HEADLINES

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/12/24

October 12th, 2024 at 5:28pm CST by Ely Allen

Saturday’s practice squad transactions:

Atlanta Falcons

King made a long-awaited return to the NFL this season. After sitting out of the 2022 NFL season for personal reasons and tearing his Achilles tendon in the ramp up to the 2023 season, King hadn’t been seen in the NFL in over two years. The former second-round pick out of Washington has always had talent, but injury issues have kept him consistently off the field. In 2019, the only year in which King missed fewer than five games, the talented defensive back recorded five interceptions.

Despite a standout performance on defense in Atlanta this offseason, King saw very few snaps on defense in the regular season before being released this week. King was praised for his defensive versatility throughout camp and the preseason, but thus far, the Falcons had mostly utilized the veteran on special teams. He returns to the roster via the practice squad.

Saints Place S Will Harris On IR, Activate RB Kendre Miller

October 12th, 2024 at 4:51pm CST by Ely Allen

The Saints secondary took a hit today as starting safety Will Harris has been placed on injured reserve. Taking his place on the 53-man roster will be second-year running back Kendre Miller, who has been officially activated from IR today.

Harris and Miller have both been dealing with hamstring injuries. While Harris suffered his against the Chiefs on Monday, Miller is just getting healthy from his. Miller was a full participant in practice all week, while Harris did not participate at all. Hamstring injuries have a tendency to linger, hence keeping Harris out for at least four games.

Harris is in his sixth year of NFL football and is playing his first season outside of Detroit. The veteran defensive back has never been a game-changer on the field, but he has been consistently available and a dependable starter. This will be Harris’ first instance of extended missed time. Since getting drafted by the Lions in 2019, Harris has only missed two of a possible 88 games, starting 45 of those contests.

Without Harris on defense, the Saints will likely turn to second-year safety Jordan Howden to play next to Tyrann Mathieu in the defensive backfield. Howden started seven games for New Orleans last year as an injury replacement for Marcus Maye. In a worst-case scenario, the Saints roster veteran Johnathan Abram as a backup behind Howden on the practice squad.

Miller should replace Jordan Mims as the RB3 behind Alvin Kamara and Jamaal Williams in his return to play. As a third-round rookie last year, Miller finished fourth on the team in yards and carries behind Kamara, Williams, and Swiss Army weapon Taysom Hill.

In addition to the IR transactions, the Saints also announced that Abram and offensive guard Chris Reed will be called up tomorrow as standard gameday practice squad elevations. Abram and Reed will be relegated back to the practice squad after tomorrow’s contest.

Patriots Activate LB Sione Takitaki

October 12th, 2024 at 3:58pm CST by Ely Allen

The Patriots will be getting some much-needed reinforcement to the team’s linebacking corps this weekend. According to Patriots staff writer Evan Lazar, New England has officially activated linebacker Sione Takitaki. In addition, the team has promoted long snapper Tucker Addington and running back Terrell Jennings as standard gameday practice squad elevations.

Takitaki was signed by New England early into free agency after a five-year stint in Cleveland. A former third-round pick for the Browns in 2019, Takitaki was always a strong contributor while struggling to carve out a consistent role as a full-time starter. When signing with the Patriots, the veteran linebacker was reunited with former Browns staffers Eliot Wolf and Alonzo Highsmith.

Takitaki was signed to bolster a linebacking corps that was short on returning talent. Unfortunately, the 29-year-old defender has yet to contribute after being placed on the reserve/physically unable to perform list before the start of the season. His contributions can’t come soon enough as starting Patriots linebackers Jahlani Tavai and Raekwon McMillan currently rank 73rd and 79th, respectively, out of 79 graded linebackers in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

Addington is being called up a day after signing to the practice squad as regular long snapper Joe Cardona heads into this week’s game with a questionable injury designation due to a calf issue. Rhamondre Stevenson has been ruled out for this weekend, so Jennings will join Antonio Gibson and JaMycal Hasty as options out of the offensive backfield.

