Browns Release QB Tyler Huntley, CB Tony Brown
Among the Browns’ first moves toward a 53-man roster is the expected departure of Tyler Huntley. The veteran quarterback is being released, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. 
In addition, Schefter notes veteran corner Tony Brown is being let go. Neither move (both of which are now official) comes as a surprise, of course. Huntley in particular has long been seen as a prime candidate to be released given Cleveland’s commitment to carrying four quarterbacks on the active roster.
Joe Flacco will handle starting duties to begin the 2025 campaign, while veteran Kenny Pickett is set to remain in the fold. Rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders are not in danger of being cut or traded, meaning Huntley’s departure represents an expected outcome. The 27-year-old has been with Cleveland for two stints, but he has yet to make a regular season appearance for the team.
Huntley will now hit the open market in search of a backup or third-string opportunity elsewhere. He has made 14 starts in his career, including five last season as an injury replacement for the Dolphins. A return to Miami should not be expected in 2025, but other gigs should be available in the near future.
Brown, 30, spent time with the Packers, Bengals and Colts before his debut Cleveland campaign. The former UDFA made six appearances for the Browns in 2024, playing exclusively on special teams along the way. After logging an 81% snap share in that capacity, his absence could be felt this season. Barring a spot on Cleveland’s practice squad, Brown will join Huntley in seeking out a new team in time for Week 1.
No guaranteed money was included in either players’ pact. As a result, Cleveland will create roughly $2MM in cap savings with these moves without any dead money charges being generated.
Bills Begin Roster Cuts
The Bills have begun trimming their roster in advance of Tuesday’s deadline for final cuts. The following seven players have been let go:
Waived:
- DB Zy Alexander
- DE Nelson Ceaser
- CB Garnett Hollis Jr.
- OL Rush Reimer
- TE Matt Sokol
- RB Elijah Young
Waived-injured:
- WR Grant DuBose
Given the highly inexperienced nature of each player listed, none of these moves comes as a surprise. The first six will hit the wire, and interested teams will have until Wednesday – when practice squads are first constructed – to put in a claim. Failing that, free agency will be in store.
DuBose signed with Buffalo on Tuesday, but his tenure in the organization has proven to be rather short-lived. The 24-year-old will revert to injured reserve once his clears waivers. In situations such as this, the next step is usually a release from IR by means of an injury settlement.
Vikings To Release QB Brett Rypien
The Vikings’ quarterback moves continue. Veteran Brett Rypien is being released, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports. 
Minnesota swung a trade with the Eagles earlier today to send Sam Howell to Philadelphia. That move paved the way for Carson Wentz to be signed as the Vikings’ new backup. In the wake of those changes, Rypien is no longer in the picture.
The Vikings are prepared to move forward with J.J. McCarthy as their starter despite the fact he has yet to play in the regular season. Wentz – who visited yesterday and has 94 starts to his name – represents a highly experienced backup. Today’s news means undrafted rookie Max Brosmer will operate as Minnesota’s QB3 in 2025.
Rypien, meanwhile, will hit the open market as teams continue to sort out their rosters ahead of Tuesday’s deadline for roster cuts. The 29-year-old will be free to sign with an interested suitor once his release is official. It would come as a surprise, though, if that were to take place until after the approaching deadline. Today’s cut will free up $1.06MM in cap space for the Vikings without incurring any dead money charges.
A UDFA in 2019, Rypien began his NFL career with the Broncos. He remained in Denver through 2022, making three starts and eight appearances along the way. The Boise State product spent part of the following year with the Rams, making one start for Los Angeles. Rypien signed with Minnesota in 2024; he did not see any game time with the team but was retained via a futures deal in January.
That set up a competition with Brosmer for the third-string role, one which has now been decided. Brosmer is a candidate for the practice squad later this week, whereas Rypien’s future is now uncertain.
