Buccaneers’ Jalen McMillan To Start Season On IR; DB Christian Izien To Miss Time
Doubling down at wide receiver this offseason by re-signing Chris Godwin and drafting Emeka Egbuka, the Buccaneers had the makings of one of the deepest receiving groups in recent NFL history. They will not open the season with their full arsenal.
Godwin’s recovery timeline from a second ankle surgery remains murky, and the Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud reports the Bucs will not have Jalen McMillan for much of the season. A “severely sprained neck” will lead the second-year wideout to IR to open the season, and no immediate return is expected. McMillan landed on his head while making a leaping catch against the Steelers; he was transported to an area hospital, per ESPN.com’s Jenna Laine.
A 2024 third-round pick, McMillan showed promising replacing Godwin last season. The injury he sustained recently could sideline him until after Tampa Bay’s Week 9 bye, Stroud adds. Additionally, Todd Bowles said (via Stroud) DB Christian Izien sustained an oblique injury that could keep him out to open the season.
It looks more likely than not the Bucs will be without McMillan and Godwin to start the season. The team is not certain to stash Godwin on IR, but one of its IR-return spots next week figures to go to McMillan. The Bucs can place McMillan on IR upon setting their 53-man roster, losing one of their eight in-season activations in the process. This is not a career-threatening neck issue, per Bowles, but it stands to stunt the promising weapon’s growth due to the timing here.
McMillan scored seven touchdowns in the Bucs’ final five games last season, totaling 461 yards on 37 receptions and eight TDs on the year. Becoming Mike Evans‘ top sidekick when Godwin went down with a dislocated ankle, McMillan already stood to see his role diminish thanks to Godwin re-signing and Egbuka joining the team at No. 19 overall. Suddenly, any contributions the Washington alum makes in Year 2 could be viewed as a bonus.
While Tampa Bay’s potential Godwin-Egbuka-McMillan-Evans quartet would be dangerous, the team will be limited here for a while. Fortunately, Evans and Egbuka are healthy as the season nears. Egbuka has impressed, and it is fair to expect the Ohio State all-time receiving leader to have a major role to open the season. Godwin is not a lock to start the season on time, but the Bucs are not certain to stash him on the reserve/PUP list just yet. That is a clear possibility, however, which would put pressure on Egbuka to develop quickly alongside Evans.
Izien will make the Bucs’ 53-man roster, but his role is not locked down just yet. A super-utility player of sorts previously, Izien has seen Tykee Smith move toward the safety spot alongside Antoine Winfield Jr. and third-round rookie Jacob Parrish challenge for the Week 1 slot corner role. Izien would represent a valuable piece of the bench in a scenario in which Smith and Parrish lock in regular roles, and his recent injury could cement that status.
Commanders, T George Fant Agree To Deal
George Fant met with the Commanders last week, and a deal has emerged shortly thereafter. The veteran tackle has agreed to terms with Washington, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports. 
Fant was limited to just two games last season upon returning to the Seahawks. He had won the right tackle gig in 2024, but a depth spot will be in store this time around. The 33-year-old nevertheless has 75 starts to his name, so he will offer experience at either tackle spot if needed.
Upgrading along the offensive line was a priority for the Commanders this offseason. The team’s most notable move in that respect was the trade for left tackle Laremy Tunsil. The five-time Pro Bowler will handle blindside duties on his third career team, with Brandon Coleman shifting to guard as a result. Tunsil has two years remaining on his pact, although none of his scheduled $21MM salary for 2026 is guaranteed.
A potential left tackle successor was added during the first round of the draft. Josh Conerly Jr. is currently focused on competing for the starting right tackle gig. He and incumbent Andrew Wylie are contesting the position. The runner-up will no doubt be viewed as the primary RT backup for 2025. Fant will also be an option in that respect, though, in addition to offering Washington a fill-in on the blindside.
The former UDFA saw considerable playing time over the course of his first Seahawks tenure as well as his Jets and Texans stints. Fant was contemplating signing with the Titans or Ravens earlier this offseason, but in the absence of an agreement on either front he continued searching for an opportunity. That included a visit with the Buccaneers, a team looking for depth until Tristan Wirfs is healthy. Instead of Tampa Bay, Fant is headed to the nation’s capital.
