HEADLINES

Chicago Bears News & Rumors

2025 Injured Reserve Return Tracker

November 8th, 2025 at 10:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

The 2024 offseason brought a change in how teams could construct their 53-man rosters while retaining flexibility with injured players. Clubs were permitted to attach return designations to two players (in total) placed on IR or an NFI list before setting their initial rosters.

In prior years, anyone placed on IR before a team set its initial 53-man roster could not be activated in-season. All August 26 IR- or NFI-return designations, however, already count against teams’ regular-season limit of eight. Teams will be tasked with determining which players injured in-season will factor into activation puzzles as the year progresses.

All players designated for return on August 26 are eligible to be activated beginning in Week 5, though any player placed on IR after a team set its initial 53 has not been designated for return and therefore does not yet count toward a club’s eight-activation limit. Playoff teams will receive two additional injury activations at that point.

Here is how the 32 teams’ activation puzzles look for Week 11:

Arizona Cardinals

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 5

Atlanta Falcons

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 5

Baltimore Ravens

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Eligible for activation:

Activations remaining: 6

Buffalo Bills

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Designated for return:

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 6

Carolina Panthers

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 4

Chicago Bears

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 5

Cincinnati Bengals

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Designated for return:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 5

Cleveland Browns

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Designated for return:

Eligible for activation:

Activations remaining: 7

Dallas Cowboys

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Designated for return:

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 4

Denver Broncos

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 5

Detroit Lions

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 7

Green Bay Packers

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Eligible for activation:

Activations remaining: 6

Houston Texans

Designated for return:

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 6

Indianapolis Colts

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 6

Jacksonville Jaguars

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Designated for return:

Activations remaining: 7

Kansas City Chiefs

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Activations remaining: 6

Las Vegas Raiders

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 7

Los Angeles Chargers

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 3

Los Angeles Rams

Eligible for activation:

Activations remaining: 8

Miami Dolphins

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Designated for return:

Eligible for activation:

Activations remaining: 6

Minnesota Vikings

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 4

New England Patriots

Activated: 

Activations remaining: 7

New Orleans Saints

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 6

New York Giants

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 5

New York Jets

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 6

Philadelphia Eagles

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Designated for return:

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 5

Pittsburgh Steelers

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Designated for return:

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 6

San Francisco 49ers

Activated:

Activations remaining: 4

Seattle Seahawks

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Activated: 

Activations remaining: 6

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 7

Tennessee Titans

Designated for return:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 6

Washington Commanders

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 7

Bears Pursued CB Alontae Taylor Trade

November 8th, 2025 at 8:16pm CST by Adam La Rose

Shortly before the trade deadline, the Bears were mentioned as a team to watch. A blockbuster deal was not expected, and indeed the team’s only move was the acquisition of Browns pass rusher Joe Tryon-Shoyinka.

During his post-deadline media availability, general manager Ryan Poles spoke further about his actions on the trade front. He noted (via Adam Jahns of CHGO Sports) calls were made to a number of other teams regarding additions along the edge. Several high-profile options in that regard were mentioned as candidates to be dealt, and a trio of players (Keion White, Dre’Mont Jones and, most notably, Jaelan Phillips) wound up changing teams.

Poles said conversations took place with a wide array of potential sellers, adding some of the prices seen in the league’s blockbuster deals were “stunning” in his view. In the end, it comes as little surprise Chicago was not among the suitors which made a massive move. Poles, head coach Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen “kept the big picture in mind” when evaluating trades. The Bears are currently 5-3 on the year, but that assures them of little in terms of playoff positioning given the state of the NFC North.

As such, a more expensive acquisition like Phillips – who was dealt for a third-round pick – or Trey Hendrickson – who was available for a second-rounder – was not pursued at the deadline. Chicago will move forward with only Tryon-Shoyinka in place as a new depth option. The Bears did, on the other hand, work toward a notable move elsewhere on defense.

Chicago was “deep in talks” with the Saints about a trade for Alontae Taylor, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports. The fourth-year cornerback was also a target of the Colts prior to their Sauce Gardner blockbuster. The Bears would have represented a logical landing spot for Taylor. He and Allen worked together during the latter’s time as New Orleans’ head coach. Taylor, 26, would have provided the Bears with a welcomed starting option in the secondary during a year in which cornerback injuries have been an issue.

