Minor NFL Transactions: 9/15/25
Today’s minor moves:
Dallas Cowboys
- Placed on IR: C Cooper Beebe
Houston Texans
- Elevated: FB Jakob Johnson
Las Vegas Raiders
- Elevated: WR Alex Bachman
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived from IR: S Lewis Cine
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Elevated: OL Michael Jordan
Washington Commanders
- Signed from practice squad: DE Jalyn Holmes, WR Chris Moore
- Placed on IR: RB Austin Ekeler (story), DE Deatrich Wise (story)
As expected, Cowboys center Cooper Beebe landed on injured reserve today after suffering an ankle and foot injury during yesterday’s win over the Giants. The lineman suffered a lateral sprain in his ankle along with a bone fracture in his foot, an injury that’s expected to keep him sidelined for six to eight weeks. During an appearance on 105.3 The Fan, Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones expressed optimism that the injury timeline is “on the shorter end of that” (per Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com).
Commanders DE Deatrich Wise Suffers Season-Ending Quad Injury
Austin Ekeler‘s presumed Achilles tear is not the only major injury the Commanders suffered Thursday night. Deatrich Wise is set to miss the remainder of the campaign. 
The veteran defensive end posted on Instagram Friday he is facing a lengthy recovery period after a quad injury saw him carted off the field. Shortly thereafter, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Wise’s injury will keep him out for the rest of the season. Surgery will be required, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Wise spent his first eight seasons with the Patriots, registering 63 starts over that span. The 31-year-old was among the players not retained by new head coach Mike Vrabel and Co., however. On the open market, he inked a one-year deal to head to Washington.
That $3.25MM pact included $2.35MM in guarantees, and Wise started each of his first two games with the Commanders. A notable workload would have remained the expectation in this case moving forward, but instead his attention will now turn to recovery. As a pending free agent, today’s news will obviously have significant and unwanted financial implications.
The Commanders’ defensive front underwent a number of changes this offseason, and Wise was joined by Jacob Martin and, later, Von Miller as a newcomer along the edge. Those two will be counted on to handle an increased workload moving forward. Wise has reached at least five sacks three times in a season, including the 2024 campaign. Another productive year would have helped the Commanders offset Dante Fowler‘s free agent departure while boosting the former fourth-rounder’s market value next spring.
The Commanders dropped to 1-1 with last night’s loss. Their offense will be shorthanded the rest of the way with Ekeler out of the picture, but Wise’s absence will deal a blow on the other side of the ball. Washington’s efforts to repeat last year’s success will include a key contributor along the edge sidelined after only a brief spell on the field.
Commanders Agree To Sign DE Deatrich Wise
The Commanders continue to rebuild their defensive line for the 2025 NFL season. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the team will add defensive end Deatrich Wise on a one-year, $5MM contract. 
After watching Jonathan Allen depart for Minnesota in free agency and seeing the contracts of Clelin Ferrell and Dante Fowler expire, Washington was going to need to address a defensive line that, despite the return of Daron Payne, Dorance Armstrong, and Jer’Zhan Newton, lacked depth and experience. The team started with the huge, impact addition of defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw and followed that up today with another defensive tackle in Eddie Goldman and Wise.
Wise has resided in New England ever since the Patriots drafted him in the fourth round in 2017. Over an eight-year career in New England, Wise appeared in 126 of a possible 131 games and made 61 starts. He’s pretty consistently averaged just over 4.5 sacks per season while totaling 34 tackles for loss and 90 quarterback hits. Early in his career, as a rotational rusher, Wise consistently got after the quarterback, with 9.5 sacks and 35 quarterback hits in his first two seasons. It took him another three years to pass three sacks in a season after that.
Over his eight years in the NFL with the Patriots, Wise only spent two years (2022 & 2023) as a full-time starter. He took advantage of that first season, seeing career highs in sacks (7.5), total tackles (59), and tackles for loss (7) while adding 11 quarterback hits. In 2023, though, his time as a full-time starter was less effective, only resulting in 4.5 sacks, three tackles for loss, and six quarterback hits. He had a resurgent 2024 campaign, despite missing two games, totaling five sacks, five tackles for loss, and eight quarterback hits.
Due to a lack of depth and options, Wise projects to be a starter across from Armstrong at the moment in Washington. Additional free agent or draft additions could certainly change that outlook, though, and put Wise back into position as a rotational rusher.
