NFL Minor Transactions: 12/8/25
Today’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Claimed off waivers (from Bears): LB Carl Jones Jr.
- Suspended: G Ben Cleveland
Houston Texans
- Claimed off waivers (from Jaguars): RB Cody Schrader
- Waived: FB Jakob Johnson
Philadelphia Eagles
- Elevated: S Andre’ Sam
San Francisco 49ers
- Claimed off waivers (from Broncos): LB Garret Wallow
- Placed on IR: G Ben Bartch (story)
- Practice window opened: QB Kurtis Rourke
The Ravens announced today that offensive lineman Ben Cleveland was slapped with a three-game suspension for violating the NFL’s Substances of Abuse Policy. While it’s uncertain if it’s related, Cleveland was arrested this past offseason on DUI chargers (per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic). The veteran has appeared in 10 games this season, with the majority of his reps coming on special teams.
The 49ers got some good news today, as seventh-round QB Kurtis Rourke had his practice window opened. The Indiana product continues to recover from offseason surgery on his torn ACL. While the 49ers realistically have 21 days to activate the quarterback to their active roster, Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group says the rookie is still expected to be redshirted for the 2025 campaign.
Eagles Activate S Marcus Epps
Marcus Epps will be in the lineup for the Eagles during tonight’s game. The veteran safety has been activated from injured reserve, per a team announcement. 
The Eagles opened Epps’ practice window last Tuesday. As a result, today’s news confirms he did not encounter any setbacks upon returning to football activities. Philadelphia could have waited to bring Epps back into the fold, but instead he will be available for Monday Night Football against the Chargers.
2025 marks Epps’ second stint with the Eagles. The 29-year-old played began playing in Philadelphia in 2019, and he remained there through the 2022 campaign. After emerging as a starter during the final year of his first stint, Epps landed a two-year, $12MM free agent pact with the Raiders. The former sixth-rounder’s Vegas tenure ended with an ACL tear last season.
That prompted a return to the Eagles this past offseason. Epps has played almost exclusively on special teams so far in 2025, but that is set to change tonight. Andrew Mukuba is on IR, leaving a vacancy in the starting lineup alongside fellow safety Reed Blankenship. Sydney Brown operated as a first-team defender during the Eagles’ Black Friday loss, but Epps will give them another option in that regard.
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio recently confirmed (via Geoff Mosher of Philly Voice) Epps would start in Week 14 provided he was activated in time for the game. That has now taken place, so it will be interesting to see how he performs in an elevated role. Meanwhile, today’s move leaves the Eagles with three IR activations for the remainder of the regular season.
Eagles Waive WR Xavier Gipson
Xavier Gipson‘s tenure with the Eagles has come to an end. Philadelphia has waived him and by doing so made a change at the returner spot. 
Gipson was cut by the Jets in September, but he managed to initially remain in New York. The third-year pro was claimed off waiver by the Giants, although he did not see any playing time with them. Gipson was waived once more in short order. That led to the Eagles’ decision to claim him.
In five games with Philadelphia, Gipson was targeted only twice on offense. As expected, his main contributions came on special teams. The 24-year-old returned six punts and seven kickoffs for the Eagles, totaling 246 yards in that capacity. Moving forward, though, Philadelphia will use Britain Covey in the returner role. Those responsibilities were primarily shared by Kenneth Gainwell and Isaiah Rodgers last year, although they both departed in free agency.
The Eagles have increasingly faced questions on offense, but OC Kevin Patullo is safe for the time being. Covey will not be counted on to make a major contribution in that regard, of course, although he will provide depth at the WR spot. Covey has returned one kick and one punt so far in 2025, and those totals will now increase moving forward.
Gipson, meanwhile, will now hit the waiver wire once again this season. Teams seeking a new option in the return game could look to put in a claim. Otherwise, Gipson will become a free agent and attempt to land with a contender for the closing stages of the season.
