HEADLINES

Texans S Jimmie Ward Placed On Commissioner’s Exempt List

August 26th, 2025 at 3:09pm CST by Adam La Rose

Jimmie Ward is already in position to miss the first four games of the season, but health is not the only factor which could impact his return to to action. The Texans safety was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list Tuesday, per a league announcement.

Ward is therefore prohibited from practicing or playing for Houston until he is removed from the list. Since he will begin the season on the reserve/PUP list, those conditions are already in place for September. Still, this development is a sign Ward’s legal situation is unsettled in the NFL’s view.

The 34-year-old was arrested in June on an assault family violence charge. Following that third-degree felony case’s opening, Ward was prohibited from consuming alcohol as a condition of his bail. He was arrested earlier this month for violating it, and a grand jury will decide whether to indict Ward on the underlying felony charge on September 2, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2. Ward is also the subject of a civil suit stemming from the matter.

NFL investigations often do not begin in earnest until after the legal process winds down. As a result, it comes as little surprise Ward has been moved to the league’s equivalent of paid leave with an indefinite period on tap before his case is concluded. League discipline does not require a criminal conviction, so a fine and/or suspension could be looming regardless of how the coming weeks unfold with respect to the case.

Houston will rely on trade acquisition C.J. Gardner-Johnson as a key figure at the safety spot in 2025. Calen Bullock is also on track for a starting spot, while rookie Jaylen Reed is set to handle a backup role. The Texans’ full list of Tuesday cuts has not yet emerged, but their roster decisions will need to take into account Ward’s absence for the next month and potentially beyond that point.

Saints Release Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Isaiah Foskey, Move Down To 53

August 26th, 2025 at 3:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Saints have moved down to 53 players ahead of the 3pm CT deadline. Moving multiple players to the IR-return list, New Orleans also cut 19 players in addition to today’s Jake Haener move. Here is how the Saints trimmed their roster to 53:

Released:

Waived:

Waived/injured:

Placed on IR (designated for return):

Placed on IR:

Moved to reserve/PUP list:

Ridgeway and Wesley will count toward the Saints’ in-season injury-activation total, leaving six regular-season activations for the team to use. Kellen Moore confirmed those two received return designations while Young will head to season-ending IR due to ankle surgery, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets. Ridgeway, acquired via trade last year, will miss time due to a pectoral injury. It is not viewed as serious, Garafolo adds, noting the D-lineman should be back early in the season. Ridgeway and Wesley, a 2023 UDFA who has not seen any game action yet, must miss at least four games.

The same holds true for Hill and Moreau, who will be shifted from the active/PUP list to the reserve/PUP list. Hill suffered an ACL tear in Week 13 last season, while Moreau went down with a knee malady in Week 18.

Foskey could not hold onto a regular role under Moore, who will drop the 2023 second-round pick after his third NFL training camp. The Saints have used Foskey in 27 games, giving him no starts. In that time, the edge rusher has not recorded a sack. If Foskey goes unclaimed, the Saints will be hit with $3.16MM in dead money — spread over two years.

Edwards-Helaire follows Cam Akers off New Orleans’ roster. Both are vested veterans and do not need to clear waivers before joining another team’s active roster or practice squad. Teams cannot begin setting P-squads until waivers process at 11am CT Wednesday, but clubs are informing players they want to retain on their taxi squads already. Beanum is among the players the Saints want to retain on their P-squad, KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson tweets.

Panthers Release WR Hunter Renfrow, Finalize Roster Cuts

August 26th, 2025 at 3:02pm CST by Adam La Rose

With time to spare in advance of today’s deadline, the Panthers have finalized their roster moves to get to 53. Here are Carolina’s Tuesday transactions:

Released:

Waived:

Waived-injured:

Waived via injury settlement:

Placed on IR-designated for return:

Renfrow’s efforts to return to the NFL have been dealt a blow with today’s move. The Clemson product and South Carolina native took a one-year pact in his bid to continue his career after missing all of last season. Renfrow’s pact contained $50K guaranteed, however, and with the Panthers’ other wideouts impressing in camp this release loomed as a possibility. A practice squad deal could be in store in the coming days in this case, but absent an agreement on that front the 29-year-old will seek out a new opportunity.

