Coaching Notes: Johnson, Bengals, Lions, Vikings, Bills, Buccaneers
Both Zac Taylor and Ben Johnson were on the Dolphins’ staff when Dan Campbell served as Miami’s interim HC in 2015. That unremarkable season launched two HC careers, with Taylor seeing his first OC work (as the Dolphins’ interim play-caller) and Johnson being retained by Adam Gase in 2016. After the Dolphins fired Gase two years later, Johnson was out of work. The Bengals had just hired Taylor, who said he made an effort to hire the young assistant. Taylor indicated multiple runs at Johnson, who was tied to Matt Patricia‘s Lions staff from 2019-20.
“He was out [of coaching] and we didn’t have any openings on offense,” Taylor said, via SI.com’s James Rapien. “After the ’20 season probably because I made a lot of changes after the ’20 season. So at the end of the ’20 season we didn’t have our QCs on defense. We did not have an offensive opening, so I just wanted to get him on the staff and Lou (Anarumo) knew him.”
Anarumo, the Bengals’ six-year DC, also coached with Johnson in Miami. It is certainly interesting the Bengals viewed Johnson highly enough they offered him a defensive position, but the rising staffer settled in fine post-Miami. The Lions used him as an offensive quality control assistant in 2019 and shifted him to tight ends coach before Patricia’s ouster. Campbell’s familiarity with Johnson began the assistant’s surge in earnest by 2021, even though Johnson did not take over as OC for another year.
Shifting to more current coaching news, here is the latest ahead of the 2026 carousel:
- Campbell’s staff is losing a position coach early. Tight ends coach Tyler Roehl is leaving Detroit for Ames, Iowa. Iowa State has hired Roehl as its new offensive coordinator, the Big 12 school announced. The Detroit News’ Rich Silva reported this was likely to happen, and the university has confirmed Roehl is returning to Iowa. The Lions hired Roehl earlier this year; he had previously served as an Iowa State staffer under Matt Campbell. Despite Penn State hiring Campbell, Roehl will hold a key position under his replacement (Jimmy Rogers). Roehl, a Cyclones staffer from 2022-24, will stay on to finish the Lions’ season before heading back to the college ranks.
- A Bills assistant will make a similar move. Wyoming is hiring Christian Taylor as its next OC, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. The Bills hired Taylor as a quality control staffer in 2024. Taylor came to Buffalo after four seasons as William & Mary’s OC; prior to that, he was in charge of the offense at the University of San Diego.
- The Vikings are losing a defensive assistant to the college ranks, seeing safeties coach Michael Hutchings set to become Cal’s next DC, veteran insider Jordan Schultz notes. Brian Flores hired Hutchings upon arriving in Minnesota in 2023. Hutchings, 30, had coached only at the college level before joining the Vikings’ staff. This created the interesting dynamic of Hutchings coaching Harrison Smith, who is six years his senior. He also oversaw the development of Camryn Bynum, who commanded a $15MM-per-year Colts contract in free agency this offseason.
- Cal is looking to the NFC for both its coordinator gigs, hiring Buccaneers assistant QBs coach Jordan Somerville as its OC, per CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz. Like Hutchings, Somerville had only coached at the college level before landing in the NFL in 2023. Somerville has brought some continuity to a Bucs staff that has lost its OC to HC jobs in back-to-back years, having been in the assistant QBs coach role throughout his Tampa stay. But the former Oregon assistant will head to Cal, where Ron Rivera remains as the program’s GM.
Updated 2026 NFL Draft Order
Several dominoes have fallen so far in Week 16 with respect to the NFL’s playoff picture. The Cowboys have been eliminated while the Patriots, Seahawks, Bears, Eagles and 49ers have locked in a postseason berth.
The final two weeks of the campaign will determine the remaining playoff spots, but they will also sort out the top of the draft order. Six teams remain within striking distance of the No. 1 pick, although the Titans’ win on Sunday greatly weakened their chances of landing the top selection for the second year in a row. One contest in particular will be worth monitoring next week with respect to draft positioning.
