NFL To Review Ravens’ Week 8 Injury Report
A hamstring injury has kept Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson out for three games, but he’s expected to return Thursday against the Dolphins. The team announced Jackson was a full participant in a walkthrough on Monday.
As it geared up for a Week 8 matchup with Chicago, Baltimore erred in announcing Jackson as a full participant in last Friday’s practice. Jackson was in attendance for the entire practice, but he only took snaps with the scout team.
According to the NFL’s injury policy, “Participation on the scout team, no matter how extensive, by a player whose normal repetitions would be with the starters but for his medical condition, would not alter the player’s proper designation as ‘Limited Participation.’”
The Ravens issued a correction Saturday, changing his practice status to limited while ruling him out for the game. Despite Jackson’s absence, the Ravens defeated the Bears behind backup signal-caller Tyler Huntley.
Although Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said the team made an “honest mistake” regarding Jackson’s injury designation last week (via Saad Yousuf of The Athletic), the NFL is now reviewing the matter, Mark Maske of the Washington Post relays.
“The league will look into this,” a league spokesperson said. “The league reviews any matter involving a change to a player’s status.”
The NFL’s investigation into the Ravens comes with the NBA embroiled in a gambling scandal since last Thursday. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell sent a memo to teams on Friday “regarding the gambling policy for league and team staffers,” according to Maske. Additionally, the NFL Management Council sent a memo to teams regarding the league’s gambling policy for players.
Regarding the NBA scandal, the NFL wrote in the memo (via Maske), “These developments underscore the risks that all sports are facing in the current environment and serve as a reminder of the need to adhere strictly to the NFL Gambling Policy.”
The change in Jackson’s status on Saturday did not reveal “any unusual betting activity,” Maske writes, though it did lead to a significant change in the spread. The Ravens opened as 6.5-point favorites. That figure immediately plummeted to 1.5 after they ruled the two-time MVP out.
With the NBA in the midst of a PR nightmare, it’s possible the NFL will come down hard on the Ravens. Forfeiture of draft picks, fines, and suspensions could all be on the table. According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, the NFL’s “Personnel (Injury) Report Policy” states that the commissioner “may deprive the offending club of a selection choice or choices, and/or may fine the offending club and/or may fine or suspend with or without pay any involved individuals as appropriate.”
Even if the NFL finds that the Ravens did just make an “honest mistake,” the team still violated league policy. Although it could be minor, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Ravens receive some sort of punishment as a result.
Colts, Lions Seeking Cornerback Help
With the Nov. 4 trade deadline approaching, a couple of the NFL’s top teams are interested in bolstering their secondaries. The 7-1 Colts and 5-2 Lions are making calls for cornerback help, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports.
Although the Colts own the league’s best record, their success has come despite a depleted cornerback group. Their issues at the position began when they lost third-round rookie Justin Walley to a season-ending ACL tear in August. He had been pushing for a starting role alongside No. 1 corner Charvarius Ward and slot CB Kenny Moore.
Walley’s injury led the Colts to sign veteran Xavien Howard, but that didn’t yield positive results. He abruptly retired after a rough showing over the Colts’ first four games.
Adding to the Colts’ problems, they placed Jaylon Jones on IR with a hamstring injury after Week 1 and sent Ward to the shelf with a concussion after Week 6. The team has continued to win without them, though, and could get both players back soon.
The Colts opened Jones’ 21-day practice window on Oct. 22, which should lead to a return in the near future. Ward, meanwhile, has missed two games and is only required to sit out two more. He’ll be eligible to rejoin Indy’s secondary after a Week 11 bye.
With Ward and Jones unavailable, the Colts have been relying on the relatively untested group of Mekhi Blackmon, undrafted rookie Johnathan Edwards, Chris Lammons, and Cameron Mitchell to pick up the slack. While defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo‘s unit has persevered to allow the league’s sixth-fewest points per game (19.3), Indianapolis ranks a much less encouraging 28th against the pass.
Colts general manager Chris Ballard reportedly wants to acquire a “proven defensive playmaker,” an addition that could come in the secondary before the deadline.
