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Cowboys, G Tyler Smith Agree To Record-Setting Extension

September 13th, 2025 at 10:16pm CST by Ely Allen

The Cowboys continue to make deals after fumbling the big one in the dying days of the preseason. Dallas has agreed to an extension with starting left guard Tyler Smith that will make him the highest-paid player at his position, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

The terms show a four-year, $96MM agreement that includes $81.2MM in guarantees, $16.4MM of which will be in the form of a signing bonus, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer. Smith’s $24MM annual average value is the highest for an offensive guard in NFL history.

As a result of failing to act quickly on past extensions for key contributors like quarterback Dak Prescott, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, and pass rusher Micah Parsons, Cowboys owner/team president/general manager Jerry Jones ended up reacting to huge market changes at all three positions. This left Dallas paying more than it might have needed to on extensions for Prescott and Lamb and trading away Parsons to a team with whom he was willing to negotiate.

With any potential Parsons deal taken off their plate, the Cowboys immediately shifted their attention to where else they might dedicate their money. Actually, they knew where to look, as they had keyed in on Smith, cornerback DaRon Bland, tight end Jake Ferguson, and kicker Brandon Aubrey as players they wanted new deals for early in the offseason. Ferguson was the first to get his deal in July. Bland was next to sign his deal, and fullback Hunter Luepke got a surprise extension, as well, to open September in the days after Parsons’ departure.

This time, it’s Smith’s turn. After letting it be known that they had their eyes on an extension for the fourth-year guard, Dallas picked up his fifth-year option. It didn’t seem likely that the Cowboys would allow Smith to play out Year 5 on the option. Because all offensive line positions are grouped together when calculating the fifth-year option salaries, guards and centers rarely see their options picked up as prices are driven up by offensive tackles.

What picking up his option did, though, was show Smith they were serious about keeping (and paying) him and add an extra year of time for a deal to get done. It also allowed Smith to go into the regular season — after failing to get a new deal secured before the season opener — feeling secure that a deal was on its way. The 24-year-old switched up his representation shortly after his option was picked up in anticipation of the deal getting done.

The two sides clearly didn’t let the start of the regular season keep them from working out a contract, and there was plenty of anticipation for it to be a record-setting one. Because they had picked up his fifth-year option, Smith became the first Cowboy since former running back Ezekiel Elliott to sign an extension with multiple years left on his contract, per Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports.

In only three full years of play, Smith already has three accolades to his name as a two-time Pro Bowler and a second-team All-Pro, all earned during the two seasons in which he started at guard. In his rookie season, his sole season not at guard, Smith stepped in for an injured Tyron Smith to start every game of the season but one at left tackle.

In that rookie campaign, during which he unexpectedly started as Prescott’s blindside blocker, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) graded Smith as the league’s 25th-best tackle out of 81 players graded at the position. When he bumped back in to guard in his sophomore campaign, PFF slotted him in at 11th of 79. He followed that up last year with a ranking of 15th out of 77 guards. Despite the varying relative position rankings, Smith’s overall grades have been consistently strong and have improved year after year.

Not only is Smith among the cream of the crop at his normal position, but the 24-year-old has also proven he can play at a high level as a tackle if need be. Smith is young and talented and likely has room to grow yet. The deal secures Smith as the key cog of the offensive line through the 2030 NFL season as Dallas continues use the money not spent on Parsons to hold on to every other player that it intended to pay.

Patriots Trade WR Ja’Lynn Polk To Saints

September 13th, 2025 at 10:04pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Patriots are trading second-year wideout Ja’Lynn Polk and a 2028 seventh-round pick to the Saints for a 2027 sixth-round pick, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.

Polk suffered a shoulder injury during the preseason and was placed on season-ending injured reserve during final roster cuts. He still won’t suit up this year, so New Orleans is betting on his ability to recover and live up to his draft billing in 2026 and beyond.

The Saints were interested in Polk during the 2024 draft, per Jeff Duncan and Luke Johnson of The Times-Picayune, but he was taken by the Patriots at No. 37, four picks before New Orleans was on the clock. (The Saints ended up using their second-rounder on cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry.)

The 23-year-old disappointed as a rookie, reeling in only 12 of his 37 targets for 87 yards and two touchdowns. He was thought to be on the roster bubble entering training camp after New England revamped their receiver room this offseason. His shoulder surgery pre-empted a release, but the Patriots still found a way to move on when the Saints came calling.

