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Minor NFL Transactions: 10/6/25

October 6th, 2025 at 7:15pm CST by Connor Byrne

Today’s minor moves from around the NFL…

Arizona Cardinals

Jacksonville Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs

Minnesota Vikings

Reiman suffered a season-ending right ankle injury in a loss to the Titans on Sunday and will spend the rest of the year on IR. The blocking tight end and Trey McBride backup logged 98 offensive snaps and 50 on special teams during the first five weeks of the season. He also caught three of five targets for 18 yards.

Morris, already elevated three times from the Jaguars’ practice squad this year, signed to their active roster before Monday’s matchup against the Chiefs. The 28-year-old has played just three offensive snaps this season, though he has seen action on about 54 percent of special teams snaps. A member of the Bills from 2022-24, Morris has tallied 15 catches, 146 yards, and three touchdowns in 48 games in the NFL.

After receiving a standard elevation from the practice squad, Tuipulotu is in line to play his second game of the season on Monday. The 6-foot-2, 307-pounder took three defensive snaps in the Chiefs’ loss to the Chargers in Week 1.

Vannett appeared in three of the Vikings’ first five games before they released him. He only took the field for four offensive snaps and 20 on special teams.

49ers Open Malik Mustapha’s Practice Window

October 6th, 2025 at 5:56pm CST by Connor Byrne

Safety Malik Mustapha was an important part of the 49ers’ defense in 2024, but a right ACL injury suffered in Week 18 has prevented him from taking the field this year. That could change soon, however, as the 49ers opened Mustapha’s practice window on Monday. They now have 21 days to activate him from the physically unable to perform list.

A fourth-round pick from Wake Forest last year, Mustapha emerged as a 12-game starter over 16 contests as a rookie. The 5-foot-10, 206-pounder added 72 tackles, five passes defensed, and an interception to serve as a bright spot during a disappointing season for the 49ers.

A rash of injuries helped lead to a 6-11 record last year for San Francisco, which saw Mustapha exit early in its season-ending loss to the Cardinals. Mustapha previously tore the ACL in his right knee in college, and the latest injury forced him to undergo offseason surgery to repair the issue. His recovery has gone well enough that he could debut as early as this Sunday for an intriguing showdown with 4-1 Tampa Bay.

Despite once again battling a slew of notable injuries this season (including to quarterback Brock Purdy, tight end George Kittle, and defensive end Nick Bosa, among others), the 49ers have joined the Buccaneers in starting 4-1. Their Robert Saleh-led defense, which is tied for eighth in the NFL in points per game allowed and 15th in yardage, has utilized safeties Marques Sigle and Jason Pinnock on 100 percent of snaps in Mustapha’s absence. Meanwhile, Ji’Ayir Brown has seen action on just over 15 percent of snaps. Any or all of those three could lose playing time when Mustapha rejoins the lineup.

Jaguars DE Travon Walker Undergoes Wrist Surgery, Will Miss Week 5

October 6th, 2025 at 5:44pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

OCTOBER 6: Walker will miss Monday’s game, according to Wolfe. This will be Walker’s first missed contest since Week 16 of his 2022 rookie season.

OCTOBER 2: Jaguars defensive end Travon Walker injured his wrist in his last game and underwent surgery this week, according to head coach Liam Coen (via NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe).

However, Walker is still considered day-to-day and has not been ruled out for Jacksonville’s Monday night matchup with the Chiefs. Coen said that Walker “would do everything in his power” to play in Week 5. Perhaps he uses a club, brace, or other method to protect his wrist, but such a rapid return from surgery carries significant risk of exacerbating the original problem.

Walker, the No. 1 overall pick in 2022, underwhelmed as a rookie with just 3.5 sacks and five tackles for loss, but he exploded for 20.5 sacks and 23 TFLs over his next two seasons. He was off to a solid start in 2025 with two sacks and two TFLs, but may be limited by his injury until he is fully recovered.

While Walker has certainly not matched the form 2022’s No. 2 overall pick (Aidan Hutchinson) has shown when healthy, he has been durable. Missing two games as a rookie, the Georgia alum delivered perfect attendance over the past two seasons. That run of health appears in danger of stopping ahead of a key AFC matchup.

