Bills Activate DT T.J. Sanders From IR, Sign WR Mecole Hardman To Active Roster
Knee surgery has left T.J. Sanders unavailable since he last played in Week 4. The second-round rookie is set to return to action tomorrow, however. 
Sanders was activated from injured reserve on Saturday, per a Bills announcement. The move comes as no surprise since his practice window was opened earlier this week. Buffalo now has five IR activations remaining for the regular season.
Injuries along the defensive front have been an issue in 2025 for the Bills. Ed Oliver‘s biceps tear will keep him sidelined for the foreseeable future, while Michael Hoecht suffered an Achilles tear during just his second appearance of the campaign. Most recently, Landon Jackson has landed on IR and his availability regarding a return late in the year is in question.
Buffalo has allowed an average of nearly 148 yards per game on the ground this season, which ranks 30th in the league. Reinforcements along the defensive interior will be key as the team looks to make needed improvements in that regard. Sanders logged a 49% snap share prior to suffering his injury, and a notable workload should be expected once again as he returns to the lineup.
In other roster news, the Bills have signed Mecole Hardman from the practice squad to the active roster. The veteran wideout recently joined the team via a taxi squad pact and he will see playing time in short order. Hardman will not be expected to handle much in the way of offensive snaps early in his Buffalo tenure, but he could see usage in the return game right away. To make room for him on the roster, Brandon Codrington was waived.
Gabe Davis is also set to make his season debut tomorrow. The veteran receiver returned to Buffalo just before the start of the season before spending a lengthy period on the practice squad IR list. Davis is now healthy and with the team struggling for production at the WR spot, he will look to carve out at least a rotational role as a familiar Josh Allen target.
Dalton Kincaid will not play against the Buccaneers on Sunday. Depth at that position will come in the form of Keleki Latu, who joins Davis as a gameday elevation from the practice squad. Latu will make his NFL debut if he dresses tomorrow.
NFL Evaluators Down On 2026 QB Draft Class
The 2024 NFL draft saw a record-breaking six quarterbacks selected within the first 12 selections of the event. Things were much different last year with Cam Ward and Jaxson Dart the only passers to hear their names called.
Ahead of the current season, many felt a rebound would be coming at the position. Based on how things have played out so far, however, that stance has shifted around the league. As Jeff Howe of The Athletic writes (subscription required), there are “serious concerns” about the 2026 class and its potential.
“I don’t love any of [the quarterbacks] right now,” one NFL executive said. “We’re trying to grasp onto somebody because there isn’t anybody, and it’s such a flavor of the week. Good luck right now.”
Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza has been among the most impressive signal-callers of the college season so far. He is viewed by many as the top prospect set to declare for the 2026 draft as a result, although opinions are split on his ceiling at the NFL level. Ty Simpson has enjoyed a strong first season as Alabama’s starter, but in addition to a lack of experience he has generated concerns related to his physical traits.
Other highly-touted prospects like Oregon’s Dante Moore, South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers, and Texas’ Arch Manning are not guaranteed to turn pro in 2026. Moore and Sellers are still 20 years old and could benefit from another year of development at the college level. Manning, currently a redshirt sophomore, has long been expected to stay in school through at least the 2026 season.
That would strengthen a 2027 class that already includes Florida’s DJ Lagway and Nebraska’s Dylan Raiola, which will impact roster-building strategies over the next year-and-a-half. Few things are more important to an NFL team than finding a franchise quarterback, and time and time again, the draft has proven to be the best way of doing that.
Teams’ approaches will vary based on their timeline, draft capital, and need. The Jets and the Browns could certainly use an upgrade under center and have amassed a number of first-round picks that could allow them to acquire their desired prospect next spring. The Raiders, Rams, Steelers, and Cardinals could all be seeking new signal-callers in the next two years, but may stick with their veterans in 2026 with an eye on the 2027 draft.
There are also a number of familiar names in the 2026 draft like Penn State’s Drew Allar, Miami’s Carson Beck, and Clemson’s Cade Klubnik – all multi-year starters who never put it all together in college. And of course, quarterback prospects still have plenty of time to rise and fall in the rankings, especially those in the 2027 class.
Nikhil Mehta contributed to this article.
Rams LT Alaric Jackson Named In Civil Suit
In August 2024, Alaric Jackson was issued a two-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. Few details were in place at the time, but that has now changed. 
