HEADLINES

Steelers To Waive CB Darius Slay

December 2nd, 2025 at 11:07pm CST by Sam Robinson

The rare modern cornerback to play an age-34 season, Darius Slay will see his time with the Steelers end earlier than expected. Pittsburgh is moving on from the veteran defender.

This is being described as a mutual parting, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Pittsburgh will sign fellow corner Asante Samuel Jr. from the practice squad to fill Slay’s roster spot. Slay was a healthy scratch for the Steelers’ Week 13 game against the Bills, foreshadowing this decision.

Slay is interested in continuing his career, but he will need to wait a bit before being allowed to pick his next destination. Although Slay is on a one-year, $10MM deal, the two-time Super Bowl starter’s base salary is the veteran minimum (for his service time) at $1.26MM. That would not put a waiver claim off the table for a corner-needy club. If Slay is unclaimed by 3pm CT on Wednesday, he will head back to free agency.

The NFL’s oldest active corner, Slay had viewed this as most likely his final season. The 13th-year cover man reunited with ex-Lions DC Teryl Austin in Pittsburgh and started nine games. Pro Football Focus viewed Slay on the fringes of the middle class at the position, slotting him 71st out of 110 qualified options.

Slay has certainly played much better, as he enjoyed a quality prime. As evidenced from a free agency deal requiring $10MM, Slay generated interest when the Eagles cut him this offseason. It would not shock if he landed elsewhere to close one of the better CB careers in this era.

As we discussed in a Trade Rumors Front Office piece this offseason, the Steelers have not been shy about deploying aging corners. They traded for Jalen Ramsey this offseason, doing so two years after being Patrick Peterson‘s last stop; the future Hall of Famer played an age-33 season in Pittsburgh. The Mike Tomlin tenure has also seen Joe Haden, William Gay and Ike Taylor play into their 30s. With the Steelers residing at a crossroads following a one-sided loss to the Bills — a game that brought steady boos and calls for Tomlin’s ouster — they are shaking up their secondary.

The Steelers have experimented with Ramsey at safety, but Slay has continued to work in the boundary corner position — one that brought him considerable success since being a 2013 Lions draftee. Slay logged 422 outside CB snaps during a 10-game Steelers stint. The six-time Pro Bowler broke up three passes and did not log an interception. Slay did allow a 75% completion rate and a 108.0 passer rating as the closest defender. While he is charged with only one touchdown allowed as a Steeler, his performance fell short of expectations ahead of the healthy scratch.

Tuesday’s transaction also blocks other teams from making sales pitches to Samuel, who could have been poached from Pittsburgh’s practice squad. Added after an extensive visit tour last month, Samuel debuted for the Steelers — as a practice squad elevation — in Week 13. He played 28 defensive snaps in a backup role.

With teams seeing Samuel healthy, interest may well have come after he reverted back to the practice squad. But the 26-year-old CB is now on the 53-man roster, ending such speculation. The team will hope the four-year Chargers starter, whose free agency stalled because of neck surgery, can help out a pass defense ranking 28th.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/2/25

December 2nd, 2025 at 10:07pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Twenty-one different teams made practice squad transactions on Tuesday. Here are the latest updates:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Cincinnati Bengals

  • Signed: CB Jalen Kimber 

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

  • Released: WR Kyrese Rowan

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

  • Released: OL Wyatt Bowles

Miami Dolphins

  • Signed: OL Kion Smith
  • Released: OL Braeden Daniels

Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

  • Signed: DB Daequan Hardy

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

With J.J. McCarthy close to a return from his concussion, the Vikings parted ways with Ridder. He was signed last week after McCarthy entered concussion protocol, but was not elevated to back up Max Brosmer in Week 13. That responsibility instead went to John Wolford, who remains in Minnesota.

Bishop was released by the Steelers at the beginning of November. After appearing all 17 games last year with a 50% snap share, he did not make the 53-man roster this season and remained on the practice squad. He will now join the Saints in the hopes of making his 2025 debut in New Orleans.

