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NFL Minor Transactions: 8/26/25

August 26th, 2025 at 10:36pm CST by Ely Allen

Amongst a busy day of roster moves, here are some minor transactions outside of final roster cuts:

Arizona Cardinals

Buffalo Bills

Green Bay Packers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Arizona, Buffalo, and Tampa Bay all made decisions to pull players off the active/physically unable to perform list in order to avoid them missing the first four games of the season. They may not be quite ready to start in Week 1, but their teams at least have confidence that they won’t be out for a month.

Franklin wasn’t a free agent for long. The former Panthers safety just finished out camp in Denver and was told that he didn’t make the Broncos’ initial 53-man roster. Hours later, he apparently came to an agreement with Buffalo and will head there to start his 2025 campaign.

Orzech has been the Packers long snapper for the past two years after similarly short stints with the Rams and Jaguars. Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Green Bay gave him his first long-term deal. The 30-year-old will be under a three-year, $4.8MM deal that will make him the third highest-paid long snapper in the league.

Buccaneers Make Roster Cuts

August 26th, 2025 at 10:27pm CST by Rory Parks

Here is how the Buccaneers trimmed their roster to the 53-man limit Tuesday:

Released:

Waived:

Waived/injured:

Waived/Non-Football Illness:

Sanders, the son of NFL legend and Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, signed with Tampa Bay in May after he went undrafted. Shilo, who had been competing for a spot at the back of the Bucs’ safety depth chart, was ejected from the club’s preseason finale on Saturday for throwing a punch following heavy pushing and shoving with Bills TE Zach Davidson. He was also flagged for pass interference in the game.

Agents Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that Sanders was headed to the waiver wire, and they hope their client will get claimed on waivers. A fresh start would likely be welcomed by all parties, although it will be interesting to see if any outside suitors put in a claim given the manner in which his Tampa tenure came to an end.

Jarrett, who joined the Bucs as an undrafted free agent in 2023, has recorded 13 catches for 184 yards in his brief time with the team. He will now hit the waiver wire. Provided no claim is made, a spot on the practice squad could be in store given Jarrett’s familiarity with the organization. The Bucs will hold P-squad spots for Jackson and Bazelak, per ESPN’s Jenna Laine and Fox Sports’ Greg Auman. Bazelak staying on would provide finality for Kyle Trask, whom the Bucs released earlier this week. Teddy Bridgewater will be Tampa Bay’s backup, and it looks like Bazelak — a rookie UDFA from Bowling Green — will be the third-stringer.

Weight issues stalled Watson’s practice work, and the Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud indicates he ballooned to 470 pounds entering the offseason program. Weight trouble hindered Watson, who did not see any preseason action due to the issue. The Bucs opted to cut Watson, who would have been the heaviest player in NFL history had he played in a regular-season game, rather than stash him on the reserve/Non-Football Illness list. They will not hold a practice squad spot for him, Stroud adds.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post.

Buccaneers To Release QB Kyle Trask

August 25th, 2025 at 4:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

Teddy Bridgewater‘s Buccaneers deal looks like it will lead to a relocation for the team’s previous backup. Kyle Trask has been informed he will be waived, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports.

This will come via an injury settlement or a waived/injured designation, per Fowler, as Trask has dealt with a shoulder issue lately. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes that the shoulder issue is only considered “slight.”

A former second-round pick, Trask has spent his entire professional career in Tampa Bay. His first two campaigns saw him as a deep-depth-chart option behind Tom Brady, and he’s spent the past two years serving as Baker Mayfield‘s primary backup.

Considering his backup status, Trask hasn’t gotten much of a look during the regular season. In total, he’s appeared in seven career games, completing four of his 11 pass attempts for 28 yards. The QB previously showed his ability during his time at Florida, where he tossed 69 touchdowns in 27 games. This included a 2020 season where he threw 48 touchdowns en route to a second-team All-SEC nod.

While Trask can’t point to an extensive NFL resume, he has worked under a pair of former coordinators-turned-coaches in Dave Canales and Liam Coen, so perhaps he could find a gig in either of those spots. Fowler also mentions the Raiders as a potential option considering Trask’s connection to GM John Spytek coupled with Aidan O’Connell‘s recent injury. Temporarily, he may have to settle for a practice squad job.

