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Workout Notes: Giants, Steelers, Ravens, Chargers, Commanders

October 2nd, 2025 at 9:10pm CST by Connor Byrne

Having lost superstar No. 1 wide receiver Malik Nabers to a season-ending torn ACL, the Giants are looking to replenish their depth at the position. With that in mind, they’ll work out free agent receiver Samori Toure on Friday, Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News reports. Now 27 years old, Toure entered the NFL as a seventh-round pick of the Packers in 2022. Toure caught 13 passes for 160 yards and a touchdown with the Packers over two seasons, and he hasn’t appeared in a regular-season game since 2023. The Bears signed Toure to a reserve/futures contract last January, but they waived him in August. The 6-foot-1, 196-pounder has been on the open market since then.

More workout updates from around the NFL:

  • After losing practice squad safety Sebastian Castro to the Buccaneers on Tuesday, the Steelers brought in a handful of potential replacements for visits on Wednesday, according to Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. The team auditioned Kendell Brooks, Jack Henderson, Maxen Hook, Glendon Miller, and Mark Perry. Brooks, who appeared in five games with the Titans last year, is the only member of the group with regular-season NFL experience.
  • The Ravens had defensive backs Amani Oruwariye, Michael Davis, Kemon Hall, and Keenan Isaac in for tryouts on Wednesday, per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. The 30-year-old Davis is the most experienced member of the group, having amassed 122 appearances (76 starts) and eight interceptions with the Chargers and Commanders since 2017. However, only Oruwariye impressed Baltimore’s brass enough to earn a contract with the team this week. The Ravens added the seventh-year cornerback and former Lion, Jaguar, and Cowboy on a practice squad deal on Wednesday. He’ll provide depth with the Ravens dealing with a slew of defensive injuries, including to corners Marlon Humphrey (calf), Nate Wiggins (elbow), and Chidobe Awuzie (hamstring).
  • Along with Bobby Hart, whom they signed to their practice squad, the Chargers worked out fellow offensive linemen Chris Hubbard and Zachary Thomas on Wednesday, Wilson relays. Hubbard, 34, has 102 games of experience and 61 starts under his belt. The guard/tackle played in eight games and totaled three starts with the Giants last year. Thomas divided 2024 between the Patriots and Texans, with whom he combined for 14 of his 17 career appearances. He still hasn’t logged a start since debuting with the Rams in 2022.
  • The Commanders tried out punter Jack Browning on Thursday, according to Wilson. Washington is looking for depth behind two-time Pro Bowl punter and 12th-year man Tress Way, who has averaged 47.1 yards per punt and 43.4 net on 14 tries this season. Browning, undrafted from San Diego State in 2o24, appeared in 10 games with Tampa Bay as a rookie and averaged 42.5 yards (34.6 net) on 10 punts.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/2/25

October 2nd, 2025 at 8:04pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad moves:

Indianapolis Colts

  • Signed: CB Keenan Garber

Los Angeles Chargers

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Tennessee Titans

The Chargers added a familiar face in Sam Mustipher today. A former UDFA, the offensive lineman started 40 of his 43 appearances with the Bears to begin his career, playing the majority of his snaps at center. He got into nine games with the Ravens in 2023 before appearing in 12 contests with the Chargers in 2024. Mustipher also has the ability to play guard, although the Chargers are especially needy at OT with Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater sidelined.

Dante Pettis will also be reuniting with a recent team, as the wideout spent the 2024 season in New Orleans. The former second-round pick has failed to live up to his draft billing, with the majority of his career production coming during a rookie campaign where he collected 27 receptions for 467 yards and five touchdowns. He’s bounced around the league a bit since his 49ers tenure came to an end. After not getting into a game in 2023, he resurfaced with the Saints in 2024, where he added 12 more catches to his resume. He was among the team’s final preseason cuts in 2025.

A former fifth-round running back, Avery Williams has made a name for himself as a returner. He spent four years in Atlanta, returning 54 kickoffs for 1211 yards (22.4-yard average). He missed the 2023 campaign with a torn ACL. The Jets returners have struggled in 2025, with both Xavier Gipson and Isaiah Williams fumbling on special teams.

Tyreek Hill “Would Love To Stay” With Dolphins In 2026

October 2nd, 2025 at 6:12pm CST by Ben Levine

When Tyreek Hill is ready to return from his devastating knee injury, the wideout is hoping he’ll still be a member of the Dolphins. During a recent appearance on WSVN 7 in Miami, agent Drew Rosenhaus said his client “would love to stay with the Dolphins.”

