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NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/22/24

October 22nd, 2024 at 5:46pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are today’s practice squad moves:

Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Detroit Lions

  • Signed: S Erick Hallet

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Prince played under Brian Callahan in Cincinnati but has only played two games over the past two seasons. A six-game starter with the Dolphins and Bengals, Prince missed all of the 2020 season due to a COVID-19 opt-out and then all of the 2022 season due to injury.

The Vikings cut Tonyan from their 53-man roster earlier today, but because the NFC North mainstay is a vested veteran, he did not need to clear waivers before joining Minnesota’s practice squad. With T.J. Hockenson on the way back, Tonyan profiles as insurance.

This is a third chance for Marshall. The Panthers waived him after three seasons. No team claimed the former second-round pick, with Joe Brady‘s Bills passing. The 49ers took a flier soon after but released him last week.

Commanders Waive LB Jamin Davis

October 22nd, 2024 at 3:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Commanders’ new regime cut a host of Ron Rivera draftees after training camp. The Adam Peters-Dan Quinn duo is making a higher-profile move weeks later.

Jamin Davis, a 2021 first-round pick, received his walking papers Tuesday. Washington waived the fourth-year linebacker. Not yet a vested veteran, Davis can be claimed within the next 24 hours. The Commanders declined Davis’ $14.48MM fifth-year option in May and made multiple key moves at linebacker in free agency.

Under Quinn, Davis has seen his defensive snap share plummet from 86% down to 30%. Washington, which signed Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu in March, has used Davis strictly as a backup this season. He has been a healthy scratch twice, including in Week 6. Davis played 16 defensive snaps in Washington’s rout of Carolina on Sunday. Barring a return on a practice squad deal, the Kentucky alum appears done in Washington.

Davis, 25, was not alone among ILBs in seeing his option declined recently. The Ravens passed on Patrick Queen‘s last year, with fellow 2024 free agent signees Jordyn Brooks and Kenneth Murray seeing theirs declined as well. Davis being cut before becoming an unrestricted free agent naturally dings his stock, which had already trended downward since he came off the 2021 draft board 19th overall.

Although Davis bounced back from a bad rookie year by posting 104 tackles and three sacks in 2022 (before an 89-tackle, three-sack 2023 season), he was drafted to play in Jack Del Rio‘s defense. Davis did not see much of a look from Quinn, who brought in a host of his former players this offseason. Wagner is among them, and Luvu, while having no experience under Quinn, was one of the top free agent LBs available in free agency.

Davis, however, logged edge reps this offseason and has seen time in that role as well. Pro Football Focus even rates the recent hybrid performer, albeit on a limited snap count, inside the top 40 at the position. A team taking on his first-round salary might be a stretch, a claim should not be considered entirely out of the question. Davis’ recent versatility may help that cause — even if it did not help his Commanders standing.

The Commanders will eat a bit of dead money by cutting Davis, though his fully guaranteed rookie contract has seen most of the money paid out. The former high-end prospect will look to reestablish some momentum elsewhere — be it via waiver claim or a free agent signing at a lower rate.

Rams Designate Puka Nacua For Return

October 22nd, 2024 at 2:36pm CST by Sam Robinson

Puka Nacua continues to make his way back from the knee injury that has defined his second NFL season. The Rams wide receiver made a big step toward a return Tuesday.

The Rams have Nacua back at practice, with the team announcing he has been designated for return. The rookie-year standout now has 21 days to be activated. Of course, this comes as the Rams look into trading Cooper Kupp. But Nacua, who is signed through 2026, remains a key part of the team’s future.

[RELATED: Injured Reserve Return Tracker]

After seeing Nacua’s breakout begin while Kupp was on the mend with a hamstring injury, the Rams have been without both their top guns in the passing game for most of this slate. Nacua aggravated a knee injury sustained during training camp. He made it back for Week 1 but went down in that Lions matchup with a PCL sprain. A recent report (from ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler) indicated the Rams were targeting November for a Nacua return. This would point to a lengthier ramp-up period.

