Vikings To Sign QB Desmond Ridder
Desmond Ridder‘s well-traveled NFL journey will include a trip up north. The Vikings are signing the former Falcons third-round pick, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero report.
The Raiders did not tender Ridder as a restricted free agent this offseason, and the Bengals did not retain him following roster cuts last month. But Ridder will head to Minnesota following J.J. McCarthy‘s ankle injury. This is an active-roster deal, as Ridder will join UDFA rookie Max Brosmer in backing up Carson Wentz in Week 3. Ridder worked out for the Vikings today, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets, joining Dorian Thompson-Robinson in doing so.
Since March 2024, Ridder has now been with five teams. The Falcons traded him to the Cardinals straight-up for wide receiver Rondale Moore. Arizona, however, waived the primary 2023 Atlanta starter that August. Ridder joined the Raiders off the Cards’ practice squad in late October and made a start for the team. As Las Vegas overhauled its front office and coaching staff yet again, Ridder was not deemed a priority. He then signed with the Bengals, only to not make their 53-man roster out of training camp.
Ridder’s 18 NFL starts notwithstanding, this makes for an odd Vikings QB depth chart. With McCarthy on the mend, Minnesota’s healthy QB options will include a rookie UDFA and two players acquired recently. The Vikes signed Wentz on August 24, doing so upon trading Sam Howell to the Eagles. Wentz will be expected to start against the Bengals this week. With McCarthy far from certain to be ready for Week 4, it is not out of the questions Minnesota holds him out through its Week 6 bye. The Vikings face the Steelers and Browns in Weeks 4 and 5.
Ridder has certainly not impressed as a starting option. The Falcons reversed course on their Ridder call in-season, benching him at points for Taylor Heinicke. This came after the team refrained from a QB search — including what would have been a fruitless push for the then-franchise-tagged Lamar Jackson — and an aim to build around Ridder’s rookie deal. In 2024, Atlanta gave Kirk Cousins a lucrative deal and then drafted Michael Penix Jr. in Round 1. In between, the Ridder-for-Moore swap occurred.
This addition would give the Vikings some cover in the event Wentz is injured or struggles mightily. After all, the one-time MVP candidate-turned-journeyman has been with the Vikings for less than a month. The team retained Brosmer at last month’s roster-setting deadline, rather than risk putting him on waivers en route to the practice squad, but it might be a tall order for the rookie UDFA (out of Minnesota) to step in as a starter. With Ridder just joining the team, he would certainly be limited if asked to leapfrog Brosmer in relief of Wentz.
Jaguars Release DB Darnell Savage
Losing a battle for a starting job in his second Jacksonville offseason, Darnell Savage no longer appears in the team’s plans. The Jaguars released the veteran DB on Tuesday, per a team announcement.
The Jags will take on nearly $10MM in dead money by dropping Savage, who had been tied to a three-year, $21.75MM contract. The team’s Trent Baalke-Doug Pederson regime, however, authorized that deal. The Liam Coen-James Gladstone partnership has moved off a few notable contracts held over from the previous staff, and the duo has bid farewell to Savage.
As a vested veteran, Savage will pass straight to free agency. The 2019 Packers first-round pick entered the season having started 82 games, having played both safety and the slot cornerback position as a pro. This offseason brought a three-year, $30MM Jourdan Lewis contract, however, leaving Savage to compete for the safety post Andre Cisco vacated upon signing with the Jets. Andrew Wingard, however, beat out Savage for that job.
The Jags have used Wingard and free agency addition Eric Murray as their starting safeties through two games. Savage played just 36% of Jacksonville’s defensive snaps in that time. Pro Football Focus graded him as a bottom-five safety in that short span. The team still has Antonio Johnson — who joined Wingard and Savage in the above-referenced training camp competition — and sixth-round rookie Rayuan Lane as backup options.
Savage secured $12.5MM guaranteed at signing last year, giving him considerable security. This came after he played out a five-year Packers rookie contract. That tenure involved a 2022 benching, and while Savage rebounded to a degree in 2023, Green Bay let him walk as a free agent. While Jacksonville pounced, that fit proving short-lived will force the 28-year-old DB to look for another landing spot.
Last season, Savage split time between safety and slot corner. PFF ranked him as a bottom-five safety in 2024. Even with the Jags losing Cisco, the Murray signing set up a competition. Wingard, despite coming off an injury-marred season, prevailed in that matchup. As a result, a former No. 21 overall pick becomes an interesting early-season free agency option.
