Tonight’s practice squad moves:
Houston Texans
Los Angeles Chargers
New York Giants
Today’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
Detroit Lions
New York Giants
New York Jets
San Francisco 49ers
Christian McCaffrey won’t be active for tonight’s showdown with the Jets. The team has announced that the star running back is inactive with his Achilles/calf issues. Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group was first to report the news.
McCaffrey was listed as questionable heading into the contest after being limited in practice with his leg issue. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo notes that the running back was optimistic that he’d be on the field for Monday Night Football, but McCaffrey tested his calf earlier today and determined that it “didn’t feel right.” Both the player and the team opted to take things slow with the hope that the running back will soon recover.
Injuries were a theme during McCaffrey’s final seasons in Carolina, but the running back has stayed relatively healthy over the past year-plus. The veteran has been active for all but one of the 49ers’ 34 games (including playoffs) since he joined the organization.
With McCaffrey out of the lineup, the 49ers will likely turn to Jordan Mason as their starting RB against the Jets. The former UDFA earned the RB2 role after Elijah Mitchell landed on IR, and Mason will now be in line for his first NFL start. The Georgia Tech product has appeared in 33 games with the 49ers over the past two seasons, collecting 495 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns.
Mason’s promotion to RB1 will also impact the rest of the depth chart. Patrick Taylor Jr. and fourth-round rookie Isaac Guerendo will be competing for any leftover RB snaps tonight. Guerendo is also expected to return kicks for the 49ers, per Matt Barrows of The Athletic. Deebo Samuel could also get some looks in the running game after averaging 46 rushing attempts per season between 2021 and 2023.
Kadarius Toney has found his next NFL gig. The wideout has landed with the Browns, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. It’s a practice squad deal for Toney.
The receiver was cut by the Chiefs at the end of the preseason, ending an underwhelming one-plus year stint with the organization. Over the past week, he worked out with both the Seahawks and the Browns, and Week 1 developments may have convinced him to sign with Cleveland.
Per Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz, the Browns wanted to add another pass-catcher after losing tight end David Njoku to a potential high ankle sprain. Rapoport hints that Toney might not earn a promotion for Week 2, but it shouldn’t take long until he finds himself on the field for the Browns.
The former first-round pick has shown brief flashes through his first three years in the NFL, but there’s also a good reason why he’s settling for taxi squad deals. Toney had 39 receptions as a rookie with the Giants, but that number slipped to 16 catches while splitting the 2022 campaign between New York and Kansas City. There was some hope after he hauled in seven catches during the Chiefs’ 2022 Super Bowl run, and he somewhat rebounded with 27 receptions in 2023. Still, that wasn’t enough to keep his gig with the Chiefs.
There are already plenty of offensive concerns in Cleveland after Deshaun Watson‘s miserable Week 1 performance. Things won’t get any easier with Njoku out of the lineup, and Toney’s addition won’t do much to turn around the team’s outlook. The team’s current WR depth chart is headlined by Amari Cooper, Jerry Jeudy, and Elijah Moore, with the likes of Jaelon Darden, 2023 third-round pick Cedric Tillman, and fifth-round rookie Jamari Thrash rounding out the receivers room. The Browns are also rostering additional WRs on the practice squad, including Michael Woods II, Lideatrick Griffin, James Proche, and David Bell.
Tampa Bay’s secondary will without its highest-paid member for the time being. Safety Antoine Winfield Jr. is dealing with an ankle and foot sprain suffered on Sunday, veteran insider Jordan Schultz reports. 
Winfield is set to miss a “couple weeks” as a result of the ailment, Schultz adds. Tampa’s cornerback depth was tested in Week 1, and Bryce Hall is likely out for the season. Missing Winfield for any period of time would deal a more notable blow to the Buccaneers’ defense, of course. Fox Sports’ Greg Auman notes Winfield’s timeline may actually be in the three-to-four week range.
The 26-year-old was a full-time starter throughout his first four seasons with Tampa. In 2023, he set career highs in tackles (122), sacks (six), interceptions (three) and pass breakups (12) while leading the league with six forced fumbles. Filling that statsheet to that extent earned him a first-team All-Pro nod and cemented his status as a prime extension candidate.
Winfield was one of many Buccaneers who received a long-term deal in the offseason keeping him in place for the foreseeable future. The Minnesota product landed $84.1MM on a four-year extension, making him the league’s highest-paid defensive back at the time. The lead in terms of AAV briefly went to Patrick Surtain before returning to fellow corner Jalen Ramsey, but the lucrative nature of Tampa’s Winfield commitment underscores his importance to the team’s defense.
