Panthers Designate RB Miles Sanders For Return
Miles Sanders‘ Panthers tenure is likely to come to an end after the year, but he could suit up one last time for the team this Sunday. The veteran running back has been designated for return from injured reserve. 
As a result, Sanders will be able to practice in advance of Carolina’s season finale. Such a move would likely not have been made if his high ankle sprain had not healed to the point where playing in Week 18 would be feasible. The 27-year-old has been on IR since late November.
During his Eagles tenure, Sanders demonstrated considerable efficiency and set a new career high with 1,269 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns in the final year of his rookie contract. As expected, he managed to parlay that success into a notable deal; his four-year, $25.4MM Panthers contract was the most lucrative handed out to a running back in 2023. Things have not gone according to plan since his arrival, however.
Sanders played 16 games last year, but his 31% snap share and 129 carries both represented career lows. Chuba Hubbard surpassed him on the depth chart, something which has remained the case through to the current campaign. In spite of Hubbard’s strong play and the decision to draft Jonathon Brooks last April, Carolina initially intended to keep Sanders in place. The team’s stance about moving on changed in advance of the trade deadline, but no deal was ultimately worked out.
Given the time missed due to injury and his spot in the RB pecking order, Sanders has only recorded 237 scrimmage yards and one touchdown to date in 2024. With Brooks on the shelf with another ACL tear and Hubbard unavailable for the season finale, though, he could receive a notable workload against the Falcons. A strong showing could help rebuild his value to an extent, but with no guaranteed salary on his deal beyond this season a release would not come as a surprise. Sanders is due a $1MM roster bonus shortly after the start of the new league year, so being let go before that point would be a feasible move on Carolina’s part.
Brooks’ second ACL tear clouds his availability for the 2025 season, but with Hubbard inking a long-term extension recently his status as the Panthers’ lead back moving forward is assured. Sanders could be auditioning to potential suitors on Sunday provided he is brought onto the active roster in time to play. Carolina has one IR activation remaining.
Jed York: 49ers Will Retain Kyle Shanahan, John Lynch For 2025
Little (if anything) has gone according to plan for the 49ers this season. Monday night’s loss leaves the team with a 6-10 record, but major changes on the sidelines or in the front office will not be coming. 
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Owner Jed York said prior to last night’s game that head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch will be back for 2025 (h/t the San Francisco Standard via ESPN). That comes as no surprise given the pairing’s track record of success, but it will end speculation about their respective futures. Shanahan and Lynch have been in place together since 2018.
That stretch has included four trips to the NFC title game along with a pair of Super Bowl appearances. No championships have been won under the Lynch/Shanahan regime, but that (general) run of consistent success resulted in new contracts last year. A dismissal of either would have therefore come as a major surprise even in the wake of this year’s underwhelming showing. Injuries have played a major factor on both sides of the ball, and a return to health from several key players will be welcomed in 2025.
Shanahan’s name has been floated as a potential candidate for a team looking to replace its head coach, with the Bears in particular being mentioned as a landing spot. Lynch emphatically shot down that speculation earlier this month, however, and Shanahan himself stated his desire to remain in San Francisco for the foreseeable future. Any movement in his case would have required York and the 49ers’ ownership group changing course only one year after authorizing an extension. To little surprise, that will not happen.
Once Week 18 comes and goes, attention will turn to the offseason and the multitude of key decisions which need to be made. Quarterback Brock Purdy will be eligible for an extension, while several key players remain on track for free agency. Safety Talanoa Hufanga and linebacker Dre Greenlaw are among those high on the team’s list of preferred targets for a re-signing, but expensive pacts for San Francisco’s offensive core will make it difficult on a number of fronts to commitment to new contracts elsewhere on the roster.
A return to contention will be expected for next year in San Francisco’s case, especially with continuity regarding the team’s top decision-makers. As the coaching landscape takes shape over the coming weeks, meanwhile, Shanahan’s name will no longer emerge as one to watch.
