Steven

Sims

Haynes, a third-round pick from 2024, was unable to play in the last two preseason games due to an elbow injury. The 25-year-old projects as a backup at this stage, and won’t be able to return until October at the earliest. The Seahawks also placed WR/KR Stephen Sims on IR while placing DE Rylie Mills and NT Jonathan Hankins on NFI (non-football injury list).

The Seahawks add more competition at kick returner with the addition of Sims. He returned 21 punts for 122 yards and seven kicks for 195 yards between the Ravens and Texans last season. As a receiver, he offers depth, though he did not have a regular season reception in 2024. He totaled 19 yards on two offensive touches in the playoffs for the Ravens. Ultimately, Sims adds a little offensive depth but will more likely compete for return specialist snaps for the Seahawks.

Two can play the “claim a wideout off waivers from the team they’re playing this week” game, Texans. Sims is more of a punt returner than anything, but the Ravens have struggled in that area as Desmond King put a ball on the ground on Saturday. The rare Festivus waiver claim trade is to be celebrated.

Sims was cut by the Texans at the end of training camp last year and later joined the team’s practice squad. He didn’t see much action in the regular season but was called up to the active roster for the playoffs. He returned a punt 67 yards for a touchdown in the Texans’ Divisional Round loss to the Ravens. Primarily a special teamer, Sims is still a dynamic kick and punt returner even if he doesn’t figure to see much work on offense in 2024.

Sims was signed this offseason and given a chance to earn return duties. An undrafted free agent who broke into the league with Washington in 2019, Sims caught 14 passes for 104 yards with the Steelers in 2022. In addition to Sims, the Texans also waived/released OL Rashaad Coward, CB Jacobi Francis, OT Austin Deculus, OG Keaton Sutherland, LB Garret Wallow, and RB Larry Rountree.

After breaking into the league with the Commanders as an undrafted free agent in 2019, Sims has spent the last two seasons with the Steelers. Sims appeared in just one game for the Steelers in 2021 but logged 12 games last season, totaling 14 receptions for 104 scoreless yards. He’ll likely have a role on the Texans’ special teams unit but will need to battle his way onto the field for any offensive snaps.

Sims has run 11 routes all year with the Steelers using a highly-concentrated three-wide set of Diontae Johnson, George Pickens, and Claypool the first eight weeks. “He’s been making plays when called upon, and I think based on what we’ve seen, it’s reasonable to expect that to continue,” Tomlin said of Sims. The 5'10/176 wideout caught 61 balls for Washington across the 2019-20 seasons.

The third-year slot receiver’s signing coincides with vocally unvaccinated Cole Bealey going into quarantine, after a close contact tested positive for COVID-19. The Bills also have Jake Kumerow competing for the backup slot receiver role. Sims will provide depth at the position if he wins an uphill battle to make the final 53 man roster.

It was a precipitous fall for Sims, a slot receiver who had a productive final month of his rookie 2019 season before struggling through injuries and falling out of favor with Ron Rivera’s coaching staff. Sixth on the Football Team in targets in 12 games last season, Sims this month lost out to Cam Sims and Isaiah Wright, who are fighting for a regular season roster spot. Adam Humphries will serve as the Football Team’s primary slot receiver in 2021.

Sims had 27 receptions for 265 yards and one touchdown in his second NFL season. He primarily operated out of the slot in three-receiver sets and never was on the fantasy radar. The Kansas alum is under contract through the 2021 season, but Washington is likely to bring in a lot of competition at receiver this offseason now that they have the fifth-most cap space in the NFL. Sims’ lack of a ceiling should leave him outside of top-200 fantasy rankings this offseason.