Today’s practice squad moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: DE Casey Toohill
- Released: DT Eli Ankou
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: CB Artie Burns
The Bills have activated outside linebacker Von Miller after he served a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy.
The NFL did not specify why Miller was suspended, but the three-time All-Pro was arrested in December 2023 for a domestic violence charge that sparked a league investigation. Miller denied the allegations, and commissioner Roger Goodell declined to impose a suspension after initial review in March, but it is possible that additional details came to the league’s attention and forced them to act.
Miller’s suspension sidelined him for all four of the Bills’ games in October, but Buffalo still went 3-1 with that span, holding opponents to fewer than 16 points per game. Their pass rush took a small step back in Miller’s absence, recording eight sacks over their last four games after 12 in their first four.
Miller will return to a rotational role among the Bills’ edge rushers on Sunday against the Dolphins. 76.3% of his 93 defensive snaps this season were spent rushing the passer, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), consistent with Miller’s usage since arriving in Buffalo in 2022.
Miller agreed to a pay cut this offseason that reduced his 2024 salary from $17.5MM to $8.855MM, though he can earn up to $20MM with incentives. The move appears to be a shrewd one by the Bills as Miller’s suspension greatly reduced the chance that he can hit all of his incentives.
The Bills also used standard practice squad elevations on DT Eli Ankou and WR Jalen Virgil ahead of Sunday’s game
Saturdays minor moves, including standard gameday practice squad elevations:
Arizona Cardinals
- Elevated: DLÂ Ben Stille, CB Divaad Wilson
Atlanta Falcons
- Elevated: CB Natrone Brooks, DE Demone Harris
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from IR: CB Jalyn Armour-Davis
- Elevated: CB Bump Cooper Jr.
- Placed on IR: CB T.J. Tampa
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: DTÂ Eli Ankou, WR Jalen Virgil
Chicago Bears
- Activated from IR: RB Travis Homer, DEÂ Jacob Martin
- Elevated: SÂ Tarvarius Moore
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed to active roster: CBÂ Amani Oruwariye
- Elevated: RB Dalvin Cook (story)
- Placed on IR: TE John Stephens (story)
Denver Broncos
- Elevated: LB Kwon Alexander, G Calvin Throckmorton
Detroit Lions
- Elevated: OLBÂ Al-Quadin Muhammad, TE Shane Zylstra
Green Bay Packers
- Elevated: CBÂ Robert Rochell
Houston Texans
- Elevated: FBÂ Troy Hairston
Kansas City Chiefs
- Elevated: WR Montrell Washington
Las Vegas Raiders
- Elevated: QB Carter Bradley, TEÂ Justin Shorter
Los Angeles Chargers
- Elevated: WR Jaylen Johnson, WR Jalen Reagor
New England Patriots
- Elevated: LB Ochaun Mathis
New Orleans Saints
- Signed to active roster: SÂ Ugo Amadi
- Elevated: WRÂ Equanimeous St. Brown, SÂ Roderic Teamer
- Waived: RB Jordan Mims
New York Jets
- Elevated: OL Alec Lindstrom, S Jarius Monroe
Philadelphia Eagles
- Activated from IR: WR Ainias Smith
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: S Adrian Amos, KÂ Anders Carlson
Seattle Seahawks
- Activated from IR: S Jerrick Reed II
- Elevated: CBÂ Faion Hicks, CBÂ Josh Jobe
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Activated from IR: WR Rakim Jarrett
- Elevated: QB Michael Pratt
Tennessee Titans
- Signed to active roster: CB Gabe Jeudy-Lally, WRÂ Mason Kinsey, T John Ojukwu
- Elevated: RB Joshua Kelley, QBÂ Trevor Siemian
- Placed on IR: T Jaelyn Duncan
- Waived: OLB Caleb Murphy
Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These Bills, Dolphins, Jets and Patriots moves are noted below.
