DL Lawrence Guy Retires
Lawrence Guy‘s NFL career has officially come to an end. The veteran defensive lineman retired on Friday.
Guy finished his tenure on Friday by signing a one-day contract with the Patriots. That comes as no surprise, since 118 of his combined regular and postseason NFL appearances came with New England. The 35-year-old most recently played with the Bengals last season.
“I want to thank the Patriots organization and [owner Robert Kraft], it’s a full circle moment,” Guy said upon officially hanging up his cleats (via MassLive’s Karen Guregian). “I wanted to retire in New England because New England was my home. It’s a blessing that I get to be here to do this.”
A seventh-round pick of the Green Bay in 2011, Guy never wound up playing a regular season game with the team. His first action in the league instead came as a member of the Colts one year later, with his early years also including time spent as a member of the Chargers.
During a span from 2014-16, the Arizona State product took on a prominent role with the Ravens. He appeared in 11 games as part of the defensive line rotation in his first season in Baltimore. He posted 4.5 sacks in 2015 – his first since 2012 – along with eight tackles for loss. In 2016, his counting sacks ticked down to one sack and five tackles for loss, but he was a key cog in the Ravens’ fifth-ranked run defense.
That earned him a starting job with the Patriots for the next seven seasons. He never returned to his 2015 production level, but he started 103 games and played at least 500 snaps every year. After two four-year contracts with the Patriots, Guy was released before the 2024 season and eventually caught on with the Bengals for four games before he was released. Guy retires with $31,249,832 in career earnings, per OverTheCap.
Nikhil Mehta contributed to this post.
Panthers QB Bryce Young Dealing With High Ankle Sprain, Will Miss Week 8
OCTOBER 24: Young has been listed as doubtful on the Panthers’ injury report. While that would leave the door open to him playing in theory, as team spokesperson has since said (via ESPN’s David Newton) Dalton will get the start for Week 8 regardless of whether or not Young is able to dress.
OCTOBER 20: The Panthers won their third straight game on Sunday, but quarterback Bryce Young was unable to finish the game. Further missed time is likely in store. 
Young suffered a high ankle sprain on Sunday. X-rays taken yesterday on the injury were negative, per Joe Person of The Athletic. That still left an MRI for today, though, and it provided more clarity on the ailment. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports Young is expected to miss Week 8 given the results of today’s imaging.
A precise timeline is not in place at this point. As Pelissero notes, however, injuries such as this generally carry a recovery timeframe of two to four weeks. That could put Young in line to miss more than one contest, but for now the Panthers hope that only one week on the sidelines will be needed. In any case, Andy Dalton is now in position to handle QB1 duties for a period.
Young’s third season in the NFL (and second under head coach Dave Canales) has been inconsistent. The former No. 1 pick has managed to essentially duplicate his performances from 2024 in terms of completion percentage and passer rating. He has thrown 11 touchdown passes but also five interceptions, and a true breakthrough as a franchise quarterback has proven to be elusive. Still, being shorthanded under center will be an unwanted development for Carolina in advance of a matchup against the Bills.
Thanks to their winning streak, the Panthers sit at 4-3 on the year. That puts them in second in the NFC South for now. Remaining in postseason contention would be key for the team as stability on the sidelines and under center is sought out. It is still uncertain at this point if Young will be tasked with handling starting duties for the long term, but he will be extension-eligible after this season. A decision will need to be made on the former Heisman winner’s fifth-option during the spring as a result, with a long-term commitment also being possible.
Part of how the Panthers proceed with Young will depend on his availability. The 24-year-old has avoided significant missed time through injury to date, and continuing in that regard will be important as he aims to develop further under Canales and Co (although his rookie season resulted one game sidelined due to the same injury). As such, it will be interesting to see how quickly Young manages to return to action.
