HEADLINES

Month: August 2025

NFL Minor Transactions: 8/20/25

August 20th, 2025 at 9:58pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are today’s midweek minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

  • Reverted to IR: T Gareth Warren
  • Waived (with injury settlement): LB Devin Harper

San Francisco 49ers

Washington Commanders

Waller will now be able to officially return to the field today as he attempts to shake off a year’s worth of retirement. Head coach Mike McDaniel expects him back at practice “very soon,” potentially even this week, per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.

The Bears have landed the services of the veteran Freeman as they deal with absences from D’Andre Swift, Roschon Johnson, Kyle Monangai, and Travis Homer. Hankins had gotten the starting nod in the team’s last preseason game for that same reason, and he’ll now hand off that role to Freeman.

Ferguson, the Dolphins’ former long snapper of the past five years, finally gets a job after his release from Miami. The Texans were really liking what they were seeing out of undrafted rookie Austin Brinkman, but a minor, short-team injury will keep him from the team’s final preseason game, requiring at least a short stay from Ferguson.

Adoree’ Jackson Closing In On Eagles Starting CB Job?

August 20th, 2025 at 5:42pm CST by Sam Robinson

At this time last year, Adoree’ Jackson stood unsigned after the Giants had attempted to go with younger options at cornerback. The team then re-signed Jackson as insurance, but he played a decreased role compared to his prime years.

The Eagles added the former first-round pick much earlier this offseason, signing him to a one-year, $1.76MM deal ($1MM guaranteed). While it appeared Jackson was back as an NFC East insurance option — this time to cover the prospect of Kelee Ringo not showing starter-level form just yet — the third preseason week may be a sign of something more.

[RELATED: Assessing Defending Champs’ 2025 Offseason]

Jackson has worked with the Eagles’ starters during each of the past two practices, per the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane (subscription required). During this time, Ringo has lined up with the defending Super Bowl champions’ second-team defense. Jackson, 30 in September, has 82 starts on his resume. Only five came last season, and he joined Azeez Ojulari in leaving New York for Philadelphia.

Pro Football Focus graded Jackson’s part-time 2024 season well, placing him as a top-40 CB regular. That came after a down 2023, when Jackson was switched to the slot in training camp and then returned to his boundary role in-season. PFF graded Jackson 15th and 31st, respectively, in his first two Giants seasons.

The Eagles signed Jackson after an intended aim to retain Isaiah Rodgers failed; the Vikings signed the 2024 Philly contributor to a two-year, $11MM deal. Jackson did operated as the Giants’ No. 1 corner in 2022, after the team made James Bradberry a cap casualty (paving his road to the Eagles), but did not generate much free agency interest in 2024 or this year. Ringo played behind Rodgers in 2024, seeing 112 snaps.

Jackson or Ringo, in the event the 2023 fourth-rounder can join some of his former Georgia teammates as an Eagles starter, usage also will depend on Cooper DeJean. The fast-emerging defender will be used at multiple positions. Although the slot remains DeJean’s primary role, he has seen time at both safety and outside corner during camp. Vic Fangio said (via McLane) the plan is for DeJean to man the slot in sub-packages, as opposed to a situation where he aligns on the boundary next to another slot player. That makes sense, as it still capitalizes on DeJean’s strengths.

A DeJean-at-safety look would also open a role for a Quinyon Mitchell CB complement, which would give Jackson or Ringo a path to more playing time. The Eagles used a Mitchell-DeJean-Darius Slay CB trio primarily last season, but the team cut both Slay and the injured Bradberry before option bonuses became due this offseason. That set up a Jackson-Ringo battle that is close to wrapping, though the winner will obviously need to maintain solid form to avoid being benched in-season.

NFL Hands 49ers’ Demarcus Robinson Three-Game Suspension

August 20th, 2025 at 5:13pm CST by Sam Robinson

The NFL’s Demarcus Robinson ruling has emerged. As expected, a suspension will commence in connection with the veteran wide receiver’s DUI case.

