Steelers To Extend DC Teryl Austin
The Steelers surpassed expectations this season, making the playoffs despite scoring the fifth-least number of points in the NFL and the eighth-least amount of yards. The reason for that may well be due to the work done by second-year defensive coordinator Teryl Austin and his defensive unit. Seemingly happy with what they’ve seen so far, Pittsburgh is working to finalize a new two-year deal with Austin, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. 
Austin has been a defensive coordinator in the NFL for seven of the last 10 years. Before earning a coordinator position, Austin spent 23 years at the college level or coaching defensive backs for the Seahawks, Cardinals, and Ravens.
The Lions were the first team to give Austin a chance calling defensive plays, and he rewarded them in his first year with a top-three scoring defense that allowed the second-least number of yards in the NFL. His next three years in Detroit saw the team come back down to earth a bit, resulting in middling results for the defense. Austin left Detroit following the firing of then-head coach Jim Caldwell and accepted the defensive coordinator job in Cincinnati. Unfortunately, 2018 would be his only year with the Bengals as the team would finish 30th in points allowed while giving up the most yards in the NFL that season.
Austin took a step back in 2019, joining the Steelers under the title of senior defensive assistant & secondary coach. After three years in that role, Pittsburgh promoted Austin to defensive coordinator, once again giving him a chance to call plays. In 2022, the Steelers finished 10th in points allowed and 14th in yards allowed. This year, a bend-but-don’t-break mentality kept Pittsburgh in the playoff hunt as the defense finished sixth in points allowed while finishing 21st in yards allowed.
With his contract renewed, Austin will be under contract through the 2025 season. Many considered head coach Mike Tomlin‘s job to be in danger after a sixth straight year of failing to reach the Divisional Round of the playoffs, but for now, Tomlin’s job appears safe, so Austin’s will be, too.
Lions Place TE Brock Wright On IR, Promote DL Tyson Alualu
The Lions continue to tinker with their roster ahead of the team’s Conference Championship matchup against the 49ers. Third-year tight end Brock Wright was placed on injured reserve today as he continues to deal with a hip injury, and practice squad defensive lineman Tyson Alualu has been signed to the active roster to take his place.
Wright has been dealing with his hip troubles since Week 16, when the injury forced him to miss the final three games of the regular season. With star rookie tight end Sam LaPorta dealing with his knee injury, though, Wright toughed it out through the first two weeks of the playoffs to help Detroit get to this semifinal game. As his season ends on IR, he will also be a pending free agent. He’s started 19 games for the Lions over the last three years and has proven to be an effective blocker.
The Lions’ depth at tight end continues to take hits as Wright now joins James Mitchell on IR. This leaves a banged up LaPorta and former practice squad tight end Anthony Firkser as the only two tight ends on the active roster. Reinforcements of a big nature are likely on the horizon, though, after the team’s signing of veteran tight end Zach Ertz to the practice squad this week.
Ertz only played in seven games this year before being placed on IR with a quadriceps injury in Arizona. Over a month later, the Cardinals waived Ertz after the 11-year veteran asked for his release. Ertz informed the media that he wanted to join a contender, and now he has as he joins one of the four remaining teams vying for a Lombardi Trophy. He steps into a favorable position with the Lions, as well, as the team’s lack of tight end depth will allow him to step into a big role almost immediately. Obviously, chemistry and learning the offense will be hurdles, but Ertz could provide a big boost to a limping tight ends room.