The AFC South rival Titans traded corner Roger McCreary to the Rams on Monday, taking him off the board, but the Saints’ Alontae Taylor, the Seahawks’ Riq Woolen, and the Bengals’ Cam Taylor-Britt are among other names that have surfaced in the rumor mill. Taylor-Britt played under Anarumo, then Cincinnati’s D-coordinator, from 2022-24.
Any of Taylor, Woolen, or Taylor-Britt could also appeal to the Lions, who have joined the Colts in dealing with multiple injuries to notable cornerbacks. Starters D.J. Reed, a big-ticket offseason signing, and Terrion Arnold have been out of commission for the past few weeks.
Reed went on IR with a hamstring injury on Oct. 1. He’ll be eligible to return in Week 10, though it’s unclear if that will happen. Arnold last played on Oct. 5, but he’s making progress in his recovery from a shoulder injury. Head coach Dan Campbell said that Arnold will return to practice on Tuesday (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press).
Despite the absences of Reed, Arnold, and Avonte Maddox (hamstring), the Lions stymied Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield and a banged-up receiving corps in Week 7. Amik Robertson, Nick Whiteside, Arthur Maulet, and Rock Ya-Sin led Lions corners in snaps in a 24-9 win.
Detroit is getting healthier coming out of its bye week, which could give general manager Brad Holmes less urgency to swing a trade in the coming days. However, Holmes is at least doing his due diligence with just over a week left until the deadline.
Steelers’ DeShon Elliott Unlikely To Return This Season
The Steelers lost defensive lineman Daniel Ekuale to a season-ending ACL tear in a 35-25 defeat against the Packers on Sunday. Safety DeShon Elliott, who also suffered a knee injury in Week 8, could join Ekuale on the shelf for the rest of the season. While Elliott’s ACL is intact, he’s unlikely to return this year, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Elliott missed two games in September with a knee injury, but the 28-year-old has otherwise started in all five appearances this season. A former Raven, Lion, and Dolphin, Elliott has amassed 69 starts in 77 games since entering the NFL in 2019.
After joining the Steelers on a two-year, $6MM contract in 2024, Elliott totaled a career-high 108 tackles with six passes defensed, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles, and an interception over 15 games (14 starts). The Steelers were impressed enough to award Elliott a two-year, $12.5MM extension with $9.21MM in guarantees last June.
Elliott was off to a productive start this season before exiting on a cart in the second half on Sunday. He has picked up 38 tackles, two passes defensed, a forced fumble, and an interception. Pro Football Focus ranks Elliott 25th among 88 qualifying safeties this year. Unfortunately for Elliott and the Steelers, it doesn’t appear he’ll be able to add to those numbers during the final 10 games of the season.
The Steelers are still atop the AFC North, but they’re an unspectacular 4-3 after dropping two straight games. Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco and Packers QB Jordan Love torched the Steelers in those contests. They combined to complete 60 of 84 passes (71%) for 702 yards, six touchdowns, and no interceptions.
Before a rematch with the second-place Bengals (3-5) in Week 11, Pittsburgh will face two other AFC contenders in the 7-1 Colts and the 5-3 Chargers. Losing Elliott heading into those matchups is an unwelcome development, but it appears the Steelers will have to proceed with Juan Thornhill, Chuck Clark, and Jabrill Peppers as their top safety options.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/27/25
A look at Monday’s practice squad moves from around the NFL…
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: TE Caden Prieskorn
- Released: RB Ahmani Marshall
Detroit Lions
- Released: CB Kendall Fuller
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: DE Tanoh Kpassagnon
- Released: DE Seth Coleman
Philadelphia Eagles
- Released: DE Titus Leo
Washington Commanders
- Released: WR Robbie Chosen
The Lions have moved on from Fuller just under two weeks after they brought him into the fold. A 104-game starter in the NFL, the 30-year-old joined the Lions on Oct. 14 with injuries ravaging their secondary. He didn’t appear in a game with the Lions, though, and they’re parting with him after their secondary held its own in a Week 7 win over the Buccaneers. Now coming off their bye, the Lions could get injured corner Terrion Arnold (shoulder) back from a two-game absence on Sunday against the Vikings. Arnold will participate in padded practice on Tuesday, per Rainer Sabin of the Detroit Free Press.