In New England, the Patriots aren’t losing too much along the defensive line besides Wise, and they’ve added a significant piece in former Eagles defensive tackle Milton Williams and a depth piece in former Cardinals defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga. It’s not apples and apples, but the presence of those two along the defensive front should give New England plenty of alignment options with the staff they now have.
Patriots Rework Deatrich Wise’s Deal
The Patriots have converted $2.85MM of defensive lineman Deatrich Wise’s base salary into a signing bonus (Twitter link via Field Yates of ESPN.com). The adjustment will carve out $1.9MM in additional salary cap room for the Patriots.
[RELATED: Patriots Trade For D. Parker]
The move will allow the Pats to absorb the salary of wide receiver DeVante Parker, who came from the Dolphins — along with a 2022 fifth-round pick — in exchange for a 2023 third-round choice. Parker’s deal calls for a $5.65MM base salary in 2022 and $5.7MM in 2013, though there’s zero guarantees remaining on his deal. For the Pats, it’s a thrifty WR upgrade after missing out on more ambitious targets like Odell Beckham Jr.
Wise Jr., 28, has blossomed into a quality edge player who can also moonlight at defensive tackle. Last year, the 2017 fourth-round pick was rewarded with a four-year, $22MM deal. This revision probably won’t impact his bottom line much, but it will give the Patriots the flexibility they need in 2022.
Before the move, the Patriots were near the bottom of the league in available cap space. They’re still in the cap cellar, but they’ll likely restructure other veterans in the coming weeks to clear up the books.
Wise finished 41 tackles, three sacks, and one forced fumble last year while starting in nine of his 16 games played.
NFL COVID-19 List Updates: 12/30/21
Here are Thursday’s reserve/COVID-19 list updates:
Arizona Cardinals
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: T D.J. Humphries
Atlanta Falcons
- Placed on virus list: OL Jason Spriggs
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from virus list: QB Tyler Huntley, S Tony Jefferson, DL Justin Madubuike
Buffalo Bills
- Activated from virus list: OL Cody Ford, CB Cam Lewis
- Activated from practice squad virus list: TE Quintin Morris
Carolina Panthers
- Activated from virus list: CB Rashaan Melvin
- Placed on virus list: DE Darryl Johnston, S Kenny Robinson
- Placed on practice squad virus list: RB Reggie Bonnafon
Cincinnati Bengals
- Activated from virus list: DE Wyatt Ray, DT D.J. Reader
Cleveland Browns
- Activated from virus list: DT Jordan Elliott, K Chase McLaughlin, CB Greg Newsome II, C J.C. Tretter
Dallas Cowboys
- Activated from virus list: CB Jourdan Lewis
- Placed on practice squad virus list: CB Kyron Brown, S Tyler Coyle
Denver Broncos
- Placed on virus list: CB Bryce Callahan, CB Mike Ford, T Bobby Massie, OLB Stephen Weatherly
Detroit Lions
- Placed on virus list: WR Kalif Raymond
Green Bay Packers
- Placed on virus list: OL Elgton Jenkins and LB Randy Ramsey
Houston Texans
- Placed on virus list: WR Danny Amendola
- Activated from virus list: DB A.J. Moore
Indianapolis Colts
- Activated from virus list: LB Darius Leonard, WR Zach Pascal, S Khari Willis
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Placed on virus list: OL Will Richardson, S Andrew Wingard
- Placed on practice squad virus list: RB B.J. Emmons
Las Vegas Raiders
- Activated from virus list: WR Bryan Edwards
- Placed on virus list: DE Carl Nassib, G Jordan Simmons
Los Angeles Chargers
- Activated from virus list: LB Emeke Egbule, WR Mike Williams
Los Angeles Rams
- Activated from virus list: T Andrew Whitworth
Minnesota Vikings
- Placed on virus list: LB Nick Vigil
New England Patriots
- Placed on virus list: T Yodny Cajuste
- Activated from virus list: DL Deatrich Wise
New Orleans Saints
- Placed on virus list: C Erik McCoy
- Activated from virus list: DE Carl Granderson, Jalyn Holmes
New York Giants
- Placed on practice squad virus list: LB Omari Cobb
New York Jets
- Activated from virus list: S Ashtyn Davis, G Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, DE John Franklin-Myers, G Alijah Vera-Tucker
- Placed on virus list: RB Tevin Coleman
- Activated from practice squad virus list: DE Hamilcar Rashed, WR Vyncint Smith
Philadelphia Eagles
- Activated from virus list: LB Shaun Bradley
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Activated from virus list: LB Marcus Allen
- Placed on virus list: CB Arthur Maulet
Seattle Seahawks
- Placed on virus list: G Damien Lewis
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Activated from virus list: DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches
Tennessee Titans
- Activated from virus list: G Nate Davis, CB Caleb Farley; Farley remains on IR
Washington Football Team
- Placed on virus list: T Sam Cosmi, P Tress Way
- Placed on practice squad virus list: QB Kyle Shurmur
- Activated from virus list: DE Nate Orchard
- Activated from practice squad virus list: G Zack Bailey
NFL COVID List Updates: 12/25-12/26/21