A trade on that front would have been a rental since Taylor’s rookie contract will expire at the end of the campaign. A lucrative new pact is likely in store in his case this spring, and the Saints’ decision to retain him means an extended stay in New Orleans could be worked out. Failing that, the Bears could be among the teams showing interest on the open market given their pursuit of a trade acquisition.

In the meantime, Chicago will look for other moves to provide depth in the secondary. The Bears are one of several teams scheduled to host Asante Samuel Jr., who recently received full medical clearance. With roughly $6.64MM in cap space, a modest free agent pact would be feasible for Chicago if the team manages to work out a deal with Samuel or another corner currently available.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/8/25

November 8th, 2025 at 7:29pm CST by Adam La Rose

Here are Saturday’s taxi squad moves around the NFL:

Chicago Bears

Houston Texans

Miami Dolphins

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/8/25

November 8th, 2025 at 5:55pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Several teams around the NFL made tweaks to their rosters on Saturday in preparation for Sunday’s slate of games. Here are all the latest moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks

Washington Commanders

Week 10 will mark the debut for both players the Chargers gave the IR-designated for return label during roster cutdowns in August. Their activations had already been accounted for, but Hand’s had not. With those three now back in the fold, the Bolts have three IR activations remaining on the season.

Bears’ T.J. Edwards Undergoes Hand Surgery

November 8th, 2025 at 10:50am CST by Connor Byrne

Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards underwent surgery on a broken hand this week, head coach Ben Johnson announced (via Courtney Cronin of ESPN). While the Bears have already ruled Edwards out for Sunday’s game against the Giants, they are not planning to place him on injured reserve.

An IR stint would require at least a four-game absence, though the Bears are optimistic Edwards will return before then. He’ll play with a clubbed cast on his hand when he comes back.

The Bears have already placed four other defenders – cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon, tackle Shemar Turner, and end Dayo Odeyingbo – on IR since late September. Thanks in part to their injury problems, the Bears rank 26th in total defense and 29th in points per game allowed.

Edwards, a 2019 undrafted free agent, spent the first four seasons of his career with the Eagles before inking a three-year, $19.5MM deal with the Bears in 2023. After back-to-back 17-start, 100-tackle seasons in Chicago, the team signed the former Wisconsin Badger to a two-year, $20MM extension last spring. However, multiple injuries have shelved Edwards in 2025.

A hamstring issue kept Edwards from playing in three of the 5-3 Bears’ first eight games. Edwards’ hamstring has bothered him all season, though he has nonetheless piled up 31 tackles. Pro Football Focus ranks his performance an impressive 12th among 78 qualifying linebackers.

With Edwards unable to play in Week 10, Noah Sewell will fill in alongside Tremaine Edmunds to comprise the Bears’ top LB duo. Sewell, a third-year man, has logged the first five starts of his career this season. He has amassed 39 tackles, though PFF hasn’t been enamored of his work, ranking him 58th at the position. Rookie fourth-rounder Ruben Hyppolite, a healthy scratch in four games this year, is next on the depth chart. Hyppolite has totaled just 18 defensive snaps.

NFL Minor Transactions: 11/6/25

November 6th, 2025 at 8:09pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are Thursday’s minor transactions:

Chicago Bears

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans

Las Vegas Raiders

Miami Dolphins

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

Leal, a third-round pick out of Texas A&M in 2022, has failed to live up to his draft stock thus far in the NFL. After only seeing game time in three games this year, he’s been waived to make room for the defensive tackle Pittsburgh signed off of the Chiefs’ practice squad yesterday.

Huzzie, after spending much of his rookie season on the reserve/non-football injury list, is being sent to waivers. Should he clear them, it’s expected that he’ll return to Houston on a practice squad deal.

NFL Minor Transactions: 11/5/25

November 5th, 2025 at 7:36pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Chicago Bears

Detroit Lions

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

49ers, Bears, Steelers To Meet With CB Asante Samuel Jr.

