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Cardinals Open DL Walter Nolen’s Practice Window

October 15th, 2025 at 12:59pm CST by Connor Byrne

After moving defensive tackle Walter Nolen to the reserve/PUP list in late August, the Cardinals haven’t gotten any contributions from the first-round rookie this season. That could change soon, though, as head coach Jonathan Gannon said the team will open Nolen’s practice window on Wednesday (via Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com). Arizona will have 21 days to activate him.

Thanks to a calf injury, Nolen will have a delayed start to his NFL career after going 16th overall in the draft. Nolen spent his first two seasons in college with Texas A&M before transferring to Mississippi ahead of the 2024 campaign. The 300-pounder earned All-America and first-team All-SEC honors during his only year with Ole Miss, leading the Cardinals to identify him as a potential long-term cornerstone.

The addition of Nolen was part of an offseason front seven makeover for Arizona, which has gotten off to a 2-4 start. The team also signed former Eagle Josh Sweat to a four-year, $76.4MM deal, handed Dalvin Tomlinson a two-year, $29MM pact, and reunited with Calais Campbell on a one-year, $5.5MM accord. While Sweat and Campbell have combined for eight sacks, the rest of the defense has only picked up three. The unit ranks an underwhelming 24th in yards per game, but it’s a more respectable 13th against the run and 14th in points surrendered.

Tomlinson and Campbell have started in all six games this year, while 2024 first-rounder Darius Robinson, Dante Stills, and PJ Mustipher have also accrued significant playing time along the interior. A pectoral injury has held Robinson out since Week 4, but he’ll join Nolen in returning to practice on Wednesday (via Urban). Those two and Bilal Nichols, who has played just one game this year, should replenish the Cardinals’ depth along the line when they’re all in the lineup.

While Nolen and Robinson are on their way back, the Cardinals will go the rest of 2025 without tight end Travis Vokolek. Gannon announced Vokolek’s season-ending IR placement on Wednesday. Before succumbing to a neck injury, Vokolek appeared in five games this year and didn’t catch a pass in 32 offensive snaps. He played 45 snaps on special teams. He’s the second Trey McBride backup to land on IR over the past week and a half, joining Tip Reiman.

CB Michael Carter No Longer In Jets’ Long-Term Plans?

October 15th, 2025 at 12:34pm CST by Sam Robinson

Just before last season, the Jets raised the slot cornerback market’s ceiling by extending Michael Carter. The team proceeded to fire Robert Saleh and Joe Douglas in the weeks that followed. That looks to be a telling sign regarding the team’s cornerback plans.

Although Carter’s three-year, $30.75MM contract runs through 2027, he has not played particularly well since signing it. And the former fifth-round find may be a trade candidate. The Jets having drafted Azareye’h Thomas in the third round this year and then traded for Jarvis Brownlee last month, pointing ESPN.com’s Rich Cimini to mention Carter as a trade chip under the Darren Mougey-Aaron Glenn regime.

It appears “the writing is on the wall” for Carter in New York, per Cimini. Drafting two Michael Carters in 2021, the Jets bailed on the former fourth-round running back (now a Cardinal) a while ago. Moving the fifth-year corner would make for a more notable transaction due to the latter’s contract, but the Duke product has struggled on this $10.25MM-per-year deal.

The Jets had viewed Carter as their entrenched slot corner upon signing him to the extension, a deal that was rumored during the 2024 offseason. Carter’s deal also helped D.J. Reed see the writing on the wall, with the team’s Sauce Gardner boundary sidekick hitting free agency and signing with the Lions. The Jets replaced Reed with Brandon Stephens, making them the only team — thanks to Gardner’s $30.1MM-per-year deal this summer — with three eight-figure AAVs at corner. But Carter’s snap share has declined since an injury-plagued 2024.

