NFL COVID List Updates: 12/24/21
We’ve compiled a list of players who were placed on or activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list today. In some instances, players activated from the list remain on IR:
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: S Chuck Clark, C Trystan Colon
- Activated from practice squad/COVID-19 list: RB Nate McCrary
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: QB Chris Streveler
Buffalo Bills
- Activated from practice squad/COVID-19 list: T Bobby Hart
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Gabriel Davis, G Cody Ford
Chicago Bears
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Bilal Nichols
Cincinnati Bengals
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Mike Thomas
Cleveland Browns
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: CB A.J. Green, QB Case Keenum, WR Jarvis Landry, QB Baker Mayfield, DE Ifeadi Odenigbo
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: K Chase McLaughlin, DT Jordan Elliott
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: S Tedric Thompson
Dallas Cowboys
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Jourdan Lewis, WR Simi Fehoko
Denver Broncos
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: LB Barrington Wade
Green Bay Packers
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DL Kenny Clark
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Chauncey Rivers
Indianapolis Colts
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: G Quenton Nelson
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Josh Allen, WR Laviska Shenault, OL Ben Bartch
Kansas City Chiefs
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Blake Bell
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19: P Tommy Townsend
Los Angeles Chargers
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Justin Jones
Los Angeles Rams
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Jordan Fuller, TE Tyler Higbee
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: OL Cole Williamson
Miami Dolphins
- Activated from practice squad/COVID-19 list: RB Gerrid Doaks
New England Patriots
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: RB Rhamondre Stevenson
New Orleans Saints
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Demario Davis, DB J.T. Gray, T Ryan Ramczyk, RB Dwayne Washington
New York Giants
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: S J.R. Reed, OLB Oshane Ximines
- Activated from practice squad/COVID-19 list: C Jonotthan Harrison
New York Jets
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Jeff Smith, CB Justin Hardee
- Placed from reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Ryan Griffin
Philadelphia Eagles
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: OL Landon Dickerson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Montravius Adams
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Isaiah Buggs
Seattle Seahawks
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: RB Travis Homer
- Activated from practice squad/COVID-19 list: OL Pier-Olivier Lestage
Tennessee Titans
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Dez Fitzpatrick
- Activated from practice squad/COVID-19 list: DB Jamal Carter
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: T Taylor Lewan
Washington Football Team
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: QB Kyle Allen, S Kamren Curl, LB Milo Eifler, CB Kendall Fuller
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Nate Orchard
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/24/21
Here are the league’s practice squad moves from Christmas Eve:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: P Jamie Gillan, WR Austin Proehl
Cleveland Browns
- Released: TE Ross Travis
Denver Broncos
- Signed: C Javon Patterson, OLB Pita Taumoepenu
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: P Joseph Charlton, P Johnny Townsend
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: C Spencer Pulley
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: QB Blake Bortles (story)
- Released: RB Josh Adams
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/24/21
Here are the NFL moves from Christmas Eve:
Buffalo Bills
- Promoted: T Bobby Hart, WR Isaiah Hodgins
- Placed on IR: DB Tre’Davious White
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted: S Adrian Colbert, G Hjalte Froholdt, DE Joe Jackson, CB Herb Miller, S Jovante Moffatt, QB Nick Mullens, K Chris Naggar, DE Curtis Weaver
- Waived: WR Lawrence Cager, TE Miller Forristall
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted: OL Cole Van Lanen
- Placed on IR: LB Ty Summers, WR Malik Taylor
Miami Dolphins
- Promoted: WR Tommylee Lewis, C Cameron Tom
Minnesota Vikings
- Placed on IR: C Mason Cole
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted: CB Rashard Robinson, WR Justin Watson
Washington Football Team
- Placed on IR: DB Landon Collins, DE Daniel Wise
- Place on reserve/NFI: DB Deshazor Everett
- Waived: DL Akeem Spence
Browns Activate Baker Mayfield, Jarvis Landry From COVID-19 List
Baker Mayfield and Jarvis Landry did not practice this week, but both will be in line to play on Christmas Day. The Browns are activating Mayfield and Landry from the reserve/COVID-19 list.
Mayfield tested positive for the coronavirus Dec. 15 but could not navigate the return protocol until Friday. Still, he will be expected to start against the Packers.
The Browns also activated backup Case Keenum, cornerback A.J. Green and defensive lineman Ifeadi Odengibo from the virus list for their Green Bay trip. Cleveland’s loss against Las Vegas, in a game Nick Mullens started with a host of backups at other spots, significantly diminished its playoff chances. The team was without 10 starters against the Raiders.
