HEADLINES

Month: August 2025

Free Agent S John Johnson Suspended

August 27th, 2025 at 7:34pm CST by Ely Allen

Rashee Rice isn’t the only one receiving suspension news today. Though he’s not currently signed to an NFL roster, former Rams safety John Johnson was levied a three-week suspension to start the 2025 NFL season, according to Tom Pelissero.

A former third-round pick out of Boston College, Johnson began his career with the Rams in 2017. Over the course of his rookie contract, Johnson started 48 of 54 game appearances, intercepting eight passes, including four as a full-time starter in his sophomore campaign. He earned a three-year, $33.75MM contract in Cleveland as a free agent but was released from the team after two years for cap reasons.

He landed back with the team that drafted him in 2023, coming off the bench for most of the year before starting the final seven games of the season. On a second one-year contract with Los Angeles last year, Johnson appeared in only two games before suffering a hairline fracture to his scapula and missing the remainder of the year.

The report from Pelissero is a succinct one and doesn’t give any context for the suspension. Considering the fact that he’s not currently on a team, there aren’t many sources who could know the reason for the punishment. Regardless, if Johnson lands with a team before the start of the season, he won’t be able to play for the first three contests to open the year.

Dolphins Bring Back Kendall Lamm; Austin Jackson Returns To Practice

August 27th, 2025 at 7:06pm CST by Ely Allen

The Dolphins will see a familiar face return to the roster as they are signing offensive lineman Kendall Lamm, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The move comes a day after Lamm was released by the Eagles in final roster cuts.

A 10-year veteran of the NFL, Lamm has paved his way to a lengthy career with a reputation as a reliable swing tackle. Though, the 33-year-old has started games in every season of his career, only once has he started double-digit games in a season. Lamm has spent his career coming in as an extra blocker and filling in on the line when there are injuries. He’s played in 119 games in his career, starting 44.

Following a year in which Lamm started seven games for Miami, the Eagles opted to bring Lamm to Philadelphia in an attempt to replace their departing swing tackle, Fred Johnson. All-in-all the team considered four other players alongside Lamm to replace Johnson. In the end, Philly sent a 2026 seventh-round pick to Jacksonville in exchange for Johnson, and Lamm got cut, as a result.

Like Johnson, though, Lamm returns to a familiar situation, but he may just be coming in as insurance. When healthy, the Dolphins will be starting Patrick Paul and Austin Jackson as the bookend tackles of the offensive line. Jackson, though, is coming of season-ending knee surgery from November.

The team has long maintained that Jackson would be good to go for the start of the season, but the sixth-year tackle didn’t return to practice until today, per C. Isaiah Smalls II of the Miami Herald. He had been expected to return much earlier than this, but Jackson experienced a setback in his recovery when got “stepped on.” According to Barry Jackson, also of the Herald, the 26-year-old told reporters that he will “no doubt” be ready for Week 1.

Jackson is clearly eager to return to the field, but the team might be a bit more cautious with his return. Either way, with Lamm back in the fold, the Dolphins will have a strong replacement option should Jackson not be able to play.

Wednesday NFL Transactions: NFC West

August 27th, 2025 at 6:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These 49ers, Cardinals, Rams and Seahawks moves are noted below.

Arizona Cardinals

Signed to practice squad:

Los Angeles Rams

Signed to practice squad:

San Francisco 49ers

Signed: 

Claimed:

Released from IR (via settlement):

Signed to practice squad:

Seattle Seahawks

Signed:

Claimed:

Released:

Signed to practice squad:

Raiders Place QB Aidan O’Connell On IR

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

The Raiders have announced the placement of injured quarterback Aidan O’Connell on injured reserve today. The transaction comes a day after many thought it would.

Each NFL team is allotted two players that it can place on injured reserve before the roster cut deadline with a designation to return, allowing them to be activated to the 53-man roster four weeks after the start of the regular season. Any other players placed on IR before the deadline will remain on IR for the entire year.

When news came out two days before the deadline that O’Connell was expected to miss six to eight weeks with a fractured wrist, it was expected that he would be one of the two for Las Vegas. It came as a bit of a shock when the team only placed one player — safety Lonnie Johnson — on IR with a designation to return, keeping an injured O’Connell on the 53-man roster and giving the team one less spot with which they could have held on to a borderline player.

Instead, it appears they wanted to reserve a spot on the 53-man roster for a player outside the building. None of the players they waived appear to have been claimed elsewhere, so all are available if the team wanted to bring them back. The team chose, instead, to claim linebacker Brennan Jackson, who was waived yesterday by the Rams; the team also did an add-drop of two linemen. Still, the Raiders knew O’Connell was headed to IR, so when they claimed a new player, it was an easy transaction to bring them on and move O’Connell off.

Colts Will Not Trade QB Anthony Richardson

August 27th, 2025 at 6:12pm CST by Adam La Rose

Anthony Richardson lost out to Daniel Jones in the Colts’ quarterback competition this summer, but he is still in the team’s plans for at least the time being. General manager Chris Ballard made it clear on Wednesday no Richardson trade is being considered at this time.

“I know the negativity and it’s easy to say, okay, he’s done,” Ballard said of the 2023 No. 4 pick (via the team’s website). “And I don’t agree — I’ve said this numerous times — I do not agree with that. I’m proud of Anthony, of where he’s at, how far he’s come. He’s come miles… And there’s a lot of value in sitting behind a guy that’s a professional and watching and learning and growing and working on the things you need to work on without the same pressure of being the starter.”

Richardson played just four games as a rookie before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery. The 23-year-old struggled when healthy last year, and at times he was benched in favor of backup Joe Flacco. Indianapolis prioritized adding a veteran signal-caller this offseason, and Jones departed Minnesota knowing a starting gig would be on offer. The former Giant (added on a one-year pact including over $13MM guaranteed) will look to offer stability under center in contrast to Richardson’s inconsistent showings – which, to date, have not been enough to end his Indianapolis tenure.

