Saints Sign RB Derrick Gore
The Saints have added a running back to their active roster. The Saints are signing Derrick Gore, according to Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com (on Twitter). Gore was among a group of RBs (including Antonio Williams and JaQuan Hardy) who worked out for the organization.
Gore was a 2019 undrafted free agent, but it took him until 2021 to finally get a shot in the NFL. After catching on with the Chiefs via a reserve/futures contract and later a practice squad gig, Gore earned a promotion to the active roster. He ended up seeing time in 11 games for Kansas City, finishing with 59 touches for 361 yards and two touchdowns. He also garnered another three touches in two playoff contests.
The 27-year-old landed on injured reserve in late August with a thumb injury, meaning he’d be restricted from playing a game with Kansas City in 2022. He ended up getting released a few days later, allowing him to sign with another squad.
This move probably doesn’t have a whole lot to do with the status of Alvin Kamara. TMZ recently released a new video of Kamara’s alleged attack on another man during Pro Bowl weekend in Las Vegas, but Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com writes that the video won’t alter the player’s status moving forward. Kamara is facing felony battery charges, and the NFL continues to monitor the situation. Per Florio, Kamara has a hearing set for tomorrow.
Mark Ingram is currently dealing with a knee injury that forced him to miss Monday night’s game. Jordan Howard was called up from the practice squad yesterday to join Kamara and Dwayne Washington on the RB depth chart. Washington wasn’t able to capitalize on increased snaps over the past two weeks, and there’s probably little chance Gore ends up getting a whole lot of run. However, considering the team’s recent release of Jake Funk from the practice squad, Gore could find himself sticking around the organization for a bit.
Falcons Place OL Matt Hennessy On IR
Matt Hennessy is heading to injured reserve. The Falcons announced (via Twitter) that they’ve placed the center on IR. To fill the open roster spot, safety Jovante Moffatt has been signed to Atlanta’s active roster from the practice squad.
Hennessy was a third-round pick by the organization in 2020. After getting into 13 games as a rookie, the lineman started all 17 games for the Falcons in 2021, with Pro Football Focus grading him among the best at his position. Despite that performance, he lost his starting gig to Drew Dalman during training camp. As a result, he played exclusively on special teams through his first eight games this season.
He started at left guard in place of Elijah Wilkinson during Week 9, earning 50 snaps on offense. A knee injury ended up knocking him out towards the end of the game, and the injury will now force him to miss at least the next four games. Colby Gossett slid into the lineup in place of Hennessy on Sunday and could end up keeping the starting gig until Wilkinson returns.
The Falcons needed some depth at safety after trading Dean Marlowe at the deadline. Erik Harris is also dealing with a foot injury that forced him out of the lineup for Week 9. Moffatt has seen time in 16 games since entering the league in 2020. He joined the Falcons’ practice squad in September and has earned a pair of promotions this season.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/8/22
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: LB Quinton Bell, C Jonotthan Harrison
- Released: CB BoPete Keyes
Cleveland Browns
- Signed:WR Cyril Grayson
Denver Broncos
- Signed: WR Kaden Davis
Green Bay Packers
- Released: WR Kawaan Baker
New Orleans Saints
- Released: RB Jake Funk, QB Brett Hundley
New York Giants
- Signed: DT Aaron Crawford
- Released: DB Olaijah Griffin
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: OT Fred Johnson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Released: K Nick Sciba
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: RB Godwin Igwebuike
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: DE Charles Snowden
- Released: LB JoJo Ozougwu
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/8/22
Today’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from IR: TE Charlie Kolar
Carolina Panthers
- Designated for return: S Jeremy Chinn
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: CB Herb Miller
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived: TE Kendall Blanton, DB Terrell Burgess
New Orleans Saints
- Waived: G Wyatt Davis
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed to active roster: S Andre Chachere
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Waived: LB Ryan Anderson
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter), the Rams shopped Terrell Burgess prior to the trade deadline. The former third-round pick has struggled to carve out a role in the NFL, although he did get into 16 games last year (plus another four games (two starts)) en route to a Super Bowl championship. This season, Burgess has collected 11 tackles in seven games.
Raiders Waive S Johnathan Abram
The Raiders dangled Johnathan Abram in trades leading up to last week’s deadline, and they are now moving on from the former first-round pick.
Las Vegas plans to cut Abram on Tuesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. The veteran starter, whom the Raiders recently demoted, will be available on waivers. Abram has made 34 career starts, but the Jon Gruden-era draftee was unable to carve out a spot as a long-term Raiders piece. Just more than $1MM in base salary remains on Abram’s rookie contract. The Raiders have since announced the move.