Carolina was among the teams which announced a list of cuts yesterday in advance of today’s deadline. Among the players waived was quarterback Bryce Perkins. He will be a candidate to sign on the practice squad starting tomorrow (provided no waiver claims are made), but The Athletic’s Joe Person reports Perkins is not in the team’s plans at this point. Roberts, on the other hand, is seen as a taxi squad candidate in the event he clears (h/t Aaron Wilson of KPRC2).

Ray’s IR handling means he will miss at least the first four games of the season. Whereas players moved to IR before today are out for the season, though, Ray is among those eligible to return later in the year. Activating him will count toward Carolina’s allocation of eight for the season whenever he is back in the fold.

Deshaun Watson, Dustin Hopkins Not On Browns’ Initial 53-Man Roster

August 26th, 2025 at 2:34pm CST by Sam Robinson

The roster-cutdown deadline is less than an hour away, but some teams have turned in their test answers early. Here are the Browns’ moves to pare their roster to 53 players:

Released:

Waived:

Waived/injured:

Activated from active/PUP list:

Placed on IR-designated for return:

Placed on reserve/PUP list:

Placed on reserve/NFI list:

This is effectively a procedural move involving Watson, who has long been expected to be sidelined throughout the 2025 season due to two Achilles surgeries. The long-embattled quarterback had resumed throwing early this offseason, but he will not be activated. Long hovering off the Browns’ QB radar — as they conducted a rare four-man competition, one that has since lost Kenny Pickett (via trade) — Watson is not expected to play for the Browns again. Though, the team (via another restructure) still has the high-priced passer tied to a $35.97MM cap number.

 

Watson and Bell must miss at least four games apiece, while Hall will avoid such a delay. The 2024 second-round pick suffered a season-ending knee injury in December, and while he did not participate in training camp, this activation signals the Browns expect the Ohio State product to be ready at some point in the first four weeks.

 

A UDFA who started three games as a rookie last season, Reid will count toward Cleveland’s eight in-season injury activations. The Browns stashing the off-ball linebacker on the IR-return list will cut that total down to seven, whether Reid is activated this season or not. Placing Reid on IR now certainly points to activation plans, however.

 

Many of these players will likely be brought back on practice squad deals, as 16 of those spots are open to non-international players annually. Davis, a rookie UDFA, will be added to the Browns’ P-squad if he clears waivers, cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot notes.

 

Hopkins, 34, has been the Browns’ kicker for the past two seasons. The team extended him on a three-year, $15.9MM deal in 2024, but the Browns are going with former UDFA Andre Szmyt at kicker. Szmyt kicked a 37-yard game-winning field goal to beat the Rams during the Browns’ preseason slate, making all three of his field goal tries.

 

Cutting Hopkins — who was just 18-for-27 last season — will bring a $4.91MM dead money charge (spread over two years) for the Browns. A former Syracuse kicker, Szmyt signed with the Browns in June; he has not attempted a regular-season kick yet. Hopkins’ slump led to the Browns making him a healthy scratch in Week 15, and while he returned to duty a week later, Cleveland has found a replacement.

Seahawks To Release WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling

August 26th, 2025 at 1:49pm CST by Adam La Rose

Marquez Valdes-Scantling is among the Seahawks’ cuts ahead of this afternoon’s deadline. The veteran wideout is being released, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports.

This move comes as little surprise considering the way Valdes-Scantling’s summer has gone. As ESPN’s Brady Henderson notes, the 30-year-old was outdone during training camp by fifth-round rookie Tory Horton. As a result, Horton is on track to operate as Seattle’s No. 3 receiver behind returnee Jaxon Smith-Njigba and free agent addition Cooper Kupp. Without a track record of special teams play, Valdes-Scantling is not a strong candidate for a backup gig.

Upon signing in Seattle, the former fifth-rounder took a one-year pact. The deal contained $3MM in guarantees, making this one of the more expensive cut decisions of the day so far. While the Seahawks will absorb that amount as a dead money hit, they will offset it to an extent with $955K in cap savings. The team will now move forward with its other WR options.

Changes at the receiver position were expected in 2025, and that proved to be the case. D.K. Metcalf‘s talks on an extension led to the decision a parting of ways would be be best, leading to his trade to the Steelers. Longtime starter Tyler Lockett was also released as expected. While a Kupp homecoming will give Seattle a veteran presence to augment Smith-Njigba, the Ohio State product will be counted on to carry the load this season. Horton’s role as a starter will be interesting to see as well.

