Chiefs OT Josh Simmons Returns To Team Facility, Expected Back In Lineup In Week 11
The Chiefs are set to get some major reinforcement on their offensive line. According to Jordan Schultz, rookie left tackle Josh Simmons has returned to the team facility after tending to a personal matter. It sounds like Simmons should be back in the lineup when the Chiefs return from bye in Week 11.
[RELATED: Chiefs LT Josh Simmons To Return In A Few Weeks]
Simmons was a late addition to Kansas City’s injury report in Week 5 with an illness. He got into that game but proceeded to miss the next four contests. We haven’t gotten any definitive details on the personal matter he was dealing with, and his absence was tagged with a non-injury-related/personal designation.
Either way, it sounds like the first-round pick will soon be back protecting Patrick Mahomes‘ blind side. The former Ohio State product started each of Kansas City’s first five games this season, with Pro Football Focus grading him 43rd among 75 qualifying offensive tackles. The site has been particularly bullish on his pass-blocking ability, although they dinged him for his run-blocking prowess.
With the rookie out of the lineup, the Chiefs have turned to offseason acquisition Jaylon Moore. The veteran inked a two-year, $30MM deal with the Chiefs this offseason with the expectation that he’d compete for a starting spot opposite RT Jawaan Taylor. With Simmons running with the starting gig, Moore transitioned to a high-priced depth piece, but the Chiefs have been fortunate to have him on the roster in recent weeks. Pro Football Focus has graded the former 49ers draft pick as the 30th-best tackle in 2025.
When Simmons returns to the lineup, Moore will likely settle back into a bench role. This is a unique luxury that few contenders can tout, and there’s a chance the Chiefs get creative with their OL options during the stretch run of the season.
Bengals Not Making Defensive Staff Changes
Week 9 marked another illustration of the Bengals’ inability to produce a stop on defense. A late 15-point Cincinnati outburst aided by a successful onside kick recovery was followed by a Bears touchdown in the closing seconds of Sunday’s game. 
That contest was not dissimilar to Week 8’s high-scoring defeat against the Jets. Those losses have dropped Cincinnati to 3-6 on the year. Even if Joe Burrow manages to return relatively soon, playoff contention will be increasingly unlikely down the stretch. Nevertheless, the team’s bye week will not include changes to the defensive coaching staff.
[RELATED: Bengals Still Asking For First-Round Pick In Trey Hendrickson Trade]
“No,” head coach Zac Taylor said (via Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer) when asked if defensive coordinator Al Golden‘s position is in jeopardy. “I believe in these guys. Absolutely. We’ll continue to work through it and find solutions.”
During each of Taylor’s first six years at the helm of the Bengals, Lou Anarumo operated as the team’s DC. The latter’s unit finished outside the top 20 in points allowed in 2023 and again last season, so it did not entirely come as a surprise when he was dismissed. Anarumo quickly lined up a new gig at the helm of the Colts’ defense after being fired. Indianapolis currently ranks seventh in points allowed.
Golden and the Bengals, meanwhile, have surrendered the most points and yards in the league on a per-game basis. The team is currently on pace to allow 567 points in 2025, which would be an all-time single-season record. Golden and the coaches are not entirely at fault, of course, and they will continue in their current roles when Cincinnati returns to action.
Many of the team’s recent draft investments on the defensive side of the ball have not developed as hoped. With much of the Bengals’ financial commitments coming on offense, their current issues have certainly not caught anyone off guard. Taylor did add that “nothing is off the table” in terms of personnel or scheme adjustments over the coming days. While moves along those lines – not to mention potential trades – will be worth watching for, Golden and Co. are safe for now.
Texans Extend LB Jake Hansen
The Texans signed linebacker and special teams ace Jake Hansen to a one-year contract extension, per a team announcement.
The deal will keep Hansen in Houston through the 2026 season for a maximum value of $3MM, according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson.
Hansen, 27, signed with the Texans as an undrafted free agent out of Illinois in 2022. He made the 53-man roster as a rookie and appeared in 11 games with 205 snaps on defense and 148 on special teams. During the subsequent offseason, Houston brought in DeMeco Ryans as the team’s new coach, and Hansen could not carve out a role in his system.
