NFL roundup: Latest league news from Saturday, Oct. 23

The timeline of Russell Wilson's impending return is becoming clearer as the Seahawks quarterback begins to heal.

Wilson is having the pin removed from his middle finger within the next week and there's a shot at an immediate return from injured reserve, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported Saturday on Good Morning Football Weekend. Wilson is eligible for a return in Week 10.

The Seahawks QB underwent surgery one day after spraining the middle finger of his throwing hand in a Thursday night loss to the Los Angeles Rams. Wilson was placed on injured reserve five days later, meaning he'd miss a minimum of three games. The injury snapped Wilson's streak of 149 consecutive regular-season starts to begin his career, which was the longest active streak in the NFL.

Seattle proceeded to lose it's first game without Wilson, falling to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 6 with backup QB Geno Smith at the helm. The Seahawks face the New Orleans Saints at home this Monday night and host the Jacksonville Jaguars next week before a Week 9 bye. Barring any hiccups, the Seahawks (2-4) will get their star QB back on Week 10 versus the Green Bay Packers, which was the tentative return date all along once he was placed on IR.

In other news, Pete Carroll told reporters that running back Alex Collins (groin) looked good in practice and will be ready to go against the Saints. Collins is officially listed as questionable.

Injuries/COVID-19

• Arizona Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury's status for Sunday's home game versus the Texans is still uncertain, Garafolo reported. Kingsbury, who missed last week's game after testing positive for COVID-19, remained in protocol this week and has since stayed away from the team. The Cardinals will be without linebacker Chandler Jones again on Sunday as he remains on the reserve/COVID-19 list for a second straight week.
• Buffalo Bills tight end Dawson Knox is not expected to be out long-term after undergoing surgery on his broken hand this week, per Garafolo. Knox's timeline is about three weeks, according to Garafolo, and there's a chance he only misses a few games considering the Buffalo enters its bye in Week 7.
• The New Orleans Saints ruled quarterback Taysom Hill (concussion) and receiver Deonte Harty (hamstring) out for Monday Night Football versus the Seahawks.
• New York Giants linebacker Tae Crowder (thigh) has been added to this week's injury report and is now questionable versus Carolina.
• Washington Football Team defensive end Shaka Toney (illness) has been downgraded from questionable to out.
• Denver Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (ankle) is expected to return from injured reserve and play in Week 8 versus Washington, NFL Network's James Palmer reported Saturday on Good Morning Football Weekend.
• Chicago Bears running back Damien Williams has been activated from the reserve/COVID list, the team announced. The Bears also downgraded defensive tackle Akiem Hicks (groin) to out versus the Bucs.
• Indianapolis Colts wide receiver T.Y. Hilton (quad) has been downgraded to out versus the 49ers while guard Quenton Nelson has been activated from injured reserve.
• The Kansas City Chiefs placed tight end Jody Fortson (Achilles) on injured reserve.
• Atlanta Falcons cornerback Avery Williams (hamstring) has been downgraded to out versus Miami.
• Carolina Panthers tackle Cameron Erving (illness) has been downgraded to out versus the Giants, the team announced. Erving did not travel with the team.
• The Green Bay Packers placed offensive lineman Josh Myers (knee) on injured reserve.

Roster news

• Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Joe Bachie has been elevated from the practice squad to the active roster.
• New York Giants linebacker Benardrick McKinney will be elevated to the Giants' roster for Sunday's game and the veteran will play, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reports, per a source. The team later announced the move, along with the elevation of practice squad defensive tackle David Moa and the signing of PS receiver David Sills.
• Washington Football Team wide receiver Antonio Gandy-Golden has been signed to the active roster from the practice squad. WFT center Keith Ismael and defensive end Bunmi Rotimi have been elevated from the practice squad to the active roster for Sunday's game versus Green Bay.
• Los Angeles Rams tight end Kendall Blanton has been elevated from the practice squad to the active roster for Sunday's game versus the Lions.
• Atlanta Falcons linebacker James Vaughters was elevated as COVID-19 replacement while linebacker Daren Bates and cornerback Chris Williamson were standard elevations from the practice squad.
• Chicago Bears elevated offensive lineman Dieter Eiselen and defensive tackle Margus Hunt for Sunday.
• The Houston Texans elevated offensive lineman Cole Turner form the practice squad to the active roster.
• The Philadelphia Eagles have elevated tight end Richard Rodgers and safety Elijah Riley from the practice squad to the active roster.
• The Carolina Panthers signed former Vikings running back Ameer Abdullah.
• The Arizona Cardinals elevated defensive lineman Josh Mauro to the active roster from the practice squad, and offensive lineman Danny Isidora, tight end Ross Travis and LB Joe Walker to the active roster from the practice squad as COVID-19 replacements.
• The Tennessee Titans elevated receiver Mason Kinsey and defensive back Chris Jones for Sunday. The team also waived running back Mekhi Sargent from the active roster.
• The Green Bay Packers elevated guard Ben Braden to the active roster.
• The Miami Dolphins promoted receiver Isaiah Ford to the active roster and waived quarterback Reid Sinnett. The team also elevated center Cameron Tom to the active roster.
• The New York Jets elevated linebacker Noah Dawkins to the active roster.
• The San Francisco 49ers activated running back JaMycal Hasty from injured reserve, and quarterback Nate Sudfeld and tight end Tanner Hudson from the practice squad. The team also released linebacker Mychal Kendricks.
• Houston Texans linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis has been activated from injured reserve.
• The Tennessee Titans activated running back Darrynton Evans and defensive lineman Larrell Murchison from injured reserve.
• The Kansas City Chiefs activated practice squad players linebackers Darius Harris and Christian Rozeboom.

Trades

• The Denver Broncos have acquired linebacker Stephen Weatherly and a 2023 seventh-round pick from the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for a 2022 seventh-round pick, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported, per a source. The Vikings have since confirmed the trade, which is pending a physical.

Retirements

• The New Orleans Saints placed receiver Chris Hogan on the reserve/retired list, Pelissero reported. Hogan, 34, briefly tested the waters outside of the NFL in February when he signed with the Premier Lacrosse League. He ultimately decided to return to the NFL in July after signing a one-year deal with the Saints. Hogan logged five appearances (one start) this season, contributing four receptions for 41 yards and touchdown in Week 1; he retires with career totals of 220 receptions, 2,836 yards and 19 TDs.

Fines

• Dallas Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb was fined $10,300 for unsportsmanlike conduct when waving goodbye to Patriots cornerback Jalen Mills after a game-winning touchdown last Sunday. Guard Connor Williams was fined $16,394 for unsportsmanlike conduct and cornerback Trevon Diggs was fined $7,981 for unnecessary roughness from the same game in New England.
• Pittsburgh Steelers pass rusher T.J. Watt was fined $10,815 for unnecessary roughness for punching at the ball in an attempt to strip last week versus the Seahawks, according to Rapoport.
• Green Bay Packers running back Kylin Hill was fined $3,776 for unnecessary roughness after slapping a Bears player in last week's win, per Pelissero.
• Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Genard Avery was fined $5,111 for taunting after getting in Leonard Fournette's face, which resulted in a late penalty.
• Detroit Lions cornerback Tracy Walker was fined $10,300 for taunting, per Pelissero.
• Jacksonville Jaguars safety Rayshawn Jenkins was fined $10,300 for taunting, per Pelissero.

Contract restructures

• The Los Angeles Rams restructured the contract of tackle Rob Havenstein to create $3.072 million in cap room, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reports, per a source. The Rams had just $151,989 in cap room before restructuring Havenstein's contract, and have moved a total of $48.222 million this year alone.