Minor NFL Transactions: 11/18/25
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves from around the NFL:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed off Titans’ practice squad: CB Sam Webb
- Placed on IR: CB Dom Jones
- Waived: WR Kaden Davis
Dallas Cowboys
- Activated from IR: DT Perrion Winfrey
- Waived: LB Damone Clark
Las Vegas Raiders
- Waived: S Chris Smith
Tennessee Titans
- Placed on IR: WR Calvin Ridley (story)
- Signed from practice squad: WR James Proche
Washington Commanders
- Waived: WR Jacoby Jones
After winning the Senior Bowl MVP in 2022, Winfrey entered the NFL as a fifth-round pick of the Browns a few months later. He totaled 22 tackles and a half-sack in 13 games as a rookie. That proved to be Winfrey’s lone season in Cleveland, which waived him a few months after a misdemeanor assault charge in 2023.
Winfrey played in one game with the Jets in his second season before a stint with the UFL’s Birmingham Stallions last year. The 290-pounder earned All-UFL honors, leading the Cowboys to sign him in June, but a back injury forced him to IR in early September. Now that they’ve brought Winfrey back, the Cowboys have just three activations remaining.
Winfrey’s return comes at the expense of Clark, a Cowboy since they took him in the fifth round in 2022. The former LSU Tiger was a 17-game starter who racked up 109 tackles in 2023, but his playing time drastically fell off after that. While Clark appeared in eight of Dallas’ games this year and made two starts, 138 of his 217 snaps came on special teams.
The Cowboys swung a trade with the Bengals for linebacker Logan Wilson earlier this month and recently welcomed back fellow LB DeMarvion Overshown from injury. With those in-season reinforcements in the fold, the Cowboys deemed Clark expendable.
Nikhil Mehta contributed to this article.
Raiders’ Pete Carroll Backs QB Geno Smith
After they finished 4-13 in 2024, the Raiders entered this season hoping the new head coach-quarterback tandem of Pete Carroll and Geno Smith would produce far better results. While the two previously had success in Seattle, it hasn’t transferred to Las Vegas. The Raiders are now 2-8 after dropping their fourth straight game – a 33-16 beating at the hands of the Cowboys – on Monday.
Smith posted his latest subpar stat line in Week 11, going 27 of 42 for 238 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. The 35-year-old has completed 66.3% of passes for 2,082 yards and more interceptions (13) than TDs (12) through 10 games. Smith owns an 80.9 passer rating, a far cry from his 95.9 mark in 54 games and 52 starts as a Seahawk, while his 32.6 QBR ranks 31st in the NFL.
Although Smith has performed more like the early career Jets version than the solid Seahawks starter, Carroll is standing behind the 12th-year man (via Ryan McFadden of ESPN).
“I continue to really believe in him,” Carroll said. “I have no hesitation in telling you that. He’s an incredible player, and he’s busting his tail [off]. …He’ll come through for us. We gotta help him out more.”
The Raiders took away some of Smith’s help when they shipped wide receiver Jakobi Meyers to the Jaguars before the Nov. 4 trade deadline. With Meyers gone, Smith’s only real weapons are the tight end duo of Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer, receiver Tre Tucker, and running back Ashton Jeanty.
The Cowboys erased Jeanty as a rushing threat on Monday, which made it all the more difficult for Smith. Jeanty, the sixth overall pick in last spring’s draft, managed a microscopic seven yards on six carries. Smith doubled Jeanty’s output with a team-high 14 yards.
While the Raiders’ Smith-led offense ranks 30th in the league in both yards per game and scoring, a poor line has been a key contributor. The Raiders lost cornerstone left tackle Kolton Miller to a high ankle sprain in late September. Right guard Jackson Powers-Johnson suffered an ankle injury of his own in Week 10 and might not return this season. Miller and Powers-Johnson are missed on a line that surrendered four sacks on Monday. Having allowed 31 sacks this season, the Raiders rank 25th in the league.
The Raiders could have more difficulty blocking for Smith this Sunday against the Browns, who have piled up the NFL’s fourth-most sacks. Superstar Myles Garrett, coming off a four-sack showing in a loss to the Ravens last week, has amassed a league-high 15.
Smith could spend a good portion of Week 12 trying to evade Garrett, but he’ll attempt to bounce back and justify Carroll’s public vote of confidence. In the event Carroll eventually makes a change, Kenny Pickett, Aidan O’Connell, and Cam Miller represent the team’s other in-house signal-callers.