The Rams continue their season Thursday against the Vikings; they are unlikely to have Nacua available, and Kupp’s status will be a key storyline to monitor ahead of that contest. Los Angeles rebuffed Kupp trade inquiries last season, but at 2-4 and having seen Kupp battle injury issues since signing his second extension, the team is gauging the market for the former All-Pro. A trade coming to fruition would cut short the Kupp-Nacua partnership, which showed promise last season.

A fifth-round gem, Nacua set a rookie record with 1,486 receiving yards while adding six touchdowns during a 105-catch season. The BYU product played in every Rams game last season, displaying a physical style that paired well with Kupp’s finesse game in the slot. Nacua, 23, will be expected to reprise his role as a top Matthew Stafford target. There will be no debating Nacua’s place in the Rams’ WR hierarchy if they move on from Kupp before the November 5 deadline.

Nacua and Kupp played 12 games together last season. None of the contests involved both receivers clearing 100 yards, but the two combined for eight 100-yard efforts during their time together. It does not seem like the Rams are committed to moving Kupp, but if they receive a strong enough offer, the team will be looking for a receiver to complement Nacua. The latter’s health the rest of the way stands to shape how the Rams approach this position in the offseason as well.

Browns Sign Bailey Zappe Off Chiefs’ Practice Squad, Place Deshaun Watson On IR

October 22nd, 2024 at 1:17pm CST by Adam La Rose

1:17pm: The Browns made this move official. Zappe will take Watson’s roster spot, with the high-priced starter being moved to IR following his Week 7 Achilles tear. Watson will undergo surgery in the near future, though, it is not yet known if a full repair or an Aaron Rodgers-like speed-bridge procedure will take place.

8:42am: In need of a healthy depth option at quarterback, the Browns are making an addition. Cleveland is set to sign Bailey Zappe off the Chiefs’ practice squad, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Deshaun Watson is out for the year with a torn Achilles, leaving the team with Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Jameis Winston at the quarterback position. Thompson-Robinson took over for Watson on Sunday, but he suffered a finger injury and was also forced to exit the contest. It remains to be seen when the 2023 fourth-rounder will next be available, so Zappe could find himself dressing as the backup as early as Week 8.

The 25-year-old began his career with the Patriots, making a pair of starts during his rookie campaign. The promise he showed during that spell proved to be rather short-lived, though, and he was briefly out of the organization ahead of last season. Zappe was brought back, and with Mac Jones struggling he finished off the year atop New England’s depth chart. Despite having eight starts to his name, Zappe again found himself on the outside looking in this past summer, as the Patriots waived him. They have moved forward with veteran Jacoby Brissett along with rookies Drake Maye and Joe Milton under center.

The Chiefs acted quickly by signing Zappe to their practice squad. That move added depth behind Patrick Mahomes and new backup Carson Wentz, signed in free agency to take on QB2 duties. Both of those passers have remained healthy this season, leaving Zappe without a clear path to a place on the 53-man roster. He will now head to Cleveland in a bid to compete for a spot on the team’s roster even after Thompson-Robinson is healthy. Zappe has completed 63.2% of his passes while throwing more interceptions (12) than touchdowns (11) and adding sparse production in the running game during his career.

Those figures are not particularly encouraging, but this move will give him a fresh start at the NFL level. The Western Kentucky product could earn a stay beyond 2024 with the Browns in the event he were to see playing time and deliver solid performances. If not, how Cleveland proceeds in the offseason will become even more uncertain with Watson not being assured of the starting gig once he is healthy.

For the time being, Winston will likely be in line to make his first start of the year as Thompson-Robinson continues to recover. The 1-6 Browns sit last in the NFL in total offense and 29th in scoring, and whichever quarterbacks are used moving forward will look to usher in improvement on that side of the ball (something which could be feasible with Nick Chubb now healthy). Cleveland will look to end Baltimore’s five-game winning streak in Week 8 with a notably different looking QB room.

Eagles To Release WR Parris Campbell

October 22nd, 2024 at 12:53pm CST by Adam La Rose

Parris Campbell‘s time with the Eagles has proven to be short-lived. The veteran receiver is being released, Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports reports.

Campbell had a forgettable one-year stint with the Giants last year, and he made an intra-NFC East move to Philadelphia in the hopes of landing a depth role. That effort proved unsuccessful, though, and he was let go ahead of roster cutdowns. The 27-year-old did not originally intend to remain with the Eagles, but he had a change of heart and signed to the practice squad.