Steelers’ Cole Holcomb, Roman Wilson, Logan Lee Return To Practice
The Steelers could have reinforcements on both sides of the ball as early as Week 18. The team announced on Tuesday that linebacker Cole Holcomb, along with receiver Roman Wilson and defensive lineman Logan Lee have returned to practice. 
In the case of all three players, they now have up to 21 days to practice before being activated. Holcomb is on the physically unable to perform list, while the two rookies are on injured reserve. Bringing back Wilson and Lee would therefore use up Pittsburgh’s remaining regular season IR activations, although all playoff teams receive an additional two return slots.
Holcomb was a key figure in the Steelers’ efforts to reset at the linebacker spot last offseason, signing a three-year, $18MM pact in free agency. The 28-year-old had a strong start to his Pittsburgh tenure, serving as a full-time starter through eight games and recording 54 tackles along the way. A major knee injury brought his campaign to an abrupt end, though, and it threatened to linger well into the current season.
To no surprise, Holcomb was moved to the PUP list during roster cutdowns, allowing him to continue rehabbing. An adjustment was made to his contract during the offseason with an injury split being added to lower his base pay in the event of a PUP stint (although additional guarantees were brought in to compensate). If Holcomb can return to the lineup in time for Saturday’s game against the Bengals or the wild-card round, his presence will be welcomed by a LB unit now led by Patrick Queen.
Wilson was added in the third round of April’s draft, and he faced expectations of serving as a complementary option in the passing game early in his career. The Michigan product’s debut did not come until October, though, and he has been on IR since making his only appearance to date. Pittsburgh has leaned heavily on George Pickens at the receiver spot, and the team also has trade acquisition Mike Williams in the fold. Wilson could compete with Calvin Austin for playing time in the slot once he is activated.
Lee was selected in the sixth round of the draft as depth along the defensive interior. The Iowa alum could step into a rotational role upon activation, although given his missed time it would come as a surprise if he were to see a notable workload this year. In any case, the Steelers will likely welcome multiple players into the fold at least in time for their upcoming postseason game.
Jets Promote Greg Joseph; K Will Play In Week 18
Greg Joseph signed with the Jets last week, giving the team another kicking option for late in the year. The veteran will indeed receive a look for the season finale. 
Joseph was promoted to New York’s active roster on Tuesday, per an announcement from his agent. He will handle kicking duties in Week 18, making him the fifth different kicker the Jets have used in 2024. After Greg Zuerlein was moved to injured reserve, auditions were conducted by Riley Patterson and Spencer Shrader; both only received one game on the job, though.
New York has relied on Anders Carlson for the past six games (although in Sunday’s loss, he did not attempt any extra points or field goals). During his time with the Jets, the 2023 sixth-rounder has connected on eight of 10 field goal tries and nine of 11 extra point attempts. Carlson remains in the organization at this point, but Joseph will get the opportunity to compete for a spot next year.
The latter has been in the NFL since 2018, spending time with the Browns, Titans, Vikings, Giants and Commanders. Joseph’s three-year run in Minnesota included two with a field goal accuracy rate at or above 80%, but the team moved on this offseason and has enjoyed a relatively strong year with rookie Will Reichard. Joseph made six appearances in place of an injured Graham Gano this year with the Giants in addition to a single game with Washington; he has gone 15-for-19 on field goals and eight-for-eight on extra points in 2024.
Zuerlein is under contract for next season, but none of his salary for 2025 is guaranteed. The Jets could look for a replacement in the wake of his struggles prior to his injury, and Joseph will get the chance to earn a look in the offseason based on his Week 18 performance.
Patriots To Waive Yannick Ngakoue
Yannick Ngakoue is set to be on the move once again in 2024. The veteran edge rusher is headed to waivers today, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. 
