Lions Confident Marcus Davenport Will Return This Season
The Lions are expected to have a quiet trade deadline, but that doesn’t mean the team won’t be getting some reinforcement. Speaking to reporters last week, coach Dan Campbell expressed optimism that Marcus Davenport will return to the field at some point during the 2025 campaign.
[RELATED: Lions Unlikely To Be Active At Trade Deadline]
“I can’t give you a definitive, ‘This is when he’s going to be back,'” Campbell said (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press). “I am just very confident he is going to be back. We’re going to get him back here.”
Davenport has struggled to see the field since joining the Lions ahead of the 2024 campaign. He was limited to two games during his first season in Detroit because of a triceps injury, and he’s only made a pair of appearances in 2025 thanks to a pectoral strain. The veteran has been sitting on injured reserve since Week 3.
Injuries have been a theme throughout Davenport’s career. The former first-round pick missed 19 games in five seasons with the Saints. He had a staggering five surgeries during the 2022 offseason, including a partial amputation of a finger. He still earned a one-year, $13MM contract from the Vikings in 2023, but he got into only four games with the team before suffering a season-ending high ankle sprain.
When Davenport has been on the field, he’s shown flashes of being an elite edge rusher. He totaled 10.5 sacks through his first two seasons in the NFL, and he had a nine-sack showing in 2021. Even though he’s been limited to a total of eight games over the past three years, he’s still managed to collect 3.5 sacks, including one in 56 snaps this season.
While the Lions clearly can’t be overly reliant on the pass rusher, they will surely find a way to use him. With Josh Paschal also sidelined, the Lions have turned to the likes of Al-Quadin Muhammad and Tyler Lacy opposite Aidan Hutchinson. Muhammad has been especially productive in a part-time role, collecting six sacks in eight games. Still, a player of Davenport’s caliber could at the very least provide Detroit’s defense with an extra body during the second half of the season.
Cowboys’ Stephen Jones Backs Matt Eberflus
Despite boasting one of the NFL’s most productive offenses, the Cowboys entered Monday’s game against the Cardinals with a lackluster 3-4-1 record. A struggling defense has been the main culprit. The Cowboys are 31st in the NFL in both points and yards allowed per game, beating out only the Bengals’ historically bad stop unit in those two categories.
While things have gone poorly under under first-year defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus, Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones is hopeful he’ll return as the team’s DC in 2026 (via Jon Machota of The Athletic).
“(We hope) the situation is going to continue to evolve, which I know it will. Coach Eberflus has been a high-end coach,” Jones told 105.3 The Fan last Friday. “I know right now he’s not satisfied with where we are. We all have to be better as a team, all our players, all our coaches, all our executives, ownership, everybody needs to look in the mirror and see where they can be better.”
This is the second time in recent weeks that Dallas higher-ups have spoken well of Eberflus. Owner Jerry Jones and head coach Brian Schottenheimer publicly backed Eberflus on Oct. 14. The Cowboys were then coming off a 30-27 loss to the Panthers in which they surrendered 410 total yards, including 216 rushing. Dallas went into Monday hoping to bounce back from a 44-24 loss to Denver in Week 8. The Broncos amassed 426 yards, 179 on the ground, and quarterback Bo Nix torched the Cowboys for four touchdown passes.
Regardless of how the Cowboys’ defense fares against the Cardinals, it seems the Eberflus-coached unit is poised to add outside reinforcements before Tuesday’s trade deadline. Doing so should make his job easier. Jerry Jones said Monday that the Cowboys had already agreed to one trade – presumably a move on the defensive side – and added that they “possibly could make two more.” A report has since linked the Cowboys to two Bengals defenders, end Trey Hendrickson and linebacker Logan Wilson, as well as Dolphins linebacker Bradley Chubb.
As an elite pass rusher, Hendrickson would be the highest-impact (not to mention the most expensive) acquisition of the three. He’d also help the Cowboys replace departed superstar Micah Parsons, whom they traded to the Packers before the season.
