Minor NFL Transactions: 10/22/25
Here are today’s midweek minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Opened practice window: T Storm Norton
Cincinnati Bengals
- Opened practice window: DE Cedric Johnson
Denver Broncos
- Signed from practice squad: QB Sam Ehlinger
Detroit Lions
- Placed on IR: LB Zach Cunningham
Houston Texans
- Designated to return from IR: CB Jaylin Smith
Miami Dolphins
- Designated to return from IR: CB Jason Marshall
New Orleans Saints
- Activated from IR: DT John Ridgeway
Philadelphia Eagles
- Designated to return from IR: CB Jakorian Bennett
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Designated to return from IR: QB Will Howard
- Waived (with injury settlement): T Gareth Warren
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed from practice squad: DE Robert Beal Jr.
- Designated to return from IR: OL Spencer Burford
- Released: DE Trevis Gipson
Seattle Seahawks
- Released: TE Eric Saubert
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed from practice squad: G Michael Jordan
- Placed on IR: WR Mike Evans (story)
While several players were designated to return from injured reserve today, Norton and Johnson’s designations took place back on 8/26, the roster cut deadline. The Texans are in danger of being without their top three receivers in Week 8. Tank Dell is already on IR, but Nico Collins and Christian Kirk’s statuses for the weekend are up in the air as Collins deals with a concussion and Kirk has been dealing with n hamstring injury.
Not that they’ve needed him, since Aaron Rodgers has looked a bit more effective than he was in his days with the Jets, but Howard is nearing a return to the roster for the remainder of his rookie season. It will be interesting to see where the sixth-rounder slots in on the depth chart as he adds another level of security behind the 41-year-old Rodgers.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/20/25
Today’s minor moves:
Detroit Lions
- Signed from practice squad: CB Arthur Maulet
- Elevated: CB Tre Flowers, S Loren Strickland
- Released: LB Ty Summers
Houston Texans
- Elevated: CB D’Angelo Ross
New England Patriots
- Claimed off waivers (from Chargers): LB Caleb Murphy
Seattle Seahawks
- Elevated: CB Shaquill Griffin, S Jerrick Reed II
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Elevated: G Mike Jordan, RB Owen Wright
It didn’t take long for Arthur Maulet to earn a full-time spot on the Lions active roster. The veteran cornerback just joined the organization earlier this month, and he already had one promotion in Week 6. He’ll likely continue seeing a rotational role in Detroit’s secondary moving forward, although his addition is partly due to absences from Terrion Arnold and D.J. Reed.
The Patriots snagged a linebacker from the Chargers today. Caleb Murphy has some familiarity with Mike Vrabel, as the former Titans coach added the linebacker as an undrafted free agent back in 2023. Murphy has gotten into 14 games in stints with the Titans and Chargers, compiling 17 tackles and 0.5 sacks.
Texans Activate Denico Autry, Jaylen Reed
Shortly before their 21-day activations windows closed, both Denico Autry and Jaylen Reed are back in the fold. Both defenders were activated by the Texans on Monday, per a team announcement. 
Autry was moved to the reserve/PUP list during roster cutdowns. Reed, meanwhile, was classified as injured reserve-designated for return at that time. In both cases, an absence of at least the first four games of the season was guaranteed. Both players returned to practice at the beginning of October, opening their three-week activation windows.
Most of that time has been used up, but the timing of today’s move ensures Autry and Reed will be in the fold moving forward. They are both on the active roster in time to play in tonight’s contest against the Seahawks. Houston already has the league’s No. 1 defense in terms of points allowed per game (12.2), and that unit will now have reinforcements.
Autry dealt with a lingering knee injury dating back to last season while preparing for the current campaign. Upon returning from suspension last year, the 35-year-old posted three sacks in 10 games. That marked a notable decline relative to his highly productive Titans stint prior to arriving in Houston. Still, the 12th-year veteran will offer solid depth to the pass rush tandem of Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr.
Reed was taken in the sixth round of April’s draft. He will look to provide depth at the safety spot, something which would be welcomed after the decision to move on from C.J. Gardner-Johnson during the season. A large special teams workload could await Reed during his rookie campaign. The Texans still have seven of their eight allotted IR activations for the season since designating Reed for return in August used one.