A herniated disk in Carter’s back accompanied an ankle injury last year, and his snap share declined to a career-low 32% during Jeff Ulbrich‘s interim HC stretch. Carter had logged between 64 and 74% of New York’s defensive snaps from 2021-23, solidifying himself as an extension candidate. Missing two games already this season, he has played 53% of Gang Green’s defensive snaps but has struggled under Glenn and DC Steve Wilks.

Pro Football Focus ranks Carter outside the top 100 among CB regulars thus far, and he has allowed a whopping 19.5 yards per target and 13 yards per completion. Although we are dealing with a small sample size, the 26-year-old slot staple is trending in the wrong direction for a rebuilding team. Brownlee has also logged 35 slot snaps early in his Jets tenure.

Breece Hall represents a prime trade chip due to contract-year status, and Carter’s recent play has undoubtedly reduced his value. While Saleh (49ers) and Ulbrich (Falcons) are running defenses elsewhere, the Jets may not land much for Carter despite his deal presenting an acquiring team with two more full seasons of control. If Gang Green moves on before the deadline, it would see roughly $7MM in dead money come from the swap.

With a new regime running the show, some Saleh/Douglas-era pieces will not fit. At 0-6, the Jets have naturally been linked to selling. The list may expand beyond Carter and Hall, as draft capital will be prioritized early in a lost season.

Commanders Place Noah Brown On IR

October 15th, 2025 at 11:53am CST by Connor Byrne

The Commanders have already gone most of the season without wide receiver Noah Brown, who has been dealing with a groin injury. Brown’s absence will extend for at least four more games, as the team placed him on IR on Wednesday. He’ll be eligible to return in Week 11.

Brown, who last played in a Week 2 loss to the Packers, has caught three of seven targets for 36 yards this season. The 29-year-old appeared to be making progress when he returned to practice last week, but head coach Dan Quinn said his injury “didn’t respond” (via Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic). Quinn added that Brown will not require surgery (via John Keim of ESPN.com).

Without Brown and fellow injured receiver Terry McLaurin (quad), the Commanders fell to 3-3 with a loss to the Bears in Week 6. Quinn said McLaurin will practice this week, meaning he could play against the division-rival Cowboys on Sunday.

With only two appearances from Brown and three from McLaurin this season, the Commanders and second-year quarterback Jayden Daniels have had to count on Luke McCaffrey, Chris Moore, and Jaylin Lane to step up as targets alongside Deebo Samuel and Zach Ertz. Despite the injuries, Washington’s offense still ranks seventh in the NFL in points per game and 12th in total yards.

Along with placing Brown on IR on Wednesday, the Commanders announced the signing of defensive end Drake Jackson and signed guard Julian Good-Jones to their practice squad. Good-Jones had been a free agent since the Commanders released him with an injury designation on Aug. 20. The 28-year-old made his lone regular-season appearance in the NFL with Washington in 2023.

49ers Expected To Inquire About Bengals’ Trey Hendrickson

October 15th, 2025 at 11:10am CST by Connor Byrne

OCTOBER 15: The 49ers see Hendrickson as “an ideal fit for their defense,” but the Bengals have no intention of moving their All-Pro pass rusher, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano. Cincinnati is holding out hope that newly-acquired quarterback Joe Flacco can keep them in contention unless and until Joe Burrow makes a late-season return. More losses before the trade deadline could always change those plans, but the Bengals do have a relatively easy three-game stretch coming up.

OCTOBER 11: Having lost star pass rusher Nick Bosa to a season-ending ACL tear in Week 3, 49ers general manager John Lynch has made it known that he’s looking for help at defensive end. Lynch’s interest in finding a Bosa replacement could lead to a trade before the Nov. 4 deadline. To that end, Dianna Russini of The Athletic expects the 49ers to call the Bengals about Trey Hendrickson.

The 2-3 Bengals aren’t declaring themselves as sellers yet. On the contrary, they acquired quarterback Joe Flacco from the Browns earlier this week in an effort to keep their season alive. Flacco will start Sunday against the Packers in place of the demoted Jake Browning, who struggled mightily replacing the injured Joe Burrow.