Per OverTheCap, the Patriots trading Polk will leave $2.9MM in dead money, which can be spread across the team’s 2025 and 2026 salary caps. That assumes that the Saints pick up the entirety of his remaining salary, worth just under $5MM over the next three years. 2025 and 2026 are fully guaranteed, while $637k of Polk’s $2.11MM salary in 2027 is guaranteed.

In terms of both finances and draft capital, acquiring Polk is a low-cost move by the Saints, though it does not come without risk. The first two year of his NFL career have essentially been a wash, and he’ll be coming off shoulder surgery entering his third.

Polk is now the second receiver from the 2024 draft class that New Orleans has added in the last month. In August, they sent two Day 3 picks to the Broncos in exchange for former seventh-round pick Devaughn Vele. Neither move seems to be about upgrading their offense this year. Instead, they’re further indicators – along with the team’s plan to start Spencer Rattler for as long as possible – that the team has finally decided to undergo a rebuild, per Nick Underhill of New Orleans.Football.

The Patriots, meanwhile, have jettisoned yet another player from their 2024 draft class under new head coach Mike Vrabel. First-round quarterback Drake Maye and third-round offensive lineman Caedan Wallace are the only remaining selections on the roster, (h/t Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald). While Maye seems to be the future of the team, Wallace spent part of his rookie year on IR and could only carve out a backup guard role entering this season.

Browns Activate RB Quinshon Judkins

September 13th, 2025 at 10:03pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Browns have activated rookie running back Quinshon Judkins, setting him up to make his NFL debut on Sunday against the Ravens.

Judkins was arrested in July on charges of battery and domestic violence that were later dropped. The NFL is still investigating the incident, but for now, Judkins is eligible to play. He was a full-time participant in practice with the Browns on Thursday and Friday this week and will likely have a limited role this week, if he sees the field, as he gets up to speed with the offense.

Judkins’ arrest initially led to significant uncertainty regarding his future. At the time, the No. 36 pick had yet to officially sign with the Browns as second-rounders around the league were holding out for fully guaranteed rookie deals. The two sides agreed to put contract talks aside as Judkins’ legal issues played out, but he finally put pen to paper the day before Cleveland’s regular season opener.

The former Ohio State and Ole Miss rusher met with the NFL representatives on Wednesday in New York before returning to Cleveland. He’s on the Browns’ roster as a standard roster exemption at the moment, making him eligible to play as the league opted not to put him on paid leave via placement on the commissioner’s exempt list.

Before the Ohio State rookie’s legal troubles began, the Browns’ offensive backfield looked to feature the veteran leadership of a 40-year-old Joe Flacco juxtaposed heavily against a healthy dose of youth with two rookie rushers. Though Jerome Ford returned as the incumbent starter, having finished each of the past two seasons as Cleveland’s leading rusher, Judkins and fellow rookie Dylan Sampson looked too talented to be kept off the field early. The added fact that Ford was asked to take a pay cut in the days immediately following the draft seemed to hint at a decreased role for the 26-year-old.

With Judkins unavailable, though, the Browns leaned on Ford’s experience to open the season. While Sampson got the start, Ford played a slightly heavier snap count with 41 snaps to Sampson’s 33. In terms of production, though, Sampson dominated out of the backfield. Neither back saw much success running the ball, but Sampson’s 12 carries for 29 yards were slightly more effective than Ford’s six carries for eight yards. In the passing game, Sampson caught all eight targets from Flacco for 64 yards, while Ford’s only target resulted in a three-yard loss.

The gameplan isn’t likely to be too different against the Ravens tomorrow. Especially after watching Baltimore’s defense give up a league-worst 389 yards through the air in Week 1, Cleveland may attempt to let Flacco cut it loose in his old home stadium, which would mean a lot of checkdowns and screens for Sampson. Moving past Week 2, though, Judkins could find a lot of success working alongside Sampson, considering he’s more than used to sharing a backfield from his time at Ole Miss and Ohio State.

In their running styles, Judkins and Sampson seem like a perfect fit. Judkins runs with more of a decisive, one-cut style, attempting to get to his top speed by the time he hits the second-level defender. He’s not afraid of lowering the shoulder for contact with his strength and balance, making him difficult to bring down. Sampson plays with a bit more quickness and agility, finding his desired angle and cutting with speed. He certainly fights for every yard, but rather than lowering the boom, he’s more effective when he’s using small cuts and shakes to avoid getting hit head-on to eke out a couple more yards. Neither back was much of a receiver in college, but Sampson has clearly picked up that role quickly.

