Browns To Start QB Dillon Gabriel In Week 5
The Browns will start rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel in place of veteran Joe Flacco in their Week 5 matchup in London, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The team confirmed that Gabriel would be taking over under center, as first reported by CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz on Tuesday. Shedeur Sanders will remain in place as the third-string quarterback, per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.
Cleveland has long been expected to give Gabriel a try at some point this season. After four rough outings by Flacco – featuring a 2:6 touchdown-to-interception ratio and career lows of 5.1 yards per attempt and a 60.3 passer rating – the rookie will get his chance. Sunday will not be Gabriel’s debut, as he played at the end of blowout losses in Weeks 2 and 4, but it will be his first extended action in the pros.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski certainly did not choose the easiest or simplest week to make such a significant change. The Browns are in London this week, contending with a bevy of added factors including the time difference and lack of access to their usual facilities. They are also playing the Vikings, who have been across the pond since last Friday, giving them more time to acclimate.
Minnesota’s defense has also been a top-10 unit this season. They rank ninth in points allowed and seventh in total defense with the third-best passing defense. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores has harassed opposing quarterbacks with a 35.8% blitz rate (fourth-highest) and a 31.7% pressure rate (second-highest) with a variety of creative pressure packages. As a result, Gabriel’s first NFL start could be a rough one, though Tony Grossi of The Land on Demand notes that the rookie may introduce a “quicker pace” to the Browns offense.
Stefanski addressed the quarterback change on Wednesday, saying of Gabriel (via ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi): “From the second he’s been here, he’s been working very hard. He’s a very intelligent young man. He’s done a nice job throughout practice and this whole season he’s been learning how to get yourself ready and understand the rhythm of an NFL week and what that looks like as a backup. Obviously now feel like he’s ready to go as a starter.”
Gabriel’s ascendance marks a number of milestones. He is the Browns’ 41st starting quarterback since the team was re-established in 1999, and the 12th quarterback in six years of Stefanski’s tenure, per Grossi. Gabriel is also the third rookie quarterback to start this season, and the first non-first-rounder.
With Cooper Rush expected to start in the place of an injured Lamar Jackson in Week 5, the AFC North’s quarterbacks are now Gabriel, Rush, Jake Browning in Cincinnati, and Aaron Rodgers in Steelers. Rodgers is the only Week 1 starter left standing, while Browning took over for Joe Burrow after he went down with turf toe.
Though Sanders will remain third on the depth chart, he could still play this season, per CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones. Cleveland’s willingness to give one rookie a chance suggests that Sanders could receive a similar opportunity if Gabriel falters, though he will certainly get a few games to prove himself.
Colts CB Xavien Howard To Retire
Xavien Howard‘s return to football was brief one. After eight years in Miami and a year away from the game, Howard’s new venture with the Colts has ended after four games as Indianapolis placed the 32-year-old cornerback on the reserve/retired list today. 
A four-time Pro Bowler and a one-time selection for both the first and second All-Pro teams over his career, Howard gave the Dolphins every bit of what was asked of him as a second-round pick out of Baylor. An immediate starter in Miami’s secondary, Howard struggled with injuries early in his career but showed enough promise in two mostly healthy seasons of his rookie contract to earn a five-year, $76.5MM extension shortly after his third NFL season.
After a rookie year in which a meniscus surgery caused him to miss all but seven games, Howard exploded onto the scene with 11 interceptions and 25 passes defensed over the next two seasons. After being rewarded with the above-mentioned extension, a nagging knee injury limited Howard to five games before ultimately ending his 2019 season. He came back to have the strongest season of his career, starting all 16 games, leading the league in both interceptions (10) and passes defensed (20), and earning first-team All-Pro honors.
Over the next three seasons, Howard would continue to provide solid pass defense. His interception numbers dwindled as he only picked off seven passes over that span, but his 40 passes defensed showed that his penchant for breaking up plays still remained. At the conclusion of the 2023 campaign, the first in which Howard failed to earn a Pro Bowl selection since his injury-plagued 2019 season, the Dolphins opted to release Howard with a post-June 1 designation as a way to clear out cap space.
