NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/28/24
Here are Thanksgiving’s practice squad moves around the league:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: WR Sam Pinckney
Houston Texans
- Signed: FB Andrew Beck
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DT Myles Adams
- Released: DT Quinton Bohanna
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/27/24
Wednesday’s minor transactions, including some standard gameday practice squad elevations for the Thanksgiving Day slate:
Buffalo Bills
- Designated to return from IR: DT DeWayne Carter, T Tylan Grable
Carolina Panthers
- Designated to return from IR: S Nick Scott
Chicago Bears
- Elevated: S Adrian Colbert
Cleveland Browns
- Designated to return from IR: CB Myles Harden
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed to active roster: TE Princeton Fant
- Elevated: CB Andrew Booth, CB Kemon Hall
Denver Broncos
- Signed to active roster: LB Zach Cunningham
Detroit Lions
- Signed to active roster: WR Maurice Alexander, LB David Long
- Elevated: T Jamarco Jones
- Placed on IR: WR Kalif Raymond (story)
Houston Texans
- Signed to active roster: DT Tommy Togiai
Los Angeles Rams
- Designated to return from reserve/PUP: TE Tyler Higbee (story)
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed to active roster: LS Jake McQuaide
- Waived: OLB Gabriel Murphy
New York Giants
- Signed to active roster: LB Tomon Fox
- Elevated: T Joshua Miles, CB Greg Stroman
- Placed on IR: DT Armon Watts
New York Jets
- Designated to return from IR: OL Xavier Newman-Johnson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Designated to return from IR: DT Montravius Adams
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed to active roster: LB Patrick O’Connell
- Designated to return from IR: OLB Uchenna Nwosu (story)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Designated to return from IR: OLB Markees Watts
The Vikings’ release of Murphy is disappointing one for the organization for sure. The rookie pass rusher out of UCLA was not healthy enough to be on the active roster to start the season, but Minnesota liked him enough to dedicate one of their eight IR activations on him in August. He was activated yesterday but hit waivers today. If he clears the waivers, he’ll be available to sign to the team’s practice squad.
Adams has seen his biggest NFL roles during his time in Pittsburgh. Though he hasn’t gotten the same number of starts as he had in 2022 and 2023, he’s continued the same level of production. After missing the last four games, he’ll be looking to return to the field soon.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/27/24
Here are Wednesday’s practice squad moves:
Denver Broncos
- Signed: OL Calvin Throckmorton
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: TE Nick Muse
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: WR Kyle Philips
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: OL Cameron Erving
Seattle Seahawks
- Activated from practice squad IR: RB George Holani
The Vikings used an injury activation on Muse but waived him Tuesday. This will at least keep a player they prioritized via the activation around. A 2022 seventh-round pick, Muse played in 10 games as a Vikings rookie but just five over the past two seasons.
Also waived Tuesday, Throckmorton will end up sticking around as one of the many ex-Saints players and coaches on Sean Payton‘s second Broncos roster. The veteran backup O-lineman joins ex-New Orleans starter Kwon Alexander and 2023 Saints draftee A.T. Perry on Denver’s practice squad, with the likes of Wil Lutz, Adam Trautman, Malcolm Roach, Lil’Jordan Humphrey and Lucas Krull comprising the contingent of former Saints on the Broncos’ 53-man roster.
Seahawks Place G Anthony Bradford On IR, Designate T Stone Forsythe For Return
The Seahawks have officially designated Uchenna Nwosu for return from IR, as Mike Macdonald indicated would happen. They have also designated tackle Stone Forsythe for return from IR, The Athletic’s Michael-Shawn Dugar tweets.
With the Seahawks missing Abraham Lucas and George Fant for most of the season’s first half, Forsythe logged five starts before going down with a hand injury. Lucas has since return after a long rehab effort, which would make Forsythe a backup once he is activated. Fant is amid a second IR stint.
While the Seahawks could soon have some tackle depth back, they will be down a starting guard. Anthony Bradford sustained an ankle injury during Seattle’s win over Arizona and is heading to IR. Playing opposite free agency addition Laken Tomlinson, Bradford has started every game for the Seahawks this season. Week 13 will be the first game either of Seattle’s starting guards misses. Bradford suffered a “pretty severe” high ankle sprain, Macdonald said (via Dugar). The Seahawks hope he can come back after the required four-week absence period.
