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Al Woods

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/31/23

October 31st, 2023 at 9:05pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are the NFL’s minor moves for today:

Atlanta Falcons

  • Signed off Bears’ practice squad: DT Travis Bell
  • Placed on IR: DT Grady Jarrett (story)

Chicago Bears

Detroit Lions

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Chargers

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New York Giants

New York Jets

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Kareem, who was just activated off of injured reserve, is being waived to make room for defensive end Montez Sweat, acquired by trade this morning. The Bears also announced a practice squad release, indicating a possible return for Kareem on that unit. The Colts are expected to do the same with Boettger.

O’Connor will lose his active roster spot to make room for quarterback John Wolford, whom Tampa Bay officially promoted today in order to ward off interest parties such as the Rams and Vikings, both of whom are experiencing injury issues at quarterback.

Jets DT Al Woods Tears Achilles

October 29th, 2023 at 6:24pm CST by Sam Robinson

One of the NFL’s oldest active players, Al Woods has run into a rough late-career break. The Jets defensive tackle sustained an Achilles tear during the second quarter of today’s Giants matchup, per HC Robert Saleh, and will miss the rest of the season.

The well-traveled veteran has played in at least 12 games in each of the past 10 seasons, becoming a regular inside on a handful of teams. The Jets represented the latest, signing the big-bodied lineman to a one-year, $2.25MM deal this offseason.

At 36, Woods is the NFL’s second-oldest defender — behind only Calais Campbell, who was also a Jets target. (Though, he is only the third-oldest Jet, with Aaron Rodgers and Duane Brown on offense.) While Campbell trekked to Atlanta, Woods wound up in New York and moved into a regular rotational role on the Jets’ stout defense. Woods came into Sunday having played 38% of Gang Green’s defensive snaps over his five games this season. Woods finishes his season with a sack and two tackles for loss.

Woods has played in 166 games over the course of his 14-year career. He spent the past three seasons as a key run-stopping presence in Seattle. The Seahawks had extended him through 2023, but amid another defensive retool, the team moved on in March. Saleh was in Seattle as a low-level assistant during Woods’ first Pacific Northwest cameo — in 2011 — and brought him to New York weeks later. Considering his age, it is fair to wonder if this injury will end the former Seahawks, Buccaneers, Steelers, Titans and Colts interior defender’s career.

The Jets remain fairly well situated inside, despite losing Sheldon Rankins this offseason. The team added ex-Woods Seahawks teammate Quinton Jefferson to go with Quinnen Williams and Solomon Thomas. Veteran Tanzel Smart resides on New York’s practice squad.

New York also lost its starting center, Connor McGovern, to a kneecap injury. The eighth-year veteran will undergo an MRI, but NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport notes an absence is expected. Like Woods, McGovern signed this offseason. But the former Broncos draftee has been the Jets’ starting center for the past four seasons. Though, the team brought him back at a substantially reduced rate compared to the three-year, $27MM deal he signed in 2020. McGovern is playing on a one-year, $1.92MM contract. The Jets also played without second-round pick Joe Tippmann, viewed as the team’s long-term center, on Sunday.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/1/23

August 1st, 2023 at 8:13pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

  • Signed: RB Toriano Clinton, TE La’Michael Pettway, T Dan Skipper
  • Waived: T Jordan Murray, TE Kaden Smith, DT Jamal Woods

Las Vegas Raiders

New England Patriots

  • Claimed (from Bears): WR Thyrick Pitts
  • Placed on reserve/retired list: WR Jalen Hurd

New York Giants

Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks

Chosen in the third round by the 49ers back in 2019, Hurd never ended up seeing regular-season action. A converted running back who played in front of Alvin Kamara at points while at Tennessee, Hurd transferred to Baylor and became a wide receiver. Two season-ending injuries — a back malady in 2019 and an ACL tear in 2020 — derailed Hurd’s 49ers tenure. The team cut him during the 2021 season. Barely a week after the Patriots signed Hurd, it appears he is throwing in the towel on an injury-plagued career.

