Tag: Javin White

Report: Bears to sign veteran LB Javin White

The Bears are reportedly signing veteran LB Javin White

The Chicago Bears have been busy bolstering their defense over the last couple of days and that trend appears to be continuing on Saturday. According to Pro Football Network’s Aaron Wilson, the team is signing veteran linebacker Javin White to a contract.

White began his career with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020, signing as an undrafted free agent out of UNLV. He appeared in four games his rookie season, notching four total tackles, including one for a loss. White was injured for much of the 2021 season, spending the year with the Raiders and the New York Jets. He played in one game for each team, primarily contributing on special teams. He was released by the Jets in late July.

Prior to joining the Bears, White had plenty of interest from other NFL teams, including the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks, according to Wilson. The 25-year old wasn’t able to fully show what he could do last season as he dealt with injuries, but perhaps could take advantage of an opportunity with the Bears. With star linebacker Roquan Smith still on the physically unable to perform list, they are counting on players like veteran Matthew Adams, undrafted free agent Jack Sanborn, and USFL standout DeMarquis Gartes to help fill the void at the position opposite Nicholas Morrow, who now reunites with his former teammate.

4 things to know about new Jets LB Javin White

Javin White is one of the best UNLV players of the last decade. Now, he’s a Jet. Get to know New York’s newest linebacker.

The Jets added a new linebacker to their active roster on Wednesday, signing Javin White from the Raiders practice squad.

New York has itself a solid linebacker duo in C.J. Mosley and Quincy Williams, but there are still reps to be had in the rotation. White is new to Robert Saleh and Jeff Ulbrich’s defense, but he’ll have a chance to show what he can do over the final two weeks of the regular season.

Here are four things to know about New York’s newest linebacker.

Jets sign LB Javin White, add 2 much-needed tight ends to practice squad

The Jets brought in three players at positions of need on Wednesday.

The Jets brought in three players at positions of need on Wednesday.

LB Javin White was signed to the active roster. Tight ends Josh Perkins and Brandon Dillon, meanwhile, were added to the practice squad.

COVID-19 and injuries have left the Jets thin at linebacker and tight end. While the Jets got a number of players and HC Robert Saleh back on Wednesday, LB Jarrad Davis hit the COVID-19 list on Tuesday. TE Kenny Yeboah was among the players who came off the list Wednesday, but the Jets don’t have a healthy tight end who has caught a pass this season. That didn’t change with Wednesday’s additions.

The Jets signed White off the Raiders practice squad. The 2020 undrafted free agent out of UNLV made four appearances last season, totaling four tackles and contributing on special teams. White played in one game for Las Vegas earlier this season.

Perkins was cut by the 49ers in August. He entered the league as an UDFA with the Falcons in 2016. The Washington product has also spent time with the Eagles. He has 17 catches, 196 yards and two touchdowns in 22 career games.

Dillon signed with Minnesota as an UDFA out of Marian in 2019. He’s made one appearance this year, playing 22 special teams snaps for Minnesota. Dillon was most recently on the Vikings practice squad. He has one career catch.

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Jets swipe LB Javin White off Raiders practice squad

Jets swoop in and steal LB Javin White off Raiders practice squad

Just two days ago the Raiders placed a whole slew of their linebackers on the reserve/COVID-19 list, putting their status for Sunday’s game in Indianapolis in doubt.

One of the potential replacements was LB Javin White who was on the practice squad. That’s ‘was’ as in past tense because today the Jets swooped in and stole him.

White was a former undrafted free agent out of UNLV. The Oakland native got the opportunity to suit up for the team he grew up watching in the East Bay and which moved down the street from where he played college ball.

He appeared in four games as a rookie in 2020 but saw action in just one game this season — elevated week 14 against the Chiefs.

White had played defensive back his first four years for the Runnin’ Rebels before switching to linebacker as a fifth-year senior. The Raiders hoped those coverage skills would have him blossom into a solid weakside linebacker in the NFL.

The Jets apparently thought so too, and thus he gets his first contract to be on an active NFL roster.

