Bucs WR Jalen McMillan Has Neck Fracture
The Buccaneers surprised many when they selected Emeka Egbuka in the first round (No. 19 overall) of this year’s draft, as they already had a strong WR corps in place. But that corps has been depleted by injury, and several of its top players, including Jalen McMillan, are not guaranteed to return this season.
McMillan, a 2024 draftee, sustained what was initially called a “severely strained neck” during a preseason game in August, though head coach Todd Bowles recently described the injury as a neck fracture (via Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times). ESPN’s Jenna Laine is unsure why the terminology is different now than it was in August, as McMillan’s MRI would have shown both the ligament damage (the strain) and the fracture.
Bowles characterized the apparent discrepancy as one of semantics in a follow-up text to the Tampa Bay Times. “It’s no different than it was,” he said. “A fracture. It’s the same to me.”
As Laine reiterates, McMillan did not require surgery on his injury, and Stroud says the fracture is actually mild. According to Stroud, the ligament issue, not the break, is what has forced McMillan to wear a brace and is taking the most time to heal.
An update from several weeks ago indicated McMillan remained in a brace and was targeting a December return – initially, the hope was that he would return this week – but Stroud reports McMillan was still in a brace as late as last week. And while Bowles said the Washington alum is improving, he did not offer a timeline for his return.
“He’s getting better. I don’t have a specific date for you, either, but he’s definitely getting better,” Bowles said on Monday. “When he gets out of the brace, we’ll see, but he’s definitely feeling better.”
Franchise stalwart Mike Evans has played in just four games this year and is not expected back until late December (if at all) due to a broken clavicle. Evans’ longtime running mate, Chris Godwin, has appeared in a mere two games thanks to the ankle injury he suffered last season and then a fibula injury he sustained upon his return this year.
Egbuka has been excellent in his first eight games as a pro and has helped the Bucs stay atop the NFC South despite their myriad injuries. Still, the team expressed interest in Marquez Valdes-Scantling before he agreed to sign with the Steelers, and it is fair to wonder whether GM Jason Licht could kick the tires on a different wideout addition from the free agent market or via trade prior to Tuesday’s deadline.
AFC North Rumors: Hendrickson, Njoku, Browns, Ravens
Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic recently reported the Bengals would keep DE Trey Hendrickson through Tuesday’s trade deadline, even if they drop their Week 9 matchup with the Bears to fall to 3-6. ESPN’s Adam Schefter offers some pushback on that front.
Notwithstanding Dehner’s report and similar ones that preceded it, Schefter’s sources say a loss to Chicago could indeed change Cincinnati’s calculus. The Bengals will still see themselves as championship contenders in 2026, and trading Hendrickson will deprive them of exclusive negotiating rights with their top defensive player this offseason.
But negotiations between player and team over the past several years have become contentious and have not yielded a new long-term contract, and a franchise tag will surely not sit well with the four-time Pro Bowler. As such, it would not be surprising if the teams that have already attempted to pry Hendrickson from Cincinnati keep trying to do so, and those efforts may well intensify if the Bengals lose the Chicago contest.
Now for more AFC North trade rumors:
- TE David Njoku has been mentioned as a trade candidate, and while the Browns want to keep as many talented pass catchers as possible in the fold in order to properly evaluate their young signal-callers, SI.com’s Albert Breer believes the right offer could convince them to pull the trigger on Njoku (Breer says Cleveland would also want Njoku to sign off on such a deal). In the same report cited above, Schefter says the Browns are not only disinclined to move Njoku, but that they could actually be aggressive deadline buyers.
- Despite sitting at 3-5, the Ravens are the betting favorites to win the AFC North, so they could look to strengthen their roster at the deadline rather than sell off players on expiring deals. Cornerback had already been identified as an area of need, and Dianna Russini of The Athletic (subscription required) recently reiterated that point. The Athletic colleague Dan Duggan names the Giants’ Deonte Banks – a Baltimore native who has seen a dramatic reduction in playing time this year – as a possible target (though Duggan suggests a Banks trade may be more likely in the offseason).
