Minor NFL Transactions: 9/13/25
Here’s are today’s minor transactions and standard gameday practice squad elevations:
Arizona Cardinals
- Elevated: TE Josiah Deguara
Baltimore Ravens
- Elevated: TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: LB Keonta Jenkins, DT Zion Logue
Chicago Bears
- Elevated: DE Tanoh Kpassagnon
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed from practice squad: WR Ryan Flournoy
- Elevated: CB Zion Childress, CB Robert Rochell
Denver Broncos
- Elevated: FB Adam Prentice, LB Garret Wallow
Detroit Lions
- Elevated: LB Monty Rice
Indianapolis Colts
- Elevated: RB Ulysses Bentley IV, CB Chris Lammons
- Placed on IR: CB Jaylon Jones (story)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Elevated: TE Quintin Morris
Miami Dolphins
- Signed from practice squad: CB Cornell Armstrong
- Elevated: K Riley Patterson, RB Jeff Wilson
Minnesota Vikings
- Elevated: CB Fabian Moreau, OLB Gabriel Murphy
New England Patriots
- Elevated: CB Kobee Minor, LB Mark Robinson
New Orleans Saints
- Signed from practice squad: DE Jonah Williams
- Elevated: S Terrell Burgess, DE Fadil Diggs
- Placed on IR: S Julian Blackmon (story)
New York Giants
- Elevated: LB Swayze Bozeman, DT Elijah Garcia
New York Jets
- Elevated: CB Korie Black
Philadelphia Eagles
- Elevated: S Marcus Epps, TE Cameron Latu
- Placed on IR: T Cameron Williams
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Elevated: LB Jon Rhattigan
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed from practice squad: LB Curtis Robinson
- Elevated: QB Adrian Martinez, TE Brayden Willis
- Waived: DE Robert Beal Jr.
Seattle Seahawks
- Elevated: S D’Anthony Bell, DT Brandon Pili
Tennessee Titans
- Signed from practice squad: C Corey Levin
- Elevated: RB Jordan Mims, T John Ojukwu
- Waived: T Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson
With one quarterback on the reserve/non-football injury list and starter Brock Purdy inactive, Martinez comes up with the potential to appear in his first ever NFL game, though Niners fans hope his presence will not be necessary.
Bell will be active for tomorrow’s game as the Seahawks work to replace second-round rookie Nick Emmanwori in the secondary. Emmanwori has been ruled out with an ankle injury. Similarly, Wallow will be part of the Broncos’ efforts to fill in for injured linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who has been ruled out for the second week in a row.
Dolphins Place RT Austin Jackson On IR
The Dolphins will be notably shorthanded up front through the early portion of the campaign. Miami placed right tackle Austin Jackson on injured reserve Saturday. 
The move ensures at least a four-week absence, beginning with tomorrow’s matchup against New England. Miami is already without right guard James Daniels due to a pectoral injury. Jackson now joins him on injured reserve.
A toe injury will see the USC product sidelined for an extended period. Jackson’s sixth NFL season – all with the Dolphins – has not gotten off to a desired start given his current ailment. After playing just two games in 2022 and eight last season, today’s news marks the continuation of an unwanted trend regarding his availability. With Daniels out of the picture as well, the play on the right side of Miami’s offensive line will be worth monitoring.
The Dolphins struggled mightily in all phases last week, and a bounce-back on offense in particular would be key for all involved. Pass protection could be a concern with Daniels and now Jackson unavailable, however. The latter encountered a setback early last month after returning to full health. Jackson managed to suit up for the season opener, but Miami’s tackle setup will be altered as Patrick Paul continues his first campaign as a starter at the LT spot. Free agent addition Larry Borom could fill in at the opposite position.
Jackson’s pact (which was restructured in March) runs through the 2026 campaign. He is due a $9.88MM base salary for next year, but the former first-rounder’s only scheduled guaranteed compensation is a $1MM roster bonus. Further financial moves in this case could thus be coming depending on how the 2025 season plays out. Jackson will look to deliver a run of healthy play against that backdrop once he is back in place.
Falcons Rule Out Younghoe Koo, Elevate John Parker Romo; S Jordan Fuller Placed On IR
The Falcons made it clear that kicker Younghoe Koo was in danger of losing his role as the team’s primary kicker as they hosted a number of free agents and eventually signed John Parker Romo to the practice squad. Atlanta made the decision today to rule Koo out for the game and promote Romo as a standard gameday practice squad elevation. 
Koo, playing in the fourth year of his five-year, $24.25MM contract, came into the season on thin ice. Koo’s first three years in Atlanta were stellar as he only missed seven of 94 field goal attempts. In the 2022 and 2023 seasons, though, Koo’s identical 32-for-37 results marked a career high for misses. The wheels seemed to come off in 2024 as Koo missed nine of 34 field goal attempts.
