Dolphins Sign RBs Mike Boone, Aaron Shampklin
With Alexander Mattison done for the season, the Dolphins are adding some running back depth. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported earlier today that the team was adding Aaron Shampklin, while ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds that veteran Mike Boone is also joining the team. To make room on the roster, the team has officially placed Mattison on injured reserve and waived Monaray Baldwin (via Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston).
[RELATED: Dolphins RB Alexander Mattison Undergoes Season-Ending Neck Surgery]
Boone brings the most experience among the two additions, as the veteran has appeared in 72 games over the past seven years. Boone often found himself as a third-string RB in a Dalvin Cook-led depth chart in Minnesota, although he did finished the 2019 campaign with a career-high 290 yards from scrimmage. He’s bounced around the NFL a bit since leaving the Vikings, spending time with the Broncos, Texans, and Panthers. Over that four-year span, the veteran has added another 367 yards from scrimmage to his resume.
Boone has limited experience as a return man, tallying five kickoff returns. The 30-year-old has also garnered 738 special teams snaps during his career, so perhaps he could carve out a useful role in Miami.
Shampklin went undrafted out of Harvard in 2021 and has had stints with the Cowboys, Colts, Chargers, and Steelers. He made his NFL debut last season, collecting 17 rushing yards in three games with Pittsburgh. He was a relatively popular name in free agency in recent weeks, as the RB also auditioned for the Bears and Jets.
It’s uncertain if these two additions will represent Miami’s only solutions to replacing Mattison; the team notably worked out Jamaal Williams earlier today. Either way, the Dolphins still have plenty of depth at the position. De’Von Achane will still lead the grouping, with 2024 fourth-round pick Jaylen Wright serving as a primary backup. The team also used a draft pick on sixth-round RB Ollie Gordon II.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/11/25
Today’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
- Signed: RB Brittain Brown, CB Kaleb Hayes, S Mark Perry
- Waived/injured: DB Ameer Speed
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: CB Christian Holmes, CB Darius Rush
- Waived: WR Luke Floriea, OT Roy Mbaeteka
Denver Broncos
- Reverted to IR: DL Matt Henningsen
Houston Texans
- Placed on IR: DT Marlon Davidson
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: WR Marquez Callaway
- Waived: WR Kawaan Baker
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: TE McCallan Castles
- Waived/injured: TE Anthony Torres
Minnesota Vikings
- Claimed off waivers (from Falcons): G Michael Gonzalez
- Placed on IR: OT Matt Nelson
New England Patriots
- Signed: DT Kyle Peko
- Waived: DT Bryce Ganious
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: TE Kevin Foelsch, DB Mikey Victor
- Waived: TE D.J. Thomas-Jones
- Waived/injured: DB Cameron McCutcheon
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: DL Trevis Gipson
- Activated off active/PUP: OL Andre Dillard
- Waived: QB Tanner Mordecai
- Placed on IR: RB Ameer Abdullah
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: LB Alphonzo Tuputala
- Waived: CB Kam Alexander
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: CB JayVian Farr, RB Jase McClellan
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: LB Blake Lynch
A handful of players injured in the first week of the preseason were placed on IR today, effectively ending their seasons early. These players won’t be allowed to play for their current squads in 2025, although they could place elsewhere if they’re released from injured reserve (often via an injury settlement).
Among those who landed on IR includes Texans DT Marlon Davidson, who remained in his team’s preseason opener after suffering a biceps injury. Vikings lineman Matt Nelson also suffered a biceps injury that will land him on IR. The veteran just joined Minnesota last week.
In addition to bringing back old friend Jeff Wilson, the 49ers made a handful of additional moves today. This includes shifting veteran RB Ameer Abdullah to injured reserve. Abdullah suffered a rib injury that will prevent him from taking the field with San Francisco this season. The veteran is coming off one of the most productive seasons of his career in 2024, when he compiled 572 yards from scrimmage in 16 games (three starts) with the Raiders. The 49ers also added defensive lineman Trevis Gipson, who started 19 games for the Bears between 2021 and 2022.
Titans Sign QB Trevor Siemian, Release QB Tim Boyle
The Titans have not looked to add a quarterback in the wake of losing Will Levis for the season. The team has nevertheless made a change at the position. 
Trevor Siemian was signed by Tennessee on Monday, per a team announcement. In a corresponding move, Tim Boyle was released. Siemian will now receive an opportunity to compete with Brandon Allen for the backup gig (or at least solidify the QB3 spot) over the remainder of the offseason. Boyle will hit free agency in a bid to find another opportunity before roster cuts.
