Today’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Placed on IR: DE Michael Hoecht (story)
Green Bay Packers
- Released: LB Kristian Welch
Here are today’s minor moves and practice squad callups for the ninth weekend of the NFL season:
Atlanta Falcons
- Elevated: WR Dylan Drummond
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: CB Dane Jackson, DT Phidarian Mathis
Chicago Bears
- Elevated: RB Brittain Brown
Cincinnati Bengals
- Elevated: LB Brian Asamoah II, G Jaxson Kirkland
Denver Broncos
- Elevated: WR Michael Bandy, TE Marcedes Lewis
Detroit Lions
- Elevated: LB Ty Summers
Green Bay Packers
- Signed to active roster: LB Kristian Welch
- Elevated: DE Arron Mosby
- Placed on IR: LB Nick Niemann
Indianapolis Colts
- Elevated: DE Durell Nchami, WR Laquon Treadwell
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Elevated: LB Branson Combs, WR Tim Jones
Kansas City Chiefs
- Elevated: RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire, G C.J. Hanson
Las Vegas Raiders
- Elevated: CB Greedy Vance
Los Angeles Chargers
- Elevated: RB Amar Johnson, RB Jaret Patterson
- Placed on IR: RB Hassan Haskins
Los Angeles Rams
- Elevated: CB A.J. Green, RB Ronnie Rivers
Minnesota Vikings
- Elevated: CB Fabian Moreau, TE Nick Vannett
New England Patriots
- Elevated: RB D’Ernest Johnson
New Orleans Saints
- Elevated: LB Eku Leota
New York Giants
- Activated from IR: CB Rico Payton
- Elevated: LB Zaire Barnes, WR Ray-Ray McCloud
- Placed on IR: CB Art Green
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Activated from IR: LB Malik Harrison
- Elevated: RB Lew Nichols, RB Trey Sermon
San Francisco 49ers
- Activated from IR: OL Spencer Burford
- Elevated: DE Clelin Ferrell, OL Nick Zakelj
- Placed on IR: OLB Yetur Gross-Matos
Tennessee Titans
- Elevated: WR James Proche, DT Carlos Watkins
Washington Commanders
- Elevated: WR Treylon Burks, DT Sheldon Day
The Steelers are getting Harrison back at a crucial time. Fellow linebacker Cole Holcomb has been ruled out this weekend with an illness — as has safety Chuck Clark, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network — and Harrison should be able to reinforce the group. He has plenty of experience playing next to starter Patrick Queen from their time together in Baltimore, so perhaps he’ll be able to step in and contribute right away.
The Chargers continue to see their running backs room plagued with injury. Haskins joins Omarion Hampton and Najee Harris on injured reserve. Johnson and Patterson will suit up tomorrow to provide some depth behind lone survivor Kimani Vidal.
With Terry McLaurin once again set to miss time, Burks, the newly signed p-squad addition, will make his Washington debut. Also a newly signed p-squad addition, Lewis will make his Denver debut this weekend. If he sees game time, 2025 will officially be Lewis’ 20th season in the NFL.
After missing the last three games, Gross-Matos appeared to be close to returning to play. According to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports, the 27-year-old re-injured his hamstring at practice on Thursday and will now miss another four games.
For Leota in New Orleans, Mosby in Green Bay, Sermon in Pittsburgh, Zakelj in San Francisco, and both Proche and Watkins in Tennessee, this Sunday will be their third and final standard gameday practice squad elevation on their current deals. In order to appear in any more games after this, their respective teams will need to sign them to the active roster.
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 Bears, Lions, Packers and Vikings moves are noted below.
