Patriots OC Josh McDaniels Downplays Future HC Interest
Josh McDaniels has served as an NFL head coach on two occasions. A third opportunity could arise depending on the success of his latest Patriots offensive coordinator stint, but that is not something receiving consideration at this time. 
“I love living in New England,” McDaniels said when speaking to the media about any future head coaching aspirations (via MassLive’s Karen Guregian). “That’s the short of it. I just try to focus on now, I’m really enjoying coaching for [head coach] Mike [Vrabel], and the staff and the guys we have here in the organization. That would be surprising if I moved my kids out of Westwood.”
McDaniels has worked as the Patriots’ OC on three separate occasions during his career. The 49-year-old has also been the head coach of the Broncos and Raiders, although neither of those gigs went according to plan. With Denver in 2010 and then again with Vegas in 2023, McDaniels was fired midway through his second season in charge. Overall, his head coaching record sits at 20-33.
For the time being, McDaniels’ attention is focused on overseeing an offense which has made notable strides compared to last season. Central to that development, of course, is the progress shown by second-year quarterback Drake Maye. 2024’s third overall pick has increased his production across the board during his first campaign working under McDaniels. The Patriots sit at 4-2 on the year and rank 11th in the league in scoring with an average of 25 points per game.
If New England can maintain that level of production through the remainder of the season, a return to the playoffs could be in store. That would no doubt help McDaniels’ coaching stock, and it could leave him in a situation not unlike Kliff Kingsbury‘s last year. During his return to the NFL, Kingsbury helped guide Jayden Daniels and the Commanders’ offense to an impressive showing, leading to questions about a second attempt at head coaching duties. Kingsbury was linked to multiple openings, but the presence of Daniels helped inform his decision to remain in place.
Similarly, McDaniels could draw interest on the coaching market if his third Patriots stint continues on an encouraging path. His past shortcomings would give suitors plenty of pause, on the other hand, and it remains to be seen if he would seek out another chance to lead a coaching staff anyway. At this point, it appears as though that would not be the case.
49ers Less Likely To Pursue Trades?
Not long after Nick Bosa suffered a torn ACL, John Lynch confirmed the 49ers were in the market for a trade aimed at adding a pass rusher. Trey Hendrickson in particular has emerged as a name to watch in that regard. 
However, Week 6 saw linebacker Fred Warner suffer a fractured and dislocated ankle. The All-Pro is expected to miss the remainder of the campaign as a result. With San Francisco’s defense now missing two major contributors the rest of the way, the team’s general manager appears to have changed his stance on the subject of pursuing a short-term addition on the trade market.
“It’s time to go play. And we’ve got plenty in this team to go compete and go win football games,” Lynch said during his latest appearance on KNBR radio (via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle). “And you do your due diligence — you put the work in. Are there variables that change from week to week? Absolutely, there are. And we’ll just leave it at that.”
Indeed, the 49ers’ calculus has no doubt shifted with Bosa and now Warner out of the picture. The team sits at 4-2, but sacrificing draft capital for a rental could be more difficult to justify given the state of the defense on the injury front. In any event, the play of San Francisco’s internal options will be key in replacing Bosa and Warner down the stretch.
Hendrickson is one of several edge rushers who have emerged as trade candidates ahead of the November 4 deadline. Fewer linebackers have been mentioned in the same capacity, though. As things stand, Tatum Bethune is in position to assume a starting role in Warner’s place. The 2024 seventh-rounder has been a regular on special teams early in his career, but he has logged just 99 snaps on defense in the regular season. How Bethune fares with an increased workload will surely influence Lynch’s aggressiveness on the trade front.
With over $21MM in cap space, the 49ers can certainly afford a short-term acquisition. Based on Lynch’s latest comments, however, the team may prefer to avoid any notable outside additions and instead proceed with its in-house replacement options.
Rams WR Puka Nacua Out For Week 7
OCTOBER 17: Nacua has been ruled out for Week 7, to little surprise. With the Rams’ bye upcoming after their London game, the team will have additional time to evaluate his recovery timeframe.
