Eagles Sign DT Ndamukong Suh
In rather swiftly developing news, the Eagles are loading up on their defensive front. Minutes after news emerged indicating the NFC East leaders were in talks with Ndamukong Suh, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports the parties have a deal in place (Twitter link). The Eagles have announced the agreement.
This is a one-year deal for Suh, who has been a free agent since his Buccaneers contract expired in March. The Eagles have now added Suh and Linval Joseph to their interior D-line corps over the past two days. Suh placed the Eagles atop his destination list recently, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets, and the 8-1 team will pounce to add one of the most durable players in NFL history.
It is not exactly common for players of Suh’s caliber to sit in free agency until mid-November, but the former No. 2 overall pick saw the Bucs move on without him this offseason.. Both the Raiders and Browns were linked to Suh, but subsequent reports did well to shoot down those teams’ interest. After an unusual year for the All-Decade-teamer, he will land with a Super Bowl contender armed with one of the deeper D-lines you’ll see.
Suh is now 35, and he has drifted off the Pro Bowl level. While the former Lions All-Pro has not been honored with a Pro Bowl nod since his second Dolphins season (2016), he has continued to produce. The five-time Pro Bowler played a key role for the Bucs’ Super Bowl LV-winning team two seasons ago and is coming off back-to-back six-sack seasons.
The inside pass rusher totaled 1.5 sacks during Tampa Bay’s 2020 postseason run, joining teammates Shaquil Barrett and Jason Pierre-Paul in hounding Patrick Mahomes during that home-site romp. In his most recent game — a divisional-round clash with the Rams — Suh hit Matthew Stafford four times and forced a fumble to help the Bucs erase a 24-point deficit. For his career, Suh has 70.5 sacks and 130 tackles for loss.
During his prime, the menacing defender posed as one of the most difficult blocking assignments of this era. While the former Lions, Dolphins, Rams and Bucs lineman is a bit past that point in his career, he has displayed incredible durability for his lot of employers. Suh has started 191 career games and has never missed one due to injury. In Suh and Joseph, 34, the Eagles now have two of the most experienced D-tackles in NFL annals. Joseph ranks in the top 30 all time for starts (162) by a defensive tackle; Suh’s start total slots 24th in NFL history for all D-linemen.
The Eagles’ defensive line corps now houses an astonishing number of accomplished veterans. Philly rosters Brandon Graham, Haason Reddick, Josh Sweat and Robert Quinn on the edge and now has Suh, Joseph, Fletcher Cox and Javon Hargrave inside. (Derek Barnett is also on Philadelphia’s payroll, but the former first-round D-end is out for the season.) This gives DC Jonathan Gannon considerable options, even without first-rounder Jordan Davis available.
Davis’ return will give the Birds one of the highest-profile D-tackle crews in modern NFL history. Of course, this could also be classified as an aging D-line. Five of members of this reconfigured front are at least 31, but Suh and Joseph will give the Eagles a chance to rotate more up front. Cox played 70 snaps against the Commanders on Monday.
Joseph and Suh will join an Eagles team that has seen its run defense slip in recent weeks. Davis’ absence has hurt Philly’s capabilities in this area. The Texans totaled 168 rushing yards in Week 9, while the Commanders racked up 152 — on a whopping 49 carries — on Monday. It will be interesting to see how quickly both newcomers will be ready to suit up. Davis cannot return until Week 13.
Bills Claim LB A.J. Klein
The Bills added a familiar face off waivers today. The team announced (via Twitter) that they’ve claimed linebacker A.J. Klein off waivers from the Bears. The veteran was waived by Chicago yesterday. To make room on the roster, Buffalo placed wideout Jake Kumerow on injured reserve.
Klein spent two seasons with the Bills between 2020 and 2021. He had a career year during his first season in Buffalo, finishing with a career-high 75 tackles, five sacks, and two forced fumbles in 16 games (11 starts). He saw a reduced role in 2021, starting only four of his 15 appearances, but he still finished with 35 tackles. Klein also got into five playoff games during his first stint with the organization, collecting another seven tackles.