In the end, Campbell wound up making four appearances with Philadelphia. He recorded six catches and one touchdown across a two-game span, but with the team in a better spot health-wise at the receiver spot, he has fallen back down the pecking order. Both A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith are back in the fold, and they will of course account for a heavy target share moving forward. Campbell could once again find himself on the taxi squad, but otherwise he will need to find a new opportunity.

The former Colts second-round pick saw injuries plague him in Indianapolis, but after a productive contract year — one largely obscured during the AFC South team’s Jeff Saturday-led season — he has shaken the injury trouble. Though, both the teams who took fliers on Campbell over the past two years have not seen much despite the Ohio State alum staying healthy. Campbell caught just 20 passes for 104 yards with the Giants last season, finishing the year as a healthy scratch. In Philly this season, Campbell has turned his six receptions into just 30 yards.

Campbell’s 2022 season (63 catches, 623 yards) marked his only time beyond 150 yards in a single campaign, but it has proven to be an outlier for the slot player. While it would surprise if no team gave Campbell an opportunity — barring another return to Philly’s P-squad — the sixth-year vet is trending in the wrong direction.

Jahan Dotson and sixth-round rookie Johnny Wilson round out the Eagles’ depth chart. With Campbell again being cut, the team — with only four WRs left on its 53-man roster — will need to make a move soon to add another backup piece.

Jaguars LB Foye Oluokun, S Andrew Wingard To Resume Practicing

October 22nd, 2024 at 12:38pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Jaguars secured a win during the second London contest, and they could have a pair of defensive reinforcements in place ahead of their next game. Linebacker Foye Oluokun and safety Andrew Wingard have both had their 21-day practice windows opened, the team announced on Tuesday.

Oluokun was dealing with plantar fasciitis which he suffered in September, leading to his placement on injured reserve. An absence of at least four games was guaranteed by that move, with Week 8 marking the earliest point at which he could be activated. Today’s update is an encouraging sign with respect to Oluokun’s progress in recovery.

The 28-year-old has been as advertised in terms of tackle production since he signed in Jacksonville in 2022. Oluokun led the league in total stops (184) during his debut Jags campaign, and his 111 solo tackles last year also topped the league. He posted 22 through three games to begin the current season while remaining a full-time starter. The former Falcon logged over 1,100 snaps each year from 2021-23, and his durability was a factor which helped him earn a three-year, $30MM extension this offseason. His return to the linebacking corps will be welcomed.

Like many teams, the Jaguars took advantage of the NFL’s new roster-building rules in August. Wingard – along with running back Keilan Robinson – was placed on IR while being designated for return. That kept him eligible to play in 2024 but used up one of Jacksonville’s eight in-season activations. Once he is brought back onto the roster, Wingard will likely reprise his role as a key special teams contributor. The 27-year-old served as a defensive starter in 2021, but otherwise his presence has primarily been felt in the third phase.

Since Oluokun’s IR stint took place after the season began, he will count toward the remaining activation count once he is officially positioned to return. Jacksonville will have four left after Oluokun gets moved to the active roster. The team will hope his return helps spark improvement on defense, a unit which has struggled in a number of areas (but not when it comes to stopping the run) in 2024.

The 2-5 Jaguars also released Tre Flowers on Tuesday. The veteran corner made four appearances this season, his first in Jacksonville. He played sparingly on defense and special teams, making three tackles. As a veteran being let go before the trade deadline, Flowers will not be subject to waivers and as such he will be free to join a new team at any time.

Steelers Sign CB C.J. Henderson To Active Roster

October 21st, 2024 at 9:15pm CST by Ben Levine

C.J. Henderson has earned a promotion to Pittsburgh’s 53-man roster. Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Steelers have signed the practice-squad cornerback to the active roster.

The former first-round pick joined the Steelers practice squad in late September. While today’s move comes after Steelers cornerback Donte Jackson aggravated his shoulder injury last night, Rapoport notes that Henderson was also drawing interest from other cornerback-needy squads. By adding Henderson to the active roster, the Steelers now control the player’s fate this season.

