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.
Giants Inquiring About WR Trade
When Malik Nabers suffered an ACL tear, questions were raised about the Giants adding a receiver for the remainder of the campaign. At first, it appeared as though New York’s internal replacement options would be counted on. 
Indeed, no wideout available in a trade could be expected to duplicate Nabers’ impact on the team’s offense. Earlier this month, it was reported the Giants would not pursue a trade given that reality. No moves at the position have been made yet, but that could change soon.
New York has made inquiries about receiver trades, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo report. Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post confirms the team is conducting its “due diligence” ahead of the November 4 deadline. Only one wideout (Ja’Lynn Polk) has been traded around the league so far this season, but that is of course likely to change over the coming weeks.
The Giants hosted a number of free agent receivers on workouts in the wake of the Nabers injury, a sign depth would be a priority over a starting-caliber addition. As things stand, Darius Slayton and Wan’Dale Robinson are set to remain atop the depth chart. Jalin Hyatt, along with tight ends Theo Johnson and Daniel Bellinger, round out the room in terms of pass-catching options.
Dunleavy names several potential targets who could be on the move prior to the deadline. Among them is Rashid Shaheed, one of many Saints interested teams have called about this year. Others are under contract beyond 2025, which would make it surprising for a swap to take place. Still, pending free agents like Alec Pierce are included in the list of options. The 5-1 Colts will obviously not be sellers at the deadline, but a Pierce trade could be preferred to seeing him depart on the open market in March.
The Giants currently own seven 2026 draft picks, so capital for a modest receiver addition should not be a issue. Finances, on the other hand, will be a challenge. Entering Tuesday, New York sits at the bottom of the league with just $474K in cap space. Sending money back in any potential trade will likely be necessary as a result.
Sitting at 2-4 on the year, operating as a buyer at the deadline would be a surprise in the Giants’ case. As the team moves forward with rookies Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo as key figures on offense, though, it will be interesting to see if a new wideout will be added to the mix shortly.
Steelers To Explore WR Trade Addition
OCTOBER 14: During his latest appearance on the Pat McAfee Show, ESPN’s Adam Schefter confirmed (video link) the Steelers are in the market for a wideout. With three weeks remaining until the deadline, it will be interesting to see if Khan swings another in-season addition at that spot.
OCTOBER 9: The receiver position has been a major talking point for the Steelers dating back to well before the start of the current campaign. D.K. Metcalf has performed well to date, but the matter of depth could prove to be an issue as the season progresses. 
Pittsburgh was heavily linked to Brandon Aiyuk last summer before he ultimately inked a 49ers extension. The Steelers were then close to a Christian Kirk acquisition before the 2024 trade deadline, but his season-ending injury made that a moot point. Once again, it appears the team will be one to watch on the trade front at the receiver position.
Mark Kaboly of the Pat McAfee Show “fully anticipates” the Steelers engaging in conversations about all available wideouts between now and the November 4 trade deadline. Metcalf is under contract for the foreseeable future, but Calvin Austin is attached to the final year of his rookie deal and no new commitment on the team’s part is expected at this point. Austin is expected to miss time coming off the bye, although Kaboly adds his injury is not believed to be serious.
That should open the door for Roman Wilson to take on an expanded role in the passing game. The 2024 third-rounder was limited to just one game as a rookie, though, and he has recorded only one catch so far in 2025. Per Kaboly, the underlying cause behind Wilson’s ineffective performances and low usage rate is unclear at this point. Barring an uptick in his role, the Michigan product could remain a minor figure on offense moving forward; that will especially be true if a trade acquisition is to be made in the near future.
Once Pittsburgh had Aaron Rodgers in place, Allen Lazard was named as a potential trade target. No deal was made, but Lazard is a pending free agent attached to a base salary of just $1.75MM thanks to the pay cut agreement he reached with the Jets this offseason. New York sits at 0-5 on the year, and a seller’s approach ahead of the deadline is expected. It will be interesting to see if that includes a willingness to move Lazard to a contender.
The Steelers’ Dublin win moved them to 3-1 heading into their bye week. Things could change quickly, but wins against the team’s next two opponents (the Browns and Bengals) would solidify Pittsburgh’s status as a buyer. General manager Omar Khan has shown a willingness to be aggressive ahead of this season, which is believed to the final one of Rodgers’ career. It would come as little surprise if – at a minimum – a repeat of last year’s Mike Williams acquisition were to take place.
Cowboys Endorse DC Matt Eberflus
Especially in the wake of the Micah Parsons trade taking place one week before the start of the season, the Cowboys entered 2025 with questions on defense. That side of the ball has indeed been a sore spot so far. 
