Minor NFL Transactions: 12/25-12/26/21
Here are the NFL moves from Christmas and today:
Arizona Cardinals
- Promoted: DE Josh Mauro, DB Kevin Peterson, P Ryan Winslow, WR Greg Dortch
Atlanta Falcons
- Activated from IR: LB Daren Bates
- Promoted: WR Marvin Hall
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from IR: LB Daelin Hayes
- Promoted: QB Kenji Bahar, DB Robert Jackson, DB Tony Jefferson, T Jaryd Jones-Smith, NT Isaiah Mack, G/DT Reginald McKenzie, TE Tony Poljan, DB Jordan Richards, LB Joe Thomas, DB Daryl Worley
Buffalo Bills
- Promoted: DT Eli Ankou
Carolina Panthers
- Activated from IR: QB Sam Darnold
- Promoted: RB Reggie Bonnafon, DB Madre Harper, DT Frank Herron, G Mike Horton, TE Stephen Sullivan
Chicago Bears
- Activated from IR: DB Duke Shelley
- Promoted: DE Ledarius Mack, WR Dazz Newsome, DB Dee Virgin, WR Nsimba Webster, QB Ryan Willis
Cincinnati Bengals
- Promoted: LB Austin Calitro, DT Mike Daniels, DE Noah Spence, WR Trent Taylor
Dallas Cowboys
- Activated from IR: DB Maurice Canady, DB Donovan Wilson
- Promoted: DB Kyron Brown, DB Darian Thompson
Denver Broncos
- Promoted: T Quinn Bailey
Detroit Lions
- Promoted: LB Tavante Beckett, LB Curtis Bolton, TE Shane Zylstra
- Placed on IR: DB Amani Oruwariye
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted: S Innis Gaines
Houston Texans
- Extended: DE Ron’Dell Carter
- Activated from IR: WR Danny Amendola, DE DeMarcus Walker
- Promoted: WR Jalen Camp, DT Michael Dwumfour, K Dominik Eberle, G Jake Eldrenkamp, T Carson Green, DE Demone Harris, TE Paul Quessenberry, RB Jaylen Samuels, T Jordan Steckler, LB Connor Strachan, LB Josh Watson, S T.J. Green
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted: DB Anthony Chesley, WR Keke Coutee, G Carter O’Donnell, DB Brian Poole, DB Will Redmond, DT Chris Williams
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Promoted: RB Nathan Cottrell, WR Josh Hammond, DB Brandon Rusnak
Kansas City Chiefs
- Promoted: DB Dicaprio Bootle, TE Nakia Griffin-Stewart, DB Josh Jackson, P Johnny Townsend
Las Vegas Raiders
- Activated from IR: DB Tyree Gillespie
- Promoted: G Lester Cotton, DB Kavon Frazier, WR Tyron Johnson, NT Damion Square, QB Nathan Peterman, WR Dillon Stoner
- Placed on IR: DB Johnathan Abram
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted: WR Michael Bandy, RB Darius Bradwell, NT Andrew Brown, DB Ben Deluca, LB Emeke Egbule, WR Maurice Ffrench, DT Forrest Merrill, WR Jason Moore
- Placed on IR: TE Donald Parham
Los Angeles Rams
- Activated from reserve/NFI: RB Cam Akers
- Activated from IR: RB Buddy Howell
- Promoted: DB Grant Haley, WR Brandon Powell
- Released: LB Jamir Jones, RB Mekhi Sargent
New England Patriots
- Activated from IR: LB Josh Uche
- Promoted: DT Daniel Ekuale, DB D’Angelo Ross, WR Kristian Wilkerson
New York Giants
- Promoted: DB Darqueze Dennard, DL David Moa, CB Aaron Robinson, WR David Sill V, OL Isaiah Wilson
New York Jets
- Promoted: OL Isaiah Williams, TE Dan Brown, WR D.J. Montgomery, LB LaRoy Reynolds, DL Ronald Blair, S Elijah Benton, DL Freedom Akinmoladun
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted: S Jared Mayden
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: P Corliss Waitman
- Activated from IR: C J.C. Hassenauer
- Promoted: P Cameron Nizialek, OL Rashaad Coward, RB Trey Edmunds, LB John Simon
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted: DT Myles Adams, S Josh Jones, TE Tyler Mabry, OLB Edmond Robinson, WR Cody Thompson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted: RB Kenjon Barner, WR Cyril Grayson, P Sterling Hofrichter, DL Benning Potoa’e
Washington Football Team
- Promoted: CB D.J. Hayden, RB Wendell Smallwood, LB De’Jon Harris, DB Jeremy Reaves
Townsend Family Spending Christmas In Kansas City
This is not necessarily a known fact, but more of a fun headline. With starting punter Tommy Townsend on the reserve/COVID-19 list, the Chiefs signed two punters to their practice squad, Joseph Charlton and Tommy’s brother, Johnny Townsend.
