Cowboys DE Marshawn Kneeland Passes Away
11:17pm: The Texas Department of Public safety classified Kneeland’s death as suicide, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s Nick Harris. At 10:33pm Wednesday night, police attempted to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation. The driver of the vehicle refused to stop, leading to a police pursuit. Police losing sight of the vehicle ended the pursuit. Initial reports then stated Kneeland fled the scene on foot, according to a report from the Frisco (Texas) Police Department (via ESPN’s Adam Schefter).
According to the police report, police found the vehicle abandoned after a crash on the Dallas Parkway. The driver of the vehicle, Kneeland, was found after authorities searched the area. After the discovery, police ruled Kneeland died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. According to the Frisco Police report, authorities discovered Kneeland expressed “suicidal ideations.” The Plano (Texas) Police Department received a call at approximately 11:40pm regarding a welfare concern “at an address they were told belonged to Kneeland.” The call went unanswered with a police pursuit underway (via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). He was found at 1:31am.
8:46am: The Cowboys have made a shocking announcement. Marshawn Kneeland, a defensive end the team drafted in last year’s second round, passed away. He was 24.
“It is with extreme sadness that the Dallas Cowboys share that Marshawn Kneeland tragically passed away this morning,” the Cowboys said in a statement (via NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo). “Marshawn was a beloved teammate and member of our organization. Our thoughts and prayers regarding Marshawn are with his girlfriend Catalina and his family.”
Arriving as the No. 56 overall pick out of Western Michigan last year, Kneeland made four NFL starts. His tragic death comes less than three days after he scored his first NFL touchdown. Kneeland returned a blocked punt for a score against the Cardinals on Monday night in Dallas. After Sam Williams notched the second-quarter block, Kneeland pounced on the recovery for a score. It marked Kneeland’s first touchdown in the college or professional ranks.
A fast-rising prospect from the MAC program, Kneeland memorably set up 16 pre-draft visits last year. The traits he showed during a five-year college career intrigued plenty of teams, as the pass rusher came to the NFL with less-than-stellar college numbers. Kneeland did not have a five-sack college season, but he recorded 25 tackles for loss over his final three. A Cowboys team that at the time was looking for Micah Parsons complementary rush talent swooped in, adding the rookie on Day 2.
Kneeland missed a chunk of his rookie season due to a partially torn lateral meniscus sustained in early October of last year, but he made it back before season’s end. The Cowboys saved an IR activation for the rookie, who returned for the team’s Thanksgiving game. Kneeland played in 11 games last season, making one start for a team that lost DeMarcus Lawrence to injury early in the season. Kneeland made three starts this season, as the Cowboys traded Parsons months after letting Lawrence walk in free agency.
Kneeland did not record a sack as a rookie but notched one this season, dropping Jalen Hurts in the Cowboys’ opener. The part-time starter, who was viewed as part of the Cowboys’ solution post-Parsons, tallied three tackles for loss in his second season.
Jaguars Pursued Quinnen Williams; Sauce Gardner Deal Accelerated Jets’ Willingness To Move On
Mason Graham-to-Jacksonville was a mock-draft staple for a while, but the Jaguars moved in a different direction by trading up for Travis Hunter. Their defensive tackle need went on the back-burner, but we heard before the deadline the team had circled back to it.
The Cowboys completed the trade deadline’s second-biggest deal by sending a 2026 second-round pick, a conditional 2027 first-rounder and defensive tackle Mazi Smith to the Jets for Quinnen Williams. This blockbuster, however, came after the Jaguars made what veteran insider Jordan Schultz describes as a “strong push” for the disgruntled Jet. In the end, the Cowboys made the better offer, dangling one of their four first-round picks from 2026-27 to seal the deal.
Williams came up in Cowboys-Jets Micah Parsons talks, and Dallas circled back to its target — as an enduring goal to repair its run defense now involves a second megadeal. Several teams pursued Williams, Schultz adds, and the Jets determined the offer of first- and second-rounders plus Smith was enough to move on from a player who wanted out.
A big market checks out for a player of Williams’ caliber, and we heard late last month the Jets were listening on their longtime front-seven centerpiece. The three-time Pro Bowler denied his relationship with Aaron Glenn was broken, as a Tuesday report noted the D-tackle’s one-on-one meeting with his new HC launched his quest to be traded.
While Williams confirmed he was frustrated with the Jets’ losing ways, he said (via ESPN.com’s Todd Archer) respects Glenn’s approach this year. Perhaps being diplomatic now that a trade has been completed, Williams will now see his reported pursuit of a contract rework fall in the Cowboys’ hands. His four-year, $96MM deal — which has just $5MM in guarantees left beyond 2025 — runs through 2027.
