Bengals Contacted Several Teams On QBs; Cincinnati Considered Derek Carr
The Bengals went from throwing support behind Jake Browning to frantically seeking an outside upgrade. Joe Flacco became that option, being sent across Ohio early this week in a Day 3 pick-swap exchange.
Prior to landing on Flacco — a development that surprised the Browns — the Bengals looked into many reserve QBs around the league and one who recently wrapped his NFL career. In addition to calling the Eagles on Sam Howell and the Seahawks on Drew Lock, the Bengals contacted the Texans on Davis Mills, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport.
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A long-hesitant franchise regarding the acquisition of players via in-season trades, the Bengals also made a call on Derek Carr. Rapoport indicates the recently retired passer became part of Cincinnati’s search. Had this progressed, the team would have needed to make a deal with the Saints for Carr’s rights. Like they did with Sean Payton when he stepped away in 2022, the Saints hold Carr’s rights after his mid-offseason retirement.
Carr did not enter the offseason assured of retaining his starting job. Kellen Moore took over in New Orleans, leading to rumors about a QB change — even in the event Carr kept playing. Two years remained on his Saints contract. Carr was not open to a pay cut on the four-year, $150MM deal and remained in the Saints’ plans for several weeks between Moore’s arrival and the post-draft retirement decision. As of September, Carr has not slammed the door on returning. But with the Saints needing compensation, that introduced a wrinkle they may have kept the 11-year veteran in retirement.
This certainly would have presented an interesting opportunity for Carr, as the Bengals paid up to retain their high-end Ja’Marr Chase–Tee Higgins duo this offseason. Carr struggled to stay healthy in New Orleans, running into a few injuries. Most notably, a shoulder malady sustained in 2023 plagued him and ultimately led the ex-Raider to retirement. Should health circumstances improve, that could conceivably change the equation. Carr did gauge the trade market this offseason. But Carr is 34, limiting his window. During the summer, a report also indicated the former playoff starter is not likely to return to the league.
The Bengals made calls to teams with three quarterbacks and those with viable practice squad options, Rapoport adds. Mills obviously remains in the Texans‘ plans, having signed a one-year extension that moves his contract through 2026 in September. The Texans also rebuffed trade inquiries on Mills in 2023, keeping he and Case Keenum behind C.J. Stroud that season. A 2021 third-round pick, Mills has played his entire career in Houston. The team replaced him as their primary starter via the Stroud selection but still values him in the QB2 post.
Cincinnati did not inquire about Giants veterans, Kirk Cousins or Ryan Tannehill. In not making Tannehill part of their QB search, the Bengals wanted a player who had been active recently, Rapoport adds. Tannehill has not played since the 2023 season, when the Titans benched him for second-round rookie Will Levis. Tannehill had been connected to the Vikings early this offseason and later came up for the Raiders following Aidan O’Connell‘s injury, but the 37-year-old passer remains out of football.
Flacco, 40, will make a start despite being acquired Tuesday afternoon. The Bengals sent Flacco cutups on his flight from Cleveland, per Rapoport, as he was getting up to speed in Zac Taylor‘s offense by Tuesday night. With the Browns giving Flacco two weeks to prepare before his first start with the team in 2023, today’s shorter-notice Packers matchup presents a daunting assignment. For the foreseeable future, however, the Bengals will have Flacco at the controls.
49ers WR Jauan Jennings Playing With Broken Ribs
There was a bit of a scuffle on the 49ers’ sideline in today’s loss to the Buccaneers. Wide receiver Jauan Jennings was seen arguing with head coach Kyle Shanahan, and when asked about it, Jennings directed the media to his head coach for any information. According to Vic Tafur of The Athletic, Jennings also added that he has been playing with five broken ribs. 
Seeing how injured the 49ers roster is at this moment, it’s no wonder Jennings is pushing through. The team’s reserve/non-football injury list and reserve/physically unable to perform list still each hold a player, 11 players are currently on injured reserve, and 16 more appear on the injury report. Those numbers don’t even include the loss of four-time first-team All-Pro Fred Warner, who suffered a season-ending ankle injury today. With the roster so thin throughout, any players dealing with injuries that can be played through are likely being asked to play through those injuries.
