Justin Herbert Active For MNF; Chargers Make Handful Of Roster Moves
Justin Herbert‘s status for tonight’s game was still in doubt as of this morning. Well, the Chargers quarterback is officially active for Monday Night Football, per the team.
[RELATED: Chargers QB Justin Herbert’s Status Uncertain For Week 14]
NFL Network’s Omar Ruiz reported earlier that Herbert was expected to play tonight. After undergoing surgery to repair a fracture in his non-throwing hand, the quarterback will wear a padded glove for the time being. ESPN’s Kris Rhim notes that Herbert admitted that gripping the football was his biggest issue, and the reporter spotted the QB practicing handoffs and play-action sequences while gripping the ball with his left hand.
The Chargers were afforded a bit of extra time to evaluate Herbert’s progress thanks to their MNF showdown with the Eagles. The quarterback participated in both seven-on-seven drills as well as 11-on-11 work this week, although there were reports that he’s struggled to receive snaps from under center. This limitation will certainly require some watching tonight.
The Chargers made a handful of additional moves in anticipation of tonight’s game. Most notably, the team activated running back Omarion Hampton from injured reserve, a move that was reported last week. The team will also be welcoming back running back Hassan Haskins and defensive lineman Otito Ogbonnia from injured reserve.
Haskins suffered a hamstring injury in Week 7 that landed him on IR. In the two games preceding that injury, Haskins garnered 11 carries as the Chargers navigated a depleted RBs room following the injuries to Hampton and Najee Harris. While Haskins has been sidelined, Kimani Vidal ran with the starting RB job. Now, both backs are expected to serve as reserves behind Hampton. Ogbonnia hasn’t played since October thanks to an elbow injury. The former fifth-round pick has collected a single tackle in his four appearances this season.
The Chargers weren’t done making moves. Wide receiver Dalevon Campbell was elevated from the practice squad for tonight’s contest. To make room on the roster for all these moves, the Chargers placed tight end Tucker Fisk on IR and waived both defensive lineman Naquan Jones and running back Jaret Patterson.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/21/25
Today’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed RFA tender: S Ar’Darius Washington
Denver Broncos
- Signed: LS Zach Triner
- Designated as IPP participant: TE Thomas Yassmin
Houston Texans
- Waived: G Tremayne Anchrum Jr.
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed RFA tender: OL Cole Van Lanen
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed ERFA tender: TE Tucker Fisk
Miami Dolphins
- Designated as IPP participant: OT Bayron Matos
Philadelphia Eagles
- Designated as IPP participant: OT Laekin Vakalahi
Among literal free agent additions, LS Zach Triner is the only signing on the list. The veteran brings 84 games of experience to Denver, most of which came during a long stint with the Buccaneers. Triner will likely be competing with Mitchell Fraboni for the team’s long snapper role in 2025. As Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette reports, Triner inked a non-guaranteed one-year deal worth the league minimum ($1.17MM).
A handful of teams designated players as their International Player Pathway program participants. Each qualifying team receives one roster exemption from the start of their offseason program to final preseason cuts. Today’s commitments include Thomas Yassmin (Australia), Bayron Matos (Dominican Republic), and Laekin Vakalahi (Australia).
RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/5/25
More teams made tender/non-tender decisions on restricted and exclusive rights free agents today. Here are the latest updates:
RFAs
Non-tendered:
- Broncos: LS Mitchell Fraboni
Fraboni has served as the Broncos’ primary long snapper for each of the past two seasons, playing in all 17 games of each year as well as this year’s playoff contest. Denver will have until next Wednesday to keep him from hitting the market if they intend to retain him.
ERFAs
Tendered:
- Bears: DE Daniel Hardy, G Bill Murray
- Bengals: G Jaxson Kirkland
- Broncos: DT Jordan Jackson, S Devon Key, TE Lucas Krull, CB Ja’Quan McMillian, LB Dondrea Tillman
- Chargers: TE Tucker Fisk
- Cowboys: DE Tyrus Wheat
- Dolphins: LB Cameron Goode, T Kion Smith
- Packers: S Zayne Anderson
- Patriots: CB Alex Austin
The Broncos tendered all five of their exclusive rights free agents today. The Packers made an easy decision to retain Anderson, who started two games this year and recorded his first career interception.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/9/24
Today’s minor moves, including standard gameday practice squad elevations:
Arizona Cardinals
- Elevated: CB Divaad Wilson
Atlanta Falcons
- Elevated: WR Chris Blair, OLB Khalid Kareem
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: WR Tyrell Shavers, WR K.J. Hamler
- Placed on IR: LB Baylon Spector
Chicago Bears
- Activated from IR: G Ryan Bates (story)
- Elevated: T Jake Curhan, LB Carl Jones Jr.
