Giants QB Jaxson Dart Believed Saints Might Draft Him With No. 9 Pick
The Saints were heavily connected to quarterback Jaxson Dart in the run-up to this year’s draft, as the club hosted the Ole Miss product on a “30” visit and did extensive work on him. But New Orleans, which held the No. 9 overall pick, did not consider any quarterback in this year’s class outside of Cam Ward worthy of that selection, and the groundwork the team laid for a potential trade-up into the latter stages of the first round or the early portion of the second round did not produce a deal.
Instead, the Giants selected Dart with the No. 25 overall pick, which they obtained by trading back into the first round after using their No. 3 overall selection on EDGE Abdul Carter. New York head coach Brian Daboll grew fonder of Dart as the draft process went on, and Dart put together a promising training camp and preseason slate. Making his regular season debut in Week 4, he flashed in helping the Giants secure an upset win over the Chargers, Big Blue’s first victory of the campaign.
The Saints ultimately used their No. 40 choice on Louisville passer Tyler Shough, who recently turned 26 but who saw his draft stock rise in the late winter and early spring despite his age. However, New Orleans elected to open the season with 2024 fifth-rounder Spencer Rattler as its QB1, and while Rattler’s surface-level statistics are not terrible, the team has struggled to an 0-4 record.
In making his second career start in Week 5, Dart will have a chance to show the Saints what they missed, as New Orleans will host Dart’s Giants. He appears to be looking forward to that opportunity.
Given the pre-draft work the Saints did on Dart, the signal-caller believed he had a good chance to hear his name called when New Orleans was on the clock with the No. 9 selection (via Dan Duggan of The Athletic). Dart acknowledged that being passed over put a chip on his shoulder.
Of course, it is much too soon to tell what will become of Dart’s and Shough’s careers. It could be that the Saints’ new coaching staff is simply allowing its rookie passer – who has just two pass attempts thus far, both of which came towards the tail end of a blowout loss in Week 3 – to slowly acclimate to the professional level in an obvious transitional year, while Daboll’s shaky job security may have been at least partially responsible for his decision to insert Dart into the starting lineup.
Even so, a strong Dart performance and a Giants win will not do much to assuage any angst in New Orleans.
Bengals Have Not Made Trade Inquiries On QBs, Intend To Keep Jake Browning As Starter
The Bengals did not seek a trade for a veteran QB following Joe Burrow’s toe injury – which will keep Burrow sidelined until sometime in December – and we recently heard there is leaguewide skepticism that the club will change its modus operandi in terms of in-season trade activity (Cincy has only acquired two players via in-season trade over the past 53 years). The latest reporting on the matter suggests that skepticism is well-founded.
Multiple sources tell Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports they would be surprised if there are any quarterback trades at all in advance of the November 4 deadline, given the complexity of the QB position and all that it entails. An assistant GM told Vacchiano the only team he believes would even consider such a move is the Bengals, considering Jake Browning’s pronounced struggles in relief of Burrow.
Although Browning was able to guide his team to a win in Week 2 (the game in which Burrow sustained his injury), he did throw three picks in that contest. In his two starts since, he has completed a combined 33 of 52 passes for 265 yards for one touchdown and two more interceptions. The Bengals lost both games by a combined score of 76-13, and they did not cross midfield during the final three quarters of their loss to the Broncos in Week 4.
Nonetheless, Vacchiano says there is still no indication Cincinnati has looked into a quarterback trade. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com hears the same, and he writes that the club’s past success with Browning at the helm – Browning posted a 4-3 record when filling in for Burrow in 2023 – has them prepared to move forward with the Washington product for the foreseeable future.
In a recent appearance on The Rich Eisen Show, Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network (video link) says Falcons QB Kirk Cousins could probably adjust quickly to the Bengals’ offense due to his familiarity with head coach Zac Taylor’s type of scheme, but Cousins’ contract – which already includes a locked-in $10MM in 2026 – remains prohibitive. Recently-demoted Giants QB Russell Wilson could make sense from a cost perspective, but like Cousins, there has been no outside interest in Wilson as of yet, from the Bengals or any other club.
