Bills Place DT Star Lotulelei On Reserve/COVID-19 List
Per a team announcement, the Bills have placed DT Star Lotulelei on the reserve/COVID-19 list, thereby rendering him ineligible for today’s game against the Jets. Fellow DT Brandin Bryant has been elevated from the taxi squad to take Lotulelei’s place on the active roster, as Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic tweets.
Lotulelei, who will turn 32 next month, is in the midst of a five-year, $50MM deal he signed in 2018. He exercised his right to opt out of the 2020 season due to COVID concerns, which tolled his contract and keeps him under club control through 2023. He landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list in August, but he returned for Buffalo’s Week 2 win over Miami and has started each of his seven games this season.
Pro Football Focus’ advanced metrics have not been high on Lotulelei’s work in some time, and that trend has continued this year. Though his 66.8 pass rush grade is above average — he does have two sacks this year, which matches his 16-game total in 2019 — his overall mark of 53.1 positions him as the 86th-best interior defender out of 124 qualifiers. Still, he typically plays the most snaps in Buffalo’s D-line rotation, so his absence will be noticed.
As Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk observes, it is believed that Lotulelei is unvaccinated. That is because the 2013 first-rounder previously needed to isolate for five days following a close contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19, something that only an unvaccinated player would be required to do.
There is some good news to pass along for Bills fans. As Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets, RB Zack Moss, who suffered a concussion in last week’s loss to the Jaguars, has cleared protocols and will be able to play this afternoon. Moss and Devin Singletary have shared RB duties this year, but Singletary has been the better performer from a YPC perspective. Moss has mustered just 3.6 yards per carry on 65 attempts, while Singletary has posted a strong 4.9 YPC mark on 73 carries.
Moss, however, has been more effective as a receiver out of the backfield, catching 18 balls for 166 yards and a score.
Contract Details: Beckham, Bitonio, Gano
Rounding up a few contract details from this past week:
- Odell Beckham, WR (Rams): One year, $1.25MM, with up to $3MM in team-based incentives. Incentive package is as follows: $500K if Rams get wildcard win or first-round bye; $750K for divisional round win; $750K for NFC Championship Game win; $500K for Super Bowl appearance, or $1MM for Super Bowl win. OBJ would have to play at least one snap of those postseason contests to earn the incentive (Twitter links via Albert Breer of SI.com). None of the $4.25MM paid by Browns is offset, so Beckham earns that full amount in addition to his Rams payouts.
- Joel Bitonio, G (Browns): Three years, originally reported as $48MM. Per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (via Twitter), the total value actually checks in at over $49MM, as Cleveland agreed to pay Bitonio 17th-game checks on his 2020 and 2021 salaries. So Bitonio’s AAV is $16.37MM, which narrowly tops Joe Thuney‘s $16MM pact with the Chiefs and makes him the highest-paid guard on a multi-year contract.
- Graham Gano, K (Giants): Agreed to convert ~$514K of base salary into signing bonus, thereby creating ~343K of 2021 cap space (Twitter link via ESPN’s Field Yates).
Steelers Place QB Ben Roethlisberger On Reserve/COVID-19 List
On Saturday evening, the Steelers announced that they were placing quarterback Ben Roethlisberger on the reserve/COVID-19 list. As a result, Roethlisberger will miss the club’s game against the Lions this afternoon.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, the 39-year-old passer self-reported COVID symptoms to the team and subsequently tested positive for the virus (Twitter link). As Mark Maske of the Washington Post tweets, Roethlisberger is vaccinated, so he is eligible to be removed from the COVID list as soon as he returns two negative tests taken 24 hours apart. That gives him a good chance to suit up for what could be a critical bout with the Chargers next Sunday.
For today, QB2 Mason Rudolph will get the nod in Roethlisberger’s place (Twitter link via Rapoport). Rudolph, a 2018 third-rounder, has not played a significant snap since Week 16 of the 2019 season — he started a meaningless Week 17 game last year — and he boasts a 5-4 career record as a starter, a record that is accompanied by a subpar 82.7 career quarterback rating.
However, if the Steelers could pick a game for Roethlisberger to miss this year, today’s matchup would probably be the one they would pick. The 0-8 Detroit outfit is ranked in the bottom quarter of the league in terms of yards allowed per game, and next-to-last in terms of points allowed per game. Plus, Rudolph does get regular opportunities to run the first-team offense in practice, so Pittsburgh should not need to limit its playbook in any way.
