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NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/15/25

September 15th, 2025 at 7:52pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad moves:

San Francisco 49ers

Tennessee Titans

  • Signed: OT Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, TE Joel Wilson
  • Released: TE Drake Dabney

The 49ers brought back a familiar face in Robert Beal Jr.. The 26-year-old has appeared in 18 career games with San Francisco, compiling 22 tackles and one sack. The majority of that playing time came last year, when he got into 14 contests. Beal made the initial 53-man roster this season before getting waived last week. The 49ers already had an open spot on their taxi squad after linebacker Curtis Robinson was signed to the active roster the other day.

NFL Minor Transactions: 9/15/25

September 15th, 2025 at 7:35pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Dallas Cowboys

Houston Texans

Las Vegas Raiders

Philadelphia Eagles

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Commanders

As expected, Cowboys center Cooper Beebe landed on injured reserve today after suffering an ankle and foot injury during yesterday’s win over the Giants. The lineman suffered a lateral sprain in his ankle along with a bone fracture in his foot, an injury that’s expected to keep him sidelined for six to eight weeks. During an appearance on 105.3 The Fan, Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones expressed optimism that the injury timeline is “on the shorter end of that” (per Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com).

Chargers Place LB Denzel Perryman On IR

September 15th, 2025 at 5:18pm CST by Adam La Rose

Denzel Perryman suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 1, ensuring he would miss time. To little surprise, the veteran linebacker now finds himself on injured reserve.

Perryman was moved to IR on Monday, per a team announcement. Tonight’s matchup against the Raiders will mark the first of at least four games he will be required to miss.

The linebacker was limited to only eight defensive snaps in Week 1 before exiting the contest with his injury. The team kept the door open to a quick return, although the writing was on the wall when Perryman didn’t practice during the lead up to tonight’s matchup with the Raiders.

A former Chargers second-round pick, Perryman signed on for his second stint with the organization ahead of the 2024 campaign. He was limited to 11 games last year thanks to a handful of injuries, but he still managed to compile 55 tackles and one sack.

Troy Dye is likely to reprise his role as a starter at the second level of the team’s defense after filling in for Perryman in Week 1. The veteran started five games in 2024, and he finished his first season in Los Angeles with 57 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Marlowe Wax and Del’Shawn Phillips could also see an uptick in playing time while their teammate is sidelined.

The Chargers made a handful of additional moves ahead of their Week 2 contest. The team signed long snapper Rick Lovato to the 53-man roster, and they elevated both safety Tony Jefferson and linebacker Kana’i Mauga from the practice squad.

Ben Levine contributed to this post.

Rams Place CB Ahkello Witherspoon On IR

September 15th, 2025 at 4:40pm CST by Adam La Rose

4:40pm: Head coach Sean McVay said (via ESPN’s Sarah Barshop) surgery is not expected to be needed in this case. Witherspoon is nevertheless facing a recovery timeline of roughly 12 weeks, so he is in store to miss a large portion of the campaign.

1:34pm: The Rams’ secondary will be shorthanded for a notable period. Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon was placed on injured reserve Monday, per a team announcement.

Witherspoon is dealing with a broken clavicle. Today’s move ensures he will miss at least the next four games. A return could take place as early as Week 7, although that contest will be followed by the Rams’ bye week. It would come as no surprise if Witherspoon were to only be back in the fold after that point.

Losing the 30-year-old for any period will deal a blow to Los Angeles’ defense. Witherspoon has proven to be a key presence at the cornerback spot during his Rams tenure. After being released by the Steelers in 2023, the former third-rounder signed with the Rams. That move saw him serve as a full-time starter during his debut Los Angeles campaign.

A pair of one-year deals have followed, allowing Witherspoon to remain in place. His snap share fell to 58% in 2024, a season in which he was limited to 13 games. Missed time will again be in store this season. Witherspoon has started each of the Rams’ first two contests in 2025, but a new setup will now be needed at the CB position moving forward.

Emmanuel Forbes has been a key presence early in the campaign. The former Commanders first-rounder has handled a 77% snap share to date, and that figure could increase with Witherspoon not in the picture for the time being. Cobie Durant and Darious Williams are also candidates to take on a larger workload after seeing part-time usage so far. Los Angeles will look to remain undefeated beginning with a Week 3 game against the Eagles.

