HEADLINES

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/11/24

November 11th, 2024 at 8:06pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Here are today’s NFL practice squad updates:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Cincinnati Bengals

Houston Texans

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

The Bengals signed Brightwell after hosting several veterans for workouts on Monday, per FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz. Leonard Fournette and Xavien Howard were among the players who auditioned in Cincinnati, but neither player left with a deal.

Bills To Open Matt Milano’s Practice Window

November 11th, 2024 at 7:42pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Bills head coach Sean McDermott said that the team plans to open the 21-day practice window for linebacker Matt Milano to return from injured reserve.

However, Milano will not play in Buffalo’s crucial Week 11 tilt with the undefeated Chiefs.

Milano tore his bicep during training camp, forcing him onto IR in August and raising concerns about the 30-year-old’s ability to play this season. The Bills remained optimistic about his recovery and will now give their veteran linebacker a chance to prove his health in practice. He will have three weeks to ramp up before he must be activated to the 53-man roster or revert to season-ending injured reserve.

Milano’s torn biceps was his second major injury in the last two seasons. He fractured his leg in October 2023, ending his season after just five games. The Bills struggled to cover the middle of the field in his absence, an issue that has continued into this year with Milano on injured reserve.

Like last year, Buffalo has relied on multiple young linebackers to fill Milano’s role. 2023 third-rounder Dorian Williams has started all 10 of the Bills’ games and leads the defense with 93 tackles. Terrel Bernard started all 17 games last season, but missed three games this year with a pectoral strain. Third-year linebacker Baylon Spector stepped up in Bernard’s place for the first three starts of his career.

Despite Milano’s absence, the Bills have remained a top-10 scoring defense with just 19.3 points allowed per game. Even though the 2022 All-Pro won’t play in Week 11 against the Chiefs, his successful return to the field could give Buffalo a major boost as they vie for the AFC East crown and an elusive Super Bowl appearance.

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/11/24

November 11th, 2024 at 6:34pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Here are today’s minor moves around the NFL:

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

  • Reinstated from suspension, one-game roster exemption granted: DE Mario Edwards

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Seattle Seahawks

Williams completed his three-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. He remains on injured reserve after a season-ending knee injury suffered during training camp.

Edwards served a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy and is now eligible to be reinstated to the Texans’ active roster. Houston requested and received a one-game roster exemption to give Edwards an additional week to practice with the team before being added back to the 53-man roster.

Saints Waive Connor McGovern

November 11th, 2024 at 5:55pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Saints have waived center Connor McGovern, per ESPN’s Katherine Terrell, potentially to make space for Erik McCoy, who was designated for return from injured reserve last week.

New Orleans signed McGovern off the Jets’ practice squad at the beginning of October after a rash of injuries to their offensive line, including McCoy’s groin injury that required surgery and a stint on IR. With Shane Lemieux landing on injured reserve after Week 4, the Saints needed another center on the roster until McCoy completed his recovery.

Lucas Patrick started Week 5 at center for New Orleans, but had to move back to left guard after an injury to Nick Saldivieri. McGovern finished the game at center and started the next five games, allowing just eight pressures and zero sacks across 369 total snaps, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

But with Lemieux coming off injured reserve last week and McCoy nearing full health, the Saints moved on from McGovern. Since he was released after the trade deadline, he is subject to waivers and can be claimed by any NFL team. As an experienced lineman who has proven he is healthy after an injury ended his 2023 season, McGovern could draw interest on waivers by a team that needs center depth for the rest of the season. If he clears waivers, he is free to sign to any team’s active roster or practice squad.

The Saints recorded their third win of the year after firing head coach Dennis Allen last week. McCoy’s return should help stabilize the offensive line in front of Derek Carr, but his top receivers, Rashid Shaheed and Chris Olave, are both on injured reserve, limiting the ceiling of a Saints offense that scored 91 points across their first two games but has averaged just 17 points per game since.

Dolphins Place T Austin Jackson On IR, Activate WR River Cracraft

November 11th, 2024 at 4:50pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Dolphins have made a number of moves ahead of their Monday night matchup. Right tackle Austin Jackson has been moved to injured reserve, while wideout River Cracraft has been activated.

Jackson will be out for at least the next four games as a result of today’s move. He has served as Miami’s starter at the right tackle spot all year, continuing his run of starting all but two of his career appearances with the Dolphins. The former first-rounder has seen more success on the right side than the left (where he began his NFL tenure), and his absence will be felt up front. Kendall Lamm will replace Jackson in the starting lineup.

Last December, Jackson agreed to a three-year, $36MM extension which cemented his status as a key member of Miami’s offensive line. The 25-year-old drew underwhelming PFF grades during each of his first three seasons, but the 2023 campaign resulted in his best evaluation to date in both pass protection and run blocking. Jackson’s overall mark of 60 this year is a step back, but he will still be missed as the Dolphins look to remain as strong up front as possible after Tua Tagovailoa‘s latest concussion.