Valdes-Scantling has played for four teams across his seven-year career. He has averaged 17.4 yards per catch in the NFL, and a market could exist for his services over the coming days amongst teams eyeing a vertical threat.

Falcons To Release CB C.J. Henderson

August 26th, 2025 at 1:38pm CST by Adam La Rose

After the joining the Falcons earlier this month, C.J. Henderson will not make the team’s initial 53-man roster. The former first-round cornerback is being released, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports.

As Schultz notes, however, Atlanta is planning on retaining Henderson via the practice squad. For that to be possible, he will have to avoid signing with any interested teams upon reaching free agency once the Falcons’ cuts are official. Of course, agreements of that nature are commonplace around the NFL with respect to roster maneuvering.

Henderson had multiple suitors in 2025, including a new opportunity with the Steelers. The former Jaguar and Panther instead elected to return to the NFC South by joining the Falcons shortly after a workout with the team. The 26-year-old’s Atlanta pact did not contain any guaranteed money, however; as such, today’s move will not incur any dead money charges while creating $1.03MM in cap savings.

The No. 9 pick in 2020, Henderson was dealt from the Jags after playing only 10 games for them. His Carolina tenure saw him remain healthy for the most part, but struggles in coverage were a consistent issue. Finishing last season on injured reserve, he did not see any game time with Pittsburgh. That resulted in a tempered market despite his age and draft pedigree.

Provided Henderson winds up on Atlanta’s practice squad, he will offer depth behind starters AJ Terrell and Mike Hughes, returnees Dee Alford and Clark Phillips and fourth-round rookie Billy Bowman. Elevations to the active roster will mark his first opportunity to see regular season game time.

Dolphins Work Out Greg Zuerlein, Riley Patterson, Zane Gonzalez

August 26th, 2025 at 12:56pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Dolphins are hosting some experienced kickers as they aim to find the best fill-in option for the injured Jason Sanders. In addition to meeting with Eddy Pineiro, Miami auditioned Greg Zuerlein, Riley Patterson and Zane Gonzalez, per the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson.

Patterson may be the lead candidate here, with Jackson adding the Dolphins have expressed interest in adding the nomadic specialist as the fill-in option after being impressed with his workout. Patterson has been a free agent since March, having been with five teams in 2024.

The Jaguars, Commanders, Jets, Falcons and Browns rostered Patterson between July and December last year. This cross-country journey also included workouts elsewhere in between stints with teams. Despite his five-team tour, Patterson only kicked in five games last season. He was 16 of 16 on extra points and 4 of 7 on field goals. In his most recent extended work (with the 2023 Lions), Patterson — a 2023 trade acquisition from Jacksonville — was 15-for-17 on FG tries. At 25, Patterson is by far the youngest of the four options the Dolphins surveyed today.

A 13-year veteran, Zuerlein spent the past three seasons with the Jets. The former All-Pro struggled in his second Jets season, missing crucial kicks during the team’s 5-12 campaign. Zuerlein kicked in just eight games, making only 9 of 16 field goal tries. However, he was 35-for-38 in 2023 as a Jet, leading to a two-year, $8.4MM re-signing in 2024. The Jets cut bait on that contract in March, releasing the former Rams and Cowboys kicker after he finished last season on IR (with Patterson as one of the fill-in options).

Gonzalez kicked in six Commanders games last season, representing his first action since 2021. He was 5-for-7 on field goals and 19-for-19 on PATs. Gonzalez finished last season as Washington’s kicker and re-signed with the team in March, but the Commanders cut him shortly after the draft. Colts cut Matt Gay replaced Gonzalez in Washington.

Cowboys To Trade T Asim Richards To Saints

August 26th, 2025 at 12:32pm CST by Adam La Rose

Tuesday’s third NFL trade will also be the third to involve an offensive tackle changing teams. Asim Richards is on the move.

Richards is being traded from the Cowboys to the Saints, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The move will end his run in Dallas, which began in 2023 when he joined the team as a fifth-round pick. Over his two years in the league, Richards totaled 21 appearances and made one start. Per Schefter, the Cowboys will receive a 2028 sixth-round pick in exchange for Richards and a seventh-rounder that same year.

