Saints Trade DT Khalen Saunders To Jaguars For C Luke Fortner
The Saints are trading veteran defensive tackle Khalen Saunders to the Jaguars, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. The swap is now official.
In exchange, fourth-year center Luke Fortner will be heading to New Orleans, per Pelissero. Though they didn’t match up on the field, both players appeared in the Saints-Jaguars preseason game earlier on Sunday in what turned out to be auditions for their new teams.
Saunders, 29, started 27 games for the Saints over the last two seasons. He was not viewed as a good fit for the 3-4 scheme imported by new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, according to Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football and Jeff Duncan of NOLA.com. With plenty of defensive line depth in New Orleans, the six-year veteran was deemed surplus to requirements and sent to Jacksonville to shore up their depth in the trenches.
Saunders will join veteran starters DaVon Hamilton and Arik Armstead in the Jaguars’ defensive line room. He can add some veteran experience to a backup rotation that currently features young defensive tackles Jordan Jefferson, Maason Smith, and Tyler Lacy.
Fortner, originally a Jaguars third-round pick in 2022, will likely push for the Saints’ backup center job right away with Will Clapp sidelined for the season with a Lisfranc injury. The Saints have been evaluating their options behind Erik McCoy since Clapp went down; undrafted rookie Torricelli Simpkins got the start against the Jaguars with second year lineman Kyle Hergel handling the rest of the snaps. Neither did enough to lock down the backup job, as evidenced by Fortner’s arrival after the game.
Fortner, 25, started every game at center in his first two seasons but lost his spot to veteran signing Mitch Morse last year. Rather than go back to Fortner, the Jaguars opted to sign former Liam Coen Buccaneer charge Robert Hainsey in free agency. They also added Patrick Mekari, who is competing to start at right guard but has plenty of center experience from his time in Baltimore. Even if Mekari wins the right guard battle, he can still provide depth at center, as can seventh-round rookie Jonah Monheim.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/14/25
Here are Thursday’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Waived/injured: OL Tyrone Wheatley Jr.
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: DE Nelson Ceaser, TE Matt Sokol
- Released: DE Justin Hollins
- Waived: WR Jalen Virgil
Detroit Lions
- Signed: CB Allan George, OL Zack Johnson
- Placed on IR: CB Dicaprio Bootle, OL Keaton Sutherland
Houston Texans
- Released from IR via injury settlement: DL Marlon Davidson
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Activated from active/PUP list: DT Maason Smith
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: CB Harrison Hand
- Waived/injured: WR Dez Fitzpatrick
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DE Jeremiah Martin
- Waived: QB Hunter Dekkers
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: FB Wesley Steiner
- Waived: LB Michael Dowell
Tennessee Titans
- Released from IR via injury settlement: OL Chandler Brewer
G Brandon Scherff Retires
Brandon Scherff remains unsigned deep into free agency, and no late-summer deal will be forthcoming in his case. The Pro Bowl guard has retired. 
No announcements have been made on Scherff’s part with respect to a decision on his future. However, a summary of his induction into the Iowa Athletics Hall of Fame notes he “retired this summer.” The 33-year-old’s statement reflecting on his playing days confirms his career is over.
“It’s been something I could never dream of,” Scherff said of his NFL tenure. “Sometimes I would tell my wife that she has to pinch me, because I’m playing a kid’s game, and being able to do it as a job is pretty amazing. Now, having kids and being able to see them after games is absolutely wonderful. So I would say it’s a dream come true. And I will be forever grateful to have had that chance.”
The fifth overall pick of the 2015 draft, Scherff immediately took on starting duties with Washington. His run in the nation’s capital spanned seven years and included five Pro Bowl campaigns. Scherff’s only All-Pro nod came about in 2020. That year marked the first of two consecutive seasons where the franchise tag was in place.
Scherff departed on the open market in 2022, signing with the Jaguars on a $16.5MM-per-year pact. That accord was restructured last spring, allowing for a reduction in his cap charge for the 2024 season. Scherff again played all 17 games with Jacksonville, meaning he did not miss a contest across his tenure in Duval County.
Scherff’s time with the Jaguars included two seasons outside the top 20 in terms of PFF grade amongst guards. That marked a notable drop-off compared to his consistent high-end play with Washington. Any deal signed this summer would have checked in at a lower rate than his previous pacts, but Scherff still could have offered a new team with starting-caliber play along the interior. Instead, his attention will turn to his post-playing days.
