Browns Activate RB Jerome Ford, Waive DE Isaac Rochell
The Browns did a bit of roster shuffling this morning. The team announced that they’ve activated running back Jerome Ford from injured reserve, signed defensive tackle Roderick Perry II from the practice squad to the active roster, and promoted linebacker Jermaine Carter Jr. and tight end Miller Forristall from the practice squad. The Browns also waived defensive end Isaac Rochell.
Ford is the most notable name on the list, with the rookie fifth-round pick having previously served as Cleveland’s primary returner before suffering an ankle injury in Week 4. That injury ended up landing him on injured reserve and knocking him out for more than a month.
In his four games, the rookie returned six kickoffs for 145 yards, and his 24.2-yard average is still top-10 among those with at least five returns. With Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, and D’Ernest Johnson standing in his way, there’s little chance the rookie RB gets a whole lot of run on offense.
Rochelle, a former seventh-round pick, got into 51 games with the Chargers between 2017 and 2020. After appearing in 12 games for the Colts in 2021, the defensive lineman joined Cleveland this offseason. He landed on the practice squad after the preseason but eventually earned his way on to the active roster, collecting 12 tackles in six games (one start).
Carter had 88 tackles for the Panthers last season, but he’s had issues holding a job in 2022. After getting cut by the Chiefs at the end of the preseason, the linebacker caught on with Cleveland’s practice squad back in September. Forristall has seen time in five games for the Browns over the past two seasons, with the majority of his snaps coming on special teams. Perry is an undrafted rookie out of Illinois.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/11/22
Here are today’s few minor moves:
Detroit Lions
- Waived: CB AJ Parker
San Francisco 49ers
- Placed on IR: CB Jason Verrett (story)
49ers To Activate Elijah Mitchell, Azeez Al-Shaair, Colton McKivitz, Jordan Willis
NOVEMBER 11: The 49ers will be the first team to push up against the NFL’s new IR activation ceiling. They plan to activate Mitchell, Al-Shaair, McKivitz and defensive end Jordan Willis from IR, Kyle Shanahan said Friday, via NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco (on Twitter).
With San Francisco having already used three of its injury activations — including one on Jason Verrett, who has since suffered another Achilles tear — the team will have one remaining beyond Week 10. Friday’s decision stands to affect how San Francisco manages its IR list going forward, as starting defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw is also on IR. Kinlaw is slated to return at some point this season, Shanahan said (via The Athletic’s Matt Barrows, on Twitter).
While the IR ramifications of Friday’s move will be interesting to monitor down the road, the team will have a host of key contributors back following its bye week.
NOVEMBER 7: Injuries and a rather notable trade defined the first half of the 49ers’ season, but the contending team will have some reinforcements available soon.
The 49ers designated running back Elijah Mitchell, linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair and backup tackle Colton McKivitz for return from IR on Monday. Each member of this trio is in the final stages of rehab from an MCL sprain. Of the three, Al-Shaair may be closest to returning. The fourth-year linebacker categorized himself as a bit ahead of schedule and expects to play against the Chargers on Sunday night, via ESPN.com’s Nick Wagoner (on Twitter).
San Francisco has already used three of its injury activations this season, so some more complex navigation may begin to come into play here. Under the NFL’s new IR-return system, teams are allotted eight activations per season. It is safe to assume Mitchell and Al-Shaair will be back, with the former set to complement Christian McCaffrey and the latter the team’s No. 3 linebacker behind Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw. It will be interesting to see if the 49ers activate McKivitz, who is the swingman behind Trent Williams and Mike McGlinchey, or gives him the full three-week timetable partially to gauge how its injury situation looks later in November.
Mitchell began the season as San Francisco’s starting back but did not make it through Week 1. The 49ers found a talented player in last year’s sixth round, moving Mitchell past third-rounder Trey Sermon on their depth chart from the jump. The Louisiana product totaled 963 rushing yards in just 11 games as a rookie but has battled extensive injury trouble as a pro. Shoulder, rib, finger and knee injuries led to Mitchell missing six games last season.
After trading Jeff Wilson to the Dolphins, however, the 49ers are thinner at running back. Mitchell returning would help the cause. Third-round rookie Tyrion Davis-Price, who was not placed on IR following his high ankle sprain, should be expected to factor into the newly McCaffrey-headlined backfield equation soon as well.
Al-Shaair is in a contract year and saw the 49ers lock down Greenlaw. With Warner signed long term, Al-Shaair could be auditioning for other team’s during this season’s second half. He started 13 games last season but has been out since Week 3 this year. McKivitz started one game in place of Williams this year but went down with his knee injury. The former fifth-round pick is signed through 2023.
Colts To Place LB Shaquille Leonard On IR
Shaquille Leonard‘s difficult season will include another extended injury absence. The Colts are placing their top linebacker on injured reserve, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
Leonard, who has only been active for three games this season, suffered a setback with his back injury during practice this week. It will lead to at least a four-game absence. It is not a lock Leonard comes back when first eligible, which would be Week 15, as this back problem has lingered for a while.
