NFL Minor Transactions: 9/19/25
Here is today’s only minor NFL transaction:
Seattle Seahawks
- Released: WR Cody White
White appears to be a frequent flier back and forth on the Seahawks’ roster and practice squad. Shortly after working as a return man on kickoffs in Week 1, White was released and immediately signed to the practice squad to make room for another player on the 53-man roster. That player was released on Wednesday, allowing White to move back up to the active roster, but now White appears to be headed back to the practice squad, opening up a spot on Seattle’s roster for this weekend.
Commanders Set For Return To DC
As expected, the Commanders received good news today as it was announced that the D.C. Council voted to approve the RFK Stadium Project, allowing the franchise to return to the site of its former home of 36 years. A statement from team owner Josh Harris announced Washington’s plans moving forward. 
“Today is a historic day for D.C., the Commanders organization, and our fans,” the statement began. “With the Council’s approval, we can now move forward on the transformative RFK Project that will bring lasting economic growth for our city.”
Harris went on to thank Mayor Mureil Bowser and several other contributors before concluding, “We are deeply grateful for the warm return to the District and the center of the DMV, and look forward to officially bringing the team back to its spiritual home in 2030.”
A month and a half ago, Harris and Co. cleared a huge hurdle in getting the first vote to pass 9-3 after severe challenges were present from the project’s conception. An incredibly unlikely unanimous congressional vote from all 100 senators allowed Congress to lease the federal land, on which the stadium was to be built, to the city for 99 years. Following the good news, a deal was struck consisting of a $2.7BB investment from the team towards the stadium and a $1BB investment “through various means” from the city for the development of housing, a sports complex, and retail shops on the 174-acre property.
Even after some feckless threats from the commander-in-chief, the D.C. Council pushed the deal through to today’s second vote. After today’s vote passed 11-2, per David Aldridge of The Athletic, the deal will now move on to Bowser’s desk. There’s little doubt whether or not it will get approved from there. Bowser has championed the project and heralded the passing of each obstacle as a victory.
According to ESPN’s John Keim, who’s chronicled this saga from the beginning, there were some last-second scares that could’ve threatened everything. Per Keim, an amendment to the deal was proposed that “called for a $10MM penalty per year if the Commanders did not meet the timeline to build housing.” That amendment — one of 12 — was rejected by the council.
After clearing several hurdles to get to this point, the RFK Stadium Project should be on the final home stretch. The franchise will now have five years to make the nine-mile trek back from Landover, MD.
Buccaneers RG Cody Mauch Out For Season
The Buccaneers offensive line continues to deal with injuries, and the latest one is a doozy. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, starting right guard Cody Mauch suffered a season-ending knee injury in Monday night’s victory in Houston. 
Tampa Bay has yet to see star left tackle Tristan Wirfs in a game this season. He avoided landing on an injured list to start the year as he works his way back from an arthroscopic knee surgery, and he returned to practice last week. Right tackle Luke Goedeke left the Buccaneers without either of their starting tackles when he left Monday’s game after only 15 snaps with a reinjured foot.
The news about Mauch comes as more of a surprise. The third-year guard didn’t leave the field at all on Monday night. This injury was suffered in the game, though, per Schefter, and whatever the nature of the knee injury turns out to be, Mauch was able to play through it to finish the game. It’s a really tough blow for the 26-year-old, who hadn’t missed a game since getting drafted in the second round out of North Dakota State in 2023.
Wirfs is continuing to practice and work his way back to the field, though it’s unclear if he’ll be ready for Week 3. Goedeke has not practiced this week, and though it’s still early, some have labeled him as doubtful to play this weekend. If either can’t go, it’s been Graham Barton filling in for Wirfs at left tackle, and it was Charlie Heck who came in to cover right tackle for Goedeke on Monday. Both have struggled in their respective substitute positions, so Tampa Bay will be eagerly awaiting good news on Wirfs and Goedeke.
