Minor NFL Transactions: 10/8/25
Today’s minor moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed from practice squad: CB Dom Jones
Detroit Lions
- Signed from practice squad: OL Dan Skipper
- Placed on IR: CB Khalil Dorsey
Indianapolis Colts
- Placed on IR: LB Joe Bachie
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: RB Cody Schrader
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed from practice squad: RB Kimani Vidal
San Francisco 49ers
- Designed for return from IR: DT Kevin Givens
Khalil Dorsey was recently nursing a wrist injury, and that issue will now sideline him for at least the next four games, as the cornerback landed on injured reserve today. After getting into the first four games of the season for the Lions, Dorsey didn’t see the field for Week 5. The majority of his playing time has come on special teams this season.
Kevin Givens is back at practice after landing on IR before the season even started. The defensive tackle has been working his way back from a pectoral injury that wiped out the first month of his 2025 campaign. According to ESPN’s Nick Wagoner, the defensive lineman will be evaluated throughout the week to determine his availability for Week 6. Givens is coming off a 2024 season where he compiled a career-high 3.5 sacks.
Lions CB Terrion Arnold To Return ‘Sooner Than Expected’
12:40 p.m.: Lions head coach Dan Campbell threw some lukewarm water on expectations for Arnold’s return after the latest injury news, per ESPN’s Eric Woodyard.
Campbell said that the second opinion on his young cornerback’s shoulder seems like a positive development, but is still uncertain about a precise timeline.
10:04 a.m.: Lions cornerback Terrion Arnold is expected to return “sooner than expected” from a shoulder injury that was originally thought to sideline him for a significant amount of time, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
There were even fears that Arnold could miss the rest of the season, but that is no longer a concern. The second-year corner sought a second opinion on his injury, which revealed that he would not need surgery, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. He could even return this month.
Arnold’s return will be important for a depleted Detroit secondary. He struggled to start the year and saw his snap share decrease in Week 4, but D.J. Reed‘s injury pressed him back into a more prominent role in the next game. Reed will be out for at least three more games while he is on injured reserve, and Ennis Rakestraw was declared out for the season during training camp. Depth cornerback Khalil Dorsey will also miss time with a wrist injury, per Justin Rogers of Detroit Football Network.
As a result, Arnold cannot get back on the field soon enough. Rock Ya-Sin will be one of Detroit’s starting cornerbacks moving forward, while Amik Robertson will likely play on the boundary in base formations and flip into the slot for nickel and dime packages. That will require another outside cornerback for those latter looks, but the Lions have no clear answer on their roster. Former Eagle Avonte Maddox has primarily lined up in the slot in his career and as a free safety this season. Veteran Tre Flowers is likely Detroit’s best option. He played in their last game and will likely be elevated or promoted from the practice squad for Week 6.
Saints To Sign CB Michael Davis
Michael Davis has found another gig. After no team signed the veteran cornerback following the expiration of his Commanders deal, two clubs showed interest this week.
The Saints are adding Davis, according to CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz. This is an active-roster deal, per NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo. Davis had agreed to join the Saints’ practice squad, but the Lions showed interest for what appears to be a P-squad deal. Instead, New Orleans offered a spot on its 53-man roster. That did the trick to add the experienced starter.
This will reunite Davis with Brandon Staley, the Saints’ DC hire. Staley coached Davis from 2021-23 with the Chargers. Davis parlayed his Los Angeles work into a one-year, $3.2MM Commanders pact. He is certainly better known for Bolts contributions, however, having signed a three-year, $25MM contract to stay with the team in 2021. That came during Staley’s first offseason as Chargers HC.
Washington did not see much from Davis last season, using him as a starter in only two games. Pro Football Focus graded the 6-foot-2 DB as one of the NFL’s worst cornerback regulars in 2024, and the Commanders made multiple investments at the position this offseason. Davis is now 30 but will be given another chance — albeit for a 1-4 team.
