Minor NFL Transactions: 9/9/23
We have our first flood of pregame transactions of the season today as teams across the league with games tomorrow utilize their two permitted practice squad elevations:
Arizona Cardinals
- Promoted from practice squad: T Jackson Barton, S Andre Chachere
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed to active roster: RB Godwin Igwebuike
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Natrone Brooks, TE Parker Hesse
- Waived: DL Joe Gaziano
Baltimore Ravens
- Promoted from practice squad: C Sam Mustipher, CB Daryl Worley
Chicago Bears
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Stephen Carlson, OLB DeMarquis Gates
- Released: LB Dylan Cole
Dallas Cowboys
- Promoted from practice squad: CB C.J. Goodwin, C Brock Hoffman
Denver Broncos
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Phillip Dorsett, WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted from practice squad: S Innis Gaines, RB Patrick Taylor
Houston Texans
- Promoted from practice squad: G Michael Deiter, P Ty Zentner
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Jake Funk, WR Juwann Winfree
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Ross Blacklock
Las Vegas Raiders
- Promoted from practice squad: DE Isaac Rochell
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Brevin Allen
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed to active roster: LB Troy Reeder
- Promoted from practice squad: K Brett Maher, QB Brett Rypien
- Placed on IR: TE Hunter Long
- Waived from IR with injury settlement: S DeAndre Square
Miami Dolphins
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Cameron Goode
Minnesota Vikings
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Myles Gaskin, OLB Benton Whitley
New Orleans Saints
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Ryan Connelly, RB Tony Jones Jr.
- Placed on IR: WR Tre’Quan Smith
New York Giants
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Taiwan Jones
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Britain Covey, P Arryn Siposs
San Francisco 49ers
- Promoted from practice squad: DE Austin Bryant, LB Curtis Robinson
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Artie Burns, LB Jon Rhattigan
- Placed on IR: RB Kenny McIntosh
Tennessee Titans
- Promoted from practice squad: T Justin Murray, DT Kyle Peko
Washington Commanders
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Jamison Crowder
Latest On Bears’ Backup QB Situation
SEPTEMBER 8: As expected, Eberflus said on Friday that it will indeed be Peterman backing up Fields when the Bears host the Packers on Sunday. The veteran will thus be turned to if anything should happen to Chicago’s starter during the game. Bagent will be designated the emergency third quarterback, meaning he will be in uniform without counting as part of the team’s gameday lineup. Only injuries to Fields and Peterman would allow the rookie to enter the game, though, and a return from either would obligate Bagent to head back to the sidelines.
SEPTEMBER 3: The Bears only had two quarterbacks on their initial 53-man roster after deciding to release both P.J. Walker and Nathan Peterman. The decision to cut the latter proved to be a paper transaction, though, and he is again on the active roster. 
As a result, questions have been raised about how the backup spot will shake out behind Justin Fields. The QB2 role was up for grabs during training camp and the preseason, and the play of undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent earned him at least a roster spot to start the year. He may not see backup duties right away, however.
“We have not decided that,” head coach Matt Eberflus said, via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, when asked about who will dress behind Fields in Week 1. “We’re sure glad to have [Peterman] back. He’s really good for that room. Him and Justin learned the offense together, so to speak, so they’re speaking the same language. So they understand it really well. It’s good to have him in the room.”
Peterman’s inclusion on the active roster – as opposed to the practice squad – could suggest he is in line to serve as the backup at least early in the season. Biggs predicts that the 29-year-old will start the campaign in the No. 2 role, which would relegate Bagent to emergency QB duties. Teams are allowed to carry three signal-callers on the roster while still only dressing two on gamedays. Injuries to the starter and backup are required for the third-stringer to be allowed to enter the game, however.
As Biggs notes, Bagent could move himself past Peterman while continuing to impress in practice during the season while the more experienced option works as a fill-in option. Things could change quickly from the presumed depth chart in short order, and Eberflus is not (at least publicly) prepared to declare how the team will proceed at the position to start the year.
