Eagles Made Draft-Day Contact With QB Shedeur Sanders
Earlier this month, it was reported the Ravens initially planned to select Shedeur Sanders in the fifth round of April’s draft. Instead, the oft-discussed quarterback wound up being taken by the Browns. 
During an appearance on the New Heights podcast (video link), Sanders’ father Deion confirmed the Ravens’ interest. He also corroborated reporting which stated the presence of Lamar Jackson as Baltimore’s starter severed as the reason why the Sanders camp preferred a selection from another team. A poor pre-draft process led to a slide well into the Day 3 order, something which added further to the unusual storyline surrounding this situation.
Deion Sanders made another notable revelation when speaking about the draft, though (h/t Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com). In addition to interest from the Ravens and Browns, the Eagles made contact during the event. Philadelphia’s QB depth chart is of course topped by Jalen Hurts, something which will remain the case for the foreseeable future. The team made a number of moves at the position this offseason, however.
Kenny Pickett was dealt from the Eagles to the Browns in a move which made him one of four passers to take part in training camp for Cleveland. After the team elected to go with Joe Flacco as the starter, Pickett became expendable and he was traded to the Raiders. That left Sanders in a third-string role behind fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel. Flacco has handled QB1 duties for each of the first three weeks this season, and it does not appear a change in the pecking order is imminent.
Had the Eagles drafted Sanders, they would presumably have avoided trading for Sam Howell late in August. The latter was traded during Day 3 of the draft from Seattle to Minnesota, but the Vikings’ decision to sign Carson Wentz as a new backup opened the door for Howell to change teams once again. The Eagles also have 2023 sixth-rounder Tanner McKee on their quarterback depth chart.
Howell is a pending free agent, but McKee’s rookie contract runs through 2026. Selecting Sanders would have represented a long-term (and inexpensive) investment under center on the part of Philadelphia. The issue of having an entrenched starter still would have been an issue similar to that of the Ravens, however. The situation is much different in Cleveland, and it remains to be seen when – or if – Sanders will receive playing time in 2025.
Vikings’ J.J. McCarthy To Miss Week 4; Latest On QB’s Path Back To Starting Job
The Vikings used a turnover spree to wallop the Bengals in a matchup of backup quarterbacks. Minnesota’s relief option will receive at least one more start, with Kevin O’Connell confirming Carson Wentz will be at the controls for the Vikings’ Ireland game against the Steelers.
While no ambiguity regarding J.J. McCarthy‘s Week 4 status is coming, the fourth-year Minnesota HC did not confirm McCarthy would be back at the controls when he is healthy enough to play. The Vikings want their second-year quarterback, who is recovering from a high ankle sprain, to have a full runup in practice before he is reinserted.
“First and foremost, he’s got to get healthy. And then, I don’t think it’s one of those things where it’s, hey, he’s healthy the night before a game, we’re going to throw him out there and say, ‘Hey, go figure it out’ type of thing,” O’Connell said, via ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert.
“I think we saw, as phenomenal as he was getting prepared for the Atlanta game, he did miss practice that week. And when you’re in the phase of building up the 10,000 reps and 10,000 hours of what it takes to play the position at a very high level, which we know J.J. McCarthy is going to do, you can’t cut corners on that. And that also doesn’t require an answer on that question today.”
This stance will allow the Vikings to delay an answer here. The team’s definitive response will help define its season. The Vikings cleared the runway for McCarthy this offseason, passing on a Sam Darnold franchise tag and letting Daniel Jones walk in free agency. Minnesota did make an offer to the current Colts starter, but the short-lived Vikings practice squad arm viewed Indianapolis as a better opportunity to start. The Vikings then passed on Sunday foe Aaron Rodgers, who had wanted to join O’Connell and Justin Jefferson in what would have been a high-profile bridge setup. These moves gave McCarthy a clear path to the starting role he was in line to push Darnold for — before his season-ending meniscus injury — at some point in 2024.