Trades of Khalil Mack and Amari Cooper gave the Raiders three first-round picks in 2019. The team selected Josh Jacobs with the Mack-produced draft slot and landed Abram with the Cooper-obtained pick. The Bears and Cowboys, respectively, gave the trade acquisitions second contracts. The Raiders did not pick up Abram or Jacobs’ fifth-year options. The first pick from the first Gruden-Mike Mayock draft, Clelin Ferrell, is also playing out his rookie contract after never gaining a foothold as a viable starter.
The Raiders shopped both Abram and Ferrell before the deadline, but no takers emerged. Despite being on Las Vegas’ roster bubble this offseason, Ferrell has seen a greater snap share compared to Abram in recent weeks. Abram started the Raiders’ first six games but did not open the team’s Week 8 Saints matchup in the lineup.
Abram, 26, played at least 75% of the Raiders’ defensive snaps over their first six games. The Raiders saw the former No. 27 overall pick’s rookie season nullified by a torn rotator cuff and a torn labrum. He bounced back to return to the starting lineup in 2020 and tallied 116 tackles in 2021. During his final three Raiders seasons, Abram has played in three defensive systems. The Raiders have gone from Paul Guenther to Gus Bradley to Patrick Graham as defensive coordinator over the past three seasons. The Raiders’ defense, which has struggled regardless of coordinator for most of the 21st century, ranks 28th in both points and yards allowed.
Coverage issues have plagued the Mississippi State alum as a pro. While Pro Football Focus rates Abram outside the top 75 among full-time safeties this season, the advanced metrics site has Vegas starter Trevon Moehrig slotted in the bottom five at the position. The Raiders’ Josh McDaniels–Dave Ziegler regime brought in ex-Patriot Duron Harmon this offseason; the veteran has worked as a full-timer at safety since arriving.
Abram’s exit during his rookie contract makes him the fourth Raider first-rounder over the past four years who failed to play out his rookie deal. The Raiders cut Henry Ruggs and Damon Arnette within a two-week period last fall, with off-field incidents leading to each’s exit. Alex Leatherwood did not make it into his second season, being waived after training camp this year. Although the Gruden era produced draft hits like Maxx Crosby and Hunter Renfrow, the first-round misses have undoubtedly set the Raiders back.
Broncos Place C Lloyd Cushenberry On IR
The Broncos have used Lloyd Cushenberry as their center throughout the 2020s, but the team will need to get by without the young blocker in the coming weeks.
Cushenberry is heading to IR, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The former third-round pick suffered a groin strain against the Jaguars in Week 8. Despite the Broncos having a bye in Week 9, they will make a move that prevents Cushenberry from returning over the next four games. The earliest he can play again will now be Week 14.
Denver is already without left tackle Garett Bolles, who suffered a broken leg last month, and has continued its decade-long run of right tackle instability. The team has also played stretches without right guard Quinn Meinerz. The player who replaced Meinerz during his early-season injury hiatus, Graham Glasgow, will fill in for Cushenberry, Mike Klis of 9News tweets.
Signed to a four-year, $44MM contract in 2020, Glasgow worked as Denver’s primary right guard during the first 1 1/2 seasons of that deal. But an injury ended the former Lion’s 2021 season midway through. Meinerz won the job during training camp. Glasgow, however, has center experience from his Detroit days. He spent all of 2018 working as the Lions’ starting center. The team, which aligned Glasgow at guard to start his NFL career in 2016, moved him back to that position in 2019.
An LSU alum who declared for the draft following the Tigers’ unbeaten 2019 season, Cushenberry has only missed one NFL game. He played 100% of the Broncos’ offensive snaps during the 32 games he started from 2020-21. Pro Football Focus has not been high on Cushenberry’s NFL work. After grading him as a bottom-half center during his first two seasons, the advanced metrics site slots him 29th through eight games.
The Broncos have five injury activations remaining. One of those may be reserved for Tom Compton, who was set to be part of the team’s right tackle competition before undergoing offseason surgery. The team designated Compton to return from the reserve/PUP list Oct. 26. Another slot will be reserved for Randy Gregory, who has been out since undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery after a Week 4 injury. Cushenberry figures to be one of the team’s second-half injury activations. The Broncos’ options could be narrowed regarding IR-return moves during the season’s second half.
Safety Anthony Harris will replace Cushenberry on the Broncos’ 53-man roster, Rapoport adds. Signed just before the season, Harris was a regular starter with the Vikings and Eagles for the past three years. The Broncos’ top backup safety, Caden Sterns, is also on IR. Harris, 31, has played in two Broncos games but has yet to see any time on defense with his new team.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/7/22
Here are Monday’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Promoted: WRs DeSean Jackson (story), WR Binjimen Victor
- Placed on IR: WR Rashod Bateman (story)
Cincinnati Bengals
- Waived: DT Domenique Davis
Detroit Lions
- Waived: WR Stanley Berryhill
Las Vegas Raiders
- Placed on IR: LB Divine Deablo
New Orleans Saints
- Activated from IR: DB P.J. Williams
- Placed on IR: LB Chase Hansen
- Signed to active roster: WR Kevin White
- Elevated: RB Jordan Howard
New York Giants
- Designated for return: G Shane Lemieux
- Placed on IR: DT Nicholas Williams
Lemieux has been out since September 2021. A severe knee injury paused Lemieux’s career, sidelining him after he had commandeered a starting job. The Giants drafted Lemieux in the 2020 fifth round and turned to him as a starter for much of his rookie season. But the team’s new regime addressed the interior line extensively this offseason, signing Mark Glowinski and Jon Feliciano before drafting Joshua Ezeudu and Marcus McKethan.