Cowboys Plan To Carry CB Trevon Diggs On Active Roster
AUGUST 24: Diggs has passed his physical, per Tommy Yarrish of the Cowboys official website. That will take him off the PUP list and onto the active roster.
As we heard on Saturday, and as Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News reiterates, this development does not guarantee that Diggs will be on the field in Week 1. Nonetheless, Yarrish says Diggs at least has a chance to be in the lineup for the regular season opener against the Eagles.
AUGUST 23: Trevon Diggs has continued to make progress in his recovery from January knee surgery. As team and player hoped, a stint on the Cowboys’ reserve/PUP list to start the campaign is unlikely. 
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer said on Saturday (via The Athletic’s Jon Machota) the Cowboys plan to carry Diggs on their active roster to start the season. A move to the PUP list would have ensured at least a four-game absence, but as of last month the two-time Pro Bowler made it clear he intended to play at some point in September. That will be possible given this decision.
It would come as a surprise if Diggs were to suit up for Week 1 given his missed time throughout training camp and the preseason. Still, a return shortly after that point would be key for the Cowboys given their other injuries at the cornerback spot. Third-round rookie Shavon Revel has also been sidelined all summer while rehabbing the ACL tear which ended his college career. Revel is a candidate for the reserve/PUP list and thus a delayed start to debut campaign.
Caelen Carson‘s hyperextended knee is likely to lead to missed time in the regular season, something which adds slightly more urgency to Diggs’ return. The 2021 All-Pro will reprise his starting gig alongside DaRon Bland when back at full strength. In the meantime, trade acquisition Kaiir Elam is on track to handle a notable role on his second team.
Diggs has four years remaining on his 2023 extension. None of his base salaries beyond the coming season ($14.5MM, 19.5MM, $20MM) are guaranteed, however, meaning a pay cut agreement or a parting of ways could be in store next spring. How the 26-year-old fares this season will be key in determining his future. Diggs was limited to two games in 2023 and 11 last year. Another prolonged absence seemed to be in store when his surgery took place, but it now appears that will not be the case.
Jets Trade DT Derrick Nnadi To Chiefs
2025 appeared to set Derrick Nnadi up for his first career season spent outside of Kansas City. That will not be the case for the veteran defensive tackle, however. 
The Jets are trading Nnadi to the Chiefs, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. Conditional sixth- and seventh-round picks in 2027 are being exchanged as part of this swap, which is now official. Today’s move means Nnadi, whose entire seven-year NFL career has taken place in Kansas City, will return to a familiar team for the coming season.
The 29-year-old took a one-year pact in March to head to New York. That $1.42MM deal contained marginal guarantees, and the Jets will take on a dead money charge of $168K as a result of this swap. The team will gain $1.03MM in cap space, however.
Today’s trade continues the shuffling along the defensive interior overseen by the Jets in recent days. On Wednesday, a swap was worked out with the Vikings for Harrison Phillips. That same day also saw the acquisition of Jowon Briggs from the Browns. With those new faces in place, New York moved quickly in waiving Phidarian Mathis. Nnadi is also out of the picture just before the deadline for final roster cuts.
Over the course of his time in Kansas City, Nnadi raked up 87 starts across 115 appearances. The three-time Super Bowler winner was also a key figure during the postseason. The Chiefs found themselves in need of an addition along the D-line for early-down work in particular with the regular season approaching. They will rely on a familiar face to fill that void.
Nnadi made between 29 and 48 tackles during his first six Kansas City seasons. The former third-rounder’s production dropped off considerably in 2024, a year in which his defensive snap share fell to a career-low 20%. At least a rotational role will be in store this season upon returning, though. Nnadi’s 2026 value will be determined by his level of play with his former team.
John Franklin-Myers Addresses Lack Of Broncos Extension Talks
One of the top developments of this offseason in the case of the Broncos has been extension agreements with in-house players. Defensive linemen Zach Allen and wideout Courtland Sutton each have new four-year deals in hand. 
