Colts Work Out Kendall Fuller, Lewis Cine
The Colts worked out defensive backs Kendall Fuller and Lewis Cine on Monday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 reports. Those two join Tre Hawkins as free agent DBs on the Colts’ radar.
At 4-1, Indianapolis has emerged as one of the NFL’s most unexpected success stories early in 2025. After a 40-6 dismantling of the Raiders on Sunday, the Colts’ defense ranks third in the league in points per game allowed (17.8). Nevertheless, the team is on the lookout for help in the secondary after starting cornerback Xavien Howard abruptly retired last week.
Like Howard, Fuller comes with an extensive resume in the NFL. A third-round pick in 2016, the 30-year-old has amassed 128 appearances, 104 starts, and 16 interceptions in nine seasons divided among Washington, Kansas City, and Miami.
In 2024, his lone season with the Dolphins, Fuller started in all 11 of his games and racked up 50 tackles with seven passes defensed. Fuller failed to pick off a pass for the first time since 2019, though, and the Dolphins released him in February.
Cine, a safety, entered the league as a first-round selection (No. 32) of the Vikings in 2022. The former Georgia Bulldog hasn’t established himself in the pros, however, thanks in part to a gruesome injury that derailed his rookie season. Cine suffered a compound fracture of his left leg during the third game of his career and had to undergo multiple surgeries to repair it. The 26-year-old has played in just eight regular-season games since then (seven with the Vikings in 2023, one with the Bills in 2024), and he hasn’t been a factor on defense. Almost all of his snaps (134 of 144) have come on special teams.
Cine, who ended last season with the Super Bowl-winning Eagles, has been available since they waived him from IR last month. That came after he dealt with another leg injury during the preseason.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/6/25
The latest practice squad updates from around the NFL…
Houston Texans
- Signed: DT Marlon Davidson
New York Jets
- Signed: WR Isaiah Williams
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: RB Raheem Blackshear, S Jack Henderson
Davidson is returning to the Houston organization almost two months after it waived him from IR with an injury settlement in mid-August. The former Auburn Tiger entered the NFL as a second-round pick (47th overall) of the Falcons in 2020, but he has since combined for just four starts and two sacks in 24 games between Atlanta and Tennessee.
After waiving him over the weekend, the Jets are quickly reuniting with Williams. The 24-year-old committed a costly turnover in a loss to the Dolphins last Monday when he fumbled the opening kickoff return of the second half. He later opted to fair catch a punt at the Jets’ 3-yard line in the fourth quarter. The Jets opened the season with Xavier Gipson as their returner, but they cut him after a Week 1 fumble in a loss to the Steelers. With Isaiah Williams and Gipson unable to hold down the job, Avery Williams handled return duties in the Jets’ loss to the Cowboys on Sunday. He avoided fumbles while averaging 26.6 yards on five kickoff returns and 10.3 yards on four punt runbacks.
Chargers To Open LB Denzel Perryman’s Practice Window
The Chargers have gone without injured linebacker Denzel Perryman for almost the entire season, but a return is on the horizon. The team plans to open Perryman’s practice window this week, head coach Jim Harbaugh announced (via Kris Rihm of ESPN). When that becomes official, the Chargers will have 21 days to activate Perryman from injured reserve.
[RELATED: Omarion Hampton Heads To IR]
The Chargers won their season opener over the AFC West rival Chiefs in Brazil on Sept. 5, but they lost Perryman to a high ankle sprain after he took just eight defensive snaps. While the team went on to a 3-0 start without Perryman, it has since dropped back-to-back games to the Giants and Commanders to fall to 3-2.
Thanks to their two-game skid, the Chargers now own the same record as the division-rival Broncos. The reigning AFC champion Chiefs could join those two as the division’s third 3-2 club if they pull out a road win over the Jaguars on Monday.
With Perryman out of commission, Troy Dye has taken over as a starter at linebacker alongside Daiyan Henley. Dye, mostly a backup for the Vikings and Chargers from 2020-24, has totaled 36 tackles and a sack this year. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranks his performance a respectable 30th among 74 qualifiers at his position.
At the very least, the Chargers seem to have a capable fallback option in Dye, which is important in light of Perryman’s extensive injury history. Along with already missing four full games in 2025, Perryman sat out either five or six contests in each of the previous three seasons. The 32-year-old has missed at least two games in all 11 of his NFL seasons since the Chargers chose him in the second round of the 2015 draft.
