Jets Activate RB Breece Hall
One day after making a high-profile addition to their running back corps, the Jets’ backfield is now at full strength. The team announced on Tuesday that Breece Hall has been activated from the PUP list. 
The long-anticipated deal sending Dalvin Cook to New York may have signaled that Hall was not as far along in his recovery as the team hoped. Instead, it simply confirmed the team’s all-in approach for 2023, which will involve a two-pronged approach in the running game. Hall has been expected to suit up for Week 1 throughout the offseason.
The 2022 second-rounder has impressed coaches while doing individual work, adding to the optimism surrounding his ability to return to full health following an ACL tear. That injury ended a promising rookie campaign, one in which Hall averaged 5.8 yards per carry and scored five total touchdowns in seven games. Resuming that level of production should allow him to continue operating as the team’s lead back.
However, the Jets gave Cook $7MM (with the potential for more), making him a pricey backup option. It will be interesting to see how the four-time Pro Bowler is used with Hall now back in the picture. Cook has eclipsed 1,100 rushing yards every year since 2019, averaging over 42 catches per season over that span. His pass-catching role faded to an extent over his final two campaigns with the Vikings, though, and the Jets have a re-vamped array of receivers to begin the Aaron Rodgers era.
Hall, meanwhile, caught 82 passes in three years at Iowa State, then 19 in his shortened rookie season last year. The way in which carries and targets are divided between he and Cook could go a long way in determining the effectiveness of the tandem, and thus New York’s offense as a whole. The competition for snaps and roster security between Zonovan Knight and Michael Carter will also be worth following with Hall now back in the fold.
The latter will continue to rehab while taking part in team drills during the remainder of training camp. Presuming he is green-lit to return for the start of the season, the Jets will have their ideal RB tandem in place ahead of a campaign where the team faces substantial expectations.
Cardinals Activate TE Zach Ertz
AUGUST 15: To no surprise, Ertz has officially been activated, per a team announcement. He can now take part in team drills as he attempts to return to full health in time for Week 1.
AUGUST 14: Zach Ertz saw his 2022 campaign come to an end in November, and he remained sidelined deep into the offseason as a result. The three-time Pro Bowler has now been cleared to return to practice, though, as noted (on Twitter) by NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. 
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Garafolo adds, crucially, that Ertz is “on track” to suit up for Week 1. That will be a welcomed development for team and player, given Ertz’s continued production in the desert and Arizona’s need for a healthy offense with quarterback Kyler Murray expected to miss regular season time. The latter will be the only Cardinal on the PUP list once Ertz is officially activated.
Arizona initially believed the worst-case scenario had been avoided when Ertz suffered a knee injury. Further testing revealed ACL and MCL tears, however, setting him up for a lengthy recovery. It came as little surprise that he began training camp on the PUP list, but being cleared now leaves him some time for reps in practice and/or the team’s remaining preseason games to ensure he will be able to take the field when the regular season begins.
The 32-year-old saw his Eagles tenure come to an end when he was dealt to the Cardinals (after a trade agreement with the Bills fall through), and 2022 was Ertz’s first full season in the desert. He posted a 47-406-4 statline in 10 contests, proving he can still be a reliable producer in the passing game. With Arizona set to begin the post-DeAndre Hopkins era at the receiver position, Ertz should be a key contributor as he enters the second year of his $31.65MM Cardinals pact.
The team has a few other options at the TE spot should Ertz not be able to return to the field in time for Week 1. That includes 2022 second-rounder Trey McBride, who assumed a larger role once Ertz went down last year. McBride recorded 265 yards and one touchdown on 29 catches as a rookie, totals he will look to improve on in 2023. With Ertz set to be back in the fold, however, the Cardinals will be at full strength at the position soon.
