NFL Minor Transactions: 9/4/25
As we prepare for tonight’s season opener, here are Thursday’s minor moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed to active roster: S Sam Franklin
- Placed on IR: DT DeWayne Carter
Dallas Cowboys
- Elevated: WR Ryan Flournoy, LB Buddy Johnson
Philadelphia Eagles
- Elevated: S Marcus Epps, OLB Patrick Johnson
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived from IR: QB Carter Bradley
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived from IR: CB Tyrek Funderburk, LB Antonio Grier, C Jake Majors, OL Raiqwon O’Neal
Bills DT DeWayne Carter Out For Season
The Bills saw a depth piece on their defensive line go down with a season-ending injury today. Defensive tackle DeWayne Carter suffered a torn Achilles tendon, according to Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. Now, instead of preparing for Week 1 of the 2025 season, the 24-year-old will begin working his way back to the field in time for 2026.
Carter was a third-round pick for Buffalo last year after five years at Duke. He started earning some recognition in his redshirt sophomore year with the Blue Devils, when he earned third-team All-ACC honors in his first year as a full-time starter, breaking out with 4.5 sacks, eight tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, and three batted passes. He stepped it up in 2022, logging 5.5 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, four passes defensed, three forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries, including one returned for a touchdown.
After earning second-team All-ACC honors for his redshirt junior season, Carter’s production dropped a bit in 2023 as he became a focal point for opposing offenses. He only logged once sack and four tackles for loss, but he did bat four passes and returned another fumble for a touchdown. His defensive impact was still clear as he earned first-team All-ACC honors and became a third-round pick headed to Buffalo.
As a rookie, Carter was eased into the NFL with a minimal Week 1 workload but became a significant part of the rotation on the defensive line for the next six weeks, even earning his first two career starts in Weeks 5 & 6. He missed the next five weeks but returned to play in four of the final five games of the season, including a Week 18 start as the usual starters rested. In 11 games with three starts, Carter totaled five tackles for loss, three quarterback hits, and one pass defensed.
Carter wasn’t expected to step into a starting role in 2025 as DaQuan Jones and Ed Oliver return to the starting lineup, but the second-year lineman was once again expected to be a key part of the rotation, especially during the suspension of free agent addition Larry Ogunjobi. Instead, Carter will likely undergo surgery and begin rehabilitation with a goal of being healthy for Year 3.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/7/24
Saturday’s minor transactions, including gameday practice squad elevations:
Atlanta Falcons
- Elevated: WR Chris Blair
Buffalo Bills
- Activated from IR: DT DeWayne Carter
- Elevated: S Lewis Cine, TE Zach Davidson
Carolina Panthers
- Elevated: WR Dan Chisena, LB Jacoby Windmon
Chicago Bears
- Elevated: S Adrian Colbert, RB Darrynton Evans
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Elevated: WR Joshua Cephus
Las Vegas Raiders
- Elevated: WR Kristian Wilkerson
Los Angeles Chargers
- Activated from IR: LB Junior Colson
- Elevated: RB Jaret Patterson, S Kendall Williamson
Los Angeles Rams
- Elevated: CB Charles Woods
Miami Dolphins
- Elevated: LS Zach Triner
Minnesota Vikings
- Activated from IR: LS Andrew DePaola, K Will Reichard (story)
- Elevated: OLB Gabriel Murphy
- Waived: K John Parker Romo
New Orleans Saints
- Signed to active roster: WR Kevin Austin, Dante Pettis
New York Giants
- Signed to active roster: DT Elijah Garcia, DE Casey Rogers
- Elevated: T Tyre Phillips, CB Greg Stroman
- Placed on IR: DT D.J. Davidson
- Waived: QB Tim Boyle
New York Jets
- Activated from IR: WR Allen Lazard, G Wes Schweitzer (story)
- Elevated: CB Kendall Sheffield
- Placed on IR: LB C.J. Mosley (story)
- Waived: C Connor McGovern
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed to active roster: TE E.J. Jenkins
- Elevated: FB Khari Blasingame, S Andre’ Sam
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed to active roster: LB Antonio Grier
- Elevated: P Jack Browning, CB Dallis Flowers
Tennessee Titans
- Signed to active roster: WR Mason Kinsey, DB Kendall Brooks
- Elevated: G Arlington Hambright, TE Thomas Odukoya
Eagles starting tight end Dallas Goedert has been placed on injured reserve, so Jenkins will come up from the practice squad for a little added depth.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/27/24
