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Commanders Activate DE Drake Jackson From IR

December 4th, 2025 at 4:03pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Commanders activated defensive end Drake Jackson from injured reserve, per a team announcement.

The team released safety Darnell Savage earlier in the day to clear a 53-man roster spot for Jackson. Savage appeared in three games this season with a rotational role in Washington’s secondary.

Jackson, 24, was a second-round pick by the 49ers in 2022. He appeared in 15 games as a rookie with decent production on a 33% snap share. He was on pace for better numbers in 2023 before a torn patellar tendon in Week 8 prematurely ended his season. The injury also sidelined him for all of 2024, and he was waived in May as San Francisco turned their attention to other edge rushers.

The third-year defensive end continued his recovery in 2025. Once he neared a return, he took visits with the Commanders, Jets, and Ravens in early October. He ultimately signed in Washington but was immediately placed on injured reserve to finish his rehab.

Jackson was designated to return to practice as soon as his minimum IR stint was up and is now set to make his 2025 debut on Sunday against the Vikings. He will add depth to an EDGE room that lost Dorance Armstrong to a season-ending injury in October. The Commanders will hope Jackson can reinforce a pass rush that has generated the fifth-fewest pressures in the NFL this season, though their sack and quarterback knockdown totals rank closer to the middle of the pack.

Texans DT Tim Settle To Miss Rest Of Season After Foot Surgery

December 4th, 2025 at 2:35pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Texans defensive tacke Tim Settle will undergo surgery to address a foot injury and miss the rest of the 2025 season, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.

Settle, 28, has been a core part of Houston’s defensive line this season with 12 starts and a 53% snap share. His statistical production – 15 tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack – are not especially impressive, but the success of the unit as the whole is undeniable. The Texans lead the NFL in points allowed and total defense with top-five ranks against the pass and the run. Settle may not be putting up big numbers, but he does rank third on the team with a 78.0 pass rushing grade and fourth with 17 pressures, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

The Texans have several players who can help fill Settle’s snaps. Either Tommy Togiai and Mario Edwards will get the starting nod, but both will see an uptick in playing time. Folorunso Fatukasi is eligible to be activated from injured reserve, but that has been the case for a month without any updates on his status. As a result, veteran Marlon Davidson and undrafted rookie Junior Tafuna could factor into the D-line rotation, whether that is via a practice squad elevation or a promotion to the active roster. Neither has appeared in a game this year.

As for Settle, he will spend the rest of the season recovering from surgery and is expected to be “recovered well ahead of the 2026 season,” per Garafolo. He is set to hit free agency in the offseason and should earn a raise on his current $3MM APY.

Eagles DT Jalen Carter To Miss Time After Procedures On Both Shoulders

December 4th, 2025 at 1:46pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter underwent procedures on both of his shoulders to address lingering injuries and will miss one week as a result, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

It is important to note that Carter had a medical procedure, but not a surgery, according to Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer. He is considered week-to-week, but is expected to return at some point this season.

After last week’s loss to the Bears, Carter revealed that he had been dealing with his shoulder issues since the spring. He played through it up to this point and has done so with an impressive 85% snap share, which is a lot for his position even without the injuries. The 2023 first-rounder has not been as dominant in the trenches with only two sacks and four tackles for loss in 12 games, a step back from last year’s production. He still has 36 pressures, 10th-most among defensive tackles, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

Carter, 24, opted to have the procedures now in order to get back to 100% before the playoffs. The Eagles are currently leading the NFC East and are expected to qualify for the postseason, but the conference race is much tighter. Five other teams have a record equal to or better than Philadelphia’s, with three teams one game back. Having Carter at full strength in the playoffs is more important than having him below 100% in the next five games.

