Giants Place Four On IR
The Raiders have moved Brock Bowers to injured reserve and shut down Maxx Crosby for the remainder of the season in advance of their Week 17 game. The Giants will likewise be shorthanded tomorrow. 
New York has placed left tackle Andrew Thomas, center John Michael Schmitz, safety Tyler Nubin and defensive lineman D.J. Davidson on injured reserve, per a team announcement. IR stints require an absence of at least four weeks. The Giants have long been out of playoff contention, so today’s news ensures none of the four players listed will play again in 2025.
Thomas and Schmitz had already been ruled out for Week 17, leaving the Giants thin up front for their critical game against the Raiders. Both teams are currently 2-13, and the loser will have pole position for the No. 1 selection in April’s draft. It comes as no surprise both Vegas and New York are proceeding with rosters at less than full strength for the closing weeks of the season.
Nubin has remained a full-time starter during his second season with the Giants. The 2024 second-rounder’s campaign ends with 78 tackles and a pair of pass deflections, although he has struggled in coverage compared to his rookie year. Nubin, 24, has allowed a passer rating of 132.2 and four touchdowns as the nearest defender in 2025.
Davidson has totaled 47 appearances and four starts across his time in New York. The 26-year-old’s rookie contract is set to expire in March, so unlike the other players sidelined the rest of the way his attention will now turn to free agency. The Giants, meanwhile, will look elsewhere on the roster for Weeks 17 and 18.
Panthers Sign Isaiah Simmons To Active Roster, Place Trevin Wallace On IR
Isaiah Simmons is set to finish the season on Carolina’s active roster. The former top-10 pick has been signed from the Panthers’ practice squad, per a team announcement. 
Simmons has been a gameday elevation three times this season. As a result, he needed to be promoted to the active roster at some point to continue seeing game action down the stretch. With fellow linebacker Trevin Wallace done for the season, a clear path for Simmons to close out the year on the 53-man roster exists. In a corresponding move, Wallace has been moved to injured reserve.
Losing Wallace has left the Panthers without a starter at the second level of their defense. Claudin Cherelus is positioned to continue as a first-team presence alongside Christian Rozeboom for the final two weeks of the regular season and (if applicable) the playoffs. Carolina enters Sunday’s action atop the NFC South, and a win against the Seahawks coupled with a Buccaneers loss to the Dolphins would clinch the division.
Simmons has logged only one defensive snap during his three Panthers appearances in 2025. The 27-year-old has been a key presence on special teams, however, handling a 68% snap share in that regard. A similar workload can be expected moving forward as Carolina prepares for a contest in Seattle and a potential winner-take-all game against Tampa Bay depending on how this week’s results shake out.
Simmons was unable to find success at safety or linebacker during his time with the Cardinals. The Clemson product managed to handle a rotational defensive workload with the Giants for the 2023 and ’24 campaigns but joined the Packers this past offseason. After failing to survive roster cuts with Green Bay, Simmons remained on the open market until late November when he signed with Carolina. As a pending free agent, he will look to boost his value slightly in the closing weeks of the campaign.
Raiders’ Maxx Crosby Placed On IR, Will Undergo Meniscus Surgery
5:40pm: Crosby received two alternative opinions on his injury, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reports. Both of them indicated he could continue playing provided his pain threshold was high enough. Instead of delaying surgery (which was always going to be necessary) for another two weeks, Crosby’s attention will now turn to recovery.
2:52pm: One day after shutting down Maxx Crosby for the season, the Raiders announced that they have placed the star defensive end on injured reserve. Crosby will undergo a meniscus trim in the offseason, but he should recover quickly, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
As part of a lengthy statement, the Raiders said: “After deliberate and thorough consultation with multiple top medical professionals, it became clear that this decision is in the best interest of both the franchise and the player. Maxx is the ultimate warrior, and he has fought extremely hard to compete each week with his teammates since injuring his knee mid-season. We are grateful for his extraordinary contributions. He is a true Raider on and off the field — we look forward to his leadership and toughness into 2026 and beyond.”
