Buccaneers RG Cody Mauch Out For Season
The Buccaneers offensive line continues to deal with injuries, and the latest one is a doozy. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, starting right guard Cody Mauch suffered a season-ending knee injury in Monday night’s victory in Houston. 
Tampa Bay has yet to see star left tackle Tristan Wirfs in a game this season. He avoided landing on an injured list to start the year as he works his way back from an arthroscopic knee surgery, and he returned to practice last week. Right tackle Luke Goedeke left the Buccaneers without either of their starting tackles when he left Monday’s game after only 15 snaps with a reinjured foot.
The news about Mauch comes as more of a surprise. The third-year guard didn’t leave the field at all on Monday night. This injury was suffered in the game, though, per Schefter, and whatever the nature of the knee injury turns out to be, Mauch was able to play through it to finish the game. It’s a really tough blow for the 26-year-old, who hadn’t missed a game since getting drafted in the second round out of North Dakota State in 2023.
Wirfs is continuing to practice and work his way back to the field, though it’s unclear if he’ll be ready for Week 3. Goedeke has not practiced this week, and though it’s still early, some have labeled him as doubtful to play this weekend. If either can’t go, it’s been Graham Barton filling in for Wirfs at left tackle, and it was Charlie Heck who came in to cover right tackle for Goedeke on Monday. Both have struggled in their respective substitute positions, so Tampa Bay will be eagerly awaiting good news on Wirfs and Goedeke.
The Bucs currently do not roster much depth on the offensive line, seemingly preferring to carry more bodies elsewhere. With two backups already employed, only last year’s sixth-round pick Elijah Klein and undrafted rookie Benjamin Chukwuma stand as backup options. Because of the scarcity, Tampa Bay is expected to sign interior offensive lineman Dan Feeney off of the Bills‘ practice squad, as first reported by Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. Greg Auman of FOX Sports adds that the team is expected to hold a workout tomorrow that will feature, at the very least, veteran offensive guard Sua Opeta, who spent the offseason with the team but failed to make the 53-man roster.
Feeney, 31, likely stands a better chance at stepping into a starting role for the Buccaneers than the inexperienced Klein and Chukwuma. As a 2017 third-round pick, Feeney spent three of his first four seasons in the league as a full-time starter for the Chargers at both left guard and center. After departing in free agency, Feeney struggled to find another role as a full-time starter, but he still found plenty of opportunities to get on the field, earning eight spot starts in the four years since leaving Los Angeles.
Tampa Bay will hope to see its luck on the offensive line turn around soon. Though Wirfs is working his way back to the field and Goedeke will continue to be evaluated throughout the week, there’s a chance the Buccaneers could be without three starters on the offensive line in this week’s game against the Jets. They know for sure, though, that they’ll be without Mauch, and that will continue to hold true for the rest of the season.
Cardinals Place CB Garrett Williams On IR
Despite walking away with a win this weekend, the Cardinals gave up 328 passing yards to Bryce Young and the Panthers. One reason for that may have been injuries to top corners Garrett Williams, Max Melton, and rookie Will Johnson. Melton and Johnson look like they’ll be fine, but Williams has been placed on injured reserve, per Cardinals staff writer Darren Urban. 
Defensive lineman L.J. Collier will reportedly join Williams on IR. A main contributor a year ago after starting 15 games in 2024, Collier has spent the first two weeks of the new season as more of a depth piece on the team’s newly revamped defensive line. The depth hurts, though, as they still await the debut of first-round defensive tackle Walter Nolen.
It’s an unfortunate loss for Arizona with Williams coming off a sophomore campaign in which Pro Football Focus (subscription required) rated him as the third-best cornerback in the NFL. Melton and Johnson are the team’s starting cornerbacks on the outside, while Williams is the primary nickelback of the Cardinals secondary.