Jackson has been named in a civil lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court by a Philadelphia woman. The unnamed plaintiff alleges that Jackson “recorded her without her consent during sex” and then refused to delete the video despite repeated requests that he do so, as detailed by ESPN’s Paula Lavigne. The NFL declined to comment on the matter, deferring to the 2024 suspension. Jackson’s agent also declined comment.
The lawsuit states the plaintiff visited Jackson in Los Angeles in May 2024, and that she knocked his phone away during sex upon realizing she was being recorded. Per the suit, the plaintiff returned home the following day. Before and after doing so, she demanded Jackson delete the video. Jackson allegedly declined to do so despite saying he had at one point (before sending it to her one day later).
Attorneys representing the plaintiff stated it does not appear as though Jackson has posted the video online at any point or that he has shared it with anyone else. The woman made contact with the Los Angeles Police Department but declined to pursue criminal charges. She also reported the incident to the NFL, which resulted in the subsequent league investigation and suspension.
A former UDFA, Jackson has made each of his 50 career appearances with the Rams. The 27-year-old has logged 44 starts, including nine this year after managing to heal from a blood clots issue in time for Week 1. In February, Jackson inked a three-year, $57.75MM deal to remain in Los Angeles. He is in line to continue handling blindside duties for the foreseeable future as a result.
Bears Open CB Jaylon Johnson’s Practice Window
It was learned yesterday the Bears expect to have both Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon back in the fold at some point late in the year. One member of that tandem has taken a significant step toward returning. 
Johnson’s practice window was opened on Friday, per a team announcement. The Bears thus have 21 days to activate him from injured reserve. Today’s update points to a return taking place in the near future regarding the team’s top cornerback.
Core muscle surgery threatened to end Johnson’s season after just one game played. At the time the procedure took place (late September), however, it became clear the team was hopeful about Johnson being able to suit up during the latter stages of the campaign. Barring any setbacks over the coming days, that will indeed take place. Approaching full strength in the secondary will be critical for Chicago’s playoff push.
The Bears have been without Johnson and Gordon for much of the year. In spite of that, they have managed a 6-3 record and in doing so put themselves in strong contention for a postseason berth. Getting both back would represent a major boost, but Johnson in particular managing to return would aid Chicago’s perimeter defense on the back end. The two-time Pro Bowler will no doubt be handled with caution upon returning to practice considering he has dealt with two separate groin issues in 2025.
Johnson, 26, has operated as a full-time starter throughout his six-year Bears career. The former second-rounder received the franchise tag last offseason before agreeing to a four-year, $19MM deal. Managing to remain healthy once he return to action will be imperative not only for the Bears in the immediate term but also for Johnson’s ability to meet the expectations associated with his big-ticket contract.
Gordon remains sidelined by groin and calf injuries at this point, and he has played just two games in 2025. His ongoing recovery progress will be interesting to track, but in any case Johnson is on his way back to the active roster.
HC Brian Schottenheimer: Cowboys To Hold RT Competition
When the Cowboys play their first game coming off the bye, they could have a new right tackle in place. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer opened the door to a midseason change at that position. 
Schottenheimer said (via Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News) an open competition will be held at right tackle. Such scenarios are of course commonplace during training camp, but when they emerge in the middle of a season they are more noteworthy. In this particular case, a high-profile benching is being considered.
Terence Steele has operated as Dallas’ top right tackle for much of six-year Dallas tenure. The former UDFA has made 83 starts and counting, and in September 2023 he landed a long-term commitment from the Cowboys. Team and player agreed to a five-year, $82.5MM extension, a pact which has Steele on the books through 2028.
The 28-year-old has not met expectations since signing that deal, however. Pass blocking in particular has been an issue throughout Steele’s career, and in 2025 his PFF grade in that department sits at 56.4. That is the third-worst figure of his NFL tenure, and it has no doubt played a role in Cowboys’ decision to contemplate a switch. 2024 seventh-rounder Nathan Thomas is the likeliest candidate to take on first-team duties in the event Steele is benched.
A move along those lines would lead to a largely unproven figure taking on a major role up front. Thomas did not see the field as a rookie and he has logged just 96 offensive snaps in 2025. The Cowboys could stand to benefit from improved play along the O-line as they look to make a playoff push down the stretch, though.
In the bigger picture, of course, moving Steele to the bench would lead to questions about a parting of ways during the offseason. The Texas Tech product is not owed any guaranteed salary beyond 2025, and a post-June 1 release in particular would yield notable cap savings this coming spring. It will be interesting to see if such a move receives consideration by means of a right tackle change or if Steele remains atop the depth chart and plays his way into a continued Dallas stay.