The Bucs currently do not roster much depth on the offensive line, seemingly preferring to carry more bodies elsewhere. With two backups already employed, only last year’s sixth-round pick Elijah Klein and undrafted rookie Benjamin Chukwuma stand as backup options. Because of the scarcity, Tampa Bay is expected to sign interior offensive lineman Dan Feeney off of the Bills‘ practice squad, as first reported by Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. Greg Auman of FOX Sports adds that the team is expected to hold a workout tomorrow that will feature, at the very least, veteran offensive guard Sua Opeta, who spent the offseason with the team but failed to make the 53-man roster.
Feeney, 31, likely stands a better chance at stepping into a starting role for the Buccaneers than the inexperienced Klein and Chukwuma. As a 2017 third-round pick, Feeney spent three of his first four seasons in the league as a full-time starter for the Chargers at both left guard and center. After departing in free agency, Feeney struggled to find another role as a full-time starter, but he still found plenty of opportunities to get on the field, earning eight spot starts in the four years since leaving Los Angeles.
Tampa Bay will hope to see its luck on the offensive line turn around soon. Though Wirfs is working his way back to the field and Goedeke will continue to be evaluated throughout the week, there’s a chance the Buccaneers could be without three starters on the offensive line in this week’s game against the Jets. They know for sure, though, that they’ll be without Mauch, and that will continue to hold true for the rest of the season.
Cardinals Place CB Garrett Williams On IR
Despite walking away with a win this weekend, the Cardinals gave up 328 passing yards to Bryce Young and the Panthers. One reason for that may have been injuries to top corners Garrett Williams, Max Melton, and rookie Will Johnson. Melton and Johnson look like they’ll be fine, but Williams has been placed on injured reserve, per Cardinals staff writer Darren Urban. 
Defensive lineman L.J. Collier will reportedly join Williams on IR. A main contributor a year ago after starting 15 games in 2024, Collier has spent the first two weeks of the new season as more of a depth piece on the team’s newly revamped defensive line. The depth hurts, though, as they still await the debut of first-round defensive tackle Walter Nolen.
It’s an unfortunate loss for Arizona with Williams coming off a sophomore campaign in which Pro Football Focus (subscription required) rated him as the third-best cornerback in the NFL. Melton and Johnson are the team’s starting cornerbacks on the outside, while Williams is the primary nickelback of the Cardinals secondary.
It was a knee injury that Williams suffered on Sunday. The team didn’t go into specifics on the injury, but obviously, it’s enough to keep him off the field for at least four weeks. Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon didn’t seem too worried, though, claiming that both Williams and Collier could return at some point in the season. Melton was back at practice today and looked unbothered by his own knee injury, while Johnson didn’t practice today but will continue to be evaluated throughout the rest of the week.
In the meantime, fifth-round rookie Denzel Burke stepped up in a big way in his debut on the team’s defense — Burke played only on special teams in Week 1. Third-year corner Kei’Trel Clark saw an increase in snap count, as well. Clark probably has the best chance to fill the slot cornerback role of Williams’. In extremely limited playing time last season, Clark spent about 39 percent of his time in the slot.
Another option to compete for the nickel role is Darren Hall, who was called up from the practice squad to take Williams’ spot on the active roster. Two more practice squad slots were made vacant when defensive tackle Elijah Simmons was signed to Tampa Bay’s active roster and linebacker Elliott Brown was released. Filling the three newly vacant slots are defensive tackle Zachary Carter, defensive tackle Kyon Barrs, and cornerback Ekow Boye-Doe.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/17/25
Today’s midweek practice squad moves:
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: C Wesley French
Houston Texans
- Signed: CB Ajani Carter
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: T Sataoa Laumea, G William Sherman
- Released: QB Hunter Dekkers
New York Giants
- Signed: CB LaMareon James
- Released: CB Dee Williams
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: TE Matt Sokol
- Released: TE J.J. Galbreath, WR Rakim Jarrett
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: T Brandon Parker
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: CB Shaquill Griffin
NFL Minor Transactions: 9/17/25
Here are Wednesday’s minor transactions:
Houston Texans
- Signed off Browns’ practice squad: TE Brenden Bates
- Placed on IR: WR Justin Watson
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed off Vikings’ practice squad: S Kahlef Hailassie
New Orleans Saints
- Signed to active roster: S Terrell Burgess
- Placed on IR: DT Vernon Broughton
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: G Kenyon Green
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed to active roster: DE DeMarvin Leal
- Placed on IR: DE Isaiahh Loudermilk
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed to active roster: WR Cody White
- Released: CB Shaquill Griffin
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed off Cardinals’ practice squad: DT Elijah Simmons
- Placed on IR: DT Calijah Kancey (story)
Broughton, the third-round rookie out of Texas, is expected to miss the remainder of the season with a hip injury, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. The team sought multiple opinions on the injury and was unsure about whether or not surgery would be necessary, but the “significant” hip issue will shut him down for the year.
