Jets Place Zach Wilson On IR; Robert Saleh Addresses QB’s Future
Zach Wilson has been dealing with a concussion, and he will not be cleared in time to play again this season. The third-year quarterback was among the three players placed on injured reserve by the Jets on Saturday. 
In Wilson’s absence, Trevor Siemian will get the nod once again. The latter has been in place since the former’s return to action proved to be short-lived. Wilson found himself benched for the second year in a row, leading to serious questions about his future in New York. When speaking on that point, head coach Robert Saleh did not offer a firm commitment to retaining him.
“We’ll see,” Saleh said when asked about Wilson’s future with the Jets, via ESPN’s Rich Cimini. “It’s all things that we’re going to have talk about once the season’s over, but whether it’s here or somewhere else, I believe he’s going to have a hell of a career.”
In the wake of Wilson showing a hesitancy to return to the lineup after his latest benching, signs increasingly began to point in December to the Jets moving on from the former No. 2 pick. Wilson is still under contract through 2024, and waiving him would result in a cap charge of $11.2MM. With Aaron Rodgers in place for the short-term future (along with the team’s top decision-makers), though, starting over at the rest of the QB depth chart would come as little surprise at this point. Wilson will have plenty to prove next year with the Jets or a new team as he aims to establish himself as a starting-caliber option and generate a free agent market for the following offseason.
“We were hoping… to give him that one year to watch Aaron play football, and learn and grow with all the different things that come with the scheme,” Saleh added. “It’s unfortunate, four plays in, what happened, but I think he’s made tremendous improvements from a year ago. I do. It’s just an unfortunate series of events that occurred.”
In addition to Wilson, the Jets moved offensive lineman Jake Hanson and tight end Jeremy Ruckert to injured reserve, ending their seasons. To fill the open roster spots, running back Xazavian Valladay, linebacker Marcelino McCrary-Ball, offensive lineman Chris Glaser and defensive lineman Bruce Hector were signed from the practice squad, giving each of them the opportunity to suit up tomorrow. New York’s disappointing campaign – one which has fueled additional questions about where Wilson will be playing in 2024 – will come to an end against New England on Sunday.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/5/24
Here are Friday’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed from practice squad: LB Jeremiah Moon
- Placed on IR: CB Daryl Worley
- Elevated: DB Andrew Adams, TE Ben Mason
New Orleans Saints
- Placed on IR: LB Nephi Sewell
New York Jets
- Signed from practice squad: RB Xazavian Valladay
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Elevated: LB Myles Jack, S Eric Rowe
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Activated from IR: WR Rakim Jarrett
- Waived: DL Deadrin Senat
Washington Commanders
- Placed on IR: CB Tariq Castro-Fields, CB Kendall Fuller, CB Christian Holmes
- Signed from practice squad: DT Abdullah Anderson, DT Benning Potoa’e, CB Nick Whiteside
A knee injury will send Fuller to IR, potentially wrapping the veteran cornerback’s second stint in Washington. The 2016 third-round pick, sent to Kansas City in the Alex Smith trade, returned in 2020 on a four-year, $40MM deal. With the Commanders having already fired Jack Del Rio and being set to clean house following their season finale, the 28-year-old corner could be headed elsewhere in free agency.
Worley has played 124 defensive snaps for the Ravens this season, starting two games. This will be the eighth-year corner’s second IR placement this season. If the Ravens qualify for Super Bowl LVIII, they would be eligible to activate Worley a second time. (Baltimore has four IR activations remaining, though one may need to be saved in case Mark Andrews can come back.) Worley is dealing with shoulder and ankle injuries.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/23/23
Saturday’s taxi squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: DL Jacob Slade
Cincinnati Bengals
- Released: DE Garrett Nelson
New York Jets
- Signed: RB Xazavian Valladay
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/22/23
The league’s practice squad transactions heading into the weekend:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released from practice squad IR with injury settlement: S Jovante Moffatt
Carolina Panthers
- Released from practice squad IR: CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: QB Reid Sinnett
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: T Ryan Hayes
- Released: T James Tunstall
New York Jets
- Signed: OL Chris Glaser
- Released: RB Xazavian Valladay
With starting quarterback Joe Burrow still nursing a calf injury that has hampered him throughout the first two weeks of the season, the signing of Sinnett becomes significant. Burrow’s status is reportedly still up in the air for this Sunday, and with practice squad quarterback Will Grier getting signed away to the Patriots’ active roster yesterday, Sinnett would now serve as QB2 to Jake Browning if Burrow can’t go.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 8/31/23
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: WR Kaden Davis, OL Marquis Hayes
