Joel Heath - Pro Football Rumors

NFL COVID-19 List Updates: 1/4/22-1/5/22

January 5th, 2022 at 11:32pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are Tuesday and Wednesday’s activations from and placements on the reserve/COVID-19 lists:

Arizona Cardinals

Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Breon Borders, LB Markus Golden, OL D.J. Humphries, LB Devon Kennard
Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Zach Kerr, LB Tanner Vallejo, TE Maxx Williams (from IR)

Atlanta Falcons

Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Marlon Davidson, S Jaylinn Hawkins, TE Hayden Hurst, WR Tajae Sharpe, LB James Vaughters
Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: G Willie Beavers

Baltimore Ravens

Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Josh Oliver
Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: CB Kevin Toliver

Carolina Panthers

Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Darryl Johnson, LB Haason Reddick, TE Tommy Tremble, QB P.J. Walker
Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Yetur Gross-Matos

Chicago Bears

Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Jesper Horsted (remains on IR), OLB Charles Snowden

Cincinnati Bengals

Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Trenton Irwin, DB Trae Waynes
Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: WR Scotty Washington
Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Vonn Bell, LB Akeem Davis-Gaither, DE Trey Hendrickson, C Trey Hopkins, G Quinton Spain, DT B.J. Hill, RB Joe Mixon

Cleveland Browns

Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Elijah Lee, LB Tony Fields
Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: QB Nick Mullens, S Tedric Thompson
Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: RB D’Ernest Johnson, RB Dexter Williams
Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: S Jovante Moffatt

Dallas Cowboys

Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Quinton Bohanna, LB Micah Parsons (story), LB Keanu Neal
Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: S Tyler Coyle, T Isaac Alarcon, CB Kyron Brown
Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: T Josh Ball
Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: DT Josiah Bronson

Denver Broncos

Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DE McTelvin Agim, LB Baron Browning, DB Bryce Callahan, LB Bradley Chubb, LB Jonathon Cooper, DB Mike Ford, WR Jerry Jeudy, T Bobby Massie, WR Tim Patrick, NT Mike Purcell, DB Caden Sterns, LB Stephen Weatherly
Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: WR Tyrie Cleveland

Detroit Lions

Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Kalif Raymond
Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Joel Heath, TE Hunter Bryant (from NFI)

Green Bay Packers

Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: G Elgton Jenkins, T Dennis Kelly, S Darnell Savage, WR Amari Rodgers, DE Kingsley Keke
Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: K J.J. Molson, LB Ray Wilborn
Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: G Billy Turner

Houston Texans

Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Danny Amendola, TE Antony Auclair, LB Ron’Dell Carter, T Tytus Howard, RB David Johnson, DB Lonnie Johnson, WR Chris Moore
Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: K Dominik Eberle, TE Paul Quessenberry

Indianapolis Colts

Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: Luke Rhodes

Jacksonville Jaguars

Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Dan Arnold (remains on IR), TE Jacob Hollister, WR Jaydon Mickens, DT Jay Tufele
Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: WR Josh Hammond
Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: P J.K. Scott

Kansas City Chiefs

Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: DB Josh Jackson

Las Vegas Raiders

Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Carl Nassib, G Jordan Simmons, TE Darren Waller
Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: T Kamaal Seymour (from NFI)

Los Angeles Chargers

Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Jared Cook, LB Damon Lloyd (remains on IR)

Minnesota Vikings

Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Nick Vigil, QB Kirk Cousins, T Brian O’Neill
Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Chris Herndon, DE Tashawn Bower
Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: CB Parry Nickerson

New Orleans Saints

Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: T Ryan Ramczyk, DB Dylan Mabin
Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: WR Kevin White, TE Ethan Wolf
Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Albert Huggins
Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: CB Jordan Miller

New York Giants

Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: T Korey Cunningham, DE Dexter Lawrence, T Matt Peart (remains on IR), NT Danny Shelton, WR Darius Slayton
Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: LB Omari Cobb, CB Ka’dar Hollman
Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: NT Woodrow Hamilton

New York Jets

Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: RB Tevin Coleman, TE Tyler Kroft, DE Quinnen Williams
Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: G Isaiah Williams

Philadelphia Eagles

Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: WR KeeSean Johnson
Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: WR John Hightower, RB Craig James, TE Noah Togiai
Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: TE Dallas Goedert

Pittsburgh Steelers

Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: T Zach Banner, LB Devin Bush, DB Arthur Maulet, RB Anthony McFarland, LB Joe Schobert, DE Chris Wormley
Restored from practice squad/COVID-19 list: WR Anthony Miller, WR Steven Sims, WR Tyler Vaughns
Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Joe Haden

San Francisco 49ers

Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Dontae Johnson, DB Jimmie Ward, DB Ambry Thomas, CB Deommodore Lenoir

Seattle Seahawks

Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Blessuan Austin
Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Gavin Heslop, DE Alton Robinson, DT Myles Adams, DT Al Woods

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Jaelon Darden, P Bradley Pinion

Tennessee Titans

Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Monty Rice

Washington Football Team

Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: P Tress Way, G Ereck Flowers, RB Antonio Gibson
Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: S Deshazor Everett, DB William Jackson

Lions Place Joel Heath On IR

May 29th, 2021 at 9:45am CST by Zachary Links

The Lions have placed defensive lineman Joel Heath on injured reserve, per a club announcement. This was the expected move after Heath suffered a torn ACL while working out at the Lions’ facility earlier this week.