In a corresponding move, cornerback Zion Childress has been waived. The undrafted rookie made a pair of appearances with Dallas before signing to Houston’s active roster. That did not result in further playing time, though, and Childress will now hit the waiver wire.
NFL’s Rehearing Request In Brian Flores Suit Denied
The NFL is currently reeling in its active, high-profile legal battles. In a post on X earlier this month, Wigdor LLP – one of the firms representing Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores in his class-action suit against the league and six of its teams – said the NFL’s petition for a rehearing of a recent Second Circuit Court of Appeals decision in Flores’ favor was denied.
In August, a three-judge panel of the Second Circuit affirmed a lower court holding that Flores’ claims against the league and three teams – the Broncos, Giants, and Texans – were allowed to proceed to court rather than remain in arbitration. The appellate court reasoned that Flores never signed contracts containing mandatory arbitration language with those clubs (the basis for his claims against those three outfits is that they allegedly conducted sham head coaching interviews to comply with the Rooney Rule). As such, the Defendants could not force those particular claims to arbitration.
The NFL subsequently sought a rehearing before the Second Circuit’s full 13-judge panel, but as noted by Wigdor LLP, that attempt was unsuccessful. It is unclear whether the league will appeal to the United States Supreme Court, but even if it does, the odds of any party securing a review before the highest court in the nation are quite slim.
So for now, Flores – whose suit includes as co-Plaintiffs current Jets defensive coordinator Steve Wilks and former NFL staffer Ray Horton, who worked as a DC for three different clubs – will have the opportunity to air a portion of his claims in the forum of an open court instead of the sheltered, league-friendly arbitration setting. The motion he recently filed in a renewed effort to remove his and his co-Plaintiffs’ claims against the Dolphins, Cardinals, and Titans from arbitration to open court is still pending.
This decision comes on the heels of another failed arbitration-related attempt on the league’s part. The Nevada Supreme Court recently held that former Bucs and Raiders head coach Jon Gruden’s suit against the NFL could proceed to open court, and the league’s motion to have a rehearing of that ruling was also denied.
Given these recent developments, there soon may be some substantive movement in both matters. Gruden’s suit was filed in November 2021, and Flores filed his action just a few months later, in February 2022. As of yet, however, neither proceeding has moved to a trial on the merits of the disputes.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/16/25
Today’s minor moves:
Houston Texans
- Designed for return from active/NFI: CB Alijah Huzzie
Free Agency
- Suspended: DT Alex Williams
Free agent defensive tackle Alex Williams has been hit with a six-game suspension for an undisclosed violation of league rules, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston. The Ohio State product joined the Vikings as a UDFA this past offseason, but a fractured ankle landed him on season-ending IR. He was waived from injured reserve in September, allowing him to suit up elsewhere during the 2025 campaign, although those chances obviously took a significant blow today.
Bengals Contacted Several Teams On QBs; Cincinnati Considered Derek Carr
The Bengals went from throwing support behind Jake Browning to frantically seeking an outside upgrade. Joe Flacco became that option, being sent across Ohio early this week in a Day 3 pick-swap exchange.
Prior to landing on Flacco — a development that surprised the Browns — the Bengals looked into many reserve QBs around the league and one who recently wrapped his NFL career. In addition to calling the Eagles on Sam Howell and the Seahawks on Drew Lock, the Bengals contacted the Texans on Davis Mills, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport.
[RELATED: Flacco Hail Mary Comes At Key Point On Bengals’ Timeline]
A long-hesitant franchise regarding the acquisition of players via in-season trades, the Bengals also made a call on Derek Carr. Rapoport indicates the recently retired passer became part of Cincinnati’s search. Had this progressed, the team would have needed to make a deal with the Saints for Carr’s rights. Like they did with Sean Payton when he stepped away in 2022, the Saints hold Carr’s rights after his mid-offseason retirement.
Carr did not enter the offseason assured of retaining his starting job. Kellen Moore took over in New Orleans, leading to rumors about a QB change — even in the event Carr kept playing. Two years remained on his Saints contract. Carr was not open to a pay cut on the four-year, $150MM deal and remained in the Saints’ plans for several weeks between Moore’s arrival and the post-draft retirement decision. As of September, Carr has not slammed the door on returning. But with the Saints needing compensation, that introduced a wrinkle they may have kept the 11-year veteran in retirement.
