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Chiefs Designate Jaylen Watson For Return

January 3rd, 2025 at 9:17am CST by Sam Robinson

The Chiefs have a rare opportunity at significant rest before the playoffs, earning the AFC’s No. 1 seed on Christmas Day. Andy Reid‘s team is taking advantage of that, being set to rest starters — to the point it is a double-digit underdog in Denver — in Week 18.

Kansas City is also starting to see some players lost early in the season return. Weeks after Isiah Pacheco and Marquise Brown‘s returns from IR, Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz notes cornerback Jaylen Watson is being designated for return. Watson has been out since late October with a broken leg.

[RELATED: Injured Reserve Return Tracker]

A 2022 seventh-round pick, Watson operated as the Chiefs’ initial L’Jarius Sneed replacement. Although the team was undecided on this job leading up to the season, Watson won it and played at least 93% of the team’s defensive snaps when healthy this season. The Chiefs will have three weeks to activate Watson. Considering they do not play a meaningful game for two weeks, the third-year defender has some time to complete his recovery.

Continuing a pattern of moving on from starting cornerbacks rather than paying them, the Chiefs dealt Sneed to the Titans for a 2025 third-round pick. After losing Williams, however, Kansas City has seen its usual blueprint fail to produce consistent coverage beyond standout Trent McDuffie.

In a small sample size this season, Pro Football Focus did have Watson rated 30th among corners. The boundary defender’s return stands to help a defense that already ranks second in points allowed heading into the playoffs. Watson replacement options Joshua Williams and Nazeeh Johnson have each struggled. After playing a part-time role during the Chiefs’ 2022 and ’23 playoff runs, Watson figures to see extensive work — provided he is sufficiently recovered — during the team’s threepeat attempt.

These recoveries may well play a central role in the Chiefs’ chances at becoming the first team to win three consecutive Super Bowls. Kansas City will not have Rashee Rice back, but beyond the promising wideout, the two-time defending champs could be nearly at full strength when they suit up for their divisional-round game. Watson is attempting to follow Pacheco in returning from a fractured fibula. While Kansas City (15-1) has received steady criticism for its run of narrow victories regardless of opponent quality, the experienced team will certainly be a tough out during the postseason.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/2/25

January 2nd, 2025 at 8:07pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad moves:

Detroit Lions

Los Angeles Chargers

San Francisco 49ers

The Chargers added some veteran safety depth in Terrell Edmunds today. The former first-round pick most recently had a two-month stint with the Steelers, collecting seven tackles in five games. Alohi Gilman could soon return to the Chargers lineup, but the team will still be down two players at the position with Elijah Molden and Marcus Maye sidelined, so there could be some open snaps for their newest player.

Minor NFL Transactions: 1/2/25

January 2nd, 2025 at 7:25pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Buffalo Bills

Cincinnati Bengals

Detroit Lions

New England Patriots

  • Waived: DT Haggai Ndubuisi

Seattle Seahawks

The Patriots signed Haggai Ndubuisi off the Commanders practice squad just yesterday, but the team is already waiving the defensive tackle. As ESPN’s Mike Reiss notes, Ndubuisi is being waived with a non-football illness designation, an indication that something popped up during the player’s physical.

Brady Russell landed on IR today after the tight end dealt with a foot injury for much of the season. The special teamer got into 11 games with the Seahawks in 2024. In his place, the team signed John Rhys Plumlee from the practice squad. The rookie was listed by the Seahawks as a WR, but the former UCF QB served as an occasional signal-caller on Seattle’s scout team.

Cardinals Place James Conner On IR

January 1st, 2025 at 9:52pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Cardinals placed running back James Conner on injured reserve on Wednesday, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, sidelining him for Arizona’s regular season finale against the 49ers.

Conner has been dealing with a “lingering right knee injury” this season, according to Cardinals team reporter Darren Urban. The two-time Pro Bowler left the game in Week 6 and again in Week 17, though he did not miss a start in between. Conner will join two other Cardinals running backs – rookie Trey Benson and Emari Demercado – on injured reserve.

Arizona turned to Michael Carter after Conner went down in Week 17 and is set to do so again after promoting him from the practice squad to fill its vacant 53-man roster spot. Carter began his career as a Jets fourth-round pick in 2021 and arrived in Arizona via waivers last season. He recorded 70 yards on 13 carries last week and will be looking to repeat his efficiency as an audition for a 2025 roster spot, with the Cardinals or elsewhere.

The Cardinals signed Conner to a two-year extension at the beginning of December, so they do not want to risk further injury to their expected lead ballcarrier for 2025. He is under contract through the 2026 season, though he could be released for $8MM in cap savings after next season, per OverTheCap.

Conner will finish the 2024 season with a career-high 1,094 rushing yards, though his per-carry and per-game averages were lower than last season. His 414 receiving yards were his most as a Cardinals and the second-highest total of his career.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/1/25

January 1st, 2025 at 8:59pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Here are the latest practice squad moves from around the NFL:

Dallas Cowboys

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Minor NFL Transactions: 1/1/25

January 1st, 2025 at 7:58pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Here are the NFL’s minor moves on New Year’s Day:

Dallas Cowboys

  • Signed to active roster from Buccaneers’ practice squad: DE Earnest Brown

Los Angeles Chargers

Las Vegas Raiders

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

  • Signed to active roster from Commanders’ practice squad: DT Haggai Ndubuisi

Philadelphia Eagles

Seattle Seahawks

Chiefs Designate Mecole Hardman For Return

January 1st, 2025 at 7:33pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Chiefs have designated wide receiver Mecole Hardman for return from injured reserve and opened his 21-day practice window, per Bleacher Report’s James Palmer.