A second-round pick of the Chiefs in 2017, Kpassagnon played in four games with the Bears earlier this season. The 31-year-old picked up five tackles and a sack before the team released him on Oct. 21.
Chosen, who signed with the Commanders on Sept. 30, made his lone appearance with them in a loss to the Cowboys in Week 7. As part of what was a depleted receiving corps, Chosen hauled in all four targets for 36 yards. However, Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel are healthy again, leading the Commanders to cut ties with Chosen. Since debuting with the Jets in 2016, Chosen has amassed 384 receptions and 30 touchdowns.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/27/25
Here are Monday’s minor moves from around the NFL:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: RB Michael Carter, CB Darren Hall
Cleveland Browns
- Claimed off waivers (from Texans): TE Brenden Bates
- Waived: CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse
Kansas City Chiefs
- Elevated: OL C.J. Hanson, DT Marlon Tuipulotu
Las Vegas Raiders
- Practice window opened: S Lonnie Johnson
- Waived: WR Justin Shorter
Minnesota Vikings
- Claimed off waivers (from Packers): TE Ben Sims
Philadelphia Eagles
- Released: DB Parry Nickerson
Seattle Seahawks
- Designated for return: FB Robbie Ouzts
With James Conner done for the year after suffering a season-ending ankle injury in Week 3 and Trey Benson on IR with a knee malady since Oct. 1, Carter leads the Cardinals with 35 carries. He has rushed for an inefficient 97 yards (2.8 per attempt), though, and could only muster 11 on seven carries in a Week 7 loss to the Packers.
The Cardinals, who will come off their bye in Week 9 to face the Cowboys, are now down to two RBs in Emari Demercado and Zonovan Knight. They also have D’Ernest Johnson and Jermar Jefferson on their practice squad. Benson will be eligible to return in Week 10.
Latest On Cowboys’ Pursuit Of Defensive Help
OCTOBER 26: Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer confirms (video link) the Cowboys made calls about both Crosby and Hendrickson. To little surprise, those inquiries were rebuffed in each case. Dallas could still be in the market for a less splashy acquisition over the coming days, especially if the team’s defense continues to struggle.
OCTOBER 23: Ranked first in the NFL in yards and second in points, the Cowboys’ offense has been one of the league’s best during the first seven weeks of the season. The other side of the ball has been a different story. Thanks to a defense that ranks last in yards allowed and 30th in points given up, the Cowboys are a middling 3-3-1 and sitting in 10th place in the NFC.
With an eye on returning to the playoffs after missing the postseason in 2024, owner Jerry Jones has been making calls around the league to acquire defensive help before the Nov. 4 trade deadline, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Cowboys swing a deal for a defender by then, Adam Schefter of ESPN says.
Dallas, which is tied for 14th in the league in sacks, is among many playoff hopefuls angling for a pass-rushing addition over the next week and a half. The Cowboys have predictably struggled without all-world edge rusher Micah Parsons, whom they sent packing to Green Bay before the season amid a contract dispute.
While the Cowboys received defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two first-round picks in the swap, moving Parsons left a massive void in their defense. Jones said earlier this month that he’d consider parting with those draft choices for immediate help.
With the Cowboys seeking a Parsons replacement, rumors have connected them to elite edge players in the Bengals’ Trey Hendrickson and the Raiders’ Maxx Crosby. Hendrickson is likely to remain in Cincinnati, though, and Las Vegas isn’t moving Crosby. The Cowboys “presumably” inquired about Crosby in their extensive search for an “impact” defender, per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. They’re out of luck on that front. Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons has also come up as a potential fit for the Cowboys, but he’s reportedly not available.
Although Jones is focused on an outside acquisition to improve the Cowboys’ defense, the team regards it as an “ascending” unit, Schultz says. The Cowboys liken soon-to-return linebacker DeMarvion Overshown to a “superstar midseason acquisition in a trade,” according to Schultz.
During his first NFL action last year, Overshown piled up 90 tackles and five sacks in 13 games before suffering a torn ACL, MCL, and PCL. It was the second major knee injury for Overshown, who missed his rookie campaign in 2023 with a torn ACL. The 25-year-old returned to practice as a limited participant on Wednesday, setting up a season debut sometime soon.
