Jerry Jones: No CBA Violation During Micah Parsons Negotiations
Throughout the negotiating process between Micah Parsons and the Cowboys, it became clear agent David Mulugheta was not a participant. An in-person meeting between Parsons and owner Jerry Jones was followed multiple times by unsuccessful attempts on the edge rusher’s part to conduct traditional extension negotiations. 
[RELATED: Eagles Made Top Parsons Trade Offer]
Players without agents conduct contract talks directly with their teams, but such instances are uncommon when it comes to players who have NFLPA certified representation. Mulugheta – long known as one of the most prominent agents in the NFL and who ultimately landed Parsons a Packers extension which moved the bar for non-QB compensation – was not included in the initial Parsons-Jones talks, which the All-Pro attempted to distance himself from through his trade request. Negotiations were not restarted after that took place, leading to an eventual trade agreement with Green Bay.
Interim NFLPA executive director David White commented on the matter of Jones going out of his way to avoid including Mulugheta in negotiations. Meanwhile, Darrell Revis (who has been rumored as a candidate for the full-time executive director position) offered a sharp criticism of the way the Parsons situation was handled. When speaking on the subject, Jones denied the notion that any CBA violations occurred.
“There is no violation, period,” Jones said during an appearance on 105.3 The Fan (via Clarence Hill Jr. of All City DLLS). “I have all the authority in the world and the player has all the authority in the world to negotiate directly with me. There is no equivocation there… But I will a hundred times [pay] the fine or the penalty [if one is issued].”
To Jones’ point, there is precedent for players working out extensions directly with general managers and having their agents simply finalize the agreement. The Cowboys have taken that route on multiple occasions, with Jones handling a central role given his position as Dallas’ owner but also general manager. On the other hand, monster deals like the Parsons one are not known to be worked out in short order and especially not by means of informal talks where agents are absent.
The Cowboys informed Parsons upon his attempts to resume negotiations in August he would remain in place and play out his fifth-year option or be traded. The latter route was taken, with Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark and a pair of first-round picks heading to Dallas. The timing of the agreement (one week before the start of the season) led to many raised eyebrows around the league and marked a departure from standard procedure for the Cowboys regarding big-ticket extension agreements being worked out late.
Jones has received criticism for the terms of the trade but also the process which resulted in a swap taking place. There have been no indications any kind of discipline will be issued to the Cowboys stemming from the Parsons negotiations, and it is clear Jones does not expect a punishment to be handed down.
Spencer Rattler Expected To Receive Long Run As Starter; Saints Surprised Players With QB Setup?
Shortly before the Saints’ regular season started, Spencer Rattler won the competition for the starting quarterback position. The second-year passer narrowly edged rookie Tyler Shough for the gig.
Rattler took over from an injured Derek Carr last season. He lost all seven of his starts upon doing so, leading to questions about his upside at the NFL level. The former fifth-rounder nevertheless appears to have a long leash atop the depth chart under new head coach Kellen Moore. The Saints are not expected to replace Rattler quickly, according to Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline, and will instead “give him as much opportunity as possible until he proves incapable of handling the starting spot.”
Rattler seemed to clear that relatively low bar in Week 1. His official stat line was unspectacular – 26 completions on 47 attempts (56.7%) for 214 yards – but his 77.3 grade from Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked 12th among all quarterbacks in Week 1. Crucially, he didn’t turn the ball over and only took one sack on 14 pressures. The Saints will be hoping that Rattler can improve over the course of the season, but they seem more interested in establishing a solid floor for their offense rather than boosting its ceiling.
New Orleans’ willingness to stick with Rattler may also betray their plans for the future. Despite drafting Shough (and giving him a fully guaranteed rookie contract) this offseason, the Saints are “already playing for next year’s draft,” per Pauline. Players were surprised that the team didn’t pursue a veteran quarterback to stabilize their offense before the season and remain unsold on Moore’s vision for the future.
