The following are the NFL transactions for Tuesday, January 17. Transactions will be published each day after they are circulated to NFL clubs. This public version will include waiver requests, assignments via waivers, terminations, free agent signings, reserve list and practice squad additions and deletions, and trades.
WAIVER SYSTEM TRANSACTION
TERMINATION VIA WAIVER SYSTEM
TAMPA BAY
Russell, J.J.
LB
Memphis
RESERVE LIST ADDITIONS
KANSAS CITY
Edwards-Helaire, Clyde
RB
Louisiana State
Status Changed to Reserve/Injured; Designated for Return (Also see OTHER TRANSACTIONS/COMMENTS)
Fortson, Joe
TE
Valdosta State
Status Changed to Reserve/Injured; Designated for Return (Also see OTHER TRANSACTIONS/COMMENTS)
The future is now and, at the same time, the future is very bright.
Look no further than this week’s Divisional Playoffs presented by Intuit TurboTax, where 29-year-old DAK PRESCOTT is the oldest starting quarterback remaining in contention for Super Bowl LVII. In fact, the average age of the eight starting quarterbacks this week is 25 years and 278 days. That’s the youngest group since the league began Divisional Playoffs with the 1970 merger. All eight starting quarterbacks in the Divisional Round are under 30 years old, just the second time that’s ever happened (it also occurred during the 2004 postseason).
In the AFC, all four starting quarterbacks – JOSH ALLEN (26 years, 246 days on gameday), JOE BURROW (26 years, 43 days), TREVOR LAWRENCE (23 years, 107 days) and PATRICK MAHOMES (27 years, 126 days) – are under 28. In either conference, that’s only happened twice previously, in the AFC Divisional Rounds of 1984 (MARK MALONE, DAVE KRIEG and Pro Football Hall of Famers JOHN ELWAY and DAN MARINO) and 2020 (Allen, Mahomes, LAMAR JACKSON and BAKER MAYFIELD).
And credit the college scouting and coaching staffs of the remaining organizations that have drafted and developed the core of their rosters. Looking at the final eight teams, from Prescott and EZEKIEL ELLIOTT in 2016 to BROCK PURDY, the final selection in 2022, each of the past seven drafts are well represented in this week’s Divisional Round.
This week’s Divisional Round also features the well-rested KANSAS CITY CHIEFS and PHILADELPHIA EAGLES, the respective No. 1 seeds in the AFC and NFC. But beware: Since the beginning of the 2018 playoffs, No. 1 seeds in the postseason are a combined 7-8 (.467) with zero Super Bowl victories over the past four years.
For a seventh consecutive season, at least two teams have advanced to the Divisional Playoffs that missed the postseason the year before, including JACKSONVILLE and the NEW YORK GIANTS this season. Could one of those teams continue a remarkable march?
Storylines abound. The countdown is on. Strap in for one of the best weekends of the year.
The NFL’s Divisional Playoff schedule:
Saturday, January 21
AFC
Jacksonville Jaguars (10-8) at Kansas City Chiefs (14-3)
4:30 PM ET
NBC, Peacock, Universo
NFC
New York Giants (10-7-1) at Philadelphia Eagles (14-3)
8:15 PM ET
FOX, FOX Deportes
Sunday, January 22
AFC
Cincinnati Bengals (13-4) at Buffalo Bills (14-3)
3:00 PM ET
CBS, Paramount+
NFC
Dallas Cowboys (13-5) at San Francisco 49ers (14-4)
6:30 PM ET
FOX, FOX Deportes
The Starting 11 entering the 2022 Divisional Playoffs…
1. STAY IN YOUR SEAT: Twelve of the last 13 postseason games have been within one score in the fourth quarter, including five of six Wild Card contests last week.
Four of the six 2022 playoff games so far, and 11 of the last 13 postseason contests dating to the start of the 2021 Divisional Playoffs, have been decided by seven points or less. Eight of those 13 have been separated by no more than three points.
