OL Notes: Bolles, Chiefs, 49ers, Texans, Jags
For a second time, the Broncos allowed Garett Bolles to play deep into a contract year before extending him. After the sides previously reached an extension agreement in November 2020, Bolles inked his second Denver extension days before the team’s Week 15 game. Talks did not begin until recently. The sides did not begin to discuss a new deal — one Bolles had begun to lobby for back in 2023 — until after the Broncos’ win over the Browns, 9News’ Mike Klis notes. While Bolles held Myles Garrett without a sack, the Broncos’ upcoming bye week presumably had more to do with the timing of the negotiations.
Bolles is now the NFL’s sixth-highest-paid left tackle. Like recently extended edge rusher Jonathon Cooper, he may well have done better by reaching free agency. But Bolles wanted to stay with the team that drafted him back in 2017. The four-year, $82MM contract includes $23.7MM guaranteed at signing and features a similar guarantee structure to the one Mike McGlinchey secured. If Bolles is on Denver’s roster by Day 5 of the 2025 league year, his 2026 base salary becomes guaranteed, per OverTheCap. As the Broncos have part two of Russell Wilson‘s dead money due in 2025, they have predictably backloaded Bolles’ deal. This is a rather extreme effort, as five void years (through 2033) are attached to this deal. Bolles will count $5.8MM on Denver’s 2025 cap and just $9.2MM in 2026; the cap hits balloon past $20MM after that.
Here is the latest from the NFL’s O-line situations:
- Unable to find a reliable left tackle since letting Orlando Brown Jr. leave in 2023, the Chiefs are going with an emergency plan today. With recent signee D.J. Humphries declared out due to a hamstring injury he sustained in his Kansas City debut, the Chiefs are kicking Joe Thuney to left tackle. The left guard saw time at LT against the Raiders, who were besting second-year blocker Wanya Morris. Rather than go with Morris, the Chiefs are using Thuney at LT and backup Mike Caliendo at LG, per ESPN.com’s Adam Teicher. This will cut into the Chiefs’ elite inside trio, but with the team seeing Patrick Mahomes hit with more frequency in recent weeks, it will use this patchwork adjustment to stem the tide. A 2023 UDFA, Caliendo is making his first career start.
- On the same note, the Texans are making a change. Right tackle Tytus Howard is moving back to left guard, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes. Both center Juice Scruggs and left guard Kenyon Green are out. As a result, Howard will return to the position he primarily played last season. Howard has shuffled between tackle and guard as a pro; prior to his 812-snap 2024 at RT, he played all 408 of his 2023 snaps at LG. Second-round pick Blake Fisher is in at RT.
- Trent Williams‘ recovery from an ankle injury has proven “a lot” slower than the 49ers expected, Kyle Shanahan said (via ESPN.com’s Nick Wagoner). The team is not ruling him out for the rest of the season. That said, San Francisco is now 5-8; shelving the All-Pro the rest of the way would make sense. Williams, 36, secured significant guarantees via a September reworking. He has not indicated a 2025 return will commence, but his through-2026 contract contains enticements to come back.
- The Bears should be likely to be shoppers to fortify their O-line’s interior in 2025, with the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs rating that area atop the team’s list of needs. Chicago whiffed on Nate Davis and devoted low-end money to center. Left guard Teven Jenkins is a free agent-to-be who has not engaged in substantive extension talks.
- Like Bolles, Walker Little secured an extension recently. The Jaguars revealed their long-term left tackle plan, post-Cam Robinson, by signing Little to a three-year, $40.5MM extension. The first two years of Little’s deal are fully guaranteed, per OverTheCap. That comes out to $25.94MM. Although his 2027 salary is nonguaranteed, the 2021 second-rounder did well on the guarantee front as he bypasses free agency.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/14/24
Saturday’s minor moves and standard gameday elevations:
Arizona Cardinals
- Elevated: P Michael Palardy
- Placed on IR: RB Emari Demercado, P Blake Gillikin
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from IR: DT Michael Pierce
- Elevated: CB Desmond King, LB William Kwenkeu
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: S Kareem Jackson, QB Mike White
Carolina Panthers
- Elevated: RB Mike Boone, LB Jacoby Windmon
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed to active roster: QB Logan Woodside
- Elevated: T Andrew Coker, K Cade York
- Placed on IR: LB Joe Bachie
Dallas Cowboys
- Elevated: CB Andrew Booth, T Dakoda Shepley
Denver Broncos
- Elevated: G Nick Gargiulo, CB Reese Taylor
Detroit Lions
- Elevated: S Jamal Adams, LB Abraham Beauplan
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Elevated: DE DJ Coleman
- Placed on IR: TE Evan Engram (story)
Houston Texans
- Elevated: TE Irv Smith Jr.
