Pat O’Donnell - Pro Football Rumors

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/16/24

November 16th, 2024 at 8:56pm CST by Ely Allen

Saturday’s minor moves, including standard gameday practice squad elevations:

Baltimore Ravens

Elevated: LB Kristian Welch

Buffalo Bills

Elevated: TE Zach Davidson, T Richard Gouraige

Cincinnati Bengals

Elevated: T Devin Cochran, LB Shaka Heyward

Cleveland Browns

Signed to active roster: DT Sam Kamara, DE Elerson Smith
Elevated: WR Kadarius Toney
Placed on IR: DT Mike Hall Jr.

Denver Broncos

Elevated: LB Zach Cunningham, S Keidron Smith

Detroit Lions

Signed to active roster: LB Zeke Turner
Elevated: TE James Mitchell

Indianapolis Colts

Signed to active roster: LB Liam Anderson
Elevated: G Atonio Mafi, G Josh Sills
Waived: DT Adam Gotsis

Jacksonville Jaguars

Elevated: WR Velus Jones, LB Anthony Pittman

Kansas City Chiefs

Elevated: LB Cole Christiansen

Los Angeles Chargers

Signed to active roster: LB Shaquille Quarterman
Elevated: CB Eli Apple, OLB Caleb Murphy
Waived: CB Dicaprio Bootle

Los Angeles Rams

Elevated: T Geron Christian, DL Jonah Williams

Miami Dolphins

Elevated: LS Tucker Addington, T Jackson Carman

Minnesota Vikings

Elevated: LS Jake McQuaide

New England Patriots

Elevated: LB Keshawn Banks, LB Joe Giles-Harris

San Francisco 49ers

Signed to active roster: P Pat O’Donnell
Elevated: S Tashaun Gipson, CB Nick McCloud
Placed on IR: CB Darrell Luter Jr.

Seattle Seahawks

Signed to active roster: TE Tyler Mabry, WR Cody White
Elevated: LB Patrick O’Connell, S Ty Okada
Placed on reserve/retired list: C Connor Williams (story)
Waived: NT Brandon Pili

Tennessee Titans

Signed to active roster: C Corey Levin
Elevated: T Isaiah Prince, S Daryl Worley

Toney is set to make his debut for the regular season. The former first-round pick out of Florida has had a rocky first four years in the league, despite coming away with two Super Bowl rings in Kansas City. He was signed to the Browns’ practice squad just after the season opener and will be eligible to see game action with Cleveland in Week 11.

O’Donnell was added to the 49ers’ practice squad earlier this week given the chance of Mitch Wishnowsky missing time. The latter is now on injured reserve, ensuring at least a four-game absence. O’Donnell, 32, is a veteran of 145 games but Week 11 will mark his first regular season action since 2022.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/13/24

November 13th, 2024 at 6:46pm CST by Ely Allen

Wednesday’s practice squad transactions:

Chicago Bears

Signed: C Ricky Stromberg

Denver Broncos

Signed: S Keidron Smith

Detroit Lions

Signed: LB Abraham Beauplan

Miami Dolphins

Signed: TE Hayden Rucci

San Francisco 49ers

Signed: P Pat O’Donnell
Released: DT T.Y. McGill

The 49ers continue to deal with injuries on special teams. As a result, they’re bringing in the 33-year-old veteran out of Miami (FL). O’Donnell spent eight years in Chicago as the Bears’ primary punter before playing a season in Green Bay. If Mitch Wishnowsky‘s back injury forces him to miss game time, O’Donnell could see his first NFL action since 2022.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/20/24

January 20th, 2024 at 3:22pm CST by Ely Allen

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.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/26/23

December 26th, 2023 at 6:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are the NFL’s Boxing Day practice squad updates:

Atlanta Falcons

Signed: LB Frank Ginda
Released: P Pat O’Donnell

Denver Broncos

Released: DB Keidron Smith

Los Angeles Rams

Signed: LS Alex Matheson
Released: RB Darrell Henderson

New England Patriots

Signed: TE La’Michael Pettway

Pittsburgh Steelers

Signed: LB Jaylon Smith
Released: LB David Perales

San Francisco 49ers

Released: DT Taylor Stallworth

Seattle Seahawks

Released: LB Hamilcar Rashed

Tennessee Titans

Signed: TE Devin Asiasi, LB Tae Crowder, DT David Moa, DB Darius Phillips, DB Kendall Sheffield

Washington Commanders

Signed: RB Jaret Patterson

Smith will make his way to a third team this season. The Saints signed the former Cowboys mainstay just before the season, but the Raiders later poached the eighth-year veteran off New Orleans’ practice squad. The Steelers, who have lost regulars Cole Holcomb and Kwon Alexander for the season, will turn to him now. This move come after the Steelers added Mykal Walker, who is on team No. 4 this year, to their linebacking corps.

Henderson resurfaced with the Rams midway through this season, coming back after the team lost Kyren Williams and Ronnie Rivers in one game. Williams made his way back to action last month, while Rivers moved back to the 53-man roster last week. With Royce Freeman in place as veteran insurance, the Rams will again cut Henderson.

The Broncos are planning to bring Smith back to their P-squad soon, per the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson. The team initially planned to cut Smith to clear a spot for Kareem Jackson. With the Texans making another high-profile waiver claim — this one to reunite with Jackson, who was primarily a Houston cornerback from 2010-18 — the Broncos no longer have to clear a P-squad spot.

