NFL Injury Updates: Herbert, Bullard, Prater
The Chargers are 8-5 under new head coach Jim Harbaugh and his coaching staff, good for second place in the AFC West and the sixth seed in the AFC. Harbaugh gave the media an update today that could spell trouble for the team hoping to make a playoff push and run, per Alex Insdorf of the Guilty as Charged podcast.
According to Harbaugh, quarterback Justin Herbert is dealing with a leg contusion as well as a sprained left ankle this week. Harbaugh claimed that Herbert is “doing everything and anything in his power to play on Sunday,” hinting that practicing was a possibility today, but ultimately, Herbert was not a participant in today’s practice.
Herbert had been the picture of health, starting every game since his debut until missing the final four games of last year. Los Angeles will hope that he doesn’t need to miss much time, if any, and that he’ll be able to help them close out the season as a playoff team.
Here are a few other injury updates from around the league:
- Packers safety Javon Bullard left the locker room this Sunday on crutches after suffering a right ankle injury. After undergoing MRI testing today, it was determined that the injury was not guaranteed to be long-term. There is still a risk that Bullard may miss time, as he’s been designated as week-to-week, per ESPN’s Rob Demovsky.
- We’ve been reporting on the injury of Cardinals veteran kicker Matt Prater this season and the possibility of his return without much understanding of his injury. Last we had heard, Prater’s knee injury was not considered season-ending despite all the time missed already. Josh Weinfuss of ESPN finally shed some light on the situation, reporting that Prater has been recovering from meniscus surgery to his left knee. This is far more clarity than the “soreness” designation that had been prevalent earlier in the season and gives us a better idea of what Prater is working through to return to the field.
Broncos Assistants To Receive Interest From Other Teams?
The Broncos are surpassing expectations as they’ve rattled off three straight wins to match the Chargers’ 8-5 record to draw even with them in the AFC West. While the players are taking care of business, their success is in no small part due to the coaching staff put together in Sean Payton‘s second head coaching tenure, as well. That fact hasn’t gone unnoticed in league circles. 
According to Mike Klis of 9NEWS, the team’s winning ways could result in a good amount of turnover on the coaching staff. Klis points out that the team hasn’t had a coordinator hired away for a head coaching job since former defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio left to coach the Raiders in 2015. Similarly, no one has left the front office for greener pastures since 2005, when then-director of pro personnel Rick Smith left to become the Texans general manager.
This year, Klis has identified a few staffers who could get offered bigger jobs. First, he notes that defensive coordinator (and former head coach) Vance Joseph‘s work has been impressive enough to perhaps earn him a second look at a head coaching gig. While the loss would sting the Broncos, Denver could possibly benefit from the compensatory picks they would receive for letting go of a minority coordinator.
Davis Webb has only been coaching for two years, barely removed from the end of his playing career, but he has been impressive as a quarterbacks coach helping Payton coach Russell Wilson through a bounce back season last year and rookie quarterback Bo Nix to an 8-5 record and potential Offensive Rookie of the Year consideration. Webb’s success could lead to some extremely early coordinator looks for the 29-year-old.
Another former player turned coach, defensive back coach and pass game coordinator Jim Leonhard could certainly be getting some defensive coordinator looks. Following the end of his playing career as a crafty safety, Leonhard went back to his alma mater to coach defensive backs at Wisconsin. After only a year coaching the position, he was promoted to defensive coordinator and seemed destined for the head coaching job after Paul Chryst was fired. He was passed over for the gig and, after a year as an analyst at Illinois, rejoined the ranks of the NFL with the Broncos. It’s only been a year, but Leonhard could be a popular name when jobs open up.
Lastly, Klis gives credit to assistant general manager Darren Mougey. Hired as a scouting intern 12 years ago, Mougey has quietly climbed the ranks in the personnel department, working alongside former general manager John Elway and current general manager George Patton. His impact and longevity over the years could put him in a prime position once interviews start for open general manager jobs.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/11/24
Wednesday’s minor roster updates:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed to active roster: RB Carlos Washington Jr.
- Placed on IR: RB Jase McClellan
Buffalo Bills
- Designated to return from IR: DT Dawuane Smoot, LB Baylon Spector
Chicago Bears
- Signed off Packers’ practice squad: DT Jonathan Ford
- Placed on IR: WR DeAndre Carter
Cleveland Browns
- Designated to return from IR: DT Mike Hall Jr.
