Jaguars Looking for DT Help; Latest On Brian Thomas Jr.
The Jaguars improved to 4-1 with a last-minute win over the Chiefs in Week 5, but they’ve since dropped two in a row, including a dreary showing in England against the Rams in Week 7. Still a game over .500 and now coming out of their bye, the Jaguars may buy before Tuesday’s trade deadline. They’re looking for help at defensive tackle, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports.
The Jaguars boast the NFL’s sixth-best run defense, but getting to the opposing quarterback has been a problem. They rank last in the league in sacks (eight) and 22nd in pass-rush win rate. While defensive tackle Arik Armstead leads the team with 3.5 sacks, no one else from the Jags’ interior has recorded one yet. Armstead, DaVon Hamilton, and Maason Smith have gotten the lion’s share of playing time in the middle.
When discussing Jacksonville’s D-line this week, head coach Liam Coen said: “How do we help them on early downs, create more of an edge, and get some favorable matchups? We’ve looked at in the known passing situations, where are we putting these guys and how can we put them in better positions to be successful and get more ops on the quarterback?”
The Jaguars may have an easier time Sunday against the Raiders, who have allowed 19 sacks to quarterback Geno Smith during a 2-5 start. A win over the Raiders could give first-year general manager James Gladstone more incentive to add to the team’s defense by Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Jaguars’ offense would experience a notable loss in the event of a Brian Thomas Jr. trade, which has always looked like a long shot. With Thomas off to a slow start this season, Gladstone has taken calls on the 2024 first-rounder and Offensive Rookie of the Year finalist. Plenty of interest has come in, according to Russini, though she adds that the Jags haven’t received any “substantial offers.” The belief around the league is that the Jaguars would want a first-rounder and more for the wide receiver, per Russini.
In the event a Thomas trade comes together, it would take away another important weapon in Jacksonville’s Trevor Lawrence-led passing game. The team placed rookie receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter on IR with a knee injury on Friday, setting up at least a four-game absence. The Jags will also continue to go without No. 1 tight end Brenton Strange, who has missed two games since going on IR with a quad/hip injury after Week 5.
Jaguars To Place WR/CB Travis Hunter On IR
Bigger plans appeared in the works for Travis Hunter following the Jaguars’ bye, but those are suddenly on hold. Liam Coen said (via ESPN.com’s Michael DiRocco) the two-way player will be placed on IR.
A knee injury sustained during Thursday practice will lead Hunter off the active roster, representing a blow to both the Jags’ offensive and defensive units. In a rookie season that has not seen the No. 2 overall pick justify his draft slot, Hunter will now need an unknown rehab timetable before attempting a belated resurgence. The team is still assessing the injury, Coen adds (via NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo). Hunter went down with a noncontact injury while playing defense, per DiRocco. It is a right knee injury, the Florida Times-Union’s Ryan O’Halloran adds.
While the extent of the injury is not known, the team quickly announcing an IR move is certainly not good news regarding the potential for a late-season comeback. The Jags were indeed planning on increasing Hunter’s role on offense, according to NFL.com’s Cameron Wolfe.
Through seven games, the Heisman winner caught 28 passes for 298 yards and one touchdown. The Jags had used him as a Brian Thomas Jr. complementary piece early, but the rookie has been unable to hit the ground running — albeit with a historically unique workload.
The Jags used Hunter on 67% of their offensive plays and 36% of their defensive snaps before the bye. While some teams viewed the Colorado standout as a better cornerback, the Jags were among those to see him more as an impact wide receiver. Team brass confirmed that upon trading up for him — in a deal that sent the Browns 2025 draft ammo and a 2026 first-round pick — but the rollout for the two-way phenom has been slow.
Hunter padded his numbers in garbage time of the Rams’ 35-7 win over the Jags in London; he finished south of 35 receiving yards in four of his first seven NFL games. Though, the 6-foot-2 rookie made an impressive deep grab in Jacksonville’s upset win over Kansas City in Week 5 and had been progressing in Coen’s offense. It will certainly be interesting to see how long of a return timetable — should a 2025 comeback be in play — will be in store here.