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Raiders sign LB Will Compton off practice squad, elevate three others

Raiders sign LB Will Compton off practice squad, elevate three others

Just four days ago, Will Compton was signed onto the Raiders practice squad. And Saturday the team signed him to the active roster, meaning he figures to on the field for the team Sunday when they face the Chiefs in Kansas City.

Compton’s addition is vital at the moment due to the injuries to linebackers Denzel Perryman, Nick Kwiatkoski, and Patrick Onwuasor.

The veteran linebacker Compton appeared in nine games with the Raiders in 2019 where he started at middle linebacker for four games and was a key special teams contributor under interim head coach Rich Bisaccia.

“I know he understands the special teams system for sure, and he did play last year,” Bisaccia said on Wednesday. “So, I’ve been staying in touch with him as well as other guys that we kind of keep our eyes on as you go through these situations, and we felt the need for him to come in. . . Will is a MIKE linebacker by trade, so it gives us a guy that can learn the system that way. But I know he can play on special teams for us, and he ran around pretty good out there today.”

Also seeing an elevation from the practice squad for Sunday’s game were LB Javin White, WR Tyron Johnson, and RB Trey Ragas.

White obviously helps with the depth at linebacker. Running back also has depth issues with Kenyan Drake lost for the year and Jalen Richard once again on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Raiders activate LB Javin White from injured reserve

Raiders activate LB Javin White from injured reserve

The last time we saw Javin White he was being carted off the field during the Raiders preseason opener on August 14 against the Seahawks.

White was distraught as it looked like his injury was severe enough that it could cost him his season. Now not even halfway through the 2021 season, White is returning to the field.

Today, the Raiders activated White off of injured reserve, making him available for the final ten games of the season as the team comes out of their bye week.

White was an undrafted free agent out of UNLV in 2020, appearing in four games with most of his snaps coming on special teams.

The 6-2, 211-pounder could potentially see snaps at weakside linebacker in nickel packages. Still on injured reserve is Nicholas Morrow who was lost to an injury in scrimmage practices with the Rams just a few days after White was lost to his injury.

Four Raiders on injured reserve are eligible to return this week

Four Raiders on injured reserve are eligible to return this week

This season the NFL decided to continue with the same short term injured reserve rules they implemented in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The rule is that instead of players placed on partial season IR being out at least eight games, they are allowed to return after three weeks.

Any player placed on IR after the 53-man roster cutdown is on short term IR and thus may return as early as three weeks into the season.

Several Raiders players were placed on short term IR prior to the start of the season. Three weeks are in the books, which means all of them are eligible to return.

Those players were RB Jalen Richard, LB Nicholas Morrow, LB Javin White, and CB Keisean Nixon.

Whether any of these players returns is, of course, dependent upon whether they are healthy enough to do so.

The least likely to be ready to come back would figure to be the two linebackers. Both Morrow and White suffered injuries within days of each other during the preseason. White’s was carted off the field in the preseason opener with an apparent serious injury. A few days later, Morrow left the team’s scrimmage with the Rams with an injury and head coach Jon Gruden said shortly thereafter that Morrow’s injury could actually keep him out even longer than White.

Richard could be the most likely to be activated this week. He has been missing the longest, having suffered a foot injury on August 4. The Raiders could also use the depth at running back with Josh Jacobs missing the past two games with and ankle injury.

Raiders make series of roster moves heading into weekend

Raiders make series of roster moves heading into weekend

It was a busy week for the Raiders. Early in the week they had to make their roster cuts to get down to 53 players. The next day (Wednesday) they needed to see about putting together a 16-man practice squad, which they did and making a few more moves official.

With the practice squad in place, the team went about placing several players on partial season injured reserve. And with those moves, they added players to fill their vacant roster spots.

Heading to partial season IR were linebacker Nicholas Morrow (foot) and Javin White (knee), RB Jalen Richard (foot), and CB Keisean Nixon (leg).

Corresponding moves saw the return of TE Derek Carrier and S Dallin Leavitt along with the addition of OL Jermaine Eluemunor.

Eluemunor was originally a round five draft pick by the Baltimore Ravens in 2017. The 6-4, 345-pounder has played at guard and tackle in his career. He has appeared in 39 games with 11 starts over his career with the Ravens and Patriots. He was most recently in camp with the Dolphins.