Eight of the last 13 playoff games have also been decided in the last two minutes of regulation or in overtime.
And, teams have scored the winning points on the game’s final play in six of the past 13 NFL postseason contests.
2. NUMBER OF THE WEEK – 4: The number of teams over the past five postseasons (2017-21) that finished last or tied for last in their divisions and rebounded with a berth in their conference championship games. Both JACKSONVILLE and the NEW YORK GIANTS can join that group this week. The four previous teams to accomplish it: The Cincinnati Bengals and San Francisco 49ers in 2021, and the Jacksonville Jaguars and Philadelphia Eagles in 2017.
Since the 1970 merger, 20 teams have reached their conference championship games after finishing in last place (or tied for last) in their divisions the previous season, including eight that reached the Super Bowl: The 1981, 1988 and 2021 Cincinnati Bengals, the 1999 St. Louis Rams, the 2001 New England Patriots, the 2003 Carolina Panthers, the 2009 New Orleans Saints and the 2017 Philadelphia Eagles.
3. ROAD SWEET ROAD: Road teams in NFL Divisional Playoff games have won four of the last five games, dating to Tampa Bay’s win at New Orleans in the last contest of the 2020 Divisional Round.
4. SPOTLIGHT – INDIVIDUAL MATCHUPS: Recently named Associated Press All-Pros will match up on Saturday night when the NEW YORK GIANTS (10-7-1) visit the PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (14-3) at Lincoln Financial Field (8:15 PM ET, FOX, FOX Deportes).
When Philadelphia has the ball, the Eagles’ All-Pro center JASON KELCE draws Giants All-Pro defensive lineman DEXTER LAWRENCE. Then, when the Giants have possession, look for Philadelphia’s All-Pro linebacker HAASON REDDICK lined up across from New York’s All-Pro offensive tackle ANDREW THOMAS.
What’s more, in San Francisco on Sunday, look for 49ers All-Pro tackle TRENT WILLIAMS in a battle against Cowboys All-Pro linebacker MICAH PARSONS, while All-Pro guard ZACK MARTIN anchors a Dallas offensive line tasked with stopping San Francisco All-Pro defensive lineman NICK BOSA.
5.SPOTLIGHT – TEAM MATCHUP: Also in that Sunday Divisional Playoff finale, when DALLAS (13-5) squares off with SAN FRANCISCO (14-4) at Levi’s Stadium (6:30 PM ET, FOX, FOX Deportes), the teams will tie an NFL record by meeting in a ninth postseason game. The only other pairs of teams to meet nine times in the NFL playoffs are the Cowboys and Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, and the 49ers and Green Bay Packers.
San Francisco’s BROCK PURDY is expected to become the 10th rookie quarterback to start a Divisional Playoff game since the 1970 merger, the first since the Cowboys’ DAK PRESCOTT met the Packers in the 2016 playoffs. The list started with Pro Football Hall of Famer DAN MARINO in 1983. Since 1970, only four rookie quarterbacks have started in a conference championship game: SHAUN KING in 1999, BEN ROETHLISBERGER in 2004, JOE FLACCO in 2008 and MARK SANCHEZ in 2009.
Cowboys quarterback DAK PRESCOTT last week became just the fifth player in NFL history to register four passing touchdowns and a rushing touchdown in the same postseason game, joining AARON RODGERS, TOBIN ROTE, MATT RYAN and Pro Football Hall of Famer PEYTON MANNING. He also became the first player in the Cowboys’ rich postseason history to reach both 300 passing yards and four touchdown passes in a playoff game.
6. STREAK SPEAK: Chiefs running back JERICK MCKINNON has scored a touchdown in six consecutive games. His nine receiving touchdowns this season matched the highest mark by a running back in the Super Bowl era, tying Pro Football Hall of Famer MARSHALL FAULK (nine touchdown receptions in 2001), CHUCK FOREMAN (nine in 1975) and LEROY HOARD (nine in 1991).