Therefore, when Koo missed a 44-yarder in an attempt to send the Falcons into overtime in their Week 1 matchup with the Buccaneers, it became apparent that he may lose more than just the game. With Romo coming in Tuesday, Koo had the week to change his coaches’ minds. In the end, he will not travel with the team. His out designation reasoning has been ruled as not being injury related.
Romo will get another opportunity after a short stint with the Vikings last year. When Minnesota’s regular kicker Will Reichard was placed on injured reserve, the team signed Romo to fill in. The latter did phenomenally in his time as a substitute, making 11 of 12 attempts, including a 55-yarder, though he did miss one of eight extra point attempts. Reichard’s stint on IR lasted the minimum four weeks, and Romo was waived upon his return.
The Falcons also placed safety Jordan Fuller on IR. The sixth-year veteran was among those released by Atlanta during roster cutdowns, but he found himself back in the fold shortly thereafter. Fuller played a special teams role in Week 1, but a knee injury will now result in an extended absence. At least a four-week spell on the sidelines is in store as a result of today’s move.
Atlanta’s other gameday elevation for Monday night is receiver David Sills. One of the team’s callups last week, Sills played just two snaps against the Buccaneers. A limited workload should again be in store this time around.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/13/25
Here are Saturday’s practice squad moves:
Chicago Bears
- Placed on practice squad/injured list: DE Xavier Carlton
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: S Trey Washington
- Released: S Darrick Forrest
Washington Commanders
- Signed: TE Lawrence Cager
- Released: P Mitch Wishnowsky
The Commanders needed Wishnowsky as insurance with regular punter Tress Way dealing with back issues throughout the week, but having made it through Week 2 with a heathy Way, Washington brings back Cager, whom they dropped to make room for Wishnowsky.
Carlton was moved off the practice squad to make room for former third-round kicker Jake Moody, who cleared waivers after getting cut from San Francisco this week and signed a practice squad deal in Chicago.
Commanders RB Austin Ekeler Suffered Achilles Tear
September 13: An MRI confirmed that Ekeler suffered a torn Achilles, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. He will miss the rest of the 2025 season as a result with Croskey-Merritt and McNichols set to step up in the Commanders’ backfield. Washington may be regretting their decision to deal Robinson before the regular season and could explore a running back addition via free agency or the trade market.
September 11: A cart transported Austin Ekeler off the field tonight in Green Bay, and the Washington running back is unlikely to play again this season. Some inside the Commanders organization believe the veteran pass-catching back suffered a season-ending injury, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport.
Ekeler will undergo an MRI, but the expectation — according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter — is his second Commanders season will end after two games due to a torn Achilles. This will leave Washington without its top back, as the team traded three-year starter Brian Robinson to San Francisco in late August.
In the second season of a two-year, $8.43MM contract, Ekeler was to play a lead role for the Commanders. At 30 and due for free agency again in March, the former single-season touchdown leader faces an uncertain NFL future. Ekeler went down on a noncontact play in the fourth quarter. Trying to walk off the field under his own power, the dynamic RB fell back to the turf and needed assistance leaving the game.
Although Ekeler could not command a lofty guarantee as a 2024 free agent, he played an auxiliary role in Washington’s journey to its first NFC championship game in 33 years. Missing five games due to injury and complementing Robinson, the former UDFA accumulated 733 scrimmage yards and scored four touchdowns in 2024. He added 173 more yards from scrimmage during the Commanders’ three playoff games. Ekeler landed on IR due to a concussion last year but returned in time for Washington’s postseason run.
Acquired by the Chargers following the 2017 draft, Ekeler has done well to craft a nine-year career out of Division II Western State (Colo.). He outlasted Melvin Gordon in Los Angeles, signing a four-year extension and eventually leading the NFL in touchdowns in both the 2021 and ’22 seasons. Ekeler attempted to secure a raise on the heels of that stretch but was unsuccessful. The Bolts let their then-starter seek a trade, but in an offseason that brought a macro RB crisis, not much interest developed. Ekeler received a minor incentive bump that year and saw an early-season ankle injury lead to a downturn, thus limiting his appeal as a 2024 UFA.
Ekeler joined a stellar collection of RBs as 2024 free agents, hitting the market at the same time Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Aaron Jones, Tony Pollard and D’Andre Swift did. Ekeler’s guarantee ($4.21MM) paled in comparison to the non-Jones contingent here, but as a vested veteran, the rest of his contract locked in this month. While Ekeler will collect the rest of his $8.43MM from the Commanders, the part-time fantasy football analyst has hit a career crossroads thanks to tonight’s development.