Eagles Shifting Blame Away From OC Kevin Patullo
9:45pm: Sirianni has taken on a larger role in offensive meetings this week, ESPN’s Tim McManus reports. Patullo has also been present, but it will be interesting to see if a heavier hand on the part of the head coach will yield the desired results against the Chargers. If not, the Eagles’ dynamic on that side of the ball will no doubt remain a major talking point.
2:28pm: Coming out of their Week 6 bye, the Eagles felt good about their season, winning two more games against some top competition in the NFC right out the gates, but concerns were really starting to build amidst some struggles on offense. Naturally, much of the initial external blame fell to offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo, but head coach Nick Sirianni was quick to defend the first-time play-caller. 
Sirianni has reportedly not been alone in his support of the first-year coordinator. According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, even recently challenging wide receiver A.J. Brown has stood up, vocally, behind Patullo. When asked if a coaching change might improve the team’s recent offensive struggles, Brown called it a “crazy question.” Staying in line with the veteran receiver, the sentiment appears to be constant throughout the locker room, as Garafolo claims to see no signs of mutiny from the players.
Instead, the team has had a series of what they’ve called “no-BS discussions” in anticipation for a Monday night trip to Los Angeles, per Dianna Russini of The Athletic. The objective of these meetings has been to put an end to the blame game, to “stop pointing fingers.” Instead of pinning fault solely on missed throws from quarterback Jalen Hurts, the health and execution of the offensive line, careless, undisciplined penalties negating big plays, or simply, the play calling from Patullo, the team has been forced to reckon with the fact that all of these issues plaguing the reigning Super Bowl champions have jointly contributed to the offensive struggles amidst this two-game slide.
In addition to some group accountability, Sirianni hinted that actual adjustments are still happening behind the scenes. “Everything was being evaluated,” the head coach told media earlier this week (via Zach Berman of The Athletic). “We’ll think about some different things, what we want to do, scheme, everything.” The fifth-year skipper declined to go into detail on just what adjustments fans may expect to see, claiming that it probably wouldn’t “benefit” him to share.
It remains to be seen whether or not these adjustments or the team’s ability to hold everyone accountable will improve an offense that ranks 20th in points scored, 24th in total yards, and 22nd in rushing yards after ranking seventh, eighth, and second, respectively, in those categories last year. After this week’s showdown with the Chargers, a trip to Buffalo remains the only true test as a home matchup against the Raiders and a home-and-home with the Commanders should give Philadelphia a decent opportunity to get into a rhythm before the postseason.
Darius Slay Weighing Future; Retirement On Table?
Veteran cornerback Darius Slay is still weighing his options regarding his future in the NFL.
He was waived by the Steelers after they added Asante Samuel Jr. and declined to report to the Bills after they claimed him off waivers. However, Slay’s former team, the Eagles, also put in a waiver claim, and he may have preferred to return to Philadelphia.
A statement issued by Slay’s agent after he did not report to Buffalo said that the 34-year-old “is going to take some time away from football right now and decide in the next few days if he wants to keep playing,” suggesting that retirement is an option. Slay said before the 2025 season that it would likely be his last.
However, this standoff could also be a play to be released by the Bills and get to Philadelphia. Other teams would be unlikely to place a waiver claim and potentially put them in the same situation as Buffalo, so the Eagles would be able to win their claim.
Slay declined to say whether or not he would have reported to the Eagles had he been assigned to them.
“Mostly, it’s a family decision kind of to it,” Slay said on the Speakeasy (via ESPN’s Alana Getzenberg). “So, we just see how it goes though. But I’m going to take it day by day.”
Typically, teams work with veteran players when they wish to hit free agency, but Slay’s potential attempt to get to one specific team could rub the Bills the wrong way. They may also feel burnt after waiving cornerback Ja’Marcus Ingram to clear a roster spot for Slay. Ingram was claimed off waivers, and head coach Sean McDermott said (via Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic) that they were hoping to get him back on their practice squad.
That would have kept Ingram available to fill the role that Slay is currently refusing to take on. Instead, the Bills will have to look to other cornerbacks to provide depth in their secondary.
