Ravens Sign OL Patrick Mekari To Extension
The Ravens locked down one of their offensive line starters Thursday. They reached a three-year extension agreement with Patrick Mekari, who is now signed through 2024.
A former UDFA, Mekari has served as a multi-position starter with Baltimore. After initially breaking into the Ravens’ lineup as a center in 2019, Mekari has settled in at right tackle this season. Mekari’s deal is worth $15.35MM, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The 24-year-old blocker will collect $7MM guaranteed.
Mekari was set to be a restricted free agent in March. The Cal alum opted to collect cash now and remain with Baltimore. He joins Ronnie Stanley and guard Kevin Zeitler as Raven O-linemen signed to long-term veteran deals.
Injuries have changed Baltimore’s outlook up front this season. Stanley going down for a second straight year moved Alejandro Villanueva from right to left tackle. Mekari has filled in on the right side, making a career-high 10 starts this season. This comes a year after Mekari worked as both a starting guard and center. In 2019, Mekari replaced Matt Skura at center late in the season and finished out the team’s 14-2 slate at that spot.
Baltimore traded three-year right tackle starter Orlando Brown Jr. to Kansas City this offseason, collecting a first-round pick and change for a player determined not to play right tackle any longer. Brown replaced Stanley on the left side after the latter’s 2020 injury, ending his run as the Ravens’ long-term right-edge protector. Mekari may now move into that role, though the Ravens have the option of bringing in someone else there and slotting Mekari in at another O-line position next season. Center Bradley Bozeman is a 2022 free agent, potentially opening up that spot.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/29/21
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Designated for return: LB Tanner Vallejo, LB Ezekiel Turner
- Released: P Ryan Winslow
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: QB Matt Barkley
Chicago Bears
- Placed on IR: CB Xavier Crawford, S Teez Tabor
Cincinnati Bengals
- Designated for return: OG Xavier Su’a-Filo
Dallas Cowboys
- Designated for return: WR Noah Brown, WR T.J. Vasher, OT Josh Ball
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted: OT Cole Van Lanen
- Activated from IR: CB Jaire Alexander
Houston Texans
- Extended: S Grayland Arnold
- Placed on IR: OG Cole Turner, WR Phillip Dorsett
Kansas City Chiefs
- Designated for return: RB Jerick McKinnon
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: LB Tyrell Adams
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: LB Justin March-Lillard, LB Kyle Wilber
- Designated for return: TE Derek Carrier
Los Angeles Chargers
- Designated for return: LB Kyler Fackrell, S Mark Webb
Miami Dolphins
- Designated for return: LB Brennan Scarlett
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: QB Kyle Sloter
- Designated for return: TE Ben Ellefson
- Placed on IR: WR Adam Thielen
New England Patriots
- Designated for return: LB Harvey Langi
New York Giants
- Designated for return: LB Trent Harris
New York Jets
- Signed: LB Javin White
Falcons Claim Matt Barkley Off Waivers
The Falcons added some depth to the quarterback position on Wednesday. They claimed veteran Matt Barkley off of waivers from the Panthers (Twitter link via ESPN’s Field Yates). 
According to the team release, the move was made necessary after undrafted rookie Feleipe Franks was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. It also gives the team the option to continue making Josh Rosen inactive on game days.
Barkley, 31, was originally a fourth round pick of the Eagles in 2013. Since then, he has had stints with six other teams including Carolina most recently. In seven career starts, he has a 2-5 record, a 58.4% completion percentage and an 11:22 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Barkley’s most recent game action came in 2020 with the Bills.
