NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/17/23
Today’s practice squad moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: S Andrew Adams
Chicago Bears
- Signed: QB Trace McSorley
Detroit Lions
- Signed: RB Mohamed Ibrahim
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: CB Anthony Johnson
- Released: CB Kiondre Thomas
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: WR Tyrod Cleveland, RB Zavier Scott
- Released: WR Racey McMath, WR Anthony Miller, G Dakoda Shepley
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: LB Isaiah Moore
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: OT Jalen McKenzie
- Released: WR Malik Flowers
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: LB Quinton Bell
New England Patriots
- Signed: OT Conor McDermott
Bears Hire Phil Snow As Defensive Assistant
Since the sudden resignation of defensive coordinator Alan Williams, the Bears have been shorthanded on the sidelines. Head coach Matt Eberflus recently acknowledged a search was ongoing for an experienced staffer on that side of the ball, and that process has produced a hiring. 
Phil Snow has been brought in as a senior defense assistant, Eberflus announced on Monday. The latter will retain play-calling duties, which he took on after Williams stepped away from the organization following what is believed to have been inappropriate activity. Snow will, however, meet the requirements Eberflus laid out regarding his ideal candidate with respect to experience and familiarity with multiple different schemes.
“I think you try to find a guy that has both,” Eberflus said, via ESPN’s Courtney Cronin, when asked about having a background in the Bears’ current scheme along with ones not used by the current staff. “Because he has to have some similarities because he knows the scheme but also has different experiences to think outside the box, which brings new, fresh perspective in. So, I think both things are always good.”
Snow, 67, spent the past two-plus seasons as the Panthers’ defensive coordinator. He shared time at the college level with Matt Rhule at both Temple and Baylor, so it came as no surprise that they were hired together in 2020. In response to Rhule’s disappointing run in Carolina, however, he was fired just over one year ago and Snow was also let go. The Panthers posted mediocre numbers in many categories under Snow, though the team did rank second in total defense in 2021.
In the aftermath of Williams’ departure, many pointed to Rod Marinelli as a potential fill-in option for the remainder of the season. As Eberflus mentioned at the start of the search process, though, the 74-year-old is content in retirement and was not a consideration for the position. Snow, who also has NFL experience with the Lions, will instead take on the task of assisting a Bears defense which has plenty of room for improvement.
The 1-5 outfit has fared well against the run so far, allowing less than 90 yards per game on the ground. Overall, however, the team ranks 29th in points (29.3) and 25th in yards (357) yards surrendered per contest. Eberflus’ defensive background has led to criticism of Chicago’s performance with him in charge, though he still has the backing of ownership and the front office. Improvement in the coming weeks would still be welcomed with respect to his job security, of course, and it will be interesting to see if Snow can assist on that front.
Bears QB Justin Fields Dealing With Dislocated Thumb, Doubtful For Week 7
OCTOBER 16: When speaking publicly about Fields’ injury, head coach Matt Eberflus confirmed the 24-year-old is dealing with a dislocated thumb. Fields is doubtful to play in Week 7, but more clarity on his return timetable will likely not emerge until later in the week, including a decision on whether or not surgery will be in play (h/t ESPN’s Courtney Cronin). Much will depend on the swelling in the affected thumb, but for now Bagent can be penciled in as Chicago’s starter moving forward.
OCTOBER 15: Early into the second half of the Bears’ loss to the Vikings today, third-year quarterback Justin Fields was forced out of the game with an injury to his throwing hand. Specifically, according Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the injury was to Fields’ thumb, affecting his grip on the football. Fields was unable to effectively grip the ball and spent the remainder of the game on the sideline as a result. 
Fields third year in the NFL started off in a rocky manner as fans continued to question his effectiveness as an NFL starter. Three straight losses to open the year while throwing three touchdowns to five interceptions and only averaging 175.33 passing yards per game only added to the mounting critiques.