Cowboys Eyeing Brandon Aubrey Extension
In April, it became clear a quartet of players were seen as priorities for second contracts with the Cowboys. Guard Tyler Smith, cornerback DaRon Bland, tight end Jake Ferguson and kicker Brandon Aubrey were identified as candidates for new deals.
Since then, each of Smith, Bland and Ferguson have inked new deals. Aubrey thus represents the next item on the to-do list regarding an extension. If anything, his market value increased in Week 2 with a game-tying field goal from 64 yards out. Aubrey wound up winning the game in overtime with a 46-yard kick, adding further to his track record of success and showcasing his importance to Dallas.
To little surprise, then, a long-term commitment could be in store soon. During an appearance on 105.3 The Fan, COO Stephen Jones confirmed the Cowboys are still interested in extending Aubrey. One year remains on his rookie contract, and as a former UDFA he is currently on course for restricted free agency.
“He certainly is coming,” Jones said of a new Aubrey contract (via Jon Machota of The Athletic). “We’ll be looking at that. Probably have had communications since the kick. But he’s certainly in the future.”
Aubrey’s professional career began in Major League Soccer, but he quickly found success after transitioning to football. A two-year run in the USFL resulted in an opportunity with the Cowboys, and the 30-year-old has enjoyed a highly impressive tenure in the NFL. Aubrey has earned a Pro Bowl nod during each of his first two Dallas campaigns; he was on the first All-Pro team in 2023 and received a place on the second team last year.
With a success rate of 90.1% on his field goal tries (including a mark of 27 for 30 from 50 yards and beyond), Aubrey has a strong case to become the league’s top earner at the kicker position. Harrison Butker currently leads the way with an average of $6.4MM per year. Jake Elliott is the only other kicker attached to an AAV of $6MM.
Aubrey could very well reach or surpass that mark on a new Cowboys contract. Dallas’ extensions for Bland and fullback Hunter Luepke were finalized shortly before the start of the regular season, while the Smith pact was signed after the campaign had begun. Given the team’s willingness to negotiate in-season, an Aubrey agreement could be in store at any time.
Steelers Sign LB Ja’Whaun Bentley To Practice Squad
After adding a veteran wideout to their practice squad earlier today, the Steelers have now added a player on the other side of the ball. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Steelers have signed linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley to their taxi squad. ESPN’s Field Yates reported earlier today that Bentley was visiting Pittsburgh.
Bentley joins the Steelers following a seven-year stay in New England, where he transformed into one of the team’s most dependable defenders. The former fifth-round pick tallied at least 100 tackles each year between 2021 and 2023, and he added another 8.5 sacks over that same span.
He was back in the starting lineup for the 2024 season, but he suffered a torn pectoral muscle in Week 2 that ended his season early. The Patriots moved on from him back in March, and he’s remained unsigned since that time.
With Malik Harrison on injured reserve and Patrick Queen nursing an oblique issue, the Steelers decided to add some veteran depth to their squad. Cole Holcomb and rookie seventh-round pick Carson Bruener represent the team’s current depth at ILB behind Queen and Payton Wilson. This signing also reunites Bentley with Jabrill Peppers, as the duo previously played alongside each other in New England between 2022 and 2024.
Bentley was one of many players who auditioned for the organization earlier today. The team already made one previously reported addition in WR Isaiah Hodgins.
Jets Add CB Nik Needham To Practice Squad
The Jets have added some veteran depth to their secondary. The team announced that they’ve signed defensive back Nik Needham to the practice squad. To make room, the team released kicker Harrison Mevis.
Needham burst onto the scene as an UDFA with the Dolphins in 2019, when he collected 54 tackles, 11 passes defensed, and a pair of picks. He settled into more of a part-time role in 2020 and 2021, although he still hauled in another four picks between those two seasons.
The defensive back started five of the first six games for Miami in 2022 before a torn Achilles ended his season early. When he returned in 2023, he was relegated to a bottom-of-the-depth-chart role, and he got into only a pair of games in 2024 while spending most of the campaign on the practice squad. Needham joined the Browns this past offseason before getting cut at the end of the preseason.
