HEADLINES

Month: November 2025

Frankie Luvu’s One-Game Suspension Dropped Upon Appeal

November 4th, 2025 at 9:29pm CST by Connor Byrne

NOVEMBER 4: NFL senior vice president of football & international communications Michael Signora announced tonight that Luvu’s one-game suspension has been reduced to a $100K fine. Hall of Fame linebacker Derrick Brooks was appointed by the NFL and NFL Players Association to be the hearing officer for the appeal, and his decision means that Luvu will be available to play this weekend. The overturning of the punishment initially levied further shrouds the league’s interpretations of the controversial hip drop tackle penalty.

NOVEMBER 3: The NFL has suspended Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu one game without pay “for repeated violations of playing rules intended to protect the health and safety of players, including during Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks,” Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. Luvu will appeal the suspension.

For now, Luvu is slated to sit out the Commanders’ game against the Lions in Week 10 as a result of multiple hip-drop tackles this season. The NFL already fined the 29-year-old earlier in 2025 for violations in Weeks 4 and 8. His latest came during the Commanders’ loss to the Seahawks on Sunday night. The league will dock Luvu his $508,333 game check if his appeal fails.

When NFL teams voted unanimously to outlaw hip-drop tackles in March 2024, the league stated: “A hip-drop tackle occurs when a defender wraps up a ball carrier and rotates or swivels his hips, unweighting himself and dropping onto ball carrier’s legs during the tackle.”

After analyzing over 20,000 tackles, the league concluded that “this specific technique causes lower extremity injuries at a rate 20 times higher than other tackles, resulting in an unacceptable risk to player health and safety.” A season and half has gone by since then, but it’s believed that Luvu’s suspension is the first for hip-drop violations, Pelissero notes.

A former Jet and Panther, Luvu joined the Commanders on a three-year deal worth up to $36MM before the 2024 season. He started in all 17 of the team’s regular-season games last year and posted 99 tackles, a career-high eight sacks, an interception, and a forced fumble. The 29-year-old has again played in all of the Commanders’ games this season, logging 50 tackles, two sacks, and a forced fumble along the way. Barring a successful appeal, though, his run of perfect attendance with Washington is over.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/4/25

November 4th, 2025 at 7:37pm CST by Ely Allen

With lots of roster movement surrounding the trade deadline, practice squads needed rearranging, as well. Here are today’s practice squad updates:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

The Texans are bringing Wright on as an emergency option as regular kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn works through an injury. Wright has plenty of experience in this role as this will be his fourth team this year alone.

NFL Minor Transactions: 11/4/25

November 4th, 2025 at 6:44pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are Tuesday’s minor transactions after a busy trade deadline:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

  • Waived (with injury designation): S J.T. Gray

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Los Angeles Chargers

Philadelphia Eagles

Seattle Seahawks

Washington Commanders

Usually when a player retires in the middle of the season, it’s a free agent who hoped they’d find a home due to the attrition of the regular season but never do. Rarely do we see active players like Lovato retiring partway through a campaign like this. Lovato is choosing to go out on his own terms, though, as it appears he was close to being released. Los Angeles only signed Lovato just before the season because its regular long snapper, Josh Harris, got hurt and placed on the team’s injured reserve with a designation to return. Harris returned to practice last week, so seeing the writing on the wall, Lovato is saving the Chargers the trouble of releasing him.

Kane had been a core special teamer for the Ravens since getting drafted out of the seventh round last year but had been made a healthy scratch in each of the team’s past two games. Jackson, though, has emerged as a standout on the unit over three practice squad elevations. The Ravens wanted Jackson to keep playing, so he’ll take Kane’s spot on the 53-man roster.

Reed’s time on Seattle’s active roster was short-lived. They’ll likely plan for him to sign back to the practice squad, but he’ll have to clear waivers before they can bring him back. The same is expected of Davis in Dallas.

Latest On Giants’ Trade Deadline

November 4th, 2025 at 5:47pm CST by Connor Byrne

The Giants had a quiet trade deadline, but it wasn’t for lack of effort. General manager Joe Schoen “feverishly worked the phones from all angles in recent weeks,” Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post writes. Schoen called about some “big players,” Jordan Raanan of ESPN adds, but wasn’t in position to surrender significant draft capital.

At 2-7 and all but eliminated from playoff contention, the Giants were only going to add if it meant acquiring a player (or players) under control beyond this season, per Dunleavy. Having lost No. 1 wide receiver Malik Nabers to a season-ending ACL tear in Week 4, the Giants were reportedly “big-game hunting” at the position in mid-October. However, that was before the Giants dropped three straight games and drifted out of the postseason race.