“We wanted to secure him in that situation,” he said of Peterman’s release and re-signing. “We don’t know what’s going to happen in the future with who’s going to be up for the game, who’s going to be the backup. We’ll decide that as we go.”
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/7/23
Today’s practice squad moves:
Chicago Bears
- Signed: C Matt Farniok
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: LB Kyron Johnson, CB Tiawan Mullen
- Released: WR Joseph Ngata, TE Brady Russell
Matt Farniok brings some experience to Chicago’s practice squad. The offensive lineman saw time in 19 games for the Cowboys over the past two seasons, including a pair of starts. The former seventh-round pick also has some special teams experience.
Kyron Johnson got into 16 games for the Eagles in 2022, with the majority of his snaps coming on special teams. He finished the season with eight tackles.
NFC North Notes: Packers, Lions, Hockenson
Rashan Gary is all set to debut in Week 1, completing his recovery from the ACL tear that ended his 2022 season in November. But the Packers will begin their top pass rusher on a pitch count to start the season, Matt LaFleur confirmed (via Packers Wire’s Zach Kruse). This could open the door for early-season Lukas Van Ness development. The Packers still roster Preston Smith, who is going into his fifth season with the team, and Van Ness contributed as an inside and outside rusher at Iowa. The team has versatile linebacker Justin Hollins and 2022 fifth-rounder Kingsley Enagbare, who became a primary starter after Gary went down last season, as options while Gary ramps up to a full workload.
Additionally on the Green Bay injury front, David Bakhtiari, Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs are viewed as game-time decisions for Sunday’s opener against the Bears. Bakhtiari, who has seen knee trouble sidetrack his career to a degree over the past two-plus years, is listed on the injury report with more knee trouble. He expects to play, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Tom Silverstein tweets. Both starting receivers are battling hamstring maladies and have not practiced this week. Here is the latest from the NFC North:
- As for tonight’s game, the Lions ruled out cornerback Emmanuel Moseley. Although Detroit activated Moseley off its active/PUP list before roster-cutdown day, the free agency addition underwent a second knee procedure this summer and was viewed as a long shot to start the year on time. Moseley is finishing up a recovery from an October 2022 ACL tear.
- Isaiah Buggs started 13 games at nose tackle for last season’s Lions edition, but the veteran was informed in advance he would be a healthy scratch tonight, the Detroit News’ Justin Rogers notes. The Lions gave Buggs a two-year, $4.5MM deal in March but gave more snaps to rookie Brodric Martin and Benito Jones during camp. Buggs believes his lack of offseason attendance affected the team’s decision, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. The former Steelers contributor said his wife giving birth led to him staying away during OTAs. Jones and Alim McNeill are expected to start in Kansas City, Birkett adds.
- Going into free agency, the Bears did extensive work on Dre’Mont Jones, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune notes. Although the Bears carried plenty of cap space into free agency, they chose to stand down on Jones and spend for the likes of Tremaine Edmunds, Nate Davis, T.J. Edwards and DeMarcus Walker. The team later addressed its D-tackle needs in the draft, choosing three — Zacch Pickens (Round 2), Gervon Dexter (Round 3) and Travis Bell (Round 7) — on Day 2. This duo should be expected to play bigger roles down the line, but in Week 1, Justin Jones and Andrew Billings are slated to start. A four-year Broncos regular, Jones ended up with the Seahawks on a three-year, $51MM deal.
