HEADLINES

Falcons Would Need Kirk Cousins Suitor To Absorb Remaining Salary

September 18th, 2025 at 11:10pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Early-season quarterback injuries around the league have reawakened trade speculation about Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins, but the team is “not trying to move him at the moment,” according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.

Cousins still has the desire to be a starter in the NFL, but – just like it was in the offseason – his massive contract is an insurmountable obstacle to a trade anytime soon. The Falcons would need a potential trade partner to take on the remainder of his fully guaranteed $27.5MM salary this season, said Russini on her podcast, Scoop City.

After two weeks, that number is down to $24.44MM and will drop by $1.53MM each week for the rest of the year. Currently, only five teams have enough cap space for Cousins’ salary, per OverTheCap, though others can use restructures to free up enough room. Two of those five are the Commanders and the 49ers, who are both dealing with injuries to their starter quarterbacks but already have preferred replacements in place.

That is also the case in Minnesota, where the Vikings have less than $16MM in cap space with Carson Wentz ready to step in for J.J. McCarthy. Cousins is also owed $10MM in guaranteed salary for the 2026 season, meaning that a trade this year would be a multiyear financial commitment.

Regardless of cap space, though, it’s clear that other teams see Cousins’ contract as a poison pill. Some may not be interested it all with the belief that his best days are behind him, according to Scoop City co-host James Palmer.

By the trade deadline, Cousins’ remaining salary will be down to a more manageable $13.75MM, and teams still looking for a quarterback upgrade at that juncture may be more desperate. Still, he would need to be viewed as an upgrade to those squads’ other options, and his 2025 tape is unlikely to inspire much confidence. Cousins won’t see the field enough before the deadline to change that perception, either. As a result, he should remain with the Falcons this year with the two sides likely targeting a parting of ways next offseason.

Packers Discussed Romeo Doubs With Teams During Offseason

September 18th, 2025 at 11:08pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Packers’ wide receiver surplus — created by the team using first- and third-round selections at the position in April — generated intrigue during the offseason. Jayden Reed‘s agent discussed where the team’s top returning wideout stood in the grand scheme, and Christian Watson‘s status was murky due to the ACL tear he suffered in Week 18 of last season.

Fast-forward to mid-September, and the Packers are 2-0 without much production from first-round pick Matthew Golden. The former Houston and Texas pass catcher has two catches for 16 yards through two games. Third-rounder Savion Williams is also working as a backup. Reed’s collarbone injury (and subsequent foot surgery) brought a complication, and the team indeed had Watson in its long-term plans — as the recent one-year, $11MM extension showed.

This setup leaves only Romeo Doubs as a contract-year player in this mix. The arrivals of Golden and Williams to go with the Watson extension point Doubs out of Wisconsin by 2026, and The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman notes the Packers are believed to have discussed Doubs with teams this offseason.

Given the Packers’ injury issues at receiver right now, Doubs stands as a more important piece than he otherwise would be. Reed is out indefinitely, with a two-surgery rehab effort likely prolonging his recovery timetable, while Watson is on the reserve/PUP list. Watson may be readying to return when first eligible, but it is also quite possible the Packers give the recently paid receiver a ramp-up period after designating him for return. Indeed, Schneidman adds that Doubs is unlikely to be moved now.

I posited Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks as potential trade chips this offseason, but with the other two returning WRs down, both players are fairly important to the team’s early-season plan. Tucker Kraft looking increasingly poised for a top-market tight end extension also represents an important Packers pass-game storyline, as the third-year player may be the team’s top target while Doubs, Wicks and Golden mix in during the Reed and Watson absences.