Crosby was displeased with the Raiders on Friday after they informed him he wouldn’t play against the Giants on Sunday. The Raiders already sent their best offensive player, Brock Bowers, to IR earlier in the week ahead of a matchup between 2-13 teams. The loser will enter Week 18 in pole position to land the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft. That doesn’t matter to Crosby.
“Yeah, I don’t give a s— about the pick, to be honest,” Crosby said earlier in the week. “I don’t play for that. That’s not my job. My job is to be the best defensive end in the world. Being a great leader, being an influence.”
Despite injuring his left knee in Week 7, Crosby logged perfect attendance in the Raiders’ first 15 games and earned his fifth Pro Bowl invitation. He’ll end his season with 73 tackles, 53 pressures and 10 sacks – his fourth double-digit total in seven years.
While Crosby would’ve liked to finish the season and build on those numbers, he underwent an MRI on Tuesday that showed his injury had persisted, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Worried about Crosby potentially suffering long-term damage, the Raiders are shelving him for the rest of the year. They addressed their concerns with him after that, per Schefter. Head coach Pete Carroll revealed he and Crosby spoke “four times” on Friday.
“I agree with him 1,000 percent on how he responded, and I [would have] responded the same way,” Carroll said of Crosby’s reaction to Friday’s news.
There’s some question as to whether Carroll will return for a second season in 2026. Regardless of whether that happens, the Raiders’ statement suggests they’re committed to keeping Crosby next year. Crosby was popular in trade rumors last offseason, but the Raiders put an end to those in handing him a three-year, $106.5MM extension with $91.5MM guaranteed in March. He’s under wraps through 2029 as a result.
With Crosby’s season officially over, the Raiders signed defensive end Jahfari Harvey from their practice squad to their active roster in a corresponding move. They also elevated running back Chris Collier and wide receiver Phillip Dorsett from their taxi squad.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/27/25
Here are today’s minor moves and standard gameday practice squad elevations for the penultimate weekend of the regular season:
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from IR: LB Jay Higgins IV
Buffalo Bills
- Signed from practice squad: TE Keleki Latu
- Elevated: K Michael Badgley, DE Andre Jones Jr.
- Waived: WR Mecole Hardman Jr.
Chicago Bears
- Activated from IR: G Luke Newman
- Elevated: CB Dallis Flowers, WR JP Richardson
- Waived: DT Jonathan Ford
Cincinnati Bengals
- Elevated: DT Howard Cross III, CB Bralyn Lux
Cleveland Browns
- Elevated: TE Sal Cannella, QB Bailey Zappe
Green Bay Packers
- Elevated: TE Drake Dabney, QB Clayton Tune
Indianapolis Colts
- Activated from IR: WR Ashton Dulin
- Signed from practice squad: DT Chris Wormley
- Elevated: C Jimmy Morrissey, G Josh Sills
- Placed on IR: WR Anthony Gould, TE Andrew Ogletree
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Elevated: G Jerome Carvin, S Juan Thornhill
Miami Dolphins
- Activated from IR: OL Andrew Meyer
- Signed from practice squad: WR Theo Wease Jr.
- Placed on IR: WR Dee Eskridge, CB Isaiah Johnson, DT Benito Jones
- Elevated: LB Derrick McLendon, OL Josh Priebe
New Orleans Saints
- Elevated: WR Ronnie Bell, TE Treyton Welch
New York Giants
- Signed from practice squad: DE Elijah Chatman, C Bryan Hudson, S Raheem Layne, K Ben Sauls
- Elevated: TE Zach Davidson, RE Dante Miller
New York Jets
- Signed from practice squad: CB Tre Brown, G Marquis Hayes, WR Quentin Skinner
- Elevated: QB Hendon Hooker
Philadelphia Eagles
- Elevated: CB Brandon Johnson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Elevated: T Jack Driscoll, CB D’Shawn Jamison
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: LB Eric Kendricks, TE Brayden Willis
Seattle Seahawks
- Elevated: RB Cam Akers, T Amari Kight
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Elevated: OLB Jason Pierre-Paul
Tennessee Titans
- Elevated: CB Kemon Hall
- Placed on IR: CB Marcus Harris
With Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox both dealing with injuries, the Bills add Latu to the 53-man roster for depth. To make room, Buffalo has parted ways with the veteran, Hardman, just a week after activating him from injured reserve.
