NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/6/26
While many teams are making major decisions on head coaches, those remaining in the playoffs are still tweaking their practice squads before the wild-card round this weekend. Here are the latest updates:
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: WR Julian Hicks, WR Kisean Johnson, TE Messiah Swinson
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: WR Luke Grimm
- Released: TE Tanner McLachlan
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: LB Ben Niemann
New England Patriots
- Signed: DT Jeremiah Pharms
- Released: CB Brandon Crossley
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: DB Parry Nickerson
- Released: DB Ambry Thomas
- Placed on practice squad/injured list: DB Brandon Johnson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Released: OT David Sharpe
Rams Activate S Quentin Lake From IR
The Rams are getting one of their top defenders back ahead of a first-round playoff matchup in Carolina on Saturday. The team has activated safety Quentin Lake from injured reserve.
The Rams went a month and a half without Lake, who dislocated his left elbow in a Week 11 win over the Seahawks and had to undergo surgery. Los Angeles improved to 8-2 that day and looked like a strong contender for the NFC’s No. 1 spot, but a 4-3 mark without Lake led to a fifth-place finish in the conference.
A sixth-round pick from UCLA in 2022, Lake became a full-time starter in 2024 and continued in that role this year before landing on IR. Lake picked up 61 tackles, a sack, a personal-best 10 passes defensed and the first interception of his career over 10 games in 2025. He was on the field for 100% of defensive snaps during that span. Lake mostly played in the slot, but he also logged 80-plus snaps in the box and at free safety, and lined up along the edge at times.
Recognizing the versatile Lake’s importance to their defense, the Rams locked him up to a multiyear deal on Jan. 1. Lake had been on track to reach free agency in March before inking a three-year, $42MM deal with $25.7MM in guarantees. Healthy again, he’ll have a chance to make an impact during the postseason.
To make room for Lake’s return, the Rams placed linebacker Shaun Dolac on IR with a knee injury, ending his season. The undrafted rookie from Buffalo appeared in all 17 regular-season games and totaled 25 tackles. Dolac played 258 of his 300 snaps on special teams.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/5/26
Today’s minor moves:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Extended: DE Isaiah Foskey, LB Joe Giles-Harris, TE Cam Grandy, LB Shaka Heyward, S PJ Jules, WR Mitchell Tinsley
Denver Broncos
- Signed from practice squad: QB Sam Ehlinger
- Waived: OT Geron Christian, TE Marcedes Lewis
Detroit Lions
- Extended: OL Michael Niese, RB Jacob Saylors, CB Nick Whiteside
Indianapolis Colts
- Extended: LB Austin Ajiake
- Claimed off waivers (from Buccaneers): LB John Bullock
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed from practice squad: DE Larrell Murchison
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Waived: CB Tre Flowers
San Francisco 49ers
- Practice window opened: WR Jacob Cowing
Each of the players who were extended today received deals that last through the 2026 campaign. These contracts differ from reserve/futures contracts, which don’t count towards the team’s active list until after the Super Bowl.
The Bengals were especially active with these extensions today, handing out deals to a handful of players who could be in line for larger roles next season. Journeyman Joe Giles-Harris got into a career-high 10 games for Cincinnati this season, compiling 27 tackles while serving as a key special teamer. Shaka Heyward (16 tackles) and PJ Jules (18 tackles) saw similar roles for the 2025 Bengals. Mitchell Tinsley got some run on the Cincy offense this season, hauling in eight catches for 116 yards in 17 games.
Rams’ Davante Adams Expected To Return In Wild-Card Round
Davante Adams missed the Rams’ final three regular-season games due to a hamstring injury; the free agent pickup still led the NFL with 14 touchdown receptions. It appears likely the former All-Pro will be back for the playoffs.
The Rams expect Adams to be on the field when they begin this year’s playoff slate against the Panthers, Sean McVay said (via ESPN.com’s Sarah Barshop) Monday. Adams returned to practice Thursday and finished last week with two limited sessions.
A proponent of resting players when possible in the final week of the regular season, McVay held Adams out of the Rams’ Week 18 matchup against the Cardinals. The Rams won without him, though they only went 1-2 without their high-end No. 2 receiver. Losses to the Seahawks and Falcons dropped the Rams off the No. 1 seed line and into the No. 5 position. As a result, L.A.’s playoff docket will likely come entirely on the road.
