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Minor NFL Transactions: 1/7/25

January 7th, 2025 at 8:06pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Baltimore Ravens

Houston Texans

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

A handful of playoff teams designated players for return from IR today, opening the 21-day window for activation. While there’s a chance these players are activated at some point during the postseason, they could also merely be providing the team with another body during practices.

Rams Place RB Blake Corum On IR

January 7th, 2025 at 6:58pm CST by Ben Levine

Blake Corum‘s rookie season has officially come to an end. The Rams announced that they’ve placed the first-year running back on injured reserve.

Corum suffered a fractured forearm during the Rams’ season finale. The injury will knock Corum out for the entire postseason, and the team has opened his roster spot by placing the rookie on IR.

A former standout at Michigan, Corum’s college career culminated with him earning the National Championship Offensive MVP. He was ultimately the third RB off the board (behind Jonathon Brooks and Trey Benson) when the Rams selected him in the third round of this past year’s draft.

With Kyren Williams dominating the backfield shares, snaps were difficult to come by for the Rams other RBs. Ronnie Rivers seemed to be the team’s initial choice for RB2, but the rookie eventually overtook his teammate, with Corum garnering the majority of the team’s backup RB snaps after their Week 6 bye. Corum ended up finishing his rookie campaign having compiled 265 yards from scrimmage on 65 touches.

With the rookie out of the lineup, Rivers will likely step up as the team’s top backup. The team is also rostering Cody Schrader, and the team announced that they’ve added veteran RB Royce Freeman to the practice squad.

Vikings Sign Daniel Jones To Active Roster

January 7th, 2025 at 5:27pm CST by Sam Robinson

After spending more than a month on the Vikings’ practice squad, Daniel Jones is making the move up. Minnesota is signing the veteran quarterback to its 53-man roster.

To make room for the former Giants starter, the Vikings waived Brett Rypien. This marks the second time this year Rypien has been let go; the Bears released him in August. Rypien had resided on Minnesota’s active roster since signing with the team two days later.

As this is a true signing rather than a practice squad elevation, Jones would now net the Vikings a compensatory pick — depending on how Minnesota proceeds in free agency — in the 2026 draft, the Minneapolis Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling notes. Jones would have been in line to fetch the Giants a comp pick, but the NFC East team forfeited that right by waiving him.

Talent-wise, Jones would make sense as the player who would be best suited to replace Sam Darnold in the event of an injury, but backup Nick Mullens has been in Kevin O’Connell‘s system for three seasons now. Mullens, however, went 0-3 as a Minnesota starter last season. Jones went 2-8 with the Giants this year, as far as wins and losses go, and did not come close to justifying the four-year, $160MM extension the Giants bailed on midway through. That said, Jones played efficiently in 2022 and is a former No. 6 overall pick. It would stand to reason this move to the 53 would position him as a player the Vikings would strongly consider using in an emergency.

For the first time in his career, Darnold has not missed a start during a season. Illnesses and injuries have plagued the former Jets No. 3 overall pick during his starter seasons, removing Darnold’s 2023 49ers stay from this equation. The former Jets and Panthers starter missed three games apiece in 2018 and ’19 and then was sidelined for four in 2020. A broken collarbone sidelined Darnold for much of the 2021 season, and a high ankle sprain — sustained after Baker Mayfield had beaten him out for Carolina’s QB1 gig — kept him out for much of the 2022 slate. Though, the Vikings have seen Darnold provide stability after J.J. McCarthy‘s season-ending knee injury.

While Darnold has transformed his free agency stock — to the point the Vikings may use the franchise tag to keep him off the market — Jones’ is rather murky. A thin QB crop, even factoring in Kirk Cousins‘ likely release, would stand to help the six-year Giants starter. But his injury past and mostly shaky track record (zero seasons north of 7.0 yards per attempt) will make teams hesitant. For now, he is in place as insurance on a 14-3 Vikings team. Free agency will loom soon after.

Ezekiel Elliott To Sign With Chargers Practice Squad

January 6th, 2025 at 8:55pm CST by Ben Levine

After requesting his release from the Cowboys in pursuit of a playoff run, Ezekiel Elliott has landed with a postseason squad. The veteran running back is signing with the Chargers practice squad, per Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz.

[RELATED: Cowboys Release Ezekiel Elliott]

Elliott attracted interest from a handful of playoff-bound teams, according to Schultz. The running back ultimately chose the Chargers because he liked the fit alongside coach Jim Harbaugh and quarterback Justin Herbert. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport adds that there’s hope that Elliott can get “up to speed quickly” and contribute to his squad in the playoffs.

Following a one-season stop in New England, Elliott returned to the Cowboys this past offseason. With Tony Pollard no longer in the picture, there was hope that the long-time Dallas star could once again lead the backfield. The veteran saw a somewhat significant role to begin the season, including the season opener when he ran for 40 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.

