NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/10/24
Thursday’s taxi squad moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: RB Mike Boone, DT Jayden Peevy, S Russ Yeast
- Released: TE Stephen Sullivan
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: G Javion Cohen, DT Sam Kamara, TE Blake Whiteheart
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: DT Zachary Carter
New England Patriots
- Released: DT Trysten Hill
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: TE C.J. Uzomah
- Released: S Caden Sterns
Uzomah is a veteran of 106 games stemming from his seven-year run in Cincinnati followed by two years with the Jets. The 31-year-old has topped 400 receiving yards in a season only twice, but he has remained a consistent depth option in the passing game. He will aim to provide a rotational contribution behind Dallas Goedert in Philadelphia.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/10/24
Thursday’s minor moves, including elevations for the opening game of Week 6:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed to active roster: CB Tony Brown
Green Bay Packers
- Signed (off Falcons’ practice squad): TE John FitzPatrick
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed to active roster: DT Matthew Butler
New England Patriots
- Signed (off Raiders’ practice squad): C Ben Brown
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: DT Evan Anderson, S Jaylen Mahoney
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed to active roster: CB Artie Burns
- Activated from PUP list: DT Cameron Young
- Placed on IR: OLB Uchenna Nwosu (story)
- Waived: G McClendon Curtis
- Elevated: OLB Jamie Sheriff, S Ty Okada
Washington Commanders
- Waived: QB Sam Hartman
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/9/24
Wednesday’s minor NFL transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: WR Chris Moore
Buffalo Bills
- Opened practice window: RB Darrynton Evans
Cincinnati Bengals
- Designated for return from reserve/PUP list: CB DJ Ivey
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: LS Rex Sunahara
- Signed to active roster: TE Geoff Swaim
- Designated to return from IR: LB Mohamoud Diabate, DT Maurice Hurst
- Placed on IR: LS Charley Hughlett
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed to active roster: DE Carl Lawson
Denver Broncos
- Released (with injury settlement): G William Sherman
Las Vegas Raiders
- Placed on IR: DT Christian Wilkins (story)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Designated to return from IR: DE Earnest Brown IV
Free Agents
- Suspended: LB Tariq Carpenter, WR Shi Smith
The Browns are set to start working Hurst and Diabate back to the active roster in practice. 17 of Hurst’s 18 starts came in his first three years in the NFL back from 2018-20, but he did line up as a starter in his lone game with the Browns this year prior to being placed on injured reserve.
Carpenter and Smith are set to miss their next six games due to the suspension levied by the NFL. Carpenter’s suspension is likely linked to the December arrest last year that saw him released from Pittsburgh’s practice squad. The purpose for Smith’s suspension isn’t as clear, but he also got arrested in 2022 on drugs and weapons charges.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/9/24
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: T Austen Pleasants
Chicago Bears
- Signed: TE Tommy Sweeney
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: S Trey Dean, DE Marcus Haynes
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: CB Robert Rochell
Houston Texans
- Signed: WR Jared Wayne
- Released: DT Marcus Harris
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: T Jack Wilson
- Released: K Spencer Shrader
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: CB Nehemiah Shelton
- Released: LB Shaquille Quarterman
New York Jets
- Signed: C Alec Lindstrom, S Jaylen Key
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: T John Ojukwu
Wilson is a former collegiate basketball player who played for two years apiece at Idaho and Oregon State. He transitioned to football, transferring to Washington State for three years, appearing in 12 games in 2022 at right and left tackle. He then played in 13 basketball games for the Cougars before transferring to Minnesota and transitioning back to basketball for his final year of collegiate eligibility.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/8/24
Tuesday’s taxi squad moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: OL Matthew Cindric
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: CB Damarion Williams
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: CB Micah Abraham
Cleveland Browns
- Released: LB Michael Barrett, RB Royce Freeman, T Ricky Lee
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: WR Seth Williams, DE Luiji Vilain
Denver Broncos
- Signed: T Cameron Fleming, C Dieter Eiselen, WR Kaden Davis, WR A.T. Perry
- Placed on IR: G William Sherman
- Released: RB Salvon Ahmed, CB Quinton Newsome
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: RB Trent Pennix
New England Patriots
- Signed: C Sincere Haynesworth
- Released: G Jerome Carvin, WR Matt Landers
New York Jets
- Released: LB Anthony Hines
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: LB Ezekiel Turner
- Released: LB Devin Richardson
Washington Commanders
- Released: DE Justin Hollins
Fleming saw time with Denver across each of the past three seasons. The 32-year-old alternated between right and left tackle during that span, and he remained on the team’s radar given his workout in September. Now Fleming, a veteran of 117 games and 62 starts, will be an option to handle a depth role along the O-line once he is elevated to the Broncos’ active roster.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/8/24
Tuesday’s minor moves around the league:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed to active roster: OL Charlie Heck
- Placed on IR: G Will Hernandez (story)
Carolina Panthers
- Signed (off Giants’ practice squad): OL Cade Mays
- Promoted: OLB Thomas Incoom, DE DeShawn Williams
Cincinnati Bengals
- Placed on IR: CB Dax Hill (story), OL Jaxson Kirkland
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: G Javion Cohen, DT Sam Kamara, TE Blake Whiteheart
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed to active roster: DE Carl Lawson
Denver Broncos
- Signed to active roster: LB Levelle Bailey
Detroit Lions
- Designated for return from reserve/PUP list: OL Christian Mahogany
Houston Texans
- Signed (off Ravens’ practice squad): CB Ka’dar Hollman
- Placed on IR: RB British Brooks
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed to active roster: CB David Long
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed to active roster: RB Myles Gaskin
- Released: TE Robert Tonyan
New England Patriots
- Released: DE Jamree Kromah
Tennessee Titans
- Waived: OL John Ojukwu
Kirkland is out for the season due to a biceps tear, head coach Zac Taylor said on Monday. That injury resulted in the addition of Andrew Stueber off Atlanta’s practice squad, a move which became official today. Kirkland, a former UDFA, made a pair of appearances this season, seeing sparse usage on offense and special teams.
