NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/5/26
We’ve got our first batch of reserve/futures contracts to pass along. These moves allow organizations to retain (routinely) young, practice squad players. Here are the latest transactions:
Atlanta Falcons
- WR Chris Blair, P Trenton Gill, DB Tysheem Johnson, DT Ben Stille, OT Andrew Stueber, RB Carlos Washington Jr., DB A.J. Woods
Baltimore Ravens
- OT Gerad Christian-Lichtenhan, WR Cornelius Johnson, DT David Olajiga, DB Amani Oruwariye, G Jared Penning, DB Marquise Robinson, LB Kaimon Rucker, FB Lucas Scott
Cincinnati Bengals
- LB Liam Anderson, C Jacob Bayer, RB Gary Brightwell, QB Sean Clifford, OT Andrew Coker, DT Howard Cross III, OT Javon Foster, WR Xavier Johnson, CB Jalen Kimber, CB Bralyn Lux, WR Jordan Moore, LB Antwaun Powell-Ryland, S Russ Yeast
Cleveland Browns
- TE Sal Cannella, G Jack Conley, WR Luke Floriea, RB Ahmani Marshall, OT Tyre Phillips, TE Caden Prieskorn
Dallas Cowboys
- WR ParrisCampbell, OL Nick Leverett
Detroit Lions
- OL Devin Cochran, WR Malik Cunningham, DE Ahmed Hassanein, TE Zach Horton, WR Jackson Meeks, OL Mason Miller, RB Jabari Small, DL Chris Smith, S Loren Strickland
Indianapolis Colts
- RB Ulysses Bentley IV, CB Wyett Ekeler, DE Viliami Fehoko Jr., G LaDarius Henderson, QB Seth Henigan, OT Bayron Matos, TE Sean McKeon, C Jimmy Morrissey, G Bill Murray, DE Durell Nchami, S Ben Nikkel, WR Coleman Owen, WR Eli Pancol, G Josh Sills, DT Tim Smith, S Trey Washington
Kansas City Chiefs
- LB Kam Arnold, DT Marcus Harris, WR Jimmy Holiday, OT Matt Waletzko
Las Vegas Raiders
- RB Chris Collier, G McClendon Curtis, LB Jamin Davis, WR Phillip Dorsett, DT Treven Ma’ae, OT Joshua Miles, TE Albert Okwuegbunam, WR Brenden Rice, G Layden Robinson, WR Justin Shorter, OL Laki Tasi, OT Dalton Wagner
Minnesota Vikings
- WR Joaquin Davis, OT Caleb Etienne, WR Dontae Fleming, S Kahlef Hailassie, WR Jeshaun Jones, TE Bryson Nesbit, G Vershon Lee, LB Josh Ross
New Orleans Saints
- CB Dalys Beanum, CB Beanie Bishop, WR Elijah Cooks, S Elliott Davison, DT Coziah Izzard, OT Easton Kilty, CB Jayden Price, OT Barry Wesley
New York Giants
- LB Swayze Bozeman, TE Tanner Conner, OLB Trace Ford, OL Reid Holskey, CB Patrick McMorris, CB Myles Purchase
New York Jets
- DE Paschal Ekeji, OL Liam Fornadel, LB Ochaun Mathis, WR Jamaal Pritchett, DB Samuel Womack
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- DB Marcus Banks, WR Dennis Houston, NT Nash Hutmacher, LB Nick Jackson, DT Jayson Jones, C Ben Scott, LB Benton Whitley, DB Damarion Williams, RB Josh Williams, RB Owen Wright
Tennessee Titans
- DE David Ebuka Agoha, DB Keydrain Calligan, DT Timmy Horne, LB Nate Lynn, WR Hal Presley, NT Isaiah Raikes, WR Xavier Restrepo, LB Cam Riley, RB Blake Watson, G Clay Webb, TE Joel Wilson
Washington Commanders
- Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, DT Ricky Barber, WR Ja’Corey Brooks, CB Tre Hawkins, DE D.J. Johnson, WR Jacoby Jones, DE TJ Maguranyanga, S Rob McDaniel, OT Tim McKay, CB Darius Rush, CB Car’lin Vigers
Cowboys Considering Switching Tyler Smith To LT
Cowboys OL Tyler Smith has played more than two-thirds of his career snaps at left guard, earning him three-straight Pro Bowl appearances and an All-Pro recognition. However, the lineman has also logged more than 1,000 career snaps at left tackle, and the organization is considering a permanent position change ahead of the 2026 campaign.
While speaking with reporters, Smith said he’s hoping to receive some definitive answers from coach Brian Schottenheimer regarding his 2026 position.
