NFL Minor Transactions: 9/5/25
Here are Friday’s minor transactions as we await Game 2 of the 2025 season, including today’s standard gameday practice squad elevations for the Chiefs and Chargers:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed off Panthers’ practice squad: DT Sam Roberts
- Released: WR David Sills
- Released (with injury settlement): CB Grayland Arnold
Chicago Bears
- Waived (with injury settlement): C Doug Kramer
Cincinnati Bengals
- Waived (with injury settlement): TE Tanner McLachlan
Green Bay Packers
- Waived (with injury settlement): S Omar Brown
Indianapolis Colts
- Waived (with injury settlement): K Maddux Trujillo
Kansas City Chiefs
- Elevated: DT Marlon Tuipulotu
Las Vegas Raiders
- Placed on reserve/retired list: WR Amari Cooper (story)
Los Angeles Chargers
- Elevated: LS Rick Lovato, T Foster Sarell
Each NFL team is granted two standard gameday practice squad elevations each game, allowing them to call up two members of their practice squad that are able to play in that weekend’s game. After the game is played, the elevated players revert back to the practice squad with no transaction required. This differs from a transaction like we saw earlier today wherein wide receiver Justin Shorter was signed to the Raiders’ active roster from their practice squad. He is now permanently on the team’s 53-man roster until they cut him or until his contract expires.
Practice squad players can be called up a maximum of three times under a single practice squad contract. If the team wants to call up a player who’s been called up three times already, team’s will usually sign the player to their active roster for a game, cut them after, and then sign them to a new practice squad contract. Under a new contract, the player would be eligible to be elevated for three more games.
Bengals Extend C Ted Karras
For the second year in a row, Ted Karras has agreed to a one-year extension. The veteran center inked his latest Bengals pact Friday morning, per a team announcement. 
[RELATED: Lucas Patrick Wins Bengals’ RG Spot]
This is a $5MM deal, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Last summer, team and player agreed to a re-up averaging $6MM across 2024 and ’25, with $4.8MM in new money being owed for the coming campaign. Karras has now received another new pact of similar value; he is under contract through 2026 as a result.
Karras spent his first six seasons in the AFC East, playing out his rookie contract with the Patriots before taking a one-year Dolphins contract. That was followed by a return to New England on another one-year accord. The former sixth-rounder then joined the Bengals on a three-year, $18MM pact as part of the team’s offensive line renovations of that offseason.
Since then, Karras has been a mainstay up front for Cincinnati. The Illinois product has missed only one game to date, and he has delivered consistent performances for his third career team. Karras graded out as PFF’s 15th-best center during his first two Bengals campaigns, and he checked in at No. 21 last year. He will be counted on to remain at that level for at least another two years while also filling a notable leadership role in Cincinnati.
At 32, Karras is presumably closer to the end of his career than the beginning. On multiple occasions this offseason, however, he informed Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer he does not foresee a retirement decision being made in the near future. Team and player will look to continue their relationship through the 2026 campaign at a minimum, although another new contract could be in store if Karras continues to play at a consistent level this season.
NFL Minor Transactions: 9/3/25
Today’s list of minor moves consists of players removed from injured reserve via injury settlements:
Chicago Bears
- Released from IR: S Tysheem Johnson
Cincinnati Bengals
- Released from IR: OT Caleb Etienne
Miami Dolphins
- Released from IR: Bayron Matos
New York Giants
- Released from IR: Jermaine Terry
San Francisco 49ers
- Released from IR: QB Tanner Mordecai
Seattle Seahawks
- Released from IR: John Rhys Plumlee
Lucas Patrick Named Bengals Starting RG
The Bengals have finally settled on their starting offensive line ahead of Week 1. While most of the spots had previously been settled, there were still questions about the team’s choice at right guard. While speaking with reporters today, coach Zac Taylor revealed that Lucas Patrick will get the starting gig to begin the season (per ESPN’s Ben Baby).
Patrick was added on a one-year contract this offseason to provide some competition for holdover Cody Ford, who started nine games during his second season in Cincy. We heard in early August that Ford appeared to have the inside track to keep the job. Patrick sat out a handful of early practices thanks to injury, and his modest $200K in guaranteed money made him a logical cut candidate.
The Bengals added some more depth to the position when they recently signed Dalton Risner, leading to some belief that the recent addition could suddenly be in pole position for the starting RG job. Instead, it was Patrick who won out, although Taylor warned that he wouldn’t be afraid to pivot if the need arises. This means Risner is temporarily the backup guard, while Ford represents the team’s main backup OT option.
