HEADLINES

Anthony Averett

Raiders Activate CB Anthony Averett, Waive WR Albert Wilson

October 22nd, 2022 at 7:53pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Raiders’ underwhelming pass defense has received a boost. Per a team announcement, cornerback Anthony Averett has been activated from IR.

[RELATED: Raiders Place Nate Hobbs On IR]

It was unknown during the week if Averett would be able to return in time for Vegas’ Week 7 contest, as he was designated to return just three days ago. The 27-year-old suffered a broken thumb in the season opener, essentially delaying his debut with the team for one month.

A fourth-round pick of the Ravens in 2018, Averett took on a larger workload with each passing season in Baltimore. His first year as a full-time starter was 2022, as he filled in for the injured Marcus Peters. Logging 808 snaps – by far a career-high – the Alabama alum notched 54 tackles, three interceptions and 11 passes defensed. That earned him a one-year, $4MM contract in free agency.

Especially with fellow corner Nate Hobbs being sidelined for at least one month, Averett will immediately step into a large role in the Raiders’ secondary. He is likely to start opposite Rock Ya-Sin, another notable addition from the offseason, one in which the team made several moves at the position. A continuation of his 2022 form from Averett would be a welcomed sight, as Vegas currently ranks 23rd in passing yards allowed per game (256).

Albert Wilson, meanwhile, has been waived; he signed earlier this month, but initially joined the practice squad in doing so and had yet to make an appearance for the Raiders. The veteran suffered the same fate in the offseason with the Vikings, so he will now look to find a third home in 2022 following his three-year Dolphins stint. The team also confirmed on Saturday that undrafted wideout DJ Turner has been activated from IR; he played exclusively on special teams in his debut during Week 1 and will once again add depth to the Raiders’ WR corps.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/19/22

October 19th, 2022 at 5:59pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Cincinnati Bengals

Las Vegas Raiders

Minnesota Vikings

  • Signed off Chiefs practice squad: OLB Benton Whitley

New England Patriots

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Raiders Place CB Anthony Averett On IR, Claim CB Javelin Guidry

September 12th, 2022 at 5:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

Javelin Guidry has now ventured to both teams involved in last month’s Trayvon Mullen trade. The Cardinals claimed the young cornerback off waivers from the Jets after roster-cutdown day but waived him ahead of their Week 1 game. Guidry has since found a third 2022 employer.

The Raiders claimed Guidry off waivers Monday, but the addition comes after the team lost one of its starters to injury. Las Vegas placed cornerback Anthony Averett on IR. This transaction knocks Averett out for at least four games.

Averett suffered a broken right thumb against the Chargers, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The IR timetable lines up with Averett’s expected recovery timeline, with the former Ravens defender expected to be ready to return in around a month.

The Raiders have been impressed with Averett, to the point they felt comfortable unloading Mullen — a former second-round pick and three-season starter for the team — before setting their roster. The Raiders were planning to waive Mullen had the Cardinals not stepped in with a trade proposal. Averett entered the season alongside Rock Ya-Sin and Nate Hobbs as the Raiders’ top corners. The Raiders have Amik Robertson as a backup option, but the team is expected to add veteran slot defender Nickell Robey-Coleman on Monday as well. The Robey-Coleman signing, however, Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal tweets.

A 14-game Ravens starter last season — one that saw Baltimore go the full campaign without Marcus Peters — Averett signed a one-year deal worth $4MM in March. The Raiders are guaranteeing the former fourth-round Ravens draftee $3.34MM. He played 34 defensive snaps Sunday, prior to going down with the thumb ailment.

This Raiders move denied the Cardinals a chance to pass Guidry through to their practice squad. A former sprinter who finished sixth in the 60-meter dash at the 2019 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships, Guidry spent two seasons with the Jets. Guidry played 486 defensive snaps last season, spending time both outside and in the slot with the Jets. A Utah alum, Guidry is credited with forcing an four fumbles as a rookie in 2020.

