NFL Minor Transactions: 11/25/25
Today’s minor moves:
Detroit Lions
- Waived: DL Quinton Jefferson, CB Nick Whiteside
New England Patriots
- Signed off Browns’ practice squad: OT Thayer Munford
- Placed on IR: CB Alex Austin
New Orleans Saints
- Activated from IR: OT Barry Wesley
- Signed to active roster: RB Evan Hull
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived: CB Derion Kendrick
In addition to waiving cornerback Arthur Maulet, the Lions also moved on from defensive lineman Quinton Jefferson and cornerback Nick Whiteside. According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, these moves were likely made in anticipation of upcoming activations from IR and PUP.
The Patriots started preparing for Will Campbell and Jared Wilson‘s absences by adding some experienced offensive line depth, as the team snagged Thayer Munford off the Browns practice squad today. The former seventh-round pick was mostly a part-time starter during his three seasons with the Raiders, although he did start a career-high 10 games for the organization in 2023.
Pats’ Christian Gonzalez Returns To Practice
SEPTEMBER 20: The Patriots have officially ruled Gonzalez out for this weekend. As expected, a rapid ramp-up ended up being too much to ask of the third-year defender. His return to practice this week remains good news, though, as he’ll now have another full week to work his way up to full strength without having to rush anything.
SEPTEMBER 17: Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez practiced for the first time since July 28 as he works his way back from a hamstring injury, per ESPN’s Mike Reiss.
Head coach Mike Vrabel said (via Ben Volin of the Boston Globe) that Gonzalez could return Patriots’ Week 3 matchup against the Steelers, according to but that would require a rapid ramp-up from an injury that has sidelined him for almost seven weeks.
Earlier in September, Vrabel hinted that the team was hoping for a quicker recovery from Gonzalez, according to Reiss, but he now appears to be trending in the right direction. After Wednesday’s practice, the former first-round pick declined (via Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald) to answer questions about his injury, including one about a potential setback in his rehab process.
Gonzalez’s return would be a major boost to a Patriots secondary that has allowed the most passing yards in the NFL through two weeks. Fellow third-year corner Alex Austin has struggled in both games, allowing a 144.4 passer rating when targeted, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). Gonzalez’s game-changing ability to shadow and shut down opposing WR1’s would take significant pressure off of New England’s safeties, especially with a strong start from No. 2 cornerback Carlton Davis.
Gonzalez was likely limited in his return to the practice field, but his status over the next few days will be worth monitoring as the Patriots prepare to host the Steelers.
RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/5/25
More teams made tender/non-tender decisions on restricted and exclusive rights free agents today. Here are the latest updates:
RFAs
Non-tendered:
- Broncos: LS Mitchell Fraboni
Fraboni has served as the Broncos’ primary long snapper for each of the past two seasons, playing in all 17 games of each year as well as this year’s playoff contest. Denver will have until next Wednesday to keep him from hitting the market if they intend to retain him.
ERFAs
Tendered:
- Bears: DE Daniel Hardy, G Bill Murray
- Bengals: G Jaxson Kirkland
- Broncos: DT Jordan Jackson, S Devon Key, TE Lucas Krull, CB Ja’Quan McMillian, LB Dondrea Tillman
- Chargers: TE Tucker Fisk
- Cowboys: DE Tyrus Wheat
- Dolphins: LB Cameron Goode, T Kion Smith
- Packers: S Zayne Anderson
- Patriots: CB Alex Austin
The Broncos tendered all five of their exclusive rights free agents today. The Packers made an easy decision to retain Anderson, who started two games this year and recorded his first career interception.
