NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/4/21
Today’s taxi squad moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: OL Jacob Capra, WR Austin Proehl
Chicago Bears
- Signed: LB Sam Kamara
- Released: WR Jon’Vea Johnson
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: FB Johnny Stanton
Detroit Lions
- Signed: OL Tommy Kraemer
- Released: DB Daryl Worley (story)
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: TE Nakia Griffin-Stewart
New York Giants
- Signed: S Steven Parker
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: T/G Brett Toth
- Released: CB Craig James
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: C Brad Lundblade
Lions Release CB Daryl Worley
Daryl Worley had a rough game on Sunday against the Rams, and the performance likely contributed to him losing his job today. The Lions have released the veteran cornerback, reports Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (via Twitter).
Worley got burned on a 59-yard pass from Matthew Stafford to Cooper Kupp at the end of the third quarter, and he gave up the subsequent touchdown (from Stafford to Kupp) that proved to be the game-winning score.
The 26-year-old joined Detroit’s practice squad back in September, and he ended up appearing in three games for the Lions, collecting two tackles. Worley saw time on 17 defensive snaps this past weekend. There’s still a chance the cornerback lands back on Detroit’s practice squad, but in that case, his performance on Sunday likely buried him deeper on the depth chart.
Worley has spent time with a number of teams since being selected in the third round of the 2016 draft. Since spending his first two seasons with the Panthers, the defensive back has had stints with the Eagles, Raiders, Cowboys, Bills, Raiders (again), Cardinals, and Lions. He started 15 games for the Raiders in 2019, and he started five of his 10 appearances in 2020 while playing for Dallas, Buffalo, and Las Vegas.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/22/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Dallas Cowboys
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Keanu Neal; as a high-risk close contact, per The Athletic’s Jon Machota (on Twitter), Neal can return after a five-day isolation period
Denver Broncos
- Signed: LB Micah Kiser (story)
- Promoted: RB Damarea Crockett
Detroit Lions
- Promoted: CB Daryl Worley (story)
- Placed on IR: Ifeatu Melifonwu (story)
Houston Texans
- Promoted: K Joey Slye
Las Vegas Raiders
- Released: LB Marquel Lee
Minnesota Vikings
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Harrison Hand
Tennessee Titans
- Promoted: DT Naquan Jones
Lions Place Ifeatu Melifonwu On IR
The Lions have placed cornerback Ifeatu Melifonwu on the injured reserve list (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). To take his place, they’ve promoted fellow corner Daryl Worley from the practice squad to the active roster. 
Melifonwu will need at least a few weeks to recover from the thigh injury he suffered on Monday night. Lions head coach Dan Campbell isn’t exactly sure when he’ll return, but he did tell reporters that the rookie will be out for a “significant amount of time.” It’s a bad blow for Detroit — the third-rounder out of Syracuse was enjoying a strong start to his pro career. He notched a fumble recovery in his Week 1 debut and earned a start in Week 2 against the Packers.
Of course, the Lions were already without Jeff Okudah, who has been ruled out for the season. Amani Oruwariye will remain the starter at one of the cornerback spots, likely with help from former undrafted safety Bobby Price.
Worley should factor into the banged-up secondary as well, especially since he has 54 career starts to his credit. Still only 26, Worley’s resume includes five interceptions and 37 passes defensed.
Ravens CB Chris Westry Suffers Torn Meniscus
The injuries keep coming for the Ravens. Cornerback Chris Westry is expected to miss at least a month after suffering a torn lateral meniscus, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (and passed along by ESPN’s Jamison Hensley).
Westry, a former undrafted free agent, ended up playing the third-most snaps among Ravens cornerbacks on Sunday, collecting three tackles. The team was already relying on the bottom of their depth chart after losing cornerback Marcus Peters to a season-ending injury, and Westry’s latest injury is only going to make matters worse.
Thanks to their depleted cornerbacks depth, the team is naturally looking for reinforcement at the position. Earlier this week, Hensley tweets that the Ravens worked out four cornerbacks, including Buster Skrine, Daryl Worley, Winston Rose, and Grant Haley. That’s a mix of experience and youth, and the team will presumably add one cornerback to their active roster sooner than later (the organization already added Kevon Seymour to their practice squad).