Patrick brings plenty of experience to his new squad. The lineman spent the first part of his career as a depth piece in Green Bay, but he emerged as a starting guard in 2020 and starting center in 2021. That performance earned him a two-year contract from the Bears, and after being limited to seven games (five starts) in 2022, the lineman started 15 of his 16 appearances in 2023. The 32-year-old spent the 2024 campaign with the Saints, where he started 10 games.
Patrick’s versatility has clearly been valued by his teams, but the advanced metrics haven’t been especially fond of his on-field production. The veteran has generally graded out as a below-average guard or center throughout his career, although he rebounded with a 37th-place finish (among 77 qualifying guards) in 2024.
The rest of the Bengals offensive line features left tackle Orlando Brown, rookie left guard Dylan Fairchild, center Ted Karras, and right tackle Amarius Mims.
Bengals Sign DT Mike Pennel
Mike Pennel has a deal lined up in time for Week 1 shortly after becoming a free agent. The veteran defensive tackle is set to join the Bengals, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. 
This will be a practice squad arrangement, per Fowler. An elevation to the active roster could be in store in relatively short order, though. Pennel is a veteran of 125 appearances and 25 starts in the NFL. His Cincinnati signing is now official.
Pennel played on a one-year Chiefs pact in 2024, and he was retained by Kansas City in March on a contract of the same length. That appeared to set up the 34-year-old for a third consecutive Chiefs campaign during his second stint with the franchise. Pennel was among the team’s roster cuts last week, however.
Instead of remaining in place on Kansas City’s practice squad, the former UDFA will head to Cincinnati. The Bengals will be Pennel’s sixth career team, with his second Chiefs stint being preceded by time with the Packers, Jets, Falcons and Bears. Never a full-time starter on defense or a known presence in the pass rush department, he set a new career high with three sacks in 2024.
Pennel will look to carve out a role along the defensive interior whenever he finds himself on the active roster. The two-time Super Bowl winner is joining a group featuring returnee B.J. Hill, free agent signing T.J. Slaton and 2024 draftees Kris Jenkins and McKinnley Jackson. Cincinnati ranked 19th against the run last season, and improvement in that department will be a goal under new defensive coordinator Al Golden.
The Bengals entered Monday with roughly $17MM in cap space, more than enough afford what will be an inexpensive Pennel addition. It will be interesting to see how early he receives a gameday elevation or winds up being promoted to the active roster.
Failed Waiver Claims Following Roster Cut Deadline
Following every team’s efforts to get down from a 90-man training camp roster to a 53-man active roster for the regular season, waiver wire claims were processed on non-vested players that were cut. There were a few players who drew more interest than others. We’ve already seen the breakdown of claims for former Ravens cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis and former Cardinals cornerback Jaylon Jones, so here’s a look at a couple more. 
The Ravens also waived Beau Brade, an undrafted safety out of nearby Maryland who made the team as a rookie last year. Mostly a special teamer throughout his year in Baltimore, Brade fell victim to an influx of unexpected talent from the team’s new undrafted class as rookie free agents as Keyon Martin and Reuben Lowery earned spots over Armour-Davis and himself. Per ESPN’s Field Yates, the Jaguars were interested in bringing Brade to Duval, but the Giants had the higher waiver priority.
Armour-Davis wasn’t the only player the Titans were awarded off waivers. Tennessee also ended up claiming cornerback Samuel Womack fresh off his dismissal from Indianapolis. A fifth-round pick out of Toledo in 2022, Womack started eight games for the Colts last year after getting waived by the 49ers in 2024’s final roster cuts. Tennessee was awarded the 26-year-old this year, although the Browns also put in a claim, according to Garafolo.
Garafolo pointed out one more such instance with former Jaguars defensive tackle Jordan Jefferson. A fourth-round pick out of LSU last year, Jefferson was waived by Jacksonville after being inactive for nine games his rookie year. The Bengals, who desperately need improvement on the defensive line this season, put in a claim for Jefferson to come to Cincinnati, but the 49ers held a higher waiver priority and claimed him for themselves.
Yates also brought up another, noting that linebacker Cam Jones had a claim from the Colts before being awarded to the Jets, while ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that former Eagles offensive guard Trevor Keegan was awarded to the Cowboys due to their waiver priority over the Chargers.
