Raiders Place CBs Trayvon Mullen, Damon Arnette On IR
Injuries are set to deplete the Raiders’ cornerback group. Las Vegas will be without Trayvon Mullen and Damon Arnette for at least the next three games, with both having been placed on IR Saturday.
A foot injury left Mullen sidelined this week, while Arnette is dealing with a groin issue. The Raiders ruled both out for Week 5. This stalls a nice start for Mullen. For Arnette, this represents another setback in an underwhelming start to his career.
A second-round pick in 2019, Mullen became part of the Raiders’ Clemson-heavy draft that year. Mullen reprised his role as a starter this season, being a first-unit player in new DC Gus Bradley‘s defense. Pro Football Focus graded Mullen as a top-25 corner through four games, with the third-year defender joining Casey Hayward and Nate Hobbs in an atypically strong Raiders coverage corps.
One of this Raider regime’s surprise first-round picks, Arnette has not seen the field much in his second season. The Ohio State product has played just 60 defensive snaps through four games. While the Raiders tried him as a starter for much of his 2020 season, Arnette suffered a thumb injury during his rookie training camp and then aggravated the issue later. He played nine games last season. Thus far in 2021, Arnette has joined fellow Jon Gruden–Mike Mayock first-rounder Clelin Ferrell as a seldom-used backup.
The Raiders also activated running back Jalen Richard and cornerback Keisean Nixon from IR. Set to begin his sixth season with the Raiders, Richard returned to practice last week. It will be interesting to see how the Raiders use Richard, given Kenyan Drake‘s presence, but the shifty reserve’s re-emergence should at least help for depth purposes. Peyton Barber is set to miss time with turf toe.
Patriots Move T Trent Brown To IR
Trent Brown has not played since Week 1 due to a calf injury. The Patriots’ right tackle starter is now guaranteed to miss at least three more games; the team placed Brown on IR Saturday, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.
Since his first stint with the Patriots ended, Brown has been unable to stay healthy. He did make the 2019 Pro Bowl, becoming the rare right tackle invitee that year, but played in just 11 games. Last year, a calf injury in Week 1 sidelined him before multiple stints on the Raiders’ reserve/COVID-19 list wrecked his season.
The Patriots reacquired Brown for a Day 3 pick but have not been able to deploy him much. As part of a redone contract, Brown is only signed through the end of this season. The 6-foot-8 blocker’s value has taken a major hit since the Raiders gave him a four-year, $66MM deal early in free agency two years ago.
In addition to Brown’s extended absence, the Patriots are set to be without three other offensive line starters against the Texans. Left tackle Isaiah Wynn and guards Shaq Mason and Michael Onwenu are out. Mason is injured but not on IR; Wynn and Onwenu are on the team’s coronavirus list. This will leave center David Andrews as New England’s lone first-string O-lineman available Sunday in Houston.
49ers To Place George Kittle On IR
Listed as doubtful for Week 5, George Kittle is now certain to miss Trey Lance‘s starting debut and at least the following two games. The 49ers’ All-Pro tight end will head to IR, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.
Kittle is battling a calf injury, and although he played through the ailment last week, he did not practice this week. The 49ers hope Kittle will be ready to go when he is first eligible to come off IR in Week 8.
This represents a blow for the 49ers’ offense and continues both a bad injury stretch for Kittle and the team. Kittle suffered a knee sprain and a fractured foot last season, which halted the star tight end’s progress after he had strung together back-to-back Pro Bowl slates. Although it is early, Kittle has run into extensive health trouble since signing his big-ticket extension last year.
In 2018, Kittle broke the tight end receiving yardage record by breaking through with a dominant 1,377-yard campaign. The former fifth-round pick did so despite Jimmy Garoppolo missing most of that season. With Garoppolo back in the fold in 2019, Kittle played an essential role in the 49ers’ run to Super Bowl LIV by totaling 1,053 yards and five touchdowns.
After signing Jordan Reed last year, the 49ers have less experienced backups to fill in for Kittle going forward. Ross Dwelley and 2020 sixth-round pick Charlie Woerner reside as the other tight ends on San Francisco’s roster.