NFL Minor Transactions: 3/5/25
Today’s minor moves across the NFL:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed ERFA tender: G Jaxson Kirkland
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed ERFA tender: DE Tyrus Wheat
Denver Broncos
- Signed ERFA tender: CB Ja’Quan McMillian
Indianapolis Colts
- Waived: C Ryan Coll
Los Angeles Rams
- Waived: CB Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson
New England Patriots
- Signed ERFA tender: CB Alex Austin
New York Giants
- Re-signed: LS Casey Kreiter
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/18/24
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Waived: OT Charlie Heck
Baltimore Ravens
- Waived from IR: LB Deion Jennings
Dallas Cowboys
- Placed on IR: QB Dak Prescott (story)
- Signed to active roster: DB Josh Butler
- Promoted: TE Princeton Fant, DB Kemon Hall
Green Bay Packers
- Activated from IR: RB MarShawn Lloyd
Houston Texans
- Promoted: DT Tommy Togiai
New England Patriots
- Activated from IR: CB Alex Austin
- Waived: CB Marco Wilson
New York Jets
- Signed to active roster: K Anders Carlson
- Waived: DL Bruce Hector
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived: TE Tyler Mabry
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed to active roster: CB Troy Hill
- Waived: S Kaevon Merriweather
MarShawn Lloyd‘s path back to the Packers active roster has taken an unusual turn. The rookie third-round pick landed on IR in September with an ankle injury. He returned to practice last week but suffered appendicitis only a few days later, putting his activation within the 21-day window in doubt.
Worried that Lloyd wouldn’t be ready to play by his early-December activation deadline, the Packers consulted with the NFL about the best route forward (per ESPN’s Rob Demovsky). That ultimately led to today’s transaction, which is only the start of several transactional machinations. As Tom Silverstein of Milwaukee Journal Sentinel notes, Lloyd will temporarily join the active roster before landing on the non-football injury list. That means he won’t count against the team’s roster limit until he’s healthy enough to return to the field.
Lloyd doesn’t have a return timetable from this recent setback. While the rookie entered the year as the hopeful RB2 behind Josh Jacobs, there’s a good chance he’ll also behind Emanuel Wilson for the stretch run of the season.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/30/24
Today’s minor moves:
Dallas Cowboys
- Placed on IR: CB Amani Oruwariye
Denver Broncos
- Designated for return: S Delarrin Turner-Yell
Detroit Lions
- Designated for return: DT Brodric Martin
Houston Texans
- Signed to active roster: RB J.J. Taylor
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: C Sam Mustipher
Miami Dolphins
- Designated for return: WR River Cracraft
New England Patriots
- Designated for return: CB Alex Austin
New Orleans Saints
- Designated for return: C Shane Lemieux, LB Nephi Sewell
New York Jets
- Signed to active roster: LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/28/24
Minor transactions and practice squad callups for the Week 4 weekend:
Arizona Cardinals
- Elevated: DT Angelo Blackson, T Charlie Heck
Atlanta Falcons
- Elevated: G Matt Hennessy
Baltimore Ravens
- Elevated: RB Chris Collier
- Placed on IR: CB Jalyn Armour-Davis
Carolina Panthers
- Elevated: OLB Thomas Incoom, DE DeShawn Williams
Chicago Bears
- Elevated: DT Byron Cowart, S Tarvarius Moore
- Placed on IR: TE Stephen Carlson (story)
Cleveland Browns
- Elevated: CB Tony Brown, TE Geoff Swaim
Denver Broncos
- Elevated: LB Levelle Bailey, S Tanner McCalister
Green Bay Packers
- Elevated: CB Kamal Hadden, CB Robert Rochell
Houston Texans
- Elevated: RB J.J. Taylor
Indianapolis Colts
- Elevated: DT Adam Gotsis, CB David Long
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed to active roster: TE Josiah Deguara
- Elevated: CB Christian Braswell, LB Tanner Muse
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed to active roster: TE John Samuel Shenker
- Elevated: WR Alex Bachman, OLB K’Lavon Chaisson
- Waived: WR Ramel Keyton
Los Angeles Chargers
- Elevated: LB Blake Lynch, C Sam Mustipher
Los Angeles Rams
- Elevated: WR Xavier Smith, CB Ahkello Witherspoon
Minnesota Vikings
- Elevated: OLB Bo Richter, TE Robert Tonyan
New England Patriots
- Signed to active roster: CB Isaiah Bolden
- Elevated: DT Trysten Hill, TE Mitchell Wilcox
- Placed on IR: CB Alex Austin
New Orleans Saints
- Elevated: G Kyle Hergel
New York Jets
- Elevated: DT Bruce Hector, LB Marcelino McCrary-Ball
Philadelphia Eagles
- Elevated: WR Parris Campbell, WR John Ross
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Elevated: CB Thomas Graham Jr., RB Aaron Shampklin
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed to active roster: DE Sam Okuayinonu
- Elevated: DT Evan Anderson, S Jaylen Mahoney
- Placed on IR: DT Javon Hargrave (story), LB Curtis Robinson (story)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Elevated: P Trenton Gill, WR Sterling Shepard
Washington Commanders
- Elevated: DE Andre Jones Jr., RB Chris Rodriguez Jr.
