OL Rumors: Steelers, 49ers, Jets, Fins, Pugh
The Steelers may have executed a permanent switch at right tackle, and Chukwuma Okorafor believes it came because of comments he made near the end of the team’s Week 8 loss to the Jaguars. Pittsburgh benched Okorafor for its Thursday-night game against Tennessee, moving first-round pick Broderick Jones into the lineup. Okorafor said (via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Brian Batko) the Steelers benched him because he was “acting out” toward the end of the Pittsburgh-Jacksonville game. Mike Tomlin said (via The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly) Jones was deserving of an opportunity and helped the Steelers “provide a spark.”
Signed to a three-year, $29.25MM deal in 2022, Okorafor has been the Steelers’ starting right tackle since 2020. The team drafted Jones with the intent on making him its future left tackle, but a configuration in which left tackle Dan Moore moved to the right side to accommodate the rookie was floated as the more likely scenario this offseason. Since the Week 9 change, Jones and Okorafor said (via Kaboly and the Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac) they expect the Moore-Jones starting duo to remain due to Jones receiving the first-team reps this week. The Steelers’ depth chart lists Jones as the RT starter, though the Georgia product said he would prefer to play left tackle, where he lined up for the SEC powerhouse. Okorafor believes what he said has resulted in “significant” ramifications but maintains his benching was not performance-based, creating an interesting storyline to follow in Pittsburgh.
Here are some O-line subplots from elsewhere around the NFL:
- Missing the past two games with an ankle injury, Trent Williams returned to a limited practice Thursday. Kyle Shanahan said the 49ers‘ All-Pro left tackle has dealt with more than a low ankle sprain, via 49ersWebZone.com’s David Bonilla. The 49ers lost both the games Williams missed, after dropping from the unbeaten ranks — in Cleveland — following Williams’ injury-driven exit in Week 6. A limited practice represents a good sign for Williams’ Week 10 availability and San Francisco’s offensive capabilities.
- The Jets may soon be without yet another offensive lineman. Robert Saleh described Billy Turner as encountering a “concerning” injury, and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport notes the veteran blocker suffered a broken bone in his hand. This will leave Turner’s status uncertain for the Jets’ Week 10 tilt. Turner has not practiced this week, pointing to an absence. The Jets have turned to Turner at guard in the wake of Connor McGovern and Wes Schweitzer‘s IR trips. The team is likely to have Duane Brown back, however; the 38-year-old tackle — who remains on IR — has practiced fully this week. Saleh recently pointed to Brown’s return kicking Mekhi Becton back to right tackle.
- Although left tackle Terron Armstead came off IR in time to face the Chiefs, the Dolphins played their Germany game without both starting guards. Isaiah Wynn is on IR with a potential season-ending injury, and Robert Hunt missed the game because of a hamstring ailment. Wynn fill-in Robert Jones also left the game, due to a hyperextended knee. While Mike McDaniel said Jones does not need surgery, the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson notes Lester Cotton and 2022 left guard starter Liam Eichenberg are set to vie for the starting role before the Dolphins return to action in Week 11. A third-year UDFA who made his first career start in Week 9, Jones is likely to miss some time, per McDaniel.
- Justin Pugh signed a one-year, $1.43MM deal to rejoin the Giants last month. Pugh’s second Giants contract includes an incentive package worth $2.1MM, he revealed on his NetWorth Podcast (via the New York Daily News’ Pat Leonard). Pugh can earn part of that $2.1MM by hitting the 50%, 70% and 90% playing-time thresholds from the point he debuted (Week 6). Despite the October arrival, Pugh has started — at both guard and tackle — in each of the four games in which he has played this season.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/7/23
Here are the NFL’s practice squad moves from today:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: WR Daniel Arias
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: Tre’ McKitty, S Tre Norwood
- Placed on practice squad IR: DE Kameron Cline
- Released: TE Joel Wilson
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: LB Ace Eley
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: WR Trinity Benson, CB Vincent Gray, OL Justin Murray
- Released: TE Devin Asiasi
Houston Texans
- Signed: S Brady Breeze
- Released: C Lecitus Smith
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: WR Kristian Wilkerson
- Released: LB Austin Ajiake, LB Isaac Darkangelo
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: DT Brandon Pili
- Released: DT Rashard Lawrence
New England Patriots
- Signed: WR T.J. Luther
New York Giants
- Signed: RB Hassan Hall
New York Jets
- Signed: DT Perrion Winfrey
- Released: DT Bruce Hector
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: G Lachavious Simmons, CB Josh Thompson
- Released: S Dane Cruikshank
Washington Commanders
- Signed: LB Brandon Bouyer-Randle
The Jets have decided to shoulder the risk of bringing on Winfrey, who was waived by the Browns in July after facing his second allegation of violence against a woman. He was not charged with anything in the case that led to his release from Cleveland, but combined with past off-field incidents, the allegations were enough to propel him towards free agency.