“There’s examples of guys that have had rough starts to their careers and have absolutely bounced back and had good careers,” Ballard added. “And there’s examples of guys who’ve been benched who come back and play.”

After Richardson completed just 47.7% of his passes and threw more interceptions (12) than touchdowns (eight), any trade undertaken at this point would contain little in the way of value coming back to the Colts. The Florida product has demonstrated his rushing upside when on the field, but that alone would not entice much in the way of attractive offers from suitors.

After this season, a decision will need to be made on Richardson’s 2027 fifth-year option. It is on track to be declined at this point, something which would point further to an Indianapolis departure being likely. For now, though, the Colts are in position to keep him in the fold.

Wednesday NFL Transactions: AFC North

August 27th, 2025 at 5:36pm CST by Sam Robinson

Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These Bengals, Browns, Ravens and Steelers moves are noted below.

Baltimore Ravens

Signed to practice squad:

Cincinnati Bengals

Signed to practice squad:

Reverted to IR:

Cleveland Browns

Claimed:

Waived:

Signed to practice squad:

Pittsburgh Steelers

Signed to practice squad:

John Lynch: 49ers Not Trading WR Jauan Jennings

August 27th, 2025 at 4:58pm CST by Adam La Rose

Last month, it was reported Jauan Jennings would seek a trade in the event he did not receive an extension. No new contract is forthcoming, and a swap sending him out of San Francisco is not on tap either.

[RELATED: 49ers To Add Marquez Valdes-Scantling]

When speaking to the media on Wednesday, general manager John Lynch confirmed Jennings did submit a trade request earlier this offseason. He made it clear, however, that no consideration has been given to dealing away the 28-year-old wideout. According to Lynch, both sides have moved on by this point.

“He’s been putting in work to the side,” Lynch said (via Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News) when referring to Jennings’ calf injury. “Both can be true: he wants a new contract and he has a hurt calf. Everyone assumes one or the other. Both can be true.”

Earlier this week, head coach Kyle Shanahan indicated he expects Jennings to be healed in time for Week 1. That would certainly be a welcomed development given the team’s plethora of injuries at the WR spot. Jacob Cowing was moved to injured reserve today, ensuring he will join Brandon Aiyuk and Demarcus Robinson on the sidelines through September. Having Jennings in place would be key for the team’s passing game, especially with the former seventh-rounder coming off by far his best season to date.

Jennings posted 975 yards and six touchdowns in 2024 and used that as a way of trying to leverage a new pact. The 49ers certainly have a long history of working out lucrative (and often protracted) extensions with high-profile players under Lynch, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Owed $4MM in 2025, Jennings will not be among them, however.

The Tennessee product is a pending free agent, so his market value will be dictated by the extent to which he can duplicate last year’s success. Especially before Aiyuk is back in the fold, a key role should await Jennings in the passing game. A strong showing would help his ability to land a raise next spring, but no new San Francisco pact (or change of scenery) will be in place before then.

Wednesday NFL Transactions: AFC West

August 27th, 2025 at 4:51pm CST by Sam Robinson

Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These Broncos, Chargers, Chiefs and Raiders moves are noted below.

Denver Broncos

Signed to practice squad:

Kansas City Chiefs

Signed to practice squad:

Las Vegas Raiders

Signed:

Claimed:

Waived:

Signed to practice squad:

Los Angeles Chargers

Signed:

Placed on IR:

Signed to practice squad:

Wednesday NFL Transactions: AFC East

August 27th, 2025 at 4:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These Bills, Dolphins, Jets and Patriots moves are noted below.

Buffalo Bills

Signed to practice squad:

Released from IR via injury settlement:

Miami Dolphins

Waived:

  • S Jordan Colbert

Signed to practice squad:

New England Patriots

Claimed:

Waived: 

Signed to practice squad:

New York Jets

Claimed:

Released:

Signed to practice squad:

Steelers Place QB Will Howard On IR, Re-Sign S Chuck Clark

August 27th, 2025 at 4:37pm CST by Sam Robinson

Will Howard‘s rookie season will begin on injured reserve. Although the Steelers carried their sixth-round quarterback onto their 53-man roster Tuesday, they will move him to IR today.

Rookie cornerback Donte Kent, a seventh-round pick, will also be shifted to IR, ESPN.com’s Brooke Pryor tweets. To replace the duo on the roster, Pittsburgh will bring back safety Chuck Clark and guard Max Scharping.

A broken hand sends Howard to IR. The 2024 national championship-winning QB suffered the injury early in camp and missed the preseason slate. That certainly stunts Howard’s development, as he will be unable to practice until at least Week 5. It will be interesting to see if the Steelers activate him, with those eight slots fairly important to teams as the season drags on.

The team used one if its IR slots on DB Cory Trice, dropping its in-season activation number to seven. Howard and Kent, since they were not placed on IR until today, do not count against Pittsburgh’s activation total. As it stands, the Steelers do not have a third healthy QB behind Aaron Rodgers and Mason Rudolph. The team’s initial practice squad does not include one.

Clark was a somewhat surprising inclusion on Pittsburgh’s list of Tuesday cuts. Veterans often reach an agreement to immediately return on the 53-man roster or practice squad once the dust begins to settle, however, and this is another example. Clark is once again part of a safety group which also includes returnee DeShon Elliott, free agent signing Juan Thornhill and special teams ace Miles Killebrew. 

Scharping, 29, made two appearances with the Steelers last year. He is now positioned to continue in a backup capacity along the team’s offensive line. With 33 starts to his name, Scharping will offer Pittsburgh an experienced fill-in option along the interior.

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