Commanders Expected To Waive DB Darnell Savage
2025 has seen Darnell Savage lose out on a starting job and change teams midway through the season. The veteran defensive back could be on the move once again in the near future. 
Savage has asked to be let go by the Commanders, Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports. He adds Washington is expected to grant the request. Provided that takes place, Savage will soon find himself on waivers. Interested teams could add him via a claim; otherwise, he would become a free agent once again.
During training camp, Savage lost his starting spot in Jacksonville. By mid-September, the team’s new regime led by GM James Gladstone and head coach Liam Coen elected to move on despite the guarantees remaining on his contract. That left Savage on the open market, and he quickly lined up a visit with the Commanders which produced an agreement.
During eight games in Washington, Savage has handled a defensive snap share of just 33%. The former first-rounder has struggled in coverage, allowing three touchdowns as the nearest defender while playing in the nation’s capital. That will hinder his chances of being claimed and no doubt deal a blow to his earning potential moving forward. Presuming Savage, 28, becomes available once more, it will be interesting to see if he lines up any suitors for the stretch run.
The Commanders have lost seven straight games, and at 3-9 the postseason is not a consideration for the team. Washington will look to the remainder of the campaign as an evaluation period for players in contention for a roster spot in 2026. Savage understandably does not fit that description.
The Maryland product has made 82 starts and 95 appearances over the course of his career. After Savage secured $12.5MM guaranteed in 2024, it is safe to assume he will not be able to match that figure during his next trip to free agency (whether it comes in March or before the end of the season).
Eagles Made Darius Slay Waiver Claim
Darius Slay saw his Steelers tenure come to an end this week, but he did not reach free agency. The Bills put in a waiver claim to add him for the remainder of the season. 
If not for that, a Philadelphia reunion could have been in store. The Eagles also put in a waiver claim for Slay, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Both teams sport a record of 8-4, but the Bills had the higher waiver priority.
In the event the Eagles’ bid had been successful, Slay would have been able to rejoin his former team for the stretch run. The 34-year-old spent five seasons (2020-24) in Philadelphia, collecting three of his six career Pro Bowl nods during that time. After one year playing alongside Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, Slay was released this past offseason. That set up a one-year, $10MM Steelers pact which did not work out as hoped.
Expectations will be low in Slay’s case upon arrival in Buffalo, and the same no doubt would have been true had he returned to Philadelphia. The former All-Pro has not enjoyed a productive 2025 season, and Pittsburgh’s Asante Samuel Jr. signing prompted his exit. Nevertheless, Slay would have given the Eagles a familiar face in the secondary, one which has already seen several in-season changes take place.
General manager Howie Roseman was busy on the trade front leading up to last month’s deadline. That included deals with the Jets for Michael Carter II and with the Ravens for Jaire Alexander. The latter has since been moved to the reserve/retired list, so a Slay reunion would have allowed for him to occupy a depth corner role on the perimeter. Instead, Slay will spend the remainder of what is likely to be his final NFL season with the Bills.
Meanwhile, the Eagles will move forward with Mitchell, DeJean and Adoree’ Jackson as key figures in the secondary. As the team looks to rebound from two straight losses, it will do so without late-season reinforcements.
Ravens, Mark Andrews Agree On Extension
Mark Andrews will not be testing free agency. For the second time, the accomplished tight end has agreed to a Ravens extension.
The longtime Lamar Jackson target agreed to a three-year deal worth $39.3MM, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo reports. The through-2028 deal includes $26MM guaranteed. This deal comes months after rumors swirled about an Andrews trade. Instead, the Ravens’ all-time receiving leader has secured a nice guarantee and will stick around.
Baltimore has secured Andrews at a lower rate compared to his 2021 extension. Considering the cap’s rise by nearly $100MM in that span, this represents good value for the team. Andrews had entered the season on his four-year, $56MM extension. This one checks in just south of that in AAV, at $13.1MM. That ranks sixth among tight ends.
The tight end market has not moved too much since Andrews’ first Ravens payday. George Kittle and Trey McBride moved the bar to $19MM this offseason, one that included Ja’Marr Chase dragging the receiver benchmark past $40MM per year. As Andrews’ position continues to make modest gains, the Ravens were able to construct a reasonable third contract to quiet doubts about his future and provide some much-needed clarity on the club’s post-2025 tight end situation.
A March rumor suggested the Ravens could trade Andrews this year, while Eric DeCosta‘s initial assessment of the situation did not assure the top pass catcher in franchise history would play an eighth season in Maryland. That noise quieted, but the Ravens had received trade interest on Andrews this offseason. With the team also interested in extending Isaiah Likely, it certainly looked reasonable Andrews could hit free agency and depart come March.
