Minor NFL Transactions: 10/28/23
Here are the gameday elevations and other minor moves made around the league in advance of Week 8:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed to active roster: WR Andre Baccellia
- Placed on IR: G Elijah Wilkinson
- Elevated: DL Ben Stille, RB Damien Williams,
Atlanta Falcons
- Elevated: LB Andre Smith
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from IR: WR Tylan Wallace
- Elevated: S DeAndre Houston-Carson, RB Owen Wright
Carolina Panthers
- Elevated: S Matthias Farley, OLB Eku Leota
Chicago Bears
- Activated from IR: DE Khalid Kareem
- Released: T Aviante Collins
Cleveland Browns
- Elevated: OT Ty Nsekhe, RB Jordan Wilkins
Dallas Cowboys
- Elevated: LB Rashaan Evans, TE Eric Saubert
Denver Broncos
- Elevated: WR Tre’Quan Smith
- Placed on IR: WR Brandon Johnson
Houston Texans
- Activated from IR: DT Hassan Ridgeway
- Released: LB Cory Littleton
- Elevated: CB D’Angelo Ross
Indianapolis Colts
- Elevated: DT McTelvin Agim, CB Chris Lammons
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Elevated: CB Tevaughn Campbell
Kansas City Chiefs
- Elevated: S Deon Bush
- Placed on IR: LB Nick Bolton (story)
Los Angeles Chargers
- Elevated: WR Alex Erickson
Los Angeles Rams
- Elevated: RB Darrell Henderson
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed to active roster: WR Trishton Jackson
- Elevated: LB Nick Vigil
New England Patriots
- Elevated: OL Conor McDermott
New York Giants
- Signed to active roster: WR Gunner Olszewski (story)
- Elevated: QB Tommy DeVito, OLB Oshane Ximines
New York Jets
- Elevated: WR Malik Taylor, OL Xavier Newman
Philadelphia Eagles
- Elevated: WR Julio Jones
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: CB Kendall Sheffield, WR Willie Snead
Seattle Seahawks
- Activated from suspension: WR Dee Eskridge
- Released: C Joey Hunt
- Elevated: OL Jason Peters
Tennessee Titans
- Signed to active roster: CB Eric Garror, DL Jaleel Johnson
- Waived: LB Chance Campbell, CB Shyheim Carter
- Elevated: LB Joe Jones, RB Jonathan Ward
Washington Commanders
- Signed to active roster: FB Alex Armah
- Elevated: CB Tariq Castro-Fields, LB Jabril Cox
Wilkinson’s loss will be notable for the Cardinals, given his status as an entrenched starter at the left guard spot. The 28-year-old joined Arizona on a one-year deal worth the veteran’s minimum in free agency after stints in Denver, Chicago and Atlanta. Trystan Colon replaced him in the starting lineup in Week 7, and that will likely continue for the time being. Wilkinson will be out for at least four weeks as a result of the IR move.
Ridgeway has been out since Week 1, his Texans debut. The former 49er joined the Texans in a move which allowed him to continue working under head coach DeMeco Ryans. Ridgeway ended last season on IR, so he will be looking for an extended run of availability in his new home. A veteran of 78 games (and 19 starts), he will aim to carve out a rotational role up front.
Peters was brought in by the Seahawks while they were dealing with injury problems at both tackle spots. Blindside blocker Charles Cross has since returned, so Peters’ most familiar spot will not be available if he is to make his Seattle debut on Sunday. The fact the latter is healthy and in game shape does mean, however, that he will be eligible to play in a 19th NFL season.
Jets’ Dalvin Cook Seeking Trade; Carl Lawson Eyeing Larger Role
While veteran additions highlighted the Jets’ offseason plan, their Aaron Rodgers-centered blueprint quickly changed. Although the future Hall of Fame quarterback has not given up hope of returning late this season and is under contract through 2024, some of the vets the Jets eyed as complementary pieces this year do not presently possess notable roles.
The Jets already traded Mecole Hardman because of the speed merchant’s reduced playing time, and Dalvin Cook is seeking to follow him out the door. Going from a free agent linked to a few teams to an afterthought, Cook said (via ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini) he is planning to approach GM Joe Douglas about a trade. Cook’s name has already come up in trade rumors, with a recent report indicating the Jets would be fine with moving him.