The Eagles will hope Moro Ojomo and Jordan Davis can step up in terms of their performance in Carter’s absence, but both are already at a 60% snap share and will not be able to fill their teammate’s snaps. The team will instead ask Byron Young and Ty Robinson to take on a bigger role in the defense. Young, a Raiders third-rounder in 2023, has not produced much this season, while Robinson is a fourth-round rookie who has only played 35 snaps this year.

Philadelphia’s D-line will have to hold the line over the next few games until Carter returns. If he can come back with a vengeance at last year’s level of play, he could be a crucial difference-maker in the playoffs.

Panthers Hope To Extend LT Ikem Ekwonu, Retain C Cade Mays

December 4th, 2025 at 11:14am CST by Adam La Rose

This past spring, the Panthers exercised Ikem Ekwonu‘s fifth-year option. As a result, the team is set to have left tackle stability through at least 2026.

A longer agreement between team and player could be coming relatively soon, though. As Joe Person of The Athletic writes (subscription required), working out a new Ekwonu contract will be a priority this coming offseason. At the moment, the former first-rounder is due to collect $17.65MM in 2026.

In the event a multi-year accord can be worked out, Ekwonu will be in line for far greater compensation. The 25-year-old struggled early in his career in pass protection, but Carolina has never moved him to guard. While continuing to develop on the blindside, Ekwonu has been charged with five sacks allowed by PFF. That illustrates room for further progress, but it is the lowest figure in that regard since his rookie campaign.

Over the course of his Panthers tenure, Ekwonu has seen incremental improvement in his PFF evaluations. The South Carolina product currently ranks 26th out of 80 qualifying tackles in overall grade for 2025. If the Panthers invest in ongoing development, a big-ticket second contract could be in store. Well before the start of the season, Ekwonu made clear his desire to remain with the Panthers for years to come.

Five right tackles are currently among the blockers averaging $20MM or more per season. That group includes Taylor Moton, who agreed to a new deal in August to avoid a potential trip to free agency. The nine-year veteran is set to continue in his current capacity through 2027 as a result. Signing Ekwonu to a long-term deal would help ensure further stability up front for the Panthers.

That will also be true along the interior if Cade Mays can be retained. Person writes keeping Mays in the fold appears to be a team priority as well. 2025 marks the final season of the former sixth-rounder’s rookie contract, setting him up for a first career trip to free agency this spring. With 23 starts (and counting) to his name, Mays could be one of top center options on the market in March.

The 26-year-old posted a career-best finish of 13th amongst centers for PFF grade last season. Mays lost a training camp competition for the starting gig, but injuries to Austin Corbett and others have allowed him to make eight starts in 10 appearances in 2025. Mays is PFF’s 21st-ranked center at this point. A new deal in his case would cost far less than a second Ekwonu contract, but it would give Carolina flexibility at the center spot for next year at a minimum.

Commanders Expected To Waive DB Darnell Savage

December 4th, 2025 at 9:48am CST by Adam La Rose

2025 has seen Darnell Savage lose out on a starting job and change teams midway through the season. The veteran defensive back could be on the move once again in the near future.

Savage has asked to be let go by the Commanders, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports. He adds Washington is expected to grant the request. Provided that takes place, Savage will soon find himself on waivers. Interested teams could add him via a claim; otherwise, he would become a free agent once again.

During training camp, Savage lost his starting spot in Jacksonville. By mid-September, the team’s new regime led by GM James Gladstone and head coach Liam Coen elected to move on despite the guarantees remaining on his contract. That left Savage on the open market, and he quickly lined up a visit with the Commanders which produced an agreement.

During eight games in Washington, Savage has handled a defensive snap share of just 33%. The former first-rounder has struggled in coverage, allowing three touchdowns as the nearest defender while playing in the nation’s capital. That will hinder his chances of being claimed and no doubt deal a blow to his earning potential moving forward. Presuming Savage, 28, becomes available once more, it will be interesting to see if he lines up any suitors for the stretch run.