It’s unclear if the Giants were in on any receivers on Tuesday, but Jakobi Meyers and Rashid Shaheed were the only proven wideouts who ended up on the move. As pending free agents, neither player was a fit for the Giants. The Dolphins listened to offers for Jaylen Waddle, who’s under control through 2028, but nobody would meet their asking price of a first-round pick and more.

With the deadline having come and gone with no receiver addition, the Giants will head into the offseason with Nabers and Darius Slayton as their top options for 2026. Otherwise, New York doesn’t have any reliable wideouts under contract for next year.

As the Giants’ leading receiver this year, soon-to-be free agent Wan’Dale Robinson has formed a rapport with rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart. Robinson would like to remain a Giant, but if the team doesn’t re-sign him, it could find a replacement via the draft, trade, or free agency. That’ll be up to the GM to decide, whether it’s Schoen or someone else.

Quinnen Williams Made Multiple Trade Requests In Final Jets Stretch

November 4th, 2025 at 4:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Jets cleaned house Tuesday. While several of the team’s trade chips are still on the roster, the club cashed out on Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams on deadline day.

Gardner is now a Colt, while the Cowboys paid up to pry Williams from the Jets. As it turned out, the Pro Bowl defensive tackle wanted out. Williams had made three separate trade requests to the Jets, according to SNY’s Connor Hughes. They met the last one, dealing him to Dallas in exchange for a 2026 second-round pick, a 2027 first and former first-round D-tackle Mazi Smith.

Aaron Glenn was critical of Williams in their head-to-head meeting upon the former Lions DC taking the HC job, with Hughes noting the relationship began to spiral at that point. Williams also was not onboard with the Jets’ quarterback plan, commenting on X that it would be “another rebuilding year” for him after the team cut Aaron Rodgers this offseason. Glenn addressed that disapproval with Williams months ago, and while the standout D-tackle called his tweet immature, Hughes notes the Rodgers release did mark a key point on the Williams-Jets timeline.

The Jets have struggled with Justin Fields at the helm, benching him in Week 7 and then seemingly being prepared to start Tyrod Taylor in Week 8 before the backup was deemed unable to play due to injury. A 2019 draftee, Williams has not been part of an eight-win team yet as a Jet. He will head to a Cowboys team that has been far more successful in recent years, albeit one synonymous with postseason failure.

Williams’ trade asks stemmed from unhappiness with the Jets’ direction, per The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt. He is certainly not the first veteran to gripe about being part of a rebuild, and the Jets’ 0-7 start pointed them in that direction ahead of the trade deadline. Breece Hall made a trade request following the Williams and Gardner deals, but the Jets held onto their starting running back.

As Williams’ frustration with the situation spread around the NFL, Rosenblatt adds the Jets were still informing teams they were not trading him. The Jets discussed him with the Cowboys as part of a potential Micah Parsons trade, but no deal happened then. Hughes previously noted the team’s stance softened here, and the Jets began listening on deadline deals involving their top D-lineman recently. Receiving first- and second-round picks became enough to sever ties. He now joins Kenny Clark and Osa Odighizuwa in a Dallas DT corps including three $20MM-per-year contracts.

The Jets gave Williams a four-year, $96MM extension in July 2023. At the time, the former No. 3 overall pick’s $47.86MM fully guaranteed topped the market at DT. Chris Jones, Nnamdi Madubuike and Milton Williams now top that, and Christian Wilkins had done so before his messy Raiders divorce. Williams had also pushed for a rework, according to Hughes, that would have added guaranteed money to his deal.

Only $5MM guaranteed remains on the Alabama alum’s contract post-2025, but with Williams under contract through 2027 and the Jets changing regimes, nothing happened on this front. Williams, 27, had then made it known he had no intention to sign another Jets extension. Mike Maccagnan drafted Williams, and Joe Douglas extended him. After Darren Mougey traded him, the Cowboys will be the ones in charge of a potential rework now.

Jets Acquire CB Ja’Sir Taylor From Chargers

November 4th, 2025 at 4:19pm CST by Connor Byrne

The Jets pulled off the two biggest trades of deadline day in the NFL on Tuesday, sending cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Colts and defensive lineman Quinnen Williams to the Cowboys. They also made a small addition before the deadline, acquiring cornerback Ja’Sir Taylor from the Chargers for a conditional seventh-round pick in 2028. Both teams have announced the move.