He has only played 183 snaps on defense in the last three years, but his role on special teams has expanded. He contributes to every unit except the Texans’ kicking team, and this season, his 89.6 special teams grade and eight special teams tackles are top-10 marks in the league, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
Hansen earned a total of $2.57MM in his first three seasons and re-signed with the Texans for $1.7MM this offseason, per OverTheCap. He will earn another pay bump on his new deal, and Houston will keep one of their core special teams contributors around for another year.
Special teams work isn’t the most glamorous, but it is a reliable way to stick around in the NFL. As long as Hansen stays healthy, he will likely have a job in Houston, and may be prized by other special teams-focused teams in the league.
Chargers T Joe Alt Out For Season
Bitten by injuries in many recent seasons, the Chargers have run into tremendous trouble along their offensive line in this one. Playing the full season without left tackle Rashawn Slater, the Bolts will now be without his replacement the rest of the way.
Being carted off with an ankle injury Sunday, Joe Alt is not returning this year. The Chargers announced the standout blocker is set to undergo season-ending surgery on his right high ankle sprain — an injury that has given him trouble at multiple points during his second NFL campaign.
The Chargers quickly slid Alt to left tackle to replace Slater for this season. They had lost Slater to a torn patellar tendon during training camp, seeing that development unfold days after reaching an extension agreement. The Bolts had a prime option to fill in, as Alt had earned two All-American honors while playing left tackle at Notre Dame. But Alt’s season on Justin Herbert‘s blind side has been bumpy due to this injury.
Alt first went down in Week 4 and missed the next three games. He returned in Week 8, and the Bolts dominated the Vikings. The team eked out a win over the woeful Titans on Sunday, and its tackle situation now looks dire.
When Alt was healthy, backup tackle Trey Pipkins filled in at right tackle. When Alt went down in September, backup tackle Austin Deculus was called up to the first-team offense. Pipkins went down in Week 5, and Jamaree Salyer finished the game at right tackle, but a practice squad addition, Bobby Hart, ended up making the subsequent start opposite Deculus. When Pipkins returned from his injury, however, Hart remained in the starting lineup across from Alt in his return last week.
Hart actually left today’s game with an injury before Alt, getting replaced by Pipkins early in the contest. Deculus — a late-summer trade pickup — had already been ruled out with an ankle injury before the game. The Chargers called upon Salyer, this time to play left tackle across from Pipkins. This came as right guard Mekhi Becton missed another game. Because of the timing here, the Bolts may have a decision to make. Pro Football Focus ranks Alt 11th among tackles; Hart, Pipkins and Deculus are all outside the top 60.
Los Angeles has managed to reach 6-3 despite myriad O-line issues, but Alt’s return had been a silver lining previously. The prospect of playing without their best two blockers changes the equation, and the Bolts have until 3pm CT Tuesday to make a trade. Although Salyer and Pipkins have extensive starting experience, with both players seeing extended stretches at tackle and guard, they entered the season as backups for a reason. Will the Chargers try to trade for an Alt replacement by the deadline?
It took only a swap of conditional sixth-round picks for the Vikings to add Cam Robinson following Christian Darrisaw‘s injury last year, providing some optimism the Chargers could complete a deal without giving up too much. Robinson now resides in Cleveland, following a trade with Houston; Cornelius Lucas (34) is his backup. Chukwuma Okorafor, who left the Patriots one week into last season, resides as a Jets swing tackle. Injury-prone Trent Brown is stationed behind the Texans’ starting tackles.
One interesting solution could reside in Washington, where Andrew Wylie is available. The Commanders’ right tackle starter in 2023 and ’24, Wylie previously played right tackle for the Chiefs. He does not have nearly as much LT experience, however. But the Bolts have been rearranging their O-line since Slater’s injury. It will take more of that moving forward, as the Slater-Alt duo will not be back together until next season.
Cardinals Activate DL Walter Nolen, CB Garrett Williams
The Cardinals will have a pair of defenders available in time for tonight’s game. Most notably, Walter Nolen is positioned to make his NFL debut against the Cowboys. 