The Commanders have lost seven straight games, and at 3-9 the postseason is not a consideration for the team. Washington will look to the remainder of the campaign as an evaluation period for players in contention for a roster spot in 2026. Savage understandably does not fit that description.

The Maryland product has made 82 starts and 95 appearances over the course of his career. After Savage secured $12.5MM guaranteed in 2024, it is safe to assume he will not be able to match that figure during his next trip to free agency (whether it comes in March or before the end of the season).

Eagles Made Darius Slay Waiver Claim

December 4th, 2025 at 9:00am CST by Adam La Rose

Darius Slay saw his Steelers tenure come to an end this week, but he did not reach free agency. The Bills put in a waiver claim to add him for the remainder of the season.

If not for that, a Philadelphia reunion could have been in store. The Eagles also put in a waiver claim for Slay, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Both teams sport a record of 8-4, but the Bills had the higher waiver priority.

In the event the Eagles’ bid had been successful, Slay would have been able to rejoin his former team for the stretch run. The 34-year-old spent five seasons (2020-24) in Philadelphia, collecting three of his six career Pro Bowl nods during that time. After one year playing alongside Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, Slay was released this past offseason. That set up a one-year, $10MM Steelers pact which did not work out as hoped.

Expectations will be low in Slay’s case upon arrival in Buffalo, and the same no doubt would have been true had he returned to Philadelphia. The former All-Pro has not enjoyed a productive 2025 season, and Pittsburgh’s Asante Samuel Jr. signing prompted his exit. Nevertheless, Slay would have given the Eagles a familiar face in the secondary, one which has already seen several in-season changes take place.

General manager Howie Roseman was busy on the trade front leading up to last month’s deadline. That included deals with the Jets for Michael Carter II and with the Ravens for Jaire Alexander. The latter has since been moved to the reserve/retired list, so a Slay reunion would have allowed for him to occupy a depth corner role on the perimeter. Instead, Slay will spend the remainder of what is likely to be his final NFL season with the Bills.

Meanwhile, the Eagles will move forward with Mitchell, DeJean and Adoree’ Jackson as key figures in the secondary. As the team looks to rebound from two straight losses, it will do so without late-season reinforcements.

Ravens, Mark Andrews Agree On Extension

December 3rd, 2025 at 10:43pm CST by Sam Robinson

Mark Andrews will not be testing free agency. For the second time, the accomplished tight end has agreed to a Ravens extension.

The longtime Lamar Jackson target agreed to a three-year deal worth $39.3MM, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo reports. The through-2028 deal includes $26MM guaranteed. This deal comes months after rumors swirled about an Andrews trade. Instead, the Ravens’ all-time receiving leader has secured a nice guarantee and will stick around.

Baltimore has secured Andrews at a lower rate compared to his 2021 extension. Considering the cap’s rise by nearly $100MM in that span, this represents good value for the team. Andrews had entered the season on his four-year, $56MM extension. This one checks in just south of that in AAV, at $13.1MM. That ranks sixth among tight ends.

The tight end market has not moved too much since Andrews’ first Ravens payday. George Kittle and Trey McBride moved the bar to $19MM this offseason, one that included Ja’Marr Chase dragging the receiver benchmark past $40MM per year. As Andrews’ position continues to make modest gains, the Ravens were able to construct a reasonable third contract to quiet doubts about his future and provide some much-needed clarity on the club’s post-2025 tight end situation.

A March rumor suggested the Ravens could trade Andrews this year, while Eric DeCosta‘s initial assessment of the situation did not assure the top pass catcher in franchise history would play an eighth season in Maryland. That noise quieted, but the Ravens had received trade interest on Andrews this offseason. With the team also interested in extending Isaiah Likely, it certainly looked reasonable Andrews could hit free agency and depart come March.

