Ihmir Smith-Marsette

WR Notes: Watson, Metchie, Chark, McLaurin, Smith-Njigba

Jordan Love‘s tenure as the Packers‘ full-time starting quarterback will have a bit of a hurdle to navigate this week. In his first start since November 2021, Love will be without the team’s top returning receiver Christian Watson, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN.

Watson is dealing with a hamstring injury that could potentially lead to an extended absence. Head coach Matt LaFleur claimed that he doesn’t think Watson will reach a three- or four-week absence but classified the second-year wideout as week-to-week.

The top target in Watson’s absence, fellow sophomore receiver Romeo Doubs, is also dealing with a hamstring injury but is only listed as questionable heading into the weekend. Rookie wideout Dontayvion Wicks is the third such receiver on the team dealing with a hamstring injury, but he managed to avoid the injury report altogether. Star tackle David Bakhtiari is also available after staying off the injury report.

Here are a few more reports on wide receiver injuries from around the league heading into Week 1:

  • The world will have to continue to wait for the NFL debut of Texans wide receiver John Metchie III, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. Despite making a recovery from both a torn ACL and leukemia, Metchie is still dealing with a nagging hamstring injury. Houston is being patient, taking a “big-picture approach” to Metchie’s return. The team will be without safety Jimmie Ward and linebacker Blake Cashman for Week 1, as well.
  • The Panthers are slowly working their way back to full health in their receiving corps, according to Panthers writer Augusta Stone. Back ups Terrace Marshall and Ihmir Smith-Marsette are now fully participating in practice after recent injury trouble. Starters Adam Thielen and D.J. Chark Jr. both returned to practice today in a limited capacity. While Thielen was listed as questionable and could still play, Chark has been ruled out for the team’s season opener.
  • The Commanders drew lots of criticism when leading receiver Terry McLaurin sustained an injury as the team played its starters fairly deep into a preseason game in an effort to end the Ravens’ preseason win streak. They’ll dodge a bullet, though, as McLaurin will be active this week after making good progress from his turf toe injury, according to Commanders senior writer Zach Selby. He’s had a couple of full participation practices and should be good to go for Week 1. Defensive end Chase Young has been listed as questionable, though. Head coach Ron Rivera claimed that “if (Young’s) cleared, he’ll go.”
  • Despite undergoing wrist surgery just two and a half weeks ago, Seahawks rookie first round pick Jaxon Smith-Njigba is expected to play in the team’s season opener against the Rams this Sunday, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Head coach Pete Carroll, who was optimistic on the recovery timeline, confirmed as much this week.

Chiefs To Trade WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette To Panthers

The Chiefs will end up collecting an asset for one of their wide receivers. The defending Super Bowl champions are sending Ihmir Smith-Marsette to the Panthers in a trade Tuesday morning, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

Carolina and Kansas City will swap conditional seventh-round picks in this low-level exchange. A third-year veteran, Smith-Marsette caught on with the Chiefs after the Bears cut him last year.

Smith-Marsette accumulated 195 yards during the preseason with the Chiefs. That total ranks second during this year’s August slate. The 24-year-old Iowa alum will have a chance to stick as a backup with a Panthers team that has overhauled its first-string receiving corps under Frank Reich.

A Smith-Marsette fumble impacted the Bears in a midseason loss to the Vikings last year, leading to an in-season departure. He ended up with the Chiefs on a practice squad deal. While Smith-Marsette played in two games with Kansas City last season, he did not catch a pass. He caught five for 116 yards as a rookie in Minnesota.

The Chiefs let JuJu Smith-Schuster and Mecole Hardman walk in free agency, injecting questions into their receiver situation. Kadarius Toney has not practiced since suffering an injury minutes into training camp. But the Chiefs have several young players set to form an intriguing mix around Travis Kelce and Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Second-rounders Skyy Moore and Rashee Rice join the likes of Justin Watson and Justyn Ross as pieces in Patrick Mahomes‘ sixth NFL offense.

