The Jets released McKinley on Saturday.
McKinley's time in New York comes to a close as the team activates Haason Reddick to the active roster. The veteran defensive lineman will try to latch on in a depth capacity elsewhere in the league.
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Jets' Takk McKinley: Added by Jets
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The Jets signed McKinley on Thursday.
The 2017 first-round pick out of UCLA has struggled to find his place in the NFL, but he's been given a new opportunity by the Jets. McKinley most recently played for the Rams in 2022, recording just one total tackle across four contests (23 total snaps). Now that McKinley has inked a deal with New York, he'll likely be competing for a depth role on the Jets' defensive line as the offseason progresses.
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Takkarist McKinley: Joins Cowboys' practice squad
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McKinley was signed to the Cowboys' practice squad Wednesday.
After being cut by the Rams on Oct. 18, McKinley will get another shot this season, joining Dallas on Wednesday. The linebacker appeared in four games with Los Angeles earlier this season, recording one tackle while playing 16 total defensive snaps.
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Takkarist McKinley: Done with the Rams
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The Rams released McKinley on Tuesday.
Los Angeles signed McKinley to their active roster from the Titans' practice squad in September, but he'll now search elsewhere for snaps after he was released Tuesday. Across the Rams' last four contests, the 26-year-old linebacker totaled 16 defensive snaps and just one tackle in that stretch.
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Browns' Takkarist McKinley: Moves to injured reserve
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McKinley (Achilles) was placed on injured reserve Tuesday.
McKinley suffered a torn left Achilles during Monday's win over the Raiders, so it was only a matter of time before he landed on injured reserve. The 26-year-old's recovery could carry over into the 2022 campaign.
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Browns' Takkarist McKinley: Activated off COVID list
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McKinley (undisclosed) has been activated off the reserve/COVID-19 list, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.
McKinley was one of eight Browns players to land on the COVID list earlier in the week, but he has since been able to clear the league's protocols. He will be available to take on his usual role Monday versus the Raiders.
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Browns' Takkarist McKinley: Placed on COVID-19 list
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McKinley was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Tuesday.
McKinley was one of eight Browns players to test positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. His potential absence would leave Cleveland missing a key piece in its defensive line rotation Saturday against the Raiders.
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Browns' Takkarist McKinley: Headed for return
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McKinley (groin) returned to full practice Thursday.
McKinley missed the Browns' Week 8 matchup against Pittsburgh but appears to be in line to return for Sunday's contest against Cincinnati. Through seven games, he's recorded 13 total tackles and 1.5 sacks.
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Browns' Takkarist McKinley: Misses Monday's practice
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McKinley did not practice Monday due to illness, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
There were no details about the illness. McKinley is an expected backup at defensive end behind Jadeveon Clowney and Myles Garrett.
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Browns' Takkarist McKinley: Signs with Cleveland
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The Browns signed McKinley (groin) on Tuesday to a one-year deal worth up to $6 million, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reports.
After being cut by the Falcons in early November, McKinley made stops in Cincinnati, San Francisco and Las Vegas. The 2017 first-round pick didn't play a game with any of those teams. Since entering the league, McKinley has produced 17.5 sacks across 49 games. The UCLA product is aiming to redefine his career in Cleveland. Myles Garrett (oblique) is the unequivocal starter on one side of the defensive line, but McKinley could make a case in training camp to start on the opposite end.
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Raiders' Takkarist McKinley: Not expected Thursday
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Coach Jon Gruden said Wednesday that McKinley (groin) is not expected to be activated from injured reserve for Thursday's game against the Chargers, Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com reports.
McKinley was designated for a return from IR on Tuesday, but the team feels he's not healthy enough to return to game action. The UCLA product has missed the last three games, and coming off a short week it was always more likely that McKinley would return for Week 16 against the Dolphins. With Clelin Ferrell (shoulder) also ruled out of Thursday's game, the pass rush will be handled by Maxx Crosby, Kendal Vickers, Arden Key and Carl Nassib.
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49ers' Takkarist McKinley: May not be ready immediately
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The 49ers will have to assess McKinley (groin) to determine when he can play, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
McKinley was initially claimed off waivers by the Bengals, but he was waived from Cincinnati after a failed physical. That won't be an issue in San Francisco, as Rapoport notes that the 49ers are at peace with McKinley's current health, but it seems like he won't be ready to contribute for his new team immediately. In any case, McKinley's first step will be to clear all requisite COVID-19 protocols so that he's eligible to enter the 49ers' team facilities.
