Updated 2026 NFL Draft Order
Week 12 saw the Giants become the first team in the NFL to be mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. Based on Sunday’s results, another two teams from each conference saw their postseason chances officially come to an end.
The Titans, Saints, Raiders and Cardinals have now been eliminated as well. Attention in the case of those teams will increasingly turn toward the offseason. For some, questions about changes at the quarterback spot will be ongoing through the spring. Free agency is not expected to include many notable options, so the draft will be sought out in several instances as a means of finding a 2026 starter.
Of course, the incoming class of passers has largely underwhelmed this season. That has led to uncertainty regarding the ceiling for many of the top prospects at the quarterback position. Nevertheless, supply often outweighs demand at the top of the Day 1 order in the NFL draft. How things shake out over the closing weeks of the season will be key in determining which QB-needy teams find themselves in the best position to select a new QB1.
For non-playoff teams, the draft order is determined by the inverted 2025 standings plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule. Playoff squads are slotted by their postseason outcome and the reverse order of their regular season record.
Here is an early look at the first-round order:
- Tennessee Titans (1-11)
- New York Giants (2-11)
- New Orleans Saints (2-10)
- Las Vegas Raiders (2-10)
- Cleveland Browns (3-9)
- Washington Commanders (3-9)
- New York Jets (3-9)
- Arizona Cardinals (3-9)
- Los Angeles Rams (via Falcons)
- Cincinnati Bengals (4-8)
- Minnesota Vikings (4-8)
- Miami Dolphins (5-7)
- Kansas City Chiefs (6-6)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6)
- Carolina Panthers (7-6)
- Dallas Cowboys (6-5-1)
- Detroit Lions (7-5)
- Houston Texans (7-5)
- Baltimore Ravens (6-6)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5)
- Buffalo Bills (8-4)
- Philadelphia Eagles (8-4)
- New York Jets (via Colts)
- San Francisco 49ers (9-4)
- Los Angeles Chargers (8-4)
- Cleveland Browns (via Jaguars)
- Dallas Cowboys (via Packers)
- Seattle Seahawks (9-3)
- Los Angeles Rams (9-3)
- Denver Broncos (10-2)
- Chicago Bears (9-3)
- New England Patriots (11-2)
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/1/25
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived: RB Jermar Jefferson
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed to active roster: CB Jalen Davis
- Placed on IR: LB Brian Asamoah
Detroit Lions
- Claimed off waivers (from Dolphins): TE Hayden Rucci
- Designated for return from IR: TE Shane Zylstra
- Placed on reserve/retired list: C Frank Ragnow
Green Bay Packers
- Waived: WR Will Sheppard
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Waived: WR Austin Trammell
New England Patriots
- Elevated: OL Brenden Jaimes, DT Jeremiah Pharms
New York Giants
- Signed to active roster: LB Tomon Fox
- Elevated: LB Swayze Bozeman, WR Dalen Cambre
The Lions continue to work through their tight end depth with Sam LaPorta done for the season. The team’s first move today was claiming Hayden Rucci, who was waived by the Dolphins on Saturday. A former UDFA out of Wisconsin, Rucci spent much of the 2024 and 2025 campaigns in Miami. He got into four games with the organization this season, with the majority of his snaps coming on special teams.
The Lions also welcomed Shane Zylstra back to practice today. The tight end has been out since Week 2, when he suffered an ankle injury while blocking on a punt return. The veteran has gotten into 31 games with the Lions since the 2021 season, hauling in 15 catches for 116 yards and four touchdowns.
Otherwise, the Lions placed center Frank Ragnow back on the reserve/retired list after the veteran failed his physical.
Cardinals Place Will Hernandez On IR, Activate Hayden Conner
The Cardinals made a pair of changes to their offensive line on Saturday, per Darren Urban of the team’s website. Right guard Will Hernandez is headed to IR with hip and knee injuries. Rookie O-lineman Hayden Conner is coming off IR to take Hernandez’s roster spot.
Hernandez was a durable starter for the Giants and Cardinals from 2018-23. The former second-round pick missed just seven regular-season games out of a possible 99 during that six-year span.
Hernandez’s career was thrown off course when he tore his ACL in October 2024, limiting him to five contests. Shortly after receiving medical clearance, Hernandez re-upped with Arizona on a one-year contract in August. He played in seven games this season before going on IR.
