Rams’ Cooper Kupp Drawing Trade Interest
Two high-profile receiver trades took place this week, and Davante Adams and Amari Cooper are now off the market. Several other options at that position represent targets for contending teams, though, and Cooper Kupp is one of them. 
The Adams and Cooper deals generated increased communication amongst teams for other potential trades, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network details. Among the teams receiving calls were the Rams, with contenders eyeing Kupp as a possible mid-season acquisition. It remains to be seen how interested Los Angeles will be in considering any deal sending the All-Pro to a new team for the first time in his career, but it is certainly noteworthy that suitors are gauging his market.
Kupp has been a focal point in the Rams’ passing game throughout his eight-year career, one which of course reached its peak in 2021. That Triple Crown-winning campaign saw him post 145 receptions, 1,947 yards 16 touchdowns en route to Offensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl MVP honors. Injuries have been an issue since then, however, and Kupp has been sidelined since Week 2 of the current campaign with an ankle injury. The Rams expect to have him back on Sunday.
Especially with 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year runner-up Puka Nacua still out of the picture, having Kupp available for Los Angeles will provide a major boost on offense. With the team sitting at 1-4 on the year, improved performance in all areas will be needed for a postseason berth to be possible in 2024. Further losses ahead of the November 5 trade deadline could steer the Rams toward a seller’s standpoint, although even in that case moving Kupp would not be a simple process.
The 31-year-old remains attached to the extension he landed in June 2022. That pact leaves him on the books through 2026, a stark contrast to the situation for many other players (generally pending free agents) who get moved during the season. Kupp is due $20MM next year, including a $7.5MM roster bonus to be paid out in March; $5MM of the latter figure became guaranteed this past offseason. He is set to carry a $29.78MM cap hit in 2025, and that will drop to $27.33MM the following year (during which none of his base salary is guaranteed). Any acquiring team would no doubt engage in a restructure in the event Kupp were to be dealt.
The Rams’ 2024 offseason saw Aaron Donald retire, leaving them without a foundational defender. Quarterback Matthew Stafford – who, along with Kupp, remains an offensive pillar – faced questions about his future before a restructured contract was worked out. At the age of 36, though, it would not come as a surprise if Loa Angeles were to explore a succession plan soon at the quarterback spot. Committing to a youth movement would make a Kupp trade more feasible from the Rams’ perspective, but they would no doubt command a heavy price to consider one.
Even without Adams or Cooper available anymore, the likes of Christian Kirk, DeAndre Hopkins, Mike Williams, Diontae Johnson and Darius Slayton have been connected to trade talk (to one extent or another) recently. Any or all of those could be targeted by contending teams, but Kupp is on the radar of potential buyers as well. His situation will be worth watching closely.
Panthers Activate CB Dane Jackson
A key member of the Panthers’ secondary is set to make his Carolina debut tomorrow. Dane Jackson was activated from injured reserve Saturday, the team announced. 
A hamstring injury meant Jackson would not be healthy in time for the start of the season. Carolina was one of many teams which elected to use the IR-designated for return path created this year in his case, avoiding the need to name him to the initial roster while using one of the eight allocated in-season activations. Jackson returned to practice on October 2, so Carolina could have waited until after Week 7 to being in into the fold.
Instead, this move paves the way for the free agent pickup to suit up on Sunday against the Commanders. Jackson played out his rookie contract with the Bills, making 28 starts amongst his 52 appearances. His most productive season came in 2022, when he posted a pair of interceptions along with 12 pass deflections and 57 tackles. As Buffalo underwent a number of changes in the secondary this offseason, though, the 27-year-old departed in free agency.
Jackson inked a two-year, $8.5MM deal including $5.13MM guaranteed to join the Panthers. That pact set him up to handle a first-team role opposite Jaycee Horn, but his debut with the team was delayed due to the injury. Now that he is healthy, Jackson will be tasked with aiding a defense which ranks last in scoring and sits 23rd against the pass. The team moved on from veteran slot man Troy Hill earlier in the week, paving the way for younger options to see playing time on the inside.
