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Falcons Sign QB Ben DiNucci

August 18th, 2025 at 10:15am CST by Adam La Rose

Ben DiNucci‘s next NFL opportunity has arrived. The journeyman quarterback announced on Monday that he has signed with the Falcons.

[RELATED: Reviewing Falcons’ Offseason]

DiNucci’s deal should set him up to see playing time in the Falcons’ preseason finale. Neither starter Michael Penix Jr. nor backup Kirk Cousins will suit up for the game, and head coach Raheem Morris confirmed (via D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution) Emory Jones is in concussion protocol.

That will presumably allow for DiNucci, 28, to receive a look during practices over the next few days in addition to Friday’s contest in Dallas. Taking part in the game would allow him to compete against his former team. DiNucci entered the NFL in 2020 as a Cowboys draftee. The former seventh-rounder made three appearances, including one start, during his rookie campaign.

Since then, DiNucci has not seen any regular season game action in the NFL. The Pitt and James Madison product spent time with the Broncos and Bills before signing a futures contract with the Saints this offseason. Once New Orleans took the expected route of adding another signal-caller via the draft, though, the team moved on from DiNucci. This Falcons pact will provide him with the opportunity to compete for third-string spot alongside Easton Stick.

In the wake of Jones’ concussion, he has been waived with an injury designation. Provided the former UDFA clears waivers, he will revert to injured reserve. The Falcons also announced that wideout DJ Chark – signed late last month – has been released. He will now aim to catch onto a roster elsewhere with the deadline for final cuts approaching.

Colts Sign CB Xavien Howard

August 18th, 2025 at 9:30am CST by Adam La Rose

After spending the 2024 season out of the NFL, Xavien Howard has a deal in place. The former All-Pro corner has signed with the Colts, per an announcement from his agent. This will be a one-year pact worth up to $5MM, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero adds.

[RELATED: Recapping Colts’ Offseason]

Howard spent each of his first eight seasons with the Dolphins, becoming one of the league’s top ballhawks over that span. His 29 interceptions the 2017 campaign – his second in the league – lead the NFL, and Indianapolis would welcome a return of that production this year. For now, of course, Howard will turn his attention to carving out a role in the team’s secondary.

The 32-year-old was limited to 13 games during his final Dolphins campaign due to injury. A release took place, and it eventually became clear a new arrangement at a reduced rate would not be worked out. Howard intended to play in 2024, and the Houston native expressed interest in a Texans deal. That did not take place, though, and no 2024 pact was worked out. Howard did take an in-season visit with the Bengals, something which helps explain today’s move.

Howard spent time with Lou Anarumo during his first two Dolphins campaigns; at that point, the latter was Miami’s defensive backs coach. Anarumo was Cincinnati’s defensive coordinator last year, and after his dismissal following the campaign he took over as the Colts’ DC. With that in mind, Indianapolis represents a logical landing spot in Howard’s case.

The former second-rounder was named in a lawsuit last July, but no criminal charges came about in the case. No updates on the legal front have come about for Howard since then, clearing him to play in 2025. He will join a Colts secondary which made a notable free agent splash in the form of Charvarius Ward. Indianapolis also has the likes of Kenny Moore, Jaylon Jones, Julius Brents and rookie Justin Walley on the roster at the CB position. As Joel A. Erickson of the Indy Starts notes, however, injuries are currently a concern amongst that group (including the ACL tear Walley suffered during the team’s preseason opener).

Howard will look to provide healthy depth in time for the start of the season. A notable workload in 2025 would help him not only reach the maximum value of his current pact but set him up for a stronger free agent market next spring.

Browns Sign WR Isaiah Bond

August 18th, 2025 at 8:28am CST by Rory Parks

AUGUST 18: The Bond deal is now official, and Cabot reports the pact is worth a fully guaranteed $3.02MM. Bond is expected to take part in practice Tuesday as he looks to carve out a role in Cleveland’s receiver room in time for the regular season.

