More Parsons/Cowboys Fallout: Negotiations, Extension Length, NFLPA
Following a mid-March meeting between Jerry Jones and Micah Parsons, the Cowboys owner was left with the belief that he reached an extension agreement with his star pass rusher. That deal obviously never came to fruition, ultimately culminating in last week’s stunning blockbuster trade with the Packers.
[RELATED: Micah Parsons Attempted To Restart Cowboys Extension Talks Prior To Trade]
Following that fateful meeting, Parsons’ agent, David Mulugheta, claims he made several attempts to resume negotiations with the organization. However, Jones apparently stuck to his apparent handshake agreement and refused to return to the the negotiating table.
“To expect somebody like Micah Parsons to be one of the best defenders in the NFL and also a great lawyer when it comes to contracts, I think it’s a bit unfair,” Mulugheta said during an appearance on ESPN’s “First Take” yesterday (via ESPN’s Rob Demovsky and Todd Archer). “His job is to go out there and chase quarterbacks, and our job is to go out there and chase commas for him. I’m not sure exactly why it went this way, but we were always prepared and open to negotiating a contract with the Jones family.”
Mulugheta made it clear that his client always wanted to remain a Cowboy, and despite the public stare down with the organization, Parsons would have suited up for Week 1 without a new contract. That made Jones’ refusal to resume negotiations especially frustrating for the player’s camp.
“If you’re a [then-]25-year-old football player and your boss, who happens to be the most powerful person in the NFL, starts talking about contracts, it’s hard for you to end that conversation,” Mulugheta said. “So they had a conversation. Micah nodded his head out of respect.
“Obviously there’s a power dynamic that’s a little different there. One guy’s the owner of the team and the GM, and the other one is Micah Parsons, a young 25-year-old football player. So, I’m not sure if there was miscommunication there by the time Micah walked out, but at no point did Micah believe that he was negotiating a contract.”
While there apparently wasn’t much back-and-forth between the two sides, it sounds like the Cowboys still had a definitive contract on the table. Jones claimed they offered Parsons a contract that would have made him the highest-paid non-QB in league history, and sources told ESPN that the offer exceeded $150MM. However, the main difference in the Cowboys’ standing offer and the four-year, $188MM deal Parsons ultimately accepted from the Packers was the length. As Mulugheta notes, the Cowboys were sticking to a five-year offer, a contract that the agent believes would have cost his client about $60MM to $70MM in future earnings.
There was also some belief that Jones was potentially circumventing CBA rules by attempting to negotiate with Parsons directly. The interim leader of the NFL Players’ Association, David White, seemed to tiptoe around the controversy when asked about the matter.
“We intend to enforce every provision of the collective bargaining agreement when we think that there may be a violation,” White said (via Rob Maaddi of the Associated Press). “And the best way to do that is to call people and say: ‘Knock it off.’ When both sides are able to do that, when needed, that usually makes for a productive management-labor relationship. When it doesn’t work, for whatever reason, that’s when you take it to the next level, which is to file a grievance to go to court, or to take whatever action is available to you under the collective bargaining agreement. In this instance, and here you’re talking about Jerry and Micah and their representatives and the other folks involved, I will say Micah has found his way to Green Bay with a contract that he has publicly stated makes him happy, and that makes us happy.”
One contender for the full-time NFLPA executive director job was a bit more pointed in his criticism. Hall of Fame cornerback Darrelle Revis took to social media to question whether Jones should be held accountable. Revis suggested that the NFLPA could look into a grievance against the Cowboys, although he acknowledged that the subsequent fine would only amount “to pennies.”
“At the very least, the NFLPA should be saying it does not condone what Jerry is doing, that all options are on the table, and reminding players that if ownership ever tries to deal with them directly while represented, they should contact their agent and the union immediately,” Revis wrote. “The bigger issue is respect. Jerry’s actions show that owners have no problem taking advantage of us, and when our union fails to respond, it sends the message that they’ll be able to do the same in the next CBA negotiations if the current leadership remains in place.”
