Texans Open Practice Windows For DE Denico Autry, S Jaylen Reed
Texans defensive end Denico Autry and safety Jaylen Reed will both return to practice this week after starting the season on reserve lists, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson.
Their 21-day return window will officially open on Tuesday when the Texans hold their first practice of the weeks. Autry and Reed will need to be activated by the end of that period; if not, they will revert to a reserve list for the rest of the season. Returning to practice as soon as they were eligible is a good sign that neither player will be subject to that worse-case scenario.
Autry was placed on the physically unable to perform list at the beginning of training camp as he recovered from a 2024 knee injury that lingered into this season. He played through it in 2024, appearing in 10 games (two starts) after a six-game suspension sidelined him to start the year. The injury affected Autry’s production, which took a significant dip relative to the rest of his career.
Houston’s defensive line has otherwise been healthy to start the season, so Autry can take his time ramping up in practice before officially starting his 12th NFL season.
Reed, a sixth-round pick in April’s draft, sprained his knee in training camp and was placed on injured reserve with a return designation during final roster cuts. The Texans are thin at safety after releasing C.J. Gardner-Johnson, so Reed would offer some depth upon his return. However, the rookie is untested against NFL-caliber competition after missing the preseason and will be unlikely to see the field upon his return outside of special teams work.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/29/25
Here are the NFL’s practice squad transactions immediately following Week 4.
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: RB D’Ernest Johnson
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: OT Logan Brown
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: DB Alex Johnson, RB Blake Watson
- Released: RB Raheem Blackshear, T Andrew Rupcich
The Broncos wanted to re-sign Watson to their practice squad, per Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette, but they would have had to wait until Week 7 after a previous injury settlement with the second-year running back. Watson is now healthy and preferred to sign with a new team as soon as possible.
Ravens Place DTs Nnamdi Madubuike, Broderick Washington On IR
It’s doubly bad news for an already struggling defense. In addition to the semi-expected placement of Ravens defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike on injured reserve, Madubuike’s draft classmate Broderick Washington is joining him there. Baltimore will now face a four-game stretch that includes the Chiefs, Texans, Rams, and Bears without two key pieces on their defensive line. 
The Madubuike move was semi-expected after head coach John Harbaugh expressed some concern about the two-time Pro Bowler’s long-term availability in a media session yesterday. Now, those concerns have been realized as the veteran lineman will embark on an extended absence with the aim to heal his troubling neck injury. His presence was greatly missed on Monday as the Ravens went sackless for the first time in 57 games without their 2023 team sack-leader.
Things won’t get much better with Washington joining Madubuike on IR because of an ankle injury. The Texas Tech product has not been nearly as productive as his A&M counterpart, Madubuike, but Washington has established himself as a dependable depth piece for Baltimore over six years with the team. Out of a possible 87 career games, Washington has started 22 of 73 game appearances and is usually good for a sack or two per year.
To make matters worse, another starting defensive tackle, Travis Jones, is currently listed as questionable for tomorrow’s trip to Kansas City with an ankle injury, per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. Playing on the final year of his rookie deal, this could be a big opportunity for Jones to gain some bargaining power for the offseason, but he’ll need to be on the field to make that a reality.
With Madubuike and Washington definitely out and Jones questionable, the Ravens are bringing up three defensive linemen for tomorrow’s game. Veteran lineman Brent Urban will be promoted to the 53-man roster after a short stay on the team’s practice squad. Recent practice squad signee Josh Tupou and C.J. Okoye will join Urban on Sunday, but as standard gameday practice squad elevations, they will revert back to the practice squad after the game.