This certainly would have presented an interesting opportunity for Carr, as the Bengals paid up to retain their high-end Ja’Marr Chase–Tee Higgins duo this offseason. Carr struggled to stay healthy in New Orleans, running into a few injuries. Most notably, a shoulder malady sustained in 2023 plagued him and ultimately led the ex-Raider to retirement. Should health circumstances improve, that could conceivably change the equation. Carr did gauge the trade market this offseason. But Carr is 34, limiting his window. During the summer, a report also indicated the former playoff starter is not likely to return to the league.
The Bengals made calls to teams with three quarterbacks and those with viable practice squad options, Rapoport adds. Mills obviously remains in the Texans‘ plans, having signed a one-year extension that moves his contract through 2026 in September. The Texans also rebuffed trade inquiries on Mills in 2023, keeping he and Case Keenum behind C.J. Stroud that season. A 2021 third-round pick, Mills has played his entire career in Houston. The team replaced him as their primary starter via the Stroud selection but still values him in the QB2 post.
Cincinnati did not inquire about Giants veterans, Kirk Cousins or Ryan Tannehill. In not making Tannehill part of their QB search, the Bengals wanted a player who had been active recently, Rapoport adds. Tannehill has not played since the 2023 season, when the Titans benched him for second-round rookie Will Levis. Tannehill had been connected to the Vikings early this offseason and later came up for the Raiders following Aidan O’Connell‘s injury, but the 37-year-old passer remains out of football.
Flacco, 40, will make a start despite being acquired Tuesday afternoon. The Bengals sent Flacco cutups on his flight from Cleveland, per Rapoport, as he was getting up to speed in Zac Taylor‘s offense by Tuesday night. With the Browns giving Flacco two weeks to prepare before his first start with the team in 2023, today’s shorter-notice Packers matchup presents a daunting assignment. For the foreseeable future, however, the Bengals will have Flacco at the controls.
Trade Candidate: Christian Harris
Through his first three seasons with the Texans, Christian Harris totaled 26 starts. Now a pending free agent, the linebacker’s role has declined sharply in 2025, leading to questions about his future. 
Harris handled over 700 defensive snaps during each of first two seasons in the league. He remained a full-time starter for the 2024 campaign but was limited to just five combined regular and postseason games that year due to a calf injury. The former third-rounder then dealt with an ankle injury during the offseason, but he managed to return to full health in time for training camp.
That resulted in Harris playing in each of Houston’s first four games. During that span, however, the Alabama product saw a snap share of just 13% on defense, a massive drop compared to his other seasons. Harris was a healthy scratch in Week 5. Given his status as a player seemingly not in the team’s immediate plans – coupled with the fact he is attached to the final year of his rookie contract – ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler names Harris as a trade candidate.
Per Fowler, Harris is held in high regard by other teams. That could result in a market being generated with respect to trade interest, especially since he is 24. Harris is attached to a base salary of $3.41MM for 2025; an acquiring team would need to take on a prorated portion of that figure to close out the campaign. Any team willing to trade for him now (as opposed to a free agent pursuit) would presumably look into an extension as well.
After making a notable impact as a rookie, Harris set career highs in tackles (101), sacks (two) and pass deflections (seven) in 2023. Returning to that level of performance would be key in helping his market value, but it appears as though that will not be possible down the stretch if the rest of Houston’s linebacking corps remains healthy. The Texans have Azeez Al-Shaair, Henry To’oTo’o and free agent addition E.J. Speed in place, with each having handled a larger workload than Harris this season. Al-Shaair is under contract for next year, while To’oTo’o will be eligible for an extension this coming spring.
If those two remain key parts in the Texans’ plans for the second level of their defense, moving on from Harris before the November 4 deadline could be a sensible move. Sitting at 2-3 on the year, Houston will presumably avoid a seller’s stance if the team can continue the momentum generated over the past two weeks. Still, Harris will be a player to watch regarding a change of scenery if he continues to serve in a limited capacity leading up to the deadline.
Traded Draft Picks For 2026
Many months remain before teams know where they are picking in the 2026 draft, but many clubs have made moves to acquire 2026 draft capital. Headlined by the Browns, Rams and Cowboys’ efforts, here are the 2026 picks to have changed hands thus far. When more deals involving picks are made (or conditions on moves already completed become known), that information will be added.