After stints with the Raiders and Texans, Perryman reunited with the Chargers before the 2024 campaign. He picked up 55 tackles and a sack in 11 games last season, leading the Chargers to re-sign the former Pro Bowler to a a one-year, $3.65MM deal in March.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/6/25
Today’s minor moves from around the NFL…
Arizona Cardinals
- Placed on IR: TE Tip Reiman
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed from practice squad: TE Quintin Morris
- Released: RB Cody Schrader
Kansas City Chiefs
- Elevated: DT Marlon Tuipulotu
Minnesota Vikings
- Released: TE Nick Vannett
- Waived: G Vershon Lee
Reiman suffered a season-ending right ankle injury in a loss to the Titans on Sunday and will spend the rest of the year on IR. The blocking tight end and Trey McBride backup logged 98 offensive snaps and 50 on special teams during the first five weeks of the season. He also caught three of five targets for 18 yards.
Morris, already elevated three times from the Jaguars’ practice squad this year, signed to their active roster before Monday’s matchup against the Chiefs. The 28-year-old has played just three offensive snaps this season, though he has seen action on about 54 percent of special teams snaps. A member of the Bills from 2022-24, Morris has tallied 15 catches, 146 yards, and three touchdowns in 48 games in the NFL.
After receiving a standard elevation from the practice squad, Tuipulotu is in line to play his second game of the season on Monday. The 6-foot-2, 307-pounder took three defensive snaps in the Chiefs’ loss to the Chargers in Week 1.
Vannett appeared in three of the Vikings’ first five games before they released him. He only took the field for four offensive snaps and 20 on special teams.
49ers Open Malik Mustapha’s Practice Window
Safety Malik Mustapha was an important part of the 49ers’ defense in 2024, but a right ACL injury suffered in Week 18 has prevented him from taking the field this year. That could change soon, however, as the 49ers opened Mustapha’s practice window on Monday. They now have 21 days to activate him from the physically unable to perform list.
A fourth-round pick from Wake Forest last year, Mustapha emerged as a 12-game starter over 16 contests as a rookie. The 5-foot-10, 206-pounder added 72 tackles, five passes defensed, and an interception to serve as a bright spot during a disappointing season for the 49ers.
A rash of injuries helped lead to a 6-11 record last year for San Francisco, which saw Mustapha exit early in its season-ending loss to the Cardinals. Mustapha previously tore the ACL in his right knee in college, and the latest injury forced him to undergo offseason surgery to repair the issue. His recovery has gone well enough that he could debut as early as this Sunday for an intriguing showdown with 4-1 Tampa Bay.
Despite once again battling a slew of notable injuries this season (including to quarterback Brock Purdy, tight end George Kittle, and defensive end Nick Bosa, among others), the 49ers have joined the Buccaneers in starting 4-1. Their Robert Saleh-led defense, which is tied for eighth in the NFL in points per game allowed and 15th in yardage, has utilized safeties Marques Sigle and Jason Pinnock on 100 percent of snaps in Mustapha’s absence. Meanwhile, Ji’Ayir Brown has seen action on just over 15 percent of snaps. Any or all of those three could lose playing time when Mustapha rejoins the lineup.
Anthony Richardson, Russell Wilson, Kirk Cousins Not Drawing Trade Interest
With experienced starting quarterbacks Anthony Richardson (Colts), Russell Wilson (Giants), and Kirk Cousins (Falcons) occupying backup roles for their teams, it stands to reason any of the three could wind up on the move before the Nov. 4 trade deadline. However, four weeks into the season, nobody from that group has drawn interest, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reports.
Of that trio, Richardson is the least likely to change hands, according to Jones. The former fourth overall pick (2023) disappointed during his first two years in the league, and he then lost a preseason competition to Daniel Jones for the Colts’ starting job this summer. Jones has since gotten off to a surprisingly fast start for the 3-1 Colts, further calling Richardson’s future into question.
The Colts are inclined to keep Richardson through the season, though, as he’ll remain under team control in 2026. He has a fifth-year option for 2027 that Indianapolis will have to decide on in the offseason. Unless his stock rises dramatically this year, it would be a shock if the Colts exercised it.
With the Giants having benched Wilson for rookie Jaxson Dart in late September, the 36-year-old looks like the most logical trade candidate of this group. The Giants haven’t actively sought out offers for Wilson, per Jones, but that could change over the next month. They already have another veteran backup in Jameis Winston under contract for next season.
