Dolphins Sign RBs Mike Boone, Aaron Shampklin
With Alexander Mattison done for the season, the Dolphins are adding some running back depth. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported earlier today that the team was adding Aaron Shampklin, while ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds that veteran Mike Boone is also joining the team. To make room on the roster, the team has officially placed Mattison on injured reserve and waived Monaray Baldwin (via Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston).
[RELATED: Dolphins RB Alexander Mattison Undergoes Season-Ending Neck Surgery]
Boone brings the most experience among the two additions, as the veteran has appeared in 72 games over the past seven years. Boone often found himself as a third-string RB in a Dalvin Cook-led depth chart in Minnesota, although he did finished the 2019 campaign with a career-high 290 yards from scrimmage. He’s bounced around the NFL a bit since leaving the Vikings, spending time with the Broncos, Texans, and Panthers. Over that four-year span, the veteran has added another 367 yards from scrimmage to his resume.
Boone has limited experience as a return man, tallying five kickoff returns. The 30-year-old has also garnered 738 special teams snaps during his career, so perhaps he could carve out a useful role in Miami.
Shampklin went undrafted out of Harvard in 2021 and has had stints with the Cowboys, Colts, Chargers, and Steelers. He made his NFL debut last season, collecting 17 rushing yards in three games with Pittsburgh. He was a relatively popular name in free agency in recent weeks, as the RB also auditioned for the Bears and Jets.
It’s uncertain if these two additions will represent Miami’s only solutions to replacing Mattison; the team notably worked out Jamaal Williams earlier today. Either way, the Dolphins still have plenty of depth at the position. De’Von Achane will still lead the grouping, with 2024 fourth-round pick Jaylen Wright serving as a primary backup. The team also used a draft pick on sixth-round RB Ollie Gordon II.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/11/25
Today’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
- Signed: RB Brittain Brown, CB Kaleb Hayes, S Mark Perry
- Waived/injured: DB Ameer Speed
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: CB Christian Holmes, CB Darius Rush
- Waived: WR Luke Floriea, OT Roy Mbaeteka
Denver Broncos
- Reverted to IR: DL Matt Henningsen
Houston Texans
- Placed on IR: DT Marlon Davidson
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: WR Marquez Callaway
- Waived: WR Kawaan Baker
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: TE McCallan Castles
- Waived/injured: TE Anthony Torres
Minnesota Vikings
- Claimed off waivers (from Falcons): G Michael Gonzalez
- Placed on IR: OT Matt Nelson
New England Patriots
- Signed: DT Kyle Peko
- Waived: DT Bryce Ganious
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: TE Kevin Foelsch, DB Mikey Victor
- Waived: TE D.J. Thomas-Jones
- Waived/injured: DB Cameron McCutcheon
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: DL Trevis Gipson
- Activated off active/PUP: OL Andre Dillard
- Waived: QB Tanner Mordecai
- Placed on IR: RB Ameer Abdullah
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: LB Alphonzo Tuputala
- Waived: CB Kam Alexander
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: CB JayVian Farr, RB Jase McClellan
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: LB Blake Lynch
A handful of players injured in the first week of the preseason were placed on IR today, effectively ending their seasons early. These players won’t be allowed to play for their current squads in 2025, although they could place elsewhere if they’re released from injured reserve (often via an injury settlement).
Among those who landed on IR includes Texans DT Marlon Davidson, who remained in his team’s preseason opener after suffering a biceps injury. Vikings lineman Matt Nelson also suffered a biceps injury that will land him on IR. The veteran just joined Minnesota last week.
In addition to bringing back old friend Jeff Wilson, the 49ers made a handful of additional moves today. This includes shifting veteran RB Ameer Abdullah to injured reserve. Abdullah suffered a rib injury that will prevent him from taking the field with San Francisco this season. The veteran is coming off one of the most productive seasons of his career in 2024, when he compiled 572 yards from scrimmage in 16 games (three starts) with the Raiders. The 49ers also added defensive lineman Trevis Gipson, who started 19 games for the Bears between 2021 and 2022.
Patriots Notes: Offensive Line, Wilson, Strange
AUGUST 8: New England’s entire starting offense is taking part in tonight’s preseason game, and as Kyed notes, that unit includes Wilson handling left guard duties. It will be interesting to see how he fares in his first NFL game action, while Strange’s workload when the backups enter the contest will also be something to monitor.