Broncos Assistant Coach Zack Grossi Diagnosed With Cancer

October 12th, 2024 at 2:29pm CST by Ely Allen

The Broncos will have a little extra motivation during the 2024 NFL season. During the NFL’s Crucial Catch month emphasizing the importance of early cancer screenings and raising cancer awareness, Broncos passing game specialist Zack Grossi will begin treatment for a recent cancer diagnosis, per Broncos lead writer Aric DiLalla.

In a message lauding the organization for their support, Grossi explained that he “felt a little bit off” and had “trouble breathing.” The team’s medical staff examined him, and after bloodwork and a scan, a tumor was discovered in Grossi’s chest cavity. The official diagnosis was “a Yolk Sac Tumor,” according to Grossi’s statement.

Grossi first joined the Broncos back in 2022, during Nathaniel Hackett‘s short tenure as head coach, coming on as an offensive quality control coach. It wasn’t his first experience in the NFL; the 35-year-old spent five seasons with the Buccaneers after his first football job as an offensive graduate assistant for Concord University. He started in Tampa Bay as a scouting assistant in 2014, getting promoted to pro scout the following year. In 2016, Grossi was named assistant to the head coach under Dirk Koetter. He spent his final two years in Tampa Bay as an offensive quality control coach.

Following his five-year stint in the NFL, Grossi went back to the college ranks. He spent a year at Hampton University as the quarterbacks coach and then two years as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for Southern University and A&M College. He made his return to the NFL under Hackett and was retained whenever head coach Sean Payton came on board. Not only did Grossi retain his job after a coaching change, but he also earned a promotion to his current position after a year under Payton’s tutelage.

It’s unfortunate timing for rookie quarterback Bo Nix, who has just begun to blossom as the leader of the offense under the current staff, but the team and staff have professed “unwavering support” of Grossi and his family “as he takes some time away to focus on his health.” Grossi’s treatment will consist of a few months of chemotherapy, which he began this week, until doctors are able to surgically remove the remainder of the tumor.

We at Pro Football Rumors wish Zack and his family only the best in the months to come as we hope for an efficient recovery and a speedy return.

Falcons To Activate LB Nate Landman

October 12th, 2024 at 12:27pm CST by Ben Levine

The Falcons will be welcoming back a key defender for tomorrow’s game against the Panthers. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports that the team is activating linebacker Nate Landman off injured reserve.

After dealing with a quad injury throughout the preseason, Landman suffered a calf injury during his team’s Week 1 loss. That injury ended up putting the linebacker on the shelf, but fortunately, it sounds like he’s ready to go after a minimum stay on injured reserve.

A former UDFA, Landman saw a limited role as a rookie before breaking out in 2023. The linebacker was inserted into the starting lineup following Troy Andersen‘s season-ending injury, and the fill-in proceeded to start 14 of his 16 appearances last season. The Colorado product ultimately finished the campaign with 110 tackles, two sacks, and three forced fumbles.

Kaden Elliss has continued to lead the depth chart during Landman’s absence, with the veteran not missing a single defensive snap this season. Andersen has mostly soaked up Landman’s leftover snaps, although the LB missed Week 5 (and has already been ruled out for Week 6) while nursing a knee injury. That opened the door for JD Bertrand to get into a season-high 38 snaps in Week 5, but with Landman back on the roster, the Falcons can pivot to their intended linebacker pairing on Sunday.

Giants OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux Undergoes Wrist Surgery

October 12th, 2024 at 11:50am CST by Sam Robinson

TODAY, 11:50am: Kayvon Thibodeaux will indeed land on injured reserve, according to Dan Duggan of The Athletic. The pass rusher will now be sidelined until at least Week 10, although the organization could give him an extra few weeks of rest considering their Week 11 bye.

WEDNESDAY, 11:45am: A pillar in what has been a promising Giants pass rush, Kayvon Thibodeaux will see his third NFL season paused. The former top-10 pick is set for surgery.

Thibodeaux sustained a wrist injury, with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport indicating the Oregon alum is undergoing the procedure to repair a fractured scaphoid bone. While an IR placement is not certain, Brian Daboll (several times) called Thibodeaux week-to-week.

