Cowboys’ Trevon Diggs, Tyler Guyton Expected To Play In Week 1
September 3: Diggs is expected to play in Thursday night’s matchup against the Eagles, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. The Cowboys are still planning to be cautious with Diggs and may limit his snap count, but his return to the field is impressive after undergoing major knee surgery in January.
Guyton is also expected to play, according to Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News.
September 1: The Cowboys are hoping that cornerback Trevon Diggs and left tackle Tyler Guyton will be ready for their regular season opener against the Eagles on Thursday, but neither is certain to take the field.
Diggs is working his way back to full strength after undergoing knee surgery in January. Expectations of an early-season return kept him on the 53-man roster rather than the physically unable to perform list during last week’s cut-downs. Diggs gave himself a “75-80 percent” chance of playing on Thursday night, per The Athletic’s Jon Machota.
If Diggs is good to go, he’ll start on the boundary opposite Kaiir Elam with DaRon Bland in the slot. Without Diggs, however, the Cowboys may have to shuffle their secondary. Bland moved into the slot this offseason, but he could play on the boundary until Diggs’ return with backup Reddy Steward starting at nickel. Dallas could also keep Bland in the slot and call upon seventh-round rookie Trikweze Bridges or veteran special teams ace C.J. Goodwin on the outside.
Guyton is recovering from a knee injury suffered at the beginning of training camp. He was diagnosed with a bone fracture and a sprained knee, allowing him to avoid season-ending surgery as well as an injured list placement to start the season. Guyton told All City DLLS’ Clarence Hill that he is expecting to play on Thursday night, but that decision hasn’t been officially made.
If Guyton doesn’t play, 2024 seventh-rounder Nathan Thomas is next up on the Cowboys’ depth chart and would likely get the start at left tackle. Thomas spent his rookie year on the IR and started the first two games of the preseason this year.
Both Diggs and Guyton were full participants in Monday’s practice, an encouraging sign for their availability on Thursday.
Cowboys To Extend FB Hunter Luepke
The Cowboys are signing fullback Hunter Luepke to a two-year contract extension, according to Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.
The deal is worth a maximum value of $7.5MM and includes more than $5MM in fully guaranteed money, per Garafolo, representing a significant raise over the three-year, $2.715MM contract Luepke signed as an undrafted free agent in 2023 (via OverTheCap). He made the 53-man roster as a rookie and appeared in all 17 regular-season games, primarily on special teams. He expanded his role in 2024, more than doubling his snap count as a key blocker for the Cowboys offense.
While the base value of Luepke’s extension has yet to be reported, it should place him among the top five fullbacks in terms of APY. He was headed into a contract year with the potential for a RFA tag next offseason. The lowest tag number is projected to be a non-guaranteed $3.453MM (via OTC), so the Cowboys gave Luepke some extra guarantees in exchange for two years of team control at a reasonable cost.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones justified the Micah Parsons trade by saying that he could sign several other players with the money that Parsons would have otherwise received.
“That’s a good trade when you need numbers,” said Jones on Good Morning America on Wednesday (via Jon Machota of The Athletic). “I’ll take the numbers every time.”
Jones has started to follow through on his plans, signing DaRon Bland and Luepke to new contracts in the week since the Parsons trade and engaging Pro Bowl guard Tyler Smith in extension talks as well. While none of those players have the individual impact that Parsons does, the Cowboys are at least using the money they saved to build a well-rounded roster for the future.
Buccaneers To Extend RT Luke Goedeke
The Buccaneers are signing right tackle Luke Goedeke to a four-year contract extension, per Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times. 
The deal is worth $90MM with $50MM guaranteed, per Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. Goedeke’s $22.5MM APY is a slight increase on the deal signed by the Packers’ Zach Tom last month, making him the third-highest-paid right tackle and the 11th-highest-paid offensive lineman in the NFL.
Goedeke was a two-year starter at right tackle for Central Michigan before the Buccaneers made him a second-round pick in 2022. He earned the starting left guard job out of training camp as a rookie, but struggled to adapt to the new position and was benched after Week 7. He then started in Week 18 at right tackle before moving back to left guard for the playoffs.
Tampa Bay moved Goedeke back to his natural position in 2023. He started every game during the regular season with significantly-improved results, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). A concussion sidelined him for four games in 2024, but he put up a strong performance across the season and entrenched himself as the Buccaneers’ long-term right tackle. The team’s decision-makers have now formalized that role with a deal that will keep Goedeke in Tampa Bay through the 2029 season.
Goedeke was set to head into the final year of his rookie contract before today’s deal. With the improvement the 26-year-old has shown each year, it was prudent for the Buccaneers to lock him down now, as opposed to letting him show another level of play in a contract year that might price himself out of Tampa Bay. While Goedeke is getting a strong deal to stay with the team that drafted him, the open market after a strong 2025 campaign could’ve made Goedeke a truly expensive commodity.
Right guard Cody Mauch will be in a similar situation as Goedeke next offseason, after having finished his third year of play, then it will be center Graham Barton the year after that. Barton, a first-rounder last year, would technically have a fifth-year option available to push back any possible deadline on extensions, but with the way offensive linemen are priced the same regardless of position in fifth-year option formulas, centers hardly see those options exercised.
With left tackle Tristan Wirfs under contract through 2030 following his extension last year, the Buccaneers now have the bookends to their offensive line secured for the foreseeable future. If the team works to extend Mauch and Barton in the future, as well, it will have done quick work to secure 80 percent of their offensive line long term. With the way the league has been won in the trenches in recent years, this focus on offensive line building could be a recipe for success.
Ely Allen contributed to this post.
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.