That decision, coupled with Jackson’s activation, could spark improved play in the secondary for the 1-5 Panthers. Part of the former seventh-rounder’s 2025 compensation is already locked in, so a poor showing over the coming months would not stand to threaten his roster security. Strong play could, however, make him a key member of at least the team’s short-term plans moving forward.
Titans Place WR Treylon Burks On IR
OCTOBER 19: It’s officially going to be a four-game absence, at least, for Burks, who, according to ESPN’s Turron Davenport, has officially been placed on injured reserve today.
To fill Burks’ spot on the 53-man roster, Tennessee has signed defensive tackle Abdullah Anderson from the practice squad to the active roster. Additionally, cornerback Gabe Jeudy-Lally and quarterback Trevor Siemian have been elevated as standard gameday practice squad callups for tomorrow’s game. Siemian signed back with the team 10 days ago as starting passer Will Levis deals with an AC joint sprain.
OCTOBER 18: Treylon Burks is once again positioned to miss time. The third-year receiver suffered a knee injury in practice yesterday, and Titans head coach Brian Callahan said injured reserve is under consideration at this point. 
[RELATED: Titans Not Shopping DeAndre Hopkins]
“We’re working through it,” Callahan said (via the team’s website). “It will be some time, no matter what. How long, we’ll see. We’re not totally sure yet… We’re just waiting on some final word from the doctors and all that, on what that’s going to look like. But I would expect him to miss some time.”
An IR stint would ensure at least a four-game absence for Burks, who has yet to put together a full season in the NFL. The former first-rounder was limited to 11 contests during his rookie season, and he logged that many appearances again last year. Underwhelming production during that time made the Arkansas product a potential trade candidate, but Tennessee elected to keep him in the fold.
Doing so initially appeared to be conditional on taking on a special teams role, although Burks has not been a regular third phase contributor so far. His 48% snap share on offense is nevertheless the lowest of his career, and he has managed no more than one reception during any game in 2024. Receiver targets have been centered on DeAndre Hopkins, along with free agent additions Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd.
This coming spring, a decision will need to be made on Burks’ fifth-year option. Picking up the option would lock the 24-year-old into a salary of $15.28MM for the 2026 season. His level of play has certainly not justified such a commitment, meaning next season is on track to serve as a walk year. In terms of more immediate concerns, Burks will look to minimize the time he misses before trying to take on a larger role in Tennessee’s low-output offense. Upon further testing, a decision with respect to IR will be made relatively soon.
Amari Cooper To Play In Week 7; Latest On Bills’ Pursuit
Davante Adams was dealt to the Jets earlier this week, but that AFC East wideout acquisition was soon followed up by the Bills landing Amari Cooper. Further details have emerged on the latter swap. 
Buffalo was one of several suitors for Adams, who represented the top trade target amongst receivers. The price for adding the three-time All-Pro was dictated in large part by Vegas’ desire to avoid retaining any of his salary. That wound up being the case, something which took the Bills out of the running to seriously pursue a deal.
“My gut was [the Raiders] were never interested in eating money, which they didn’t,” Bills general manager Brandon Beane confirmed when speaking about Adams’ trade market (via Ryan O’Halloran of the Buffalo News). “If they were interested in doing that, they probably could have gotten some more from us or somebody else.”
With the Bills never truly being a contender to acquire Adams, attention turned to Cooper. As Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer notes, Beane and Co. touched base with the Browns before further conversations on a trade took place Monday (video link). That agreement (which saw Buffalo land Cooper and a sixth-round pick this year for a third-rounder and a seventh-round selection in 2026) was worked out one day later, a sign of how smoothly negotiations progressed.