If Walker does not play, veteran edge defenders Dawuane Smoot, Emmanuel Ogbah, and Dennis Gardeck will take on more snaps against Kansas City. All three have been solid run-stoppers in their career without high-end pass-rushing production.

Broncos LG Ben Powers Headed To IR

October 6th, 2025 at 5:02pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Broncos earned an impressive comeback win on Sunday, but their offensive line will be shorthanded for an extended period. Left guard Ben Powers is dealing with a biceps injury which will lead to a notable absence.

Powers did not join the Broncos on their flight to London today. Instead, Parker Gabriel of the Denver Post notes he returned to Denver for evaluation on his injury. Testing has resulted in an unwanted prognosis. 9News’ Mike Klis reports Powers is heading to injured reserve.

The 28-year-old is set to miss at least the next four games as a result. However, Powers is in store for an extended absence. Per Klis, the team hopes to have him back in the fold at some point in December. That would represent a recovery timeline of roughly two months.

Since arriving in free agency in 2023, Powers has yet to miss a game. This absence will thus be a rare one, but it will also deal a blow to Denver’s highly-regarded offensive line. That unit played a critical role in quarterback Bo Nix‘s impressive rookie campaign and has remained strong in the early portion of the current season. Powers’ PFF evaluation to date has been in line with his previous Broncos performances.

The Oklahoma product is under contract through 2026, although none of his base salary for next year is locked in. Powers managing to return to full health late in the season could therefore prove to be key in ensuing he remains in Denver moving forward. In any case, the Broncos will be relying on one or more replacements along the interior of the O-line for the time being.

CB Tre Hawkins Drawing Interest

October 6th, 2025 at 2:47pm CST by Adam La Rose

Injuries limited Tre Hawkins to three games last season and left him off the Giants’ roster following training camp this summer. The free agent cornerback is unsigned at this point, but that could soon change.

Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports Hawkins is making progress in his recovery from the hamstring injury he dealt with during training camp. The Giants ultimately waived him with an injury designation, ending his New York tenure but allowing Hawkins to sign with a new team after a specified period. According to Wilson, the list of Hawkins suitors consists of the 49ers, Ravens, Lions, Dolphins and Colts.

Cornerback represents an area of need to varying extents in the case of all five of those teams. Miami moved on from Kendall Fuller (through release) and Jalen Ramsey (through trade) this offseason. The CB spot remained a question through training camp and into the season, and a number of injuries have now piled up. As such, a Hawkins signing could result in immediate playing time.

That is also the case for teams like Indianapolis (with Xavien Howard recently being moved to the reserve/Retired list) and Detroit (with D.J. Reed currently residing on injured reserve). Baltimore’s defense includes several key missing contributors. That includes cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey and Chidobe Awuzie, both of whom were sidelined yesterday and could miss further game action.

San Francisco’s secondary has seen the likes of Deommodore Lenoir and Renardo Green handle full-time starting roles as expected. Depth is always sought out in the middle of the season, though, and with a 4-1 record the NFC West leaders represent a logical candidate to pursue multiple additions during the campaign. With nearly $24MM in cap space, the 49ers could certainly afford to take multiple fliers on free agents.

Hawkins, 25, saw part-time usage on defense and special teams during his rookie season. The former sixth-rounder saw his snap share increase to 40% the following year, but he was only available for 89 snaps. Given today’s update, a number of teams certainly see upside in this case in addition to an encouraging outlook on the health front. It will be interesting to see how many visits Hawkins makes over the coming days given his list of suitors.

Colts K Spencer Shrader Out For Season

October 6th, 2025 at 2:30pm CST by Adam La Rose

2:30pm: Steichen announced Shrader has torn his ACL and MCL, confirming a long rehab process is in store. Steichen added (via Erickson) the Colts will hold kicker workouts over the coming days to begin the process of finding a replacement.

12:44pm: The Colts improved to 4-1 yesterday but they were dealt a serious special teams blow in the process. Kicker Spencer Shrader suffered a knee injury and after the game head coach Shane Steichen expressed concern (via ESPN’s Stephen Holder) about the ailment being serious.