Hernandez won’t be eligible for activation until Week 17. With the Cardinals sitting at 3-8 and all but guaranteed to miss the playoffs, it’s possible he won’t return in 2025. Regardless, the Cardinals will have to decide whether to re-sign Hernandez in the offseason. For now, Isaiah Adams is likely to take over again as the Cardinals’ starting right guard. The 2024 third-rounder started five games earlier this season when Hernandez was working back from last year’s knee injury.
The Cardinals spent a sixth-rounder in last spring’s draft on Conner, who is finally in position to debut after suffering a knee injury in the preseason. Conner started in 43 of 51 games with the Longhorns.
In other moves on Saturday, Arizona elevated two practice squad players – tight end Pharaoh Brown and linebacker Channing Tindall – for Sunday’s game against the Buccaneers. It’s the third standard gameday elevation of the year for Brown. That’s the limit, which means the Cardinals will have to sign Brown to their active roster if they want to use him again.
Cardinals Release Xavier Thomas; Baron Browning To Return In Week 13
The Cardinals will have outside linebackers Baron Browning and BJ Ojulari on the field together for the first time this season in Week 13.
Browning is returning from a two-game absence due to a concussion, while Ojulari missed Arizona’s first nine games as he recovered from last year’s knee injury. With both players back in the fold, the Cardinals waived 2024 fifth-rounder Xavier Thomas, per team reporter Darren Urban.
Despite playing 54% of the team’s defensive snaps in his nine appearances, Browning has just 26 tackles, two sacks, and three tackles for loss on the season. However, he has been credited with 22 pressures and a 12.5% pass rush win rate, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), which both rank third among the Cardinals’ pass rushers. Based on those numbers, he is due for some better production for the rest of the season.
Thomas only appeared in four games this season with 15 snaps on defense and 42 on special teams. As a rookie, Thomas played 208 snaps with 2.5 sacks and two tackles for loss, but the addition of Josh Sweat this offseason and the return of Ojulari in Week 11 pushed him out of the rotation. Thomas will hit waivers and leave a dead cap hit of $93k in 2025 and $186k in 2026.
NFL Minor Transactions: 11/26/25
Here are Wednesday’s minor moves and some standard gameday practice squad elevations for the annual Thanksgiving slate of games:
Arizona Cardinals
- Opened practice window: T Christian Jones
Cincinnati Bengals
- Activated from IR: S Daijahn Anthony
- Placed on IR: CB Marco Wilson
Dallas Cowboys
- Elevated: CB Corey Ballentine
Green Bay Packers
- Signed to active roster: WR Will Sheppard
- Elevated: LB Jamon Johnson, S Jaylin Simpson
- Waived: K Lucas Havrisik
Kansas City Chiefs
- Elevated: S Mike Edwards, T Esa Pole
New England Patriots
- Signed to active roster: CB Miles Battle
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed to active roster: WR Britain Covey
Seattle Seahawks
- Elevated: CB Shaquill Griffin, LB Patrick O’Connell
- Placed on IR: LB Chazz Surratt
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Designated to return from IR: S Rashad Wisdom
Green Bay’s regular kicker Brandon McManus was off the injury report with three full practices this week, so Havrisik will take his leave after filling in for three games this year. The team had been keeping Havrisik close even during McManus’ healthy stretches, but after the backup missed two extra point attempts at MetLife this weekend, the Packers relinquished him to the waiver wire.
Jones missed most of his rookie campaign due to a knee injury, and the same has been true for most of his sophomore season. This time, though, he’s coming back with a bit more time left in the season.
O’Connell had already been called up as a gameday elevation three times this year, so if Seattle wanted to see him on the field again, this move was necessary. In his most recent elevation, O’Connell was asked to play a much bigger role, staying in for over half the team’s defensive snaps. In his first extended opportunity, O’Connell finished second on the team with nine tackles and even logged his first career sack.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/26/25
Today’s midweek practice squad transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: RB Montrell Johnson
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: S Tanner Ingle
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: S Kahlef Hailassie
New England Patriots
- Signed: CB Brandon Crossley
Philadelphia Eagles
- Placed on practice squad/injured list: T Luke Felix-Fualalo
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: RB Myles Gaskin, WR Jimmy Holiday
- Released: T Logan Brown
2025 Injured Reserve Return Tracker
The 2024 offseason brought a change in how teams could construct their 53-man rosters while retaining flexibility with injured players. Clubs were permitted to attach return designations to two players (in total) placed on IR or an NFI list before setting their initial rosters.