Playing through broken ribs is nothing uncommon. Multiple quarterbacks renowned for their toughness — Steve McNair, Drew Brees, Matthew Stafford, Ben Roethlisberger — reportedly played through rib injuries. Last year, it was reported that Saints running back Alvin Kamara played through a rib injury, as well. That certainly doesn’t mean it’s a pleasant or easy thing to do, though.
Whether or not the source of the animosity on the sideline stemmed from Jennings’ ribs is unknown, but the veteran receiver was clearly dealing with frustrations on and off the field today. Until his teammates start disappearing from injury reports and injured lists, Jennings will likely continue to work through those frustrations.
Ravens Expect Lamar Jackson, Roquan Smith Back After Bye
7:48pm: Per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh doubled down on the “hope” that Jackson would be ready to play after the team’s Week 7 bye. He told the media today that “he expects both (Jackson) and (linebacker) Roquan Smith to be back after” the week off.
Baltimore saw left tackle Ronnie Stanley, cornerback Marlon Humphrey, and safety Kyle Hamilton all return to play today after missing the Week 5 massacre. Adding Jackson and Smith, the two players usually designated to communicate with the sideline when healthy, would bring the Ravens back almost to a fully healthy starting line up.
12:58pm: The Ravens are currently in the midst of their second straight game without superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson. The two-time MVP was inactive on Sunday against the Rams because of a hamstring injury. The Ravens have a bye next week, and they’re “hopeful” that Jackson will come back after that, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Baltimore entered the season as a popular Super Bowl pick, but injuries and an uncharacteristically poor defense have helped lead to a dismal 1-4 start. With their defense allowing 400-plus yards and over 35 points a game, it’s imperative for Jackson to return if the Ravens are going to keep pace with the division-leading Steelers (3-1) in the AFC North.
The Ravens figured they had a capable backup to Jackson when they signed former Cowboy Cooper Rush to a two-year contract with $4.2MM in guarantees last offseason. Rush’s first start in Jackson’s place was a disaster, though. He went 14 of 20 for 179 yards and three interceptions in a 44-10 blowout loss to the Texans last Sunday. The Ravens and Rams are still in the first half of their Week 6 matchup as of this writing, but Rush has already tossed another INT.
While Rush has struggled as a passer this season, the 31-year-old has also never been a threat with his legs. It’s the opposite with Jackson, who pairs his excellent passing with all-time great skills as a runner. The 28-year-old ranks first in history in rushing yards among QBs (6,339). Team sources indicated earlier this week that the Ravens don’t expect Jackson to get back on the field until he looks like “his normal, dual-threat self.” It turns out that could be as early as Week 8 against the Bears.
Penn State QB Drew Allar Out For Season
The 2026 NFL Draft is still far off into the future, but an injury yesterday may have made a big impact on how things will turn out next April. Often viewed as a potential first-round pick, Penn State quarterback Drew Allar may not be able to reach the heights many expected for him after suffering what looked to be a season-ending ankle injury in a loss to Northwestern on Saturday, per ESPN’s Field Yates. 
Despite being the backup to Sean Clifford in his first year with the Nittany Lions, Allar saw plenty of garbage time snaps as a true freshman. Former head coach James Franklin‘s statement that the injury will end Allar’s season comes six games into his senior year. An injury redshirt is only available to a player who has appeared in four or fewer games, and because the team decided to burn his redshirt with 10 garbage time appearance in his freshman year, the injury will also end Allar’s collegiate career as his runs out of eligibility.
Allar came out of Medina HS (OH) as a consensus five-star quarterback. 247Sports listed him as the top passer of the Class of 2022, but other recruiting sites lauded recruits like Cade Klubnik, Conner Weigman, and Ty Simpson over Allar. Allar committed to Penn State in March of his junior year and never wavered on his commitment. Ohio State, a program a short two-hour drive away, offered to keep him in his home state just before his senior year, but Allar stuck with the Nittany Lions and went to a school twice as far from home.