A number of players are being called up as standard gameday practice squad elevations for the third and final time on their current contracts. This is the case for Flowers in Chicago, Zappe in Cleveland, Sills in Indianapolis, Driscoll in Pittsburgh, and Kight in Seattle. If their respective teams wish to see them appear in another game this year, they will need to be signed to the 53-man roster, as was done with Wormley in Indianapolis and Chatman in New York this week after they exhausted their three elevations already this year.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/27/25
Here is Saturday’s only practice squad transaction:
Denver Broncos
- Signed: RB Cody Schrader
The Broncos claimed Schrader off waivers from the Rams, with whom he appeared in one game in each of his first two seasons. The Mizzou-product was waived before Denver’s Christmas Day game but stays with the Broncos via a taxi squad deal.
Cardinals Place LT Paris Johnson On IR
With two weeks left in their season, the 3-12 Cardinals are shutting down their best offensive lineman for the rest of 2025. The team placed left tackle Paris Johnson on IR on Saturday.
Johnson suffered a sprained PCL in Week 14, the last time he took the field this season. He started in all 12 appearances and played every offensive snap before his injury. Pro Football Focus ranks his performance 21st among 82 qualifying offensive tackles.
Johnson originally joined the Cardinals as the sixth overall pick in the 2023 draft. The former Ohio State Buckeye was Monti Ossenfort‘s first selection as Arizona’s general manager. Johnson, who began as a right tackle with the Cardinals before shifting to the left side in 2024, has started in 43 straight games since entering the NFL.
It’s up in the air whether Ossenfort will keep his job in 2026. Either Ossenfort or a different GM will have to make a key decision on Johnson’s future in the offseason. The Cardinals will choose whether to pick up Johnson’s fifth-year option, which should check in around $19.95MM, for 2027. The 24-year-old will also be eligible for a contract extension after the season. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Cardinals attempt to retain him for the long haul.
Along with placing Johnson on IR, the Cardinals made a few other moves on the eve of a Week 17 meeting with the Bengals. The team signed defensive lineman Zachary Carter from its practice squad to its 53-man roster. Additionally, the Cardinals elevated cornerback Jaden Davis and wide receiver Steven Sims from their taxi squad.
Injury Updates: Wright, Giants, Adams
A handful of notable injury updates heading into Week 17:
- Set to face the 49ers on Sunday in a battle of NFC heavyweights, the Bears may go without right tackle Darnell Wright. The 24-year-old is questionable with an illness, and he will not join the team in traveling to San Francisco on Saturday, per Adam Schefter of ESPN. Since going 10th overall in the 2023 draft, Wright has started in all 47 NFL appearances, including 14 this year. If Wright can’t go on Sunday, it’s likely Theo Benedet will start in his place.
- Giants tight end Theo Johnson (illness) and center John Michael Schmitz (finger) are the latest starters the team has ruled out for Sunday, joining left tackle Andrew Thomas (hamstring). The Giants and Raiders, both 2-13, will square off with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft likely at stake. The Raiders decided earlier this week to shut down their two best players, defensive end Maxx Crosby and tight end Brock Bowers, ahead of what could be a franchise-altering game.
- The Rams are likely to go a second straight week without star wide receiver Davante Adams. He’ll be listed as doubtful for Monday’s matchup against the Falcons, Schefter relays. With the postseason nearing, the Rams are playing it safe with Adams, who aggravated a hamstring injury in Week 15. Adams, the Rams’ top Puka Nacua complement, leads the league with 14 touchdown grabs.