OCTOBER 13: The Rams improved to 4-2 on the year with their win yesterday. Los Angeles lost wideout Puka Nacua along the way, however, and he may be sidelined for a stretch. 
Nacua exited the game against the Ravens before briefly returning in the second half. Overall, the league’s receptions leader logged just 27 snaps, by far his lowest total of the campaign. Nacua is dealing with an ankle sprain, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network report. As a result, at least one missed game could be in store.
The Rams will play the Jaguars in London next week. Los Angeles’ bye will follow that contest, so the team could elect to keep Nacua out of the fold for one contest and then evaluate him upon return from the international game. Of course, any missed time in this case would be critical for the Rams’ offense and their ability to keep pace in a highly competitive division.
Even with his limited output on Sunday, Nacua has amassed 616 yards and a pair of touchdowns through six games this season. The third-year pass-catcher is thus averaging nearly 103 receiving yards per contest, another increase in that department early in his impressive career. Nacua averaged 87 yards per game as a rookie before upping that total to 90 last year.
Maintaining his current production would help the 24-year-old’s case for a massive extension as early as this coming offseason. Nacua is playing out the third season of his four-year rookie pact, but an early (and lucrative) commitment on the part of the Rams would come as no surprise. On the other hand, the former fifth-rounder was limited to 11 games last season so an extended absence in 2025 could hinder his earning potential.
A lengthy spell on the sidelines should not be expected given today’s report, but ankle sprains can linger into multi-week absences. For now, the Rams will move forward with a receiving corps still featuring Davante Adams and Tutu Atwell. Los Angeles also has Tyler Higbee and Colby Parkinson available at the tight end spot.
Further updates on Nacua will be worth watching for as the Rams prepare to fly to London. At least one missed game would be in store if a cautious approach were to be taken, but clarity on Nacua’s recovery timeline will be key.
NFLPA Begins Search For Executive Director
The 2025 offseason was filled with drama for the NFL Players Association. Lloyd Howell, and later J.C. Tretter, resigned from their respective positions amid multiple scandals. 
Shortly after Howell’s tenure as executive director came to an end, David White was tapped as his replacement on an interim basis. White – the runner-up to Howell in the NFLPA’s most recent selection process – has been in place since August. That will remain the case moving forward, but the union’s process of finding a permanent leader has now officially begun.
“The selection of the new executive director will be entirely player-driven and we’re committed to keeping you informed,” NFLPA President Jalen Reeves-Maybin wrote in a memo to players (via Mark Maske of the Washington Post). “The Executive Committee will oversee the search process while receiving input and direction from the Board of Player Representatives as we seek out a candidate who upholds our values, fights for our membership, and positions us strongly for future negotiations.”
The NFLPA has hired TurnkeyZRG as a search firm to assist in the process. Per Maske, White will only receive consideration for the full-time position if his candidacy is raised by the board of player reps itself. It remains to be seen if that will be the case, but in any event outside options will be explored. Reeves-Maybin’s memo emphasizes an increase in transparency relative to previous searches for a union leader. The Howell selection process was mired in secrecy, something which drew widespread criticism.
As Maske notes, there is not a consensus amongst the NFLPA’s members on the subject of whether or not the next executive director should be an ex-player. To date, the only official candidate for the position is former NFL quarterback Matt Schaub, who laid out his plans for the union this summer. Darrell Revis has made a number of public comments related to the NFLPA recently; he and Joe Briggs (who has a lengthy legal background and has served in various roles within the union) are names to watch as well.
No firm timeline is in place for a formal hire to be made by the NFLPA, but Tom Pelissero of NFL Network notes there is a belief that March is being targeted for a full-time leader to be in place. That would allow for new union leadership to be installed in time for the annual league meetings. Talks on a new CBA – which will include discussions on, among other things, expanding the schedule to 18 games, are on the horizon. A key factor in negotiations on that front and others will of course be the NFLPA’s organizational setup, including the identity of its next full-time executive director.
WR Jakobi Meyers Drawing Trade Interest; No Raiders Extension Imminent
Shortly before final roster cuts, Jakobi Meyers requested a trade. No deal was worked out on that front, but not for a lack of interest on the part of suitors. 
