Giants’ Malik Nabers, Cam Skattebo Undergo Surgeries
Giants rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart has impressed since he took the reins from veteran Russell Wilson in Week 4, but injuries will deprive the first-rounder of a couple of key weapons early in his career.
Star wide receiver Malik Nabers suffered a season-ending ACL tear and a partially torn meniscus in Dart’s first start. Rookie running back Cam Skattebo, a fourth-rounder and a member of the same draft class as Dart, then went down with a brutal ankle injury in a loss to the Eagles last Sunday. Like Nabers, Skattebo is done for the year. Both players have taken important steps in their recoveries this week.
Nabers underwent knee surgery on Tuesday, Ralph Vacchiano of FOX Sports reports. The second-year man waited a month to have surgery, though Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes that’s common. The hope is the delay will lead to an easier rehab, per Rapoport, who says Nabers “should be good to go for next season.”
Even if New York is confident in an early 2026 return for Nabers, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the team make significant moves to address its receiving corps before then. Darius Slayton, who re-signed on a three-year, $36MM deal last March, joins Nabers as the Giants’ only proven receivers under contract in 2026. Wan’Dale Robinson is the leader among Giants wideouts in catches, targets, yards, and touchdowns in 2025, but he’s due to reach free agency in the offseason.
Along with recording solid production on the ground (410 yards and five touchdowns on 101 carries), the hard-running Skattebo provided the Giants a viable pass-catching threat. He chipped in 24 receptions, 207 yards, and two more scores in his first eight games. Tyrone Tracy and Devin Singletary will have to pick up the slack in his absence.
In addition to dislocating his ankle, Skattebo fractured his fibula and suffered a deltoid ligament rupture, according to Rapoport. While that sounds catastrophic, he and the Giants avoided a worst-case scenario. The 23-year-old underwent successful surgery and should only require about six months to recover. That would put Skattebo on track for OTAs and minicamp, which would be a positive outcome for him and the team.
Chiefs Shopping For Defensive Line Depth
The Chiefs reunited with defensive tackle Mike Pennel yesterday, but the team may not be done adding defensive line help. According to Jordan Schultz, the Chiefs are currently shopping for a defensive lineman.
[RELATED: Chiefs To Bring Back DT Mike Pennel]
While Kansas City’s offense keeps adding reinforcement, it seemed likely that the front office would look to add to the defense ahead of the trade deadline. The Chiefs have lost defensive end Felix Anudike- Uzomah and second-round defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott for the season, and they’ve gotten one of the worst DT performances in the NFL from Derrick Nnadi. While Pennel should help shore up the middle of the defensive line, the team could still seek additional depth at that position.
The Chiefs could also look to add on the edge. George Karlaftis continues to come into his own, pacing the squad with 4.5 sacks. Otherwise, Kansas City hasn’t gotten more than a pair of sacks from any one individual on the team. That includes veteran Chris Jones, who has tallied only two sacks following his five-sack showing in 2024. Even if Kansas City doesn’t have to be as reliant on the veteran’s pass-rush ability, they’ll surely be looking to pair him with some extra depth ahead of the second half of the season.
While the defense will surely be a priority for the Chiefs front office, they could also look to add to their offense over the next few days. We already heard rumblings that they could add some running back depth, and that was before Isiah Pacheco suffered an MCL injury. Left tackle Josh Simmons will also be sidelined for a few more weeks while he deals with a personal matter, but any Super Bowl contender would be sniffing around for OL depth, anyway.
Brett Veach has generally been active with midseason moves, and this season will be no exception. While the organization has generally had more luck with scooping up midseason free agents vs. trades, we can confidently say the Chiefs will add some reinforcement ahead of the stretch run.
Latest On Bills’ Pursuit Of WR Help
The Bills were in obvious need of help at wide receiver leading up to last year’s trade deadline. General manager Brandon Beane addressed the position in mid-October, acquiring Amari Cooper from the Browns. While the five-time Pro Bowler didn’t end up as a major contributor in Buffalo, he at least gave the team another credible target. With Cooper as a role player in a high-powered offense, the Bills ultimately advanced to the AFC championship game before suffering yet another postseason loss to the Chiefs.
Although the Bills are off to a strong 5-2 start this year, the receiver position has been a glaring issue again. Dependable slot target Khalil Shakir is enjoying another productive year, but the Bills are lacking boundary threats. Cognizant of that, the Bills have been scouring the market for a “vertical deep route receiver” as the Nov. 4 trade deadline nears, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network says.
Saints speedster Rashid Shaheed is a name to keep an eye on for the Bills, according to Wolfe. It’s not the first time Shaheed has come up as a potential target for Buffalo, whose lack of cap space could be a hindrance in landing a bigger fish.
