HEADLINES

Packers Sign K Lucas Havrisik

October 12th, 2025 at 3:02pm CST by Adam La Rose

OCTOBER 12: McManus is among the Packers’ inactives for today. As a result, it will indeed be Havrisik handling kicking duties for at least one game.

OCTOBER 11: With Brandon McManus‘ status in question, the Packers auditioned a pair of kickers earlier this week. One of those was Lucas Havrisik, and he now has a deal in place.

The Packers announced on Saturday that Havrisik has been signed to the active roster. That means he will be available to the team for tomorrow’s game against the Bengals. Green Bay had two open roster spots heading into today, making the decision to sign an insurance option a relatively easy one.

McManus is dealing with a quad injury, one head coach Matt LaFleur deemed a “major concern.” In spite of that, McManus said on Thursday he plans on playing in Week 6. In case that does not wind up happening, it will be Havrisik taking on kicking duties in his place. The Packers could have turned to International Player Pathway Program member Mark McNamee, but he will remain on the practice squad at this time.

Havrisik kicked in nine games for the Rams last season. During that period, the 26-year-old was perfect from within 40 yards. Beyond that distance, however, he only went four for nine; Havrisik also missed three of his 22 extra point attempts. His stock was boosted this spring during a spell with the UFL’s Arlington Renegades which included conversions on 22 of 25 field goal kicks.

The 2-1-1 Packers are coming off their bye week, and they will be expected to deliver a strong scoring output given the struggles of the Bengals’ defense. The kicking game may not be particularly relevant depending on how things play out, but it will nevertheless be interesting to see monitor McManus’ status for Sunday and beyond. In the event he misses any time, Green Bay’s contingency plan is in place.

Mexico City To Host NFL Game In 2026

October 12th, 2025 at 2:15pm CST by Adam La Rose

In recent years, the NFL has explored a number of new markets for international games. One reason for that has been the inaccessibility of Mexico City for staging games, but that will not be the case next year.

Commissioner Roger Goodell announced earlier this month (via the Associated Press) the league will once again hold an international game in Mexico City. Renovations to Azteca Stadium have been ongoing in anticipation of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Starting next season, though, a return will take place.

A total of four games have been played at Azteca Stadium to date, covering a span from 2016-22. The Chiefs-Rams game scheduled to be played there in 2018 had to be relocated due to field conditions. That will no doubt be a concern on the league’s part ahead of its return to Mexico City, but a regular season contest is being planned for next year. It is unknown at this point which teams will be taking part.

The current campaign includes seven overseas games, but expanding that figure has long been known as an NFL priority. As such, it would come as no surprise if Mexico City became a staple of the International Series moving forward. In any event, a key element of future international games will be the position of the NFLPA in terms of issues related to travel, playing surfaces and recovery. This year, positive reviews have generally been the common perspective on those fronts.

“I was pleased to hear from players — a lot of very positive comments — and that the clubs on this trip took a lot of that seriously and were listening to players,” NFLPA interim executive director David White said during an interview with Mike Jones of The Athletic (subscription required). “That’s our primary concern: Are our players being listened to?… So, I was very pleased with that overarching experience — and there were certain issues that people raised — but for the most part, the clubs on these trips seemed like they were doing a pretty good job.”

A setup in which 16 regular season games are played outside the United States on an annual basis – one international game per team per year – is the NFL’s target at this point. That could very well feature one or more contests taking place in Mexico City each season, depending on how next year’s return plays out.

Chiefs Inquiring About Running Backs

October 12th, 2025 at 12:24pm CST by Connor Byrne

While the Nov. 4 trade deadline is still three weeks away, there has already been plenty of activity in the NFL. Three deals have taken place this week: Joe Flacco went from Cleveland to Cincinnati, while the Ravens and Chargers swapped defenders, and the Browns and Jaguars exchanged cornerbacks. That’s just the beginning, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who hears that there will be upward of a dozen more trades before the deadline.