[RELATED: Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill Suffers ACL Tear]

“We would love to get together with them after the season and figure something out that works for both sides and continue his career here in Miami. There’s no reason why we can’t,” Rosenhaus said (via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald). “…We will roll up our sleeves on our end. And if the Dolphins are willing, we will find a number that works for everyone.”

Even if Hill didn’t suffer a dislocated knee and numerous ligament tears, he was always destined to see a revised contract in order to stick in Miami. The receiver is attached to an untenable $51.9MM cap hit for the 2026 season, and he’s due $29.9MM in actual earnings. As Jackson notes, none of that money is guaranteed until the middle of March, at which point Hill will be owed $11MM (along with a $5MM signing bonus).

If the Dolphins decide to simply move on from Hill, then the team will still take a significant financial hit. If the receiver is cut before his $11MM is due in March, the Dolphins would be left with a $15.5MM cap hit.

While Hill may have a desire to stick with the Dolphins, there’s no guarantee that the feeling is mutual. The player’s recovery from the injury is obviously a major concern; Rosenhaus noted that Hill suffered more than just a dislocation and a torn ACL. There’s also the matter of the player’s declining production (Hill finished 2024 with his worst per-game receiving stats since his rookie campaign) and his off-the-field issues (which included recent domestic violence allegations and his public flirtation with a Miami exit). Hill was also mentioned as a potential trade candidate prior to his injury, so a divorce wouldn’t be completely unfounded.

Either way, it sounds like Hill is very committed to returning to the field in 2026, even if it doesn’t come with the Dolphins. We heard recently that the wideout intends to keep playing next season, and Rosenhaus said during his WSVN 7 appearance that his client should be lined up for a full recovery.

“The surgery went well. All of the torn ligaments, the injuries, went back in a place naturally,” Rosenhaus said (via Jackson). “There’s no nerve damage, no blood flow issues, no broken bones. The goal is for him to be back to himself for the start of next season.”

49ers Sign QB Adrian Martinez From Practice Squad

October 2nd, 2025 at 5:07pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The 49ers signed quarterback Adrian Martinez to their active roster from the practice squad on Thursday, per Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area.

For the third time in four weeks, Martinez will serve as the backup to Mac Jones, who is starting once again in place of an injured Brock Purdy.

Martinez was elevated from the practice squad in Weeks 2 and 3, and the 49ers had the option to use up his third and final elevation for Thursday’s game. Instead, they signed him to the 53-man roster, which will ensure he is available to play as long as Purdy is sidelined after his recent setback.

Jones played every snap in his two starts, winning both games with a total of 563 passing yards and four touchdowns. Turnovers are somewhat of a concern – Jones threw one interception and fumbled twice (one lost) – but he would have to implode for the 49ers to put in Martinez for his NFL debut. Instead, the team will be hoping that Martinez only takes the field if they have built up a massive lead.

A former starter at Nebraska, Martinez spent his senior year at Kansas State, where he tossed six touchdowns vs. one interception. He also had a standout performance while running the ball, collecting another 627 yards and 10 touchdowns. He joined the Lions after going undrafted in 2023, and he later won UFL MVP before winning the league championship with the Birmingham Stallions. He spent the 2024 season on the Jets practice squad and was among the team’s final cuts following the 2025 preseason. He caught on with the 49ers practice squad in late August.

The 49ers offense will also be without wide receivers Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings on Thursday night, giving them an uphill battle against a strong Rams defense on a short week.

Joining Martinez from the practice squad will be defensive end Trevis Gipson and wide receiver Malik Turner, who have been called up as standard gameday practice squad elevations. To make room for Martinez on the 53-man roster, defensive tackle Jordan Jefferson was waived, and to fill Martinez’s open spot on the practice squad, the team signed cornerback Derrick Canteen.

Cowboys Open To George Pickens Extension?

October 2nd, 2025 at 12:57pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones indicated (via Clarence Hill of All City DLLS) that Dallas was open to signing wide receiver George Pickens to a contract extension.

Jones praised Pickens as an “exemplary teammate” and again referred to the Micah Parsons trade as an opportunity to sign multiple players for the price of one.

