HEADLINES

Month: August 2025

Ravens Hoping To Extend Kyle Hamilton, Tyler Linderbaum, Isaiah Likely Before End Of Season

August 12th, 2025 at 10:28pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Ravens made a whopping 11 selections during the 2022 NFL Draft, nine of which are still in Baltimore and eligible for a contract extension.

First-round picks Kyle Hamilton (No. 14 overall) and Tyler Linderbaum (No. 25 overall) have emerged as priorities for the Ravens, along with fourth-rounder Isaiah Likely. The team is working on extensions for all three players and would like to get deals done before the end of the 2025 season, according to ESPN’s Dan Graziano.

Hamilton will be the most expensive. The All-Pro will likely get a significant raise over the top of the safety market, which reached $21.25MM with Kerby Joseph‘s deal this offseason. The Ravens picked up Hamilton’s fifth-year option in May, locking him in for $18.6MM in 2026 and giving them an extra year to reach an agreement. They could even tag him in 2027 if necessary, but with considerable money committed for the team’s other stars – including $74.5MM for Lamar Jackson in 2026 and 2027 – an extension for Hamilton would help ease the immediate cap burden.

The Ravens declined Linderbaum’s fifth-year option, not because they didn’t want to keep him, but because the NFL groups all offensive linemen together when calculating fifth-year options and franchise tags. Linderbaum would have been owed $23.4MM in 2026, more than $5MM above Creed Humphrey‘s $18MM APY at the top of the center market. A tag is out of the question for the same reason, giving the Ravens six months to extend Linderbaum.

General manager Eric DeCosta hasn’t shied away from making the team’s star players the NFL’s highest-paid at their position, but the cap has gone up significantly since Humphrey signed his extension. Accordingly, Linderbaum may be seeking upwards of $19MM per year. The Ravens will be hoping that the potential for a hefty signing bonus will incentivize their Pro Bowl center into putting pen to paper on an affordable contract before he hits free agency.

Likely has emerged as an ascending offensive weapon, a favorite target of Jackson’s, and a clear successor to Mark Andrews in the team’s tight end room. The Ravens may want to make sure that his recovery from foot surgery goes smoothly before finalizing an extension. Likely’s market has been clarified by Jake Ferguson‘s $12.5MM APY deal with the Cowboys. Ferguson has more targets, receptions, and yards due to his undisputed TE1 status in Dallas in the last two years, but Likely has been significantly more efficient and effective in the red zone while playing behind Andrews in Baltimore.

The 25-year-old may not be able to break into the highest tier of tight end contracts without a full year as a starter, but he could come in around $14MM per year, which happens to be the same amount that Andrews commanded on his second contract.

Bills RB James Cook Returns To Practice

August 12th, 2025 at 9:10pm CST by Adam La Rose

9:10pm: McDermott confirmed after practice (via Buscaglia and colleague Janya Bardahl) today’s developments did not come with an assurance from Cook that his stance has permanently shifted. The Georgia product declined to speak to the media, so questions remain with respect to how he will proceed moving forward.

8:59am: After a brief hold-in period, James Cook is set to return to the practice field. The extension-seeking running back will suit up today, per Bills head coach Sean McDermott.

Cook attended training camp and initially took part in practices before adopting a hold-in stance. That approach continued into this past weekend, when McDermott and Co. asked the two-time Pro Bowler to play in Buffalo’s preseason opener. Cook declined, leading to renewed speculation about when and how this situation will be resolved.

While no contract agreement appears imminent, McDermott said on Tuesday (via ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg) that “things have changed” with respect to Cook. The lines of communication have remained open in this case, with general manager Brandon Beane publicly confirming the team’s desire for a long-term pact to be worked out. That may not take place until next spring, though, especially if Cook’s asking price remains steady.

The two-time Pro Bowler named $15MM per season as his target early in the negotiating process. That figure would place Cook, 25, in a tie for third at the running back spot in terms of AAV. A more realistic figure could be the $11MM in annual money which fellow 2022 draftee Kyren Williams recently landed on his Rams extension. Indeed, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini predicted on the most recent edition of the Scoop City podcast (video link) Cook’s new Bills pact will check in near Williams’ in terms of average annual value.

Much of Buffalo’s future cap commitments were arranged this offseason when quarterback Josh Allen agreed to a short-term, high-priced extension to his pact moving him in line with the top of the QB market. Afterwards, extensions with receiver Khalil Shakir, linebacker Terrel Bernard, edge rusher Gregory Rousseau and cornerback Christian Benford were worked out. Cook would join that quartet on a raise brought about by a second contract in the event a deal were to be struck before a potential free agent departure next spring.