With the move, Bridgewater has secured his spot as Tampa’s QB2. The organization is also rostering UDFA Connor Bazelak.

Ben Levine contributed to this post.

Buccaneers To Release LB Anthony Walker

August 25th, 2025 at 11:46am CST by Adam La Rose

Anthony Walker‘s brief time with the Buccaneers is coming to an end. The veteran linebacker is among Tampa Bay’s roster cuts, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

Walker signed with the Bucs in March, seemingly setting him up for a spot with his latest team. The 30-year-old has 99 appearances and 83 starts to his name, but those totals will not increase with Tampa Bay. Walker was injured through all of training camp, Greg Auman of Fox Sports notes. This move takes the place of a reserve/NFI list designation as part of the Buccaneers’ roster moves.

Per Schefter, Walker is now healthy. That could prove to be a key factor in determining his future. The former Colts, Browns and Dolphins contributor has topped 100 tackles three time in his career, and last season he added 68 stops to his total while logging eight starts. While his first-team role in Miami was lost midway through the campaign, Walker could offer expected production at the second level of an interested team’s defense.

The practice squad represents an option in Walker’s case, depending on his Tampa Bay views his health status. Once his release is official, he will be free to sign elsewhere if no Bucs agreement is reached. This move will create $530K in cap space while generating a dead money charge of $668K.

Tampa Bay’s linebacking corps will once again be led by Lavonte David in 2025. With Walker out of the picture, fellow veteran Deion Jones remains on track to play at least a part-time role. Younger options on the depth chart are also now in a stronger position to survive the team’s remaining cuts.

TE Cade Otton Would Stay In Tampa Long-Term If Offered

August 22nd, 2025 at 10:35pm CST by Ely Allen

Buccaneers tight end Cade Otton is set to play out the 2025 NFL season on a contract year. Tampa Bay’s top tight end for the past three years, Otton expressed hope for an extension in a recent media appearance (via FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz and Greg Auman), though he seemed to indicate that the feeling may not be mutual.

As a rookie fourth-round pick out of Washington in 2022, Otton immediately surpassed long-time backup Cameron Brate for the top tight end honors in the wake of Rob Gronkowski‘s second retirement. With Gronk out of the offense, quarterback Tom Brady didn’t look often to his tight end group to move the ball, so it didn’t take much, but Otton’s 42 catches for 391 yards and two touchdowns were all team highs at the position.

He and fellow rookie Ko Kieft — picked two rounds after Otton — were the only two returning tight ends in 2023. Kieft played much more of a blocking tight end role, earning more starts than Otton in 2022 but recording far fewer yards. Kieft was joined in that role by a sixth-round 2023 draftee, Payne Durham. With Kieft and Durham in blocking situations most of the time, Otton once again quietly led the group with 47 receptions, 455 yards, and four touchdowns.

For the third year in a row, the Buccaneers spent another Day 3 pick on a tight end in 2024, using a seventh-rounder to bring in Otton’s former Huskies teammate Devin Culp. Once again, Kieft, Durham, and Culp remained mostly nonfactors in the passing game, leaving Otton to post a career-best receiving line of 59-600-4, despite missing three games.

The reason Tampa Bay hasn’t come forward to discuss an extension yet may be the same reason they’ve been taken flyers on late-round tight ends each year. Sure, they’ve been appreciative of Otton’s contributions as the leading tight end, but every year there’s been an expectation that he might take off. Yet, despite the lack of a serious competitor, instead of taking leaps, Otton has merely continued taking steps forward. He’s improved each year but not to the level of a clearcut TE1.

That doesn’t necessarily mean that this is Otton’s last year in pewter and red (and, occasionally, Creamsicle). While he has his sights set on his future, Otton has 17 games ahead of him in which he can give Tampa Bay every reason why they should extend him as their tight end of the future. Otherwise, the Buccaneers may just go back to the draft for the position in 2026.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/22/25

August 22nd, 2025 at 7:43pm CST by Ely Allen

As teams begin to whittle their rosters down to the eventual 53 players, here are a few transactions aside from mass cuts:

Buffalo Bills

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

An important note for cuts moving forward: different from the usual 24-hour waiver period, any players waived between now and the roster cut deadline will remain on the waiver wire, available to be claimed, until Wednesday.