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/3/25
Today’s practice squad moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: S J.T. Gray
- Released: CB Thomas Graham
Buffalo Bills
- Released: S Jordan Poyer
Detroit Lions
- Signed: QB C.J. Beathard
Houston Texans
- Signed: WR Silas Bolden, CB D’Angelo Ross, OT Sidy Sow
- Released: G Reid Holskey, LB K.C. Ossai, OT Jaylon Thomas
New England Patriots
- Signed: LB Darius Harris
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: CB Eli Ricks
- Released: OL Hollin Pierce
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: WR Lance McCutcheon, LB Jon Rhattigan
- Released: OL Aiden Williams
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: WR Russell Gage
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: RB Damien Martinez
Tennessee Titans
- Released: DL Isaiah Raikes
The Ravens added a notable special teamer to their taxi squad today, agreeing to a deal with veteran J.T. Gray. The 29-year-old spent his entire professional career with the Saints before getting cut by the team last week. The majority of Gray’s playing time has come on special teams, where he’s earned three All-Pro nods for his efforts. As Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic notes, the veteran will likely see a role in Baltimore, as the team is still looking to fill holes left by a handful of departed core special teamers this past offseason.
To accommodate the addition of old friend Gabe Davis to the practice squad, the Bills had to get a bit creative. Temporarily, the team has released veteran safety Jordan Poyer, but the former Buffalo starter shouldn’t be gone for long. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston, Poyer is expected to rejoin the Bills practice squad once Davis is placed on the taxi squad injured list.
The Lions landed on a third-string quarterback after holding an audition earlier today. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports that the team has signed C.J. Beathard to the practice squad. Beathard worked out for the team earlier today alongside Nathan Peterman. Beathard has only started one game since garnering 12 starts for the 49ers between 2017 and 2020. He split last season with the Jaguars and Dolphins without getting into a game. In Detroit, he’ll serve as a third-stringer behind Jared Goff and Kyle Allen.
NFL Minor Transactions: 9/3/25
Today’s list of minor moves consists of players removed from injured reserve via injury settlements:
Chicago Bears
- Released from IR: S Tysheem Johnson
Cincinnati Bengals
- Released from IR: OT Caleb Etienne
Miami Dolphins
- Released from IR: Bayron Matos
New York Giants
- Released from IR: Jermaine Terry
San Francisco 49ers
- Released from IR: QB Tanner Mordecai
Seattle Seahawks
- Released from IR: John Rhys Plumlee
Lucas Patrick Named Bengals Starting RG
The Bengals have finally settled on their starting offensive line ahead of Week 1. While most of the spots had previously been settled, there were still questions about the team’s choice at right guard. While speaking with reporters today, coach Zac Taylor revealed that Lucas Patrick will get the starting gig to begin the season (per ESPN’s Ben Baby).
Patrick was added on a one-year contract this offseason to provide some competition for holdover Cody Ford, who started nine games during his second season in Cincy. We heard in early August that Ford appeared to have the inside track to keep the job. Patrick sat out a handful of early practices thanks to injury, and his modest $200K in guaranteed money made him a logical cut candidate.
The Bengals added some more depth to the position when they recently signed Dalton Risner, leading to some belief that the recent addition could suddenly be in pole position for the starting RG job. Instead, it was Patrick who won out, although Taylor warned that he wouldn’t be afraid to pivot if the need arises. This means Risner is temporarily the backup guard, while Ford represents the team’s main backup OT option.
Patrick brings plenty of experience to his new squad. The lineman spent the first part of his career as a depth piece in Green Bay, but he emerged as a starting guard in 2020 and starting center in 2021. That performance earned him a two-year contract from the Bears, and after being limited to seven games (five starts) in 2022, the lineman started 15 of his 16 appearances in 2023. The 32-year-old spent the 2024 campaign with the Saints, where he started 10 games.
Patrick’s versatility has clearly been valued by his teams, but the advanced metrics haven’t been especially fond of his on-field production. The veteran has generally graded out as a below-average guard or center throughout his career, although he rebounded with a 37th-place finish (among 77 qualifying guards) in 2024.
The rest of the Bengals offensive line features left tackle Orlando Brown, rookie left guard Dylan Fairchild, center Ted Karras, and right tackle Amarius Mims.