Tommy went undrafted last year and took over as Kansas City’s primary punter by the end of training camp. Johnny was drafted in the fifth-round of the 2018 NFL draft by the then-Oakland Raiders. Johnny spent time on practice squads for the Giants, Ravens, and Chiefs before returning to Baltimore to spend some time on the active roster filling in for Sam Koch while he was on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Upon Koch’s return, Johnny was waived and returned to the Ravens’ practice squad. After being released again this September, Johnny spent time on the practice squads for Tennessee and Houston, getting released after less than a month by both teams. Then, as mentioned above, the Chiefs picked him up on their practice squad yesterday.
The Townsends will most likely not be spending Christmas together if Tommy has tested positive for COVID-19 and/or is showing symptoms, based on the NFL’s COVID-19 protocol, especially if he is unvaccinated. If Tommy is unvaccinated, the required 10-day isolation period would see him missing not only this week’s game versus the Steelers but next Sunday’s game in Cincinnati, as well. If Tommy is vaccinated and asymptomatic, the new protocols, put in place in the wake of the omicron variant’s rampant spread, could see Tommy out of isolation any early as tomorrow, a true Christmas miracle!
Either way, I have to imagine the Townsends are feeling the Christmas cheer just knowing that the two are in the same city this holiday season. I hope everyone who celebrated enjoyed their Hanukkah. I wish a happy Boxing Day and Kwanzaa to our readers who celebrate those in the next few days and a Merry Christmas for the lovers of that holiday tomorrow. And a Happy Festivus for the rest of us!
Washington Football Team Makes Christmas Eve Roster Moves
This afternoon the Football Team in our nation’s capital announced a number of roster moves leading up to their Sunday Night matchup in Dallas.
Washington was thankful to add some players back to the active roster from the reserve/COVID-19 list. Backup quarterback Kyle Allen, safety Kamren Curl, undrafted free agent linebacker Milo Eifler, and starting cornerback Kendall Fuller all made their way off the COVID list. They did lose defensive end Nate Orchard to the COVID list, though.
The return of Curl will be welcome as Washington placed starting safety Landon Collins on IR, along with rotational defensive end Daniel Wise. Curl spent most of his rookie season filling in for Collins as the starting safety last year.
Defensive back and core special teams player Deshazor Everett was placed on the reserve/Non-Football Injury list following a car accident that killed the passenger of the vehicle, 29 year-old Olivia S. Peters. It was reported by Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post that Everett was taken to the hospital with serious but not life-threatening injuries. The wreck is being investigated and it sounds like the Football Team is awaiting the results of the investigation before taking any further action.
