Panthers Sign Isaiah Simmons To Active Roster, Place Trevin Wallace On IR
Isaiah Simmons is set to finish the season on Carolina’s active roster. The former top-10 pick has been signed from the Panthers’ practice squad, per a team announcement. 
Simmons has been a gameday elevation three times this season. As a result, he needed to be promoted to the active roster at some point to continue seeing game action down the stretch. With fellow linebacker Trevin Wallace done for the season, a clear path for Simmons to close out the year on the 53-man roster exists. In a corresponding move, Wallace has been moved to injured reserve.
Losing Wallace has left the Panthers without a starter at the second level of their defense. Claudin Cherelus is positioned to continue as a first-team presence alongside Christian Rozeboom for the final two weeks of the regular season and (if applicable) the playoffs. Carolina enters Sunday’s action atop the NFC South, and a win against the Seahawks coupled with a Buccaneers loss to the Dolphins would clinch the division.
Simmons has logged only one defensive snap during his three Panthers appearances in 2025. The 27-year-old has been a key presence on special teams, however, handling a 68% snap share in that regard. A similar workload can be expected moving forward as Carolina prepares for a contest in Seattle and a potential winner-take-all game against Tampa Bay depending on how this week’s results shake out.
Simmons was unable to find success at safety or linebacker during his time with the Cardinals. The Clemson product managed to handle a rotational defensive workload with the Giants for the 2023 and ’24 campaigns but joined the Packers this past offseason. After failing to survive roster cuts with Green Bay, Simmons remained on the open market until late November when he signed with Carolina. As a pending free agent, he will look to boost his value slightly in the closing weeks of the campaign.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/20/25
Here are Saturday’s minor moves around the NFL, including gameday elevations for tomorrow’s Week 16 slate:
Arizona Cardinals
- Elevated: CB Jaden Davis, WR Steven Sims
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed from practice squad: CB C.J. Henderson
- Waived: WR/KR Jamal Agnew
- Elevated: WR Chris Blair, OLB Khalid Kareem
Baltimore Ravens
- Elevated: DT Josh Tupou, LB William Kwenkeu
- Placed on IR: LB Teddye Buchanan (story)
Buffalo Bills
- Activated from IR: WR Mecole Hardman
- Elevated: K Michael Badgley, DE Andre Jones Jr.
Carolina Panthers
- Elevated: LB Isaiah Simmons, OL Saahdiq Charles
Cincinnati Bengals
- Elevated: DT Howard Cross, CB Bralyn Lux
Dallas Cowboys
- Elevated: CB Corey Ballentine
Denver Broncos
- Elevated: QB Sam Ehlinger, S Delarrin Turner-Yell
Detroit Lions
- Elevated: OL Kingsley Eguakun, TE Giovanni Ricci
Houston Texans
- Elevated: DT Marlon Davidson, CB Alijah Huzzie
Los Angeles Chargers
- Elevated: S Marcus Williams, G Branson Taylor
Miami Dolphins
- Signed from practice squad: CB Ethan Robinson
- Placed on IR: DB Elijah Campbell
- Elevated: OL Kion Smith, WR Theo Wease
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed from practice squad: CB Dwight McGlothern
- Elevated: LB Sione Takitaki
New York Giants
- DT Elijah Chatman, K Ben Sauls
New York Jets
- Elevated: DB Tre Brown
New Orleans Saints
- Elevated: T Easton Kilty, TE Moliki Matavao
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Elevated: CB Daryl Porter Jr., T Jack Driscoll
San Francisco 49ers
- Placed on IR: LB Nick Martin
Tennessee Titans
- Signed from practice squad: DT Cam Horsley
- Waived: DT Shy Tuttle
- Elevated: CB Kemon Hall
Agnew’s time in Atlanta has come to an end after 11 appearances with his third career team. The veteran did not see any usage on offense, but he handled 45 total returns between kickoffs and punts this season. Agnew totaled 855 yards in that capacity, but he will now hit the waiver wire. Provided he clears, the 30-year-old will become a free agent.