The Titans selected Cam Ward first overall in this year’s draft, and the Levis injury further ensured he will handled starting duties right away during his rookie campaign. The free agent departure of Mason Rudolph has led to a number of moves for the team this offseason, though. That included signing Boyle in March; the journeyman has made 23 appearances and five starts in the NFL and played in Tennessee’s preseason opener. Boyle completed four of 13 attempts with one interceptions against the Buccaneers.
In the wake of that performance (plus his showings in practice, of course), the Titans have decided to move on. Siemian will now join the fold in time for the team’s final two preseason games. The 33-year-old has made 33 starts in his career, including three with the Jets in 2023; that doubles as his most recent regular season game action. Siemian spent much of last year with the Titans on their practice squad, being elevated to the gameday roster three times but never seeing the field.
The former seventh-rounder is thus a familiar face to head coach Brian Callahan and Co. The same is also true, however, of Allen based on his time with Callahan in Cincinnati. Both veterans will offer experience to Ward provided they survive roster cuts. If Siemian is released later this month, he will obviously be a practice squad candidate.
To no surprise, the Titans also activated center Lloyd Cushenberry from the active/PUP list today. The 2024 free agent signing has been rehabbing the Achilles tear which cut his debut Tennessee campaign short, but Callahan recently noted a return to practice was likely in store. Cushenberry will use the coming weeks to prepare himself for starting duties on an offensive line which has undergone a number of changes this offseason.
Austin Corbett Wins Panthers’ C Competition
Austin Corbett will remain a starter during his fourth Panthers season. Head coach Dave Canales announced on Monday Corbett has won the team’s center competition. 
Corbett joined Carolina on a three-year, $26.25MM deal in 2022. He managed to remain healthy during his debut Panthers season, but injuries limited the 29-year-old to a total of only nine contests across the past two seasons. A one-year deal was worked out to allow for Corbett to remain in place this campaign.
The Panthers also retained Cade Mays this offseason, though, setting up a training camp competition between he and Corbett. The two alternated time with the first-team offense during camp practices. Canales aimed to have a decision in place before Carolina’s upcoming joint practices with Houston, though (h/t Joe Person of The Athletic). That has proven to be the case with today’s call being made.
“I thought Cade did a fantastic job orchestrating the group when he was out there, getting his snaps off on time, moving people in the run game, anchoring the pass,” Canales said when speaking to the media (via Pro Football Talk’s Josh Alper). “It was a really close competition and I think Corbett just kinda brings a level of leadership that just kind of edged him out.”
A healthy season from Corbett would be key for his market value next spring. It would also allow for continuity up front in Carolina, of course. The team’s 2024 offensive line setup with left tackle Ikem Ekwonu, left guard Damien Lewis, Corbett at center, right guard Robert Hunt and right tackle Taylor Moton will remain intact this fall. Improved play from quarterback Bryce Young is a central target for the Panthers in 2025, and better pass protection will be key in his development.
Mays filled in for Corbett last season after the latter went down. A sixth-round pick in 2022, Mays has 38 appearances and 15 starts to his name. Given today’s decision, he will now prepare for a backup gig at center as well as guard with the potential to see playing time in the event of injuries along the interior.
RB Jamaal Williams To Visit Dolphins
Jamaal Williams took part in a workout with the Bears over the weekend. Another free agent visit has now been lined up. 
Williams will meet with the Dolphins today, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Miami’s backfield is set to be led once again by De’Von Achane, with 2024 fourth-rounder Jaylen Wright set to operate in a backup role. Raheem Mostert was released this spring in a move which came as little surprise. He ended up signing with the Raiders, while fellow veteran Alexander Mattison departed Vegas to sign with Miami.
Mattison suffered a season-ending neck injury during yesterday’s preseason contest, however. In the wake of that development, the Dolphins will look into one of the top options still on the market deep into free agency. Ex-Miami RB Jeff Wilson recently re-joined the 49ers, taking one of the most experienced backs off the table. The Dolphins still have Achane and Wright in the fold, along with sixth-round rookie Ollie Gordon.
That trio could stand to receive a veteran addition, though. Williams has 117 appearances and 45 starts to his name. After playing out his rookie contract with the Packers, the 30-year-old enjoyed a productive two-season spell in Detroit; during the 2022 campaign, Williams topped 1,000 yards for the first time and led the league with 17 rushing touchdowns. Over the past two years with the Saints, a relatively minor role failed to yield notable production.
Williams was released this spring, and coming off a campaign with only 48 carries it comes as little surprise he is still unsigned at this point. The BYU product could offer short-yardage value to a new team, though, and it will be interesting to see if that winds up being the Dolphins given the injury to Mattison. With almost $12MM in cap space, Miami will easily be able to afford a one-year offer to Williams if today’s workout goes well.