Although the Jets were not intent on trading Williams and Sauce Gardner, they decided on the latter move after the Colts bet big on the cornerback. Indianapolis sending New York two first-round picks and wideout Adonai Mitchell for Gardner made the Jets’ decision to moving Williams earlier, ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes.
New York made the deal with Indianapolis barely an hour before the Williams swap. Prior to that, the Colts pursued Alontae Taylor in what would have been a much lower-profile trade. It would have been interesting to see if the Jets would have followed through on the Williams trade had Indy not stepped up on Gardner. The Jets will have plenty of work to do on defense, having gutted a unit that ranked in the top five in yards allowed from 2022-24. Though, Glenn’s first year has produced a 20th-place ranking in total defense through eight games.
The Jaguars are among the NFL’s best run defenses, ranking third in that area. Williams, Pro Football Focus’ No. 1-ranked interior D-lineman in run stoppage, would have provided the fringe contender a significant boost in this department. The Jags have 2024 free agency addition Arik Armstead and DaVon Hamilton in place as starting DTs, while Austin Johnson, former second-round pick Maason Smith and Khalen Saunders are in place behind them.
Armstead leads the Jags with 3.5 sacks, though he is not quite on Williams’ level as a 32-year-old defender. Williams made the past three Pro Bowls and notched 23.5 sacks in that span. However, he only posted one sack and three QB hits this season. The Jags also have not seen any of their DTs besides Armstead record a sack this season. They will attempt to keep getting by as is, though Armstead’s age and the Williams interest points to the franchise making moves to bolster this area in 2026.
Cowboys Notes: Wilson, Overshown, Revel
After the Bengals reduced his playing time, linebacker Logan Wilson requested a trade out of Cincinnati in late October. The Bengals granted his wish a few hours before the deadline on Tuesday, sending him to the Cowboys for a 2026 seventh-round pick. The Bengals received other offers for Wilson, but they liked the Cowboys’ the best, Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News reports.
Considering the meager return the Bengals accepted for Wilson, it’s fair to say other teams weren’t beating down the door for the 29-year-old. The Colts, Bills, and 49ers were mentioned as speculative fits for Wilson a couple of weeks ago, though it’s unclear if any of those teams joined the Cowboys in making an offer.
A third-round pick from Wyoming in 2020, Wilson became a full-time starter in his second season. In the midst of a stretch in which he piled up 100-plus tackles four seasons in a row, Wilson signed a four-year, $37.25MM extension in August 2023.
The Cowboys didn’t request any adjustments to Wilson’s deal, which runs through 2027, and they were willing to take on his remaining $2.68MM base salary for this year. That may have helped tip the scales in their favor.
Wilson started in seven of eight appearances with the Bengals this year and totaled 40 tackles, but rookies Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight have taken over as their primary linebackers. The Bengals’ defense checks in at last in the NFL, while the Cowboys own the league’s second-worst unit.
The 3-5-1 Cowboys will hope the acquisitions of Wilson and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, picked up in a pre-deadline blockbuster with the Jets, help turn the tide. Dallas also has a couple of in-house reinforcements set to make their 2025 debuts. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer said Tuesday that the team plans to play linebacker DeMarvion Overshown and cornerback Shavon Revel after it comes off its bye this week (via Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News).
Overshown, who missed his rookie year in 2023 with a torn ACL, returned last season to post 90 tackles, five sacks, four passes defensed, and an interception in 13 games. However, Overshown suffered yet another serious knee injury – a torn ACL, MCL, and PCL – in Week 14. Overshown opened the 2025 campaign on IR and returned to practice on Oct. 20. The Cowboys also designated Revel to return that day. The third-round rookie from East Carolina tore his ACL last year, forcing him to begin his NFL career on the non-football injury list.
Along with Overshown and Revel, the Cowboys hope to welcome back injured starting safeties Malik Hooker and Donovan Wilson in Week 11, according to Schottenheimer (via Tommy Yarrish of the team’s website). Hooker landed on IR with a toe injury after Week 4. Wilson, who leads the Cowboys with two interceptions, missed their previous two games with an elbow injury.
Jets Trade Quinnen Williams To Cowboys
The Jets are adding a third first-round pick in barely an hour. Rumblings of the team being more open to trading Quinnen Williams have indeed preceded a deal, as the Cowboys will acquire the standout defensive tackle.
