HEADLINES

Commanders G Sam Cosmi Returns To Practice

October 1st, 2025 at 2:48pm CST by Connor Byrne

The Commanders may be on the verge of getting an offensive line stalwart back. The team announced Wednesday that right guard Sam Cosmi returned to practice. Washington will have 21 days to activate him from injured reserve. Cosmi started the season on the reserve/PUP list.

While it’s unlikely that Cosmi will play this week against the Chargers, it’s encouraging that the 26-year-old has made such quick progress from a major injury. Cosmi tore the ACL in his right knee in a divisional round win over the Lions in last January’s playoffs, leaving him unavailable for an NFC championship game loss to the Eagles and the Commanders’ first four contests this season.

The Commanders have used Nick Allegretti and Andrew Wylie at right guard this year. Cosmi will slot back into that spot if he’s able to return in the next three weeks.

A former tackle, Cosmi scored a four-year, $74MM extension with the Commanders just a couple of days before the start of the 2024 campaign. It was the first significant extension general manager Adam Peters doled out.

Cosmi, who joined Washington as a second-round pick in 2021, went on to start in all 17 of the team’s regular-season games for the second year in a row. He was an integral part of an O-line that helped quarterback Jayden Daniels to one of the greatest seasons from a rookie signal-caller in league history.

The Daniels-led Commanders burst on the scene as surprise contenders last year. However, thanks in part to injuries, they’re out to a so-so 2-2 start this season. Daniels has missed back-to-back games with a knee injury, though it appears he’ll be back in action this week. He figures to be among the beneficiaries if Cosmi takes the field the field this season. Cosmi’s return could also aid an already formidable ground attack that ranks second in the NFL with 154.5 rushing yards per game.

Lions DT Alim McNeill Returns To Practice

October 1st, 2025 at 2:38pm CST by Adam La Rose

Earlier this week, Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Alim McNeill was on track to return to practice. The fifth-year defensive tackle is indeed back on the field.

McNeill returned to practice today, as noted by Justin Rogers of the Detroit Football Network. As a result, his 21-day activation window has now opened. McNeill was one of three Lions players moved to the reserve/PUP list during roster cutdowns, ensuring at least a four-week absence.

That decision came as little surprise since the 25-year-old was in the midst of rehabbing the ACL tear which ended his 2024 season. McNeill has made solid progress in recovery, though, and today’s news marks another encouraging update in this case. Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press writes it would come as a surprise if a return to game action were to take place this week, but McNeill could be available before the Lions’ Week 8 bye.

“We want to make sure that we check all those boxes before we say that’s what we’re going to do for sure, but it’s trending in the right way,” Campbell said (via Birkett) of McNeill shortly before today’s return to practice. “He’s about ready to go. I think he’s tired of training. He’s trained all he can train. He’s done everything he can do, he just needs football.”

Having McNeill back in the fold soon will be critical for Detroit’s defensive front. The former third-round pick has established himself as a key figure along the D-line, totaling 8.5 sacks over the past two years despite missing time in both campaigns. McNeill inked a four-year, $97MM extension shortly before tearing his ACL, a sign of his value to the franchise and also a clear indicator the Lions will look to play it safe regarding his return.

Detroit is without Levi Onwuzurike for the season after he suffered an ACL tear of his own in July. With the Lions already thin along the defensive interior as a result, McNeill being activated will provide them with a major boost in the form of a starter to share time with veteran D.J. Reader and first-round rookie Tyleik Williams. Provided McNiell does not suffer any setbacks, he should be in the fold shortly for a Lions team which has enjoyed a 3-1 start to the campaign.

Eagles Open Nakobe Dean’s Practice Window

October 1st, 2025 at 2:10pm CST by Connor Byrne

The Eagles could be close to welcoming back a key starter from last year’s Super Bowl-winning defense. The team has opened linebacker Nakobe Dean‘s 21-day practice window, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Philadelphia placed Dean on the reserve/PUP list in August.

Dean, a fourth-year man from Georgia, had the best season of his career in 2024. The former third-round pick set personal-best marks across the board with 15 starts, 128 tackles, three sacks, and an interception. However, Dean suffered a torn patellar tendon during a wild-card round victory over the Packers and missed the rest of the playoffs. The injury prevented him from taking the field during wins over the Rams, Commanders, and Chiefs.

