T Marcus Cannon To Join Patriots’ Practice Squad
The offensive tackle position has been a sore spot for the Patriots this offseason, with plenty of uncertainty surrounding the projected starters. In a move aimed at adding veteran depth, a familiar face is being brought back. 
Not long after hosting him for a free agent visit, New England is set to sign Marcus Cannon to their practice squad (Twitter link via ESPN’s Field Yates). The deal marks a return to the Patriots for the 34-year-old. Cannon was a fifth-round pick of the team in 2011.
Over the course of nine years with the Patriots, Cannon made 155 appearances and 69 starts. He was a full-time first-teamer from 2016 to 2019, though injuries caused him to miss several games during that stretch. New England traded him to the Texans last March, a move which was considered increasingly likely after the Patriots re-acquired Trent Brown.
In Houston, Cannon started all four games he played in, but once again ran into injury problems. A disc issue in his back landed him on IR, ultimately ending his season. To little surprise, then, the Texans released the TCU product one year after acquiring him. Now, Cannon will return to New England to provide depth at a position of uncertainty.
Brown ended up being switched to left tackle this offseason, in no small part due to the struggles of 2018 first-rounder Isaiah Wynn. The latter found himself in trade talk this summer, but will remain with the Patriots on the right side. Behind those two, New England has Michael Onwenu, Justin Herron and Yodny Cajuste as depth on the 53-man roster. Now, they have a familiar, experienced veteran as an emergency option.
Saints, C Erik McCoy Agree To Extension
The Saints have taken care of an important piece of business just before the beginning of the season. New Orleans has reached agreement with center Erik McCoy on a five-year extension worth up to $63.75MM (Twitter link via Mike Garafolo of NFL Network). 
Garafolo adds that the deal – which was confirmed by McCoy’s agents – also includes over $40MM in guaranteed money. The 2019 second-rounder had one season remaining on his rookie contract, so this new deal will keep him in New Orleans through 2028. His level of play since his arrival in the league made an extension such as this one a distinct possibility.
McCoy, 25, has been a full-time starter since his rookie season, when he earned a PFF grade of 78. He played a full schedule once again the following season, though his rating fell that year to 69.4. In 2021, the Texas A&M product took another step back in PFF’s eyes, ranking 23rd in the league amongst centers. McCoy also missed the first action of his career, being sidelined for five games due to a calf strain.
As Garafolo notes, this new deal will make McCoy the highest-earning center who has yet to be named a Pro Bowler. Overall, the $12.75MM yearly average of the contract will rank him fourth in the league amongst centers in terms of compensation, only slightly behind Jason Kelce, Frank Ragnow and Ryan Jensen.
McCoy has been able to maintain his spot in the middle of the Saints’ o-line despite the team drafting Cesar Ruiz in the first round of the 2020 draft. New Orleans’ investment in him points to McCoy remaining at the pivot, as the team begins life without Pro Bowl left tackle Terron Armstead. Even without the latter, the Saints should still have a strong unit up front on the right side in particular with McCoy, Ruiz and Ryan Ramczyk.
It remains to be seen if this new deal will affect McCoy’s 2022 cap hit, which currently sits at $3.4MM. The Saints made a slew of moves this spring to reach cap compliance, but they entered today with less than $3MM to work with. Over the life of the contract, though, McCoy could prove to be worth the commitment as the Saints look to keep as many of their top young players on the books for the long term as possible.
Rams Extend GM Les Snead
Throughout the offseason, new deals were expected to be finalized for Rams head coach Sean McVay and general manager Les Snead. Per a team announcement on Thursday, both are indeed set to remain with the team for years to come. 
McVay had already confirmed his new deal one month ago, and he made it clear at that time that an announcement regarding Snead would be forthcoming. With the Rams’ title defense beginning in a matter of hours, many expected that announcement to come today. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweets that the pair are now on the books through the 2026 season.
To no surprise, both McVay and Snead are now thought to be among the league’s highest-paid at their respective positions. The Rams have seen consistent success during their time guiding the franchise, including last season’s Super Bowl win. That has come during Snead’s increasing reliance on his unorthodox roster-building strategy of forgoing premium draft picks in return for proven commodities at important positions (including, most notably, quarterback Matthew Stafford).
