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Browns’ Greg Newsome, David Njoku On Trade Radar?

October 7th, 2025 at 3:37pm CST by Connor Byrne

The Browns made a noteworthy trade Tuesday when they sent quarterback Joe Flacco and a sixth-round pick to the division rival Bengals for a fifth-rounder. With the Nov. 4 trade deadline nearing, the Browns may not be done shipping out players. Cornerback Greg Newsome and tight end David Njoku are among the names to watch leading up to the deadline, according to Ralph Vacchiano of FOX Sports.

Newsome has been a career-long Brown since they selected him 26th overall in the 2021 draft. He has since started in 47 of 59 games, including all five this year, and totaled three interceptions. Newsome came up in trade rumors multiple times during the offseason.

A deal never came together, though, and the former first-round cornerback made it clear in August that he wanted to remain a Brown for the rest of his career. The team then lost Martin Emerson for the season, giving Newsome more role stability. Emerson has played 95% of Cleveland’s defensive snaps through five games.

Newsome may want to stay in Cleveland, but he’s facing an uncertain future as a soon-to-be free agent. He’s due to reach the open market in March after playing this season under his his fifth-year option (worth $13.38MM). The Browns could move the 25-year-old for draft-pick compensation in the next few weeks if they don’t plan to retain him during the offseason.

Njoku, now in his ninth year, joins Newsome as a career-long Brown and a pending free agent. He surfaced in trade rumors alongside Newsome around this time last year. As is the case with Newsome, though, he has yet to change hands.

In the first three seasons after inking a four-year, $56.75MM extension in May 2022, Njoku averaged 14 games, 68 catches, 100 targets, 672 yards and five touchdowns per campaign. Five games into 2025, Njoku is on a similar pace, having racked up 20 catches on 30 targets for 195 yards and a TD.

Among Browns pass catchers, Njoku’s 84.4 percent snap share ranks second behind wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (86.4). It’s also worth noting that he showed chemistry with Dillon Gabriel in the rookie quarterback’s first start last week, catching six of nine targets for 67 yards and a score.

Although Njoku remains a key figure in the Browns’ offense, they could feel comfortable parting with him thanks to the emergence of rookie tight end Harold Fannin. The third-round pick from Bowling Green has played 72.4 percent of the Browns’ offensive snaps and hauled in 21 of 28 targets for 173 yards and a TD. Fannin has impressed the Browns enough that his role in their offense could increase, per Dan Graziano of ESPN. That may help usher Njoku out of town in the coming weeks. At the very least, the 1-4 team’s tight end position will be worth monitoring as Fannin continues to adjust to the NFL game.

Ravens Sign C.J. Gardner-Johnson To Practice Squad

October 7th, 2025 at 2:59pm CST by Connor Byrne

Just under two weeks after his short Texans tenure ended, safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson has found a new home. The 27-year-old is signing with the Ravens’ practice squad, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Gardner-Johnson turned in one of the most productive seasons of his career in 2024 during his second stint with the Eagles. He tied a career high with six interceptions over 16 games (all starts) during the regular season and helped the Eagles to a Super Bowl title in the playoffs.

Despite his success in Philadelphia, the team traded Gardner-Johnson and a 2026 sixth-round pick to Houston for offensive lineman Kenyon Green and a 2025 fifth-rounder last March. The move didn’t go according to plan for either club, though, and Gardner-Johnson and Green are now teammates several months later. Green hooked on with the Ravens’ practice squad last week after the Eagles waived him.

Gardner-Johnson is now joining Green after he played just three games with the Texans. He started in each of those contests and logged 15 tackles, but Gardner-Johnson reportedly clashed with Texans teammates and was unhappy with his role in their defense.

The Ravens will be the fourth team for Gardner-Johnson, also a former Saint and Lion. With Houston on the hook for his fully guaranteed 2025 salary, it’s a low-risk move for Baltimore. Several noteworthy injuries, including in the secondary, have been among the main culprits for the Ravens’ stunning 1-4 start. Their defensive backfield lost safety Ar’Darius Washington to a torn Achilles during the spring. Meanwhile, all-world safety Kyle Hamilton is battling a groin injury and could miss his second straight game this week.

