Minor NFL Transactions: 11/13/25
Here are the latest minor moves from around the NFL…
Arizona Cardinals
- Practice window opened: OL Hayden Conner
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed from practice squad: OLB Khalid Kareem
- Placed on IR: LB DeAngelo Malone
Denver Broncos
- Signed off Giants’ practice squad: WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey (story)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed from practice squad: LB Branson Combs
New England Patriots
- Elevated: RB D’Ernest Johnson, LB Darius Harris
New York Giants
- Signed off Steelers’ practice squad: WR Isaiah Hodgins (story)
Conner, a sixth-round pick from Texas, has yet to debut as a rookie after suffering a knee injury in the preseason. The Cardinals placed Conner on IR with a return designation when they trimmed their roster to 53 players on Aug. 26. Now that Conner’s back at practice, the Cardinals will have 21 days to activate him.
Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson will miss Thursday’s game against the Jets with a toe injury, leading the Pats to elevate Johnson. He’ll work behind TreVeyon Henderson and Terrell Jennings, though the latter is playing through a knee issue. It’s the third and final standard elevation of the year for Johnson, meaning the Patriots will have to sign him to their active roster if they want to promote him again. The 29-year-old has totaled just 15 snaps (nine on special teams, six on offense) this season.
Connor Byrne contributed to this post.
Dolphins Received ‘Significant Interest’ In RB De’Von Achane
The Dolphins were expected to be sellers at the trade deadline, but they did not engage in an all-out fire sale like the Jets.
Instead, they dealt Jaelan Phillips to the Eagles for a third round pick and held onto Jaylen Waddle and Bradley Chubb. Miami also received “significant interest” in fourth-year RB De’Von Achane, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
“It seems the speedy 24-year-old generated as many phone calls as anyone, with Miami [setting] a second-round pick and more as the price,” Rapoport added.
That would be a costly move for a running back, but Achane has emerged as one of the league’s most versatile offensive weapons since he was drafted in 2023. The former second-round pick averaged 7.8 yards per carry as a rookie and expanded his receiving game significantly in 2024. He was a solid pass-catcher in college, but has emerged as a key cog in the Dolphins’ passing game over the last two years. Achane has put it all together in 2025, averaging 78.0 rushing yards and 32.5 receiving yards per game.
Ultimately, teams were not willing to pony up for Achane. One could argue that his production is partially due to his unique role in Mike McDaniel‘s scheme and may not completely transfer to a new offense. However, his 5.5 yards per carry behind a suspect Dolphins offensive line and receiving skillset would have value on any team.
Achane’s prominence in Miami’s offense is also a reason that the Dolphins would not want to move him. McDaniel seems poised to keep his job for the time being, but if he is retained for 2026, he will need to show improvement to stick around any longer. Achane is still under contract for another year and will be a crucial part of the team’s bounce-back effort next season. McDaniel blocked a trade that would have sent Calais Campbell to the Ravens last year and may have been similarly reluctant to part ways with Achane.
The Dolphins’ firing of general manager Chris Grier may have also been a factor in the team opting not to move Achane. The Dolphins seem headed towards a major overhaul, if not this offseason, then in the next two years. They still have the option to trade Achane this offseason – at which point he could have even more value if he continues his recent production – but a new general manager may see him as a long-term cornerstone and wish to extend him instead.
Cowboys Designate Malik Hooker For Return
The Cowboys designated safety Malik Hooker to return from injured reserve on Thursday, per a team announcement.
Hooker, 29, started the first four games of the season (alongside Donovan Wilson, his running mate for the last four years) before a toe injury landed him on IR. That started a shuffle of safeties in Dallas, which, along with their cornerback injuries, has contributed to their bottom-five pass defense.
Juanyeh Thomas replaced Hooker in Weeks 5 and 6 before he was sidelined by recurrent migraines. Markquese Bell started next to Wilson in Week 7, but Wilson suffered an elbow injury in that game. That pressed undrafted rookie Alijah Clark into action for his first career start the following week. Thomas’ condition briefly improved, allowing him to start with Bell in Week 9, but he was placed on the non-football illness list shortly after.
