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NFL Practice Squad Updates: 8/28/25

August 28th, 2025 at 9:12pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Teams around the NFL continued to adjust their practice squads as new players came free from Wednesday’s transactions. Here are all the latest updates:

Arizona Cardinals

Arizona Falcons

Buffalo Bills

  • Signed: CB Jalen Kimber, DE Andre Jones Jr.
  • Released: CB Daequan Hardy

Carolina Panthers

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos:

  • Signed: TE Patrick Murtaugh (international exemptin)

Detroit Lions: 

Green Bay Packers:

Houston Texans: 

  • Signed: OT Reid Holskey, WR Josh Kelly

Indianapolis Colts: 

Jacksonville Jaguars: 

Kansas City Chiefs:

Los Angeles Chargers:

Miami Dolphins:

  • Signed: RB JaMycal Hasty

Minnesota Vikings:

New England Patriots: 

New York Giants: 

  • Signed: TE Qadir Ismail

New York Jets: 

  • Signed: OL Marquis Hayes, DB Korie Black

Philadelphia Eagles:

  • Signed: WR Britain Covey, OT Luke Felix Fualalo (international exemption)

San Francisco 49ers: 

Seattle Seahawks: 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 

Tennessee Titans: 

Washington Commanders: 

Signed: RB Donovan Edwards, CB Darius Rush

Ismail was one of 17 players to work out for the Giants on Thursday, per The Athletic’s Dan Duggan. He won the practice squad spot over more notable players like former Broncos safety Caden Sterns and former Browns quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Canadian quarterback Taylor Elgersma also attended the workout, per Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post, suggesting that the Giants might be looking for extra depth at the position.

Wallace worked out for the Vikings on Thursday, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. It must have gone well, as he was signed to the practice squad hours later as extra depth both in the secondary and on special teams.

Griffin returned to the Seahawks this offseason, eight years after they made him a third-round pick in the 2017 draft. He did not make Seattle’s 53-man roster, but as a vested veteran, he was able to re-sign to the practice squad without going through waivers.

Falcons Place Bralen Trice On IR; Xavier Watts, Billy Bowman In Line For Starting Roles

August 28th, 2025 at 12:49pm CST by Adam La Rose

Bralen Trice missed his entire rookie season due to an ACL tear, and he will not be available at the start of the coming campaign. The 2024 third-rounder was placed on injured reserve Thursday, per a team announcement.

Head coach Raheem Morris said Trice aggravated the same knee affected by last year’s ACL tear. It is not known if surgery will be required at this point, but a procedure could be deemed necessary. Landing on IR at this time ensures Trice will miss at least the first four games of the campaign.

Morris also said the best-case scenario for Trice would be a return after Atlanta’s bye week. That happens to fall on Week 5, the earliest point at which the 24-year-old could have his practice window opened anyway. Activating Trice at any point will use up one of the Falcons’ eight IR activations on the season. The team already spent two when designating Ta’Quon Graham and Storm Norton for return during roster cutdowns.

Today’s move marks another injury setback for Trice, who was drafted as a candidate to handle a notable workload off the edge early in his career. Pass rush production has been hard to come by for Atlanta in recent years, something the team aimed at addressing through free agency (by signing Leonard Floyd) and the draft (by selecting Jalon Walker and James Pearce in the first round) this offseason. The team’s new options will be relied on without Trice in place at least early in the season.

In other news regarding the Falcons’ defense, Morris also announced rookies Xavier Watts and Billy Bowman will have starting roles. Watts, added in the third round, will operate as a first-team safety alongside Jessie Bates, while Bowman – taken one round later – will handle slot corner duties. Earlier this week, D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution noted how Bowman (who was drafted as a safety) impressed upon transitioning to a slot corner during camp, surpassing incumbent Dee Alford on the depth chart.

Morris’ announcement thus comes as no surprise, and it confirms Watts, Bowman and Bates will be joined by AJ Terrell and Mike Hughes in the starting secondary. That unit will work in tandem with a heavily renovated edge rush group, one which will be shorthanded in the fall.

Wednesday NFL Transactions: NFC South

August 27th, 2025 at 4:23pm CST by Sam Robinson

Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These Buccaneers, Falcons, Panthers and Saints moves are noted below.

Atlanta Falcons

Signed to practice squad:

Carolina Panthers

Claimed:

Waived:

Signed to practice squad:

New Orleans Saints

Claimed:

  • WR Trey Palmer (from Buccaneers), G Xavier Truss (from Broncos)

Signed to practice squad:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Signed to practice squad:

2025 NFL Waiver Order

August 27th, 2025 at 9:57am CST by Nikhil Mehta

Many of the players cut Tuesday were subject to waivers, giving teams a chance to pick them up (along with the rest of their contract). Teams can claim as many players as they want before the next team gets their remaining targets.

