NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/18/21
Today’s taxi squad moves:
Chicago Bears
- Signed: QB Ryan Willis
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: CB Bryan Mills
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: DB Delrick Abrams, OT Adrian Ealy, C Drake Jackson, TE Kyle Markway, C Austin Reiter, DB Damarious Randall, K Ryan Santoso, LS Carson Tinker
New York Giants
- Signed: DB Sam Beal
Washington Football Team
- Signed: DB D.J. Hayden
Browns Place RB Kareem Hunt, Seven Others On Reserve/COVID-19 List
The Browns have placed more players on the reserve/COVID-19 list, including running back Kareem Hunt. The team announced that the following players have landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list:
S Grant Delpit- LB Tony Fields II
- CB A.J. Green
- S Ronnie Harrison Jr.
- RB Kareem Hunt
- QB Case Keenum
- LB Jacob Phillips
- LB Mack Wilson
In his third season with the Browns, Hunt has totalled 386 rushing yards and five touchdowns, along with an additional 174 yards on 22 catches in eight games. The 26-year-old has been a key member of the Browns’ backfield alongside Nick Chubb, helping the team average 143.5 rushing yards per game, ranking fourth in the NFL.
The team also announced that offensive assistant coach T.C. McCartney has tested positive for COVID-19. We learned earlier today that the NFL was pushing Saturday’s game between the Browns and Raiders to Monday.
Meanwhile, Cleveland activated linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. from the reserve/COVID-19 list, and they’ve signed quarterback Kyle Lauletta to the active roster off the Jaguars practice squad. Lauletta, 26, has appeared in just two NFL games. Both were with the Giants in 2018, where he went 0-for-five with one interception. He has since spent time on the Eagles’, Falcons’ and Browns’ practice squads, only going to Jacksonville’s after being waived at the end of August.
Raiders-Browns Moved To Monday
1:23pm: The game has indeed been postponed to Monday, reports Josina Anderson (via Twitter).
12:58pm: The NFL and the NFLPA may move to reschedule tomorrow’s game between the Raiders and Browns (Twitter link via Dan Graziano of ESPN.com). The two sides may render a decision in the next hour, since the Raiders are on the verge of flying to Cleveland. 
[RELATED: Browns’ Clowney Tests Positive For COVID-19]
The game would likely be moved to Monday or Tuesday, giving the Browns an opportunity to get their ~20 COVID-19 positive players on the field. Both Baker Mayfield and backup quarterback Case Keenum are in that group. Ditto for Jadeveon Clowney, who tested positive on Friday morning.
If the game is not rescheduled, the Browns are expected to start Nick Mullens under center. He would be backstopped by two new QBs in Jake Dolegala and Kyle Lauletta.
This latest development marks a big departure from Roger Goodell‘s comments just a couple of days ago.
“There has not been any discussion about that,” Goodell said Wednesday when asked about the possibility of rescheduling Raiders-Browns (via USA Today). “We feel confident that with continuing changes and adaptations through our protocols that we can (play).”
Browns’ Jadeveon Clowney Tests Positive For COVID-19
Two more Browns players are looking doubtful for this week. Defensive end Jadeveon Clowney has tested positive for COVID-19, according to Kimberley A. Martin of ESPN.com (on Twitter). And, earlier today, the Browns announced that linebacker Mack Wilson has also tested positive. 
With Clowney added to the list, the Browns are likely down to eleven healthy starters for tomorrow’s game against the Raiders. The league’s new COVID-19 rules could allow some players in the group to be cleared in time, but it doesn’t seem likely with ~24 hours until game time.
Clowney has started in all 12 of his games this year and, for the most part, looks to have rebounded well from his latest knee surgery. So far, he’s got 29 tackles and five sacks — two more sacks than he had in 2019 and 2020 combined. For what it’s worth, Pro Football Focus has him ranked as just the 45th best edge defender in the league. Regardless, the Browns can ill afford to play without him (and the other ~20 players on the COVID-19 list) as they push for a playoff spot.
Wilson, 23, has appeared in 13 games this season, including five starts. He’s got 40 tackles on the year, giving him 161 stops across the last three seasons.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/17/21
Today’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
- Placed on Reserve/COVID-19 list: QB Andy Dalton and CB Duke Shelly
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: OL Elijah Wilkinson
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: QB Kyle Lauletta, QB Jake Dolegala (story)
Dallas Cowboys
- Activated from Reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Cedrick Wilson
Detroit Lions
- Placed on Injured Reserve: TE T.J. Hockenson
Houston Texans
- Placed on Reserve/COVID-19 list: OL Justin McCray
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed to active roster: LB Malik Jefferson
Los Angeles Rams
- Placed on Reserve/COVID-19 list: G Jamil Demby, DB Grant Haley, TE Tyler Higbee, LB Justin Lawler
New Orleans Saints
- Activated from Reserve/COVID-19 List: RB Mark Ingram
New York Giants
- Promoted: DT David Moa
Washington Football Team
- Signed: QB Garrett Gilbert (story)
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DL Daniel Wise
Browns To Sign QBs Kyle Lauletta, Jake Dolegala
The Browns are set to sign quarterbacks Jake Dolegala and Kyle Lauletta, according to Zac Jackson of The Athletic (on Twitter). They’ll provide badly-needed insurance this week as Baker Mayfield and backup Case Keenum remain on the COVID-19 list.
[RELATED: Browns To Start Mullens At QB]
The Browns have upwards of 20 players on the COVID list, so there will be more moves to come. They’re currently expected to use Nick Mullens as their starter for tomorrow’s game against the Raiders with Dolegala and Lauletta in reserve.