Cooper stated he did not expect to be dealt, and Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports notes the Browns were not actively shopping him prior to the agreement being reached (video link). Rather, it was Buffalo’s “very aggressive” efforts to land Cooper which got the deal done. Indeed, Underdog Fantasy’s James Palmer notes the Browns got a higher trade price than they expected. He adds, however, that Cleveland did now view the five-time Pro Bowler has living up to the team’s standards through the opening portion of the season.
Cooper’s 41.7 yards per game in 2024 is the lowest mark of his career, a result of the Browns’ struggling offense but also a potential sign of decline. The 30-year-old will be nevertheless be expected to handle a heavy workload early on in his Buffalo tenure, given the lack of experienced pass-catchers on the Bills’ offense. After the team traded away Stefon Diggs and allowed Gabe Davis to depart in free agency, Cooper has the potential to command a notable target share with his latest team. Acclimating to the Bills’ playbook will take time, but no waiting period should be expected.
Head coach Sean McDermott said (via The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia) he expects Cooper to suit up against the Titans on Sunday. A full workload days after being dealt may not be realistic, but he will be positioned to contribute right away on a team once again looking to make a deep run amongst the AFC’s contenders.
Falcons Eyeing Edge Rush Addition
The Falcons made a pair of veteran defensive additions not long before the start of the season. One of those was the trade acquisition of Matt Judon, but another move along the edge could be coming. 
Atlanta is “very open” to bringing in more help in the pass-rush department, Sports Illustrated’s Albert notes. Judon racked up 1.5 sacks during his first two Falcons games, but he has been held without one in four weeks since then. Overall, the team has posted only five sacks, the fewest in the league this season.
Improving in that department has long been an organizational need, so it would come as little surprise if a depth move were to be made before the November 5 deadline. Atlanta currently sits 20th in the league in terms of cap space with $8.9MM in available funds. That could make a low-cost addition (especially for a rental) a feasible option if the 4-2 outfit adopts a buyer’s stance over the coming weeks.
Someone like Maxx Crosby – who offered a less-than-conclusive stance on his Raiders future – would represent a blockbuster target for the Falcons or any number of other teams aiming to take a major step forward in production along the edge. Far more realistic targets, as Breer notes, are players like Za’Darius Smith (Browns), Jadeveon Clowney (Panthers) and, if the 2-5 Saints were to try and add draft capital midway through what may well be a lost season, Chase Young. Only the latter is a pending free agent, whereas Smith and Clowney are under contract through the 2025 season.
While Atlanta will continue to rely on Grady Jarrett as a key pass-rushing presence along the defensive interior, the team will also be looking to the likes of Judon, Lorenzo Carter and Arnold Ebiketie along the edge. Third-round rookie Bralen Trice would have been positioned to handle a rotational role this year, but he tore his ACL in the preseason, meaning his Falcons debut will be delayed until 2025. Before that point, Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot could be in the market for a stop-gap addition.
49ers To Activate WR Ricky Pearsall, Place K Matthew Wright On IR
As expected, Ricky Pearsall will make his NFL debut on Sunday. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said on Friday the first-round rookie wideout will be activated from the NFI list in time for Week 7. 
The news does not come as a surprise since Pearsall began practicing this week. San Francisco had 21 days to activate him, but much less time than that will be required to bring him into the picture. The move confirms Pearsall’s impressive progress in recovering from the gunshot wound he suffered in August as the victim of an attempted robbery.
The 24-year-old’s move to the NFI list confirmed he would miss at least the first four weeks of the campaign. The team understandably took a cautious approach with his rehab process, and now he is set to handle a rotational role in San Francisco’s passing game. Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel are healthy, but fellow wideout Jauan Jennings will be sidelined for Week 7. That could allow Pearsall to log a notable workload in his debut.
