Tag: PUP

Browns won’t activate QB Deshaun Watson from PUP list this season

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Cleveland quarterback Deshaun Watson will not be activated from the physically unable to perform list, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters Tuesday, marking an end to Watson’s 2025 season.

Cleveland’s highest-paid offensive player had returned to the practice field for the first time this season on Dec. 3, opening a 21-day window for the franchise to either activate him to the 53-man roster or shut him down for the remainder of the 2025 season by Tuesday.

Watson is recovering from multiple Achilles surgeries since January and had been thought to be out for the season while healing from the procedures.

“He’s done a great job with everything that’s been asked of him,” Stefanski said. “I’ve gotten to see him work so hard, whether it’s in the training room, by himself in the indoor with the trainers, on the practice field now for the last bit. Just felt like this was the right decision for him and for us. His focus will continue to be to help this football team and continue to get healthy and get stronger and all those types of things.”

Cleveland remains on the hook for one more year of Watson’s five-year contract.

He counts more than $80.7 million against the salary cap in 2026 with a base salary of $46 million. Team owner Jimmy Haslam called the Watson acquisition a “big swing and miss” in March.

Watson, 30, has played 19 games with the Browns and thrown 19 TD passes since he was acquired from the Houston Texans in 2022 and signed a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract in Cleveland.

Haslam will have paid Watson $184 million when the 2025 season ends. Watson will have earned $9.68 million per game played with the Browns despite not playing this season.

He was suspended 11 games in 2022 for off-field conduct related to sexual misconduct allegations involving more than 20 massage therapists. His 2023 season was cut short by left shoulder surgery and the 2024 season ended abruptly for Watson in Week 7 because of a ruptured Achilles, missing the final 10 games.

He had a second Achilles surgery in January to repair a new tear in the same tendon.

The Browns restructured Watson’s contract in the offseason — he received a $44 million restructure bonus — to free up salary-cap space and sign defensive end Myles Garrett to a four-year, $160 million contract and curb his trade demand.

–Field Level Media

Dec 9, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs (7) tackles Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) during the first half at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Cowboys’ Trevon Diggs passes physical, comes off PUP list

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs passed his physical and has been activated from the physically unable to perform list, the team announced Sunday.

Diggs was placed on the PUP list in July at the start of training camp in Oxnard, Calif. He missed the final six games of the 2024 season with a left knee injury, and that came after he sustained a torn ACL in practice two games into the 2023 campaign.

“I’d be remiss if I didn’t talk about how hard Trevon’s been working,” Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said on Saturday. “He’s doing an incredible job with (trainer Britt Brown). These things don’t happen if he’s not putting in the time and the effort to do the stuff that he’s been doing. Really proud of him.”

It’s not immediately known whether Diggs will play in the Cowboys’ season opener at the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 4.

Diggs, 26, made 11 starts in 2024 and recorded two interceptions and 42 tackles before being shut down.

In 58 career games (57 starts) since Dallas drafted Diggs in the second round in 2020, he has recorded 20 interceptions, 63 pass deflections, 215 tackles, one sack and two forced fumbles. He is a two-time Pro Bowler and was named first-team All-Pro in 2021, when he led the league with 11 interceptions and returned two of them for touchdowns.

–Field Level Media

Jan 5, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin (17) catches the game winning touchdown against Dallas Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland (26) during the fourth quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

Terry McLaurin off PUP list, can practice with Commanders

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The Washington Commanders removed disgruntled wide receiver Terry McLaurin from the physically unable to perform list early Saturday.

And while the two sides have yet to agree to a contract extension, the transaction means McLaurin can return to practice and start preparing for the season.

Multiple outlets reported Saturday that there was no sign of movement on a deal. Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury said Friday that time was running short before the season for McLaurin to start getting reps on the field.

The Commanders open the season at home Sept. 7 against the New York Giants, their NFC East rival.

McLaurin, who turns 30 in September, was put on the PUP list when he reported to camp on July 27, with the team citing an ankle injury.

He missed the start of camp and was fined $50,000 per day and $200,000 in total, as allowed by the collective bargaining agreement.

He is seeking an extension as he enters the final season of a three-year, $68.4 million deal. His average annual salary of $22.8 million ranks 17th among receivers. Cincinnati’s Ja’Marr Chase is No. 1, earning an average of $40.2 million, per Spotrac.

“On the business side, (Commanders general manager Adam Peters) and his side are still working very hard with Terry and his reps on the business side of things,” head coach Dan Quinn said when McLaurin reported. “While on PUP he’ll be working with the trainers.”

Washington selected McLaurin, a product of Ohio State, in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He has been selected to the Pro Bowl twice and was named a second team All-Pro in 2024.

