Bears CB Kyler Gordon To Play In Week 6
Coming off their bye week, the Bears will find themselves in a better position on the health front than their previous game. Most notably, cornerback Kyler Gordon is set to make his season debut on Monday. 
Gordon has dealt with a hamstring injury since training camp, and he missed each of Chicago’s first four games as a result. The recently-extended cover man was a full participant in practice today, however, and he is not listed on the Bears’ injury report. Gordon will thus make his first regular season appearance of the year against the Commanders in Week 6.
Chicago’s secondary has been without Jaylon Johnson for essentially the entire campaign. He is currently on injured reserve while recovering from surgery after suffering a groin injury during his Week 2 debut. Johnson could return to action late in the year, but for the foreseeable future he will remain unavailable. That makes Gordon’s health particularly important.
The 25-year-old was a high priority this past offseason with respect to his contract situation. It came as no surprise when a long-term pact was worked out in April. Gordon landed a three-year, $40MM extension, cementing his status as a core member of Chicago’s defense moving forward and making him the latest slot corner to land an eight-figure AAV. Gordon was tapped as a candidate to see time on the outside in 2025, and with Johnson out of the picture it will be interesting to see if defensive coordinator Dennis Allen follows through with his summer plan on that front.
In other Bears injury news, linebacker T.J. Edwards is also back to full strength after suffering his own hamstring ailment. Edwards exited Week 2 as a result of the injury and he missed the following two games. When Chicago takes on Washington, though, the second level of the team’s defense as well as its secondary will have a key figure back in the fold.
NFL Mailbag: Cardinals, Steelers, Cowboys, Tua, Herbert, Dolphins
The debut of the Pro Football Rumors mailbag looks into the Cardinals' potential offseason moves, the Steelers' future under center, the question of whether the Cowboys can end their Super Bowl drought and Dolphins' Tua vs. Herbert debate.
Ben asks:
If the Cardinals continue on their current trajectory and definitively look like the worst team in the NFC West, this has to be considered a major disappointment after they entered the season with postseason aspirations.
Assuming they miss the postseason and finish around .500, what changes (or lack thereof) do you anticipate this offseason? Will they double down and invest more on pieces surrounding Kyler [Murray]? Could a rebuild be in the cards (including moving on from Murray altogether)?
Year 1 of the Monti Ossenfort-Jonathan Gannon regime resulted in four wins, but that figure doubled last year. That meant another step forward and playoff contention was a reasonable expectation for 2025, and I would agree falling short (at least by a wide margin) would be a notable disappointment. But the first five weeks of the year certainly suggest Arizona should be in the mix.
The Cardinals won two straight one-score games before their current streak of three consecutive losses on game-ending field goals. Sunday’s blown lead – especially given the Emari Demercado goal line fumble – cannot be repeated if Arizona is going to contend in the NFC West with the division's other teams starting a combined 10-5. Still, a wild-card berth will be in reach if the Cards wind up back on the right side of those close games moving forward.
RB Breece Hall Hopes To Remain With Jets
Dating back to the offseason, Breece Hall has been attached to trade rumors. As the 2025 deadline approaches, it remains to be seen if the fourth-year running back will stay in place with the Jets. 
Hall is a pending free agent, and it has been clear since the summer an extension is not expected. As a result, he looms as a trade candidate particularly if the 0-5 Jets are unable to rebound from their poor start to the season. If the 24-year-old has his way, though, no trade will be made.
“This is my fifth month dealing with this now,” Hall said when speaking to the media (h/t Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk). “At this point, it is what it is. I’m here. I want to be here. I love being a New York Jet and everything. At the end of the day, I don’t control what goes on, I only control what I do on the field and how I handle my business off the field.”
Hall averaged 5.8 yards per carry as a rookie before suffering an ACL tear. The former second-rounder managed to avoid major injuries in the two subsequent years, surpassing 1,300 scrimmage yards both times. His efficiency fell short of his pre-injury campaign, leading to questions about the chances of Hall returning to his rookie form. That has essentially taken place in 2025, however.
The Iowa State product is averaging 70 yards per game on the ground this year, the highest total of his career. Hall has surpassed 100 scrimmage yards three times early in the current campaign, and he figures to remain a focal point in the backfield moving forward with Braelon Allen sidelined. Still, rumors about a trade ahead of the deadline could persist depending on how the next few weeks play out.
