NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/9/20
We’ll keep track of the latest practice squad moves here:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: CB Chris Williamson
Detroit Lions
- Signed: TE Jerell Adams
Houston Texans
- Signed: OL Beau Benzschawel
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: LS Colin Holba
New England Patriots
- Signed: DB Dayan Lake, WR Devin Smith
- Released: LB Jack Cichy
New Orleans Saints
- Activated from practice squad injured list: WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: DB Briean Boddy-Calhoun, TE Daniel Helm
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: QB Alex McGough
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/8/20
Here are Tuesday’s practice squad moves. There are many.
Atlanta Falcons
- Released: DB Shyheim Carter
Chicago Bears
- Placed on practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Thomas Ives, DT LaCale London, LB Manti Te’o; London and Te’o tested positive for the coronavirus
Cleveland Browns
- Activated off practice squad IR: WR Ryan Switzer
- Released: DE Jamal Davis
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: C Anthony Fabiano, TE Isaac Nauta
Los Angeles Rams
- Released: G Jeremiah Kolone
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: WR Isaiah Ford
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: OL Zack Bailey
- Placed on practice squad IR: TE Brandon Dillon
New England Patriots
- Signed: S J.T. Hassell
New York Giants
- Signed: DL Niko Lalos, QB/WR Joe Webb
- Waived: TE Nakia Griffin-Stewart
New York Jets
- Signed: LB Brady Sheldon
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: CB Lavert Hill
San Francisco 49ers
- Released: WR Jordan Matthews
Seattle Seahawks
- Released: WR Darvin Kidsy
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: WR/KR Jaydon Mickens
Washington Football Team
- Signed: QB Taylor Heinicke
AFC East Notes: Edelman, Jets, Dolphins
Matthew Slater is in the midst of his 13th NFL season. With the Patriots currently spending a week on the West Coast, the California (and UCLA) product is appreciating what could be the final homecoming of his career.
“I don’t know how many more chances I’m going to have to play football in California, where my dreams started as a kid. It certainly means a lot,” Slater told ESPN’s Mike Reiss. “For our team, it’s another game, and they’ll be the two biggest games of the season. It certainly carries a little extra significance for me, especially the second one, needless to say.”
Yesterday’s game against the Chargers marked Slater’s first game in Los Angeles since his final season at UCLA in 2007. As Reiss notes, Slater’s father, Jackie, spent 19 of his 20 NFL seasons playing in Los Angeles for the Rams.
The 35-year-old special teams ace has spent his entire career on the opposite coast in New England. Slater has earned three Super Bowl rings, eight Pro Bowl appearances, and five first-team All-Pro nods. He also earned a spot on New England’s 2010s All-Decade Team.
Some more notes out of the AFC East…
- One of Slater’s teammates won’t be returning to the field very soon. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that wideout Julian Edelman is “still a couple of weeks” away from rejoining the Patriots. The 34-year-old landed on IR back in October after undergoing knee surgery, and he was recently placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Edelman, who has 21 receptions for 315 yards this season, is still planning to play again in 2020, according to Schefter.
- A surprising name has popped up as a potential suitor for the inevitable head coaching vacancy with the Jets. WFAN radio host Boomer Esiason suggested that former Steelers head coach Bill Cowher could be an option for New York. “He was saying to me yesterday, he’s the one that told me the Jets job is going to be really attractive, and they could hire whomever they want, and he told me he loves [G.M.] Joe Douglas,” Esiason said (via Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com). Cowher hasn’t coached since the 2006 season. He currently holds a 149-90 record, and he won a Super Bowl championship with Pittsburgh in 2005.