That effort will not include Witherspoon, though. The Colorado product is a pending free agent, so missing a significant stretch will hinder his market value next spring in addition to leaving the Rams shorthanded in the secondary.

Commanders To Sign RB Chase Edmonds

September 15th, 2025 at 3:58pm CST by Adam La Rose

In the wake of losing Austin Ekeler for the season, the Commanders have added backfield depth. Veteran Chase Edmonds has a deal in place with Washington, as first reported by Fox Sports’ Greg Auman.

Prior to reaching this agreement, the Commanders looked into other free agent options. As Tom Pelissero of NFL Network notes, Demetric Felton, Khalil Herbert and Nyheim Miller-Hines also visited Washington. Each member of that trio remains unsigned, however.

To no surprise, this will be a practice squad arrangement. The Commanders still have Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Chris Rodriguez Jr. in the mix as healthy backfield options. Edmonds will offer the team with a veteran presence if he receives a gameday elevation, though.

The 29-year-old last played in 2023 with the Buccaneers. Edmonds split his time the previous season with the Dolphins and Broncos. Prior to that, he played out his rookie contract as a member of the Cardinals. That span overlapped with then-head coach Kliff Kingsbury, who is now the Commanders’ offensive coordinator. Edmonds thus represents a familiar face for his new team.

Over his six NFL seasons, the former fourth-rounder primarily worked as a rotational option in the backfield. In 2021, Edmonds started 11 of 12 games and handled a career-high 116 carries; that resulted in a personal best in terms of rushing yards (592). Similar numbers should not be expected after an absence this long and with a third-string role (at the most) in place, of course.

Still, Edmonds could handle part-time duties upon returning to NFL action. The Fordham product has racked up 158 receptions during his career, so he could look to compensate for Ekeler’s loss in the pass-catching department. Finding success in that capacity could help his value next offseason and lead to a market strong enough to avoid remaining unsigned into the 2026 regular season.

Bears CB Jaylon Johnson To Undergo Surgery; 2025 Return In Doubt

September 15th, 2025 at 1:50pm CST by Adam La Rose

1:50pm: Johnson will indeed need surgery, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports. He adds a return could take place late in the campaign but there is a strong chance Johnson will be out for the remainder of the season. Fellow corner Terell Smith has already been lost to a torn patellar tendon suffered during the preseason. Chicago’s setup in the secondary will be worth monitoring given this latest blow dealt to the unit.

12:57am: Jaylon Johnson made his season debut yesterday but was unable to finish the game. The Bears’ top cornerback is now in position to miss an extended period.

Johnson missed training camp as well as Chicago’s season opener while recovering from a groin injury. During the second quarter of the team’s blowout loss against the Lions, he exited and did not return. In the latest update on the situation, ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Courtney Cronin report Johnson is out indefinitely. This is a new groin injury, per head coach Ben Johnson (via Scott Bair of the Marquee Sports Network).

The full extent of the injury is unknown at this point. Surgery could be on the table, depending on what further testing reveals. In any event, losing Johnson for an extended stretch will deal a notable blow to the Bears’ defense. The unit struggled mightily with and without him on Sunday, and being shorthanded in the secondary will be an unwelcomed development as the team looks to recover from its 0-2 start.

Johnson is in his sixth NFL season, each of which have come as a member of the Bears. The 26-year-old received the franchise tag last offseason to prevent a potential free agent departure. Johnson later signed a four-year, $76MM deal ensuring his status as a foundational member of the team’s secondary. He earned a second straight Pro Bowl nod last season but missed considerable time during the summer in advance of the current campaign.

Johnson was activated from the PUP list during roster cutdowns, allowing for him to return within the first four weeks of the season. The former second-rounder managed to do so, but after a brief spell on the field he will be sidelined for a notable stretch. Slot corner Kyler Gordon – who landed a lucrative new deal this spring – has yet to play this year, so Johnson’s absence could be particularly troublesome if Gordon remains unavailable for Week 3.

