Texans, Whitney Mercilus Agree To Extension
The Texans will keep Whitney Mercilus in the fold on another extension. The eighth-year edge defender agreed to terms on a four-year deal, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
This agreement will mark a considerable raise for Mercilus, with Fox 26’s Mark Berman reporting (via Twitter) it is worth $53.5MM and comes with $28.5MM guaranteed. At $13.38MM per year, Mercilus will head into his age-30 season making more than double what he was over the past four years. He signed a four-year, $26MM deal in 2015. Mercilus said over the summer he wanted to remain in Houston, and the Texans convinced him to again bypass free agency to stay.
Mercilus’ second Houston contract was up at season’s end, but he will now join J.J. Watt as the primary members of the Texans’ edge-rushing group going into the 2020s. Previously operating as the team’s third-highest-profile pass rusher — behind Watt and Jadeveon Clowney — Mercilus has been thrust into a lead role down the stretch of this season.
While the Texans have struggled to generate sacks since Watt’s injury, Mercilus came through with two in last week’s AFC South-clinching win over the Buccaneers. The 29-year-old outside linebacker had previously gone seven games without a sack but now has 7.5 on the season — 3.5 more than he registered in 2018.
The Texans asked Mercilus to drop into coverage more frequently in 2018, leading to limited opportunities at sacks. But the Illinois alum has now posted four seasons with at least seven QB drops, peaking in 2015 with a 12-sack slate. Mercilus’ 50 sacks are third-most in Texans history — behind Watt (96) and Mario Williams (53).
With the Texans having traded Clowney after delaying an extension for years, they have identified the player they would like to be Watt’s top sidekick for the foreseeable future.
Packers Sign OL Lucas Patrick To Extension
This morning, Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst announced that the team has signed offensive lineman Lucas Patrick to an extension. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets that it’s a two-year deal worth $3.6MM. The guard will receive a $350K signing bonus.
The lineman has come a long way since going undrafted out of Duke in 2016. Patrick spent his rookie campaign on Green Bay’s practice squad before becoming a rotational lineman in 2017. He re-signed with the team the following offseason, and he proceeded to appear in 14 games (two starts) in 2018.
Patrick has appeared in 13 games this season for the Packers. The 26-year-old has primarily served as a backup center and backup offensive guard.
The Packers front office has been busy this week. Yesterday, the team reworked Aaron Rodgers‘ contract, opening up more than $11MM in 2020 cap space.
Bengals Sign OL Trey Hopkins To Extension
Trey Hopkins is sticking around Cincy for the foreseeable future. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the Bengals have signed the center to a three-year extension. The three-year pact is worth $20.4MM, and Hopkins will receive a $4.5MM guaranteed roster bonus.
The 2014 undrafted free agent out of Texas struggled to see the field during his first few years in the NFL. He spent his rookie campaign on the injured reserve with a leg injury, and he spent the majority of the 2015 and 2016 seasons on the Bengals’ practice squad.
Hopkins finally got a chance to contribute in 2017, as he started 12 of his 13 games at right guard (he also missed four games due to a knee injury). He started nine games at various positions in 2018, including center and both guard spots. He received a second-round restricted free agent tender from the Bengals this past offseason.
This year, Hopkins has settled into the starting center role, starting all 15 games for the Bengals. The 27-year-old will presumably have the same role in 2020, with ESPN’s Ben Baby opining (on Twitter) that former first-rounder Billy Price will play offensive guard moving forward.
“I didn’t think I would ever be in this situation,” Hopkins told Geoff Hobson of the team’s website. “I started as an undrafted free agent just making sure I at least made the team. It’s nice having a little bit of security.
“It’s nice to be wanted. I’m in a place where I’m comfortable. I feel like I’m valued. I think I can contribute and help the team.”
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/27/19
Here are Friday’s minor moves:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Jordan Franks, WR Trenton Irwin
- Placed on IR: CB William Jackson
Detroit Lions
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Anthony Pittman
Indianapolis Colts
- Waived: TE Ross Travis
New York Giants
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Chris Slayton
- Placed on IR: TE Rhett Ellison
San Francisco 49ers
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Kevin Givens
- Placed on IR: DT Jullian Taylor
Washington Redskins
- Promoted from practice squad: S Kenny Ladler, WR Jester Weah
- Placed on IR: CB Fabian Moreau, S Montae Nicholson
Redskins, Tress Way Agree To Extension
The Redskins and punter Tress Way have agreed to terms on a four-year extension worth more than $15MM, sources tell NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). The new deal, which will be formally inked on Monday, will keep the Pro Bowler under club control through the 2024 season. 