In the team’s past two contests leading up to today’s game, though, Fields was beginning to show the promise becoming of his high draft status. In a close loss and a big first win of the season, Fields threw eight touchdowns to one interception while averaging 308.5 passing yards per game. Coming off those two strong performances, a divisional contest against the struggling Vikings was becoming a game to watch for Fields. Unfortunately, the injury to his hand kept him from continuing that recent success with a big second half.
In his absence, Chicago put in undrafted rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent out of Shepherd University. In his NFL debut, Bagent was mostly efficient, aside from a desperation interception in the game’s dying moments, while being mostly conservative as a substitute. After a critical fumble that ended up being returned for a touchdown, Bagent wasn’t able to erase the Bears’ 13-point deficit, but he did lead the team on a touchdown drive to make it a one-score game.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, head coach Matt Eberflus disclosed that the X-rays on Fields’ hand were negative, indicating no broken bones. He will undergo an MRI tomorrow in order to determine if there is any other potential damage that may take time to recover from. If the MRI turns up something that will force Fields to miss time, or if Fields is still struggling to grip the ball next week, Bagent may hear his name called again especially if fellow backup Nathan Peterman remains unavailable.
Latest On Patriots, Bill Belichick; Bears Are Potential Landing Spot For Belichick?
OCTOBER 15: Like other reporters, Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post is not hearing any rumblings that Belichick could be fired in-season. After all, as Mike Reiss of ESPN.com notes, the locker room remains united, and Belichick is showing no outward signs of panic.
Nonetheless, it seems increasingly likely that 2023 will be Belichick’s last season in Foxborough, and that the 71-year-old himself may be ready to move on. If that happens, then Jonathan Kraft, Robert’s son and the club’s team president, reportedly prefers a younger HC who has less control over football operations. Indeed, Belichick’s missteps as the Pats’ de facto GM are well-documented and have played a major role in New England’s post-Brady struggles, and it makes sense that the team would want to begin anew with a more traditional power structure.
A coaching agent that spoke with La Canfora unsurprisingly believes there would be a market for Belichick’s services, and La Canfora names the Bears as a potential landing spot if Chicago should decide to part ways with current HC Matt Eberflus while retaining GM Ryan Poles. Poles entered the NFL’s personnel world as a scouting assistant with the Chiefs under then-GM Scott Pioli, and Pioli worked with Belichick in Cleveland from 1992-95 and in New England from 2000-08.
OCTOBER 11: Sitting at the bottom of the AFC East after two massive blowouts, speculation regarding Bill Belichick‘s job security has picked up again. The Patriots’ head coach and de facto GM appears to face the very serious possibility of finding himself out of his current position by next season. 
The relationship between Belichick and owner Robert Kraft has soured during the course of the post-Tom Brady era, one in which the Patriots have made only one playoff appearance and not won a postseason game. Tensions between the two went public over the summer, fueling questions about Kraft’s readiness to authorize a coaching change in the event of continued team struggles.
The opening weeks of 2023 certainly meet that description, and New England now sits at 1-4. As a result, internal tension within the organization has been exacerbated, reports Sportkeeda’s Tony Pauline. The team’s slow start has illustrated roster-building issues which can understandably be attributed to Belichick, who was reported to be on the hot seat before the start of the campaign. Pauline’s sources indicate the 71-year-old is not expected to return for 2024, though a midseason firing would come as a surprise at this point.
That presumed scenario would involve Belichick – who has been in place since 2000 and ranks third on the NFL’s all-time wins list – choosing to step aside and avoid needing to be given a pink slip. His lengthy list of accomplishments has led many to expect he would receive enough leeway to decide his own fate. Especially if the trend of lopsided losses and offensive struggles continues, though, that may not be the case.
Jeff Howe of the The Athletic notes that Kraft is becoming increasingly frustrated with Belichick’s performance and that of the team as a whole (subscription required). Howe adds that New England’s defense has been angered by the comparative poor play of the offense, a unit led by third-year quarterback Mac Jones. The former first-rounder has not succeeded in offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien‘s system as expected, something which has certainly not helped the perceived rift between Jones and Belichick that came to light in the offseason.
