NFL Mailbag: Giants, Young, Browns
This week's edition of the PFR mailbag looks into the Giants and Browns as they contemplate major organizational changes this offseason, along with questions on Bryce Young's standing in Carolina, the NFC North race and more.
Aaron asks:
What will it take for the Giants to finally get this turned around? Does it make sense for Joe Schoen to get another year after Brian Daboll's firing?
Health on offense would surely make a difference. The make-or-break campaign for Daboll (and perhaps Schoen) saw Malik Nabers suffer an ACL tear and Cam Skattebo sustain a season-ending ankle injury. Add in quarterback Jaxson Dart’s concussion, and the Giants are currently without three foundational young players on that side of the ball.
Each member of that trio reaching their potential when healthy would be critical; the Dart-Nabers connection could prove to be highly effective if things go according to plan. With that said, it’s hard to imagine Schoen being able to hang his continued employment entirely on the possibility of Dart becoming a franchise passer. Daboll was unable to maximize the talent available to him, but the roster Schoen constructed still has a number of question marks (although ownership’s stance on that front certainly suggests Schoen will be safe for 2026).
George Pickens Open To Cowboys Extension; Franchise Tag In Play
Unsigned beyond this year, Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens could become one of the most coveted free agents available when the market opens in March. Pickens said on Oct. 30 that he and the Cowboys had yet to discuss a new contract (via Jon Machota of The Athletic).
On the possibility of an extension, Pickens said: “That’s kinda up to what (Jerry Jones) wants to do. All I can do is perform at my best.”
If Jones and Pickens’ camp don’t reach an agreement before free agency begins, the team’s longtime owner could place the franchise tag on the Cowboys’ No. 2 wideout. Doing so would cost Dallas approximately $29MM, but it has “a strong likelihood” of happening, according to Dan Graziano of ESPN. That’s assuming the relationship between the two sides doesn’t hit a snag in the coming months, Graziano notes.
A second-round pick from Georgia in 2022, Pickens was productive over the first three seasons of his career in Pittsburgh. The Steelers bailed on Pickens last offseason, though, trading him and a 2027 sixth-round pick to the Cowboys for a 2026 third-rounder and a 2027 fifth-rounder.
Pickens averaged around 16 games, 59 catches, 947 yards, and four touchdowns per year as a Steeler, but they moved on after some rocky moments. Toward the end of his tenure with the Steelers, he was late for their Christmas Day game against the Chiefs. That came a few weeks after Pickens took a pair of unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in a win over the Bengals, leading head coach Mike Tomlin to declare that the offensive weapon needed to “grow up in a hurry.”
After the trade occurred in May, Steelers general manager Omar Khan told the media that “a fresh start for both sides was the right thing.” Six months later, the Cowboys surely don’t regret taking the gamble.
While the Cowboys are a lackluster 3-5-1, Pickens has done his part to keep the team afloat during a career year. The 6-foot-3, 200-pounder has racked up 49 catches, 764 yards, and six scores in nine games. He’s third in the NFL with 12 receptions of 20-plus yards and tied for fourth in TD grabs.
Pickens stepped up as the Cowboys’ WR1 when CeeDee Lamb missed three full games and most of another one with a high ankle sprain earlier in the season. Lamb returned in Week 7, but Pickens has continued to post strong numbers since then. They’ve given quarterback Dak Prescott an elite one-two punch.
Despite Pickens’ success this year, some league executives are concerned about his inconsistency, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. Still, his production and age (he won’t turn 25 until March) are a tantalizing combination. A high-priced multiyear deal should be in order if Pickens reaches free agency. Jones hasn’t been shy about using the franchise tag for integral offensive pieces, though, having done so for Prescott, running back Tony Pollard, and tight end Dalton Schultz in recent years.
Barring an extension, Pickens has a realistic chance to become the first Cowboys receiver to get the tag since they placed it on Dez Bryant in 2015. The Cowboys and Bryant hammered out a lucrative extension several months later. Pickens could meet a similar fate, though other options – including playing out the 2026 season on the tag or ending up in another trade – may be on the table.
49ers To Start Brock Purdy In Week 11
10:56pm: Shanahan announced that Purdy will start this week.
11:54am: Further signs point toward Week 11 being the point at which Brock Purdy will return to action. The 49ers’ upcoming practice days will be key, but the team’s starting quarterback could be back in the fold on Sunday. 