If Cincy sticks to their Browning plan, and if Browning does not improve, the 2-2 team could soon be 2-5 (the Bengals’ next three games are against the Lions, Packers, and Steelers). And, if that should happen, Pelissero logically predicts that rival teams will consider the Bengals deadline sellers and will begin calling about their logical trade candidates (which likely would include DE Trey Hendrickson).
Eagles WRs A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith Frustated By Role In Offense; Team Does Not Plan To Trade Brown
The Eagles’ top two wide receivers, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, are frustrated with their role in Philadelphia’s offense, per Dianna Russini of The Athletic (subscription required). While confirming Brown’s frustrations, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL.com report that the team has no intention of trading the three-time Pro Bowler (which echoes Russini’s report from last month, in which she noted that Philadelphia shot down offseason trade inquiries into Brown).
Though the defending Super Bowl champions are off to a 4-0 start, Rapoport and Garafolo say that promising record has been “highly scrutinized” due to the nature of the club’s offense (the Eagles rank 30th in yards per game, though they are seventh in points per game). As a league source told Russini, “[r]ight now, for the Eagles, it’s run, run, run, (Jalen) Hurts off-schedule pass, tush push. For their receivers, that means when they get to the red zone, they aren’t getting the ball — and they know it. Hence the frustrations.”
While Smith has remained quiet, Brown has been more open about his dissatisfaction. Shortly after the team’s Week 4 victory over the Bucs, he posted the following scripture to his X account: “If you’re not welcomed, not listened to, quietly withdraw. Don’t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way” (via NFL.com’s Nick Shook).
During a media session on Wednesday, Brown offered clarity on the post.
“First off, I want to start off by saying, obviously, Sunday after the game I let my frustrations boil over,” he said (via Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer). “I didn’t speak to the media. I had a chance to correct my frustrations and I continued to let it boil over and that’s on me. I take full accountability on that.”
He went on to say that the message was not directed at anyone in particular, including his general manager, head coach, or quarterback. However, he also added, “I don’t think it’s a bad thing for wanting the ball.”
As a rival head coach told Russini, Brown is likely not frustrated by the number of targets he has received (28 through four games), but rather the type of targets and the situation they come in.
Brown seemed to confirm as much on Wednesday, saying, “[i]t’s not just for targets or anything, to put numbers up, no. I see that we’re struggling, and I’m a guy that wants the ball in those times when we can’t find a way. Give it to me. When the game’s on the line, give the ball to me.”
That is what happened when the Eagles were trailing 26-7 in their comeback win over the Rams. As Philadelphia fought its way back into the game, Hurts threw contested balls to Brown that resulted in completions, and Brown ended the game with six catches for 109 yards and a score. In the team’s other three contests combined, the Ole Miss product has tallied eight receptions for 42 scoreless yards.
Of course, the Eagles have a new offensive coordinator in Kevin Patullo, and Brown missed a significant portion of training camp due to a hamstring injury. The Rapoport/Garafolo duo thinks Hurts will try to get Brown the ball early and often in the Eagles’ Week 5 bout against the Broncos, and Russini likewise believes Patullo could try to script plays for both Brown and Smith early in games. She also says GM Howie Roseman and head coach Nick Sirianni have had private conversations with Brown in an effort to manage the situation.
Obviously, a happy and productive tandem at the top of their WR depth chart will go a long way towards the Eagles’ efforts to repeat. That is why the team does not plan to entertain trade inquiries on Brown (the same may be true of Smith, though Rapoport and Garafolo do not mention him in their report).
If the team did consider moving Brown, sources tell Rapoport and Garafolo he could fetch a monster package similar to the one the Cowboys recently landed for star edge rusher Micah Parsons. And Russini reports rival executives are monitoring the situation, believing Roseman could change his stance.
“They are paying roughly $50 million to two wide receivers (Brown and Smith), and they aren’t even that involved,” one GM told Russini. “They may move on simply because Philly is a run-heavy team.”
For his part, Brown says he does not want to leave Philly.
“This is my home, you know? I did it to myself,” he said. “But this is my home, man. I love it here. But you just see frustration because obviously we want to be great and most definitely I want to be great, as well.”