It’s a long shot that the 40-year-old Flacco will rescue a deeply flawed Cincinnati team that’s on the outside of the playoff picture. If he doesn’t, it could behoove the Bengals to sell Hendrickson to the highest bidder in the next few weeks.

After his second straight 17.5-sack showing in 2024, Hendrickson and the Bengals continued a long standoff regarding his contract during the offseason. They finally agreed to a revised deal in late August, thus preventing Hendrickson from holding out into the regular season.

While Hendrickson’s amended contract didn’t add any years, it did increase his 2025 salary from $15.8MM to $30MM. The soon-to-be 31-year-old is due to reach free agency in the offseason, when he’ll likely price himself out of Cincinnati. That’s assuming he even finishes the season as a Bengal. If he does, the Bengals could place the franchise tag on Hendrickson, but it would cost upward of $35MM to keep him under wraps. That may be tough to swing for a team that already has exorbitant commitments in Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins for 2026. That trio of offensive core players will combine to count approximately $100MM against the salary cap next season.

Burrow’s toe injury has been the Bengals’ main problem this season, but it isn’t the only culprit for their poor start. Despite Hendrickson’s presence, their defense ranks 30th in the NFL in points and yardage surrendered. That’s another reason a 2025 turnaround looks unlikely for the club. Hendrickson hasn’t done anything to hurt his trade value, though, having notched four sacks and eight quarterback hits over the first five games of the season. He’s Pro Football Focus’ (subscription required) 11th-ranked EDGE player this year.

While the Bengals may eventually sell, the 49ers are lining up as buyers after a 4-1 start. They’ve weathered a series of injuries to key players – Bosa, quarterback Brock Purdy, and tight end George Kittle, among others – to reemerge as NFC contenders after a down 2024. They’ve succeeded despite an anemic pass rush that ranks 30th in the league in sacks. Bosa and Bryce Huff have combined for five of the 49ers’ six sacks. Cornerback Upton Stout has the other, meaning the majority of the 49ers’ front seven has been shut out.

Although it may not turn out to be Hendrickson, it seems like a given that the 49ers will bring in a complement (or complements) to Huff by early November. With around $24MM in cap space, the 49ers are as well-positioned as anyone to make an expensive splash. That could mean reeling in Hendrickson if the Bengals ultimately wave the white flag on their season.

Bengals Place Mike Gesicki On IR

October 15th, 2025 at 10:34am CST by Connor Byrne

The Bengals have placed tight end Mike Gesicki on IR with a pectoral injury, according to a team announcement. Gesicki will miss at least four games. With the Bengals’ bye coming during that stretch, Gesicki won’t be eligible to return until Week 12 against the Patriots, one of his former teams.

After spending the 2023 campaign in New England, Gesicki headed to Cincinnati on a one-year, $3.25MM deal. He served as a solid complementary weapon in the Bengals’ Joe Burrow-led passing attack last season, hauling in 65 of 83 targets for 665 yards and a pair of touchdowns. That was enough to convince the Bengals to bring back Gesicki on a three-year, $25.5MM pact.

With Burrow out since suffering a toe injury in Week 2, Gesicki’s production has dropped off in the first season of his new contract. He caught eight of 16 targets for a paltry 61 yards and no scores during the Bengals’ first five games. The 30-year-old didn’t record any stats during new starting QB Joe Flacco‘s debut last week – a loss to the Packers – before his injury forced him to exit in the first half.

Gesicki has logged a 36.7% snap share this season, which ranks second among Bengals tight ends. Drew Sample (49.2) leads the way, while Noah Fant (30.7) has also gotten a fair amount of playing time. Those two could see more action with Gesicki on the shelf. Tanner Hudson and Cam Grandy round out the Bengals’ TE depth chart, though the former is in concussion protocol, per Ben Baby of ESPN.com.