Los Angeles Rams
- Reverted to season-ending IR: G KT Leveston
Miami Dolphins
- Designated to return from IR: WR Grant DuBose
New York Giants
- Signed off Cardinals’ practice squad: CB Divaad Wilson
- Designated to return from IR: OL Austin Schlottmann
- Placed on IR: S Tyler Nubin
New York Jets
- Signed off Colts’ practice squad: CB Jaylin Simpson
- Placed on IR: WR Irvin Charles
Seattle Seahawks
- Designated to return from IR: CB Artie Burns, S K’Von Wallace
It’s unfortunate news for the rookie second-round safety, Nubin. After starting the first 13 games of his first season in the NFL, the top-drafted safety in the 2024 NFL Draft will end the year on injured reserve with an ankle injury. Nubin had graded out as the 34th-best safety in the league, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), before the injury.
Charles will miss the remainer of the season, as well, and perhaps some of next year. The former undrafted receiver will be undergoing surgery for a torn ACL.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/11/24
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: P Michael Palardy
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: DT DeShawn Williams
Chicago Bears
- Signed: RB Royce Freeman
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: TE Tre’ McKitty
Detroit Lions
- Signed: S Erick Hallett
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: C Dieter Eiselen
New York Giants
- Signed: T Jalen McKenzie
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: RB Brittain Brown
Arizona is bringing in the left-footed punter as regular punter Blake Gillikin is dealing with an ankle injury on his kicking foot. If Gillikin can’t go on Sunday, Palardy will see his first game action since he finished the back half of the 2022 season in New England.
Packers Designate Luke Musgrave For Return From IR
The Packers have designated tight end Luke Musgrave to return from injured reserve, per ESPN’s Rob Demovsky.
Musgrave was placed on injured reserve on October 11 with an ankle injury that ultimately required surgery. Musgrave’s comments on Wednesday indicate that he fully expects to play again this year.
“As soon as possible that they’ll let me go, I’ll go,” said Musgrave, per The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman.
Musgrave recorded 34 catches for 352 yards in 11 games as a rookie last season, but only caught five passes for 22 yards before getting injured this year. Fellow 2023 Day 2 draftee Tucker Kraft has stepped up in Musgrave’s absence, ranking first on the Packers in receiving touchdowns (seven), second in receptions (39), and third in receiving yards (521).
Green Bay will be hoping that Musgrave can finish the season healthy after suffering a lacerated kidney that sidelined him for part of the 2023 campaign. The Packers have chosen to support franchise quarterback Jordan Love by drafting several young pass-catchers over the past few seasons, though injuries have remained a recurring issue for the group.
Musgrave now has three weeks to practice with the team before he must be activated. Otherwise, he will revert to season-ending injured reserve.
Texans S Jalen Pitre To Undergo Season-Ending Surgery
Texans safety Jalen Pitre will undergo surgery to repair a partially-torn pectoral, according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, ending his 2024 season and depriving Houston of one of their key defensive playmakers as they attempt to win the AFC South.
Pitre started the Texans’ first 12 games this season, but exited the game in Week 12 and did not play the following week. Though he avoided a full pectoral tear, the injury still required corrective surgery with a recovery period that will extend beyond the end of the 2024 season.
Pitre’s injury is a massive loss for the Texans’ defense. Though the 2022 second-round pick hasn’t matched his impressive rookie production of five interceptions and 147 total tackles in either of the last two seasons, he’s still a versatile and valuable playmaker from the slot and the box.
Veteran safety Jimmie Ward took over Pitre’s role in Weeks 12 and 13 and will likely remain there for the rest of the season.
The Texans will also be without the services of starting offensive lineman Juice Scruggs for at least two games, per Wilson. Scruggs injured his foot in Week 13 against the Jaguars, but is not expected to undergo surgery or be placed on injured reserve.
Scruggs began the year as Houston’s center before sliding to left guard to replace Kenyon Green when he landed on IR. Green was designated to return on Monday, so he could move back into his old spot with Scruggs now sidelined. Zachary Thomas also took snaps at left guard in practice this week, so he could start there if Green isn’t healthy enough to play in Week 15.
Steve Belichick Role Part Of Bill Belichick’s North Carolina Negotiations
Bill Belichick may well be close to make a radical career change. He remains in discussions with the University of North Carolina about succeeding Mack Brown as head coach. This would take the NFL’s second-winningest coach out of the mix for jobs in 2025 and maybe henceforth.
The sides are still negotiating, however, with a few issues lingering. A role for current Washington DC Steve Belichick is among the matters being discussed, according to ESPN.com’s Pete Thamel and Chris Low. Steve Belichick worked with his father for many years in New England. While Brian Belichick stayed on under Jerod Mayo, Steve left to run the Huskies’ defense.
