NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/20/22
Today’s taxi squad moves:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: OL Xavier Su’a-Filo (related story)
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: DE Joe Jackson
Packers Activate Randall Cobb From IR
Randall Cobb is back on the Packers’ active roster. Green Bay used the full three-week ramp-up period to prepare its slot receiver for the playoffs, and Cobb is officially off IR.
The 11th-year veteran suffered a core muscle injury suffered while catching a touchdown pass against the Rams in November. The injury required surgery, but Cobb made a quicker-than-expected return to practice. After coming back to practice Dec. 30, Cobb is on track to play against the 49ers on Saturday.
While Cobb has played many playoff games as a Packer, has not suited up for a postseason contest since the 2016 NFC championship game. The Packers let Cobb walk in free agency after the 2018 season, and after one-year stints with the Cowboys and Texans, he returned to Green Bay via late-summer trade at Aaron Rodgers‘ request.
Cobb, 31, proved a key weapon in certain spots for Rodgers this season. During a Week 8 win over the then-unbeaten Cardinals, a game that featured Green Bay’s top wideouts shelved on the reserve/COVID-19 list, he caught two touchdown passes. Cobb also caught two TD passes against the Steelers earlier this year. The Rams TD catch was his fifth, but it ended up costing him extensive time. Cobb ended the regular season with 28 receptions for 375 yards and five TDs, amassing these totals in 12 games.
The Pack are expected to have a host of injured players back when they return to action. David Bakhtiari played against the Lions in a meaningless Week 18 game, and fellow Pro Bowlers Jaire Alexander and Za’Darius Smith have joined Cobb in ramping up for the playoffs. Center Josh Myers also played against the Lions, after a two-plus-month absence, and right tackle Billy Turner returned to practice last week. Marquez Valdes-Scantling, however, is not expected to play against San Francisco. A back injury has the veteran deep threat doubtful.
Chiefs Sign CB Damon Arnette To Reserve/Futures Deal
The Chiefs are giving another former first-round cornerback a second chance. They are signing Damon Arnette to a reserve/futures contract, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.
This does not impact Kansas City’s playoff roster, but it does give the Chiefs yet another corner recently drafted in the first round. The former Raiders Round 1 pick will head to Kansas City after a brief stint on Miami’s practice squad. The Raiders cut Arnette earlier this year after a video surfaced showing him threatening a person while brandishing a handgun.
The Chiefs acquired former Vikings first-round corner Mike Hughes via trade last year and also have former Giants first-round cover man Deandre Baker on their playoff roster. Kansas City signed Baker not long after an off-field incident led to his New York ouster. Hughes is due for unrestricted free agency after this season; Baker can be controlled next season via exclusive-rights free agent tender.
Andy Reid‘s team has not shied away from players with checkered pasts, and the six-time reigning AFC West champions have benefited considerably from the acquisitions of Tyreek Hill and Frank Clark. While Arnette entered the NFL with a higher profile than each, being chosen 19th overall in 2020, he was headed in the wrong direction with the Raiders.
The Raiders used Arnette as a seven-game starter in 2020 but relegated him to a part-time role this year. The Ohio State product played four games with this year’s Las Vegas squad but was cut shortly after the Raiders parted ways with their other 2020 first-rounder — Henry Ruggs. Arnette is also facing multiple lawsuits, one for a car accident that resulted in injuries.
Chiefs Add DT Andrew Billings, OT Roderick Johnson To Practice Squad
The Chiefs have added a pair of veterans to their practice squad. The team signed defensive tackle Andrew Billings and offensive tackle Roderick Johnson to their taxi squad, per ESPN’s Field Yates (on Twitter). Running back Elijah McGuire was released from the practice squad.
Billings was a fourth-round pick by the Bengals in 2016. He started 30 of his 32 games between the 2018 and 2019 seasons, collecting a total of 3.5 sacks, 12 tackles for loss, and 11 QB hits. The defensive tackle joined the Browns during the 2020 offseason, but he chose to opt out of the subsequent season. Billings ended up seeing time in only six games for Cleveland in 2021, collecting a single tackle. He was ultimately waived by the organization before catching on with the Dolphins practice squad.