When KANSAS CITY (14-3) hosts JACKSONVILLE (10-8) on Saturday (4:30 PM ET, NBC, Peacock, Universo), the Chiefs’ ANDY REID (35 postseason games entering this week) will tie Pro Football Hall of Famers TOM LANDRY (36) and DON SHULA (36) for the most postseason games by an NFL head coach. Only BILL BELICHICK (44) has more. The Chiefs are 7-2 over their last nine postseason games under Reid, including a Super Bowl LIV victory.
In winning their Wild Card game last week, the Jaguars erased a 27-0 deficit, the third-largest comeback victory in NFL postseason history. The only two greater comebacks were Buffalo’s 1992 Wild Card win over the Houston Oilers (32 points) and the Colts’ 2013 Wild Card win over Kansas City (28).
Jacksonville is the first NFL team since the 1991 Dallas Cowboys to select first in an NFL Draft and win a playoff game in the same season.
7. DID YOU KNOW?: Jacksonville quarterback TREVOR LAWRENCE is 41-0 on Saturdays since his sophomore season in high school. He was 3-0 on Saturdays over his final three years at Cartersville (Ga.) High School and 36-0 in three seasons at Clemson (his two college losses were on Monday and Friday). He’s also 2-0 so far in his NFL career (each of the last two Saturdays). Lawrence and the Jaguars face a third consecutive win-or-go-home Saturday game this week.
8. UNDER-THE-RADAR STORYLINE: Buffalo has gotten tremendous postseason production from wide receiver GABE DAVIS, who in last week’s win recorded six catches for 113 yards and a touchdown. In his previous postseason game, at Kansas City in the 2021 Divisional Playoffs, Davis caught eight passes for 201 yards and four touchdowns. Davis is the first player in NFL history to reach 300 receiving yards and five touchdowns over two consecutive postseason games.
When CINCINNATI (13-4) clashes with BUFFALO (14-3) on Sunday at Highmark Stadium (3:00 PM ET, CBS, Paramount+), quarterbacks JOE BURROW and JOSH ALLEN will meet officially for the first time. Burrow, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, became the first quarterback ever chosen first overall to start a Super Bowl within his first two seasons. Allen, meanwhile, enters Sunday’s game as just the second player ever to reach 300 passing yards and three passing touchdowns in three consecutive postseason games, joining MATT RYAN.
On his clutch, 98-yard touchdown return in the fourth quarter of last week’s Wild Card win, Bengals defensive end SAM HUBBARD reached a maximum speed of 17.43 miles per hour, according to Next Gen Stats. Hubbard covered 123.6 yards, the most on a touchdown by a player carrying a football during the 2022 season.
Cincinnati is attempting to become just the eighth team since the 1970 merger to begin a season 0-2 and still advance to its conference championship game. With a win Sunday, the Bengals would join the 1993 Dallas Cowboys, 1996 and 2001 New England Patriots, 1998 New York Jets, 2003 Philadelphia Eagles, 2007 New York Giants and 2014 Indianapolis Colts as teams that lost their first two games and advanced to conference championship games.
9. TREND TIME: Since the Eagles captured consecutive division crowns in 2003 and 2004, the NFC East has had a different champion each of the past 18 seasons (2005-22). It’s the longest stretch ever without a repeat division winner.
This season’s NFC East champion, PHILADELPHIA (14-3), hosts the NEW YORK GIANTS (10-7-1) on Saturday night (8:15 PM ET, FOX, FOX Deportes). Along with the DALLAS COWBOYS, three teams from the NFC East have advanced to the Divisional Playoffs, the first time since the league expanded to 32 teams and realigned into eight divisions in 2002 that a single division has placed three teams in the Divisional Round. The last Divisional Round with three teams from the same division was 1997, when Green Bay, Minnesota and Tampa Bay represented the old NFC Central.
In each of the prior two seasons in which the Eagles have earned the NFC’s No. 1 seed, they’ve advanced to the Super Bowl (2004 and 2017).