Pickett has disappointed and spent time with a total of four teams since the Steelers selected him 20th overall in the 2022 draft. The Raiders traded a 2025 third-rounder for Smith last offseason because O’Connell failed to establish himself as a capable starter from 2023-24. O’Connell has been on IR all season with a fractured wrist. The Raiders opened his 21-day practice window on Oct. 29, meaning they’re running out of time to activate him. Miller, a sixth-round rookie from North Dakota State, is on the practice squad.
Regardless of whether Smith finishes 2025 as the Raiders’ starter, they’ll have a decision to make on him in the offseason. The Raiders signed Smith to a two-year, $75MM extension when they acquired him, but they’ve already paid most of that. Moving on after the season would leave the Raiders with his fully guaranteed 2026 salary of $18.5MM as dead money. Smith’s remaining $8MM in guarantees will vest early in the league year next March. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Raiders cut the cord before that happens.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/17/25
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived: LB Jared Bartlett
Cleveland Browns
- Signed off Texans’ practice squad: CB D’Angelo Ross
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Waived: S Kahlef Hailassie
Las Vegas Raiders
- Elevaed: G Atonio Mafi
New England Patriots
- Signed from practice squad: TE C.J. Dippre
- Waived: S John Saunders Jr.
New York Giants
- Waived: LB Tomon Fox
New York Jets
- Designated for return from IR: LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball
Marcelino McCrary-Ball landed on injured reserve after suffering a hamstring injury in Week 3. When he returns, the defense will look a whole lot different than when he last played, and he could be in line for more responsibility with Quincy Williams facing an uncertain future with the organization. Before suffering his injury, McCrary-Ball collected 17 tackles and one forced fumble.
Raiders Sign LB Jamin Davis To Active Roster, Add K Greg Joseph To Practice Squad
Jackson Powers-Johnson is in danger of missing the remainder of the season due to an ankle injury. At least a four-game absence is in store. 
As expected, Powers-Johnson has been moved to injured reserve. His spot on the active roster has been filled by means of a promotion rather than an outside addition. The Raiders announced on Tuesday that linebacker Jamin Davis has been signed from the practice squad.
Davis saw a heavy workload early and often during his time in Washington, topping 100 tackles and posting three sacks in 2022. The former first-rounder did not develop as hoped, however, and a position switch to defensive end did not stabilize his career. Davis was cut midway through the 2024 campaign, ending his Commanders tenure.
The Packers intially signed him to the practice squad, but it was with the Vikings that Davis made four appearances late in the season. The 26-year-old finished the campaign as a member of the Jets, but he did not survive roster cuts at the end of training camp this summer. Davis landed with the Raiders on their taxi squad roughly one month ago, and he will now look to remain on the active roster through the remainder of the season.
The Raiders also added a kicker to their taxi squad on Tuesday. Greg Joseph is in place to fill Davis’ practice squad spot. The 31-year-old has made 75 appearances while playing for six teams over the course of his career. Joseph has yet to play this season despite working out for a slew of suitors when they have found themselves in need of a kicker.
Daniel Carlson has appeared in every game for the Raiders this season. The All-Pro has operated as Vegas’ kicker and that is expected to continue barring any injuries. In the event Carlson does miss time, Joseph will be in place to serve as a replacement.
Raiders G Jackson Powers‑Johnson Could Miss Remainder Of Season
Jackson Powers-Johnson suffered an ankle injury during the Raiders’ Week 10 loss. After the game, head coach Pete Carroll indicated a lengthy absence could be in store. 
That has proven to be an accurate assessment. The second-year blocker is headed to injured reserve, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Powers-Johnson will miss at least the next four games as a result, although Rapoport adds he may not return this season.
That would deal a blow to Vegas’ offensive line the rest of the way. Powers-Johnson entered the league with high expectations and the second-round pick logged 14 starts as a rookie. In 2025, Powers-Johnson has started seven of his eight appearances while playing exclusively at right guard after spending time at all three interior spots last year. His development will be paused for a notable stretch even if a late-season return proves to be possible.
Powers-Johnson saw a large variance in his PFF evaluations from one game to the next this season. Improvement toward the end of the campaign would not have been enough to help the Raiders contend for a playoff spot, but it could have helped the 22-year-old cement his status as a guard starter for the future. Efforts on that front could now be delayed until 2026.