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49ers' Takkarist McKinley: Claimed by 49ers
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The 49ers claimed McKinley (undisclosed) off waivers from the Bengals on Wednesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
When the Falcons waived McKinley last week, the 49ers put a claim in but were beat out by the Bengals, who subsequently cut him after a failed physical. The 49ers were awarded McKinley this time, and he'll add depth and potentially start at defensive end, a position of need for the team. Furthermore, the team will see if there's long-term potential that's still apparent in the 2017 first-round pick, and he could be a developmental piece if that's the case. Regardless, McKinley will need to pass the COVID-19 protocols before suiting up for the team, and his first chance to play will be in Week 12 against the Rams. He'll become a free agent in March.
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Bengals' Takkarist McKinley: Won't be cleared until Week 11
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McKinley (undisclosed) won't be cleared to play for the Bengals until Week 11 at the earliest, Richard Skinner of WKRC Cincinnati reports.
McKinley was claimed off waivers earlier this week after being cut by the Falcons, but he'll need to pass COVID-19 protocols before being cleared to join his new team. In the meantime, fellow defensive end Sam Hubbard (elbow) could return from IR in time to start against the Steelers on Sunday in the spot recently vacated by the Carlos Dunlap trade. McKinley has battled a groin injury this season, so it's possible that will delay his Bengals debut even beyond the team's Week 11 trip to Washington.
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Takkarist McKinley: Cut loose by Atlanta
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The Falcons waived McKinley (groin) on Monday.
McKinley recently expressed criticism of the Falcons' organization for not dealing him ahead of the NFL's trade deadline, and the team has now decided to simply cut bait with the 2017 first-round pick. The 25-year-old has missed five games this season due to a lingering groin injury, including Atlanta's two most recent contests, so his current health remains a question mark. Nonetheless, plenty of teams around the league are desperate for a boost at defensive end, so it seems likely that McKinley will be claimed off waivers Tuesday. Any team that does claim McKinley will also inherit his $875,000 contract for the rest of the season.
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Falcons' Takkarist McKinley: At odds with team
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Interim coach Raheem Morris said that McKinley (groin) "will be held accountable" for posting a Tweet that voiced displeasure about the team failing to move him at the trade deadline, D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
McKinley proclaimed that the Falcons turned down the opportunity to trade him for a second-round draft choice last year, and again this season declined fifth and sixth-round picks in exchange for his services. The team refutes having received any such offers, but McKinley is clearly unhappy with the situation in Atlanta, confirming Wednesday that he has requested trades each of the past two seasons. McKinley missed Thursday night's win over the Panthers because of a groin injury, but in four appearances this year he has produced eight tackles, seven QB hits and one sack. The Falcons declined McKinley's fifth-year option in April, meaning the 25-year-old is set to become an unrestricted free agent following the season.
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Falcons' Takkarist McKinley: Sits out practice
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McKinley (groin) was a non-participant at Tuesday's practice, Will McFadden of the Falcons' official site reports.
The 24-year-old has been battling the groin injury for most of the season and has already missed three games, though he did play 22 defensive snaps during Sunday's loss to the Lions. McKinley may have a tough time getting ready on a short week for Thursday's contest at Carolina.
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Falcons' Takkarist McKinley: Questionable for Week 7
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McKinley (groin) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Lions, William McFadden of the Falcons' official site reports.
McKinley is the only name on Atlanta's injury report, as the team has largely healed up. If McKinley can't go, Allen Bailey should see an increase in playing time along Atlanta's defensive line.
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Falcons' Takkarist McKinley: No practice Wednesday
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McKinley (groin) was held out of Wednesday's practice session, D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
The 2017 first-round draft choice got out to an effective start to the season with seven QB hits and a sack between Weeks 1 and 2, but a lingering groin issue has now held McKinley out for three of Atlanta's past four games. Injury woes are unfortunately nothing new for the 24-year-old pass rusher, as he dealt with repeated shoulder issues over his first three years in the NFL. Injury concerns could have been a primary reason for why the Falcons declined to pick up McKinley's fifth-year option in April, but if he can return in short order and reinvigorate his season, the UCLA product could hold value on the open market.
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Falcons' Takkarist McKinley: Won't face Vikings
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McKinley (groin) is ruled out for Sunday's game in Minnesota.
McKinley began the week with back-to-back limited practices, but he was held out entirely during Friday's session, which could hint at a setback. As long as McKinley is unable to take the field, Allen Bailey and Steven Means will continue seeing increased opportunities on defense.