The Giants and Raiders each sport a record of 2-13. They will play each other in Week 17, meaning the loser of that contest will have the inside track for the No. 1 pick. New York already has a head coaching vacancy while Pete Carroll is in danger of going one-and-done in Vegas. Plenty of incentive for winning will exist for Carroll in particular, but the outcome of that game will have major implications on the draft order.
For non-playoff teams, the draft order is determined by the inverted 2025 standings plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule. Playoff squads are slotted by their postseason outcome and the reverse order of their regular season record.
Here is an updated look at the first-round order:
- New York Giants (2-13)
- Las Vegas Raiders (2-13)
- Cleveland Browns (3-12)
- New York Jets (3-12)
- Arizona Cardinals (3-12)
- Tennessee Titans (3-12)
- Washington Commanders (4-11)
- New Orleans Saints (5-10)
- Cincinnati Bengals (5-10)
- Miami Dolphins (6-9)
- Los Angeles Rams (via Falcons)
- Kansas City Chiefs (6-9)
- Dallas Cowboys (6-8-1)
- Baltimore Ravens (7-8)
- Minnesota Vikings (7-8)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8)
- Detroit Lions (8-7)
- New York Jets (via Colts)
- Carolina Panthers (8-7)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6)
- Dallas Cowboys (via Packers)
- Philadelphia Eagles (10-5)
- Houston Texans (10-5)
- Buffalo Bills (11-4)
- Los Angeles Chargers (11-4)
- San Francisco 49ers (11-4)
- Cleveland Browns (via Jaguars)
- Los Angeles Rams (11-4)
- Chicago Bears (11-4)
- New England Patriots (12-3)
- Denver Broncos (12-3)
- Seattle Seahawks (12-3)
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/22/25
Today’s practice squad transactions:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: S Tysheem Johnson
Houston Texans
- Signed: DL Leki Fotu
New England Patriots
- Placed on IR: TE Thomas Odukoya
New York Giants
- Released: P Cameron Johnston
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: CB Tyler Hall
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: LB Nick Jackson
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: NT Isaiah Raikes, LB Cam Riley
- Released: WR Kristian Wilkerson
After getting waived by the Bills in November, Cameron Johnston caught on with the Giants as insurance for Jamie Gillan. Johnston ended up getting into one game for his new squad, punting four times for 22.8 net yards per punt. The team held on to the veteran to make sure Gillan made it through his return unscathed. Apparently everything checked out, and the Giants will proceed with just one punter in their organization for the rest of the season.
Buccaneers Elevate Jason Pierre-Paul
On the eve of a pivotal game against the NFC South rival Panthers, the Buccaneers are elevating edge rusher Jason Pierre-Paul from their practice squad, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. Pierre-Paul will play in his first game since Dec. 11, 2023, when he was a member of the Dolphins.
Now 36 years old, Pierre-Paul entered the NFL as a first-round pick of the Giants in 2010. He’s now in his second stint with the Buccaneers, whom he played with from 2018-21. Pierre-Paul amassed 33 sacks during that 54-game span and was part of the franchise’s most recent Super Bowl-winning team in 2020.
Between his Tampa Bay and Miami tenures, Pierre-Paul spent time with the Ravens and Saints. He was out of football until the Buccaneers surprisingly signed him to their practice squad on Dec. 8. Pierre-Paul impressed the team during a workout, and he’s now in line to suit up just two weeks later.
Pierre-Paul will join YaYa Diaby, Haason Reddick, Elijah Roberts, Anthony Nelson, and Chris Braswell as the Bucs’ options at edge rusher against the Panthers. Tampa Bay and Carolina, both 7-7, will meet twice over the final three weeks of the season. One of them will win the division, while the other is likely to miss the playoffs.
Along with elevating Pierre-Paul, the Buccaneers are calling up defensive lineman Adam Gotsis from their taxi squad, per Greg Auman of FOX Sports. Gotsis has played in one game and logged eight defensive snaps this year.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/19/25
Here are Friday’s minor moves from around the NFL:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: S Jammie Robinson
- Placed on IR: WR KhaDarel Hodge
Buffalo Bills
- Placed on IR: OL Chase Lundt
Cincinnati Bengals
- Placed on IR: DT Kris Jenkins Jr.