Heath, a Michigan State product, went undrafted in 2016 and signed his first deal with the Texans. He went on to appear in 32 games for Houston, including 16 starts. Then, the Broncos claimed him towards the end of 2019 and re-upped him in 2020, but he didn’t see any action in Denver and opted-out of the 2020 season.

Heath hooked on with the Lions earlier this year with the hope that he would crack the defensive line rotation. Unfortunately, he suffered a freak injury midway through a bag drill on Wednesday. Now, he’ll focus on recovery with an eye on 2022.

The Lions’ revamped 3-4 scheme will feature newcomer Michael Brockers plus Day 2 rookie DLs Levi Onwuzurike and Alim McNeill. Meanwhile, Romeo Okwara and Trey Flowers will be shifted to outside linebacker.

Lions DL Joel Heath Tears ACL

May 26th, 2021 at 4:43pm CST by Sam Robinson

Joel Heath opted out of the 2020 season, and the veteran defensive lineman will now be unable to play in 2021. Heath suffered a torn ACL while working out at the Lions’ facility Wednesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets.

Heath went down during an individual period at Lions OTAs, which began Monday. The Lions signed Heath in February, shortly after the Broncos released him. He signed a one-year, $990K contract.

The Broncos claimed the former Texans UDFA off waivers late in the 2019 season and re-signed him in 2020. He did not end up seeing any action with Denver, however. Heath, 27, became a Texans starter early in his career, despite his low-level NFL entrance. Over his first two seasons, Heath started 15 games with Houston. He has become a backup in the years since.

As a result of the opt-out and this injury, Heath will face longer odds in a potential bid to make a roster in 2022.

Minor NFL Transactions: 2/18/21

February 18th, 2021 at 3:53pm CST by Zachary Links

We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:

Atlanta Falcons

Waived: QB Kurt Benkert

Denver Broncos

Released: DT Kyle Peko; Peko was a COVID-19 opt-out in 2020

Detroit Lions

Signed: DL Joel Heath

Minor NFL Transactions: 2/2/21

February 2nd, 2021 at 6:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:

Denver Broncos

Waived: WR Fred Brown, DE Joel Heath, S Alijah Holder, TE Jordan Leggett, T Darrin Paulo; Heath was a COVID-19 opt-out

Los Angeles Rams

Signed to reserve/futures contract: LS Steven Wirtel

Pittsburgh Steelers

Signed to reserve/futures contract: OL Aviante Collins

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/28/20

August 28th, 2020 at 4:18pm CST by Rory Parks

We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves in this post. In addition to the transactions listed below, note that Broncos DT Joel Heath and Giants CB Shakial Taylor, who had previously been listed as cut, actually opted out of the 2020 season. As Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network tweets, both players were reinstated to their teams’ rosters and placed on the Reserve/Opt-Out List. The full (and final) opt-out tracker can be found here:

Baltimore Ravens

Signed: RB Ty’Son Williams

Buffalo Bills

Signed: CB Brian Allen

Carolina Panthers

Signed: CB Jameson Houston, DE Austin Larkin
Waived: DE DaVonte Lambert, CB Cole Luke

New England Patriots

Signed: WR Andre Baccellia
Waived: WR Will Hastings

New Orleans Saints

Signed: LB Wynton McManis

Pittsburgh Steelers

Signed: WR Saeed Blacknall
Placed on IR: WR Anthony Johnson
Waived: LB James Lockhart

2020 NFL Opt Out Tracker

August 5th, 2020 at 3:55pm CST by Zachary Links

Per an agreement between the NFL and the NFLPA, players with COVID-19 health concerns can opt out of the 2020 season. Initially, the deadline was believed to be Tuesday, August 4. Talks between the league and the union have pushed it to August 6.

Chiefs guard and medical school graduate Laurent Duvernay-Tardif was the first player to officially opt out. Scores of players followed.