While Daboll refused to confirm a timeline, The Athletic’s Dan Duggan notes a four- to six-week absence is expected. This would make an IR move likely. The procedure included a screw insertion into Thibodeaux’s repaired wrist, and while he could beat that timetable, the Giants can save a roster spot by giving him four weeks to recover. Placing Thibodeaux on IR now would sideline him until Week 10; the Giants have a Week 11 bye.

Breaking through with 11.5 sacks last season, Thibodeaux now teams with Brian Burns at OLB — on a front seven still anchored by All-Pro Dexter Lawrence. Thibodeaux and Burns have operated as high-end Lawrence wingmen thus far, with the dominant DT ripping off six sacks in five games. Thibodeax and Burns each have two apiece, though Thibodeax’s seven QB hits outpace Burns’ four. Both OLBs have contributed to sack binges that have helped the Giants recover from an 0-2 start.

The Giants sacked Deshaun Watson eight times in a Week 3 win and dropped Geno Smith seven times in their Week 5 upset in Seattle. Thibodeaux notched a half-sack in each game while taking down Dak Prescott in Week 4. The Giants based much of their defensive plan around the Burns-Thibodeaux combination, passing on a notable cornerback investment as they doubled down on their pass rush. Thibodeaux missing time will apply more pressure on New York’s secondary.

Thibodeaux missed three games as a rookie but played in all 17 Giants contests last season. A preseason MCL sprain delayed Thibodeaux’s start to his career, but he has played every game since his Week 4 rookie-year debut. The Giants have supplanted starter Azeez Ojulari in place as a fill-in option.

A 2021 second-round pick, Ojulari has 25 starts on his NFL resume. He totaled eight sacks as a rookie and notched 5.5 in seven games in 2022. Ojulari struggled last season, providing an extra push for the Giants to trade for Burns. But the contract-year rusher, who has recorded one sack thus far this season (while playing 37% of New York’s defensive snaps, provides a solid option as a backup while Thibodeaux rehabs.

Browns Activate DL Mike Hall Jr.

October 12th, 2024 at 11:44am CST by Ben Levine

Mike Hall Jr. is set to make his NFL debut. The Browns announced a series of roster moves this morning, including activating their rookie defensive tackle from the commissioner’s exempt list.

[RELATED: Browns’ James Hudson Undergoes Shoulder Surgery]

The 54th-overall pick in this year’s draft, Hall was hit with a suspension to begin his NFL career following his arrest on domestic violence charges. The player ultimately pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of disorderly conduct and was subsequently handed a one-game suspension that was tacked on to the four games he already missed. The Ohio State product may have a tough time carving out a role, with Shelby Harris, Dalvin Tomlinson, and Quinton Jefferson dominating the snaps at defensive tackle this season.

The Browns will also be adding another defensive tackle to the mix in Maurice Hurst II, who has been activated from injured reserve. Hurst suffered an ankle injury during the season opener that required a stint on IR. The DT mixed in with his three aforementioned healthy position mates during Week 1, and there’s a chance the Browns go back to a similar arrangement tomorrow against the Eagles.

The Browns weren’t done adding to their defense, as the team also activated outside linebacker Mohamoud Diabate from IR. Diabate was knocked out of the season opener with a hip injury that required him to miss the next four games. The Browns have been mixing and matching their edge depth behind Myles Garrett and Za’Darius Smith, and Diabate may have to temporarily settle for a special teams role before returning to the defense.

The team made a handful of additional moves this morning, placing offensive tackle James Hudson III on injured reserve, releasing wideout James Proche II, and promoting safety Christopher Edmonds and wide receiver Jaelon Darden from the practice squad. Hudson underwent shoulder surgery this week that could knock him out for the rest of the season. Proche earned his walking papers after serving as the team’s primary punt returner for the first chunk of the season.

Giants To Sign P Matt Haack

October 12th, 2024 at 11:16am CST by Ben Levine

Giants punter Jamie Gillan is questionable for Week 6, so the team has added a veteran punter to their roster. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Giants are signing punter Matt Haack.