Some Browns remain on the virus list, including center J.C. Tretter and left tackle Jedrick Wills. Still, the Browns will be in better shape to face the Packers compared to the squad they were forced to deploy Monday.
Mayfield is still dealing with the left shoulder fracture he suffered earlier this season. The former No. 1 overall pick has dealt with other injury issues this season, but the shoulder problem will require surgery in 2022. Some of Mayfield’s numbers are well off his 2020 pace. He has thrown just 13 touchdown passes. While his completion percentage (62.8) is identical to his full-season 2020 mark and yards-per-attempt figure (7.6) up from last year, QBR slots Mayfield 25th. The metric placed the Browns starter 10th in 2020, putting him on track for a potential extension this year. Those talks have since been tabled, with a new deal unlikely until next year at least.
J.C. Tretter Tests Positive For COVID-19
The Browns are set to run into more offensive line unavailability because of the coronavirus. J.C. Tretter announced (via Twitter) he turned in a positive COVID-19 test Thursday.
Barring a false positive, this will rule the Pro Bowl snapper out for the Browns’ Christmas Day matchup against the Packers. Tretter’s positive test follows Jedrick Wills and Wyatt Teller also doing so. Teller returned to play against the Raiders after testing positive, but the two-day window here would make Tretter following suit all but impossible.
Wills remains on the Browns’ virus list, but swing man James Hudson is back on the active roster, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer notes. Cleveland tinkered with its O-line as a result of Wills’ positive, sliding Pro Bowl guard Joel Bitonio to left tackle. Tretter, however, has not missed a game since signing with the Browns in 2017. The Browns also moved Grant Delpit off their virus list.
Tretter, 30, is also the NFLPA president. He said the union’s push to postpone three games last week — rather than cancel them, a path Tretter indicated the NFL preferred — led to the three Week 15 games being moved rather than players losing out on per-game salaries. His absence Saturday will certainly affect a top-tier Browns O-line in a pivotal game. The Browns’ shorthanded loss Monday dropped them to 7-7; FiveThirtyEight.com gives Cleveland a 15% chance to make the playoffs.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/22/21
Today’s taxi squad moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: C Jimmy Murray
- Placed on COVID-19 list: OT David Sharpe
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: DE Breeland Speaks
- Placed on COVID-19 list: TE Quintin Morris
Cleveland Browns
- Activated from COVID-19 list: WR JoJo Natson
Cincinnati Bengals
- Suspended two games: RB/KR Pooka Williams
Detroit Lions
- Placed on COVID-19 list: CB Chris Williamson
Indianapolis Colts
- Placed on COVID-19 list: TE Farrod Green
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: OT Paul Adams, WR Dalton Schoen
Los Angeles Rams
- Placed on COVID-19 list: RB Javian Hawkins, WR Warren Jackson
- Released: DB Damarious Randall
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DE Braxton Hoyett
- Released: LB Chase Hansen
New York Giants
- Signed: CB Darqueze Dennard, S Dwayne Johnson
New York Jets
- Signed: CB Ken Webster, WR Isaiah Zuber
Washington Football Team
- Released: DE Hercules Mata’afa
NFL COVID List Updates: 12/22/21
We’ve compiled a list of players who were placed or activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list today. In some instances (including Christian McCaffrey and Travis Etienne), players activated from the list remain on IR:
Arizona Cardinals
- Placed on list: P Andy Lee
Baltimore Ravens
- Placed on list: LB Chris Board, DT Justin Madubuike, S Geno Stone, LB Kristian Welch
Carolina Panthers
- Placed on list: S Sam Franklin Jr., DE Azur Kamara
- Activated from list: RB Christian McCaffrey
Chicago Bears
- Placed on list: TE Jesper Horsted
Cleveland Browns
- Placed on list: CB Greg Newsome
- Activated from list: TE Austin Hooper, LB Jacob Phillips
Dallas Cowboys
- Activated from list: DT Osa Odighizuwa
Denver Broncos
- Activated from list: LB Malik Reed
Detroit Lions
- Activated from list: S Jalen Elliott
Houston Texans
- Placed on list: WR Brandin Cooks (st0ry), LB Tae Davis
- Activated from list: DE DeMarcus Walker
Indianapolis Colts
- Placed on list: DE Kemoko Turay, CB Rock Ya-Sin
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Placed on list: RB Travis Etienne
