Pro Football Rumors Front Office Subscriber Chat: 12/18/25
Pro Football Rumors' Sam Robinson will be holding a live chat at 2pm Central today, exclusively for Trade Rumors Front Office subscribers!
49ers Unlikely To Trade WR Brandon Aiyuk; Steelers Among Potential Suitors?
With Brandon Aiyuk having been moved to the reserve/left squad list, it is highly likely he has played his final game as a 49er. The veteran wideout’s future will presumably not include time spent in San Francisco in 2026, but it remains to be seen where his next NFL gig will come from. 
A trade could of course be worked out in this case. Since the 49ers voided future guarantees in Aiyuk’s contract, the pact should be much easier to absorb than it otherwise would have been. Still, interested teams would much prefer to add Aiyuk as a free agent rather than parting with draft capital to acquire a player known to be on the way out. To no surprise, then, Matt Barrows of The Athletic predicts (subscription required) the 49ers will proceed with a release this spring.
Per Barrows, Aiyuk is still held in high regard by his teammates despite the way things have unfolded in his case. That puts the 27-year-old in a different situation than someone like De’Vondre Campbell, whose standing with the team unraveled when he refused to re-enter a game in Week 15 last season. Nevertheless, Aiyuk’s relationship with the organization has been the subject of speculation dating back to contentions extension talks in 2024. Provided he is released, it will be interesting to see how many suitors pursue Aiyuk coming off a full season spent on the sidelines.
It was reported last week the Commanders are among the teams which can be expected to show interest on that front. A reunion between Aiyuk and former Arizona State teammate Jayden Daniels would certainly not come as a surprise. Indeed, Barrows points to Washington as one of the likeliest landing spots for Aiyuk. He adds Pittsburgh as a team to watch regarding an Aiyuk deal.
The Steelers were long mentioned as a contender to acquire the former second-team All-Pro prior to his extension being signed. Pittsburgh and San Francisco engaged in trade talks to the point where an agreement was reached between the teams. Aiyuk himself ended the possibility of a Steelers swap by informing the 49ers of his desire to stay. His four-year, $120MM extension was finalized immediately thereafter. Pittsburgh has since acquired and extended D.K. Metcalf, but otherwise the WR position remains a question mark for the team.
Aiyuk has only made seven appearances since signing that pact. His knee injury (which included ACL, MCL and meniscus tears) has resulted in an absence which stretched through the second half of last season and all of the current campaign. A return to action in time for 2026 should be expected, but a short list of serious suitors could emerge if/when he hits the open market.
Latest On Patrick Mahomes’ Recovery
Three-plus months after opening the season among the NFL’s Super Bowl favorites, the Chiefs fell to 6-8 with a loss to the Chargers last Sunday. After earning seven straight trips to the AFC title game, the longtime juggernauts are officially out of the playoff race this year. Adding injury to insult, future Hall of Fame quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered a torn ACL and LCL in Week 15.
[RELATED: Unusual Chiefs Season Set To Precede Roster-Building Challenges]
With Mahomes out of commission for the rest of 2025, the Chiefs will ride out a bitterly disappointing season with Gardner Minshew as their starter. Beyond that, it’s unclear who will be at the helm when the 2026 campaign kicks off next September.
Mahomes underwent successful surgery on Monday. He’s already rehabbing, but it should take approximately nine months to recover. Mahomes looks iffy for Week 1 of next season as a result, but the Chiefs are hopeful he’ll return early in the year (via the Associated Press).
“Every player is different. Every sport is different. Every position is different,” Chiefs vice president of sports medicine and performance Rick Burkholder said. “[Mahomes] is so in tune to what he does, he does it a little quicker. Ballpark on this is nine months, but it could be a month or two more, a month or two less.”
A 2017 first-round pick, Mahomes spent nearly all of his rookie season redshirting behind Alex Smith. Since then, though, Mahomes hasn’t made fewer than 14 starts in a season. The three-time Super Bowl champion and two-time MVP has led the Chiefs to a 95-31 regular-season record. Despite his team’s uncharacteristic struggles this year, Mahomes didn’t look like he was slowing down in his age-30 season.