- T.J. Hockenson‘s four-year, $66MM Vikings extension comes with $29.29MM fully guaranteed, according to OverTheCap. That number checks in fourth among tight ends — behind Kyle Pitts‘ rookie deal and the extensions for Mark Andrews and George Kittle. Hockenson’s 2024 base salary is fully guaranteed. His $10.9MM 2025 base salary is guaranteed for injury at signing, per Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, who notes that number shifts to a full guarantee a year early (March 2024). The Vikings did not use the year-out guarantee structure for Hockenson’s 2026 setup, giving them more flexibility. Hockenson has $2.3MM of his 2026 base ($15.4MM) guaranteed for injury; it does not shift to a full guarantee until March 2026, giving the Vikings additional flexibility. Hockenson’s cap number will climb from $5MM this year to $14.1MM in 2024, Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune tweets.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/6/23
Minor moves from around the league as we prepare for tomorrow’s season opener:
Chicago Bears
- Released from IR with injury settlement: WR Isaiah Ford, WR Dante Pettis
Detroit Lions
- Waive/injured: RB Jermar Jefferson
Green Bay Packers
- Waived from IR with injury settlement: RB Tyler Goodson, LS Broughton Hatcher
- Released from IR with injury settlement: S Tarvarius Moore
Indianapolis Colts
- Released from IR with injury settlement: TE Ricky Seals-Jones
Kansas City Chiefs
- Waived from IR with injury settlement: G Jerome Carvin
Los Angeles Rams
- Reverted to IR: CB Shaun Jolly
Miami Dolphins
- Released from IR with injury settlement: TE Eric Saubert
New York Jets
- Waived from IR with injury settlement: CB Jimmy Moreland
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived from IR with injury settlement: S Tayler Hawkins
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived from IR with injury settlement: LB Vi Jones
OL Notes: Smith, Texans, Rams, Bears
The Cowboys are going with a “best five” configuration up front, shifting course months after Jerry Jones discussed a plan of keeping Tyler Smith at tackle. Smith is back at guard, but he may not be a lock to start the season on time. The second-year blocker suffered a hamstring strain, David Moore of the Dallas Morning News tweets. Jones expects Smith to play in Week 1; the 2022 first-round pick did not miss a game last season. Dallas has lost its starting left guard in free agency in each of the past two offseasons, seeing Connor Williams and Connor McGovern defect to the AFC East.
One of the backup options, Josh Ball, is on IR. Ball is battling hip and groin pain, and the Morning News’ Michael Gehlken notes he is expected to miss around two months. A 2021 fourth-rounder, Ball is not expected to need surgery. The Cowboys kept eight O-linemen, with rookies Asim Richards and T.J. Bass joining Chuma Edoga as backups.
Here is the latest from NFL O-lines:
- Texans right tackle Tytus Howard returned to practice earlier this week, working out with a cast on his injured left hand. While the fifth-year lineman is on the verge of returning, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes George Fant is expected to play in place of Howard in Week 1. Howard, who signed a Texans extension in July, underwent surgery to repair a broken hand in early August. Fant worked as a regular Jets starter — at left and right tackle — throughout the 2020 and ’21 seasons; injuries limited him to seven games last year.
- Josh Jones filled in for D.J. Humphries as the Cardinals’ left tackle last season, but the recently traded blocker is back at guard. The Texans have Jones in place as their starting left guard going into the season, Wilson tweets. Jones is replacing 2022 first-rounder Kenyon Green, who is on season-ending IR. Jones spent the 2021 season as a primary Cardinals starting guard. The Texans will also be without center Juice Scruggs to start the season; the second-rounder is on short-term IR with a hamstring injury.
- The Rams gave Joseph Noteboom a three-year, $40MM deal to replace Andrew Whitworth in 2022, but after another season-ending injury, Whitworth’s would-be heir apparent lost his job. The Rams are going with Alaric Jackson at left tackle, per The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue, who adds Noteboom is back at guard (subscription required). Noteboom worked at guard early in his career and was mentioned as a guard option this offseason, but he had played on the outside since becoming Los Angeles’ swing tackle in 2020. The Rams also added Kevin Dotson from the Steelers, and while Dotson has started 30 career games (including 17 last year), Rodrigue adds the team views him as a depth piece. A former UDFA, Jackson started six games last season before becoming one of the many Ram blockers forced off the field due to health issues. Blood clots ended Jackson’s 2022 slate.