Raiders WR Jakobi Meyers Rescinds Trade Request
The Raiders recently refused Jakobi Meyers‘ trade request, and the wide receiver is no longer pushing the matter. In a candid chat with reporters today, the veteran acknowledged that he’s sticking with the franchise for the time being and has rescinded his trade request.
[RELATED: Raiders Turned Down Jakobi Meyers Interest]
“It’s a job,” Meyers said (via NFL.com’s Nick Shook). “At the end of the day, I’m happy to be doing my job with my boys but I can be happy anywhere.”
Meyers was reportedly seeking a raise on his active $11MM-per-year contract. The Raiders weren’t eager to adjust that arrangement, leading to the receiver’s sudden trade request in late August. The organization made it clear that they didn’t have any intention of moving on from their top receiver, which seemingly ended the conversation relatively quickly.
“I asked, they said no. That’s where that stopped,” Meyers explained. “I mean, I’m just going to keep doing my job until something shakes out either way, honestly. I don’t know which way it’s going to go, but I’ll be ready for whatever.”
A former UDFA, Meyers parlayed his performance in New England into a three-year contract with the Raiders. His first two seasons in Las Vegas have been among the most productive of his career. After hauling in a career-high 10 touchdowns in 2023, Meyers finished with a career-high 1,027 receiving yards in 2024. That latter performance came as the Raiders moved on from Davante Adams, and despite some major changes to the organization heading into 2025, Meyers still sits atop the depth chart.
With the Raiders eyeing a receivers corps that otherwise features Tre Tucker, old friend Amari Cooper, and a pair of rookies (second rounder Jack Bech and fourth rounder Dont’e Thornton), it’s not a surprise that the front office wants to retain Meyers as they install a new offense around Geno Smith. If Meyers maintains his WR1 status throughout the 2025 campaign, he’ll have an opportunity to cash in as a free agent after the season.
Lions Work Out QBs C.J. Beathard, Nathan Peterman
Separating from Hendon Hooker after the former backup could not beat out Kyle Allen for the Lions’ backup job, the NFC power is still looking around at quarterback.
The two-time reigning NFC North champions brought in C.J. Beathard and Nathan Peterman for auditions Wednesday, per the Detroit Football Network’s Justin Rogers. With Hooker now on the Panthers’ practice squad, the Lions only have two QBs on the active roster and none on the practice squad heading into the season.
Teams almost always carry three passers into a season, with the increased flexibility for emergency third options helping clubs in this area. Jared Goff‘s durability would point to the Lions keeping only two (Goff and Allen) on their active roster, but a P-squad presence is probably needed at some point.
Despite woeful work early in his Bills run, Peterman has put together a lengthy career as a third-stringer or backup. The 31-year-old QB spent the full 2024 season on the Falcons’ practice squad, marking his eighth year in the NFL. Previously, Peterman enjoyed reserve opportunities with the Raiders and Bears. His most recent start — Week 18 of the 2022 season — helped the Bears secure the No. 1 overall pick in 2023.
The Jets worked out this duo together in mid-August, making for an interesting overlap. Beathard spent last season with the Dolphins and Jaguars, returning to Jacksonville after being signed off Miami’s practice squad. Beathard, 31, previously lost out on the Jags’ QB2 job to Mac Jones out of training camp last year. Like Peterman, he has not caught on with a team in 2025. Having made 13 career starts (to Peterman’s five), Beathard — a former third-round 49ers pick — is the far more experienced option.
AFC South Notes: Texans, Jaguars, Grant
The Texans shopped Cam Robinson before last week’s roster-setting deadline but held onto the $12MM tackle. However, Houston’s O-line overhaul indeed will not have a Week 1 job waiting for the ninth-year veteran. Aireontae Ersery beat out Robinson for the Texans’ left tackle position, according to the team’s depth chart. This indicates a high degree of confidence in the Minnesota product, whom the team traded up for in Round 2. Robinson joins 2024 second-round pick Blake Fisher as backup tackles. The veteran’s name could appear in pre-deadline trade rumors for the second straight year. Laken Tomlinson, Jake Andrews and Ed Ingram round out Houston’s front five. Robinson, 29, has started all 101 games he has played. That streak will end Sunday.