With Hamilton inactive last Sunday, the Ravens took a 44-10 beating at the hands of Gardner-Johnson’s previous team, the Texans. The Ravens deployed two rookies at safety in first-round pick Malaki Starks and the undrafted Reuben Lowery. Quarterback C.J. Stroud carved up their secondary, going 23 for 27 for 244 yards and four touchdowns.

The Ravens will face another stiff test this Sunday against the Rams, whose Matthew Stafford-led aerial attack has been elite in 2025. While the Ravens may not have Hamilton, Gardner-Johnson could make his debut. As Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic notes, when Hamilton is ready to return, Gardner-Johnson’s presence should enable him to play closer to the line of scrimmage. That would allow Hamilton to capitalize on his superb skills as a playmaker and run defender.

With Gardner-Johnson in the fold, the Ravens have released defensive tackle Josh Tupou from their practice squad, according to Zrebiec. Tupou played 30 defensive snaps and made three tackles in the Ravens’ loss to the Chiefs in Week 4.

Bengals Cut Brett Rypien, Mike White

October 7th, 2025 at 2:15pm CST by Connor Byrne

After adding Joe Flacco to their quarterback room on Tuesday, the Bengals are moving on from a couple of other signal-callers. The team has cut Brett Rypien (via Tom Pelissero of NFL Network) and Mike White. To take White’s place on their practice squad, the Bengals signed defensive tackle Howard Cross III.

With injured starter Joe Burrow out for the foreseeable future, the Bengals will go forth with Flacco and Jake Browning as their options under center. They also have Sean Clifford on their practice squad. Flacco, acquired from the division-rival Browns, could make his Bengals debut as early as this Sunday against the Packers.

The 29-year-old Rypien signed with the Bengals after the Vikings released him late in the summer. He saw regular-season action with the Broncos and Rams earlier in his career and has gone 98 for 168 for 950 yards, four touchdowns, and nine interceptions in 11 games.

White, who spent most of last year on Buffalo’s practice squad, became a Bengal in mid-September after failing to beat out Mitchell Trubisky for the Bills’ No. 2 QB job during the summer. The short-lived Jets starter and ex-Dolphins backup has completed 199 of 324 attempts with nine TDs and 13 picks in 15 contests.

Cross, an undrafted free agent from Notre Dame, made his lone NFL appearance in Cincinnati’s loss to Minnesota in Week 3. He played nine defensive snaps and made one tackle in that game. The Bengals waived him last week, but they’re reuniting just a few days later.

Saints To Sign CB Michael Davis

October 7th, 2025 at 2:00pm CST by Sam Robinson

Michael Davis has found another gig. After no team signed the veteran cornerback following the expiration of his Commanders deal, two clubs showed interest this week.

The Saints are adding Davis, according to CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz. This is an active-roster deal, per NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo. Davis had agreed to join the Saints’ practice squad, but the Lions showed interest for what appears to be a P-squad deal. Instead, New Orleans offered a spot on its 53-man roster. That did the trick to add the experienced starter.

This will reunite Davis with Brandon Staley, the Saints’ DC hire. Staley coached Davis from 2021-23 with the Chargers. Davis parlayed his Los Angeles work into a one-year, $3.2MM Commanders pact. He is certainly better known for Bolts contributions, however, having signed a three-year, $25MM contract to stay with the team in 2021. That came during Staley’s first offseason as Chargers HC.

Washington did not see much from Davis last season, using him as a starter in only two games. Pro Football Focus graded the 6-foot-2 DB as one of the NFL’s worst cornerback regulars in 2024, and the Commanders made multiple investments at the position this offseason. Davis is now 30 but will be given another chance — albeit for a 1-4 team.

A Charger from 2017-23, Davis started 74 games with the team. He was a regular first-stringer from 2018-23, lining up in Staley’s defense during much of this span. PFF graded the Tom Teleseco-era UDFA well in 2022, slotting him 31st, but has viewed him as a below-average option since. Davis has played on the outside for most of his career, seeing only a fraction of his work in the slot.

