Houston plans to sign Okudah to a one-year, $4.75 million contract, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
After a short-lived stint with the Falcons, Okudah is now joining forces with the Texans. Over 13 games in 2023, he recorded 44 tackles (34 solo) and three passes defensed. He projects as a rotational option for Houston in 2024.
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Falcons' Jeff Okudah: Replaced in 2023
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Okudah finished 2023 with 44 tackles (34 solo) and three pass defenses in 13 appearances.
After back-to-back disappointing seasons to start his career, Okudah made an impact on the Lions' defense in 2022, totaling 73 tackles, one interception and one forced fumble. However, he was traded to Atlanta last offseason and carved out a starting role, posting 41 tackles from Weeks 4 to 13. However, he was ultimately replaced by Clark Phillips down the stretch. The Falcons declined the fifth-year team option for 2024 on Okudah's rookie deal, so the cornerback will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
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Falcons' Jeff Okudah: Fully recovered
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Okudah (ankle) was a full participant during practice Wednesday, Amna Subhan of the Falcons' official site reports.
Okudah logged a limited practice Friday before being ruled out for last Sunday's game against the Buccaneers. However, with Week 15 prep underway, the Ohio State product was a full go and should suit up for this Sunday's matchup with the Panthers.
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Falcons' Jeff Okudah: Good chance to debut Sunday
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Okudah (foot) is expected to play Sunday in Detroit as long as he doesn't experience any issues during pregame warmups, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Okudah injured his foot during practice in early August and missed the Falcons' first two games of the regular season. However, he was a full participant in practice this week and appears set to make his team debut despite carrying a questionable tag into Sunday. With Okudah's return, Tre Flowers will likely return to a reserve role.
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Falcons' Jeff Okudah: Officially questionable for Sunday
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Okudah (foot) is listed as questionable for Sunday's Week 3 game against the Lions.
Okudah is still looking to make his Falcons debut after initially getting injured last month. He got in a round of full practices this week and should be on the probable side of questionable. Okudah has extra motivation for this game after the Lions traded him to Atlanta this past offseason.
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Falcons' Jeff Okudah: Practices fully Wednesday
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Okudah (foot) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports.
Okudah looks poised to make his Falcons debut Week 3 against his former team in the Lions after he was traded from Detroit to Atlanta during the offseason. He was initially injured back in early August during training camp.
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Falcons' Jeff Okudah: Misses practice Wednesday
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Okudah (ankle) did not participate at the Falcons' practice Wednesday, Scott Bair of the team's official website reports.
Okudah has been showing improvement ahead of Week 1, but it appears as if his ankle injury could force him to miss Sunday's contest with the Panthers. The cornerback still has two more days to practice before this weekend and more information on his status will likely be provided Thursday.
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Falcons' Jeff Okudah: Showing improvement
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Head coach Arthur Smith said Wednesday that Okudah (ankle) is "making a lot of progress," Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.
Okudah's status for Sunday's season opener versus the Panthers is still in question, but the Ohio State product may be further along in his recovery from an ankle injury than expected. The 24-year-old cornerback suffered the injury during practice in early August and was expected to miss the first few weeks of the season. If Okudah ultimately isn't cleared to play Week 1, Tre Flowers and Dee Alford could be called upon to step into bigger workloads in the secondary.
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Falcons' Jeff Okudah: Trending toward early season return
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Falcons coach Arthur Smith said Saturday that he's still "very optimistic" that Odukah (ankle) will be available to play sometime in the first few weeks of the regular season, Tori McElhaney of the team's official site reports.
Okudah sustained an unspecified ankle injury and had to be carted off the field during practice Aug. 4. However, since undergoing an MRI the following day, the team has indicated that the 24-year-old didn't suffer a long-term injury. Therefore, it's encouraging that Okudah apparently hasn't hit any setbacks in his recovery. When healthy, he should slot in as one of Atlanta's starting cornerbacks opposite fellow 2020 first-round pick A.J. Terrell.
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Lions' Jeff Okudah: Sitting out Sunday
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Okudah (elbow) is inactive for Sunday's game in Green Bay.
Okudah suffered an elbow injury at Friday's practice, which will force his second absence of the season. With the third-year pro unavailable to the Lions defense, Will Harris, Jerry Jacobs and Mike Hughes should be busy at cornerback Week 18.
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Lions' Jeff Okudah: Suffers elbow injury Friday
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Okudah suffered an elbow injury during Friday's practice and is questionable for Sunday's matchup against the Packers, Kyle Meinke of MLive.com reports.