Dallas Cowboys
- Elevated: CB Josh Butler, WR Jalen Cropper
Denver Broncos
- Activated from IR: C Luke Wattenberg
- Elevated: FB Michael Burton, LB Zach Cunningham
Detroit Lions
- Signed to active roster: LB Abraham Beauplan, OLB Al-Quadin Muhammad, TE Shane Zylstra
- Elevated: T Jamarco Jones, LB Zeke Turner
- Placed on IR: LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin
- Waived: DE Isaiah Thomas
Houston Texans
- Elevated: DT Tommy Togiai
Indianapolis Colts
- Elevated: WR Laquon Treadwell
Kansas City Chiefs
- Elevated: LB Cole Christiansen, WR Justyn Ross
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed to active roster: TE Tucker Fisk
- Elevated: CB Eli Apple, OLB Caleb Murphy
Miami Dolphins
- Waived: DT Brandon Pili
Minnesota Vikings
- Elevated: LS Jake McQuaide
New England Patriots
- Elevated: LB Joe Giles-Harris, TE Mitchell Wilcox
New Orleans Saints
- Elevated: WR Kevin Austin, WR Dante Pettis
New York Giants
- Elevated: LB Curtis Bolton, WR Isaiah Hodgins
New York Jets
- Elevated: K Spencer Shrader
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: S Tashaun Gipson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Activated from IR: LS Evan Deckers
- Elevated: WR Marquez Callaway, LB Vi Jones
- Waived: LS Zach Triner
Tennessee Titans
- Elevated: C Corey Levin, S Daryl Worley
Washington Commanders
- Signed to active roster: RB Chris Rodriguez Jr.
- Elevated: K Zane Gonzalez, DE Efe Obada
- Placed on IR: TE Colson Yankoff
Spector will miss at least the next four games as a result of the Bills’ move. He has remained a mainstay on special teams this year, having also done so in 2022 and ’23. The former seventh-rounder has made three starts on defense, however, so his absence will be felt moving forward. Linebacker has been a position hit hard by injuries this season, and Buffalo’s depth at the second level will now be tested even further.
Wattenberg had his 21-day practice window opened by the Broncos earlier this week, paving the way for today’s activation. The 27-year-old operated as the team’s starting center prior to going down after having won a summer competition for the gig with Alex Forsyth. Forsyth handled first-team duties over the past four games, drawing a superior PFF evaluation and therefore potentially playing his way into an extended look atop the depth chart. At a minimum, having Wattenberg back will give Denver – a team with three IR activations left – depth up front.
Chargers Waive RB Isaiah Spiller, T Alex Leatherwood; Get Down To 53
The Chargers made their way down to 53 players today with a number of waives and releases:
Released:
Waived:
- G Karsen Barnhart
- TE Luke Benson
- DL Jerrod Clark
- S Akeem Dent
- RB Elijah Dotson
- OLB Andrew Farmer
- TE Tucker Fisk
- WR Jaelen Gill
- LB Frank Ginda
- CB Matt Hankins
- S Thomas Harper
- TE Zach Heins
- DL Christopher Hinton
- OLB Savion Jackson
- LB Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste
- WR Cornelius Johnson
- WR Jaylen Johnson
- CB Robert Kennedy
- C Brent Laing
- T Alex Leatherwood
- LB Shane Lee
- OLB Tre’Mon Morris-Brash
- DL C.J. Okoye
- G Willis Patrick
- QB Luis Perez
- S Jalyn Phillips
- TE Isaac Rex
- OLB Ty Shelby
- RB Isaiah Spiller
- CB Zamari Walton
- WR Isaiah Wooden
Placed on IR:
- OLB Chris Collins
- T Tyler McLellan
- OLB Chris Rumph
- IOL Bucky Williams
Placed on IR (designated for return):
- LB Nick Niemann
There aren’t too many surprises here. Of the veterans, Parham fell victim to the addition of two veteran receiving options, and Quarterman was a long-time special teamer.
Michigan wide receiver Johnson was the only drafted rookie who failed to make the roster after being selected in the seventh round. While no undrafted rookies made the roster either, McLellan and Williams will stick around on the IR, where they will remain out for the year. Niemann will have the option to be activated after four games.
