Bills, TE Dawson Knox Agree On Extension
Dawson Knox will not play out a contract year in 2022. The Bills are extending their top tight end, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).
The former third-round pick is signing a four-year deal to stay with the team that drafted him. Knox expressed his desire for a second Bills contract earlier this offseason. He will now be tied long-term with Josh Allen and Stefon Diggs, the latter having also signed an extension this year. Knox’s deal is worth $53.6MM and includes $31MM guaranteed, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets.
This works out to a $13.4MM-per-year deal. That places Knox near the top of the tight end market but outside the top five. It checks in sixth at the position, coming in behind David Njoku‘s $13.7MM-AAV contract and Hunter Henry‘s 2020 Patriots agreement. Knox, 25, could have potentially positioned himself for a better deal as a 2023 free agent, but he made it clear earlier this year that was not a route he wanted to go.
“First and foremost, I want to be here. I mean, I bought a house here a few months ago, not because I want to be gone in a year,” Knox said this summer. The fourth-year pass catcher had approached the Bills about a new deal. It is not known how long negotiations have transpired, but the Bills have their breakthrough tight end signed for five more seasons now.
Diggs helped key Allen’s rise into one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks in 2020; last season, Knox aided the climb as well. The Ole Miss alum caught 49 passes for 587 yards and nine touchdowns to help the Bills to a second straight AFC East title. Knox tallied two more touchdown grabs in the playoffs.
Although Knox did not top 400 yards in either of his first two seasons, Wednesday morning’s extension indicates the Bills believe the 6-foot-4 target will be able to sustain his 2021 level of play for a while. Knox becomes the latest Ole Miss pass catcher from the 2019 draft class to sign an extension this offseason. A.J. Brown and D.K. Metcalf did so as well.
It certainly did not hurt Knox’s cause that he and Allen are close, and the MVP candidate’s top three targets are now each locked up beyond 2022. Gabe Davis‘ rookie deal runs through the 2023 season. The Bills also re-signed slot/gadget player Isaiah McKenzie this offseason. Jamison Crowder, a free agency pickup, remains in the mix as well.
Knox’s breakout being an indicator a promising career is ahead would check off a key box for a Bills franchise that has not seen too much from the tight end position throughout its modern history. Even going back throughout the team’s 62-season annals, the Bills have never seen a tight end produce an 800-yard year. Only one (Paul Costa in 1967) has surpassed 700. Efforts to establish long-term connections — such as the five-year, $38MM Charles Clay deal in 2015 — have not worked out. The Bills were mentioned as a Zach Ertz trade partner last year, but the team stuck with Knox, who will be locked in as Buffalo’s top tight end for the foreseeable future.
Emmanuel Sanders Announces Retirement
Emmanuel Sanders will not pursue a 13th NFL season. The former Steelers, Broncos, 49ers, Saints and Bills wide receiver announced his retirement Wednesday morning (video link).
While Sanders has been with four teams since the start of the 2019 season, each used the versatile veteran as a starter. The SMU alum helped the 49ers, Saints and Bills venture to the playoffs, most notably trekking to Super Bowl LIV with San Francisco. Sanders’ best statistical seasons came with the Broncos, whom he helped boost to a win in Super Bowl 50.
Sanders, 35, hinted at this possibility in February, after coming off another season as a regular starter. No known discussions took place about a second Sanders Bills contract, but the productive pass catcher was a 13-game starter for a Buffalo team that advanced to the divisional round. The hired gun’s final season produced 626 yards in 14 games. That marked his lowest output since an injury-shortened 2017 season. Sanders will walk away a three-time 1,000-yard receiver and a two-time Pro Bowler.
Faring well as an outside receiver and in the slot during a career that included a host of memorable moments, Sanders also succeeded on the contract front. The Broncos gave him two deals — a free agency accord in 2014 and an extension two years later — with the latter pact worth $33MM over three years. Upon being traded to San Francisco ahead of the 2019 deadline, Sanders made an impact as a key supporting-caster with the 49ers. That work led to a two-year, $16MM Saints contract in 2020. While the Saints bailed on the deal after one season, Sanders caught on with the Bills via a one-year, $6MM deal.
The Steelers used Sanders in a supporting role during his rookie contract but paid Antonio Brown in 2012. While Sanders remained on the WR2 tier for most of his career, the former third-round pick was one of the NFL’s top auxiliary targets for many years. His initial Broncos commitment — a three-year, $15MM agreement that came after the Chiefs nearly signed him — preceded a significant production spike. Replacing departed free agent Eric Decker in 2014, Sanders blew up for a career-high 1,404 receiving yards. He and longtime teammate Demaryius Thomas combined for more than 3,000 yards that year.