Dalton has been in Carolina since 2023. The soon-to-be 38-year-old has made six starts as a Panther, and that figure is now set to increase. Dalton is under contract through 2026 after re-signing on an $8MM pact this offseason. That investment on the part of the Panthers was aimed at keeping a high-floor backup in the fold with Young continuing to be evaluated as a potential long-term answer under center. The decision to keep Dalton in the mix saw him handle the close stages of yesterday’s win, and he will be tasked with maintaining Carolina’s momentum against a Bills team coming off its bye.
Mickey Loomis: Saints Receiving Trade Calls
Given their 1-6 record, the Saints are an obvious candidate to adopt a seller’s stance on the trade front. A number of players have been linked to interest from contending teams, and general manager Mickey Loomis recently confirmed calls have been coming in. 
“I don’t know that we go in with any particular philosophy,” Loomis said about the trade deadline during an appearance on WWL radio (via ESPN’s Katherine Terrell). “We obviously have been the subject of a lot of rumors, I’m assuming, and we have gotten a few calls about different guys.”
Indeed, a long list of trade candidates has emerged recently in the case of New Orleans. A number of pending free agents could feasibly be dealt, while longtime defensive stalwarts like Cameron Jordan and Demario Davis have also been mentioned as players who could be on the move. Many see receiver Chris Olave and running back Alvin Kamara as key targets for trade suitors, but both would prefer to remain in New Orleans.
A report from earlier this week added cornerback Alontae Taylor to the group of Saints players drawing interest. The former second-rounder is playing out the final year of his rookie contract, but as a starting presence on New Orleans’ defense it would come as a surprise if a trade were to take place. At the age of 26, Taylor is certainly a candidate for a long-term pact this offseason.
A key factor in decisions on that front, of course, is the fact a new coaching staff is in place compared to last season. Loomis remains in place (as he has since 2002), but first-time head coach Kellen Moore could look to oversee a large degree of roster overhaul as the Saints look to establish a new, cost-controlled core. Things have not gone well in the win-loss department so far this season, but Loomis offered (via Terrell) a vote of confidence in Moore and his staff.
Loomis also noted how the 2025 campaign was always viewed as a developmental one for many of the Saints’ players. That of course includes quarterback Spencer Rattler and second-round rookie Tyler Shough, who could see the field at some point late in the year. Part of the Saints’ plan under center could depend on their record and overall outlook in the second half of the campaign, something which will in turn be shaped by their actions on the trade front.
Bills To Place S Taylor Rapp On IR
The Bills will have a number of reinforcements available on defense as early as this week. The unit will be without another notable figure for the time being, however. 
Head coach Sean McDermott said on Friday (via Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic) safety Taylor Rapp will be moved to injured reserve. As a a result, he is in line to miss at least the next four games. That period will presumably begin with Week 8 against the Panthers.
Rapp has been dealing with a knee injury since training camp. The 27-year-old has managed to play in each of Buffalo’s six games so far this season, handling a starting role. Instead of continuing to play through the ailment, however, Rapp will now turn his attention to recovery.
After playing out his rookie contract with the Rams, the former second-rounder took a one-year deal with Buffalo. Rapp handled a part-time role that season, doing enough to land a three-year Bills pact in the process. The Washington product started each of his appearances last season and continued that trend through the opening stages of the current campaign. Being without him for an extended period will deal a blow to a Bills secondary which could see cornerback Maxwell Hairston make his regular season debut as early as this week.
While the first-round rookie will be able to aid Buffalo’s pass defense, the team’s play against the run so far has been an issue. The Bills rank 31st in the NFL with an average of 156 yards allowed per game on the ground. Improving in that regard will be key moving forward. The team could have reinforcements along the defensive interior as early as Week 8.
The six-game suspensions issued to defensive linemen this offseason Larry Ogunjobi and Michael Hoecht have come to an end. As such, both veterans are back on the active roster and could suit up on Sunday. At this point, though, it remains to be seen if either of them will make their debuts in Week 8.
