Bears Place LB Jack Sanborn On IR
Jack Sanborn‘s season has come to an end. The Bears have placed the linebacker on injured reserve, according to The Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain (on Twitter).
Sanborn suffered an ankle injury during Chicago’s loss to the Eagles on Sunday. With only three games remaining on the schedule and the Bears out of playoff contention, Sanborn won’t be eligible to return this season.
The undrafted rookie has been a bright spot on Chicago’s defense this year. The Wisconsin product mostly played on special teams to start the season, but following the trade of Roquan Smith, Sanborn took on a larger role on defense.
Since Smith was shipped to Baltimore, Sanborn has started six games while collecting 60 tackles and a pair of sacks. For his efforts, the rookie was ranked 37th among 84 qualifying linebackers, per Pro Football Focus, with the website giving him a top-10 mark at the position for his pass-rushing prowess.
The Bears quickly filled Sanborn’s spot on the roster by signing linebacker Elijah Lee off Kansas City’s practice squad. The six-year veteran got into 16 games for the Browns in 2021 before catching on with the Chiefs this past offseason. He ended up appearing in five games this year, collecting six tackles. The Bears also added linebacker Kuony Deng to the practice squad today.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/20/22
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed off Steelers practice squad: LB David Anenih
- Designated for return: TE John FitzPatrick
- Placed on IR: RB Caleb Huntley
Baltimore Ravens
- Designated for return: LB Josh Ross
Carolina Panthers
- Designated for return: WR Andre Roberts
Chicago Bears
- Signed off Chiefs practice squad: LB Elijah Lee
- Designated for return: RB Khalil Herbert (story)
- Released: CB Justin Layne
Cleveland Browns
- Designated for return: C Ethan Pocic
Denver Broncos
- Promoted: QB Jarrett Guarantano
- Placed on IR: CB Darius Phillips
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed to active roster: RB Jordan Wilkins
- Signed off Patriots practice squad: LB Cameron McGrone
- Waived: DE Ifeadi Odenigbo
Kansas City Chiefs
- Designated for return: TE Blake Bell
San Francisco 49ers
- Designated for return: DT Kalia Davis
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed to active roster: WR Laquon Treadwell
- Placed on IR: DT Bryan Mone
Washington Commanders
- Designated for return: TE Curtis Hodges
Caleb Huntley suffered a season-ending Achilles injury this past weekend, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter). The injury is expected to require surgery. The Falcons RB made his NFL this season and has collected 369 yards from scrimmage.
While Russell Wilson is expected to start for the Broncos on Christmas, the Broncos still decided to promote a third QB to the roster in Jarrett Guarantano. According to Troy Renck of Denver7 (on Twitter), there was enough interest from other teams (including the Cardinals) for the Broncos to decide to promote the rookie. The UDFA out of Washington State had his first professional gig with the Cardinals before catching on with the Broncos.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/10/22
Today’s minor moves:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Activated from IR: DE Khalid Kareem
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: TE Miller Forristall
Denver Broncos
- Signed to active roster: WR Kendall Hinton
- Placed on IR: T Garett Bolles (story), CB Ronald Darby (story), LS Jacob Bobenmoyer (story)
Detroit Lions
- Waived: WR Maurice Alexander
Kansas City Chiefs
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Elijah Lee, K Matthew Wright
Las Vegas Raiders
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Curtis Bolton, CB Javelin Guidry
Miami Dolphins
- Released from IR: LB Calvin Munson
Seattle Seahawks
- Claimed off waivers (from Saints): RB Tony Jones Jr.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Released: LB Kenny Young
Young continues to struggle to find a long-term home in the NFL. After Baltimore drafted him and traded him in his second year to the Rams, it took Young over a full season with the team to earn a starting role. When he was finally starting on a consistent basis, Los Angeles traded him once again to Denver where he started six straight games before being inactive for the remainder of the year. Young signed in the offseason with the Raiders but was released ahead of roster cut deadlines. He signed to the Buccaneers practice squad days before the season started and was active for the last four weeks, only playing on special teams. He’ll likely land on another practice squad somewhere in the league, perhaps with one of his former teams as both Baltimore and Los Angeles have experienced some injuries to their linebacker depth.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/1/22
