Standard game day practice squad promotions can be found on our Minor Moves post, but here’s today’s other practice squad moves:
Chicago Bears
- Signed: DL Mike Pennel
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: T Tanner Owen
Today’s minor moves around the league, as teams prepare for the first Sunday slate of regular season games:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed to 53-man roster: WR Andre Baccellia
- Signed to 53-man roster (from Giants’ practice squad): OL Max Garcia
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Devon Kennard, CB Jace Whittaker
- Placed on IR: OL Cody Ford
- Released: CB Javelin Guidry
Atlanta Falcons
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Anthony Firkser
- Released: DL Abdullah Anderson
Baltimore Ravens
- Promoted from practice squad: OLB Steven Means
Carolina Panthers
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Arron Mosby
Chicago Bears
- Promoted from practice squad: DL Mike Pennel, OL Dieter Eiselen
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Jordan Kunaszyk, DE Isaac Rochell
Dallas Cowboys
- Promoted from practice squad: QB Cooper Rush, K Brett Maher
Detroit Lions
- Promoted from practice squad: RB Justin Jackson, LB Anthony Pittman
Green Bay Packers
- Promoted from practice squad: S Micah Abernathy, WR Juwann Winfree
Houston Texans
- Signed to 53-man roster: DL Demone Harris, LB Kevin Pierre-Louis
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Chris Conley, QB Jeff Driskel
- Placed on IR: DE Mario Addison
Indianapolis Colts
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Tony Brown
Kansas City Chiefs
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Daurice Fountain, LB Elijah Lee
Las Vegas Raiders
- Promoted from practice squad: S Matthias Farley
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Kemon Hall, TE Richard Rodgers
Miami Dolphins
- Promoted from practice squad: WR River Cracraft, S Verone McKinley III
Minnesota Vikings
- Promoted from practice squad: S Myles Dorn
New England Patriots
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey, LB Harvey Langi
New Orleans Saints
- Promoted from practice squad: DT Christian Ringo
- Released: C Nick Martin
New York Giants
- Promoted from practice squad: S Tony Jefferson, OLB Quincy Roche
New York Jets
- Promoted from practice squad: T Grant Hermanns
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted from practice squad: WR Britain Covey, TE Noah Togiai
San Francisco 49ers
- Promoted from practice squad: S Tashaun Gipson, WR Malik Turner
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Genard Avery
Tennessee Titans
- Promoted from practice squad: LB Joe Jones, RB Trenton Cannon
The Cardinals’ moves come as a reaction to yesterday’s injury news. Baccellia’s roster spot was opened up in the short-term by the injury to Rondale Moore, but he won’t simply be a stop-gap. Arizona signed the 25-year-old to a two-year deal to remain on the main roster, per Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network (Twitter link). A UDFA out of Washington, Baccellia has yet to make a regular season NFL appearance.
Likewise, the fact that Ford will miss at least the first four weeks of the season makes the re-acquisition of Garcia a logical one. The former fourth-rounder has plenty of guard experience, including his three seasons spent in Arizona. It was only in 2021 that he logged any starts, but he could provide veteran depth behind Justin Pugh at least until Ford is able to return.
Addison, 35, was one of several veteran signings the Texans made this offseason to add depth to their front seven. He had a productive season with the Bills last season, notching seven sacks despite not starting any games. In his absence, Harris and Pierre-Louis will provide depth in the edge rush department on Sunday, and likely the short-term future as well.
Quick reminder that standard game day practice squad promotions are a recent development from the new CBA and COVID-19 seasons. Essentially, each team is able to promote two players from the practice squad to the active roster for game days. The players will automatically revert back to the practice squad after the game, not needing to clear waivers before rejoining the developmental roster. A player can only be promoted three times per season. If a team would like to promote a player for a fourth game, they’ll need to go through the normal method of creating space on the 53-man roster to promote them and have them clear waivers before placing them back on the practice squad. That is the difference between “Signed to 53-man roster” from the practice squad and “Promoted from practice squad.”
Today’s minor moves leading up to Week 1:
Chicago Bears
- Released with injury settlement: WR Tajae Sharpe
- Released: DT Mike Pennel
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted from practice squad: CB Herb Miller
Green Bay Packers
- Waived with injury settlement: DT Akial Byers, S Innis Gaines
Houston Texans
- Released: RB Royce Freeman
Philadelphia Eagles
- Released with injury settlement: WR Greg Ward
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived with injury settlement: DT Elijah Ponder
Tennessee Titans
- Placed on IR: DB Elijah Molden, LB Chance Campbell
The Texans had recently re-signed Freeman after he failed to make the initial 53-man roster. Houston will move forward with rookie Dameon Pierce, Rex Burkhead, and Dare Ogunbowale at running back.