Green rejoins the reigning champs, once again. It’s been a rollercoaster of employment for the 24-year-old guard, who failed to make the initial 53-man roster in Philadelphia, signed to the practice squad, was promoted back to the active roster, and then was waived two days after the team’s season opener.
Loudermilk had been working as a starter for the first time in his five-year career, but he will miss at least the next four games with a high ankle sprain. Leal, a 2022 third-round pick out of Texas A&M, has disappointed in his first three years of play. After moving to more of an outside linebacker role this summer, Leal failed to make the initial 53-man roster but was retained to the practice squad. He’ll take Loudermilk’s spot on the active roster for the time being.
Per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2, Watson has been sidelined indefinitely with a calf muscle and Achilles injury. The tendon is not torn, so it may not be season-ending, and Watson could return at some point down the line. Luckily, the receiving corps is set to return some reinforcements as head coach DeMeco Ryans announced that both Christian Kirk and Braxton Berrios are expected to be back in Week 3. Wilson also reports that tight end Cade Stover had successful surgery recently for his broken foot.
Steelers OLB Alex Highsmith Suffers High Ankle Sprain
SEPTEMBER 15: Rapoport reports Highsmith is not expected to land on injured reserve. As such, a return within the next four weeks will be possible.
SEPTEMBER 14: The Steelers experienced a letdown in their home opener today with a loss to the visiting Seahawks, but a player lost due to injury could have longer-lasting reverberations over the next few weeks. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, head coach Mike Tomlin disclosed that pass rusher Alex Highsmith has suffered a high-ankle sprain. 
High-ankle sprains don’t have a great reputation in the NFL. The injury typically holds an average recovery timeline of around 10 weeks. There’s always a chance that Highsmith’s could be a more minor occurrence, but even that would likely mean a four- to six-week absence with a stint on injured reserve.
This has been an unfortunate trend for Pittsburgh over the last year or so. In 2024, Highsmith missed two separate three-week periods. A groin injury sidelined him after only three games, then after three games back on the field, an ankle injury forced the Charlotte product out for another three games.
Highsmith has been a key contributor to the Steelers defense since getting drafted by the team in the third round in 2020. After coming off the bench as a rookie, Highsmith has been a full-time starter in every year since. Before last year’s absences, he had only missed a single game. He exploded onto the scene in his third season with a 14.5-sack performance, earning himself a four-year, $68MM extension.
He hasn’t reached double-digit sack totals since then, but he routinely contributes to a defense that features other talented pass rushers like T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward. The Steelers like a lot of the pieces they have in place along the defense and young backups like Nick Herbig and fourth-round rookie Jack Sawyer could step up big in Highsmith’s absence. Still, a potential IR stint could make things difficult as the injuries continue to stack up in Pittsburgh.
Long Absence Feared For Bengals’ Joe Burrow
Updates continue to pour in on the toe injury suffered by Bengals star quarterback Joe Burrow. The toe injury was confirmed to be turf toe with speculation that several weeks could be up in the air for the sixth-year passer. At this point, each update seems to paint a darker picture. 