Although McCarthy flashed during a comeback win over the Bears, he struggled during a listless Week 2 loss. McCarthy threw two interceptions and took six sacks against Atlanta. McCarthy finished with the second-lowest QBR in Week 2. Wentz benefited from the Bengals’ five turnovers Sunday but was 14 of 20 for 173 yards and two touchdown passes. This performance came after Wentz arrived in Minnesota in late August, with the team trading Sam Howell.
O’Connell pushed back on the notion of this being a McCarthy soft benching, per Seifert, but did indicate value for the young starter in watching Wentz execute. McCarthy’s time on IR last season brought significant developmental limitations, even as he could watch how Darnold operated O’Connell’s offense. Now, another hurdle has emerged. How McCarthy progresses in practice will be critical toward his return.
Wentz, 32, has been benched twice, traded twice and cut once since signing a lucrative Eagles deal in 2019. He has now started for six teams in the past six years, becoming the first quarterback to do so. While Week 18 starts in place of resting QBs (Matthew Stafford, Patrick Mahomes) helped extend that streak, those cameos do remind of the former No. 2 overall pick’s nomadic period after both the Colts and Commanders did not bring him back as a starter.
It would be quite surprising if the Vikings abandoned their McCarthy plan after two starts, but some pressure did come from finishing 14-3 last season. Wentz, though, looks likely to have two more games to make his case.
The Vikings travel from Ireland to England between Weeks 4 and 5, following up their Jets tilt with a Browns matchup in London, and have a Week 6 bye. This would give McCarthy a ramp-up period, though it is within the realm of possibility Wentz could change the organization’s thinking in two AFC North matchups. McCarthy will travel to the Ireland and England games.
Additionally, O’Connell said first-round rookie Donovan Jackson underwent wrist surgery; the Ohio State product is likely to miss the Vikings’ Steelers and Browns games before the bye, Seifert adds.
The reigning Coach of the Year said (via Seifert) the Vikes’ left guard suffered the injury in Week 2 and played through it, due to being deemed unable to further damage his wrist, Sunday. But a surgical repair will lead to some time on the sideline. Sixth-year guard Blake Brandel, a 17-game 2024 starter, would be in line to work as a fill-in as part of Minnesota’s revamped interior O-line.
Eagles Claim WR Xavier Gipson
Xavier Gipson will leave New York for the first time in his NFL career, but the twice-waived wide receiver will remain tied to his Jets rookie contract.
After the Giants waived the young return man, the Eagles have claimed him. Philadelphia has again waived offseason trade acquisition Kenyon Green in a corresponding move. Philly had cut Green earlier, only to bring him back via a practice squad spot. Green will be eligible for another such move if he clears waivers.
Although Gipson has made some contributions on offense during his three-year career, he is best known as a return specialist. Memorably completing a walk-off punt-return score to give the Jets an upset win over the Bills in Aaron Rodgers‘ four-play debut, Gipson served as Gang Green’s regular kick and punt returner from 2023-24. That game was also Gipson’s first, but he remained a Jets regular for the next two seasons.
The Stephen F. Austin product led the NFL with 33 punt returns last season, matching his 2023 total, and combined for 39 kick returns in that span. Fumbles have also been a key part of Gipson’s NFL run; he has already fumbled 10 times in 35 games. A fourth-quarter lost fumble in Week 1 led to a new Jets regime waiving him. The Giants claimed Gipson but did not use him in a game. He remains tied to a prorated $1.03MM base salary.
The Eagles have used Jahan Dotson as their punt returner, with John Metchie‘s seven kick returns leading the way for the defending Super Bowl champions. Philly’s top two kick returners from 2024 — Kenneth Gainwell, Isaiah Rodgers — left in free agency.
NFL Removes Texans’ Jimmie Ward From Commissioner’s Exempt List
SEPTEMBER 22: Following the Ward legal development, the NFL has removed the Texans safety from the commissioner’s exempt list, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets. Not yet recovered from a December foot injury, Ward will shift back to the reserve/PUP list. He must remain on the PUP list through at least Week 4.
