Saints OL Trevor Penning Battling Turf Toe
The Saints dealt with a boatload of offensive line injuries in 2024, and they have continued into this year.
The team has already lost Nick Saldiveri and Will Clapp to season-ending injuries, and now, Trevor Penning is dealing with turf toe, according to Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football.
Turf toe can cause lingering problems, and Penning has experience seeing a summer foot injury persist. Such an injury typically takes four to six weeks to heal, per Underhill, threatening Penning’s status for the Saints’ regular season opening on September 7.
After converting from tackle to guard hit offseason, Penning has been competing for the team’s starting LG job. Saldiveri’s injury gave Penning a commanding lead until he went down against the Chargers on Sunday. Penning has been available over the past two years, going as far as to start 17 games at right tackle in 2024. As a rookie, however, Penning suffered a torn foot ligament. Ironically, that injury was viewed as a bad case of turf toe at the time. Penning did not debut until Week 12 and only made one rookie-year start, altering his development during what became a failed Saints mission to have him replace Terron Armstead at left tackle.
The Saints have a few options to replace Penning. Dillon Radunz is listed as the backup left guard, but he took snaps at both tackle spots in the team’s preseason opener. Instead, it was Shane Lemieux and Kyle Hergel who filled the rest of the left guard snaps after Penning left the game. Given that Lemieux started four games for the Saints in 2024, he could be a trusted early-season option to fill in at left guard until Penning comes back.
New Orleans’ next two preseason games will be strong indicators towards their plans at left guard. If Radunz starts the game there, he will likely be the Week 1 starter if Penning isn’t available. If it’s Lemieux with Radunz still at tackle, the Saints may be planning to go with him in the short term and continue training Radunz as a swing tackle.
Penning, meanwhile, is entering a contract year after failing to live up to his first-round draft billing in his first three seasons. The Saints tried him at left and right tackle, but his tendency to lunge at defenders left the Division I-FCS product exposed against faster edge rushers. The team believes that his game better translates to the interior where his grip strength and power can really shine.
Ravens Hoping To Extend Kyle Hamilton, Tyler Linderbaum, Isaiah Likely Before End Of Season
The Ravens made a whopping 11 selections during the 2022 NFL Draft, nine of which are still in Baltimore and eligible for a contract extension.
First-round picks Kyle Hamilton (No. 14 overall) and Tyler Linderbaum (No. 25 overall) have emerged as priorities for the Ravens, along with fourth-rounder Isaiah Likely. The team is working on extensions for all three players and would like to get deals done before the end of the 2025 season, according to ESPN’s Dan Graziano.
Hamilton will be the most expensive. The All-Pro will likely get a significant raise over the top of the safety market, which reached $21.25MM with Kerby Joseph‘s deal this offseason. The Ravens picked up Hamilton’s fifth-year option in May, locking him in for $18.6MM in 2026 and giving them an extra year to reach an agreement. They could even tag him in 2027 if necessary, but with considerable money committed for the team’s other stars – including $74.5MM for Lamar Jackson in 2026 and 2027 – an extension for Hamilton would help ease the immediate cap burden.
The Ravens declined Linderbaum’s fifth-year option, not because they didn’t want to keep him, but because the NFL groups all offensive linemen together when calculating fifth-year options and franchise tags. Linderbaum would have been owed $23.4MM in 2026, more than $5MM above Creed Humphrey‘s $18MM APY at the top of the center market. A tag is out of the question for the same reason, giving the Ravens six months to extend Linderbaum.
General manager Eric DeCosta hasn’t shied away from making the team’s star players the NFL’s highest-paid at their position, but the cap has gone up significantly since Humphrey signed his extension. Accordingly, Linderbaum may be seeking upwards of $19MM per year. The Ravens will be hoping that the potential for a hefty signing bonus will incentivize their Pro Bowl center into putting pen to paper on an affordable contract before he hits free agency.
Likely has emerged as an ascending offensive weapon, a favorite target of Jackson’s, and a clear successor to Mark Andrews in the team’s tight end room. The Ravens may want to make sure that his recovery from foot surgery goes smoothly before finalizing an extension. Likely’s market has been clarified by Jake Ferguson‘s $12.5MM APY deal with the Cowboys. Ferguson has more targets, receptions, and yards due to his undisputed TE1 status in Dallas in the last two years, but Likely has been significantly more efficient and effective in the red zone while playing behind Andrews in Baltimore.
