HEADLINES

Brandon Aiyuk Trade Viewed As Possible; Latest On 49ers’ WR Outlook

November 27th, 2025 at 10:21pm CST by Adam La Rose

Before the start of the current season, the 49ers voided a 2026 option bonus for Brandon Aiyuk. That has fueled speculation a parting of ways will take place after the current campaign.

Further details have emerged regarding the team’s decision to void Aiyuk’s guarantees. As ESPN’s Fowler writes, the sixth-year receiver declined to attend appointments for his knee rehab during the offseason. That is believed to be among the reasons San Francisco proceeded with voiding Aiyuk’s guarantees, a move he chose not to contest by means of an NFLPA grievance.

Aiyuk’s 2024 campaign ended when he suffered ACL, MCL and meniscus tears. He has yet to play since, despite a number of updates before and during this season pointing to him being cleared at some point. There is still optimism the 27-year-old will be cleared, although that would in turn lead to an interesting question of whether or not Aiyuk would be willing to play given where things stand at this point.

Fowler adds that some teams around the league see an Aiyuk trade as being possible, especially with his contract being easier to move in the absence of guaranteed compensation for next season. The former first-rounder’s deal still runs through 2028, however, so a release allowing him to choose his next destination is still a more realistic outcome. That would leave Aiyuk in the same situation as Christian Wilkins, after the Raiders voided his guarantees and moved forward with a release.

Aiyuk topped 1,000 yards for the first time in 2022. The following season, he set a career high in yards (1,342) and yards per catch (17.9), helping lead the 49ers to the Super Bowl along the way. The process of working out an extension was far from smooth, to say the least, and even with a long-term deal in hand Aiyuk’s future is once again a talking point.

Elsewhere at the receiver position, Matt Barrows of the Athletic writes (subscription required) the 49ers are likelier to retain Kendrick Bourne this offseason than Jauan Jennings. The latter was in the team’s long-term plans as of September, but as a pending free agent he could depart on the open market this spring. Jennings landed a two-year pact in 2024, the season in which he comfortably posted career-best numbers. Things have not been the same in 2025 for the former seventh-rounder.

Bourne’s second San Francisco stint has seen him make seven starts with the team dealing with several injuries. He has posted 482 scoreless yards while serving as an experienced secondary option in the passing game. Retaining Bourne, 30, will likely come at a lesser cost than re-signing Jennings once more. Of course, Aiyuk will play a large role in determining how the team operates at the WR spot once his situation becomes clearer.

Chiefs LT Josh Simmons Suffers Dislocated, Fractured Wrist

November 27th, 2025 at 9:31pm CST by Ely Allen

An already banged up offensive line in Kansas City may have taken a big hit today as Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that the team’s starting left tackle, Josh Simmons, suffered a dislocated and fractured wrist today and “is out indefinitely.” Simmons was seen leaving the locker room with a cast on his left wrist after today’s game, per ESPN’s Nate Taylor, and he’ll undergo an MRI tomorrow before determinations are made on treatment.

Depending on the resulting prognosis following the testing and treatment, this could be the second extended absence of Simmons’ rookie campaign. Earlier in the year, Simmons sat out the four-game stretch before the Chiefs’ bye week as he dealt with a mysterious personal issue. Disappearing after the first five starts of his career, Simmons finally returned in Week 11 to take his starting job back.

In his first absence, swing tackle Jaylon Moore filled in at left tackle for Kansas City. It’s a role Moore is extremely familiar with after filling in several games for 49ers star left tackle Trent Williams over the course of his rookie contract. The Chiefs paid Moore handsomely over the offseason to come in and do more of the same in Kansas City.

Unfortunately, the Chiefs could be dealing with injuries to multiple tackles. Right tackle Jawaan Taylor was also hurt in today’s game, leaving the contest with an elbow injury and getting ruled out shortly after. There’s been much less information about Taylor’s status since the game ended, so any further inference would only be speculation. That being said, any absence Taylor may be faced with could take things from bad to worse for a team fighting to stay above .500 and in the playoff race.

If Taylor is forced to miss game time and Moore is already subbing in for Simmons, Wanya Morris is the next man up on the depth chart. Morris started 11 games for the Chiefs at left tackle last year, but his struggles at the position were part of what prompted Kansas City to use their Day 1 pick on Simmons this year.

Updates on this situation will follow as the results of testing and treatment unfold in the coming days. The Chiefs closing stretch of the regular season sees their toughest remaining opponents (Texans, Chargers, Broncos) at home with their only remaining road trips coming against the lowly Titans and Raiders. A playoff berth isn’t impossible by any means for a team well experienced in playing a high level of football this late in the season, but they’ll want to find a way to field a healthy offensive line in order to make this push to the postseason a bit more manageable.

