HEADLINES

Saints To Use K Charlie Smyth In Week 13

November 29th, 2025 at 7:43pm CST by Adam La Rose

Sunday will mark the Saints’ first game since their decision to move on from kicker Blake Grupe. His immediate replacement will not be the veteran signed earlier this week, though.

The Saints have made Charlie Smyth one of their practice squad gameday elevations for Week 13. The Northern Irishman is thus in line to make his first ever regular season appearance tomorrow. He will look to provide New Orleans with an improved performance compared to Grupe’s inconsistent 2025 season.

Grupe’s third year as the Saints’ kicker did not go nearly as well as the first two. His field goal accuracy rate for 2025 sits at 69.2%, and the team moved on shortly after auditioning free agent options to replace him. One of them – Cade York – was signed on Tuesday. Instead of York (who has made 23 appearances across spells with three different teams), it will be Smyth getting the first opportunity to handle kicking duties.

The 27-year-old entered the NFL when he signed with the Saints in 2024 by way of the International Player Pathway Program. Smyth has been in the organization ever since, but given his background as a Gaelic football player prior to joining New Orleans he has been seen to date more as a developmental project than a reliable backup kicking option. It will be interesting to see how his debut goes as the 2-9 Saints look to identify players worth retaining for next season.

New Orleans has also elevated receiver Dante Pettis for tomorrow’s game against the Dolphins. This is the veteran’s third elevation, so for the Saints to continue using him down the stretch he will need to be signed to the active roster in the near future.

Panthers Place G Chandler Zavala On IR, Elevate LB/S Isaiah Simmons

November 29th, 2025 at 5:39pm CST by Connor Byrne

Exactly four weeks after activating right guard Chandler Zavala from injured reserve, the Panthers have placed him back on IR, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. A calf injury will knock Zavala out for at least four games.

Zavala began the season as a backup, but the third-year man stepped in as a starter after Robert Hunt tore his left biceps in Week 2. A knee injury then forced Zavala to IR, but the Panthers brought him back on Nov. 1.

With Hunt still on the shelf, Zavala started in five straight appearances before his latest IR placement. Pro Football Focus hasn’t been impressed with Zavala’s work this year, though, ranking the former fourth-round pick’s performance a lowly 78th among 81 qualifying guards.

After Zavala went down in a Week 12 loss to the 49ers, Jake Curhan finished the game in his place. Curhan has appeared in eight games since the Panthers signed him off the Cardinals’ practice squad on Oct. 1. He hasn’t logged a start with Carolina yet, but that could change Sunday against the NFC’s No. 1 seed, the Rams.

Having also ruled out center Cade Mays (ankle), the Panthers will have to face the league’s top-ranked scoring defense down multiple starting offensive linemen. It’s a less-than-ideal development for a 6-6 Panthers team battling the 6-5 Buccaneers for an NFC South title.

Banged up along the O-line, the Panthers elevated guard Saahdiq Charles from their practice squad on Saturday. The former Commander hasn’t appeared in a regular-season game since 2023. Charles, then with the Titans, retired before the 2024 season. He came out of retirement to sign with the Cowboys last April, but they released him at the end of August. Charles joined the Panthers’ practice squad on Oct. 1.

The Panthers also elevated linebacker/safety Isaiah Simmons from their practice squad and signed cornerback Kalen King from their taxi squad to their active roster. The team is quickly turning to Simmons after adding him on Tuesday.

Simmons entered the league as the eighth overall pick of the Cardinals in 2020, but the former Clemson Tiger didn’t live up to his draft stock over three years with them or two seasons with the Giants. Simmons has 42 starts, 8.5 sacks, and five interceptions under his belt, though, and could be a multi-position option for Carolina. The Panthers need help at linebacker and safety with starters Christian Rozeboom (hip/hamstring) and Tre’von Moehrig (suspension) out on Sunday.

Cardinals Place Will Hernandez On IR, Activate Hayden Conner

November 29th, 2025 at 4:43pm CST by Connor Byrne

The Cardinals made a pair of changes to their offensive line on Saturday, per Darren Urban of the team’s website. Right guard Will Hernandez is headed to IR with hip and knee injuries. Rookie O-lineman Hayden Conner is coming off IR to take Hernandez’s roster spot.

Hernandez was a durable starter for the Giants and Cardinals from 2018-23. The former second-round pick missed just seven regular-season games out of a possible 99 during that six-year span.

Hernandez’s career was thrown off course when he tore his ACL in October 2024, limiting him to five contests. Shortly after receiving medical clearance, Hernandez re-upped with Arizona on a one-year contract in August. He played in seven games this season before going on IR.

Hernandez won’t be eligible for activation until Week 17. With the Cardinals sitting at 3-8 and all but guaranteed to miss the playoffs, it’s possible he won’t return in 2025. Regardless, the Cardinals will have to decide whether to re-sign Hernandez in the offseason. For now, Isaiah Adams is likely to take over again as the Cardinals’ starting right guard. The 2024 third-rounder started five games earlier this season when Hernandez was working back from last year’s knee injury.

