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Minor NFL Transactions: 10/3/24

October 3rd, 2024 at 7:33pm CST by Ely Allen

Thursday’s minor transactions from around the NFL:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Phillips’ spot on the 53-man roster was filled today when Miami signed outside linebacker Tyus Bowser from Seattle’s practice squad.

The young running back in Baltimore will have his 21-day practice window opened as he attempts to come back from injury after being placed on injured reserve the day of the season opener.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/3/24

October 3rd, 2024 at 6:50pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s practice squad moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Cleveland Browns

Seattle Seahawks

Brightwell returns to Cleveland via the practice squad after getting waived earlier this week. The team is perhaps attempting to clear space for running back Nick Chubb to eventually make his way off the IR. Chubb was designated to return from the reserve/physically unable to perform list today.

Richardson was signed to the practice squad spot that was vacated when outside linebacker Tyus Bowser was signed to the Dolphins active roster today off of Seattle’s practice squad.

Chiefs Place WR Rashee Rice On IR

October 3rd, 2024 at 3:35pm CST by Adam La Rose

It is not yet known if Rashee Rice will miss the remainder of the season, but he is in line for at least a short-term absence. The second-year wideout was placed on injured reserve Thursday, per a team announcement.

That move comes as no surprise, and it guarantees at least a four-game spell on the sidelines. A torn ACL may have occurred in Week 4, something which would of course sideline Rice for the rest of the season. Head coach Andy Reid confirmed when speaking to the media today, however, that the team will wait for the swelling to subside before further testing takes place.

If those evaluations confirm a torn ACL, moving Rice to IR will prove to have been a simple formality. If a less serious injury is revealed, though, a return at some point during the campaign would be possible. At a minimum, today’s news ensures the 24-year-old will not be eligible to play until Week 9 at the earliest.

Rice’s injury came after the Chiefs had already lost Marquise Brown until no earlier than the postseason. As a result, Kansas City’s receiving corps is thin at the moment, leading many to label the team as a potential buyer ahead of the trade deadline. Good news on the Rice injury front could change any plans Kansas City has to make a midseason receiver addition, but it will still be interesting to see if one is pursued with at least a short-term absence in store.

Faced with a number of off-the-field issues this offseason, the SMU product is not expected to be suspended this season in connection with the hit-and-run incident he was involved in. Regardless of how his legal situation plays out, missed time on the field will be acutely felt. Rice had a strong rookie campaign and posted a 24-288-2 statline across his first three games in 2024. He will be expected to remain a key pass-catching option if he manages to return later this season.

If not, the Chiefs will rely on first-round rookie Xavier Worthy along with the likes of JuJu Smith-Schuster, Skyy Moore, Justin Watson and Mecole Hardman at the receiver spot. That group could be joined by Rice down the road, but it remains to be seen if that will be the case.

Dolphins To Sign OLB Tyus Bowser Off Seahawks’ Practice Squad

October 3rd, 2024 at 2:20pm CST by Adam La Rose

In need of healthy depth along the edge, the Dolphins are set to make an addition. Tyus Bowser is being signed off the Seahawks’ practice squad, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

Jaelan Phillips is out for the season due to a knee injury. Especially since Bradley Chubb has yet to return to the lineup, Miami is particularly thin along the edge as things stand. Bowser could provide at least a rotational presence as he aims to carve out a full-time role in 2024. The 29-year-old missed all of last season, but he managed a pair of appearances with Seattle this year.

Bowser took a Seahawks taxi squad deal to reunite with head coach Mike Macdonald after the two worked together in Baltimore. That move came about just after roster cutdowns and allowed him to try and rebuild his value while handling a rotational role. Used as a gameday elevation in Weeks 3 and 4, the former second-rounder logged 38 defensive snaps with Seattle. As Schefter’s colleague Brady Henderson noted earlier today, Bowser had his practice squad deal terminated to allow him to land with a new team.

By taking a contract with Miami, Bowser will join defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver. The latter served as a key member of the Ravens’ defensive staff from 2021-23, providing some overlap with the former’s playing time in Baltimore. Weaver took the Dolphins’ DC gig this offseason, and Bowser – who recorded 19.5 sacks in 89 Ravens games – will give him a familiar face to work with as the team tries to fill the vacancy created by Phillips’ injury. Bowser has considerable experience not only defending the run but also dropping into coverage, especially compared to the skillsets of rookies Chop Robinson and Mohamed Kamara.

That versatility could help the Houston product earn a notable workload over the coming weeks. Robinson and Emmanuel Ogbah are positioned to handle first-team reps along the edge, and Chubb will factor heavily into the team’s rotation once he is healthy. A veteran of 24 starts (one of which came with the Seahawks as they dealt with their own pass-rushing injury troubles), Bowser could nevertheless see meaningful playing time through the remainder of the season. Doing so would help Miami’s defense and boost his market value in the process.

Dolphins Open Odell Beckham Jr.’s Practice Window

October 2nd, 2024 at 9:27pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Dolphins have waited months for their hopeful No. 3 wide receiver to practice. Although the team has a bigger-picture matter plaguing its offense, Odell Beckham Jr. is trending toward a workout with teammates soon.