Nathaniel Hackett To Remain Jets’ Offensive Play-Caller
Another poor outing on offense for the Jets was on display last night, but changes on the sidelines for the unit will not be forthcoming. Head coach Robert Saleh said after the game (via SNY’s Connor Hughes) offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett will retain play-calling duties. 
Hackett was hired this offseason after his disastrous head coaching stint in Denver. The 43-year-old was fired before finishing his first campaign in charge of the Broncos, but his New York agreement paved the way for another opportunity to lead an offense (and, of course, began the speculation connecting Aaron Rodgers to the Jets). The former Packers duo were indeed reunited, though Rodgers’ Achilles tear has altered the Jets’ season on offense in particular.
After repeatedly receiving votes of confidence from Saleh and Co., Zach Wilson has handled starting duties in Rodgers’ absence. That decision has not sat well with everyone in the locker room, and the former No. 2 pick’s lack of development (coupled with underwhelming play from a banged-up offensive line) has hamstrung a team which entered the year with signficant expectations. Hackett has received criticism as well, but he will remain in his current role for at least the time being.
After being held to just six points by a Chargers defense which has not fared particularly well in 2023, the Jets sit 30th in the league in scoring and 28th in total offense with an average of 16.5 points and 303 yards per game. Those struggles have outweighed top-10 performances in a number of defensive categories and threatened to hold New York out of the postseason barring a notable uptick in offensive production. A return from Rodgers – something the Jets are still holding out hope for – could change the team’s outlook, but the 39-year-old has made it clear suiting up in 2023 (if at all possible) would not take place unless a postseason berth was in reach.
Hackett had considerable success with the latter during their shared time in Green Bay, although play-calling duties were not part of the equation during that time. Hackett was deemed responsible in no small part for Russell Wilson‘s career-worst season in Denver last year, and it would come as a surprise if he were to receive another HC look in the near future. A rebound down the stretch in New York as OC would be a welcomed development, though.
Former Titans offensive coordinator Todd Downing is on the Jets’ staff as passing game coordinator. He would represent an experienced option if Saleh were to decide a change in play-caller would be helpful to New York’s late-season prospects. As things stand, though, no such shake-up is in the cards.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/6/23
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: RB Hassan Hall
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: RB Spencer Brown
- Placed on IR: RB Tarik Cohen
Detroit Lions
- Signed: RB Devine Ozigbo
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: RB Ellis Merriweather
- Released: RB James Robinson
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: OT Brandon Parker
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DE Jordan Willis
New York Jets
- Signed: OL Jacob Hanson
- Released: OL Jason Poe
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: OL Henry Byrd
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/6/23
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Claimed off waivers (from Bears): OL Doug Kramer
- Waived: WR Andre Baccellia
New York Jets
- Promoted: OL Xavier Newman-Johnson, WR Malik Taylor
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Activated off IR: RB Anthony McFarland
- Placed on IR: LB Cole Holcomb (story)
San Francisco 49ers
- Designated to return from IR: DL Robert Beal Jr., CB Samuel Womack
- Designated to return from PUP: CB Darrell Luter
Seattle Seahawks
- Activated from PUP: DT Austin Faoliu
- Placed on IR: LB Drake Thomas
Jets Pursued Davante Adams, Tee Higgins, Mike Evans At Deadline
NOVEMBER 4: Confirming the Jets’ attempt at pulling off an Adams trade, ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds that New York contemplated such a move “throughout the summer.” Patience was exercised in terms of waiting for when to approach the Raiders, and a swap before the deadline would not have come as a shock given his frustrations with the previous regime. With Vegas having gone in a new organizational direction, though, it will be interesting to see how active the Jets are in making a renewed push for Adams in the offseason.
NOVEMBER 2: Mentioned as pursuing Mike Evans during training camp, the Jets do not appear to have shut down their efforts to upgrade their receiving corps. They kept going through this week’s trade deadline.
New York reached out on Evans once again during deadline week, per NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, while calling the Raiders and Bengals on Davante Adams and Tee Higgins. The Jets did not end up making a move, and Rapoport adds the team circling back to wideouts did not involve conversations past the exploratory stage.
