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NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/31/23

October 31st, 2023 at 9:15pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are Tuesday’s practice squad transactions in the NFL:

Arizona Cardinals

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

New York Giants

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Bears Grant CB Jaylon Johnson Permission To Seek Trade

October 31st, 2023 at 8:13am CST by Sam Robinson

The extension conversations between Jaylon Johnson and the Bears have transpired over the past week, but they have not produced sufficient progress. As a result, Johnson will be a name to monitor on deadline day.

Johnson requested permission to find a trade partner, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler, and the Bears granted it. The contract-year cornerback’s camp is now on the hunt for a new team. While Fowler adds the Eagles, Steelers and 49ers are believed to be teams in on veteran corners, it is unclear as of now if Johnson will follow Roquan Smith out the door after contract talks broke down.

A Bears second-round pick who has been a starter throughout his career, Johnson arrived in Chicago before the Ryan Poles–Matt Eberflus tandem. The Ryan Pace-era pickup expressed a desire for a Bears extension back in June, and the talks began recently. But they have not satisfied the Utah alum. Poles has called Johnson a building-block player, but his price has gone up this season.

The Bears have until 3pm CT today to unload Johnson, though it is unlikely they will take whatever they can get. Johnson leaving in free agency would produce a compensatory pick, provided the Bears’ 2024 addition/subtraction balance sheet adds up, so that will need to be weighed against any offers that come in today.

Earlier this month, the Bears were not looking to move Johnson. The 6-foot cover man has started all 45 games he has played for the team. He has taken a contract-year step forward, per Pro Football Focus, which rates the 24-year-old defender third among corners this season. The advanced metrics site had never previously slotted Johnson higher than 50th. Johnson’s completion percentage-allowed (50%) and passer rating-against (44.3) figures have also spiked this season. While this points to Johnson upping his value ahead of either an extension or a free agency push, the Bears could also be leery of overpaying for a platform-year fluke.

That said, Chicago has not been hesitant to trade past-regime acquisitions for draft capital. This front office unloaded Smith and Robert Quinn at last year’s deadline, doing so after sending Khalil Mack to the Chargers. Johnson is unlikely to fetch the second- and fifth-round package Smith did or the second-/sixth-round haul Mack required. But teams will undoubtedly express interest, with the Bills also believed to be looking around at corner. It will be interesting to see if the rebuilding Bears can find a suitable trade. The team has two Poles-era investments at corner — Tyrique Stevenson and Kyler Gordon — each signed through the 2025 season.

Latest On Steelers QB Kenny Pickett

October 30th, 2023 at 10:17pm CST by Ben Levine

Kenny Pickett exited yesterday’s loss to the Jaguars after suffering a rib injury. The Steelers quarterback didn’t return to the contest, and while he managed to avoid a serious injury, there’s uncertainty surrounding his status for Week 9.

With the Steelers facing a short week ahead of Thursday Night Football, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport says there isn’t a lot of optimism surrounding Pickett’s availability for that game. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin seems to be keeping the door open, however, saying his starting QB’s status will truly be a game-time decision.

“I think the door is definitively ajar for Kenny,” Tomlin said (via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor). “Probably a game-time-type decision based on the information that I’m holding here today, with no structural damage and so forth to his ribs.

“And so, we see how we’ll go through the week, his ability to throw his level of comfort, his ability of effectiveness, et cetera, and let that be our guide in terms of determining his availability.”

Tomlin also said the team will have a “functional” practice on Wednesday. That session will play a key role in determining whether Pickett will be under center the following night.

If Pickett can’t play against the Titans, the Steelers will turn to backup Mitchell Trubisky. The veteran has seen time in two games this Sunday, including this past weekend. In total, Trubisky has completed 18 of his 32 pass attempts for 156 yards, one touchdown, and a pair of interceptions. The former second-overall pick got five starts for the Steelers in 2022, with Pittsburgh going 2-3 in those contests.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/30/23

October 30th, 2023 at 6:16pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad transactions:

Atlanta Falcons

  • Signed: LB Donavan Mutin
  • Released: P Pat O’Donnell

Chicago Bears

Indianapolis Colts

Miami Dolphins

New York Giants

  • Signed: CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver

Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks

  • Signed: C Joey Hunt
  • Released: OL Greg Eiland

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • Signed: CB Derrek Pitts
  • Released: LB Brandon Bouyer-Randle

Mykal Walker has found a new home after getting cut by the Raiders last week. The former fourth-round pick spent the first three seasons of his career with the Falcons, including a 2022 campaign where he collected a career-high 107 tackles in 16 games (12 starts). However, since that breakout season, the linebacker has struggled to hold a job. He was waived by Atlanta back in August and was claimed by the Bears, but Chicago ended up cutting him at the end of the preseason. Walker later joined the Raiders practice squad and spent about a month in Las Vegas.

