Here are Friday’s practice squad moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Released: RB Dillon Johnson
Kansas City Chiefs
- Placed on practice squad injured list: TE Baylor Cupp
As expected, Marquise Brown is in position to make his season debut tomorrow. The veteran wideout is being activated by the Chiefs, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz reports. The Chiefs have since made the activation official.
Brown faced high expectations in the lead-in to the 2024 season, given the Chiefs’ track record of success incorporating speedsters into their offense. Brown has proven himself to be one of the league’s top vertical threats during his career, although it came as no surprise when he took only a one-year pact to head to Kansas City. An SC joint injury resulted in surgery and a lengthy stint on injured reserve, though.
As a result, the possibility remained that Brown would be sidelined for the entire campaign, one in which the WR position has been a sore spot particularly after Rashee Rice being lost for the year. However, Brown has made progress in his recovery after the operation and he received clearance to practice last week. Activation in time for Week 15 was not feasible, but signs have pointed to an activation taking place in time for Kansas City’s contest against Houston on Saturday. Once this move is made official, the Chiefs will have four IR activations remaining.
Kansas City ranks just 13th in the league in passing yards per game (224), and improving on that number will be a goal in advance of the postseason. The trade acquisition of DeAndre Hopkins has proven effective, with the three-time All-Pro averaging 11.2 yards per reception and scoring four touchdowns in his first eight Chiefs games. Brown will look to add a new deep threat to the team’s passing game as Kansas aims to clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
If he can do so, the 27-year-old will help his stock ahead of free agency. Brown landed $6.5MM guaranteed on his Chiefs deal, one which has not gone according to plan so far given his missed time. A strong outing through the remainder of the campaign could rebuild his value to an extent on another Kansas City pact or one sending him elsewhere, though. Brown topped 1,000 yards during his third and final Ravens campaign, but the trade which sent him to the Cardinals was followed up by missed time in 2022 and ’23. Health will be a key factor in determining Brown’s standing around the league moving forward.
In the meantime, his attention will turn to his performances down the stretch as the Chiefs eye a third straight Super Bowl run. The team will have one more skill position contributor available for that process.
Today’s practice squad moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: DE Casey Toohill
- Released: DT Eli Ankou
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: CB Artie Burns
Today’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from IR: CB T.J. Tampa
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed off Bengals practice squad: DT Justin Rogers
Denver Broncos
- Promoted: DL Matt Henningsen, RB Blake Watson
Detroit Lions
- Designated for return: LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin
Los Angeles Chargers
- Activated from IR: TE Hayden Hurst
- Promoted: CB Dicaprio Bootle, S Kendall Williamson
While the Lions navigate a long list of injuries to their defense, the team did get some good news today, as linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin returned to practice. The 29-year-old suffered a neck injury in early November that required a stint on IR. While there seemed to be some initial pessimism surrounding the injury, the veteran will now have a chance to return for the stretch run of the season.
A former fourth-round pick, Reeves-Maybin spent the first five seasons of his career in Detroit before a one-year stay in Houston. He’s spent the past two seasons back in Detroit, including a 2023 campaign where he earned a Pro Bowl nod for his special teams prowess. He’s continued to serve an important ST role in 2024, but he also saw time in 111 defensive snaps in eight games. That represented his highest defensive snap count since the 2021 campaign.
The Saints are set to swap offensive playmakers in the coming weeks, with Chris Olave returning to practice from injured reserve and Alvin Kamara potentially out for the season with a groin injury.
Olave was cleared by a concussion specialist on Tuesday, per Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football, more than a month after he was hospitalized after a scary hit by Panthers safety Xavier Woods. Olave has been on injured reserve since November 9, but is set to play again this season after initial uncertainty surrounding his injury.
Kamara picked up a groin injury in Week 15 against the Commanders, and head coach Darren Rizzi told media on Thursday that the injury was more severe than originally though (via Underhill). Not only is the five-time Pro Bowler expected to miss Monday’s game against the Packers, he may also be out for the season, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
If Kamara’s season is indeed over, he will still finish with a career-high 950 rushing yards as one of the few bright spots in the Saints’ 5-9 season. He signed a two-year, $24.5MM extension in October that will keep him in New Orleans through 2026.
Olave, meanwhile, had an up-and-down season that has not included the same consistent production as his first two years in the NFL. After nine touchdowns and 2,165 yards (69.8 yards per game) in 2022 and 2023, he’s scored just once this year with an average of 50.0 yards per game. His efficiency has actually increased, with a career-high 72.7% catch rate, 65.9% success rate, and 9.1 yards per target.
The Patriots are placing defensive tackle Christian Barmore on the non-football illness list, according to a team announcement, ending his 2024 season.
The team released a statement explaining that Barmore “experienced some recurring symptoms that required further evaluation.”
Barmore was diagnosed with blood clots during training camp, forcing him onto the NFI list and putting his availability for the season in question. Optimism grew throughout the season, ultimately leading to Barmore’s return to practice on November 15 and activation to the 53-man roster shortly thereafter.