Ngakoue was unsigned through the start of the season, but he landed a deal with the Ravens in September. That practice squad agreement allowed him to reunite with one of his former teams, but it ultimately resulted in only five games played with Baltimore. The Ravens waived the journeyman in November to create an opening on the active roster and open the door to a return on Ngakoue’s part via another practice squad deal.
That proved to be impossible, however, since the Patriots put in a waiver claim. Ngakoue was thus in position to close out the campaign with New England, but he will now hit the wire once again. In six Patriots games, the former Pro Bowler handled a rotational role and recorded nine tackles and two quarterback hits.
If a team puts in a claim, Ngakoue will again be on the move with one week remaining in the regular season. In the event he clears, though, he will be a free agent and therefore have the option of joining a contender in time for the playoffs. Given his limited production in 2024, the longtime sack artist does not figure to have a strong market, though.
Ngakoue had a four-year run with the Jaguars to begin his career, but since then he has enjoyed only short stints with the Vikings, Ravens, Raiders, Colts and Bears in addition to his split duties in 2024. The former second-rounder posted at least eight sacks during each of his first seven years in the NFL, but that figure fell to four last year in an injury-shortened season. Chicago discussed a new deal with Ngakoue once he was healthy, but a reunion at this point in the year would serve little purpose with the Bears well out of the playoff race. Teams will have until tomorrow afternoon to put in a claim; if he becomes a free agent, Ngakoue will be able to sign with his next team at any time.
Byron Leftwich Seeking NFL Return
As the 2025 hiring cycle approaches, candidates for the three current head coaching vacancies (and others which will likely soon open) are emerging. Byron Leftwich hopes to be among the names to receive consideration for a position on an NFL staff this year. 
The former quarterback transitioned to the sidelines under Bruce Arians in 2016 with Arizona, and he remained there for another two seasons. That spell included a partial stint as interim offensive coordinator before he and the rest of Steve Wilks‘ staff were let go after the 2018 campaign. Leftwich then followed Arians to Tampa Bay, serving as the Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator for each of Arians’ three years as head coach.
During that time, Tampa Bay won a Super Bowl and posted impressive offensive numbers, but the unit took a step back in 2022. Quarterback Tom Brady reversed course on his retirement decision, and with Arians no longer on the sidelines Todd Bowles was in place as head coach. The Buccaneers were eliminated in the wild-card round and Leftwich was dismissed. The 44-year-old has not coached since then, but he is looking to make a comeback this winter.
“I didn’t have the opportunities right after and this last year that I thought I would have, but I understand the process, and I understand that the whole world’s trying to get in that league,” Leftwich said of the NFL coaching market in an interview with The Athletic’s Mike Jones (subscription required). “Nothing should be given to me. Nobody owes me anything. So, I’m going to just work and see if I can have the opportunity to coach in that league again.”
Leftwich was mentioned as a candidate for a number of positions after his Bucs tenure came to an end, including the Jaguars’ head coaching position in 2022. The Marshall product played for Jacksonville during the first four years of his career, making him a natural option to take the gig in the wake of his time at the coordinator level. Reports emerged stating Leftwich and general manager Trent Baalke did not see eye to eye and that Leftwich turned down the opportunity to coach in Jacksonville, though. The former first-rounder denied that, saying he was never offered the position (one which ultimately went to Doug Pederson and may well be open again shortly).
Interest in certain college opportunities came up, but Leftwich has remained out of coaching during the past two years. He interviewed for the Ravens’ OC position in 2023 and expressed a desire for the Steelers’ offensive coordinator spot last year after Matt Canada was fired. Leftwich’s playing career ended in Pittsburgh under Mike Tomlin, who has remained complimentary of Leftwich’s capabilities as a coach. It will be interesting to see if he receives a look during the upcoming cycle.
The Jets, Saints and Bears are in search of a head coach, and other teams are likely to add to the list of openings once ‘Black Monday’ comes around. Likewise, several offensive coordinator positions will no doubt soon emerge. Leftwich is interested in returning to the NFL in one capacity or another, and as a result his name could be one to watch as the coaching landscape takes shape over the coming weeks.
