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Steelers Add WR Jamal Agnew

November 12th, 2024 at 4:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Steelers kept Jamal Agnew on their radar for a bit, working out the cornerback-turned-wide receiver days before their regular-season opener. Coming off a major injury, the former All-Pro has found a home around the season’s midpoint.

Agnew secured a gig with Pittsburgh on Tuesday. This is a practice squad agreement, one that could double as a bridge to the veteran special-teamer working his way back to an active roster. The former San Diego Torero suffered a broken leg during Week 17 of last season, leading to an extended hiatus.

Best known for his return prowess, Agnew boasts six career return scores. He and Steelers free agency addition Cordarrelle Patterson have combined for 16 as pros. Unlike Patterson, who has fielded only one punt during his decorated career, Agnew has four return TDs. His All-Pro nod came as a rookie in 2017, when the former Lions fifth-rounder notched two punt-return scores and led the league with 447 return yards. Agnew, 29, also added punt-return TDs in 2019 and ’20 with Detroit; he notched a kick-return score with Jacksonville in 2021 and added a Pro Bowl nod with the Jaguars a year later.

In Jacksonville, Agnew also carved out a role as an auxiliary wideout for Trevor Lawrence. He caught three touchdown passes in 2022 and cleared 220 receiving yards in 2021 and ’23. Entering the NFL as a corner/return man, Agnew has been an offensive player for years now. He played out a three-year, $14.25MM Jags deal last season.

Pittsburgh’s exhaustive receiver search ended just before the deadline, with Mike Williams coming in (for a fifth-round pick) and soon catching a game-winning touchdown in Washington. As Williams joins George Pickens and Calvin Austin as regulars, the Steelers are still carrying Van Jefferson, Ben Skowronek and Scott Miller on their 53-man roster. Austin has been the Steelers’ primary punt returner this season. It will be interesting to see if Agnew earns a role or merely resides as insurance in Pittsburgh.

The Steelers also added running back Jonathan Ward to their P-squad while releasing O-lineman John Leglue and wideout Lance McCutcheon from the taxi squad.

Dolphins Claim LB Tyrel Dodson

November 12th, 2024 at 3:19pm CST by Sam Robinson

As the Seahawks disbanded their linebacking duo assembled in free agency, both discarded players are now in the AFC. Not long after Jerome Baker ended up with the Titans, the Dolphins have added Tyrel Dodson.

Mike McDaniel confirmed the team claimed the former Bills linebacker. Dodson is signed to a one-year, $2.25MM deal, giving the Dolphins just more than $1MM in base salary owed.

The Dolphins are quite familiar with Dodson, as he spent four seasons with the Bills. He now arrives months after the team released Baker. Miami signed ex-Seattle first-rounder Jordyn Brooks following its Baker release. Dodson, who helped replace Brooks with the Seahawks, is now en route to Florida.

Dodson started all nine games for the Seahawks, who cut him not long after acquiring Ernest Jones via trade from the Titans. Dodson worked as a part-time Bills performer during his first three seasons but became a regular last year, as the division champs lost Matt Milano for most of the season. Dodson received high marks from Pro Football Focus for his 2023 showing; this season, PFF has him ranked 36th among off-ball LBs.

A former UDFA in his age-26 season, Dodson led the Seahawks with 71 tackles — just three shy of his 17-game total with the Bills last season. The Dolphins will also pick up a player who learned Mike Macdonald‘s scheme this year. That proves relevant with the Dolphins also hiring a former Ravens assistant (Anthony Weaver) as DC. Baker also landed with a team running the Baltimore defense, with Dennard Wilson installed as Tennessee’s DC.

The Dolphins are flooded with veterans on their defensive second level. In addition to Brooks, the Fins have David Long, Anthony Walker and Duke Riley at the position. Dodson is heading into a crowded mix, and it will be interesting to see if he can make it back to a first-string role with his new team. Dodson has started 19 games over the past two seasons, doing so after logging just five over his first three.

