Chiefs Could Be In Market For RBs
With Isiah Pacheco finding himself unavailable due to injury, the Chiefs are reportedly exploring the trade market options at the position, per Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. There are several different options that could be attractive to Kansas City. 
While featured backs like Breece Hall and Alvin Kamara are seemingly on the market, the Chiefs haven’t really had a true featured back since Patrick Mahomes and Kareem Hunt‘s rookie year, when Hunt carried the ball 272 times and the next running back had 18 carries. Ever since that 2017 campaign, Kansas City hasn’t seen a 1,000-yard rusher, nor has it seen a single back dominate the team’s carries like Hunt did. The Chiefs have, instead, operated with a stable of backs, and that doesn’t seem likely to change now.
Even without Pacheco, there are familiar names of backs the team drafted years ago on the roster. Hunt has been RB2 in Kansas City after returning last year, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire is currently on the team’s practice squad. Behind Hunt, rookie seventh-round pick Brashard Smith and Elijah Mitchell sit on the active roster, though Mitchell has been inactive for every game this year. Hunt has mostly split carries with Pacheco in the run game, and Smith has established a role as a third-down back, utilizing his skills as a receiver, the position he originally played in college before transitioning to running back after transferring to SMU.
So, what kind of options fit in with Kansas City’s approach to the position? After taking a pay cut and watching two rookies pass him up on the depth chart, Jerome Ford could find his way to Kansas City via trade. In the same division, Justice Hill has been a staple in Baltimore since being drafted, mostly for working as if no job is too small. The Ravens have been making a concerted effort to find more touches for third-year back Keaton Mitchell, though, and with Derrick Henry as the featured rusher, Hill may be seen as superfluous in Baltimore’s backfield.
In the NFC, two recently demoted backs could be available. In Carolina, Chuba Hubbard missed some time due to injury and watched Rico Dowdle take the offense by storm and move into the starting role. Philadelphia traded for Tank Bigsby out of Jacksonville, relegating former Packers RB2 AJ Dillon to a fourth-string role. As a power back, Dillon probably makes the most sense to replace Pacheco in the rotation, but as a Super Bowl adversary in two of the past three years, the Eagles may not be super willing to make a trade that could improve the Chiefs this year.
Breer’s report came only this morning, so more clues may make headlines in the days to come indicating what direction Kansas City is looking in. News of Pacheco’s injury is only three days old itself, and there may be no need for a trade if his outlook improves in the next few days. For now, Hunt and Smith will take on larger roles in the backfield, and Mitchell may make his 2025 debut.
Eagles Could Address Pass Rush Before Trade Deadline
Since the start of training camp, the Eagles have already made seven trades as part of their efforts to repeat as Super Bowl champions, and according to multiple NFL sources, if a front office phone is ringing, chances are high that general manager Howie Roseman is on the other end looking for more. Atop the NFC East by 2.5 games with top performers at multiple positions, there is one area at which Philadelphia could see serious improvement. 
Per Zach Berman of The Athletic, “the obvious spot to watch” in Philadelphia is edge rusher. After losing top sack-getter Josh Sweat to free agency in the offseason, filling out the edge has been a focus of the front office. The Eagles didn’t sign a single multi-year deal in free agency but still added a few potential high-ceiling names in Joshua Uche, Azeez Ojulari, and Ogbo Okoronkwo. There were quite a few options in the draft, as well, and the team made an intriguing selection on Day 1, trading up a single spot to draft Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell.
In overall team rankings, Philadelphia has been pretty middle-of-the-road with its overall pass rush. Per Pro Football Reference, the Eagles’ 16 sacks are tied for 19th in the league, and the defense is 17th in overall pressures with 58. Many of these are not coming from the edge, though. Making up 10 of the team’s 16 sacks, are two defensive tackles, Moro Ojomo (4.0) and Jordan Davis (3.0), and inside linebacker Zack Baun (3.0). The team leader in quarterback hits is defensive tackle Jalen Carter (9), and Ojomo (6) is third on the team with Davis (4) and Baun (4) tying for fourth.
