Pittsburgh Steelers Rumors & News

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/11/25

October 11th, 2025 at 8:31pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are the minor moves and standard gameday practice squad elevations heading into the sixth Sunday of the NFL season:

Baltimore Ravens

Signed to active roster: DT C.J. Okoye
Elevated: QB Tyler Huntley, S Keondre Jackson
Waived: S Reuben Lowery

Carolina Panthers

Elevated: CB Keion Crossen, G Brandon Walton

Cincinnati Bengals

Elevated: G Jaxson Kirkland

Cleveland Browns

Elevated: CB Tre Avery

Dallas Cowboys

Signed to active roster: WR Jalen Cropper
Elevated: WR Parris Campbell
Placed on IR: RB Miles Sanders (story)

Detroit Lions

Signed to active roster: S Erick Hallett, DT Quinton Jefferson, CB Nick Whiteside
Elevated: T Devin Cochran, CB Arthur Maulet
Placed on IR: T Giovanni Manu (story)
Waived: C Kingsley Eguakun, DT Chris Smith

Indianapolis Colts

Elevated: RB Ameer Abdullah, CB Cameron Mitchell

Los Angeles Rams

Elevated: CB A.J. Green, LB Elias Neal

Miami Dolphins

Elevated: LB Quinton Bell, CB Isaiah Johnson

New England Patriots

Elevated: RB Terrell Jennings, DE Truman Jones

New Orleans Saints

Elevated: LB Nephi Sewell

New York Jets

Elevated: WR Brandon Smith, WR Isaiah Williams

Pittsburgh Steelers

Signed to active roster: WR Ke’Shawn Williams

Seattle Seahawks

Elevated: CB Shaquill Griffin, S Jerrick Reed II

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Elevated: RB Owen Wright

Tennessee Titans

Signed to active roster: TE Thomas Odukoya
Elevated: LB Curtis Jacobs, K Matthew Wright
Waived: T John Ojukwu

Manu was ruled out for this week with a knee injury after making the first start of his career with Detroit. Unfortunately, he’ll miss the team’s next three games, as well, after being placed on injured reserve.

Wright will fill in as placekicker for the Titans in Week 6. Regular kicker Joey Slye has been ruled out with a calf injury after missing practice all week.

Avery in Cleveland and Walton in Carolina are both being called up as standard gameday practice squad elevations for the third time this year. If either of their respective teams want them to be active for another game, they will need to sign them to the 53-man roster.

AFC Workout Rumors: Burks, Simmons, Ravens

October 11th, 2025 at 2:49pm CST by Ely Allen

The Titans finally gave up on their 2022 first-round pick earlier this month when they waived wide receiver Treylon Burks with an injury settlement. Burks cleared waivers without getting claimed, but now that teams have an opportunity to kick his tires, there’s been plenty of interest in the 25-year-old.

Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Broncos appear to be the first team that will host the Arkansas product, whom Rapoport calls one of the top free agents available. Burks first jumped on NFL radars during a COVID-shortened season in his sophomore campaign with the Razorbacks. In only nine games, Burks caught 51 passes for 820 yards and seven touchdowns. He took another step forward in his junior year with a stat line of 66-1,104-11 and heard his name called on the first night of the draft as the 18th player off the board.

Injuries limited Burks in his rookie season, holding him out for six games, but he still showed a ton of promise in the games he did play. He boasted a stat line of 33-444-1 with six starts in 11 games. He missed six games again in Year 2, and though he earned more starts (9), his effectiveness plummeted. He caught barely over half his targets for a 16-221-0 stat line. The start of Year 3 saw him falling down the depth chart, only seeing eight targets in five games before being placed on injured reserve needing ACL surgery.

Burks was recovering well and starting to turn heads in training camp before a diving catch led to a fractured collarbone and placement on IR. Burks received his medical clearance, got released, and will now follow up on all the reported interest. If his visit with the Broncos goes well, he could join a Denver receiving corps that lacks depth behind Courtland Sutton, Troy Franklin, and Marvin Mims.