Cracraft was among the many players around the league who were placed on IR during roster cutdowns while being designated for return in the process. As a result, his activation (in terms of the Dolphins’ limit of eight for the year) has already been accounted for. As Miami moves forward with five such activations available, the team will welcome Cracraft into the fold for his season debut. The 30-year-old is set to reprise a depth role on offense, although with Tyreek Hill questionable for tonight he could see a notable workload against the Rams.

Miami has also signed defensive tackle Neil Farrell to the active roster. The 26-year-old made nine appearances with the Raiders in 2022, followed by a pair of games with the Chiefs. He has been used as a gameday elevation twice so far by the Dolphins, so that would have been an option once more before a deal on the active roster would have become necessary. Instead, Farrell has now been promoted from the practice squad, setting him up to serve in a rotational role along the defensive front.

Rams Activate Steve Avila, Jonah Jackson

November 11th, 2024 at 3:27pm CST by Adam La Rose

As expected, Steve Avila and Jonah Jackson have been activated from injured reserve. Both starting offensive linemen are thus in line to play for the Rams tonight.

Avila suffered an MCL sprain in Week 1, forcing him onto IR right away. Jackson managed to make it through his Rams debut that week, but during the following contest he went down with a shoulder injury which also led to a lengthy period on the sidelines. Getting both back will be a signficant and welcomed development as the Rams look to field a consistent unit up front.

Avila worked at left guard during his rookie campaign, and at times this offseason it appeared he was on track to move over to center in Year 2. That role was given to Jackson, however, with the free agent addition’s placement in the middle allowing Avila and Kevin Dotson to remain in place at guard. Jackson was added on a three-year pact including $25.5MM in guarantees. His ability to remain healthy now that he is back in the fold will be crucial for Los Angeles up front.

The tackle spot has also seen plenty of shuffling this year for the team. Alaric Jackson was suspended for the first two games of the year, and Joe Noteboom has been limited to one game so far. The latter was activated last week, paving the way for him to suit up tonight as well. Right tackle starter Rob Havenstein is not expected to be available for Week 10, though, so the Rams will still not have their ideal lineup along the O-line against the Dolphins. Still, the unit’s health is in a much better place now than it has been for much of the year.

In a corresponding move, Logan Bruss has been waived. The 2022 third-rounder did not make any appearances during his first two seasons with Los Angeles, and even amidst the multiple injuries being dealt with up front this year he has made only three starts amongst eight appearances. Bruss will available for any interested teams on the waiver wire; if he clears, he will become a free agent and thus have the chance to re-join the Rams on a practice squad deal. Los Angeles now has one IR activation remaining for the year.

Seahawks Waive LB Tyrel Dodson

November 11th, 2024 at 2:34pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Seahawks are underperforming on defense this season, and a notable move is on tap at the linebacker spot. Seattle plans to waive Tyrel Dodson, ESPN’s Brady Henderson reports. The move has now officially been made.

Dodson spent his first five seasons with the Bills, serving in a depth capacity as a rookie and taking on a key special teams role across the 2021 and ’22 seasons. The former UDFA saw his playing time jump to 51% last season, though, and he responded with career highs in tackles (74) and sacks (2.5). That landed him a free agent deal with the Seahawks in March.

The 26-year-old has logged over 600 snaps through nine games this year, already more than what he handled in any previous season. Given his major workload – which has included a team-leading 71 tackles along with a pair of sacks, two pass breakups and a forced fumble – today’s news comes as a surprise. Dodson’s one-year deal had a base value of $4.26MM, but its only guarantees consisted of a $1MM signing bonus which has already been paid out.

Dodson was in line to continue collecting per-game active roster bonuses through the remainder of the season, but that will not be the case if he is not retained by the organization. After the trade deadline, all players let go by their respective teams are subject to waivers. An interested club could therefore put in a claim and send the Texas A&M product to a new environment. If not, Dodson will become a free agent, keeping open the possibility of re-signing to Seattle’s practice squad.

This move represents another notable change at the linebacker spot for the Seahawks. The team sent Jerome Baker to the Titans last month, receiving Ernest Jones in return. Jones has started each of his two Seattle contests so far, and that is set to continue moving forward. 2023 UDFA Drake Thomas or fourth-round rookie Tyrice Knight could step into a first-team role to replace Dodson.

Seattle started the year 3-0 under first-time head coach Mike Macdonald, hired in no small part for his potential in delivering improvement on defense. The team now sits at 4-5 on the year, and it ranks outside the top 20 in several defensive categories. Dodson could play a role in helping generate a turnaround if he remains in the fold, but it remains to be seen if that will be the case.