On the heels of a 14-32 stint as the Bears’ head coach, Eberflus has drawn plenty of criticism in his new post with the Cowboys this year. However, the team’s decision to jettison Parsons in late August hasn’t done Eberflus any favors. Having successfully coordinated the Colts’ defense from 2018-21, the Cowboys aren’t ready to give up on the 55-year-old. Depending on how the deadline unfolds, Eberflus could have more talent to work with when the Cowboys come off a Week 10 bye.
Kyle Shanahan Gives Brock Purdy Vote Of Confidence
While 49ers backup quarterback Mac Jones continued a resurgent 2025 in a 34-24 win over the Giants in Week 9, he will not play his way into the team’s starting job. Head coach Kyle Shanahan made it clear on Monday that Jones will return to a No. 2 role when starter Brock Purdy is ready to come back from a toe injury.
Asked if Jones’ play has allowed the 49ers to be more cautious with Purdy, Shanahan said (via Matt Barrows of The Athletic): “They’re not related. This is Brock’s team. When Brock’s good to go and everything and can play like Brock, there’s no decision to be made.”
After going 15th overall to the Patriots in the 2021 draft, Jones finished second in Offensive Rookie of the Year voting and helped the Pats to a playoff berth. The Alabama product was unable to replicate his first-season output with the Patriots or the Jaguars from 2022-24, though, leading him to ink a two-year, $7MM contract with the 49ers last offseason.
Jones reportedly turned down richer offers to function as Purdy’s backup, but choosing San Francisco has worked out well for him and the team. With Purdy having missed seven of the 49ers’ nine games, including five in a row, Jones has led the 6-3 club to a 5-2 record in his starts. The 27-year-old has completed 67.2% of passes for 1,832 yards, 10 touchdowns, and five interceptions in the process. He ranks a solid 15th in the league in QBR.
After picking up his fourth win in Week 7, Jones earned $400K in incentives, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. He collected another $100K for the 49ers’ Week 9 victory, which will continue to be the case as long as he plays at least 25% of offensive snaps, according to Dan Graziano of ESPN. Jones will rake in another $550K if he plays 50% of offensive snaps this season and the 49ers earn a playoff berth.
It’s unclear whether Purdy will play this Sunday against the NFC West rival Rams (6-2), who lost at home to Jones and the 49ers in Week 5. Regardless, it’s unsurprising that Shanahan is continuing to back Purdy, one of the team’s greatest individual success stories during his eight-plus years as the head coach.
Purdy quickly went from Mr. Irrelevant – the last overall pick in the 2022 draft – to establishing himself as a high-end starter. The 49ers went 17-4 with Purdy at the helm through the 2023 regular season, which ended with an overtime loss to the Chiefs in Super Bowl LVIII.
San Francisco failed to make the playoffs during an injury-plagued 2024 in which Purdy’s numbers declined. However, that didn’t stop the 49ers from signing the 25-year-old to a mammoth extension last May. Just months removed from securing a five-year, $265MM deal that includes $181MM in guarantees, Purdy is in no danger of a demotion to clipboard-holding duties. The only question is when he’ll be healthy enough to start again.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/3/25
Today’s practice squad moves:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: C Jacob Bayer
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: WR Danny Gray
- Released: OL Sua Opeta
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Released: CB Beanie Bishop
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/3/25
Today’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Placed on IR: DE Michael Hoecht (story)
Green Bay Packers
- Released: LB Kristian Welch
Dak Prescott Hoping To Play Into His 40s
After being limited to eight games in 2024, Dak Prescott has rebounded nicely through the first half of the 2025 campaign. The 32-year-old quarterback currently sports a career-high 70.3-percent completion percentage and is showing no signs of slowing down. Thanks to his continued production, the Cowboys signal caller is confident he can spend close to another decade in the NFL.
“Forties would be a good number,” Prescott estimated when asked about a potential retirement age (via ESPN’s Todd Archer). “I’ve been through some injuries; played very physical in college so if I can get to 40 playing at the standard that I want, that would be awesome.”
Prescott has indeed dealt with his fair share of injuries through his first 10 years in the NFL. He was limited to only five games in 2020 after suffering a fractured ankle, and he missed another five contests in 2022 thanks to a thumb injury. A hamstring tear in 2024 represented the third major injury of his career.
