Minor NFL Transactions: 3/6/26
Here are today’s NFL minor moves as we head into the final weekend before the start of free agency:
Denver Broncos
- Re-signed: RB Tyler Badie, DT Jordan Jackson, S Devon Key, OLB Dondrea Tillman
Houston Texans
- Re-signed: S M.J. Stewart
Los Angeles Chargers
- Re-signed: RB Jaret Patterson, S Kendall Williamson
New York Giants
- Released: T James Hudson
Washington Commanders
- Re-signed: K Jake Moody
Initially opening the season as a starter on the line in New York in place of Andrew Thomas, Hudson was benched after struggling in a first-string role. He had been signed to serve as a swing tackle for the Giants, but after his early-season struggles, he failed to see much playing time for the remainder of the season.
After getting waived by the team that drafted him in the third round, Moody landed on the Bears’ practice squad before the Commanders signed him to their active roster. Washington made the move after watching Moody connect on eight of nine field goal attempts in two games for Chicago then watched Moody convert 10 of 11 for their team over the final six weeks of the season. Not willing to pay the prices on a restricted free agent tender, the Commanders opted not to tender him but continued on the path to a new deal as an unrestricted free agent.
RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/4/26
More teams made tender/non-tender decisions on restricted and exclusive rights free agents today. Here are the latest updates:
RFAs
Non-tendered:
- Buccaneers: S Christian Izien, RB Sean Tucker
- Commanders: K Jake Moody
- Cowboys: G Brock Hoffman
- Patriots: CB Alex Austin
Before taking a backseat to second-year safety Tykee Smith this year, Izien served as a major contributor for the Bucs secondary. In his first two years as an undrafted player out of Rutgers, Izien started 14 of 31 game appearances, logging 140 total tackles, three interceptions, and two forced fumbles. Meanwhile, Tucker made himself a bowling ball in the redzone this year, recording a team-leading seven rushing touchdowns on just 86 attempts. His 320 rushing yards were third in Tampa Bay’s running backs room behind Bucky Irving (588) and Rachaad White (572).
ERFAs
Tendered:
- Browns: TE Brenden Bates, WR Malachi Corley, LB Winston Reid, LS Rex Sunahara, K Andre Szmyt, WR Jamari Thrash
- Cowboys: CB Reddy Steward
- Lions: K Jake Bates
- Panthers: WR Jalen Coker, WR Brycen Tremayne
- Vikings: DT Jalen Redmond
While Moody seemingly continues to struggle to stay employed after getting draft in the third round three years ago, Bates and Szmyt will get another go around in Detroit and Cleveland.
Commanders To Sign K Jake Moody Off Bears’ Practice Squad
It has not taken long for the Commanders to find their Matt Gay replacement. The veteran was cut earlier today, and his successor has already been identified.
Washington is signing Jake Moody off the Bears’ practice squad, as first reported by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Moody ended up making two appearances with Chicago, having signed there after his inconsistent San Francisco tenure came to an end early in the campaign. Moody’s brief stint with the Bears saw him connect on eight of his nine field goal attempts and all three of his XP tries.
The 49ers selected Moody with the 99th pick in the 2023 draft, making him the fifth kicker since 2000 to be selected in the first three rounds. The Michigan product ended up earning PFWA All-Rookie Team honors that season after he converted 84 percent of his FGA and 98.4 percent of his XPA. He also came up big in the postseason, including a Super Bowl performance where he was credited with 10 points.
He struggled a bit as a sophomore, as he made only 24 of his 34 field goal attempts. He had a particularly short leash to begin this year. In the season opener, he made only one of his three field goal attempts, with one of his misses being from only 27 yards out. Two days after that performance, the 49ers moved on.
Moody will now look to continue his career with his third squad of the 2025 campaign. Gay missed six of his 19 attempts before getting cut, and the team will surely be hoping for a better performance from their newest acquisition.
