Today’s minor transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
Atlanta Falcons
Cleveland Browns
Houston Texans
Today’s reserve/futures deals:
Kansas City Chiefs
New York Jets
Philadelphia Eagles
Seattle Seahawks
Tennessee Titans
Washington Football Team
Here is the latest from the GM/head coach carousels. Five GM vacancies and seven HC openings remain as of Wednesday afternoon.
The Browns will have more of their regulars in uniform Sunday in Kansas City than they did in Pittsburgh last week. They activated cornerbacks Denzel Ward and Kevin Johnson off their reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday.
Both players missed the past two games after testing positive for the coronavirus. NFL protocols would have permitted Ward to return last week, but he did not clear the necessary hurdles to return. The Browns beat the Steelers anyway, though Pittsburgh’s wide receivers enjoyed big days in Week 17 and in the teams’ opening-round matchup. The Chiefs are quite talented at this position as well.
An offseason addition, Johnson has operated as a part-time starter for the Browns. Ward has been the team’s No. 1 corner essentially since arriving in Cleveland in 2018. The Browns hope to have Joel Bitonio and wideout KhaDarel Hodge against the Chiefs as well.
Browns offensive line coach Bill Callahan also returned to practice Wednesday. The veteran NFL staffer experienced COVID symptoms, according to Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com, who adds Kevin Stefanski has encountered symptoms as well. However, Stefanski is expected to coach against the Chiefs. Wideouts coach Chad O’Shea was also symptomatic, per Cabot, but he is also back at practice. Assistant O-line coach Scott Peters, tight ends coach Drew Petzing and DBs coach Jeff Howard remain out due to COVID.
Here are the latest practice squad moves from around the league:
Baltimore Ravens
Cleveland Browns
Kansas City Chiefs
New Orleans Saints
The Eagles have interviewed Panthers offensive coordinator Joe Brady for their head coaching job, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Brady has interviewed for nearly every opening this circuit and could be on the verge of his first HC gig.
[RELATED: 2021 NFL Head Coaching Search Tracker]
The Falcons, Texans, Chargers, and Jets have also chatted with the 31-year-old rising star. Brady made a name for himself in 2019 when he served as LSU’s passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach, guiding Joe Burrows and Justin Jefferson to a record-breaking offensive campaign. In January of 2020, the Panthers called him up to the pros.
Brady’s Panthers offense did not impress, but that was largely due to injuries. Despite Teddy Bridgewater’s struggles and Christian McCaffrey’s injuries, the Panthers still got 1,000+ yards out of D.J. Moore, Robby Anderson, Curtis Samuel, and Mike Davis. The Birds, who are revamping their offense around Jalen Hurts, could ask Brady to lead the way.
Here’s a look at the Eagles’ other candidates, via PFR’s tracker:
The Broncos found their new GM. Vikings exec George Paton is finalizing a six-year deal with Denver, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link). 
Paton has rebuffed interview opportunities and job offers for years, citing his love of living in Minnesota. This time around, the Broncos’ offer was too good to pass up. Just recently, Paton seemed to be on the verge of becoming the Browns’ next GM, but he ultimately backed out. The Jets also made a strong push to hire him before Paton said no.
There were other interesting candidates in the mix, including Bears exec Champ Kelly, who has history with the Broncos. Still, Paton was their top target. Under the new structure, Paton and head coach Vic Fangio will report to John Elway, who will have less to do with the team’s day-to-day roster decisions. Elway was responsible for luring Peyton Manning to the team and helping to build a championship-caliber defense. But, things went downhill after Super Bowl 50. With Paton in charge, the Broncos believe they can work their way back to the top.
Saints exec Terry Fontenot and Broncos director of college scouting Brian Stark were also up for the job. Patriots assistant player personnel director Dave Ziegler was in the mix too, but ultimately backed out.
The Chargers are exploring Urban Meyer as a candidate, according to sources who spoke with Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). Meyer has been non-committal in talks with the Jaguars, and that’s partially due to the Bolts’ interest. 
Meyer hasn’t had a formal interview with the Chargers yet, but that conversation could be just around the corner. So far, the Chargers’ search has been mostly focused on candidates with NFL experience, as shown in PFR’s 2021 Head Coaching Search Tracker:
The Jaguars have the No. 1 overall pick, but the Chargers may be a more attractive destination for Meyer. They already have a promising young quarterback in Justin Herbert, plus a ton of talent on the other side of the ball. In L.A., Meyer could have safety Derwin James, defensive tackle Linval Joseph, cornerbacks Casey Hayward and Chris Harris, and edge rushers Melvin Ingram and Joey Bosa at edge rusher.
The Eagles are expected to interview Patriots inside linebackers coach Jerod Mayo for their head coaching vacancy, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Mayo has only been coaching for a short while, but he’s been a fast riser over the last couple of years.
[RELATED: Latest On Eagles, Robert Saleh]
Known in New England as “Jerod Belichick,” Mayo has guided the Pats to the least points allowed in the NFL over the last two seasons. He’ll be the fourth candidate interviewed — Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, and Bucs defensive coordinator Todd Bowles are also set to meet with the Birds. Soon, University of Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley could join that list.
Mayo may lack experience, but he comes with the endorsement of prominent Patriots figures.
“The same stuff [Mayo] carried when he was a player, he’s definitely still got it,” said Patriots ILB Dont’a Hightower in 2019 (via Jeff Howe of The Athletic). “He’s a hell of a coach. Honestly, I wouldn’t expect anything less. He’s got so much knowledge and so much wisdom that he brings – not just as a football player. He’s definitely done it. He’s seen it. He’s played it. The reputation that he has, he’s an all-pro, so it’s great to have a linebacker coach who has been through so much and can relate to a lot.”
The Jaguars are said to be infatuated with Urban Meyer. Those feelings aren’t exactly being reciprocated. Though Meyer is interested in the Jags, he is still on the fence about coaching in 2020 and making the leap to the pros, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
The Jaguars have also met with Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bienemy, Falcons interim head coach Raheem Morris, Titans offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, and 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. Meyer — likely pricier than your average college coach — would make the biggest splash of the bunch. The Jaguars also had interest in Ryan Day, Ohio State’s current head coach, but he’s not ready to turn pro.
For Meyer, the Jaguars would represent a brand new challenge and an opportunity to coach this year’s No. 1 overall pick. Still, it would mean less time with his family, and there may also be health considerations involved.
Rapoport hears that some folks in the Jaguars’ front office are growing frustrated with Meyer’s indecisiveness. The former UF and Ohio State coach has flirted with the NFL in the past, only to rebuff inquiries. This time around, Meyer’s camp was proactive in generating buzz and scaring up opportunities. Yet, Meyer still isn’t sure about what he wants to do.