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Author: Nikhil Mehta

Bears Place DE Austin Booker On IR

By | at August 28, 2025 6:59 pm

Austin Booker was available to the Bears for all 17 games during his rookie season. That will not be the case in 2025, however.

Booker, 22, was placed on injured reserve Thursday, per a team announcement. A knee injury will sideline him for a minimum of four games to start the season, per Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. With a Bears’ bye in Week 5, Booker won’t play until at least Week 6.

The 2024 fifth-rounder was set to backup starting defensive ends Montez Sweat and Dayo Odeyingbo after a relatively quiet rookie season. Booker’s 2025 expectations surged after a league-high 4.0 sacks in just two preseason games, but a potential second-year leap will have to wait for a while.

Booker was able to overpower the generally-lower level of competition in the preseason, but translating that success to the regular season is no guarantee. His injury could make things more difficult, though the IR stint will help him get back to full health instead of rushing a return.

In the meantime, the Bears will turn to 2022 fifth-rounder Dominique Robinson and offseason signing Tanoh Kpassagnon to rotate in behind Sweat and Odeyingbo.

Robinson recorded 1.5 sacks in his first game as a Bear and 0.5 in 33 games since, while Kpassagnon, an eight-year veteran, missed the entire 2024 season due to an Achilles tear. He followed Dennis Allen from New Orleans to Chicago this offseason but has never produced like an impact edge rusher. Booker arguably has more upside than both, so the Bears will be anxious to get him back on the field as a rotational pass rusher.

Third-stringer and 2022 seventh-round pick Daniel Hardy has primarily played special teams in his first two years but could see some defensive snaps with Booker out.

3 comments Chicago Bears Transactions

NFL Seeking 6-Game Rashee Rice Suspension

By | at August 27, 2025 10:45 am

The NFL is seeking to suspend Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice for at least six games for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Rice was arrested in April 2024 on felony charges in connection with a hit-and-run. He was sentenced in July to 30 days in jail and and five years on probation. The league originally sought a ban of at least 10 games, but pushback from the NFLPA and Rice’s camp forced the two sides into a disciplinary hearing set for September 30. That would keep Rice eligible for the Chiefs’ first four games, a stretch that includes crucial matchups against the Chargers and the Ravens as well as a Super Bowl rematch with the Eagles.

Now, the NFL appears to be changing course by offering a shorter suspension to Rice that would preempt the September hearing. It would sidelined the third-year wideout for the 2024 playoff qualifiers listed above as well as the Lions in Week 6.

Rice’s absence would certainly impact Kansas City’s offense, though it may not be fatal blow. He burst onto the scene as a second-round pick in 2023, pacing the Chiefs’ receiver room with 79 catches for 938 yards and a team-high seven touchdowns. The 25-year-old put up another 262 yards in the playoffs on the way to a Super Bowl victory.

Heading into his second year, Rice appeared to be on the cusp of a major breakout with 26 catches for 262 yards in his first four games. At 6.5 catches and 72.0 yards per game, he was on pace for what would’ve been top-10 numbers by season’s end.

3 comments Kansas City Chiefs

Raiders Turned Down Jakobi Meyers Interest

By | at August 27, 2025 10:03 am

Jakobi Meyers‘ trade request went unfulfilled by the Raiders as final roster cuts came and went, but at least one team tried to get the veteran wideout out of Las Vegas.

The Raiders were contacted by another team regarding Meyers, but that team wanted the Raiders to eat some of Meyers’ $11MM salary, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via The Pat McAfee Show) Las Vegas already had no intention of trading Meyers, and the prospect of absorbing additional dead money only made them less likely to reconsider.

The specific team that wanted Meyers remains unknown, but it makes sense why he would draw interest on the trade market. The 28-year-old has quietly put together a solid career, growing steadily throughout his first four years in New England before landing an $11MM APY deal from the Raiders in 2023 free agency.

The wide receiver market has grown significantly since then, and so has Meyers. He recorded 800 yards in 2023 for the third year in a row to go along with eight touchdowns, a career-high. He then stepped up after Davante Adams‘ departure and posted his first thousand-yard season in 2024, albeit with less-than-stellar efficiency.

