NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/9/21
Today’s practice squad changes:
Detroit Lions
- Released: WR Javon McKinley
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: LB Christian Elliss
- Released: G Ross Pierschbacher
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/9/21
Here are Thursday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released from IR via injury settlement: CB Darqueze Dennard (story)
Atlanta Falcons
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Parker Hesse
Baltimore Ravens
- Reverted to IR: RB Justice Hill (story)
Dallas Cowboys
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Jeremy Sprinkle, S Darian Thompson
New York Giants
- Released from IR via injury settlement: OL Ted Larsen
Philadelphia Eagles
- Released from IR via injury settlement: DB Blake Countess
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted from practice squad: S Andrew Adams, WR Jaydon Mickens
Tennessee Titans
- Waived: OL Cole Banwart
Steelers, T.J. Watt Agree On Record-Setting Extension
The NFL has a new highest-paid defensive player. Days away from Week 1, the Steelers and T.J. Watt ended their impasse. Watt agreed to terms on a four-year deal worth more than $112MM, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
Watt will receive $80MM fully guaranteed on a contract that averages more than $28MM annually, Rapoport adds, taking the younger Watt superstar past Joey Bosa among defenders. This certainly looks like a big win for the All-Pro Steelers edge rusher, after he and the Steelers haggled over guarantees at the 11th hour.
Watt’s fully guaranteed figure also tops Bosa’s $78MM on a deal that saw the Steelers break their precedent of not including guaranteed money beyond the first year of extensions. This will bring the two-time All-Pro defender back into the fold ahead of his fifth season. Watt’s pact also surpasses Ben Roethlisberger‘s for guaranteed money in Steelers history; Big Ben’s 2015 extension included $60.75MM guaranteed at signing. Roethlisberger spent this week lobbying for the team to get a Watt deal done, whatever the cost.
The accomplished outside linebacker resumed practicing in full this week, after he went to the increasingly popular hold-in measure during training camp. While Watt only partially went through with a hold-in, participating in non-team portions during preseason workouts, the Steelers have put this matter to rest by rewarding a homegrown talent.
This will be Watt’s age-27 season. Thursday’s agreement prevents a 2022 franchise tag and will tie him to the Steelers through the 2025 campaign. Pittsburgh prefers to finalize its extensions ahead of the regular season. The team deviating from its usual guarantee structure will surely be of interest to Minkah Fitzpatrick, who will be on track for a market-setting extension next year.
Although Watt led the NFL with 15 sacks last season, his 61 quarterback hits placed him well apart from everyone else. No other player compiled more than 45 (Bosa) in 2020. Watt’s 2017 arrival has coincided with the Steelers leading the NFL in sacks in each of the past four seasons. On a Pittsburgh team that lost a few key starters — including longtime outside linebacker starter Bud Dupree — in free agency, Watt will be counted on to reprise his dominant form.
Texans Trade Bradley Roby To Saints
The Texans are trading cornerback Bradley Roby to the Saints (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). The Texans will receive a 2022 third-round pick and a conditional 2023 choice in the swap (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com). Meanwhile, as reported on Thursday morning, the Texans will cover $7MM of Roby’s salary this season while the Saints pay the remaining ~$1.8MM.
Roby was hit with a six-game suspension in December for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs. He’s already served five of those games, so he’ll be eligible to play for the Saints in Week 2 when they take on the Panthers.
In ten games (all starts), Roby notched 37 tackles, one interception, a fumble recovery, and seven passes defended. Even though he was briefly deactivated in November, the veteran stood as the Texans’ best corner.
Now, the 29-year-old will jump into a Saints secondary that badly needs reinforcements. Between Roby and newcomer Desmond Trufant, the Saints are in a much better position that they were just last week. Together, they’ll team up with Marshon Lattimore, Ken Crawley, and Paulson Adebo. Meanwhile, free safety P.J. Williams should be able to stick to his natural position.
The Saints will assume the rest of Roby’s three-year, $31.5MM deal, keeping him under club control through 2022. The Texans, meanwhile, will move forward with Terrance Mitchell and Desmond King II as their top corners.
Vikings’ Stephen Weatherly Takes Pay Cut
Stephen Weatherly took a pay cut in order to stick with the Vikings (Twitter link via Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press). Instead of earning $2.5MM, the defensive end will make $2MM in 2020. On the plus side, that sum is now fully guaranteed since he is a vested veteran.
The Vikings considered cutting Weatherly after he lost his first-string spot to D.J. Wonnum. That would have left the club with $500K in dead money, so this was a much more logical compromise.
