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Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel Considered Safe Amid Locker Room Turmoil

October 13th, 2025 at 6:37pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

After the Dolphins’ 29-27 loss to the Chargers on Sunday, starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa said that some of his teammates showed up late to recent players-only meetings.

“I think it starts with the leadership in helping articulate that for the guy, and what we’re expecting out of the guys,” he said (via NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe).

That revelation only furthered the perception of a leadership void in Miami with head coach Mike McDaniel firmly on the hot seat. He seems to be coaching for his job, but the team is not expected to make a change anytime soon, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Just over a year ago, the Dolphins were confident enough in McDaniel enough to sign him to a contract extension. Despite the trending downwards since then, they have not lost faith in the fourth-year head coach, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (h/t Joe Schad of The Palm Beach Post).

Still, Tagovailoa’s public comments suggest that there’s some truth to the rumors of behind-the-scenes turmoil. McDaniel’s initial reaction on Sunday was that his quarterback was “sending a message,” but added that the players have delivered on everything he has asked of them. He also said that players-only meetings are “outside of what I demand.”

On Monday, McDaniel had a slightly different tune after hearing Tagovailoa’s full answer.

“After a loss as a franchise quarterback, that’s not the place [to say] that,” McDaniel said (via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald), characterizing Tagovailoa’s reference to players-only meetings as “a misrepresentation of player orchestrated film sessions.”

Still, the mixed messages coming out of Miami paint the picture of an unsettled locker room in a season that is quickly slipping down the drain. The Dolphins are 1-5 and rank among the bottom 10 teams in total yards on offense and defense, but a softer schedule for the rest of the season may give them a chance to turn things around and save McDaniel’s job.

Colts Place QB Anthony Richardson On IR

October 13th, 2025 at 3:58pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Colts will be without Anthony Richardson for an extended period. Following the pregame injury suffered by the team’s backup quarterback on Sunday, he is set for an extended absence.

Richardson has been placed on injured reserve, per a team announcement. As a result, he will be unavailable for at least the next four games. Richardson suffered an orbital bone fracture during warmups yesterday. It was initially unclear how much time he would miss, but testing on his eye has obviously led to the Colts shutting him down for the foreseeable future.

Daniel Jones has thrived in his stead atop the Colts’ depth chart so far this season. Indianapolis leads the AFC with a record of 5-1, and the former Giants draftee will be tasked with maintaining his current level of play as the Colts look to remain hot. Depth behind Jones will be a question, however. Richardson has not developed as hoped in his NFL career, but he would have been a familiar option for head coach Shane Steichen and Co. if called upon.

With Richardson now out of the picture for the time being, sixth-round rookie Riley Leonard is currently the Colts’ QB2. Leonard has yet to make a regular season appearance, but he could find himself dressing as the backup for at least a brief period. Of course, that would change if Indianapolis were to make a free agent or trade acquisition at the quarterback spot. The team has roughly $6MM in cap space.

Richardson is no stranger to missed time after he was limited to four games as a rookie and 11 contests last season. This absence is different since it was not caused by an on-field injury, but the former No. 4 pick is now guaranteed to be available for less than a full slate in each of his first three NFL campaigns. Irrespective of Jones’ strong play, Richardson’s future with the Colts will no doubt be influenced by his injury history moving forward.

Indianapolis still has seven IR activations available at this point. Bringing Richardson back into the fold will use up one of them, but not until a notable period of time is spent recovering from the injury.

Ravens OLB Tavius Robinson To Miss Extended Time

October 13th, 2025 at 3:15pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Ravens’ pass rush group was thinned out by last week’s decision to trade away Odafe Oweh. The unit will be shorthanded to a even larger extent moving forward.

Head coach John Harbaugh announced on Monday (video link) that Tavius Robinson suffered a broken foot in Week 6. As a result, the third-year outside linebacker is facing an absence of six to eight weeks. This will mark the first missed time of Robinson’s career.

The 26-year-old Canadian handled a part-time defensive workload as a rookie, but he took on a much larger role last season. After starting seven games in 2024, Robinson worked as a first-team presence each game this year and handled a 65% snap share prior to going down. That workload was set to remain high through the remainder of the campaign, especially with Oweh no longer in the picture.

Instead, the Ravens will be forced to move forward with an EDGE group led by veteran Kyle Van Noy. Baltimore also has David Ojabo and second-round rookie Mike Green in place as candidates to take on an increased role with Robinson sidelined. Second-year pass rusher Adisa Isaac is still in the team’s plans for 2025 after being designated for return from IR during roster cutdowns.

When speaking about Isaac on Monday (video link), Harbaugh said a return in mid-to-late November is expected. Isaac – who missed most of his rookie campaign through injury – sustained ligament damage in his elbow during the 2025 preseason. He continues to rehab the ailment, and a depth role should be in store upon return given the lack of available pass rushers for Baltimore at the moment.

Robinson totaled 13 pressures in 2024 and was well on his way to increasing that figure this season with five through his first six games. Given the former fourth-rounder’s ability to move inside in certain situations, his absence will be acutely felt on a Baltimore defense which ranks at or near the bottom of the league in several categories. After the Ravens acquired two new safeties last week, it will be interesting to see if a pass rush addition is targeted in the wake of today’s news.

Vikings Designate LB Blake Cashman For Return From IR

October 13th, 2025 at 2:24pm CST by Adam La Rose

Blake Cashman has been out since Week 1, but he could be back in the fold for the Vikings soon. The veteran linebacker returned to practice today, per a team announcement.

Cashman suffered a hamstring injury during Minnesota’s season debut, and it quickly became clear he was in line to miss multiple weeks. The team’s decision to move him to injured reserve came as no surprise as a result, and it ensured an absence of at least one month. A return in time for Week 7 could now be in store, however.

Today’s move will open Cashman’s 21-day practice window. Minnesota must activate him within that span to avoid having Cashman revert to season-ending IR. Provided things go as planned over the coming days, the 29-year-old could be back in place as early as Sunday, something which would be welcomed by the team.

Cashman operated as a full-time starter last season, his debut campaign with his hometown team. The Eden Prairie, Minnesota native set a new career high in tackles (112) and sacks (4.5) along the way, illustrating his importance to the team’s defense. A first-team role should again be in store for Cashman once he is activated.

The former fifth-rounder is under contract for next season, but none of his scheduled base salary for 2026 ($6.9MM) is guaranteed. As such, managing to remain healthy the rest of the way will be key for Cashman as he looks to reprise his role from 2024 as a productive contributor and in doing so help his chances of remaining in Minnesota for at least one more year. DC Brian Flores‘ unit ranks fifth in points allowed, and adding Cashman will help it remain among the league’s best through the rest of the campaign.

The Vikings have already used one IR activation on fullback C.J. Ham, and the decision to use the designated for return option on pass rusher Tyler Batty during cutdowns accounts for another. Minnesota will be down to five activations once Cashman is back in the fold.

Colts QB Anthony Richardson Suffers Orbital Fracture

October 13th, 2025 at 12:43pm CST by Ely Allen

OCTOBER 13: It is unclear at this point how long Richardson will be out for, but ESPN’s Stephen Holder reports he will be sidelined for “a while.” The Colts could find themselves in the market for a short-term quarterback addition as a result, but decisions on that front will of course depend on Richardson’s prognosis. At least for the time being, Leonard is now second on the depth chart.

OCTOBER 12: The Colts saw a pair of uncanny pregame injuries take out a player on each side of the ball today before they were even suited up in pads. The more serious of the two injuries saw backup quarterback Anthony Richardson suffer an orbital fracture when an elastic band injured his eye, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Claims were that the injury was the result of a malfunction of the elastic band while Richardson was doing band work. In each of his first two years in the NFL, the Colts have repeatedly tried to establish Richardson as the team’s next big starting quarterback, usually just for injuries to derail any chances for success. A concussion and shoulder surgery caused him to miss all but four games of his rookie season, and he missed three separate two-week stretches for the Colts last year due to injury.

The Colts apparently couldn’t even keep Richardson healthy as a backup. The 23-year-old spent today’s game at the hospital dealing with the injury as sixth-round rookie passer Riley Leonard was elevated into the QB2 role behind starter Daniel Jones. Luckily, nothing happened to Jones, who played every offensive snap for the team, but the AFC’s current No. 1 seed was a play away from being down to their QB3 due to a freak accident in pregame warmups.

The other player who was injured in an unusual manner during pregame activities today was cornerback Charvarius Ward. While running drills in pregame warmups, Ward collided with a tight end and was left concussed and unavailable for the game. This hurt an already thin cornerbacks group that featured Jaylon Jones and Kenny Moore as existing inactives. It will be interesting to see just how Ward and Richardson progress through their injuries this week and how it will affect the team going forward.

Eagles DE Za’Darius Smith Retires

October 13th, 2025 at 11:26am CST by Adam La Rose

Za’Darius Smith has taken part in five of the Eagles’ six games this season, but his time with Philadelphia is abruptly coming to an end. The veteran pass rush announced on Instagram Monday that he is retiring.

“Who would’ve thought that a kid from Greenville, Alabama, with just one year of high school football experience, would go on to play professional football in the NFL for 11 incredible years,” Smith’s announcement reads in part. “Football has transformed my life and my family’s lives forever – and for that, I’m forever grateful.”

Smith has served as a starter for much of his career, and he notched four sacks upon arriving via trade in Detroit last season. In spite of that, the three-time Pro Bowler remained unsigned through training camp. One day after opening the campaign, the Eagles signed Smith to a one-year deal. He has played in all five of the team’s games since then, logging a 38% snap share.

Today’s announcement comes as quite the surprise as a result, as Smith was in position to continue handling a rotational role with his latest team. Instead, his NFL career has come to an end. This decision is a personal one and not tied to his playing time in Philadelphia, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports. Nevertheless, an Eagles team which entered the campaign with questions about pass rush production will be shorthanded moving forward. This news could steer the team toward a trade for an edge rusher in the near future.

Smith entered the league as a fourth-round pick of the Ravens in 2015. He flashed potential with 5.5 sacks as a rookie, and after developing into a regular on defense posted 8.5 sacks in the final year of his rookie contract. That resulted in a big-ticket free agent deal with the Packers, the first of three NFC North teams Smith wound up playing for in his career.

Following his 2022 release from Green Bay, Smith seemed to have a Ravens reunion lined up. In the end, however, he signed with the Vikings. That did not lead to a lengthy tenure in Minnesota, as the Kentucky alum was traded to the Browns after one season. Smith was limited to just one game in 2021, but across his healthy campaigns with Green Bay and Minnesota he amassed 36 sacks. Expectations remained high for continued production with the Browns.

Smith was unable to establish himself as a long-term complement to Myles Garrett with a downturn in sack totals during his one full Cleveland campaign. After Aidan Hutchinson suffered a season-ending injury last year, Smith was named as a candidate to be dealt to the Lions. That took place as expected, and during this past offseason Smith remained in contact with Detroit even after being released in a cost-shedding move.

With no deal being worked out on that front, though, Smith eventually took a pact with the Eagles. The defending Super Bowl champions have lost two straight but they sit at 4-2 on the year and could again find themselves in contention for a deep postseason run in 2025. The team’s plans ahead of the deadline could now include the pursuit of a Smith replacement.

Smith will now turn his attention to his post-playing days at the age of 33. He exits the NFL with 154 combined regular and postseason appearances and nearly $91MM in career earnings.

Browns Willing To Trade DT Shelby Harris

October 13th, 2025 at 8:58am CST by Adam La Rose

After Sunday’s loss, the Browns sit at 1-5 on the year. The team has already authorized two notable trades, sending Greg Newsome to the Jaguars in a swap for fellow cornerback Tyson Campbell after Joe Flacco was dealt to the Bengals.

It would come as no surprise if other trades were to take place ahead of next month’s deadline. Provided the Browns continue to sell, a number of veterans will presumably draw trade interest. One of those is defensive tackle Shelby Harris.

The Browns will listen to offers on Harris, Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com reports. Likewise, ESPN’s Adam Schefter names the 11th-year veteran as one of the league’s top trade candidates. Harris is a pending free agent, so he would be viewed as a rental for an acquiring team. With a base salary of just $2MM, the 34-year-old would also be an affordable target for any number of suitors.

Cleveland invested a second-round pick in defensive tackle Mike Hall last year. The Ohio State product has yet to play this season, but Cabot notes he is nearing a return to full health. When that takes place, Hall will join Mason Graham – selected fifth overall in April after the Browns traded out of the No. 2 slot – as a tandem along the defensive interior for years to come. With those two in the team’s plans well beyond the current campaign, Harris could be deemed expendable in the near future.

The former seventh-rounder has 135 appearances and 84 starts to his name. Harris was a first-team presence through much of his five-year Broncos run before heading to Seattle as part of the Russell Wilson trade. After a single campaign with the Seahawks, the Illinois State alum signed the first of two contracts with the Browns. In addition to drafting Graham this offseason, though, the team added Maliek Collins in free agency, something which threatened to limit Harris’ playing time.

As a result, Harris was a cut candidate this summer. The Browns elected to keep him in the fold through training camp and into the start of the season, and Harris has handled a 42% snap share so far. He could offer a rotational presence to a contending team for the second half of the campaign, and it will be interesting to see how strong of a market develops on the trade front in this case.

49ers LB Fred Warner Out For Season

October 12th, 2025 at 10:34pm CST by Ely Allen

10:34pm: According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has revealed Warner’s diagnosis to be both a broken and dislocated ankle. ESPN’s Nick Wagoner quickly followed the report confirming that Warner will require surgery, and the injury will be season-ending.

5:07pm: The 49ers have been ravaged by injury throughout this young season, but they may have taken their biggest hit today. According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner has been diagnosed with a dislocated ankle. Russini reports that Warner will meet with doctors to determine his exact prognosis, but given the nature of the injury, it has the potential to be season-ending.

We saw Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin suffer an ankle dislocation about a week later into the season last year, and though he had intentions to be ready for the postseason after undergoing surgery, he didn’t play another snap that season. Godwin then needed a second procedure on his ankle that held him out for the full offseason, training camp, and the first three weeks of this year’s regular season. Obviously, we can’t project this onto Warner, whose details are not yet known, but Godwin’s recent example serves as a possible outcome for this type of injury.

No matter how long the absence is, unless the 28-year-old comes back two weeks from now, this is uncharted territory for Warner. Since getting drafted by San Francisco in the third round back in 2018, Warner has appeared and started in every possible game except for one. While the four-time All-Pro will have his own new challenges to tackle over a potentially extended absence, the 49ers’ uncharted territory of fielding a defense for multiple games without Warner poses other serious challenges.

Warner’s backup at middle linebacker is Tatum Bethune. A seventh-round pick out of Florida State last year, Bethune spent his rookie year almost exclusively on special teams. Active for 11 games, he only appeared on the field for 12 defensive snaps before starting San Francisco’s season finale. This year has been more of the same for the 24-year-old; after appearing in three defensive snaps in Week 1, Bethune has been all special teams before today.

At the very least, Warner will end up adding to an injury report that featured 18 other players this week for the 49ers. If the injury ends up being as serious as it looked, Warner could be the 12th Niner placed on injured reserve this season. He would join such stars on the IR as pass rusher Nick Bosa and tight end George Kittle, with more starters like quarterback Brock Purdy and wide receiver Ricky Pearsall merely sporting “out” designations on the injury report.

While the injury suffered by Warner today looked bad, no determinations have been made on the severity of his ankle injury just yet. Once more is learned, San Francisco will be able to formulate a plan for return. Until then, they’ll continue to do as they have been doing, fielding the next man up and relying on their depth to put themselves in as good a position to win as possible.

Saints Unlikely To Trade Alvin Kamara

October 12th, 2025 at 10:20pm CST by Connor Byrne

With the Saints sitting at 1-4 and expected to sell before the Nov. 4 trade deadline, running back Alvin Kamara stands out as someone who could move in the next few weeks. While Kamara has drawn interest from other teams, he’s unlikely to go anywhere, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports.

Still under team control through next season on the two-year, $26.5MM extension he signed last October, Kamara has no intention of leaving New Orleans. While Kamara does not have a no-trade clause, general manager Mickey Loomis approached the five-time Pro Bowler to gauge his interest in a change of scenery. He told Loomis his goal remains to play his entire career with the Saints. Kamara is so committed to a one-team career that he’d potentially retire if a trade occurred, according to Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football.

Now 30 years old, Kamara has been with the franchise since it used a third-round pick on the ex-Tennessee Volunteer in 2017. Eight years later, Kamara is the Saints’ leader in career rushing yards and touchdowns. The longtime dual threat ranks second in team history in receptions.

Five games into 2025, Kamara has seen his effectiveness wane as part of one of the NFL’s lowest-scoring offenses. His 3.9 yards per carry on 73 attempts is among the lowest of his career. While Kamara has added 17 receptions, he has averaged a paltry 4.5 yards per catch.

Moving to a contender before the deadline could lead to a jump in production for Kamara. The Chargers are among playoff hopefuls looking for help in the backfield. However, it doesn’t appear that they or anyone else will be able to pry Kamara out of New Orleans.

Jets Still Committed To Justin Fields As Starting QB

October 12th, 2025 at 10:19pm CST by Adam La Rose

Justin Fields was absent from Week 3 while recovering from a concussion. Head coach Aaron Glenn made it clear at the time, however, that the starting gig would be his upon return.

Indeed, Fields has led New York’s offense since he came back in Week 4. Things have largely not gone according to plan with the free agent signing in the lineup, though, and that was especially the case on Sunday. During the Jets’ loss to the Broncos in London, Fields amassed just 45 passing yards while being sacked nine times.

Following the Jets’ 13-11 loss, Glenn was asked whether or not a quarterback change is being considered. Benching Fields – who inked a two-year deal this spring containing $30MM guaranteed – would result in veteran Tyrod Taylor taking over. Once again, Glenn offered a reply stating Fields will remain atop the depth chart at this point.

“There’s a number of guys that, you know, I mean, sometimes this league is like this,” Glenn said when asked if Fields will be benched (video link via SNY). “There are guys that have bad games. That doesn’t mean you just bench him.”

Across his four games with the Jets this year, Fields has completed 67% of his attempts while posting a passer rating of 100.1. Both of those marks are career bests. The 26-year-old has also matched his personal watermark with an average of 7.1 yards per attempt, and he has yet to throw an interception. With an additional 204 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, it is easy to see the appeal of keeping Fields in place moving forward. The former Bear and Steeler is already owed $10MM in guaranteed salary for next year, something which adds further to the upside of maintaining the current depth chart from Glenn’s perspective.

Taylor has been with the Jets since last season. During that time, he has made just four appearances and one start (while Fields was sidelined). The 36-year-old is a pending free agent, so any extended run as QB1 would of course be key in determining his market value next spring. For now, at least, Taylor should not be expected to take over.

Glenn and the Jets fell to 0-6 with today’s loss. As such, New York is expected to operate as a seller ahead of next month’s trade deadline. No quarterback moves are anticipated in that respect, but by the time the second half of the campaign begins it will be interesting to see if Fields is still viewed as the team’s starter.

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