NFL roundup: Latest league news from Wednesday, Aug. 25

Free-agent acquisition Kyle Rudolph is officially back in action after starting training camp on the physically unable to perform list.

The New York Giants announced the tight end has passed his physical and will return to practice Wednesday.

Big Blue is holding joint sessions with the New England Patriots this week ahead of the final preseason action. It's likely the Giants will ease Rudolph into work as he returns to action.

"These next couple of weeks are huge," Rudolph said about his return. "I mentioned it before, I just was able to get my feet wet today, but I've got a lot of work left to do. I'm just going to keep working each and every day chipping away at it. One of my favorite sayings is, 'You eat an elephant one bite at a time,' so if I look two weeks from now as, 'Oh my God, how am I going to get ready to play a game?' I'll never get there. But if I just take it each day a time, I'll be happy with where I'm at in two weeks."

Rudolph was on the PUP list after undergoing foot surgery in the spring. The Giants staff flagged the medical issue during a physical after sides agreed to a deal. Despite needing surgery, the former Minnesota Viking still signed a two-year, $12 million contract in New York.

The 31-year-old was expected to be ready by training camp, so starting on the PUP list was a bit of a concern for a player expected to have a significant role in the offense. Getting Rudolph back at practice now, however, gives him just under three weeks to ramp up before the regular season kicks off.

"My goal is to get better each and every day and make sure that I'm in shape to go when this team needs me," said Rudolph.

Rudolph should play a sizable part alongside Evan Engram for a Giants offense looking for more consistent production from the tight end position in 2021.

Injuries/COVID-19

• New York Jets defensive end Vinny Curry announced he will miss the 2021 season due to blood clotting that is forcing him to take blood thinners and preventing him from physical contact for the next three to six months. Curry had being diagnosed with a rare blood disorder which required the removal of his spleen and the blood clots formed during recovery. The veteran DE is expected to make a full recovery and he plans on playing in 2022. Curry had been on the team's NFI list throughout the process. Jets left tackle Mekhi Becton is in concussion protocol after taking a head-to-head hit in practice on Tuesday, coach Robert Saleh said.
• The Green Bay Packers placed wide receiver Devin Funchess on injured reserve, ending his season with the team. Funchess, who was turning in a promising preseason with the Packers, has not played since Week 1 of the 2019 season with the Colts. An injured ended his 2019 campaign with Indianapolis and in 2020 with the Packers, Funchess opted out. If Funchess and the Packers agree on an injury settlement, he would be free to sign elsewhere in 2021.
• Dallas Cowboys kicker Greg Zuerlein was activated off the PUP list after passing a physical. Coach Mike McCarthy said guard Connor Williams and safety Damontae Kazee were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list after testing positive. Cornerback Trevon Diggs is out with an illness that is not COVID-related. Safety Donovan Wilson, who exited practice early Tuesday, is dealing with a groin injury.
• New York Giants cornerback Adoree' Jackson suffered a sprained ankle in practice on Wednesday, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reports, per a source. Jackson is dealing with significant swelling and will have tests to determine its severity and the type of sprain.
• The San Francisco 49ers activated safety Jaquiski Tartt from the PUP list. Coach Kyle Shanahan said offensive tackle Trent Williams (knee) and defensive end Nick Bosa (knee) are both slated to return to team drills Wednesday.
• The Tennessee Titans placed linebacker Harold Landry on the reserve/COVID list.
• Houston Texans wide receiver Taywan Taylor was placed on the reserve/COVID list.

Trades

• The Los Angeles Rams acquired running back Sony Michel from the New England Patriots. L.A. sent New England 2022 sixth-round and 2023 fourth-round picks, per the league transaction wire.
• The Seattle Seahawks officially announced their acquisition of cornerback John Reid from the Houston Texans via trade. NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported Tuesday that Seattle is sending a conditional 2023 seventh-round pick to Houston in exchange for Reid, a 2020 fourth-round pick out of Penn State.
• The Carolina Panthers traded linebacker Denzel Perryman and a 2022 seventh-round draft pick to the Las Vegas Raiders for a 2022 sixth-round draft selection.

Roster signings

• The Buffalo Bills signed former Washington wide receiver Steven Sims. The third-year wideout caught 61 passes over the past two seasons.
• The Arizona Cardinals re-signed cornerback Luq Barcoo.
• The Cleveland Browns signed linebacker Tegray Scales and claimed tight end Kyle Markway off waivers from the Rams.
• The Los Angeles Chargers signed linebacker Nate Evans.
• The Green Bay Packers announced the signings of defensive lineman Abdullah Anderson and cornerback Stephen Denmark.
• The Jacksonville Jaguars claimed offensive lineman Badara Traore off waivers from the Bears.
• The Tennessee Titans claimed offensive lineman Derwin Gray, who was placed on waivers by the Jaguars on Tuesday.
• The Houston Texans signed five-year veteran cornerback Rasul Douglas.

Roster cuts

• The Seattle Seahawks announced they've released tight end Luke Willson just one day after signing him. Willson posted on Twitter soon after that he is retiring from football. He tallied 111 receptions and 11 touchdowns over eight seasons.
• The Cleveland Browns released kicker Cody Parkey from injured reserve and waived cornerback Robert Jackson.
• The Los Angeles Rams waived long snapper Steven Wirtel.
• The New York Giants waived quarterback Clayton Thorson with an injury settlement.
• The Los Angeles Chargers waived defensive lineman Frederick Smith.
• The Minnesota Vikings waived offensive tackle Evin Ksiezarczyk and kicker Riley Patterson.
• The Green Bay Packers released wide receiver Chris Blair.
• The Jacksonville Jaguars waived offensive lineman Garrett McGhin.
• The Buffalo Bills waived wide receivers Bug Howard and Lance Lenoir, center Tyler Gauthier and defensive back Tariq Thompson.

Preseason news

• Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said Dwayne Haskins will start Friday's preseason finale versus the Panthers. Quarterbacks Ben Roethlisberger and Mason Rudolph and running back Najee Harris will not play.
• Philadelphia Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said offensive tackle Andre Dillard will continue taking reps with the second team as he works his way back from injury, while adding that Jordan Mailata has not been given the starting job yet.
• Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow will take the field in Sunday's preseason finale versus the Dolphins, coach Zac Taylor announced. It's the first game action Burrow will see since tearing his ACL in Week 11 of last season.
• Jacksonville Jaguars coach Urban Meyer said 2021 No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence is the team's starting quarterback to begin the season.
• Denver Broncos coach Vic Fangio named Teddy Bridgewater as the team's starting quarterback, beating out Drew Lock in a competition this summer.