Panthers Designate Austin Corbett For Return

October 15th, 2025 at 9:30am CST by Connor Byrne

OCTOBER 15: As planned, the Panthers have designated Corbett for return and opened his practice window, per Joe Person of The Athletic. He will have three weeks to practice with the team before he must be moved to the active roster or revert to season-ending IR.

OCTOBER 14: Carolina has gone most of the season without starting center Austin Corbett, but he’s progressing toward a return. The Panthers are planning to open Corbett’s practice window on Wednesday, according to Darin Gantt of the team’s website. Once that happens, the Panthers will have 21 days to activate Corbett from injured reserve.

The Panthers’ offensive line took multiple hits in a Week 2 defeat to Arizona, losing Corbett and right guard Robert Hunt to significant injuries. Corbett went down with a Grade C MCL injury, while Hunt tore his left biceps. It’s uncertain if Hunt will return this year, but the team is about to set the wheels in motion on a Corbett comeback.

Despite their O-line injuries, the Panthers have won three of four since an 0-2 start. Running back Rico Dowdle has unexpectedly amassed a jaw-dropping 389 yards on the ground during a two-game winning streak. Fourth-year man Cade Mays has been filling in for Corbett in the middle of the line, while Brady Christensen is starting in Hunt’s place.

Now in his fourth season in Carolina, injuries have been a frequent occurrence during Corbett’s tenure with the team. After a 17-game 2022, he missed 13 contests in 2023 and sat out another 12 last season. Despite that, Corbett beat out Mays for the starting center job during the summer.

If Corbett comes off IR in the next few weeks, the Panthers will have to decide whether to plug him back in over Mays. Notably, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranks Mays’ early season performance eighth among 35 centers.

It seems likely that Carolina will announce a move with Corbett on Wednesday. In the meantime, the team made a couple of minor transactions on Tuesday. The Panthers waived defensive back Trevian Thomas and released offensive lineman Darrian Dalcourt from their practice squad.

Thomas, an undrafted rookie from Arkansa State, earned a call-up from the practice squad for Week 5. He played 12 special teams snaps in a win over the Dolphins. Dalcourt signed with the Panthers’ practice squad last week after a stint with the Commanders.

Potential Trade Suitors Monitoring A.J. Brown Situation

October 14th, 2025 at 10:11pm CST by Ben Levine

The A.J. Brown rumors are starting to heat up. Last week, we heard that the receiver was frustrated with his role in the Eagles offense, and that report was accompanied by a highly publicized meeting between Brown, Jalen Hurts, and Saquon Barkley. Following a second-straight Eagles loss, it sounds like the frustrations aren’t letting up.

While the Eagles have continually stated that they won’t trade Brown, multiple NFL executives told Dianna Russini of The Athletic that they believe the receiver will eventually be on the move. One source noted the player’s apparent indifference, which could be especially worrisome for a team that’s looking to go on a deep playoff run. Another source was more to the point, opining that the Eagles will ultimately deal the wideout because GM Howie Roseman “likes deals, especially if a player’s value overrides how Brown is being used.”

Brown actually had one of his most productive outings of the season in Week 6, finishing with six catches for 80 yards. After the loss, the veteran denied reports of a discussion with his offensive teammates, noting that he didn’t “recall a meeting” (per EJ Smith of PHLY Sports). Russini added more context, with sources claiming that the meeting wasn’t formal and was simply a “quick, honest check-in.” That could surely be taken as semantics, but either way, Brown didn’t seem particularly interested in discussing his chat.

Russini isn’t the only one noting that rival teams have their eye on the wideout. While Albert Breer of the MMQB acknowledges that this is just part of Philly’s plight while dealing with a “mercurial receiver,” he says there are teams currently monitoring the situation. One exec from an AFC contender said they expect Brown to be discussed in trade talks leading up to the deadline, especially since there doesn’t seem to be any resolution in sight.