A first-rounder “and more” is headed to the Jets in exchange for Williams, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports. This deal comes shortly after the Jets sent Sauce Gardner to the Colts for two first-round picks. Here is how the now-official trade breaks down, via The Athletic’s Dianna Russini and ESPN’s Adam Schefter:
Cowboys receive:
- Williams
Jets receive:
- 2026 second-round pick
- Higher of Cowboys’ two 2027 first-round picks
- DT Mazi Smith
The Cowboys, of course, had some ammo to play with after acquiring two first-rounders for Micah Parsons this summer. The Cowboys and Jets had discussed Williams — as Dallas shopped for D-tackles — as part of a Parsons trade. After the team ended up making the Parsons trade with Green Bay, Dallas is loaded at defensive tackle now. They obtained Kenny Clark in that trade and having re-signed Osa Odighizuwa just before free agency. SNY’s Connor Hughes had indicated the Jets were believed to be softening their stance on keeping Williams, noting the price also may have dropped. The team still pried first- and second-rounders from Dallas, doing so after it seemed weeks ago Williams was off the table.
[RELATED: Williams Issued Multiple Trade Requests]
For a team sitting 3-5-1 — after a two-score loss to the Cardinals — it is borderline astounding to see the Cowboys give up future first- and second-round picks here. But Jerry Jones hinted at the Parsons trade giving the Cowboys options to trade picks for players. Weeks later, that has come to fruition.
Jones hinted at a trade being agreed to Monday, but the Cowboys acquired Bengals linebacker Logan Wilson on Tuesday morning. This Williams addition is a much bigger splash. The Cowboys’ defense has crumbled in Matt Eberflus‘ first year in charge, with Parsons’ exit being felt immediately. The Cowboys have been unable to stop opponents from passing or running, ranking 31st in points and yards allowed. The Cardinals continued that trend Monday night, and Jones is responding — as a way to help a high-powered offense stay in the playoff race.
Dallas’ defense has struggled despite Jones remarking the Parsons trade would help the team improve against the run. Williams will certainly help there, but this is now a third high-priced D-tackle contract hitting Dallas’ payroll. The team re-signed Odighizuwa to a four-year, $80MM deal in March. The Cowboys then obtained Clark’s three-year, $64MM extension from the Packers. Williams is tied to a four-year, $96MM accord that runs through 2027.
The Jets extended Williams in summer 2023, a transformative offseason on the D-tackle market, and had seen him earn three straight Pro Bowl nods. In the year prior to the extension, Williams became a first-team All-Pro. The former No. 3 overall pick — selected during Mike Maccagnan‘s fifth and final draft as Jets GM — tallied 12 sacks in 2022, helping Robert Saleh‘s defense rocket from last place in 2021 to fourth in ’22. Williams combined for 11.5 sacks from 2023-24. Thus far this season, he has one to go with seven tackles for loss and three QB hits. Williams has 40 career sacks, recording at least 5.5 each year from 2020-24, to go with 59 TFLs.
Circling back to the Cowboys’ porous run defense, Jones is adding the player Pro Football Focus ranks first among all D-tackles in run stoppage. ESPN’s run stop win rate metric ranks Williams second, while slotting him 17th in pass rush win rate among DTs. Dallas now has the top two players in run stop win rate at DT, with Solomon Thomas ranking first. Though, Thomas’ placement has not moved the needle for a woeful Cowboys defense.
While this trade has proven costly, the Cowboys are landing an accomplished player who will not turn 28 until December. Williams should have a number of prime years left, and they are now slated to come in Dallas.
Smith did not work out in Dallas, finishing his tenure as a healthy scratch Monday night. Like Adonai Mitchell in the Gardner deal, Smith is more of a throw-in for a Jets regime intent on collecting draft capital to bring in its own pillars — after ditching Joe Douglas‘ on defense. Weight issues plagued Smith, who has become the rare modern Cowboys first-rounder to struggle.
The 2023 draftee is signed through the 2026 season. Smith is just 24, and he made 17 starts last season. PFF ranked Williams as the NFL’s second-worst D-tackle regular in 2024. He will not compare to Williams, but the Cowboys added the Michigan product to be a run-stuffing presence. Aaron Glenn and Steve Wilks will now begin grooming him in their scheme.
While the Cowboys are adding a proven piece, the Jets continue to tear down a defense that was viewed as one of the league’s best in recent years. Although the unit did not perform as well in 2024 following the Saleh firing, it ranked fourth in total defense in 2022, third in ’23 and third in ’24. Zach Wilson‘s struggles contributed to the team placing 12th in scoring defense in 2023, and Jeff Ulbrich‘s interim HC season closed at 20th in points allowed. But the Jets were one of the toughest teams to move the ball against during the Gardner-Williams years.