The 25-year-old may not be able to break into the highest tier of tight end contracts without a full year as a starter, but he could come in around $14MM per year, which happens to be the same amount that Andrews commanded on his second contract.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/12/25
Here are the latest minor moves from around the league:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: WR Kelly Akharaiyi
- Placed on IR: WR Trishton Jackson
- Awarded via waivers: OL Roy Mbaeteka
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: S Tre Herndon
- Released: TE Matt Sokol
Chicago Bears
- Waived: WR John Jackson, K Jonathan Kim
- Waived/injured: S Major Burns
- Placed on IR: CB Shaun Wade
- Signed: S Millard Bradford, CB Mekhi Garner, CB Kaleb Hayes, S Mark Perry
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DE Titus Leo
- Waived: WR Chase Cota
Denver Broncos
- Activated from active/PUP list: WR A.T. Perry
Green Bay Packers
- Awarded via waivers: WR Kawaan Baker
- Signed: RB Tyrion Davis-Price
Houston Texans
- Signed: OT Conor McDermott
Minnesota Vikings
- Waived: LB Brian Asamoah
- Waived/injured: C Zeke Correll
New England Patriots
- Signed: RB Shane Watts
- Waived/injured: RB Deneric Prince
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: DT Justin Rogers
- Waived: LS Christian Johnstone
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: LB Alphonzo Tuputala
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived: K Ryan Coe
- Waived/injured: QB Michael Pratt
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: LB Khaleke Hudson
- Waived: LB David Gbenda
- Waived/injured: Anfernee Orji
Mbaeteka was waived by the Browns on Monday and quickly found a new home in Arizona. The Nigeria native has an international player exemption, per Howard Balzer of CardsWire, allowing the Cardinals to carry 91 players on their preseason roster. The exemption also makes Mbaeteka eligible to be an extra 17th player on the team’s practice squad.
Herndon, 29, will add some defensive back depth to Buffalo’s secondary. Interestingly, the Bills listed Herndon as a safety when they announced his signing, though the seven-year veteran has primarily played both outside and slot cornerback throughout his career.
Price, a 49ers third-round pick in 2022, has only played 105 total snaps in his first three NFL seasons. In Green Bay, he’ll fight for a roster spot in the Packers’ backfield behind Josh Jacobs, Emanuel Wilson, and MarShawn Lloyd.
Asamoah’s release by the Vikings was a bit of a surprise given that the 2022 third-rounder has appeared in 46 games over the last three seasons, primarily as a core special teams contributor. However, he had yet to develop into a reliable defender in Brian Flores‘ scheme and will look to compete for a role elsewhere.
Johnstone’s release signals that offseason signing Charley Hughlett will be the Eagles’ long snapper for the 2025 season.
Saints Lose OL Will Clapp For Season
The Saints have lost another piece of interior offensive line depth with center Will Clapp joining guard Nick Saldiveri on season-ending injured reserve, per Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football.
Clapp, 29, is dealing with a Lisfranc injury, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo. He was listed as the Saints’ second-team center on their unofficial depth chart; now, New Orleans will have to find a new backup to Erik McCoy.
The job will likely fall to veteran Shane Lemieux, who recently re-signed with the Saints after Saldiveri’s knee injury. Lemieux, currently listed as the backup right guard, started four games as the team’s center in 2024. A majority of his experience prior to arriving in New Orleans last year came as a left guard for the Giants, making the 28-year-old a valuable multi-positional backup for the 2025 season.
Clapp’s injury could also help second-year UDFA and third-team center Kyle Hergel make the 53-man roster. Even if Lemieux holds down the backup center role, his potential to be needed at guard may keep Hergel around as an emergency center.
The Saints also worked out a number of veteran offensive linemen, according to Underhill. including Cody Whitehair, Scott Quessenberry, and Nick Harris. However, New Orleans decided to sign a less experienced option in Mike Panasiuk, who also tried out on Tuesday. Panasiuk, 27, spent time with the Raiders, Panthers, and Colts as a defensive tackle before converting to center last year, but has yet to appear in an NFL game.
Clapp, meanwhile, will spend the season rehabbing his foot. Lisfranc injuries are notoriously tricky to recover from, so shutting him down this early in the year should give him a chance at getting back on the field in time for the 2026 season.