Veteran Alex Cappa – who was signed in free agency following his Bengals release – is an option to take over right guard duties moving forward. The same is also true of third-round rookie Caleb Rogers. The 2-7 Raiders will already be shorthanded on offense thanks to their decision to trade away Jakobi Meyers, and they will now proceed without a first-team figure up front as well.
Raiders QB Geno Smith Suffers Quad Contusion
Raiders quarterback Geno Smith suffered a quad contusion in Thursday night’s loss to the Broncos, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Smith was injured on a first-down scramble in the fourth quarter. Backup Kenny Pickett came in for two plays, but Smith emerged from the blue medical tent for the Raiders’ next offensive series. The injury is unlikely to keep the veteran quarterback out for long; the Raiders’ mini-bye before Week 11 could give him enough time to heal up.
However, Smith is having his worst season since taking over as the Seahawks’ starting quarterback in 2022. He has thrown only 11 touchdowns and a league-high 12 interceptions for a 81.4 passer rating, the fourth-lowest in the NFL. The Raiders offense as a whole ranks 30th in points and total offense.
Smith has struggled enough to raise questions abut the Raiders’ short- and long-term future at quarterback. Pickett seems unlikely to be an improvement, but 2023 fourth-round pick Aidan O’Connell has looked, at a minimum, competent in 17 starts across his first two seasons. He is 7-10 as a starter with an 85.1 career passer rating; he’s also under contract in 2026. He could take over for Smith this season and potential be a bridge quarterback next year if the Raiders do not acquire a new option this offseason.
Smith, meanwhile, signed a two-year, $75MM extension after he was traded to Las Vegas earlier this year. Currently, $18.5MM of his 2026 salary is fully guaranteed, and a guarantee on the remaining $8MM vests early in the 2026 league year, per OverTheCap. That gives the Raiders a brief window in March to move on from the 12-year veteran with only $18.5MM in dead money (as Smith did not receiving a signing bonus with his new deal). Las Vegas would have paid Smith $58.5MM for one season – minus any salary offsets if he signs elsewhere – but they would then be able to reset on the false start to the Pete Carroll era.
Raiders Fire ST Coordinator Tom McMahon
The Raiders have fired special teams coordinator Tom McMahon, per a team announcement.
Assistant special teams coach Derius Swinton II will take over the interim job. He previously was the special teams coordinator for the 49ers in 2016 and the Chargers in 2021.
McMahon arrived in Las Vegas in 2022 under new head coach Josh McDaniels. McDaniels was fired midway through his second season, but McMahon retained his job under Antonio Pierce. He also stayed on when Pete Carroll arrived in Las Vegas this offseason, but the Raiders’ special teams woes this season forced a change. Carroll and McMahon were seen exchanging words at the end of Thursday night’s loss to the Broncos, which included multiple special teams gaffes.
The Raiders’ 44.1 overall special teams grade from Pro Football Focus (subscription required) is the worst in the league, and their 35.2 net yards per punt ranks second-lowest, indicating poor punt coverage. The Raiders also have 24 missed tackles and 19 penalties on special teams this season, per PFF.
Las Vegas’ special teams units have also struggled in key moments. In Week 4, the Bears blocked a would-be game-winning field goal at the end of regulation, and in Week 9, the Raiders allowed a 54-yard kickoff that set up the Jaguars’ game-winning touchdown in overtime. This firing also comes after the Broncos blocked a punt deep in Raiders territory, giving the hosts a short field ahead of what turned into a game-winning field goal in a 10-7 victory.
McMahon, 56, began his coaching career at the college level in 1992 before jumping to the pros in 2007 as the Falcons’ assistant special teams coach. He was hired by the Rams as their special teams coordinator in 2009 and later held the same job for the Chiefs (2012), Colts (2013-2017) and Broncos (2018-2021).
Raiders G Jackson Powers-Johnson To Miss Time
Both of the Raiders’ guards suffered injuries during last night’s game. In the case of Jackson Powers-Johnson, at least, further missed time is in store.
The second-year blocker suffered an ankle injury during the second quarter of Vegas’ loss to Denver. Powers-Johnson was helped off the field and brought at first to the medical tent. Shortly thereafter, he was carted to the locker room and did not return.
“He hurt his ankle, legit,” head coach Pete Carroll said (via Pro Football Talk’s Michael David Smith). “I don’t want to go into any of the details but he hurt his ankle. He’ll be out for a while.”
