NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/29/20
We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad shuffles here, so be sure to check back later for all the new updates:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: S Trayvon Henderson
Detroit Lions
- Signed: DB Josh Hawkins
- Placed on practice squad IR: CB Alexander Myres
Indianapolis Colts
- Activated from practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: S Ibraheim Campbell, DT Rob Windsor
Minnesota Vikings
- Placed on practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Brandon Dillon
New England Patriots
- Waived: G Earl Watford
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: LB Christian Kuntz, G John Leglue
Seattle Seahawks
- Released: CB DeMarkus Acy, DT Myles Adams
Washington Football Team
- Released: RB Michael Warren
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/28/20
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here as we barrel toward Week 17:
Arizona Cardinals
- Placed on IR: LB Kylie Fitts
- Activated: OL Lamont Gaillard
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived: S Geno Stone
Buffalo Bills
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: WR John Brown, S Josh Thomas, RB Christian Wade (close contacts)
Carolina Panthers
- Placed on IR: OT Trenton Scott
- Signed to 53 from practice squad: OT Matt Kaskey
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: WR Alexander Hollins
Houston Texans
- Signed to 53 from practice squad: WR Damion Ratley
- Waived: RB C.J. Prosise
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Claimed off waivers from Steelers: OL Derwin Gray
New England Patriots
- Signed to 53 from practice squad: OL Marcus Martin
San Francisco 49ers
- Placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list: C Hroniss Grasu, LS Taybor Pepper
Lions Cut S Jayron Kearse
The Lions are playing out the string after their embarrassing 47-7 loss to the Buccaneers last week, and now they’re making a notable move with just one game left to play. Detroit has cut veteran safety Jayron Kearse, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network tweets.
Since we’re this late in the season Kearse will be going on waivers with 31 teams getting a chance to claim him. It’s interesting since Kearse had been playing a large role on defense recently, starting each of their last seven games before missing the Tampa game with an injury. Kearse was drafted by the Vikings in the seventh-round back in 2016, and spent the first four years of his career in Minnesota.
He became a special teams standout with the Vikings, and also a team captain. He signed a one-year, $2.75MM deal with Detroit back in March. He was suspended for the first three games of 2020 due to a substance abuse violation, but began playing a sizable role on defense right away that soon progressed to a near-every down role.
He’ll finish his stint with the Lions with 58 tackles, two passes defended, and a forced fumble in 11 games and seven starts. His most productive year in Minnesota was last season when he finished with six passes defended and an interception while making three starts. It’s possible that a contender with a banged up secondary takes a flyer on him for the postseason.
Washington Cuts Dwayne Haskins
Quarterback Dwayne Haskins has been released, per an announcement from the Washington Football Team. The news comes just hours after Haskins was benched and leapfrogged on the depth chart by Taylor Heinicke. 
“This afternoon I met with Dwayne and informed him that we would be releasing him,” head coach Ron Rivera said in a statement. “I told him that I believe it benefits both parties that we go our separate ways. We want to thank Dwayne for his contributions these last two seasons and wish him well moving forward.”
Washington had high hopes for Haskins after selecting him in the first round of the 2019 draft. It was a move that the franchise came to regret, and Ron Rivera‘s regime had little reason to keep up appearances. Haskins didn’t inspire confidence in his second pro season and his Week 16 performance put their playoff hopes in jeopardy.
Haskins started on Sunday in place of Alex Smith, completing just 50% of his passes for 154 yards, zero touchdowns, and two interceptions. He also lost a crucial fumble. NFL journeyman Heinicke took his place and looked a whole lot better. If Smith can’t go in the regular season finale, it’ll be Heinicke under center for the WFT.
Per league rules, Haskins will be subject to waivers. If he goes unclaimed in the next 24 hours, he’ll be free to sign with any team. As a first-round pick his initial rookie deal is fully guaranteed, meaning that any team that claims him would be on the hook for $1.8MM in 2021 and $2.46MM in 2022. If he goes unclaimed, it’ll be Washington paying him that money.
With those millions coming his way, it’s probably more likely that any interested teams pass on him on waivers and try to sign him to a cheap non-guaranteed deal instead. It’s a remarkable fall from grace for the former Ohio State star who was the 15th pick in the draft less than two years ago.
There were reports that former coach Jay Gruden’s staff never wanted him, and that he was forced on them by owner Dan Snyder. Obviously, Rivera’s new staff had no connection to the pick, making it easier to cut ties. Due to his college accomplishments and draft pedigree we haven’t heard the last of him, but he also certainly won’t be handed a starting job anywhere after what he’s put on tape the past two years.
He’ll finish his tenure in Washington averaging 6.3 yards per attempt with 12 touchdowns and 14 interceptions in 16 games and 13 starts. His best bet to salvage his career may be to try to find a team with an aging veteran quarterback he can sit behind with a coaching staff interested in developing him.