As the season went on, Elliott found himself definitively behind Rico Dowdle on the depth chart. The veteran generally struggled when he was on the field, as his 3.1 yards-per-carry represented a new career-low. Elliott also faced discipline in November for his “habitual tardiness,” leading to his Week 9 absence. With the Cowboys firmly out of the playoff picture entering the final week of the season, Elliott requested and was granted his release as he pursued an opportunity with a playoff team.

He’ll find that opportunity in Los Angeles, where the Chargers have navigated a new RB corps in 2024. J.K. Dobbins recently returned to his RB1 role after missing four weeks with a sprained knee, but fellow RB Gus Edwards is currently nursing his own ankle issue. Hassan Haskins and rookie Kimani Vidal have filled in admirably at times for the Chargers throughout the 2024 campaign, but considering Dobbins’ injury history, some extra depth certainly won’t hurt.

Of course, expectations have to be managed for the team’s newest addition. Even as Elliott found the end zone 12 times during the 2022 campaign, the RB was already showing signs of decline, leading to the Cowboys bailing from his six-year, $90MM extension. He didn’t look a whole lot better during his lone season with the Patriots, and he hit a new low this season with only 295 yards from scrimmage. The Chargers are set to take on the Texans this Saturday, so it may be unrealistic for Elliott to earn the team’s trust in less than a week. If the Chargers win their Wild Card matchup and Edwards is still sidelined, then Elliott could potentially play a goal-line role for the team in later rounds.

Minor NFL Transactions: 1/6/25

January 6th, 2025 at 7:45pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Indianapolis Colts

Miami Dolphins

  • Re-signed (two years): CB Jason Maitre

New Orleans Saints

  • Re-signed: K Charlie Smyth

A number of impending free agents quickly re-signed with their current organizations today. While these players aren’t shoo-ins for roster spots in 2025, they are attached to actual NFL contracts (vs. reserve/futures contracts, which would need to be converted into real contracts if a player makes a 53-man roster).

In addition to hanging on to kicker Charlie Smyth today, the Saints also had to deal with some notable details on a previously-agreed-upon contract. The NFL rejected the team’s contract to safety Travion Fluellen, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston. The organization later revised the agreement, bumping the contract from a two-year pact to a three-year pact. It’s uncertain why the league rejected the initial deal, although it could be due to Fluellen’s status as a former UFL player.

NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/6/25

January 6th, 2025 at 7:29pm CST by Ben Levine

With the regular season having come to an end, many teams have started signing players to reserve/futures contracts. This allows organization to retain (routinely) young, practice squad players. Here are the latest reserve/futures contracts:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Indianapolis Colts

Las Vegas Raiders

New York Giants

New York Jets

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

Jaguars OL Tyler Shatley Retires

January 5th, 2025 at 5:52pm CST by Ely Allen

Reserve veteran lineman Tyler Shatley has officially hung up his cleats, retiring from the NFL after an 11-year career, per a team announcement with a message from Shatley. Shatley spent his entire career in Jacksonville, serving as a key primary backup on the offensive line.

Shatley, 33, came to the NFL originally as an undrafted free agent out of Clemson. Signing as part of the 2014 rookie class in Jacksonville, Shatley was a surprise member of the 53-man roster as an undrafted rookie, though he only appeared in one game. A year later, he was playing in 13 games as a special teams lineman.

In 2016, Shatley got his first shots on the offense, starting two games at center and two games at left guard in injury relief. By 2017, he had established himself as a go-to sixth man on the interior of the offensive line, once again being called up to start four games at center in relief of an injured Brandon Linder, who had earned the starting job the year before. He also served as the emergency long snapper for a short time that season. In 2018, Shatley got his first extended stretch of starting experience, closing out the final seven games of the season with Linder on injured reserve.

A healthy 2019 season for Linder pushed Shatley back to the bench and special teams for a year, but more injuries in 2020 and 2021 once again limited Linder to nine games apiece, opening the door for more playing time for Shatley at center.

After Linder retired, Shatley lost out on the starting gig to replace him, but a season-ending injury to starting left guard Ben Bartch opened up the door for Shatley to make a long-term return to the starting lineup. Last year, the Jaguars struggled the find consistency along their offensive line, and though he couldn’t carve out a consistent role, Shatley was key in ensuring there was coverage along the line.

Coming into the 2024 NFL season, for the first time, Shatley failed to make the 53-man roster. The Jaguars didn’t leave him without a job for long, signing him to the practice squad in late-November. He didn’t make an in-game appearance in this final year in Jacksonville, but no doubt his presence on the practice squad gave the team some assurance that depth was available.