NFC South Notes: Bucs, Tuttle, Falcons

August 22nd, 2025 at 4:11pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jason Licht managed to stick around to make the Tom Brady signing despite the Buccaneers missing six straight playoff brackets to start his GM tenure. Licht said (via The Athletic’s Dan Pompei) he feared he would be fired after starting 27-53 during his first five years. But the Bucs gave him a five-year extension in summer 2019. In his sixth draft as Bucs GM, Licht chose Devin White fifth overall. The high-end linebacker prospect flashed early and earned an All-Pro nod, but a penchant for freelancing led the Bucs to bench him — after a trade request amid a pursuit of a top-five ILB contract. Licht now admits White would have been “off my board” had he received a do-over, indicating the off-ball LB’s Tampa Bay stay was “too much about him.”

Licht also missed on first-rounders Vernon Hargreaves, O.J. Howard and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka from 2016-21, but the Bucs’ drafts during the late 2010s through the 2020 virtual event helped form their Super Bowl LV core. As for White, he washed out of Philly after signing a one-year deal worth $4MM. He did not play a down for the Super Bowl LIX champions last season; after a stop in Houston, White rejoined Brady in Las Vegas (on a one-year, $1.17MM deal with no guarantees) this offseason.

Here is the latest from the NFC South:

  • Shy Tuttle started 32 Panthers games from 2023-24, but the team both added reinforcements via free agency and has seen Derrick Brown return from a season-altering injury. The Panthers signed Tershawn Wharton and Bobby Brown to play up front alongside Derrick Brown, leaving Tuttle without a defined role. Tuttle is on Carolina’s roster bubble, per The Athletic’s Joe Person, who has Cam Jackson and A’Shawn Robinson — one of many ex-Rams on Ejiro Evero‘s third Panthers defense — making the team as backups over Tuttle. The Panthers would take on $6.56MM (spread over two years) by releasing Tuttle, who has made 65 career starts.
  • The Panthers should also be monitored for potential late-summer adds at inside linebacker and cornerback, Person notes. Carolina cut Josey Jewell after one season and has not found a home yet. Ex-Ram Christian Rozeboom is in place to start alongside 2024 third-rounder Trevin Wallace. At corner, the Panthers have Michael Jackson and Chau Smith-Wade set to play regular roles alongside Jaycee Horn. The Panthers used their No. 1 waiver priority to claim three CBs last August; even with a lesser priority spot, more moves to bolster their defense could be coming Wednesday.
  • Falcons swing tackle Storm Norton is expected to miss at least six weeks after undergoing ankle surgery this week, ESPN’s Adam Schefter notes. Norton re-signed on a two-year, $3MM deal this offseason. More significantly, the Falcons are without starting RT Kaleb McGary due to a leg injury. McGary will miss time, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, but the nature of the injury (and the recently extended player’s expected absence length) are not yet known. McGary signed a two-year, $30MM extension ($28.48MM fully guaranteed) during training camp. Elijah Wilkinson has seen more time at guard in recent years, but the ex-Broncos swing tackle took over at RT after McGary was carted off, per Falcons.com’s Tori McElhaney. An outside addition should probably not be ruled out, but McGary’s timetable will be key on that end.
  • The Saints hired former center LeCharles Bentley as a personnel and performance consultant. Bentley, who made the Pro Bowl at two positions (center, guard) during his Saints rookie-contract stay in the early 2000s, has been training O-linemen during offseasons for many years. The four-year Saints starter who suffered a career-ending injury shortly after signing with the Browns in 2006, Bentley has assisted with film study, at practice and in the weight room thus far, according to Saints.com’s John DeShazier. The 45-year-old staffer’s four Saints seasons doubled as Mickey Loomis‘ first four as GM.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/21/25

August 21st, 2025 at 9:08pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Thursday’s minor moves:

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

  • Released from IR via injury settlement: CB Bruce Harmon

Green Bay Packers

Jacksonville Jaguars

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

New Orleans Saints

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Commanders

Out for most of the Panthers’ preseason workouts due to offseason back surgery, Tremble can begin ramping up in earnest for Week 1. A debut on time will be the goal, Dave Canales said Thursday. Tremble re-signed with Carolina on a two-year, $10.5MM deal this offseason.

