Minor NFL Transactions: 12/13/25
Here are today’s minor moves and standard gameday practice squad elevations for Week 15’s Sunday slate of games:
Arizona Cardinals
- Activated from IR: T Christian Jones
- Elevated: WR Jalen Brooks, WR Trent Sherfield
- Placed on IR: DT Bilal Nichols
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: CB Dane Jackson, DE Andre Jones Jr.
Carolina Panthers
- Elevated: LB Isaiah Simmons
Cleveland Browns
- Signed from practice squad: OL Garrett Dellinger
- Elevated: S Chris Edmonds, DT Maurice Hurst
- Waived: WR Jamari Thrash
Denver Broncos
- Signed from practice squad: LB Jordan Turner
- Elevated: WR Michael Bandy, QB Sam Ehlinger
Detroit Lions
- Activated from IR: TE Shane Zylstra
- Elevated: S Erick Hallett, TE Giovanni Ricci
- Placed on IR: S Brian Branch (story)
Green Bay Packers
- Elevated: RB Pierre Strong
Houston Texans
- Activated from IR: TE Harrison Bryant
- Elevated: RB Jawhar Jordan, S K’Von Wallace
- Waived: RB Cody Schrader
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed from practice squad: G C.J. Hanson
- Elevated: T Chukwuebuka Godrick, DT Zacch Pickens
- Placed on IR: T Wanya Morris (story)
Las Vegas Raiders
- Elevated: WR Shedrick Jackson, G Atonio Mafi
Los Angeles Chargers
- Elevated: WR Dalevon Campbell, S Marcus Williams
Los Angeles Rams
- Elevated: S Tanner Ingle
New England Patriots
- Signed from practice squad: RB D’Ernest Johnson
- Elevated: DT Leonard Taylor
- Placed on IR: RB Terrell Jennings
New Orleans Saints
- Elevated: WR Kevin Austin, K Charlie Smyth
New York Giants
- Signed from practice squad: WR Dalen Cambre, OLB Tomon Fox
- Elevated: DT Elijah Chatman, P Cameron Johnston
- Placed on IR: OLB Victor Dimukeje, CB Nic Jones
- Waived: CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse
New York Jets
- Activated from IR: LB Cam Jones
- Elevated: CB Tre Brown, QB Adrian Martinez
- Placed on IR: CB Azareye’h Thomas
Philadelphia Eagles
- Elevated: S Andre’ Sam
Seattle Seahawks
- Activated from IR: DE Rylie Mills
- Elevated: RB Velus Jones
- Placed on IR: TE Elijah Arroyo
Tennessee Titans
- Elevated: T John Ojukwu
Washington Commanders
- Elevated: CB Darius Rush
Nichols began the year on the reserve/PUP list. The eight-year veteran has been hampered by injuries since signing with the Cardinals in 2024. After playing just six games last year, Nichols’ 2025 campaign will end after only four appearances.
Bryant makes his return to the Texans’ offense to replenish a thinned out tight ends group, while in Seattle, the Seahawks place their second-round rookie tight end, Arroyo, on injured reserve with a knee injury.
In Buffalo, this will be Jackson’s third and final standard gameday practice squad elevation. If the team wants to see him in another game this season, they’ll need to sign him to the 53-man roster. The same is true for Strong in Green Bay, Jackson and Mafi in Las Vegas, Smyth in New Orleans, Sam in Philadelphia, and Jones in Seattle.
On the flip side of that, in Denver, Turner has been signed to the 53-man roster after running out of elevations last week.
Thomas suffered a shoulder injury in Week 14 and it will end his season. The third-round rookie confirmed on social media today he is set to undergo surgery in the near future. Thomas made five starts in 2025, totaling 22 tackles and seven pass deflections.
Updated 2026 NFL Draft Order
Week 14’s action brought about a few notable updates to the standings at both ends of the NFL’s conferences. Another four teams are officially out of playoff contention, while wins by Tennessee and New Orleans could prove to be rather important once the campaign has ended.
The Jets, Browns, Falcons and Commanders were eliminated from the postseason through the results of recent days. Of course, each of those teams have been out of the running for a playoff push for some time now. Still, that group will be worth watching closely over the closing four weeks of the season as the top-10 order for Day 1 of the draft gradually comes into focus.