The same is true of Tuttle. A veteran of 105 games, he has made just one start so far this season. Tuttle has only handled a 25% snap share on defense, so he is unlikely to generate much interest as a free agent. Nevertheless, a depth role could await him on a contender down the stretch.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/13/25
Here are today’s minor moves and standard gameday practice squad elevations for Week 15’s Sunday slate of games:
Arizona Cardinals
- Activated from IR: T Christian Jones
- Elevated: WR Jalen Brooks, WR Trent Sherfield
- Placed on IR: DT Bilal Nichols
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: CB Dane Jackson, DE Andre Jones Jr.
Carolina Panthers
- Elevated: LB Isaiah Simmons
Cleveland Browns
- Signed from practice squad: OL Garrett Dellinger
- Elevated: S Chris Edmonds, DT Maurice Hurst
- Waived: WR Jamari Thrash
Denver Broncos
- Signed from practice squad: LB Jordan Turner
- Elevated: WR Michael Bandy, QB Sam Ehlinger
Detroit Lions
- Activated from IR: TE Shane Zylstra
- Elevated: S Erick Hallett, TE Giovanni Ricci
- Placed on IR: S Brian Branch (story)
Green Bay Packers
- Elevated: RB Pierre Strong
Houston Texans
- Activated from IR: TE Harrison Bryant
- Elevated: RB Jawhar Jordan, S K’Von Wallace
- Waived: RB Cody Schrader
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed from practice squad: G C.J. Hanson
- Elevated: T Chukwuebuka Godrick, DT Zacch Pickens
- Placed on IR: T Wanya Morris (story)
Las Vegas Raiders
- Elevated: WR Shedrick Jackson, G Atonio Mafi
Los Angeles Chargers
- Elevated: WR Dalevon Campbell, S Marcus Williams
Los Angeles Rams
- Elevated: S Tanner Ingle
New England Patriots
- Signed from practice squad: RB D’Ernest Johnson
- Elevated: DT Leonard Taylor
- Placed on IR: RB Terrell Jennings
New Orleans Saints
- Elevated: WR Kevin Austin, K Charlie Smyth
New York Giants
- Signed from practice squad: WR Dalen Cambre, OLB Tomon Fox
- Elevated: DT Elijah Chatman, P Cameron Johnston
- Placed on IR: OLB Victor Dimukeje, CB Nic Jones
- Waived: CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse
New York Jets
- Activated from IR: LB Cam Jones
- Elevated: CB Tre Brown, QB Adrian Martinez
- Placed on IR: CB Azareye’h Thomas
Philadelphia Eagles
- Elevated: S Andre’ Sam
Seattle Seahawks
- Activated from IR: DE Rylie Mills
- Elevated: RB Velus Jones
- Placed on IR: TE Elijah Arroyo
Tennessee Titans
- Elevated: T John Ojukwu
Washington Commanders
- Elevated: CB Darius Rush
Nichols began the year on the reserve/PUP list. The eight-year veteran has been hampered by injuries since signing with the Cardinals in 2024. After playing just six games last year, Nichols’ 2025 campaign will end after only four appearances.
Bryant makes his return to the Texans’ offense to replenish a thinned out tight ends group, while in Seattle, the Seahawks place their second-round rookie tight end, Arroyo, on injured reserve with a knee injury.
In Buffalo, this will be Jackson’s third and final standard gameday practice squad elevation. If the team wants to see him in another game this season, they’ll need to sign him to the 53-man roster. The same is true for Strong in Green Bay, Jackson and Mafi in Las Vegas, Smyth in New Orleans, Sam in Philadelphia, and Jones in Seattle.
On the flip side of that, in Denver, Turner has been signed to the 53-man roster after running out of elevations last week.
