Minor NFL Transactions: 12/16/20
Here are Wednesday’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Miles Boykin, WR Marquise Brown, WR James Proche; the trio did not test positive for the coronavirus and would be eligible to return Sunday
Denver Broncos
- Signed off 49ers’ practice squad: CB Parnell Motley
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: QB Jeff Driskel
- Placed on IR: CB Kevin Toliver
Houston Texans
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: RB David Johnson
- Placed on IR: DT Brandon Dunn, S Justin Reid (story)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Tre Herndon
Miami Dolphins
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: RB Matt Breida
New York Jets
- Placed on IR: S Saquan Hamilton
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted: S Elijah Riley
- Placed on IR: S Rodney McLeod (story)
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/16/20
We’ll keep track of the latest practice squad moves here:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: DT Braxton Hoyett, WR Gary Jennings
- Released: RB Tommy Bohanon
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: RB John Kelly
Detroit Lions
- Signed: RB Jordan Scarlett, QB Jordan Ta’amu
- Released: P Arryn Siposs
Houston Texans
- Signed: LS Anthony Kukwa
Indianapolis Colts
- Placed on practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: S Ibraheim Campbell
Jacksonville Jaguars:
- Signed: C Evan Boehm
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: WR Marcell Ateman
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: WR Andre Patton
New England Patriots
- Signed: OL Earl Watford
- Released: DB Dayan Lake
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: S Blake Countess
San Francisco 49ers
- Released: DL Willie Henry
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: WR Jaydon Mickens
Buccaneers Place Ronald Jones On Reserve/COVID-19 List
Ronald Jones underwent surgery on a fractured pinkie finger this week, leaving his status for Week 15 in doubt. The Buccaneers running back now has another hurdle to clear before returning to action.
The Bucs placed their starting back on their reserve/COVID-19 list Tuesday. It is not yet known if Jones has contracted the coronavirus, but he will be out of practice this week while on the list. Jones being a high-risk close contact would shelve him for five days, but depending on when the contact with a COVID-positive person occurred, the third-year back could return in time for Sunday’s game.
This comes a day after the Bucs placed specialists Ryan Succop, Bradley Pinion and Zach Triner on their virus list. With Jones joining them, this is a situation to monitor going into Week 15. Jones did not practice Wednesday.
Jones suffered the fracture during Tampa Bay’s win against Minnesota last week. The former second-round pick leads the Bucs with a career-high 900 rushing yards.
Washington To Sign RB Lamar Miller Off Bears’ Practice Squad
Lamar Miller is set to join his third team this season. Washington plans to sign the veteran running back off the Bears’ practice squad, Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post reports (on Twitter).
The Bears added Miller to their practice squad in October and have used him in one game this season. He does not have any 2020 carries, however, and has not logged one since the 2018 season. Miller missed all of 2019 due to injury.
Washington played without Antonio Gibson on Sunday and currently has J.D. McKissic and Peyton Barber in place as its top backs. Gibson did not practice all last week due to turf toe. While McKissic has functioned as a frequent Alex Smith outlet option (58 catches), Barber is averaging 2.7 yards per carry. Miller, 29, must go through the near-week-long COVID-19 testing protocols before suiting up with his new team.
Washington will be Miller’s fifth NFL franchise. After a four-year run with the Dolphins, Miller started for the Texans from 2016-18. A knee injury wiped out his 2019 season, and after a lengthy stay in free agency, the ninth-year veteran caught on with the Patriots this summer. The Pats, however, released Miller to lead him to Chicago.
Miller has two 1,000-yard seasons (in 2014 and ’16) and was a Pro Bowler in his final Houston slate (2018), when he rushed for 973 yards on 4.6 per tote.
Bengals Place Geno Atkins On IR
The Bengals placed defensive tackle Geno Atkins on injured reserve, per a club announcement. The veteran has played through his right shoulder injury all year long, but he’ll need surgery and time off in order to fully recuperate. 
The injury may also mark the end of Atkins’ time with the Bengals. Atkins played in just eight games and, even when he was healthier earlier in the season, he voiced frustration about his role. The Bengals have the perennial Pro Bowler under contract through 2022, but his $14.8MM cap hit for 2021 might not make sense for Cincy.
Atkins has eight Pro Bowls to his credit to go along with the second-highest sack total in franchise history. Earlier in the year, he watched his longtime counterpart Carlos Dunlap — the No. 1 all-time Bengals sack leader — get shipped out to the Seahawks. The Bengals are clearly in need of another reboot and the 33-year-old probably wouldn’t fit the budget.