Colts Worked Out Justin Tucker, Maddux Trujillo

December 2nd, 2025 at 9:03pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Colts quickly found their replacement for kicker Michael Badgley by signing Blake Grupe to their practice squad, but he was not the only player up for the job.

Justin Tucker and Maddux Trujillo worked out alongside Grupe on Tuesday, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, with Grupe emerging as the best option. He will be elevated from the practice squad the Colts’ crucial Week 14 matchup against the Jaguars. The winner will take a one-game lead in the AFC South with just four weeks left in the season.

Tucker will continue his search for another team after several allegations of sexual misconduct and the worst statistical season of his career led to his departure from Baltimore this offseason. Coincidentally, he previously auditioned for the Saints to replace Grupe after his shaky start to the season in New Orleans. The Saints instead signed ex-Browns fourth-round pick Cade York and ultimately went with Irish native Charlie Smyth in Week 13. Smyth made his only field goal attempt, a 56-yarder, in the first NFL action of his career.

Trujillo signed with the Colts as an undrafted free agent out of Temple. He made all three of his preseason extra points, but he did not attempt a field goal, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/2/25

December 2nd, 2025 at 8:29pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Several NFL teams made minor roster on Tuesday as they prepare for crucial Week 14 games with major playoff implications. Here are the latest updates:

Arizona Cardinals

Carolina Panthers

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Las Vegas Raiders

New York Giants

New York Jets

Seattle Seahawks

Eagles Designate S Marcus Epps To Return From IR

December 2nd, 2025 at 6:53pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Eagles designated safety Marcus Epps to return from injured reserve on Tuesday, per a team announcement.

Epps, 29, landed on IR at the beginning of November with an undisclosed injury. He appeared in Philadelphia’s first eight games of the season, primarily playing special teams with a handful of snaps on defense.

The eight-year veteran is in the middle of his second stint with the Eagles. Epps started his career in Minnesota as a sixth-round pick in 2019, but he made his name in Philadelphia. The Eagles claimed him off waivers during his rookie year and he immediately stepped into a core role on special teams and a rotational one on defense. His snap share in both phases ticked up over the next two years, which included eight starts on defense, culminating in a full-time time job in 2022. Epps started every game that year and played all but 10 of the Eagles’ defensive snaps. His 94 tackles were a career-high and ranked third on the team.

Epps parlayed his contract-year success into a two-year deal with the Raiders. He started 17 games in 2023 but tore his ACL early in the following season. He hit free agency this year and spent the summer with the Patriots before returning to Philadelphia shortly before the regular season.

Epps has 21 days to practice with the team before he must be activated or revert to season-ending injured reserve.

Ravens Designate OLB Tavius Robinson, S Ar’Darius Washington To Return

December 2nd, 2025 at 5:58pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Ravens designated outside linebacker Tavius Robinson (injured reserve) and safety Ar’Darius Washington (non-football injury list) to return to practice on Tuesday.

Robinson broke his foot in Week 6 and was placed on IR shortly after. Washington suffered a torn Achilles during offseason training and has been on the non-football injury list since the start of training camp. The two defenders could provide a late-season boost to a Ravens defense that has turned things around after a rough start to the season.

Robinson, 26, started the first six games of the season and saw a substantial increase in playing time after Kyle Van Noy went down in Week 2. The Ravens were hoping the 2023 fourth-round pick would take a third-year leap after a promising campaign last season, but it has not quite materliazed. Robinson made a few highlight plays, including a strip-sack of then-Browns quarterback Joe Flacco in Week 2, but like the rest of Baltimore’s edge rushers, he struggled to make a consistent impact.

Robinson’s return will nonetheless give the Ravens another option off the edge. After trading Odafe Oweh in October, they have relied on 2022 second-rounder David Ojabo and veteran Carl Lawson to fill the back end of their outside linebacker rotation. Ojabo has not performed well, while Lawson held up but did not excel in his 2025 debut as a practice squad elevation in Week 13.

