Giants To Activate Nick Gates From PUP List
More than a year after suffering a career-threatening injury, Nick Gates will be moved into position to play again. The former Giants starting center is set to be activated from the reserve/PUP list Wednesday, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports.
In order for Gates to have a shot at playing this season, the Giants needed to make this move today. They designated Gates for return three weeks ago. Not activating him would have meant a full-season absence.
Gates, 26, missed almost all of last season because of a gruesome leg fracture sustained in Week 2. As the Giants saw their O-line decimated early last season, Gates’ road back from fibula and tibia breaks led to seven surgeries. This spring, a setback occurred forcing the rod in his leg to be removed, Raanan adds.
Although the possibility existed at that point Gates would not play in 2022, the Giants displayed their confidence in his comeback by designating him for return at the earliest possible point. The former UDFA, who started 16 games at center for the 2020 Giants edition, is tied to the two-year, $6.82MM extension he signed that year. Although Big Blue has changed regimes and revamped its offensive line during Gates’ time away, the Nebraska alum should be in position to at least provide depth up front.
Jon Feliciano has worked as the Giants’ center this season, but the team has sustained multiple injuries at guard. Shane Lemieux remains out due to the severe leg injury he suffered late in the summer of 2021, while fifth-round rookie Marcus McKethan sustained an ACL tear in August. Ben Bredeson has worked as a Big Blue guard starter all season, but the former trade acquisition is battling a knee injury that will likely force him to miss time, Dan Duggan of The Athletic tweets. Third-round rookie Joshua Ezeudu replaced Bredeson against the Jaguars and could be in line to start at left guard in Week 8. Gates will work at center and guard, Brian Daboll said Wednesday (via the New York Post’s Paul Schwartz, on Twitter).
It would not surprise to see the Giants hold Gates out of their Seahawks matchup this week, considering their bye arrives in Week 9. But the former center and guard starter will be in position to contribute during this season’s second half, representing one of the league’s better comeback stories in recent years.
Cowboys Add CB Kendall Sheffield To Practice Squad
The Cowboys are adding some reinforcement to their secondary. Dallas is signing cornerback Kendall Sheffield to the practice squad, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter).
[RELATED: Cowboys CB Jourdan Lewis Undergoes Season-Ending Surgery]
The team could use some extra depth at the position after cornerback Jourdan Lewis went down with a season-ending foot injury. Fifth-round rookie DaRon Bland is expected to take on the starting nickel role, but the front office still wanted to add some extra depth at the position.
Sheffield is a logical choice. While the 26-year-old will initially start on the taxi squad, he’ll likely find himself on the active roster sooner than later. He’s already familiar with defensive coordinator Dan Quinn’s system thanks to their time together in Atlanta, and Sheffield’s ability to play both outside and nickel should provide him with more opportunities for reps.
Sheffield was a fourth-round pick by the Falcons in 2019. He started 20 games through his first two seasons in the NFL, collecting 97 tackles and six passes defended. With Quinn out in Atlanta for the 2021 campaign, the cornerback saw a reduced role. He didn’t start any of his nine games last season while collecting only four tackles. He caught on with the Texans in May and landed on IR before the start of the 2022 season. He was cut from IR earlier this month.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/25/22
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: OL Sage Doxtater
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: CB Thakarius Keyes
- Released: LB Jordan Brailford
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: S Mike Brown
Detroit Lions
- Signed: S J.R. Reed
- Released: DL Bruce Hector
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: TE Josh Babicz
- Released: TE Shaun Beyer
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: P Nolan Cooney, LB Forrest Rhyne
- Released: WR DeMichael Harris, CB Ryan Smith
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: OT Sebastian Gutierrez
- Released: CB Javelin Guidry
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: WR Calvin Jackson, DB Jamal Perry
- Placed on IR: WR Freddie Swain
New York Giants
- Signed: TE Andre Miller
New York Jets
- Signed: G Myron Cunningham
Seattle Seahawks
- Released: RB Godwin Igwebuike, LB Christian Jones
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/25/22
Today’s minor transactions:
Carolina Panthers
- Placed on reserve/NFI: DE Henry Anderson
- Signed off Dolphins practice squad: OT Larnel Coleman
- Signed to active roster: CB Tae Hayes
Detroit Lions
- Signed to active roster: S C.J. Moore
Houston Texans
- Signed to active roster: WR Tyron Johnson
Kansas City Chiefs
- Released: WR Daurice Fountain
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived: G Jeremiah Kolone
New Orleans Saints
- Released from IR: G Forrest Lamp
New York Jets
- Signed to active roster: RB Zonovan Knight
San Francisco 49ers
- Released: RB Tevin Coleman
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Placed on IR: LB K.J. Britt
Tennessee Titans
- Signed off Chiefs practice squad: WR Chris Conley
- Placed on IR: WR Kyle Philips
Washington Commanders
- Signed to activer roster: CB Danny Johnson
Falcons Cut DL Marlon Davidson
The Falcons have seen some turnover on their defensive line this year. They will continue that trend by moving on from Marlon Davidson, a former second-round pick.