A fourth-round pick out of Nevada in 2022, Doubs has played well in spurts for a Packers team that has rolled with an egalitarian setup at receiver post-Davante Adams. Doubs eclipsed 600 yards in each of the past two seasons, scoring eight touchdowns in 2023 and adding four last year. Last season did bring a one-game team-imposed suspension after Doubs expressed frustration about his role. But he reemerged as a solid auxiliary Jordan Love target in the weeks that followed. The Steelers’ George Pickens trade loosely tied them to Doubs, due to his rookie-year overlap with Aaron Rodgers, but nothing came of it.

With Reed, Wicks, Golden, Williams and now Watson signed beyond this season, Doubs would appear to be auditioning for other teams this year. Among first-time UFAs at receiver, the 6-foot-2 weapon would join Pickens, Jauan Jennings, Rashid Shaheed, Wan’Dale Robinson, Alec Pierce and Jalen Tolbert as notable options. Though, veterans like Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel and Jakobi Meyers are also noncontracted for 2026. The Packers and Doubs would benefit from another productive season, even if this partnership appears unlikely to continue beyond this year.

49ers QB Brock Purdy Could Play In Week 3

September 18th, 2025 at 10:49pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said on Wednesday that quarterback Brock Purdy has a chance to play in Week 3, according to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle.

Purdy was sidelined in Week 2 by a shoulder injury and a case of turf toe. In his absence, backup Mac Jones didn’t just answer the bell; he put up one of the best games of his career with 279 passing yards and three touchdowns on the way to a 26-21 victory over the Saints.

Though Jones impressed under center, the 49ers will still be hoping that Purdy can be back on the field as soon as possible. After missing practice entirely last week, he was a limited participant on Wednesday and Thursday, an indicator that he’s trending in the right direction.

“I’m happy with the progress I’m making with my foot and my toe,” Purdy said after Thursday’s practice (via Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group). “It’s a day to day thing with how I feel.”

Asked if he would play on Sunday, Purdy responded (via Inman), “Definitely got to see come game time how I feel. Obviously I want to play every game.” He also said that he was “trying to be smart with [his] body,” but noted the importance of the 49ers’ divisional matchup with the Cardinals on Sunday.

Based on his comments, Purdy’s availability may come down to a game-time decision, potentially dependent on how he feels during his pregame warmup. Even if he can’t go, Jones’ performance in Week 2 should give the 49ers some confidence that they can still take the lead in the NFC West this weekend.

Cowboys CB Shavon Revel Set For Week 5 Return; Latest On LB DeMarvion Overshown

September 18th, 2025 at 10:45pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Cowboys’ defense did not enjoy a strong performance in Week 2, with Russell Wilson throwing for 450 yards. The unit is set to remain shorthanded for now, but reinforcements are expected.

The cornerback position has been a sore spot early in the year, and DaRon Bland is currently sidelined. In spite of that, Dallas is not expected to pursue an outside addition. Part of the reason that is the case is the fact Bland’s injury is not seen as a long-term issue; rookie Shavon Revel is also on his way back into the fold.

Revel opened the year on Dallas’ reserve/NFI list, ensuring at least a four-game absence to begin the season. The East Carolina product continues to rehab the ACL tear which ended his college career and contributed to a fall down the draft order. When healthy, he will be a welcomed addition to a unit featuring Bland, Trevon Diggs and offseason trade acquisition Kaiir Elam. With respect to when a return will take place, ESPN’s Dan Graziano writes Revel is believed to be on track to play in Week 5.

That is encouraging news for Dallas’ defense, a group which is still thin at the linebacker spot. DeMarvion Overshown is on the reserve/PUP list thanks to the knee injury resulted in ACL, MCL and PCL tears late last season. The 25-year-old said in June he was ahead of schedule in his lengthy recovery process, although no firm timetable for a return has been stated. Per Graziano, the Cowboys expect Overshown to be available at some point in October or November.

After missing his rookie season with a different ACL tear, the Texas product thrived when on the field last year. Overshown served as a defensive starter, collecting 90 tackles and five sacks in 13 games. Strong production will be expected again once he is available, something which should be the case around the midway point of the campaign. Once Revel and Overshown return, a clearer picture of the Cowboys’ defensive upside should emerge.