Those are further indications that the team was not prepared for Carr’s retirement and may be punting on the 2025 season to build for the future. Given the Saints’ annual battle with the salary cap, accepting a reset year or two to straighten out their finances and quarterback situation might be the best path forward.
As for Shough, he can still develop as a rookie and push to start in 2026, especially if the Saints can’t land their desired quarterback prospect in the draft. Obviously, getting on the field this year would give him a better shot at securing a long-term starting job. Even if that doesn’t work out, his $2.7MM APY isn’t a bad price for a backup quarterback.
Bears To Sign K Jake Moody
Jake Moody has quickly managed to find a new home in the NFL. The ex-49ers kicker is signing with the Bears, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports. 
To no surprise, Schultz adds this will be a practice squad agreement. Moody cleared waivers this week, leaving him free to sign with any interested team. In short order, Chicago has moved forward with a deal.
The Bears have Cairo Santos in place as their kicker once again for 2025. The veteran’s second Chicago stint began in 2020, and he has delivered consistent performances over that span. Santos missed one of his two field goal attempts in Week 1, but he is not viewed as being in danger of being replaced. Nevertheless, Moody is now set to join the organization as a depth option.
The former third-rounder entered the league with high expectations given the rarity of kickers being selected that high in the draft. Moody enjoyed a strong rookie campaign, connecting on 21 of 25 field goal tries and all but one of his extra point attempts. The 25-year-old struggled last season, however, and calls about a change intensified following Week 1 of the current campaign. Moody missed a 27-yard field goal on Sunday and a 36-yard attempt was blocked. San Francisco moved on, signing Eddy Pineiro shortly thereafter to serve as his replacement.
Santos is under contract through 2027 thanks to the extension he signed in 2023. The 33-year-old Brazilian should therefore not see his tenure in the Windy City come to an end any time soon. In the event of a downturn in performance, however, Moody will loom as a replacement option for at least the time being.
QB Brock Purdy Ruled Out For Week 2
SEPTEMBER 12: Purdy has officially been ruled out for the 49ers’ Week 2 trip to New Orleans. Jones will step in as QB1. With Purdy unable to practice, Jones has been taking all of the first-team reps this week. With rookie seventh-rounder Kurtis Rourke still in a likely redshirt year after starting the year on the reserve/non-football injury list while he recovers from ACL repair surgery, San Francisco is planning to elevate former Nebraska and Kansas State quarterback Adrian Martinez from the practice squad.
SEPTEMBER 10: Early-season injuries continue to pile up for the 49ers. Quarterback Brock Purdy is unlikely to be available for San Francisco’s Week 2 contest. 
[RELATED: 49ers To Place George Kittle On IR]
Purdy is dealing with a shoulder injury suffered during the team’s season opener along with turf toe. When speaking to the media on Wednesday, head coach Kyle Shanahan said (via Vic Tafur of The Athletic) Purdy will not practice today. More importantly, he added it is currently considered a “long shot” the recently-extended passer will be available on Sunday.
Any missed time in Purdy’s case would of course deal a notable blow to the 49ers’ offense, and it appears this situation may not only entail a one-week absence. Shanahan said (via NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport) Purdy could miss multiple games while recovering. For the time being, attention will turn to backup QB Mac Jones and his ability to lead a unit which is notably shorthanded.
Tight end George Kittle will be sidelined for at least the next four weeks due to a hamstring injury. Top receiver Brandon Aiyuk, meanwhile, continues to recover from last year’s ACL and MCL tears; he opened the season on the reserve/PUP list. As a result, Aiyuk will not be available until Week 5 at the earliest. Losing Purdy for any period of time will weaken an offense already lacking its top pass-catching options.
Injuries to Trey Lance and then Jimmy Garoppolo opened the door for Purdy to take over starting duties during his rookie season. The former ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ thrived in the QB1 role, and by the time the 2025 offseason arrived it was clear he was viewed as San Francisco’s preferred option for a long-term commitment. Extension talks resulted a five-year, $265MM deal being worked out in May. Purdy later stated resetting the QB market was not his intention during negotiations.