Washington tore his Achilles in May with the hope of returning late in the regular season. His return to practice puts him on track to hit that goal. His 21-day practice window will expire at the beginning of Week 17, by which time he must be activated or revert to season-ending IR.

The severity of Washington’s injury may require a lengthy ramp-up period, and the Ravens can ease him into action even after he’s activated. The team currently has three safeties playing nearly full-time, so Washington will not fill an immediate need. Instead, he will provide another versatile option with the ability to line up as a free safety and in the slot.

Lions Rumors: St. Brown, Mahogany, Joseph

December 2nd, 2025 at 4:11pm CST by Connor Byrne

After a crushing loss to the NFC North rival Packers on Thanksgiving, the Lions are 7-5 and sitting outside of the playoff bracket with five games left in their season. This Thursday’s matchup against the 6-5-1 Cowboys will take on a postseason feel for a pair of teams that can’t afford many more slip-ups (if any).

The Lions may face an uphill climb this week if they go without No. 1 wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, who suffered a low ankle sprain against the Packers. It seemed likely St. Brown would miss some time when he sustained the injury. However, head coach Dan Campbell said Tuesday that he has not ruled St. Brown out for Week 14, per Dave Birkett and Rainer Sabin of the Detroit Free Press.

While St. Brown may play, fellow receiver Kalif Raymond is likely to miss his second game in a row with an ankle injury. That leaves Jameson Williams, rookie third-rounder Isaac TeSlaa, and Tom Kennedy as their top healthy options at the position.

The Lions’ injury issues at receiver are especially unfortunate after standout tight end Sam LaPorta underwent back surgery in November. LaPorta is unlikely to return this season, and backup Brock Wright could also miss significant time as a result of an injury to his trachea, Campbell revealed (via Birkett).

Wright isn’t much of a receiving threat, having averaged fewer than 20 catches per season since entering the league in 2021. He has amassed 401 offensive snaps this year, though, and a lengthy absence would leave the Lions perilously thin at tight end. Ross Dwelley and Anthony Firkser are next on the depth chart.

In better news for Detroit’s offense, left guard Christian Mahogany said he fully expects to return during the regular season after going down with a knee injury in Week 9. After mostly working as a backup in 2024, his rookie year, Mahogany started in his first eight appearances this season. Pro Football Focus ranks his performance a solid 30th among 79 qualifying guards. With Mahogany on IR, reserve Kayode Awosika has temporarily taken on a starting role.

Defensively, the Lions have been without key cog Kerby Joseph since Week 6. A nagging knee injury will keep the 2024 first-team All-Pro safety out of his seventh straight game on Thursday, though it’s not a “career-altering” issue, veteran insider Jordan Schultz reports. Joseph intends to play again this season, but it’s unclear when that will happen.

Thomas Harper, claimed from the Raiders in late August, has been filling for Joseph alongside Brian Branch. Harper has recorded 26 tackles, four passes defensed, and an interception in nine games. The 25-year-old has impressed PFF, which places him 24th among 93 qualifying safeties.

The banged-up Lions lost another member of their secondary when they put starting cornerback Terrion Arnold on IR on Monday. Arnold will undergo surgery on his shoulder. He first hurt his shoulder back in early October, and Campbell confirmed the same injury continued bothering him (via Eric Woodyard of ESPN). That led Detroit to shut Arnold down for good.

Texans Waive G Laken Tomlinson

December 2nd, 2025 at 3:54pm CST by Connor Byrne

Laken Tomlinson opened the season as the Texans’ starting left guard, but the team is moving on three months later. The Texans waived Tomlinson on Tuesday. The 33-year-old will be free to sign anywhere if he clears waivers.

Tomlinson joined the Texans on a one-year, $4.25MM contract last March after dividing the first 10 seasons of his career among the Lions, 49ers, Jets, and Seahawks. He was a consistent and durable starter during that span, coming off the bench in just eight of 163 contests. Tomlinson didn’t miss a game between 2018-24.