Haack brings 99 games of regular-season experience to New York. The former UDFA out of Arizona State started his career in Miami, where he served as the Dolphins full-time punter between 2017 and 2020. Since then, the veteran has bounced around the NFL, spending time with four different squads (including a pair of stints with the Bills).

After getting into 17 games with the Colts in 2022, Haack struggled to hold a job in 2023. He ended up making a single appearance with the Browns, averaging 51.7 yards on his three punts. He caught on with the Bills late during the 2023 campaign and spent most of the offseason with Buffalo before earning his walking papers in May.

Now, he’ll have a chance to revive his career with the Giants. Gillan is dealing with a hamstring injury, putting his availability for tomorrow night’s game in doubt. To prepare for their starter’s potential absence, the Giants worked out five punters yesterday. In addition to Haack, the organization also considered the likes of Nolan Cooney, Pressley Harvin, Lou Hedley, and Ty Zentner.

Steelers Place DL DeMarvin Leal On IR

October 12th, 2024 at 9:03am CST by Ben Levine

It sounds like DeMarvin Leal‘s season has come to an end. The Steelers announced that they’ve placed the defensive lineman on injured reserve.

Leal suffered a neck injury last Sunday that limited him to only 12 snaps. Per Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the defender is expected to miss the rest of the 2024 campaign.

The former third-round pick has spent most of this season serving as a linebacker while helping to fill in for the injured Alex Highsmith. Leal mostly played defensive end through his first two seasons in the NFL, starting six of his 23 appearances. In total, the third-year player has collected 33 tackles, one sack, and three QB hits.

In corresponding moves, the Steelers signed linebacker Ade Ogundeji to the 53-man roster and promoted linebacker Eku Leota and running back Jonathan Ward from the practice squad. Ogundeji caught on with Pittsburgh’s practice squad at the end of August and is set to make his season debut. The former fifth-round pick started his career in Atlanta, collecting 75 tackles in 27 starts. He missed the entire 2023 campaign with a foot/ankle injury.

There was also some good news on the injury front this morning. The Steelers removed Jaylen Warren from the injury report, meaning the running back should be back on the field for Week 6. Warren missed Week 4 and Week 5 while nursing a knee injury, and he’ll now rejoin a depth chart that’s co-led by Najee Harris.

No Team Coming Close To Raiders’ Davante Adams Asking Price

October 11th, 2024 at 10:15pm CST by Ely Allen

There appeared to be significant movement on the trade front for Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams earlier this week. Trade news was expected as the current teams of both of Adams’ former quarterbacks (Aaron Rodgers‘ Jets and Derek Carr‘s Saints) were trending in the right direction to land the services of the star receiver.

That momentum came to a halt with the firing of Jets head coach Robert Saleh on Tuesday, and now, the Raiders are having trouble finding anyone to reach their asking price.

After making the determination that they would attempt to seek a trade partner for Adams, Las Vegas set its asking price at a second-round draft pick. Initially, the Raiders also realized that Adams’ current contract would serve as an impediment to making a deal happen, so they were reportedly open to covering part of it, but more recently, they have been adamant about not paying a significant portion of the contract. According to veteran NFL reporter Jordan Schultz, who appeared on the VSiN Morning Line this morning, no team has come remotely close to covering either of those demands from the Raiders.

While the firing of Saleh in New York and the strict demands from Las Vegas have placed some severe speed bumps on the road to a trade, the general consensus is that it’s still more likely to happen than not. In a Q&A hosted this afternoon, the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vincent Bonsignore spoke on the likelihood of Adams and the Raiders mending their relationship. While he pointed out that one “can never say never in these situations,” and he laid out some pathways that would lead to Adams ultimately staying put, Bonsignore’s overall opinion was that it would “be a surprise if Adams is not traded.”

In regard to Adams’ playing availability, the veteran has missed the past two weeks while reportedly nursing a hamstring injury. While there was initially hope that he would be ready to return this week, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports that Adams has officially been ruled out for the team’s Week 6 matchup with the Steelers.

Load More Posts