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.

CB Xavien Howard, RB Leonard Fournette Visit Bengals

November 11th, 2024 at 12:57pm CST by Adam La Rose

12:57pm: Howard received an offer after his workout concluded, Garafolo notes in an update. No deal was reached between team and player, however. As a result, Howard will now resume training on his own as he awaits another opportunity.

9:53am: Xavien Howard has remained on the market past the trade deadline, and he has not been connected to any potential suitors since well before the regular season started. The former All-Pro corner is now on at least one team’s radar, however.

Howard is set to visit the Bengals today, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. Cincinnati’s defense has been a sore spot during the year, and the team ranks 22nd against the pass. Adding in the secondary would thus come as no surprise, especially in the wake of Dax Hill‘s October ACL tear.

The Dolphins released Howard this offseason, and it quickly became clear a new Miami deal at a reduced rate would not be in the cards. The four-time Pro Bowler (and Houston native) expressed interest in joining the Texans, but that feeling did not turn out to be mutual. Despite being medically cleared in May, teams did not show interest in Howard; in spite of that, he has remained intent on suiting up at some point in 2024.

The 31-year-old was named in a lawsuit in July; criminal charges have not been sought up to this point but they could include sexual cyber harassment, invasion of privacy by public disclosure of private facts and intrusion of privacy if that were to be the case. A resolution has not arrived (at least publicly) in Howard’s legal situation, but the Bengals could look to add him depending on how today’s visit goes. The Baylor product has a relationship with defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo dating back to their time together in Miami.

Howard is not the only veteran receiving a look in Cincinnati. Garafolo’s colleagues Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport report Leonard Fournette is set for a free agent on Monday as well. The Bengals lost Zack Moss for the season due to a neck injury, something which prompted the trade acquisition of Khalil Herbert from the Bears. Herbert logged only two snaps in his Cincinnati debut, fumbling his first handoff with the team.

In Moss’ absence, Chase Brown has operated as the team’s lead back. Brown has recorded 40 carries and 14 receptions over the past two games, and he figures to maintain a heavy workload moving forward. Even with Herbert in place as a backup option, though, the team could afford to add further insurance in the backfield. Fournette made a pair of appearances with the Bills last season, but he saw only 12 carries during that time.

The 29-year-old met with the Colts just before the start of the regular season, but that visit did not produce an agreement. Fournette’s last sustained gig came during his three-year Buccaneers stint, one which ended in his release last February. He has topped 1,100 scrimmage yards four times in his career.

The Bengals currently have $8.32MM in cap space, so a modest deal for Howard and/or Fournette would be feasible from a financial standpoint. The team sits at 4-6 on the year, but additions on either side of the ball could assist in a late-season playoff push.

Steelers’ Alex Highsmith To Undergo MRI; Multi-Week Absence Likely?

November 11th, 2024 at 12:15pm CST by Adam La Rose

Alex Highsmith has already missed three games this season, and he could be in line to spend further time on the sidelines. The fifth-year edge rusher exited Sunday’s Steelers win with an ankle injury, and further testing will take place to determine the full extent of the damage.

While team and player await those results, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette notes an absence of two to three games is “likely.” Highsmith dealt with a groin injury earlier in the year, but he returned in time to play in the Steelers’ last three games. Missing him for any further period of time would deal a blow to the team’s edge rush.

Highsmith has formed a highly effective tandem with T.J. Watt during his Pittsburgh tenure. The former third-rounder emerged as a full-time starter in 2022, posting six sacks that year. Highsmith followed that up with a career-best 14.5 (along with five forced fumbles), and last season he added another seven to his career total. That production landed him a four-year, $68MM extension and raised expectations for the current campaign.

The 27-year-old has totaled three sacks so far this year, and he will be counted on to remain a starter once he is healthy. Pittsburgh has made it a priority to have veteran depth in the OLB3 role during recent seasons, however, and 2024 is no different. The Steelers acquired Preston Smith ahead of last week’s trade deadline after the Packers granted his request to be moved. The 31-year-old has 156 games to his name, so he will be capable of filling a first-team role for the time being.

As Dulac adds, Nick Herbig is expected to be back in the lineup this week. He has made a pair of starts in his five appearances this year (which, of course, came before the Smith addition), so he will be a candidate to handle a rotational role along the edge while Highsmith recovers. The latter’s return will give Pittsburgh an impressive list of options to complement Watt late in the year.

Pittsburgh’s win on Sunday leaves the team atop the AFC North with a 7-2 record. A crucial divisional matchup against the 7-3 Ravens looms, and not having Highsmith available for that game would be notable for the Steelers’ defense. Further updates on his prognosis will be worth watching closely.

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