NFI list – Page 3 – Syndication Server

Predicting the 1st roster cutdown for the Lions

All NFL teams have to cut to 85 players by Tuesday afternoon, but the Lions might not have to make any moves at all

All NFL teams have to cut down from 90 players to a maximum of 85 before Tuesday, August 16th at 4 p.m. ET. For the Detroit Lions, the impending cutdown could be anticlimactic.

The Lions currently have five players who are on either the physically unable to perform (PUP) or non-football injury (NFI) lists. Those players count against the 90-man roster even though they’re not actively cleared to practice or play.

The quintet:

WR Jameson Williams (NFI)
FB Jason Cabinda (PUP)
CB Jerry Jacobs (PUP)
DE Romeo Okwara (PUP)
DL Josh Paschal (PUP)

The Lions don’t have to make any decision on those five players until August 23rd. That’s the day when rosters must be trimmed down to 80 from 85, and it’s also the point where something needs to happen to players on the PUP or NFI.

From the league’s handbook for 2022:

Simultaneously with the roster reduction to 80 players, clubs that have players in the categories of Active/Physically Unable to Perform or Active/Non-Football Injury or Illness may select one of the following options: place player on Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform or Reserve/Non-Football Injury or Illness, whichever is applicable; terminate or request waivers with the designation of Failed Physical or Non- Football Injury or Illness, whichever is applicable; request waivers; terminate contract; trade contract; or continue to count the player on the Active/Physically Unable to Perform or Active/Non-Football Injury or Illness List.

In short, the Lions won’t have to cut anyone by Tuesday afternoon if they don’t want to. Not releasing anyone would be a good sign that none of the five listed players are going to play in the second preseason game in Indianapolis.

However, the Lions do have some walking wounded players who are not on the lists. If players like DT Levi Onwuzurike, WR Quintez Cephus, S Ifeatu Melifonwu and WR Josh Johnson — all missed every practice last week as well as the Falcons game — aren’t apt to be ready for the week in Indianapolis, the Lions could choose to make a move for depth purposes. Johnson, an undrafted rookie from Tulsa, is the only player here who is in any immediate roster jeopardy.

Should the Lions opt to trim someone off the active roster, my top five candidates in order: TE Nolan Givan, OL Logan Stenberg, OT Obinna Eze, TE Derrick Deese Jr. and Johnson. I don’t see head coach Dan Campbell ending the kicking competition just yet.

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Jashon Cornell returns to Lions practice in hopes of coming off the non-football illness/injury list

Cornell has been on the NFI list for several weeks but could return within the next 21 days

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Could we see Jashon Cornell in a Lions uniform by the end of the season? It could happen, based on the second-year defensive end returning to Detroit’s practice on Wednesday.

Cornell has been on the team’s reserve non-football injury/illness list for several weeks. He was cleared to return to actively participating in practice on the Wednesday session leading into Detroit’s Week 14 trip to Denver to face the Broncos.

Like players being activated from injured reserve, Cornell now has 21 days to get back on the active roster or else he will miss the remainder of the season.

It’s been a tough start to the NFL career for Cornell, a seventh-round pick in 2020 out of Ohio State. The physical defensive end tore his Achilles in a training camp practice and missed his rookie campaign. Cornell showed some real ability in the 2021 training camp while playing defensive end, but he was suspended for the first three games of the season for a prior DUI offense. He’s only played in one game in two years, appearing exclusively on special teams in the team’s Week 7 trip to Los Angeles.

Neither the Lions nor Cornell have publicly stated precisely why he’s on the NFI list, but his return to practice offers some hope that the Lions could get something out of their once-promising draft pick.

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Za’Darius Smith, Will Redmond pass physicals, come off NFI list

The Packers returned OLB Za’Darius Smith and S Will Redmond from the non-football injury list on Monday.

The Green Bay Packers returned two veteran members of the defense on Monday.

Pro Bowl edge rusher Za’Darius Smith and backup safety Will Redmond both passed their physical and came off the non-football injury list. They were available and participating during Monday’s practice.

Smith and Redmond were both played on the non-football injury list to begin training camp. Smith had a back injury, while Redmond had a foot injury.

Smith, the team’s top pass-rusher, produced 26.0 sacks during his first two seasons in Green Bay. He was a second-team All-Pro in 2020 and a Pro Bowler each of the last two seasons.

Redmond, a converted cornerback, re-signed in Green Bay on a one-year deal. He played 340 snaps on defense and another 238 on special teams last season.

The Packers also returned running back Aaron Jones, defensive lineman Kenny Clark and wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown at practice on Monday.

The team has just one player left on the PUP or NFI list: left tackle David Bakhtiari.

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Javon McKinley passes physical, activated from the NFI list

Lions rookie WR Javon McKinley activated from the NFI list in time for Thursday’s practice session

The Lions delivered some positive news on the injury front on Thursday. Undrafted rookie wide receiver Javon McKinley has been activated from the non-football injury (NFI) list and will be able to participate in Thursday morning’s practice session in Allen Park.

McKinley passed his physical on Wednesday, per the NFL’s transaction wire. He was placed on the NFI list on Sunday for an undisclosed injury. It was apparently a minor issue, as McKinley is now back four days later.

A big target from Notre Dame, McKinley is hoping to make enough of an impression in training camp and preseason to stick around with the Lions in their questionable receiving corps.