Wilson, on the other hand, is due to reach free agency again during the spring after signing a one-year, $10.5MM contract with the Giants. An acquiring team would take on Wilson’s prorated $2MM base salary while likely surrendering a Day 3 draft pick, Jones hears.
Despite a quality track record as a starter, it’s no surprise that Cousins hasn’t drawn interest. His contract – which comes with expensive guarantees in the form of a $27.5MM base salary this year and a $10MM roster bonus for 2026 – is prohibitive. The Falcons would reportedly want an acquiring team to take on Cousins’ financial commitments and give up a premium draft pick. Barring drastic changes, he’s likely to ride out the season as the backup to Michael Penix Jr.
Assuming none of Richardson, Wilson, or Cousins end up back in starting roles with their current teams, it may require a contending club(s) suffering a significant injury at QB for any of them to garner trade interest. The Bengals make sense as a potential suitor on paper, having lost starter Joe Burrow to a toe injury in Week 2. Burrow could miss three months (if not more), and backup Jake Browning has struggled mightily since taking the reins. Despite that, the Bengals remain confident in Browning. They also rarely swing in-season trades, and the Mike Brown-led organization may be unwilling to add to its payroll.
Beyond Cincinnati, the Ravens, Vikings, and 49ers are also dealing with injuries to their starters. The Ravens’ Lamar Jackson could miss multiple games with a hamstring injury, but they signed an experienced backup in Cooper Rush last March.
The Vikings also have a battle-tested reserve of their own, Carson Wentz, who’s playing in place of J.J. McCarthy as he recovers from an ankle sprain. As for the 49ers, they appear to be in great shape with No. 2 signal-caller Mac Jones, who has excelled filling in for Brock Purdy. With Purdy down with a toe injury, Jones has led the 49ers to three wins in as many starts.
Dolphins Expected To Release Tyreek Hill In 2026
After Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill suffered a season-ending knee injury in a win over the Jets on Monday, agent Drew Rosenhaus made it clear that his client wants to continue his career in Miami in 2026. It doesn’t appear Hill will get his wish, though. The Dolphins are expected to release the eight-time Pro Bowler before the new league year begins in March, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reports.
Even before Hill underwent surgery for a catastrophic injury (a dislocation and multiple ligament tears), it appeared his time in Miami was in jeopardy of ending soon. Hill may have been a trade candidate before the Nov. 4 deadline had he stayed healthy. He’ll now finish the year with the Dolphins, but they’ll then have to rework his contract or release him.
The 2026 campaign will be the last season of Hill’s current deal — a three-year, $90MM pact agreed to as a summer 2024 reworking. Hill has a bloated $51.9MM cap hit and a nonguaranteed base salary of $29.9MM for next season. A good portion of Hill’s salary ($11MM) and a $5MM roster bonus will become guaranteed if he’s still on the Dolphins’ roster on the third day of the league year.
Those figures obviously aren’t going to work for Miami, especially in the wake of Hill’s injury. It’s in question whether he’ll even be able to pass a physical in March, Jones notes. Releasing him then would still leave the Dolphins with a $15.5MM cap hit, but it’s nonetheless the most likely outcome.
Assuming the Dolphins release Hill and he’s healthy enough to play next year, they could still bring him back for a fifth season at a more team-friendly price. However, as Jones points out, there’s no guarantee the Dolphins’ current regime of general manager Chris Grier and head coach Mike McDaniel will stick around in 2026. At 1-3, the Dolphins are on track to miss the playoffs for the second year in a row. That could lead owner Stephen Ross to go in another direction in the front office and/or on the sidelines.
A new group of decision makers may be more inclined to move on from Hill, whose issues extend beyond recovering from a serious injury. He’s also a soon-to-be 32-year-old with declining production and significant off-field baggage, including domestic violence allegations that came to light in September.
Patriots Activate Jahlani Tavai From IR
The Patriots announced that they have activated linebacker Jahlani Tavai from injured reserve. Tavai will make his season debut against the division-rival Bills on Sunday.
Tavai, who missed the first four games after suffering a calf injury over the summer, earned a prominent role in New England over the past couple of years. A former Lions second-round pick, Tavai found himself on waivers after two seasons. The Patriots scooped him up prior to the 2021 campaign in a move that has worked out for both sides.
