Chiefs Place OT Jawaan Taylor, LB Leo Chenal On IR
The Chiefs made a flurry of roster moves on Saturday ahead of their Week 16 matchup with the Titans, per a team announcement.
Right tackle Jawaan Taylor and linebacker Leo Chenal were placed on injured reserve, ending their seasons. Taylor started the first 12 games in the season but has been absent for the last three weeks due to a triceps injury. He is the second Chiefs starting offensive lineman to land on injured reserve this month, joining left tackle Josh Simmons. Jaylon Moore has taken over the right tackle job in Taylor’s stead and will likely continue in that capacity.
Chenal commanded a 53% snap share in the first 14 games of the season before going down with a shoulder injury. He was the Chiefs’ third inside linebacker behind Nick Bolton and Drue Tranquill; the trio have taken virtually all of the team’s snaps at the position. Chenal’s absence will likely put fourth-year linebacker Jack Cochrane into a bigger role, though Kansas City could also give rookies like Cooper McDonald and Jeffrey Bassa some opportunities.
To replace Taylor and Chenal on the active roster, the Chiefs signed offensive tackle Chukwuebuka Godrick and quarterback Chris Oladokun from their practice squad. Godrick will provide tackle depth amid the team’s current O-line injuries and Oladokun will back up Gardner Minshew for the rest of the year. Linebacker Cole Christiansen and offensive tackle Matt Waletzko were also elevated from the practice squad to provide depth at the Chiefs’ injured positions.
The Chiefs also waived running back Elijah Mitchell and replaced him with Dameon Pierce. Mitchell signed in Kansas City this offseason but has only appeared in one game during the regular season. Pierce was waived by the Texans in November and signed with Kansas City’s practice squad shortly after. Sunday will be Pierce’s Chiefs debut, and his promotion to the active roster suggests he’ll be in line for some touches during the game.
Cowboys Activate Trevon Diggs, Place DaRon Bland On IR
1:03pm: The Cowboys have activated Diggs and placed Bland on IR, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic. Bland may require foot surgery.
11:17am: The Cowboys are expected to activate cornerback Trevon Diggs from injured reserve on Sunday, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
The move will clear the path for Diggs to return from a two-month absence caused by a lingering knee injury and a concussion. However, he is unlikely to return to the starting role he occupied at the beginning of the year.
Diggs’ recovery and return to the field has been somewhat of a saga. He was designated to return from IR at the end of November and practiced for two weeks in a limited capacity. Diggs said he was expecting to play in Week 15 but was not activated ahead of the game. He clarified this week that he was healthy enough to play and still did not know why he was not activated, though he still was a limited participant in practice.
The Cowboys will make the procedural move to activate Diggs so that he does not revert to season-ending injured reserve, but that is no guarantee of a game day role. Recent updates have indicated a disconnect between player and team with some believing that the two sides will part ways this offseason. Diggs and the Cowboys have both stated that they envision their partnership extending into 2026, but most teams and players give that kind of an answer to such questions.
Starting cornerback DaRon Bland has been ruled out for Sunday’s matchup against the Chargers, so the Cowboys might need Diggs at some point during the game. He appears to be ready to play, but may no longer be a core part of defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus‘ plans for this season. With Dallas eliminated from the playoffs and Diggs’ injury history, the team may be hoping that he can avoid a re-aggravation this season that could affect him into 2026.
Bills To Sign DE Matt Judon
Matt Judon will stay in the AFC East after being waived by the Dolphins on Wednesday. After a visit to Buffalo on Friday, the veteran defensive end has agreed to join the Bills’ practice squad, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
The Bills are Judon’s fifth different NFL team and fourth since 2023. After spending 2023 with the Patriots and 2024 with the Falcons, Judon signed with the Dolphins in August and took on a secondary role in Miami’s edge rushing rotation. Even after seeing an uptick in playing time after the Jaelan Phillips trade, the 10-year veteran recorded just 19 tackles, one tackle for loss, and zero sacks in 13 games. Those numbers represent a significant and alarming drop for a 33-year-old edge rusher whose production had already waned in the last few years. Judon’s 10 pressures and 4.2% pass rush win rate are no more encouraging; he ranks among the league’s worst NFL edge rushers in both category, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
Accordingly, no team claimed Judon off waivers, though the remaining money on his contract was also a disincentive. It did not take much time for him to find a new home, and Buffalo makes sense as a destination. The Bills are still within striking distance of the AFC East crown, the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, and a Super Bowl. They also have a history of picking up veteran edge rushers later in their career. First it was an over-aggressive contract for Von Miller in 2022 before a more sensible deal with Joey Bosa this past offseason. The latter pact has quickly borne fruit; Bosa leads the Bills with five sacks and eight tackles for loss on the year.
