Commanders’ roster moves ahead of Wild Card game vs. Bucs

What does this mean for Jamison Crowder’s status?

It’s Saturday, and yes, the Commanders made a roster move.

Actually, they made two moves on the eve of their first NFC playoff game since the 2020 season when they lost to the Tampa Bay Bucs in the opening round.

Saturday, the Commanders elevated WR Chris Moore and CB Kevon Seymour from the practice squad.

This signals us that Jamison Crowder, who recently injured a hamstring, may not be ready to go Sunday against the Bucs. This is unfortunate because Crowder has played well since returning from the injured reserve after injuring a calf earlier in the season.

Crowder displayed an ability, a veteran’s knowledge, to get open down in the red zone when he caught two touchdowns against the Eagles. He has also been averaging 10.1 yards on his punt returns.

The team, in recent weeks, signed WR K.J. Osborn, and he has seen some action on offense as well as special teams.

Moore, 31, has played five games for the Cardinals this season, including against the Commanders on September 29, when Washington defeated Arizona 42-14. Although he has not received a reception this season, he has kickoff return experience, having returned 50 in his career.

Seymour’s elevation “could” mean the Commanders have reached the point where they may want to play Seymour over CB Michael Davis, who is 30.

Of note, the Commanders elevated DT Carl Davis three consecutive games but have not since Jonathan Allen’s return. Last week they elevated T Bobby Hart and DB Bobby Price, but apparently thought differently for this game against the Bucs.

Chiefs release standout LB, re-sign speedy WR

According to a report, the Kansas City #Chiefs made two roster moves on Tuesday.

According to a report from NFL insider Aaron Wilson on Tuesday, the Kansas City Chiefs released linebacker Blake Lynch and re-signed wide receiver Montrell Washington to their practice squad.

On December 30, Lynch signed a practice squad contract with the Chiefs, and he was elevated to Kansas City’s active roster before the defending Super Bowl champions’ Week 18 matchup against the Denver Broncos.

On the same day that Lynch initially joined the team, Washington was released from the Chiefs’ practice squad after a nearly season-long tenure in Kansas City.

Now, after the Chiefs’ blowout loss to Denver on Sunday, both players are back where they started.

Lynch was Kansas City’s highest-graded player during the Chiefs’ Week 18 matchup against the Broncos and should be a hot commodity as he enters free agency.

It is unknown if Washington will be elevated to Kansas City’s active roster at any point during the playoffs, but his familiarity with Andy Reid’s offense could be a boon for the Chiefs if injuries affect their depth at the wide receiver position.

Commanders roster moves: Another high Ron Rivera draft pick released

Jonathan Allen is officially back. Another high draft pick is gone.

It’s Saturday, and the Washington Commanders have made a few roster moves.

First, they have activated Jonathan Allen from the injured reserve list. Allen partially tore a pectoral muscle back in a Week 6 contest against the Ravens and was expected to be out the remainder of the season.

Secondly, the Commanders have waived defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis. Washington drafted Mathis in the 2022 NFL draft (No. 47 overall).

Thirdly, the Commanders have elevated two players, cornerback Kevon Seymour and wide receiver Brycen Tremayne, from their practice squad to the active roster for Sunday’s game against the Falcons.

Seymour was a sixth-round pick by the Buffalo Bills out of USC in 2016, appearing in 64 games, starting seven prior to being signed by Washington in September. However, the NFL recently suspended Seymour for six games for violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing substances policy.

Tremayne was undrafted out of Stanford and signed by Washington in 2023. He did not appear in a game in 2023 and was elevated once this season for the Browns game on October 6.

Allen is a welcome addition to the team, having been a defensive line anchor for eight seasons. Allen can now contribute to a team with a winning record for the first time in his career since joining Washington in the 2017 draft.

Sadly, Mathis is another reminder of how poorly former GM/HC Ron Rivera drafted. Mathis was immediately declared to be an example of Rivera again reaching in the draft because nearly all drafting services had Mathis to be drafted in rounds three or four.

Mathis had been a healthy scratch, made inactive in the last three games, while defensive tackle Carl Davis was elevated each game to play instead of Mathis.

 

Chiefs make roster moves ahead of Christmas Day matchup vs. Steelers

The Kansas City #Chiefs made two roster moves on Monday ahead of their Week 17 matchup against the Pittsburgh #Steelers on Christmas Day.

On Monday, the Kansas City Chiefs announced that they were designating third-year tight end Peyton Hendershot to return to practice and placing linebacker Jack Cochrane on their injured reserve list.

