Ravens Place G Ben Cleveland On IR
After being carted off the field during the Ravens’ comeback win Monday night, Ben Cleveland will miss time. The rookie guard is now on IR.
Cleveland suffered a knee injury against the Colts and becomes the 16th Raven on IR. The Ravens have used Cleveland, a third-round pick this year, and Ben Powers in a rotation at left guard in recent weeks. Cleveland tweeted Tuesday he received positive news on his knee injury, so it appears possible he could return this season.
A Georgia product, Cleveland did not play in Week 1 but was active for Week 2 after Tyre Phillips suffered an injury in Baltimore’s opener. Cleveland and Powers have rotated in the games since, but the Ravens do have Phillips close to returning. They designated Phillips, who started opposite Kevin Zeitler in Week 1, to return from IR. His return should commence soon.
The Ravens have managed to get to 4-1 despite losing most of their optimal backfield and having played without Phillips and All-Pro left tackle Ronnie Stanley for the past four games.
Steelers Sign WR Anthony Miller To P-Squad
TUESDAY: The move is now official. The Steelers announced they have added the fourth-year wideout to their practice squad. They will be the former Bears second-rounder’s third team in four months.
MONDAY: Anthony Miller won’t be joining the Jaguars practice squad after all. The veteran receiver “plans to sign” with the Steelers practice squad, according to Aaron Wilson (via Twitter).
[RELATED: Steelers’ JuJu Smith-Schuster Done For Year?]
NFL Network’s Aditi Kinkhabwala clarifies (on Twitter) that Miller has yet to sign a contract and will take his physical with Pittsburgh tomorrow. If all goes well, it sounds like the receiver will end up joining the organization.
Earlier today, reports indicated that Miller was set to sign with the Jaguars’ practice squad, and the wideout even tweeted “Duval” over the weekend (per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport on Twitter). Miller was expected to eventually take the roster spot that was previously held by wideout DJ Chark, who suffered a fractured ankle during Week 4. Now, he’ll eventually be taking the roster spot previously held by JuJu Smith-Schuster, who is likely done for the season with a shoulder injury.
Miller was cut by the Texans late last week, just months after acquiring him from the Bears via trade. He finished his stint in Houston with five catches for 23 yards and one touchdown. The 2018 second-round pick flashed potential at times but generally disappointed during his stint in Chicago. In 2020, he took 49 catches for just 485 yards, and his rookie season (33 catches, 423 yards, seven touchdowns) still stands as his best season.
Rams Move CB Darious Williams To IR
The Rams will be without one of their cornerback starters for at least three games. They placed Darious Williams on IR Tuesday. Williams suffered an ankle injury against the Seahawks, and Sean McVay hinted an IR move could be in the cards.
Williams returned to the Rams for a fourth season and did so on a rare arrangement, being the only restricted free agent given a first-round tender this offseason. The young cover man is in a contract year.
After playing behind Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters early in his career, Williams began to see time after the Rams disbanded that duo in 2019. Last season, the former UDFA became a full-time player alongside Jalen Ramsey and Troy Hill. With Hill now in Cleveland and Williams on IR, the Rams are shorthanded at corner.
The team’s defense has already declined from its first-place ranking last season. Through five games, the Rams are 23rd in total defense and 12th in points allowed. Williams, 28, has played 98% of Los Angeles’ defensive snaps, so this will be a major adjustment for the team.
Los Angeles has third-year man David Long and fourth-round rookie Robert Rochell at corner as well. No other pure corners reside on the Rams’ 53-man roster, which will force the team to make at least one addition ahead of its Week 6 game.
The Rams also activated tackle Tremayne Anchrum from IR. A 2020 seventh-round pick, Anchrum played in 12 games last year as a backup but has not yet suited up this season.
Jaguars Place C Brandon Linder On IR
Not long after beginning his eighth season as a Jaguars starter, Brandon Linder is heading back to injured reserve. The Jags are placing their starting center on IR due to multiple injuries.
Linder is expected to miss at least four games due to an MCL sprain and a high ankle sprain, Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk notes. The veteran blocker left Jacksonville’s Week 5 game in the fourth quarter, being carted off the field during the team’s loss to the Titans.