“It’s something I can’t control, that my name is being floated around in trade rumors,” Cook said, via Cimini. “It might be a good thing. Maybe [it’s] a bad thing.”
The Vikings attempted to trade Cook for weeks before releasing him in May. The Dolphins had discussed a trade with the Vikings, but Cook ended up spending several weeks in free agency. Connected to Miami and New England, Cook instead ended up in New York, with Rodgers playing a key part in bringing the former Pro Bowler to town. Cook, who is tied to a one-year deal worth $7MM, entered the season as the only back who had surpassed 1,100 rushing yards in each of the past four seasons. Through six Jets games, he has 109 yards on 39 carries. Breece Hall‘s return from an October 2022 ACL tear has marginalized Cook, whose 2.8-yard average ranks last out of qualified backs this season.
Cook said he expected more responsibilities with the Jets, per Cimini. After an 11-touch Week 4, Cook has combined for 16 over the past three games. Of course, Cook’s performance will not make him an appealing trade piece. Austin Ekeler pushed for a Chargers exit this year and was not believed to have generated much interest. Derrick Henry‘s name has resurfaced in pre-deadline rumors, but teams appear to be angling for the Titans to eat a chunk of his salary. Even with Cook not being attached to the lucrative Vikes contract, his production would not stand to generate much trade interest.
The Jets are still giving Cook reps; Carl Lawson was a healthy scratch in Week 5. The Jets have gone from giving the ex-Bengal a three-year, $45MM contract ahead of Robert Saleh‘s first season to burying the former big-ticket free agent on their defensive line depth chart. Connected to trade rumors along with Hardman last week, Lawson confirmed he would be interested in being dealt to a team that would use him more frequently.
“I definitely want to play and contribute. I know I can; I’ve proven that,” Lawson said. “Yeah, I always want to contribute, but right now I’m with the Jets, but I definitely want to play more. I definitely want to do what I did last year. … I’m a football player, not a cheerleader.”
Lawson, 28, accepted a pay cut this offseason but is still attached to a $6MM salary. The Jets turning him from starter to bench stash has also obviously dented his trade appeal. Lawson’s seven sacks and 24 QB hits played a major role in helping the Jets go from 32nd to fourth in scoring defense last season. Now two years removed from the Achilles tear that wiped out his 2021 season, the former third-round pick has not factored in prominently thus far this year. This surprising contract-year demotion also stands to impact his 2024 free agency value.
Looming as a franchise tag candidate in Cincinnati two years ago, Lawson has seen his career hit a crossroads. He will have a much better chance of earning another noteworthy contract next year than Cook will, but the Jets will likely continue to see if any trade materializes for either first.
AFC East Notes: Dolphins, Jets, Onwenu
Last year, the Dolphins made a splashy trade on deadline day. They sent the Broncos first- and fourth-round picks, along with Chase Edmonds for salary-matching purposes, for Bradley Chubb and subsequently signed the edge rusher to an extension. Although the Dolphins have shown more firepower this year and reside atop the AFC East at 5-2, they may not be too interested in a major exchange before Tuesday’s deadline. Mike McDaniel said (via the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson) he is “very, very comfortable” with the team’s roster and that GM Chris Grier has not come to him with any trade offers.
The Dolphins, who have endured two double-digit losses, rank first offensively but have seen injuries stack up on their offensive line. Terron Armstead and Connor Williams have missed multiple games, and left guard Isaiah Wynn suffered what looks like a season-ending injury. Vic Fangio‘s defense also ranks 27th in points allowed, though Jalen Ramsey‘s return will be a significant in-season acquisition of sorts for that unit. While Miami also was connected to just about every potentially available running back this offseason, its De’Von Achane pick has been a hit, despite the third-rounder residing on short-term IR.
