Buccaneers G Sua Opeta Suffers Torn ACL
The Buccaneers saw injury at the left guard position lead to a change in starter last year as Aaron Stinnie stepped in for a hurt Matt Feiler midseason. Unfortunately for Tampa Bay, the injuries didn’t wait for the season to start this year. Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports today that guard Sua Opeta tore an ACL at practice this Tuesday, ruling him out for the 2024 NFL season. 
Stinnie won’t come to the rescue this year, as the five-year veteran now plays in New York. To replace him and Feiler, who is currently unsigned on the free agent market, the Buccaneers signed Opeta and former Giants starter Ben Bredeson. Bredeson and Opeta were set to compete for the starting left guard job this summer, but with no Opeta, it should be Bredeson’s job to win.
An undrafted free agent out of Weber State in 2019, Opeta spent most of his rookie season on the Eagles’ practice squad, getting called up in December but not appearing in any games. In his sophomore campaign, he was called up from the practice squad and made his NFL debut in Week 3. He started two games in eight appearances that year before getting placed on injured reserve. Over the next two seasons, Opeta would make two starts in 17 more game appearances for Philadelphia.
Last year, Opeta found some starting snaps in six games as an injury replacement for Cam Jurgens. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) utilized Opeta’s starting sample to grade him out as the NFL’s 58th best guard, 17 spots over Bredeson, who graded out at 75th. Despite not having Bredeson’s starting experience, many believed Opeta stood a strong chance at beating out Bredeson for the job.
With Opeta lost for the year, though, Bredeson should have an open lane for the starting gig. Since being traded from the Ravens to the Giants after his rookie campaign, Bredeson has made 25 starts in 35 game appearances, including 16 last year. He has not graded out favorably in the eyes of PFF over the years, but without many other options, Tampa Bay will need Bredeson to deliver.
Buccaneers To Re-Sign QB John Wolford; Team To Add OL Sua Opeta
Amid an offseason that has featured nearly the level of roster retention their 2021 blueprint brought, the Buccaneers will keep a lower-profile player. GM Jason Licht confirmed the team is re-signing QB John Wolford.
The Bucs are also re-signing O-lineman Justin Skule and bringing in ex-Eagles swingman Sua Opeta, per ESPN’s Jenna Laine and SI.com’s Curtis Allen. Both the O-linemen will be attached to one-year contracts, with Laine adding Wolford is also rejoining the team on a one-year agreement.
One season remains on Kyle Trask‘s rookie contract, with Wolford, 28, back in place to be the team’s third-string quarterback. The Rams showed interest in bringing Wolford back to Los Angeles, following Matthew Stafford‘s thumb injury last year, as did ex-Rams OC Kevin O’Connell in Minnesota. But Wolford preferred to stay in Tampa; the Bucs then promoted him to the active roster.
The 2024 campaign will be Wolford’s sixth NFL season. The former Alliance of American Football arm may be an even better with the Bucs in 2024, with ex-Rams OC Liam Coen stepping in as the play-caller.
The Bucs already signed Ben Bredeson, a 16-game Giants starter last season. Opeta spent the past four seasons with the Eagles and started six games in 2023. The former UDFA has experience at both guard and tackle, giving him an onramp to a swing role. The Bucs, however, have not re-signed Matt Feiler; Aaron Stinnie, a longtime backup who started 11 games last season, has committed to the Giants. Skule played in 17 games as a backup last season.
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 2/15/23
Here are Wednesday’s reserve/futures contracts:
Kansas City Chiefs
- TE Kendall Blanton, CB Dicaprio Bootle, TE Matt Bushman, G Mike Caliendo, LB Cole Christiansen, RB Jerrion Ealy, QB Chris Oladokun, RB La’Mical Perine, WR Cornell Powell, C Austin Reiter, DT Danny Shelton, WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette
Philadelphia Eagles
- WR Devon Allen, WR Tyrie Cleveland, CB Mario Goodrich, DE Tarron Jackson, G Fred Johnson, T Roderick Johnson, DE Matt Leo, G Sua Opeta, LB Davion Taylor
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.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/9/23
Today’s only practice squad transactions:
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: TE Nick Muse
- Released: DL Sheldon Day
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: G Sua Opeta
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/6/23
Today’s minor moves heading into the Saturday slate of games:
Arizona Cardinals
- Placed on IR: S Chris Banjo, DE Jonathan Ledbetter
Kansas City Chiefs
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette, K Matthew Wright
Las Vegas Raiders
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Austin Calitro, WR Chris Lacy
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
- Waived: G Sua Opeta
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: 9/29/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Arizona Cardinals
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Josh Doctson
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted: OL Sua Opeta
Seattle Seahawks
- Designated to return: OT Cedric Ogbuehi
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Placed on IR: Scott Miller
Wednesday NFL Transactions: NFC East
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 Cowboys, Eagles, Giants and Washington moves are noted below.
Here are Wednesday’s NFC East transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day.
