Ben Levine | Pro Football Rumors

Bengals Pursued Several QB Options Before Settling On Joe Flacco

By Ben Levine | at October 8, 2025 5:40 pm

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.

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

By Ben Levine | at October 3, 2025 10:45 am

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.

9 comments San Francisco 49ers Brock Purdy

Packers Have Interest In Extending WR Romeo Doubs

By Ben Levine | at October 2, 2025 9:32 pm

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.

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.

7 comments Green Bay Packers Romeo Doubs

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/2/25

By Ben Levine | at October 2, 2025 8:04 pm

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.

1 comment Indianapolis Colts Los Angeles Chargers New Orleans Saints New York Jets Philadelphia Eagles Tennessee Titans Transactions Antwaun Powell-Ryland Avery Williams Blake Watson Dante Pettis Eli Ricks Jacob Sykes Josh Kaltenberger K.J. Henry Keenan Garber Kendell Brooks Sam Mustipher

Tyreek Hill “Would Love To Stay” With Dolphins In 2026

By Ben Levine | at October 2, 2025 6:12 pm

When Tyreek Hill is ready to return from his devastating knee injury, the wideout is hoping he’ll still be a member of the Dolphins. During a recent appearance on WSVN 7 in Miami, agent Drew Rosenhaus said his client “would love to stay with the Dolphins.”

“We would love to get together with them after the season and figure something out that works for both sides and continue his career here in Miami. There’s no reason why we can’t,” Rosenhaus said (via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald). “…We will roll up our sleeves on our end. And if the Dolphins are willing, we will find a number that works for everyone.”

Even if Hill didn’t suffer a dislocated knee and numerous ligament tears, he was always destined to see a revised contract in order to stick in Miami. The receiver is attached to an untenable $51.9MM cap hit for the 2026 season, and he’s due $29.9MM in actual earnings. As Jackson notes, none of that money is guaranteed until the middle of March, at which point Hill will be owed $11MM (along with a $5MM signing bonus).

If the Dolphins decide to simply move on from Hill, then the team will still take a significant financial hit. If the receiver is cut before his $11MM is due in March, the Dolphins would be left with a $15.5MM cap hit.

While Hill may have a desire to stick with the Dolphins, there’s no guarantee that the feeling is mutual. The player’s recovery from the injury is obviously a major concern; Rosenhaus noted that Hill suffered more than just a dislocation and a torn ACL. There’s also the matter of the player’s declining production (Hill finished 2024 with his worst per-game receiving stats since his rookie campaign) and his off-the-field issues (which included recent domestic violence allegations and his public flirtation with a Miami exit). Hill was also mentioned as a potential trade candidate prior to his injury, so a divorce wouldn’t be completely unfounded.

Either way, it sounds like Hill is very committed to returning to the field in 2026, even if it doesn’t come with the Dolphins. We heard recently that the wideout intends to keep playing next season, and Rosenhaus said during his WSVN 7 appearance that his client should be lined up for a full recovery.

“The surgery went well. All of the torn ligaments, the injuries, went back in a place naturally,” Rosenhaus said (via Jackson). “There’s no nerve damage, no blood flow issues, no broken bones. The goal is for him to be back to himself for the start of next season.”

7 comments Miami Dolphins Tyreek Hill

Texans’ Joe Mixon Uncertain To Play In 2025

By Ben Levine | at September 30, 2025 9:40 pm

The Texans offense seemed to find its footing against the lowly Titans in Week 4. While the unit appears to be trending upwards, they’ll still have to move forward without an offensive focal point for the foreseeable future.

While speaking with reporters, coach DeMeco Ryans said that star running back Joe Mixon is not ready to return (per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston). The veteran continues to sit on the reserve/NFI list with a foot/ankle injury, although he’s now eligible to be activated.

Sources seemed to paint a bleaker picture. According to Wilson, it will be “much longer” for a potential Mixon return, and there’s some skepticism that the running back will even be able to play this season. This matches a report from late August that indicated that Mixon may ultimately have to sit out the entire 2025 campaign.

Mixon dealt with a lingering foot/ankle issue during the 2024 campaign that forced him to miss three games. He aggravated the issue while training this offseason. Considering the player’s age and the installation of Nick Caley‘s new offense, the Texans have continually made it clear that they’d slow play Mixon’s rehab. Now, it’s sounding like the team may not have a choice but to rely on their other RBs in 2025.

Mixon continued his high-level play after getting dealt from the Bengals to the Texans during the 2024 offseason. The two-time Pro Bowler finished the campaign with 1,325 yards from scrimmage and 12 touchdowns. Two years remain on Mixon’s contract, but none of his $8MM base salary for 2026 is guaranteed. If the player is unable to return in 2025, there’s a chance the team bails on the veteran this offseason.

