Minor NFL Transactions: 12/19/21
Given the recent surge of COVID-19 cases throughout the league, we expected to see more roster churning today than we typically would on a December Sunday. Here are today’s minor (and not so minor) moves. This page will, of course, be updated throughout the day:
Baltimore Ravens
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Jimmy Smith
- Promoted: DB Mazzi Wilkins
Buffalo Bills
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: G Jon Feliciano
- Promoted: OL Jacob Capra
Cleveland Browns
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Jadeveon Clowney (story)
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: G Wyatt Teller
- Promoted: OT Alex Taylor
Philadelphia Eagles
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: RB Jason Huntley, WR Quez Watkins
Washington Football Team
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Cam Sims, DT Daniel Wise
NFL COVID List Updates
We are trying our best here at Pro Football Rumors to keep up with all of the updates throughout the league concerning players on the reserve/COVID-19 list. A lot of teams had high hopes during today’s testing as they were trying to get players activated in time for Sunday’s slate of games.
Here are updates as of 8:30 PM ET, Sat 12/18:
Baltimore Ravens
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Chris Westry, WR Sammy Watkins
Carolina Panthers
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Derrick Brown
Chicago Bears
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Eddie Goldman
- OC Bill Lazor, DC Sean Desai, STC Chris Tabor in COVID-19 protocols
Cleveland Browns
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Takkarist McKinley
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: T James Hudson
Dallas Cowboys
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Trysten Hill, DT Osa Odighizuwa
Denver Broncos
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DB P.J. Locke
Detroit Lions
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Ifeatu Melifonwu, DB Bobby Price, DB Tracy Walker
Houston Texans
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Jonathan Greenard, G Lane Taylor
Indianapolis Colts
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Zaire Franklin
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Antwaun Woods
Los Angeles Rams
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Odell Beckham Jr., RB Darrell Henderson, CB Donte Deayon, TE Brycen Hopkins, OL Alaric Jackson, OLB Justin Hollins
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: T Joseph Noteboom, CB Robert Rochell
Miami Dolphins
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Jevon Holland
Minnesota Vikings
- Four Coaches in COVID-19 protocols
New York Giants
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Xavier McKinney
New York Jets
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Folorunso Fatukasi, Practice Squad LB Noah Dawkins
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Breshad Perriman
Washington Football Team
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Jonathan Allen, DE James Smith-Williams, DE Casey Toohill, DE Montez Sweat
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/18/21
Today’s taxi squad moves:
Chicago Bears
- Signed: QB Ryan Willis
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: CB Bryan Mills
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: DB Delrick Abrams, OT Adrian Ealy, C Drake Jackson, TE Kyle Markway, C Austin Reiter, DB Damarious Randall, K Ryan Santoso, LS Carson Tinker
New York Giants
- Signed: DB Sam Beal
Washington Football Team
- Signed: DB D.J. Hayden
WFT Designates DE Montez Sweat To Return
WFT will have most of their defensive line when they take on the Eagles on Tuesday night. Washington Football Team announced that they’ve activated the following four players from the reserve/COVID-19 list:
DT Jonathan Allen- DE James Smith-Williams
- DE Montez Sweat
- DE Casey Toohill
Sweat, who is currently on injured reserve, was also designated for return, meaning his return to the field is imminent. Washington has been without Sweat since Week 8. The first-string defensive end had been recovering from a fractured jaw, and he intended to return to practice on Wednesday. A first-round Washington draftee, Sweat has registered four sacks this season and has 20 for his career. The Mississippi State product has forced two fumbles in each of his three seasons.
When fully healthy, Allen and Sweat should sit atop the depth chart. Smith-Williams and Toohill, who have both been forced into significant roles on the defensive line following injuries to Sweat and Chase Young, will be able to settle back into their backup/special teams roles.
We learned yesterday that the NFL was pushing Sunday’s WFT/Eagles game to Tuesday.
Practice Squad Updates: 12/17/21
Today’s taxi squad moves:
Chicago Bears
- Signed: DB Michael Joseph
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: CB John Brannen
- Released: P Drue Chrisman
Washington Football Team
- Placed on COVID-19 list: RB Wendell Smallwood
WFT-Eagles, Seahawks-Rams Games Expected To Be Pushed To Tuesday
Following news that the Raiders-Browns game will be postponed, it sounds like another two weekend games will be pushed back. Adam Schefter of ESPN reports (via Twitter) that the WFT-Eagles game, along with the Seahawks-Rams matchup, will likely be pushed to Tuesday. 
[Related: Raiders-Browns Moved To Monday]
Albert Breer of MMQB reports that the Washington-Philadelphia game has been moved to 7 p.m. eastern on Tuesday, December 21st.
Meanwhile, according to Jourdan Rodrique of The Athletic, the Seattle-Los Angeles game is currently planned to be played at 4 p.m. eastern time on Tuesday.
The news could have a significant impact on the injury front for the Eagles in particular. As the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane notes (on Twitter), starting quarterback Jalen Hurts was on his way to being available for the game had it been played on Sunday, so the postponement will only increase his chances of being able to suit up.
