Jets S Andre Cisco Suffers Pectoral Tear
The Jets may have earned their first win of the season this weekend, but it didn’t come without its lumps. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, starting safety Andre Cisco has sustained “a pectoral tear that needs repair.” 
Cisco came to New York on a one-year, $8.5MM deal following the expiration of his rookie contract as a third-round pick in Jacksonville. Over his time with the Jaguars, Cisco quickly inserted himself into the defensive gameplan, earning a full-time starting job by his sophomore season. He showed impressive ball skills, logging seven interceptions and 15 passes defensed in his first two years as a starter, but failed to capitalize on a contract year, leading to the one-year contract he signed.
New head coach Aaron Glenn brought his defensive mindset from Detroit, and star cornerback Sauce Gardner has looked strong alongside a career year for newcomer Brandon Stephens and a strong sophomore campaign for Jarvis Brownlee Jr. The team has been decently middle-of-the-road in passing yards allowed, but they’ve given up the fourth-most passing touchdowns in the NFL, and they’re the only team in the NFL without an interception.
So far this season, the safeties have been a weak spot for the Jets defense. Tony Adams, who began the season as the starter next to Cisco, was benched after Week 4 in favor of fourth-round rookie Malachi Moore, who hasn’t fared much better. The only other player currently labeled as a safety on the roster is former nickelback Isaiah Oliver, though undrafted rookie Dean Clark resides on the practice squad.
The severity of the repair is not apparent from Fowler’s report. With a complete tear, the “repair” in question would be a surgical one requiring months of recovery and rehabilitation. If Cisco suffered only a minor tear, though, the team may be able to treat it non-surgically and have him back quicker after some rest.
Either way, if Cisco is forced to miss any time, it will be at the detriment of an already thin position group. New York will likely need to seek reinforcements, though they’ve been identified pretty clearly more as sellers than buyers in the trade market. More likely, they may look to add depth out of the existing free agent pool.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/28/25
Today’s practice squad transactions from across the NFL:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: CB AJ Woods
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: T Michael Tarquin
- Released: CB Michael Reid
Denver Broncos
- Released: OLB Garrett Nelson, WR Samori Toure
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: WR Justin Shorter
- Released: LB Brian Asamoah II
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: WR Tyler Scott
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: CB Ethan Robinson
- Placed on practice squad/injured list: CB Kendall Sheffield
Minnesota Vikings
- Released: S K’Von Wallace
New England Patriots
- Signed: RB Rushawn Baker, RB Jonathan Ward
- Placed on practice squad/injured list: RB Jashaun Corbin
New York Giants
- Signed: LB Swayze Bozeman
- Released: WR Juice Wells Jr.
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: CB Parry Nickerson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: S Darrick Forrest
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: T Andre Dillard
- Released: T Brandon Parker
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: CB Kemon Hall, WR Hal Presley
- Released: LB Ochaun Mathis
Washington Commanders
- Released: K Matthew Wright
The Steelers have seen injuries ravage their secondary in recent weeks. They made a big move not long ago to address the position, but Forrest comes in with some additional experience, providing depth at safety.
The 49ers are letting go of Parker, a former third-round pick who failed to find success with the Raiders, in order to make room for Dillard, a former first-round pick who failed to ever establish himself as a full-time starter in the NFL. Dillard spent the offseason with San Francisco, eventually getting released from injured reserve with an injury settlement. He’s been a free agent ever since and now signs his first ever practice squad deal.