Ben Levine contributed to this post.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/18/25
Here are today’s minor moves and practice squad elevations as we head to the seventh Sunday of the regular season:
Arizona Cardinals
- Elevated: RB D’Ernest Johnson
Atlanta Falcons
- Activated from IR: DL Ta’Quon Graham
- Placed on IR: CB Clark Phillips
Chicago Bears
- Activated from IR: RB Travis Homer
- Elevated: DT Jonathan Ford, K Jake Moody
Green Bay Packers
- Activated from IR: G Jacob Monk
- Elevated: DE Arron Mosby, RB Pierre Strong
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Elevated: LB Branson Combs
Las Vegas Raiders
- Elevated: WR Shedrick Jackson
Los Angeles Rams
- Elevated: RB Ronnie Rivers
Miami Dolphins
- Elevated: LB Quinton Bell, CB Kendall Sheffield
New England Patriots
- Elevated: CB Miles Battle, RB Terrell Jennings
New Orleans Saints
- Elevated: LB Nephi Sewell
New York Giants
- Activated from reserve/PUP list: OLB Victor Dimukeje
- Waived: DL Elijah Garcia
- Elevated: WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey, LB Zaire Barnes
New York Jets
- Activated from IR: LB Ja’Markis Weston
- Signed from practice squad: WR Isaiah Williams
- Elevated: CB Korie Black, LB Jackson Sirmon
- Waived: LB Mark Robinson
Philadelphia Eagles
- Elevated: TE E.J. Jenkins
San Francisco 49ers
- Released (with injury settlement): WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling
Tennessee Titans
- Elevated: LB Curtis Jacobs, WR Mason Kinsey
As injured reserve activations start to dominate the headlines, a couple teams are making minor additions off their injured lists. In Homer, the Bears are getting a veteran special teamer and some running back depth. Monk adds depth to Green Bay’s offensive line. And Weston will do the same for a linebacking corps in New York that has seen rookie fifth-round pick Francisco Mauigoa starting in place of an injured Quincy Williams.
Ford in Chicago, Sewell in New Orleans, and Jacobs in Tennessee are all being called up as standard gameday practice squad elevations for the third time this year. In order to appear in any more games after this weekend, their respective teams will need to sign them to the 53-man roster.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/13/25
Here are the latest moves from around the NFL,including practice squad elevations for all four teams playing on Monday Night Football:
Atlanta Falcons
- Elevated: CB Keith Taylor, WR Deven Thompkins
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: S Jordan Poyer, DT Jordan Phillips
Chicago Bears
- Elevated: DT Jonathan Ford, K Jake Moody
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: OT Thayer Munford Jr.
Denver Broncos
- Signed off Ravens’ practice squad: S J.T. Gray
Indianapolis Colts
- Claimed off waivers (from Ravens): S Reuben Lowery
Kansas City Chiefs
- Waived: CB Jason Brownlee
New England Patriots
- Waived from IR: G Layden Robinson
Philadelphia Eagles
- Placed on reserve/retired list: DE Za’Darius Smith (story)
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived: OL Isaac Alarcon
Washington Commanders
- Elevated: WR Ja’Corey Brooks, WR Tay Martin
The Bears elevated Moody to kick in their Monday night matchup with the Commanders with Cairo Santos sidelined by a quad injury.
Bears To Sign K Jake Moody
Jake Moody has quickly managed to find a new home in the NFL. The ex-49ers kicker is signing with the Bears, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports. 
To no surprise, Schultz adds this will be a practice squad agreement. Moody cleared waivers this week, leaving him free to sign with any interested team. In short order, Chicago has moved forward with a deal.
The Bears have Cairo Santos in place as their kicker once again for 2025. The veteran’s second Chicago stint began in 2020, and he has delivered consistent performances over that span. Santos missed one of his two field goal attempts in Week 1, but he is not viewed as being in danger of being replaced. Nevertheless, Moody is now set to join the organization as a depth option.
