Vikings Place LB Ben Gedeon On IR
Ben Gedeon‘s second concussion this season led to the Vikings shutting him down. Minnesota placed the starting linebacker on IR Monday and replaced him on the roster with practice squad wide receiver Alexander Hollins.
The Vikings ruled out Adam Thielen for Week 13, so Hollins will give them four healthy wideouts tonight against the Seahawks.
While Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks operate as the Vikings’ three-down linebackers, Gedeon has been a two-season starter. The 2017 fourth-round pick has started 22 games since his rookie year, helping balance out the Vikings’ veteran-heavy defense with a rookie contract. He’s been a starter in name only this season, playing only 102 snaps.
Gedeon’s second concussion occurred against the Broncos in Week 11. After a 53-tackle 2018, Gedeon finished with just 11 this season. This will move Eric Wilson (172 snaps this season) into Minnesota’s starting lineup, per Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (Twitter link).
Colts’ Chester Rogers Done For Year
3:07pm: The Colts confirmed they will be without Rogers the rest of the way. Indianapolis will place him on injured reserve, Frank Reich said.
10:12am: Early tests revealed that Colts wide receiver Chester Rogers suffered a knee fracture that will likely end his season, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter) hears. However, Rogers will undergo further testing on Monday to determine the extent of the injury. 
Rogers, 25, has 16 catches for 279 yards on the year, including two touchdowns. He’s not the focal point of the Colts’ offense, but the Colts can ill afford to lose more wide receivers given T.Y. Hilton‘s ongoing injury issues. Hilton was missed Sunday’s game against the Titans and, at this time, it’s unclear as to whether he’ll be able to play against the Buccaneers in Week 15.
Following Sunday’s loss, the Colts are 6-6 with a 10% chance at reaching the playoffs, according to the odds at FiveThirtyEight. They’ll look to run the table and beat the odds as they wrap up the regular season against the Bucs, Saints, Panthers, and Jaguars.
In addition to Hilton and Rogers, the Colts also have receivers Zach Pascal, Parris Campbell, Marcus Johnson, and Ashton Dulin on the roster.
Vikings Rule Out Adam Thielen
The Vikings are expected to promote wide receiver Alexander Hollins from the practice squad, as Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. The undrafted rookie out of Eastern Illinois gives them four healthy receivers tonight against the Seahawks, as Adam Thielen remains out with a hamstring injury. 
Hollins, a 6’1″ target, joined the Vikings’ taxi squad shortly after missing the final cut in late August. At Eastern Illinois, Hollins ended his collegiate career with 127 career receptions, good for tenth on the program’s all-time list. In his final year, he had five games with 100 yards receiving, including a 167-yard breakout against Indiana State.
Thielen, meanwhile, has not seen double-digit snaps since Week 6. Due to his nagging injury, Thielen will see his 1,000-yard streak end after two exceptional seasons, though he hopes to be back in action to help the Vikings in the playoff hunt. As of today, the Vikings have a 90% chance of reaching the playoffs, according to FiveThirtyEight, with a 42% chance of winning the NFC North. A win over the Seahawks would bring them to 10-3 and virtually solidify their spot in the postseason.
In eight games this year, Thielen has 27 catches for 391 yards and six scores.
Falcons Designate Chris Lindstrom For Return
The Falcons have designated rookie guard Chris Lindstrom to return from injured reserve, per a club announcement. In related moves, they’ve also signed offensive tackle John Wetzel and formally activated punter Matt Bosher from injured reserve. 
Lindstrom, 22, was selected by the Falcons with the No. 14 pick in the 2019 draft. He started at right guard in the season opener against the Vikings, but, unfortunately, he suffered a foot injury that landed him on injured reserve.
With his return to practice, the NFL’s 21-day window for activation begins. If Lindstrom is not activated to the 53-man roster during that window, he will not be eligible to return this season.
Bosher, 32, landed on IR prior to Week 5 matchup with a groin injury. Then, in late November, they earmarked him for return. The veteran has averaged 45.7 yards per punt during his nine seasons with the Falcons and will resume his place in the lineup starting this week against the Panthers.
Cardinals To Waive Tramaine Brock
The Cardinals are waiving veteran cornerback Tramaine Brock, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). The move comes as a surprise, since Brock has been rated as the team’s top cover corner, per Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics. 
[RELATED: Cardinals To Release Zach Zenner]
Brock, long regarded as one of the league’s better slot corners, joined the Cardinals in April. The deal reunited the veteran with Vance Joseph, who set out to build an experienced CB unit for 2019.
The 31-year-old has been having a solid individual year, even as the Cardinals have sagged. He leaves Arizona after tallying 37 stops, two tackles for a loss, and three passes defensed across ten games.
Before Sunday’s loss to the Rams and the previous week’s bye, Brock was sidelined for a few weeks with a hamstring injury. He’s now believed to be healthy, however, and could be claimed by another team in need. Any team picking up Brock would be responsible for the prorated portion of his $1MM base salary for this year.
Cardinals To Release Zach Zenner
The Cardinals are releasing running back Zach Zenner today, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Per league rules, Zenner will hit the waiver wire since the trade deadline is in the rear view mirror. 