WR Stefon Diggs Chose Patriots Over Broncos In Free Agency
Stefon Diggs has been a key factor in the Patriots’ 2025 success so far. The free agent addition drew interest from other suitors, with one finalist emerging before his ultimate decision to join New England. 
Diggs’ decision came down to the Patriots over the Broncos, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports (video link). Denver was known to be in the market for a veteran addition at the receiver spot this past spring, but no major moves took place on that front. The Broncos would have been interested in Diggs (along with Cooper Kupp) on a low-cost deal, but in both cases a lucrative pact wound up being signed.
Indeed, Diggs secured $16.6MM in full guarantees on his three-year, $63.5MM Patriots contract. Further locked-in money exists in the form of injury guarantees, a sign of New England’s confidence a full recovery from Diggs’ 2024 ACL tear would take place. The soon-to-be 32-year-old has played every game so far this season, comfortably leading the team in receiving yards (659) and scoring three touchdowns.
Continued production will help the Patriots maintain their chase for the AFC’s top seed and move all parties further away from the uncertainty which surrounded Diggs in the offseason. Questions about New England cutting the four-time Pro Bowler were initially raised in the wake of the “unidentified pink substance” video and head coach Mike Vrabel‘s reaction to it. In the end, the team elected to proceed with Diggs in the fold.
That decision has certainly paid off to date. On the other hand, though, Denver’s hesitation to make a big free agent splash has not prevented the team from enjoying a strong campaign as well. The Broncos sit atop the AFC West with an 8-2 record (albeit with questions about their consistency in the passing game) and offseason signings like safety Talanoa Hufanga have played a critical role in their success.
The Broncos did not wind up making any receiver additions at the trade deadline, so their performances at the position down the stretch will be worth watching. In the meantime, Diggs will aim to continue operating as a central figure in New England’s offense for the closing stages of 2025 and beyond.
Saints GM Mickey Loomis Not On Hot Seat
The Saints entered 2025 with little in the way of external expectations. The organization also sees the season as a rebuilding one, and as such no major changes are being considered. 
By this time one year ago, head coach Dennis Allen had been fired. Longtime general manager Mickey Loomis preferred to avoid such a decision, but owner Gayle Benson acted alone in bringing about a change on the sidelines. In the wake of the Allen dismissal, it was reported Loomis was safe. That remains the case today.
“It may not be what the fans want to hear, but as far as firing Mickey Loomis, that’s ridiculous,” Benson said (via NOLA.com’s Jeff Duncan). “When I am asked to hold Mickey Loomis accountable, I do. Not every decision works out, they never do… I hold him in high esteem, and I am very pleased with what he has accomplished, acquired and is building.”
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and Bengals owner Mike Brown have also held the general manager titles with their respective franchises since 1989 and 1991. In terms of pure GMs, Loomis is the league’s longest-tenured, having been in place since 2002. That period includes 12 winning seasons and nine playoff appearances. It was under Loomis in 2009 that the Saints won their lone Super Bowl title.
The post-Drew Brees era has been short on success, however, and Derek Carr‘s retirement helped begin a transition phase many had been calling for well before 2025. The quarterback situation is unclear with Spencer Rattler having been benched after making eight starts this year (and 14 in total). Second-round rookie Tyler Shough is auditioning for the starter’s role, a process which will last through the end of the season.
Regardless of how things play out on that front, a number of key financial decisions are pending. Keeping with tradition, the Saints are once again among the teams projected to be over the cap in 2026. Developing into a contending team will require not only the members of Loomis’ recent draft classes reaching their potential but also an improved situation in terms of veteran contracts and their impact on the organization’s flexibility.
New Orleans sits at 2-8 on the year and attention over the coming weeks will turn to the team’s draft position. As Loomis prepares for an important offseason, he will do so without the threat of being replaced.
NFL Mailbag: Giants, Young, Browns
This week's edition of the PFR mailbag looks into the Giants and Browns as they contemplate major organizational changes this offseason, along with questions on Bryce Young's standing in Carolina, the NFC North race and more.
Aaron asks:
What will it take for the Giants to finally get this turned around? Does it make sense for Joe Schoen to get another year after Brian Daboll's firing?
