2025 Injured Reserve Return Tracker

The 2024 offseason brought a change in how teams could construct their 53-man rosters while retaining flexibility with injured players. Clubs were permitted to attach return designations to two players (in total) placed on IR or an NFI list before setting their initial rosters.

In prior years, anyone placed on IR before a team set its initial 53-man roster could not be activated in-season. All August 26 IR- or NFI-return designations, however, already count against teams’ regular-season limit of eight. Teams will be tasked with determining which players injured in-season will factor into activation puzzles as the year progresses.

All players designated for return on August 26 became eligible to be activated beginning in Week 5, though any player placed on IR after a team set its initial 53 has not been designated for return and therefore does not yet count toward a club’s eight-activation limit. Playoff teams will receive two additional injury activations once the postseason begins.

Here is how the 32 teams’ activation puzzles look for Week 16:

Arizona Cardinals

Reverted to season-ending IR:

Designated for return:

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 5

Atlanta Falcons

Reverted to season-ending IR:

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 4

Baltimore Ravens

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 5

Buffalo Bills

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 5

Carolina Panthers

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 4

Chicago Bears

Designated for return:

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 3

Cincinnati Bengals

Designated for return:

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 2

Cleveland Browns

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 6

Dallas Cowboys

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Designated for return:

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 2

Denver Broncos

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Designated for return:

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 4

Detroit Lions

Designated for return:

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 3

Green Bay Packers

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Designated for return:

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 5

Houston Texans

Designated for return:

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 3

Indianapolis Colts

Designated for return:

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 5

Jacksonville Jaguars

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Activated:

Activations remaining: 5

Kansas City Chiefs

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Activations remaining: 6

Las Vegas Raiders

Designated for return:

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 6

Los Angeles Chargers

Activated:

Activations remaining: 0

Los Angeles Rams

Eligible for activation:

Activated: 

Activations remaining: 6

Miami Dolphins

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 3

Minnesota Vikings

Designated for return:

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 3

New England Patriots

Eligible for activation:

Activated: 

Activations remaining: 7

New Orleans Saints

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 6

New York Giants

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

Designated for return:

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 4

New York Jets

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 4

Philadelphia Eagles

Reverted to season-ending IR:

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 2

Pittsburgh Steelers

Reverted to season-ending IR:

Designated for return:

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 5

San Francisco 49ers

Designated for return:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 4

Seattle Seahawks

Designated for return:

Eligible for activation:

Activated: 

Activations remaining: 2

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Designated for return:

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 5

Tennessee Titans

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 4

Washington Commanders

Eligible for activation:

Activated:

Activations remaining: 4

Pro Football Rumors Front Office Subscriber Chat: 11/21/25

Pro Football Rumors' Sam Robinson will be holding a live chat at 3pm Central today, exclusively for Trade Rumors Front Office subscribers!

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Seahawks’ QB Strategy Stands Out In Modern NFL

Not exactly reaching showdown games during the period between Russell Wilson's injury-marred 2021 and Geno Smith's third and final starter season, the Seahawks enter Week 11 in an interesting position. They match up with a Rams team that has also retooled, as Sean McVay's team has restaffed its front seven post-Aaron Donald. But Los Angeles did not gamble at quarterback -- despite pushing its situation to the brink via the Matthew Stafford trade sweepstakes.

The Seahawks, however, did make a bet at the game's premier position. Through nine games, Sam Darnold is rewarding his new team. Although interest naturally emerged for PFR's No. 1-ranked 2025 free agent, teams were not rolling out substantial multiyear guarantees at signing. A natural suitor for Darnold -- the Raiders -- backed off, as Tom Brady was not keen on his new team signing his old AFC East rival. This opened a door wide for the Seahawks, who are reaping benefits of what now looks like a team-friendly contract.

Seattle made a daring play at quarterback, trading Smith to Las Vegas three days before the legal tampering period began. A Darnold market that had seemingly cooled reignited, with a new QB-needy team entering the fray. Smith's failed extension talks in Seattle, negotiations the incumbent had pushed for dating back to the 2024 offseason, now represent a seminal moment in Seattle. Darnold agreed to a deal in the ballpark of what the Seahawks offered Smith, and his three-year, $100.5MM accord -- themed around Baker Mayfield's 2024 Buccaneers contract -- looks like a steal at the season's midpoint.