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer said last week that he is hoping that both Hooker and Wilson can play in Week 11. The Cowboys are set to play the Cardinals on Monday Night Football, so their starting safeties will have an extra day to practice.
Hooker, a former first-round pick, dealt with a handful of injuries in Indianapolis during his first four NFL seasons. He only missed four games across his first four years in Dallas before his toe issue this season.
The veteran’s return should help a cowboys pass defense that has struggled this year. Dallas has allowed the fourth-most yards per attempt and per game this year. They seem to have made some progress in the last few weeks, though they have faced an easier slate of opponents.
Hooker will have 21 days to practice with the team before he must be activated to the 53-man roster. Otherwise, he will revert to season-ending injured reserve.
Titans’ L’Jarius Sneed Indicted By Grand Jury
Another development in the case involving L’Jarius Sneed has taken place. The Titans cornerback was indicted by a Texas grand jury earlier this week, as detailed by veteran reporter Paul Kuharsky. 
Sneed was indicted for failure to report a felony. The charge is a Class A misdemeanor which carries a maximum penalty of one or both of a $4,000 fine and up to one year in jail. No trial date has been set at this time.
“We are aware of the legal matter with L’Jarius Sneed and have remained in contact with NFL security per league protocol,” a team statement reads. “We will have no further comment during an ongoing investigation.”
This is the latest development in the case concerning Sneed and his former personal assistant, Tekonzae Williams. The two are also the subject of a civil suit stemming from an alleged incident which took place on December 6, 2024. Williams has been indicted for aggravated assault; he is alleged to have fired gunshots at the vehicle of plaintiffs Christian Nshimiyimana and Avi Ahmed. Sneed’s indictment covers the accusation he witnessed the gunshots and failed to report it.
Kuharsky adds that as of this past summer, Sneed and Williams were no longer associated with one another. It nevertheless remains to be seen how this case will play out; likewise, the possibility of league discipline looms. Convictions in trial proceedings are not necessary for fines or suspensions to be handed down by the NFL.
After a strong four-year run with the Chiefs, Sneed was franchise tagged in 2024. That move prevented a free agent departure and was followed by a trade sending him to the Titans. The 28-year-old inked a four-year, $76.4MM extension upon arrival in Tennessee but things have not gone according to plan in his case. Sneed played just five games in 2024 and it was unclear heading into this season how much he would be able to contribute.
The former fourth-rounder has made seven appearances in 2025 but he currently resides on injured reserve. A return to action at some point late in the year will be something to watch for given Sneed’s uncertain outlook with the Titans. Regardless of what happens in that regard, his legal situation will be worth monitoring as well.
Former NFL WR Antonio Brown Arrested In Dubai
NOVEMBER 13: Brown was released on a $25K bond yesterday, court records show (h/t Fox Sports’ Greg Auman). He is now under house arrest and is required to wear an electronic ankle monitor. Brown’s arraignment is scheduled for Monday.
NOVEMBER 6: Just under five months ago, the authorities of Miami-Dade County announced that a search was underway for former NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown. The four-time first-team All-Pro wideout was wanted on an attempted murder charge stemming from an incident that occurred at a celebrity boxing match the prior month in Miami. Today, per Adam Schefter of ESPN, Brown was finally apprehended. 
Schefter relayed reports from Miami police spokesman Mike Vega, who detailed how U.S. Marshals took Brown into custody in Dubai, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. Brown was then flown to Essex County, New Jersey, and he is now being held until he can be extradited back to Miami.
Back in May, police responded to reports of gunshots at the aforementioned boxing event in Miami’s Little Haiti neighborhood and detained Brown before later releasing him. An off-duty officer observed Brown involved in a physical altercation with another man. Witnesses in the parking lot of the event labeled Brown the shooter. Brown, 37, did not have a weapon on him when officers patted him down, but he was accused of taking a security officer’s gun. Investigators found two spent shell casings and an empty gun holster at the scene.
