Chiefs Sign DT Brandon Williams To Active Roster
A week after joining Kansas City’s practice squad, Brandon Williams is ready to go. According to PFT’s Josh Alper, that they have signed the veteran defensive tackle to the active roster.
It was always expected that Williams’ stint on the practice squad would be temporary, especially since he wouldn’t need long to get acclimated to the Chiefs’ defense. The veteran previously played under Chiefs defensive line coach Joe Cullen when the two were in Baltimore, so the familiarity certainly played into the player’s readiness.
The Chiefs recently dropped defensive tackle Taylor Stallworth, so Williams was the natural choice for the open roster spot. Stallworth had a small but consistent role on defense in recent weeks, so there’s a good chance Williams soaks up those open snaps. The 33-year-old could also eventually cut into Derrick Nnadi‘s and/or Khalen Saunders playing time.
“I’d tell you a good player,” coach Andy Reid recently said of Williams (h/t AP’s Dave Skretta via Seattle Times). “Joe speaks very highly of him and still thinks he can contribute. He’s been doing it a long time, but we welcome that. He’s a great kid and good football player.”
Williams spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Ravens, including a 2018 campaign where he earned his lone Pro Bowl nod. He started 114 of his 123 appearances during his time in Baltimore, collecting 33 tackles for loss and 19 QB hits.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/8/22
Today’s minor transactions:
Detroit Lions
- Designated for return: RB Craig Reynolds
Las Vegas Raiders
- Promoted: C Hroniss Grasu
Los Angeles Rams
- Promoted: DE Earnest Brown IV, RB Malcolm Brown
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Designated for return: K Chris Boswell
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/8/22
Here are Thursday’s practice squad moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: CB Javelin Guidry
Denver Broncos
- Signed: T Quinn Bailey
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: C Austin Reiter
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: S Andre Chachere
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: DE Sam Okuayinonu
Jets T Max Mitchell Out For Season
DECEMBER 8: Mitchell landed on the Jets’ NFI list because of blood clots, according to Connor Hughes of SNY (on Twitter). This is not believed to be a career-threatening matter, but Mitchell is done for this season.
DECEMBER 7: A Jets starter in five games this season, Max Mitchell will miss the rest of this campaign. Robert Saleh said Wednesday (via ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini, on Twitter) the rookie tackle is going on the team’s reserve/non-football injury list and will be shut down for the season’s remainder.
Chosen in the fourth round, Mitchell became needed due to the Jets’ run of tackle injuries this year. Mekhi Becton, Duane Brown and George Fant‘s health issues moved Mitchell into earlier-than-anticipated playing time, but that run of work will abruptly cease. It is unclear what will cause Mitchell’s shutdown, but the Jets will lose some depth at a fluctuating position.
The Jets used Mitchell as their right tackle starter in their Week 12 loss to the Vikings, but the team benched him for Fant. Taking an extended period to return from an early-season knee injury, Fant is now on track to start opposite Brown. The ex-Seahawks have not started together as Jets, but that will occur in Week 14 against the Bills.
New York began the season without Becton and Brown. Becton suffered an avulsion fracture during training camp and is out for the season, while Brown — added in the wake of the Becton injury — went down just before the year as well. Brown has since returned and has been the Jets’ left tackle starter, but Fant needed more than two months to re-emerge from the knee injury that plagued him early this season. That brought Mitchell into action.
A Louisiana alum, Mitchell started in Weeks 1-4 and returned from his own injury in Week 12. The Jets, who had been starting Cedric Ogbuehi at right tackle, used one of their injury activations on Mitchell last month. Continuing Gang Green’s run of health issues at this position, Ogbuehi missed Week 13. Not long after the Jets allowed the Patriots to sign Conor McDermott off their practice squad, Mitchell will move out of the picture.
The Jets are bumping recently re-signed guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif to their active roster, Cimini tweets. The longtime Chiefs starter-turned-Jets trade acquisition is back from his second medical sabbatical; the Canadian doctor/lineman has 64 career starts on his resume. The Jets have been playing without 2021 first-round pick Alijah Vera-Tucker as well. Vera-Tucker had played both guard and tackle this season, moving to the latter spot due to the injuries the team sustained at that position. Duvernay-Tardif appears likely to provide depth behind starters Laken Tomlinson and Nate Herbig.
Titans CB Elijah Molden Returns To IR; Two Others Designated For Return
After only appearing in two games this year, it seems like the sophomore season for Titans cornerback Elijah Molden has come to an end, according to TitanInsider.com publisher Terry McCormick. The 23-year-old had been activated to return from injured reserve a little under a month ago but will head back to IR as his injuries continue to drag him down. 
Molden had come on strong in his rookie season, earning a starting role by Week 6 last year and holding onto the job throughout the season. In his starting duties, Molden racked up 62 total tackles, four passes defensed, and one interception, adding two more tackles in a postseason start against the Bengals.