It can be argued the Jets will have a difficult time finding replacements for Gardner and Williams, even if the ones added may well be rookie-contract pieces for a while. Gardner earned two first-team All-Pro nods in three full Jets seasons; he is in his age-25 season. The team has now traded Williams and John Franklin-Myers in consecutive years, and Jermaine Johnson could be on the move — for a second-round pick — today as well. Needless to say, the Jets will have a difficult time stopping opponents through season’s end. But their plan is now draft-centric.
The 2000 Jets are the only team to make four first-round picks in the same draft, though Douglas made five combined first-round selections from 2021-22. Of that quintet, only Garrett Wilson appears a safe bet to be with the team in 2026. The Jets traded Wilson last year and have Alijah Vera-Tucker in a contract year. From the 2022 draft, Gardner is gone and Johnson could be following him out the door.
Glenn and GM Darren Mougey will have a chance to add their own foundational pieces beginning next year, as this Jets team is headed toward a top-five pick. The Colts are supplying them with a second first-rounder next year, and the Jets will have three 2027 first-rounders — barring a trade — as well. It will be interesting to see how the team begins its recovery effort, as the Jets were previously viewed as featuring a well-built defense.
Of Williams’ 2026 salary ($21.75MM), $5MM is guaranteed. The Jets are taking on dead money hits of $13.2MM in 2025 and $9.8MM in ’26, according to Spotrac. This is actually more dead cap than the Gardner trade is bringing ($19.75MM) due to contract structure.
Dallas entered the day behind only the Patriots in cap space. Even with Smith’s fully guaranteed contract in the deal, the Cowboys will use a chunk of it on Williams, who is owed roughly $8MM through season’s end. The Cowboys are loaded up with DT salaries, with Clark under contract through 2027 and Odighizuwa through 2028. Williams’ 2027 base salary is nonguaranteed, while Clark is due an $11MM roster bonus on Day 3 of the 2026 league year. Odighizuwa’s 2026 salary is fully guaranteed.
2025 NFL Trades
The modern NFL features four clear trade windows. While the Cowboys and Steelers’ George Pickens swap showed moves can be made at other points on the NFL calendar, early March, the draft, the late-August 53-man roster-setting date and the November deadline reside as the primary points trades occur around the league. On that note, it is a good time to check in on what has transpired on the trade market ahead of today’s deadline.
Excluding pick-for-pick trades, here are the moves NFL teams have made thus far in 2025:
March 1
- Commanders acquire WR Deebo Samuel from 49ers for No. 147
49ers chose running back Jordan James at 147
March 4
- Bears obtain G Jonah Jackson from Rams for No. 202
Rams traded pick to Vikings, moving up to No. 172 for linebacker Chris Paul Jr.
March 5
- Bears form new guard duo, acquiring Joe Thuney from Chiefs for 2026 fourth-round pick
March 6
- Intra-AFC South swap sends Texans Christian Kirk, Jaguars 2026 seventh-round pick
March 7
- Pete Carroll–Geno Smith reunion sends No. 92 from Raiders to Seahawks
Seahawks chose quarterback Jalen Milroe at 92
March 9
- Steelers acquire WR D.K. Metcalf, No. 185 from Seahawks in exchange for Nos. 52, 223
Seahawks used No. 52 to trade up (via the Titans) 17 spots for safety Nick Emmanwori, drafted running back Damien Martinez at 223; Steelers selected quarterback Will Howard at 185
March 10
- Saints land DT Davon Godchaux from Patriots for 2026 seventh-round pick
- Commanders add LT Laremy Tunsil, No. 128 from Texans for Nos. 79, 236, along with 2026 second-, fourth-round picks
Texans added wide receiver Jaylin Noel at 79, sent 236 to Jaguars in Day 2 trade; Commanders chose wideout Jaylin Lane at No. 128
- Browns acquire QB Kenny Pickett from Eagles for QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, No. 164
Eagles used No. 164 to climb one spot (via Chiefs) in first round for linebacker Jihaad Campbell
March 11
- Texans bring in S C.J. Gardner-Johnson, 2026 sixth-round pick from Eagles for G Kenyon Green, 2026 fifth-rounder
March 12
- Cowboys obtain CB Kaiir Elam, No. 204 from Bills in exchange for No. 170, 2026 seventh-round choice
Bills took Ohio State cornerback Jordan Hancock at 170; Cowboys chose guard Ajani Cornelius at No. 204
- Cowboys acquire LB Kenneth Murray, No. 239 from Titans for No. 188