November 5th, 2025 at 3:45pm CST by Sam Robinson

Asante Samuel Jr.‘s schedule is starting to look like a draft prospect’s itinerary of “30” visits. After the former Chargers cornerback received clearance to return from a troublesome injury, three more teams have entered the fray.

Following a report indicating the Packers, Panthers and Vikings had lined up visits, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes the free agent corner is set to meet with the 49ers, Bears and Steelers as well. While the Broncos not being in this mix will keep the Mountain Time Zone out of the mix, Samuel will otherwise — should he take all the meetings — make a cross-country trek over the next week.

After today’s Panthers visit, Samuel will meet with the Packers on Thursday and the Vikings on Friday. The 49ers, Bears and Steelers meetings will go off, respectively, Monday through Wednesday of next week. This jampacked schedule will give a host of teams the opportunity evaluate a player who spent his four-year Chargers run as a regular starter.

Cleared after spinal fusion surgery, Samuel will have met with a fourth of the league this year if he takes all these meetings. He met with the Saints and Cardinals during the spring and was later connected to the Dolphins’ months-long CB search. This will certainly provide Samuel quality intel on a chunk of the league’s facilities and schemes, something that could be relevant for a 2026 free agency foray, while the upcoming meetings should determine which team lands a young starter-level cover man following the trade deadline.

The 49ers have used Deommodore Lenoir, Renardo Green and rookie Upton Stout as their primary starters this season. Pro Football Focus has rated Stout as the league’s second-worst CB regular — ahead of only the since-retired Xavien Howard. The 49ers have flexibility here, as both Lenoir and Green have slot experience. Lenoir has operated in a hybrid capacity in multiple seasons, giving San Francisco options if a Samuel signing comes to pass. Samuel has primarily been a boundary corner as a pro.

Pittsburgh has transitioned Jalen Ramsey to safety, following their 2023 move with Patrick Peterson. The Steelers have also seen Darius Slay‘s age-34 season produce some bumps. PFF grades Pittsburgh perimeter corners Slay and Joey Porter Jr. 68th and 71st among corners, respectively. The team also has Brandin Echols, who has logged nearly half of his snaps in the slot this season.

Battling uphill at corner due to Jaylon Johnson‘s early-season injury, the Bears rank 25th in pass defense. Kyler Gordon also missed a chunk of time earlier this season, but the high-paid slot patrolman is back. PFF ranks Chicago fill-in options Nick McCloud and Nahshon Wright outside the top 100 among CBs this season.

Prior to knowledge about Samuel’s surgery — which took place in April — PFR ranked him 32nd on our top 50 free agent list. Samuel, 26, profiled as a younger alternative to the deep late-20s crop at the position this year. But the surgery tabled interest, which has now come flooding back following the report of his clearance. This could go down as a lost season for Samuel, but he could potentially avoid the “prove it” FA tier in 2026 by catching on with a member of his suitor sextet and making notable contributions to close this season.

2025 NFL Trades

November 4th, 2025 at 10:24pm CST by Sam Robinson

The modern NFL features four clear trade windows. While the Cowboys and Steelers’ George Pickens swap showed moves can be made at other points on the NFL calendar, early March, the draft, the late-August 53-man roster-setting date and the November deadline reside as the primary points trades occur around the league. On that note, it is a good time to check in on what has transpired on the trade market ahead of today’s deadline.

Excluding pick-for-pick trades, here are the moves NFL teams have made thus far in 2025:

March 1

49ers chose running back Jordan James at 147

March 4

Rams traded pick to Vikings, moving up to No. 172 for linebacker Chris Paul Jr.

March 5

March 6

March 7

Seahawks chose quarterback Jalen Milroe at 92

March 9

Seahawks used No. 52 to trade up (via the Titans) 17 spots for safety Nick Emmanwori, drafted running back Damien Martinez at 223; Steelers selected quarterback Will Howard at 185

March 10

Texans added wide receiver Jaylin Noel at 79, sent 236 to Jaguars in Day 2 trade; Commanders chose wideout Jaylin Lane at No. 128 

Eagles used No. 164 to climb one spot (via Chiefs) in first round for linebacker Jihaad Campbell

March 11

March 12

Bills took Ohio State cornerback Jordan Hancock at 170; Cowboys chose guard Ajani Cornelius at No. 204

