Titans Place LB Oluwafemi Oladejo On IR
Oluwafemi Oladejo‘s leg injury is going to cost him some games. According to Paul Kuharsky, the Titans linebacker is heading to injured reserve. Linebacker Ali Gaye has been signed to the active roster to take his teammate’s place.
Kuharsky adds some context, noting that the rookie suffered a fractured leg during Sunday’s loss. Fortunately, the injury won’t be a season ender, but it will still sideline the linebacker for at least the next month.
Oladejo was selected by the Titans in the second round of this year’s draft following a breakout 2024 campaign at UCLA. The rookie has mostly been deployed as an edge rusher in 2025, and he collected 13 tackles through his first six career games. Pro Football Focus hasn’t been particularly fond of his NFL performance so far, grading him 101st among 110 qualifying edge defenders.
Jihad Ward saw a season-high 51 defensive snaps this past weekend, and he’ll likely play opposite Dre’Mont Jones on the defensive line. The team is also rostering Arden Key, although the veteran missed Week 6 while nursing a quad injury. Sophomore Jaylen Harrell could be in line for more playing time, as well.
Gaye is another option, although the linebacker will likely have to work his way up the depth chart. The former UDFA got into 15 games for the Titans in 2024, finishing with eight tackles and one sack while getting into about 20 percent of his team’s defensive snaps.
Raiders Are “Mildly Concerned” About QB Geno Smith
OCTOBER 12: No substantial discussions have occurred regarding a Smith-for-Pickett quarterback change, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero. Smith has been a starter for the past four seasons and has not been benched for non-injury-related purposes since his one-off start for Eli Manning in 2017 triggered a Giants regime change.
Conversely, Pickett has been on the backup level since the Steelers did not reinsert the 2022 first-rounder into their lineup late in the 2023 season. Smith enters Week 6 sitting 29th in QBR, with injuries to Bowers and Miller providing a notable effect early in Carroll’s run.
OCTOBER 8: Unsurprisingly, the concerns about Raiders quarterback Geno Smith are starting to mount. Following a two-interception showing that dropped Las Vegas to 1-4, the Raiders are “mildly concerned” about their veteran QB, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
The organization understands that their offseason acquisition has to improve his play quickly. However, there isn’t any panic that Smith is a “broken” quarterback, and Graziano doesn’t anticipate a benching at any point during Week 6. Further, there’s some understanding that Smith has had to rely on an underwhelming receivers corps while also dealing with key TE/OL injuries to the likes of Brock Bowers, Michael Mayer, and Kolton Miller.
Graziano notes that Smith’s two interceptions from this past weekend weren’t necessarily his fault, including one that followed a missed offsides call against the Colts. On the flip side, scouts told Graziano that Smith seems overly reliant on his arm talent as he (unsuccessfully) throws the ball into tight windows. There’s also a belief that the veteran has been a bit slow with releasing the football.
Smith is currently pacing the NFL with nine interceptions, and the team’s six passing touchdowns ranks towards the bottom of the NFL. The Raiders acquired the veteran from the Seahawks this past offseason and later handed him a two-year, $75MM extension that technically keeps him tied to the franchise through the 2027 season. If Smith is indeed done, the team would be left with a significant cap hit (although there is an easy out after the 2026 campaign). Because of that financial commitment (coupled with his relationship with head coach Pete Carroll), it seems like Smith will be afforded a relatively long leash.
If the Raiders do decide to make a move at quarterback, Kenny Pickett would be the natural pivot. The Raiders snagged the quarterback in a trade with the Browns at the end of the preseason, providing the franchise with a low-cost veteran backup. The former Steelers draft pick did win 14 games in his two seasons as a mostly full-time starter, but ESPN’s Dan Graziano echoes Fowler’s sentiment that Smith would have to completely implode for the Raiders to make a change.