- Although they are in the market for a CB addition, the Ravens have jettisoned Jaire Alexander to the Eagles in exchange for a minimal return, which is reflective of Alexander’s brief and disappointing Baltimore tenure.
- A club that has been among the most aggressive in seeking a wide receiver, a recent report confirmed the Steelers are still on the lookout for WR help. They have inquired about Raiders wideout Jakobi Meyers, who is arguably the top trade candidate at the position.
Lions To Continue Exploring Extensions For Core Talent
The Lions recently authorized a record-setting extension for defensive end Aidan Hutchinson. In addition to keeping one of the league’s best pass rushers in the fold for the foreseeable future, the deal also created some cap clarity as Detroit pursues second contracts with other members of its core.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter hears the Lions intend to retain as many of their remaining rookie-contract players as possible, which is not surprising considering how GM Brad Holmes has operated. Over the past two years, Holmes has entered into notable extensions with players like QB Jared Goff, WRs Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, RB David Montgomery, OTs Penei Sewell and Taylor Decker, S Kerby Joseph, and DT Alim McNeill, handing out nearly $1 billion in the process.
The expectation is that Holmes will continue his efforts to keep the band together, efforts that will now include 2023 draftees like RB Jahmyr Gibbs, LB Jack Campbell, TE Sam LaPorta, and S Brian Branch. All four of those players will be eligible for new deals after the season.
We had already heard that Holmes is looking ahead to a second contract for Gibbs, and we suggested at the time that the other three members of that talented quartet of draftmates could also be part of the GM’s agenda in the near future. Schefter highlights Gibbs’ case as particularly interesting.
As Schefter notes, the Lions can keep Gibbs (like Campbell) under club control through 2027 by virtue of the fifth-year option and could utilize franchise tags to extend the relationship beyond that. Plus, as a running back, Gibbs’ price under the option and tag will be fairly reasonable, especially considering his talent and importance to the team.
Despite that, and despite the fact that clubs have been reluctant to green-light extensions for RBs too early, Schefter confirms Holmes will consider one for his Pro Bowl back. Assuming he does, Gibbs could take aim at the top of his position’s market, which is presently topped by Saquon Barkley’s $20.6MM AAV and $36MM in full guarantees.
Still, Holmes could have a little more urgency with respect to LaPorta and Branch since they are not eligible for fifth-year options and could become free agents after the 2026 campaign. The tight end market has not exploded like the market for some other positions, so LaPorta may be relatively affordable, whereas Schefter says Branch could become one of the NFL’s highest-paid safeties (there are now three safeties earning at least $21MM per year, while no tight end has hit the $20MM threshold).
As an inside linebacker, Campbell’s second contract should also be manageable. Given all of Holmes’ other completed and prospective commitments, he may need to make some difficult choices in the near future, but for now, the plan is to keep the Lions’ full championship-caliber foundation intact.
Vikings Could Trade For Veteran QB
Recent reports on the Vikings’ quarterback depth chart suggested they would keep UDFA rookie Max Brosmer as their QB2 behind starter J.J. McCarthy. That may not be the case, however.
Although Minnesota allowed Sam Darnold to walk in free agency this offseason, the club did attempt to retain Daniel Jones, who turned down a more lucrative offer from the Vikes to join the Colts (a wise decision, in hindsight). And, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter observes, the Vikings did want a veteran backup for McCarthy this year, which is why they tried to re-sign Jones and why they already had a deal lined up with Carson Wentz when they traded Sam Howell in August (Howell himself was acquired by Minnesota via trade just four months prior).
Wentz served as an injury replacement for McCarthy over the Vikings’ last five games, winning two of them. The former No. 2 overall pick is now done for the season due to a shoulder injury, but McCarthy is now healthy and is set to return to his place in the starting lineup. For the time being, Brosmer is McCarthy’s clipboard holder, and recent acquisition John Wolford will operate as the third signal-caller.