- Previously set to shift back to center, Cody Whitehair is at guard to start his eighth Bears season. Teven Jenkins‘ injury will shift Whitehair to left guard and Lucas Patrick to center, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune notes. Recent trade acquisition Dan Feeney is in place as Chicago’s backup center. Jenkins is on IR to start the season. Whitehair spent the past four seasons at guard but began his career with three slates at center. Patrick has played both guard and center. The 2022 free agency addition was ticketed to start at center last season, but injuries limited the ex-Packer to seven games.
Chase Daniel Announces Broadcasting Gigs
It sounds like Chase Daniel is apparently calling it a career. The veteran quarterback announced today that he’s transitioning into broadcasting, seemingly putting an end to his NFL career.
Despite serving as the Chargers backup quarterback last season, Daniel worked as an in-studio analyst with NFL Network. Now, he’ll be co-hosting a show on the same network, along with hosting a podcast via The Athletic and an “upcoming NFL/College football season” on an unknown network
“I’m going to be as real [and] as authentic as possible [and] give you guys insight to what it’s truly like to be in the NFL,” Daniel wrote on Twitter. “What conversations are like inside the locker room, what it’s like in that first team meeting, [and] all my experiences thru 14 years.”
Despite going undrafted out of Missouri in 2009, the quarterback managed to put together a 14-year NFL career. While he spent more than a decade in the league, Daniel only earned five starts throughout his career, going 2-3.
He spent the past two seasons in Los Angeles serving as Justin Herbert‘s backup. In five appearances across two seasons, Daniel completed eight of his 12 pass attempts for 52 yards and one touchdown. The Chargers will be rolling with 2019 fifth-round pick Easton Stick as their primary backup heading into the 2023 campaign.
In total, Daniel got into 74 career games in stints with Washington, the Saints, Chiefs, Eagles, Bears, Lions, and Chargers. He’ll finish his career with 1,746 passing yards, nine touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/1/23
Teams continue to tinker with their taxi squads in the aftermath of roster cutdowns. Here are Friday’s updates:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: WR Daniel Arias, G Marquis Hayes, S Jovante Moffatt, DL Ben Stille, TE Blake Whiteheart
- Released: CB Quavian White
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: T David Sharpe, RB Jashaun Corbin, LB Chandler Wooten, WR Derek Wright
Chicago Bears
- Signed: S A.J. Thomas
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: CB A.J. Green
Denver Broncos
- Signed: LB Ben Niemann
- Released: WR Michael Bandy
Detroit Lions
- Signed: TE Darrell Daniels
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: DL Jonathan Ford
- Released: C James Empey
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: TE Gerrit Prince
- Released: DT Chris Williams
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: CB Chris Wilcox
New England Patriots
- Signed: WR T.J. Luther
- Released: WR Thyrick Pitts
New York Giants
- Signed: OL Jaylon Thomas
- Released: OL Tyre Phillips
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: CB Robert Rochell, LB Jon Rhattigan
- Released: QB Holton Ahlers, OL Greg Eiland
Tennessee Titans
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 8/31/23
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: WR Kaden Davis, OL Marquis Hayes
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: NT Bravvion Roy
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: QB Shane Buechele
Chicago Bears
- Signed: DL Deslin Alexandre, DL Daniel Hardy, OL Bill Murray, K John Parker Romo
Denver Broncos
- Signed: TE Lucas Krull
Detroit Lions
- Signed: QB David Blough, DL Quinton Bohanna, WR Daurice Fountain, DE Raymond Johnson, RB Zonovan Knight, G Michael Niese
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: LB Kristian Welch
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: DT McTelvin Agim, WR Racey McMath
- Released: DT Caleb Sampson, CB Kevin Toliver
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: DL Esezi Otomewo
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: CB Keith Taylor, WR Montrell Washington