It was a knee injury that Williams suffered on Sunday. The team didn’t go into specifics on the injury, but obviously, it’s enough to keep him off the field for at least four weeks. Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon didn’t seem too worried, though, claiming that both Williams and Collier could return at some point in the season. Melton was back at practice today and looked unbothered by his own knee injury, while Johnson didn’t practice today but will continue to be evaluated throughout the rest of the week.
In the meantime, fifth-round rookie Denzel Burke stepped up in a big way in his debut on the team’s defense — Burke played only on special teams in Week 1. Third-year corner Kei’Trel Clark saw an increase in snap count, as well. Clark probably has the best chance to fill the slot cornerback role of Williams’. In extremely limited playing time last season, Clark spent about 39 percent of his time in the slot.
Another option to compete for the nickel role is Darren Hall, who was called up from the practice squad to take Williams’ spot on the active roster. Two more practice squad slots were made vacant when defensive tackle Elijah Simmons was signed to Tampa Bay’s active roster and linebacker Elliott Brown was released. Filling the three newly vacant slots are defensive tackle Zachary Carter, defensive tackle Kyon Barrs, and cornerback Ekow Boye-Doe.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/17/25
Today’s midweek practice squad moves:
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: C Wesley French
Houston Texans
- Signed: CB Ajani Carter
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: T Sataoa Laumea, G William Sherman
- Released: QB Hunter Dekkers
New York Giants
- Signed: CB LaMareon James
- Released: CB Dee Williams
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: TE Matt Sokol
- Released: TE J.J. Galbreath, WR Rakim Jarrett
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: T Brandon Parker
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: CB Shaquill Griffin
NFL Minor Transactions: 9/17/25
Here are Wednesday’s minor transactions:
Houston Texans
- Signed off Browns’ practice squad: TE Brenden Bates
- Placed on IR: WR Justin Watson
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed off Vikings’ practice squad: S Kahlef Hailassie
New Orleans Saints
- Signed to active roster: S Terrell Burgess
- Placed on IR: DT Vernon Broughton
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: G Kenyon Green
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed to active roster: DE DeMarvin Leal
- Placed on IR: DE Isaiahh Loudermilk
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed to active roster: WR Cody White
- Released: CB Shaquill Griffin
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed off Cardinals’ practice squad: DT Elijah Simmons
- Placed on IR: DT Calijah Kancey (story)
Broughton, the third-round rookie out of Texas, is expected to miss the remainder of the season with a hip injury, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. The team sought multiple opinions on the injury and was unsure about whether or not surgery would be necessary, but the “significant” hip issue will shut him down for the year.
Green rejoins the reigning champs, once again. It’s been a rollercoaster of employment for the 24-year-old guard, who failed to make the initial 53-man roster in Philadelphia, signed to the practice squad, was promoted back to the active roster, and then was waived two days after the team’s season opener.
Loudermilk had been working as a starter for the first time in his five-year career, but he will miss at least the next four games with a high ankle sprain. Leal, a 2022 third-round pick out of Texas A&M, has disappointed in his first three years of play. After moving to more of an outside linebacker role this summer, Leal failed to make the initial 53-man roster but was retained to the practice squad. He’ll take Loudermilk’s spot on the active roster for the time being.
Per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, Watson has been sidelined indefinitely with a calf muscle and Achilles injury. The tendon is not torn, so it may not be season-ending, and Watson could return at some point down the line. Luckily, the receiving corps is set to return some reinforcements as head coach DeMeco Ryans announced that both Christian Kirk and Braxton Berrios are expected to be back in Week 3. Wilson also reports that tight end Cade Stover had successful surgery recently for his broken foot.
Chargers Audition Clelin Ferrell
Clelin Ferrell re-signed with the Commanders this offseason, but the former top-five pick did not end up making the team’s initial 53-man roster. Rather than being kept as practice squad insurance, Ferrell has resided in free agency since that Washington decision.
Khalil Mack‘s injury could open another door, however. The Chargers brought Ferrell and fellow edge rusher Rashad Weaver in for workouts Tuesday, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets.
