Steelers Place TE Eric Ebron On IR
Following a knee injury Eric Ebron sustained in last week’s loss to the Chargers, the Steelers placed the veteran tight end on injured reserve. His time in Pittsburgh might be over as well.
Surgery has emerged as a possibility; that would most likely put an end to the tight end’s season. Ebron had missed two games earlier in the season with a hamstring injury but had returned to normal snap counts in the past two weeks. Ebron’s two-year Pittsburgh contract expires at season’s end.
Rookie Pat Freiermuth has become the primary tight end for Pittsburgh this year, and the second-round pick will only see his usage increase as a result of Ebron’s absence. Ebron’s production has been limited in his second Steelers season; he has pulled in just 12 receptions for 84 yards and one touchdown. The Steelers also have backups Zach Gentry and Kevin Rader — the latter promoted from the practice squad ahead of Week 12 — to help pick up the slack.
In corresponding moves, Pittsburgh promoted guard John Leglue to the active roster and moved guard J.C. Hassenauer to the IR alongside Ebron. The team also bumped up defensive lineman Daniel Archibong and wide receiver Anthony Miller from its practice squad for week’s matchup against the Bengals.
Bradley Chubb To Return In Week 12
The Broncos will have their top pass rusher back Sunday. After a two-plus-month absence, Bradley Chubb is set to return, with Mike Klis of 9News tweeting the Pro Bowl outside linebacker will be activated off IR.
Chubb’s progress slowed late this week, due to a setback in practice, per Klis (on Twitter). Vic Fangio declared him “50-50” to suit up against the Chargers. It appears the fourth-year defender has shown enough to return, a development that represents big news for a Broncos team that has seen much change at the linebacker spot since Chubb’s lone 2021 cameo — in Week 2.
Two ankle surgeries marred Chubb’s 2021. The second knocked him out for a lengthy stretch, providing the former top-five pick’s second extended absence of his career. In the time since Chubb last played, the Broncos saw inside starters Josey Jewell and Alexander Johnson suffer season-ending injuries. The team also ended the Chubb-Von Miller partnership, one that saw injuries prevent it from making much of an impact over the past three seasons, by trading the future Hall of Famer to the Rams.
After recovering from the ACL tear that ended his 2019 season early, Chubb recorded 7.5 sacks and 19 QB hits last season. The North Carolina State product registered 12 as a rookie. New GM George Paton, after picking up Chubb’s fifth-year option, called him a core player. Given Chubb’s injury issues, this upcoming stretch run stands to be pivotal for his future — and the Broncos’ hopes at making a late playoff push.
Titans Place WR A.J. Brown On IR
The Titans are down another skill player. The team announced that they’ve placed wideout A.J. Brown on injured reserve.
Having suffered a chest injury, Brown did not practice all week and had already been ruled out for tomorrow’s showdown against the Patriots. Fortunately, the Titans and Ryan Tannehill should have their top receiver back before the end of the season. Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter), the injury isn’t a season-ender and Brown is expected to be back in December. The earliest that Brown could come back is Week 16 against the 49ers, although that TNF game comes on a short week.
The offense the Titans deploy in Week 12 will not look especially similar to the one it hopes to trot out come January. Tennessee already has Derrick Henry and Julio Jones on IR. The team also lost fill-in wideout Marcus Johnson for the season last week. Wideout Golden Tate could have been one candidate to fill one of those roster spots, but the veteran wasn’t elevated for tomorrow’s contest.
Temporarily, Tannehill will be throwing to the likes of Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Chester Rogers. The team also has a fully stocked tight ends depth chart with Geoff Swaim, Anthony Firkser, and MyCole Pruitt.
The Titans have also elevated four players from the practice squad: wideout Cody Hollister, defensive back Breon Borders, quarterback Kevin Hogan, and defensive lineman Kevin Strong. Fullback Khari Blasingame has also been activated from injured reserve.
Details On Broncos WR Extensions
The Broncos have been busy handing out money to their wideouts recetnly, extending both Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick over the past few weeks. Thanks to Mike Klis of 9News in Denver, we’ve now got some details on those new contracts.