ESPN’s Adam Schefter was the first to provide new information, reporting that images of the 28-year-old quarterback’s turf toe injury were “being sent to noted foot specialist” Dr. Robert Anderson to be reviewed. Schefter noted that, should surgery be necessary, a three-month absence would be expected for Burrow, who was seen in a walking boot and on crutches after leaving today’s game. Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports was the next to add on that Burrow is undergoing additional tests and that Cincinnati expects to have full details Monday.
NFL Network’s duo of Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero closely followed with the specifics that Burrow “is feared to have suffered a Grade 3 turf toe injury,” that the injury was severe with torn ligaments, and that it would likely require surgery, keeping in line with Schefter’s three-month timeline.
Local beat reporter Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer noted that, with Grade 3 turf toe injuries often estimated with two- to six-month recovery timelines, Burrow’s situation is brutal but not the worst-case scenario.
In line with that thinking, Rapoport points out that three months from now is December 14. That date coincides with the Bengals’ Week 15 game against the Ravens. If backup quarterback Jake Browning can keep Cincinnati anywhere near the playoff chase in Burrow’s absence, Burrow may be able to return in time to play three or four games to get back into potential playoff shape. That would require a lot of things to go incredibly right for the Bengals, but all hope may not be lost.
Browning has been with the team since 2021, winning the primary backup job — and, with it, a spot on the 53-man roster — in 2023. That year, unfortunately, saw Burrow go down with a season-ending wrist injury, and Browning came in to finish out the season. After a 5-5 start with Burrow under center, the Bengals finished 4-3 over their last seven games of the season as Browning led them to a 9-8 final record. Browning proved to be a reliable backup in that stretch of games, completing 70.4 percent of his passes for 12 touchdowns.
Browning will be tested immediately as the Bengals embark on a five-game stretch of 2024 playoff teams with the Vikings, Broncos, Lions, Packers, and Steelers immediately on the horizon. If Browning and his arsenal of offensive weapons can keep the team above water, there’s a chance he may be able to hand the keys back to Burrow in time for a potential playoff run. That’s what the Bengals will be focusing on if they receive bad news tomorrow.
Browns Not Considering Change At QB
We’re two weeks into the 2025 season, and the Browns sit, once again, in the AFC North’s basement. The NFL season is long, lots can change, and head coach Kevin Stefanski understands that. That’s why, today, he told the media that he is not considering a quarterback change at the moment, according to Zac Jackson of The Athletic. 
A rough start may have been expected given a brutal opening stretch of games that started with the Bengals before heading to a string of 2024 playoff squads in the Ravens, Packers, Lions, Vikings, and Steelers. With so many high-profile matchups to open up their 2025 campaign, it was clear that veteran Joe Flacco gave Cleveland its best chance at finding some victories across that gauntlet.
After several attempts throughout the offseason to land a top-tier quarterback through trade (Matthew Stafford), free agency (Russell Wilson), and the draft (Cam Ward) the Browns ended up with the stable of Flacco, Kenny Pickett, and mid-round rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. When Pickett was traded for the second time in one offseason, many assumed that Cleveland had its eyes on the 2026 quarterback draft class, which posed a couple questions for how the Browns would handle their season.
Flacco was set in place to start the season and try to win as many games as could be expected with the early playoff slate. Though Week 1 ended in a loss, Flacco cut it loose in the one-point game, throwing for 290 yards. Today’s contest in his familiar old home of Baltimore, Flacco didn’t fare nearly as well against the Ravens. In the 41-17 route, Flacco found the bench late in the fourth quarter, and Gabriel made his NFL debut.
Though, Gabriel completed all three of his pass attempts for 19 yards and a touchdown, there will be no QB controversy as a result. Flacco’s benching appeared to be more of a safety measure, as the game was clearly out of reach and there was no point in the veteran continuing to face a defense that totaled nine quarterback hits on the day.