Here are a few other workout reports from around the NFL:

The Steelers worked out former first-round pick Isaiah Simmons earlier this week, according to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports. A versatile defender at Clemson with projections at both safety and linebacker, Simmons was utilized as a linebacker after Arizona drafted him eighth overall in 2020. He started 37 games over his first three years with the team, often showing impressive pass defense but struggling to stop the run. He even requested a move back to the secondary, and though it was announced, his usage remained largely the same. After declining his fifth-year option, the Cardinals traded him to the Giants, who rotated him in at linebacker and played him on special teams. He signed with the Packers in the 2025 offseason but failed to make the initial 53-man roster. Simmons looked to earn an opportunity in Pittsburgh, where Malik Harrison‘s placement on IR has thinned out the linebacking corps a bit, but no deal appears to have resulted from the visit.
Cashing in on reported interest from earlier in the week, the Ravens hosted cornerback Tre Hawkins for a workout yesterday, per Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2. Currently on track to give up the most points in NFL history with an extremely injury-riddled defense, Baltimore has recently made three veteran additions to their secondary, trading for former Chargers safety Alohi Gilman, signing cornerback Amani Oruwariye, and adding safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson to their practice squad over the last two weeks. Hawkins could be next to join Baltimore’s ailing defense. After getting significant run as a sixth-round rookie for the Giants, earning three starts while appearing in every game of the 2023 season, Hawkins’ sophomore campaign was hampered by injuries, most notably a spine injury that ended his season. New York let him go with an injury settlement shortly after the start of the season, and after clearing waivers, multiple teams have expressed interest. No deal immediately resulted from the Baltimore workout, but his situation is worth keeping an eye on.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/10/25

October 10th, 2025 at 7:11pm CST by Ely Allen

Friday’s practice squad transactions:

Pittsburgh Steelers

Signed: DE K.J. Henry

Seattle Seahawks

Signed: WR Cody White

Steelers To Explore WR Trade Addition?

October 9th, 2025 at 10:58pm CST by Adam La Rose

The receiver position has been a major talking point for the Steelers dating back to well before the start of the current campaign. D.K. Metcalf has performed well to date, but the matter of depth could prove to be an issue as the season progresses.

Pittsburgh was heavily linked to Brandon Aiyuk last summer before he ultimately inked a 49ers extension. The Steelers were then close to a Christian Kirk acquisition before the 2024 trade deadline, but his season-ending injury made that a moot point. Once again, it appears the team will be one to watch on the trade front at the receiver position.

Mark Kaboly of the Pat McAfee Show “fully anticipates” the Steelers engaging in conversations about all available wideouts between now and the November 4 trade deadline. Metcalf is under contract for the foreseeable future, but Calvin Austin is attached to the final year of his rookie deal and no new commitment on the team’s part is expected at this point. Austin is expected to miss time coming off the bye, although Kaboly adds his injury is not believed to be serious.

That should open the door for Roman Wilson to take on an expanded role in the passing game. The 2024 third-rounder was limited to just one game as a rookie, though, and he has recorded only one catch so far in 2025. Per Kaboly, the underlying cause behind Wilson’s ineffective performances and low usage rate is unclear at this point. Barring an uptick in his role, the Michigan product could remain a minor figure on offense moving forward; that will especially be true if a trade acquisition is to be made in the near future.

Once Pittsburgh had Aaron Rodgers in place, Allen Lazard was named as a potential trade target. No deal was made, but Lazard is a pending free agent attached to a base salary of just $1.75MM thanks to the pay cut agreement he reached with the Jets this offseason. New York sits at 0-5 on the year, and a seller’s approach ahead of the deadline is expected. It will be interesting to see if that includes a willingness to move Lazard to a contender.

The Steelers’ Dublin win moved them to 3-1 heading into their bye week. Things could change quickly, but wins against the team’s next two opponents (the Browns and Bengals) would solidify Pittsburgh’s status as a buyer. General manager Omar Khan has shown a willingness to be aggressive ahead of this season, which is believed to the final one of Rodgers’ career. It would come as little surprise if – at a minimum – a repeat of last year’s Mike Williams acquisition were to take place.

Traded Draft Picks For 2026

October 8th, 2025 at 8:05pm CST by Sam Robinson

Many months remain before teams know where they are picking in the 2026 draft, but many clubs have made moves to acquire 2026 draft capital. Headlined by the Browns, Rams and Cowboys’ efforts, here are the 2026 picks to have changed hands thus far. When more deals involving picks are made (or conditions on moves already completed become known), that information will be added.

