Texans To Extend QB Davis Mills
Last September, the Texans signed backup quarterback Davis Mills to an extension as he entered a contract year.
Almost exactly a year later, Houston is tacking on another year to Mills’ deal, per Dianna Russini of The Athletic. Mills’ extension is worth a fully guaranteed $7MM, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, securing his services through the 2026 season as the No. 2 quarterback behind C.J. Stroud.
Mills, a 2021 third-round pick, wrested the starting job away from Tyrod Taylor as a rookie and carried it into 2022. However, it quickly became clear that he was not a long-term option under center after throwing a league-high 15 interceptions in 15 games. His struggles led the Texans to a 3-13-1 record in 2022, allowing them to draft Stroud with the No. 2 pick in the 2023 draft. Over his two years as a starter, Mills completed 62.8% of his passes for 5,955 yards for 35 touchdowns and 25 interceptions.
Since then, Mills has served as Stroud’s backup with six games played and zero starts. Virtually all of his appearances have come at the end of blowouts with one true relief showing in 2023.
Mills’ 2024 extension was worth $5MM, so his new deal includes a solid raise as well as some security for another year. However, Stroud will become eligible for an extension next offseason, so Houston may not be able to spend premium backup money on Mills for the rest of the decade. The Texans drafted former Wisconsin and Florida quarterback Graham Mertz in the sixth round of April’s draft and may look to groom him as a successor to Mills in their quarterback room.
Kendrick Bourne To Visit Commanders, 49ers
September 2: The 49ers did make a formal offer to Bourne, per NBC Sports’ Matt Maiocco, but he opted to explore his options with the Commanders. Bourne is visiting Washington on Tuesday, where he may be seeking a stronger deal than what San Francisco had in mind.
August 28: Kendrick Bourne was one of PFR’s release candidates in June, and the Patriots made that move during final roster cuts after hosting the veteran wide receiver for the last four years.
A reunion with the 49ers quickly became a possibility with general manager John Lynch, who signed Bourne as an undrafted free agent in 2017, confirming the team’s interest. The 30-year-old is now set to visit San Francisco, as well as Washington to meet with the Commanders, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Bourne made the roster as an undrafted rookie before carving out a rotational role in 2018. He only averaged just 25.3 receiving yards per game across his first three seasons in San Francisco before a 49-catch, 667-yard season boosted his stock in a contract year. San Francisco opted to bet on their ascending offensive talents and let Bourne walk. He eventually signed with New England, though injuries contributed to declining production and his eventual release.
A return to San Francisco could position Bourne for early-season snaps with Brandon Aiyuk on the PUP list, Jacob Cowing on IR, and Jauan Jennings uncertain for Week 1. The 49ers believe in 2024 first-rounder Ricky Pearsall to take a second-year leap, but veteran Demarcus Robinson is the team’s only other reliable depth. Though Kyle Shanahan‘s system has evolved since Bourne’s first stint in his offense, there should still be some familiarity that would allow a quick re-acclimation.
The Commanders, meanwhile, seem like a less obvious fit. They got Terry McLaurin back on the practice field after his extension, and Noah Brown has joined him after dealing with an undisclosed injury. They also have Deebo Samuel and young depth in Luke McCaffrey and Jaylin Lane, though Bourne would be an offensive upgrade over special teams ace Chris Moore.
Bourne has agreed to a potential contract framework with both teams, per Rapoport, suggesting that a deal could come together relatively quickly.
Steelers’ Derrick Harmon Out For Week 1; Cameron Heyward Expected To Play
As expected, the Steelers’ defensive line will be without first-round pick Derrick Harmon for their Week 1 matchup with the Jets, but head coach Mike Tomlin is hopeful that veteran Cameron Heyward will take the field.
“I’m certainly expecting Cam to play,” said Tomlin on Tuesday (via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor). “There are no reservations about his participation or his readiness. I’m sure he’s champing at the bit.”
Heyward, however, would only offer a “we’ll see” when asked about his Week 1 availability on his Not Just Football podcast, per Pryor. The 36-year-old has been dissatisfied with his contract and briefly engaged in a hold-in during training camp as he sought a pay raise.
