Steelers To Add CB Asante Samuel Jr.

Asante Samuel Jr.‘s extensive visit schedule will end in Pittsburgh. The Steelers will be adding the free agent cornerback, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports.

Although Fowler adds this is a practice squad deal, Samuel seemed to have options. He scheduled visits with the Panthers, Packers, Vikings, 49ers, Steelers and Bears. Pittsburgh was to be Samuel’s last summit, and that was scheduled for Wednesday. The extensively pursued defender has a new home long after becoming a first-time free agent.

Part of PFR’s top 50 free agents list in March, Samuel saw his stock freefall after it became known he needed spinal fusion surgery. The four-year Chargers starter was only cleared last week, but a host of teams took interest in that development. Players with Samuel’s combination of age (26) and starting experience (47 games) are not regularly available in November, and a Steelers defense that has taken a step back this season could receive some help.

Samuel joins a Steelers team that overhauled its cornerback cast alongside Joey Porter Jr. this offseason. The team signed Darius Slay and Brandin Echols before trading for Jalen Ramsey. The likely Hall of Fame-bound trade pickup had shifted to safety midseason but slid back to corner amid injury troubles for that unit. Slay suffered a concussion during the Steelers’ Week 10 loss to the Chargers. James Pierre saw increased duty following Slay’s injury, but the Steelers have not performed well in nearly all defensive aspects this season. Samuel could help, and he may need to make an impact to avoid a “prove it” deal in 2026.

Pittsburgh ranks last against the pass and has allowed the fifth-most total yards this season. While the team ranks 20th in points allowed and 19th in EPA per pass, a veteran-heavy defense has proven unreliable. Slay, 34, ranks outside Pro Football Focus’ top 70 corners; Porter sits 50th, Echols 56th. While Ramsey is faring well and attempting to become the latest 30-something corner to transition to safety, not much has gone right around him. The Steelers have now added Samuel and Kyle Dugger in-season, with the latter being acquired via trade with the Patriots.

Before it became known Samuel needed neck surgery, PFR ranked him 32nd among free agents entering the 2025 league year. The former Los Angeles-based ballhawk missed 13 games last season due to a stinger-type injury — at least, that was the 2024 assessment — stood to ding his stock a bit, but with this year’s top CBs available nearing their 30th birthdays, Samuel was positioned to join Paulson Adebo in benefiting. But the spinal fusion matter changed the second-generation CB’s trajectory. Samuel had visited the Cardinals and Saints in the spring, and he drew Dolphins interest following those meetings. But it took a midseason clearance for a team to pull the trigger on a deal.

PFF graded the 5-foot-10 defender as a top-30 corner in 2022 and ’23. Though Samuel gave up seven touchdowns as the closest defender during the ’22 season, he made a memorable contribution in the playoffs by intercepting Trevor Lawrence three times — albeit during a game that featured a 27-point Bolts blown lead. Samuel has shown playmaking ability, intercepting six passes from 2021-23 and totaling at least 11 passes defensed during each of those three seasons.

The former second-round pick will have seen an injury take him off the field for a sizable chunk of two seasons, and a “prove it” deal ahead of an age-27 season would further impede his chances of cashing in. This profiles as an important stretch for Samuel, who may soon be asked to be part of the Steelers’ effort to hold off the Ravens in the AFC North.

Dolphins Part Ways With Execs Adam Engroff, Anthony Hunt

Chris Grier had been with the Dolphins since 2000. The team split with its GM just before the trade deadline. Two execs who had been with the franchise longer also are out of the picture now.

Following the Dolphins’ upset win over the Bills, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero notes co-directors of player personnel Adam Engroff and Anthony Hunt are no longer with the organization. Both staffers had been with the Dolphins since the 1990s, and they had steadily ascended. They were the longest-tenured staffers in Miami’s front office, according to the Miami Herald’s C. Isaiah Smalls.

Engroff joined the Dolphins in 1999 as a scout and climbed to the director of college scouting post in 2016, the same offseason Grier took the GM reins. Grier overtaking Mike Tannenbaum as the Dolphins’ top front office decision-maker in 2019 also coincided with Engroff’s final rise within the organization, as the Dolphins elevated him to co-director of player personnel that year.

