Vikings Place RB Alexander Mattison On Reserve/COVID-19 List
The Vikings made a handful of roster moves today, and it sounds like they’re preparing to be without Alexander Mattison for next Monday’s game against the Bears. The team announced that they’ve placed their backup running back on the reserve/COVID-19 list. The team has claimed veteran Wayne Gallman off waivers to fill the roster spot.
Mattison has had a career season for the Vikings, thanks mostly to three productive starts where he filled in for starter Dalvin Cook. In 13 games this season, Mattison has collected 615 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns on 140 touches. He had more than 100 yards from scrimmage after starting Minnesota’s Week 13 loss, but he returned to a backup role last Thursday with Cook back in the lineup.
Gallman is an experienced option to turn to if Mattison misses time. The veteran finished 2020 with a career-high 682 rushing yards, and after getting signed (and cut) by the 49ers, he caught on with the Falcons in September. He proceeded to see time in six games for Atlanta this season, collecting 125 yards from scrimmage on 29 touches.The 27-year-old was cut by the Falcons on Saturday.
The Vikings made some additional moves, including placing wideout Dan Chisena on the reserve/COVID-19 list. The team also placed linebacker Ryan Connelly on injured reserve. The 26-year-old has seen time in 12 games this season, collecting three tackles. The Vikings also made a procedural move, activating Olabisi Johnson from the reserve/COVID-19 list. The wideout still remains on injured reserve.
Chargers’ Rashawn Slater Placed On COVID-19 List
The Chargers will be without a key piece of their offense for their upcoming Thursday night game against the Chiefs. Left tackle Rashawn Slater has been placed on the Reserve/Covid-19 list, per the Athletic’s Daniel Popper. 
The 13th overall pick in the 2021 Draft, Slater has helped stabilize the Chargers’ offensive line – something that was sorely needed, given its performance last year. He has appeared in every game so far this season and has graded out well according to PFF, earning a 79.9 overall grade.
Coming off their 37-21 win over the Giants on Sunday, the Chargers will hope to have Keenan Allen back in time on a short week. At 8-5, they only sit one game behind the division-leading Chiefs, and need a win to further cement their hold on at least a Wild Card position.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/13/21
Today’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Tyrel Dodson
Dallas Cowboys
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Cedrick Wilson
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Nahshon Wright
Denver Broncos
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: C Brett Jones
Detroit Lions
- Claimed off waivers (from Titans): S Brady Breeze
Kansas City Chiefs
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Josh Gordon
New England Patriots
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Dalton Keene
New Orleans Saints
- Waived: C Will Clapp
New York Giants
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: OT Kyle Murphy
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Kadarius Toney
New York Jets
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Justin Hardee
Philadelphia Eagles
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: RB Jason Huntley, WR Quez Watkins
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived: CB Saivion Smith
Washington Football Team
- Claimed off waivers (from Bills): G Jamil Douglas
Ravens Sign Tony Jefferson To Practice Squad
In the midst of injury troubles throughout their secondary, the Ravens are bringing back a familiar face. The Baltimore Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec reports (via Twitter) that veteran safety Tony Jefferson has been signed to the practice squad. 
Originally undrafted out of Oklahoma, Jefferson signed with the Ravens in 2017 after starting his career with Arizona. That initial season in Charm City was his best, as he recorded 79 tackles, 2.5 sacks, an interception and a fumble recovery. After missing most of the 2019 season due to a torn ACL, however, he was released.
Upon rehabbing throughout 2020, the soon-to-be 30-year-old signed with the 49ers in June. Groin and hamstring issues quickly saw him land on IR once again, however. After appearing in just two games and registering one tackle in San Francisco, Jefferson was released from the 49ers’ practice squad on Dec. 8th.
The Ravens’ season has been dominated by injury, especially in the secondary. All-Pro corners Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters are each out for the season, as is starting safety DeShon Elliott. Despite the presence of highly-trusted veteran Chuck Clark, miscommunication and big plays allowed have been a weekly occurrence.
Even with Jefferson in the fold, look for the Ravens to continue primarily using a rotation of sophomore Geno Stone and third-round rookie Brandon Stephens at safety for the remainder of the season. Baltimore hosts Green Bay in Week 15.
Falcons’ Erik Harris Done For Year
Falcons safety Erik Harris will miss the rest of the year with a torn pectoral muscle (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). The Falcons will place Harris on the injured reserve list today or tomorrow in order to open up a spot on their 53-man roster. 
The chest injury forced Harris out in the first quarter of Sunday’s game against the Panthers. That left the Falcons extra thin at safety, since they were already without rookie Richie Grant. Despite that, the Falcons managed to beat the Panthers 29-21, thanks in part to the offensive contributions of Cordarrelle Patterson and Mike Davis.
Harris hasn’t been stellar this year, but he has posted 64 tackles and eight passes defended through 12 games. And, of course, the timing is terrible with the Falcons’ playoff hopes largely hinging on this week’s game against the Niners.
Harris, 32 in April, is scheduled for free agency in March after the expiration of his one-year, $1.35MM deal.
Lions’ Jerry Jacobs Suffers ACL Injury
After suffering their 11th loss of the season on Sunday, the Lions have more bad news to deal with. Rookie cornerback Jerry Jacobs announced on Twitter that he has an ACL injury. This appears to be a torn ACL, which would rule Jacobs out for the rest of the year.