The Chiefs, three-time Super Bowl winners and five-time AFC champions since 2019, have been aggressive at the deadline during their marvelous Patrick Mahomes–Andy Reid run. Months before their latest Super Bowl berth, they swung two pre-deadline deals in October 2024, bringing in wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and pass rusher Joshua Uche. A year later, general manager Brett Veach is in the market for help at running back, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com report. Veach will face competition from the division-rival Chargers, who are also looking to address their backfield.

While the Chiefs rank a respectable 12th in rushing yards per game (120.0), Mahomes has done more damage than their backs. The future Hall of Fame signal-caller leads the team in rushing yards (190) and has averaged a lofty 6.8 per attempt. Meanwhile, RBs Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt have hovered around the 4.0 yards-per-carry mark during a sluggish 2-3 start for Kansas City. Neither player has served as a bell cow this season.

Pacheco, who missed 10 regular-season games in 2024 with a fractured fibula, has amassed 163 yards on 39 carries in 2025. Veach was unwilling to authorize a Pacheco extension during the offseason, and his stock hasn’t gone up since then. After re-signing on a one-year, $1.5MM deal last March, Hunt has picked up a so-so 164 yards on 43 attempts, though he has added three touchdowns. With just eight carries through five games, rookie seventh-round pick Brashard Smith hasn’t been a factor.

The Chiefs were on the hunt for an RB trade in late August, though no deal transpired. Despite not making any preseason acquisitions, the Chiefs were reportedly “puzzled” by their mediocre rushing attack in late September. Now nearing mid-October, they’re still not content with their backfield options.

Speculatively, the Chiefs’ need for a running back could point them to the likes of Breece Hall (Jets), Alvin Kamara (Saints), and Jerome Ford (Browns). Those three are among the runners who have been part of trade rumors in advance of the deadline. Kamara is likely to remain a Saint, but Hall and Ford may be more obtainable as pending free agents on non-contending teams. It stands to reason that either or both backs could pique Kansas City’s interest, though Veach may have other ideas.

Chargers Interested In Trading For Running Back

October 12th, 2025 at 11:54am CST by Connor Byrne

OCT. 12: The Chargers are indeed focusing on running backs leading up to the deadline, according to Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com. They’ve been calling teams about depth RBs and starters.

OCT. 11: With injuries ravaging their backfield, the Chargers could swing a trade for a running back before the Nov. 4 deadline, Daniel Popper of The Athletic writes.

The Chargers entered the season with two high-profile acquisitions leading their RB group. After opening his career with four straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons with the Steelers, Najee Harris joined the Chargers on a one-year, $5.25MM deal last March. A little over a month after adding Harris, the Chargers used their first-round pick (No. 22) on former North Carolina back Omarion Hampton. Five weeks into the season, it’s fair to say the Chargers aren’t going to get max return on either investment this year.

Harris suffered an eye injury during a fireworks accident in July, but he was ready for their season-opening win over the Chiefs in Brazil on Sept. 5. The 27-year-old picked up just one carry in that game, though. Two weeks later, Harris tore his Achilles, ending his season after he recorded 15 carries for 61 yards. Barring another pact with the Chargers, Harris will head back to the open market next year in a less-than-ideal position.

Even when Harris was healthy, Hampton was clearly the Chargers’ No. 1 back. The 22-year-old dual threat has amassed 66 rushes for 314 yards and two touchdowns through the first five games of his career, adding 20 catches for another 136 yards.

Like Harris, Hampton is now on the shelf. He injured his ankle during a loss to the Commanders last Sunday, which forced an IR placement earlier this week. He’ll miss at least four games, all of which will take place before the trade deadline.

The Chargers, now 3-2 after back-to-back losses, will turn to the unproven RB duo of Hassan Haskins and Kimani Vidal for the time being. They’ll face their first test as a tandem against the reeling Dolphins (1-4) on Sunday. Haskins has tallied just 64 carries, including five this year, in parts of three NFL seasons. Vidal has four attempts this season and 47 overall since he joined the Chargers as a sixth-round pick from Troy a year ago.

The Chargers have Nyheim Hines and Amar Johnson on their practice squad, though they’re hard to rely on at this point. Hines, who tore his ACL in a jet ski accident in 2023, hasn’t played in a regular-season game since 2022. Johnson is an undrafted rookie from South Dakota State with no NFL experience.