Schefter’s sources say Minnesota’s thought process with respect to its QB2 role has not really changed. The team is said to be high on Brosmer, but a veteran passer would be welcome nonetheless, according to Schefter.
With the 2025 trade deadline just two days away, the Vikings would need to act quickly to make that happen. Familiar face and current Falcon Kirk Cousins, who recently underwhelmed in a one-game relief appearance for Michael Penix Jr., would make sense. As Schefter confirms, though, Atlanta has shown no inclination to trade last year’s free agent prize and seems unlikely to change its stance in that regard.
The Giants’ Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston have long been floated as trade candidates, and rookie Jaxson Dart’s ascent to Big Blue’s starting quarterback gig has solidified the veterans’ status as potential trade bait. It is fair to wonder, as Schefter does, if one of those two players could be on the move in the next 48 hours or so.
Bills Pursuing Trade For WR, S; Saints’ Rashid Shaheed A Possible Target?
The Bills have lost two in a row and find themselves in an unexpected fight with the Patriots for first place in the AFC East. Buffalo’s top three wideouts – Khalil Shakir, Keon Coleman, and Josh Palmer – have not been terribly productive, and as NFL.com’s Eric Edholm observes, the team has not put up more than 245 net passing yards since Week 1. As such, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports hears the Bills could be on the lookout for WR help at the trade deadline.
The fact that Brandon Beane’s trade for Amari Cooper last October did not pan out as hoped presumably will not deter the GM from exploring the receiver market again this year. Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic (subscription required) acknowledges the Saints’ Rashid Shaheed is not as clean of a schematic fit for the Bills as New Orleans teammate Chris Olave would be, but the contract-year Shaheed is a more realistic trade candidate than Olave, whom the Saints are seeking to extend (and who is unlikely to be dealt). Buscaglia names the Raiders’ Jakobi Meyers and the Ravens’ Rashod Bateman as other pass catchers Beane could consider.
Albert Breer of SI.com also identifies Shaheed as a potential target for the Bills. As an impending free agent on a losing team, the 27-year-old speedster is drawing trade interest from around the league, so Buffalo could have competition for his services. Shaheed has caught 30 passes for 356 yards and two touchdowns and has averaged 14.0 yards on eight punt returns.
Las Vegas is reportedly open to trading Meyers, a 2026 free agent. However, ESPN’s Adam Schefter says the Raiders will not simply give him away despite his expiring contract and their 2-5 record, and they will only move him if they get “strong value” in exchange. As of yet, such an offer has not been presented to Vegas brass.
Dianna Russini of The Athletic (subscription required) confirms the Bills are looking for a reinforcement at wide receiver, but Buffalo will have company in that regard. The Broncos and Steelers were previously named as clubs in the WR hunt, and Schefter reports Denver and Pittsburgh join the Bills as the teams that have been the most aggressive in pursuing a pass-catching upgrade.
Russini says Buffalo is looking into the safety market as well. That makes sense in light of the fact that Buffalo was recently forced to place Taylor Rapp on injured reserve, and Buscaglia suggests a reunion with cornerback (and current Dolphin) Rasul Douglas is another way the team could upgrade its pass defense.
That said, the Bills’ 31st-ranked run defense has been a more pressing issue. To that end, Buscaglia names Jets DT Harrison Phillips and Browns DT Maliek Collins as potential fits.
But, as Edholm points out, the Bills have just $2.5MM of cap space at the moment, so Beane may need to be creative as he seeks ways to upgrade his roster prior to the November 4 deadline.
Former Jets C Nick Mangold Passes Away
Former Jets center Nick Mangold, one of the best pivots of his generation, has passed away at the age of 41, the team announced. Just two weeks ago, Mangold said he was battling chronic kidney disease and was in need of a transplant (via Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports).