On the flip side, Breer is skeptical if a trade will ever reach the finish line. The reporter believes the situation is manageable, at least for the 2025 campaign. Plus, teams may be a bit wary of acquiring the receiver considering his past knee issues and his hefty $29MM in guaranteed money for the 2026 season. Zach Berman of The Athletic echoes this sentiment, as the reporter expressed skepticism that Brown will ultimately be on the move. Berman notes that Roseman prefers to acquire players of Brown’s caliber, not trade them away. Plus, there’s optimism that Nick Sirianni will be able to manage all of the personalities.

In other words, it’s uncertain how this situation will ultimately play out. Either way, it will surely be a story to watch as we inch closer to the November 4th trade deadline.

Titans HC Rumors: Nagy, Smith, Brady

October 14th, 2025 at 10:01pm CST by Connor Byrne

After firing head coach Brian Callahan on Monday, the 1-5 Titans will move forward with Mike McCoy handling the role on an interim basis. It’s improbable that McCoy will fare well enough to take over on a full-time basis, meaning the Titans’ head coach for 2026 is likely to come from outside the organization. With that in mind, Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy and Steelers OC Arthur Smith are early names to watch, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports.

While the Titans hired a first-time head coach in Callahan, they’d be getting an experienced option in Nagy, who was at the helm of the Bears from 2018-21. Chicago went 12-4 and earned a playoff berth in Nagy’s first year on the job, though that proved to be the high point. The Bears also made the playoffs in 2020 despite an 8-8 finish, their second straight .500 effort, but a 6-11 showing in 2021 led to Nagy’s ouster. He put together a 34-31 record and an 0-2 mark in the postseason during his time with the franchise.

After his run with the Bears ended, Nagy went back to Kansas City for his second Chiefs tenure. He has worked in multiple offensive positions since rejoining the team in 2022, including as their O-coordinator since 2023.

The Chiefs have gone to three straight Super Bowls and won two with Nagy back on their staff. However, head coach Andy Reid – not Nagy – calls the plays. Nevertheless, it’s worth noting that the 47-year-old Nagy has a connection to Titans general manager Mike Borgonzi, who worked in various roles with the Chiefs from 2009-24.

The Titans and their fans are familiar with Smith, a Tennessee native who held multiple coaching roles with the team from 2011-20. Smith parlayed a successful two-year run as the Titans’ offensive coordinator into his first head coaching job with the Falcons. It proved to be a short-lived stint, however, with the Falcons moving on after Smith guided three straight 7-10 seasons.

In his first year with the Steelers in 2024, Smith oversaw an offense that ranked 16th in points and 21st in yards while struggling to find an answer at quarterback between Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. This year’s Steelers have gotten better play under center from Aaron Rodgers and rank 14th in the league in points per game, but they’re just 29th in yards per contest.

While Nagy and Smith may be prominent in the Titans’ coaching search, the team is unlikely to hire Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reports. Brady, 36, has called the plays for Buffalo’s prolific offense since taking over for Ken Dorsey in 2023. However, after the Callahan experiment failed, there’s doubt that the Titans will hire a 30-something with no experience as a head coach for the second time in a row.

Jerry Jones Willing To Deal Packers Picks In Right Trade

October 14th, 2025 at 10:00pm CST by Ben Levine

A loss on Sunday dropped the Cowboys to 2-3-1, although there have been some signs of life. Dallas has collected 178 points through six games, good for third in the NFL. Much of that production has come without offensive star CeeDee Lamb, with the likes of George Pickens, Jake Ferguson, and Javonte Williams stepping up.

On the flip side, the Cowboys are rostering one of the worst defenses in the league, as the team’s 184 points allowed is the second-worst mark in the NFL. Jerry Jones believes his team is close to contention and could patch up the defense with some trade acquisitions. In a bit of an ironic twist, the Cowboys owner also acknowledged that he’d consider dealing some of the assets he acquired when he traded away defensive star Micah Parsons.