Shrader is now known to be out for the remainder of the campaign. The 26-year-old suffered multiple ligament tears, as first noted by Pat McAfee during Monday’s episode of his show (video link). Joel A. Erickson of the Indy Star confirms that is the diagnosis in this case.

As such, Shrader is now in store for a lengthy rehab process. The Colts will also need to search for an in-season addition at the kicker position to fill in for the remainder of the campaign. Schrader kicked for three teams last year (including Indianapolis) before landing the full-time gig this offseason. The former UDFA had been enjoying a stellar start to the year, taking home Special Teams Player of the Month honors in September.

Schrader connected on 13 of 14 field goal attempts this season, including a five-for-five performance against the Broncos which involved a game-winning kick as time expired. The South Florida/Notre Dame product also converted each of his 14 extra point tries. As the Colts look to maintain their strong start to the season, they will need to do so without Shrader’s consistent presence in the kicking game.

Indianapolis currently ranks near the bottom of the NFL in terms of cap space with $4.06MM in available funds. That should still be sufficient to acquire a new kicker to close out the season, although the Colts will be hard-pressed to find a replacement capable of duplicating the success seen through five games. Shrader is under contract through 2026, and he will now aim to rehab in time for next season.

Patriots RB Antonio Gibson Suffers Torn ACL

October 6th, 2025 at 1:58pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Patriots improved to 3-2 with last night’s win in Buffalo. The team will be shorthanded on offense for the remainder of the season, though.

Antonio Gibson suffered an ACL tear on Sunday, as first reported by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Gibson was quickly ruled out of last night’s game after suffering the injury. Further testing took place today, including an MRI. The results confirm Gibson will be sidelined the rest of the way.

That news marks a notable blow to New England’s rushing attack. Gibson had been chipping in as a part-time contributor on offense in 2025, similar to last season. The 27-year-old’s statline for the year will include 112 scrimmage yards and one touchdown, a far cry from his high-end campaigns at the beginning of his career with Washington. Gibson is under contract through 2026.

None of the former third-rounder’s salary for next year ($2.85MM) is guaranteed, however. Especially in the wake of today’s injury news, Gibson’s time in New England could very well come to an end this spring as a result. In any case, the team will now need to move forward with Rhamondre Stevenson and second-round rookie TreVeyon Henderson leading the way in terms of backfield usage.

Stevenson has struggled with fumbles during his career, and while he has not been benched as a result his snap share for 2025 stands at 55%. That marks the lowest usage rate since his rookie campaign. Things could of course change in the wake of Gibson going down, but Henderson also represents a candidate for an uptick in carries moving forward. The Ohio State product has recorded double-digit carries only once in a game to date; it will be interesting to see if that changes in the near future.

Gibson topped 1,000 scrimmage yards during each of the first two seasons of his career, scoring 21 total touchdowns over that span. The Memphis product appeared to be on track for a lengthy RB1 stint in the nation’s capital, but after a downturn in usage over the final two years of his rookie pact he departed on the open market. Another trip to free agency could be in store relatively soon, and given this injury finding a lucrative pact will be a challenge.

Raiders Release LB Germaine Pratt

October 6th, 2025 at 1:29pm CST by Adam La Rose

Germaine Pratt‘s brief tenure with the Raiders has come to an end. The veteran linebacker has been released, head coach Pete Carroll announced on Monday.

When speaking about the decision, Carroll said (via ESPN’s Ryan McFadden) the team simply decided to move in a different direction. That is a clear indication Pratt was no longer in Vegas’ plans for the year. Indeed, the 29-year-old did not travel with the Raiders for their Week 5 game despite being healthy, as noted by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

Pratt was long seen as a cut candidate for the Bengals this offseason, and in June he was let go. That marked an end to the former third-rounder’s Cincinnati stint, one which spanned the first six years of his career. Pratt was not on the open market for long, as he inked a Raiders deal shortly after his release. That one-year pact contained $3.75MM in guarantees, and the team will take on that amount as a dead money charge.

This release will create just over $1MM in cap space, adding to the roughly $7.6MM in funds the Raiders already had prior to this move. It will be interesting to see if Vegas pursues a free agent or trade acquisition at the linebacker position to fill Pratt’s roster spot. Failing that, internal options will be counted on the rest of the way.