In all, Scherff played in 144 combined regular and postseason games, starting all of them. He amassed roughly $110MM in career earnings.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/13/25
Today’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived: RB Marcus Major
Chicago Bears
- Reverted to IR: S Major Burns
Cleveland Browns
- Waived from IR: WR Luke Floriea
Green Bay Packers
- Claimed off waivers (from Raiders): WR Kawaan Baker
- Reverted to IR: CB Isaiah Dunn, RB Jalen White
Houston Texans
- Signed: TE Tre’ McKitty
- Placed on IR: TE Dalton Keene
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: LB Marcus Haynes
- Placed on IR: WR D.J. Montgomery
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: CB Keni-H Lovely
- Released from IR (injury settlement): CB Levi Wallace
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: CB Nehemiah Shelton
- Waived/injured: CB Jordan Oladokun
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: LB Cam Gill, LB Max Tooley
- Reverted to IR: C Zeke Correll
New England Patriots
- Reverted to IR: RB Deneric Prince
New Orleans Saints
- Placed on IR: WR Bub Means, TE Mason Pline
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: WR Malik Turner
- Placed on IR: DE Bradlee Anae, DE Demone Harris, LB William Bradley-King
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Reverted to reserve/PUP: QB Michael Pratt
Tennessee Titans
- Claimed off waivers (from Vikings): LB Brian Asamoah II
- Waived: LB Otis Reese
- Reverted to IR: LB Anfernee Orji
The Titans swapped linebackers today, replacing Otis Reese with Brian Asamoah II. The latter was waived by the Vikings yesterday, but he’ll quickly land on his feet in Tennessee. The former third-round pick spent three years in Minnesota, collecting 30 tackles in 46 games. 802 of his 990 snaps came on special teams. He’ll be taking the spot formerly held by Reese, who started five games for the Titans over the previous two seasons.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/9/25
Saturday’s minor moves around the NFL:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: CB M.J. Devonshire, RB Myles Gaskin
- Placed on IR: CB Bilhal Kone (story)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: DB Aydan White
- Placed on IR: CB Levi Wallace
Los Angeles Chargers
- Placed on IR: LT Rashawn Slater (story)
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn
- Waived: OL Zack Johnson
Gaskin worked out for Baltimore on Saturday, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports. The 28-year-old is far removed from his most productive days, which came with the Dolphins. Since the start of the 2022 season, Gaskin has handled just 13 carries. He will offer the Ravens depth in the backfield through their two remaining preseason games.
One week ago, the Jags signed Wallace in a move which allowed him to compete for a depth spot in their secondary. The 30-year-old has 96 appearances and 72 starts to his name, but an injury has quickly ended his chances of making Jacksonville’s roster. White was waived when Wallace arrived, so he will simply continue in his bid to earn a special teams role ahead of roster cutdowns later this month.
Travis Hunter To Play Both Ways During Jaguars’ Preseason Opener
A regular role on both sides of the ball has been planed in Travis Hunter‘s case throughout the offseason. He will make his Jaguars preseason debut this week, and time on offense and defense will be in store. 
Jags head coach Liam Coen said this morning (via NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe) the team’s starters will play on Saturday against the Steelers. That includes Hunter, who will spend time at receiver as well as cornerback. Given the manner in which the Heisman winner’s practice workload has taken shape during training camp, today’s announcement comes as little surprise.
Still, Jacksonville’s decision to give Hunter game reps on offense and defense is noteworthy as the team evaluates how best to use the No. 2 pick. During the spring, the team made it clear no firm number was in place regarding how many snaps at either position Hunter would play in any given game. The 22-year-old’s workload could change on a week-to-week basis depending on matchups but also his ability to withstand a two-way role at the NFL level.
Jacksonville’s first unofficial depth chart lists Hunter as a starter at the receiver spot alongside Brian Thomas Jr. and Dyami Brown. Meanwhile, the Colorado product is a backup behind Jourdan Lewis and Tyson Campbell at the cornerback position. Like all other teams, the Jaguars will of course spend plenty of time with three cornerbacks on the field, though, so Hunter should be able to see a notable workload on the boundary when defending. Lewis is set to handle slot duties, something which will make the Jags’ safety competition one to watch as the rest of the summer plays out while leaving a number of snaps available for Hunter.
The Steelers will rest a number of their starters on Saturday, per head coach Mike Tomlin. The opposite is true of their opponent, and Hunter in particular will be worth watching closely as he and the Jaguars continue working toward a plan for his regular season workload.
Jaguars DT Arik Armstead’s Week 1 Availability Unclear
The 2025 season will see Arik Armstead return to his familiar defensive tackle spot after his trial phase along the edge with the Jaguars last year. It remains to be seen, however, if he will be on the field for Week 1. 
Armstead has been dealing with a back injury throughout training camp. The 31-year-old managed to take part in individual drills for Jacksonville’s first eight summer practices, but he has been sidelined for the past three practices altogether. Head coach Liam Coen indicated (via ESPN’s Michael DiRocco) the team took a cautious approach with Armstead early in camp but added it is uncertain if he will suit up at the start of the regular season.