After getting signed to the Commanders’ practice squad to fill in for an injured Matt Gay last night, Wright returns to free agency. In a low-scoring Sunday night affair, Wright made his only kick — a single extra point attempt.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/28/25
Here are Tuesday’s minor NFL moves as the headlines are taken up by bigger names due to the impending trade deadline:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: DT Tommy Akingbesote
Carolina Panthers
- Signed off 49ers’ practice squad: OLB Trevis Gipson
- Waived: DT Jaden Crumedy
Chicago Bears
- Activated from IR: DE Austin Booker
- Placed on IR: DL Shemar Turner (story)
Cincinnati Bengals
- Placed on IR: LB Shaka Heyward, C Matt Lee
- Released: DT Mike Pennel
Denver Broncos
- Activated from commissioners/suspended list: LB Dre Greenlaw
- Released: QB Sam Ehlinger
Los Angeles Chargers
- Practice window opened: CB Deane Leonard
Los Angeles Rams
- Released: CB Tre Brown
Miami Dolphins
- Placed on IR: CB Storm Duck (story)
New York Giants
- Claimed off waivers (from Browns): CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse
- Placed on IR: RB Cam Skattebo (story)
New York Jets
- Waived: WR Brandon Smith
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Waived (with injury settlement): DT Domenique Davis
Tennessee Titans
- Signed off Packers’ practice squad: CB Micah Robinson
- Signed off Patriots’ practice squad: OLB Truman Jones
- Placed on IR: OLB Ali Gaye
The Bengals cleared out a few roster spots today as Heyward will need about four weeks to work his way back from a hairline fracture in his fibula. Pennel, a 12-year veteran on the interior defensive line, had started to cede his defensive snaps to younger options and found himself falling down the depth chart despite appearing in every game this season. He requested his release from the team, and it was granted.
Similar to when San Francisco brought Greenlaw back from injured reserve, the 49ers are releasing Ehlinger to make room on the 53-man roster. Like last time, the plan is for Ehlinger to remain in Denver via an addition to the practice squad tomorrow.
Browns’ Carson Schwesinger Suffers High Ankle Sprain
OCTOBER 27: An MRI has confirmed the diagnosis in this case, as noted by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. He adds the sprain is not considered to be a major one, which is a small consolation. Per Rapoport, Schwesinger will be reevaluated after the Browns’ upcoming bye week.
OCTOBER 26: One of the homeruns of the 2025 draft has been Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger. The first pick of the second round immediately stepped up as a starter for the defense. Unfortunately, the 22-year-old may miss some time after suffering a high ankle sprain in today’s loss to the Patriots, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. 
The timetable for returns from high ankle sprains can vary along with the grade of severity. While a minor high ankle sprain can be overcome in a week or two, we’ve seen high ankle sprains severely limit a number of players this year. Cowboys wide receiver CeeDee Lamb missed three games, Chargers linebacker Denzel Perryman spent five games on injured reserve, Panthers quarterback Bryce Young missed today’s game, and Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy has been out since Week 2 all because of high ankle sprains.
After being initially diagnosed and treated in the post-game locker room today, Schwesinger was seen walking out with a walking boot on his right ankle. The team is likely going to pursue more information to determine the exact severity of the injury before making any determinations on availability for the week. The Browns’ bye week is next up on the schedule, so if the injury is a lower grade sprain, he may not miss any time at all.
If Schwesinger does miss time, though, a thin linebacking corps behind him will be tasked with stepping up. Linebackers Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Nathaniel Watson, and Winston Reid all remain on their respective injured lists waiting to make their season debuts. Schwesinger and veteran Devin Bush have dominated time at linebacker so far this year, with backups Jerome Baker and Mohamoud Diabate seeing about a quarter of the snaps of the starters.
Baker and Diabate would likely be the two names in consideration to start in place of Schwesinger. So far this year, Baker has just edged out Diabate for playing time and has done more with his opportunities. Though both have starting experience, Baker has more and would likely be the choice to start next to Bush if needed for a couple of weeks. That would only matter if the rookie starter misses time, and we won’t know the likelihood for that until he undergoes further evaluation.
Another Browns rookie got injured today. Fellow second-round pick Quinshon Judkins left today’s game early with a shoulder injury. After getting rolled over on a tackle, the starting running back was quickly announced as out for the remainder of the game. The promptness of the announcement could have had to do with the disparity in scores of the two teams at the time of the injury, but it might also have been due to the severity of the injury, as well. His diagnosis will be one to look out for in the next few days, as well.