SEPTEMBER 18: A legal resolution has emerged for Texans safety Jimmie Ward. A Montgomery County grand jury has decided to no-bill his felony domestic violence case, meaning the prosecution will not proceed with charges. 
Ward was arrested in June on third-degree felony charges. It became known earlier this month his case would be presented to a grand jury, with his attorneys expressing optimism their presentation would be sufficient to result in the proceedings coming to an end. That has now taken place.
“Today we presented our grand jury packet and evidence to the grand jury to show that Mr. Ward was factually innocent of the allegations against him,” a statement from attorney Stephen Jackson reads (via KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson).
“The district attorney also provided information to the grand jury, that we believe, assisted the grand jury in coming to the conclusion that Mr. Ward should be no-billed. We believe not only was he exonerated by the grand jury but that the actions of the grand jury show that Jimmie was factually innocent.”
Just ahead of the deadline for roster cuts, Ward was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list. That remains the case at this time. As a result, the 34-year-old is prohibited from playing or practicing. Ward is still recovering from offseason foot surgery, and he is currently unable to play anyway.
“We continue to monitor all developments in this matter, which remains under review,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said (via Wilson). Especially in the case of domestic violence allegations, the league often waits until criminal proceedings finish to conduct its own investigation. Pending the outcome of that process, Ward could remain on the exempt list for an extended period. Findings of criminal wrongdoing are not necessary for an NFL probe to result in a fine and/or suspension under the personal conduct policy.
Ward – who is still the subject of a civil lawsuit stemming from his alleged April 2025 actions against his former fiancée – has one year remaining on his contract. The former 49er will provide DeMeco Ryans and the Texans with a veteran presence and starting option in the secondary when available, and today’s news marks a key development with respect to determining when that will be the case.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/22/25
Here are Monday’s practice squad transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: DL Kyon Barrs
Atlanta Falcons
- Released: CB C.J. Henderson
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: OL Nick Broeker
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: WR Cedrick Wilson Jr.
Henderson did not play during his short stint with the Falcons, though this does not necessarily wrap his time with the team. Atlanta had previously cut the former top-10 pick in August, subsequently signing him back to the practice squad. Henderson has 32 career starts but has never come especially close to justifying his draft slot. Spending time with the Steelers last year, Henderson has not played since the 2023 season — with the Panthers.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/22/25
Here are Monday’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Elevated: TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden, DE Brent Urban
Detroit Lions
- Elevated: TE Ross Dwelley
New Orleans Saints
- Waived: WR Kevin Austin Jr.
New York Giants
- Waived: OLB Tomon Fox
Falcons Fire WRs Coach Ike Hilliard
The Falcons are moving on from their wide receivers coach early in the season. Ike Hilliard is out, according to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones. This was Hilliard’s second season in that position.
Pass-game coordinator T.J. Yates will take over in the role, per a team announcement. A former NFL wideout, Hilliard has been a coach in the league for 13 seasons. Hilliard, 49, has been with five NFL teams since he began coaching in the league in 2011. Only one of those stays (with Washington) surpassed two years in length. This is a performance-based move, The Athletic’s Josh Kendall tweets.
Hilliard remains better known for his run as a receiver, enjoying memorable stays in New York and Tampa after being a No. 7 overall pick in 1997, but he has been in the coaching ranks since being an assistant in UFL 1.0 from 2009-10. He has since been an assistant wide receivers coach with the Dolphins and wideouts coach with the Bills, Washington (two stints), Steelers and Falcons. For a season in 2022, Hilliard served as Auburn’s WRs coach and interim co-OC.