Talks on a new pact are also taking place with edge rusher Nik Bonitto, meanwhile. As Denver prepares for a raise in that situation as well, defensive linemen John Franklin-Myers remains on course for free agency next spring. No extension negotiations have taken place in the veteran’s case, something he spoke about on Saturday.
“I’m here to play football whether they pay me or not,” Franklin-Myers said (via Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette). “If not, I’ll be a free agent this offseason and my time is going to come. Obviously, we understand the contract thing. So, obviously go out there and put my best foot forward each and every day. But ultimately it’s the front office’s decision. But I’m here to play football with or without [an extension].”
Acquired via trade from the Jets in 2024, Franklin-Myers started all but one game during his debut Denver season (although he logged a defensive snap share of just 46%, a step down from recent seasons). Despite that reduction in workload, the 28-year-old enjoyed a career year in terms of sacks (seven), total stops (40) and tackles for loss (eight). Any new pact would naturally include a raise as a result.
For now, Franklin-Myers is set to collect $8MM in 2025 while carrying a cap hit of $10MM. Given the lack of discussions on an extension, it is unlikely an agreement will be reached prior to Week 1. As such, the former fourth-rounder’s performance during the season will be worth watching closely given its impact on his free agent stock.
The Broncos now have Allen attached to a $25MM-per-year extension, and D.J. Jones is on the books for another three seasons at an average of $13MM annually. Presuming a Bonitto pact eventually gets worked out, it would come as little surprise if the team avoided any further big-money investments along the defensive front. That could leave Franklin-Myers on the move next spring, with his market being dictated by his ability to duplicate last year’s success.
Cowboys HC Brian Schottenheimer To Meet With Micah Parsons
The ongoing Cowboys-Micah Parsons contract saga saw another interesting twist during Dallas’ final preseason contest on Friday. In the third quarter of that game, Parsons – whose star status would have kept him on the sidelines even if he had an extension in place – lay on the medical table behind the team bench while the offense was on the field (as relayed by ESPN’s Todd Archer). He was also the only player not wearing a team jersey. 
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer said he would speak with Parsons about the matter on Sunday. This latest development comes amidst ongoing uncertainty regarding the All-Pro’s future. Serious extension talks have not taken place since the spring (if the conversation between Parsons and owner Jerry Jones can be classified as such) and with Week 1 approaching, no agreement appears to be imminent.
“Without talking to Micah, I need to figure out what he was doing and why he was doing it,” Schottenheimer said (via Archer). “So, until I talk to him, I’m obviously not going to talk about it.”
Jones’ latest round of public appearances have seen him state his offer to Parsons would have made him the league’s highest-paid non-quarterback. That could still turn out to be the case, although the cost of doing so would now include an annual average salary surpassing T.J. Watt‘s $41MM figure. Involving agent David Mulugheta in the negotiating process has proven to be a major sticking point; Jones and Mulugheta have not spoken since Parsons went public with a trade request.
Inquiries from interested teams have been made, although the widespread expectation around the league remains no Parsons swap will take place. The 26-year-old is a pending 2026 free agent, but the prospect of one or two franchise tags looms as a means of Dallas keeping him in the fold well beyond the coming campaign. Given the timeline along which high-profile Cowboys contract talks traditionally take place, there is of course still a strong chance a last-minute deal will be struck on the extension front.
Parsons has not participated in training camp while seeking an extension but also while dealing with back tightness. Injuries (legitimate or otherwise) are commonplace when it comes to players in his situation, and Schottenheimer noted Parsons underwent an MRI on Friday. He added the scan came back “pretty clean,” so missed time through injury should not be expected in the regular season. It is still uncertain, however, if the Cowboys’ defense will be at full strength or if a September holdout could be in store in the event Parsons does not sign a new contract in the coming days.
Rory Parks contributed to this post.