Titans drafted running back Kalel Mullings at No. 188; Cowboys chose running back Phil Mafah at 239
March 13
- Texans add G Ed Ingram from Vikings in exchange for 2026 sixth-round pick
March 15
- Vikings acquire RB Jordan Mason, No. 187 from 49ers for No. 160, 2026 sixth-round pick
Vikings packaged No. 187 in trade-down move (via Texans); 49ers drafted safety Marques Sigle at 160
April 3
- Cowboys obtain QB Joe Milton, No. 217 from Patriots in exchange for No. 171
Patriots traded down from No. 171 (via Lions) to draft kicker Andres Borregales; Cowboys chose defensive tackle Jay Toia at 217
April 26
- Vikings acquire QB Sam Howell, No. 172 from Seahawks in exchange for 142
Seahawks selected defensive lineman Rylie Mills at No. 142; Vikings traded No. 172 to Rams
May 7
- Cowboys add WR George Pickens, 2027 sixth-round pick from Steelers for 2026 third-round pick, 2027 fifth-rounder
June 2
- 49ers land DE Bryce Huff from Eagles in exchange for conditional 2026 fifth-round pick
Pick could upgrade to fourth-rounder if performance-based conditions are met
June 30
- Steelers add CB Jalen Ramsey, TE Jonnu Smith, 2027 seventh-round pick from Dolphins for S Minkah Fitzpatrick, 2027 fifth -round pick
July 1
- Dolphins to acquire TE Darren Waller, conditional 2027 seventh-round pick from Giants in exchange for 2026 sixth-rounder
August 4
- Eagles to acquire CB Jakorian Bennett from Raiders in exchange for DT Thomas Booker
August 17
- Eagles land WR John Metchie, 2025 fifth-round pick from Texans in exchange for TE Harrison Bryant, 2026 sixth-rounder
- Saints acquire C Luke Fortner from Jaguars in exchange for DL Khalen Saunders
August 20
- Jets add DT Jowon Briggs, 2026 seventh-round pick from Browns for 2026 sixth-rounder
- Jets obtain DL Harrison Phillips, 2027 seventh-round pick from Vikings for 2026, 2027 sixth-rounders
- Saints land WR Devaughn Vele from Broncos for 2026 fourth-round pick, 2027 seventh-rounder
- 49ers acquire WR Skyy Moore, 2027 seventh-round pick from Chiefs for 2027 sixth-rounder
August 22
- 49ers bring in RB Brian Robinson from Commanders in exchange for conditional 2026 sixth-round pick
August 24
- Eagles acquire QB Sam Howell, 2026 sixth-round pick from Vikings for 2026 fifth-rounder, 2027 seventh
- Chiefs add DT Derrick Nnadi, conditional 2027 seventh-round from Jets for conditional 2027 sixth-rounder
- Eagles bring back T Fred Johnson from Jaguars in exchange for 2026 seventh-round pick
- Packers obtain OL Darian Kinnard from Eagles for 2027 sixth-round pick
August 25
- Raiders acquire QB Kenny Pickett from Browns for 2026 fifth-round pick
- Colts add CB Mekhi Blackmon from Vikings for 2026 sixth-round pick
August 26
- Browns acquire T KT Leveston from Rams for 2028 seventh-round pick
- Falcons add T Michael Jerrell from Seahawks for conditional 2027 seventh-round pick
- Saints bring in T Asim Richards, 2028 seventh-round pick from Cowboys for 2028 sixth-rounder
- Chargers acquire T Austin Deculus from Texans in exchange for conditional 2027 seventh-round pick
August 27
- Jaguars obtain WR Tim Patrick from Lions for 2026 sixth-round pick
- Vikings land WR Adam Thielen, conditional 2026 seventh-round pick, 2027 fifth-rounder from Panthers for 2026 fifth-round choice, 2027 fourth
August 28
- Packers acquire DE Micah Parsons from Cowboys for DT Kenny Clark, 2026, 2027 first-round picks
September 8
- Eagles add RB Tank Bigsby from Jaguars in exchange for 2026 fifth-, sixth-round picks
2026 fifth-round pick (from Bryce Huff trade) could upgrade to fourth-rounder, which would be sent to Jacksonville if 49ers DE meets those conditions
September 14
- Saints obtain WR Ja’Lynn Polk, 2028 seventh-round pick from Patriots for 2027 sixth-rounder
September 23
- Jets acquire CB Jarvis Brownlee, 2026 seventh-round pick from Titans for 2026 sixth-rounder
September 29
- Browns add LT Cam Robinson, 2027 seventh-round pick from Texans for 2027 sixth-rounder
October 7
- Bengals obtain QB Joe Flacco, 2026 sixth-round pick from Browns for 2026 fifth-rounder
- Chargers land OLB Odafe Oweh, 2027 seventh-round pick from Ravens for S Alohi Gilman, 2026 fifth-rounder
October 8
- Browns acquire CB Tyson Campbell, 2026 seventh-round pick from Jaguars for CB Greg Newsome, 2026 sixth-rounder
October 27
- Rams add CB Roger McCreary, 2026 sixth-round pick from Titans for 2026 fifth-rounder
October 28
- 49ers bring in DE Keion White, 2026 seventh-round pick from Patriots for 2026 sixth-rounder