While a healthy Dean was an important part of the Eagles’ defense last year, it seems his time with the team may be winding down. A report in August indicated that Dean was likely entering his last season with the Eagles.

Furthermore, if and when he does return this year, the 24-year-old may come back as a reserve behind Zack Baun and rookie Jihaad Campbell. Asked about Dean’s role on Wednesday, head coach Nick Sirianni offered a noncommittal (via Eliot Shorr-Parks of 94WIP.com), “We’ll see.” Sirianni went on to laud the play of Baun and Campbell.

After a 2024 breakout, the Eagles identified Baun as a cornerstone defender, inking the former Saint to a three-year, $51MM contract in March. His strong play has continued during the Eagles’ undefeated start this year. Baun has played every defensive snap for the Eagles, while Campbell has nearly matched that. After going 31st overall in last spring’s draft, the former Alabama standout has played a little over 95 percent of snaps and thrived in the early going.

At the very least, Dean will give the Eagles an enviable depth piece if they activate him. The Eagles, who are seeking a 5-0 start, could welcome him back as early as this Sunday’s home tilt against the Broncos.

LB Shaquille Leonard Retires

October 1st, 2025 at 1:52pm CST by Adam La Rose

After seeing his All-Pro career come to an abrupt halt through injuries, Shaquille Leonard is hanging up his cleats. The veteran linebacker has retired as a member of the Colts, the team announced on Wednesday.

Leonard entered the league in 2018 and immediately established himself as one of the game’s top defenders. The former second-rounder was left off the Pro Bowl roster during his debut campaign despite earning Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. That season also marked the first of three times Leonard found himself on the first All-Pro team.

While playing out his rookie contract, Leonard operated as a full-time starter and avoided any major injuries. Given his production along with a strong track record of availability, it came as little surprise when a record-breaking extension was worked out. In August 2021, the South Carolina State product inked a five-year, $98.5MM pact which made him the league’s top earner for linebackers.

Expectations were high as a result of the deal, but after only one more season with a clean bill of health, missed time became a major problem in this case. Back issues derailed Leonard’s career and limited him to just three games played in 2022. The following year, he saw his workload reduced before ultimately being cut midseason. Leonard caught on with the Eagles, but he handled only a part-time defensive role across five appearances.

Last June, Leonard made it clear he was open to continuing his career while noting his belief his body was healthy once again. In spite of that, no known offers were made and he spent the entire campaign without a deal in hand. After once again going through an offseason with no agreements being reached, Leonard has now elected to move on at the age of 30.

Earning four straight Pro Bowl nods on his rookie deal, Leonard recorded no fewer than 121 tackles per season during that span while adding 11 interceptions and a whopping 17 forced fumbles. He totaled 78 combined regular and postseason games during his injury-shortened NFL tenure while amassing $52.5MM in career earnings.

Vikings Open Practice Windows For LB Tyler Batty, FB C.J. Ham

October 1st, 2025 at 1:35pm CST by Connor Byrne

The Vikings announced that they have officially opened the 21-day practice window for outside linebacker Tyler Batty and fullback C.J. Ham. Both players opened the season on injured reserve, and the Vikings will now have three weeks to activate them.

Head coach Kevin O’Connell indicated either could come back as early as this Sunday’s game in London against the Browns. Both Batty and Ham, because they were given return designations in August, already count toward Minnesota’s eight regular-season activations.

Batty, an undrafted rookie from BYU, suffered a right knee injury in the Vikings’ preseason finale against the Titans on Aug. 22. A first-team All-Big 12 selection in 2024, Batty played five seasons at BYU and tallied 16.5 sacks over 53 games. The 6-foot-5, 261-pounder appeared in 13 contests last season and totaled 59 tackles (seven for loss), two interceptions and 1.5 sacks.

If Batty debuts this week, he’ll give the Vikings some depth on the outside behind Dallas Turner, who’s filling in for the injured Andrew Van Ginkel. After missing the Vikings’ loss to the Steelers last week with a neck injury, Van Ginkel is likely to sit out again on Sunday.

