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Browns Place LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah On IR

November 2nd, 2024 at 11:28am CST by Ben Levine

The Browns will be without one of their key defenders for at least the next four games. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the team has placed linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah on injured reserve.

[RELATED: Browns LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah Suffers Neck Injury]

Owusu-Koramoah was carted off the field during the third quarter of last weekend’s game. Fortunately, the linebacker avoided a serious, career-altering injury, but it could still be a bit before he takes the field again. In fact, Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com warns that Owusu-Koramoah could ultimately be lost for the rest of the 2024 campaign.

The Browns will now have to navigate at least the next month without one of their defensive leaders. After earning his first Pro Bowl nod in 2023, Owusu-Koramoah has carried his elite production into 2024. The former second-round pick leads the Browns with 61 tackles, and he’s also added three sacks, one interception, and one forced fumble to his 2024 stat line.

“JOK is a leader of our defense,” safety Juan Thornhill told Cabot. “He’s a guy that’s going to make a lot of plays, that spark for our defense and losing a guy like that, it hurts. That’s our brother. You never want to see anybody go down like that. But everybody out there, they’re going to play hard for him each and every week until they get back out there and I’m praying for my boy.”

Owusu-Koramoah has been the one consistent for the Browns linebackers corps in 2024. Jordan Hicks has missed three games and most of a fourth, and Mohamoud Diabate had a stint on IR while recovering from a hip injury. Devin Bush has stepped up and ranks second at the position in snaps played, and the Browns may have to lean on the likes of Winston Reid and Nathaniel Watson depending on the status of Hicks.

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/1/24

November 1st, 2024 at 6:15pm CST by Adam La Rose

Friday saw only a few minor moves take place around the NFL:

Denver Broncos

Las Vegas Raiders

Throckmorton had been used as a gameday elevation from the practice squad three times, so to remain available moving forward he needed to join Denver’s active roster. Burton’s release has allowed for that to take place, but he will be eligible to immediately re-sign to the Broncos’ taxi squad and as such find himself a gameday callup for Week 9.

Falcons Place Ruke Orhorhoro On IR

November 1st, 2024 at 3:57pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Falcons have placed defensive lineman Ruke Orhorhoro on injured reserve, according to The Athletic’s Josh Kendall, sidelining the rookie for at least four weeks.

Orhorhoro injured his ankle in Week 8 against the Buccaneers, a disappointing setback after he finally saw his first NFL action at the beginning of October. His debut was delayed by healthy inactive designations in Weeks 1-4 as the 35th overall pick acclimated to the pros. He recorded just five tackles across his four appearances this year while playing no more than a third of the Falcons’ defensive snaps in each game.

Atlanta was not relying heavily on their second-round pick, with a deep defensive line group headlined by Pro Bowler Grady Jarrett. Veterans Eddie Goldman and David Onyemata have started alongside Garrett, with Zach Harrison, Kentavius Street, and Ta’Quon Graham all filling rotational roles. Fourth-rounder Brandon Dorlus could be in line for his NFL debut after spending the first eight weeks on the sidelines as a healthy scratch.

The Falcons signed linebacker Rashaan Evans to fill Orhorhoro’s spot on the 53-man roster, per Kendall. The veteran started all 17 games for Atlanta in 2022 and led the team with 159 tackles, though that was in a different defense than the one currently ran by head coach Raheem Morris.

Linebacker Kaden Elliss has started every game for the Falcons this season, with Nathan Landman and 2022 second-rounder Troy Andersen splitting time next to him. Evans will bring more of a veteran presence to Atlanta’s linebacker room as they attempt to maintain their lead in the NFC South.

Vikings Activate T.J. Hockenson For Week 9

November 1st, 2024 at 1:52pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Vikings have officially activated T.J. Hockenson from the reserve/PUP list, setting up the Pro Bowl tight end to make his 2024 debut against the Colts on Sunday night.