Following what could’ve been a redshirt season, Allar took over as the starting quarterback for his sophomore campaign. Allar was lauded for his poise as a young starter. In his first full season, he delivered an impressive 25 passing touchdowns to only two interceptions. While the mistake-free football is a trait to be desired, his offense often lacked efficiency and explosiveness. A completion percentage of 59.9 and a yards per attempt of only 6.8 help underline why Allar barely managed to eclipse 200 yards per game.
He was able to improve on both numbers as a junior, completing 66.5 percent of his passes at 8.4 yards per attempt, but his increase in risk-taking led to a less desirable touchdown to interception ratio of 24:8. In six games this year, Allar seemed to regress in those key metrics. Though he was still completing 64.8 percent of his passes this year, he was only on track for 16 touchdowns through a 12-game season and had already thrown three interceptions. With his yards per attempt dropping back down to 6.9, Allar only averaged 183.3 yards per game as a senior.
Another criticism on Allar was his effectiveness in big games. His three losses as a sophomore were all against teams ranked 11th or higher. In those games, he completed only 45.2 percent of his passes for 185.3 yards per game. As a junior, Penn State lost to the only top 10 team they faced, lost the Big Ten Championship game, and after two playoff victories, lost to Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff’s semifinal round. Even the two playoff wins didn’t help Allar’s case as, over those five games against strong competition, he completed only 54.3 percent of his passes for six touchdowns and four interceptions while averaging 161 yards per game.
Allar only got a shot at one big game this year, losing to a sixth-ranked Oregon team. Despite the game going to two overtimes, Allar only amassed 137 yards while completing 56 percent of his passes for two touchdowns and an interception. Instead of using this final season to make a statement for deserving to be selected early in the draft, Allar’s shortened senior year displayed more of the same with two losses to unranked UCLA and Northwestern teams adding insult to injury.
The draw for Allar comes in potential. At 6-foot-5, 235 pounds, the 21-year-old has prototypical size for the position. Though it wasn’t on display a ton, he has a strong arm and a pretty good deep ball that saw success when utilized at Penn State. His knack for avoiding turnovers is a huge draw, and he can move pretty well for his size.
His inability to put up big numbers could be attributed to a lot of outside factors — the talent of Penn State’s running backs and offensive line during his tenure shifting focus to the run game, playcalling, an underwhelming group of receivers. Regardless, we’ve seen plenty of scouts in the past fall in love with athletes who lacked production but oozed potential. Those scouts will also have to look past this most recent injury, but that will be easier to do when more information has come out.
Penn State has produced a decent number of quarterbacks over the past 10 years, but Christian Hackenberg, Trace McSorley, and Clifford have done little to set a good precedent for the school in the NFL. Allar’s focus will now shift towards being the one to buck that trend as he attempts to find success in the NFL. Over the next several months, we should get a clearer idea of how scouts are viewing Allar as a prospect following these developments.
Packers Sign K Lucas Havrisik
OCTOBER 12: McManus is among the Packers’ inactives for today. As a result, it will indeed be Havrisik handling kicking duties for at least one game.
OCTOBER 11: With Brandon McManus‘ status in question, the Packers auditioned a pair of kickers earlier this week. One of those was Lucas Havrisik, and he now has a deal in place. 
The Packers announced on Saturday that Havrisik has been signed to the active roster. That means he will be available to the team for tomorrow’s game against the Bengals. Green Bay had two open roster spots heading into today, making the decision to sign an insurance option a relatively easy one.
McManus is dealing with a quad injury, one head coach Matt LaFleur deemed a “major concern.” In spite of that, McManus said on Thursday he plans on playing in Week 6. In case that does not wind up happening, it will be Havrisik taking on kicking duties in his place. The Packers could have turned to International Player Pathway Program member Mark McNamee, but he will remain on the practice squad at this time.
Havrisik kicked in nine games for the Rams last season. During that period, the 26-year-old was perfect from within 40 yards. Beyond that distance, however, he only went four for nine; Havrisik also missed three of his 22 extra point attempts. His stock was boosted this spring during a spell with the UFL’s Arlington Renegades which included conversions on 22 of 25 field goal kicks.
