NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/11/24
Here are today’s NFL practice squad updates:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: S Russ Yeast
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: CB Lamar Jackson
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: RB Gary Brightwell
Houston Texans
- Signed: CB D’Angelo Ross
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: CB Nick McCloud
- Released: S Adrian Amos
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: TE N’Keal Harry
The Bengals signed Brightwell after hosting several veterans for workouts on Monday, per FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz. Leonard Fournette and Xavien Howard were among the players who auditioned in Cincinnati, but neither player left with a deal.
Texans Activate WR Nico Collins, DE Jerry Hughes From IR
NOVEMBER 10: Despite his activation from injured reserve, Collins is inactive for the Texans’ Sunday night matchup with the Lions. He is expected to play in Week 11, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC, but did not participate in practice enough this week.
NOVEMBER 9: In three of their last four games, the Texans have failed to pass for more than 176 yards. Those passing struggles can in part be attributed to injuries in the receiving corps and in part are the reason for two losses in those four games. Luckily for second-year quarterback C.J. Stroud, he’ll get one of his favorite targets back as the Texans activate wide receiver Nico Collins from injured reserve. 
After two solid years for a third-round pick to start his career, Collins broke out last season with a monster 1,297-yard, eight-touchdown season. Collins was on track to improve on those numbers this year, averaging a league-leading 113.4 yards per game through his first five games of the season before suffering a hamstring injury that landed him on IR. Fellow wide receiver Stefon Diggs followed soon after with a season-ending ACL tear, further hindering a potent Texans passing attack.
Collins is still listed as “questionable” on the injury report heading into tomorrow’s game, but if he’s able to return, he provides a huge upgrade to a receiving corps that currently consists of Tank Dell, Xavier Hutchinson, Robert Woods, and John Metchie. Houston has an impressive hold on the AFC South lead, but a struggling offense had the potential to turn the tables on the season. Gifting Collins back to Stroud might be just what the Texans need to right the ship.
Joining Collins off of IR will be veteran defensive end Jerry Hughes. Hughes was moved to IR over a month ago. After a five-game absence, the 36-year-old veteran will reprise his rotational role behind Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter along the edge.
The Texans needed to open up a roster spot for the two activations today. To clear space, cornerback D’Angelo Ross was waived from the 53-man roster. Starting the season on the practice squad, Ross was signed to the active roster shortly into the regular season. He’s made two starts in eight game appearances.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/14/24
Saturday’s minor transactions and gameday practice squad callups:
Arizona Cardinals
- Elevated: T Jackson Barton
Baltimore Ravens
- Elevated: CB Ka’dar Hollman, RB John Kelly
Carolina Panthers
- Elevated: TE Feleipe Franks
Dallas Cowboys
- Elevated: TE Princeton Fant, LB Nick Vigil
Denver Broncos
- Elevated: RB Tyler Badie, WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey
Detroit Lions
- Elevated: WR Tom Kennedy, WR Tim Patrick
Green Bay Packers
- Elevated: QB Sean Clifford
Houston Texans
- Elevated: CB D’Angelo Ross
Indianapolis Colts
- Elevated: DE Genard Avery, S Ronnie Harrison
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Elevated: CB Christian Braswell
Las Vegas Raiders
- Elevated: OLB K’Lavon Chaisson, CB Sam Webb
Los Angeles Chargers
- Elevated: S Tony Jefferson, LB Shaquille Quarterman
Minnesota Vikings
- Elevated: RB Myles Gaskin, DL Jonah Williams
New Orleans Saints
- Elevated: S Ugo Amadi, LB Isaiah Stalbird
New York Giants
- Elevated: LB Tomon Fox, LB Ty Summers
- Placed on IR: WR Gunner Olszewski
New York Jets
- Elevated: DE Jalyn Holmes
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: S Tracy Walker
- Placed on IR: RB Christian McCaffrey (story)
Seattle Seahawks
- Elevated: T McClendon Curtis, RB George Holani
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Elevated: DT C.J. Brewer, DL Mike Greene
Tennessee Titans
- Elevated: LB Luke Gifford
Washington Commanders
- Signed to active roster: LB Nick Bellore
- Elevated: CB Bobby Price, DE Carlos Watkins
Patrick was among the Broncos’ final roster cuts after a Saints trade was discussed. The 30-year-old missed the 2022 and ’23 campaigns due to ACL and Achilles tears, respectively. Patrick did not need to wait long to find a new opportunity, though, quickly landing a practice squad deal with the Lions. He is now positioned make his season debut tomorrow as a complementary option in Detroit’s passing attack.