Dolphins RB Alexander Mattison Undergoes Season-Ending Neck Surgery
Alexander Mattison will not be available to the Dolphins in 2025. The veteran running back is dealing with a neck injury which will require season-ending surgery, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. 
Mattison was injured during yesterday’s preseason game against the Bears. He was transported by ambulance to a Chicago hospital, and Fowler’s colleague Adam Schefter reports the procedure took place shortly thereafter. A 2025 free agent signing, Mattison will now hit free agency next spring after a missed campaign.
Over the course of his five-year Vikings tenure, Mattison operated at first as Dalvin Cook‘s backup. Minnesota moved on from Cook ahead of the 2023 campaign, during which Mattison took on RB1 duties. The 27-year-old set a career high in carries (180) and yards (700) but his 3.9 yards per attempt average left plenty to be desired. Mattison spent 2024 with the Raiders, logging seven starts as part of an offense which struggled to find any success on the ground. As expected, a poor showing hindered his market value.
Mattison took a one-year Miami pact worth $1.38MM in March. That move set him up to handle a role backing up De’Von Achane in the Dolphins’ backfield, one which will be without Raheem Mostert or Jeff Wilson in 2025. Mostert was released, while Wilson remained unsigned until recently. Losing Mattison will leave the Dolphins short on experience behind Achane, 2024 fourth-rounder Jaylen Wright and sixth-round rookie Ollie Gordon.
Miami entered Monday with nearly $12MM in cap space. As a result, finances will not be an issue if a free agent addition is to be pursued. Achane is not in danger of losing his starting spot, of course, but healthy depth would be welcomed in the wake of today’s news. Mattison, meanwhile, will turn his attention to the recovery process ahead of free agency in 2026.
Jets RB Breece Hall Candidate For Midseason Trade?
Questions about Breece Hall‘s Jets future arose leading up to the draft. The fourth-year running back was not traded and received assurances from new head coach Aaron Glenn that he would remain in place for 2025. 
In spite of that, it remains to be seen if a commitment beyond the coming campaign will be made. 2022 draftees Sauce Gardner and Garrett Wilson have both received monster extensions, but other members of the class are in position to wait for new deals. That includes Hall, who is entering the final year of his rookie pact and recently confirmed he does not expect an extension to take place any time soon.
As a result, questions about the former second-rounder’s future could continue depending on how he and the Jets perform to begin the 2025 campaign. According to Sportkeeda’s Tony Pauline, some close to the matter “speculate” Hall could still wind up being dealt before this season’s trade deadline. Such a move would lead to 2024 Day 3 selections Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis taking on larger roles in the backfield. Glenn has indicated a desire for a backfield committee approach, meaning a true workhorse gig in Hall’s case would come as a surprise.
The Iowa State product’s encouraging rookie season was cut short by an ACL tear. Expectations were high for Hall upon returning to the lineup in 2023, but his 4.5 yards per carry average marked a notable decline. Averaging 4.2 yards per attempt last season, Hall once again topped 1,300 scrimmage yards but struggled to regain his former efficiency. The 2025 campaign will be critical in his case given the potential of a free agent departure next spring.
The Jets’ new regime did not select a running back in April’s draft, an indication Hall will have a run atop the depth chart to at least begin the coming season. The team’s success through the first two months of the campaign will of course be critical in determining how the trade deadline is approached for New York. In the absence of a investment for 2026 and beyond in Hall’s case, it will be interesting to see if the prospect of a trade gains steam over time or if an encouraging start to the campaign quells speculation about such a move.
Commanders Sign CBs Antonio Hamilton, Essang Bassey; T Lucas Niang Out For Season
A set of Sunday workouts for the Commanders quickly resulted in a deal being worked out for linebacker Duke Riley. More signings have taken place on Monday. 
The Riley deal is now official, per the team. It was also announced that cornerbacks Essang Bassey and Antonio Hamilton have been signed. Both of them took part in yesterday’s workout, as noted by The Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala.
Bassey has spent his entire career in the AFC West to date, bouncing between the Chargers and Broncos. The 26-year-old has 43 appearances and five starts to his name, and he will spend the coming weeks looking to carve out a special teams role. Hamilton, like Bassey, joined the NFL as an undrafted free agent but he has managed to stay in the league for nine years. Hamilton has made 18 starts (nine of which came with the Cardinals in 2023) but with 190 games to his name he will add experience to Washington’s secondary.
In corresponding moves, edge rusher Viliami Fehoko, cornerback Allan George and linebacker Dominique Hampton have been waived. Hampton was a fifth-round pick last year, so even though he made just one appearance as a rookie it is somewhat surprising to see him let go at this point. All three players will now hit the waiver wire; provided they go unclaimed, each will become a free agent.