The 2-1-1 Packers are coming off their bye week, and they will be expected to deliver a strong scoring output given the struggles of the Bengals’ defense. The kicking game may not be particularly relevant depending on how things play out, but it will nevertheless be interesting to see monitor McManus’ status for Sunday and beyond. In the event he misses any time, Green Bay’s contingency plan is in place.
Mexico City To Host NFL Game In 2026
In recent years, the NFL has explored a number of new markets for international games. One reason for that has been the inaccessibility of Mexico City for staging games, but that will not be the case next year. 
Commissioner Roger Goodell announced earlier this month (via the Associated Press) the league will once again hold an international game in Mexico City. Renovations to Azteca Stadium have been ongoing in anticipation of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Starting next season, though, a return will take place.
A total of four games have been played at Azteca Stadium to date, covering a span from 2016-22. The Chiefs-Rams game scheduled to be played there in 2018 had to be relocated due to field conditions. That will no doubt be a concern on the league’s part ahead of its return to Mexico City, but a regular season contest is being planned for next year. It is unknown at this point which teams will be taking part.
The current campaign includes seven overseas games, but expanding that figure has long been known as an NFL priority. As such, it would come as no surprise if Mexico City became a staple of the International Series moving forward. In any event, a key element of future international games will be the position of the NFLPA in terms of issues related to travel, playing surfaces and recovery. This year, positive reviews have generally been the common perspective on those fronts.
“I was pleased to hear from players — a lot of very positive comments — and that the clubs on this trip took a lot of that seriously and were listening to players,” NFLPA interim executive director David White said during an interview with Mike Jones of The Athletic (subscription required). “That’s our primary concern: Are our players being listened to?… So, I was very pleased with that overarching experience — and there were certain issues that people raised — but for the most part, the clubs on these trips seemed like they were doing a pretty good job.”
A setup in which 16 regular season games are played outside the United States on an annual basis – one international game per team per year – is the NFL’s target at this point. That could very well feature one or more contests taking place in Mexico City each season, depending on how next year’s return plays out.
Chiefs Inquiring About Running Backs
While the Nov. 4 trade deadline is still three weeks away, there has already been plenty of activity in the NFL. Three deals have taken place this week: Joe Flacco went from Cleveland to Cincinnati, while the Ravens and Chargers swapped defenders, and the Browns and Jaguars exchanged cornerbacks. That’s just the beginning, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who hears that there will be upward of a dozen more trades before the deadline.
The Chiefs, three-time Super Bowl winners and five-time AFC champions since 2019, have been aggressive at the deadline during their marvelous Patrick Mahomes–Andy Reid run. Months before their latest Super Bowl berth, they swung two pre-deadline deals in October 2024, bringing in wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and pass rusher Joshua Uche. A year later, general manager Brett Veach is in the market for help at running back, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com report. Veach will face competition from the division-rival Chargers, who are also looking to address their backfield.
While the Chiefs rank a respectable 12th in rushing yards per game (120.0), Mahomes has done more damage than their backs. The future Hall of Fame signal-caller leads the team in rushing yards (190) and has averaged a lofty 6.8 per attempt. Meanwhile, RBs Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt have hovered around the 4.0 yards-per-carry mark during a sluggish 2-3 start for Kansas City. Neither player has served as a bell cow this season.
Pacheco, who missed 10 regular-season games in 2024 with a fractured fibula, has amassed 163 yards on 39 carries in 2025. Veach was unwilling to authorize a Pacheco extension during the offseason, and his stock hasn’t gone up since then. After re-signing on a one-year, $1.5MM deal last March, Hunt has picked up a so-so 164 yards on 43 attempts, though he has added three touchdowns. With just eight carries through five games, rookie seventh-round pick Brashard Smith hasn’t been a factor.
The Chiefs were on the hunt for an RB trade in late August, though no deal transpired. Despite not making any preseason acquisitions, the Chiefs were reportedly “puzzled” by their mediocre rushing attack in late September. Now nearing mid-October, they’re still not content with their backfield options.