The seven-year veteran is in his second stint with the Saints after starting his NFL career in New Orleans as a seventh-round pick in 2018. He started seven games across his first four years with the Saints before signing with the Chargers in 2022 to back up center Corey Linsley. Clapp took over the starting job when Linsley stepped away from the field due to a health issue, but ended the season on the IR with a knee injury. The Chargers went in a different direction when replacing Linsley in the offseason, and Clapp signed with the Bills ahead of the 2024 season. He didn’t appear in a game until Week 18, when he started at right guard and played every snap.
In addition to placing Clapp on the IR, the Saints also waived tight end Mason Pline with an injury designation, according to ESPN’s Katherine Terrell. With a third spot opened by waiving injured wide receiver Chris Tyree, New Orleans signed tight end Seth Green, defensive tackle Jayden Peevy, and wide receiver Roderick Daniels, per Terrell.
Chiefs S Deon Bush Suffered Torn Achilles
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said (via ESPN’s Nate Taylor) that veteran safety Deon Bush suffered a torn Achilles in a preseason loss to the Cardinals on Saturday night.
Bush was entering his fourth year in Kansas City and competing for a backend roster spot as a depth safety and core special teams contributor. He filled that role during the Chiefs’ back-to-back Super Bowl runs in 2022 and 2023, but only appeared in two games in 2024, both in the regular season.
Bush’s injury will also take him out of the 53-man roster competition with the Chiefs’ other depth safeties. Kansas City is returning 17-game starter Bryan Cook as well as nickel/safety hybrid Chamarri Conner with second-year Jaden Hicks and veteran Mike Edwards leading the reserves.
Given how often Conner drops into the slot, keeping Bush on the roster may have been appealing, especially given his NFL special teams experience that undrafted rookies Glendon Miller, Major Williams, and Jacobe Covington can’t match. Now, that trio might have a better chance of sticking around, though Kansas City could opt to carry an extra cornerback instead.
Bush, originally a Bears fourth-round pick in 2016, spent six years in Chicago with six starts on defense and a consistent role on special teams. The nine-year veteran will now spend the season on the sidelines as he rehabs from his injury and prepares for what would be his age-33 season in 2026.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/10/25
Here are the latest minor moves from around the NFL:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released from IR with injury settlement: WR Quez Watkins
Atlanta Falcons
- Placed on IR: S Grayland Arnold
- Released: OL Michael Gonzalez
- Signed: C Jake Hanson
Baltimore Ravens
- Placed on IR: CB Robert Longerbeam
Buffalo Bills
- Waived from IR with injury settlement: LB Baylon Spector
Denver Broncos
- Signed: DB Gregory Junior
- Waived/injured: DE Matt Henningsen (story)
Detroit Lions
- Placed on IR: OL Justin Herron, OL Colby Sorsdal, TE Kenny Yeboah
- Waived with injury settlement: RB Jabari Small
- Signed: OL Gunner Britton, OL Keaton Sutherland, TE Gunnar Oakes, RB Deon Jackson
New England Patriots
- Signed: RB Deneric Prince, DE Jereme Robinson
- Waived: S Josh Minkins
- Placed on IR: RB Lan Larison
New Orleans Saints
- Waived/injured: WR Chris Tyree
Larison suffered a foot injury during a promising preseason debut against the Commanders on Friday night. He will undergo surgery and spend the season rehabbing, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, with the hope of renewing his 53-man roster push next summer.
Jets Activate Jermaine Johnson From PUP List
Jets edge rusher Jermaine Johnson has taken another step in his return to the field after missing most of last season with a torn Achilles.
Johnson passed his physical and was activated from the active/physically unable to perform list on Sunday, per senior team reporter Eric Allen. For the first time since he was knocked out of the Jets’ Week 2 matchup against the Titans 11 months ago, Johnson will be available to join his teammates at practice on Monday.
However, the 2022 first-rounder will likely ramp up his participation as the regular season approaches. He has a little under a month to get back to game-ready condition, though the Jets have no intention of rushing him back.
“We want to make sure we have him for the long haul,” said Jets head coach Aaron Glenn (via Allen).