AUGUST 17: Former Alabama and Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond arrived in Cleveland on Saturday and is set to sign a three-year contract with the Browns, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. Bond played under current Browns offensive coordinator Tommy Rees in 2023, when Rees was working as the Crimson Tide’s OC and quarterbacks coach.

Bond, 21, was viewed as a Day 2 prospect in this year’s draft and arranged a number of visits with interested clubs. In early April, however, he was arrested on sexual assault charges, and he went undrafted as a result.

Bond, who played in Tuscaloosa for two seasons before transferring to Austin for the 2024 slate, steadfastly denied the allegations and even filed a defamation suit against his accuser, which was recently dismissed (via ESPN). On Thursday, as detailed in an ESPN report, the Collin County (Texas) District Attorney’s office announced that a grand jury had returned a “no-bill,” meaning there will be no indictment or further criminal proceedings. 

Shortly after the DA’s announcement, Bond took to social media to declare he was going to sign with the Browns. While ESPN’s Adam Schefter cautioned no deal had been finalized, Cabot previously reported Bond would be flying to Cleveland on Saturday and was expected to sign a contract.

Assuming he does put pen to paper, Bond will join a Browns WR corps that could use a jolt. The unit is fronted by Jerry Jeudy, who earned his first Pro Bowl bid last year after Cleveland acquired him in a March 2024 trade with the Broncos. Behind Jeudy and presumptive WR2 Cedric Tillman sit the likes of Jamari Thrash – a 2024 fifth-rounder who caught just three passes last year – journeyman and return specialist DeAndre Carter, and Diontae Johnson (who only attracted interest from the Browns this offseason after a tumultuous 2024 campaign). David Bell is presently on the NFI list.

Of course, even if Bond had been selected in the second or third round of the draft and was able to participate in all of the Browns’ spring work and training camp, he may not have been ready to handle a starter’s workload in the early stages of the regular season. As it stands, he is well behind the learning curve and will have a considerable amount of catching up to do.

And, while he will not face criminal charges, he is still subject to league discipline. League spokesman Brian McCarthy told Cabot the NFL is reviewing the matter, though it is unclear when a decision in that regard will be made.

When the dust settles, the Browns have reason to be optimistic. Bond’s college production does not jump off the page – he caught 99 balls for 1,428 yards and 10 touchdowns across 41 games between Alabama and Texas – but his speed (4.39 40-yard dash time), hands, and route-running are certainly intriguing and caught the attention of scouts around the league.

Texans Trade WR John Metchie To Eagles For TE Harrison Bryant

August 17th, 2025 at 9:50pm CST by Adam La Rose

After spending last summer as a trade candidate, John Metchie remained in place with the Texans. That will not be the case in 2025, however.

Houston has agreed to trade the fourth-year receiver to the Eagles, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. One season remains on Metchie’s rookie contract. The 25-year-old Canadian was sidelined for the 2022 season while recovering from Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia. Since then, he has struggled to carve out a role in the Texans’ passing game. Adding further details on the swap, which is now official, Schefter’s colleague DJ Bien-Aime notes tight end Harrison Bryant is headed the other way.

Per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the teams will swap future Day 3 picks they previously exchanged. The Texans will get back their sixth-rounder in 2026, while the Eagles will once again have their own fifth-round selection in that year.

Metchie handled a 29% snap share in 2023, and that figure rose to 45% last season. While looking to earn a role amongst Houston’s more established wideouts, the Alabama product recorded 254 yards and one touchdown on 24 catches. Entering a contract year, an uptick in production will be sought out in Philadelphia (although the team’s WR depth will of course make that challenging).

The Super Bowl champions will once again have A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith atop the depth chart in 2025. Philadelphia also has Jahan Dotson – acquired via trade almost exactly one year ago – in the fold. Metchie will look to earn a role behind that trio and alongside Terrace Marshall Jr. as well as 2024 draftees Ainias Smith and Johnny Wilson. NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports the 49ers also made an offer for Metchie, but the Eagles’ proposal was better.