This continues a trend for Linder, who missed seven games in both the 2018 and ’20 seasons. Although Linder is one of the NFL’s better centers, he has missed 33 games over the course of his Jaguars run. Ankle and knee issues have dogged Linder in the past, with an ankle malady ending his 2020 season and a knee issue shutting him down in 2018.
Although the Jags changed regimes this offseason, they kept all five of their primary offensive line starters from their 1-15 2020 campaign. Linder graded as Pro Football Focus’ No. 3 overall center last season; this year, he slots 24th through four-plus games. The 29-year-old snapper had been on the field for all the Jags’ offensive plays until the cart-off sequence Sunday. Linder’s four-year, $51MM deal runs through 2022.
The Jags signed Rashaad Coward off the Steelers’ practice squad to fill Linder’s roster spot. Coward logged 15 starts with the Bears from 2017-20.
Bengals Move CB Trae Waynes To IR
By October’s end, Trae Waynes will have played in just two of the Bengals’ past 24 games. The veteran cornerback is heading to IR with a hamstring injury, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.
Waynes aggravated the hamstring issue that previously forced him to miss Cincinnati’s first three games this season. The former Vikings cornerback missed all of last year.
The Bengals paid Waynes handsomely last year, signing the former first-round pick to a three-year, $42MM deal. That pact has not worked out to this point. Waynes missed the 2020 season due to a torn pectoral muscle suffered last August. He will now be down for the next three Bengals games. Waynes, 29, missed just six games over the course of his five-year Vikings tenure.
Cincinnati was busy at cornerback this year, adding outside cover man Chidobe Awuzie and slot man Mike Hilton in free agency. Neither’s deal is in Waynes’ ballpark, however, with Awuzie signing for $7.25MM per year and Hilton leaving Pittsburgh for $6MM on average. The Bengals let William Jackson walk in free agency rather than use its franchise tag to retain him.
Saints Sign K Brian Johnson Off Bears’ Practice Squad
Following Cody Parkey‘s injury, the Saints will have a third kicker in three games. Brian Johnson looks set to succeed Aldrick Rosas and Parkey.
The Saints are signing Johnson off the Bears’ practice squad, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter). The team expressed interest in Ravens practice squad kicker Jake Verity, per NewOrleans.football’s Nick Underhill, but a Verity injury led the team to go with Johnson (Twitter link).
By rule, Johnson joining the Saints off the Bears’ P-squad will require his new team to carry him on its 53-man roster for at least three games. Parkey is now off New Orleans’ roster, having been placed on IR Monday. Parkey suffered a pulled groin during pregame warmups and struggled attempting to play through the injury.
A Virginia Tech alum, Johnson has not yet kicked in a regular-season NFL game. Johnson succeeded Joey Slye as the Hokies’ kicker, serving in that role with the ACC program from 2018-20. He made 20 0f 26 field goals as a senior. The Bears initially cut Johnson but kept him on their practice squad shortly after cutdown day. Although Wil Lutz is slated to return in the not-too-distant future, Johnson is set for an opportunity in New Orleans.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/12/21
Today’s taxi squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: CB Luq Barcoo, WR Josh Doctson
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: TE Parker Hesse
- Released: K Elliott Fry, OLB George Obinna
Baltimore Ravens
- Suspended six games (PEDs): T Adrian Ealy
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: OL Austen Pleasants
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: RB Elijah Holyfield
Cleveland Browns
- Activated off practice squad/COVID-19 list: CB Tim Harris
- Signed: T Alex Taylor
Denver Broncos
- Signed: WR John Brown (story) CB Rojesterman Farris
- Released: WR Josh Malone, LB Avery Williamson (story)
Houston Texans
- Signed: OL Cole Tonerm
- Released: DB Shyheim Carter
Indianapolis Colts
- OT Greg Senat, DT Antwaun Woods
- Placed on IR: S Ibraheim Campbell
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: RB Kerrith Whyte, OL Jared Hocker, WR Josh Imatorbhebhe
- Released: OL Austen Pleasants, RB Wendell Smallwood, WR Devin Smith
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: RB Elijah McGuire, LB Darius Harris
Las Vegas Raiders
- Released: QB Kyle Sloter
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: WR Travis Fulgham
New Orleans Saints
- Released: OT Derrick Kelly, LB Wynton McManis
New York Jets
- Signed: OL Dru Samia
- Released: S Sheldrick Redwine
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: DT Isaiah Mack
- Released: NT Eli Ankou
Chiefs Place Clyde Edwards-Helaire On IR
TUESDAY: The Chiefs placed their starting running back on IR. Edwards-Helaire will miss at least the next three games. Kansas City promoted running back Derrick Gore from its practice squad. Gore joins Darrel Williams and Jerick McKinnon as the Chiefs’ active-roster running backs. As of this afternoon, the Chiefs are not expecting Edwards-Helaire to miss more than the required three games, USA Today’s Josina Anderson tweets.