Browns’ Deshaun Watson Settles Civil Suit
Deshaun Watson‘s performance on the field has not lived up to expectation, but his most recent legal situation has been resolved. The civil suit filed against the Browns quarterback last month has been settled, as first reported by Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. 
“We have now resolved our client’s claim with Deshaun Watson,” a statement from Tony Buzbee (the attorney representing the alleged victim) reads. “The settlement is confidential.”
Watson is alleged to have committed sexual assault against the plaintiff in October 2020. The case is not connected to the other civil suits Watson faced in advance of his debut Browns campaign, but it was signficant since it raised questions about its potential to result in a new suspension. Such a move on the NFL’s part could have created an avenue for Cleveland to void the remaining guarantees owed to Watson, who denied the allegations.
As Florio notes, however, the fact the plaintiff has reached a settlement agreement all-but guarantees she will not speak with the league as part of any NFL investigation. The accuser was originally set to participate in a league probe into the matter, but doing so would have been voluntary. Given today’s news, building a case strong enough to issue a second suspension under the personal conduct policy will be challenging for the league, making further discipline unlikely.
Watson is under contract through 2026, and he is owed $92MM after the current season. The former Texans Pro Bowler was acquired via a blockbuster trade for a package involving three first-round picks, and his fully-guaranteed pact allowed Cleveland to win a bidding war which took place against the backdrop of a looming suspension. After returning from his 2022 ban (which lasted 11 games), Watson posted underwhelming numbers. That remained the case for much of last season, one which was cut short by a shoulder injury.
By nearly any statistical measure, the 29-year-old has been the league’s worst signal-caller so far in 2024. That will not lead to a benching, nor is head coach Kevin Stefanski considering a change in offensive play-calling. Attention will be aimed at the extent to which Watson can rebound on the field, but even if that does not take place a hypothetical pathway to moving on from the remainder of his contract no longer seems to be viable.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/7/24
Here are the minor moves made around the NFL on Monday:
Arizona Cardinals
- Received one-game roster exemption: WR Zay Jones
Atlanta Falcons
- Designated for return from IR: LB Nathan Landman
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed (off Falcons’ practice squad): G Andrew Stueber
Cleveland Browns
- Received one-game roster exemption: DT Mike Hall
Green Bay Packers
- Released: CB Robert Rochell
Philadelphia Eagles
- Opened practice window: S Sydney Brown, WR Ainias Smith
New Orleans Saints
- Signed to active roster: G Kyle Hergel
- Placed on IR: OL Shane Lemieux
- Elevated: S Johnathan Abram, LB Isaiah Stalbird
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Placed on IR: OLB Markees Watts
Tennessee Titans
- Designated for return from IR: LB Cedric Gray
Both Jones and Hall were issued suspensions under the personal conduct policy leaving them sidelined for the first five weeks of the season. Their roster exemptions will allow them to make their debuts in Week 6, but after that point a corresponding move will be needed for them to be permanently activated to their respective 53-man rosters.
Lemieux served as New Orleans’ starting center in Week 4 after being promoted from the practice squad. He stepped into a first-team role in place of Erik McCoy, who is dealing with a groin injury. Losing Lemieux for at least the next four games will deal another blow to the Saints’ O-line. Connor McGovern was added to the mix recently, but Lucas Patrick has received the nod at center to begin the team’s Week 5 matchup.
Browns Not Benching Deshaun Watson
After an embarrassing 34-13 loss to the Commanders dropped the Browns to 1-4, head coach Kevin Stefanski insisted that Deshaun Watson would remain the team’s starting quarterback despite his struggles to start to the season.