The Cardinals spent a sixth-rounder in last spring’s draft on Conner, who is finally in position to debut after suffering a knee injury in the preseason. Conner started in 43 of 51 games with the Longhorns.

In other moves on Saturday, Arizona elevated two practice squad players – tight end Pharaoh Brown and linebacker Channing Tindall – for Sunday’s game against the Buccaneers. It’s the third standard gameday elevation of the year for Brown. That’s the limit, which means the Cardinals will have to sign Brown to their active roster if they want to use him again.

Commanders Activate S Will Harris From IR

November 29th, 2025 at 4:15pm CST by Connor Byrne

The Commanders announced that they have activated safety Will Harris from IR. After missing eight games, he’s in line to return Sunday against the Broncos.

Harris, a former Lion and Saint, entered 2025 as a starter after signing a two-year, $8MM deal with the Commanders in free agency. He made 11 tackles in parts of three games before fracturing his fibula in a Week 3 win over the Raiders. The Commanders have since dealt with a slew of other injuries during a 3-8 start.

Knowing Harris would miss a significant amount of time, the Commanders signed veteran Darnell Savage to help fill the void. The ex-Packer and Jaguar hasn’t been much of a factor in Washington, though.

With Savage working as a backup, Jeremy Reaves has taken over as a starting safety next to Quan Martin. Reaves has mostly functioned as a special teamer since his career began with Washington in 2018, but he has notched personal bests in starts (seven), tackles (63), and passes defensed (three) this season.

In addition to welcoming back Harris, the Commanders made a series of other moves on Saturday. The team signed long snapper Zach Triner to its practice squad and elevated him to its active roster. It also elevated defensive end T.J. Maguranyanga from the taxi squad and placed wide receiver Ja’Corey Brooks on the practice squad injured list.

Triner combined for 84 appearances with the Buccaneers and Dolphins from 2019-24 (81 with Tampa Bay). He’ll make his 2025 debut Sunday if Commanders long snapper Tyler Ott is unable to play. Ott is is questionable with an illness and a back injury.

Dolphins Activate Austin Jackson From IR

November 29th, 2025 at 3:41pm CST by Connor Byrne

The Dolphins have gone almost all season without right tackle Austin Jackson, who landed on IR after a Week 1 loss to the Colts. Jackson is now ready to return, though, as the team activated him on Saturday, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Jackson suffered a toe injury in the Dolphins’ opener, leading to a 10-game absence. Larry Borom took over as left-handed quarterback Tua Tagovailoa‘s blindside protector at right tackle while Jackson was out. Borom, who has played 600 offensive snaps this year, ranks as Pro Football Focus’ 57th-best tackle out of 81 qualifiers.

A first-round pick in 2020, Jackson has started in 55 of 57 games in his five-plus seasons with the Dolphins. Injuries have been a frequent problem for Jackson, however, as he missed 15 games in 2022 and has sat out 19 of 27 since last season.

Jackson’s under contract through 2026 on a three-year, $36MM extension, but that December 2023 agreement came with former general manager Chris Grier at the controls. The Dolphins parted with Grier in October. His successor, whether it’s interim GM Champ Kelly or someone else, will decide Jackson’s future in the offseason. The 26-year-old could be a candidate for release then. In the meantime, he’ll aim for a healthy finish to the season.

Along with activating Jackson and tight end Darren Waller (previously reported), the Dolphins waived offensive lineman Kion Smith and TE Hayden Rucci on Saturday.

Part of the Miami organization since 2021, Smith has totaled 20 appearances with the team. He got into nine games in 2023 before missing all of 2024 with a torn ACL. Smith returned to play in the Dolphins’ first 11 games this year, picking up a pair of starts along the way.

Rucci, undrafted from Wisconsin in 2024, made his first four appearances this year. He totaled 81 snaps (42 on special teams, 39 on offense) before the Dolphins cut him.

Steelers Place LT Broderick Jones On IR; CB Asante Samuel To Make 2025 Debut

November 29th, 2025 at 3:32pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Steelers placed left tackle Broderick Jones on injured reserve and elevated cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. from the practice squad for Sunday’s game against the Bills, per a team announcement.

The 2023 first-round pick will miss at least four games due to his IR placement. His earliest return would come in Week 17 against the Browns.

Jones suffered a neck injury during Pittsburgh’s Week 12 loss to the Bears. Six-year veteran Calvin Anderson closed out the game, but head coach Mike Tomlin said on Saturday that Andrus Peat would take over blind side duties in Week 13.

Jones, 24, started the Steelers’ first 11 games of the season, allowing six sacks and 23 pressures in 356 pass-blocking opportunities, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). His 95.9 pass block efficiency is not much better than his 95.3 marks in the previous two season.