Jets activate Avery Williamson, Ryan Griffin, Daniel Brown

The Jets have placed Avery Williamson, Ryan Griffin and Daniel Brown back on the active roster.

The New York Jets have three injured players back on the active roster and officially practicing.

The team announced Saturday that Avery Williamson (knee/PUP), Ryan Griffin (ankle/PUP) and Daniel Brown (NFI) have all been activated. Joe Flacco is the only Jet left on the PUP list.

Williamson is coming back from a torn ACL that he suffered last preseason. His value on the team increased this offseason with C.J. Mosley opting out due to COVID-19 concerns. Before Williamson’s ACL injury, he was coming off one of the best seasons of his career, recording 120 total tackles, six pass breakups, three sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one interception.

Griffin was the Jets’ best tight end last season. He was a late offseason signing last year but proved to be one of Sam Darnold’s favorite targets. Griffin had 320 receiving yards and five touchdowns in 13 games before going down with an ankle injury in Week 14. The Jets rewarded Griffin with a three-year contract extension worth $10.8 million.

As for Brown, he was primarily a backup tight end in 2019. He started in five of 16 games and had seven catches for 72 yards and a touchdown. The Jets re-signed Brown to a one-year deal this offseason.

In other Jets news, they re-signed safety Anthony Cioffi and released tight end Connor Davis.

Lions activate Romeo Okwara, Jalen Elliott, waive Jeremiah Dinson

The Detroit Lions announced they have activated Romeo Okwara from NFI, Jalen Elliott from reserve/COVID-19, and waived Jeremiah Dinson.

The Detroit Lions announced they have activated defensive end Romeo Okwara from the non-football injury list (NFI), undrafted safety Jalen Elliott from reserve/COVID-19 list, and waived undrafted rookie safety Jeremiah Dinson.

Okwara returning from the NFI list couldn’t come at a better time as the Lions will begin padded practices on Monday and only had two EDGE rushers healthy on the roster: Trey Flowers and Julian Okwara. Second year EDGE Austin Bryant is still on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list but there have been no updates on his status at this time.

Elliott was originally flagged on the opening day of COVID-19 testing and remained out of the facility until today. According to the NFL/NFLPA agreement, it means has been symptom-free for 72 hours and received clearance from the team’s head physician.

The Lions have now returned every player on their reserve/COVID list and now have strung together 12 straight days of tests, without having to place any additional players on the list.

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Dinson is the first undrafted free agent rookie to be released from the Lions roster this season, despite a series of roster moves last weekend. It’s a tough environment to succeed in, with no preseason games to prove themselves, and for a player who likely needed to show his value on special teams.

Ex-Lions DT A’Shawn Robinson sidelined by Rams with heart condition

Former Lions defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson was placed on the NFI list with an undisclosed heart ailment by the L.A. Rams

Former Detroit Lions defensive tackle A’Shawn Robinson has been placed on the non-football injury list by his new team, the Los Angeles Rams. He has been diagnoses with an undisclosed heart ailment.

Rams coach Sean McVay explained the decision during a press conference.

“Based on the onboarding physical process and all that entails, we were able to come to some conclusions and learn some things that made this decision come about,” McVay said via the Rams.

The coach later indicated that the team is hopeful Robinson can return to action later this season, and that the big nose tackle remains an active participant in meetings.

Robinson signed with the Rams as a free agent this offseason. He spent his first four years in Detroit as the Lions’ second-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft out of Alabama.

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Lions claim DT Daylon Mack off waivers in series of Sunday roster moves

Mack was a 5th-round pick by the Ravens in 2019

The Detroit Lions were busy working on the first day of August. The team announced on Sunday evening a series of roster moves, including the addition of defensive tackle Daylon Mack off waivers.

Mack was claimed off waivers from Baltimore, where he was a fifth-round pick by the Ravens in the 2019 NFL Draft. He played only nine special teams snaps in one game as a rookie.

In addition to the Mack acquisition, the Lions made a couple of internal status updates.

Austin Bryant was placed on the active/PUP list. The second-year EDGE missed most of his rookie campaign with a torn pectoral muscle.

Defensive end Romeo Okwara is now on the active/non-football injury list.

Both Okwara and Bryant remain free to be activated at any point before the start of the season and do not count against the Lions’ roster cap.

The team also officially announced the signing of draft pick Jashon Cornell.

Joe Flacco among 3 Jets placed on PUP list

The Jets have placed three players on the PUP list and one player on the NFI list.

The New York Jets have a handful of players who are not ready for training camp just yet.

The team announced Thursday that placed QB Joe Flacco (neck), TE Ryan Griffin (ankle rehab) and LB Avery Williamson (ACL rehab) on the Physically Unable to Perform list. The Jets also placed TE Daniel Brown on the Non-Football Injury list.

Of the three players placed on the PUP list, Flacco is the only one not expected to be ready for the start of the regular season. He got offseason neck surgery and probably will not be able to hit the practice field until September. Flacco signed a one-year deal with the Jets worth $1.5 million this offseason.

Griffin injured his ankle in Week 14 last season against the Dolphins and was placed on injured reserve. Griffin received a three-year extension worth $10.8 million before the injury, though. He and Chris Herndon are projected to be the two starting tight ends for the Jets in 2020.

Williamson is coming off a torn ACL that he suffered last preseason. He should be in the mix for the starting linebacker job alongside C.J. Mosley.

As for Brown, he re-signed with the Jets on a one-year deal in February.