Through Week 6, Dallas sits at the bottom of the league in total defense and 31st in points allowed. As such, defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus has increasingly drawn criticism for his performance to date. The former Bears head coach is in his second Cowboys stint, and it is not in danger of ending any time soon.
“Matt Eberflus is a damn good football coach,” head coach Brian Schottenheimer said when asked about potential staffing changes (via Jon Machota of The Athletic). “We have to perform better. But I’ve been him, so part of me being in [the defensive meeting room] is to help as an asset, to tell him, ‘I believe in him. I understand what he’s going through…’ We’re gonna ride this thing out. And we’ll play better. We really will.”
After his first Cowboys stint – as the team’s linebackers coach – Eberflus spent four years as defensive coordinator of the Colts. Indianapolis posted a top-10 finish in points allowed three times under Eberflus, and he parlayed that strong coordinator showing into a head coaching gig. Things did not go according to plan in Chicago, though, and the 55-year-old was fired before his third season in charge was complete. Improvement will be needed if Eberflus is to rebuild his stock during his current Cowboys tenure.
“He’s had tremendous experience,” owner Jerry Jones said on today’s 105.3 The Fan appearance when offering an additional endorsement of Eberflus (h/t Machota). “He’s dealt with adversity. He’s had some great successes… I jumped at it when we had the chance to get him. I still feel as strongly [about him as the day we hired him].”
The Cowboys currently lead the league in total offense and rank third in the NFL in scoring. That has only resulted in a 2-3-1 record, however, in large part due to the shortcomings of Eberflus’ unit. It will be interesting to see if trades and/or free agent pickups are sought out to bolster the defense over the coming weeks. In any case, Eberflus’ job security early in his return to Dallas should not be regarded as uncertain at this point.
Commanders To Sign Drake Jackson
Drake Jackson‘s in-season free agent tour has resulted in a deal. The former second-round defensive end is signing with the Commanders, per agent Drew Rosenhaus (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter). 
Jackson is being added to the active roster, a slight deviation from standard practice regarding mid-week signings. Players in that position often join a taxi squad before being elevated to the roster. Jackson will look to make an immediate impact with Washington as he attempts to avoid any further injury troubles.
The 24-year-old played 15 games as a rookie, but a torn patellar tear limited him to eight games the following season. Jackson then missed all of the 2024 campaign while continuing to recover. The 49ers elected to move on this spring, but Jackson is now healthy. Visits with the Commanders, Jets and Ravens were lined up recently as a result. An agreement has been worked out in short order.
It comes as little surprise Jackson has elected to head to the nation’s capital. Commanders general manager Adam Peters was in the 49ers’ front office when the USC product was drafted, making him a familiar face. Jackson notched three sacks in each of his first two campaigns, recording more pressures (eight) in his shortened 2023 season than he did in 15 contests (seven) as a rookie. Continued development in terms of production and efficiency as a pass rusher would provide Washington with an inexpensive option along the edge to close out the season.
The Commanders have posted 18 sacks through six games, good for sixth in the NFL in that regard. Jackson will join a group lead by Dorance Armstrong, Von Miller and hybrid linebacker/edge rusher Frankie Luvu. If he manages to provide the 3-3 team with part-time production down the stretch, a notable free agent market could be in store during the spring.
Titans Fire HC Brian Callahan
The first head coaching change of the 2025 season has been made. Brian Callahan is out as the Titans’ coach, the team announced on Monday.
“After extended conversations with our owner and general manager, we met with Brian Callahan this morning to tell him we are making a change at head coach,” a statement from president of football operations Chad Brinker reads in part. “We are grateful for Brian’s investment in the Titans and Tennessee community during his tenure as head coach. We thank him and his family for being exemplary ambassadors of the Tennessee Titans.”
[RELATED: Titans Name Mike McCoy Interim Head Coach]
Hired in 2024 after a highly-regarded run as the Bengals’ offensive coordinator, Callahan was tasked with overseeing an offensive turnaround in Tennessee. That did not take place during his first season at the helm, but the decision to select Cam Ward gave the Titans a new signal-caller to build around. Six games in to the No. 1 pick’s career, a change is now taking place on the sidelines. NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports Tennessee’s preference was to avoid an in-season firing, but that stance shifted over the past few weeks.
Today’s announcement comes after talk about a Callahan dismissal increased over the early portion of the campaign. The 41-year-old handled offensive play-calling duties through his first season at the helm and the opening three games of the 2025 slate. Following a winless start, though, Callahan handed the reins to QBs coach Bo Hardegree. Moves such as those are often made in an attempt to increase a head coach’s job security.