In last week’s win, Giants quarterback DANIEL JONES became the first player in NFL history to reach both 300 passing yards and 75 rushing yards in a postseason game.
The Giants’ BRIAN DABOLL is bidding to become just the 15th rookie head coach since the 1970 merger to lead his team to a conference championship game. However, only one coach has done it over the last 10 years (2012-21): Green Bay’s MATT LAFLEUR in 2019.
10. THIS WEEK IN NFL HISTORY: Jan. 17, 1993 (30 years ago) – In the NFC Championship Game at Candlestick Park, STEVE YOUNG guides San Francisco on a nine-play, 93-yard drive, culminating in a 5-yard touchdown pass to JERRY RICE. The march cuts the Dallas lead to 24-20 with 4:22 remaining in the fourth quarter. Faced with whether to run time off the clock in conservative fashion or push the ball downfield, Dallas head coach JIMMY JOHNSON tells offensive coordinator NORV TURNER he wants to score. So, on the ensuing play from scrimmage, Turner calls “896 F Flat.” When TROY AIKMAN reads blitz at the line, he realizes ALVIN HARPER on a post route is his best option. Harper races 70 yards to the San Francisco 9-yard line, setting up a Cowboys touchdown that cements a 30-20 victory and a berth in Super Bowl XXVII, the Cowboys’ first Super Bowl title under owner, president and general manager JERRY JONES.
11. AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST: San Francisco’s BROCK PURDY (selected with the 262nd and final choice of the 2022 NFL Draft) isn’t the only late-round gem who will be in action at this week’s Divisional Playoffs. Other notable “Day 3” selections drafted and developed by their teams expected to make significant contributions this week:
SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota Wild General Manager Bill Guerin today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has signed forward Matt Boldy to a seven-year, $49 million contract ($7 million average annual value) that goes through the 2029-30 season.
Boldy, 21 (4/5/01), has recorded 29 points (12-17=29), 125 shots, five power-play goals (PPG) and 15 power-play points (PPP) in 42 games with Minnesota this season. He ranks second on the Wild in shots and fourth in scoring, goals, PPG and PPP for the season. The 6-foot-2, 201-pound native of Milford, Mass., has recorded eight multi-point games and two multi-goal games during the 2022-23 campaign, both fourth-most on the team.
Boldy owns 68 points (27-41=68), eight PPG, 32 penalty minutes (PIM) and a plus-17 rating in 89 career games during two NHL seasons (2021-23). In the first 50 NHL contests, he recorded 44 points (17-27=44), the third-highest total recorded by an active U.S.-born player through 50 career games. Boldy reached the 50-point mark in his 60th career game and the 25-goal mark in his 74th career game, becoming the second-fastest player to reach either milestone after debuting with the Wild. The left-shot forward was selected by Minnesota in the first round (12th overall) of the 2019 NHL Draft.
Minnesota travels to play the Washington Capitals on Tuesday, Jan. 17, at 6 p.m. CT, broadcasted on Bally Sports North and KFAN 100.3 FM.
Abraham Nova, Haven Brady Jr. and Dante Benjamin win In Verona, New York; Rolando Vargas, Former World Champion Mary McGee and Javier Zamorron Get Their Hands Raised in Milwaukee
NEW YORK – Abraham Nova won a action-filled 10-round unanimous decision over Adam Lopez in a junior lightweight fight at The Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York
Nova’s win highlighted a night that saw Split-T Management Fighters win six contests between Verona and Milwaukee.
In round five, Nova dropped Lopez with a right that was followed by a left to the jaw that landed during an exchange.
At the beginning of round six, Nova landed a hard right hand that hurt Lopez. Lopez was grabbing onto Nova but fell to the canvas for a knockdown.
In round 10, both guys brawled and landed some hard punches. Both were able to stay on their feet in the crowd pleasing affair.
Nova landed 111 of 462 punches; Lopez was 112 of 415.
Nova, 129 lbs of Albany, NY won by scores of 98-90 twice and 97-91 and is now 22-1. Lopez, 129 lbs of Glendale, CA is 16-4.
