Minor NFL Transactions: 10/31/25
Here are Friday’s only minor moves:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Activated from IR: DE Cedric Johnson
- Signed from practice squad: QB Sean Clifford
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Placed on IR: S Eric Murray
- Signed from practice squad: WR Austin Trammell
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Placed on IR: S DeShon Elliott, DL Daniel Ekuale (story)
With replacement starting quarterback Joe Flacco still questionable to play this weekend as he deals with an AC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder, Clifford makes his way to the active roster to serve as the team’s third, emergency passer behind Flacco and backup Jake Browning.
Lions Unlikely To Be Active At Trade Dealine
During each of the past three years, the Lions have made a move at the trade deadline. That pattern could repeat in 2025, but for now the team does not appear likely to swing a notable deal. 
“I love where we’re at,” head coach Dan Campbell said when speaking about the Lions’ situation (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press). “I think the roster is in, I think it’s healthy, I think it’s in a good position. I think we have depth, but like I say [general manager Brad Holmes is] always looking to improve the roster.”
The Lions sit at 5-2 on the year, even with the Packers for the most wins in the NFC North. Topping the division – if not the conference altogether – is once again within reach in 2025. That would point Detroit to a buyer’s stance, with Birkett naming depth in the pass rush department along the with secondary and at the tight end position as logical targets. Indeed, in the wake of the Aidan Hutchinson extension, it was reported the Lions’ stance on acquiring defensive help has not changed.
Detroit’s cap setup for future years will include a number of massive commitments for recently extended players. Adding a player with term would be challenging as a result, but the team has over $25MM in cap space for this year. Bringing in a rental should therefore be feasible.
Hutchinson’s season-ending injury from last year made an EDGE addition a key priority and resulted in the Za’Darius Smith acquisition. The Lions have not been linked to a trade candidate in 2025 to the same extent they were widely known as Smith’s likeliest destination last season. Nevertheless, there is time until Tuesday afternoon’s deadline to work out a trade.
Campbell added he and Holmes have “brought up a couple of things” on the trade front recently. As the Lions look to rebound from last year’s playoff disappointment, their health on defense in particular will be worth monitoring. With a number of key players on that side of the ball due to return shortly, no major moves should be expected.
Bengals QB Joe Flacco Trending Towards Playing
The Bengals’ chances of sticking close enough to the playoff race for an eventual, hopeful Joe Burrow late-season return took a huge hit on Sunday, when the team gave the Jets their first win of the season. Making matters worse, backup quarterback Joe Flacco, who had breathed new life into the team, suffered a shoulder injury in the game that threatened his future availability. According to Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer, barring a setback leading up to Sunday, Flacco is expected to play. 
Following the injury, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor gave the 40-year-old passer a 50-50 chance at recovering in time to play in this weekend’s game. Flacco, though, reportedly “never let his mind think about not playing,” approaching the week with the mindset that his number would be called on Sunday. Essentially, until a point came in which a staffer or his body told him he couldn’t play, his plan was to return to the starting lineup for Sunday.
Taylor and Co. couldn’t function under that same mindset, not after giving him only a 50-50 chance. Jake Browning, the initial replacement starter for Burrow who was unseated after Cincinnati acquired Flacco, was given all the first-team reps in practice on Wednesday and Friday, in order to ensure that he would be ready in the case that Flacco couldn’t go. Flacco had voiced a desire to get some work in at least one practice to see if he could even throw with the shoulder injury. He was a limited participant Thursday, giving his shoulder plenty of time to rest up for Sunday.
“I feel pretty good,” Flacco told the media. “You don’t want to assume you’ll be able to throw and not really know. I wanted to go out there this week and feel good about what was going on.”
The result? Flacco’s analysis up to this point:
“I’ve never really talked about injuries before, so I don’t know what to say. I feel good.”
Taylor seemed to agree, saying that Flacco “did a nice job out there” and that the head coach had seen what he had hoped to see in order to believe Flacco would be able to play on Sunday. Both parties seemed to stop just short of committing to that point, emphasizing that the work over the next two days will be crucial in determining his availability.