NFL Minor Transactions: 11/27/25

November 27th, 2025 at 7:23pm CST by Ely Allen

Happy Thanksgiving! Here are the holiday’s minor NFL transactions and some standard gameday elevations for today’s night game and tomorrow’s Black Friday game:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Philadelphia Eagles

Newman and Brown were removed from the Bears’ 53-man roster as corresponding moves to make room for their two activations off injured reserve today.

Martin is being called up as a standard gameday practice squad elevation for the third time this year. If the Ravens would like him to play in any more games after this week, they’ll need to sign him to the 53-man roster.

Lampkin was designated to return from IR back on November 6, and his 21-day practice squad window has come and gone without an activation by the Eagles. The undrafted rookie out of North Carolina will spend the rest of his rookie season on IR, as a result of not being activated.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/27/25

November 27th, 2025 at 6:43pm CST by Ely Allen

Thanksgiving Day’s taxi squad moves in the NFL:

Detroit Lions

New York Jets

  • Signed: DE Paschal Ekeji
  • Placed on practice squad/injured list: G Leander Wiegand

Ekeji replaces Wiegand as the 17th member of the Jets’ practice squad. Teams are allowed to carry one player over the 16-man limit for the taxi squad, given the 17th player is a participant in the league’s International Player Pathway Program. Wiegand, a German native, will move to the injured list to make room for Ekeji, who holds citizenship in three countries but originally hails from Lesotho, a small African country fully encapsulated within the borders of the larger country of South Africa. He most recently played rugby for a professional club in South Africa.

Ravens Place RB Justice Hill, DT Taven Bryan On IR

November 27th, 2025 at 3:30pm CST by Adam La Rose

Justice Hill and Taven Bryan have already been ruled out for the Ravens’ game tonight against the Bengals. Both veterans will be unavailable for an extended period.

Hill and Bryan have been moved to injured reserve, per a team announcement. As such, today’s Thanksgiving finale will mark the first of at least four games they are required to miss. A neck ailment has shut Hill down for the time being; Bryan has a knee injury.

As was the case last year, Derrick Henry has led the way in terms of backfield usage for Baltimore. The future Hall of Famer has essentially alternated between productive and quiet games in 2025, however, adding to the importance of the Ravens’ other backfield options. That has included Hill, whose seven-year career has been spent exclusively with Baltimore.

The 28-year-old has received more than three carries only once so far this season, but he has remained a regular presence in the passing game. Hill’s injury ensures he will not come close to matching the career-high 42 receptions he made in 2024, but his absence will be felt moving forward. Keaton Mitchell and Rasheen Ali will serve as Henry’s backups down the stretch.

Since the season-ending neck injury suffered by Nnamdi Madubuike, depth along the defensive interior has been a question for the Ravens. Bryan joined the team’s practice squad in September, and he has since found his way onto the active roster. A veteran of 118 games, he has made five appearances in a rotational capacity this season. Bryan’s absence will lead to an increased workload for the likes of Travis Jones, John Jenkins and Brent Urban along the D-line.

The Ravens designated edge rusher Adisa Isaac and receiver Dayton Wade for return from IR during roster cutdowns, meaning their activations have already been accounted for. The team has yet to use any of its remaining six activations so far, but in Hill and Bryan’s case doing so will be needed if they are to play again this season.

Giants QB Jaxson Dart Clears Concussion Protocol

November 27th, 2025 at 2:38pm CST by Adam La Rose

Jameis Winston has started each of the past two games as a fill-in for the Giants. He will return to backup duties in Week 13.

Jaxson Dart has cleared concussion protocol, per a team announcement. That sets the first-round rookie up to return to action on Sunday against the Patriots. Avoiding any further injury-induced absences the rest of the way will be a key goal for team and player in this case.

Including the preseason, Dart has already been evaluated for a concussion four times this year. Concerns about the number he hits he takes during a game have been raised since he took over QB1 duties. As such, few were surprised when Dart suffered a concussion in Week 10. He remained in the multi-step protocol from that point until today.

Dart was a full participant in practice yesterday (h/t ESPN’s Jordan Raanan). That was a clear indication a return in time for Week 13 would be in store. The Giants are still shorthanded on offense, with wideout Malik Nabers and running back Cam Skattebo out for the season. Dart’s return will allow for his development to continue, though, while also giving interim head coach Mike Kafka more time to audition for the full-time gig alongside New York’s QB of the future.