Olszewski is dealing with a groin injury and he was known to be facing a long-term absence. Today’s move thus comes as no surprise, but it ensures at least a four-week absence. The former All-Pro scored a punt return touchdown with Pittsburgh early last season and added another during his 10-game Giants stretch to close out the year. The team will need to rely on other options in the return game for the time being.
Texans Place Case Keenum On Season-Ending IR, Reduce Roster To 53
Several vested veterans hit the chopping block in Houston. Here is how the defending NFC South champions reached 53 today:
Released:
- FB Nick Bawden
- FB Andrew Beck
- QB Tim Boyle
- WR Noah Brown (story)
- T Cameron Erving
- CB Mike Ford
- T Charlie Heck
- CB C.J. Henderson (story)
- DB Lonnie Johnson
- CB Desmond King (story)
- LB Jacob Phillips
- G Chris Reed
- CB D’Angelo Ross
- T David Sharpe
Waived:
- DT McTelvin Agim
- LB Tarique Barnes
- DE Solomon Byrd
- WR Quintez Cephus
- G Dieter Eiselen
- DE Malik Fisher
- DE Ali Gaye
- FB Troy Hairston
- DT Marcus Harris
- WR Johnny Johnson
- CB Troy Pride
- WR Ben Skowronek (story)
- RB J.J. Taylor
- LB Max Tooley
- T Kilian Zierer
Waived/injured:
Placed on season-ending IR:
- S Brandon Hill
- QB Case Keenum
Placed on IR/designated for return:
- LB Christian Harris
- DT Kurt Hinish
Placed on reserve/non-football illness list:
- DL Dylan Horton
Placed on reserve/suspended list:
- DL Denico Autry (story)
Keenum was headed into the second season of a two-year deal with his original NFL team, but a major injury will sidetrack the veteran arm. A foot injury will sideline the 36-year-old quarterback, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets. Keenum is expected to be down for three or four months, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini adds. Houston still has Davis Mills, who is in a contract year, as its top backup behind C.J. Stroud.
A calf injury will shut down Harris for the time being, Wilson adds. The Texans used both their allotted IR-return moves. The team used the 2022 third-round pick as a 12-game starter last season. Harris has played at least 71% of the Texans’ defensive snaps in both of his seasons, explaining his being prioritized via the NFL’s IR rule tweak. Despite being a 2022 UDFA, Hinish has been a key rotational player in Houston in each of his two pro seasons.
Horton is in remission from his bout with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The second-year player completed his final treatment this spring but did not practice with the team during training camp. The Texans’ run of WR cuts leaves 2022 second-rounder John Metchie, who missed his rookie season after a leukemia diagnosis, and Robert Woods on the roster behind starters Nico Collins, Tank Dell and Stefon Diggs. Cutting Jordan, a sixth-round pick from Louisville, leaves Dameon Pierce, Dare Ogunbowale and Cam Akers rostered behind Joe Mixon.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/17/24
Some roster movement today in minor transactions as several teams are starting to add players to early injured lists:
Chicago Bears
- Placed on active/NFI list: T Kiran Amegadjie
- Placed on active/PUP list: DT Jamree Kromah
Denver Broncos
- Placed on active/NFI list: RB Blake Watson
Green Bay Packers
- Placed on active/NFI list: S Kitan Oladapo
- Placed on active/PUP list: OL Donovan Jennings, TE Tucker Kraft, QB Alex McGough, T Zach Tom
Houston Texans
- Placed on active/NFI list: DE Dylan Horton
- Placed on active/PUP list: FB/TE Andrew Beck, LB Del’Shawn Phillips, CB D’Angelo Ross
- Waived (with injury designation): WR Jaxon Janke, DE Pheldarius Payne
- Waived (with non-football injury designation): G LaDarius Henderson
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: WR Kyle Sheets
- Placed on active/NFI list: DE BJ Thompson
- Placed on active/PUP list: DT Derrick Nnadi, DE Charles Omenihu, G Joe Thuney, CB Jaylen Watson
Los Angeles Chargers
- Placed on active/NFI list: LB Junior Colson
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: WR Marcus Simms
There was good news on the Horton front back in May as it was announced that the Texans defender had completed his final treatment for Hodgkin lymphoma. As a rookie out of TCU, Horton sat out the final seven games of the 2023 season on the non-football illness list. As he continues to work his way back to the field, it appears he’ll start the summer on the list, as well.
