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Eagles Designate Jordan Mailata For Return

November 11th, 2024 at 2:06pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Eagles face a quick turnaround ahead of Week 11, but they could have their starting left tackle back in time for that contest. Jordan Mailata has been designated for return from injured reserve, the team announced on Monday.

A hamstring injury made it clear a multi-week absence would be in store, and Mailata was indeed moved to IR in October. Fortunately for he and the team, the seventh-year blocker has had his practice window opened after missing the minimum four games. Mailata will need to be activated within the next 21 days.

The 27-year-old Australian has started each of his appearances since 2021, serving as a key member of Philadelphia’s offensive line. Mailata’s 88.4 PFF grade so far this season is the highest of his career, and his return will be welcomed on the Eagles’ offense. The former seventh-rounder signed a three-year, $66MM extension this offseason, a deal which came in the wake of only one missed game across the past two years.

Remaining healthy moving forward will be key Mailata as he returns to practice. Teams generally perform light workouts on short weeks, and that will be the case for the Eagles as they prepare to face the Commanders on Thursday night. That contest will be crucial in determining this year’s NFC East winner, so returning to full strength on the blindside will be key (provided Mailata is activated in time).

Fred Johnson has handled starting duties in Mailata’s absence. While the Eagles have managed to win five straight games coming off their bye week, Johnson has been charged with five sacks in the past three games and seven overall by PFF. Philadelphia’s pass protection has plenty of room for improvement moving forward, and getting Mailata back in the fold soon should help. Bringing him back into the picture will leave the team with five IR activations.

49ers To Sign CB Nick McCloud

November 11th, 2024 at 8:58am CST by Adam La Rose

Nick McCloud has not needed to wait long to find a new home. The former Giants corner has a deal in place with the 49ers, Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports.

McCloud was let go last Tuesday after he declined to take a pay cut. New York attempted to reduce his base salary before the start of the campaign, and with no agreement being reached on that front a decision was made to move on at the trade deadline. McCloud started five of his seven appearances this season, handling a rotational role on defense while remaining a core special teams contributor. Heading to a contender as a midseason free agent was a priority for him, ESPN’s Jordan Raanan adds.

The 26-year-old will now join San Francisco’s practice squad with the potential to be used as a gameday elevation up to three times. McCloud will offer depth in the secondary, although his third phase ability may represent his largest addition to the 49ers. San Francisco currently ranks 30th in special teams DVOA, and taking a step forward in that department would help the 5-4 team’s chances of reaching the postseason.

The 49ers have a number of options to choose from at the cornerback spot for the remainder of the 2024 season, but questions loom at that position with respect to free agency. Both Charvarius Ward and Deommodore Lenoir are set to hit the open market this spring, and keeping both in place will be a challenge given San Francisco’s multitude of financial commitments on offense (not to mention the pending extension for quarterback Brock Purdy). McCloud could play his way into an extended stay in the Bay Area based on how he performs down the stretch with his new team.

The former UDFA was attached to a deal with just under $3MM in base pay prior to the Giants moving on from him. McCloud will be in line for much smaller earnings in San Francisco, but he could help his market value with a strong showing over the coming weeks.

Texans Activate WR Nico Collins, DE Jerry Hughes From IR

November 10th, 2024 at 6:00pm CST by Ely Allen

NOVEMBER 10: Despite his activation from injured reserve, Collins is inactive for the Texans’ Sunday night matchup with the Lions. He is expected to play in Week 11, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC, but did not participate in practice enough this week.

NOVEMBER 9: In three of their last four games, the Texans have failed to pass for more than 176 yards. Those passing struggles can in part be attributed to injuries in the receiving corps and in part are the reason for two losses in those four games. Luckily for second-year quarterback C.J. Stroud, he’ll get one of his favorite targets back as the Texans activate wide receiver Nico Collins from injured reserve.

After two solid years for a third-round pick to start his career, Collins broke out last season with a monster 1,297-yard, eight-touchdown season. Collins was on track to improve on those numbers this year, averaging a league-leading 113.4 yards per game through his first five games of the season before suffering a hamstring injury that landed him on IR. Fellow wide receiver Stefon Diggs followed soon after with a season-ending ACL tear, further hindering a potent Texans passing attack.

Collins is still listed as “questionable” on the injury report heading into tomorrow’s game, but if he’s able to return, he provides a huge upgrade to a receiving corps that currently consists of Tank Dell, Xavier Hutchinson, Robert Woods, and John Metchie. Houston has an impressive hold on the AFC South lead, but a struggling offense had the potential to turn the tables on the season. Gifting Collins back to Stroud might be just what the Texans need to right the ship.

