NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/15/23
Today’s lone reserve/futures deal in the NFL:
Jacksonville Jaguars
Rourke has been a popular workout candidate in recent weeks, visiting several teams amidst interest from more than a dozen NFL clubs. The CFL star has arrived at a decision after that time, though, announcing (on Twitter) that he is signing a three-year reserve deal with the Jaguars.
Rourke put up impressive numbers at college with the Ohio Bobcats, and placed himself firmly on the NFL radar with his play this season with the BC Lions. He threw for a league-record 78.7% completion percentage in 2022, recording a 25:10 touchdown-to-interception ratio and adding seven touchdowns on the ground. The 24-year-old earned Most Outstanding Canadian honors despite missing considerable time through injury as a result, and he will now be positioned to compete as a backup to Trevor Lawrence in the offseason. His time spent in the spring with head coach Doug Pederson – well-known for his work in developing QBs – could be enough for him to land a 53-man roster spot in the fall.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/14/23
Today’s minor moves in advance of the second day of Super Wild-Card Weekend:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed to active roster: S Ar’Darius Washington
- Elevated: WRs Andy Isabella, Binjimen Victor
- Placed on IR: WR Tylan Wallace
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: WR John Brown, DT Eli Ankou
Cincinnati Bengals
- Elevated: DE Raymond Johnson, LB Keandre Jones
Miami Dolphins
- Elevated: OL Lester Cotton, RB La’Mical Perine
Minnesota Vikings
- Activated from IR: T Blake Brandel
- Waived: C Greg Mancz
New York Giants
- Elevated: RB Jashaun Corbin, WR Kalil Pimpleton
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/14/23
Rams Expected To Pick Up Matthew Stafford’s Options
Matthew Stafford already made it clear that he’d be returning for the 2023 season, and the Rams are prepared to make it official. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the Rams are expected to pick up Stafford’s 2023 option bonus and 2024 salary by the third day of the league year.
[RELATED: Latest On Rams QB Matthew Stafford’s Future]
The two-year commitment will cost the organization more than $50MM. Stafford’s $1.5MM 2023 base salary and prorated $12MM signing bonus were already fully guaranteed at signing. With this latest move, the Rams are locking themselves into a 2023 option bonus worth $26MM and a 2024 guaranteed salary of $31MM.
This always seemed like the expected route, but considering the uncertainty in Los Angeles surrounding Sean McVay‘s future, it was fair to wonder if the Rams could look towards a complete rebuild. In such a scenario, the Rams could have designated Stafford as a post-June 1 cap casualty, a move that still would have let them with $13.5MM dead cap in 2023 and a whopping $36MM in 2024.
Stafford was sidelined for much of the summer with an elbow issue. After struggling during the regular season and dealing with a pair of concussions, he ultimately landed on injured reserve in early December with a spinal cord contusion. The 34-year-old was limited to only nine games, with his 10 touchdowns being his lowest mark since a three-game appearance with Detroit in 2010.
Despite the growing list of ailments, Stafford rejected the retirement rumors last month. He doubled down during his end-of-season press conference, telling reporters that he never considered hanging up his cleats and is feeling “really comfortable and confident in moving forward” (per ESPN’s Sarah Barshop).
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/13/23
Today’s lone reserve/futures deal in the NFL:
Philadelphia Eagles
- OL Julian Good-Jones
Good-Jones tried out with the Eagles in 2020, but was among the team’s roster cuts that summer. He has since spent time with the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders, and will now once again look to earn an NFL opportunity this offseason.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/13/23
Today’s minor moves, including elevations made for Saturday’s playoff games:
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Elevated: T Coy Cronk
Los Angeles Chargers
- Elevated: DT, David Moa, RB Larry Rountree
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: RB Tevin Coleman, CB Janoris Jenkins
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed to active roster: RB Tony Jones Jr.
- Elevated: WR Cade Johnson, LB A.J. Johnson
- Waived: DT Isaiah Mack
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/12/23
Today’s practice squad moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Activated from IR: DT Eli Ankou
Kansas City Chiefs
- Released: RB Jerrion Ealy
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/12/23
Only one minor move to pass along today:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed to active roster: WR Cole Beasley
- Released: OL Justin Murray
Beasley came out of retirement to rejoin the Bills in mid-December. He got into two regular season games with Buffalo, hauling in two catches for 18 yards. Murray appeared in five games for the Bills this season, with the majority of his snaps coming on special teams.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/12/23
Teams continue to sign players to reserve/futures contracts, allowing the organization to retain (routinely) young, practice squad players throughout the offseason. Here are the latest reserve/futures contracts:
Kansas City Chiefs
- DT Phil Hoskins
New England Patriots
- DB Rodney Randle
New York Giants
Pittsburgh Steelers
- RB Anthony McFarland Jr., LB Chapelle Russell, DT Renell Wren
Tennessee Titans
- TE Justin Rigg
Bears Hire Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren As President
Kevin Warren surfaced as a candidate for the Bears’ president and CEO role recently, and the Big Ten commissioner is expected to make the jump back to the NFL.
The Bears plan to hire Warren, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter). The Bears have since announced the hire. Warren will succeed longtime Bears president Ted Phillips, who announced intentions to retire before this past season. Warren has an extensive history in the NFL, including with two NFC North franchises (the Lions and Vikings), but has been the Big Ten commissioner since 2019. The new hire will start work April 17, Pete Thamel of ESPN.com tweets.
This will be the first Bears change in this position in the 21st century. Phillips had served in this role since 1999 but indicated in September he was leaving the team after 40 years in various roles. Warren will come in from the college ranks, but he has more than 20 years of experience in the NFL.
Warren, 59, became the first Black commissioner of the Big Ten and helmed the conference during the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to numerous schedule and format adjustments for all sports over multiple years. The conference waffled on its 2020 football schedule, initially postponing the season to the spring. Warren then backtracked, leading to the league starting its season Oct. 24 — well after the southern power conferences began their respective campaigns. The Pac-12 joined the Big Ten in beginning its season late that fall. The Big Ten during this period also reached agreements on additions of USC and UCLA, which represent two of the most shocking realignment dominoes to fall in history.
Prior to accepting the Bears position, Warren remained on his original contract as Big Ten commish. He will join a Bears team that recently clinched the No. 1 overall pick for the first time since 1947. The Bears launched a rebuild effort last year, hiring Ryan Poles and Matt Eberflus to lead that effort. Poles gutted Chicago’s veteran-laden defense, with trades involving Khalil Mack, Roquan Smith and Robert Quinn playing a role in the team finishing 3-14 and securing the top pick.
Warren has been mentioned as a possible Roger Goodell successor down the road, per Mark Maske of the Washington Post, with Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio indicating the same while including Broncos co-owner and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as another rumored option (Twitter links). Having Warren, who in Minnesota became the first Black COO in NFL history, back in the NFL could allow for an easier commissioner transition at some point.
Ahead of his Big Ten commitment, Warren spent nearly 15 years with the Vikings. He finished his Minnesota run working as the team’s COO. He spent three years with the Lions in the early 2000s and began his NFL career with the Rams in the late ’90s.