Pratt was inactive yesterday but he served as a starter for each of the Raiders’ first four games, logging a snap share of 88% during that time. Replacing a workload of that size could prove to be difficult, although the speed with which this decision has been made demonstrates Vegas’ willingness to move on early in the campaign. Pratt posted 25 tackles and a pair of pass deflections in September.

Given today’s move, the NC State product is once again a free agent. Pratt has 100 appearances and 92 starts to his name. He will thus offer plenty of experience to any interested teams, although a backup gig could be in store provided a deal is worked out allowing him to continue playing in 2025.

Packers Open WR Christian Watson’s Practice Window

October 6th, 2025 at 12:01pm CST by Adam La Rose

Coming off their bye, the Packers could have a key offensive contributor in the fold soon. Wideout Christian Watson has returned to practice, ESPN’s Rob Demovsky notes.

Last week, head coach Matt LaFleur said (via Demovsky) the team was discussing opening Watson’s practice window right after the bye. Today’s news comes as no surprise as a result. The Packers now have 21 days to activate Watson from the reserve/PUP list.

An ACL tear ended the 26-year-old’s 2024 campaign. Watson has been rehabbing the injury since then, and he expressed optimism last month in his ability to return to practice when first eligible to do so. That would have meant having his window opened last week, but in any event today’s update is an encouraging sign. Watson will be expected to handle a notable role upon activation, especially with Jayden Reed recovering from multiple surgeries.

Injuries have prevented Watson from playing a full season to date in his career. The former second-rounder nevertheless signed an $11MM deal this offseason to ensure he will not depart in free agency during the spring. Watson’s ability to receive a longer commitment from Green Bay will obviously be tied to his health and the extent to which he can duplicate last season’s success. Prior to his Week 18 ACL tear, the North Dakota State alum posted a career-best 620 yards while averaging 21.4 yards per reception.

Much of the Packers’ long-term plans at the receiver spot remains uncertain. Romeo Doubs (who is currently in the final year of his rookie pact) could be playing his way into an extension, while Reed will be eligible for a second contract after this season. Part of the team’s decisions on those fronts will no doubt be influenced by Watson and his role in the passing game upon returning to action this season.

In other injury news, offensive lineman Jacob Monk has also had his 21-day activation window opened (h/t Demovsky). Monk was moved to injured reserve during roster cutdowns while being designated for return. As a result, he (along with running back MarShawn Lloyd) already counts toward Green Bay’s total in terms of IR activations for the year. Monk could join Watson on the Packers’ gameday roster as early as Week 6 depending on how the next few days play out.

Mark Sanchez Charged With Felony Battery

October 6th, 2025 at 11:14am CST by Adam La Rose

Former NFL quarterback and current Fox Sports analyst Mark Sanchez was formally charged on Sunday for his role in an incident which took place in Indianapolis. Sanchez was initially charged with three misdemeanors, but his case will now include at least one felony count.

Marion County prosecutor Ryan Mears announced Monday morning that Sanchez now faces a felony battery charge involving serious bodily injury (h/t Fox 59’s Angela Ganote). That Level 5 charge carries a prison sentence of one to five years. Mears added the case is still being investigated, so further charges could be forthcoming.

A $300 bond was posted yesterday, as detailed by Mark Maske and Ben Strauss of the Washington Post. An initial court hearing had been scheduled for tomorrow, but Ganote notes Sanchez’s attorneys have now filed a motion to waive that proceeding. Instead, they are seeking a pre-trial conference. The judge overseeing this case has granted the motion, per Ganote. As a result, the first proceeding in this case will be a conference on November 4.

Sanchez – whose NFL career lasted from 2009-18 and included time spent with six different franchises – is alleged to have instigated an altercation with a 69-year-old man this past weekend. The alleged victim was sent to hospital with “serious injuries.” Sanchez was stabbed multiple times and also hospitalized. As of Monday morning, the 38-year-old is in stable condition but still in hospital (h/t Ganote).

Sanchez was in Indianapolis to work as FOX’s color analyst for the Raiders-Colts Week 5 game. The network has yet to comment on the situation aside from its statement issued Saturday afternoon following Sanchez’s hospitalization and arrest. Per Maske, Sanchez’s attorneys have no comment at this time.

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