Houston’s receiver room still includes Nico Collins, but the Pro Bowler will have a much different supporting cast around him compared to 2024. Stefon Diggs departed in free agency, while Tank Dell is not expected to play this season as he recovers from a major knee injury. The Texans swung an intra-divisional trade for Christian Kirk in the spring before adding Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel during the draft. Both Iowa State rookies figure to play a role on offense early and often in their careers.

Bryant played out his rookie contract with the Browns before spending 2024 in Vegas. The 27-year-old signed with the Eagles in March. Before seeing any regular season game action with his new team, however, Bryant finds himself on the move. Like Metchie, he is a pending 2026 free agent. Bryant will now join a Texans TE room which lost Brevin Jordan for the season recently. He will look to step in as a backup to Dalton Schultz.

The Texans and Eagles worked out a trade earlier this offseason, with safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson and guard Kenyon Green being swapped. The teams have repeated a player-for-player trade shortly before the deadline for roster cuts. Now, both Metchie and Bryant will spend the coming weeks acclimating to their new teams while looking to help their market values for next spring.

Saints Trade DT Khalen Saunders To Jaguars For C Luke Fortner

August 17th, 2025 at 8:43pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Saints are trading veteran defensive tackle Khalen Saunders to the Jaguars, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. The swap is now official.

In exchange, fourth-year center Luke Fortner will be heading to New Orleans, per Pelissero. Though they didn’t match up on the field, both players appeared in the Saints-Jaguars preseason game earlier on Sunday in what turned out to be auditions for their new teams.

Saunders, 29, started 27 games for the Saints over the last two seasons. He was not viewed as a good fit for the 3-4 scheme imported by new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, according to Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football and Jeff Duncan of NOLA.com. With plenty of defensive line depth in New Orleans, the six-year veteran was deemed surplus to requirements and sent to Jacksonville to shore up their depth in the trenches.

Saunders will join veteran starters DaVon Hamilton and Arik Armstead in the Jaguars’ defensive line room. He can add some veteran experience to a backup rotation that currently features young defensive tackles Jordan Jefferson, Maason Smith, and Tyler Lacy.

Fortner, originally a Jaguars third-round pick in 2022, will likely push for the Saints’ backup center job right away with Will Clapp sidelined for the season with a Lisfranc injury. The Saints have been evaluating their options behind Erik McCoy since Clapp went down; undrafted rookie Torricelli Simpkins got the start against the Jaguars with second year lineman Kyle Hergel handling the rest of the snaps. Neither did enough to lock down the backup job, as evidenced by Fortner’s arrival after the game.

Fortner, 25, started every game at center in his first two seasons but lost his spot to veteran signing Mitch Morse last year. Rather than go back to Fortner, the Jaguars opted to sign former Liam Coen Buccaneer charge Robert Hainsey in free agency. They also added Patrick Mekari, who is competing to start at right guard but has plenty of center experience from his time in Baltimore. Even if Mekari wins the right guard battle, he can still provide depth at center, as can seventh-round rookie Jonah Monheim.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/17/25

August 17th, 2025 at 8:28pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Here are the latest minor moves from around the NFL:

Carolina Panthers

Denver Broncos

Tennessee Titans

  • Waived: DL Philip Blidi

Perkins, the reigning UFL MVP, will add some depth to the Panthers’ quarterback room with Andy Dalton sidelined by an elbow injury, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Perkins appeared in five games for the Rams between 2020 and 2022, but has not played in the last two NFL seasons.

The Broncos were looking to add another fullback after a hamstring injury to starter Michael Burton, per Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette. They auditioned Prentice, Khari Blasingame, and Troy Hairston on Saturday, according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, with Prentice earning a roster spot. This will be his second stint in Denver after starting his career there as an undrafted rookie in 2021.