In prior years, anyone placed on IR before a team set its initial 53-man roster could not be activated in-season. All August 26 IR- or NFI-return designations, however, already count against teams’ regular-season limit of eight. Teams will be tasked with determining which players injured in-season will factor into activation puzzles as the year progresses.
All players designated for return on August 26 became eligible to be activated beginning in Week 5, though any player placed on IR after a team set its initial 53 has not been designated for return and therefore does not yet count toward a club’s eight-activation limit. Playoff teams will receive two additional injury activations once the postseason begins.
Here is how the 32 teams’ activation puzzles look for Week 16:
Arizona Cardinals
Reverted to season-ending IR:
Designated for return:
- DL L.J. Collier (12/3)
Eligible for activation:
- S Joey Blount
- WR Simi Fehoko
- P Blake Gillikin (story)
- DL Justin Jones (story)
- QB Kyler Murray (return not expected)
- LB Mack Wilson (story)
Activated:
- CB Garrett Williams (Week 9)
- G Hayden Conner (Week 13)
- T Christian Jones (Week 15)
Activations remaining: 5
Atlanta Falcons
Reverted to season-ending IR:
Eligible for activation:
- DL Zach Harrison
- OLB DeAngelo Malone (story)
- CB Clark Phillips
- DL Sam Roberts
- OLB Bralen Trice (story)
Activated:
- DL Ta’Quon Graham (Week 7)
- S Jordan Fuller (Week 8)
- LB Divine Deablo (Week 12)
Activations remaining: 4
Baltimore Ravens
Designated for return (Aug. 26):
- OLB Adisa Isaac
- WR Dayton Wade
Eligible for activation:
- LB Jay Higgins
- DL Broderick Washington (story)
Activated:
- OLB Tavius Robinson (Week 15)
Activations remaining: 5
Buffalo Bills
Eligible for activation:
- S Damar Hamlin (story)
- WR Mecole Hardman (story)
- DT Ed Oliver (playoff return in play)
- S Taylor Rapp (unlikely to return this season)
- CB Dorian Strong (story)
Activated:
- CB Maxwell Hairston (Week 8)
- DT T.J. Sanders (Week 11)
- OL Tylan Grable (Week 13)
Activations remaining: 5
Carolina Panthers
Eligible for activation:
- G Robert Hunt (story)
- WR David Moore (story)
Activated:
- DE LaBryan Ray (Week 5)
- WR Jalen Coker (Week 7)
- C Austin Corbett (Week 7)
- G Chandler Zavala (Week 9)
Activations remaining: 4
Chicago Bears
Eligible for activation:
- T Kiran Amegadjie
- RB Roschon Johnson
- T Braxton Jones (story)
Designated for return:
- LB Tremaine Edmunds (12/15)
Activated:
- RB Travis Homer (Week 7)
- DE Austin Booker (Week 9)
- LB Amen Ogbongbemiga (Week 10)
- CB Kyler Gordon (Week 13)
- CB Jaylon Johnson (Week 13)
Activations remaining: 3
Cincinnati Bengals
Designated for return:
- DE Shemar Stewart (12/10)
Eligible for activation:
- C Matt Lee
Activated:
- G Lucas Patrick (Week 7)
- DE Cedric Johnson (Week 9)
- TE Mike Gesicki (Week 12)
- S Daijahn Anthony (Week 13)
- QB Joe Burrow (Week 13)
- LB Shaka Heyward (Week 15)
Activations remaining: 2
Cleveland Browns
Designated for return (Aug. 26):
- LB Winston Reid
Eligible for activation:
- WR DeAndre Carter (story)
Activated:
Activations remaining: 6
Dallas Cowboys
Designated for return (Aug. 26):
Designated for return:
- CB Trevon Diggs (11/30)
Eligible for activation:
- OL Ajani Cornelius
- OL Trevor Keegan (story)
- RB Phil Mafah (story)
- LB Jack Sanborn (story)
- S Juanyeh Thomas
Activated:
- CB Caelen Carson (Week 7)
- WR Jonathan Mingo (Week 8)
- C Cooper Beebe (Week 9)
- S Malik Hooker (Week 11)
- DT Perrion Winfrey (Week 12)
Activations remaining: 2
Denver Broncos
Designated for return (Aug. 26):
- LB Drew Sanders
Designated for return:
- G Ben Powers (12/10)
Eligible for activation:
- TE Lucas Krull (story)
- OL Matt Peart (story)
- LB Karene Reid
Activated:
- DL Malcolm Roach (Week 6)
- LB Dre Greenlaw (Week 7)