Before last season began, the Patriots signed Tavai to a three-year, $15MM contract extension. He then started in 16 of 17 games, finished second among Patriots defenders in snaps, and piled up 100-plus tackles (a team-high 115) for the second straight year.
Tavai will be playing his first game under new head coach Mike Vrabel and his staff on Sunday. With Vrabel at the helm, newcomer Robert Spillane has taken over as the Patriots’ snaps leader at linebacker. Tavai could be an important cog alongside him, though, especially considering the struggles of fellow linebacker Christian Elliss. While Elliss has played 59 percent of defensive snaps this year, Pro Football Focus ranks his performance 127th out of 132 qualifiers at his position.
Saints Activate Taysom Hill, Foster Moreau
Saints quarterback/tight end Taysom Hill and tight end Foster Moreau will make their 2025 debuts against the Giants on Sunday. The team announced that it has activated Hill and Moreau from the reserve/PUP list.
In corresponding moves, the Saints placed wide receiver Trey Palmer on injured reserve, waived tight end Moliki Matavao, and called up linebacker Eku Leota from the practice squad as a standard gameday elevation.
Hill suffered a season-ending ACL tear last December, limiting him to a career-low eight games in 2024 and shelving him for the first four contests this season. The ninth-year man returned to practice this week alongside Moreau, who’s also coming back from a late-2024 knee injury. Moreau hauled in 32 passes for 413 yards and five touchdowns in 17 games last year. In addition to the torn ACL, Hill informed Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football he tore all four ligaments in the posterolateral corner of his knee.
Without Hill and Moreau around, tight end Juwan Johnson has gotten almost 94 percent of offensive snaps early in the season. He leads the 0-4 Saints in receiving yards (204) and trails only No. 1 WR Chris Olave in catches (22).
In 2023, his most recent healthy season, Hill recorded personal bests in receptions (33), targets (40) and yards (291) over 16 games. Hill was featured more prominently in the running game, as he piled up 81 carries for 401 yards and four touchdowns. He was on an even better pace as a runner in 2024 (39 attempts, 278 yards, six TDs) before his season ended prematurely.
Known for his versatility, Hill is expected to function as the Saints’ backup quarterback behind Spencer Rattler on Sunday, Jeff Duncan of NOLA.com reports. That will relegate rookie Tyler Shough, a second-round pick, to the No. 3 role. The 35-year-old Hill has completed 193 of 302 passes for 2,369 yards, 11 touchdowns, and nine interceptions in the NFL.
Meanwhile, guard Cesar Ruiz – one of Rattler’s key protectors – has avoided the IR and is recovering well from the high ankle sprain he suffered in last week’s loss to the Bills, according to Triplett’s colleague Nick Underhill. Ruiz won’t play on Sunday, but it appears he’ll miss fewer than four games.
Titans Activate Tyjae Spears From IR
A prominent member of the Titans’ backfield is returning in time for a Week 5 meeting with the Cardinals. The Titans have activated running back Tyjae Spears from injured reserve, according to Jim Wyatt of the team’s website. They placed safety Mike Brown on IR in a corresponding move.
Spears missed the first four games of the season with an ankle injury, depriving Tennessee of its No. 2 back behind starter Tony Pollard. A third-round selection from Tulane in 2023, Spears appeared in 29 games in his first two seasons and picked up 184 carries for 765 yards (4.2 YPC) and six touchdowns. He also chipped in 82 receptions for 609 yards and another two scores, giving the Titans an effective pass catcher out of the backfield.
During an 0-4 start this season, the Titans have rushed for 348 yards – the fourth-lowest total in the league. Pollard has accounted for 261 of those yards, though he has averaged a career-low 3.8 per tote. Without Spears, the Titans couldn’t find a legitimate complement to Pollard. Rookie quarterback Cam Ward ranks second on the team in both rushes (nine) and yards (42). Julius Chestnut has totaled just five carries, meanwhile, and rookie sixth-rounder Kalel Mullings went on IR on Sept. 26 after receiving zero touches in his first two NFL games.
Brown, who’s dealing with a knee issue, hasn’t factored in on defense this season. Instead, the fourth-year man has played all 93 of his snaps on special teams. He’ll be unavailable for at least four games.
Along with their IR moves, the Titans elevated wide receiver James Proche and defensive back Kendell Brooks from the practice squad for Sunday’s contest. Proche, formerly with the Ravens and Browns, hasn’t seen any game action this year. The same is true of Brooks, who played in five games for the Titans in 2024.