Tomlinson was Houston’s top option at left guard during most of his time there, starting in seven of 10 games. However, the Texans replaced him with Jarrett Patterson in Week 10, and Tomlinson was inactive in back-to-back games before they cut him. Pro Football Focus ranks Tomlinson’s 2025 performance a below-average 51st among 79 qualifying guards.

With the playoff-contending Texans parting with Tomlinson, they’re left with Patterson, Juice Scruggs, and Jarrett Kingston as reserves along the interior. Tytus Howard, who has lined up at multiple spots this year, and Ed Ingram are operating as their starting guards.

Colts Add K Blake Grupe To Practice Squad

December 2nd, 2025 at 3:33pm CST by Adam La Rose

3:33pm: The Colts are signing Grupe to their practice squad, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com.

10:27am: Michael Badgley missed an extra point for the third time this season on Sunday. In response, the Colts are looking into potential kicking replacements.

When asked about the possibility of moving on from Badgley yesterday, head coach Shane Steichen did not specify what the team’s plan was. He instead deferred to general manager Chris Ballard (h/t ESPN’s Stephen Holder). Holder predicted on Monday that the Colts would look into alternatives, and that has proven to be the case.

Kicker workouts are taking place today in Indianapolis. Joel A. Erickson of the Indy Star reports Blake Grupe is among those who are auditioning. This comes shortly after Grupe was cut by the Saints during his third season with the team. Grupe was relatively consistent for his first two Saints campaigns, but in 2025 he has connected on just 18 of 26 field goal attempts. It thus came as little surprise when the Saints moved on.

It would be interesting if the Colts elected to sign Grupe given his struggles this season. Badgley has endured an unwanted run of inconsistency on extra points in 2025, but in seven games he has gone 10-for-11 on field goal tries. At a minimum, Indianapolis is looking into the possibility of using another new kicker to close out the campaign.

Spencer Shrader was available for the first five games of the season, but ACL and MCL tears suffered in October brought his campaign to an abrupt end. The Colts turned to a familiar face in the form of Badgley as his replacement. A veteran of five NFL teams, Badgley kicked for Indianapolis in 2021. His current stint with the team could be in jeopardy, though, depending on how the next few days play out.

After starting 7-1, the Colts have lost three of their last four games. They are no longer the lock to top the AFC South they once appeared to be, and improvement on offense down the stretch will be key. Efforts on that front could include a new kicker being added in the near future.

Colts Waive K Michael Badgley

December 2nd, 2025 at 2:49pm CST by Connor Byrne

After a costly missed extra point in Week 13, the Colts are moving on from kicker Michael Badgley. The team waived him on Tuesday.

Badgley’s PAT miss last Sunday proved crucial in a 20-16 defeat against the AFC South rival Texans. The four-point deficit prevented the Colts from potentially tying the game with a late field goal and sending it to overtime. They fell to 8-4 and into second place in the division behind the Jaguars, while the Texans improved to 7-5.

A Colt back in 2021, Badgley reunited with the team after starter Spencer Shrader tore his ACL and MCL in Week 5. Badgley hadn’t kicked in the regular season since 2023, but the 30-year-old went on to make 10 of his 11 field goal attempts in seven games with the Colts. However, Badgley hit a less impressive 18 of 21 extra points, which ultimately cost him his job.

The Colts have not lined up a replacement for Badgley, but that seems imminent after they worked out kickers on Tuesday. Former Saint Blake Grupe was among those to audition. It’s up for debate whether Grupe would be an upgrade over Badgley, though. While Grupe did convert all 15 extra points with the Saints this year, he connected on a paltry 69.2% of field goals (18 of 26). New Orleans waived him on Nov. 25 as a result.

Whether they sign Grupe or someone else, the Colts will turn to their third kicker of 2025 in a critical meeting with the Jaguars on Sunday. It will be the first time in franchise history that the Colts have used at least three kickers in a season, Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan notes. That’s not ideal for an Indianapolis team that’s now clinging to a playoff spot after dropping three of its past four games.

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