To the player’s credit, he’s rebounded nicely in each instance. He finished second in Comeback Player of the Year voting in 2021, tossing a career-high 37 touchdowns while guiding Dallas to 11 wins. His 2022 campaign was arguably the best of his career, as he paced the NFL with 36 touchdowns while finishing second in MVP voting. While the Cowboys’ defense is to blame for the team’s struggles in 2025, Prescott currently has the highest QBR of his career.
Those past injuries could eventually impact his on-field ability, but there’s no real reason to be pessimistic about Prescott’s goal of playing into his 40s. We’ve seen plenty of recent quarterbacks play well past this milestone. Tom Brady played until he was 45 and Drew Brees played until he was 41, while Aaron Rodgers (41) and Joe Flacco (40) are currently starting for teams. If Prescott manages to stay relatively healthy over the second half of his career, there’s no reason why he can’t join that club.
The main question will be if Dak is able to remain under center with the Cowboys. Prescott is currently signed through the 2028 season, which would be his age-35 campaign. If the former fourth-round pick hopes to stick in Dallas, it’ll likely require multiple extensions. The long-time QB once replaced an age-36 Tony Romo (who was dealing with a compression fracture in his back), and Prescott will similarly have to stave off the team’s future investments at the position.
Even if he isn’t allowed to extend his career in Dallas, it sounds like Prescott is motivated to stay on the field as long as possible.
“[My perspective] has definitely changed; I can see it more realistically now,” Prescott said (via Archer). “And I think as much as anything, the fun and the peace that this game still gives me 10 years in is going to be hard [to move on from]. You can’t supplement it, so as long as I can do this at a level that I’m proud and happy with, I’ll keep trying.”
Bills Restructure Taron Johnson’s Contract
With approximately $1.67MM available (per Over the Cap), the Bills entered the week with the least amount of cap space in the NFL. General manager Brandon Beane now has a bit more wiggle room ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline, though.
The Bills have restructured cornerback Taron Johnson‘s contract, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com. The team opened up $1.75MM in spending space by converting base salary into a signing bonus.
A fourth-round pick out of Weber State in 2018, Johnson has spent his entire career with the Bills and emerged as one of the league’s most respected nickel corners. The Bills made him the league’s highest-paid slot CB in signing Johnson to a three-year, $31MM extension in March 2024. Johnson’s payday is no longer at the top of the mountain for his position. Regardless, he’s under wraps through 2027.
Johnson missed a 28-21 win over the Chiefs on Sunday with a groin injury, but the Bills’ secondary delivered a strong performance in his absence. The Bills’ defensive backfield remains an area they could address before the deadline, though, especially with more cap room available.
With starter Taylor Rapp and backup Damar Hamlin likely done for the season as a result of knee and pectoral injuries, respectively, the Bills have reportedly been eyeing available safeties. Cole Bishop, who stood out against the Chiefs, and 34-year-old Jordan Poyer are now Buffalo’s top safeties. Cam Lewis and Jordan Hancock are the team’s primary depth choices.
While a safety acquisition is possible by Tuesday, the Bills likely have more pressing needs at wide receiver and along the defensive line as the deadline approaches. They’ve been frequently linked to both areas in the rumor mill, and the D-line has seen multiple important contributors go down in the past couple of weeks. Ed Oliver won’t return until the playoffs (if at all) after suffering a torn biceps in a win over Carolina in Week 8. Michael Hoecht then tore his Achilles on Sunday, ending his season.
The Bills were already in the market for D-line help before losing the versatile Hoecht, who shined over two games after missing the first six of the season for a PED suspension. Now armed with more cap space, Beane may attempt to bolster the Bills’ defensive front with at least one outside acquisition.
Chiefs OT Josh Simmons Returns To Team Facility, Expected Back In Lineup In Week 11
The Chiefs are set to get some major reinforcement on their offensive line. According to Jordan Schultz, rookie left tackle Josh Simmons has returned to the team facility after tending to a personal matter. It sounds like Simmons should be back in the lineup when the Chiefs return from bye in Week 11.
[RELATED: Chiefs LT Josh Simmons To Return In A Few Weeks]
Simmons was a late addition to Kansas City’s injury report in Week 5 with an illness. He got into that game but proceeded to miss the next four contests. We haven’t gotten any definitive details on the personal matter he was dealing with, and his absence was tagged with a non-injury-related/personal designation.