Penisini had unretired this offseason, joining the Panthers. The former Lions sixth-rounder played two seasons on his rookie contract but called it quits in June 2022. His unretirement will precede a Panthers exit. The Lions are moving Zylstra off their 90-man roster due to a severe knee injury. If unclaimed, Zylstra would revert to Detroit’s IR list. Zylstra has seen action in 17 games for the Lions over the past two seasons.

Hassenauer will require surgery to repair a triceps injury, and this transaction will shut him down — as far as the Giants are concerned. The only way Hassenauer can play in 2023 would be if the Giants removed him from IR via an injury settlement. Hairston suffered a herniated disk during practice, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson (on Twitter).

Jets Rumors: Restructures, Williams, McDonald, Johnson

May 19th, 2023 at 8:05pm CST by Ely Allen

The Jets were recently able to create an impressive $12.7MM of cap space by reworking defensive end Carl Lawson‘s contract. The team may not be done there, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, as there are a few more veterans with lofty salaries in 2023.

After reducing Lawson’s cap hit for the year, five Jets have cap hits over $10MM for the upcoming season: linebacker C.J. Mosley ($21.48MM), left tackle Duane Brown ($11.28MM), wide receiver Corey Davis ($11.17MM), left guard Laken Tomlinson ($10.88MM), and safety Jordan Whitehead ($10.23MM).

Mosley, Brown, and Davis make the most sense for potential further restructures, not just because they have the highest cap hits, but also because they all have salaries over $9MM next season. Mosley has the highest base salary for 2023 at $17MM, while Davis is at $10.5MM and Brown is at $9MM. The bigger base salary gives them a larger amount that they are able to convert into a signing bonus in order to reduce salary cap numbers.

Here are a few more rumors concerning Gang Green:

  • Another player with a high salary and cap hit, as his fifth-year option gives him an amount for both of $9.59MM, Quinnen Williams has been the source of much stress for New York. While head coach Robert Saleh is fairly unconcerned about the situation, expecting a deal to get done, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN, the drama was only exacerbated with Williams made an adjustment to his Twitter bio earlier this week, writing, “Defensive tackle for ……………….” Many around the league are worried the situation could devolve into one resembling that of Jamal Adams, who general manager Joe Douglas had planned to make a “Jet for life” before trading him to Seattle weeks later.
  • The Jets used a first-round pick on Iowa State outside linebacker Will McDonald back in April. It puzzled some as it looked like the continuation of a number of early draft investments New York has made at pass rusher. Some wondered if they maybe planned to use McDonald as more of a complete linebacker, but according to Cimini, the Jets plan to use McDonald at defensive end. Considered to be arguably the draft’s best pass rushing prospect, McDonald will compete with recent high draft pick Jermaine Johnson and John Franklin-Myers for snaps across from Carl Lawson.
  • It was a bit of a shock last month when New York released running back Ty Johnson with a non-football injury designation just over a month after re-signing him. Johnson took to Instagram today to provide some emotional insight on the situation. According to Johnson, after tearing a pectoral muscle in a workout away from the team, Johnson was told by the Jets’ team doctor to undergo surgery. When he returned to the facility after the procedure, he was told he no longer had a spot on the roster. The Jets return a hopefully fully healthy Breece Hall, Michael Carter, and Zonovan Knight and added Pitt running back Israel Abanikanda in the fourth round of the draft.
  • New York signed former Packer Billy Turner earlier this month to help solidify their depth at offensive tackle. Thanks to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, we’ve got a few more details on the deal. The one-year contract has a base salary of only $1.35MM with $1MM of it guaranteed. Turner can more than double that amount if he ends up active and playing next year. He’ll receive a per game active roster bonus of $17,647 for a potential season total of $300K. The deal also includes a playing time incentive that will pay him $1.5MM if he plays 75 percent or more of the team’s offensive snaps.
  • Cimini was able to provide us with details on defensive tackle Al Woods‘s recent signing, as well. The one-year deal worth $2.25MM has a base salary of $1.24MM ($500K of it guaranteed) with a $500K signing bonus. Woods will also receive a per game active roster bonus, his worth $30K for a potential season total of $510K.

Jets, DT Al Woods Agree To Deal

May 3rd, 2023 at 3:38pm CST by Sam Robinson

Free agency’s third wave — annually brought on by the May compensatory deadline — is producing a run of Wednesday-afternoon agreements. The latest will send Al Woods to the Jets.