The fate of general manager Joe Schoen is also uncertain at this point, although signs point to him being safe. It was Schoen who traded back into the first round to select Dart in April’s draft, a move which seems to have helped his standing in the organization. A strong finish to the campaign would not move the Giants into postseason contention, but it could offer promise for 2026.

Winston guided New York to close losses against the Packers and Lions during his two starts. Defensive breakdowns remained an issue during that period, prompting the dismissal of DC Shane Bowen. As the team looks to make needed improvements on that side of the ball, Dart will be back in the fold beginning on Sunday.

Lions DE Josh Paschal Will Not Play In 2025

November 27th, 2025 at 1:48pm CST by Adam La Rose

On November 5, Josh Paschal returned to practice for the Lions. The fourth-year defensive end’s 21-day activation window was opened as a result.

Yesterday marked the point at which the Lions needed to activate Paschal from the reserve/NFI list for him to be eligible to play in 2025. As Justin Rogers of the Detroit Football Network notes, however, that did not take place. Paschal has therefore reverted to season-ending IR and he will not be available this year.

That news will deal a blow to the Lions’ depth along the defensive front. Pachal saw an uptick in usage over the course of his first three seasons in the Motor City, making 10 starts in 2024. The 25-year-old recorded only two sacks but he comfortably set a new career high with 17 QB pressures. Instead of having the opportunity to contribute in that capacity late in 2025, Paschal will remain focused on recovery.

The former second-rounder has been rehabbing from back surgery dating back to the summer. It came as little surprise when he landed on the reserve/NFI list during cutdowns, something which ensured at least a one-month absence during the regular season. Now, though, team and player will proceed knowing Paschal will not be available at any point down the stretch or (if applicable) in the playoffs.

The timing of this development is particularly impactful given the fact Paschal is approaching his first trip to free agency. The Kentucky product’s rookie contract is set to expire in March, and an entire season on the sidelines will obviously deal a major blow to his value. It would come as little surprise if Paschal were to take a one-year pact with Detroit or another team for 2026 with the hopes of delivering a healthy campaign.

Entering their Thanksgiving contest, the Lions ranked mid-pack in several defensive categories. Detroit’s D-line will need to finish the year without any reinforcement on the part of Paschal being in the fold.

Vikings Bring Back QB Desmond Ridder

November 27th, 2025 at 12:06pm CST by Adam La Rose

Desmond Ridder is back in Minnesota. The journeyman quarterback has signed a practice squad deal with the Vikings, per a team announcement.

J.J. McCarthy is in concussion protocol, and today’s news essentially confirms he will (expectedly) miss at least one week. With Carson Wentz sidelined for the remainder of the season, undrafted rookie Max Brosmer will get the nod in Week 13. Ridder could very well dress as his backup against the Seahawks.

After Minnesota’s quarterback depth chart changed late in the summer (with Wentz being added as a veteran backup and Sam Howell being traded away), McCarthy’s ankle injury created the need for insurance under center. That resulted in Ridder working out for the Vikings in early September and landing a deal on the active roster. The former third-rounder departed the Raiders in free agency but he was among the Bengals’ final roster cuts at the end of training camp.

Ridder did not wind up seeing any playing time during his brief Minnesota stint. The 26-year-old has not played at all this season. A workout with the 49ers took place in October, but no contract came about as a result. Ridder will now head back to the Vikings at least until McCarthy clears concussion protocol.

During his rookie year, Ridder started the final four games of the season. His showing in that role resulted in a 13-game stretch of starts the following campaign, but the Cincinnati product again put up underwhelming numbers. Ridder made a total of six appearances last season as a member of the Raiders, including one start. In all, he has totaled 18 regular season starts, posting a passer rating of 82.6 along the way.

The Vikings have lost five of six games since their bye week, with poor play under center representing a major problem. It will be interesting to see how Brosmer fares in his NFL debut, but Ridder will give Minnesota a more experienced replacement option if necessary.

Bears Activate CBs Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon From IR

November 27th, 2025 at 11:21am CST by Adam La Rose

When the Bears take on the Eagles in this year’s Black Friday game, they will do so with a pair of notable reinforcements in the secondary. Both Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon are set to play tomorrow.

Johnson and Gordon will be activated from IR in time for Friday’s game, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Both players remained on IR through Week 12. Each have continued to make progress in their respective recoveries, however. As such, they will be available against the Eagles after drawing a questionable designation on the team’s injury report. The moves are now official.