The Buccaneers brought back Jordan Whitehead in free agency after he spent two years with the Jets. The 27-year-old played every snap in the team’s win over the Commanders, and he will be counted on to remain a full-time starter with Winfield temporarily out of the fold. Christian Izien worked as a safety in training camp this year after he played as a slot corner during his rookie campaign; the former UDFA ended Sunday as a boundary corner due to injuries, but he could return to the backend as early as Week 2.
Tampa Bay also has veteran Tavierre Thomas and third-round rookie Tykee Smith in place. Both players have experience at multiple spots in the secondary, and the team’s healthy defensive backs may need to wear multiple hats depending on the health situation at corner. No one player will be expected to duplicate Winfield’s versatility while he is away, but the Bucs will need to find a means of replacing his production for the coming weeks.
Cade York was acquired via trade by the Commanders in advance of Week 1 to serve as their kicker, but his audition in the nation’s capital has proved to be short-lived. The team announced on Monday he has been released. A replacement appears to be in place, as NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports Washington plans to sign Austin Seibert. 
York was drafted by the Browns in 2022, and he connected on 75% of his field goal attempts as a rookie. That year was followed by considerable struggles during the subsequent offseason, leading Cleveland to waive him and bring in Dustin Hopkins. The veteran had a strong debut Browns season last year, and he was rewarded with an extension in the offseason.
York spent time with the Titans and Giants in 2023, although he did not see any regular season action. The LSU product returned to Cleveland until he was traded to the Commanders in late August. That deal offered Washington yet another option in the kicking game after an offseason filled with changes at the position, and it included a conditional seventh-round pick heading the Browns’ way. Since York was let go after less than two weeks with Washington, though, that pick will not go to Cleveland, Pelissero’s colleague Mike Garafolo notes.
During Sunday’s loss to the Buccaneers, York made both of his extra point attempts but he went 0-for-2 on field goal kicks. That has led to the Commanders moving on in short order, and it will likely leave him on the open market for an extended period. Washington will attempt to move forward with Seibert, whom Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post reports has indeed been signed.
The 27-year-old also began his career with the Browns, and he has additionally spent time with the Lions and Jets. Seibert made one appearance for New York last year, and he remained with the team through the preseason. Considering the presence of Greg Zuerlein, however, Seibert was released during roster cuts. The Oklahoma product has connected on 80.4% of his field goal tries and 90.3% of his extra point attempts. A consistent showing in Washington will allow him to at least find a permanent gig for one year.
The Raiders’ pass rush was already shorthanded to begin the campaign, and the unit was dealt another blow on Sunday. Tyree Wilson suffered a knee sprain during the team’s loss to the Chargers, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. 
Rapoport notes Wilson’s knee is intact. While further testing is yet to take place, that is an encouraging sign the worst-case scenario has been avoided. Nevertheless, Wilson could be in line for missed time, something which would exacerbate the absence of Malcolm Koonce. A knee injury suffered during practice this week landed Koonce on injured reserve, and he is in danger of missing the entire 2024 campaign.
Wilson was in line to handle an increased workload in the wake of Koonce’s injury. The 2023 seventh overall pick logged a 44% snap share as a rookie, although his production fell short of expectations. Wilson totaled 3.5 sacks, a stark contrast to the eight Koonce managed while operating opposite Maxx Crosby. Missed time will halt Wilson’s development, although a long-term absence may not be in store for him.
Given the injuries suffered along the edge, though, Vegas will likely be in the market for an addition. Head coach Antonio Pierce said on Monday general manager Tom Telesco is “working on” bringing in depth options at the defensive end spot (h/t Vic Tafur of The Athletic). It would come as no surprise if free agent workouts including some of the top veterans on the market were to take place over the coming days.
Carl Lawson, Yannick Ngakoue, Romeo Okwara and Shaq Lawson are among the most experienced edge defenders who are unsigned at the moment. The Raiders currently have nearly $28.5MM in cap space, so a short-term addition would certainly be feasible. How the team proceeds will no doubt be heavily influenced by Wilson’s prognosis, but Vegas will be worth watching in the near future with respect to a signing aimed at providing depth.
Week 1 produced a loss on the scoreboard and the depth chart for the Jaguars. Head coach Doug Pederson said on Monday that cornerback Tyson Campbell will miss time due to a hamstring injury. 
Pederson did not offer a firm recovery timeline, but the fact he is already slated to miss regular season action is of course an unwanted development for Jacksonville. Campbell was one of several players to receive a long-term extension this offseason, landing a four-year, $76.5MM deal. The pact is the most lucrative one for corners who have yet to receive a Pro Bowl nod.