The severity of the issue is unclear, but this is certainly a concerning development for the Lions' defense. If Okudah is sidelined for the critical Week 18 matchup, Jerry Jacobs and Mike Hughes would be candidates for increased snaps opposite Will Harris.
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Lions' Jeff Okudah: Playing Sunday
Rotowire
Okudah (illness) is active Sunday against the Vikings.
Okudah logged DNPs on Wednesday and Thursday, but he returned to practice in limited fashion Friday. The 23-year-old's ability to suit up is certainly good news for the Lions' defense as they look to keep Justin Jefferson in check Sunday.
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Lions' Jeff Okudah: Out for Thanksgiving
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Okudah (concussion) is listed as out for Thursday's game versus Buffalo.
Okudah will miss his first game of the 2022 season as he recovers from a concussion he sustained Sunday at the Giants. In the 2020 first-rounder's stead, Will Harris should see increased work on the boundaries.
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Lions' Jeff Okudah: Likely out Week 12
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Head coach Dan Campbell said after Sunday's win over the Giants that Okudah is unlikely to clear the NFL's concussion protocol prior to the Lions' next game Thanksgiving Day against the Bills, Eric Woodyard of ESPN.com reports.
Okudah was quickly ruled out for the remainder of the game after exiting early in the Week 11 contest. The cornerback's expected absence against the Bills' dangerous passing attack will be a major blow to a defense that has generally struggled this season. Jerry Jacobs will be the likely beneficiary of increased playing time Week 12, assuming Okudah sits out.
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Lions' Jeff Okudah: Forced out with consussion
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Okudah (concussion) was ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's game against the Giants.
The starting cornerback sustained a head injury during a collision with teammate Will Harris at some point in the first half, according to Kyle Meinke of MLive.com. Okudah was then apparently diagnosed with a concussion, and he'll now have just four days to clear the league's protocol before Detroit's game against the Bills on Thanksgiving Day, though it's unlikely he'll be able to return given this quick turnaround. With Okudah out, expect Amani Oruwariye and Jerry Jacobs to see increased usage alongside Harris on Sunday.
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Lions' Jeff Okudah: First career pick-six
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Okudah recorded one tackle and two pass breakups with one interception during Sunday's 31-30 win over Chicago.
Okudah arguably made the play of the game by intercepting Justin Fields for a short pick-six that helped launch Detroit's comeback. While his tackle total matched a season low, Okudah has at least flashed double-digit-tackle upside on two occasions so far. The third-year cornerback will look to add to his season totals of 50 tackles and five PBUs during a Week 11 matchup with the Giants.
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Lions' Jeff Okudah: Wins starting job
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Coach Dan Campbell said after Sunday's preseason finale against Pittsburgh that Okudah will serve as a starting cornerback Week 1 against the Eagles on Sept. 11, Justin Rogers of The Detroit News reports.
Okudah missed most of the 2021 season due to a ruptured Achilles, but he avoided the PUP list to begin training camp and performed well enough during the preseason to earn a job as a starting cornerback opposite Amani Oruwariye. Okudah has racked up 51 tackles (44 solo), an interception and three pass defenses in 10 games over his first two professional seasons.
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Lions' Jeff Okudah: Participating in training camp
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Okudah (Achilles) was close to a full participant in Wednesday's practice, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Roughly 11 months since rupturing his Achilles, Okudah took first-team reps during the only full-team period of the opening day of training camp. Head coach Dan Campbell said afterward that the plan is for Okudah to practice without restrictions for the rest of the summer. If he can finally avoid the injury bug, the Ohio State product should have a good shot at sticking with the starting defense come Week 1, though Will Harris also took first-team reps opposite Amani Oruwariye at cornerback Wednesday and could be in the mix as well.
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Lions' Jeff Okudah: Limited at OTAs
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Okudah (Achilles) took part in individual drills during Thursday's OTAs, but Lions head coach Dan Campbell said it's "hard to put a timeline" on when the cornerback will be ready for full-team activities, Chris Burke of The Athletic reports.
Okudah tore his Achilles during the first game of the 2021 campaign and was sidelined for the remainder of the season. However, it appears he's progressing well throughout rehab and could potentially be ready for the start of the regular season. Regardless, Detroit is expected to be cautious with its 2020 first-round pick after he's appeared in just 10 games across his first two years in the NFL.
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Lions' Jeff Okudah: Lands on IR
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The Lions placed Okudah (Achilles) on injured reserve Monday.
As expected, Okudah lands on IR after rupturing his Achilles in the second half of the season opener. Rookie third-round pick Ifeatu Melifonwu will likely step into the starting role while the 2020 first-round pick spends the rest of the season and upcoming offseason recovering from surgery.