While this latest injury is certainly frustrating, Ravens fans have probably come to expect it by now. Per Hensley, the Ravens have already placed 15 players on IR this year, including nine players over the past 24 days.
Cardinals Reduce Roster To 53
The Cardinals have reduced their roster to 53 players after making the following moves today:
Released
- S Chris Banjo
- OL Sean Harlow
- DE Margus Hunt
- DL Josh Mauro
- TE Ross Travis
- LB Reggie Walker
- S Shawn Williams
- CB Daryl Worley
Waived
- WR Andre Baccellia
- WR Greg Dortch
- LB Kylie Fitts
- OL Koda Martin
- TE Bernhard Seikovits
- CB Jace Whittaker
- S James Wiggins
Waived/Injured
- OL Marcus Henry
Cardinals To Sign Daryl Worley
On the eve of training camp, the Cardinals are adding some depth to their secondary. Arizona is expected to sign free agent cornerback Daryl Worley, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweets.
Worley worked out for the team on Monday, and they apparently liked what they saw. Worley bounced around a bit last season, and started his career as a third-round pick of the Panthers back in 2016. He started 11 games as a rookie in Carolina, and then 14 the following year. Traded to the Eagles the next offseason in exchange for Torrey Smith, he was then released by Philly after getting arrested.
He quickly signed with the Raiders, and after serving a four-game suspension became a starter for them. Worley started 15 games for the Raiders in 2019, which earned him a $3MM contract from the Cowboys last offseason. He appeared in seven games with Dallas and started four, but was cut in October along with a couple other members of their struggling defense.
He then had short stints with the Bills and Raiders again to close the season. Although he seemingly has a fair amount of tread on his tires, the West Virginia product only turned 26 earlier this year.
It can never hurt to have too much experience, and Worley has 54 NFL starts under his belt. The Cardinals’ cornerbacks room received a big makeover this offseason, as the team let Patrick Peterson walk while adding Malcolm Butler and Darqueze Dennard.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/30/20
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Baltimore Ravens
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: K Sam Koch
Cleveland Browns
- Activated from IR: S Ronnie Harrison
Indianapolis Colts
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: T Braden Smith
Las Vegas Raiders
- Placed on IR: DE Clelin Ferrell
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Daryl Worley
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: RB Jalen Richard
Los Angeles Chargers
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: C Ryan Groy; Groy remains on IR
Los Angeles Rams
- Activated from IR: LB Micah Kiser
Miami Dolphins
- Promoted: WR Isaiah Ford
Minnesota Vikings
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: T Riley Reiff
New England Patriots
- Waived: TE Jordan Thomas
New Orleans Saints
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson
New York Jets
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: RB La’Mical Perine; Perine tested positive for the coronavirus
- Placed on IR: OL Josh Andrews
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: K Tristan Vizcaino
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: KR Jaydon Mickens
- Placed on IR: RB Kenjon Barner
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/18/20
Here are today’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Promoted: C Jonotthan Harrison
Denver Broncos
- Promoted: K Taylor Russolino, LB Josh Watson
Las Vegas Raiders
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Daryl Worley
Los Angeles Rams
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: OL Bobby Evans, S Nick Scott
Miami Dolphins
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Jamal Perry
Philadelphia Eagles
- Placed on IR: RT Jack Driscoll, CB Avonte Maddox
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted: K Greg Joseph, OL Ted Larsen
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/8/20
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Activated from reserve/COVID list: WR Larry Fitzgerald
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated off IR: CB Anthony Averett
Cleveland Browns
- Placed on reserve/COVID list: OL Wyatt Teller
- Activated from reserve/COVID list: DE Porter Gustin
- Placed on IR: WR Taywan Taylor
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Claimed off waivers from Raiders: DT Daniel Ross
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed off Bills’ practice squad: CB Daryl Worley
Washington Football Team
- Signed to active roster off practice squad: TE Marcus Baugh