“Yea, I would like there to be some clarity, for sure,” Smith said (via the team’s website). “And I’ll get that, we’re going to have those conversations when we have a conversation later today. I’ll kind of get that clarify from him and what their vision is and what they say.”
While Smith wouldn’t explicitly endorse one position over the other, he did admit that he’s naturally more comfortable playing at the guard position.
“The way you build comfort is through reps,” Smith said. “And right now, I made a lot of money playing offensive guard. That’s what it is. I have the most reps I have in the NFL at offensive guard, so obviously I’m more comfortable there. It’s a matter of conversation, I feel like I just need to know.”
Smith made a name for himself as an offensive tackle at Tulsa, leading to him being selected by the Cowboys with the 24th-overall pick in the 2022 draft. He was quickly switch to left guard considering the presence of Tyron Smith, although the younger lineman did have to fill in at LT when his teammate suffered an injury. Smith once again found himself playing multiple positions in 2025 when Tyler Guyton was sidelined with a high ankle sprain and fill-in Nate Thomas struggled at the position.
Part of the team’s decision will likely depend on how they proceed with the rest of their offensive linemen. Guyton was a first-round pick in 2024 and will surely occupy one of the OT spots, although he could be switch to the right side if the organization decides to move on from Terence Steele. That would open up a spot on the left side for Smith, although the Cowboys might not yet have any definitive answers on how they’re going to proceed at the position.
Fortunately for Smith and the Cowboys, the player is already locked into a lucrative contract. The lineman inked a four-year, $96MM extension with the organization back in April, including $81.2MM in guaranteed money. That pact made him the highest-paid guard in the NFL. His $24MM average annual value would rank sixth among left tackles and 10th among all offensive tackles.
When asked about a potential move, offensive coordinator Klayton Adams said the Cowboys would choose the path that’s best for both the player and the team (via Clarence Hill Jr.). If the organization wants the process to go as smoothly as possible, it sounds like they’ll have to make a decision sooner than later.
Titans Expected To Release WR Calvin Ridley
Despite having two years remaining on his contract, Calvin Ridley‘s stint in Tennessee has likely come to an end. According to ESPN’s Turron Davenport, the veteran wide receiver is expected to be a cap casualty this offseason.
The Titans won a bidding war for Ridley during the 2024 offseason, signing the former first-round pick to a four-year, $92MM contract. Despite uninspiring QB play from Will Levis and Mason Rudolph, Ridley still produced during his first season with the Titans, finishing with 64 catches for 1,017 yards and four touchdowns.
While the Titans added first-overall pick Cam Ward to guide the offense in 2025, Ridley saw his per-game receiving numbers drop from 59.8 in 2024 to 43.3 in 2025. The wideout was limited to only 17 catches in seven games before his season ended early thanks to a broken fibula.
Ridley is owed about $41MM in base salary between 2026 and 2027, with his cap hits exceeding $26MM in each of those campaigns. However, the Titans did include an out in his contract, so the team could release Ridley and only be left with around $13MM in dead cap. About $3MM of his 2026 salary is guaranteed in mid-March, allowing the player to still enter free agency at about the same time as his peers.
While teams might not be able to justify a $20MM annual commitment to the receiver, Ridley still shouldn’t lack for suitors if he does hit the open market. The wideout proved to be a formidable scorer during his time with the Falcons, hauling in 26 touchdowns through his first three seasons in the league. He also has three 1,000-plus-yard seasons on his resume, including a 1,374-yard showing with the Falcons in 2020 that led to his lone All-Pro nod.
While 2026 will represent Ridley’s age-32 season, he should be a worthy target for WR-needy teams. Assuming he is cut, he’ll be joining a positional free agent class that includes the likes of George Pickens, Mike Evans, Alec Pierce, Jauan Jennings, and Wan’Dale Robinson.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/5/26
Today’s minor moves:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Extended: DE Isaiah Foskey, LB Joe Giles-Harris, TE Cam Grandy, LB Shaka Heyward, S PJ Jules, WR Mitchell Tinsley
Denver Broncos
- Signed from practice squad: QB Sam Ehlinger
- Waived: OT Geron Christian, TE Marcedes Lewis
Detroit Lions
- Extended: OL Michael Niese, RB Jacob Saylors, CB Nick Whiteside
Indianapolis Colts
- Extended: LB Austin Ajiake
- Claimed off waivers (from Buccaneers): LB John Bullock
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed from practice squad: DE Larrell Murchison
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Waived: CB Tre Flowers
San Francisco 49ers
- Practice window opened: WR Jacob Cowing
Each of the players who were extended today received deals that last through the 2026 campaign. These contracts differ from reserve/futures contracts, which don’t count towards the team’s active list until after the Super Bowl.