No IR move commenced, giving the Rams flexibility with Adams. He has rewarded the team for its two-year, $46MM investment, catching 14 touchdown passes. Adams, 33, has done plenty to bolster Matthew Stafford‘s MVP campaign. After Cooper Kupp struggled to reprise his earlier form last season (before being released), Adams has brought a step up. The former Packers, Raiders and Jets standout is in the playoffs for the first time since he left Green Bay. He enters the game with 60 catches for 789 yards.
Puka Nacua led the NFL with 129 receptions, doing so despite missing a game. Adams’ return will help the star third-year pass catcher, who finished second in receiving yards (to Jaxon Smith-Njigba) with 1,715 this season while giving the Rams’ offense a significant boost. Adams playing well in the playoffs will increase his chances of seeing the Rams pay out his $6MM roster bonus, which is due on Day 3 of the 2026 league year.
McVay added Quentin Lake — who signed a three-year extension last week — and tight end Terrance Ferguson are expected to play Saturday in Charlotte. Lake will need to be activated off IR to return. The Rams joined the other 13 playoff teams in receiving two additional IR activations for the playoffs. L.A. is in good shape there, having seven remaining. Lake underwent elbow surgery in November.
Three 49ers Execs Among Dolphins’ Six GM Interview Requests
More than two months after letting Chris Grier go, the Dolphins are at work with GM interview requests. Six have gone out for an AFC East franchise that has not parted with HC Mike McDaniel.
While McDaniel is not a lock to stay, the next Dolphins GM may well begin a tenure working with the long-tenured leader. The Dolphins have sent requests to Tariq Ahmad (49ers), Alec Halaby (Eagles), Jon-Eric Sullivan (Packers), John McKay (Rams) and Josh Williams (49ers), according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport along with ESPN’s Adam Schefter. They have since submitted a request to meet with 49ers assistant GM R.J. Gillen, per Pelissero.
The three 49ers execs would be interesting here, as both were in San Francisco when McDaniel was working under Kyle Shanahan. Ahmed is in place as the 49ers’ VP of player personnel, being in his first year in that role. Ahmed has been with the team since 2014, coming up through the scouting ranks. The former 49ers college scouting director received a request from a Dolphins team eyeing a GM with a scouting background.
Williams has a similar background, serving as the 49ers’ current director of scouting and football operations. He has come up as a name to watch on this year’s carousel, and the Dolphins were connected to him recently. The 49ers have lost a few execs to GM roles, with John Lynch‘s staff seeing Martin Mayhew, Ran Carthon and Adam Peters take top front office jobs. Williams, who was a finalist for last year’s Jaguars GM gig, could be next.
Gillen climbed to the AGM level in San Francisco in 2025, coming up through the scouting ranks to become the team’s player personnel director in 2023. Gillen has been with the 49ers since before Lynch and Shanahan’s arrivals, being hired during Trent Baalke‘s GM tenure. Gillen being included in Miami’s list further points to McDaniel staying.
A 49ers exec being hired certainly could give the embattled HC a new lease on life in Miami, as persistent rumblings have emerged pointing to ownership being fond of the offense-based leader and ready to give him a fifth year. That is not a lock, however.
McKay’s time with the 49ers’ California rival has spanned 10 years now. He arrived a year before Sean McVay, joining Les Snead‘s front office as a scouting assistant. McKay has worked his way up to assistant general manager. This position certainly has been known to launch GM candidacies, with Halaby serving in this role for the Eagles. Halaby does not come from the scouting side, however, being a Harvard graduate who spent five-plus years as the Eagles’ director of football operations and strategy.
Sullivan, who serves as Green Bay’s VP of player personnel, was on last year’s GM carousel and emerged as a possible Dolphins candidate hours after Grier’s dismissal. Sullivan has only worked in Green Bay, being with the Packers since 2003. The former Ted Thompson lieutenant has climbed the ladder under Brian Gutekunst, climbing to his current post through the scouting ranks. Sullivan has been in the VP role since 2022.
Updated 2026 NFL Draft Order
With the AFC North now settled (in rather dramatic fashion), the 2025 regular season is in the books. Following their decisions to shelve Brock Bowers and Maxx Crosby, the Raiders secured the No. 1 overall pick. After entering Week 17 in that slot, the Giants — as they did in 2024 — slipped out of the top two thanks to a late-season win.