- LB Garret Wallow (Week 11)
Activations remaining: 4
Detroit Lions
Designated for return:
Eligible for activation:
- LB Zach Cunningham
- OL Jamarco Jones
- TE Sam LaPorta (return unlikely)
- OL Giovanni Manu (story)
Activated:
- S Daniel Thomas (Week 10)
- CB Khalil Dorsey (Week 12)
- CB D.J. Reed (Week 12)
- OLB Marcus Davenport (Week 13)
- TE Shane Zylstra (Week 15)
Activations remaining: 3
Green Bay Packers
Designated for return (Aug. 26):
Designated for return:
- DL Brenton Cox (12/1)
Eligible for activation:
- LB Nick Niemann
Activated:
- OL Jacob Monk (Week 7)
- WR Jayden Reed (Week 14)
Activations remaining: 5
Houston Texans
Designated for return:
- WR Justin Watson (12/10)
Eligible for activation:
- DT Folorunso Fatukasi (story)
- CB Jaylin Smith (story)
- OLB Darrell Taylor (story)
Activated:
- S Jaylen Reed (Week 7)
- CB Jaylin Smith (Week 8)
- FB Jakob Johnson (Week 11)
- TE Cade Stover (Week 11)
- TE Harrison Bryant (Week 15)
Activations remaining: 3
Indianapolis Colts
Designated for return:
- DT DeForest Buckner (12/10)
Eligible for activation:
Activated:
- CB Jaylon Jones (Week 9)
- CB Charvarius Ward (Week 12)
- LB Jaylon Carlies (Week 14)
Activations remaining: 5
Jacksonville Jaguars
Designated for return (Aug. 26):
- LB Jalen McLeod
Activated:
- TE Brenton Strange (Week 12)
- S Eric Murray (Week 14)
Activations remaining: 5
Kansas City Chiefs
Designated for return (Aug. 26):
Activations remaining: 6
Las Vegas Raiders
Designated for return:
- LT Kolton Miller (12/10)
Eligible for activation:
Activated:
- S Lonnie Johnson Jr. (Week 10)
- QB Aidan O’Connell (Week 12)
Activations remaining: 6
Los Angeles Chargers
Activated:
- OLB Khalil Mack (Week 7)
- ILB Denzel Perryman (Week 7)
- DT Da’Shawn Hand (Week 10)
- LS Josh Harris (Week 10)
- DB Deane Leonard (Week 10)
- RB Omarion Hampton (Week 14)
- RB Hassan Haskins (Week 14)
- DL Otito Ogbonnia (Week 14)
Activations remaining: 0
Los Angeles Rams
Eligible for activation:
- RT Rob Havenstein (story)
- TE Tyler Higbee (story)
- S Quentin Lake (story)
Activated:
- CB Ahkello Witherspoon (Week 13)
- WR Tutu Atwell (Week 15)
Activations remaining: 6
Miami Dolphins
Designated for return (Aug. 26):
- OL Andrew Meyer
- K Jason Sanders (story)
Eligible for activation:
- G James Daniels (story)
Activated:
- CB Jason Marshall (Week 9)
- RT Austin Jackson (Week 13)
- TE Darren Waller (Week 13)
Activations remaining: 3
Minnesota Vikings
Designated for return:
- RB Ty Chandler (12/3)
Eligible for activation:
- CB Jeff Okudah
Activated:
- FB C.J. Ham (Week 5)
- OLB Tyler Batty (Week 7)
- LB Blake Cashman (Week 7)
- RB Aaron Jones (Week 8)
- C Ryan Kelly (Week 12)
Activations remaining: 3
New England Patriots
Eligible for activation:
- DT Milton Williams (story)
Activated:
- LB Jahlani Tavai (Week 5)
Activations remaining: 7
New Orleans Saints
Eligible for activation:
- S Julian Blackmon (story)
- DT Vernon Broughton
- WR Trey Palmer (story)
Activated:
- DL John Ridgeway (Week 8)
- T Barry Wesley (Week 10)
Activations remaining: 6
New York Giants
Designated for return (Aug. 26):
- OL Joshua Ezeudu (practice window opened 12/10)
Designated for return:
- WR Beaux Collins (12/10)
- CB Art Green (12/9)
Eligible for activation:
- LB Chris Board
- K Graham Gano (story)
- LB Micah McFadden (story)
- G Evan Neal (story)
Activated:
- K Graham Gano (Week 8)
- CB Rico Payton (Week 9)
- LB Darius Muasau (Week 15)
Activations remaining: 4
New York Jets
Eligible for activation:
- RB Braelon Allen (story)
- WR Josh Reynolds (story)
- WR Garrett Wilson (story)
Activated:
- LB Ja’Markis Weston (Week 7)
- LB Quincy Williams (Week 8)
- LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball (Week 12)
- LB Cam Jones (Week 15)
Activations remaining: 4
Philadelphia Eagles