Despite committing to playing and even fielding offers, Howard found no place to call his football home in 2024, missing out on the entire NFL season. He visited the Bengals during the team’s defensive struggles last year but never signed with a team. The Colts landed his signature in the weeks leading up to the 2025 regular season, reuniting Howard with the game of football and with defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, who had coached him for a couple years in Miami.
Week 1 started off strong for Howard, as his former team failed to manage any offense in their first time facing him on the other side of the field. Week 2 brought a sobering reality, though, as Denver picked on Howard, targeting him eight times and completing eight passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns. He showed slight improvement in a Week 3 game against the Titans, but Week 4 brought him crashing back down. The Rams targeted Howard 10 times, completing seven passes for 112 yards and a touchdown.
According to ESPN’s Stephen Holder, “there were many questions about his viability” after the rough performances, “but no one saw this coming.” Holder went on to claim that the media was not aware of any plans to release Howard, and after missing practice today with a “personal day” designation, Howard came to the decision to retire on his own.
In a statement (via Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald), Howard explained, “Throughout my career, I’ve always played football for the love of the sport. I enjoyed everything that came with being a part of the NFL; it was my passion for the game that drove me. I love and appreciate the Miami Dolphins for drafting me and giving me the chance to play pro football. I cannot thank the Indianapolis Colts enough for letting me continue to live out my dream, but my dream has now changed.”
Howard goes on to explain how much he enjoyed spending time with his kids and family during his year away from the NFL before officially declaring his intention to retire from football. He concluded, “My purpose has been fulfilled in this sport, but my kids are more important to me than football. I’ve had a hell of a career, and even though it’s ending in a unique way, I’m cool with that because, for once, I’m putting my family first, and I’m proud and excited about that decision.”
Cardinals Place RB Trey Benson On IR
Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon announced that running back Trey Benson is being placed on injured reserve, via NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Benson suffered a knee injury late in Arizona’s Week 4 matchup against the Seahawks last Thursday, but it was not originally thought to be serious, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. That assessment changed very quickly; Benson has already undergone arthroscopic surgery on his meniscus and is expected to miss four to six weeks, according to Schefter.
Benson’s injury is another hit to a Cardinals backfield that already lost James Conner for the season. 2023 UDFA Emari Demercado will likely take over starting duties with Zonovan Knight and Michael Carter rotating in. Arizona also has D’Ernest Johnson on their practice squad.
Demercado has two starts in his career but has never been a lead back for multiple games. Knight has been a healthy scratch in two games with zero touches in the other two. Carter has been in the the NFL the longest, but his production has dipped significant since the start of his career.
The Cardinals have a Week 8 bye, so Benson’s four-game minimum IR stay would not elapse until Week 10, which fits with his projected recovery timeline. He may have a chance at returning to practice as soon as he’s eligible, though Arizona will likely give him time to ramp up after surgery.
In the meantime, the Cardinals were already struggling to move the ball on offense before their top two RBs went down. Now, quarterback Kyler Murray will be asked to do even more, though his performance to open the season has been underwhelming.
Ravens Rookie OL Emery Jones Returns To Practice
As the injuries begin to tally up for the Ravens, a bit of good news comes their way. Third-round rookie offensive lineman Emery Jones has returned to practice in Baltimore, opening his 21-day practice window to be activated off the reserve/non-football injury list, per ESPN’s Jamison Hensley. 
Jones underwent surgery a week after the NFL Scouting Combine for a shoulder injury he endured at LSU. The Ravens were aware of the recovery timeline when they drafted him, so they were able to make a plan for his eventual return.
After Jones was drafted to Baltimore, there was plenty of speculation around just how he might contribute to the offense as a rookie. There was some hope that he may develop early into a role as a swing tackle or compete for a starting guard spot.
He started solely at right tackle for the Tigers but had some left tackle experience from high school. As a recruit, he was projected to be an interior lineman at the collegiate level, but he became the starting right tackle at LSU only two games into his true freshman season. As a draft prospect, Jones was, once again, projected for a likely move to the interior of the offensive line, but in Baltimore, it appeared that he would be given a chance to prove his worth at multiple spots.