Round 1

Browns hold Jaguars‘ first, after agreeing to move down from No. 2 to No. 5 in Travis Hunter swap
Rams acquired Falcons‘ top pick, sliding down from No. 26 to 46 in deal that sent James Pearce Jr. to Atlanta
Cowboys obtained Packers‘ first in trade sending Micah Parsons to Green Bay

Round 2

Texans added Commanders‘ second, obtaining it in four-pick package that re-routed Laremy Tunsil to Washington

Round 3

Eagles picked up Jets‘ third in March 2024 deal that sent Haason Reddick to New York
Serving as gateway on Jaxson Dart‘s New York path (at No. 25 overall), Texans acquired Giants‘ third
Jaguars hold Lions‘ third due to Detroit climbing 32 spots (to No. 70) for wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa
Dolphins acquired third from Texans, who moved pick in package for No. 116 (RB Woody Marks)
George Pickens trade sent Steelers Cowboys‘ third in deal involving three draft choices between 2026 and ’27

Round 4

October 2024 Cam Robinson trade sent Jaguars conditional fourth-rounder from Vikings
Chiefs added Bears‘ fourth in swap that sent Joe Thuney to Chicago
- Patriots snagged selection from Chiefs in deal that gave Kansas City No. 85 (CB Nohl Williams)
Tunsil trade also sent Texans fourth from Commanders
Bears snared Rams‘ fourth in deal that gave Los Angeles No. 148 (DL Ty Hamilton)
Broncos added Saints‘ fourth, sending WR Devaughn Vele to New Orleans

Round 5

August 2024 Ernest Jones trade — the first of the two Jones swaps last year — sent Rams pick from Titans
In deal that sent Kenyon Green to Eagles and C.J. Gardner-Johnson to Texans, Philadelphia obtained Houston’s fifth
Eagles acquired Falcons fifth by dealing No. 96 to Atlanta (S Xavier Watts)
Ravens added Jets fifth by moving out of No. 176 (DE Tyler Baron)
Bryce Huff trade positioned to send Eagles conditional fifth from 49ers
- Pick could upgrade to fourth-rounder based on performance
Vikings acquired Eagles fifth in trade involving QB Sam Howell
Browns collected Raiders fifth in trade involving QB Kenny Pickett
Jaguars obtained Eagles conditional fifth in trade involving RB Tank Bigsby; pick could upgrade to fourth if 49ers DE Bryce Huff meets certain conditions in 2025
Browns added Bengals fifth in trade for QB Joe Flacco
Ravens collected Chargers fifth in trade involving OLB Odafe Oweh, S Alohi Gilman

Round 6

John Franklin-Myers trade, agreed to on Day 3 of 2024 draft, sent Jets sixth from Broncos
Rams obtained pick from Texans in swap that sent Ben Skowronek to Houston
Seahawks added sixth from Browns in deal that sent Nick Harris back to Cleveland
- Jaguars added pick from Seahawks in October 2024 deal for Roy Robertson-Harris
Intra-NFC East Jordan Phillips swap brought Giants sixth from Cowboys
- Phillips being on Cowboys’ gameday roster for two games finalized trade
Intra-AFC East deal for Brandon Codrington, Jets received sixth from Bills
Texans added sixth from Vikings in October 2024 Cam Akers swap
- Vikings reacquired choice from Texans in deal for Ed Ingram
  - Pick-swap deal centered around Jordan Mason sent sixth to 49ers
October Josh Uche trade sent Patriots sixth from Chiefs
Deadline deal involving Za’Darius Smith gave Browns sixth from Lions
- Bengals obtain Browns sixth in Joe Flacco deal
Trade involving Gardner-Johnson and Green sent Texans sixth from Eagles
Lions obtained sixth from Jaguars in pick-swap deal for TeSlaa
Trade-up move involving K Tyler Loop (at No. 186) sent Jets sixth from Ravens
Giants acquired sixth from Dolphins in exchange for retired TE Darren Waller‘s rights
Texans obtained sixth, TE Harrison Bryant from Eagles in exchange for WR John Metchie, 2025 fifth
Browns added sixth from Jets, trading DT Jowon Briggs to New York
- Jaguars obtained sixth from Browns in trade involving CBs Tyson Campbell, Greg Newsome
Commanders nabbed 49ers sixth in exchange for RB Brian Robinson
Eagles added Vikings sixth in Sam Howell trade
Vikings collected Colts sixth in deal for CB Mekhi Blackmon
Tank Bigsby trade sent Jaguars sixth from Eagles
Titans obtained Jets sixth in trade involving CB Jarvis Brownlee