- The Dolphins auditioned running back Elijah McGuire recently, according to Schefter (on Twitter). The former Jets sixth-round pick has bounced around the NFL a bit, including a stint on the Cowboys practice squad that ended back in October. The 26-year-old has appeared in 24 career games (five starts), rushing for 591 yards and four touchdowns. He’s also added 36 receptions for 370 yards and two scores.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/5/20
Here are Saturday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Activated from IR: DL Leki Fotu
- Promoted: TE Seth Devalve, RB D.J. Foster
Cincinnati Bengals
- Promoted: WR Stanley Morgan
- Placed on IR: CB Tony Brown
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted: WR Ja’Marcus Bradley
Denver Broncos
- Activated from IR: FB/TE Andrew Beck
- Promoted: TE Troy Fumagalli, S Alijah Holder, LB Josh Watson
Detroit Lions
- Activated from IR: CB Darryl Roberts
- Promoted: S Bobby Price
- Waived: TE Isaac Nauta
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted: G Ben Braden, TE Dominique Dafney
Houston Texans
- Placed on IR: RB Cullen Gillaspia
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted: P Ryan Allen, C Joey Hunt
- Placed on IR: TE Noah Togiai
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Activated from IR: S Josh Jones, LB Shaquille Quarterman
- Promoted: TE Ben Ellefson, DT DaVon Hamilton, CB Nate Meadors, DL Caraun Reid
- Waived: RB Craig Reynolds
Los Angeles Chargers
- Activated from IR: LB Asmar Bilal
- Promoted: LB Cole Christiansen, NT Breiden Fehoko
Los Angeles Rams
- Activated from IR: LB Ogbonnia Okoronkwo
- Promoted: DB J.R. Reed
Miami Dolphins
- Promoted: S Nate Holley
Minnesota Vikings
- Promoted: DE Eddie Yarbrough, TE Brandon Dillon
New England Patriots
- Activated from IR: TE Dalton Keene
- Promoted: TE/DL Rashod Berry, WR Donte Moncrief, DL Akeem Spence
- Waived: WR Isaiah Ford
New York Giants
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: RB Devonta Freeman; Freeman remains on IR
- Promoted: DL Niko Lalos, QB Clayton Thorson
New York Jets
- Promoted: DB Elijah Campbell, LB Noah Dawkins
- Released from IR: WR Chris Hogan
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted: DT Raequan Williams
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted: T Chad Wheeler
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Bryan Mone
Tennessee Titans
- Promoted: T Marshall Newhouse, LB Tuzar Skipper
RB LeGarrette Blount Announces Retirement
LeGarrette Blount is calling it a career. The 33-year-old running back announced on Instagram that he’s retiring.
“It’s been fun and fulfilling!!” Blount said in the message. “What’s good everyone? I just want to inform y’all that I’m officially retiring. I have thought long and hard about this decision, and I’ve talked to my closest family members and friends about this. We collectively agreed on this decision. It is in the best interest of me and my family.”
Blount hasn’t seen the field since the 2018 season, but the veteran stuck around in case another opportunity popped up. The last time we saw the running back appear in the rumor circuit was in 2019, when he auditioned for the Raiders.
Following a tumultuous career at Oregon (which included an infamous sucker punch against Boise State), Blount found himself undrafted following the 2010 NFL Draft. Following a brief stint with the Titans, the back caught on with the Buccaneers, and he proceeded to have a standout rookie campaign. He led all rookies with 1,007 rushing yards, and he became only the second undrafted rookie ever to compile 1,000 rushing yards during his first season (joining Dominic Rhodes).
Blount saw a reduced role in Tampa during the 2011 and 2012 seasons, and he was traded to the Patriots prior to the 2013 campaign. He led New England’s ground attack that season, and he parlayed his performance into a two-year deal with the Steelers. Following a shaky stint in Pittsburgh that saw him get arrested (alongside fellow running back Le’Veon Bell) and leave the sideline before a game concluded, Pittsburgh released Blount.
The running back landed back in New England, and he proceeded to spend the next two-plus seasons with the organization. During this time, Blount won a pair of Super Bowls, and he led the NFL with 18 rushing touchdowns during the 2016 campaign. He joined the Eagles prior to the 2017 season and played a role in their Super Bowl championship, and he’d finish his career with the the Lions in 2018.
