NFL Minor Transactions: 12/15/25
Today’s minor moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: WR Jamari Thrash
- Waived: G Garrett Dellinger
Houston Texans
- Placed on IR: DT Mario Edwards Jr. (story)
Miami Dolphins
- Signed to active roster: LB Quinton Bell
- Elevated: OL Kion Smith
- Waived: LB Andre Carter II
New England Patriots
- Waived: LB Caleb Murphy
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed to active roster: WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling
- Elevated: OL Jack Driscoll, DE DeMarvin Leal
- Waived: WR Ke’Shawn Williams
Jamari Thrash is already back on Cleveland’s active roster after getting waived the other day. The former fifth-round pick has only seen time in a single game since the beginning of November. Before that, he tallied 10 receptions for 107 yards.
In other receiver news, Marquez Valdes-Scantling made his way to the active roster for tonight’s game against the Dolphins. The veteran got into 16 offensive snaps during his Steelers debut in Week 14. Before that, he hauled in four catches for 40 yards in five appearances for the 49ers.
Texans DL Mario Edwards Out For Season
The Texans’ defense was dealt an injury blow yesterday. Head coach DeMeco Ryans announced Mario Edwards is dealing with a pectoral tear. 
Edwards will miss the remainder of the season as a result. The journeyman defensive tackle’s second straight Texans campaign has come to an abrupt end. Today’s news comes after Tim Settle underwent season-ending foot surgery earlier this month. Depth on the D-line could become an issue for Houston down the stretch.
In 2024, Edwards started 12 of his 13 appearances and logged a defensive snap share of 55%. His workload saw a notable decline this year, with the 31-year-old not making any starts and seeing the field for 33% of Houston’s defensive plays. Nevertheless, losing him will leave Houston thin along the defensive interior the rest of the way.
Edwards enjoyed a productive campaign last year, notching three sacks and 11 quarterback pressures. That earned him a two-year pact in March. Edwards landed $9.5MM in total and $4.5MM guaranteed to remain in Houston through 2027. His recovery over the coming months will be key given the fact he is also under contract for next season.
Recent waiver claim Naquan Jones is a candidate to take on an increased workload in Edwards’ absence. As KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes, the Texans’ practice squad also includes the likes of Junior Tafuna, Marlon Davidson and Haggai Ndubuisi. Another addition via waivers or free agency could be in store depending on how the team views that group of potential replacements.
The Texans won their sixth straight game on Sunday, improving them to 9-5. The team’s defense will need to remain one of the best in the NFL if a division title is to be won, but that unit will be shorthanded moving forward.
AFC Contract Details: Becton, Bolts, Texans, Jenkins, Browns, Bills, Patriots, Dolphins
Here are the latest details from contracts agreed to around the AFC:
- Mekhi Becton, OL (Chargers). Two years, $20MM. Despite raising his value with the Eagles, Becton only fetched $6.94MM guaranteed at signing, Cards Wire’s Howard Balzer tweets. The deal includes $3.06MM of per-game roster bonuses in 2025 and $2.55MM in ’26, with these protecting the Bolts after Becton missed 33 games from 2021-22. Becton is due a $2.5MM roster bonus on Day 3 of the 2026 league year, per OverTheCap.
- Christian Elliss, LB (Patriots). Two years, $13.51MM. The Pats are guaranteeing Elliss $7.75MM at signing, the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin tweets. This Raiders offer sheet includes guarantees into Year 2, with Volin adding $2.25MM of Elliss’ $7.38MM 2026 base salary is guaranteed at signing. Although Las Vegas designed this deal to give New England pause about matching, the team did so and has since released Ja’Whaun Bentley.
- Cam Robinson, T (Texans). One year, $12MM. The Texans are guaranteeing Robinson $10.75MM, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes. Up to $1.25MM is available via per-game roster bonuses. Houston also included four void years, which would create a $7MM 2026 dead money bill if Robinson is not re-signed before the 2026 league year.
- Garrett Bradbury, C (Patriots). Two years, $9.5MM. Bradbury will see $3.8MM guaranteed at signing; $2.4MM of that comes via a signing bonus, ESPN.com’s Mike Reiss tweets. Bradbury’s $3.7MM 2026 base salary is nonguaranteed, giving the Pats an out if the fit proves poor this year.