The biggest cuts we otherwise see are Spiller, who got some run as a depth option at running back last year, and Leatherwood. Leatherwood, the former first-round pick out of Alabama, continues to struggle to find his place in the NFL.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/14/24
Wednesday’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: LB Storey Jackson
- Waived: P Ryan Sanborn
Buffalo Bills
- Reverted to IR: WR Bryan Thompson
Carolina Panthers
- Waived: S Clayton Isbell
- Released (with injury settlement): OLB Kemoko Turay
Cincinnati Bengals
- Placed on reserve/retired list: DE Jeff Gunter
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: C Cohl Cabral
- Waived (with injury designation): DE Shaka Toney
Denver Broncos
- Waived (with injury settlement): OLB Jaylon Allen
Detroit Lions
- Signed: CB Javelin Guidry
- Reverted to IR: LB DaRon Gilbert
- Waived (with injury designation): S Morice Norris Jr.
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: RB Nate McCrary
- Waived: LS Peter Bowden, S Tyler Coyle
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: DE Derek Rivers, WR Greg Ward
- Waived: S Kendell Brooks, WR Ethan Fernea
Las Vegas Raiders
- Activated from active/PUP list: G Jackson Powers-Johnson
- Released (with injury settlement): WR Keelan Doss
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: TE Tucker Fisk
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: DT Carlos Watkins
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: DT Robert Cooper
Minnesota Vikings
- Reverted to IR: LB Jabril Cox
New England Patriots
- Waived (with injury settlement): DE John Morgan
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: TE Mason Fairchild
- Waived: DT Kyler Baugh
New York Giants
- Signed: S Raheem Layne, S Jonathan Sutherland
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: CB Zyon Gilbert, WR T.J. Luther
- Reverted to IR: WR Tarik Black
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: DT Nick Williams
- Released: LB Zeke Turner
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: LB Easton Gibbs
- Waived (with injury designation): DT Nathan Pickering
Washington Commanders
- Waived (with injury settlement): T Alex Akingbulu
- Waived: G Mason Brooks
Cabral joins the Cowboys after UFL stints in Birmingham and Michigan. He adds more depth to the team’s offensive line after the team lost Chuma Edoga in their first preseason game and saw Earl Bostick helped off the field today. Toney suffered a groin injury, leading to this injury waiver, but could return to the team should he clear waivers.
Powers-Johnson was on some concerning ground with how much time he had missed with a concussion, but the Raiders saw him return to practice today.
The 49ers are adding some significant depth on the defensive line in Williams, who has vast starting experience in the NFL. Cutting Turner could mean that the return of Dre Greenlaw may on a better timeline than expected.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/31/24
Friday’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Released from IR via injury settlement: TE Tucker Fisk
Minnesota Vikings
- Waived: OL Matt Cindric
New York Giants
- Reverted to IR: RB Gary Brightwell
New York Jets
- Released from IR via injury settlement: RB Markese Stepp
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/22/24
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: WR Odieu Hiliare
- Waived (with injury designation): TE Tucker Fisk
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: WR Alex Bachman
New York Jets
- Signed: TE Kevin Foelsch
- Released: QB Colby Suits
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: DL Earnest Brown IV
- Released: RB Patrick Laird
Earnest Brown was a fifth-round pick by the Rams back in 2021. He collected 14 tackles in 12 games through his first two seasons in Los Angeles, but he didn’t get into a single game with the big-league club during the 2023 campaign. He wasn’t retained via a futures contract this offseason, allowing him to catch on with the 49ers. He was waived by San Francisco earlier this month.