Veteran Nick Chubb has led the depth chart through the first four weeks of the season, but the offseason acquisition has only managed to compile 188 yards on 47 carries. Rookie fourth-round pick Woody Marks had a breakout showing this past weekend, collecting 119 yards from scrimmage and a pair of scores. That game represented the first time this season that Marks has outsnapped Chubb, and there’s a chance the rookie may be eyeing an even larger role as the season progresses.

7 comments Houston Texans Joe Mixon

Patriots Notes: Williams, Tavai, Ownership

By Ben Levine | at September 30, 2025 8:54 pm

Milton Williams earned the largest contract of the 2025 offseason, with his $104MM in total value and $63MM in guaranteed money pacing the class. The financials obviously played a big role in the defensive lineman ultimately joining the Patriots, although Williams recently admitted that the presence of newly hired head coach Mike Vrabel was the true deciding factor.

“I wanted to be under Vrabel,” Williams said (via ESPN’s Mike Reiss). “He played in this league. He knows what D-line looks like. I could pick his brain for anything I could add to my game to make me a better player. This scheme fits exactly my play style, being aggressive up front.”

There were rumblings that Williams was destined for the Panthers before the Patriots swooped in at the eleventh hour. After handing the veteran the most lucrative contract in franchise history (in terms of AAV), New England was clearly hoping their acquisition could anchor their defense. So far, Williams has lived up to the bargain, as he’s totaled a pair of sacks and five tackles for loss in his first four games with the organization.

Williams garnered his contract following a successful run with the Eagles. The defensive tackle was often deployed as a rotational option, with the former third-round pick topping out at 501 defensive snaps played in 2024 (which represented less than half of his team’s total defensive snaps). There were some questions if Williams would be capable of transitioning into a near-full-time role with the Patriots, and he hasn’t had an issue staying on the field for his new club. Through four games, Williams has appeared in a career-high 68 percent of his team’s defensive snaps.

As the organization looks to continue building off a 2-2 start, they’ll be getting some defensive reinforcement. After cornerback Christian Gonzalez made his season debut this past weekend, the team will soon welcome back linebacker Jahlani Tavai. The veteran landed on IR with a calf injury to begin the season and is now eligible to be activated. According to Reiss, a Week 5 return has been the player’s target throughout his rehab.

Tavai provided a bit of stability for the Patriots over the past few years. He averaged 112 tackles per season between 2023 and 2024, although he may be hard pressed to reach those levels in 2025. He’ll be joining a deeper inside linebackers corps that’s currently led by Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss.

The organization is also staying busy off the field. Kurt Badenhausen, Eben Novy-Williams, and Scott Soshnick of Sportico recently reported that Robert Kraft agreed to sell a minority stake in his franchise. The buyers are Sixth Street (3 percent) and Dean Metropoulos (5 percent), and the Kraft family will continue to own about 90 percent of the team. The funds are intended to be reinvested into the team and won’t be used to finance the New England Revolution, the Kraft family’s MLS club.

Notably, this stake in the franchise represents a valuation of $9 billion. Per Sportico, that would be the second-richest valuation for a franchise in NFL history, with a recent Giants stake equaling a $10 billion valuation. The league recently allowed a select list of private equity firms to purchase small chunks of NFL teams.

3 comments New England Patriots Jahlani Tavai Milton Williams Robert Kraft

Eagles Add LS Cal Adomitis, Place LS Charley Hughlett On IR

By Ben Levine | at September 30, 2025 7:47 pm

The Eagles swapped long snappers today. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the team signed Cal Adomitis. He’ll be replacing Charley Hughlett, who landed on injured reserve.

Adomitis brings 49 games of experience to Philly. The Pittsburgh product spent three seasons with the Bengals, including a rookie campaign where he got into three playoff contests. He was among Cincy’s final cuts at the end of the 2025 preseason.

It’s uncertain what ailment Hughlett is dealing with, although the long snapper has recently dealt with his fair share of injuries. He missed 12 games with the Browns last season, and he was limited during his first training camp with the Eagles. He managed to get into each of Philly’s first four games, but now he’ll be sidelined for at least the next month. One of the most experienced long snappers in the NFL, Hughlett has appeared in 156 career games.

Hughlett wasn’t the only Eagles player to land on IR today. As expected, Ogbo Okoronkwo also landed on the reserve/injured list. The defensive end is feared to have suffered a triceps tear this past weekend that will likely end his season after only four snaps. The veteran made his season debut on Sunday, with the Eagles turning to him while navigating a number of injuries to their pass-rush corps.

1 comment Philadelphia Eagles Transactions Cal Adomitis Charley Hughlett Ogbonnia Okoronkwo