“He’s a veteran who, ultimately, he’ll probably know how to get himself ready to go, I would hope,” Coen said. “The key is just making sure that he’s healthy and ready to go for the first game. It’s a long season as we know. Now not to say that early [games] aren’t obviously as important as late ones, but it is a long season, and we’re really just trying to get him to be as healthy as possible.”
After seeing his nine-year 49ers tenure end last spring, Armstead inked a three-year, $43.5MM contract with the Jags. A rotational role along the edge resulted in a snap share of only 48%, the lowest of his career since his rookie campaign. The former first-round pick will look to take on a larger workload at the defensive tackle spot alongside DaVon Hamilton this season. Jacksonville ranked ninth against the run in 2024, and Armstead will be a key factor in determining if the team can remain strong in that regard while also aiming to provide a pass rush presence from along the interior.
None of the Oregon product’s base pay for 2026 is guaranteed. As a result, Armstead’s performance this season will be critical in shaping his financial future. Barring a positive turn with respect to his health situation, though, Armstead could be in danger of missing time in September.
DB Rumors: Savage, Jaguars, Horn, Steelers, Sutton, Lions, Texans, Patriots
The Jaguars‘ Jourdan Lewis signing covers their slot cornerback position, moving Darnell Savage into a pure safety role. Savage had split time between the slot and traditional safety responsibilities last season, but Lewis’ arrival narrows the former first-rounder’s path to playing time. Savage is not a lock to start alongside FA pickup Eric Murray, however, with ESPN.com’s Michael DiRocco indicating veterans Andrew Wingard and Antonio Johnson are competing for the other Jags safety spot. Wingard appears a slight favorite entering the preseason slate, per DiRocco.
Moving to a backup role would be a blow for Savage, who is tied to a three-year, $21.75MM deal. While the Trent Baalke-Doug Pederson regime authorized that contract, it would cost the Jags more than $10MM to cut Savage and more than $8MM to trade him. Both scenarios defray money to 2026, as we are well past June 1, so the 2025 cap hit would be manageable in each case. But this will be a position battle to watch. Wingard’s six Jags seasons make him the team’s second-longest-tenured player, behind only punter Logan Cooke, but while he has been a part-timer (28 starts), Savage has logged 82 starts between his time in Green Bay and Jacksonville. That said, DiRocco adds Wingard had beaten out Johnson — a 2023 fifth-rounder who has now made 11 career starts — for a gig alongside the since-departed Andre Cisco last year. A preseason knee injury scuttled that plan.
Here is the latest from NFL secondaries:
- The Panthers saw a car accident alter their quarterback plan last year. The minor injuries Andy Dalton sustained in a wreck near the stadium moved Bryce Young back into the starting lineup. Carolina looks to have dodged a bullet in another car-accident storyline, as Jaycee Horn is believed (via ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter) to have sustained minor maladies in a crash Wednesday morning. Horn confirmed as much (on Twitter). Injuries have hounded Horn throughout his career, but the Panthers gave the 2024 Pro Bowler a $25MM-per-year extension.
- Rock Ya-Sin‘s veteran-minimum Lions contract (one year, $1.17MM) now includes a position switch. The defending NFC North champs are trying the journeyman cornerback at safety, Lions.com’s Tim Twentyman notes. New safeties coach Jim O’Neil had told Ya-Sin to prepare for some safety work in camp; Ya-Sin had not played safety since high school. The Lions are deep at corner, housing Avonte Maddox and Ennis Rakestraw as backups behind a Terrion Arnold–D.J. Reed–Amik Robertson top three. Ya-Sin may now be vying for a spot behind standout safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch.
- Former Lions CB starter Cameron Sutton received his walking papers after a spring 2024 arrest produced a domestic battery by strangulation charge. His case has since been dismissed, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes. The Lions cut bait on a three-year, $33MM deal, leading Sutton to the Steelers. The NFL handed him an eight-game suspension last season. Sutton, 30, is a free agent after starting two Steelers games last season.
- The Steelers checked in on C.J. Henderson via a Tuesday workout (per Wilson). A former top-10 Jaguars pick, Henderson auditioned for the Falcons last week. The Steelers, who rostered Henderson for part of last season, signed another CB from that workout (Daryl Porter Jr.). After 22 Panthers starts from 2021-23, Henderson landed on the Steelers’ IR in November, not playing a 2024 snap.
- Jalen Mills joins Sutton and Henderson in being unsigned; the Eagles, Patriots and Jets regular completed a Texans workout Tuesday, Wilson adds. Mills, 31, made eight starts with the Jets last season, running his career total — split between safety and corner — to 91.