- Activated from list: LB Dylan Moses
Kansas City Chiefs
- Placed on list: OT Mike Remmers
- Activated from list: LB Willie Gay Jr., WR Josh Gordon
Las Vegas Raiders
- Placed on list: CB Brandon Facyson
Los Angeles Chargers
- Placed on list: WR Jalen Guyton
Los Angeles Rams
- Activated from list: DB Terrell Burgess, G Jamil Demby, T Rob Havenstein, NT Sebastian Joseph, LB Ogbonnia Okoronkwo
Miami Dolphins
- Placed on list: G Robert Jones
Minnesota Vikings
- Activated from list: RB Alexander Mattison
New England Patriots
- Activated from list: RB J.J. Taylor
New Orleans Saints
- Placed on list: TE Adam Trautman
New York Jets
- Placed on list: S Ashtyn Davis, DT Jonathan Marshall, TE Kenny Yeboah
Philadelphia Eagles
- Placed on list: T Le’Raven Clark
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Placed on list: LB Marcus Allen, OT Zach Banner, LB Devin Bush
Seattle Seahawks
- Placed on list: TE Will Dissly
- Activated from list: RB Alex Collins
Tennessee Titans
- Placed on list: OL Rodger Saffold
Washington Football Team
- Placed on list: LB Cole Holcomb
- Activated from list: DE William Bradley-King, T Cornelius Lucas
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/22/21
Here are Wednesday’s minor moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: P Jamie Gillan
Dallas Cowboys
- Designated for return: T Josh Ball, WR T.J. Vasher
Denver Broncos
- Designated for return: T Calvin Anderson, LB Andre Mintze
Houston Texans
- Placed on IR: QB Jeff Driskel
- Promoted: DL Demone Harris, DL Chris Smith
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed off Packers’ practice squad: RB Ryquell Armstead
- Designated for return (off reserve/NFI list): LB Dylan Moses
- Designated for return: TE Dan Arnold
Kansas City Chiefs
- Designated for return: DE Joshua Kaindoh
New York Giants
- Promoted: WR Pharoh Cooper
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Designated for return: G Kevin Dotson
San Francisco 49ers
- Designated for return: RB Trey Sermon
Latest On Baker Mayfield's Injuries
- Although Baker Mayfield missed Monday’s game due to a positive COVID-19 test, the Browns quarterback has played through multiple injuries in the previous several weeks. The former No. 1 overall pick will, however, need offseason surgery and will be forced to wear a harness on his injured left shoulder the rest of this season, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports notes. Mayfield suffered a fractured shoulder bone in October. While some of Mayfield’s other injuries — of the knee and heel variety — have improved, the shoulder problem is unlikely to be in the rear-view mirror until after his 2022 surgery.
Updated 2022 NFL Draft Order
Have you been waiting all day for Tuesday night? Thanks to COVID rescheduling, we still have two games to go in Week 15. While the Eagles, Rams, and the Washington Football Team are all jockeying for postseason berths/positioning, the Seahawks are — for all intents and purposes — out of playoff contention.
If the season ended today, the Seahawks would own a top ten pick…that is, if they owned it. The Jets, who hold the Seahawks’ 2022 first-round pick by way of the Jamal Adams trade, will be cheering for the Rams tonight.
For non-playoff teams, the draft order will be determined by the inverted 2021 standings, plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule. For playoff teams, the order is determined by their postseason outcome and regular season record.
Before the games begin, here’s a look at the currently projected 2022 NFL Draft Order:
- Jacksonville Jaguars (2-12)
- Detroit Lions (2-11-1)
- Houston Texans (3-11)
- New York Jets (3-11)
- New York Giants (via Bears)
- New York Giants (4-10)
- Carolina Panthers (5-9)
- New York Jets (via Seahawks)
- Atlanta Falcons (6-8)
- Philadelphia Eagles (6-7)
- Washington Football Team (6-7)
- Philadelphia Eagles (via Dolphins)
- Denver Broncos (7-7)
- New Orleans Saints (7-7)
- Cleveland Browns (7-7)
- Las Vegas Raiders (7-7)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6-1)
- Baltimore Ravens (8-6)
- Minnesota Vikings (7-7)*
- Buffalo Bills (8-6)*
- Miami Dolphins (via 49ers)*
- Los Angeles Chargers (8-6)*
- Philadelphia Eagles (via Colts)*
- Detroit Lions (via Rams)*
- Cincinnati Bengals (8-6)*
- Tennessee Titans (9-5)*
- Arizona Cardinals (10-4)*
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-4)*
- New England Patriots (9-5)*
- Dallas Cowboys (10-4)*
- Kansas City Chiefs (10-4)*
- Green Bay Packers (11-3)*
* = Playoffs