A Fort Lauderdale resident, Brown was captured on a cellphone video punching a man and appearing to take the security officer’s gun before running toward the man he punched. Meeting with police back on May 21, the man Brown allegedly punched said the former All-Pro began to run toward him with a firearm before shooting at him twice, possibly grazing the man’s neck. He and Brown struggled for the gun, according to the warrant. Brown walked away as police arrived; the alleged victim, who was treated at a nearby hospital, told police he had known Brown since 2022. Released later that night in May, Brown said on social media people attempting to steal his jewelry “jumped” him.
This incident and the long-awaited resulting arrest are just the latest in a downward spiral of several legal problems Brown has dealt with post-football. Since unceremoniously ending his NFL career by removing his jersey, shoulder pads, and gloves that fateful day in Tampa Bay, several domestic violence charges, failure to pay child support, and some other violent allegations have tarnished the name of one of the 2010’s most dominant receivers.
A second-degree attempted murder charge carries a maximum 15-year prison sentence and up to a $10K fine in the event of a conviction. Back in June, the original plan was to place Brown on house arrest pending a trial. Considering Brown’s decision to flee the country, it’s unlikely such concessions will be offered now.
Giants Bring Back WR Isaiah Hodgins
Isaiah Hodgins is heading back in New York. The sixth-year receiver has worked out a deal to return to the Giants, as first reported by Dan Duggan of The Athletic. 
Hodgins has since confirmed the news (h/t ESPN’s Jordan Raanan), which is now official. He had been on the Steelers’ practice squad, but he will now return to the Giants by joining their active roster. Today’s news comes one day after Lil’Jordan Humphrey departed New York’s taxi squad to return to the Broncos.
The Giants’ receiving corps has been without Malik Nabers since his ACL tear. As expected, the unit has struggled following that injury and Darius Slayton could now miss time with a hamstring ailment. This Hodgins reunion could thus result in immediate playing time.
The former Bills sixth-rounder only made three regular season appearances with Buffalo before finding himself in New York. Hodgins racked up 391 yards during his time with the Giants in 2022 before serving a regular role on offense once again the following year. 2024 was a different story, though, as the 27-year-old bounced on and off the Giants’ active roster while only playing three games.
At the end of the campaign, Hodgins signed a futures pact with the 49ers. That allowed him to spend training camp in San Francisco, although he did not survive final roster cuts. Hodgins joined the Steelers by inking a practice squad deal; after not seeing any game time in Pittsburgh, he will no look to do so in a familiar environment.
The Giants will begin the post-Brian Daboll era on Sunday against the Packers. It will be interesting to see if Hodgins suits up for that contest and in doing so logs a depth role on offense. Even if not, he could chip in over the closing weeks of the campaign and thus look to earn an extended stay in New York.
Jaguars To Release DT Khalen Saunders
After making just two appearances this season, Khalen Saunders is set to see his time in Duval County come to an end. The veteran defensive tackle is being released, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports. 
Saunders played out his rookie contract with the Chiefs before serving as a two-year Saints starter. He was traded to Jacksonville in August in exchange for center Luke Fortner. That change of scenery did not result in much in the way of playing time for Saunders. The 29-year-old has logged only 25 snaps so far this season.
With this move taking place after the trade deadline, Saunders will hit the waiver wire. Provided he goes unclaimed, the former third-rounder will become a free agent and look to join a contender for the closing stages of the campaign. It will be interesting to see if a Kansas City reunion will be explored.
The Chiefs were linked to an addition along the defensive line before and after the trade deadline. Kansas City has already taken the route of bringing back a veteran shortly after being released elsewhere once in 2025 in the case of Mike Pennel. Doing so again would allow for Saunders, who won a pair of Super Bowls during his time with the Chiefs, to reprise his former role as a depth contributor. Kansas City has $3MM in cap space at the moment.
Jacksonville still has the likes of Arik Armstead, DaVon Hamilton, Austin Johnson and Maason Smith in place along the defensive line. That group will be counted on to continue handling the bulk of snaps up front to close out the campaign, with the Jags (5-4) competing for a playoff berth. Saunders was a pending free agent prior to today’s release.