- A sixth-round Seahawks pick in 2024, DJ James spent most of last season on the Patriots‘ practice squad. While James has yet to play a regular-season snap, the Boston Herald’s Doug Kyed expects him to make the Pats’ 53-man roster. With Carlton Davis and Christian Gonzalez being held out of team drills, James has worked alongside Alex Austin as first-teamers filling in. James failed to make Seattle’s 53-man roster last August.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/4/25
NFL teams are continuing to adjust their rosters to weather injuries and add depth with preseason games kicking off later this week. Here are the latest minor moves from around the league:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: OL Dan Feeney
- Waived: DE Kameron Cline, OL Rush Reimer
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: TE Mitch Van Vooren, RB Trayveon Williams
- Waived: OT Julian Pearl
Detroit Lions
- Signed: CB Luq Barcoo, CB D.J. Miller
- Waived/injured: RB Kye Robichaux
- Placed on IR: S Dan Jackson
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: CB Corey Ballentine
- Released: CB Gregory Junior
Houston Texans
- Activated from active/PUP list: RB Dameon Pierce
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: OL Tremayne Anchrum, DL Austin Johnson
- Waived: WR J.J. Jones
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: DL Nesta Jade Silvera
- Waived/injured: DL Josh Fuga
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: TE Chris Myarick
- Placed on IR: TE Jalin Conyers
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: TE Nick Vannett
- Waived: OT Marcellus Johnson
New England Patriots
- Activated from active/PUP list: OL Vederian Lowe
New York Giants
- Signed: LB K.J. Cloyd, RB Jonathan Ward
- Waived/injured: RB Rushawn Baker
- Placed on IR: LB Ty Summers
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: LB Michael Dowell, LS Zach Triner
- Placed on IR: S AJ Finley
- Waived: LB Seth Coleman
The Lions’ additions were likely a result of a shoulder injury to second-year cornerback Ennis Rakestraw. Head coach Dan Campbell said (via team writer Tim Twentyman) that “it’s going to be a while, at best” until Rakestraw returns to the field.
Ballentine returns to Green Bay, where he spent the last three seasons, after a brief stint in Indianapolis this offseason. He started six games and played 488 snaps for the Packers in 2023, but primarily contributed on special teams in 2022 and 2024.
The Giants are dealing with a number of injuries in their running back room, per The Athletic’s Dan Duggan. Only Tyrone Tracy, Devin Singletary, and Darius Miller are healthy, and the first two may not play much in the preseason. New York worked out a number of running backs on Monday, including Myles Gaskin and Isaiah Spiller (via KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson), but Ward impressed enough to join the squad moving forward.
Finley went down with a knee injury at training camp that is believed to be serious, pending additional tests, per ESPN’s Brady Henderson. Triner, meanwhile, will fill in for Seahawks third-year long snapper Chris Stoll, who is dealing with a back issue, according to Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times.
Jaguars OL Dennis Daley Retires
Early this morning, the Jaguars announced that they have placed offensive lineman Dennis Daley on the reserve/retired list. Not much information has followed the announcement, but it appears Daley is hanging up his cleats at only 28 years old. 
Daley came into the league as a sixth-round pick out of South Carolina in 2019. After injuries to the interior offensive line forced the team to move starting left tackle Daryl Williams inside to cover and Greg Little, the rookie second-round tackle called in to replace him, went down, as well, Daley stepped into the starting left tackle role for nine games of his rookie year.
After starting Year 2 injured, Daley made three starts (two at right guard, one at left tackle) in five game appearances before getting placed on injured reserve for the remainder of the year. His third year in Carolina saw him continue to shuffle around, starting nine of 15 game appearances at right guard, left guard, and left tackle.
In 2022, the Panthers traded Daley and a seventh-round pick in 2024 to Tennessee in exchange for a 2024 fifth-round selection. When Titans left tackle Taylor Lewan went down on the first play of the team’s Week 2 matchup with a season-ending knee injury, Daley was inserted and started the remainder of the season as the Titans’ blindside blocker. Though the line helped running back Derrick Henry to finish second in rushing yards that year, Daley tied for the most sacks allowed in the NFL that season, and the line as a whole was considered one of the league’s worst.
In free agency, Daley signed a two-year, $3.2MM contract in Arizona. He ended up on IR just before the start of the regular season and only ended up playing in four contests with one start. The Cardinals released him in training camp last year, and he landed on the Jaguars’ practice squad. Ending the season with no game appearances, Daley signed a reserve/futures deal to spend the offseason with Jacksonville. In the end, he’ll never appear in a game with the Jaguars, now that he’s calling it a career.
In his short time with the NFL, Daley did more than a lot of sixth-round picks get to do. Starting 37 games in 54 appearances at multiple positions across the line, Daley made himself a reliable backup option despite a few major injuries of his own.