Giants Not Considering Coaching Changes
Giants defensive coordinator Shane Bowen is under fire after his unit allowed 33 points in the fourth quarter to blow a 19-point lead in Sunday’s loss to the Broncos.
Star edge rusher Brian Burns expressed his frustration with Bowen’s late-game play-calling as he walked into the locker room (via Bleacher Report’s James Palmer), and New York’s defense as a whole has struggled in their first seven games this season. The Giants are among the bottom 10 teams in points, yards, and yards per play allowed, with plenty of trouble against the run and the pass.
However, head coach Brian Daboll said on Monday (via The Athletic’s Charlotte Carroll) that he is not considering any immediate changes to his coaching staff and plans to keep play-calling duties with his coordinators.
“We all got to do a better job,” Daboll said. “Starts with me, and there’s plenty of opportunities to finish that game the way we wanted to. We didn’t get the job done.”
Both Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen were thought to be on the hot seat entering the 2025 season, but the emergence of rookie Jaxson Dart as a potential franchise quarterback may give them a longer leash. The Giants’ ownership (and fans) may still demand accountability if they have a third-straight losing season, especially if their final record resembles last year’s 3-14 debacle. The offense has improved, but the defense seems to have regressed. If that continues, it could be Bowen who finds himself out of a job in 2026, but he is safe for now.
Cowboys To Designate C Cooper Beebe, CB Shavon Revel For Return
The Cowboys are designating center Cooper Beebe and cornerback Shavon Revel for return, per ESPN’s Todd Archer. Both players will participate in practice this week.
Beebe landed on injured reserve after Week 2 with an ankle sprain and a foot fracture. Coming back after five weeks with a three-week practice window aligns neatly with his original six- to eight-week return timeline. The 2024 third-rounder took over a starting job as a rookie and appeared in 16 games last year, though the Cowboys had one of the worst rushing attacks in the league.
Dallas’ offense has not skipped a beat without Beebe, averaging 32.4 points. per game over their last five contests. Backup Brock Hoffman has played well enough, but Dak Prescott will no doubt be glad to have his starting center back in the lineup.
Revel, a third-round pick in April’s draft, has been on the non-football injury list since July as he completes his recovery from last year’s ACL tear. The Cowboys were hoping that he would be ready by Week 5, but the rookie cornerback will miss that mark by at least three weeks.
Revel impressed during his time at Eastern Carolina and has the talent to contribute right away. However, coming back from a major injury after missing all of the preseason will likely require a multi-week ramp up and keep him from reinforcing the Cowboys’ bottom-ranked passing defense anytime soon.
The Cowboys also designated linebacker DeMarvion Overshown for return on Monday, so they could have as many as three impact players return in the next month. All three will have 21 days to practice with the team before they must be activated to the 53-man roster or revert to season-ending IR.
Cowboys Expected To Explore Splash Trade
OCTOBER 19: While Dallas will be a team to watch on the trade front, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports the team’s calls to date have been “exploratory” at best. As such, a blockbuster swap being worked out during the middle of the season remains unlikely.
OCTOBER 17: The Cowboys’ 2-3-1 start to the 2025 season has not deterred owner and de facto general manager Jerry Jones from signaling his interest in buying at this year’s trade deadline.
Earlier this week, he all but waved the draft picks acquired in the Micah Parsons deal, and recent reports have further indicated Dallas’ interest in making a major addition. One linked the Cowboys to Bengals edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, and another from Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson mentions Hendrickson and Titans defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons as Jones’ potential targets.
Hendrickson would fill the Cowboys’ major need for a veteran edge rusher. Though his counting stats of four sacks and three tackles for loss are behind the pace of his last two seasons, his 22.6% pass rush win rate is seventh among edge rushers (min. 50 pass-rushing snaps), per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). That is actually slightly above his 20.8% and 20.0% marks in 2023 and 2024, respectively. The asking price for Hendrickson, per Robinson, ranged from a second-round pick to a third-rounder plus another Day 3 selection.
Simmons is on pace for a career-best season with 4.5 sacks and eight tackles for loss in six games and also leads all interior defensive linemen with 27 pressures and a 19.9% pass rush win rate (min. 75 pass-rushing snaps), according to PFF. However, he seems like a less obvious fit for Dallas’ defense. Sure, the Cowboys would arguably have the league’s best trio of defensive tackles in Simmons, Kenny Clark, and Osa Odighizuwa, but their defense rarely features three defensive tackles on the field at the time.