The Bills also needed some depth after multiple defensive line injuries this season. On the edge, rookie Landon Jackson and veteran Michael Hoecht are both on injured reserve, as are defensive tackles Ed Oliver and DeWayne Carter. Judon may not be pressed into action right away, but additional injuries could make him relevant in the postseason.
Jets To Start Brady Cook In Week 16, Sign Hendon Hooker
Despite impending returns from Justin Fields and/or Tyrod Taylor, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn announced on Wednesday that undrafted rookie quarterback Brady Cook will make his second straight start in Week 16.
Fields began the season as the starter and seemed to be headed for the bench midway through the season. An injury to Taylor kept Fields in the lineup for a few more weeks, but Taylor eventually took over in Week 12.
With Fields nursing a knee injury in Week 14, Cook stepped into the backup role. Then, when Taylor went down with a knee injury of his own, Cook finished the game, albeit with a 46.7% completion percentage and two interceptions. With neither of the veterans available in Week 15, Cook made his first career start with Adrian Martinez serving as the backup.
Cook completed 22 of his 33 passes against the Jaguars last Sunday, but they only went for 176 yards (5.3 yards per attempt) and one touchdown. He also threw three interceptions after two in his NFL debut the week before. Overall, Cook has completed just 57.1% of his passes with 5.4 yards per attempt and a 44.3 passer rating.
Regardless, the Jets are sticking with the Missouri product for Week 16. Taylor and Fields were limited participants in practice on Wednesday and Thursday, but even if one is ready to play on Sunday, they will back up Cook.
Martinez was re-signed by the 49ers earlier this week, so the Jets signed former Lions quarterback Hendon Hooker to their practice squad. The 2023 third-round pick will be elevated to the game day roster if neither Fields nor Taylor are available for Sunday’s matchup with the Saints.
Commanders DE Drake Jackson Will Make 2025 Debut In Week 16
Commanders defensive end Drake Jackson will make his 2025 debut on Saturday against the Eagles, per The Athletic’s Tashan Reed.
Jackson, 24, has not played since 2023 due to a torn patellar tendon that sidelined him for 2024, as well. The 2022 second-round pick was waived by the 49ers in May and took visits with other teams in October. Jackson eventually signed with the Commanders but was moved to injured reserve as soon as he arrived in Washington to continue his rehab.
Jackson made his practice debut a month later and was activated just before his 21-day practice window expired. He still needed a few more weeks to ramp up, but he is finally ready for his first in-game action of the season.
The former USC standout only appeared in 23 games in his first two seasons, but he did flash some potential before his knee injury, Jackson recorded six sacks and five tackles for loss while playing a rotational role on the 49ers defensive line. After such a major injury and an extensive recovery process, though, a return to his previous form is no guarantee.
Those factors may also cause the Commanders to be cautious with Jackson on Saturday. Their defensive end room has been ravaged by injuries this year, but the group has found some stability in recent weeks after the acquisitions of Clelin Ferrell and Keion White. A number of minor injuries have continued to plague the unit, so Jackson will provide reinforcements for the next few weeks. Washington has already been eliminated from the playoffs and may give him some more run if his debut goes well so they can evaluate him for next year.
Jets Place S Tony Adams On IR
The Jets placed veteran safety Tony Adams on injured reserve, per a team announcement.