Still, at an average annual value of $53MM, the 25-year-old’s accord carries substantial expectations. Purdy is on the books through 2030. As such, a cautious approach with respect to his injury rehab on the part of the 49ers can of course be expected.
Jones joined the 49ers in free agency this spring. The former first-rounder failed to duplicate the success of his rookie season with the Patriots, and a trade to the Jaguars allowed for a fresh start in 2024. Jones made seven starts while filling in for the injured Trevor Lawrence, giving him a total of 49 in his career. That figure is now set to increase.
Commanders DE Deatrich Wise Suffers Season-Ending Quad Injury
Austin Ekeler‘s presumed Achilles tear is not the only major injury the Commanders suffered Thursday night. Deatrich Wise is set to miss the remainder of the campaign. 
The veteran defensive end posted on Instagram Friday he is facing a lengthy recovery period after a quad injury saw him carted off the field. Shortly thereafter, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Wise’s injury will keep him out for the rest of the season. Surgery will be required, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Wise spent his first eight seasons with the Patriots, registering 63 starts over that span. The 31-year-old was among the players not retained by new head coach Mike Vrabel and Co., however. On the open market, he inked a one-year deal to head to Washington.
That $3.25MM pact included $2.35MM in guarantees, and Wise started each of his first two games with the Commanders. A notable workload would have remained the expectation in this case moving forward, but instead his attention will now turn to recovery. As a pending free agent, today’s news will obviously have significant and unwanted financial implications.
The Commanders’ defensive front underwent a number of changes this offseason, and Wise was joined by Jacob Martin and, later, Von Miller as a newcomer along the edge. Those two will be counted on to handle an increased workload moving forward. Wise has reached at least five sacks three times in a season, including the 2024 campaign. Another productive year would have helped the Commanders offset Dante Fowler‘s free agent departure while boosting the former fourth-rounder’s market value next spring.
The Commanders dropped to 1-1 with last night’s loss. Their offense will be shorthanded the rest of the way with Ekeler out of the picture, but Wise’s absence will deal a blow on the other side of the ball. Washington’s efforts to repeat last year’s success will include a key contributor along the edge sidelined after only a brief spell on the field.
49ers Host QB Mike White; Brock Purdy Facing Multi-Week Absence?
SEPTEMBER 12: While Purdy is in danger of missing multiple games, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones writes he is not being moved to injured reserve. An IR stint would ensure at least a four-week absence, but by keeping him on their active roster the 49ers will be able to play him within that span if possible.
SEPTEMBER 11: Brock Purdy has not been officially ruled out for Week 2, but yesterday head coach Kyle Shanahan deemed it a “long shot” the 49ers would have their starting quarterback in place. That could remain the case beyond Sunday. 
Shanahan noted Purdy could miss more than one contest while dealing with a form of turf toe along with a shoulder injury. Providing further details on that front, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports an absence between two and five weeks is expected in this case (video link). As a result, backup Mac Jones should be in place for San Francisco’s upcoming game against New Orleans as well as the team’s Week 3 matchup with Arizona.
Should the 49ers view Purdy as a candidate to miss further time, a move to injured reserve could receive consideration. A placement on IR would ensure at least a four-game absence, so it would certainly represent a notable step based on the evaluation of his injury. For now, attention will turn to the matter of swelling in Purdy’s toe and how it heals over the near future.
The 49ers will rely on Jones to lead an offense which is missing George Kittle and Brandon Aiyuk for however long Purdy is sidelined. Especially if a multi-week absence is in store, adding quarterback depth would come as no surprise. With that in mind, the team hosted Mike White on a workout Tuesday, per the wire. Shanahan said (via Rapoport’s colleague Tom Pelissero) San Francisco would prefer to add a new signal-caller, although situations at other positions on the roster could make that difficult.
White has 15 appearances and seven starts to his name in the regular season. That includes time with the Jets under then-offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur as well as one season with Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel. Both of those staffers have worked for Shanahan with the 49ers, so White represents a familiar option in terms of the team’s scheme despite not playing in San Francisco to date.