- Mario Edwards, DL (Texans). Two years, $9.5MM. The team is guaranteeing the nomadic D-lineman, $4.5MM, Wilson tweets. Edwards’ $4MM 2026 base salary is nonguaranteed.
- Reid Ferguson, LS (Bills). Four years, $6.5MM. Ferguson’s latest Bills contract sits second (to the Chiefs’ James Winchester) at the NFL’s lowest-paid position. The deal includes $2.37MM guaranteed at signing, which Wilson notes is comprised of a 2025 salary guarantee and a $1.1MM signing bonus.
- Zach Wilson, QB (Dolphins). One year, $6MM. The ex-Jets starter still secured a fully guaranteed deal as he attempts to reset after spending the 2024 season as the Broncos’ third-stringer. The Dolphins guaranteed Wilson $6MM, per the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson. Wilson only counts $2.2MM on Miami’s 2025 cap, per Jackson, as the team added four void years to keep that number low.
- Sheldon Rankins, DT (Texans). One year, $5.25MM. Coming after Rankins underwhelmed on a two-year, $24.5MM Bengals accord, the former first-round pick will see $4.5MM guaranteed, per Wilson. Playing-time incentives worth a total of $1.75MM are also included in Rankins’ second Texans contract.
- Teven Jenkins, G (Browns). One year, $3.1MM. The guard market dried up for Jenkins, whose free agency reminds of Dalton Risner‘s recent forays. The three-year Bears starter, who held a high asking price early on the market, settled for a deal including just $2.67MM guaranteed, Wilson adds. Cleveland included up to $340K in per-game roster bonuses.
- Ifeatu Melifonwu, S (Dolphins). One year, $3MM. The Dolphins are guaranteeing the ex-Lions defender $2.45MM, Wilson tweets. Another $1MM in incentives is present.
- Marcus Epps, S (Patriots). One year, $2.03MM. One of two 2024 Raiders starting defenders heading to New England (along with Robert Spillane), Epps received only $500K guaranteed, Reiss tweets. That includes $350K of Epps’ $1.17MM base salary, which does not make the former Super Bowl LVII starter a roster lock.
Texans To Re-Sign DL Mario Edwards
The Texans dropped Shaq Mason after two seasons but have added two more players from the 2015 draft Tuesday. After reuniting Laken Tomlinson and DeMeco Ryans, Houston is bringing back Mario Edwards.
A 10-year veteran who has settled into a rotational role up front, Edwards is staying with the Texans on a two-year, $9.5MM deal, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo reports. Although Edwards came into the NFL in 2015, he is still only going into his age-31 season.
Houston is bringing back Edwards after already reuniting with the player he helped replace (Sheldon Rankins). Adding Rankins after he disappointed in Cincinnati, Houston is banking on experience to complement Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter. The team has Tim Settle, who is going into his eighth NFL season, signed for 2025 as well.
A former Oakland Raiders draftee, Edwards has done well to build a career as a rotational D-lineman. The interior pass rusher has already played for seven teams. His 12 Texans starts last year, however, were his most in a season since 2017. Edwards notched three sacks and tallied eight QB hits, recovering two fumbles and batting down two passes during a season in which he served a four-game PED suspension. The proven inside presence added 1.5 sacks during the Texans’ wild-card rout of the Chargers.
After Edwards’ three Oakland seasons to start his career, he has only one other instance (2020-21 in Chicago) of playing for the same team in consecutive seasons. Houston will add another such stop, aiming to build an experience yet cost-efficient DT corps to go with their high-end Hunter and Anderson investments.
Texans To Re-Sign Kurt Hinish; Latest On Team’s DL Plans
The Texans’ defensive line could feature a number of different faces in the near future. At least one in-house option will be back for 2025, however.
Kurt Hinish has agreed to a one-year deal to remain in Houston, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports. The contract has a base value of $1.8MM, but it can max out at $2.35MM. Hinish was on course for restricted free agency, but today’s move ensures he will remain in place without a tender being issued.
The 25-year-old has remained a regular rotational contributor along the defensive front over each of his three years with the Texans. Overall, Hinish has started four of his 42 appearances, totaling 57 tackles and 1.5 sacks along the way. He was unavailable for Houston during the playoffs this past campaign, but in 2023 he notched a pair of sacks as part of the team’s run to the divisional round.