Bradford won the right guard job out of training camp, keeping a place in the starting lineup after the Seahawks moved on from both their 2023 guard starters (Damien Lewis, Phil Haynes). Bradford spent much of last season filling in for Haynes, who has not resurfaced since his Seahawks contract expired, while Lewis manned the LG job. Lewis defected to the Panthers on an eight-figure-per-year deal, and the Seahawks kept cost low by signing Tomlinson to a veteran-minimum deal. Bradford remains tied to a rookie contract.
A 2023 fourth-round pick, Bradford has struggled in moving to full-time duty this year. Pro Football Focus rates the LSU alum as the NFL’s fourth-worst guard among regulars in 2024. ESPN’s run block win rate metric ranks the Seahawks in the bottom five. Another Haynes, third-rounder Christian, is set to replace Bradford, who appeared on the Seattle sideline in a walking boot and using crutches. Despite not starting any games, Christian Haynes has logged 164 offensive snaps.
Nwosu and Forsythe being activated would leave the Seahawks with three such moves remaining during the regular season. The team also moved linebacker Patrick O’Connell to the active roster.
2024 NFL Dead Money, By Team
The Giants making the decision to waive Daniel Jones, rather than keep him around ahead of a potential 2025 post-June 1 cut designation, changed their dead money outlook for this year and next. Here is how their new total fits in with the rest of the teams’ numbers for dead money — cap space allocated to players no longer on the roster — entering the final third of the regular season. Numbers courtesy of OverTheCap.
- Denver Broncos: $85.21MM
- New York Giants: $79.57MM
- Minnesota Vikings: $69.83MM
- Buffalo Bills: $68.47MM
- Carolina Panthers: $68.28MM
- Green Bay Packers: $65.53MM
- Tennessee Titans: $62.89MM
- Philadelphia Eagles: $61.95MM
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $60.64MM
- New Orleans Saints: $59.44MM
- New York Jets: $59.24MM
- Los Angeles Chargers: $58.62MM
- New England Patriots: $53.37MM
- Miami Dolphins: $52.28MM
- Seattle Seahawks: $52MM
- Jacksonville Jaguars: $51.2MM
- Las Vegas Raiders: $49.37MM
- Washington Commanders: $42.81MM
- Houston Texans: $39.28MM
- Cleveland Browns: $38.79MM
- Los Angeles Rams: $34.63MM
- Detroit Lions: $33.71MM
- Pittsburgh Steelers: $30.18MM
- Chicago Bears: $29.65MM
- Arizona Cardinals: $29.35MM
- San Francisco 49ers: $26.91MM
- Dallas Cowboys: $26.79MM
- Baltimore Ravens: $21.35MM
- Kansas City Chiefs: $12.65MM
- Indianapolis Colts: $11.8MM
- Atlanta Falcons: $11.55MM
- Cincinnati Bengals: $9.11MM
The Jones release moved more than $13MM of dead cap onto the Giants’ 2024 payroll. More significantly, the Giants granting Jones an early exit — after a contract-driven benching — will prevent the team from designating him a post-June 1 cut next year. The Giants will take on $22.2MM in dead money in 2025, rather than being able to split that bill over two offseasons. The team also took on more than $10MM in dead money this year due to the 2023 Leonard Williams trade.
This year’s most egregious dead money offender has been known for months. The Broncos’ contract-driven Russell Wilson benching last year preceded a historic release, which saddled the team with more than $83MM in total dead money. A small cap credit is set to come in 2025 (via Wilson’s veteran-minimum Pittsburgh pact), but for this year, $53MM in dead cap hit Denver’s payroll as a result of the the quarterback’s release.
The Broncos more than doubled the previous single-player dead money record, which the Falcons held ($40.5MM) for trading Matt Ryan), and they will be on the hook for the final $30MM-plus in 2025. Beyond Wilson, no other ex-Bronco counts more than $7.5MM in dead money. In terms of total dead cap, however, the Broncos barely check in north of the Buccaneers and Rams’ 2023 totals. Denver is trying to follow those teams’ lead in rallying back to make the playoffs despite nearly a third of its 2024 payroll tied up in dead cap.
Twenty-two players represent dead money for the Saints, who have seen their total updated since the Marshon Lattimore trade. Rather than restructure-crazed GM Mickey Loomis using the Lattimore contract once again to create cap space next year, the Saints will take on the highest non-QB dead money hit in NFL history. Lattimore counts $14MM in that category this year before the contract shifts to a whopping $31.66MM in dead cap on New Orleans’ 2025 payroll. Considering the Saints are again in their own sector for cap trouble next year ($62MM-plus over), the Lattimore trade will create some issues as the team attempts to rebound post-Dennis Allen.
