Packers Sign Christian Watson To Extension
SEPTEMBER 10: The base value of Watson’s new deal is $11MM, ensuring roughly $13MM in total compensation across the next two seasons (h/t Ian Rapoport of NFL Network). $6MM in new guarantees are included, all in the form of a signing bonus. A $1.85MM roster bonus is present for 2026 as well.
SEPTEMBER 9: Christian Watson continues to work his way back from a torn ACL suffered during the 2024 regular season finale. While the Packers wideout isn’t expected to take the field until at least next month, the team is still rewarding him with a new contract.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Packers have signed Watson to a one-year, $13.25MM extension. The receiver was set to play the 2025 campaign on the final year of his rookie deal, but this extension will now keep him in Green Bay through at least the 2026 season. According to Schefter, the Packers wanted Watson to focus on his return from injury in 2025 vs. his impending free agency, leading to today’s deal.
A former second-round pick, Watson spent his rookie campaign playing alongside Aaron Rodgers, with his nine touchdowns and 691 yards from scrimmage still representing career-highs. He’s spent the past two seasons serving as one of Jordan Love‘s key targets, but Watson has yet to truly break out like the organization may have expected.
The receiver averaged a career-high 46.9 yards per game during the 2023 season, but he was limited to only nine appearances thanks to a pesky hamstring issue. He got into a career-high 15 games last season, but he was limited to a career-low 41.3 yards per game and 47.2 success rate. Watson suffered a torn ACL in Week 18, and considering the timing, it was always expected that his recovery time would leak into the 2025 campaign.
That ended up being the case, as Watson landed on the PUP list to begin this season. He’ll be forced to miss the first four games, but there’s a chance he’s back shortly after he becomes eligible. The last we heard, Watson was a candidate to return as early as Week 5, but considering the team’s receiving depth, the Packers may not feel any urgency to immediately get him back on the field.
That depth has also clouded Watson’s future in Green Bay, although today’s one-year extension is somewhat a vote of confidence. Watson finished the 2024 season as the fourth-most targeted WR in Green Bay, and each of the three wideouts ahead of him —Dontayvion Wicks, Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs — are still on the roster (not to mention TE Tucker Kraft, who has emerged as one of Love’s favorite weapons). The team also added rookie first-round pick Matthew Golden and rookie third-round pick Savion Williams to the squad.
Notably, Watson is the oldest player in the receivers room. While his extension gives him a better chance of carving out a long-term role with the Packers, it seems likelier than not that the 2026 campaign could be his final season in Green Bay.
Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel, GM Chris Grier May Not Survive Season
Miami’s leadership appeared to be on the hot seat entering the 2025 campaign, and those seats are only getting warmer. Sources told Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda that head coach Mike McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier may not survive the current season if the organization fails to turn things around.
McDaniel’s spot on the hot seat isn’t anything new. For starters, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross released a statement following the 2024 campaign that the head coach (along with the GM) would be sticking around for the 2025 season. While that statement served as a vote of confidence, it was also a clear acknowledgement that a firing was at least under consideration.
We also heard rumblings in August that McDaniel was a candidate to be the first canned coach of the 2025 campaign. An anonymous GM described the situation as a “ticking time bomb,” citing the coach’s willingness to let the likes of Jalen Ramsey and Tyreek Hill “walk all over” him.
The head coach is still attached to an extension that runs through the 2028 season. McDaniel earned that contract after guiding the Dolphins to the postseason in each of his first two seasons at the helm, including a 2023 campaign where the offense finished first in yards and second in points. Tua Tagovailoa‘s concussion issues contributed to the team’s demise in 2024, but the locker room turmoil was enough to put the offensive mastermind on the hot seat. An embarrassing loss to the Colts in Week 1 has naturally led to more whispers about the head coach’s potential ouster.
While Grier was included in Ross’s statement following the 2024 season, the GM hasn’t felt the heat as much as his head coach. This is Grier’s 10th season in his role as GM, although he didn’t get full control of the roster until 2019. The executive saw the Dolphins make the playoffs during his first season at the helm, but the team failed to return to the postseason over the next five years. After shuffling through the likes of Adam Gase and Brian Flores, the McDaniel hiring seemed to revitalize the organization. In addition to his initial HC hit, Grier got credit for some big-swing acquisitions, including Ramsey and Hill.