Pickens was traded to the Cowboys in May and initially said that he was planning to play out the final year of his contract. That may still be the case, but he indicated in August that he was open to an extended stay in Dallas. Pickens also hinted that he was more comfortable in the locker room relative to his time in Pittsburgh, which was marked by attendance issues and sideline outbursts.

The 24-year-old wideout got off to a good, but not great start in Dallas with 13 catches for 166 yards and two touchdowns in his first three games. But after CeeDee Lamb went down with a high ankle sprain, Pickens exploded for an 8-134-2 stat line in his first full game as the Cowboys’ WR1. He is now on pace for career-highs across the board, though Lamb’s eventual return will eat into his target share. Continuing to produce will certainly keep him as a featured target in the Cowboys offense, even when Lamb retakes his role.

Pickens could be in line for a massive contract if he finishes with another 1,000-yard season, especially if he reaches 4,000 career receiving yards by the end of his fourth season. Fellow 2022 draftee Jameson Williams signed a three-year, $80MM extension earlier this year, though that value is inflated by per-game roster bonuses, workout bonuses, and a non-guaranteed option bonus due in the final year of the deal. Williams has significantly less production than Pickens, so the latter should be able to match or eclipse that deal with a more player-friendly structure.

Signing Pickens to an extension would certainly make sense given that the Cowboys gave up third- and fifth-round picks for him (and a sixth-rounder in a pick-swap exchange) in the offseason. That is not too high a price for a one-year rental, but trading for a young, productive player at the end of his rookie deal suggests that Dallas made the move with the future in mind.

Jets To Place RB Braelon Allen On IR

October 2nd, 2025 at 11:36am CST by Nikhil Mehta

11:36am: The Jets officially placed Allen on the IR, per a team announcement. To fill their roster vacancy, they signed veteran running back Khalil Herbert. Herbert terminated his practice squad deal with the Seahawks on Wednesday, per Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic, freeing him up to join the Jets’ backfield.

Herbert’s arrival in New York will also be a reunion with Justin Fields. They were both part of the Bears’ 2021 draft class and played together for three-and-a-half years in Chicago. Herbert was a solid but unspectacular rusher in his first three seasons, but fell out of favor in 2024 and was traded to the Bengals, where he had little impact for the rest of the year.

9:52am: The Jets are placing second-year running back Braelon Allen on injured reserve with what head coach Aaron Glenn called a “pretty serious knee injury,” according to Brian Costello of the New York Post.

Allen went down in Week 4 with an initial report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport claiming that he “suffered an MCL sprain that will likely land him on injured reserve.”

Glenn seemed to confirm that diagnosis on Wednesday but added that Allen was seeking a second opinion. Apparently, further evaluation has not changed Allen’s outlook: the 2024 fourth-rounder will be sidelined for at least four games as he recovers.

Despite some predictions of a second-year breakout, Allen has not been able to steal many touches away from starter Breece Hall. He has only carried the ball 18 times for 76 yards and one touchdown while adding two receptions for 17 yards through the air.

Hall leads the backfield with 52 carries for 238 yards, and his 13 catches and 108 receiving yards also rank second on the team. Quarterback Justin Fields has been the team’s secondary ballcarrier with 24 carries for 178 yards (7.4 YPC).

Hall and Fields may not see a big bump in carries in Allen’s absence. His touches are more likely to go to third-stringer Isaiah Davis. The 2024 fifth-round pick has been efficient on a limited sample size, averaging 5.7 yards per carry on 35 carries (30 as a rookie, five so far this year). The Jets will likely add another running back to their roster, either by promoting Lawrance Toafili from the practice squad or making an external signing. They do have Kene Nwangwu on the roster, but he is almost exclusively a returner with 61 total offensive snaps in his career in his five-year career.

Browns To Start QB Dillon Gabriel In Week 5

October 1st, 2025 at 11:28pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Browns will start rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel in place of veteran Joe Flacco in their Week 5 matchup in London, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The team confirmed that Gabriel would be taking over under center, as first reported by CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz on Tuesday. Shedeur Sanders will remain in place as the third-string quarterback, per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.