Here is the latest from the AFC East:
- The Jets re-signed Quincy Williams to a three-year, $18MM deal days before free agency, and the former Jaguars third-rounder has received rave reviews from the coaching staff this season. Pro Football Focus also ranks Williams as a top-10 off-ball linebacker. Williams, however, said he disagreed with the comps the team made when assessing his value this offseason. “I’m going to be honest with you; the contract situation threw me off, for real, for real,” Williams said, via ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini. “Listening to the players they thought were better than me, that kind of put a chip on my shoulder.” While that makes it rather interesting Williams did not test the market to gauge how other teams viewed him, his $6MM-per-year contract ended up similar to most of the veteran ILBs who hit free agency this year.
- Robert Saleh said Duane Brown will not be designated for return this week. While Brown is eligible to practice this week, the New York Post’s Brian Costello notes he will not do so until at least Week 9. The 38-year-old tackle has been on IR with a hip injury since Sept. 23. The Jets moved Mekhi Becton to left tackle, but with RT replacement Alijah Vera-Tucker out for the season, it will be interesting to see if Becton is kicked back to the right side to create a spot for Brown.
- Regarding the Jets’ Mecole Hardman trade, Saleh said (via Cimini) rookie UDFA Xavier Gipson made the free agent signing expendable. Gipson, who has operated as the Jets’ kick and punt returner this season, has only played 39 offensive snaps. Hardman only logged 28 during a disappointing Jets tenure, but it should be expected Gipson will see a bit more time at receiver going forward. Hardman played in the Chiefs’ Week 7 game, notching an impactful punt return and playing 11 offensive snaps back with his original NFL team.
- Riley Reiff is now on IR for a second time this season, and trade acquisition Vederian Lowe struggled to replace him at right tackle. The Patriots moved guard Michael Onwenu back to right tackle in Week 7, with Bill Belichick approaching the contract-year player about the switch last week, per MassLive.com’s Chris Mason. Onwenu has spent time at right tackle during his Pats career but had settled in at guard. With the former sixth-round pick in a contract year, a right tackle switch could certainly affect his 2024 market.
- Malik Cunningham once again passed through waivers and onto the Patriots’ practice squad, but the team was not as lucky with DB Ameer Speed. New England waived Speed last week, but ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss notes the team wanted him back on the P-squad. The Colts nixed that plan with a claim. A sixth-round pick this year, Speed played in five Pats games before his Foxborough exit.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/24/23
Here are Tuesday’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: CB Quavian White
Carolina Panthers
- Released: OL Justin McCray
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: RB Jordan Wilkins
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: G Chris Glaser, LB Buddy Johnson, G Adam Pankey, TE Eric Saubert
Detroit Lions
- Signed: RB Jermar Jefferson
- Placed on practice squad IR: RB Mohamed Ibrahim
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: DT Ross Blacklock
- Released: S Henry Black
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: QB Nathan Rourke
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: DT Mike Pennel
- Released: WR Daniel Arias
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: LB Darius Harris, K James McCourt
- Released: TE John Samuel Shenker, LB Mykal Walker
- Released from practice squad injured list: TE Noah Togiai
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: LB Blake Lynch
- Released: LB Ty Shelby
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: OL Tommy Kraemer
- Restored from practice squad injured list: LB Ryan Connelly
- Released: TE J.P. Holtz
New York Jets
- Signed: WR Lance McCutcheon
- Released: S Tyreque Jones
New York Giants
- Signed: OLB Justin Hollins
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: DT Noah Elliss, LB Brandon Smith
- Released: CB Mario Goodrich, DB Tiawan Mullen
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: LB Caleb Johnson, TE Scotty Washington
- Released: OL Obinna Eze, TE Noah Gindorff
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: S Tayler Hawkins
- Released: CB Tre Norwood
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: G Ben Brown, RB Bryant Koback
- Released: WR Cody White
Tennessee Titans
- Released: RB Jacques Patrick
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/24/23
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Promoted: TE Blake Whiteheart
Atlanta Falcons
- Promoted: DL LaCale London
- Released: DL Eli Ankou
Houston Texans
- Re-signed: LB Cory Littleton
New England Patriots
- Released: DE Trey Flowers
- Waived: QB Malik Cunningham
New York Giants
- Claimed (from Browns): RB Deon Jackson
- Placed on IR: RB Eric Gray, T Matt Peart
New York Jets
- Promoted: DB Jarrick Bernard-Converse
Roster gymnastics at quarterback continues for the Patriots, who will again take the chance no one will claim Cunningham. New England waived the rookie UDFA in August and stashed him on its practice squad, and ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss notes that is likely to happen again — provided no team claims him. The Pats promoted the Louisville product earlier this month, but after playing him in Week 6, they sat him in Week 7. Although the Patriots designated Flowers for return from IR on Oct. 4, they will cut ties with their former starter rather than use a roster spot on his activation by Wednesday.