Reverted to season-ending IR:
- T Myles Hinton (practice window closed 12/10)
- G Willie Lampkin (practice window closed 11/27)
Eligible for activation:
- OLB Azeez Ojulari (story)
- T Cameron Williams
Activated:
- WR Darius Cooper (Week 8)
- OLB Nolan Smith (Week 10)
- CB Jakorian Bennett (Week 11)
- S Marcus Epps (Week 14)
- LS Charley Hughlett (Week 15)
Activations remaining: 2
Pittsburgh Steelers
Reverted to season-ending IR:
- DB Cory Trice (practice window closed 11/19)
Designated for return:
- CB Donte Kent (12/3)
Eligible for activation:
- S DeShon Elliott (story)
- QB Skylar Thompson
Activated:
- LB Malik Harrison (Week 9)
- QB Will Howard (Week 11)
Activations remaining: 5
San Francisco 49ers
Designated for return:
- DE Yetur Gross-Matos (12/11)
Activated:
- DL Kevin Givens (Week 7)
- TE George Kittle (Week 7)
- OL Spencer Burford (Week 8)
- G Ben Bartch (Week 10)
Activations remaining: 4
Seattle Seahawks
Designated for return:
- WR Dareke Young (12/3)
Eligible for activation:
- WR Tory Horton (story)
Activated:
- FB Robbie Ouzts (Week 9)
- G Christian Haynes (Week 11)
- S Julian Love (Week 14)
- DT Jarran Reed (Week 14)
- TE Eric Saubert (Week 15)
- C Jalen Sundell (Week 15)
Activations remaining: 2
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Designated for return:
- S Rashad Wisdom (11/26)
Eligible for activation:
- DL Calijah Kancey (story)
- TE Ko Kieft
Activated:
- RT Luke Goedeke (Week 10)
- WR Mike Evans (Week 15)
- WR Jalen McMillan (Week 15)
Activations remaining: 5
Tennessee Titans
Eligible for activation:
- LB Ali Gaye
- OL Blake Hance
- OLB Oluwafemi Oladejo
- WR Bryce Oliver
- CB L’Jarius Sneed (story)
Activated:
- RB Tyjae Spears (Week 5)
- DT T’Vondre Sweat (Week 7)
- S Mike Brown (Week 11)
- RB Kalel Mullings (Week 12)
Activations remaining: 4
Washington Commanders
Eligible for activation:
Activated:
- CB Jonathan Jones (Week 7)
- S Will Harris (Week 13)
- DE Drake Jackson (Week 14)
- WR Noah Brown (Week 14)
Activations remaining: 4
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/22/25
Here are Week 12’s minor moves and standard gameday practice squad elevations for the Sunday slate tomorrow:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed to active roster: CB Darren Hall
- Elevated: TE Pharaoh Brown, LB Channing Tindall
Baltimore Ravens
- Elevated: LB Chandler Martin, CB Amani Oruwariye
Cincinnati Bengals
- Elevated: RB Gary Brightwell, CB Jalen Davis
Cleveland Browns
- Elevated: QB Bailey Zappe
Green Bay Packers
- Elevated: LB Jamon Johnson, RB Pierre Strong
Kansas City Chiefs
- Elevated: RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed to active roster: S Tanner Ingle
- Elevated: LB Elias Neal, WR Brennan Presley
New England Patriots
- Elevated: DT Jeremiah Pharms
New Orleans Saints
- Elevated: WR Dante Pettis, G William Sherman
New York Giants
- Activated from reserve/PUP: RB Eric Gray
- Elevated: LB Swayze Bozeman, WR Dalen Cambre
- Placed on IR: TE Thomas Fidone II
New York Jets
- Activated from IR: LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball
- Waived: LB Ja’Markis Weston
Seattle Seahawks
- Elevated: LB Patrick O’Connell, LB Jamie Sheriff
- Placed on IR: WR Tory Horton (story)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Elevated: S Marcus Banks
Tennessee Titans
- Activated from IR: RB Kalel Mullings
- Elevated: WR Xavier Restrepo
There hasn’t been much of an update since it was reported that rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel was going through the league’s concussion protocol. He was able to get some limited practice time in yesterday, but he hasn’t yet been cleared. With Gabriel’s status up in the air, Zappe is getting called up in case he’s needed to back up the new starting rookie, Shedeur Sanders.