[RELATED: Sutton Extension | Thomas Extension]
Patrick’s contract was reported as a three-year pact worth a max value of $34MM, including $18.5MM in guaranteed money (via Twitter). In 2021, Patrick will earn a $3MM signing bonus and a $1.5MM base salary (prorated from $3.3MM), all of which is guaranteed. The wideout will earn a $6.96MM roster bonus and $1.53MM base salary in 2022, with the entire $8.5MM guaranteed. Patrick’s 2023 and 2024 earnings are relatively similar; he’ll have $500K in game-day bonuses in both 2023 and 2024, along with $8MM (2023) and $9.4MM (2024) base salaries. His 2023 salary includes a $5.5MM injury guarantee.
Sutton’s new deal was reported as $60.8MM total, with $34.9MM guaranteed. Sutton’s new deal includes a $6MM signing bonus (via Twitter). He’ll earn another $10.5MM via a 2022 roster bonus (along with a $1.5MM base salary in 2022). In 2023, he’ll earn a $14MM salary with $500K worth of roster bonuses, and he’ll get similar bonuses in 2024 (along with a $13MM salary (of which only $2MM is guaranteed for injury only)). 2025 is the final year of the wideout’s contract, with Sutton earning a $13.5MM salary (and a $500K bonus).
Browns Activate RB Kareem Hunt, RT Jack Conklin
As expected, the Browns will be getting some reinforcement tomorrow night against the Ravens. The team has officially activated running back Kareem Hunt and and right tackle Jack Conklin from injured reserve. Both players are listed as questionable but are expected to play. Cleveland has also waived guard Hjalte Froholdt and defensive end Joe Jackson, and they’ve promoted defensive end Porter Gustin and wideout Jojo Natson from the practice squad (via Nate Ulrich of the Beacon Journal on Twitter).
Hunt has been on Cleveland’s IR list since suffering a calf injury in Week 6. Despite Hunt missing extensive time and Nick Chubb being sidelined for multiple games as well, Cleveland’s vaunted rushing attack still leads the NFL. Hunt, however, was averaging 5.2 yards per carry through six games. The ex-rushing champion has topped out at 4.9 over a full season.
Hunt has experienced knee and wrist issues as well this season, and he is unlikely to be 100% again until the 2022 campaign. But Hunt returning at slightly less than 100% would certainly help a Browns team that has struggled through the air. The running back duo obviously affects the Browns’ offensive output. In five games with Chubb and Hunt active, the Browns are averaging 28.4 points and 417.6 yards per game. In the six in which either has missed, they have scored just 16.5 points per contest while averaging barely 315 yards, via ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler (on Twitter).
Conklin went down with a dislocated elbow in Week 8, adding a three-game absence on top of a two-game hiatus earlier this season. The Browns gave the ex-Titans right tackle a three-year, $42MM deal in 2020. His five missed games this season mark his first extended absence since 2018, when he missed nine games. The former first-round pick remains one of the NFL’s best right tackles. Pro Football Focus grades Conklin 14th among all tackles in his abbreviated 2021 slate.
Jackson has appeared in a career-high 10 games this season, collecting 11 tackles and one sack. Froholdt has seen time in four games for Cleveland this season. Gustin got into 14 games for the Browns last year but has been limited to only one appearance in 2021. Natson has also seen time in one game this season, returning three kickoffs.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/26/21
Here are the latest minor moves from around the NFL:
Buffalo Bills
- Activated from IR: WR Marquez Stevenson
Chicago Bears
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: T Elijah Wilkinson
Cincinnati Bengals
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Mitchell Wilcox
Dallas Cowboys
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Blake Jarwin; Jarwin remains on IR
Los Angeles Chargers
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DL Christian Covington, DL Jerry Tillery
- Placed on IR: DB Mark Webb
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed off Patriots’ practice squad: LB Tashawn Bower
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: S Josh Metellus
New York Giants
- Promoted: TE Chris Myarick
Browns Designate Kareem Hunt, Jack Conklin For Return
FRIDAY: Both Hunt and Conklin are expected to return when first eligible. Kevin Stefanski said he anticipates each key contributor being activated and suiting up in the Browns’ pivotal Week 12 game against the Ravens on Sunday night, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. While Cleveland has 21 days to activate each player, it looks like neither will stay in IR-return limbo longer than a week.