Peat will start at left tackle in the meantime. He has barely played in the last two years, but started 11 games at left tackle in New Orleans in 2023. He allowed two sacks and 30 pressures in 459 pass-blocking opportunities, per PFF, suggesting he can be a solid but unspectacular fill-in for Jones.

Samuel, 26, will make his 2025 debut against the Bills He was cleared from offseason spinal fusion surgery at the beginning of November and signed with the Steelers after taking visits with a number of teams. Sunday’s game will be Samuel’s first action in over a year and the Steelers are entering Week 13 with a relatively healthy cornerback room. As a result, he may not see much action, though Pittsburgh may try to get him in the game so he can reacclimate to the field. That would also give the Steelers a chance to evaluate Samuel and see what he can contribute for the rest of the year.

Dolphins To Activate Darren Waller From IR

November 29th, 2025 at 2:11pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Dolphins are expected to activate Darren Waller from injured reserve for their Week 13 matchup with the Saints, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

Waller landed on injured reserve after suffering a pectoral strain in Week 7. He completed his mandatory four-game absence and was designated to return earlier this week. He participated in all three practices and is designated as questionable for Sunday’s game.

Waller’s return will boost a Dolphins tight end room that has struggled to produce this year. Other than Waller, none of Miami’s tight ends have scored a touchdown this year, and the position group as a whole has contributed just 28 receptions for 269 yards. In Waller’s three games before getting injured, he made 10 catches for 117 yards and four touchdowns.

Miami will need to clear a 53-man roster spot to complete Waller’s activation, but it is not clear who will be waived. The Dolphins have three tight ends – Julian Hill, Tanner Conner, and Greg Dulcich – on their active roster, plus fullback Alec Ingold. Head coach Mike McDaniel seems to value Hill, Conner, and Ingold’s blocking prowess, but Dulcich has been a better pass-catcher than all three since Waller went down. He has eight catches for 89 yards in three games for an average of 22.2 yards per game, more than what Hill and Conner’s combined total.

Patriots WR Stefon Diggs Has Played Through Fractured Finger

November 29th, 2025 at 1:46pm CST by Connor Byrne

Wide receiver Stefon Diggs‘ first season in New England has gone swimmingly. The four-time Pro Bowler has emerged as quarterback Drake Maye‘s favorite target during a surprising 10-2 start for the Patriots, winners of nine in a row and currently the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

The Patriots’ decision to sign Diggs to a three-year, $69MM deal last March came after an injury-shortened campaign with the Texans. Playing his lone season in Houston, the former Viking and Bill tore his ACL in Week 8 and didn’t return.

Diggs recovered quickly enough to return for Week 1 this season, and his knee hasn’t hampered him at all during New England’s scorching start. The 32-year-old has appeared in all 12 of the Patriots’ games and piled up 61 catches on 75 targets, 679 yards, and three scores.

While Diggs’ knee hasn’t been a problem this year, that doesn’t mean he’s at full strength. A few days before the Patriots’ win over the Bengals last Sunday, Diggs told reporters that he has been playing through a fractured finger for a couple of weeks (via Mike Reiss of ESPN). That seems like a concerning injury for a pass catcher, but Diggs downplayed the severity.

“Least of my worries,” Diggs said. 

Diggs had one of his quietest games of the year in Cincinnati, which held him to two catches for 20 yards on three targets. He and the Patriots’ other main receivers (Mack Hollins, Kayshon Boutte, and Demario Douglas) largely took a backseat to tight end Hunter Henry, who led the way with seven grabs, 115 yards, and a score.

Looking to put together a 10-game winning streak for the first time since the Tom Brady-Bill Belichick era, the Patriots will head into a Week 13 meeting with the Giants on Monday. The Pats have a bye after that, which will give Diggs’ finger extra time to heal as he and the team push for a division title and the top spot in the conference.

Seahawks Eyeing Week 14 Return For Julian Love

November 29th, 2025 at 1:31pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Seahawks are hoping to get injured safety Julian Love back from injured reserve in Week 14, according to The Athletic’s Michael Shawn-Dugar.

Love, 27, has dealt with multiple injuries this season. He played through a groin injury in Week 2 but sat out the following week with a hamstring issue. He return in Week 4 and played a full game, but further issues with his hamstring sidelined him again.

The Seahawks were initially hoping that Love would come back within a few weeks, but he suffered a setback shortly after his return to practice in Week 6. He was eventually placed on injured reserve on November 1 and is now eligible to be activated after missing four games. He has not been designated to return, but that will likely come early next week so he has time to ramp up before Seattle’s Week 14 matchup with the Falcons.

The Seahawks have primarily called on third-year safety Ty Okada to replace Love this season. Despite a 68% snap share, he ranks fifth on the team in tackles and passes defended, and his 73.3 overall grade from Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranks 20th among all NFL safeties with at least 200 snaps.

The Seahawks have been one of the league’s best defenses this year with the third-fewest yards per rush and yards per pass in the league. Love’s return could further boost the unit, though he will have to stay healthy for the rest of the year to do so.

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