Two 2023 restructures ballooned the Vikings’ figure toward $70MM. Void years on Kirk Cousins and Danielle Hunter‘s deals combined for more than $43MM in dead money. Minnesota also ate nearly $7MM from the void years on Marcus Davenport‘s one-year contract, while the release of 2022 first-rounder Lewis Cine (currently on the Bills’ practice squad) accounted for more than $5MM.
Free from the Tom Brady dead money that comprised a chunk of their 2023 cap, the Bucs still have eight-figure hits from the Carlton Davis trade and Mike Evans‘ previous contract voiding not long before the sides agreed on a new deal. Elsewhere in the NFC South, three of the players given multiyear deals in 2023 — Vonn Bell, Hayden Hurst, Bradley Bozeman — being moved off the roster in GM Dan Morgan‘s first offseason represent nearly half of Carolina’s dead cap.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/26/24
Today’s minor moves:
Houston Texans
- Placed on IR: CB Ka’dar Hollman (story)
Kansas City Chiefs
- Placed on IR: TE Peyton Hendershot
- Waived: DE Cameron Thomas
New England Patriots
- Claimed off waivers (from Dolphins): G Lester Cotton
- Waived: G Michael Jordan
New Orleans Saints
- Designated for return: DE Tanoh Kpassagnon
Seattle Seahawks
- Claimed off waivers (from Chargers): S A.J. Finley
- Waived: DT Myles Adams
The Patriots moved on from one of their OL starters today. Michael Jordan started all 11 games for New England this season, although that was mostly due to necessity. The veteran lineman ranks 73rd among 77 qualifying guards on Pro Football Focus’ positional rankings. A former fourth-round pick, Jordan also has starting experience with the Bengals and Panthers.
New England will be replacing Jordan with Lester Cotton, who has spent the past few seasons in Miami. The lineman started a career-high eight games for the Dolphins in 2023, but he basically split his 100ish snaps between offense and special teams in 2024. The former UDFA could have a chance at more OL opportunities with his new squad.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/26/24
Today’s practice squad moves:
Houston Texans
- Signed: S Russ Yeast
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: OL Tyler Shatley
- Released: OL Dieter Eiselen
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: K Matthew Wright
- Activated from IR: TE Baylor Cupp
- Released: DE Truman Jones, OT Lucas Niang
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: TE McCallan Castles
New York Jets
- Signed: RB Zonovan Knight, WR Easop Winston Jr.
- Released: OL Zack Bailey
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: DE KJ Henry
- Released: DT Siaki Ika, WR Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: LB Julius Welschof
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: CB Ryan Cooper, WR Cornell Powell
- Released: RB Brittain Brown, CB Faion Hicks
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: LB Antonio Grier
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: WR Stanley Morgan
Washington Commanders
- Signed: DT Viliami Fehoko Jr.
- Released: G Marquis Hayes
The Chiefs are set to roll with their third kicker of the season. With Harrison Butker on IR and Spencer Shrader sidelined with a hamstring injury, Kansas City had to add yet another leg to the roster. The team opted for Matthew Wright, who already has experience kicking with the franchise. Wright filled in for Butker twice in 2022, connecting on three field goals and eight extra points.
Wright has only got one extended look as a starter (when he got into 14 games with the Jaguars in 2021), but he’s still managed to get into at least one game per season over the past few years. Wright has already made an appearance in 2024, when he was responsible for 12 points in the 49ers win over the Seahawks last month.
Seahawks’ Uchenna Nwosu To Return To Practice
Uchenna Nwosu has been out of the Seahawks’ lineup since October, but he is making progress in his recovery. The team’s highest-paid edge rusher is set to practice today, per head coach Mike Macdonald. 
“This week is going to be pretty limited,” Macdonald acknowledged when speaking about Nwosu’s immediate workload in practice (via ESPN’s Brady Henderson). “So we won’t be seeing him this week, and then we’ll take it from there.”
Nwosu suffered a thigh injury in Week 5, his season debut. The 27-year-old missed Seattle’s first four games due to an MCL sprain; that did not lead to time on injured reserve, but he was moved to IR after the thigh ailment was suffered. Nwosu’s 21-day activation window will open once he officially takes part in practice, and Macdonald’s remarks confirm he will spend a portion of that time ramping up before he returns to game action.
Once that takes place, the Seahawks’ pass rush will receive a notable boost. Nwosu set a career high with 9.5 sacks during his debut Seattle campaign (2022), and expectations were high entering this season after he was limited to only six games the previous year. Remaining healthy the rest of the way would allow for Nwosu – who is on the books through 2026 – to reprise a starting role along the edge as Seattle looks to remain in contention to win the NFC West.