While Mahomes has been durable during his brilliant eight-year reign as Kansas City’s starter, the team has typically employed backups with significant starting experience. Chad Henne, Matt Moore, Blaine Gabbert, and Carson Wentz preceded Minshew in the No. 2 role. With Minshew on a one-year deal, the Chiefs will have to decide whether to re-sign him in the offseason. If not, it’s likely they’ll will bring in another battle-tested reserve with Mahomes’ early 2026 status up in the air.
USC WR Ja’Kobi Lane To Declare For NFL Draft
One of the best vertical threats in college football is heading to the NFL. According to ESPN’s Jordan Reid, USC wideout Ja’Kobi Lane is declaring for the 2026 draft.
Lane played sparingly as a freshman before bursting onto the scene in 2024, finishing with 12 touchdowns. He put himself firmly on the NFL map with a standout performance during the Las Vegas Bowl, where he finished with seven catches for 127 yards and three touchdowns. He carried that production into 2025, as the wideout hauled in 49 catches for 745 yards and four touchdowns.
While Lane didn’t have as much luck finding the end zone in 2025, scouts have still lauded the prospect for his scoring ability. At six-foot-four, the receiver is a natural red zone target, but he’s also known for his big-play ability, as he averaged 13.8 yards per reception throughout his Trojans career.
Considering his size and skillset, Lane is currently projected to be a Day 2 pick, with some pundits estimating that he could hear his name in the second round. Even a strong combine and/or Pro Day showing likely won’t be enough to elevate him in the same tier as receivers like Ohio State’s Carnell Tate, Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson, or even teammate Makai Lemon. However, he could easily emerge in that second tier of wide receivers.
That somewhat underwhelming draft projection had many scouts believing Lane would ultimately head back to USC, per Reid. The Trojans are also set to have some definitive subtractions from the WR room (including Lemon), perhaps opening the door for Lane to emerge as a true WR1. Instead, the prospect will look to begin his professional career as soon as possible.
Bengals, Trey Hendrickson Headed For Offseason Split?
Having undergone core muscle surgery earlier this month, Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson will not return in 2025. Hendrickson hasn’t taken the field since a Week 8 loss to the Jets. With a trip to free agency looming in the offseason, Hendrickson has likely played his last game with the organization, according to Albert Breer of SI.com.
Hendrickson spent the first four seasons of his career with the Saints before exiting in free agency for the Bengals’ four-year, $60MM offer March 2021. The former third-round pick from Florida Atlantic scored that payday on the heels of a breakout season in which he tallied 13.5 sacks. Looking back, that was the beginning of a years-long run of elite production.
Since leaving New Orleans for Cincinnati, Hendrickson has collected 61 sacks – including a league-best 35 from 2023-24 – in 72 games. Hendrickson made the Pro Bowl in each of his first four years as a Bengal. He also helped the Bengals to a pair of AFC title games and a Super Bowl appearance in his first two years in their uniform.
The Bengals awarded Hendrickson a one-year extension entering 2023, keeping him under wraps through this season, but that wasn’t the last transaction between the two. Hendrickson sought a new multiyear pact after last season, though he reportedly turned down a three-year, $95MM offer. The Bengals’ rejected proposal did not include any guaranteed money after the first year of the deal.
After a drawn-out battle, the Bengals and Hendrickson finally agreed to a revised contract for this season in late August. Hendrickson had been in line to earn $16MM, but Cincinnati almost doubled that amount in raising his salary to $30MM. Frustration increased on both sides during negotiations, per Breer. The Bengals were sick of the “drama” surrounding Hendrickson, who was “tired of having to fight for a contract correction,” Breer writes.
With Hendrickson having made his final appearance of the season on Oct. 26, it’s fair to say the Bengals’ investment didn’t turn out as hoped. The 31-year-old remained a formidable pass-rushing presence with 23 pressures and four sacks in seven games, but his long-term absence has contributed to a miserable campaign for the Bengals. At 4-10, they’re assured of missing the playoffs for the third year in a row.