Vegas turned aside interest from at least one team on the trade front prior to the start of the regular season. That came as little surprise at the time, given the Raiders’ preference to keep Meyers in the fold and the request from the suitor to have Vegas retain some of his 2025 salary. As the November 4 trade deadline approaches, Meyers is once again a name to watch regarding a change of scenery.
Multiple teams have called the Raiders about Meyers within the past two weeks, Josina Anderson of The Exhibit reports. As was the case this summer, those suitors have been informed no trade is coming at this point. There is of course time for that stance to change on Vegas’ part, particularly if the 2-4 team is unable to keep pace in the AFC West over the coming weeks.
Another key element in this situation is Meyers’ status as a pending free agent. The 28-year-old made it clear this offseason he would welcome an extension, but the lack of an agreement on that front sparked his trade request. Meyers has since confirmed the Raiders did not entertain the idea of dealing away their top receiver, leading to the realization he would at least begin the campaign in Vegas. That has been the case, with Meyers posting 329 scoreless yards so far.
Vegas ranks 30th in the NFL in points, and dealing away Meyers – who totaled a career-high 1,027 yards last season – would hinder the team’s offense even further. At this point, though, it is also unclear if a new deal will be struck in this situation. Per Anderson, talks have continued to take place on a Meyers extension; she adds it appears team and player are “somewhat close” when it comes to value. Meyers is attached to a three-year, $33MM pact signed well before the current Vegas regime led by head coach Pete Carroll, general manager John Spytek and minority owner Tom Brady was in place.
Meyers sought a raise this offseason, and while his production to date has not set him up for a pact near the top of the receiver market he will need a new deal once the 2025 campaign ends. Any acquiring team would therefore be likely to explore an extension provided one is not worked out by the Raiders in the near future. Meyers is attached to a base salary of $10.5MM this season, a prorated portion of which would become the responsibility of his new team in the event of a trade.
The Steelers are once again a team to watch regarding an in-season wideout acquisition. Absent Malik Nabers, meanwhile, the Giants could also be in the market for a notable addition. One or both of those squads could show interest in Meyers – if they have not done so already – while the Raiders decide how they wish to proceed ahead of the deadline.
49ers LB Fred Warner Undergoes Surgery
OCTOBER 16: Shanahan noted (via Matt Barrows of The Athletic) Warner’s surgery was a success. A firm recovery timeline is still not in place at this point, with Lynch stating during his latest KNBR appearance (h/t Barrows) he will soon speak with team doctors on that subject. Surgeons Barrows interviewed indicated a return during the playoffs could be possible, but the team’s stance on Warner’s injury being season-ending has not changed.
OCTOBER 14: The 49ers’ defense was dealt another crippling blow on Sunday when Fred Warner suffered a fractured and dislocated ankle. His recovery process will begin soon. 
Warner is scheduled to undergo surgery tomorrow, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay area notes. When speaking about the injury, head coach Kyle Shanahan added he expects the four-time Pro Bowler to return to on-field activities at some point during the offseason. While a more definitive timeline will depend on the success of the procedure, the 49ers will move forward without one of their most important contributors for the rest of the season.
Over the course of his career (all of which has taken place with San Francisco), Warner has served as a full-time starter and a consistent high-end performer. The four-time All-Pro recorded between 118 and 137 tackles in each of his first seven seasons with the 49ers, but this injury will cause an absence beyond one game for the first time in Warner’s decorated tenure. With edge rusher Nick Bosa already sidelined, San Francisco’s defense faces a major challenge in terms of keeping the team in playoff contention.
General manager John Lynch has made it clear a trade is being worked on to acquire a pass rusher capable of replacing Bosa’s presence to an extent. It will be interesting to see if the 49ers – who lost Dre Greenlaw in free agency – will add linebacker to their list of positions targeted on the trade front. As ESPN’s Nick Wagoner writes, though, the loss of Warner hinders San Francisco’s chances of competing for a Super Bowl in 2025. Parting ways with future draft capital for a rental addition could therefore prove to be a misstep.
