Enduring Colts Foundation Makes Surprise Return To Relevance
In 2018, the Colts submitted one of the more memorable turnarounds in recent NFL history. After Andrew Luck missed all of the 2017 season with a troublesome shoulder injury, he soared to Comeback Player of the Year honors and piloted an Indianapolis divisional-round run. The Colts zoomed from 1-5 to 10-6, eliminating the Texans in Houston's traditional Saturday-afternoon wild-card slot.
Not unlike the Saints' 2017 draft class that catalyzed a late-career Drew Brees return to postseason bookings, the Colts' 2018 group positioned Luck for a reemergence after an injury-plagued period. The Colts hit on several core players in that draft, plugging five rookies into regular roles for a franchise that appeared poised to vault to a Super Bowl-contending perch alongside the quickly forming Patrick Mahomes-Lamar Jackson-Josh Allen troika that came to define the post-Tom Brady AFC years.
Luck's abrupt retirement obviously scuttled those plans, setting the Colts back years and bringing about a nonstop quarterback carousel that moved the franchise into mediocrity. As this space foreshadowed this summer, the Colts became just the second team since the 1970 merger to use eight different Week 1 starting quarterbacks in a nine-season span (Washington is the other, doing so from 2017-24). The player that moved Indy toward this solo tier, Daniel Jones, has, to the surprise of just about everyone, restored the Luck-era core to relevancy and has benefited from the foundation Chris Ballard stubbornly clung to in subsequent years.
The Colts have glided to 6-1, toppling two five-win squads (Broncos, Chargers). Jones following Geno Smith, Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold's resurgent path has required quality showings from much of Ballard's core, one essentially deemed inconsequential after the organization's QB carousel finally crashed during Anthony Richardson's historically inaccurate season.
NFL Mailbag: Trades, Giants, 49ers, Stroud
This week's edition of the PFR mailbag touches on the wide receiver angle as it pertains to the trade deadline, the Giants' offseason outlook and the 49ers' and Texans' quarterback situations.
Ian asks:
If the Dolphins and Saints aren't posturing about keeping [Jaylen] Waddle and [Chris] Olave, which WRs are truly available at the deadline? Will the Steelers land one?
First off, I would agree in thinking neither Waddle nor Olave will (or should) be dealt. Both teams require an influx of young talent to rebound from where they are now. Trading away players in their 20s who have term remaining on their deals is the opposite of what Miami and New Orleans need to be doing.
With that in mind, let’s focus on pending free agents who have been mentioned as trade candidates. Jakobi Meyers is the top name to watch; he asked to be dealt this summer, the Raiders are (all but) out of playoff contention and he topped 1,000 yards last year. Teams have called about Meyers, and he would no doubt welcome the chance to help his market value on a contender as opposed to riding out the season in Vegas – something the team would apparently be onboard with as well.
Giants, Brian Daboll, Cam Skattebo Fined For Concussion Protocol Violations
In the wake of their Week 6 game, the Giants have been the subject of an investigation over their handling of the league’s concussion protocol. That process has now concluded with discipline being handed down. 
The organization has been fined $200K, per a joint NFL-NFLPA announcement. In addition, head coach Brian Daboll has been issued a $100K fine. Running back Cam Skattebo has also received a financial penalty; the fourth-round rookie has been fined $15K.
During the Giants’ Thursday night contest against the Eagles, quarterback Jaxson Dart was taken to the medical tent to be evaluated for a potential concussion. Daboll and Skattebo entered the tent to check on Dart, with Daboll also engaging in a heated discussion with the team’s medical staff. In the immediate aftermath of the game, it was widely believed discipline of some kind would be forthcoming. Today’s news thus comes as little surprise.
“While the parties agreed that Coach Daboll’s and Mr. Skattebo’s actions had no actual impact on the exam or the care that Mr. Dart received, their conduct was inconsistent with and demonstrated a disregard for the concussion protocol’s requirements and therefore constituted a violation,” the announcement reads in part.
Dart was able to return to the game and then played every snap last week against the Broncos. He is in line to remain the Giants’ starter moving forward barring any missed time due to injury. Both Daboll and Skattebo issued apologies for their actions following the incident, and the announcement notes “immediate remedial steps” have been taken to ensure a repeat of this situation will not take place moving forward.
Jets Expected To Make Change At QB
After Jets owner Woody Johnson made remarks following the team’s latest loss criticizing the play of starting quarterback Justin Fields, there was plenty of speculation that the team could be close to demoting him from his starting role. According to the latest from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, most people believe that veteran Tyrod Taylor will be starting for New York this weekend. 
Fields’ boom or bust performances this season have been dramatic in their dichotomy. In three strong performances, Fields has averaged 294 yards and three touchdowns when combining passing and rushing stats. In three poor performances, two of which contained early exits, Fields has averaged 73 combined yards with no scores.
Fields has done an impressive job of limiting turnovers — something he’s struggled with in the past — despite being on pace to get sacked a career-high number of times this season. He’s yet to throw an interception but has lost two of three fumbles. The most important stat — the one that has team ownership taking shots at him to reporters — is that over six starts to open the season, Fields has yet to win a game with the Green & White.