The potential redundancy is a long-term issue, too. Clark was just acquired in the Parsons trade with a contract, partially because he had multiple years left on his contract, and Odighizuwa signed a four-year extension earlier this year. Simmons’ deal runs through 2027 with guaranteed money in 2026.
Simmons would also cost a first-rounder plus a mid-round pick or a “serviceable starter,” per Robinson. That is a steep price to pay considering that Dallas has already invested plenty in the interior of their defensive line, including an intentional effort to acquire a veteran DT in the Parsons deal. Given the Cowboys’ current roster picture, Hendrickson would seem to make significantly more sense as a trade target in the coming weeks.
Buccaneers-Baker Mayfield Extension Won’t Come Until Offseason
Baker Mayfield‘s journey in Tampa Bay has been nothing short of incredible.
He has significantly outplayed his first two contracts with the Buccaneers, earning his first Pro Bowl nod after an initial $4MM deal in 2023 and looking like an MVP candidate after a three-year, $100MM extension in 2024. Mayfield’s awards candidacy last year was only held back by a league-leading 16 interceptions; otherwise, he ranked among the NFL’s top three quarterbacks in completion percentage, passing yards, and passing touchdowns.
This season, he has again looked like one of the league’s best passers, averaging 256.5 passing yards per game with 12 touchdowns and only one interception. He has also taken just 10 sacks despite a number of offensive line injuries, and star skill players Bucky Irving, Chris Godwin, Mike Evans, and Emeka Egbuka have all missed time as well.
Mayfield has also led fourth-quarter comebacks in four of the Buccaneers’ five wins this year. Tampa Bay is 5-1, and their quarterback is among the early favorites to win the Most Valuable Player award at the end of the season.
The Buccaneers have made it clear that they envision keeping Mayfield past the end of his current contract, which expires after the 2026 season. The team displayed this clear interest by upping its starter’s guarantees for next season, a rework that provided a $30MM bump in locked-in money. However, extension talks will not take place until the offseason, per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, allowing both sides to see how this year plays out.
Mayfield should already be in line for a solid raise based on his performance in 2024, and his value could continue to go up, especially if this season ends with individual recognition and/or team success in the playoffs. He could push well above $50MM per year on his next contract, but his obvious appreciation for the Buccaneers organization could incentivize him to take a team-friendly deal.
Cowboys Activate Caelen Carson From IR; Off-Field Concussion Sidelines Trevon Diggs
The Cowboys have activated cornerback Caelen Carson from injured reserve ahead of their Week 7 matchup with the Commanders, per ESPN’s Todd Archer.
Carson landed on IR before Week 1 with a hyperextended knee, but returned to practice as soon as he was eligible at the beginning of October. He has been a full participant in practice for the last two weeks and should be full-go on Sunday.
Carson’s activation comes at a crucial time for the Cowboys. Their defense has allowed the most passing yards per attempt and per game to opposing offenses this year, and they will be without starting cornerback Trevon Diggs this week. Diggs suffered a concussion in an accident at his home this week, according to Archer, sidelining the six-year veteran for Sunday’s game.
In a way, Diggs’ absence and Carson’s return gives Dallas an opportunity to shake up their secondary. Diggs has struggled to start the 2025 season, allowing a 68.8% completion rate when targeted along with 11.9 yards per target and 17.4 yards per completion, all career-worsts. Carson’s 2024 numbers in five starts are not much better, but Diggs has been playing poorly enough that almost any other option could be an improvement.
The Cowboys have also reduced Kaiir Elam‘s snaps in recent weeks, though he may return to a more prominent role with Diggs sidelined. Carson could find his way on the field as well, and Dallas has not been afraid to play second-year UDFA Reddy Steward in the slot, either.
The Cowboys also elevated running back Malik Davis from the practice squad for their Week 7 contest. Davis will add backfield depth after Miles Sanders‘ season-ending injury while also contributing on special teams.
Raiders Could Pursue Seahawks CB Tariq Woolen
Seahawks cornerback Tariq Woolen was mentioned as a trade candidate earlier this season, and Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline confirms that the 2022 fifth-round pick could be on his way out of Seattle.
Woolen is entering the final year of his rookie deal. He has been a full-time starter for the Seahawks since his dazzling debut season with a league-high six interceptions on his way to a Pro Bowl nod and a third-place finish in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. He was not as dominant in 2023, but still played very well, and his performance did not take a noticeable dip under new head coach Mike Macdonald in 2024.