Seahawks To Release Damon Harrison
Seahawks defensive tackle Damon Harrison asked for his release, and the team will oblige his request, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). For Snacks, the final straw was his healthy scratch for Sunday’s game against the Rams. 
“We’re going to talk [on Monday],” Carroll said after the game. “I just know that he was disappointed that he wasn’t active for this game. That’s what we’re talking about.”
Even if that conversation happens, it probably won’t change much. Harrison, a first-team All-Pro in 2016, was leapfrogged by the return of Bryan Mone, and that left him feeling slighted.
“Didn’t want to [leave Seattle] but it’s time,” Harrison tweeted. “I came here to help and I’ve done that and now it’s time to move on. I came back this year to play and that’s all I want. Team is back healthy and playing really well..it’s my time to head out. Still all love and respect for the ‘Hawks!”
In typical Harrison fashion, he performed as a solid run-stuffer with less-than-solid showings on passing plays. Pro Football Focus gave him an overall score of 68.1 — his 81.7 ground grade was weighed down by his 47.9 passing mark. Mone, meanwhile, has been more balanced with 61.6 and 63.1 scores.
Harrison leaves Seattle with nine tackles and a forced fumble in six games. Meanwhile, the Seahawks — sans Snacks — will roll into the playoffs as the NFC West champs.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/28/20
We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: WR Greg Dortch
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: OL Cordel Iwuagwu
Green Bay Packers
- Activated from PS-IR: C Corey Linsley
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: OL Patrick Omameh
Browns To Be Down Several WRs In Week 16
Dec. 27: There were no new positive tests overnight, so this afternoon’s contest with the Jets will go forward, as Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network reports (via Twitter). The Browns will be without their top four wideouts and two linebackers, and while they did activate left tackle Jedrick Wills from the reserve/COVID-19 list as expected, Wills has been ruled out of the game with an illness. Cleveland has elevated Willies and Bradley from the practice squad, along with LB Montrel Meander.
The close contact with Goodson occurred in the team’s recovery pool area, according to Pelissero (hold your jokes, please). Sharing the pool isn’t a protocol violation in and of itself, but at least one player wasn’t wearing a mask as required, and the league may choose investigate further.
Dec. 26: Some fallout is emerging from B.J. Goodson‘s positive COVID-19 test. Contact tracing deemed several Browns wide receivers high-risk close contacts, according to Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins and Donovan Peoples-Jones — the Browns’ top three wide receivers — have are high-risk close contacts, Schefter and Mortensen report (on Twitter). These three will be placed on Cleveland’s reserve/COVID-19 list and miss Sunday’s game against the Jets, according to Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com (on Twitter).
A fourth wideout, KhaDarel Hodge, will also be placed on the virus list, Cabot reports (on Twitter). Linebacker Jacob Phillips is also out. Hodge is Cleveland’s fourth-leading wide receiver this season.
The Browns have not yet left Cleveland and have yet to learn how many players will be unable to travel with the team to New Jersey. The Browns are also likely to be without at least one tight end against the Jets, according to ESPN. The game remains on as scheduled for noon CT Sunday.
While this is not as dire of a situation, functionality-wise, as what the Broncos encountered earlier this season at quarterback, the Browns are in a higher-profile spot. The Browns still have a chance to win the AFC North, with two wins and two Steelers losses, and have yet to clinch a wild-card spot yet. The Jets are 1-13 but coming off a 23-20 win over the Rams.
Already down Odell Beckham Jr., the Browns do not have much in the way of receiving talent beyond their top three healthy targets. Few teams do. Landry’s 789 receiving yards lead the team, while Higgins has contributed 544 and four receiving TDs. This will be Landry’s first absence with the Browns.
Cleveland’s remaining wideouts: Marvin Hall and practice squad cogs Derrick Willies and Ja’Marcus Bradley. None of them have a catch with Cleveland this season. Hall caught 17 passes for 290 yards and two scores with the Lions this year. The Browns claimed Hall off waivers from the Lions earlier this month.
Seahawks Activate TE Greg Olsen From IR
Greg Olsen will return in time for the Seahawks-Rams rematch. The veteran tight end has made a quicker-than-expected recovery from another foot injury and is back on Seattle’s active roster.
The Seahawks activated Olsen from IR five weeks after he suffered a plantar fascia tear. Signed to a one-year deal, Olsen had worked as Seattle’s starting tight end before his latest foot injury.
Olsen, 35, fractured his right foot in 2017 and ’18 and later tore plantar fascia in that same foot last year. This time, Olsen injured his left foot. Overall, Olsen has missed 22 games since foot trouble sidetracked his career. But he will provide help to a Seattle passing game that will no longer have Josh Gordon available. Gordon was set to return in Week 16, but another off-field setback will prevent that from taking place.