The Saints played their Week 5 game without starter Isaac Yiadom. The two-time Saint is not on IR, but Davis will provide some depth and bring scheme familiarity. New Orleans also waived Velus Jones to clear a roster spot, ESPN.com’s Katherine Terrell tweets. A former Bears third-round draftee, Jones has primarily worked as a return man as a pro. Being tried at receiver and running back, Jones has been unable to stick around. Jones played in all five Saints games this season, working as the team’s primary kick returner.

While a Lions landing would have been more relevant in the grand scheme, game checks on the veteran minimum obviously dwarf P-squad salaries. Davis would have been insurance in Detroit as well, and the NFC North powerhouse could use help. The Lions are down D.J. Reed, Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw, with Reed and Rakestraw on IR, ahead of their Sunday-night clash with the Chiefs. Detroit still has Amik Robertson, Avonte Maddox and corner/safety Rock Ya-Sin on its active roster. Tre Flowers is one of three CBs on the Lions’ P-squad. It will be interesting to see if the Lions make another move at corner given their injury situation.

Colts To Bring Back K Michael Badgley

October 7th, 2025 at 1:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

Spencer Shrader‘s season-ending injury will force the Colts to make another change at kicker. After bringing in Shrader to replace Matt Gay, Indianapolis will turn to one of its former options to fill in for Shrader.

Michael Badgley is returning on what NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo report is an active-roster deal. Not kicking in a game since the 2023 season, Badgley previously kicked for the Colts in 2021. Badgley joined Dustin Hopkins and Matt Ammendola at a workout today, the Indianapolis Star’s Joel Erickson notes. Badgley participated in a Falcons workout last month but did not land the gig.

Most recently seeing game action with the Lions, Badgley played for the Colts in 2021. He kicked in 12 games for Indianapolis that season, replacing the injured Rodrigo Blankenship. Badgley kicked for the Bears and Lions in 2022 and stayed in Detroit in 2023, residing on the Lions’ practice squad for much of the season before eventually replacing Riley Patterson as the team’s primary kicker.

Now 30, Badgley is best remembered for a three-season Chargers stint. He has been a nomadic NFL specialist since that 2018-20 stretch. Badgley only attempted four regular-season field goals with the 2023 Lions, making them all. In 2022, he made 24 of 28 tries between stops in Chicago and Detroit. As a Colt in 2021, Badgley was 18-for-21. He has only made two 50-plus-yard field goals since his Chargers stint wrapped, going 2-for-4 in that span.

Shrader won the competition to replace Gay but went down during Indy’s Week 5 win over Las Vegas, suffering ACL and MCL tears. The Colts have a new coaching staff from Badgley’s 2021 stint, but GM Chris Ballard remains in place. The ninth-year GM will see if Badgley can help his resurgent team retain its current course. Hopkins is still searching for a gig after being a Browns cut in August; Ammendola has not kicked since a five-game cameo with the 2023 Texans.

This marks more kicker turnover for a Colts team that has not seen the same kicker complete three consecutive seasons in the role since Adam Vinatieri‘s retirement. Blankenship was out one game into his third season (2022), after missing most of 2021, while the team bailed on Gay’s four-year deal two seasons in. With Shrader on the shelf for a while, Badgley — who has not played a full season with a team since 2020 in Los Angeles — will hold the job for the time being.

Titans WR Treylon Burks Receives Medical Clearance

October 7th, 2025 at 11:54am CST by Adam La Rose

Treylon Burks‘ latest injury has kept him sidelined through the beginning of the 2025 campaign. The former first-round receiver could be on the field soon, though.

Burks – who suffered a broken collarbone during training camp – has received medical clearance to return to football activities, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. As a result, interest could pick up in the near future in this case. That will depend on how the Titans proceed, however.

In the wake of his most recent ailment, Burks was waived with an injury designation by Tennessee in late July. To little surprise, the 25-year-old went unclaimed. That resulted in Burks reverting to injured reserve. Players in that situation are often released via an injury settlement, but ESPN’s Turron Davenport notes that has yet to happen. As such, Burks is still in place with the Titans.