While much of the talk about the Raiders’ offensive struggles has surrounded the players, some of the coaches are also starting to feel the heat. Graziano notes that offensive coordinator Chip Kelly is starting to draw criticism. Some league sources opined that Kelly’s scheme isn’t “creating enough advantages to overcome the Raiders’ personnel deficiencies,” which is also a clear indictment on the organization’s front office.
Browns, Jaguars Swap Greg Newsome, Tyson Campbell
OCTOBER 9: The deal is now official. As part of the agreement, Jacksonville will take on a dead cap charge of $19.5MM in 2026, Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union reports. The Jags are not retaining any of Campbell’s remaining salary, and they will free up nearly $50MM in cap space for the 2027 and ’28 campaigns with Campbell off the books by that point.
OCTOBER 8: The Browns and Jaguars are swapping starting cornerbacks. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Browns are sending Greg Newsome and the Jets’ 2026 sixth-round pick to the Jaguars for Tyson Campbell and the Eagles’ 2026 7th-round pick.
This is a sudden move involving a pair of defensive backs who were expected to guide their respective teams’ secondaries for years to come. The two players haven’t played up to their usual standards in 2025, so perhaps the organizations are hoping a fresh start can revitalize their respective acquisitions.
Campbell, a 2021 second-round pick, inked a lucrative four-year, $76.50MM extension ($53.40MM guaranteed) with the Jaguars about 15 months ago. The Georgia product looked the part of a star cornerback through his first two NFL seasons. He collected 143 tackles and five interceptions between those campaigns, with Pro Football Focus grading him as the league’s seventh-best CB in 2022.
He’s ranked below league-average in those same metrics in each of the past two-plus seasons. Campbell dealt with various injuries in both 2023 and 2024, missing a combined 11 games. While PFF only ranked him 71st among 106 qualifiers this season, the Jaguars have been especially reliant on him, with the cornerback appearing in 99 percent of his team’s defensive snaps through five games.
Newsome, a 2021 first-round pick, is currently playing on the final season of his rookie contract (via the fifth-year option). The cornerback was one of Cleveland’s defensive standouts through his first three seasons in the NFL, but he was demoted to a backup role in 2024. He ultimately finished last season with 27 tackles and one interception while getting into about 70 percent of his team’s defensive snaps in 13 appearances.
He was back starting alongside Denzel Ward to begin the 2025 campaign. He appeared in 95 percent of his team’s defensive snaps through five starts, collecting 23 stops. PFF currently has him ranked 40th at his position.
From the Browns perspective, the team may be anticipating a sell-off, and Campbell would represent a future piece over the expiring Newsome. With the Jaguars sitting at 4-1, the team is presumably looking to load up for a postseason run, and the front office clearly considers Newsome as an upgrade over Campbell, especially since they’ll be facing a significant dead cap hit after dealing their CB so soon after agreeing to an extension.
Jacksonville’s acquisition could also have an impact on how the team utilizes second-overall pick Travis Hunter. While both Newsome and Campbell have primarily played as outside CBs this season, the newest Jaguar has extensive experience playing in the nickel. That could open up an opportunity for Hunter to line up opposite Jourdan Lewis in the team’s base defense.
Mike McDaniel Still On Hot Seat, Isn’t Seen As Package Deal With Chris Grier
Mike McDaniel has been on the hot seat since the end of the 2024 campaign. While we recently heard that Dolphins owner Stephen Ross was willing to be patient with his head coach, it sounds like that patience may quickly be wearing thin. According to Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda.com, frustrations are mounting following another Dolphins loss, this time to the Panthers on Sunday. The head coach himself admitted after the game that his owner isn’t happy with the team’s performance, and it doesn’t sound like McDaniel has much longer to right the ship.
A source told Pauline that Ross will likely give it two or three more games before pulling the trigger on a firing. That same source indicated before the season that McDaniel may only have a couple of months to fight for his job. It’s uncertain what the coach could exactly do to keep his gig, but it’s assumed that he’ll have to secure at least a couple of wins in upcoming matchups with the Chargers, Browns, and Falcons.
