Bills Sign P Mitch Wishnowsky, Place P Cameron Johnston On IR
The Bills finished their Week 4 game without their usual kicker and punter. Cameron Johnston joined Tyler Bass as injured specialists in Buffalo, with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport indicating the punter would miss time with a leg injury.
As a result, the Bills will add former 49ers staple Mitch Wishnowsky, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Wishnowsky is joining Buffalo’s 53-man roster. Rather than carry two punters on the active roster, Buffalo is placing Johnston on IR, per Schefter. The 33-year-old will now miss at least four games after suffering an injury on a roughing the punter penalty in a win over the Saints last Sunday.
Wishnowsky, also 33, is already the third punter the Bills have employed this season. Interestingly, he joins Johnston as the second Australian the Bills have used at the position this year.
The Bills began 2025 with Brad Robbins as their punter, but they cut him loose after he averaged 39.5 yards per boot (38.0 net) in a win over the Ravens in Week 1. Johnston, a former Eagle, Texan, and Steeler, averaged 44.0 yards with a nearly identical 37.9 net in two games before landing on IR.
A 49er from 2019-24, Wishnowsky carries a career average of 45.6 yards per punt and 40.7 net. He played in just nine games last year before going on IR with a season-ending back injury in mid-November. Wishnowsky began this season on the Commanders’ practice squad, but they released him on Sept. 13. He’ll now get an opportunity to give the undefeated Bills something they haven’t found in 2025 — a solution at punter.
Giants Didn’t Consider QB In Round 2
The Giants did well for themselves in this year’s draft, but they did not select a quarterback, instead focusing on their lines in the early going after declining QB Daniel Jones‘ fifth-year option for 2023. It turns out the team didn’t consider drafting a QB in Round 2 after taking defensive lineman Kayvon Thibodeaux and offensive tackle Evan Neal in the first round, according to general manager Joe Schoen (via Ralph Vacchiano of SNY, on Twitter).
New York doesn’t seem to have a long-term solution under center in Jones or veteran journeyman Tyrod Taylor. The team drafted Jones sixth overall out of Duke in 2019, but he hasn’t been the answer to this point, and the Giants weren’t willing to pick up his $22.4MM option for 2023 as a result. And Taylor, who just joined the club in free agency on a two-year pact, hasn’t shown he’s a legitimate starter. Barring a breakout from Jones or Taylor during the upcoming season, the Giants will have to continue looking for a franchise QB.
The Giants had five picks in the top 85 of this year’s draft, but they nonetheless opted against choosing a signal-caller. Kenny Pickett (20), Desmond Ridder (74) and Malik Willis (86) all came off the board in the early portion of the draft.
Rams To Acquire Troy Hill From Browns
The Rams are bringing back corner Troy Hill, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. They’re reacquiring him from the Browns. Los Angeles will give up a fifth-round pick in 2023, the Rams announced.
The 30-year-old Hill started his career as a Bengal in 2015, but he then spent six seasons as a Ram before signing a four-year, $24MM contract with the Browns entering last season. Hill ended up appearing in 12 games and making four starts as a Brown in 2021, but he didn’t record an interception after picking off a career-high three passes the previous year.
Hill had his greatest success as a Ram to this point, and he’ll reunite with the reigning Super Bowl champions. He’ll join Jalen Ramsey and Jordan Fuller near the top of their CB depth chart in 2022.
Jets Acquire 36th Pick From Giants, Select Breece Hall
The Jets have acquired the 36th pick in the draft from the Giants in exchange for the 38th and 146th selections, Field Yates of ESPN was among those to report. The Jets chose Iowa State running back Breece Hall with their pick.
In Hall, the Jets are getting one of the most explosive backs in this year’s draft. The 6-foot-1, 220-pounder averaged 5.5 yards per carry during his college career, piled up nearly 4,000 yards on 718 attempts, and is coming off back-to-back seasons with 20 or more rushing touchdowns. He’ll complement Michael Carter as a Jet.
The Giants, meanwhile, acquired an extra pick from a local rival just to move down two spots. They’ve already added Kayvon Thibodeaux and Evan Neal in this draft.
Jaguars Sign Ross Matiscik To Extension
The Jaguars have signed long snapper Ross Matiscik to a contract extension, per Josh Alper of PFT. Matiscik ended up getting a five-year extension worth $5.965MM, per ESPN’s Field Yates (on Twitter). The deal includes a $550K signing bonus. The extension will keep the key special teamer in Jacksonville through the 2026 season.
Jacksonville signed Matiscik, now 25, as an undrafted free agent out of Baylor heading into the 2020 season. He has since appeared in 33 straight games as the Jags’ long snapper.
Bengals Exercise Jonah Williams’ Fifth-Year Option
The Bengals have exercised left tackle Jonah Williams‘ fifth-year option, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. As a result, Williams will remain under Bengals control through the 2023 season.
Although he was the 11th overall pick of the 2019 draft, Williams didn’t play as a rookie because of left shoulder problems. However, the former Alabama standout has since developed into a key member of the Bengals’ offensive line. Williams has started in all 26 of his appearances, including 16 last season for the AFC champions.
While Cincinnati could work out an extension with quarterback Joe Burrow‘s blindside protector sometime soon, the club currently doesn’t have to worry about losing Williams for at least another couple of years. Williams, 24, is due to earn $12.6MM in 2023 under his option.