Before going down last year, Johnson was expected to take another leap after his Pro Bowl campaign in 2023. He recorded 7.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss while also knocking down seven passes and returning an interception for a touchdown. Micheal Clemons started in Johnson’s place in 2024 but only registered 4.5 sacks and four tackles for loss.
The Jets will be hoping that Johnson can quickly return to his 2023 form and pair with Will McDonald to form a dangerous edge-rushing duo after the latter’s breakout with 10.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss.
Spencer Rattler To Start Saints’ Preseason Opener
Saints head coach Kellen Moore announced on Friday that second-year quarterback Spencer Rattler would start the team’s preseason opener on Sunday.
Rookie Tyler Shough will be the second quarterback to take the field, per Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football, followed by 2023 fourth-rounder Jake Haener. The three young signal-callers have been competing for the Saints’ starting quarterback job this summer, with Shough firmly leading Rattler in PFR’s poll on the battle.
Rattler getting the starting nod for Sunday’s game indicates that he has an early lead in the competition. He’ll get the chance to play with the rest of the first-team offense minus a handful of resting veterans. This week, the former fifth-round pick had back-to-back days as the Saints’ QB1, according to Triplett, the first time any of the quarterbacks led two consecutive practices.
Shough is thought to be the Saints’ quarterback of the future after securing a fully guaranteed rookie contract, but that won’t automatically get him a starting job. He and Rattler are both potential multi-year starters as both will be in New Orleans through at least 2027. The Saints could give Rattler a chance to prove himself this year with a clear backup plan of moving to Shough, either later in the season or in the 2026 offseason.
Haener, meanwhile, has always seemed like the clear QB3 in New Orleans. He only started one game amid Derek Carr‘s injuries in 2024, while Rattler was tabbed for six.
Lions S Morice Norris In Stable Condition After Scary Injury
7:51pm: In another encouraging update, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press writes Norris is expected to be discharged from the hospital today. His recovery process will continue from home while Norris works toward his return to the lineup.
10:29am: Lions safety Morice Norris “is in stable condition and has feeling and movement in all his extremities,” according to a team statement.
Norris suffered a head injury in Friday night’s preseason game against the Falcons and had to be taken off the field in an ambulance. The two teams agreed to run out the remaining 14 minutes on the clock and ended the game joined in prayer at midfield.
“[Falcons head coach] Raheem Morris is a class act,” said Lions HC Dan Campbell in his post-game presser. “He’s the ultimate class act. So we agreed that it just didn’t feel right to finish that game.”
The Lions’ statement also said that Norris “will remain at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta overnight for observation.” The second-year safety appeared in two games last year, primarily on special teams.
Norris himself posted an update on social media this morning that he is “all good,” per Justin Rogers of the Detroit Football Network.
Obviously, the Lions’ focus will be on Norris’ health as they evaluate his status moving forward, but early indications suggest that the 24-year-old avoided a serious, long-term injury.
Bears Host RB Jamaal Williams For Workout
The Bears hosted veteran running back Jamaal Williams for a workout Saturday morning, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. 
[RELATED: Recapping Bears’ Offseason]
Williams’ star has fallen since a career-best 2022 that featured a league-high 17 rushing touchdowns and his first 1,000-yard season on the ground. He spent the last two years in New Orleans in a rotational role behind Alvin Kamara with only 181 touches in 27 games. To no surprise, a release took place in March.
The Bears would be Williams’ third NFC North team. He started his career in Green Bay as a fourth-round pick in 2017 before signing with the Lions as a free agent in 2021. Chicago is near the bottom of the NFL in terms of cap space, having entered Saturday with roughly $13MM in available funds. That would still allow for a Williams signing without much issue given the nature of his market.
The 30-year-old carried an AAV of $3MM during his Lions stint and his Saints pact averaged $4MM per season. Given the limited nature of his workload in New Orleans – and the fact he averaged just 3.1 yards per carry – Williams will be in line for a deal much closer to the league minimum when he signs with his next team. If that were to be the Bears, a notable workload would not be expected.
Chicago has D’Andre Swift in place to handle lead back duties once again in 2025. 2023 fourth-rounder Roschon Johnson, seventh-round rookie Kyle Monangai and veteran special teamer Travis Homer round out the depth chart. If Williams were to sign with the Bears, he would look to carve out a role as a short-yardage specialist during the final weeks of the offseason.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.