Although Peyton Manning‘s prime abruptly ended after that 2014 season, Sanders continued his midcareer boom as the five-time MVP declined in 2015. During Denver’s Super Bowl-winning year, Sanders posted 1,176 yards. As teams focused on Thomas in the playoffs, Sanders (230 receiving yards during the 2015 postseason) became Manning’s top chain-mover en route to the Broncos’ third championship. That production led to Sanders’ big-ticket extension on the eve of Denver’s 2016 opener. The Broncos had Sanders and Thomas each tied to eight-figure per-year deals from 2016-18, and while each again topped 1,000 yards despite Manning’s retirement giving way to Trevor Siemian‘s unexpected 2016 promotion, neither finished out their Broncos extensions.
Denver dealt Thomas at the 2018 deadline and moved Sanders in 2019. The Broncos collected third- and fourth-round picks for Sanders, who tallied 502 yards in 10 49ers games during that season’s stretch run. With Michael Thomas‘ run of injuries beginning in 2020, Sanders was Drew Brees‘ top target in the future Hall of Famer’s final season. Sanders will have retired playing with Manning, Brees and Ben Roethlisberger. It is obviously too early to declare Josh Allen a Hall of Fame-bound player, but Sanders’ career featured some rather high-profile quarterbacks.
Sanders, who played in Super Bowls with three different teams, leaves the game with 704 receptions (52nd all time), 9,245 receiving yards and 51 touchdowns.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/6/22
Today’s minor moves from around the NFL:
Atlanta Falcons
- Waived with injury settlement: TE John Raine
Denver Broncos
- Waived with injury settlement: WR Brandon Johnson
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Waived with injury settlement: K Jake Verity
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived with injury settlement: CB Tyler Hall, RB Xavier Jones
Miami Dolphins
- Released with injury settlement: LB Brennan Scarlett
Minnesota Vikings
- Released with injury settlement: DT T.Y. McGill
New England Patriots
- Promoted from practice squad: C James Ferentz
New Orleans Saints
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Chase Hansen
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/6/22
Here are today’s practice squad moves from around the NFL:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: WR Jontre Kirklin
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: LB Kyler Fackrell
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: DT Daviyon Nixon
- Released: DE Drew Jordan
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: CB Allan George
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: LB Jordan Kunaszyk
Detroit Lions
- Released: TE Derrick Deese
Houston Texans
- Signed: RB Gerrid Doaks
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: S James Wiggins
- Released: LB Azur Kamara
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: WR Keelan Cole, G Alex Bars
- Released: DE Zach VanValkenburg
- Placed on practice squad/injured list: OL Vitaliy Gurman
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: CB Duke Shelley
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: QB Jake Luton
New York Giants
- Signed: WR Marcus Johnson
- Released: WR C.J. Board
New York Jets
- Signed: RB Zonovan Knight, WR Diontae Spencer, T Eric Smith
- Released: WR Calvin Jackson Jr., LB DQ Thomas
Eagles Place T Andre Dillard On IR
Andre Dillard‘s latest injury — a broken forearm — will cost him at least four weeks. The Eagles placed the veteran tackle on IR Tuesday. It might take more than the minimum timetable for the team’s swing tackle to return.
The fourth-year blocker was scheduled to undergo surgery today, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. A four- to six-week recovery period is expected. Dillard lost his left tackle spot to Jordan Mailata long ago, but the former first-round pick still provides depth for the Eagles.
This is familiar territory for Dillard, whom the Eagles traded up for in the 2019 draft. The Washington State product, who was once Jason Peters‘ blindside heir apparent, missed the entire 2020 season due to a biceps tear and suffered a knee sprain during Philadelphia’s 2021 training camp. The Eagles passed on his fifth-year option in May.
When healthy, Dillard has shown enough for the Eagles to keep him around. The team resisted trade overtures ahead of the 2021 deadline, after having seen Dillard hold his own at left tackle during Mailata’s time sidelined with an MCL sprain. Dillard made five starts last season and rated as a midlevel tackle, per Pro Football Focus.
Mailata and Lane Johnson are entrenched as Philly’s tackle starters, but Dillard — once he returns from his latest setback — stands to provide nice insurance. Johnson has missed 17 games over the past three seasons, making said insurance essential for the Eagles. For a stretch without Johnson last season, the Eagles slid Mailata to the right side and kept Dillard at his natural spot. Dillard seeing more time in relief this year could create an interesting free agent market come 2023. Of course, the former No. 22 overall pick will likely have to stay healthy upon returning from the arm injury for such a market to form.