The 31-year-old has bounced around a bit since getting released by the Bills back in March. He joined the Giants practice squad in October before getting signed to Baltimore’s active roster. He was later sent to Chicago in the Roquan Smith trade before getting waived a few weeks later. He’s totaled five tackles in four games (one start) this year.
Kumerow has seen time in six games for the Bills this season, hauling in four catches for 64 yards while also playing a role on special teams. The veteran suffered an ankle injury during Buffalo’s Week 10 loss to the Vikings, and now he’ll be sidelined for at least the next four games.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/17/22
Today’s practice squad moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: DE Kingsley Jonathan
- Released: C Greg Mancz
Houston Texans
- Signed: CB BoPete Keyes
- Released: RB Gerrid Doaks
New England Patriots
- Signed: OL Hunter Thedford
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: CB Isaac Yiadom
- Released: LB Kenny Young
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: WR Auden Tate
- Released: CB Mac McCain
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/17/22
Today’s minor moves:
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted: LB Ladarius Hamilton
Tennessee Titans
- Signed to active roster: WR C.J. Board
- Promoted: DB Davontae Harris, DB Greg Mabin
- Placed on IR: CB Lonnie Johnson Jr.
Both roster additions were made in anticipation of tonight’s game between the Packers and Titans. Board has got into one game for the Titans this season, returning four punts. Hamilton has seen time in two games this season after getting into six contests for Green Bay in 2021.
Johnson suffered a hamstring injury during Tennessee’s Week 10 win against the Packers. The 27-year-old has appeared in eight games this season, collecting five tackles.
Packers Activate WR Randall Cobb From IR
Randall Cobb will make one of the quickest returns from IR possible. The Packers are following through with their rumored activation; the team announced the veteran wideout’s return to the active roster Thursday.
Placed on IR because of a high ankle sprain, Cobb missed the minimum four games and became eligible to return this week. The Packers designated him for return Tuesday. Despite the team having a Thursday-night game, Cobb is not going through a practice ramp-up period. He will be in uniform against the Titans.
This is the Packers’ fourth injury activation this season, giving them four left. The team’s Cobb move also represents its second receiver IR-return transaction this season. Sammy Watkins came off the injured list last month. Cobb and Watkins stand to help Green Bay’s cause against Tennessee, with a 4-6 start leaving the Packers little room for error down the stretch.
Thursday marks Cobb’s second IR-return transaction in his two seasons back with the Pack. A core muscle injury cost him time last season, but teams had unlimited IR activations from 2020-21, making such roster moves less important. The Packers have dealt with extensive receiver injury trouble this season; their top five targets have missed time. But the team is fairly healthy at the position for Week 11, with only rookie Romeo Doubs, who is also dealing with a high ankle sprain, out against Tennessee.
Cobb, 32, is on a better pace compared to 2021. The former Packers Day 2 draftee has 18 receptions for 257 yards this season. The slot player’s 42.6 yards per game are well north of his 2021 number (31.3). Of course, the Packers trading Davante Adams and losing Marquez Valdes-Scantling in free agency freed up some targets. The Packers will see if their Cobb-Watkins-Allen Lazard–Christian Watson quartet can generate some consistency at what has been one of the NFL’s more inconsistent positions this season.
Jets To Sign G Laurent Duvernay-Tardif
After a Wednesday workout, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif is coming back to New York. The veteran guard took a second NFL hiatus to pursue his medical career, but Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes (via Twitter) he is signing with the Jets for another go-round.
Duvernay-Tardif, 31, has spent most of his career with the Chiefs. He finished last season with the Jets, following a trade, but left football for a second time this offseason. The former sixth-round pick, who was the first player to exercise his COVID-19 opt-out right in 2020, will return to a Jets team that has seen some offensive line injuries change its plans this season.