Following the Robinson trade and Ekeler injury, the Commanders will probably look to add at the position. The team currently rosters ninth-year veteran Jeremy McNichols and seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt. The latter flashed against the Giants in Week 1, despite limited duty, and his presence was believed to have influenced the Commanders on the Robinson trade. While seventh-round rookies are not commonly early-season backfield contributors, Washington may have no choice but to give Croskey-Merritt a bigger role immediately.
The Commanders have also seen their Deebo Samuel trade provide good early returns. Famously referring to himself as a “wide back” in San Francisco, Samuel may also see some backfield work. If nothing else, Washington figures to heavily involve the wideout/gadget cog significantly moving forward — perhaps in dusting off his run-game skillset at points. The recent trade acquisition has logged 255 carries (counting playoffs) during his seven-year career. This included a 19-yard rushing touchdown in Week 1.
Commanders QB Jayden Daniels Underwent MRI On Knee
Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels appeared to pick up an injury on a fourth-quarter tackle during Thursday night’s game against the Packers.
He didn’t leave the field and played all 69 of Washington’s offensive snaps in the 27-18 loss. The team evaluated his knee right after the game, per 106.7 The Fan’s Grant Paulsen, followed by an MRI on Friday morning.
The testing could just be precautionary, but it’s definitely a situation worth monitoring. Further reporting on the MRI results and Daniels’ practice status next week will be more indicative of a potential absence.
The Commanders have 10 days between their Week 2 and 3 contests, giving their star quarterback plenty of time to rest his knee. Should Daniels miss any time, No. 2 QB Marcus Mariota would start in his place with journeyman Josh Johnson elevated to a backup role.
Daniels started all 17 games as a rookie in 2024 with a 91% snap share. A rib injury – later revealed to be a fracture – knocked him out of the game in Week 7, but he didn’t miss any additional time. In fact, Daniels’ award-winning Hail Mary against the Bears came in the very next game with the 2024 No. 2 pick launching the ball downfield despite the rib injury.
After losing Austin Ekeler (Achilles) and Deatrich Wise (quad) to season-ending injuries on Thursday, the Commanders will be hoping that Daniels, by far their most important player, will not need to miss any time.
K Eddy Piñeiro Chose 49ers Over Falcons
Multiple teams considered a change at kicker after disappointing performances in Week 1.
The Browns are sticking with Andre Szmyt, but the 49ers and the Falcons both scoured the free agent market for a new kicker. They landed on the same preferred option: veteran Eddy Piñeiro, who ranks fourth all-time with a 88.1% field goal conversion rate.
Piñeiro revealed (via NBC Sports’ Matt Maiocco) that both San Francisco and Atlanta made him offers on Monday. He didn’t say why he chose the 49ers, but it’s likely because they offered him a 53-man roster spot. while the Falcons were looking to make a practice squad addition. After Piñeiro turned them down, the Falcons brought in John Parker Romo as competition to Younghoe Koo.
The interest in Piñeiro highlights the quietly competitive in-season market for kicking talent. Due to a combination of poor performance, injury, and the occasional suspension, NFL teams typically combine to use more than 40 kickers every year. Even if one doesn’t earn a starting job during training camp, more opportunities are sure to pop up throughout the season.
As a result, the 49ers’ quick decision to move on from Jake Moody gave them the best opportunity at securing their desired target. If Piñeiro can continue his consistency in San Francisco, he should hold onto his roster spot for the rest of the year.
Jerry Jones: No CBA Violation During Micah Parsons Negotiations
Throughout the negotiating process between Micah Parsons and the Cowboys, it became clear agent David Mulugheta was not a participant. An in-person meeting between Parsons and owner Jerry Jones was followed multiple times by unsuccessful attempts on the edge rusher’s part to conduct traditional extension negotiations. 
[RELATED: Eagles Made Top Parsons Trade Offer]
Players without agents conduct contract talks directly with their teams, but such instances are uncommon when it comes to players who have NFLPA certified representation. Mulugheta – long known as one of the most prominent agents in the NFL and who ultimately landed Parsons a Packers extension which moved the bar for non-QB compensation – was not included in the initial Parsons-Jones talks, which the All-Pro attempted to distance himself from through his trade request. Negotiations were not restarted after that took place, leading to an eventual trade agreement with Green Bay.
Interim NFLPA executive director David White commented on the matter of Jones going out of his way to avoid including Mulugheta in negotiations. Meanwhile, Darrell Revis (who has been rumored as a candidate for the full-time executive director position) offered a sharp criticism of the way the Parsons situation was handled. When speaking on the subject, Jones denied the notion that any CBA violations occurred.