Buffalo Bills
Signed:
Claimed:
Signed to practice squad:
- RB Frank Gore Jr., WR Deon Cain, WR KJ Hamler, WR Tyrell Shavers, TE Zach Davidson, OL Richard Gouraige, OL Will Clapp, OL Mike Edwards, DE Kingsley Jonathan, DE Kameron Cline, DT Eli Ankou, DT Branson Deen, CB Daequan Hardy, CB Te’Cory Couch, S Kareem Jackson
Miami Dolphins
Released:
Claimed:
- WR Grant Dubose
Signed to practice squad:
- S Jordan Colbert, WR Erik Ezukanma, DT Jonathan Harris, OL Chasen Hines, LB Dequan Jackson, CB Isaiah Johnson, T Bayron Matos, RB Anthony McFarland Jr., CB Nik Needham, TE Hayden Rucci.
New England Patriots
Signed:
Claimed:
- LB Curtis Jacobs, T Demontrey Jacobs, DT Eric Johnson, T Zachary Thomas
Released:
- DT Trysten Hill, OL Michael Jordan, WR Jalen Reagor
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- T Liam Fornadel, RB Kevin Harris, RB Terrell Jennings, WR Matt Landers, DE Jotham Russell, DB A.J. Thomas, TE Mitchell Wilcox
New York Jets
Signed:
Claimed:
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- LB Sam Eguavoen, OL Obinna Eze, TE Anthony Firkser, OL Jake Hanson, DL Bruce Hector, DL Jalyn Holmes, S Jaylen Key, TE Zack Kuntz, OL Kohl Levao, QB Adrian Martinez, LB Marcelino McCary-Ball, WR Lance McCutcheon, S Jarius Monroe, CB Kendall Sheffield, WR Brandon Smith, CB Tre Swilling, RB Xazavian Valladay
Here is how the Bills dropped their roster to the 53-man limit:
Released:
- DT Eli Ankou
- WR Deon Cain
- OL Will Clapp
- OL La’el Collins
- WR KJ Hamler
- S Kareem Jackson
- WR Andy Isabella
- DT DeShawn Williams
Waived:
- OL Keaton Bills
- OL Gunner Britton
- DE Kameron Cline
- CB Te’Cory Couch
- TE Zach Davidson
- DT Branson Deen
- QB Ben DiNucci
- OL Mike Edwards
- RB Frank Gore Jr.
- OL Richard Gouraige
- CB Daequan Hardy
- WR Xavier Johnson
- DE Kingsley Jonathan
- CB Keni-H Lovely
- TE Tre’ McKitty
- WR Tyrell Shavers
- WR Justin Shorter
- DT Gable Steveson
- S Kendall Williamson
Placed on IR:
- T Travis Clayton
Placed on IR (return designation)
- RB Darrynton Evans
- LB Matt Milano
Milano suffered a biceps tear and will aim to return late in the season, though the All-Pro linebacker’s injury trouble is obviously a big-picture concern at this point. The Bills are also using one of their eight IR activations, mandated for teams who take advantage of the new rule to designate IR-return players today, on a backup running back. That is a rather interesting decision, as Evans has totaled just 62 carries since being drafted in the 2020 third round.
Residing on the Bills’ roster bubble going into camp, Damar Hamlin made the team. Ditto Marquez Valdes-Scantling, who joined Hamlin on the bubble. The bubble burst — for the time being, at least — on Collins and Clapp, who were vying for swing spots. Collins had been shuttled to guard — where he had not played since 2016 — in recent practices. Jackson joined the Bills after they ran into some injury trouble at safety early in camp.
Steveson, who has an Olympic wrestling gold medal, could be a practice squad candidate. The Eagles carried Olympian hurdler Devon Allen on their P-squad for two years, though the latter has far more football seasoning compared to Steveson. Attempting to follow in his father’s footsteps by securing a Bills gig, Gore is a P-squad candidate, per the Buffalo News’ Ryan O’Halloran. He will need to clear waivers first.