As a result, Meyers was looking for a raise via an extension, both to reflect his production and his newfound status as the team’s WR1. The Raiders came to the negotiating table, but the two sides were unable to hammer out a deal. Meyers then took the usual step of asking for a trade.

However, trying again before Week 1 might be an ideal situation for both sides. Meyers is a reliable, versatile veteran in a young receiver room who could improve on last year’s numbers with Geno Smith stabilizing Las Vegas’ quarterback situation. Signing him now – perhaps in the $18MM per year range reached by Christian Kirk – would keep him happy and could be a steal if Smith provides more and better opportunities to make plays. However, Mike Evans‘ $20.5MM APY would seem to be a clear cap on a potential deal; given the longtime Buccaneer’s production relative to Meyers, the Raiders may not even be willing to go above $19MM per year.

8 comments Las Vegas Raiders

2025 NFL Waiver Order

By | at August 27, 2025 9:57 am

Many of the players cut Tuesday were subject to waivers, giving teams a chance to pick them up (along with the rest of their contract). Teams can claim as many players as they want before the next team gets their remaining targets.

It’s also worth noting that relatively few players are claimed off waivers during final roster cuts each year. Waiver claims will be processed at 11am CT in the following order (via NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo). In reverse order of the 2024 NFL standings, here is how the waiver priority sits:

  1. Titans
  2. Browns
  3. Giants
  4. Patriots
  5. Jaguars
  6. Raiders
  7. Jets
  8. Panthers
  9. Saints
  10. Bears
  11. 49ers
  12. Cowboys
  13. Dolphins
  14. Colts
  15. Falcons
  16. Cardinals
  17. Bengals
  18. Seahawks
  19. Buccaneers
  20. Broncos
  21. Steelers
  22. Chargers
  23. Packers
  24. Vikings
  25. Texans
  26. Rams
  27. Ravens
  28. Lions
  29. Commanders
  30. Bills
  31. Chiefs
  32. Eagles
4 comments Arizona Cardinals Atlanta Falcons Baltimore Ravens Buffalo Bills Carolina Panthers Chicago Bears Cincinnati Bengals Cleveland Browns Dallas Cowboys Denver Broncos Detroit Lions Green Bay Packers Houston Texans Indianapolis Colts Jacksonville Jaguars Kansas City Chiefs Las Vegas Raiders Los Angeles Chargers Los Angeles Rams Miami Dolphins Minnesota Vikings New England Patriots New Orleans Saints New York Giants New York Jets Philadelphia Eagles Pittsburgh Steelers San Francisco 49ers Seattle Seahawks Tampa Bay Buccaneers Tennessee Titans Washington Commanders

Bills To Reunite With S Jordan Poyer

By | at August 27, 2025 8:13 am

The Bills are reuniting with veteran safety Jordan Poyer, according to FOX Sports Jordan Schultz.

Poyer, 34, played in Buffalo from 2017 to 2023, starting 107 games with only eight games missed due to injury. He also earned recognition as a first-team All Pro (2021) ands Pro Bowler (2022).

Poyer was released last March as part of the Bills’ 2024 cap moves that set up their flurry of offseason extensions this year. The 12-year veteran then signed with the division rival Dolphins for $2MM and outplayed that value with 16 starts and 98 tackles. The latter ranked second on a Miami defense that quietly finished as a top-10 unit last season.

Damar Hamlin and Taylor Rapp led the Bills’ safety room in 2024, with Cole Bishop and Cam Lewis both adding versatile depth. Bishop, a 2024 second-round pick, started four games as a rookie and was expected to take over a full-time role next to Rapp.

Poyer’s return to Buffalo may interfere with those plans. He’ll start on the practice squad, per Dianna Russini of The Athletic, but he could retake his starting role in a familiar Sean McDermott defense. Despite his age, Poyer still played 96% of the available snaps in Miami last year. The Bills can elevate him from the practice squad three times; to play him beyond that, they must sign him to the active roster.

Originally drafted by the Eagles as a cornerback in 2013, Poyer appeared in three of the team’s first four games as a rookie. The former seventh-round pick quickly fell out of Philadelphia’s plans and was waived in October. He landed in Cleveland and converted to safety, carving out a core special teams role before rotational defensive snaps in 2015 and his first starting job in 2016. His tenure as a starter ended early due to a season-ending blindside block, and he was targeted by the Bills the following offseason to pair with fellow free agent signing Micah Hyde.