The 30-year-old spent 2024 in Buffalo and made one appearance. White took part in a competition with Mitch Trubisky this offseason for the backup gig and he wound up on the losing side of that contest. As a result, the Bills moved on ahead of the deadline for roster cuts. White has remained a free agent into the start of the regular season, but that could change in the near future.
San Francisco has seventh-round rookie Kurtis Rourke on the reserve/NFI list, leaving him unavailable until at least Week 5 (although he is not expected to play this year while rehabbing offseason ACL surgery). Adrian Martinez is on the team’s practice squad as a depth option, but depending on Purdy’s recovery timeline White could be pursued as a more experienced QB2 candidate.
QB Derek Carr: ‘I Wouldn’t Say Never’ To NFL Return
Speculation about how Derek Carr‘s future would play out under a new Saints coaching staff came to an end when he retired in May. That decision came about after options outside of New Orleans were explored. 
Instead of undergoing shoulder surgery, Carr elected to hang up his cleats as part of an arrangement which saw him forego his guaranteed base salary for 2025. Once the 34-year-old’s retirement had been processed, it appeared a comeback would not receive consideration. Nothing is imminent with respect to an NFL return, but Carr did recently leave the door open to one.
“I wouldn’t say never,” the four-time Pro Bowler said about a comeback during an appearance on the Dan Patrick Show (video link). “Because I’ve learned that when I say never, it usually happens. I think we’ve all probably learned that. For me, I’m training because I love to train. That’s going to be the rest of my life.
“I throw a football every now and then with my kids and to my buddy for fun because it’s part of my rehab for my shoulder… I don’t want to go out there and not be ready. I’ll be ready, but I’m not coming back. Right now, today, I’m not coming back.”
Considering the fact Carr is currently unable to play due to his shoulder injury, he is of course not a candidate to see game time in 2025 regardless of his intentions. The former Raiders starter could receive interest once healthy, however, something which has proven to be the case on a number of occasions with other quarterbacks after they retire. It will be interesting to see if that takes place in Carr’s situation.
The Fresno State product amassed over $205MM in career earnings, so finances will not be a motivating factor in the event a comeback is to be considered. Carr was part of the YouTube TV broadcast of the Chiefs-Chargers game in Week 1, and a media career could await him if he wishes to pursue one. For the time being, though, the possibility of suiting up in the future has not been completely ruled out.
Jamel Dean Addresses Buccaneers Pay Cut
Earlier this week, it was learned Jamel Dean and the Buccaneers worked out a restructure. The veteran corner accepted a substantial pay cut for 2025 while the final year of his pact was removed. 
Dean’s scheduled compensation for 2026 was not guaranteed, meaning a release could have been highly likely anyway. The 28-year-old is nevertheless a pending free agent, and Tampa Bay’s other cornerback moves strongly point to a parting of ways next spring. Instead of being cut (or at least benched) this year, Dean is now on course to collect $4.25MM in base pay as a result of his pay cut agreement, something he recently spoke about.
“It was just more like I’m comfortable here,” Dean said about remaining in place with the Buccaneers (via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times). “So it’s just really not about the money anymore. I’m not in the mood to try to figure out a whole new team and city and go through all I went through my rookie year. So just to save me a headache.”
The seven-year veteran logged 74 defensive snaps in Week 1, working alongside Zyon McCollum and Jacob Parrish as a starter in the secondary. Parrish was selected in the third round of this year’s draft, while McCollum recently signed a big-ticket extension. Both of their futures are assured for years to come, and the same is also true of second-round rookie Benjamin Morrison.
Morrison did not play in Week 1, but head coach Todd Bowles said (via Stroud) he is expected to suit up on Monday night. A special teams role will await him, although Bowles added Morrison could also see part-time usage on defense. Dean can be expected to remain a first-team presence for at least the time being, but he could be in danger of being surpassed on the depth chart over time.