Round 1
- Browns hold Jaguars‘ first, after agreeing to move down from No. 2 to No. 5 in swap for WR/CB Travis Hunter
- Rams acquired Falcons‘ top pick, sliding down from No. 26 to 46 in deal that sent OLB James Pearce Jr. to Atlanta
- Cowboys obtained Packers‘ first in trade sending DE Micah Parsons to Green Bay
- Jets added Colts‘ first in trade for CB Sauce Gardner
Round 2
- Texans added Commanders‘ second, obtaining it in four-pick package that re-routed LT Laremy Tunsil to Washington
Round 3
- Eagles picked up Jets‘ third in March 2024 deal that sent OLB Haason Reddick to New York
- Serving as gateway on QB Jaxson Dart‘s New York path (at No. 25 overall), Texans acquired Giants‘ third
- Jaguars hold Lions‘ third due to Detroit climbing 32 spots (to No. 70) for WR Isaac TeSlaa
- Dolphins acquired third from Texans, who moved pick in package for No. 116 (RB Woody Marks)
- Trade for WR George Pickens sent Steelers Cowboys‘ third in deal involving three draft choices between 2026 and ’27
- Dolphins added Eagles third in trade for OLB Jaelan Phillips
Round 4
- October 2024 trade for LT Cam Robinson sent Jaguars conditional fourth-rounder from Vikings
- Chiefs added Bears‘ fourth in swap that sent G Joe Thuney to Chicago
- Patriots snagged selection from Chiefs in deal that gave Kansas City No. 85 (CB Nohl Williams)
- Tunsil trade also sent Texans fourth from Commanders
- Bears snared Rams‘ fourth in deal that gave Los Angeles No. 148 (DL Ty Hamilton)
- Broncos added Saints‘ fourth, sending WR Devaughn Vele to New Orleans
- Raiders obtained higher of Jaguars‘ two fourths in trade involving WR Jakobi Meyers
- Saints acquired Seahawks fourth in trade for WR Rashid Shaheed
Round 5
- August 2024 Ernest Jones trade — the first of the two swaps involving the LB last year — sent Rams pick from Titans
- Titans obtained Rams fifth in trade involving CB Roger McCreary
- In deal that sent G Kenyon Green to Eagles and S C.J. Gardner-Johnson to Texans, Philadelphia obtained Houston’s fifth
- Eagles acquired Falcons fifth by dealing No. 96 to Atlanta (S Xavier Watts)
- Ravens added Jets fifth by moving out of No. 176 (DE Tyler Baron)
- Titans obtained Ravens pick in trade for OLB Dre’Mont Jones
- Pick could upgrade to fourth-rounder
- Titans obtained Ravens pick in trade for OLB Dre’Mont Jones
- Trade for DE Bryce Huff positioned to send Eagles conditional fifth from 49ers
- Pick could upgrade to fourth-rounder based on performance
- Vikings acquired Eagles fifth in trade involving QB Sam Howell
- Browns collected Raiders fifth in trade involving QB Kenny Pickett
- Jaguars obtained Eagles conditional fifth in trade involving RB Tank Bigsby; pick could upgrade to fourth if 49ers DE Bryce Huff meets certain conditions in 2025
- Browns added Bengals fifth in trade for QB Joe Flacco
- Ravens collected Chargers fifth in trade involving OLB Odafe Oweh, S Alohi Gilman
- Shaheed trade sent Saints fifth from Seahawks
Round 6
- Trade involving DL John Franklin-Myers, agreed to on Day 3 of 2024 draft, sent Jets sixth from Broncos
- Vikings acquired Jets sixth in deal involving DL Harrison Phillips
- Eagles added Vikings sixth in trade for Sam Howell
- Ravens obtained Eagles sixth in trade involving CB Jaire Alexander
- Eagles added Vikings sixth in trade for Sam Howell
- Vikings acquired Jets sixth in deal involving DL Harrison Phillips
- Rams obtained pick from Texans in swap that sent WR Ben Skowronek to Houston
- Seahawks added sixth from Browns in deal that sent C Nick Harris back to Cleveland
- Jaguars added pick from Seahawks in October 2024 deal for DL Roy Robertson-Harris
- Intra-NFC East swap involving DT Jordan Phillips brought Giants sixth from Cowboys
