NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/6/24
Here are Friday’s practice squad moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DT Michael Dwumfour, DT T.Y. McGill
Detroit Lions
- Signed: S Loren Strickland
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: T Coy Cronk
- Placed on practice squad injured list: G Henry Byrd
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: RB Jonathan Ward
- Released: DT Domenique Davis
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: P Ty Zentner
- Placed on practice squad injured list: OL Jason Peters
Peters has not seen any game action this season, keeping him from an official 21st NFL slate. Peters, 42, would make NFL history by becoming the first O-lineman to be on an active roster in a 21st season. After seeing action in eight games last season in Seattle, making two starts, Peters has not climbed to the team’s 53-man roster yet this year. Despite Abraham Lucas coming back, George Fant is back on IR. And Peters remains on the team’s practice squad. Though, he is running out of time to turn his insurance role into in-game duties.
McGill is not quite on the Josh Johnson journeyman tier, but the 10th-year defensive lineman has been with 10 teams. The Browns are not a new one, as he previously stopped through Cleveland during the 2017 season. McGill, 32, played in one game for the 49ers this season. He had spent three years in San Francisco but is now roster depth back in Cleveland, where he played three games in 2017.
NFL Closes Latest Deshaun Watson Investigation; Browns QB Will Not Be Suspended
The subject of another NFL investigation due to a woman’s sexual assault claim, Deshaun Watson settled with his most recent accuser recently. That was believed to effectively close the door on another NFL suspension. That is now official.
Watson is not set to be banned in connection with that alleged crime, with cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot reporting the NFL has closed its investigation without finding sufficient evidence the Browns quarterback violated the personal conduct policy. Although Watson’s Cleveland future is cloudy, he is not set to face a second suspension. He missed 11 games due to an NFL-NFLPA settlement in 2022, a ban that began a wildly disappointing Browns tenure.
The QB’s latest known accuser settling her civil suit, one that alleged sexual assault in an October 2020 incident, was set to prevent her cooperating with a league investigation. Her attorney, Tony Buzbee, confirmed (via the Washington Post’s Mark Maske) his client did not meet with the NFL. As such, it would have been difficult for the NFL to conclude the quarterback definitively violated the league’s personal conduct policy. This was the expected outcome, and Watson will remain tied to the NFL’s most player-friendly contract without any changes coming about.
A suspension in connection with this alleged incident represented perhaps the Browns’ last chance to see their dead money bill lightened. But the team faced an uphill battle thanks to the player-friendly contract it authorized.
Personal conduct policy bans regularly void guarantees, but the Browns included language in Watson’s deal to protect him. The former Texans Pro Bowler having not disclosed this incident to the team prior to his latest restructure would have left the door open to future guarantees being voided, but Watson denied all wrongdoing in this case. The QB’s account indicating he was not aware of this particular accuser’s claim would have left the Browns in an interesting spot, due to how they designed his contract, even if he were suspended once again.
As it stands, Watson’s five-year, $230MM deal runs through 2026. With the once-highly coveted QB not coming close to delivering on expectations, it is fair to label this the worst trade and contract in NFL history. The Browns are expected to shop for another starter in 2025, but Watson’s contract being so difficult to move — a status boosted by the two restructures GM Andrew Berry completed — effectively keeps him in limbo beyond this year. The Browns are not expected to cut Watson in 2025, as that would bring an astonishing $172MM in dead money over the ’25 and ’26 offseasons combined.
Cleveland is not expected to fire Berry or HC Kevin Stefanski, despite their lead roles in a disastrous 2022 trade. Watson, 29, is rehabbing an Achilles tear sustained in October. Jameis Winston has operated as the Browns’ starter since, offering the highs and lows that have become associated with the former No. 1 overall pick’s career. Winston is a free agent at season’s end. Watson may be in the background for the Browns for now, with neither Berry nor Stefanski guaranteeing he would start again for the team. But no suspension coming to pass will put Watson on track to be a major part of the Browns’ future once again — once he completes his rehab process.
Jets To Activate Allen Lazard, Place C.J. Mosley On IR
The Jets will have Allen Lazard back in the fold in time for Week 14, but they will not see C.J. Mosley again this season. The latter is headed to injured reserve, head coach Jeff Ulbrich announced on Friday.
Mosley has been dealing with a herniated disk in his neck, and he has been limited to only four games in 2024. The veteran linebacker said last month he intended to return after New York’s Week 12 bye, but that did not turn out to be the case. Now, his attention will turn to recovery for the 2025 campaign.