A first-round pick of the Jets in 2006, Mangold spent his entire 11-year career with Gang Green. His tenure was marked not only by excellent play but by availability, as the Ohio State product suited up for at least 14 games every season from 2006-15. The ankle injury he sustained in 2016, which limited him to eight contests that year, ultimately put an end to his playing days.
Before that, however, he earned seven Pro Bowl nods and two First-Team All-Pro appearances. He was also a key cog in two of the most successful Jets outfits in franchise history, the 2009-10 iterations that journeyed to the AFC Championship Game with Mark Sanchez under center.
In all, Mangold’s career spanned 171 regular season and playoff games (all starts). While his time in the league came to an unceremonious end with a cost-cutting release in 2017, he had solidified his standing as a franchise icon long before that. He signed a one-day contract to retire as a Jet in 2018 and was inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor in 2022.
In a statement passed along by ESPN’s Rich Cimini, owner Woody Johnson said, “Nick was more than a legendary center. He was the heartbeat of our offensive line for a decade and a beloved teammate whose leadership and toughness defined an era of Jets football. Off the field, Nick’s wit, warmth, and unwavering loyalty made him a cherished member of our extended Jets family.”
We at PFR offer our condolences to Mangold’s family, friends, and the many coaches and teammates he played with and for during his standout career as a collegian and in the pros.
Texas HC Steve Sarkisian Denies Interest In NFL HC Job
University of Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian was seen as a candidate for an HC gig in the NFL during the last hiring cycle, and he reportedly turned down interview requests from two pro clubs before signing a one-year extension with Texas that keeps him tied to the Longhorns through 2031. The latest reporting on Sarkisian’s potential jump to the NFL met with significant backlash.
On Saturday, Dianna Russini of The Athletic (subscription required) reported that Sarkisian’s camp has let NFL execs know the 51-year-old would be interested in joining the professional ranks as a head coach. Russini said Sarkisian would consider the Titans’ HC job, which is the only one currently manned by an interim bench boss (Mike McCoy, who took over after Brian Callahan’s in-season dismissal).
After Russini’s report was published, Sarkisian’s agents were quick to issue a statement refuting it. In that statement, Jimmy Sexton and Ed Marynowitz of CAA said, “[a]ny reports regarding communications on coaching opportunities are patently false and wildly inaccurate. Sark is solely focused on coaching the University of Texas football team.”
Following the Longhorns’ overtime victory against Mississippi State on Saturday, Sarkisian himself blasted Russini’s report during his post-game presser (video link).
In a lengthy diatribe, Sarkisian said, “I’d love to touch on this, so bear with me for a second, because it really pisses me off that one person can make a report that, in turn, the entire media and sports world runs with as factual, to the point that my agency and my agents had to put a statement out, which they’ve never done historically. CAA, Jimmy Sexton, Ed Marynowitz have never done that. But I had to do it to protect my locker room and my team, and I thought it was absolutely ridiculous” (via Anwar Richardson of OrangeBloods.com).
Sarkisian, whose last NFL work came as the offensive coordinator for the Falcons in the 2017-18 seasons, has been in Austin since 2021. He guided his team to the CFP semifinals in each of the past two seasons, and though the Longhorns are currently 6-2 and the No. 22 team in the country, one-score wins over unranked Kentucky and Mississippi State have not necessairly buoyed confidence in the program’s 2025 prognosis. In his first season as a full-time starter, quarterback Arch Manning has not lived up to the overwhelming hype that surrounded him before the campaign got underway, though he did play well in the victory over the Bulldogs.
Sources within the program have expressed optimism about Manning’s future, and Sarkisian’s contract is reflective of the school’s faith in its HC. That may not stop interested NFL teams from calling, but in order to put his current locker room and his recruits at ease, Sarkisian clearly felt it was necessary to adamantly deny the veracity of Russini’s report.
“I thought it was completely unprofessional of that person to put that report out, and the fact that everybody ran with it is borderline embarrassing for the media,” he added. “And I respect what you guys do — I really do — and everybody else. But the fact that everyone ran with that as truth is really embarrassing.”