He’ll be taking the roster spot previously held by Patrick Laird, who spent the past two seasons on Tampa Bay’s practice squad. The former UDFA previously got into 37 games for the Dolphins between 2019 and 2021, collecting 533 yards from scrimmage. The Buccaneers added a pair of undrafted running backs in D.J. Williams and Ramon Jefferson, so the team may prefer to opt for a rookie on the taxi squad.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/23/23
Saturday’s gameday elevations and other minor moves around the league:
Arizona Cardinals
- Elevated: WR Dan Chisena, WR Kaden Davis
Atlanta Falcons
- Placed on IR: FB Keith Smith
- Signed to active roster: TE Tucker Fisk
- Elevated: P Pat O’Donnell, OL John Leglue
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: RB Leonard Fournette
Carolina Panthers
- Elevated: G Gabe Jackson, G J.D. DiRenzo
Chicago Bears
- Elevated: WR Collin Johnson
Cleveland Browns
- Elevated: S Tanner McCalister, LB Charlie Thomas
Dallas Cowboys
- Elevated: DT Carl Davis, RB Malik Davis
Denver Broncos
- Elevated: QB Ben DiNucci, OLB Ronnie Perkins
Detroit Lions
- Elevated: K Michael Badgley (story), TE Anthony Firkser
Green Bay Packers
- Elevated: WR Bo Melton, S Benny Sapp
Indianapolis Colts
- Elevated: WR Ethan Fernea
Miami Dolphins
- Elevated: CB Ethan Bonner, OLB Melvin Ingram
Minnesota Vikings
- Elevated: WR Lucky Jackson, CB Jaylin Williams
New York Jets
- Elevated: FB Nick Bawden, LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball
Seattle Seahawks
- Elevated: CB Kelvin Joseph, S Ty Okada
Tennessee Titans
- DB Shyheim Carter, CB Tay Gowan
Washington Commanders
- Elevated: LS Tucker Addington, OL Nolan Laufenberg
The Bills will not have depth running back Ty Johnson available for tonight’s game, leading to the decision to elevate Fournette. The former Super Bowl champion will thus make his Buffalo debut, although with lead back James Cook in the lineup, Fournette will likely not receive many looks on offense. The latter has already returned a kickoff for the first time in his career, however.
Signed to the Dolphins’ practice squad last week, Ingram will also make his 2023 debut in Week 16. The 34-year-old last played during his Miami stint in 2022, during which time he started three games and recorded six sacks. With Jaelan Phillips out for the year, Ingram will look to once again give the Dolphins a rotational presence off the edge.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/4/23
Today’s minor moves and gameday callups for Week 9:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed to active roster: WR Andre Baccellia
- Elevated: RB Corey Clement, QB Jeff Driskel
Atlanta Falcons
- Elevated: WR Damiere Byrd, TE Tucker Fisk
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from IR: CB Daryl Worley
- Elevated: CB Kevon Seymour
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: CB Josh Norman
Cincinnati Bengals
- Elevated: WR Stanley Morgan
Cleveland Browns
- Elevated: WR James Proche
Dallas Cowboys
- Elevated: LB Rashaan Evans
Green Bay Packers
- Elevated: S Innis Gaines
Houston Texans
- Elevated: G Dieter Eiselen
- Waived: CB Grayland Arnold
Indianapolis Colts
- Elevated: CB Chris Lammons
Kansas City Chiefs
- Elevated: RB La’Mical Perine
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed to active roster: OLB Malik Reed
- Elevated: G Netane Muti, WR DJ Turner
- Waived: WR Kristian Wilkerson
Los Angeles Rams
- Elevated: QB Dresser Winn
Minnesota Vikings
- Activated from IR: WR Jalen Nailor
- Elevated: DL T.J. Smith, LB Nick Vigil
New England Patriots
- Signed to active roster: DT Jeremiah Pharms
- Elevated: T Conor McDermott
New Orleans Saints
- Elevated: LB Cory Littleton
New York Giants
- Signed to active roster: TE Lawrence Cager
- Elevated: K Randy Bullock, LB Justin Hollins
- Placed on IR: QB Tyrod Taylor, TE Darren Waller (story)
Philadelphia Eagles
- Elevated: LB Ben VanSumeren
Seattle Seahawks
- Elevated: T Jason Peters
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Elevated: DL Pat O’Connor
Washington Commanders
- Elevated: OT Alex Akingbulu, OL Nolan Laufenberg
With Kyler Murray not being activated from injured reserve this week, the Cardinals are heading into Week 9 with Clayton Tune as the only quarterback on their active roster. Driskel will be called up for the week as a standard gameday elevation to back up Tune.
With Matthew Stafford listed as questionable for tomorrow’s game, the Rams are adding some depth at the quarterback position. Dresser Winn had a breakout 2022 campaign at UT Martin, tossing 18 touchdowns while adding another three scores on the ground. He joined the Rams as an UDFA but was cut at the end of the preseason. He had a brief stint in the Canadian Football League before rejoining the Rams practice squad earlier this week. If Stafford can’t go, Brett Rypien will get the call under center for the Rams.
Peters will be elevated for the second straight week in Seattle. The 41-year-old, playing in his 19th NFL season, split snaps with right tackle Stone Forsythe last week against Cleveland.