Molden was placed on IR during the preseason after missing several practices with a nagging groin injury. He wasn’t able to make his 2022 season debut until a Week 9 start against the Broncos. After he was unable to play the following week, his season ended, for the second time in a row, with a loss to the Bengals.
The Titans have been absolutely ravaged with injuries this season. Adding Molden to the list of players on IR extends the NFL-leading number of players on IR from 15 to 16. This includes injuries to fellow cornerbacks Caleb Farley, Chris Jackson, and Lonnie Johnson. With starter Kristian Fulton and Tre Avery questionable to start the week, the bruised Titans secondary may be facing Trevor Lawrence this weekend with only three healthy cornerbacks. The team also recently added cornerback John Reid from the Falcons practice squad for some added depth. It’s no wonder, with this many injuries, that Tennessee ranks 31st this year in pass defense.
Now, due to an updated NFL rule, Molden has the ability to return from IR a second time this season if he can get healthy. The rule says that a player can be designated to return a maximum of two times in a season with both activations counting against the teams eight allowed designations. The Titans, who have had plenty of options throughout their injury-riddled season, only have two activations remaining this year and have already designated wide receiver Racey McMath and defensive back Josh Thompson to return. It Tennessee truly intends to bring back McMath and Thompson, it will use up the last of their allowable designations.
If one of the two doesn’t return, and remains on IR for the remainder of the season, that could open the door for a second Molden return. The question of whether or not he could get healthy enough to return is an important one and, if any hints are to be taken from McCormick’s tweet, the answer is probably “no” as McCormick very plainly stated that “his season is over.” A Molden return wouldn’t be able to occur until Week 18 of the season, if it were to happen at all.
Dolphins Designate OL Liam Eichenberg For Return
The Dolphins’ offensive line should soon be getting some reinforcement. Miami designated offensive lineman Liam Eichenberg for return from injured reserve, as passed along by Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com (via Twitter).
Eichenberg landed on injured reserve with a knee injury in early November. He ultimately sat out the required four games before returning to practice today. While it sounds like the offensive lineman is still ramping up, coach Mike McDaniel sounds anxious to reinsert the player into the starting lineup whenever he’s ready to go.
“Most of the [practice] will be on the side,” McDaniel said of Eichenberg (via Daniel Oyefusi of the Miami Herald), “but he’s done an unbelievable job of getting himself really to where he’s at from the injury. It’s to his credit that that type of injury he’s come back so fast. I’m excited for him because he was playing his best football when he got injured.”
The 2021 second-round pick started 16 of his 17 games as a rookie and started each of his eight games in 2022. While Pro Football Focus hasn’t been fond of Eichenberg’s performance through his first year-plus in the NFL, McDaniel indicated that the lineman was starting to find his own before getting sidelined with an injury.
The head coach’s vote of confidence seems to indicate that Eichenberg will slide back into the starting lineup. Robert Jones has started four games at left guard filling in for his injured teammate, and the second-year pro has shown better than Eichenberg, per PFF. This will be one of several OL questions for the Dolphins heading into the final stretch of the season, especially with Terron Armstead set to return.
Panthers Designate DL Henry Anderson For Return
Henry Anderson could soon make his return to the field. The Panthers defensive lineman was designated to return from the NFI list today, as Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com passes along (on Twitter). Anderson will now have three weeks to be activated to the active roster.
The veteran revealed today that he was placed on the non-football illness list after suffering a sudden stroke in late October, per ESPN’s David Newton. Leading up to the Panthers’ game against the Buccaneers, Anderson experienced numbness in his arms and legs and his speech became blurred. Specialists around the country couldn’t determine what caused the stroke, but the clot was removed and Anderson revealed that he’s felt “pretty normal” since.
The veteran returned to practice today and said he “felt good” after getting back into the swing of things. In fact, interim coach Steve Wilks said Anderson has a chance to play this weekend against the Seahawks.
“I’m a football player,” Anderson said. “If I’m cleared to play, I want to be out there and play football because that’s what I love to do. I’ve been injured several times throughout my career, and it’s always kind of overwhelming when you’re injured and not with the team, so if the doctors say I’m good to go and I’ve got clearance I want to be out there with my guys and playing with my brothers.”