Thomas suffered a shoulder injury in Week 14 and it will end his season. The third-round rookie confirmed on social media today he is set to undergo surgery in the near future. Thomas made five starts in 2025, totaling 22 tackles and seven pass deflections.
Panthers Place G Chandler Zavala On IR, Elevate LB/S Isaiah Simmons
Exactly four weeks after activating right guard Chandler Zavala from injured reserve, the Panthers have placed him back on IR, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. A calf injury will knock Zavala out for at least four games.
Zavala began the season as a backup, but the third-year man stepped in as a starter after Robert Hunt tore his left biceps in Week 2. A knee injury then forced Zavala to IR, but the Panthers brought him back on Nov. 1.
With Hunt still on the shelf, Zavala started in five straight appearances before his latest IR placement. Pro Football Focus hasn’t been impressed with Zavala’s work this year, though, ranking the former fourth-round pick’s performance a lowly 78th among 81 qualifying guards.
After Zavala went down in a Week 12 loss to the 49ers, Jake Curhan finished the game in his place. Curhan has appeared in eight games since the Panthers signed him off the Cardinals’ practice squad on Oct. 1. He hasn’t logged a start with Carolina yet, but that could change Sunday against the NFC’s No. 1 seed, the Rams.
Having also ruled out center Cade Mays (ankle), the Panthers will have to face the league’s top-ranked scoring defense down multiple starting offensive linemen. It’s a less-than-ideal development for a 6-6 Panthers team battling the 6-5 Buccaneers for an NFC South title.
Banged up along the O-line, the Panthers elevated guard Saahdiq Charles from their practice squad on Saturday. The former Commander hasn’t appeared in a regular-season game since 2023. Charles, then with the Titans, retired before the 2024 season. He came out of retirement to sign with the Cowboys last April, but they released him at the end of August. Charles joined the Panthers’ practice squad on Oct. 1.
The Panthers also elevated linebacker/safety Isaiah Simmons from their practice squad and signed cornerback Kalen King from their taxi squad to their active roster. The team is quickly turning to Simmons after adding him on Tuesday.
Simmons entered the league as the eighth overall pick of the Cardinals in 2020, but the former Clemson Tiger didn’t live up to his draft stock over three years with them or two seasons with the Giants. Simmons has 42 starts, 8.5 sacks, and five interceptions under his belt, though, and could be a multi-position option for Carolina. The Panthers need help at linebacker and safety with starters Christian Rozeboom (hip/hamstring) and Tre’von Moehrig (suspension) out on Sunday.
Panthers Add LB/S Isaiah Simmons To Practice Squad
Isaiah Simmons has found a new home. The veteran defender has joined the Panthers practice squad, according to Darin Gantt of the team’s website. To make room on the taxi squad, the team released safety Trevian Thomas.
Simmons joined the Packers back in April but was among the team’s final preseason cuts. He’s been lingering in free agency since that time, with an October workout with the Steelers representing his lone visit of the 2025 campaign.
As Gantt notes, Simmons was once a candidate to be selected by the Panthers with the seventh-overall pick in the 2020 draft. Carolina ended up opting for defensive tackle Derrick Brown, and Simmons was snagged by the Cardinals with the following pick.
Simmons didn’t make it through his full rookie contract in Arizona. He spent the first three seasons of his career with the organization, collecting 7.5 sacks in 50 games (37 starts). He was traded to the Giants for a seventh-round pick ahead of the 2023 campaign, and he proceeded to spend the next two seasons in New York. Simmons transitioned to safety during his time with the Giants, starting five of his 34 appearances.
The Panthers will consider playing their new addition at both safety and linebacker, according to Joe Person of The Athletic. The team’s most immediate need is at LB. The Panthers played without Christian Rozeboom and Trevin Wallace last night before losing Claudin Cherelus to a concussion.
AFC Workout Rumors: Burks, Simmons, Ravens
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.
