NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/10/25
Friday’s practice squad transactions:
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: DE K.J. Henry
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: WR Cody White
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/10/25
Today’s minor moves as we head into the sixth weekend of the regular season:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: P Pat O’Donnell
Carolina Panthers
- Waived (with injury settlement): WR Dalevon Campbell
Miami Dolphins
- Released (with injury settlement): CB Cornell Armstrong
New England Patriots
- Placed on IR: RB Antonio Gibson (story)
Tennessee Titans
- Signed to active roster: S Kendell Brooks
Cardinals punter Blake Gillikin appeared on the injury report with a back injury in Week 2 but has been otherwise healthy without missing any game time throughout the season so far. Gillikin showed back up on Arizona’s injury report yesterday with his back ailing him once again. He didn’t participate in practice at all today, and it doesn’t look good for his chances on Sunday that the team signed O’Donnell.
Following the Colts’ signing of Michael Badgley on Tuesday, O’Donnell becomes the second veteran specialist out of Miami (FL) to get signed out of free agency this week. O’Donnell punted for the Bears for eight years after Chicago drafted him in the sixth-round in 2014. He spent one year after Chicago with the Packers but remained a free agent throughout the 2023 season. Last year, he got a similar call from the 49ers, who held on to him for eight games after Mitch Wishnowsky was sidelined for the second half of the season with a back injury.
O’Donnell won out in a punting competition with fellow free agents Jack Browning and Matt Haack.
Ravens Don’t Think Firing DC Zach Orr Is ‘The Answer’
OCTOBER 10: When speaking to the media ahead of the Ravens’ Week 6 game, Orr was asked about his job security. To little surprise, he indicated (via ESPN’s Jamison Hensley) he is not concerned about a firing at this point. It will be interesting to see if things change on this front after Sunday’s contest which will see Orr’s unit take on the NFL passing (Matthew Stafford) and receiving (Puka Nacua) leaders.
OCTOBER 5: Things have gone from bad to worse in Baltimore. An extremely tough opening slate that included trips to Buffalo and Kansas City in Weeks 1 and 4, not to mention a home matchup with the Lions in Week 3, resulted in a less than ideal 1-3 start. Today’s blowout loss to the Texans has put Baltimore in rare territory as they’ve given up 40 points per game against teams not from Cleveland. Still, defensive coordinator Zach Orr‘s job appears safe for now. 
In Week 1, the Ravens looked to be on their way towards a big win over the Bills, going up 40-25 with just under 12 minutes remaining. The Bills rattled off three straight scoring drives to win the game 41-40 and leave the Ravens sitting with a very familiar feeling. Over the last few years, Baltimore has seen several double-digit late-game leads disappear, but these games have usually been outliers.
Despite Mike Macdonald‘s defenses also being susceptible to the occasional late-game collapse, his two years coordinating for the Ravens saw the team give up the third-fewest points in 2022 and the fewest points in 2023. When Orr took over, there appeared to be a bit of a learning curve. Through the first 10 weeks of the season, Baltimore’s defense was 25th in scoring defense, 27th in total defense, and 32nd in pass defense. Orr made adjustments, players stepped up, and over the last six weeks of the season, the Ravens ranked 1st in all three categories to end up with the ninth-best scoring defense and 10th-best total defense in the NFL.
That made the late-game collapse in Buffalo all the more shocking. It seemed Orr had figured things out, but even though there were few personnel changes, it appeared the defense was back to its woeful ways of starting the season slow. A strong Week 2 performance from the defense gave a bit of hope for a quicker rebound than the prior year, but a 38-point outing for Detroit in the Ravens’ house brought some concern back into the picture.
A second factor began to emerge, though. Injuries began to stack up. Highly paid defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike and pass rusher Kyle Van Noy were the first absences that hurt the team’s ability to get to the quarterback. While Van Noy made his return today, Madubuike will miss the rest of the season, and he was joined on injured reserve by his fellow defensive tackle Broderick Washington. Madubuike’s fellow starter on the line, Travis Jones, would avoid IR but was also ruled out in Week 4, leaving a thin defensive front against Patrick Mahomes, a quarterback who thrives on extending the play.
The game against the Chiefs saw several additional injuries take out one starter after another. Already down three starters to open the game, at some point linebacker Roquan Smith and cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins all left the game. Injuries to left tackle Ronnie Stanley and star quarterback Lamar Jackson also affected the offense’s ability to give the defense a rest with long drives, leaving a depleted, exhausted unit on the field in Kansas City.
