Minor NFL Transactions: 11/17/25
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived: LB Jared Bartlett
Cleveland Browns
- Signed off Texans’ practice squad: CB D’Angelo Ross
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Waived: S Kahlef Hailassie
Las Vegas Raiders
- Elevaed: G Atonio Mafi
New England Patriots
- Signed from practice squad: TE C.J. Dippre
- Waived: S John Saunders Jr.
New York Giants
- Waived: LB Tomon Fox
New York Jets
- Designated for return from IR: LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball
Marcelino McCrary-Ball landed on injured reserve after suffering a hamstring injury in Week 3. When he returns, the defense will look a whole lot different than when he last played, and he could be in line for more responsibility with Quincy Williams facing an uncertain future with the organization. Before suffering his injury, McCrary-Ball collected 17 tackles and one forced fumble.
Cowboys Activate S Malik Hooker From IR
The Cowboys defense has struggled mightily in 2025, but the team will be getting some veteran reinforcement in time for Monday Night Football. According to Jon Machota of The Athletic, the team has activated safety Malik Hooker from injured reserve.
[RELATED: Cowboys Designate Malik Hooker For Return]
Hooker suffered a toe injury back in Week 4 that has shelved him for more than a month. He was designated for return from IR just last Thursday, and the Cowboys didn’t take long to add him to the active roster.
After serving in a rotational role during his first season in Dallas, Hooker has emerged as one of the team’s most dependable defenders in recent years. He missed only a pair of games between 2022 and 2024, starting 38 of his 49 appearances while hauling in six interceptions. For his efforts, Pro Football Focus graded him as an above-average safety in each of those three campaigns, including a 13th-place showing in 2022 and 14th-place finish in 2023.
After dropping down to 43rd at his position in 2024, PFR ranked Hooker only 58th among 93 qualifiers in 2025. Still, that should represent an upgrade over the revolving door of safeties the Cowboys have turned to next to Donovan Wilson, who has missed the past two contests with an elbow/shoulder issue. Juanyeh Thomas got an initial look in the starting lineup, while Markquese Bell has seen the bulk of the snaps at the position in recent weeks. Alijah Clark and Zion Childress have also gotten some run in the secondary.
To make room on the roster, the team placed rookie offensive lineman Ajani Cornelius on injured reserve. The sixth-round pick has been dealing with a knee injury that will sideline him for at least the next month. The Cowboys also promoted running back Malik Davis from the practice squad for tonight’s matchup against the Raiders.
Commanders Work Out S Marcus Maye, Three Others
The Commanders are looking to add some safety depth. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston, the team worked out four safeties yesterday: Marcus Maye, K’Von Wallace, Daryl Worley, and Jaylen Mahoney.
Maye is the most accomplished of the bunch, as the former second-round pick has 92 games on his resume. The veteran got into 15 games in stints with the Dolphins and Chargers in 2024, and that campaign ended on injured reserve after Maye suffered an ankle injury in December. While the safety hasn’t recently come close to matching his Jets run, he still graded out as an above-average safety during his age-31 season.
Worley has gotten into even more games, as the journeyman has 99 appearances since his debut in 2016. While the West Virginia product was a starter earlier in his career with the Panthers and Raiders, he’s settled into more of a backup role in recent years, starting only 15 of his 42 appearances since the 2020 campaign. Wallace got a chance to start in 2023 when he was with the Cardinals and Titans, but he reverted back to his reeserve role with the Seahawks in 2024.
Mahoney is the only inexperienced option out of the foursome. The former Vanderbilt star joined the 49ers as a UDFA in 2024 and ended up getting into three games as a rookie. He stuck with San Francisco through the offseason and landed on their practice squad following the 2025 preseason. He was cut from the 49ers taxi squad last month.