The Commanders entered Tuesday with nearly $17MM in cap space, and today’s signing will not considerably affect that total. Washington’s offense faces questions with the Terry McLaurin and Brian Robinson situations unresolved, but the unit will have veteran depth up front in 2025.
WR Gabe Davis Expected To Visit Bills
The news of Gabe Davis lining up a second free agent visit with the Steelers pointed to a Pittsburgh agreement being highly likely. At least one other team is set to host the veteran wideout, however. 
The Bills are expected to bring Davis in for a visit this week, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports. Any deal worked out in the wake of that meeting would constitute a reunion between team and player. Davis’ first four seasons in the league came with Buffalo.
While playing out his rookie contract, the former fourth-round pick served as a key member of the Bills’ passing attack. Davis scored seven touchdowns in each of the 2022 and ’23 seasons, averaging 16.7 yards per reception during his tenure with the team. While his catch percentage (54.5%) across that span certainly left something to be desired, the 26-year-old was among the top wideouts in last year’s free agent class.
Davis landed a three-year, $39MM Jaguars pact on the open market as he expectedly departed Buffalo. Things did not go according to plan in Jacksonville, however, with the UCF product ultimately being released after one campaign with the team. The Steelers showed interest with a visit in June, using that opportunity to evaluate Davis’ injured knee. To no surprise, a medical follow-up is in store for his second visit, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette notes.
The Bills’ most lucrative free agent addition this offseason was receiver Josh Palmer. The former Charger is set to join returnees Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman as the top options in Buffalo’s passing game in 2025. A reunion with Davis would see him take on at least a rotational role, and as a familiar face to head coach Sean McDermott and offensive coordinator Joe Brady a quick acclimation period late in the summer would be expected in the event of a deal.
Buffalo entered Tuesday at the bottom of the league in terms of cap space with roughly $1.36MM in available funds. That figure will change once roster cuts take place, but for now the Bills trail the Steelers ($19.23MM) in spending power by a wide margin. Davis is on course for a much less lucrative pact than his last one in any event, but it will be interesting to see if finances play a part in determining his fate over the coming days.
Browns Name Joe Flacco Starting QB
To little surprise, Joe Flacco will begin the 2025 season atop the depth chart. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski announced on Monday that the 41-year-old will handle starting duties in Week 1. 
Flacco has long been seen as the top option for Cleveland. Injuries have been a problem for fellow veteran Kenny Pickett but also rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders, leading to missed reps during training camp. Even if all four contenders had been fully available, it still would have been seen as something of an upset for anyone but Flacco to get the early nod.
Midway through the 2023 season, Flacco joined the Browns and quickly found himself handling QB1 duties. The former Super Bowl MVP helped lead the team to a 4-1 finish down the stretch and qualify for the playoffs. That track record of success and a familiarity with Stefanski’s scheme were factors weighing heavily in Flacco’s favor during training camp. After the 191-game starter received the majority of first-team reps in camp, signs pointed heavily to Stefanski’s expected announcement confirming this QB setup to begin the year.
Pickett was seen as a contender to earn the nod ahead of camp, but a hamstring injury hindered his chances of genuinely pushing for the QB1 gig. The former Steelers first-rounder was traded to the Eagles last offseason and spent 2024 as Jalen Hurts‘ backup. The trade sending him to Cleveland was understandably followed by the decision to decline his fifth-year option. As a result, the 27-year-old enters this season as a pending free agent. Doing so as a backup (at best) is certainly an unwelcomed development from his perspective.
Gabriel and Sanders have flashed potential during the preseason, and their respective development will be a key storyline for Cleveland in 2025. Gabriel drew trade interest immediately after being drafted in the third round, but despite adding Sanders on Day 3 the Browns elected to retain him. Given the presence of Flacco and Pickett at that point, questions were raised about the possibility of all four signal-callers being kept on the active roster. General manager Andrew Berry has consistently maintained he is willing to take that route.
Indeed, the latest update on that front indicated Cleveland would carry each member of the Flacco-Pickett-Gabriel-Sanders quartet on the 53-man roster following cutdowns. Deshaun Watson is expected to miss the season while recovering from his second Achilles tear, while recent addition Tyler Huntley is a candidate to be released after filling in as a healthy option under center as needed. That will not bring an end to discussions about how the Browns should proceed under center, of course.