Hunt had been with the Dolphins since Dan Marino‘s prime, arriving in 1994, and he had been in the upper reaches of the team’s scouting department since 2013 — upon being promoted to co-director of pro personnel. Grier then appointed Hunt as a co-player personnel director alongside Engroff in 2019. While Engroff headed the Dolphins’ scouting department, Smalls notes Hunt worked closely with Grier on roster assembly.

It is interesting to see the Dolphins clean house on this level at this time. Scouting staffers are regularly retained through the draft, as contracts for those positions generally run beyond that point. Teams often prefer not to disrupt their scouting contingents during the runup to drafts, with many of those changes coming in May annually. Time remains to set draft boards, however, and the Dolphins are in overhaul mode despite having intentions to retain Mike McDaniel through season’s end. Though, having these positions unfilled ahead of Thanksgiving represents an interesting setup.

Champ Kelly is in place as interim GM, being hired this past offseason after a Raiders departure. Kelly is technically auditioning to replace Grier, but teams do not make a habit of removing interim tags from GMs. Stephen Ross likely has outside candidates in mind, despite Grier being an internal staffer to climb. The Dolphins last hired an outsider to head up their front office when they tabbed Tannenbaum as executive VP of football ops in 2015. Dennis Hickey is the most recent outsider to be named GM in Miami; his tenure lasted only two years (2014-15).

Bengals Open Joe Burrow’s Practice Window

NOVEMBER 11: ESPN’s Adam Schefter predicts Burrow’s likeliest return date will be Week 14 against the Bills, one game after Cincinnati’s Thanksgiving contest. Of course, it would come as no surprise if the Bengals took their record into account when deciding to activate Burrow (and more specifically, when he will next suit up). Cincinnati could drop out of playoff contention by the time his window expires, one of the factors which makes this an interesting story to follow.

NOVEMBER 10: The Bengals’ offense has found a level of stable production since the Joe Flacco trade, but his time atop the depth chart has always been seen as temporary. A step in the direction of Flacco’s QB1 run ending is being taken.

Joe Burrow is set to return to practice, as first reported by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The Bengals are opening his 21-day activation window today in a notable move for Burrow’s recovery process. Provided he is brought back onto the active roster within that time, he will be able to return to action.

When speaking on the subject, head coach Zac Taylor confirmed to no surprise Burrow will not play in Week 11. He also said (via Rapoport’s colleague Mike Garafolo) a return to action may not take place right away even after Burrow is activated. Still, today’s practice – in a limited capacity – marks a significant step in the right direction for all involved.

After Burrow suffered a turf toe injury in September, it was clear a lengthy absence would be in store. A return by December was floated as a possibility, and after successful surgery it is clear Burrow has not suffered any setbacks in his rehab. The two-time Comeback Player of the Year will look to return to a Cincinnati team still in contention for the playoffs. It very much remains to be seen if that will be possible based on the Bengals’ continued defensive struggles.

No firm timeline is in place for Burrow, although he told Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer a return by “Thanksgiving-ish” is being targeted. The Bengals are coming off their bye week, and they have games against the Steelers and Patriots upcoming. Those contests will be followed by a Thanksgiving matchup with the Ravens. Having Burrow back as soon as possible will obviously be key, but adding further to his long list of injuries at the NFL level – or even risking doing so – would not be feasible if Cincinnati were to be out of contention late.

The Bengals have lost two straight despite scoring 80 points over that span. The team sits at 3-6 on the year as a result and trails both the Steelers and Ravens for top spot in the AFC North. Cincinnati is currently two games behind Jacksonville for the final wild-card spot in the conference. Improvements on defense will be sought out coming off the bye with first-year DC Al Golden remaining in place. If efforts on that front prove fruitful, a Burrow return for the closing stages could make for an interesting finish to the year.

The 28-year-old led the NFL in passing yards and touchdowns last year. That was insufficient for the Bengals to qualify for the playoffs, and it very much remains to be seen if a return to postseason contention will be possible in 2025. Burrow managing to return would certainly offer a boost, though.