Steelers Working Out WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling
As the Steelers battle to extend their lead atop the AFC North, reports are coming out that the team is entertaining some depth at a position of intrigue. According to Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports, Pittsburgh will host veteran free agent wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling for a workout tomorrow. 
Valdes-Scantling started his career in Green Bay, catching passes off current Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The deep-ball menace would become the fourth wide receiver to reunite with the 41-year-old since Rodgers left the Packers. Unlike Davante Adams, Allen Lazard, and Randall Cobb, Valdes-Scantling didn’t find his way to New York, but he’ll get his opportunity to reunite with his former quarterback following the weekend.
While Valdes-Scantling didn’t follow Rodgers like the rest, he took a pretty good path of his own. Signing with the Chiefs and going from Rodgers to Patrick Mahomes, Valdes Scantling won two Super Bowl rings in his first two years out of Green Bay. He signed with the Bills — going from Rodgers to Mahomes to Josh Allen — in 2024, but after seeing minimal success in six weeks in Buffalo, Valdes-Scantling was released in order to make room for trade acquisition Amari Cooper. Following his release, Valdes-Scantling rebounded on a contract with the Saints, where he filled in on a receiving corps that had lost Chris Olave for the season.
The Steelers could use another contributor in their receiving corps. Despite their team success, the passing attack ranked 18th in the NFL in yards per game coming into the week. While behind D.K. Metcalf, the team rosters contributors like Calvin Austin III, Roman Wilson, and Ben Skowronek, the receivers haven’t produced much outside of Metcalf. After Metcalf, four players see more targets than WR2 Austin.
Running backs Kenneth Gainwell and Jaylen Warren and tight ends Jonnu Smith and Pat Freiermuth have been the players Rodgers has relied upon most after Metcalf. While Austin’s two receiving touchdowns are good for second on the team (tied with two other players), he’s fourth in receiving yards and sixth in receptions. Wilson, Skowronek, and Scott Miller have combined to contribute six catches for 67 yards and one touchdown, leaving much to be desired at the position.
Perhaps, at 31 years old, Valdes-Scantling doesn’t have it in him to be the impact addition the Steelers need on offense. Perhaps, his connection with Rodgers from their time together in Green Bay four years ago will help ignite the offense and elevate their chances for success. He’ll get his chance tomorrow to find out.
Commanders WRs Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel To Play In Week 8
OCTOBER 26: For the first time since Week 3, the Commanders will have their top two wideouts on the field at the same time. Head coach Dan Quinn told reporters (including the Washington Post’s Tashan Reed) that McLaurin and Samuel will suit up for the club’s Week 8 battle with the Chiefs on Monday.
Of course, it will be Marcus Mariota, not Daniels, under center as the 3-4 Washington outfit looks to snap its two-game skid.
OCTOBER 18: The Commanders will face some unfortunate challenges as they head to the Lone Star State for a matchup with the division-rival Cowboys. After placing Noah Brown on injured reserve this week, there was still hope that wide receivers Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel could be available for the trip. Unfortunately, Jayden Daniels will be without all three pass catchers Sunday afternoon as Samuel stays in Washington with a heel injury, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. 
The Commanders have experience working without Brown, who started the first two games of the year before a groin injury held him out for the last four. After missing that much time, it’s clear that Washington should’ve put him on IR sooner. Doing so at this point only ensures his already extended absence will now be at least half the season.
The team is likely used to being without McLaurin, as well, considering he’s only played one more game than Brown. McLaurin suffered a knee sprain that held him out of the team’s Week 4 game, but Washington opted not to place him on IR, since he didn’t require surgery. It’s since been categorized as a quad injury that held him out two more weeks and will now do as much damage as if he had been placed on IR.
This week, McLaurin will be the second wide receiver taking up a spot on Washington’s 53-man roster for four weeks, when the Commanders could’ve supplemented their roster with more bodies by placing them on IR. It’s a tough line to toe, determining whether or not a player will be able return to the field within four weeks, but between Brown and McLaurin, it’s hit Washington twice this year as they’ve essentially played three weeks with a self-imposed 51-man roster.