That partnership flourished over the next seven seasons, but both were cap casualties last year. Hyde returned to Buffalo in 2024 via the practice squad and retired as a Bill at the end of the season. Poyer has taken the first steps towards the same potential outcome, though he will be hoping to help the franchise finally bring home their first Super Bowl this season.

8 comments Buffalo Bills Transactions

Raiders Make Final Moves Down To 53 Players

By | at August 26, 2025 10:04 pm

After making 18 cuts on Monday, the Raiders the following 22 moves to trim their roster down to 53-players, per a team announcement:

Waived

Released

Placed on IR (designated for return)

Backup quarterback Aidan O’Connell is projected to be out for six to eight weeks after undergoing surgery for a fractured wrist, but curiously, he will not land on injured reserve with a return designation. The Raiders may be waiting to make that move in case they need to open up a roster spot for a waiver claim, per Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review Journal. Las Vegas also kept offensive tackle Thayer Munford, who was a risk to get claimed on waivers, according to Bonsignore.

Despite a pre-draft endorsement from Tom Brady and O’Connell’s injury, Miller was unable to hang on the 53-man roster as a third-string quarterback. The Raiders will need a backup quarterback to start the year, and Miller is an obvious candidate to return to the practice squad for early-season elevations as O’Connell heals. They could also scour the waiver wire and then transfer O’Connell to the IR.

Johnson suffered a broken fibula in early August, but it was not expected to end his season. His designation to return confirms that projection, but he will still be sidelined for a minimum of four games to start the year.

2 comments Las Vegas Raiders Transactions

Packers Make Cuts, Set Initial 53-Man Roster

By | at August 26, 2025 9:43 pm

The Packers announced their initial 53-man roster as well as the following transactions:

Released

Waived

Placed on IR (designation to return)

Placed on IR

Placed on reserve/PUP

Despite his struggles to carve out a role in the NFL, Simmons made the 53-man roster in each of his first five seasons after the Cardinals selected him with the No. 8 pick in 2020. That streak has come to an end in Green Bay with his release today.

Alexandre is expected to return to the Packers’ practice squad if he clears waivers, per USA Today’s Ryan Wood, who places Banks in the same category.

Lloyd suffered a groin injury early in training camp and a hamstring injury more recently, which will land him on IR and sideline him for at least four weeks. Monk, though to be the team’s backup center, will also be out for a minimum of four weeks.

0 comments Green Bay Packers Transactions

Ravens Set Initial 53-Man Roster

By | at August 26, 2025 8:56 pm

Every year, the Ravens are one of the last teams to announce their roster moves to get down to 53 players. Finally, via a team press release, Baltimore’s initial 53-man roster is set with the following transactions:

Waived

  • CB Jalyn Armour-Davis
  • WR Jahmal Banks
  • S Beau Brade
  • WR Malik Cunningham
  • G Darrian Dalcourt
  • OL Garrett Dellinger
  • OLB Malik Hamm
  • S Desmond Igbinosun
  • S Keondre Jackson
  • DL Jayson Jones
  • QB Devin Leary
  • OT Gerad Lichtenhan
  • ILB Chandler Martin
  • TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden
  • DL Adedayo Odeleye
  • DL C.J. Okoye
  • G Jared Penning
  • DL C.J. Ravenell
  • CB Marquise Robinson
  • OLB Kaimon Rucker
  • C Nick Samac
  • FB Lucas Scott
  • TE Scotty Washington

Released

Waived with injury settlement

Placed on injured reserve (with return designation)

Placed on reserve/NFI

  • OT Emery Jones

Placed on reserve/PUP

The Ravens opted to keep tight end Isaiah Likely on the 53-man roster after his recent foot surgery, indicating that the team expects him back in the first four weeks of the regular season.

Armour-Davis is Baltimore’s most surprising cut. The 2022 fourth-round pick struggled with injuries across the first few years of his career, but had a solid training camp. Baltimore opted to keep undrafted rookie Keyon Martin instead after an impressive showing in the preseason.