Although the Seahawks' contract framework added intrigue to this accord, the timing of the QB dominoes falling proves a bit more interesting. In the modern NFL, a tiny contingent of teams have been willing to let a first-ballot Pro Bowl quarterback go without having a contingency plan in place.

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Pro Football Rumors Front Office Subscriber Chat: 11/14/25

Pro Football Rumors' Sam Robinson will be holding a live chat at 12:30pm Central today, exclusively for Trade Rumors Front Office subscribers!

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Cowboys Activate LB DeMarvion Overshown, CB Shavon Revel

NOVEMBER 14: Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones confirmed on 105.3 The Fan (via The Athletic’s Jon Machota) that Revel would make his NFL debut on Monday, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic. Overshown is expected to be on a pitch count, per Machota, though the 25-year-old linebacker said that he wanted to be on the field when “a play needs to be made.”

NOVEMBER 11: The Cowboys’ defense has been one of the NFL’s worst units this year, to the point the team made two deadline-day deals — for Logan Wilson and Quinnen Williams — to help stabilize it. When those two players debut with Dallas, the team will have more reinforcements en route.

DeMarvion Overshown and Shavon Revel are moving onto the 53-man roster Tuesday, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero. The Cowboys will activate the third-year linebacker from the reserve/PUP list and the rookie third-round cornerback from the reserve/NFI list.

Each player’s 21-day activation clock would have expired today, a season-ending development, had the Cowboys not followed through with the expected activations. Both are expected to debut against the Raiders in Week 11, per WFAA’s Ed Werder. The team also placed safety Juanyeh Thomas on the reserve/non-football illness list, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson adds.

Overshown is coming back from a severe knee injury sustained in December 2024. The 2023 draftee has suffered two ACL tears since entering the NFL. Revel has been on the shelf since September 2024 after sustaining an ACL tear during his final East Carolina season. Next to nothing has gone right for the Cowboys’ defense this season, but the unit having four starter-level cogs returning at once does stand to provide a boost — as the club attempts to mount a last-ditch wild-card push.

While the topic of a 3-5-1 team being a deadline buyer has generated considerable debate, the Cowboys made that move by piecing together a surprising trade package — a 2027 first-rounder (the higher of Dallas’ two firsts), a 2026 second and defensive tackle Mazi Smith — to obtain Williams. As Williams will take his place as a D-line starter, Overshown has a path back to a first-string role at linebacker. He and Wilson will be tasked with helping that unit, which has been a low-priority position in Dallas for a while.

Week 11 has loomed as Overshown’s return point for a bit; he went down in Week 14 last season. In addition to suffering his second ACL tear as a pro, Overshown sustained MCL and PCL tears to lengthen his recovery timetable. A 2023 third-round pick, Overshown played well in a 13-game sample last season. He registered 90 tackles (eight for loss) and came through with an impressive five sacks despite manning an off-ball LB role in Mike Zimmer‘s defense. Overshown has now had three weeks to practice in Matt Eberflus‘ defense.

Pro Football Focus ranks both Kenneth Murray and Shemar James as bottom-10 linebackers (among qualified options) this season. The Cowboys have Jack Sanborn on IR as well. Wilson and Overshown should see immediate playing time, though it would not surprise if the latter is brought along slowly. Still, this represents a key stretch for Overshown, who will need to show sustained health if a lucrative second contract — from the Cowboys or another team — is considered. He has missed 30 games through 2 1/2 seasons.

Revel’s debut was expected to commence earlier than Week 11. A return within the Cowboys’ first five games was viewed as likely, with an earlier report pegging September as in play. It would then stand to reason for Revel to be brought along slowly as well. Though, it will be interesting to see how cautious the Cowboys will be with both recovering talents, as they are in danger of falling out of playoff contention — largely because of the defense’s struggles.

Viewed as a first-round talent before his injury, Revel still declared for the draft after his lost final college season. His return comes at an opportune time, as Trevon Diggs is on IR with a concussion. Diggs and DaRon Bland have struggled to stay healthy, and the Cowboys have fared poorly in coverage this season. Revel’s usage will be interesting to follow. While Diggs is more likely than not to be cut in 2026, Bland and Revel profile as a potential long-term tandem.

