NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/21/21
Today’s taxi squad moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: C Adam Redmond
New York Giants
- Signed: DT Woodrow Hamilton
Cardinals Restructure Jordan Phillips’ Deal
On their longest season-opening unbeaten run since 1974, the Cardinals added a piece to their skill-position corps by acquiring Zach Ertz from the Eagles. On Thursday, they created some breathing room after adding Ertz’s salary.
The Cardinals restructured Jordan Phillips‘ contract, according to ESPN.com’s Field Yates, who notes the team converted $6.5MM of the defensive lineman’s base salary into a signing bonus (Twitter link). Arizona dipped into the void-years well here, adding two to a contract that already ran through 2022. All told, the Cards created $5.21MM in cap space.
Ertz is due more than $4MM in base salary the rest of the way. He joins a Cardinals team that has perennially struggled to generate production from its tight end position and one that recently lost Maxx Williams for the season. Between Ertz, DeAndre Hopkins and A.J. Green, Arizona’s pass-catching contingent now has 15 combined Pro Bowl nods.
The Cards gave Phillips a three-year, $30MM deal in 2020. As a result of Thursday’s restructure, that contract will become more difficult to shed in 2022.
Phillips, 29, returned to the field Sunday after nearly a year away. After recovering from a back injury that had sidelined him for the season’s first five games, the veteran interior D-lineman played 21 defensive snaps in his first game back and came off the bench in the 6-0 Cardinals’ win in Cleveland.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/21/21
Today’s minor moves:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Activated: RB Samaje Perine
New Orleans Saints
- Designated for return: CB Ken Crawley, LB Chase Hansen, TE Nick Vannett
Philadelphia Eagles
- Activated from COVID-19 list: TE Dallas Goedert
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived from IR: OT Brad Seaton
Eagles S K’Von Wallace, TE Tyree Jackson Return To Practice
The Eagles are about to get some reinforcement. Tight end Tyree Jackson and safety K’Von Wallace returned to practice today, reports NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter). The two players now have 21 days to be activated to the 53-man roster.
Wallace was a fourth-round pick by the Eagles in 2020, and he ended up seeing time in 15 games (three starts) as a rookie. He started two of the Eagles first three games in 2021, collecting six tackles. He separated his shoulder in Week 3 and subsequently landed on injured reserve.
Jackson was a QB during his collegiate career at Buffalo, and he had a short stint with the Bills during the 2019 preseason. After spending some time in the XFL, Jackson joined the Eagles on a reserve/futures contract. Philly intends to convert the 23-year-old to tight end, and Rapoport notes that the organization has high hopes for the player. He fractured a bone in his back toward the end of the preseason, and he’s sat on IR for the entire 2021 campaign.
Now, he’ll have a chance to join a depth chart that recently lost Zach Ertz thanks to a trade with the Cardinals. The Eagles will eventually have Dallas Goedert back as the starter, but the team’s only other tight end at the moment is Jack Stoll.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/20/21
We’ll keep track of today’s practice squad moves here:
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: FB Nick Ralston
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: DT Chris Williams
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: OL John Molchon
- Released: WR Travis Jonsen
Seahawks Claim QB Jacob Eason
Jacob Eason has found his next job. After getting waived yesterday by the Colts, the quarterback has been claimed by the Seahawks, reports ESPN’s Brady Henderson (via Twitter).
The Seahawks have been sniffing around for some reinforcement at quarterback following Russell Wilson‘s placement on IR. Geno Smith will continue to sit atop the depth chart, and Eason will temporarily serve as his backup. Seattle is also rostering Jake Luton and Danny Etling on their practice squad.
Eason found himself on the outside looking in during his time in Indy. He was already the third-stringer QB behind Carson Wentz and Brett Hundley, and the team decided to move on from the 2020 fourth-round pick after activating 2021 sixth-round pick Sam Ehlinger from IR.
Eason had a breakout college campaign in 2019, completing 64.2 percent of his passes for 3,132 yards, 23 touchdowns, and eight interceptions after transferring from Georgia to Washington. He made his NFL debut in Week 2, completing two of his five pass attempts for 25. He also tossed an interception.