Struggles on the part of the team in general and Flacco in particular will no doubt lead to increased calls for a change under center. Turning to one (or both) of the rookies over the course of the season could lead to valuable evaluations concerning their long-term viability as potential starters. For now, though, Flacco is set to meet his goal of playing into his 40s. That will include at least a stretch in the starting spot to open his 18th NFL season.
Offseason In Review: Buffalo Bills
Last season further entrenched the Bills in an impressive but unfortunate contingent in NFL history. In booking a seventh playoff berth in eight seasons (six of those with Josh Allen at the helm), this Buffalo nucleus is firmly among the best — along with the Air Coryell Chargers, Marty Schottenheimer‘s Browns and Chiefs squads, and probably the Ravens’ Lamar Jackson-era crew (among others) — to not reach a Super Bowl. After 2024 brought a retooling offseason that lowered expectations, last year’s run to the Super Bowl LIX precipice restored them for 2025.
As the Bills continue their agonizing trend of controlling the regular-season Chiefs rivalry before losing each playoff rematch, they went to work augmenting key areas. But ensuring a batch of early-2020s draft choices remained in Buffalo long term defined this offseason. One extension towered among the others in value and importance, but a host of reasonably priced paydays set up this Bills core for the decade’s remainder.
Extensions and restructures:
- Reached six-year, $330MM deal ($147MM guaranteed) with QB Josh Allen
- Agreed on four-year, $80MM ($49MM guaranteed) extension with DE Gregory Rousseau
- Gave CB Christian Benford four-year, $69MM extension ($18.85MM guaranteed)
- Struck four-year, $53MM ($18.1MM guaranteed) deal with WR Khalil Shakir
- Hammered out four-year, $46MM extension ($15.28MM guaranteed) with RB James Cook
- Finalized four-year, $42MM ($14.1MM guaranteed) extension with LB Terrel Bernard
- Agreed to reworked deal with Matt Milano; LB now on one-year, $6.31MM ($5.63MM guaranteed) deal
The Allen contract came without rumored talks. That theme persisted, with one notable exception, as the Bills planned their paydays. Allen entered the offseason tied to what had become a wildly team-friendly deal, as the QB market exploded beyond the $50MM-per-year rate and as Allen had established himself as a megastar. The Bills did not technically need to do anything after the seven-year veteran’s MVP season; his six-year extension (agreed to in August 2021) ran through the 2028 slate. But as the market had moved the Buffalo icon out of the top 10 among QBs, the team acted.
Allen’s new contract is more of a lucrative rework than a true extension. Only two new years are included; the QB is now tied to the Bills through the 2030 season. But the Bills rewarded their franchise cornerstone with a massive guarantee influx. Allen, 28, received what amounts to a $90MM raise on his previous deal. The fully guaranteed money represented the lead item here. Allen’s $147MM figure is well south of Deshaun Watson‘s $230MM, but this contract beats every other deal in terms of fully guaranteed money. Although Allen could not catch Dak Prescott‘s massive $60MM-AAV accord — one achieved with far more leverage than the Bills QB carried — he topped the Cowboys passer in upfront guarantees.
Some 14 months after Patrick Mahomes‘ outlier 10-year extension, Allen became the only quarterback to agree to a deal beyond five years. This helped the Bills, who have gone to the restructure well like the Chiefs have. Buffalo needed to make an adjustment, as Kansas City did with its megastar talent in September 2022, but the team still has Allen signed for six more seasons. That will help establish cost certainty — for a while, at least — at Allen’s apex.
Having Allen at the same AAV of Trevor Lawrence and Jordan Love — even after a $24MM offseason cap surge — should age quite well. Mahomes’ historic Chiefs impact notwithstanding, the three-time Super Bowl champion has Andy Reid calling the shots and the perennially underrated Steve Spagnuolo providing defensive fortification. Travis Kelce, for most of Mahomes’ career at least, being a dominant tight end helped raise the QB’s floor as well. Allen has lacked these amenities, for the most part, and an argument can be made — as it was last year — he is the NFL’s most indispensable player.
The Bills have continued to receive full participation from their dual-threat dynamo, despite regular punishment on scrambles and designed runs. Allen has logged 759 regular-season carries and 112 more in the playoffs, signing up for hits Jackson deftly avoids in the process. Obviously important as a passer, Allen’s run-game prowess separates him as an all-time talent. Allen already ranks sixth in career QB carries; he will move into fourth early this season. While the Bills may need to rein in their do-it-all player on that front at some point to ensure he remains elite through the duration of this contract, the franchise is enjoying the spoils of its two-trade-up 2018 presently.
