Washington Extends C Chase Roullier
Ahead of the final game of Chase Roullier‘s rookie contract, Washington finalized a deal to keep its center long-term. Roullier is now signed through the 2024 season.
The team announced the fourth-year center’s four-year extension Saturday. He joins right tackle Morgan Moses as WFT blockers signed to veteran deals beyond 2021. Roullier’s deal is worth $40.5MM, $19.5MM of which being guaranteed at signing, Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post reports (on Twitter).
Moving into Washington’s starting lineup midway through his rookie season, Roullier took over for previous pivot Spencer Long. Washington found Long in Round 3; the franchise nabbed Roullier in the 2017 sixth round. Roullier has started 52 games, including 15 this season.
This season, Roullier took a step forward. Blocking for four quarterbacks, Roullier has graded as Pro Football Focus’ No. 4 overall center — a noticeable jump from his previous work. This level jump certainly instilled faith in Washington’s new regime. Moses is signed through the 2022 slate. It will now be interesting to see how the Ron Rivera-led operation handles Pro Bowl guard Brandon Scherff, who is finishing up a season on the franchise tag.
WR Kenny Stills Expected To Sign With Bills
After auditioning for the Bills earlier this week, veteran wideout Kenny Stills will be joining the team. Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports that Stills is planning to sign with Buffalo. The receiver will start undergoing COVID-19 testing, and “the team hopes he can start practicing as soon as next week.”
A part of the Laremy Tunsil/Dolphins trade, Stills was solid during his first season in Houston, and he appeared in both of the Texans playoff contests. However, the 28-year-old was cut by the Texans back in November after hauling in only 11 receptions in his 10 appearances. Between the 2016 and 2019 campaigns, Stills averaged 44 receptions for 672 yards and six touchdowns per season, so there’s a good chance he still has something left in the tank.
While John Brown is set to return to the lineup following a lengthy absence, fellow Bills wideout Cole Beasley suffered a knee injury during the Bills’ Week 16 win over the Patriots. Head coach Sean McDermott described the injury as “week-to-week” (per ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques), and the wideout has already been ruled out for tomorrow’s regular season finale.
McDermott also said the team’s interest in Stills wasn’t related to the Beasley injury, meaning the veteran addition could end up playing a role alongside Brown, Beasley, and top receiver Stefon Diggs. Wideout Gabriel Davis and return man Andre Roberts seem to also have secure roles in Buffalo, but the Stills signing could end up pushing the likes of Isaiah McKenzie off the roster.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/1/21
Here are the minor moves from New Year’s Day:
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived: DB Terrell Bonds
Buffalo Bills
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: WR John Brown
Dallas Cowboys
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Justin Hamilton, S Darian Thompson; Thompson tested positive for the coronavirus, according to Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News
Las Vegas Raiders
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: S Erik Harris
Los Angeles Chargers
- Placed on IR: CB Casey Hayward, LB Malik Jefferson
- Promoted: LB Cole Christiansen, DE Joe Gaziano, TE Matt Sokol, S Jaylen Watkins
New England Patriots
- Promoted: CB Dee Virgin
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted: TE Jason Croom, LB Rashad Smith
- Placed on IR: LB Shaun Bradley, LB Duke Riley
San Francisco 49ers
- Placed on IR: T Trent Williams, DL Jordan Willis; Williams suffered an elbow injury that was set to keep him out of Week 17
- Promoted: DE Alex Barrett
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed off Patriots’ practice squad: LB Jack Cichy
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Steve McLendon
Alvin Kamara Tests Positive For COVID-19
A week after his record-tying Christmas Day performance, Alvin Kamara faces the prospect of missing the Saints’ playoff opener.
The star running back tested positive for COVID-19 Friday, according to Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.football (on Twitter). Kamara took another test, and it came back positive, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Kamara did not practice Friday.