In any event, the 49ers are currently in position to lean on internal options as they look to replace Warner. That could result in Tatum Bethune taking on a starting defensive role moving forward. The 2024 seventh-rounder has operated as a regular on special teams over the course of his first two seasons in the league. Bethune only logged 51 snaps on defense as a rookie, however, and his total in that regard sits at 48 after he filled in for Warner in Week 6. The 49ers’ plan regarding any LB moves will be based in part on how Bethune fares in his expanded role.
Sunday’s loss leaves San Francisco as one of three teams in the NFC West with a 4-2 record. Plenty of time remains for the team’s season to swing one way or the other as a result. Ahead of the 2026 campaign, though, Warner’s progress in rehabbing after surgery will be a key story to follow.
Commanders Place DE Drake Jackson On IR
Drake Jackson‘s Commanders debut will not come any time soon. The recently-signed defensive end was placed on injured reserve Thursday, per a team announcement. 
As a result of the move, Jackson will be sidelined for at the least the next four games. Today’s decision does not come as a surprise, however. As ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports, the Commanders always planned on moving Jackson to IR upon signing him. Per NFL rules, those two transactions cannot take place on the same day.
With Jackson being added earlier this week, a brief delay was required before this IR placement. Now that it has taken place, the 24-year-old will be able to continue recovering from his torn patellar tendon. That injury limited Jackson to eight games in 2023 and he missed all of last season while continuing his rehab.
The former second-rounder posted three sacks as a rookie with the 49ers and duplicated that total in eight games in 2023. San Francisco moved on in May, leaving Jackson on the open market for several months. A number of visits were lined up, and the USC product ultimately chose to sign with Washington. That move allowed for a reunion between Jackson and Commanders general manager Adam Peters, who worked in the 49ers’ front office when he was drafted.
Jackson’s pact is no doubt a one-year deal at or near the league minimum given his missed time. His market value this spring will thus be determined by his performance when healthy as he takes on a depth pass-rushing role for the Commanders. Given the fact Jackson will make his season debut no early than Week 11, however, he will only have a small window of opportunity to carve out a notable workload and make an impact on his new team.
Bucs WR Mike Evans To Return To Practice
The Buccaneers’ offense will be notably shorthanded against the Lions in Week 7. Mike Evans could be back in the fold in time for that game, however. 
Evans is expected to practice today, per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. Given the Buccaneers’ decision not to place him on injured reserve, the 32-year-old is eligible to return to game action at any time. Provided he manages to avoid any setbacks in his recovery process from a hamstring injury, that could mean he is back in the fold on Monday night.
Once Evans suffered his latest hamstring ailment, it became clear a multi-week absence would be necessary. Still, it was reported at the time this injury was not as severe as the one which resulted in three missed games in 2024. Evans has been sidelined for the same number of contests this season, so a return should be close.
Tampa Bay has two more games until the bye week, and having Evans available for that span would be key given the team’s other offensive injuries. Fellow starting receivers Chris Godwin and Emeka Egbuka are set to miss Week 7; the same is also true of lead running Bucky Irving. With that many key contributors out of the picture for at least the short term, Evans managing to return to action would be crucial in helping the 5-1 Buccaneers continue their hot start to the campaign.
Of course, Evans’ recovery timeline will also be worth watching closely given his streak of 1,000-yard campaigns. The six-time Pro Bowler has reached that mark in each of his first 11 seasons, and topping 1,000 yards again in 2025 would break a tie with Jerry Rice for the most consecutive campaigns at that level of production. Just like last year, Evans will need a strong output upon return to be able to reach the 1,000-yard threshold.
The Lions’ secondary is currently ravaged by injuries, and safety Brian Branch will miss the game through suspension. That will add intrigue to the matchup with Detroit’s ability to defend the pass a question mark regardless of who the team lines up against. A number of Tampa Bay’s complementary pass-catchers will be counted on in any case, but Evans could very well be in the mix.