This extension does come at an interesting point. Andrews turned 30 in September and has seen his yards-per-catch average drop to 9.0. The dynamic tight end had not previously finished a season below 11.5, posting 12-plus-yard averages in all but one year from 2018-24. The Ravens did play without Lamar Jackson for a three-game stretch, and the superstar quarterback has not flashed MVP-caliber form in recent weeks. The Ravens are obviously confident Andrews still has prime form remaining, though it will be interesting to see the full guarantees in this deal.

The Ravens franchise has struggled to identify long-term receiving pieces. Only three players in franchise history have compiled more than 4,000 yards. Two of them are tight ends — Andrews and Todd Heap. Andrews eclipsed Derrick Mason‘s franchise yardage record this season; Mason was a Titans cap casualty who joined the Ravens ahead of his age-31 season. As the team has failed to groom a long-term receiving piece out of the draft — though, Zay Flowers may have something to say about that — it also missed on first-round tight end Hayden Hurst in 2018. Fortunately, Baltimore doubled up at TE in that draft by circling back via Andrews at No. 86.

Andrews has three Pro Bowls on his resume, including a 2021 season that produced 1,361 yards and a first-team All-Pro nod. Considering Travis Kelce and George Kittle‘s primes coming during this period, first-team All-Pro accolades were hard to come by. Andrews added 847 receiving yards in 2022, a second straight year bringing a late-season Jackson injury.

After suffering a major ankle injury in 2023, Andrews returned to play 17 games last season. Although Likely ate into some of Andrews’ receiving opportunities, the enduring presence totaled 673 receiving yards and a career-high 11 touchdowns to help Jackson to a second straight first-team All-Pro nod.

This season, Andrews has just 332 receiving yards. Though, he has scored five TDs. Pro Football Focus also ranks Andrews as a top-20 run blocker at the position. Likely missed the team’s first three games due to injury but has been active since. The fourth-year TE has 18 receptions for 223 yards and no scores. This extension could point the younger option to the market, but Likely re-up talks were believed to be on Baltimore’s docket. A franchise tag was even floated as a possibility.

With Andrews locked down, Likely may well have a chance to test the market. While the Ravens have until early March to negotiate exclusively with Likely, his FA price tag could make a return unreasonable.

Browns Open Deshaun Watson’s Practice Window

December 3rd, 2025 at 10:41pm CST by Connor Byrne

The Browns have started three different quarterbacks this season. A fourth could be on the way. Cleveland opened Deshaun Watson‘s practice window on Wednesday. The team will have 21 days to activate Watson from the reserve/PUP list.

Watson hasn’t appeared in a game since Oct. 20, 2024, when he tore his right Achilles in a loss to the Bengals. The 30-year-old tore the same Achilles while rehabbing last January. He had to undergo surgery shortly after that.

Coming off two major injuries, it’s unclear if Watson will be healthy enough to take the field this season. He’ll only take individual practice reps for now before “potentially” moving up to the scout team at some point, according to head coach Kevin Stefanski (via Tony Grossi of 850 ESPN Cleveland).

Asked if he wants Watson to play in 2025, Stefanski said (via Zac Jackson of The Athletic): “Really not my focus. Not his focus right this minute. His focus is putting a helmet on, shoulder pads, throwing a football.”

Watson’s Achilles injury was the latest unwelcome development in what has been a disastrous run in Cleveland. Then with the Texans, Watson sat out the entire 2021 season while angling for a new contract. He was also facing ongoing sexual misconduct allegations.

Despite his troubling off-field issues, the Browns sent four picks (three first-rounders and a third-rounder) to the Texans for Watson in March 2022. The trade has turned out to be one of the most lopsided swaps in NFL history, especially considering Cleveland immediately gave Watson a five-year deal worth a fully guaranteed $230MM.

The allegations against Watson led to an 11-game suspension to begin his first season with the Browns. The three-time Pro Bowler has not regained his past form since then. Watson has started just 19 games for the Browns, who have gone 9-10 with him at the helm. He has posted a lackluster 80.2 passer rating with 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions since leaving Houston.