Health on offense would surely make a difference. The make-or-break campaign for Daboll (and perhaps Schoen) saw Malik Nabers suffer an ACL tear and Cam Skattebo sustain a season-ending ankle injury. Add in quarterback Jaxson Dart’s concussion, and the Giants are currently without three foundational young players on that side of the ball.
Each member of that trio reaching their potential when healthy would be critical; the Dart-Nabers connection could prove to be highly effective if things go according to plan. With that said, it’s hard to imagine Schoen being able to hang his continued employment entirely on the possibility of Dart becoming a franchise passer. Daboll was unable to maximize the talent available to him, but the roster Schoen constructed still has a number of question marks (although ownership’s stance on that front certainly suggests Schoen will be safe for 2026).
49ers To Start Brock Purdy In Week 11
10:56pm: Shanahan announced that Purdy will start this week.
11:54am: Further signs point toward Week 11 being the point at which Brock Purdy will return to action. The 49ers’ upcoming practice days will be key, but the team’s starting quarterback could be back in the fold on Sunday. 
Purdy did not dress for Week 10, but head coach Kyle Shanahan said he could have suited up as the team’s backup for that game. As such, many have expected San Francisco’s game against Arizona will be the point at which Purdy reclaims his starting quarterback role. In his latest comments on the matter, Shanahan said (via Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News) the 49ers anticipate having their QB depth chart back to full strength if things go according to plan over the next few days.
Mac Jones has performed admirably in Purdy’s absence, leading some to wonder about the 49ers preferring to continue with him under center the rest of the way. Especially given the fact the team does not foresee Purdy’s turf toe healing in full by the end of the campaign, an especially cautious approach would be feasible. Nevertheless, a strong showing in practice will set Purdy up for a return. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network adds (video link) the Iowa State product’s participation this week has been “much more intense” than in previous weeks.
“We’re seeing how the week goes,” general manager John Lynch said of the situation during his latest KNBR radio appearance (via Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area). “If he shows his health and his ability to perform at a level we know Brock can play at, then he’ll be out there.”
The 49ers sit at 6-4 on the year and their playoff fate will be heavily influenced by the ability of several key players to return to health in the near future. In Purdy’s case, avoiding another reaggravation of his injury will be imperative given the massive financial commitment made by the team this past spring. The 25-year-old inked a five-year, $265MM extension ensuring his status as San Francisco’s franchise passer for the foreseeable future.
Jones has delivered consistent performances during his time atop the depth chart. In spite of that, the 49ers have remained adamant Purdy will operate as the starter once he returns to the lineup. Barring something unforeseen, that will very likely take place this weekend.
Titans’ L’Jarius Sneed Indicted By Grand Jury
Another development in the case involving L’Jarius Sneed has taken place. The Titans cornerback was indicted by a Texas grand jury earlier this week, as detailed by veteran reporter Paul Kuharsky. 
Sneed was indicted for failure to report a felony. The charge is a Class A misdemeanor which carries a maximum penalty of one or both of a $4,000 fine and up to one year in jail. No trial date has been set at this time.
“We are aware of the legal matter with L’Jarius Sneed and have remained in contact with NFL security per league protocol,” a team statement reads. “We will have no further comment during an ongoing investigation.”
This is the latest development in the case concerning Sneed and his former personal assistant, Tekonzae Williams. The two are also the subject of a civil suit stemming from an alleged incident which took place on December 6, 2024. Williams has been indicted for aggravated assault; he is alleged to have fired gunshots at the vehicle of plaintiffs Christian Nshimiyimana and Avi Ahmed. Sneed’s indictment covers the accusation he witnessed the gunshots and failed to report it.
Kuharsky adds that as of this past summer, Sneed and Williams were no longer associated with one another. It nevertheless remains to be seen how this case will play out; likewise, the possibility of league discipline looms. Convictions in trial proceedings are not necessary for fines or suspensions to be handed down by the NFL.
After a strong four-year run with the Chiefs, Sneed was franchise tagged in 2024. That move prevented a free agent departure and was followed by a trade sending him to the Titans. The 28-year-old inked a four-year, $76.4MM extension upon arrival in Tennessee but things have not gone according to plan in his case. Sneed played just five games in 2024 and it was unclear heading into this season how much he would be able to contribute.
The former fourth-rounder has made seven appearances in 2025 but he currently resides on injured reserve. A return to action at some point late in the year will be something to watch for given Sneed’s uncertain outlook with the Titans. Regardless of what happens in that regard, his legal situation will be worth monitoring as well.