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Minor NFL Transactions: 11/21/25

November 21st, 2025 at 8:12pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are Friday’s minor moves:

Cincinnati Bengals

Miami Dolphins

Foskey joins Cincinnati’s 53-man roster after appearing in two games off the practice squad. After failing to make the initial 53-man roster for the Saints, who drafted him in the second round two years ago, Foskey gets an opportunity in Cinci, where the Bengals have four defensive ends on the injury report with two already ruled out for the weekend.

Colbert suffered a stinger in this weekend’s game in Madrid. His time on the 53-man roster comes to an end after a short month and a half.

Bengals Activate TE Mike Gesicki From IR

November 21st, 2025 at 2:30pm CST by Adam La Rose

On Wednesday, Mike Gesicki returned to practice. No setbacks have taken place since, and the veteran tight end is set to suit up this week as a result.

Gesicki was activated from injured reserve by the Bengals on Friday, per a team announcement. He is therefore in line to play in Week 12 against the Patriots. Cincinnati will be without Ja’Marr Chase on Sunday due to his one-game suspension. Getting Gesicki back will help compensate for his absence.

[RELATED: IR Return Tracker]

It remains to be seen if Joe Burrow will be able to play on Sunday. Even if that is not the case, the team’s offense will be closer to full strength with Gesicki back in the fold. The 30-year-old made six appearances in 2025 before landing on IR due to a pectoral injury. Prior to going down, he managed just eight scoreless catches.

An uptick in production could be in store down the stretch, though, especially once Burrow is on the field. Gesicki posted a 65-665-2 statline in 2024, his debut Bengals season. That made the former second-rounder a strong complementary option in the passing game behind Chase and fellow receiver Tee Higgins. Things have not been the same this season, but a rebound will be targeted over the closing stages of the season in this case.

Gesicki initially joined the Bengals on a one-year deal. His strong showing led to a $25.5MM contract being worked out this past offseason, and the Penn State product is owed a $2MM roster bonus next spring. With plenty of money still owing on his contract, Gesicki’s performances down the stretch will be worth watching closely.

In a corresponding roster move, cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt has been moved to IR. That comes as little surprise since the pending free agent is in danger of missing the remainder of the season due to a Lisfranc injury. Taylor-Britt will be sidelined for at least the next four games, but that absence could extend much longer.

Bengals Designate Mike Gesicki For Return

November 19th, 2025 at 5:12pm CST by Connor Byrne

The Bengals announced that they have designated tight end Mike Gesicki to return from IR. The team also opened safety Daijahn Anthony‘s practice window. The Bengals will have 21 days to activate both players.

There’s a chance Cincinnati will get Gesicki back as early as this Sunday against New England. Head coach Zac Taylor said Gesicki is “ready to hit the ground running” after missing four games with a pectoral injury (via Ben Baby of ESPN).

Gesicki began his career with the Dolphins and spent 2023 with the Patriots before joining the Bengals. They inked him to a one-year, $3.25MM deal heading into 2024. It proved to be a shrewd investment, as Gesicki caught 65 passes for 665 yards and two touchdowns during a 17-game season.

The Bengals were impressed enough with Gesicki’s 2024 output to give him a raise. They re-signed the 6-foot-6, 245-pounder to a three-year, $25.5MM pact last March.

Before going on IR, Gesicki was unable to approach last year’s production. He opened this season catching just eight of 16 targets for 61 yards in six games, though Gesicki barely worked with Joe Burrow during that stretch. The franchise quarterback suffered a toe injury in Week 2 and hasn’t returned yet, but he’s likely to come back in the next couple of weeks.

Gesicki has also barely played with the Bengals’ current starting QB, Joe Flacco, who debuted with the team the week the tight end sustained his injury. If Gesicki takes the field this week, he’ll provide Flacco another target with No. 1 wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase serving a one-game suspension.

The Bengals haven’t gotten what they expected from Gesicki this year, but fellow tight end Noah Fant has performed well. The late-July free agent signing has secured 30 of 34 targets for 256 yards and three TDs. Gesicki will rejoin Fant and blocking specialist Drew Sample as Cincinnati’s top three TEs when the team activates him.