If you’re wondering if the math isn’t working out, you’re right. They placed four players on IR and added three. There is one spot open, officially, though reports have it filled with LB KJ Wright who was signed to a one-year deal.

In order to scrounge up the money to afford Wright, the team restructured the contract of DE Yannick Ngakoue, saving $8 million on this year’s cap.

The team made one last move on Friday and it was bringing back former 5th round LB Marquel Lee to the practice squad and releasing undrafted rookie LB Max Richardson from the practice squad.

Raiders to ‘perhaps find another’ LB with Nicholas Morrow, Javin White both ‘out for a while’

Raiders to ‘perhaps find another’ LB with Nicholas Morrow, Javin White both ‘out for a while’

Following the Raiders’ second preseason game, head coach Jon Gruden said the foot injury to Nicholas Morrow suffered in Thursday’s scrimmage with the Rams was a “concern.” Meanwhile, the Raiders had just watched fellow linebacker Javin White get hauled off the field on a cart with what looked to be a very serious injury.

Today, Gruden delivered an update on both linebackers that could be seen as bad news overall, especially for Morrow.

“They’re both going to be out for a while,” Gruden said of the timetable for White and Morrow. “Looks like Morrow will be out a little bit longer than White. So, that’s unfortunate. But we’ll have to continue to develop our young linebackers and perhaps find another.”

The first linebacker that comes to mind when considering finding another is former Seahawks LB KJ Wright. The one-time Pro Bowler worked under Gus Bradley in Seattle and visited the Raiders earlier this month, but has yet to decide where to sign. Money is usually a key point here and perhaps these injuries will have the Raiders upping their offer.

Also visiting the Raiders recently was veteran Mark Barron. The 31-year-old hasn’t played since 2019, spending much of last season the the Broncos injured reserve. He would figure to be a much cheaper option, but probably not as good of an option as Wright.

Raiders injury updates: Linebackers, Richie Incognito, Marcus Mariota, more

Raiders injury updates: Linebackers, Richie Incognito, Marcus Mariota, more

Suddenly the Raiders are banged up. Particularly at the linebacker position. They had Nicholas Morrow go down in practice this week, Nick Kwiatkoski was already sidelined, and in this game Javin White went down with a knee injury and was carted off the field.

After the game, Jon Gruden gave several injury updates, first and foremost to his linebacking corps.

“There’s a concern obviously with Nick Morrow. His foot is being evaluated,” said Gruden. “And Javin White looks like he hurt his knee. So, we were out a couple linebackers. [Darron] Lee couldn’t play tonight so we’re light at linebacker right now. It’s a concern. [Nick Kwiatkoski] is going to be ok, We think he’s going to be ready to go this week, but he couldn’t go tonight.”

White’s injury during the game tonight looks like it could be especially serious.

“I don’t want to come to any conclusions, but we’re going to evaluate him and he’s got to get the X-rays, but we are concerned,” Gruden added of White.

Others who might have played tonight, but were held out due to health concerns include Damon Arnette, Karl Joseph, and Marcus Mariota. Gruden didn’t give any specifics on Arnette, but I asked him about why Mariota was suited up, but didn’t go.

“He’s just not ready to go, physically,” Gruden said of Mariota. “He competed against the Rams (in scrimmages), but he’s limited, we’re not calling plays for him right now with the limitation. He’s got a quad strain. We think he’s got a chance to play against the 49ers, but the way he plays, we do not want to get him out in a live situation and let him cut it loose, he’s just not ready to go. He was ready tonight on an emergency basis, but right now he’s just not ready to go.”

And finally, there is the status of Richie Incognito who went down in practice Thursday almost simultaneously to when Morrow went down on the opposite field.

“We think he has a calf strain and we hope he’s ready for the opener,” Gruden said of Incognito. “But we don’t believe it’s serious, not Achilles tendon related at all. But it’s a calf injury and we’ll keep you updated, but right now he’ll be out for at least a week or so.”

Should Incognito not be ready for the season opener, John Simpson would step in for him at left guard.