Wednesday’s minor transactions, including some standard gameday practice squad elevations for the Thanksgiving Day slate:
Buffalo Bills
- Designated to return from IR: DT DeWayne Carter, T Tylan Grable
Carolina Panthers
- Designated to return from IR: S Nick Scott
Chicago Bears
- Elevated: S Adrian Colbert
Cleveland Browns
- Designated to return from IR: CB Myles Harden
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed to active roster: TE Princeton Fant
- Elevated: CB Andrew Booth, CB Kemon Hall
Denver Broncos
- Signed to active roster: LB Zach Cunningham
Detroit Lions
- Signed to active roster: WR Maurice Alexander, LB David Long
- Elevated: T Jamarco Jones
- Placed on IR: WR Kalif Raymond (story)
Houston Texans
- Signed to active roster: DT Tommy Togiai
Los Angeles Rams
- Designated to return from reserve/PUP: TE Tyler Higbee (story)
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed to active roster: LS Jake McQuaide
- Waived: OLB Gabriel Murphy
New York Giants
- Signed to active roster: LB Tomon Fox
- Elevated: T Joshua Miles, CB Greg Stroman
- Placed on IR: DT Armon Watts
New York Jets
- Designated to return from IR: OL Xavier Newman-Johnson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Designated to return from IR: DT Montravius Adams
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed to active roster: LB Patrick O’Connell
- Designated to return from IR: OLB Uchenna Nwosu (story)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Designated to return from IR: OLB Markees Watts
The Vikings’ release of Murphy is disappointing one for the organization for sure. The rookie pass rusher out of UCLA was not healthy enough to be on the active roster to start the season, but Minnesota liked him enough to dedicate one of their eight IR activations on him in August. He was activated yesterday but hit waivers today. If he clears the waivers, he’ll be available to sign to the team’s practice squad.
Adams has seen his biggest NFL roles during his time in Pittsburgh. Though he hasn’t gotten the same number of starts as he had in 2022 and 2023, he’s continued the same level of production. After missing the last four games, he’ll be looking to return to the field soon.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/25/24
Friday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Placed on IR: LB Dennis Gardeck (story)
Buffalo Bills
- Placed on IR: DT DeWayne Carter
Miami Dolphins
- Signed to active roster: WR Dee Eskridge
Philadelphia Eagles
- Placed on IR: DT Byron Young
Carter is dealing with a wrist injury which will require surgery. Head coach Sean McDermott indicated (via Katherine Fitzgerald of the Buffalo News) the team was initially unsure of if a stint on injured reserve would be needed. Now that the third-round rookie has been moved to IR, he will miss at least the next four games. Carter has appeared in all seven of Buffalo’s contests this year, logging a 39% snap share.
Bills Sign Cole Bishop, Seven Other Draft Picks
The Bills signed a significant portion of their draft class today. The team announced that they’ve signed the following players to rookie contracts:
- Round 2, No. 60: Cole Bishop (S, Utah)
- Round 3, No. 95 (from Chiefs): DeWayne Carter, DT (Duke)
- Round 4, No. 128: Ray Davis (RB, Kentucky)
- Round 5, No. 141 (from Giants through Panthers): Sedrick Van Pran-Granger (C, Georgia)
- Round 5, No. 160 (from Packers): Edefuan Ulofoshio (LB, Washington)
- Round 5, No. 168 (from Saints): Javon Solomon (EDGE, Troy)
- Round 6, No. 204: Tylan Grable (T, Central Florida)
- Round 6, No. 219 (from Packers): Daequan Hardy (CB, Penn State)
The team previously signed seventh-round offensive tackle Travis Clayton. Second-round wide receiver (and the Bills’ top-overall pick) Keon Coleman is the only remaining unsigned rookie.
Cole Bishop had a standout career at Utah that saw him collect 197 tackles and 7.5 sacks. He earned second-team All-Pac-12 honors this past season, finishing with 60 stops, 6.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, and two interceptions. That performance helped establish Bishop as one of the draft’s top safety prospects, and he was ultimately selected by the Bills with the 60th-overall pick.
After releasing Jordan Poyer and with Micah Hyde remaining unsigned, the Bills should have an opening for Bishop in the starting lineup. Last year’s third safety, Taylor Rapp, is temporarily penciled in as the other starting safety, so even if the Bills add some reinforcement, there’s a good chance Bishop will still see significant playing time.