The Giants have now added two running backs this week, with Jackson following Jashaun Corbin‘s return from the Panthers’ practice squad. Injuries to Gray and Gary Brightwell led to these moves. Gray sustained a calf injury in Week 7, leading the Giants to insert veteran Sterling Shepard as their punt returner. Shepard muffed a punt that led to the Commanders’ only score. Peart had operated as a backup tackle. He joins Andrew Thomas‘ initial replacement, Joshua Ezeudu, on IR. Guard Shane Lemieux is also on IR.
The Texans initially released Littleton due to roster-reorganizing purposes, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, but the offseason pickup remains in the team’s plans. Houston cut Littleton to make room for waiver claim Myjai Sanders, but after waiving cornerback D’Angelo Ross on Monday, the team is re-signing the veteran linebacker. Littleton, 30, played sparingly in the Texans’ six games this season, logging only 17 defensive snaps.
Jets, Chiefs Agree On Mecole Hardman Trade
The Chiefs did not have plans to re-sign Mecole Hardman this offseason, but with the former second-round pick quickly falling out of favor in New York, the defending champions will bring him back. The Jets agreed to trade Hardman to the Chiefs on Wednesday, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter tweets.
Kansas City and New York will swap late-round picks, per Schefter. These terms will make the Hardman deal similar to the Chase Claypool and Van Jefferson swaps this month. After failing to make an impression as a Jet, Hardman will return to Andy Reid‘s system.
This trade will indeed produce the same compensation package the Claypool and Jefferson exchanges did. The Chiefs will send the Jets a 2025 sixth-rounder for Hardman and a 2025 seventh, Schefter adds. By moving Hardman’s one-year, $4MM deal, the Jets will be responsible for nearly $3MM, OverTheCap’s Jason Fitzgerald tweets. Although Hardman is attached to a $1.1MM base salary, the Jets spread out his cap hit via void years.
For the Chiefs, this will bring a familiar face back as the team attempts to form a viable wideout cast. Although JuJu Smith-Schuster has floundered in New England, Kansas City relied on the 2022 free agency pickup last season. Smith-Schuster’s 933 yards paced the ’22 Chiefs wideouts by a wide margin. So far this season, the Chiefs have been even more Travis Kelce-dependent than their previous edition was.
Although Hardman largely operated as an inconsistent sidekick to Tyreek Hill during his rookie-contract years in Kansas City, the Chiefs’ current wide receiver makeup creates an interesting opportunity. The Chiefs have been unable to rely on Skyy Moore and Marquez Valdes-Scantling this season; the two starters have not yet combined for 300 receiving yards. The defending champions hoped Kadarius Toney would grow into a WR1-level staple, but the injury-prone target has submitted more inconsistency. While second-round rookie Rashee Rice (245 receiving yards — most among K.C. wideouts) is beginning to display a rapport with Patrick Mahomes, newfound long-range weapon Justin Watson suffered a dislocated elbow in Week 6 and profiles as an IR candidate.
The Chiefs had hoped to re-sign Smith-Schuster and negotiated with the ex-second-rounder, but Reid said the defending champions’ offer was not on the level of the Patriots’ three-year, $25.5MM proposal. While Smith-Schuster was a medium priority for the Chiefs, they were not rumored to have made a strong effort to keep Hardman. As a result, the 2019 second-rounder signed a one-year deal with the Jets. But the fit quickly proved poor, which will lead to a quick return to Missouri.