The fact that these games have been pushed back – as opposed to being cancelled outright – has financial significance for all players involved as well. As Schefter and ESPN colleague Dan Graziano point out, a forfeit by any team would have prevented the affected players from being paid for the week.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/17/21
Today’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
- Placed on Reserve/COVID-19 list: QB Andy Dalton and CB Duke Shelly
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: OL Elijah Wilkinson
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: QB Kyle Lauletta, QB Jake Dolegala (story)
Dallas Cowboys
- Activated from Reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Cedrick Wilson
Detroit Lions
- Placed on Injured Reserve: TE T.J. Hockenson
Houston Texans
- Placed on Reserve/COVID-19 list: OL Justin McCray
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed to active roster: LB Malik Jefferson
Los Angeles Rams
- Placed on Reserve/COVID-19 list: G Jamil Demby, DB Grant Haley, TE Tyler Higbee, LB Justin Lawler
New Orleans Saints
- Activated from Reserve/COVID-19 List: RB Mark Ingram
New York Giants
- Promoted: DT David Moa
Washington Football Team
- Signed: QB Garrett Gilbert (story)
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DL Daniel Wise
WFT To Sign QB Garrett Gilbert
The hits just keep on comin’. One day after placing Kyle Allen on the COVID-19 list, the Washington Football Team has done the same with quarterback Taylor Heinicke, per a club announcement. In desperate need of a signal caller, Washington has signed Garrett Gilbert to potentially start on Sunday against the Eagles. 
[RELATED: NFL Updates COVID-19 Protocols]
The NFL’s revised protocols could conceivably allow Heinicke and Allen to dress this week. But, with a little over 48 hours between now and kickoff, Washington had to act fast. Enter Gilbert, a 30-year-old journeyman with just seven pro appearances on his resume.
Gilbert’s lone start came with the Cowboys last year, a Week 9 loss to the Steelers. That too was a desperation move. Dak Prescott was injured, Andy Dalton was parked on the COVID-19 list, and youngster Ben DiNucci was coming off of a rough performance in Week 8. Gilbert finished the game 21-of-38 for 243 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
At 6-7, Washington still has a path to the playoffs. Their fate may rest in the hands of Gilbert or one of their practice squad QBs, either Kyle Shurmur or Jordan Ta’amu.
WFT Signs Akeem Spence
The Washington Football Team has signed defensive tackle Akeem Spence, per a club announcement. Meanwhile, they’ve also placed safety Kam Curl, center Keith Ismael, and center Tyler Larsen on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. 
Washington now has 21 players on the COVID-19 list, which could leave them severely shorthanded this Sunday against the Eagles:
- DT Jon Allen
- QB Kyle Allen
- CB Troy Apke
- DE William Bradley-King (practice squad)
- S Kam Curl
- LB Milo Eifler
- S Darrick Forrest
- CB Kendall Fuller
- TE Temarrick Hemingway (practice squad)
- LB Khaleke Hudson (also on IR)
- DT Matt Ioannidis
- C Keith Ismael
- C Tyler Larsen
- T Cornelius Lucas
- LB David Mayo
- TE Sammis Reyes
- DT Tim Settle
- WR Cam Sims
- DE James Smith-Williams
- DE Montez Sweat (also on IR)
- DE Casey Toohill
With that, it seems likely that Spence will see some playing time this week. If he does, it’ll mark the veteran’s first action of 2021. To date, he has 10.5 sacks and 204 total tackles across eight seasons in the league.
Updated 2022 NFL Draft Order
The Chiefs (9-4) and Chargers (8-5) are getting set to kick off Week 15 in a matchup that could decide the AFC West crown. Meanwhile, more than one-quarter of the NFL’s teams have either been mathematically or effectively eliminated from playoff contention.
For non-playoff teams, the draft order will be determined by the inverted 2021 standings, plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule. For playoff teams, the order is determined by their postseason outcome and regular season record. (Ex: Washington would own the No. 19 pick if they were eliminated in the Wild Card round with the worst record of the group.)
With that in mind, here’s a look at the currently projected 2022 NFL Draft Order:
1. Detroit Lions (1-11-1)
2. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-11)
3. Houston Texans (2-11)
4. New York Jets (3-10)
5. New York Giants (via Bears)
6. New York Giants (4-9)
7. New York Jets (via Seahawks)
8. Carolina Panthers (5-8)
9. Atlanta Falcons (6-7)
10. Philadelphia Eagles (via Dolphins)
11. Philadelphia Eagles (6-7)
12. Minnesota Vikings (6-7)
13. New Orleans Saints (6-7)
14. Las Vegas Raiders (6-7)
15. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6-1)
16. Denver Broncos (7-6)
17. Cincinnati Bengals (7-6)
18. Cleveland Browns (7-6)
19. Washington Football Team (6-7)*
20. Buffalo Bills (7-6)*
21. Philadelphia Eagles (via Colts)*
22. Miami Dolphins (via 49ers)*
23. Los Angeles Chargers (8-5)*
24. Detroit Lions (via Rams)*
25. Baltimore Ravens (8-5)*
26. Dallas Cowboys (9-4)*
27. Kansas City Chiefs (9-4)*
28. Arizona Cardinals (10-3)*
29. Tennessee Titans (9-4)*
30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-3)*
31. New England Patriots (9-4)*
32. Green Bay Packers (10-3)*
* = Playoffs