While it remains to be seen just how ready Judkins is for NFL play, just how much the Browns will be willing to utilize him, even just how long they’ll be waiting to hear on potential punishments levied by the league, tomorrow could be the start of something exciting for the Browns offense. It’s a lofty measuring stick, but visions of a 2020 Nick Chubb–Kareem Hunt duo don’t feel entirely out of reach for the two rookies’ ceilings together. While expectations for contention this year aren’t plentiful in Cleveland, if Sampson and Judkins can establish a strong rushing game for the Browns moving forward, the team’s two 2026 first-round picks could be instrumental in initiating a quick rebuild on the road back to the playoffs.

In order to make room for Judkins on the active roster, the Browns waived wide receiver Gage Larvadain.

Ely Allen contributed to this post.

Giants Prefer To Keep Russell Wilson In Place As Starting QB

September 13th, 2025 at 9:25pm CST by Adam La Rose

Throughout the offseason, questions have lingered about how long Russell Wilson will remain atop the Giants’ quarterback depth chart. The Super Bowl winner will get the nod for Week 2, but Jaxson Dart looms as a replacement option.

Wilson and the Giants’ offense endured a highly unproductive outing during a season-opening loss. Head coach Brian Daboll confirmed the 36-year-old will start tomorrow against the Cowboys, although it was reported this week Dart’s strong summer performances could accelerate the timeline for him to take over. Indeed, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports Dallas has prepared a defensive package in case the first-round rookie sees time on Sunday.

The Giants’ preference, though, would be to keep Wilson on the field as much as possible. Per Fowler’s colleague Adam Schefter, there is “no sense of urgency” on the part of the Giants to make a quarterback change. That stance is especially understandable with left tackle Andrew Thomas in line to miss tomorrow’s game. It would come as little surprise if New York waited until the veteran blindside blocker was healthy to consider starting Dart.

After selecting edge rusher Abdul Carter third overall, the Giants traded back into the first round to select Dart. The Ole Miss product was the second signal-caller off the board, and he entered the NFL with upside based on his college production but questions about his ability to quickly acclimate to the pro game. With Wilson and fellow free agent addition Jameis Winston in place, Dart could afford to sit for a large portion of the campaign. On the other hand, of course, Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen are on shaky ground with respect to their job security.

With pressure no doubt mounting as it pertains to a change on the sidelines and/or in the front office, Dianna Russini of The Athletic confirms (subscription required) Dart taking over at some point is “on the table.” He has a number of supporters within the organization, per Russini. That could lead to a QB change relatively soon depending in large part on how Wilson performs.

On the open market, Wilson took a one-year pact, meaning his future will be linked to his ability to remain atop the depth chart and deliver consistent play under center. Thomas coming back into the fold would be a key development, but in any case the possibility of Dart receiving the reins will continue to make for an interesting storyline to follow.

Steelers, Chiefs ‘Eyeing’ Tyreek Hill?

September 13th, 2025 at 8:35pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

SEPTEMBER 13: Dianna Russini of The Athletic confirms (subscription required) the Dolphins are not actively looking to trade Hill, adding calls have yet to be made on the subject. In the event Miami continues to struggle, however, interest could pick up before the trade deadline.

SEPTEMBER 11: Trade rumors followed Tyreek Hill throughout the offseason, and the Dolphins’ 33-8 drubbing at the hands of the Colts has only intensified speculation that the veteran wide receiver could be on his way out of Miami.

The Steelers and the Chiefs are both “eyeing” Hill after Week 1, according to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio (via the Rich Eisen Show).

Kansas City has a clear need at wide receiver following Xavier Worthy‘s injury and Rashee Rice‘s suspension. Hill would especially help a Chiefs downfield passing game that has stagnated since he left the team in 2022.

The Steelers, meanwhile, could continue their apparent all-in push for the 2025 season by pairing Hill with D.K. Metcalf to give Aaron Rodgers one of the top receiver duos in the NFL. Pittsburgh did have Calvin Austin emerge as a potential WR2 in Week 1 with a 4-70-1 statline, but Hill’s All-Pro pedigree and track record of high-end production would still be an upgrade.

Hill is due $36MM in nonguaranteed compensation in 2026 with a $51.9MM cap hit, per OverTheCap, making it unlikely that he stays in Miami past this year. His contract could be a major obstacle to an offseason trade, so the Dolphins might try to move on early to get a better return. Hill is due $11.8MM this season, which is now down to $11.1MM after Week 1 and will drop by an additional $694K per week.

However, the potential for a suspension resulting from recent domestic violence allegations will likely delay any trade inquiries until after the league completes a potential investigation. Until there is some clarity on the situation, other teams won’t want to move draft capital for a rental with an uncertain outlook for the rest of the season. Florio said the accusations against Hill are “a massive complication that wasn’t there when the chatter began.”

