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Minor NFL Transactions: 12/9/23

December 9th, 2023 at 5:02pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves and callups heading into the Week 14 slate of Sunday games:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

There was some thought that Ammendola’s stint with the Texans had come to an end after four appearances. However, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 notes that regular starting kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn still isn’t ready to return from his strained quadriceps, requiring the practice squad kicker to step in for at least another week. Ammendola has connected on six of his nine field goal attempts and all 10 of his XP tries this season.

With Trevor Lawrence a game-time decision for Sunday’s game, the Jaguars are adding some QB depth to the active roster. Rourke is a former CFL standout, with the quarterback earning the CFL Most Outstanding Canadian award in 2022. Following that breakout, 25-touchdown campaign, Rourke got a look from a number of NFL teams and ultimately signed a three-year deal with the Jaguars this past offseason. He was waived at the end of the preseason and has spent the majority of the season on Jacksonville’s practice squad. Per ESPN’s Michael DiRocco, the rookie will be the emergency QB3 for Week 14.

Similarly, the Seahawks will call up Mannion and O’Connell as they deal with injuries to starting quarterback Geno Smith and linebacker Jordyn Brooks. Smith is questionable heading into tomorrow’s game with a groin injury.

Stewart is back on the Colts active roster after having served a six-game ban for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs. Through six games this season, the veteran has compiled 20 tackles, two stops for a loss, and five QB hits.

Crosby is set to make his 2023 debut and make an appearance for a team other than the Packers for the first time since the 39-year-old was drafted back in 2007.

Schweitzer head right back to injured reserve after being activated last week. The Jets signed a lineman to the active roster from the practice squad and elevated one for tomorrow’s game to add some depth at the position.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/7/23

December 7th, 2023 at 7:21pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad moves:

Baltimore Ravens

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Los Angeles Chargers

New Orleans Saints

San Francisco 49ers

As expected, Tyrion Davis-Price has landed back with the 49ers after getting cut by the big-league club earlier this week. The 2022 third-round pick has seen time in just one game for San Francisco this season, collecting 21 yards from scrimmage on six touches. He appeared in six games as a rookie, collecting 99 rushing yards. He’ll join Jeremy McNichols as the 49ers’ practice-squad options at RB.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/6/23

December 6th, 2023 at 8:26pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s minor transactions from around the league:

Dallas Cowboys

Houston Texans

Las Vegas Raiders

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Tennessee Titans

The Cowboys made some adjustments to their injured reserve list today. Waletzko returned to practice today as he continues to work his way back from a shoulder injury. McKeon was placed on IR in order to make room for Hendershot after the latter’s activation. This will give McKeon a chance to deal with an ankle injury that’s bothered him this year and a chance to serve as a potential activation candidate for the playoffs.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/5/23

December 5th, 2023 at 6:23pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Tuesday’s practice squad moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Carolina Panthers

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

  • Signed: WR Davion Davis
  • Placed on practice squad injured list: WR Jared Wayne

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/5/23

December 5th, 2023 at 6:04pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Carolina Panthers

Houston Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

New Orleans Saints

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

  • Waived from PUP list: LB Drew White

A 2021 third-round pick, Rice started 10 games over his first two seasons. Although the Titans cut Zach Cunningham and let David Long sign with the Dolphins, they brought in Azeez Al-Shaair and have used second-year UDFA Jack Gibbens as starters this season. Rice has been strictly a backup, and a post-transaction tweet suggested the young defender was not too broken up about this Tennessee cut.

Hyder joined the Texans earlier this season. The 49ers had waived the rotational pass rusher after trading for Randy Gregory. Reuniting with DeMeco Ryans, Hyder spent much of his Texans stay on their practice squad. The team used the defensive end in two games this season, giving him 40 defensive snaps as a backup. Hyder would be eligible to return to Houston’s P-squad if he clears waivers.

Texans, S Adrian Amos Agree To Deal

December 5th, 2023 at 1:39pm CST by Sam Robinson

Adrian Amos cleared waivers Monday but did not last long in free agency. Shortly after the Jets’ decision to cut the veteran safety, which was described over the weekend as a mutual separation, he will land with a fourth NFL team.