Flacco will be QB1 for a walk-through tomorrow, and on Sunday, they’ll have Flacco go through his usual pre-game warmups. If there are no setbacks, the veteran passer will start the game under center for the Bengals. Otherwise, Cincinnati will have to put its fate in Browning’s hands, once again.
Saints Seeking Day 2 Picks For WR Rashid Shaheed, CB Alontae Taylor
Of the receivers recently named as trade candidates, Rashid Shaheed is perhaps the likeliest to be on the move in the near future. The Saints wideout is a pending free agent and could find himself on the radar of several suitors. 
New Orleans has received interest in fellow wideout Chris Olave, but he is attached to his fifth-year option for 2026. The Ohio State product could very well be in place beyond that point by means of an extension. Shaheed, by contrast, is one of many Saints identified as one to watch on the trade front and the team is willing to move him.
At this point, though, no deal is imminent. Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated confirms calls have come in about Shaheed, but he adds New Orleans’ asking price is currently a second- or third-round pick. That matches the Raiders’ stance with respect to Jakobi Meyers, another wideout known on the trade block. Per Breer, suitors have balked at that price in Shaheed’s case.
The situation is similar as it pertains to cornerback Alontae Taylor. New Orleans is seeking a Day 2 pick for the pending free agent corner, Breer adds. Just like with Shaheed, he writes interested teams view that asking price as too steep. It will be interesting to see if the Saints shift their stance ahead of the November 4 deadline by accepting less valuable offers in one or both cases.
Shaheed, 27, is averaging 11.1 yards per catch in 2025, by far the lowest figure of his career. Much of that is due to the team’s overall offensive struggles, though, and a QB switch has taken place. Rookie Tyler Shough will handle starting duties for the remainder of the season. Shaheed would only play one game with Shough in place in the event he were to be dealt ahead of Tuesday’s deadline.
Taylor has served as a starter for much of his New Orleans tenure. With the team having traded away Marshon Lattimore and lost Paulson Adebo in free agency, moving on from the second-rounder would leave the secondary rather thin. Of course, the lack of an extension in Adebo’s case has led to interest from suitors and uncertainty regarding his future.
The receiver and cornerback trade markets around the league will depend in large part on Shaheed and Taylor, with the former having been at least loosely linked to several buyers recently. As such, both of these cases will be worth watching closely.
Jerry Jones: Cowboys Not Only Exploring Rental Trade Options
Nothing appears to be imminent at this point, but the Cowboys have made it clear they are in the market for at least one trade addition. Rentals are of course common at this time of year, although Dallas is also open to long-term acquisitions. 
During his latest appearance on 105.3 The Fan, owner Jerry Jones said (via Joseph Hoyt of the Dallas Morning News) the Cowboys are open to making a deal for a player under contract beyond 2025. Last season provided an example of that approach in the form of the Jonathan Mingo trade.
“[Jonathan] Mingo was that type of trade last year,” Jones said when speaking about potentially adding a player with term on their contract. “We liked the value in a going forward basis.”
That assessment of the Mingo swap is certainly notable given his non-impactful Cowboys tenure to date. Dallas sent Carolina a fourth-round pick at the deadline one year ago for Mingo and a seventh-round selection. The 24-year-old made just one catch in eight appearances upon arrival with the Cowboys. He has not suited up this season, although the fact Mingo is under contract through 2027 leaves him time to emerge as a contributor.
To no surprise, a number of the players mentioned most frequently in trade talk recently are pending free agents. That applies to several defenders who could offer a short-term boost to the Cowboys, but there are of course other options on the team’s radar. Dallas has shown an interest in high-profile edge rushers which would offset the production lost in the Micah Parsons trade and Jones has expressed a willingness to use the draft capital added in that swap under the right circumstances.
Parting with one or more first-round picks would obviously not be feasible in a rental acquisition, but adding a player with term could open the door to a blockbuster swap over the coming days. The Jets are willing to entertain offers on defensive tackle Quinnen Williams, for instance, and the three-time Pro Bowler was the subject of Cowboys interest this past offseason. Dallas has nearly $31MM in 2025 cap space and the team’s post-Parsons era will include an increase in financial flexibility over the coming years.