Heyward returned to practice on August 19 without a deal, but that may not guarantee that he takes the field on Sunday. He previously hinted that he would consider sitting out regular season games as long as his contract remained unaddressed. On his podcast, Heyward said that there were no updates on that front.
The Steelers seem prepared to call his bluff. Though Heyward is still pushing for more 2025 compensation, according to Pryor, Tomlin expressed confidence that his All-Pro defensive tackle would play in Week 1.
An absence from Heyward would leave the Steelers scrambling to field a starting defensive line with Harmon also sidelined. Nose tackle Keeanu Benton would likely be joined by Isaiah Loudermilk and Yahya Black, according to the Steelers’ depth chart.
Bears To Start Braxton Jones At LT In Week 1
After an open competition during training camp, the Bears have settled on their Week 1 starting left tackle: Braxton Jones.
Head coach Ben Johnson announced the decision on Tuesday, per ESPN’s Courtney Cronin, keeping the team’s incumbent LT in place for the time being. Johnson previously said that he would name a Week 1 starter and “go from there.”
Jones, a 2022 fifth-round pick, started all 17 games as a rookie but missed 11 games due to injury over the last two years. He was medically cleared from the ankle surgery that ended his 2024 season at the beginning of camp and fought off challenges from recent Day 2 picks Kiran Amegadjie and Ozzy Trapilo, as well as second-year UDFA Theo Benedet. All four took snaps at left tackle in the preseason with Trapilo and Benedet working in at right tackle as well.
Jones always seemed like the most likely option to start in Week 1. He has consistently graded out as a good (but not elite) tackle in his first three seasons, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). He and right tackle Darnell Wright will provide some continuity in a Bears offensive line that brought in three new starters along the interior this offseason.
However, Johnson’s desire to test out his options at left tackle could be a sign that Jones does not have long-term security in Chicago. With younger options waiting in the wings and an expensive interior trio, Jones will have to stay healthy and play well to make a case for an extension with the Bears. The team may already be angling to move on to Amegadjie or Trapilo in 2026 and beyond, in which case Jones could hit free agency as a coveted young left tackle with multiple years of starting experience under his belt.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/1/25
Here are the latest practice squad transactions from around the NFL:
Chicago Bears
- Signed: LB Cale Jones Jr.
- Released: LB Power Echols
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: LB Anthony Walker
- Released: DT Josh Tupou
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: QB Jeff Driskel, LB Brian Asamoah II
- Released: LB Matt Jones, S Trey Taylor
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: CB Isaiah Johnson
- Released: CB BJ Adams
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: QB/WR Tommy Mellott, DT Coziah Izzard
New York Jets
- Signed: LB Mykal Walker, RB Lawrance Toafili
- Released: LB Aaron Smith
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: S D’Anthony Bell
- Released: G Sataoa Laumea
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: TE Drake Dabney
- Released: DB Kendell Brooks
With backup quarterback Aidan O’Connell starting the season on injured reserve, the Raiders – who already traded for Kenny Pickett – added some more veteran depth by signing Driskel. The 32-year-old has spent the last seven years in the NFL but only took one snap for the Commanders last season. Now, Driskel will join rookie QB Cam Miller on the practice squad in Las Vegas.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/1/25
NFL teams are continuing to make minor roster moves as the regular season approaches. On Monday, four clubs released players from their injured reserve lists with an injury settlement. Players who land on the IR without a return designation have to remain there for the entire season, but those with a chance to recover often seek injury settlements so they can return to the field that season. The settlements pay a portion of the player’s salary, typically based on the amount of time the player is expected to miss, while freeing up cap space for the team during the season.
Houston Texans
- Removed from IR with injury settlement: WR Juwann Winfree
Los Angeles Chargers
- Removed from IR with injury settlement: S Jaylen Jones
San Francisco 49ers
- Removed from IR with injury settlement: CB Tre Brown, OT Isaiah Prince
Seattle Seahawks
- Removed from IR with injury settlement: LB Wesley Steiner
Rasheed Walker Wins Packers’ LT Battle
Packers offensive lineman Rasheed Walker said on Monday (via ESPN’s Rob Demovsky) that he will start at left tackle in Week 1.