McDermott cautioned (via The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia) today’s development is not necessarily a sign the Cook hold-in is over for good. A day-by-day approach will continue for the time being, but Cook taking part in practice marks another twist in his ongoing attempt to land a long-term pact before Week 1.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/12/25

August 12th, 2025 at 8:22pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Here are the latest minor moves from around the league:

Arizona Cardinals

  • Signed: WR Kelly Akharaiyi
  • Placed on IR: WR Trishton Jackson
  • Awarded via waivers: OL Roy Mbaeteka

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

Philadelphia Eagles

Seattle Seahawks

  • Signed: LB Alphonzo Tuputala

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • Waived: K Ryan Coe
  • Waived/injured: QB Michael Pratt

Tennessee Titans

Mbaeteka was waived by the Browns on Monday and quickly found a new home in Arizona. The Nigeria native has an international player exemption, per Howard Balzer of CardsWire, allowing the Cardinals to carry 91 players on their preseason roster. The exemption also makes Mbaeteka eligible to be an extra 17th player on the team’s practice squad.

Herndon, 29, will add some defensive back depth to Buffalo’s secondary. Interestingly, the Bills listed Herndon as a safety when they announced his signing, though the seven-year veteran has primarily played both outside and slot cornerback throughout his career.

Price, a 49ers third-round pick in 2022, has only played 105 total snaps in his first three NFL seasons. In Green Bay, he’ll fight for a roster spot in the Packers’ backfield behind Josh Jacobs, Emanuel Wilson, and MarShawn Lloyd.

Asamoah’s release by the Vikings was a bit of a surprise given that the 2022 third-rounder has appeared in 46 games over the last three seasons, primarily as a core special teams contributor. However, he had yet to develop into a reliable defender in Brian Flores‘ scheme and will look to compete for a role elsewhere.

Johnstone’s release signals that offseason signing Charley Hughlett will be the Eagles’ long snapper for the 2025 season.

Saints Lose OL Will Clapp For Season

August 12th, 2025 at 7:33pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Saints have lost another piece of interior offensive line depth with center Will Clapp joining guard Nick Saldiveri on season-ending injured reserve, per Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football.

Clapp, 29, is dealing with a Lisfranc injury, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. He was listed as the Saints’ second-team center on their unofficial depth chart; now, New Orleans will have to find a new backup to Erik McCoy.

The job will likely fall to veteran Shane Lemieux, who recently re-signed with the Saints after Saldiveri’s knee injury. Lemieux, currently listed as the backup right guard, started four games as the team’s center in 2024. A majority of his experience prior to arriving in New Orleans last year came as a left guard for the Giants, making the 28-year-old a valuable multi-positional backup for the 2025 season.

Clapp’s injury could also help second-year UDFA and third-team center Kyle Hergel make the 53-man roster. Even if Lemieux holds down the backup center role, his potential to be needed at guard may keep Hergel around as an emergency center.

The Saints also worked out a number of veteran offensive linemen, according to Underhill. including Cody Whitehair, Scott Quessenberry, and Nick Harris. However, New Orleans decided to sign a less experienced option in Mike Panasiuk, who also tried out on Tuesday. Panasiuk, 27, spent time with the Raiders, Panthers, and Colts as a defensive tackle before converting to center last year, but has yet to appear in an NFL game.

Clapp, meanwhile, will spend the season rehabbing his foot. Lisfranc injuries are notoriously tricky to recover from, so shutting him down this early in the year should give him a chance at getting back on the field in time for the 2026 season.

The seven-year veteran is in his second stint with the Saints after starting his NFL career in New Orleans as a seventh-round pick in 2018. He started seven games across his first four years with the Saints before signing with the Chargers in 2022 to back up center Corey Linsley. Clapp took over the starting job when Linsley stepped away from the field due to a health issue, but ended the season on the IR with a knee injury. The Chargers went in a different direction when replacing Linsley in the offseason, and Clapp signed with the Bills ahead of the 2024 season. He didn’t appear in a game until Week 18, when he started at right guard and played every snap.

In addition to placing Clapp on the IR, the Saints also waived tight end Mason Pline with an injury designation, according to ESPN’s Katherine Terrell. With a third spot opened by waiving injured wide receiver Chris Tyree, New Orleans signed tight end Seth Green, defensive tackle Jayden Peevy, and wide receiver Roderick Daniels, per Terrell.

Klint Kubiak Helped Draw Sam Darnold To Seahawks; Drew Lock Entrenched As Backup

August 12th, 2025 at 5:38pm CST by Sam Robinson

Not in the quarterback market until they traded Geno Smith days before free agency, the Seahawks immediately became a contender for the top QB prize in this year’s FA class. The offensive coordinator they hired quietly became a key component in this late-emerging pursuit.

