NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/30/24
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Activated from commissioners/suspended list: LB Markus Bailey
Indianapolis Colts
- Released from practice squad injured list: DT Trysten Hill
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: LB Blake Lynch
- Released: WR Montrell Washington
Cardinals LB Markus Bailey Issued Six-Game PED Suspension
Markus Bailey will be unavailable to the Cardinals for much of the remainder of the regular season. The fifth-year linebacker was issued a six-game suspension on Tuesday for violating the NFL’s PED policy, the league announced. 
Bailey is on Arizona’s practice squad, and he has made one appearance so far in 2024. The 27-year-old spent his first four campaigns with the Bengals, totaling 60 appearances and four starts. He landed a one-year Cardinals deal in May after showing his ability as a backup defender and key special teams presence.
The Purdue product was among Arizona’s final roster cuts, but he was immediately retained on a taxi squad deal. Bailey was only elevated to the active roster for the team’s Week 7 contest, during which he did not see the field on defense but was involved on special teams. Now, he will not be eligible to suit up until the Cardinals’ regular season finale.
Arizona is currently riding a four-game winning streak, and the team leads the NFC West as a result. The Cardinals’ success has come in spite of the fact their defense sits in the bottom half of the league in both passing and rushing yards allowed per game. Overall, a 12th-place ranking in terms of defensive scoring is an encouraging sign for the team’s chances to win a wide-open division and qualify for the postseason in head coach Jonathan Gannon and general manager Monti Offenfort‘s second year at the helm.
Bailey did not seem to be in Arizona’s linebacker plans when available, so his absence will not be felt to a large degree while he serves the ban. If he remains with the organization over the coming weeks, though, he will be an option to see playing time in Week 18 and/or the playoffs should the Cardinals continue their run of recent success.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/21/24
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Promoted: LB Markus Bailey, DL Ben Stille
Atlanta Falcons
- Released from IR: LB Milo Eifler
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed to active roster: RB Chris Collier
- Promoted: LB Kristian Welch
Green Bay Packers
- Activated off IR: DL Jonathan Ford
- Released: LS Matt Orzech
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed to active roster: DT Zach Carter
- Waived: DT Nesta Jade Silvera
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed to active roster: CB Dicaprio Bootle, CB Shaun Wade
- Promoted: C Sam Mustipher, WR Jalen Reagor
- Placed on IR: DB Deane Leonard
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived: LB Elias Neal
New York Giants
- Signed to active roster: DT Armon Watts
New York Jets
- Reinstated from reserve/Did Not Report: LB Haason Reddick (story)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted: P Trenton Gill
According to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, today’s moves were purely procedural. After returning to practice earlier this month, Jonathan Ford was nearing the end of his activation window. To avoid the defensive lineman landing on season-ending injured reserve, the Packers activated the former seventh-round pick to the active roster. That meant the Packers needed to carve out a spot, and long snapper Matt Orzech was the temporary casualty. However, Silverstein says Orzech will land back on the roster later this week following more roster machinations.
Meanwhile, the Giants added Armon Watts to the active roster following the lineman’s stint on the team’s practice squad. It sounds like rival teams may have forced the Giants hand. As ESPN’s Jordan Raanan notes, other teams expressed interest in the former Bears starter, forcing the Giants to secure Watts services now (vs. continuing to stash him on the taxi squad).
Elsewhere in New York, Haason Reddick was officially activated from the Did Not Report list today. Per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston, the Jets now have a two-game roster exemption to officially add the pass-rusher to the 53-man roster.
Wednesday NFL Transactions: NFC West
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 49ers, Cardinals, Rams and Seahawks moves are noted below.
Arizona Cardinals
Signed:
Claimed:
Signed to practice squad:
- WR Andre Baccellia, LB Markus Bailey, LB Krys Barnes, OL Jackson Barton, RB Michael Carter, WR Dan Chisena, CB Jaden Davis, OL Marquis Hayes, OL Keith Ismael, LB Julian Okwara, WR Tejhaun Palmer, QB Desmond Ridder, TE Bernhard Seikovits, DL Ben Stille, CB Divaad Wilson
Los Angeles Rams
Signed:
- DT Neville Gallimore (story)
Claimed:
Waived:
- DT Cory Durden
Placed on IR:
Signed to practice squad:
- OL A.J. Arcuri, OL Justin Dedich, B Zach Evans, TE Miller Forristall, DB Tanner Ingle, DB Shaun Jolly, TE Nikola Kalinic, DB Cam Lampkin, DT Tuli Letuligasenoa, OL Mike McAllister, DT David Olajiga, WR Xavier Smith, WR Drake Stoops, DB Jason Taylor II, OLB Keir Thomas, LB Zach VanValkenburg, WR Sam Wiglusz
San Francisco 49ers
Signed:
- OL Ben Bartch, WR Terrace Marshall Jr., TE Eric Saubert, CB Rock Ya-Sin
Claimed:
Waived:
Placed on IR:
- OL Jon Feliciano, CB Ambry Thomas
Signed to practice squad:
- DE Jonathan Garvin, DB Chase Lucas, S Tracy Walker
Seattle Seahawks
Signed:
Claimed:
Signed to practice squad:
- CB Artie Burns
Cardinals Get Down To 53
The Cardinals finalized their initial 53-man roster with the following moves:
Released:
- WR Andre Baccellia
- LB Markus Bailey
- LB Krys Barnes
- OL Jackson Barton
- DL T.J. Carter
- S Andre Chachere
- WR Dan Chisena
- OL Keith Ismael
- CB Bobby Price
- OL Elijah Wilkinson
Waived:
- RB Michael Carter
- CB Jaden Davis
- RB Hassan Hall
- OL Marquis Hayes
- DL Phil Hoskins
- DL Naquan Jones
- LB Tyreek Maddox-Williams
- DL Myles Murphy
- LB Trevor Nowaske
- WR Tejhaun Palmer
- QB Desmond Ridder (story)
- TE Bernhard Seikovits
- LB Tyreke Smith
- DL Ben Stille
- TE Blake Whiteheart
- CB Divaad Wilson
Waived/injured:
- TE Sage Surratt
Placed on IR:
Placed on IR (designated for return):
We’ve already reported on the most notable name, Ridder. The Cardinals instead opted to rely on second-year passer Clayton Tune to back up Kyler Murray behind center. There’s still a chance Ridder could remain on the practice squad as QB3.