The Bolts will see their outside linebacker depth tested in a way it hasn’t in recent years. Although Joey Bosa struggled to stay healthy, he represented a rather important piece during his nine seasons in Southern California. The Chargers also had Mack to rely on, as the former Defensive Player of the Year had missed just one game from 2022-24. The Bolts cutting Bosa and seeing Mack go down with a dislocated elbow — an injury Jim Harbaugh said is not expected to be season-ending — has changed the equation.
Bud Dupree is set to step into the Bolts’ lineup opposite Tuli Tuipulotu. This will be an adjustment for the Chargers, who could roll out a Bosa-Mack-Dupree-Tuipulotu quartet last season. They added Kyle Kennard in the fourth round but have yet to dress the rookie. That will probably change moving forward.
Ferrell’s past also makes this an interesting workout. The Raiders brought in the Clemson product at No. 4 overall months after trading Mack to the Bears. Viewed as a reach by most, Ferrell did not live up to his draft slot. He resurfaced in San Francisco, starting 17 regular-season games for the NFC championship-winning team. Ferrell produced 3.5 sacks in both 2023 and ’24, operating as a 10-game starter with Washington last year.
The Commanders re-signed him to a one-year, $2MM deal in March but then added Von Miller over the summer. Preston Smith is also back in Washington, while Ferrell (28) awaits his next opportunity.
Packers WR Jayden Reed Undergoes Clavicle, Foot Surgeries
Given an extended rehab window after suffering a broken collarbone in Week 2, Jayden Reed will use it to address another issue that had plagued him entering the season. As a result, the Packers wide receiver will have an unusual road to travel.
In addition to the expected clavicle surgery, Reed confirmed (via X) he also underwent a foot operation. Reed will now be out indefinitely, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. This will create an interesting mission for the third-year pass catcher. The 2023 and ’24 Green Bay receiving leader will be rehabbing two surgeries in-season while having a presumptive goal of returning before year’s end.
The collarbone injury was to sideline Reed between six and eight weeks. As we discussed last week, this injury opened a door for Reed to take care of his foot issue — one he had previously tried to play through. A late-August report confirmed Reed had suffered a Jones fracture in his foot. This injury can sideline players for several weeks, but in-season returns are not unheard of. Deebo Samuel came back from a June 2020 Jones fracture by Week 4, while Derrick Henry rehabbed a November 2021 Jones fracture in time to return for the Titans’ divisional-round game.
Reed, of course, will need to devote time to recovering from two injuries. He had missed most of training camp but returned in time for Week 1, hauling in three receptions for 45 yards and a touchdown against the Lions. This will mark one of the more interesting rehab odysseys in recent NFL history, especially with the Packers looking like one of the NFL’s best teams through two weeks. They have also done so, once again, without a defined target hierarchy.
Reed’s agent spoke with Packers brass about the WR’s status following the team’s first- and third-round receiver picks (Matthew Golden, Savion Williams). Through two games, the Pack have not seen Golden contribute much. The Houston- and Texas-developed wideout has two receptions for 16 yards. Romeo Doubs (96 yards) and Dontayvion Wicks (74) are leading Green Bay WRs in yardage, with Tucker Kraft emerging as the team’s de facto No. 1 receiver (with 140). Much will be expected of Golden post-Reed, but the Packers still have some depth even without Reed and Christian Watson.
Watson, who is rehabbing an ACL tear sustained in Week 18, is now expected to return before Reed. With the latter now on a two-surgery rehab road, it will be interesting to see how his timetable will be affected. The Packers still have a route to their deep receiver array emerging, but a second Reed procedure does provide a notable complication.
49ers To Place G Ben Bartch On IR
Post-Laken Tomlinson, the 49ers have prioritized the edges of their offensive line. Trent Williams has stood as a $20MM-per-year blocker since 2021, and the team gave Colton McKivitz another extension after he had replaced top-10 investment Mike McGlinchey at right tackle. That has meant turnover among low-cost players inside. Ben Bartch is part of the latest wave, but he has not made it far in his first season as a full-time San Francisco starter.