The Steelers have won four in a row to bring themselves squarely into the AFC playoff picture. During that streak, Roethlisberger — whose early-season struggles prompted speculation about his job security — is averaging over 200 passing yards per game, has thrown six TDs, zero interceptions, and has posted a 104.6 QB rating (h/t Aditi Kinkhabwala of the NFL Network on Twitter).
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/13/21
Here are Saturday’s practice squad moves:
Denver Broncos
- Signed: QB Danny Etling
- Placed on practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Pita Taumoepenu
- Placed on practice squad IR: CB Duke Dawson
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: LB Chase Hansen
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/13/21
Here are Saturday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Promoted: LS Beau Brinkley, WR Greg Dortch
Carolina Panthers
- Activated from IR: S Juston Burris, WR Brandon Zylstra
- Promoted: OL Mike Horton
Cincinnati Bengals
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Chidobe Awuzie
- Placed on IR: CB Ryan Smith
Cleveland Browns
- Activated from IR: LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah
- Waived: DT Andrew Billings
- Promoted: RB Brian Hill, CB Herb Miller, WR JoJo Natson, FB Johnny Stanton
Dallas Cowboys
- Activated from PUP list: DT Trysten Hill
- Promoted: K Lirim Hajrullahu
Denver Broncos
- Activated from PUP list: CB Essang Bassey
- Promoted: T Quinn Bailey, RB Damarea Crockett, T Drew Himmelman, LB Curtis Robinson
Detroit Lions
- Promoted: K Ryan Santoso
- Placed on IR: K Austin Seibert
Green Bay Packers
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Isaac Yiadom
- Waived: LB LaDarius Hamilton
Indianapolis Colts
- Activated from IR: CB T.J. Carrie
- Promoted: S Jahleel Addae
- Waived: CB BoPete Keyes
Kansas City Chiefs
- Placed on IR: T Mike Remmers
Las Vegas Raiders
- Promoted: S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, LB Patrick Onwuasor
Minnesota Vikings
- Placed on IR: DT Michael Pierce
- Promoted: S Myles Dorn, CB Tye Smith
New England Patriots
- Promoted: DL Tashawn Bower, TE Matt LaCosse
New York Jets
- Activated from IR: P Braden Mann, OL Conor McDermott
- Placed on IR: T Chuma Edoga
- Promoted: FB Nick Bawden, DE Ronald Blair, DE Hamilcar Rashed, TE Kenny Yeboah
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Promoted: WR Steven Sims
Seattle Seahawks
- Promoted: LB Tanner Muse
- Waived: TE Tyler Mabry
- Placed on IR: DB Marquise Blair (story)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted: TE Darren Fells, WR Breshad Perriman
Tennessee Titans
- Activated from IR: CB Kristian Fulton
- Placed on IR: S Dane Cruikshank
- Promoted: LB Dylan Cole, WR Dez Fitzpatrick, NT Kyle Peko
Washington Football Team
- Promoted: DE Bunmi Rotimi
Saints Move Chauncey Gardner-Johnson To IR, Activate Ken Crawley
The Saints will be without one of their secondary starters for a stretch. They placed Chauncey Gardner-Johnson on IR. The young defensive back is down with a foot injury.
Although Gardner-Johnson may be known more for inducing punches from wide receivers at this point in his career, the third-year defender has been a key presence in New Orleans’ veteran-laden secondary. The former fourth-round pick has started seven games for the Saints this season, working in multiple capacities — including the slot position.
Gardner-Johnson has made 26 tackles, one sack and an interception this season. The Saints have fellow corner/safety hybrid P.J. Williams capable of manning the slot as well, and the team activated veteran Ken Crawley off injured reserve Saturday.
Crawley has been with the Saints for most of his career, beginning with the team in 2016, but has played just one game this season. In addition to his IR stay, Crawley spent two weeks on the Saints’ reserve/COVID-19 list.
New Orleans also promoted wide receiver Kevin White from its practice squad and waived defensive lineman Christian Ringo. The team also promoted offensive lineman Will Clapp ahead of its Week 10 matchup with Tennessee. The Saints are set to be without left tackle Terron Armstead against the Titans.
Patriots Activate Trent Brown, Place Jamie Collins On IR
For the first time since Week 1, Trent Brown is expected to be in uniform for the Patriots. They activated the veteran tackle Saturday, while placing Jamie Collins on IR.
Brown sustained a calf injury in New England’s opener, and the team did not place its right tackle starter on IR immediately. The Pats initially hoped Brown would come back without an IR stint, but they parked him on the injured list in early October. The seventh-year veteran is now back but has certainly gone through some unavailability issues since his first Pats stint.