Regardless of whether de facto general manager Duke Tobin stays in place, deciding how to proceed with Hendrickson will again be a key offseason task for the organization. If a multiyear arrangement isn’t in store, the Bengals could slap the $35MM franchise tag on Hendrickson and either keep him for another season or flip him elsewhere. Hendrickson drew plenty of interest leading up to the Nov. 4 trade deadline, but nobody bit on the Bengals’ asking price of a second-round pick. He’s still a Bengal a month and a half later, though it appears their relationship is nearing an end.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/18/25
Today’s practice squad moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: LB Jamil Muhammad
Houston Texans
- Signed: S Kaevon Merriweather
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: TE Tanner McLachlan
- Released: C Josh Kaltenberger
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: WR Elijah Cooks, RB Nyheim Miller-Hines
New York Giants
- Signed: TE Tanner Conner
With Devin Neal landing on IR today and Alvin Kamara still sidelined with a sprained MCL, the Saints have added a veteran running back to their practice squad. Nyheim Miller-Hines was released by the Bills after missing the 2023 campaign following a watercraft accident, and the RB has bounced around the league since. He spent most of the 2024 campaign in Cleveland, and he spent the first chunk of the 2025 season with the Chargers, appearing in two games.
The former fourth-round pick made a name for himself as a pass catcher with the Colts, including a pair of seasons where he hauled in 60-plus receptions. While he may eventually work his way to the Saints active roster, he may be hard pressed to pass the likes of Audric Estime and Evan Hull on the depth chart.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/18/25
Today’s minor moves:
Denver Broncos
- Waived: G Calvin Throckmorton
Indianapolis Colts
- Designated for return from IR: S Daniel Scott
Los Angeles Rams
- Elevated: LB Nick Hampton
New Orleans Saints
- Signed from practice squad: WR Kevin Austin
- Waived: K Cade York
- Placed on IR: RB Devin Neal
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed from Panthers’ practice squad: LB Jeremiah Moon
- Waived: DT Brodric Martin
Seattle Seahawks
- Activated from IR: WR Dareke Young
- Elevated: RB Cam Akers, OT Amari Kight
After earning the first three starts of his career, Devin Neal‘s rookie season has come to an end. The Saints running back landed on injured reserve today with a hamstring injury, ending his season early. The sixth-round pick filled in for Alvin Kamara recently, with the rookie compiling 185 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns in his three starts.
Elsewhere in New Orleans, Cade York‘s stint with the team has come to an end. The veteran joined the Saints practice squad last month as a potential replacement for Blake Grupe. The team ended up opting for Charlie Smyth to take over as their primary kicker, with the second-year pro converting four of his five field goal attempts and all five of his extra points in three appearances.
Meanwhile, the Seahawks will welcome back Dareke Young for tonight’s game against the Rams. The fourth-year receiver landed on injured reserve in early November thanks to a quad injury. Known mostly for his special teams prowess, Young has had an occasional role on offense during his stint in Seattle, hauling in four catches for 72 yards.
Cowboys CB DaRon Bland May Undergo Foot Surgery, Likely Destined For IR
DaRon Bland is facing yet another foot surgery. According to ESPN’s Todd Archer, the Cowboys cornerback is seeking a second opinion on a foot injury that may ultimately require surgery.
[RELATED: Cowboys CB Trevon Diggs Says He Is Healthy Enough To Play]
Bland missed 10 games in 2024 thanks to a stress fracture in his foot. The fourth-year player also missed a pair of games earlier this season with a foot issue, and he’s popped up on the injury report a few times this year with the same injury.
According to Archer, Bland hasn’t scheduled a surgery yet. Still, it sounds like the injury will likely sideline the defensive back for the rest of the 2025 campaign. Archer opines that Bland is likely destined for the injured reserve, which would keep him off the field for the rest of the regular season.
The former fifth-round pick emerged as a starter during his rookie campaign before having a prolific sophomore season. Bland finished that 2023 season with nine interceptions, five of which were returned for touchdowns (an NFL record). Unfortunately, the cornerback has been limited to only 19 appearances since that time. After grading Bland as the second-best CB in the NFL in 2023, Pro Football Focus has ranked the former All-Pro in the middle of the pack at his position in 2024 and 2025.