Quan Martin exited Sunday night’s game with a hamstring issue, and Tyler Owens popped up on this week’s injury report with the same issue. While the Commanders should eventually get Will Harris back on the field, the team could be temporarily tapped at the position. Jeremy Reaves, Darnell Savage, and Percy Butler represent the team’s only healthy options at the position, with Robert McDaniel also around on the practice squad.
Jets Bench LB Quincy Williams, Discussed Trade With Cowboys
After trading two defensive leaders yesterday, the Jets continue to shake up their personnel on that side of the ball. According to ESPN’s Rich Cimini, the team is benching linebacker Quincy Williams.
[RELATED: Jets Trade Quinnen Williams To Cowboys]
“My coaches told me I was underperforming, that I’ve been underperforming since training camp,” Williams told Cimini. While the former All-Pro admitted that he is “not thrilled” with the decision, he clarified that he’s “not mad” and hopes to win his job back.
The Jets added Williams off waivers ahead of the 2021 campaign, pairing him with his brother, Quinnen Williams. The acquisition had an immediate impact in New York, collecting 110 tackles during his first season with the Jets. That started a streak of four-straight 100-plus-tackle campaigns, including a 2023 season where he earned an All-Pro nod after finishing with a career-high 139 stops.
Williams’ production has been down in 2025. He missed four games with a shoulder injury, and he’s otherwise been limited to 22 tackles and 1.5 sacks in four starts. Pro Football Focus seems to back the coaching staff’s assessment, as the site currently ranks Williams 57th among 82 qualifying linebackers.
While Quincy watched as Quinnen was shipped off during yesterday’s trade deadline, the linebacker was almost included in the same deal. According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, the Cowboys discussed a deal with the Jets that would have seen Dallas acquire both Williams brothers. That specific deal obviously didn’t come to fruition, and the Cowboys ended up pivoting to former Bengals defender Logan Wilson to fill the linebacker void.
The 29-year-old is set to hit free agency after this season, and it seems pretty clear that the current regime is souring on the former defensive star. Considering Williams’ demotion, it’s a bit surprising that the Jets didn’t jump at the opportunity to move off of the linebacker.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/5/25
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: G Nick Leverett
Detroit Lions
- Signed: OL Chris Hubbard, OL Netane Muti
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: LS Peter Bowden
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: K Harrison Mevis
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DT Coziah Izzard
New York Jets
- Signed: S Jarius Monroe
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: DL Andrew Farmer
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: OL Karsen Barnhart
- Placed on IR: OL Tyler McLellan
Washington Commanders
- Signed: CB Tre Hawkins, S Daryl Worley
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/5/25
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: TE Josiah Deguara
Atlanta Falcons
- Waived: DL Ta’Quon Graham
Chicago Bears
- Activated from IR: LB Amen Ogbongbemiga
Detroit Lions
- Signed from practice squad: LB Ty Summers
- Placed on IR: OL Christian Mahogany
Los Angeles Chargers
- Designated for return from IR: DT Da’Shawn Hand
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed from practice squad: RB Ronnie Rivers
Miami Dolphins
- Signed off Lions’ practice squad: DE Andre Carter II
New Orleans Saints
- Signed from practice squad: RB Audric Estime
New York Jets
- Signed from practice squad: S Dean Clark
- Placed on IR: S Andre Cisco (story)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed off Chiefs’ practice squad: DT Brodric Martin
Tennessee Titans
- Claimed off waivers (from Seahawks): S Jerrick Reed
Washington Commanders
- Signed from practice squad: WR Treylon Burks, DT Sheldon Day
Lions DE Josh Paschal, OL Miles Frazier Return To Practice
The Lions started the practice clock on a pair of players today. According to Justin Rogers of the Detroit Football Network, defensive end Josh Paschal returned to practice today. Meanwhile, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports that lineman Miles Frazier was also designated to return today.
Paschal has been sidelined all season while tending to a back injury that required surgery. A former second-round pick, the defensive end is coming off a 2024 campaign where he got into a career-high 549 defensive snaps. He finished last season with two sacks and eight QB hits.