The Arizona State and Florida product faces high expectations as the 49ers’ top pick in this month’s draft. Aiyuk is attached to a big-ticket deal, but Samuel has only one year (without guaranteed salary) left on his pact after 2024. That – coupled with the team’s other upcoming financial priorities, including a Brock Purdy extension – have led to speculation Samuel could be cut or traded this offseason. Moving on from him would position Pearsall to operate as key, cost-controlled offensive playmaker for years to come.
In other injury news, Shanahan added kicker Matthew Wright will be placed on injured reserve. San Francisco’s Jake Moody replacement is dealing with a shoulder injury he suffered during his season debut, and an IR stint will sideline him for at least the next four games. Former Packer Anders Carlson was added to the practice squad in the wake of Wright’s injury, and he will be elevated tomorrow to take on kicking duties for, potentially, the foreseeable future.
Bringing Pearsall onto the active roster will use up one of the 49ers’ in-season activations. They will now have six available, with a number of other players eligible to be brought off IR; that will be the case for Wright down the road, although by that point Moody may be full healthy.
Eagles Place LT Jordan Mailata On IR
When it was first learned Jordan Mailata was set to miss time, it was unknown if he would require a stint on injured reserve. The Eagles’ longtime left tackle will indeed be sidelined for an extended period. 
Mailata – who is dealing with a hamstring injury – was placed on IR Friday, per a team announcement. As a result of the move, he will miss at least the next four games. An absence of some length was already expected, but today’s news confirms Philadelphia will be notably shorthanded up front during the middle of the campaign.
The former seventh-rounder missed only one game across the past two seasons, and his durability no doubt played a role in his ability to land another Eagles extension this offseason. The sides agreed to a three-year, $66MM deal which places him sixth amongst left tackles in terms of annual average value. That commitment demonstrates Mailata’s importance to Philadelphia’s offense, and his absence will be acutely felt.
Fred Johnson could step into the left tackle role on a more permanent basis moving forward after he did so in Week 6 following Mailata’s exit. The 27-year-old has 50 starts and nine appearances to his name, nowhere near the first-team experience the blocker he is replacing has. Johnson played a full campaign with the Eagles last season, but he logged only 35 offensive snaps as the team’s O-line remained healthy. With standout right tackle Lane Johnson already missing time earlier in the year, Philadelphia’s luck on the health front has certainly taken a turn in 2024.
Another left tackle option would be Mekhi Becton. The former Jets first-rounder was tried at guard this offseason, and he beat out Tyler Steen for a starting gig on the inside. Becton does have experience on the blindside, though, and he could move there for the coming weeks while Mailata recovers. Doing that would, of course, create a vacancy at the right guard position and thus necessitate further shuffling up front.
In any case, a replacement for Mailata will need to be found as the 3-2 Eagles try to build off last week’s win. It will be interesting to see how their offensive line shakes out with a key member out of the fold for the time being.
Panthers To Release CB Troy Hill
Troy Hill is set to hit mid-season free agency. The veteran corner is being released by the Panthers, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. 
Carolina sits at 1-5 on the year, so it comes as little surprise the team is electing to move on from a veteran to open up playing time for younger options in the secondary. Hill’s contract was set to expire after the year anyway, but now he will be available to interested teams without a trade being necessary. Having been let go before the trade deadline, Hill will not be subject to waivers.
The 33-year-old joined the Panthers last August, landing a deal shortly before the start of the regular season. That one-year pact allowed him to reunite with defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero, with whom he worked during their time together with the Rams. Hill logged a 50% snap share in 2023, notching 48 tackles, six pass deflections and one interception.
That production allowed him to remain in Carolina, and he agreed to a new deal before the start of free agency. Rather than playing out that pact (which was near veteran minimum), he will try to latch onto a roster midway through the campaign. This move will generate a roughly equal amount of dead money along with salary cap savings.
Hill saw considerable time on the outside earlier in his career, but more recently he has operated more in the slot. That skillset could help his value, although the former UDFA has struggled in coverage this season. Hill has landed outside the top 55 in terms of CB PFF grading over each of the past three years, and that will continue in 2024 if he is unable to deliver stronger performances on his next team. As a veteran of 60 starts, though, he could provide experienced secondary depth at a minimum to a contending team.