QB Notes: Taylor, Cardinals, Bucs, Ridder

October 29th, 2023 at 8:12pm CST by Sam Robinson

Tyrod Taylor left Sunday’s game with a rib injury and needed to be hospitalized. The Giants announced they are keeping their backup-turned-starter in the hospital overnight for observation on his ribcage ailment. Taylor has a history of rib trouble, of course, as just more than three years have passed since the rib injection that ended his brief run as the Chargers’ starter. The pregame shot before Week 2 of the 2020 season resulted in a punctured lung. During Taylor’s one-season stint as the Texans’ starter, he missed a third of the season due to a hamstring malady. The journeyman came back as a backup, with Houston giving Davis Mills a shot to close that season.

Taylor almost certainly will be welcomed back as the Giants’ starter when he is ready, as the team pivoted to nearly run-only blueprint with practice squad elevation Tommy DeVito under center. Daniel Jones is not expected to be back until Week 10, as he continues to battle a neck injury. The latest coming out of that situation points to the well-paid starter dealing with a disk issue and weakness in his nonthrowing shoulder.

Here is the latest from the QB ranks:

  • The Cardinals have joined the Giants in playing a backup this season, and while they have pronounced Kyler Murray fully healthy after his December 2022 ACL tear, the team will once again hold out the Pro Bowler. Jonathan Gannon announced postgame Joshua Dobbs will start in Week 9. Murray remains on Arizona’s reserve/PUP list, having been designated for return on Oct. 18. The Cardinals do not have to activate him until Nov. 8, giving them one more game to keep Murray off the roster. Early reports indicated an early-season return would be in play for Murray, and Michael Bidwill doubled down on that in April. But the organization has proceeded cautiously with the former No. 1 pick, who has also needed to learn a new offense. It will be interesting to see if the sinking Cardinals redeploy Murray as their starter immediately upon activating him.
  • Baker Mayfield did not escape Thursday’s loss in Buffalo unscathed, with ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler noting the free agent pickup is dealing with a knee contusion. Mayfield is planning to play through this injury, but it has caused him discomfort. The Buccaneers QB’s MRI did not reveal any structural damage, however.
  • While Kenny Pickett was initially expected to return to Sunday’s Steelers-Jaguars matchup following his rib injury, via ESPN.com’s Brooke Pryor, the Steelers ruled out their starter and kept Mitch Trubisky in the game. Pickett left the game before the half but was warming up to come back; instead, the team shut him down. Benched early during his first Steelers season, Trubisky became needed on multiple occasions due to Pickett’s two-concussion rookie year. It is not yet known how much time (if any) the 2022 first-rounder will miss as a result of his latest injury.
  • Desmond Ridder‘s midgame exit did not stem from performance issues, Arthur Smith said (via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). Ridder was evaluated for a concussion, but while he was cleared of a head injury, Smith said he “didn’t think Des was right” following the exit. The Falcons kept Taylor Heinicke in the game as a result. Heinicke logged one of the most active QB2 seasons in NFL history two years ago, replacing Ryan Fitzpatrick in Week 1 and keeping the Washington reins the rest of the way. The Falcons gave the multiyear Washington starter a two-year, $14MM deal this offseason. Ridder has delivered an uneven season thus far, but the Falcons passed on chances to acquire a starter-caliber QB in order to keep him in place. With the team proclaiming Ridder the starter in March, it does not appear he is in danger of being pulled.

2023 NFL Cap Space, By Team

October 28th, 2023 at 8:42pm CST by Adam La Rose

The countdown to this year’s October 31 trade deadline continues, and a number of deals have already been made. More will follow in the coming days, though, as contending teams look to bolster their rosters for the stretch run and sellers seek to offload expiring contracts and gain future draft assets. Much will be driven, of course, by each squad’s financial situation.