Michael Carter suffered a shoulder injury on Sunday that could put his Week 3 status in doubt, so Needham provides the organization with some extra veteran depth. Rookie third-round pick Azareye’h Thomas and 2024 fifth-round pick Qwan’tez Stiggers would likely get the first shot to soak up any leftover CB snaps.
The Jets weren’t finished. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston, the team also worked out veteran cornerback Arthur Maulet. The veteran spent the 2019 and 2020 seasons in New York, starting 11 of his 23 appearances.
Texans Sign DB Jalen Mills To Practice Squad
Jalen Mills is back in Houston. After being included among the team’s final preseason cuts, the veteran defensive back is signing with the Texans practice squad, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Mills brings plenty of experience to Houston’s taxi squad, as the 31-year-old has made 115 regular-season appearances during his career. A former seventh-round pick, Mills evolved into a full-time starter during his time in Philly, where he hauled in five interceptions across five seasons. After being limited to 17 combined games between 2018 and 2019, Mills rebounded with a 15-game showing in 2020.
Mills inked a four-year, $24MM deal with the Patriots ahead of the 2021 campaign and ended up spending three years with the organization. He was a starter through his first two seasons in New England but settled into more of a rotational role in 2023, when he collected 45 tackles in 17 games (eight starts).
He joined the Giants last offseason but didn’t make it to the regular season with his new squad. He joined the Jets in late September and proceeded to start eight of his nine appearances, tallying 44 stops, six passes defended, and one interception. He suffered an injured collarbone in December that ended his season prematurely.
Mills joined the Texans this past August but was cut by the team only a few weeks later. Mills brings some familiarity with DeMeco Ryans‘ defense, as the veteran is coming off a 2024 campaign where he played under Robert Saleh, another member of the 49ers coaching tree. The Texans will likely be counting on Mills to provide that veteran savviness during this current stint with the team, where he’ll serve as depth behind C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Calen Bullock, and M.J. Stewart.
To make room on the practice squad, the Texans cut wide receiver Silas Bolden and offensive tackle Jaylon Thomas, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/16/25
Today’s practice squad moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: CB Keith Taylor
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: LB Malik Hamm
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: WR Kendric Pryor
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: CB Tre Avery, WR Gage Larvadain, T Joshua Miles, T Tyre Phillips
- Released: OT Logan Brown, DT Ralph Holley, CB LaMareon James
Detroit Lions
- Signed: WR Malik Cunningham, TE Ross Dwelley
- Released: LB Monty Rice
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: C Jimmy Morrissey
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: LB Cole Christiansen
New York Giants
- Signed: WR Dalen Cambre, LB Neville Hewitt, LB Curtis Jacobs
- Released: TE Qadir Ismail, DB Patrick McMorris
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: WR Isaiah Hodgins
Washington Commanders
- Signed: G Tyler Cooper, WR Tay Martin
- Placed on IR: G Darrian Dalcourt
The Steelers added a notable wide receiver to their taxi squad in Isaiah Hodgins. The wideout bounced between the Giants practice squad and active roster in 2024, but he’s not far removed from a stretch between 2022 and 2023 when he hauled in 58 catches for 622 yards and seven touchdowns. He’ll be joining a group of practice squad WRs that includes Rakim Jarrett and rookie Ke’Shawn Williams.
Speaking of the Giants, they added a veteran linebacker in Neville Hewitt. The 32-year-old has appeared in 146 games in time with the Dolphins, Jets, and Texans. His best season came with New York in 2020, when he compiled 134 tackles and a pair of sacks. He mostly saw a special teams role while in Houston, but he rebounded in 2024, tallying 59 tackles and a pair of forced fumbles in 17 games (four starts).
NFL Minor Transactions: 9/16/25
Today’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: LB Maema Njongmeta (off Bengals practice squad), C Nick Samac (off Ravens practice squad)
Detroit Lions
- Signed to active roster: OL Trystan Colon
- Placed on IR: TE Shane Zylstra
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed to active roster: LB Austin Ajiake
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: CB Tre Brown
New York Giants
- Signed to active roster: LB Swayze Bozeman
- Placed on IR: LB Chris Board
Bengals’ Joe Burrow To Undergo Toe Surgery
TODAY, 6:15pm: The Bengals have officially placed Burrow on injured reserve.
MONDAY, 8:00am: Joe Burrow‘s turf toe led to overnight concerns about surgery being necessary. The Bengals passer will indeed take that route, meaning a lengthy absence is in store. 