Brown joined the 49ers after starting 10 Seahawks games from 2023-24. The team had aimed for the former fourth-round pick to play a backup role this season, but he instead has become the corresponding move following the Skyy Moore trade. The team has ex-Colts starter Dallis Flowers and preseason standout Chase Lucas as options, while veteran Fabian Moreau is in the mix as well.

Harris joins the Commanders after starting six Browns games from 2020-24. Harris had signed with the Seahawks last year, before being traded back to Cleveland ahead of Week 1. He ended up on the Browns’ IR list by October. Harris, 26, worked out for the Saints earlier this month. Watson suffered a biceps tear, according to cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot. The Browns drafted Watson in the 2024 sixth round; he played 14 games and made one start as a rookie.

Buccaneers To Carry LT Tristan Wirfs On Active Roster

August 21st, 2025 at 10:58am CST by Adam La Rose

The Buccaneers are expected to be without Chris Godwin to begin the season, but they are nevertheless on track to carry him on their active roster in September. The same is also true of left tackle Tristan Wirfs.

Head coach Todd Bowles said on Thursday (via Fox Sports’ Greg Auman) Wirfs will be on the active roster once final cuts take place. Starting the season on the reserve/PUP list – the likely outcome as of last month – would have guaranteed at least a four-game absence in this case. By moving Wirfs to the active roster, though, he will be eligible to play (or at least practice) within that span.

Missed time during the regular season has been in store since Wirfs underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in early July. The matter of how long he will be unavailable has been unclear ever since, however. Today’s update certainly does not offer any guarantees regarding the two-time All-Pro’s timeline, but it is still an encouraging sign that playing before Week 5 will be an option.

Wirfs inked a five-year extension last offseason. That pact carries an AAV of $28.13MM, which was at the time the highest for any offensive tackle (Rashawn Slater‘s recent Chargers extension surpassed it by a slim margin). A healthy run of games will be critical to Tampa Bay’s offensive line in Wirfs’ case, and as such it would come as no surprise if the team played it safe with his return once he returns to practice.

In the meantime, Charlie Heck is slated to handle first-team duties on the blindside. The free agent addition has 50 appearances and 27 stars to his name, but expectations will of course be far lower than when Wirfs is back in place. When that will be is still unclear, but a long span without the four-time Pro Bowler may not wind up being necessary.

WR Chris Godwin To Begin Season On Buccaneers’ Active Roster

August 21st, 2025 at 8:38am CST by Adam La Rose

With Chris Godwin continuing in his recovery process, it remains to be seen when he will be able to suit up for the Buccaneers. The Pro Bowl wideout’s Week 1 availability is still in serious doubt, but he could be on the field within the first month of the campaign.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Tampa Bay plans to activate Godwin from the active/PUP list before roster cutdowns. That means the 29-year-old will begin the season on the Bucs’ active roster. Reverting to the reserve/PUP list would have saved a roster spot during cutdowns but ensured at least a four-week absence. Instead of taking that route, the team will leave the door open to Godwin playing at some point in September.

On that note, Schefter adds the current plan is for Godwin is to begin practicing in Week 2 as the next phase of his ramp-up process. A cautious approach would come as no surprise given his importance to Tampa Bay’s offense, and taking things slowly could leave him unavailable until October. Nevertheless, Godwin is still on schedule with respect to rehabbing his fractured ankle, per Schefter.

That injury – suffered in Week 7 last year – brought an abrupt end to what had been a very strong campaign in Godwin’s case. The former third-rounder was averaging 82.3 receiving yards per game at the time of the injury, the second-highest total of his career. Godwin could have parlayed that production into a lucrative pact on the open market this spring, but he turned down better offers to remain in Tampa Bay on a three-year deal.

Returning to full health will thus be key in 2025 and beyond in this case. For the Buccaneers, getting Godwin back on the field will be particularly important considering the lengthy absence which is expected for fellow wideout Jalen McMillan. Tampa Bay has Mike Evans along with first-round rookie Emeka Egbuka in place for the time being, and that duo will be leaned on to carry the load on offense early. A rough timeline is in place for Godwin, though, and it will be interesting to see when he manages to get back to full strength.

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