The Commanders also placed offensive tackle Lucas Niang on injured reserve, ending his season. Head coach Dan Quinn announced yesterday (via JP Finlay of NBC Sports) that Niang suffered an ACL tear. The former Chief signed with Washington this spring and was set to handle a backup role along the offensive line. Now, that unit’s depth will take a hit behind Laremy Tunsil, Andrew Wylie and first-round rookie Josh Conerly Jr. Veteran cornerback/special teamer Kevon Seymour was also moved to IR on Monday. Unless he is released via an injury settlement, his season is over as well.
Titans RB Tyjae Spears To Miss Time
The Titans could be shorthanded in the backfield to begin the regular season. Tyjae Spears is dealing with a high ankle sprain and is set to miss time as a result. 
[RELATED: Reviewing Titans’ Offseason]
Head coach Brian Callahan said (via ESPN’s Turron Davenport) the team does not expect Spears to return in time for either of Tennessee’s remaining preseason games. Missed time in September could be in store as well depending on how his recovery process shakes out. Spears is in line to once again operate as part of a tandem with Tony Pollard in 2025.
Pollard topped 1,000 rushing yards for the third consecutive season during his debut Tennessee campaign. Spears – who impressed as a rookie spelling Derrick Henry – missed five games last year as a result of multiple injuries. That limited the former third-rounder to 536 scrimmage yards in 2024, but a clean bill of health for the coming season could see him take on an increased workload and thus enjoy an uptick in production. If Spears is forced to miss regular season game action, Julius Chestnut and sixth-round rookie Kalel Mullings would be tasked with backing up Pollard.
In other Titans injury news, Callahan noted center Lloyd Cushenberry is nearing a return. The 2024 free agent addition suffered an Achilles tear last season, and he has been on the active/PUP list throughout training camp while continuing to rehab. Cushenberry could return to practice this week, per Callahan, something which would be a welcomed sight for the Titans’ new-look offensive line.
Callahan also said cornerback L’Jarius Sneed is close to returning. A number of updates (ranging from positive to worrisome) have emerged in his case, but the latest indicated Sneed’s 2024 quad injury has healed. An offseason knee surgery was instead responsible for the trade acquisition landing on the active/PUP list in July. Sneed missed 12 games last year, so a healthy campaign this time around would be key for himself and Tennessee’s secondary.
Bills’ James Cook Sits Out Preseason Opener; HC Sean McDermott Wanted RB To Play
Bills running back James Cook, who was an active participant in Buffalo’s practices when training camp began, switched to a hold-in strategy last week as extension talks with the team drag on. That approach has now carried over into preseason games.
Per Jay Skurski of the Buffalo News, Cook warmed up with his teammates before the Bills’ preseason opener against the Giants on Saturday. ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg adds Cook was in full uniform and even took a snap with the first-team offense during 11-on-11 drills. However, he did not play in the game.
Head coach Sean McDermott acknowledged after the game that he wanted Cook to participate. Outside of quarterback Josh Allen and several other players who have injury concerns, most of the team’s projected starters did play to some extent. McDermott also said he had a “good conversation” with Cook on Friday, at which point Cook agreed to participate in warmups but made plain he would not actually play.
“We wanted him to play. I wanted him to play, but I don’t really want to go into it any further,” McDermott said (via Getzenberg). “There is really no change at this point in time from what it was going into this weekend and the game today, so he warmed up, like I said, but at this point, due to the situation and position he’s in, he was not willing to play, so that’s where we’re at. Again, it was a good conversation, but really no change overall.”
Shortly after it became clear Cook was holding in, a follow-up report indicated player and team were still engaged in contract discussions and were not too far apart in those discussions. But GM Brandon Beane, while confirming he hoped to strike a deal keeping Cook in the fold beyond 2025, appeared to leave open the possibility that such an agreement may not come until after the season.
Between those comments and McDermott’s “no change” remarks, it is difficult to say where negotiations stand at this point. Cook declined to comment after the game, though his agent, Zac Hiller, did send a text to ESPN.
“I don’t know what else he can do to show he only wants to play for the Bills,” the text read (via Getzenberg). “Hopefully we can figure this out and refocus all energy on bringing a Super Bowl to Buffalo.”
Missing training camp practices is one thing, but missing regular season games is quite another, and it may not be a viable option for Cook. Still, the championship-caliber Bills clearly want to have their RB1 available and in football shape for the upcoming campaign, which opens with a contest against the Ravens, one of their top AFC competitors.
For now, the stare-down continues.