Big Blue’s victories over the Raiders and Cowboys dropped them to No. 5, with today’s win allowing the Jets, Cardinals and Titans to leapfrog them. The Giants, who fell out of the No. 1 spot last year thanks to a Drew Lock-led win over the Colts in Week 17, will still hold a top-five pick — just not the one most expected two weeks ago. The Jets saw the Colts’ collapse, which dropped them from 8-2 to 8-9, give them two picks in the top 16.
The Cardinals started 2-0 but managed to close the season with 14 losses over their final 15 games. This will give Arizona a top-four pick for the third time in the Monti Ossenfort era. The GM traded out of that slot in 2023 before drafting Marvin Harrison Jr. in 2024; Ossenfort is expected to be retained for a fourth season, providing another opportunity. This will be the third straight year the Titans will hold a top-seven pick.
The Buccaneers beat the Panthers on Saturday, but thanks to a three-way NFC South tie, Tampa Bay’s draft slot will land out of the playoff positions for the first time since 2020. Because Atlanta defeated New Orleans today, Carolina’s first-round pick will slide into the bottom 14 despite its 8-9 finish — one that secured playoff entry for the first time since 2017.
Although the draft order is not fully set due to the upcoming playoffs, the first 18 picks are. Here is how the order looks after Week 18:
- Las Vegas Raiders (3-14)
- New York Jets (3-14)
- Arizona Cardinals (3-14)
- Tennessee Titans (3-14)
- New York Giants (4-13)
- Cleveland Browns (5-12)
- Washington Commanders (5-12)
- New Orleans Saints (6-11)
- Kansas City Chiefs (6-11)
- Cincinnati Bengals (6-11)
- Miami Dolphins (7-10)
- Dallas Cowboys (7-9-1)
- Los Angeles Rams (via Falcons)
- Baltimore Ravens (8-9)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9)
- New York Jets (via Colts)
- Detroit Lions (9-8)
- Minnesota Vikings (9-8)
- Carolina Panthers (8-9)
- Dallas Cowboys (from Packers)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)
- Los Angeles Chargers (11-6)
- Philadelphia Eagles (11-6)
- Buffalo Bills (12-5)
- Chicago Bears (11-6)
- San Francisco 49ers (12-5)
- Houston Texans (12-5)
- Cleveland Browns (from Jaguars)
- Los Angeles Rams (12-5)
- New England Patriots (14-3)
- Denver Broncos (14-3)
- Seattle Seahawks (14-3)
Coaching Notes: Chiefs, Lions, Udinski, Leonhard, Idzik, Brown, Bears, Pitcher, Scheelhaase, Godsey
Matt Nagy looms as one of the top head coaching candidates with an offensive background in this year’s hiring cycle. A departure for a second HC opportunity (or at least a play-calling offensive coordinator role) is something to watch for over the coming days.
In the event Nagy were to head elsewhere, the Chiefs would find themselves in need of an OC replacement. The team could look to familiar options in such a scenario. Kansas City would “welcome back” Mike Kafka or Eric Bieniemy, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network report.
Bieniemy, 56, worked under Andy Reid from 2013-22. That span included five years in the offensive coordinator role. Bieniemy led Washington’s offense for one season before doing the same at UCLA. He is currently serving as the Bears‘ running backs coach. Kafka, meanwhile, was with the Chiefs for five years, operating as quarterbacks coach and pass-game coordinator along the way. As the interim head coach of the Giants, the 38-year-old’s future is currently unclear.
With Black Monday approaching, here are some other coaching notes from around the NFL:
- Lions head coach Dan Campbell recently hinted at staffing changes. It would comes as little surprise if OC John Morton were to be among those let go, seeing as he was stripped of play-calling duties midway through the campaign. Morton said (via Rapoport and Pelissero) “I’d like to be here” when asked about the possibility of remaining in Detroit. Taking on a lesser role for next season could thus be something to watch for as Campbell looks into his coordinator options.
- Overall, the pool of head coaching candidates for 2026 is not seen as being as strong as last year. A large number of firings over the next few days may not be forthcoming as a result. On the other hand, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini notes (subscription required) this winter could be busier than usual in terms of coordinator changes. Jaguars OC Grant Udinski, Broncos secondary coach Jim Leonhard, Panthers offensive coordinator Brad Idzik and Patriots pass-game coordinator Thomas Brown are among the staffers she identifies among those who have drawn strong reviews for their work this season.