Either way, it sounds like the first-round pick will soon be back protecting Patrick Mahomes‘ blind side. The former Ohio State product started each of Kansas City’s first five games this season, with Pro Football Focus grading him 43rd among 75 qualifying offensive tackles. The site has been particularly bullish on his pass-blocking ability, although they dinged him for his run-blocking prowess.
With the rookie out of the lineup, the Chiefs have turned to offseason acquisition Jaylon Moore. The veteran inked a two-year, $30MM deal with the Chiefs this offseason with the expectation that he’d compete for a starting spot opposite RT Jawaan Taylor. With Simmons running with the starting gig, Moore transitioned to a high-priced depth piece, but the Chiefs have been fortunate to have him on the roster in recent weeks. Pro Football Focus has graded the former 49ers draft pick as the 30th-best tackle in 2025.
When Simmons returns to the lineup, Moore will likely settle back into a bench role. This is a unique luxury that few contenders can tout, and there’s a chance the Chiefs get creative with their OL options during the stretch run of the season.
Bengals Not Making Defensive Staff Changes
Week 9 marked another illustration of the Bengals’ inability to produce a stop on defense. A late 15-point Cincinnati outburst aided by a successful onside kick recovery was followed by a Bears touchdown in the closing seconds of Sunday’s game. 
That contest was not dissimilar to Week 8’s high-scoring defeat against the Jets. Those losses have dropped Cincinnati to 3-6 on the year. Even if Joe Burrow manages to return relatively soon, playoff contention will be increasingly unlikely down the stretch. Nevertheless, the team’s bye week will not include changes to the defensive coaching staff.
[RELATED: Bengals Still Asking For First-Round Pick In Trey Hendrickson Trade]
“No,” head coach Zac Taylor said (via Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer) when asked if defensive coordinator Al Golden‘s position is in jeopardy. “I believe in these guys. Absolutely. We’ll continue to work through it and find solutions.”
During each of Taylor’s first six years at the helm of the Bengals, Lou Anarumo operated as the team’s DC. The latter’s unit finished outside the top 20 in points allowed in 2023 and again last season, so it did not entirely come as a surprise when he was dismissed. Anarumo quickly lined up a new gig at the helm of the Colts’ defense after being fired. Indianapolis currently ranks seventh in points allowed.
Golden and the Bengals, meanwhile, have surrendered the most points and yards in the league on a per-game basis. The team is currently on pace to allow 567 points in 2025, which would be an all-time single-season record. Golden and the coaches are not entirely at fault, of course, and they will continue in their current roles when Cincinnati returns to action.
Many of the team’s recent draft investments on the defensive side of the ball have not developed as hoped. With much of the Bengals’ financial commitments coming on offense, their current issues have certainly not caught anyone off guard. Taylor did add that “nothing is off the table” in terms of personnel or scheme adjustments over the coming days. While moves along those lines – not to mention potential trades – will be worth watching for, Golden and Co. are safe for now.
Texans Extend LB Jake Hansen
The Texans signed linebacker and special teams ace Jake Hansen to a one-year contract extension, per a team announcement.
The deal will keep Hansen in Houston through the 2026 season for a maximum value of $3MM, according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson.
Hansen, 27, signed with the Texans as an undrafted free agent out of Illinois in 2022. He made the 53-man roster as a rookie and appeared in 11 games with 205 snaps on defense and 148 on special teams. During the subsequent offseason, Houston brought in DeMeco Ryans as the team’s new coach, and Hansen could not carve out a role in his system.
He has only played 183 snaps on defense in the last three years, but his role on special teams has expanded. He contributes to every unit except the Texans’ kicking team, and this season, his 89.6 special teams grade and eight special teams tackles are top-10 marks in the league, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
Hansen earned a total of $2.57MM in his first three seasons and re-signed with the Texans for $1.7MM this offseason, per OverTheCap. He will earn another pay bump on his new deal, and Houston will keep one of their core special teams contributors around for another year.
Special teams work isn’t the most glamorous, but it is a reliable way to stick around in the NFL. As long as Hansen stays healthy, he will likely have a job in Houston, and may be prized by other special teams-focused teams in the league.