Dion Dawkins‘ NFL arrival predates Allen’s, but the Bills went to work on fortifying their younger core this year. That meant deals for starters drafted in 2021 and ’22. Shakir’s extension began this mission in February, and the blueprint (barring a late-summer accord perhaps with an interior O-lineman) ended with Cook’s hold-in leading to an agreement last week.
After five smooth negotiations, the Bills reached choppy waters during Cook’s. The 2024 Pro Bowler threw a $15MM-per-year price point out there, and initial talks in the spring did not progress. Brandon Beane then pointed to the two-year running back starter needing to begin his contract year unsigned. Fortunately for all parties, that did not end up happening. Cook skipped OTAs but reported for minicamp. This off-and-on work schedule persisted into training camp, when the former second-round pick participated initially before shifting to a hold-in strategy before returning to practice. A day after Cook suited up, a deal unsurprisingly emerged.
The 2024 running back resurgence did bring a market reset, thanks to Saquon Barkley‘s otherworldly season, and Derrick Henry receiving $25MM guaranteed at signing despite being 31. Beyond those Hall of Fame-caliber talents, no true shift occurred. Last fall established a second tier at the position, with James Conner, Chuba Hubbard and David Montgomery following Rhamondre Stevenson in landing extensions between $8.3MM and $9.5MM per year. Alvin Kamara‘s third Saints contract came in at $12.25MM AAV. This offseason brought two notable deals in between those goalposts.
Days after the Rams gave Kyren Williams a three-year, $33MM extension, the Bills found common ground with Cook. Although both players received full guarantees totaling just more than $15MM, each deal features vesting dates in early 2026. The Bills guaranteed $5MM of Cook’s 2026 compensation at signing; another $4.41MM locks in February 9. Cook also secured a rolling guarantee structure, which will pay out $6.22MM of his $9.13MM 2027 base salary on Day 5 of the 2026 league year. Although Cook’s $15.28MM full guarantee is just 10th at the position, more than $10MM in additional guarantees are due by mid-March.
Cook offered a second straight 1,000-yard rushing season last year and led the NFL with 16 rushing TDs. Cook received the first notable RB extension during the Beane-Sean McDermott era. The Bills had removed LeSean McCoy‘s Doug Whaley-era contract from the payroll and made Devin Singletary and Zack Moss one-contract players. Cook, 26 in September, did not do as well on his second contract as older brother Dalvin. But most teams have been stingier on RB paydays since the 2017 class cashed in years ago.
Cook and Shakir have been Allen’s steadiest weapons since Joe Brady replaced Ken Dorsey as OC midway through the 2023 season. While Stefon Diggs disappointed to close that campaign, Shakir emerged as a reliable target and developed further in 2024. The slot cog led a more egalitarian Bills pass-catching corps with 821 receiving yards. Seventy-six catches and four touchdowns to go with that yardage total did not provide Diggs-level numbers, but Shakir was not asked for such contributions. The extension reflects such a role.
Shakir’s $13.25MM AAV number sits 27th among receivers. It is difficult to extend core performers this far outside the upper crust at their respective positions, but Shakir is a former fifth-round pick who played sparingly as a rookie. Considering how valuable he is in Buffalo’s post-Diggs setup, this seems like a team-friendly deal. Shakir, 25, opted to pass on testing free agency — or at least waiting to see how the market changed by training camp — to lock in money early. The Bills made a few similar moves in the weeks that followed.
Like Bobby Okereke years prior, Bernard entered the NFL perhaps better known for an enthusiastic (via Kyle Brandt) third-round draft announcement than on-field play. Last season changed that, as Bernard established himself as Buffalo’s new linebacker pillar. Bernard, 26, has played at least 87% of the Bills’ defensive snaps over the past two seasons. With Milano missing most of that stretch, the Baylor product became a vital player on a defense known to run into ill-timed injury trouble. Although Pro Football Focus rated Bernard as a bottom-five full-time LB last season, the Bills disagreed and rewarded the productive Day 2 draftee.