Colts Plan To Make Long-Term Offer To QB Daniel Jones

Daniel Jones is following the Baker Mayfield/Sam Darnold path as a former top-10 pick to bounce back after inconsistency with his first NFL team. The Colts have reaped the benefits of their one-year Jones addition, and buzz is building — particularly after the team’s blockbuster trade that stripped away top draft assets — this partnership will continue.

The Colts are planning to make Jones a long-term offer, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. Although extension talks have not begun yet, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones adds the quarterback “loves” Indianapolis and is pleased with his current situation. The seventh-year veteran chose the Colts over a better offer to remain with the Vikings, viewing this as the superior path to a starting role. He was proven correct, and the Colts are tied for the AFC’s best record — at 8-2 — in their bye week.

Seeing as the Colts dealt their 2026 and ’27 first-round picks for Sauce Gardner, it certainly seems like Jones’ bargaining position improved. Against all odds, Jones has found himself with leverage that could be comparable to where he stood with the Giants in 2023. While Jones negotiations have not yet started, discussions with the free agent-to-be should be expected soon.

Indianapolis both missed on its most recent first-round quarterback (Anthony Richardson) and has dealt away the top two assets to land another one. Although Jones did not come close to living up to his four-year, $160MM Giants accord, he asked for $47MM per year that offseason — a seminal period for that franchise. Jones’ positional value prompted GM Joe Schoen to prioritize him more than Saquon Barkley, talent disparity notwithstanding, and that led to a Barkley tag and 2024 free agency exit. The Giants’ decision to re-sign Jones backfired spectacularly, with Barkley joining the 2,000-yard club and driving the Eagles to a Super Bowl title — weeks after New York released Jones.

Jones was not believed to have created much distance from Richardson during their training camp competition, but he won the job and has certainly separated from the erratic top-five pick in-season. Jones ranks ninth in QBR, which represents a slip from where he was a few weeks ago but obviously a surprising placement given his standing throughout his second Giants contract and into free agency. Jones is playing out a one-year, $14MM contract; he is positioned to do much better in 2026.

The Colts appear “all in” on a long-term partnership with Jones, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes, citing Mayfield and Darnold’s deals as comps. Mayfield and Darnold signed near-identical contracts a year apart, and both have justified the payments.

Mayfield is on a three-year, $100MM deal that included $40MM at signing; Darnold is at three years, $100.5MM ($37.5MM at signing). Darnold’s hot Seattle start has left little to no suspense about him collecting an additional $17.5MM guaranteed in February. Jones’ shaky Giants tenure will logically give teams pause, but Fowler points to the QB being able to set his price point beyond where Mayfield and Darnold took the mid-tier QB market.

Jones, who used his dual-threat ability to pilot the Colts to a game-tying drive in the final second of their win in Berlin, leads the NFL in passing yards — with 2,659 and sits fourth in yards per attempt (8.3). Both numbers are out of step with the former No. 6 overall pick’s Giants work, which never featured a season north of 7.0 yards per pass or a yardage total beyond 3,300. Jones is on pace to blow past that yardage mark, and while the ex-Eli Manning successor did guide the Colts to wins over the Broncos and Chargers, tough tests against the Chiefs, Seahawks and 49ers remain. Two matchups against a formidable Texans defense are on Indy’s docket as well.

When the Colts traded Gardner, some around the league viewed it as a pledge they will re-sign Jones, ESPN’s Dan Graziano notes. We heard before the Gardner trade the Colts were interested in a post-2025 Jones relationship. Considering Jones’ struggles justifying his $40MM-AAV Giants accord and his health issues in the past, the Colts diving back in on a franchise-level contract for this particular player would appear risky. But this franchise has been starved for stability at the position post-Andrew Luck. By starting Jones over Richardson this year, the Colts joined only Washington (2017-24) by using an eighth Week 1 QB1 in nine-season span. Jones has also given Indy’s homegrown core a return to relevance.

Controlling owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon signed off on Chris Ballard‘s Gardner swap, encouraging her GM to secure a long-term fix for the team’s boundary cornerback issue rather than a stopgap solution. The Colts failed with QB stopgaps in Carson Wentz and Matt Ryan, and even though their hopeful long-term fix in Richardson appears a failure in progress, the team’s Gardner play points to Jones being given another lucrative contract.

Jones playing hardball with the Giants in 2023 provides a sign where his Indy negotiations could go, and that will be an interesting storyline to follow as free agency nears. But he and MVP candidate Jonathan Taylor have the Colts in first place in scoring this season. It is possible Ballard has made a determination on his quarterback, and Jones’ resurgence is on track to save the GM and HC Shane Steichen‘s jobs.

