Minor NFL Transactions: 12/17/25
Here are Wednesday’s minor moves:
Baltimore Ravens
- Designated for return from IR: LB Jay Higgins
Buffalo Bills
- Designated for return from IR: WR Mecole Hardman
Carolina Panthers
- Designated for return from IR: WR David Moore
Cleveland Browns
- Designated for return from reserve/PUP: LB Winston Reid
Denver Broncos
- Designated for return from IR: LB Karene Reid
Detroit Lions
- Designated for return from IR: T Giovanni Manu
Green Bay Packers
- Designated for return from reserve/PUP: G John Williams
- Placed on IR: LB Micah Parsons (story)
Houston Texans
- Designated for return from IR: LB Darrell Taylor
Kansas City Chiefs
- Placed on IR: QB Patrick Mahomes (story)
- Opened practice window: TE Jake Briningstool, DB Nazeeh Johnson
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed from practice squad: DE Jahfari Harvey
Miami Dolphins
- Signed off Texans’ practice squad: LB Jackson Woodard
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Activated from IR: S Rashad Wisdom
Tennessee Titans
- Designated for return from IR: LB Ali Gaye, LB Oluwafemi Oladejo, WR Bryce Oliver
Probably the most overqualified transaction we’ve ever listed in this space, Mahomes is heading to IR for the first time. The superstar Chiefs quarterback suffered ACL and LCL tears and has undergone surgery. Generally, Chiefs IR-return moves are impactful at this stage of the season. In the cases of Briningstool and Johnson, they are returning to practice for a 6-8 team. The Chiefs designated both for return in August, meaning both have already counted toward the team’s eight-activation total. As our IR return tracker shows, Kansas City has not used any other injury activations this season.
Given a one-year, $4.75MM deal by the Texans, Taylor worked as a backup in four games before going down with an ankle injury. Despite his contract, the former Seahawks second-rounder played just 64 defensive snaps before hitting IR.
Chiefs Cut 34 Players, Settle On 53-Man Roster
The defending AFC champs have set their 53-man roster. The Chiefs announced the following moves:
Released:
- LB Cole Christiansen
- S Mike Edwards
- DT Mike Pennel
- TE Robert Tonyan
- DT Marlon Tuipulotu
Waived:
- WR Elijhah Badger
- DE Owen Carney
- CB Ajani Carter
- OT Dalton Cooper
- S Jacobe Covington
- WR Mac Dalena
- OT Chukwuebuka Godrick
- G C.J. Hanson
- CB Azizi Hearn
- WR Jimmy Holiday
- DT Coziah Izzard
- LB Cam Jones
- CB Kevin Knowles
- C Joey Lombard
- DT Fabien Lovett
- DE Nate Matlack
- S Glendon Miller
- LB Xander Mueller
- QB Chris Oladokun
- OT Esa Pole
- WR Hal Presley
- WR Key’Shawn Smith
- CB Melvin Smith
- TE Geor’Quarius Spivey
- RB Carson Steele
- TE Tre Watson
- RB Michael Wiley
- S Major Williams
- QB Bailey Zappe
Placed on reserve/NFI:
Placed on injured reserve:
Placed on injured reserve (designated for return):
On the defensive side of the ball, Cam Jones was a somewhat surprising cut after getting into all 34 games for the Chiefs over the past two years. A former UDFA, Jones has seen the majority of his playing time on special teams, but he still got into 161 defensive snaps for Kansas City between 2023 and 2024. Over the span, the linebacker has collected 36 tackles. The team also moved on from veteran defensive tackle Mike Pennel, who started seven of his 17 appearances for Kansas City in 2024.
On the other side of the ball, the team dropped 2024 preseason standout Carson Steele. The UCLA product had a brief chance to show his stuff immediately following Isiah Pacheco‘s injury, but a persistent fumbling issue had him tumbling down the depth chart. Steele ultimately finished his rookie season with 209 yards from scrimmge on 63 touches.
Chiefs Add 16 UDFAs
The Chiefs made a total of seven selections during the draft, and they will be joined by 16 undrafted free agents at rookie minicamp. Here is a look at Kansas City’s 2025 UDFA class:
- Elijhah Badger, WR (Florida)
- Jake Briningstool, TE (Clemson)
- Will Brooks, S (Tennessee)
- Dalton Cooper, T (Oklahoma State)
- Jacobe Covington, S (USC)
- Eddie Czaplicki, P (USC)
- Mac Dalena, WR (Fresno State)
- Brandon George, LB (Pittsburgh)
- Coziah Izzard, DT (Penn State)
- Kevin Knowles, DB (Florida State)
- Justin Lockhart, WR (San Jose State)
- Glendon Miller, S (Maryland)
- Esa Pole, T (Washington State)
- Melvin Smith, CB (Northern Arkansas)
- Tre Watson, TE (Texas A&M)
- Elijah Young, RB (Western Kentucky)
Of the names on this list, at least six have received a six-figure commitment from Kansas City. The most lucrative pact – in terms of guarantees – is the one for Briningstool, with Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reporting he received a total of $264K locked in. Watson, meanwhile, landed $249K in guarantees (per Wilson). They will both look to earn a roster spot as a depth tight end option.
Wilson reports Cooper secured a $20K signing bonus as part of his $259K in total guarantees. The 24-year-old spent the first four seasons of his college career at Texas State before playing pair of seasons with the Cowboys. At 6-6 and 326 pounds, he could look to earn a place on the roster as a swing tackle or compete for playing time at guard.
Izzard landed $225K in guarantees, Wilson adds. His 4.85 40-yard dash time from Penn State’s Pro Day is an indication of his athleticism, something which could earn him a spot on the D-tackle depth chart. According to Wilson, meanwhile, Knowles received a $20K signing bonus along with $200K in guaranteed salary.
Czaplicki’s base salary for 2025 includes $95K locked in; Wilson adds his pact also contains a $5K signing bonus. Matt Araiza operated as the Chiefs’ punter last season, producing a net average of 41.5 net yards per punt. 25 this season, Araiza will have competition during training camp.