This extension does come at an interesting point. Andrews turned 30 in September and has seen his yards-per-catch average drop to 9.0. The dynamic tight end had not previously finished a season below 11.5, posting 12-plus-yard averages in all but one year from 2018-24. The Ravens did play without Lamar Jackson for a three-game stretch, and the superstar quarterback has not flashed MVP-caliber form in recent weeks. The Ravens are obviously confident Andrews still has prime form remaining, though it will be interesting to see the full guarantees in this deal.
The Ravens franchise has struggled to identify long-term receiving pieces. Only three players in franchise history have compiled more than 4,000 yards. Two of them are tight ends — Andrews and Todd Heap. Andrews eclipsed Derrick Mason‘s franchise yardage record this season; Mason was a Titans cap casualty who joined the Ravens ahead of his age-31 season. As the team has failed to groom a long-term receiving piece out of the draft — though, Zay Flowers may have something to say about that — it also missed on first-round tight end Hayden Hurst in 2018. Fortunately, Baltimore doubled up at TE in that draft by circling back via Andrews at No. 86.
Andrews has three Pro Bowls on his resume, including a 2021 season that produced 1,361 yards and a first-team All-Pro nod. Considering Travis Kelce and George Kittle‘s primes coming during this period, first-team All-Pro accolades were hard to come by. Andrews added 847 receiving yards in 2022, a second straight year bringing a late-season Jackson injury.
After suffering a major ankle injury in 2023, Andrews returned to play 17 games last season. Although Likely ate into some of Andrews’ receiving opportunities, the enduring presence totaled 673 receiving yards and a career-high 11 touchdowns to help Jackson to a second straight first-team All-Pro nod.
This season, Andrews has just 332 receiving yards. Though, he has scored five TDs. Pro Football Focus also ranks Andrews as a top-20 run blocker at the position. Likely missed the team’s first three games due to injury but has been active since. The fourth-year TE has 18 receptions for 223 yards and no scores. This extension could point the younger option to the market, but Likely re-up talks were believed to be on Baltimore’s docket. A franchise tag was even floated as a possibility.
With Andrews locked down, Likely may well have a chance to test the market. While the Ravens have until early March to negotiate exclusively with Likely, his FA price tag could make a return unreasonable.
Browns Open Deshaun Watson’s Practice Window
The Browns have started three different quarterbacks this season. A fourth could be on the way. Cleveland opened Deshaun Watson‘s practice window on Wednesday. The team will have 21 days to activate Watson from the reserve/PUP list.
Watson hasn’t appeared in a game since Oct. 20, 2024, when he tore his right Achilles in a loss to the Bengals. The 30-year-old tore the same Achilles while rehabbing last January. He had to undergo surgery shortly after that.
Coming off two major injuries, it’s unclear if Watson will be healthy enough to take the field this season. He’ll only take individual practice reps for now before “potentially” moving up to the scout team at some point, according to head coach Kevin Stefanski (via Tony Grossi of 850 ESPN Cleveland).
Asked if he wants Watson to play in 2025, Stefanski said (via Zac Jackson of The Athletic): “Really not my focus. Not his focus right this minute. His focus is putting a helmet on, shoulder pads, throwing a football.”
Watson’s Achilles injury was the latest unwelcome development in what has been a disastrous run in Cleveland. Then with the Texans, Watson sat out the entire 2021 season while angling for a new contract. He was also facing ongoing sexual misconduct allegations.
Despite his troubling off-field issues, the Browns sent four picks (three first-rounders and a third-rounder) to the Texans for Watson in March 2022. The trade has turned out to be one of the most lopsided swaps in NFL history, especially considering Cleveland immediately gave Watson a five-year deal worth a fully guaranteed $230MM.
The allegations against Watson led to an 11-game suspension to begin his first season with the Browns. The three-time Pro Bowler has not regained his past form since then. Watson has started just 19 games for the Browns, who have gone 9-10 with him at the helm. He has posted a lackluster 80.2 passer rating with 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions since leaving Houston.
Browns owner Jimmy Haslam admitted last spring that the Watson trade was a “big swing-and-miss” move for Cleveland, which didn’t land the franchise QB it thought it was getting. The Browns are still searching for an answer under center.