This has been a rough year for Leonard, who has dealt with three separate injury issues. A concussion and a nose surgery have impacted the All-Pro defender, but the back issue has represented Leonard’s main 2022 hindrance. After playing through back and lower-body trouble last season, Leonard underwent back surgery early in the summer.
The Colts expected Leonard to be ready for Week 1; he was not. Leonard, 27, did not debut this season until Week 4. During that game, he sustained a concussion. The Colts did not place Leonard on IR ahead of the season; his importance to the team dictated a week-to-week strategy.
After drafting Leonard in the 2018 second round, the Colts have seen him become one of the league’s top linebackers. He collected three first-team All-Pro honors in four seasons, totaling an eye-opening 17 forced fumbles during a versatile start to his career. Leonard, who led the league with eight strips in 2021, parlayed his early-career success into becoming the NFL’s highest-paid off-ball linebacker. He is tied to a five-year, $98.7MM deal. The first year on that contract is not going well.
Indianapolis, which has made plenty of non-Leonard-related headlines this week, has contract-year ‘backer Bobby Okereke helping to pick up the slack. The former third-round pick ranks as a top-five non-rush ‘backer, per Pro Football Focus. The Colts also have Zaire Franklin and E.J. Speed in the mix at this position. Overall, however, Leonard’s injury has epitomized one of the most disappointing seasons in the franchise’s Indianapolis history.
The Colts led the NFL with seven Pro Bowlers last season. Each of those players remains on the team. Indy also added veterans Yannick Ngakoue and Stephon Gilmore to the mix. Less than a year since those accolades rolled in, the Colts have fired coaches — most notably head coach Frank Reich — and will now be under the microscope due to replacing Reich with a head coach (Jeff Saturday) in his first week in the profession. The Colts (3-5-1) still rank fifth in total defense under new DC Gus Bradley, but the unit — already marginalized by a 32nd-ranked offense — will be tested with another Leonard hiatus coming.
Rams To Activate RB Kyren Williams From IR
Injuries and the Cam Akers drama have produced an unstable Rams rushing attack this season. The defending Super Bowl champions enter Week 10 ranked 31st on the ground.
The team held onto Akers at the trade deadline and used him against the Buccaneers. Another option will be available for the reeling Rams on Sunday. Sean McVay said the team will activate Kyren Williams from IR. Williams has been out since Week 1 due to a high ankle sprain sustained during limited duty in Week 1. Williams will be the Rams’ fourth injury activation this season.
A fifth-round pick out of Notre Dame, Williams has one NFL play on his resume. That special teams rep led to a half-season’s worth of injury-induced absences. But the Rams will get a look at the two-time Fighting Irish 1,000-yard rusher against the Cardinals. It remains to be seen if Williams will carve out a meaningful role in Los Angeles’ backfield, but given the team’s struggles, it would surprise if the 5-foot-9 rusher did not receive an extended look during this season’s second half.
Williams combined to score 31 touchdowns during his sophomore and junior years in South Bend. He topped 300 receiving yards in each of those campaigns. But injuries have been a problem for the rookie; Week 10 will be the end of an extensive journey. Williams began training camp on the Rams’ active/PUP list due to a broken foot.
Akers has not regained the form he displayed as a rookie; the July 2021 Achilles tear has become an unfortunate line of demarcation for the former second-round pick’s career. Following what is believed to be a football-related dispute, the Rams dangled Akers in deals — including offers for Christian McCaffrey and Brian Burns. No team bit. Akers, who is signed through 2023, totaled five carries for three yards last week in Tampa.
Darrell Henderson, who is playing on an expiring contract, leads the Rams with 253 rushing yards (4.1 per carry). But the team has tried veteran Malcolm Brown and UDFA Ronnie Rivers at points as well. Injuries at four of L.A.’s five starting offensive line positions have certainly impacted the team’s ability to sustain a ground game as well. The Rams will at least have their full stable of running backs available this week.
Raiders Sign TE Jacob Hollister
The Raiders lost a pair of key players to injured reserve today, and the organization is now starting to fill in the open roster spots. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter), the Raiders have signed tight end Jacob Hollister off the Vikings practice squad.
[RELATED: TE Darren Waller To IR | WR Hunter Renfrow To IR]
The Raiders are also signing linebacker Curtis Bolton from their practice squad to the active roster, per Doug Kyed of Pro Football Focus (on Twitter). Linebacker Reggie Ragland will be taking the open practice squad spot, according to ESPN’s Field Yates (on Twitter).
Hollister has bounced around the NFL a bit since going undrafted in 2017. In six professional seasons, the tight end has seen time in 59 games (12 starts), including a two-season stint in Seattle that saw him haul in 66 total catches. After spending much of the 2021 campaign in Jacksonville, Hollister joined the Raiders in March. He landed on IR before the end of the preseason and was later granted his release.
He later caught on with the Vikings’ practice squad and was promoted for a pair of games. With Darren Waller sidelined for at least the next four games, Hollister will likely see some playing time behind expected fill-in Foster Moreau.