This move comes after Davidson spent the season’s first seven weeks on IR. The third-year defensive lineman underwent arthroscopic knee surgery just before the season, and ESPN.com’s Michael Rothstein notes (via Twitter) he was on Atlanta’s roster bubble before going down with the injury.
Atlanta’s Thomas Dimitroff–Dan Quinn regime chose Davidson 47th overall out of Auburn in 2020, but the interior D-lineman could not establish himself as a starter for either interim HC Raheem Morris nor DC Dean Pees. Davidson, who dealt with lower-body injuries during his two seasons with the Falcons, has one career start and one sack. He follows D-line contributors Anthony Rush and John Cominsky in being moved off the roster this year.
The Falcons cut Rush earlier this month and saw offseason addition Eddie Goldman retire shortly after joining the team. The 3-4 squad is thin on D-linemen acquired before GM Terry Fontenot took over; Grady Jarrett is the last man standing there.
Pees’ unit has turned to 2021 fifth-round pick Ta’Quon Graham as its starter opposite Jarrett up front, with Abdullah Anderson manning the nose post. Timmy Horne‘s emergence as a reserve also influenced Atlanta’s Davidson decision, per Rothstein. In not activating Davidson from IR, the Falcons still have seven injury activations remaining this season.
Saints Place CB Bradley Roby On IR
The Saints have played their past two games without Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore. They will play at least their next four without veteran starter Bradley Roby.
New Orleans placed Roby on IR on Tuesday, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. Roby suffered a foot injury in last week’s Saints-Cardinals game and needed to be carted off the field. Roby has been a Saints regular for the past two seasons, since New Orleans acquired him from Houston, and has started six games this year. The Saints re-signed wide receiver Keith Kirkwood to take Roby’s roster spot.
Roby, 30, re-signed with the Texans in 2020 but ended up being dealt to the Saints a year later. After playing 42% of New Orleans’ defensive snaps in 2021, he has be on the field for 78% of the team’s 2022 defensive plays. This will be a blow to a Saints team already dealing with trouble at corner.
An abdominal injury has sidelined Lattimore for the past two games; he remains on New Orleans’ active roster. The team has also played without rookie Alontae Taylor for much of this season and was without Paulson Adebo against Arizona. This left a skeleton crew, one including ex-Roby Broncos teammate Chris Harris, in the team’s Week 7 loss to the Cardinals. Roby’s injury obviously makes Lattimore and Adebo’s availability critical going forward, with the Cards’ win having dropped the Saints to 2-5 — their worst mark through seven games since 2005.
After making a name alongside Harris and Aqib Talib on Denver’s Super Bowl-winning defense, Roby has started 56 career games but has been a regular in all 120 he has played as a pro. The former first-round pick has allowed a 50% completion rate and limited quarterbacks to an 83.3 passer rating as the closest defender. Pro Football Focus, however, has the veteran boundary corner rated just inside the top 100 at the position this season.
Raiders To Trade DT Johnathan Hankins To Cowboys
Johnathan Hankins is heading back to the NFC East. The Raiders are sending their longtime defensive tackle to the Cowboys, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter).
The former Giants starter has seen his Raiders role diminish under new DC Patrick Graham this season, but the veteran interior D-lineman has extensive starting experience. Hankins stands to add a seasoned depth piece to Dallas’ high-end D-line.
This is a pick-swap trade. Dallas will send a 2023 sixth-round pick to Las Vegas for the 10th-year defender, per Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets, adding that a 2024 seventh will go back to the Cowboys (Twitter links). It will mark Hankins’ third career team change.
After a mid-career stopover with the Colts, Hankins enjoyed a lengthy Raiders run. The former Giants second-round pick started 61 games with the Raiders. Only one of those came this season, which has seen Hankins’ defensive snap rate drop from 58% to 37%. Hankins, 30, had played at least 58% of the Raiders’ defensive snaps in each of his previous four seasons with the team.
While the Raiders had a regular role carved out for the 340-pound defender, big money did not follow. The Colts gave Hankins a three-year, $27MM deal in 2017, but they cut bait a year later. Since, Hankins has signed a host of short-term, lower-cost agreements. This latest deal will not hit the Cowboys’ cap too hard. Hankins signed a one-year, $1.33MM accord this offseason, being one of many midlevel defensive linemen to sign with the Raiders during Josh McDaniels‘ first months at the helm.
At his best, Hankins was known as a plus run-stopping presence. The Cowboys are in greater need in that area than they are for pass-rushing help, and the Dallas Morning News’ David Moore notes the team indeed discussed adding Hankins on Monday to help shore up its run defense (Twitter link). So much for Jerry Jones‘ “I don’t see a trade” forecast. Dallas leads the NFL in sacks (29) but ranks just 20th against the run.