Robinson received a three-game suspension Wednesday, Kyle Shanahan said (via KNBR). Although this is certainly not surprising, it deals another blow to a depleted 49ers receiving corps. Robinson launched a preemptive appeal, but his suspension matches Jordan Addison‘s three-gamer for a DUI arrest.

Shanahan said the appeal process is not over, but the team is bracing for the three-game ban to stick. Robinson was arrested in November 2024 for suspicion of a DUI; by January, a formal charge emerged. In July, he pleaded no contest to set the stage for this suspension. Signing a two-year deal in free agency, Robinson is in line to miss games against the Seahawks, Saints and Cardinals.

This further limits the 49ers at receiver. San Francisco has Brandon Aiyuk on its active/PUP list, and a shift to the reserve/PUP list is all but assured for a player who did not suffer a clean ACL tear last season. Aiyuk recovery issues are set to delay his return until at least mid-October. That takes two 49ers weapons out of the mix, and it is not yet certain when Jauan Jennings will return from a calf injury.

Jennings has missed most of training camp due to his calf issue, with a contract push — a year after signing an extension as an RFA — clouding the 49ers wideout’s near future as well. Fourth-round rookie Jordan Watkins is also dealing with a high ankle sprain that could keep him off the field to open the season.

As a result, the 49ers are looking for help at receiver. The team traded Deebo Samuel in March, doing so while knowing Aiyuk’s outlook. At the time of the Samuel trade, San Francisco certainly expected to have Jennings available in Week 1. But that is not certain. This would place plenty of pressure on 2024 first-rounder Ricky Pearsall. While Pearsall — who recovered from a gunshot wound sustained last summer to play in 11 rookie-year games — could be complemented by the 49ers’ hopeful WR cast by midseason, the team will start shorthanded.

Robinson, 31 in September, spent the past two seasons with the Rams as their third receiver. Playing ahead of Tutu Atwell for most of his time in Los Angeles, Robinson combined for 57 receptions, 876 yards and 11 touchdowns from 2023-24. That stretch garnered the ex-Alex Smith/Patrick Mahomes Chiefs target an $8MM deal with a $6MM guarantee. This suspension would threaten to void that guarantee, which would affect Robinson’s 2026 money (as a vested veteran, his 2025 pay will lock in next month).

Jordan Meredith Moving Toward Raiders’ C Job; Latest On Team’s CB Situation

August 20th, 2025 at 4:30pm CST by Sam Robinson

Jordan Meredith has been involved in two position battles this year; the second of those has proven transformative. Shifting from guard to center, Meredith is moving toward commandeering the starting job in Pete Carroll‘s first Raiders season.

Playing only guard last season (365 snaps at LG, 209 at RG), Meredith began his offseason battling for a starting position there. As training camp progressed, however, the Raiders have liked what they have seen from the former UDFA at center — to the point he now appears the favorite (per the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vincent Bonsignore) to open the season as the starter.

Meredith looks to have nearly changed the Raiders’ snapper plan, which had been centered (no pun intended) around Jackson Powers-Johnson. But the 2024 second-round pick, after working at center during the offseason program, is now competing at right guard with free agency addition Alex Cappa. This would leave either a second-round pick or an ex-Tom Brady teammate who has 96 career starts on the bench.

“Jordan is really holding on to his spot,” Carroll said. “I really like him playing there for us. I think it just helps everybody, and that’s a real positive aspect if your front cover and your center can really communicate, be consistent and be on point all the time.”

Meredith, 27, made eight starts last season but just one over his previous two years. He has impressed a new coaching staff, however, to the point Powers-Johnson — the 2023 Rimington Award winner who became a No. 44 overall pick under Tom Telesco — may not start. Though, Cappa has missed more than a week with a rib injury and has not played in the preseason. That has given Powers-Johnson (14 rookie-year starts at guard and center) a chance to make his RG case; only 29 of Powers-Johnson’s 956 rookie-year snaps came at guard. Dylan Parham is set to start at left guard. Cappa has not worked as a backup since his 2018 rookie season; he is tied to a two-year, $11MM deal ($5.5MM guaranteed).