Here is the latest from the AFC South:
- C.J. Gardner-Johnson was feared to have suffered a training camp ACL tear. Even when the veteran safety turned out to have evaded a season-ending diagnosis, he missed time leading up to the season. As it turns out, the famed trash talker is expected to be on the field for the Texans in Week 1, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets. The Texans are down Jimmie Ward, who is on the commissioner’s exempt list, but having CJGJ available alongside Calen Bullock will help one of the NFL’s best defenses.
- Houston created nearly $5MM in cap space by restructuring Dalton Schultz‘s contract, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes. This is a simple restructure, rather than a true rework, with most of the veteran TE’s 2025 base salary shifted into a signing bonus to drop his cap hit from $14MM to $9.09MM. Schultz’s three-year, $36MM deal still runs through 2026, though it now carries a $18.92MM 2026 cap number.
- The Jaguars‘ backfield makeup is rather interesting entering the season. Two holdovers (Travis Etienne, Tank Bigsby) join two Liam Coen–James Gladstone rookie investments (Bhayshul Tuten, LeQuint Allen) on the depth chart. While Etienne came up as a trade candidate earlier this year, the former first-rounder remains rostered. Despite going in the seventh round, Allen has impressed Jags brass enough a role as the team’s third-down back is in play, per ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano. A two-year starter at Syracuse, Allen led the ACC with 20 touchdowns last season. His third and final Orange year produced a pass-game uptick — in the form of 64 catches for 521 yards. With Tuten clocking a 4.32-second 40-yard dash time at the Combine, the Jags have an interesting array of options here. While Travis Hunter‘s early-season deployment will garner far more attention, how the Jags’ RB hierarchy looks will also be of interest as the Coen era starts.
- Bumped off the 49ers’ 53-man roster after making the initial squad, Richie Grant is still receiving looks. The Colts worked out Grant (32 career starts) this week, ESPN.com’s Nick Wagoner notes. Indianapolis also brought in Boston Scott for an audition, per NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo. Scott has not caught on with a team yet this year; the 30-year-old RB — a six-year Eagles contributor — did not see any game action in 2024.
Chargers’ Najee Harris To Play In Week 1
3:23pm: Harris will be expected to suit up and play Friday, Harbaugh said (via NFL.com’s Omar Ruiz). This will run Harris’ regular-season games-played streak to 69 to open his career.
1:50pm: The Chargers having their preferred one-two backfield punch Friday firmly in play. Running back Najee Harris said (via Daniel Popper of The Athletic) that he is “ramping up” to the team’s regular-season opener on Friday in Brazil.
Harris injured his eye in a July fireworks mishap that sidelined him for virtually all of training camp. The veteran running back added that his vision has not been affected by the injury, which he described as “superficial,” the same word used by his agent when it originally happened.
Jim Harbaugh stopped short of guaranteeing Harris would be available in Week 1, but the second-year Chargers coach said (via ESPN.com’s Kris Rhim) he was cleared for contact Monday. He then went through a full practice Tuesday. Full practices usually point to players suiting up that week, but with Harris being cleared nearly two months after his injury, it would be understandable if the Bolts exercised caution here.
The Chargers gave Harris a one-year, $5.25MM deal in free agency but then used their first-round pick on Omarion Hampton. The latter move certainly affected Harris’ outlook in Los Angeles, and a player that had never missed a game with Pittsburgh then ran into this off-field injury. Harris did not resume running until mid-August, but swift progress has come since. He avoided the reserve/NFI list and represents a wild card for the Chargers’ Brazil tilt against the Chiefs.
The Bolts have not beaten the Chiefs since the 2021 season, and this is their “home” game against the perennial AFC West champions. If Harris were deemed unable to go, the Chargers would have Hassan Haskins — an ex-Harbaugh Michigan charge who joined the team after being a Titans cut — as Hampton’s backup. The 2022 fifth-rounder logged 34 carries for the Chargers last season; he has only taken 59 NFL handoffs.
With Hampton signed for four seasons (with the option of a fifth due to his first-round status), Harris looks like he will start an audition season soon. Putting this fireworks accident behind him will be critical to building a case for a better 2026 free agency accord. The increasingly run-focused Bolts will also have a four-time 1,000-yard rusher ready to complement a first-round pick soon, marking a positive update compared to where things stood not long ago.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.