It will be interesting to see if a swap of one kind or another is pulled off in the Cowboys’ case. The team has until November 4 to finalize an acquisition, something which could include a repeat of the Mingo deal with respect to contract length.
Bengals DT McKinnley Jackson Requests Trade Or Release
OCTOBER 31: Head coach Zac Taylor said (via Baby) he and Jackson have engaged in “great conversations” about the situation. He added Pennel’s departure will lead to more opportunities for other players along the defensive line moving forward, so it will be interesting to see if an uptick in usage will be in store for Jackson.
OCTOBER 30: Yet another defender wants out of Cincinnati. Bengals defensive tackle McKinnley Jackson has requested a trade or his release, according to ESPN’s Ben Baby.
The Bengals selected the Texas A&M product in the third round (No. 97) of the 2024 draft. After starting his rookie season on injured reserve with a knee issue, Jackson got into each of the Bengals’ remaining 13 games. He saw 248 of his 299 snaps on defense, and he finished his rookie season with 15 tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble.
Jackson has barely seen the field as a sophomore. He got into six defensive snaps back in Week 5, but he’s otherwise been sidelined, including healthy scratches in six of Cincy’s eight games. As Baby notes, this downtick in playing time coincided with Al Golden taking over for Lou Anarumo at defensive coordinator.
While the Bengals managed Trey Hendrickson‘s very-public push for a new contract (and the corresponding trade rumblings), the team has dealt with a handful of additional requests on defense. Linebacker Logan Wilson requested a trade last week, while veteran defensive tackle Mike Pennel asked for and was granted his release on Tuesday. Pennel has since landed back with the Chiefs.
Jackson’s situation is a bit different than that of Wilson and Pennel considering his lack of track record. While teams could gamble on the DT’s youth and relatively inexpensive rookie contract, Jackson’s best chance of reviving his career elsewhere would be via his Bengals release and a subsequent taxi squad gig.
Dolphins-Chris Grier Fallout: McDaniel, Waddle, Replacement Candidates
Chris Grier‘s lengthy tenure with the Dolphins – including a GM run dating back to 2016 – has come to an end. It remains to be seen if head coach Mike McDaniel will remain in the organization past the end of this season, but that is a possibility at this point. 
Owner Stephen Ross “still believes in” the embattled coach, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports. That stance was confirmed by the news earlier today stating McDaniel will continue in his role through the end of the campaign. His performance over the coming weeks will in large part dictate whether or change on the sidelines will be made as well. Per Jackson, McDaniel has made a number of small changes in his approach over the past two weeks, including more one-on-one time being spent with players.
As Jackson adds, Ross is evaluating everything in the organization at this time. With respect to the front office, interim GM Champ Kelly will look to earn the full-time position while the fate of McDaniel (who landed an extension last offseason) will continue to be a talking point as the campaign winds down. Last night’s loss dropped Miami to 2-7 on the year, making the team an interesting one to watch ahead of next week’s trade deadline.
Several notable players have long been connected to trade interest, especially given the Dolphins’ struggles in 2025. Jaylen Waddle is among them, although it would come as a surprise if a deal were to be worked out on that front. Indeed, Grier was insistent on keeping the 26-year-old, SNY’s Connor Hughes reports. That was certainly a reasonable approach given Waddle’s importance to the Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill-less passing game. Now, though, the decision to part ways with Grier could open the door to more trades taking place than otherwise would have.
The timing of this move is intriguing since it comes just before the deadline. CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones reports some around the NFL were surprised by the fact Grier’s run ended at this point of the season. He adds, on the other hand, the longtime executive was increasingly “feeling the pressure” with respect to his job security as the campaign progressed, meaning today’s news does not come entirely as a shock.
