Minor NFL Transactions: 10/31/20
Here is the league’s avalanche of Halloween minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: CB De’Vante Bausby
Atlanta Falcons
- Activated off reserve/COVID-19 list: DT John Cominsky
Baltimore Ravens
- Promoted: CB Terrell Bonds, LB Kristian Welch
Buffalo Bills
- Activated from IR: CB Levi Wallace
- Activated off reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Lee Smith
- Promoted: CB Dane Jackson
Chicago Bears
- Promoted: WR Dwayne Harris
Cincinnati Bengals
- Promoted: G Shaq Calhoun
Cleveland Browns
- Claimed off waivers (from Lions): LB Elijah Lee
- Activated from IR: WR KhaDarel Hodge
Denver Broncos
- Activated from IR: LB Austin Calitro
- Promoted: WR Fred Brown, FB Jeremy Cox, OL Patrick Morris
- Placed on IR: TE Andrew Beck
Detroit Lions
- Promoted: TE Isaac Nauta
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted: S Henry Black
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: RB Chris Thompson
Las Vegas Raiders
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Damon Arnette, T Trent Brown
Los Angeles Chargers
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: T Trey Pipkins
- Promoted: WR Jason Moore, RB Troymaine Pope, OL Cole Toner
Los Angeles Rams
- Promoted: LB Derrick Moncrief
Miami Dolphins
- Promoted: CB Tae Hayes, DT Benito Jones
Minnesota Vikings
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Cameron Dantzler
- Activated from IR: LB Troy Dye
- Promoted: C Brett Jones, CB Chris Jones, DB Luther Kirk, DE Hercules Mata’afa
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Todd Davis
New England Patriots
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: RB Sony Michel (Michel remains on IR)
- Activated from IR: S Cody Davis, LB Josh Uche
- Promoted: DE Tashawn Bower, DT Nick Thurman, WR Isaiah Zuber
- Placed on IR: T Justin Herron
New Orleans Saints
- Promoted: WR Austin Carr, OL Will Clapp, WR Tommylee Lewis, WR Juwan Johnson
New York Jets
- Activated from IR: CB Arthur Maulet
- Promoted: K/P Sergio Castillo, LB Bryce Hager, WR Jaleel Scott
- Placed on IR: S Bradley McDougald
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted: CB Michael Jacquet, DT Raequan Williams
- Waived: TE Hakeem Butler
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Promoted: S Antoine Brooks, FB Trey Edmunds, LB Jayrone Elliott
- Placed on IR: DT Chris Wormley
San Francisco 49ers
- Promoted: WR River Cracraft, S Johnathan Cyprien
Seattle Seahawks
- Activated from NFI list: TE Colby Parkinson, CB D.J. Reed
- Promoted: CB Jayson Stanley, DE/TE Stephen Sullivan
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Activated from IR: TE Antony Auclair, G John Molchon
Tennessee Titans
- Promoted: DB Breon Borders, RB D’Onta Foreman, CB Kareem Orr
- Placed on IR: CB Kristian Fulton
Graham Glasgow Tests Positive For COVID-19; Broncos Cancel Practice
Both the Broncos and Chargers will enter the weekend with a starting offensive lineman on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Graham Glasgow tested positive for the coronavirus and will miss Sunday’s game against the Bolts, Mike Klis of 9News reports.
Vic Fangio canceled the team’s Friday practice. The NFL did not mandate this move. This comes a day after Anthony Lynn nixed the Chargers’ in-person workout. Los Angeles will be without center Ryan Groy on Sunday after his positive COVID-19 test. As of Friday afternoon, the AFC West matchup remains scheduled for Sunday.
The Broncos identified starting right tackle Demar Dotson and reserve center Austin Schlottmann as close Glasgow contacts. Both would be able to suit up Sunday were they to submit negative tests Saturday. Each O-lineman tested negative Friday, per Klis.
Denver offensive line coach Mike Munchak has been away from the team this week due to COVID-19 protocols, per Klis, though the team did not announce if its second-year assistant tested positive. Running backs coach Curtis Modkins tested positive earlier this month, and Klis adds multiple staffers have as well.
The Broncos signed Glasgow to a four-year, $44MM contract this offseason. Glasgow has been an upper-echelon guard starter for a while, establishing a strong free agency market after a solid run in Detroit. Schlottmann would be in line to replace Glasgow at right guard, were he to be cleared to play.