In what could be his final stretch of NFL action, Olsen will be on hand to help the Seahawks attempt to clinch the NFC West. He caught 23 passes for 224 yards and one touchdown prior to the injury.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/26/20
Here are Saturday’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Promoted: OL Sean Harlow, WR Chris Rowland
Baltimore Ravens
- Promoted: CB Pierre Desir, QB Tyler Huntley
Carolina Panthers
- Promoted: LB Clay Johnston, T Matt Kaskey
Chicago Bears
- Promoted: DB Xavier Crawford
Cincinnati Bengals
- Activated from IR: CB Tony Brown
- Promoted: WR Trenton Irwin, LB Keandre Jones
- Waived: S Trayvon Henderson
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted: C Javon Patterson
Dallas Cowboys
- Promoted: FB Sewo Olonilua
- Placed on IR: DT Antwaun Woods
Denver Broncos
- Promoted: RB LeVante Bellamy
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted: DL Brian Price, RB Dexter Williams
Houston Texans
- Promoted: Steven Mitchell
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Promoted: CB Quenton Meeks, FB Bruce Miller, RB Craig Reynolds
Kansas City Chiefs
- Promoted: CB Deandre Baker, LB Omari Cobb, WR Gehrig Dieter, OL Tre’Vour Wallace-Simms
- Placed on IR: CB Sidney Jones
Las Vegas Raiders
- Activated from IR: DT Maliek Collins
- Promoted: CB Rashaan Gaulden, LB James Onwualu, DB Javin White
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted: DE Joe Gaziano, TE Matt Sokol
Los Angeles Rams
- Promoted: OL Jamil Demby, S JuJu Hughes
New England Patriots
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Jordan Thomas
New York Jets
- Activated from IR: RB La’Mical Perine
- Promoted: LB Noah Dawkins, LB Sharif Finch, LB Brady Sheldon
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted: RB Jordan Howard, DT T.Y. McGill, DE Joe Ostman, TE Caleb Wilson
- Placed on IR: CB Kevon Seymour, DE Josh Sweat
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Promoted: LB Tegray Scales, K Matthew Wright
- Waived: OL Derwin Gray
Seattle Seahawks
- Activated from IR: DL Bryan Mone
- Promoted: WR Penny Hart
- Placed on IR: G Phil Haynes
Tennessee Titans
- Promoted: LB Brooks Reed
Washington Football Team
- Activated from IR: WR Antonio Gandy-Golden
- Promoted: QB Steven Montez
- Waived: WR Dontrelle Inman
COVID-19 Latest: Browns, Texans, Panthers
The Browns have closed their facility and delayed their flight to New Jersey because of a positive COVID-19 test. They are performing contract tracing ahead of their scheduled noon CT Sunday game against the Jets. While the Browns placed Jedrick Wills on their reserve/COVID-19 list, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reports the rookie left tackle did not test positive for the coronavirus. He and practice squad wideout Ryan Switzer are close contacts. However, Wills is expected to be pulled off the Browns’ virus list in order to start Sunday, Cabot adds. Cleveland indeed activated Wills off its reserve/COVID list but placed linebacker B.J. Goodson on it ahead of Sunday’s game. Goodson tested positive, Cabot reports. The Browns are planning to depart Cleveland at some point tonight, Albert Breer of SI.com tweets.
Here is the latest from the NFL’s COVID-19 front:
- Deshaun Watson‘s restaurant opening has caused an issue for the Texans. Watson and other Houston players were photographed maskless at the recent indoor event, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). Watson received a $7.5K fine. The Texans levied fines against some of his teammates as well, with ESPN.com’s Sarah Barshop noting Laremy Tunsil, Brandin Cooks and Tytus Howard were among those at the event.
- Whitney Mercilus now resides on the Texans’ reserve/COVID-19 list, and the Houston Chronicle’s Aaron Wilson reports he tested positive for the virus (Twitter link). This is Mercilus’ second time on the COVID list; he landed there in November as a close contact of then-COVID-positive linebacker Jacob Martin. This will end Mercilus’ season — his ninth with the Texans. Thanks to his December 2019 extension, Mercilus is signed through the 2023 season.
- The Panthers‘ dustup with COVID earlier this month produced a series of fines. The team handed out fines of at least $10K to players who broke virus protocols during the team’s bye week earlier this month, per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. Wideouts D.J. Moore and Curtis Samuel and Shaq Thompson, Derrick Brown and Greg Little were among those placed on the COVID list.
- After the Broncos were forced to use practice squad wide receiver Kendall Hinton at quarterback earlier this season, the NFL tweaked its protocol to help teams in the event similar trouble emerges. Players already receiving COVID testing will be permitted to make their debuts for new teams without having to take virus tests six days apart, Pelissero tweets. This would allow for a team to sign a player off another team’s practice squad late in the week and use him in a game in an emergency scenario.
- Washington fined Dwayne Haskins $40K for breaking COVID protocols for the second time this season but did not suspend him.