The 27-year-old started his career in Minnesota and came back to where it all began in March. He started out as a seventh-round pick in 2016 and went on to record six sacks between 2018 and ’19 for the Vikings. Last year, he moved on to the Panthers and began the year as a starter. Then, when finger injury derailed his season, second-rounder Yetur Gross-Matos stepped into his role.
Weatherly recorded zero sacks in Carolina, so he’ll aim for a more productive 2021. It all starts on Sunday when the Vikings face the Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium.
Falcons Place CB Kendall Sheffield On IR
Kendall Sheffield is heading to the IR. The Falcons placed the cornerback on injured reserve today, according to Aaron Wilson (via Twitter).
Sheffield was a fourth-round pick by Atlanta in 2019, and he proceeded to start 20 of his 29 games through his first two seasons in the NFL. That included a 2020 campaign where the defensive back compiled 51 tackles, one forced fumble, and three passes defended in 13 games (nine starts).
The 25-year-old had been dealing with an undisclosed injury for weeks, and he finished the preseason without getting a snap. Now, he’ll be sidelined for at least the next three weeks, but it’s uncertain if he’ll have his starting gig when he returns. AJ Terrell, Fabian Moreau, and Isaiah Oliver are currently expected to lead the depth chart at cornerback.
With Sheffield sidelined, Chris Williamson could be an option to get promoted from the practice squad.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/8/21
We’ve compiled today’s minor NFL transactions below:
Atlanta Falcons
- Released from IR with injury settlement: P Dom Maggio
Buffalo Bills
- Released from IR with injury settlement: DT Treyvon Hester
Los Angeles Chargers
- Released from IR with injury settlement: LS Cole Mazza
Tennessee Titans
- Activated from Reserve/COVID-19 list: G Nate Davis, C Ben Jones
Ravens Sign RB Trenton Cannon, Waive RB Justice Hill
Following a season-ending Achilles tear, Justice Hill will be available on the waiver wire. The Ravens waived the third-year running back with an injury designation Wednesday.
While Hill is technically on the wire, he is expected to stay with the Ravens. The former fourth-round pick would revert to Baltimore’s injured reserve if unclaimed. This development is often a precursor to an injury settlement taking place, removing the player from IR, but it sounds like the Ravens are preparing to carry Hill on their injured list this season. Two years remain on Hill’s rookie deal.
Baltimore moved Hill off its roster and added another back in his place. Trenton Cannon agreed to terms with the Ravens and is now on the team’s active roster. The Panthers waived Cannon last week, having claimed Royce Freeman — a player the Ravens attempted to claim. Baltimore’s active-roster running back contingent now consists of Gus Edwards, Ty’Son Williams and Cannon.
A sixth-round Jets pick in 2018, Cannon wound up with the Panthers last year and contributed mostly as a kick returner. Cannon also played 40% of the Panthers’ special teams snaps last season. Despite Christian McCaffrey‘s injury, Cannon took just 10 handoffs in 14 games with Carolina. He logged 38 carries as a Jets rookie.
The Cannon move comes a day after the Ravens added Le’Veon Bell to their practice squad. Bell makes more sense as a Baltimore backfield contributor this season, with Hill and J.K. Dobbins out, but Cannon as of now occupies the team’s No. 3 tailback slot.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/8/21
Here are Wednesday’s practice squad moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: DT Reginald McKenzie
- Released: S Jordan Richards
Houston Texans
- Released: LB Hardy Nickerson
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: LB Nate Gerry
- Released: OL Corbin Kaufusi
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: TE DeShon Williams
Texans Place K Ka’imi Fairbairn On IR
The Texans’ Joey Slye insurance addition will end up being necessary immediately. Ka’imi Fairbairn will land on IR to start the season, Sports Talk 790’s Aaron Wilson tweets.
A pulled groin will sideline Fairbairn for at least three weeks, putting Slye in position to begin the season as Houston’s kicker. The Texans worked out the former Panthers specialist Tuesday and signed him to their practice squad.
These will be Fairbairn’s first missed games since he began his Texans tenure in 2017. The Hawaii alum has been one of the NFL’s better kickers over the past four seasons, and his performance led Houston to greenlight an extension in 2020. Fairbairn, 27, has made at least 80% of his field goal tries in each of his four NFL seasons. Fairbairn, who is set to earn a $3.45MM base salary this season, is signed through 2023.
Slye cleared the 80% barrier as a rookie, barley, and would have done so last season. But the Panthers trotted him out for 65- and 67-yard attempts during games against the Saints and Chiefs, respectively. Carolina cut Slye last month, turning to trade acquisition Ryan Santoso. But Slye will land on his feet to start the season.