AUGUST 6: The Patriots’ offensive line is starting to take shape, and it could end up leading to a relatively surprising cut. Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald recently observed that rookie third-round pick Jared Wilson appears to be penciled in as New England’s starting left guard.
ESPN’s Mike Reiss echoed Kyed’s report, noting that Wilson has impressed teammates and coaches with his ability to slow down some of the team’s top interior defensive linemen. Reiss also notes that Wilson’s athleticism could be particularly useful in Josh McDaniels‘ system, which often sees the offense pull the guard.
If Wilson does end up sticking at LG, that means the Patriots will be relying on a pair of inexperienced linemen to protect Drake Maye‘s blindside. Wilson would be lining up next to fourth-overall pick Will Campbell, a configuration that could make some fans queasy. However, it sounds like the two rookies are embracing the unexpected challenge.
“We just talk about how fun it’s going to be,” Wilson said of playing next to Campbell (via Karen Guregian of MassLive.com). “Like you said, there are two rookies next to each other, left guard and left tackle, on the blindside. We know it’s going to be a challenge every day. Teams are going to bring their best to us. Just got to be ready.”
With Wilson reportedly claiming one of the spots on the offensive line, the team’s starting configuration is coming into focus. In addition to the two rookies, it sounds like veteran Garrett Bradbury will man the center spot with tackle Morgan Moses and guard Michael Onwenu handling the right side. That means former first-round pick Cole Strange will be without a role, and that could ultimately cost the lineman his spot on the team.
Kyed wrote recently that Strange could be among the team’s surprise cuts, especially since the impending fourth-year player is struggling to establish himself at guard and center. Strange was already a reach when the Bill Belichick-led regime selected him with the 29th-overall pick in the 2022 draft, and the Chattanooga product hasn’t done much to reward the iconic coach’s faith.
After starting all 17 games as a rookie, Strange was limited to 10 games as a sophomore thanks to a torn patellar tendon. He started the 2024 campaign on the PUP list and ended up finishing last season with only three appearances. The team’s recent investment in the offensive line — both via the draft and free agency — already indicated that Strange was on the outside looking in. While the 27-year-old entered training camp penciled into the starting lineup, it now sounds like he’s fighting for a roster spot.
Strange’s roster spot might also be in doubt because of the versatility of some of his teammates. As Kyed recently noted, Caedan Wallace has been playing some offensive guard throughout training camp. The 2024 third-round pick spent the majority of his rookie campaign playing offensive tackle, but his ability to play multiple positions could make players like Strange expendable.
Bengals’ Offer To Trey Hendrickson “Closer To The Top Of The Market”
There’s been plenty of analysis on the stalemate between the Bengals and star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson. We’ve continually heard that the main holdup between the two sides revolves around guarantees, and that still appears to be the case. However, when it comes to average annual value, it sounds like the Bengals are willing to make Hendrickson one of the highest-paid players at his position.
[RELATED: Trey Hendrickson Not Seeing Bengals Talks Shift]
According to Albert Breer of SI.com, the AAV is “no longer the problem” between the two sides. Breer believes the Bengals are offering a contract that’s “well into the 30s” annually, and the offer is “closer to the top of the market than people want to believe.”
Just this offseason, we’ve seen four pass rushers surpass Nick Bosa‘s $34MM AAV, with T.J. Watt now pacing the position with a $41MM annual mark. While a Micah Parsons deal could slightly change the calculus, it sounds like the Bengals and Hendrickson are generally in agreement on the contract’s basic value.
The Bengals organization has traditionally shied away from offering guarantees beyond the first year of an extension, although they did buck that trend when it came to contracts for Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase. While those deals could have set a new precedent for the Bengals defensive leader, it sounds like the front office isn’t budging on their first-year guarantee stance.
There were some recent rumblings that the team was considering including some guaranteed money in the second year of Hendrickson’s contract, but it sounds like that still won’t be enough to satisfy the impending free agent. The Bengals are trying to point to the massive raise Hendrickson would see in 2025, but we learned that a $10MM gap in guaranteed money still exists between the two sides.