Today’s reserve/futures contracts:
Buffalo Bills
- DT Eli Ankou, QB Shane Buechele, RB Darrynton Evans
Minnesota Vikings
- CB A.J. Green
New York Giants
- WR Chase Cota, C Jimmy Morrissey
Pittsburgh Steelers
- CB Kalon Barnes, DB Thomas Graham, LB Tyler Murray, LB David Perales, CB Josiah Scott
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- DL C.J. Brewer, OT Silas Dzansi, OL Luke Haggard, CB Keenan Isaac, WR Cephus Johnson, RB Patrick Laird, S Richard LeCounte, WR Ryan Miller, CB Quandre Mosely, LB Jose Ramirez, G Logan Stenberg, TE Tanner Taula, WR Raleigh Webb, TE David Wells
A couple practice squad transactions on a Divisional Round Saturday:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: DT Eli Ankou
- Released: P Matt Haack
Detroit Lions
- Signed: OLB Julian Okwara
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: P Pat O’Donnell
- Released: G Michael Jordan
Haack’s Buffalo reunion comes to a quick end after only three days. Haack was brought in as an emergency option at punter with starter Sam Martin dealing with a hamstring injury, but Haack’s release today points to some positive signs for Martin’s availability tomorrow.
Likewise, O’Donnell has been brought in with regular Packers punter Daniel Whelan still questionable on the injury report. O’Donnell wasn’t included in the team’s standard practice squad elevations, though, so it appears Whelan will be available tonight.
One practice squad move to pass along:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: LB A.J. Klein
- Released: DT Eli Ankou
Klein has spent much of the past four seasons in Buffalo, collecting 110 tackles and five sacks in 39 games (16 starts). He was cut by the Bills at the end of the 2023 preseason, but following the sudden retirement of Christian Kirksey, he was added back to the practice squad. He ended up getting into a pair of games this season, with all of his snaps coming on special teams. He was cut from the active roster back in December.
Matt Milano remains on injured reserve as he recovers from a broken tibia, and replacement Tyrel Dodson suffered a shoulder injury in the regular season finale. This left the team shallow at linebacker, and there’s a chance the veteran Klein finds himself on the active roster for Sunday’s first-round matchup against the Steelers.
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: WR Davion Davis, DT Jacob Slade
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: LB Donavan Mutin
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: DT Eli Ankou
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: QB Jake Luton, TE Jordan Matthews
Denver Broncos
- Signed: WR Michael Bandy
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: CB Zyon Gilbert
Las Vegas Raiders
- Released from practice squad IR with injury settlement: T Sebastian Gutierrez
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: OLB Quincy Roche
New England Patriots
- Signed: QB Malik Cunningham
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: CB Mario Goodrich
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: DT Marlon Davidson
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Promoted: TE Blake Whiteheart
Atlanta Falcons
- Promoted: DL LaCale London
- Released: DL Eli Ankou
Houston Texans
- Re-signed: LB Cory Littleton
New England Patriots
- Released: DE Trey Flowers
- Waived: QB Malik Cunningham
New York Giants
- Claimed (from Browns): RB Deon Jackson
- Placed on IR: RB Eric Gray, T Matt Peart
New York Jets
- Promoted: DBÂ Jarrick Bernard-Converse
Roster gymnastics at quarterback continues for the Patriots, who will again take the chance no one will claim Cunningham. New England waived the rookie UDFA in August and stashed him on its practice squad, and ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss notes that is likely to happen again — provided no team claims him. The Pats promoted the Louisville product earlier this month, but after playing him in Week 6, they sat him in Week 7. Although the Patriots designated Flowers for return from IR on Oct. 4, they will cut ties with their former starter rather than use a roster spot on his activation by Wednesday.
The Giants have now added two running backs this week, with Jackson following Jashaun Corbin‘s return from the Panthers’ practice squad. Injuries to Gray and Gary Brightwell led to these moves. Gray sustained a calf injury in Week 7, leading the Giants to insert veteran Sterling Shepard as their punt returner. Shepard muffed a punt that led to the Commanders’ only score. Peart had operated as a backup tackle. He joins Andrew Thomas‘ initial replacement, Joshua Ezeudu, on IR. Guard Shane Lemieux is also on IR.
The Texans initially released Littleton due to roster-reorganizing purposes, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, but the offseason pickup remains in the team’s plans. Houston cut Littleton to make room for waiver claim Myjai Sanders, but after waiving cornerback D’Angelo Ross on Monday, the team is re-signing the veteran linebacker. Littleton, 30, played sparingly in the Texans’ six games this season, logging only 17 defensive snaps.