The Jags introduced Hunter to two-way practices at training camp, but he did not play much on defense in Week 1. The team began to expand his defensive workload beginning in Week 2. The Jags have primarily used Hunter as a boundary corner defensively, while roughly two-thirds of his snaps on offense have come as a slot receiver. Hunter will be unable to practice until being designated for return; the team will be unable to make that move until at least Week 13.
Thomas, Dyami Brown and Tim Patrick began the week practicing in a limited capacity; this trio will be expected to lead the way at receiver moving forward. The Jags still have receiving tight end Brenton Strange on IR. Hunter’s practice setback is also obviously a blow for Trevor Lawrence, who exits the Jags’ bye sitting 27th in QBR. Coen was brought in to revive the former No. 1 overall pick’s career, but the $55MM-per-year player has remained inconsistent this season. Lawrence will now need to make do without two key weapons on offense.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/31/25
Here are Friday’s only minor moves:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Activated from IR: DE Cedric Johnson
- Signed from practice squad: QB Sean Clifford
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Placed on IR: S Eric Murray
- Signed from practice squad: WR Austin Trammell
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Placed on IR: S DeShon Elliott, DL Daniel Ekuale (story)
With replacement starting quarterback Joe Flacco still questionable to play this weekend as he deals with an AC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder, Clifford makes his way to the active roster to serve as the team’s third, emergency passer behind Flacco and backup Jake Browning.
Jaguars Receiving Calls On WR Brian Thomas Jr.; No Deal Expected
Brian Thomas Jr. has not managed to duplicate the success of his rookie campaign in 2025. In spite of that, the second-year wideout has drawn trade interest recently.
The Jaguars have received calls about Thomas, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports (subscription required). The 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year finalist was not drafted by the current Liam Coen-James Gladstone regime, but as Russini notes it would still be considered a surprise if a trade were to receive genuine consideration on Jacksonville’s part. Coen confirmed as much on Monday.
The Jags have “no plans” of dealing away Thomas, Coen said (via Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union). That statement will not stop interested teams from continuing to make inquiries but Jacksonville’s focus will turn to other matters ahead of next Tuesday’s trade deadline. As Russini adds, the team is still in the market for an addition on defense.
Thomas posted a stellar 87-1,282-10 statline during his rookie campaign. Expectations were high for the former first-rounder entering 2025 as a result, but he has seen his production and efficiency take a notable step back so far. Thomas’ catch percentage sits just under 50% on the campaign, a striking regression compared to where it was in 2024 (65.4%). He will have ample opportunity to rebound while the Jaguars play out their post-bye schedule.
While Thomas will continue to operate as a starting receiver for the foreseeable future, the workload for Travis Hunter remains something to monitor. This year’s No. 2 pick has split his time on offense and defense as expected, handling a 67% snap share as a receiver and a 36% rate as a cornerback. Coen recently suggested Hunter could be in line for an uptick in offensive usage over the closing weeks of the campaign.
“We are going to play the best 11 [on each side of the ball] as much as humanly possible,” Coen said when asked about Hunter (via ESPN’s Michael DiRocco). “We’ve kind of gotten a sample size of everything, the totality of the first seven weeks of every position, but specifically with him. There was definitely some really good things [on Sunday], specifically on the offensive side of the ball.”
So far, Hunter has amassed 298 yards and one touchdown on 28 catches. Those totals could be in line to increase with a heavier usage rate on offense as the 4-3 Jaguars look to rebound from their two straight losses heading into the bye. In any case, Thomas can be expected to remain in place alongside him moving forward.
AFC Trade Notes: Patriots, Colts, Chiefs, Ravens, Jaguars
The Patriots improved to 5-2 on the season with their win this afternoon. As a result, New England could be one of the teams inclined to pursue trade additions over the coming days.
The Pats have already made one in-season swap, sending Ja’Lynn Polk to the Saints. That trade left the team thinner at the receiver spot, but an addition at that position does not appear to be forthcoming. During an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported New England should not be expected to pursue a receiver move compared to other positions (video link). Stefon Diggs, Kayshon Boutte and Demario Douglas have each played a role in quarterback Drake Maye‘s strong start to the season; it seems that depth chart will not change in the near future.