There were once reports that the Bengals hadn’t offered a contract that even touched a $35MM AAV, so from a glass-half-full perspective, Breer’s report seems like a positive step forward. However, there have been reports all along that a disagreement over guarantees were at the root of the showdown between the Bengals and Hendrickson, and that apparently hasn’t changed.
Hendrickson engaged in a brief holdout before reporting to training camp, but he refuses to practice with his teammates until he inks a new deal. The player later told reporters that “nothing has changed” when it comes to negotiations, so it sounds like this is a storyline that’s destined to continue throughout the preseason.
Free Agent DB Tracy Walker Suspended 12 Games
Tracy Walker has been searching for a gig since getting cut from the 49ers practice squad last September. If he has any chance of playing in the NFL again, it would have to wait until late November.
According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston, the free agent safety has been suspended for the first 12 games of the 2025 campaign. It’s uncertain why Walker was banned. The veteran is allowed to join a team before his suspension is through, but he won’t be able to take the field until Week 13.
A former third-round pick, Walker emerged as a useful player in Detroit. He averaged close to 100 tackles per season between 2019 and 2021, but a torn Achilles limited him to only three games in 2022. He managed to return in time for the start of the 2023 campaign and got into all 17 games that season while appearing in half of his team’s defensive snaps.
Walker was cut during the 2024 offseason, providing the Lions with more than $5MM in cap relief. He caught on with the 49ers and landed on their taxi squad following final cuts, but he lasted a month before earning his walking papers.
While it’s uncertain why the player was suspended, the length would indicate a violation of the Personal Conduct Policy.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/6/25
Today’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: LB Jimmy Ciarlo
- Waived/injured: LB Baylon Spector
Chicago Bears
- Waived/injured: TE Jordan Murray
Cleveland Browns
- Reverted to IR: CB Anthony Kendall
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: WR Isaiah Neyor
- Placed on IR: G Travis Glover
- Reverted to IR: WR Sam Brown
Houston Texans
- Signed: WR Quintez Cephus
- Waived/injured: WR Johnny Johnson III
Los Angeles Chargers
- Waived: TE McCallan Castles
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: QB Hunter Dekkers
- Waived: P Matthew Hayball
New York Jets
- Released from IR: S Jaylin Simpson
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DL Seth Coleman
- Waived/injured: WR Montorie Foster
Bills LB Baylon Spector suffered a calf injury earlier this week that ultimately cost him his roster spot, but he seems destined to ultimately land on the team’s injured reserve. Buffalo was quick to add Jimmy Ciarlo as the replacement. The former West Point captain spent most of his rookie campaign with the Jets, and he garnered auditions with the Giants and Patriots after getting let go by Gang Green in May.
The Texans added some depth at wide receiver in Quintez Cephus, although it came at the expense of Johnny Johnson III. The former Lions draft pick lasted three seasons in Detroit, where he hauled in 37 receptions for 568 yards and four touchdowns. Cephus was banned for the 2023 campaign for violating the league’s gambling policy, and he’s since had stints with the Bills, Texans, Rams, and 49ers. Following his first gig in Houston, he had a brief stint playing under Nick Caley in Los Angeles.
Lions Still In Contact With Za’Darius Smith
Za’Darius Smith remains unsigned, but the veteran pass rusher has already made it clear that he hopes to continue his stay in Detroit. That sentiment appears to be mutual, although it doesn’t sound like any deal is imminent.
[RELATED: Za’Darius Smith Wants To Return To Lions]
While speaking with reporters, Lions general manager Brad Holmes stated that he’s maintained contact with the player’s camp and is hoping to extend the partnership.
“Za’Darius did a lot of good things last year for us and we said we’re going to keep in contact with his agent, but everything’s not just one-sided,” Holmes explained (via Will Burchfield of 97.1 The Ticket in Detroit). “Za’Darius has expectations, the team has expectations, so sometimes it takes a while for those things to get on the same page. Especially a guy that’s been in the league as long as he has, I’m not saying that he doesn’t want to be in training camp, but if he misses some time, there’s obviously still interest there and we’ve been keeping in touch.”