New head coach Aaron Glenn assured Hall a trade was not being pursued after the draft; that could offer a degree of comfort regarding his near-term future. On the other hand, a different regime is in place (led by Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey) than the one which selected Hall in 2022. That will no doubt be a factor when the matter of a trade is considered.
If the Jets decide to keep Hall in the fold beyond next month’s deadline, it will be interesting to see how contract talks are handled. The running back market contains nine players attached to an AAV of $10MM or more. Hall will no doubt look to reach that figure on his second contract, but it is unclear which team it will come from.
Trade Candidate: Christian Harris
Through his first three seasons with the Texans, Christian Harris totaled 26 starts. Now a pending free agent, the linebacker’s role has declined sharply in 2025, leading to questions about his future. 
Harris handled over 700 defensive snaps during each of first two seasons in the league. He remained a full-time starter for the 2024 campaign but was limited to just five combined regular and postseason games that year due to a calf injury. The former third-rounder then dealt with an ankle injury during the offseason, but he managed to return to full health in time for training camp.
That resulted in Harris playing in each of Houston’s first four games. During that span, however, the Alabama product saw a snap share of just 13% on defense, a massive drop compared to his other seasons. Harris was a healthy scratch in Week 5. Given his status as a player seemingly not in the team’s immediate plans – coupled with the fact he is attached to the final year of his rookie contract – ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler names Harris as a trade candidate.
Per Fowler, Harris is held in high regard by other teams. That could result in a market being generated with respect to trade interest, especially since he is 24. Harris is attached to a base salary of $3.41MM for 2025; an acquiring team would need to take on a prorated portion of that figure to close out the campaign. Any team willing to trade for him now (as opposed to a free agent pursuit) would presumably look into an extension as well.
After making a notable impact as a rookie, Harris set career highs in tackles (101), sacks (two) and pass deflections (seven) in 2023. Returning to that level of performance would be key in helping his market value, but it appears as though that will not be possible down the stretch if the rest of Houston’s linebacking corps remains healthy. The Texans have Azeez Al-Shaair, Henry To’oTo’o and free agent addition E.J. Speed in place, with each having handled a larger workload than Harris this season. Al-Shaair is under contract for next year, while To’oTo’o will be eligible for an extension this coming spring.
If those two remain key parts in the Texans’ plans for the second level of their defense, moving on from Harris before the November 4 deadline could be a sensible move. Sitting at 2-3 on the year, Houston will presumably avoid a seller’s stance if the team can continue the momentum generated over the past two weeks. Still, Harris will be a player to watch regarding a change of scenery if he continues to serve in a limited capacity leading up to the deadline.
Aidan Hutchinson Could Reach In-Season Lions Extension Agreement
Over the past two offseasons, the Lions have reached extension agreements with several key in-house players. Aidan Hutchinson does not have a new deal in hand at this point, but even with the campaign ongoing that could change relatively soon. 
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler writes Hutchinson “looks destined” for an extension. Nothing appears imminent at this point, but Fowler suggests an agreement could be reached during the season. Team and player have conducted talks, and it has long been widely believed Hutchinson will be among the league’s top earners for pass rushers once his pact is in place.
As expected, the EDGE market witnessed several jumps over the course of the 2025 offseason. Micah Parsons moved the bar to a record-shattering high when he inked his Packers extension upon arriving via trade. Parsons’ deal averages $46.5MM per year and contains $120MM in guarantees. Given his age (26), the ex-Cowboy will no doubt be used as a comparable player for Hutchinson’s extension negotiations.
Since being selected second overall by his hometown team, Hutchinson has emerged as one of the league’s top defenders. The former Defensive Rookie of the Year runner-up posted 11.5 sacks in his second campaign and earned a Pro Bowl nod along the way. Hutchinson was on track for a repeat of that honor – and quite possibly others – last season before a leg fracture ended his campaign just five games in. Fully healed in time for 2025, the 25-year-old has already racked up five sacks so far (including at least one in each of the past four games).
As a result, it would come as no surprise if a Hutchinson deal were to move him to at least second in the financial pecking order for pass rushers. In terms of average annual value, T.J. Watt currently occupies that spot at $41MM; Myles Garrett landed an AAV of $40MM this spring. Those two are attached to their third NFL contracts, whereas Hutchinson will be inking his second deal when he signs.
