Here are the latest NFL practice squad moves:
Baltimore Ravens
Carolina Panthers
New York Giants
Here are Saturday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
Cincinnati Bengals
Cleveland Browns
Denver Broncos
Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers
Houston Texans
Indianapolis Colts
Jacksonville Jaguars
Los Angeles Chargers
Los Angeles Rams
Miami Dolphins
Minnesota Vikings
New England Patriots
New York Giants
New York Jets
Philadelphia Eagles
Seattle Seahawks
Tennessee Titans
Multiple standout defensive linemen will be back in action in Week 13, and although the Ravens still have several players on their reserve/COVID-19 list, their roster is no longer as depleted as it was Wednesday.
Here are Friday’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
Los Angeles Rams
Miami Dolphins
The hamstring injury Robert Griffin III suffered Wednesday in Pittsburgh will result in a prolonged absence. This could complicate matters for the Ravens.
While RG3 going on IR would not normally affect Baltimore’s starting lineup, it is not yet known if Lamar Jackson will be ready to return when first eligible to come off the Ravens’ reserve/COVID-19 list. Jackson tested positive for the coronavirus on Nov. 26 and cannot return to practice until Sunday. The Ravens will host the Cowboys on Tuesday night.
Baltimore used third-stringer Trace McSorley — who was recently activated from the COVID list — at the end of Wednesday’s loss to the Steelers. He would be in line to start for the Ravens against the Cowboys, should Jackson require more recovery time.
RG3 struggled against the Steelers but brings extensive NFL experience McSorley obviously lacks. An eighth-year NFL vet, Griffin has been Jackson’s backup for three years. Griffin cannot resume his QB2 duties until at least Week 16.
While the Ravens will be without Griffin for a while, they did receive word Friday they will have more depth available against Dallas. Baltimore activated J.K. Dobbins, Matt Skura, Patrick Mekari and Pernell McPhee from the virus list.
The Ravens held Dobbins and Mark Ingram out of their thrice-rescheduled game in Pittsburgh. Both backs tested positive for COVID-19 but would have been eligible to return for Week 12. Dobbins being back in action will be a boon to a Ravens team suddenly on thin ice with regards to playoff qualification.
Here are Thursday’s practice squad decisions:
Denver Broncos
Las Vegas Raiders
New York Giants
San Francisco 49ers
Here are Thursday’s minor moves:
Indianapolis Colts
Las Vegas Raiders
Los Angeles Rams
New England Patriots
New York Jets
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Vikings will have their starting receiver duo back in action this week. They activated Adam Thielen off their reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday.
Thielen landed on the coronavirus list Nov. 23, and despite no reports indicating the veteran target contracted the virus, the Vikings were without their two-time Pro Bowl pass catcher against the Panthers. But Thielen is set to return to help the Vikes against the Jaguars.
Prior to his stay on the virus list, Thielen had done well to rebound from an injury-marred 2019. After missing the better part of seven games last season, Thielen caught 49 passes for 646 yards and a career-high 11 touchdowns through 10 games. Those 11 TDs led the NFL going into Week 12; Tyreek Hill‘s surge in Tampa now has the Chiefs deep threat pacing the league with 13 touchdown grabs.
Backups Chad Beebe and Bisi Johnson filled in well against Carolina, combining for 14 receptions in the one-point win. But the Vikings have structured their passing attack around the Thielen-Justin Jefferson duo, as they did around their Thielen-Stefon Diggs tandem for years. Thielen, 30, signed a four-year, $64MM extension in 2019.
One game out of the NFC’s third wild-card spot, the 5-6 Vikings are trying to become the fourth team since the merger to start 1-5 and make the playoffs.
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Buffalo Bills
Denver Broncos
Detroit Lions
Green Bay Packers
Houston Texans
Miami Dolphins
Minnesota Vikings
San Francisco 49ers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
After Trent Brown‘s second lengthy absence this season, the Raiders may finally have their right tackle back in action soon.
The Raiders activated Brown, Lamarcus Joyner and Theo Riddick off their reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday. Brown contracted the coronavirus earlier this season and experienced significant complications from the disease, requiring hospitalization and a second stay on Las Vegas’ reserve/COVID list.
Brown was on track to practice this week, and while the 2019 Pro Bowler might not be ready to return against the Jets, staying on schedule represents a positive development given his issues this season. If Brown is not ready to suit up this weekend, two weeks’ worth of practices could well be enough for a Week 14 re-emergence to take place.
Brown has played all of 73 offensive snaps this season, with an injury a few plays into the season moving him to IR, and has required two stints on the virus list. The Raiders have experienced issues at both tackle spots recently, though Kolton Miller returned from a brief absence late last month. He and Brown have barely seen the field together this season, however, and the latter’s return would be a boon to the suddenly struggling team’s playoff hopes. Las Vegas is already out starting guard Richie Incognito for the season.
Joyner has also landed on the Raiders’ COVID list twice this season. He was part of a slew of Raiders to be placed on the list after Clelin Ferrell‘s positive test late last month, but after Joyner initially came off the list with teammates, the Raiders moved him back on the list just before their Chiefs rematch. Joyner has missed the past two games.