Purdy did not dress for Week 10, but head coach Kyle Shanahan said he could have suited up as the team’s backup for that game. As such, many have expected San Francisco’s game against Arizona will be the point at which Purdy reclaims his starting quarterback role. In his latest comments on the matter, Shanahan said (via Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News) the 49ers anticipate having their QB depth chart back to full strength if things go according to plan over the next few days.
Mac Jones has performed admirably in Purdy’s absence, leading some to wonder about the 49ers preferring to continue with him under center the rest of the way. Especially given the fact the team does not foresee Purdy’s turf toe healing in full by the end of the campaign, an especially cautious approach would be feasible. Nevertheless, a strong showing in practice will set Purdy up for a return. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network adds (video link) the Iowa State product’s participation this week has been “much more intense” than in previous weeks.
“We’re seeing how the week goes,” general manager John Lynch said of the situation during his latest KNBR radio appearance (via Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area). “If he shows his health and his ability to perform at a level we know Brock can play at, then he’ll be out there.”
The 49ers sit at 6-4 on the year and their playoff fate will be heavily influenced by the ability of several key players to return to health in the near future. In Purdy’s case, avoiding another reaggravation of his injury will be imperative given the massive financial commitment made by the team this past spring. The 25-year-old inked a five-year, $265MM extension ensuring his status as San Francisco’s franchise passer for the foreseeable future.
Jones has delivered consistent performances during his time atop the depth chart. In spite of that, the 49ers have remained adamant Purdy will operate as the starter once he returns to the lineup. Barring something unforeseen, that will very likely take place this weekend.
Bears Expect CBs Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon Back This Year
The Bears have gotten off to a 6-3 start despite the long-term absences of standout cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon. Johnson played in one game before undergoing core muscle surgery in late September. Gordon appeared in two contests before groin and calf injuries sidelined him. Both defenders are on IR, but head coach Ben Johnson is confident they’ll return this season.
“We should be able to get them back at some point at the end of the season here,” he said (via Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times). “To be determined on when the clocks start ticking here.”
A groin injury shelved Jaylon Johnson for a large portion of training camp and kept him out of the Bears’ season-opening loss to the Vikings. Johnson made his season debut in a Week 2 loss to the Lions, but he had to leave early with a new groin injury that required surgery.
A 2025 return was initially in doubt, though it now appears Johnson will have a chance to factor in as the Bears attempt to snap a four-year playoff drought. The two-time Pro Bowler is “hopeful” he’ll return to practice soon.
Gordon missed the first four weeks of the season with a hamstring injury. The slot specialist debuted in Week 6 and wound up going on IR after Week 7. He’ll miss his fourth straight game this Sunday against the Vikings. Gordon will be eligible to come back in Week 12, but the Bears haven’t opened his 21-day practice window yet. There’s no word on when that could happen.
Shortly after placing Gordon on IR, Chicago signed safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson on Oct. 29. Gardner-Johnson has held his own in two games since then while filling in for Gordon at nickel corner. The 27-year-old has already totaled 15 tackles, three sacks, and a forced fumble. He played 72 of 73 defensive snaps during a nine-tackle, two-sack showing in a win over the Giants last Sunday.
While Gardner-Johnson has been a welcome addition for the Bears, their defense still ranks just 26th against the pass and 28th in points per game allowed. Looking to further upgrade the Bears’ secondary before the Nov. 4 trade deadline, general manager Ryan Poles pursued Saints cornerback Alontae Taylor.
Acquiring Taylor would have reunited him with Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, previously the Saints’ head coach, but a deal didn’t materialize. The Bears are now left to hope that Jaylon Johnson and/or Gordon will return down the stretch to bolster their defensive backfield and boost their playoff chances.
Texans Rule Out C.J. Stroud For Week 11; Davis Mills To Start
After suffering a concussion in Week 9, Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud will miss his second straight game this Sunday. The Texans ruled him out on Thursday (via Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2). Head coach DeMeco Ryans announced that backup signal-caller Davis Mills will start against the Titans in Week 11.
Stroud sustained his injury on a hit from Broncos cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine in an 18-15 loss on Nov. 2. A week and a half later, he’s still in concussion protocol and continuing to experience symptoms. Stroud hasn’t returned to practice as a result.
It’s unclear how much more time Stroud will miss, though it’s worth noting that the Texans will be on a short week after facing the Titans. They’ll host the Bills next Thursday. The quick turnaround will give Stroud less time to return to full strength ahead of an important matchup between AFC playoff contenders.