Barmore has appeared in the Patriots’ last four games – all losses – with six tackles (one for loss) and a sack. No one was expecting him to return to his 2023 form, which included a career-high 8.5 sacks, six pass deflections, 64 total tackles, and 13 tackles for loss, but even playing this year is impressive after facing a life-threatening health condition.
The Patriots signed Barmore to a four-year, $84MM extension in April, a deal that was viewed as team-friendly at the time. However, it secured the young defender’s financial future before his medical complications arose. Both sides will be hoping that Barmore can get the necessary treatment and make a full recovery in time to play in 2025.
Hayden Hurst returned to practice on Tuesday, and he is line to suit up for tonight’s game. The Chargers plan to activate the veteran tight end today, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. 
Hurst’s 21-day activation window opened when he logged his first practice since landing on injured reserve with a hip injury. With the Bolts playing on a short week, the 31-year-old has not had many opportunities to work his way back into the fold, but Rapoport notes Hurst has practiced in full each of the past two days. His return will give Los Angeles added tight end depth down the stretch.
Hurst became one of many former Ravens who signed with the team in free agency, reuniting with offensive coordinator Greg Roman along the way. The South Carolina product did not handle a notable pass-catching workload prior to the injury, recording only 65 scoreless yards on seven catches. Still, he will be able to serve as a blocker in addition to a secondary option at the TE spot behind Will Dissly as the Chargers look to find capable skill-position contributors outside of rookie wideout Ladd McConkey.
Hurst is attached to a one-year pact worth the veteran minimum, one which presented him with the opportunity to carve out a regular role in Los Angeles. That, in turn, would have set him up for a degree of stability after playing on four teams across his first six years in the NFL (including one-year Bengals and Panthers stints over the past two seasons). Given how the 2024 campaign has played out, though, Hurst’s value has not seen a spike and he is likely on track for another short-term, low-cost contract from the Chargers or another suitor in the spring.
Tonight’s contest between the Chargers and Broncos will involve two of the teams tied for the league lead in fewest points allowed (17.6 per game) and it will be key in shaping the AFC playoff picture. Considering Hurst handled a snap share of 38% prior to the injury, he should not be expected to play a major role in the game; his return will nevertheless be a welcomed development. Los Angeles will have two IR activations remaining once the Hurst move is officially made.
The Raiders opened up two roster spots today after placing defensive end Maxx Crosby and running back Sincere McCormick on injured reserve, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. They filled one 53-man roster spot by signing defensive end Andre Carter II off of the Vikings’ practice squad. The other was filled with the promotion of practice squad running back Chris Collier to the active roster. 
The Crosby move is no surprise after reports that he would undergo season-ending surgery on his ankle. Carter won’t likely add much on defense for the Raiders, but his addition adds much-needed depth along a beleaguered defensive line.
The loss of McCormick hurts a team that has struggled mightily in the run game this year. The Raiders currently rank dead last in the NFL in rushing offense.
After going undrafted out of UTSA in 2022, McCormick finally made his NFL debut this season and earned two starts in place of an injured Alexander Mattison, even remaining the starter last week when Mattison returned. He earned his first start after rushing for 64 yards on 12 carries in Week 12, a total Mattison had only reached once all season and that Zamir White failed to reach in any of his starts. McCormick followed that up with a 78-yard rushing performance in his first NFL start the next week.
With McCormick out, Mattison should retake starting duties with Ameer Abdullah continuing in his backup role. Collier will add depth behind those two and sixth-round New Hampshire rookie Dylan Laube.
In addition to all the active roster updates, Las Vegas signed defensive end Ovie Oghoufo and running back Isaiah Spiller to the practice squad.
Wednesday’s minor NFL moves across the league:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed to active roster: P Michael Palardy
Cleveland Browns
- Signed off Jets’ practice squad: TE Brenden Bates
- Placed on IR: RB Nick Chubb (story)
Indianapolis Colts
- Claimed off waivers (from 49ers): CB Ambry Thomas
- Designated to return from IR: CB JuJu Brents
New York Jets
- Designated to return from IR: DT Leki Fotu
- Placed on IR: S Jalen Mills
Seattle Seahawks
- Activated from IR: T Stone Forsythe
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Reverted to season-ending IR: OLB Markees Watts
Mills, the former Eagles’ and Patriots’ starter had taken on a bigger role in New York as usual starter Tony Adams took fewer snaps due to a hamstring injury. He’ll miss the remainder of the season due to a broken collar bone.
Forsythe had taken over as the starting right tackle following an injury to George Fant in the season opener before ending up on injured reserve himself with a hand injury.
Watts’ 21-day practice window has come and gone without an activation. As a result, he’ll revert back to IR without the ability to be activated.
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Keshawn Banks, RB Tony Jones Jr.
Atlanta Falcons
- Released: K Tanner Brown
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: WR Dax Milne, LB Jackson Mitchell
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: DE Isaiah Thomas
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: RB Jacob Kibodi
New England Patriots
- Signed: WR Alex Erickson
New Orleans Saints
- Released: DT Kendal Vickers
New York Jets
- Signed: OLB Bradlee Anae, RB Zach Evans, TE Neal Johnson
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: TE Kevin Foelsch