A Charger from 2017-23, Davis started 74 games with the team. He was a regular first-stringer from 2018-23, lining up in Staley’s defense during much of this span. PFF graded the Tom Teleseco-era UDFA well in 2022, slotting him 31st, but has viewed him as a below-average option since. Davis has played on the outside for most of his career, seeing only a fraction of his work in the slot.
The Saints played their Week 5 game without starter Isaac Yiadom. The two-time Saint is not on IR, but Davis will provide some depth and bring scheme familiarity. New Orleans also waived Velus Jones to clear a roster spot, ESPN.com’s Katherine Terrell tweets. A former Bears third-round draftee, Jones has primarily worked as a return man as a pro. Being tried at receiver and running back, Jones has been unable to stick around. Jones played in all five Saints games this season, working as the team’s primary kick returner.
While a Lions landing would have been more relevant in the grand scheme, game checks on the veteran minimum obviously dwarf P-squad salaries. Davis would have been insurance in Detroit as well, and the NFC North powerhouse could use help. The Lions are down D.J. Reed, Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw, with Reed and Rakestraw on IR, ahead of their Sunday-night clash with the Chiefs. Detroit still has Amik Robertson, Avonte Maddox and corner/safety Rock Ya-Sin on its active roster. Tre Flowers is one of three CBs on the Lions’ P-squad. It will be interesting to see if the Lions make another move at corner given their injury situation.
Lions CB Terrion Arnold To Miss Time
OCTOBER 7: Arnold’s injury could end his season, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports (video link). He adds additional opinions are being sought out at this point. More clarity could emerge soon in this case as a result.
OCTOBER 6: The Lions’ depth at the cornerback spot has taken another hit. Detroit is already without Ennis Rakestraw and D.J. Reed, and Terrion Arnold is now sidelined as well.
When speaking to the media on Monday, head coach Dan Campbell said Arnold will be out for “a while” due to a shoulder injury (video link). It is unclear at this point if the ailment will prove to be season-ending. In any case, losing Arnold for an extended period will deal a notable blow to Detroit’s’ secondary.
[RELATED: Lions Among Suitors For Tre Hawkins]
Rakestraw landed on injured reserve this summer, meaning his 2025 campaign was over before it started. Reed, meanwhile, was moved to IR last week as a result of a hamstring injury. Reed will miss at least the next three games. Even when he comes back, though, depth at the cornerback spot will be an issue provided Arnold’s absence lasts as long as the team fears it will.
The 2024 first-rounder logged over 900 snaps as a rookie, and he remained a starter on the perimeter to begin the current campaign. Arnold was in line to have his workload reduced, but the Reed injury made it difficult to keep him off the field. Now, both of the Lions’ projected boundary starters will be unavailable for the time being. Rakestraw’s absence will be acutely felt since he would have been a candidate to take on a notable role in the wake of these other injuries.
Nevertheless, the 4-1 Lions will be tasked with moving forward without several key players at the CB spot. Amik Robertson could find himself in a full-time role on the outside despite being best suited to the slot. Rock Ya-Sin, Tre Flowers and Avonte Maddox are also in the fold at this point; some or each of them could be in store for a notable uptick in workload through the remainder of the campaign.
The Lions entered Monday with over $26MM in cap space. Finances will therefore not be an issue if one or more cornerback additions are to be pursued in the near future.
CB Tre Hawkins Drawing Interest
Injuries limited Tre Hawkins to three games last season and left him off the Giants’ roster following training camp this summer. The free agent cornerback is unsigned at this point, but that could soon change. 
Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports Hawkins is making progress in his recovery from the hamstring injury he dealt with during training camp. The Giants ultimately waived him with an injury designation, ending his New York tenure but allowing Hawkins to sign with a new team after a specified period. According to Wilson, the list of Hawkins suitors consists of the 49ers, Ravens, Lions, Dolphins and Colts.
Cornerback represents an area of need to varying extents in the case of all five of those teams. Miami moved on from Kendall Fuller (through release) and Jalen Ramsey (through trade) this offseason. The CB spot remained a question through training camp and into the season, and a number of injuries have now piled up. As such, a Hawkins signing could result in immediate playing time.