Lions Extend WR/PR Kalif Raymond
AUGUST 15: The veteran receiver/returner agreed to terms on a two-year, $10.5MM deal that comes with $8.15MM fully guaranteed. The Lions created $1.3MM in cap space via this extension, per OverTheCap’s Jason Fitzgerald (on Twitter). Detroit used a 2026 void year to spread out Raymond’s cap hits. Raymond can earn up to $14MM on the deal, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets, noting incentives tied to receptions, receiving yards and Pro Bowl acclaim are in place. Raymond’s 2023 and ’24 salaries are guaranteed, with Wilson adding $1.4MM of his $4.35MM 2025 base is locked in at signing.
AUGUST 11: Kalif Raymond has made important contributions in his two seasons with the Lions, and the team will keep the veteran receiver/returner on another contract.
The Lions are extending Raymond on a two-year deal, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes, adding that the contract is expected to make the team’s top punt returner one of the highest-paid return men in the game (Twitter link). Raymond, 29, is going into his third season with the Lions; this extension will keep him tied to the team through 2025.
A former UDFA out of Holy Cross, Raymond has done well to carve out a role in Detroit. The former Broncos, Giants, Jets and Titans wideout/returner has worked as the Lions’ primary punt returner in his two Motor City seasons, doing so while making under-the-radar contributions at receiver as well. Raymond has combined for 1,192 receiving yards with Detroit.
This marks Raymond’s third Lions contract. He initially came over during GM Brad Holmes‘ first offseason, signing for one year and barely $1MM. The team then re-signed him in March 2022, authorizing a two-year, $5MM deal. After Raymond has proven a fit with the team, he will undoubtedly be rewarded with a raise.
Prior to his 2021 Detroit arrival, Raymond had never topped 200 receiving yards in a season. A Lions team that was starting over at receiver in 2021 put the 5-foot-8 cog to work. Raymond finished that season with 48 receptions for 576 yards and four touchdowns. With Jameson Williams debuting late in the season (and not playing a big role upon doing so) and DJ Chark missing more time due to injury, Raymond kept his spot as a regular on offense. He totaled a career-best 616 receiving yards in 2022. With Williams banned six games for betting on non-NFL games while on team grounds, Raymond should be in position to keep his gig as an auxiliary receiver to start the year.
Once Williams rejoins a receiving corps including Amon-Ra St. Brown and the reacquired Marvin Jones, it is possible Raymond’s receiving workload will be scaled back. But he still is set to be Detroit’s main punt returner. Raymond notched a punt-return touchdown last year, helping the Lions to a three-point win over the Jets, and finished with a career-high 13.1 yards per return. While Raymond did not have enough returns to qualify, that 13.1-yard average would have been among the NFL’s best marks. The Lions will reward him as such.
Jets To Sign RB Dalvin Cook
Shortly after the Patriots reached a deal with Ezekiel Elliott, the Jets will finalize an agreement with their long-rumored target. Dalvin Cook agreed to a one-year deal with the Jets on Monday, Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com report.
This wraps a long-running saga for Cook, who has been a free agent for several weeks now. The Jets had loomed as a Cook suitor for most of this span, and while the former Vikings Pro Bowler had been closely connected to his hometown Dolphins, the Jets were the only team to bring him in for a visit. That meeting has eventually produced a deal.
In terms of base value, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio adds this agreement will be worth $7MM (Twitter link). The contract will be worth a maximum of $8.6MM, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets. Midway through the Jets’ preseason slate, Cook will sign on with the rising team. Aaron Rodgers‘ pay-cut agreement will lead to a high-profile weapon signing on, with the Jets securing an elite Breece Hall insurance option.
While the Dolphins had talked terms with Cook, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com adds they were never on this level. The Vikings will also benefit, with a $2MM offset in place, per ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert (Twitter links). Despite not having a locked-in starter option on Hall’s level, the Dolphins had viewed Cook as a luxury. Mike McDaniel‘s team will stand pat with its re-signed duo of Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson, along with third-round rookie Devon Achane.
Even though the Dolphins were the only known team to discuss a Cook trade with the Vikings, they are standing down. Additionally, the chance to face the Bills twice was also important to the veteran, per Fowler, with younger brother James Cook set to start for the three-time defending division champs.