Even though the Colts have hurdles to clear as they pursue their first playoff bye since 2009, the team is on track for its first AFC South title since 2014. A reward payment for Jones appears to be expected in the not-too-distant future. The Colts have until the mid-March legal tampering period to negotiate exclusively with Jones, whose Giants deal came days before the 2023 legal tampering period.

Dolphins Likely To Retain Tua Tagovailoa For 2026?

Joining Trevor Lawrence as a summer 2024 extension recipient yet to justify his contract, Tua Tagovailoa has gone through an up-and-down stretch since the ink dried on his megadeal. The high-priced Dolphins quarterback remains in place as the team’s starter, but rumors about his future have created some uncertainty.

Rumblings about the southpaw being benched surfaced after GM Chris Grier‘s exit, and that report indicated uncertainty about whether the polarizing quarterback would be back in Miami for 2026. The guarantees the Dolphins authorized in the July 2024 deal may ensure the former top-five pick receives one more chance.

[RELATED: Dolphins Rejected Bills’ Jaylen Waddle Offer]

Tagovailoa “doesn’t have the best reputation around the league,” per CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones, who points to the Dolphins needing to pay down a significant amount of the QB’s 2026 compensation to facilitate a viable trade. Two anonymous personnel staffers point to Tagovailoa receiving one more chance in Miami, via Jones, with one noting Mike McDaniel remaining in place would give the QB a better shot to stick around.

Like Lawrence, Tagovailoa’s 2026 compensation is fully guaranteed. The Dolphins owe him $54MM next year, complicating a deal. That payment came after back-to-back seasons with Tua finishing in the top five in passer rating and top 10 in QBR. Concussion issues marred Tagovailoa’s breakout 2022 slate and resurfaced soon after he signed his four-year, $212.4MM extension. The Dolphins losing Tyreek Hill to a severe knee injury hurt their offense this season, and Tagovailoa ranks 24th in QBR.

Tua also took heat for criticizing teammates for meeting attendance this season, and although the QB apologized for making that public, Jones notes that contributed to his perception around the NFL. The Dolphins responded to Grier’s firing with a convincing win over the Bills, buying McDaniel more time. They have cleaned house in the front office, however, moving on from two top Grier lieutenants (in co-player personnel directors Adam Engroff and Anthony Hunt). This further muddies the situation for the McDaniel-Tagovailoa partnership, though the QB’s injury history and perception within the league would limit his trade value.

Some QB-needy teams would undoubtedly look into Tagovailoa due to the sample quality play when healthy under McDaniel, but his series of concussions and struggles over the past two seasons would complicate a trade. If the Dolphins do retain the 2020 draftee in 2026 and fire McDaniel, some candidates could certainly express hesitation about the job.

Stephen Ross keeping McDaniel for another season is probably contingent on a strong finish, but it would also mean tying the Grier hire to another GM. As we discussed in a recent Trade Rumors Front Office post, incongruent timelines for HCs and GMs have proven to be a shaky recipe in recent years. But a 2027 Tua separation would be easier for Miami. No guaranteed money is in place for the Alabama alum beyond 2026, and the Dolphins would take on a relatively manageable $31.8MM dead money hit with a 2027 trade or release.

Tagovailoa became the centerpiece of Grier’s rebuild, and the Dolphins have enjoyed some success during his tenure. McDaniel oversaw the first instance of back-to-back playoff berths for the franchise since the team made five straight berths from 1997-2001. But the team has hit a wall. It remains uncertain if McDaniel can do anything to save his job this season, though the Buffalo upset moving the team to 3-7 assuredly helped the talented play-caller’s cause.

Quinnen Williams’ Criticism Of Jets’ QB Decision Made Impact; Latest On Cowboys’ DT Plans

The Jets decided against selling off auxiliary cogs at the trade deadline, opting instead to gut the core of their team by trading Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams in barely an hour. While the team collected three first-rounders and more from the Colts and Cowboys in those swaps, the current regime will be tasked with high-profile efforts to replace two All-Pros.