Ward has been with the Eagles on-and-off since signing with the team after going undrafted in 2017. His first two seasons consisted mostly of time on the practice squad. The former University of Houston quarterback then took a hiatus from the NFL to sign with the Alliance of American Football. When the AAF suspended operations, Ward re-joined the Eagles. He had a bit of a breakout year in 2020, catching 53 passes for 419 yards and six touchdowns, but took a bit of a backseat in Philadelphia’s offense last season.
Miller was called up as a response to Browns cornerback Greedy Williams being placed on injured reserve today. Miller will slot in behind Denzel Ward, Greg Newsome II, Martin Emerson, and A.J. Green as the secondary faces off against their former teammate Baker Mayfield in Week 1.
The Bears made a roster swap of eight-year veterans today, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, releasing linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu and signing defensive tackle Mike Pennel. Both defenders have spent their careers as role players, earning starts here and there without ever consistently serving as a starter on defense. 
Attaochu was a second-round pick for the Chargers back in 2014. He made an immediate impact in his NFL debut, recording a strip sack and a blocked punt. He had the best year of his career in his sophomore season. Attaochu started 12 games that year, recording a career-highs in sacks (6.0), tackles for loss (15.0), quarterback hits (17), and tackles (44 solo and 11 assisted). He added a forced fumble and one pass defensed for good measure. In his last season with the Chargers, Attaochu only started one game and was limited to eight appearances due to ankle and foot injuries.
Attaochu signed as a free agent with San Francisco but was released before the season started. He was quickly picked up by the Jets but was only used in a limited capacity recording 2.0 sacks in eleven games. The next offseason, Attaochu signed with the Chiefs as a free agent but, once again, was released on September 1st, before the season.
Attaochu stayed unsigned a bit longer this time, finally joining the Broncos in October of the 2019 NFL season. He did enough during his first year with the Broncos to get re-signed on another one-year deal. During his two-year tenure in Denver, Attaochu started ten games, recording 8.5 sacks, 11.0 tackles for loss, and 14 quarterback hits, also forcing and recovering one fumble a piece.
His resurgence in Denver led the Bears to sign Attaochu to a two-year deal last offseason. He played fairly limited snaps as a Bear in five games before suffering a pectoral tear that would sideline him for the rest of the season. By waiting to cut Attaochu after June 1, the Bears reduced their dead money over the next two years from $2.25MM to $1.05MM.
In a corresponding move, the Bears brought in the 31-year-old Pennel. After going undrafted in 2014, Pennel has stayed an impressive eight years in the league, starting as a bit of a reserve defensive lineman before evolving into more of a rotational contributor over the last five years of his career. Pennel has 16 starts over his career, along with 2.0 sacks and 176 total career tackles. He’ll likely compete with Khyiris Tonga for playing time behind Angelo Blackson and Justin Jones in Chicago.
We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:
Atlanta Falcons
- Promoted: DT Mike Pennel
Chicago Bears
- Waived: WR/KR Nsimba Webster
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: S Michael Thomas
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: OL Hjalte Froholdt (from Texans’ practice squad)
Detroit Lions
- Signed: OL Ryan McCollum (from Texans’ practice squad)
Kansas City Chiefs
- Designated for Return: LB Willie Gay
- Placed on IR: DE Joshua Kaindoh
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: CB Brandon Facyson (from Chargers’ practice squad)
Minnesota Vikings
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Harrison Hand
New York Jets
- Placed on IR: LB Hamsah Nasirildeen
- Promoted: OL Isaiah Williams
Washington Football Team
- Promoted: CB Danny Johnson, LB Jordan Kunaszyk
Today’s minor NFL transactions:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: G Danny Isidora, DT Mike Pennel, OT Bryan Witzmann
Baltimore Ravens
- Promoted: DT Justin Ellis, S Anthony Levine
Denver Broncos
- Released from retired list: TE Jake Butt
- Released from suspended list: LB Jerrell Freeman
Houston Texans
- Signed off Saints practice squad: DT Jaleel Johnson
- Placed on IR: DT Vincent Taylor (story)
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: DT Damion Square
- Placed on IR: OL Denzelle Good (story), DT Gerald McCoy (story)
- Waived: CB Madre Harper
New Orleans Saints
- Promoted: K Aldrick Rosas
New York Jets
- Promoted: WR Isaiah Williams, S Jarrod Wilson
- Released from IR: CB/KR Corey Ballentine
Tennessee Titans
- Placed on IR: S Malik Hooker (story)
The Bears reduced their roster to 53 players today, making the following moves:
Released
- CB Artie Burns
- DB Marqui Christian
- C Adam Redmond
- CB Desmond Trufant
Released from IR
- DT Mike Pennel
Waived
- DL Daniel Archibong
- WR Isaiah Coulter
- OL Dieter Eiselen
- CB Thomas Graham Jr.