The Jets have been bullish on Hall’s chances of returning by Week 1, and the New York Post’s Brian Costello notes this Cook addition does not reflect a change in that stance. Hall is still on track for the opener (Twitter link). The 2022 second-rounder suffered an ACL tear during the Jets’ Week 7 win against the Broncos. Cook’s arrival will allow the Jets to slow-play Hall’s return, and it is also worth wondering what kind of rotation will form during the Iowa State product’s first season back from the injury. Cook’s contract points to a regular role, as opposed to a change-of-pace backup, in his seventh NFL season.
Cook’s deal represents a rare 2023 win for backs. Coming after countless setbacks for the RB market, Cook securing $7MM in base value provides him with a parachute after the Vikings cut bait on his $12.6MM-per-year deal. Prior to Monday, none of this year’s free agent backs secured more than $6.3MM per year. While Miles Sanders did see more guaranteed — on a four-year Panthers agreement — the Jets are giving Cook upper-middle-class money on a one-year accord to help their 2023 Super Bowl push.
The Patriots gave Elliott $4MM guaranteed, which is also more than a few starter-caliber backs — including Mostert and Wilson — received this year. Neither Mostert nor Wilson landed $3MM locked in, but the Jets placed a high value on Cook, who will leapfrog the likes of Zonovan Knight and Michael Carter upon signing. The Pats pursued Cook as well, and Kareem Hunt has now visited three teams. But the Jets were not believed to have been interested in the non-Cook wing of free agent backs.
Going into his age-28 season, Cook is riding the NFL’s only active streak of four straight 1,100-yard rushing slates. He has also been an effective receiver at points, though the Vikings did not utilize him in this capacity consistently. The Vikings viewed the explosive back’s contract, which had been agreed to just before the 2020 season, as a luxury they could no longer afford. Minnesota instead re-signed Alexander Mattison to a two-year, $7MM deal that is almost entirely guaranteed. As the Vikings joined other NFL teams in skimping on RB costs, the Jets now have one of this era’s better backs supplementing a recent second-rounder.
While Cook is set to give the Jets a Hall security blanket, ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes (via Twitter) he will not practice immediately. Cook underwent shoulder surgery — to fix an issue that had lingered for multiple seasons — in February. But the standout back has never been mentioned as a candidate to miss time because of the procedure. His signing delay and the additional time off needed will allow Cook to skip training camp. Though, it should be expected Cook will be the subject of a few Liev Schreiber-voiced sentences before this year’s Hard Knocks concludes.
Cook helped the Vikings to two playoff berths in this span, giving Kirk Cousins an upper-crust option on which to lean. Rodgers had a strong RB duo in recent years as well, with AJ Dillon joining Aaron Jones over the past three seasons. Should Hall regain his rookie-year form at some point in 2023, Rodgers will once again have a top-end RB duo in place. The Jets have some questions up front, but Cook loads up a skill-position corps that also features Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard, Mecole Hardman and Corey Davis. Once a rumored cap casualty, Davis remains with the Jets on the three-year deal he signed in 2021. The Jets turned the Quinnen Williams extension into cap space, with Rodgers agreeing to trim his guarantee total in order to help fit in vets like Cook.
The Jets would still have the option of placing Hall on the reserve/PUP list, which would allow him an onramp — in the form of a four-game absence — into his second season. That would be a bit of a surprise, though, even considering Cook’s $7MM payment. But after a highly publicized free agency stay, Cook has joined an expected contender and will have a chance to make an impact alongside Rodgers.
Cowboys, Zack Martin Agree To Revised Deal
One of the league’s high-profile holdouts is coming to an end. A deal has been worked out between guard Zack Martin and the Cowboys, reports NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (Twitter link). Martin will now rejoin the team.
Rapoport adds that Martin will receive a raise across the two years remaining on his existing pact. The new contract will see him earn over $18MM per year, which represents an increase of more than $8MM total compared to what he was previously due. ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes that the compensation in both years is also guaranteed in full (Twitter link). Now, the parties can move forward with the All-Pro’s compensation again falling in line with how he ranks amongst the league’s top linemen. 
