 2019 and 2021 seasons.
Raanan also reports that the Giants have snagged lineman Tyre Phillips off the Eagles’ practice squad. The lineman actually started five of his 12 appearances for the Giants in 2022 and was a surprise cut back in August. The former third-round pick started 13 of his 22 appearances with the Ravens to begin his career.
Giants Grant Cole Beasley Release Request
Part of the Giants’ buy-in-bulk effort at slot receiver this year, Cole Beasley did not make New York’s 53-man roster out of training camp and has not played in a game this season. It does not look like the veteran will suit up for the Giants, despite his ties to Brian Daboll.
Beasley requested his release from the Giants’ practice squad, and NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo indicates the team will grant it. The lack of an opportunity forming led to Beasley’s request, per ESPN.com’s Jordan Raanan, who adds the 34-year-old pass catcher wants to continue his career elsewhere.
Beasley announced his retirement early last season, leaving the Buccaneers in October, but re-emerged with the Bills later in the campaign. Seeing Jamison Crowder go down with a fractured ankle and Isaiah McKenzie struggle in the slot role prompted Buffalo to reach out to Beasley about coming back. Beasley, who played for the Bills from 2019-21 after signing a free agent deal, caught two passes for 18 yards in two regular-season games. But the enduring slot weapon added five catches for 68 yards and a touchdown in the playoffs.
The Giants’ all-action approach on the slot front included deals with Crowder and Parris Campbell and Sterling Shepard re-signing. Crowder did not make the Giants’ roster and did not return on a post-camp P-squad pact, with the Giants preferring Beasley, who signed just before training camp. A late-summer injury led Beasley to Big Blue’s practice squad injured list, but he has since recovered and had been working out with the team again.
As of late, Campbell has seen his role diminish. Shepard, who suffered a torn Achilles last year but returned in time for Week 1, has been a nonfactor thus far in his eighth season. The Giants have reinstalled 2022 second-round pick Wan’Dale Robinson, who suffered an ACL tear last year, as their top inside receiver. Second-year UDFA Dennis Houston now resides as the only wideout on the Giants’ taxi squad.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/19/23
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: DB Shaun Jolly
New York Giants
- Signed: TE Lawrence Cager
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: CB Mario Goodrich
It’s not a huge surprise that Lawrence Cager landed back on the Giants’ practice squad after he was waived from the active roster yesterday. After hauling in 18 catches in six games (three starts) for the Giants in 2022, Cager has hauled in a pair of catches in five games this season.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/19/23
Today’s minor transactions:
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Promoted: CB Tevaughn Campbell
Kansas City Chiefs
- Waived: DT Keondre Coburn, WR Montrell Washington
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed to active roster: DT Cory Durden
New England Patriots
- Waived: DB Ameer Speed
New Orleans Saints
- Signed to active roster: G Tommy Kraemer
- Promoted: OT Cameron Erving, LB Jaylon Smith
- Waived: RB Jordan Mims
The Chiefs moved on from Montrell Washington to make room for old friend Mecole Hardman. The former fifth-round pick was serving as Kansas City’s primary punt returner in 2023, returning eight punts for 61 yards. While he’s been limited to special teams duties in 2023, Washington got into 78 offensive snaps with the Broncos in 2022.
Falcons Bring Back WR Damiere Byrd
NFC South reunions have defined Damiere Byrd‘s 2023. The veteran receiver returned to the Panthers earlier this year, but an injury nixed his path back to a role in Charlotte. Months later, a Falcons return will commence.
The veteran wide receiver signed a practice squad deal with the Falcons on Thursday. Byrd, 30, spent last season with Atlanta, signing as a free agent during the 2022 offseason. He is now back in Georgia as a potential backup option.
An injury settlement allowed Byrd to relocate for a second time this year. Byrd signed with the Panthers in mid-April and began training camp with his original NFL team. But a hamstring injury Frank Reich called “significant” led Byrd to IR. Landing on IR before the season prevented Byrd from being eligible for activation as a Panther, and the parties agreed on an injury settlement in late August. This moved Byrd back to free agency, and it appears his hamstring injury has healed.
Byrd initially signed with the Falcons on a one-year, $1.32MM deal. Now attached to a practice squad salary, the South Carolina alum will have a chance to play for the same team in consecutive years for the first time since 2017-18. Since his Panthers rookie contract expired, Byrd has been an NFL nomad. The 5-foot-9 pass catcher moved to Arizona, New England, Chicago and Atlanta from 2019-22.
While Byrd’s best season (47 catches, 604 yards) came back with Cam Newton — when the two ex-Panthers teamed up on a Patriots one-off — he produced his top per-catch number with the Falcons. Byrd averaged 20.6 yarders per reception last year, amassing 268 yards and two touchdowns in Arthur Smith‘s offense. The Falcons have a player familiar with their offense back in the fold, which should accelerate a potential elevation to the active roster.
The Falcons have added two veterans to their receiving corps over the past two weeks, having traded for Van Jefferson as well. The team’s Drake London-fronted wideout crew features offseason additions Mack Hollins and Scotty Miller, along with KhaDarel Hodge, who re-signed this year. To make room for Byrd on their 16-man taxi squad, the Falcons placed wide receiver Keilahn Harris on the practice squad injured list.
Chargers Open WR Jalen Guyton’s Practice Window
A productive Chargers deep threat from 2020-21, Jalen Guyton suffered a torn ACL in Week 3 of last season. After more than a year in the rehab process, the former UDFA is back at practice.
The Chargers opened Guyton’s practice window Thursday, per The Athletic’s Daniel Popper, who adds the team also started defensive lineman Otito Ogbonnia‘s 21-day activation clock. Ogbonnia has been out since mid-November of last year, having suffered a ruptured patellar tendon.