Lauletta, who is being plucked from the Jaguars’ taxi squad, spent the summer with the Browns. To date, the 26-year-old has just two appearances on his resume, both with the Giants in 2018. Dolegala, 25, has never seen live action in the NFL.
The league’s updated COVID-19 protocols could allow Mayfield, Keenum, and other Browns players to suit up tomorrow. Of course, their availability will still hinge on their symptoms (or, lack thereof), vaccination status, and other factors.
QB Nick Mullens Expected To Start For Browns On Saturday
7:52pm: Cornerback A.J. Green and linebacker Jacob Phillips have also tested positive for COVID-19, reports Nate Ulrich of the Beacon Journal (via Twitter).
4:59pm: The Browns will likely have to turn to their third-string QB for Saturday’s matchup against the Raiders. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter), quarterback Case Keenum has tested positive for COVID-19. With Baker Mayfield already on the reserve/COVID-19 list, this means Nick Mullens is in line to start.
[RELATED: Browns’ Baker Mayfield Tests Positive For COVID-19]
The Browns are facing at least five more positive tests in addition to Keenum, according to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones (on Twitter). This would bring the total to 20 players on the Browns who have tested positive for COVID-19 this week. One of those players is Grant Delpit, as Nate Ulrich of the Beacon Journal tweets that the safety tested positive. While the Browns are eyeing a handful of absences, coach Kevin Stefanski wouldn’t rule out any players following the NFL’s changes to COVID protocols.
“Certainly when they tell me we have run out of days in terms of negative tests and those type of things, then it will be official, but I don’t know that we’re ruling any of those guys out just yet,” Stefanski said (via Ulrich).
Either way, it’s looking like Mullens will be forced into the lineup for a crucial start. The 26-year-old has spent the majority of the 2021 campaign on Cleveland’s practice squad, although he is coming off a 2020 campaign where he started eight games for the 49ers. Mullens is 5-11 in his 16 career starts, and his 4,405 passing yards are the second most by any quarterback in their first 16 career starts in NFL history (behind Patrick Mahomes (h/t to ESPN’s Field Yates on Twitter)). Mullens also has 25 career touchdowns vs. 22 interceptions.
Keenum started one game for the Browns this season, completing 21 of his 33 pass attempts in a win over the Broncos. In total, the 33-year-old has seen time in six games for Cleveland this season, tossing one touchdown vs. zero interceptions.
Updated 2022 NFL Draft Order
The Chiefs (9-4) and Chargers (8-5) are getting set to kick off Week 15 in a matchup that could decide the AFC West crown. Meanwhile, more than one-quarter of the NFL’s teams have either been mathematically or effectively eliminated from playoff contention.
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. (Ex: Washington would own the No. 19 pick if they were eliminated in the Wild Card round with the worst record of the group.)
With that in mind, here’s a look at the currently projected 2022 NFL Draft Order:
1. Detroit Lions (1-11-1)
2. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-11)
3. Houston Texans (2-11)
4. New York Jets (3-10)
5. New York Giants (via Bears)
6. New York Giants (4-9)
7. New York Jets (via Seahawks)
8. Carolina Panthers (5-8)
9. Atlanta Falcons (6-7)
10. Philadelphia Eagles (via Dolphins)
11. Philadelphia Eagles (6-7)
12. Minnesota Vikings (6-7)
13. New Orleans Saints (6-7)
14. Las Vegas Raiders (6-7)
15. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6-1)
16. Denver Broncos (7-6)
17. Cincinnati Bengals (7-6)
18. Cleveland Browns (7-6)
19. Washington Football Team (6-7)*
20. Buffalo Bills (7-6)*
21. Philadelphia Eagles (via Colts)*
22. Miami Dolphins (via 49ers)*
23. Los Angeles Chargers (8-5)*
24. Detroit Lions (via Rams)*
25. Baltimore Ravens (8-5)*
26. Dallas Cowboys (9-4)*
27. Kansas City Chiefs (9-4)*
28. Arizona Cardinals (10-3)*
29. Tennessee Titans (9-4)*
30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-3)*
31. New England Patriots (9-4)*
32. Green Bay Packers (10-3)*
* = Playoffs
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/16/21
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: C Rodney Hudson
Baltimore Ravens
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: S Chuck Clark
Chicago Bears
- Activated for return: OT Germain Ifedi, CB Duke Shelley
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted: WR Lawrence Cager
Houston Texans
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Terrence Brooks, DB Terrance Mitchell
Kansas City Chiefs
- Promoted: CB Dicaprio Bootle, DE Cortez Broughton, WR Daurice Fountain, LB Darius Harris
Los Angeles Chargers
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: G Scott Quessenberry
- Promoted: DB Ben Deluca
New England Patriots
- Placed on IR: LB Ronnie Perkins
New Orleans Saints
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Cameron Jordan
New York Giants
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: G Wes Martin
- Promoted: WR Pharoh Cooper
New York Jets
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Elijah Moore, LB Hamsah Nasirildeen
Washington Football Team
- Signed: DT Akeem Spence (story)
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/15/21
Today’s taxi squad moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: TE Nick Guggemos, WR Alexander Hollins, OT Elijah Nkansah
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: DT Justin Hamilton
Denver Broncos
- Signed: S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and WR Travis Fulgham
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: C Michal Menet
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: S Will Redmond
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: C Will Clapp
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: CB Lavert Hill, OT Wyatt Miller
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DB Josh Jones
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: CB Nate Brooks
Washington Football Team
- Signed: QB Jordan Ta’amu, DT Tyler Clark