- Released: DB Reese Taylor
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: WR Marquez Callaway, LB Isaac Darkangelo, G Vitaliy Gurman, DE Janarius Robinson
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: WR Alex Erickson, S Dean Marlowe, TE Nick Vannett
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: TE Nick Bowers, RB Darrynton Evans, OL Chasen Hines, S Joshua Kalu, DT Rashard Lawrence, OT James Tunstall, WR Raleigh Webb, DE Chase Winovich
New England Patriots
- Signed: WR Jalen Reagor
New Orleans Saints
- Released: RB Tony Jones Jr., RB Ellis Merriweather, RB Jordan Mims, LB Ty Summers
New York Giants
- Signed: CB Caleb Hayes, WR Dennis Houston, TE Tyree Jackson, RB Taiwan Jones, G Jalen Mayfield, OT Jaylon Thomas
- Released: CB Gemon Green, OL Tyre Phillips
New York Jets
- Signed: LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball, DL Jalyn Holmes, S Tyreque Jones, OL Jason Poe, OL Ryan Swoboda, RB Xazavian Valladay
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: DT Thomas Booker, OT Le’Raven Clark, CB Tiawan Mullen
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: LB Tariq Carpenter, OT Kellen Diesch, WR Simi Fehoko, G Joey Fisher, DB Josiah Scott
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: CB CB Shemar Jean-Charles, K Matthew Wright
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: OL Ben Brown, CB Artie Burns, LB Jon Rhattigan, CB Robert Rochell
- Released: QB Holton Ahlers, OL Greg Eiland
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: LB Brandon Bouyer-Randle, DE C.J. Brewer, OL Silas Dzansi, OT Luke Haggard, DB Keenan Isaac, WR Cephus Johnson, RB Patrick Laird, S Richard LeCounte, WR Ryan Miller, WR David Moore, DL Pat O’Connor, OL Raiqwon O’Neal, LB Jose Ramirez, LB J.J. Russell, TE Tanner Taula, QB John Wolford
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/31/23
Following a busy roster deadline day on Tuesday, teams continue to reshuffle their rosters. Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Claimed on waivers (from Colts): OL Carter O’Donnell
- Placed on IR: OL Dennis Daley, LB Myjai Sanders
- Waived from IR: OT Lachavious Simmons
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: QB Josh Johnson, CB Kevon Seymour, DE Brent Urban
- Placed on IR: LB Malik Hamm, RB Keaton Mitchell, CB Damarion Williams
Buffalo Bills
- Placed on IR: WR Justin Shorter, LB Baylon Spector
Carolina Panthers
- Placed on IR: TE Stephen Sullivan
Chicago Bears
- Waived from IR: RB Trestan Ebner, OL Gabe Houy
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DT Maurice Hurst
- Placed on IR: LB Jordan Kunaszyk
Detroit Lions
- Signed: RB Craig Reynolds
- Placed on IR: LB Julian Okwara
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: LS Matt Orzech
- Placed on IR: OT Luke Tenuta
Indianapolis Colts
- Waived: G Arlington Hambright
Los Angeles Chargers
- Waived from IR: LB Blake Lynch
New York Giants
- Waived from IR: CB Zyon Gilbert
New York Jets
- Placed on IR: OT Carter Warren, TE Kenny Yeboah
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived from IR: S Joey Blount
Tennessee Titans
- Released: OL Justin Murray
The Ravens brought back a trio of veterans to their 53-man roster. Brent Urban is probably destined for the biggest role, with the veteran lineman serving as the top backup to Broderick Washington at defensive end. Urban got into 16 games for Baltimore last season, collecting 21 tackles and one sack. Veteran QB Josh Johnson will slide behind Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley on the depth chart, and Kevon Seymour will continue his role as a key special teamer.
The Cardinals are temporarily losing some production with offensive lineman Dennis Daley and linebacker Myjai Sanders being placed on IR. Daley joined the Cardinals on a two-year deal this offseason after starting 15 of his 17 appearances for the Titans in 2022. Sanders had a productive rookie campaign, with the third-round pick collecting 23 tackles, three sacks, and one forced fumble.
Julian Okwara has turned into a productive pass-rushing option in Detroit. The former third-round pick has collected seven sacks over the past two seasons, but he’ll now be sidelined for the start of the season while recovering from a knee injury suffered during in the preseason finale.