Chicago Bears
Claimed:
- LB D’Marco Jackson (from Saints), CB Jaylon Jones (from Cardinals)
Released:
- LS Scott Daly, WR Devin Duvernay
Signed to practice squad:
- WR Maurice Alexander, WR Miles Boykin, RB Brittain Brown, TE Stephen Carlson, DL Xavier Carlton, LB Power Echols, LS Luke Elkin, CB Tre Flowers, DL Jonathan Ford, DB Mekhi Garner, DL Tanoh Kpassagnon, DL Jamree Kromah, OL Jordan McFadden, WR JP Richardson, OL Ricky Stromberg
Detroit Lions
Signed:
Claimed:
- DT Tyler Lacy (from Jaguars), DE Tyrus Wheat (from Cowboys)
Signed to practice squad:
- DL Myles Adams, WR Ronnie Bell, C Trystan Colon, DL Keith Cooper, DB Erick Hallett, TE Zach Horton, WR Tom Kennedy, WR Jackson Meeks, OL Mason Miller, OL Michael Niese, LB Anthony Pittman, RB Jacob Saylors, S Loren Strickland, T Dan Skipper, DL Isaac Ukwu
Green Bay Packers
Signed:
- LB Nick Niemann
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- RB Israel Abanikanda, DL Deslin Alexandre, DB Johnathan Baldwin, T Brant Banks, DL James Ester, WR Mecole Hardman, LB Jamon Johnson, K Mark McNamee, DL Arron Mosby, WR Isaiah Neyor, WR Will Sheppard, DB Jaylin Simpson, LB Kristian Welch
Minnesota Vikings
Signed to practice squad:
- G Henry Byrd, WR Dontae Fleming, S Kahlef Hailassie, DL Jonathan Harris, WR Lucky Jackson, WR Jeshuan Jones, WR Tim Jones, G Vershon Lee, CB Fabian Moreau, OLB Gabriel Murphy, TE Bryson Nesbit, T Max Pircher, DL Taki Taimani, RB Xazavian Valladay, TE Nick Vannett, CB Zemaiah Vaughn
The Packers announced their initial 53-man roster as well as the following transactions:
Released
- CB Corey Ballentine
- WR Mecole Hardman
- LB Isaiah Simmons
- LB Kristian Welch
Waived
- RB Isaiah Abanikanda
- DE Deslin Alexandre
- S Johnathan Baldwin
- OL Brant Banks
- LB Jaret Bartlett
- QB Sean Clifford
- OL Tyler Cooper
- RB Tyrion Davis-Price
- QB Taylor Elgersma
- DT James Ester
- CB Tyron Herring
- WR Julian Hicks
- OL Trey Hill
- RB Amar Johnson
- WR Cornelius Johnson
- LB Jamon Johnson
- CB Kalen King
- OL JJ Lippe
- LS Mark McNamee
- DE Arron Mosby
- WR Isaiah Neyor
- DT Devonte O’Malley
- WR Will Sheppard
- S Jaylin Simpson
- OL Lecitus Smith
- OL Kadeem Telfort
Placed on IR (designation to return)
- RB MarShawn Lloyd
- OL Jacob Monk
Placed on IR
Placed on reserve/PUP
- DE Collin Oliver
- WR Christian Watson
- OL John Williams
Despite his struggles to carve out a role in the NFL, Simmons made the 53-man roster in each of his first five seasons after the Cardinals selected him with the No. 8 pick in 2020. That streak has come to an end in Green Bay with his release today.
Alexandre is expected to return to the Packers’ practice squad if he clears waivers, per USA Today’s Ryan Wood, who places Banks in the same category.
Lloyd suffered a groin injury early in training camp and a hamstring injury more recently, which will land him on IR and sideline him for at least four weeks. Monk, though to be the team’s backup center, will also be out for a minimum of four weeks.
Friday’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: TE Teagan Quitoriano
Detroit Lions
- Re-signed: OL Kayode Awosika
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: LB Kristian Welch
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Waived: OL Dieter Eiselen
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed RFA tender: S Nazeeh Johnson
New York Jets
- Signed ERFA tender: TE Irvin Charles
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Re-signed: LB Jeremiah Moon
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Re-signed: DL Eric Banks
Welch has played 72 games in the NFL, with much of his tenure taking place with the Ravens. The 26-year-old saw time with Baltimore and Denver last season, but in 2023 he played for the Packers. This reunion will give Green Bay depth at the second level of the defense along with a familiar face on special teams.