We heard Tuesday that Bill Belichick’s salary and the Tar Heels’ NIL situation were among the other issues holding up a deal. The Tar Heels have made an offer. It would stand to reason Belichick does not view his chances of landing another NFL job as particularly great; otherwise, these North Carolina talks probably would not have progressed to this point. But the all-time coaching great was surprised when little interest emerged beyond the Falcons’ pursuit this offseason. He is close to preempting any NFL talks this time around.
North Carolina is working to close this deal, Thamel and Low report, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter adding the six-time Super Bowl-winning HC met with university officials during a five-hour meeting Sunday. Another development that points to this actually happening: Belichick has been contacting potential staff members for days. While the likes of Josh McDaniels, Matt Patricia and Joe Judge have been mentioned as being ready to follow their former Patriots boss, it is unclear if all would do so for a college job.
Steve Belichick, 37, coached on his father’s Patriots staff from 2012-23. While obviously possessing an advantage due to his father’s status, Steve worked his way up to the role of defensive play-caller late in his New England tenure. Mayo offered him the chance to stay in New England, but the Washington gig became the path. The Huskies ranked 46th in scoring defense this season, improving in that area (from 56th in their national championship game season) despite their first Big Ten season at 6-6.
Considering how much interest North Carolina has shown in what would be a fascinating hire, it would surprise if the school stood in the way of Steve Belichick being a major part of the program. Several former Patriots staffers would likely be en route to Chapel Hill. Now, if Bill is mandating his son be named his successor, that is a different matter. But a deal that would allow Belichick full control — something that would not be available if another NFL HC job became a legitimate possibility — certainly appears close.
This would take him out of NFL consideration, but while Bill Belichick said he would be fine staying in the media, these negotiations do not reflect that statement. At 72, Belichick appears adamant about coaching again in 2025 — to the point he is willing to enter college football at one of the most unstable points in its history.
AFC North Notes: Steelers, Bengals, Conklin
Despite their wide receiver depth being an issue throughout this season, the Steelers managed a two-score win over the Browns without George Pickens. The standout Pittsburgh pass catcher suffered a hamstring injury doing post-practice work late last week, and the Steelers exercised caution by holding him out. That strategy is expected to continue against the Eagles in Week 14, with Mike Tomlin pointing to another absence for Pickens. The third-year wideout, who had never missed a game as a pro until Sunday, is battling a grade 2 hamstring strain, per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac. Tomlin said this injury has proven to be “a little more significant” than the team initially believed, and this comes at a bad time for the AFC North leaders.
The Steelers face the Ravens in Week 15 and Chiefs in Week 16, those matchups coming on short weeks. While Pittsburgh is two weeks from its Christmas Day matchup with Kansas City, Pickens’ availability for the Baltimore rematch should probably be considered up in the air. The Steelers traded for Mike Williams and have seen flashes, most notably a game-winning TD grab against the Commanders, but the team would be lacking against upper-crust competition if Pickens is sidelined.
Here is the latest from the AFC North:
- Perhaps the NFL’s lead underachievers this season, the Bengals are 5-8. A team expected to return to Super Bowl contention has seen its defense crater. This franchise has proven conservative when it comes to many matters, and coaching is among them. As such, Zac Taylor is unlikely to be viewed as a hot-seat occupant, per ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano. This reaffirms the team’s October stance. Though, this certainly does not mean the Bengals will maintain their status quo throughout the coaching staff. DC Lou Anarumo should probably be viewed as a chopping-block candidate given how poorly the once-well-regarded coordinator’s unit has performed. But Taylor, who took over after 16 Marvin Lewis Cincinnati seasons, is believed to be safe. His contract runs through 2026.
- Putting up MVP-caliber numbers (without the required record for consideration), Joe Burrow made some noise this week by indicating he will play a role in helping to push for the Bengals to re-sign Tee Higgins. The franchise-tagged wide receiver, who has been viewed as likely to leave in 2025, has said he would like to stay but did not offer much confidence he would re-sign. The Bengals cannot reengage on negotiations, which are not believed to have been serious this year, until season’s end. When the team does, new Higgins representation may be at the wheel. Rumblings have surfaced regarding a potential Higgins agency change, Graziano adds. Such a switch would inject an interesting variable into Higgins’ next round of negotiations. The Bengals hold exclusive negotiating rights with their WR2 until March 10.
- Dan Moore Jr. has twice managed to fend off competition to keep the Steelers‘ left tackle job, doing so despite the team using first-round picks on tackles in back-to-back drafts. Troy Fautanu‘s injury did leave the team with fewer options, and Broderick Jones has continued to play right tackle this season. The plan remains for Jones to switch sides in 2025, when Moore is due for free agency. Though, Jones was rumored to be the team’s preferred LT this year. Moore is likely to depart in March, Dulac adds, as they have not shown an indication they are losing faith in Jones. Next year’s Pittsburgh tackle plan will be for their 2023 and ’24 first-rounders — Jones and Fautanu — to start, with veteran Steelers reporter Mark Kaboly leaving little doubt about the 2025 starters.