The Bengals were especially active with these extensions today, handing out deals to a handful of players who could be in line for larger roles next season. Journeyman Joe Giles-Harris got into a career-high 10 games for Cincinnati this season, compiling 27 tackles while serving as a key special teamer. Shaka Heyward (16 tackles) and PJ Jules (18 tackles) saw similar roles for the 2025 Bengals. Mitchell Tinsley got some run on the Cincy offense this season, hauling in eight catches for 116 yards in 17 games.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/30/25
Today’s minor moves:
Green Bay Packers
- Placed on IR: CB Kamal Hadden, DL Jordon Riley (story)
- Signed from practice squad: CB Shemar Bartholomew, CB Jaylin Simpson
- Waived: DL Quinton Bohanna
With Kamal Hadden landing on IR and Nate Hobbs exiting Saturday’s loss, the Packers have brought in some extra depth at cornerback, signing both Shemar Bartholomew and Jaylin Simpson to the active roster. Bartholomew is the only addition with NFL experience, as the former UDFA got into five games with the Panthers in 2024.
Despite DL Jordon Riley landing on IR, the Packers also cut Quinton Bohanna today. The defensive tackle was claimed off waivers from the Seahawks earlier this month. He made his lone appearance for the organization this past weekend. The move will leave Karl Brooks and Warren Brinson as the team’s lone options at DT for the moment.
Cardinals Place CB Kei’Trel Clark On IR
Kei’Trel Clark‘s season is ending a bit early. The Cardinals announced today that they’ve placed the cornerback on injured reserve.
Clark popped up on the injury report last week with a back injury that ultimately forced him to miss Sunday’s loss to the Bengals. Now, that injury will also keep him off the field for the season finale, with Clark now representing the 23rd Cardinals player on injured reserve.
A 2023 sixth-round pick, Clark got an extended look as a rookie, collecting 43 tackles while starting half of his 14 appearances. He got into 15 games as a sophomore but played the majority of his snaps on special teams, and he was trending towards a similar role in 2025. However, injuries to the Cardinals secondary forced the third-year player back into a defensive role, with Clark finishing the season with 201 defensive snaps played.
The Cardinals cornerbacks room has been snake bitten in 2025, with all of Garrett Williams, Sean Murphy-Bunting, and Starling Thomas currently residing on IR or NFI. The team has also had to deal with absences from Will Johnson and Denzel Burke. The organization will likely have to dig deep into the depth chart for Week 18, with the likes of Darren Hall and Jaden Davis in line for more defensive reps.
To fill the open roster spot, the Cardinals announced that they’ve signed tight end Rivaldo Fairweather off the Cowboys practice squad. The Auburn product has spent the majority of his rookie season in Dallas.
Cardinals HC Jonathan Gannon Expects To Keep Job
While Jonathan Gannon‘s Cardinals appeared to take a step forward in 2024, the organization took a major step back in 2025. Naturally, the head coach has found himself on the hot seat. While Gannon won’t have much say in the matter, he’s confident he’ll be back in Arizona in 2026.
While speaking with reporters yesterday, the coach answered “yeah” when asked if he’ll be around for the organization’s postseason press conference. While Gannon said he didn’t want to “get into all that” when asked pointedly about his job security, he did admit that he feels “good” about keeping his job. The third-year coach also acknowledged that he’s had productive conversations with owner Michael Bidwill.
“I kind of do the same process as I’ve done the last two years: I try to take detailed notes, try to have a pulse of what’s going on, but you can’t let that … I do have to think about the future a little bit, obviously the seat that I’m in, but my focus is really on L.A. and that there’ll be a time to look at all of that and have those conversations and make changes,” Gannon said (via ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss). “No one’s happy. I’m not happy. Players aren’t happy. Through adversity, you’ve got to change. So, I got to change, and we got to change some things, but we’ll get to that.”
Gannon parlayed his success as Eagles defensive coordinator into the Cardinals head coaching job ahead of the 2023 campaign (although he had to overcome claims of tampering during the hiring process). The Cardinals struggled during the coach’s first season at the helm, finishing with a 4-13 record. However, the team slightly rebounded in 2024, finishing with an 8-9 record, and there was hope the franchise could build off that momentum in 2025.
Instead, the organization is on track to have their worst showing in more than five decades. Kyler Murray appears to be on his way out, leaving the team without an answer at a key position. Gannon’s leadership has also been questioned, especially following a midseason incident with Emari Demercado when the coach appeared to hit the RB in the stomach following a costly fumble. The Cardinals fined Gannon $100K for that incident.