The former third-rounder entered the league with high expectations given the rarity of kickers being selected that high in the draft. Moody enjoyed a strong rookie campaign, connecting on 21 of 25 field goal tries and all but one of his extra point attempts. The 25-year-old struggled last season, however, and calls about a change intensified following Week 1 of the current campaign. Moody missed a 27-yard field goal on Sunday and a 36-yard attempt was blocked. San Francisco moved on, signing Eddy Pineiro shortly thereafter to serve as his replacement.
Santos is under contract through 2027 thanks to the extension he signed in 2023. The 33-year-old Brazilian should therefore not see his tenure in the Windy City come to an end any time soon. In the event of a downturn in performance, however, Moody will loom as a replacement option for at least the time being.
49ers To Waive K Jake Moody
2:40pm CT: Joseph is not expected to be the 49ers’ next kicker, according to NBC Sports’ Matt Maiocco. Though the veteran spent the offseason in San Francisco, the team will be looking for another option to succeed Moody.
11:50am CT: With two of his three field goals failing to split the uprights on Sunday, Jake Moody‘s 2024 struggles appear to have carried over into the 2025 season. As a result, the 49ers are moving on from the 2023 third-round pick, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Moody impressed as a rookie by converting 84.0% of his field goals and a league-high 60 extra points on 61 attempts. In 2024, he got off to a hot start with six field goals in Week 1 and a 93.9% conversion rate through five weeks before an ankle injury sidelined him for three games. The 25-year-old struggled from distance for the rest of the season, making just five of his 14 attempts from over 40 yards.
The 49ers explored other kicker options this offseason and signed six-year veteran Greg Joseph as potential competition, but new special teams coordinator Brant Boyer still expressed confidence in Moody. Joseph was cut before the preseason and Moody went six-for-seven on field goals and five-for-six on extra points to stave off any chance of a last-minute signing.
However, Moody underperformed in the 49ers’ regular season opener against the Seahawks with a 27-yard field goal clanging off the left upright and another attempt from 36 yards getting blocked. That kept the game close and forced San Francisco to score a touchdown with 1:34 remaining to win the game.
The 49ers don’t have another kicker on their active roster or practice squad, so they will need to make an addition before Week 2. Re-signing Joseph would be the team’s most obvious option. He worked out for the Bills and the Dolphins in late August but neither visit resulted in a deal. Several teams have kickers that could be poached from their practice squads – including Matt Prater in Buffalo and Riley Patterson in Miami – and a number of veteran free agents are also available.
49ers Unlikely To Pursue K Addition
Jake Moody remains in position to handle kicking duties for the 49ers in 2025. The former third-round pick’s up-and-down performances have continued this summer, leading some to speculate about a move being made at the position.
That should not be expected, however. In the wake of San Francisco’s preseason finale – a game in which Moody missed an extra point – head coach Kyle Shanahan was asked whether the team would consider bringing in competition ahead of Week 1. He did not entirely close the door to an addition, but Shanahan offered a vote of confidence for Moody.
“I don’t know. I thought he had one of the best games I’ve ever seen a guy have last week,” Shanahan said (via 49ers WebZone). “I know he missed an extra point today, which definitely doesn’t make us happy. But, we’ll see how it goes in the year. I know he is a talented kicker. I know he has done some really good things for us. He had a rough last seven games last year, but I think he’s had a really good offseason and a really good preseason also.”
To Shanahan’s point, Moody connected on a game-winning 59-yard field goal during the 49ers’ second preseason contest. The Michigan product showed his potential during a strong rookie campaign, but things did not go according to plan last season. Moody missed three games due to injury and upon returning he missed nine field goal attempts in a nine-game span. During the early portion of that inconsistent stretch, Shanahan voiced his support for the 25-year-old.
During the spring, though, veteran Greg Joseph was brought in as a potential Moody replacement. That proved to be short-lived, as Joseph was released earlier this month. Moody is thus the 49ers’ only kicker on the roster at this point. Things could change at the position over the coming days, but for now another year relying on him in the kicking game is in store.