In today’s matchup against the Texans, five starters (Madubuike, Smith, Humphrey, cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, and star safety Kyle Hamilton) were not available to play. Jackson was held out, as well, resulting in the team’s worst loss since an injury-riddled 2021 campaign.
The 2024 Panthers set a record by allowing the most points in NFL history (534); the Ravens are on pace to allow 602. The 1966 Giants hold the all-time record for most points allowed per game, giving up 501 points in a 14-game season for a 35.79 average; Baltimore is currently allowing 35.4.
The issue could absolutely be on Orr’s shoulders. The early issues against Buffalo and Detroit can hardly be attributed to injuries, but the litany of injuries in the past two weeks have made it hard to blame the scheme and play-calling. Regardless, when asked, head coach John Harbaugh told the media he “does not think firing Zach Orr is the answer,” per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic.
Perhaps some of the short-term injuries quickly subside, and perhaps Orr engineers another midseason turnaround as impressive as the one last year. Whatever the expectation, Harbaugh has put his faith in Orr. If he’s not careful and the Ravens continue to flounder as the season goes on, he may just tie his fate to Orr’s, as well.
Giants Owner John Mara Declined Saquon Barkley’s Trade Request In 2023
This Thursday, the same day Eagles running back Saquon Barkley plays against his former Giants team in New York, a documentary titled Saquon will be released for streaming on Prime Video. Per Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post, the project divulges some new information, like how team owner John Mara declined Barkley’s request for a trade before he eventually hit free agency. 
The documentary follows Barkley as he goes through the trials and tribulations of his contact negotiations with New York that never quite worked out into a new deal. Barkley reportedly shows the emotional side of the ordeal, during which he considered brash moves like publicly demanding a trade or causing other sorts of online drama before ultimately allowing his better judgement to keep him from acting on impulse.
Dunleavy details a part of the documentary that takes place “at the height of (Barkley’s) frustration,” on the final day in 2023 for franchise-tagged players to sign long-term extensions. On the day, Barkley reportedly asked Mara directly for permission to seek a trade.
“I’m not going to do that,” Mara said in response, per Dunleavy. “That makes no sense for us. To be honest with you, it’s not going to be in your long-term best interest to do that. There’s no way that I would allow that at this point. You are too valuable to this franchise.”
Barkley’s value to the franchise was apparently too great to consider trading, but seemingly not great enough to pay. In the project, Barkley laments how he would’ve settled for $10MM or $11MM per year, if New York had just operated with an air of mutual respect. Instead, as he tried to meet them in the middle, the Giants never seemed to budge an inch.
Barkley explained how he believed he was being “spitefully penalized for not accepting the Giants’ first contract offer,” one made during the team’s bye week in 2022. That deal would’ve given him only $18MM guaranteed over a three-year period when the franchise tag at that time guaranteed $10.1MM in just a single year alone.
While Mara was obviously looking out for the team’s best interest in not permitting Barkley to seek trade interest, a warning had come from general manager Joe Schoen months earlier telling the top brass not to grant the request to Barkley. Barkley had suggested the idea of having his agent quietly call around to gauge his market to aid him in his negotiations, but Schoen warned him off of it, “hinting that he would want a first- or second-round pick in return.”
As history recalls, no trades took place, even as the Giants crossed the 2023 trade deadline with a 2-6 record, and when final offers were exchanged between team and player, the two sides were less than $2MM apart in both total value and total guarantees. Barkley signed the three-year, $37.75MM deal in Philadelphia with $26MM guaranteed, and after a record-setting 2024 campaign that many assert would not have been possible in New York, the Eagles extended his contract another two years for $41.2MM.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/7/25
Today’s practice squad moves in the NFL:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: S Patrick McMorris
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: CB Jalen Kimber, LB Baylon Spector
- Released: LB Otis Reese
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: CB Keion Crossen, G Darrian Dalcourt
- Released: S Israel Mukuamu, G Aiden Williams
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: S Julius Wood
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: CB Troy Pride Jr.