The Auburn product has been a mainstay throughout his Tampa Bay tenure, totaling 64 starts to date. Dean has totaled just one interception since the start of the 2023 season, however, and his coverage statistics over recent years have marked a downturn from the beginning of his career. Especially given the recent adjustments to his contract, a trip to free agency after the current campaign would thus come as no surprise. For now, though, Dean is content to remain with the only NFL team he has played for.
Adrian Martinez To Serve As 49ers’ Backup In Week 2; 49ers Exploring QB Options
As the 49ers prepare for at least one game – but quite possibly more – without Brock Purdy available, their quarterback setup will be worth watching closely. Mac Jones is set to handle starting duties, and an internal option will be relied on to back him up. 
San Francisco hosted Mike White this week knowing depth will be needed in the wake of Purdy’s turf toe injury. That ailment has produced a reported recovery timeline of two to five weeks, so Jones will likely be needed beyond Sunday’s game against the Saints. White is not being signed as a backup at this time, however. Instead, Adrian Martinez is set to handle QB2 duties for at least Week 2.
“While Mike has been in our system in the past, Adrian’s been here the last few weeks and he has a good understanding of what we do and how we do it,” general manager John Lynch said (via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle) when discussing the team’s short-term quarterback plans.
White has spent time with ex-49ers staffers Mike LaFleur (Jets) and Mike McDaniel (Dolphins), making him a familiar target in terms of head coach Kyle Shanahan‘s scheme. In spite of that, Martinez will get the first chance at serving as the team’s backup. The 2023 UDFA has not yet made a regular season appearance, and this summer he was unable to carve out the third-string role with the Jets. That resulted in Martinez being waived shortly before final roster cuts.
The 2024 UFL MVP was signed to the Seahawks’ practice squad shortly thereafter, but he then joined the 49ers’ taxi squad. Martinez is therefore in position to be promoted to the active roster over the coming days; failing that, he will be one of San Francisco’s gameday elevations for Week 2. In the meantime, the 49ers will continue to explore the market for additions amongst available passers.
“We’ll continue to put ourselves in the best possible situation looking at various opportunities for people,” Lynch added. “But right now, that’s where we’re at.”
Giants LB Micah McFadden To Undergo Foot Surgery
Micah McFadden suffered a foot injury during the Giants’ season opener. The fourth-year linebacker is facing a lengthy absence as a result. 
McFadden is set to miss a “significant” portion of the 2025 campaign, as first reported by Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Surgery is now on tap, ESPN’s Jordan Raanan adds. McFadden is considered likely to return at some point this season, per Raanan.
Even so, losing the 25-year-old will deal a blow to New York’s defense. McFadden played a rotational role during his rookie season before becoming a full-time starter the following year. His snap share jumped once more in 2024, reaching 75%. Another impactful campaign was expected in McFadden’s case for this season, the final one of his rookie contract.
As a pending free agent, the timing of McFadden’s injury is particularly troublesome. The former fifth-rounder’s market value will be dictated in large part by his play in 2025, but that will prove to be a small sample size. In McFadden’s absence, Darius Muasau – selected in the sixth round of last year’s draft – took over as a starter on defense in Week 1. That could continue moving forward, although other options will be explored at the second level of the Giants’ defense.
When speaking to the media on Thursday, defensive coordinator Shane Bowen said (via Raanan) the team has “got to consider” using Abdul Carter as a weakside linebacker in the wake of losing McFadden. Carter, this year’s No. 3 overall pick, worked exclusively as an edge rusher last season and thrived in that capacity. The Penn State product previously saw time as a linebacker, however, so at least a part-time role in that regard could be feasible.
The Giants have Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux in place as starters along the edge, something which led to questions entering the season about Carter’s workload. He handled a 50% snap share in Week 1, and Bowen noted that will change on a week-to-week basis. Given McFadden’s absence for the foreseeable future, it will be interesting to see if Carter’s rookie campaign winds up including responsibilities at more than one position.