Minor NFL Transactions: 9/30/20
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted: RB Dontrell Hilliard
Denver Broncos
- Promoted: RB LeVante Bellamy, LB Derrek Tuszka
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: LS Taybor Pepper
- Released: LS Kyle Nelson
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted: S Ryan Neal
Panthers Designate Eli Apple For Return
The Panthers have designated cornerback Eli Apple and wide receiver Keith Kirkwood to return from injured reserve, according to Joe Person of The Athletic (on Twitter). The club now has a three-week window to activate either player. If they are not activated in that span, they’ll be ineligible to return for the remainder of the year. 
[RELATED: Panthers Promote RB Reggie Bonnafon]
A former Giants first-round pick, Apple inked a one-year deal with the Panthers in May. At the time, he was thought to be on track for a starting role, especially since the Panthers waited until the fourth round before addressing their need at corner.
Without James Bradberry to lead the way, the Panthers weren’t left with much. Pro Football Focus graded none of Carolina’s incumbent corners higher than 89th at the position last season. Apple, meanwhile, was only 20 when he was drafted and he only just turned 25 over the summer, so there’s reason to believe that he can be a quality contributor when healthy.
Colts Cut Swag Kelly
The Colts have released Swag Kelly from the practice squad, per a club announcement. To take his place, they’ve signed wide receiver Krishawn Hogan to the 16-man unit.
Kelly was once considered one of the top QB prospects in the nation, but he was kicked out of Clemson and his senior season at Ole Miss was cut short by a torn ACL and lateral meniscus. The Broncos made him “Mr. Irrelevant” in 2017 with the final pick in the draft, but he had an opportunity to be very relevant and supplant Case Keenum as the club’s starter in 2018. That never came to fruition thanks to a bizarre arrest and his subsequent release.
In 2019, Kelly hooked on with the Colts’ offseason roster, and he’s been in the team’s practice squad orbit ever since. After the Colts used a fourth-round pick on Jacob Eason in the spring, it was pretty clear that Kelly was no longer a focal point for the offensive staff. With starter Philip Rivers, experienced backup Jacoby Brissett, and Eason leading the way, there was little need to keep Kelly on standby.
The Colts — who have a bit of swag after their 36-7 romp over the Jets — will face the Bears on Sunday.
Broncos To Sign Timmy Jernigan
The Broncos are set to sign veteran defensive lineman Timmy Jernigan, as Mike Klis of 9News tweets. The deal marks a quick turnaround for Jernigan, who was released by the Jaguars earlier this week. 
Jernigan made his name as a hard-nosed run-stuffer with the Ravens, before a 2017 trade that sent him to the Ravens. In his first Philly season, Jernigan started 15 games and helped the Eagles on the way to their Super Bowl LII victory. The Birds moved quickly to ink Jernigan to a four-year, $48MM extension, but things didn’t work out as planned.
Back surgery in 2018 limited Jernigan to just three games. After the season, the Eagles 86’d his deal and signed him to a cheaper one-year pact for 2019. He started nine games last season, playing 306 snaps and rating as a middle-of-the-pack interior defender, per Pro Football Focus. After a so-so season, he moved on to the Texans in the spring, only to see them back out in June. That led him to the Jaguars, which ultimately amounted to a cup of coffee.
Now, Jernigan will backstop a Broncos’ defensive line that has been battered by injuries. His first action could come tomorrow night, when the Broncos take on the Jets in a battle of winless teams.
Eagles Place Jalen Reagor On IR
The Eagles have placed Jalen Reagor on the injured reserve list, per a club announcement. The wide receiver will use the time to heal up following surgery to repair a torn ligament in his thumb. 
[RELATED: Eagles Place Dallas Goedert On IR]
Reagor played through the pain in Week 2, but it wasn’t a sustainable situation. Based on the projections from earlier this month, Reagor is likely to miss at least another month as he recovers. Reportedly, the Eagles are planning to bring Reagor back sometime after the Week 9 bye, which could mean that he’ll re-debut on Oct. 22 when the Eagles face the Giants at MetLife Stadium.
Already down Alshon Jeffery coming into the season, Philadelphia has also lost several starting offensive linemen in Brandon Brooks, Andre Dillard and Isaac Seumalo. Jeffery is still working his way back, and the Eagles are 0-2-1 heading into Week 4. Next up – a Sunday night showdown with the 49ers, in San Francisco.