Hockenson tore his ACL in December 2023, ending his year and sidelining him into the 2024 season. The No. 8 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft averaged a career-high 6.3 receptions and 64.0 yards per game in his first full season in Minnesota before his injury. He was traded to the Vikings by the Lions at the 2022 deadline and earned a four-year, $66MM extension after quickly assimilating to head coach Kevin O’Connell‘s offense.

Hockenson’s return will be a massive boost to a Vikings squad that has lost their last two games after starting the season 5-0. Star left tackle Christian Darrisaw injured both his ACL and MCL in Week 8, requiring season-ending surgery that will place more pressure on quarterback Sam Darnold.

Hockenson won’t make up for Darrisaw’s absence as a blocker, but he will join Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Aaron Jones to round out one of the best pass-catching corps in the NFL. 2022 seventh-rounder Jalen Nailor has been a pleasant surprise in Minnesota this year, recording 32.7 yards per game and three touchdowns as a tertiary target for Darnold with little receiving contributions from his tight ends.

Josh Oliver and Johnny Mundt have combined for just 165 yards on 21 receptions this year. Hockenson should easily surpass their 23.6 yards per game average and add a more dynamic threat to the Vikings offense.

Texans’ Kenyon Green Headed For IR

November 1st, 2024 at 1:05pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Texans offense added injury to insult in their 21-13 loss to the Jets on Thursday night with an injury to starting guard Kenyon Green, who is expected to be placed on injured reserve, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

There remains an outside chance that Green could return this season, depending on his rehab from his dislocated shoulder and the Texans’ progression in the postseason, per Rapoport.

Green started all nine of the Texans’ games at left guard this season, though he has struggled in pass protection with 27 pressures and five sacks allowed, both league-highs among guards, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). The 15th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft has not lived up to expectations as part of a struggling Houston offensive line this season.

This is the second year in a row that Green has suffered a significant injury to his left shoulder. He missed all of the 2023 season after hurting his shoulder in the preseason, forcing the Texans to trade for former third-round pick Kendrick Green from the Steelers.

Green finished Thursday night’s game at left guard, and he will likely take over the starting job for the rest of the regular season. He did the same after Kenyon Green‘s injury last year, but only made three starts before a torn meniscus ended his season. Kendrick Green will need to stay healthy to keep the Texans from having to rotate their offensive line once again this year.

Houston will also need additional guard depth to see out the season with 2023 seventh-rounder Nick Broeker as the only guard on the active roster. Quality offensive linemen are rarely available on the trade market during the season, so the Texans may turn to practice squad center Scott Quessenberry, who hasn’t played in the regular season since 2022 but does have some experience at offensive guard.

More to come.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/31/24

October 31st, 2024 at 9:05pm CST by Adam La Rose

Thursday’s practice squad moves:

Buffalo Bills

Los Angeles Rams

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tennessee Titans

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/31/24

October 31st, 2024 at 6:52pm CST by Adam La Rose

Thursday’s minor moves:

Jacksonville Jaguars

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

  • Released: T Dylan Cook

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Gipson was issued a six-game PED suspension in July, but he has yet to be reinstated by the league. Today’s development marks a step in that direction, however, since it allows the 34-year-old to begin practicing. Once he is brought back into the fold Gipson will take on a role in the Jags’ secondary (or at least on special teams) as he plays what could be the final season of his 13-year career.

Jets Place DT Leki Fotu On IR, Activate TE Kenny Yeboah

October 31st, 2024 at 5:15pm CST by Adam La Rose

Allen Lazard has landed on injured reserve, sideling him for at least four games. He is joined in that respect by defensive tackle Leki Fotu, per a team announcement.

Fotu began the season on IR, and he was only activated two weeks ago. The free agent addition has therefore logged just 46 defensive snaps so far this season, and this second IR stint will further interrupt his 2024 campaign. Fotu served as a rotational member of Arizona’s D-line rotation over the past four years, and he was positioned to do the same upon arrival with the Jets.

The 26-year-old signed a one-year, $2.5MM deal to join New York. That low-risk investment has not gone as planned so far, but once healthy Fotu could be an effective contributor against the run. Fulfilling that role would be welcomed by team and player; the Jets have posted strong numbers in certain defensive categories this season, but they rank only 17th against the run. An effective showing to close out the campaign would also, of course, help Fotu’s market value.