After opting out of the 2020 campaign, Mosley posted three consecutive seasons without a major injury issue while serving as a full-time starter. His success in that regard landed him a fresh set of guarantees via an extension this past March. Only some of the five-time Pro Bowler’s compensation for 2025 is locked in, however, leading to questions about his future with the Jets in the wake of his missed time this season.
Mosley, who will turn 33 next summer, agreed to a pay cut in exchange for the guarantees this year. With the Jets set to retool around a new coaching staff and GM, it is worth wondering if this will be it for the decorated linebacker in New York.
That said, the team inserted three void years into Mosley’s contract. With $4.25MM of Mosley’s $8.25MM base salary guaranteed for next year and the void years present, the Jets would take on considerable dead money by cutting their most experienced defender. It would cost the Jets $16.4MM in dead cap to release Mosley in 2025, though a post-June 1 designation would split that bill over two years. With new regimes less concerned about dead money coming from old contracts, this could be something to monitor still.
The Jets also activated offensive lineman Wes Schweitzer from IR, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. Plenty has changed since Schweitzer was last on the roster; the veteran swingman went on IR with a hand injury after Week 1. Still, the Jets have seen him return to full strength. Schweitzer, 31, has not seen action in a game this season but will have a chance to suit up and play for another midlevel contract come 2025. The former Falcons and Commanders blocker is on track for free agency at season’s end.
Lazard would seem likely to be done in New York after this season. Although the ex-Packers pass catcher showed notable improvement from a disappointing 2023 thanks to Aaron Rodgers‘ return, his contract containing no guarantees beyond 2024 — along with the Rodgers-driven nature of his arrival — points to a 2025 exit. The Jets would save more than $6MM by cutting Lazard next year. One void year is on Lazard’s contract, which includes an $11MM base salary for next season. Lazard, 29 next week, has 30 receptions for 412 yards and five touchdowns this season.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.
Missouri T Armand Membou Declares For 2025 Draft
Luther Burden III declared for this year’s draft earlier in the week, but he is not the only Missouri junior to take that route. Right tackle Armand Membou informed ESPN’s Pete Thamel he is headed to the NFL this spring.
Membou will skip the Tigers’ upcoming bowl game and turn his attention to pre-draft preparation. As a prospect whose stock is built in no small part on his athleticism, the Combine in March will be a critical checkpoint during that process. Membou will depart Missouri after playing a key role for the team up front.
The former four-star recruit made 11 appearances during his freshman campaign, starting the last five. His success in that span set him up for a two-year stretch as the Tigers’ starting right tackle. Membou allowed only two sacks in 2023, making him an impactful member of an offensive line which finished as a semifinalist for the Joe Moore award that year. Expectations were high entering the 2024 campaign as a result.
Membou delivered another strong outing, earning third-team All-SEC honors. PFF charged him with zero sacks and only seven pressures allowed in pass protection, resulting in an overall grade of 86.7. That makes the 6-3, 314-pounder one of the offensive linemen worth watching closely over the coming months, although a move to the interior may be needed at the NFL level. If that were to be the case, a lengthier wait on Day 2 of the draft could be in store.
The likes of Will Campbell (LSU) and Josh Simmons (Ohio State) have made the expected decisions of declaring for April’s draft as well. They represent two of the top options for teams in need of help up front this spring, and they will be highly sought after. For those which do not manage to find immediate O-line help during the first round, Membou could become a target.
Tyrod Taylor Addresses Jets Future; QB Open To Starting Opportunity
Aaron Rodgers is set to remain atop the Jets’ quarterback depth chart to close out the current campaign, but it very much remains to be seen if he will be with the team next season. Tyrod Taylor is under contract for 2025, and he represents an option to handle starting duties on at least a part-time basis for that year. 
Taylor took a two-year pact this offseason to give the Jets a veteran Rodgers insurance option. New York’s QB setup in 2023 did not pan out, with Zach Wilson struggling upon taking over from Rodgers after the latter’s Week 1 Achilles tear. Taylor has made only one appearance this season, and with a regime other than the one led by Robert Saleh and Joe Douglas set to be in place this winter, a cleaning of house under center could be sought out. The veteran passer has not given thought to his post-2024 plans at this point.
“I haven’t took my mind there yet,” Taylor said (via Andrew Crane of the New York Post). “I’m a big believer of being exactly where my feet is, and for me, that’s, right now, finishing off this season strong and being prepared if the opportunity presents itself… And then we’ll focus on next year after the season.”