Titans drafted running back Kalel Mullings at No. 188; Cowboys chose running back Phil Mafah at 239

March 13

March 15

Vikings packaged No. 187 in trade-down move (via Texans); 49ers drafted safety Marques Sigle at 160

April 3

Patriots traded down from No. 171 (via Lions) to draft kicker Andres Borregales; Cowboys chose defensive tackle Jay Toia at 217

April 26

Seahawks selected defensive lineman Rylie Mills at No. 142; Vikings traded No. 172 to Rams

May 7

June 2

Pick could upgrade to fourth-rounder if performance-based conditions are met

June 30

July 1

August 4

August 17

August 20

August 22

August 24

August 25

August 26

August 27

August 28

September 8

2026 fifth-round pick (from Bryce Huff trade) could upgrade to fourth-rounder, which would be sent to Jacksonville if 49ers DE meets those conditions

September 14

September 23

September 29

October 7

October 8

October 27

October 28

October 29

November 1

November 3

November 4

Higher of Cowboys’ two 2027 firsts will go to Jets in Williams trade

Jets’ Trade Deadline Aftermath

November 4th, 2025 at 10:22pm CST by Ely Allen

The two biggest moves of today’s trade deadline saw the Jets send away two former top-four overall picks in defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and cornerback Sauce Gardner. Many are billing the moves as a teardown of the roster en route to a rebuild, and first-year general manager Darren Mougey has put his team in as good a position as possible to stage an epic rebuild.

Trading Williams and Gardner was not necessarily part of the plan, but according to Brian Costello of the New York Post, the Jets were given “offers they could not refuse.” A crucial part of one of today’s trades actually occurred back 112 days ago, when Gardner signed his four-year, $120.4MM extension. Mougey told the media of the strategies that made his trade possible.

“We had a lot of discussions going through that contract process and some of the details we had to have in that contract because you never know how the future is going to unfold,” Mougey said (via Costello). “We always wanted to be in position to potentially trade these contracts.”

The deals took a lot of talent away from a team that has struggled mightily in 2025, even with those stars, but they also brought incredible potential for team improvement. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport credited Mougey for his willingness to hold out throughout the leadup to the trade deadline. As offers continued to pour in with increasing intensity of interest, Mougey held firm, showing teams that he wouldn’t give up his top-tier assets unless serious offers were made. Mougey told reporters that as “Indianapolis kept getting richer and richer” with the value of their offer, it became too good to pass up.

Altogether, the new draft picks acquired in the trades give New York five first-round picks over the next two years — two in 2026 and three in 2027 — and three second-round picks, not to mention the supplemental additions of former first-round defensive tackle Mazi Smith and former second-round receiver Adonai Mitchell. Additionally, Costello reports that, in exchange for taking on $43MM in dead money this season for the trade, “the Jets are projected to have about $117MM in salary cap space” to utilize in free agency.

They didn’t trade away everyone, though. Obviously, they made it clear wide receiver Garrett Wilson wasn’t going anywhere, but the team tried and failed to find new homes for outside linebacker Jermaine Johnson, running back Breece Hall, and linebacker Quincy Williams before the deadline. Some of the issues keeping these trades from happening came down to Mougey’s demand for value.

Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports reports that the Bears and 49ers made serious attempts to acquire Johnson, but both teams pivoted as New York stood pat on their second-round demand. Fellow FOX Sports reporter Ralph Vacchiano claimed little surprise that the Jets kept Johnson over the second-round offers that reportedly did come their way, pointing to the team having already exercised his fifth-year option as evidence that they were less willing to let him go.

Another factor restricting the options available to deal the remaining players came down to competition. According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, other “AFC East teams reached out to the Jets about potential deals, but New York was reluctant to trade with division rivals.”

Costello points out that, at this point in time, the oldest draft picks remaining on the Jets’ roster hail from the 2021 draft class and only long snapper Thomas Hennessy, the longest-tenured player on the team, dates back before that. The team is full of youth, and Mougey has set up multiple strong avenues with which he can continue to build around the remaining talent. All that’s left to see is whether or not Mougey can do a better job of building a team than his predecessors who put him in this position.

Load More Posts