Of the Shakir-Bernard-Rousseau-Benford quartet, Bernard did the best in terms of AAV at his position. His $10.5MM number still ranks only 12th among off-ball ‘backers, marking what looks like another solid compromise from the Bills. This deal reminds of Milano’s second contract (in 2021), but with the cap spiking by nearly $100MM since that offseason, Bernard’s is a much team-friendlier agreement. The Bills also did not guarantee any money beyond 2026, giving them an easy out — in the event this bet on an ascending player fails — by 2027.
The Bills did not receive what they hoped from Von Miller, leading Rousseau to go from an initial sidekick piece alongside the future Hall of Famer to the team’s lead pass rusher. Rousseau, 25, has not yet posted a nine-sack season; he reached eight in 2022 and ’24. But he has boosted his career-high in QB hits in each of the past three seasons, going from 14 to 18 to 24. Rousseau’s 35 pressures also ranked 11th last season, when he added career-high marks in TFLs (16) and forced fumbles (three). Barring injury, it is likely Rousseau’s best work is ahead of him.
The Bills did not exactly get in early here, as Rousseau had played four seasons on his rookie deal, but the 2021 first-rounder’s resume helped them close these negotiations with the No. 13 edge rusher AAV ($20MM). Continuing to equip Rousseau with veteran bookends (Miller, Leonard Floyd, Joey Bosa), the Bills have made the Miami alum their lead D-end with this extension. Rousseau would have been a franchise tag candidate in 2026 had he not signed early, but the Bills took care of this months before training camp. Rousseau’s AAV matches Miller’s 2022 number, but he is nearly eight years younger at the time of signing (at a lower percentage of the cap), pointing to better returns.
Identifying Cook, Shakir, Bernard and Rousseau as core players to extend, the Bills included Benford in that group after he had taken the longest road to such status. Chosen in the same 2022 draft as first-rounder Kaiir Elam, Benford quickly showed he was the better player. Also coming from Division I-FCS (Villanova), Benford entered his rookie season with minimal fanfare. But Benford earned a starting gig early, giving Tre’Davious White more time to rehab his first major injury. When the Bills acquired Rasul Douglas at the 2023 deadline, it was to give them an answer opposite Benford, not Elam.
PFF has ranked Benford as a top-10 corner in each of the past two seasons. The 6-foot-1 CB submitted his best work in terms of completion percentage (63.5) and yards per target (5.4) as the closest defender last season. Given the Chiefs’ narrow victory margins in both their past two playoff wins in this series, it can certainly be argued the series’ playoff record would be different had Benford finished either game. Benford missed the Bills’ 2023 divisional-round Chiefs loss and left with a concussion early in last season’s AFC championship game.
Despite his ill-timed absences, Benford secured what is now an upper-middle-class CB extension. Buffalo’s Benford deal came after both Jaycee Horn and Derek Stingley Jr. raised the market’s ceiling, but the team still has its top cover man tied to the 19th-most lucrative CB contract. Benford, 25 in September, likely would have done better by waiting until free agency (or a franchise tag). But the Bills, continuing their offseason theme, convinced him to re-up early.
Part of McDermott’s first draft (one that took place shortly before Beane’s GM hire), Milano delivered strong work on his rookie deal and second contract. Since Buffalo redid the All-Pro’s contract in 2023, injuries have thrown his career off course. Milano, 31, missed 12 games due to injury in each of the past two seasons. That has limited Buffalo’s defense, and keyed a reduction.
Rather than taking his chances on the market coming off these injury-marred years ahead of his age-31 season, Milano will attempt to rebound with the team that drafted him. As Bernard, Benford, Cook, Rousseau and Shakir became the offseason focus around Allen, one of the initial McDermott-era investments is now paid as a moderately priced starting linebacker.