Raiders Sign LB Jamin Davis To Active Roster, Add K Greg Joseph To Practice Squad

Jackson Powers-Johnson is in danger of missing the remainder of the season due to an ankle injury. At least a four-game absence is in store.

As expected, Powers-Johnson has been moved to injured reserve. His spot on the active roster has been filled by means of a promotion rather than an outside addition. The Raiders announced on Tuesday that linebacker Jamin Davis has been signed from the practice squad.

Davis saw a heavy workload early and often during his time in Washington, topping 100 tackles and posting three sacks in 2022. The former first-rounder did not develop as hoped, however, and a position switch to defensive end did not stabilize his career. Davis was cut midway through the 2024 campaign, ending his Commanders tenure.

The Packers intially signed him to the practice squad, but it was with the Vikings that Davis made four appearances late in the season. The 26-year-old finished the campaign as a member of the Jets, but he did not survive roster cuts at the end of training camp this summer. Davis landed with the Raiders on their taxi squad roughly one month ago, and he will now look to remain on the active roster through the remainder of the season.

The Raiders also added a kicker to their taxi squad on Tuesday. Greg Joseph is in place to fill Davis’ practice squad spot. The 31-year-old has made 75 appearances while playing for six teams over the course of his career. Joseph has yet to play this season despite working out for a slew of suitors when they have found themselves in need of a kicker.

Daniel Carlson has appeared in every game for the Raiders this season. The All-Pro has operated as Vegas’ kicker and that is expected to continue barring any injuries. In the event Carlson does miss time, Joseph will be in place to serve as a replacement.

Commanders Sign DE DeMarcus Walker

DeMarcus Walker has lined up his next NFL gig. The veteran defensive end has signed with the Commanders, per an announcement from his agency.

Walker was cut by the Bears prior to free agency, ending his tenure in the Windy City after two years there. Little interest was shown afterwards, although the Giants and Lions hosted him for visits in April. Neither of those teams moved forward with a deal, however, and Walker remained on the open market deep into the regular season. His 2025 debut could come on Sunday.

This is a practice squad deal, ESPN’s John Keim notes to no surprise. Walker is present with the Commanders in Madrid, Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic adds. Washington will take on Miami in the NFL’s first game played in Spain for Week 11. Walker’s presence with his new team means he could be designated as a gameday elevation from the practice squad for that contest.

The 31-year-old has made 100 career appearances across his time with the Broncos, Texans, Titans and Bears. His one-and-done Tennessee campaign saw Walker set a career high with seven sacks. He took on a much larger workload in Chicago, operating as a starter and collecting 3.5 sacks in both of his Bears campaigns. Walker will now look to carve out a depth role with the Commanders to close out the campaign.

Washington is dealing with a number of injuries on both sides of the ball, and veteran depth at any spot will be welcomed. The 3-7 team sits near the bottom of the league in a number of defensive categories and DC Joe Whitt Jr. will no longer call plays. The Commanders do rank mid-pack in terms of sack production (22), but improving in that department would still be welcomed during the second half of the season.

Walker’s 2026 market value will of course be determined by his performances over the coming weeks. It will be interesting to see how large of a workload he handles with Washington down the stretch and whether or not he does enough to warrant a new pact along a quicker timeline next year.

Jaguars Open TE Brenton Strange’s Practice Window

The Jaguars could have a key offensive contributor back in the fold as early as Week 11. Tight end Brenton Strange is nearing a return to action.

Head coach Liam Coen said (via ESPN’s Michael DiRocco) the team has designated Strange for return from injured reserve. The Jaguars are hopeful the third-year tight end will be able to play on Sunday against the Chargers. A determination on that front will need to be made over the coming days, but in any case it is of course a positive development his 21-day activation window has been opened.

Strange landed on IR just over one month ago due to a quad injury which included damage to his hip along with a ligament tear. No surgery took place, but the rehab process carried a timeline which made the move to injured reserve a logical one. Strange has missed the requisite minimum of four games, so he is clear to return to the active roster at any point. Once that happens, a notable figure will be back in place.