Barkley departs Carolina without having appeared for the team after signing in November. The Falcons will be his third team of 2021, after he originally signed a one-year deal with the Titans in the offseason. Barkley’s first action in Atlanta could come in a familiar stadium, as the Falcons travel to Buffalo in Week 17.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/29/21
Today’s taxi squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: CB Nate Brooks, CB Isaiah Johnson, RB Tavien Feaster
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: DE Jordan Brailford
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: K Blake Haubeil
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: K Chris Blewitt
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: LB Devante Bond
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: LB Aaron Adeoye, OT Adrian Ealy, CB Jayson Stanley, RB Kerrith Whyte
Houston Texans
- Signed: OG Sam Cooper
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: LB Tyrell Adams
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: LB Asmar Bilal
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: TE Kyle Markway
New York Giants
- Signed: LB Omari Cobb
New York Jets
- Signed: TE Joshua Perkins, TE Brandon Dillon
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: WR Tyler Vaunghns
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: QB Tyler Bray, LB Mark Nzeocha, P Colby Wadman
Seattle Seahawks
- Placed on practice squad/injured list: RB Adrian Peterson
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: WR Caleb Scott
- Released: T Cedric Ogbuehi
NFL COVID-19 List Updates: 12/29/21
Several key players returned to practice Wednesday. Here are the latest COVID-19 updates from around the league:
Arizona Cardinals
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: P Andy Lee
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: OLB Devon Kennard
Atlanta Falcons
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DL Jonathan Bullard, S Jaylinn Hawkins, TE Hayden Hurst
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: OL Willie Beavers
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Chris Board, LB Tyus Bowser, LB Justin Houston, S Geno Stone, LB Kristian Welch
- Activated from practice squad/COVID-19 list: OT David Sharpe, QB Christ Streveler
Buffalo Bills
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Cole Beasley, WR Gabriel Davis, DE A.J. Epenesa, OL Jon Feliciano
Carolina Panthers
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: OL Dennis Daley, G Pat Elflein
- Activated from practice squad/COVID-19 list: DE Austin Larkin
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Haason Reddick, QB P.J. Walker
Cincinnati Bengals
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Mike Thomas
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Germaine Pratt
Cleveland Browns
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: QB Nick Mullens
Dallas Cowboys
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Trysten Hill, S Malik Hooker
- Activated from practice squad/COVID-19 list: RB JaQuan Hardy, WR Brandon Smith
Denver Broncos
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: C Lloyd Cushenberry
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: T Calvin Anderson, WR Tim Patrick, S Caden Sterns
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: WR Tyrie Cleveland
Detroit Lions
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Trinity Benson, T Matt Nelson, WR Quintez Cephus
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DL Michael Brockers, G Halapoulivaati Vaitai
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: WR Geronimo Allison
Green Bay Packers
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling
- Activated from practice squad/COVID-19 list: OT Cole Van Lanen
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Henry Black, TE Tyler Davis, DL Kingsley Keke, P Cody Bojorquez
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: CB Jayson Stanley
Houston Texans
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DL Maliek Collins, WR Brandin Cooks, K Ka’imi Fairbairn, LB Jonathan Greenard, LB Kamu Grugier-Hill, LB Neville Hewitt, LB Jordan Jenkins, DL Jaleel Johnson, DL Roy Lopez, DB A.J. Moore, S Eric Murray, LB Derek Rivers, LB Eric Wilson, C Justin Britt, G Lane Taylor
- Activated from practice squad/COVID-19 list: CB Cre’Von LeBlanc
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DL Ron’Dell Carter, WR Chris Moore
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: K Dominik Eberle
Indianapolis Colts
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: G Mark Glowinski, G Quenton Nelson, DE Kemoko Turay, DB Rock Ya-Sin, TE Farrod Green
- Activated from practice squad/COVID-19 list: QB James Morgan, TE Eli Wolf
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Jaydon Mickens, LB Dylan Moses, LT Cam Robinson, S Johnathan Ford
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: WR Josh Hammond
Kansas City Chiefs
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Travis Kelce, K Harrison Butker, CB Rashad Fenton, P Tommy Townsend, S Armani Watts
- Activated from practice squad/COVID-19 list: LB Darius Harris
Las Vegas Raiders
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: G Jermaine Eluemunor, CB Brandon Facyson, S Roderic Teamer
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Kendal Vickers, TE Darren Waller (story)
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: G Lester Cotton, G Jeremiah Poutasi