Indeed, it was reported earlier this month Callahan and the coaching staff felt the front office was quickly losing patience. After Sunday’s game – a 20-10 loss against the Raiders – Callahan’s record fell to 1-5 on the year and 4-19 overall. Tennessee ranks 31st in the NFL in scoring and 26th in points allowed. After also struggling in both of those capacities last season, Callahan will not receive any further opportunities to improve.
In general, this dismissal adds further to the long list of organizational changes made in recent years by the Titans. Owner Amy Adams Strunk has overseen a slew of hirings and firings in short order dating back to the closing stages of Mike Vrabel‘s head coaching tenure. Not long before Vrabel was fired, general manager Jon Robinson had been dismissed. Robinson was replaced during the 2023 hiring cycle but Ran Carthon, but he too was let go this past offseason.
Tennessee hired Mike Borgonzi as Carthon’s replacement in January at a time when Brinker took on an elevated role in the organization. He and Borgonzi will look to provide stability with the Titans on track for their fourth consecutive losing season. It is unclear at this point who will take over on an interim basis, but senior offensive assistant Mike McCoy has head coaching experience. Defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson and special teams coordinator John Fassel are other internal candidates.
Regardless of what happens in the near term, the Titans’ search for a new full-time head coach will be critical. A top priority for Callahan’s replacement will of course be maximizing Ward’s potential and helping the offense take needed steps forward. The search on that front will begin early, and it will be interesting to see which candidates the team looks to speak with first.
Working closely alongside Bengals head coach Zac Taylor, Callahan spent five years in Cincinnati as the team’s offensive coordinator (albeit without calling plays). Another coordinator opportunity could await him in the future, but given the nature of his first head coaching spell a second chance in that capacity may not be coming any time soon. In the meantime, the Titans will prepare for their Week 7 game at home against Vrabel’s Patriots.
QB Tyrod Taylor Has Support In Jets’ Building
In the wake of the Jets’ latest loss and their highly ineffective performance on offense, head coach Aaron Glenn was asked about the possibility of a quarterback change. Justin Fields remains atop the depth chart for now, but there is not a consensus in the organization that is the right move. 
SNY’s Connor Hughes reports “several” people within the locker room have expressed a position that Tyrod Taylor would be a better option at the quarterback spot than Fields. This sentiment dates back to training camp, per Hughes. No competition for the QB1 spot took place during the summer, with Fields landing the QB1 gig upon signing a two-year free agent deal.
That $40MM pact contains $30MM fully guaranteed. Considering that level of commitment, it comes as little surprise Fields has received a vote of confidence on more than one occasion despite New York’s 0-6 start. When speaking to the media on Monday, Glenn said (via ESPN’s Rich Cimini) he did not give thought to replacing Fields with Taylor during the team’s loss to the Broncos yesterday. Doing so could have helped create a quarterback controversy, something Glenn seeks to avoid.
Moving forward, it will be interesting to monitor how the Jets’ quarterback setup is handled. A continuation of the team’s losing streak – especially if Fields is unable to bounce back from his 45-yard, nine-sack showing on Sunday – will no doubt lead to an increase in calls for Taylor to take over. Pressure on that front could come from within the organization given the contingent which would have preferred Taylor begin the year atop the depth chart.
Fields, 26, offers upside with his rushing ability and has posted 204 yards and three touchdowns on the ground so far in his debut Jets campaign. The former first-rounder has also set new personal bests in a number of passing categories, albeit in a way which has not lent itself to much in the way of overall production on offense. New York ranks last in the NFL with an average of 175 passing yards per game, and the team sits 25th in scoring.
While Fields is under contract through 2026, Taylor is a pending free agent. The 36-year-old has made just one start so far in his Jets career (filling in for an injured Fields in Week 3), which dates back to last season. If at least some in the organization had their way, though, that figure would increase.
Titans Name Mike McCoy Interim HC; O-Line Coach Bill Callahan Expected To Resign
8:15pm: Bill Callahan is indeed expected to draw interest from another team before the end of the season, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.
4:56pm: In the wake of Brian Callahan‘s firing, it was unclear who would take over head coaching duties for the remainder of the campaign. The Titans now have an internal replacement in place. 
Senior offensive assistant Mike McCoy is being promoted to interim head coach, as first reported by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. McCoy has head coaching experience at the NFL level, so he was regarded by many as the top internal candidate to replace Callahan. As such, this move (which is now official) comes as little surprise.
McCoy, 53, coached the Chargers from 2013-16. That span began with two straight 9-7 campaigns but ended with records of 4-12 and then 5-11. Callahan managed a mark of just 4-19 during his time with the Titans, but the team will hope for a turnaround of some kind under a more experienced staffer.