Today’s minor moves around the league, including practice squad elevations for tomorrow’s action:
Arizona Cardinals
- Promoted: S Chris Banjo, WR Andre Baccellia
Atlanta Falcons
- Promoted: RB Caleb Huntley
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed to active roster: CB Kevon Seymour
- Promoted: LB Brandon Copeland, T David Sharpe
Buffalo Bills
- Promoted: DT Prince Emili
Carolina Panthers
- Promoted: S Marquise Blair
Chicago Bears
- Promoted: K Michael Badgley, RB Darrynton Evans (story)
- Released from IR: CB Michael Joseph
Cleveland Browns
- Signed to active roster: TE Miller Forristall
- Promoted: DL Roderick Perry, DE Curtis Weaver
Dallas Cowboys
- Promoted: QB Will Grier
Denver Broncos
- Promoted: WR Kendall Hinton, G Netane Muti
Detroit Lions
- Signed to active roster: T Dan Skipper, K Dominik Eberle
- Promoted: WRs Tom Kennedy, Maurice Alexander
- Waived: TE Shane Zylstra, G Drew Forbes
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted: CB Kiondre Thomas
- Placed on NFI list: T Caleb Jones
Houston Texans
- Signed to active roster: S Grayland Arnold
- Promoted: TEs Jordan Akins, Mason Schreck
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted: K Chase McLaughlin, DT Chris Williams
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Promoted: OL Darryl Williams, LB Ty Summers
Kansas City Chiefs
- Promoted: LB Elijah Lee, K Matthew Wright (story)
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed to active roster: G Alex Bars
- Promoted: CBs Nickell Robey-Coleman, Javelin Guidry
- Waived: T Jackson Barton
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted: WR Michael Bandy
New England Patriots
- Promoted: T Marcus Cannon
- Placed on IR: T Yodny Cajuste
New Orleans Saints
- Signed to active roster: QB Jake Luton
- Promoted: RB Latavius Murray, TE J.P. Holtz
- Waived: FB Adam Prentice
New York Giants
- Signed to active roster: LB Jaylon Smith
- Promoted: WR Marcus Johnson, DT Henry Mondeaux
New York Jets
- Promoted: LB Hamsah Nasirildeen, OL Grant Hermanns
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed to active roster: WR Britain Covey
- Promoted: S Andre Chachere
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Promoted: LB Ryan Anderson, CB Josh Jackson
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted: LB Cullen Gillaspia
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted: WR Cole Beasley
Tennessee Titans
- Signed to active roster: OL Jordan Roos
- Promoted: LB Joe Schobert, DB Theo Jackson
- Waived: RB Julius Chestnut
Washington Commanders
- Promoted: OL Wes Martin
- Placed on IR: OL Wes Schweitzer (story)
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/28/22
Here are the practice squad signings and releases for today:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: CB Daryl Worley
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: CB Xavier Rhodes (story), DT Prince Emili
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: LB Arron Mosby
Chicago Bears
- Signed: WR Reggie Roberson
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: CB Corey Ballentine
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: DT Cortez Broughton, LB Elijah Lee, K Matthew Wright
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: WR John Hightower
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: WR Keith Kirkwood
New York Giants
- Signed: WR Makai Polk, CB Olaijah Griffin
New York Jets
- Signed: OT Mike Remmers
- Released: WR Diontae Spencer
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: OT Roderick Johnson
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: RB Cullen Gillaspia
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: WR Kaylon Geiger
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: OLB Gerri Green
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/13/22
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Promoted: TE Anthony Firkser
Baltimore Ravens
- Placed on IR: CB Kyle Fuller (story), T Ja’Wuan James (story)
Carolina Panthers
- Released from IR via injury settlement: LB Isaiah Graham-Mobley
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: CB Thomas Graham Jr.
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted: CB Tony Brown
Kansas City Chiefs
- Promoted: LB Jack Cochrane, LB Elijah Lee
Los Angeles Chargers
- Released from IR via injury settlement: CB Tevaughn Campbell
Los Angeles Rams
- Placed on IR: RB Kyren Williams (story)
New England Patriots
- Placed on IR: RB Ty Montgomery
- Promoted: WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey
Philadelphia Eagles
- Placed on IR: DE Derek Barnett (story)
- Signed off Vikings’ practice squad: DE Janarius Robinson
San Francisco 49ers
- Promoted: S Tashaun Gipson
Tennessee Titans
- Placed on IR: DL Da’Shawn Hand, DB A.J. Moore Jr.