The last move affecting Washington’s active roster was the release of defensive lineman Akeem Spence. Spence signed a week ago amidst the surge of COVID-19 positive tests.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/24/21
Here are the league’s practice squad moves from Christmas Eve:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: P Jamie Gillan, WR Austin Proehl
Cleveland Browns
- Released: TE Ross Travis
Denver Broncos
- Signed: C Javon Patterson, OLB Pita Taumoepenu
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: P Joseph Charlton, P Johnny Townsend
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: C Spencer Pulley
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: QB Blake Bortles (story)
- Released: RB Josh Adams
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/24/21
Here are the NFL moves from Christmas Eve:
Buffalo Bills
- Promoted: T Bobby Hart, WR Isaiah Hodgins
- Placed on IR: DB Tre’Davious White
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted: S Adrian Colbert, G Hjalte Froholdt, DE Joe Jackson, CB Herb Miller, S Jovante Moffatt, QB Nick Mullens, K Chris Naggar, DE Curtis Weaver
- Waived: WR Lawrence Cager, TE Miller Forristall
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted: OL Cole Van Lanen
- Placed on IR: LB Ty Summers, WR Malik Taylor
Miami Dolphins
- Promoted: WR Tommylee Lewis, C Cameron Tom
Minnesota Vikings
- Placed on IR: C Mason Cole
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted: CB Rashard Robinson, WR Justin Watson
Washington Football Team
- Placed on IR: DB Landon Collins, DE Daniel Wise
- Place on reserve/NFI: DB Deshazor Everett
- Waived: DL Akeem Spence
Browns Activate Baker Mayfield, Jarvis Landry From COVID-19 List
Baker Mayfield and Jarvis Landry did not practice this week, but both will be in line to play on Christmas Day. The Browns are activating Mayfield and Landry from the reserve/COVID-19 list.
Mayfield tested positive for the coronavirus Dec. 15 but could not navigate the return protocol until Friday. Still, he will be expected to start against the Packers.
The Browns also activated backup Case Keenum, cornerback A.J. Green and defensive lineman Ifeadi Odengibo from the virus list for their Green Bay trip. Cleveland’s loss against Las Vegas, in a game Nick Mullens started with a host of backups at other spots, significantly diminished its playoff chances. The team was without 10 starters against the Raiders.
Some Browns remain on the virus list, including center J.C. Tretter and left tackle Jedrick Wills. Still, the Browns will be in better shape to face the Packers compared to the squad they were forced to deploy Monday.
Mayfield is still dealing with the left shoulder fracture he suffered earlier this season. The former No. 1 overall pick has dealt with other injury issues this season, but the shoulder problem will require surgery in 2022. Some of Mayfield’s numbers are well off his 2020 pace. He has thrown just 13 touchdown passes. While his completion percentage (62.8) is identical to his full-season 2020 mark and yards-per-attempt figure (7.6) up from last year, QBR slots Mayfield 25th. The metric placed the Browns starter 10th in 2020, putting him on track for a potential extension this year. Those talks have since been tabled, with a new deal unlikely until next year at least.
Colts Place Quenton Nelson On Reserve/COVID-19 List
The Colts will be without their entire interior offensive line Saturday. After they ruled out Ryan Kelly and Mark Glowinski, the Colts placed Quenton Nelson on their reserve/COVID-19 list.
A three-time All-Pro, Nelson is Indianapolis’ top offensive lineman and arguably the NFL’s premier guard. But, after Glowinski’s positive coronavirus test, Nelson will not be with the team in Arizona, either.
Indianapolis has dealt with availability issues across its O-line this season, but this will be a task for Carson Wentz, Jonathan Taylor and Co. Nelson did miss three games earlier this year, and he underwent foot surgery during training camp. But the former top-10 pick came back in Week 7 and had not missed any time since. Nelson became a four-time Pro Bowler this week and is on track toward a record-setting guard extension in 2022.
FiveThirtyEight.com pegs the Colts’ playoff chances at 89% going into Week 16, but the 8-6 team’s depth will be tested. The Colts used Chris Reed in place of Nelson earlier this season. Reed will start in Nelson’s place, per Frank Reich, who said Matt Pryor will fill in for Glowinski at right guard.
If Nelson is unvaccinated, he would miss the Colts’ Week 17 game — against the Raiders — as well. Nelson was unvaccinated going into the season, having been a close contact before Week 1.