Joining Collins off of IR will be veteran defensive end Jerry Hughes. Hughes was moved to IR over a month ago. After a five-game absence, the 36-year-old veteran will reprise his rotational role behind Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter along the edge.

The Texans needed to open up a roster spot for the two activations today. To clear space, cornerback D’Angelo Ross was waived from the 53-man roster. Starting the season on the practice squad, Ross was signed to the active roster shortly into the regular season. He’s made two starts in eight game appearances.

Rams To Activate OLs Steve Avila, Jonah Jackson

November 10th, 2024 at 9:00am CST by Nikhil Mehta

NOVEMBER 10: Both Avila and Jackson are expected to be activated off of IR and suit up against the Dolphins tomorrow night, per Stu Jackson of the team’s official website.

NOVEMBER 7: The Rams are one step closer to major reinforcements to their offensive line after opening the practice window for Steve Avila and Jonah Jackson to return from injured reserve.

Both players landed on IR in September, Avila with a sprained MCL that required surgery and Jackson with a broken scapula suffered in Week 2. Rookie Beaux Limmer has started the last seven games at center, while both Justin Dedich and Logan Bruss have stepped up at left guard.

The injuries to Avila and Jackson prevented the Rams from getting a solid look at their new-look offensive line. After drafting Avila with the 36th overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Rams spent almost $100MM to sign Jackson in free agency and retain starting right guard Kevin Dotson in 2024. The trio played just 37 snaps together before Avila’s injury, though all three players are under contract through at least 2026 and will have plenty of time to gel.

Los Angeles is getting healthy at the right time after winning their last three games. Their star wideout duo of Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua is back catching passes from Matthew Stafford, who will be playing behind his intended starting offensive line for the first time since Week 1.

Avila and Jackson both have 21 days to practice with the team before they must be added to the active roster or revert to season-ending IR.

Saints WR Chris Olave Expected To Land On IR, May Be Done For Season

November 9th, 2024 at 10:03pm CST by Ben Levine

Chris Olave may have already played his last snap of the 2024 campaign. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the Saints wide receiver is expected to land on injured reserve today. Olave suffered a concussion in Week 9 and was already ruled out for tomorrow’s game against the Falcons. Olave will now be out for at least the next four games.

[RELATED: Saints’ Chris Olave Visiting Concussion Specialists]

As we learned earlier this week, Olave is set to visit specialists as he determines his future in the NFL. Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.football says the “expectation” is that Olave won’t play again during the 2024 campaign. Rapoport echos that sentiment, citing the nature of the injury, Olave’s impending visits with specialists, and the Saints’ unlikely chances of making the postseason.

This latest concussion marks the second time this season that Olave has dealt with a brain injury, continuing a troubling trend for the wideout. The 2022 first-round pick also dealt with concussions in each of his first two seasons, and this latest occurrence prompted meetings with specialists. When Olave returned to the field in Week 8 following a one-game absence, he was sporting a new helmet, although the player opted against wearing a Guardian Cap.

As Olave navigates his latest concussion, it sounds like the Saints are opting to play it safe with their young star. Following a 2-0 start, the Saints are in the midst of a seven-game losing streak, leading to Dennis Allen‘s firing earlier this week. With fellow wideout Rashid Shaheed having already been lost for the season, the Saints receivers room will be down to the likes of veterans Cedrick Wilson Jr. and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, plus UDFAs Mason Tipton and Jermaine Jackson.

Giants Activate K Graham Gano

November 9th, 2024 at 9:52pm CST by Adam La Rose

Graham Gano will be available to the Giants in Week 10. The veteran kicker was activated from injured reserve on Saturday, per a team announcement.

Gano has been out since he injured his hamstring on the opening kickoff of New York’s Week 2 game. The team operated without a healthy kicker for the rest of that contest, then turned to veteran Greg Joseph with Gano being moved to IR. Once Joseph suffered an injury of his own, the Giants relied on Jude McAtamney in his NFL debut last week.

The former Gaelic footballer converted his lone field goal try and connected on his only extra point attempt as well. While McAtameny also recorded four touchbacks on five kickoffs, the Giants will of course prefer to keep him on the practice squad with Gano back in the fold. The latter was limited to eight games by a knee injury last year, so this season’s missed time has become increasingly notable for team and player. Both parties will hope Gano can remain healthy through the remainder of the campaign.

The 37-year-old has generally been a consistent producer in the kicking game for the Giants since his arrival in 2020. Gano only connected on 11 of his 17 field goal tries last year before undergoing season-ending surgery, a stark contrast to his accuracy in his previous New York campaigns. Returning to his previous form would be welcomed by Gano and the Giants, a team averaging a league-low 15.4 points per game.

The Florida State product landed an extension last September, and he is on the books through 2026 as a result. This season is the last one of that pact which includes guaranteed salary, and the team would see cap savings by moving on as early as this spring. Gano’s performance beginning tomorrow in Munich will go a long way in ensuring his Giants future.