We’ve compiled a list of players who were placed on or activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list on Christmas and today. In some instances, players activated from the list remain on IR:
Atlanta Falcons
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DL Tyeler Davison
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Sammy Watkins
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: RB Justice Hill, QB Tyler Huntley
Buffalo Bills
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: T Dion Dawkins
Carolina Panthers
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DT Derrick Brown
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Rashaan Melvin, WR Brandon Zylstra
Cincinnati Bengals
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Chidobe Awuzie
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Wyatt Ray, NT D.J. Reader
Cleveland Browns
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: T Alex Taylor
Green Bay Packers
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: CB Shemar Jean-Charles, CB Kevin King
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: LB La’Darius Hamilton
Houston Texans
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Terrence Brooks, LB Christian Kirksey, DE Jacob Martin, C Justin McCray, DB Terrance Mitchell
Indianapolis Colts
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Darius Leonard, WR Zach Pascal, DB Khari Willis
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Jordan Smith, LB Myles Jack
Kansas City Chiefs
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Nick Bolton, WR Tyreek Hill, TE Travis Kelce, T Lucas Niang
Las Vegas Raiders
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Nate Hobbs
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Bryan Edwards, QB Marcus Mariota
Los Angeles Chargers
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Mike Williams, RB Austin Ekeler
Los Angeles Rams
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: T Andrew Whitworth
Miami Dolphins
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: G Solomon Kindley, WR Albert Wilson
Minnesota Vikings
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: QB Sean Mannion, T Rashod Hill
New England Patriots
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Kendrick Bourne
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Deatrich Wise
New Orleans Saints
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Carl Granderson, WR Deonte Harris, T Jerald Hawkins, DB KeiVarae Russell, DL Malcolm Roach
New York Giants
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Cam Brown
- Activated from practice squad/COVID-19 list: DB Natrell Jamerson
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: NT Danny Shelton, T Nate Solder
New York Jets
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DL Quinnen Williams
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: DE Jabari Zuniga
Philadelphia Eagles
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Shaun Bradley
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Placed on practice squad/COVID-19 list: WR Steven Sims
Seattle Seahawks
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Kerry Hyder
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Blessuan Austin
Tennessee Titans
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: G Nate Davis
Washington Football Team
- Activated from practice squad/COVID-19 list: RB Wendell Smallwood, K Joey Slye
Patriots To Re-Sign Deatrich Wise
The Patriots have been the most aggressive team in the league so far, signing free agents left and right, and now they’re bringing back one of their own. New England has agreed to terms on a new deal to bring back defensive lineman Deatrich Wise, a source told Mike Reiss of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
A fourth-round pick out of Arkansas back in 2017, Wise just wrapped up his initial rookie contract. He’s been a consistent role player during his four years in New England, starting at least three games each season but never more than seven. He had five sacks as a rookie and then 4.5 as a sophomore.
He started seven games this past year and appeared in all 16, playing around 55 percent of the defensive snaps. He finished with only 2.5 sacks this time as the Patriots’ pass-rush struggled as a whole.
The team has been making moves to upgrade the defensive front by adding defensive tackle Davon Godchaux and pass-rusher Matt Judon, but they clearly didn’t feel like that made Wise expendable.
Patriots Notes: Thomas, Michel, Gronk, Wynn
Demaryius Thomas is not a lock to make the Patriots’ 53-man roster and may well begin the season on the reserve/PUP list. The Patriots started that process Sunday by placing the Pro Bowl wide receiver on their active/PUP list, which applies to players not healthy enough to begin participating in training camp. The Pats used the same designation for Sony Michel, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. Michel will certainly be part of the 2019 Patriots and is recovering from offseason knee surgery. Thomas tore an Achilles in December, joining longtime receiver teammate Emmanuel Sanders in that regard. The latter, however, is further along in his recovery, having not started Broncos camp on the PUP list.