That still leaves one open slot on the 53-man roster, and the Ravens will utilize it to promote practice squad tight end Zaire Mitchell-Paden. This may be additional bad news as there was hope yesterday that Isaiah Likely would be ready to make his 2025 debut tomorrow. This doesn’t necessarily indicate that Likely won’t be available, but it could hint at Baltimore’s confidence in his likelihood to play.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/27/25
Here are Saturday’s minor moves and standard gameday practice squad elevations:
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: DT Jordan Phillips
Carolina Panthers
- Elevated: OLB Boogie Basham, G Brandon Walton
Chicago Bears
- Signed from practice squad: LB Carl Jones
- Elevated: TE Stephen Carlson, DT Jonathan Ford
Cleveland Browns
Dallas Cowboys
- Elevated: WR Jalen Cropper
Detroit Lions
- Elevated: WR Jackson Meeks
- Placed on IR: S Daniel Thomas
Green Bay Packers
- Elevated: G Lecitus Smith
Houston Texans
- Elevated: CB Myles Bryant, CB D’Angelo Ross
Indianapolis Colts
- Elevated: CB Mike Hilton, G Josh Sills
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Elevated: TE Quintin Morris, WR Austin Trammell
Kansas City Chiefs
- Elevated: CB Kevin Knowles, DT Brodric Martin
Las Vegas Raiders
- Elevated: TE Albert Okwuegbunam, TE Carter Runyon
Los Angeles Chargers
- Elevated: T Foster Sarell, RB Kimani Vidal
Minnesota Vikings
- Elevated: RB Cam Akers
New England Patriots
- Elevated: LB Darius Harris, C Brenden Jaimes
New Orleans Saints
- Elevated: DE Fadil Diggs, LB Nephi Sewell
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Elevated: RB Trey Sermon
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: CB Eli Apple
Tennessee Titans
- Elevated: LB Curtis Jacobs, RB Jordan Mims
Washington Commanders
- Elevated: CB Antonio Hamilton, WR Tay Martin
With Colts cornerback Kenny Moore presumed to potentially miss a few weeks, the recent signee, Hilton, will get his opportunity to supplement the team’s secondary. He may be able to earn an official spot on the 53-man roster with an impactful game. Similarly, Cropper may be able to get into his first NFL game since going undrafted in 2023 as he gets elevated to a receiving corps that will sorely miss CeeDee Lamb.
Morris is getting called up for the third time for Jacksonville. If the Jaguars intend for him to appear in another game after this week, they’ll need to sign him to the 53-man roster.
Giants Place K Graham Gano On IR
After nearly becoming an early scratch on Sunday night, Giants kicker Graham Gano will miss at least the next four games. The Giants announced today that Graham has been placed on injured reserve after suffering a groin injury in warmups before last week’s game. Practice squad kicker Jude McAtamney will kick for the team this weekend. 
Graham’s injury put the G-Men in a tough position on Sunday night. Despite rostering McAtamney as a backup on the practice squad, the timing of Gano’s injury came far too close to the start of the game for the Giants to have had time to bring up the taxi squad kicker. Instead, the team tried a number of alternative measures in the kicking game.
After driving down the field on the first possession on the game, New York faced a fourth-and-three at the Kansas City 28-yard line. Though they might have gone for it anyway, the lack of a primary kicker perhaps made the decision a bit easier; they did not convert. When the team actually did score a touchdown later on in the game, lefty punter Jamie Gillan came on for the extra point, kicked it too low, and had it blocked. In the fourth quarter, the offense got the ball to the seven-yard line and rushed the field goal team out onto the field, including a clearly ailing Gano. Gano made the 25-yarder but showed significant discomfort.
Now, Gano will be unable to come back to the field for at least four games. McAtamney hears his name called once again, after filling in as a backup kicker once last year for the Giants. In his only NFL game appearance, McAtamney converted both his only extra point attempt and his only field goal attempt — a 31-yarder.
Joining McAtamney from the practice squad as active players for the weekend will be outside linebacker Tomon Fox, defensive tackle Elijah Garcia, and linebacker Neville Hewitt. Fox and Garcia will be officially joining the 53-man roster, while Hewitt and McAtamney will be standard gameday practice squad elevations who will revert back to the practice squad after tomorrow’s game.