McCoy returned to his role as offensive coordinator of the Broncos after his Chargers tenure ended. That lasted one season and was followed by another one-and-done run in an OC capacity with the Cardinals. McCoy worked as the Jaguars’ quarterbacks coach for three seasons before the arrival of a new regime this winter led to a number of changes. That resulted in his Titans gig, one which will now consist of head coaching duties to close out the year.
Tennessee struggled on both sides of the ball last season under Callahan, and the first six games of 2025 has not yielded much in the way of progress. Quarterback Cam Ward will look to continue developing during his rookie season, but he has already witnessed a change in offensive play-caller and now a switch at the head coaching spot. McCoy will aim to offer stability over the coming weeks while the search for a full-time head coach (presumably) begins.
In other coaching news, veteran Titans reporter Paul Kuharsky reports offensive line coach Bill Callahan – Brian’s father – is expected to resign. The elder Callahan is highly experienced, particularly working with O-linemen at the NFL level, and he has operated as an interim head coach in the past. With his son having been dismissed, however, Bill’s future will be something to watch closely.
Turnover in multiple levels of the organization has been a constant for the Titans over the past few years. That has included multiple GM changes and a short-lived attempt to replace Mike Vrabel following his dismissal. Vrabel and the Patriots will visit Tennessee in Week 7, McCoy’s first action as an NFL head coach in nine years.
Colts Place QB Anthony Richardson On IR
The Colts will be without Anthony Richardson for an extended period. Following the pregame injury suffered by the team’s backup quarterback on Sunday, he is set for an extended absence. 
Richardson has been placed on injured reserve, per a team announcement. As a result, he will be unavailable for at least the next four games. Richardson suffered an orbital bone fracture during warmups yesterday. It was initially unclear how much time he would miss, but testing on his eye has obviously led to the Colts shutting him down for the foreseeable future.
Daniel Jones has thrived in his stead atop the Colts’ depth chart so far this season. Indianapolis leads the AFC with a record of 5-1, and the former Giants draftee will be tasked with maintaining his current level of play as the Colts look to remain hot. Depth behind Jones will be a question, however. Richardson has not developed as hoped in his NFL career, but he would have been a familiar option for head coach Shane Steichen and Co. if called upon.
With Richardson now out of the picture for the time being, sixth-round rookie Riley Leonard is currently the Colts’ QB2. Leonard has yet to make a regular season appearance, but he could find himself dressing as the backup for at least a brief period. Of course, that would change if Indianapolis were to make a free agent or trade acquisition at the quarterback spot. The team has roughly $6MM in cap space.
Richardson is no stranger to missed time after he was limited to four games as a rookie and 11 contests last season. This absence is different since it was not caused by an on-field injury, but the former No. 4 pick is now guaranteed to be available for less than a full slate in each of his first three NFL campaigns. Irrespective of Jones’ strong play, Richardson’s future with the Colts will no doubt be influenced by his injury history moving forward.
Indianapolis still has seven IR activations available at this point. Bringing Richardson back into the fold will use up one of them, but not until a notable period of time is spent recovering from the injury.
Ravens OLB Tavius Robinson To Miss Extended Time
The Ravens’ pass rush group was thinned out by last week’s decision to trade away Odafe Oweh. The unit will be shorthanded to a even larger extent moving forward. 
Head coach John Harbaugh announced on Monday (video link) that Tavius Robinson suffered a broken foot in Week 6. As a result, the third-year outside linebacker is facing an absence of six to eight weeks. This will mark the first missed time of Robinson’s career.
The 26-year-old Canadian handled a part-time defensive workload as a rookie, but he took on a much larger role last season. After starting seven games in 2024, Robinson worked as a first-team presence each game this year and handled a 65% snap share prior to going down. That workload was set to remain high through the remainder of the campaign, especially with Oweh no longer in the picture.
Instead, the Ravens will be forced to move forward with an EDGE group led by veteran Kyle Van Noy. Baltimore also has David Ojabo and second-round rookie Mike Green in place as candidates to take on an increased role with Robinson sidelined. Second-year pass rusher Adisa Isaac is still in the team’s plans for 2025 after being designated for return from IR during roster cutdowns.
When speaking about Isaac on Monday (video link), Harbaugh said a return in mid-to-late November is expected. Isaac – who missed most of his rookie campaign through injury – sustained ligament damage in his elbow during the 2025 preseason. He continues to rehab the ailment, and a depth role should be in store upon return given the lack of available pass rushers for Baltimore at the moment.
Robinson totaled 13 pressures in 2024 and was well on his way to increasing that figure this season with five through his first six games. Given the former fourth-rounder’s ability to move inside in certain situations, his absence will be acutely felt on a Baltimore defense which ranks at or near the bottom of the league in several categories. After the Ravens acquired two new safeties last week, it will be interesting to see if a pass rush addition is targeted in the wake of today’s news.