Burrow is set to undergo surgery on his injured toe, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Multiple opinions were sought out before this decision was made, but Ian Rapoport of NFL Network adds there was a consensus amongst the experts consulted. An absence of at least three months is expected while Burrow recovers.
Midway through the Bengals’ Week 2 game, Burrow injured his toe while being sacked. The two-time Pro Bowler was later seen on crutches and in a walking boot, creating the possibility of a long-term spell on the shelf. Burrow has a history of injuries throughout his Bengals career, and today’s news confirms his track record in that regard will expand.
The 28-year-old is in danger of missing most of the season’s remainder, if not the rest of the campaign in its entirety. As a result, Cincinnati’s outlook for 2025 has been dealt a blow. The team is 2-0 following Sunday’s comeback win over Jacksonville, but backup Jake Browning will now be counted on to lead the way on offense. The Bengals’ defense faced questions entering the season – even with Trey Hendrickson‘s hold-in being ended via a raise covering 2025 – but that unit will be required to deliver strong performances on a consistent basis moving forward.
Burrow, 28, has won the Comeback Player of the Year award twice (2021, 2024) as a sign of his ability to perform among the league’s best when healthy. He led the NFL in passing yards (4,918) and touchdowns (43) last year, and expectations remained high for Cincinnati’s offense with wideouts Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins signing joint extensions this spring. Their futures are in place beyond 2025, and Burrow is on the books through 2029.
In the immediate term, though, attention will turn to Browning and his ability to guide the Bengals on offense. The former UDFA made his 13th regular season appearance yesterday, each of which have come with Cincinnati. Browning went 21-of-32 for 241 yards and a pair of touchdowns (while also rushing for the game-winning score). He did throw three interceptions, however, so ball protection will be a priority over the coming games. During a seven-game span filling in for Burrow in 2023, Browning compiled a 4-3 record and a 12:7 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
Browning is currently the only healthy passer on the Bengals’ active roster. Brett Rypien is in place on the practice squad, so it would be feasible for him to be promoted in the near future. Logan Woodside was with the Bengals early this offseason before being cut in July. That move came about after Desmond Ridder was signed, although the former Falcon and Raider was among the team’s final roster cuts.
To no surprise, Schefter adds the Bengals are making contact with free agent quarterbacks knowing Burrow will be sidelined for an extended period. Ridder is on the market, and he could be a (somewhat) familiar face for the organization regarding an in-season addition. With over $12MM in cap space, Cincinnati could afford a low-cost addition under center. With Ridder or another passer in place to back up Browning, however, the team’s chances of reaching the playoffs will be decidedly lowered. Burrow, meanwhile, now faces another lengthy recovery outlook.
Commanders Host DE Preston Smith
The Commanders are eyeing an old friend for some help on the edge. Pass rusher Preston Smith visited the team today, according to ESPN’s Field Yates.
[RELATED: Commanders DE Deatrich Wise Suffers Season-Ending Quad Injury]
A second-round pick in 2015, Smith spent the first four years of his career in Washington. He never truly lived up to his draft billing, although he didn’t miss a start between 2016 and 2018. His best statistical season with the franchise may have come in a limited role during his rookie campaign, when he compiled eight sacks and three forced fumbles. Over the next three years, Smith added another 16.5 sacks to his resume.
He joined the Packers ahead of the 2019 season and had his most productive year, finishing with 12 sacks and 23 QB hits. He ended up serving as a full-time starter for Green Bay through the 2023 season, with the pass rusher tallying 25.5 sacks between 2021 and 2023.
He started nine games for the Packers in 2024 before getting dealt midseason to the Steelers, where he served in a part-time role. He finished last season with 32 tackles and 4.5 sacks. He was released by Pittsburgh back in February and has spent the last seven months unsigned.
He could find his next opportunity where his career started. The Commanders need some help at defensive end after Deatrich Wise suffered a season-ending quad injury. Newcomers Jacob Martin and Von Miller will be asked to pick up some of the slack alongside Dorance Armstrong and Javontae Jean-Baptiste, but Smith would provide some additional veteran depth to the grouping.
Smith wasn’t the only veteran defender to audition for the Commanders today. Per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, defensive lineman Quinton Jefferson also visited the team today. Jefferson most recently split the 2024 campaign between the Browns and Bills, where he collected a pair of sacks.