Anthony, a seventh-round pick in 2024, appeared in 13 games as a rookie. Almost all of his snaps (168 of 179) came on special teams. The Bengals placed him on IR with a return designation when they made their final cuts on Aug. 26. Anthony’s hamstring injury wasn’t expected to shelve him for long, but the 25-year-old has missed all 10 of the Bengals’ games so far.

NFL Upholds Ja’Marr Chase’s Suspension

November 18th, 2025 at 10:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

NOVEMBER 18: Hearing officer Jordy Nelson has upheld the Chase suspension. The All-Pro Bengals wide receiver will miss the team’s Week 12 contest against the 9-2 Patriots.

NOVEMBER 17: The NFL has investigated yesterday’s Ja’Marr Chase–Jalen Ramsey incident. To little surprise, supplemental discipline has been handed down.

Chase has been issued a one-game suspension, per a league announcement. The news means he will be unavailable for Week 12 against the Patriots barring a successful appeal. Ramsey was ejected on Sunday for his retaliation to being spat on by Chase. The latter initially denied such actions, but video of the incident has since confirmed Chase spat on Ramsey as tensions between the two came to a head during the game.

Presuming the suspension stands, Chase will see a notable financial loss. He is due to forfeit a game check of over $448K along with a per-game roster bonus of nearly $59K. The Bengals, meanwhile, are set to be without their top wideout for one week. Chase declined to speak to the media on Monday.

Chase will appeal the ban, veteran insider Jordan Schultz reports. It would certainly come as a surprise in the event the suspension were to be overturned considering the precedent set earlier this season. Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter was disqualified from the team’s Week 1 game after spitting on Dak Prescott. No suspension was handed down, because Carter’s time out of the game amounted to a one-game absence.

As Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio writes, Chase is pursuing a different route than Carter despite their similar situations. Carter did not appeal the fine he received (and therefore the punishment which was treated as a one-game suspension). Chase, on the other hand, could point to the precedent which existed in the NFL prior to the Carter decision – one which included fines, rather than suspensions, for spitting incidents.

In any event, clarity on this situation will likely emerge in the next day or two. The case will be heard by one of the three hearing officers jointly appointed by the NFL and NFLPA before a final decision is made. If Chase is out for Week 12, a Bengals offense which is still without Joe Burrow will be notably shorthanded in the passing game. Reigning NFL sack leader Trey Hendrickson is also in danger of missing Cincinnati’s next game through injury.

Efforts to work out a monster extension in time for the 2024 season were unsuccessful, and Chase played out the season without a deal in hand. This past spring, he and Tee Higgins each signed their new pacts. Chase landed a four-year, $161MM pact and he is on the books through 2029. The four-time Pro Bowler’s yards per reception average is the lowest of his career, but he has remained a focal point on offense even with Burrow unavailable for much of the season.

Chase led the NFL in receptions, yards and touchdowns in 2024. A second ‘Triple Crown’ campaign does not appear to be in store, although the LSU product’s 79 catches currently pace the league. Missed time through this suspension being upheld will hinder Chase’s chances of remaining the NFL leader in that regard; it will also deal another blow to the 3-7 Bengals’ playoff chances.

Bengals CB Cam Taylor-Britt Could Miss Remainder Of Season

November 17th, 2025 at 2:53pm CST by Adam La Rose

Cam Taylor-Britt suffered a left foot injury during the Bengals’ loss on Sunday. The fourth-year corner is uncertain to return in 2025.

Head coach Zac Taylor said on Monday (via ESPN’s Ben Baby) Taylor-Britt will “likely” require surgery to repair the Lisfranc injury he sustained yesterday. If the procedure takes place, his season will be over. Taylor-Britt was seen in a walking boot while using a knee scooter today (h/t Jay Morrison of Sports Illustrated).

The timing of this news is critical. 2025 marks the final year of Taylor-Britt’s rookie contract. Suffering a season-ending injury heading into free agency will no doubt hinder the 26-year-old’s value during his first trip to the open market. In the meantime, Cincinnati’s much-maligned defense will be without a regular contributor to finish the campaign.

Tayl0r-Britt was a full-time starter for his first three Bengals seasons; he recorded seven interceptions and 33 pass deflections over that span. Things have been different this year under new defensive coordinator Al Golden, however. Tayl0r-Britt’s defensive snap share sits at 61% on the year, by far the lowest of his career. Now, the possibility exists he will not play again in 2025.

