COVID-19 News & Rumors

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/16/20

Here are Wednesday’s minor moves:

Baltimore Ravens

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars

Miami Dolphins

New York Jets

  • Placed on IR: S Saquan Hamilton

Philadelphia Eagles

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/16/20

We’ll keep track of the latest practice squad moves here:

Baltimore Ravens

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

  • Signed: LS Anthony Kukwa

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars:

Las Vegas Raiders

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Buccaneers Place Ronald Jones On Reserve/COVID-19 List

Ronald Jones underwent surgery on a fractured pinkie finger this week, leaving his status for Week 15 in doubt. The Buccaneers running back now has another hurdle to clear before returning to action.

The Bucs placed their starting back on their reserve/COVID-19 list Tuesday. It is not yet known if Jones has contracted the coronavirus, but he will be out of practice this week while on the list. Jones being a high-risk close contact would shelve him for five days, but depending on when the contact with a COVID-positive person occurred, the third-year back could return in time for Sunday’s game.

This comes a day after the Bucs placed specialists Ryan Succop, Bradley Pinion and Zach Triner on their virus list. With Jones joining them, this is a situation to monitor going into Week 15. Jones did not practice Wednesday.

Jones suffered the fracture during Tampa Bay’s win against Minnesota last week. The former second-round pick leads the Bucs with a career-high 900 rushing yards.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/15/20

Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:

Baltimore Ravens

Houston Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars

Los Angeles Chargers

  • Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: S Derwin James; James remains on IR

Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

  • Waived: CB Brandon Williams

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tennessee Titans

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Raiders Place Henry Ruggs On Reserve/COVID-19 List

Ahead of a key Thursday game against the Chargers, the Raiders are set to be without their field-stretching rookie wideout. They placed Henry Ruggs on their reserve/COVID-19 list Tuesday.

While the Raiders have not gotten as much from Ruggs statistically as some of the other teams who drafted receivers this year, the Alabama product has helped the team’s offense as a deep threat.

It is not yet known if Ruggs tested positive for the coronavirus or qualifies as a high-risk close contact. Either scenario would, however, give him an opening to play in Week 16. This makes for another setback for the 2020 draft’s top wideout selected. He missed much of Las Vegas’ offseason program after suffering an off-field injury and missed time earlier this season because of a hamstring malady.

Ruggs is averaging 18.0 yards per catch this season, hauling in 23 passes for 414 yards and two touchdowns. The coveted prospect has seen low-cost UFA Nelson Agholor operate as Las Vegas’ top outside receiver as of late.

The Raiders also promoted Vic Beasley from their practice squad. The Raiders’ loss to the Colts bumped them back to the “In the Hunt” tier of the AFC playoff picture, placing obvious importance on their Week 15 game against the Bolts.

Everson Griffen Tests Positive For COVID-19

The Lions placed Everson Griffen on their reserve/COVID-19 list Saturday and did so because of a positive test, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets.

An in-season trade acquisition, Griffen is now set to miss the next two Lions games. The veteran defensive end was one of three players whose most recent coronavirus test came back positive, joining Dolphins running back Myles Gaskin and Rams linebacker Jachai Polite.

Playing on a one-year deal, Griffen has five sacks this season. He has recorded 2.5 of those in his five games with the Lions. Should Griffen avoid complications from the season-defining virus, he could return in Week 16 to make a final impression for another run at free agency. Griffen is a half-sack away from 80 in his 11-year career.

This will leave the Lions thin on the edge, with Trey Flowers and rookie Julian Okwara on IR. Detroit also is down cornerbacks Desmond Trufant and Jeff Okudah. Griffen, however, is the only player on the team’s COVID list.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/12/20

Here is Saturday’s usual barrage of minor moves:

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

  • Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Jachai Polite; Polite tested positive for the coronavirus, according to ESPN.com’s Field Yates (via Twitter)

Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Football Team

Dolphins Place Myles Gaskin On Reserve/COVID-19 List

One week after Myles Gaskin returned from IR, he experienced another setback that is set to sideline him again. The Dolphins placed their top running back on their reserve/COVID-19 list Saturday. Gaskin tested positive for the coronavirus, according to ESPN.com’s Field Yates (on Twitter).

Gaskin joins Matt Breida and Jamal Perry as running backs on Miami’s coronavirus list, leaving the Dolphins shorthanded for their Week 14 game against the Chiefs. Gaskin’s positive test will knock him out for at least two Dolphin games.

The Dolphins have not activated Breida, whom they placed on the virus list last week, as of Saturday afternoon. The transactions deadline looms soon. Miami did, however, promote Elijah McGuire from its practice squad. McGuire will join tight end Chris Myarick and defensive end Tyshun Render in being elevated to the active roster.

Gaskin totaled 141 scrimmage yards last week, upon returning from an MCL sprain. The Dolphins are now extremely thin in the backfield, with Salvon Ahmed also out. Gaskin practiced in full Friday but will miss the pivotal AFC matchup. Miami’s backfield depth chart — as far as healthy players go — consists of DeAndre Washington, Patrick Laird and McGuire. The Dolphins acquired Washington from the Chiefs in a pre-deadline trade.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/11/20

Here are Friday’s minor moves:

Carolina Panthers

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

New York Giants

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tennessee Titans

Latest On Panthers’ COVID-19 Situation

Dec. 11: Good news for Carolina, as Samuel, Thompson, and Brown have all been activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list and were back at practice today. They will all be available for the club’s tilt with the Broncos on Sunday.

Dec. 8: The Panthers are now a team to monitor regarding COVID-19. They placed eight players on their reserve/COVID-19 list this week, after two tested positive, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

Carolina moved several big names — D.J. Moore, Curtis Samuel, Shaq Thompson, Derrick Brown and Greg Little — along with punter Michael Palardy, defensive tackle Zach Kerr and wide receiver Ishmael Hyman to their coronavirus list this week. At least two of these players will miss Sunday’s game against the Broncos, and the rest of the lot will at least miss some practice time this week. It is not yet certain which Panthers tested positive.

While this is certainly an issue, the Panthers do not appear to have the makings of an outbreak. They reported no new positive COVID-19 tests Tuesday, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter). The Panthers closed their facility after the positive tests but are scheduled to reopen it Wednesday.

Carolina will host Denver on Sunday. The Broncos saw their bye rescheduled at the 11th hour earlier this season, when the Patriots encountered positive tests. With no teams having more byes, after the Panthers and Buccaneers concluded theirs in Week 13, the NFL’s options would be limited. However, as the recent Ravens outbreak showed, the league will pull out all the stops to ensure games are now played in their scheduled week.