Cleveland has long been expected to give Gabriel a try at some point this season. After four rough outings by Flacco – featuring a 2:6 touchdown-to-interception ratio and career lows of 5.1 yards per attempt and a 60.3 passer rating – the rookie will get his chance. Sunday will not be Gabriel’s debut, as he played at the end of blowout losses in Weeks 2 and 4, but it will be his first extended action in the pros.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski certainly did not choose the easiest or simplest week to make such a significant change. The Browns are in London this week, contending with a bevy of added factors including the time difference and lack of access to their usual facilities. They are also playing the Vikings, who have been across the pond since last Friday, giving them more time to acclimate.

Minnesota’s defense has also been a top-10 unit this season. They rank ninth in points allowed and seventh in total defense with the third-best passing defense. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores has harassed opposing quarterbacks with a 35.8% blitz rate (fourth-highest) and a 31.7% pressure rate (second-highest) with a variety of creative pressure packages. As a result, Gabriel’s first NFL start could be a rough one, though Tony Grossi of The Land on Demand notes that the rookie may introduce a “quicker pace” to the Browns offense.

Stefanski addressed the quarterback change on Wednesday, saying of Gabriel (via ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi): “From the second he’s been here, he’s been working very hard. He’s a very intelligent young man. He’s done a nice job throughout practice and this whole season he’s been learning how to get yourself ready and understand the rhythm of an NFL week and what that looks like as a backup. Obviously now feel like he’s ready to go as a starter.”

Gabriel’s ascendance marks a number of milestones. He is the Browns’ 41st starting quarterback since the team was re-established in 1999, and the 12th quarterback in six years of Stefanski’s tenure, per Grossi. Gabriel is also the third rookie quarterback to start this season, and the first non-first-rounder.

With Cooper Rush expected to start in the place of an injured Lamar Jackson in Week 5, the AFC North’s quarterbacks are now Gabriel, Rush, Jake Browning in Cincinnati, and Aaron Rodgers in Steelers. Rodgers is the only Week 1 starter left standing, while Browning took over for Joe Burrow after he went down with turf toe.

Though Sanders will remain third on the depth chart, he could still play this season, per CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones. Cleveland’s willingness to give one rookie a chance suggests that Sanders could receive a similar opportunity if Gabriel falters, though he will certainly get a few games to prove himself.

Colts CB Xavien Howard To Retire

October 1st, 2025 at 10:25pm CST by Ely Allen

Xavien Howard‘s return to football was brief one. After eight years in Miami and a year away from the game, Howard’s new venture with the Colts has ended after four games as Indianapolis placed the 32-year-old cornerback on the reserve/retired list today.

A four-time Pro Bowler and a one-time selection for both the first and second All-Pro teams over his career, Howard gave the Dolphins every bit of what was asked of him as a second-round pick out of Baylor. An immediate starter in Miami’s secondary, Howard struggled with injuries early in his career but showed enough promise in two mostly healthy seasons of his rookie contract to earn a five-year, $76.5MM extension shortly after his third NFL season.

After a rookie year in which a meniscus surgery caused him to miss all but seven games, Howard exploded onto the scene with 11 interceptions and 25 passes defensed over the next two seasons. After being rewarded with the above-mentioned extension, a nagging knee injury limited Howard to five games before ultimately ending his 2019 season. He came back to have the strongest season of his career, starting all 16 games, leading the league in both interceptions (10) and passes defensed (20), and earning first-team All-Pro honors.

Over the next three seasons, Howard would continue to provide solid pass defense. His interception numbers dwindled as he only picked off seven passes over that span, but his 40 passes defensed showed that his penchant for breaking up plays still remained. At the conclusion of the 2023 campaign, the first in which Howard failed to earn a Pro Bowl selection since his injury-plagued 2019 season, the Dolphins opted to release Howard with a post-June 1 designation as a way to clear out cap space.

Despite committing to playing and even fielding offers, Howard found no place to call his football home in 2024, missing out on the entire NFL season. He visited the Bengals during the team’s defensive struggles last year but never signed with a team. The Colts landed his signature in the weeks leading up to the 2025 regular season, reuniting Howard with the game of football and with defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, who had coached him for a couple years in Miami.

Week 1 started off strong for Howard, as his former team failed to manage any offense in their first time facing him on the other side of the field. Week 2 brought a sobering reality, though, as Denver picked on Howard, targeting him eight times and completing eight passes for 78 yards and two touchdowns. He showed slight improvement in a Week 3 game against the Titans, but Week 4 brought him crashing back down. The Rams targeted Howard 10 times, completing seven passes for 112 yards and a touchdown.