Moving on from Belichick at any time, and in any manner, would mark a major move for the Patriots considering their unmatched run of success during his tenure. It seems increasingly likely, however, that the next chapter in the organization’s history will be starting in the short-term future. New England’s ability to rebound from consecutive lopsided defeats (or lack thereof) will certainly be worth watching as it pertains to Belichick’s hot seat status.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/14/23
Here are today’s minor transactions heading into the Week 6 weekend:
Arizona Cardinals
- Activated from IR: OL Dennis Daley
- Elevated: CB Bobby Price, RB Damien Williams
Atlanta Falcons
- Elevated: S Micah Abernathy, DT LaCale London
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from IR: RB Keaton Mitchell
Buffalo Bills
- Activated from IR: LB Baylon Spector
- Elevated: CB Ja’Marcus Ingram
Chicago Bears
- Activated from IR: CB Kyler Gordon (story)
Detroit Lions
- Activated from IR: CB Khalil Dorsey
- Signed to active roster: T Dan Skipper
- Elevated: RB Devine Ozigbo
- Placed on IR: RB Zonovan Knight, CB Emmanuel Moseley (story)
Houston Texans
- Activated from IR: WR Noah Brown
- Elevated: CB D’Angelo Ross
- Waived: CB Alex Austin
Las Vegas Raiders
- Elevated: CB Tyler Hall, G Netane Muti
Los Angeles Rams
- Elevated: DT Marquise Copeland, DT Cory Durden
Miami Dolphins
- Activated from IR: G Robert Jones
- Elevated: TE Tanner Conner
New Orleans Saints
- Signed to active roster: RB Jordan Mims
- Elevated: TE J.P. Holtz, S Daniel Sorensen
- Placed on IR: FB Adam Prentice
New York Giants
- Signed to active roster: G Jalen Mayfield
- Elevated: QB Tommy DeVito, G Justin Pugh
Philadelphia Eagles
- Activated from IR: LB Nakobe Dean
- Elevated: WR Devon Allen, CB Mekhi Garner
- Placed on IR: WR Quez Watkins
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: CB Shemar Jean-Charles, LB Curtis Robinson
Seattle Seahawks
- Elevated: WR Cody Thompson
- Placed on IR: CB Coby Bryant
Dean took the starting role the Eagles had in store for him in Week 1, but a foot injury interrupted his second NFL campaign. The 22-year-old was poised to return ahead of Sunday’s game by returning to practice earlier this week, though, and a first-team role is expected to await him upon suiting up. Dean taking on a heavy workload will relegate Nicholas Morrow (who was promoted from the practice squad) to backup duty despite the latter’s strong performances so far.
Seattle has seen fellow corners Devon Witherspoon and Riq Woolen enjoy considerable success, but the team’s secondary will be shorthanded without Bryant. The latter will miss at least the next four weeks as a result of the IR move as he recovers from a toe injury. The 2022 fourth-rounder, who has seen his defensive snap share jump from 65% to 77% this year, has not played since Week 2.
Bears Place RB Khalil Herbert, WR Equanimeous St. Brown On IR
The Bears will be quite shorthanded in the backfield in Week 6 with Roschon Johnson, Travis Homer and Khalil Herbert unavailable. The latter will be sidelined for an extended stretch, though. 
Herbert was placed on injured reserve Friday, per a team announcement. The news comes as little surprise, as his high ankle sprain suffered during Chicago’s first win of the season was expected to keep him out for multiple games. As a result of the IR move, Herbert will be required to miss at least the next four weeks.
The 25-year-old saw an uptick in usage early in the 2023 season, as was expected after the free agent departure of David Montgomery. Herbert has averaged 12.2 touches per contest, and he has remained efficient on the ground with an average of 5.3 yards per carry. It will be interesting to see how the Bears divvy up their running back snaps now that Herbert will not be in the picture for the foreseeable future. Darrynton Evans was recently signed off the Dolphins’ practice squad to provide needed depth in the backfield.