Johnson, a fifth-round pick by the Browns in 2017, spent the majority of his career in Houston. After getting into only one game through his first two years in the NFL, the lineman saw a larger role in both 2019 and 2020. Johnson got into 28 games (with six starts) through those two seasons, including a 2020 campaign where he appeared in 245 offensive snaps. Johnson spent the entire 2021 campaign with the Dolphins organization.
McGuire has spent the past year-plus with the Chiefs organization, but he didn’t make a regular-season appearance for Kansas City. The former sixth-round pick got into 24 games for the Jets between 2017 and 2018.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/19/22
We’ll keep track of Wednesday’s reserve/futures deals here:
Arizona Cardinals
- WR Andre Baccellia, CB Breon Borders, CB Nate Brooks, DE Matt Dickerson, TE Alex Ellis, S Javon Hagan, OL Danny Isidora, OL Koda Martin, RB Jaylen Samuels, TE Bernhard Seikovits, OL Eric Smith, LB Joe Walker, TE David Wells, CB Jace Whittaker, TE Deon Yelder
Chicago Bears
- CB Lamar Jackson
Cleveland Browns
- RB John Kelly Jr.
Las Vegas Raiders
- OT William Sweet, WR Javon Wims
New York Jets
- DL Bradlee Anae
Pittsburgh Steelers
- DB Isaiah Johnson, WR Steven Sims
Seattle Seahawks
Washington Football Team
- CB D.J. Hayden
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/19/22
Today’s minor moves:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: DT Zach Kerr
Green Bay Packers
- Waived: DL Kingsley Keke
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: LS Christian Kuntz
NFL Reserve/COVID-19 List Updates: 1/18/22
Here are Tuesday’s reserve/COVID-19 list additions and subtractions:
Buffalo Bills
- Placed on practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: DL Eli Ankou
Green Bay Packers
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: OL Lucas Patrick
San Francisco 49ers
- Activated from practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: FB Josh Hokit
Bengals Cut G Xavier Su’a-Filo
Xavier Su’a-Filo began the season as a Bengals starting guard but spent most of the year on IR. A day after activating him from their injured list, the Bengals cut the veteran offensive lineman.
Though the Bengals could end up bringing Su’a-Filo back, perhaps via a practice squad agreement, the former second-round pick is off the roster after being signed in 2020 to start.
The former Texans second-round pick signed a two-year, $9MM deal with the Bengals. Injuries, however, have plagued the UCLA alum. Su’a-Filo missed the Bengals’ final 15 regular-season games due to a knee injury, one that also kept him out of the team’s wild-card game. In 2020, Su’a-Filo missed 10 games after opening the year as a starter. A career 41-game starter, the 31-year-old lineman has started seven games over the past two seasons in Cincy.
The Bengals have moved to 2020 sixth-round pick Hakeem Adeniji as their guard starter opposite Quinton Spain. Adeniji has started over second-round rookie Jackson Carman, who was given the first crack at replacing Su’a-Filo this season.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/18/22
Here are Tuesday’s reserve/futures deals:
Baltimore Ravens
- RB Nate McCrary
Detroit Lions
Las Vegas Raiders
Los Angeles Chargers
- WR Joe Reed
New England Patriots
New Orleans Saints
Philadelphia Eagles
- G/T Kayode Awosika, WR Deon Cain, LB Christian Elliss, CB Craig James, DE Matt Leo, DE Cameron Malveaux, S Jared Mayden, CB Mac McCain, LB JaCoby Stevens, TE Noah Togiai, DT Marvin Wilson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- DE Daniel Archibong, WR Rico Bussey, DT Khalil Davis, G Nathan Gilliam, G Malcolm Pridgeon, LB Deiontae Scott, K Sam Sloman, DB Linden Stephens, TE Jace Sternberger, S Donovan Stiner, LS Rex Sunahara, WR Tyler Vaughns
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/18/22
Today’s taxi squad moves:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: DT Doug Costin
- Released: P Drue Chrisman, LS Colin Holba
Kansas City Chiefs
- Released: DE Shilique Calhoun, TE Nakia Griffin-Stewart, CB Josh Jackson, LB Elijah Sullivan
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: WR Warren Jackson, TE Kyle Markway
- Released: K Ryan Santoso, LS Carson Tinker
San Francisco 49ers
- Released: CB Luq Barcoo, P Ryan Winslow
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: WR Justin Watson
- Released: P Sterling Hofrichter, DB Blidi Wreh-Wilson