- The Jaguars have downgraded running back Bhayshul Tuten from questionable to out for Sunday’s meeting with the Colts. Tuten suffered a finger injury in a Week 15 win over the Jets and subsequently underwent surgery, keeping the rookie fourth-rounder out of last Sunday’s victory in Denver. Tuten ranks second among Jaguars RBs in carries (78), yards (284) and touchdowns (four), trailing Travis Etienne in those categories. LeQuint Allen will back up Etienne on Sunday as the hard-charging Jags go for their seventh win in a row.
Patriots Place WR Mack Hollins On IR
As the Patriots prepare to make a playoff run to cap off their surprising one-year turnaround under new head coach Mike Vrabel, they will be doing so without their second-leading wide receiver. The team announced today that Mack Hollins has been placed on injured reserve as he deals with an injury to his abdomen. 
Hollins has been a true journeyman since getting drafted to the Eagles in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. After winning a Super Bowl ring as little-used rookie in Philadelphia, Hollins spent his sophomore campaign on IR with a groin injury. In Year 3, an Eagles reunion with veteran DeSean Jackson led to the team waiving Hollins.
Hollins was claimed by the Dolphins, and he spent the remainder of that year and the next two seasons in Miami. While he never broke out as a high-volume pass catcher, he showed some strong redzone capabilities with four touchdown catches in 2021. The next year, on a one-year deal with the Raiders, Hollins broke out as a formidable WR2 behind Davante Adams, recording 57 receptions for 690 yards and four more touchdowns.
Despite the career-best campaign, Hollins continued to land one-year deals and delivered average seasons with the Falcons and Bills, though he did log a career-high five touchdowns in Buffalo. Those five scores may have just been enough for Hollins to be offered a two-year contract this past offseason in New England, where he has once again broken out at 32 years old as the team’s second-leading wide receiver behind Stefon Diggs. Hollins collected 46 receptions for 550 yards and two touchdowns in 15 games with the Patriots this year.
The team’s receiving corps may be even more shorthanded for its divisional trip to New York. Third-leading receiver Kayshon Boutte has been ruled out for the week with a concussion, and WR4 DeMario Douglas is listed as questionable after a hamstring issue held him to limited participation in practice this week. When they face off against the Jets tomorrow, Maye’s receivers beyond Diggs could be whittled down to third-round rookie Kyle Williams and undrafted rookie return man Efton Chism III.
With only two games remaining in the regular season, Mack will be forced to miss the Patriots’ first two playoff games before he will be eligible to return. In the meantime, New England will need to focus on getting Boutte and Douglas in shape for the postseason, knowing they’ll be relied on for, at least, the team’s first playoff matchup.
Taking Hollins’ spot on the 53-man roster will be defensive tackle Jeremiah Pharms Jr., while fellow practice squad interior defender Leonard Taylor III and cornerback Kobee Minor will be designated as standard gameday elevations. This will be Minor’s third and final elevation on this practice squad deal. If the Patriots want to see him appear in another game this season, they’ll need to sign him to the 53-man roster like Pharms.
Texans LT Aireontae Ersery To Miss Week 17 After Undergoing Thumb Surgery
DECEMBER 27: Ersery is inactive for Saturday’s game, the Texans announced. Fisher is expected to start at left tackle, per Wilson.
DECEMBER 26: Winners of seven straight, the Texans may go without both starting offensive tackles in a pivotal meeting with the Chargers in Week 17. Left tackle Aireontae Ersery underwent surgery on a broken thumb on Tuesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 reports. He’s questionable as a result. The Texans have already ruled out starting right tackle Trent Brown, who’s dealing with knee and ankle injuries.
A former Minnesota Golden Gopher, Ersery earned Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year honors in 2024. The Texans spent a second-round pick on Ersery in last spring’s draft, and he has emerged as a full-time starter as a rookie.
