Steelers Activate K Chris Boswell From IR
The Steelers once again have all three of their specialists available as their push for a playoff spot continues. Per a team announcement, kicker Chris Boswell has been activated from IR. 
The 31-year-old last played in Week 7, and has been on IR for one month due to a groin injury. That move guaranteed that he would miss at least four weeks, but Pittsburgh designated him for return on Thursday. That opened his 21-day window to be activated, and signaled that he would be ready to suit up in Week 14 during Sunday’s divisional showdown with the Ravens.
Boswell had been available for every game last season, one in which he reached the 90% plateau in his field goal percentage for the fifth time in his career. In the offseason, that made it little surprise when he signed a four-year extension. The $5MM AAV of that pact (briefly) tied him with Baltimore’s Justin Tucker as the league’s highest-paid kicker. Overall, Boswell’s career FG percentage sits at 87.4%, though his 2022 performance has not yet reached that standard.
The one-time Pro Bowler has converted 12 of 16 field goals so far, a 75% success rate which would rank as the second-lowest in his career if it were to continue. On the other hand, Boswell has been perfect on extra points this year, and made five of his six attempts beyond 50 yards. Recent improvements on offense under rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett could lead to an increase in opportunities in the kicking game.
In a corresponding transaction, the Steelers released Matthew Wright, who had filled in for Boswell over the course of the past four games. During that span, he converted 12 of 14 field goal attempts, also going a perfect seven-for-seven on extra points. That helped the team win three of their past four games, but their No. 1 option at the position will now take over for the stretch run.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/10/22
Here are the minor moves around the league in advance of the Week 14 slate of games:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed off Titans’ practice squad: QB Logan Woodside
Baltimore Ravens
- Elevated: QB Anthony Brown, S Ar’Darius Washington
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: WR John Brown
Carolina Panthers
- Activated from NFI list: DL Henry Anderson
- Waived: CB Tae Hayes
Cleveland Browns
- Elevated: S Mike Brown, LB Tae Davis
Dallas Cowboys
- Elevated: T Aviante Collins
- Placed on IR: CB Anthony Brown (story)
Denver Broncos
- Signed to active roster: T Quinn Bailey
- Elevated: G Netane Muti, LB Harvey Langi
Detroit Lions
- Signed to active roster: OL Ross Pierschbacher
- Elevated: LB Jarrad Davis, CB Jarren Williams
- Placed on IR: CB Chase Lucas
Houston Texans
- Elevated: WR Jalen Camp, QB Jeff Driskel
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Activated from IR: OLB K’Lavon Chaisson
- Elevated: LB Ty Summers
Kansas City Chiefs
- Elevated: WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed to active roster: C Hroniss Grasu
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed to active roster: CB Kemon Hall
- Elevated: DL Christopher Hinton, S Raheem Layne
- Placed on IR: TE Richard Rodgers
Miami Dolphins
- Elevated: WR Freddie Swain
Minnesota Vikings
- Elevated: S Myles Dorn, CB Tay Gowan
New York Giants
- Elevated: DT Ryder Anderson, CB Zyon Gilbert
New York Jets
- Elevated: LB Marcell Harris
Philadelphia Eagles
- Elevated: LB Christian Elliss
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: RB Tevin Coleman, S Dontae Johnson
Seattle Seahawks
- Activated from PUP list: LB Jon Rhattigan
- Elevated: RB Godwin Igwebuike, WR Laquon Treadwell
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Activated from IR: LB K.J. Britt
- Elevated: WR Deven Thompkins, S Nolan Turner
Tennessee Titans
- Signed to active roster: WR Chris Conley, LB Jack Gibbens, CB Greg Mabin
- Activated from IR: WR Racey McMath, CB Josh Thompson
- Elevated: RB Julius Chestnut, CB Davontae Harris
- Placed on IR: LB David Long
- Released: DL Larrell Murchison, OL Jordan Roos
Vikings Activate CB Cameron Dantzler, Place DL Jonathan Bullard On IR
DECEMBER 10: To no surprise, Dantzler has indeed been activated, per a team announcement. That comes as welcomed news for the Vikings, given the injuries suffered at the position by rookies Akayleb Evans and Andrew Booth during his absence. Dantzler should immediately return to a starting role.
In a corresponding move, Minnesota has placed Jonathan Bullard on IR. The veteran d-lineman suffered a biceps injury last Sunday against the Jets, a game which marked the first in five weeks which he did not start. There was initial optimism that his injury would not be serious, but further testing has led to what will be at least a four-week absence.