The 24-year-old made 14 combined starts across the 2023 and ’24 campaigns. As expected, Strange’s workload increased once more this season prior to the injury. The former second-rounder’s 2025 snap share sits at 74% and his 41 receiving yards per game are comfortably a career high. A full-time starting role will await Strange upon return.

Jacksonville has lost three of four, cooling off from an impressive start to the campaign. The team sits 18th in the NFL in both total and scoring offense, and No. 2 pick Travis Hunter is on IR due to a knee injury suffered in practiceBrian Thomas Jrand trade acquisition Jakobi Meyers will lead the way at the receiver position moving forward, but Strange will reprise his role as a regular option in the passing game once he is in the fold.

The Jags used the designated for return option with Jalen McLeod during roster cutdowns, so his IR activation is already accounted for. Once Strange is brought back onto the active roster, the team will have six activations remaining.

Commanders CB Trey Amos Could Miss Remainder Of Season

The list of major injuries continues to pile up in the case of the Commanders. Rookie cornerback Trey Amos could miss the remainder of the campaign.

Amos exited Washington’s Week 10 game, and head coach Dan Quinn announced (via JP Finlay of NBC Sports) he suffered a broken fibula. The second-rounder is in store for a lengthy absence as a result, and he could very well miss the closing weeks of his debut NFL campaign. At a minimum, a move to injured reserve should be expected.

[RELATED: Quinn Takes Over As Defensive Play-Caller]

An IR stint would guarantee at least a four-week absence for Amos, who has logged eight starts this year. No timeline is in place for the 23-year-old, although Quinn confirmed to no surprise (via the Washington Post’s Vic Tafur) Amos will be sidelined “for a while.” This news comes not long after fellow cornerback starter Marshon Lattimore suffered an ACL tear.

Upgrading the secondary was seen as a priority for the Commanders this past offseason. Lattimore – acquired via trade at last year’s deadline – served as a full-time starter in 2025 and he will be counted on to do so once healthy next season. The same will be true of Amos, who has logged a 78% snap share and notched six pass deflections so far. The Louisiana, Alabama and Ole Miss product will turn his attention to recovery and with Washington out of postseason contention his next action could be delayed until 2026.

In other Commanders injury news, Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic reports wideout Treylon Burks underwent finger surgery on Monday. His recovery period is not expected to be a long one, but the former Titans first-rounder is not traveling with the team to Madrid for its Week 11 game. Burks, who was added not long after his injury-plagued Tennessee tenure came to an end, will look to heal in time for Week 13 when the Commanders return from their bye.

Giants Fire HC Brian Daboll

Brian Daboll‘s time in New York has come to an end. The fourth-year head coach has been fired, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The news is now official, per a team announcement.

Offensive coordinator Mike Kafka will take over as interim head coach, Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network report. Today’s news comes one day after the Giants dropped to 2-8 for the third straight season under Daboll. The team has blown double-digit leads four times during road losses this year, adding further to the speculation a change could be made before the end of the campaign.

[RELATED: GM Joe Schoen To Lead Giants’ HC Search]

“We spoke this morning about the direction of our franchise on the field, and we have decided that, at this time, it is in our best interest to make a change at the head coaching position,” a statement from owners John Mara and Steve Tisch reads in part. “The past few seasons have been nothing short of disappointing, and we have not met our expectations for this franchise. We understand the frustrations of our fans, and we will work to deliver a significantly improved product.”

Entering the 2025 season, Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen were widely known to be on the hot seat. The selection of first-round quarterback Jaxson Dart seemed to pave the way for one or both to be retained depending on how his development progressed. Dart has shown flashes when on the field, but the rookie suffered a concussion yesterday after being evaluated for one for the fourth different time dating back to the preseason. Criticism regarding the Giants’ handling of Dart has increased given the frequency of hits he has taken, with much of it being directed Daboll’s way.

No other changes are taking place at this point, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports. That means Schoen as well as defensive coordinator Shane Bowen – whose job security has also been questioned through much of the campaign – are safe for the time being. Changes on those fronts will be worth watching for after the year, but for now attention will turn to Kafka — the Giants’ second interim HC (after Steve Spagnuolo in 2017) this century — and his ability to guide the Giants to something of a rebound.