It didn’t take long for the executive to lose some of that goodwill. After signing Ramsey to a lucrative extension ahead of the 2024 campaign, the cornerback was traded less than a year later, and there’s still a chance Hill follows suit. The issues in the locker room can’t necessarily be attributed to the front office leader, but some other ill-advised moves (including a Tagovailoa extension that commits more than $50MM annually to the QB) have also led to Miami’s current situation. With the Dolphins failing to win a playoff game since the 2000 campaign, there’s a chance that ownership may also look to shake up their front office sooner than later.
Texans Sign DL Tommy Togiai To Extension
Tommy Togiai is sticking in Houston through the 2026 season. According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston, the Texans have signed the defensive tackle to a one-year extension.
After spending the first two-plus months on the Texans practice squad to open the 2024 campaign, Togiai was signed to the team’s active roster last November. He ended up getting into eight games for Houston, collecting 28 tackles and 1.5 sacks. The lineman inked an extension last year that kept him in Houston through the 2025 campaign.
Togiai stuck around on Houston’s offseason roster and made the Texans initial 53-man squad. The 25-year-old was inactive for the team’s season opener, with Sheldon Rankins, Tim Settle, Mario Edwards, and Folorunso Fatukasi garnering the snaps at defensive tackle. However, the team still clearly believes enough in Togiai to commit to him beyond this year.
According to Wilson, the lineman’s new contract could hit a max value of $3.3MM in 2026. That’s a significant pay raise, as Togiai is earning $1.2MM this season. Edwards is the only one of the aforementioned DLs attached to a 2026 contract, so Togiai’s new deal may indicate that the player is in line for a larger role next season.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/9/25
Today’s practice squad moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: K John Parker Romo
- Released: LB Ronnie Perkins
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: WR Cornelius Johnson
- Released: LB Malik Hamm
Chicago Bears
- Signed: DB Dallis Flowers
- Released: DB Tre Flowers
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DT Ralph Holley
- Released: RB Trayveon Williams
Denver Broncos
- Signed: RB Deuce Vaughn
Detroit Lions
- Signed: OL Devin Cochran, LB Monty Rice
- Released: LB Anthony Pittman
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: CB Keydrain Calligan, S Darrick Forrest
- Released: C Mose Vavao, S Trey Washington
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: WR Hal Presley
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: LB Kana’i Mauga
- Released: RB Nyheim Hines
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: QB Hunter Dekkers, QB Jake Haener
New York Jets
- Signed: RB Keilan Robinson
- Released: RB Lawrance Toafili
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: OL Jake Majors
- Released: RB Montrell Johnson
San Francisco 49ers
- Released: WR Robbie Chosen
Today’s practice squad transactions are highlighted by the release of a veteran running back. Nyheim Hines has been looking to revive his career since he missed the 2023 season thanks to a leg injury sustained in a jet ski collision. Since he was released by the Bills after that campaign, he’s spent time with the Browns and Chargers without getting into a game. A former fourth-round pick, Hines had four productive seasons with the Colts to begin his career, including a 2020 campaign where he compiled 862 yards from scrimmage and seven touchdowns.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/9/25
Today’s minor moves:
Dallas Cowboys
- Waived from IR: CB Christian Matthew
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed (off Rams’ practice squad): RB Cody Schrader
New England Patriots
- Waived: CB D.J. James
New Orleans Saints
- Signed from practice squad: TE Jack Stoll
New York Giants
- Waived from IR: CB Tre Hawkins
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived: DL Gabe Hall
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Waived from IR: CB Cameron McCutcheon
Tre Hawkins was waived/injured at the end of the preseason and reverted to IR, meaning he wouldn’t be able to play during the 2025 campaign. After agreeing to an injury settlement today, he’ll now have an opportunity to take the field elsewhere. The former sixth-round pick started three of his 17 appearances as a rookie, but he was limited to only three games in 2024 thanks in part to a season-ending fractured lumbar spine injury.
Bills Sign P Cameron Johnston
The Bills are quickly pivoting to a new punter. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the team is signing veteran punter Cameron Johnston. In a corresponding move, the team has waived Brad Robbins.