The Jets had been trying to move Hardman for a bit now, with he and Carl Lawson emerging as trade chips. Hardman resided behind Garrett Wilson and ex-Aaron Rodgers Packers targets Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb. Hardman has played just 28 offensive snaps this season and has drifted to healthy-scratch status at points. With the Chiefs opting to take their chances on unproven targets at the position this year, Hardman will return with a chance to carve out a regular role.
Drafted shortly after the Chiefs banned Hill from their facility amid a 2019 investigation into domestic violence and child abuse, Hardman did not bring consistency for a team that eventually welcomed Hill back. Even with Sammy Watkins‘ run of injuries opening a WR2 window for Hardman, he proved unreliable to the point no big offers came his way in free agency. That said, the Chiefs boasted an all-time WR-TE duo in Hill and Kelce, leaving little meat on the bone for others. Through that lens, Hardman’s run was perhaps better than it was portrayed. He tallied yardage totals of 538, 560 and 693 from 2019-21, becoming an All-Pro kick returner as a rookie.
A pelvis injury slowed Hardman in his contract year, and he went back on IR before Super Bowl LVII. But Reid deployed the receiver/returner as an effective gadget player pre-injury. He totaled three touchdowns (two rushing) in a blowout win over the 49ers in Week 7 of last season. Hardman will now be eligible to play for his initial NFL team in Week 7 of this year. While this may not solve Kansas City’s receiver need to the point the team stops looking for help ahead of the Oct. 31 deadline, it represents a low-cost start.
Hardman leaving thins the Jets’ depth chart, but they had essentially determined he was not a fit. Behind Wilson and the ex-Packer duo, rookie UDFAs Xavier Gipson and Jason Brownlee join 2022 UDFA Charles Irvin. More playing time will be available now, and an injury to one of the regulars would open the door to one of these undrafted pass catchers (likely Gipson) playing a major role for the 3-3 team.
Latest On Jets’ Efforts To Move Mecole Hardman, Carl Lawson
While defense has powered the Jets to their 3-3 place, the team has expendable veterans on offense it is trying to unload. Dalvin Cook and Mecole Hardman have come up as pieces the Jets are OK with moving, though traction on potential trades has proven elusive.
Cook has not been effective as a Jet, and Breece Hall has rocketed back to form after an October 2022 ACL tear. Cook remains in limbo, operating as an expensive backup, but Hardman does not have a role months after signing a one-year, $4MM deal. The Jets are aiming to trade Hardman, with a release also in the cards. This might come down to the wire, with the trade deadline still nearly two weeks away.
So far, Hardman is not generating much interest as a trade chip, ProFootballNetwork.com’s Adam Caplan writes. Prior to Hardman becoming a Jet in March, he drew interest from the Browns, Raiders, Lions and Vikings. Although Hardman is only attached to a $1.1MM salary — of which an acquiring team would be responsible for barely half, with the season more than a third complete — his minimal production has likely led to the tepid market.
A 2019 second-round pick, Hardman totaled at least 530 receiving yards for the Chiefs each year from 2019-21. A core muscle injury sidelined Hardman for much of his contract year, leading to the $4MM payment this offseason. While the Georgia-produced speedster did not quite live up to expectations in Kansas City, he has barely played in New York. Hardman has one catch for six yards, playing behind Garrett Wilson, Allen Lazard and Randall Cobb in an offense limited by Zach Wilson being needed to replace an injured Aaron Rodgers.
Due to the void years attached to Hardman’s contract for cap purposes, it would cost the Jets around $3MM to cut him. The ex-Chiefs gadget talent does reside as notable insurance, but his fifth season has skidded off track. The same can be said for Carl Lawson‘s seventh season. The Jets have gone from making Lawson a $15MM-per-year player in 2021 to demoting him to healthy-scratch status at points this season. Caplan confirms the Jets are trying to trade Lawson.
Although Lawson returned from the Achilles tear that ended his 2021 season before it began, the former Bengals cog has seen younger players surpass him on the Jets’ depth chart. The team used first-round picks on Jermaine Johnson and Will McDonald in consecutive years, and Caplan adds Johnson’s early-offseason form prompted the Jets to ask Lawson for a pay cut. The former third-rounder accepted in May, but he has played only 73 defensive snaps this season. Johnson, John Franklin-Myers and Bryce Huff serve as Gang Green’s top edge rushers. Even as McDonald has not yet become a regular (58 snaps), 2022 fourth-rounder Micheal Clemons (136) has been called upon more often than Lawson.