O’Connell and Sheriff are getting called up with linebackers Tyrice Knight out with a concussion and Ernest Jones questionable with a knee injury. This will be O’Connell’s third and final practice squad elevation, so if the Seahawks wants to see him play again this year, they will need to sign him to the active roster.
Cardinals RT Jonah Williams To Undergo Season-Ending Surgery
Cardinals right tackle Jonah Williams will miss the rest of the 2025 season after undergoing shoulder surgery, head coach Jonathan Gannon announced on Friday (via ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss).
Williams, 28, started the Cardinals’ first nine games of the season before going down in Week 10. Kelvin Beachum closed out the game, but picked up a groin injury. He still started in Week 11, but had to be replaced by Josh Fryar. Beachum has missed practice all week, which will likely position Fryar, an undrafted rookie, for his first career start.
Williams is set to hit free agency this offseason, and he seems like a long shot to re-sign in Arizona. The Cardinals gave him a two-year, $30MM contract in 2024 after four years in Cincinnati, but since then, Williams has only started 15 games. He was excellent in 2024, allowing just seven pressures and zero sacks in six games, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). This year, he took a step back this year with 21 pressures and three sacks allowed through nine games. Williams’ contract will void on February 20, per OverTheCap, which will leave $7MM in dead money on the Cardinals’ salary cap.
The Cardinals seem headed towards a major shake-up this offseason after hopes of a 2025 bounce-back quickly gave way to disappointment over a losing record. Among their needs will be a new right tackle. No obvious long-term candidate is on the roster, though Fryar or Demontrey Jacobs could both have opportunities to audition this year.
Arizona also signed practice squad running back Jermar Jefferson to the active roster and filled his spot with running back Sincere McCormick, per team reporter Darren Urban. Those moves suggest that Trey Benson, who is on injured reserve with his practice window opened, is not ready to be activated and will not play on Sunday against the Jaguars.
49ers LB Tatum Bethune To Miss Multiple Games
Even the 49ers’ injury replacements are getting hurt. Linebacker Tatum Bethune, who stepped in for All-Pro Fred Warner after he went down in Week 6, will now miss multiple games with a high ankle sprain suffered in Week 11.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan announced (via NBC Sports’ Matt Maiocco) Bethune’s injury on Thursday and named five-year veteran Curtis Robinson as the team’s new starting middle linebacker. Robinson is primarily a special teams contributor, but has played the most defensive snaps of his career this season. That workload will grow further as he steps into a full-time role in the 49ers defense.
Bethune, 25, has not been able to replicate Warner’s all-around impact – few players in the NFL could. But he has been a reliable tackler, racking up 60 tackles in his five games before getting injured. San Francisco will be hoping that he can return before the end of the season to bolster a defense that has been decimated by injuries.
Sunday’s game against the Panthers will be Robinson’s first NFL start. Carolina’s offense has been extremely inconsistent this season, but Bryce Young just set a franchise record with 448 passing yards last week. The 49ers, meanwhile, just gave up 452 yards and an NFL-record 47 completions to Jacoby Brissett and the Cardinals.