Johnston, who shouldn’t be confused with Bill Burr, has found a job with his fourth NFL squad for his ninth NFL season. He had separate three-year stints punting for the Eagles and Texans, averaging 47.3 yards per punt and 42.2 net yards per punt. The veteran inked a three-year deal with the Steelers last offseason but suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 1. He had an opportunity to reclaim his role during this year’s preseason, but he was cut after losing out on the gig to Corliss Waitman.
Now, he’ll look to revive his career in Buffalo. With Sam Martin departing for the Panthers, the Bills initially landed on Robbins as their new punter. The 26-year-old got four looks during the season opener, averaging 39.5 yards and 38 net yards on his punts. The Bills apparently had no interest in seeing if he could improve on those averages, as the team is already turning to their second punter of the 2025 campaign.
According to Howard Balzer, Johnston was one of three punters to get a look from Buffalo. Matthew Hayball and Ryan Stonehouse also auditioned for the team today.
In other special teams news, the Bills have signed kicker Matt Prater to the active roster. The veteran was a standard practice squad elevation for the season opener, a game in which he converted a dramatic game-winning field goal. With Tyler Bass landing on IR last week and being forced off the field for at least four games, Prater will have a secure spot on the 53-man roster for the time being.
Eagles To Acquire Tank Bigsby From Jaguars
We have our first major trade of the 2025 season before Week 1 has even come to an end. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Eagles are trading for Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Jaguars will receive 2026 fifth- and sixth-round picks from Philly. There is a slight wrinkle with the return. Per ESPN’s Michael DiRocco, the fifth-round selection is the pick the Eagles received from the 49ers in the Bryce Huff trade. That pick is set to improve to a fourth-round pick if Huff hits eight sacks in 2025. In that scenario, the Eagles would send that newfound fourth-round pick to Jacksonville instead of the listed fifth-round selection.
It’s a sudden, stunning move, especially from the Jaguars perspective. Bigsby was listed as a co-starter alongside Travis Etienne for the season opener. The latter finished that victory over the Panthers with 19 touches (including 16 carries) for 156 offensive yards. Bigsby was limited to only five carries and 12 yards.
Following the 2024 campaign, it appeared that Bigsby’s stock was rising in Jacksonville while Etienne’s continued to fall. A 2021 first-round pick, Etienne missed his rookie campaign before topping 1,400 yards from scrimmage in each of his first two healthy NFL seasons. However, he took a step back in 2024, when he was limited to only 812 yards and two scores. Bigsby, a 2023 third-round pick, served as a deep backup as a rookie before cutting into his teammate’s playing time in 2024, with the second-year player compiling 820 yards from scrimmage and seven touchdowns.
With new head coach Liam Coen and a new front office guiding the way, there were bound to be changes in 2025, especially on offense. The team further muddied their RB depth when they used a pair of draft picks at the position, including fourth-round pick Bhayshul Tuten. The Virginia Tech product impressed during training camp and was expected to carve out his own role as a rookie. However, it was expected to come at the expense of Etienne, not Bigsby.
Now, the Jaguars will move forward with Etienne leading the depth chart and Tuten taking on the RB2 role. Etienne is currently playing on his fifth-year option and is set to hit free agency after the season. The impending free agent has every reason to remain on the field during the 2025 campaign, with Tuten potentially taking over in 2026.
Bigsby, meanwhile, will slide into a clear backup role with the defending champs. Saquon Barkley will continue to command touches as an offensive focal point, which will greatly impact Bigsby’s 2025 outlook. On the flip side, the Bigsby acquisition could convince the Eagles to lean more on their Barkley alternatives.
The defending Offensive Player of the Year finished his first season in Philadelphia with a career-high 378 touches, and that doesn’t include the 100-plus looks he had in the playoffs. Coming off such a significant workload, the Eagles always seemed destined to monitor his touches in 2025. With Bigsby now on the roster, the coaching staff may be even more comfortable giving Barkley some much-needed rest during his age-28 campaign.
The Eagles also lost some depth at the position during their season opener, as backup Will Shipley exited the game with a rib injury. AJ Dillon is currently penciled in as the team’s RB3, and Bigsby could slide right into Shipley’s spot on the depth chart assuming the second-year player is forced to miss some time.