McDermott called the situation “unfortunate” but declined to offer any more details.
Darius Slay Will Not Report To Bills; CB’s Future Uncertain
The end of the 2025 season will not see Darius Slay play for the Bills after all. Buffalo claimed him off waivers yesterday, but that will not actually lead to a Bills stint. 
Slay is not reporting to the team, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. At this time, it is unclear if Slay will play again in the NFL. 2025 is widely believed to be his final season, one which did not include a full campaign spent with the Steelers as intended. Buffalo still retains Slay’s rights.
“Slay is honored that a first-class organization like the Bills claimed him, but he is going to take some time away from football right now and decide in the next few days if he wants to keep playing,” a statement from agent Drew Rosenhaus reads.
So far this season, Slay has made nine starts and 10 appearances. He fell out of the Steelers’ plans for the closing weeks of the campaign, however, and in the wake of Asante Samuel Jr.‘s arrival he was a healthy scratch this past week. Slay was positioned to provide Buffalo with CB depth down the stretch, but that will not be the case. Instead, attention will now turn to the possibility of an Eagles reunion.
Philadelphia put in a waiver claim, a sign of how willing the team would be to bring the six-time Pro Bowler back into the fold. Indeed, Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports a “mutual interest” exists for another Eagles stint in this case. Slay would not be counted on to reprise his role as a starter in the event he were to play once again for the defending Super Bowl champions, but he could serve as a backup option the way trade acquisition Jaire Alexander was set to before he stepped away from football.
Slay has now elected to do the same, and it will be interesting to see what happens next in this case. The Bills will presumably place him on the reserve/retired list to avoid having him take up a roster spot. If Slay were to then be released, he could wind up signing with the Eagles in time for the stretch run. For now, though, it is unclear if the veteran of 198 combined regular season and playoff games will suit up again in the NFL.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/4/25
Today’s practice squad moves:
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: LB Jamin Davis
Miami Dolphins
- Suspended: WR A.J. Henning
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: WR Kevin Austin, OL Barry Wesley
New York Giants
- Signed: LB Tomon Fox
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: LB Titus Leo
Dolphins practice squad receiver A.J. Henning was hit with a suspension today for violating the league’s policy on performance enhancing substances, per ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques. It’s uncertain how long the ban will last. The UDFA out of Northwestern hasn’t gotten into a game this season. He joined the Dolphins back in May and hauled in three catches during the preseason.
Eagles DT Jalen Carter To Miss Time After Procedures On Both Shoulders
Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter underwent procedures on both of his shoulders to address lingering injuries and will miss one week as a result, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
It is important to note that Carter had a medical procedure, but not a surgery, according to Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer. He is considered week-to-week, but is expected to return at some point this season.
After last week’s loss to the Bears, Carter revealed that he had been dealing with his shoulder issues since the spring. He played through it up to this point and has done so with an impressive 85% snap share, which is a lot for his position even without the injuries. The 2023 first-rounder has not been as dominant in the trenches with only two sacks and four tackles for loss in 12 games, a step back from last year’s production. He still has 36 pressures, 10th-most among defensive tackles, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
Carter, 24, opted to have the procedures now in order to get back to 100% before the playoffs. The Eagles are currently leading the NFC East and are expected to qualify for the postseason, but the conference race is much tighter. Five other teams have a record equal to or better than Philadelphia’s, with three teams one game back. Having Carter at full strength in the playoffs is more important than having him below 100% in the next five games.
The Eagles will hope Moro Ojomo and Jordan Davis can step up in terms of their performance in Carter’s absence, but both are already at a 60% snap share and will not be able to fill their teammate’s snaps. The team will instead ask Byron Young and Ty Robinson to take on a bigger role in the defense. Young, a Raiders third-rounder in 2023, has not produced much this season, while Robinson is a fourth-round rookie who has only played 35 snaps this year.