Taylor spent the 2022 and ’23 seasons as the Giants’ backup, and in the wake of Daniel Jones‘ injury last year he saw five starts late in the campaign. That brings the 35-year-old’s total to 58 across his 93 regular season appearances, but his last extended run as a QB1 option came with the Bills in 2017. Teams may not view him as a preferred option atop their depth charts in 2025, but to no surprise Taylor did add he would welcome the chance to operate as a starter once again.
That could take shape in the form of a bridge-starter gig with the Jets provided they move on from Rodgers in the offseason. New York could be in the market for a rookie passer depending on the team’s final spot in the Day 1 order in particular, but options will be available in free agency as well. Making a long-term investment at the QB spot could open the door to Taylor remaining in place to at least begin the season as a starter, something he has done during previous stops in his career.
The Virginia Tech product is owed a base salary of $6MM next season, $2.5MM of which is guaranteed. That provides Taylor with a strong chance of remaining with the Jets for 2025, and it will be interesting to see if he is presented with the opportunity to once again see time as a starter.
Keenan Allen Wants To Remain With Bears
Keenan Allen‘s Chargers tenure came to an end this offseason when he was traded to the Bears. The veteran wideout said in June he would be open to a long-term Chicago contract, and that sentiment has not changed. 
The 2024 campaign has not gone according to plan for the Bears, but recent weeks have showcased the team’s potential on offense with Caleb Williams at quarterback. Allen has played a central role in the Bears’ passing attack over the past three weeks, racking up 18 catches, 200 yards and three touchdowns during that span. The six-time Pro Bowler is a pending free agent, and continuing that production down the stretch would help his market value.
As The Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain writes, though, Allen has expressed a desire to remain in Chicago beyond the current season (subscription required). The Bears sit at 4-8 on the season, and both offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and head coach Matt Eberflus have been dismissed. Allen and fellow wideout D.J. Moore were among the players who spoke out against Waldron after he was let go, and the offense has improved under Thomas Brown. Brown is now in place as interim head coach, but he will retain play-calling duties down the stretch.
Allen changed agents this offseason after his inability to land a new Chargers deal played a central role in the trade which sent him to the Windy City. The six-time Pro Bowler is on track to reach a free agent market expected to be headlined at the WR position by Tee Higgins, and at the age of 32 Allen does not figure to receive much interest in a long-term accord from any suitor. The Bears also have Moore on the books through 2029 along with first-round rookie Rome Odunze as a projected staple on offense for the foreseeable future.
In spite of that, Allen’s status as a veteran presence on an otherwise young Bears offense carries weight. If he manages to remain productive over the closing weeks of the campaign, the team (set to be near the top of the league in 2025 cap space) could entertain talks on a new deal. From Allen’s perspective, at least, that would be a desirable outcome.
Commanders Aim To Retain Marshon Lattimore Beyond 2024
Marshon Lattimore was known to be a trade candidate well before the 2024 season began, and to little surprise he was dealt before last month’s deadline. The Pro Bowl corner is set to make his debut with his new team (in his former home stadium) in Week 15, but he is not seen strictly as a rental. 
Many players moved at or around the trade deadline are pending free agents, but Lattimore’s contract runs through 2026. He is due $36.5MM between the 2025 and ’26 seasons, but none of his base salaries for those years are guaranteed. A restructure should be expected this coming offseason as a result, but the Commanders fully intend to keep Lattimore in place for years to come.
“We wanted to get him for not only this year but as long as we can, really,” general manager Adam Peters said when discussing the Lattimore trade (via Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post). “He’s got two more years on his contract and the way he’s played, we want him to be a Commander for a long time.”
A shortlist of serious suitors emerged in the build-up to the trade deadline, and the Commanders ultimately outbid the Ravens, Chiefs and Chargers to acquire Lattimore. The 28-year-old served as an impact starter during his time in New Orleans, but injuries have been an issue in recent years. He is currently on pace to carry cap hits of $18MM and $18.5MM over the next two years, and lowering those figures will be a goal for Washington even if Lattimore lives up to expectations during his initial Commanders games. The team – unlike those who also engaged in a trade pursuit – does not have a veteran quarterback attached to a monster contract, something which will make it easier to keep Lattimore in place beyond 2024.
The secondary has been an issue in past years for Washington, but the team currently ranks fifth against the pass (a stark contrast to this season’s struggles against the run). The Commanders recently moved on from former first-rounder Emmanuel Forbes, and Lattimore (who has racked up 15 interceptions in his career and recorded double-digit pass deflections in each of his first five seasons) could emerge as a key figure in Washington’s CB room now and into the future. If Peters is able to meet his goal of working out a long-term arrangement, Lattimore should be expected to remain in the nation’s capital for several years.