“Let’s get them integrated and get them rolling here,” McDermott said when asked about Ogunjobi and Hoecht returning (via ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg). “There’s certainly a conditioning piece. There is a physical piece to it as well, and then there’s a schematic piece to it also.”
Having at least one of Ogunjobi or Hoecht in place would be welcomed news on a Bills defense dealing with a number of short-term injuries at the moment. In any case, that unit will be without Rapp for the time being. It will be interesting to see how much time he misses and whether the issue can be fully resolved through a notable period on the sidelines.
Steelers Interested In Trading For WRs Jakobi Meyers, Calvin Ridley?
To no surprise, the Steelers are among the teams reported to be in the market for a receiver addition prior to the upcoming trade deadline. Specific targets on that front have now emerged. 
Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda reports Pittsburgh is interested in Jakobi Meyers. That comes as little surprise given the market in place for the pending free agent. Meyers is still open to being moved (as he was in the summer), and the Raiders now appear to be willing to swing a trade. Coming off a 1,000-yard campaign in 2024, Meyers is one of the top trade targets at the receiver position this year.
While he will have a strong market as a result, the same may not be true of Calvin Ridley. Per Pauline, the Titans veteran is also a target of the Steelers. Ridley topped 1,000 yards during his single campaign with the Jaguars in 2023 and did so again last year while debuting in Tennessee. The 30-year-old has not enjoyed the same level of success this season with the Titans undergoing a coaching change in the midst of quarterback Cam Ward‘s rookie campaign. Ridley has surpassed 57 receiving yards just once in 2025 and he has yet to score a touchdown.
The former Falcons first-rounder is playing out the second season of his four-year, $92MM free agent deal signed last spring. Ridley is therefore not a rental, and taking on even a portion of his $22.49MM base salary for this year would not be feasible for many suitors. His contract also contains $3MM already locked in for next season with a $1MM roster bonus due in March. The Titans recently granted Tyler Lockett‘s request to be released, so moving on from another veteran wideout as part of a rebuilding phase would not entirely come as a surprise.
Pauline adds that Jaylen Waddle is also on Pittsburgh’s radar, although the Dolphins are not expected to deal away the fifth-year receiver. Waddle (like Ridley) would be viewed as more than a rental in the event of a swap, and absorbing his contract would be challenging compared to other WR options. The Steelers have shown interest in notable wideout additions even before their offseason decisions to trade away George Pickens and add D.K. Metcalf. The team’s depth chart beyond the former Seahawk is a question mark, so a move of some kind would be feasible given Pittsburgh’s approach to the 2025 campaign.
At this point, the Steelers have roughly $6.3MM in cap space. That figure could change if a restructure or cost-shedding move is to be made before the November 4 deadline, something which would signal a trade being imminent. Pittsburgh remains a team to watch closely over the coming days, and in particular it will be interesting to see if Meyers or Ridley become heavily linked to a trade there.
Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy To Start When Healthy; Week 9 Return Being Targeted
Carson Wentz handled quarterback duties once again during the Vikings’ lopsided loss on Thursday. By the time Minnesota plays again, though, J.J. McCarthy may be back in the fold. 
McCarthy has been sidelined since suffering an ankle injury in Week 2. The 2024 first-rounder has dressed as the Vikings’ emergency No. 3 quarterback in each of the past two games, a further sign he is nearing a return to full health. That could be the case in time for Week 9. When McCarthy is back at full strength, he will return to QB1 duties.
“If J.J. is healthy, J.J. will play,” head coach Kevin O’Connell confirmed after yesterday’s game (via ESPN’s Kevin Seifert). “That’s been the case since the injury. That’s always been kind of my mindset, and I believe we’re right — hopefully — around the corner from seeing him be healthy, have a week of preparation and go compete.”
With Minnesota having played on a Thursday, the team now has an extended period to prepare for Week 9. The Vikings will take on the Lions in their next contest, and having McCarthy available would of course be a welcomed development for the team’s offense in the short term and his ability to continue developing over the remainder of the season. McCarthy, 22, missed his entire rookie campaign while recovering from meniscus surgery before his current stretch of absences due to a high ankle sprain.