Cornerback also features a notable position battle. Although Eric Stokes is moving toward his second-chance season involving a Week 1 starting role, third-round rookie Darien Porter‘s grip on the other Las Vegas perimeter job may be slipping as a result of an unlikely source. Kyu Blu Kelly, a 2023 draftee already on his fifth team, is pushing Porter, per Bonsignore, who notes the young journeyman is “tightening his grip” on the first-string job.

Moving from Baltimore to Seattle to Green Bay to Washington to Vegas, Kelly played in four Raider games as a backup last season. His Seahawks stop also came during Carroll’s final season in charge. It would be quite the development if a player cut that many times in two seasons commandeered a starting job by Year 3 — even considering Carroll’s past developing Day 3 cornerback draftees — but Bonsignore notes he started the Raiders’ second preseason game. Carroll said Kelly (zero NFL starts) has “made the push” to be considered for a starting spot.

Stokes residing as the elder statesman among the team’s boundary corners shows how young the Raiders now are at this position. A potential addition is something to monitor as well. Barring a starter-level add, Kelly could have quite the opportunity. Though, such an ascent might be as a placeholder while Porter — chosen in Round 3 and used as a starter for most of the Raiders’ spring and summer work — develops into that role.

NFC North Notes: Packers, Lions, Smith

August 20th, 2025 at 3:36pm CST by Sam Robinson

The competition between Rasheed Walker and Jordan Morgan had been tilted toward the incumbent, with GM Brian Gutekunst noting it would take quite the effort from the 2024 first-round pick for the Packers to make a change. It is becoming possible a change does happen, however. Walker has missed time due to a groin injury, and Morgan has benefited from increased LT work. Morgan, who missed 11 games last season, had recovered from shoulder surgery by the offseason program and has worked at left tackle — his college position — after being used primarily at guard (in a “best five” scenario) last year. Sean Rhyan has claimed Green Bay’s RG gig, leaving either Walker or Morgan set to ride the bench to open the year.

Gutekunst said (via The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman) Morgan has enjoyed “a good camp.” He has not allowed a QB pressure in 38 preseason snaps, per Pro Football Focus. It would be a significant setback for Walker to be demoted; the former seventh-round pick is in a contract year. (On the other hand, a first-round pick being unable to win a second-year job could sound alarm bells.) Green Bay’s Zach Tom extension, however, laid a path for Walker to leave as a free agent — and Morgan to replace him — in 2026. It is now possible the Packers start the transition early and go into the season with a 32-game starter on the bench.

Here is the latest from the NFC North:

  • The Packers may see one of their draft choices start the season sidelined. Fourth-round defensive lineman Barryn Sorrell suffered an MCL sprain, via ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky, but does not expect to miss more than a few weeks. This timetable could convince the Packers to keep him on their 53-man roster, leaving their two IR-return spots for others. If Sorrell lands on Green Bay’s IR before next week’s roster-setting deadline, he must miss at least four games and would count against the team’s injury activation total immediately.
  • A player to potentially keep in mind regarding an IR-return spot, MarShawn Lloyd is dealing with another injury. Seeing his first game action since Week 2 of last season, Lloyd left the Packers’ second preseason contest with hamstring trouble, Schneidman adds. Matt LaFleur confirmed Lloyd — a 2024 third-round pick — will miss time. Hip and hamstring issues, primarily the latter, led the way in sidelining Lloyd for 16 games last season. He also navigated appendicitis during a lost rookie year. A groin injury also surfaced earlier during this year’s training camp. The Pack could stash Lloyd on IR to open the season, but at this point, concerns about the RB’s NFL dependability are probably warranted. Lloyd going on IR would allow the Packers to keep both Emanuel Wilson and Chris Brooks on their active roster, but his return (per Schneidman) would likely leave room for just one of them.
  • Staying on the injury subject, the Bears have lost third-year cornerback Terell Smith for the season. The 2023 fifth-rounder suffered a patellar tendon tear in Chicago’s second preseason game, the Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs reports. Smith (six career starts) joined Josh Blackwell as a possible second-string Bears CB. Following the upcoming IR move, the Bears have some other options — in veterans Tre Flowers, Nick McCloud and Nahshon Wright. Two seasons remain on Smith’s rookie contract.
  • Sixth-round Lions rookie Ahmed Hassanein will miss extended time due to a pectoral injury, Dan Campbell said (via the Detroit Free Press’ Dave Birkett). The defensive end said on Instragram he would not need surgery, but this long of an absence could create a roster issue for the Lions. At best, Hassanein appears an IR stash.
  • Given safety reps, Ya-Sin could also save the Lions a roster spot due to his extensive CB past. The second-rounder-turned-nomad is a roster lock, Birkett adds. Ya-Sin started a preseason game at safety, with The Athletic’s Colton Pouncy indeed listing the seventh-year vet on a projected 53-man roster.