“If we can improve our team and it makes sense for what we give up in the future, all of it’s there,” Jones said (via Jon Machota of The Athletic). “We have major, major, major resources that we wouldn’t have had had we not made that trade. … I promise you, yours truly or anybody associated with the Cowboys has got our eyes really opened to ways we can help this defense and certainly don’t want to preclude anything on offense, either.

“There’s nothing untouchable in our resources to help our team. And there’s no way that I’m at a point right now to where I would not do something because of where we are into the season, six games. I would go as early as I would if we were talking three games back.”

The Parsons trade sent shockwaves through the league, and his subtraction from the Cowboys defense is a big reason why that unit is struggling at the moment. Still, there’s no denying that the front office received two worthwhile assets in the trade, with Green Bay sending a pair of first-round picks to Dallas. The Cowboys are minus a 2026 third-round pick that was sent to the Steelers in the Pickens trade, but the team is otherwise armed with all of their early- and mid-round picks.

While it seems unlikely that a defensive player would become available that would warrant a first-round pick, it should still be encouraging for Cowboys fans that their owner is willing to deal from their stockpile of draft selections. The team’s performance over the coming weeks will surely influence the organization’s approach to the trade deadline.

Besides potential acquisitions, the Cowboys are also counting on some returning players to add a spark to their defense. Jones said the return of DeMarvion Overshown could influence how the team approaches the trade deadline, per Clarence Hill Jr. of DLLS Sports. The linebacker is still working his way back from a torn ACL, MCL, and PCL suffered towards the end of the 2024 season, and it’s uncertain if he’ll be back to his former form when he returns to the field. After missing his entire rookie campaign, Overshown showed flashes in 2024, finishing with five sacks and eight tackles for loss.

Giants Inquiring About WR Trade

October 14th, 2025 at 9:20pm CST by Adam La Rose

When Malik Nabers suffered an ACL tear, questions were raised about the Giants adding a receiver for the remainder of the campaign. At first, it appeared as though New York’s internal replacement options would be counted on.

Indeed, no wideout available in a trade could be expected to duplicate Nabers’ impact on the team’s offense. Earlier this month, it was reported the Giants would not pursue a trade given that reality. No moves at the position have been made yet, but that could change soon.

New York has made inquiries about receiver trades, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo report. Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post confirms the team is conducting its “due diligence” ahead of the November 4 deadline. Only one wideout (Ja’Lynn Polk) has been traded around the league so far this season, but that is of course likely to change over the coming weeks.

The Giants hosted a number of free agent receivers on workouts in the wake of the Nabers injury, a sign depth would be a priority over a starting-caliber addition. As things stand, Darius Slayton and Wan’Dale Robinson are set to remain atop the depth chart. Jalin Hyatt, along with tight ends Theo Johnson and Daniel Bellinger, round out the room in terms of pass-catching options.

Dunleavy names several potential targets who could be on the move prior to the deadline. Among them is Rashid Shaheed, one of many Saints interested teams have called about this year. Others are under contract beyond 2025, which would make it surprising for a swap to take place. Still, pending free agents like Alec Pierce are included in the list of options. The 5-1 Colts will obviously not be sellers at the deadline, but a Pierce trade could be preferred to seeing him depart on the open market in March.

The Giants currently own seven 2026 draft picks, so capital for a modest receiver addition should not be a issue. Finances, on the other hand, will be a challenge. Entering Tuesday, New York sits at the bottom of the league with just $474K in cap space. Sending money back in any potential trade will likely be necessary as a result.

Sitting at 2-4 on the year, operating as a buyer at the deadline would be a surprise in the Giants’ case. As the team moves forward with rookies Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo as key figures on offense, though, it will be interesting to see if a new wideout will be added to the mix shortly.

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