There’s been plenty of speculation surrounding McDaniel’s job security since the end of the 2024 season. While the 42-year-old represents one of the franchise’s most successful hires, the situation also took a turn for the worse in 2024. While the team still managed to finish 8-9, there were plenty of reports about disfunction within the locker room, with sources criticizing the coach’s willingness to let the likes of Jalen Ramsey and Tyreek Hill “walk all over” him. As a result, McDaniel was deemed a candidate to be the first canned coach of the 2025 campaign.
If the Dolphins do eventually move off McDaniel, Pauline says it’s assumed the organization will pursue more of a “disciplinarian” type of head coach, with the source describing a veteran in the “Dan Quinn mold.” Interestingly, one name that’s popped up is former AFC East foe Rex Ryan. The former Jets head coach pushed for that same gig this offseason but wasn’t hired, and he’s remained in his current role as an ESPN analyst.
Ryan would certainly fit the team’s desire for a veteran head coach, although he wouldn’t necessarily fit their desire for a disciplinarian. According to sources, the team would still be receptive to a defensive-minded coach like Ryan, as long as he was paired with a talented offensive coordinator who could maximize Tua Tagovailoa‘s production.
General manager Chris Grier has also found himself on the hot seat, and while Ross gave the executive a vote of confidence following the 2024 season, the public declaration was a clear warning in and of itself. A source told Pauline that there’s no guarantee that McDaniel and Grier are a package deal. In other words, just because the head coach may be sent packing, it doesn’t necessarily mean the GM will be out of a job.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/8/25
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: TE Nick Muse
- Released: S Patrick McMorris
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: CB Dee Williams
- Placed on IR: CB Ameer Speed
Detroit Lions
- Signed: CB Arthur Maulet
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: LB Jamin Davis
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: DL Bruce Hector
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: S Maxen Hook
- Placed on IR: G Shane Lemieux
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: K Matthew Wright
With starting cornerbacks D.J. Reed and Terrion Arnold both sidelined (along with backup Khalil Dorsey), the Lions have brought in some veteran reinforcement at the position. Arthur Maulet brings 85 games of experience to Detroit, although he’s struggled to carve out a starting role throughout his career. The cornerback has mostly served as a depth piece in stops with the Saints, Colts, Jets, Steelers, and Ravens. He spent the past two seasons in Baltimore, where he compiled 42 tackles and a pair of sacks in 17 appearances.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/8/25
Today’s minor moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed to active roster: CB Dom Jones
Detroit Lions
- Signed to active roster: OL Dan Skipper
- Placed on IR: CB Khalil Dorsey
Indianapolis Colts
- Placed on IR: LB Joe Bachie
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: RB Cody Schrader
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed to active roster: RB Kimani Vidal
San Francisco 49ers
- Designed for return from IR: DT Kevin Givens
Khalil Dorsey was recently nursing a wrist injury, and that issue will now sideline him for at least the next four games, as the cornerback landed on injured reserve today. After getting into the first four games of the season for the Lions, Dorsey didn’t see the field for Week 5. The majority of his playing time has come on special teams this season.
Kevin Givens is back at practice after landing on IR before the season even started. The defensive tackle has been working his way back from a pectoral injury that wiped out the first month of his 2025 campaign. According to ESPN’s Nick Wagoner, the defensive lineman will be evaluated throughout the week to determine his availability for Week 6. Givens is coming off a 2024 season where he compiled a career-high 3.5 sacks.
Bengals Pursued Several QB Options Before Settling On Joe Flacco
The Bengals initially hoped that Jake Browning would be able to keep the ship afloat as the team awaited Joe Burrow‘s return from injury. However, after the fill-in tossed three interceptions for his third-straight loss, the front office decided to pivot, bringing in Joe Flacco to temporarily guide the offense.