Vikings Place OL Mason Cole On IR
The Vikings will continue their push for a wild-card spot without one of their starting offensive linemen. Mason Cole is now on IR.
Minnesota’s right guard starter for the past few games, Cole suffered an elbow injury Monday night in Chicago. He will miss at least the next three games. This news comes a day after the Vikings learned they will be without Dalvin Cook against the Rams. Cole suffered a hyperextended elbow, per Mike Zimmer, but could make it back for the playoffs — should Minnesota qualify.
Coming over via trade after multiple seasons as the Cardinals’ starting center, Cole has started the past seven games for the Vikings. He broke into Minnesota’s lineup at center, replacing Garrett Bradbury during the starting snapper’s COVID-19 hiatus, and then moved to right guard. Cole started 32 games with Arizona from 2018-20. He is set for free agency in 2022.
Minnesota will turn to Oli Udoh to replace Cole, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press tweets. Udoh has started 13 games, at guard and tackle, for the Vikes this year but was on the bench in Week 15. Pro Football Focus slots the third-year blocker as its No. 61 overall guard this season.
Saints To Sign QB Blake Bortles
Severely shorthanded at quarterback, the Saints will add an emergency backup option. Blake Bortles is expected to sign with the team Friday, Jeff Duncan of NOLA.com tweets.
Taysom Hill and Trevor Siemian landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday, moving Ian Book to the top of the depth chart. Book is still set to start, with Duncan adding Bortles will be New Orleans’ backup against the Dolphins on Monday night.
Bortles caught on with the Packers on multiple occasions this year, during Aaron Rodgers‘ holdout and his subsequent COVID-induced absence, but has not seen any game action in two years. Although Bortles stopped over with the Rams and Broncos in 2019 and ’20, he has taken just two snaps since the Jaguars cut him.
The former top-five pick has 73 starts to his credit; all came with Jacksonville from 2014-18. The Jags cut bait on their 2018 extension a year into the deal. Bortles, 29, has bounced around since. With Book having never taken a regular-season snap, Bortles at least serves as an experienced arm for a suddenly thin Saints team.
Bills To Place WR Gabriel Davis, OL Cody Ford On Reserve/COVID-19 List
Already down Cole Beasley due to his placement on the reserve/COVID-19 list, the Bills will be without one of their other receiving weapons against the Patriots. Gabriel Davis is going on the virus list, Sean McDermott said (via ESPN.com’s Alaina Getzenberg, on Twitter).
Offensive lineman Cody Ford will join Davis on the COVID list. Ford has bounced in and out of Buffalo’s starting lineup this season; Davis has become a key target for Josh Allen. Davis is unvaccinated, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). He will miss Week 16, and his Week 17 status is up in the air due to the 10-day quarantine period for unvaccinated players.
A 2020 fourth-round pick, Davis stepped into a more prominent role last week due to Emmanuel Sanders‘ injury absence. Davis has four touchdown receptions over the past three games, including two during a five-catch, 85-yard game against the Panthers in Week 15. The Central Florida alum has 13 touchdown grabs in two seasons.
While Beasley and Davis are set to be out of the picture in the Bills’ pivotal Patriots rematch, Sanders is looking likely to return after missing Week 15. The 12th-year veteran, who is battling a knee injury, practiced fully Thursday. His presence will be crucial, given the Bills’ sudden receiver availability issues.
Ford, selected in Round 2 in 2019, has started seven games for the Bills this season. Seeing time at tackle and guard, Ford has struggled, with Pro Football Focus rating the Oklahoma product as its fourth-worst guard this season. The Bills were already shorthanded up front last week, with left tackle Dion Dawkins and left guard Jon Feliciano going on the virus list. This pushed Ford back into the starting lineup. Both Dawkins and Feliciano remain on the list. Dawkins dealt with complications from his previous COVID bout this summer, while Feliciano said this week (via WIVB) he was also hospitalized due to the virus.
The Bills activated tackle Bobby Hart from their practice squad reserve/COVID list Friday but could certainly benefit from news of Dawkins or Feliciano being cleared.