The Seahawks had seen Smith extension talks break down, leading to the team regrouping after trading its three-year starter to the Raiders for a third-round pick. Rather than spending weeks without an answer at the game’ premier position, Seattle made a successful Sam Darnold pitch. Darnold joined the team on a three-year, $100.5MM deal — one that features a Seahawks escape hatch in February 2026.

[RELATED: Assessing Seahawks’ 2025 Offseason]

Darnold became intrigued at the idea of reuniting with Kubiak, according to SI.com’s Albert Breer. The Broncos’ quarterbacks coach during their disastrous first season with Russell Wilson at the helm, Kubiak received a chance to regroup in San Francisco as Kyle Shanahan‘s pass-game coordinator in 2023. The Shanahans and Kubiaks go way back, obviously, though Klint had never coached with Kyle before. The 49ers then added Darnold on a one-year, $4.5MM deal in March 2023, and his year behind Brock Purdy allowed for the then-underwhelming ex-No. 3 overall pick to regroup as well.

Spending the season as Purdy’s backup, Darnold developed a comfort level with the 49ers. Kubiak played a central role in that, per Breer. Kubiak, 38, had said Smith represented a “huge draw” for him. The Seahawks hired Kubiak in late January; by early March, the team needed to recruit another quarterback. Darnold will now attempt to make his Seattle stay a multiyear arrangement, and he will have scheme familiarity thanks to Kubiak.

Seattle only authorized $37.5MM fully guaranteed to Darnold. This bettered their Smith terms from 2023, but the contract’s structure creates questions beyond 2025. The team can avoid a $17.5MM additional guarantee from vesting by moving Darnold off the roster by Feb. 12. This structure mirrors the Raiders’ Derek Carr extension from 2022; Las Vegas did use the escape hatch, cutting Carr before a much bigger guarantee vested in February 2023. The Seahawks then made a draft decision that would stand to affect Darnold’s future.

The team drafted Jalen Milroe in Round 3, doing so after signing Drew Lock to return as a backup. Lock is on a two-year, $5MM deal ($2.25MM guaranteed). While Milroe represents the long-term threat to Darnold’s job security — to the point the Seahawks informed Darnold about the pick — The Athletic’s Michael-Shawn Dugar notes Lock is secure in his place as the team’s backup entering the season.

Lock has played ahead of Milroe throughout training camp. The dual-threat Alabama prospect entered the draft with a high ceiling, particularly when compared to a mostly maligned QB class this year, but is viewed as a developmental option. Milroe will certainly be on Seattle’s 53-man roster, but a role as the third-stringer appears in place to open the season.

How Milroe’s development unfolds this season will be a key storyline to follow in Seattle. Significant 2025 progress could lead to a major Seahawks decision on Darnold’s contract by February. For now, though, a Darnold-Lock-Milroe depth chart is in place.

Darnold’s history of missing time certainly keeps Lock a key figure in Seattle; Darnold missed 10 starts as a Jet and was down for five games with the 2021 Panthers. He lost the 2022 Carolina gig to Baker Mayfield, but a high ankle sprain kept him out for much of that season. Darnold helped his free agency stock by playing every Vikings game last season, but his past health issues are quite relevant regarding Lock’s chances of adding to his 28-start total.

IR Stint In Play For Bills’ Maxwell Hairston

August 12th, 2025 at 3:41pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Bills avoided the worst-case scenario with Maxwell Hairston, but the first-round pick still looks unlikely to begin the season on time. How much of the season he misses now looks like the key question.

Hairston suffered an LCL sprain early in training camp. While this represented a significant break for the Bills after an ACL tear was initially feared, Sean McDermott said an IR stint to open the season is in play. Due to Hairston’s recovery timeline, McDermott confirmed (via The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia) the team will probably need to discuss the prospect of Maxwell opening the season on IR. On a positive note, McDermott said (via the Buffalo News’ Lance Lysowski) Hairston is off crutches.

Buffalo would have two IR options with Hairston. The team could use one of its two summer IR-return slots, which are available to teams before roster-cutdown day, to save a roster spot as Hairston continues to rehab. The Bills could also carry Hairston on the 53-man roster past cutdown day and then shift him to IR. The second path would be unlikely, as it is expected Hairston will be back to contribute as a rookie. He thus makes sense for one of the team’s August IR-return slots, which must be announced by 3pm CT August 26.

Last year, the Bills used both their summer IR-return slots — which became available to teams beginning in 2024 — by stashing Matt Milano and running back Darrynton Evans on their injured list. This covered two of Buffalo’s eight injury activations. While Milano returned from IR late in the season, the Bills did not activate Evans and instead cut him.