In training camp, Walker battled 2024 first-rounder Jordan Morgan for the right to protect Jordan Love‘s blind side this season. Walker, a two-year incumbent, long seemed to have a lead over his younger teammate, who only played guard in his six appearances before shoulder surgery ended his season.
Walker, a 2022 seventh-round pick, took over for an injured David Bakhtiari in his second season and held onto the left tackle job through 2024. However, the Packers’ selection of Morgan – a standout left tackle at the University of Arizona – indicated that Walker may not be Green Bay’s long-term solution on the blind side.
Walker will retain his job heading into the final year of his rookie contract, but an extension does not seem like a certainty. The Packers spent significant money on left guard Aaron Banks and right tackle Zach Tom this year and may not want to foray into an ever-growing left tackle market. They also added two left tackle prospects in Morgan and Anthony Belton across the last two drafts.
However, with neither of the younger tackles emerging as a more capable starter this summer, Walker will retain his job with the hopes of playing his way into a massive raise, either from the Packers or another team.
Offseason In Review: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
In 2024, the Buccaneers won their fourth straight NFC South title – a feat dimmed by the division’s struggles in recent years – but lost in the wild-card round. The team again opted for continuity this offseason, extending general manager Jason Licht and head coach Todd Bowles. The Bucs also rewarded quarterback Baker Mayfield with more guaranteed money after back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons.
Licht retained key talent – including star wide receiver Chris Godwin on a hometown discount – and stocked up on premium positions in the draft. With succession plans in place for the starters who departed in free agency, the team’s biggest loss this offseason was not a player, but a coach: offensive coordinator Liam Coen. He left Tampa to take the head coaching job in Jacksonville after a back-and-forth saga that may have frustrated the team’s decision-makers. Can replacement Josh Grizzard — the Bucs’ fourth play-caller in four years — keep the the offense in high gear as a pursuit of a fifth straight division title begins?
Extensions and restructures:
- Restructured Baker Mayfield’s contract to save 2025 cap room; team added $30MM in guaranteed money
The Buccaneers made multiple moves with Mayfield’s contract this offseason, starting with a traditional restructure in April. The team converted $18MM of Mayfield’s $30MM salary to a signing bonus that reduced his cap hit by $14.4MM and added $3.6MM to the four remaining years of the deal.
A few months later, Licht expressed a desire to keep Mayfield past the end of his contract in 2026, but no extension materialized. Instead, Tampa Bay converted $30MM of his 2026 salary into two roster bonuses.
The first, worth a fully guaranteed $13MM, is due in 2026 but will prorate across the team’s salary cap starting in 2025. That decreased Mayfield’s cap hit by $10.4MM in 2026 with $2.6MM added to 2025 and each of the three void years after 2026 (via OverTheCap). The second roster bonus is worth $17MM and guarantees in early 2026, per Pewter Report’s Joshua Quiepo.
As a result of these moves, Mayfield’s 2025 cap hit decreased by $11.8MM (to $26.48MM) and his 2026 cap hit decreased by $6.8MM (to $38.98MM). The Bucs also pushed $18.6MM into void years that increased the dead money scheduled to hit the team’s 2027 salary cap to $30.15MM. For a Bucs team that needed to swim in the shallow end of the QB pool in 2023 — thanks to the Tom Brady $35MM retirement bill brought on by void years — a clear incentive exists to extend Mayfield before that point.
Tampa Bay isn’t necessarily tied to Mayfield in 2026 by these contract restructures, but the tweaks indicate the team is planning for him to start for at least two more years. The release of 2021 second-round pick Kyle Trask and the Bucs’ subsequent signing of once-retired Teddy Bridgewater as their new backup were additional signals that Mayfield would keep his job through 2026.
Mayfield, meanwhile, received $30MM in new guarantees along with an improved cashflow, both well-deserved rewards for an elite 2024. He originally signed with the Buccaneers in 2023 on a $4MM “prove it” deal and blew expectations out of the water with his first 4,000-yard season. That earned him his current three-year, $100MM contract — agreed to a day before the 2024 legal tampering period — that seemed like a good value at the time and aged well for the Bucs after just one year. Mayfield has seen Sam Darnold and Geno Smith eclipse his middle-class QB terms, and the Bucs appear prepared to enter into extension talks before his deal expires.