Raheem Morris added Hilliard nearly 20 years after the two overlapped in Tampa. The Falcons HC was on Jon Gruden‘s staff during Hilliard’s final NFL seasons, which came in Tampa. Hilliard, who had served previously as a Giants Amani Toomer sidekick from 1997-2004, overlapped with Morris in 2005 and from 2007-08.
The Bucs released Hilliard weeks into Morris’ first offseason in charge back in 2009; he did not play again. Hilliard served as Washington’s receivers coach under Jay Gruden from 2014-19 and interviewed for the Lions’ OC job during his two-year Pittsburgh stint (2020-21). The Steelers did not renew Hilliard’s contract in 2022. After not coaching in 2023, he caught on with the Falcons.
Last season, Drake London took a significant step forward — after being tied to run-based attacks in 2022 and ’23 — with a 1,271-yard showing. He is off to a much slower start this year, totaling 159 through three games. Despite Darnell Mooney playing in two games, no other Atlanta receiver has more than 70 receiving yards. No Falcons receiver has caught a touchdown pass this season, and the dismissal comes after a 30-0 upset loss to the previously winless Panthers.
Yates is an ex-quarterback-turned-Arthur Smith holdover Morris retained in 2024. Yates served as Atlanta’s WRs coach from 2022-23 before being shifted to QBs coach in 2024. Beginning this season as pass-game coordinator, the 38-year-old staffer will return to a previous Falcons role.
Seahawks To Add RB Khalil Herbert
Khalil Herbert‘s free agency stay will end, and the former Bears starting running back is headed for a fourth team in 11 months. The Seahawks are adding Herbert to their practice squad, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets.
The Seahawks played without Zach Charbonnet in Week 3, and Kenneth Walker has dealt with a few injury issues during his four-year career. Herbert will supply Seattle some insurance, joining a team that rosters former UDFAs George Holani and Jacardia Wright as active-roster reserves.
Traded from the Bears to the Bengals at last year’s deadline, Herbert spent training camp with the Colts but did not earn a roster spot behind Jonathan Taylor. Herbert signed with Indianapolis early in free agency; despite his experience, the former sixth-round pick could not earn the RB2 role with the AFC South club. The Colts added Herbert to their practice squad following his release but replaced him with Ameer Abdullah a day later.
Herbert worked out for the Seahawks today, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, who adds Brandon Bolden and Myles Gaskin also took part in the Seattle audition. Herbert had been on the workout circuit for a bit, drawing interest from a few teams — including the Commanders — to open this season.
The Bolden part of this news is interesting, as the ex-Patriots mainstay is now 35 and was out of football last season. The 11-year veteran, a Patriots UDFA back in 2012, would be the NFL’s oldest active running back if he catches on with a team this season. Primarily a special-teamer who had followed Josh McDaniels from New England to Las Vegas, Bolden has just 304 career carries — helping to explain his NFL staying power. Herbert has 400 despite entering the NFL nine years later.
While Bolden played out his Raiders contract after the 2023 season, Herbert’s Bears rookie deal wrapped in Cincinnati. Chicago dealt the ex-David Montgomery sidekick to Cincy for a 2025 seventh-round pick. That trade came to pass after Zack Moss‘ season-ending neck injury, but Chase Brown took over as a three-down player and kept Herbert as a clear backup. Herbert logged only 28 carries in eight Bengals games, gaining 114 yards. This came after the Bears phased him out following the D’Andre Swift signing.
Herbert fared better earlier in his career, eclipsing 600 rushing yards in 2022 and ’23. He and Montgomery helped Justin Fields oversee a top-ranked rushing attack in 2022. Gaining a career-high 731 rushing yards that year, Herbert averaged 5.7 per tote. He started nine games in 2023 — after Montgomery’s Detroit defection — and gained 611 yards (4.6 YPC). The 27-year-old’s upward mobility will presumably be tied to Walker and Charbonnet’s availability.
Commanders Place S Will Harris On IR
Last night, it was reported Will Harris suffered a fractured fibula during the Commanders’ Week 3 game. That is indeed the case, as head coach Dan Quinn confirmed on Monday. 