49ers Add K Greg Joseph
The 49ers grabbed quite a few headlines when they used a third-round pick on Michigan kicker Jake Moody two years ago. Through two seasons, Moody has not exactly inspired confidence in his long-term prospects at the position. According to NFL agent Brett Tessler, San Francisco has signed his client, Greg Joseph, as some offseason competition for Moody on a one-year deal. 
Joseph has been in the NFL since 2018, playing for six teams in that time, including three in just the last year. Counting teams he rostered with but failed to play for, the 49ers will be his 12th team overall and his sixth since August 2024. His longest stay in one place came during a three-year stretch with the Vikings. from 2021-23.
Perhaps the reason why he’s struggled to stick anywhere, Joseph has often struggle with accuracy and consistency. While he made all 11 of his extra point attempts last season, he’s missed 16 in his career. He’s also only missed one field goal attempt inside of 40 yards, but outside of that, Joseph is a disappointing 44 of 68 (64.7%) — 27 of 38 (71.1%) from 40-49 yards and 17 of 30 (56.7%) from 50+.
The thing is, Moody hasn’t been too much better. The third-year kicker is much more reliable on extra points (90 of 92 in his career), but the 2024 season saw him struggle mightily from distance. Like Joseph, Moody only has one miss (out of 30 attempts) from inside the 30-yard line. As a rookie, Moody only had three misses from longer than that — two from 40-49 and one from 50+. In his sophomore campaign, though, Moody missed half of his 20 attempts from 40 yards or over — five from 40-49 and five from 50+. A high ankle sprain suffered in Week 5 of the season is thought to have made an impact on his sophomore slump.
Regardless, 49ers new special teams coordinator Brant Boyer has been encouraged by his small bit of offseason time spent with Moody. Per Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports, Boyer validated that he, too, had Moody as the No. 1 kicker in the 2023 draft class, saying, “He’s as talented of a kid as it gets.” He also feels the addition of long snapper Jon Weeks, who is set to replace Taybor Pepper at the position, will potentially help Moody, as well.
Moody was the highest kicker drafted since Roberto Aguayo went in the second round in 2016 and was only the fifth kicker since 2000 to be drafted in the third round or sooner. Investing that kind of draft capital in a specialist comes with an expectation of elite play, and Moody has failed to deliver on those expectations so far. San Francisco hasn’t given up on him yet, but it appears they’ll bring in some competition, at the very least, to motivate their struggling 25-year-old.
They already brought in undrafted kicker Kenneth Almendares, who capped off a seven-year collegiate career at Louisiana by winning the 2024 Lou Groza Award, given to the best kicker in the NCAA, for a rookie minicamp tryout, but apparently, no deal was reached. Now Joseph will have his turn to push Moody to retain his job.
49ers Invite K Kenneth Almendares To Rookie Minicamp
The 49ers have invited Louisiana Ragin’ Cajun kicker Kenneth Almendares to their rookie minicamp on a tryout basis, according to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Almendares won the Lou Groza Award as the top kicker in college football after a stellar 2024 season. He made 28 of his 31 field goal attempts with a long of 53 yards with conversions on all but one of his 47 extra points. The 25-year-old also earned first-team All-American and first-team All-Sun Belt honors.
If Almendares impresses in his tryout, he could have an opportunity to push Jake Moody – himself a Lou Groza winner at Michigan in 2021 – for the 49ers’ kicking job.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan said in early April that the team would bring in competition for Moody after a disappointing 2024 season, per ESPN’s Nick Wagoner. The 2023 third-round pick missed time with an ankle injury and converted just 24 of his 34 field goal attempts after making 21 of his 25 tries as a rookie.
Moody especially struggled from distance last year. Six of his nine attempts from 40 or more yards in 2023 went through the uprights, but only 10 of his 20 such attempts in 2024 did the same. Almendares, meanwhile, led the FBS in made field goals in 2024 with a 90.3% conversion rate that ranked first among all kickers with at least 25 attempts.