AFC West Notes: Reed, Raiders, Chargers

June 24th, 2022 at 5:24pm CST by Sam Robinson

With Bradley Chubb and Von Miller suffering injuries at various points from 2019-21, the Broncos could rarely deploy their ideal edge-rushing combination. That led to extensive Malik Reed work. The 2019 UDFA has made 34 starts over the past three seasons and racked up 13 sacks over the past two. However, the Broncos have since signed Randy Gregory, drafted Nik Bonitto in Round 2 and moved 2021 inside linebacker starter Baron Browning to the edge. This creates a crowded depth chart, which features Chubb in his fifth-year option season. Reed is also going into a contract year, and ESPN.com’s Jeff Legwold’s 53-man roster prediction leaves the Nevada product off the team. Reed’s status could depend on Gregory’s recovery from offseason shoulder surgery, per Legwold, with the Broncos potentially going with a special-teamer over Reed if Gregory is healthy. If the Broncos determine Reed is not on track to make their team, he would be a logical trade candidate. Reed is attached to a $2.43MM salary.

Here is the latest from the AFC West:

  • The Raiders were active at defensive tackle this offseason. They re-signed Johnathan Hankins and brought in free agents Vernon Butler, Andrew Billings, Tyler Lancaster, Kyle Peko and Bilal Nichols. The team also used fourth- and fifth-round picks (Neil Farrell Jr. and Matthew Butler) on interior D-linemen. Of this group, Nichols projects as a starter, The Athletic’s Vic Tafur and Tashan Reed note (subscription required). Hankins, who has been a Raiders first-stringer for the past four seasons, should be ticketed to keep his starter gig under new DC Patrick Graham. Among the host of veterans brought in as free agents, Nichols’ contract (two years, $11MM) would point to him having the clearest starter path. The Raiders have been linked to Ndamukong Suh, but they might not be especially interested in signing him right now.
  • Despite the Raiders changing defensive schemes and letting Casey Hayward defect to the Falcons in free agency, they are unlikely to tinker with Nate Hobbs‘ job. The second-year cornerback practiced exclusively in the slot during Las Vegas’ offseason program and will still expected to be the team’s slot defender, per Tafur and Reed. Coming into the league as a fifth-round pick, Hobbs graded as a top-10 corner as a rookie, per Pro Football Focus. Trade acquisition Rock Ya-Sin and free agent signing Anthony Averett worked as Vegas’ slot corners this summer, with starter Trayvon Mullen on the mend after a May foot surgery. Mullen missed 12 games last season, with foot trouble at the root of the absence. The recent surgery makes Mullen’s status something to monitor during camp.
  • The Chargers have taken an aggressive approach to filling offensive line needs over the past two offseasons. They gave Corey Linsley a then-record center contract and also signed guard Matt Feiler. Those moves came before the Bolts drafted Rashawn Slater in Round 1. They selected Zion Johnson in this year’s first round, and he is expected to start at right guard. That leaves right tackle vacant, with 2020’s Bryan Bulaga signing not panning out. The Bolts used Storm Norton as their primary 2021 starter, but Trey Pipkins started a game apiece at left and right tackle — due to the starters’ COVID-19 contractions — last year. Those two starts elevated the former third-round pick’s status in the Chargers building, Daniel Popper of The Athletic notes. Pipkins’ progress will be put to the test when he battles Norton for the right tackle gig in camp.

Raiders To Sign CB Anthony Averett

March 16th, 2022 at 7:25pm CST by Sam Robinson

Not long after trading for Rock Ya-Sin, the Raiders have another new cornerback en route. They reached an agreement to add ex-Raven Anthony Averett, Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com tweets.

Averett started a career-high 14 games for the Ravens last season, doing so in a year in which the team lost starters Marcus Peters and Marlon Humphrey. A former fourth-round pick, Averett boosted his value despite the Ravens’ collective step back.