Other than Steve Wilks‘ one-year stint as head coach, the Bidwill family has recently given their head coaches relatively long leashes, with each of Kliff Kingsbury, Bruce Arians, and Ken Whisenhunt all sticking around for at least four seasons. Despite Gannon’s confidence, it remains to be seen if the current head coach will be afforded the same amount of patience.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/30/25
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: TE Messiah Swinson
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: WR Mecole Hardman
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: TE Ross Dwelley
Denver Broncos
- Signed: OL Calvin Throckmorton
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: RB Damien Martinez
Houston Texans
- Signed: DE Solomon Byrd
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: S Wyett Ekeler
- Released: OL Zachary Thomas
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: LB Kam Arnold, DT Marcus Harris
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: S Brandon Hill
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: DT Simeon Barrow Jr.
New England Patriots
- Signed: TE Marshall Lang
- Released: RB Jashaun Corbin
New York Giants
- Signed: CB Myles Purchase
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: LS Charley Hughlett
- Released: DE Titus Leo
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: RB Josh Williams
- Released: RB Michael Wiley
More On Cowboys’ Decision To Cut Trevon Diggs
While reports indicated that Trevon Diggs‘ sudden release from the Cowboys today was a “culmination of factors,” there are rumblings that the move may have stemmed from a simple request from the veteran player.
[RELATED: Cowboys To Waive CB Trevon Diggs]
According to Jordan Schultz, Diggs requested to stay behind with his family in Washington following the Cowboys’ Christmas day win over the Commanders. As Schultz notes, this wasn’t an unusual request, as players often ask for (and are granted) some “additional family time” during the holidays if the schedule allows. Since Diggs is from the D.C. area and his family resides there (coupled with Cowboys players having several days off following their Thursday night contest), the ask wasn’t unfounded.
However, the request was ultimately denied by head coach Brian Schottenheimer. Diggs made a subsequent plea to stay behind, claiming the arrangement would help him avoid a meaningless flight back to Washington following the team’s return flight to Dallas. Again, the team “vehemently” denied the request. According to Clarence Hill Jr. of DLLS Sports, Diggs ended up ignoring his team’s denial, skipped the team flight, and stayed behind in Washington.
Fast forward to this morning, and Diggs was unceremoniously cut by the Cowboys. While a violation of team rules would certainly warrant his release, the move also didn’t come as a complete surprise. As our own Sam Robinson detailed earlier today, Diggs was a clear release candidate this upcoming offseason, and his deteriorating relationship with the organization further signaled that his Cowboys tenure would soon be coming to an end.
Instead of releasing the defensive back following the Super Bowl, the Cowboys decided to move on now, allowing Diggs to join another squad in time for the playoffs. Interestingly, the player hired David Mulugheta of Athletes First today for representation, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. While Diggs may simply be doing some administrative work ahead of his anticipated free agency, this could also be an indication that the player is anticipating multiple suitors.
Of course, Diggs would first have to clear waivers. If a team does claim the veteran, they’d be on the hook for his final 2025 game check worth $473K. While Diggs’ deal runs through the 2028 season, there’s no guaranteed money beyond the 2025 campaign, meaning the cornerback could represent a short-term rental for any interested squads.
Diggs has dealt with injuries in 2025, limiting him to only eight games. When he’s been on the field, his performance hasn’t resembled his All-Pro showing from earlier in his career. Still, if a team wants some extra CB depth ahead of the postseason, there won’t be higher-upside options than the 27-year-old.
Bills Release K Michael Badgley From Practice Squad
It sounds like the Bills will soon be getting starting kicker Matt Prater back from injury. The team announced today that they’ve released kicker Michael Badgley from the practice squad.
Badgley has earned journeyman status after spending time with seven different organizations throughout his eight-year professional career. He spent the first portion of the 2025 campaign with the Colts, where he connected on 10 of his 11 field goal tries and 18 of his 21 XP attempts. He was cut loose by Indy after missing a crucial XP in an eventual Week 13 loss to the Texans.
He later caught on with the Bills to replace an injured Prater. The veteran replacement has seen time in a pair of games for Buffalo. He converted his lone field goal attempt (for 41 yards), but he missed two of his four XP tries. That included a blocked attempt last night in what ended up being a one-point Buffalo loss.
Fortunately for the Bills, they should soon be getting Prater back on the field. Prater’s 2024 season ended early thanks to a torn meniscus, an injury that ended up spelling the end of his tenure in Arizona. He caught on with Buffalo in early September following an injury to Tyler Bass.
The veteran kicker has been sidelined since Week 15 thanks to a quadriceps injury, but it sounds like the team should get him back for the regular season finale. The 41-year-old has had a successful first season in Buffalo, connecting on 18 of his 20 field goal attempts and 43 of his 46 XP attempts.