It’s also worth noting that relatively few players are claimed off waivers during final roster cuts each year. Waiver claims will be processed at 11am CT in the following order (via NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo). In reverse order of the 2024 NFL standings, here is how the waiver priority sits:

  1. Titans
  2. Browns
  3. Giants
  4. Patriots
  5. Jaguars
  6. Raiders
  7. Jets
  8. Panthers
  9. Saints
  10. Bears
  11. 49ers
  12. Cowboys
  13. Dolphins
  14. Colts
  15. Falcons
  16. Cardinals
  17. Bengals
  18. Seahawks
  19. Buccaneers
  20. Broncos
  21. Steelers
  22. Chargers
  23. Packers
  24. Vikings
  25. Texans
  26. Rams
  27. Ravens
  28. Lions
  29. Commanders
  30. Bills
  31. Chiefs
  32. Eagles

Falcons Cull Roster To 53 Players

August 26th, 2025 at 7:40pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Falcons trimmed their roster down to 53 players with the following moves:

Released

Waived

Placed on injured reserve (designated to return)

Placed on reserve/PUP

Placed on reserve/NFI

  • LB Malik Verdon

Released from IR with injury settlement

Fuller, Harrison, and Henderson all have previous starting experience in the secondary, though Harrison has since converted to linebacker and exclusively played special teams last season. Fuller missed half of the 2024 season due to injury, while Henderson, a former top-10 draft pick, spent the year with the Steelers but didn’t appear in a regular-season game.

With right tackle Kaleb McGary landing on season-ending IR, Parker could be a candidate to have a handshake agreement to be signed to the practice squad and remain in the team’s game day plans for the season. He will be crucial tackle depth with Norton sidelined for at least four weeks (and likely more) after ankle surgery

Bryant was a projected Day 3 pick who surprisingly went undrafted. Though he didn’t do enough to make the 53-man roster, the Falcons are hoping that he can clear waivers and return to the practice squad, per FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz.

Though Younghoe Koo is coming off a down year, the Falcons are sticking with the veteran kicker and waived Krieg, a German-born rookie. The Falcons are planning to re-sign him to the practice squad if he clears waivers, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. As an international player, Krieg is eligible to be an extra, 17th player on Atlanta’s practice squad.

Washington is expected to spend his third NFL season on the Falcons’ practice squad, per D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was only elevated once in 2024 and played exclusively special teams in that game.

Graham started 16 games over his first four years in the NFL but saw his snap share drop to a career low in 2024. He’ll be out for a minimum of four games with an undisclosed injury.

Falcons Place RT Kaleb McGary On IR

August 26th, 2025 at 3:29pm CST by Sam Robinson

Teams have had the option of stashing two players on IR with return designations over the past two Augusts. While that was the expectation for Kaleb McGary, the Falcons’ roster revealed a significant setback for the team’s O-line.

Atlanta did not stash McGary on IR with a return designation, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo clarifies. That will sideline the recently extended blocker for the season. That deals a blow to a Falcons team that also is without swing tackle Storm Norton, who suffered a knee injury recently.

The Falcons did place Norton on their IR-return list, which also includes defensive lineman Ta’Quon Graham. Norton is expected to miss between six to eight weeks. McGary injury specifics are not yet known, but him being done for the year deals a blow to a Falcons team employing one of the NFL’s two left-handed starting QBs (in Michael Penix Jr.).

Raheem Morris did say last week that McGary would miss significant time, and it now represents good timing on his part to secure a second Falcons extension. Atlanta gave McGary a two-year, $30MM deal that brings $17.99MM guaranteed, per Spotrac. McGary will have plenty of time to rehab, but locking in that guarantee when he did probably spared him a value loss in free agency.

McGary, 30, was tied to a three-year deal that expired after the 2025 season. He joined Jawaan Taylor and Mike McGlinchey on a strong RT market in 2023. While the former first-round pick did not match the eventual Chiefs and Broncos RTs’ contracts, he did well and delivered two more years as a Falcons starter. The seventh-year veteran has started 92 career games, never missing more than three in a season.

Norton will be an option to replace McGary once he comes off IR, but for now, the Falcons are in a bind. They did trade for second-year blocker Michael Jerrell, whose 245 rookie-year snaps all came at right tackle, earlier today. Jerrell joins veteran swingman Elijah Wilkinson as immediate options. Wilkinson, a former Broncos swing tackle who had shifted inside in recent years, became McGary’s immediate replacement in practice. The Falcons are already replacing Drew Dalman, their three-year center starter who signed a high-priced Bears deal; they will now see more O-line turnover to start the season.

Falcons To Release CB C.J. Henderson

August 26th, 2025 at 1:38pm CST by Adam La Rose

After the joining the Falcons earlier this month, C.J. Henderson will not make the team’s initial 53-man roster. The former first-round cornerback is being released, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports.