The team had aimed for Hairston to start opposite the recently extended Christian Benford, letting Rasul Douglas test free agency. While the two-year Buffalo starter remains available, the Bills have reunited with Tre’Davious White. The former All-Pro, whose career skidded off track due to ACL and Achilles tears, is moving toward a chance to start again. This represents a risk due to White’s recent form, but the Bills have been pleased with how the nine-year veteran has looked during camp.

White is going into his age-30 season and struggled in four Rams starts, being traded (to the Ravens) in a seventh-round pick swap at the deadline. Baltimore used White as a backup in seven games. White started 82 games for the Bills from 2017-23. Buffalo also reunited with 28-game starter Dane Jackson this offseason; Jackson spent 2023 with the Panthers.

Hairston missing this much practice time will likely affect his development. The Bills will not be eligible to designate the Kentucky product to return to practice until after Week 4. It would make sense Hairston hitting IR would lead to a longer absence than the four-game minimum, as the team would seemingly want him to ramp up during practice. The Bills could avoid this scenario by keeping Hairston off IR, using a week-to-week strategy that would allow for earlier practice work in the event he is ready.

Vikings WR Rondale Moore Suffers Knee Injury, Out For Season

August 12th, 2025 at 3:05pm CST by Rory Parks

AUGUST 12: It has since been revealed Moore will miss the season, the Vikings confirmed (via Seifert). The former second-round pick has landed on IR.

AUGUST 10: Vikings wide receiver and returner Rondale Moore suffered an injury to his left knee during the club’s preseason opener against the Texans on Saturday, as relayed by ESPN’s Kevin Seifert. Moore will undergo an MRI on Sunday to determine the extent of the damage, but in his post-game presser, head coach Kevin O’Connell called the situation “heartbreaking,” and ESPN’s Adam Schefter suggests Moore will miss the entire season.

If Schefter is correct, it would represent a harsh case of déjà vu for the 25-year-old, who sustained a season-ending injury to his right knee as a member of the Falcons last August, almost exactly one year ago. Despite missing the entirety of the 2024 slate, Moore attracted a number of suitors in free agency before signing a one-year, $2MM contract with Minnesota in March.

As Seifert notes, Moore was vying for a role as the Vikings’ No. 4 wideout and primary punt returner. The injury occurred during a punt return; he was running out of bounds after a two-yard gain when he was tackled by Houston linebacker Jamal Hill, who pulled Moore down awkwardly.

O’Connell believed Hill may have employed a hip-drop tackle, though he did not think there was any ill intent. Of course, that does not make the outcome easier to swallow for Moore, who slammed his hands on the back of the medical cart so hard that the sound reverberated throughout the stadium.

“It’s one of the most painful things for me as a head coach when I feel that emotion,” O’Connell said. “I make a life out of trying to leave others better than I found them. In that situation, there is nothing I can do, which is the worst feeling as a coach. So you just consult with him and make sure that he knows he’s not going to be alone.”

A second-round pick of the Cardinals in 2021, Moore established himself as a versatile offensive option during his time in Arizona. He averaged 45 receptions per season between 2021 and 2023, and he also garnered 52 total carries (for 249 yards) over that span. He even got an extended look as a returner during his rookie campaign, a skill set the Vikings were trying to reexplore.

After the Falcons made a big splash at the quarterback position by signing Kirk Cousins last year, they viewed their primary 2023 QB1, Desmond Ridder, as trade fodder. They dealt Ridder to the Cardinals in exchange for Moore, whom they hoped would provide Cousins & Co. with a capable complementary target. That did not come to pass, and it unfortunately does not appear the Vikings’ plans for Moore will come to fruition either.

Raiders Could Pursue CB Addition

August 12th, 2025 at 2:39pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Raiders’ secondary will look much different in 2025 than it did last year. Further changes could be coming at the cornerback spot in particular.

[RELATED: Recapping Raiders’ Offseason]

Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal writes it would not come as a surprise if a cornerback addition were to be made prior to Week 1. Former Packers first-rounder Eric Stokes – added this spring via free agency – is in line to operate as a starter on the perimeter. The top slot job, meanwhile, looks to belong to Darnay Holmes, who handled a rotational during his debut Vegas campaign.

As for the other first-team gig on the perimeter, training camp has resulted in a number of corners receiving a look. Third-round rookie Darien Porter has enjoyed a strong summer so far, per Bonsignore, and he has a strong chance of beating out 2024 fourth-rounder Decamerion Richardson as a result. The team’s depth chart ahead of this week’s preseason action lists Porter as a starter and Richardson as a backup, although of course that does not offer any finality on the matter.