Free agency additions:
- Josh Palmer, WR. Three years, $30MM ($15MM guaranteed)
- Michael Hoecht, DE. Three years, $21MM ($12.43MM guaranteed)
- Joey Bosa, DE. One year, $12.61MM ($12MM guaranteed)
- Larry Ogunjobi, DT. One year, $6.7MM ($5.43MM guaranteed)
- Elijah Moore, WR. One year, $2.5MM ($2.5MM guaranteed)
- Tre’Davious White, CB. One year, $3MM ($2.2MM guaranteed)
- Dane Jackson, CB. One year, $ 1.34MM ($568K guaranteed)
- Darrick Forrest, S. One year, $1.34MM ($168K guaranteed)
- Darrynton Evans, RB. One year, $1.21MM ($15K guaranteed)
- Laviska Shenault, WR. One year, $1.21MM ($15K guaranteed)
- Shaq Thompson, LB. One year, $1.26MM
- Kendrick Green, OL. One year, $1.2MM
- Tre Herndon, DB. One year, $1.17MM
- Deon Cain, WR. One year, $960K
- Brad Robbins, P. One year, $960K
- Dan Feeney, G. Signed 8/4
More undercard (to the extension cycle’s main event) in this Bills offseason, free agency still brought some important additions. The three most significant came from Los Angeles.
As they did with Von Miller in 2022, the Bills swooped in as a stealth contender to win an edge rusher sweepstakes. Joey Bosa was listed as close to reuniting with younger brother Nick in San Francisco, while the Miami native was also on the Dolphins’ radar. No Bills connections emerged until an agreement became known.
Bosa, 30, treks east as an injury-prone but productive pass rusher. The Bills will need to account for the health issues associated with this marquee free agent — a player the Chargers dropped after giving him a 2024 pay cut — and a calf issue already kept Bosa out for a stretch this offseason. When available, however, Bosa will be an upgrade.
It would seem Bosa will need to switch to a situational role earlier than most four-time Pro Bowlers do, because he has missed 40 regular-season games in nine years. He has already been on this track, having not eclipsed the 55% snap barrier on defense since 2021 — his most recent non-alternate Pro Bowl season. Bosa has four double-digit sack seasons on his resume — all from 2016-21. He missed much of the ’22 season after groin surgery and was down for eight 2023 games with foot trouble. Last season, Bosa posted modest numbers — five sacks, 13 QB hits, two forced fumbles — but generated a decent FA market.
No Trey Hendrickson Trade Imminent; Bengals’ Asking Price Has Dropped?
The last few days have brought a flurry of updates regarding Trey Hendrickson‘s persisting standoff with the Bengals, though there seems to be no real progress regarding contract or trade talks
Hendrickson and the Bengals reached an agreement on the length and value of an extension weeks ago, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. However, the team still refuses to guarantee money beyond the 2025 season, which has been one of the All-Pro edge rusher’s demands all along. Hendrickson confirmed the state of negotiations as described by Pelissero to ESPN’s Laura Rutledge during Monday Night Football coverage of the Bengals-Commanders preseason game (via ESPN’s Ben Baby).
Rutledge also reported that there has been no movement on a potential trade, likely due to the Bengals’ high asking price. They rejected an offer of “a second-round pick and change,” before the draft, per Pelissero, preferring a first-rounder instead. He added that the price has “softened, or at least changed a little bit,” explaining that Cincinnati is now asking for a draft pick and a young impact player to help offset the loss of Hendrickson this year.
However, that does not gel with a report from The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, who says that teams who checked in with the Bengals regarding a Hendrickson trade were given an asking price of a 2026 first-round pick and a young defensive player. That player does not necessarily have to be a pass rusher.
Despite an early report that the Browns were interested in trading for Hendrickson, Cleveland is not “seriously pursuing” the NFL’s reigning sack leader, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. The Patriots, however, have called about Hendrickson, per Outkick’s Armando Salguero, though putting together a package that meets the Bengals’ requirements may be difficult this close to the season.
Nikhil Mehta contributed to this post.
Ravens Offer Injury Updates On Adisa Isaac, Emery Jones
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh announced (via Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic) that second-year edge rusher Adisa Isaac will start the season on injured reserve after undergoing elbow surgery.
Harbaugh previously disclosed that Isaac suffered a dislocated elbow in Saturday’s preseason matchup against the Cowboys, per Zrebiec. The Ravens were hoping that the 2024 third-round pick could contribute to their edge rotation after a hamstring injury as a rookie held him out of spring practices and limited him to four games and 78 total snaps.
Isaac is still expected to play this year and will likely be placed on IR with a designation to return during roster cut-downs next week. That will mandate a four-week absence before he can return to practice, though Harbaugh projected a post-midseason return.