Second-year pass rusher Jalyx Hunt ranks second on the team in quarterback hits with eight, but he’s only amassed one sack in the first half of his sophomore campaign. Uche has spent the second-most time on the edge behind Hunt, but he, too, only has one sack to his name while only accounting for three quarterback hits. Okoronkwo suffered a triceps tear that may have ended his season after only four snaps in his only game of the year. Finally, third-year edge rusher Nolan Smith, who started three games across from Hunt to start the season, only tallied one quarterback hit while failing to notch a sack before landing on injured reserve with a pectoral injury.
The Eagles had also signed veteran pass rusher Za’Darius Smith, who still leads the position group with 1.5 sacks despite suddenly retiring a little over two weeks ago. Retirement giveth and taketh, though, as on the heels of Smith’s retirement, long-time Eagles veteran Brandon Graham came out of retirement to sign back on with the team. Graham may be more of a culture builder or locker room presence, though, considering his final two seasons in Philadelphia paled in comparison to his career-best 2022 campaign.
The rookie Campbell is an intriguing option at the position, as well. The 21-year-old came out of high school and started his career with the Crimson Tide as an edge rusher, only moving to off-ball linebacker due to injuries at the position. He played the 2023 season almost exclusively in that role but found more versatility in where he lined up throughout his final year with the team, spending increased time in his original position.
Due to this experience, there was a good amount of speculation in how he would be used in the NFL. It seemed early on that the Eagles would be willing to entertain his usage at both positions, but they started him as an off-ball linebacker, and he earned a starting role. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), Campbell has excelled in the role, ranking as the team’s second-best defender and the sixth-highest graded linebacker in the NFL, so it doesn’t appear likely he’ll be moving positions.
Hence why Berman has identified the position as one the team may target in the trade market. If they do move on a pass rusher, though, they can’t make any more small moves. They’ll need to target players who can move the needle as a consistent defensive presence. Berman is one of several reporters who have identified the Dolphins as a franchise Roseman should reach out to, along with Ralph Vacchiano of FOX Sports. Specifically, edge rushers Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips were identified as targets in Miami.
Both player’s careers have ebbed and flowed as injuries have taken a toll on their consistent outputs. Chubb logged a career-high 12.0 sacks as a rookie in 2018 and didn’t see double digits again until he tallied 11.0 in his first full year in Miami. Chubb missed the entire 2024 campaign with a torn ACL but has looked strong this year with four sacks and seven quarterback hits. He has no guaranteed money left on his contract after this year, so he makes perfect sense as a half-year rental that may become a cap casualty after that.
After two strong seasons to start his career, Phillips was on pace for a 14.0-sack season in 2023 before tearing his Achilles tendon after eight games. Season-ending knee surgery would cut off his 2024 campaign after half as many games. Phillips has rebounded decently, as well, though, logging three sacks and seven quarterback hits so far this year. Phillips in currently playing out the fifth-year option of his rookie deal and could leave the team in free agency, with Miami getting nothing in return.
The Eagles aren’t the only ones interested in Chubb and Phillips, though. According to Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network, multiple teams have reached out with significant interest in the oft-injured pass rushing pair. Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated added recently that veteran pass rusher Matt Judon, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick have also been points of order on phone calls.
Per Breer, Miami has been steadfast in telling the team’s inquiring about Waddle “no” in no uncertain terms. He believes the team “may be more receptive” on Fitzpatrick, though. For the pass rushers, Wolfe claims the Dolphins’ front office has been hesitant, but with the trade deadline looming, their grip may loosen a bit. The asking price for Phillips is thought to be at least a third-rounder. There was some thought that, with general manager Chris Grier parting ways with the organization this morning, a fire sale of assets may take place, but interim general manager Champ Kelly is thought to be auditioning for a full-time role, so he’ll still be fairly strategic and judicial with any trade talks that take place, per CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones.
The Eagles are eager to deal, though. With an expectation of up to three compensatory draft picks in their future, there’s a chance Philadelphia could be sitting on 10 picks for the 2026 NFL Draft. Roseman is reportedly unafraid to trade those picks, and there’s even speculation players like wide receiver A.J. Brown and running back AJ Dillon could be available in packages, as well. Even if the Dolphins are playing hard ball with their most sought-after assets, the Eagles may be willing to play ball en route to a chance at back-to-back championships.
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.