WEDNESDAY: Two key pieces of the Browns’ offense will be back on the practice field Wednesday. The team designated Kareem Hunt and Jack Conklin to return from IR, opening their respective 21-day activation windows.
Hunt has been on Cleveland’s IR list since suffering a calf injury in Week 6. Conklin went down with a dislocated elbow in Week 8, adding a three-game absence on top of a two-game hiatus earlier this season. Both will be eligible to return Sunday, should the Browns move to activate them by Saturday afternoon’s deadline.
Despite Hunt missing extensive time and Nick Chubb being sidelined for multiple games as well, Cleveland’s vaunted rushing attack still leads the NFL. Hunt, however, was averaging 5.2 yards per carry through six games. The ex-rushing champion has topped out at 4.9 over a full season.
Hunt has experienced knee and wrist issues as well this season, and he is unlikely to be 100% again until the 2022 campaign. But Hunt returning at slightly less than 100% would certainly help a Browns team that has struggled through the air. The running back duo obviously affects the Browns’ offensive output. In five games with Chubb and Hunt active, the Browns are averaging 28.4 points and 417.6 yards per game. In the six in which either has missed, they have scored just 16.5 points per contest while averaging barely 315 yards, via ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler (on Twitter).
Like Hunt, Conklin is signed through the 2022 season. The Browns gave the ex-Titans right tackle a three-year, $42MM deal in 2020. His five missed games this season mark his first extended absence since 2018, when he missed nine games. The former first-round pick remains one of the NFL’s best right tackles. Pro Football Focus grades Conklin 14th among all tackles in his abbreviated 2021 slate.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/26/21
Here are the latest practice squad moves from around the league:
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: LB Nate Orchard
- Released: RB Kerrith Whyte
Minnesota Vikings
- Reinstated from practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: RB Jake Bargas
New England Patriots
- Signed: DT Niles Scott
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: CB KeiVarae Russell
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: QB DeShone Kizer
- Placed on practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Austin Fort
Washington Football Team
- Released: C Tyler Gauthier
Cardinals OL Justin Murray Reverts To IR
After returning to practice earlier this month, Justin Murray could not move back onto the Cardinals’ active roster. The veteran offensive lineman’s season is now over.
Murray’s 21-day activation window closed on Thanksgiving, with SI.com’s Howard Balzer noting he suffered a setback upon returning to practice. Because the Cardinals did not move Murray back to their 53-man roster by Thursday, he reverts to IR and cannot play again until 2022.
Although Arizona has played without Murray since Week 3, when he suffered a back injury during the team’s win in Jacksonville, this hurts the NFC West leaders’ depth up front. Murray started at right guard in that Week 3 game and worked as a starter 19 times from 2019-20.
A former waiver claim from the Raiders in 2019, Murray signed a two-year deal worth $5.5MM. Murray, 28, is signed through the 2022 season. Marcus Gilbert‘s season-ending injury in 2019 thrust Murray into the Cards’ starting lineup at right tackle that year. Last season, the ex-Cincinnati Bearcat worked more at guard.
Kelvin Beachum and Josh Jones serve as the Cardinals’ right-side starters, but Murray would have certainly represented a serviceable swing man down the stretch.
NFL Suspends Saints WR Deonte Harris
After playing in the Saints’ Thanksgiving game, Deonte Harris stands to be sidelined for a while. The NFL handed the New Orleans wide receiver a three-game suspension Friday morning, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports.
Harris, 23, was arrested for DWI in July in Maryland. The NFL informed the 5-foot-6 receiver/return man of the ban before Thursday’s game, Rapoport adds, with an appeal process allowing him to suit up. Harris might be permitted to play against the Cowboys next week as well, but should his appeal fail, the young pass catcher will be out for three games.
This further depletes a Saints receiving corps that has been gutted this year. The team’s Emmanuel Sanders release preceded the Michael Thomas injury drama, which led to the All-Pro target being set to miss the entire season. Tre’Quan Smith also missed time due to injury, though he has since returned. New Orleans has also played without Alvin Kamara for the past three games. This opened the door to Harris playing a bigger role on offense.
A former All-Pro return man, Harris is the Saints’ leading receiver. The third-year weapon has 27 receptions for 427 yards and two touchdowns — all career-high marks for a player who operated mostly as a returner for Saints teams deeper at wide receiver the past two years.