To no surprise, then, Washington has moved Harris to injured reserve. That transaction took place on Monday, per a team announcement. It represents a corresponding move to the addition of veteran defensive back Darnell Savage following today’s visit.
When speaking to the media, Quinn said (via The Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala) he is hopeful Harris will be able to return at some point this season. An absence of at least four games is ensured as a result of the IR placement, but a longer period than that will be required for Harris to heal in full. The 29-year-old managing to take part in the latter stages of the campaign would be a welcomed development.
Harris has started each of the three games in 2025, his first season as a member of the Commanders. The former Lion and Saint joined Washington in free agency this spring by signing a two-year pact. That $8MM deal marked a raise compared to Harris’ previous contract, and it elevated expectations. Prior to going down yesterday, he posted 11 tackles, one forced fumble and one pass deflection across the current campaign.
With Harris now out of the picture for the time being, Savage could take on a notable role immediately upon joining the team. Otherwise, options in the secondary which began the season in the nation’s capital will be counted on in for the time being. In any case, it will be interesting to see if Harris manages to play again in 2025.
Chargers’ Najee Harris Suffers Torn Achilles
SEPTEMBER 22: When speaking to the media on Monday, Harbaugh confirmed (via ESPN’s Kris Rhim) Harris has indeed suffered an Achilles tear. His debut season with the Bolts has thus ended after 43 snaps. Today’s news will also obviously deal a blow to Harris’ market value next spring.
SEPTEMBER 21: Chargers running back Najee Harris appeared to suffer an Achilles injury in today’s victory over the Broncos, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. That much was confirmed by head coach Jim Harbaugh after the game. Harbaugh’s exact answer to the media seemed to resonate differently with a couple reporters. 
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport had the most conservative report, stating that Harris was undergoing imaging but that there wasn’t “a lot of optimism.” Daniel Popper of The Athletic took Harbaugh’s comments a bit further, asserting that Harbaugh told them how “preliminary tests indicated a torn Achilles.” Regardless, both versions of Harbaugh’s comments point in the same direction, towards a likely lengthy absence for the veteran rusher.
Harris has been extremely consistent throughout his NFL career. A first-round pick out of Alabama in 2021, Harris started every possible game for the Steelers over the course of his rookie contract. After a Pro Bowl rookie campaign in which he rushed for 1,200 yards and seven touchdowns (with 467 more yards and three more scores receiving), Harris’ next three season rushing totals of 1,034 yards, 1,035 yards, and 1,043 yards perfectly demonstrate that consistency. His touchdown totals in those three years of seven, eight, and six continue that trend, as well.
Harris was going to be hard-pressed to find that same consistency in Los Angeles. Signing with the Chargers on a one-year, $5.25MM contract, Harris seemed the apparent new starting rusher for his new team. Los Angeles drafting Omarion Hampton in the first round of the draft and a fireworks incident both threw a wrench in those plans.
The incident at a 4th of July event saw Harris sustain a superficial eye injury that would force him to open camp on the active/non-football injury list. Though he was activated in time for Week 1 of the season, Hampton was the one getting all the touches and experience with the first-team offense throughout training camp. It may have been that way regardless of Harris’ availability, but the injury guaranteed that Harris would be making up ground upon his return.
That appeared to be the case in the Chargers’ first two games. Through two weeks, Hampton has out-carried Harris 23-9, and Hampton’s snap share on offense (88) more than doubled that of Harris (32) over that time. Hampton will continue in that role as Harris is likely to miss extended time. No other backs have taken carries yet this season for LA, but fourth-year running back Hassan Haskins stands to step into the RB2 role.
The team also holds Kimani Vidal and South Dakota State rookie Amar Johnson on the practice squad. Vidal, a sixth-round pick for the Chargers last year, spent his rookie season on the team’s active roster and could be a candidate to move up to the active roster in Harris’ absence.