Kelly has until Tuesday afternoon to make a final decision on trades. In the meantime, attention will turn to his ability to earn the full-time gig while outside candidates receive consideration during the 2026 hiring cycle. With respect to potential general manager hires, Jones lists Alec Halaby (Eagles), Ed Dodds (Colts), Ian Cunningham (Bears), Glenn Cook (Browns), Jon-Eric Sullivan (Packers) and Lance Newmark (Commanders) as names to watch. Each of those executives have been connected to GM vacancies in recent years and at least most of them no doubt will be again in 2026. Connections to Miami’s opening will be worth watching for as the hiring cycle takes shape.
Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. To Return In Week 9
The Falcons were without their starting quarterback and top receiver in Week 8. Both are on track to return in time for Sunday’s game, though. 
Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is off Atlanta’s injury report. The second-year passer was absent last week due to a bone bruise in his knee. After nearly being in position to play through the injury this past Sunday, it comes as little surprise he will manage to return in time for the Falcons’ upcoming game against the Patriots.
The same is also true of receiver Drake London, who was absent in Week 8 as a result of a hip injury which emerged late in preparation for the game. The 24-year-old was a limited participant in practice over the past two days before logging a full session on Friday. As a result, London is now set to return at the same time Atlanta’s QB1 will resume his first full campaign atop the depth chart.
The Falcons have run hot and cold in 2025. The team suffered a 24-point loss against the Dolphins in Week 8 with Kirk Cousins making his first start of the season alongside a shorthanded skill position group. Having Penix and London back in the fold will be key against a Patriots team riding a five-game winning streak.
Atlanta’s offense has flashed potential when at full strength this season, although the 3-4 team would certainly benefit from better consistency in all facets. A strong run of availability would be a critical factor in that regard, especially as Penix’s evaluation period in a full-time starting role continues. That process will see him take the field with a healthier group around him on Sunday.
Vikings Submitted Daniel Jones Better Offer Than Colts
Completing one of the more stunning first halves in recent NFL history, the Colts enter Week 9 an NFL-best 7-1. Their offense has rolled to a historic modern-era point, scoring more points through eight games than any post-merger team in franchise history. At the center of this surprising charge: Daniel Jones, who needed to beat out Anthony Richardson for the starting job.
Richardson is now on IR, and Jones’ performance through eight games both showed no indication the QB competition would be revisited and has rocketed the Colts’ enduring core back to relevance. Jones chose the Colts over the Vikings in free agency, and Minnesota has seen its QB quality drop significantly after also letting Sam Darnold walk. While the Vikes did not aggressively pursue a second Darnold contract, The Athletic’s Michael Silver notes they did expect to re-sign Jones as J.J. McCarthy insurance.
At the time the Colts signed Jones to a one-year, $14MM contract, it was known the Vikings made an offer to keep the QB — one they mostly employed as a practice squad stash late last season (Jones was not even the backup in the Vikings’ playoff game). However, Silver reports the Vikings made a bigger offer — one that topped the $13.15MM guarantee in the Colts’ proposal.
Shortly before the legal tampering period, we heard the Colts were preparing to enter the Jones market. Jones faceplanting on his four-year, $160MM Giants deal naturally did not lead to a multiyear guarantee. But the market for his “prove it” deal did escalate. Jones, 28, determined his best chance to see immediate action came in Indianapolis. Being in the building as the Vikings were grooming McCarthy, Jones correctly surmised he had a better chance to unseat Richardson than delay McCarthy’s ascent.
Jones went so far as to communicate to the Vikings, per Silver, Kevin O’Connell‘s presence creating a QB-friendly infrastructure would lead to McCarthy succeeding — and thus little chance for the veteran free agent to block his path. The Vikings continued down this road with Aaron Rodgers, who almost definitely would have blocked McCarthy’s route to the lineup.
Rodgers expressed interest in joining O’Connell in Minnesota, pegging the Vikings as his preferred destination. But he ended up in Pittsburgh, forming a partnership in which neither side received its desired outcome (the Steelers had wanted to either re-sign Justin Fields or trade for Matthew Stafford over signing Rodgers).