Unless the Chargers find an answer from within by the deadline, the Jets’ Breece Hall and the Browns’ Jerome Ford could be logical trade targets to team with Hampton (assuming he returns), Popper observes. Hall has gotten off to an impressive start this season and has made it known he wants to stay with the Jets. However, with the Jets 0-5 and unlikely to make a miraculous charge toward playoff contention, they could part with the soon-to-be free agent.

Ford, also due to reach the open market in the offseason, enjoyed a productive run from 2023-24. He piled up 1,378 yards and seven TDs on 308 carries during that 31-game span. The 26-year-old only has 18 carries in five games this season, though, with rookie second-rounder Quinshon Judkins establishing himself as the lead back in Cleveland. Ford’s time with the Browns could be winding down, and the Chargers may be among the potential suitors.

Several Saints Drawing Trade Interest

October 12th, 2025 at 11:18am CST by Connor Byrne

Running back Alvin Kamara isn’t the only member of the Saints drawing interest in advance of the Nov. 4 trade deadline. Wide receiver Rashid Shaheed, EDGE Carl Granderson, linebacker Pete Werner, and offensive lineman Dillon Radunz are all on other teams’ radars, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.

At 1-4 and unlikely to work their way into contention this year, the Saints are lining up as deadline sellers. Kamara appears unlikely to go anywhere, though, and Rapoport notes that the team is not planning a fire sale. However, that doesn’t mean the Saints won’t listen to offers on their potential trade candidates.

Shaheed, one of the league’s fastest players, is on pace for the most productive season of his career. After missing most of 2024 with a meniscus injury, Shaheed has returned to haul in 22 of 30 targets for 288 yards and two touchdowns in five games this year. He has also averaged 15.2 yards on six punt returns. The 27-year-old isn’t tied to New Orleans past this season, though, which may make a trade more likely. He’s on a $4.2MM base salary and due to reach free agency in the offseason.

The Saints may not have any urgency to part with Granderson, who’s signed through 2027 on the four-year, $52MM extension he received in 2023. Nevertheless, it’s no surprise teams have interest in the 28-year-old. After combining for 19.5 sacks from 2022-24, he has racked up 4.5 in five games this season. The 49ers are among contenders seeking pass-rushing upgrades, though it’s unclear if they have called the Saints about Granderson.

Werner, another staple in New Orleans’ front seven, has started in 52 of 61 contests (including four of five this year) since joining the team as a second-round pick in 2021. Like Granderson, Werner impressed the Saints enough earlier in his career to secure an extension. He’s under team control through 2027 on a three-year, $25MM pact. Werner has logged an 82.8% snap share and totaled 41 tackles this year, though Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranks his performance a lowly 65th among 72 qualifying linebackers.

After starting 15 games at right guard with the Titans last year, Radunz signed with the Saints on a one-year, $2.25MM deal in March. Now the backup to Saints left guard Trevor Penning and only a few months from returning to the open market, the 27-year-old Radunz wouldn’t command much in a trade.

The Saints have four games left before the deadline, including three against teams that are over .500. General manager Mickey Loomis will decide over the next few weeks who (if anyone) is expendable. Just a year removed from trading cornerback Marshon Lattimore (then a career-long Saint) to the Commanders, Loomis could be in for another active deadline this season.

Cardinals To Start QB Jacoby Brissett In Week 6

October 12th, 2025 at 10:41am CST by Adam La Rose

OCT. 12: Brissett will start on Sunday. Murray is inactive, the team announced.

OCT. 11: The door is open to Kyler Murray handling quarterback duties for the Cardinals this week. As things stand, however, it is unlikely that will be the case.

Jacoby Brissett is expected to get the nod on Sunday, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Jeremy Fowler. Brissett has made a pair of appearances this season, his debut campaign in Arizona. He has yet to make a start for his latest team, though.

[MAILBAG: Looking Into Possible Cardinals Offseason Moves]

Barring an unforeseen development, that will change tomorrow. Murray is still a possibility in terms of suiting up, but he was limited in practice on Friday after missing the previous two days. The former No. 1 pick’s foot ailment is a version of a Lisfranc injury, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. As a result, Murray’s absence may not be limited to one game. His status will certainly be one to watch closely.