Winners of back-to-back AFC South titles in Stroud’s first two seasons, the 4-5 Texans are sitting on the outside of the playoff picture in his third year. They’re lagging well behind the surprising Colts, who are atop the division at 8-2. However, the Mills-led Texans pulled out a critical win against the division rival Jaguars last week to keep hope alive.
After going 17 of 30 for a paltry 137 yards off the bench in the Denver game, Mills completed 27 of 45 passes for 292 yards, three touchdowns (one rushing), and an interception in a 36-29 victory in Week 10. Mills led a dramatic 19-point comeback in the fourth quarter and scored the game-winning TD on a 14-yard run with 31 seconds left.
Mills is now in line to make his 28th start since the Texans selected him in the third round (67th overall) of the 2021 draft. The Stanford product took over as the Texans’ starter for most of his rookie year, the season Deshaun Watson sat out as a healthy scratch. Mills retained the job in 2022 after Houston traded Watson to Cleveland, but the Texans’ 3-13-1 finish enabled them to pick Stroud second overall in the ensuing draft.
With a healthy Stroud at the helm of their offense, Mills didn’t make a single start from 2023-24. Still, the Texans believed enough in Mills to hand him an extension with a fully guaranteed $7MM in September. Two months later, they’re relying on Mills’ help to stay in the race.
The Texans are likely confident in their chances on Sunday against the 1-8 Titans, especially after throttling them 26-0 in Week 4. Far tougher tests are looming, however, with Buffalo, Indianapolis, and Kansas City next on the schedule. Ideally for the Texans, they’ll climb to .500 for the first time this week and then get Stroud back for what could be a season-defining three-game stretch.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/13/25
Here’s are Thursday’s practice squad changes from around the NFL:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: CB C.J. Henderson
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: CB Tre Avery
Houston Texans
- Placed on practice squad/injured list: TE Layne Pryor
New York Giants
- Signed: LB Trace Ford
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: LB Titus Leo
- Released: CB Ambry Thomas
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/13/25
Here are the latest minor moves from around the NFL…
Arizona Cardinals
- Practice window opened: OL Hayden Conner
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed from practice squad: OLB Khalid Kareem
- Placed on IR: LB DeAngelo Malone
Denver Broncos
- Signed off Giants’ practice squad: WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey (story)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed from practice squad: LB Branson Combs
New England Patriots
- Elevated: RB D’Ernest Johnson, LB Darius Harris
New York Giants
- Signed off Steelers’ practice squad: WR Isaiah Hodgins (story)
Conner, a sixth-round pick from Texas, has yet to debut as a rookie after suffering a knee injury in the preseason. The Cardinals placed Conner on IR with a return designation when they trimmed their roster to 53 players on Aug. 26. Now that Conner’s back at practice, the Cardinals will have 21 days to activate him.
Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson will miss Thursday’s game against the Jets with a toe injury, leading the Pats to elevate Johnson. He’ll work behind TreVeyon Henderson and Terrell Jennings, though the latter is playing through a knee issue. It’s the third and final standard elevation of the year for Johnson, meaning the Patriots will have to sign him to their active roster if they want to promote him again. The 29-year-old has totaled just 15 snaps (nine on special teams, six on offense) this season.
Connor Byrne contributed to this post.
Dolphins Received ‘Significant Interest’ In RB De’Von Achane
The Dolphins were expected to be sellers at the trade deadline, but they did not engage in an all-out fire sale like the Jets.
Instead, they dealt Jaelan Phillips to the Eagles for a third round pick and held onto Jaylen Waddle and Bradley Chubb. Miami also received “significant interest” in fourth-year RB De’Von Achane, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
“It seems the speedy 24-year-old generated as many phone calls as anyone, with Miami [setting] a second-round pick and more as the price,” Rapoport added.
That would be a costly move for a running back, but Achane has emerged as one of the league’s most versatile offensive weapons since he was drafted in 2023. The former second-round pick averaged 7.8 yards per carry as a rookie and expanded his receiving game significantly in 2024. He was a solid pass-catcher in college, but has emerged as a key cog in the Dolphins’ passing game over the last two years. Achane has put it all together in 2025, averaging 78.0 rushing yards and 32.5 receiving yards per game.