With Jones committed to Indianapolis, Minnesota traded for Sam Howell during the draft and signed Max Brosmer as a UDFA. Howell’s struggles in camp led to the Vikings trading him to the Eagles and then signing Carson Wentz. The Wentz experiment is over, as the QB nomad is out for the season with a shoulder injury, while Brosmer is still being prioritized as Minnesota’s QB2.
Entering the season as the Vikings’ third-stringer, Brosmer (per Silver) drew some internal Brock Purdy comps. It is obviously too early there, but Purdy did impress as a 49ers third-stringer behind Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo in 2022 — before injuries opened the door to the starting job. Brosmer is now one injury away, and while McCarthy is returning in Week 9, the former top-10 pick has already suffered two notable maladies since entering the NFL.
Prior to the 2024 draft, Vikings ownership was believed to be pushing for a young quarterback who could keep the role long term. This offseason, Silver adds the Mark and Zygi Wilf remain committed to seeing if McCarthy can be that long-term answer.
The Vikings did roster Kirk Cousins for six years but had not had much luck through the draft since 1999 first-rounder Daunte Culpepper. The former standout’s severe knee injury — sustained shortly after the Wilfs bought the team — in 2005 wrecked his Twin Cities stay, leading to a slew of veterans. Teddy Bridgewater‘s injury-marred stay interrupted this, and McCarthy’s meniscus tear last year reminded of some unfortunate knee-related setbacks for Minnesota QBs. The Vikings will now hope McCarthy can prove O’Connell and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah right for passing on franchise-tagging Darnold or signing Rodgers.
The Jones offer does show some degree of hesitancy with McCarthy this year, as the Vikings offered more than they paid Darnold in 2024 (one year, $10MM). Jones is flourishing in Indy, sitting third in QBR during a bounce-back season. The Colts, whose QB carousel has spun much faster than the Vikings’ in recent years, are interested in extending him. The Vikings reside as an interesting “what if?” for the former first-round quarterback.
Bills S Taylor Rapp Likely Out For Season
The Bills placed Taylor Rapp on IR before their Week 8 game. While that move only mandates a four-game absence, the veteran safety appears unlikely to factor into Buffalo’s plans for the rest of the season.
Sean McDermott confirmed (via The Athletic’s Joe Buscaglia) Rapp underwent knee surgery this week; that procedure is likely to shelve him for the rest of the season. While the ninth-year HC did not confirm Rapp is done, it does not sound like he will factor into the Bills’ IR-return calculus this season.
[RELATED: Bills Eyeing Field-Stretching WR At Deadline]
Rapp had not played well before being moved to IR; Pro Football Focus rated him 84th out of 88 qualified safeties. The Bills had re-signed Rapp in 2024, giving him a low-cost deal (three years, $10.63MM) to stick around and replace Jordan Poyer at the position. After Poyer’s Dolphins one-off, he is back receiving regular reps. The Bills have signed Poyer from the practice squad ahead of their pivotal Week 9 Chiefs matchup.
While Micah Hyde‘s second stint did not involve any game action (before the standout’s offseason retirement), Poyer has taken over as Buffalo’s primary option alongside Cole Bishop. The Bills also have Damar Hamlin on IR, thinning their safety corps to the point Poyer (34) is suddenly being counted on — while tied to vet-minimum money — after the team released him in March 2024.
Hamlin and Rapp’s exits have Cam Lewis, Sam Franklin and fifth-round rookie Jordan Hancock as Buffalo’s backups at safety. Rapp is on Buffalo’s books for 2026, but his base salary ($2.58MM) is nonguaranteed.
Additionally, McDermott said (via Buscaglia) the team hopes second-round defensive tackle T.J. Sanders — on IR after knee surgery — will be able to return in a few weeks. The Bills are in decent shape for injury activations, having only used two thus far. The Bills are in trouble at defensive tackle, however, with Ed Oliver‘s best-case scenario of returning from a biceps tear being late in a potential playoff run. Also ruling out DaQuan Jones for the annual Kansas City regular-season matchup, team has fourth-round rookie Deone Walker and Larry Ogunjobi in place at the position. Buffalo mainstay Jordan Phillips is also back on the team’s 53-man roster as a rotational option.