Another NFL staffer is moving to the college GM level. After Ron Rivera, Andrew Luck and Michael Lombardi landed on this tier in the ever-changing college game, the Eagles will lose one of their execs to such a post.
Dave Caldwell is leaving Philadelphia for Florida, with ESPN.com’s Jeff Darlington reporting the former Jaguars GM will head back toward that region to become the Gators’ GM. Florida has since announced the hire.
Best known for his time in Jacksonville, Caldwell has been with the Eagles since 2021. Howie Roseman appointed his former GM peer as a senior personnel director. Roseman, who is a Florida alum, named him to that post in June 2022. The Eagles lost four staffers to NFL assistant GM jobs that offseason, and Caldwell helped fill the void. This earned him a Super Bowl ring.
The Jags fired Caldwell before the 2020 season ended, canning HC Doug Marrone soon after. While Jacksonville’s next move proved to be a misstep — the disastrous Urban Meyer hire — Caldwell’s operation had bottomed out by 2020, when the Jags went 1-15. Caldwell helped build the 2017 Jags roster — one that went 10-6 and nearly qualified for Super Bowl LII — but the team could not find steady success in his tenure.
Brought over from Atlanta in 2013, Caldwell hired Gus Bradley as HC and watched the Jags finish 15-49 in his first four GM seasons. The franchise’s 2014 Blake Bortles pick at No. 3 overall in 2014 came to define this period. Rather than can Caldwell, Shad Khan brought in Tom Coughlin to oversee him as executive VP. After a grievance-filled tenure, Coughlin was out by December 2019. Caldwell remained GM during the Coughlin tenure, but he reassumed his place atop the front office hierarchy in 2020.
The Gators finished 4-8 this season and have changed coaches. Linked to now-LSU leader Lane Kiffin, the SEC program hired Tulane’s Jon Sumrall as its new HC. Like Rivera (Cal), Luck (Stanford) and Lombardi (North Carolina), Caldwell will play a lead role in allocating money to players — as the Gators look to both retain talent and pay for replacements via traditional recruiting and through the transfer portal — in this complex era for the sport.
Although this Commanders season has skidded well off track, Von Miller has quietly compiled five sacks as a rotational rusher. This came after a six-sack rebound season with the Bills, who saw him record zero in a 2023 return from ACL surgery. Miller is hoping to play in 2026, potentially in Washington, but he drew outside interest this past offseason.
Following his Bills release, Miller was believed to have made taken visits meetings to his Commanders signing. As it turns out, the Seahawks were the runner-up for the 15th-year edge rusher’s services. Miller said this summer he largely chose the Commanders because of confidence in Jayden Daniels, who ended up suffering three injuries and missing much of this season. While a trade rumor reconnected Miller to the Bills at the deadline, the Commanders held onto him.
“Nothing against Sam Darnold, but it was Jayden Daniels. In my opinion, it was the best situation,” Miller said of his free agency choice, via the Denver Post’s Troy Renck. “They were coming off the NFC championship game. And Dan Quinn had a plan for me as a veteran player. He gets it.”
The Seahawks are 9-3 and virtually assured of a playoff berth. After an overtime loss to the Broncos, the Commanders are 3-9. While Miller could conceivably be waived to catch on with a contender, no signs of that happening have emerged. Miller said he would like to re-sign with Washington but noted he would like a “rain check” before any commitments are made. It would stand to reason Miller would want to catch on with an assured contender in 2026, though he has already won two Super Bowls.
Seattle signed DeMarcus Lawrence early this offseason and have seen Uchenna Nwosu play in 11 games after two injury-marred seasons. The team has Boye Mafe and Derick Hall as supplementary rushers, but the two former second-rounders have combined for just two sacks this season. Miller would have seemingly fit in as an upgrade there. Seattle has relied more on its defensive line, which features a strong Leonard Williams–Byron Murphy combo. Miller would have fit in as a rotational rusher at this point in his career. The Commanders have used him as a one-game starter, playing him on 37% of the snaps.