As of yesterday, the Cardinals were uncertain of their Week 6 starter; that left the team to craft plans for both Murray and Brissett. The latter is now in position to take on QB1 responsibilities for at least one week, however. Brissett has 53 starts and 83 appearances to his name. That includes a four-year spell with the Colts; Arizona will play Indianapolis in Week 6.

That Indy tenure included starting duties for two seasons. Brissett has also seen a multi-game run atop the depth chart with the Browns in 2022 while filling in for the suspended Deshaun Watson and at the start of last year before the Patriots handed the reins over to Drake Maye. The 32-year-old has not managed to post a winning record during any of his QB1 runs, but he will be counted on to keep Arizona’s offense afloat for at least one contest.

The Cardinals opened the season with two straight one-score wins, but they have lost three straight contests on game-ending field goals. Murray will be counted on to continue playing a central role in the efforts to reach the postseason when healthy, but his recovery process will determine the point at which he is back to full strength. It would come as little surprise if the Cardinals proceeded with caution in terms of his return to action given Murray’s status as their franchise passer (something all-but confirmed past the current campaign through his contract structure).

The 4-1 Colts have started out N0. 3 in the league in terms of points allowed this season. However, new DC Lou Anarumo‘s unit sits just 19th against the pass and injuries in the secondary remain a concern. That group will look to improve beginning tomorrow against a shorthanded Cardinals offense.

Raiders Are “Mildly Concerned” About QB Geno Smith

October 12th, 2025 at 8:40am CST by Ben Levine

OCTOBER 12: No substantial discussions have occurred regarding a Smith-for-Pickett quarterback change, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero. Smith has been a starter for the past four seasons and has not been benched for non-injury-related purposes since his one-off start for Eli Manning in 2017 triggered a Giants regime change.

Conversely, Pickett has been on the backup level since the Steelers did not reinsert the 2022 first-rounder into their lineup late in the 2023 season. Smith enters Week 6 sitting 29th in QBR, with injuries to Bowers and Miller providing a notable effect early in Carroll’s run.

OCTOBER 8: Unsurprisingly, the concerns about Raiders quarterback Geno Smith are starting to mount. Following a two-interception showing that dropped Las Vegas to 1-4, the Raiders are “mildly concerned” about their veteran QB, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

The organization understands that their offseason acquisition has to improve his play quickly. However, there isn’t any panic that Smith is a “broken” quarterback, and Graziano doesn’t anticipate a benching at any point during Week 6. Further, there’s some understanding that Smith has had to rely on an underwhelming receivers corps while also dealing with key TE/OL injuries to the likes of Brock Bowers, Michael Mayer, and Kolton Miller.

Graziano notes that Smith’s two interceptions from this past weekend weren’t necessarily his fault, including one that followed a missed offsides call against the Colts. On the flip side, scouts told Graziano that Smith seems overly reliant on his arm talent as he (unsuccessfully) throws the ball into tight windows. There’s also a belief that the veteran has been a bit slow with releasing the football.

Smith is currently pacing the NFL with nine interceptions, and the team’s six passing touchdowns ranks towards the bottom of the NFL. The Raiders acquired the veteran from the Seahawks this past offseason and later handed him a two-year, $75MM extension that technically keeps him tied to the franchise through the 2027 season. If Smith is indeed done, the team would be left with a significant cap hit (although there is an easy out after the 2026 campaign). Because of that financial commitment (coupled with his relationship with head coach Pete Carroll), it seems like Smith will be afforded a relatively long leash.

If the Raiders do decide to make a move at quarterback, Kenny Pickett would be the natural pivot. The Raiders snagged the quarterback in a trade with the Browns at the end of the preseason, providing the franchise with a low-cost veteran backup. The former Steelers draft pick did win 14 games in his two seasons as a mostly full-time starter, but ESPN’s Dan Graziano echoes Fowler’s sentiment that Smith would have to completely implode for the Raiders to make a change.