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/9/24

November 9th, 2024 at 9:11pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s minor moves, including standard gameday practice squad elevations:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

  • Elevated: LB Curtis Bolton, WR Isaiah Hodgins

New York Jets

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Spector will miss at least the next four games as a result of the Bills’ move. He has remained a mainstay on special teams this year, having also done so in 2022 and ’23. The former seventh-rounder has made three starts on defense, however, so his absence will be felt moving forward. Linebacker has been a position hit hard by injuries this season, and Buffalo’s depth at the second level will now be tested even further.

Wattenberg had his 21-day practice window opened by the Broncos earlier this week, paving the way for today’s activation. The 27-year-old operated as the team’s starting center prior to going down after having won a summer competition for the gig with Alex Forsyth. Forsyth handled first-team duties over the past four games, drawing a superior PFF evaluation and therefore potentially playing his way into an extended look atop the depth chart. At a minimum, having Wattenberg back will give Denver – a team with three IR activations left – depth up front.

Chargers Activate RB Gus Edwards

November 9th, 2024 at 7:26pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Chargers’ backfield will have both of its two offseason additions in place tomorrow. Running back Gus Edwards was activated from injured reserve on Saturday, per a team announcement.

Edwards had his practice window opened earlier this week, giving Los Angeles 21 days to activate him. With no setback occurring, he has returned to the active roster in time for the Bolts’ Week 10 matchup with the Titans. The Chargers have five IR activations remaining for the year.

After bringing in Jim Harbaugh as head coach, the Chargers (now with Greg Roman in place as offensive coordinator and Joe Hortiz as general manager) added Edwards and J.K. Dobbins in free agency as familiar options to the former Ravens staffers in the organization. Dobbins has remained healthy so far in 2024, racking up 727 scrimmage yards and six rushing touchdowns along the way. That is an encouraging output given his injury history, and it figures to boost his market value this spring.

Despite Dobbins’ success, the Chargers rank only 20th in the league in rushing (114.5 yards per game). Edwards retuning to the fold could help in that department. The former UDFA averaged at least 5.0 yards per carry in his first four healthy seasons, and he ran for a career-high 810 yards and 13 touchdowns last year. Edwards logged double-digit carries in each of his first two games with Los Angeles, and he and Dobbins figure to split the workload moving forward.

While Dobbins is a pending free agent, Edwards is on the books through 2026 on his $6.5MM pact. None of his base salary ($3MM) for next season is guaranteed, though, so whether or not he remains with the Chargers after this year will depend on his production upon returning to action. The Bolts sit at 5-3 on the year, and their ability to earn a playoff berth will be impacted by their effectives on the ground with both Dobbins and Edwards in play.

Saints Place Chris Olave On IR, Activate Shane Lemieux, Will Harris

November 9th, 2024 at 6:40pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Saints have officially placed Chris Olave on injured reserve. The third-year wideout will miss at least the first four games as a result, although his availability for the remainder of the season is in question.

Olave is dealing with his second concussion of the season, which also represents his fourth in less than three full campaigns in the NFL. The 24-year-old’s visits with specialists will determine his next steps, but for at least the immediate future he will be unavailable to the 2-7 Saints as they begin life with Darren Rizzi as head coach. New Orleans has already lost fellow WR starter Rashid Shaheed for the season.

Olave is under contract through 2025 as things stand, but his fifth-year option for the following season could be exercised this spring. A decision on that front – or any approach with respect to a long-term extension, of course – will be dictated in large part by the Ohio State product’s prognosis. Given how far the Saints are from postseason contention along with the long-term approach being taken by team and player, attention will increasingly turn toward Olave’s Week 1 availability in 2025.

New Orleans will have a pair of returnees in the lineup for Week 10, however. The team also announced on Saturday that offensive lineman Shane Lemieux has been activated from IR. The 27-year-old took over as the first-team option at center once Erik McCoy was injured; McCoy has been ruled out for tomorrow’s contest, so Lemieux could reprise that role now that he is healthy. If not, he will be an option in the middle but also at guard as the Saints look to establish a consistent lineup along the O-line to close out the year.

Safety Will Harris has also been activated from IR. A hamstring injury led him to injured reserve roughly one month ago, interrupting his debut campaign in New Orleans. Harris started each of his five appearances prior to going down, serving in a first-team role after he did so during parts of his five-year Lions tenure. Harris, 28, will look to aid a defense which ranks 27th against the pass this season.

These moves will leave the Saints with five IR activations on the year. Bringing Olave back into the fold at some point would lower that figure, but it appears signficant progress will need to be made in his recovery for that to become a consideration.

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