Based on Stefanski’s comments, Flacco will be back under center to start against the Packers next Sunday. Gabriel may see time again if things get out of hand for either team, and injuries are always possible, but it’s seemingly still too early in the season to give up Flacco, who proved two years ago that he could win games in this system and take this team to the playoffs. It’s important to realize, though, that, at 40 years old, Flacco is not the future of the position in Cleveland.
If, at any point, the season gets out of hand and the playoffs fall out of reach, then it may behoove the team’s decision makers to see what they have in their rookie quarterbacks. Gabriel and/or Sanders may end up developing into difference-makers at the position given some time and experience in NFL games, and if Flacco isn’t going to deliver the team to the playoffs, it would be worth it to see what either quarterback has to offer. At this point, though, it may do more harm than good to put Gabriel and Sanders up against a slew of playoff defenses.
Cowboys, G Tyler Smith Agree To Record-Setting Extension
The Cowboys continue to make deals after fumbling the big one in the dying days of the preseason. Dallas has agreed to an extension with starting left guard Tyler Smith that will make him the highest-paid player at his position, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
The terms show a four-year, $96MM agreement that includes $81.2MM in guarantees, $16.4MM of which will be in the form of a signing bonus, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer. Smith’s $24MM annual average value is the highest for an offensive guard in NFL history. 
As a result of failing to act quickly on past extensions for key contributors like quarterback Dak Prescott, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, and pass rusher Micah Parsons, Cowboys owner/team president/general manager Jerry Jones ended up reacting to huge market changes at all three positions. This left Dallas paying more than it might have needed to on extensions for Prescott and Lamb and trading away Parsons to a team with whom he was willing to negotiate.
With any potential Parsons deal taken off their plate, the Cowboys immediately shifted their attention to where else they might dedicate their money. Actually, they knew where to look, as they had keyed in on Smith, cornerback DaRon Bland, tight end Jake Ferguson, and kicker Brandon Aubrey as players they wanted new deals for early in the offseason. Ferguson was the first to get his deal in July. Bland was next to sign his deal, and fullback Hunter Luepke got a surprise extension, as well, to open September in the days after Parsons’ departure.
This time, it’s Smith’s turn. After letting it be known that they had their eyes on an extension for the fourth-year guard, Dallas picked up his fifth-year option. It didn’t seem likely that the Cowboys would allow Smith to play out Year 5 on the option. Because all offensive line positions are grouped together when calculating the fifth-year option salaries, guards and centers rarely see their options picked up as prices are driven up by offensive tackles.
What picking up his option did, though, was show Smith they were serious about keeping (and paying) him and add an extra year of time for a deal to get done. It also allowed Smith to go into the regular season — after failing to get a new deal secured before the season opener — feeling secure that a deal was on its way. The 24-year-old switched up his representation shortly after his option was picked up in anticipation of the deal getting done.
The two sides clearly didn’t let the start of the regular season keep them from working out a contract, and there was plenty of anticipation for it to be a record-setting one. Because they had picked up his fifth-year option, Smith became the first Cowboy since former running back Ezekiel Elliott to sign an extension with multiple years left on his contract, per Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports.
In only three full years of play, Smith already has three accolades to his name as a two-time Pro Bowler and a second-team All-Pro, all earned during the two seasons in which he started at guard. In his rookie season, his sole season not at guard, Smith stepped in for an injured Tyron Smith to start every game of the season but one at left tackle.
In that rookie campaign, during which he unexpectedly started as Prescott’s blindside blocker, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) graded Smith as the league’s 25th-best tackle out of 81 players graded at the position. When he bumped back in to guard in his sophomore campaign, PFF slotted him in at 11th of 79. He followed that up last year with a ranking of 15th out of 77 guards. Despite the varying relative position rankings, Smith’s overall grades have been consistently strong and have improved year after year.
Not only is Smith among the cream of the crop at his normal position, but the 24-year-old has also proven he can play at a high level as a tackle if need be. Smith is young and talented and likely has room to grow yet. The deal secures Smith as the key cog of the offensive line through the 2030 NFL season as Dallas continues use the money not spent on Parsons to hold on to every other player that it intended to pay.