Undrafted out of Arkansas, Jacobs was in the midst of an encouraging rookie campaign. In 13 games this year, including nine starts, he had 34 tackles along with seven passes defensed and a forced fumble. In coverage, he had surrendered only one touchdown and a completion percentage of 59% to go along with a passer rating of 90.5.
In his message to the Lions’ fanbase, the 24-year-old said, “Thank you for always showing me love and support even during the hard times. Your spirt and encouragement is what motivated me to go 110% every play… This [injury] is a minor setback to a major comeback. I can’t wait to get back on the field and play for the best fans in the NFL”.
The Lions, who rank 26th in the league against the pass, allowing just under 222 yards per game, will need to rely even more heavily on third-year veteran Amani Oruwariye and use a rotation of other mostly inexperienced defensive backs in their secondary. Detroit hosts Arizona in Week 15.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/13/21
Today’s taxi squad moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Placed on COVID-19 list: WR Binjimen Victor
Denver Broncos
- Placed on COVID-19 list: WR Seth Williams
Green Bay Packers
- Released: QB Danny Etling
Minnesota Vikings
- Placed on COVID-19 list: G Kyle Hinton
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: CB Mac McCain
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed DE John Simon
- Released: K Sam Sloman
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Released: LS Garrison Sanborn
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/12/21
Here are today’s minor moves:
Houston Texans
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: RB David Johnson
Washington Football Team
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Casey Toohill
WFT has played its way back into the NFC playoff picture, but the team has now placed three DEs on the reserve/COVID-19 list this week, including Montez Sweat. The club’s front seven depth will be seriously tested in its key matchup with the Cowboys this afternoon.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/11/21
Here are Saturday’s practice squad moves:
Detroit Lions
- Placed on practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Tavante Beckett
- Released: T Darrin Paulo
Houston Texans
- Placed on practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: RB Jaylen Samuels
Washington Football Team
- Signed: K Lirim Hajrullahu
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/11/21
Here is how teams finalized their Week 14 rosters:
Atlanta Falcons
- Activated from IR: TE Hayden Hurst
- Promoted: RB Qadree Ollison, S Shawn Williams
- Waived: RB Wayne Gallman
Baltimore Ravens
- Promoted: CB Robert Jackson, T David Sharpe
Buffalo Bills
- Activated from IR: G Jon Feliciano
- Promoted: DE Eli Ankou, DT Brandin Bryant, LB Joe Giles-Harris
Carolina Panthers
- Activated from IR: T Cameron Erving
- Promoted: RB Reggie Bonnafon, LB Frankie Luvu, OL Patrick Omameh
Chicago Bears
- Promoted: LB Charles Snowden
Cincinnati Bengals
- Promoted: LB Austin Calitro, LB Keandre Jones
Cleveland Browns
- Activated from IR: LB Jacob Phillips
- Promoted: DB Herb Miller, DB Jovante Moffatt, WR JoJo Natson
- Waived: WR Ja’Marcus Bradley
Dallas Cowboys
- Promoted: TE Ian Bunting, RB JaQuan Hardy, S Darian Thompson
- Waived: DT Justin Hamilton
Denver Broncos
- Activated from IR: LB Micah Kiser, CB Michael Ojemudia
Detroit Lions
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Mark Gilbert, CB Ifeatu Melifonwu
- Promoted: CB Corey Ballentine, LB Curtis Bolton, DE Bruce Hector, CB Parnell Motley, RB Craig Reynolds, CB Nickell Robey-Coleman, RB Rodney Smith, TE Shane Zylstra
Houston Texans
- Promoted: DB Grayland Arnold, WR Phillip Dorsett, DL Chris Smith
Kansas City Chiefs
- Promoted: DB Dicaprio Bootle, DB Josh Jackson
- Placed on IR: DB Chris Lammons
Los Angeles Chargers
- Placed on IR: LB Kyler Fackrell
- Promoted: DB Ben DeLuca, LB Emeke Egbule, WR Jason Moore
Miami Dolphins
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: RB Salvon Ahmed
New Orleans Saints
- Activated from IR: DB Chauncey Gardner-Johnson
- Promoted: G James Carpenter, LB Chase Hansen, WR Kevin White, WR Easop Winston, TE Ethan Wolf
New York Giants
- Promoted: WR Pharoh Cooper, DB Jarren Williams
New York Jets
- Activated from IR: CB Brandin Echols
- Promoted: DE Ronald Blair, TE Dan Brown, WR D.J. Montgomery, WR Vyncint Smith
San Francisco 49ers
- Placed on IR: RB Trenton Cannon, CB Emmanuel Moseley
- Promoted: WR River Cracraft, RB Brian Hill, CB Saivion Smith, S Jarrod Wilson
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted: LB Edmond Robinson
Tennessee Titans
- Activated from IR: S Dane Cruikshank, WR Racey McMath
- Placed on IR: TE Tommy Hudson; this is Hudson’s second IR trip, ending his season
- Promoted: WR Cody Hollister, DL Kevin Strong
- Waived: S Brady Breeze
Washington Football Team
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Darryl Roberts, DE James Smith-Williams
- Placed on IR: G Wes Schweitzer
- Promoted: DE William Bradley-King, LB De’Jon Harris, S Jeremy Reaves, C Jon Toth