Packers Promote CB Tramon Williams
Tramon Williams may soon be set for a historic NFL feat: suiting up for playoff games with two different teams in the same season. The Packers elevated the cornerback from their practice squad Saturday.
Green Bay signed the 14th-year cornerback earlier this week, making this Williams’ third stint with his original NFL team. But he played just last week in the Ravens-Bills divisional-round game, logging 12 defensive snaps with Baltimore.
The Ravens, however, waived Williams soon after their Round 2 loss. Since no one claimed him, the 37-year-old defender would be eligible to play in Sunday’s Packers-Buccaneers game. Since Tuesday, Williams has been waived, made a Packers visit, signed with the Packers and now will rise from the practice squad to the active roster via the COVID-19 replacement route.
If Williams plays Sunday, it will be his fifth NFC championship game as a Packer. Among current Packers, only he and kicker Mason Crosby saw action in the frigid 2007 NFC title game against the Giants. Williams playing Sunday would make him the first player ever to do suit up for two different teams in the same playoffs, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter).
Williams’ status may be tied to Kevin King‘s availability. King is battling a back injury that flared up Friday, though Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com notes the young corner is feeling better after that issue (Twitter link). King fully participated in Green Bay’s Wednesday and Thursday practices but did not work out Friday.
The NFL loosening restrictions on players changing teams amid the pandemic would allow Williams to complete this postseason double dip. The league previously required players who changed teams to go through six days’ worth of coronavirus tests before practicing with their new teams. That timetable would not have allowed Williams to play in the NFC championship game. But the league since made a change to allow players who were already being regularly tested to change teams and suit up without navigating the near-weeklong waiting period.
A Packers UDFA in 2007, Williams began his career with eight Green Bay seasons. After leaving for Cleveland in free agency in 2015, he made his way back to Wisconsin in 2018. Williams spending the 2018 and ’19 seasons with the Packers certainly played a key role in his return. Overall, he has spent four seasons playing in current Packer DC and ex-Browns HC Mike Pettine‘s system since 2015.
Former Packers GM Ted Thompson Dies
Longtime Packers general manager Ted Thompson died Wednesday at his home in Texas. He was 68.
Thompson stepped down from his post as Green Bay’s GM after the 2017 season, moving to a different role with the franchise. In 2019, it was revealed Thompson was battling a autonomic disorder. This development had led the former Packers front office leader away from his GM job, with former Thompson lieutenant Brian Gutekunst rising to succeed him.
After 10 seasons as an Oilers linebacker, Thompson moved into the front office. He began as a Ron Wolf staffer, working his way up to director of player personnel under the Hall of Fame Green Bay GM in the late 1990s, and joined Mike Holmgren in Seattle in 2000 as the team’s VP of football ops. Cornerstones for the Seahawks’ 2005 Super Bowl team — Shaun Alexander, Steve Hutchinson and others — arrived during Thompson’s Seattle stay. The Packers hired him as GM in 2005.
Thompson’s first Packers draft choice became one of the modern NFL’s defining moves. The Packers chose Aaron Rodgers in the 2005 first round and gave the future Hall of Famer the reins after three more Brett Favre seasons. Thompson proceeded to build a championship team around Rodgers. The Packers won Super Bowl XLV in the quarterback’s third season as a starter and went 15-1 in 2011. Their eight straight playoff appearances under Thompson (from 2009-16) is tied for fourth in NFL history. Rodgers has won two MVP awards and is on track to win a third this season.
While Thompson was not big on free agency, with a few notable exceptions — a short list headlined by 2006 signing Charles Woodson — he identified numerous Pro Bowlers in Green Bay and helped stock the current Packers No. 1-seeded team. David Bakhtiari and Davante Adams, who each earned first-team All-Pro acclaim this season, arrived outside of Round 1 under Thomson. Executives who spent time working in Green Bay under Thompson also went on to become GMs. Gutekunst, John Dorsey, John Schneider and former Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie landed top front office jobs after spending part of their Green Bay tenures working with Thompson.
Packers Sign Tramon Williams
THURSDAY: The Packers are bringing Williams back for a third stint. They will reacquire the 14th-year vet via practice squad deal. Since no team claimed Williams on waivers after the Ravens cut him, he would be eligible to play for the Packers in Sunday’s NFC championship game.