He’ll likely settle into a rotational role when he’s ready to return to the field. Al-Quadin Muhammad has performed well playing opposite Aidan Hutchinson this season, meaning Paschal will have to compete with Tyler Lacy (and eventually Marcus Davenport) for any leftover reps.
Frazier is working his way back from a knee injury that landed him on PUP before the season started. The Lions moved up in this past year’s draft to select the LSU product in the third round, and they clearly have high hopes for the rookie. However, coach Dan Campbell cautioned that the Lions will slow-play Frazier’s practice window.
“No training camp, no nothing, so this will be a little bit of a baby fawn at the beginning and then he’ll quickly grow,” Campbell said today (via Tim Twentyman of the team’s website). “It’s a little bit like (Christian) Mahogany (last year). It took a while but once we got him, he just quickly grew with practice reps.”
Of course, the Lions could use Frazier’s versatility sooner than later. Mahogany is sidelined for at least the next month thanks to a broken bone in his leg, while tackles Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell both missed practice today as they nursed injuries. Per Twentyman, the Lions used their rookie lineman at both guard spots and right tackle during today’s practice, and Frazier’s ability to play multiple positions should help him see the field sooner than later.
Texans Place Two On IR, Add K Matthew Wright To Practice Squad
A pair of Texans defenders are heading to injured reserve. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston, the team is placing cornerback Jaylin Smith and defensive end Darrell Taylor on IR.
Smith will miss at least the next four games while he nurses an undisclosed injury. The rookie third-round pick has played sparingly in 2025, getting into 31 defensive snaps and 78 special teams snaps in four games. The USC product was serving as a back-of-the-depth-chart boundary corner for Houston, and journeyman Tremon Smith will likely soak up any remaining backup snaps at the position.
Taylor has also barely seen the field during his first season with the franchise. The defensive lineman has gotten into four games, and he’s mostly split his 64 snaps between defense and special teams. The former second-round pick compiled 21.5 sacks in three seasons with Seattle before spending the 2024 campaign in Chicago. An ankle issue will sideline him through November.
Elsewhere in Houston, the team made some adjustments to their practice squad. According to Wilson, the team added kicker Matthew Wright and released tight end Dalton Keene.
Per Wilson, Texans starting kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn is dealing with a lower body injury that will put his status for Week 10 in doubt. Jonathan M Alexander of the Houston Chronicle is a bit more definitive with his report, noting that Fairbairn isn’t expected to play this weekend. The veteran is coming off a Week 9 performance where he connected on five of his six field goal attempts.
Wright is apparently the team’s solution to temporarily fill that spot. The Texans represent the veteran’s 11th NFL team, although he’s mostly been limited to cameos in his previous spots. In total, Wright has appeared in 31 career games, connecting on 87.5 percent of his field goal tries (56 for 64) and 95.6 percent of his XP attempts (43 for 45).
A former Patriots draft pick, Keene has spent parts of the past three seasons in Houston. He’s been limited to a single game during his Texans tenure.
Ravens Acquire Dre’Mont Jones From Titans
NOVEMBER 4: Details on the conditions for the pick have emerged, courtesy of Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. The selection will upgrade to a fourth-rounder if Jones records at least two sacks with his new team and if the Ravens make the playoffs. Baltimore has nine games remaining and is currently two games out of both the top spot in the AFC North and the conference’s final wild-card position.
NOVEMBER 3: With Lamar Jackson back under center, the 3-5 Ravens are hoping they can make a late-season run to the playoffs. The front office is showing trust in their current squad by adding some reinforcement ahead of the trade deadline.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Ravens have acquired edge rusher Dre’Mont Jones from the Titans. In exchange, Baltimore will be sending a conditional fifth-round pick to Tennessee that could turn into a fourth-round selection. The fifth-round pick was acquired from the Jets during this past year’s draft.