[RELATED: Bengals Acquire Joe Flacco From Browns]
However, the Bengals did explore some other options before ultimately settling on the 40-year-old signal caller. According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, the front office called around to any team that had some extra QB depth. In fact, there was “some chatter” surrounding Cincy’s pursuit of Seahawks QB Drew Lock and Eagles QB Sam Howell. On the flip side, none of Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, nor Kirk Cousins were “ever real possibilities” for the franchise.
Both Lock and Howell represent younger options than Flacco (it’d be hard not to). Lock has 28 games of starting experience, with close to half of those appearances coming with the Broncos in 2020. After going 1-4 in five starts with the Giants in 2024, Lock inked a two-year contract with the Seahawks this past offseason. That means the QB would have brought some extra team control to Cincinnati.
Howell is playing out the final season of his rookie contract, and a deal with Cincinnati would have marked his fourth trade since March of 2024. Howell was actually Lock’s predecessor as Seattle’s QB2, as he got limited reps while backing up Geno Smith in 2024. Before that, he started all 17 games for the Commanders in 2023, tossing 21 touchdowns vs. a league-leading 21 interceptions.
Any of Wilson, Winston, and Cousins would have brought their own intrigue to the Bengals. Wilson was recently benched for rookie Jaxson Dart in New York, and Winston has yet to see the field as a Giants backup in 2025. Cousins is somehow still kicking around Atlanta, although he did make a cameo in a blowout loss to the Panthers last month.
Flacco was ultimately the team’s choice as a stopgap quarterback. According to Graziano, the Bengals didn’t anticipate any acquisition to immediately be inserted into the starting lineup, but the team is apparently hopeful that Flacco will be able to start this weekend against the Packers. If he’s not ready to go, then the veteran would be set to make his Bengals debut the following Thursday night against the Steelers.
Brock Purdy Suffered Setback With Turf Toe Injury, Could Miss Week 6
OCTOBER 3: Shanahan confirmed (via Cam Inman of the Bay Area Sports Group) that Purdy re-aggravated his injury and will again be week-to-week moving forward.
“[I] don’t know how it will heal,” added Shanahan.
The 49ers can be patient with Purdy’s recovery, as Jones has played well in his three starts, including a 342-yard, two-touchdown perfomance on Thursday night against the Rams. However, the team’s financial commitment to Purdy will likely stave off any chance of a quarterback controversy. Instead, Jones could follow in Sam Darnold‘s footsteps and parlay his success in San Francisco into a starting gig elsewhere.
OCTOBER 2: While it sounded like a short turnaround was the main reason for Brock Purdy‘s absence from tonight’s Week 5 contest, the 49ers QB may actually be sidelined for more than just this week. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Purdy suffered a setback with his turf toe injury and is now considered week-to-week.
Per Rapoport, the quarterback reported soreness following his return in Week 4. The player later underwent an MRI, which revealed an aggravation of his lingering injury. As a result, Purdy is now at risk of missing more than just Week 5, with Rapoport hinting that the 25-year-old could also sit out the 49ers’ Week 6 matchup against the Buccaneers.
Purdy missed Weeks 2 and 3 while dealing with the turf toe injury. He returned for Week 4 and didn’t miss a snap, but he informed coach Kyle Shanahan of some soreness following the loss. Shanahan noted that Purdy and the team had to navigate “a totally different element” considering the four-day turnaround before Thursday Night Football, and after being listed as a non-participant on Monday, the quarterback was later ruled out for Week 5.
Now, it sounds like Purdy is at risk of missing at least his fourth game of the 2025 campaign. The former Mr. Irrelevant has generally stayed healthy throughout his career. He suffered a torn UCL as a rookie during the NFC Championship Game but managed to return for 16 games as a sophomore. He also missed a pair of games in 2024 thanks to shoulder and elbow injuries.
In two games this season, Purdy has completed 65.8 percent of his passes for 586 yards, four touchdowns, and four interceptions. After tossing 31 touchdowns as a sophomore, Purdy finished the 2023 campaign with 20 touchdown passes. The QB inked a five-year, $265MM extension with the 49ers back in May.