Kansas City Chiefs
- Elevated: LB Swayze Bozeman, TE Anthony Firkser
Los Angeles Chargers
- Elevated: WR Laviska Shenault, TE Eric Tomlinson
- Placed on IR: WR Jalen Reagor
Miami Dolphins
- Activated from IR: WR Grant DuBose
- Signed to active roster: DT Matt Dickerson
- Elevated: T Ryan Hayes, LS Zach Triner
- Waived: QB Skylar Thompson
New England Patriots
- Elevated: TE Jack Westover
New Orleans Saints
- Activated from reserve/PUP: DE Tanoh Kpassagnon
- Placed on IR: LB D’Marco Jackson
New York Giants
- Signed to active roster: QB Tim Boyle
- Placed on IR: G Jon Runyan (story)
- Elevated: DB Raheem Layne
New York Jets
- Signed to active roster: CB Kendall Sheffield
- Elevated: TE Zack Kuntz, WR Brandon Smith
Philadelphia Eagles
- Elevated: FB Khari Blasingame
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Activated from IR: DT Montravius Adams
- Placed on IR: T Calvin Anderson
Seattle Seahawks
- Activated from IR: CB Artie Burns
- Elevated: QB Jaren Hall, RB George Holani
- Placed on IR: S Jerrick Reed II
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Elevated: P Jack Browning, S Ryan Neal
Tennessee Titans
- Elevated: G Arlington Hambright, TE Thomas Odukoya
Washington Commanders
- Elevated: DT Carl Davis
Demercado has taken a backseat to Florida State third-round rookie Trey Benson, but he has averaged 9.3 yards per carry on 24 carries this year. Palardy will take over punting duties with Gillikin landing on injured reserve.
Jackson signed with Bills in late July, and although he was among the team’s final roster cuts he was immediately retained via a practice squad deal. This elevation means Week 15 will mark his first time spent on the active roster this season. The 36-year-old has started all but 10 of his 203 NFL games, but last season was marred by suspensions which led to his Broncos release. Jackson could suit up for Buffalo down the stretch as a gameday elevation in a bid to rebuild his stock to a degree.
With the playoffs nearly out of reach and quarterback Joe Burrow dealing with a few ailments (wrist and knee), the Bengals don’t seem to be taking any chances. Jake Browning will continue serving as the primary backup, while Woodside’s promotion will allow him to act as the emergency backup.
Adams has seen his biggest NFL roles during his time in Pittsburgh. Though he hasn’t gotten the same number of starts as he had in 2022 and 2023, he’s continued the same level of production. After missing the last four games, he’ll be looking to return to the field as early as tomorrow.
Texans Activate LB Christian Harris
Christian Harris is set to make his season debut in Week 15. The third-year linebacker was activated from injured reserve on Saturday, per a Texans announcement. 
Harris was given the IR/designated for return designation made available for the first time this season during roster cutdowns. That move used up one of the team’s eight activations – two of which remain at this point – and ensured at least a four-game absence to begin the campaign. Harris has remained on the sidelines until now, but his return will be welcomed.
The 23-year-old returned to practice this week, a sign that he could be available for the stretch run. That will indeed be the case, and Harris could have an immediate path to playing time. A starter for 23 of his first 28 games, Harris is a candidate to see first-team action as early as tomorrow especially with Azeez Al-Shaair unavailable. The latter’s three-game suspension was upheld upon appeal, creating a vacancy in the starting lineup for the time being.
Harris logged a snap share of 89% as a rookie, an immediate sign of his importance to the Texans’ defense and his potential over the long term. The Alabama product saw his workload decline last year, but he recorded 101 tackles and a pair of sacks during the regular season. That was followed up by 15 total stops and a pick-six in the playoffs, leading to high expectations moving forward.
Harris’ calf injury has delayed his career progression, but Houston general manager Nick Caserio expressed optimism last week that a return to the lineup could take place shortly. That has proven to be the case, and Harris could play a key role for the Texans down the stretch. Sitting at 8-5 on the year, they are in position to win the AFC South and make another trip to the postseason; Harris could be an important figure over the remainder of the campaign on a unit which already ranks fifth in total defense.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/13/24
Friday’s minor NFL moves:
Houston Texans
- Placed on IR: S Jalen Pitre (story)
Miami Dolphins
- Waived (with non-injury settlement): WR Odell Beckham Jr. (story)
New England Patriots
- Placed on IR: DT Jaquelin Roy
Azeez Al-Shaair’s Suspension Voids 2025 Guaranteed Salary
Azeez Al-Shaair‘s hit on Trevor Lawrence may cost him a lot more than the three game checks he won’t receive while suspended.