The Cowboys will be especially cautious with Bland’s injury after the team handed him a lucrative extension this past offseason. The cornerback inked a four-year, $92MM deal, including $50MM in guaranteed money. That extension has yet to kick in, and the Cowboys will surely want Bland to get past this persistent foot issue before he sees a significant jump in his cap hit.
As the Cowboys look to keep their slim playoff hopes alive, it will be interesting to see how the coaching staff manages their CB depth chart. Trevon Diggs was a surprise inactive for Sunday’s game against the Vikings, but the cornerback later revealed that he was healthy enough to play. After moving on from Kaiir Elam earlier this season, the Cowboys are currently eyeing a cornerback grouping that consists of Shavon Revel, Reddy Steward, and Caelen Carson.
Bengals To Activate Shemar Stewart From IR
While the Bengals are already eliminated from postseason contention, the team will be getting some defensive reinforcement for the stretch run. According to ESPN’s Ben Baby, defensive end Shemar Stewart will be activated from injured reserve for this weekend’s game against the Dolphins.
[RELATED: Bengals Designate Shemar Stewart To Return From IR]
Stewart returned to practice earlier this month but wasn’t activated in time for Week 15. The first-round pick apparently made enough progress at practice over the past few days to earn his activation from injured reserve.
The defensive end suffered a knee injury back in Week 9 that ended up shelving him for more than a month. According to Baby, Stewart suffered a torn PCL, although it wasn’t severe enough to require surgery. The Texas A&M product’s rookie campaign has been derailed by injuries. He missed a chunk of games early in the season thanks to an ankle sprain, and after returning for three contests, he was sidelined again with the PCL injury.
This has been a tumultuous season overall for Stewart, who was engaged in a publicized dispute over his rookie contract that kept him off the field for offseason workouts and the first week of training camp. Considered a raw prospect coming out of college, the absences have had a natural impact on the player’s on-field performance. In five games this season, Stewart has been limited to only six stops and a QB hit. Still, the edge rusher is confident he can make a mark on the organization before the 2025 campaign is through.
“I just want to go out there and make an impact — whether it’s doing my job or all the extraordinary stats,” Stewart said today (via Baby).
The Bengals have been without Trey Hendrickson for the past month-plus, opening the door for Joseph Ossai and Myles Murphy to earn the bulk of the snaps at defensive end. That duo will likely continue to lead the depth chart even with Stewart back on the field, but the rookie should earn more than a cameo on defense over the season’s final few weeks.
Jets To Start Brady Cook In Week 16, Sign Hendon Hooker
Despite impending returns from Justin Fields and/or Tyrod Taylor, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn announced on Wednesday that undrafted rookie quarterback Brady Cook will make his second straight start in Week 16.
Fields began the season as the starter and seemed to be headed for the bench midway through the season. An injury to Taylor kept Fields in the lineup for a few more weeks, but Taylor eventually took over in Week 12.
With Fields nursing a knee injury in Week 14, Cook stepped into the backup role. Then, when Taylor went down with a knee injury of his own, Cook finished the game, albeit with a 46.7% completion percentage and two interceptions. With neither of the veterans available in Week 15, Cook made his first career start with Adrian Martinez serving as the backup.
Cook completed 22 of his 33 passes against the Jaguars last Sunday, but they only went for 176 yards (5.3 yards per attempt) and one touchdown. He also threw three interceptions after two in his NFL debut the week before. Overall, Cook has completed just 57.1% of his passes with 5.4 yards per attempt and a 44.3 passer rating.
Regardless, the Jets are sticking with the Missouri product for Week 16. Taylor and Fields were limited participants in practice on Wednesday and Thursday, but even if one is ready to play on Sunday, they will back up Cook.
Martinez was re-signed by the 49ers earlier this week, so the Jets signed former Lions quarterback Hendon Hooker to their practice squad. The 2023 third-round pick will be elevated to the game day roster if neither Fields nor Taylor are available for Sunday’s matchup with the Saints.