The first-round speedster out of TCU caught five passes for 96 yards in the first two games of the season. Without him, they’ll need DeSean Jackson and the rest of the WR group to deliver — and better play from Carson Wentz.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/29/20
Here are the Tuesday practice squad decisions:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: DE Austin Edwards
- Released: LB Deone Bucannon, CB D.J. White
Chicago Bears
- Signed: DL Terry Beckner, LB Sharif Finch
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: G Shaq Calhoun
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: T Jordan Mills
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: DL Joe Graziano
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: C Will Clapp
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: RB D’Onta Foreman, S Maurice Smith
Giants Add Alfred Morris To Practice Squad
Alfred Morris has resurfaced on the NFL radar. The eight-year veteran running back agreed to join the Giants’ practice squad, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle tweets.
The Giants added Morris and quarterback Clayton Thorson to its taxi squad. Morris has been out of the NFL since the Cardinals released him in November 2019. To make room on their 16-man P-squad, the Giants cut running back Rod Smith and quarterback Cooper Rush.
This will bring a former Jason Garrett charge to New York. The Giants OC coached the former Pro Bowler in two seasons in Dallas. Morris served as Ezekiel Elliott‘s backup/suspension fill-in from 2016-17 but is certainly best known for his time in Washington.
Morris, now 31, strung together three straight 1,000-yard seasons with Washington and made the Pro Bowl in 2013 and ’14. He averaged 4.8 yards per carry with the 2017 Cowboys and gained 428 yards as a 49er in 2018. He played in one Cardinals game.
The Giants are down Saquon Barkley for the season, leaving them with Wayne Gallman, offseason addition Dion Lewis and recent signing Devonta Freeman. They rank last in the NFL in rushing, having gained just 170 yards (3.2 per carry) in three games.
Thorson spent time on the Cowboys’ practice squad in Garrett’s final season, playing behind Rush — who resided on Dallas’ active roster. The Giants brought Smith back earlier this month.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/29/20
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
- Promoted: RB Artavis Pierce
- Placed on IR: RB Tarik Cohen (story)
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted: S Jovante Moffatt
- Placed on IR: WR JoJo Natson (story)
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed off Cowboys’ practice squad: DT Ron’Dell Carter
- Released from IR: RB Bruce Anderson
New York Giants
- Signed off Raiders’ practice squad: DB Madre Harper
New York Jets
- Designated to return from IR: WR Jeff Smith
Philadelphia Eagles
- Designated to return from IR: WR Quez Watkins
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed off Buccaneers’ practice squad: TE Daniel Helm
Seattle Seahawks
- Released from IR: LB Emmanuel Ellerbee
- Waived: LB D’Andre Walker
Washington Football Team
- Promoted: DE Nate Orchard
- Placed on IR: DL Matt Ioaniddis (story)
Eagles Place Dallas Goedert On IR
The ankle injury Dallas Goedert suffered will require an IR stint. The Eagles placed the third-year tight end on IR Tuesday, sidelining him for at least three weeks.
Goedert suffered what looked like a high ankle sprain against the Bengals, leaving the tie game early. However, the former second-round pick also suffered a small fracture in his ankle, Tim McManus of ESPN.com notes. While the Eagles have Zach Ertz healthy, he is about the only one of the team’s first-string targets to enjoy that status presently. Goedert has 13 receptions for 138 yards and a touchdown through two-plus games.
Philadelphia has again seen its pass-catching corps riddled with injuries. Alshon Jeffery has yet to play this season; Jalen Reagor is expected to be out until November; DeSean Jackson has run into more hamstring trouble. This came after Marquise Goodwin‘s opt-out call.
To fill Goedert’s roster spot, the Eagles signed Hakeem Butler from the Panthers’ practice squad. Interestingly, the Eagles are listing the 2019 fourth-round pick as a tight end. The Cardinals drafted Butler as a wide receiver. He has yet to play in a regular-season game.
Jermaine Kearse Retires From NFL
Jermaine Kearse is calling it a career. On Wednesday, the longtime NFL wide receiver and former Seahawks standout announced his retirement via Instagram. 
“Seattle, as a hometown kid it was a complete honor to represent you guys out there on the field,” Kearse wrote. “Thank you so much for your endless support throughout my football career. It was an honor to put on that ‘Hawks uniform and I’m so grateful I was able to help bring our first Super Bowl home!”
Kearse entered the league in 2012 as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Washington. He was used sparingly in his first Seahawks season, but he found his way into the mix by Year Two. Across five seasons, Kearse notched 2,109 receiving yards for Seattle and, most notably, a Super Bowl ring for the 2013 season. In 2017, the Seahawks sent him off to the Jets in a trade for defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson. Kearse kept up the good work with Gang Green, including his best production ever in 2017 — 65 catches, 810 yards, and five touchdowns.
In 2019, a serious leg/ankle injury wiped out his would-be season with the Lions. We haven’t heard the 30-year-old’s name mentioned lately, so his retirement doesn’t come as a huge surprise. We here at PFR wish Kearse the best in retirement.