On the other hand, New England’s pass rush room could be different shortly. Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports (subscription required) the Patriots are making calls about an addition along the edge. With a league-leading $55MM in cap space, the team could certainly afford a splashy addition. Meanwhile, New England is receiving calls about a number of internal players, per Russini. Anfernee Jennings could be on the move, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network adds. The 28-year-old has lost his starting spot, so a change of scenery could be worked out allowing him to return to first-team action. Jennings – who would be an inexpensive target for interested teams – is under contract through 2026.
As the November 4 deadline approaches, here are some other trade notes from around the AFC:
- Injuries (along with Xavien Howard‘s retirement) have ravaged the Colts’ secondary in 2025. In spite of that, Indianapolis has managed to start the season 5-1. It would thus come as little surprise if the team operated as a buyer ahead of the deadline. Per Russini, cornerback is a position being targeted as part of the general aim of adding on defense. Finances could be a challenge since Indianapolis has just $4.7MM in cap space, but the team will be one to monitor regarding at least a modest acquisition.
- After a shutout win against Vegas, the Chiefs are 4-3. Kansas City has been named as one of the top suitors for a backfield addition, but it appears nothing is imminent on that front. Russini reports the Chiefs are making calls about a defensive line acquisition but not doing so for running backs. Most of the team’s incumbent backs are pending free agents, although the second half of the campaign could convince Kansas City to retain one or more of them. The Chiefs’ passing game has thrived this year, but they sit mid-pack in rushing production.
- Second-year Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr has drawn criticism for his unit’s poor play early on. Orr is safe in his current position, and he could soon have one or more new players in the fold. According to Rappoport, Baltimore is in the market for a defensive addition. General manager Eric DeCosta has a history of being aggressive on the trade front, and the Ravens have the cap space ($14.65MM) to swing at least a rental move ahead of the deadline.
- Both Rapoport and Russini point to the Jaguars as another team to watch. Jacksonville has made a pair of trades since the start of the campaign, and more could be coming. Defensive help is being sought out, and Rapoport specifies the D-line as an area which could be targeted. Sunday’s lopsided loss to the Rams dropped Jacksonville to 4-3; the team leads the NFL in interceptions but ranks just 22nd in scoring defense.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/18/25
Here are today’s minor moves and practice squad elevations as we head to the seventh Sunday of the regular season:
Arizona Cardinals
- Elevated: RB D’Ernest Johnson
Atlanta Falcons
- Activated from IR: DL Ta’Quon Graham
- Placed on IR: CB Clark Phillips
Chicago Bears
- Activated from IR: RB Travis Homer
- Elevated: DT Jonathan Ford, K Jake Moody
Green Bay Packers
- Activated from IR: G Jacob Monk
- Elevated: DE Arron Mosby, RB Pierre Strong
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Elevated: LB Branson Combs
Las Vegas Raiders
- Elevated: WR Shedrick Jackson
Los Angeles Rams
- Elevated: RB Ronnie Rivers
Miami Dolphins
- Elevated: LB Quinton Bell, CB Kendall Sheffield
New England Patriots
- Elevated: CB Miles Battle, RB Terrell Jennings
New Orleans Saints
- Elevated: LB Nephi Sewell
New York Giants
- Activated from reserve/PUP list: OLB Victor Dimukeje
- Waived: DL Elijah Garcia
- Elevated: WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey, LB Zaire Barnes
New York Jets
- Activated from IR: LB Ja’Markis Weston
- Signed from practice squad: WR Isaiah Williams
- Elevated: CB Korie Black, LB Jackson Sirmon
- Waived: LB Mark Robinson
Philadelphia Eagles
- Elevated: TE E.J. Jenkins
San Francisco 49ers
- Released (with injury settlement): WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling
Tennessee Titans
- Elevated: LB Curtis Jacobs, WR Mason Kinsey
As injured reserve activations start to dominate the headlines, a couple teams are making minor additions off their injured lists. In Homer, the Bears are getting a veteran special teamer and some running back depth. Monk adds depth to Green Bay’s offensive line. And Weston will do the same for a linebacking corps in New York that has seen rookie fifth-round pick Francisco Mauigoa starting in place of an injured Quincy Williams.