49ers Rumors: DE Trade, Warner, Aiyuk, Bosa
Despite another barrage of injuries to marquee players, the 49ers are 5-2 and in a three-way tie for first place in the NFC West. Following the season-ending ACL tear that standout pass rusher Nick Bosa sustained in Week 3, GM John Lynch said the club would look to the trade market for reinforcements on the edge (comments he seemed to walk back to an extent in the wake of the potentially season-ending ankle injury that star linebacker Fred Warner suffered in Week 6).
Now, offseason trade acquisition Bryce Huff – whose role had increased with Bosa on the sidelines – is set to miss some time due to a hamstring ailment. Notwithstanding the remarks he made after the Warner injury, Lynch is surely doing his due diligence on EDGE players who might be available via trade, and he conceded he will pull the trigger if the right opportunity presents itself. That has not happened yet, but it could.
When asked about the possibility of adding a defensive end, Lynch told KNBR radio, “[w]e don’t have to … But we have plenty in this building … We’ll hold down the fort until [Huff’s hamstring is healed]. If it can help our team we won’t hesitate to do it. But nothing has presented itself that aligns completely to this point” (via Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News).
The trade deadline is a little more than a week away, and talks around the league will surely heat up as November 4 draws nearer. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler noted that teams with pass rushers to deal are (understandably) seeking significant compensation in return for their premium-position talent. Prospective buyers, meanwhile, are hoping the price will come down in the upcoming days, leading Fowler to believe the EDGE market could be a late-forming one.
As Lynch continues to survey that market, he could soon get some much-needed good news on the injury front. After a disappointing September update on wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk’s ACL and MCL tears – which he suffered in Week 7 of the 2024 campaign – recent reports suggested the club was targeting a November return for the 2020 first-rounder. It still seems that is the case, as head coach Kyle Shanahan recently told reporters (including ESPN’s Nick Wagoner) that Aiyuk could begin practicing as early as this week. Whenever San Francisco opens Aiyuk’s practice window, it will have up to 21 days to activate him. Failing that, he will revert to season-ending injured reserve.
Surgeons whom Matt Barrows of The Athletic consulted said Warner could be healthy enough to return for the playoffs should the Niners qualify, and Lynch confirmed as much. Per Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle, the GM did not rule out the possibility of a postseason return for Warner.
Bosa, on the other hand, is definitely done for the rest of the regular season and any potential postseason contests. Wagoner reported at the end of September that Bosa’s surgery on his torn ACL went well, and Barrows said the Niners could see up to $9MM in cap savings as a result of the insurance policy they took out on Bosa’s mega-deal.
Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill Uncertain To Continue Playing Career
Shortly after Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill suffered a severe, season-ending knee injury in Week 4, his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, indicated his client would seek to continue his playing career in 2026. The player himself seems less certain.
Hill, 31, recently appeared on the podcast hosted by Terron Armstead, his former Miami teammate. During the interview, Hill suggested he may not return to the field.
“At the end of the day, I feel like that decision [to continue playing or not] is based upon how I feel and where my mindset is at the moment,” Hill said (via the Associated Press). “I’m happy with the career that I’ve had. I love playing football. I love it, but it takes a lot. It takes a lot on you mentally, it takes a lot on you physically.”
Before the injury, Hill’s contract situation and the Dolphins’ status as presumptive deadline sellers made the eight-time Pro Bowler an obvious trade candidate, though a new round of domestic violence allegations complicated his value. Even if he remained healthy and stayed on Miami’s roster beyond the deadline, he was likely to be released in the offseason.
A post-injury report confirmed the Dolphins are expected to move on from Hill before the third day of the 2026 league year, at which point $11MM of his $29.9MM salary will become guaranteed, along with a $5MM roster bonus. Assuming Miami does cut bait, Hill’s free agent stock – should he be medically cleared and if he chooses to keep playing – will be undermined by his age, injury, and off-field baggage.