Though Hendershot end is unlikely to have a significant role in head coach Andy Reid’s offense in the final weeks of the regular season, he could be a vital asset for Kansas City if injuries affect the Chiefs’ depth at the tight end position.

Cochrane wasn’t a key contributor to Kansas City’s defense but factored into the Chiefs’ approach on special teams, where a new contributor will need to step up to fill his spot.

Hendershot isn’t likely to be activated for Kansas City’s Week 17 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers but may be able to return in time to play in the Chiefs’ final regular season game on January 5.

Stay tuned for more information on a potential timeline for Cochrane’s return.

Colts waive OL, opening up roster spot on 53-man

The Colts announced on Monday that they waived an offensive lineman from the active roster, opening up a roster spot on the 53-man.

The Indianapolis Colts announced on Monday that they waived offensive lineman Atonio Mafi from the 53-man roster.

Mafi was signed from the practice squad to the Colts’ active roster prior to the team’s Week 13 matchup against New England. In the two games prior to that, Mafi was a practice squad elevation for the Colts’ matchups with the New York Jets and Lions.

During that time, the Colts’ interior offensive line depth was quite thin, with Ryan Kelly on injured reserve and Tanor Bortolini in concussion protocol during the New England game.

From Weeks 11-13, Mafi played a total of nine special teams snaps but did not make an appearance on offense. Over the last two games against Denver and Tennessee, Mafi has been inactve.

After roster cutdowns in late August, the Colts signed Mafi to the practice squad after he had been released by New England.

A former fifth-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft out of UCLA by New England, Mafi had a fairly big role during his rookie season with the Patriots, playing 458 regular season snaps over 12 games, mostly at left guard.

Presumably with a roster spot now open, the Colts are going to fill that void by signing Mark Glowinski from the practice squad to the 53-man. The Tennessee game on Sunday was the third time that Glowinski had been a practice squad elevation, which is  the maximum amount a practice squad player can be made available on gamedays.

So with Glowinski having started at right guard the last three games, if they want him to continue filling that role in Weeks 17 and 18, he will need to be added to the 53-man roster.

I would guess that if Mafi clears waivers, the Colts will attempt to sign him back to the practice squad, where they now have an opening after placing cornerback Tre Flowers on the injured list.

Commanders make one roster move for Eagles’ game

The Commanders make roster move ahead of Sunday’s game vs. Eagles.

As has become customary, the Washington Commanders made a roster move Saturday.

This time, in preparation for their Week 16 NFC East showdown against the Philadelphia Eagles, the Commanders made two decisions ahead of tomorrow’s game at Northwest Stadium in Landover.

The roster move was DT Carl Davis’s elevation to the active roster from the practice squad. This is the third consecutive game the Commanders have elevated Davis from the practice squad. The two previous times, he played against the Titans and Saints.

In the last two games with Davis elevated to the roster, DT Phidarian Mathis has been a healthy scratch, being declared inactive both times. In the next week, the Commanders will need to determine if they will sign Davis to the roster or possibly bring Jonathan Allen back from the injured reserve list. Either could also involve a move with Mathis.

Secondly, the Commanders have decided that Zane Gonzalez will be the kicker on Sunday. The team did not elevate fellow kicker Greg Joseph, who kicked in the Saints game while Gonzalez was nursing his injured foot.

Gonzalez had already been signed to the 53-man roster following the Titans game, therefore, though the Commanders have made the decision to go with Gonzalez as their kicker against the Eagles, no actual roster move was made, other than the decision to have Joseph remain on the practice squad.

Saints sign former LSU star, ex-Chiefs first-round draft pick

The New Orleans Saints signed former LSU star Clyde Edwards-Helaire. The ex-Chiefs first-round draft pick arrives after an injury to Alvin Kamara:


The New Orleans Saints have made a move at the running back position, after Alvin Kamara’s groin injury. The team signed former LSU star Clyde Edwards-Helaire, adding depth to the running back room, announcing that defensive tackle Kendall Vickers was let go from the practice squad to make room.

Edwards-Helaire started his career with the Kansas City Chiefs as the 32nd overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft. In his first season with the team, he got off to a hot start totaling 1,100 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns in 13 games. In the following year, Edwards-Helaire still proved to be productive in scoring six touchdowns in ten games but his yardage numbers would dip down a bit.