An ACL tear shut down Alijah Vera-Tucker for the season. Drafted in the first round to play guard, Vera-Tucker had been working at tackle after the Jets experienced rampant health issues at that position. The player tabbed to take over inside for the second-year blocker, Nate Herbig, is now battling an injury as well. A shin issue sidelined Herbig at the Jets’ Wednesday practice.
This is a practice squad agreement, one that comes weeks after the Jets added Mike Remmers on a P-squad deal. Remmers moved up to Gang Green’s active roster soon. Duvernay-Tardif should be expected to follow suit. The Canadian lineman/doctor has been a regular starter in all but one season of his career.
A 2014 Chiefs draftee, Duvernay-Tardif broke into Kansas City’s starting lineup in his second season. The Chiefs later extended him, and Patrick Mahomes‘ initial O-lines featured the multitalented blocker at right guard. LDT has made 64 career starts.
Duvernay-Tardif started throughout the Chiefs’ Super Bowl LIV-winning season, but after his 2020 opt-out — aimed at helping fight the coronavirus in his native Canada — the team changed plans. Trey Smith, a sixth-rounder last year, took over that spot after the Chiefs filled their left guard role — with high-priced free agent Joe Thuney — earlier in 2021. The Chiefs traded Duvernay-Tardif to the Jets before last year’s deadline. He started seven of the eight games he played with the Jets last season.
After being dealt to a rebuilding Jets team last year, Duvernay-Tardif may be called upon to help a playoff contender. The 6-3 Jets, who are riding the NFL’s longest playoff drought (11 years), have Dan Feeney as a backup interior option behind Herbig and Laken Tomlinson. Duvernay-Tardif will now factor into this mix.
Packers Designate Randall Cobb For Return
NOVEMBER 17: Green Bay is expected to activate Cobb off IR in time for Thursday night’s game, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com notes (video link). Initially feared to have suffered a season-ending injury, Cobb is now looking set to return after missing just four games.
NOVEMBER 15: The Packers’ shorthanded receiving corps received a breakthrough performance from Christian Watson in Week 10, helping the team upset the Cowboys. Green Bay may have another weapon available soon.
Randall Cobb returned to practice Tuesday, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. While expecting the veteran to return off IR in time for Thursday’s game against the Titans might be a tough ask, the veteran is eligible to do so. The Packers have three weeks to activate Cobb, who has gone through a midseason IR stay for the second straight year.
A high ankle sprain has sidelined Cobb, 32, this season. The 12th-year wideout was feared to have suffered a broken ankle, but additional testing confirmed a less severe injury. With the subsequent exams opening the door to Cobb coming back, this stands to bolster a Packers passing game that has seen all of its key principals miss time this season.
Romeo Doubs is currently out due to a high ankle sprain; the rookie remains on Green Bay’s 53-man roster. The Packers already used one of their injury activations on Sammy Watkins, who went on IR early this season. The team waived 2021 third-round pick Amari Rodgers earlier Tuesday. Watson and Allen Lazard have also missed time, though neither has gone on IR. The Packers have five injury activations remaining.
Plagued by injuries and inconsistency throughout his first year with the Packers, Watson emerged for a three-touchdown game — Green Bay’s first rookie-year game featuring three receiving TDs since Hall of Famer James Lofton accomplished the feat in 1978 — to lift the team past the Cowboys. Lazard and Watson figure to be the Packers’ lead contributors against the Titans. Watkins and Cobb profile as auxiliary targets at this point.
Brought back via trade at Aaron Rodgers‘ request late last summer, Cobb missed five games in 2021 because of a core muscle injury. Prior to going on IR this year, Cobb caught 18 passes for 257 yards. Cobb, 32, can move past Max McGee into the top 10 in all-time Packers receiving yardage with 190 more this season. Cobb’s Texans-constructed, Packers-altered contract expires in March.