Los Angeles has not made a first-round selection since 2016, and does not own one until 2024. Still, the effectiveness of the 51-year-old’s actions led to joint extensions for both he and McVay in 2019. Another set of deals keeping them together was widely expected to be the team’s preference, and became possible once the latter confirmed that he would continue coaching in lieu of a broadcasting career.
Snead has held his current title since 2012, ranking him in the top-10 with respect to the NFL’s longest-tenured GMs. He will look to continue climbing the ladder in that regard, while seeking continuity on the roster he has molded into a champion. Much of that has already been taken care of, with new deals being signed in recent months by Stafford, defensive tackle Aaron Donald and receiver Cooper Kupp.
The long-term future of the organization has been questioned by some given the ‘all-in’ nature of Snead’s moves. Further titles remain possible for at least the next few years, however, and he will still be at the helm if/when the team’s Super Bowl window closes given today’s news.
Rams Sign RT Rob Havenstein To Extension
The Rams have extended their right tackle. The team announced (on Twitter) that they’ve signed Rob Havenstein to a contract extension. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler first reported (on Twitter) that the two sides were close to a deal.
Havenstein was set to play out the final season of his contract in 2022. Despite inking his four-year, $32.5MM deal back in 2018, the veteran lineman still ranked among the 10 highest-paid right tackles in the NFL last year. According to Fowler, his new extension should “bolster his spot” in the top-10, with CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones tweeting that Havenstein received a three-year deal.
The 2015 second-round pick has spent his entire career with the Rams, starting all 99 of his regular-season appearances. After bouncing around the offensive line early in his career, Havenstein has settled in as the team’s full-time RT since 2017.
Other than a 2019 campaign where he was limited to only nine games thanks to a knee injury, the offensive lineman has appeared in at least 13 games in each of his NFL seasons. The 30-year-old has also been along for all of the team’s recent playoff runs, starting each of his 10 postseason appearances, including all four during last year’s Super Bowl run.
Havenstein was named a first-time captain this year following another standout campaign in 2021. Last year, he ranked as the league’s ninth-best tackle among 83 qualifying players, making it the third time in four seasons that he’s ranked within the site’s top-15.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/7/22
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: CB Corey Ballentine, QB Jarrett Guarantano
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: LB Kyler Fackrell
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: DT Daviyon Nixon
Houston Texans
- Signed: RB Gerrid Doaks
- Released: TE Paul Quessenberry
New York Jets
- Signed: Zonovan Knight, Eric Smith
- Released: DQ Thomas
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: TE Troy Fumagalli, WR Connor Wedington
- Released: WR Willie Snead
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/7/22
Today’s minor transactions:
Carolina Panthers
- Released from IR: RB Spencer Brown
Cleveland Browns
- Released from IR: CB Lavert Hill
Green Bay Packers
- Released from IR: WR Ishmael Hyman
Kansas City Chiefs
- Released from IR: TE Matt Bushman
Miami Dolphins
- Released from IR: LB Darius Hodge
Eagles Add WR Auden Tate, TE Dalton Keene To Practice Squad
The Eagles made a few changes to their practice squad today. The team announced that they’ve signed tight end Dalton Keene and wide receiver Auden Tate. To make room on the taxi squad, the Eagles released running back La’Mical Perine and quarterback Reid Sinnett.
After barely playing as a rookie seventh-round pick, Tate had a bit of a breakout season in 2019, finishing the campaign with 40 receptions for 575 yards. However, he found himself buried on the depth chart in both 2020 and 2021, finishing with only 17 catches between the two seasons. He caught on with the Eagles earlier this offseason but was cut before the end of the preseason. The Eagles are currently rostering only four wide receivers, so there’s a chance he could eventually get elevated to the active roster.
Keene, a 2020 third-round pick by the Patriots, only had three catches during his two seasons in New England. The 23-year-old could see some time on the active roster if any of Dallas Goedert, Jack Stoll, and/or rookie sixth-round pick Grant Calcaterra go down with an injury.