- Ben Johnson has impressed during his debut season in Chicago. He could be in line to lose a number of key assistants soon, however. Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports names Bieniemy as a candidate to depart this winter with his stock having received a boost. In addition, offensive coordinator Declan Doyle, pass-game coordinator Press Taylor and quarterbacks coach J.T. Barrett have each generated buzz regarding interest around the league. Johnson may have multiple vacancies to fill in the near future in the wake of Chicago’s successful campaign.
- Dan Pitcher has been with the Bengals since 2016. Over that time, he has worked his way up to quarterbacks coach, a role he has had for six seasons and counting. The 38-year-old finds himself as an interview candidate for OC positions, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Losing Pitcher would deal another blow to the stability Zac Taylor enjoyed on his offensive staff until Brian Callahan‘s departure in 2025.
- Fowler also points to Nate Scheelhaase as a “sleeper” with respect to offensive coordinator interviews. Scheelhaase, 35, served in many positions at the college level before joining the Rams in 2024; he currently serves as the team’s pass-game coordinator. Many Sean McVay assistants have gone on to land notable gigs elsewhere in the NFL, and along with D-coordinator Chris Shula Scheelhaase could soon become the latest to do so.
- Since 2022, George Godsey has served as the Ravens’ tight ends coach. That tenure is nearing an end, however, Godsey is finalizing a deal to become the next offensive coordinator at Georgia Tech, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reports. By returning to his alma mater, Godsey will end a run of NFL coaching positions which dates back to 2011.
Rams Activate TE Tyler Higbee Off IR
JANUARY 3: The Rams opened Higbee’s practice window three days ago for a reason. After missing the past six weeks, the 33-year-old veteran has been activated from injured reserve in time for a crucial Week 18 game. With a win and a 49ers loss, the Rams will head to the NFC South winner for the Wild Card round of the playoffs; a loss or Niners win sends them the Philadelphia.
In order to make room for Higbee on the 53-man roster, Los Angeles waived defensive end Larrell Murchison. The Rams also announced that defensive end Jack Heflin and safety Tanner Ingle will serve as their standard gameday practice squad elevations for the final week of the 2025 regular season.
DECEMBER 31: Over a month after placing Tyler Higbee on injured reserve, the Rams have opened the tight end’s practice window, Sarah Barshop of ESPN reports. They’ll have 21 days to activate Higbee.
Higbee suffered an ankle injury in a Week 11 win over the Seahawks, forcing the Rams to shelve him on Nov. 19. Safety Quentin Lake (elbow) and right tackle Rob Havenstein (ankle) joined Higbee in going on IR that day. Nobody from that trio has returned to game action since then, and the Rams have fallen from 8-2 to 11-5 without them.
Once the favorites to land the No. 1 seed in the NFC, the Rams will enter a Week 18 meeting with Arizona sixth in the conference. The Rams will secure the fifth seed if they beat the Cardinals and the 49ers lose to the Seahawks.
Now in his 10th season since the Rams took him in the fourth round of the 2016 draft, Higbee played a role in their hot start this year. Higbee led Rams tight ends with 318 offensive snaps at the time of his injury, hauled in 20 passes for 190 yards, and scored two touchdowns.
Despite Higbee’s absence, LA’s top-ranked scoring offense has continued to rely heavily on its tight ends. With head coach Sean McVay frequently deploying three-TE sets, Colby Parkinson and Davis Allen have each played upward of 50% of offensive snaps. Second-round rookie Terrance Ferguson has logged a 33.6% snap share in his own right. Higbee at least has a change to rejoin that group in the next three weeks.
Titans’ HC Search Expected To Include Mike McCarthy, Matt Nagy, Robert Saleh
Just under three months after firing head coach Brian Callahan on Oct. 13, the Titans made another significant organizational change Friday. Owner Amy Adams Strunk announced a shift in responsibilities for president of football operations Chad Brinker and general manager Mike Borgonzi. Going forward, Borgonzi will assume full roster control. He’ll also lead the hunt for Callahan’s full-time successor.
The Titans’ Borgonzi-led coaching search will be “wide-ranging and deliberate,” according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Former Packers and Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy, Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy and a few defensive coordinators – Jeff Hafley (Packers), Jesse Minter (Chargers), Robert Saleh (49ers) and Chris Shula (Rams) – are expected to interview with the Titans.