Packers Make Cuts, Set Initial 53-Man Roster
The Packers announced their initial 53-man roster as well as the following transactions:
Released
- CB Corey Ballentine
- WR Mecole Hardman
- LB Isaiah Simmons
- LB Kristian Welch
Waived
- RB Isaiah Abanikanda
- DE Deslin Alexandre
- S Johnathan Baldwin
- OL Brant Banks
- LB Jaret Bartlett
- QB Sean Clifford
- OL Tyler Cooper
- RB Tyrion Davis-Price
- QB Taylor Elgersma
- DT James Ester
- CB Tyron Herring
- WR Julian Hicks
- OL Trey Hill
- RB Amar Johnson
- WR Cornelius Johnson
- LB Jamon Johnson
- CB Kalen King
- OL JJ Lippe
- LS Mark McNamee
- DE Arron Mosby
- WR Isaiah Neyor
- DT Devonte O’Malley
- WR Will Sheppard
- S Jaylin Simpson
- OL Lecitus Smith
- OL Kadeem Telfort
Placed on IR (designation to return)
- RB MarShawn Lloyd
- OL Jacob Monk
Placed on IR
Placed on reserve/PUP
- DE Collin Oliver
- WR Christian Watson
- OL John Williams
Despite his struggles to carve out a role in the NFL, Simmons made the 53-man roster in each of his first five seasons after the Cardinals selected him with the No. 8 pick in 2020. That streak has come to an end in Green Bay with his release today.
Alexandre is expected to return to the Packers’ practice squad if he clears waivers, per USA Today’s Ryan Wood, who places Banks in the same category.
Lloyd suffered a groin injury early in training camp and a hamstring injury more recently, which will land him on IR and sideline him for at least four weeks. Monk, though to be the team’s backup center, will also be out for a minimum of four weeks.
Packers Expected To Release LB Isaiah Simmons
The Packers brought on Isaiah Simmons in free agency, but their flier on the former top-10 pick will not produce a roster spot. Simmons is expected to be released, Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports reports. 
Simmons’ time with the Cardinals was marred by an inability to find success at a single position. The Clemson product saw time at safety and linebacker but did not meet expectations in either case. He was traded to the Giants in 2023 after three seasons in Arizona. Simmons did enough to earn a one-year pact with New York last offseason.
Logging a full 17 game slate once again in 2024, the 27-year-old played sparingly on defense while also chipping in on special teams. Simmons took another one-year pact in free agency this spring, joining the Packers after they enjoyed a strong first season under DC Jeff Hafley. That accord contained $168K in guarantees, so Green Bay will absorb that figure as a dead money charge. Meanwhile, this move will create $1.03MM in cap savings.
The Packers have Quay Walker, Edgerrin Cooper and Isaiah McDuffie atop the linebacker depth chart. That trio will be leaned on heavily in 2025, but Simmons would have represented a backup option had he survived roster cuts. A practice squad agreement allowing him to remain in Green Bay could be in store; failing that, however, a new opportunity will need to be sought out.
Simmons could offer a special teams presence to interested suitors on the free agent market, and he will be free to sign at any time once his release is official. A role on defense should not be expected, though, and another short-term arrangement will no doubt be in store on his next team.
NFC North Notes: Reed, Bears, Lions, Vikes
Since trading Davante Adams to the Raiders in 2022, the Packers have relied on the draft to add wide receivers rather than pursuing veteran talent.
They did so once again this year, drafting Matthew Golden with the 22nd overall pick and double-dipping with Savion Williams in the third round (No. 87 overall). Those picks raised questions about the future of their current receiver corps. Both Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson are entering the last year of their rookie contracts, and Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks are schedule to hit free agency after the 2026 season.
That uncertainty caused Reed’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, to meet with Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst in an effort to “clarify the wide receiver’s status in Green Bay,” per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Reed was the team’s leading receiver in his first two NFL seasons, and the Packers intend to keep him in that role moving forward.
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur expressed surprise when asked about Reed by NBC Sports’ Chris Simms and praised the 2023 second-rounder’s leadership and production in Green Bay.