Hand suffered a torn quad in the Titans’ opener, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). He is undergoing surgery and is expected to miss the rest of the season. A former fourth-round Lions draftee back in 2018, Hand has been with the Titans since last year. He played two defensive snaps Sunday.
Montgomery had battled a knee injury during the run-up to the regular season, but the veteran passing-down back played in the Patriots’ Week 1 contest. Montgomery caught three passes for 15 yards in New England’s loss. The Pats signed Humphrey, a former Saints wideout, midway through the offseason.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/10/22
Today’s minor moves around the league, as teams prepare for the first Sunday slate of regular season games:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed to 53-man roster: WR Andre Baccellia
- Signed to 53-man roster (from Giants’ practice squad): OL Max Garcia
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Devon Kennard, CB Jace Whittaker
- Placed on IR: OL Cody Ford
- Released: CB Javelin Guidry
Atlanta Falcons
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Anthony Firkser
- Released: DL Abdullah Anderson
Baltimore Ravens
- Promoted from practice squad: OLB Steven Means
Carolina Panthers
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Arron Mosby
Chicago Bears
- Promoted from practice squad: DL Mike Pennel, OL Dieter Eiselen
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Jordan Kunaszyk, DE Isaac Rochell
Dallas Cowboys
- Promoted from practice squad: QB Cooper Rush, K Brett Maher
Detroit Lions
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Justin Jackson, LB Anthony Pittman
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted from practice squad: S Micah Abernathy, WR Juwann Winfree
Houston Texans
- Signed to 53-man roster: DL Demone Harris, LB Kevin Pierre-Louis
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Chris Conley, QB Jeff Driskel
- Placed on IR: DE Mario Addison
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Tony Brown
Kansas City Chiefs
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Daurice Fountain, LB Elijah Lee
Las Vegas Raiders
- Promoted from practice squad: S Matthias Farley
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Kemon Hall, TE Richard Rodgers
Miami Dolphins
- Promoted from practice squad: WR River Cracraft, S Verone McKinley III
Minnesota Vikings
- Promoted from practice squad: S Myles Dorn
New England Patriots
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey, LB Harvey Langi
New Orleans Saints
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Christian Ringo
- Released: C Nick Martin
New York Giants
- Promoted from practice squad: S Tony Jefferson, OLB Quincy Roche
New York Jets
- Promoted from practice squad: T Grant Hermanns
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Britain Covey, TE Noah Togiai
San Francisco 49ers
- Promoted from practice squad: S Tashaun Gipson, WR Malik Turner
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Genard Avery
Tennessee Titans
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Joe Jones, RB Trenton Cannon
The Cardinals’ moves come as a reaction to yesterday’s injury news. Baccellia’s roster spot was opened up in the short-term by the injury to Rondale Moore, but he won’t simply be a stop-gap. Arizona signed the 25-year-old to a two-year deal to remain on the main roster, per Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network (Twitter link). A UDFA out of Washington, Baccellia has yet to make a regular season NFL appearance.
Likewise, the fact that Ford will miss at least the first four weeks of the season makes the re-acquisition of Garcia a logical one. The former fourth-rounder has plenty of guard experience, including his three seasons spent in Arizona. It was only in 2021 that he logged any starts, but he could provide veteran depth behind Justin Pugh at least until Ford is able to return.
Addison, 35, was one of several veteran signings the Texans made this offseason to add depth to their front seven. He had a productive season with the Bills last season, notching seven sacks despite not starting any games. In his absence, Harris and Pierre-Louis will provide depth in the edge rush department on Sunday, and likely the short-term future as well.
Quick reminder that standard game day practice squad promotions are a recent development from the new CBA and COVID-19 seasons. Essentially, each team is able to promote two players from the practice squad to the active roster for game days. The players will automatically revert back to the practice squad after the game, not needing to clear waivers before rejoining the developmental roster. A player can only be promoted three times per season. If a team would like to promote a player for a fourth game, they’ll need to go through the normal method of creating space on the 53-man roster to promote them and have them clear waivers before placing them back on the practice squad. That is the difference between “Signed to 53-man roster” from the practice squad and “Promoted from practice squad.”