Green Bay released punter Ryan Winslow from its taxi squad to clear a spot for Williams. This will mark Williams’ second P-squad agreement this season; the Ravens initially stashed him on theirs in November.
WEDNESDAY: Tramon Williams may make yet another return to Green Bay. The veteran cornerback is visiting the Packers on Wednesday, per ESPN.com’s Field Yates (on Twitter).
The Ravens cut Williams earlier this week, paving a way for the enduring defender to sign with another team. Williams spent the first eight seasons of his career in Green Bay, before departing after the 2014 slate, and wound up back in Wisconsin for the 2018 and ’19 campaigns.
Williams worked as a depth player in Baltimore and would do the same in Green Bay, should he be asked to return to add some bonus miles to his age-37 season. But Williams started 16 games for the 2018 Packers, working as a safety, and saw time at multiple spots in seven starts for last season’s Green Bay edition. Williams played in both of the Packers’ 2019 playoff games and may be an intriguing late addition to the 2020 squad’s run.
The Packers have primarily used Kevin King and Chandon Sullivan opposite Jaire Alexander this season, with Josh Jackson also seeing time. None of these players is battling an injury presently, so it will be interesting to see if the Packers bring Williams back for a third stint. He would bring familiarity with Mike Pettine‘s system, having played for the current Packers DC in Cleveland and Green Bay.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/15/21
Here are the latest NFL minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Promoted: CB Pierre Desir, QB Tyler Huntley
Buffalo Bills
- Promoted: CB Dane Jackson, RB Antonio Williams
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted: DL Brian Price, CB KeiVarae Russell
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: T Jared Veldheer; Veldheer tested positive for the coronavirus
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Placed on IR: G Alex Cappa
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/15/21
Here are the latest reserve/futures contracts given out:
Baltimore Ravens
Chicago Bears
- WR Reggie Davis, WR Jester Weah
Detroit Lions
- DB Godwin Igwebuike, DE Robert McCray, TE Hunter Thedford
Green Bay Packers
Las Vegas Raiders
- QB Kyle Sloter
Pittsburgh Steelers
- S John Battle, DT Demarcus Christmas, T Anthony Coyle, FB Trey Edmunds, WR Anthony Johnson, T Jarron Jones, LS Christian Kuntz, T John Leglue, TE Kevin Rader, LB Tegray Scales, DL Calvin Taylor, P Corliss Waitman, T Brandon Walton, WR Cody White, CB Trevor Williams
San Francisco 49ers
- QB Josh Johnson, OL Corbin Kaufusi
Seattle Seahawks
- DT Myles Adams
Tennessee Titans
- T Paul Adams, WR Rashard Davis, TE Parker Hesse, WR Cody Hollister, TE Tommy Hudson, LB Jan Johnson, T Brandon Kemp, QB DeShone Kizer, K Tucker McCann, C Daniel Munyer, DE Nate Orchard, LS Matt Orzech, WR Chester Rogers, LB Tuzar Skipper
Washington Football Team
2021 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker
Exiting the regular season, six teams are searching for new head coaches. That number is up from last season but not quite as high as 2019, though there may well be more vacancies that emerge during the playoffs.
Listed below are the head coaching candidates that have been linked to each of the teams with vacancies, along with their current status. If and when other teams decide to make head coaching changes, they’ll be added to this list. Here is the current breakdown:
Updated 1-27-21 (7:05pm CT)
Atlanta Falcons
- Eric Bieniemy, Chiefs offensive coordinator: Interviewed on 1/4
- Todd Bowles, Buccaneers defensive coordinator: Interview expected
- Joe Brady, Panthers offensive coordinator: Interviewed on 1/7
- Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern head coach: Rumored candidate
- Nathaniel Hackett, Packers offensive coordinator: Interviewed on 1/7
- Raheem Morris, Falcons interim head coach: Interviewed on 1/1
- Robert Saleh, 49ers defensive coordinator: Interviewed on 1/4
- Arthur Smith, Titans offensive coordinator: Hired
Detroit Lions
- Darrell Bevell, Lions interim head coach: Interviewed on 1/5
- Eric Bieniemy, Chiefs offensive coordinator: Interviewed on 1/4
- Todd Bowles, Buccaneers defensive coordinator: Interviewed on 1/13
- Dan Campbell, Saints assistant head coach: Hired
- Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern head coach: Rumored candidate
- Marvin Lewis, Arizona State co-defensive coordinator/former Bengals head coach: Interviewed
- Urban Meyer, former Ohio State head coach: Rumored candidate
- Robert Saleh, 49ers defensive coordinator: Interviewed on 1/7
- Arthur Smith, Titans offensive coordinator: Interviewed on 1/12
Houston Texans
- Eric Bieniemy, Chiefs offensive coordinator: Interviewed on 1/18; second interview likely
- Joe Brady, Panthers offensive coordinator: Interviewed on 1/5
- Jim Caldwell, former Colts and Lions head coach: Interviewed on 1/22
- David Culley, Ravens AHC/wide receivers coach: Received second interview on 1/27
- Matt Eberflus, Colts defensive coordinator: Initially declined interview request; interviewed on 1/16; considered frontrunner?