As Schultz notes, however, Atlanta is planning on retaining Henderson via the practice squad. For that to be possible, he will have to avoid signing with any interested teams upon reaching free agency once the Falcons’ cuts are official. Of course, agreements of that nature are commonplace around the NFL with respect to roster maneuvering.

Henderson had multiple suitors in 2025, including a new opportunity with the Steelers. The former Jaguar and Panther instead elected to return to the NFC South by joining the Falcons shortly after a workout with the team. The 26-year-old’s Atlanta pact did not contain any guaranteed money, however; as such, today’s move will not incur any dead money charges while creating $1.03MM in cap savings.

The No. 9 pick in 2020, Henderson was dealt from the Jags after playing only 10 games for them. His Carolina tenure saw him remain healthy for the most part, but struggles in coverage were a consistent issue. Finishing last season on injured reserve, he did not see any game time with Pittsburgh. That resulted in a tempered market despite his age and draft pedigree.

Provided Henderson winds up on Atlanta’s practice squad, he will offer depth behind starters AJ Terrell and Mike Hughes, returnees Dee Alford and Clark Phillips and fourth-round rookie Billy Bowman. Elevations to the active roster will mark his first opportunity to see regular season game time.

Seahawks To Trade Michael Jerrell To Falcons

August 26th, 2025 at 11:11am CST by Sam Robinson

The Falcons lost Kaleb McGary and Storm Norton last week, and neither is expected to be available to start the season. As a result, Atlanta will add some help at tackle.

Michael Jerrell is heading from Seattle to Atlanta via trade, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero. The Falcons are sending a conditional 2027 seventh-rounder to the Seahawks for Jerrell, who has three years remaining on his rookie contract.

A 2024 sixth-round pick, Jerrell was part of the Seahawks’ right tackle carousel last season. The Seahawks played much of the year without starter Abraham Lucas, and George Fant landed on IR twice. Stone Forsythe also spent time on IR, creating a depth problem opposite Charles Cross. As a result, Jerrell was summoned for three rookie-year starts. He played 245 offensive snaps last season — all at right tackle. That is the place at which the Falcons are currently reeling.

Norton is expected to miss between six and eight weeks, while McGary — after being carted off the practice field last week — is a candidate to open the season on IR. The Falcons had slid former Broncos swing tackle (turned Bears and Falcons guard option) Elijah Wilkinson back outside following the injuries. Jerrell will provide another option for the NFC South team, which employs one of the NFL’s two left-handed starting QBs, amplifying the importance of the RT spot.

The Seahawks drafted Jerrell 207th overall from Division II Findlay (Ohio). The long-odds prospect did enough to make the team and stick on Seattle’s active roster throughout last season. Lucas is back for the Seahawks, after two injury-marred years, and the team both added Josh Jones in free agency and used a sixth-round pick on tackle Bryce Cabeldue. Teams have until 3pm CT today to set 53-man rosters, and the Falcons will have another option as they potentially prepare for multiple tackle IR stashes.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/23/25

August 23rd, 2025 at 9:13pm CST by Adam La Rose

Saturday’s minor moves:

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

  • Signed: CB Garnett Hollis Jr.
  • Waived-injured: S Wande Owens
  • Released from IR: RB Jarveon Howard

Added earlier this month, Hanson suffered an undisclosed injury during Atlanta’s preseason finale yesterday. The 28-year-old being moved to IR now – and thus before using the designated for return option introduced in 2024 becomes a possibility – means he will miss the entire season. Hanson was not a lock to make the Falcons’ roster, of course, but his absence will add further to the team’s absences up front with starting right tackle Kaleb McGary set to miss time.

Falcons Conduct First Wave Of Roster Cuts

August 23rd, 2025 at 7:44pm CST by Adam La Rose

With Tuesday’s roster deadline approaching, the Falcons have begun making required cuts. These 12 players were let go on Saturday:

Released:

Waived:

Fox signed with Atlanta early in free agency, and the veteran appeared to be slated to handle a role along the defensive line as a result. Somewhat surprisingly, though, he has been released. Fox played in all three of the team’s preseason contests, a sign he was on the roster bubble. The 30-year-old will now hit the market in search of his next opportunity (which will no doubt present itself after final cuts are made and teams sort out their initial rosters).

DiNucci signed on Monday and by doing so provided the Falcons with a contributor under center for their preseason finale. Michael Penix Jr. and Kirk Cousins sat out the contest in preparation for their respective roles as starter and backup in 2025. Unless he is retained via the practice squad, DiNucci will need to look elsewhere while aiming to latch onto an NFL roster.

As a result of today’s moves, the Falcons are down to 77 players on their roster. Like every other team, they will need to bring that total to 53 by Tuesday afternoon.

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