Bears Place RB Khalil Herbert On IR, Claim CB Justin Layne
The Bears’ first-place rushing attack will need to get by without one of its pillars in the coming weeks. Khalil Herbert is heading to IR, according to ESPN.com’s Field Yates (on Twitter).
A hip injury will sideline Herbert, who has played a major role in Chicago’s backfield in his second pro season. He must miss at least four games. The Bears also added cornerback Justin Layne via waiver claim. The Giants waived Layne on Monday. Matt Eberflus does not view Herbert’s injury has season-ending, per the Chicago Sun-Times’ Patrick Finley (on Twitter). The earliest Herbert can return is Week 15.
Chosen in last year’s sixth round, Herbert has already smashed his rookie-year rushing total. Despite not taking as many handoffs as starter David Montgomery, the elusive backup has 643 rushing yards — at an eye-catching six yards per carry. Montgomery, who has totaled 115 carries to Herbert’s 108, has amassed just 434 yards. The Bears will need to lean on their starter more, though having a quarterback amid one of the all-time great QB rushing seasons will help. Justin Fields leads the Bears with 749 rushing yards.
Among non-quarterbacks, Herbert’s 6.0 yards per carry ties Tony Pollard atop the NFL. Being on pace for more than 1,000 yards despite not starting, the Kansas and Virginia Tech product has displayed the potential to be a long-term Fields complementary piece.
Though buoyed largely by Fields’ recent run-game dominance, the Bears’ near-400-yard lead on the rest of the NFL in rushing (201.7 yards per game) has also featured extensive Herbert contributions. The second-year back’s emergence likely will factor into how the Bears proceed with Montgomery, who is one of many starter-caliber backs set to hit free agency in March. No known Montgomery extension talks have taken place.
Layne has continued to generate interest, despite not seeing much time at cornerback. The Steelers drafted Layne in Round 3 in 2019; he has played 156 career defensive snaps. The Giants claimed him following cutdown day in August but used him on just 11 defensive snaps during his half-season New York stay. But the Michigan State alum has been a special teams regular throughout his career. Layne would stand to impact the Bears on this front. His rookie contract expires at season’s end.
Texans Claim RB Eno Benjamin
Eno Benjamin did not make it past the top team in the current waiver hierarchy. The Texans submitted a claim for the former Cardinals running back, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
A former seventh-round pick, Benjamin served as James Conner‘s top backup in Arizona this season. The Cardinals’ decision to cut Benjamin caught the contributor by surprise, per ESPN.com’s Josh Weinfuss (on Twitter). He will now have another chance in Houston, which is taking on this rookie contract. That deal runs through 2023. The Chiefs and Seahawks attempted to claim Benjamin, according to GoPHNX.com’s Howard Balzer (on Twitter).
This move makes sense for Houston, which is still in the early stages of a lengthy rebuild. At 1-7-1, the Texans sit not only in pole position for next year’s No. 1 overall pick — though, it is early obviously — but they can win waiver battles by virtue of this record. The Texans have found a potential long-term starting back this year, in fourth-round rookie Dameon Pierce, but Benjamin can perhaps provide a complementary presence.
An Arizona State product, Benjamin did not play during his 2020 rookie slate but has seen action in the years since. The Cards turned to him to fill in for Conner during the recently re-signed starter’s injury hiatus. Benjamin has logged 70 carries for 299 yards and three touchdowns in 2022. The 5-foot-9 back has also contributed as an outlet receiver, catching 24 passes for 184 yards this season.
Since GM Nick Caserio‘s 2021 arrival, the Texans have cycled through a host of running backs. They added the likes of Rex Burkhead, Phillip Lindsay and Mark Ingram last year. Neither Lindsay nor Ingram finished the 2021 season with Houston, but the team extended Burkhead. This year, the Texans added Marlon Mack and Dare Ogunbowale to the mix. Mack did not make the team, but Pierce leapfrogged Houston’s veteran contingent and has launched an Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign.
Benjamin, 23, did not see his two quality Sun Devils seasons lead to much draft interest. He went 22nd in the 2020 draft. Still, he operated as a workhorse back at the Pac-12 program. Benjamin amassed 1,642 yards in 2018, ranking in the top five in Division I-FBS in rushing yards (fifth) and scrimmage yards (fourth, 1,905) as a sophomore. After another 1,000-yard slate as a junior, Benjamin followed the trend and bolted for the NFL rather than expose himself to another high-volume college workload. The Texans figure to still lean on Pierce (772 rushing yards; 4.7 per tote), but it will be somewhat interesting to see if Benjamin can carve out a role during the season’s second half.