Atkins’ forgettable 2020 will end with zero sacks and zero starts. He’ll look to add to his 75.5 career sacks in 2021 — perhaps in another uniform.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/15/20
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Placed on IR: QB Trace McSorley
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Dez Bryant, DB Geno Stone
- Promoted: TE Eric Tomlinson
Houston Texans
- Claimed off waivers from Browns: RB Dontrell Hilliard
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: OL Ben Bartch
Los Angeles Chargers
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: S Derwin James; James remains on IR
Minnesota Vikings
- Placed on IR: CB Kris Boyd
- Activated off IR: CB Mark Fields
New Orleans Saints
- Claimed off waivers from Raiders: G Patrick Omameh
New York Giants
- Waived: CB Brandon Williams
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed off Washington’s practice squad: C Ross Pierschbacher
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed off Chiefs’ practice squad: OL Danny Isidora
Tennessee Titans
- Activated from IR: CB Kristian Fulton
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: P Bradley Pinion, K Ryan Succop, LS Zach Triner
Raiders Place Henry Ruggs On Reserve/COVID-19 List
Ahead of a key Thursday game against the Chargers, the Raiders are set to be without their field-stretching rookie wideout. They placed Henry Ruggs on their reserve/COVID-19 list Tuesday.
While the Raiders have not gotten as much from Ruggs statistically as some of the other teams who drafted receivers this year, the Alabama product has helped the team’s offense as a deep threat.
It is not yet known if Ruggs tested positive for the coronavirus or qualifies as a high-risk close contact. Either scenario would, however, give him an opening to play in Week 16. This makes for another setback for the 2020 draft’s top wideout selected. He missed much of Las Vegas’ offseason program after suffering an off-field injury and missed time earlier this season because of a hamstring malady.
Ruggs is averaging 18.0 yards per catch this season, hauling in 23 passes for 414 yards and two touchdowns. The coveted prospect has seen low-cost UFA Nelson Agholor operate as Las Vegas’ top outside receiver as of late.
The Raiders also promoted Vic Beasley from their practice squad. The Raiders’ loss to the Colts bumped them back to the “In the Hunt” tier of the AFC playoff picture, placing obvious importance on their Week 15 game against the Bolts.
Jets Cut K Sergio Castillo
The Jets are making another kicking change. The team has released kicker Sergio Castillo after a tough outing against the Seahawks, they announced on Tuesday.
New York entered the year with Sam Ficken as their kicker, but injuries have limited him to only seven games. Castillo was first inserted after Ficken went down following Week 6, and again when Ficken re-injured himself in Week 11. In six games he’ll finish his run with the Jets having made only eight of 15 field goal attempts with a long of 55. He made six of his seven extra point attempts. On Sunday he was a disaster, missing three field goals in the Jets’ loss to Seattle.
An undrafted free agent out of West Texas A&M back in 2014, Castillo finally got his first taste of regular season NFL action this season. He spent a few years in the CFL, and also played in the AAF and XFL. If nothing else, not too many people can say they’ve played in all four leagues. Ficken is eligible to come off injured reserve this week, and the Jets also claimed Chase McLaughlin off waivers yesterday, putting the nail in Castillo’s coffin.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/15/20
We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: LB Chris Orr
- Activated from practice squad/COVID-19 list: DT Bruce Hector
Denver Broncos
- Signed: RB/FB Jeremy Cox
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: DL Brian Price
- Activated off practice squad IR: RB Dexter Williams
- Released: OT Ryan Pope
- Placed on practice squad IR: DL Delontae Scott
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: LB Chris Covington
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: Brandon Wright
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: S Curtis Riley
- Released: K Tristan Vizcaino
San Francisco 49ers
- Released: DT Willie Henry
Seattle Seahawks
- Released: LB Ray-Ray Armstrong
Tennessee Titans
- Placed on practice squad IR: LB Tuzar Skipper
Eagles’ Jack Driscoll Done For Year
Eagles right tackle Jack Driscoll will miss the rest of the season with a significant MCL sprain, sources tell NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter). Driscoll — who played through the pain to finish out Sunday’s game against the Saints — will be officially placed on injured reserve today or tomorrow.
Lane Johnson‘s October injury opened the door for Driscoll and the fourth-round pick has made the most of the opportunity, especially in recent weeks. The Eagles’ front five allowed Jalen Hurts to thrive against New Orleans last week with solid pocket protection and ample room to run. Hurts finished with 17-of-30 passes completed, plus 106 yards off of just 18 carries. Only a handful of other Eagles quarterbacks — including Michael Vick, Donovan McNabb, and Randall Cunningham — have rushed for 100+ yards in the modern era.
The 4-8-1 Eagles still have a 12% chance of reaching the playoffs, per the New York Times, but those odds will drop drastically if they can’t get past the Cardinals this week. The Birds need a 3-0 finish to have a puncher’s chance, but they’ll have to do it with yet another missing piece on the front line.