Kamara is not symptomatic, according to Underhill (on Twitter). The Saints went to the playoffs in each of Kamara’s first three seasons; he did not miss any of those games. The former third-round pick has only missed three regular-season games in his career.
Should Kamara remain asymptomatic, he will be cleared to play in New Orleans’ first playoff game — should that game occur on Sunday, Jan. 10, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets. The NFL has a new playoff schedule this year; three wild-card games will occur on Saturday and Sunday. Should the league slot the Saints as a Sunday team — if, in fact, they do not obtain the No. 1 seed — Kamara has a chance to play.
The Saints have a chance at home-field advantage in the NFC, which becomes more important now. The Saints have won one road playoff game in franchise history, but securing the bye now would limit the chances Kamara misses a postseason game. A three-way tie atop the conference between the Saints, Packers and Seahawks would give New Orleans its second No. 1 seed in three seasons. This would mean a Green Bay loss and a Seattle win Sunday, in addition to New Orleans defeating Carolina. However, the Packers are favored to beat the Bears this week and clinch the top spot.
Kamara rushed for six touchdowns in Week 16, tying Ernie Nevers‘ 91-year-old record, and leads the NFL with 21 total TDs. He battled ankle trouble in 2019 but missed just two games. He has played all 15 of the Saints’ contests this year and established a new career high with 1,688 scrimmage yards. The Saints earning the No. 2 seed — which they would if the current spots hold — would mean a matchup with the Rams, Cardinals or Bears in Round 1. As it stands, Latavius Murray (656 rushing yards; five total TDs) would start in that game.
The Saints, however, have navigated this season without key players at multiple junctures. Michael Thomas remains on IR and has missed much of the season due to ailments and a suspension. Drew Brees missed four games because of cracked ribs and a punctured lung but has since returned. This Kamara situation will be more of the same for New Orleans, which endured a first-round upset with Kamara, Brees and a healthy Thomas last season.
Devin White Tests Positive For COVID-19
Devin White is out for the Buccaneers’ regular-season finale and likely the team’s playoff opener. The second-year linebacker tested positive for COVID-19, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter).
In addition to White being sidelined, the Bucs placed Shaquil Barrett on their reserve/COVID-19 list. As a close contact, Barrett will miss Week 17. As a close contact, Barrett will be eligible to return for Tampa Bay’s wild-card game.
White and Barrett represent two key pillars of the Bucs’ pass rush. Despite profiling as an off-ball linebacker, White has nine sacks this season. Barrett has produced eight. Jason Pierre-Paul (team-high 9.5) will go it alone this week, and the Bucs will face the NFC East champion next week — in all likelihood — without part of their standout inside ‘backer tandem.
The Bucs used the No. 5 overall pick on White last year, marking the first time a team had devoted a top-five selection to a traditional linebacker since the Seahawks chose Aaron Curry fourth overall in 2009. White has worked out better thus far. Though Pro Football Focus has not been especially impressed with the non-pass-rushing elements of White’s game this season, he is far and away the Bucs’ tackles leader with 140. The LSU product has also racked up 15 tackles for loss and 16 QB hits in what has been a breakthrough second season.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/1/21
We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: WR J.J. Nelson, CB Duke Thomas
- Activated from practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: S Josh Thomas, RB Christian Wade
- Released: OL Marquel Harrell, LB Deon Lacey, CB Lafayette Pitts
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: OT Jordan Mills
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: QB Josh Johnson, K Tristan Vizcaino, WR Kevin White
Washington Football Team
- Signed: RB Jonathan Williams
- Released: RB Javon Leake
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/31/20
Here are the minor moves from 2020’s final day:
Arizona Cardinals
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: S Chris Banjo
Atlanta Falcons
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: C Alex Mack
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed off Chiefs’ practice squad: P Johnny Townsend
- Activated from IR: DB Terrell Bonds
Cincinnati Bengals
- Placed on reserve/NFI list: C B.J. Finney
Denver Broncos
- Activated from IR: TE Jake Butt
- Placed on IR: DL Shelby Harris
Green Bay Packers
- Waived: DL Anthony Rush
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: P Logan Cooke
Los Angeles Chargers
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Keenan Allen
Miami Dolphins
- Promoted: WR Kirk Merritt, QB Jake Rudock
- Placed on IR: LB Elandon Roberts
New England Patriots
- Placed on IR: DE Tashawn Bower, LB Josh Uche
Philadelphia Eagles
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: S Jalen Mills
Rams Place Michael Brockers On Reserve/COVID-19 List
The Rams continue to run into obstacles in the leadup to their Week 17 game against the Cardinals. While most of them have been on offense, Los Angeles’ defense may be set to be without a key player.