Courtesy of Over the Cap, here’s a breakdown of every team’s cap space in advance of the deadline:

  1. San Francisco 49ers: $39.89MM
  2. Cleveland Browns: $33.99MM
  3. Arizona Cardinals: $11.1MM
  4. Cincinnati Bengals: $10.78MM
  5. Tennessee Titans: $10.55MM
  6. Las Vegas Raiders: $9.16MM
  7. Chicago Bears: $9.06MM
  8. Los Angeles Chargers: $9.05MM
  9. Indianapolis Colts: $8.78MM
  10. Minnesota Vikings: $7.96MM
  11. Green Bay Packers: $7.55MM
  12. New York Jets: $7.17MM
  13. Seattle Seahawks: $7.16MM
  14. Carolina Panthers: $7.07MM
  15. Dallas Cowboys: $7.03MM
  16. Baltimore Ravens: $6.83MM
  17. Atlanta Falcons: $6.76MM
  18. Detroit Lions: $6.62MM
  19. Jacksonville Jaguars: $6.42MM
  20. New Orleans Saints: $4.67MM
  21. Buffalo Bills: $4.58MM
  22. Los Angeles Rams: $4.37MM
  23. Houston Texans: $4.26MM
  24. Washington Commanders: $3.78MM
  25. Kansas City Chiefs: $3.7MM
  26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $3.63MM
  27. Miami Dolphins: $3.49MM
  28. New England Patriots: $2.87MM
  29. Philadelphia Eagles: $2.81MM
  30. Pittsburgh Steelers: $2.55MM
  31. Denver Broncos: $1.22MM
  32. New York Giants: $991K

The 49ers have carried considerable space throughout the season, but general manager John Lynch made it clear last month the team’s intention was to roll over most of their funds into next season. Still, with San Francisco sitting at 5-2 on the year, it would come as little surprise if at least one more depth addition (separate from the Randy Gregory move) were to be made in the near future.

Deals involving pick swaps for role players dominated the trade landscape for some time, but more noteworthy contributors have been connected to a potential swap recently. One of them – Titans safety Kevin Byard – has already been dealt. That has led to speculation Tennessee is open to dealing other big names as they look to 2024. Derrick Henry’s name has come up multiple times with respect to a deal sending him out of Nashville, but that now seems unlikely.

Several edge rushers are on the market, including Danielle Hunter (Vikings) and one or both of Montez Sweat and Chase Young (Commanders). Hunter nearly found himself with the Jaguars this offseason, and last year’s AFC South winners could be on the lookout for a pass rush boost. A mid-level addition in that regard would come as little surprise. In Minnesota and Washington’s case, however, it remains to be seen if they will be true sellers given their 3-4 records heading into tomorrow’s action.

A number of receivers could also be on the move soon. Both the Broncos’ pair of Jerry Jeudy and Courtland Sutton and the Panthers’ Terrace Marshall have been involved heavily in trade talk. Jeudy and Sutton are on the books at an eight figure price tag next season, and the Broncos are unlikely to receive the draft capital they could have at prior points in their Denver tenures. Marshall, by contrast, is in the third season of his four-year rookie contract and could fit more comfortably into an acquiring team’s cap situation. The Panthers have allowed him to seek out a trade partner.

The Cowboys sit in the top half of the league in terms of spending power, but mixed signals initially came out with respect to their interest in making a splash. Owner Jerry Jones has insisted Dallas will not initiate negotiations on a trade, citing his confidence in a 4-2 roster which has been hit by a few notable injuries on defense in particular. Despite having more cap space than most other teams, the Bengals are likewise expected to be quiet on the trade front.  

The past few years have seen a notable uptick in trade activity around the league, and it would come as a surprise if that trend did not continue over the next few days. Last-minute restructures and cost-shedding moves would help the teams in need of flexibility pull off moves, though sellers will no doubt also be asked to retain salary if some of the higher-paid veterans on the trade block end up being dealt. Given the spending power of teams at the top of the list, there is plenty of potential for the league’s landscape to change ahead of the stretch run to the playoffs.

Steelers Designate Cam Heyward For Return

October 26th, 2023 at 12:40pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Steelers’ defense is set to receive a major boost in the near future. Defensive lineman Cam Heyward returned to practice on Thursday.

As a result, his 21-day activation window has now been opened. The Steelers must activate him from injured reserve within that timeframe to avoid having him revert to season-ending IR. While today’s news means Heyward could be back in the lineup as early as Week 8, the team’s Thursday night game following that (Nov. 2) is likely the earliest point at which he will suit up, per Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Heyward suffered a groin injury in the regular season opener, and it was immediately understood he would be shut down for an extended stretch as a result. Surgery was needed, and an eight-week recovery timetable was in place at the time of the procedure. Bringing the three-time All-Pro back into the fold in time for the next game or so would fall in line with timeframe. Whenever it takes place, his return will be welcomed by the Steelers’ defense.

Pittsburgh’s underwhelming offense has understandably drawn signficant criticism this season, but the team’s defense has signficant room for improvement as well. The latter unit sits 30th in the NFL in yards allowed per game, and it is surrendering more than 142 yards per contest on the ground. Heyward should especially help in that category, though his double-digit sacks in each of the past two seasons prove he will make a major impact in the pass-rush department as well.