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: NT Bravvion Roy
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: QB Shane Buechele
Chicago Bears
- Signed: DL Deslin Alexandre, DL Daniel Hardy, OL Bill Murray, K John Parker Romo
Denver Broncos
- Signed: TE Lucas Krull
Detroit Lions
- Signed: QB David Blough, DL Quinton Bohanna, WR Daurice Fountain, DE Raymond Johnson, RB Zonovan Knight, G Michael Niese
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: LB Kristian Welch
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: DT McTelvin Agim, WR Racey McMath
- Released: DT Caleb Sampson, CB Kevin Toliver
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: DL Esezi Otomewo
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: CB Keith Taylor, WR Montrell Washington
- Released: DB Reese Taylor
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: WR Marquez Callaway, LB Isaac Darkangelo, G Vitaliy Gurman, DE Janarius Robinson
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: WR Alex Erickson, S Dean Marlowe, TE Nick Vannett
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: TE Nick Bowers, RB Darrynton Evans, OL Chasen Hines, S Joshua Kalu, DT Rashard Lawrence, OT James Tunstall, WR Raleigh Webb, DE Chase Winovich
New England Patriots
- Signed: WR Jalen Reagor
New Orleans Saints
- Released: RB Tony Jones Jr., RB Ellis Merriweather, RB Jordan Mims, LB Ty Summers
New York Giants
- Signed: CB Caleb Hayes, WR Dennis Houston, TE Tyree Jackson, RB Taiwan Jones, G Jalen Mayfield, OT Jaylon Thomas
- Released: CB Gemon Green, OL Tyre Phillips
New York Jets
- Signed: LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball, DL Jalyn Holmes, S Tyreque Jones, OL Jason Poe, OL Ryan Swoboda, RB Xazavian Valladay
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: DT Thomas Booker, OT Le’Raven Clark, CB Tiawan Mullen
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: LB Tariq Carpenter, OT Kellen Diesch, WR Simi Fehoko, G Joey Fisher, DB Josiah Scott
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: CB CB Shemar Jean-Charles, K Matthew Wright
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: OL Ben Brown, CB Artie Burns, LB Jon Rhattigan, CB Robert Rochell
- Released: QB Holton Ahlers, OL Greg Eiland
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: LB Brandon Bouyer-Randle, DE C.J. Brewer, OL Silas Dzansi, OT Luke Haggard, DB Keenan Isaac, WR Cephus Johnson, RB Patrick Laird, S Richard LeCounte, WR Ryan Miller, WR David Moore, DL Pat O’Connor, OL Raiqwon O’Neal, LB Jose Ramirez, LB J.J. Russell, TE Tanner Taula, QB John Wolford
Steelers Set 53-Man Roster
The Steelers have made many of their cuts already. Here are the rest of Pittsburgh’s moves to trim their roster to the 53-man limit. Some of these players are likely to end up on Pittsburgh’s practice squad. Those 16-man units will be set Wednesday, with waivers processing at 11am CT.
Released:
- TE Zach Gentry
- LB Nick Kwiatkoski
Waived:
- CB Luq Barcoo
- RB Greg Bell
- WR Jordan Byrd
- DL Breiden Fehoko
- WR Dez Fitzpatrick
- DL Jonathan Marshall
- OL Ryan McCollum
- S Tre Norwood
- LB David Perales
- LB Quincy Roche
- DB Trenton Thompson
- RB Xazavian Valladay
- CB Chris Wilcox
- TE Rodney Williams
The Steelers made several cuts in the days leading up to the deadline, while also sending Kendrick Green to the Texans and Kevin Dotson to the Rams. Kwiatkoski is the biggest name among their final-day moves.
A Pittsburgh-area native, Kwiatkoski signed with his hometown team midway through the offseason, adding him to a revamped linebacking corps. Pittsburgh shuttled out the likes of Myles Jack, Devin Bush and Robert Spillane — via releases (Jack) or free agency defections — and added Cole Holcomb and Elandon Roberts. A former part-time Bears and Raiders starter who spent last season with the Falcons, Kwiatkoski, 30, returns to free agency.
Gentry worked as a Steelers starter alongside Pat Freiermuth for the past two seasons. The former fifth-round pick caught 19 passes in each of the past two campaigns. It is possible Gentry, as a vested veteran, returns after the Steelers take care of other roster business. As of now, only two tight ends — Freiermuth and third-round pick Darnell Washington — are on the 53-man roster.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/15/23
Today’s minor transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: S Sean Chandler
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: DE Demone Harris
- Released: OT LaColby Tucker
- Placed on IR: LB Adetokunbo Ogundeji
Buffalo Bills
- Activated from PUP: LB Tyler Matakevich
Houston Texans
- Claimed off waivers (from Vikings): OT Jacky Chen
- Released from IR: OT Greg Little
Kansas City Chiefs
- Placed on IR: TE Jody Fortson
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: CB Matt Hankins, RB Aaron Shampklin
Miami Dolphins
- Waived from IR: WR Freddie Swain
Minnesota Vikings
- Placed on IR: LB William Kwenkeu
New England Patriots
- Waived: LS Tucker Addington, DE DaMarcus Mitchell
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: CB Nevelle Clarke, RB Xazavian Valladay
- Waived: RB John Lovett
Sean Chandler brings 64 games of experience to Arizona. Following a 2021 campaign that saw him collect a career-high 48 tackles in 15 games (seven starts) for the Panthers, the 27-year-old got into 17 games for the team in 2022, finishing with 19 tackles while primarily playing on special teams.