He was originally expected to return sometime during training camp, but by early August, it became clear that it would be difficult for him to be ready for the regular season, closing any case for him to nab a starting job. It was a decision made by Jones, who opted to wait until he is “fully right” instead of choosing an abbreviated recovery in order to compete for a starting role.
So far, the Ravens seem to be keeping their word in letting him work to earn different roles. Head coach John Harbaugh told the media that they’ll look at Jones at both guard and tackle, per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. The timing couldn’t be better with left tackle Ronnie Stanley missing practice today after being knocked out of Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs early with an ankle injury.
A look at guard could make just as much sense, considering how left guard Andrew Vorhees currently rates as the Ravens’ worst offensive starter, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required) and how right guard Daniel Faalele is often caught on the wrong end of some defensive highlight reels. As Jones ramps up for a return to the active roster, the Ravens will have no shortage of options to see where they may be able to improve most.
Patriots Open Practice Window For LB Jahlani Tavai
Four games have passed and the flurry of teams preparing to bring back injured players continues. The Patriots have joined the fray, opening the 21-day practice window for linebacker Jahlani Tavai, per Chad Graff of The Athletic. 
Waived after only two years in Detroit, the former second-round pick out of Hawai’i has found a place in the NFL as far away from his alma mater as possible. After clearing waivers, Tavai signed to the Patriots’ practice squad. He was quickly signed to the team’s 53-man roster where he played in 13 games, mostly as a special teamer. Starting the 2022 season as a backup, Tavai found himself in the starting lineup by Week 5.
Partway through his first season as a starter for the Patriots, Tavai landed a two-year, $4.4MM extension. After finishing second on the team with 110 total tackles in his first full season as a starter, New England added another three-year extension for $15MM, and Tavai rewarded their faith by leading the team in tackles with 115.
So far this season, last year’s starter next to Tavai, Christian Elliss, has been starting next to offseason addition Robert Spillane, but Elliss has looked like a shell of himself, unable to maintain the product he was putting on the field in 2024. The Patriots will hope to bring Tavai back soon, at which point he will likely push Elliss into more of a rotational role as he reassumes his starting spot next to Spillane.
Tavai will have three weeks of practice activity to be activated from injured reserve. After suffering a calf injury at the opening of the season, Tavai has always been aiming for a Week 5 return, and today’s transaction will put him on track for it. On the off chance that Tavai is not able to be activated within the 21-day period, he will be reverted back to IR without the ability to be activated this season.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/1/25
Here are Wednesday’s practice squad transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: RB Jermar Jefferson
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: G LaDarius Henderson
Detroit Lions
- Signed: CB Nick Whiteside
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: T Bobby Hart
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: LB Caleb Johnson
New York Jets
- Signed: OLB Tomon Fox
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: OLB Antwaun Powell-Ryland
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: RB Myles Gaskin
Washington Commanders
- Signed: WR Robbie Chosen
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/1/25
Here are the first minor transactions of October:
Detroit Lions
- Signed from practice squad: S Loren Strickland, LB Ty Summers
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed from practice squad: S Trey Washington
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed from practice squad: T Foster Sarell
Miami Dolphins
- Placed on IR: WR Tyreek Hill (story)
Tennessee Titans
- Claimed off waivers (from Packers): T Brant Banks
Washington Commanders
- Signed from practice squad: CB Antonio Hamilton
- Placed on IR: DE Javontae Jean-Baptiste (story)
Domestic Battery Charge Dropped Against Dolphins OLBs Coach Ryan Crow
In late August, Dolphins outside linebackers coach Ryan Crow was arrested on a misdemeanor domestic battery charge. He was subsequently placed on administrative leave by the team.
That charge was dropped on Wednesday, as first reported by Fox Sports 640’s Andy Slater. While that news will bring an end to the legal side of this situation, there is still an NFL investigation pending. As such, no change has taken place with respect to Crow’s status with the Dolphins.
Head coach Mike McDaniel said (via ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques) Crow remains on administrative leave at this time. No changes on that front will take place until the league’s probe has concluded. Sean Ryan began the year handling OLBs coach duties, and that will presumably continue moving forward.
Prior to today’s news, Grethel Aguila of the Miami Herald detailed specifics of the alleged incident. The 9-1-1 call demonstrated how witnesses saw Crow “choking and slamming” a woman he lives with in the building of their Fort Lauderdale apartment. According to the police report, Crow stopped once he realized people could see the altercation. The alleged victim told police she was not injured and declined to provide a sworn statement.