Per The Athletic’s Tashan Reed, Kyu Blu Kelly received a portion of first-team reps during today’s practice. The 2023 draftee has made only 12 appearances to date in his career, although four of those came with the Raiders last season. Kelly is listed as a backup on this week’s depth chart, but he has two more preseason contests to attempt to play his way into a starting gig.

The likes of Asante Samuel Jr., Rasul Douglas and Kendall Fuller remain unsigned at this point, and they could be added on a one-year deal to offer experience and starting-caliber play at the CB position. Vegas has nearly $35MM in cap space, so finances will not be an issue if a short-term addition is deemed necessary later this summer.

Jets QB Tyrod Taylor Undergoes Knee Scope

August 12th, 2025 at 1:49pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Jets’ quarterback depth will be limited through their remaining training camp practices and preseason games. Tyrod Taylor is recovering from a knee scope, head coach Aaron Glenn said on Tuesday (via ESPN’s Rich Cimini).

Taylor is set to miss the rest of the preseason while rehabbing, but the Jets are hopeful he will be able to recover in time for Week 1. The 36-year-old is slated to handle backup duties behind Justin Fields in 2025, the first season of the new regime featuring Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey. That duo’s success will be closely tied to Fields and his ability to provide stable quarterback play over at least the near term.

In the event of injury or poor play on the former first-rounder’s part, though, Taylor will be counted on to step in. He has 94 regular season games and 58 starts to his name, including a pair of brief appearances with the Jets last season. Taylor’s ongoing presence as a high-floor insurance option through this offseason helped inform the team’s free agent approach under center, which as expected did not include a long-term commitment to any of the free agent options.

Fields himself suffered a health scare late last month, but his toe injury proved to be a minor one. SNY’s Connor Hughes recently noted how Fields was wearing a larger shoe on the affected foot, adding the ailment may have been a contributing factor to his less-than-stellar showings early in camp. Improved play over the coming weeks will be key, and it will be interesting to see how much (if at all) the former Bear and Steeler plays during New York’s two final preseason contests given Taylor’s absence.

The Jets also have a pair of undrafted free agents in the form of Adrian Martinez (2023) and Brady Cook (2025) at quarterback. It would come as no surprise if both were to see an increased workload in the coming days with Taylor on the mend. The play of Martinez and Cook will decide how New York proceeds with respect to the third QB spot ahead of final roster cuts at the end of the month.

In other injury news, Glenn noted receiver Allen Lazard is dealing with a shoulder injury. The 29-year-old is set to miss roughly two weeks as a result, meaning he too is in line to be sidelined for the remainder of the preseason. Lazard was seen as a trade candidate in the wake of Aaron Rodgers‘ Jets tenure coming to an end, but a pay cut was ultimately agreed to allowing him to remain in New York. A role in the passing game awaits upon his return to full health.

49ers WR Demarcus Robinson Files Appeal Over Expected DUI Suspension

August 12th, 2025 at 12:25pm CST by Adam La Rose

Demarcus Robinson concluded the legal situation related to a November 2024 DUI arrest last month. The veteran receiver entered a plea of no contest to a misdemeanor DUI charge as part of an agreement which saw other charges dismissed.

As a result, the expectation of a suspension has been in place since the case was closed. Standard practice around the NFL for a first-time offense regarding DUI instances is a three-game suspension. Vikings wideout Jordan Addison represents the most recent example in that regard. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan anticipates a Robinson ban, but an appeals process will play out first.

“(I’m) pretty anxious,” Robinson said (via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle) when speaking to the media about his situation. “Just waiting on the outcome to see what happens with that … I really don’t know the timeframe. Waiting to hear from them, honestly.”

The fact Robinson agreed to a misdemeanor charge could help his chances of avoiding a suspension (or at least receiving a ban of less than three games). An outcome of any kind on this front will be key for team and player considering the injury issues the 49ers are currently dealing with at the receiver spot. Brandon Aiyuk remains on track to start the year on the reserve/PUP list, with a return in the vicinity of Week 6 being named yesterday by Shanahan as a target. Meanwhile, fourth-round rookie Jordan Watkins is dealing with a high ankle sprain which could leave him sidelined for the regular season opener.

Robinson, 30, enjoyed a career year with the Rams in 2024 with 505 yards and seven touchdowns on 31 receptions. A depth role should await him in San Francisco behind Aiyuk, Jauan Jennings (who continues to seek an extension) and 2024 first-rounder Ricky Pearsall. Robinson is on the books for the next two years, but it remains to be seen when he will first be available for his new team.

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