Ham, 32, also missed the team’s first four games with a knee issue. Now a ninth-year Viking, Ham is the team’s second-longest-tenured player behind safety Harrison Smith. While Ham only received seven touches last year (two carries, five catches), he played over 23 percent of offensive snaps and about 63 percent on special teams. The 32-year-old helped pave the way for an 1,100-yard season from running back Aaron Jones.

With Jones on IR since mid-September with a hamstring injury, Jordan Mason has taken over as the Vikings’ starting RB. The former 49er has racked up 271 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 56 carries – good for an average of 4.8 per rush.

LB Eric Kendricks Visiting Ravens

October 1st, 2025 at 10:04am CST by Connor Byrne

OCTOBER 1: The Ravens offered Kendricks a spot on their practice squad, but he turned them down, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. That would indicate that Kendricks is seeking a 53-man roster spot (and potentially more than a veteran-minimum salary) and is trying to use the leverage of Smith’s injury to get a better deal.

SEPTEMBER 30: Free agent linebacker Eric Kendricks hasn’t found a home since last season ended, but that could change soon. Kendricks is visiting the Ravens, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

Kendricks has logged 142 starts since entering the NFL as a second-round pick of the Vikings in 2015. He played in Minnesota through 2022, earning one All-Pro nod along the way, before joining the Chargers in 2023. That was a short-lived union, as was Kendricks’ stint with the Cowboys. He spent last year in Dallas and totaled 138 tackles (71 solo), three sacks, and two interceptions in 15 starts.

Although Kendricks’ production remained solid last season, the 33-year-old hasn’t drawn any reported attention in free agency until now. The interest from the Ravens comes with the team dealing with a slew of injuries on defense, including at linebacker. Roquan Smith suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain that will keep him out for an undetermined amount of time, which could set up a partnership between Kendricks and Baltimore.

If Kendricks does sign with the Ravens, he’d join Kyle Van Noy, 34, as one of the elder statesmen in their LB corps. The Smith-less Ravens have younger options in Teddye Buchanan, who has played just under 69 percent of snaps this year, and Trenton Simpson. While Simpson was a third-rounder in 2023, the former Clemson Tiger has been more of a factor on special teams than defense this season.

The Ravens finished their Chiefs matchup with more than half their starting defense sidelined, playing a key part in Kansas City’s 37-point showing — a game that dropped Baltimore to 1-3. Nnamdi Madubuike is not coming back as a reinforcement, being out for the season, and Marlon Humphrey is also expected to miss time.

The Ravens have relied on Smith at linebacker since acquiring him in a trade before the 2022 deadline. With Patrick Queen departing for Pittsburgh as a 2024 free agent, Baltimore is thin on reliable options on its defensive second level. He of 142 career starts, Kendricks would fit the bill as a potential plug-and-play option. But the Ravens are certainly scrambling at this point given the volume of defenders lost to injury so early in the season.

Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill Suffers ACL Tear, Intends To Play in 2026

September 30th, 2025 at 10:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

10:00pm: It sounds like Tyreek Hill won’t call in a career following his devastating knee injury. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero that his client intends to play in 2026.

“Tyreek’s surgery went very well,” Rosenhaus said. “Fortunately everything was done with one procedure. The goal is for Tyreek to be ready for the start of next season.”

8:55am: It was confirmed after last night’s game that Tyreek Hill suffered a dislocated knee on the play which resulted in him carted off the field. Further testing took place overnight while he was hospitalized.

Hill’s injuries consist of more than the dislocated knee. Multiple ligaments were also torn, including his ACL, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Hill remains in hospital and is scheduled to undergo surgery later today. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network adds further procedures could prove to be necessary given the extent of the damage.

Especially if multiple surgeries wind up taking place, Hill’s recovery timeline will be longer than the one associated with a typical ACL tear. At this point, the All-Pro’s availability for the 2026 season is unclear. At a minimum, Hill will be sidelined for the remainder of the current campaign. As a result, Monday’s game may end up representing his final one as a Dolphin.