Holmes seems to be hinting that there may be some disagreement on compensation between the two sides. Smith is coming off a two-year, $23MM extension he inked with the Browns in 2024, a deal the Lions ducked out of before a $7MM bonus was due. Since the defensive end was release back in March, there have been numerous reports connecting the player to a new Detroit contract, with Smith noting that he wants to win a Super Bowl before calling it a career. At the same time, there haven’t been any reports of other suitors stepping up, so the veteran may be running out of leverage if he hopes to secure his desired payday.
Holmes also indicated that there isn’t any urgency to get the player signed any time soon. The Lions aren’t as desperate for pass-rush help as they were when the acquired Smith from the Browns in November. Both Aidan Hutchinson and Marcus Davenport are healthy atop the depth chart, and the team is still rostering two of their three 2024 positional snap leaders in Josh Paschal and Al-Quadin Muhammad.
Smith would initially be eyeing a limited role on the 2025 iteration of the Lions, but it sounds like the two sides could be fine with that arrangement. Smith was productive in his short stint in Detroit, compiling four sacks and 10 QB hits in eight games (he added another five sacks and seven QB hits in nine games with Cleveland). Those nine total sacks represented a step forward from his 5.5-sack showing in 2023, and he compiled 10 sacks during his comeback season with the Vikings in 2022.
Preseason injuries could increase Detroit’s urgency to add some depth at the position, and Paschal (who’s been dealing with an undisclosed injury of his own) has been mentioned as a cut candidate. However, considering the team’s on-paper depth, it may still be some time until a deal comes to fruition.
Ravens Sign DL Brent Urban
August 2: Urban’s workout must have gone well, as the Ravens announced his signing on Saturday morning.
Urban was one of the five defensive linemen on Baltimore’s 53-man roster to start the 2024 regular season, but he will likely be competing with Jenkins if the team carries the same number this year.
July 31: Brent Urban could be back in Baltimore for yet another season. The veteran defensive lineman is set to work out for the Ravens “in the upcoming days,” according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic.
The veteran will be seeking his fourth-consecutive one-year contract from Baltimore. That latest stint has seen Urban appear in 46 total games, with the defensive lineman compiling 63 tackles and four sacks while appearing in about one fourth of his team’s defensive snaps. The 34-year-old has also gotten into five playoff games over that span.
A former fourth-round pick, the Virginia product spent the first five seasons of his career in Baltimore, starting 19 of his 41 games. He spent the 2019 season between the Titans and Bears, and after collecting a career-high 2.5 sacks in Chicago in 2020, he spent the 2021 campaign with the Cowboys. He reunited with Baltimore ahead of the 2022 season.
As Zrebiec notes, Urban remains “an organizational favorite,” and his familiarity with John Harbaugh and the coaching staff would obviously make him a natural fit for the 2025 iteration of the Ravens. Baltimore is set to return the same main DL grouping of Nnamdi Madubuike, Travis Jones, and Broderick Washington next season, and the team added the likes of John Jenkins and sixth-round pick Aeneas Peebles for some depth. Urban would likely slide in towards the bottom of the depth chart if he garners another contract from the team.
Commanders’ Terry McLaurin Requests Trade
The staredown between the Commanders and Terry McLaurin has resulted in a trade request. According to Bleacher Report’s Jordan Schultz, the star wide receiver has requested a trade out of Washington. ESPN’s Adam Schefter has confirmed the report.
[RELATED: Commanders WR Terry McLaurin Reports To Camp]
McLaurin seemed to quiet the ongoing trade chatter after he reported to training camp earlier this week, ending his brief holdout. After showing up to the Commanders facility, the wideout was placed on the active/PUP list as he nursed a lingering ankle injury. Of course, there’s been plenty of speculation that McLaurin simply showed up to avoid fines, and his phantom injury was simply part of his hold-in strategy.
It sounds like the two sides made some effort to return to the negotiating table. However, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport notes that talks have “stalled,” leading to today’s sudden trade request. James Palmer of Bleacher Report notes that the Commanders don’t appear to be “moving” from their existing offer, while Albert Breer of TheMMQB says there hasn’t been any progress in talks for a month.