The Bills rank last in the NFL with around $1.67MM in spending room, per Over the Cap. Shaheed, like Cooper was last year, is on an expiring contract. With a $4.2MM base salary and a $4.46MM cap hit, he’s reasonably priced.
After Shaheed averaged anywhere from 15.6 to 17.5 yards per catch in each of his first three seasons, that number has dropped to 11.1. However, with 39 catches and 431 through eight games, he’s easily on pace to surpass his current career highs of 46 and 719, respectively.
Sitting at 1-7 and set to hand the reins to rookie quarterback Tyler Shough, New Orleans is open to trading Shaheed. The 27-year-old has never paired with a high-level QB in the NFL, but that would change in Buffalo with Josh Allen at the helm.
Despite having the benefit of playing with Allen, Keon Coleman and Josh Palmer – the Bills’ top receivers after Shakir – have underwhelmed. Coleman dazzled with an eight-catch, 112-yard showing in a Week 1 win over the Ravens, leading to hope that the 2024 second-round pick was in for a breakout sophomore campaign. Since then, though, Coleman has totaled just 19 receptions and 155 yards in seven games.
Palmer, previously a Charger, didn’t rise to stardom playing with Justin Herbert from 2021-24. He still impressed the Bills enough to land a three-year, $36MM contract in free agency last offseason. While Palmer has averaged a robust 16.7 yards per catch in Buffalo, he has only hauled in 14 passes in six games. He missed the Bills’ win over the Panthers last week with a knee/ankle injury, an issue that could keep him out of a crucial meeting with the Chiefs this Sunday.
Aside from Shakir, Coleman, and Palmer, no other Bills receiver has more than five catches in 2025. Veterans Curtis Samuel and Elijah Moore, free agent pickups over the previous two offseasons, have been nonentities. Practice squad wideout Gabe Davis, a Bill from 2020-23 and a Jaguar last season, is the best hope for an in-house upgrade. Davis is now recovered from the meniscus surgery he underwent last year. While he could factor into the Bills’ receiving corps soon, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Beane bring in an outside reinforcement by Tuesday.
Sean McVay: “I Certainly Would Never Rule” Out Additional Trades
The Rams have already made one pre-deadline trade when they acquired cornerback Roger McCreary from the Titans. Considering the deal featured a swap of conditional 2026 Day 3 picks, many pundits assumed that the Rams would still be shopping around for additional reinforcement.
[RELATED: Rams Acquire Roger McCreary From Titans]
Sean McVay confirmed as much while speaking with reporters yesterday, although the coach seemed to hint that the front office may only be searching around for a “[significant] upgrade.”
“I wouldn’t say no,” McVay said when asked if the team was done dealing (via Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com). “It’s not something that we’ve really talked about. I think if certain opportunities arise that you feel like give you a chance to be able to significantly upgrade your football team, but I feel really good about our group and the growth that I still think can be had from us in spite of doing some good things. That’s really in all three phases. It hasn’t been something that we’ve really talked about, but I certainly would never rule that out.”
As Florio notes, the Rams have never been afraid to take big swings. A few years ago, the team made a major deal for Von Miller, and that move ended up helping them in their quest towards a Super Bowl victory. The Rams don’t necessarily have the same championship chances in 2025, but the organization is clearly willing to pull off major midseason trades.
At the beginning of the month, the Rams were mentioned as a potential buyer. ESPN’s Aaron Schatz recently suggested that the Rams could be in the hunt for some offensive line reinforcement, while Florio notes that the organization lacks depth at WR behind Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. In other words, there are plenty of different directions the Rams could take their deadline approach, and if McVay was being truthful, there could be some fireworks.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/30/25
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: WR Jalen Brooks, TE Messiah Swinson
- Released: CB Jaden Davis
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: LB Liam Anderson, LB Brian Asamoah
- Released: DE Myles Cole
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: RB Myles Gaskin
- Released: WR Velus Jones
A day after adding Velus Jones and releasing Myles Gaskin, the Seahawks have reversed course. Gaskin had more than 600 rushing yards with the Dolphins back in 2021, but he’s been limited to 26 rushing yards in seven total games since that season. Jones got into five games with the Saints earlier this year, with the majority of his snaps coming on special teams.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/30/25
Today’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Elevated: DT Taven Bryan, S Keondre Jackson
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed from practice squad: LB Joe Giles-Harris
Los Angeles Chargers
- Practice window opened: LS Josh Harris
Miami Dolphins
- Activated from IR: CB Jason Marshall
- Elevated: CB Isaiah Johnson, TE Hayden Rucci
New England Patriots
- Signed off Dolphins’ practice squad: S John Saunders Jr.