Similarly, when the Giants waived fan favorite backup quarterback Tommy DeVito, they hoped that they would be able to bring him back to their practice squad, per Geoff Magliocchetti of Sports Illustrated. Instead, the Patriots claimed him off waivers, and now Paul Schwartz of The New York Post reports that the Giants will not sign a quarterback to practice squad, as a result. It’s just as well, considering the team is carrying three passers on the active roster.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/29/25
Here are Friday’s minor moves:
Detroit Lions
- Claimed off waivers (from Rams): S Thomas Harper
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Waived (with injury settlement): WR Eli Pancol
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed to active roster: TE Robert Tonyan
New England Patriots
- Claimed off waivers (from Bengals): DT Eric Gregory
New York Giants
- Signed: WR Gunner Olszewski
- Placed on IR: CB Rico Payton
Philadelphia Eagles
- Placed on IR: G Willie Lampkin
- Waived (with injury settlement): CB Tariq Castro-Fields
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Waived (with injury settlement): WR Brandon Johnson
Tennessee Titans
- Waived (with injury settlement): WR Matt Landers
Free Agent
- Suspended: DT Tyler Manoa
Manoa will be suspended for the first two weeks of the season, if he lands with an NFL squad. While details of the suspension have not been disclosed, it may be linked to an incident that led to him being kicked out of Allegiant Stadium in the spring after some alleged property damage.
Bengals Offered Trey Hendrickson Backloaded Extension; Raise Proposal Did Not Emerge Until Training Camp
For months, Trey Hendrickson sought a true extension that would provide guarantees beyond Year 1. Excluding Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase, such contracts are not part of the Bengals’ blueprint. The team ended up not budging on that stance, but a compromise emerged late to bring its top defender back into the fold.
Cincinnati agreed to a one-year bump with Hendrickson, who secured a $14MM raise for 2025. The deal also includes a $1MM incentive that could bump the standout defensive end’s earnings to $30MM this year. If Hendrickson plays 60% of the Bengals’ defensive snaps and the team books a playoff berth, that $1MM bump would trigger, per Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer.
Hendrickson, 30, logged 73% defensive snap share in 2024 and 68% of the team’s plays in 2023. The contract also includes a void year, according to ESPN.com’s Field Yates, who adds Hendrickson’s cap number increased by $3MM. The ninth-year veteran now counts $21.67MM on the Bengals’ cap sheet. Not known for much void year-related cap manipulation, the Bengals would be tagged with a $10MM dead money hit if they do not re-sign Hendrickson before the 2026 league year.
The Bengals held firm on not offering a post-Year 1 guarantee to Hendrickson. Cincy is one of the few teams that as a rule avoids this contract structure; its pricey Tee Higgins extension did not stray from it, even while the Chase deal did. Hendrickson is believed to have turned down a three-year, $95MM extension that did not include guarantees beyond Year 1. This proposal was backloaded, with The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. indicating Hendrickson was due $23MM in 2026 and $39MM in 2027
As for Hendrickson’s current deal, the NFL’s reigning sack leader said (via ESPN.com’s Ben Baby) the team did not communicate an aim at a 2025 raise until the eve of training camp. Hendrickson added he did not receive the offer he eventually agreed to was not previously offered during the lengthy negotiation. Although Hendrickson said he was “incredibly humbled” by the team’s raise, turning down the above-referenced extension offer sets up an interesting next chapter in this long-running saga.
While the Bengals have some younger defensive ends they will hope can show long-term potential (in Shemar Stewart and Myles Murphy, the latter not justifying his first-round slot yet), they could circle back to Hendrickson via a 2026 franchise tag. It would be a costly tag, at approximately $34.8MM, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. No team has ever tagged a non-quarterback at that rate, but if Hendrickson delivers another big year, it would certainly be a conversation — even in a potential tag-and-trade scenario. Dehner points to this relationship ending with a 2026 free agency departure, which could lead to a third-round 2027 compensatory pick.
The Bengals certainly made a good bet on Hendrickson back in 2021, when the late-blooming Saints draftee agreed to a four-year, $60MM deal. Far outplaying that contract, Hendrickson — after a one-year, $21MM extension in 2023 — failed in convincing the Bengals to break their non-superstar precedent for future guarantees. The All-Pro pass rusher will attempt to remain in top form ahead of his 31st birthday en route to a high-end deal in 2026.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 8/28/25
Teams around the NFL continued to adjust their practice squads as new players came free from Wednesday’s transactions. Here are all the latest updates:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: CB Chigozie Anusiem, OL Demontrey Jacobs, QB Kedon Slovis
- Released: OL Sincere Haynesworth
Arizona Falcons
- Signed: OT Ryan Hayes
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: CB Jalen Kimber, DE Andre Jones Jr.