COVID-19 Latest: Groy, Titans, Super Bowl
The Chargers became the latest team to close their facility because of COVID-19. Center Ryan Groy tested positive for the coronavirus, leading the Bolts to shut down in-person activities Thursday (Twitter links via ESPN’s Adam Schefter and The Athletic’s Daniel Popper). The Chargers announced they received notice of the positive test Wednesday night and have identified close contacts.
This marks the Chargers’ first positive test since the start of training camp, though Anthony Lynn said he contracted the virus in the offseason. Lynn said he has not heard from the NFL regarding a rescheduling of Sunday’s Chargers-Broncos game. Groy, however, will not make the trip to Denver. The ex-Bill has started the past three games for a Bolts team that has dealt with a litany of injuries up front. Mike Pouncey will not play this season, and 2020 acquisitions Trai Turner and Bryan Bulaga have played all of eight snaps together, with the former missing all but one game and the latter being sidelined for three.
Here is the latest from the COVID-19 front:
- Super Bowl LV will present an atypical visual compared to the 54 prior Super Bowls. The NFL is planning its signature event to feature Raymond James Stadium at 20% capacity. This will mean approximately 15,000 fans will be present at the Tampa venue. Fans will be arranged in pods at least six feet apart, per Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com. Additionally, the NFL is not planning to move Super Bowl LV off its Feb. 7 date — even if a Week 18 makeup window is necessary. The league would eliminate the extra week between the conference championship games and Super Bowl LV in that event.
- The NFL did not come down especially hard on the Titans for violating COVID-19 protocols, with Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL.com reporting the league levied a $350K fine. No Titans coaches or staffers will face individual discipline, but the team will incur increased punishment if further violations occur. The Titans, whose outbreak led to 24 positive cases and multiple changes to the NFL schedule, violated mask protocols at their facility and held unsanctioned practices while they were barred from entering their building.
- While Monday’s Giants-Buccaneers game remains on as scheduled, both teams experienced COVID-19 issues Thursday.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/27/20
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Placed on IR: DL Zach Allen, LB Isaiah Irving
- Waived: TE Evan Baylis
Buffalo Bills
- Promoted: LB Andre Smith
- Released from reserve/retired list: DB Isiah Brown
Denver Broncos
- Promoted: DT Sylvester Williams
- Placed on IR: DT Mike Purcell (story), LB Derrek Tuszka
Minnesota Vikings
- Released: C Brett Jones
New York Giants
- Promoted: LB Trent Harris
San Francisco 49ers
- Released from IR: WR Tavon Austin
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived: DT Anthony Rush
Tennessee Titans
- Promoted: LB Daren Bates, OL David Quessenberry
Broncos DT Mike Purcell Out For The Year
The Broncos may have had the worst injury luck in the NFL this season, and the hits keep on coming. On Monday, head coach Vic Fangio announced Mike Purcell would miss the rest of the season with a Lisfranc injury to his foot.
Purcell had started every game this year for Denver as a run-stuffer, playing a little over 60 percent of the defensive snaps, so this is a big loss. Originally an undrafted free agent out of Wyoming back in 2013, Purcell originally carved out a role in San Francisco for a few years. He then didn’t appear in a regular season game between 2017-18 before bouncing back with the Broncos in 2019 and starting seven games.
With Pro Bowler Jurrell Casey out for the year and fellow defensive tackle Dre’Mont Jones on injured reserve, the Broncos are suddenly very thin up front. They just signed and then quickly released defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan, and it’s possible he gets the call once again now that there’s an opening.
Denver sits at 2-4 on the year, and just can’t catch a break on the injury front. Fortunately for Purcell he just received some financial security, as the Broncos gave him a three-year, $14.8MM extension just a few weeks ago. He’s now signed through the 2023 season and has $6.8MM in guaranteed money coming his way. He should be back in plenty of time for next season.
Broncos Promote Nigel Bradham, Activate DeMarcus Walker From IR
On the Broncos’ practice squad for nearly three weeks, Nigel Bradham will return to an NFL active roster. The veteran linebacker will rise from Denver’s taxi squad to its game-day roster.
This will be Bradham’s fourth NFL team, though the longtime Eagles and Bills starter was only with the Saints in training camp. Bradham has been an NFL starting linebacker 96 times since his 2012 rookie season. While the Broncos have Alexander Johnson and Josey Jewell in place as their three-down ‘backers, Bradham should see time Sunday against the Chiefs.