Dax Hill and DJ Turner have been mainstays at the cornerback position for the Bengals this season. That setup is likely to continue, but depth will be an issue in the secondary presuming Taylor-Britt is sidelined for the remainder of the campaign. The Nebraska product has not enjoyed a productive season, and his PFF coverage grade for 2025 (57) is the worst of his career.

Those factors did not stop Taylor-Britt from drawing interest ahead of the trade deadline. The Bengals elected to keep him in the fold, but his future will now be uncertain. If a deal allowing Taylor-Britt to remain in Cincinnati is to be worked out in the spring, it will come in the wake of a highly disappointing campaign. In the event of a departure, this injury will go a long way in informing his market value.

NFL To Review Ja’Marr Chase-Jalen Ramsey Incident; Latest On Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers

November 17th, 2025 at 8:00am CST by Rory Parks

NOVEMBER 17: Despite the “tiny fracture” in his wrist, Rodgers “is pushing to play” on Sunday, according to Rapoport, who hears there’s a “50/50” chance it will happen. It will come down to whether Rodgers is able to grip the football.

NOVEMBER 16, 10:05pm: Per Schefter, there is concern that Rodgers sustained a “slight break” in his left wrist. More clarity, including how much time Rodgers might miss, will come after his evaluation on Monday. It sounds as if some missed time is expected, because Schefter followed his report regarding the possible break with a post suggesting Rudolph will be under center when the Steelers face the Bears in Week 12.

Nonetheless, Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network says this is not expected to be a long-term issue.

5:54pm: The Bengals lost an important divisional game against the Steelers on Sunday, dropping them to 3-7. Already without starting quarterback Joe Burrow until at least Week 13, Cincinnati may also lose its top wideout, Ja’Marr Chase, for a game. 

In the fourth quarter of the Bengals-Steelers contest, Pittsburgh’s Jalen Ramsey was ejected for punching Chase. While passing along a video of the incident, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo says Ramsey’s transgression appears to have been more of a grab of Chase’s facemask than a true punch. Ramsey and Chase had already been flagged for offsetting unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, however, so Ramsey presumably would have been ejected regardless.

Ramsey’s teammate, Joey Porter Jr., told reporters after the game that Chase spit on Ramsey, which triggered the mercurial defensive back’s reaction (video link via ESPN’s Kimberley A. Martin). Porter acknowledges he did not see the alleged expectoration, and Chase unequivocally denied it (via Martin).

But in a video passed along by Fox 19 sports photographer Austin Briski, it appears Ramsey was correct and that Chase did, in fact, spit on him. Head referee Bill Vinovich said in the postgame pool report that neither he nor any other members of his crew witnessed that part of the altercation (from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, via Brian Batko of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette).

An NFL spokesman told ESPN’s Adam Schefter the league will be reviewing the incident. And, as Garafolo reminds us, league precedent indicates spitting does merit a suspension.

Eagles DT Jalen Carter technically was not suspended for spitting on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott in the first regular season game of the 2025 slate. However, that was only because the incident took place immediately after the opening kickoff, and before Carter even played a snap (Carter was fined the amount of a full game check). Since the Chase-Ramsey incident transpired in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s matchup, Chase could certainly be hit with a brief ban as well as a fine.

The spitting saga overshadowed the fact that the Steelers played half of the game without starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The soon-to-be 42-year-old sustained a left wrist injury late in the first half and did not return. Per Rapoport, Rodgers will undergo an evaluation on his wrist on Monday morning.

Backup Mason Rudolph completed 12 of 17 passes for 127 yards and a touchdown.

Joe Burrow To Return Regardless Of Bengals’ Record; Latest On Trey Hendrickson

November 16th, 2025 at 9:05pm CST by Adam La Rose

With Joe Burrow having returned to practice this week, attention around the Bengals has turned to his ability to suit up for the closing stages of the season. Playoff consideration is far from certain in Cincinnati’s case, but that will not impact Burrow’s recovery process.

The Bengals exited Sunday’s game against the Steelers with a 3-7 record. The state of the AFC North leaves the door slightly open to a run at top spot in the division for Cincinnati, something which would of course be more likely in the event Burrow were to return in the near future. Even if the team falls out of contention, though, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network writes Burrow will suit up upon receiving full medical clearance.