Latest On Ravens’ Recovery Outlooks
September 3: Likely is not expected to play in Baltimore’s regular-season opener against the Bills on Sunday night, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. He avoided landing on the IR to start the season, raising hopes that he would be available early in the season. However, his 2025 debut will not come in Week 1, but his recovery is proceeding smoothly.
Cornerback Jaire Alexander is practicing for the first time since August 9 as he dealt with a knee issue, per ESPN’s Jamison Hensley. However, fullback Patrick Ricard has been absent since August 14 and seems “highly questionable” to play in Buffalo, per Zrebiec.
August 30: The Ravens have worked to improve how they’re taking care of their players in the offseason and training camp ever since the 2021 season saw them lose Gus Edwards, J.K. Dobbins, Rashod Bateman, Devin Duvernay, Lamar Jackson, and even their mascot, Poe, to season-ending injuries. They aren’t immune to preseason injuries, though, and a few updates have come through on the injuries Baltimore is dealing with.
Early in the preseason, the Ravens saw rookie sixth-round cornerback Bilhal Kone go down with a season-ending knee injury. At this point, Kone’s now undergone full repairs on the torn ACL and MCL, as well as the lateral meniscus damage. His recovery timeline, per Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports, is set to be around 10-12 months. It will be a tough road back for the rookie out of Western Michigan, but barring any setbacks, he should be able to make his NFL debut in 2026.
A player with a much shorter recovery timeline, tight end Isaiah Likely is expected to be back “at some point in the early part of the season,” per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. Likely needed surgery for a broken bone in his foot at the beginning of the month. Many expected that he may end up on injured reserve with a designation to return, but the Ravens kept him on the active roster, meaning that they don’t expect Likely to miss the first four weeks of the season.
Zrebiec also gave an update on rookie third-round offensive tackle Emery Jones. He’s starting the season on the reserve/non-football injury list as he recovers from surgery a week after the combine for a shoulder injury that Baltimore knew all about when they drafted him. They’ll allow some time for him to get back in shape once healthy, so there’s no rush, but it sounds like they do expect him to get on the field as a rookie at some point.
Cowboys’ Trevon Diggs, Tyler Guyton Expected To Play In Week 1
September 3: Diggs is expected to play in Thursday night’s matchup against the Eagles, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. The Cowboys are still planning to be cautious with Diggs and may limit his snap count, but his return to the field is impressive after undergoing major knee surgery in January.
Guyton is also expected to play, according to Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News.
September 1: The Cowboys are hoping that cornerback Trevon Diggs and left tackle Tyler Guyton will be ready for their regular season opener against the Eagles on Thursday, but neither is certain to take the field.
Diggs is working his way back to full strength after undergoing knee surgery in January. Expectations of an early-season return kept him on the 53-man roster rather than the physically unable to perform list during last week’s cut-downs. Diggs gave himself a “75-80 percent” chance of playing on Thursday night, per The Athletic’s Jon Machota.
If Diggs is good to go, he’ll start on the boundary opposite Kaiir Elam with DaRon Bland in the slot. Without Diggs, however, the Cowboys may have to shuffle their secondary. Bland moved into the slot this offseason, but he could play on the boundary until Diggs’ return with backup Reddy Steward starting at nickel. Dallas could also keep Bland in the slot and call upon seventh-round rookie Trikweze Bridges or veteran special teams ace C.J. Goodwin on the outside.
Guyton is recovering from a knee injury suffered at the beginning of training camp. He was diagnosed with a bone fracture and a sprained knee, allowing him to avoid season-ending surgery as well as an injured list placement to start the season. Guyton told All City DLLS’ Clarence Hill that he is expecting to play on Thursday night, but that decision hasn’t been officially made.
If Guyton doesn’t play, 2024 seventh-rounder Nathan Thomas is next up on the Cowboys’ depth chart and would likely get the start at left tackle. Thomas spent his rookie year on the IR and started the first two games of the preseason this year.
Both Diggs and Guyton were full participants in Monday’s practice, an encouraging sign for their availability on Thursday.