Isaac’s injury could open a roster spot for 2022 second-round pick David Ojabo, who similarly struggled to stay on the field in his first two NFL seasons. Even when he did enjoy an extended stretch of good health in 2024, he only recorded 2.0 sacks and two tackles for loss across 13 games. Ojabo was thought to be on the roster bubble entering training camp, especially since his release would clear $1.8MM of cap space, but he’s now poised to stick around in Baltimore, at least for the start of the season.
Harbaugh also revealed that rookie offensive lineman Emery Jones will not be ready for the start of the regular season. He has been on the non-football injury list since the beginning of training camp after undergoing shoulder surgery earlier this year. Rather than a quick recovery to push for a starting guard job as a rookie, Jones is waiting until he is “fully right” before taking the field.
“That’s the way it should be,” added Harbaugh. “We respect that.” The Ravens can move Jones to the reserve/NFI list during cut-downs, which will sideline him for at least another four weeks.
Jones is the third Ravens draft pick to miss significant time as a rookie. Day 3 cornerback Bilhal Kone and Robert Longerbeam have already landed on season-ending IR with major leg injuries. Kone tore both his ACL and his MCL, while Longerbeam sustained a torn patella tendon, according to FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz. Harbaugh declined to confirm Schultz’s report on August 11, but confirmed that the rookie corner would undergo surgery.
With their cornerback depth taking a hit in training camp, the Ravens hosted eight-year veteran Kyle Fuller for a workout on Sunday, per KRPC2’s Aaron Wilson. Fuller hasn’t played since 2022, when he earned a starting job in Baltimore’s defense but tore his ACL in Week 1.
Harbaugh was less forthcoming when asked about Isaiah Likely. The fourth-year tight end is coming off minor foot surgery with a tight recovery window before the Ravens’ regular-season opener against the Bills. Accordingly, Harbaugh offered a vague answer when asked about Likely’s Week 1 availability, saying (via ESPN’s Jamison Hensley) that he “might want to keep [Buffalo] guessing a little bit.”
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/18/25
Here are the latest minor moves from around the NFL:
Atlanta Falcons
- Waived/injured: QB Emory Jones
- Signed: LB Ronnie Perkins
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: CB Thomas Graham
Carolina Panthers
- Placed on IR: TE Tyler Mabry
Chicago Bears
- Waived from IR with injury settlement: CB Ameer Speed
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: CB Michael Ojemudia
- Waived/injured: CB Bruce Harmon
Detroit Lions
- Activated from active/PUP list: CB Khalil Dorsey
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: DL Devonte O’Malley, DB Jaylin Simpson
- Waived: CB Garnett Hollis Jr.
- Waived/injured: DL Keith Randolph
Houston Texans
- Signed: WR Juwann Winfree
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: LB Jake Chaney, LB Joseph Vaughn
- Placed on IR: OT Blake Freeland, LB Jacob Phillips, S Hunter Wohler
Los Angeles Chargers
- Activated from active/PUP: LB Del’Shawn Phillips
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: OL Mason Brooks
- Placed on IR: OL Yodny Cajuste
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: RB Xazavian Valladay
New England Patriots
- Signed: WR Phil Lutz
- Waived/injured: DT Isaiah Iton
New York Jets
- Placed on IR: DB Kris Boyd
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: DB Kam Alexander, OT Julian Pearl
- Released: DL Breiden Fehoko, WR Roc Taylor, LB Devin Harper
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: S Will Brooks
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: DT T.J. Smith
Ojemudia is returning to the NFL after playing for the UFL’s DC Defenders in the spring, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. After starting 11 games for the Broncos as a rookie in 2020, he struggled with injuries and hasn’t played in the regular season since 2022.. The 27-year-old will add depth to a Cowboys cornerback room that isn’t expecting Trevon Diggs or Shavon Revel back until September. Second-year corner Caelen Carson is also dealing with a knee injury, so Ojemudia could get some snaps in Dallas’ last preseason game on Friday. A 53-man roster spot is unlikely given how late he signed with the team, but a strong first week could keep him in contention for the practice squad.
Winfree, a five-year veteran, will land with his fourth NFL team after a workout in Houston. The Texans also worked out former Chiefs wideout Cornell Powell, according to KRPC2’s Aaron Wilson.
Freeland, a 2023 fourth-round pick, started nine games as a rookie and spent 2024 as the Colts’ swing tackle. He will be out for the season with a fractured leg, per Colts.com writer JJ Stankevitz, as will Phillips (bicep), who hasn’t played in the regular season since 2022. Wohler sustained a Lisfranc injury, according to Joel Erickson of the Indianapolis Star. The seventh-round safety will miss his rookie year after appearing to carve out a role in the Colts defense with an impressive preseason.