Williams fetched a 2026 second-round pick, a 2027 first and former Cowboys first-round defensive tackle Mazi Smith in the blockbuster deal. The Jets had discussed Williams with the Cowboys as part of the Micah Parsons trade, but no deal commenced then. Dallas circling back required the team to agree to a condition that could prove valuable for New York. The Jets will receive the higher of the Cowboys’ two first-round picks in the 2027 draft, one believed to be teeming with top-end talent.

[RELATED: Bills Pursued Williams Before Deadline]

Competing with the Jaguars to land Williams, the Cowboys entered into serious trade talks with the Jets on Monday, ESPN’s Rich Cimini notes. The Jets were not a lock to deal Williams to the Jags had the Cowboys not upped the ante, as Gang Green needed to be “blown away” to give in on Williams’ trade push. The Cowboys giving the Jets the sweetener of having access to the higher of Dallas’ 2027 first-rounders finalized the trade, Cimini adds.

Months before Williams was dealt, he had made it known on multiple occasions he would like to be moved. The seventh-year veteran’s tweet about another rebuilding year being likely — a social media salvo launched after the team’s plans to release Aaron Rodgers became known — did not go over well with some in the organization, Cimini adds.

Williams later admitted a mistake there, but the three-time Pro Bowler made no secret about his frustration with the Jets’ losing ways. The Jets have not made the playoffs since 2010 — far and away the NFL’s longest-running drought — and Williams went 0-for-6 in .500 seasons as a Jet, with the team topping out at seven wins during his tenure. The Jets have won two straight, though they started 0-7 as Justin Fields struggled. The picks obtained in the Gardner and Williams deals figure to be aimed at acquiring a long-term quarterback answer.

The Jets had also used Williams more as a three-technique tackle in Aaron Glenn‘s scheme, after he had played more nose previously. While Williams’ snap percentage in the A-gap did not decline noticeably under Glenn, Cimini said the subtle position shift contributed to his unhappiness. Williams, 27, now joins Kenny Clark, Osa Odighizuwa and Solomon Thomas in a suddenly crowded Cowboys D-tackle corps.

Adding Williams does create a complication for a Cowboys team now carrying three $20MM DT salaries. The team plans on using all three when it uses five on-ball defenders, according to ESPN’s Dan Graziano. Though, only two will play when the team is using four down linemen.

The Cowboys are planning to be creative to get all three on the field at once, per Graziano, though it will be interesting to see the snap percentages when Williams, Clark and Odighizuwa share the field. The Cowboys believe Williams’ presence will also help a struggling sect of edge rushers draw more favorable matchups.

This NFL period has involved far more sub-package sets than base defenses, and teams do not make a habit of including DTs as edge rushers when in nickel. That adds more scrutiny to Dallas’ decision to trade two premium picks for Williams after already paying Odighizuwa (four years, $80MM) in March and then taking on Clark’s three-year, $64MM Packers extension in the Parsons trade.

Odighizuwa’s 2026 money is fully guaranteed, while Clark’s through-2027 contract does not have any guarantees beyond this season. Beyond Kirk Cousins, the Chiefs have the NFL’s most expensive backup (tackle Jaylon Moore, who is at $15MM per year). The Cowboys’ base 4-3 alignment figures to vault either Clark or Odighizuwa past Moore.

It would be odd for the Cowboys to bail on Clark after prioritizing him in the Parsons trade, but Dallas carrying three $20MM-per-year DTs — with Williams having previously pushed the Jets for a contract rework (and not yet receiving it) — to go with a $60MM-AAV quarterback (Dak Prescott) and $34MM-per-year wide receiver (CeeDee Lamb) will be a challenge. A Williams extension would reduce his 2026 cap number, slated to check in at $21.75MM.

The team may need to find another rookie-contract edge rusher, as the Parsons void remains at that position. Keeping its two 2026 first-rounders will help on that end, but for the time being, how Matt Eberflus deploys his three high-priced DTs during this season’s second half will be very interesting and perhaps prove telling about the team’s long-term plans.

Dolphins Designate RT Austin Jackson For Return

Carrying the mantle as the NFL’s lone left-handed starting quarterback for a few years, Tua Tagovailoa has since seen Michael Penix Jr. and Dillon Gabriel join him among the league’s southpaw ranks. But the Dolphins have long built their offensive line around a lefty; that has made Austin Jackson‘s absence more noticeable in Miami.