Adams, 26, suffered a groin injury in New York’s Week 15 loss to the Jaguars. With only three games left in the regular season and the Jets eliminated from the playoffs, the fifth-year safety will not return this year. He appeared in 12 games this season with a 61% snap share, representing a drop from bigger roles in 2023 and 2024. He still ranks sixth on the team with 49 tackles and five passes defended.
Andre Cisco underwent season-ending shoulder surgery in November and Isaiah Oliver was placed on IR earlier this week, so the Jets will have to look elsewhere to fill their safety snaps next to rookie Malachi Moore. That wil likely be undrafted rookie Dean Clark, as the team’s other two safeties, Jarius Monroe and Keidron Smith have yet to play a defensive snap this season.
Adams was playing on a $3.26MM RFA tag this season and will hit free agency this offseason for the first time. The mid-level safety market has not been especially strong in recent years, so Adams may not see a significant pay increase on his next contract.
In a corresponding move, the Jets signed defensive tackle Payton Page from their practice squad. The undrafted rookie was elevated to the game day roster in Weeks 8 and 10 but only played five snaps on defense and nine on special teams. He will be the sixth defensive tackle on the 53-man roster, but the Jets could give him some playing time as they evaluate their young players heading into the offseason.
Cardinals Waive DT Justin Jones From IR
The Cardinals waived defensive tackle Justin Jones from injured reserve on Wednesday, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. The move came without an injury settlement, according to Howard Balzer of CardsWire.
Jones, 29, was placed on injured reserve before the regular season due to a knee injury suffered in training camp. He will now go on waivers and can be claimed by any team except the Cardinals, though his interest will depend on the state of his knee. Even if he is healthy, Jones has barely played in the last two seasons, so he may be a better fit on a practice squad as he gets up to speed.
Despite an injury to first-round pick Walter Nolen, the Cardinals’ defensive line has largely remained healthy this year otherwise. Dante Stills, Dalvin Tomlinson, and Calais Campbell have all played more than 400 snaps, while Darius Robinson has chipped in 382 of his own. That rotation has not thrived, though, as Campbell leads the group with 5.5 sacks and eight tackles for loss. The other three have combined for just one sack and five tackles for loss.
Jones began his career as a Chargers third-round pick in 2018 and emerged as a starter in his second year, though he did not play a full season on his rookie contract. He signed a two-year deal with the Bears in 2022 and played in every game over the next two seasons with the best statistics of his career. That earned him plenty of interest in free agency last offseason, culminating in a three-year deal from the Cardinals worth just over $30MM.
The seven-year veteran was only three games into his Cardinals tenure when he suffered a season-ending torn triceps. A parting of ways between player and team was expected in the offseason, but the team decided to make the move before the end of the 2025 season. He will leave Arizona after playing just 100 snaps after earning just over $20MM.
By waiving Jones, the Cardinals freed up $8.8MM in 2026 cap space with $3.25MM in dead money, per OverTheCap.
Browns LB Devin Bush Found Not Guilty Of Simple Assault, Harassment Chargers
Browns linebacker Devin Bush was found not guilty of simple assault and harassment charges, per ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi.
Bush, 27, was arrested and charged in May after an altercation with his girlfriend, Shkurte Leka. He pled not guilty and scheduled a bench trial for December. A judge ruled on Tuesday that Bush was not guilty, though Leka could pursue civil action.
The incident came two months after Bush re-signed in Cleveland on a one-year, $3.25MM deal. After a rotational role in 2024, he has stepped up as a starter this season. Bush ranks second on the Browns in tackles (93) and third on passes defended (seven).
Bush’s arrest obviously created the potential for discipline from the NFL. Presumably, his acquittal will reduce the chances of punishment, but the NFL may conduct their own investigation into the incident.
Bush entered the pros as the Steelers’ No. 10 pick in the 2019 draft. He never lived up to his draft billing – due partially to a torn ACL in his second year – and was not retained after his rookie contract expired. He signed a one-year deal with the Seahawks in 2023 before joining the Browns in the following offseason.
Packers S Evan Williams Could Miss Time With MCL Sprain
Packers safety Evan Williams could miss time with an MCL sprain suffered in Sunday’s loss to the Broncos.