He did not offer a timeline as to when he will make his decision.
“I’m at the point now where I need to have a conversation with mom, family, everybody,” he said. “Wherever my mind is at the time, the decision will be made, but I know right now, I haven’t had time to live in the moment. … I just want to be in this moment with my family. I don’t want to make any rash decisions.”
As part of a prolific, HOF-worthy on-field resume, Hill has amassed 11,363 receiving yards and 95 total touchdowns, including five scores during his early-career work as a return man. He has been similarly impressive in the postseason, recording 1,212 receiving yards and seven total TDs in 15 playoff games. He has also earned just shy of $150MM from his NFL contracts, and he secured a Super Bowl ring as part of the Chiefs’ 2020 squad.
In speaking about the knee injury he sustained this season, he said, “[w]hen I got tackled, I immediately tried to get up … I’d seen that my leg was crooked. I immediately started laughing because I’ve been able to play this game for 10 years, really my entire life, and I’ve been blessed with great talents and great gifts. The amount of support I get from my family, it’s amazing. So I really wasn’t even thinking about the injury. I was thinking about the great times I’ve had playing this game.”
Saints Could Trade WR Brandin Cooks; Latest On WRs Chris Olave, Rashid Shaheed
The 1-6 Saints have looked like sellers at this year’s trade deadline for weeks, and GM Mickey Loomis is indeed receiving calls from other clubs. Players like wide receivers Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed, running back Alvin Kamara, defensive ends Cameron Jordan and Carl Granderson, linebackers Demario Davis and Pete Werner, cornerback Alontae Taylor, and offensive lineman Dillon Radunz have all been named as possible trade candidates.
Add WR Brandin Cooks to that list. Sources tell ESPN’s Adam Schefter that Cooks is a player who could be on the move, which Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network confirms.
Cooks, 32, is no stranger to trade rumors. As Rapoport observes, the former first-round pick of the Saints would set an NFL record if he is dealt again. Cooks has been traded four times already, which is tied with Kiko Alonso and Eric Dickerson for the most in league history.
A 2014 draftee, Cooks spent the first three years of his career in New Orleans before being traded to the Patriots. After just one season in Foxborough, the Pats sent Cooks to the Rams, who dealt him to the Texans two years later. He stayed with Houston for three years and was traded to the Cowboys in 2023.
Despite the nomadic career, Cooks has been quite productive, posting five seasons with over 1,000 receiving yards and earning over $123MM along the way. He circled back to the Saints this offseason on a two-year, $13MM deal, which includes a modest $1.26MM salary in 2025. An acquiring club would only be responsible for the prorated portion of that amount, and just $1.69MM of Cook’s 2026 pay is guaranteed, so his contract is eminently movable.
Per Rapoport, there is mutual interest in a trade. When Cooks rejoined New Orleans, he still believed Derek Carr might be his quarterback. With Spencer Rattler at the controls, Cooks has generated just 14 catches for 127 scoreless yards.
Of course, that is not entirely Rattler’s fault. Cooks’ production naturally has been trending downwards as he has gotten older, and he has not recorded a 1,000-yard season (or anything particularly close) since 2021. Olave, Shaheed, Kamara, and tight end Juwan Johnson have all earned substantially more targets in 2025 than Cooks, who has just 18 through seven games.
A WR-needy team could nonetheless see Cooks as a useful and attainable complementary addition to its pass-catching contingent. He surely will not cost as much to acquire as Shaheed, for whom Schefter says New Orleans is seeking a third-round pick (despite the Saints’ predictable public stance that they are not interested in trading any of their wideouts).
The Saints do appear likely to keep Olave in the fold (as is the case with Kamara). Under club control through 2026 by virtue of his fifth-year option, Olave wants to stay in New Orleans, and player and team have been discussing an extension.
Dianna Russini of The Athletic (subscription required) confirms the Saints are unlikely to trade Olave. The receiver himself said the two sides are “on the same page” in their contract negotiations, per Schefter.