With the emergence of Isiah Pacheco in 2022, Edwards-Helaire saw his opportunities lessen significantly as a result and there would be more of the same in 2023. This season however, he would spend the majority on the NFI list as he’s battled with post-traumatic stress disorder.

At only 25 years old though, Edwards-Helaire likely has a lot of tread left on the tires and could provide some decent depth behind what will likely be Kendre Miller and Jamaal Williams on Monday night in Green Bay. It will be interesting to see if he’ll fit in as a spell back potentially with Kamara possibly out this week.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Rams activate TE Tyler Higbee, sign former 4th-round OLB to practice squad

The Rams have officially activated Tyler Higbee, also making 2 other roster moves ahead of their game against the Jets

Sean McVay said last week that Tyler Higbee is on track to make his season debut against the New York Jets on Sunday afternoon and the Los Angeles Rams have made a corresponding move to support that statement.

On Tuesday, the Rams officially activated Higbee off the PUP/reserve list, adding him to the 53-man roster. To free up a spot for him on the active roster, they placed Nick Hampton on injured reserve. He tore his pec in Week 15 and will miss the rest of the season.

Additionally, the Rams signed 2021 fourth-rounder Rashad Weaver to the practice squad. Weaver is an edge rusher out of the University of Pittsburgh, going in the fourth round of the draft three years ago to the Tennessee Titans. In his career, he has 5.5 sacks, all of which came during the 2022 season in Tennessee.

Weaver will add some depth at outside linebacker with Hampton out for the year, while also providing help on special teams where Hampton was a key contributor for the Rams.

Commanders make interesting roster move ahead of Week 15

The Commanders make roster moves ahead of Week 15.

The Washington Commanders made roster moves ahead of Sunday’s game against the New Orleans Saints. That’s typical ahead of gameday, as it allows teams to elevate players from the practice squad to the 53-man roster.

One move was expected. Washington placed wide receiver Noah Brown on injured reserve and activated receiver Jamison Crowder. Brown injured his kidney two weeks ago in a win over Tennessee. Head coach Dan Quinn called the injury significant but said Brown would be fine long-term.

Crowder has missed most of the season with a calf injury. He’ll likely serve as the top punt returner ahead of Olamide Zaccheaus.

The most interesting move the Commanders made on Saturday was elevating kicker Greg Joseph to the main roster. Joseph, along with defensive tackle Carl Davis, was elevated.

Washington added the veteran kicker this week when Zane Gonzalez landed on the injury report with a left foot injury. Gonzalez has been the Commanders’ kicker in three of their last four games. He was signed last month when Austin Seibert dealt with a hip injury. After a brief return, Washington placed Seibert on IR.

Joseph’s elevation means the Commanders will carry two kickers on the roster. This may be a “just-in-case” move, and the team wanted to have Joseph available if Gonzalez can’t go.

This is the latest kicker setback for the Commanders. Washington has signed seven kickers this year, beginning with Brandon McManus in March before releasing him in June.

Commanders sign another kicker to the practice squad

Just in case, the Commanders add another kicker.

It’s been a frustrating year for the Washington Commanders and the kicking position. With Austin Seibert on injured reserve, his replacement, Zane Gonzalez, popped up on the injury report this week with a left foot injury.

So, on Friday, Washington, unlike other teams, is preparing for the event that Gonzalez isn’t 100% for Sunday’s game against the Saints, signing veteran kicker Greg Joseph to the practice squad.

The Commanders will decide on Gonzalez’s status by Saturday afternoon so that they’ll know if they need to elevate Joseph to the 53-man roster for Sunday.

Washington’s kicking problems began in June when veteran Brandon McManus was released due to an off-field issue. The Commanders had just signed McManus in March. They signed multiple kickers throughout OTAs and training camp before sending a conditional draft pick to the Browns for Cade York. York struggled in the Week 1 loss to the Buccaneers and was released. Washington signed Seibert, who was excellent until he suffered a right hip injury that cost him two games.

When he returned in Week 12, he missed a field goal and two extra points, going on IR the next day. Gonzalez, who filled in for the two games Seibert missed, was signed to the 53-man roster ahead of Week 13.

Joseph, 30, has kicked for several NFL teams, enjoying his greatest success with the Vikings from 2021-23. He kicked in six games for the Giants this season in place of the injured Graham Gano. Joseph also spent time with the Packers and Lions this season.

In some good news, Gonzalez practiced fully on Thursday and Friday, but was listed as questionable for the game.

To make room for Joseph, the Commanders released wide receiver Michael Strachan from the practice squad.