As the rival GM referenced above noted, both Brown and Smith are on high-end contracts. Brown is under club control through 2029, while Smith’s current deal expires after the 2028 season.
Raiders TE Brock Bowers Will Not Play In Week 5
OCTOBER 5: ESPN’s Adam Schefter offers some more specifics on Bowers’ knee, reporting that last year’s runner-up in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting has been playing through a bone bruise on his knee as well as a PCL injury. Naturally, those ailments have affected his performance, and doctors say rest is the only remedy. Bowers was simply unwilling to sideline himself until now.
Schefter adds that the Raiders consider Bowers week-to-week and will reevaluate him in the coming days to see if he can suit up in Week 6. He is officially inactive for Week 5.
OCTOBER 4: The Raiders could be down two tight ends on their trip to Indianapolis this this weekend. After Raiders columnist Paul Gutierrez reported that Michael Mayer would miss tomorrow’s game with a concussion, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network added that starting tight end Brock Bowers‘ status for the game has been trending down as he’s been battling a knee injury. 
While head coach Pete Carroll had seemed confident that the second-year pass catcher would be available, his absences from Thursday and Friday’s practices didn’t bode well for Bowers. While nothing official has been decided on his availability for tomorrow, Rapoport claims that “Bowers is trending toward not playing” against the Colts, leaving Las Vegas without their first- and second-string tight ends.
This leaves the Raiders with Ian Thomas and Carter Runyon as the only healthy tight ends on the 53-man roster. This is Thomas’ first year in Las Vegas after spending the first seven years of his career in Carolina. He’s never been much of an impact receiver in the passing game, but he can contribute some if needed. He’s appeared in all four games this season as a third option behind Bowers and Mayer, and he made his first start for the Raiders last week in Mayer’s first absence.
After being elevated and appearing in his first NFL game last weekend, Runyon was signed to the active roster from the practice squad earlier this week. The undrafted rookie out of Towson could find himself in the TE2 role for Las Vegas if Bowers can’t go tomorrow. After only appearing on special teams in his NFL game, Runyon could figure into the offense in his second.
The Raiders added a bit more depth at the position from the practice squad today by calling up Albert Okwuegbunam as a standard gameday elevation. Okwuegbunam has a chance to appear in his first game since 2023.
Anthony Richardson, Russell Wilson, Kirk Cousins Not Drawing Trade Interest
With experienced starting quarterbacks Anthony Richardson (Colts), Russell Wilson (Giants), and Kirk Cousins (Falcons) occupying backup roles for their teams, it stands to reason any of the three could wind up on the move before the Nov. 4 trade deadline. However, four weeks into the season, nobody from that group has drawn interest, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reports.
Of that trio, Richardson is the least likely to change hands, according to Jones. The former fourth overall pick (2023) disappointed during his first two years in the league, and he then lost a preseason competition to Daniel Jones for the Colts’ starting job this summer. Jones has since gotten off to a surprisingly fast start for the 3-1 Colts, further calling Richardson’s future into question.
The Colts are inclined to keep Richardson through the season, though, as he’ll remain under team control in 2026. He has a fifth-year option for 2027 that Indianapolis will have to decide on in the offseason. Unless his stock rises dramatically this year, it would be a shock if the Colts exercised it.
With the Giants having benched Wilson for rookie Jaxson Dart in late September, the 36-year-old looks like the most logical trade candidate of this group. The Giants haven’t actively sought out offers for Wilson, per Jones, but that could change over the next month. They already have another veteran backup in Jameis Winston under contract for next season.
Wilson, on the other hand, is due to reach free agency again during the spring after signing a one-year, $10.5MM contract with the Giants. An acquiring team would take on Wilson’s prorated $2MM base salary while likely surrendering a Day 3 draft pick, Jones hears.
Despite a quality track record as a starter, it’s no surprise that Cousins hasn’t drawn interest. His contract – which comes with expensive guarantees in the form of a $27.5MM base salary this year and a $10MM roster bonus for 2026 – is prohibitive. The Falcons would reportedly want an acquiring team to take on Cousins’ financial commitments and give up a premium draft pick. Barring drastic changes, he’s likely to ride out the season as the backup to Michael Penix Jr.