“There is no violation, period,” Jones said during an appearance on 105.3 The Fan (via Clarence Hill Jr. of All City DLLS). “I have all the authority in the world and the player has all the authority in the world to negotiate directly with me. There is no equivocation there… But I will a hundred times [pay] the fine or the penalty [if one is issued].”
To Jones’ point, there is precedent for players working out extensions directly with general managers and having their agents simply finalize the agreement. The Cowboys have taken that route on multiple occasions, with Jones handling a central role given his position as Dallas’ owner but also general manager. On the other hand, monster deals like the Parsons one are not known to be worked out in short order and especially not by means of informal talks where agents are absent.
The Cowboys informed Parsons upon his attempts to resume negotiations in August he would remain in place and play out his fifth-year option or be traded. The latter route was taken, with Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark and a pair of first-round picks heading to Dallas. The timing of the agreement (one week before the start of the season) led to many raised eyebrows around the league and marked a departure from standard procedure for the Cowboys regarding big-ticket extension agreements being worked out late.
Jones has received criticism for the terms of the trade but also the process which resulted in a swap taking place. There have been no indications any kind of discipline will be issued to the Cowboys stemming from the Parsons negotiations, and it is clear Jones does not expect a punishment to be handed down.
Spencer Rattler Expected To Receive Long Run As Starter; Saints Surprised Players With QB Setup?
Shortly before the Saints’ regular season started, Spencer Rattler won the competition for the starting quarterback position. The second-year passer narrowly edged rookie Tyler Shough for the gig.
Rattler took over from an injured Derek Carr last season. He lost all seven of his starts upon doing so, leading to questions about his upside at the NFL level. The former fifth-rounder nevertheless appears to have a long leash atop the depth chart under new head coach Kellen Moore. The Saints are not expected to replace Rattler quickly, according to Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline, and will instead “give him as much opportunity as possible until he proves incapable of handling the starting spot.”
Rattler seemed to clear that relatively low bar in Week 1. His official stat line was unspectacular – 26 completions on 47 attempts (56.7%) for 214 yards – but his 77.3 grade from Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranked 12th among all quarterbacks in Week 1. Crucially, he didn’t turn the ball over and only took one sack on 14 pressures. The Saints will be hoping that Rattler can improve over the course of the season, but they seem more interested in establishing a solid floor for their offense rather than boosting its ceiling.
New Orleans’ willingness to stick with Rattler may also betray their plans for the future. Despite drafting Shough (and giving him a fully guaranteed rookie contract) this offseason, the Saints are “already playing for next year’s draft,” per Pauline. Players were surprised that the team didn’t pursue a veteran quarterback to stabilize their offense before the season and remain unsold on Moore’s vision for the future.
Those are further indications that the team was not prepared for Carr’s retirement and may be punting on the 2025 season to build for the future. Given the Saints’ annual battle with the salary cap, accepting a reset year or two to straighten out their finances and quarterback situation might be the best path forward.
As for Shough, he can still develop as a rookie and push to start in 2026, especially if the Saints can’t land their desired quarterback prospect in the draft. Obviously, getting on the field this year would give him a better shot at securing a long-term starting job. Even if that doesn’t work out, his $2.7MM APY isn’t a bad price for a backup quarterback.
Bears To Sign K Jake Moody
Jake Moody has quickly managed to find a new home in the NFL. The ex-49ers kicker is signing with the Bears, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports. 
To no surprise, Schultz adds this will be a practice squad agreement. Moody cleared waivers this week, leaving him free to sign with any interested team. In short order, Chicago has moved forward with a deal.
The Bears have Cairo Santos in place as their kicker once again for 2025. The veteran’s second Chicago stint began in 2020, and he has delivered consistent performances over that span. Santos missed one of his two field goal attempts in Week 1, but he is not viewed as being in danger of being replaced. Nevertheless, Moody is now set to join the organization as a depth option.
The former third-rounder entered the league with high expectations given the rarity of kickers being selected that high in the draft. Moody enjoyed a strong rookie campaign, connecting on 21 of 25 field goal tries and all but one of his extra point attempts. The 25-year-old struggled last season, however, and calls about a change intensified following Week 1 of the current campaign. Moody missed a 27-yard field goal on Sunday and a 36-yard attempt was blocked. San Francisco moved on, signing Eddy Pineiro shortly thereafter to serve as his replacement.
Santos is under contract through 2027 thanks to the extension he signed in 2023. The 33-year-old Brazilian should therefore not see his tenure in the Windy City come to an end any time soon. In the event of a downturn in performance, however, Moody will loom as a replacement option for at least the time being.