Haven Brady Jr. remained undefeated with an eight-round unanimous decision over Ruben Cervera in a lightweight bout.
In round one, Brady was cut in his mouth.
Brady landed 108 of 397 punches. Cervera was 56 of 323.
Brady, 132 3/4 lbs of Albany, GA won by scores of 80-72, 79-3 and 78-4 and is now 9-0. Cervera, 130 1/4 lbs of Santa Maria, CA is 13-4.
Dante Benjamin Jr. stopped Emmanuel Austin in the opening round of their six-round light heavyweight bout.
In round one, Benjamin landed a left-right and left to the head that put Austin down. Benjamin finished off Austin as he landed a big flurry of power punches that was highlighted by a booming right hand, and referee Mark Nelson stopped the bout at 2:50
Benjamin, 174 lbs of Cleveland, OH is 5-0 with three knockouts. Austin, 175 lbs of Panama City, FL is 6-1.
Nova is co-promoted by Top Rank, Murphy’s Boxing and 12 Rounds Promotions. Brady and Benjamin are promoted by Top Rank.
In Milwaukee, Rolando Vargas won an eight-round unanimous decision over Derrick Murray in a super lightweight bout.
Vargas of Milwaukee won by scores of 79-73 twice and 77-75 is now 9-1. Murray of Saint Louis is 17-7-1.
Former IBF Junior Welterweight champion Mary McGee was impressive in stopping former world champion Dahianna Santana at 3:00 of round four of their welterweight bout.
McGee of Gary, Indiana is now 28-4 with 16 knockouts. Santana of New York is 40-14.
McGee is promoted by DiBella Entertainment.
Javier Zammaron made it two consecutive first round stoppages to begin his career as he took out Sean Williams at 67 seconds of their junior lightweight bout.
Zammaron of Sheboygan, Wisconsin is 2-0 with two knockouts. Williams was making his pro debut.
In the main event in Verona, NY, Split-T Management’s Stephan Shaw (18-1) dropped a close unanimous decision to Efe Ajagba.
Shaw is co-promoted by DiBella Entertainment and Top Rank.
The Colorado Rockies announced today that they have acquired right-handed pitcher Connor Seabold from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations.
Originally selected by Philadelphia in the third round of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft out of Cal State Fullerton, Seabold was traded to Boston in August of 2020 and went on to make his Major League debut for the Red Sox in 2021. The 26-year-old appeared in six games for the Red Sox through the last two seasons, spending the balance of those campaigns with Triple-A Worcester with which he went 12-5 with a 3.39 ERA (140.2 IP, 53 ER) through 30 starts.
Top prospects Graceffo, Hence, McGreevy, Walker & Winn highlight list
ST. LOUIS, Mo., – The St. Louis Cardinals announced their non-roster invitees to 2023 Spring Training camp today. Highlighting the list of 22 non-roster players to report to Jupiter the second week of February will include current and former Cardinals draft picks, including several top prospects.
First round draft picks Jordan Walker (2020) and Michael McGreevy (2021) join second round selections Luken Baker (2018), Tink Hence (2020) and Masyn Winn (2020). Hence, Walker and Winn represent the youngest players in the group of invitees at 20-years old.
Thirteen of the players were former St. Louis Cardinals draft picks including infielder Kramer Robertson and outfielder Óscar Mercado, who are returning to the Cardinals after playing with other organizations.
Below is a positional list of players:
PITCHERS (8):Gordon Graceffo (RHP), Tink Hence (RHP), Kyle Leahy (RHP), Ryan Loutos (RHP), Michael McGreevy (RHP), Tommy Parsons (RHP), Dalton Roach (RHP), Kodi Whitley (RHP);
CATCHERS (6):José Alvarez, Aaron Antonini, Jimmy Crooks II, Pedro Pages, Nick Raposo, Wade Stauss;
INFIELDERS (6):Luken Baker, Taylor Motter, Juniel Querecuto, Jeremy Rivas, Kramer Robertson, Masyn Winn;
OUTFIELDERS (2):Óscar Mercado, Jordan Walker.