Joe Flacco opened this season as the Browns’ starter, but they traded the 40-year-old stopgap to the Bengals in early October. Flacco’s departure led to the promotion of third-round rookie Dillon Gabriel, who struggled in six outings before suffering a concussion in a Week 11 loss to the Ravens. While Gabriel is now healthy, his injury allowed fifth-round rookie Shedeur Sanders to grab the reins. The 3-9 Browns have gone 1-1 under Sanders, who will start again in a meeting with the Titans on Sunday.
Cleveland will have four more games left after it faces Tennessee. It’s up in the air whether Watson will play in any of them. It’s also unknown if Watson will be in the mix to compete for the Browns’ starting job next season. He’s owed $46MM in 2026, the last year of his contract, and will count a league-high $80.7MM against the salary cap. Releasing Watson in the offseason would leave the Browns with an absurd $131.6MM dead cap charge.
Bills Claim CB Darius Slay
Like Adam Thielen, Darius Slay did not clear waivers. The 34-year-old cornerback will be heading to Buffalo after the Bills made a successful claim, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
The Steelers cut Slay on Tuesday, ending a short stint. While the 13th-year veteran is attached to a one-year, $10MM deal, the Steelers are responsible for most of it. They included an $8.75MM signing bonus in a deal carrying a vet-minimum base salary. The Bills will only be responsible for barely $370K on this claim.
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At the very least, Slay will provide Buffalo with an ultra-experienced depth option. Slay’s 176 starts at corner rank just outside the top 20 at the position throughout NFL history. He started nine games with the Steelers but ended his tenure as a healthy scratch against the Bills. Pittsburgh replaced Slay with in-season signing Asante Samuel Jr. The Bills were not among the teams to host Samuel on a visit, but they will proceed with Slay as a late-season add.
Gunning for its sixth straight AFC East title, Buffalo has an uphill battle thanks to New England’s 11-2 record. The Bills sit 8-4 and need help even in the event of a win in Foxborough next week. The Bills made multiple moves at corner this offseason, drafting Maxwell Hairston in Round 1 and reuniting with Tre’Davious White. The latter has worked as the primary starter opposite Christian Benford, lining up in that role in 11 of the Bills’ 12 games.
Pro Football Focus has graded Hairston as the superior option, though his 188 defensive snaps do not qualify him as a regular. PFF ranks White 83rd at the position, as the former All-Pro’s second-stint form pales in comparison to where he was in his prime. The Bills have Benford and Taron Johnson as two of the better options at their respective positions, but the CB2 area has been a question mark since Hairston’s summer LCL injury kept him from debuting until late October.
In White (30) and Slay, the Bills now have two 30-something corners. The latter is one of the most decorated active players at the position. While Slay missed out on All-Decade acclaim for the 2010s, he is a six-time Pro Bowler and a one-time All-Pro. The 6-foot boundary corner started in two Super Bowls with the Eagles, making a big impact in 2022 and ’24.
The Eagles used Slay as their No. 1 corner in 2022 and kept him as a starter despite drafting Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean in the first and second rounds last year. Slay played 81% of Philadelphia’s defensive snaps last season. This waiver claim blocks the Eagles of what could have been an interesting reunion.
Slay’s $10MM price in free agency suggested there would be interested teams following his Pittsburgh exit, and while it will be interesting to learn if anyone else submitted a claim, his Steelers work left plenty to be desired. PFF graded Slay 71st among CBs this year, and Pro-Football-Reference’s coverage metrics charged him with allowing a 75% completion rate as the closest defender — a sharp uptick from his 2024 number (54.7%).
A scheme transition will naturally provide optimism, as no two defenses are alike, and the Steelers giving him an 81% snap share does show a degree of dependability in Year 13. But this is obviously not a prime version of Slay the Bills are getting. The Bills have used some 30-somethings at corner under McDermott, who reunited with Josh Norman before doing the same with White. Slay joins Norman, Stephon Gilmore and Johnathan Joseph as the only corners 34 or older to see time this decade.
If nothing else, Slay provides the Bills with some high-profile insurance as they look to make an eighth playoff berth in the Sean McDermott era. Slay (28 career interceptions) said shortly after Super Bowl LIX he would likely retire after this season. The accomplished cover man now factors into a Super Bowl contender’s equation, making for an interesting career conclusion. Buffalo waived cornerback Ja’Marcus Ingram to clear a roster spot. Ingram was a healthy scratch over the past three weeks.
Panthers Expected To Pick Up Bryce Young’s Fifth-Year Option, Wait On Extension
In the last 15 season, the Panthers have won more than seven games only three times. They are already at seven wins in 2025 with four games to go after their Week 14 bye, putting them on pace for their best finish since 2017.