Miller is on a one-year, $6.1MM deal that included incentives; it is unclear what the Seahawks offered. He needs two more sacks to trigger a $500K bonus. No Broncos reunion was on the table for the future Hall of Famer, though the 11-year Denver resident personally did due diligence there. Miller reached out to Denver GM George Paton before his Washington signing, only to hear an expected answer.
“When Garett [Bolles] brought it up, I was like, ‘Come on, man.’ You have Nik Bonitto and Jonathon Cooper,” Miller said (via the Denver Post’s Troy Renck) about a conversation with the Broncos’ left tackle. “But I started thinking, ‘You have all these people on the team and there’s not a spot for me? I know there probably won’t be, but let me check and see.’ I talked with George and I already had an idea how it was going to go. And that is exactly what he said.”
Paton traded the former Super Bowl MVP to the Rams in his first year as GM, fetching second- and third-round picks for the high-profile rental chip. One of those picks brought back Bonitto, who has since signed a four-year, $106MM extension. Cooper signed an extension in October 2024, checking in at a more affordable $13.5MM per year. The Broncos have seen rotational rusher Jonah Elliss miss time due to injury this season, leading to a bigger role for USFL import Dondrea Tillman. The team also used a fourth-round pick on OLB Que Robinson, who has played sparingly.
Miller has moved into 13th on the all-time sack list this season, sitting on 134.5 for his career. He is just three away from the top 10, a goal Miller confirmed he would like to play in 2026 to reach. It would take 16 more sacks to reach the top five, which may require the aging talent to play multiple additional seasons. It should be expected Miller will draw interest as a 2026 free agent, with teams undoubtedly eyeing him as a pass-rushing specialist at this point.
Wyatt Teller has been with the Browns since 2019, as the team made a savvy trade with the Bills to acquire a talented blocker who had not hit his stride just yet. The 2018 fifth-round pick has been selected to three All-Pro teams (as a second-teamer) and three Pro Bowls. Teller was a linchpin of Browns O-lines that paved lanes for Nick Chubb and produced two playoff berths this decade. But that group could splinter soon. Teller joins Joel Bitonio and Jack Conklin as longtime Cleveland blockers on expiring contracts.
The Browns lost Teller to a calf injury against the 49ers, but they had already cut into his workload in what The Athletic’s Zac Jackson calls a preplanned benching. This brought ex-Bears starter Teven Jenkins into the lineup, which NFL.com’s Cameron Wolfe notes was by design. Jenkins is also in a contract year, signing for one season at $3.1MM. He has not started a game in Cleveland, but that is expected to change this week. As Jenkins prepares to replace Teller due to injury, the Browns having planned to reduce his playing time already points to a likely 2026 exit for the seven-year starter.
Teller said earlier this season he wanted to finish his career in Cleveland, and a new deal was believed to be under consideration as of September. Unlike Bitonio, the 31-year-old has not been linked to retirement. Teller’s four-year, $56.8MM extension voids on Feb. 10, 2026; no extension by that point would leave $10.39MM on Cleveland’s 2026 cap sheet. While Teller could expect to draw free agency interest, it will be worth following if he reacquires his starting job after this calf injury. Jenkins has plenty to play for as well, after his market underwhelmed this past offseason.
Here is the latest from the O-line ranks:
The Bears also made another change at left tackle, inserting Ozzy Trapilo into their lineup to open their Black Friday matchup. Trapilo replaced Theo Benedet against the Eagles, helping the Bears compile a stunning 281 rushing yards in a road upset. Ben Johnson pointed to the second-round rookie, primarily a right tackle at Boston College, receiving more time at LT. The first-year HC called Trapilo “an ascending player,” via 670 The Score’s Chris Emma, and hinted at more reps coming his way. Benedet, who started seven games after usurpingBraxton Jones, worked as a reserve against Philly. Considering Jones’ likely free agency departure, Trapilo seemed on track to receive a chance. Given Chicago’s success up front this season, plenty of eyes will be on the 6-foot-8 newcomer playing on a veteran O-line. Pro Football Focus ranks Benedet 67th among tackles.