The Jets have reached an agreement with the veteran nose tackle, Connor Hughes of SNY reports (on Twitter). Woods has managed a 13-year career and has remained a regular run-stopping presence on several teams’ defensive lines, most recently the Seahawks’.

This addition will bring a roundabout reunion between Woods and Robert Saleh. The third-year Jets HC was on Pete Carroll‘s Seahawks staff during Woods’ first stint with the team. Saleh and Woods overlapped on the 2011 Seahawks, though Woods only played two games on that team. But the mammoth interior D-lineman spent time in the scheme Saleh runs in recent years, lining up as a starter in the 4-3 scheme Seattle used leading up to last season.

Woods, 36, visited the Jets early last month, meeting with the Browns as well. Teams eyeing midlevel veterans often wait until after signings no longer affect the following year’s compensatory formula, and the Jets are proceeding down this path this week. They have already agreed to terms with tackle Billy Turner and longtime Aaron Rodgers sidekick Randall Cobb.

In addition to Woods rejoining Saleh — who was on the quality control level the last time the two were in the same building — he will follow ex-Seahawk Quinton Jefferson to New York. The Seahawks released both Woods and Jefferson in March, clearing the way for the additions of Dre’Mont Jones and Jarran Reed. Woods spent his past three seasons with the Seahawks but has played for five teams in his career. The 2010 Saints draftee never appeared in a game for New Orleans but has suited up for the Buccaneers, Steelers, Colts and Titans during his lengthy NFL run. He was with the Jaguars in 2020 but never played a game for the team, opting out of the season due to COVID-19 concerns.

The Seahawks made Woods (30 starts from 2021-22) a defensive captain last season, and Pro Football Focus ranked him 32nd among interior D-linemen during the team’s surprise journey to the playoffs. Woods, who registered two sacks, played on 39% of Seattle’s defensive snaps last season. While that usage rate was down a bit from Woods’ 2021 work, the Seahawks prioritized his return in the form of a two-year, $9MM deal in 2022. He will now attempt to help the Jets to their first playoff berth since 2010.

Woods will join Jefferson, Solomon Thomas and John Franklin-Myers as Quinnen Williams wingmen in the Big Apple. The Jets, who lost Folorunso Fatukasi to the Jaguars in 2022, pursued Calais Campbell and made a competitive offer. That pursuit indicated Saleh’s team is not concerned with adding a mid-30s defensive lineman, and the Jets will move forward with one of the league’s oldest non-quarterbacks or specialists.

DT Al Woods To Visit Browns, Jets

April 3rd, 2023 at 5:54pm CST by Adam La Rose

Al Woods saw his third stint with the Seahawks come to an end last month, but he could be moving closer to finding his next NFL home. The veteran defensive tackle is set to visit the Browns and Jets this week, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link).

Woods, 36, spent the past two years in the Emerald City, having also played there in 2011 and 2019 during his prior tenures with the Seahawks. He started every game he appeared in between 2021 and ’22, though his playing time dropped noticeably this past year. Woods logged a 39% snap share, his lowest total since 2016, after that figure sat at 52% the previous season.

The 6-4, 330-pounder remained productive with Seattle, totaling 89 tackles and 3.5 sacks across the past two years. His release came as part of the team’s widespread changes along the defensive front, and yielded more than $3.6MM in cap savings. Seattle is still in need of a starting nose tackle, however, and is open to a return (Twitter link via Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times). The same holds true of fellow veteran Shelby Harris.

Cleveland entered the offseason with additions along the front seven being a top priority. They bolstered their defensive interior with, most notably, the signing of Dalvin Tomlinson. The former Viking joins the Browns with high expectations after inking a four-year, $57MM deal. Further additions could be coming, and with $7.7MM remaining in cap space, Woods could provide the team with a short-term option to fill at least a rotational role.

The Jets’ d-line is centered not by a free agent addition but rather a relatively recent draftee, of course. Quinnen Williams is set to play on the fifth-year option in 2023, and his production this past season in particular has him on track for a monster extension. More immediately, Woods would help fill the void created by the departures of Sheldon Rankins and Nathan Shepherd, as New York looks to repeat its defense success from last season with a strong unit up front.