Carolina’s success is primarily due to a defense that has improved from dead-last in 2024 to middle of the pack this year, but clutch play from third-year quarterback Bryce Young has been a major factor. He has led four fourth-quarter comebacks and five game-winning drives.
However, he is not exactly setting the world on fire statistically, averaging fewer than 200 passing yards per game and ranking 23rd in passer rating (87.9) and QBR (45.6). Young has also thrown nine interceptions already; last season, he threw nine picks in 14 games, and in 2023, he threw 10 in 16 games.
His performance this season has set up an interesting two years for the Panthers and their young quarterback. Young will be eligible for an extension this offseason, and a decision on his fifth-year option will be due on May 1.
The latter situation is simpler than the former. Young’s fifth-year option is projected by OverTheCap to be $26.5MM, though that could rise to $39.7MM if he makes the Pro Bowl this season. That feels unlikely, but a surprise playoff berth on the back of Young’s clutch performances could garner him some consideration. He does have to be selected on the original ballot to upgrade his fifth-year option, according to the NFL’s CBA; a 2022 Tyler Huntley situation (filling in for an injured original selection) would not qualify. A Pro Bowl bump would make Young’s fifth-year option a much tougher decision, but for now, the team is expected to pick it up, per ESPN’s Dan Graziano.
Picking up the fifth-year option ensures that Young is under contract at an affordable price for a starter. It would also allow the Panthers to wait on an extension. They are not expected to pursue one this offseason, as Young has not quite cemented himself as the future of the franchise. Another, more significant leap in 2026 may do so, at which point the Panthers would likely try to finalize an extension before the 2027 season.
As a result, the cost of an extension may be substantially lower this offseason as opposed to the next. That sets up a clear dichotomy for the Panthers. Do they want to bet on Young now in the hopes of continue development and a contract that looks like a steal a few years from now? Or do they want to wait and see if he is really their long-term starter.
It is worth noting that Panthers head coach Dave Canales came in the year after the team selected Young with the No. 1 overall pick. As a result, he had to give Young a chance for at least a year or two. The 24-year-old quarterback has responded with some development, but it is hard to argue that he is even a mid-tier starter.
If Young cannot reach or eclipse that level next season, Canales may want to handpick his next quarterback himself. He may already have designs to do so. As the saying goes, NFL stands for Not For Long. Coaches can have extremely short leashes, especially under owners whose teams are struggling and/or are too involved in day-to-day operations. Both could be said of Panthers owner David Tepper, so if Canales wants to be in Carolina for the long haul, he may want to choose the quarterback that will give him the best chance.
The rest of the 2023 class becomes eligible for an extension next offseason. C.J. Stroud is the only quarterback that looks like the future of his franchise, so the Texans are considered more likely to pay him than the Panthers are to pay Young, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Chargers ‘Optimistic’ For Justin Herbert’s Week 14 Availability
As reported earlier this week, Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert underwent surgery to address a broken bone in his left (non-throwing) hand. Per Nick Shook of NFL.com, while the 27-year-old passer is still considered day-to-day at the moment, the team — specifically head coach Jim Harbaugh — is “optimistic” that Herbert will be the one under center to start the game on Monday night. 
According to Omar Ruiz of NFL Network, Herbert described the surgery, telling reporters that a plate and a few screws were put into his hand during the procedure. The current plan is just to prepare as if he’s starting against the Eagles this week, though an eye will be kept on his hand to determine if the swelling from the surgery has subsided enough for him to play. In Week 13, he wore a glove on his left hand made to stabilize the injury, and a similar technique could be utilized again in order to stabilize his healing hand.
While Harbaugh is optimistic, and Herbert is preparing like he’s starting, Harbaugh is not depending solely on Herbert. According to ESPN’s Dan Graziano, backup quarterback Trey Lance is expected to get some run with the first-team offense this week, in case the team feels Herbert’s hand won’t allow him to “function in enough basic ways or protect himself if he falls.” Lance, a former No. 3 overall pick, started four games in his first two years in San Francisco but has only logged one start in the past three seasons combined. If Herbert’s hand hinders him in the ways quoted above, though, Lance would be tapped as the starter.
Lance took all of the first-team reps in today’s practice, with Herbert not practicing in the traditional sense and, instead, just being present on the field through the first sessions of practice. Even if Herbert’s hand is doing well enough for him to start, Lance’s work with the first team could still be handy for certain situations.
Herbert’s hand may prevent him from being literally under center since it could be difficult for him to receive snaps between the center’s legs with his hand injury. Herbert can try to stay in shotgun formations as much as possible, but in short yardage or goal line situations, the team may rely on Lance, whose hand would be less at risk of injury in a scrum.