Browns Trade DT Jowon Briggs To Jets

August 20th, 2025 at 2:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

With the roster-setting deadline less than a week away, a key NFL trade window is open. After two deals occurred Sunday, an intra-AFC swap is done. The Browns and Jets have a deal in place.

Cleveland is trading defensive tackle Jowon Briggs to New York, the Browns announced. It is a pick-swap deal, one that will send Briggs and a 2026 seventh-round pick to the Jets for a 2026 sixth-rounder.

[RELATED: NFL Trades Completed In 2025]

A 2024 seventh-round pick, Briggs played in six Browns games as a backup last season. The Ohio native made 13 tackles (one for loss) and recovered a fumble as a rookie, playing 133 defensive snaps and 33 special teams plays. This will give the Jets another backup option in their Quinnen Williams-led D-tackle corps.

Briggs played two seasons at Virginia and three at Cincinnati, combining to register 12 sacks during his five-year college run. He earned first-team All-AAC acclaim in 2022 and then was a Big 12 honorable mention honoree — after the Bearcats’ 2023 conference switch — in ’23. He started seven games as a true freshman at Virginia in 2019, making 14 total Cavaliers starts after arriving as a four-star recruit.

The Jets let 2024 starter Javon Kinlaw walk in free agency (to the Commanders) and did not allocate many resources to this position this offseason. The team has ex-Chiefs nose tackle Derrick Nnadi, former Washington second-rounder Phidarian Mathis (claimed during the period between Joe Douglas‘ firing and the Darren Mougey hire), and journeymen Byron Cowart and Jay Tufele as DT options. The team did not address this position in the draft.

These lower-level trades regularly emerge during the days just before teams’ set their initial 53-man rosters; the Browns made one involving a DT last year, sending Chris Williams to the Bears. The Browns cut Dalvin Tomlinson this offseason but made DT the centerpiece of their draft by using the No. 5 overall pick on Mason Graham. That move came after the Maliek Collins signing. Cleveland also has 2024 second-round pick Michael Hall rostered to go with veteran Shelby Harris.

Titans Activate L’Jarius Sneed From PUP List; Latest On CB’s Legal Issue

August 20th, 2025 at 2:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

L’Jarius Sneed‘s Titans tenure has started quite poorly. A quad injury shut him down last season, and a knee surgery kept him out for training camp. A legal issue has also cropped up for the high-priced trade acquisition.

The Titans did activate Sneed from their active/PUP list Wednesday, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport notes. Sneed will return to work in a limited capacity, though he voiced an expectation (via Main Street Media’s Terry McCormick) of a Week 1 return.

Suffering the quad injury last season, Sneed underwent surgery after it healed slowly. He landed on the Titans’ active/PUP list because of a May knee procedure, further complicating his on-field return. Sneed had proclaimed himself fully healthy during an appearance at a high school football camp this summer, only to be shelved on the PUP list come camp.