Alualu is another veteran addition to the active roster. After 13 years in Jacksonville and Pittsburgh, the 36-year-old signed with Detroit’s practice squad. Alualu had been called up twice as a standard gameday practice squad elevation in the regular season, even starting a game for the Lions, and has done the same so far in the playoffs, appearing in two games off the practice squad and starting one in the postseason.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/23/24
Today’s reserve/futures contracts:
Buffalo Bills
- DT Eli Ankou, QB Shane Buechele, RB Darrynton Evans
Minnesota Vikings
- CB A.J. Green
New York Giants
- WR Chase Cota, C Jimmy Morrissey
Pittsburgh Steelers
- CB Kalon Barnes, DB Thomas Graham, LB Tyler Murray, LB David Perales, CB Josiah Scott
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- DL C.J. Brewer, OT Silas Dzansi, OL Luke Haggard, CB Keenan Isaac, WR Cephus Johnson, RB Patrick Laird, S Richard LeCounte, WR Ryan Miller, CB Quandre Mosely, LB Jose Ramirez, G Logan Stenberg, TE Tanner Taula, WR Raleigh Webb, TE David Wells
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/23/24
A few practice squad moves to pass along:
Detroit Lions
- Signed: OL Matt Farniok, RB Jake Funk
- Placed on IR: RB Jermar Jefferson
- Released: LB Raymond Johnson
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/22/24
Today’s reserve/futures contracts:
Buffalo Bills
- CB Kyron Brown, DE Kameron Cline, OL Richard Gouraige, CB Ja’Marcus Ingram, WR Andy Isabella, OL Kevin Jarvis, TE Tre’ McKitty, WR Tyrell Shavers, WR Bryan Thompson, S Kendall Williamson
Denver Broncos
Green Bay Packers
- LB Keshawn Banks, S Tyler Coyle, WR Grant DuBose, DL Jonathan Ford, CB Zyon Gilbert, CB Anthony Johnson, QB Alex McGough, RB Ellis Merriweather, LB Arron Mosby, LB Kenneth Odumegwu, FB Henry Pearson, WR Thyrick Pitts, T Kadeem Telfort, TE Joel Wilson
Houston Texans
- DT McTelvin Agim, WR Alex Bachman, QB Tim Boyle, RB Gerrid Doaks, DE Ali Gaye, S Brandon Hill, WR Johnny Johnson III, TE Dalton Keene, CB Troy Pride, RB J.J. Taylor, OT Jaylon Thomas, WR Jared Wayne
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- OT Silas Dzansi, CB Keenan Isaac, RB Patrick Laird, CB Quandre Moseley, TE Tanner Taula, WR Raleigh Webb
Lions To Sign TE Zach Ertz
Zach Ertz‘s free agent period is set to come to an end. The Pro Bowl tight end has agreed to a deal with the Lions, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. 
Ertz was let go by the Cardinals November 30, a move which placed him on the waiver wire. No team claimed him, but a number of potential suitors emerged shortly after he became a free agent. The Lions were not named amongst the contending teams believed to have shown interest, but they have now secured veteran insurance at the TE spot in advance of the NFC title game.
A reunion with the Eagles seemed to be on the table for Ertz, but no deal materialized. Other playoff-bound teams like the Chiefs, Bills, Ravens and 49ers were also floated as possible landing spots. In all, Ertz is believed to have spoken with six teams seriously interested in adding him. Detroit appears to have been a member of that group given today’s move.
Pelissero notes Ertz will join Detroit’s practice squad, something which has become commonplace in the NFL with respect to in-season additions. The Lions lost backup tight end Brock Wright to a forearm injury on Sunday, but Ertz will be able to step in if needed next week against the 49ers. The latter worked with Detroit’s tight ends coach (Steve Heiden) in Arizona, so familiarizing himself in the Lions’ offense should not be difficult even on short notice.
Of course, standout rookie Sam LaPorta will be counted on to lead the way at the TE position as Detroit’s playoff run continues. The second-rounder entered the postseason with injury concerns, but he has combined for 12 receptions, 79 yards and a touchdown across the Lions’ wins against the Rams and Buccaneers. LaPorta will be a critical member of the team’s passing game against San Francisco, but Ertz could provide a complementary option if needed.
The latter showed an ability to remain productive after his midseason trade from the Eagles to the Cardinals in 2021. His first full season with Arizona was cut short by an ACL tear, and upon returning to health this season, the 33-year-old received five or fewer targets on four occasions. With Trey McBride in place as the Cardinals’ top option now and in the future, Ertz asked to be let go in an effort to find a new home. He has finally secured an opportunity for at least one game as he looks to rebuild his free agent stock.
Eagles Fire DC Sean Desai
8:57pm: With Desai departing, some may think to look to Patricia as a potential successor. Well, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, Patricia is not under contract with the Eagles for the 2024 season. Additionally, Pelissero reports that Patricia has plans to explore other opportunities outside of Philadelphia.
5:57pm: With their season over after losing six of their last seven games following a 10-1 start, the Eagles have made the call to fire defensive coordinator Sean Desai, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. For a time, both of the team’s coordinators seemed destined to leave for greener pastures, but following a brutal closing stretch, Desai will likely be aiming to land another coordinator job. 
The move is mostly ceremonial, as Desai had already been demoted, losing play-calling duties to senior defensive assistant Matt Patricia back in December. Desai was demoted after two straight losses following the 10-1 start; the team would go 1-4 the rest of the way with Patricia calling plays. Desai still retained the defensive coordinator title while remaining with the team in a different capacity, but having lost the responsibility he was hired to take, Desai became expendable in Philadelphia.
Before his time with the Eagles, Desai was the Bears’ defensive coordinator in 2021, a season in which Chicago finished sixth in terms of total defense, though it’s points per game and defensive DVOA rankings were not quite as impressive. When head coach Matt Nagy was let go at the end of the 2021 season, his defensive-minded replacement, Matt Eberflus, elected not to retain Desai, who subsequently became associate head coach and defensive assistant for the Seahawks.