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/23/23

December 23rd, 2023 at 7:53pm CST by Adam La Rose

Saturday’s gameday elevations and other minor moves around the league:

Arizona Cardinals

Elevated: WR Dan Chisena, WR Kaden Davis

Atlanta Falcons

Placed on IR: FB Keith Smith
Signed to active roster: TE Tucker Fisk
Elevated: P Pat O’Donnell, OL John Leglue

Buffalo Bills

Elevated: RB Leonard Fournette

Carolina Panthers

Elevated: G Gabe Jackson, G J.D. DiRenzo

Chicago Bears

Elevated: WR Collin Johnson

Cleveland Browns

Elevated: S Tanner McCalister, LB Charlie Thomas

Dallas Cowboys

Elevated: DT Carl Davis, RB Malik Davis

Denver Broncos

Elevated: QB Ben DiNucci, OLB Ronnie Perkins

Detroit Lions

Elevated: K Michael Badgley (story), TE Anthony Firkser

Green Bay Packers

Elevated: WR Bo Melton, S Benny Sapp

Indianapolis Colts

Elevated: WR Ethan Fernea

Miami Dolphins

Elevated: CB Ethan Bonner, OLB Melvin Ingram

Minnesota Vikings

Elevated: WR Lucky Jackson, CB Jaylin Williams

New York Jets

Elevated: FB Nick Bawden, LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball

Seattle Seahawks

Elevated: CB Kelvin Joseph, S Ty Okada

Tennessee Titans

DB Shyheim Carter, CB Tay Gowan

Washington Commanders

Elevated: LS Tucker Addington, OL Nolan Laufenberg

The Bills will not have depth running back Ty Johnson available for tonight’s game, leading to the decision to elevate Fournette. The former Super Bowl champion will thus make his Buffalo debut, although with lead back James Cook in the lineup, Fournette will likely not receive many looks on offense. The latter has already returned a kickoff for the first time in his career, however.

Signed to the Dolphins’ practice squad last week, Ingram will also make his 2023 debut in Week 16. The 34-year-old last played during his Miami stint in 2022, during which time he started three games and recorded six sacks. With Jaelan Phillips out for the year, Ingram will look to once again give the Dolphins a rotational presence off the edge.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/22/23

December 22nd, 2023 at 5:27pm CST by Adam La Rose

Friday’s taxi squad moves:

Atlanta Falcons

Signed: P Pat O’Donnell
Released: LB Frank Ginda

Las Vegas Raiders

Signed: DT Nesta Jade Silvera

New York Jets

Signed: FB Nick Bawden
Released: CB Kalon Barnes

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/30/23

October 30th, 2023 at 6:16pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad transactions:

Atlanta Falcons

Signed: LB Donavan Mutin
Released: P Pat O’Donnell

Chicago Bears

Signed: OT Aviante Collins

Indianapolis Colts

Signed: S Tyreque Jones
Released: DT Ross Blacklock

Miami Dolphins

Signed: CB Parry Nickerson
Released: CB Mark Milton

New York Giants

Signed: CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver

Pittsburgh Steelers

Signed: LB Mykal Walker
Released: LB Caleb Johnson

Seattle Seahawks

Signed: C Joey Hunt
Released: OL Greg Eiland

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Signed: CB Derrek Pitts
Released: LB Brandon Bouyer-Randle

Mykal Walker has found a new home after getting cut by the Raiders last week. The former fourth-round pick spent the first three seasons of his career with the Falcons, including a 2022 campaign where he collected a career-high 107 tackles in 16 games (12 starts). However, since that breakout season, the linebacker has struggled to hold a job. He was waived by Atlanta back in August and was claimed by the Bears, but Chicago ended up cutting him at the end of the preseason. Walker later joined the Raiders practice squad and spent about a month in Las Vegas.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/28/23

October 28th, 2023 at 7:10pm CST by Adam La Rose

Saturday’s taxi squad moves:

Atlanta Falcons

Signed: P Pat O’Donnell
Released: LB Donavan Mutin

Chicago Bears

Released: S A.J. Thomas

Falcons punter Bradley Pinion was added to the team’s injury report on Saturday, leaving his availability for Week 8 in questions. O’Donnell has been made one of Atlanta’s gameday elevations, so the team will be covered in the event Pinion is unable to suit up tomorrow. Such a scenario would give O’Donnell, 32, his first NFL action since he was released by the Packers this summer.

Packers Release P Pat O’Donnell

August 28th, 2023 at 12:38pm CST by Adam La Rose

Veteran punter Pat O’Donnell has lost the Packers’ competition for the job in 2023. The team announced on Monday that he has been released.

The 32-year-old spent his first eight years with the Bears, establishing himself as a consistent performer at the position. His run in the Windy City came to an end last year, however, when he took a deal with the division rival Packers. O’Donnell signed a two-year contract with Green Bay, but he will see it terminated after only one.

The former sixth-rounder had already been paid a $650K roster bonus, but the Packers will still see $1.25MM in cap savings with this move. O’Donnell was set to count for $2.38MM on the team’s cap this season, but that figure will drop to $750K with the decision to hand punting duties to rookie Daniel Whelan. The latter has impressed in preseason, and now he will move forward knowing he will be counted on as part of a young Packers special teams unit.

Green Bay is already relying on a rookie at the kicker position in the form of Anders Carlson. His struggles have led to questions about the team’s confidence in him leading up to the start of the regular season, but general manager Brian Gutekunst recently offered a public seal of approval. Carlson’s debut season will now take place with Whelan operating as the holder on field goals, something O’Donnell has proven to be effective at.

The latter punted 52 times for Green Bay last season, posting a gross average of 44.5 yards and a net average of 38.5. Both of those figures fell short of his career averages, leading in part to the Packers’ decision to move on. As all teams around the league sort out their special teams units in the coming days, O’Donnell will now have to seek out another new opportunity ahead of the regular season.