Indeed, the Dolphins have received “zero” calls regarding Hill, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, nor is the team currently looking to move him.

Were that to change, trade compensation would still need to be negotiated. Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer believes the Dolphins would want “something in the range of a third-round pick and maybe a Day 2 pick on top of that,” while Florio referenced the 2025 deal that sent Davante Adams from the Raiders to the Jets in exchange for a third-round pick. The Steelers also gave up a second-round pick for Metcalf earlier this year, offering another framework for a potential Hill trade.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/13/25

September 13th, 2025 at 7:54pm CST by Ely Allen

Here’s are today’s minor transactions and standard gameday practice squad elevations:

Arizona Cardinals

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears 

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Indianapolis Colts

Jacksonville Jaguars

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tennessee Titans

With one quarterback on the reserve/non-football injury list and starter Brock Purdy inactive, Martinez comes up with the potential to appear in his first ever NFL game, though Niners fans hope his presence will not be necessary.

Bell will be active for tomorrow’s game as the Seahawks work to replace second-round rookie Nick Emmanwori in the secondary. Emmanwori has been ruled out with an ankle injury. Similarly, Wallow will be part of the Broncos’ efforts to fill in for injured linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who has been ruled out for the second week in a row.

Dolphins Place RT Austin Jackson On IR

September 13th, 2025 at 7:07pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Dolphins will be notably shorthanded up front through the early portion of the campaign. Miami placed right tackle Austin Jackson on injured reserve Saturday.

The move ensures at least a four-week absence, beginning with tomorrow’s matchup against New England. Miami is already without right guard James Daniels due to a pectoral injury. Jackson now joins him on injured reserve.

A toe injury will see the USC product sidelined for an extended period. Jackson’s sixth NFL season – all with the Dolphins – has not gotten off to a desired start given his current ailment. After playing just two games in 2022 and eight last season, today’s news marks the continuation of an unwanted trend regarding his availability. With Daniels out of the picture as well, the play on the right side of Miami’s offensive line will be worth monitoring.

The Dolphins struggled mightily in all phases last week, and a bounce-back on offense in particular would be key for all involved. Pass protection could be a concern with Daniels and now Jackson unavailable, however. The latter encountered a setback early last month after returning to full health. Jackson managed to suit up for the season opener, but Miami’s tackle setup will be altered as Patrick Paul continues his first campaign as a starter at the LT spot. Free agent addition Larry Borom could fill in at the opposite position.

Jackson’s pact (which was restructured in March) runs through the 2026 campaign. He is due a $9.88MM base salary for next year, but the former first-rounder’s only scheduled guaranteed compensation is a $1MM roster bonus. Further financial moves in this case could thus be coming depending on how the 2025 season plays out. Jackson will look to deliver a run of healthy play against that backdrop once he is back in place.

Falcons Rule Out Younghoe Koo, Elevate John Parker Romo; S Jordan Fuller Placed On IR

September 13th, 2025 at 6:21pm CST by Ely Allen

The Falcons made it clear that kicker Younghoe Koo was in danger of losing his role as the team’s primary kicker as they hosted a number of free agents and eventually signed John Parker Romo to the practice squad. Atlanta made the decision today to rule Koo out for the game and promote Romo as a standard gameday practice squad elevation.

Koo, playing in the fourth year of his five-year, $24.25MM contract, came into the season on thin ice. Koo’s first three years in Atlanta were stellar as he only missed seven of 94 field goal attempts. In the 2022 and 2023 seasons, though, Koo’s identical 32-for-37 results marked a career high for misses. The wheels seemed to come off in 2024 as Koo missed nine of 34 field goal attempts.

Therefore, when Koo missed a 44-yarder in an attempt to send the Falcons into overtime in their Week 1 matchup with the Buccaneers, it became apparent that he may lose more than just the game. With Romo coming in Tuesday, Koo had the week to change his coaches’ minds. In the end, he will not travel with the team. His out designation reasoning has been ruled as not being injury related.

Romo will get another opportunity after a short stint with the Vikings last year. When Minnesota’s regular kicker Will Reichard was placed on injured reserve, the team signed Romo to fill in. The latter did phenomenally in his time as a substitute, making 11 of 12 attempts, including a 55-yarder, though he did miss one of eight extra point attempts. Reichard’s stint on IR lasted the minimum four weeks, and Romo was waived upon his return.