The 6-foot-6, 330-pounder leads Texans offensive linemen with a 98.4% snap share. Pro Football Focus ranks Ersery’s play 62nd among 82 qualifying tackles. PFF has given him a higher grade as a pass blocker (63.3) than in the running game (52.9).
Ersery will attempt to play while wearing a protective club on Saturday. If he misses the game, the Texans will turn to Blake Fisher to protect quarterback C.J. Stroud‘s blindside. Fisher has already made nine starts this year. The versatile Tytus Howard is expected to shift from left guard to fill in for Brown, while Jarrett Patterson is in line to take over Howard’s spot.
The Texans’ O-line shakeup comes at an inopportune time against the 11-4 Chargers, who boast the NFL’s fourth-ranked defense and have amassed the league’s eighth-most sacks. The Chargers are in a similar position, though, as they’ll face an elite Texans defense without either of their top tackles. They’ve gone all year without left tackle Rashawn Slater after he tore his patellar tendon in August. Joe Alt moved from the right side to the left to replace Slater, but he suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Week 9.
The Chargers have overcome their problems up front to clinch a playoff spot. The Texans will punch their ticket to the postseason if they beat the Bolts or tie them on Saturday.
Quincy Williams Open To Re-Signing With Jets, Will Prioritize Scheme Fit
Linebacker Quincy Williams has been a prominent member of the Jets’ defense since 2021, but his time with the organization may be running out. While the pending free agent’s future is up in the air, he’s open to re-signing with the Jets under the right circumstances. Williams told Rich Cimini of ESPN that he’s prioritizing “getting put in the right defense” as he gears up for a potential trip to the open market.
“When I’m in the right defense, I ball out,” said Williams, who added: “If that’s at the Jets, that’ll be good. It depends on the D coordinator they bring in and the defense they run. I’m going to take all that into consideration.”
After the Jets claimed him off waivers from the Jaguars in 2021, Williams spent the majority of his first four years in New York under defensive-minded head coach Robert Saleh. Williams was a fit in Saleh’s scheme. He combined for 61 starts over that span, tallied 100-plus tackles in each season, and recorded nine sacks. He was so effective in 2023 that he earned first-team All-Pro honors.
The Jets fired Saleh in October 2024 and rode out the season with interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich, who had been the team’s defensive coordinator. They didn’t promote Ulbrich (now with the Falcons) last offseason, instead hiring another defense-first head coach in Aaron Glenn. Steve Wilks was Glenn’s first defensive coordinator selection, an experiment that failed miserably. Glenn fired Wilks on Dec. 15 and promoted pass game coordinator Chris Harris to handle DC duties for the rest of the year.
Williams has put up 74 tackles, six passes defensed and a career-high 3.5 sacks in 11 games this season, but it hasn’t been a smooth ride. After back-to-back 17-game seasons, he missed four contests with a shoulder injury. The Jets later benched Williams ahead of Week 9, which came after they considered trading him at the Nov. 4 deadline.
“My coaches told me I was underperforming, that I’ve been underperforming since training camp,” Williams said to Cimini at the time.
To his credit, Williams quickly won the job back. Most recently, he was on the field for all 78 of the Jets’ defensive snaps in a 29-6 loss to the Saints in Week 16. Williams registered a season-high 11 tackles in that game, though Pro Football Focus has been down on him all year. PFF ranked Williams 57th among 82 qualifying linebackers at the time of his demotion. He has since fallen to 70th out of 86 qualifiers. His 39.9 grade in coverage sits in the bottom 10 at his position.
With the three-year, $18MM extension he signed in 2023 on the verge of expiring, the soon-to-be 30-year-old Williams will look for another payday on the heels of a down season. The previous regime of Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas at least considered another multiyear deal for Williams, but it doesn’t appear one will materialize under Glenn and GM Darren Mougey.
The Glenn-Mougey duo prioritized a different starting linebacker, Jamien Sherwood, whom they re-upped on a three-year, $45MM contract last offseason. With Williams potentially on his way out of New York in a couple of months, Sherwood may team with someone else in 2026.