In his absence, the Seahawks have relied on Derick Hall and Boye Mafe for pass rush production. Hall leads the team with six sacks, and Mafe is tied for second with five; adding Nwosu to the mix will give Seattle a notable trio of options on the edge along with Leonard Williams on the interior. Sitting at 6-5 on the year, the Seahawks rank only 17th in the league in sacks, so improving in that department could be key in reaching the postseason.
Seattle has six IR activations remaining, and using up one of them will be required to bring Nwosu into the fold. Doing so will allow him to make an impact in 2024 as he looks to move past his recent injury troubles.
Updated 2025 NFL Draft Order
The Week 12 slate of games is in the books. For many teams, attention is increasingly turning toward the offseason with a playoff berth no longer in reach.
Plenty of time remains for the draft order to change over the coming months, and it will be interesting to see which teams wind up in position to add at the quarterback spot in particular. The crop of prospects for 2025 is not held in high regard after Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward, meaning the demand for potential franchise passers is set to outweigh demand at the top of the board. Of course, players like Sanders’ Colorado teammate Travis Hunter will be among the ones worth watching closely as well.
The Jets have moved on from head coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas, inviting questions about a reset under center as well. Aaron Rodgers wants to play in 2025, but it remains to be seen how his relationship with the organization will take shape down the stretch and if a new regime will prefer to move on at the position. The Giants, meanwhile, confirmed they will be in the market for a new signal-caller with Daniel Jones no longer in the fold.
Teams such as the Raiders have long been mentioned as a team to watch regarding a rookie QB pursuit. Jayden Daniels was a target for head coach Antonio Pierce last spring, and it would come as no surprise if Vegas were to make a push for a long-term starting option this time around. Other franchises not on track to qualify for the playoffs figure to give the Raiders plenty of competition in that department, though.
For non-playoff teams, the draft order will be determined by the inverted 2024 standings — plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule — with playoff squads being slotted by their postseason outcome and regular-season record. Here is an updated look at the current draft order:
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 2-9
- New York Giants: 2-9
- Las Vegas Raiders: 2-9
- New England Patriots: 3-9
- Carolina Panthers: 3-8
- Tennessee Titans: 3-8
- New York Jets: 3-8
- Cleveland Browns: 3-8
- New Orleans Saints: 4-7
- Cincinnati Bengals: 4-7
- Dallas Cowboys: 4-7
- Chicago Bears: 4-7
- Indianapolis Colts: 5-7
- Miami Dolphins: 5-6
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 5-6
- Los Angeles Rams: 5-6
- San Francisco 49ers: 5-6
- Arizona Cardinals: 6-5
- Atlanta Falcons: 6-5
- Seattle Seahawks: 6-5
- Washington Commanders: 7-5
- Houston Texans: 7-5
- Denver Broncos: 7-5
- Los Angeles Chargers: 7-4
- Baltimore Ravens: 8-4
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 8-3
- Green Bay Packers: 8-3
- Minnesota Vikings: 9-2
- Philadelphia Eagles: 9-2
- Buffalo Bills: 9-2
- Kansas City Chiefs: 10-1
- Detroit Lions: 10-1
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/23/24
Saturday’s minor moves, including gameday elevations for Week 12:
Arizona Cardinals
- Elevated: S Andre Chachere
Chicago Bears
- Elevated: DB Adrian Colbert
Denver Broncos
- Elevated: LB Zach Cunningham, OL Nick Gargiulo
Houston Texans
- Elevated: DL Tommy Togiai
Kansas City Chiefs
- Elevated: LB Cole Christiansen
Las Vegas Raiders
- Elevated: CB Kyu Blu Kelly, RB Sincere McCormick
Los Angeles Rams
- Elevated: DB Cam Lampkin, DE Jonah Williams
Miami Dolphins
- Elevated: LS Tucker Addington, T Jackson Carman
Minnesota Vikings
- Activated from IR: TE Nick Muse
- Elevated: LS Jake McQuaide
New England Patriots
- Elevated: LB Keshawn Banks, TE Jack Westover
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed to active roster: S Tashaun Gipson
- Placed on IR: LB Tatum Bethune
- Elevated: LB Jalen Graham, CB Nick McCloud
Seattle Seahawks
- Elevated: TE Tyler Mabry, LB Patrick O’Connell
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Elevated: LB Vi Jones
- Waived: LB Antonio Grier
Tennessee Titans
- Placed on IR: CB L’Jarius Sneed (story)
- Elevated: S Daryl Worley
Washington Commanders
- Activated from IR: DE Javontae Jean-Baptiste
- Waived: RB Chris Rodriguez Jr.