Martin had been absent throughout training camp while seeking a new contract or a revision to his existing one to reflect the upward movement in the guard market. The latter scenario, which was always the likelier one, has now played out. The 32-year-old was the league’s top-paid guard at the time his six-year, $84MM pact was signed. With his new agreement in place, Martin will now rank third in the league in annual compensation behind Chris Lindstrom and Quenton Nelson, the only guards to reach the $20MM-per-year plateau.
The CBA calls for mandatory daily fines of $50K for players who choose to remain absent from their team’s training camps. As a result, Martin has accrued nearly $1MM in penalties. Given the nature of his re-worked pact, though, his decision has proven to be one which will yield a net gain. Having delivered another Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro performance in 2022, the Notre Dame alum held notable leverage in angling for a bump in pay.
However, owner Jerry Jones made repeated remarks concerning the Cowboys’ lack of a need to address Martin’s wish for a raise, given the term remaining on his deal. Dallas does, as Jones has noted during this saga, have a number of other financial priorities in the short- and intermediate-term future. With no new years being tacked onto the Martin accord, though, the team should still have considerable flexibility moving forward as it eyes new deals for the likes of Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Micah Parsons in the coming year or two. Schefter’s colleague Todd Archer tweets that negotiations picked up over the past 10 days, with Martin and Jones talking directly as part of the process. Both sides can now put this episode behind them.
With Martin back in the fold, offensive line should be a source of strength for the Cowboys in 2023, particularly if fellow All-Pro Tyron Smith can remain healthy. That pair, along with 2022 first-rounder Tyler Smith, will give Dallas flexibility and high-level play along the offensive front if they can repeat their previous performances. In Martin’s case, doing so will prove today’s investment to be a worthwhile one on the team’s part.
The Martin holdout has now come to a close, but others remain in the form of Nick Bosa (49ers) and Chris Jones (Chiefs). Both defenders are seeking long-term deals from their respective teams in the wake of continued top-end production, while accumulating daily fines in the process. It will be interesting to see if the Martin agreement provides a blueprint for a resolution to those cases. In any event, the Cowboys can proceed with the remainder of the offseason at full strength.
Cardinals Place CB Rashad Fenton On IR
Cardinals defensive coordinator Nick Rallis recently indicated the team’s cornerback situation is unresolved beyond Marco Wilson‘s spot. One of the top contenders to start alongside the third-year veteran is no longer part of the equation.
The Cardinals placed Rashad Fenton on IR on Monday. The team also moved running back Stevie Scott off its 90-man roster, waiving the recently added performer.
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Fenton played a starting role for the Super Bowl-winning Chiefs last season, lining up as a first-stringer in five games for the eventual champions. But the Chiefs traded Fenton to the Falcons just before last year’s trade deadline. That move did not lead to much work for the four-year veteran, who played in just two games with Atlanta. The low-profile contract year led to Fenton accepting a one-year, $1.23MM contract from the Cardinals, who guaranteed him just $76K.
Arizona cannot bring Fenton off IR; players who return from their teams’ IR lists must be carried over to the 53-man roster. Such status was automatic for Fenton over the past four years. The former Kansas City sixth-round pick logged a 49% defensive snap share in 2020 and a 60% rate in 2021. Prior to being dealt, Fenton was on the field for 92% of the Chiefs’ defensive plays last season.
Fenton, 26, has spent time both as a slot defender and boundary cover man. But his bounce-back effort is currently on hold. It is unclear if this injury will keep him out for all of 2023 or if an injury settlement, which would allow for a belated return, will be in the cards.
With Fenton out of the picture, the Cardinals still have a few notable options at corner. They re-signed Antonio Hamilton to a low-cost contract and used third- and sixth-round picks on the position, drafting Garrett Williams in Round 3 and Kei’Trel Clark in Round 6. Williams remains on Arizona’s active/NFI list as a result of the ACL tear that ended his Syracuse career in October 2022. Clark has received first-team reps during camp.