Garcia needed to be signed to the active roster in order to appear in another game for New York. He was elevated the maximum three times on a single practice squad contract through the first three weeks of the season. If New York chooses to do so, they could release Garcia after this week’s game and sign him back to the practice squad, and his three-game limit count would revert back to zero.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/26/25
Here are today’s only minor moves:
Houston Texans
- Placed on IR: FB Jakob Johnson
Tennessee Titans
- Signed from practice squad: T Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson
- Placed on IR: RB Kalel Mullings
Johnson’s time on the active roster was short-lived. After getting called up as a standard gameday practice squad elevation in the first two weeks of the season, Johnson was officially signed to the 53-man roster this past weekend. A hamstring injury will remove him from the active roster as he’ll require at least four weeks to recover.
It’s an ankle injury that will land the Titans’ sixth-round pick on injured reserve. Though they used the open roster spot on the offensive line, Turron Davenport of ESPN claims one of their two gameday practice squad elevations will be used to bring up taxi squad rusher Jordan Mims, who was also called up in Week 2.
As a struggling offensive line in Tennessee continues to deal with injury, Crenshaw-Dickson finds his way back to the 53-man roster. The undrafted rookie out of Florida — after four years at San Diego State — started games at both tackle spots throughout college. The majority of his starts came on the right side of the line, though, so his addition to the active roster provides some depth at the right tackle spot as JC Latham is set to miss another game with his hip injury.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/26/25
Here are Friday’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
- Signed: OL Trey Hill
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: LB Curtis Jacobs
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/25/25
Thursday’s taxi squad moves:
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: CB Corey Ballentine
Ballentine’s only regular season appearance to date has come with New England, but he spent training camp with the Packers. The 29-year-old was among Green Bay’s final roster cuts, and after recently being let go by the Patriots he was free to join any interested suitor. Dallas would obviously qualify (at least for the next few days) given the team’s upcoming matchup with Green Bay.
Eagles Place LB Nolan Smith On IR
SEPTEMBER 25: Bennett revealed on Friday (via ESPN’s Tim McManus) his IR move was brought about by a pectoral injury. The issue has been in place since Week 1, but during Sunday’s win over the Rams it was “tweaked.” Bennett will look to reprise his depth role upon returning to full health.
SEPTEMBER 24: The Eagles lost two pass-rushing pillars during the offseason, seeing Brandon Graham retire and Josh Sweat sign with the Cardinals. Those moves increased Nolan Smith‘s importance to the team.
Philadelphia will need to get by without its top edge rusher for the foreseeable future, however. The team placed Smith on IR today, with cornerback Jakorian Bennett joining the young sack artist in being sidelined for at least four games via an IR transition. Philly also placed wide receiver Darius Cooper on IR.
None of these injuries are believed to be season-ending, per the Philadelphia Inquirer’s EJ Smith, who adds surgeries are not expected for Smith, Bennett or Cooper. All would be eligible to return in Week 8, but with the Eagles’ bye in Week 9, an extra recovery week will factor into the club’s decision-making here. Indeed, The Athletic’s Zack Berman indicates the Eagles hope each will be recovered around the bye.
Smith tweaked the triceps injury he had surgically addressed, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. He suffered a strained triceps muscle in Week 3, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who indicates an injury absence that runs through Philly’s Week 9 bye is anticipated. An aggravation months later is certainly a storyline to follow for the Eagles, particularly given Smith’s impact on their pass rush. For now, the expectation is a midseason return.
The 2023 first-round pick suffered a triceps tear in Super Bowl LIX, joining Graham in sustaining that injury during the Eagles’ February romp. Graham re-tore the triceps he rehabbed, and Smith has now aggravated his. The key difference here being Graham did not undergo surgery during his speedy recovery, while Smith did go under the knife this offseason.