- Released: CB Daequan Hardy
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: DT Jaden Crumedy, DB Kalen King, RB DeeJay Dallas
- Released: DB Shemar Bartholomew
Chicago Bears
- Signed: TE Nikola Kalinic, DB Dontae Manning, DB Gervarrius Owens
- Released: LS Luke Elkin, DB Mekhi Garner
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: OT Javon Foster, S Russ Yeast
- Released: OT Devin Cochran
- Signed: CB Dom Jones, TE Brenden Bates, OT Logan Brown, G Garrett Dellinger, LB Edefuan Ulofoshio
- Released: DT Ralph Holley
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: DE Isaiah Land
Denver Broncos:
- Signed: TE Patrick Murtaugh
Detroit Lions:
- Signed: DE Andre Carter
Green Bay Packers:
- Signed: OT Dalton Cooper, QB Clayton Tune, TE Josh Whyle
Houston Texans:
- Signed: OT Reid Holskey, WR Josh Kelly
Indianapolis Colts:
- Signed: WR Laquon Treadwell, S Ben Nikkel, WR Tyler Scott
- Released: WR Tyler Kahmann
Jacksonville Jaguars:
- Signed: DL Matt Dickerson, WR Erik Ezukanma
Kansas City Chiefs:
- Signed: S Jammie Robinson
Los Angeles Chargers:
- Signed: OT Foster Sarell
Miami Dolphins:
- Signed: RB JaMycal Hasty
Minnesota Vikings:
- Signed: S K’Von Wallace
New England Patriots:
- Signed: LB Mark Robinson, DB Corey Ballentine, DT Cory Durden, DT Fabien Lovett
- Released: LB Cam Riley, TE Gee Scott Jr., CB Brandon Crossley
New York Giants:
- Signed: TE Qadir Ismail
New York Jets:
- Signed: OL Marquis Hayes, DB Korie Black
Philadelphia Eagles:
- Signed: WR Britain Covey, OT Luke Felix Fualalo
San Francisco 49ers:
- Signed: QB Adrian Martinez, RB Sincere McCormick
Seattle Seahawks:
- Signed: LB Chris Paul Jr., WR/KR Courtney Jackson, CB Shaquill Griffin
- Released: DT Anthony Campbell, LB Jalan Gaines, RB Anthony Tyus III
Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
- Signed: QB Connor Bazelak, DL C.J. Brewer, WR Garrett Greene, G Luke Haggard, CB Bryce Hall, S Jack Henderson, WR Dennis Houston, DL Nash Hutmacher, LB Nick Jackson, DL Jayson Jones, OL Michael Jordan, OLB Mohamed Kamara, T Tyler McLellan, T Lorenz Metz, G Ben Scott, TE Tanner Taula
Tennessee Titans:
- Signed: OL Corey Levin, OL Clay Webb, DB Sam Webb
Washington Commanders:
Signed: RB Donovan Edwards, CB Darius Rush
Ismail was one of 17 players to work out for the Giants on Thursday, per The Athletic’s Dan Duggan. He won the practice squad spot over more notable players like former Broncos safety Caden Sterns and former Browns quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson. Canadian quarterback Taylor Elgersma also attended the workout, per Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post, suggesting that the Giants might be looking for extra depth at the position.
Wallace worked out for the Vikings on Thursday, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. It must have gone well, as he was signed to the practice squad hours later as extra depth both in the secondary and on special teams.
Griffin returned to the Seahawks this offseason, eight years after they made him a third-round pick in the 2017 draft. He did not make Seattle’s 53-man roster, but as a vested veteran, he was able to re-sign to the practice squad without going through waivers.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/28/25
As rosters continue to be sorted out, here are Thursday’s minor moves around the NFL:
Chicago Bears
- Signed: LS Scott Daly, WR Devin Duvernay
- Waived: LB Carl Jones Jr.
Cincinnati Bengals
- Waived: DT Eric Gregory
Dallas Cowboys
- Claimed off waivers (from Eagles): OL Trevor Keegan
- Waived: WR Ryan Flournoy
Las Vegas Raiders
- Claimed off waivers (from Eagles): S Tristin McCollum
- Waived: S Thomas Harper
San Francisco 49ers
- Released: S Richie Grant
- Waived: DT Evan Anderson
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived: S D’Anthony Bell