The Cards, who also added ex-Vikings corner Kris Boyd, may have fewer snaps available for its corners this season. They are planning to use a number of three-safety looks that feature Budda Baker, Jalen Thompson and now-full-time safety Isaiah Simmons.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/14/23
Here are Monday’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: CB Bless Austin
- Waived/injured: WR Frank Darby
- Released from IR: WR Chris Blair
Denver Broncos
- Signed: WR J.J. Koski
- Waived: LB Ray Wilborn
Detroit Lions
- Signed: WR Avery Davis, C Alex Mollette
- Waived/injured: WR Trey Quinn
Houston Texans
- Waived: WR Victor Bolden
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: DB Teez Tabor
- Waived: S Aaron Maddox
- Released from IR: RB Zavier Scott
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Activated from active/PUP list: OL Ben Bartch
- Signed: LS Carson Tinker
- Placed on IR: DL Henry Mondeaux
Los Angeles Chargers
- Waived: RB Larry Rountree
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived: DB Richard LeCounte
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: T Chim Okorafor
- Waived: T Jacky Chen
New York Giants
- Activated from active/PUP list: DL D.J. Davidson
New York Jets
- Signed: DE Jalyn Holmes
- Placed on IR: DE Ifeadi Odenigbo
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: DT Olive Sagapolu
- Placed on IR: LB Shaun Bradley (story)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: CB Nevelle Clarke, CB Lavert Hill
- Waived: CB Isaiah Dunn
- Waived/injured: CB Duke Dawson
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: RB Jacques Patrick, DL Kyle Peko
- Activated from active/PUP list: DB Josh Thompson
- Placed on IR: DT Shakel Brown
- Waived: DB Chris Jackson
Bartch started the Jaguars’ first five games last season but went down with a knee injury in October. The fourth-year veteran will give the Jags an option at left guard, where he started last season. A former fourth-round pick, Bartch also started 11 games in 2021. This marks a return for Tinker, whose NFL entrance came as a Jaguars UDFA in 2013. Tinker spent the first four seasons of his career with the Jags but did not see action in 2017, 2019 or 2020. He worked as the Seahawks’ full-time long snapper last season. Ross Matiscik has been Jacksonville’s deep snapper for the past three seasons.
Austin spent last season out of football but has 17 starts to his credit. Used as a regular Jets starter from 2019-20, Austin caught on with the Seahawks in 2021. Seattle used Austin as a backup. The young cornerback could not make the Broncos’ 53-man roster last summer. While a member of the 2022 Seahawks, Tabor converted from cornerback to safety. The former second-round pick played 10 games for the team last season.
Ravens Sign DB DeAndre Houston-Carson
DeAndre Houston-Carson‘s seven-year Bears tenure has officially come to an end. After going unsigned in the five months since the legal tampering period began, the veteran special-teamer agreed to terms with the Ravens on Monday.
The former sixth-round pick became a core special-teamer in Chicago upon arrival and continued to operate in that capacity throughout his career. This will, however, mark a return to the Mid-Atlantic region for Houston-Carson, a Virginia native who played collegiately at William & Mary.
From 2017-22, Houston-Carson saw action on at least 64% of the Bears’ special teams plays. He topped out at an 82% usage rate during the 2019 and ’20 seasons. This role earned Houston-Carson, 30, a number of contracts with the team. Houston-Carson signed one-year Bears deals in each of the past four offseasons.
While Houston-Carson earned a handful of starts over the past two seasons, the Ravens are likely viewing this as an addition to their special teams. During a stretch featuring nine starts, however, Houston-Carson combined for 96 tackles from 2021-22. He has intercepted a pass in each of the past three seasons. In 419 defensive snaps in 2021, Pro Football Focus rated Houston-Carson in the top 10 among safeties. In 413 last season, PFF slotted him outside the top 70.