Jets CB D.J. Reed Addresses Pending Free Agency
In June, D.J. Reed indicated he would be open to remaining with the Jets beyond the 2024 season. The pending free agent cornerback later confirmed, though, that he would not engage in contract talks with an eye on hitting the open market in the spring. 
That remains the case at this point, and with only one week remaining in the campaign Reed is well aware he is on the verge of free agency. The 28-year-old said in September he would play out the season and then evaluate his situation upon the expiration of his deal, a three-year, $33MM pact. That contract was signed after the end of Reed’s two-year Seahawks tenure, one which was preceded by a pair of campaigns with the 49ers.
The contract has provided the Jets with strong value given Reed’s consistent play as a full-time starter. The former fifth-rounder has remained durable throughout his New York tenure, serving as an effective complement on the perimeter to Sauce Gardner and amassing 31 pass deflections in 45 games. Reed has allowed completion percentages ranging between 57.1% and 63.5% in coverage and has been charged with only six touchdowns surrendered as the nearest defender as a Jet. Week 18 could be his final game with the team, however.
“I was going to have 10 picks,” Reed said when reflecting on his expectations for 2024 in an interview with Go Long’s Tyler Dunne. “We were going to be elite. I thought that we’d be up in the score late in games and teams would have to throw the ball and I’m going to make plays on the ball. I’m ready to go to free agency, bro. I’m ready to see what’s next for me.”
The Jets worked out an extension with Michael Carter II just before the start of the season, and he is in place to remain the team’s top slot corner through 2027. Gardner will be in line for second contract this offseason, and it would come as no surprise if signing him to a lucrative long-term pact became one of the top priorities once New York’s new general manager and head coach pairing is in place. That may not leave enough funds to retain Reed, whose age and track record could make him an attractive option to any number of outside suitors.
Other corners on expiring contracts include Carlton Davis, Charvarius Ward, Brandon Stephens, Byron Murphy and Benjamin St-Juste. Reed will certainly be a name to watch as part of that group and a new Jets pact will of course remain a possibility until March. Given his comments, though, it would not come as a shock if he were to depart in the near future.
Jets To Interview Ron Rivera
The Jets’ decision to move on from Joe Douglas created a vacancy for the general manager position. The team moved quickly in bringing in Mike Tannenbaum and Rick Spielman to lead the way in the search for his replacement along with a new head coach. 
Several candidates for the GM position have already emerged, but the Jets are also set to begin looking into head coaching options. Only those not currently under contract with another NFL club can meet with the team at this point in the year, and a notable name in that regard has emerged. Ron Rivera will interview with the Jets this week, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
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New York is looking for experience in both the head coach and general manager positions, and Rivera would certainly qualify in that regard. The 62-year-0ld’s NFL coaching tenure dates back 20 years, and he spent a total of six seasons as defensive coordinator of the Bears and Chargers. That was followed by a nine-year run at the helm of the Panthers, one which was highlighted by a Super Bowl appearance. Rivera’s time in Carolina came to an end with a midseason firing in 2019, but he took charge of the Commanders the following year.
In his debut campaign in the nation’s capital, Rivera guided the team to the postseason (despite managing a record of only 7-9). After that year’s wild-card defeat, seven- and eight-win seasons followed, and a lack of postseason appearances and questions at the quarterback spot lingered entering last year. Sam Howell was leaned on to handle QB1 duties, and his struggles in that role (along with a poor defensive outing especially after edge rushers Chase Young and Montez Sweat were traded away) resulted in a 4-13 campaign. After a one-year observation period from owner Josh Harris, Rivera was fired in a move which came as little surprise.
The longtime staffer has not held a position at the pro or college levels this year, but he made it clear last winter he did not intend to retire. Rivera added a willingness to return to a defensive coordinator position in his next gig, and he drew notable interest in that respect. The Cowboys, Rams and Eagles each interviewed him for their respective DC openings, although all three teams went in a different direction. Rivera could once again be a name to watch on the coordinator front in this year’s hiring cycle.