Healthy depth along the offensive line has recently emerged as an issue for the Saints. As a result, it comes as little surprise they are among the teams using the period before this afternoon’s cutdown deadline to make a move up front. New Orleans is in need of backups behind Kelvin Banks Jr. and Taliese Fuaga, so a swing tackle role could be in store for Richards.

The 24-year-old saw time as a guard during the preseason, so playing time along the interior could be possible as well. In any case, Richards will now turn his attention to carving out a second-team gig with the Saints instead of quite possibly being waived by the Cowboys later today. Dallas will generate $1.03MM in cap savings with this move, while New Orleans will take on the final two years of his rookie contract.

Dallas will move forward with Tyler Guyton and Terence Steele as starters at the tackle spots. The team’s depth chart beyond those two will become clearer over the coming days as the Cowboys’ practice squad takes shape. Today’s move ensures, though, that Richards will not be in the team’s plans for 2025.

K Eddy Pineiro Visits Dolphins

August 26th, 2025 at 11:57am CST by Adam La Rose

The Dolphins find themselves in need of a kicker for the start of the campaign. In addition to today’s roster cuts, the team is in the process of seeking out a temporary Jason Sanders fill-in.

As Sanders recovers from a hip injury, another veteran has received a look. Miami hosted Eddy Pineiro today for a workout, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports. He is among the top options still on the market at the kicker position.

Sanders has not missed a game in his seven-year Dolphins career. With a reported recovery timeline of four to five weeks, though, an absence spanning at least a few regular season contests will be in store. Miami is thus in need of an expereinced contributor capable of handling kicking duties in September. Pineiro would certainly fit the bill as a veteran of 70 games.

The former Bear and Jet worked as the Panthers’ kicker from 2022-24. Over that span, he connected on 80 of 90 field goal attempts – including eight of 11 kicks from beyond 50 yards. Pineiro missed seven extra point attempts with Carolina, something which informed the team’s decision to move on this offseason. Still, he would be expected to serve as an effective kicking option provided a deal gets struck.

Of course, a strong showing with the Dolphins would be key in helping Pineiro land another gig for 2025 once Sanders – who is under contract for another two years – is healthy. Miami will likely wait until cuts are finished and the process of forming its practice squad takes place beginning tomorrow before a signing takes place. If no agreement is reached following this workout, the Dolphins will need to look elsewhere on the free agent market.

Commanders To Release DE Clelin Ferrell

August 26th, 2025 at 11:31am CST by Sam Robinson

Re-signed in March, Clelin Ferrell will not be part of the Commanders’ initial 53-man roster. Washington is releasing the former top-five pick, veteran reporter Ben Standig tweets.

Ferrell played a key role for the team last season, starting 10 games. The 28-year-old DE will head back to free agency, getting a head-start on the non-vested veterans who must wait until 11am CT Wednesday to clear waivers.

Given a $2MM deal to stay in Washington, Ferrell received just $100K guaranteed. That represented a sign his roster spot was not secure. That said, the Commanders could circle back to the former Raiders and 49ers edge rusher after next month’s guarantee vesting date for qualified vets. Had Ferrell been on Washington’s 53-man roster in Week 1, his $2MM would have become guaranteed. It is also quite possible Ferrell is done in Washington.

Although the Commanders lost top 2024 sacker Dante Fowler (to the Cowboys) in free agency and exited their offseason program with an apparent need at D-end, they still roster Dorance Armstrong. The team added multiple DE pieces as well, with Von Miller‘s summer arrival headlining that group. The team also added Deatrich Wise and Jacob Martin in free agency.

As ESPN.com’s John Keim notes, the Commanders used Ferrell extensively during the preseason — including fourth-quarter work against the Bengals. That evaluation preceded a release, and it comes after Ferrell — who did not live up to his No. 4 overall draft slot with the Raiders — started 17 games with the 49ers in 2023. Ferrell started over Commanders trade pickup Chase Young that year, though an injury prevented him from playing in Super Bowl LVIII. Ferrell registered 3.5 sacks in both the 2023 and ’24 seasons. Last season, he posted nine QB hits and four tackles for loss as a supplementary rusher alongside Armstrong and Fowler.

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