Johnson seemed to be lost for the year after just one game played following his core muscle surgery. He returned to practice roughly two weeks ago, however, setting up an activation in relatively short order. Getting the two-time Pro Bowler back in the fold will represent a major boost for Chicago’s CB room, particularly on the perimeter.

Similarly, Gordon’s return will give the Bears their preferred option in the slot. His practice window opened last week. Gordon inked a three-year, $40MM extension in April, making him (like Johnson) a key figure on defense for Chicago now and into the future. Both starters will look to remain healthy the rest of the way as the Bears (8-3) attempt to maintain their lead in the NFC North.

With that said, takeaways have not been an issue for the team during its shorthanded stretch in the secondary. Chicago’s 16 interceptions lead the NFL, and Nahshon Wright has enjoyed a stellar campaign with five interceptions and 10 pass deflections through 11 games in a first-team role. It will be interesting to see if Wright’s role and playing time are affected with Johnson and Gordon back in the fold.

This news will leave the Bears with three IR activations for the remainder of the regular season. Offensive tackles Braxton Jones and Kiran Amegadjie remain on injured reserve at this time. Bringing one or both of them onto the active roster will leave Chicago near the limit of eight for the campaign.

Rams Claim CB Derion Kendrick; WR Tutu Atwell, CB Ahkello Witherspoon In IR-Return Window

November 27th, 2025 at 10:34am CST by Sam Robinson

NOVEMBER 27: Witherspoon clarified (via Henderson’s colleague Sarah Barshop) his injury was actually a broken scapula, rather than a clavicle. That has allowed for his rehab process to move quicker than anticipated.

NOVEMBER 26: Derion Kendrick is heading back to Los Angeles. After the Seahawks waived the cornerback Tuesday, the Rams made a successful claim to reacquire him.

Additionally, the NFC West-leading team has two players in the IR-return window. The Rams, who have not used any of their eight allotted injury activations this season, designated wideout Tutu Atwell and cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon for return Wednesday. In a corresponding move, however, corner Roger McCreary is now on IR. Los Angeles also signed tight end Nick Vannett from its practice squad.

[RELATED: Injured Reserve Return Tracker]

The Seahawks hoped to circle back to Kendrick via a practice squad spot, per ESPN.com’s Brady Henderson, but this waiver claim will scuttle that. Kendrick played in 10 games as a Seattle reserve this season, intercepting two passes. But the team reduced his playing time and cut the fourth-year player following a mistake on the Titans’ punt-return touchdown in Week 12.

Kendrick has now been cut and claimed twice apiece by NFC West teams this year. The Rams waived him upon setting their initial 53-man roster in August, leading to a Seahawks claim. He now returns to L.A., which has seen cornerback present some health concerns this season.

McCreary heads to IR a month after being acquired from the Titans via trade. The fourth-year cover man must miss at least four games. Witherspoon has missed the past nine Rams contests, dealing with a broken clavicle. Sean McVay, however, expressed optimism Witherspoon and Atwell would return to practice this week.

A sixth-round Rams draftee in 2022, Kendrick started 18 games for the team from 2022-23. He played 76% of the Rams’ 2023 defensive snaps, helping the team back to the playoffs, but suffered an ACL tear before the 2024 season. Kendrick logged a mere 18% snap rate with Seattle this season. The Rams did not make a notable CB move this offseason, seeing a much-rumored Jalen Ramsey return not come to fruition. They did obtain McCreary at the deadline but will now need to make some adjustments after the ex-Titan slot cog suffered a hip injury Sunday.

McCreary has not made an impact as a Ram, seeing all of one defensive snap in four games. The Rams have used Emmanuel Forbes and Cobie Durant as their primary CBs this season, with Darious Williams and Josh Wallace mixing in. Witherspoon started in the two games he played this season, and the 30-year-old defender made 22 starts from 2023-24 with L.A. Witherspoon represents an experienced piece the Rams could redeploy soon, as they make a push for their first No. 1 seed since the Kurt Warner-led 2001 squad went 14-2 en route to Super Bowl XXXVI.

The Rams re-signed Atwell on a one-year, $10MM contract this offseason; he went down with a hamstring injury in October. Atwell has not played since Week 6.

The diminutive wideout has an eye-popping stat line this season, catching four passes but totaling 164 yards on those plays. An 88-yard TD keyed this explosive start. After a 562-yard 2024, Atwell stands to contribute again as a tertiary target alongside Puka Nacua and Davante Adams down the stretch. Atwell still sits third among Rams WRs in yardage, and with Tyler Higbee on IR, the team could use auxiliary help in a hotly contested NFC West race.

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