The Texans and Amos agreed to terms Tuesday, according to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz. The 10th-year veteran will check in as a depth piece in Houston, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson adds. Amos spent the first nine seasons of his career as a full-time starter, working in that capacity in Chicago and Green Bay. The Jets cut Amos loose after using him as a backup this year.

During his age-30 season, Amos has played 265 defensive snaps. Although the Jets added him as mid-offseason insurance after Chuck Clark‘s season-ending injury, Tony Adams ended up playing as the team’s full-timer alongside Jordan Whitehead. Amos started three games this season, but his run of 900-snap campaigns came to a stop this year. Prior to 2023, Amos had logged more than 970 snaps in five consecutive seasons.

After grading Amos as one of the NFL’s worst safety regulars last season, Pro Football Focus slots the 2023 part-timer 20th overall at the position. Against the run, Amos ranks fourth overall. The advanced metrics site has long been high on the former Bears fifth-rounder, 2022 notwithstanding; he drew a top-30 mark at the position from 2015-21. Amos also made a career-high 102 tackles in 2022, registering a career-most seven tackles for loss as well.

Houston has Jalen Pitre and Jimmie Ward in place at safety, though the latter has once again toggled between safety and the slot due to injuries. Ward has also missed extensive time this season, suiting up for only seven games during his first slate in Houston. The former first-round pick came through with a game-ending end zone interception to stave off a Broncos rally. Ward’s shoulder injury checked out OK after the game, according to Wilson. The 10th-year veteran sustained only a bruise.

Amos joins Pitre, Ward and veteran special-teamer DeAndre Houston-Carson among the Texans’ safety corps. The team placed Eric Murray on IR earlier this season. Between Ward and Amos, Houston now has a combined 250 games of experience.

Texans’ Tank Dell Undergoes Season-Ending Ankle Surgery

December 4th, 2023 at 3:40pm CST by Adam La Rose

DECEMBER 4: When speaking to the media on Monday, head coach DeMeco Ryans confirmed (via Aaron Wilson of KPRC2) Dell has undergone season-ending ankle surgery. The procedure puts an end to a highly encouraging rookie campaign and leaves Houston shorthanded on offense for the stretch run. Ryans added he expects Dell to be healthy in time for the offseason program.

DECEMBER 3: The Texans’ offense has been productive during today’s game against the Broncos, but the unit has been dealt a major blow in the process. Wideout Tank Dell was carted off the field early in the contest, and he has since been diagnosed with a fractured fibula, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

As a result of the injury, Rapoport notes an IR stint is headed Dell’s way. Being placed on injured reserve requires at least a four-week absence, but a lengthier one could very well be in store. The diagnosis is the same one Ravens tight end Mark Andrews received recently, and he is believed to be out for the remainder of the season.

Missing Dell for any signficant time would be a crucial blow for Houston’s passing game. The third-round rookie entered Sunday’s game with 47 catches for 709 yards and seven touchdowns. Those figures made him a staple of the Texans’ offense, especially in recent games. Dell has drawn double-digit targets four times this season, including a span of three straight contests in November. His unique skillset will be difficult to replace both on offense and special teams.

The 24-year-old has served as the Texans’ kick and punt returner this season. In the latter capacity in particular, he has made an impact. Dell has totaled 100 yards on 11 punt returns, adding to his 44 yards on a pair of kick returns. Veteran cornerback Desmond King handled kick return duties during today’s win, but Houston’s offense will be without a dynamic element if Dell is indeed forced to miss considerable time.

In his absence, the Texans leaned heavily on Nico Collins in the passing game. The third-year wideout was the team’s leading receiver heading into Week 13, and he posted a 9-191-1 statline on Sunday. Collins – who will be eligible for an extension at the end of the season – will be the focal point of Houston’s passing attack moving forward. The team also has John Metchie and Noah Brown as complementary options at the WR spot.