Panthers Sign RB Ameer Abdullah
One day after getting cut by the Vikings, RB Ameer Abdullah has found his next gig. Abdullah visited with the Panthers on Wednesday and has officially signed with Carolina, the team announced. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter) first reported that a deal was expected.
Abdullah started his career in Detroit, where he put up a pair of 700-plus-yard seasons. He fell down the depth chart in 2018 and was eventually claimed off waivers by the Vikings. He ended up spending parts of four seasons in Minnesota, topping out on a 203-yard season in 2019.
The 28-year-old saw time in all six games for the Vikings this season, collecting 30 yards on seven carries while adding another 17 yards via three receptions. The veteran has also hauled in seven kick returns for 162 yards, which is especially relevant with primary returnman Alex Erickson in concussion protocol.
Now, he’ll have a chance to stick around the NFL with the Panthers. Carolina will continue rolling with rookie fourth-round pick Chuba Hubbard as their primary Christian McCaffrey replacement, and they’re also rostering Royce Freeman and Giovanni Ricci. The Panthers added Reggie Bonnafon to their practice squad yesterday.
Colts’ Quenton Nelson Returns To Practice
Colts guard Quenton Nelson has been designated for return. Ditto for rookie defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo and wide receiver Dezmon Patmon, who also took to the practice field on Wednesday. 
Nelson could potentially play against the 49ers on Sunday night, but that’ll all depend on how his practice sessions go this week. Whenever he returns, it’ll be a big boost to the Colts’ front five.
“[He’s] an elite leader, not just an elite player,” head coach Frank Reich said earlier this month (via ESPN.com).
The multiple-time All-Pro has been sidelined for weeks with a high-ankle sprain, unfamiliar territory for the otherwise healthy lineman. Before this, Nelson hadn’t missed a game through his first three years in the NFL.
Nelson, the sixth-overall pick in the 2018 draft, stands as one of the top offensive guards in the game. Barring any further complications, he’s expected to ink a record-setting extension come next year. In the meantime, he’s focused on the task at hand — helping the Colts gain ground in the AFC South.
After an 0-3 start, the Colts have rallied somewhat to win two of their last three. Now 2-4, the Colts have a chance to close in on the 4-2 Titans.
Chargers To Sign WR Andre Roberts
The Chargers have agreed to sign Andre Roberts (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). 
The Texans dropped the former Pro Bowler on Monday, but he already has a new home in the AFC.
Roberts is listed as a receiver, but most of his recent work has come in the return game. He led the NFL with 1,174 kick return yards while with the Jets in 2018, and he followed that up with two impressive campaigns with the Bills. In each of those seasons — 2018, 2019, and 2020 — Roberts earned Pro Bowl honors.
The 33-year-old is well traveled at this point, having also played for the Cardinals, WFT, Lions, and Falcons. So far this year, he has taken eight punt returns for 33 yards and 18 kicks for 386 yards.
In other Chargers news, Bryan Bulaga isn’t expected to return from injured reserve anytime soon. The veteran right tackle underwent core muscle surgery last week, which could shelve him until 2022.
Packers To Sign Whitney Mercilus
The Packers are set to sign edge rusher Whitney Mercilus, according to Aaron Wilson of SportsTalk790 (on Twitter). The deal is not yet official but it’s expected to be finalized sometime this week. 
The Texans cut on Monday after weeks of using the veteran in a noticeably reduced role. Despite the drop in snaps, the 31-year-old still put up solid numbers — 12 tackles, three sacks, four tackles for loss, and three QB hits. The Texans chose to roll with Jon Greenard and Jacob Martin at defensive end instead, leading Mercilus to his new NFL home.
Up until now, Mercilus had spent his entire nine-plus-year career in Houston. He’s started in 102 of his 132 games for Houston while ranking second in franchise history — behind J.J. Watt — in sacks (57), forced fumbles (13), tackles for loss (72), and QB hits (115).
Mercilus will help fill in for Za’Darius Smith, who remains sidelined with a back injury. Meanwhile, he’ll have a chance to move back to his native outside linebacker position, rather than DE.