For now, the 28-year-old has been limited to seven-on-seven work in practice as he awaits clearance for full participation. Even when Burrow is back in game action, Rapoport notes he is expected to do so with a metal plate in his shoe, adding Burrow will not have full mobility. Nevertheless, a return around Thanksgiving or one week later remains the target.

The Bengals’ offense received a boost thanks to the midseason Joe Flacco trade. Defensive struggles have remained an issue for the team, however, and they threaten to result in another year defined by the failure to meet expectations. Burrow is under contract through 2029, and a cautious approach would be understandable from the team’s perspective given the financial commitment made to the former No. 1 pick. Burrow is nonetheless on track to see the field soon.

Cincinnati hopes the same will be true of Trey Hendrickson. The Bengals elected to retain him past the trade deadline despite lowering their asking price to a second-round pick. Last year’s sack leader is out for Week 11, his third missed came of the season. Hendrickson is dealing with a core muscle injury, Rapoport reports. He adds a move to injured reserve has received consideration but team and player are aiming to avoid it.

Likewise, Hendrickson hopes to avoid undergoing surgery to address the issue until after the season is over. The latest round of failed extension talks in this case resulted in the four-time Pro Bowler agreeing to a straight raise regarding his 2025 compensation. Hendrickson, 31 in December, could receive the franchise tag this spring but otherwise he remains on track for free agency.

Of course, Hendrickson’s value will take a hit if he remains sidelined for an extended period. If things go according to plan, though, he will be healthy along with Burrow for the closing weeks of the season.

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/15/25

November 15th, 2025 at 8:31pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are today’s minor NFL moves and standard gameday practice squad elevations for tomorrow’s slate of games:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Jacksonville Jaguars

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

With the 49ers set to see their starting quarterback return, Martinez’s presence on the 53-man roster is no longer necessary. He’ll likely find his way back to the team’s practice squad.

The Panthers’ two elevations, Barnes and Mukuamu, are direct reflections of injury absences for tomorrow’s game. With Trevin Wallace and Lathan Ransom ruled out for Sunday, Carolina made the decision to call up another player at each position.

Mevis will once again be called upon for kicking duties in Los Angeles. In his NFL debut last week, he was untested in terms of field goal attempts, but he converted all six extra point attempts in a blowout win in San Francisco.

Kamara in Tampa Bay is being called up for the third time this season. If the Buccaneers intend to play him in another game this year, they’ll need to sign him to the 53-man roster, much as the Ravens did after Bryan exhausted all three of his standard gameday practice squad elevations.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/15/25

November 15th, 2025 at 5:39pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s only practice squad update:

Cincinnati Bengals

Kirkland had been brought up twice as a standard gameday practice squad elevation but hadn’t seen any playing time this year. Now, he’ll be placed on the injured list to allow the team to sign a new practice squad player in his slot, if they so choose.

Bengals To Place DE Shemar Stewart On IR

November 15th, 2025 at 10:41am CST by Connor Byrne

The Bengals are placing rookie defensive end Shemar Stewart on IR with a knee injury, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com reports. Stewart will miss a minimum of four games. He’ll be eligible to return in Week 15.

Stewart, whom the Bengals chose 17th overall out of Texas A&M, made headlines after the draft during a lengthy contract dispute. After a protracted battle over default language in his contract, the 22-year-old finally inked his first NFL deal on July 26. The agreement came after the Bengals agreed to adjust his signing bonus payment schedule.

Stewart, who didn’t practice with the Bengals at all before signing, has gotten off to a slow start in the pros. A polarizing prospect who totaled just 4.5 sacks in 37 college games, Stewart hasn’t recorded any in his first five contests (four starts) with the Bengals. He previously missed four games as a result of a Week 2 ankle injury.

When healthy enough to play, Stewart has amassed 177 defensive snaps and picked up six tackles, including a personal-best three in a loss to the Bears in Week 9. With the Bengals on a bye last week, the Chicago game will go down as Stewart’s last for a while.

Trying to keep their faint playoff hopes alive, the 3-6 Bengals are heading into a huge matchup with the AFC North-leading Steelers (5-4) on Sunday. The Bengals’ last-ranked defense will have to make do without Stewart and superstar pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, who will miss his third straight game with a hip/pelvis injury. Joseph Ossai, Myles Murphy, and Cameron Sample will serve as the Bengals’ top options at defensive end.

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