That is also the case for teams like Indianapolis (with Xavien Howard recently being moved to the reserve/Retired list) and Detroit (with D.J. Reed currently residing on injured reserve). Baltimore’s defense includes several key missing contributors. That includes cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey and Chidobe Awuzie, both of whom were sidelined yesterday and could miss further game action.
San Francisco’s secondary has seen the likes of Deommodore Lenoir and Renardo Green handle full-time starting roles as expected. Depth is always sought out in the middle of the season, though, and with a 4-1 record the NFC West leaders represent a logical candidate to pursue multiple additions during the campaign. With nearly $24MM in cap space, the 49ers could certainly afford to take multiple fliers on free agents.
Hawkins, 25, saw part-time usage on defense and special teams during his rookie season. The former sixth-rounder saw his snap share increase to 40% the following year, but he was only available for 89 snaps. Given today’s update, a number of teams certainly see upside in this case in addition to an encouraging outlook on the health front. It will be interesting to see how many visits Hawkins makes over the coming days given his list of suitors.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/4/25
Here are Week 5’s minor moves and standard gameday practice squad elevations:
Baltimore Ravens
- Elevated: QB Tyler Huntley, DT C.J. Okoye
Buffalo Bills
- Signed from practice squad: LB Jimmy Ciarlo
- Elevated: DT Zion Logue, DT Phidarian Mathis
- Placed on IR: CB Dorian Strong
Cleveland Browns
Detroit Lions
- Elevated: T Devin Cochran, CB Tre Flowers
Houston Texans
- Elevated: CB Damon Arnette, S Jalen Mills
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed from practice squad: CB Chris Lammons
- Elevated: RB Ameer Abdullah, CB Mike Hilton
- Placed on IR: S Daniel Scott
Los Angeles Chargers
- Elevated: OLB Clelin Ferrell, RB Kimani Vidal
New York Giants
- Elevated: LB Neville Hewitt, K Jude McAtamney
New York Jets
- Signed from practice squad: LB Mykal Walker
- Elevated: S Dean Clark, RB Avery Williams
- Waived: WR Isaiah Williams
Seattle Seahawks
- Elevated: S Jerrick Reed II, DT Brandon Pili
Washington Commanders
- Elevated: WR Tay Martin
Huntley will be on hand to back up backup quarterback Cooper Rush in Baltimore tomorrow against the Texans. Okoye is called up for the second week in a row as injuries continue to hamper the Ravens’ defensive line, as well.
With some continuing injuries causing some concern in the secondary, the Browns will elevate Avery and Jones for the second straight week. Jones is being elevated for the third time this season, meaning that if Cleveland wants to see him in another game this year, the team will need to sign him to the active roster. The same is true for Logue in Buffalo, Hewitt with the Giants, Clark with the Jets, and Pili in Seattle.
Arnette’s promotion means Week 5 will mark his first regular season action in the NFL since the end of his Raiders tenure in 2021. The former first-round pick revived his career in part through his performances in the UFL this spring, something which created interest from multiple teams in free agency. Arnette, 29, will look to use tomorrow’s contest in a bid to land a permanent role in Houston.