Al-Shaair is already missing out on $338k as a result of his three-game suspension, and the impact in 2025 could be far greater. Language in his three-year, $34MM deal with the Texans voids the guarantee on his $9MM base salary next season if the linebacker is suspended for more than two games due to an “on-the-field football act,” per CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones.
Al-Shaair’s suspension was upheld on appeal, voiding next year’s guarantees and giving Houston the option to release him after this season with cap savings of $9MM and a dead cap hit of $2.2MM in 2025.
However, Houston seems unlikely to take that path, especially after Texans general manager Nick Caserio backed his player and blasted the suspension as “embarrassing” last week. Al-Shaair remains in the team’s plans, per Jones, meaning that he should still be able to earn all $9MM of his 2025 base salary.
The Texans are not able to unilaterally reinstate the guarantees, even if they want to. They could try to leverage the situation into a contract renegotiation with Al-Shaair by offering him more guaranteed money in return for a pay cut, but doing so would risk ruining his relationship with the franchise.
Instead, Houston is most likely to keep Al-Shaair on the roster with his contract untouched, allowing him to collect his full $9MM salary next year to nullify the impact of the voided guarantees.
Texans S Jalen Pitre To Undergo Season-Ending Surgery
Texans safety Jalen Pitre will undergo surgery to repair a partially-torn pectoral, according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, ending his 2024 season and depriving Houston of one of their key defensive playmakers as they attempt to win the AFC South.
Pitre started the Texans’ first 12 games this season, but exited the game in Week 12 and did not play the following week. Though he avoided a full pectoral tear, the injury still required corrective surgery with a recovery period that will extend beyond the end of the 2024 season.
Pitre’s injury is a massive loss for the Texans’ defense. Though the 2022 second-round pick hasn’t matched his impressive rookie production of five interceptions and 147 total tackles in either of the last two seasons, he’s still a versatile and valuable playmaker from the slot and the box.
Veteran safety Jimmie Ward took over Pitre’s role in Weeks 12 and 13 and will likely remain there for the rest of the season.
The Texans will also be without the services of starting offensive lineman Juice Scruggs for at least two games, per Wilson. Scruggs injured his foot in Week 13 against the Jaguars, but is not expected to undergo surgery or be placed on injured reserve.
Scruggs began the year as Houston’s center before sliding to left guard to replace Kenyon Green when he landed on IR. Green was designated to return on Monday, so he could move back into his old spot with Scruggs now sidelined. Zachary Thomas also took snaps at left guard in practice this week, so he could start there if Green isn’t healthy enough to play in Week 15.
Texans Designate Christian Harris, Kenyon Green For Return
Coming off their bye week, the Texans could have a pair of reinforcements. Linebacker Christian Harris and guard Kenyon Green have been designated for return, per a team announcement.
Harris has not played this season while recovering from a calf injury. Houston used an IR/designated for return slot during roster cutdowns, committing one of the team’s eight IR activations in the process. General manager Nick Caserio said last week Harris could be back shortly, and today’s news is an encouraging sign in that respect.
Harris and Green both have 21 days to be brought onto the active roster now that they have begun to practice. Harris’ return will be welcomed given his importance to Houston’s defense. The 2022 third-rounder has started 23 of his 28 career games, and in 2023 he eclipsed the 100-tackle mark. Especially with Azeez Al-Shaair facing a three-game suspension (pending appeal), getting Harris back in time for Week 15 would be critical for the Texans.
Green started each of Houston’s first nine games this season, a positive development after he missed all of last year. The former first-rounder struggled at left guard when in the lineup, though, as PFF charged him with five sacks and 27 pressures allowed. A dislocated shoulder was expected to result in a lengthy absence, and Green was indeed moved to IR in November. Pass protection has been an issue for the Texans, a team which did not make any O-line moves at the trade deadline. Green’s return would give them another healthy option up front.