The Panthers have struggled in a number of areas this season, including against the pass (226 yards allowed per contest, 26th in the NFL). Moving on from Hill will pave the way for increased playing time for some of the team’s younger corner contributors, including fifth-round rookie Chau Smith-Wade. It will be interesting to see how much interest develops amongst teams looking to add Hill in short order.
Colts’ Anthony Richardson To Return In Week 7; Jonathan Taylor Remains Out
OCTOTBER 18: Head coach Shane Steichen confirmed on Friday Richardson will indeed suit up on Sunday. Taylor’s ankle injury will cost him a third straight game, so plenty of rushing responsibilities could rest on the second-year quarterback immediately upon returning to action.
OCTOBER 17: Joe Flacco has handled starting quarterback duties for the Colts over the past two games. That will likely change in Week 7, however. 
[RELATED: Michael Pittman Jr. To Avoid IR, Play Through Back Ailment]
Anthony Richardson is expected to return to action this week, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports (video link). Last year’s No. 4 pick suffered his most recent injury in Week 4, prompting Flacco to take over in his place. The 39-year-old helped lead the Colts to wins in two out of his three appearances, but as Wolfe notes the team’s intention is to return Richardson to the lineup at the first opportunity to do so.
An oblique injury has kept the 22-year-old out of action recently, marking another interruption in his NFL development. Known to be a raw prospect coming out of college, Richardson immediately handled first-team duties during his rookie season. That campaign was cut short by shoulder surgery, and further missed time is the situation team and player obviously wanted to avoid. If he can remain healthy moving forward, though, a Year 2 jump in production could again be possible.
Sitting at 3-3 on the year, the Colts sit mid-pack in a number of offensive categories this year (although they rank last in time of possession). A healthy Richardson could help in several areas, and his mobility will be key to the team’s rushing attack. That will especially remain true if running back Jonathan Taylor is forced to sit out once again in Week 7. Taylor was absent from practice yesterday and again today, casting doubt on the status of his ankle rehab.
Richardson, by contrast, has been a full practice participant over each of the past two days. Barring any setbacks, therefore, he should be in action against the Dolphins on Sunday. It will be interesting to see how effective the Florida product is upon return and whether or not he will be able to avoid any further setbacks on the injury front for the remainder of the campaign.
Giants To Sign T Chris Hubbard Off 49ers’ Practice Squad
In need of healthy options at the offensive tackle spot, the Giants are set to make an outside addition. Chris Hubbard is being added off the 49ers’ practice squad, head coach Brian Daboll said on Friday. 
Andrew Thomas is out for the year due to his recent surgery on a Lisfranc injury. Joshua Ezeudu will take over starting blindside duties in his place, but Hubbard will represent an experienced option as at least a depth option moving forward. The 33-year-old has 94 appearances and 58 starts to his name.
Much of Hubbard’s playing time has come at right tackle, but he has seen sparse usage along the blindside during his career. After beginning his NFL tenure in the AFC North (four years with the Steelers followed by five with the Browns), the former UDFA spent a single campaign in Tennessee. Hubbard would up making nine starts at right tackle last year, although he was not able to land a free agent deal during the early portion of the offseason.
In mid-May, the 49ers added Hubbard as part of their effort to land capable options up front. The UAB product was ultimately let go as part of San Francisco’s final roster cuts, however. Hubbard was retained in short order on a practice squad deal, but he has yet to see time on the active roster this season. That will change upon arrival in New York.
The 2-4 Giants have struggled on offense, and losing Thomas will deal a major blow to the unit. If Hubbard winds up landing playing time with his new team, though, he could stabilize one of the tackle positions on a temporary basis. Doing so could help his market value ahead of next offseason.