MONDAY: Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire will miss time after suffering an MCL sprain on Sunday (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). That’ll cost him a few weeks of action, but that’s relatively good news considering how the injury looked last night. 
The Chiefs may look to place Edwards-Helaire on injured reserve if he’s looking at three weeks or more of recovery. If he has a chance of returning sooner, however, they could leave him on the 53-man roster to keep a Week 8 return on the table.
Edwards-Helaire, the No. 32 overall pick of the 2020 draft, enjoyed a strong rookie showing up until his late season ankle and hip injuries. In 13 games, the LSU product tallied 803 rushing yards and four touchdowns off of 181 totes. He also added 36 catches for 297 yards and one score, showcasing his potential as a dual-threat back. So far this year, he’s got 304 yards off of 65 totes, good for a 4.7 ypc.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs are also awaiting word on injuries to wide receiver Tyreek Hill (knee) and Joe Thuney (hand fracture).
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/12/21
Keeping tabs on today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Activated from Reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Darrell Daniels
Chicago Bears
- Promoted: OLB/DL Sam Kamara
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted: DE Joe Jackson, FB Johnny Stanton
- Placed on IR: OL Chris Hubbard (story), FB Andy Janovich, S M.J. Stewart
Detroit Lions
- Signed off Steelers’ practice squad: CB Mark Gilbert
Houston Texans
- Signed to active roster: WR Chris Moore
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed off Steelers’ practice squad: OL Rashaad Coward
Kansas City Chiefs
- Promoted: T Prince Tega Wanogho
- Waived: WR Daurice Fountain
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed off 49ers practice squad: OL Senio Kelemete
- Placed on IR: G Oday Aboushi
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: WR Dan Chisena
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DT Christian Ringo
- Signed off Bears practice squad: K Brian Johnson
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived: CB Davontae Harris, RB Jacques Patrick
Saints Place Cody Parkey On IR
The Saints are placing Cody Parkey on the injured reserve list, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Parkey joined the Saints just over a week ago, but he’ll be out for a while with a groin injury. 
Parkey took over for Aldrick Rosas, who made just 1 of 4 field goal tries in 2021. Parkey, meanwhile, had yet to debut this year. Unfortunately, he pulled his groin during pregame warmups against Washington. The Saints went on to win 33-22, but Parkey was clearly hurting as he missed two of his five extra point tries.
Parkey, 29, made 19 of 22 attempts to help the Browns to the playoffs last year. The Browns placed him on IR and dropped him over the summer after he suffered a quad injury. He’s become a well-traveled pro, having kicked for five NFL teams. After two straight years as the Eagles’ kicker to start his career, which included a Pro Bowl nod in 2014, Parkey has not been with the same team in consecutive seasons since. He bounced to Cleveland in 2016, Miami in ’17, Chicago in ’18, Tennessee in ’19 and back to Cleveland last season. The Bears stint serves as Parkey’s most memorable stay, with the infamous “double doink” game spotlighting their kicker position throughout the following offseason.
The Saints may audition other kickers, but they might not have to sign one. Wil Lutz — who had a groin injury of his own — will be eligible to return after the bye for Week 7.