The Alabama alum played 90% of Baltimore’s defensive snaps, allowing a 55% completion rate and 77.5 passer rating when targeted. Averett notched three interceptions and 11 passes defensed. Prior to 2021, Averett had started seven career games. The 6-foot cover man’s usage rate has steadily increased in each season, and he will have a chance to compete for regular work in Las Vegas.

Ya-Sin and Averett join a Vegas secondary in transition on the outside at corner. The team cut bait on 2020 first-rounder Damon Arnette and has standout Casey Hayward unsigned. Trayvon Mullen is going into a contract year. With new decision-makers taking over, the Raiders may not be done making changes at this spot.

Ravens CB Anthony Averett Suffered Fractured Rib

December 27th, 2021 at 6:13pm CST by Ben Levine

The Ravens could be without one of their top defensive backs on Sunday against the Rams. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that cornerback Anthony Averett suffered a fractured rib yesterday and is unlikely to play this weekend.

The former fourth-round pick has stepped up for Baltimore this season, starting all 14 of his appearances. The 27-year-old has set career-highs across the board, collecting 54 tackles, 11 passes defended, and three interceptions. Before being limited to only 11 snaps this weekend, Averett had appeared in at least 89 percent of his team’s defensive snaps in his first 13 appearances of the season.

The Ravens were already dealing with a long list of absences at the cornerback position before Averett went down with an injury. Marcus Peters and Marlon Humphrey are both out for the season, while Jimmy Smith and Chris Westry were on the reserve/COVID-19 list for yesterday’s game. Thanks in part to the depleted depth chart, the Ravens secondary allowed Joe Burrow to set a Bengals record with 525 passing yards.

Daryl Worley, who joined the Ravens practice squad last week, was forced into the lineup once Averett went down. The veteran could end up seeing more playing time if his teammates are sidelined for this weekend’s game.

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson Out For Week 11

November 21st, 2021 at 10:44am CST by Rory Parks

The Ravens’ brutal 2021 season continues. Baltimore’s injured reserve list includes a number of top-flight starters, and the club has dealt with plenty of other injuries besides those significant enough to warrant an IR designation. Now, the Ravens will be without starting QB Lamar Jackson for their matchup against the Bears this afternoon.

Jackson is dealing with a non-COVID illness, which Peter Schrager of the NFL Network reports is a “congestion of the lungs” (Twitter link). Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network says the exact virus has not been identified (it’s not the flu), but while the team’s medical staff tried to keep Jackson hydrated enough to play, he is simply not healthy enough to do so (Twitter links).

Adam Schefter of ESPN.com adds (via Twitter) that this virus went through the organization last week, and other players like WR Rashod Bateman and C Bradley Bozeman were also affected. Only Jackson, however, is missing today’s game as a result of the illness.

But the Ravens are dealing with other injuries that will further undermine their chances to win today’s game. Top receiver Marquise Brown is out with a thigh injury, NT Brandon Williams is out with his lingering shoulder ailment, and Baltimore is down to three healthy corners, as CBs Anthony Averett and Jimmy Smith are also inactive.

Backup QB Tyler Huntley will get his first career start in Jackson’s absence. Huntley, a 2020 UDFA, has a strong arm and offers a fair amount of running ability, so his game mimics that of Jackson. But the Ravens will obviously miss their 2019 MVP in a big way.

Despite all of their injuries (and illnesses), the team has managed a 6-3 record, largely as a result of Jackson’s heroics. A surprising Week 10 loss to the Dolphins, though, may prove damaging down the line, especially with a difficult end-of-season schedule that features five divisional games plus contests against the Packers and Rams. Now, Huntley will be called upon to keep his team atop the AFC North before that challenging stretch gets underway.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/8/20

December 8th, 2020 at 3:52pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Cleveland Browns

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

Washington Football Team

  • Signed to active roster off practice squad: TE Marcus Baugh

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/4/20

December 4th, 2020 at 5:45pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Friday’s minor moves:

Baltimore Ravens

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/22/20

October 22nd, 2020 at 6:45pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Thursday’s minor moves:

Baltimore Ravens

Dallas Cowboys

Washington Football Team

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