Tennessee Titans
- Claimed off waivers (from 49ers): G Drew Moss
After trading safety Kyle Dugger earlier this week, the Patriots have added some depth at the position, as the team snagged John Saunders Jr. off Miami’s practice squad. The rookie went undrafted out of Ole Miss in this year’s draft, and he quickly found a job with the Dolphins. He’s spent the entire season on Miami’s taxi squad, and now he’s set to make his NFL debut with their division rivals.
CB Tariq Woolen “More Likely Than Not” To Stick With Seahawks
Once described as a “strong trade candidate,” it sounds like Tariq Woolen may actually be sticking in Seattle after all. According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the cornerback is “more likely than not” to stay with the Seahawks through the trade deadline.
[RELATED: Seahawks CB Riq Woolen ‘Strong Trade Candidate’]
As an impending free agent, Woolen was an assumed trade target for teams seeking a rental in their secondary. With the Seahawks firmly in the playoff picture, the team doesn’t necessarily have much incentive to deal off veteran parts. Plus, Garafolo notes that the organization has still “not given up hope” that Woolen will be a long-term piece, an indication that they could pursue a new contract with the player after this season.
A former fifth-round pick, it didn’t take long for Woolen to burst onto the scene. He led the NFL with six interceptions as a rookie en route to a PFWA All-Rookie Team selection and a Pro Bowl nod. Pro Football Focus also ranked the UTSA product 34th among 118 qualifying cornerbacks during that 2022 season.
That rookie campaign still represents the player’s best NFL campaign. He hauled in another five interceptions between the 2023 and 2024 seasons, with Pro Football Focus ranking him towards the middle of the pack during those two years. He’s also taken a bit of a step back in 2025. The 26-year-old has yet to haul in an interception this season, with PFF currently ranking him 94th at his position.
Even after missing Week 6, Woolen is still second among Seahawks cornerbacks in snaps played this season, so the coaching staff is plenty dependent on the veteran. Devon Witherspoon is expected to return to the lineup this weekend, and with Josh Jobe leading the position grouping through the first half of the season, Woolen could be eyeing a reduced role down the stretch. Still, the organization seems to value the depth he’ll provide as they look to make a push towards the postseason.
Raiders Not Interested In Trading TE Michael Mayer
While the Raiders are open for business when it comes to their top wideout, it sounds like the team isn’t as willing to deal their backup tight end. SI.com’s Albert Breer acknowledges that Michael Mayer would be a logical trade target, but the reporter cautions that the Raiders have no interest in trading the former second-round pick.
[RELATED: Raiders Want Day 2 Pick For Jakobi Meyers]
Trade rumblings about Mayer date back to this past offseason, and for good reason. First-round tight end Brock Bowers was coming off a prolific rookie campaign, and it made some sense for the Raiders front office to capitalize on their depth at the position.
Mayer ended up sticking around through the offseason and has played a crucial role for Las Vegas in 2025. While the former second-round pick missed two games and was limited in another, he’s still filled in admirably while Bowers has been sidelined with a knee injury. In five starts this season, Mayer has hauled in 12 catches for 107 yards and one touchdown.
Mayer only has a year-plus remaining on his contract, and assuming he won’t garner a second deal from the organization, it would make some sense for the Raiders to start sniffing around at some trade possibilities. TE3 Ian Thomas hasn’t done a whole lot in his limited showing, but with Bowers expected to be back in the lineup for Week 9, the team may not be as concerned about their positional depth moving forward.
While Mayer hasn’t lived up to his draft billing, the Georgia product has still proven that he can coexist with Bowers in the lineup. Pro Football Focus has also elevated him to a top-15 tight end in 2025, although the site still isn’t particularly fond of his blocking ability. Perhaps things change this upcoming offseason, but for the time being, it sounds like Mayer will be sticking in Las Vegas through the 2025 campaign.
J.K. Dobbins Eyeing Broncos Extension
J.K. Dobbins‘ extensive injury history has crushed his free agency value in two offseasons. The former Ravens starter has signed two one-year deals since his rookie contract expired; each has been worth less than $2.1MM.
But the injury-prone running back has boosted two AFC West teams’ offensive performances over the past two seasons, posting a career-high 905 rushing yards last season. The then-Chargers starter did so despite missing four games with an MCL sprain. Another knee injury undoubtedly affected his 2025 market, which produced a low-end Chargers offer and eventual Broncos contract worth $2.07MM.
After the Chargers opted to replace Dobbins with Najee Harris and Omarion Hampton, the former second-round pick has impressed on that Denver deal. Through eight games, Dobbins sits behind only Jonathan Taylor and James Cook in rushing. Dobbins has posted 634 yards to start his Broncos run, helping maximize an offensive line that led the league in run block win rate last season — only to see scant rushing success accompany it.
