NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/6/21
Here are Saturday’s practice squad moves:
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: OL Cohl Cabral, C Spencer Pulley
- Released: DE Nate Orchard
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: LB Dylan Cole, OL Daniel Munyer
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/6/21
Here are Saturday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Promoted: WR Greg Dortch, DL Josh Mauro, CB Kevin Peterson, LB Joe Walker, TE David Wells
- Placed on IR: DL Rashard Lawrence
Atlanta Falcons
- Promoted: RB Qadree Ollison, DL Anthony Rush
Carolina Panthers
- Promoted: P Lachlan Edwards, S Myles Hartsfield, WR Willie Snead
Denver Broncos
- Activated from IR: CB Mike Ford
- Promoted: DL Jonathan Harris, G Austin Schlottmann, LB Barrington Wade
Green Bay Packers
- Activated from IR: WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling
- Promoted: QB Blake Bortles
Houston Texans
- Promoted: S Jonathan Owens
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Promoted: WR Laquon Treadwell
Las Vegas Raiders
- Promoted: WR Marcell Ateman
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted: WR Maurice Ffrench, CB Kiondre Thomas
Miami Dolphins
- Promoted: LB Vince Biegel, WR Kirk Merritt
Minnesota Vikings
- Promoted: DE Kenny Willekes
New England Patriots
- Promoted: WR Kristian Wilkerson
New Orleans Saints
- Placed on IR: QB Jameis Winston (story)
- Promoted: DT Josiah Bronson, WR Kevin White
New York Giants
- Promoted: WR Pharoh Cooper, OLB Trent Harris
- Activated from IR: OLB Elerson Smith
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted: WR John Hightower, RB Jordan Howard
- Activated from IR: TE Tyree Jackson
Tennessee Titans
- Released: OLB John Simon
- Activated from IR: OL Aaron Brewer, LB Jayon Brown
- Promoted: RB D’Onta Foreman, DB Chris Jones
- Placed on IR: FB Khari Blasingame
Titans To Promote Adrian Peterson
The Titans are promoting Adrian Peterson from the practice squad to the 53-man roster (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo). Garafolo adds that this is not a weekly elevation, so Peterson is now a full-fledged member of the active roster. 
[RELATED: Titans Place Derrick Henry On IR]
Peterson signed a taxi squad deal earlier this week to help fill in for the injured. Derrick Henry. The Titans’ star RB will be out for 6-to-10 weeks with a foot fracture and Peterson should help to keep the ground game moving. Jeremy McNichols is still expected to serve as the Titans’ RB1 on Sunday, but don’t be surprised if Peterson gets involved quickly.
Peterson’s last action came in 2020 with the Lions when he notched 604 yards and seven rushing touchdowns. The 36-year-old needs another 180 rushing yards to hit 15,000 lifetime. And, with another 500 yards, he’ll top Barry Sanders for fourth all time on the list.
He’ll try to add to those totals with the Titans, starting this weekend against the Rams.
Titans Add D’Onta Foreman To Practice Squad
The Titans have signed running back D’Onta Foreman to the practice squad, per a club announcement. Foreman will be joined by Adrian Peterson, who agreed to terms on Monday. 
[RELATED: Titans Sign Adrian Peterson]
Peterson is set for a quick promotion — he’ll likely be brought up to the varsity squad later this week. Foreman, meanwhile, will provide additional insurance at running back in the wake of Derrick Henry‘s injury. Henry’s foot trouble is expected to shelve him for a minimum of six weeks, but a late-season return remains possible.
The Titans have also released linebacker Avery Williamson from the 53-man roster while dropping running back Mekhi Sargent and defensive linemen Eli Ankou and Caraun Reid from the 16-man practice squad. That’ll give them enough room to accommodate the veteran tailbacks, though at least one of those players figures to return once Peterson is elevated to the active roster.
Titans To Sign Adrian Peterson
The Titans have agreed to a practice squad deal with Adrian Peterson (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). The practice squad part seems to be a formality, however, as RapSheet hears that he’ll soon be elevated to the 53-man roster. 
[RELATED: Titans’ Henry To Miss Time]
Peterson will help fill in for Derrick Henry, who will miss anywhere between 6-to-10 weeks with a foot fracture. This marks the veteran’s first deal of 2021 and a huge opportunity for him to defy Father Time once again. While Peterson is years removed from his prime years as a top-tier rusher, he was still productive with 604 yards and seven rushing touchdowns for the Lions in 2020.
“The training is going well and I’m going to control the things that I can control right now, and, when that time comes, somebody will give me a call,” Peterson said over the summer (via Aaron Wilson of SportsTalk 790). “[A chance] is all I’m asking for. My body feels good…I still feel young. I still feel good. I’m ready to play ball.”
Peterson, 36, is just 180 rushing yards shy of 15,000 for his career. Depending on how the Titans use him, he could be just a few weeks away from joining Emmitt Smith, Walter Payton, Frank Gore and Barry Sanders in the elusive 15,000-yard club. He’s also about 500 yards away from leapfrogging Sanders for fourth all time in rushing yards and six rushing TDs away from besting Marcus Allen for third place.
Peterson might not start immediately for the Titans, but he’ll surely stand as their biggest name at RB while Henry is out. Once he’s promoted to the 53-man roster, he’ll slot somewhere alongside Jeremy McNichols on the depth chart.
Titans To Place Derrick Henry On IR
Titans running back Derrick Henry will undergo foot surgery on Tuesday morning, head coach Mike Vrabel announced (Twitter link via Field Yates of ESPN.com). Vrabel didn’t specify a timeline for his recovery, but NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter) hears that he’ll be out for somewhere between 6-10 weeks. 