However, Woolen has struggled in his five starts this season, allowing catches on 66.7% of his targets and 9.1 yards per target, both career-worsts. He was reportedly facing a role reduction heading into October, but it never materialized. Woolen played almost every snap for the Seahawks defense in their first five games until a concussion knocked him out of the game in Week 5. He remained sidelined in Week 6, when veteran Shaquill Griffin started in his place.
Based on reports about his availability, it seems like Seattle is not planning to re-sign Woolen and will instead see what they can get for him on the trade market. It would still be a somewhat surprising move for a 4-2 team with playoff aspirations to part ways with a starting-caliber cornerback. Even if Macdonald wants to de-emphasize the former UTSA standout, Woolen is still an excellent insurance policy in case of injuries, which have already been a constant problem in Seattle this year.
Still, if the Seahawks put Woolen on the trade block, the Raiders are expected to come calling, per Pauline. Las Vegas needs a cornerback, and head coach Pete Carroll is plenty familiar with Woolen after drafting and developing him in 2022 and 2023.
Pauline also mentions Seattle’s interest in Dolphins running back De’Von Achane, but such a player-for-player swap seems far-fetched. The Dolphins are expected to be sellers ahead of the deadline, but Achane is a foundational piece of Mike McDaniel‘s offense who is under contract through 2026. Reports have generally indicated that the Dolphins will be patient with McDaniel this season, but he is still on the hot seat. If he is coaching for his job, he will not want to move such an important offensive weapon, especially with Tyreek Hill already gone for the year.
Raiders TE Brock Bowers Returns To Practice, Doubtful For Week 7
Raiders tight end Brock Bowers returned to practice on Friday, but he is not expected to play in Sunday’s game against the Chiefs.
Bowers missed the Raiders’ last two games with a knee injury – reportedly a bone bruise and a PCL injury – that has been limiting him for much of the season. The second-year tight end is listed as doubtful on Las Vegas’ final injury report, aligning with a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport earlier in the week that Bowers was unlikely to to return until Week 9. The Raiders have a bye in Week 8, so another absence this week would give the 2024 first-round pick plenty of time to recover.
Bowers hurt his knee in Week 1 against the Patriots, but played through it for three weeks. It did have a noticeable impact on his performance; after 103 receiving yards in his first game, Bowers failed to top 50 yards in his next three. The Raiders are now hoping that he can return to his All-Pro form after some extended rest.
With Bowers sidelined, 2023 second-rounder Michael Mayer will take over a starting role for a second week in a row. Mayer was also out in Week 5 due to a concussion, but emerged as a reliable target in Week 6 with five catches on seven targets for 50 yards and a touchdown.
Raiders wide receiver Jakobi Meyers is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game due to knee and toe injuries suffered in Week 6. He missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday, but returned in a limited capacity on Friday to give him a shot at playing against the Chiefs. Absences from both Bowers and Meyers would deprive Geno Smith of his two best pass-catchers and likely lead the Raiders to lean on rookie running back Ashton Jeanty this week.
49ers To Activate George Kittle, Rule Out Brock Purdy
The 49ers ruled out quarterback Brock Purdy for Week 7, per The Athletic’s Vic Tafur, meaning that Mac Jones will make his fifth start of the season.
Purdy was still limited in practice this week due to a re-aggravation of his toe injury. Jones, meanwhile, progressed to full participation despite dealing with knee and oblique injuries. He has led the 49ers to a 3-1 record in his four starts with a league-high 313 passing yards per game.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan also said (via ESPN’s Nick Wagoner) that tight end George Kittle would be activated from injured reserve for Sunday’s game, ending his four-game absence due to a Week 1 hamstring injury. Kittle is not expected to be on any kind of snap count, according to Tafur.
San Francisco created the space for Kittle’s activation on Friday by placing wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling on injured reserve, per Wagoner. The eight-year veteran will now be on the shelf for at least four games with a calf injury and becomes the latest 49ers wideout to miss time. Ricky Pearsall has been out for the last two games with a knee issue that will sideline him for Sunday’s contest as well. Jacob Cowing is on IR, though Shanahan said (via Wagoner) that he is “getting close” to returning to practice. Jauan Jennings has missed two games and played through four others with a litany of injuries. That’s not even mentioning Brandon Aiyuk, who will not be back until November at the earliest.
Kittle’s return will obviously go a long way in relieving the pressure on the 49ers’ injured receiving corps. Backup tight end Jake Tonges has performed well in his absence, giving Shanahan the options of using more two-tight end formations until the rest of his offense gets healthier.