DECEMBER 7: Kevin O’Connell expressed hope Cameron Dantzler would be ready to return from IR when first eligible. The Vikings took a step toward that happening Wednesday, designating the starting cornerback for return.
Minnesota designated both Dantzler and running back Ty Chandler for return. Each player has 21 days to be activated or miss the rest of the season. While IR math might come into play regarding Chandler, the Vikings are expecting Dantzler to be activated immediately.
A 2020 third-round pick, Dantzler has been the team’s regular boundary starter opposite Patrick Peterson this season. The Mike Zimmer-era draftee has started all eight games he has played during his third NFL slate. A part-time starter last year, Dantzler was a reliable cog for DC Ed Donatell before going down with a high ankle sprain.
Pro Football Focus rates Dantzler just outside the top 40 at corner this season. The Mississippi State alum held off second-round rookie Andrew Booth for the starting role opposite Peterson; Booth did not see much time before undergoing knee surgery last week. The Clemson product being out for the season as a result of the operation places more importance on Dantzler’s status, but the Vikings appear close to redeploying their Peterson-Dantzler duo. Dantzler has 25 starts on his resume.
Minnesota’s Ben Ellefson activation last week leaves five such moves remaining. Dantzler will undoubtedly cut into this total, though it would not surprise to see the Vikings slow-play it with Chandler to determine how their injury situation unfolds. The Vikes placed the rookie fifth-rounder on IR back in October due to a broken thumb. Playing behind Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison, Chandler saw action in only two games before hitting IR and has not played an offensive snap as a pro yet.
Eagles Activate CB Avonte Maddox From IR
The Eagles’ secondary will be back to full strength tomorrow in time for a divisional clash with the Giants. Philadelphia announced on Saturday that slot corner Avonte Maddox has been activated from IR. 
The 26-year-old was expected to be back soon, given the team’s decision to designate him for return earlier this week. He exited the Eagles’ Week 9 victory with an ankle injury, and has been out since then. That marked a significant blow to Philadelphia’s personnel, if not their performance, on the backend of their defense. 2020 fourth-rounder Josiah Scott had been filling in as a starter in the nickel.
Maddox made 27 tackles in his first six contests in 2022, adding one interception and three pass deflections. That represented an encouraging start to his first season after inking a three-year deal to remain in Philadelphia, but the injury interrupted his campaign. Despite the injury, the NFC-leading Eagles have been able to maintain one of the league’s elite defenses. Philadelphia leads the NFL with 15 interceptions, and ranks second with an average of 179 yards allowed per game though the air.
Maddox will once again line up with Darius Slay and James Bradberry operating on the perimeter. That, coupled with safeties C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Marcus Epps, will give the Eagles one of the most formidable secondaries in the NFL during the closing weeks of the regular season and into the playoffs. That could become especially important given the loss of edge rusher Robert Quinn for an extended stretch after the trade acquisition was placed on IR.
This move will leave the Eagles with three activations on the campaign, one of which will likely be reserved for Quinn. A healthy defense will no doubt go a long way to determining whether or not Philadelphia will be able to translate one of the league’s most talented roster into another Super Bowl title.
Ravens Activate RB J.K. Dobbins, S Marcus Williams
Keeping in line with their stated intention, the Ravens have returned two key players to the active roster in advance of tomorrow’s game against the Steelers. Running back J.K. Dobbins and safety Marcus Williams have been activated from IR, per a team announcement. 
Baltimore had pegged Week 14 as the goal for both players to return, so the news comes as little surprise. Dobbins’ activation was foreshadowed yesterday when veteran Mike Davis was waived. The former missed all of 2021 due to a knee injury, and his recovery lasted into the fall of this season. He made his 2022 debut in Week 3, but things did not go according to plan,
Dobbins played in three consecutive games following his return, but logged a snap share of 50% just once in that time. That led to another knee procedure in October, one which invited speculation that the Ohio State alum had suffered a new injury. Instead, the latest operation was aimed at accelerating Dobbins’ return to full health, something which would be a welcomed sight for the Ravens.
Baltimore ranks third in the league with an average of 158 rushing yards per game, but much of that production has come from quarterback Lamar Jackson. With the 2019 MVP expected to miss at least Sunday’s contest, the Ravens will no doubt look to lean heavily on their tailbacks. Dobbins’ return will allow he and backup Gus Edwards to play in the same game for the first time since the 2020 postseason.