Although that’s bad news for the Titans, it’s a better outcome than what was expected just a few hours ago. Henry was feared to have suffered a more serious metatarsal fracture, one that surely would have left him in a boot for the rest of 2021. Now, the Titans could have Henry back as soon as Week 15. Or, if he needs additional time to recover, there’s still a chance that he could suit up for the postseason.
Up until last night’s injury, Henry was on pace for another stellar season. He currently leads the league with 937 rushing yards — 300+ yards more than Browns RB Nick Chubb. Had he stayed healthy, Henry could have potentially matched last year’s eye-popping total of 2,027 yards. At minimum, he probably would have captured his third consecutive NFL rushing title.
Without Henry, the Titans are set to deploy Jeremy McNichols as their RB1 with support from Khari Blasingame and Dontrell Hilliard at RB. However, they’ll also audition a few free agents this week, including Adrian Peterson (Twitter link via Rapoport). Peterson might not be the player he once was, but he still managed 604 yards and seven TDs via ground with the Lions last year.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/1/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Baltimore Ravens
- Placed on reserve/NFI list: LB Malik Harrison
Green Bay Packers
- Designated for return: WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted: RB Deon Jackson, S Josh Jones
- Released: QB Brett Hundley
- Released from IR: WR JJ Nelson
Las Vegas Raiders
- Released: LB Javin White
Los Angeles Rams
- Placed on IR: WR Tutu Atwell
New York Giants
- Placed on IR: LB Carter Coughlin
San Francisco 49ers
- Designated for return: RB Jeff Wilson Jr.
Tennessee Titans
- Activated from IR: C Daniel Munyer
Titans’ Derrick Henry Done For Year?
Derrick Henry suffered a potentially season-ending foot injury last night (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com). He’ll know more after an MRI today, but the early word isn’t promising for the Titans running back. 
[RELATED: Titans Place Darrynton Evans On IR]
Doctors fear that Henry is dealing with a Jones fracture, which would require season-ending surgery (Twitter link via Schefter). Henry suffered the injury towards the end of the second half, but somehow managed to play through the pain in overtime. A Jones fracture would not allow for any further heroics in 2021.
Henry currently leads the NFL with ten rushing touchdowns and 937 rushing yards, far ahead of Browns RB Nick Chubb (584). He finished Sunday night with 28 carries for 68 yards, with some of those totes coming after the injury.
If Henry misses time, the Titans will be left with Jeremy McNichols, Khari Blasingame, and Dontrell Hilliard at RB. Of course, none of those tailbacks can replace Henry, who tallied 2,027 rushing yards last year en route to his second straight rushing title.
The Titans advanced to 6-2 after edging the Colts last night. They’ll likely be without their star running back in Week 9 when they face the Rams.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/30/21
Here is the Week 8 Saturday minor move blitz:
Atlanta Falcons
- Promoted: LB Daren Bates, LB James Vaughters
Buffalo Bills
- Promoted: TE Kahale Warring
Carolina Panthers
- Placed on IR: DE Darryl Johnson
- Promoted: P Lachlan Edwards, WR Keith Kirkwood
Chicago Bears
- Activated from IR: T Larry Borom
Cincinnati Bengals
- Promoted: DE Khalid Kareem, RB Trayveon Williams
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted: CB Tim Harris, S Jovante Moffatt
Denver Broncos
- Activated from IR: LB Jonas Griffith
- Promoted: LB Barrington Wade
Detroit Lions
- Activated from IR: DE Da’Shawn Hand
- Promoted: S Jalen Elliott, TE Brock Wright
Houston Texans
- Placed on IR: C Justin Britt
- Promoted: LB Hardy Nickerson, G Lane Taylor, OL Cole Toner
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: TE Kendall Blanton
- Promoted: DB Antoine Brooks, DB Tyler Hall
Miami Dolphins
- Promoted: LB Vince Biegel, RB Patrick Laird, CB Jamal Perry
Minnesota Vikings
- Promoted: TE Luke Stocker, DE Kenny Willekes
New England Patriots
- Promoted: DT Daniel Ekuale
New Orleans Saints
- Activated after six-game suspension: DT David Onyemata
- Placed on IR: G Andrus Peat (story)
- Promoted: T Jordan Mills, WR Kevin White
New York Jets
- Activated from IR: LB Jarrad Davis
- Promoted: LB Noah Dawkins, QB Josh Johnson, DE Jabari Zuniga
- Released: S Jarrod Wilson
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted: RB Jordan Howard, TE Richard Rodgers
- Activated from IR: S K’Von Wallace
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Promoted: DE Taco Charlton
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted: LB Tanner Muse
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted: WR Cyril Grayson
Tennessee Titans
- Promoted: DL Eli Ankou, FB Tory Carter, RB Dontrell Hilliard
Washington Football Team
- Promoted: C Keith Ismael, T David Steinmetz
Titans Place Darrynton Evans On IR
Titans running back Darrynton Evans is headed to the injured reserve list again, per a club announcement. This time, he won’t be able to return. 
Evans spent the first six weeks of the season on the IR list before returning to face the Chiefs on Sunday. Unfortunately, he re-aggravated his knee injury after just two carries and two catches. Injuries have plagued the 23-year-old throughout his pro career.
The Titans had high hopes for the third-rounder in 2020, but he was limited to just five games as a rookie. Now, he’ll head into 2022 with little pro experience and an uphill battle to make the final cut.
Derrick Henry and Jeremy McNichols stand as the Titans’ only healthy running backs. They’ll almost certainly add a third before Sunday’s matchup against the Colts. One of their two practice squad RBs — Dontrell Hilliard or Mekhi Sargent — could get promoted to the practice squad. Or, the Titans could circle back to D’Onta Foreman, who auditioned for Mike Vrabel & Co. on Wednesday.