Philadelphia’s D-line will have to hold the line over the next few games until Carter returns. If he can come back with a vengeance at last year’s level of play, he could be a crucial difference-maker in the playoffs.
Eagles Made Darius Slay Waiver Claim
Darius Slay saw his Steelers tenure come to an end this week, but he did not reach free agency. The Bills put in a waiver claim to add him for the remainder of the season. 
If not for that, a Philadelphia reunion could have been in store. The Eagles also put in a waiver claim for Slay, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Both teams sport a record of 8-4, but the Bills had the higher waiver priority.
In the event the Eagles’ bid had been successful, Slay would have been able to rejoin his former team for the stretch run. The 34-year-old spent five seasons (2020-24) in Philadelphia, collecting three of his six career Pro Bowl nods during that time. After one year playing alongside Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, Slay was released this past offseason. That set up a one-year, $10MM Steelers pact which did not work out as hoped.
Expectations will be low in Slay’s case upon arrival in Buffalo, and the same no doubt would have been true had he returned to Philadelphia. The former All-Pro has not enjoyed a productive 2025 season, and Pittsburgh’s Asante Samuel Jr. signing prompted his exit. Nevertheless, Slay would have given the Eagles a familiar face in the secondary, one which has already seen several in-season changes take place.
General manager Howie Roseman was busy on the trade front leading up to last month’s deadline. That included deals with the Jets for Michael Carter II and with the Ravens for Jaire Alexander. The latter has since been moved to the reserve/retired list, so a Slay reunion would have allowed for him to occupy a depth corner role on the perimeter. Instead, Slay will spend the remainder of what is likely to be his final NFL season with the Bills.
Meanwhile, the Eagles will move forward with Mitchell, DeJean and Adoree’ Jackson as key figures in the secondary. As the team looks to rebound from two straight losses, it will do so without late-season reinforcements.
Eagles’ Dave Caldwell Accepts Florida GM Job
Another NFL staffer is moving to the college GM level. After Ron Rivera, Andrew Luck and Michael Lombardi landed on this tier in the ever-changing college game, the Eagles will lose one of their execs to such a post.
Dave Caldwell is leaving Philadelphia for Florida, with ESPN.com’s Jeff Darlington reporting the former Jaguars GM will head back toward that region to become the Gators’ GM. Florida has since announced the hire.
Best known for his time in Jacksonville, Caldwell has been with the Eagles since 2021. Howie Roseman appointed his former GM peer as a senior personnel director. Roseman, who is a Florida alum, named him to that post in June 2022. The Eagles lost four staffers to NFL assistant GM jobs that offseason, and Caldwell helped fill the void. This earned him a Super Bowl ring.
The Jags fired Caldwell before the 2020 season ended, canning HC Doug Marrone soon after. While Jacksonville’s next move proved to be a misstep — the disastrous Urban Meyer hire — Caldwell’s operation had bottomed out by 2020, when the Jags went 1-15. Caldwell helped build the 2017 Jags roster — one that went 10-6 and nearly qualified for Super Bowl LII — but the team could not find steady success in his tenure.
Brought over from Atlanta in 2013, Caldwell hired Gus Bradley as HC and watched the Jags finish 15-49 in his first four GM seasons. The franchise’s 2014 Blake Bortles pick at No. 3 overall in 2014 came to define this period. Rather than can Caldwell, Shad Khan brought in Tom Coughlin to oversee him as executive VP. After a grievance-filled tenure, Coughlin was out by December 2019. Caldwell remained GM during the Coughlin tenure, but he reassumed his place atop the front office hierarchy in 2020.
The Gators finished 4-8 this season and have changed coaches. Linked to now-LSU leader Lane Kiffin, the SEC program hired Tulane’s Jon Sumrall as its new HC. Like Rivera (Cal), Luck (Stanford) and Lombardi (North Carolina), Caldwell will play a lead role in allocating money to players — as the Gators look to both retain talent and pay for replacements via traditional recruiting and through the transfer portal — in this complex era for the sport.