Assuming none of Richardson, Wilson, or Cousins end up back in starting roles with their current teams, it may require a contending club(s) suffering a significant injury at QB for any of them to garner trade interest. The Bengals make sense as a potential suitor on paper, having lost starter Joe Burrow to a toe injury in Week 2. Burrow could miss three months (if not more), and backup Jake Browning has struggled mightily since taking the reins. Despite that, the Bengals remain confident in Browning. They also rarely swing in-season trades, and the Mike Brown-led organization may be unwilling to add to its payroll.
Beyond Cincinnati, the Ravens, Vikings, and 49ers are also dealing with injuries to their starters. The Ravens’ Lamar Jackson could miss multiple games with a hamstring injury, but they signed an experienced backup in Cooper Rush last March.
The Vikings also have a battle-tested reserve of their own, Carson Wentz, who’s playing in place of J.J. McCarthy as he recovers from an ankle sprain. As for the 49ers, they appear to be in great shape with No. 2 signal-caller Mac Jones, who has excelled filling in for Brock Purdy. With Purdy down with a toe injury, Jones has led the 49ers to three wins in as many starts.
Dolphins Expected To Release Tyreek Hill In 2026
After Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill suffered a season-ending knee injury in a win over the Jets on Monday, agent Drew Rosenhaus made it clear that his client wants to continue his career in Miami in 2026. It doesn’t appear Hill will get his wish, though. The Dolphins are expected to release the eight-time Pro Bowler before the new league year begins in March, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reports.
Even before Hill underwent surgery for a catastrophic injury (a dislocation and multiple ligament tears), it appeared his time in Miami was in jeopardy of ending soon. Hill may have been a trade candidate before the Nov. 4 deadline had he stayed healthy. He’ll now finish the year with the Dolphins, but they’ll then have to rework his contract or release him.
The 2026 campaign will be the last season of Hill’s current deal — a three-year, $90MM pact agreed to as a summer 2024 reworking. Hill has a bloated $51.9MM cap hit and a nonguaranteed base salary of $29.9MM for next season. A good portion of Hill’s salary ($11MM) and a $5MM roster bonus will become guaranteed if he’s still on the Dolphins’ roster on the third day of the league year.
Those figures obviously aren’t going to work for Miami, especially in the wake of Hill’s injury. It’s in question whether he’ll even be able to pass a physical in March, Jones notes. Releasing him then would still leave the Dolphins with a $15.5MM cap hit, but it’s nonetheless the most likely outcome.
Assuming the Dolphins release Hill and he’s healthy enough to play next year, they could still bring him back for a fifth season at a more team-friendly price. However, as Jones points out, there’s no guarantee the Dolphins’ current regime of general manager Chris Grier and head coach Mike McDaniel will stick around in 2026. At 1-3, the Dolphins are on track to miss the playoffs for the second year in a row. That could lead owner Stephen Ross to go in another direction in the front office and/or on the sidelines.
A new group of decision makers may be more inclined to move on from Hill, whose issues extend beyond recovering from a serious injury. He’s also a soon-to-be 32-year-old with declining production and significant off-field baggage, including domestic violence allegations that came to light in September.
Vikings Place C Ryan Kelly On IR; J.J. McCarthy Uncertain For Week 7
The Vikings continue to be burdened with injuries in 2025. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network was the first to report today that Vikings center Ryan Kelly will be placed on injured reserve. The team’s official announcement shows that Minnesota will be getting a body back from IR, though, as it activates fullback C.J. Ham. 
Kelly is in his first season with the Vikings after spending the first nine years of his career with the Colts. The four-time Pro Bowler will miss the next four games after suffering his second concussion in three weeks. Kelly is no stranger to injuries; he’s only ever played in every game of the regular season three times in his career, most recently missing seven games last year.
Surgery for a broken bone in his Kelly’s foot sidelined him for the first four games of his second year in the league, and after he returned for seven games, a concussion sidelined him for the remainder of that year. Since then, recurrent concussions and neck injuries saw him frequent the sideline for a couple weeks each year. Last season, he added a knee injury to his list of ailments, causing a stay on IR as he recovered from surgery.