“It wasn’t my decision. It was coach (Brian) Callahan’s,” Sneed said, via McCormick. “He’s taking it slow with me, and Mike (Borgonzi) is taking it slow. They’re all taking it slow to make sure I’m good for the season.”

Acquired in a deal headlined by a 2025 third-round pick, Sneed signed a four-year, $76.4MM extension upon arrival in Tennessee. That deal has yet to pay off, and an ominous prediction from a Titans team reporter — one that pegged anything the CB contributes in 2025 being a bonus — pointed to that contract delivering a disastrous return. Sneed will attempt to bounce back after a five-game 2024 and two ensuing surgeries, though a notable off-field development has also emerged.

Hit with a felony charge for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, Sneed will see his case go to a Dallas County, Texas, grand jury September 25, according to veteran Titans reporter Paul Kuharsky. Sneed said he had “no concerns” on the case, which also includes a civil suit. Sneed and former assistant Tekonzae Williams are alleged to have fired shots out of a car at an auto dealership Dec. 6, 2024.

The civil case alleges Sneed and Williams fired shots from a rented Lamborghini Urus into another vehicle, which was parked. Though, Kuharsky adds no reported gunshot wounds emerged. Sneed’s attorney said his client did not fire any shots and did not confirm any were fired from the Urus. Sneed, who started four seasons for the Chiefs before being part of a tag-and-trade transaction, could face NFL discipline regardless of this case’s outcome.

With a grand jury appearance set for September, it is possible a ban comes this year. That would further limit Sneed with the Titans, who will attempt to salvage this investment after cutting fellow 2024 addition Chidobe Awuzie. The Titans did not draft a corner or make a notable free agency addition there, pointing to a belief Sneed — who delivered a standout 2023 season in coverage to help Kansas City to a second straight Super Bowl title — will be ready to return by Week 1.

Bengals G Cordell Volson Out For Season

August 20th, 2025 at 1:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Bengals had Cordell Volson battling for a roster spot, but the contract-year guard has bigger concerns now. Volson is set to miss the season, Zac Taylor said (via ESPN.com’s Ben Baby).

A shoulder injury that will require surgery will move Volson out of the picture for the 2025 Bengals. The team added Dylan Fairchild in Round 3 and will plug him in as a starting guard, with Cody Ford in the lead for the other gig. Cincy, though, is still in on Dalton Risner in free agency.

Although Volson entered camp on the Bengals’ roster bubble, Baby notes he had shown improvement during preseason workouts. The Bengals having Ford and free agency addition Lucas Patrick at guard but also considering Risner points to dissatisfaction with where the team’s right guard competition stands. Risner is also on the Seahawks and Steelers’ radars.

A 48-game starter with the Bengals, Volson had been demoted late last season. After that depth chart drop, the North Dakota State alum observed the Patrick and Fairchild moves. While a place on the Bengals’ roster bubble awaited, Volson would have at least represented experienced depth on a rookie contract — on a pay cut at that.

This will mark a tough end to Volson’s rookie contract. The former fourth-rounder’s momentum stalling to this degree would point to a one-year free agency deal in 2026. As for the Bengals, they have Ford and Patrick as options at RG. Risner also has experience as a late arrival-turned-starter. The former Broncos second-rounder, who has become known for dissatisfying free agency journeys, caught on in September 2023 with the Vikings and moved into the team’s starting lineup weeks later. That ascent could be notable for the Bengals, who still have one question to answer along their O-line.

Patriots Open To Trading S Kyle Dugger, OLB Anfernee Jennings

August 20th, 2025 at 11:08am CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Patriots are open to trading veteran defenders Kyle Dugger and Anfernee Jennings, according to The Athletic’s Jeff Howe.

Dugger, a five-year veteran with 65 career starts, has seen a role reduction under new defensive coordinator Terrell Williams. The Patriots just signed the 29-year-old safety to a four-year, $58MM extension last April, but this offseason’s regime change seems to have him on the outside of the roster bubble looking in.