Being without Campbell for any stretch will therefore represent a notable blow to Jacksonville’s secondary. The 24-year-old has started all but one of his career games, serving as a key contributor against the pass over the course of his rookie contract. He totaled six interceptions and 30 pass deflections across his first three years in the league, and expectations are high for continued production moving forward.
That effort will be paused in 2024 while Campbell recovers. It would come as no surprise if the Jaguars were to proceed with caution given his importance to the secondary, but any missed time will be acutely felt. Jacksonville surrendered 319 passing yards against the Dolphins on Sunday, and the team’s secondary will be shorthanded while he is sidelined, meaning more underwhelming performances could be on hand. The Jags have games against the Browns, Bills, Texans and Colts on tap before a London contest versus the Bears.
Jacksonville has free agent addition Ronald Darby along with the likes of Jarrian Jones, Deantre Prince and Montaric Brown available as cornerback options. Darnell Savage – also added in free agency this year – is in place as a slot corner, but Campbell’s injury will compound the loss of Darious Williams after he was released. Further updates on Campbell’s situation will be worth monitoring closely.
Not long after a visit with the Jets, Kene Nwangwu has found a new opportunity. The running back/return specialist is signing with New York, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports. 
This will be a practice squad deal, Pelissero adds. Nwangwu enjoyed success in the return game during his three-year stint with the Vikings to begin his career. He did not survive roster cuts, however, as Minnesota elected to go in another direction on special teams.
That led to the Saints putting in a claim on Nwangwu. The 26-year-old appeared to be in place to handle return duties for New Orleans as a result, but one day later he was waived with an injury designation. Before the end of Week 1, he has now landed another chance to carve out a role. The Jets hosted Nwangwu last week, and that process quickly proved to be worthwhile.
New York dealt undrafted rookie Brandon Codrington to the Bills ahead of the roster cutdown deadline after he had an impressive showing in the return game during the preseason. That move came as little surprise given the presence of Xavier Gipson. The 23-year-old scored a punt return touchdown in Week 1 last year and averaged 23.2 yards per return while running back kickoffs.
Gipson is still in place as the Jets’ primary returner, but Nwangwu will give the team another option in that regard. The latter has scored three kick return touchdowns in his career, and he earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2022 for his third phase success. Nwangwu could also serve as backfield depth if needed with the Jets, but any regular action he sees will no doubt primarily come on special teams.
11:55am: When speaking to the media, head coach Todd Bowles said Hall’s injury may well be season-ending. He has already been ruled out for Week 2, but a much longer absence than that is in store.
8:59am: The Buccaneers won their season opener on Sunday but their secondary suffered a notable blow in the process. Cornerback Bryce Hall was carted off the field Sunday with an air cast, and he is in line for a lengthy recovery process. 
Hall suffered a fractured fibula in addition to a dislocated ankle, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. No timeline for his return is in place, but a long spell on the sidelines should obviously be expected. Hall served as a part-time starter while playing out his rookie contract with the Jets, and he logged a rotational role during his Buccaneers debut.
The 26-year-old’s heaviest defensive workloads came early in his New York tenure, but the additions of D.J. Reed and Sauce Gardner relegated him to a backup role. Hall primarily played on special teams during the 2022 campaign (during which he was limited to just five games) and he only logged 138 defensive snaps last year. That was again matched by notable third phase responsibilities, but it came as little surprised when he departed in free agency. The former fifth-rounder took a one-year deal worth the veteran minimum to join the Bucs.
Tampa Bay’s cornerback room lost Carlton Davis when he was traded to the Lions. That move created a vacancy along the perimeter for a starting spot opposite Jamel Dean, and Hall was a candidate to fill it on at least a part-time basis. How the team proceeds moving forward will depend in large part on the health status of other cornerback options after the position was hit hard by injuries during Week 1.
As ESPN’s Jenna Laine notes, starter Zyon McCollum suffered a concussion before backup and core special teamer Josh Hayes went down. Those injuries were followed by Hall’s, forcing safety Christian Izien to take over as a boundary corner. The 2023 UDFA served as Tampa Bay’s starter at slot corner last season, a position which is now set to be occupied by third-round rookie Tykee Smith. Depending on the extent of the injury situation, undrafted rookie Tyrek Funderburk may see playing time in Week 2.
Head coach Todd Bowles said (via Laine) further testing will be needed before a decision is made regarding any corner additions being made from outside the organization. Regardless of if that happens, though, Hall should not be expected to be in the Tampa Bay lineup any time soon.