Thompson’s situation in Kansas City also received some good news of late. After suffering a seizure that caused him to go into cardiac arrest in early-June, the Chiefs defender continues to make progress towards a return. He’ll start the summer on the non-football injury list but will continue to work his way back as he continues with medical procedures, per Nate Taylor of The Athletic.
Minor NFL Transactions: 2/21/24
Today’s minor moves:
Houston Texans
- Re-signed: OL Dieter Eiselen, CB D’Angelo Ross
Minnesota Vikings
- Re-signed: S Theo Jackson
The Texans made sure to retain Ross, a special-teams gunner, and Eiselen, a special-teams blocker. In fact, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston passes along that Eiselen received a two-year deal from the Texans worth $2.095MM (including a $10K signing bonus).
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/3/23
Here are today’s minor transactions from around the league:
Carolina Panthers
- Placed on IR: LB Claudin Cherelus
Cincinnati Bengals
- Placed on IR: S Tycen Anderson
Houston Texans
- Signed to active roster: CB D’Angelo Ross
New England Patriots
- Placed on IR: OL Calvin Anderson
New York Giants
- Signed: WR Gunner Olszewski
Washington Commanders
- Signed to active roster: CB Tariq Castro-Fields, LB Jabril Cox
Anderson, a fifth-round draft pick last year for the Bengals, missed his entire rookie season on injured reserve. After contributing in seven games this year as a core special teamer, Anderson’s sophomore season will also be cut short with head coach Zac Taylor confirming that the young safety tore his ACL, per Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic. He played through the initial injury in last week’s win but will be unable to continue the rest of the year.
The Patriots’ Anderson, on the other hand, is a more intriguing situation. After he spent most of the preseason on the non-football illness list with an undisclosed illness, the team is placing Anderson on IR with an “illness” designation. It’s not clear at this time if this is a similar issue to what held him out of the preseason, but illness has surely dealt a significant blow to Anderson’s 2023 season so far.
The Giants got ahead of the waiver rules by releasing Olszewski in a procedural move on Monday before the trade deadline. This allowed them to plainly sign Olszewski back to the active roster on a new deal without him having to clear waivers. As predicted, he returns to the roster for Week 9.
Castro-Fields and Cox will fill the roster spots vacated by the Commanders’ big trades of defensive ends Chase Young to the 49ers and Montez Sweat to the Bears.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/28/23
Here are the gameday elevations and other minor moves made around the league in advance of Week 8:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed to active roster: WR Andre Baccellia
- Placed on IR: G Elijah Wilkinson
- Elevated: DL Ben Stille, RB Damien Williams,
Atlanta Falcons
- Elevated: LB Andre Smith
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from IR: WR Tylan Wallace
- Elevated: S DeAndre Houston-Carson, RB Owen Wright
Carolina Panthers
- Elevated: S Matthias Farley, OLB Eku Leota
Chicago Bears
- Activated from IR: DE Khalid Kareem
- Released: T Aviante Collins
Cleveland Browns
- Elevated: OT Ty Nsekhe, RB Jordan Wilkins
Dallas Cowboys
- Elevated: LB Rashaan Evans, TE Eric Saubert
Denver Broncos
- Elevated: WR Tre’Quan Smith
- Placed on IR: WR Brandon Johnson
Houston Texans
- Activated from IR: DT Hassan Ridgeway
- Released: LB Cory Littleton
- Elevated: CB D’Angelo Ross
Indianapolis Colts
- Elevated: DT McTelvin Agim, CB Chris Lammons
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Elevated: CB Tevaughn Campbell
Kansas City Chiefs
- Elevated: S Deon Bush
- Placed on IR: LB Nick Bolton (story)
Los Angeles Chargers
- Elevated: WR Alex Erickson
Los Angeles Rams
- Elevated: RB Darrell Henderson
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed to active roster: WR Trishton Jackson
- Elevated: LB Nick Vigil
New England Patriots
- Elevated: OL Conor McDermott
New York Giants
- Signed to active roster: WR Gunner Olszewski (story)
- Elevated: QB Tommy DeVito, OLB Oshane Ximines
New York Jets
- Elevated: WR Malik Taylor, OL Xavier Newman
Philadelphia Eagles
- Elevated: WR Julio Jones
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: CB Kendall Sheffield, WR Willie Snead
Seattle Seahawks
- Activated from suspension: WR Dee Eskridge
- Released: C Joey Hunt
- Elevated: OL Jason Peters
Tennessee Titans
- Signed to active roster: CB Eric Garror, DL Jaleel Johnson
- Waived: LB Chance Campbell, CB Shyheim Carter
- Elevated: LB Joe Jones, RB Jonathan Ward
Washington Commanders
- Signed to active roster: FB Alex Armah
- Elevated: CB Tariq Castro-Fields, LB Jabril Cox
Wilkinson’s loss will be notable for the Cardinals, given his status as an entrenched starter at the left guard spot. The 28-year-old joined Arizona on a one-year deal worth the veteran’s minimum in free agency after stints in Denver, Chicago and Atlanta. Trystan Colon replaced him in the starting lineup in Week 7, and that will likely continue for the time being. Wilkinson will be out for at least four weeks as a result of the IR move.