Bill Belichick Interviewed For North Carolina HC Job; Latest On NFL Interest
This season marked Bill Belichick‘s first out of the NFL since 1974. The legendary HC-turned-media mainstay has only served as a full-time coach in the NFL ranks, moving from assistant positions in Baltimore, Detroit, Denver and New York to his two HC roles (Cleveland, New England). It is widely known the recently fired Patriots leader is eyeing a jump back into the league.
An unusual development may well have taken place in the meantime. Belichick interviewed for the North Carolina head coaching job, according to 247Sports.com’s Grant Hughes. Considering the instability in the college ranks right now, along with Belichick’s exclusive ties to the NFL over a near-five-decade span, it would be borderline shocking if he made his coaching return to that level. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport confirms the North Carolina meeting.
Discussions have occurred over a several-day period, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer and Pat Forde report. Belichick is the son of a longtime college coach. His father, Steve, was an assistant at Navy for 34 years. Steve Belichick also spent three seasons (1953-55) as an assistant at North Carolina. While the NFL lifer bowing out of a second NFL derby to coach the Tar Heels 70 years after his father did would be unexpected, it is a key coaching storyline to monitor right now. Belichick indeed still would likely prefer the pros, per Breer, though he has done extensive research on the current college game.
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Belichick, 72, has been tied to the Giants and Cowboys and has connections to Jaguars ownership, further clouding Trent Baalke‘s Jacksonville future. All three jobs may soon be available, and while Belichick has an advantage on candidates employed by teams presently, he would need to wait on those three jobs. The Bears, Jets and Saints are the only teams that can interview Belichick now.
Coaches still on staff elsewhere must wait until after the wild-card round to interview, while unattached candidates can start early. Though, Belichick is almost definitely not returning to the Jets due to a long-adversarial relationship. Unless the Bears and Saints show interest, Belichick will need to wait until the offseason carousel starts.
North Carolina fired its two-time HC Mack Brown recently, and Steelers OC Arthur Smith came up as a target. Smith rebuffed Tar Heels interest, as a potential second chance as an NFL leader awaits. Belichick taking the meeting is certainly interesting, and he would obviously raise the ACC program’s profile. That said, Belichick’s age and the unstable landscape of Division I sports right now stand to generate roadblocks. The Tar Heels have been open to senior-citizen HCs, hiring Brown back at age 67 in 2018. The Tar Heels have produced one 10-win season over the past 27 years.
Belichick’s 20-plus-year tenure as a de facto GM would appeal to schools in the NIL era, in addition to his obvious coaching resume’s draw, though the transfer portal and evolving compensation setup have led high-profile coaches in both football and basketball out. Boston College’s Jeff Hafley was among them, leaving an ACC HC gig for the Packers’ DC post (Brown also expressed frustration with the current state of college sports). The world’s highest-profile football coach stepping in would be rather strange. Indeed, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz adds some in the NFL believe Belichick is using North Carolina in an effort to push teams to act faster and make it known he wants back into the league in 2025.
Any college commitment would also drain time from Belichick’s quest to break Don Shula‘s career wins record. At 333, Belichick sits 14 behind Shula’s mark. The NFL also brings a potential age barrier, one that impacted Belichick’s candidacy this year. No team has hired a head coach older than 66; Belichick will turn 73 in April. The Falcons viewing Belichick as a short-term option prompted them to steer clear, though myriad other factors were also behind Atlanta’s decision.
The Raiders job also may open soon, creating a fascinating what-if about now-part-owner Tom Brady overseeing his former coach. Mark Davis pulling the plug so quickly on longtime Belichick lieutenant Josh McDaniels likely makes that a nonstarter, and ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano indeed does not see a fit there if the Silver and Black boot Antonio Pierce soon.
The Cowboys continue to come up as a potential Belichick destination, per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, who adds the Buccaneers have as well. Tampa Bay passed on firing Todd Bowles last year, as the third-year HC ultimately rallied to lead the team to the divisional round. The Bucs are 6-6, putting Bowles on shaky ground once again. Though, they play in the NFL’s worst division and could certainly claim a playoff spot for a fifth straight year. Mike McCarthy is wrapping up a five-year contract, though the prospect of Jerry Jones keeping his embattled HC — one Dak Prescott strongly endorsed this week — has also surfaced.
Belichick was believed to be willing to cede some power if hired by the Falcons, with Arthur Blank confirming the coach did not demand a de facto GM role during his interviews. But meshing with Dallas’ long-running honcho, who obviously plays the lead role in Cowboys personnel moves, continues to loom as a potential dealbreaker for both parties. Barring an unexpected move into the college ranks, Belichick connections to teams figure to pick up again soon.