Overshown is on his way back, but if the Cowboys have their way, he won’t be the only addition to their defense in the coming weeks. With the draft capital the Cowboys have on hand, not to mention the second-most cap space in the league, Jones may be in for an aggressive deadline.
Justin Fields To Start Week 8; Tyrod Taylor Out With Knee Injury
With the Jets off to a league-worst 0-7 start, owner Woody Johnson made it known on Tuesday that he was unhappy with quarterback Justin Fields‘ performance. Johnson’s scathing remarks may have helped pave the way for a QB change this week, but he’ll have to wait at least one more game.
The Jets have ruled backup Tyrod Taylor out for Week 8 against the Bengals with a knee injury, Brian Costello of the New York Post reports. Fields will start in Cincinnati, while undrafted rookie Brady Cook will serve as his backup.
Fields has yet to throw an interception this season, the first of a two-year, $40MM contract, but the former Bear and Steeler has been at the helm of an offense that has averaged just 18.4 points per game. He has combined for seven touchdowns (four passing, three rushing) and completed 63.7% of passes for 845 yards.
As always, Fields has been a threat on the ground, having racked up 257 yards on 42 rushing attempts (6.1 yards per carry). That hasn’t been enough to produce a Jets victory in 2025.
With their offense unable to generate much in a 13-6 loss to the Panthers last week, rookie head coach Aaron Glenn pulled Fields in favor of Taylor. He hardly lit it up (10 of 22 for 126 yards and two picks), but the Jets were nonetheless expected to turn to Taylor on Sunday.
Glenn appeared likely to make his QB decision public closer to game time, but Taylor’s injury has forced the Jets’ hand early. Taylor, who was limited in practice all week, said he suffered the injury on “a helmet shot to the knee last game.” The 36-year-old underwent arthroscopic surgery on the same knee in August, which sidelined him for the entire preseason.
Barring a stellar performance from Fields in Week 8, and depending on the severity of Taylor’s injury, Glenn will likely face the same questions about the QB position after Sunday’s game. With the Jets on a bye next week, he’ll have extra time to make a decision on a starter for their game against the Browns on Nov. 9.
Falcons Place LB Divine Deablo On IR, Activate S Jordan Fuller
Linebacker Divine Deablo has been superb in his first season with the Falcons, but the team will go without him for the foreseeable future. The Falcons placed Deablo on IR with a broken forearm on Saturday. He’ll miss at least four games and won’t be eligible to return until Week 12.
[RELATED: Kirk Cousins To Start Week 8]
A former third-round pick and a Raider for the first four seasons of his career, Deablo left Las Vegas to sign a two-year, $14MM pact with Atlanta last March. The deal worked out well for the Falcons until Deablo suffered his injury in a loss to the 49ers last Sunday.
Over six games this year (all starts), Deablo has tallied 24 tackles, four passes defensed, a fumble recovery, and a half-sack. Opposing quarterbacks have mustered a weak 79.6 passer rating when they’ve thrown Deablo’s way. Not surprisingly, Pro Football Focus ranks Deablo’s overall performance seventh among 78 qualifying linebackers.
Thanks in part to Deablo, Atlanta’s defense ranks second in the NFL in yards per game allowed and eighth in points surrendered this year. Second-year linebacker JD Bertrand will be among those tasked with filling in for Deablo. Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said this week he’ll take a “committee” approach in replacing the 6-foot-3, 223-pound Deablo, who combines a linebacker’s size with the athleticism of a defensive back (via Scott Kennedy of SI.com).
While Deablo is now on injured reserve, the Falcons brought back safety Jordan Fuller from IR on Saturday. The former Ram and Panther signed a one-year deal with the Falcons last March, joining Deablo as an offseason free agent pickup. He played 16 of his 17 snaps on special teams in a Week 1 loss to the Buccaneers before succumbing to a knee injury. With 56 career starts, Fuller will give the Falcons experienced depth behind the starting safety tandem of Jessie Bates and Xavier Watts.