Despite going undrafted, Blount ranks 57th all-time in rushing touchdowns. His 34 rushing touchdowns with the Patriots ranks fifth in franchise history. Most notably, Blount has three Super Bowl rings; the 13 running backs taken during the 2010 NFL Draft combined for one.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/3/20
Here are Thursday’s minor moves:
Indianapolis Colts
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DL Denico Autry
Las Vegas Raiders
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Tanner Muse
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived: LB Jachai Polite
New England Patriots
- Claimed off waivers from Buccaneers: LB Jack Cichy
New York Jets
- Placed on IR: LB Blake Cashman
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: C Maurkice Pouncey
- Promoted: S Antoine Brooks Jr.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/30/20
We’ll post all the minor moves from what has been a very busy Monday here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived: TE Evan Baylis
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated off reserve/COVID list: OLB Jaylon Ferguson, G D.J. Fluker, CB Iman Marshall, DT Broderick Washington
- Activated of injured reserve: G Tyre Phillips
Carolina Panthers
- Placed on reserve/COVID list: DE Yetur Gross-Matos
Cleveland Browns
- Claimed off waivers from Chiefs: S Tedric Thompson
Denver Broncos
- Signed: QB Kyle Shurmur
Green Bay Packers
- Claimed off waivers from Bears: DL Anthony Rush
New England Patriots
- Place on reserve/COVID list: WR Julian Edelman
Philadelphia Eagles
- Activated off injured reserve: DE Genard Avery
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Activated off reserve/COVID list: DE Isaiah Buggs, OL Kevin Dotson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Activated off reserve/COVID list: RB T.J. Logan, WR Jaydon Mickens
Tennessee Titans
- Waived: LS Matt Orzech
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/28/20
Here are Saturday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Activated from IR: DL Zach Allen
- Promoted: TE Evan Baylis, DL Michael Dogbe, RB D.J. Foster, DL Stacy McGee CB Jace Whittaker
- Placed on IR: TE Darrell Daniels, DL Josh Mauro
Atlanta Falcons
- Promoted: RB Tony Brooks-James
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed to active roster: CB Jalen Davis
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: OL B.J. Finney, WR Auden Tate
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted: OG Michael Dunn, DT Joey Ivie, DE Cameron Malveaux
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted: LB De’Jon Harris, RB Mike Weber
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted: DT Kameron Cline, C Joey Hunt, DE Cassius Marsh, DT Rob Windsor
- Activated from IR: WR Ashton Dulin
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Placed on IR: G Andrew Norwell
- Promoted: CB Josh Nurse, WR Trey Quinn, RB Craig Reynolds, K Aldrick Rosas
Kansas City Chiefs
- Promoted: WR Marcus Kemp
- Waived: DB Tedric Thompson
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted: LB B.J. Bello, LB Cole Christiansen, DT Breiden Fehoko
- Waived: DE Jessie Lemonier
Miami Dolphins
- Promoted: QB Reid Sinnett
Minnesota Vikings
- Promoted: LS Andrew DePaola, TE Brandon Dillon
New England Patriots
- Activated from IR: OT Justin Herron
New Orleans Saints
- Promoted: WR Austin Carr, OL Will Clapp, DT Ryan Glasgow
New York Giants
- Activated from IR: K Graham Gano
New York Jets
- Promoted: OL Jimmy Murray
- Placed on IR: LB Patrick Onwuasor
Philadelphia Eagles
- Placed on IR: G Sua Opeta
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Activated from IR: LB Jack Cichy
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Vita Vea; Vea is also on Tampa Bay’s IR
- Promoted: CB Herb Miller, OL John Molchon
Tennessee Titans
- Activated from IR: P Brett Kern, CB Tye Smith
- Promoted: LB William Compton, LS Matt Overton, LB Tuzar Skipper
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Chris Jackson
Patriots Place OL Isaiah Wynn, RB Rex Burkhead On IR
A trio of Patriots players landed on injured reserve today. ESPN’s Field Yates reports (via Twitter) that New England has placed running back Rex Burkhead, left tackle Isaiah Wynn, and nose tackle Carl Davis on IR.
The Burkhead move isn’t overly surprising; the veteran RB suffered a torn ACL last weekend, ending his season. Now in his fourth year with New England, the veteran was having another solid season as a change-of-pace back. Through 10 games, the 30-year-old collected 274 yards and three touchdowns on 67 carries. He had another 25 receptions for 192 yards and three scores.
While the Patriots will surely miss Burkhead’s veteran presence, the team does have a number of options at running back. Damien Harris has emerged as a solid option in the running game, and Cam Newton can still turn to pass-catcher James White. The team is also rostering former first rounder Sony Michel, who could return this weekend after having been sidelined since Week 3.
Wynn, a 2018 first-rounder, was limited to only eight games through his first two seasons in the NFL. However, in 2020, he’s emerged as one of New England’s best offensive lineman, and he’s shown versatility by playing both offensive tackle and offensive guard. The 24-year-old suffered a knee injury during last weekend’s loss to the Texans, but the lineman could theoretically return before the season is over.
Davis, 28, joined the Patriots after being signed off the Jaguars practice squad in October. The defensive lineman has seen time in three games for New England this season, collecting three tackles. He’s appeared in 39 career games (13 starts) with the Patriots, Ravens, Browns, Jaguars, and Colts.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/27/20
Here are Friday’s practice squad moves:
Denver Broncos
- Signed: RB LeVante Bellamy
New England Patriots
- Suspended six games: LB Michael Pinckney
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: WR Jordan Matthews
- Released: WR Chris Finke
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: T Marshall Newhouse