Green Bay also made a Week 13 change involving a second-round O-lineman, inserting Anthony Belton into its lineup at right guard over Jordan Morgan. After Belton ate into the first-round pick’s time in Week 12, he took over as the starter against the Lions. The Packers had alternated first-half series between Morgan and Belton in Week 12, but as The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman notes, Belton worked the entire second half. It appears the job is his. A 2024 first-rounder, Morgan has been unable to find a home on Green Bay’s O-line. He has competed at guard and left tackle. With Rasheed Walkerlikely departing as a 2026 free agent, Morgan’s next chance to start (barring injury) could come then. Schneidman points to Morgan moving to that spot if/once Walker departs in March.
Staying on the subject of O-lineman rotating into action, Ravens rookie Emery Jones did so at left guard Thursday. Jones, who came off Baltimore’s reserve/NFI list in late October, played 16 snaps in his debut. John Harbaugh pointed to more work, though the 18th-year HC said (via The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec) it is unlikely Jones will be cross-trained at RG as well. Primarily a college tackle, Jones cut into Andrew Vorhees‘ playing time at LG in Week 13. A 2024 seventh-rounder, Vorhees has started every Ravens game there this season.
Bosa went down in Buffalo’s Week 13 victory over the Steelers. The team hopes he only misses a game or two, but an extended absence is possible. It seems likely that Bosa will miss the Bills’ next game against the Bengals after he was a non-participant in Wednesday’s practice. He is also dealing with a wrist injury, per the team’s official injury report.
Bosa’s absence could be a significant loss for the Bills. He leads the team with five sacks – no other player has more than three – and eight tackles for loss. Those numbers represent somewhat of a resurgence for Bosa after he only managed five sacks and five tackles for loss in 14 games last season.
Bosa’s bounce-back campaign is also reflected in his stats and grades from Pro Football Focus (subscription required). His 41 pressures, 16.0% pass rush win rate and 90.1 pass rushing grade all lead the Bills; the last number ranks fifth among all NFL edge rushers.
Rookie defensive tackle T.J. Sanderswill likely see more time at defensive end in Bosa’s absence, though he has been part of that rotation for the last several weeks. The second-round pick did not typically line up off the edge in college, but his athleticism makes it feasible in Buffalo’s 4-3 defensive scheme. In fact, two of Sanders’ last three games have featured his best PFF grades of the year. In those matchups, he lined up just once as a defensive tackle with 37 snaps at defensive end.
2024 fifth-rounder Javon Solomon, who has primarily featured on special teams this year, should also see an uptick in defense playing time. Buffalo may also consider calling up one of their three practice squad defensive ends – Morgan Fox, Andre Jones, and Shaq Lawson, but none have seen any in-game action this year. One could replace Bosa on the game day roster, but Sanders and Solomon will likely take on the lion’s share of the available snaps.
The Bills’ optimism about Bosa’s return timeline indicates that he is not a candidate to be placed on injured reserve, which would mandate a four-week absence not only from games, but also from practices.
Love was placed on IR on November 1 after a setback in his recovery from an early-season hamstring injury. Reed and Young joined him a week later, Reed with wrist and thumb issues, while Young with a quad strain.
Love has only played three games this season, though he played all of Seattle’s defense snaps in those contests. Third-year safety Ty Okada has stepped up in Love’s absence with a solid all-around performance. He ranks 19th among NFL safeties (min. 100 snaps) with a 74.3 overall grade from Pro Football Focus (subscription required). He also earned grades of at least 70.0 for his run defense, pass rushing, and coverage. As a result, Okada could maintain a role in the Seahawks defense even after Love returns to the field.
Reed, a 10-year veteran, appeared in Seattle’s first eight games with a 47% snap share, a notable decrease from 72% in 2023 and 60% last year. His production has dipped accordingly; he only recorded 17 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and one tackle for loss at the start of the season. The Seahawks have primarily called on Brandon Pili to fill Reed’s snaps, though Mike Morris and Quinton Bohanna have also seen an uptick in playing time.
Young occupied a core special teams role to start the year with only 34 snaps on offense in his six appearances. The fourth-year wideout had a similar snap distribution during his first three seasons in the NFL. A number of Seahawks saw additional playing time in Young’s absence, including outside linebacker Connor O’Toole and wide receiverCody White.