The Eagles may also be eyeing Bigsby for a role beyond the offense. According to EJ Smith of PHLY Sports, the RB may have also been acquired for his special teams ability. Bigsby got a look as a kick returner during his first two seasons, returning 10 kickoffs for 294 yards. He also had a 20-yard return yesterday. John Metchie and Shipley both got looks as returners for the Eagles in the season opener, with the duo averaging 16 yards between the two of them.
As Schefter notes, the Super Bowl champs have been especially active in the trade market over the past few weeks. In addition to their acquisitions of Bigsby and Metchie, the team has also added QB Sam Howell and OT Fred Johnson via trade.
Dolphins OL James Daniels, CB Storm Duck To Miss Several Weeks
As the Dolphins look to right the ship following an embarrassing season-opening loss, they’ll have to do so without a handful of key starters. According to multiple reports, it sounds like the Dolphins will be dealing with absences on both sides of the ball for at least the next few weeks.
On offense, starting guard James Daniels exited yesterday’s loss after only three offensive snaps thanks to a pec injury. According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the injury isn’t expected to end the veteran’s season, and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes that the lineman didn’t suffer any muscle tears. Still, Daniels will likely be out of the lineup for at least the next three to four weeks.
Daniels was making his Miami debut after inking a three-year, $24MM deal with the franchise this past offseason. A former starter with the Bears and Steelers, the lineman was limited to four games in 2024 thanks to a torn Achilles.
The offseason acquisition wasn’t the only offensive lineman to suffer an injury. According to Jackson, the Dolphins are getting opinions on Austin Jackson‘s toe injury. The right tackle got into 79 percent of his team’s offensive snaps yesterday. A former first-round pick, injuries have been a theme of Jackson’s career, as he was limited to two games in 2022 thanks to an ankle injury and eight games in 2024 thanks to a knee injury.
The injuries also apply to the defense, as Jackson notes that cornerback Storm Duck will miss several weeks after suffering an ankle injury during the second quarter of yesterday’s loss. The former UDFA was a pleasant surprise in Miami last season, where he compiled 35 tackles while starting three of his 14 appearances. He got into 29 defensive snaps yesterday before exiting the contest.
Fortunately, there is some optimism surrounding another Dolphins injury. Jackson says that tight end Darren Waller will try to suit up for this Sunday’s matchup against the Patriots. If he can’t go, then a Week 3 return against the Bills will be a realistic target. The veteran’s return from retirement has been delayed by a lingering hip injury.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/8/25
Today’s practice squad moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: DT Tommy Akingbesote, DB Israel Mukuamu
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: RB Pierre Strong
- Released: RB Israel Abanikanda
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: RB Ameer Abdullah
- Released: RB Khalil Herbert
New York Giants
- Signed: OT Reid Holskey
- Released: G McClendon Curtis
New York Jets
- Signed: OL Liam Fornadel
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: RB Montrell Johnson, OL Hollin Pierce
- Released: WR Elijah Cooks
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: WR Rakim Jarrett
- Released: WR Lance McCutcheon
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/8/25
Today’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
- Elevated: LB Carl Jones, DL Tanoh Kpassagnon
- Waived from IR: C Doug Kramer
Dallas Cowboys
- Placed on IR: DT Perrion Winfrey
Denver Broncos
- Waived from IR: DT Kristian Williams
Minnesota Vikings
- Elevated: WR Tim Jones
New Orleans Saints
- Waived: DE Fadil Diggs
New York Jets
- Signed from practice squad: WR Tyler Johnson
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed from practice squad: LB Patrick Johnson
Free Agency
- Suspended: DB Kemon Hall
Cowboys defensive tackle Perrion Winfrey will now be out through the month of September after landing on IR today. Winfrey has been dealing with a back injury that forced him to miss the season opener. The 25-year-old joined the Cowboys back in June following a successful showing in the UFL.
Free agent defensive back Kemon Hall has been hit with a three-game ban, according to ESPN’s Ben Baby. The suspension would go into effect once the player joins a team. The 2019 UDFA most recently spent the preseason with the Cowboys. He was among the team’s final cuts and subsequently landed on their practice squad, but he was released days later. The 28-year-old has appeared in 24 career games.