Bears Move David Montgomery To IR, Activate Danny Trevathan
While the Bears moved their starting running back off their active roster Saturday, they received some good defensive news. The Bears activated Danny Trevathan off IR, putting the veteran linebacker in position to make his season debut in Week 5.
Trevathan will take David Montgomery‘s roster spot. Montgomery will miss at least Chicago’s next three games, and a more extended absence is expected. The third-year Bears starting running back is not believed to be out for the season — at least, not at this juncture — but the team will need to get by with a different backfield plan.
Chicago added ex-Kansas City starter Damien Williams this offseason. He should be expected to shoulder the brunt of the running back work in Montgomery’s absence. A career backup who saw Kareem Hunt‘s abrupt Chiefs departure change his career trajectory, Williams has managed to be an impact back without a considerable workload. In two Kansas City playoff slates, Williams totaled 10 touchdowns. Yet, he has just 310 career carries despite being in his age-29 season. Williams opted out of the 2020 campaign, leading him to the Bears.
Trevathan, 31, has been with the Bears since 2016. A knee injury during training camp sidelined the 10th-year linebacker, but Trevathan returned to practice last week. His presence alongside Roquan Smith stands to strengthen Chicago’s defense, which enters Week 5 10th in points allowed.
Packers Place CB Jaire Alexander On IR
Already down their top pass rusher, the Packers will play without their top cover man for a while. Green Bay placed Jaire Alexander on IR Saturday, shelving the Pro Bowl cornerback for at least the next three games.
Alexander suffered a shoulder injury during the second half of the Packers’ Week 4 win. His absence will deal the Green Bay defense a considerable blow, especially considering Za’Darius Smith is expected to be out until at least late in the regular season.
The Packers’ plan, per HC Matt LaFleur, is for Alexander to avoid surgery at all costs, and Adam Schefter of ESPN.com hears that an official decision will be made in that regard over the next two weeks as doctors evaluate how the shoulder is healing. If surgery is required, that would likely bring an end to Alexander’s 2021 season.
While Green Bay has Preston Smith and Rashan Gary at the edge-rushing spots, the team is a bit less equipped to withstand a prolonged Alexander absence. The Packers will lean on first-round pick Eric Stokes and the recently re-signed Kevin King at corner. They explored a Stephon Gilmore trade but saw their salary cap situation intervene. The Panthers acquired the former Defensive Player of the Year instead.
The team also activated defensive lineman Tyler Lancaster from its reserve/COVID-19 list and elevated wideout Equanimeous St. Brown and guard Ben Braden from its practice squad.
Bills Extend CB Taron Johnson
The Bills have agreed to a three-year extension with Taron Johnson, per a club announcement. The deal could be worth as much as $24MM, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (on Twitter) with a healthy $14MM guaranteed. 
Johnson was previously on track for free agency in the spring, but the Bills didn’t want to let him get away. The 2018 fourth-rounder has become a key part of Buffalo’s D in recent years. In 2020, he notched 94 stops, seven passes defensed, five tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble, and an interception taken back for a touchdown. Then, in the playoffs, he notched another pick six — a 101-yarder — against the Ravens.
“Love that dude,” teammate Micah Hyde said recently (via the team website). “Man, he just does everything for our defense. You’ve got to have a nickel that’s a dog, and that’s him. He’s been showing it the last couple years. Just a great kid, a great guy, who has come a long ways. His growth mentally, on the football field, and even off, just becoming a man. It’s so cool to see a young guy like that coming along. He’s been making a lot of plays in this league for a long time.”
Johnson, 25, has already recorded five passes defensed, one FF, and one sack in three games this year. Now furnished with a new deal, he’ll turn his attention to the Chiefs on Sunday.
Bengals Activate Ricardo Allen
The Bengals have activated safety Ricardo Allen from the injured reserve list. To make room on the roster, they’ve placed guard Xavier Su’a-Filo on IR.