Love, Young, and Reed will all have 21 days to practice before they must be activated or placed on season-ending IR.
Chiefs left tackle Josh Simmons underwent surgery on his injured left wrist, head coach Andy Reid announced (via Nate Taylor of ESPN). The team will place Simmons on IR. He’ll be eligible to return in Week 18.
Simmons will miss at least four games after dislocating and fracturing his wrist in the Chiefs’ loss to the Cowboys on Thanksgiving. The rookie first-round pick from Ohio State sat out four games earlier this season while dealing with a personal matter. Simmons has otherwise worked as a full-time starter through eight games. Pro Football Focus places Simmons 50th among 80 qualifying tackles.
Former 49er Jaylon Moore, whom the Chiefs added on a two-year, $30MM contract last March, served as Patrick Mahomes‘ blindside protector at left tackle during Simmons’ prior absence. Moore could reprise that role, but it may depend on the health of the Chiefs’ other offensive linemen.
The Chiefs could turn to Moore at right tackle if if an injured left tricep keeps Jawaan Taylor from playing against the Texans on Sunday. Wanya Morris would fill in for Simmons in that case.
Adding to their problems along the offensive line, the Chiefs may also have to go without cornerstone right guard Trey Smith in Week 14. Smith, who’s battling a right ankle injury, didn’t play in Dallas. He’s not expected to practice on Wednesday, Nate Taylor reports.
The timing of the O-line injuries is terrible for the reigning Super Bowl champion Chiefs, who dropped to 6-6 last week. Their playoff hopes are hanging by a thread heading into a matchup with 7-5 Houston, which owns the NFL’s top-ranked defense. The Chiefs will have to contain the dominant pass-rushing duo of Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter with a shorthanded group of blockers.
After stumbling to a 2-8 start, the Giants fired head coach Brian Daboll on Nov. 10. The team lost four straight before Daboll’s ouster, and the results haven’t improved since then. Off to an 0-3 start under interim head coach Mike Kafka, the Giants have now dropped seven in a row. At 2-11, they’re on track to pick second in the 2026 draft after selecting third last spring.
The Giants were competitive in one-score losses against a pair of NFC playoff hopefuls (Green Bay and Detroit) in Kafka’s first two games at the helm. Things turned ugly on Monday, though, with the Giants failing to put up a fight in a 33-15 loss to the NFL-leading Patriots.
Rookie outside linebacker Abdul Carter, the Giants’ top pick in this year’s draft, was conspicuously absent for the first quarter. Kafka said benching Carter was a “coach’s decision.” He didn’t offer any further details, but it turns out the punishment came after Carter missed a special teams meeting, Charlotte Carroll and Dan Duggan of The Athletic report.
Carter was confused regarding his role on the punt return team, which changes from week to week. Kafka previously sat Carter for the opening defensive series against the Packers after he missed a walk-through. While Kafka has insisted that it was his choice to bench Carter, general manager Joe Schoen is “very involved in trying to instill discipline,” Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post writes.
Daboll did not discipline Carter for tardiness when he was in charge, according to Dunleavy. Conversely, Albert Breer of SI.com reports that Daboll fined Carter multiple times for showing up late or missing meetings. Carter admitted on Monday that he needs “to be better,” but his attendance problems have gone on throughout the year.
With four games remaining in the Giants’ season, Kafka may be running out of time to get through to Carter. However, the Giants haven’t ruled out a full-time promotion for Kafka.
Speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Schoen said Kafka will get a “real look” (via Jordan Raanan of ESPN). Kafka is on a list of roughly 10 candidates for a job that’s “highly coveted,” Breer relays.
The Giants have gone 11-36 since 2023, Schoen’s second season as GM, and he has drawn plenty of criticism as a result. Schoen is leading the coaching search, though, and he doesn’t expect his presence to scare away any candidates (via Raanan).
“From the calls we’ve gotten, I think we’re going to be able to fill that job,” said Schoen, who still sees a lot of positives on the roster.
Schoen noted that the team’s next head coach will inherit an offense with “some pieces in place to build around,” including potential franchise quarterback Jaxson Dart, No. 1 wide receiver Malik Nabers, and left tackle Andrew Thomas. Although the Giants rank 30th in total defense, Schoen contends they have a “pass rush” and “some pieces in the secondary,” which he believes will entice head coaching candidates.