Entering the season as the 49ers’ Aaron Banks replacement at left guard, Bartch did not make it out of Week 2. The former Jaguar suffered a high ankle sprain against the Saints, and Kyle Shanahan said he would miss extensive time. That will come to fruition, with the 49ers placing Bartch on IR today, per the San Francisco Chronicle’s Noah Furtado.
This injury is expected to sideline Bartch between four and six weeks, according to NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco. The team will use IR as a result. The 49ers have seven injury activations remaining, having used one of their August IR-return designations on defensive tackle Kevin Givens. While Givens already counts toward that eight-activation total due to a summer designation being used, Bartch will not count toward that number until he is brought back to the 53-man roster.
Tied to a one-year, $1.34MM contract, Bartch beat out Nick Zakelj for the 49ers’ LG job in Week 1. However, seventh-round rookie Connor Colby replaced Bartch when he went down in New Orleans. He will start in Week 3, per The Athletic’s Matt Barrows. Zakelj did not make San Francisco’s 53-man roster but remains on the practice squad. While the young blocker remains an option to provide insurance, the 49ers did not sign him to the active roster in a corresponding move. Tight end Brayden Willis will take Bartch’s place instead.
Colby only arrived as the No. 249 overall pick, but he worked as a four-year starter at Iowa. Blocking for the likes of Kaleb Johnson and Tyler Goodson with the Hawkeyes, Colby earned first-team All-Big Ten acclaim in 2024 and third-team recognition in 2023. Colby made 50 starts at Iowa, providing interesting appeal for a seventh-round pick as a fill-in option. Colby will work opposite 2024 third-round pick Dominick Puni, and it will be worth monitoring if Bartch will return as a starter or a swingman.
A 2020 Jaguars fourth-round pick, Bartch has been in the 49ers’ system since being added shortly after the 2023 trade deadline. Bartch has made 24 career starts, including two last season with the 49ers, but will see his first run as a full-timer since 2022 paused for a while.
Chargers To Place Khalil Mack On IR
2:03pm: Mack will head to IR, according to Jim Harbaugh (via ESPN.com’s Kris Rhim). The re-signed outside linebacker will miss at least four weeks, sidelining him for games against the Broncos, Giants, Commanders and Dolphins. It will be far from certain Mack returns when first eligible, though Harbaugh added (via The Athletic’s Daniel Popper) the injury is not believed to be season-ending. The Bolts’ bye is not until Week 12.
This will only be Mack’s second time on IR in a 12-year career. A foot injury in 2021 led Mack to IR and eventually to Los Angeles, with the Chicago regime hired during Mack’s rehab process cleaning house and sending the All-Pro defender to L.A. in a March 2022 trade. Finally off the six-year Bears extension by 2025, Mack re-signed with the Chargers after considering retirement. This injury will significantly affect Mack’s ability to produce on his one-year contract while simultaneously testing the Chargers’ depth — as Mack missed one game from 2022-24 — particularly following the team’s decision to cut Joey Bosa in March.
12:47pm: Chargers outside linebacker Khalil Mack will be out for a few weeks after dislocating his elbow during Monday night’s matchup with the Raiders, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
The injury is not season-ending, but Los Angeles will need one of their depth outside linebackers to take Mack’s place for the time being. That will likely be veteran Bud Dupree, who replaced Mack on Monday and has significantly more experience than third-year UDFA Caleb Murphy or fourth-round rookie Kyle Kennard.
At the moment, it seems unlikely that the Chargers will make a signing to bolster their OLB depth. Mack’s injury is not expected to be long-term, and the pool of free agent edge rushers has suddenly dried up after both Preston Smith and Jadeveon Clowney signed with new teams this week.
Instead the Chargers’ plan will likely be as follows: Dupree will start, with Murphy receiving a bump in snaps as the No. 3 edge rusher and Kennard — a fourth-round pick in April — making his NFL debut after two healthy scratches to start the year. The team was comfortable with only four active outside linebackers in Weeks 1 and 2, so they may not feel the need to make an elevation from the practice squad.