Green Bay Packers
- Activated from IR: DL Brenton Cox Jr.
- Placed on IR: RB MarShawn Lloyd (story)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Designated for return from IR: LB Jalen McLeod
Las Vegas Raiders
- Claimed off waivers (from Steelers): DT Brodric Martin
- Waived: DE Jahfari Harvey
New Orleans Saints
- Signed to active roster: K Charlie Smyth
- Placed on IR: WR Devaughn Vele
Philadelphia Eagles
- Elevated: TE E.J. Jenkins, CB Brandon Johnson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed to active roster: S J.T. Gray
- Waived: LB Nick Jackson
Washington Commanders
- Elevated: TE Lawrence Cager
Cox will give the Packers another pass-rushing option after they lost superstar Micah Parsons to a season-ending ACL tear in Week 15. An undrafted pickup in 2023, Cox impressed last season with five tackles for loss, four sacks, and a forced fumble in just seven games. However, he hasn’t factored in this year after suffering a groin injury in the Packers’ season-opening loss to the Lions. Now returning from a 13-game absence, Cox could have an opportunity to make an impact down the stretch.
Vele, a seventh-round pick a year ago, racked up 41 catches, 475 yards, and three touchdowns during a 13-game rookie season in Denver. The Broncos sold high on the 6-foot-5, 210-pounder in late August, shipping him to the Saints for a 2026 fourth-rounder and a 2027 seventh-rounder.
Vele, who’s now dealing with a shoulder injury, will wrap up his first season in New Orleans with 25 receptions, 293 yards, and two scores in 13 contests. While those are underwhelming numbers, Vele was far more productive in recent weeks. He combined for 19 grabs, 239 yards, and a TD in his last four games of the year.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/17/25
Here are Wednesday’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Designated for return from IR: LB Jay Higgins
Buffalo Bills
- Designated for return from IR: WR Mecole Hardman
Carolina Panthers
- Designated for return from IR: WR David Moore
Cleveland Browns
- Designated for return from reserve/PUP: LB Winston Reid
Denver Broncos
- Designated for return from IR: LB Karene Reid
Detroit Lions
- Designated for return from IR: T Giovanni Manu
Green Bay Packers
- Designated for return from reserve/PUP: G John Williams
- Placed on IR: LB Micah Parsons (story)
Houston Texans
- Designated for return from IR: LB Darrell Taylor
Kansas City Chiefs
- Placed on IR: QB Patrick Mahomes (story)
- Opened practice window: TE Jake Briningstool, DB Nazeeh Johnson
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed to active roster: DE Jahfari Harvey
Miami Dolphins
- Signed off Texans’ practice squad: LB Jackson Woodard
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Activated from IR: S Rashad Wisdom
Tennessee Titans
- Designated for return from IR: LB Ali Gaye, LB Oluwafemi Oladejo, WR Bryce Oliver
Probably the most overqualified transaction we’ve ever listed in this space, Mahomes is heading to IR for the first time. The superstar Chiefs quarterback suffered ACL and LCL tears and has undergone surgery. Generally, Chiefs IR-return moves are impactful at this stage of the season. In the cases of Briningstool and Johnson, they are returning to practice for a 6-8 team. The Chiefs designated both for return in August, meaning both have already counted toward the team’s eight-activation total. As our IR return tracker shows, Kansas City has not used any other injury activations this season.
Given a one-year, $4.75MM deal by the Texans, Taylor worked as a backup in four games before going down with an ankle injury. Despite his contract, the former Seahawks second-rounder played just 64 defensive snaps before hitting IR.