Williams should immediately re-take his starting role upon returning on Sunday. The big-ticket free agent signing had a productive start to his Ravens career, notching three interceptions in his first five games. The former Saint will have a chance to eclipse his career-high in that regard (four) if he can stay healthy for the remainder of the campaign. Geno Stone will likely cede first-team duties with Williams back in the fold.
The Ravens have been strong in certain defensive aspects this season, but their pass defense has been lacking during parts of the campaign. Overall, they sit 25th in the league with an average of 248 yards per game allowed, a figure which could be improved upon with Williams available once again. To make room for his return, the Ravens have placed veteran cornerback and special teamer Daryl Worley on IR, as noted (on Twitter) by ESPN’s Jamison Hensley.
Baltimore will have two IR activations remaining as they head into the stretch run of the regular season. Dobbins and Williams should each have a significant role for the team as they attempt to maintain their lead in the AFC North.
Ravens Waive RB Mike Davis
Mike Davis‘ short stint with the Ravens has come to an end. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that Baltimore is waiving the veteran RB. Earlier today, Davis seemed to hint on Twitter that this move was coming.
The journeyman RB joined the Ravens this past offseason. Despite a number of injuries in Baltimore’s backfield, Davis didn’t see a significant role during his time with the organization. He ultimately got into eight games, collecting 22 yards from scrimmage on 10 carries. The 29-year-old garnered only four offensive snaps since the start of November.
While Davis didn’t do much in Baltimore, there’s still a chance another squad gives him an opportunity. The RB is only two years removed from a 2020 campaign where he topped 1,000 yards from scrimmage and scored eight touchdowns for the Panthers. Davis has also developed into a capable pass-catcher in recent years; after hauling in 66 receptions through his first five seasons in the NFL, Davis had 103 receptions in 32 games with Carolina and Atlanta between 2020 and 2021.
Today’s move is expected to pave the way for the activation of running back J.K. Dobbins from injured reserve. After missing the entire 2021 season with a torn ACL, Dobbins has been limited to only four games this year while dealing with knee issues. The Ravens have had to lean on Kenyan Drake as a starter this year, but the RB room will be a bit more crowded with Dobbins and Gus Edwards healthy. The Ravens are also rostering RB Justice Hill.
Cowboys To Activate WR James Washington
While the NFL awaits the outcome of the OBJ sweepstakes, the Cowboys are still making other moves at the position. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the Cowboys are activating wide receiver James Washington from injured reserve.
[RELATED: Cowboys Still In Contact With Odell Beckham Jr.]
Washington joined the Cowboys this offseason but a foot injury forced him on IR before the start of the season. There seemed to be growing optimism that Washington would be ready for tomorrow’s game against the Texans, with Patrik Walker of the team’s website writing that the receiver ramped up his workload over the past few days. Washington was designated to return late last week.
“I feel great,” Washington told Walker. “From four weeks ago to now, I feel a lot stronger in my plants and catching the ball in general. It’s kind of like riding a bike at this point. Once you start doing it, it all just feels natural.”
A former second-round pick, Washington was productive during his sophomore campaign with the Steelers, hauling in 44 receptions for 735 yards and three touchdowns. His numbers dropped in 2020 and 2021, with the wideout compiling 54 receptions for 677 yards and seven touchdowns between the two seasons.
CeeDee Lamb and Michael Gallup lead the WR room, with Noah Brown, rookie Jalen Tolbert, and KaVontae Turpin filling out the depth chart. Washington should easily slide onto the roster, but things would get interesting if the Cowboys also add Odell Beckham Jr. to the mix.
Raiders Waive G John Simpson
In a bit of a surprise move, the Raiders have released offensive guard John Simpson, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. A former fourth-round pick from only two and a half years ago, Simpson will be placed on waivers. 
The release is surprising for a couple of reasons, the first of which being that Simpson started every game for the Raiders last season. He had earned two starts the year before as a rookie out of Clemson, before winning the full-time job at left guard in his sophomore season.
There were early signs of trouble for Simpson, such as when it was reported that only left tackle Kolton Miller and right guard Denzelle Good were guaranteed starting jobs for the 2022 season, according to Vic Tafur and Tashan Reed of The Athletic. Good retired a week after that report. The report also noted that rookie third-round pick Dylan Parham “could push (Simpson) at left guard or Andre James at center.”