Lawson, 28, is tied to a $6MM base salary. Due to including four void years in Lawson’s restructure, the Jets would eat more than $6MM by cutting Lawson this year. If/once Lawson does not re-sign in 2024, the Jets will be hit with a $6MM dead-money payment — should the veteran edge player remain on the team to finish this season. After notching seven sacks and 24 QB hits in 2022, Lawson is at 0-0 in those categories through six games. A backup in his rookie season, Johnson has two sacks and three pass deflections thus far in Year 2.
Formerly a sought-after free agent after the Bengals passed on franchise-tagging him, Lawson is submitting a contract-year no-show. He did produce impact years (from a pressure standpoint) in Cincinnati and previously moved the needle in New York. Lawson’s Achilles tear two summers ago led to the Jets cratering defensively in Robert Saleh‘s debut, which concluded with a last-place defense. Lawson helped the team make major strides last season, but the team is deep enough it no longer needs him. Injuries can change the equations for both Hardman and Lawson, but it will also be interesting to see if the Jets accept a low-end trade offer for either. In Lawson’s case, that would likely mean eating some of his salary — as the Broncos recently did to facilitate a Randy Gregory trade.
Jets’ Aaron Rodgers Resumes Throwing
The Jets pulled off one of the season’s most noteworthy upsets in Week 6 with a win over the Eagles, but a signficant development took place before kickoff. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers took part in a throwing session with Jets personnel, as detailed by Andy Vasquez of NJ.com. 
Rodgers was not on crutches and planted on his left foot – the one in which he suffered a torn Achilles four snaps into the campaign – while throwing. That came 32 days after he underwent surgery to repair the injury, one which is traditionally seen as being season-ending. The 39-year-old has expressed a plan to return in time for the end of the 2023 season, however, and Sunday’s development marked another noteworthy step in his recovery.
Foregoing the traditional procedure used to repair Achilles tears, Rodgers’ surgery consisted of a ‘speed bridge‘ being used. That relatively new technique carries the potential for players to return to action much quicker than in previous years, and has helped lead to speculation Rodgers could follow through on his goal of recovering in time for the playoffs. It remains to be seen how the Jets will fare through the remainder of the remainder of the season, though, which will no doubt inform his chances of suiting up in the intermediate future.
Head coach Robert Saleh has remained firmly committed to backup Zach Wilson, and the Jets have not made inquiries into many veteran passers. Indeed, only Tim Boyle has been added to date, with Wilson showing signs of improvement in recent weeks. New York has won two straight games while still leaning heavily on its defense and Breece Hall-led run game, bringing the team’s record to 3-3. Plenty of work remains to be done to put the Jets in playoff contention, but a scenario where Rodgers (whom ESPN’s Rich Cimini notes remained on the sidelines and in communication with the team’s coaching staff on Sunday) is able to return could be in play down the road.
“I’m one of those guys searching, like, ‘Is he supposed to do this?'” Saleh said during a Good Morning Football appearance. “I’ve coached Richard Sherman, who was coming off his Achilles. I’ve got friends who have had Achilles injuries, and what he’s doing, according to them, is absolutely ridiculous. For him to be walking already, I wouldn’t put anything past him… He is willing himself to return faster than what you’re supposed to be.
“We’re leaving the door open for him but it’s amazing to see how hard he’s been working and the intent at which he’s been doing it” (h/t NFL.com’s Kevin Patra).
Rodgers agreed to a reworked contract before the start of the season which saw him take a substantial pay cut in terms of guaranteed money he was initially due. He is still in line to earn $38MM next season, however, and he has expressed a willingness to play at least two seasons in New York. That goal hit a massive roadblock in Week 1, but the four-time MVP continues to make progress in his rehab process which could allow him to see the field before the 2024 season.
Jets Willing To Trade Carl Lawson, Dalvin Cook?