Mac Jones will continue to start for the 49ers as long as Purdy is sidelined. The former first-round pick has guided the 49ers to a pair of wins through his first two starts, tossing four touchdowns vs. only one interception.
Packers Have Interest In Extending WR Romeo Doubs
While Romeo Doubs once appeared to be the odd man out in the Packers receivers room, the veteran could soon be the recipient of an extension. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the organization has “interest in potentially extending” the wide receiver. The reporter adds that the two sides have had “cursory talks” about the impending free agent’s future in Green Bay.
[RELATED: Packers Sign Christian Watson To Extension]
It was only a year ago that Doubs was hit with a one-game suspension by the Packers for missing practices due to personal reasons. We later heard that Green Bay’s front office discussed trade scenarios involving Doubs during the offseason. Fowler notes that the organization has since “shown no interest in trading him,” and Packers brass would actually prefer to hand the former fourth-round pick a second contract.
Of course, that may be easier said than done. As Fowler notes, Doubs could be emerging as the top WR in this upcoming offseason’s free agency class. The 25-year-old will be joined by the likes of Mike Evans, Jakobi Meyers, and Jauan Jennings, but Doubs’ age means he could be in line for more term and more money. Fowler points to Khalil Shakir‘s four-year, $53MM deal with the Bills as the type of contract that’s seeming increasingly unlikely to be signed by Doubs, an indication that the Packers wideout could be eyeing a contract worth at least $15MM annually.
While the Packers may be interested in securing Doubs on a team-friendly contract, they may not feel the urgency to overspend on the impending free agent. After inking Christian Watson to a recent extension, the team has the rest of their depth under contract through at least the 2026 season. Watson, Jayden Reed, and Dontayvion Wicks will all be free agents in 2027, but the team used recent draft picks on first-round WR Matthew Golden and third-round WR Savion Williams.
As the Packers navigate a number of injuries to their receivers corps at the moment, Doubs has stepped up for the organization. The wideout is tied with Josh Jacobs for the team lead in rushing/receiving touchdowns (four), and he’s been the team’s second-most reliable pass catcher behind tight end Tucker Kraft. The Nevada product’s best NFL season came in 2023, when he hauled in 59 catches for 674 yards and eight touchdowns.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/2/25
Today’s practice squad moves:
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: CB Keenan Garber
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: OL Sam Mustipher
- Released: C Josh Kaltenberger
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: WR Dante Pettis
New York Jets
- Signed: RB Avery Williams
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: DE K.J. Henry, DT Jacob Sykes
- Released: CB Eli Ricks, OLB Antwaun Powell-Ryland
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: DB Kendell Brooks
- Placed on IR: RB Blake Watson
The Chargers added a familiar face in Sam Mustipher today. A former UDFA, the offensive lineman started 40 of his 43 appearances with the Bears to begin his career, playing the majority of his snaps at center. He got into nine games with the Ravens in 2023 before appearing in 12 contests with the Chargers in 2024. Mustipher also has the ability to play guard, although the Chargers are especially needy at OT with Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater sidelined.
Dante Pettis will also be reuniting with a recent team, as the wideout spent the 2024 season in New Orleans. The former second-round pick has failed to live up to his draft billing, with the majority of his career production coming during a rookie campaign where he collected 27 receptions for 467 yards and five touchdowns. He’s bounced around the league a bit since his 49ers tenure came to an end. After not getting into a game in 2023, he resurfaced with the Saints in 2024, where he added 12 more catches to his resume. He was among the team’s final preseason cuts in 2025.
A former fifth-round running back, Avery Williams has made a name for himself as a returner. He spent four years in Atlanta, returning 54 kickoffs for 1211 yards (22.4-yard average). He missed the 2023 campaign with a torn ACL. The Jets returners have struggled in 2025, with both Xavier Gipson and Isaiah Williams fumbling on special teams.