Aside from his fourth-quarter performance against the Bears in Week 1, McCarthy has not met expectations when on the field so far. Improving on his early showings once healthy will be critical for the Michigan product’s long-term development and Minnesota’s playoff chances. The Vikings sit at 3-4 on the year at a time when each of the NFC North’s other teams sport a winning record.
Last night’s game was the latest example of the “significant left shoulder injury” Wentz has been playing through for most his five-game run as the team’s starter. The 32-year-old said (via Seifert) Thursday’s performance included “quite possibly” the most pain he has played through in an NFL contest. Wentz will have time to heal provided McCarthy starts in Week 9, however, something which looks to be the team’s plan at this point.
Bengals LB Logan Wilson Requests Trade
Logan Wilson came up as a trade candidate this week, being mentioned as a player who could move after the Bengals reduced his role. Now, Wilson can be added to the growing list of Bengals to have asked to be moved in recent years.
The veteran linebacker has requested a trade, ESPN.com’s Ben Baby reports. Although Wilson has started all seven Cincinnati games this season, rookies Demetrius Knight and Barrett Carter have cut into his role. Wilson is tied to a four-year, $36MM contract, a deal that runs through the 2027 season.
Since 2023, the Bengals have received trade requests from Jonah Williams, Tee Higgins, Trey Hendrickson and Germaine Pratt. Not known as being particularly accommodating on the trade or contract fronts, the team gave into none of those asks.
Williams played out his contract year — at right tackle, after the team signed Orlando Brown Jr. — and left as a 2024 free agent. Requesting a trade in March 2024, Higgins played last season on the franchise tag. Although Hendrickson trade drama did not become lead NFL story until this offseason, the All-Pro defensive end submitted his request in 2024. It did not move the needle. Weeks after Pratt requested a trade, the Bengals cut him.
The Pratt release came after the Bengals drafted both Knight (Round 2) and Carter (Round 4). With Wilson still rostered, those selections marginalized Pratt, who is now on his third team of the year (Bengals, Raiders, Colts). Carter has usurped Wilson in the Bengals’ linebacking hierarchy, playing 100% of the team’s defensive snaps over the past two games. Knight has held a steadier role this season, and he played almost every snap over Cincinnati’s past two contests.
A mainstay at linebacker since the Bengals drafted him in the 2020 third round, Wilson played 100% of the team’s defensive snaps in Week 5. Over the past two games, however, his usage has dipped considerably. Wilson played 19.7% of Cincy’s defensive snaps in Week 6 and 45.6% of the plays in Week 7. Al Golden has pivoted to the rookies on his second level, with Zac Taylor reiterating the team’s commitment to the Knight-Carter duo, leaving Wilson as a part-timer. Not long after that switch, the sixth-year veteran is attempting to force the issue.
While the Bengals are famous for not budging in these situations, a report this week indicated they would be open to dealing Wilson. The former Super Bowl starter signed a $9MM-per-year extension during the 2023 offseason, doing so weeks after the Bengals re-signed Pratt. With Lou Anarumo now in Indianapolis, the Bengals changed up at linebacker. Wilson (65 career starts) is tied to a $5.37MM base salary this season.
Just more than $3MM remains on that contract now, and if the Bengals move on just before the Nov. 4 deadline, barely $2.5MM in base salary would remain for 2025. No guarantees are in place, as this is a Bengals contract, beyond this season. That would give a team flexibility with a 29-year-old defender who had been a regular for years in Cincy. Wilson posted four straight 100-plus-tackle seasons, getting to 104 last season despite missing six games, and Pro Football Focus ranked him as a top-25 off-ball LB in 2022 and ’24. He sits 47th on that list this season.
Broncos In Market For WR Upgrade?