The Western Illinois product landed a three-year, $12.3MM pact during his first trip to free agency. A deal of similar value will not be forthcoming in the middle of the campaign, but it will be interesting to see where Saunders winds up for the stretch run.
Commanders Designate DE Drake Jackson For Return From IR
Drake Jackson joined the Commanders one month ago, but in the immediate aftermath of that decision he was moved to injured reserve. The fourth-year defensive end has continued to rehab his injured knee since then. 
Jackson is now moving closer to a Washington debut, though. His practice window has been opened, per a team announcement. Jackson now has up to 21 days to prepare for his first game action since Week 8 of the 2023 campaign. A torn patellar tendon cost him all of last season and ultimately led to the end of his 49ers tenure.
As a former second-round pick, Jackson was viewed as having upside for interested suitors but it remains unclear how much of an impact he will be able to make upon being activated. The Commanders’ defense has been reeling in recent weeks, and head coach Dan Quinn has taken over play-calling duties for the unit. Any additional help will be welcomed at this point.
If Jackson, 24, manages to serve as at least a depth contributor down the stretch, his free agent stock will receive a boost. The Commanders rank mid-pack in terms of sack production this season, with Dorance Armstrong and Von Miller leading the way. Jackson posted three sacks as a rookie, and then matched that figure in Week 1 of the following season before being held without one over the remainder of his appearances. Expectations will be tempered in this case, but the USC product could carve out a rotational role late in the year.
The Commanders have used one of their eight IR activations so far in 2025. Another will be accounted for when safety Will Harris – who was designated for return yesterday – is brought back into the fold. The same will also be true in Jackson’s case.
Colts Plan To Make Long-Term Offer To QB Daniel Jones
Daniel Jones is following the Baker Mayfield/Sam Darnold path as a former top-10 pick to bounce back after inconsistency with his first NFL team. The Colts have reaped the benefits of their one-year Jones addition, and buzz is building — particularly after the team’s blockbuster trade that stripped away top draft assets — this partnership will continue.
The Colts are planning to make Jones a long-term offer, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport. Although extension talks have not begun yet, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones adds the quarterback “loves” Indianapolis and is pleased with his current situation. The seventh-year veteran chose the Colts over a better offer to remain with the Vikings, viewing this as the superior path to a starting role. He was proven correct, and the Colts are tied for the AFC’s best record — at 8-2 — in their bye week.
Seeing as the Colts dealt their 2026 and ’27 first-round picks for Sauce Gardner, it certainly seems like Jones’ bargaining position improved. Against all odds, Jones has found himself with leverage that could be comparable to where he stood with the Giants in 2023. While Jones negotiations have not yet started, discussions with the free agent-to-be should be expected soon.
Indianapolis both missed on its most recent first-round quarterback (Anthony Richardson) and has dealt away the top two assets to land another one. Although Jones did not come close to living up to his four-year, $160MM Giants accord, he asked for $47MM per year that offseason — a seminal period for that franchise. Jones’ positional value prompted GM Joe Schoen to prioritize him more than Saquon Barkley, talent disparity notwithstanding, and that led to a Barkley tag and 2024 free agency exit. The Giants’ decision to re-sign Jones backfired spectacularly, with Barkley joining the 2,000-yard club and driving the Eagles to a Super Bowl title — weeks after New York released Jones.
Jones was not believed to have created much distance from Richardson during their training camp competition, but he won the job and has certainly separated from the erratic top-five pick in-season. Jones ranks ninth in QBR, which represents a slip from where he was a few weeks ago but obviously a surprising placement given his standing throughout his second Giants contract and into free agency. Jones is playing out a one-year, $14MM contract; he is positioned to do much better in 2026.
The Colts appear “all in” on a long-term partnership with Jones, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes, citing Mayfield and Darnold’s deals as comps. Mayfield and Darnold signed near-identical contracts a year apart, and both have justified the payments.