The Dolphins have been without their starting right tackle since Week 1, when he suffered a toe injury. A team already replacing Terron Armstead after his retirement needed to turn to a second new starter there, with Larry Borom — whom the Bears had benched years ago — taking over for Jackson. Although the Dolphins are 3-7 and facing questions about their quarterback and head coach’s futures after a GM departure, they may receive some up-front help soon.

Jackson returned to practice Wednesday, per ESPN.com’s Marcel Louis-Jacques, starting his 21-day activation clock. The Dolphins placed Jackson on IR ahead of Week 2. They had initially targeted a Week 6 return, when Jackson was first eligible, but the sixth-year blocker has needed more time.

This marks Jackson’s third season in four years to be largely defined by injury. He missed 15 games in 2022 and was sidelined for nine last season, with a major knee injury ending his 2024 campaign midway through. Not a lock to return this week, getting in a limited practice Wednesday, Jackson has missed nine games this year. That runs his career count to 37 since going off the 2020 draft board in Round 1.

The USC product timed his most notable healthy season well, starting 16 games in 2023 — as injuries engulfed the Dolphins elsewhere on their O-line — and earning a three-year, $36MM extension. Jackson, who had experienced a summer setback in his return from knee surgery, has not rewarded the Dolphins on that deal, inviting questions about his future.

Miami turned to Patrick Paul at left tackle post-Armstead, and the second-year tackle has fared decently. Pro Football Focus grades Paul 40th among qualified tackles; the advanced metrics site ranks Borom near the bottom of that list — in 65th. Borom has made all nine RT starts since Jackson’s injury. He had been only a spot starter in Chicago since being benched midway through his second season. Borom is on a one-year, $2.5MM contract, usurping Lamm as Miami’s top swing tackle.

No guaranteed money remains on Jackson’s deal, but because of an offseason restructure that now has three void years included in this contract, it would still cost the Dolphins to cut Jackson in a contract year. A 2026 release would bring a $13.74MM dead money hit, though that could be halved with a post-June 1 designation. Then again, the Dolphins have seen post-June 1 moves (involving Byron Jones, Xavien Howard and Jalen Ramsey) pile up dead money in recent years. Chris Grier‘s GM successor will still have a decision to make on Jackson, who can help his cause with a strong finish back on Tagovailoa’s blind side upon returning.

Broncos To Bring Back Lil’Jordan Humphrey

A day after adding tackle Geron Christian off the Cowboys’ practice squad, the Broncos are raiding another NFC East team’s P-squad to add more offensive help.

The team is bringing back Lil’Jordan Humphrey, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, adding him off the Giants’ taxi squad. Humphrey, who played for Sean Payton in New Orleans and Denver, is likely to play against the Chiefs on Sunday.

Joining the Giants this offseason (before yoyoing on and off their roster), Humphrey has played in three games. Although he has only seen action in a fraction of New York’s contests, the journeyman wideout started two of those and logged an 81% snap share in the game he has played. The Broncos used Humphrey regularly last season and are making an update to their receiving depth chart ahead of a crucial contest.

The Giants had used the maximum of three gameday elevations on Humphrey this season. With the team needing to give him a spot on its 53-man roster in order to give him a game uniform again this season, Mike Kafka‘s operation will instead see him depart. Humphrey joins a Broncos team loosely linked to wide receiver trades before this year’s deadline, but like the Bills and Steelers, the AFC contender stood pat.

Payton used Humphrey on 50% of the Broncos’ offensive plays last season, giving him the most run of anyone besides Courtland Sutton and Devaughn Vele at the position in 2024. Second-year cog Troy Franklin has seized Denver’s No. 2 wideout role this year, and the team has increasingly used Pat Bryant more as the season has progressed. Bryant’s blocking has appealed to Denver’s coaching staff, but Humphrey was viewed as a plus blocker previously. The Broncos have also missed Marvin Mims for the past two games due to a concussion. With Trent Sherfield rounding out the group, Humphrey will give Denver six WRs on its 53-man roster.

Humphrey, 28, played for Payton from 2019-21 with the Saints. After spending the 2022 season in New England, the big-bodied backup followed Payton to Denver in 2023. Humphrey made 15 starts from 2023-24 and posted a career-high 293 receiving yards last season, doing so after catching three touchdown passes in 2023. He caught four passes for 55 yards with the Giants, who are letting him go despite losing Malik Nabers for the season and having seen Darius Slayton miss time this year.