Packers Waive Amari Rodgers, Kylin Hill
Less than two seasons into his Packers rookie contract, Amari Rodgers is no longer with the team. Green Bay waived the former third-round pick Tuesday.
This move comes after Rodgers muffed a punt against the Cowboys, continuing a rough season in this role. The Packers also waived running back Kylin Hill, who joined Rodgers in being part of their 2021 draft class.
Not only was Rodgers unable to carve out a role in Green Bay’s receiving corps, he struggled consistently in the special teams gig he earned. Rodgers has fumbled five times this season, losing two of those. The Clemson product’s five fumbles lead all non-quarterbacks this season. With the exception of Melvin Gordon, no other non-QB has more than three fumbles in 2022.
It is still somewhat surprising the Packers moved past demoting Rodgers, 23, from his return role to taking him off the roster altogether. The slot receiver represented a key investment by a team famous for not reaching for first-round pass catchers. From 2019-21, Rodgers was the only wideout the Packers selected. But Rodgers failed to make strides in the team’s offense this offseason, one that featured three receiver investments in the draft. All three of those cogs — Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs and Samore Toure — have played ahead of Rodgers on offense.
The Amari Rodgers pick (No. 85 overall) came at a pivotal point on the franchise’s timeline. A day earlier, Aaron Rodgers‘ trade request became public. Lack of investment at wide receiver was among Aaron Rodgers’ issues with the franchise, one that passed on a wideout move to trade up for Jordan Love in 2020. Amari Rodgers wraps his Packers career with eight receptions for 95 yards and no touchdowns.
It will be interesting to see if another team takes a flier on the former Trevor Lawrence college target. Playing alongside the likes of Tee Higgins and Justyn Ross at Clemson, Rodgers worked as a regular during Lawrence’s three-year run as the Tigers’ starter. In 2020, he improved his stock with a 77-catch, 1,020-yard, seven-touchdown campaign. Even as injury and performance issues plagued this year’s Packers receiver crop, Rodgers did not secure a notable role. He has played 98 offensive snaps this year.
As for Hill, he has spent much of his career battling back from injury. A former seventh-round pick, Hill suffered an ACL tear midway through last season. The injury recovery dragged into this season. The Packers did use one of their injury activations on the Mississippi State product this season, taking Hill off the reserve/PUP list. It will be interesting to see if Hill is a candidate to stay with Packers via a practice squad agreement. He must clear waivers in order to be eligible for that path.
Hill, 24, zoomed onto the draft radar with a 1,350-yard 2019 season, but he opted out of the 2020 campaign and ended up becoming a seventh-round pick. The 214-pound back has 11 career carries for 31 yards as a pro.
Chargers To Sign DT Tyeler Davison
The defensive tackle spot has been the source of plenty of turnover recently for the Chargers, and the team is making another move at the position. Los Angeles is signing Tyeler Davison off of the Browns’ practice squad, reports ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler (Twitter link). 
[RELATED: Chargers’ Covington, Ogbonnia Likely Out For Season]
The 30-year-old joined Cleveland’s taxi squad last month, with the expectation that he would soon be elevated to the active roster. That didn’t take place, as his most recent game action remains last year’s regular season. Davison played a career-low 12 games with the Falcons in 2021, but started 11 of them as he has remained a full-time starter for much of his NFL tenure.
The former fifth-rounder was released by the Falcons in March, ending his three-year stay in Atlanta. That was preceded by four years with the Saints. Overall, Davison has racked up 216 tackles and five sacks across his time in the NFC South. After the Cleveland signing failed to result in playing time, this Chargers deal is likely to work out differently.
Los Angeles waived Jerry Tillery after the former first-rounder struggled to meet expectations. He was nevertheless a prized commodity around the league, with eight teams putting in claims on him and the division-rival Raiders ultimately being awarded the Notre Dame product. That left a spot along the defensive interior for the Chargers to fill, but injuries have complicated their situation.
Veteran Christian Covington and rookie Otito Ogbonnia are expected to miss the remainder of the campaign, which led to an expectation a pickup of some kind would be in the making. Davison should have at least a rotational role available to him, though he has plenty of experience logging a first-team workload as well.
