Minor NFL Transactions: 11/27/23
Here are Monday’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
- Elevated: LB DeMarquis Gates, DB Christian Matthew
Green Bay Packers
- Waived: WR Bo Melton, RB James Robinson
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed from practice squad: OL Chandler Brewer
Kansas City Chiefs
- Waived from reserve/retired list: WR John Ross
Los Angeles Rams
- Placed on IR: CB Duke Shelley
- Signed from practice squad: CB Shaun Jolly
Minnesota Vikings
- Elevated: LB Anthony Barr
San Francisco 49ers
- Activated from IR: DL Robert Beal Jr.
- Placed on IR: S George Odum (story)
Ross signed a reserve/futures deal with the Chiefs in January but retired before training camp. The Combine 40-yard dash record holder now intends to resume his career, according to NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo. Ross, who turned 28 today, has not played in a regular-season game since 2021 with the Giants.
A Raiders spring signee, Shelley did not make Las Vegas’ 53-man roster. The Rams picked him up before the season and have used him mostly on special teams. Shelley, who Bears and Vikings prior to this two-team 2023, has logged 76 defensive snaps this season. But the veteran cornerback has been on the field for 65% of Los Angeles’ special teams plays.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/27/23
Monday’s taxi squad moves:
Denver Broncos:
- Released: OLB Marcus Haynes
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: OL Jimmy Murray, OL Keaton Sutherland
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: T Zachary Thomas
New York Jets
- Signed: G Chris Glaser
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: S Erik Harris
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: CB Kelvin Joseph, WR Cody White
- Released: OL Ben Brown
- Placed on practice squad IR list: LB Levi Bell
Jaguars Place T Cam Robinson On IR
2:53pm: The Jaguars have indeed placed Robinson on injured reserve per the transactions wire, meaning he will be sidelined for at least four weeks. With five IR activations remaining on the season, Jacksonville will comfortably be able to return him to the lineup when he has recovered.
2:06pm: The Jaguars managed to secure a pivotal win in Week 12, but they lost a key member of their offensive front in the process. Left tackle Cam Robinson suffered a knee injury, and it appears poised to keep him sidelined for an intermediate stretch. 
Robinson is dealing with a knee injury which has a recovery timeline of three-to-six weeks, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. That makes the veteran a candidate to be placed on injured reserve, a move which would guarantee at least a four-week absence. Any missed time will be signficant for Jacksonville’s offense as the team looks to maintain its lead in the AFC South down the stretch.
The 28-year-old missed the beginning of the campaign while serving a four-game PED suspension. He managed to play every game from Week 5 on, though, until the knee injury sidelined him in Sunday’s win over the Texans. Robinson has been charged with three sacks allowed this season, leading to an overall PFF grade of 63.5.
That figure falls in line with many of his other evaluations over the course of his career. Robinson has never earned Pro Bowl acclaim but the Jaguars have remained committed to him on the blindside for seven years and counting. That includes the latest contract he agreed to with Jacksonville, a three-year, $52.75MM deal signed in 2022. The pact calls for a cap hit of $21.6MM next year, so having Robinson healthy by that point will be a signficant priority for the team.
Before then, it will be interesting to see how quickly the former second-rounder can return to the lineup. Robinson was shut down for the season last year due to a meniscus tear, and the Jags’ O-line was shorthanded through their playoff run as a result. Recovering in time for the 2023 postseason is feasible with the latest injury occurring in November, but Robinson’s status will nevertheless be worth monitoring.
In his absence, Jacksonville shifted Walker Little from left guard to left tackle on Sunday. The latter started on the blindside during Robinson’s suspension to begin the campaign, so a repeat of that setup would come as no surprise. Jacksonville lost interior depth last week with Ben Bartch departing from the practice squad to join the 49ers. Little moving outside could open up a starting spot at guard for Ezra Cleveland, whom the Jaguars acquired at the trade deadline.
49ers To Sign G Ben Bartch Off Jaguars’ Practice Squad
Ben Bartch‘s time in Duval County is set to come to an end. The veteran offensive lineman has agreed to depart the Jaguars’ practice squad on a deal with the 49ers, reports Mia O’Brien of 1010 AM. 
The 25-year-old has made 41 career appearances, all with Jacksonville. That includes 21 starts, three of which have come in the 2022 season. Jacksonville made a depth addition at the guard spot during the trade deadline, acquiring Ezra Cleveland from the Vikings. In the aftermath of that move, Bartch has seen his path to an active roster spot grow more challenging, and he will head elsewhere.