Ultimately, teams were not willing to pony up for Achane. One could argue that his production is partially due to his unique role in Mike McDaniel‘s scheme and may not completely transfer to a new offense. However, his 5.5 yards per carry behind a suspect Dolphins offensive line and receiving skillset would have value on any team.
Achane’s prominence in Miami’s offense is also a reason that the Dolphins would not want to move him. McDaniel seems poised to keep his job for the time being, but if he is retained for 2026, he will need to show improvement to stick around any longer. Achane is still under contract for another year and will be a crucial part of the team’s bounce-back effort next season. McDaniel blocked a trade that would have sent Calais Campbell to the Ravens last year and may have been similarly reluctant to part ways with Achane.
The Dolphins’ firing of general manager Chris Grier may have also been a factor in the team opting not to move Achane. The Dolphins seem headed towards a major overhaul, if not this offseason, then in the next two years. They still have the option to trade Achane this offseason – at which point he could have even more value if he continues his recent production – but a new general manager may see him as a long-term cornerstone and wish to extend him instead.
Cowboys Designate Malik Hooker For Return
The Cowboys designated safety Malik Hooker to return from injured reserve on Thursday, per a team announcement.
Hooker, 29, started the first four games of the season (alongside Donovan Wilson, his running mate for the last four years) before a toe injury landed him on IR. That started a shuffle of safeties in Dallas, which, along with their cornerback injuries, has contributed to their bottom-five pass defense.
Juanyeh Thomas replaced Hooker in Weeks 5 and 6 before he was sidelined by recurrent migraines. Markquese Bell started next to Wilson in Week 7, but Wilson suffered an elbow injury in that game. That pressed undrafted rookie Alijah Clark into action for his first career start the following week. Thomas’ condition briefly improved, allowing him to start with Bell in Week 9, but he was placed on the non-football illness list shortly after.
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer said last week that he is hoping that both Hooker and Wilson can play in Week 11. The Cowboys are set to play the Cardinals on Monday Night Football, so their starting safeties will have an extra day to practice.
Hooker, a former first-round pick, dealt with a handful of injuries in Indianapolis during his first four NFL seasons. He only missed four games across his first four years in Dallas before his toe issue this season.
The veteran’s return should help a cowboys pass defense that has struggled this year. Dallas has allowed the fourth-most yards per attempt and per game this year. They seem to have made some progress in the last few weeks, though they have faced an easier slate of opponents.
Hooker will have 21 days to practice with the team before he must be activated to the 53-man roster. Otherwise, he will revert to season-ending injured reserve.
Titans’ L’Jarius Sneed Indicted By Grand Jury
Another development in the case involving L’Jarius Sneed has taken place. The Titans cornerback was indicted by a Texas grand jury earlier this week, as detailed by veteran reporter Paul Kuharsky. 
Sneed was indicted for failure to report a felony. The charge is a Class A misdemeanor which carries a maximum penalty of one or both of a $4,000 fine and up to one year in jail. No trial date has been set at this time.
“We are aware of the legal matter with L’Jarius Sneed and have remained in contact with NFL security per league protocol,” a team statement reads. “We will have no further comment during an ongoing investigation.”
This is the latest development in the case concerning Sneed and his former personal assistant, Tekonzae Williams. The two are also the subject of a civil suit stemming from an alleged incident which took place on December 6, 2024. Williams has been indicted for aggravated assault; he is alleged to have fired gunshots at the vehicle of plaintiffs Christian Nshimiyimana and Avi Ahmed. Sneed’s indictment covers the accusation he witnessed the gunshots and failed to report it.
Kuharsky adds that as of this past summer, Sneed and Williams were no longer associated with one another. It nevertheless remains to be seen how this case will play out; likewise, the possibility of league discipline looms. Convictions in trial proceedings are not necessary for fines or suspensions to be handed down by the NFL.
After a strong four-year run with the Chiefs, Sneed was franchise tagged in 2024. That move prevented a free agent departure and was followed by a trade sending him to the Titans. The 28-year-old inked a four-year, $76.4MM extension upon arrival in Tennessee but things have not gone according to plan in his case. Sneed played just five games in 2024 and it was unclear heading into this season how much he would be able to contribute.
The former fourth-rounder has made seven appearances in 2025 but he currently resides on injured reserve. A return to action at some point late in the year will be something to watch for given Sneed’s uncertain outlook with the Titans. Regardless of what happens in that regard, his legal situation will be worth monitoring as well.