McLaurin is coming off a big year, amassing 82 catches for 1,096 yards and a career-high 13 receiving touchdowns in 17 games. It was his fifth consecutive 1,000-yard season.

–Field Level Media

Jun 12, 2025; Berea, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson (4) works out during mini camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

Browns place Deshaun Watson on PUP list

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Competition for the starting quarterback job in Cleveland will not include the Browns’ highest-paid QB, Deshaun Watson.

Watson was officially placed on the physically unable to perform list as training camp gets underway in Berea, Ohio, with Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and rookies Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel vying to be the QB1 when the regular season begins Sept. 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Watson was rehabbing a torn Achilles when he suffered the same injury in January. Two seasons in a row ended with injuries for Watson, who is 9-10 as a starter since being acquired from the Houston Texans for six draft picks and signing a guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract. Half of those draft picks were first-round selections.

Cleveland head coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry had been staunch defenders of Watson’s ability and status as the team’s starter until the offseason, when cracks in the commitment level to Watson being a centerpiece of the franchise began to appear. When principal owner Jimmy Haslam said in March that the Browns were recovering from the mistake of “thinking we had a quarterback and didn’t have one,” the door opened even more for Cleveland to move in a new direction.

Watson, who turns 30 in September, denies he’ll miss the regular season, but all signs point to Watson being unavailable deep into the 2025 schedule.

He counts nearly $36 million against the 2025 salary cap and following a number of restructures, his cap hit is $80.7 million in 2026.

Defensive tackle Mike Hall Jr. also was placed on the PUP list. Hall is recovering from a knee injury he sustained in the final game of the 2024 season against the Baltimore Ravens.

–Field Level Media

Oct 13, 2024; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin (14) runs in for a touchdown during the third quarter against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-Imagn Images

Bucs place WR Chris Godwin, LT Tristan Wirfs on PUP list

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Star wide receiver Chris Godwin and left tackle Tristan Wirfs were among the five players the Tampa Bay Buccaneers placed on the active/physically unable to perform list at the outset of training camp Tuesday.

Players who are placed on the PUP list during the summer can be activated from it at any moment. If a player starts the season on the PUP list, he must miss at least four games.

The Buccaneers had previously confirmed Wirfs, 26, had arthroscopic surgery this month on his right knee following an injury last season. The team said he was expected to miss training camp and the preseason.

A four-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time first-team All-Pro, Wirfs started 16 games in 2024 and has started all 79 of his games since Tampa Bay drafted him 13th overall in 2020. Wirfs signed a five-year, $140.6 million extension last August.

Godwin, meanwhile, finished the 2024 season on injured reserve due to ankle surgery. He signed a three-year, $66 million contract to return to Tampa Bay this offseason, but he has not yet begun participating in team activities.

In his eighth NFL season (all with Tampa Bay) in 2024, Godwin caught 50 passes for 576 yards and five touchdowns. Across 111 career games, Godwin has racked up 579 catches for 7,266 yards and 39 TDs, along with two rushing scores.

The Bucs also placed offensive tackle Silas Dzansi, guard Sua Opeta and backup quarterback Michael Pratt on the PUP list. Linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. was placed on the active/non-football injury list, and nose tackle Desmond Watson will start camp on the active/non-football illness list.

–Field Level Media

Jul 24, 2024; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins linebacker Bradley Chubb (2) works out during training camp at Baptist Health Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Dolphins LB Bradley Chubb to start season on PUP list

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Miami is set to begin the regular season with top pass-rusher Bradley Chubb on the physically unable to perform list.

Chubb, who tore the ACL in his right knee in Week 17, Isaiah Wynn and Cam Goode all are on the PUP list to start the 2024 season, head coach Mike McDaniel said on Monday.

To be determined is the phrase used by McDaniel when asked if wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. would also begin on the PUP list, which requires players sit out the first four games of the season.

Chubb suffered the right knee injury with 3:10 remaining in the Ravens’ 56-19 win over the Dolphins last season.

In addition to his 74 tackles and 22 quarterback hits, Chubb led the NFL with six forced fumbles in 2023.

The Dolphins acquired Chubb from the Denver Broncos on Nov. 1, 2022. He has 39.5 career sacks in 73 games (72 starts) with the Dolphins and Broncos, who selected him No. 5 overall in the 2018 draft.

Chubb, 28, suffered a torn left ACL with Denver in 2019 and missed 10 games in 2021 with an ankle injury.

–Field Level Media

Mar 1, 2023; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Louisiana State linebacker B J Ojulari (LB20) speaks to the press at the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Cardinals activate BJ Ojulari from PUP

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Arizona Cardinals activated second-round draft pick BJ Ojulari (knee) from the physically unable to perform list on Monday.