The Daboll-Schoen tandem was hired with high expectations after its success with the Bills. Things got off to a notable start, with the Giants going 9-7-1 in 2022. New York won a wild-card game and Daboll took home Coach of the Year honors. Since then, however, very little has gone according to plan. The Giants are on their way to a third straight season well below .500. Overall, Daboll’s tenure will end with a record of 20-40-1. Tension between he and Schoen was reported this past spring, and other internal matters like the less-than-cordial departure of former DC Don Martindale will leave an unwanted legacy in Daboll’s case.

The 50-year-old has worked as an offensive coordinator with four different NFL teams; he also held that role at Alabama for one year prior to joining the Bills. Daboll’s work in developing Josh Allen made him an attractive candidate on the head coaching market, and he joined the Giants with the hopes of maximizing Daniel Jones‘ talent. Both before and after Jones inked a four-year, $160MM pact, that did not prove to be the case.

Jones was cut midway through last season, one in which Saquon Barkley – who joined the Eagles in free agency upon playing out the franchise tag – enjoyed a record-breaking debut campaign. In the aftermath of the commitment made by Daboll and Schoen backfiring, many pointed to this past offseason as a logical point for at least one to be replaced. Immediately after the campaign, though, Mara confirmed both would be retained.

It nevertheless became clear at that point Mara’s patience was running thin. The draft provided the Giants with a potential new franchise passer in Dart, and as expected he quickly took over starting duties after Russell Wilson opened the year atop the depth chart. Daboll unilaterally made the decision to bench Wilson and replace him with Dart, a move many viewed as an attempt to avoid a firing. Schoen and Co. endorsed the switch, one whose impact cannot fully be seen given the season-ending injuries suffered by Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo.

Kafka will be tasked with taking charge of a shorthanded offensive unit the rest of the way. This will mark his first head coaching opportunity at any level. Kafka, 38, saw his role with the Giants vary over time but he has once again handled play-calling duties in 2025. It will be interesting to see if that remains the case over the closing weeks of the campaign.

Kafka has been lined to outside HC interest in the past, and his stock for the 2026 hiring cycle will of course be greatly influenced by his performances over the next two months. The Giants have not been able to find stability on the sidelines since the end of the Tom Coughlin era. Including Kafka, the team has employed six different head coaches since 2016.

Mara and the Giants generally avoid making in-season moves such as this. Indeed, Kafka is only the fourth coach to hold the interim title in franchise history. If he earns the full-time gig, New York will not be in the market for another reset on the sidelines. Failing that, however, the Giants will join the Titans (and, no doubt, other teams) in seeking out a new hire. Daboll should not be expected to receive a second head coaching look in the near future based on how his first stint went, but he could be sought after once more as a coordinator.

Dan Quinn To Take Over Commanders’ Defensive Play-Calling Role

Commanders head coach Dan Quinn will take over as the team’s defensive play-caller, he announced on Monday (via Tashan Reed of The Washington Post).

Defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., who served under Quinn in Atlanta and Dallas, will retain his position, but his unit has struggled mightily so far this year. Washington ranks 29th in points allowed and 30th in total defense after finishing 18th and 13th in the same categories last year. The Commanders’ pass defense has been especially porous, allowing 7.9 yards per attempt and just over 260 yards per game.

The unit is largely the same, save for two key departures along the defensive line: DT Jonathan Allen and DE Dante Fowler. Their replacements, Javon Kinlaw and Von Miller, simply haven’t been as effective.

However, that may not tell the whole story. No Commanders defensive back with any kind of regular role on defense has a coverage grade over 65.0, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). While PFF grades are not a be-all, end-all of player evaluation, they still offers a glimpse at the team’s current disarray on the back end. Veteran cornerback Marshon Lattimore is the only member of the secondary that has allowed a passer rating under 100.0 when targeted, and that does not account for the nine penalties called against him.

Quinn will look to right the ship. He has extensive experience as a play-caller, not only from his defensive coordinator jobs in Seattle and Dallas, but from his first head-coaching job with the Falcons. Quinn took over defensive play-calling on two separate instances during his tenure in Atlanta, though neither time featured a full turnaround.