Chicago allowed a fourth-quarter comeback against the Vikings in Week 1 before surrendering 52 points against the Lions yesterday. Improvements on defense will be sought out over the coming weeks, and the team’s secondary will be a unit worth watching closely. Johnson will not be part of the Bears’ efforts to take a needed step forward for at least the time being, though.

Steelers OLB Alex Highsmith Suffers High Ankle Sprain

September 15th, 2025 at 12:10pm CST by Ely Allen

SEPTEMBER 15: Rapoport reports Highsmith is not expected to land on injured reserve. As such, a return within the next four weeks will be possible.

SEPTEMBER 14: The Steelers experienced a letdown in their home opener today with a loss to the visiting Seahawks, but a player lost due to injury could have longer-lasting reverberations over the next few weeks. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, head coach Mike Tomlin disclosed that pass rusher Alex Highsmith has suffered a high-ankle sprain.

High-ankle sprains don’t have a great reputation in the NFL. The injury typically holds an average recovery timeline of around 10 weeks. There’s always a chance that Highsmith’s could be a more minor occurrence, but even that would likely mean a four- to six-week absence with a stint on injured reserve.

This has been an unfortunate trend for Pittsburgh over the last year or so. In 2024, Highsmith missed two separate three-week periods. A groin injury sidelined him after only three games, then after three games back on the field, an ankle injury forced the Charlotte product out for another three games.

Highsmith has been a key contributor to the Steelers defense since getting drafted by the team in the third round in 2020. After coming off the bench as a rookie, Highsmith has been a full-time starter in every year since. Before last year’s absences, he had only missed a single game. He exploded onto the scene in his third season with a 14.5-sack performance, earning himself a four-year, $68MM extension.

He hasn’t reached double-digit sack totals since then, but he routinely contributes to a defense that features other talented pass rushers like T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward. The Steelers like a lot of the pieces they have in place along the defense and young backups like Nick Herbig and fourth-round rookie Jack Sawyer could step up big in Highsmith’s absence. Still, a potential IR stint could make things difficult as the injuries continue to stack up in Pittsburgh.

Cowboys C Cooper Beebe Facing Multi-Week Absence

September 15th, 2025 at 11:20am CST by Adam La Rose

The Cowboys’ offensive line was shorthanded to close out their overtime win in Week 2. That will remain the case for an extended period.

Center Cooper Beebe suffered a lateral sprain in his ankle along with a bone fracture in his foot on Sunday, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer. A recovery timeline of six to eight weeks is expected, meaning a stint on injured reserve would come as little surprise. Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, there is hope Beebe will manage to be back in the fold by the early portion of that range.

A move to IR would ensure at least a four-week absence. The Cowboys are likely to take that route given Beebe’s prognosis. In any case, Brock Hoffman will be counted on to handle starting center duties for several games. Hoffman made a total of nine starts across the 2023 and ’24 campaigns, and the former UDFA is now in position to add to that total.

Beebe was selected in the third round of last year’s draft as a replacement for Tyler Biadasz following his departure on the open market. The Kansas State product immediately took on starting duties and logged over 1,000 snaps (all at center). Beebe finished 15th amongst qualifying centers in term of PFF grade, and expectations were high for an effective follow-up campaign. That could still prove to be possible, but only after a notable period on the sidelines.

Hoffman was retained this offseason in a move which could now prove to be critical given his looming stint as a starter. The 26-year-old is a pending restricted free agent, so an effective run with the first-team offensive line could help his value with the Cowboys next spring (or another team in the event he is non-tendered). Beebe’s rookie contract runs through 2027.

Dallas just made a record-breaking investment in guard Tyler Smith, inking him to a $24MM-per-year extension. He and 2024 first-rounder Tyler Guyton will reprise their roles on the left side of the Cowboys’ offensive line through the coming weeks. That period will not have Beebe available at center, however.

Panthers’ Robert Hunt, Austin Corbett Facing Lengthy Absences?

September 15th, 2025 at 10:48am CST by Adam La Rose

The Panthers’ late comeback attempt came up short on Sunday, dropping them to 0-2. Attempts at turning the season around will likely include replacements being counted on along the offensive line.

Both right guard Robert Hunt and center Austin Corbett suffered injuries yesterday. Hunt is dealing with a biceps injury which occurred in the fourth quarter. Corbett, meanwhile, is facing the prospect of missed time due to a knee ailment.