Mack, 34, was quiet in Week 1 against the Chiefs but looked better on Monday with one sack and one tackle for loss in Las Vegas. He re-signed with the Chargers this offseason on a one-year, $18MM deal this offseason after six sacks in 2024.
Jayden Daniels Diagnosed With Knee Sprain, Week 3 Status In Doubt
September 17: Daniels will not practice on Wednesday, said Quinn (via NBC4 Washington). He added that Daniels would need to practice on Friday and be evaluated by the team before a decision on the Commanders’ Week 3 starter is made.
September 15: After getting banged up during Washington’s loss to Green Bay on Thursday, Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels underwent an MRI. The star sophomore has since been diagnosed with a knee sprain, putting his status for Week 3 in doubt, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo (and via NFL.com’s Kevin Patra).
[RELATED: Commanders QB Jayden Daniels Underwent MRI On Knee]
There is surely a sigh of relief in Washington, as the NFL Network insiders noted that the injury isn’t expected to be a long-term issue. Daniels had a separate check-in with team doctors today, and coach Dan Quinn later stated that his QB1 is considered day-to-day. The team will have more understanding of his Week 3 status when they return to practice on Wednesday.
The 2024 second-overall pick made it through his rookie campaign unscathed, although he did have to exit a midseason contest with a rib issue (which was later revealed to be a fracture). Daniels’ slender frame and dynamic play style left some scouts concerned about his durability, but he seemed to eliminate that narrative last year. Even a temporary absence in 2024 shouldn’t do much to reignite that unease.
Daniels, of course, had a rookie season for the record books, tossing 25 touchdowns and adding another six on the ground while guiding the Commanders to their first playoff victory since the 2005 season. The Commanders are hoping they can continue that momentum in 2025, although that task would prove to be a bit more daunting if Daniels is hobbled.
If Daniels does miss time, Marcus Mariota would likely be under center for the Commanders. The former second-overall pick re-signed with the Commanders this past offseason on a one-year, $8MM deal. Veteran Josh Johnson represents the only other QB on the active roster, with Sam Hartman currently stashed on the practice squad.
Buccaneers WR Mike Evans Could Retire Following 2025 Season
Mike Evans has had a relatively quiet start to the 2025 season, his 12th in the NFL. Plenty of time remains for him to continue his streak of 1,000-yard campaigns, though. 
If Evans is able to reach that threshold this year, he will break a tie with Jerry Rice for the most consecutive seasons of 1,000 or more receiving yards in NFL history. Doing so would add further to his legacy and no doubt help Tampa Bay enjoy another successful campaign. Given his age, however, questions continue to be asked about how much longer Evans will continue playing.
“I plan on having one of my best seasons,” the 32-year-old said about the current campaign during an interview with The Athletic’s Zak Keefer (subscription required). “And if I retire after this year, I don’t think it’ll be a shock to people. I’m close to the end, that’s all I’ll say.”
Last spring, a free agent departure loomed as a possibility. Evans said Kansas City and Houston represented attractive landing spots, but in the end he remained in place on a two-year, $41MM pact. He is thus a pending free agent, and an extension would ensure the six-time Pro Bowler’s career finishes in Tampa Bay. Another new pact may not wind up being possible, depending on how Evans views his future following the 2025 season.
The Texas A&M product is on the verge of reaching the top 20 in all-time receiving yardage, and he has amassed roughly $134MM (and counting) in career earnings. With a Super Bowl title to his name, Evans is certainly not lacking in accomplishments at the NFL level. As a result, a retirement call after the 2025 season has finished would be feasible.
The Bucs have Chris Godwin in the fold through 2027 after he re-signed this offseason. Tampa Bay’s receiving corps also contains 2024 third-rounder Jalen McMillan and first-round rookie Emeka Egbuka, who has enjoyed an impressive start to his career. Those three will be counted on as key figures in the passing game for the 2026 campaign, but it is unclear if Evans will join them.