“He’s coaching up Matthew Golden, so he’s a guy I don’t worry about,” said LaFleur.
Here is the latest from the NFC North:
- Isaiah Simmons‘ versatility was one of the main reasons that he was a top-10 pick in 2020, but he has struggled to find a positional fit in the NFL. He signed with the Packers this offseason and will play linebacker in Green Bay, per The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman. Simmons spent his first five years in the NFL in a hybrid box/slot role; streamlining his responsibilities at LB could help him unlock his athleticism and finally live up to his draft billing.
- Lions second-round pick Tate Ratledge primarily played guard at Georgia and will compete for starting jobs with veteran Graham Glasgow and 2024 sixth-rounder Christian Mahogany as a rookie, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Lions offensive line coach Hank Fraley added that Ratledge would also see time at center during OTAs to train for a backup role to Frank Ragnow.
- Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen said that rookie Shemar Turner will focus on playing along the interior of the defensive line before the team tests his edge versatility (via Scott Bair of Marquee Sports Network). Turner lined up off the edge at Texas Tech in 2022 and 2023 before bulking up for interior work in 2024. Chicago has depth at both spots this year, but they’re thinner at DT in the long-term, which is where Turner will spend most of his time. Still, his athleticism and experience should give him a chance to contribute as an edge defender at some point in his NFL career.
- A jury trial for Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison has been scheduled for June 16 in the Superior Court of California, per ESPN’s Kevin Seifert. Addison received a citation for a DUI in July 2024 and pleaded not guilty in December.
Packers To Sign LB Isaiah Simmons
The Packers are signing former No. 8 overall pick Isaiah Simmons, per FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz. Simmons will head to Green Bay after two years in New York.
Not coming especially close to living up to his draft slot, Simmons still maintained his status a role player for the Giants. This comes two weeks after Simmons paid a free agency visit to Green Bay.
After acquiring him in a 2023 trade from the Cardinals, the Giants deployed Simmons in all 34 of their games over the past two seasons. He only started five, but the former Clemson hybrid performer still carries some value heading into a sixth NFL season.
Simmons logged 377 defensive snaps in 2023 but saw that number drop 181 last season. Having experience at safety and in the slot, Simmons will come to Wisconsin as one of the NFL’s most versatile defenders. Of course, the former high-end prospect not being able to establish himself as a dependable starter at any of those spots over the long haul has led to a steep value decline.
The Giants re-signed Simmons on a one-year, $2MM deal in 2024. This marked a sharp reduction for a player who locked in a fully guaranteed $20.66MM as a Steve Keim-era first-round pick. Months after Keim’s Arizona exit, replacement Monti Ossenfort traded Simmons — during a three-trade day for the rebuilding team — for just a 2024 seventh-round pick. The Giants stint did not boost Simmons’ value much, but the Packers will see what he can provide.
Simmons, 26, is the rare linebacker to be given a regular slot role. The Cards stationed him in the slot on 409 plays in 2022. Eighty-six of Simmons’ 181 defensive snaps last season also came in the slot. It will be interesting if the Packers, who slid Keisean Nixon to more of an outside role last season, attempt to tap into this unusual skillset as well.
The Cardinals did not pick up Simmons’ fifth-year option in 2022, though that has become commonplace — as off-ball linebacker options are annually being declined due to a formula that groups on- and off-ball linebackers under one umbrella. But Simmons’ play fell well short of option consideration.
The Packers are likely to decline Quay Walker‘s fifth-year option by Thursday’s deadline, though they are still open to working out an extension — likely at a reduced rate. The team used two draft choices on off-ball LBs last year, adding Edgerrin Cooper in Round 2 and Ty’Ron Hopper in Round 3. Cooper became an every-down player, while Hopper settled in as a backup. Simmons’ steadiest role for the Giants came on special teams, though they had designs on deploying him as a DB. It will be interesting to see how the Packers use Simmons, who will likely be positioned as a depth piece heading into OTAs.