The first-round rookie has been activated, per a team announcement. Nolen was shifted to the reserve/PUP list during roster cutdowns while continuing to recover from a calf injury. The Cardinals opened his practice window on October 15, though, which began the 21-day period for him to be activated.
To no surprise, Nolen has been brought into the fold in time to play tonight. The Texas A&M and Ole Miss product stood out as one of the top prospects in a loaded 2025 defensive tackle class. Expectations are high in his case as a result, although given his missed time a long-running acclimation period can be expected. Nevertheless, any contributions early on will be key for the Cardinals’ defensive front.
Arizona will also have an important figure available in the secondary beginning in Week 9. Cornerback Garrett Williams has been activated from injured reserve. The 24-year-old retuned to practice less than one week ago, and he has clearly not encountered any setbacks. Williams totaled 17 starts across his first two seasons in Arizona, and he was a first-team presence for each of his two appearances in 2025 before being sidelined with a knee injury.
Having him back will be critical against a high-powered Cowboys offense. Beyond that, Williams will be expected to reprise his role as a starter as the Cardinals look to end their streak of close defeats and remain in contention for the postseason. The team ranks just 24th against the pass this season, but having the Syracuse product back in the fold could bring about needed improvements. This move leaves Arizona with five IR activations available.
Nolen has plenty of time to develop as he plays out his rookie contract. Williams, on the other hand, will be eligible for an extension as early as this coming offseason. A strong run from this point on would help the latter’s chances of landing a new deal or at least cementing his status as an impact player for 2026. Both defenders could prove to be notable contributors for years to come if all goes according to plan.
With the Cardinals still thin in the backfield, Michael Carter is the team’s only gameday elevation for tonight. He has bounced on and off the roster while also seeing time on the practice squad, and he will look to chip in on offense during his fifth appearance of the campaign.
Bucs Designate RT Luke Goedeke For Return
The Buccaneers have continued to withstand body blows on offense, but they may be getting some help after the bye. Tampa Bay will see right tackle Luke Goedeke back at practice this week.
Down since aggravating a foot injury in Week 2, Goedeke received a return designation, according to the Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud. This injury came before the spree of skill-position maladies — affecting Mike Evans, Bucky Irving, Chris Godwin and Emeka Egbuka — to plague the NFC South leaders. A Goedeke return would help a Bucs O-line that has missed other pieces at points.
While Goedeke has been sidelined, the Bucs lost right guard Cody Mauch for the season. They have yet to deploy Goedeke and starting left tackle Tristan Wirfs in a game together this season, with the All-Pro not debuting until Goedeke landed on IR. Having that duo back together would give Tampa Bay four of its five starting O-linemen — along with left guard Ben Bredeson and center Graham Barton — together. This would certainly benefit Baker Mayfield, whose MVP push has included a shorthanded squad throughout.
Goedeke made a second-year move from guard to tackle, and his work on the edge moved him into position to secure a late-summer extension. The Bucs gave Goedeke a four-year, $90MM extension, locking him in through the 2029 season a year after extending Wirfs through 2030 at a then-record tackle rate. The Bucs have 21 days to activate Goedeke, and it certainly sounds like the team will have him available soon.
Tampa Bay is hoping to have Evans back at some point in December; the future Hall of Fame wideout suffered a broken clavicle last month. The team has not used IR for Godwin or Irving, but each has missed extensive time. Irving has been out for four games with foot and shoulder injuries, while Godwin — who did not debut until Week 5 due to his fractured ankle — has missed the past three contests with a fibula issue. Neither is assured to be back for Week 10, but the running back and wide receiver landing on IR remains a positive sign regarding near-future returns.
While Evans’ reemergence is a long way off, the Bucs could have nine of their 11 offensive starters back fairly soon. Goedeke, who will turn 27 this month, has started 40 career games. This will be his third season as a Wirfs bookend, with the Bucs having kicked the standout to left tackle in 2023. That duo helped Mayfield stabilize his career, and the resurgent quarterback having played well without several key pieces on offense bodes well for his form when most are back.
Commanders’ Marshon Lattimore Suffers ACL Tear; Luke McCaffrey Headed To IR
3:11pm: When speaking to the media on Monday, head coach Dan Quinn confirmed Lattimore did indeed tear his ACL. Attention will now turn to the recovery timeline in this case, with Lattimore likely in line to miss the beginning of the 2026 campaign.