The latter has bounced on and off the Jaguars’ active roster recently, after starting at left guard for each of the first three weeks of the season. The LG spot has been Bartch’s most common one over the course of his career, but he has also seen time at right guard. Both Cleveland and Walker Little, who slid inside after beginning the year at left tackle due to Cam Robinson‘s PED suspension, can operate at guard for the Jaguars moving forward.
Bartch, a former fourth-round pick, earned a starting spot in the 2021 season. He again operated as a first-teamer at the start of the following year before a knee injury cost him the remainder of the campaign. Set to reach free agency at the end of the season, he will now join San Francisco’s O-line in a bid to at least offer depth along the interior for what could be a deep postseason run.
The 49ers have 2021 second-rounder Aaron Banks and 2022 fourth-rounder Spencer Burford in place as starters at the guard spots. They also have veteran Jon Feliciano as a fill-in option. Bartch – who has posted a PFF grade of 55.5 in 2023, roughly in line with past marks – will look to carve out a role in the Bay Area before hitting the open market in the spring.
Jaguars Place WR Jamal Agnew On IR, Activate WR Parker Washington
The Jaguars will be without their return man for an extended stretch. A returner and backup wide receiver, Jamal Agnew is moving to IR. This will sideline the veteran weapon for at least four games.
To replace Agnew on their active roster, the Jaguars activated wide receiver Parker Washington on Saturday. A sixth-round rookie out of Penn State, the 21-year-old backup has played in one game this season. Washington worked as a punt returner in that lone outing; the Jags drafted the 5-foot-10 wideout 185th overall this year.
Rib and shoulder injuries will send Agnew to IR; he will not be eligible to return until Week 15. Having made the rare conversion from defensive back to wide receiver after entering the NFL, Agnew has been with the Jaguars since 2021. The former Lions cornerback has operated as the Jags’ return man since signing with the team in 2021. While Agnew landed on IR to cut short his 2021 season, he has been a key part of Jacksonville’s special teams since arriving. An All-Pro in Detroit back in his 2017 rookie year, the former fifth-round pick earned a Pro Bowl nod last season.
Agnew, 28, has worked as both the Jags’ kick returner and their punt-return specialist. While all four of Agnew’s punt-return scores came during his four-year run in Detroit, he added a kick-return TD with Jacksonville in 2021. After scoring three receiving TDs last year, Agnew has nine receptions for 90 yards this year. Although an Agnew fumble wounded the Jaguars’ comeback effort in last year’s divisional round, he has been a key performer for the AFC South team.
This is the final season of Agnew’s three-year, $14.25MM deal. Barring this being a season-ending injury, the seventh-year veteran should be expected to re-emerge as a factor for the division-leading team down the stretch. Washington’s activation leaves the Jags with five such transactions remaining.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/15/23
Wednesday’s minor roster moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived: OL Doug Kramer
Cleveland Browns
- Designated for return from IR: G Michael Dunn
Dallas Cowboys
- Designated for return from IR: TE Peyton Hendershot
Detroit Lions
- Signed to active roster: LS Jake McQuaide
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Designated for return from IR: WR Parker Washington
Las Vegas Raiders
- Designated for return from IR: S Roderic Teamer
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed off Giants’ practice squad: OLB Justin Hollins
- Designated for return from NFI: S J.T. Woods
- Placed on IR: OLB Chris Rumph (story)
New York Jets
- Designated for return from IR: TE Kenny Yeboah
San Francisco 49ers
- Placed on IR: G Nick Zakelj
Tennessee Titans
- Claimed off waivers (from Panthers): G Calvin Throckmorton
- Placed on IR: LB Chance Campbell
So far this year, Zakelj, the second-year interior offensive lineman, has only appeared in four games on special teams, but the team intended for him to compete with free agent signing Jon Feliciano for the backup center job behind starter Jake Brendel. With Aaron Banks out last week, and with the coaches wanting to get Feliciano more involved at right guard anyway, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports, Zakelj became a key backup at center. Unfortunately for Zakelj and the 49ers, a torn bicep will require surgery, taking Zakelj out for the remainder of the season.
Jaguars WR Zay Jones Arrested
Jaguars wideout Zay Jones was arrested on a misdemeanor domestic battery charge on Monday, according to ESPN’s Michael DiRocco.
Jones was arrested by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and booked into the Duval County Jail earlier this evening. The 28-year-old was charged with domestic battery causing bodily harm, which DiRocco notes is a first-degree misdemeanor. Jones’ first court appearance is scheduled for tomorrow morning.