The Jets reportedly plan to trade or cut wide receiver Mecole Hardman, and several other notable players could be on the move. Per Dianna Russini of The Athletic (subscription required), New York is willing to trade edge defender Carl Lawson and may be open to dealing running back Dalvin Cook as well.
Lawson joined the Jets on a three-year, $45MM deal in March 2021, but he missed all of the 2021 season due to an Achilles tear he sustained in August of that year. He bounced back to start all 17 of the club’s games in 2022, recording 24 quarterback hits and seven sacks. He also earned a strong 72.8 pass rush grade from Pro Football Focus, though his 48.8 run defense grade left much to be desired.
The 28-year-old missed most of this year’s training camp due to back tightness, which also kept him out of the regular season opener. While he suited up for each of the next three contests, he did not appear in more than 23 snaps in any of them and was a healthy scratch in Week 5. It appears that he will not play a significant role on the defense moving forward, and he has become a trade candidate as a result.
Though he has never produced double-digit sacks in a single season, Lawson does have a track record as a useful pass rusher, and he will likely generate interest from other clubs. Further helping the Jets’ cause is the fact that Lawson agreed to a pay cut in May, making his contract easier to absorb. As he is in a platform season, however, New York’s return will naturally be limited.
Cook, meanwhile, joined the Jets in August in the hopes that he would become another high-profile weapon on an Aaron Rodgers-led offense. The longtime Viking has not yet played to his Pro Bowl potential and has accumulated just 97 rushing yards on 36 carries (good for a meager 2.7 yards-per-carry average). He has added eight catches for 44 yards.
Since second-year pro Breece Hall has looked just as explosive as he did before a torn ACL ended his rookie season prematurely, the Jets could be inclined to recover some draft pick compensation for their Cook investment. That would presumably lead to more work for Michael Carter — who played a prominent role in Gang Green’s backfield in each of the past two seasons — and fifth-round rookie Israel Abanikanda.
Rich Cimini of ESPN.com echoes Russini’s report that GM Joe Douglas could consider Cook expendable.
Jets’ Justin Hardee Expected To Land On IR
4:53pm: New York has officially placed the special teamer and cornerback Hardee on IR with today’s transactions. Taking his spot on the team’s active roster will be rookie fourth-round pick Carter Warren. The Jets drafted Warren this year out of Pittsburgh with the hope that he could provide some depth and eventually contribute to the offensive line. With starting guard Alijah Vera-Tucker going on IR, Warren’s activation is timely.
Additionally, the Jets have promoted cornerbacks Craig James and Tae Hayes from the practice squad as standard gameday elevations for tomorrow’s game. James will be facing his former team after playing for the Eagles in 2019 and 2020. With Hardee on IR and Sauce Gardner, D.J. Reed, and Echols all ruled out for tomorrow, James and Hayes should expect to see some action.
9:19am: The Jets will be without their special teams captain for at least the next month. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, special teams ace Justin Hardee suffered a hamstring injury during last Sunday’s win over the Broncos.
Hardee underwent surgery on his hamstring yesterday. The veteran is expected to miss four to six weeks while recovering from the operation, and he’s expected to land on injured reserve later today.
The former UDFA spent most of his first four years in the league with the Saints, and his special teams prowess earned him a three-year, $5.25MM contract with the Jets in 2021. Hardee didn’t miss a game through his first two seasons in New York, appearing in more than 80 percent of the Jets’ special teams snaps over that span (vs. a single defensive snap in 2021). Between the 2021 and 2022 campaigns, Hardee collected 26 tackles and one forced fumble, and his performance last season led to his first career Pro Bowl nod.
The injury comes at an unfortunate time for the Jets. As ESPN’s Rich Cimini writes, the team’s other gunner, Brandin Echols, won’t play Sunday against the Eagles while he nurses his own hamstring injury.
While the Jets keep getting hit with injuries, there is some good news on that front. Offensive tackle Duane Brown told Brian Costello of the New York Post that he hopes to play following the Jets’ Week 7 bye. The veteran offensive lineman has been limited to only a pair of games this season thanks to a hip injury that ultimately required a trip to injured reserve. It sounds like Brown is hoping to return to the lineup when first eligible in Week 8.