According to ESPN’s Stephen Holder, “there were many questions about his viability” after the rough performances, “but no one saw this coming.” Holder went on to claim that the media was not aware of any plans to release Howard, and after missing practice today with a “personal day” designation, Howard came to the decision to retire on his own.

In a statement (via Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald), Howard explained, “Throughout my career, I’ve always played football for the love of the sport. I enjoyed everything that came with being a part of the NFL; it was my passion for the game that drove me. I love and appreciate the Miami Dolphins for drafting me and giving me the chance to play pro football. I cannot thank the Indianapolis Colts enough for letting me continue to live out my dream, but my dream has now changed.”

Howard goes on to explain how much he enjoyed spending time with his kids and family during his year away from the NFL before officially declaring his intention to retire from football. He concluded, “My purpose has been fulfilled in this sport, but my kids are more important to me than football. I’ve had a hell of a career, and even though it’s ending in a unique way, I’m cool with that because, for once, I’m putting my family first, and I’m proud and excited about that decision.”

Cardinals Place RB Trey Benson On IR

October 1st, 2025 at 10:15pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon announced that running back Trey Benson is being placed on injured reserve, via NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Benson suffered a knee injury late in Arizona’s Week 4 matchup against the Seahawks last Thursday, but it was not originally thought to be serious, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. That assessment changed very quickly; Benson has already undergone arthroscopic surgery on his meniscus and is expected to miss four to six weeks, according to Schefter.

Benson’s injury is another hit to a Cardinals backfield that already lost James Conner for the season. 2023 UDFA Emari Demercado will likely take over starting duties with Zonovan Knight and Michael Carter rotating in. Arizona also has D’Ernest Johnson on their practice squad.

Demercado has two starts in his career but has never been a lead back for multiple games. Knight has been a healthy scratch in two games with zero touches in the other two. Carter has been in the the NFL the longest, but his production has dipped significant since the start of his career.

The Cardinals have a Week 8 bye, so Benson’s four-game minimum IR stay would not elapse until Week 10, which fits with his projected recovery timeline. He may have a chance at returning to practice as soon as he’s eligible, though Arizona will likely give him time to ramp up after surgery.

In the meantime, the Cardinals were already struggling to move the ball on offense before their top two RBs went down. Now, quarterback Kyler Murray will be asked to do even more, though his performance to open the season has been underwhelming.

Ravens Rookie OL Emery Jones Returns To Practice

October 1st, 2025 at 9:36pm CST by Ely Allen

As the injuries begin to tally up for the Ravens, a bit of good news comes their way. Third-round rookie offensive lineman Emery Jones has returned to practice in Baltimore, opening his 21-day practice window to be activated off the reserve/non-football injury list, per ESPN’s Jamison Hensley.

Jones underwent surgery a week after the NFL Scouting Combine for a shoulder injury he endured at LSU. The Ravens were aware of the recovery timeline when they drafted him, so they were able to make a plan for his eventual return.

After Jones was drafted to Baltimore, there was plenty of speculation around just how he might contribute to the offense as a rookie. There was some hope that he may develop early into a role as a swing tackle or compete for a starting guard spot.

He started solely at right tackle for the Tigers but had some left tackle experience from high school. As a recruit, he was projected to be an interior lineman at the collegiate level, but he became the starting right tackle at LSU only two games into his true freshman season. As a draft prospect, Jones was, once again, projected for a likely move to the interior of the offensive line, but in Baltimore, it appeared that he would be given a chance to prove his worth at multiple spots.

He was originally expected to return sometime during training camp, but by early August, it became clear that it would be difficult for him to be ready for the regular season, closing any case for him to nab a starting job. It was a decision made by Jones, who opted to wait until he is “fully right” instead of choosing an abbreviated recovery in order to compete for a starting role.

So far, the Ravens seem to be keeping their word in letting him work to earn different roles. Head coach John Harbaugh told the media that they’ll look at Jones at both guard and tackle, per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. The timing couldn’t be better with left tackle Ronnie Stanley missing practice today after being knocked out of Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs early with an ankle injury.

A look at guard could make just as much sense, considering how left guard Andrew Vorhees currently rates as the Ravens’ worst offensive starter, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required) and how right guard Daniel Faalele is often caught on the wrong end of some defensive highlight reels. As Jones ramps up for a return to the active roster, the Ravens will have no shortage of options to see where they may be able to improve most.

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