Browns owner Jimmy Haslam admitted last spring that the Watson trade was a “big swing-and-miss” move for Cleveland, which didn’t land the franchise QB it thought it was getting. The Browns are still searching for an answer under center.

Joe Flacco opened this season as the Browns’ starter, but they traded the 40-year-old stopgap to the Bengals in early October. Flacco’s departure led to the promotion of third-round rookie Dillon Gabriel, who struggled in six outings before suffering a concussion in a Week 11 loss to the Ravens. While Gabriel is now healthy, his injury allowed fifth-round rookie Shedeur Sanders to grab the reins. The 3-9 Browns have gone 1-1 under Sanders, who will start again in a meeting with the Titans on Sunday.

Cleveland will have four more games left after it faces Tennessee. It’s up in the air whether Watson will play in any of them. It’s also unknown if Watson will be in the mix to compete for the Browns’ starting job next season. He’s owed $46MM in 2026, the last year of his contract, and will count a league-high $80.7MM against the salary cap. Releasing Watson in the offseason would leave the Browns with an absurd $131.6MM dead cap charge.

Bills Claim CB Darius Slay

December 3rd, 2025 at 10:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

Like Adam Thielen, Darius Slay did not clear waivers. The 34-year-old cornerback will be heading to Buffalo after the Bills made a successful claim, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.

The Steelers cut Slay on Tuesday, ending a short stint. While the 13th-year veteran is attached to a one-year, $10MM deal, the Steelers are responsible for most of it. They included an $8.75MM signing bonus in a deal carrying a vet-minimum base salary. The Bills will only be responsible for barely $370K on this claim.

At the very least, Slay will provide Buffalo with an ultra-experienced depth option. Slay’s 176 starts at corner rank just outside the top 20 at the position throughout NFL history. He started nine games with the Steelers but ended his tenure as a healthy scratch against the Bills. Pittsburgh replaced Slay with in-season signing Asante Samuel Jr. The Bills were not among the teams to host Samuel on a visit, but they will proceed with Slay as a late-season add.

Gunning for its sixth straight AFC East title, Buffalo has an uphill battle thanks to New England’s 11-2 record. The Bills sit 8-4 and need help even in the event of a win in Foxborough next week. The Bills made multiple moves at corner this offseason, drafting Maxwell Hairston in Round 1 and reuniting with Tre’Davious White. The latter has worked as the primary starter opposite Christian Benford, lining up in that role in 11 of the Bills’ 12 games.

Pro Football Focus has graded Hairston as the superior option, though his 188 defensive snaps do not qualify him as a regular. PFF ranks White 83rd at the position, as the former All-Pro’s second-stint form pales in comparison to where he was in his prime. The Bills have Benford and Taron Johnson as two of the better options at their respective positions, but the CB2 area has been a question mark since Hairston’s summer LCL injury kept him from debuting until late October.

In White (30) and Slay, the Bills now have two 30-something corners. The latter is one of the most decorated active players at the position. While Slay missed out on All-Decade acclaim for the 2010s, he is a six-time Pro Bowler and a one-time All-Pro. The 6-foot boundary corner started in two Super Bowls with the Eagles, making a big impact in 2022 and ’24.

The Eagles used Slay as their No. 1 corner in 2022 and kept him as a starter despite drafting Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean in the first and second rounds last year. Slay played 81% of Philadelphia’s defensive snaps last season. This waiver claim blocks the Eagles of what could have been an interesting reunion.

Slay’s $10MM price in free agency suggested there would be interested teams following his Pittsburgh exit, and while it will be interesting to learn if anyone else submitted a claim, his Steelers work left plenty to be desired. PFF graded Slay 71st among CBs this year, and Pro-Football-Reference’s coverage metrics charged him with allowing a 75% completion rate as the closest defender — a sharp uptick from his 2024 number (54.7%).

