Isaiah Buggs

Lions Re-Sign DL Isaiah Buggs

Last summer, the Lions added Isaiah Buggs as defensive line depth; his play this year has earned him an extended stay in the Motor City. Detroit is re-signing Buggs on a two-year deal worth up to $6MM, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network (Twitter link). The team has since confirmed the move. Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press tweets that the pact includes $4.5MM in base salary, with $1.5MM in incentives. $2.1MM in compensation is guaranteed at signing.

A former Steelers third-rounder, Buggs operated in a rotational capacity over the course of three seasons in Pittsburgh. His snap share rose every year, reaching 34% in 2021, though he never managed to make as much of an impact on the statsheet as the team would have wished. He was waived last January, and remained on the open market for several months after a brief stint with the Raiders as playoff insurance.

Following workouts with the Vikings and Falcons, Buggs signed in Detroit in an attempt to carve out a more notable role. That was certainly this case this season, as he started 13 of 17 contests and played considerably more snaps (755) than he did across three campaigns with the Steelers. He comfortably set new career highs in several categories, including tackles (46) and QB pressures (11).

That production has led to this new deal, one which will essentially double his career earnings if he is able to maximize its value. Buggs will continue as a key member of the Lions’ defensive line rotation, one which could see the departures of pending free agents John Cominsky and Austin Bryant. Detroit will be seeking significant upgrades on defense this offseason, but by retaining Buggs, they will have a degree of continuity up front in the coming years.

Lions To Release DT Michael Brockers

Veteran defensive tackle Michael Brockers emerged as a cut candidate during the 2022 season. In advance of the upcoming new league year, his time with the Lions has come to an expected end.

Detroit is mutually parting ways with Brockers, reports Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. The move comes with one year remaining on the 32-year-old’s contract, where he had a scheduled cap hit of nearly $14MM. This release will give the Lions $10MM in cap savings, and allow Brockers to move on to a new NFL home.

The former first-rounder had an interesting offseason in 2020, reaching agreement with the Ravens on a free agent deal before ultimately staying with the Rams. One year later, he was dealt to the Lions for a seventh-round pick, a small price to pay for Detroit to add a d-lineman of his caliber. That was immediately followed by a three-year, $24MM deal being agreed upon.

Brockers was a full-time starter in 2021. He registered 52 tackles and one sack that year, marking a disappointing return on investment from the team’s perspective. That was followed by a restructure during the subsequent offseason, but a steep decline in playing time. The LSU product played in only six games in 2022, finding himself as a healthy scratch for much of the year.

That represented one of several notable moves made in the middle of the season as the Lions looked to turn around a struggling defense, one which saw a number of veterans underperform. Brockers was certainly among that group, as he logged a snap share of only 29% and registered just two pressures. Given his reputation as a disruptive player in the passing game, that figure pointed to the sides going their separate ways this offseason.

Brockers, who was Detroit’s oldest player in 2022, said during the season that he was not considering retirement. He will now get a head start on free agency and look to find a rotational role which will allow him to regain regular playing time and rebuild his value. The Lions, meanwhile, will add to their cap space and thus give themselves more opportunity to continue their youth movement along their defensive front.

That will likely include Isaiah Buggs and John Cominsky, who are both pending free agents. They took on a larger role amidst Brockers’ absence, and Birkett notes that the Lions intend to re-sign both of them. Savings from the latter’s release will help make that more plausible, as the team looks to take a significant step forward defensively this offseason.

Lions To Sign DL Isaiah Buggs

The Lions have made a depth addition to their defensive line. Isaiah Buggs is signing in Detroit, reports NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (Twitter link).

The 25-year-old began his career with the Steelers in 2019. Over his three seasons in Pittsburgh, he grew into a larger role with each passing campaign, playing just over one-third of the team’s defensive snaps in 2021. Overall, his career in the Steel City comprised 29 games played (including seven starts), 31 tackles and one pass breakup.

The former sixth-rounder joined the Raiders in January as insurance for the playoffs, but has been on the lookout for a new home throughout the offseason. In May, he participated in the Vikings’ minicamp as a tryout, but that didn’t turn into a deal. One month later, he was among several players worked out by the Falcons.