Panthers Activate Adam Thielen From IR

November 12th, 2024 at 11:21am CST by Sam Robinson

Adam Thielen‘s 21-day activation window was set to close Wednesday. As a result, Carolina will indeed move the veteran wide receiver back onto its 53-man roster.

The Panthers officially activated Thielen from IR, burning one of their IR-return moves in order to have the 34-year-old pass catcher back in the fold. Had the team passed on doing so, Thielen would have spent the rest of the season on IR. The three-time 1,000-yard receiver has worked his way back from a hamstring injury.

Having not played since Week 3, Thielen has missed much of his second Panthers season. The team had turned to Andy Dalton before the Raiders game that featured Thielen’s injury but has since traded Diontae Johnson and Jonathan Mingo and then turned back to Bryce Young. While rumblings of the team giving Dalton another chance emerged following the thumb injury he sustained in a car accident, Young has guided the team to back-to-back wins.

It would stand to reason, based on the investment the Panthers made in the former Heisman winner, the younger passer would remain at the controls. Thielen is now back in the picture to help Young develop. The longtime Vikings starter arrived, via a three-year deal worth $25MM, to help Young develop last year. He was about the only positive component on the 2023 Panthers’ offense, which faceplanted during Frank Reich and Thomas Brown‘s stewardship. Thielen still picked up his third 1,000-yard season and entered this year with a fully guaranteed salary.

As could be expected given Thielen’s age and Carolina’s place during this rebuild, the 12th-year wideout came up in trade rumors. Thielen was mentioned along with Johnson and Mingo as trade candidates, with a move to a contender believed to be a development the second-year Panther would appreciate. Prior to acquiring Mike Williams, the Steelers showed interest. No trade happened, and Thielen is now positioned to work with first-rounder Xavier Legette and rookie UDFA Jalen Coker as Carolina’s top receivers.

It is possible Thielen could still be cut, in an effort to send him to a contending team, but he would hit the waiver wire if dropped since the trade deadline has passed. A team would be responsible for just less than $2MM in the event of a Thielen claim. For now, the possession target — who had displayed frustration about the state of the team’s passing attack in September — remains a Panther ahead of the team’s Week 12 matchup with the Chiefs.

The Panthers cut wideout-turned-tight end Jordan Matthews once again to clear a roster spot for Thielen. The former WR starter is in his second season with the Panthers.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/11/24

November 11th, 2024 at 8:06pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Here are today’s NFL practice squad updates:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Cincinnati Bengals

Houston Texans

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

The Bengals signed Brightwell after hosting several veterans for workouts on Monday, per FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz. Leonard Fournette and Xavien Howard were among the players who auditioned in Cincinnati, but neither player left with a deal.

Bills To Open Matt Milano’s Practice Window

November 11th, 2024 at 7:42pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Bills head coach Sean McDermott said that the team plans to open the 21-day practice window for linebacker Matt Milano to return from injured reserve.

However, Milano will not play in Buffalo’s crucial Week 11 tilt with the undefeated Chiefs.

Milano tore his bicep during training camp, forcing him onto IR in August and raising concerns about the 30-year-old’s ability to play this season. The Bills remained optimistic about his recovery and will now give their veteran linebacker a chance to prove his health in practice. He will have three weeks to ramp up before he must be activated to the 53-man roster or revert to season-ending injured reserve.

Milano’s torn biceps was his second major injury in the last two seasons. He fractured his leg in October 2023, ending his season after just five games. The Bills struggled to cover the middle of the field in his absence, an issue that has continued into this year with Milano on injured reserve.

Like last year, Buffalo has relied on multiple young linebackers to fill Milano’s role. 2023 third-rounder Dorian Williams has started all 10 of the Bills’ games and leads the defense with 93 tackles. Terrel Bernard started all 17 games last season, but missed three games this year with a pectoral strain. Third-year linebacker Baylon Spector stepped up in Bernard’s place for the first three starts of his career.