The Giants, however, lost McKethan for the season and are without starting left guard Ben Bredeson. The team having Lemieux and former center starter Nick Gates, who also battled back from a severe injury, back will provide some options for Brian Daboll up front. Bredeson, whom the team placed on IR last week, will be a candidate to be one of Big Blue’s injury activations later this season.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/7/22
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: P Nolan Cooney
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: WR Emeka Emezie, CB Gavin Heslop, DE Kobe Jones
- Released: S Marquise Blair, QB Jacob Eason
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: C Jordan Meredith
- Released: C Brock Hoffman
Houston Texans
- Signed: DL Brandin Bryant
- Released: DE Derick Roberson
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed WR Tajae Sharpe
- Released: TE Troy Fumagalli
Sharpe has bounced in recent years, and the 49ers will be his second team in 2022. The 27-year-old initially signed with the Bears in May, but did not see the field in Chicago. He will provide depth for a San Francisco team which has had fellow veteran Willie Snead see time on and off the taxi squad.
Browns Designate DE Chase Winovich, RB Jerome Ford To Return From IR
The Browns moved closer to having a pair of players return to the fold coming off of their bye week. The team announced on Monday that edge rusher Chase Winovich and running back Jerome Ford have been designated to return from IR. 
That opens up a three-week return window for both players. If they fail to be activated within that timeframe, they will remain sidelined for the rest of the season. Cleveland currently has six activations remaining for the year, with tight end Jesse James also a candidate to return.
The latter, along with Winovich, went on IR following Week 2. That guaranteed a four-week absence, but Winovich’s hamstring injury has cost him the past six games. That stalled what could have been the beginning of a rotational role emerging for the former third-rounder who struggled to lock down a starting gig during his three seasons with the Patriots.
That led to an offseason trade sending him to Cleveland in exchange for linebacker Mack Wilson. Winovich, 27, entered the league with plenty of fanfare as a disruptive force after his time at Michigan, and began his NFL career with consecutive 5.5-sack seasons. He was held without one last season, however, leading to the change of scenery. A pending free agent, Winovich will slide in behind Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney on the depth chart upon his return.
Ford, meanwhile, had played exclusively on special teams for the first four weeks of the season before being sidelined. With Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt ahead of him in the pecking order, the fifth-round rookie operated as the team’s kick returner prior to the injury. Hunt was the subject of plenty of trade talk, but it came out during last week’s deadline that the Browns preferred to keep him, and they ultimately did. Ford will therefore continue with a third phase role upon his return.
Winovich and Ford could be activated as early as this week, making them available for Cleveland’s game this Sunday against the 6-3 Dolphins.
Raiders To Sign CB Sidney Jones
The Seahawks were unable to find a trade partner regarding Sidney Jones in advance of Tuesday’s deadline. As a result, they made the unsurprising move of waiving the veteran corner. 
Jones has since gone through waivers unclaimed, leaving him free to sign with any club. One team has already been named as a potential suitor; Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal tweets that the 26-year-old can be expected to be “a person of interest” for the Raiders. Confirming this notion, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the AFC West team is expected to sign him (Twitter link).
Jones was expected to remain a starter for Seattle this season, but the CB position has reaped plenty of rewards from the team’s youth movement. Rookies Tariq Woolen and Coby Bryant have locked down first-team roles, while Jones has only made three appearances so far. That played a role in Seattle making him available in advance of the trade deadline, but no buyers were willing to take on even the small financial cost by claiming him off waivers.
Cornerback has been a position in flux this year for Vegas. The Raiders added Anthony Averett in free agency, and traded for Rock Ya-Sin before shipping out Trayvon Mullen. They then made a pair of in-season additions by signing veteran Nickell Robey-Coleman and claiming former UDFA Javelin Guidry off waivers. Those moves came with Averett on IR; he has since returned for the past three games.
Even with that positive development, Jones would be likelier to carve out a consistent role with the Raiders than he had with the Seahawks. Entering today’s slate of games, Vegas ranked 25th in the league against the pass, allowing an average of over 258 yards per game through the air. Another veteran addition therefore comes as little surprise as the team looks to rebound from another loss endured via a blown lead.