Out with an unspecified injury for months, Beckham is now off the Dolphins’ reserve/PUP list. The team did not practice today, but Beckham was listed as a full estimated participant. The Dolphins now have three weeks to activate OBJ. If Miami does not activate Beckham by then, he misses the season. Though, it seems unlikely that scenario will occur based on today’s development.

With players on the active roster or in a return window from an injured list needing a health designation, per injury reporting rules, the Dolphins listed Beckham as having a knee injury. The veteran wide receiver underwent what had been an unspecified procedure this offseason; it now appears that was knee surgery.

It is certainly notable a knee problem affected Beckham following his Dolphins signing (one year, $3MM), as he has suffered two torn ACLs in the 2020s — the second of which keeping him out for the 2022 season. The former Pro Bowler did return and play in 14 regular-season games and both Ravens playoff contests last season, quieting concerns after a lengthy absence following Super Bowl LVI. But this will be a situation to monitor for the Dolphins, who are amid a quarterback crisis.

While Beckham appears set to join Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle in a game soon, the Dolphins have seen their offense crater without Tua Tagovailoa. Skylar Thompson and emergency pickup-turned-starter Tyler Huntley have struggled since Tagovailoa’s concussion. Although the Dolphins have received good news on their fifth-year starter, they will still need to play at least two more games without him. Tagovailoa is trending toward returning in Week 8, when first eligible to come off IR. Huntley will start in Week 5, Mike McDaniel confirmed.

As for Beckham, he posted 565 receiving yards (career-high 16.1 per catch) and three touchdowns with Baltimore. The Ravens let him walk in free agency, leading to this Dolphins opportunity. McDaniel stopped short of saying Beckham will be activated for Week 5 (via the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson), but the third-year Miami HC said the free agency addition had not sustained any setbacks en route to a Dolphins debut. An estimated full practice Wednesday is a good sign for a team in need of them right now.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/2/24

October 2nd, 2024 at 8:31pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

  • Practice window opened: T Christian Jones

Cleveland Browns

Green Bay Packers

  • Practice window opened: DT Jonathan Ford

Houston Texans

Las Vegas Raiders

New York Giants

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Today marks most teams’ first practice before Week 5, making it the first date players stashed on IR as teams set their initial 53-man rosters can work out again with their teams. This year’s IR tweak allowed teams to designate up to two players for return August 27, the catch being all players who receive that designation count toward their respective club’s eight-activation total. The batch included in today’s minor moves post consists entirely of players to receive that August IR-return designation.

The IR-return window is unchanged, however, with teams having 21 days from Wednesday to activate these players. Anyone from today’s group not being activated from IR by October 23 must miss the rest of the season. PFR will keep track of all players returning from IR via the Injured Reserve Return Tracker.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/2/24

October 2nd, 2024 at 7:43pm CST by Adam La Rose

Wednesday’s practice squad updates:

Arizona Cardinals

Houston Texans

Los Angles Rams

New England Patriots

San Francisco 49ers

The Cardinals have added some necessary kicker depth. Per Tyler Drake of AZSports, Matt Prater is dealing with a left knee issue, necessitating the addition of Chad Ryland. The former fourth-round pick spent his rookie campaign in New England, where he converted 16 of his 25 field goal attempts and 24 of his 25 XP tries. Ryland lost out on the Patriots kicking gig this season to Joey Slye, leading to him being among New England’s final cuts.

Rams Designate Darious Williams For Return

October 2nd, 2024 at 5:40pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Rams have been faced with a number of challenges on the injury front this offseason, but help on defense could be coming soon. Cornerback Darious Williams was designated for return from injured reserve on Wednesday, per a team announcement.

Williams dealt with a hamstring injury during the summer, and it lingered into the start of the campaign. He was placed on IR ahead of Week 1, guaranteeing an absence spanning at least the first four games of the season. The 31-year-old is now eligible to practice at the first opportunity, though, suggesting he could be available in time for Week 5.

After a Los Angeles spell which lasted from 2018-21, Williams took a deal with the Jaguars in free agency. That three-year, $30MM pact saw him serve as a key starter in Jacksonville. The former UDFA was released this offseason with one year remaining on the contract, however, allowing him to return to the Rams on the open market. Williams inked a new three-year deal in the spring, this time worth $22.5MM ($7MM guaranteed).

He will be in line for a first-team role once healthy, something which has been the case so far for fellow free agent pickup Tre’Davious White. The former Bills All-Pro took a one-year deal after his Buffalo tenure was marred by multiple injuries, but he has managed to remain available through the first month of the season and has logged a 98% snap share to date. He and Williams will provide plenty of experience on a Rams defense featuring a number of younger contributors.

The team also opened Larrell Murchison‘s practice window on Wednesday. The fifth-year defensive lineman was designated for return before the roster deadline, using one of the Rams’ IR activations in the process. He made 15 appearances and three starts last season, handling a 25% snap share. With Aaron Donald no longer present along the defensive interior, that figure could increase in 2024 once Murchison is activated.