Samuel’s been dealing with his heel issue for the past three weeks, but before this week, any absences at practice were categorized as “NIR(Rest)/Heel,” indicating non-injury related rest while still acknowledging some issue with his heel. The injury never held him out, though. The offseason trade acquisition has been Daniels’ most reliable target as he leads the team in every receiving category.
In the absence of Brown and McLaurin, it’s been veteran Chris Moore, last year’s third-round pick Luke McCaffrey, and rookie fourth-rounder Jaylin Lane stepping up in Washington. With Samuel out this week, as well, all three will need to step up even more moving forward. In the winning trip to Los Angeles, Samuel saw 11 targets, and no one else saw more than two. Last week, things were a bit more spread out as Samuel and Moore saw five targets apiece and Ertz saw six.
Daniels has done his best to spread out the ball and keep everyone incorporated in the offense so as not to become one-note. While doing so, though, the team’s 2-1 start has been offset by a 1-2 record without McLaurin. Daniels, in his second year of NFL play, has been dealt an ugly hand early in his career, but Washington will count on the roster they’ve built to support him.
It was almost guaranteed that at least one team’s two standard gameday practice squad elevations would be a wide receiver. Among the options were the team’s most recent signee, Treylon Burks, veteran Robbie Chosen, and undrafted rookie Ja’Corey Brooks, who was called up last week. The Commanders landed on Chosen with one elevation, but the other will be used to bring up defensive tackle Sheldon Day. Luckily, it may be a soft test for the youthful offensive crew as they face a Dallas defense that is giving up the most passing yards per game in the NFL.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/25/25
Here are Saturday’s minor moves and standard gameday practice squad elevations for tomorrow’s slate of games:
Baltimore Ravens
- Elevated: DT Taven Bryan, S Keondre Jackson
Carolina Panthers
- Elevated: OLB Boogie Basham, QB Hendon Hooker
Cincinnati Bengals
- Elevated: LB Joe Giles-Harris
Cleveland Browns
- Elevated: DT Sam Kamara, QB Bailey Zappe
Denver Broncos
- Elevated: LB Jordan Turner
Houston Texans
- Activated from IR: CB Jaylin Smith
- Elevated: WR Jared Wayne
- Waived: TE Brenden Bates
Indianapolis Colts
- Elevated: CB Cameron Mitchell, DE Durell Nchami
Miami Dolphins
- Elevated: TE Hayden Rucci, CB Kendall Sheffield
New England Patriots
- Elevated: S Richie Grant, RB Terrell Jennings
New Orleans Saints
- Elevated: LB Eku Leota
Philadelphia Eagles
- Activated from IR: WR Darius Cooper
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: DE Trevis Gipson, OL Nick Zakelj
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Elevated: QB Connor Bazelak, OLB Mohamed Kamara
Tennessee Titans
- Elevated: WR James Proche
Recently named QB2 Shedeur Sanders found his way to the injury report today with a back injury. By elevating Zappe, Cleveland is ensuring Sanders won’t play tomorrow, since in order to have three quarterbacks dressed for gameday, all three passers must be on the 53-man roster. Zappe will back up Dillon Gabriel, and Sanders will likely be in sweats. Similarly in Carolina, with Bryce Young set to sit this week, Hooker has been called up to back up Andy Dalton.
Both Buccaneers quarterbacks, Baker Mayfield and Teddy Bridgewater, were on the injury report this week, though neither received a “questionable” injury designation as result of their ailments. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported that both passers are expected to be available, but with Bazelak taking up a spot on the active roster, it seems likely that only one other quarterback will be suited up alongside the practice squad callup. Because Bazelak’s not on the 53-man roster, only two passers can be active. Tampa Bay can still designate Bazelak as the inactive third quarterback, but doing so would seemingly be making this elevation moot.
There is no corresponding move necessary for Philadelphia to add Cooper. The team received a two-game roster exemption after signing veteran defensive end Brandon Graham, so they had an open roster spot.