- Two nonguaranteed years remain on Jack Conklin‘s contract, and the Browns — facing an unprecedented situation with Deshaun Watson — will need cap space. They will almost definitely look to Conklin’s deal, with The Athletic’s Zac Jackson noting the team will either restructure it or move it off the payroll via a post-June 1 cut. Conklin, 30, has returned from a second career ACL tear, coming back after missing 16 games last season and five this year. The quality starter’s injury history will factor into Cleveland’s 2025 decision.
Chiefs’ Harrison Butker Back At Practice
Continuing to walk a tightrope to keep a one-loss record in place, the Chiefs have seen three different kickers hit game-winning field goals during this run of one-score victories. With Harrison Butker down, both Spencer Shrader and Matthew Wright have stepped in.
The Chiefs needed to turn to Wright due to a Shrader injury — one that sent him to IR — and while style points eluded the second-stint Kansas City kicker, Wright nailed the game-winner to beat the Chargers on Sunday night. It is now possible the Chiefs are done with their revolving-door period at this position, as Andy Reid said Wednesday (via ESPN.com’s Adam Teicher) Butker would practice today.
This will start the veteran kicker’s 21-day activation clock. Butker has missed the past four games due to a knee injury, one that required arthroscopic surgery. This issue affected Butker’s non-kicking leg, and the eighth-year Chiefs kicker will aim to return soon. By being designated for return from IR, he would be eligible to come back against the Browns in Week 15. It is not certain he will be ready by then, however.
The Chiefs hold merely a plus-56 point differential — 11th-best in the NFL — which has placed a greater importance on precision from their kickers. Ten of the defending champions’ 12 wins have come by one score. Shrader hit a short game-winner to lift the Chiefs past the Panthers, while a banked-in Wright offering saved them against the Chargers. Butker has offered more stability. He is 18-for-20 on field goals this season, including a walk-off 51-yarder to beat the Bengals in Week 2, and 21-for-22 on PATs.
Kansas City is in good shape still, in terms of injury activations; the team holds six going into Week 15. They are aiming for Marquise Brown to return along with Butker. The free agent signing has been eligible to return from IR for months, but Reid said Wednesday he has not received clearance yet.
Commanders WR Noah Brown Likely Out For Season
Despite being added days before the regular season, Noah Brown has settled into the Commanders’ No. 2 wide receiver role. The contending team will need to find other solutions moving forward, however.
Brown sustained what Dan Quinn called an internal “serious injury,” according to NBC Sports Washington’s JP Finlay. While Quinn stopped short of confirming Brown will miss the season’s remainder, the first-year Commanders HC said (via the Washington Post’s Nicki Jhabvala). Brown has led the pack of Terry McLaurin sidekicks this season, being one of a few former Quinn charges to play a key role for a resurgent Washington team.
The Commanders have given Brown a 63% snap share on offense this season. Among the non-McLaurin Washington wideouts, Brown leads the way with 453 receiving yards. His most memorable contribution came when he snagged a game-winning Hail Mary from Jayden Daniels to down the Bears in October. Brown has scored a touchdown as well, helping a Commanders team that again entered training camp with significant questions about who would complement McLaurin.
It is not yet known what specific issue Brown is battling, but he was listed as having picked up a rib injury during the Commanders-Titans game in Week 13. Quinn calling this an internal injury points to something more serious, but the veteran coach praised the team’s medical staff for doing well to address this matter at the time. The bye week was not enough to minimize this matter, and it looks like Washington is going to need others to help fill the void. The team is close to having veteran slot Jamison Crowder back, at least; the second-stint Washington wideout has missed most of this season with a calf injury.
After a season with the Texans, Brown re-signed with the team on a one-year, $4MM deal. The 28-year-old pass catcher had totaled a career-high 567 yards last season. Then possessing a crowded WR depth chart, Houston moved on, leading Brown to Washington on a $1.21MM accord.
Brown had overlapped with Quinn with the Cowboys from 2021-22 and joined former teammates Tyler Biadasz, Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler in signing with the Commanders. Washington has not seen another of its wideouts surpass 275 receiving yards this season. Third-round rookie Luke McCaffrey and veterans Dyami Brown and Olamide Zaccheaus represent the non-Brown options to supplement the team’s McLaurin-driven receiving corps.