Heyward, 34, has been a mainstay of the Steelers’ defense throughout his 13-year career with the team. He has earned a Pro Bowl nod in each of the past six seasons, proving he remains one of the team’s most important contributors on either side of the ball. With one more year on his current deal after this one (with a non-guaranteed salary and a cap hit of $22.4MM), there will also be financial implications to Heyward returning to full health and continuing his elite form.

The Steelers have seven IR activations remaining, and bringing the Ohio State alum back will use up one of them. The same is true of running back Anthony McFarland, whose practice window was opened last week, as well as tight end Pat Freiermuth, who was placed on IR ahead of Week 7.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/24/23

October 24th, 2023 at 7:44pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Tuesday’s practice squad moves:

Arizona Cardinals

  • Released: CB Quavian White

Carolina Panthers

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

Steelers Activate WR Diontae Johnson, Place TE Pat Freiermuth On IR

October 21st, 2023 at 8:36am CST by Ben Levine

The Steelers will welcome back a key member of their offense, but they’re also set to lose their starting tight end for at least the next month. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the Steelers have activated wide receiver Diontae Johnson from injured reserve. To make room on the roster, the Steelers have placed tight end Pat Freiermuth on injured reserve.

Johnson suffered a hamstring injury during the season opener that ultimately required a stint on injured reserve. The receiver was designated to return to practice earlier this week, opening his 21-day window to be activated.

The former third-round pick has been a productive member of the Steelers offense through his first four seasons in the NFL. Johnson earned his first career Pro Bowl nod in 2021 after finishing with 107 catches for 1,161 yards and eight touchdowns. With Kenny Pickett taking over for Ben Roethlisberger in 2022, Johnson’s numbers took a bit of a step back, with the receiver finishing the campaign with 86 catches for 882 yards and no touchdowns.

George Pickens has picked up the slack through the first chunk of the season, hauling in 22 catches for 393 yards. Allen Robinson and Calvin Austin have combined for only 280 yards, so Johnson will surely provide a spark to Pittsburgh’s offense.

“I am very excited. It’s been a long process, fighting to get back. I am looking forward to showing them I am ready for Sunday,” Johnson said this week (via the team’s website).

Freiermuth suffered a hamstring injury in Week 4 that forced him to miss the following week’s game, but the tight end was expected to be good to go following the Week 6 bye. Freiermuth aggravated the hamstring injury during practice this week, and now he’ll miss at least the next four games while recovering from the injury.

The former second-round pick had a standout sophomore season in 2022, finishing with 63 catches for 732 yards. He’s struggled to put up similar production in 2023, even with Johnson out of the lineup. In four games, Freiermuth has hauled in only eight passes for 53 yards.

Rookie third-round pick Darnell Washington should jump to the top of the depth chart with Freiermuth out. The Steelers are also rostering Connor Heyward and Rodney Williams at the position, with Noah Gindorff currently sitting on the practice squad.

Steelers To Release WR Gunner Olszewski

October 20th, 2023 at 1:49pm CST by Sam Robinson

A Steeler since signing with the team in March 2022, Gunner Olszewski looks to be on his way out of Pittsburgh. The Steelers are releasing the veteran receiver and return specialist Friday, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets.

Olszewski saw more time as a return man with the Patriots, earning first-team All-Pro honors back in 2020. He has only served in that capacity on a part-time basis in Pittsburgh. Thus far this season, Olszewski has logged just three combined returns. This move could clear the way for Diontae Johnson to return. The fifth-year starter is expected to be activated from IR ahead of Week 7. As of Friday, the Steelers only have four receivers on their 53-man roster.

The fifth-year specialist has fumbled twice, however, despite only logging four touches in his two games. The Steelers will save nearly $1MM by making this move. Because the 27-year-old backup is a vested veteran, he will avoid the waiver wire. Had the Steelers hung onto Olszewski past the trade deadline, he would have needed to pass through waivers. This transaction also would allow Olszewski to immediately pass through to the Steelers’ practice squad, though it is unclear if the team wants to retain the veteran in any capacity.

After spending his entire rookie season on IR, Calvin Austin is in place as Pittsburgh’s punt returner. The Steelers used Desmond King as one of their kick returners this season, making this week rather key regarding Pittsburgh’s special teams. King received his walking papers earlier this week, having only played one defensive snap during his brief run with the AFC North franchise. Olszewski only totaled five offensive snaps and eight ST plays this season.

Last year, Olszewski was closer to a part-timer, He logged 216 offensive plays and 106 on special teams. While the Steelers only deployed Olszewski as a sporadic return man, he spent three years as the Patriots’ primary punt returner. The former UDFA’s 17.3-yard average led the NFL in 2020, producing the All-Pro nod.

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