Now 26 years old, Taylor joined the Chargers as a sixth-round pick from Wake Forest in 2022. Taylor has since appeared in 57 regular-season games, including all nine of the Bolts’ contests this year, and picked up 11 starts and an interception.

Before the trade, Taylor spent 2025 working almost exclusively on special teams. He amassed 175 snaps on the Chargers’ ST unit and just 16 on defense.

Taylor is now heading back to his native New Jersey to join a Jets team that lost its best corner on Tuesday. Gardner’s departure came less than a week after the Jets traded fellow CB Michael Carter II to the Eagles. With Gardner and Carter gone, Taylor may have a shot at playing time in what’s now a shorthanded New York secondary.

Dolphins Took Calls On Jaylen Waddle; Broncos Showed Interest

November 4th, 2025 at 4:07pm CST by Connor Byrne

Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle came up as a trade candidate in advance of Tuesday’s deadline. Ultimately, no deal came together for the 26-year-old, who will finish the season in Miami.

The Dolphins took calls on Waddle, but their asking price of a first-round pick and more was too high for other clubs, according to Connor Hughes of SNY.

With the Broncos in the market for a receiver, they were among a few teams to reach out to the Dolphins regarding Waddle’s availability, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports. In the end, though, the AFC West leaders didn’t add Waddle or any other wideout on Tuesday. Head coach Sean Payton said the Broncos weren’t close to a trade, adding they’re content with their roster (via Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette).

Depending on how the rest of the campaign unfolds, it’s possible the Broncos (and other teams) will circle back to Waddle during the offseason. By then, the Dolphins will have a new general manager who could be amenable to moving Waddle. Even if the Dolphins promote interim GM Champ Kelly, who took over for the ousted Chris Grier last week, a deal may not be out of the question. Unlike Grier, Kelly was at least willing to listen to offers for Waddle.

If Waddle does stay with the Dolphins in 2026, which will be his sixth season, the former Alabama standout is likely to function as their No. 1 wideout again. Tyreek Hill was Miami’s leading receiver in each of the previous three years, but after suffering a season-ending knee injury in late September, he may have played his last game with the team. The Dolphins are expected to release Hill before the new league year begins in March.

Despite subpar quarterback play this season from Tua Tagovailoa, who may be playing for his job, Waddle is on pace for his fourth 1,000-yard showing. Nine games into 2025, Waddle has racked up 41 catches, 586 yards, and four touchdowns. With Waddle continuing to excel and under team control through 2028, Miami isn’t in any hurry to part with him.

Jacoby Brissett To Remain Cardinals’ Starting QB

November 4th, 2025 at 3:57pm CST by Adam La Rose

Jacoby Brissett helped lead the Cardinals to a win last night and continued to guide the offense in a way which invited questions about a change atop the quarterback depth chart. Head coach Jonathan Gannon shut those down, but a change of heart may have quickly taken place.

Brissett will in fact continue in his position as Arizona’s QB1, Gannon announced on Tuesday. It remains to be seen if Kyler Murray will be healthy in time for Week 10, but even in that event he will dress as the team’s backup. That would of course represent a major development.

Arizona’s offense has not matched expectations with Murray at the helm. By contrast, the unit has delivered more consistent performances during Brissett’s starts. Gannon’s comments about no permanent swap being considered came as little surprise given the team’s financial commitment to Murray. The former No. 1 pick is under contract through 2028 on a pact which averages $46.1MM per year. Spending any time on the bench while healthy would no doubt lead to a spike in speculation about his Cardinals future.

Gannon noted Murray continues to recover, leaving the door open to him being able to dress in Week 10. The 28-year-old faces the risk of reaggravating his foot injury in the event he returns to action too quickly, however. As such, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports a timeline of four to eight weeks remains in place after consultations with multiple doctors. Surgery is not under consideration, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network adds.

Gannon has repeatedly spoken glowingly about Murray, who is already owed $36.8MM in guarantees for next season. Similarly, his 2027 salary will vest this coming March. By that point, a clearer picture will emerge regarding Murray’s status in terms of his health and his standing with the franchise. The two-time Pro Bowler has started each of his 88 combined regular and postseason appearances to date.

Brissett, 32, has seen time with six NFL teams over the course of his career. He has posted strong numbers (102.5 passer rating, 6:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio) this season while overseeing the Cardinals’ offense. It remains to be seen if that will continue on a permanent basis, but in addition to Murray’s progress in recovery it will be worth monitoring how the team operates when both of its passers are healthy.

Eagles Designate Nolan Smith For Return From IR

November 4th, 2025 at 3:34pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Eagles made a trade addition along the edge yesterday. The team’s pass rush could receive an internal boost in the near future as well.