The Ravens have waived veteran safety Eddie Jackson, according to a team announcement, ending his time in Baltimore after just over four months.
Jackson started four games this year with 339 total snaps, but played just 16 snaps against the Bengals in Week 10 before being sidelined as a healthy scratch in Week 11. His 50.3 overall defensive grade from Pro Football Focus (subscription required) is the lowest of his career and ranks in the bottom 10 among NFL safeties this year.
The veteran safety “wasn’t pleased with [a] reduced role,” per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, and his “frustrations boiled over” ahead of the Ravens’ trip to Pittsburgh. Jackson did not travel with the team last week, and Baltimore’s switch to Kyle Hamilton and Ar’Darius Washington at deep safety led to one of their best pass defense performances of the year.
Jackson will now be subject to waivers, though his struggles this year make it unlikely that he will be claimed, especially since he has not contributed on special teams since 2022. The Ravens will have to absorb Jackson’s $250k signing bonus and the remainder of his $750k of guaranteed salary on the salary cap, per OverTheCap, but another team will cover his salary if he is claimed on waivers. If Jackson clears waivers, he can sign with any team or their practice squad. A return to the Ravens’ practice squad seems unlikely given his recent frustrations.
The Ravens also signed linebacker and core special teamer Kristian Welch to their active roster from their practice squad. Welch had been elevated from the practice squad for the last three games, playing 73% of the team’s special teams snaps. With no more elevations remaining, Baltimore promoted Welch to the 53-man roster to ensure he can play on Monday night against the Chargers.
Saturday’s minor moves, including standard gameday practice squad elevations:
Baltimore Ravens
- Elevated: LB Kristian Welch
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: TE Zach Davidson, T Richard Gouraige
Cincinnati Bengals
- Elevated: T Devin Cochran, LB Shaka Heyward
Cleveland Browns
- Signed to active roster: DT Sam Kamara, DE Elerson Smith
- Elevated: WR Kadarius Toney
- Placed on IR: DT Mike Hall Jr.
Denver Broncos
- Elevated: LB Zach Cunningham, S Keidron Smith
Detroit Lions
- Signed to active roster: LB Zeke Turner
- Elevated: TE James Mitchell
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed to active roster: LB Liam Anderson
- Elevated: G Atonio Mafi, G Josh Sills
- Waived: DT Adam Gotsis
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Elevated: WR Velus Jones, LB Anthony Pittman
Kansas City Chiefs
- Elevated: LB Cole Christiansen
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed to active roster: LB Shaquille Quarterman
- Elevated: CB Eli Apple, OLB Caleb Murphy
- Waived: CB Dicaprio Bootle
Los Angeles Rams
- Elevated: T Geron Christian, DL Jonah Williams
Miami Dolphins
- Elevated: LS Tucker Addington, T Jackson Carman
Minnesota Vikings
- Elevated: LS Jake McQuaide
New England Patriots
- Elevated: LB Keshawn Banks, LB Joe Giles-Harris
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed to active roster: P Pat O’Donnell
- Elevated: S Tashaun Gipson, CB Nick McCloud
- Placed on IR: CB Darrell Luter Jr.
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed to active roster: TE Tyler Mabry, WR Cody White
- Elevated: LB Patrick O’Connell, S Ty Okada
- Placed on reserve/retired list: C Connor Williams (story)
- Waived: NT Brandon Pili
Tennessee Titans
- Signed to active roster: C Corey Levin
- Elevated: T Isaiah Prince, S Daryl Worley
Toney is set to make his debut for the regular season. The former first-round pick out of Florida has had a rocky first four years in the league, despite coming away with two Super Bowl rings in Kansas City. He was signed to the Browns’ practice squad just after the season opener and will be eligible to see game action with Cleveland in Week 11.