The Broncos just completed one of the most shocking comebacks in NFL history, reeling off a 33-point quarter to stun a Giants team that held a 19-0 lead at one point. The win moved Denver to 5-2, which remains good enough for the AFC West lead.
This franchise has not been in a strong buyer’s position ahead of a trade deadline in many years. Selling has been far more common here. Between 2018 and 2022, the Broncos unloaded Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders, Von Miller and Bradley Chubb at deadlines. Offers came in for Patrick Surtain and Jerry Jeudy after the team’s slow start in 2023, and while Denver was not exactly a seller last year, the team did move on from Baron Browning (to the Cardinals). This season, though, teams are monitoring the Broncos as a buyer.
Specifically, clubs have Denver on the radar to make a trade for a wide receiver upgrade, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones notes. Labeling the Broncos as “perhaps the biggest contender for a wide receiver” at the deadline, Jones indicates teams are looking at the division-leading team in terms of how aggressive it will be — as this is a rare spot for the Broncos.
The Broncos will attempt to hold off an increasingly high-powered Chiefs team that has won every division title since Denver’s 2015 Super Bowl season. Armed with a high-level defense once again, the Broncos will need to consider a move to bolster their offense.
Denver ranks 17th in scoring, 11th in yardage and 14th in EPA per play. The team, however, has looked sluggish (through three quarters, at least) on that side of the ball during much of its four-game win streak. It took a Herculean comeback to avoid a Giants upset, and the winless Jets held the Broncos to 13 points. The Giants rally reminded of the Broncos’ surge in Philadelphia. Bo Nix has struggled before catching fire in the fourth quarter. That would not appear sustainable, pointing to the team needing to examine need areas.
As this space mentioned this summer, the Broncos are highly Courtland Sutton-dependent at wide receiver. They have not seen a No. 2 option step up. Both Troy Franklin (269 receiving yards) and Marvin Mims (234) have produced at points, but neither is a particularly reliable target at this stage of their careers. Third-round rookie Pat Bryant has only five receptions for 46 yards, working as a clear backup. Evan Engram has not been the team’s de facto WR2 just yet, either, totaling 22 catches for 179 yards in six games played. While Sean Payton regularly centered Saints offenses around one receiver and used a rotating cast to fill out the corps, it is worth wondering if the Broncos are a man short here.
The team was loosely connected to Deebo Samuel, Cooper Kupp and Keenan Allen this offseason. Kupp exceeded Denver’s price range, while only the Commanders made an offer for Samuel. Perhaps more notably, the Broncos were eyeing Emeka Egbuka in Round 1. The Buccaneers, however, surprised many — given their WR depth at the time — by nabbing him at No. 19. Denver then drafted Jahdae Barron at No. 20.
With Nix tied to a rookie deal through at least 2026, the Broncos have some flexibility here. Though, they have just $5.1MM in cap space, with the second and final year of Russell Wilson dead money ($32MM) affecting the payroll.
Neither Chris Olave nor Rashid Shaheed were on the Saints’ roster under Payton, but Broncos senior offensive assistant Pete Carmichael used a similar offense from 2022-23. Denver already dealt with New Orleans at WR this year, sending Devaughn Vele to the Saints for fourth- and seventh-round picks.
With the Raiders perhaps unwilling to send Jakobi Meyers to a division rival, Payton’s Saints ties could be notable. Though, the Saints have shown interest in extending Olave. If the Dolphins hang onto Jaylen Waddle, too, there might not be many big names that move this year at receiver. It will be interesting to see if the Broncos join the buyer fray.
Steelers Looking To Add WR To Maximize Success With Aaron Rodgers
The Steelers are interested in adding a wide receiver before the NFL’s trade deadline, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
This is nothing new for Pittsburgh, who are constantly mentioned in receiver trade rumors. They have been as active in the position’s market as any other team in the last year, acquiring Mike Williams before the 2024 deadline, landing D.K. Metcalf in a blockbuster move in March, and sending George Pickens to the Cowboys in May. Despite interest in adding another wideout before the season, the Steelers decided to see what their offense would look like with Aaron Rodgers under center.