DECEMBER 3: The Colts aren’t expected to place Gardner on IR, according to Rapoport and Pelissero. The team is hopeful he’ll return sometime in the next four weeks.
DECEMBER 1: With the MRI having taken place, Pelissero and colleague Ian Rapoport confirm Gardner suffered a calf strain. He is week-to-week as a result, with the Colts hoping Gardner will be able to return by the end of the regular season.
NOVEMBER 30: Sauce Gardnerexited the Colts’ Week 13 game and was unable to return. The high-profile trade acquisition could be in store for missed time, although the worst-case scenario appears to have been avoided.
Gardner was unable to put weight on his left leg as he made his way to the sidelines upon suffering the injury. He was initially listed by the team as questionable to return with a calf ailment, but the Colts later confirmed he was out for the remainder of Sunday’s contest. Gardner was in a walking boot on the sidelines as he watched the end of the game.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports a calf strain is believed to have occurred in this case. Critically, he adds Gardner’s Achilles appears to be intact. The All-Pro corner has since confirmed (via ESPN’s Stephen Holder) he feels he is dealing with a strain rather than a tear of any kind. Further testing will take place, including an MRI. At this point, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the Colts expect to be without Gardner for “a couple weeks.”
Needless to say, any notable missed time for Gardner would represent a major blow to the Colts. Indianapolis gave the Jets two first-round picks along with receiver Adonai Mitchellto acquire him at the trade deadline. The 25-year-old – under contract at a record-breaking cornerback rate of $30.1MM per year through the 2030 season – is obviously a major part of the team’s plans now and for several years to come.
The Gardner acquisition has been viewed as an indication the Colts see themselves as being inside a Super Bowl window with a core of many returning players along with free agent signing Daniel Jones. Indianapolis’ new starting quarterback is not full healthy himself, although he is in line to continue playing through a fractured fibula. A run of availability in the secondary down the stretch would be welcomed by the Colts given the injuries they have dealt with in that department this season.
Indianapolis’ loss on Sunday dropped the team to 8-4. That record matches that of the Jaguars, who won today. Meanwhile, the Texans now sit at 7-5. Gardner’s health down the stretch will be something to watch closely as the Colts attempt to close out what has become a three-way race for top spot in the AFC South.
The Patriots’ win Monday night gave the AFC two two-loss teams (and zero three-loss squads) exiting Week 13, forming a mid-2010s-like duel for the No. 1 seed with the Broncos. In the NFC’s race for the bye slot, the picture is much cloudier.
As it stands, the NFC has a host of teams in contention for that No. 1 spot. The Bears currently hold it, but a fierce challenge appears ahead for Ben Johnson‘s resurgent team. Chicago sits at 9-3, but so do the Rams and Seahawks. Because of their tie in Dallas, the Packers are 8-3-1. The Eagles’ Week 13 loss to the Bears hurts their cause, but the defending Super Bowl champions are 8-4. The 49ers are 9-4, creating an interesting race with five weeks left.
The Bears have not earned a top seed since 2006, though their second-seeded squad advanced to the 2010 NFC title game. The Bears have not managed a playoff win since. ESPN’s Football Power Index gives the current NFC leader a 12% chance of holding the top spot. That figure sits fifth in the conference.
Chicago, however, closes with four games against over-.500 teams; the Bears draw the Packers twice and have games against the 49ers and Lions. In addition to the two Bears tilts, the Packers have a Denver trip to make along with a Week 17 Ravens matchup. ESPN’s FPI gives Green Bay a 17% chance to hold the No. 1 seed. The Packers earned back-to-back No. 1 seeds — in 2020 and ’21 — but have not come especially close to such real estate during Jordan Love‘s starter run.
Love has shown more growth in 2025, ranking third in QBR despite the team battling major issues in its pass-catching corps. Tucker Kraft is out for the season, and the team has not had Jayden Reed — its leading receiver in 2023 and ’24 — available since Week 2. Reed is in the IR-return window, and the Packers have seen Christian Watson — who returned midseason from an ACL tear — step forward along with Romeo Doubs. The Pack have not seen too much from first-round pick Matthew Golden, however, and the Kraft-to-Luke Musgrave gap appears wide despite the latter being drafted earlier in 2023.