To be fair, neither has Taylor. In his lone start and in the times he’s spelled Fields after early exits, Taylor hasn’t seen much more success than Fields. But he also hasn’t been working with the first-team offense, something that changed this week as the two split reps on the first team. Taylor has seen more success than Fields elsewhere in his career, though.
While Fields career outside of a six-game run as an injury replacement for the Steelers has seen losing stints with the Bears and Jets, Taylor has seen winning campaigns — and even a Pro Bowl campaign — in his years of experience. The only problem is that this came during his three-year stretch with the Bills — the only years in which he was ever a full-time starter — that took place eight years ago.
At this point, it’s difficult to say which passer gives New York the best chance at earning its first win: the obviously struggling Fields or the 36-year-old Taylor. In fact, nothing has been announced as to who will start for Gang Green this weekend. Rapoport posits that rookie head coach Aaron Glenn is, perhaps, purposely shrouding what his decision will be on Sunday, in order to give his opponents as little information to prepare with as possible as he seeks any advantage in an attempt to win for the first time as an NFL head coach.
It looks like Glenn will keep his cards close to the chest, making this a game-time decision. Rapoport has called out the first-year coach’s poker face, though, voicing many people’s belief that Taylor will replace Fields as the starter on Sunday.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/24/25
Here are today’s minor moves as we head into the eighth weekend of the regular season:
New Orleans Saints
- Claimed off waivers (from Ravens): TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden
- Waived: RB Velus Jones
New York Jets
- Claimed off waivers (from Vikings): LB Kobe King
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: TE Eric Saubert
Tennessee Titans
- Signed from practice squad: WR Mason Kinsey
Mitchell-Paden, an undrafted free agent back in 2022, saw the first regular season snaps of his NFL career earlier this year as the Ravens dealt with the absence of a then-injured Isaiah Likely. Mitchell-Paden was waived yesterday in order to make room for practice squad quarterback Tyler Huntley, and New Orleans took the initiative to bring him on, cutting Jones, who had been promoted from the practice squad on Tuesday, to make room on the 53-man roster.
King was waived so that Minnesota could make room for running back Aaron Jones to come off of injured reserve, and Kinsey is getting promoted from the practice squad to the 53-man roster in Tennessee after appearing as an elevation is last week’s game. Saubert’s brief stint on the free agent market appears to have had some procedural purpose. Seattle released the veteran on Wednesday, and no other roster spot juggling was done before the team signed him back today.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/24/25
Here are Friday’s only practice squad transactions:
Dallas Cowboys
- Released (with injury settlement): WR Jalen Brooks
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: WR Tyrone Broden
- Released: WR Tyler Scott
The Seahawks made the opposite transaction last Wednesday, cutting the undrafted rookie out of Arkansas to bring in Scott. This time, Broden will displace Scott as the two trade places.
Dolphins’ Jaelan Phillips More Valuable Than Bradley Chubb?
After a 1-6 start to the season, the Dolphins are expected to be sellers at this year’s trade deadline.
No position has a hotter market than edge rusher, and Miami has two that could be moved: Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb. Teams are interested in both players, and a recent report suggests that the team is more likely to deal them than wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. The Eagles are thought to be pursuing an edge rusher, and both Phillips and Chubb spent time under defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, according to Zach Berman of The Athletic.
Phillips is believed to have more value, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The 2021 first-rounder was an ascending player before season-ending injuries in 2023 and 2024, and he appears to be back this season. He only has two sacks and two tackles for loss in seven games, but underlying metrics from Pro Football Focus (subscription required) indicate a stronger performance. Phillips leads the Dolphins with 22 pressures and a 18.2% pass rush win rate. The latter statistic, along with his 15.5% pressure rate, are the best marks of his career; his closest season was his breakout campaign in 2022.
Chubb has four sacks and five tackles for loss with a similar snap share to Phillips. His performance is a solid return after tearing his ACL in 2024 with a pace that is slightly behind his 11.0-sack, 11-TFL 2023. However, his 15 pressures and 10.5 pass rush win rate (via PFF) indicate a less consistent ability to get to the passer relative to his younger teammate.
Both players could have value to other teams in the long-term, too. Phillips could be an extension candidate for his new team, making him more valuable. However, he could could also net Miami a 2027 compensatory pick if he leaves in free agency next spring. The Dolphins are currently projected to be over the 2026 cap with only 34 players under contract, per OverTheCap, so they may not have enough space to offer Phillips a competitive extension. Given the difficult in predicting the compensatory pick distribution every year, Miami might want to get what they can right now.
Chubb, meanwhile, is due $39.5MM in 2026 and 2027 with no guarantees. If his production so far this year continues, he may be worth more to another team at that price than he is to the Dolphins with cap hits over $31MM in those years. If Miami is planning to part ways with him this offseason anyway, they may want to take advantage of his hot start and move him now rather than risk his value dropping in the offseason.
Despite the interest in their edge rushers, the Dolphins seem hesitant to engage in trade talks with general manager Chris Grier and head coach Mike McDaniel both uncertain of their job security, according FOX Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano. Reports have generally indicated that both are safe, but the Dolphins’ losing ways could force a change eventually.
Either way, Miami should be considering trade offers for both Phillips and Chubbs. It’s unlikely that either can take their performance to a level that would change the team’s fortunes this season, and the Dolphins probably need more draft capital for cheap talent more than veteran edge rushers on expensive contracts.
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.