Colts Bring Back RB Phillip Lindsay
Phillip Lindsay was not part of the Colts’ initial 53-man roster, but the team still has the former 1,000-yard rusher in its plans. The veteran back returned to the team on a practice squad deal Tuesday.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the NFL to expand its taxi squads to 16 players (up to six vested veterans), vets have increasingly been added as stashes. Lindsay, a Colts cut last week, is the latest accomplished performer to land on a P-squad. He gives the Colts an option behind Jonathan Taylor, Nyheim Hines and Deon Jackson.
Indianapolis cutting Jackson, a 2021 UDFA, would have exposed him to waivers. Lindsay has sufficient service time to pass to free agency. Signed midway through the offseason, Lindsay is on his fourth NFL team. The former Broncos UDFA addition spent the 2021 season with the Texans and Dolphins.
Going into his age-28 season, Lindsay has seen his value dip since his Denver days. The only UDFA in NFL history to begin his career with back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons, Lindsay went from 2020 Broncos extension talks to being moved out of his starting role once the team gave Melvin Gordon an $8MM-per-year deal in March of that year. The Broncos then rescinded a Lindsay low-end RFA tender in 2021, leading him to Houston.
Lindsay rushed for just 249 yards with the Texans and Dolphins last season (2.8 per carry), though neither team’s offensive line was particularly good in 2021. The Colts would seemingly offer a better setup, but the fifth-year veteran will not be in an immediate position to contribute. The Colts now have two running backs on their P-squad; Lindsay joins rookie UDFA D’Vonte Price.
Lions Place G Halapoulivaati Vaitai On IR
SEPTEMBER 6: While the issue affecting the veteran lineman’s availability remains a mystery, it is far from certain he comes back when first eligible. Vaitai is not a lock to play in 2022, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). Kraemer will be Detroit’s right guard starter, according to the official depth chart the team released Tuesday morning.
SEPTEMBER 5: Halapoulivaati Vaitai‘s third Lions season will not begin on time. The veteran offensive lineman is now on Detroit’s IR, mandating a four-game absence. The nature of Vaitai’s injury is unkonwn.
The well-paid blocker is expected to return as the Lions’ right guard starter, but the team will need to make other plans for its September slate. This will be Vaitai’s second IR trip since he signed with the Lions in 2020. The team also claimed guard Drew Forbes off waivers from the Browns on Monday.
[RELATED: Offseason In Review, Detroit Lions]
A former Eagles draftee, Vaitai missed six games in 2020 due to a foot injury but returned to play in 15 last year. Vaitai, 29, represents part of a Lions source of optimism; both he and left guard Jonah Jackson ranked as a top-30 guards (per Pro Football Focus) in 2021. Along with former first-rounders Taylor Decker, Frank Ragnow and Penei Sewell, the Lions are expected to field one of the league’s top O-lines.
Detroit’s fill-ins from 2020 are no longer on the roster, though Forbes is now in the mix. The team now rosters four backup interior O-linemen — a group that also includes 2020 fourth-rounder Logan Stenberg, fifth-year veteran Evan Brown and 2021 UDFA Tommy Kraemer. Brown served as Ragnow’s primary backup last season, and Kraemer made three starts in 2021. Neither Forbes nor Stenberg has started a regular-season game.
The Lions gave Vaitai a five-year, $45MM contract in free agency two years ago. He is due to count $8.7MM on the team’s 2022 payroll.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/5/22
Today’s minor moves around the NFL:
Baltimore Ravens
- Released from IR via injury settlement: WR Shemar Bridgers
Carolina Panthers
- Released: DT Daviyon Nixon
Cincinnati Bengals
- Waived: CB Allan George
- Reverted to active roster: S Jessie Bates
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: OL Drew Forbes, LB Jordan Kunasyzk
Detroit Lions
- Released from IR via injury settlement: DL Eric Banks, OL Kevin Jarvis, DB C.J. Moore, DE Jashon Cornell
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Released: DT Raequan Williams
Kansas City Chiefs
- Placed on IR: TE Blake Bell
Las Vegas Raiders
- Released: DT Tyler Lancaster
New York Giants
- Waived: RB Sandro Platzgummer
New York Jets
- Re-signed: OL Conor McDermott
- Released: RB Zonovan Knight
Washington Commanders
- Released from IR via injury settlement: OL Keith Ismael
Nixon generated significant draft buzz after his college career at Iowa. His final season with the Hawkeyes in 2020 included 5.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss, though he fell to the fifth round that year. He played sparingly as a rookie, and has met injury troubles early in his pro career. Despite the move, Carolina has a number of options to call on in a rotational role behind Derrick Brown and Matt Ioannidis.