O’Donnell was added to the 49ers’ practice squad earlier this week given the chance of Mitch Wishnowsky missing time. The latter is now on injured reserve, ensuring at least a four-game absence. O’Donnell, 32, is a veteran of 145 games but Week 11 will mark his first regular season action since 2022.
The Ravens have officially activated Keaton Mitchell from the Physically Unable to Perform list after his recovery from last season’s ACL tear.
The second-year running back electrified the league as an undrafted rookie, picking up first downs on 19 of his 47 carries for 396 yards and an average of 8.4 yards per carry. He ruptured his ACL in Week 15, ending his season and sidelining him into the 2024 regular season.
After dealing with major injuries to J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards, and Justice Hill in recent years, the Ravens took a conservative approach with Mitchell by ensuring that he would not take on a heavy load upon his return. Derrick Henry has served as Baltimore’s primary ballcarrier with Justice Hill taking snaps on passing downs, allowing Mitchell to slowly ramp up his workload as a change-of-pace back throughout the game.
If Mitchell is able to recapture his uncatchable speed from last season, the Ravens’ already-potent offense will become even more deadly. Lamar Jackson is a frontrunner for his third MVP, and Henry merits consideration of his own. Zay Flowers has at least 100 receiving yards in four of his last five games, bringing him to fifth in the NFL with 654 yards on the year. Adding Mitchell as a ballcarrier and pass-catcher out of the backfield may be too much for any defense to stop.
The Ravens waived edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue to make room for Mitchell on the 53-man roster ahead of their Thursday night matchup with the Bengals. Baltimore also used standard practice squad elevations on linebacker Kristian Welch and defensive tackle Josh Tupou, who spent his last six NFL seasons in Cincinnati.
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Promoted: LB Markus Bailey, DL Ben Stille
Atlanta Falcons
- Released from IR: LB Milo Eifler
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed to active roster: RB Chris Collier
- Promoted: LB Kristian Welch
Green Bay Packers
- Activated off IR: DL Jonathan Ford
- Released: LS Matt Orzech
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed to active roster: DT Zach Carter
- Waived: DT Nesta Jade Silvera
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed to active roster: CB Dicaprio Bootle, CB Shaun Wade
- Promoted: C Sam Mustipher, WR Jalen Reagor
- Placed on IR: DB Deane Leonard
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived: LB Elias Neal
New York Giants
- Signed to active roster: DT Armon Watts
New York Jets
- Reinstated from reserve/Did Not Report: LB Haason Reddick (story)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted: P Trenton Gill
According to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, today’s moves were purely procedural. After returning to practice earlier this month, Jonathan Ford was nearing the end of his activation window. To avoid the defensive lineman landing on season-ending injured reserve, the Packers activated the former seventh-round pick to the active roster. That meant the Packers needed to carve out a spot, and long snapper Matt Orzech was the temporary casualty. However, Silverstein says Orzech will land back on the roster later this week following more roster machinations.
Meanwhile, the Giants added Armon Watts to the active roster following the lineman’s stint on the team’s practice squad. It sounds like rival teams may have forced the Giants hand. As ESPN’s Jordan Raanan notes, other teams expressed interest in the former Bears starter, forcing the Giants to secure Watts services now (vs. continuing to stash him on the taxi squad).
Elsewhere in New York, Haason Reddick was officially activated from the Did Not Report list today. Per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston, the Jets now have a two-game roster exemption to officially add the pass-rusher to the 53-man roster.
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: CB Keion Crossen, OL Nick Leverett
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: CB Anthony Kendall, LB Kristian Welch
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: DE Raymond Johnson III
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: DL Jalen Dalton
- Released: DT Phil Hoskins
Denver Broncos
- Signed: S Tanner McCalister
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: WR Malik Knowles
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: RB Salvon Ahmed
- Released: K Spencer Shrader
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: LB Blake Lynch
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: LB Adetokunbo Ogundeji, LB Craig Young
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: CB Eric Garror