Per Davenport, a termination (which would lead Burks to free agency) could take place at any time. For now, though, no communication between team and player has taken place indicating a release is imminent. Of course, that could change in short order if the Chad Brinker-Brian Callahan regime – which was not in place when Burks was drafted – decides to move forward with its other options at the receiver position. That group includes veterans Calvin Ridley, Tyler Lockett and Van Jefferson, along with rookies Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike.

Burks faced massive expectations upon arriving in the NFL based on his draft status but also because the pick used to select him was acquired from the Eagles in the A.J. Brown trade. While Brown has cemented his status as one of the league’s premier receivers during his time in Philadelphia, Burks has played just 27 games to date. The Arkansas product posted 444 yards as a rookie, but since then he has been unable to remain healthy or build off that output.

Regardless of what plays out in 2025, Burks will not be viewed as an impact addition based on the way his NFL career has unfolded up to this point. Still, it will be interesting to see if the Titans proceed with a release and a market is generated soon after.

Bengals HC Zac Taylor To Retain Play-Calling Duties

October 7th, 2025 at 10:31am CST by Adam La Rose

The Bengals’ offense has drawn heavy scrutiny since quarterback Joe Burrow‘s injury. Things have not gone according to plan with Jake Browning under center, and a change could be coming soon.

During each of the three games Browning has started, Cincinnati has scored only three points through the first three quarters. The team managed to score a trio of touchdowns late in Week 5, but on the whole significant improvement is needed moving forward. Efforts on that front will include head coach Zac Taylor continuing in his role as play-caller.

“I feel very comfortable,” Taylor said (via ESPN’s Ben Baby). “It’s a fair question. We score three points in three games in the first half. I totally understand that. But right now, it’s going to remain the same.”

Taylor arrived as head coach in 2019. The 42-year-old called plays on offense throughout that span despite a limited track record of doing so at the NFL and college levels. Coming off his time with the Dolphins (which included an interim offensive coordinator gig) and Rams (making him one of several Sean McVay assistants who have gone on to prominent offensive roles), though, it came as little surprise when Taylor took charge of the offense in Cincinnati. That unit has generally thrived when Burrow has been healthy, something which could be the case late this season after he recovers from toe surgery.

In the meantime, however, the Bengals’ playoff chances depend on steps forward being taken on both sides of the ball. The team sits near the bottom of the league in both points and yards allowed on defense, while finding offensive production has also proven to be a challenge. Cincinnati is averaging just 17 points and 246 yards per game, figures which will of course need to improve if an end to the team’s losing streak is to take place.

Efforts to make that possible could have included a change in play-calling responsibilities, something which Taylor’s former OC Brian Callahan recently moved forward with in Tennessee. In the case of the Bengals, however, the status quo will remain in place on the sidelines.

Vikings’ J.J. McCarthy Returns To Practice; Carson Wentz Dealing With Shoulder Injury

October 7th, 2025 at 9:43am CST by Adam La Rose

The Vikings are currently on their bye after two straight overseas games. It remains to be seen what their quarterback situation will be for Week 7, but J.J. McCarthy is making strides toward a return.

Minnesota’s 2025 starter took part in practice Monday. That development came after McCarthy was sidelined through each of the past three weeks due to a high ankle sprain. The Vikings have not rushed the 2024 first-rounder back onto the field, relying on Wentz to handle starting duties in Week 3 as well as both of their international contests. With McCarthy participating in practice, though, he could be in line to return in time for Week 7.

“J.J. got some work today, and he’ll get some work the rest of the week,” head coach Kevin O’Connell said (via Emily Leiker of the Minnesota Star Tribune). “We’ll pick it up officially next week, but I’m encouraged about where he’s at right now.”

McCarthy missed his entire rookie campaign while recovering from meniscus surgery, but he was the Vikings’ unquestioned QB1 entering this season. His first action atop the depth chart did not go according to plan, aside from a strong fourth quarter in Week 1. That no doubt played a role in O’Connell declining to conclusively state McCarthy will reprise his role as starter once he is fully healed. By next week, though, Wentz may not be in position to play even if that were to be the team’s presence.