- Released: CB Mike Hilton
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: WR Tim Jones
- Released: WR Erik Ezukanma
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: P Brad Robbins
Minnesota Vikings
- Released: T Matt Waletzko
New England Patriots
- Signed: RB Jashaun Corbin
- Released: G Royce Newman
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: WR Ronnie Bell, TE Moliki Matavao
- Released: T Sataoa Laumea, WR Tommy Mellott
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Released: LB Ja’Whaun Bentley
San Francisco 49ers
- Released: S Jaylen Mahoney
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: RB Owen Wright
- Released: G Sua Opeta
Tennessee Titans
- Released: CB Alex Johnson
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/7/25
Here are Tuesday’s minor NFL moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Practice window opened: DT Ta’Quon Graham
Chicago Bears
- Practice window opened: RB Travis Homer
- Designated to return from IR: DE Austin Booker
Indianapolis Colts
- Placed on IR: K Spencer Shrader (story)
The Falcons and Bears have opened the 21-day practice windows for three injured reserve players today. All three will have the next three weeks in which they can participate in practice until they are completely cleared and able to be activated off of IR at any time during that window. If they fail to be activated after 21 days, they will revert to IR and will not be eligible to be activated to the active roster again this season.
Technically, Graham and Homer were already designated to return in the preseason. At the roster cut deadline, each team can designate two players on IR to be eligible to return after missing at least four games of the regular season. Any other players on IR when the initial 53-man roster is set will not be eligible to return to the roster during that year. Graham and Homer were both one of those designations for their respective teams.
Booker, on the other hand, was placed on IR after the roster cut deadline and has just now been designated to return. The protocol from here on out for each player will be the same.
Giants Looking More At Depth Than Impact At WR
After losing star second-year wide receiver Malik Nabers to a season-ending ACL tear, no one would blame the Giants for aggressively pursuing a replacement, but so far, no such efforts have been made. In fact, the team came out earlier this week to say that they are unlikely to pursue any additions at the position. 
Seeming to go against that claim, though, New York hosted a number of pass catchers this week for tryouts, per Pat Leonard of NY Daily News Sports. These were not veteran free agents that were getting their tires kicked. The visitors included Michael Woods, Rakim Jarrett, Brandon Johnson, and Samori Toure, who ended up signing to the Broncos practice squad today.
So, based on the lack of interest in impact veterans available on the free agent market or on other teams’ practice squads and based on the lack of trade talks for impact receivers, it seems clear that the Giants have faith in the abilities of their current receiving corps; they’re more concerned with depth. With Nabers, Da’Quan Felton, and Bryce Ford-Wheaton all on injured reserve, the Giants only have five wideouts on the 53-man roster: Wan’Dale Robinson, Darius Slayton, Jalin Hyatt, Beaux Collins, and Gunner Olszewski. New York also rosters veterans Lil’Jordan Humphrey and Ihmir Smith-Marsette and rookie Dalen Cambre on the practice squad.
Even with the options on the taxi squad, the Giants decided not to utilize one of their two allotted standard gameday practice squad elevations on the position, shocking Dan Duggan of The Athletic, who expected Humphrey’s name to get called. While Robinson and Slayton have shown their ability to be impact players on the offense, this situation is being viewed as an opportunity for the former third-round pick, Hyatt, to step up in a big way. Over his first two seasons, Hyatt has disappointed with only 31 catches for 435 yards and no scores.
Duggan, though, has put forth a theory that Collins, an undrafted rookie out of Notre Dame, will get the majority of looks at WR3. Collins had a couple more snaps than Hyatt in Week 3, while Hyatt just edged out Collins for more snaps last week. Either way, it appears New York is intent on utilizing what it has on hand to run their passing game, while looking to replenish the back end of the group with potential practice squad additions.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/5/25
We have a rare Sunday transaction today:
Denver Broncos
- Signed: WR Samori Toure
Toure’s name came up earlier this week when he was hosted by the Giants following their loss of Malik Nabers. The former seventh-round pick for the Packers hasn’t played in a game since 2023, and in 22 games with Green Bay, he only reeled in 13 catches for 160 yards and a touchdown.
Unless one of them is released to make room for Toure on the practice squad, Toure will join three other receivers on Denver’s taxi squad. The Broncos only carry five receivers on their 53-man roster, so all four pass catchers on the practice squad stand a decent chance of being called up in case of injury.
Reasoning For Shedeur Sanders’ Role As QB3
Opinions ran rampant this week when it was announced that the Browns would allow rookie third-round quarterback Dillon Gabriel his first career start. Nobody was angry about Gabriel getting his shot, but the additional announcement that the demoted veteran, Joe Flacco, would serve as the primary backup to Gabriel with fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders remaining QB3 had people up in arms. 
Opinions have always varied on Sanders. Once considered a candidate to be the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, Sanders suffered an unprecedented slide into the fifth round. Ever since arriving in Cleveland, Gabriel has consistently sat above Sanders in the pecking order, while both players were below Flacco and Kenny Pickett as they battled for the starting job. That’s why it made sense that, when Flacco won the job and Pickett was traded away, Gabriel was named QB2 and Sanders QB3.