“We are aware of the situation and are in the midst of gathering information,” the Jaguars said in a statement (via DiRocco). “We will have no further comment at this time.”
Jones has been limited to only three games this season, hauling in five catches for 55 yards and one touchdown. He’s sat out the last six games, including the past four thanks to a knee injury.
The receiver signed a three-year, $24MM deal with the Jaguars during the 2022 offseason. He finished his first season in Jacksonville with 841 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns. The former second-round pick spent the first two-plus seasons of his career with the Bills before playing for the Raiders between 2019 and 2021.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/13/23
Today’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Promoted: CB Josh Norman
Denver Broncos
- Promoted: TE Lucas Krull, WR David Sills
Green Bay Packers
- Claimed off waivers (from Seahawks): DB Kyu Blu Kelly
- Waived: S Innis Gaines
New England Patriots
- Claimed off waivers (from Jaguars): RB JaMycal Hasty
New York Jets
- Claimed off waivers (from Texans): OL Austin Deculus
- Waived: DT Tanzel Smart
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Waived: DT Breiden Fehoko
JaMycal Hasty was waived by the Jaguars this past weekend following a year-plus with the organization. The running back had 320 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns during his first season in Jacksonville but was limited to only three games and zero touches this year. He’ll be hard pressed to carve out a role in New England with Rhamondre Stevenson and Ezekiel Elliott leading the depth chart.
Injured Reserve Return Tracker
After a 2022 rule change, teams can activate up to eight players from injured reserve. That has reintroduced some strategy into how franchises proceed with their activations, and teams will again need to be cognizant of their activation counts in 2023.
The NFL had reintroduced IR-return options in the 2010s, after a period in which an IR move meant a player’s season was over. But the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the league to loosen restrictions on IR from 2020-21. Teams were permitted to use unlimited activations to start the decade, but roster math is again a consideration.
Players who land on IR after cutdown day must miss at least four games. Once a team designates a player for return, the activation clock starts. Clubs have 21 days from a player’s return-to-practice date to activate that player. If no activation commences in that window, the player reverts to season-ending IR.
Here is how the NFL’s remaining two IR situations look for Super Bowl LVIII:
Kansas City Chiefs
Activated:
- RB Jerick McKinnon (story)
- WR Skyy Moore (story)
Designated for return:
- OL Prince Tega Wanogho (Jan. 24)
Eligible for activation:
- S Bryan Cook (story)
Activations remaining: 3
San Francisco 49ers
Designated for return:
- DT Kalia Davis (Jan. 24)
Reverted to season-ending IR:
- WR Danny Gray
Eligible for activation:
- TE Ross Dwelley
- DE Drake Jackson
Activations remaining: 4
CB D.J. Hayden Dies At 33
Former NFL cornerback D.J. Hayden was involved in a fatal car accident on Saturday, as detailed by ESPN. He was 33. 
Hayden was one of six people killed in Houston after another vehicle drove through a red light and caused a collision. The University of Houston also confirmed that his former college teammates Zach McMillian and Ralph Oragwu were among the people fatally wounded in the crash. Another former Cougar, Jeffrey Lewis, was injured.
“The entire University of Houston community is heartbroken over the tragic passing of former Football student-athletes D.J. Hayden, Zachary McMillian and Ralph Oragwu earlier today, and our thoughts and prayers remain with Jeffery Lewis in his recovery ahead,” Houston said in a statement. “We extend our deepest condolences to their families, friends, and loved ones, as we collectively mourn the loss of three individuals who made an indelible impact on each life they touched.”
Hayden was a first-round pick of the Raiders in 2013. He spent four years with the then-Oakland based franchise, making 25 of his 41 career starts and collecting three of his four interceptions. After the expiration of his rookie contract, he bounced around the league but managed to play nine total seasons. After a one-year stint with the Lions in 2017, Hayden signed the most lucrative deal of his career (three years, $19MM) with the Jaguars.
He maintained a healthy workload during his time in Jacksonville as the team’s secondary saw a number of departures take place. Hayden then spent the 2021 campaign in Washington, appearing in a single game in the nation’s capital. After signing a futures contract with the Commanders, he was ultimately released last April. Hayden totaled 92 NFL games and roughly $33.5MM in career earnings.
“D.J.’s courage, perseverance, and dedication to his teammates will be fondly remembered by everyone who knew him,” the Raiders said in a statement. “The prayers of the entire Raider Nation are with D.J.’s loved ones at this time.”