Bolton has seen time in six games since the beginning of the 2021 season, including a single appearance for the Raiders earlier this season. His signing to the active roster comes on the heels of Blake Martinez‘s decision to retire earlier today. Ragland, a former second-round pick, started nine of his 17 games for the Giants in 2021. The 29-year-old has 279 tackles across five NFL seasons.
Chargers Waive DL Jerry Tillery
The Chargers have moved on from a former first-round pick. The team announced that they’ve waived defensive lineman Jerry Tillery.
The Notre Dame product was selected by the Chargers with the 28th-overall pick in 2019. The defensive lineman had a difficult time carving out a consistent role in Los Angeles through his three-plus seasons with the organization. After serving as a backup during his rookie campaign, he started 26 games between 2020 and 2021. He’s been back to a situational role in 2022, starting none of his seven appearances. He’s collected eight tackles and one sack this year, and had he earned enough snaps, he would have graded as a middle-of-the-road interior defender, per Pro Football Focus (with the site giving him a nod for his pass-rush ability).
Tillery’s Chargers career will end with him having collected 106 tackles, 10.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles in 54 games (29 starts). The 26-year-old had his fifth-year option declined back in May, so the team won’t be on the hook for any future money. If a team claims Tillery off waivers, they’ll be responsible for paying the $1MM-plus remaining on his pact for this season.
“Jerry has been a valued member of our organization since arriving in 2019, and I want to thank him for all his contributions to the Chargers,” said general manager Tom Telesco (via the team’s website). “This was not an easy decision but, after careful consideration, it was a necessary one that is in the best interest of both team and player. We wish Jerry all the best moving forward in his career.”
The Chargers brought in a number of defensive linemen this past offseason, including Sebastian Joseph-Day, Austin Johnson, Morgan Fox, and rookie Otito Ogbonnia. That grouping will be more than capable of soaking up Tillery’s defensive snaps.
Saints Designate OL Trevor Penning For Return
Trevor Penning is getting closer to his NFL debut. The Saints rookie offensive lineman has been designated to return from injured reserve, according to Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football (on Twitter).
The Northern Iowa product was one of the best offensive lineman prospects in the 2022 NFL Draft, and he ended up going 19th overall to the Saints. The rookie made immediate headlines during training camp when he got into fights with teammates on three consecutive days.
Then, during New Orleans’ preseason finale, Penning suffered what was thought to be a “bad case of turf toe.” However, the injury was later revealed to be a ligament tear in his injured foot. Considering the timing and severity of the injury, there was some initial fear that Penning may have to miss his entire rookie campaign. However, we heard last month that the organization was eyeing a November return. Penning appears to still be on that return timeline, and at the very latest, he’ll be back on the field by early December.
“I’m definitely counting the days,” Penning said today of his impending NFL debut (h/t to Terrin Waack of NOLA.com). “It’s been hard. Today was my first day watching walk-through in person, so that was kind of hard to see. I’m like shoot, I really want to get back out there.”
Penning was expected to replace the departed Terron Armstead in the starting lineup. James Hurst has since run away with the starting left tackle gig, and with Ryan Ramczyk entrenched at right tackle, Penning may be eyeing a backup role when he’s ready to hit the field. Ramczyk is currently nursing an injury (along with Erik McCoy and Andrus Peat), so a role could also open up sooner than later.
Steelers Place K Chris Boswell On IR, Activate S Damontae Kazee
The Steelers are up a defender but down a key special teamer. The team announced that they’ve activated safety Damontae Kazee from IR and placed kicker Chris Boswell on injured reserve.
Kazee inked a one-year, $1.19MM deal with the Steelers back in May after having spent the 2021 season in Dallas. The 29-year-old suffered a broken arm and dislocated wrist towards the end of the preseason, landing him on IR after 53-man rosters were set. Kazee returned to practice in October.
Kazee has plenty of starting experience, starting 15 games for the Cowboys in 2021 and 34 games for the Falcons between 2017 and 2020. The veteran will serve as an experienced option behind Minkah Fitzpatrick and Terrell Edmunds.
“At the end of the day we have to make plays, get turnovers, give our offense another opportunity to go score some points,” Kazee said (via the team’s website). “We just have to trust our keys. Trust everything the coaches are giving us. Execute the plays. At the end of the day, they can call out any play. We just have to execute it. That’s what we need to do more.
“We just have to work together. We’ve got to be brothers. You just have to do your job so your brother can do his. Everybody’s job is important. Make sure we do what we have to do, execute the plays and come out with a win.”
Boswell missed Week 8 with a groin injury, and despite getting an extra week of rest with the bye, he’ll now be sidelined for at least the next four games. The veteran kicker has connected on 12 of his 16 field goal attempts and all nine of his extra point tries this season. Nick Sciba filled in for Boswell in Week 8, but the Steelers recently signed Matthew Wright off the Chiefs practice squad to fill in for Boswell going forward.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/10/22
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: CB Herb Miller
Houston Texans
- Placed on IR: OT Jordan Steckler
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: RB Jake Funk
- Released: RB Phillip Lindsay
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: TE Kendall Blanton
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: OT Derrick Kelly, LB Kenny Young
New York Giants
- Signed: DB Terrell Burgess