Rams To Promote Eric Weddle
Eric Weddle‘s return to NFL practices this week evidently did not produce a letdown. The recently unretired safety is set to come off the Rams’ practice squad and play against the Cardinals, Lindsey Thiry of ESPN.com tweets.
This will be Weddle’s first game action since the 2019 regular-season finale. Suddenly thin at safety, the Rams lured Weddle out of retirement earlier this week. Both starters are out for Monday’s game, with Sean McVay adding that Taylor Rapp will not play against Arizona. The Rams placed Jordan Fuller on IR earlier this week.
Fuller will undergo season-ending ankle surgery, and Rapp will not clear concussion protocol in time to play in Los Angeles’ wild-card matchup. Third-year man Nick Scott has played the third-most snaps at safety for the Rams this season, with practice squad cog Sharrod Neasman having also played more than 200 snaps.
A 13-year veteran, Weddle turned 37 last week. While Weddle was durable during the first leg of his career, having missed just three games from 2010-19, this obviously will be an interesting experiment the Rams are conducting. Weddle made the Pro Bowl in each of his three Ravens campaigns, from 2016-18, and was a 16-game starter for the Rams the following year. It is uncertain if the Rams will count on Weddle to return as a starter, but he will suit up in this unusual circumstance.
Steelers Activate JuJu Smith-Schuster
JuJu Smith-Schuster‘s season will, in fact, resume. Despite suffering what was deemed a season-ending shoulder injury in October, the veteran slot receive is expected to play Sunday night in Kansas City, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
The Steelers activated Smith-Schuster off IR on Saturday, clearing the way for his first action since Week 5. Smith-Schuster, who underwent shoulder surgery nearly three months ago, returned to practice this week and has not experienced any issues. While the Steelers are double-digit underdogs in this matchup, having their full assortment of receivers back in uniform will help the visitors’ cause.
Combining for over 2,000 yards, Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool have served as Ben Roethlisberger‘s top weapons this season. JuJu did post a 52-yard receiving performance in the team’s Week 1 upset win over the Bills, but he did not contribute as much to a slumping offense in his four ensuing games. Still, the veteran has a Pro Bowl under his belt — from his 1,426-yard 2018 season — and provided a key assist during Big Ben’s 2020 comeback season (831 yards, career-high nine touchdown receptions). Smith-Schuster, 25, will be playing to boost his free agency stock ahead of another bid.
Smith-Schuster discussed deals with the Chiefs and Ravens this past offseason but opted to stay with the Steelers for familiarity purposes, signing a one-year deal worth $8MM. This injury likely will affect the fifth-year wideout’s 2022 market to some degree, but the USC alum displaying full health in Sunday’s game would stand to help him in his second free agency bid.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/14/22
NFL COVID-19 List Updates: 1/14/22
Here are today’s COVID-19 updates from the NFL:
Kansas City Chiefs
- Activated from Practice Squad Reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Josh Jackson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Placed on Reserve/COVID-19 list: CB James Pierre
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/14/22
Here are Friday’s taxi squad moves:
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: RB Darwin Thompson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: K Sam Sloman
- Released: WR Tyler Vaughns
Steelers Designate JuJu Smith-Schuster For Return
Out since Week 5 with a shoulder injury, JuJu Smith-Schuster is now back at Steelers practice ahead of their playoff opener. The Steelers designated the fifth-year wideout to return from IR on Thursday.
With Smith-Schuster’s shoulder issue deemed season-ending three months ago, this is certainly an interesting development. A practice return does not necessarily mean he will play against the Chiefs; Mike Tomlin was noncommittal on that subject. JuJu coming back would obviously help the Steelers as big underdogs in Round 1.
Smith-Schuster is believed to be healthy, per Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (on Twitter). However, the Steelers are not yet banking on him to be back for Sunday night’s game. JuJu has not experienced any issues in two practices this week, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (video link), pointing to an activation ahead of Saturday’s deadline.
Smith-Schuster passed on offers to sign with the Chiefs and Ravens last year, preferring his familiar Steelers setup as an avenue to a potentially more lucrative free agency payday. This injury did not help Smith-Schuster’s quest for a better market in 2022, when the cap spike should help many UFAs cash in after last year’s COVID-19-induced cap reduction. Interest should still come JuJu’s way in March, but the former second-rounder’s stock has dipped since his 1,426-yard season alongside Antonio Brown in 2018.
Amid Ben Roethlisberger‘s decline, the Steelers rank 15th in passing. Diontae Johnson notched his first 1,000-yard season, while Chase Claypool ended the regular season with 860 receiving yards. Pat Freiermuth has become a key target as a rookie. Those three are signed beyond this season. James Washington, whom the Steelers activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday, joins Smith-Schuster as a free agent-to-be.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/14/22
Here are Friday’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Promoted: DT Eli Ankou, LB Joe Giles-Harris
Cincinnati Bengals
- Promoted: DT Mike Daniels, WR Trent Taylor
Dallas Cowboys
- Placed on IR: S Israel Mukuamu
Las Vegas Raiders
- Promoted: G Lester Cotton, DT Damion Square
New England Patriots
- DB De’Vante Bausby, DT Daniel Ekuale, DB D’Angelo Ross, WR Kristian Wilkerson
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/13/22
Here are Thursday’s minor moves:
Green Bay Packers
- Designated for return: DE Whitney Mercilus
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Designated for return: WR JuJu Smith-Schuster
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/13/22
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Joe Walker
- Released: LB Tahir Whitehead
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: WR John Brown
- Released: RB Darwin Thompson
NFL COVID-19 List Updates: 1/13/22
Today’s updates for the reserve/COVID-19 and practice squad/COVID-19 lists:
Chicago Bears
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: QB Justin Fields
Cleveland Browns
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Malcolm Smith, CB Denzel Ward
- Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: DE Joe Jackson
Dallas Cowboys
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: S Jayron Kearse
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: QB C.J. Beathard
New Orleans Saints
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: T Caleb Benenoch
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: WR James Washington
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Buddy Johnson
Washington Football Team
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Jordan Kunaszyk