2025 NFL Dead Money, By Team
As we head toward the playoffs, three NFL teams are carrying more than $100MM in dead money. That represents more than a third of the salary cap. The 49ers are also on track to make the playoffs with more than $100MM allocated to players no longer on their 53-man roster. Here is where the 32 teams stand for dead money (via OverTheCap) with three weeks left in the regular season:
- New Orleans Saints: $107.83MM
- San Francisco 49ers: $103.77MM
- New York Jets: $102.1MM
- Las Vegas Raiders: $87.79MM
- Philadelphia Eagles: $87.27MM
- Seattle Seahawks: $86.1MM
- Jacksonville Jaguars: $85.49MM
- Cleveland Browns: $83.22MM
- Miami Dolphins: $72.45MM
- Houston Texans: $66.44MM
- Tennessee Titans: $59.42MM
- Green Bay Packers: $57.98MM
- Los Angeles Rams: $56.23MM
- New England Patriots: $50.56MM
- Denver Broncos: $42.78MM
- Dallas Cowboys: $41.34MM
- Detroit Lions: $40.71MM
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $40.39MM
- Los Angeles Chargers: $38.78MM
- Baltimore Ravens: $38.38MM
- Buffalo Bills: $37.58MM
- Carolina Panthers: $36.55MM
- New York Giants: $33.74MM
- Pittsburgh Steelers: $33.7MM
- Minnesota Vikings: $30.6MM
- Washington Commanders: $27.29MM
- Atlanta Falcons: $27MM
- Cincinnati Bengals: $20.99MM
- Kansas City Chiefs: $20.33MM
- Indianapolis Colts: $17.37MM
- Arizona Cardinals: $16.51MM
- Chicago Bears: $8.6MM
The $100MM trio dwarfs last year’s leaders — the Broncos — in this unwanted area. The Saints began taking some overdue medicine for their cap-gymnastics past by trading Marshon Lattimore last year. That move coming after June 1 pushed $31.67MM onto New Orleans’ 2025 cap sheet. Derek Carr also counts $19.2MM on this year’s Saints cap, while Ryan Ramczyk‘s retirement covers more than $11MM.
The Carr punishment covers $55.88MM in total, meaning nearly $37MM from the QB’s retirement will land on New Orleans’ 2026 payroll. Mickey Loomis‘ spree of restructures on that contract created that inflated figure.
Deebo Samuel brought a receiver-record dead money total to the 49ers, who absorbed $34.12MM by trading the seventh-year veteran in March. The second leg of the post-June 1 Arik Armstead transaction from 2024 created a $15MM dead cap hit this year, with void years on Charvarius Ward‘s deal covering more than $12MM.
Gang Green took on barely $20MM combined from the Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams trades and will do the same next year, reflecting the low signing bonus figure on the Gardner extension. The Jets, though, have taken $56MM in total from the Aaron Rodgers release ($21MM this year, $35MM next). That is the second-highest total dead cap hit in NFL history.
The team that authorized the highest dead money sum in league annals — Denver, via the 2024 Russell Wilson release — is still carrying $32MM on that contract. It comes off the books next year, and the Broncos do not have any other player counting more than $3MM in dead cap on their 2025 payroll.
The Eagles and Seahawks are also moving toward the playoffs with higher dead money counts compared to the 2024 Broncos, though it should be noted the cap’s $24MM increase from last year plays into this. Philadelphia is still carrying a combined $26MM from the 2024 Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox retirements. Josh Sweat void years also comprise $16.44MM of this year’s cap. The Seahawks’ D.K. Metcalf trade brought $21MM in dead cap, while Geno Smith, Tyler Lockett and Dre’Mont Jones combine to cover more than $41MM in dead money.
Amari Cooper and Za’Darius Smith‘s 2024 Cleveland exits via trade tagged the Browns with more than $36MM in dead money together, while the Dolphins are dealing with more than $30MM combined from the post-June 1 designations on Xavien Howard and Jalen Ramsey. The latter counts $15.7MM in dead money this year and $20.9MM in 2026. That eclipses Lattimore’s defender-record total for dead cap.
Updated 2026 NFL Draft Order
Sunday’s action provided more clarity on a number of fronts relating to the playoff pushes in each conference. The list of teams still in contention for the top pick in the 2026 draft remains long, however.
Week 15 saw the Broncos and Rams clinch a postseason berth. Meanwhile, the Chiefs, Bengals and Vikings have each officially been eliminated from the playoffs. They will join the group of teams turning their attention to offseason planning. That of course includes extensive evaluation of the top prospects in this year’s class; several have already turned pro (with some exceptions).