Linebacker/defensive back Ronnie Harrison will join Fuller as part of Atlanta’s ‘D’ on Sunday against Miami. The Falcons signed Harrison from their practice squad to their 53-man roster on Saturday. They also elevated quarterback Easton Stick and wide receiver Dylan Drummond from their P-squad.
With backup quarterback Kirk Cousins considered ” highly likely” to start in place of usual starter Michael Penix Jr., who’s dealing with a knee injury, Stick’s elevation likely indicates that Penix will be inactive on Sunday. Since Stick isn’t on the 53-man roster, only two quarterbacks will be active for tomorrow’s game. If Penix is able to start, Stick will likely be designated the inactive third quarterback, but with things trending towards Cousins starting behind center to start tomorrow’s game, Penix could be the inactive passer.
Giants Activate K Graham Gano From IR
After a four-week absence, Giants kicker Graham Gano will return Sunday against the Eagles. The Giants are activating Gano from IR, Jordan Raanan of ESPN reports. He’ll be their only active kicker in Philadelphia, per Raanan.
The 38-year-old Gano connected on all six field-goal tries and four straight extra points to begin the season, but he suffered a groin injury in pregame warmups in Week 3. Injuries have been an all-too-frequent occurrence for Gano since he signed a three-year, $16.5MM contract extension in 2023. He has now missed 20 games dating back to then.
Gano, who returned to practice earlier this week, will reclaim his job from fill-in Jude McAtamney. The Northern Ireland native converted both of his field-goal attempts during Gano’s four-game stint on IR. However, he missed three of his 12 extra-point tries, including two in a deflating 33-32 loss to the Broncos last Sunday. The Giants then cut McAtamney on Tuesday before re-signing him to their practice squad. He and veteran Younghoe Koo are in the fold as fallback options behind Gano.
Along with activating Gano on Saturday, the Giants elevated wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey and safety Raheem Layne from their practice squad. It’ll be the third standard gameday elevation for both players, which is the limit. The Giants will need to sign either to their 53-man roster if they want to activate one or both of them again.
The Giants also waived linebacker Swayze Bozeman, who has appeared in four of their games this season. The 26-year-old has played 92 snaps (75 on special teams, 17 on defense) and made three tackles.
Bills Activate Maxwell Hairston From IR
Bills first-round rookie Maxwell Hairston is finally set for his NFL debut. The team announced that it has activated the cornerback from injured reserve.
The 30th overall pick from Kentucky, Hairston entered the summer competing with Tre’Davious White for the Bills’ No. 2 corner job opposite Christian Benford. Hairston suffered an LCL injury early in training camp, though, leading to an IR placement for him and a starting role for White.
At 30 years old and having dealt with two major injuries in recent seasons (a torn ACL and an Achilles tear), White has struggled to regain his past form in 2025. Benford has also failed to impress after landing a four-year, $69MM extension last offseason.
To make matters worse for the Bills, they’ve been thin at boundary corner behind Benford and White. Another one of their rookies, sixth-rounder Dorian Strong, went on IR with a neck injury after Week 4. He may not return this season. With Strong and Hairston out, the Bills have been down to Ja’Marcus Ingram – a healthy inactive multiple times in 2025 – as their third outside corner in recent weeks.
The addition of Hairston will provide some much-needed playmaking ability and speed to the Bills’ secondary. The team’s corners have gone without an interception during a 4-2 start in which the defense has picked off just two passes. Hairston racked up five INTs in 2023, though he totaled just one over seven games in an injury-limited year last season. The 5-foot-11, 183-pounder then ran the fastest 40-yard dash time at the combine (4.28), which no doubt contributed to the Bills’ decision to draft him.
After missing the Bills’ first six games, Hairston returned to practice this past Monday. The Bills would have had 21 days to activate him, but head coach Sean McDermott will bring him into the fold much quicker than that. Hairston will debut Sunday against the Panthers as the Bills try to snap a two-game losing streak.
Safety Jordan Poyer and defensive tackle Jordan Phillips will join Hairston on Buffalo’s active roster in Week 8. The team, which is banged up at both positions, elevated the pair of Jordans from the practice squad on Saturday.