Ridgeway has been out since Week 1, his Texans debut. The former 49er joined the Texans in a move which allowed him to continue working under head coach DeMeco Ryans. Ridgeway ended last season on IR, so he will be looking for an extended run of availability in his new home. A veteran of 78 games (and 19 starts), he will aim to carve out a rotational role up front.
Peters was brought in by the Seahawks while they were dealing with injury problems at both tackle spots. Blindside blocker Charles Cross has since returned, so Peters’ most familiar spot will not be available if he is to make his Seattle debut on Sunday. The fact the latter is healthy and in game shape does mean, however, that he will be eligible to play in a 19th NFL season.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/23/23
Here are Monday’s minor moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: RB Deon Jackson
Houston Texans
- Waived: CB D’Angelo Ross
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Designated for return from IR: CB Gregory Junior
Minnesota Vikings
- Elevated: WR Trishton Jackson, OLB Luiji Vilain
New York Giants
- Signed off Panthers’ practice squad: RB Jashaun Corbin
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: WR Chris Conley, CB Shemar Jean-Charles
This marks a New York return for Corbin, who went to training camp with the Giants. A UDFA out of Florida State, Corbin signed a reserve/futures contract with the Giants in January but did not make their 53-man roster. The Panthers had kept Corbin on their practice squad since early September. Rather than promote Corbin to their 53-man roster to block this New York return, Carolina will let him join the Giants’ 53. Corbin joins Saquon Barkley, Gary Brightwell and fifth-round rookie Eric Gray as running backs on Big Blue’s 53-man roster. Both Brightwell (hamstring) and Gray (calf) suffered injuries in Week 7, creating a need at the position.
Texans Place S Eric Murray On IR
The Texans saw a hit to their depth in the secondary this past weekend when primary backup safety Eric Murray suffered a torn meniscus in the team’s win over the Saints. The severity of the injury was confirmed by MRI on Monday, leading to Houston’s decision today to put Murray on injured reserve after undergoing knee surgery, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. 
Murray took a backseat in Houston last year after nearly two years as the team’s starting free safety. With Jalen Pitre and Jonathan Owens starting in the defensive outfield, Murray found himself coming off the bench and playing special teams. The Texans have replaced Owens with Jimmie Ward this year, but Murray has been able to increase his role a bit due to injuries. With Ward missing the first two games of the year and Pitre missing two himself, Murray has logged four starts as the team’s first choice off the bench.
Unfortunately, now Houston will see injury force Murray’s absence. Knee surgery is enough to force a long-term absence, hence Murray’s placement on IR. Fortunately for both sides, though, the Texans aren’t yet calling the injury season-ending, holding out hope that Murray may be able to return late in the year.
In the meantime, Ward and Pitre will continue to start. If anything were to keep either of them off the field, the Texans would need M.J. Stewart to step up. The veteran out of North Carolina has 10 starts in his career, including one this season, when both Pitre and Ward were out. Houston also has versatile defensive back Grayland Arnold, who has filled in some at cornerback this season, as well, due to an injury to Tavierre Thomas.
To fill Murray’s roster spot, the Texans called up cornerback D’Angelo Ross from the practice squad. Ross has played in two games so far this year, solely appearing on special teams. Ross’s spot on the practice squad will be filled by cornerback Alex Austin, who was waived from the team’s active roster earlier this week to make room for wide receiver Noah Brown coming off IR.