Packers QB Aaron Rodgers Will Start Sunday
3:01pm: The Packers officially activated the reigning MVP off their reserve/COVID-19 list. Rodgers will start against the Seahawks in Week 10.
11:01am: It sounds like Aaron Rodgers will be returning to the field tomorrow. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports (via Twitter) that Rodgers is back with the Packers, is expected to be activated from the COVID-19/reserve list, and will start tomorrow against the Seahawks. ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds (on Twitter) that Rodgers has remained asymptomatic and “has met the NFL/NFLPA return-to-play protocols.”
Rodgers tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this month, forcing him to miss Green Bay’s Week 9 game. He later revealed that he experienced COVID-19 symptoms before and after his positive test, putting his availability for Week 10 in doubt. An unvaccinated player must be away from his team for 10 days after experiencing symptoms. Ultimately, Rodgers made it through protocols in time for tomorrow’s showdown.
Rodgers’ positive test also sparked an investigation by the NFL into the Packers’ handling of COVID-19 protocols. The team was slapped with a $300K fine, while Rodgers and teammate Allen Lazard were fined $14,650. The two players were fined for attending a maskless Halloween party. The Packers’ organizational fine also stemmed from the party; while the gathering wasn’t organized by the team, the NFL believes the organization should have penalized each player. The Packers organization was notified that “future violations could result in escalated discipline,” including the potential loss of draft picks.
The Packers offense predictably struggled without Rodgers. The team was limited to only seven points in their loss to the Chiefs, with former Packers first-rounder and fill-in starter Jordan Love completing 19 of his 34 attempts for 190 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
Cowboys Activate WR Michael Gallup
After a lengthy ramp-up period, Michael Gallup will make his long-awaited return soon. The Cowboys activated the fourth-year wide receiver from injured reserve Saturday.
Gallup has missed the past seven games for Dallas, which placed him on IR after a calf injury took him out of the team’s Week 1 loss to the Buccaneers. Gallup returned to practice nearly three weeks ago, moving this to a deadline situation. Dallas had just two days left to activate Gallup, or he would have gone on season-ending IR.
Should Gallup be back in uniform Sunday, that will certainly aid a Cowboys team coming off by far its worst game of the season. Dak Prescott struggled in his return from a calf ailment, and the Cowboys needed multiple garbage-time scores to pull within two touchdowns of the Broncos. Prescott should soon have his full receiver array available.
The Cowboys quarterback has not finished a game with his top three targets on the field since before his 2020 injury. Gallup, Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb played together last season, but most of this trio’s initial work came with backup quarterbacks. Gallup exceeded 1,100 yards in 2019 and finished with 843 and five touchdowns last season.
With Dallas unlikely to bring back the Cooper-Lamb-Gallup trio in 2022, this second-half stretch proves key for Gallup’s future. The Cowboys are not planning to discuss extensions with contract-year players until after the season ends, and after missing half this season, the former third-round pick will need to re-establish his momentum ahead of a potential free agency run.
Cardinals To Place RB Chase Edmonds On IR
The Cardinals are placing Chase Edmonds on injured reserve. The running back will be sidelined for at least the next three games thanks to a high-ankle sprain, reports NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter). The Cardinals have promoted running back Tavien Feaster to the active roster to take the open roster spot (Twitter link).
Since Edmonds was diagnosed with the ankle sprain earlier this week, an IR stint seemed inevitable. The injury often cost players 4-6 weeks, so Edmonds could be looking at a longer IR stay than the three required games. Either way, the expectation is that he’ll suit up again for Arizona’s stretch run and the postseason.
Edmonds was limited to only a single carry during his team’s Week 9 win over the 49ers before exiting with an injury. Through the first eight games of the season, the former fourth-round pick had collected 638 yards from scrimmage on 105 touches. James Conner, who currently leads the NFL with 10 rushing touchdowns, will see the majority of the reps at running back while Edmonds is sidelined. The team is also rostering running backs Jonathan Ward and Eno Benjamin.
Feaster split his college career between Clemson and South Carolina. He’s bounced around the NFL since going undrafted in the 2020 draft, also spending time with the Jaguars, Giants, and Lions. He’s spent the majority of the 2021 season on the Cardinals practice squad.
WFT Places DE Montez Sweat On IR
Montez Sweat will head to the IR after all. Washington Football Team placed the defensive end on injured reserve today, reports NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter).
Sweat suffered a fractured jaw two weeks ago, and while he was fortunate to avoid surgery, a trip to the IR still seemed pretty likely. The 25-year-old was told by doctors to have “no physical contact for a month,” so it sounded like there was no shot he’d return before December. Now, the earliest he can see the field is December 5th against the Raiders.