Although Hankins took a backseat to new Raiders starters Andrew Billings and Bilal Nichols this season, he will be added to the Cowboys’ interior rotation. Hankins has spent most of his career as a 4-3 D-tackle. He will join the likes of Osa Odighizuwa, Quinton Bohanna, Trysten Hill and Neville Gallimore in Dallas. Gallimore was inactive for the Cowboys’ Week 7 game. Progression of Raiders rookie D-tackles Neil Farrell and Matthew Butler helped lead to this trade, The Athletic’s Vic Tafur tweets.
Titans To Sign WR Chris Conley
Chris Conley is marking his 30th birthday by joining his third different team this season. The veteran wideout is signing with the Titans on their active roster, having previously been on the Chiefs’ practice squad (Twitter link via Mike Garafolo of NFL Network). 
[RELATED: Tannehill Dealing With Ankle Injury]
Conley spent the first four years of his career with the Chiefs, registering 530 yards in 2016 and scoring five touchdowns two years later. His potential as a high-end complimentary pass catcher led him to Jacksonville as a free agent in 2019. Across two seasons in Duval County, he totaled 87 catches, 1,246 yards and seven scores.
That led the former third-rounder to Houston last season, where he made 10 starts and put up a 22-323-2 statline. He was among the team’s final round of roster cuts this season, but immediately re-signed with them in September. In 2022, he has bounced on and off of the Texans’ practice squad, making two appearances so far.
Earlier this month, Conley re-joined the Chiefs on a taxi squad deal. Unable to find playing time in Kansas City after the plethora of moves the team made in the wake of trading away Tyreek Hill, however, he will now look to do so with the Titans. The team’s passing game has been underwhelming so far, averaging less than 184 yards per game through the air.
A step back in that category was expected, after the Titans’ draft-day A.J. Brown trade. His replacement, first-round rookie Treylon Burks, is currently on IR after suffering a turf toe injury in Week 4. Conley could see snaps right away, but will likely be limited to a rotational role behind starters Robert Woods and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine.
Jaguars To Trade RB James Robinson To Jets
Hours after learning Breece Hall will be lost for the season, the Jets are making a move to replace him. They are trading for Jaguars running back James Robinson, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter).
The Jaguars’ rushing leader in 2020 and 2021, Robinson has seen his role reduced due to the rise of 2021 first-rounder Travis Etienne. Robinson will be set to team with 2021 draftee Michael Carter for a 5-2 Jets team. The Jags will acquire a conditional sixth-rounder from the Jets, with ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter adding (via Twitter) the pick could become a fifth.
If Robinson rushes for 260 more yards this season, the pick bumps to a fifth, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com tweets. The Jags will receive the higher of the Jets’ two 2023 sixth-rounders. New York obtained a 2023 sixth from Houston for linebacker Blake Cashman in March. That deal could lead to draft compensation for the Texans’ AFC South rivals.
This news comes after Doug Pederson said Robinson was dealing with knee soreness. The Jets will bet on the UDFA success story, despite the Division I-FCS product being less than a year removed from an Achilles tear. Robinson, however, has bounced back from that severe injury. He has amassed 340 rushing yards on 81 carries this season, scoring three touchdowns.
In Robinson, the Jets are acquiring a player who set an NFL record for the most rookie-year scrimmage yards (1,414) accumulated by a UDFA. Robinson did that in just 14 games two seasons ago, being shut down for Jacksonville’s final two contests. After Etienne went down with a Lisfranc injury during the 2021 preseason, Robinson rushed for 767 yards and eight touchdowns. While the December Achilles tear ended Robinson’s second season on a sour note, he still saw his yards-per-carry figure increase from his rookie year (4.5 to 4.7). He is at 4.2 this season.
As a former UDFA, Robinson can be extended at any point. But he can also be kept in 2023 on an RFA tender. This gives the Jets options. For now, however, he stands to join Carter in the team’s post-Hall backfield.
A 2021 fourth-round pick, Carter is averaging 3.5 yards per carry. Carter began the year with a bigger role, but as Hall progressed in Mike LaFleur‘s offense, the North Carolina product became a clear backup option. It will be interesting to see how the Jets deploy Robinson and Carter, but the former has proven far more as an NFLer to this point.
Jacksonville is now committed to Etienne. The Jags played Robinson on just 12 snaps in Week 7, signaling a changing of the guard. The team took Etienne during Urban Meyer‘s one year running the show, doing so after Meyer surprisingly lamented Kadarius Toney being picked just before Etienne became the team’s choice. Etienne is signed through 2024 but can be controlled through 2025 via the fifth-year option. Trevor Lawrence‘s versatile Clemson teammate, Etienne has progressed in his first NFL games. He has totaled 566 scrimmage yards in seven games, scoring his first touchdown as a pro Sunday.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/23/22
Here are today’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Released: CB Daryl Worley
Carolina Panthers
- Signed off Dolphins practice squad: T Larnel Coleman
Denver Broncos
- Signed to active roster: LS Mitch Fraboni
- Placed on IR: RB Mike Boone
Detroit Lions
- Waived: WR Maurice Alexander
New England Patriots
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Bill Murray