A scheme transition will naturally provide optimism, as no two defenses are alike, and the Steelers giving him an 81% snap share does show a degree of dependability in Year 13. But this is obviously not a prime version of Slay the Bills are getting. The Bills have used some 30-somethings at corner under McDermott, who reunited with Josh Norman before doing the same with White. Slay joins Norman, Stephon Gilmore and Johnathan Joseph as the only corners 34 or older to see time this decade.

If nothing else, Slay provides the Bills with some high-profile insurance as they look to make an eighth playoff berth in the Sean McDermott era. Slay (28 career interceptions) said shortly after Super Bowl LIX he would likely retire after this season. The accomplished cover man now factors into a Super Bowl contender’s equation, making for an interesting career conclusion. Buffalo waived cornerback Ja’Marcus Ingram to clear a roster spot. Ingram was a healthy scratch over the past three weeks.

Panthers Expected To Pick Up Bryce Young’s Fifth-Year Option, Wait On Extension

December 3rd, 2025 at 10:34pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

In the last 15 season, the Panthers have won more than seven games only three times. They are already at seven wins in 2025 with four games to go after their Week 14 bye, putting them on pace for their best finish since 2017.

Carolina’s success is primarily due to a defense that has improved from dead-last in 2024 to middle of the pack this year, but clutch play from third-year quarterback Bryce Young has been a major factor. He has led four fourth-quarter comebacks and five game-winning drives.

However, he is not exactly setting the world on fire statistically, averaging fewer than 200 passing yards per game and ranking 23rd in passer rating (87.9) and QBR (45.6). Young has also thrown nine interceptions already; last season, he threw nine picks in 14 games, and in 2023, he threw 10 in 16 games.

His performance this season has set up an interesting two years for the Panthers and their young quarterback. Young will be eligible for an extension this offseason, and a decision on his fifth-year option will be due on May 1.

The latter situation is simpler than the former. Young’s fifth-year option is projected by OverTheCap to be $26.5MM, though that could rise to $39.7MM if he makes the Pro Bowl this season. That feels unlikely, but a surprise playoff berth on the back of Young’s clutch performances could garner him some consideration. He does have to be selected on the original ballot to upgrade his fifth-year option, according to the NFL’s CBA; a 2022 Tyler Huntley situation (filling in for an injured original selection) would not qualify. A Pro Bowl bump would make Young’s fifth-year option a much tougher decision, but for now, the team is expected to pick it up, per ESPN’s Dan Graziano.

Picking up the fifth-year option ensures that Young is under contract at an affordable price for a starter. It would also allow the Panthers to wait on an extension. They are not expected to pursue one this offseason, as Young has not quite cemented himself as the future of the franchise. Another, more significant leap in 2026 may do so, at which point the Panthers would likely try to finalize an extension before the 2027 season.

As a result, the cost of an extension may be substantially lower this offseason as opposed to the next. That sets up a clear dichotomy for the Panthers. Do they want to bet on Young now in the hopes of continue development and a contract that looks like a steal a few years from now? Or do they want to wait and see if he is really their long-term starter.

It is worth noting that Panthers head coach Dave Canales came in the year after the team selected Young with the No. 1 overall pick. As a result, he had to give Young a chance for at least a year or two. The 24-year-old quarterback has responded with some development, but it is hard to argue that he is even a mid-tier starter.

If Young cannot reach or eclipse that level next season, Canales may want to handpick his next quarterback himself. He may already have designs to do so. As the saying goes, NFL stands for Not For Long. Coaches can have extremely short leashes, especially under owners whose teams are struggling and/or are too involved in day-to-day operations. Both could be said of Panthers owner David Tepper, so if Canales wants to be in Carolina for the long haul, he may want to choose the quarterback that will give him the best chance.

The rest of the 2023 class becomes eligible for an extension next offseason. C.J. Stroud is the only quarterback that looks like the future of his franchise, so the Texans are considered more likely to pay him than the Panthers are to pay Young, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

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