Wentz injured his left (that is, non-throwing) shoulder during Minnesota’s comeback win against the Browns on Sunday. O’Connell noted the 32-year-old was “pretty sore” upon returning from London. The coming days will be key in evaluating his status for Week 7. It will be interesting to see how the Vikings proceed at the quarterback spot if both McCarthy and Wentz are available by that point.

Minnesota sits at 3-2 on the year and a stable run of play from the quarterback spot will be key in determining if another playoff berth proves to be attainable. The team’s long-term plans will of course depend largely on McCarthy’s development, a process which could resume as early as Week 7 against the Eagles.

Lions CB Terrion Arnold To Miss Time

October 7th, 2025 at 8:58am CST by Adam La Rose

OCTOBER 7: Arnold’s injury could end his season, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports (video link). He adds additional opinions are being sought out at this point. More clarity could emerge soon in this case as a result.

OCTOBER 6: The Lions’ depth at the cornerback spot has taken another hit. Detroit is already without Ennis Rakestraw and D.J. Reed, and Terrion Arnold is now sidelined as well.

When speaking to the media on Monday, head coach Dan Campbell said Arnold will be out for “a while” due to a shoulder injury (video link). It is unclear at this point if the ailment will prove to be season-ending. In any case, losing Arnold for an extended period will deal a notable blow to Detroit’s’ secondary.

Rakestraw landed on injured reserve this summer, meaning his 2025 campaign was over before it started. Reed, meanwhile, was moved to IR last week as a result of a hamstring injury. Reed will miss at least the next three games. Even when he comes back, though, depth at the cornerback spot will be an issue provided Arnold’s absence lasts as long as the team fears it will.

The 2024 first-rounder logged over 900 snaps as a rookie, and he remained a starter on the perimeter to begin the current campaign. Arnold was in line to have his workload reduced, but the Reed injury made it difficult to keep him off the field. Now, both of the Lions’ projected boundary starters will be unavailable for the time being. Rakestraw’s absence will be acutely felt since he would have been a candidate to take on a notable role in the wake of these other injuries.

Nevertheless, the 4-1 Lions will be tasked with moving forward without several key players at the CB spot. Amik Robertson could find himself in a full-time role on the outside despite being best suited to the slot. Rock Ya-Sin, Tre Flowers and Avonte Maddox are also in the fold at this point; some or each of them could be in store for a notable uptick in workload through the remainder of the campaign.

The Lions entered Monday with over $26MM in cap space. Finances will therefore not be an issue if one or more cornerback additions are to be pursued in the near future.

Recent Broncos Extensions Highlight Post-Russell Wilson Recovery

October 6th, 2025 at 11:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Russell Wilson miss remains a central part of the Broncos' roster construction, even though the now-well-traveled quarterback is two teams removed from his Denver stay. Year 2 of the Wilson contract's dead money albatross has undercut the Broncos' ability to build around Bo Nix's rookie contract.

Wilson remains the top single-player cap hit on Denver's payroll -- by a wide margin. Although the Broncos absorbed the larger blow last year by taking on $53MM in dead cap, Wilson's $32MM 2025 number leads the Denver payroll by nearly $10MM. Right tackle Mike McGlinchey's $23.78MM sits second. The historic miss, though somewhat overshadowed by the Browns' cataclysmic Deshaun Watson decision (which occurred barely a week later in March 2022), has handicapped Sean Payton's team. But the Broncos have built a 2025 contender regardless.

A mix of investments from Payton's time in control join players brought in during GM George Paton's two years at the controls, while left tackle Garett Bolles and wide receiver Courtland Sutton remain from John Elway's GM tenure. The Broncos are 3-2, having become the first team to hand the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles a loss in a game Jalen Hurts finished since Week 4 of last season. Reaching this place amid the reality of the record-setting Wilson dead money hit reflects well on the Payton-Paton partnership, one that certainly did not look like a long-term fit.

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