Way signed with the Bears as an undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma in 2013. After losing out on punting competitions in back-to-back offseasons, he found his home with the Redskins in 2014 when he took over for Robert Malone.
Since then, Way has averaged 46.6 yards per punt. This year, he’s been averaging a career-high 49.2 yards per try, thanks in part to a 79-yard bomb against the Panthers in Week 13. Way was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his work against Carolina and he received his Pro Bowl nod soon after.
Fans of the 3-12 Redskins haven’t had much to cheer for this year, but they do have one of the league’s better punters in Way. On Sunday, Way & Co. will have a chance to spoil the Cowboys’ season in their finale.
Dolphins Waive/Injured DE Jonathan Woodard
Jonathan Woodard‘s stint with the Dolphins has come to an end. The team waived the defensive end from the injured reserve yesterday.
The 2016 seventh-round pick had brief stints with the Jaguars and Falcons before joining the Dolphins towards the end of the 2017 campaign. He ended up getting into six games for Miami last season, compiling 10 tackles and one sack.
Woodard was waived/injured by Miami during the 2019 preseason, and he subsequently landed on their injured reserve with an undisclosed injury. That’s where the 25-year-old spent the entire campaign, and today’s move could be an indication that he’s ready to return to the field.
The Dolphins have been relatively busy this week, as they added running back Samaje Perine on Tuesday night.
NFL Suspends Falcons CB Jordan Miller
The NFL announced that Falcons cornerback Jordan Miller has been suspended for four games due to a violation of the league’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. The suspension will go into effect immediately, with the remaining three games on the ban being enforced in 2020. 
Miller, 22, was a fourth-round draft pick of the Falcons in 2019. He still has three years to go on his four-year, $2.75MM rookie deal.
In his freshman season, Miller appeared in ten games and notched four tackles and one fumble recovery. Next year, he may get a better chance to showcase his bump-and-run coverage skills, but, first he’ll have to sit out the early weeks of the 2020 season.
The Falcons will close out the 2019 season against the Buccaneers, without Miller on the roster. The game won’t have any playoff implications, but a win would give the 6-9 Falcons four straight wins to close out the year.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/26/19
We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:
Oakland Raiders
- Signed: DE Ade Aruna
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: C Casey Dunn
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: WR Ishmael Hyman, TE Jordan Leggett
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: LB Nigel Harris
- Released: LB Josh Smith
Bengals To Place William Jackson III On IR
Bengals cornerback William Jackson will finish the year on the injured reserve list. The team is expected to shut Jackson down this week so that he can start rehabbing his injured shoulder, as Geoff Hobson of the team website tweets. 
Jackson, 27, has recorded 37 stops and one interception in 14 games (13 starts) this season. Unfortunately, the shoulder injury that forced him out of the Bengals’ narrow loss to the Dolphins last week will also keep him from playing in the season finale against the Browns.
Jackson kept a lid on Odell Beckham Jr. in the team’s Week 14 matchup against Cleveland, but the Bengals will have to find coverage help elsewhere as they aim for their second win of 2019. Whether they win or lose, the Bengals will own the No. 1 pick in the 2020 draft, so they have that to look forward to, at least.
Jackson, the No. 24 overall pick in the 2016 draft, is set to play out 2020 on his fifth-year option, which will carry a $9.594MM cap number. His salary is guaranteed for injury, so he’ll be secure regardless of what happens from here.
Steelers Designate Nix, Switzer For Return
The Steelers have designated fullback Roosevelt Nix and wide receiver Ryan Switzer for return from injured reserve. Both players are eligible to practice starting today. 
[RELATED: Big Ben Vows To Return]
The door also opens for them to play in the postseason, if the Steelers qualify. If the Steelers beat the Ravens in Week 17 and the Titans lose to the Texans, they’re in. There are also a few other scenarios that could extend their season.
Nix, 27, is still in the midst of the four-year, $6.975MM extension he inked with the team after his 2017 Pro Bowl campaign. So far this year, he’s appeared in just three games.
Switzer, 25, has been traded twice in his young career. The most recent deal shipped him from Oakland to Pittsburgh, where he’s appeared in nine games. In 2019, he’s caught eight passes for 27 yards while handling some kick and punt returns.