Mayfield is on a three-year, $100MM deal that included $40MM at signing; Darnold is at three years, $100.5MM ($37.5MM at signing). Darnold’s hot Seattle start has left little to no suspense about him collecting an additional $17.5MM guaranteed in February. Jones’ shaky Giants tenure will logically give teams pause, but Fowler points to the QB being able to set his price point beyond where Mayfield and Darnold took the mid-tier QB market.
Jones, who used his dual-threat ability to pilot the Colts to a game-tying drive in the final second of their win in Berlin, leads the NFL in passing yards — with 2,659 and sits fourth in yards per attempt (8.3). Both numbers are out of step with the former No. 6 overall pick’s Giants work, which never featured a season north of 7.0 yards per pass or a yardage total beyond 3,300. Jones is on pace to blow past that yardage mark, and while the ex-Eli Manning successor did guide the Colts to wins over the Broncos and Chargers, tough tests against the Chiefs, Seahawks and 49ers remain. Two matchups against a formidable Texans defense are on Indy’s docket as well.
When the Colts traded Gardner, some around the league viewed it as a pledge they will re-sign Jones, ESPN’s Dan Graziano notes. We heard before the Gardner trade the Colts were interested in a post-2025 Jones relationship. Considering Jones’ struggles justifying his $40MM-AAV Giants accord and his health issues in the past, the Colts diving back in on a franchise-level contract for this particular player would appear risky. But this franchise has been starved for stability at the position post-Andrew Luck. By starting Jones over Richardson this year, the Colts joined only Washington (2017-24) by using an eighth Week 1 QB1 in nine-season span. Jones has also given Indy’s homegrown core a return to relevance.
Controlling owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon signed off on Chris Ballard‘s Gardner swap, encouraging her GM to secure a long-term fix for the team’s boundary cornerback issue rather than a stopgap solution. The Colts failed with QB stopgaps in Carson Wentz and Matt Ryan, and even though their hopeful long-term fix in Richardson appears a failure in progress, the team’s Gardner play points to Jones being given another lucrative contract.
Jones playing hardball with the Giants in 2023 provides a sign where his Indy negotiations could go, and that will be an interesting storyline to follow as free agency nears. But he and MVP candidate Jonathan Taylor have the Colts in first place in scoring this season. It is possible Ballard has made a determination on his quarterback, and Jones’ resurgence is on track to save the GM and HC Shane Steichen‘s jobs.
Even though the Colts have hurdles to clear as they pursue their first playoff bye since 2009, the team is on track for its first AFC South title since 2014. A reward payment for Jones appears to be expected in the not-too-distant future. The Colts have until the mid-March legal tampering period to negotiate exclusively with Jones, whose Giants deal came days before the 2023 legal tampering period.
Giants To Start QB Jameis Winston In Week 11
With Jaxson Dart in concussion protocol, the Giants will turn to their third different starting quarterback of the season in Week 11. Jameis Winston will get the nod on Sunday against the Packers, Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News reports.
After Dart suffered his injury in last week’s loss to the Bears, season-opening starter Russell Wilson replaced him. With the Wilson experiment having gone poorly this year, newly named interim head coach Mike Kafka will try his hand with Winston in his first game replacing the fired Brian Daboll.
Roughly a month before the Giants traded up to draft Dart 25th overall in April, they brought in Wilson and Winston as potential stopgaps in free agency. Wilson inked a one-year, $10.5MM deal, while Winston signed on for two years and $8MM.
Regardless of who grabs the reins as the Giants’ full-time head coach, Wilson is all but assured to leave the team after the season. Considering Winston’s already under contract, he figures to serve as Dart’s backup in 2026. It’s worth noting that a portion of Winston’s salary for next season is already guaranteed.
The Giants used Winston as their emergency third QB until Kafka took over. The battle-tested former No. 1 overall pick is now in line to make the 88th start of his career since he entered the NFL with the Buccaneers in 2015.
Also a former Saint and Brown, Winston most recently saw regular-season action with Cleveland in Week 15 last year. He made seven starts in 12 appearances with the Browns and completed 61.1% of passes for 2,121 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. The Browns went 2-5 in Winston’s starts. He and Kafka will hope for better results on Sunday.