Matt Schaub Announces Candidacy For NFLPA’s Executive Director Position
The first official candidate for the NFLPA’s full-time executive director position has emerged. A familiar face is once again showing interest in the gig. 
Former quarterback Matt Schaub detailed in a lengthy Go Long piece (written alongside Jason Cole) his decision to pursue the full-time leadership position. David White – the runner-up to Lloyd Howell in the 2023 selection process – is currently in place on an interim basis. It remains to be seen if he will look to secure the full-time gig. In either case, Schaub will be a candidate worth watching.
The 17-year veteran made it clear in 2022 (not long after his retirement) he was interested in taking over from DeMaurice Smith. Schaub was not a finalist that time around, with only Howell and White in place for the final vote in 2023. Howell’s tenure came to an abrupt end this summer in the wake of numerous scandals. The union lost another veteran leader shortly thereafter once J.C. Tretter resigned. Stability in the short term but also a clear vision on priorities for upcoming CBA talks represent major priorities for the union at this point.
“It is important for players to know who truly wants the job and why,” Schaub’s announcement reads in part. “More importantly, players need to hear as many ideas as possible. The 2023 NFLPA executive director search, after which Howell was elected, was done in almost complete secrecy and the results are the current disaster. This election process needs to be out in the open, argued, debated, questioned, and thoroughly challenged.”
Schaub noted the difference in the union’s direction following Gene Upshaw‘s death in 2008 (that is, the shift from a former player to personnel with experience outside the game in the years since his passing). The 44-year-old’s announcement calls on a return to ex-players being relied on to lead the NFLPA. It also includes a number of suggestions for union reforms in terms of structure and operation and notes how Schaub has relied on a 10-man team to further educate him on NFLPA and CBA matters since 2023.
Last week, Hall of Fame corner Darrelle Revis along with Joe Briggs (who has a lengthy legal background and experience in various union roles) were named as potential candidates for the executive director role. It is unclear at this point if either or both of them will throw their hats into the ring. It is now known, however, that Schaub is in the early running.
Chiefs To Place Felix Anudike-Uzomah On IR
Felix Anudike-Uzomah‘s third NFL season has ended before it began. The Chiefs will moved him to injured reserve, per a team announcement.
A strained hamstring will result in this move. Earlier today, head coach Andy Reid noted (via ESPN’s Nate Tice) that taking the IR route was a consideration. Now that it is official, Anudike-Uzomah will be sidelined for the entire campaign.
The 2023 first-rounder played a full 17 games during his rookie campaign, adding one playoff appearance along the way. Anudike-Uzomah logged just a 20% snap share that season, but his workload increased in 2024 (a campaign which also did not include any missed time). The 23-year-old saw his usage rate jump to 31%, and he produced 2.5 sacks along with 10 QB pressures.
Another step forward could have been in store for 2025. Instead, Anudike-Uzomah will turn his attention to recovery while the Chiefs move on to other options along the edge. The Kansas State product is attached to his rookie contract through 2026, with a decision on his fifth-year option needing to be made this spring. Obviously, today’s news is a strong indication the option will be declined.
Kansas City’s defensive end depth chart will once again be led by George Karlaftis in 2025 but also many years to come. He agreed to a four-year extension last month, and the big-ticket accord ensures he will remain in place for the foreseeable future. Mike Danna and Charles Omenihu are holdovers from last season, and they combined to record 4.5 sacks in 2024. That tandem’s availability (along with that of Karlaftis, of course) will be crucial for the reigning AFC champions given today’s news.
Third-round rookie Ashton Gillotte could be in position to take an increased role with Anudike-Uzomah out of the picture for 2025. If Kansas City intends to pursue a veteran addition to compensate for the latter’s absences, a signing could be feasible. The Chiefs have nearly $17MM in cap space at the moment. With roster cuts approaching, a decision will need to be made on whether or not using those funds will be necessary while shorthanded along the edge.
The team also waived undrafted running back Elijah Young. Free agent signings defensive end Owen Carney and linebacker Xander Mueller (undrafted out of Northwestern) will fill the vacant roster spots of Anudike-Uzomah and Young.