Ford in Chicago, Sewell in New Orleans, and Jacobs in Tennessee are all being called up as standard gameday practice squad elevations for the third time this year. In order to appear in any more games after this weekend, their respective teams will need to sign them to the 53-man roster.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/15/25
Here are Wednesday’s practice squad transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: TE Pharaoh Brown, WR Bryson Green
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: LB Jimmy Ciarlo
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: T Thayer Munford
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: T Kilian Zierer
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: CB Jason Brownlee
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: WR Dalevon Campbell, CB Myles Purchase
- Released: C Josh Kaltenberger
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: TE Jaheim Bell, DE Titus Leo
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: T Isaac Alarcón
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: WR Tyler Scott
- Released: WR Tyrone Broden
Both Jacksonville and San Francisco had their practice squads filled up with 16 players apiece, but Zierer and Alarcón were both able to be added as players in the league’s International Player Pathway Program. Zierer is a German-born lineman, and Alarcón was born in Mexico.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/13/25
Here are the latest practice squad moves from around the NFL:
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: TE Jordan Akins
- Released: TE Qadir Ismail
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: CB Tariq Castro-Fields
- Released: CB Eli Ricks
San Francisco 49ers
- Released: OL Kilian Zierer
Jags DE Travon Walker To Return In Week 6
Jaguars defensive end Travon Walker missed Week 5 after undergoing surgery on his left wrist, but he will limit his absence to one game and play on Sunday against the Seahawks, per ESPN’s Michael DiRocco.
Walker was seen at practice sporting a hefty club (via NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe) and seems prepared to play without the full use of his left hand.
The former No. 1 overall pick from Georgia disappointed as a rookie with just three sacks and five tackles for loss, but he lived up to his draft status in 2023 and 2024 with 20.5 sacks and 23 tackles for loss. Walker carried that performance into the 2025 season with two sacks in his first four games before his wrist injury. News of surgery raised concerns about a long-term impact on Walker, but he quickly worked his way back to the field.
After back-to-back 17-game seasons, the durable Walker’s absence this past Monday against the Chiefs was his first since he sat out two contests as a rookie. Even though the Walker-less Jaguars failed to sack Patrick Mahomes, they pulled off a 31-28 home upset and improved to 4-1. Linebacker Devin Lloyd, whom the Jags took 27th overall in the same draft class as Walker, helped lead the way with a 99-yard interception return for a touchdown.
Walker’s comeback this week should help the Jaguars’ cause in a meeting with the Seahawks in Jacksonville. Seattle is averaging 29.2 points per game, good for fifth in the league, and ranks ninth in yardage gained. Sam Darnold has only taken six sacks in his first five games with the Seahawks, but perhaps Walker will add to that total.
Connor Byrne contributed to this post.
Jaguars Place TE Brenton Strange On IR
OCTOBER 10: Strange’s quad injury also affected his hip and includes a ligament tear, per FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz. He will not need surgery, but he is expected to miss at least five weeks. That would sideline Strange until Week 12 or beyond with the hopes of returning late in the season to help the Jaguars make the playoffs for just the second time in seven years.
OCTOBER 7: Following one of their biggest wins of the Trevor Lawrence era, the Jaguars will lose a key pass catcher for a while. They are placing Brenton Strange on IR, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets.
Strange suffered a quad injury, one NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo expects to keep him out for roughly a month. That would align with an IR-return timeline. The team’s top tight end has been a key part of its 4-1 start, making some contributions during its 31-28 win over Kansas City on Monday night. He caught his lone target for 22 yards before injuring his hip late in the first half.
The Jaguars gave Strange a vote of confidence upon releasing Evan Engram early this offseason. While Engram has battled injuries during an unremarkable start in Denver, Strange has fared well to start the season. Strange has 20 receptions for 204 yards, posting three games with at least 45 yards during the Jags’ surprising start.
As part of a Jaguars pass-catching group that features high-profile wide receivers Brian Thomas and Travis Hunter, Strange leads the team in receptions. He’s tied for second in targets (24) and yards. His 73.8 percent snap share easily paces all Jaguars tight ends. Johnny Mundt (34.5) and Hunter Long (23.4) are next in line, though they’ve combined for just nine catches and 58 yards. Quintin Morris has almost exclusively played on special teams.
The Jaguars will now have to go at least four games without their No. 1 tight end. With the Jaguars’ bye coming in Week 8, Strange won’t be eligible to return until a Week 11 meeting with the Chargers on Nov. 16. For now, they’ll go forward with Mundt, Long, and Morris as their options at the position.
Connor Byrne contributed to this post.