- Pat Fitzgerald, Northwestern head coach: Rumored candidate
- Leslie Frazier, Bills defensive coordinator: Received second interview on 1/26
- Josh McCown, Texans quarterback: Interviewed on 1/22
- Arthur Smith, Titans offensive coordinator: To be interviewed
- Brandon Staley, Rams defensive coordinator: Interview requested
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Eric Bieniemy, Chiefs offensive coordinator: Interviewed on 1/6
- Ryan Day, Ohio State head coach: Rumored candidate; not interested in position
- Urban Meyer, former Ohio State head coach: Hired
- Raheem Morris, Falcons interim head coach: Interviewed on 1/7
- Robert Saleh, 49ers defensive coordinator: Interviewed on 1/9
- Arthur Smith, Titans offensive coordinator: Interviewed on 1/10
Los Angeles Chargers
- Eric Bieniemy, Chiefs offensive coordinator: Interview requested
- Joe Brady, Panthers offensive coordinator: Interviewed on 1/7
- Brian Daboll, Bills offensive coordinator: To be interviewed on 1/10; considered favorite
- Matt Eberflus, Colts defensive coordinator: Interviewed on 1/12
- Jason Garrett, Giants offensive coordinator: Interviewed on 1/8
- Urban Meyer, former Ohio State head coach: Contacted
- Robert Saleh, 49ers defensive coordinator: Interviewed on 1/9
- Arthur Smith, Titans offensive coordinator: Interviewed on 1/11
- Brandon Staley, Rams defensive coordinator: Hired
New York Jets
- Eric Bieniemy, Chiefs offensive coordinator: Interviewed on 1/6
- Joe Brady, Panthers offensive coordinator: Interviewed on 1/9
- Matt Campbell, Iowa State head coach: Interview declined
- Brian Daboll, Bills offensive coordinator: Interviewed on 1/10
- Matt Eberflus, Colts defensive coordinator: Interviewed on 1/10
- Aaron Glenn, Saints defensive backs coach: Interviewed on 1/10
- Patrick Graham, Giants defensive coordinator: Interview requested; to stay with Giants
- Marvin Lewis, Arizona State co-defensive coordinator/former Bengals head coach: Interviewed on 1/7
- Robert Saleh, 49ers defensive coordinator: Hired
- Arthur Smith, Titans offensive coordinator: Interviewed on 1/11
- Brandon Staley, Rams defensive coordinator: Interviewed on 1/10
Philadelphia Eagles
- Eric Bieniemy, Chiefs offensive coordinator: Interview requested
- Todd Bowles, Buccaneers defensive coordinator: Interviewed on 1/18
- Joe Brady, Panthers offensive coordinator: Interviewed on 1/13
- Mike Kafka, Chiefs quarterbacks coach: Rumored candidate
- Jerod Mayo, Patriots inside linebackers coach: Interviewed on 1/15
- Josh McDaniels, Patriots offensive coordinator: Interviewed on 1/17
- Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma head coach: Rumored candidate
- Robert Saleh, 49ers defensive coordinator: Interviewed on 1/12
- Arthur Smith, Titans offensive coordinator: Interview requested
- Nick Sirianni, Colts offensive coordinator: Hired
- Brandon Staley, Rams defensive coordinator: To be Interviewed
- Duce Staley, Eagles running backs coach: Mentioned as candidate
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/12/21
Here are the latest NFL minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Promoted: OL Jordan Devey
- Placed on IR: RB Zack Moss
Cleveland Browns
- Placed on IR: G Michael Dunn, CB Robert Jackson
Detroit Lions
- Claimed off waivers from Washington: LB Shaun Dion Hamilton
Green Bay Packers
- Placed on IR: G Simon Stepaniak
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed to reserve/futures contract: T Jake Benzinger, CB Anthony Chesley, T Elijah Nkansah
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: QB Anthony Gordon
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived: LB Jachai Polite
Miami Dolphins
- Signed to reserve/futures contract: RB Jordan Scarlett
New York Jets
- Signed to reserve/futures contract: LB John Daka
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Waived: FB Trey Edmunds
Washington Football Team
- Signed to reserve/futures contract: DB DeMarkus Acy, DB Torry McTyer, DE Daniel Wise
OL Jared Veldheer To Sign With Packers
Offensive lineman Jared Veldheer is set to make NFL history this weekend. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that the veteran is signing with the Packers.