Minnesota decided to look past his extensive injury history when signing him because Kelly has routinely performed as one of the better, more consistent centers in the league. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), Kelly was playing some of the best football of his career for the Vikings this season before landing on the injured list.
Kelly becomes the third offensive lineman, the sixth offensive player, and the eighth overall player to land on IR from the Vikings’ roster. To make matter worse, starting right tackle Brian O’Neill, starting left guard Donovan Jackson, and backup center Michael Jurgens have all been ruled out for this weekend on the team’s injury report, leaving only left tackle Christian Darrisaw and right guard Will Fries as the last starters standing in front of backup quarterback Carson Wentz, who is starting with J.J. McCarthy ruled out, as well.
Blake Brandel, who started every game for Minnesota at left guard last year, filled in for Jackson last week, but the team’s depth chart has him listed as the third option at center behind Kelly and Jurgens. Justin Skule is listed as the primary backup for both tackle spots, and Joe Huber and Walter Rouse were the only other remaining healthy backups on the 53-man roster before today’s transactions.
The Vikings waived quarterback Desmond Ridder in order to sign practice squad rookie offensive lineman Vershon Lee to the 53-man roster. Lee adds incredible versatility to the offensive line after starting 40 games at three different positions in college at South Carolina — 18 at center, 16 at left guard, and six at right tackle. He finished his career as a center and could be an option if the team wants to keep Brandel at left guard.
The team also used one of its two standard gameday practice squad elevations to call up guard Henry Byrd, who appeared in his first career game earlier this season after going undrafted in 2023. The other elevation was utilized to call up running back Cam Akers, as usual starter Aaron Jones is one of the six offensive players on IR.
The team cutting Ridder comes as a bit of a surprise considering some of the rumors surrounding McCarthy this weekend. According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, sources have relayed that “McCarthy isn’t healthy, and while the target return has been Week 7 against the Eagles, it could still be longer.” This follows rumors that Minnesota may be using the injury to keep McCarthy off the field for a bit after they watched him struggle more than expected in his first two NFL games, arguing that the extra time could help him prepare a bit more for a return to play.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell has been extremely clear about the conditions for McCarthy’s return, though, saying that the second-year passer “won’t play until he’s had a full week of practice.” Since exiting Week 2 with an injury, he hasn’t yet practiced in any capacity. Still, O’Connell asserts that once his young quarterback is healthy, he’ll return to his starting role. With McCarthy still out and Ridder off the team, undrafted rookie quarterback Max Brosmer stands as the only remaining quarterback on the roster to back up Wentz.
Despite a lot of tough news, the Vikings will see Ham return to the field. The two-time Pro Bowl fullback missed the start of the season with a knee injury. He’ll return to an offensive backfield that looks a bit different without the starting quarterback and running back.
Malik Nabers To Undergo ACL Surgery; Giants WR Expected To Be Cleared For Training Camp
Malik Nabers‘ second season with the Giants came to an abrupt end in Week 4. The Giants’ leading wideout suffered an ACL tear, setting him up for a lengthy road to recovery. 
The rehab process will begin shortly. Nabers’ surgery is expected to take place this week, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The procedure will address the ACL tear but also the fact the 22-year-old tore his meniscus. Dan Duggan of The Athletic adds the meniscus repair is unlikely to add to the recovery timeline; per Duggan, Nabers’ knee did suffer any other damage.
Provided all goes well with the surgery, Schefter reports Nabers is expected to be fully healed in time for training camp next summer. In addition to the looming rehab process on his knee, the 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year finalist will have time to allow his lingering shoulder and toe injuries to heal. Nabers had been playing through a partially torn labrum along with turf toe when his ACL tear occurred. Schefter notes surgery was contemplated in the case of the shoulder ailment, but it (along with Nabers’ toe) will now heal without any procedure taking place.
The Giants’ offense will be without its focal point the rest of the way, and a notable receiver acquisition to compensate for the loss of Nabers is not expected. That means the likes of Darius Slayton, Wan’Dale Robinson and Jalin Hyatt will be counted to lead the way at the receiver position. Rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart could also turn to tight ends Theo Johnson and Daniel Bellinger as options in the passing game. Dart won his first start, but further success will be hard to come by for the 1-3 Giants with Nabers out of the picture.