Despite their 3-0 record, the Eagles have struggled to pressure quarterbacks this season. They have three sacks in three games; Smith has yet to record one, while new starter Jalyx Hunt is also sackless through three games. More pressure will be on Hunt, a former third-rounder, now. The Eagles did make a key addition before Week 2, ending Za’Darius Smith‘s free agency stay. The nomadic edge rusher will be expected to play a bigger role moving forward. Za’Darius Smith, 33, has three double-digit sack seasons on his resume and recorded nine between stays in Cleveland and Detroit last year.
Tallying only one QB hit this season, Nolan Smith notched 6.5 sacks and 11 QB hits in 2024. The speed rusher came up big in the playoffs, registering four sacks during the Eagles’ three NFC postseason games and two hits on Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl. This represents a key year for Nolan Smith, whose fifth-year option will need to be exercised or declined shortly after the draft. How he fares to close out this season could well determine how Philly proceeds there.
The Eagles’ late-summer trade binge included a Bennett addition, nabbing him from the Raiders. Bennett has played a small part on defense early, logging only 24 defensive snaps. He started 11 games with the Raiders from 2023-24. A former UDFA, Cooper has only played 20 offensive snaps. He does not have a reception in his pro career yet.
Philly signed safety Marcus Epps, tight end Cameron Latu and cornerback Parry Nickerson to the 53-man roster from the practice squad. Linebacker Lance Dixon, cornerback Eli Ricks and wideout Quez Watkins are now on the P-squad.
Texans Release S C.J. Gardner-Johnson
SEPTEMBER 25: Though Gardner-Johnson requested a trade, the Texans made no attempt to move him, according to Ryans (via Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio). Ryan’s comments indicate that the team wanted to get Gardner-Johnson out of Houston as soon as possible, aligning with the report about the tension he created in the locker room.
SEPTEMBER 24: C.J. Gardner-Johnson‘s time in Houston has proven to be short-lived. The veteran safety is being released, as first reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. 
2025 has seen Gardner-Johnson serve as a starter for Houston, his fourth career team. The former Saint, Lion and Eagle (on two occasions) enjoyed a highly productive second Philadelphia stint last year. To his surprise, the 27-year-old was traded this offseason in a swap which saw former first-round guard Kenyon Green head the other way.
That move appeared to give Houston another veteran presence in the secondary and add further to a defense which faced high expectations entering 2025. That unit has fared well with an average of just 17 points allowed per game, but the Texans are moving on nonetheless. Jalen Mills was recently brought back into the fold as a depth option at safety, while Jimmie Ward was removed from the commissioner’s exempt list yesterday. In the wake of those developments, Gardner-Johnson is being let go.
Friction with teammates was an issue in this case, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports. Gardner-Johnson criticized other members of the Houston secondary and was unhappy with his role in the team’s scheme, per Wilson. Without even one month in the books, the decision has been made on the team’s part to move on rather than attempting to salvage the situation. Wilson adds a trade request was issued prior to today’s cut.
Team and player recently agreed to a restructure, with Gardner-Johnson’s base salary for 2025 being reduced to the veteran minimum in exchange for a conversion to a signing bonus. That spread out guaranteed cap charges over several years, an indication this relationship would continue through at least the remainder of the campaign. Instead, Houston will take on a $5.66MM dead money charge for 2025 as a result of this move.
Mills and (when he is healthy) Ward represent options to take on a starting role at the safety spot. Ward has been a key figure when available during his Texans tenure, but an NFL investigation stemming from domestic violence allegations is ongoing and he is currently on the reserve/PUP list while recovering from offseason ankle surgery. In any case, Calen Bullock is set to remain in place as a safety starter moving forward. M.J. Stewart is currently in line to join him as a first-team presence.
Gardner-Johnson is now set to hit free agency. With two six-interception seasons and four campaigns of at least eight pass deflections to his name, the former fourth-rounder is not lacking in production. Today’s move marks the latest example of a team preferring not to keep him in the fold in spite of that, however. As such, it will be interesting to see if a strong market develops over the near future.