Of course, that could also be true with respect to another head coaching opportunity. The Bears and Saints are also in need of a full-time coach for 2025, and more vacancies are expected in the near future. The Jets’ interest will produce at least one interview, though, and it will be interesting to see if more are soon to follow.
Saints S Tyrann Mathieu Wants To Play In 2025
Tyrann Mathieu agreed to a new Saints deal this past offseason, signaling that he will continue playing past the current campaign. The All-Pro safety is uncertain of when his career will end, but he intends to suit up for 2025 at a minimum. 
Mathieu said on Monday (via ESPN’s Katherine Terrell) he wants to play next season. Provided that proves to be the case, 2025 will represent his 13th campaign in the NFL and his fourth with his hometown team. The 32-year-old has remained a full-time starter during his New Orleans stint, playing every game to date.
After entering the league as a third-rounder, Mathieu spent his first five years with the Cardinals before a single campaign as a Texan. During that span, the LSU product earned his first Pro Bowl and All-Pro nods, and he added to both totals during his three-year run in Kansas City. His Chiefs tenure also included a Super Bowl title, but once his contract expired Mathieu did not receive an offer.
That paved the way for his first Saints deal, a three-year, $27MM pact. Mathieu totaled seven interceptions and 17 pass deflections during his first two New Orleans campaigns, and in March he agreed to an extension keeping him in place through 2025. That contract calls for a base salary of $6.25MM in 2025, and Terrell notes $2.5MM of that total is guaranteed (provided Mathieu does not retire). The 2010s All-Decade Team member’s continued presence will be welcomed on a Saints team which once again faces a number of cap-related decisions in the near future.
Mathieu has recorded three interceptions, seven pass deflections and a pair of forced fumbles but his PFF evaluation has taken a notable step back in 2024. After being graded as a top-10 safety each of the past two years, he has fallen to 70th out of 96 qualifying players at the position this season. Still, it would come as a surprise if he were to serve in anything but a first-team capacity next year. Given the Saints’ history of cap gymnastics, Mathieu is among the players who could have their contracts adjusted this offseason. Regardless of what happens on the financial front, he can be expected to suit up for at least one more year.
Titans To Play Mason Rudolph, Will Levis In Week 18
Will Levis entered 2024 as the Titans’ starting quarterback, retaining that title after returning from an AC joint sprain earlier in the year. He has been surpassed on the depth chart by Mason Rudolph, but both signal-callers will receive the opportunity to play in the season finale. 
“I’ll let those guys both have a chance to play, some opportunities,” head coach Brian Callahan said on Monday (via the team’s website). “I’ll let you know by the end of the week, [who’s] the starter and all of that. But I think both guys should play some football at the end of the year.”
Levis took over as Tennessee’s starter midway through last year, and his development for 2024 was a key organizational priority. Callahan’s hire (making him a first-time head coach) was aimed at guiding the 25-year-old, but he has not produced the desired results this season. The Titans sit at 3-13 on the year, making them one of four teams sporting that record entering Week 18. As things stand, Tennessee holds the No. 2 pick in the draft.
A loss against the Texans would therefore be highly beneficial to the team’s 2025 outlook, but Levis seeing time would be notable given his uncertain future. Last year’s 33rd overall pick has two years remaining on his rookie contract, but considering his struggles this season it would come as no surprise if the Titans were to add competition under center during the offseason. Rudolph is a pending free agent, and the longtime Steeler could again be on the move depending on how his market takes shape.
If the Patriots wind up securing and retaining the No. 1 pick, the door would be open for the holder of the second selection to have their choice of the top quarterbacks in the 2025 class. Depending on how the final slate of games shakes out, Tennessee could therefore be within range of at least one of Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders, and selecting either would constitute a move in a new direction at the quarterback spot. Levis will get one more look before a decision on that front will be made, though.