Hill remains under contract through 2026, but he is owed a $29.9MM base salary which is not guaranteed for that season. With a scheduled cap hit of $51.9MM, an adjustment of some kind to his contract was widely expected in the event he remained with Miami. In the case of a trade, the 31-year-old would have been considered a rental given the ability of an acquiring team to move on after the season. The Dolphins may have been able to generate a Day 2 pick in return for Hill had a trade taken place in the next few weeks, but that is obviously a moot point now.

Last night’s win allowed Miami to improve to 1-3 on the season. The team’s offense enjoyed a second straight strong showing on the ground, but the Dolphins recorded just 177 passing yards against the Jets. Miami’s ability to produce through the air will be tested through the remainder of the campaign with Hill (who led the NFL in receiving yards in 2023) unavailable. Jaylen Waddle will be counted on to serve as a focal point in that regard, with a mix of veterans (Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, D’Wayne Eskridge) and 2024 draftees (Malik Washington, Tahj Washington) in place as depth options at the receiver position.

Reaching the playoffs can be considered an unlikely feat at this point given the Dolphins’ record, but losing Hill will make the task of qualifying for the postseason more challenging. Attention will turn to the progress of his recovery and, later, the question of how Miami will handle his future.

Texans’ Joe Mixon Uncertain To Play In 2025

September 30th, 2025 at 9:40pm CST by Ben Levine

The Texans offense seemed to find its footing against the lowly Titans in Week 4. While the unit appears to be trending upwards, they’ll still have to move forward without an offensive focal point for the foreseeable future.

While speaking with reporters, coach DeMeco Ryans said that star running back Joe Mixon is not ready to return (per Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston). The veteran continues to sit on the reserve/NFI list with a foot/ankle injury, although he’s now eligible to be activated.

Sources seemed to paint a bleaker picture. According to Wilson, it will be “much longer” for a potential Mixon return, and there’s some skepticism that the running back will even be able to play this season. This matches a report from late August that indicated that Mixon may ultimately have to sit out the entire 2025 campaign.

Mixon dealt with a lingering foot/ankle issue during the 2024 campaign that forced him to miss three games. He aggravated the issue while training this offseason. Considering the player’s age and the installation of Nick Caley‘s new offense, the Texans have continually made it clear that they’d slow play Mixon’s rehab. Now, it’s sounding like the team may not have a choice but to rely on their other RBs in 2025.

Mixon continued his high-level play after getting dealt from the Bengals to the Texans during the 2024 offseason. The two-time Pro Bowler finished the campaign with 1,325 yards from scrimmage and 12 touchdowns. Two years remain on Mixon’s contract, but none of his $8MM base salary for 2026 is guaranteed. If the player is unable to return in 2025, there’s a chance the team bails on the veteran this offseason.

Veteran Nick Chubb has led the depth chart through the first four weeks of the season, but the offseason acquisition has only managed to compile 188 yards on 47 carries. Rookie fourth-round pick Woody Marks had a breakout showing this past weekend, collecting 119 yards from scrimmage and a pair of scores. That game represented the first time this season that Marks has outsnapped Chubb, and there’s a chance the rookie may be eyeing an even larger role as the season progresses.

J.J. McCarthy Could Practice This Week; Vikings RT Brian O’Neill Sprains MCL

September 30th, 2025 at 9:33pm CST by Connor Byrne

After missing back-to-back games, Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy appears to be making progress in his recovery from a high ankle sprain. The Vikings are hopeful that the second-year man will log some practice time this week, according to head coach Kevin O’Connell.

Early last week, O’Connell emphasized the importance of McCarthy receiving an ample amount of practice work before he regains his role as the team’s starter. Having invested the 10th overall pick in 2024 on McCarthy, who didn’t play at all as a rookie after tearing the meniscus in his right knee during the preseason, the Vikings are taking a careful approach with the former Michigan Wolverine.

Minnesota has gone 1-1 with McCarthy fill-in Carson Wentz, a late-August addition who has amassed 96 starts since the Eagles chose him second overall in the 2016 draft. Now a 32-year-old journeyman, Wentz could remain at the helm for the second leg of the Vikings’ European tour this week. Wentz has completed 44 of 66 passes for 523 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions thus far. He and the Vikings dropped a 24-21 decision to the Steelers in Dublin in Week 4, falling to 2-2 on the season.