Adetokunbo Ogundeji is a tough loss for the Falcons, as the linebacker has turned into an important piece on Atlanta’s defense. The former fifth-round pick has started 27 of his 32 games since entering the NFL, collecting 75 tackles and three sacks. Ogundeji suffered a foot/ankle injury that will require surgery, and his placement on IR means the issue will ultimately knock him out for the entire 2023 campaign.
Texans Sign QB E.J. Perry, WRs Victor Bolden And Adam Humphries
The Texans have made a series of additions to their roster. The club is signing quarterback E.J. Perry along with wide receivers Victor Bolden and Adam Humphries, as Aaron Wilson of Click2Houston.com reports in separate pieces.
Of course, the No. 2 overall pick of this year’s draft, C.J. Stroud, is set to open the season as Houston’s starting quarterback. The Texans are also rostering 2021 third-rounder Davis Mills and established veteran Case Keenum, so unless there is an injury to one of the three passers ahead of him on the depth chart, Perry appears to be in line for, at best, a spot on the practice squad.
After a strong collegiate career that culminated in his earning MVP honors for his performance in the 2022 East-West Shrine Game, Perry initially agreed to sign with the Eagles as an undrafted free agent last year. When it became clear that Philadelphia planned to add fellow quarterback Carson Strong to the roster, Perry pivoted to the Jaguars. He ultimately spent the season on Jacksonville’s taxi squad, and after signing a reserve/futures deal in January, he was waived in March. Houston subsequently claimed him but sent him back to the waiver wire in May.
After being cut by the Texans, Perry signed with the USFL’s Michigan Panthers towards the end of that league’s regular season. He appeared in two games with the club, including an overtime postseason loss in which he completed 23 of 38 passes for two touchdowns and an interception. The dual-threat player added seven carries for 22 yards and a score. As Wilson reports, the Panthers released him from his USFL contract so he could explore another NFL opportunity.
Bolden, now 28, signed with the 49ers as an undrafted free agent way back in 2017 and returned 19 kicks (20.8 yards per return) and four punts (5.8 yards per return) for the club that year. He was suspended for the first four games of the 2018 season due to a PED violation and ended the campaign as a member of the Bills, for whom he returned five kickoffs. His last game with Buffalo in December 2018 is also the last time he saw regular season action for an NFL club, though he would spend time on the practice squads of the Lions, Cardinals, and Broncos in subsequent years.
Bolden’s efforts as a member of the USFL’s Birmingham Stallions in 2022, which included Wide Receiver and Special Team All-USFL Team acclaim and MVP honors in the 2022 USFL Championship Game, have kept him on the NFL radar. The diminutive speedster has just one NFL catch to his credit but will attempt to crack the back end of Houston’s WR depth chart, which is topped by Nico Collins, John Metchie, and Robert Woods, and which also includes free agent pickup Noah Brown and 2023 draftees Tank Dell and Xavier Hutchinson.
Humphries, 30, has plenty of NFL experience, and from 2018-20, he averaged 64 catches and just under 700 receiving yards per season as a key member of the Bucs’ receiving corps. His last professional action came as a member of the Washington Football Team in 2021, as he was unable to land a contract last season despite working out for the 49ers and Giants.
In corresponding moves, the Texans released cornerback Kendall Sheffield and UDFA running back Xazavian Valladay, who was given a $175K guarantee to sign with Houston.
Texans Add Nine Undrafted Free Agents
The Texans were one of the busiest teams in the draft, and the front office is continuing to be active after the seventh rou. The team announced that they’ve signed nine undrafted free agents:
- OL Tyler Beach (Wisconsin)
- OT Dylan Deatherage (Western Michigan)
- P Joe Doyle (Memphis)
- DE Ali Gaye (LSU)
- S Darius Joiner (Duke)
- WR Jesse Matthews (San Diego State)
- RB Xazavian Valladay (Arizona State)
- WR Jared Wayne (Pittsburgh)
- OT Kilian Zierer (Auburn)
Xazavian Valladay got $175K in guaranteed money from the Texans, per Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com (via Twitter). The running back had three productive seasons at Wyoming before transferring to Arizona State for the 2022 campaign, where he compiled 1,481 yards from scrimmage and 18 touchdowns. Dameon Pierce has a firm hold on the starting gig and the Texans brought in Devin Singletary as a reliable backup, but Valladay could push for a role as an RB3.
Kilian Zierer got $180K guaranteed from Houston, per Wilson (on Twitter). The offensive lineman held his own against SEC competition despite having only started playing football at the age of 16. Fortunately for the Texans, they can take the rookie along slowly with the hopes that he will eventually be a serviceable backup to Laremy Tunsil and Tytus Howard.
Jared Wayne got the biggest payday of the grouping, earning $210K in guaranteed money (via Wilson on Twitter). The Pittsburgh product earned second-team All-ACC honors in 2022 after finishing with 60 receptions for 1,063 yards and five touchdowns. His size put him on the NFL radar but his lack of elite speed led to him going undrafted, but with the Texans eyeing a completely revamped WR depth chart, he’ll have as good of a chance as anyone to earn a role on the team.