Despite Milano’s absence, the Bills have remained a top-10 scoring defense with just 19.3 points allowed per game. Even though the 2022 All-Pro won’t play in Week 11 against the Chiefs, his successful return to the field could give Buffalo a major boost as they vie for the AFC East crown and an elusive Super Bowl appearance.

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/11/24

November 11th, 2024 at 6:34pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Here are today’s minor moves around the NFL:

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

  • Reinstated from suspension, one-game roster exemption granted: DE Mario Edwards

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Seattle Seahawks

Williams completed his three-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. He remains on injured reserve after a season-ending knee injury suffered during training camp.

Edwards served a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy and is now eligible to be reinstated to the Texans’ active roster. Houston requested and received a one-game roster exemption to give Edwards an additional week to practice with the team before being added back to the 53-man roster.

Saints Waive Connor McGovern

November 11th, 2024 at 5:55pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Saints have waived center Connor McGovern, per ESPN’s Katherine Terrell, potentially to make space for Erik McCoy, who was designated for return from injured reserve last week.

New Orleans signed McGovern off the Jets’ practice squad at the beginning of October after a rash of injuries to their offensive line, including McCoy’s groin injury that required surgery and a stint on IR. With Shane Lemieux landing on injured reserve after Week 4, the Saints needed another center on the roster until McCoy completed his recovery.

Lucas Patrick started Week 5 at center for New Orleans, but had to move back to left guard after an injury to Nick Saldivieri. McGovern finished the game at center and started the next five games, allowing just eight pressures and zero sacks across 369 total snaps, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

But with Lemieux coming off injured reserve last week and McCoy nearing full health, the Saints moved on from McGovern. Since he was released after the trade deadline, he is subject to waivers and can be claimed by any NFL team. As an experienced lineman who has proven he is healthy after an injury ended his 2023 season, McGovern could draw interest on waivers by a team that needs center depth for the rest of the season. If he clears waivers, he is free to sign to any team’s active roster or practice squad.

The Saints recorded their third win of the year after firing head coach Dennis Allen last week. McCoy’s return should help stabilize the offensive line in front of Derek Carr, but his top receivers, Rashid Shaheed and Chris Olave, are both on injured reserve, limiting the ceiling of a Saints offense that scored 91 points across their first two games but has averaged just 17 points per game since.

Dolphins Place T Austin Jackson On IR, Activate WR River Cracraft

November 11th, 2024 at 4:50pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Dolphins have made a number of moves ahead of their Monday night matchup. Right tackle Austin Jackson has been moved to injured reserve, while wideout River Cracraft has been activated.

Jackson will be out for at least the next four games as a result of today’s move. He has served as Miami’s starter at the right tackle spot all year, continuing his run of starting all but two of his career appearances with the Dolphins. The former first-rounder has seen more success on the right side than the left (where he began his NFL tenure), and his absence will be felt up front. Kendall Lamm will replace Jackson in the starting lineup.

Last December, Jackson agreed to a three-year, $36MM extension which cemented his status as a key member of Miami’s offensive line. The 25-year-old drew underwhelming PFF grades during each of his first three seasons, but the 2023 campaign resulted in his best evaluation to date in both pass protection and run blocking. Jackson’s overall mark of 60 this year is a step back, but he will still be missed as the Dolphins look to remain as strong up front as possible after Tua Tagovailoa‘s latest concussion.

Cracraft was among the many players around the league who were placed on IR during roster cutdowns while being designated for return in the process. As a result, his activation (in terms of the Dolphins’ limit of eight for the year) has already been accounted for. As Miami moves forward with five such activations available, the team will welcome Cracraft into the fold for his season debut. The 30-year-old is set to reprise a depth role on offense, although with Tyreek Hill questionable for tonight he could see a notable workload against the Rams.

Miami has also signed defensive tackle Neil Farrell to the active roster. The 26-year-old made nine appearances with the Raiders in 2022, followed by a pair of games with the Chiefs. He has been used as a gameday elevation twice so far by the Dolphins, so that would have been an option once more before a deal on the active roster would have become necessary. Instead, Farrell has now been promoted from the practice squad, setting him up to serve in a rotational role along the defensive front.