This is the second time the Jets have parted ways with a kick returner following a game in which they had a costly fumble. Williams follows in footsteps of Xavier Gipson, who was waived following a similar mistake in the team’s season opener. There appears to be a pretty short leash for young returners in New York at the moment.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/1/25
Here are Wednesday’s practice squad transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: RB Jermar Jefferson
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: G LaDarius Henderson
Detroit Lions
- Signed: CB Nick Whiteside
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: T Bobby Hart
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: LB Caleb Johnson
New York Jets
- Signed: OLB Tomon Fox
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: OLB Antwaun Powell-Ryland
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: RB Myles Gaskin
Washington Commanders
- Signed: WR Robbie Chosen
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/1/25
Here are the first minor transactions of October:
Detroit Lions
- Signed from practice squad: S Loren Strickland, LB Ty Summers
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed from practice squad: S Trey Washington
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed from practice squad: T Foster Sarell
Miami Dolphins
- Placed on IR: WR Tyreek Hill (story)
Tennessee Titans
- Claimed off waivers (from Packers): T Brant Banks
Washington Commanders
- Signed from practice squad: CB Antonio Hamilton
- Placed on IR: DE Javontae Jean-Baptiste (story)
Lions Place D.J. Reed On IR
The Lions will have to go at least the next four games without starting cornerback D.J. Reed. The team placed Reed on injured reserve on Wednesday. While Reed will not require surgery on his strained hamstring (via Eric Woodyard of ESPN), he won’t be eligible to return until Nov. 9 against the Commanders.
Considering Reed was carted off the field in the Lions’ win over the Browns last Sunday, his IR placement doesn’t come as a surprise. Nevertheless, it’s an unwelcome development for Detroit, which added the former Seahawk, 49er, and Jet on a three-year, $48MM contract in free agency last March. Injury aside, the investment has looked good so far.
During his first four games as a Lion, Reed played over 88 percent of defensive snaps and helped the team to a 3-1 start. Along with leading all Lions corners in playing time, Reed posted 16 tackles, four passes defensed, an interception, and a fumble recovery. Pro Football Focus ranks his early season performance 28th among 164 qualifying corners.
Before Reed went down, the Lions had been set to reduce fellow outside corner Terrion Arnold‘s usage. Arnold then joined Reed in suffering an injury last week, though he was able to practice on a limited basis Wednesday despite a shoulder issue (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press). Arnold, Amik Robertson, Khalil Dorsey, and Rock Ya-Sin will now have to pick up the slack in Reed’s absence.
The Lions’ schedule over the next few weeks looks like a mixed bag. Their Reed-less secondary will take on Bengals backup quarterback Jake Browning on Sunday, but they’ll have to contend with the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes and the Buccaneers’ Baker Mayfield in the two weeks after that. After a bye, the Lions will face the division-rival Vikings and either J.J. McCarthy or Carson Wentz on Nov. 2.
Lions DT Alim McNeill Returns To Practice
Earlier this week, Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Alim McNeill was on track to return to practice. The fifth-year defensive tackle is indeed back on the field. 
McNeill returned to practice today, as noted by Justin Rogers of the Detroit Football Network. As a result, his 21-day activation window has now opened. McNeill was one of three Lions players moved to the reserve/PUP list during roster cutdowns, ensuring at least a four-week absence.
That decision came as little surprise since the 25-year-old was in the midst of rehabbing the ACL tear which ended his 2024 season. McNeill has made solid progress in recovery, though, and today’s news marks another encouraging update in this case. Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press writes it would come as a surprise if a return to game action were to take place this week, but McNeill could be available before the Lions’ Week 8 bye.
“We want to make sure that we check all those boxes before we say that’s what we’re going to do for sure, but it’s trending in the right way,” Campbell said (via Birkett) of McNeill shortly before today’s return to practice. “He’s about ready to go. I think he’s tired of training. He’s trained all he can train. He’s done everything he can do, he just needs football.”
Having McNeill back in the fold soon will be critical for Detroit’s defensive front. The former third-round pick has established himself as a key figure along the D-line, totaling 8.5 sacks over the past two years despite missing time in both campaigns. McNeill inked a four-year, $97MM extension shortly before tearing his ACL, a sign of his value to the franchise and also a clear indicator the Lions will look to play it safe regarding his return.
Detroit is without Levi Onwuzurike for the season after he suffered an ACL tear of his own in July. With the Lions already thin along the defensive interior as a result, McNeill being activated will provide them with a major boost in the form of a starter to share time with veteran D.J. Reader and first-round rookie Tyleik Williams. Provided McNiell does not suffer any setbacks, he should be in the fold shortly for a Lions team which has enjoyed a 3-1 start to the campaign.