Parham would earn a full-time starting role as a rookie. He is the only Raider rookie to do so and only one of two Raiders (offensive lineman Thayer Munford) who have started a game at all as a rookie for Las Vegas this year. But Parham isn’t the one who took Simpson’s spot. Parham was the immediate plugin after Good’s unexpected retirement. Simpson was eventually benched before Week 3 for fourth-year lineman Alex Bars. Bars would hold down the starting job until getting injured early in the team’s loss to the Rams last night. Simpson would fill in for Bars for the rest of the game, his first extensive action on offensive since getting benched.
The second reason that his waiving is a shock is that the 25-year-old still has another year on his rookie contract with a base salary of $1.01MM and only $199,195 in guaranteed money. This makes Simpson a no-doubt pickup for any team with a hole on their offensive line and an early enough waiver priority. Simpson is a cheap offensive line option with starting experience. The risk is extremely low. He would fit well on a contender who may need to plug a hole due to injuries, but, at this point, Simpson is at the mercy of the waiver wire and his value may be too good to pass up for many of the teams with top priority.
While the move doesn’t change much, if anything, about the Raiders’ starting lineup, it does raise questions about the team’s offensive line depth. Las Vegas has three offensive lineman, Brandon Parker, Lester Cotton, and Justin Herron, on injured reserve. Simpson was serving as the primary backup for both guard spots and, if James were to get injured, Parham would slide over to center and push Simpson into the lineup. With Simpson out, the Raiders now hold only two backup linemen, Munford and Jackson Barton, on the active roster. Practice squad linemen Hroniss Grasu and Sebastian Gutierrez should expect to hear their names called in the coming days.
An interesting aspect about this move is that it leaves 2020 fourth-round pick Amik Robertson, the team’s final pick of that year’s draft, as the only remaining member of the Raiders’ 2020 draft class. First-round wide receiver Henry Ruggs was released after his involvement in a fatal car accident. First-round cornerback Damon Arnette was released after appearing in a threatening video with a handgun. Third-round utility back Lynn Bowden was traded to the Dolphins along with a sixth-round pick in exchange for a fourth-round pick. Third-round wide receiver Bryan Edwards was traded to the Falcons along with a 2023 seventh-round pick for a 2023 fifth-round pick. Third-round safety Tanner Muse was waived without ever taking snap for Las Vegas after spending his whole rookie season on IR. Robertson, who has started six games at cornerback for the Raiders, four this year, is the last man standing as we add Simpson to the list.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/9/22
Here are the only practice squad transactions for today:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: WR Marquez Stevenson
- Released: WR Isaiah Coulter
Jaguars Waive RB Darrell Henderson
Darrell Henderson‘s time with the Jaguars will end up being brief. The former Rams starter is back on waivers, according to a Jaguars announcement. The Jags had claimed the fourth-year running back barely two weeks ago.
The former third-round pick did not play in a game with Jacksonville. Henderson has two 600-yard rushing seasons on his resume and would reach free agency for the first time if he clears waivers.
Travis Etienne suffered a foot injury during the Jags’ Week 12 win over the Ravens, but JaMycal Hasty became the main beneficiary of that setback. Claimed by the Jaguars following a 49ers cut in August, Hasty totaled 17 touches in the Jags’ upset of the Ravens. Etienne returned for Week 13 and resumed his usual workload. Rookie Snoop Conner is the other running back on Jacksonville’s 53-man roster. The fifth-round pick has four carries this season.
With Henderson playing out a rookie contract, it would not be too surprising if another team picked up the deal. Injuries change equations weekly at this position, and the Memphis product has enjoyed productive NFL stretches. This season has not represented one of those. The Rams’ battered offensive line has helped minimize their backfield’s impact, and Henderson arrived in Jacksonville with just 283 rushing yards — a Rams-high mark at the point — and three touchdowns.
Having put together a dominant final season at Memphis (2,204 scrimmage yards, 25 touchdowns; 8.9 yards per carry) in 2018, Henderson showed some of that form in Los Angeles. The Rams aimed to avoid relying on the 5-foot-8 back as their surefire starter, however, both drafting Cam Akers in the 2020 second round and trading for Sony Michel following Akers’ training camp Achilles tear last year. But Henderson still totaled 1,312 rushing yards from 2020-21. A COVID-19 contraction and an MCL injury led to Michel taking over the Rams’ lead role last season, but Henderson did return for Super Bowl LVI. He caught three passes for 43 yards in the Rams’ win.
This resume would point to a running back-needy team either adding Henderson via waivers or as a free agent soon after. Come 2023, however, there stand to be several backs available on a robust market. Henderson’s contract-year swoon will not help his cause, should he not have another chance this season.