For the time being, the Michigan product is on track to earn $19.87MM in 2026 on his fifth-year option. That leaves plenty of time for negotiations to continue, although Lions general manager Brad Holmes noted in April a long-term deal will require a massive cap commitment. That is especially true considering the particulars of the Parsons extension. It will be interesting to see if a Hutchinson accord is worked out in the near future or if talks are paused until the offseason.
49ers GM John Lynch: Conversations Ongoing For DE Trade
Since Nick Bosa‘s ACL tear, many have pointed to the 49ers as a logical candidate to pursue a pass rush addition before next month’s trade deadline. The latest comments on the matter from general manager John Lynch point in that direction. 
“I’m having a lot of conversations, a lot of good and productive ones,” Lynch said during a Thursday appearance on KNBR radio when speaking about a defensive end trade (via Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area). “If we find a way to make our football team better and it aligns, then we will not be shy on pulling the trigger.”
The 49ers have a track record of making in-season moves, and the likes of Charles Omenihu, Randy Gregory and Chase Young have all been acquired via trade to provide depth along the edge. A clear expectation exists for San Francisco to make at least one move over the coming weeks, and it would come as no surprise if a Bosa replacement were to be targeted. Finding production along the edge has proven to be a challenge so far.
In addition, Yetur Gross-Matos is among the latest members of the 49ers to encounter injury troubles. Especially if he misses notable time, the 49ers could be forced to move with urgency in terms of making an addition. San Francisco sits near the top of the league with nearly $24MM in cap space at the moment; much of those funds will be earmarked for carrying over to next season, but swinging a trade for a rental should still be feasible.
The 49ers are 4-1 despite the list of players who have been sidelined for a considerable period so far. That, coupled with the Bosa injury, could very well drive the decision to make another midseason acquisition along the edge. Few established options at that spot are known to be on the market, but the list of pending free agents includes Jaelan Phillips (Dolphins) and Trey Hendrickson (Bengals).
No links with specific players have been made yet in terms of who Lynch and the 49ers could be targeting. Based on today’s remarks, though, San Francisco is certainly in the market.
UFL Relocating To Columbus, Louisville, Orlando For 2026 Season
Shortly after entrepreneur Mike Repole became a UFL investor and took over as the league’s head of business operations, it became clear changes would be coming for 2026. Relocation in particular was a talking point through the past several months. 
It is now known how the UFL’s landscape for 2026 will shake out. The Memphis Showboats, Michigan Panthers and San Antonio Brahmas are no longer in operation, and each of those three teams have been relocated. Columbus, as expected, will serve as the host city for a franchise beginning next spring. The same is true of Louisville and Orlando.
“Due to stadium constraints, the available venues in these areas do not align with our new vision of focusing on smaller, more intimate settings that elevate the fan experience,” the UFL said in a statement regarding the decision to move on from Memphis, Michigan and San Antonio (via Ben Fischer of the Sports Business Journal).
With attendance seen as a key priority, a driving factor in the decision to relocate was the fact the new teams will play in much smaller venues than their predecessors. Each of the new franchises will play their home games in stadiums with a capacity of 20,000 or less. Similarly, both Texas teams will play in Major League Soccer stadiums moving forward.
“It’s going to feel real, real different, and it’s going to show better on TV,” Repole said when speaking about the move toward smaller venues (via ESPN.com). “The sound is going to be better, and the experience and the engagement is going to be better.”
The Texas-based teams will continue operating during the 2026 season, but they will do so under new monikers. The Renegades franchise is once again known as Dallas instead of Arlington (which was the case during its XFL existence), while Houston’s is now the Gamblers. Keeping with the league’s setup from previous years, the UFL’s headquarters will remain in Arlington. During the week, each of the eight teams will continue practicing in the Dallas area before traveling to games.
The other three UFL franchises – the St. Louis Battlehawks, the D.C. Defenders and the Birmingham Stallions – will carry on in their respective locations and with their current monikers for 2026. The coming campaign will nevertheless include several changes, though, as the league looks for stability amid long-term plans for expansion.
Broncos Designate DT Malcolm Roach For Return
Malcolm Roach began the season on the Broncos’ active roster, but before Denver’s opening contest the veteran defensive tackle was moved to injured reserve. Roach has been sidelined since then, but he could be back in the fold shortly. 
Roach has been designated for return, per a team announcement. That means the 27-year-old’s practice window is now open. The Broncos have 21 days to activate him; failing that, Roach will revert to season-ending IR.