- Phillips being on Cowboys’ gameday roster for two games finalized trade
- Intra-AFC East deal for CB Brandon Codrington, Jets received sixth from Bills
- Texans added sixth from Vikings in October 2024 RB Cam Akers swap
- Vikings reacquired choice from Texans in deal for G Ed Ingram
- Pick-swap deal centered around RB Jordan Mason sent sixth to 49ers
- Vikings reacquired choice from Texans in deal for G Ed Ingram
- October trade for DE Josh Uche sent Patriots sixth from Chiefs
- Deadline deal involving OLB Za’Darius Smith gave Browns sixth from Lions
- Bengals obtain Browns sixth in deal for QB Joe Flacco
- Trade involving Gardner-Johnson and Green sent Texans sixth from Eagles
- Lions obtained sixth from Jaguars in pick-swap deal for Isaac TeSlaa
- Trade-up move involving K Tyler Loop (at No. 186) sent Jets sixth from Ravens
- Giants acquired sixth from Dolphins in exchange for retired TE Darren Waller‘s rights
- Texans obtained sixth, TE Harrison Bryant from Eagles in exchange for WR John Metchie, 2025 fifth
- Browns added sixth from Jets, trading DT Jowon Briggs to New York
- Jaguars obtained sixth from Browns in trade involving CBs Tyson Campbell, Greg Newsome
- Raiders added Jaguars sixth in Jakobi Meyers swap
- Jaguars obtained sixth from Browns in trade involving CBs Tyson Campbell, Greg Newsome
- Commanders nabbed 49ers sixth in exchange for RB Brian Robinson
- Vikings collected Colts sixth in deal for CB Mekhi Blackmon
- Lions added Jaguars sixth in deal for WR Tim Patrick
- Tank Bigsby trade sent Jaguars sixth from Eagles
- Titans obtained Jets sixth in trade involving CB Jarvis Brownlee
- Rams added Titans sixth in trade involving CB Roger McCreary
- Patriots netted 49ers sixth in trade involving DE Keion White
- Patriots landed Steelers sixth in trade that sent S Kyle Dugger to Pittsburgh
- Browns acquired sixth from Bears in trade for DE Joe Tryon-Shoyinka
Round 7
- May 2023 trade gave Jaguars conditional seventh from Lions in exchange for K Riley Patterson
- Nick Harris trade sent Browns seventh from Seahawks
- Cowboys added seventh from Giants in Jordan Phillips trade
- Cowboys collected conditional seventh from Chiefs for Peyton Hendershot
- Brandon Codrington trade sent Bills seventh from Jets
- Titans obtained seventh from Chargers in exchange for DB Elijah Molden
- Browns–Bills‘ trade involving WR Amari Cooper sent Cleveland seventh
- Za’Darius Smith pick-swap trade brought Lions seventh from Browns
- Rams acquired seventh from Ravens in Tre’Davious White deadline deal
- Deadline deal involving DT Khalil Davis gave Texans seventh from 49ers
- Jaguars collected seventh from Texans — originally the Rams’ Ben Skowronek pick — in trade for WR Christian Kirk
- Patriots acquired seventh from Saints in deal involving DT Davon Godchaux
- Bills snagged seventh from Cowboys in exchange for CB Kaiir Elam
- In Jowon Briggs trade, Jets added seventh from Browns
- Vikings collected Jets seventh in deal sending DL Harrison Phillips to New York
- Jaguars snared seventh from Eagles in deal sending T Fred Johnson back to Philadelphia
- Browns obtained pick from Jaguars in Greg Newsome trade
- Bears pried pick from Browns in Joe Tryon-Shoyinka swap
- Browns obtained pick from Jaguars in Greg Newsome trade
- Jets added Titans seventh in Jarvis Brownlee trade
- 49ers collected Patriots seventh in pick-swap deal for Keion White
- Steelers acquired Patriots seventh in trade involving Kyle Dugger
- Bengals added seventh from Cowboys in trade involving LB Logan Wilson
Texans Sign Marlon Davidson To Practice Squad
Houston Texans
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.