Commanders’ Marcus Mariota, Efe Obada, Jordan Magee Return To Practice

October 2nd, 2024 at 2:05pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Commanders have enjoyed a strong start to the season, and they could have a number of reinforcements in the fold soon. Among the players who returned to practice on Wednesday is backup quarterback Marcus Mariota. 

The 30-year-old was placed on injured reserve just before the start of the regular season. That move guaranteed a four-game absence, so today’s news is a sign he has recovered in full while returning to action when first eligible. Mariota will be able to dress as Jayden Daniels‘ backup provided he is activated in time for Week 5.

After the Commanders traded away Sam Howell, it became clear the organization would invest in a new passer via the draft. Mariota was brought in on a one-year deal to provide experienced depth capable of handling first-team duties on a temporary basis if needed. The play of Daniels to date has not created any doubt about his readiness for NFL duties, although Mariota did see some starter’s reps during the summer before this year’s second overall pick was placed atop the depth chart.

After the end of his five-year run in Tennessee, Mariota has bounced around the NFL. The Oregon product spent the 2020 and ’21 seasons as a backup with the Raiders before his single campaign in Atlanta the following year. Mariota logged 13 starts during his Falcons tenure, but neither he nor the team’s offense impressed in that time. Last season, he worked as the Eagles’ QB2 and made just three appearances.

As long as Daniels remains healthy, he will remain atop the depth chart for the 3-1 Commanders. Mariota’s return would leave Jeff Driskel as Washington’s third-string passer while letting undrafted rookie Sam Hartman develop on the practice squad. Mariota seeing the field at some point would allow him to help his free agent value ahead of next offseason and add to his 90 games (including 74 starts) of experience.

In other roster news, defensive end Efe Obada has been designated for return from the PUP list. The 32-year-old was limited to only five games with Washington last season, but he recorded between 3.5 and 5.5 sacks in each of the three previous campaigns. Obada should continue in a rotational role along the edge once he is activated. Fifth-round round rookie linebacker Jordan Magee, meanwhile, had his practice window opened after he was designated for return from IR before the roster cutdown deadline.

Washington also placed Jamison Crowder on injured reserve. The veteran wideout is dealing with a calf injury, and he will now miss at least four games. Crowder, 31, returned to the nation’s capital in 2023 after beginning his career there, and he played all 17 games. The pending free agent will look to get back on the field and into the Commanders’ receiver rotation once healthy.

Browns Designate Nick Chubb For Return; Nyheim Hines Back At Practice

October 2nd, 2024 at 10:57am CST by Sam Robinson

The rumored Nick Chubb return to practice is a go. The perennial Pro Bowler will work out with his Browns teammates starting today, with the club making it official.

This is a long time coming for Chubb, who underwent two knee surgeries following a severe injury sustained in Week 2 of last season. Additionally, the Browns will have Nyheim Hines and offensive lineman Michael Dunn back at practice. All three players, although they were on three different lists, each have 21-day return windows. Not being activated in that span would cause them to miss the rest of the season.

Chubb resided on Cleveland’s reserve/PUP list; he does not count against the team’s in-season activation total. By virtue of being designated for return (from the reserve/non-football injury list and reserve/non-football illness list, respectively), Hines and Dunn already count toward the Browns’ eight-activation number. Cleveland has six injury activations remaining as we hit IR- and NFI-activation season.

Although Chubb did not fully tear his ACL, he suffered other damage from the sequence in Pittsburgh. Chubb, 28, tore an MCL and sustained medial capsule and meniscus damage, leading to this year-plus return timeline. The seventh-year veteran is not expected to debut immediately, as could be expected, but the Browns having him back at practice is a good sign for his availability this season. It makes sense the Browns will want to see him ramp up once cleared to practice; the PUP-return window allows for that.

This is also a long time coming for Hines, who has been on the shelf since suffering a torn ACL from a freak jet ski accident in summer 2023. Hines was not moving during the July 2023 accident, as another jet ski crashed into him. He spent last season on the Bills’ reserve/NFI list, and Buffalo cut him with a non-football injury designation this offseason. The Browns then picked up the ex-Colts passing-down back/return man but delayed his return via the NFI stash.

For the time being, Cleveland will continue to rely on Jerome Ford as its starting RB. The Browns’ primary Chubb fill-in last year, Ford is averaging 5.2 yards per carry. As a team, however, the Browns rank 26th on the ground. They have D’Onta Foreman, Pierre Strong and Gary Brightwell on its 53-man roster, but reinforcements — which should change Cleveland’s backfield hierarchy — are coming.

The Browns and Chubb agreed on a reworked contract that doubled as a pay cut this offseason, and the four-time 1,000-yard rusher is due for free agency in 2025. The RB market showed signs of reawakening this offseason, giving Chubb motivation. To fetch a notable third contract, however, Chubb will need to show signs of his pre-injury form. The Browns will hope Chubb can help a struggling Deshaun Watson, who has spent most of his time as Cleveland’s QB1 without the consistent ball-carrier.

Formerly a Colts extension recipient, Hines was dealt to the Bills before the 2022 deadline. He returned two kickoffs for touchdowns in Buffalo’s regular-season finale that year and, in addition to two punt-return TDs, has two 400-yard receiving seasons on his resume.

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