In Detroit, Buggs will join a d-line with the likes of Michael Brockers, Levi Onwuzurike and Alim McNeill at the top of the depth chart. The six-foot-three, 295-pounder, will look to carve out a rotational role similar to the one he had last season in Pittsburgh, as the Lions transition to a 4-3 scheme. While his level of play (and PFF evaluations) to date indicates that could be his ceiling, his age and career arc could point to untapped potential for the Lions to benefit from as they look to take a step forward in 2022.

Falcons Worked Out C Jonotthan Harrison

The Falcons are eyeing an experienced lineman. The team worked out center Jonotthan Harrison yesterday, according to Pro Football Network’s Aaron Wilson (on Twitter).

Harrison went undrafted out of Florida in 2014, but he immediately found himself in the Colts lineup. He started 10 of his 15 appearances as a rookie, and he ultimately saw time in 44 games (23 starts) across three seasons with the organization. He got into 40 games (19 starts) with the Jets between the 2017 and 2019 seasons.

The 30-year-old hasn’t made an NFL appearance since that 2019 campaign. He was released by the Jets prior to the 2020 season, and he spent the majority of that year on the Bills practice squad. He spent the beginning of the 2021 campaign on the Giants practice squad before an Achilles injury landed him on IR.

Another notable player who worked out for Atlanta was defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs. The 2019 sixth-round pick spent the first three seasons of his career with the Steelers, seeing time in 29 games. 2021 was his most productive season as a professional, as he started six of his 10 appearances while collecting 17 tackles.

Harrison and Buggs joined a list of tryout players that also included linebacker Dakota Allen, offensive lineman Adam Coon, defensive lineman Jalen Dalton, and wideout Emeka Emezie.

NFL Workouts: Callaway, Falcons, Buggs

Here’s a look at some of the league’s recent tryout invitations:

  • The Colts will host former Browns wide receiver Antonio Callaway at minicamp for a tryout, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The fourth-round pick for Cleveland in 2018 made an impact during his rookie season before running into issues with the league’s substance abuse policies and Cleveland’s team rules. The Browns waived Callaway during his sophomore season. He signed with the Tampa Bay Vipers of the XFL, but was placed on injured reserve before ever appearing in a game. He’s had short stints since then with the Dolphins and Chiefs and now has an opportunity to stick in Indianapolis.
  • Michael Rothstein of ESPN reported that the Falcons will host a trio of players for tryouts this weekend: former Packers wide receiver Geronimo Allison, quarterback Anthony Gordon, and center Evan Boehm. Allison spent the first four years of his career in Green Bay, never surpassing 303 receiving yards or two touchdowns in a season. He appeared in three games last year for the Lions. Gordon has spent time rostered in Seattle, Denver, and Kansas City after going undrafted in 2020. After getting drafted in the fourth round of 2016, Boehm has bounced around to eight different NFL squads, appearing in 55 games, starting 21.
  • Former Steelers nose tackle Isaiah Buggs will attend the Vikings minicamp for a tryout, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. The sixth-round pick from 2019 spent three seasons in Pittsburgh earning six starts last season before getting waived at the turn of the year. Buggs briefly signed to the Raiders practice squad and will now look for a new home in Minnesota.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/11/22

Today’s practice squad moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Rams

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • Signed: WR John Hurst

Tennessee Titans

Minor NFL Transactions: 1/8/22

Here are Saturday’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Football Team

NFL COVID-19 List Updates: 1/1/22

Here are the New Year’s Day activations from and placements on the reserve/COVID-19 lists:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

  • Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: G Oli Udoh

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

  • Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Bryce Hall

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

NFL COVID List Updates: 12/24/21

We’ve compiled a list of players who were placed on or activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list today. In some instances, players activated from the list remain on IR:

Baltimore Ravens

  • Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: S Chuck Clark, C Trystan Colon
  • Activated from practice squad/COVID-19 list: RB Nate McCrary
  • Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: QB Chris Streveler

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

  • Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Jordan Fuller, TE Tyler Higbee
  • Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: OL Cole Williamson

Miami Dolphins

  • Activated from practice squad/COVID-19 list: RB Gerrid Doaks

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks

  • Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: RB Travis Homer
  • Activated from practice squad/COVID-19 list: OL Pier-Olivier Lestage

Tennessee Titans

Washington Football Team

NFL COVID List Updates: 12/23/21

We’ve compiled a list of players who were placed or activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list today. In some instances, players activated from the list remain on IR:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Football Team