Long-Term Seahawks Commitment Unlikely For Geno Smith
Geno Smith attempted to work out an extension this summer, but it quickly became clear the Seahawks were not interested in doing so. As a result, the veteran quarterback is set to play out the 2025 campaign the final season of his three-year, $75MM deal worked out last spring. 
That pact calls for $25MM in compensation for the 2025 campaign, including a $10MM roster bonus set to kick in shortly after the start of the new league year in March. With none of Smith’s base salary for the year guaranteed, a window of opportunity exists for Seattle to move on if the team decides to do so. While that would represent a surprise, another multi-year commitment should also not be expected at this point.
ESPN’s Brady Henderson writes a long-term pact near the top of the QB market is much less likely than another deal aimed at providing more stability in the immediate future. A short-term deal which allows Smith to increase his 2025 earnings with new guarantees would be a reasonable approach given the extent to which he has succeeded in filling a role atop the QB depth chart over the past three years.
Questions surrounded Seattle’s future at the position after the Russell Wilson trade, but Smith has proven to be a capable replacement with a resume now featuring the Comeback Player of the Year award in 2022 and Pro Bowl nods for each of the past two seasons. The West Virginia product has seen a slight downturn in passer rating (88.9) along with an underwhelming touchdown-to-interception ratio (13:12) this year with the Seahawks struggling up front and with respect to the ground game. Still, Seattle sits atop the NFC West with a 7-5 record and a second playoff berth in the past three years is therefore a distinct possibility.
Strong play down the stretch would help Smith’s case to secure at least an upgraded compensation package over the short term. His $25MM AAV ranks 19th amongst quarterbacks, although age is of course a factor working against the 34-year-old on that front. A move toward the top of the market (which is now $60MM per season) would require a massive raise, but an incremental one – via new guarantees and/or incentives – could be feasible but still challenging for a Seahawks team currently projected to be over the cap next season. Former Commanders draftee Sam Howell is under contract for next year, but he will no doubt still be seen as a backup option by Seattle at this point.
Smith said in October he plans on playing 20 seasons in the NFL. Reaching that mark will require multiple new contracts down the road, the first of which could be worked out this winter. How negotiations on that front proceed will be a key storyline for the Seahawks if they look to retain Smith but also leave the door open to a successor in the not-too-distant future.
Dak Prescott Endorses Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy
2024 has long seemed like a lame duck season for Mike McCarthy, but nothing is certain at this point with respect to how the Cowboys will proceed on the sidelines. McCarthy has received praise on more than one occasion from owner Jerry Jones, including recent remarks leaving the door open to a new contract. 
While Jones will obviously have the final say on whether or not McCarthy is retained for 2025, the former Packers Super Bowl winner also has the support of quarterback Dak Prescott. A hamstring injury has left Prescott on the mend since he underwent surgery last month, and his absence has further hindered on offense which was not performing well when he was healthy earlier in the year. Despite Dallas’ 2024 struggles, Prescott offered a public endorsement of McCarthy staying in place on a new contract.
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“I believe in him wholeheartedly,” Prescott said (via Yahoo! Sports’ Jori Epstein). “I don’t want to necessarily get into the nuts and the screws of it all obviously, but I think he definitely deserves a chance — another contract and a chance to coach this team amongst more influence. ‘On his terms’ may be a good way to say it.”
On the latter point, McCarthy himself said his level of influence with the Cowboys outweighs that of when he was with the Packers (h/t DLLS’ Clarence Hill Jr.). That represents an interesting comment in the wake of Prescott’s remarks, but it is nevertheless notable Dallas’ franchise passer is on board with maintaining continuity on the sidelines. Prescott will be expected to rebound from his showings in 2024 when he his back on the field next season, regardless of what the Cowboys’ coaching staff looks like.
McCarthy guided the team to a 6-10 record during his first season at the helm, followed by three consecutive 12-5 campaigns. Over the stretch, Dallas failed to advance past the divisional round, and last year’s lopsided home defeat to the Packers resulted in a one-and-done playoff appearance. That game, Jones has publicly acknowledged, played a role in his decision not to work out an extension with McCarthy ahead of the 2024 campaign. Dallas now sits at 5-7 with a playoff berth not seen as a realistic possibility.
Prescott landed a $60MM-per-year extension just before the start of the season, and he is on the books through 2028 as a result. His future is not in question, whereas McCarthy’s status will be interesting to follow once the 2024 campaign comes to a close. It will be interesting to see how much weight Prescott’s endorsement carries when Jones decides what to do on the coaching side this winter.