Speculatively, the Chiefs’ need for a running back could point them to the likes of Breece Hall (Jets), Alvin Kamara (Saints), and Jerome Ford (Browns). Those three are among the runners who have been part of trade rumors in advance of the deadline. Kamara is likely to remain a Saint, but Hall and Ford may be more obtainable as pending free agents on non-contending teams. It stands to reason that either or both backs could pique Kansas City’s interest, though Veach may have other ideas.
Chargers Interested In Trading For Running Back
OCT. 12: The Chargers are indeed focusing on running backs leading up to the deadline, according to Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com. They’ve been calling teams about depth RBs and starters.
OCT. 11: With injuries ravaging their backfield, the Chargers could swing a trade for a running back before the Nov. 4 deadline, Daniel Popper of The Athletic writes.
The Chargers entered the season with two high-profile acquisitions leading their RB group. After opening his career with four straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons with the Steelers, Najee Harris joined the Chargers on a one-year, $5.25MM deal last March. A little over a month after adding Harris, the Chargers used their first-round pick (No. 22) on former North Carolina back Omarion Hampton. Five weeks into the season, it’s fair to say the Chargers aren’t going to get max return on either investment this year.
Harris suffered an eye injury during a fireworks accident in July, but he was ready for their season-opening win over the Chiefs in Brazil on Sept. 5. The 27-year-old picked up just one carry in that game, though. Two weeks later, Harris tore his Achilles, ending his season after he recorded 15 carries for 61 yards. Barring another pact with the Chargers, Harris will head back to the open market next year in a less-than-ideal position.
Even when Harris was healthy, Hampton was clearly the Chargers’ No. 1 back. The 22-year-old dual threat has amassed 66 rushes for 314 yards and two touchdowns through the first five games of his career, adding 20 catches for another 136 yards.
Like Harris, Hampton is now on the shelf. He injured his ankle during a loss to the Commanders last Sunday, which forced an IR placement earlier this week. He’ll miss at least four games, all of which will take place before the trade deadline.
The Chargers, now 3-2 after back-to-back losses, will turn to the unproven RB duo of Hassan Haskins and Kimani Vidal for the time being. They’ll face their first test as a tandem against the reeling Dolphins (1-4) on Sunday. Haskins has tallied just 64 carries, including five this year, in parts of three NFL seasons. Vidal has four attempts this season and 47 overall since he joined the Chargers as a sixth-round pick from Troy a year ago.
The Chargers have Nyheim Hines and Amar Johnson on their practice squad, though they’re hard to rely on at this point. Hines, who tore his ACL in a jet ski accident in 2023, hasn’t played in a regular-season game since 2022. Johnson is an undrafted rookie from South Dakota State with no NFL experience.
Unless the Chargers find an answer from within by the deadline, the Jets’ Breece Hall and the Browns’ Jerome Ford could be logical trade targets to team with Hampton (assuming he returns), Popper observes. Hall has gotten off to an impressive start this season and has made it known he wants to stay with the Jets. However, with the Jets 0-5 and unlikely to make a miraculous charge toward playoff contention, they could part with the soon-to-be free agent.
Ford, also due to reach the open market in the offseason, enjoyed a productive run from 2023-24. He piled up 1,378 yards and seven TDs on 308 carries during that 31-game span. The 26-year-old only has 18 carries in five games this season, though, with rookie second-rounder Quinshon Judkins establishing himself as the lead back in Cleveland. Ford’s time with the Browns could be winding down, and the Chargers may be among the potential suitors.
Several Saints Drawing Trade Interest
Running back Alvin Kamara isn’t the only member of the Saints drawing interest in advance of the Nov. 4 trade deadline. Wide receiver Rashid Shaheed, EDGE Carl Granderson, linebacker Pete Werner, and offensive lineman Dillon Radunz are all on other teams’ radars, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
At 1-4 and unlikely to work their way into contention this year, the Saints are lining up as deadline sellers. Kamara appears unlikely to go anywhere, though, and Rapoport notes that the team is not planning a fire sale. However, that doesn’t mean the Saints won’t listen to offers on their potential trade candidates.
