Steelers Made Late Push For OBJ
Odell Beckham Jr. is expected to debut for the Rams in a matter of hours. But, minutes before he signed with Los Angeles, the Steelers made a late entry into the OBJ sweepstakes, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. 
[RELATED: Rams Want To Extend OBJ]
However, by that point, the wide receiver had already narrowed down his list. The Chiefs, Packers, Patriots, Seahawks, and Saints were also in the mix, but the Beckham saw the Rams as the best fit.
“It just feels right about the [Rams] offense,” Beckham said. “I hope to find a groove and help this team find ways to win.”
Saints head coach Sean Payton personally tried to court the former LSU standout, but the Saints weren’t sure if he was serious about coming to New Orleans (Twitter link via Jeff Duncan of The Times-Picayune). Like most of the other teams involved, it’s believed that the Saints pitched him on a ~$1MM base salary for 2021, plus incentives. The Packers were something of an exception, according to RapSheet, offering only the veteran’s minimum.
With incentives, Beckham can make up to $3MM on his Rams deal this year. After that, he’ll be eligible for free agency, giving all of his previous suitors another chance to land him. Meanwhile, the Rams are already working to keep him from the open market.
Steelers Place QB Ben Roethlisberger On Reserve/COVID-19 List
On Saturday evening, the Steelers announced that they were placing quarterback Ben Roethlisberger on the reserve/COVID-19 list. As a result, Roethlisberger will miss the club’s game against the Lions this afternoon.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, the 39-year-old passer self-reported COVID symptoms to the team and subsequently tested positive for the virus (Twitter link). As Mark Maske of the Washington Post tweets, Roethlisberger is vaccinated, so he is eligible to be removed from the COVID list as soon as he returns two negative tests taken 24 hours apart. That gives him a good chance to suit up for what could be a critical bout with the Chargers next Sunday.
For today, QB2 Mason Rudolph will get the nod in Roethlisberger’s place (Twitter link via Rapoport). Rudolph, a 2018 third-rounder, has not played a significant snap since Week 16 of the 2019 season — he started a meaningless Week 17 game last year — and he boasts a 5-4 career record as a starter, a record that is accompanied by a subpar 82.7 career quarterback rating.
However, if the Steelers could pick a game for Roethlisberger to miss this year, today’s matchup would probably be the one they would pick. The 0-8 Detroit outfit is ranked in the bottom quarter of the league in terms of yards allowed per game, and next-to-last in terms of points allowed per game. Plus, Rudolph does get regular opportunities to run the first-team offense in practice, so Pittsburgh should not need to limit its playbook in any way.
The Steelers have won four in a row to bring themselves squarely into the AFC playoff picture. During that streak, Roethlisberger — whose early-season struggles prompted speculation about his job security — is averaging over 200 passing yards per game, has thrown six TDs, zero interceptions, and has posted a 104.6 QB rating (h/t Aditi Kinkhabwala of the NFL Network on Twitter).
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/13/21
Here are Saturday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Promoted: LS Beau Brinkley, WR Greg Dortch
Carolina Panthers
- Activated from IR: S Juston Burris, WR Brandon Zylstra
- Promoted: OL Mike Horton
Cincinnati Bengals
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Chidobe Awuzie
- Placed on IR: CB Ryan Smith
Cleveland Browns
- Activated from IR: LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah
- Waived: DT Andrew Billings
- Promoted: RB Brian Hill, CB Herb Miller, WR JoJo Natson, FB Johnny Stanton
Dallas Cowboys
- Activated from PUP list: DT Trysten Hill
- Promoted: K Lirim Hajrullahu
Denver Broncos
- Activated from PUP list: CB Essang Bassey
- Promoted: T Quinn Bailey, RB Damarea Crockett, T Drew Himmelman, LB Curtis Robinson
Detroit Lions
- Promoted: K Ryan Santoso
- Placed on IR: K Austin Seibert
Green Bay Packers
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Isaac Yiadom
- Waived: LB LaDarius Hamilton
Indianapolis Colts
- Activated from IR: CB T.J. Carrie
- Promoted: S Jahleel Addae
- Waived: CB BoPete Keyes
Kansas City Chiefs
- Placed on IR: T Mike Remmers
Las Vegas Raiders
- Promoted: S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, LB Patrick Onwuasor
Minnesota Vikings
- Placed on IR: DT Michael Pierce
- Promoted: S Myles Dorn, CB Tye Smith
New England Patriots
- Promoted: DL Tashawn Bower, TE Matt LaCosse
New York Jets
- Activated from IR: P Braden Mann, OL Conor McDermott
- Placed on IR: T Chuma Edoga
- Promoted: FB Nick Bawden, DE Ronald Blair, DE Hamilcar Rashed, TE Kenny Yeboah
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Promoted: WR Steven Sims
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted: LB Tanner Muse
- Waived: TE Tyler Mabry
- Placed on IR: DB Marquise Blair (story)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted: TE Darren Fells, WR Breshad Perriman
Tennessee Titans
- Activated from IR: CB Kristian Fulton
- Placed on IR: S Dane Cruikshank
- Promoted: LB Dylan Cole, WR Dez Fitzpatrick, NT Kyle Peko
Washington Football Team
- Promoted: DE Bunmi Rotimi
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/11/21
Today’s practice squad moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: DE Damontre Moore
Denver Broncos
- Signed: CB Duke Dawson
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: WR Gary Jennings
- Placed on injured list: WR Jeff Badet
Pittsburgh Pirates
- Signed: LB Jacob Tuioti-Mariner
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: OL Corbin Kaufusi, CB Saivion Smith
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: DB Breon Borders
Steelers WR Chase Claypool Avoids Season-Ending Injury
It sounds like Chase Claypool avoided a serious injury. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweets that the Steelers wideout didn’t suffer a season-ending injury and is instead considered week-to-week.