It takes a lot to remain in the NFL for 11 years, especially on the active roster for 10 of those years and especially with all 11 years being on the same team. Shatley may have never earned big contracts or superstar recognition, but his 11 years with the Jaguars are a testament to his reliability and importance to their roster makeup.

Bucs S Jordan Whitehead Placed On NFI

January 4th, 2025 at 10:22pm CST by Ben Levine

As the Buccaneers push for one of the league’s final unresolved playoff spots, they’ll be without a key defender. The Buccaneers placed safety Jordan Whitehead on the reserve/non-football injury list today, per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.

Per Stroud, Whitehead was involved in an automobile accident this morning. The veteran “suffered injuries significant enough” to warrant placement on NFI. Stroud notes that the player is okay but is still expected to miss multiple weeks, making it unlikely he’ll play again until the 2025 campaign. ESPN’s Jenna Laine reports that Whitehead’s accident occurred on his way to the facility this morning. He’s at the hospital undergoing tests, he’s alert, but he will miss some time.

Whitehead, a seventh-year veteran, has been a starter in the league ever since the early days of his rookie season after getting drafted by the Buccaneers in the fourth round in 2018 out of Pitt. Following four strong seasons on his rookie contract, in which he totaled five interceptions, 25 passes defensed, 22 tackles for loss, and two sacks, Whitehead signed a two-year $14.5MM deal with the Jets. After two more strong seasons as a starter in New York — six interceptions, 17 passes defensed, seven tackles for loss — Whitehead found his way back to Tampa Bay on a two-year, $9MM contract.

Whitehead has dealt with a couple minor injuries in the past, missing six games over his first four years with the Buccaneers. Following two completely healthy years with the Jets, Whitehead’s season will end with a career-low 12 games played in 2024. He’d recently worked his way back from a pectoral injury that landed him on injured reserve after four missed games, but today’s accident will put him back on an injured list to end the year.

In addition to Tampa Bay’s postseason push, this development comes as the Buccaneers are navigating a number of injuries to their safeties corps. Greg Auman of FOX Sports observes that the team will be without their top three safeties tomorrow Whitehead, Antoine Winfield Jr. and Christian Izien, leaving the team with Kaevon Merriweather, Mike Edwards, and Tykee Smith at the position (along with Tavierre Thomas as potential depth).

In a statement released by the team, it was announced that the team would sign practice squad safety Ryan Neal to the 53-man roster in light of Whitehead’s injury. Neal was elevated recently for one of the games Whitehead missed on IR, playing on special teams and sparingly on defense.

Ely Allen contributed to this post.

Lions Activate Kalif Raymond, Alex Anzalone; Emmanuel Moseley Moved To NFI List

January 4th, 2025 at 10:18pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Lions will have reinforcements on both sides of the ball for tomorrow night’s pivotal game. Receiver Kalif Raymond and linebacker Alex Anzalone have both been activated from injured reserve, per a team announcement.

[RELATED: IR Return Tracker]

Raymond had been on injured reserve since November due to a foot injury, but he returned to practice last week. That opened his 21-day activation window, but of course bringing him onto the active roster in time for Week 18 required today’s transaction. Raymond will be in place to provide complimentary production in the passing game behind top wideouts Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams along with tight end Sam LaPorta. Detroit’s offense has remained much healthier than the team’s defense this year, but having additional depth at the receiver spot (not to mention the top punt return option) in time for the playoffs will be a welcomed development.

Getting Anzalone back will also be key as the Lions look to lock up the top seed in the NFC. The 30-year-old had his practice window opened on Wednesday, although questions remained about his ability to suit up for tomorrow’s game. Anzalone is listed as questionable for Sunday due to the broken forearm which induced his IR stint, but his ability to recover to the point of activation is a strong sign he will be in the lineup. If so, Detroit’s linebacking corps will see a starter return to the fold and the team’s defense as a whole will get a key presence back.

The news is not all positive for the Lions on the injury front, however. Cornerback Emmanuel Moseley has been placed on the reserve/non-football injury list. That designation requires at least a four-game absence, meaning he is all-but assured of missing the remainder of the campaign. Moseley’s debut Lions season (2023) ended with an ACL tear in Week 1, and the follow-up has not gone according to plan either. The pending free agent has been limited to only two games this year, something which will hurt his stock. Being without Moseley (who last played in Week 16) will be especially notable given the absence of fellow corner Carlton Davis.

The Lions have a long list of other players who could be in contention to be activated down the road, especially if they can manage a deep playoff run. Winning the NFC North and securing the first-round bye would be helpful in that regard, but losing to the Vikings in the NFL’s final regular season contest would drop Detroit to the No. 5 seed. In any case, adding to the list of healthy contributors will be key for the Lions.

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