Los Angeles Chargers
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: OLB Joey Bosa, WR Jalen Guyton, CB Kemon Hall, C Corey Linsley, DB Trey Marshall, LB Cole Christiansen
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Kenneth Murray, T Storm Norton
Los Angeles Rams
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: RB Raymond Calais
Miami Dolphins
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Cethan Carter, CB Justin Coleman, G Robert Jones, OL Greg Mancz, LB Duke Riley, WR Lynn Bowden
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: C Spencer Pulley
Minnesota Vikings
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: RB Dalvin Cook
- Activated from practice squad/COVID-19 list: CB Tye Smith
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Patrick Jones II
New England Patriots
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: RB Rhamondre Stevenson, OLB Harvey Langi
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Ja’Whaun Bentley, LB Matt Judon
New Orleans Saints
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Demario Davis, QB Taysom Hill, QB Trevor Siemian, LB Kwon Alexander, LB Kaden Elliss, S J.T. Gray, OT Jordan Mills, OG James Carpenter, DT Christian Ringo, TE Adam Trautman, S Jeff Heath
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: S Marcus Williams
New York Giants
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Keion Crossen, DB Adoree’ Jackson, WR John Ross
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DL Dexter Lawrence
New York Jets
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Michael Carter II, DT Folorunso Fatukasi, QB Joe Flacco, DL Jonathan Marshall, LB Hamsah Nasirildeen, TE Kenny Yeboah
- Activated from practice squad/COVID-19 list: LB Noah Dawkins, CB Lamar Jackson, DL Tanzel Smart
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: CB Ken Webster
Philadelphia Eagles
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: T Le’Raven Clark, T Andre Dillard, DE Tarron Jackson, DE Ryan Kerrigan
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Activated from practice squad/COVID-19 list: WR Rico Bussey
Seattle Seahawks
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Bryan Mone, CB D.J. Reed
- Activated from practice squad/COVID-19 list: CB Michael Jackson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Jamel Dean, WR Mike Evans, CB Sean Murphy-Bunting, WR Breshad Perriman
Tennessee Titans
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: T Taylor Lewan, DB Elijah Molden, G Rodger Saffold
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: ILB Jayon Brown, OLB Bud Dupree, WR Julio Jones, DB Buster Skrine, WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: CB Briean Boddy-Calhoun
Washington Football Team
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Darryl Roberts
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: OL Beau Benzschawel, T David Steinmetz
Vikings’ Adam Thielen Undergoes Surgery
After reinjuring his ankle during the Vikings’ Week 16 game against the Rams, Adam Thielen will be shut down. The veteran wide receiver underwent surgery, Chad Graff of The Athletic reports.
This operation will almost certainly knock Thielen out for the remainder of the season. A roughly one-month recovery timetable comes with this procedure, per Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). Barring a lengthy playoff run, the 31-year-old wideout will resurface next season. The Vikings placed Thielen on IR, knocking him out for at least three games.
Thielen suffered a high ankle sprain earlier this month. While he attempted to return, he left Sunday’s game in considerable pain. That development resulted in a quick decision on a surgical procedure.
Despite Justin Jefferson swiftly becoming one of the NFL’s best receivers, Thielen still leads the Vikings with 10 touchdown catches. The former UDFA has 67 receptions for 726 yards. Thielen played 15 games last season but missed six in 2019 due to injury. The $16.2MM-per-year extension he signed in 2019 runs through 2024.
The Vikings’ loss to the Rams dropped them below .500, at 7-8, and Thielen’s absence will make notching a sweep against the Packers more difficult. Ahead of the Vikes’ trip to Green Bay, FiveThirtyEight.com gives them a 13% chance to make the playoffs. Minnesota will turn to second-year target K.J. Osborn (46 receptions, 584 yards, five TDs) in Thielen’s place alongside Jefferson.
Packers To Activate Jaire Alexander From IR
The Packers have played most of this season without some of their best players, but the team will move another Pro Bowl talent back to its active roster. Jaire Alexander will be activated from IR on Wednesday, Matt LaFleur said (via The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman, on Twitter).
Alexander has been out since Week 4 with a shoulder injury. The Packers’ impending activation adds up, since Alexander must be moved back onto their 53-man roster by this afternoon or revert to season-ending IR.
Joining David Bakhtiari and Za’Darius Smith in not factoring into Green Bay’s recent push for the NFC’s bye, Alexander is not a lock to return to action this week. LaFleur is eyeing a “gradual” return for the fourth-year veteran, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com tweets. The Packers activated Bakhtiari weeks ago but have not seen him suit up yet. Smith remains on IR. That said, Alexander returning to practice three weeks ago marked a good sign for his late-season availability.