Jones should provide the Ravens with some immediate help on the edge. Baltimore’s defense has collected only 11 sacks in 2025, tied for the second-lowest total in the NFL. The team has also lost some depth at the position, as Odafe Oweh was dealt to the Chargers and Tavius Robinson was lost to a broken foot that should sideline him through at least November. Carl Lawson was recently brought in as a temporary fix, although the veteran has yet to see the field with his new squad.
Jones isn’t one of the most prolific pass rushers in the NFL, but he’s still shown an ability to get after the quarterback. The former Broncos third-round pick has never exceeded 6.5 sacks in a single season, but he’s also managed to collect at least four sacks in each of the past six years.
He was actually trending towards one of the most productive seasons of his career during his first season with Tennessee in 2025. Through nine games, the veteran has collected 4.5 sacks along with 26 tackles, five tackles for loss, and nine QB hits. Pro Football Focus has only ranked him 63rd among 119 qualifying edge defenders this season, although the site has given him an above-average grade for his pass-rush ability.
The acquisition should immediately find a role in Baltimore. Mike Green will continue to pace the Ravens’ pass-rush unit, but Jones could easily slide in ahead of Kyle Van Noy and David Ojabo on the depth chart. The team could also soon welcome back 2024 third-rounder Adisa Isaac, although the pass rusher doesn’t have much of an NFL track record.
Attached to a one-year, $8.5MM deal, Jones represents a clear rental for the Ravens. While Baltimore has had a disappointing start to their 2025 campaign, the team’s upcoming schedule should help them remain in the playoff hunt for the second half of the season. It will be interesting to see if the team continues to add ahead of tomorrow’s deadline. It was uncertain if the organization would be buyers or sellers heading into Week 10, but the team is clearly signaling that they want to add.
As for the Titans, the front office could continue to be aggressive over the next day. The team previously dealt cornerback Roger McCreary to the Rams, while the likes of Calvin Ridley, Tony Pollard, and T’Vondre Sweat have all been mentioned as trade candidates.
Lions Confident Marcus Davenport Will Return This Season
The Lions are expected to have a quiet trade deadline, but that doesn’t mean the team won’t be getting some reinforcement. Speaking to reporters last week, coach Dan Campbell expressed optimism that Marcus Davenport will return to the field at some point during the 2025 campaign.
[RELATED: Lions Unlikely To Be Active At Trade Deadline]
“I can’t give you a definitive, ‘This is when he’s going to be back,'” Campbell said (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press). “I am just very confident he is going to be back. We’re going to get him back here.”
Davenport has struggled to see the field since joining the Lions ahead of the 2024 campaign. He was limited to two games during his first season in Detroit because of a triceps injury, and he’s only made a pair of appearances in 2025 thanks to a pectoral strain. The veteran has been sitting on injured reserve since Week 3.
Injuries have been a theme throughout Davenport’s career. The former first-round pick missed 19 games in five seasons with the Saints. He had a staggering five surgeries during the 2022 offseason, including a partial amputation of a finger. He still earned a one-year, $13MM contract from the Vikings in 2023, but he got into only four games with the team before suffering a season-ending high ankle sprain.
When Davenport has been on the field, he’s shown flashes of being an elite edge rusher. He totaled 10.5 sacks through his first two seasons in the NFL, and he had a nine-sack showing in 2021. Even though he’s been limited to a total of eight games over the past three years, he’s still managed to collect 3.5 sacks, including one in 56 snaps this season.
While the Lions clearly can’t be overly reliant on the pass rusher, they will surely find a way to use him. With Josh Paschal also sidelined, the Lions have turned to the likes of Al-Quadin Muhammad and Tyler Lacy opposite Aidan Hutchinson. Muhammad has been especially productive in a part-time role, collecting six sacks in eight games. Still, a player of Davenport’s caliber could at the very least provide Detroit’s defense with an extra body during the second half of the season.