The Falcons also placed safety Jordan Fuller on IR. The sixth-year veteran was among those released by Atlanta during roster cutdowns, but he found himself back in the fold shortly thereafter. Fuller played a special teams role in Week 1, but a knee injury will now result in an extended absence. At least a four-week spell on the sidelines is in store as a result of today’s move.

Atlanta’s other gameday elevation for Monday night is receiver David Sills. One of the team’s callups last week, Sills played just two snaps against the Buccaneers. A limited workload should again be in store this time around.

Adam La Rose contributed to this post.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/13/25

September 13th, 2025 at 4:51pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are Saturday’s practice squad moves:

Chicago Bears

Indianapolis Colts

Washington Commanders

The Commanders needed Wishnowsky as insurance with regular punter Tress Way dealing with back issues throughout the week, but having made it through Week 2 with a heathy Way, Washington brings back Cager, whom they dropped to make room for Wishnowsky.

Carlton was moved off the practice squad to make room for former third-round kicker Jake Moody, who cleared waivers after getting cut from San Francisco this week and signed a practice squad deal in Chicago.

Commanders RB Austin Ekeler Suffered Achilles Tear

September 13th, 2025 at 12:45pm CST by Sam Robinson

September 13: An MRI confirmed that Ekeler suffered a torn Achilles, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. He will miss the rest of the 2025 season as a result with Croskey-Merritt and McNichols set to step up in the Commanders’ backfield. Washington may be regretting their decision to deal Robinson before the regular season and could explore a running back addition via free agency or the trade market.

September 11: A cart transported Austin Ekeler off the field tonight in Green Bay, and the Washington running back is unlikely to play again this season. Some inside the Commanders organization believe the veteran pass-catching back suffered a season-ending injury, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport.

Ekeler will undergo an MRI, but the expectation — according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter — is his second Commanders season will end after two games due to a torn Achilles. This will leave Washington without its top back, as the team traded three-year starter Brian Robinson to San Francisco in late August.

In the second season of a two-year, $8.43MM contract, Ekeler was to play a lead role for the Commanders. At 30 and due for free agency again in March, the former single-season touchdown leader faces an uncertain NFL future. Ekeler went down on a noncontact play in the fourth quarter. Trying to walk off the field under his own power, the dynamic RB fell back to the turf and needed assistance leaving the game.

Although Ekeler could not command a lofty guarantee as a 2024 free agent, he played an auxiliary role in Washington’s journey to its first NFC championship game in 33 years. Missing five games due to injury and complementing Robinson, the former UDFA accumulated 733 scrimmage yards and scored four touchdowns in 2024. He added 173 more yards from scrimmage during the Commanders’ three playoff games. Ekeler landed on IR due to a concussion last year but returned in time for Washington’s postseason run.

Acquired by the Chargers following the 2017 draft, Ekeler has done well to craft a nine-year career out of Division II Western State (Colo.). He outlasted Melvin Gordon in Los Angeles, signing a four-year extension and eventually leading the NFL in touchdowns in both the 2021 and ’22 seasons. Ekeler attempted to secure a raise on the heels of that stretch but was unsuccessful. The Bolts let their then-starter seek a trade, but in an offseason that brought a macro RB crisis, not much interest developed. Ekeler received a minor incentive bump that year and saw an early-season ankle injury lead to a downturn, thus limiting his appeal as a 2024 UFA.

Ekeler joined a stellar collection of RBs as 2024 free agents, hitting the market at the same time Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, Aaron Jones, Tony Pollard and D’Andre Swift did. Ekeler’s guarantee ($4.21MM) paled in comparison to the non-Jones contingent here, but as a vested veteran, the rest of his contract locked in this month. While Ekeler will collect the rest of his $8.43MM from the Commanders, the part-time fantasy football analyst has hit a career crossroads thanks to tonight’s development.

Following the Robinson trade and Ekeler injury, the Commanders will probably look to add at the position. The team currently rosters ninth-year veteran Jeremy McNichols and seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt. The latter flashed against the Giants in Week 1, despite limited duty, and his presence was believed to have influenced the Commanders on the Robinson trade. While seventh-round rookies are not commonly early-season backfield contributors, Washington may have no choice but to give Croskey-Merritt a bigger role immediately.

The Commanders have also seen their Deebo Samuel trade provide good early returns. Famously referring to himself as a “wide back” in San Francisco, Samuel may also see some backfield work. If nothing else, Washington figures to heavily involve the wideout/gadget cog significantly moving forward — perhaps in dusting off his run-game skillset at points. The recent trade acquisition has logged 255 carries (counting playoffs) during his seven-year career. This included a 19-yard rushing touchdown in Week 1.

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