Further testing will no doubt take place shortly, but based on those remarks Powers-Johnson should not be expected to return in the near future. The 2024 second-round pick saw time at all three interior O-line spots as a rookie after being drafted into the NFL as a center. Powers-Johnson has exclusively worked as a right guard this season, though. His PFF evaluations have fluctuated greatly from one week to the next while attempting to establish himself as a full-time option at that spot.
That process will now be paused as the Oregon product recovers. Powers-Johnson, 22, is attached to his rookie contract through 2027. That will leave plenty of time for him to continue competing for a first-team spot at center or guard upon returning to health. In the meantime, though, Vegas will be shorthanded up front.
Left guard Dylan Parham exited last Thursday’s game. He also suffered an ankle injury and was also unable to return to the contest. Alex Cappa filled in for Powers-Johnson after his departure, and he may be needed for in the starting lineup for the foreseeable future. A new plan will also be needed at the other guard spot until Parham is able to suit up again.
Poll: Who Fared Best At Trade Deadline?
The NFL’s latest trade deadline featured eight Tuesday trades, but a total of 22 in-season swaps occurred this year. Some teams made multiple trades; several others stood pat. Two of the biggest trades in deadline history went down this week.
While not quite on the Herschel Walker/Eric Dickerson level, the Sauce Gardner blockbuster rivaled the Rams’ Jalen Ramsey addition from 2019. Like the Ramsey exchange, the Gardner value brought two first-rounders and another asset (wide receiver Adonai Mitchell, in this case) for a 25-year-old All-Pro cornerback. Barely an hour later, the Jets followed through with a teardown by sending Quinnen Williams to the Cowboys for first- and second-round picks and defensive tackle Mazi Smith.
As we detailed Wednesday in the latest Trade Rumors Front Office post, the Jets’ perspective brought strong value for young players toiling on a downtrodden team. The three first-rounders plus the 2026 second will give New York’s new decision-makers a chance to retool while having assets to either find a quarterback in the draft or trade for a veteran. While it will be difficult to replace Gardner and Williams, the Jets’ Darren Mougey-Aaron Glenn regime made the decision to cash in their top assets to launch a true rebuild — one that suddenly features plenty of QB ammo.
From the Colts’ perspective, Gardner brings an accomplished starter at a young age. Indianapolis received a player signed through 2030, though New York’s contract structure on the July extension limited the Gardner dead money to $19.75MM — far less than the Dolphins just took on for Ramsey or what the Saints absorbed upon trading Marshon Lattimore last year.
The Colts, after building from within for years, now have three high-cost DB contracts added this year in the Gardner accord and those given to Charvarius Ward and Camryn Bynum. Tied for the best record in the AFC (at 7-2), the Colts made a move and watched the Patriots, Broncos, Bills and Chiefs hold off on buyer’s trades.
Dallas’ stance is a bit more complicated. The Cowboys went from trading Micah Parsons for two first-rounders ahead of his age-26 season to acquiring Williams, who will turn 28 in December. The team still has three first-round picks between 2026 and ’27, but sending the higher-value ’27 first to the Jets strips away a prime asset for a player not on Parsons’ level.
Jerry Jones harped on the team’s run defense upon acquiring Kenny Clark in the Parsons trade, but that unit has faceplanted this season. Williams joins Clark and Osa Odighizuwa in a suddenly pricey Dallas D-tackle corps, and the longtime Jet had angled for a contract rework — something the Cowboys may now have to navigate.
The Cowboys also added Logan Wilson, after trying to grab Quincy Williams from the Jets in a two-brother trade, but the younger Williams brother represents the obvious talking point here. Dallas’ interior D-line is well stocked. Will Quinnen Williams help transform a sub-.500 Cowboys team in the way Amari Cooper did after the team surrendered a first at the 2018 deadline?
Deadline day also brought two wide receiver moves. The two wideouts most likely to be traded were, in fact, dealt. The Jaguars gave up fourth- and sixth-round picks for the Raiders’ Jakobi Meyers, a deal that may have crystalized the Rashid Shaheed market. Shaheed cost the Seahawks fourth- and fifth-round choices.
Meyers will help the Jags replace Travis Hunter and provide some stability in a receiving corps also dealing with a Brian Thomas Jr. injury. Shaheed joins a surging Seattle squad, reuniting with 2024 New Orleans OC Klint Kubiak, and will be an interesting complementary piece for All-Pro candidate Jaxon Smith-Njigba. With Smith-Njigba, Shaheed, Cooper Kupp and rookie Tory Horton, the Seahawks look to have one of the NFL’s best receiving cadres.