Each resided on Los Angeles’ reserve/PUP list; these likely near-future activations will not count against the team’s eight allotted IR in-season activations. Both players are eligible to return for the Bolts’ Week 7 game, but each has three weeks from today to be activated.
Guyton’s return will matter more now than it recently looked to, with Mike Williams out for the season. In addition to Williams’ absence, first-round pick Quentin Johnston is struggling to acclimate to the pro game. The Chargers obviously still have high hopes the TCU alum will do so, but he only has six receptions for 44 yards through six games.
A former UDFA out of North Texas, Guyton re-signed with the Chargers this offseason. Coming off the major knee injury, the 212-pound wideout is tied to a one-year, $1.23MM contract. Guyton totaled 59 receptions for 959 yards from 2020-21, scoring six touchdowns in that span. Guyton, 26, averaged 18.3 yards per reception in 2020 and was on the receiving end of one of this NFL period’s best deep connections — a 59-yard TD pass against the Giants — a year later. He worked as a Williams-Keenan Allen supporting-caster in that span, debuting before Josh Palmer. The 2021 third-round pick is now in place as the Chargers’ No. 2 wideout; Guyton will have a chance to return to a tertiary role.
Chosen in the 2022 fifth round, Ogbonnia only played in seven games before suffering the severe knee injury. The UCLA product played 31% of the Chargers’ defensive snaps last season. A rotational role appears likely this year as well, provided Ogbonnia completes his ramp-up period without any setbacks. Both he and Guyton were eligible to return in Week 6; their re-emergences figure to take place shortly after. For Guyton, this comeback will begin a platform season. A steady gig as a Herbert complementary target could produce a free agency market come 2024.
Giants To Place G Shane Lemieux On IR
The hits are not stopping on the Giants’ offensive line. Battered by injuries over the season’s first several weeks, the team will lose one of its cogs for the year. Shane Lemieux suffered a biceps injury in practice, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero.
Lemieux went down with a biceps tear on Wednesday and is headed to IR. The Giants signed Sean Harlow off their practice squad to replace Lemieux on the 53-man roster. This deals a contract-year lineman a tough blow and brings more trouble for a Giants O-line that has needed to make numerous adjustments to trot out a healthy five this season.
The Giants came into their Week 6 matchup without starting left tackle Andrew Thomas and starting center John Michael Schmitz. The team then needed to move Justin Pugh to left tackle, minutes after the veteran guard’s “straight off the couch” intro debuted on NBC, following second-string blind-sider Joshua Ezeudu went down. Ezeudu is now on IR due to a toe injury. Schmitz has missed the past two games due to injuries sustained on a failed “Tush Push” attempt in Week 4, while Thomas’ setback in a recovery from a hamstring injury has extended his absence. The All-Pro left tackle has not played since Week 1.
For Lemieux, this is familiar territory. Chosen in the 2020 fifth round, Lemieux moved Will Hernandez to a rotational role and entered the 2021 season as a starter as well. But Lemieux began the 2021 slate with a knee injury and ended up playing just 17 snaps that season. He ended up on IR after Week 1 that year and did not return to action until Week 11 of last season. Lemieux’s 2022 campaign ended up also being capped at one game. Activated from IR last November, Lemieux ended the month back on the injured list because of a toe injury. This season marked Lemieux’s first multi-game year since 2020, and a previous absence came about after a groin injury in Week 4.
A Dave Gettleman-era investment, Lemieux did not factor into the Giants’ three-man competition for the guard positions during training camp. The Giants pitted Ezeudu, Mark Glowinski and Ben Bredeson against each other, with the veterans winning the gigs. Glowinski’s struggles to start his second Giants season led Lemieux back into the lineup, however. Lemieux, 26, returned from his groin malady in Buffalo but played behind Pugh and Glowinski.
Thomas, Schmitz, starting right tackle Evan Neal and swingman Matt Peart did not practice Wednesday for the Giants, who may need to start Pugh at left tackle in Week 7. A five-season guard starter in Arizona, Pugh played right tackle at points during his first go-round in New York. The 2013 first-rounder settled in at guard, leading to a nice free agency payday in 2018. But this dire situation may slide the 11th-year blocker back outside.
Saints To Activate RB Jamaal Williams
OCTOBER 19: Williams will be ready to go when first eligible. Despite the Saints heading into a Thursday-night assignment, they will not hold out their free agent back to allow for an extended ramp-up period. They intend to activate Williams for tonight’s Jaguars matchup, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. New Orleans will soon have Williams, Kamara and Miller available for the first time this season. Williams will become the Saints’ first IR activation this season.
OCTOBER 17: The Saints should soon have their intended running backs grouping on the active roster. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2, the Saints have designated running back Jamaal Williams for return from injured reserve.
Following a standout 17-touchdown campaign with the Lions in 2022, Williams signed a three-year deal with the Saints this past offseason. The veteran was signed to reduce Alvin Kamara‘s workload, but Williams also had a chance at starter reps with Kamara suspended to begin the 2023 campaign.
Williams got plenty of work in Week 1, finishing with 52 yards from scrimmage on 20 touches (including 18 carries). However, the running back suffered a hamstring injury in Week 2 that ultimately required a stint on injured reserve. Third-round rookie Kendre Miller was also sidelined to begin the season thanks to a hamstring injury, forcing the Saints to rely on the likes of Tony Jones Jr. and Adam Prentice to lead their backfield.
Kamara returned in Week 4 and has already collected 285 yards from scrimmage in three games. When Williams is ultimately activated from IR, the duo will form one of the best running back tandems in the NFL, and the Saints will have a high-upside prospect (Miller) serving as the RB3.