The Vikings are now gearing up to take on the 1-3 Browns on Sunday in London on Sunday. If McCarthy isn’t under center, a bye after the Cleveland game could set him up to return for a Week 7 showdown with the reigning Super Bowl champion Eagles.

McCarthy, 22, has struggled early on, though. He has connected on 24 of 41 passes for 301 yards, two scores, and three picks. McCarthy looked good during a second-half comeback against the Bears in Week 1, but he didn’t fare well early in the game and turned in a rough showing in a loss to the Falcons in Week 2. With that in mind, if Wentz plays this week, he could make an argument to retain the starting job with an impressive performance against Cleveland.

Regardless of who’s at QB for Minnesota, he won’t have right tackle Brian O’Neill as a protector on Sunday. O’Connell announced that O’Neill is week-to-week with an MCL sprain, though the upper-crust RT will not require surgery or go on IR.

A career-long Viking since entering the league as a second-rounder in 2018, the 30-year-old has picked up 110 starts and two Pro Bowl nods. O’Neill represents a substantial loss for the Vikings, who are also without left guard Donovan Jackson after he underwent wrist surgery last week. Worsening matters, Minnesota saw center Ryan Kelly suffer a concussion in its loss to Pittsburgh, helping the Steelers tee off on Wentz for six sacks.

Patriots Notes: Williams, Tavai, Ownership

September 30th, 2025 at 8:54pm CST by Ben Levine

Milton Williams earned the largest contract of the 2025 offseason, with his $104MM in total value and $63MM in guaranteed money pacing the class. The financials obviously played a big role in the defensive lineman ultimately joining the Patriots, although Williams recently admitted that the presence of newly hired head coach Mike Vrabel was the true deciding factor.

“I wanted to be under Vrabel,” Williams said (via ESPN’s Mike Reiss). “He played in this league. He knows what D-line looks like. I could pick his brain for anything I could add to my game to make me a better player. This scheme fits exactly my play style, being aggressive up front.”

There were rumblings that Williams was destined for the Panthers before the Patriots swooped in at the eleventh hour. After handing the veteran the most lucrative contract in franchise history (in terms of AAV), New England was clearly hoping their acquisition could anchor their defense. So far, Williams has lived up to the bargain, as he’s totaled a pair of sacks and five tackles for loss in his first four games with the organization.

Williams garnered his contract following a successful run with the Eagles. The defensive tackle was often deployed as a rotational option, with the former third-round pick topping out at 501 defensive snaps played in 2024 (which represented less than half of his team’s total defensive snaps). There were some questions if Williams would be capable of transitioning into a near-full-time role with the Patriots, and he hasn’t had an issue staying on the field for his new club. Through four games, Williams has appeared in a career-high 68 percent of his team’s defensive snaps.

As the organization looks to continue building off a 2-2 start, they’ll be getting some defensive reinforcement. After cornerback Christian Gonzalez made his season debut this past weekend, the team will soon welcome back linebacker Jahlani Tavai. The veteran landed on IR with a calf injury to begin the season and is now eligible to be activated. According to Reiss, a Week 5 return has been the player’s target throughout his rehab.

Tavai provided a bit of stability for the Patriots over the past few years. He averaged 112 tackles per season between 2023 and 2024, although he may be hard pressed to reach those levels in 2025. He’ll be joining a deeper inside linebackers corps that’s currently led by Robert Spillane and Christian Elliss.

The organization is also staying busy off the field. Kurt Badenhausen, Eben Novy-Williams, and Scott Soshnick of Sportico recently reported that Robert Kraft agreed to sell a minority stake in his franchise. The buyers are Sixth Street (3 percent) and Dean Metropoulos (5 percent), and the Kraft family will continue to own about 90 percent of the team. The funds are intended to be reinvested into the team and won’t be used to finance the New England Revolution, the Kraft family’s MLS club.

Notably, this stake in the franchise represents a valuation of $9 billion. Per Sportico, that would be the second-richest valuation for a franchise in NFL history, with a recent Giants stake equaling a $10 billion valuation. The league recently allowed a select list of private equity firms to purchase small chunks of NFL teams.

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