Despite a number of offseason moves aimed at improving their defense, the Chargers have yet to take a step forward in the ground game in particular. The team ranks 30th in the NFL allowing an average of just under 147 rushing yards per game, a figure Davison will look to help improve when he makes his 2022 debut.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/14/22
Here are Monday’s practice squad updates:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: QB D’Eriq King
- Released: WR Emeka Emezie
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: TE James O’Shaughnessy
New York Giants
- Released: T Will Holden
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: Marquise Blair
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/14/22
Here are Monday’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Placed on IR: CB Donte Jackson (story)
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: DT Roderick Perry
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed from practice squad: RB Malcolm Brown
Miami Dolphins
- Placed on IR: DE Emmanuel Ogbah (story)
New York Giants
- Activated from IR: CB Rodarius Williams
- Signed from practice squad: DL Henry Mondeaux
- Waived: T Devery Hamilton, CB Justin Layne
New York Jets
- Designated for return: T Max Mitchell
Philadelphia Eagles
- Placed on IR: CB Avonte Maddox
Mitchell has been out of the mix for the Jets since suffering a dislocated knee early last month. Although Mitchell was carted off the field because of that injury, he appears on track to come back. The Jets also have George Fant on IR, but he has not yet been designated for return. The Jets have used Duane Brown and journeyman Cedric Ogbuehi at tackle over the past two games. Gang Green has six injury activations remaining.
The Giants four activations left. A 2021 sixth-round pick, Williams ran into a bone-spur issue during training camp. The Giants claimed Layne off waivers from the Steelers after cutdown day. The former third-round pick has worked on special teams throughout the season.
Eight Teams Attempted To Claim Jerry Tillery; DL Headed To Raiders
Jerry Tillery did not work out with the Chargers, but a fourth of the league wanted to greenlight a contract-year audition. Eight teams attempted to claim the fourth-year defensive lineman, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). The Raiders won out.
In addition to Las Vegas, which now holds the No. 2 spot in the waiver order, the Lions, Panthers, Colts, 49ers, Jets, Giants and Chiefs submitted claims for the former first-round pick. Considering Tillery’s history, the interest is not too surprising. His midseason Bolts exit does make the claim volume notable, however.
Tillery, who follows defensive lineman John Cominsky in drawing eight waiver claims this year, is signed for the remainder of the season. The Chargers passed on Tillery’s fifth-year option in May and moved him out of the picture for good late last week. This number of interested teams does open the door to a potential market in free agency come March.
This marks yet another D-line addition for the Raiders, who restocked their front during the Dave Ziegler–Josh McDaniels regime’s first offseason. Bilal Nichols, Andrew Billings and rookies Matthew Butler and Neil Farrell comprise Las Vegas’ top interior D-line options. The Raiders had re-signed Jon Gruden-era pickup Johnathan Hankins but ended up trading him to the Cowboys before the deadline.
Chosen 28th overall out of Notre Dame in 2019, Tillery has 29 starts under his belt. He has tallied 10.5 career sacks and 12 tackles for loss in three-plus seasons. Tillery notched 14 quarterback hits during the 2020 and ’21 seasons. The new Bolts regime did not view him as much of a fit, signing Sebastian Joseph-Day and Austin Johnson in free agency and not picking up his 2023 option. Despite Johnson going down for the season, the Chargers followed through on ending Tillery’s tenure. With the Fighting Irish in 2018, Tillery recorded eight sacks to move onto the first-round radar.
Pro Football Focus rates Tillery just inside the top 50 among interior D-linemen this season; that mark is well north of the reviews the site gave from 2019-21. Tillery, 26, also finished his Chargers career having suffered a back injury while weightlifting. The Raiders and the septet of teams that did not end up landing him, however, were clearly unconcerned by that development. While the Raiders season has skidded off track, Tillery’s Silver and Black audition will be interesting.
Cardinals Release RB Eno Benjamin
In a very surprising move, the Cardinals are moving on from a notable member of their backfield. Arizona has informed Eno Benjamin that he is being released (Twitter link via ESPN’s Adam Schefter). The move is now official.
The 23-year-old had taken on a large role earlier in the season, with lead running back James Conner sidelined due to injury. Operating as the undisputed starter between Weeks 6 and 8, Benjamin totaled 151 rushing yards, showcasing his ability to serve as an effective compliment to a healthy Conner.