McLaurin has one year remaining on a three-year, $71MM deal he signed with the Commanders back in 2022. The $23.3MM average annual value now ranks 17th among wide receivers, and the former All-Pro is naturally seeking a new deal that would put him towards the top of the positional market. While McLaurin hasn’t explicitly stated what kind of money he’s seeking in his new deal, there’s been a belief that he’s pushing for a contract that would pay him around $32MM to $33MM per year. That would put him just outside the top-three AAVs among wide receivers (behind Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, and CeeDee Lamb).
The Commanders, meanwhile, have been hesitant about offering a contract that exceeds a $30MM AAV. While 2019 Day 2 classmates D.K. Metcalf and A.J. Brown both earned contracts that place them in the top-six of their position, the Commanders have been wary of offering a similar pact to the older McLaurin. The 2025 campaign will represent McLaurin’s age-30 season, and it sounds like the front office is using that factor against their star wideout.
On the flip side, it’s stunning that the Commanders have let the stalemate get to this point. The organization is coming off their most successful season in decades, with 2024 second-overall pick Jayden Daniels quickly establishing himself as a franchise quarterback. While the team brought in the likes of Deebo Samuel and Michael Gallup this offseason, McLaurin is still far and away their most dynamic playmaker, and the team’s immediate outlook would take a significant hit if the wideout is playing elsewhere in 2025.
While it was publicly known that a gap existed between the Commanders and McLaurin, the front office has resisted trade inquiries so far. According to Schefter, rival teams have considered making a run at the wideout, and it remains to be seen if today’s development will change the organization’s approach.
It’s not surprising that suitors would be lining up for McLaurin’s services. The former third-round pick has been one of the most consistent players at his position since entering the league in 2019. McLaurin has topped 1,000 receiving in each of the past five seasons, and he’s coming off one of the most productive campaigns of his career. The 29-year-old finished 2024 with 82 catches for 1,096 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Still, the most likely outcome sees the Commanders ultimately relenting to McLaurin’s demands. From Samuel to Tee Higginsto Brandon Aiyuk, we’ve seen plenty of wideouts request trades that didn’t (immediately) come to fruition. Considering how much the Commanders have to lose in this situation, that appears to be the likeliest outcome here, although this will obviously be a situation to watch over the next month.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/31/25
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: S Henry Black
- Waived: WR Makai Polk
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: DE Kameron Cline
- Waived/injured: DE Hayden Harris
- Activated from active/PUP: RT Spencer Brown
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: WR Chase Cota
Denver Broncos
- Signed: LB Garrett Nelson
- Reverted to IR: LB Johnny Walker
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: CB Tre Herndon, CB Duke Shelley
- Released: TE Albert Okwuegbunam
- Placed on IR: CB David Long Jr.
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Activated from active/PUP: LB Dennis Gardeck
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: OL Matt Nelson
- Waived/injured: DE Alex Williams
New England Patriots
- Activated from active/PUP: WR Mack Hollins
- Placed on IR: OT Yasir Durant
New Orleans Saints
-
- Signed: P Kai Kroeger
- Waived: QB Hunter Dekkers
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Activated from active/NFI: G Isaac Seumalo
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: QB Carter Bradley, WR Marquez Callaway, WR Andy Isabella
- Released: WR Equanimeous St. Brown
- Waived: OL Sebastian Gutierrez, WR Malik Knowles, S Jaylen Mahoney
- Activated from active/NFI: OL Ben Bartch
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: CB Keydrain Calligan
- Waived: DT Thor Griffith
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: WR Jaden Smith
- Waived/injured: S Marcus Banks, RB D.J. Williams
Washington Commanders
- Activated from active/NFI: OL Tim McKay
The Colts added some experienced cornerback depth today in Tre Herndon and Duke Shelley. Herndon had a long stint in Jacksonville, starting 34 of his 83 appearances with the organization. Shelley has bounced around the league a bit, with his longest stint coming in Chicago between 2019 and 2021. Both players were limited to one appearance each during the 2024 campaign.
The 49ers made a long list of moves today, most notably to their wide receiver depth. Marquez Callaway was limited to two games in Tampa Bay last season, but he compiled 698 receiving yards and six touchdowns as recently as 2021. Andy Isabella has only gotten into 13 total games over the past four years, hauling in five receptions over that span. They’ll be taking the roster spots previously held by former Bears starter Equanimeous St. Brown and former Kansas State standout Malik Knowles.