Denver still has Mark Barron on its IR list. The longtime starter has dealt with multiple injuries since arriving in Colorado. Bradham, a three-down player with the Eagles for the past four seasons, will join Joe Jones as a backup Broncos inside ‘backer.
In addition to activating A.J. Bouye and defensive lineman Dre’Mont Jones off IR, the Broncos will have D-lineman DeMarcus Walker available Sunday. A fourth-year rotational cog, Walker saw a calf injury send him to IR after Week 2. He registered four sacks last season and did not play much from 2017-18, but Denver may need the former second-round pick more this season after letting Derek Wolfe walk in free agency and losing Jurrell Casey for the season. Although Casey and Von Miller are out, this is the healthiest the Broncos’ defense has been since Week 1.
The Broncos also released cornerback De’Vante Bausby, promoted running back Jeremy Cox and re-signed defensive tackle Sylvester Williams to their practice squad. Denver cut Williams from its active roster Friday.
Broncos Release DT Sylvester Williams
With Dre’Mont Jones and potentially DeMarcus Walker coming back in Week 7, the Broncos will end their reunion with Sylvester Williams. For the time being, at least.
The Broncos released the veteran defensive tackle Friday, per 9News’ Mike Klis (on Twitter). This will again leave the team with no defenders from its Super Bowl 50 victory. The only other leftover from that conquest, Von Miller, is likely out for the season.
Williams played in Denver’s victory over New England, being used on seven defensive snaps. He did make a key contribution, however, stopping a Cam Newton two-point conversion try in the fourth quarter.
But with the Broncos getting healthier on their defensive line, they will drop Williams. However, the 31-year-old lineman — originally a 2013 Broncos first-rounder — could return to the practice squad. The Broncos initially reacquired Williams by signing him to their taxi unit.
Broncos To Activate A.J. Bouye From IR
The Broncos will still be without their best players when they face the Chiefs Sunday, with Von Miller, Courtland Sutton and Jurrell Casey either out for the season or most likely (in Miller’s case) shelved until 2021. But they will be healthier on defense this week.
Vic Fangio said Friday that A.J. Bouye and defensive end Dre’Mont Jones will be activated from IR ahead of Denver’s home game against Kansas City. Bouye has been out since leaving the Broncos’ Week 1 loss with a shoulder injury. Despite the injuries, Denver’s defense ranks sixth in DVOA. Though, the Chiefs will certainly test the unit.
Denver acquired Bouye from Jacksonville this offseason, sending the Jaguars a fourth-round pick for the former Pro Bowler. Bouye has played just 28 snaps this season. The Broncos have relied on 2019 free agency acquisition Bryce Callahan, who has stayed healthy thus far after missing all of last season, and third-round rookie Michael Ojemudia at corner in Bouye’s absence.
Jones suffered a PCL strain and a bone bruise in his knee in Week 2 but will come off the team’s IR when first eligible. The 2019 third-round pick will be expected to play a key role going forward, with Casey out for the season. Jones recorded 3.5 sacks and an interception as a backup last year.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/22/20
Here are Thursday’s practice squad decisions:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: LB Ahmad Gooden
Carolina Panthers
- Released: RB Michael Warren
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: DB Saivion Smith
Denver Broncos
- Signed: RB Damarea Crockett
Detroit Lions
- Signed: RB Dalyn Dawkins
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DE Will Clarke
Broncos To Release DT Timmy Jernigan
The Broncos are set to end Timmy Jernigan‘s brief Denver stay. They are planning to release the veteran defensive tackle, Mike Klis of 9News tweets.
Down Jurrell Casey for the season and having placed Dre’Mont Jones on IR, the Broncos signed Jernigan late last month. He ended up playing a small role, working as a backup against the Jets and Patriots. The former Ravens and Eagles starter played just 11 defensive snaps for the Broncos, however.
Denver still has Jones on IR, but he is eligible to return to the active roster after missing the past three games. Vic Fangio said Jones and fourth-year defensive lineman DeMarcus Walker (also on IR) have a chance to play in Week 7. The Broncos used Shelby Harris, Mike Purcell and DeShawn Williams as their D-line starters against the Patriots. With Casey out, Jones would be in line for a bigger role than he had as a rookie.
This has been a complicated year for Jernigan, a full-time starter for the 2016 Ravens and 2017 Super Bowl champion Eagles. His one-year, $3.75MM Texans deal ended up being called off. The Jaguars signed him in mid-August but cut him in September. The 28-year-old defender will be back in free agency after another short stay with a team.