Here’s the rundown, so far:

Baltimore Ravens

OT Andre Smith (story)
WR De’Anthony Thomas (story)

Buffalo Bills

CB E.J. Gaines (story)
DT Star Lotulelei (story)

Carolina Panthers

LB Jordan Mack
LB Christian Miller

Chicago Bears

DT Eddie Goldman (story)
S Jordan Lucas

Cincinnati Bengals

T Isaiah Prince (story)
DT Josh Tupou (story)

Cleveland Browns

DT Andrew Billings
T Drake Dorbeck
G Colby Gossett
G Drew Forbes
G Malcolm Pridgedon

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

DT Joel Heath
DT Kyle Peko

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

WR Devin Funchess (story)

Houston Texans

DL Eddie Vanderdoes

Indianapolis Colts

DB Rolan Milligan
LB Skai Moore
DB Marvell Tell

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Rams

T Chandler Brewer

Miami Dolphins

WR Allen Hurns (story)
WR Albert Wilson (story)

Minnesota Vikings

NT Michael Pierce (story)

New England Patriots

RB Brandon Bolden (story)
T Marcus Cannon (story)
S Patrick Chung (story)
LB Dont’a Hightower (story)
WR Marqise Lee (story)
OL Najee Toran
FB Danny Vitale (story)

New Orleans Saints

TE Jason Vander Laan
TE Cole Wick

New York Giants

New York Jets

WR Josh Doctson
OL Leo Koloamatangi
LB C.J. Mosley (story)

Philadelphia Eagles

WR Marquise Goodwin

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

G Chance Warmack (story)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

T Brad Seaton

Tennessee Titans

OL Anthony McKinney

Washington Football Team

DL Caleb Brantley
LB Josh Harvey-Clemons

Free agents

G Larry Warford (story)

Minor NFL Transactions: 7/27/20

July 27th, 2020 at 9:06am CST by Zachary Links

Teams are trimming players earlier than usual this year, thanks to the NFL’s recommendation for an 80-man roster max. We’ll keep track of the latest minor moves here:

Arizona Cardinals

Released: LB Vontarrious Dora, QB Drew Anderson, DE T.J. Carter, OL Jackson Dennis, OL Drew Dickinson, TE Parker Houston, WR Shane Leatherbury, WR Devin Phelps, CB Jarren Williams, CB Bejour Wilson

Baltimore Ravens

Waived: G Evan Adams, G Daishawn Dixon, T R.J. Prince, K Nick Vogel

Buffalo Bills

Waived: WR Ray-Ray McCloud, OL Garrett McGhin

Cincinnati Bengals

Waived: CB Isiah Swann

Denver Broncos

Released: DT Joel Heath
Waived: LB Tre’ Crawford, QB Riley Neal, WR Kelvin McKnight, RB Khalfani Muhammad, S Kahani Smith, CB Shakial Taylor, C Nico Falah

Houston Texans

Claimed off waivers (from Eagles) DT Albert Huggins

Kansas City Chiefs

Waived/Injured: DB Javaris Davis, WR Cody White

Miami Dolphins

Claimed off waivers (from Chiefs): CB Javaris Davis
Waived: DE Avery Moss, LB Trent Harris
Waived/NFI: TE Michael Roberts

Philadelphia Eagles

Waived: WR Shelton Gibson, WR Marcus Green, DE Daeshon Hall, DT Albert Huggins, and CB Tremon Smith

Tennessee Titans

Waived: DL Amani Bledsoe, LB Nigel Harris, TE Cole Herdman, WR Trevion Thompson, G Zac Kerin
Waived/Injured: RB Shaun Wilson

Broncos Re-Sign DL Joel Heath

March 27th, 2020 at 4:31pm CST by Ben Levine

Joel Heath is heading back to Denver. ESPN’s Field Yates reports (via Twitter) that the defensive lineman has re-signed with the Broncos.

Heath was claimed off waivers by Denver in late December, but he was non-tendered by the organization earlier this offseason. Ultimately, the front office opted to bring back the 26-year-old.

The former undrafted free agent out of Michigan State spent the first three-plus seasons of his career with the Texans, including a 2017 campaign where he started nine of his 13 games. In total, Heath has compiled 34 tackles and three sacks in 32 career games, although he’s been limited to only seven regular season games over the past two years.

The Broncos have been relatively busy revamping their defense line this offseason. They acquired Pro Bowler Jurrell Casey from the Titans, and they brought back restricted free agent Mike Purcell.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/30/19

December 30th, 2019 at 8:15pm CST by Ben Levine

A handful of minor moves to pass along:

Cincinnati Bengals

Claimed off waivers (from Packers): CB Tony Brown

Denver Broncos

Claimed off waivers (from Texans): DE Joel Heath

Jacksonville Jaguars

Claimed off waivers (from Cowboys): S Josh Jones

Pittsburgh Steelers

Re-signed (two years): LB Tuzar Skipper

As veteran NFL reporter Howard Balzer points out (on Twitter), the waiver claims will be deferred to February 3rd (the day after the Super Bowl).