The results so far have been encouraging. Pittsburgh is 4-2 with sole possession of first place in the AFC North. Behind them are the 3-4 Bengals, who are hoping that Joe Flacco can keep their offense afloat until a potential late-season return from Joe Burrow. The 2-5 Browns are reportedly targeting a top quarterback prospect in the 2025 draft, indicating they have no intention of competing this year. The Ravens are 1-5 and enter Week 8 desperately needing Lamar Jackson to return from his hamstring injury before their season slips completely away.
As a result, the Steelers have a clear opportunity to run away with the division and even compete for a top AFC playoff seed. That has created a desire to maximize the team’s chances of making a run while they have Rodgers, per The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo. Running back Jaylen Warren is averaging 36.8 receiving yards per game and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith has deployed all three of his tight ends effectively, but the Steelers could use more consistent production from their receiver room.
Rodgers has established a good connection with Metcalf, but Pittsburgh’s other wideouts have not stepped up. Calvin Austin went quiet after a 70-yard performance in Week 1 and missed the last three games with a shoulder injury. 2024 third-rounder Roman Wilson has only five targets on 92 snaps despite hopes of a second-year breakout. Depth options Ben Skowronek and Scott Miller have not offered much, either.
Whether it’s adding a more reliable rotational piece or a legitimate WR2, the Steelers seem intent on adding a wide receiver in the coming weeks, according to FOX Sports’ Eric Williams. Unlike last year, the positions trade market isn’t particularly hot, which might mean that Pittsburgh has less competition to acquire a receiver, but also that there are fewer players for them to target.
NFL Dissatisfied With Onside Kick Setup
Offseason rule changes are regularly dictated by which way the league office leans on a particular issue. The 2026 offseason may bring legitimate momentum to changing the onside kick.
NFL executive VP Troy Vincent said it may be time for a true discussion about altering the play, with CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones noting the onside kick’s increasingly anticlimactic status has disappointed the league. This language once applied to the extra point, and it was then moved back to the 15-yard line. That has brought far more compelling sequences compared to the setup still used at the college level.
Vincent indicated it may be time to revisit a fourth-and-15 alternative here. A frequent offseason topic, the fourth-and-15 alternative has not gained serious traction in the recent past. The league tabled the matter this offseason. Back in 2020, however, some support for the fourth-and-15 play existed. Vincent’s comments are certainly notable from that angle, and the onside kick recovery data has shifted toward the play being a near-foregone conclusion since the seminal rule change banned running starts from kickoff coverage units.
Only one onside kick (out of 21 tries) produced a recovery this season. In 2024, teams trying them were 3-for-50. Prior to the dynamic kickoff’s 2024 implementation — which removed surprise onside efforts and limited declared onside tries to fourth quarters — success rate fell below 8% four times from 2018-23 (per Odds Shark). The NFL banned running starts on kickoffs, as a safety measure, in 2018. From 2010-17, non-surprise onside kicks were recovered by kicking teams 13.2% of the time.
The league will be highly unlikely to reintroduce running starts on onside plays, and the dynamic kickoff looks here to stay. Kick returns are up significantly, thanks to the league moving the touchback line from the 30 to the 35 this offseason, so the fourth-and-15 alternative — or something comparable — will be a storyline to monitor going into the spring meetings, where rule changes launch.
It can be argued teams should not have a play that gives them a reasonable chance of stealing a possession, but the running-start era did provide better odds at recoveries. Fourth-and-15 plays would favor those with high-end passing attacks, but they would undoubtedly inject more drama into late-game sequences.
From changing the extra point to adding a seventh playoff team per conference to adjusting the late-season schedule to ensure Christmas Day games occur, the league acts frequently to make viewer-friendly changes. It appears momentum exists for a significant change on special teams, one that will make the quarterback position slightly more valuable than it already is.