NFL Restructures: Simmons, Johnson, CJGJ, Ward, Smith

September 18th, 2025 at 9:57pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Titans recently gave Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons a $633K raise to rectify a miscalculation of his fifth-year option, per Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio.

The Titans drafted Simmons with the 19th overall pick in the 2019 draft, and after 8.5 sacks and his first Pro Bowl in 2021, the team knew they had a long-term anchor for their defensive line. Tennessee picked up Simmons’ fifth-year option during the 2022 offseason and signed him to a $94MM extension the following year. That extension was meant to include the fifth-year option, but the deal undercounted his 2023 salary by one game, resulting in a $633K shortage.

Simmons’ agent discovered the error, and the Titans agreed to rectify the mistake with a signing bonus, according to Florio. The adjusted contract is not considered an extension.

A few other players from the 2019 draft class who signed extensions off their fifth-year options had a similar miscalculation in their deal. As a result, Simmons’ new deal could set a precedent around the league with other players seeking similar retroactive payments.

  • The Bears restructured the contract of cornerback Jaylon Johnson to create $8MM of cap space, per ESPN’s Field Yates. $12MM of his 2025 salary was converted to a signing bonus and prorated across the three remaining years of the deal. Chicago made the move before Johnson went down with a groin injury that could end his season.
  • The Texans completed a maximum restructure of safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson‘s deal to reduce his cap hit to $3.1MM, according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. His $7.75MM salary was reduced to the veteran minimum with the remaining $6.58MM converted into a signing bonus and prorated across the remainder of the contract, which includes void years from 2027 to 2030.
  • The Browns also did a maximum restructure with cornerback Denzel Ward‘s contract, per ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi. His salary was also reduced to the veteran minimum with $12.22MM converted into a signing bonus. As a result, his 2025 cap hit dropped by $9.78MM to $14.78MM, per OverTheCap.
  • In another AFC North restructure, the Ravens converted $12MM of linebacker Roquan Smith‘s 2025 salary that was prorated across the three remaining years of his deal. The move cleared $8MM in cap space, according to Russell Street Report’s Brian McFarland.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/18/25

September 18th, 2025 at 8:26pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Here are the latest practice squad transactions from around the league:

Baltimore Ravens

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

After losing Nick Samac from their practice squad this week, the Ravens reunited with Mustipher. He started two games in place of Tyler Linderbaum during his first stint in Baltimore in 2023. Mustipher will take Samac’s place as the team’s third-string center.

Panthers To Place G Robert Hunt, C Austin Corbett On IR

September 18th, 2025 at 7:40pm CST by Adam La Rose

September 18: Hunt underwent successful surgery in California this week, per Joe Person of The Athletic, but the team has not provided any updates regarding his return timetable.

A torn biceps could be season-ending, but Bills linebacker Matt Milano suffered a similar injury in training camp last year and was back on the field at the end of November. However, the specific nature of Hunt’s injury and the different physical requirements for his position will be major factors in his recovery timeline.

September 15: As expected, the Panthers will be shorthanded up front for a lengthy period. Guard Robert Hunt and center Austin Corbett are both headed to injured reserve, head coach Dave Canales confirmed on Monday.

Hunt suffered a torn left biceps during yesterday’s game. Surgery will be required as a result, meaning he could very well be lost for the season. The shift to IR ensures a four-game absence at a minimum, but for both Hunt and Corbett a much longer absence is in store.

Corbett suffered an MCL injury during Carolina’s Week 2 contest. Canales noted the extent of the ailment was initially unclear (with a sprain being a possibility), but he later specified (via ESPN’s David Newton) this is a case of a Grade C injury. That represents a complete tear, meaning surgery will also be required for Corbett. Canales has left the door open for a late-season return in both cases, but it would come as a surprise if either were to be available again in 2025.