Here is the latest out of New England:
- Patriots third-round pick Yodny Cajuste underwent quadriceps surgery before the draft and landed on the defending Super Bowl champions’ reserve/NFI list, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com tweets. As is the case with the active/PUP list, players can come off this list at any point during camp. Cajuste figures to mix in as a swing option for the Patriots as a rookie.
- If Rob Gronkowski does follow through on a comeback, might the Patriots be wise to assure him blocking responsibilities will be limited? While the future Hall of Famer was a plus blocker for his position, Jim McBride of the Boston Globe suggests the Pats use Gronk as a hybrid-type player that does not have the same kind of in-line role he previously held. The 30-year-old icon has slimmed down this offseason, one that has reportedly not featured much in the way of strength work.
- Deatrich Wise and Nate Ebner will join Thomas and Michel on the Pats’ active/PUP list, Reiss tweets. A third-year defensive end, Wise has not missed a game in two seasons.
- Isaiah Wynn, however, will not appear on the Pats’ active/PUP list, Reiss adds (via Twitter). The 2018 first-round pick missed all of his rookie season due to a torn Achilles’ tendon. Suffering the injury before last season began, Wynn is expected to suit up when the Patriots convene for their 2019 camp and line up as New England’s starting left tackle.
- The Pats do not appear to have an open spot at quarterback, with Reiss noting Brian Hoyer will stick as Tom Brady‘s top backup and rookie Jarrett Stidham is likely assured of a roster spot as the team’s latest developmental QB project. This puts 2018 seventh-round pick Danny Etling on the verge of again falling short of a spot on the team’s active roster. But he may have an outside shot as a Taysom Hill-like role, per Reiss. While the Purdue and LSU alum never rushed for more than 200 yards in a season in college, Reiss points to his 86-yard touchdown run during 2018 preseason play as a sign this outside-the-box notion could work. The Patriots probably aren’t too eager to take Brady off the field, however.
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/18/17
The latest draft signings from around the NFL:
- The Bills have signed second-round wide receiver Zay Jones, who’s the fourth of their six draft picks to ink his rookie deal. Jones caught an FBS-record 399 passes, including a ridiculous 158 last season, in four years at East Carolina. That production helped lead the Bills to trade up for Jones, who should be the wideout-needy club’s No. 2 WR after Sammy Watkins in 2017. Jones is now dealing with a knee injury, according to ESPN’s Mike Rodak, though it doesn’t seem particularly serious.
- The Ravens have signed third-round linebacker Tim Williams (per Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun), meaning they now have their entire seven-player draft class under contract. Williams, the 78th overall pick, is coming off back-to-back seasons with at least nine sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss at Alabama. The Ravens’ hope is that both Williams and second-rounder Tyus Bowser will beef up a pass rush that finished just 24th in the league in sacks last season.
- The Cardinals have announced the signing of third-round receiver Chad Williams, a former Grambling State standout. The 6-foot-1, 204-pound Williams went 98th overall to Arizona, whose non-Larry Fitzgerald receivers didn’t offer much production in 2016. Moreover, the 2017 campaign could be Fitzgerald’s last, while John Brown will be a free agent next offseason. Therefore, it was imperative for the Cardinals to invest a relatively high pick in a wideout.
- The Browns have inked third-round defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi, per a team announcement. Ogunjobi, who went 65th overall after a strong career at UNC-Charlotte, might start immediately in Cleveland alongside fellow D-tackle Danny Shelton.
- The Patriots have signed former Arkansas defensive lineman Deatrich Wise, a fourth-rounder who was the 131st overall selection. Wise underwhelmed as a senior with the Razorbacks last season, when he posted 3.5 sacks after totaling eight in 2015, notes Lance Zierlein of NFL.com. However, the 6-5, 274-pounder possesses “rare physical attributes,” Zierlein writes.
- The Colts have announced the signing of fourth-round defensive tackle Grover Stewart. Formerly with Albany State, Stewart went to Indianapolis with pick No. 144. He has the makings of a developmental project, according to Zierlein.
- Jets fifth-round tight end Jordan Leggett, the 150th selection, is now under contract. Leggett racked up a combined 86 catches and 15 touchdowns over his final two seasons at Clemson. Given both the Jets’ woeful tight end production last year and their lack of offseason upgrades at the position, Leggett could be in line to make an impact as a rookie.