The team has held out hope both Alexander and Smith will be back this season. Alexander opted against undergoing a shoulder surgery that would have ended his season in October. While the Packers have seen his recovery take extensive time, they have nevertheless managed to remain atop the NFC without a few cornerstone players.
A 2018 first-round pick, Alexander broke through last season for his first Pro Bowl. The Louisville product is Green Bay’s top cornerback, but the team invested a first-round pick in Eric Stokes this offseason. Both Stokes and in-season pickup Rasul Douglas have played well. Alexander, however, has a longer track record of success. With his fifth-year option season looming in 2022, Alexander will be on the radar for a big-ticket extension in the offseason.
Eagles Add RB Kerryon Johnson To Practice Squad
Kerryon Johnson is back in Philly. Following a brief stint with the organization earlier this season, the running back is rejoining the Eagles’ practice squad, according to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer (on Twitter).
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With Miles Sanders sidelined and Jordan Howard banged up, the Eagles were looking for some healthy bodies to pair with Boston Scott and Kenneth Gainwell. So, they turned to Johnson, who spent much of the offseason with the organization. The running back landed on IR before being granted his release, and he managed to later catch on with the 49ers, appearing solely on special teams.
Johnson’s best season came during his rookie campaign, when he collected 854 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns on 150 touches. Over the next two seasons, Johnson only collected 898 yards from scrimmage on 194 touches, and he was ultimately waived by the team back in May.
The Eagles made a handful of additional practice squad moves today, including the signing of former Western Michigan offensive lineman Luke Juriga. The organization also released Matt McCrane and placed wideout John Hightower on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
Broncos Place DT DeShawn Williams On IR
DeShawn Williams is out for the season. The Broncos have placed their starting defensive tackle on injured reserve. Williams’ elbow injury will knock him out of the lineup for Denver’s final two games of the season.
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Williams was an undrafted free agent out of Clemson in 2015, but he’s found a home in Denver over the past two years. After starting 11 games for the Broncos in 2020, he’s started eight of his 15 contests in 2021. The 28-year-old has compiled 39 tackles, one sack, five QB hits, and one tackle for loss. Williams saw a season-high 35 defensive snaps during Denver’s loss to the Raiders on Sunday.
To help fill the void (and for extra insurance in case of COVID protocols for Mike Purcell), the Broncos signed Justin Hamilton off the Cowboys practice squad. The defensive tackle has spent most of the past two seasons with the Cowboys, getting into 19 games. He’s appeared in nine games this season, collecting 10 tackles and two QB hits.
The Broncos made a handful of additional moves today, signing guard Tristen Hoge, defensive end Deyon Sizer, and defensive tackle Akeem Spence to the practice squad.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/28/21
Today’s taxi squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: RB Tavien Feaster
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: C Jimmy Murray
- Released: QB Kenji Bahar, DB Blake Countess
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: TE Miller Forristall, WR Lawrence Cager
- Released: KR Jojo Natson, CB Bryan Mills
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: WR Scotty Washington
Denver Broncos
- Signed: G Tristen Hoge, DE Deyon Sizer, DT Akeem Spence
Detroit Lions
- Signed: WR Juwan Green, TE Ross Travis
- Released: CB Chris Williamson
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: S D.J. Swearinger
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: TE Kahale Warring, P Joseph Charlton, DE Hercules Mata’afa
Kansas City Chiefs
- Released: OT Paul Adams, WR Dalton Schoen, P Johnny Townsend
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: LS Beau Brinkley
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: RB Javian Hawkins, WR Warren Jackson, LB Justin Lawler
- Released: K Ryan Santoso, DB Greg Stroman, LS Carson Tinker
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: OT Rick Leonard
- Released: TE Brandon Dillon, WR Damion Ratley
New Orleans Saints
- Released: DT Braxton Hoyett, LB Justin March, OT Kyle Murphy, WR Malcolm Perry
New York Giants
- Signed: TE Jake Hausmann
- Released: DB Sam Beal, DB Darqueze Dennard
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: DT Elijah Ponder
- Released: DL Chris Cooper