Among all quarterbacks in 2024, Mayfield ranked third in passing yards (4,500), second in passing touchdowns (41), and fourth in passer rating (106.8), all career-best marks. He did also throw a league-high 16 interceptions, but that didn’t stop him from earning the first MVP votes of his career. With his contract up after 2026, a similar performance this season will put the 30-year-old passer in a strong negotiating position next offseason.
Free agency additions:
- Haason Reddick, OLB. One year, $14MM ($12MM guaranteed)
- Riley Dixon, P. One year, $3MM ($3MM guaranteed)
- Kindle Vildor, CB. One year, $1.34MM, ($1.2MM guaranteed)
- Charlie Heck, T. One year, $1.57MM, ($400K guaranteed)
- Teddy Bridgewater, QB. One year, $1.26MM
The Buccaneers’ only major free agency addition was a dice roll on Haason Reddick with the hopes that he can recapture his pre-Jets form. Reddick’s holdout limited him to 10 disappointing games in 2024, with only one sack, but he reached double-digit sacks in each of his previous four seasons.
That production came with three different teams, so there’s hope that Reddick can quickly acclimate to Tampa Bay’s defense and consistently impact opposing quarterbacks. However, his 7.6% pass rush win rate in 2024 was almost half his 14.0% win rate in 2023, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
Still, Reddick could be worth the risk with the rest of Tampa Bay’s pass rushers returning in 2025 including ascending talents YaYa Diaby and Calijah Kancey, both of whom contributed 7.5 sacks last season. Diaby’s official contributions – which also included 11 tackles for loss – somewhat underrepresent his pass-rushing performance; he was credited with 70 pressures (via PFF), tied with Micah Parsons and Greg Rousseau for seventh-most among edge rushers last year. Kancey, meanwhile, took a clear step forward from his four-sack rookie year and will look to pair with the always-imposing Vita Vea as an disruptive pair of defensive linemen.
This season will determine if Reddick can return to the upper echelon of EDGE earners, as last year’s failed holdout proved costly. As the position’s market exploded via the Parsons, Myles Garrett and T.J. Watt deals, Reddick was not in a realistic position to command more than what he did.
Despite Reddick powering an Eagles pursuit at the 1984 Bears’ single-season sack record in 2022, Philadelphia chose Josh Sweat over him to build around in 2024. Amid constant ownership intervention, then-Jets GM Joe Douglas balked at a post-trade extension largely due to Reddick’s age. Set to turn 31 in September, the former first-round pick faces a crucial year regarding his future value. In addition to Watt’s megadeal, Danielle Hunter scored another big guarantee at 31. Reddick will attempt to cash in again on the back of a strong Bucs season, potentially joining fellow accomplished (and disgruntled) 30-something Trey Hendrickson on the 2026 market.
The only other starter signed in free agency was veteran punter Riley Dixon. The Buccaneers cycled through three punters in 2024, none of whom cleared 40 net yards per punt, so they opted for reliability in the 32-year-old Dixon. The 10th-year veteran’s fully guaranteed $3MM deal quickly looked like an excellent value after the positional market eclipsed $4MM later in the offseason. He will look to add some consistency to Tampa Bay’s special teams operations this year.
Bridgewater has replaced Trask as Mayfield’s backup. This will be the Miami native-turned-high school coach’s eighth NFL team. The former Vikings first-rounder unretired last year to rejoin the Lions, replacing Hendon Hooker as Detroit’s QB2 late in the season. Bridgewater should probably be considered an upgrade on Trask, even if he is a year-to-year proposition at this point. Mayfield has proven durable in Tampa, making every start since his 2023 signing, but he has run into injury trouble in the past.
Bridgewater, 32, has made 65 career starts. Although Trask competed with Mayfield for the Bucs’ 2023 starting job, the team asking Bridgewater to come in late in the offseason reflects a lack of faith in the former second-round pick.