Sunday’s results mean there are nine teams with two, three or four wins. Each of them remain candidates to secure the No. 1 selection, although victories by the Saints and Commanders yesterday will greatly hinder their chances of moving to the top of the order. Jockeying amongst teams like the Raiders, Jets and Cardinals (each on track to pursue a new quarterback this spring) will be a storyline worth following closely down the stretch.
For non-playoff teams, the draft order is determined by the inverted 2025 standings plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule. Playoff squads are slotted by their postseason outcome and the reverse order of their regular season record.
Here is an updated look at the first-round order:
- New York Giants (2-12)
- Las Vegas Raiders (2-12)
- Tennessee Titans (2-12)
- Cleveland Browns (3-11)
- New York Jets (3-11)
- Arizona Cardinals (3-11)
- New Orleans Saints (4-10)
- Washington Commanders (4-10)
- Cincinnati Bengals (4-10)
- Los Angeles Rams (via Falcons)
- Miami Dolphins (6-8)
- Kansas City Chiefs (6-8)
- Minnesota Vikings (6-8)
- Dallas Cowboys (6-7-1)
- Baltimore Ravens (7-7)
- Carolina Panthers (7-7)
- Detroit Lions (8-6)
- New York Jets (via Colts)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6)
- Philadelphia Eagles (9-5)
- Houston Texans (9-5)
- Dallas Cowboys (via Packers)
- Buffalo Bills (10-4)
- Chicago Bears (10-4)
- Los Angeles Chargers (10-4)
- San Francisco 49ers (10-4)
- Cleveland Browns (via Jaguars)
- New England Patriots (11-3)
- Seattle Seahawks (11-3)
- Los Angeles Rams (11-3)
- Denver Broncos (12-2)
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/15/25
Just one practice squad move to pass along:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: DL C.J. Brewer
- Released: WR Brandon Johnson
Brandon Johnson has seen time in 23 career games. He had his best showing with the Broncos in 2023, when he hauled in 19 catches for 284 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games. He’ll be replaced on Tampa Bay’s practice squad by C.J. Brewer, who’s collected 2.5 sacks with the Buccaneers across the past two seasons.
Bucs Place CB Zyon McCollum On IR
The Buccaneers have enjoyed a recent return to health for a number of key offensive players. Their defense will be without a full-time starter to close out the season, however. 
Zyon McCollum has been moved to injured reserve, the team announced on Monday. The fourth-year corner is dealing with a hip injury suffered during Tampa Bay’s Thursday night loss. As a result of this move, McCollum will be sidelined for at least four weeks.
That ensures he will be absent for the Buccaneers’ three remaining regular season contests. As the team continues to pursue the NFC South title, McCollum’s absence will be acutely felt. The 26-year-old has operated as a full-time starter for each of the past two seasons. Over that span, he has recorded three interceptions and 23 pass deflections.
Missed time of any length in the case of the former fifth-rounder will deal a blow to Tampa Bay given the $48MM extension he signed this past spring. For now, all attention will be on the Buccaneers and their push to reach the postseason. The team’s efforts on that front will see veteran Jamel Dean continue to handle a starting role on the perimeter. The other will likely be handled by rookie Benjamin Morrison, who has not played since mid-November. Morrison has yet to start any of his seven appearances when healthy.
That could soon change, provided he steps in as McCollum’s primary replacement. Tampa Bay has struggled in several areas since the bye week, including on defense. The team currently sits 30th in the NFL against the pass. Rebounding in that regard will be challenging without McCollum, but it will likely be necessary if the Buccaneers are to top the NFC South. The team’s fate on that front will be decided over the coming weeks, with two games against the Panthers (also 7-7) still to be played.
In a corresponding roster move, the Buccaneers have officially signed linebacker Anthony Walker. The veteran had been on the Colts’ practice squad, but earlier today it became clear he would join Tampa Bay – the team he signed with this past offseason prior to being cut in August for the stretch run. Walker will provide experienced depth at the linebacker spot as the Bucs seek to manage a notable absence in the secondary.