Cardinals pitchers and catchers will hold their first practice at the Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium complex on February 15 with position player’s first practice on February 20. Players competing in the World Baseball Classic will begin reporting to Jupiter on February 13.
CHICAGO – The Chicago Cubs today claimed right-handed pitcher Julian Merryweather off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays. To make room for Merryweather on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Manuel Rodríguez has been designated for assignment.
Merryweather, 31, appeared in 26 games (one start) for Toronto in 2022, going 0-3 with a 6.75 ERA (20 ER/26.2 IP) and 23 strikeouts, compared to seven walks, contributing to a 1.43 WHIP. The righthander missed from June 14-Sept. 4 with a left abdominal strain. He also appeared in 15 minor league contests (one start) with the Rookie Level FCL Blue Jays, Single-A Dunedin and Triple-A Buffalo, tossing a combined 16.1 IP without allowing an earned run.
The six-foot, four-inch Merryweather made his major league debut with Toronto in 2020 and has gone 0-4 with a 5.64 ERA (33 ER/52.2 IP) and two saves in 47 career major league games (five starts). He missed the majority of the 2021 season (April 14-Sept. 7) with a left oblique strain, but earned both of his major league saves during that season, including his first on opening day at New York (A.L.).
In parts of seven career minor league seasons in the Cleveland (2014-17) and Toronto (2019-22) organizations, Merryweather is 27-20 with a 3.86 ERA (175 ER/408.1 IP) and one save in 106 games (70 starts). He was named a 2016 Carolina League Mid-Season All-Star after going 8-2 with a 1.03 ERA (7 ER/61.0 IP) in 11 starts with High-A Lynchburg. The righthander missed the entire 2018 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery and later that year, was traded to Toronto on Oct. 5 as the player to be named later in the trade involving infielder Josh Donaldson.
A Berkley, Calif. native, Merryweather was selected by Cleveland in the fifth round of the 2014 First-Year Player Draft out of Oklahoma Baptist University.
Rodríguez, 26, went 2-0 with a 3.29 ERA (5 ER/13.2 IP) and four saves in 14 relief outings for the Cubs in 2022. He has appeared in 34 career major league games, all in relief, going 5-3 with a 4.88 ERA (17 ER/31.1 IP) and five saves.
BOSTON, MA—The Boston Red Sox today traded right-handed pitcher Connor Seabold to the Colorado Rockies, in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations.
Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom made the announcement.
Seabold, 26, was designated for assignment on January 12. The right-hander spent most of 2022 with Triple-A Worcester, going 8-2 with a 3.32 ERA (32 ER/86.2 IP) and 89 strikeouts. He has made six career Major League appearances with Boston, allowing 25 earned runs in 21.1 innings with 19 strikeouts.
BOSTON RED SOX 40-MAN ROSTER (40)
Pitchers (23): Matt Barnes, Brayan Bello, Ryan Brasier, Kutter Crawford, Franklin German, Tanner Houck, Kenley Jansen, Zack Kelly, Corey Kluber, Chris Martin, Bryan Mata, Wyatt Mills, Chris Murphy, Kaleb Ort, James Paxton, Nick Pivetta, Joely Rodríguez, Chris Sale, John Schreiber, Josh Taylor, Brandon Walter, Garrett Whitlock, Josh Winckowski
Catchers (2): Reese McGuire, Connor Wong
Infielders (6): Triston Casas, Bobby Dalbec, Rafael Devers, David Hamilton, Trevor Story, Justin Turner
Outfielders (5): Wilyer Abreu, Jarren Duran, Rob Refsnyder, Alex Verdugo, Masataka Yoshida
Infielder/Outfielders (4): Christian Arroyo, Kiké Hernández, Ceddanne Rafaela, Enmanuel Valdez