Dobbins has teamed with second-round pick RJ Harvey but has been the season-long starter, residing as such despite not landing in Denver until June. Dobbins’ two 100-yard rushing performances are the Broncos’ only such efforts in the Sean Payton era. Set to turn 27 in December, the Ohio State product can use this season as a springboard to better terms.
Dobbins hopes those next set of terms will come in Denver, and while he said he has not thought about extension value, the sixth-year back confirmed interest (via the Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson) in a second Broncos contract. Should Dobbins stay on his current course, he will be in line to up his rate for 2026. But having missed 47 games due to injury as a pro — largely because of a 2021 ACL tear and 2023 Achilles tear — will still stand to limit his earning potential. This Broncos season could still prove pivotal for what could be a last chance of sorts for the RB to score a notable veteran contract.
Denver has not been shy about doing extensions in-season under GM George Paton. The team reupped both Courtland Sutton and Tim Patrick during the 2021 season and paid Jonathon Cooper and Garett Bolles during the 2024 campaign. Dobbins joins linebacker Alex Singleton, center Luke Wattenberg and defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers as regulars unsigned beyond 2025. Considering the Broncos already authorized big-ticket summer deals for Sutton, Nik Bonitto and Zach Allen, this glut of contract-year starters could need to find money elsewhere come 2026. Dobbins could be a special case, though, considering his position and midlevel (at best) value.
The Broncos have not authorized a notable second contract for a running back in a while, having made Javonte Williams and Phillip Lindsay one-contract players. The team did match a C.J. Anderson RFA offer sheet in 2016, though that was under previous ownership and GM John Elway. With Dobbins upping his price this season but carrying substantial injury baggage, it will be interesting to see if the Broncos enter extension talks with their starter soon.
Seahawks Searching For O-Line Help
For the second time in four years, the Seahawks moved off a successful starting quarterback and did not retool via the draft. Like Geno Smith in 2022, Sam Darnold has worked out early in his Seattle starter debut.
The Seahawks have done a decent job protecting their free agency addition, marking an improvement from Smith’s third and final season at the helm. But the team is believed to be on the lookout for O-line help ahead of the trade deadline, veteran insider Jordan Schultz notes.
Seattle has turned to the trade market to help fortify its front in previous years of John Schneider‘s GM regime, having traded for Duane Brown (2017) and Gabe Jackson (2021). Seattle’s current front five is entirely homegrown, with four draft choices and UDFA Jalen Sundell in place as starters. Sundell won the team’s center competition this offseason, and right guard Anthony Bradford won the battle to retain that gig.
This retooled (via Sundell and ex-North Dakota State teammate Grey Zabel) O-line has drawn mixed reviews. ESPN’s pass and run block win rate metrics respectively rank Seattle’s front 11th and 10th, while Pro Football Focus slots it 19th overall. Bradford has emerged as a potential trouble spot, with PFF slotting the Seahawks’ RG 74th among guard regulars (out of 82 qualified options). He has also surrendered the third-highest pressure rate among guards with at least 200 snaps, per The Athletic’s Michael-Shawn Dugar. The former fourth-round pick has made 28 career starts, being Seattle’s primary RG for three seasons.
The Seahawks have versatile backup Josh Jones as a swing option, while reserve center Olu Oluwatimi resides as an interior option. (Ex-third-round pick Christian Haynes is in the IR-return window.) When Sundell won the center job out of training camp, Oluwatimi — Seattle’s initial Connor Williams replacement last season — was announced as the center option in the event Bradford went down. In that scenario, Sundell would have slid to right guard. The Seahawks have kept Sundell at center during the season’s first half. PFF has graded Sundell 27th among center regulars thus far.
Mike Macdonald said the Seahawks did not consider O-line changes during the bye week, but a trade would stand to demote either Bradford or Sundell. For guard options, Dugar lists veterans Kevin Zeitler, Wyatt Teller and Joel Bitonio. Both 30-somethings are in contract years. The Browns and Titans blockers are currently protecting rookie QBs, which could make their teams hesitant to deal. It would surprise if Cleveland entertained trading both its guards, but with Bitonio in perhaps his final season, it could make sense for the team to see if the career-long northeast Ohio resident would want to be dealt to a contender. Teller, three years younger than Bitonio, also came up as an extension candidate earlier this year.
Jets LG John Simpson is also in a contract year and is playing for a regime that did not acquire him. Evan Neal is believed to be available, but at this point, the disappointing top-10 Giants pick — who has not played in a game this season — would profile more as a backup than a player who would usurp a starting guard. Dugar points to a low-profile trade being the buyer’s move the Seahawks could make, as the roster is in fairly good shape. A final decision will be due at 3pm CT November 4.