The Bears also placed Equanimeous St. Brown on IR Friday. The former Packers sixth-rounder has been in Chicago since last season, operating as a rotational option in the passing game. He has seen a dip in playing time this year (49% snap share), but his absence will be felt given that of Chase Claypool, whose highly underwhelming time in the Windy City came to an end less than one calendar year after his arrival. Bringing back Herbert and St. Brown will require two of the Bears’ seven remaining IR activations.
A pair of those will be used on backup offensive lineman Doug Kramer and starting slot cornerback Kyler Gordon. The latter could return in time for Sunday if he is activated using one of the roster spots opened up by today’s moves. The other one has already been occupied by the return of Nathan Peterman. The journeyman quarterback was released earlier this month, but the expectation at the time was that he would be retained via the practice squad. Peterman will now return to the active roster behind undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent on the depth chart.
Bears Not Looking To Trade CB Jaylon Johnson
As the October 31 trade deadline draws nearer, the identity of buyers and sellers around the NFL should come further into focus. At 1-4, the Bears would presumably fall into the latter category, but that status would not include seeking a deal to ship out one of their starting corners. 
Chicago is not currently shopping Jaylon Johnson, Adam Jahns of The Athletic writes (subscription required). The 24-year-old is in the final season of his rookie contract, and his status as a rental would no doubt be appealing to any number of teams looking to shore up their secondary. As Jahns adds, though, Johnson is still seeking a deal which will keep him in the Windy City beyond 2023.
The former second-rounder changed agents this summer in pursuit of an extension, but no new contract has materialized as of yet. That will likely continue through the remainder of the campaign, something which would leave him free to depart in March in the absence of a second Bears pact. How willing team and player are to enter into a continued relationship will be a key factor in informing Chicago’s next step in this situation.
Johnson has been a full-time starter in all four of his Bears campaigns, a stretch which has seen him record only one interception (though he has added 32 pass breakups and a trio of forced fumbles). The Utah alum has fared better in his past two seasons than the first two with respect to coverage statistics, and he has allowed a career-best opposing passer rating of 57.4 in 2023, albeit on only 11 targets across three contests. He would be a logical trade target for acquiring teams prepared to extend him on a market-level deal for 2024 and beyond.
The Bears have added three cornerbacks over the past two drafts (Kyler Gordon, Tyrique Stevenson and Terell Smith). The former two have operated as starters when healthy, and dealing away Johnson would give the team the option of moving Gordon from the slot back to the perimeter, where he started his career. On the other hand, a new Johnson pact would not require a market-resetting investment like the one the Ravens made in linebacker Roquan Smith after he was dealt away by Chicago midseason last year. Whether or not general manager Ryan Poles follows the same course of action with Johnson will be a key storyline to follow in the coming days and weeks.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/10/23
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Atlanta Falcons
- Released: WR Xavier Malone
Chicago Bears
- Signed: WR Collin Johnson
- Released: K John Parker Romo
Denver Broncos
- Released: WR Michael Bandy
Detroit Lions
- Signed: CB Anthony Averett (story), TE Anthony Firkser
- Released: CB Darius Phillips, WR Trey Quinn
Indianapolis Colts
- Released: WR Juwann Winfree
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: CB Cornell Armstrong
- Released: WR Marquez Callaway, CB Rejzohn Wright
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: RB Jake Funk
Minnesota Vikings
- Released: QB Tanner Morgan
New York Giants
- Signed: OL Yodny Cajuste
- Designated to return: WR Cole Beasley
- Released: CB Amani Oruwariye, WR Cam Sims
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: FB Jack Colletto
Anthony Firkser will provide the Lions with some veteran tight end depth. Darrell Daniels has mostly transitioned to a fullback role and James Mitchell is sidelined with a hamstring injury, leaving Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright as the two healthy TEs on the roster. Firkser has seen time in 69 regular season games, hauling in 115 catches for 1,207 yards and five touchdowns. The 28-year-old tight end got into 11 games for the Falcons in 2022, finishing with nine catches for 100 yards.
Yodny Cajuste is back in New York after getting cut by the Jets back in August. The former third-round pick got into 17 games (five starts) for the Patriots between the 2021 and 2022 seasons. He was waived by New England back in May before catching on with the Jets for the preseason.