9:16am: Jayden Daniels was not the only member of the Commanders to suffer a major injury last night. The team’s defense and special teams have each been dealt a blow as well. 
Cornerback Marshon Lattimore exited the contest with a left knee injury, and he may very well be done for the year. The Commanders fear Lattimore suffered an ACL tear, Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network report. Further testing will be required, but confirmation would end the veteran’s first full campaign in Washington.
Lattimore was acquired almost exactly one year ago as the Commanders added to their secondary in advance of a run to the NFC title game. A repeat of that success seems highly unlikely now, and rebounding from a 3-6 start to the campaign will be challenging with a shorthanded secondary. Lattimore, 29, has operated as a full-time starter in 2025. He would have continued doing so if not for this injury.
As the Commanders seek out an in-house replacement to take on his snaps – or look into the trade market for an external addition – Lattimore’s attention will turn to a lengthy rehab process presuming his ACL is confirmed to be torn. The four-time Pro Bowler is under contract through 2026, with a $2MM roster bonus due in March. None of Lattimore’s base salary for the year is guaranteed, so this injury could threaten his future in Washington or at least lead to a pay cut being worked out in the spring.
In other injury news, receiver/returner Luke McCaffrey may also have seen his last action of 2025 on Sunday night. The 2024 third-rounder was injured on the opening kickoff of the game; Garafolo, Rapoport and colleague Tom Pelissero report McCaffrey suffered a broken collarbone. As such, a stint on injured reserve is forthcoming. That will shut him down for at least four games, but it is unclear at this point if McCaffrey will be able to return this season.
The 24-year-old has operated as a depth option in the passing game early in his career, and his average of 18.5 yards per reception in 2025 ranks second on the team. McCaffrey’s most important contributions have come on special teams, though. His 769 kick return yards rank second in the NFL, so his absence will be acutely felt in the third phase.
Terry McLaurin is set to miss multiple games, and losing McCaffrey will deal another blow to Washington’s receiving corps. The team’s outlook for 2025 is not in a good place given its record along with the strong chance of Daniels missing even more time down the stretch. Losing Lattimore and McCaffrey will add further to the Commanders’ injury issues and increase the chances of the campaign ending well short of expectations.
Bears DE Dayo Odeyingbo Out For Season With Torn Achilles
Bears defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo is out for the season with a torn Achilles suffered in a Week 9 victory over the Bengals, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Odeyingbo, originally a Colts second-round pick in 2021, arrived in Chicago this offseason on a three-year, $48MM deal. He started the Bears’ first eight games this year with a 75% snap share, but only logged one sack and two tackles for loss before his injury on Sunday.
Shemar Turner and Dominique Robinson are already dealing with injuries, so the Bears’ defensive line depth will be tested further by Odeyingbo’s absence. The return of Austin Booker from his knee injury will help, and 2022 seventh-rounder Daniel Hardy will likely be asked to play more snaps as well.
The Bears may regret their decision to release Tanoh Kpassagnon from their practice squad last month. He has since signed with the Colts’ practice squad, but Chicago could still sign him to its 53-man roster. The Bears also have Jonathan Garvin and Jamree Kromah on their own practice squad for game day elevations and/or a promotion to the active roster.
Odeyingbo’s debut season in Chicago will now be considered a disappointment due to his lack of production and, now, availability. Beyond his low counting stats, Odeyingbo has only logged a 4.8% pressure rate and a 8.9% pass rush win rate, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Last year, those numbers were 9.6% and 12.6%, respectively.
The 26-year-old edge rusher will likely aim to return by the beginning of the 2026 season when he can retake a starting job opposite Montez Sweat. The Bears may still bring in some depth off the edge to bolster a pass rush that has not consistently gotten to opposing quarterbacks this season. Their defense overall has been a bottom-10 unit, but their results on the other side of the ball appear to be proof-of-concept for the Ben Johnson–Caleb Williams partnership. A return from Odeyingbo and additional investments in the defense could help them take a bigger leap in 2026.