The Panthers made continuity a priority along the O-line this offseason. Corbett and fellow center Cade Mays were retained, while longtime right tackle Taylor Moton inked a two-year extension shortly before the start of the campaign. Left tackle Ikem Ekwonu is still in the fold, as is left guard Damien Lewis. With a number of depth options returning as well, Carolina’s top nine contributors up front in terms of snaps from 2024 are in the fold.

Given today’s injury news, that depth and familiarity will be called upon early. Mays is set to take over from Corbett at center after falling short in this year’s training camp competition for the gig. Canales said Chandler Zavala, meanwhile, will receive the first opportunity to take on the right guard position. The 2023 fourth-rounder made seven total starts across his first two seasons with Carolina, and that figure is now set to increase.

Hunt remains under contract through 2028, so the Pro Bowler’s future with the team is not in questions. Corbett, on the other hand, missed considerable time in each of the past two years. Yet another significant injury will hurt the pending free agent’s chances of being retained this spring along with his market value for any outside teams which show interest.

Steelers DT Derrick Harmon Returns To Practice

September 18th, 2025 at 6:56pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Steelers rookie defensive tackle Derrick Harmon returned to practice this week, per ESPN’s Brooke Pryor, giving the first-round pick a chance to make his NFL debut in Week 3.

Harmon missed the first two games of the regular season due to an MCL sprain suffered in the preseason. Pittsburgh kept him on the 53-man roster (rather than placing him on injured reserve) with the belief that he would be back within the first four weeks. harmon’s participation in practice this week bodes well for that timeline.

Harmon said (via team writer Teresa Varley) that he is “ready to go,” adding, “my focus is trying to be prepared and make sure I’m healthy enough to get out there.”

Harmon’s return couldn’t come at a better time for a Steelers defensive line that just lost Isaiahh Loudermilk for at least four weeks due to a high ankle sprain. The unit had a rough start to the season even before Loudermilk went down, allowing the fifth-most rushing yards in the NFL through two weeks with just 3.0 sacks.

On the other side of the ball, the Steelers will be without backup guard Max Scharping for the rest of the season. He tore his during ACL during practice on Wednesday, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. He should be placed on injured reserve soon, which will open up a roster spot for a potential replacement or reinforcements to another part of the team.

Chargers Promote S Tony Jefferson

September 18th, 2025 at 6:05pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Chargers promoted veteran safety Tony Jefferson from the practice squad to the active roster, per a team announcement.

In Week 2, Jefferson started in place of Elijah Molden, who was sidelined by a hamstring injury. Molden has yet to practice this week, so Jefferson will likely get the starting nod once again after a solid game on Sunday. He made five tackles, defended two passes, and reeled in an interception on a deep ball just before halftime.

Jefferson was still eligible for two elevations from the practice squad, but the Chargers had an open roster spot after placing Khalil Mack on injured reserve earlier this week. The team could move him back to the practice squad if needed, but more strong showings from Jefferson could keep him in the mix even when Molden returns to the field.

It’s another step in an impressive journey for the former UDFA just two years after he retired from the NFL nine seasons in the NFL, primarily with the Cardinals and Ravens. Jefferson took a scouting fellowship with the latter team after initially hanging up his cleats, but he launched a comeback in 2024. Los Angeles was a natural destination given his history with new Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz, who came up in Baltimore’s front office and added several other former Ravens during his first year in charge.

The Chargers also signed outside linebackers Clelin Ferrell and Rashad Weaver to the practice squad. Ferrell never lived up to his billing as the No. 4 overall selection in 2019, but he has started 27 games over the last two years with a total of seven sacks and 10 tackles for loss. Weaver, originally a Titans fourth-round pick in 2021, put up 5.5 sacks in 2022 but was otherwise a rotational contributor during his time in Tennessee. He spent the 2024 season with the Texans, but only played 18 defensive snaps during the regular season.

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