Bears Designate CB Kyler Gordon For Return, Sign QB Nathan Peterman To Practice Squad
The Bears could have their starting slot corner back in the fold as early as Week 6. Kyler Gordon was designated for return from injured reserve on Monday, per a team announcement. Backup center Doug Kramer has also had his practice window opened. 
[RELATED: Khalil Herbert Facing Extended Absence, Bears Sign RB Darrynton Evans]
As a result of the move, both players are now clear to return to practice. They can do so for up to 21 days before Chicago will be required to activate them or see them revert to season-ending IR. Bringing back the pair will use up two of the team’s seven remaining IR activations.
Gordon suffered a broken hand in the season opener, and the surgery he underwent opened the door to an IR stint the following week. The team was optimistic he would be able to return at the first opportunity, and that would prove to be the case if he were to be activated this week. A 2022 second-rounder, Gordon played on the outside as a rookie but has moved to the slot for the 2023 campaign. His return will allow Chicago to have its top trio of Gordon, Jaylon Johnson and rookie Tyrique Stevenson in place at the CB spot.
Gordon, 23, showed plenty of promise last season, racking up 71 tackles, three interceptions and six pass deflections. The Washington alum left plenty to be desired in coverage, though, allowing three touchdowns and a passer rating of 102 as the nearest defender. That led to a poor PFF grade of 49.8, but a return to action will give him the chance to show improvement and in doing so give a boost to the Bears’ secondary.
In other roster news, the Bears retained quarterback Nathan Peterman by signing him to the practice squad. The veteran was released last week in a move which confirmed undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent‘s status as the backup to Justin Fields. Chicago did not have another passer in the organization beyond that pair for a time, however, so it comes as little surprise that Peterman will remain in the Windy City. The 29-year-old spent last season on and off the team’s taxi squad, and that arrangement is now set continue in 2023.
Bears RB Khalil Herbert To Miss Multiple Weeks; Team Signs Darrynton Evans
The Bears’ resounding Thursday night win against the Commanders, which broke Chicago’s 14-game losing streak, came with a price. As Tom Pelissero of NFL.com reports, running back Khalil Herbert will miss multiple weeks after suffering an ankle injury in the victory over Washington. Per Josina Anderson of CBS Sports, Herbert sustained a high ankle sprain and could land on injured reserve.
While Herbert’s rushing attempts this year have been somewhat limited by game script and the fact that quarterback Justin Fields carries the ball a great deal, he has played at a high level. He has 272 rushing yards on 51 carries — good for a strong 5.3 yards-per-carry average — and has added 10 catches for 83 yards and a score. The Bears’ offense came to life against the Broncos and Commanders over the past two games, and Herbert has performed especially well in both contests. In Chicago’s narrow loss to Denver in Week 4, the 2021 sixth-rounder recorded 18 carries for 103 yards and added four catches for 19 yards and a TD.
Denver and Washington are both fielding porous defenses at the moment, but Herbert’s play is in keeping with the ability he demonstrated over his first two years in the league as a backup to David Montgomery. Now with 283 NFL carries to his name, Herbert has maintained a career 5.1 YPC rate and has proven himself worthy of an RB1 role.
The Bears are also rostering talented rookie Roschon Johnson, who has 25 carries for 122 yards (4.9 YPC) and 11 receptions for 53 yards in 2023. Unfortunately, as Pelissero notes, Johnson is dealing with a concussion, and Travis Homer is battling a hamstring ailment. As such, free agent acquisition D’Onta Foreman — who has accumulated just five rushing attempts this year — could be in line for a larger role in the short-term.
Pelissero reports that Chicago, in an effort to fill out its RB depth chart, has signed running back Darrynton Evans off the Dolphins’ taxi squad. Evans, a 2020 third-round pick of the Titans, was waived by the Bills during final cutdowns in August and joined Miami shortly thereafter. He has not appeared in a game in 2023, but he has familiarity with the Bears, having played in six contests for the club last season.