The Adams call obviously generates the most intrigue, given the Jets’ April trade for Aaron Rodgers. Adams going from the Raiders’ setup to Zach Wilson might not have been particularly appealing, but his Raiders extension runs through 2026. Rodgers also continues to reference an against-the-odds return from an Achilles tear this season — to the point the Jets are also aiming for a late-season return. Adams certainly would have moved the needle opposite Garrett Wilson this season, but even if Rodgers does not come back this year, he is expected to return for the 2024 season. Adams might be back in play ahead of that point, though the Raiders did not make him available this week.
The Raiders executed a surprise housecleaning shortly after midnight Wednesday morning, firing Josh McDaniels, GM Dave Ziegler and OC Mick Lombardi. This came just more than a day after Adams violently slammed his helmet down during a one-sided loss to the Lions. Adams has not topped 60 receiving yards in a game since Week 4; the ex-Rodgers WR1 has been vocal about the Raiders QBs’ inconsistency in locating him. With the power duo that traded for Adams gone, his Las Vegas future is in limbo. It is interesting Mark Davis let McDaniels and Ziegler operate through the deadline, considering his plan to scrap the setup he authorized in 2022. But for the time being, Adams is effectively trapped.
Adams, 30, showed support for the Raiders despite the Derek Carr decision this offseason. But with Jimmy Garoppolo struggling, Adams is now on a team executing a midseason reboot. The Jets, however, could have another chance to reunite Rodgers and Adams in 2024. An anonymous GM told the Washington Post’s Jason La Canfora that Adams will be traded during the ’24 offseason. It is unclear how the next Raiders staff will view Adams, but after he anchored three straight playoff-bound Packer teams’ receiving corps, languishing on a team potentially aiming to rebuild might not work at this point in the All-Pro’s career.
The Jets could also have another chance on Evans and Higgins. As of now, both are on track for free agency. Evans does not plan to talk an extension with the Buccaneers again, and with the perennial 1,000-yard pass catcher never previously reaching free agency, that would be an interesting chapter. The Bucs are not believed to have made Evans an offer to stay yet. Evans, 30, is in the final season of a five-year, $82.5MM extension. Fox Sports’ Greg Auman also adds the Jets did not call about Evans this week. While differing reports have come out about this situation, it does not appear any substantive Jets-Bucs conversations have occurred about the 10th-year receiver.
Higgins could be a franchise tag candidate, which would allow the Bengals to retain he and Ja’Marr Chase for another year. That said, the contract-year wideout has struggled this season. Joe Burrow‘s return to full strength may lead to a reignited Higgins soon, but thus far, the former second-round pick has compiled just 19 receptions for 218 yards in six games. Higgins and the Bengals could not agree on an extension this summer, and he is not planning in-season discussions. Teams called Cincinnati about Higgins, but considering the Bengals’ Super Bowl window, they were never expected to entertain inquiries. A more realistic trade scenario involving Higgins would be a tag-and-trade move next year.
With none of these Hail Mary-type trade efforts succeeding, the Jets will continue to rely on Garrett Wilson and Rodgers come-with guys Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb. Wilson is the only Jet to have surpassed 260 receiving yards this season. But these trade inquiries point to the team being interested in adding another impact weapon for Rodgers in 2024.
Jets, DE Bryce Huff Discussing Extension
The Jets have a number of high-end contributors along the defensive front, but Bryce Huff has proven to be an unheralded member of the unit. He may be playing his way into an extended stay in New York. 
Huff joined the Jets as an undrafted free agent, and he has established himself as a full-time contributor to their edge rush group. The 25-year-old logged seven starts and a 51% snap share in 2021, though his playing time has dipped since then with New York making draft and free agent investments in the pass-rush department. Still, Huff has made the most of his opportunities, having matched his career-highs in sacks (3.5) and pressures (16) in seven games this year.
The Memphis product is playing on his RFA tender this season, valued at $4.3MM. If his production continues, he could be in line for a raise on a multi-year pact, something which would confirm his status as a key member of the Jets’ young edge group. 2022 first-rounder Jermaine Johnson leads the team in sacks, and the Jets’ top pick this past April (Will McDonald) has made six appearances in a rotational role in his rookie campaign. Huff could soon have a deal in place to keep him on the books alongside those two.
“There’s been some informal conversations with Bryce’s representatives and they’re trending in a positive direction,” general manager Joe Douglas said on the topic of an extension (video link via SNY). “Still a long way to go. Bryce is another… unbelievable player development story. For him to come in as an undrafted free agent and just work and work and work and get better every day. I think the last two years you’ve really been able to see a huge progression for him. Everyone’s excited about Bryce.”