Round 7

May 2023 trade gave Jaguars conditional seventh from Lions in exchange for K Riley Patterson
Nick Harris trade sent Browns seventh from Seahawks
Cowboys added seventh from Giants in Phillips trade
Cowboys collected conditional seventh from Chiefs for TE Peyton Hendershot
Codrington trade sent Bills seventh from Jets
Titans obtained seventh from Chargers in exchange for Elijah Molden
Browns–Bills‘ Amari Cooper trade sent Cleveland seventh
Za’Darius Smith pick-swap trade brought Lions seventh from Browns
Rams acquired seventh from Ravens in Tre’Davious White deadline deal
Deadline deal involving DT Khalil Davis gave Texans seventh from 49ers
Jaguars collected seventh from Texans — originally the Rams’ Skowronek pick — in Christian Kirk trade
Patriots acquired seventh from Saints in Davon Godchaux transaction
Bills snagged seventh from Cowboys in exchange for Kaiir Elam
In Briggs trade, Jets added seventh from Browns
Vikings collected Jets seventh in deal sending DL Harrison Phillips to New York
Jaguars snared seventh from Eagles in deal sending T Fred Johnson back to Philadelphia
Jets added Titans seventh in Jarvis Brownlee trade

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/7/25

October 7th, 2025 at 7:58pm CST by Ely Allen

Today’s practice squad moves in the NFL:

Arizona Cardinals

Released: S Patrick McMorris

Buffalo Bills

Signed: CB Jalen Kimber, LB Baylon Spector
Released: LB Otis Reese

Carolina Panthers

Signed: CB Keion Crossen, G Darrian Dalcourt
Released: S Israel Mukuamu, G Aiden Williams

Dallas Cowboys

Signed: S Julius Wood

Indianapolis Colts

Signed: CB Troy Pride Jr.
Released: CB Mike Hilton

Jacksonville Jaguars

Signed: WR Tim Jones
Released: WR Erik Ezukanma

Las Vegas Raiders

Signed: P Brad Robbins

Minnesota Vikings

Released: T Matt Waletzko

New England Patriots

Signed: RB Jashaun Corbin
Released: G Royce Newman

New Orleans Saints

Signed: WR Ronnie Bell, TE Moliki Matavao
Released: T Sataoa Laumea, WR Tommy Mellott

Pittsburgh Steelers

Released: LB Ja’Whaun Bentley

San Francisco 49ers

Released: S Jaylen Mahoney

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Signed: RB Owen Wright
Released: G Sua Opeta

Tennessee Titans

Released: CB Alex Johnson

Steelers Sign Raheem Blackshear, Jack Henderson To Practice Squad

October 6th, 2025 at 9:12pm CST by Connor Byrne

Pittsburgh Steelers

After waiving him over the weekend, the Jets are quickly reuniting with Williams. The 24-year-old committed a costly turnover in a loss to the Dolphins last Monday when he fumbled the opening kickoff return of the second half. He later opted to fair catch a punt at the Jets’ 3-yard line in the fourth quarter. The Jets opened the season with Xavier Gipson as their returner, but they cut him after a Week 1 fumble in a loss to the Steelers. With Isaiah Williams and Gipson unable to hold down the job, Avery Williams handled return duties in the Jets’ loss to the Cowboys on Sunday. He avoided fumbles while averaging 26.6 yards on five kickoff returns and 10.3 yards on four punt runbacks.

2025 Injured Reserve Return Tracker

October 4th, 2025 at 9:55pm CST by Sam Robinson

The 2024 offseason brought a change in how teams could construct their 53-man rosters while retaining flexibility with injured players. Clubs were permitted to attach return designations to two players (in total) placed on IR or an NFI list before setting their initial rosters.

In prior years, anyone placed on IR before a team set its initial 53-man roster could not be activated in-season. All August 26 IR- or NFI-return designations, however, already count against teams’ regular-season limit of eight. Teams will be tasked with determining which players injured in-season will factor into activation puzzles as the year progresses.