The Panthers, meanwhile, have added Adam Thielen, DJ Chark and second-round pick Jonathan Mingo to their mix around No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young. Former second-round pick Terrace Marshall remains on Carolina’s roster as well, as does ex-Jaguars Round 2 choice Laviska Shenault. Smith-Marsette may have a hard time finding regular playing time, but Carolina will take a flier on the preseason standout.

NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 2/15/23

Here are Wednesday’s reserve/futures contracts:

Kansas City Chiefs

Philadelphia Eagles

The Chiefs will likely enter into extension talks with Creed Humphrey when the Pro Bowler becomes eligible in 2024, but they are also retaining their Super Bowl LIV and Super Bowl LV center starter. Reiter, 31, played for the Dolphins in 2021 but did not see any action for the Chiefs this season. The Chiefs cut Shelton after training camp but kept the veteran defensive tackle around on their practice squad. Shelton, 29, played in one game for the Super Bowl champions this season and will be set to collect a second Super Bowl ring; his first came in 2018 with the Patriots.

Allen, 28, put his track and field career on pause to attempt a football comeback, and the two-time Olympic 110-meter hurdle finalist resided on the Eagles’ practice squad all season. While the Paris Games are not until 2024, Allen ran 2022’s top 110 hurdle time (12.84 seconds) — which doubled as the third-fastest time in history — and will be on the radar to claim his first world championship in the event. This year’s World Track and Field Championships are slated for Aug. 19-27 in Budapest, so it will be interesting to see if Allen puts track aside for the time being or if the Eagles greenlight dual participation. The Bears did so for long jumper/wide receiver Marquise Goodwin in 2021, but that was for an Olympic Trials competition that did not conflict with training camp.

Minor NFL Transactions: 1/28/23

Today’s minor moves as we prepare for Championship Sunday:

Cincinnati Bengals

Kansas City Chiefs

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Minor NFL Transactions: 1/6/23

Today’s minor moves heading into the Saturday slate of games:

Arizona Cardinals

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

New England Patriots

  • Reverted back to IR: P Jake Bailey
  • Moved from IR to reserve/suspended by club: P Jake Bailey, CB Jack Jones

Philadelphia Eagles

 

After working out for the Chiefs yesterday and signing to their practice squad today, Wright will be promoted immediately as a gameday elevation for tomorrow’s regular season finale against the Raiders. Regular kicker Harrison Butker has been ruled out for the fifth game this year and the first time since Week 5 of the season, opening up a playing opportunity for Wright this week.

Bailey has been on injured reserve since Week 9 and was designated to return from IR around December 21, while Jones was placed on IR only a week ago on New Year’s Eve. Bailey’s return window has since closed reverting him to season-ending IR, but in one of the less common transactions seen this season, he and Jones were both moved from an IR designation to the reserve/suspended by club designation. The exact reason why each player has been suspended by the team is unclear, but it is apparently the result of two separate incidents.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/10/22

Here are the minor moves around the league in advance of the Week 14 slate of games:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/21/22

Here are the day’s only practice squad moves:

Kansas City Chiefs

Washington Commanders

Apke returns to Washington after being released just over two weeks ago. At his peak, Apke earned the starting free safety job for Washington over Sean Davis after filling in some during the prior year for injured starter Montae Nicholson. After struggling at the position, Apke lost the starting job and transitioned to cornerback. His role since losing the starting safety job has mostly been on special teams, where he had been a contributor earlier on in his career.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/18/22

Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

Washington Commanders

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/1/22

Teams continue to tinker with their rosters after hundreds of players were cut earlier this week. We’ve tracked all of today’s minor moves below:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Wednesday NFL Transactions: NFC North

Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These BearsLions, Packers and Vikings moves are noted below.

Here are Wednesday’s NFC North transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day.

Chicago Bears

Claimed:

Released:

Waived:

Placed on IR:

Signed to practice squad:

Detroit Lions

Claimed:

Waived:

Released from IR:

Signed to practice squad:

Green Bay Packers

Signed:

Waived: 

Signed to practice squad:

Minnesota Vikings

Waived: