HEADLINES

Aidan Hutchinson Could Reach In-Season Lions Extension Agreement

October 10th, 2025 at 8:57am CST by Adam La Rose

Over the past two offseasons, the Lions have reached extension agreements with several key in-house players. Aidan Hutchinson does not have a new deal in hand at this point, but even with the campaign ongoing that could change relatively soon.

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler writes Hutchinson “looks destined” for an extension. Nothing appears imminent at this point, but Fowler suggests an agreement could be reached during the season. Team and player have conducted talks, and it has long been widely believed Hutchinson will be among the league’s top earners for pass rushers once his pact is in place.

As expected, the EDGE market witnessed several jumps over the course of the 2025 offseason. Micah Parsons moved the bar to a record-shattering high when he inked his Packers extension upon arriving via trade. Parsons’ deal averages $46.5MM per year and contains $120MM in guarantees. Given his age (26), the ex-Cowboy will no doubt be used as a comparable player for Hutchinson’s extension negotiations.

Since being selected second overall by his hometown team, Hutchinson has emerged as one of the league’s top defenders. The former Defensive Rookie of the Year runner-up posted 11.5 sacks in his second campaign and earned a Pro Bowl nod along the way. Hutchinson was on track for a repeat of that honor – and quite possibly others – last season before a leg fracture ended his campaign just five games in. Fully healed in time for 2025, the 25-year-old has already racked up five sacks so far (including at least one in each of the past four games).

As a result, it would come as no surprise if a Hutchinson deal were to move him to at least second in the financial pecking order for pass rushers. In terms of average annual value, T.J. Watt currently occupies that spot at $41MM; Myles Garrett landed an AAV of $40MM this spring. Those two are attached to their third NFL contracts, whereas Hutchinson will be inking his second deal when he signs.

For the time being, the Michigan product is on track to earn $19.87MM in 2026 on his fifth-year option. That leaves plenty of time for negotiations to continue, although Lions general manager Brad Holmes noted in April a long-term deal will require a massive cap commitment. That is especially true considering the particulars of the Parsons extension. It will be interesting to see if a Hutchinson accord is worked out in the near future or if talks are paused until the offseason.

49ers GM John Lynch: Conversations Ongoing For DE Trade

October 9th, 2025 at 10:57pm CST by Adam La Rose

Since Nick Bosa‘s ACL tear, many have pointed to the 49ers as a logical candidate to pursue a pass rush addition before next month’s trade deadline. The latest comments on the matter from general manager John Lynch point in that direction.

“I’m having a lot of conversations, a lot of good and productive ones,” Lynch said during a Thursday appearance on KNBR radio when speaking about a defensive end trade (via Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area). “If we find a way to make our football team better and it aligns, then we will not be shy on pulling the trigger.”

The 49ers have a track record of making in-season moves, and the likes of Charles Omenihu, Randy Gregory and Chase Young have all been acquired via trade to provide depth along the edge. A clear expectation exists for San Francisco to make at least one move over the coming weeks, and it would come as no surprise if a Bosa replacement were to be targeted. Finding production along the edge has proven to be a challenge so far.

In addition, Yetur Gross-Matos is among the latest members of the 49ers to encounter injury troubles. Especially if he misses notable time, the 49ers could be forced to move with urgency in terms of making an addition. San Francisco sits near the top of the league with nearly $24MM in cap space at the moment; much of those funds will be earmarked for carrying over to next season, but swinging a trade for a rental should still be feasible.

The 49ers are 4-1 despite the list of players who have been sidelined for a considerable period so far. That, coupled with the Bosa injury, could very well drive the decision to make another midseason acquisition along the edge. Few established options at that spot are known to be on the market, but the list of pending free agents includes Jaelan Phillips (Dolphins) and Trey Hendrickson (Bengals).

No links with specific players have been made yet in terms of who Lynch and the 49ers could be targeting. Based on today’s remarks, though, San Francisco is certainly in the market.

UFL Relocating To Columbus, Louisville, Orlando For 2026 Season

October 9th, 2025 at 10:50pm CST by Adam La Rose

Shortly after entrepreneur Mike Repole became a UFL investor and took over as the league’s head of business operations, it became clear changes would be coming for 2026. Relocation in particular was a talking point through the past several months.

It is now known how the UFL’s landscape for 2026 will shake out. The Memphis Showboats, Michigan Panthers and San Antonio Brahmas are no longer in operation, and each of those three teams have been relocated. Columbus, as expected, will serve as the host city for a franchise beginning next spring. The same is true of Louisville and Orlando.

“Due to stadium constraints, the available venues in these areas do not align with our new vision of focusing on smaller, more intimate settings that elevate the fan experience,” the UFL said in a statement regarding the decision to move on from Memphis, Michigan and San Antonio (via Ben Fischer of the Sports Business Journal).

With attendance seen as a key priority, a driving factor in the decision to relocate was the fact the new teams will play in much smaller venues than their predecessors. Each of the new franchises will play their home games in stadiums with a capacity of 20,000 or less. Similarly, both Texas teams will play in Major League Soccer stadiums moving forward.

“It’s going to feel real, real different, and it’s going to show better on TV,” Repole said when speaking about the move toward smaller venues (via ESPN.com). “The sound is going to be better, and the experience and the engagement is going to be better.”

The Texas-based teams will continue operating during the 2026 season, but they will do so under new monikers. The Renegades franchise is once again known as Dallas instead of Arlington (which was the case during its XFL existence), while Houston’s is now the Gamblers. Keeping with the league’s setup from previous years, the UFL’s headquarters will remain in Arlington. During the week, each of the eight teams will continue practicing in the Dallas area before traveling to games.

The other three UFL franchises – the St. Louis Battlehawks, the D.C. Defenders and the Birmingham Stallions – will carry on in their respective locations and with their current monikers for 2026. The coming campaign will nevertheless include several changes, though, as the league looks for stability amid long-term plans for expansion.

Brock Purdy Likely Out For Week 6; Mac Jones Expected To Start

October 9th, 2025 at 10:44pm CST by Connor Byrne

It appears that 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy‘s toe injury will force him to sit out again this week. Purdy did not practice on Thursday, setting up backup Mac Jones to start against the Buccaneers on Sunday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

San Francisco is heading into Tampa Bay for a battle of 4-1 NFC contenders, but the 49ers’ success has come despite limited contributions from Purdy. After securing a five-year, $265MM contract extension in May, turf toe has held Purdy out of three games this season. The former Mr. Irrelevant has completed 48 of 73 passes (65.8%) for 586 yards, four touchdowns, and four interceptions while winning one of two starts this year. He last played in a loss to the Jaguars in Week 4.

Jones, who joined the 49ers on a two-year, $7MM deal last March, has looked like one of the shrewdest signings of the offseason so far. The ex-Patriots first-round pick and multiyear starter has hit on 86 of 129 passes (66.7%) for 905 yards, six TDs, and a pick while helping the 49ers to a 3-0 record. Jones racked up 342 yards and two scores in a Week 5 victory over the NFC West rival Rams, but he hardly escaped L.A. unscathed.

Now nursing knee and oblique injuries, Jones was a limited participant in practice on Thursday. Although head coach Kyle Shanahan said Jones was unable to throw on Thursday (via Jerry McDonald of the Mercury News), he added that his No. 2 signal-caller “should be able to go on Sunday.”

With Purdy and Jones banged up, Adrian Martinez received reps with the first-team offense on Thursday. He’s in line to back up Jones for the fourth time this year. Previously with the Jets, who cut him in August, Martinez hasn’t seen any regular-season action since he entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent from Kansas State in 2023. The 49ers signed Martinez from their practice squad to their active roster a week ago.

Bills Notes: Hairston, Bass, Strong, Milano

October 9th, 2025 at 9:45pm CST by Connor Byrne

Hoping to improve their secondary after another postseason exit at the hands of the Chiefs in 2024, the Bills used their first-round pick in last spring’s draft on former Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston. Over a month into the season, though, they haven’t gotten any contributions from the 30th overall selection. Hairston remains on IR after spraining the LCL in his right knee early in training camp, and the team still hasn’t opened his 21-day practice window.

Asked Thursday if either Hairston or injured kicker Tyler Bass will play this season (via Jay Skurski of the Buffalo News), head coach Sean McDermott offered a noncommittal, “We’ll see.”

The 4-1 Bills haven’t missed Bass, who has been on IR all season with a hip/groin issue. Big-legged veteran Matt Prater, signed days before the season, has connected on 10 of 11 field-goal tries while nailing all 15 extra-point attempts.

On the other hand, Hairston’s absence has stung. After running the fastest 40-yard dash at the combine (4.28 seconds), he was expected to add some much-needed speed and playmaking skills to Buffalo’s secondary this season. A healthy Hairston would have battled offseason free agent pickup Tre’Davious White for the No. 2 cornerback role opposite Christian Benford over the summer. Hairston’s injury essentially handed the job to White by default, and the former First-Team All-Pro has struggled to regain his past form as a result of age (30) and multiple serious injuries.

White suffered a torn ACL in November 2021, a devastating blow to a player who was in his prime at the time, and then tore his Achilles in October 2023. The Bills released White in March 2024. However, they saw enough positives from him during a season divided between the Rams and Ravens that they brought him back on a one-year deal worth up to $6.8MM last April. The move hasn’t worked out thus far.

Since missing a Week 1 win over the Ravens with a groin injury, White has started four games in a row and yielded a 72.2 percent completion rate and a 101.6 passer rating. Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranks his performance 72nd out of 105 qualifying corners. Alarmingly, Benford checks in at an even worse 75th overall after scoring a four-year, $69MM contract extension in April. Neither player has picked off a pass this year on a defense that has just two interceptions (one from linebacker Terrel Bernard, the other from safety Cole Bishop).

Worsening matters for the Bills’ cornerback group, injured rookie Dorian Strong will see a neck specialist and may miss the rest of the season, according to McDermott (via Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic). The sixth-round pick went on IR last week after playing the first four games of his career. He started the Bills’ opener in place of White. Strong has hardly stood out this year, but his absence is detrimental to the Bills’ depth at corner and on special teams. Ja’Marcus Ingram, who has been a healthy inactive twice this season, is now the team’s No. 3 boundary CB behind Benford and White.

If the Bills’ problems at corner don’t improve, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see general manager Brandon Beane target the position leading up to the Nov. 4 deadline. Beane, who has typically been active at the deadline, is just two years removed from swinging a noteworthy deadline deal for a corner.

A few weeks after White’s Achilles injury, Beane acquired Rasul Douglas and a fifth-round pick from the Packers for a third-rounder. Douglas wound up serving as a full-time starter for the Bills through the 2024 campaign. They let him walk in free agency last offseason after his performance declined, leading Douglas to join the division-rival Dolphins in August.

Along with Hairston and Strong, it appears Buffalo’s defense will also continue to go without linebacker Matt Milano. The effective but oft-injured 31-year-old is “week to week” with a tweaked pectoral, McDermott said. Milano injured his pectoral in a Week 2 win over the Jets and then missed the Bills’ next two games. He returned in last Sunday’s loss to the Patriots, but he re-aggravated the injury during the second half and sat out for the rest of the game.

McDermott doesn’t expect an IR stint for Milano, but he does seem likely to miss their game in Atlanta on Monday night. Meanwhile, fellow linebacker Dorian Williams (knee) may be unavailable for the second straight week. If Milano and Williams are on the shelf for Week 6, Shaq Thompson should get the bulk of the playing time alongside Bernard.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/9/25

October 9th, 2025 at 8:23pm CST by Connor Byrne

Thursday’s practice squad moves:

Cleveland Browns

Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints

Seattle Seahawks

The Browns reached an injury settlement with Speed, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. The team placed Speed on IR with an undisclosed injury on Wednesday. The former Colt, Patriot, and Bear hasn’t appeared in a game this year.

Jones is returning to the Saints just two days after they released him. The 28-year-old has played in all five of New Orleans’ games this season and amassed 76 snaps (74 on special teams). While Jones hasn’t been a factor on offense, he has averaged 22.8 yards per kickoff return on eight tries.

This has been a multi-transaction day for White, whom the Seahawks released and then quickly re-signed to their practice squad. White totaled 11 snaps (five on offense, six on special teams) during a Week 1 loss to the 49ers and hasn’t played since.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/9/25

October 9th, 2025 at 6:45pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Several NFL teams made minor roster moves on Thursday. Among them were the Giants, who signed two players from their practice squad to the active roster and promoted two more for their matchup with the Eagles on Thursday Night Football. Here is the full list:

New York Giants

Tennessee Titans

Seattle Seahawks

The Giants are dealing with injuries to multiple linebackers and wide receivers, as well as a groin injury that forced starting kicker Graham Gano onto injured reserve. Hewitt and Barnes will offer depth on defense and special teams, while Humphrey will reinforce a a depleted receiving corps.

McAtamney will take on the Giants’ kicking duties for a third week in a row. Including one appearance last season, he has made all three of his field goal attempts and all four of his extra points, though none of his kicks have come beyond 40 yards. He may get a chance to test his leg from a longer distance on Thursday night against a tough Eagles defense.

Packers Audition Multiple Kickers

October 9th, 2025 at 6:11pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

With kicker Brandon McManus battling a quad injury, the Packers hosted Lucas Havrisik and Greg Joseph for workouts on Thursday, per ESPN’s Rob Demovsky.

McManus was injured in practice on Wednesday but said on Thursday that he still plans to play on Sunday against the Bengals, according to Demovsky. He referenced a similar injury in 2022 that he played through, albeit with a noticeable but not extreme impact on his performance. By the end of that season, he appeared to be back to full strength.

The Packers do have another kicker on their roster in Mark McNamee, an Ireland native who is part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program. He made one of his two field goals and two of his three extra points in the preseason, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). It is not surprising that the Packers wanted to explore other options before trotting out such an inexperienced player in the regular season.

Havrisik’s only NFL experience came in 2023 with the Rams. He went 11-for-11 from inside 40 yards, but converted only four of his nine attempts from further out. Havrisik’s most recent action came with the UFL’s Arlington Renegades in 2025; he made 22 of his 25 attempts with a long of 54 yards.

Joseph is a much more experienced player with 75 appearances across his six-season career. He has a career conversion rate of 82.3% and made four of his nine field goals from 40 or more yards in 2024.

The Packers seem unsure of McManus’ status for Week 6. Head coach Matt LaFleur said (via Demovsky) before Thursday’s practice the kicker’s quad injury was a “major concern right now” and indicated that the veteran kicker was day-to-day, per Demovsky. However, special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia said (also via Demovsky) that he was “planning on McManus playing Sunday as of right now.”

A signing on Friday would be an indicator that McManus is at serious risk of missing the game, but he seems determined to play.

Colts Restructure Kenny Moore’s Contract

October 9th, 2025 at 5:30pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Colts restructured Kenny Moore‘s contract this week to create $3.8MM in cap room, per OverTheCap.

$4.75MM of the veteran cornerback’s 2025 salary was converted into a signing bonus. Since Moore’s contract expired after the 2026 season, the Colts added three void years to the deal to prorate his new bonus across five years instead of two. As a result, Moore’s cap hit rose by $950k in each of the remaining years. This type of restructure is known as a maximum restructure because it uses void years to create more cap space in the current year of the contract.

This particular restructure is notable because the Colts rarely use void years or maximum restructures despite their recent rise in popularity around the league. It could be an indicator that general manager Chris Ballard is looking to capitalize on a surprising 4-1 start with Daniel Jones under center with an aggressive move before the trade deadline. The team now has $7.63MM in cap space, which could be enough to make an addition in the coming weeks.

The Colts have been dealing with a number of injuries in their secondary since training camp and have been middling against opposing passing games to start the regular season. They are reportedly interested in free agent cornerback Tre Hawkins and could pursue a higher-profile defensive back on the trade market.

However, Ballard may also have been considering the team’s in-season expenses – i.e. practice squad elevations, signing injury replacements to the 53-man roster – when he completed the restructure. The Colts did not reduce Moore’s 2025 salary to the veteran minimum to create the the most space they could have. If Ballard was going shopping before the deadline, it would stand to reason that he would want as much cap space as possible to facilitate a deal.

Moore has been sidelined for multiple weeks with a hamstring injury, but it is not considered a major injury.

Eagles Activate LB Nakobe Dean From PUP

October 9th, 2025 at 3:47pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Eagles officially activated Nakobe Dean from the physically unable to perform list, per a team announcement, setting up the fourth-year linebacker to make his 2025 debut on Thursday night against the Giants.

Dean’s activation completes an impressive recovery from a torn patellar tendon suffered in January. He started the season on the PUP list but worked hard to return to practice as soon as he was eligible in Week 5. Dean quickly progressed to full participation and was expected to be ready for the Eagles’ Week 6 appearance on Thursday Night Football despite the short week.

Indeed, the Eagles are confident enough in Dean’s recovery and practice performance that he will play in New York, though the team’s depth at linebacker will not force him into a heavy workload right away. In fact, Zack Baun and Jihaad Campbell have played almost every defensive snap for Philadelphia this year, so there may not be much playing time available for a third off-ball linebacker given how often the Eagles use five or more defensive backs. Dean’s return could allow defensive coordinator Vic Fangio to use Campbell as a pass rusher more often.

The Eagles also elevated defensive tackle Gabe Hall from the practice squad for Thursday night’s contest, which is notable because Jalen Carter was a late addition to the injury report with a heel injury, per Dan Duggan of The Athletic. Hall’s elevation indicates that Philadelphia is unsure of Carter will be available for the game.

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