Patriots Shopping OLB Anfernee Jennings
Mike Vrabel‘s run as Patriots HC has produced a six-game win streak, restoring the team as a contender after a few down years. The Vrabel period has also produced a number of separations, as previous-regime players have been either demoted or shown the door (or both).
Last week, the Pats unloaded Kyle Dugger and Keion White — Bill Belichick draftees, one of whom (Dugger) current GM Eliot Wolf extended — and more assets could be dealt away despite a 7-2 record. One of those may well be Anfernee Jennings. The edge rusher is being shopped ahead of the deadline, per veteran insider Jordan Schultz.
Just more than 24 hours remain until this year’s trade endpoint, and the Patriots are trying to trade player who has fallen out of favor. This would be an interesting move, especially considering New England already dealt an edge rusher. White went to San Francisco in a Day 3 pick-swap agreement.
The Patriots are also not exactly deep on the edge, relying on late bloomer K’Lavon Chaisson as a starter opposite ex-Titan Harold Landry. Chaisson is making a reasonable attempt to shed the bust label this season. After notching five sacks in four Jaguars seasons, he has 11.5 over the past two seasons. Five and a half of those have come this year, tying Landry for the team lead. Free agency addition Milton Williams has 3.5, though no other Patriot has two. This has led to some rumors about the AFC East leaders being in the market for an EDGE addition. The team pursued Jaelan Phillips, as unrealistic as an intra-AFC East swap would have been, as well.
It would seem the Patriots are not satisfied with the quality of their edge-rushing situation, as they appear ready to add Jennings to the discard pile along with White. Jennings has been on the trade block for a bit, as rumors about his Foxborough departure came up in August — after he landed on Vrabel’s roster bubble — and October.
During Wolf’s year with Jerod Mayo, the Pats re-signed Jennings to a three-year, $12MM deal. Less than $1MM remains in 2025 base salary, and Jennings’ $3MM 2026 paragraph 5 number is nonguaranteed. He played well in 2023, notching 14 tackles for loss. Never a prolific sack artist (6.5 in his career), the former third-round pick has made 37 starts in a six-year career. Nevertheless, the Pats look to making final calls on unloading the Belichick-era player. It will be interesting to see if he is replaced on the trade market before Tuesday’s deadline.
49ers DE Mykel Williams Suffers Torn ACL
NOVEMBER 3: Tests confirmed that Williams tore his ACL, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, which will sideline him for the rest of the year and likely impact his sophomore year in the NFL as well. Given a typical recovery timeline of at least nine months, Williams may not be ready to play by the beginning of the 2026 season.
NOVEMBER 2: The 49ers earned a win in Week 9 but they may have suffered yet another major injury on defense along the way. Mykel Williams‘ rookie campaign may be over. 
Head coach Kyle Shanahan said (via Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News) the team fears Williams suffered an ACL tear in today’s win against the Giants. The first-rounder went down with roughly four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter of today’s game, and a season-ending absence could now be in store.
Further testing – including an MRI – will take place to confirm a diagnosis. When coaches express concern about major injuries such as this, however, it is rare the worst-case scenario winds up being avoided. If that holds true for Williams, San Francisco’s pass rush will be even further shorthanded for the second half of the campaign.
The team is already without Nick Bosa, who suffered an ACL tear of his own in September. Since then, linebacker Fred Warner has gone down with an ankle injury which threatens to keep him sidelined for the rest of the season. If Williams – who has served as a full-time starter during his rookie campaign – is indeed out for the stretch run and the playoffs, the 49ers could be forced to an even larger extent to add another pass rusher ahead of the trade deadline (having already acquired Keion White from the Patriots).
The team has been connected to making at least one additional acquisition in that regard, with links emerging to Trey Hendrickson in particular. A blockbuster along those lines would be a surprise, but San Francisco was still among the teams to watch on the trade front for an EDGE addition prior to today. That will especially be the case if Williams is sidelined.
The 21-year-old notched just one sack and three QB pressures during his first eight appearances. Williams nevertheless logged a 68% snap share, and that was set to continue (particularly while Bryce Huff recovers from a hamstring ailment). The 49ers have the cap space to afford a rental trade addition and at 6-3 they could easily adopt a buyer’s stance leading up to the November 4 deadline. Out of necessity, a move could be in store shortly.