Allen signed with the Bengals in March. Before that, he operated as a first-string safety for the Falcons from 2015-2020, including a start in Super Bowl LI. Despite losing his 2018 season to injury, the 29-year-old was mostly healthy between ’19 and ’20. A hamstring strain coupled with a broken hand forced him to IR in September, but he’s bounced back in time for this week’s game against the Packers. In his 12 games last season, Allen registered 25 stops and a pair of interceptions.
This is familiar territory for Su’a-Filo, who missed ten regular season games last year. Injuries have limited the lineman for years now — from 2018-2020, he’s played in just 25 total contests. This time around, he’s dealing with a knee injury.
Meanwhile, the Bengals have received some good news on Joe Mixon. The running back is trending towards playing in “some capacity” against Green Bay, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero.
Titans Place LB Jayon Brown On IR
Jayon Brown has battled multiple injuries early this season, and the Titans will give the veteran linebacker at least three weeks off. Brown is now on Tennessee’s IR list.
After running into hamstring trouble earlier this season, Brown was on Tennessee’s injury report this week with a knee malady. The fifth-year veteran did not practice this week and had been ruled out of the Titans’ Week 5 game against the Jaguars.
Brown played 93% of Tennessee’s defensive snaps in Week 1 but has not cleared the 35% threshold since. He missed Week 2 with the hamstring problem. This will mark the second straight season in which Brown misses at least four games. An elbow injury sidelined him for six games to end last season.
The Titans re-signed Brown to a one-year deal worth $5.25MM, making this season critical for the former fifth-rounder’s long-term earning potential. Tennessee’s defense is coming off a brutally ineffective season, and Shane Bowen‘s unit enters Week 5 ranked 26th in points allowed. Brown’s absence will not help matters.
Additionally, the Titans placed wide receiver Racey McMath, offensive lineman Aaron Brewer and tight end Tommy Hudson on IR. The Titans promoted offensive lineman Corey Levin, defensive lineman Amani Bledsoe and linebacker Joe Jones to fill their respective roster spots.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/8/21
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Placed on IR: OL Justin Murray
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted: LB Elijah Lee
- Waived: DE Joe Jackson
Jets To Extend DL John Franklin-Myers
John Franklin-Myers has gotten off to a strong start in his fourth season, and the Jets are rewarding the veteran defensive lineman. The parties have agreed on an extension, D.J. Bien-Aime of the New York Daily News tweets. A 2018 fourth-round pick, Franklin-Myers was set to become a free agent in 2022.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport initially reported that it was a four-year, $55MM deal with $30.2MM guaranteed (via Twitter). Connor Hughes of The Athletic later tweeted more details, including Franklin-Myers’ base salaries from 2022-25 ($1.5MM, $11.4MM, $13.3MM, $14.3MM), and signing bonus ($2MM). Franklin-Myers will also get a $10MM roster bonus for the 2022 season, and he can earn $500K in per-game roster bonuses each year.
The Jets picked up Franklin-Myers via waivers ahead of the 2019 season. He represents one of Joe Douglas‘ first notable acquisitions as Jets GM. The Rams drafted Franklin-Myers out of Stephen F. Austin and used him as a backup throughout their 2018 NFC championship season. Despite Franklin-Myers sacking Tom Brady once in Super Bowl LIII, the Rams cut him prior to his second season.
A rotational player prior to 2021, Franklin-Myers has already matched his career high with three sacks this season. Pro Football Focus grades Franklin-Myers as a top-25 D-linemen through four games; his 17 hurries rank 11th thus far this season. He has helped a Jets pass rush in need after the loss of big-ticket free agent Carl Lawson. PFF graded Franklin-Myers as a top-35 edge defender in 2020, when he played 44% of New York’s defensive snaps.
Franklin-Myers participated in the Jets’ seven-sack romp against the Titans, dropping Ryan Tannehill for a sack and hitting the besieged Tennessee quarterback three times. He joins a few pieces on Gang Green’s defensive line signed beyond 2021. Quinnen Williams‘ rookie deal runs through 2022, and the Jets’ top D-lineman can be controlled on his rookie deal through 2023 via the fifth-year option. Lawson is signed through 2023, Sheldon Rankins through 2022.