- Steelers acquire S Kyle Dugger, 2026 seventh-round pick from Patriots for 2026 sixth
October 29
- Eagles add CB Michael Carter II, 2027 seventh-round pick from Jets for WR John Metchie, 2027 sixth-rounder
November 1
- Eagles acquire CB Jaire Alexander, 2027 seventh-round pick from Ravens for 2026 sixth-rounder
November 3
- Eagles obtain OLB Jaelan Phillips from Dolphins in exchange for 2026 third-round pick
- Ravens land OLB Dre’Mont Jones from Titans for conditional fifth-round pick
November 4
- Cowboys acquire LB Logan Wilson from Bengals for 2026 seventh-round pick
- Jaguars bring in WR Jakobi Meyers, sending 2026 fourth-, sixth-round picks to Raiders
- Colts obtain CB Sauce Gardner from Jets, who collect WR Adonai Mitchell, 2026, 2027 first-round picks
- Seahawks add WR Rashid Shaheed from Saints for 2026 fourth-, fifth-round picks
- Bears acquire DE Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, 2026 seventh-round pick from Browns for 2026 sixth-rounder
- Cowboys land DT Quinnen Williams from Jets for DT Mazi Smith, 2026 second-round pick, 2027 first-rounder
Higher of Cowboys’ two 2027 firsts will go to Jets in Williams trade
- Chargers add OL Trevor Penning from Saints in exchange for 2027 seventh-round pick
- Jets acquire CB Ja’Sir Taylor from Chargers for conditional 2028 seventh-round pick
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/4/25
Here are Tuesday’s minor transactions after a busy trade deadline:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: TE Josiah Deguara
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: G Andrew Stueber
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed from practice squad: S Keondre Jackson
- Waived: S Sanoussi Kane
Chicago Bears
- Placed on IR: DE Dayo Odeyingbo (story)
Dallas Cowboys
- Waived: RB Malik Davis
Denver Broncos
- Waived (with injury designation): S J.T. Gray
Detroit Lions
- Released (with injury settlement): TE Kenny Yeboah
- Released: OL Justin Herron
Green Bay Packers
- Signed from practice squad: DT Arron Mosby, TE Josh Whyle
- Placed on IR: TE Tucker Kraft (story)
Los Angeles Chargers
- Placed on reserve/retired list: LS Rick Lovato
Philadelphia Eagles
- Released: OLB Patrick Johnson
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived: S Jerrick Reed II
Washington Commanders
- Placed on IR: CB Marshon Lattimore, WR Luke McCaffrey (story)
Usually when a player retires in the middle of the season, it’s a free agent who hoped they’d find a home due to the attrition of the regular season but never do. Rarely do we see active players like Lovato retiring partway through a campaign like this. Lovato is choosing to go out on his own terms, though, as it appears he was close to being released. Los Angeles only signed Lovato just before the season because its regular long snapper, Josh Harris, got hurt and placed on the team’s injured reserve with a designation to return. Harris returned to practice last week, so seeing the writing on the wall, Lovato is saving the Chargers the trouble of releasing him.
Kane had been a core special teamer for the Ravens since getting drafted out of the seventh round last year but had been made a healthy scratch in each of the team’s past two games. Jackson, though, has emerged as a standout on the unit over three practice squad elevations. The Ravens wanted Jackson to keep playing, so he’ll take Kane’s spot on the 53-man roster.
Reed’s time on Seattle’s active roster was short-lived. They’ll likely plan for him to sign back to the practice squad, but he’ll have to clear waivers before they can bring him back. The same is expected of Davis in Dallas.
Cowboys Eyeing Further Defensive Additions
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said on Monday that the team would make at least one trade before Tuesday’s deadline. Jones delivered, acquiring linebacker Logan Wilson from the Bengals for a 2026 seventh-round pick. With just a few hours left until the 3 p.m. CT deadline, Jones may not be done yet.
Despite dropping to 3-5-1 with a 27-17 loss to the Cardinals on Monday, Jones hasn’t ruled out further additions. Jones told 105.3 The Fan that there are potential trades available that could benefit the Cowboys now and in the future (via Jon Machota of The Athletic). It doesn’t seem that the Cowboys have any interest in trading away anyone from their roster, however, per Machota.
Speaking to the media after Monday’s loss, Jones said, “I like our nuts and bolts a lot.”