Jacksonville also engaged in a cornerback swap, prying contract-year cover man Greg Newsome from the Browns in October. Newsome has started two games with the Jags and has incentive to perform well this season, as he is uncontracted for 2026. Tyson Campbell is signed through 2028, giving the Browns some cost certainty — albeit now carrying two upper-crust CB contracts, along with Denzel Ward‘s — at a premium position.
Cleveland did not aggressively sell, keeping its guards, David Njoku and other rumored trade assets, though they did do Joe Flacco a solid — to Mike Tomlin‘s chagrin — by trading the demoted QB within the division. Flacco immediately became the Bengals’ starter and has rejuvenated Cincy’s offense.
The Jags also collected fifth- and sixth-round picks from the deadline’s top buyer. The trade-happy Eagles finished their 2025 by making 12 trades (excluding pick-for-pick transactions). In-season, Philadelphia made four. Following the Bigsby move, the defending champs acquired cornerbacks Michael Carter II and Jaire Alexander during their bye week, before sending the Dolphins a third-rounder for Jaelan Phillips. Philly now has Brandon Graham and Phillips in an edge-rushing corps housing Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt. Carter and Alexander provide potentially better answers compared to Adoree’ Jackson and Kelee Ringo alongside Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean.
The Rams quietly bolstered their CB contingent by obtaining Titans contract-year slot player Roger McCreary, while Tennessee also sent Dre’Mont Jones to Baltimore. The Ravens added Jones and Alohi Gilman, the latter becoming an immediate starter and helping maximize All-Pro Kyle Hamilton. Jones, who has 4.5 sacks this season, replaces Odafe Oweh — traded to the Chargers in the Gilman swap — in Baltimore’s OLB rotation. A former 3-4 defensive end, Jones gives Baltimore some pass rush options after Gilman supplied them with a deep safety. Gilman is also in a contract year.
While the Dolphins did not dive into full sales mode, retaining Jaylen Waddle and Bradley Chubb, after parting with longtime GM Chris Grier, they did obtain a third-round pick for Phillips — who is in his fifth-year option season. The Chargers also added two more trades before the 3pm buzzer Tuesday, most notably adding Trevor Penning — a three-position starter for the Saints — for a late 2027 draft choice. A contract-year blocker, Penning will be an option for a battered Bolts’ tackle corps.
The Steelers’ long-rumored wide receiver quest did not lead to a deal, but the team did add veteran safety Kyle Dugger, who had fallen out of favor with the Patriots despite signing an eight-figure-per-year extension as a transition-tagged player in 2024.
Who do you think did the best job at this year’s deadline? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section.
Who fared best at the 2025 NFL trade deadline?
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New York Jets 42% (1,252)
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Philadelphia Eagles 15% (442)
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Indianapolis Colts 13% (391)
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Dallas Cowboys 10% (304)
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Seattle Seahawks 8% (237)
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Baltimore Ravens 2% (63)
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Another team (specify in comments) 2% (47)
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Las Vegas Raiders 1% (40)
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Pittsburgh Steelers 1% (31)
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Jacksonville Jaguars 1% (29)
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Cincinnati Bengals 1% (25)
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Los Angeles Chargers 1% (24)
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Cleveland Browns 1% (21)
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Los Angeles Rams 1% (21)
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New Orleans Saints 1% (19)
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Miami Dolphins 0% (14)
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Tennessee Titans 0% (11)
Total votes: 2,971
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/6/25
Here are Thursday’s minor transactions:
Chicago Bears
- Waived: LB Carl Jones Jr.
Denver Broncos
- Signed from practice squad: WR Michael Bandy
- Elevated: TE Marcedes Lewis, CB Reese Taylor
Houston Texans
- Waived: CB Alijah Huzzie
Las Vegas Raiders
- Activated from IR: S Lonnie Johnson
Miami Dolphins
- Waived: TE Tanner Conner
Philadelphia Eagles
- Designated for return from IR: G Willie Lampkin
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Waived: DE DeMarvin Leal
Leal, a third-round pick out of Texas A&M in 2022, has failed to live up to his draft stock thus far in the NFL. After only seeing game time in three games this year, he’s been waived to make room for the defensive tackle Pittsburgh signed off of the Chiefs’ practice squad yesterday.
Huzzie, after spending much of his rookie season on the reserve/non-football injury list, is being sent to waivers. Should he clear them, it’s expected that he’ll return to Houston on a practice squad deal.