After missing five games with the Raiders during a Pro Bowl 2019 season, Brown missed much of the 2020 season because of calf issues and multiple stays on the Raiders’ reserve/COVID-19 list. Brown has played just seven snaps this season, costing himself money through the incentives the Patriots included in his restructured contract. While the 380-pound blocker remains an imposing presence who could make a difference for a run-geared Pats team, he suddenly has much to prove during the second half of his age-28 season.
The Patriots listed Collins as doubtful for Week 10. After beginning the season with the Lions, Collins made his way back to the Pats for a third stint and made a slick interception in their Week 9 blowout win in Charlotte. Collins has played in five games since re-signing with the Pats, registering a sack and seven tackles in addition to his INT.
Titans Place Julio Jones On IR
The hamstring injury Julio Jones has battled this season will cost him three more games. The Titans placed the standout wide receiver on IR Saturday.
Jones suffered a setback in practice Thursday, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. This continues an injury-plagued season for the recently relocated wide receiver. Jones has missed three games already this year and has a history of hamstring trouble.
The injury issues Jones encountered last year resulted in a lesser trade market, but the Falcons still collected a second-round pick from the Titans. Jones, 32, has yet to deliver for a Tennessee team that has managed to reach 7-2 despite frequent injury concerns. A.J. Brown has missed time, and Derrick Henry is now out for an extended stretch — perhaps the rest of the regular season.
Jones, 32, has caught 21 passes for 336 yards and no touchdowns in his first Titans season. He has not been able to consistently display the top form he showed in Atlanta and is now sidelined until at least Week 14. These issues come after a 2020 season in which Jones also experienced a hamstring injury and subsequent setbacks. Jones’ final Falcons season included a strained left hamstring in Week 2 and three ensuing aggravations, leading to seven missed games.
With Tennessee’s bye in Week 13, this will give Jones a month off. That could make a difference for the 11th-year receiver, who will miss games against the Saints, Texans and Patriots. The Titans sit atop the AFC and are clearly hoping this hiatus will produce a better version of Jones when he returns in mid-December.
Chargers Activate LB Kenneth Murray
The Chargers are on track to have one of their top defenders in uniform Sunday. Kenneth Murray is off IR and back on the Bolts’ active roster.
Sidelined with an ankle injury since Week 3, Murray returned to practice and will be in line to help a Chargers defense that ranks last against the run. The Bolts traded up for Murray in the 2020 first round and moved him into their starting lineup early last season. While he experienced developmental hiccups, the Oklahoma product registered 107 tackles. He has 19 through three games this year.
Chargers HC Brandon Staley also said the team is planning to use Murray on the edge as well as on the inside, via the Los Angeles Times’ Jeff Miller. Joey Bosa leads Chargers edge players with 4.5 sacks, but first-year starter Uchenna Nwosu has just one in seven starts.
Ahead of their Week 10 game against the Vikings, the Chargers also promoted linebacker Cole Christiansen, wide receiver Maurice Ffrench and cornerback Kiondre Thomas from their practice squad.
Snacks Harrison Announces Retirement
After nine NFL seasons, Snacks intends to walk away from the game. Damon Harrison announced his retirement on Saturday (via Twitter).
Some interest emerged for the veteran nose tackle in the spring, but Harrison, 32, did not catch on anywhere this year. He will step away after 124 games and 111 starts as a pro.
Although Harrison contemplated retirement at the end of the 2019 season, he returned for one more and played with the Seahawks and Packers last season. Snacks’ seven games in Seattle and Green Bay will be closer to the footnote section of his career, one that included multiple seasons with the Jets, Giants and Lions.
Harrison latched on with the Jets as a UDFA in 2012 out of NAIA William Penn (Iowa) and became a starter during his second season. Snacks’ high-end Jets production, alongside Muhammad Wilkerson and Sheldon Richardson, led to the Giants giving him a five-year, $46.25MM deal in the 2016 offseason — when Big Blue loaded up with vets on defense.
Olivier Vernon and Janoris Jenkins joined Snacks by signing with the Giants that offseason, and that trio played a key part in the Giants advancing to the 2016 playoffs. While Harrison did not receive a Pro Bowl invite during his career, he earned first-team All-Pro recognition for his work that season.
A struggling Giants team traded Harrison to the Lions ahead of the 2018 deadline, when they also unloaded Eli Apple, and Snacks played in Detroit through the end of the 2019 campaign. Harrison finished his career with 494 tackles and 37 tackles for loss.