Giants Complete Restructures With CB Paulson Adebo, S Jevon Holland
The Giants have created some financial wiggle room in advance of the trade deadline. Contract restructures have been worked out with cornerback Paulson Adebo and safety Jevon Holland, ESPN’s Field Yates notes. 
As a result of the moves, New York has created roughly $4.8MM in cap space for this year. The Giants entered Thursday ranked last in the league in available funds, making a step such as this necessary to generate flexibility for additions in the near future. It has become increasingly clear New York is in the market for a receiver trade, and it was reported yesterday a splashy addition is being explored at this time.
Especially if the Giants are to acquire a receiver with term on their contract beyond 2025, taking on a notable base salary for the remainder of this season will be necessary. Doing so will now be easier, and adding to the future cap hits on Adebo and Holland’s respective pacts will be relatively easy to manage with both on the books past this year. Each of those defensive backs signed with New York in free agency as part of the team’s efforts to upgrade in the secondary.
Adebo signed a three-year, $54MM pact after playing out his rookie contract with the Saints. Holland’s first time on the open market after beginning his career with the Dolphins resulted in a $45.3MM deal being worked out over the same length. Both players have operated as full-time starters during their debut Giants campaign, and that will no doubt continue for the foreseeable future.
New York sits at 2-4 on the season, but both of those wins have come with first-round rookie Jaxson Dart in place at the quarterback spot. Malik Nabers will miss the remainder of the campaign due to his ACL tear, but the Giants’ offense could include a new WR option in the near future. The cap space needed to pull off an acquisition of some kind is now available.
Lions S Brian Branch Issued One-Game Ban
OCTOBER 15: Michael Signora, the NFL’s senior vice president of football & international communications, announced on X today that Branch’s one-game suspension has been upheld. The hearing officer jointly appointed by the league and the NFL Players Association was former long-time Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson. Branch will be unavailable for Detroit’s Week 7 matchup against the Buccaneers.
OCTOBER 13, 11:06pm: Branch is indeed appealing his one-game suspension, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. However, the NFL’s language in their letter informing Branch of his suspension makes it seem unlikely that he will succeed.
“Your aggressive, non-football act was entirely unwarranted, posed a serious risk of injury, and clearly violated the standards of conduct and sportsmanship expected of NFL players,” the statement read (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press).
OCTOBER 13, 4:30pm: Brian Branch will be unavailable to the Lions in Week 7. The third-year safety was issued a one-game suspension on Monday, per a league announcement. 
After last night’s Lions-Chiefs game, Branch slapped Kansas City wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster (video link). A brief skirmish ensued, leading to the expectation supplemental discipline would be handed down. The NFL reviewed the incident and issued the ban.
Branch has already been fined 13 times in his career despite only playing 41 combined regular and postseason games to date. Given his history in that regard, issuing a suspension does not entirely come as a surprise from the league’s perspective. The 2023 Pro Bowler can appeal the ban; if he does so, one of the jointly-appointed hearing officers will oversee the matter.
When speaking to reporters Sunday night, Branch admitted he should not have initiated the altercation with Smith-Schuster but added he felt the Chiefs were attempting to “bully” him during the game (video link via ESPN’s Eric Woodyard). Head coach Dan Campbell termed Branch’s actions “inexcusable,” meaning team discipline of some kind may have been forthcoming anyway.
Regardless of what happens on that front, the Lions are now set to be without a critical member of their secondary pending a successful appeal. Branch has operated as a full-time defensive starter for most of his career, and the former second-rounder recorded 109 tackles in 2024 while adding double-digit pass deflections for the second year in a row. Branch had enjoyed a productive start to his season, but he will now miss the final game before Detroit’s bye week.
The Lions’ secondary is already shorthanded with D.J. Reed on injured reserve and fellow cornerback Terrion Arnold out of the lineup as well. Branch has experience as a slot corner but his ideal position is safety, where he has formed an effective tandem with Kerby Joseph (who has himself battled injuries as well despite playing every game this season).
Detroit’s loss last night dropped the team to 4-2 on the year. The team’s secondary will face a strong test against the Buccaneers in Week 7, but that unit will be without a key figure.