For Basham in Carolina and Jennings in New England, this will be their third and final standard gameday practice squad elevations. If either of their respective teams want them to play in another game this season, they will need to first be signed to the 53-man roster.
Jets Activate LB Quincy Williams From IR
Just three days after opening his 21-day practice window, the Jets have opted to activate linebacker Quincy Williams off of injured reserve. To make room on the 53-man roster, two players were placed on IR. Wide receiver Josh Reynolds and linebacker Cam Jones will miss at least the next four games after both suffered recent hip injuries. 
Williams should easily fit back into the starting lineup on defense next to Jamien Sherwood. Just a year and a half removed from a first-team All-Pro season, Williams should immediately bring improvement to the Jets’ defensive front seven. Rookie fifth-round pick Kiko Mauigoa has been starting in Williams’ place and will likely revert to the third linebacker role, in which he’ll work on the first-team defense for formations that don’t require extra defensive backs.
Another interesting aspect of this transaction concerns the narrative of the trade deadline arriving in 10 days. Despite spending the last four weeks on IR, Williams has reportedly been monitored by teams looking for linebacker help on the trade market. Despite his recent All-Pro acclaim, Williams saw Sherwood, a former special teamer who developed into a starting role, earn a shiny, new deal as Williams made his way into a contract year. Though the shoulder injury may have dinged his value a bit, if a team comes in with the right price, the winless Jets are certainly in position to sell.
Reynolds has been running as WR2 in the Jets bottom-ranked pass attack this year. In five games, he’s caught 11 passes for 101 yards as the fourth most-targeted pass catcher on the offense, behind rookie tight end Mason Taylor and running back Breece Hall. With Reynolds out, fourth-round rookie Arian Smith and veterans Allen Lazard and Tyler Johnson will need to step up behind WR1 Garrett Wilson.
With Jones joining Reynolds on IR, the Jets had an open spot on the 53-man roster. The team opted to fill that spot by signing practice squad receiver Brandon Smith to the active roster. Smith will add depth to the receiving corps during Reynolds’ extended absence. Additionally, New York announced that it would call up defensive tackle Payton Page as a standard gameday practice squad elevation.
The Jets’ other practice squad elevation will be utilized on undrafted rookie quarterback Brady Cook. The Mizzou product is being called up for the second time this year to serve as the team’s backup quarterback on Sunday. Though it was initially thought that veteran Tyrod Taylor would be replacing Justin Fields as QB1, a knee injury will hold Taylor out, forcing Fields back into the first-team lineup and necessitating the elevation of Cook to back him up.
Packers Activate WR Christian Watson From Reserve/PUP
It’s been almost 300 days since Packers wide receiver Christian Watson tore his ACL, ending his 2024 season, but a return could be on the horizon. Watson will have a chance to make his 2025 debut tomorrow as Green Bay has activated him off the reserve/physically unable to perform list. He makes his way off the injury list with just two days to spare in his 21-day practice window. 
With the injury occurring so late in the season, there were immediate expectations that Green Bay would be without one of their top receivers to start the 2025 campaign. What’s worse, this season was supposed to be a contract year for Watson, which would’ve given him a chance to earn a big, new contract. The Packers made sure that Watson would avoid having to prove himself in half a season by giving him a one-year, $11MM extension.
The short-term delay of free agency acts as a prove-it deal. After seeing the 26-year-old miss time with hamstring issues throughout his first two years, teams will want to see him have a fully healthy season before signing him to a big contract. The extension will allow Watson to ease back into the game over the remainder of this season and hit the ground running in 2026, his new contract year. The team also built three effective voidable years into the deal which will allow them to circumvent the 12-month renegotiation waiting period usually required to sign him to another potential extension after the season.
As the season drew near, it became clear that Watson would start the year on the reserve/PUP list, and eventually, he did. He returns to a Packers team that has gotten off to a hot 4-1-1 start and currently sits atop the NFC North. The offense and passing attack haven’t appeared to be quite as successful as last year’s offensive unit, but perhaps Watson’s return can contribute to some improvements on that front.