Rams Activate Steve Avila, Jonah Jackson

November 11th, 2024 at 3:27pm CST by Adam La Rose

As expected, Steve Avila and Jonah Jackson have been activated from injured reserve. Both starting offensive linemen are thus in line to play for the Rams tonight.

Avila suffered an MCL sprain in Week 1, forcing him onto IR right away. Jackson managed to make it through his Rams debut that week, but during the following contest he went down with a shoulder injury which also led to a lengthy period on the sidelines. Getting both back will be a signficant and welcomed development as the Rams look to field a consistent unit up front.

Avila worked at left guard during his rookie campaign, and at times this offseason it appeared he was on track to move over to center in Year 2. That role was given to Jackson, however, with the free agent addition’s placement in the middle allowing Avila and Kevin Dotson to remain in place at guard. Jackson was added on a three-year pact including $25.5MM in guarantees. His ability to remain healthy now that he is back in the fold will be crucial for Los Angeles up front.

The tackle spot has also seen plenty of shuffling this year for the team. Alaric Jackson was suspended for the first two games of the year, and Joe Noteboom has been limited to one game so far. The latter was activated last week, paving the way for him to suit up tonight as well. Right tackle starter Rob Havenstein is not expected to be available for Week 10, though, so the Rams will still not have their ideal lineup along the O-line against the Dolphins. Still, the unit’s health is in a much better place now than it has been for much of the year.

In a corresponding move, Logan Bruss has been waived. The 2022 third-rounder did not make any appearances during his first two seasons with Los Angeles, and even amidst the multiple injuries being dealt with up front this year he has made only three starts amongst eight appearances. Bruss will available for any interested teams on the waiver wire; if he clears, he will become a free agent and thus have the chance to re-join the Rams on a practice squad deal. Los Angeles now has one IR activation remaining for the year.

Seahawks Waive LB Tyrel Dodson

November 11th, 2024 at 2:34pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Seahawks are underperforming on defense this season, and a notable move is on tap at the linebacker spot. Seattle plans to waive Tyrel Dodson, ESPN’s Brady Henderson reports. The move has now officially been made.

Dodson spent his first five seasons with the Bills, serving in a depth capacity as a rookie and taking on a key special teams role across the 2021 and ’22 seasons. The former UDFA saw his playing time jump to 51% last season, though, and he responded with career highs in tackles (74) and sacks (2.5). That landed him a free agent deal with the Seahawks in March.

The 26-year-old has logged over 600 snaps through nine games this year, already more than what he handled in any previous season. Given his major workload – which has included a team-leading 71 tackles along with a pair of sacks, two pass breakups and a forced fumble – today’s news comes as a surprise. Dodson’s one-year deal had a base value of $4.26MM, but its only guarantees consisted of a $1MM signing bonus which has already been paid out.

Dodson was in line to continue collecting per-game active roster bonuses through the remainder of the season, but that will not be the case if he is not retained by the organization. After the trade deadline, all players let go by their respective teams are subject to waivers. An interested club could therefore put in a claim and send the Texas A&M product to a new environment. If not, Dodson will become a free agent, keeping open the possibility of re-signing to Seattle’s practice squad.

This move represents another notable change at the linebacker spot for the Seahawks. The team sent Jerome Baker to the Titans last month, receiving Ernest Jones in return. Jones has started each of his two Seattle contests so far, and that is set to continue moving forward. 2023 UDFA Drake Thomas or fourth-round rookie Tyrice Knight could step into a first-team role to replace Dodson.

Seattle started the year 3-0 under first-time head coach Mike Macdonald, hired in no small part for his potential in delivering improvement on defense. The team now sits at 4-5 on the year, and it ranks outside the top 20 in several defensive categories. Dodson could play a role in helping generate a turnaround if he remains in the fold, but it remains to be seen if that will be the case.

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