But, if the Browns are willing to give one rookie quarterback a look over Flacco, why wouldn’t they also extend that courtesy on the depth chart to Sanders and make him QB2? According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, there is a very good reason.
The Browns don’t appear to be a team headed to a championship game this season, and while Flacco may give the franchise its best chance at winning games this year, he doesn’t factor into their long-term prospects, whereas both rookies could. One reason Gabriel could have some success as a rookie, though, comes down to just how different he is from Flacco.
Aside from the obvious age difference, Gabriel is quite a bit more mobile than Flacco, quite a bit smaller than Flacco, and quite a bit more left-handed than Flacco. Additionally, his consistency in avoiding turnovers in college gave the team some hope that they could put an end to the poor early-season trends. Through the first four weeks of the season, Flacco threw at least one interception in each game, totaling six picks and two lost fumbles. Today’s start with Gabriel under center was the Browns’ first this season without a turnover.
While these attributes differ Gabriel from Flacco a good deal, they also fail to align much with Sanders. Because Cleveland is now running an offense specifically catered to Gabriel, it would be difficult for either Flacco or Sanders to step into the offense if Gabriel is hurt or struggling. If this were to happen, though, Flacco’s experience and leadership as a captain of the team make him the best option to find success in an unfamiliar offense.
Putting Sanders into that position for his first ever NFL action would do him a disservice. It would be difficult for Sanders to thrive in Gabriel’s offense, and per Rapoport, “the Browns want Sanders to be successful when he’s out there.” When Cleveland finally makes the call to give Sanders a shot at the QB1 role, they want him to do so in an offense catered to him instead of one catered to the shorter, shifty, left-handed Hawaiian. So, unless multiple injuries take place, Sanders won’t be making a surprise debut; it should be announced in advance giving the team a week (or more) to develop a gameplan.
In the meantime, Sanders has continued to improve while out of the spotlight. He’s had to make up a lot of ground on Gabriel ever since they were drafted, and though he holds the official QB3 designation, there’s reason to believe he may also get an opportunity to take the reins of the offense at some point this season. Whenever that occurs, though, it’ll be after the Browns are able to design and practice a gameplan just for him.
Former NFL QB Mark Sanchez Facing Three Misdemeanor Charges
OCTOBER 5: Sanchez was formally charged on Sunday, as detailed by Ganote’s colleague Vickie Binkley. The 38-year-old is facing three misdemeanor charges (battery resulting in injury, public intoxication and unlawful entry of a motor vehicle) as a result of the incident. Court documents state surveillance footage “closely matches” the account provided by the alleged victim.
OCTOBER 4, 10:10pm: Seemingly confirming the police narrative originally reported, the IMPD has released a second statement announcing that Sanchez has been arrested at the hospital on four misdemeanor allegations of battery, injury, unlawful entry of a motor vehicle, and public intoxication.
The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office is responsible for making the final decision on what charges will officially be made, at which point Sanchez will eventually be able to make a plea and defend his position. At this time, Sanchez has not been booked into IMPD’s Adult Detention Center and remains in the hospital.
2:46pm: News broke today that FOX Sports NFL color analyst Mark Sanchez was injured today in Indianapolis, per a statement from his current employer. ESPN reports that Sanchez is in stable condition after being stabbed.
A statement from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department’s official X account claims the police are “investigating a physical disturbance” that happened “around 12:30 a.m.” this morning. It goes on to say “the incident involved two adult males, resulting in one man receiving lacerations and the other sustaining injuries consistent with stab wounds.
According to Angela Ganote of FOX59 Morning News, the police narrative paints Sanchez as the aggressor. Her sources indicate that “Sanchez was not cooperative with police when they first arrived on the scene.” Ultimately, Sanchez was taken to the hospital in critical condition and underwent surgery.
The man responsible for stabbing Sanchez told the police that he was delivering food when Sanchez “told him he needed to move and couldn’t park where he was.” He alleges that Sanchez began “threatening and following him and then attacked him.” He claims to have attempted to utilize pepper spray as a first line of defense, but when that didn’t work, he resigned to defending himself with a knife. Per Ganote, the police noted “a significant injury” to the face of the man.
It’s important to note that the police narrative stems solely from the statements of those involved and any witnesses. To this point, Sanchez has not yet been interviewed to give his version of events. The 38-year-old former NFL quarterback was scheduled to be part of the broadcast crew in the Raiders-Colts matchup this weekend but will no longer be available for the contest.