If that’s true, the Cowboys may be less likely to move on from defensive tackle Mazi Smith, who’s reportedly a trade candidate. Smith was a 17-game starter last year, but he has mostly disappointed since Dallas took him 26th overall in the 2023 draft. The former Michigan Wolverine hasn’t started in any of his five appearances this year, and he has totaled just 89 defensive snaps and three tackles. The Cowboys made him a healthy inactive against the Cardinals.
Regardless of whether a change of scenery is in store for Smith, it seems likely that any more additions on Tuesday would come on the defensive side of the ball. The Cowboys’ defense has been the worst in the NFC this year, and the Wilson pickup alone likely won’t be enough to orchestrate a dramatic turnaround. Cognizant of that, the Cowboys are continuing to work the phones looking for more defensive help, Jay Glazer of FOX Sports relays.
A report on Monday connected Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson and Dolphins linebacker Bradley Chubb to the Cowboys. As a pending free agent, Hendrickson would be a pure rental, though the Cowboys have the cap room to re-sign the pass-rushing menace to a lucrative multiyear deal. Chubb is under wraps through 2027, meaning he’s technically not a rental, but none of the $39.5MM he’s owed over the next two seasons is guaranteed.
There are other possibilities beyond Hendrickson and Chubb, and Jones previously indicated the Cowboys would consider adding players under control beyond 2025. With Jones willing to deal draft capital from the Micah Parsons blockbuster he pulled off with Green Bay before the season, Dallas remains a team to watch leading up to the deadline.
Cowboys Acquire LB Logan Wilson From Bengals
Jerry Jones stated on Monday one trade was in place with more deals being worked on. Dallas has in fact finalized at least one swap ahead of the deadline. 
Linebacker Logan Wilson is being dealt from the Bengals to the Cowboys, as first reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Wilson’s trade request has thus been honored, and this swap should allow him to return to full-time playing duties. Cincinnati is receiving a 2026 seventh-round pick, Rapoport adds. The deal is now official.
Today’s news comes as little surprise on a number of levels. Dallas was among the teams known to have shown interest in Wilson, whose entire career has taken place with the Bengals. Each season from 2021-24, the 29-year-old reached or surpassed 100 tackles while operating as a full-time starter. This year, however, Wilson has seen a sharp reduction in playing time. That made him one of the members of Cincinnati’s beleaguered defense to request a change of scenery.
Wilson inked a $9MM-per-year extension in 2023, and his contract runs through 2027 with no major spikes in cap hit scheduled for future years. No contract adjustments were made as part of this agreement, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. As a result, Dallas – a team which entered Tuesday with over $30MM in cap space and was not only looking into rentals – will take on the remaining $2.68MM in Wilson’s compensation for this year. This move clears that figure from the Bengals’ books in 2025, although the team will have a $4MM dead cap charge next season.
Last night’s loss dropped the Cowboys to 3-5-1 on the year. Defense has been an issue throughout the campaign, and making an addition anywhere on that side of the ball should produce at least an incremental improvement. Jones’ remarks from Monday indicated the acquired player in the then-mystery swap would see the field immediately. That means Wilson will add to his 65 career starts once his Cowboys tenure begins. Dallas will also receive notable reinforcements at the second level when DeMarvion Overshown is activated.
Cincinnati’s Joe Flacco acquisition has stabilized the quarterback spot as hoped. As Joe Burrow continues to recover, though, the team’s poor showings on defense have led to questions about the realistic chances of a playoff berth. The Bengals are 3-6 heading into their bye. No staffing changes will take place, but attention will turn to the possibility of this move being followed by others on the trade front today.
With Wilson no longer in the fold, Cincinnati’s linebacking corps will lean increasingly on a group featuring rookies Demetrius Knight and Barrett Carter. Those two have not fared well early in their careers, but their ability to develop over time will be key in bringing about needed improvements on defense. Wilson, meanwhile, will look to establish himself as a consistent playmaker with his new team while the Cowboys continue to explore other additions.
Jerry Jones: Cowboys Have Trade In Place; More Deals Being Explored
10:54pm: Jordan Schultz has provided more hints of a potential deal, noting that the Cowboys have discussed trades with multiple teams. Dallas has specifically been targeting defensive players, with a particular focus on pass rushers and linebackers. There’s an expectation that the team will consummate at least one trade tomorrow.
Schultz also provides some potential names, noting that the Cowboys have reached out to the Bengals about DE Trey Hendrickson and LB Logan Wilson and the Dolphins about LB Bradley Chubb. Hendrickson would obviously represent the most expensive investment of that bunch, and the 2024 NFL sacks leader would be able to somewhat fill the gap left by Micah Parsons‘ departure. Meanwhile, Jones appeared on ESPN’s pregame show this evening. He wouldn’t reveal any additional details about impending deals, but he continued to acknowledge that a trade is in the works.