While much of the talk about the Raiders’ offensive struggles has surrounded the players, some of the coaches are also starting to feel the heat. Graziano notes that offensive coordinator Chip Kelly is starting to draw criticism. Some league sources opined that Kelly’s scheme isn’t “creating enough advantages to overcome the Raiders’ personnel deficiencies,” which is also a clear indictment on the organization’s front office.

Joe Flacco Hail Mary Comes At Key Point On Bengals’ Timeline

October 11th, 2025 at 10:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

Joe Flacco has enjoyed one of the more eventful late-prime periods for a non-star-level quarterback in NFL history. Despite going six years between appearances as a non-injury-related Week 1 starter and then being removed from that role four games into the season, The 40-year-old passer has now been traded three times will be asked to save a Bengals season careening off course.

Moreover, the Bengals -- after trading a 2026 fifth-round pick for Flacco and a sixth -- are entrusting a key stretch on their timeline to a player a largely dysfunctional organization just benched. The Browns backup-turned-Bengals starter will be asked to keep hopes alive while Joe Burrow rehabs. Cincinnati faces the ignominious reality of missing three straight playoff brackets during Burrow's late 20s.

As Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson have brought their respective franchises near-automatic postseason entry codes this decade, the Burrow era -- due to injuries and roster management -- is nearing a 2-for-6 start in terms of postseason qualification. That is, if Flacco cannot turn his own season around.

This promises to be one of the more interesting in-season QB acquisitions in many years, as the NFL's second-oldest active QB will go from being demoted by a team eyeing the 2026 draft class at the position to a division rival carrying historically elite weaponry. Jake Browning was squandering the receiver arsenal the Bengals deviated from their previous plan to pay. Plenty of subplots are present as Flacco begins a second in-season Ohio rescue effort.

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Bears Officially Make LT Switch

October 11th, 2025 at 9:45pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Caleb Williams has a new blind side protector coming out of the Bears’ Week 5 bye. Head coach Ben Johnson announced (via The Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain) that second-year offensive lineman Theo Benedet will start at left tackle on Monday against the Commanders.

Benedet started at right tackle in Week 4 against the Raiders with Darnell Wright nursing an elbow injury. Partway through the game, Johnson flipped Benedet to left tackle to replace Braxton Jones and inserted rookie Ozzy Trapilo on the right side. Chicago’s offense did not roar to life as Johnson may have hoped, but they were able to hold on for a 25-24 win in Las Vegas.

Benedet apparently performed well enough to hang onto the left tackle job, despite poor grades from Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Jones also dealt with an ankle injury this offseason and may not have gotten all the way back to 100% before the season starter, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Though he has not popped up on the injury report, some rest may still be necessary to get him back to full strength, as his play has taken a hit relative to previous seasons.

In the meantime, the Bears will move forward with Benedet, who played college football in Canada for the University of British Columbia before arriving in Chicago as an undrafted free agent in 2024. He spent his first season on the practice squad and emerged as a surprising factor in the Bears’ left tackle competition during training camp this past summer.

It will be very interesting to see if Jones gets a chance to win his job back, as it is a contract year for the 2022 fifth-round pick. He was a rare Day 3 draftee to start at left tackle as a rookie, but regime change always brings roster turnover. The Bears can hold onto Benedet through the 2027 season, and both Trapilo and Kiran Amegadjie could be long-term options at left tackle. That would make it difficult to justify re-signing Jones after the season, especially if Chicago intends to hang onto Wright, their 2023 first-round pick.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/11/25

October 11th, 2025 at 8:31pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are the minor moves and standard gameday practice squad elevations heading into the sixth Sunday of the NFL season:

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Detroit Lions

Indianapolis Colts

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Manu was ruled out for this week with a knee injury after making the first start of his career with Detroit. Unfortunately, he’ll miss the team’s next three games, as well, after being placed on injured reserve.

Wright will fill in as placekicker for the Titans in Week 6. Regular kicker Joey Slye has been ruled out with a calf injury after missing practice all week.

Avery in Cleveland and Walton in Carolina are both being called up as standard gameday practice squad elevations for the third time this year. If either of their respective teams want them to be active for another game, they will need to sign them to the 53-man roster.

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