Most of the above names have already come up in connection to the Titans’ job since Callahan’s firing. Nagy’s inclusion on the list is especially unsurprising when considering his familiarity with Borgonzi.
As a former Chiefs executive, Borgonzi has several years’ experience working with Nagy. A late-December report identified Nagy as a “serious candidate” for the position. If the Titans hire Nagy, it would give the 47-year-old a second chance at an NFL head coaching gig. Nagy led the Bears to a 34-31 record and two playoff berths from 2018-21. He earned Coach of the Year honors in his first season in Chicago.
There isn’t a more established option in this bunch than McCarthy, who went 174-112-2 in 18 combined seasons between Green Bay and Dallas from 2006-24. McCarthy’s teams went to the playoffs 12 times in that span. His lone Super Bowl victory, which capped off the 2010 campaign, came with an in-his-prime Aaron Rodgers as Green Bay’s quarterback.
If the Titans prioritize experience, McCarthy could have a leg up on the competition. It could also tip the scales in his favor (or Nagy’s) if the Titans prefer an offensive-minded hire. Quarterback Cam Ward, the No. 1 overall pick in last spring’s draft, is the most important player in the organization. The onus will be on a new coaching staff to hasten Ward’s development entering his second season in 2026. That’s assuming the Titans don’t promote interim HC Mike McCoy. Considering they’ve gone 2-8 with McCoy at the helm, that seems unlikely to happen.
While Saleh is mostly known for his defensive acumen, he joins McCarthy and Nagy in bringing past head coaching experience to the table. Saleh didn’t mimic McCarthy or Nagy in guiding teams to the playoffs, however. Rather, the Jets went a horrid 20-36 under him in three-plus seasons.
The Jets fired Saleh five games into 2024, but the 46-year-old has revived his stock this season with a San Francisco team that will earn the No. 1 seed in the NFC if it beats Seattle on Saturday. Saleh has overseen a respectable defense despite largely going without his two best players, injured pass rusher Nick Bosa and linebacker Fred Warner. Meanwhile, the Jets haven’t shown any progress since firing Saleh. New York started 2-3 before canning him last year. The team has spiraled to a 6-22 mark without him.
Saleh, who finished 2024 as an offensive consultant in Green Bay, landed multiple head coaching interviews last offseason. He spoke with the Cowboys, Jaguars and Raiders, who all passed on him for different candidates. A year later, it appears he’ll have a chance to convince the Titans he’s the right fit.
Rams S Quentin Lake Extended, Designated For Return From IR
6:31PM: In addition to extending Lake today, the Rams announced that he has been designated to return from injured reserve. After missing the team’s last six games, the window is now open for Lake to return in time for the regular season finale in Los Angeles.
2:17PM: The Rams signed fourth-year safety Quentin Lake to a contract extension, per a team announcement.
The deal is worth up to $42MM over three years with $25.7MM guaranteed, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Lake, a 2022 fifth-round pick, was set to hit free agency this offseason but will now be under contract in Los Angeles through the 2028 season.
The 26-year-old primarily played special teams as a rookie before carving out a role in the slot in 2023. He then broke out last year as a versatile piece of the Rams’ secondary with 511 snaps in the slot, 398 as a free safety, and 244 in the box, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). This season, he has been the primary nickel in Los Angeles and ranks 12th in the league with 0.80 yards allowed per snap out of the slot (via PFF).
Lake’s contract ranks 11th among NFL safeties in terms of guaranteed money, per OverTheCap. The base value of his deal is unknown, but his maximum APY of $14MM would also rank 11th. That is a solid raise over Lake’s Day 3 rookie contract while also being a strong value for the team after the safety market rose above $25.1MM this offseason. Lake’s versatility is especially valuable to a Rams front office that does not invest a lot into their secondary. They can now approach the offseason hunting for value in free agency and the draft knowing that Lake can take on whatever role is needed to fill out the unit.
Extending Lake likely means that the Rams will not retain veteran safety Kamren Curl, whose contract expires at the end of the season. He will join a free agent class that no longer includes Lake, but does have a number of other rising talents like Jaquan Brisker and Ronnie Hickman, among others. Of course, other teams will likely seek to retain their top pending free agents before the offseason begins, so the ranks of available safeties could dwindle by the time free agency actually approaches.