Hardman landed on IR on December 7 with a knee injury after a quiet start to the season. He appeared in Kansas City’s first 12 games this season but made just 12 catches for 90 yards across his 114 offensive snaps.

Hardman had a bigger impact on special teams, averaging 10.2 yards on 20 punt returns and posting a career-high 26.4 yards per kickoff return. He will likely return to that role once healthy, though Nikko Remigio has done a solid job in his absence.

Hardman’s return may seem of little consequence given his lack of production this year, but he has been a solid playoff performer for the Chiefs in past championships runs. He has 393 combined rushing and receiving yards and four total touchdowns in his postseason career, including the game-winner in last year’s Super Bowl.

If Hardman is activated in time for the Chiefs’ Week 18 matchup with the Broncos, he will be catching passes from Carson Wentz, not Patrick Mahomes, according to Palmer. Head coach Andy Reid is opting to rest Mahomes and several other key starters for Sunday’s game with the AFC’s No. 1 seed already secured. Mahomes and the other resting players will have two weeks off before Kansas City embarks on their quest for a third straight championship.

Cowboys Release Ezekiel Elliott

January 1st, 2025 at 7:02pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

JANUARY 1: As expected, Elliott cleared waivers on Wednesday, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. He is now free to sign with any team’s active roster or practice squad, though he is looking for an opportunity to play in the postseason.

DECEMBER 31: The Cowboys are waiving running back Ezekiel Elliott, per veteran NFL insider Josina Anderson. Elliott requested his release so he could explore an opportunity with a playoff-bound team.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones released a statement (via Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer) praising Elliott as “one of the greatest to every play with the Star on their helmet. Because vested veterans are subject to the waiver wire after the trade deadline, Elliott will not hit free agency until he clears waivers.

“Out of respect and appreciation for Zeke and wanting to provide him with an opportunity to pursue any potential playoff participation possible, we are releasing him from the Cowboys roster today,” Jones said in the statement.

This, of course, marks the second time the Cowboys have released Elliott in two years. They dropped his six-year, $90MM extension from the payroll in March 2023, designating the former rushing champion as a post-June 1 cut. That created the interesting scenario, once Elliott re-signed with the team in April 2024, of the ninth-year veteran carrying two contracts on Dallas’ payroll.

It remains unclear if Elliott will find the playoff opportunity he is seeking. His agent, Rocky Arceneaux, said that “nothing is imminent” and thanked the Cowboys for granting Elliott’s release, per FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz.

Elliott is unlikely to be claimed on waivers after recording career-lows across the board this season, including 3.1 yards per carry and a 43.2% rushing success rate. A more likely route to a playoff team would be on a practice squad where he can get familiar with a new offense and work his way towards a postseason appearance.

However, almost every playoff team has at least one solid running back in their backfield. Elliott’s best chances might be in Cincinnati, where Chase Brown just suffered a sprained ankle and Zack Moss remains on injured reserve. Still, it’s hard to imagine Elliott playing anything more than a peripheral role this postseason after years of declining production following his excellent first three years in the league.

Lions Release Jamal Adams

January 1st, 2025 at 6:13pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Lions released former All-Pro safety Jamal Adams from their practice squad on Wednesday, according to a team announcement.

Adams began the season with the Titans before requesting his release in October. Tennessee obliged, giving Adams the chance to join Detroit’s practice squad at the beginning of December. He received game day elevations in Week 14 and 15, but played just 20 snaps on defense with three total tackles.

Even as injuries mounted for the Lions in December, Adams did not receive any more playing time. He has never been able to recapture the playmaking form that propelled him to three straight Pro Bowl appearances from 2018 to 2020, a period that included a first-team All-Pro nod in 2021.

Adams recorded 21.5 sacks and seven forced fumbles across his first four NFL seasons, but has played the last six years without a single play in either category.

Adams is unlikely to find another team this season and will enter a second straight offseason as a free agent. He may not have the range to play safety anymore, but he has historically excelled in the box. Converting to a dime-backer who can feature as a blitzer and cover running backs and tight ends may be the best way to extend his career.

Chargers Designate Alohi Gilman For Return

January 1st, 2025 at 5:38pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Chargers have designated safety Alohi Gilman for return from injured reserve and opened his 21-day practice window, per The Athletic’s Daniel Popper.

Head coach Jim Harbaugh said that Gilman is “ready to roll,” indicating that he will be activated before the Chargers’ regular season finale on Sunday.

Gilman landed on injured reserve at the end of November with a hamstring injury after starting 10 of Los Angeles’ first 11 games this season. His return could not come at a better time for the Chargers, who just lost Elijah Molden for the season due to a broken fibula.

Gilman was having a solid season before his injury, though he has not been able to replicate his playmaking from last season. He recorded two interceptions, 10 passes defended, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in 2023; this year, he has just one interception and four passes defended with no fumble production.

If all goes well in practice, the Chargers will use their eight and final regular season IR activation on Gilman, though they will receive two more for the playoffs.

One of those postseason activations could be for wide receiver Simi Fehoko, who has been on injured reserve since early November with an elbow injury.

Harbaugh said that Fehoko is “progressing really well,” per Popper. He has not been a major piece of the Chargers offense this year; he’s caught just six of his 16 targets, though all six have converted first downs for a career-high total of 106 yards. Fehoko has been a contributor on the kick and punt units, so he could see some playoff playing time on special teams if activated.

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