Shanahan also said that defensive tackle Kevin Givens will “most likely” be activated from IR as well, which would add depth to a defensive line that has also dealt with a number of injuries this year. The 49ers can easily create a roster spot for Givens by placing linebacker Fred Warner on injured reserve after an ankle injury that is expected to end his season.
Vikings To Start Carson Wentz Vs. Eagles
The Carson Wentz revenge game is officially happening.
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell announced that Wentz will start on Sunday against the Eagles, his former team. The Eagles traded up to draft Wentz with the No. 2 pick in the 2016 draft with the hopes that he would be their long-term franchise quarterback.
It didn’t quite work out that way. Wentz struggled as a rookie before a breakout 2017 season that was cut short by an ACL tear. The Eagles went on to win the Super Bowl with Nick Foles under center. Injuries remained an issue for Wentz, though the team still signed him to a four-year, $108MM extension in 2019. By the end of the next season, he was benched for Jalen Hurts, and during the offseason, he was traded to the Colts. That kicked off a series of one-year stints with the Commanders, Rams, and Chiefs before signing with the Vikings this offseason.
O’Connell has repeatedly made it clear that J.J. McCarthy will be the Vikings’ starting quarterback when he’s fully healthy, but that has not been the case for weeks. Wentz started the last two games, and though he picked up a shoulder injury last week, he will be under center once again on Sunday.
McCarthy has still been limited in practice this week as he works his way back from an ankle injury, but O’Connell said that the second-year quarterback will be active as the Vikings’ emergency third quarterback in Week 7, per ESPN’s Kevin Seifert. Max Brosmer will still be the team’s primary backup, but O’Connell indicated that he was comfortable with McCarthy taking the field in an emergency.
49ers, Colts, Eagles, Cowboys Among Potential Suitors For Trey Hendrickson
All-Pro edge rusher Trey Hendrickson has emerged as a popular name in trade talks following an offseason contract saga with the Bengals and their subsequent 2-4 start to the season.
The 49ers are among the teams interested in trading for Hendrickson, though Cincinnati is reportedly not interested in moving him. Other expected suitors include the Colts, Eagles, and Cowboys, per Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline. Hendrickson is owed $9.8MM for the rest of the season if traded after Week 8 ($8.9MM if after Week 9, per OverTheCap), and the Bengals will likely want an acquiring team to pick up all of his remaining salary.
We noted when the Colts restructured Kenny Moore‘s contract earlier this month that general manager Chris Ballard could be clearing space for a big swing ahead of the trade deadline to take advantage of a surprising 5-1 start. Going after Hendrickson, one of the league’s premier edge rushers, would certainly fall into that category. Indianapolis does not necessarily need the pass rush help – their 16 sacks are tied for seventh-most in the NFL – but no individual player has more than 3.0 sacks. Instead, they have 11 defenders who have contributed to a sack this year; adding Hendrickson to that group would give them an elite individual sack-getter on top of a well-schemed pass rush.
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has a reputation of being a big-name hunter on the trade market, but most of his higher-profile deals have come during the offseason. However, Philadelphia has a bottom-10 pass rush with only nine sacks as a team and no player with more than two. Nolan Smith and Ogbo Okoronkwo are already on injured reserve, and Za’Darius Smith just retired, so the Eagles defense could definitely use reinforcements on the edge. Roseman’s aggressive cap management has given the team enough room to absorb’s Hendrickson’s contract, though it would tighten their budget for the rest of the season.
The Cowboys pass rush has predictably struggled following the departures of Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence, leading to one of the worst defensive units in the NFL. Jerry Jones recently hinted that he could be active ahead of the trade deadline, and he acknowledge that every asset would be on the table, including the picks acquired from Green Bay in the Parsons trade. The Cowboys could certainly use a player of Hendrickson’s caliber, as they currently have the ninth-fewest sacks in the NFL (11).
We heard recently that the 49ers see Hendrickson as “an ideal fit for their defense.” The team lost star pass rusher Nick Bosa to a season-ending ACL tear in Week 3, and 49ers general manager John Lynch has made it known that he’s looking for help on the edge. That front office hasn’t been afraid to take in-season swings, and it wouldn’t be surprising if the team acquired a player of Hendrickson’s talent as they look to maximize their current core.
As mentioned, the Bengals have resisted any trade inquires for their star pass rusher. However, if the team doesn’t improve as the trade deadline inches closer, there’s a chance the team starts fielding offers.
Ben Levine contributed to this post.