The first was in 2016 when Quinn took over from then-Falcons DC Richard Smith, and even slight improvements on defense were enough to support the league’s best offense on the way to the Super Bowl. The second came in 2019, when Quinn turned a bottom-five unit into a more respectable one. He was fired in 2020 after an 0-5 start during which the Falcons defense allowed 32.2 points and 446 yards per game.

Obviously, he will be hoping for a more inspired bounce-back this year, but it seems unlikely that he can do enough to drag the team into the playoffs. A tough schedule and multiple injuries to quarterback Jayden Daniels has led to a 3-7 start, and things won’t be any easier going forward. Daniels has an uncertain return timeline after his most recent injury, and the Commanders still have two games against the Eagles and another against the Broncos left on the calendar.

Quinn’s decision is a sign that Whitt could be out of Washington this offseason. A midseason firing would have been a surprise given the two men’s history, but Quinn did part ways with Smith after the 2016 season concluded.

Bills Staying With OC Joe Brady; Brian Daboll Reunion Not Under Consideration

Bills head coach Sean McDermott has worked with four different offensive coordinators since taking the reins in 2017. He’s not ready to move on to a fifth. McDermott said Monday that Joe Brady will remain the team’s offensive coordinator, per Andrew Siciliano.

Questions about Brady’s status came after one of McDermott’s former O-coordinators, Brian Daboll, lost his head coaching job with the Giants on Monday. That could make him a fit to return to Buffalo’s offensive staff in some capacity, but McDermott shot down the possibility.

“That’s not under any kind of consideration,” McDermott said when asked about a potential reunion with Daboll.

Daboll, who attended high school outside of Buffalo and went to college in nearby Rochester, was the Bills’ O-coordinator from 2018-21. He’s often credited with aiding in the development of quarterback Josh Allen, a high-risk first-round pick in 2018 who has evolved into an elite signal-caller.

The Allen era got off to a slow start, but the Bills’ Daboll-coached offense finished top five in both points and yards in 2020 and ’21. Daboll then left for the Giants, with whom he went 20-40-1 over three-plus seasons.

With Daboll on his way to the Giants, the Bills promoted passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach Ken Dorsey as his replacement. They rolled out a stellar offense again in Year 1 under Dorsey, but they fired him in November 2023. Although the Bills ranked a respectable eighth in points and yards at the time, they were coming off two straight losses and sporting a mediocre 5-5 record. In McDermott’s estimation, that was enough to ax Dorsey.

The Bills handed the offensive keys to Brady, then their QBs coach, on an interim basis. The move sparked a 6-1 finish and a third straight AFC East title, and the offense improved to fourth in yards and sixth in points. Brady earned a full-time promotion as a result. While the Bills fell to 10th in yards last year, the first season of the post-Stefon Diggs era, they scored the second-most points in the league. Allen took home MVP honors.

Brady’s performance in 2024 was enough for him to earn head coaching consideration last winter. New Orleans was among the interested teams, but with the Saints having the last opening remaining in late January, Brady bowed out of the race and stayed in Buffalo.

The 36-year-old Brady is again in control of an offense that has been a resounding statistical success this season. The Bills sit second in the league in yards and sixth in points, though inquiries about his job security come on the heels of a brutal loss to the Dolphins in Week 10.

The Bills dropped to 6-3 in a 30-13 romp in Miami on Sunday. A Dolphins defense depleted by injuries and the trade of Jaelan Phillips to the Eagles held the Bills scoreless over the first three quarters of the game. The Bills committed three costly turnovers on the Dolphins’ side of the field, including an end zone interception by Allen.

It was apparent yet again that the Bills are lacking at wide receiver. General manager Brandon Beane didn’t make a trade to address the issue before the Nov. 4 deadline, but he reportedly attempted to acquire Dolphins receiver Jaylen Waddle. He stayed put and wound up burning the Bills for five catches, 84 yards, and a touchdown on Sunday.

After a dismal all-around showing in Miami, the Bills will face a stiffer test at home against the NFC South-leading Buccaneers in Week 11. Brady will remain in charge of the offense as the Bills aim for a bounce-back effort.