- OL Arlington Hambright
- TE Scooter Harrington
- K Brian Johnson
- WR Jon’Vea Johnson
- LB Sam Kamara
- WR Chris Lacy
- RB Ryan Nall
- WR Dazz Newsome
- RB Artavis Pierce
- WR Riley Ridley
- CB Dionte Ruffin
- LB Charles Snowden
- CB Teez Tabor
- LB James Vaughters
- OT Tyrone Wheatley
Waived/Injured
- DL Lacale London
- DB Tre Roberson
Mike Pennel will not end up playing for the Bears this season. The team moved the defensive tackle to IR Tuesday, also placing safety Jordan Lucas on its season-ending injured list.
Both Pennel and Lucas were members of the Chiefs’ Super Bowl-winning squad two years ago. While Pennel also contributed for the Chiefs’ 2020 AFC champion team last season, Lucas opted out. These IR placements will ensure neither plays with the Bears this season, though both could resurface in 2021 in the event injury settlements take place.
Pennel participated in the Bears’ minicamp on a tryout basis, and the team was sufficiently impressed. The 30-year-old defender has seven years’ experience, having played with the Packers and Jets before his Kansas City stay. The former UDFA has enjoyed quality stretches, which have continued to generate interest. His 2019 arrival helped a Chiefs defense on a historically bad run early that season.
Lucas started four games for the 2018 Chiefs, who acquired him via trade with the Dolphins. Those are his only four career starts. The Bears signed the ex-UDFA in 2020, but he is unlikely to play in a regular-season game for the team.
Chicago also waived running back C.J. Marable, guard Dareuan Parker and tackle Badara Traore to move its roster down to 80 players by Tuesday’s deadline.
Mike Pennel has found his next gig. The veteran defensive tackle is signing a one-year deal with the Bears, according to his agent, Andy Simms (via Twitter).
[RELATED: NT Goldman No-Shows Bears Mandatory Minicamp]
The 2014 undrafted free agent has managed to put together a solid seven-year career, starting games for the Packers, Jets, and Chiefs. He spent the past two seasons in Kansas City, including a 2019 campaign where he started a pair of playoff games en route to a Super Bowl championship. After serving a two-game ban to start the 2020 season, Pennel saw time in 14 games (one starts) with the Chiefs last year, collecting 29 tackles and one QB hit. He also saw time in each of Kansas City’s three playoff contests, collecting a single tackle.
In total, Pennel has seen time in 91 career games (16 starts), collecting 155 tackles, two sacks, and 13 QB hits. The veteran has also appeared in 10 playoff games, collecting 11 tackles.
We heard earlier this week that the 30-year-old was trying out for the Bears. The team could be looking for some extra reinforcement along the defensive line after nose tackle Eddie Goldman decided to no-show mandatory minicamp.
The Bears have invited some well-known guests to their minicamp. They are working out five players — including tight end Jake Butt, cornerback E.J. Gaines and defensive tackle Mike Pennel — at their three-day mandatory session, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune tweets.
This marks Butt’s second known workout of the offseason. The Michigan alum auditioned for the Cardinals recently. Although Butt starred for the Wolverines not that long ago, he has battled rampant injury trouble as a pro. The former Broncos draftee now has three career ACL tears, two coming in Denver, and has played in just eight games in four seasons.
Mixed signals have come out of Chicago regarding the team’s interest in adding a veteran cornerback. The Bears were believed to be interested in Bashaud Breeland, but he signed with the Vikings, and had Steven Nelson on the radar. But new DC Sean Desai also expressed confidence in his in-house cover men. Gaines has 38 career starts but has not played in a game since the 2018 season. The former Rams draftee opted out in 2020.
Pennel leads this group in experience. The veteran interior D-lineman spent the past two years with the Chiefs, making an impact for the two-time reigning AFC champions’ run defense. Pennel, 30, played 14 games with Kansas City last season. The former Packers and Jets defender has played seven NFL seasons.
The Bears are also working out two players who recently participated in The Spring League — tight end Sal Cannella and Tyrone Wheatley Jr. The team lists Wheatley as an offensive lineman, though the second-generation NFL hopeful played tight end at Michigan — as one of Butt’s backups — and Stony Brook. Chicago’s minicamp is scheduled to run through Thursday.