Uncertainty regarding the quarterback class of 2026 will no doubt remain a talking point over the coming months. Fernando Mendoza strengthened his case to be QB1 in April’s draft, although it remains to be seen if other top signal-callers like Dante Moore and Ty Simpson will turn pro or elect to remain in school for one more season. Decisions on those fronts will be central storylines carrying significant implications for the teams near the top of the order which find themselves in need of a quarterback investment.
For non-playoff teams, the draft order is determined by the inverted 2025 standings plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule. Playoff squads are slotted by their postseason outcome and the reverse order of their regular season record.
Here is an updated look at the first-round order:
- New York Giants (2-11)
- Las Vegas Raiders (2-11)
- Tennessee Titans (2-11)
- Cleveland Browns (3-10)
- New Orleans Saints (3-10)
- Washington Commanders (3-10)
- New York Jets (3-10)
- Arizona Cardinals (3-10)
- Los Angeles Rams (via Falcons)
- Cincinnati Bengals (4-9)
- Minnesota Vikings (5-8)
- Miami Dolphins (6-7)
- Baltimore Ravens (6-7)
- Kansas City Chiefs (6-7)
- Dallas Cowboys (6-6-1)
- Carolina Panthers (7-6)
- Detroit Lions (8-5)
- New York Jets (via Colts)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-6)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (7-6)
- Philadelphia Eagles (8-5)
- Houston Texans (8-5)
- Chicago Bears (9-4)
- Buffalo Bills (9-4)
- Los Angeles Chargers (9-4)
- San Francisco 49ers (9-4)
- Cleveland Browns (via Jaguars)
- Dallas Cowboys (via Packers)
- Seattle Seahawks (10-3)
- New England Patriots (11-2)
- Los Angeles Rams (10-3)
- Denver Broncos (11-2)
Panthers Hope To Extend LT Ikem Ekwonu, Retain C Cade Mays
This past spring, the Panthers exercised Ikem Ekwonu‘s fifth-year option. As a result, the team is set to have left tackle stability through at least 2026. 
A longer agreement between team and player could be coming relatively soon, though. As Joe Person of The Athletic writes (subscription required), working out a new Ekwonu contract will be a priority this coming offseason. At the moment, the former first-rounder is due to collect $17.65MM in 2026.
[RELATED: Panthers Likely To Pick Up Bryce Young’s Fifth-Year Option]
In the event a multi-year accord can be worked out, Ekwonu will be in line for far greater compensation. The 25-year-old struggled early in his career in pass protection, but Carolina has never moved him to guard. While continuing to develop on the blindside, Ekwonu has been charged with five sacks allowed by PFF. That illustrates room for further progress, but it is the lowest figure in that regard since his rookie campaign.
Over the course of his Panthers tenure, Ekwonu has seen incremental improvement in his PFF evaluations. The South Carolina product currently ranks 26th out of 80 qualifying tackles in overall grade for 2025. If the Panthers invest in ongoing development, a big-ticket second contract could be in store. Well before the start of the season, Ekwonu made clear his desire to remain with the Panthers for years to come.
Five right tackles are currently among the blockers averaging $20MM or more per season. That group includes Taylor Moton, who agreed to a new deal in August to avoid a potential trip to free agency. The nine-year veteran is set to continue in his current capacity through 2027 as a result. Signing Ekwonu to a long-term deal would help ensure further stability up front for the Panthers.
That will also be true along the interior if Cade Mays can be retained. Person writes keeping Mays in the fold appears to be a team priority as well. 2025 marks the final season of the former sixth-rounder’s rookie contract, setting him up for a first career trip to free agency this spring. With 23 starts (and counting) to his name, Mays could be one of top center options on the market in March.
The 26-year-old posted a career-best finish of 13th amongst centers for PFF grade last season. Mays lost a training camp competition for the starting gig, but injuries to Austin Corbett and others have allowed him to make eight starts in 10 appearances in 2025. Mays is PFF’s 21st-ranked center at this point. A new deal in his case would cost far less than a second Ekwonu contract, but it would give Carolina flexibility at the center spot for next year at a minimum.
Panthers Expected To Pick Up Bryce Young’s Fifth-Year Option, Wait On Extension
In the last 15 season, the Panthers have won more than seven games only three times. They are already at seven wins in 2025 with four games to go after their Week 14 bye, putting them on pace for their best finish since 2017.