Michael Brockers now resides on the Rams’ reserve/COVID-19 list. It is not yet known if the veteran defensive lineman tested positive or is classified as one of the two types of close contacts. This classification will determine if Brockers is eligible to suit up Sunday in a game that may determine if the Rams make the playoffs.
This move comes after the Rams ruled out Jared Goff for Week 17, placed Darrell Henderson on IR and placed Cooper Kupp on the COVID list. Cam Akers did not practice Wednesday and, considering he is dealing with a high ankle sprain, must be considered iffy at best for Sunday’s game. The Rams moved Micah Kiser off IR this week but did so in a procedural move. The inside linebacker is not expected to play. Although Andrew Whitworth returned to practice, it is not certain if the longtime left tackle will be back this week either.
Aaron Donald‘s longtime sidekick up front, Brockers opted to return to the Rams after his Ravens agreement fell through. He has again delivered, registering five sacks — a half-sack shy of his career high — and a career-most 10 QB hits. The 30-year-old defender has been a key player for the Rams since being selected in the 2012 first round and has obviously been central to the team’s defensive resurgence this season.
The Rams can make the playoffs with a win over the Cardinals or a Bears loss to the Packers. Given their expanding list of unavailable or potentially unavailable players, the latter route is becoming increasingly more relevant.
Ravens To Extend Jimmy Smith
The Ravens and cornerback Jimmy Smith have agreed to an extension, agent Drew Rosenhaus tells NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). Once finalized, it’ll be a one-year add-on that, technically, could be worth up to $5MM. In reality, Smith will receive $500K to sign and $2MM in base comp (Twitter link via ESPN’s Adam Schefter). The rest of the $5MM figure comes from $2.5MM in not likely to be earned (NLTBE) incentives.
Smith was originally set for free agency, though it would have been a shock to see him land elsewhere. He’s spent his entire career in Baltimore since entering the league as a first-round pick in 2011. Last year, he briefly dipped his toe in the free agent waters only to return on a one-year deal worth $3.5MM, plus $2.5MM in incentives.
Smith made the fewest starts of his career (five) in 2019, thanks in large part to a knee injury that sidelined him for much of the season. This year, he’s managed to appear in 11 of 15 possible games. Smith has missed the last two games with a shoulder injury, so he may or may not see time against the Bengals on Sunday. In any event, the Ravens have multiple paths to the playoffs and a 90% probability of clinching, per FiveThirtyEight.
Smith has been dogged by injuries, but he’s been a steady hand when healthy. Now, the versatile vet will remain in Baltimore through his age-33 season.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/30/20
Here are Wednesday’s practice squad moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: WR Gary Jennings
Chicago Bears
- Signed: DB Sojourn Shelton
- Placed on practice squad IR: OL Badara Traore
Cleveland Browns
- Activated from practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Ryan Switzer
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Activated from practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Terry Godwin
Los Angeles Rams
- Activated from practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: DL Eric Banks
Miami Dolphins
- Activated from practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Tyshun Render
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: WR Tommylee Lewis
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: LB Ray-Ray Armstrong, TE Luke Willson
Tennessee Titans
- Activated from practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Cody Hollister