It also marked an increase in usage for the former seventh-rounder compared to his two previous years in the league. Benjamin did not see game action as a rookie, then received just 34 carries in 2021. Between the injuries to Conner and veteran backup Darrel Williams, though, Benjamin had logged a notable 43% snap share to date. Overall, he totaled 299 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns on 70 carries (4.3 yards per attempt), adding 184 yards on 24 catches.
Benjamin played just one offensive snap during yesterday’s win over the Rams, as Conner took on a workhorse load. Still, as noted by Schefter’s colleague Josh Weinfuss (on Twitter), the Arizona State alum is “surprised” by the decision to release him. Williams remains on IR, so this move leaves Arizona thin in the backfield.
Benjamin’s production while elevated to the lead role in particular should make him an intriguing add to any number of teams looking for depth at the RB spot. Nonetheless, the Cardinals currently sit 19th in the league with an average of 113 rushing yards per game, so a change aimed at increasing that total with Conner back to full health could be reasonable. By moving on from Benjamin, Arizona will see $895K in cap savings this year, and just over $1MM in 2023.
Packers Hire Aubrey Pleasant
One assistant coach affected by 2022’s in-season firings has quickly found a new employer. Former Lions assistant Aubrey Pleasant is joining the Packers’ staff, per ESPN’s Rob Demovsky (Twitter link). The move has since been confirmed.
Pleasant was fired by Detroit two weeks ago, as a reaction to the Lions’ ongoing defensive struggles. The team still ranks last in the league in points and yards allowed, but changes had been expected for some time leading up to the decision. The move left Pleasant – who had served as Detroit’s secondary coach and defensive pass game coordinator – free to find a new NFL home.
That came via an intra-division change of scenery. Demovsky notes that Pleasant actually began working with the Packers’ staff last week, as he reunited with head coach Matt LaFleur. The pair worked together both in Washington and with the Rams. Pleasant will be working in a consultant role on the offensive side of the ball, applying the experience garnered from his defensive background, Demovsky tweets.
Prior to this season’s poor performance, Pleasant had been a relatively hot name on the defensive coordinator radar, interviewing for the Bengals’ DC post, and also those of the Vikings and Saints this past offseason. His dismissal after only one full year with the Lions will likely delay his next opportunity for such a role, but this Packers stint could prove useful as well.
Interestingly, this hire comes just one week after LaFleur stated that no coaching changes were coming for the Packers (Twitter link via The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman). Green Bay sat at 3-6 at the time, and is still a distant second to the Vikings in the NFC North even after yesterday’s overtime win over the Cowboys. The team’s struggles on offense in particular have drawn criticism and led to questions about a significant shakeup of some kind taking place. Instead, the Packers will move forward with the status quo at the skill positions and a new voice amongst the team’s coaching staff.
Vikings Place CB Cameron Dantzler On IR
Vikings cornerback Cameron Dantzler was placed on injured reserve yesterday as the result of an ankle injury, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The loss of their starting cornerback comes at a four-game stretch where the Vikings’ opponents are a combined 23-13. 
Dantzler has become a full-time starter in his third season in the NFL. When Dantzler left last week’s win over the Commanders, Minnesota utilized a mixture of Akayleb Evans and Chandon Sullivan opposite the team’s other starter Patrick Peterson. The two were asked once again to step in today against the Bills before Evans left the game with an apparent concussion, requiring the Vikings to turn to rookie second-round pick Andrew Booth who was playing his first career NFL snaps on defense.
The Vikings will hope Evans can clear concussion protocols quickly to avoid having to rely too much on Booth and Kris Boyd, who had seen a combined two defensive snaps before today’s game. The team also expects Dantzler to make a return this season. By placing him on IR before today’s matchup, the game will count toward the four-game minimum that he must remain on IR before being eligible to return. If he can recover quickly, Dantzler can be eligible to return as soon as Week 14, in time for a trip to Detroit.
In a corresponding move yesterday, the Vikings also signed practice squad cornerback Duke Shelley to the active roster. The third-year cornerback out of Kansas State had appeared in two games prior to this week but only appeared on special teams. Shelley was also forced into action during the team’s overtime win today, breaking up a pass intended for Bills tight end Dawson Knox in the endzone that would’ve ended the game had it been completed. Instead, Peterson intercepted quarterback Josh Allen on the very next play, cementing the seventh-straight victory for the Vikings.