The roster cutting by the Bengals was necessary with today being the time at which Bates’ time on the Commissioner’s Exempt List expired. The franchise-tagged safety was the final holdout of the 2022 offseason, inking his tender long past the deadline for a long-term deal to be finalized. Fully back to team practices and activities, Bates’ time on the list allowed him to ramp up at his own rate following a lengthy absence throughout the spring and summer.
Lancaster was one of several additions the Raiders made on the d-line during free agency. The former UDFA spent the first four years of his career in Green Bay, registering 10 starts in 2019. Other signings such as Bilal Nichols and Andrew Billings will see plenty of playing time along the defensive interior in his absence.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/5/22
As Week 1 practices begin, here are the latest updates to teams’ 16-man practice squads:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: DL Khyiris Tonga
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: DB Marquise Blair
- Released: WR Ra’Shaun Henry
Cincinnati Bengals
- Released: TE Thaddeus Moss
Dallas Cowboys
- Released: DE Mika Tafua
Denver Broncos
- Signed: WR Vyncint Smith
Detroit Lions
- Signed: QB Tim Boyle
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: K Ramiz Ahmed
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: LB Ty Summers
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: S James Wiggins
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: DT Kyle Peko
Los Angeles Chargers:
- Signed: TE Richard Rodgers
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: DTs Markaviest Bryant, Josiah Bronson, Christopher Hinton, T Kion Smith, CB Chris Steele
- Released: DT Niles Scott
New England Patriots
- Signed: WR Laquon Treadwell (story)
New York Giants
- Signed: CB Fabian Moreau, WR Marcus Johnson
- Released: DB Harrison Hand
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: CB Mac McCain
- Released: S Anthony Harris (story)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: CB Josh Jackson
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: LB Buddy Johnson, OL Leroy Watson
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: LB Joshua Onujiogu, DE Jabari Zuniga
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: LB Kenny Young
Washington Commanders
- Signed: OL Wes Martin
A former Washington starter and the primary Atlanta cornerback opposite A.J. Terrell last season, Moreau has experience playing both the slot and outside. The former third-round pick signed with the Texans earlier this offseason but did not make their 53-man roster.
The Lions attempted to keep David Blough by offering the Hard Knocks cast member a spot on their practice squad, but the three-year Detroit backup opted to head to Minnesota. He is currently on the Vikings’ 16-man taxi squad. A previous Aaron Rodgers backup, Boyle signed with the Lions last year.
Despite being a former second-round pick, Blair did not make the Seahawks’ 53-man roster this year. Knee injuries have sidelined him for most of the past two seasons. Seattle had stopped using Blair as a nickel, his primary role when on the field with the team that drafted him, during training camp.
Included as part of a 2019 trade that sent Marcus Peters to Baltimore, Young was also traded from the Rams to the Broncos last year. He started all 13 games he played in 2021 — seven as a Ram, six as a Bronco — and helped Denver fill the void created by Alexander Johnson and Josey Jewell‘s season-ending injuries. Young spent most of this offseason with the Raiders but did not make their roster.
Patriots To Sign WR Laquon Treadwell To Practice Squad
Laquon Treadwell has already found a new NFL home, though he will not begin the 2022 campaign on a 53-man roster. The wideout is joining the Patriots as a member of their practice squad, per ESPN’s Field Yates (Twitter link). 
The 27-year-old was part of the Jaguars’ final roster cuts one week ago, despite having re-signed with the team during free agency. His time in Jacksonville lasted just one season, and saw Treadwell post a career-high 434 yards. He, like Laviska Shenault, though, found himself on the wrong side of their roster bubble.
The former Vikings first-rounder never lived up to his draft stock across four years in Minnesota, topping the 300-yard mark just one. That led him to a one-year stint in Atlanta, though he only suited up five times for the Falcons. Now on his third team in as many seasons, the Ole Miss product appears to be taking the first offer which came his way following his Jaguars release.
As Yates noted earlier today (on Twitter), the Patriots hosted Treadwell on a visit. New England’s pass-catching corps has seen a number of changes this offseason, including the trade acquisition of DeVante Parker and the addition of Tyquan Thornton in the second round of the draft. They, along with returnees Jakobi Meyers, Kendrick Bourne and Nelson Agholor will leave Treadwell with a steep path to playing time.
That unit faces several questions, however, so underwhelming performances or injuries could give him an opportunity to build off of last season’s personal success. Entering the season, nevertheless, a step back in terms of production seems more likely.