Under Ryan’s coaching, the Dolphins have amassed just eight sacks through four games this season. Improving in that regard will be a goal as the team looks to take needed steps forward after a 1-3 start to the campaign. As Miami seeks an increase in production along the edge, it remains to be seen if Crow will continue in the organization after the NFL’s investigation wraps up.
Cowboys Open Practice Windows For Jonathan Mingo, Caelen Carson
The Cowboys have gone without wide receiver Jonathan Mingo and cornerback Caelen Carson all season, but that may not be the case for much longer. The team opened both players’ 21-day practice windows on Wednesday, Todd Archer of ESPN reports.
Mingo sprained the PCL in his right knee in August, forcing him to start his first full season in Dallas on injured reserve. The Panthers invested a high selection on Mingo in 2023, taking the former Mississippi receiver 39th overall. Mingo underwhelmed in a Panthers uniform, though, and the team elected to send him and a seventh-round selection to the Cowboys for a fourth-rounder before last November’s trade deadline.
After joining the Cowboys, Mingo played in eight games and failed to establish himself with a change of scenery, catching a mere five of 16 targets for 46 yards. Between the Panthers and Cowboys, he appeared in 17 games last season and secured just 17 of his 42 targets for 167 yards and no scores.
If Mingo plays this year, he should be low on a Dallas WR depth chart that possesses an enviable one-two punch in CeeDee Lamb (currently injured) and George Pickens. Fellow receivers KaVontae Turpin and Jalen Tolbert have combined for 21 catches, meanwhile, and tight end Jake Ferguson has already made 34 receptions during the team’s 1-2-1 start.
Carson, out since hyperextending his knee in July, has endured an injury-marred career so far. The 2024 fifth-rounder from Wake Forest only made six appearances (five starts) as a rookie before going on IR with a shoulder ailment that required surgery. The Carson-less Cowboys have opened this season dead last in the NFL against the pass, having surrendered 297.3 yards per game. Although Carson remains largely unproven at the pro level, the Cowboys will happily welcome him back as a reinforcement if he proves healthy enough for activation.
Because the Cowboys designated Mingo as an IR-return player in August, he already counts toward their eight-activation limit in-season. Carson, however, landed on IR after Dallas set its initial 53-man roster. He will not count toward the Cowboys’ activation total until the team moves him back onto its 53-man roster.
Panthers Place G Chandler Zavala, WR David Moore On IR
The Panthers’ offensive line is already shorthanded with Robert Hunt and Austin Corbett set for lengthy absences. The unit will be missing another notable contributor for the time being. 
Guard Chandler Zavala was placed on injured reserve Wednesday, per a team announcement. The 2023 fourth-rounder took over from Hunt in Week 2 after he went down. For each of the past two games, Zavala handled starting duties at the right guard spot. With Hunt likely to miss most of the season’s remainder, that setup was set to continue for the foreseeable future.
Instead, Carolina’s offensive line plans will need to change once more. Zavala – who is dealing with a knee injury – is now set to miss at least the next four weeks. The 26-year-old’s absence will deal another blow to a Carolina offense which has battled inconsistency in 2025. It will also mark the second of Zavala’s three NFL seasons in which he has missed time.
The Panthers have also placed depth receiver David Moore on IR. The veteran has what head coach Dave Canales termed a “significant” elbow dislocation (h/t Joe Person of The Athletic). A lengthy recovery timeline is expected in this case, and Moore is set to be sidelined longer than Zavala. Carolina’s receiving corps will move forward without a regular presence (albeit one with only one reception to date) in the fold for a notable stretch.
In need of healthy O-line options, Carolina also announced today that Jake Curhan has been signed off the Cardinals’ practice squad. The former UDFA has made 40 appearances and 11 starts in his career, but he has yet to see any playing time on offense so far with Arizona. That could soon change given this change of scenery.
The 1-3 Panthers will host a Dolphins team sporting the same record in Week 5. Carolina’s efforts to rebound from a poor start to the season will include an offense featuring even fewer available contributors, though.