Carolina’s success is primarily due to a defense that has improved from dead-last in 2024 to middle of the pack this year, but clutch play from third-year quarterback Bryce Young has been a major factor. He has led four fourth-quarter comebacks and five game-winning drives.
However, he is not exactly setting the world on fire statistically, averaging fewer than 200 passing yards per game and ranking 23rd in passer rating (87.9) and QBR (45.6). Young has also thrown nine interceptions already; last season, he threw nine picks in 14 games, and in 2023, he threw 10 in 16 games.
His performance this season has set up an interesting two years for the Panthers and their young quarterback. Young will be eligible for an extension this offseason, and a decision on his fifth-year option will be due on May 1.
The latter situation is simpler than the former. Young’s fifth-year option is projected by OverTheCap to be $26.5MM, though that could rise to $39.7MM if he makes the Pro Bowl this season. That feels unlikely, but a surprise playoff berth on the back of Young’s clutch performances could garner him some consideration. He does have to be selected on the original ballot to upgrade his fifth-year option, according to the NFL’s CBA; a 2022 Tyler Huntley situation (filling in for an injured original selection) would not qualify. A Pro Bowl bump would make Young’s fifth-year option a much tougher decision, but for now, the team is expected to pick it up, per ESPN’s Dan Graziano.
Picking up the fifth-year option ensures that Young is under contract at an affordable price for a starter. It would also allow the Panthers to wait on an extension. They are not expected to pursue one this offseason, as Young has not quite cemented himself as the future of the franchise. Another, more significant leap in 2026 may do so, at which point the Panthers would likely try to finalize an extension before the 2027 season.
As a result, the cost of an extension may be substantially lower this offseason as opposed to the next. That sets up a clear dichotomy for the Panthers. Do they want to bet on Young now in the hopes of continue development and a contract that looks like a steal a few years from now? Or do they want to wait and see if he is really their long-term starter.
It is worth noting that Panthers head coach Dave Canales came in the year after the team selected Young with the No. 1 overall pick. As a result, he had to give Young a chance for at least a year or two. The 24-year-old quarterback has responded with some development, but it is hard to argue that he is even a mid-tier starter.
If Young cannot reach or eclipse that level next season, Canales may want to handpick his next quarterback himself. He may already have designs to do so. As the saying goes, NFL stands for Not For Long. Coaches can have extremely short leashes, especially under owners whose teams are struggling and/or are too involved in day-to-day operations. Both could be said of Panthers owner David Tepper, so if Canales wants to be in Carolina for the long haul, he may want to choose the quarterback that will give him the best chance.
The rest of the 2023 class becomes eligible for an extension next offseason. C.J. Stroud is the only quarterback that looks like the future of his franchise, so the Texans are considered more likely to pay him than the Panthers are to pay Young, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/2/25
Several NFL teams made minor roster on Tuesday as they prepare for crucial Week 14 games with major playoff implications. Here are the latest updates:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed off Vikings’ practice squad: RB Corey Kiner
Carolina Panthers
- Waived: CB Kalen King
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DT Sam Kamara
- Placed on IR: DT Maliek Collins (story)
Detroit Lions
- Placed on IR: CB Terrion Arnold (story)
Houston Texans
- Signed from practice squad: CB Ameer Speed
Las Vegas Raiders
- Waived: LB Jamin Davis
- Signed from practice squad: CB Greedy Vance
New York Giants
- Waived: OLB Tomon Fox
New York Jets
- Waived (with injury settlement): DE Byron Cowart
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived: RB Myles Gaskin
Updated 2026 NFL Draft Order
Week 12 saw the Giants become the first team in the NFL to be mathematically eliminated from the playoffs. Based on Sunday’s results, another two teams from each conference saw their postseason chances officially come to an end.
The Titans, Saints, Raiders and Cardinals have now been eliminated as well. Attention in the case of those teams will increasingly turn toward the offseason. For some, questions about changes at the quarterback spot will be ongoing through the spring. Free agency is not expected to include many notable options, so the draft will be sought out in several instances as a means of finding a 2026 starter.
Of course, the incoming class of passers has largely underwhelmed this season. That has led to uncertainty regarding the ceiling for many of the top prospects at the quarterback position. Nevertheless, supply often outweighs demand at the top of the Day 1 order in the NFL draft. How things shake out over the closing weeks of the season will be key in determining which QB-needy teams find themselves in the best position to select a new QB1.