The LSU product set a franchise record with 109 receptions during his rookie season (totaling 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns along the way). Nabers was averaging nearly 69 yards per game through the first month of the 2025 campaign, putting him on track for another high-end statline. Instead, his attention will soon turn to surgery and an effort to heal multiple ailments in time for next summer.
Cardinals Activate DT Bilal Nichols
Bilal Nichols returned to practice this week, which marked the earliest point at which he could do so. The veteran defensive tackle will now be available to the Cardinals for Week 5.
Nichols was activated from the reserve/PUP list on Saturday, per a team announcement. That news comes as little surprise, given the fact he had his 21-day activation window opened at the first opportunity. Nichols being back in the fold will be a welcomed development with Arizona having managed a long list of injuries along the defensive front to begin the season.
Justin Jones and L.J. Collier were both lost for the year before the start of the regular season. First-round rookie Walter Nolen, meanwhile, has yet to play in 2025 and remains on the PUP list at this point. Darius Robinson exited the Cardinals’ Week 4 loss with a pectoral injury and he has been ruled out for tomorrow’s game. There should be plenty of snaps available for Nichols during his season debut as a result.
The 29-year-old was limited to just six games last season and missed the first month of the current campaign with a neck injury. Nichols handled a 45% snap share when healthy in 2024, his first season in Arizona. The former Bear and Raider has made 88 starts in his career, and a heavy workload right away in 2025 can be expected given his track record but also the Cardinals’ injury situation up front. Pairing with defensive end Calais Campbell will certainly allow Nichols to provide the team with a highly experienced D-line.
On the books through 2027, Nichols remaining healthy moving forward will be key. None of the former fifth-rounder’s base salary for next season is guaranteed, so a strong run of performances will be needed to ensure he remains in Arizona beyond the current campaign. The Cardinals rank ninth in the NFL against the run; Nichols will look to keep the team among the league’s best in that respect while also aiming to chip in as a pass-rush presence.
On Saturday, Arizona also elevated defensive lineman Zach Carter and offensive lineman Nick Leverett from the practice squad. Carter was added to the taxi squad recently and will make his season debut tomorrow. Leverett was among the team’s cuts after training camp but remained in place on the practice squad; he too will make his first appearance of the season when the Cardinals host the Titans.
Broncos Place TE Lucas Krull On IR
OCTOBER 4: Krull has indeed been moved to IR, the Broncos announced on Saturday. In a corresponding move, Wallow has been signed to the active roster. As expected, he is therefore in position to continue serving as a key special teams presence moving forward.
OCTOBER 3: The Broncos’ offense will be shorthanded for the time being. Tight end Lucas Krull broke a bone in his foot during practice yesterday, as first reported by 9News’ Mike Klis. 
Krull managed to practice in full on Thursday, and as such he was not on the team’s injury report. Last night, an MRI revealed the fracture in his foot. Missed time is now in store as a result. No official move will be made today, but Klis reports the Broncos will move Krull to injured reserve.
The 27-year-old is therefore set to miss at least the next four games. Krull led the Broncos in receiving amongst tight ends last year despite only posting 152 yards. Upgrading at that position was understandably seen as a priority this offseason, one highlighted by the addition of Evan Engram. He, along with Adam Trautman and Nate Adkins, will be available for Week 5.
Still, losing Krull will leave the Broncos without a regular contributor on offense. The former UDFA handled a 36% snap share in 2023 and again last year. Krull’s usage rate stands at 29% this season through three games played. After being retained via an ERFA tender this spring, he is a pending restricted free agent. Needless to say, missing time will hinder Krull’s chances of remaining in Denver for a fourth campaign.
Linebacker and special teams regular Garret Wallow has been used as a gameday elevation from the practice squad three times. As a result, he must be signed to the active roster for at least one game for the Broncos to continue using him. Per Klis, Wallow can be considered a strong candidate to be signed once Krull’s IR move opens up a roster spot.