Per Schefter, this signing will make Veldheer the first player in NFL history to play at least one postseason game for two different organizations in the same year; Veldheer started for the Colts in their playoff loss to the Bills this past weekend. Thanks in part to Indy’s loss and Veldheer‘s initial placement on the practice squad, Green Bay was able to swoop in and sign him.
Schefter notes (on Twitter) that COVID-19 practice-squad rules allowed this to happen, meaning it will likely be the only time in league history that we see a player appear in postseason games for different teams in the same year. Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel tweets that Veldheer must be signed to Green Bay’s 53-man roster.
This won’t be the 33-year-old’s first stint with Green Bay; he joined the Packers late last season and ended up starting a playoff game. It’s uncertain if Veldheer will be starting this time around, but at the very least, he sounds like he’ll serve as insurance for offensive tackle Ricky Wagner, who’s currently dealing with a knee injury.
Veldheer, a 2010 third-round pick out of Hillsdale, has put together a 12-year career, appearing in 121 career regular season games. He joined the Colts in late December, and he ended up playing 100-percent of his team’s offensive snaps in Week 17 and the Wild Card Round.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/9/21
Here are the latest NFL minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: P Sam Koch
- Promoted: QB Tyler Huntley, T R.J. Prince
- Placed on IR: OL Ben Bredeson
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted: WR Ja’Marcus Bradley, CB A.J. Green, T Alex Taylor
Green Bay Packers
- Signed to reserve/futures deal: WR Chris Blair, S Innis Gaines, LB Ray Wilborn
New Orleans Saints
- Activated from IR: WR Deonte Harris, CB Patrick Robinson
- Placed on IR: OL Nick Easton
- Promoted: LB Chase Hansen, WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey
- Waived: WR Jake Kumerow
New York Giants
- Signed to reserve/futures deal: QB/WR Joe Webb
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed to reserve/futures deal: QB/TE Tyree Jackson, CB Kevon Seymour
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Activated from IR: G Matt Feiler, LB Robert Spillane
- Promoted: TE Kevin Rader
- Waived: LB Tegray Scales
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted: DT Cedrick Lattimore
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Jonathan Bullard
Tennessee Titans
- Promoted: OL Daniel Munyer, LB Brooks Reed
Falcons Interview Nathaniel Hackett
The Falcons interviewed Packers offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett on Thursday (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport and Peter Schrager of NFL.com). This marks Hackett’s first head coaching interview of the offseason.
Hackett, 41, has been in Green Bay since 2019. He comes into this cycle with strong reviews from head coach Matt LaFleur, as well as quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
“Hack has been a really important part of our culture change and a part of our success on offense. I love him,” Rodgers said recently. “Hope he doesn’t go anywhere. Unless I do.”
The Packers offense took another step forward in 2020 with Hackett’s guidance. The unit finished first in points and fifth in total yards with a steady balance between the passing game and the running game.
It’s worth noting that Hackett’s old boss, Doug Marrone, is also available for hire after being fired by the Jaguars. If Hackett is hired in Atlanta, he could conceivably bring Marrone along with him for a role-reversal.
Hackett is the fifth candidate to meet with the Falcons. Previously, they interviewed incumbent Raheem Morris, Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, and Panthers offensive coordinator Joe Brady for the job.