For non-playoff teams, the draft order is determined by the inverted 2025 standings plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule. Playoff squads are slotted by their postseason outcome and the reverse order of their regular season record.
Here is an early look at the first-round order:
- Tennessee Titans (1-11)
- New York Giants (2-11)
- New Orleans Saints (2-10)
- Las Vegas Raiders (2-10)
- Cleveland Browns (3-9)
- Washington Commanders (3-9)
- New York Jets (3-9)
- Arizona Cardinals (3-9)
- Los Angeles Rams (via Falcons)
- Cincinnati Bengals (4-8)
- Minnesota Vikings (4-8)
- Miami Dolphins (5-7)
- Kansas City Chiefs (6-6)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (6-6)
- Carolina Panthers (7-6)
- Dallas Cowboys (6-5-1)
- Detroit Lions (7-5)
- Houston Texans (7-5)
- Baltimore Ravens (6-6)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5)
- Buffalo Bills (8-4)
- Philadelphia Eagles (8-4)
- New York Jets (via Colts)
- San Francisco 49ers (9-4)
- Los Angeles Chargers (8-4)
- Cleveland Browns (via Jaguars)
- Dallas Cowboys (via Packers)
- Seattle Seahawks (9-3)
- Los Angeles Rams (9-3)
- Denver Broncos (10-2)
- Chicago Bears (9-3)
- New England Patriots (11-2)
Panthers Place G Chandler Zavala On IR, Elevate LB/S Isaiah Simmons
Exactly four weeks after activating right guard Chandler Zavala from injured reserve, the Panthers have placed him back on IR, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. A calf injury will knock Zavala out for at least four games.
Zavala began the season as a backup, but the third-year man stepped in as a starter after Robert Hunt tore his left biceps in Week 2. A knee injury then forced Zavala to IR, but the Panthers brought him back on Nov. 1.
With Hunt still on the shelf, Zavala started in five straight appearances before his latest IR placement. Pro Football Focus hasn’t been impressed with Zavala’s work this year, though, ranking the former fourth-round pick’s performance a lowly 78th among 81 qualifying guards.
After Zavala went down in a Week 12 loss to the 49ers, Jake Curhan finished the game in his place. Curhan has appeared in eight games since the Panthers signed him off the Cardinals’ practice squad on Oct. 1. He hasn’t logged a start with Carolina yet, but that could change Sunday against the NFC’s No. 1 seed, the Rams.
Having also ruled out center Cade Mays (ankle), the Panthers will have to face the league’s top-ranked scoring defense down multiple starting offensive linemen. It’s a less-than-ideal development for a 6-6 Panthers team battling the 6-5 Buccaneers for an NFC South title.
Banged up along the O-line, the Panthers elevated guard Saahdiq Charles from their practice squad on Saturday. The former Commander hasn’t appeared in a regular-season game since 2023. Charles, then with the Titans, retired before the 2024 season. He came out of retirement to sign with the Cowboys last April, but they released him at the end of August. Charles joined the Panthers’ practice squad on Oct. 1.
The Panthers also elevated linebacker/safety Isaiah Simmons from their practice squad and signed cornerback Kalen King from their taxi squad to their active roster. The team is quickly turning to Simmons after adding him on Tuesday.
Simmons entered the league as the eighth overall pick of the Cardinals in 2020, but the former Clemson Tiger didn’t live up to his draft stock over three years with them or two seasons with the Giants. Simmons has 42 starts, 8.5 sacks, and five interceptions under his belt, though, and could be a multi-position option for Carolina. The Panthers need help at linebacker and safety with starters Christian Rozeboom (hip/hamstring) and Tre’von Moehrig (suspension) out on Sunday.
Panthers S Tre’von Moehrig Receives One-Game Suspension
NOVEMBER 26: Per NFL senior vice president of football & international communications Michael Signora, Moehrig’s one-game suspension has been upheld on appeal. Hall of Fame linebacker Derrick Brooks was the hearing officer jointly appointed by the NFL and NFLPA.
NOVEMBER 25: The NFL has suspended Panthers safety Tre’von Moehrig for one game without pay as a result of his actions in a loss to the 49ers on Monday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. Moehrig was caught on video punching 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings below the belt.
According to a league statement (via David Newton of ESPN), Moehrig’s punch violated “Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1, which applies to “any act which is contrary to the generally understood principles of sportsmanship,” including, among others, “throwing a punch, or a forearm, or kicking at an opponent.”’