Bears Sign DE Taco Charlton, Cut LB A.J. Klein
The Bears acquired some depth on the defensive line today, signing former first-round pick Taco Charlton from the Saints practice squad, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. Additionally, the Bears activated linebacker Matthew Adams from injured reserve. 
Charlton has had a rollercoaster of a career through six seasons. He’s coming off of a down season in Pittsburgh where the Steelers barely used him. As a rotational pass rusher, Charlton only played more than half of the team’s defensive snaps twice in the season. In his lone start, he earned his only half-sack and a quarterback hit. In the only other game that saw him play more than half the Steelers’ snaps, he recorded his only other quarterback hit of the season.
Charlton hasn’t played a full season since his rookie year for the Cowboys in 2017. Since then, injuries and inactive periods for other non-disclosed reasons have kept him off the field for weeks at a time. He signed with the Saints early in the offseason but was cut and signed to the practice squad at the roster cut deadline.
Adams is a reserve linebacker and core special teamer for the Bears. He was placed on IR after suffering a calf injury in the team’s Week 5 loss to the Vikings. His return adds some depth to the linebacking position behind starters Jack Sanborn, Joe Thomas, and Nicholas Morrow.
To make room for Charlton on the active roster, Chicago released linebacker A.J. Klein with a non-injury settlement agreement, according to Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network. Klein was acquired in the trade that sent star linebacker Roquan Smith to Baltimore. Klein appeared in each of the Bears’ last two games, playing sparsely on special teams. His departure is quickly remedied by the return of Adams.
Cowboys Sign DE Takk McKinley To Practice Squad
The Cowboys reunited defensive end Takkarist McKinley with defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who drafted McKinley in the first round when he was head coach of the Falcons in 2017, signing the 27-year-old to the team’s practice squad today, according to Todd Archer of ESPN. McKinley will be joining his sixth franchise in as many years. 
McKinley spent the first four years of his career with the team that drafted him, showing tremendous potential through his rookie and sophomore seasons. Despite only starting eight games in his first two years, McKinley made the most of his opportunities, racking up 13.0 sacks, 14.0 tackles for loss, and 25 quarterback hits. He started 13 games for the Falcons in 2019 but saw his sack production drop to half what it was the year before.
After only appearing in four games for the Falcons in 2020, McKinley officially requested a trade from Atlanta, after internally requesting a trade in private since 2019. The Falcons had rejected several trade offers in 2019 and ended up waiving their fourth-year pass rusher shortly after his public trade request. He was initially claimed by the Bengals and 49ers but, after failing physicals, returned to the waiver wire. Eventually he was claimed by the Raiders but was placed on injured reserve, where he would remain for the rest of the season.
His rookie contract expired, McKinley signed with the Browns as a free agent on a one-year contract. After a decent bounce back season as a rotational end, McKinley’s season ended late in December with a torn Achilles tendon. Coming off the season-ending injury made it hard for McKinley to find a new home. He worked out with several teams, including the Cowboys, in the offseason before eventually signing to join the Titans practice squad just after the start of the season. Only five days later, though, the Rams signed McKinley off the Titans practice squad, utilizing him sparingly over the next four weeks before ultimately cutting him a little under a month ago.
McKinley is now hoping for another chance under Quinn, who saw him at his most successful five years ago. He’ll have quite a depth chart to climb if he intends to make an impact this season. The Cowboys start DeMarcus Lawrence and Dorance Armstrong at the end position with Dante Fowler, Tarell Basham, and rookie Sam Williams rotating in behind them. It’s a strong group for Dallas and having McKinley waiting on the practice squad can make it that much more dangerous.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/16/22
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: T Julien Davenport, TE Chris Pierce
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DT Roderick Perry II
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: DL David Moa
New England Patriots
- Signed: T Hunter Thedford
New York Giants
- Signed: T Devery Hamilton
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: S Marquise Blair