Hinish will be counted on to remain a depth option along the D-line next season, but changes to that unit could be coming soon. Wilson reports both Foley Fatukasi and Mario Edwards can be expected to reach free agency. The former is dealing with a shoulder injury which requires surgery, Wilson notes. That could hinder Fatukasi’s market, although he is expected to recover in time for the 2025 campaign.
Edwards was hit with a four-game PED suspension in October. The former second-round pick has now played 10 seasons. Exiting his age-31 season, Edwards has already played for seven teams. His 12 Texans starts last year, however, were his most in a season since 2017. Edwards notched three sacks and tallied eight QB hits, recovering two fumbles and batting down two passes. With the nomadic DT’s status uncertain, another well-traveled interior rusher is back on Houston’s radar.
The Texans are interested in bringing back Sheldon Rankins, Wilson adds. A Houston starter in 2023, Rankins opted for a Bengals deal over a Texans effort to re-sign him. He did not impress in Cincinnati and has already been cut. The Texans are expected to explore a reunion before free agency, Wilson adds. Rankins, 32 in April, started all 15 games he played in DeMeco Ryans‘ system that year and registered six sacks — his most since 2018.
The down Cincinnati season will hurt Rankins’ market, after he had signed a two-year, $24.5MM deal last year. The Texans had Rankins on a one-year, $9.75MM pact in 2023. Ryans’ team had made a $12MM-per-year offer in March 2024; it is safe to say Houston’s 2025 proposal will probably check in south of that range.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.
Texans Activate Jeff Okudah, Mario Edwards
In advance of their Week 11 matchup, the Texans will have a pair of defenders available. Cornerback Jeff Okudah has been activated from injured reserve, per a team announcement. Defensive end Mario Edwards, meanwhile, has returned to the active roster with his one-week exemption having expired. 
[RELATED: Injured Reserve Tracker]
Okudah returned to practice two weeks ago, opening his 21-day window to be activated. The former No. 3 pick was injured in Week 1, and he has remained sidelined ever since. Now healthy, he will have the opportunity to see playing time on his latest team. The former Lion and Falcon could earn an extended look with the Texans depending on his performance down the stretch as he aims to find stability in at least a depth role.
Edwards was issued a four-game PED suspension last month. Upon serving it, he received a one-week roster exemption which allowed the team time to make other moves in advance of activating him. Now that Edwards is back in the fold, he will be set to reprise his role as a starter along Houston’s defensive line. The 30-year-old posted 18 tackles and a pair of sacks in six games before being sidelined by the ban.
The Texans enter Monday night atop the AFC South with a 6-4 record. The team’s defense has fared well in a number of categories, but by virtue of ranking 18th in points allowed there is certainly room for improvement. Getting Edwards back in the fold in particular should help, although with Kamari Lassiter out for tonight’s game due to a concussion Okudah could also find himself playing a role on defense for at least one contest.
In corresponding roster moves, the Texans waived cornerback Myles Bryant and running back J.J. Taylor. They will be available to any interested teams while on the wire, but if they go unclaimed they will become free agents. In that event, a return to Houston via a practice squad deal will be possible.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/11/24
Here are today’s minor moves around the NFL:
Dallas Cowboys
- Reinstated from suspension: DE Sam Williams
Detroit Lions
- Waived: LB Abraham Beauplan
Green Bay Packers
- Designated for return from injured reserve: RB Marshawn Lloyd
Houston Texans
- Reinstated from suspension, one-game roster exemption granted: DE Mario Edwards
Los Angeles Rams
- Elevated from practice squad: DE Jonah Williams
Miami Dolphins
- Elevated from practice squad: LS Tucker Addington, OT Jackson Carman
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed to active roster from practice squad: CB Josh Jobe
- Claimed off waivers: NT Brandon Pili
- Placed on injured reserve: S K’Von Wallace
Williams completed his three-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. He remains on injured reserve after a season-ending knee injury suffered during training camp.