Moehrig will appeal the suspension, per Adam Schefter of ESPN. If the league upholds the ban, he’ll miss the Panthers’ game against the Rams on Sunday.
Jennings will not sit out any games, meanwhile, though the league is reviewing his actions for a possible fine, Pelissero relays. He struck Moehrig’s facemask with an open hand and shoved him in retaliation before the two were separated following the game.
Moehrig admitted afterward that he would “most likely” receive a fine (via David Kaye of the Charlotte Observer). However, he claimed Jennings provoked the attack with trash talking and “dirty stuff” after plays.
The Panthers fell to 6-6 on Monday. Their playoff hopes are hanging by a thread heading into a meeting with the 9-2 Rams, the NFC’s top seed. Going without Moehrig would make it all the more difficult for Carolina to pull an upset.
After Moehrig spent the first four years of his career with the Raiders, he joined the Panthers on a three-year, $51MM contract last March. Moehrig has started in all 12 of the Panthers’ games this season while notching 81 tackles, an interception, and a sack. He’s tied with fellow Panthers safety Nick Scott for the team lead in defensive snaps. Fourth-round rookie Lathan Ransom and Demani Richardson are on hand as depth options if Moehrig misses Week 13.
Panthers Sign Robert Rochell, Place Corey Thornton On IR
The Panthers are signing cornerback Robert Rochell off the Cowboys’ practice squad, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. He’ll immediately join the Panthers’ active roster.
A fourth-round pick in 2021, Rochell started five regular-season games as a rookie for the Super Bowl-winning Rams. Rochell intercepted the lone pass of his career that season, but he didn’t factor into the Rams’ playoff run.
Now 27 years old, Rochell hasn’t started a single game since his rookie campaign. He has mostly served on special teams throughout his career. He worked as a reserve for the Rams over 17 games in 2022 before totaling 20 appearances over the next two seasons with the Packers.
Rochell signed with the Cowboys last June, but he didn’t survive final cuts. He hooked on with their practice squad after that and ended up appearing in two of the Cowboys’ games this season. All 16 of his snaps came on special teams.
The addition of Rochell will help the Panthers replace fellow corner Corey Thornton, who broke his fibula in a loss to the 49ers on Monday. With Thornton set to miss the rest of the season, the Panthers placed him on IR on Wednesday, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. The undrafted rookie from Louisville played in all of the Panthers’ first 12 games and made 14 tackles. He totaled 210 snaps (127 on defense, 83 on special teams).
In other Wednesday transactions, the Panthers signed linebacker Krys Barnes from their practice squad to their active roster. They also signed cornerback David Long to their taxi squad.
Barnes has received the maximum of three standard gameday elevations this year, meaning the Panthers had to sign him in order to use him again. Over 112 snaps (69 on defense, 43 on special teams), Barnes has made 12 tackles.
Long was previously with the Colts, who released him from their practice squad on Nov. 4. The 27-year-old hasn’t played in any games this season, but he combined for 79 appearances and 12 starts from 2019-24. Long had a three-game stint with the Panthers in 2023.
Panthers Add LB/S Isaiah Simmons To Practice Squad
Isaiah Simmons has found a new home. The veteran defender has joined the Panthers practice squad, according to Darin Gantt of the team’s website. To make room on the taxi squad, the team released safety Trevian Thomas.
Simmons joined the Packers back in April but was among the team’s final preseason cuts. He’s been lingering in free agency since that time, with an October workout with the Steelers representing his lone visit of the 2025 campaign.
As Gantt notes, Simmons was once a candidate to be selected by the Panthers with the seventh-overall pick in the 2020 draft. Carolina ended up opting for defensive tackle Derrick Brown, and Simmons was snagged by the Cardinals with the following pick.
Simmons didn’t make it through his full rookie contract in Arizona. He spent the first three seasons of his career with the organization, collecting 7.5 sacks in 50 games (37 starts). He was traded to the Giants for a seventh-round pick ahead of the 2023 campaign, and he proceeded to spend the next two seasons in New York. Simmons transitioned to safety during his time with the Giants, starting five of his 34 appearances.
The Panthers will consider playing their new addition at both safety and linebacker, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. The team’s most immediate need is at LB. The Panthers played without Christian Rozeboom and Trevin Wallace last night before losing Claudin Cherelus to a concussion.