Dallas Cowboys
Signed to practice squad:
- OL Isaac Alarcón, DB Kyron Brown, CB Deante Burton, S Tyler Coyle, QB Ben DiNucci, DE Austin Faoliu, DT Justin Hamilton, RB JaQuan Hardy, C Braylon Jones, WR Osirus Mitchell, FB Nick Ralston, WR Brandon Smith, DE Breeland Speaks, TE Jeremy Sprinkle, S Darian Thompson
New York Giants
Placed on IR:
- WR John Ross, LB Elerson Smith
Signed:
- WR C.J. Board (Board was cut (below) before getting re-signed), LS Casey Kreiter
Claimed:
- LB Justin Hilliard (from 49ers), WR Collin Johnson (from Jaguars), LB Quincy Roche (from Steelers)
Waived:
- WR C.J. Board, LB Trent Harris, WR Dante Pettis
Signed to practice squad:
- OL Jackson Barton, OL Jake Burton, WR Matt Cole, TE Nakia Griffin-Stewart, TE Jake Hausmann, OL Brett Heggie, DL Willie Henry, LB Niko Lalos, DL David Moa, S Jordyn Peters, RB Sandro Platzgummer, WR David Sills, OL Kenny Wiggins, WR Damion Willis
Philadelphia Eagles
Signed to practice squad:
- S Grayland Arnold, OL Kayode Awosika, OT Le’Raven Clark, WR Travis Fulgham, WR John Hightower, RB Jordan Howard, RB Jason Huntley, CB Michael Jacquet, CB Craig James, WR KeeSean Johnson, DE Matt Leo, G Sua Opeta, OL Ross Pierschbacher, S Elijah Riley, LB JaCoby Stevens, DT Raequan Williams
Washington Football Team
Placed on IR:
Signed:
- LB David Mayo
Signed to practice squad:
- RB Peyton Barber, OL Beau Benzschawel, DE William Bradley-King, WR Antonio Gandy-Golden, C Keith Ismael, CB Danny Johnson, LB Jordan Kunaszyk, G Wes Martin, LB Jared Norris, S Jeremy Reaves, DE Bunmi Rotimi, OT David Steinmetz, C Jon Toth, DT Daniel Wise, DT Gabe Wright
Eagles Cut 20+ Players, Down To 53
The Eagles are ready to fly into Week 1. On Tuesday, they made a series of moves to get down to the 53-man roster max. Here’s the full rundown:
Released
- S Andrew Adams
- T Le’Raven Clark
- RB Jordan Howard
- DT Hassan Ridgeway
- TE Richard Rodgers
- CB Kevon Seymour
Waived
- S Grayland Arnold
- G/T Kayode Awosika
- WR Travis Fulgham
- WR John Hightower
- RB Jason Huntley
- CB Michael Jacquet
- CB Craig James
- DE Matt Leo
- G Sua Opeta
- WR Andre Patton
- C/G Ross Pierschbacher
- S Elijah Riley
- LB JaCoby Stevens
- DT Raequan Williams
Placed on IR
Placed on Reserve/COVID List
- DT T.Y. McGill
The Birds also freed up a spot earlier today by trading offensive lineman Matt Pryor (and a 2022 seventh-round pick) to the Colts for a sixth-round choice.
The release of wide receiver Travis Fulgham was one of today’s more notable moves. Fulgham played a big role for the Eagles last year as the team was decimated by WR injuries. However, they didn’t see enough this summer to keep him on the 53-man roster. With Fulgham gone, the Eagles are left with J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, Jalen Reagor, DeVonta Smith, Greg Ward, and Quez Watkins as their Week 1 receivers.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/28/20
Here are Saturday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Activated from IR: DL Zach Allen
- Promoted: TE Evan Baylis, DL Michael Dogbe, RB D.J. Foster, DL Stacy McGee CB Jace Whittaker
- Placed on IR: TE Darrell Daniels, DL Josh Mauro
Atlanta Falcons
- Promoted: RB Tony Brooks-James
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed to active roster: CB Jalen Davis
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: OL B.J. Finney, WR Auden Tate
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted: OG Michael Dunn, DT Joey Ivie, DE Cameron Malveaux
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted: LB De’Jon Harris, RB Mike Weber
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted: DT Kameron Cline, C Joey Hunt, DE Cassius Marsh, DT Rob Windsor
- Activated from IR: WR Ashton Dulin
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Placed on IR: G Andrew Norwell
- Promoted: CB Josh Nurse, WR Trey Quinn, RB Craig Reynolds, K Aldrick Rosas
Kansas City Chiefs
- Promoted: WR Marcus Kemp
- Waived: DB Tedric Thompson
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted: LB B.J. Bello, LB Cole Christiansen, DT Breiden Fehoko
- Waived: DE Jessie Lemonier
Miami Dolphins
- Promoted: QB Reid Sinnett
Minnesota Vikings
- Promoted: LS Andrew DePaola, TE Brandon Dillon
New England Patriots
- Activated from IR: OT Justin Herron
New Orleans Saints
- Promoted: WR Austin Carr, OL Will Clapp, DT Ryan Glasgow
New York Giants
- Activated from IR: K Graham Gano
New York Jets
- Promoted: OL Jimmy Murray
- Placed on IR: LB Patrick Onwuasor
Philadelphia Eagles
- Placed on IR: G Sua Opeta
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Activated from IR: LB Jack Cichy
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Vita Vea; Vea is also on Tampa Bay’s IR
- Promoted: CB Herb Miller, OL John Molchon
Tennessee Titans
- Activated from IR: P Brett Kern, CB Tye Smith
- Promoted: LB William Compton, LS Matt Overton, LB Tuzar Skipper
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Chris Jackson
Eagles Place Vinny Curry On IR
The Eagles have placed defensive end Vinny Curry and cornerback Craig James on injured reserve, per a club announcement. Both players will miss a minimum of three weeks. 
Curry went down with a hamstring injury in the Eagles’ season opener, leaving the Birds without one of their best pass rushers. Playing in all 16 regular season games last season, Curry notched five sacks and 27 total tackles. Four of those sacks came after Week 12, helping him to finish with one of the highest pressure rates in the league among edge rushers. When he returns, he’ll continue on his one-year, $1.3MM deal, though he might not achieve the sack totals required to realize much of his $700K incentives package.
James managed a fumble recovery in the Eagles’ Week 1 contest against the Washington Football Team before his early exit. His injury has not been disclosed, though head coach Doug Pederson says it’s “significant”.
To fill one of the two open spots on the roster, the Eagles have promoted guard Sua Opeta from the practice squad.