Shaheed, one of the league’s fastest players, is on pace for the most productive season of his career. After missing most of 2024 with a meniscus injury, Shaheed has returned to haul in 22 of 30 targets for 288 yards and two touchdowns in five games this year. He has also averaged 15.2 yards on six punt returns. The 27-year-old isn’t tied to New Orleans past this season, though, which may make a trade more likely. He’s on a $4.2MM base salary and due to reach free agency in the offseason.
The Saints may not have any urgency to part with Granderson, who’s signed through 2027 on the four-year, $52MM extension he received in 2023. Nevertheless, it’s no surprise teams have interest in the 28-year-old. After combining for 19.5 sacks from 2022-24, he has racked up 4.5 in five games this season. The 49ers are among contenders seeking pass-rushing upgrades, though it’s unclear if they have called the Saints about Granderson.
Werner, another staple in New Orleans’ front seven, has started in 52 of 61 contests (including four of five this year) since joining the team as a second-round pick in 2021. Like Granderson, Werner impressed the Saints enough earlier in his career to secure an extension. He’s under team control through 2027 on a three-year, $25MM pact. Werner has logged an 82.8% snap share and totaled 41 tackles this year, though Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranks his performance a lowly 65th among 72 qualifying linebackers.
After starting 15 games at right guard with the Titans last year, Radunz signed with the Saints on a one-year, $2.25MM deal in March. Now the backup to Saints left guard Trevor Penning and only a few months from returning to the open market, the 27-year-old Radunz wouldn’t command much in a trade.
The Saints have four games left before the deadline, including three against teams that are over .500. General manager Mickey Loomis will decide over the next few weeks who (if anyone) is expendable. Just a year removed from trading cornerback Marshon Lattimore (then a career-long Saint) to the Commanders, Loomis could be in for another active deadline this season.
Cardinals To Start QB Jacoby Brissett In Week 6
OCT. 12: Brissett will start on Sunday. Murray is inactive, the team announced.
OCT. 11: The door is open to Kyler Murray handling quarterback duties for the Cardinals this week. As things stand, however, it is unlikely that will be the case. 
Jacoby Brissett is expected to get the nod on Sunday, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Jeremy Fowler. Brissett has made a pair of appearances this season, his debut campaign in Arizona. He has yet to make a start for his latest team, though.
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Barring an unforeseen development, that will change tomorrow. Murray is still a possibility in terms of suiting up, but he was limited in practice on Friday after missing the previous two days. The former No. 1 pick’s foot ailment is a version of a Lisfranc injury, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. As a result, Murray’s absence may not be limited to one game. His status will certainly be one to watch closely.
As of yesterday, the Cardinals were uncertain of their Week 6 starter; that left the team to craft plans for both Murray and Brissett. The latter is now in position to take on QB1 responsibilities for at least one week, however. Brissett has 53 starts and 83 appearances to his name. That includes a four-year spell with the Colts; Arizona will play Indianapolis in Week 6.
That Indy tenure included starting duties for two seasons. Brissett has also seen a multi-game run atop the depth chart with the Browns in 2022 while filling in for the suspended Deshaun Watson and at the start of last year before the Patriots handed the reins over to Drake Maye. The 32-year-old has not managed to post a winning record during any of his QB1 runs, but he will be counted on to keep Arizona’s offense afloat for at least one contest.
The Cardinals opened the season with two straight one-score wins, but they have lost three straight contests on game-ending field goals. Murray will be counted on to continue playing a central role in the efforts to reach the postseason when healthy, but his recovery process will determine the point at which he is back to full strength. It would come as little surprise if the Cardinals proceeded with caution in terms of his return to action given Murray’s status as their franchise passer (something all-but confirmed past the current campaign through his contract structure).
The 4-1 Colts have started out N0. 3 in the league in terms of points allowed this season. However, new DC Lou Anarumo‘s unit sits just 19th against the pass and injuries in the secondary remain a concern. That group will look to improve beginning tomorrow against a shorthanded Cardinals offense.