Wednesday NFL Transactions: AFC West
Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These Broncos, Chargers, Chiefs and Raiders moves are noted below.
Here are Wednesday’s AFC West transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day.
Denver Broncos
Re-signed:
- NT Mike Purcell, TE Eric Tomlinson
Signed to practice squad:
- DL McTelvin Agim, OL Quinn Bailey, CB Faion Hicks, WR Kendall Hinton, QB Josh Johnson, OLB Jonathan Kongbo, LB Kana’i Mauga, CB Ja’Quan McMillian, G Netane Muti, RB Devine Ozigbo, TE Dylan Parham, WR Darrius Shepherd
Kansas City Chiefs
Signed to practice squad:
- DB Zayne Anderson, G Mike Caliendo, LB Jack Cochrane, RB Jerrion Ealy, WR Daurice Fountain, TE Jordan Franks, S Nazeeh Johnson, DE Azur Kamara, LB Elijah Lee, QB Chris Oladokun, WR Cornell Powell, C Austin Reiter, DT Danny Shelton, DT Taylor Stallworth
Las Vegas Raiders
Released from IR:
Signed to practice squad:
- LB Curtis Bolton, CB Isiah Brown, CB Bryce Cosby, S Matthias Farley, TE Cole Fotheringham, QB Chase Garbers, C Hroniss Grasu, G Jordan Meredith, OT Bamidele Olaseni, WR Dillon Stoner, DE Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa, DE Zach VanValkenburg, RB Austin Walter, WR Isaiah Zuber
Los Angeles Chargers
Signed:
- RB Sony Michel (story)
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- T Zack Bailey, WR Michael Bandy, DL Christian Covington, DL Joe Gaziano, CB Kemon Hall, CB Michael Jacquet, TE Hunter Kampoyer, OLB Carlo Kemp, S Raheem Layne, LB Tyreek Maddox-Williams, WR Jason Moore Jr., WR Joe Reed, T Foster Sarell, DB Mark Webb Jr.
Chiefs Lower Roster To 53
In addition to their cuts of Josh Gordon and Danny Shelton, the Chiefs jettisoned a few vested veterans and a host of rookie-contract players. Here is how the defending AFC West champs moved their roster to 53:
Released:
- LB Jermaine Carter
- WR Corey Coleman
- WR Daurice Fountain
- LB Elijah Lee
- C Austin Reiter
- DT Taylor Stallworth
Waived:
- S Zayne Anderson
- CB Dicaprio Bootle
- G Mike Caliendo
- LB Jack Cochrane
- DT Matt Dickerson
- RB Jerrion Ealy
- TE Jordan Franks
- T Vitaliy Gurman
- S Nazeeh Johnson
- DE Azur Kamara
- S Devon Key
- DE Kehinde Oginni
- WR Cornell Powell
Waived/injured:
- TE Matt Bushman
Carter came to Kansas City after starting all 17 Carolina games last season. The four-year Panther contributor signed a fully guaranteed one-year, $1.77MM deal, but was unlikely to have the same role he enjoyed in Charlotte. The Chiefs roster second-round linebackers Nick Bolton and Willie Gay, and they used a third-round pick on Leo Chenal at the position this year.
The starter for the Super Bowl-winning 2019 Chiefs team, Reiter returned after spending 2021 with the Saints and Dolphins. Things have changed at the center spot since Reiter was last in Missouri; the Chiefs have Creed Humphrey in place for what could be a long run as their starter. Reiter was with the Chiefs from 2018-20.
A former first-round pick, Coleman appears to be running out of time. The ex-Baylor standout has not played in a regular-season game since the 2018 season. Prior to signing with the Chiefs, Coleman was out of football for nearly 18 months.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/22/22
Here are today’s minor moves around the NFL:
Chicago Bears
- Signed: FB Khari Blasingame
Cincinnati Bengals
- Waived: OT Fred Johnson
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: CB Luq Barcoo, OLB Elijah Lee
Minnesota Vikings
- Re-Signed: QB Sean Mannion
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Re-Signed: DT Montravius Adams