New York also activated tight end Kenny Yeboah from injured reserve on Thursday. Like Fotu, he was listed as designated for return before the roster cutdown deadline, allowing him to see the field at some point after Week 4. Yeboah had his practice window opened last week, so it comes as no surprise he has been activated in time for tonight’s matchup against the Texans. In a corresponding move to the special teamer’s activation, fellow tight end Anthony Firkser was released.

As expected, Riley Patterson will indeed be the first kicker to get the first opportunity to take over for the injured Greg Zuerlein. Added to the practice squad (along with Spencer Shrader) yesterday, Patterson will not be a gameday elevation for Thursday’s game; rather, he has been signed to the active roster. Given Zuerlein’s struggles this season, Patterson could certainly play his way into an extended opportunity with the Jets even after the veteran is healthy.

Offensive lineman Alec Lindstrom – who has bounced on and off the Jets’ roster in recent days – has also been signed off the taxi squad to the active roster. The 26-year-old has yet to make a regular season appearance in the NFL, but he will again dress as a backup option up front for today’s game.

Jets Place WR Allen Lazard On IR, Planning To Elevate K Riley Patterson

October 31st, 2024 at 2:41pm CST by Sam Robinson

While the Jets are midway through a wildly disappointing (thus far, at least) season, Allen Lazard has bounced back. Productive thus far in his second Jets campaign, the multi-city Aaron Rodgers target will see that stretch pause.

The Jets are moving Lazard to IR because of a chest injury, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. As this will sideline Lazard for at least four games, it will be interesting to see if it affects the Jets’ interest in trading Mike Williams before the Nov. 5 deadline.

Lazard is tied to a four-year, $44MM deal that featured $22MM guaranteed at signing. The Jets have done plenty to appease Rodgers, having added three of his former Packers pass catchers (Lazard, Randall Cobb, Davante Adams). Lazard was the first of those to arrive, having communicated with his four-year Packers teammate about playing for the Jets together. That coordinated effort preceded Rodgers’ Achilles tear four plays into last season, and Lazard bottomed out, drifting to healthy-scratch status at a point and finishing with just 311 receiving yards.

This year, Lazard already has compiled 420 yards and scored five touchdowns. Receiving the most guaranteed money of any receiver in last year’s FA class, Lazard has not justified his contract. But he has moved back to being a useful player alongside Rodgers, as opposed to a borderline sunk cost in a Zach Wilson-centered offense. Two nonguaranteed years remain on Lazard’s deal.

Williams has come up as a trade chip since the Jets’ Adams pursuit, with that effort beginning in earnest upon the intra-AFC trade being completed. Williams has struggled mightily in New York, posting only 160 yards on 11 receptions though eight games. Williams, 30, may still be moved. But with this Jets regime on thin ice, it would also make sense if the team now stood pat at receiver to see if the former Chargers 1,000-yard weapon could be useful as a WR3 alongside Adams and Garrett Wilson. The Jets will deploy Williams once again tonight and have until Tuesday to decide about moving on.

Additionally, the Jets have chosen their Greg Zuerlein fill-in. Riley Patterson will be elevated for tonight’s Texans matchup, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. By far the more experienced of the two kickers Gang Green added to its practice squad (Spencer Shrader being the other), Patterson will have another chance after being waived twice — by the Jaguars and Commanders — this year.

Patterson served as the Jaguars’ kicker throughout the 2022 season and was the Lions’ top option for most of the ’23 slate. The Lions cut Patterson for a second time, however, pivoting to Michael Badgley in-season. Patterson caught on with the Jags via reserve/futures deal but ended up waived — following the team’s Cam Little sixth-round selection — and then washing out of Washington after a shaky preseason. Patterson has kicked in 39 career games; he made 15 of 17 field goals last season. Zuerlein, who is on IR with a knee injury, is just 9-for-15 this year.

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