QB Carson Wentz To Visit Vikings
Carson Wentz remains unsigned deep into August, but he is receiving interest. The veteran quarterback is meeting with the Vikings today, ESPN’s Lindsey Thiry reports. 
Minnesota expectedly allowed Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones to depart in free agency this offseason, leaving J.J. McCarthy in place to handle starting duties. The 2024 first-rounder’s development will be central to the Vikings’ success, but the depth chart behind him is clearly still a point of focus late in the summer.
The Vikings swung a trade for Sam Howell during the draft, setting up the former Commander and Seahawk to work in the backup gig for one season. Howell did not take part in yesterday’s preseason finale, however. Instead, undrafted rookie Max Brosmer along with veteran Brett Rypien handled quarterback duties against the Titans. Their fates are uncertain with Tuesday’s roster cut deadline looming.
Already carrying four signal-callers, Minnesota does not represent a team in immediate need of new depth under center. Wentz will receive a look, however, and it will presumably include spending time with a familiar face. The Vikings’ quarterbacks coach is Josh McCown, who served as Wentz’s backup with the Eagles in 2019. That represented the final year of McCown’s playing career; he has been on the Vikings’ staff since 2024.
Wentz has bounced around the NFL since his five-year Philadelphia tenure came to an end. The former No. 2 pick has spent single campaigns with the Colts, Commanders, Rams and Chiefs over the past four years. Wentz was destined to find himself on the move once again when Kansas City added Gardner Minshew for the QB2 role. He was linked to the Browns in March, but Cleveland went in a number of different directions to fill out its depth chart.
As a result, Wentz – who has 94 starts to his name but only one from each of the past two campaigns – remains available. The 32-year-old would certainly add a high degree of experience to Minnesota’s QB room as the team prepares to rely on McCarthy following his season-long 2024 injury absence. The Vikings currently have $32MM in cap space, so a one-year Wentz accord should not prove to be challenging provided his visit produces an offer.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/23/25
Saturday’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Placed on IR: OL Jake Hanson
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: CB Garnett Hollis Jr.
- Waived-injured: S Wande Owens
- Released from IR: RB Jarveon Howard
Added earlier this month, Hanson suffered an undisclosed injury during Atlanta’s preseason finale yesterday. The 28-year-old being moved to IR now – and thus before using the designated for return option introduced in 2024 becomes a possibility – means he will miss the entire season. Hanson was not a lock to make the Falcons’ roster, of course, but his absence will add further to the team’s absences up front with starting right tackle Kaleb McGary set to miss time.
Falcons Conduct First Wave Of Roster Cuts
With Tuesday’s roster deadline approaching, the Falcons have begun making required cuts. These 12 players were let go on Saturday:
Released:
- DL Morgan Fox
- CB Lamar Jackson
- LB Caleb Johnson
Waived:
- OL Matthew Cindric
- QB Ben DiNucci
- RB Elijah Dotson
- TE Nikola Kalinic
- LB Nick Kubitz
- WR Jesse Matthews
- OLB Ronnie Perkins
- WR Quincy Skinner Jr.
- S Josh Thompson
Fox signed with Atlanta early in free agency, and the veteran appeared to be slated to handle a role along the defensive line as a result. Somewhat surprisingly, though, he has been released. Fox played in all three of the team’s preseason contests, a sign he was on the roster bubble. The 30-year-old will now hit the market in search of his next opportunity (which will no doubt present itself after final cuts are made and teams sort out their initial rosters).
DiNucci signed on Monday and by doing so provided the Falcons with a contributor under center for their preseason finale. Michael Penix Jr. and Kirk Cousins sat out the contest in preparation for their respective roles as starter and backup in 2025. Unless he is retained via the practice squad, DiNucci will need to look elsewhere while aiming to latch onto an NFL roster.
As a result of today’s moves, the Falcons are down to 77 players on their roster. Like every other team, they will need to bring that total to 53 by Tuesday afternoon.