New York, like Cleveland, has modest spending power at the moment ($9.1MM in cap space). That could allow them to sign Woods in a bid to add experience and production at the heart of their defenses, though expectations would certainly need to be tempered given the former fourth-rounder’s age and usage. In any case, a deal could be on the horizon.

Seahawks Release DT Al Woods

March 20th, 2023 at 7:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

Al Woods‘ third Seahawks stint is over. The team announced the release of the veteran nose tackle Monday night. Woods has been a regular starter during this latest Seattle run.

The Seahawks continue to make changes on their defensive line. They have moved on from Quinton Jefferson and Shelby Harris, and the team has signed Dre’Mont Jones and brought back Jarran Reed. The Woods cut saves $3.67MM in cap space, moving the team near $15MM.

Woods’ third Seattle stay lasted two seasons, and the mammoth D-tackle started 30 games for the team during that stretch. The former fourth-round Saints pick, however, played for the Seahawks during the 2011 and 2019 seasons as well. Overall, the LSU product has enjoyed quite a run for himself. Woods, who will turn 36 on Saturday, has played 155 career games.

Generously listed at 330 pounds, Woods has patrolled the middle of a few teams’ defensive lines during his 13-season career. He has played for the Saints, Seahawks, Steelers, Titans, Colts and Jaguars. Woods opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID-19 concerns, and the Jaguars moved on early in Urban Meyer‘s tenure. But the Seahawks gave him another opportunity soon after.

The Seahawks made Woods a defensive captain last season, and Pro Football Focus ranked him 32nd among interior D-linemen during the team’s surprise journey to the playoffs. Woods played on 39% of Seattle’s defensive snaps last season. While that was down from his 52% snap rate in 2021, the team prioritized his return — on a two-year, $9MM deal — despite new DC Clint Hurtt bringing a scheme change from Ken Norton Jr.‘s tenure.

Woods totaled 39 tackles (five for loss) and a forced fumble last season. He began the year on a good note, helping Seattle thwart two Denver goal-to-go situations in what turned out to be a pivotal win for playoff-qualification purposes. But Woods will be one of the parts being shipped out as Jones and Reed enter the equation. He could well have the opportunity to continue his career in 2023.

Woods, Harris and Jefferson are gone, and Poona Ford remains unsigned. Seattle still has four-year contributor Bryan Mone on its offseason roster, but its D-line room is undoubtedly unfinished as the second week of free agency starts.

Seahawks Re-Sign DT Al Woods

March 17th, 2022 at 10:32pm CST by Ben Levine

Al Woods is returning to Seattle. The Seahawks announced that they have re-signed the veteran defensive tackle.

The former fourth-round pick has been able to stick around the NFL for more than a decade. After serving as mostly a backup, special teamer, or roster fodder in stops with the Saints, Steelers (two stints), Buccaneers, Seahawks (first stint), and Titans, Woods finally got a chance to start full-time with the Colts in 2017. He spent two seasons in Indy before returning to Seattle in 2019.

Woods saw time in 14 games that season, but he missed a handful of games while serving a suspension for performance-enhancing substances. He joined the Jaguars for the 2020 season but opted out, and the team released him from his contract last offseason. He joined the Seahawks for his third stint with the organization and had one of the best seasons of his career.

Woods started all 16 of his games last season, collecting a career-high 50 tackles to go with 1.5 sacks and five QB hits.

NFL COVID-19 List Updates: 1/12/22

January 12th, 2022 at 10:46pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s updates for the reserve/COVID-19 and practice squad/COVID-19 lists:

Arizona Cardinals

  • Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Maxx Williams (remains on IR)

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Dallas Cowboys

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Kansas City Chiefs

  • Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: TE Mark Vital

New England Patriots

San Francisco 49ers

  • Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: QB Tyler Bray

Seattle Seahawks

Washington Football Team

  • Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: DT David Bada

NFL COVID-19 List Updates: 1/4/22-1/5/22

January 5th, 2022 at 11:32pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are Tuesday and Wednesday’s activations from and placements on the reserve/COVID-19 lists:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

  • Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Jared Cook, LB Damon Lloyd (remains on IR)

Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Football Team

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