The former UDFA was guaranteed to miss the first month of the campaign given Denver’s decision to move him to injured reserve. After also remaining sidelined for Week 5, Roach is now back on the field. That is an encouraging sign regarding his recovery from a grade two calf strain, and an activation within the next few days would allow for a return to game action as early as Sunday.
Zach Allen, D.J. Jones and John Franklin-Myers have each played every game so far this season, something which has helped compensate for Roach’s absence. Still, retuning their defensive front to full strength will be key for a Broncos defense which has earned positive reviews so far in 2025. Roach matched his career high with a 42% snap share in 2024, his debut season in the Mile High City. The former Saint is a pending free agent, so returning to action in short order and reprising his role as a regular figure will be key in determining his value for next spring.
The Broncos used one of their eight allotted IR activations during roster cutdowns in the case of Drew Sanders. Of the remaining seven, one will be used when Roach is brought back into the fold. Based on this latest update, that could happen in the near future.
Titans WR Treylon Burks Receives Medical Clearance
Treylon Burks‘ latest injury has kept him sidelined through the beginning of the 2025 campaign. The former first-round receiver could be on the field soon, though. 
Burks – who suffered a broken collarbone during training camp – has received medical clearance to return to football activities, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. As a result, interest could pick up in the near future in this case. That will depend on how the Titans proceed, however.
In the wake of his most recent ailment, Burks was waived with an injury designation by Tennessee in late July. To little surprise, the 25-year-old went unclaimed. That resulted in Burks reverting to injured reserve. Players in that situation are often released via an injury settlement, but ESPN’s Turron Davenport notes that has yet to happen. As such, Burks is still in place with the Titans.
Per Davenport, a termination (which would lead Burks to free agency) could take place at any time. For now, though, no communication between team and player has taken place indicating a release is imminent. Of course, that could change in short order if the Chad Brinker-Brian Callahan regime – which was not in place when Burks was drafted – decides to move forward with its other options at the receiver position. That group includes veterans Calvin Ridley, Tyler Lockett and Van Jefferson, along with rookies Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike.
Burks faced massive expectations upon arriving in the NFL based on his draft status but also because the pick used to select him was acquired from the Eagles in the A.J. Brown trade. While Brown has cemented his status as one of the league’s premier receivers during his time in Philadelphia, Burks has played just 27 games to date. The Arkansas product posted 444 yards as a rookie, but since then he has been unable to remain healthy or build off that output.
Regardless of what plays out in 2025, Burks will not be viewed as an impact addition based on the way his NFL career has unfolded up to this point. Still, it will be interesting to see if the Titans proceed with a release and a market is generated soon after.
Bengals HC Zac Taylor To Retain Play-Calling Duties
The Bengals’ offense has drawn heavy scrutiny since quarterback Joe Burrow‘s injury. Things have not gone according to plan with Jake Browning under center, and a change could be coming soon. 
During each of the three games Browning has started, Cincinnati has scored only three points through the first three quarters. The team managed to score a trio of touchdowns late in Week 5, but on the whole significant improvement is needed moving forward. Efforts on that front will include head coach Zac Taylor continuing in his role as play-caller.
“I feel very comfortable,” Taylor said (via ESPN’s Ben Baby). “It’s a fair question. We score three points in three games in the first half. I totally understand that. But right now, it’s going to remain the same.”
Taylor arrived as head coach in 2019. The 42-year-old called plays on offense throughout that span despite a limited track record of doing so at the NFL and college levels. Coming off his time with the Dolphins (which included an interim offensive coordinator gig) and Rams (making him one of several Sean McVay assistants who have gone on to prominent offensive roles), though, it came as little surprise when Taylor took charge of the offense in Cincinnati. That unit has generally thrived when Burrow has been healthy, something which could be the case late this season after he recovers from toe surgery.
In the meantime, however, the Bengals’ playoff chances depend on steps forward being taken on both sides of the ball. The team sits near the bottom of the league in both points and yards allowed on defense, while finding offensive production has also proven to be a challenge. Cincinnati is averaging just 17 points and 246 yards per game, figures which will of course need to improve if an end to the team’s losing streak is to take place.
Efforts to make that possible could have included a change in play-calling responsibilities, something which Taylor’s former OC Brian Callahan recently moved forward with in Tennessee. In the case of the Bengals, however, the status quo will remain in place on the sidelines.