Commanders Activate Terry McLaurin Off PUP List; No Progress On Contract

August 16th, 2025 at 10:07pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Commanders have activated wide receiver Terry McLaurin off the active/physically unable to perform list, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, but the move is not an indicator of progress in extension negotiations.

Head coach Dan Quinn said (via NBC4 Sports) that McLaurin’s activation is “definitely separate” from his contract talks. “This is about his getting ready to play,” continued Quinn.

However, McLaurin’s activation did come a day after offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury indicated that he wanted his star wide receiver to get back on the practice field as soon as possible.

“Time on task together on the grass is really the only way you can continue to build,” said Kingsbury (via 106.7 The Fan’s Grant Paulsen).

McLaurin did not practice on Saturday, per The Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala, though that’s not necessarily an indicator of a hold-in. Quinn and Kingsbury both indicated that McLaurin had been spending time with trainers and other medical staff, so he may be going through workouts out of view of the media.

Still, the 29-year-old’s willingness to practice will be a situation worth monitoring over the next week. There is still a “sizable gap” between McLaurin and the Commanders, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, and the two-time Pro Bowler is “dug in” and “remains frustrated.” Despite his trade request and some interest from other teams, the Commanders still believe that they can get a deal done before the season.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/15/25

August 15th, 2025 at 7:13pm CST by Adam La Rose

Friday’s minor moves around the NFL:

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans

Los Angeles Chargers

  • Reverted to IR: CB Jordan Oladokun, WR Dez Fitzpatrick
  • Released from IR via injury settlement: TE Jordan Petaia

San Francisco 49ers

Dwelley’s second stint in the Bay Area has ended before roster cuts, let alone the start of the regular season. The 30-year-old spent his first six NFL seasons with the 49ers, serving as a special teams presence while chipping in offensively. After a single Atlanta campaign in 2024, Dwelley will now hit the open market in mid-August and seek out his next opportunity.

Commanders Sign WR River Cracraft, DB Daryl Worley

August 14th, 2025 at 7:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

Daryl Worley has reached an agreement to join a 10th NFL team. The veteran defensive back, whom the Titans turned to as a fill-in starter last season, is joining the Commanders, per The Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala.

Washington, which also added wide receivers River Cracraft and Mike Strachan (via Jhabvala), is bringing in Worley after a recent workout (h/t KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson). Worley, who spent three seasons with the Ravens, will return to the mid-Atlantic region as a Commanders DB option.

None of Worley’s previous stops involved Dan Quinn or GM Adam Peters, though Worley did stop through Dallas in 2020. Worley, 30, has seen action for the Panthers, Raiders, Cowboys, Bills, Lions, Ravens and Titans. This nomadic career also included brief Eagles and Cardinals stopovers.

This is not quite Josh Johnson pace, but the double-digit team club is certainly a milestone in journeyman lore. Perhaps some discussions can commence on this topic, as the quarterback joined the Commanders this offseason.

While Worley (54 starts from 2017-20) found himself a regular Ravens practice squad callup — en route to being a PFR “Minor NFL Transactions” staple in those years — he logged seven starts for the Titans last season. A former cornerback in his regular starter days, Worley has transitioned to safety. He spent most of his Tennessee stint as a free safety or in the box for the struggling team, making 52 tackles, notching a forced fumble intercepting a pass. With Washington, the ex-third-round pick joins Will Harris, Quan Martin, Percy Butler and special teams ace Jeremy Reaves at safety.

Cracraft, 30, served as a minor Dolphins receiving contributor over the past three seasons. Following Mike McDaniel from San Francisco to Miami, Cracraft caught 25 passes for 289 yards and three TDs in Miami from 2022-24. The former UDFA, whose 49ers stint came during Peters’ time in San Francisco, has now seen game action in each of the past seven seasons. He will vie for a backup job with Washington.

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