In each case, an MRI is pending. As Joe Person of The Athletic writes (subscription required), though, neither Hunt nor Corbett are optimistic about their respective outlooks. Biceps tears carry lengthy recovery timelines when surgery is required, while Corbett was “distraught” in the locker room after the game when contemplating the fallout of his latest injury (h/t ESPN’s David Newton).

Hunt was one of the Panthers’ two big-ticket guard investments during free agency in 2024 (Damien Lewis being the other). The former Dolphins second-rounder played 16 games during his debut Carolina season, earning a Pro Bowl nod along the way. Expectations were high for a strong follow-up, but it appears a lengthy absence will instead be in store. Hunt is under contract through 2028.

Corbett, by contrast, is a pending free agent. The eighth-year veteran avoided major injuries during his time with the Browns and Rams early in his career. After logging a full campaign with the Panthers in 2022, however, the 30-year-old has been struck by a series of injury woes. Corbett ended the ’22 season with an ACL tear and was limited to just four games the following campaign (during which he suffered an MCL tear). In 2024, a biceps tear ended his season in Week 5.

This offseason, Corbett was retained on a one-year pact while the Panthers also kept Cade Mays in the fold. The two engaged in a training camp competition for the starting center gig, and Corbett won out. The 69-game starter now appears to be facing another lengthy tenure on the shelf, something which would hinder his market value next spring and presumably move Mays into a first-team role.

Carolina’s offensive line welcomed back left tackle Ikem Ekwonu yesterday. The unit could be notably shorthanded along the interior moving forward, though. It will be interesting to see what further testing reveals for both Hunt and Corbett as the Panthers look to build off the momentum from their second half showing yesterday.

Long Absence Feared For Bengals’ Joe Burrow

September 14th, 2025 at 11:04pm CST by Ely Allen

Updates continue to pour in on the toe injury suffered by Bengals star quarterback Joe Burrow. The toe injury was confirmed to be turf toe with speculation that several weeks could be up in the air for the sixth-year passer. At this point, each update seems to paint a darker picture.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter was the first to provide new information, reporting that images of the 28-year-old quarterback’s turf toe injury were “being sent to noted foot specialist” Dr. Robert Anderson to be reviewed. Schefter noted that, should surgery be necessary, a three-month absence would be expected for Burrow, who was seen in a walking boot and on crutches after leaving today’s game. Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports was the next to add on that Burrow is undergoing additional tests and that Cincinnati expects to have full details Monday.

NFL Network’s duo of Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero closely followed with the specifics that Burrow “is feared to have suffered a Grade 3 turf toe injury,” that the injury was severe with torn ligaments, and that it would likely require surgery, keeping in line with Schefter’s three-month timeline.

Local beat reporter Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer noted that, with Grade 3 turf toe injuries often estimated with two- to six-month recovery timelines, Burrow’s situation is brutal but not the worst-case scenario.

In line with that thinking, Rapoport points out that three months from now is December 14. That date coincides with the Bengals’ Week 15 game against the Ravens. If backup quarterback Jake Browning can keep Cincinnati anywhere near the playoff chase in Burrow’s absence, Burrow may be able to return in time to play three or four games to get back into potential playoff shape. That would require a lot of things to go incredibly right for the Bengals, but all hope may not be lost.

Browning has been with the team since 2021, winning the primary backup job — and, with it, a spot on the 53-man roster — in 2023. That year, unfortunately, saw Burrow go down with a season-ending wrist injury, and Browning came in to finish out the season. After a 5-5 start with Burrow under center, the Bengals finished 4-3 over their last seven games of the season as Browning led them to a 9-8 final record. Browning proved to be a reliable backup in that stretch of games, completing 70.4 percent of his passes for 12 touchdowns.

Browning will be tested immediately as the Bengals embark on a five-game stretch of 2024 playoff teams with the Vikings, Broncos, Lions, Packers, and Steelers immediately on the horizon. If Browning and his arsenal of offensive weapons can keep the team above water, there’s a chance he may be able to hand the keys back to Burrow in time for a potential playoff run. That’s what the Bengals will be focusing on if they receive bad news tomorrow.

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