Brade, who made the 53-man roster as a UDFA last year, was beaten out by undrafted rookie Reuben Lowery for the Ravens’ fourth safety spot. Brade, a former University of Maryland standout, is expected to return to the practice squad if he clears waivers, per KRPC2’s Aaron Wilson.

Baltimore is also hoping to bring Lichtenhan, a 6-f0ot-8, 328-pound offensive tackle, back on their practice squad if he sneaks through waivers, according to FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz.

Urban will likely re-sign to the Ravens practice squad on Wednesday in a handshake deal after being cut from the active roster.

Isaac and Wade suffered injuries late in training camp and will have to spend the first four weeks of the season on injured reserve. Isaac’s IR placement cleared a spot for David Ojabo to make the roster despite appearing to be on the bubble in the preseason.

Jones has been dealing with a mysterious shoulder injury that required surgery earlier this year. He has yet to hit the practice field as a Raven and will be sidelined for at least four more weeks to start the season.

2 comments Baltimore Ravens Transactions

Falcons Cull Roster To 53 Players

By | at August 26, 2025 7:40 pm

The Falcons trimmed their roster down to 53 players with the following moves:

Released

Waived

Placed on injured reserve (designated to return)

Placed on reserve/PUP

Placed on reserve/NFI

  • LB Malik Verdon

Released from IR with injury settlement

Fuller, Harrison, and Henderson all have previous starting experience in the secondary, though Harrison has since converted to linebacker and exclusively played special teams last season. Fuller missed half of the 2024 season due to injury, while Henderson, a former top-10 draft pick, spent the year with the Steelers but didn’t appear in a regular-season game.

With right tackle Kaleb McGary landing on season-ending IR, Parker could be a candidate to have a handshake agreement to be signed to the practice squad and remain in the team’s game day plans for the season. He will be crucial tackle depth with Norton sidelined for at least four weeks (and likely more) after ankle surgery

Bryant was a projected Day 3 pick who surprisingly went undrafted. Though he didn’t do enough to make the 53-man roster, the Falcons are hoping that he can clear waivers and return to the practice squad, per FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz.

Though Younghoe Koo is coming off a down year, the Falcons are sticking with the veteran kicker and waived Krieg, a German-born rookie. The Falcons are planning to re-sign him to the practice squad if he clears waivers, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. As an international player, Krieg is eligible to be an extra, 17th player on Atlanta’s practice squad.

Washington is expected to spend his third NFL season on the Falcons’ practice squad, per D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He was only elevated once in 2024 and played exclusively special teams in that game.

Graham started 16 games over his first four years in the NFL but saw his snap share drop to a career low in 2024. He’ll be out for a minimum of four games with an undisclosed injury.

2 comments Atlanta Falcons Pittsburgh Steelers

Bengals Trim Roster To 53 Players

By | at August 26, 2025 6:31 pm

The Bengals have finalized their 53-man roster with the following 27 roster moves, per a team announcement:

Placed on IR (designated for return)

Placed on reserve/PUP:

Released:

Waived:

Waived/injured:

Anthony (hamstring) and Johnson (calf) are a pair of 2024 Day 3 picks who will be sidelined for at least four games after picking up injuries in training camp. Anthony is not expected to miss much time, per Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Complications from a college knee surgery are expected to sidelined All for the entire season, but keeping him on the PUP list keeps the Bengals’ options open. Even getting All back on the practice field late in the season could go a long way towards a 2026 comeback.

Adomitis was the Bengals’ long snapper for the last three years, but undrafted rookie Will Wagner beat him out for the starting job in training camp, according to Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer.

If Ridder ever had a legitimate chance at beating out Jake Browning for Cincinnati’s backup quarterback job, he was unable to capitalize on it. With 18 starts under his belt in the last three years – albeit with uninspiring production – Ridder could draw interest on waivers for a team looking to upgrade their quarterback depth.

Volson is expected to be out for the year after undergoing shoulder surgery. He will revert to the Bengals’ season-ending injured reserve if he is not claimed on waivers. The Bengals may pursue an injury settlement to save cap space with almost $2.5MM of non-guaranteed money on Volson’s contract, per OverTheCap.

1 comment Cincinnati Bengals Transactions
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