There was some initial fear that Claypool’s foot injury would end up costing him the rest of the 2021 campaign. Fortunately, that won’t be the case, and Rapoport didn’t even definitively say that the receiver will miss time (rather, Claypool may miss time).
Following a standout rookie campaign that saw him haul in nine touchdowns, Claypool has continued his production into this season. Through seven games (six starts), the wideout has hauled in 29 receptions for 433 yards and one touchdown. The 23-year-old has also gotten six carries for 51 yards.
This is especially good news for a Steelers offense that already lost JuJu Smith-Schuster to a season-ending injury. Diontae Johnson, James Washington, and Ray-Ray McCloud will lead the receivers depth chart while Claypool is out.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/9/21
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: TE Alex Ellis
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: RB Brian Hill, CB Nate Meadors, WR Isaiah Zuber
- Released: CB Tim Harris
Denver Broncos
- Signed: OT Casey Tucker
Detroit Lions
- Signed: TE Nick Eubanks, WR Travis Jonsen
Houston Texans
- Signed: DE Demone Harris
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: C Darryl Williams
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: C Evan Boehm
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: DT T.Y. McGill
New England Patriots
- Released: CB Brian Poole
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: DB Craig James
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Released: K Josh Lambo
Steelers, Eagles Discussed Fletcher Cox Trade
The Eagles and Steelers discussed a trade that would have sent Fletcher Cox to Pittsburgh, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. However, the Steelers were ultimately warded off by the Eagles’ asking price of a third-round pick. 
Trading Cox would have left Eagles GM Howie Roseman with a sizable dead money hit. However, Kevin Colbert would have been able to fit his contract under the 2021 books, thanks to his recent restructure.
“There were some teams interested in me, and the most important part of it was they wanted me here, and I wanted to be here and I’m happy to be here,” Cox said this past week, via The Athletic.
Cox would have provided an immediate boost to the Steelers, who are without Tyson Alualu and awaiting the return of defensive tackle Stephon Tuitt. The 30-year-old (31 in December) also drew interest from other clubs, JLC hears, so there’s clearly a market for his services. That’s good news for Cox, who might not be in the Birds’ plans for 2022.
Cox, a six-time Pro Bowler, has started in all nine of his games this year, including today’s game against the Chargers. Heading into this afternoon, he’s recorded 12 tackles, and one sack, one fumble recovery, and a defensive touchdown.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/2/21
We’ll keep track of today’s taxi squad moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: DL Matt Dickerson, LB Tahir Whitehead
- Released: OL Koda Martin, TE Ross Travis
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: WR Marvin Hall
Buffalo Bills
- Placed on practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: QB Jake Fromm, WR Tanner Gentry
- Signed: OL Jacob Capra, WR Austin Proehl
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: QB Josh Love
- Released: WR Devin Smith
Chicago Bears
- Signed: DL LaCale London
- Released: G Dareuan Parker
Denver Broncos
- Released: CB Rojesterman Farris
Green Bay Packers
- Placed on practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: QB Kurt Benkert
- Signed: DL Abdullah Anderson
- Released: LB Aaron Adeoye
Los Angeles Chargers
- Released: LB Paddy Fisher
New York Jets
- Signed: S Natrell Jamerson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: K Josh Lambo, DT Khalil Davis
- Released: DL Chris Slayton
Washington Football Team
- Signed: G Zack Bailey, RB Wendell Smallwood
- Released: RB Jonathan Williams
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/2/21
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Promoted: LB Daren Bates, LB James Vaughters
- Waived: LB Dorian Etheridge
Baltimore Ravens
- Released via injury settlement: T Andre Smith
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: FB Johnny Stanton
Dallas Cowboys
- Placed on IR: LB Jabril Cox (story)
- Waived: DE Bradlee Anae
Detroit Lions
- Designated for return: T Taylor Decker, DL Devin Strong
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted: LS Steven Wirtel
- Waived: LS Hunter Bradley
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed off Chiefs’ practice squad: LB Christian Rozeboom
- Placed on IR: WR Tutu Atwell (story), LB Travin Howard
- Waived: LB Jonah Williams
New York Jets
- Designated to return: LB Hamsah Nasirildeen
- Promoted: S Jarrod Wilson
- Waived: LB Noah Dawkins
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Promoted: LB Taco Charlton
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived: LB Tyrell Adams, K Joey Slye
Washington Football Team
- Designated for return: TE Logan Thomas
- Waived: TE Jace Sternberger
Steelers Looking For Upgrades
The Steelers kicked off deadline day by trading Melvin Ingram to the Chiefs. However, there could still be more trades to come. The Steelers are looking to make more deals with an eye on improving their outlook for 2021, according to sources who spoke with NFL.com’s Aditi Kinkhabwala (Twitter link). 
[RELATED: Steelers Trade Ingram To Chiefs]
The Steelers are mainly focused on finding defensive line help, Kinkhabwala hears. Ingram could have been useful at defensive end, but the Steelers couldn’t carve out enough playing time to satisfy the veteran. In any event, they could use some additional DL support while Stephon Tuitt continues to rehab from his knee injury. The Steelers are also without defensive tackle Carlos Davis, who was parked on injured reserve last week.
Ingram’s departure also leaves the Steelers with a need at OLB. As it stands, starters T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith have only one true backstop in former Broncos seventh-rounder Derrek Tuszka. Then again, newly promoted edge rusher Taco Charlton could help on that front.
The Steelers may have missed out on Whitney Mercilus earlier this month, but they could be hours away from bolstering their front seven. As of this writing, Kevin Colbert & Co. have less than four hours to get a deal done.