After getting into four games with the Patriots in 2021, the 31-year-old was let go by New England at the end of the 2022 preseason. He soon caught on with the Panthers and got into six games before landing on NFI, compiling 12 tackles. The veteran has seen time in 84 career games across eight NFL seasons, including a 2018 campaign where he finished with a career-high seven sacks with the Jets.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/7/22
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: CB BoPete Keyes, WR Binjimen Victor
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: P Kevin Huber
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: WR Kevin White
- Released: TE Dylan Soehner
New York Giants
- Signed: OL Roy Mbaeteka
New York Jets
- Signed: OL Sam Schlueter
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: OT Roderick Johnson, DT Marvin Wilson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: LB Emeke Egbule
- Released: RB Master Teague
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: OT Grant Hermanns, S Nolan Turner
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/7/22
Here are Wednesday’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Reverted to season-ending IR: OL Jalen Mayfield
Cleveland Browns
- Claimed (from Buccaneers): WR Jaelon Darden
- Signed off Raiders’ practice squad: LB Reggie Ragland
- Placed on IR: WR Anthony Schwartz
Denver Broncos
- Signed off Rams’ practice squad: DL Elijah Garcia
Detroit Lions
- Designated for return: WR Quintez Cephus
Houston Texans
- Claimed (from Chiefs): DT Taylor Stallworth
- Designated for return: S Grayland Arnold, LB Jonathan Greenard
- Waived: DT Michael Dwumfour
Los Angeles Rams
- Reverted to season-ending IR: G David Edwards
Minnesota Vikings
- Placed on IR: TE Ben Ellefson, CB Akayleb Evans
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Designated for return: LB K.J. Britt
Ellefson came off IR just last week and did not play in the Vikings’ matchup against the Jets. A nagging groin injury will send the third-year tight end back to IR. Although the new IR rules allow for players to be activated twice from IR, Minnesota’s injury-return math may come into play by the time Ellefson’s second activation window opens (Week 18).
In Darden, Browns snagged the NFL’s punt-return yards leader. The 2021 Bucs fourth-rounder has not seen much action on offense, with Tampa Bay oozing experience at the receiver position. But he has been Tampa Bay’s primary punt returner. Darden has totaled 330 punt-return yards this season. A 2021 third-round pick, Schwartz sustained a concussion that has sent him to IR. Ragland has spent the past month on the Raiders’ taxi squad. The Browns are the former second-round pick’s fifth team in four seasons; the ex-Jets draftee was with the Chiefs, Lions and Giants from 2019-21. After losing Anthony Walker and Jacob Phillips earlier this year, the Browns moved Sione Takitaki to IR with an ACL tear this week.
A rotational cog for the Saints, Colts and Chiefs during his five-year career, Stallworth played only 14% of Kansas City’s defensive snaps this season. He committed a third-down roughing-the-passer penalty during a Bengals touchdown drive in Week 13. The Texans had already used one of their injury activations on Dwumfour; the 1-10-1 team has three remaining. Greenard, who led the 2021 Texans with eight sacks, has been on the shelf since going down with a calf injury in an October practice.
Cowboys’ Tyron Smith Returns To Practice
The Cowboys will have Tyron Smith back at practice Wednesday, Mike McCarthy said. The previously outlined plan will start the All-Decade tackle’s three-week activation clock.
Smith has not gone through a practice since suffering a torn hamstring — subsequently revealed to be an avulsion fracture — during an August 24 workout. The injury-prone standout underwent surgery and has worked his way back. His 12th-season debut appears imminent, with the Cowboys long identifying December as the window for his comeback.
Because the Cowboys are starting Smith’s IR-return clock now, he must be moved back to their 53-man roster during the regular season. Smith’s injury history does not exactly guarantee he will be back manning his post when first eligible Sunday, but Dallas has been planning on him being back at left tackle soon.
The 2011 first-round pick coming back will lead to Dallas’ 2022 first-round blocker — Tyler Smith — relocating. The younger Smith had been in a left guard battle with Connor McGovern prior to Tyron Smith’s setback. Although the Cowboys signed Jason Peters, they ended up moving Tyler Smith to left tackle and shuttling the nine-time Pro Bowl blindside bastion to guard. The prospect of both Smiths, McGovern and Peters being available would stand to strengthen both the Cowboys’ starting lineup and their depth up front.
Despite being part of the stellar 2011 draft, Tyron Smith is only set to turn 32 next week. He is attached to (by far) the longest-running contract in the NFL — an eight-year, $97.6MM deal agreed to back in 2014 — and is signed through 2023. Somewhat surprisingly, the 6-foot-8 specimen never came back to the table about a contract that paid him in line with the new going rate at his position. When healthy, Smith remains one of the game’s best tackles. He landed his eighth Pro Bowl invite last season, helping the Cowboys back to the playoffs.
Injuries have impacted Smith consistently. He missed 14 games in 2020 due to a neck issue and was out for six games last year. From 2016-19, Smith missed three games in each season. It will be interesting to see if Smith can surmount this hamstring issue and team up with his heir apparent to strengthen the Cowboys’ best team in at least six years. It will also be worth monitoring how Tyler Smith looks at guard. The Tulsa product has only played tackle in college or the pros, having started all 12 Cowboys games at left tackle. Pro Football Focus rates Tyler Smith 51st among tackles this season.