The ninth-overall pick in the 2020 draft, Henderson showed flashes as a rookie with the Jaguars, hauling in an interception to go along with 36 tackles. He ended his rookie campaign on IR with a shoulder injury, and he only got into two games with Jacksonville in 2021 before getting dealt to Carolina. He ultimately spent two-plus seasons with the Panthers, finding himself in and out of the starting lineup. Pro Football Focus was never especially fond of Henderson’s performance, with the site often giving him one of the worst positional grades in pass coverage.

After hitting free agency this past offseason, Henderson quickly caught on with the Texans. He was among the team’s final cuts, and it took him about a month before he got an offer from the Steelers.

Joey Porter Jr. and Jackson have soaked up the majority of Pittsburgh’s snaps at CB this season, although the latter has been limited in each of the past two weeks while dealing with his shoulder injury. With Beanie Bishop Jr. penciled in as the nickelback, James Pierre has been tasked with filling in during Week 6 and Week 7, with the former UDFA getting into a season-high 35 snaps yesterday. With only those four aforementioned CBs on the active roster, Henderson could be in line for a role if Jackson if forced to miss any time.

Raiders To Sign QB Desmond Ridder

October 21st, 2024 at 8:32pm CST by Ben Levine

With Aidan O’Connell heading to IR, the Raiders are adding some quarterback depth. The team is signing Desmond Ridder off the Cardinals practice squad, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

[RELATED: Raiders To Place QB Aidan O’Connell On IR]

Ridder was a fourth-round pick by the Falcons in 2022. The former Cincinnati star went 2-2 as a rookie after replacing Marcus Mariota as Atlanta’s QB1, and he spent the majority of last season as the team’s top quarterback. He ultimately started 17 games during his two-season stint in Atlanta, going 8-9 while completing 64 percent of his passes for 3,544 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He also added another five touchdowns on the ground.

The QB was briefly replaced by Taylor Heinicke during the 2023 season. While Ridder eventually returned to the starting lineup, it was clear he didn’t have a future in Atlanta. After the organization added Kirk Cousins via free agency this offseason, Ridder was dealt to the Cardinals for wideout Rondale Moore.

Ridder was competing to be Kyler Murray‘s backup in Arizona but ended up losing the competition to Clayton Tune. The third-year pro later landed on the Cardinals practice squad, where he’s spent the first two months of the season.

Now, he could have an opportunity to play in Las Vegas. O’Connell fractured his thumb during yesterday’s loss, leaving the Raiders with Gardner Minshew and undrafted rookie Carter Bradley as their only two QBs. Minshew, who leads the NFL with 10 turnovers, was replaced as the starter two weeks ago. While the former Jaguars standout will likely slide back to the top of the depth chart, there’s a good chance he’s on a short leash, perhaps opening the door for a Ridder cameo.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/21/24

October 21st, 2024 at 8:15pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad moves:

Atlanta Falcons

Indianapolis Colts

Minnesota Vikings

Philadelphia Eagles

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/21/24

October 21st, 2024 at 7:17pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Green Bay Packers

  • Activated off IR: DL Jonathan Ford
  • Released: LS Matt Orzech

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

New York Giants

New York Jets

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

According to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, today’s moves were purely procedural. After returning to practice earlier this month, Jonathan Ford was nearing the end of his activation window. To avoid the defensive lineman landing on season-ending injured reserve, the Packers activated the former seventh-round pick to the active roster. That meant the Packers needed to carve out a spot, and long snapper Matt Orzech was the temporary casualty. However, Silverstein says Orzech will land back on the roster later this week following more roster machinations.

Meanwhile, the Giants added Armon Watts to the active roster following the lineman’s stint on the team’s practice squad. It sounds like rival teams may have forced the Giants hand. As ESPN’s Jordan Raanan notes, other teams expressed interest in the former Bears starter, forcing the Giants to secure Watts services now (vs. continuing to stash him on the taxi squad).

Elsewhere in New York, Haason Reddick was officially activated from the Did Not Report list today. Per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston, the Jets now have a two-game roster exemption to officially add the pass-rusher to the 53-man roster.

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