New York currently has two signficant financial commitments along the edge in John Franklin-Meyers and Carl Lawson. The latter was on the trade block given his expiring contract and lack of playing time, but no partner was found for a deal. While Lawson will thus play out the rest of the season with the Jets before a likely free agent departure, it appears Huff will have the chance to remain in place beyond 2023 if talks on a new deal continue to progress.
Jets Open Duane Brown’s Practice Window
NOVEMBER 2: As expected, Brown has indeed returned to practice, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport notes. That means Thursday will mark the beginning of his 21-day activation window. It will be interesting to see how aggressive the Jets are in activating him, knowing his injury history and the implications it will have on Becton. In any event, New York will receive a boost along the offensive line in the near future.
NOVEMBER 1: Duane Brown‘s hip injury caused the Jets to reconfigure their offensive line. Mekhi Becton and Alijah Vera-Tucker changed positions, and second-round rookie Joe Tippmann entered the starting lineup. With the Jets in a worse place injury-wise weeks later, Brown’s return figures to help a 4-3 team.
Robert Saleh said Wednesday (via the New York Post’s Brian Costello) the team is planning to open Brown’s practice window this week. Brown has been on IR since before Week 4, which would have made last week his first shot at coming back. The Jets, however, believed they rushed Brown back from rotator cuff surgery late this summer (he returned August 23). That could point to caution when bringing him back from the hip injury he sustained in September.
[RELATED: Jets Expecting Aaron Rodgers To Return This Season]
Signed in an emergency circumstance to be the Jets’ left tackle last year, Brown returned to that post to start his age-38 season. The NFL’s second-oldest active O-lineman — behind the Seahawks’ Jason Peters — Brown is likely to take his job back from Becton once he returns. Labeling Brown one of the Jets’ best five O-linemen, Saleh pointed (via ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini) to Becton being moved back to right tackle — where he began the season — in order to ensure both were on the field. While Saleh called Becton a freakish athlete and indicated he would “love” to keep him at left tackle, the Jets’ injury situation points to Brown returning to the blind side.
Brown played through his shoulder injury last season and gained respect from the coaching staff for doing so, but Pro Football Focus assigned Brown by far the worst grade of his career. The advanced metrics site slots Brown outside the top 60 at tackle this season, with a worse grade than 2022, but Saleh viewed the 16th-year blocker’s early-season performance as likely impacted by injury.
Considering the two injuries Brown has sustained as a Jet, he is no longer a particularly safe bet. For a team that has lost Vera-Tucker, center Connor McGovern and swingman Wes Schweitzer in the weeks since (with Tippman missing Week 8), depending on Brown will be a risky proposition. (The Jets placed McGovern and Schweitzer on IR this week, but Saleh noted both have a chance to come back this season.) But the Jets having Brown and Becton back at tackle will be an improvement compared to their current setup, so long as the five-time Pro Bowler is healthy. The Jets will have three weeks from Brown’s practice return to activate him. Gang Green has seven injury activations remaining.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/1/23
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: QB Jeff Driskel
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: LB Clay Johnston
Detroit Lions
- Signed: LS Jake McQuaide
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: LB Austin Ajiake, LB Isaac Darkangelo
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: QB Dresser Winn
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: DE Michael Dogbe, CB JoeJuan Williams
- Released: CB C.J. Coldon
New York Jets
- Signed: DL Bruce Hector
- Released: DL Elerson Smith
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: TE E.J. Jenkins
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: WR Cody Thompson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: DL Pat O’Connor
With Matthew Stafford questionable for Week 9, the Rams are adding some additional QB depth. Winn had a standout career at UT Martin before going undrafted in this year’s draft. The QB spent training camp with the Rams before eventually joining the Edmonton Elks in the CFL. As Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic notes, the signing is especially notable considering Winn also punted in college; Rams punter Ethan Evans is currently dealing with a sprained ankle.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/1/23
Today’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Designated for return: CB Daryl Worley
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed to active roster: TE Tanner Hudson
Kansas City Chiefs
- Designated for return: WR Richie James
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed to active roster: TE Nick Vannett
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed to active roster: RB Darrell Henderson
New York Jets
- Signed to active roster: OL Chris Glaser
With the Chiefs adding Mecole Hardman and eyeing a WR crunch, the team reportedly shopped James last week. A trade didn’t end up happening, and with the wideout sitting on IR, the team has decided to designate him for return. After resurfacing last year with the Giants, James signed a one-year deal worth $1.23MM with the Chiefs back in April. He got into Kansas City’s first two games, hauling in one six-yard catch.