Also lacking Jayden Reed since Week 2, quarterback Jordan Love has continued to spread the ball evenly between his targets with tight end Tucker Kraft and receivers Romeo Doubs and first-round rookie Matthew Golden proving to be the main benefactors. While Reed remains on injured reserve for now, the addition of Watson back into the offense may mean a small change in role for Golden or Dontayvion Wicks.
We’ll see just how much of a leash the Packers give Watson, if they do in fact let him play in his first game of the season. They’ve been cautious in his return from injury thus far, so it’d be a surprise if he came out tomorrow with zero restrictions. Either way, adding Watson back into the mix should only help the Packers in what looks like it might be the league’s most contentious division race.
To make room for Watson on the 53-man roster, the Packers waived tight end Ben Sims. They also announced they would elevate defensive end Arron Mosby for the second time this year as a standard gameday practice squad elevation.
Lamar Jackson Not Guaranteed To Return Week 8
OCTOBER 25: Jackson ran the scout team during Friday’s practice, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, another sign that he may not play on Sunday. However, the Ravens have leaned into the uncertainty around Jackson’s status this week as a way of interfering with the Bears’ preparation. At 1-5, Baltimore desperately needs a win, so they will take any competitive advantage they can get.
OCTOBER 24: After limping heavily out of a four-game losing streak, the Ravens got very healthy during their bye week. While four expected contributors on the defensive front remain out on injured reserve, the only player in Baltimore with an injury designation heading into the weekend is quarterback Lamar Jackson, and that designation of “questionable” could not be any more appropriate. 
After getting a few injured players back two weeks ago, it was expected that the two they didn’t — Jackson and linebacker Roquan Smith — would be able to return after the bye. On Wednesday, Jackson returned to practice for the first time since injuring his hamstring in late-September, per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. ESPN’s Jamison Hensley added that Jackson was a limited participant that day, taking reps behind usual backup Cooper Rush and practice squad quarterback Tyler Huntley.
After another limited practice yesterday, head coach John Harbaugh told the media that Jackson was able to be a full participant today. Despite the full practice also appearing on the team’s injury report, the “questionable” status remained. There was one move the team made today, though, that may hint towards the team’s expectations.
First reported by Zrebiec, the Ravens promoted Huntley from the practice squad to the 53-man roster. We saw something similar happen in San Francisco as the 49ers dealt with an injury to starter Brock Purdy. They had been calling up quarterback Adrian Martinez as a standard gameday practice squad elevation each week to back up the usual backup quarterback Mac Jones.
There was speculation that Purdy may be healthy enough to serve as the team’s third emergency quarterback, but they had yet to decide. A new rule was recently implemented making it so that a team can have three quarterbacks suit up for a football game instead of the previously permitted two. The rule was created after former-backup 49ers quarterback Josh Johnson suffered a concussion after coming in to replace an injured Purdy in the 2022 NFC Championship Game, and Purdy was forced to return to the game.
The new rule made it so that teams could have a third, emergency quarterback suited up to avoid such situations, but it required that the third QB be on the team’s 53-man roster. So, earlier this year, everybody waited to see if Martinez would be simply elevated or signed to the active roster. San Francisco ended up just elevating him that week, ensuring that Purdy would be inactive for that game.
So Huntley’s promotion tells us something about the team’s expectations. If Baltimore knew Jackson wasn’t going to be able to play, they could’ve just used Huntley’s third elevation without sacrificing a spot on the 53-man roster. Bringing him onto the active roster, though, indicates that all three quarterbacks will be able to suit up on Sunday.
There’s still a chance Jackson is made inactive for the game or gets ruled out eventually, but the Ravens have set it up for Jackson to start, with Huntley and Rush being available as backups. In fact, Harbaugh also told the media that Huntley has surpassed Rush as QB2, making Rush’s two-year, $6.2MM contract appear quite large for a third-string passer.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport went on air today saying that it seems like the Ravens are preparing for Jackson to start this weekend, but they want to make it through the next two days before they make any official announcements about the two-time MVP being back. If it’s not Jackson this Sunday, it will be Huntley.