Patriots Could Pursue CB Depth
The Patriots’ cornerbacks corps is set to look a bit different in 2024. Myles Bryant, Jalen Mills, and J.C. Jackson accounted for 1,743 snaps last season but are no longer on the roster. The team can still feel comfortable atop their depth chart; Jonathan Jones returns after emerging as an outside CB in 2023, and the team will also welcome back 2023 first-round pick Christian Gonzalez, who was limited to only four games as a rookie thanks to a torn labrum and dislocated shoulder.
However, the depth behind that duo remains questionable, and that could lead the Patriots to pursue some reinforcement. As Ben Volin of the Boston Globe writes, the organization could be in the market for a cornerback if somebody “doesn’t emerge in the first couple weeks of camp.”
Volin is confident that the team has a temporary answer to replace Bryant in the slot, with former Bills draft pick Alex Austin having impressed the organization down the stretch last season. Otherwise, the team is eyeing some uninspiring options.
Shaun Wade started six of his 14 appearances last season, but the former Ravens fifth-round pick isn’t guaranteed a roster spot. Marcus Jones impressed on special teams as a rookie but only saw a part-time role on defense. Coming off a shoulder injury that limited him to only two games in 2023, Jones will once again have to prove himself as a cornerback. The rest of the team’s depth includes the likes of sixth-round rookie Marcellas Dial and 2023 seventh-round pick Isaiah Bolden.
If the Patriots’ staff realizes they only have two or three capable CBs, the team could pivot to free agency. Volin specifially points to Jackson, who remains unsigned. The veteran was acquired by New England via trade in October, and he started six of his eight appearances during his second stint with the team.
Former Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore remains unsigned, and the cornerback recently expressed interest in a reunion with the organization. Xavien Howard, Patrick Peterson, and Adoree’ Jackson are also still free agents, although there’s a chance the rebuilding squad just prefers to take a chance on an unproven talent.
Patriots CB Alex Austin On Track For Increased Role?
Christian Gonzalez should be able to start the 2024 season at full health, something which would be a welcomed development in the Patriots’ secondary. The team’s top pick in last year’s draft is set to handle a starting role, and the same should be the case for veteran Jonathan Jones. 
Plenty of uncertainty is currently present elsewhere on New England’s cornerback depth chart, though, leaving plenty of playing time up for grabs. One name to watch during training camp could be Alex Austin based on his Patriots stint last year and his usage in the spring. The 2023 Bills seventh-rounder did not survive roster cuts, and he was claimed off waivers by the Texans in August.
Austin made three appearances with Houston before ultimately being let go in November. The 23-year-old immediately caught on with the Patriots, and he saw time in five games to close out the campaign. With the team struggling on the injury front in the secondary, Austin logged a defensive snap share of at least 57% for four straight contests. The Oregon State alum registered two pass breakups and allowed five completions on 16 targets in coverage. He re-signed in March, allowing him to compete for notable playing time this offseason.
As noted by team writer Paul Perillo, Austin logged a number of first-team reps during the spring while playing opposite Gonzalez on the perimeter. The latter played almost exclusively on the boundary during his rookie season, and that has also been true of Jones over the past two seasons. Jones – a veteran of 115 games with the Patriots – also has experience in the slot, however, and a strong summer showing from Austin could push him to the inside.
Perillo adds that Marcus Jones and Shaun Wade are also in contention for increased workloads, particularly in the slot. How they fare during training camp will play a role in determining the team’s overall secondary plans. If Austin can continue to impress, though, he could find himself handling first-team duties or at least seeing rotational defensive snaps during his first full New England campaign.
Minor NFL Transactions: 3/7/24
Here are Thursday’s minor moves:
Detroit Lions
- Re-signed: RB Zonovan Knight
Miami Dolphins
- Re-signed: DB Elijah Campbell, DT Daviyon Nixon
New England Patriots
- Re-signed: CB Alex Austin
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: FB Zander Horvath
Campbell was set to be a restricted free agent; this deal will bypass the tender process and keep the young defender on the team. The former UDFA has primarily been a Dolphins special-teamer, though he started one game apiece over the past two seasons. Campbell has logged at least a 69% snap share on special teams in each of the past three seasons.