The Packers did not exactly ride defense to those bye slots earlier this decade, with that unit being unreliable for most of Aaron Rodgers‘ stay. But Jeff Hafley‘s unit ranks sixth in scoring and fourth in yardage. EPA is a bit more skeptical, slotting the Pack 14th defensively. The team’s Micah Parsonsblockbuster trade/extension sequence has made an impact. Parsons’ 36 pressures trail only Myles Garrett (39) this season; the ex-Cowboy dynamo has 12.5 sacks — already just 1.5 shy of a career high.
Concerns about Matthew Stafford‘s summer back injury were overblown, and the 17th-year quarterback is pushing for an MVP — an accomplishment that would strengthen a Hall of Fame case light on accolades. The one-time original-ballot Pro Bowler’s 32:4 TD-INT ratio has powered the Rams, who have benefited from their Cooper Kupp-to-Davante Adams upgrade. The NFL’s active touchdown reception leader (117) has a league-high 14 this season.
L.A. has also benefited from good injury fortune this season. Until Rob Havenstein‘s setback, the Rams’ O-line has rebounded from injury-plagued campaigns, with Puka Nacua also avoiding IR. Chris Shula‘s defense ranks second in points, putting him on the radar to become the third Shula appointed an NFL HC. FPI gives the Rams, who have not held the No. 1 seed since 2001, a 30% chance to do so — tops in the conference. The Rams have three games against sub-.500 teams, though they do face the Lions and Seahawks as well.
Seattle limited Stafford in a Week 11 loss, but Sam Darnold‘s four-INT day impeded a road win. The Seahawks have otherwise seen Darnold reward them for another offseason QB gamble, as they gave the nomadic QB a three-year, $100.5MM deal days after trading Geno Smith. Darnold is all but certain to collect the additional $17.5MM due in February. While Kupp has stayed healthy, he only has 438 receiving yards. Jaxon Smith-Njigba has rendered that a minor concern, as his NFL-most 1,336 have him gunning for Calvin Johnson‘s single-season record (1,964), setting up the 2023 first-rounder for a monster extension; he is eligible for a new deal in January.
Mike Macdonald‘s defense has surpassed expectations, ranking third in points allowed and EPA per play. Byron Murphy has taken a major step forward, going from a half-sack as a rookie to seven this season, while the DeMarcus Lawrence and Ernest Jones signings have paid off as well. The Hawks will need to upend the Rams to have a realistic shot at the 1 seed, and they also have games against the 49ers, Colts and Panthers. FPI gives Seattle a 16% chance at what would be its first 1 seed since 2014.
San Francisco is somehow 8-4 despite losing Nick Bosa, Fred Warner and Mykel Williams for the season — along with Brock Purdy for much of it. The recently extended starter has not played especially well, but he is not expected to be 100% after a turf toe injury until the offseason. Mac Jones‘ two-year, $7MM contract has proven to be a bargain, as the once-maligned QB has gone 5-3 as a starter this season. Jones ranks 10th in QBR. Robert Saleh‘s return has also aided the 49ers, who rank eighth defensively (though, EPA is far more skeptical, slotting Saleh’s crew 24th).
Given a 15% chance at claiming what would be their third No. 1 seed of the Kyle Shanahan era, the 49ers follow their Titans matchup with games against the Colts, Bears and Seahawks. Only one road game (Indianapolis) remains on San Francisco’s docket.
FPI gives the Eagles only an 8% chance at the top seed, despite the team’s head-to-head Rams tiebreaker. Philly’s latest OC change, installing longtime Nick Sirianni coworker Kevin Patullo in the play-calling role, has keyed an uneven Super Bowl title defense. Saquon Barkley has not come close to matching his stratospheric 2024 form, and QBR ranks Jalen Hurts 19th. Top O-lineman Lane Johnson has a Lisfranc injury, though he is not on IR, while more A.J. Brown drama has unfolded ahead of likely 2026 trade rumors.