The Cardinals went from being paper thin at the running back position to having too many running backs ready to go. Or, as head coach Kliff Kingsbury termed it, they had a “good problem” on their hands. To fix the logjam, Zenner will be dropped.
David Johnson‘s ankle and knee injuries kept him off the field earlier in the year, which created room for Chase Edmonds to emerge as the team’s top running back. Later, Edmonds went down with a hamstring injury, pushing the Cardinals to trade for Kenyan Drake. Zenner and Alfred Morris also joined the club in late October – Morris lasted a week and Zenner held on for just over a month.
The Cardinals have a full running back room, but their overall woes persist. On Sunday, they lost badly to the Rams, dropping their record to 3-8-1.
Connor Williams Suffers ACL Tear
DEC. 1: The Cowboys will place Williams on IR and will sign free agent OL Caleb Benenoch, as Todd Archer of ESPN.com writes.
NOV. 29: The Cowboys will need a new left guard for the rest of this season. The injury Connor Williams suffered during Dallas’ Thanksgiving game is a torn ACL, according to ESPN.com’s Todd Archer. Jason Garrett subsequently confirmed the injury.
A 2018 second-round pick, Williams serves as the lone rookie-contract blocker on Dallas’ veteran-laden offensive line. He has started 11 games opposite right guard Zack Martin this season, grading as Pro Football Focus’ No. 37 overall guard.
Dallas subbed in Xavier Su’a-Filo after Williams’ injury. Although the veteran had his hands full with Bills first-rounder Ed Oliver on Thursday, Su’a-Filo has 50 games’ worth of starting experience. The former Texans second-round pick signed with the Cowboys in 2018 and started eight games last season and one this year. Su’a-Filo becomes the likely rest-of-season starter. Rookie Connor McGovern is not expected to play this season after being placed on IR in early September, Michael Gehlken of the Dallas Morning News tweets.
The Cowboys refused to deal their 2018 second-round pick to the Seahawks for Earl Thomas, who likely wanted that pick and then some. The No. 50 overall selection became Williams. He is certainly the lowest-profile Cowboys O-line starter, given that the unit houses three of this decade’s top blockers, but has started 21 games in his career.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/30/19
Here are Saturday’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Promoted from practice squad: G Parker Ehinger
- Waived: C Jake Brendel
Chicago Bears
- Signed off Broncos’ practice squad: OL Corey Levin
- Signed off Raiders’ practice squad: TE Eric Saubert
- Placed on IR: DB Sherrick McManis, TE Adam Shaheen
Miami Dolphins
- Promoted from practice squad: S Montre Hartage
- Waived: CB Xavier Crawford
New York Giants
- Promoted from practice squad: LS Colin Holba
- Placed on IR: LS Zak DeOssie
Washington Redskins
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Chris Odom
- Waived: LB Carroll Phillips
Jaguars Activate LB Jake Ryan From NFI List
Out of game action for nearly two full seasons, Jake Ryan appears set to return to the field. The Jaguars activated the veteran linebacker from their NFI list Saturday, clearing the way for Ryan’s first game since the Packers’ 2017 regular-season finale.
The former Green Bay starter tore an ACL during the 2018 offseason and entered free agency on the heels of a lost season. Although the Jaguars expected Ryan to be ready for Week 1, an August setback shelved him for nearly three more months.
A fourth-round pick out of Michigan, Ryan started 27 games with the Packers. The ACL tear damaged his stock going into free agency, but the Jaguars — who hired ex-Packers DC Dom Capers this offseason — opted to take a chance on him via two-year, $8MM deal. Ryan’s injury likely prompted the Jags to guarantee him just $1MM and include a $5.5MM option bonus — due on the 22nd day of the 2020 league year — in the event he can display his old form.
On a Jaguars team that lost Telvin Smith in the offseason, Ryan will have a chance to convince the Jaguars to pick up that option. He combined for 160 tackles between the 2016-17 seasons, during which he served as a primary Green Bay starter at inside linebacker.
To make room on the 53-man roster, the Jags placed running back Tyler Ervin on IR.
Texans To Place T Tytus Howard On IR
The Texans will be without their starting right tackle the rest of the way. They are placing first-round pick Tytus Howard on IR, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. A torn meniscus will end Howard’s season, and NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport notes (via Twitter) the rookie will soon undergo surgery.
Howard previously carried a doubtful designation into Sunday night’s game against the Patriots, but the Texans will remove him from their 53-man roster. The small-school lineman will end his season with eight games (all starts). He had previously missed time due to a partially torn MCL.
The only first-round pick in GM Brian Gaine‘s brief Texans tenure, Howard was moved to guard before becoming Houston’s starting right tackle for most of this season. He graded as Pro Football Focus’ No. 52 overall tackle. While that is a middle-of-the-pack position, Howard marked an improvement from the embattled tackle situation the Texans featured last season.
Houston has used Roderick Johnson as a fill-in for Howard previously this season. The former Browns draft pick has played in 11 games, with two starts, and has been given 201 snaps. The Texans also have veteran Chris Clark, a journeyman who has filled in at multiple junctures for the team. Clark has started games at both left and right tackles with Houston.
The Texans promoted defensive lineman Eddie Vanderdoes from their practice squad to take Howard’s roster spot. A former third-round Raiders pick, Vanderdoes caught on with the Texans’ taxi squad late last month.