After collecting 295 yards from scrimmage as a rookie in 2020, Perine was limited to only 31 yards with the Jets in 2021. After getting cut by New York at the end of the preseason, he caught on with Philly. With Kennedy Brooks already on the practice squad, the team decided to move on from the 24-year-old.
Sinnett spent much of the 2021 season in the Eagles organization, but he had little chance of cracking the active roster in 2022 with three QBs blocking his way.
Cardinals Place QB Colt McCoy On IR
The Cardinals will begin the season without their backup quarterback. Colt McCoy landed on IR Wednesday. Arizona promoted Trace McSorley from its practice squad.
McCoy did not play during Arizona’s preseason slate. While Kliff Kingsbury said the veteran backup was dealing with arm soreness early in training camp, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets the 13th-year passer suffered a strained calf.
Although the Cardinals would hope not to need McCoy this season, given that his participation is tied to Kyler Murray‘s availability, they did need him in 2021. Making three starts for an injured Murray, McCoy helped the Cards to two wins — each over NFC West rivals — that certainly went a long way toward the team booking a wild-card berth.
Despite not seeing much time during his long-term Washington stay, the former Texas Longhorn helped the Giants to a win over the playoff-bound Seahawks in 2020. New York, however, chose to replace McCoy with Mike Glennon — which turned out to be a significant downgrade — in 2021. McCoy completed 74.7% of his passes last season, with both of his wins coming while DeAndre Hopkins was out. McCoy, who turned 36 on Monday, re-signed with the team this offseason on a two-year, $7.5MM deal.
Formerly a Ravens backup, McSorley wound up in Arizona in November 2021; the Cardinals signed him off the Ravens’ practice squad. The team used McSorley frequently during its 2022 preseason but opted to waive him. The former sixth-round pick stayed with the team on a P-squad agreement, but he will now be Murray’s primary backup. McSorley has attempted 10 career passes.
Bills, TE Dawson Knox Agree On Extension
Dawson Knox will not play out a contract year in 2022. The Bills are extending their top tight end, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).
The former third-round pick is signing a four-year deal to stay with the team that drafted him. Knox expressed his desire for a second Bills contract earlier this offseason. He will now be tied long-term with Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs, the latter having also signed an extension this year. Knox’s deal is worth $53.6MM and includes $31MM guaranteed, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets.
This works out to a $13.4MM-per-year deal. That places Knox near the top of the tight end market but outside the top five. It checks in sixth at the position, coming in behind David Njoku‘s $13.7MM-AAV contract and Hunter Henry‘s 2020 Patriots agreement. Knox, 25, could have potentially positioned himself for a better deal as a 2023 free agent, but he made it clear earlier this year that was not a route he wanted to go.
“First and foremost, I want to be here. I mean, I bought a house here a few months ago, not because I want to be gone in a year,” Knox said this summer. The fourth-year pass catcher had approached the Bills about a new deal. It is not known how long negotiations have transpired, but the Bills have their breakthrough tight end signed for five more seasons now.
Diggs helped key Allen’s rise into one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks in 2020; last season, Knox aided the climb as well. The Ole Miss alum caught 49 passes for 587 yards and nine touchdowns to help the Bills to a second straight AFC East title. Knox tallied two more touchdown grabs in the playoffs.
Although Knox did not top 400 yards in either of his first two seasons, Wednesday morning’s extension indicates the Bills believe the 6-foot-4 target will be able to sustain his 2021 level of play for a while. Knox becomes the latest Ole Miss pass catcher from the 2019 draft class to sign an extension this offseason. A.J. Brown and D.K. Metcalf did so as well.
It certainly did not hurt Knox’s cause that he and Allen are close, and the MVP candidate’s top three targets are now each locked up beyond 2022. Gabe Davis‘ rookie deal runs through the 2023 season. The Bills also re-signed slot/gadget player Isaiah McKenzie this offseason. Jamison Crowder, a free agency pickup, remains in the mix as well.