Still, Desai’s one season of relative success as defensive coordinator and his long track record as a defensive assistant at the collegiate and NFL levels made him a popular defensive coordinator target in the 2023 hiring cycle. He ended up taking interviews with five different clubs before ultimately choosing the Eagles and becoming the replacement for Jonathan Gannon, who left Philadelphia to take the Cardinals’ head coaching gig.
Desai’s departure was mostly expected as general manager Howie Roseman and head coach Nick Sirianni have reportedly been reaching out to other coordinator candidates throughout the week, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic. This has all come after Sirianni met with owner Jeffrey Lurie about his own future. Between the calls to potential new coordinators and Siranni reportedly firing Desai himself, per Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer, it’s looking more and more like Sirianni’s job is safe for at least another year.
When looking to replace Desai, it appears that the team has reached out to former Giants defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale and former Falcons defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen. The Eagles have also been reaching out to offensive coordinator candidates, with Brian Johnson interviewing for multiple head coaching opportunities. Colts offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter has been mentioned as a potential replacement.
Desai should be able to rebound this offseason, if he chooses to. There are many defensive coordinator jobs opening up in the offseason. New head coaches will be likely be interested in building their own staff, as well, providing more opportunities. Desai’s success in Chicago will likely continue to get him chances in the NFL. Whether or not that chance is a coordinator position in 2024 will be determined in the next few months.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/20/24
Saturday’s reserve/futures contracts:
Buffalo Bills
- WR K.J. Hamler
Hamler dealt with a slew of injuries during his tenure with the Broncos. He was waived in August as a result of a heart condition which required medication but not surgery. The former second-rounder joined the Colts’ practice squad one month later, but he wound up on IR and did not take the field in 2023. Hamler has played only 23 games in the NFL, but he entered the league with high expectations as a vertical threat. He will look to find a depth role in Buffalo this offseason.
49ers Activate S George Odum, Place DE Clelin Ferrell On IR
Shortly after losing starting safety Talanoa Hufanga for the year to a torn ACL, the 49ers were worried that they would be down another body in the secondary after George Odum suffered a biceps injury that the team feared could be season-ending. Luckily, they were wrong. San Francisco activated Odum off of injured reserve today, opening a roster spot for him by placing defensive end Clelin Ferrell on IR in his place. 
Odum, a former undrafted free agent, signed a three-year contract with the 49ers after a breakout year that saw him start seven games for the Colts. Up until that breakout season, Odum had seen most of his use coming on special teams. The patient defender was given his opportunity to start thanks to multiple injuries to starters Khari Willis and Andrew Sendejo. He took advantage of that opportunity, finishing sixth on the team with 55 total tackles while recording an interception and two passes defensed. While Odum may not be a game changer on the 49ers defense, the depth he provides at safety will be a welcome one as San Francisco starts their 2023 playoffs.
Ferrell, a former top-four pick out of Clemson, has ultimately failed to live up to his draft stock over his five years in the league. After seeing his fifth-year option declined by the Raiders, Ferrell signed a one-year deal to come to San Francisco. Despite not meeting expectations in Las Vegas, Ferrell stepped in as a full-time starter for the 49ers this season. Ferrell hasn’t been very productive as a pass rusher (only 3.5 sacks), but he hasn’t needed to be as Nick Bosa (10.5), Javon Hargrave (7.0), and Arik Armstead (5.0) have fed off of their combined pass rushing effort. With Ferrell out with a knee injury, trade acquisition Chase Young, who has been coming off the bench since being acquired before Week 10, will once again step into a starting role.
In addition to the two IR transactions, the team also announced their standard gameday practice squad elevations for the Divisional Round of the playoffs. Defensive tackles Alex Barrett and T.Y. McGill will be called up to add some depth to the defensive line against the Packers tonight.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/20/24
With three games remaining this weekend, six teams were required to announce their roster moves today:
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: WR Andy Isabella, LB A.J. Klein
Detroit Lions
- Elevated: DL Tyson Alualu, FB Jason Cabinda
Green Bay Packers
- Elevated: LB Keshawn Banks
Kansas City Chiefs
- Elevated: DT Matt Dickerson, NT Mike Pennel
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Elevated: T Silas Dzansi, RB Patrick Laird
The Bills and Lions move forward with the same pair of standard gameday practice squad elevations as last week. The Packers and Buccaneers, on the other hand, will give Banks and Dzansi a chance to make their NFL debuts in the Divisional Round of the playoffs.