“The details are tomorrow,” Jones said (via Jon Machota of The Athletic). “… There’s a good chance that we’ll have some things to talk about tomorrow.”
2:40pm: It appears as though the Cowboys’ discussions on the trade front will result in at least one deal being made. During an on-stage appearance on Sirius XM radio Monday, owner Jerry Jones took the unusual step of stating a trade has been made. 
“A lot of action going on right now in terms of trading, we certainly have made a trade and we may make a couple more trades before that deadline,” Jones said (via Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News). “We’ve made one. We possibly could make two more and I’m going to wait and let you read about that when we send the papers in tomorrow.”
Based on those comments, the swap Jones is referring to has been agreed upon by all parties but will not be finalized with the league office until Tuesday (which marks the deadline). It will likely not be until that point that the full details of the trade are revealed. Jones did add, however, that the player heading to Dallas via this move will be on the field “immediately” and his addition will “address some of the things that have been our shortcomings.”
It is not difficult to predict this mystery trade is aimed at providing a needed upgrade on defense for the Cowboys. Dallas ranks second in the league in scoring but 31st in points allowed on a per-game basis. Reinforcements will be coming relatively soon in terms of injured players returning to health, including most notably linebacker DeMarvion Overshown working toward his season debut. Still, help in the front seven or the secondary would be welcomed.
Getting Overshown back will be key, although fellow linebacker Jack Sanborn was placed on injured reserve earlier today. His absence will thin out the position for at least the time being. Meanwhile, Dallas sits 30th in the NFL against the pass. Even if rookie cornerback Shavon Revel plays a role once healthy, adding further contributors would be a feasible move. The Cowboys entered Monday with nearly $31MM in cap space.
Mazi Smith was recently named as a player Dallas could be willing to part with in a midseason trade. It will be interesting to see if the underwhelming former first-rounder is included in the return for whomever the Cowboys are set to acquire (or any other moves which are finalized in the next 24 hours). In any case, it seems as though at least one addition will be in place for the stretch run.
Cowboys’ Stephen Jones Backs Matt Eberflus
Despite boasting one of the NFL’s most productive offenses, the Cowboys entered Monday’s game against the Cardinals with a lackluster 3-4-1 record. A struggling defense has been the main culprit. The Cowboys are 31st in the NFL in both points and yards allowed per game, beating out only the Bengals’ historically bad stop unit in those two categories.
While things have gone poorly under under first-year defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones is hopeful he’ll return as the team’s DC in 2026 (via Jon Machota of The Athletic).
“(We hope) the situation is going to continue to evolve, which I know it will. Coach Eberflus has been a high-end coach,” Jones told 105.3 The Fan last Friday. “I know right now he’s not satisfied with where we are. We all have to be better as a team, all our players, all our coaches, all our executives, ownership, everybody needs to look in the mirror and see where they can be better.”
This is the second time in recent weeks that Dallas higher-ups have spoken well of Eberflus. Owner Jerry Jones and head coach Brian Schottenheimer publicly backed Eberflus on Oct. 14. The Cowboys were then coming off a 30-27 loss to the Panthers in which they surrendered 410 total yards, including 216 rushing. Dallas went into Monday hoping to bounce back from a 44-24 loss to Denver in Week 8. The Broncos amassed 426 yards, 179 on the ground, and quarterback Bo Nix torched the Cowboys for four touchdown passes.
Regardless of how the Cowboys’ defense fares against the Cardinals, it seems the Eberflus-coached unit is poised to add outside reinforcements before Tuesday’s trade deadline. Doing so should make his job easier. Jerry Jones said Monday that the Cowboys had already agreed to one trade – presumably a move on the defensive side – and added that they “possibly could make two more.” A report has since linked the Cowboys to two Bengals defenders, end Trey Hendrickson and linebacker Logan Wilson, as well as Dolphins linebacker Bradley Chubb.
As an elite pass rusher, Hendrickson would be the highest-impact (not to mention the most expensive) acquisition of the three. He’d also help the Cowboys replace departed superstar Micah Parsons, whom they traded to the Packers before the season.
On the heels of a 14-32 stint as the Bears’ head coach, Eberflus has drawn plenty of criticism in his new post with the Cowboys this year. However, the team’s decision to jettison Parsons in late August hasn’t done Eberflus any favors. Having successfully coordinated the Colts’ defense from 2018-21, the Cowboys aren’t ready to give up on the 55-year-old. Depending on how the deadline unfolds, Eberflus could have more talent to work with when the Cowboys come off a Week 10 bye.