Re-signings:
- Chris Godwin, WR. Three years, $66MM ($44MM guaranteed)
- Ben Bredeson, G. Three years, $22MM ($12.5MM guaranteed)
- Lavonte David, ILB. One year, $9MM ($9MM guaranteed)
- Anthony Nelson, OLB. Two years, $10MM ($4.5MM guaranteed)
- Greg Gaines, DT. One year, $3.5MM ($3MM guaranteed)
- Sterling Shepard, WR. One year, $1.5MM, ($500K guaranteed)
Godwin started the 2024 season on pace for a career year before a dislocated ankle in Week 7 forced him to undergo season-ending surgery. At the time of the injury, Godwin’s 576 yards ranked second in the NFL. Despite an uncertain return timeline, he was expected to draw heavy interest in free agency, even with several other well-regarded veterans hitting the market. A February agreement to delay the void date on Godwin’s contract was an early sign that he would stay in Tampa Bay, but the Patriots and the Steelers — among other teams — tried to change his mind.
New England came in with a $30MM-AAV offer that would have made Godwin the sixth-highest-paid receiver in the league. Pittsburgh also expressed interest before pivoting to D.K. Metcalf. But Godwin declined to chase the biggest check and agreed to a three-year, $66MM extension hours before the legal tampering window opened on March 10.
The decision was a clear act of loyalty by the longtime Buccaneer, who began his NFL career in Tampa as a third-round pick in 2017. He was franchise-tagged twice at the end of his rookie deal and reached a $20MM-AAV extension off the second tag in 2022. His new deal is an increase of just $2MM per year, lagging well behind cap inflation and the receiver market as a whole. After all of the offseason dust settled, Godwin’s $22MM average salary only ranked 21st among all wideouts. Though, his $44MM in fully guaranteed money is a top-10 figure.
Adam Thielen Accepts Pay Cut From Vikings
Veteran wide receiver Adam Thielen has accepted a pay cut from the Vikings shortly after reuniting with the team via a trade from the Panthers.
Originally set to receive $6.25MM in base salary, per OverTheCap, Thielen has agreed to reduce that number by $2MM, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. $4MM of incentives – added earlier this offseason in a revised deal with the Panthers – were also removed.
Pelissero adds that Thielen volunteered for the pay cut to help facilitate his return to Minnesota. He had already agreed to the revised terms at the time of the trade, per ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, and will now rejoin a familiar group of players in coaches.
Thielen, 35, signed with the Vikings as an undrafted rookie in 2014 and made the 53-man rosters a depth receiver and core special teams contributor. The 6-foot-2 receiver broke out in 2016 with 967 yards and averaged 62 yards per game over the subsequent six seasons, earning two contract extensions in the process. Along with his 2023 free agency deal with the Panthers, Thielen has reached $83.6MM in career earnings (via OverTheCap) allowing the Minnesota native to give the Vikings a hometown discount.
With Jordan Addison suspended to start the season and Jalen Nailor dealing with a hand injury, Thielen immediately leaped to the top of the Vikings’ depth chart and will likely play a big role early on. Addison will be sidelined for the team’s first three games, while Nailor is “week-to-week” with a hand injury and hasn’t practice in almost two weeks. Thielen’s experience in previous Kevin O’Connell offenses could make him a quarterback-friendly target for first-year starter J.J. McCarthy.
Tom Brady Broadcasting Restrictions Lifted
When Tom Brady began to pursue an ownership stake in the Raiders as he approached his first season as a broadcaster for FOX Sports, the NFL took note of the potential conflict of interest and installed several rules in response.
Among them was a ban on attending pre-game production meetings with players and coaches from both teams. That restriction has now been lifted, per Andrew Marchand of The Athletic.
Previously, Brady had to get notes from a classmate – in this case, his broadcasting partner Kevin Burkhardt – to inform his color commentary. The league made an exception for the Super Bowl in February, which will now become a permanent rule.
Brady is still barred from stepping foot in other teams’ facilities or attending their practices, as he was last year. He must also continue to adhere to NFL rules that prohibit owners from publicly criticizing officials or other teams. Given Brady’s role as an analyst, he received some leeway on that front.
Other team owners – particularly the Chiefs’ Clark Hunt – insisted on Brady’s restrictions entering his first season as a broadcaster, but the NFL seems to have assessed his commentary and his role in Las Vegas and determined that the potential conflict of interest is not a major concern.
Brady has described himself as a “sounding board”, though he was reportedly instrumental in the Raiders’ organizational overhaul this offseason, helping land a triumvirate of new leadership in head coach Pete Carroll, general manager John Spytek, and quarterback Geno Smith.