The news on the matter is still not definitive, but at least we now know what to keep an eye on in the days to come. As long as Herbert and Co. can get the swelling down over the next five days, he should return as the starter. In the meantime, Lance will continue preparing for roles both big and small.
Seahawks Release DT Johnathan Hankins From NFI List
Today, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Seahawks released veteran defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins, who had spent the season on the team’s reserve/non-football injury list due to a back injury he had sustained in the offseason. Because the season has already progressed past the trade deadline, even vested veterans have to clear waivers before hitting free agency, so Hankins will be available to be claimed tomorrow. 
It isn’t likely that Hankins will be claimed by a new team, though. Two weeks ago, Seattle head coach Mike Macdonald informed the media that Hankins was not going to be activated from the NFI list during the 2025 season. There’s always a chance Hankins disagreed with that opinion and asked to be released so that he could have a chance to play this season with another club, but we’ll find that out if he clears waivers.
At 33 years old, Hankins may not slot in as a starter anywhere he goes the way he did in his prime. Routinely a strong interior defender over his first two contracts, Hankins’ level of play has leveled out as he continues to count the seasons. Still, after his time as a starter for the Raiders came to a close after four and a half years, punctuated by a trade to Dallas, Hankins was able to reestablish himself as a starter for the Cowboys in his first full year with the team.
With the Seahawks, his defense left a bit to be desired, but the team depended on him in the interior. No other lineman saw more snaps over center, and he was utilized frequently enough to log eight starts while playing in every game of the season for the first time since 2020. It earned him another one-year deal with the team, and even though he would’ve been a free agent at the end of the year anyway, Seattle has given him a headstart on free agency by putting him on waivers today.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/3/25
Here are Wednesday’s practice squad transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: WR Bryson Green, RB Jermar Jefferson
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: WR Will Sheppard
Houston Texans
- Signed: T Jaylon Thomas
Indianapolis Colts
- Released: C Jimmy Morrissey
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: WR Austin Trammell
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: T Matt Waletzko
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: LB Jamin Davis, WR Brenden Rice
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: WR Joaquin Davis
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: LB Kana’i Mauga
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: T Logan Brown, RB Myles Gaskin
Jefferson, Sheppard, and Trammell all found themselves signing to the practice squads of the teams that waived them two days ago. Having cleared waivers, the free agents returned to their lockers as members of the taxi squad.
Indianapolis cut Morrissey today in order to make room for kicker Blake Grupe, whom they signed yesterday. Grupe should be in line to take over kicking duties following the waiving of Michael Badgley yesterday, while Spencer Shrader remains on injured reserve.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/3/25
Here are today’s midweek minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Designated for return from IR: DL L.J. Collier
- Signed to active roster: TE Pharaoh Brown
Atlanta Falcons
- Reverted to season-ending IR: LB Malik Verdon
Cincinnati Bengals
- Designated for return from IR: LB Shaka Heyward
Green Bay Packers
- Signed off Giants’ practice squad: DT Jordon Riley
Houston Texans
- Signed to active roster: DE Solomon Byrd
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed to active roster: DE Matt Dickerson
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed to active roster: T Esa Pole
Los Angeles Chargers
- Designated for return from IR: RB Hassan Haskins
Minnesota Vikings
- Designated for return from IR: RB Ty Chandler
New Orleans Saints
- Signed to active roster: WR Dante Pettis, G William Sherman
New York Jets
- Designated for return from IR: LB Cam Jones
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Designated for return from IR: CB Donte Kent
Collier signed with Arizona after injuries and a failure to live up to his first-round draft stock led to his departure from Seattle. He earned a starting role with his new team, but after his first game for the Cardinals, he was placed on season-ending injured reserve with a bicep injury. He worked his way back to health and started 15 of 17 game appearances last year, but his struggles on the line led to a team reunion with Calais Campbell and the drafting of Walter Nolen in the first round. Collier was working as a depth piece before getting placed on IR back in September, and if he can get back to the active roster, he’ll add to the line’s depth, once again.
As a rookie, Verdon was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list to start the season. The undrafted linebacker had been designated to return from the reserve/NFI list, but now that his 21-day practice window has come and gone without an activation, he moves to IR.
Pharaoh in Arizona, Dickerson in Duval, and Pettis in New Orleans all had used up their three standard gameday practice squad elevations. If their respective teams wanted to see them play in any more games this season, a move to the 53-man roster was necessary.