Nolan Smith has been designated for return from injured reserve, per a team announcement. The move allows him to return to practice and opens his 21-day activation window. If Smith is not brought onto the active roster within that span, he will be sidelined for the remainder of the season.

A strained triceps muscle landed Smith on IR in September. That injury dealt a blow to Philadelphia’s EDGE room, one which has since undergone plenty of changes. Za’Darius Smith retired shortly into his Eagles tenure, while Brandon Graham has returned to the franchise after hanging up his cleats. Most recently, Jaelan Phillips has been acquired in a trade with the Dolphins.

Phillips is a pending free agent, but the Eagles parted with a third-round pick to acquire him. The 26-year-old can be expected to handle a heavy workload upon arrival, and it will be interesting to see how fares during his second stint working with defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. Once Smith is back in the fold, he will look to form a strong tandem along the edge with Phillips.

The 2023 first-rounder developed into a starter during his second campaign, notching 6.5 sacks. Smith was a first-team presence to begin the current season before going down. Remaining healthy the rest of the way will be critical to the Eagles’ chances of repeating as Super Bowl champions. It will be interesting to see if he is activated in time for the team’s Week 10 contest.

The Eagles have six IR activations remaining for the year. Smith will (just like cornerback Jakorian Bennett) account for one when he is brought back into the fold, something which will provide a needed spark to Philadelphia’s pass rush group.

Saints To Send OL Trevor Penning To Bolts

November 4th, 2025 at 3:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

Minutes before the trade deadline, the Chargers struck a deal to address their depleted offensive line. They are acquiring Trevor Penning from the Saints, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The Bolts will send the Saints a 2027 sixth-rounder, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport adds.

Penning has logged extensive time at three positions along the Saints’ O-line, spending full seasons at both tackle positions before kicking inside to guard this year. New Orleans is moving on from its left guard starter after not picking up his fifth-year option this offseason.

[RELATED: 2025 NFL Trades]

Despite not coming up in trade rumors, Penning loomed as a logical candidate to be moved thanks to his starting experience at premium positions and walk-year status. The Saints did not see Penning become the left tackle mainstay they hoped when they drafted him in 2022, and passing on his 2026 guarantee made him a free agent-to-be. Now, the Chargers will evaluate him. Though, their situation points to Penning still making it to the market come March.

Los Angeles has lost both its starting tackles — Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt — to season-ending injuries. Alt has battled a high ankle sprain for much of the year, and the fast-emerging tackle aggravating it in Week 9 prompted the Chargers to shut him down. The 2024 top-five pick is set for season-ending ankle surgery, creating a glaring void on Justin Herbert‘s blind side. It appears the Saints will ask Penning to shift back to his original NFL position.

The Saints bailed on the Penning-at-LT plan in 2024, drafting Taliese Fuaga in the first round and moving the Oregon State product from right tackle to Derek Carr‘s blind side. Penning then slid to right tackle and started 17 games there. After being quickly benched at LT in 2023, the Northern Iowa alum fared better at RT. But the Saints did not view him as a keeper there, either, using their No. 9 overall pick on Kelvin Banks. The Texas product kicked Fuaga to RT and Penning to yet another position. The Saints had him train at left guard this offseason, and he won the job — before temporarily ceding it after a turf toe bout.

L.A. is in decent shape on its interior, despite Mekhi Becton missing time recently. Becton is not on IR, and Zion Johnson is healthy at LG. The team could use immediate help at tackle, and Penning has started 23 tames at those spots in his pro career. The 26-year-old blocker has made six guard starts this season.

Pro Football Focus rates Penning’s guard work 64th at guard this season; the advanced metrics site graded Penning 60th among tackles during his RT experiment year. The underwhelming first-rounder did not grade well during his five-game LT sample in 2023. Being asked to move around the line certainly is not an easy task, but Penning could have an immediate chance to create some free agency value by providing decent LT work as a stopgap.

The Chargers have primarily been using summer trade pickup Austin Deculus at left tackle when Alt has missed time. He has been one of the Bolts’ blockers to look overmatched this season. PFF has graded Deculus, emergency add Bobby Hart and Trey Pipkins outside the top 65 at tackle this season.

This has left the Bolts scrambling, as they have been unable to field a healthy O-line. The team also has ex-Slater LT fill-in Jamaree Salyer, but Jim Harbaugh has opted for Deculus instead. While Penning may not be plugged in immediately, it would surprise if the Division I-FCS product was not seeing tackle work fairly soon given the Chargers’ status as a playoff contender.

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