Edwards served a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy and is now eligible to be reinstated to the Texans’ active roster. Houston requested and received a one-game roster exemption to give Edwards an additional week to practice with the team before being added back to the 53-man roster.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/14/24
Here are the latest transactions from around the NFL:
Arizona Cardinals
- Activated to 53-man roster: WR Zay Jones
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated from practice squad: RB Frank Gore Jr.
Houston Texans
- Placed on reserve/suspended list: DT Mario Edwards Jr. (story)
New York Jets
- Activated from IR: DT Leki Fotu
- Elevated from practice squad: TE Anthony Firkser, S Jalen Mills
- Released: DL Jalyn Holmes
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Released: LB Adetokunbo Ogundeji
Seattle Seahawks
- Designated for return from IR: S Jerrick Reed II
Jones will get to make his Cardinals debut in Week 7 after serving a five-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy. Arizona requested and received a one-week roster exemption so Jones could get acclimated to his new offense before being added to the 53-man roster. He will bring a veteran presence to a young Cardinals receiver room that lost Marvin Harrison Jr. to a concussion on Sunday.
Texans DL Mario Edwards Issued Four-Game Suspension
The Texans will get Denico Autry back from suspension in Week 7, but the team will be without Mario Edwards for a notable stretch. The latter was issued a four-game ban for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
Edwards will thus be sidelined until Week 10, dealing a notable blow to Houston’s defensive front. The free agent pickup has logged a 59% snap share so far this season. That matches the highest total of his career, so his absence will be felt as the team looks to continue its strong start to the campaign.
An NFL journeyman well before he decided to head to Houston, Edwards spent his first three seasons with the Raiders. That time was followed by short stints with the Giants, Saints, Bears, Titans and Seahawks. The 30-year-old inked a one-year deal to return to the AFC South this spring, signing for just over the veteran minimum ($1.65MM, $500K guaranteed). Serving as a full-time starter during his debut Houston campaign, Edwards has provided strong value to date.
The Florida State product posted one sack in each of the team’s first two games, and he recorded a season-high eight tackles during Sunday’s win over the Patriots. That production could be difficult to replace in the short term, although getting Autry back will certainly help in that regard. Autry received a six-game PED suspension in July, but now that he has served that penalty the Texans will receive a one-week roster exemption for him. A corresponding move will need to be made for Autry to return to the active roster if he is not activated ahead of Houston’s Week 7 game.
Edwards is once again a pending free agent, and today’s news is obviously an unwanted development with respect to his market value. A strong start to the season will lead to his expectations for his return, however. The Texans rank third in total defense, and they will look to remain among the league’s top units without Edwards in the picture for the time being.
Texans, DL Mario Edwards Agree To Deal
Mario Edwards will be returning to the AFC South in 2024. The veteran defensive lineman has agreed to a one-year deal with the Texans, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. 
Edwards has seen time with six teams during his NFL career, including a one-year stint in Tennessee in 2022. After a single campaign in Seattle, the 30-year-old will join a Houston front which has made a number of changes during the early portions of free agency. Edwards visited the Texans on Monday, as noted by Fowler’s colleague Field Yates.
Houston has seen the departures of D-linemen Maliek Collins (traded to the 49ers) and Sheldon Rankins (signed with the Bengals) in recent days. Coupled with the departure of Jonathan Greenard on the edge, those absences – along with those of Jerry Hughes, Teair Tart and Derek Barnett, presuming no member of that trio is re-signed – have left several vacancies for the Texans. Some of them, of course, have already been filled.
The team worked out two-year deals with Denico Autry and Tim Settle last week, and Danielle Hunter was added as Greenard’s replacement. The latter will give Houston a high-profile edge tandem opposite 2023 Defensive Rookie of the Year Will Anderson. Edwards could fill in as a rotational pass rusher behind that pair, as he has for much of his career. The former second-rounder has seen a defensive snap share above 50% only three times (and once since 2017).
Edwards (who attended high school in Denton, Texas) has demonstrated an ability to chip in as a pass rusher in a number of stops, though. The Florida State alum has posted between two and four sacks in each of the past seven seasons, and a repeat of that production should be expected in 2024. The Texans ranked 17th in sacks last year, and Edwards’ addition will of course not impact that figure next season to the degree Hunter’s will. Still, the former will be counted on as an experienced depth option as head coach DeMeco Ryans aims to guide the team’s defense to an improvement from 2023’s showing.