Minor NFL Transactions: 9/28/19
Here are Saturday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Promoted from practice squad: P Ryan Winslow
- Waived: TE Darrell Daniels
Detroit Lions
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Tom Kennedy
Minnesota Vikings
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Davion Davis
- Waived: CB Nate Meadors
Bears Release T/TE Bradley Sowell
Akiem Hicks‘ availability for Week 4 is very much in doubt. The Bears promoted defensive lineman Jonathan Harris from their practice squad.
To make room on their 53-man roster for Robertson, however, the Bears released Bradley Sowell. The team had moved him from tackle to tight end this offseason. Sowell has been with the Bears since the 2017 season, having played in 34 regular-season games in that span.
Hicks left Monday night’s game with a knee injury and may now be on the wrong side of questionable to face the Vikings on Sunday. Harris was part of Chicago’s UDFA class but did not make the team out of training camp. The Bears stashed him on their practice squad.
It’s certainly possible Sowell could be brought back to the roster once Hicks is healthy. The Bears made this move last week, releasing Sowell and then re-signing him. Sowell, who played 11 snaps this season, is in his age-30 campaign. He’s been used strictly as a backup with the Bears but was a former regular starter with the Cardinals and Seahawks.
Chargers Activate Melvin Gordon
With Melvin Gordon looking likelier to make his debut earlier than expected, the Chargers took the official step by activating him in advance of their Week 4 game against the Dolphins.
The team announced the activation, along with the promotion of wide receiver Andre Patton from their practice squad. The Bolts waived cornerback Dontae Johnson and defensive end Chris Peace to make room on the 53-man roster.
Los Angeles’ initial Gordon plan was for a Week 5 debut, but with Justin Jackson out with a calf injury, Gordon is expected to play in a limited capacity. This is indeed the plan, per USA Today’s Mike Jones (on Twitter). The Bolts pulled a contract offer off the table and said they would not negotiate with Gordon until after the season, which stands to push the two-time Pro Bowler to free agency. But for now, the fifth-year running back will be positioned to help his team move to .500 and re-route its season.
Gordon will team with Austin Ekeler against the woeful Dolphins, who are 14.5-point home underdogs. This duo combined for more than 2,300 scrimmage yards last season. Anthony Lynn confirmed Gordon will return to his starting role soon, but on Sunday, the Chargers will likely keep Ekeler in the lead role.
Ravens Place LB Otaro Alaka On IR
Otaro Alaka‘s injury will keep him off the field for at least several months. NFL Network’s James Palmer reports (via Twitter) that the Ravens have placed the rookie linebacker on the injured reserve.
Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic tweets that Alaka suffered a hamstring injury on Wednesday, and that ailment forced him to miss the rest of the week’s practices. Unfortunately, the injury happened at a bad time for the rookie, who had been inactive for the first three weeks of the season. The Ravens are only rostering three inside linebackers in Patrick Onwuasor, Kenny Young, and Chris Board, so Alaka could have seen the field if a teammate was injured. Plus, starting defensive tackle Brandon Williams was added to the injury report today, perhaps forcing some other players to play out of position.
The 23-year-old Alaka had a standout career at Texas A&M before going undrafted in this past year’s draft. He’ll be eligible to return to the team in eight weeks. The Ravens have until this afternoon to fill his roster spot.
Colts Promote WR Ashton Dulin
The Colts have elevated wide receiver Ashton Dulin from the practice squad, per a club announcement. The move comes after a week full of missed practices for T.Y. Hilton. 
Hilton continues to rebound from a quad injury that may keep him from facing the Raiders on Sunday. Enter Dulin, who will provide depth behind Zach Pascal, Deon Cain, Chester Rogers, and Parris Campbell.
Dulin, a Malone University product, gives the Colts five Division-II products on their roster. To make room for him, the Colts have waived cornerback Ryan Lewis.
Eagles Release LB L.J. Fort
To make room for Orlando Scandrick‘s return, the Eagles released L.J. Fort. The former Steelers linebacker signed a three-year deal with the Eagles earlier this offseason.
The Eagles gave Fort a three-year, $5.5MM contract. They will have to eat a low-seven-figure dead-money hit, but a need at cornerback looks to have superseded any financial issues. Philadelphia entered its Week 4 game without Ronald Darby, and Avonte Maddox is out for an undetermined amount of time because of the scary head and neck injuries he suffered in the fourth quarter.
Fort did not play any defensive snaps for the Eagles but did see special teams action in all four games. The former UDFA graded well with the Steelers in 2018, leading to the modest Eagles pact. It’s certainly possible he could return once the Eagles’ cornerback issues are sorted out, but for the time being, the vested veteran will return to free agency.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/26/19
Today’s practice squad updates:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: DE Austin Larkin, P Matt Wile
- Waived: OL Nate Wozniak
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: WR Greg Ward
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: CB Linden Stephens
Giants Place WR Russell Shepard On IR
The Giants have placed wide receiver Russell Shepard on injured reserve and promoted running back Jon Hilliman from the practice squad, the club announced today.
Shepard, 29, had been working as New York’s fourth wideout behind Sterling Shepard, Bennie Fowler, and Cody Latimer. On 73 offensive snaps, Shepard had posted three receptions for 25 yards on eight targets. With veteran pass-catcher Golden Tate due back from a suspension in Week 5, Shepard — who recently suffered a foot sprain — is no longer needed. He could potentially return from IR in eight weeks, but it seems unlikely the Giants would use an IR/return slot on Shepard.
Hilliman will become New York’s third healthy running back behind Wayne Gallman and Elijhaa Penny, and will serve as depth while starter Saquon Barkley is shelved four-to-eight weeks with a high-ankle sprain. A 2019 undrafted free agent, Hilliman signed with the Giants’ practice squad August after getting waived at final cutdowns. He spent three years at Boston College and one at Rutgers, managing 3.5 yards per carry during his collegiate career.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/26/19
Today’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
- Re-signed: TE Bradley Sowell
- Waived: RB Kerrith Whyte
Detroit Lions
- Waived: WR Travis Fulgham
Miami Dolphins
- Claimed off waivers: OL Keaton Sutherland
- Placed on injured reserve: LB James Crawford
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted from practice squad: S Adrian Colbert
- Waived: DL Bryan Mone
Bengals Sign CB Torry McTyer Off Chiefs’ Practice Squad
Torry McTyer will return to an NFL active roster. The Bengals will bring the third-year cornerback to their 53-man roster, plucking him off the Chiefs’ practice squad, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
The Bengals placed cornerback Darius Phillips on IR to make room for McTyer’s arrival. The latter spent three-plus weeks on Kansas City’s practice squad, arriving in western Missouri after the Dolphins waived him on cutdown weekend.
A more committed Dolphins team used McTyer in 15 games last season, deploying the UNLV-produced defender as a starter in four 2018 games. Overall, McTyer has played in 22 NFL contests since arriving as a 2017 Dolphins UDFA.
Phillips has played in 18 Bengals games since arriving in Cincinnati as a 2018 fifth-round pick. A knee injury will send Phillips to IR, though the Bengals view the backup corner — who notched his first career interception in Week 3 — as a possible return candidate later this season, per The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. (Twitter link).