Knox’s breakout being an indicator a promising career is ahead would check off a key box for a Bills franchise that has not seen too much from the tight end position throughout its modern history. Even going back throughout the team’s 62-season annals, the Bills have never seen a tight end produce an 800-yard year. Only one (Paul Costa in 1967) has surpassed 700. Efforts to establish long-term connections — such as the five-year, $38MM Charles Clay deal in 2015 — have not worked out. The Bills were mentioned as a Zach Ertz trade partner last year, but the team stuck with Knox, who will be locked in as Buffalo’s top tight end for the foreseeable future.
Emmanuel Sanders Announces Retirement
Emmanuel Sanders will not pursue a 13th NFL season. The former Steelers, Broncos, 49ers, Saints and Bills wide receiver announced his retirement Wednesday morning (video link).
While Sanders has been with four teams since the start of the 2019 season, each used the versatile veteran as a starter. The SMU alum helped the 49ers, Saints and Bills venture to the playoffs, most notably trekking to Super Bowl LIV with San Francisco. Sanders’ best statistical seasons came with the Broncos, whom he helped boost to a win in Super Bowl 50.
Sanders, 35, hinted at this possibility in February, after coming off another season as a regular starter. No known discussions took place about a second Sanders Bills contract, but the productive pass catcher was a 13-game starter for a Buffalo team that advanced to the divisional round. The hired gun’s final season produced 626 yards in 14 games. That marked his lowest output since an injury-shortened 2017 season. Sanders will walk away a three-time 1,000-yard receiver and a two-time Pro Bowler.
Faring well as an outside receiver and in the slot during a career that included a host of memorable moments, Sanders also succeeded on the contract front. The Broncos gave him two deals — a free agency accord in 2014 and an extension two years later — with the latter pact worth $33MM over three years. Upon being traded to San Francisco ahead of the 2019 deadline, Sanders made an impact as a key supporting-caster with the 49ers. That work led to a two-year, $16MM Saints contract in 2020. While the Saints bailed on the deal after one season, Sanders caught on with the Bills via a one-year, $6MM deal.
The Steelers used Sanders in a supporting role during his rookie contract but paid Antonio Brown in 2012. While Sanders remained on the WR2 tier for most of his career, the former third-round pick was one of the NFL’s top auxiliary targets for many years. His initial Broncos commitment — a three-year, $15MM agreement that came after the Chiefs nearly signed him — preceded a significant production spike. Replacing departed free agent Eric Decker in 2014, Sanders blew up for a career-high 1,404 receiving yards. He and longtime teammate Demaryius Thomas combined for more than 3,000 yards that year.
Although Peyton Manning‘s prime abruptly ended after that 2014 season, Sanders continued his midcareer boom as the five-time MVP declined in 2015. During Denver’s Super Bowl-winning year, Sanders posted 1,176 yards. As teams focused on Thomas in the playoffs, Sanders (230 receiving yards during the 2015 postseason) became Manning’s top chain-mover en route to the Broncos’ third championship. That production led to Sanders’ big-ticket extension on the eve of Denver’s 2016 opener. The Broncos had Sanders and Thomas each tied to eight-figure per-year deals from 2016-18, and while each again topped 1,000 yards despite Manning’s retirement giving way to Trevor Siemian‘s unexpected 2016 promotion, neither finished out their Broncos extensions.
Denver dealt Thomas at the 2018 deadline and moved Sanders in 2019. The Broncos collected third- and fourth-round picks for Sanders, who tallied 502 yards in 10 49ers games during that season’s stretch run. With Michael Thomas‘ run of injuries beginning in 2020, Sanders was Drew Brees‘ top target in the future Hall of Famer’s final season. Sanders will have retired playing with Manning, Brees and Ben Roethlisberger. It is obviously too early to declare Josh Allen a Hall of Fame-bound player, but Sanders’ career featured some rather high-profile quarterbacks.
Sanders, who played in Super Bowls with three different teams, leaves the game with 704 receptions (52nd all time), 9,245 receiving yards and 51 touchdowns.