While Vic Fangio‘s defense looked better following some deadline trades (most notably the Jaelan Phillips move), it surrendered 281 rushing yards to the Bears after a collapse in Dallas. The Eagles’ schedule does cooperate for a potential third No. 1 seed since 2017. After a game against a potentially Justin Herbert-less Chargers team, two Commanders tilts await. Philly does have a Buffalo trip in Week 17, however.
Who will end up claiming the NFC’s top seed? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section.
Adam Thielen found a taker on the waiver wire. The Steelers, who did not end up trading for a wide receiver at the deadline, are claiming the veteran, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports. Thielen had asked to be waived, but he did not end up making it to free agency — or too far down the wire.
This opportunity came about after the Vikings cut ties with the Minnesota native Monday. The Vikes had acquired Thielen from the Panthers just before the season. At the time, that move was framed as a way for Thielen to help out a hopeful contender. That did not end up happening, with the Vikings struggling (as the Panthers have reawakened). Now, Thielen will have a shot — in what looks set to be his final stretch of NFL action — to aid the Steelers’ quest to hang on in the AFC North.
A team already housing the likes of T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward did not shy away from adding aging talent this year, having signed Darius Slay and Aaron Rodgers while trading for Jalen Ramsey. The Steelers waived Slay earlier today, but Thielen — at 35 — will be brought in to help a scuffling passing attack. The NFL’s oldest active wideout, Thielen did not make much of an impact during his second Vikings stint. But he should have a better chance to do so with the Steelers.
Thielen caught eight passes for 69 yards in 11 Vikings games, operating as an afterthought in a Vikings receiving corps featuring Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and Jalen Nailor. The Steelers have not seen a D.K. Metcalf complementary option emerge.
Metcalf has 605 yards on the season; no other Steeler has more than 300. This, of course, comes as George Pickens has erupted in a contract year — following a May trade with the Cowboys. Pickens’ 1,142 yards in 12 games already set a new career-high mark. Pittsburgh developed an earned reputation for developing a host of wide receivers, but Roman Wilson has not caught on late in Year 2. The 2024 third-round pick has just 166 yards this season, after he missed almost all of his rookie year.
Although Thielen was not much help in J.J. McCarthy‘s debut, he does have a recent history of making significant contributions. Even in a 2024 season that saw him land on IR and miss seven games due to a hamstring injury, the former UDFA totaled 615 yards and five touchdowns. In his Carolina debut in 2023, Thielen posted his third 1,000-yard season — a 1,014-yard showing that included 103 catches. Maintaining quality form into his mid-30s, Thielen will attempt to help Rodgers in what is expected to be his final season.
Rodgers and Thielen have been friends for years, with the Minneapolis Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling noting earlier today this fit would make sense. The duo had discussed playing together in the past. That will come together for a Steelers team that has struggled, limping to 6-6 and hearing a cascade of boos rain down during a one-sided Week 13 loss to the Bills. Tied with the Ravens atop the AFC North, the Steelers are in jeopardy of squandering a big lead and perhaps finishing with a losing record for the first time in Mike Tomlin‘s 19-year tenure.
One of the NFL’s better possession receivers during this period, Thielen had teamed with Jefferson and Stefon Diggs before him to form quality receiving tandems in Minnesota. On Vikings teams competing with Rodgers for NFC North supremacy, Thielen eclipsed 1,200 yards in 2017 and ’18, earning Pro Bowl nods each year. Thielen collected a second-team All-Pro accolade in 2017, helping the Vikings to the NFC championship game. Thielen’s 64 touchdown catches rank eighth among active players.
He earned two Minnesota extensions and, following a 2023 release, caught on with the Panthers on a three-year, $25MM deal. Thielen reworked that pact this summer, accepting a pay cut to facilitate a trade to his home-state team. He is attached to a $3MM base salary this season. The Steelers will be responsible for $882K via this claim. They entered the day with just less than $4MM in cap space.
Dave Caldwell is leaving Philadelphia for Florida, with ESPN.com’s Jeff Darlington reporting the former Jaguars GM will head back toward that region to become the Gators’ GM. Florida has since announced the hire.