Williams went down on the same play on Micah Parson‘s ACL tear, per ESPN’s Rob Demovsky. Williams’ injury is not thought to be severe, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, but the team would rather ensure that he is healthy for the playoffs rather than risk a re-aggravation.
The 2024 fourth-round pick earned a starting role as partway through his rookie season, though he missed four games due to hamstring and quad injuries. This year, he has a 91% snap share and ranks third on the team in tackles (92) and passes defended (five).
The Packers have used Williams and Xavier McKinney for virtually all of their safety snaps this year. Third on the team is Javon Bullard with 34 snaps, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). The 2024 second-rounder has primarily lined up in the slot this season, but he does have plenty of experience as a free safety after splitting time with Williams last year.
If Green Bay puts Bullard in Williams’ role, they will likely move Nate Hobbs or Keisean Nixon into the slot. Both players have plenty of experience there, though not this season. Hobbs began the year as a starter on the outside but was replaced by Carrington Valentine by the end of October. Hobbs then missed four games due to injury; upon his return, he resumed his participation in the Packers’ dime packages. Nixon, meanwhile, has started on the boundary all year. It would make sense for him and Valentine to stay put with Hobbs returning to his past role as the Raiders’ nickel.
Williams will hope to recover quickly, if not before the end of the season, then by the playoffs. The 9-4 Packers currently sit in second place in the NFC North and own the third wild card spot in the NFC.
The Packers are expected to have Christian Watson on the field for Saturday night’s face-off with the Bears. Watson suffered chest and shoulder injuries in Week 15, but said (via Matt Schneidman of The Athletic) that he is “feeling pretty good for everything considered.”
“I think it’ll be alright for the game,” Watson added. “We’re at the point in the season where you gotta fight through some stuff, so should be good.”
Cowboys CB Trevon Diggs Says He Is Healthy Enough To Play
Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs was a surprise inactive for Sunday’s game against the Vikings, sparking questions about his future in Dallas.
Diggs, 27, has not played since Week 6 due to a concussion and a knee injury, though it was not the knee that required surgery in 2023 and 2024. He was placed on injured reserve on October 25 and returned to practice at the end of November.
After two weeks of practice, Diggs appeared ready to play against the Vikings and said he was expecting to do so. Instead, he will have to wait another week before being activated from IR and returning to in-game action. Even when he does, he does not seem guaranteed to have a role in the defense.
“Trevon and I sat down and we had a very detailed conversation on Saturday,” Schottenheimer said on Monday (via ). “I told him not only the reasons why but also the standards and expectations.”
Diggs said (via ESPN’s Todd Archer) that he was “upset” and did not know why he was inactive despite a Saturday sit-down with head coach Brian Schottenheimer.
““This week, I showed them what they wanted to see in practice and it’s still the same result,” Diggs said. “I don’t know what else I need to do or what to show. At this point I feel like it’s not even, it’s not up to me or what I do. It’s really up to them, and what they want to do. I’m just showing up every day. I’m going to go to work.”
Diggs, a 2020 second-round pick, took over a starting cornerback job as soon as he arrived in Dallas, but spent four games on injured reserve due to a foot fracture. He broke out in 2021 with 21 passes defended and a league-high 11 interceptions, though he also had a tendency to give up big plays. Diggs did not have as much ball production the following year, but his overall coverage improved substantially. That earned him a five-year, $97MM extension; since signing it, he has only played in 19 games.
Between the injuries and a seemingly strained relationship between player and team, Diggs could be on his way out of Dallas this offseason. He is owed $47MM over the next three years, per OverTheCap; a post-June 1 cut would save the Cowboys $15.5MM in 2026 cap space with $2.9MM in dead money in 2026 and 2027.
The Cowboys signed DaRon Bland to an extension to a four-year, $90MM extension – a far better value than Diggs’ deal – just before the season started. In addition to making outside additions, Dallas could also roll with 2024 fifth-rounder Caelen Carson and 2025 3rd rounder Shavon Revel, who have both seen plenty of playing time amid Diggs’ absence.