The Ravens rostering Marcus Williams and Kyle Hamilton, along with Geno Stone and Brandon Stephens, offers them a solid situation at this position. But Houston-Carson should have a path to Baltimore’s 53-man roster as an ST presence.
Bears Claim LB Mykal Walker
Not long after using their top waiver position to pick up Bravvion Roy, the Bears capitalized on their waiver priority to add another recently cut NFC South defender. Mykal Walker will head from Atlanta to Chicago.
The Falcons waived the contract-year linebacker Sunday, marking an interesting shift after Walker started 12 games for the team last season and 20 overall during his career. The Bears are now responsible for Walker’s contract year, though that checks in at just $895K.
Atlanta has made some changes on defense this offseason, hiring Ryan Nielsen to take over for the re-retired Dean Pees as defensive coordinator. The Falcons have overhauled their linebacking corps from the Thomas Dimitroff era. A Dimitroff-era draftee, Walker joins Foye Oluokun, De’Vondre Campbell, Deion Jones and Rashaan Evans as linebacker regulars to leave Atlanta in recent years. Walker, 26 later this month, will now attempt to crack a Bears 53-man roster, one that will feature major changes at the position.
The Bears authorized this year’s top free agent linebacker contract, giving Tremaine Edmunds $18MM per year (fourth among off-ball linebackers) and $43MM fully guaranteed (third at the position). They also added T.J. Edwards on a $6.5MM-per-year accord. The Bears let Nicholas Morrow walk in free agency but still have part-time 2022 starter Jack Sanborn under contract. Sanborn suffered a season-ending ankle injury in December. The team is ailing a bit at the position, with ESPN.com’s Courtney Cronin noting (via Twitter) Edmunds and UFA pickup Dylan Cole were not available Monday.
A Fresno State alum, Walker finished with career-high 107 tackles (four for loss) and two interceptions last season. Pro Football Focus assigned a mid-pack grade to Walker’s 2022 campaign, placing him 55th overall among off-ball ‘backers. Walker also notched a 66-yard pick-six in 2021. The Bears waived linebacker Kuony Deng to clear a roster spot for Walker.
Patriots To Extend LB Raekwon McMillan
Raekwon McMillan‘s history of contract extensions doubles as one of the more interesting run of transactions in recent NFL history. For the second time, he has agreed to a Patriots extension ahead of a season in which he will not participate.
The Patriots are signing McMillan to another extension, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The deal will be worth up to $2.25MM. It comes more than two months after McMillan suffered a season-ending injury during the Pats’ offseason workouts. McMillan went down with a partially torn Achilles in May.
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This agreement emerges two years after a similar pact. McMillan suffered a torn ACL during the Pats’ 2021 training camp, but the team still extended him for the 2022 season — via a one-year, $1.27MM deal agreed to in late September of that year. The Patriots-McMillan partnership can be classified as strange, with the team giving the veteran linebacker two contracts after major injuries. But this ensures the Pats are not planning an injury settlement with the former Dolphins draftee. He will be in the picture to return for the 2024 Pats iteration.
McMillan, 27, bounced back from his 2021 ACL tear to play 16 games for the Patriots last season. He operated more as a special-teamer than defensive regular, playing 64% of New England’s ST snaps and 250 total defensive plays. The Ohio State product made 35 tackles (five for loss) and returned a fumble for a score.
McMillan previously worked as a Dolphins starter over the first two seasons of his career, but the Raiders acquired him via trade in 2020. After a season as a part-time Las Vegas starter, McMillan signed a one-year, $1.15MM accord with the Patriots in 2021. He has since agreed to two more Pats pacts.
It cannot exactly be considered a lock McMillan is with the team in 2024. He has now suffered two ACL tears and this partially torn Achilles as a pro. The first of those ACL setbacks occurred during McMillan’s rookie year. The former second-round pick will exit 2023 having missed three full seasons during his seven-year career. But Monday’s agreement ensures the team will give the veteran defender another opportunity.