The 21-year-old edge rusher has been on the PUP list since the start of training camp but was cleared to resume football work.

The Cardinals selected Ojulari with the 41st pick in this year’s draft out of LSU. He will compete for one of Arizona’s starting edge spots.

Ojulari played in 31 games in three years at LSU, logging 128 total tackles (78 solo), 16.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.

–Field Level Media

Sep 11, 2022; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders defensive end Chase Young (99) looks on after the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Scott Taetsch-USA TODAY Sports

Commanders activate DE Chase Young from PUP to 53-man roster

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Washington Commanders activated defensive end Chase Young from the physically unable to perform list on Monday.

The return of the former No. 2 overall draft pick has been in the works for some time. Young has not played in more than a year — since injuring his right knee (torn ACL and MCL) on Nov. 14, 2021.

Young was designated to return to practice on Nov. 2, opening a 21-day window for his return to the active roster. There were hopes he would be able to play in Week 10 against the Philadelphia Eagles or Week 11 against the Houston Texans, but the Commanders held off before adding him to the 53-man roster.

Wednesday would have marked the end of the 21-day window, after which Young would have had to move onto season-ending injured reserve.

Coach Ron Rivera did not go as far as to say that Young will play Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons.

“We will work him with the intent that he’s ready to play,” Rivera said. “If he’s not, then we’ll wait another week. He’s ready to go as far as being activated.”

Rivera said the most important thing is to see Young consistently and confidently “cut it loose” during practice.

“We want to make sure he’s confident, no hesitation,” Rivera said. “… You start to see it, especially when he’s not thinking about it. I watch it very closely and every now and then check to make sure it’s fine. We want to make sure because the last thing we want is for him to get back out there and hurt it again.”

Young recorded nine sacks, six forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and 70 total tackles in 24 career games (all starts) over his first two seasons. He was the 2020 Defensive Rookie of the Year after putting up 7.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and three recoveries.

The Commanders (6-5) are coming off back-to-back wins against the Eagles and Texans and are in the thick of the NFC playoff race entering Sunday’s home game against the Falcons (5-6).

–Field Level Media

Jul 28, 2021; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers defensive back Jason Verrett (2) during training camp at the SAP Performance Facility. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

49ers place CB Jason Verrett on PUP list

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The San Francisco 49ers placed veteran cornerback Jason Verrett on the reserve/physically unable to perform list Tuesday.

The transaction means Verrett will miss at least the first four games of the regular season.

Verrett, 31, suffered a torn ACL in Week 1 of the 2021 season. It marked the third season of his eight-year career in which he played exactly one game due to injuries. He also missed the entire 2018 season due to a torn Achilles tendon.

In seven seasons with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers (2014-17) and Niners (2019-21), Verrett has recorded 145 tackles, seven interceptions and 26 pass breakups across 40 career games (36 starts). He was a Pro Bowler in 2015.

The 49ers also released tight end Tanner Hudson, waived linebacker Jeremiah Gemmel, waived offensive lineman Sam Schlueter with an injury designation and placed defensive lineman Kalia Davis on the reserve/non-football injury list ahead of Tuesday afternoon’s deadline to get their active roster down to 80 players.

–Field Level Media

Oct 10, 2021; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Buffalo Bills cornerback Tre'Davious White (27) breaks up a pass intended for Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce (87) during the second half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

Bills delay roster decision on CB Tre’Davious White

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Buffalo Bills won’t make a roster move regarding star cornerback Tre’Davious White until they absolutely must.

Bills general manager Brandon Beane told reporters Tuesday that the team is delaying its decision on whether the injured White would need to begin the season on the physically unable to perform list.

“We’re trying to run out the clock here. It gives us another week,” Beane said of White. “I know people want answers (about a return date). Candidly, we don’t have them.”

A two-time Pro Bowl selection, White tore his ACL during a Thanksgiving Day win over the New Orleans Saints last year. He’s been on the PUP list throughout training camp.

The Bills could activate White and include him on their Week 1 roster, but if they place him on reserve/PUP before the final roster cut deadline next Tuesday, he would have to miss the first four games of the regular season. By not making the move yet, the team is holding out hope that he could be ready for Week 1.

White, 27, has spent the first five seasons of his NFL career with Buffalo and played in 72 games, all starts. He was a first-team All-Pro selection in 2019 along with earning Pro Bowl nods in 2019 and 2020. He has 16 interceptions, 60 pass breakups, five forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and 279 tackles for his career.

Beane was more certain of the fate of guard Ike Boettger, telling reporters Boettger would remain on the PUP list entering the regular season and miss at least the first four games. Boettger tore his left Achilles tendon and had surgery in December.

–Field Level Media