All players designated for return on August 26 are eligible to be activated beginning in Week 5, though any player placed on IR after a team set its initial 53 has not been designated for return and therefore does not yet count toward a club’s eight-activation limit. Playoff teams will receive two additional injury activations at that point.

Here is how the 32 teams’ activation puzzles look for Week 6:

Arizona Cardinals

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

G Hayden Conner
T Christian Jones

Eligible for activation:

S Joey Blount
DL Justin Jones (story)

Activations remaining: 6

Atlanta Falcons

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

DL Ta’Quon Graham (practice window opened 10/7)
OL Storm Norton

Eligible for activation:

S Jordan Fuller (story)
OLB Bralen Trice (story)

Activations remaining: 6

Baltimore Ravens

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

OLB Adisa Isaac
WR Dayton Wade

Activations remaining: 6

Buffalo Bills

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

CB Maxwell Hairston (story)
OL Tylan Grable

Activations remaining: 6

Carolina Panthers

Designated for return:

WR Jalen Coker (10/8)

Activated:

DE LaBryan Ray (Week 5)

Activations remaining: 7

Chicago Bears

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

RB Travis Homer (practice window opened 10/7)
LB Amen Ogbongbemiga

Eligible for activation:

DE Austin Booker (10/7)

Activations remaining: 6

Cincinnati Bengals

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

S Daijahn Anthony
DE Cedric Johnson

Eligible for activation:

G Lucas Patrick (story)

Activations remaining: 6

Cleveland Browns

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

LB Winston Reid

Activations remaining: 7

Dallas Cowboys

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

WR Jonathan Mingo (practice window opened 10/1)
DE Payton Turner

Designated for return:

CB Caelen Carson (10/1)

Eligible for activation:

RB Phil Mafah (story)
DT Perrion Winfrey

Activations remaining: 6

Denver Broncos

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

LB Drew Sanders

Eligible for activation:

LB Dre Greenlaw (story)

Activated:

DL Malcolm Roach (Week 6)

Activations remaining: 6

Detroit Lions

Eligible for activation:

OL Jamarco Jones

Activations remaining: 8

Green Bay Packers

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

RB MarShawn Lloyd (story)
OL Jacob Monk (practice window opened 10/7)

Eligible for activation:

DL Brenton Cox

Activations remaining: 6

Houston Texans

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

S Jaylen Reed (practice window opened 10/1)

Eligible for activation:

TE Cade Stover (story)

Activations remaining: 7

Indianapolis Colts

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

LB Jaylon Carlies

Eligible for activation:

CB Jaylon Jones (story)

Activations remaining: 7

Jacksonville Jaguars

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

LB Jalen McLeod

Activations remaining: 7

Kansas City Chiefs

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

TE Jake Briningstool
CB Nazeeh Johnson

Activations remaining: 6

Las Vegas Raiders

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

S Lonnie Johnson Jr. (story)

Activations remaining: 7

Los Angeles Chargers

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

LS Josh Harris
DB Deane Leonard

Eligible for activation:

LB Denzel Perryman (story)

Activations remaining: 6

Los Angeles Rams

Activations remaining: 8

Miami Dolphins

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

OL Andrew Meyer
K Jason Sanders (story)

Eligible for activation:

G James Daniels (story)
RT Austin Jackson (story)

Activations remaining: 6

Minnesota Vikings

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

OLB Tyler Batty (practice window opened 10/1)

Eligible for activation:

LB Blake Cashman (story)
RB Ty Chandler (story)

Activated:

FB C.J. Ham (Week 5)

Activations remaining: 6

New England Patriots

Activated:

LB Jahlani Tavai (Week 5)

Activations remaining: 7

New Orleans Saints

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

DL John Ridgeway
T Barry Wesley

Eligible for activation:

S Julian Blackmon (story)

Activations remaining: 6

New York Giants

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

OL Joshua Ezeudu

Eligible for activation:

LB Micah McFadden (story)
CB Rico Payton

Activations remaining: 7

New York Jets

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

LB Ja’Markis Weston (practice window opened 10/8)

Activations remaining: 7

Philadelphia Eagles

Designated for return (Aug. 26):

T Myles Hinton

Eligible for activation:

G Willie Lampkin
T Cameron Williams

Activations remaining: 7