Houston has only two IR activations remaining, one of which will be used to bring Green into the fold. The Texans sit at 8-5 on the year and hold a two-game advantage over the Colts for top spot in the AFC South. Getting healthier in advance of the postseason will be critical over the coming weeks, and seeing Harris and Green return to the lineup will be notable in that regard.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/5/24
Here are the latest moves from around the league, including game day elevations for Thursday Night football:
Arizona Cardinals
- Designated to return from injured reserve: CB Elijah Jones
Detroit Lions
- Signed to active roster: WR Maurice Alexander
- Elevated to the active roster from the practice squad: S Jamal Adams, OLB Mitchell Agude
Green Bay Packers
- Elevated to the active roster from the practice squad: CB Kalen King
Houston Texans
- Placed on reserve/suspended list: LB Azeez Al-Shaair
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Activated from injured reserve: CB Cory Trice
Seattle Seahawks
- Awarded via waivers: WR Jaelon Darden
- Waived: CB Dee Williams
The Lions signed Adams to their practice squad on Sunday after a slew of injuries on Thanksgiving. The onetime All-Pro played 20 snaps across three games for the Titans this year before he landed on the Non-Football injury list and requested his release. Though he’s still listed as a defensive back, Adams is likely to play in the box after Malcolm Rodriguez joined three other Lions linebacker on injured reserve.
Texans, TE Brevin Jordan Agree To Extension
Brevin Jordan was on track for free agency, but that will no longer be the case. The fourth-year tight end worked out a Texans extension on Thursday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. 
This will be a one-year deal, meaning Jordan will remain in Houston for the 2025 campaign. His season was brought to an early and abrupt end by a Week 2 ACL tear, something which threatened to hinder his value on the open market. Instead, Jordan’s immediate future is now secure.
Selected in the fifth-round of the 2021 draft, Jordan has served as a key rotational figure on offense throughout his time in Houston. The 24-year-old’s role in the passing game remained consistent through his first three seasons, averaging just over 25 targets, 17 catches and 175 yards per year. That production includes five total touchdowns along with a career-best 12.9 yards per reception from 2023, so expectations were high for a step forward this season.
The ACL tear has left Jordan on the sidelines for the rest of the year, but the Texans do of course still have Dalton Schultz in place as a pass-catching option at the TE spot. The former Cowboy inked a new deal this offseason, and as a result he is on the books through 2026. Today’s move will give Houston added continuity with not only Schultz but also Jordan in place for next year.
Given the timing of the latter’s injury, he will have a strong chance of being available for the start of the 2025 campaign; Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 notes that is indeed expected to be the case. If Jordan can manage to remain healthy next year, he will have the opportunity to boost his free agent stock while remaining in a familiar environment.
Texans LB Azeez Al-Shaair Issued Three-Game Suspension
DECEMBER 4: Al-Shaair’s three-game suspension has been upheld by hearing officer Ramon Foster. Foster, a former Steelers offensive guard from 2009-19, was jointly appointed by the NFL and NFLPA and declined to give Al-Shaair any leniency after his hit on Lawrence virtually ended the quarterback’s season.
DECEMBER 3: A decision has been made on a suspension for Azeez Al-Shaair. The Texans linebacker has received a three-game ban, the NFL announced on Tuesday. Al-Shaair will appeal, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
“Your lack of sportsmanship and respect for the game of football and all those who play, coach, and enjoy watching it, is troubling and does not reflect the core values of the NFL,” a letter from NFL VP of football operations Jon Runyan reads in part. “Your continued disregard for NFL playing rules puts the health and safety of both you and your opponents in jeopardy and will not be tolerated.”
As Runyan’s letter notes, Al-Shaair’s history of personal fouls in recent years played a role determining the length of the ban. This will be the 27-year-old’s first NFL suspension, one which many felt could be handed down in the wake of his hit on Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence. After the play, Al-Shaair was involved in a brawl which led to multiple players (including himself) being ejected from the game, which was another factor in the league’s suspension decision. The FAU product has since publicly apologized for his actions.
Lawrence was carted off the field following the hit, and he is now in concussion protocol. That has left his availability for the remainder of the season, while in Al-Shaair’s case today’s news will leave him sidelined until Week 18. If he were to win his appeal though, the ban would be reduced which would open the door to a return earlier in the Texans’ remaining schedule. The team’s bye will take place in Week 14 before a stretch where Houston will look to secure the AFC South.
Al-Shaair has been a full-time starter in 2024, his first season as a Texan. The former UDFA spent four seasons with the 49ers, playing under DeMeco Ryans during that time. After a single campaign with the Titans, Al-Shaair signed a three-year deal with Houston which allowed him to reunite with Ryans. He has posted 68 tackles and pair of sacks to date, and replacing that production will be challenging for the Texans over the near future.
Sitting at 8-5 on the year, a divisional title is firmly within reach for Houston. The team is on track to reach the postseason as a result, and even if Al-Shaair’s appeal is unsuccessful he will be available once the playoffs begin.