The 2019 first-round pick has been a force since entering the NFL. After collecting 16 sacks through his first two seasons, Sweat compiled another four sacks in eight starts this year. The defensive end also has 19 tackles, two forced fumbles, 12 QB hits, and three tackles for loss.
WFT let Ryan Kerrigan walk this offseason, so the organization has some inexperienced options to replace Sweat. The team will likely turn to James Smith-Williams when they return from their bye tomorrow, although they’re also rostering Casey Toohill and rookie Shaka Toney.
Seahawks Activate Russell Wilson From IR
Pete Carroll confirmed Russell Wilson will start against the Packers, and the Seahawks made it official Friday evening. Wilson is back on Seattle’s active roster.
On IR since rupturing a right middle finger tendon in Week 5, Wilson will return after missing the minimum three games. The 10th-year Seahawks quarterback underwent two surgeries but beat the six- to eight-week timetable initially floated once the extent of his injuries became public.
Seattle went 1-2 without Wilson and lost to the Rams during the game he suffered the injury — his first notable setback as a pro. Wilson had started 149 straight games prior to this finger issue. His absence led to three Geno Smith starts and the Seahawks tumbling down the NFC standings. They are 3-5 entering Week 10.
Wilson, who will turn 33 later this month, has thrown 10 touchdown passes and just one interception this season. Over his five-game sample, he ranks seventh in QBR. Should Aaron Rodgers clear COVID-19 protocols as the Packers expect, the future Hall of Famers will match up for the ninth time (counting playoff games) Sunday.
Placed on IR the same day as Wilson, Chris Carson will not be activated along with the quarterback. Carroll said his starting running back, who returned to practice this week, will not play against the Packers. Carson is working his way back from a neck injury.
In addition to activating Wilson, the Seahawks also moved rookie wide receiver D’Wayne Eskridge from IR back to the active roster. Chosen in the second round, Eskridge has not played since suffering a concussion in Week 1. Following the concerningly lengthy absence, the Western Michigan product will attempt to salvage the remainder of his rookie year.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/12/21
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Denver Broncos
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: OL Austin Schlottmann
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: DL Eddie Yarbrough
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Kenny Willekes
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Placed on IR: CB Rashard Robinson
Washington Football Team
- Placed on IR: DE Montez Sweat (story)
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/12/21
Today’s taxi squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LS Beau Brinkley
- Placed on practice squad IR: LS Kyle Nelson
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: K Elliott Fry
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: LB Josh Watson
- Released: QB James Morgan
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/11/21
Today’s practice squad moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: DE Damontre Moore
Denver Broncos
- Signed: CB Duke Dawson
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: WR Gary Jennings
- Placed on injured list: WR Jeff Badet
Pittsburgh Pirates
- Signed: LB Jacob Tuioti-Mariner
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: OL Corbin Kaufusi, CB Saivion Smith
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: DB Breon Borders
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/11/21
Today’s minor NFL transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: WR A.J. Green
- Placed on IR: LS Aaron Brewer, TE David Wells
Baltimore Ravens
- Promoted: OL James Carpenter, DT Kahlil McKenzie.
- Signed to active roster: TE Eric Tomlinson, CB Chris Westry
Buffalo Bills
- Promoted: CB Cameron Lewis, QB Davis Webb
- Placed on IR: DL Justin Zimmer
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: QB Jake Fromm, WR Tanner Gentry
Los Angeles Chargers
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Drue Tranquill
New England Patriots
- Designated for return: DE Chase Winovich
New Orleans Saints
- Activated off IR: TE Nick Vannett
New York Jets
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Jason Pinnock
Cowboys Place Randy Gregory On IR
Randy Gregory is heading to injured reserve after all. The Cowboys announced today that they’ve placed the pass rusher on injured reserve.
We already knew that Gregory’s calf injury was going to sideline him for at least one game, but it sounded like the team was considering keeping him off IR. Ultimately, that won’t be the case, and Gregory will now be sidelined for the next three games. Gregory suffered the injury during a one-on-one drill on Wednesday, and a subsequent MRI revealed the strain.
Gregory has largely done well to stay on the field this season, which comes after the former second-round pick spent much of his career away from the Cowboys due to suspensions. In seven games, Gregory has recorded five sacks and 12 quarterback hits. The seventh-year D-lineman has added a team-high two forced fumbles during what has been a breakthrough season.
When Gregory was sidelined earlier this season, the team moved first-rounder Micah Parsons to defensive end, so the team could go back to that configuration for the next few weeks. Despite playing mostly in an off-ball role, Parsons has matched Gregory’s five sacks. No other Cowboy edge rusher has more than one sack, however.