Dugger’s contract – which includes $9.75MM of guaranteed money due this season, per OverTheCap – will be a major obstacle to a deal, per Howe and FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz. This close to the season, teams either don’t have the cap space or desire to absorb that much money, so the Patriots would likely need to eat some of Dugger’s 2025 salary to facilitate a deal.

Jennings, meanwhile, has impressed in the preseason with three sacks and and a 16.2% pass rush win rate, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), stirring up some interest around the league. His contract would be easier to move; an acquiring team would take on $4.3MM in 2025 ($1.35MM guaranteed) with essentially a $4MM team option for 2026, per OverTheCap. The Patriots, meanwhile, would only have to absorb $1MM in dead cap charges in 2025 and 2026.

The Patriots have the defensive depth to withstand the loss of either player. Fifth-year safety Jaylinn Hawkins has been taking first-team reps alongside Jabrill Peppers with fourth-round rookie Craig Woodson mixing in as well. At outside linebacker, veteran Harold Landry and 2023 second-rounder Keion White are poised to start with former first-rounder K’Lavon Chaisson and fifth-round rookie Bradyn Swinson providing depth.

Colts Name Daniel Jones Starting QB

August 19th, 2025 at 10:27pm CST by Adam La Rose

Daniel Jones is set to begin the campaign atop the Colts’ depth chart. Jones has won out the team’s quarterback competition, as first reported by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. The news is now official.

Pelissero adds head coach Shane Steichen informed Jones and Anthony Richardson of the decision Tuesday morning. A call was expected in the near future, and one has indeed been made. Jones, a free agent addition, will serve as QB1 to begin the regular season while Richardson will operate as the backup.

[RELATED: Richardson’s Agent Fires Back At Colts]

Signs have pointed in this direction throughout the offseason, one in which Richardson has aimed to establish himself as Indianapolis’ passer of the present and future. Today’s news obviously marks a notable setback for the No. 4 pick in 2023’s draft. Richardson has battled injuries and inconsistency in the NFL, including missed time this spring and a dislocated finger suffered in the preseason opener.

When speaking publicly on the matter, Steichen has offered praise regarding Jones’ experience and his command of the Colts’ offense during practice and games. That helped lead to the expectation the former Giants top-1o selection would get the nod for 2025. With that said, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports the Jones-Richardson competition was viewed as being “very close.”

Jones was retained via a four-year, $160MM contract in 2023, with the Giants inking him to the pact in time to apply the franchise tag on running back Saquon Barkley. Barkley departed on the open market last spring and enjoyed a record-breaking debut season with the Eagles. Jones, on the other hand, was unable to take a step forward in his fifth season as New York’s starter before ultimately being benched and then released.

A brief Vikings tenure did not result in playing time down the stretch. Jones, like Sam Darnold, departed Minnesota on the open market in search of a starting position with the team positioned to hand the reins over to J.J. McCarthy. Jones secured $13.15MM guaranteed on his one-year Colts contract, a strong indication he would have a path to the starting gig. As of June, the 28-year-old held a “significant” lead over Richardson.

Time with the starting offense was split in training camp, with Richardson managing to return to full health after his latest shoulder injury was suffered earlier in the offseason. The Florida product has played just 15 games in the regular season to date, and he was benched partway through last year. A decision will need to be made on the fifth-year option for Richardson, 23, after the coming campaign. This move certainly suggests it will be declined.

Steichen said on Tuesday (via Mike Chappell of Fox59) Jones is viewed as the starter for the entire 2025 season. A strong campaign would help his free agent value considerably, and finding success with Indy’s offense would no doubt serve as a benefit to Steichen and general manager Chris Ballard‘s job security. As the Colts look to end a four-year playoff drought, they will rely on Jones for what should be a lengthy period. In the event of an injury or poor play, though, attention will turn to the possibility of Richardson taking over.

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