Robinson and Jones will miss the first four games of the season, but both have been designated to return from IR eventually. Jones Jr. will miss the 2024 season, though.
Two rookie draft picks failed to make the 53-man. Alabama Birmingham receiver Palmer (sixth-round) and Miami (FL) cornerback Davis (seventh-round) both hit the waiver wire following the preseason. Undrafted receiver Xavier Weaver out of Colorado, does make the roster, though.
Other surprises were the cutting of Carter and Barnes. Carter struggled last year before parting ways with the Jets, who drafted him in the fourth round in 2021. Six games in Arizona last year were not enough to warrant a return in 2024 on the active roster. Carter had been shopped around a bit as of late, but with no buyers, he hits the waiver wire. Barnes started six games for the team last year after three years in Green Bay, where he started 24 games.
Cardinals To Sign LB Markus Bailey
A Columbus native who attended Purdue before being drafted by the Bengals, Markus Bailey will soon take up residence outside the Midwest. Winter clothing will be far less relevant for the veteran special-teamer.
The Cardinals are adding the linebacker/ST presence, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. Agreeing to a one-year deal with the NFC West club Tuesday, Bailey will head to the desert as a likely second-string presence and soon-to-be regular for Arizona’s specialty units.
For the most part, Bengals DC Lou Anarumo pointed Bailey’s focus toward special teams. The former seventh-round pick only passed the 100-snap barrier on defense in one of his rookie-contract seasons. On special teams, Bailey exceeded 275 snaps in each of the past two seasons. He topped out at 309 ST plays last year.
A 2021 Logan Wilson injury did lead to the Bengals using Bailey as a fill-in starter. Bailey made three starts during the Bengals’ Super Bowl LVI-qualifying season. He ended up playing 26 snaps against the Rams in that season’s decider.
Arizona was not especially aggressive at linebacker this offseason, but the team still has some pieces from 2023. Kyzir White remains under contract, as does Krys Barnes. The Cards added Mack Wilson last month as well, and fifth-rounder Owen Pappoe is going into his second season. Bailey, 27, will mix in with this group, likely set to work as a backup and ST regular for a second team.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/18/21
Here are Thursday’s minor moves, with the list being updated throughout the day:
Buffalo Bills
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: OL Spencer Brown
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Jake Kumerow
Cincinnati Bengals
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Markus Bailey
Cleveland Browns
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: RB John Kelly
Dallas Cowboys
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: K Greg Zuerlein
Detroit Lions
- Activated from IR: CB Corey Ballentine
Kansas City Chiefs
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Marcus Kemp
Minnesota Vikings
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Ryan Connelly
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Designated for return: DL Carlos Davis
Draft Notes: Giants, Wirfs, Morgan, Jets, Bailey, Edwards
There’s been a ton of discussion about the top three picks in the upcoming draft, but the Giants have been flying slightly more under the radar at number four. While we’ve heard that New York loves versatile Clemson linebacker Isaiah Simmons, the “consensus of sources” that Ralph Vacchiano of SNY spoke to was that the Giants will take an offensive tackle with the fourth pick. Vacchiano adds that they will “quite possibly” take another offensive lineman in the second round. If they did that, it would “likely be a center,” he adds. As for which tackle the Giants will take in what is widely regarded as a strong tackle draft, sources told Vacchiano that Giants GM Dave Gettleman “loves” Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs.
Here’s more from around the league as the draft rapidly approaches:
- We know all about the top quarterbacks available, but James Morgan is an unheralded name who has been picking up steam lately. We heard last week that the Patriots were sniffing around and that a handful of other teams were interested in the FIU passer as well. Morgan is “pushing to be a mid-rounder” and has been interviewing well, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweets. Rapoport also notes that Morgan was interviewing with the Jets on Wednesday. Morgan completed only 58 percent of his passes last year with 14 touchdowns and five interceptions, but his numbers were much better the season before. He appears to be one of this draft’s late risers.
- Former Purdue linebacker Markus Bailey got some good medical news, as Rapoport tweets that he recently had his combine re-check and was cleared by the Cardinals’ team doctor. Bailey tore his ACL for the second time back in September. Matt Miller of Bleacher Report had him as a fifth-rounder in his most recent mock draft, but maybe this news will boost his stock a little bit.
- Speaking of good medical news, Rapoport tweets that former South Carolina receiver Bryan Edwards also got some. Edwards fractured the fifth metatarsal in his foot just before the combine, but is now out of his boot and “moving around well,” according to Rapsheet. Rapoport adds that teams have been sent updated scans of his foot, and all appears to be well. Miller had Edwards going early in the fourth-round to the Jets in that same mock draft.