Further testing will no doubt be done on Dell in the near future, but the fact such a signficant injury has already been reported is obviously concerning. It will be worth watching closely how much time he ends up missing, and how the 7-5 Texans move forward as their playoff push continues.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/2/23

December 2nd, 2023 at 4:51pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s gameday callups and minor moves heading into Sunday:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

The Chiefs have ruled out running back Jerick McKinnon for tomorrow’s game against the Packers, necessitating some extra depth at the position. The team will turn to Prince, an undrafted free agent who has spent the entire season on Kansas City’s practice squad. Prince had a breakout season at Tulsa in 2022, finishing with 813 yards from scrimmage and six touchdowns.

Winfrey, a 2022 fourth-round pick, was cut by the Browns last July after being investigated for pulling a gun on a woman. He joined the Jets practice squad in early November and will finally earn his first promotion of the season. Winfrey got into 13 games for Cleveland last year, collecting 22 tackles and 0.5 sacks.

At age 36, Irvin will be making his debut for a sixth NFL team. The veteran pass rusher signed with Detroit midway through November and will finally have a chance to extend his streak of regular season appearances to 12 straight years. The only absence on the Lions’ front-seven will be linebacker Alex Anzalone, so Detroit may be looking to stand Irvin up to help the team’s depth at linebacker.

 

Updated 2024 NFL Draft Order

December 1st, 2023 at 1:46pm CST by Adam La Rose

With Week 13 underway, the picture at the top of the NFL draft board continues to become clearer. Plenty is yet to be determined with respect to the top of the order, however.

The Panthers’ ongoing struggles led to Frank Reich‘s firing, but the Bears own Carolina’s top pick this year due to the 2023 swap which landed Bryce Young via the No. 1 selection. Chicago being able to have the top pick once again – coupled with their own selection landing in the top-10 – would make the Bears a team to watch closely come April. The race for the top two or three slots (and, as such, the ability to draft QBs Caleb Williams and Drake Maye, along with wideout Marvin Harrison Jr.) will also be a key late-season storyline for the Cardinals and Patriots.

The Commanders have lost three straight games, overshadowing a promising season from first-year starter Sam Howell. After deciding to move on from defensive ends Chase Young and Montez Sweat at the trade deadline, the team’s defense has continued to struggle. DC Jack Del Rio is out as a result, and head coach Ron Rivera‘s position is not believed to be on strong footing. A top-five pick could make the job in Washington more attractive presuming a opening arises this offseason.

For non-playoff teams, the draft order will be determined by the inverted 2024 standings — plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule — with playoff squads being slotted by their postseason outcome and regular-season record. Here is an updated look at the current draft order:

  1. Chicago Bears (via Panthers)
  2. Arizona Cardinals: 2-10
  3. New England Patriots: 2-9
  4. Chicago Bears: 4-8
  5. Washington Commanders: 4-8
  6. New York Giants: 4-8
  7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 4-7
  8. New York Jets: 4-7
  9. Los Angeles Chargers: 4-7
  10. Tennessee Titans: 4-7
  11. Las Vegas Raiders: 5-7
  12. New Orleans Saints: 5-6
  13. Green Bay Packers: 5-6
  14. Los Angeles Rams: 5-6
  15. Cincinnati Bengals: 5-6
  16. Buffalo Bills: 6-6
  17. Arizona Cardinals (via Texans)
  18. Denver Broncos: 6-5
  19. Atlanta Falcons: 5-6
  20. Minnesota Vikings: 6-6
  21. Seattle Seahawks: 6-6
  22. Indianapolis Colts: 6-5
  23. Pittsburgh Steelers: 7-4
  24. Houston Texans (via Browns)
  25. Miami Dolphins: 8-3
  26. Detroit Lions: 8-3
  27. Jacksonville Jaguars: 8-3
  28. Dallas Cowboys: 9-3
  29. Kansas City Chiefs: 8-3
  30. San Francisco 49ers: 8-3
  31. Baltimore Ravens: 9-3
  32. Philadelphia Eagles: 10-1

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/30/23

November 30th, 2023 at 6:33pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad transactions:

Arizona Cardinals

Carolina Panthers

Houston Texans

Kansas City Chiefs

New England Patriots

  • Released: WR Mathew Sexton

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

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