“We’re not changing quarterbacks,” Stefanski said, via ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi. “We need to play better. I need to coach better.”
But many of the Browns’ problems seem to start with Watson, who has posted a league-low 23.9 Total QBR (among current starters) this season while averaging fewer than 175 passing yards per game. The high-priced QB has thrown five touchdown passes and two interceptions, but his 26 sacks are a league-high. Cleveland has yet to score more than 20 points in a single game this season.
The Browns’ turmoil under center for the past two decades may have conditioned them to poor quarterback play, but Watson is reaching a new low in Cleveland. He started last year with a -0.20 EPA per dropback through Week 5, the lowest of any Browns QB to start the season since 2000, according to The Ringer’s Austin Gayle. That number has dropped to -0.30 EPA per dropback in 2024, severely hindering a Browns offense that is still without Nick Chubb as he recovers from last year’s season-ending knee injury.
But Stefanski is adamant that replacing Watson would not be a cure-all for the anemic offense, despite the presence of viable veteran backup Jameis Winston on the roster. Watson’s latest rough outing came as emergency Browns 2023 replacement Joe Flacco, who wanted to re-sign but was not part of Cleveland’s 2024 plans, posted a 359-yard passing day in a shootout loss to the Jaguars. The Browns did not make Flacco an offer and did not have a Watson benching on their radar despite his poor start through three games. While this latest effort will only intensify the calls for Winston to have a chance, Stefanski intimated this problem is beyond merely his QB1.
“This is not a one-person issue on offense,” Stefanski continued. “We have the guys. We have the coaches. We will get it fixed.”
Stefanski repeatedly emphasized the need for better coaching after Sunday’s loss, but his comments leading up to Week 5 indicate that he will remain the team’s play-caller moving forward. The Browns appeared to have multiple miscommunications on offense against the Commanders, and TV cameras caught Stefanski and Watson exchanging words after the quarterback walked off the field on fourth-and-goal. Stefanski confirmed this summer he would remain the play-caller, installing Ken Dorsey as a non-play-calling OC.
Watson is under contract in Cleveland for two more fully guaranteed seasons, with cap hits of $72.9MM in 2025 and 2026. The Browns’ second restructuring of his contract ballooned those numbers past that $72MM point, which would shatter an NFL record. The former first-round pick is facing another allegation of sexual assault after serving an 11-game suspension in 2022 for violations of the NFL’s personal conduct policy stemming from several lawsuits accusing him of sexual assault. Barring a suspension that could allow the Browns to void Watson’s future guarantees — provided the QB did not inform them of this incident — they remain stuck with this contract.
Browns Not Expected To Trade Amari Cooper
The Chiefs lost WR Marquise Brown to injury before the 2024 season even started, and they may be without top wideout Rashee Rice for the rest of the year as well. The club could therefore be inclined to acquire a receiver prior to the November 5 trade deadline, and the Browns’ Amari Cooper was recently floated as a possibility for the defending Super Bowl champions.
However, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com says the Browns are not going to trade Cooper, either to Kansas City or to any other club. Cleveland’s 1-4 start to the season and the struggles of quarterback Deshaun Watson have led to speculation that the team could be a deadline seller, and since Cooper is a pending free agent, he profiles as a logical trade candidate.
That is especially true given Cooper’s slow start to the 2024 campaign; through four games, Cooper compiled just 16 catches for 148 yards and two scores, and both of his touchdowns and over half of his yardage came in a Week 3 loss to the Giants. That said, Watson is still heavily targeting Cooper, who had what would have been an 82-yard touchdown nullified by a questionable holding penalty in the Browns’ Week 4 loss to the Raiders. The five-time Pro Bowler has been targeted 37 times, and the Browns continue to hope that such volume will eventually translate to the high-end production that Cooper is capable of.
Plus, the Browns and Cooper agreed to a July restructure that saw most of the player’s base salary converted into a signing bonus and two void years added to his deal for cap purposes, and Cabot says there is “no way” Cleveland will absorb the dead money charge that a trade would create. Any trade partner would have to take on some of the bonus money that is still owed to Cooper, and at this point in the calendar, when many teams have limited cap space, that could prove to be a challenge.
Even if the Browns turn their season around to the point that they become deadline buyers, Cabot does not expect them to be in the market for some of the names that have popped up in early trade rumors, such as Davante Adams and DeAndre Hopkins. Although Cleveland was reportedly willing to trade Cooper for the 26-year-old Brandon Aiyuk this offseason, the team is not believed to be anxious to acquire a high-priced, thirty-something wideout.
Cooper, who is naturally anxious to capitalize on the exploding receiver market in the upcoming offseason, has been practicing with “renewed intensity” over the past several weeks, according to Cabot.