NFL Injury Updates: Wharton, Lions, Colts
Defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton suffered a hamstring injury in his Panthers debut and will miss time as a result.
Head coach Dave Canales said (via team reporter Darin Gantt) that Wharton’s absence would be “somewhere in the two- to four-week range.” That could preclude a move to injured reserve, as Wharton would be sidelined for a mandatory four week after his placement. Given the nature of his injury, the Panthers likely want to get him back on the practice field sooner as he ramps up to game readiness.
Wharton, 27, signed in Carolina this offseason for $15MM per year with the hopes of combining with Derrick Brown and A’Shawn Robinson to upgrade the Panthers’ interior pass rush. The former Chief put up a career-high 6.5 sacks in 2024 and added two more in the playoffs.
Until Wharton returns to the field, the Panthers will lean on a backups Bobby Brown and Jaden Crumedy. Rookie Cam Jackson should also get more opportunities after sitting as a healthy scratch in Week 1.
Here are several other injury updates from around the NFL:
- Lions offensive tackle Jamarco Jones, who was placed on injured reserve before Week 1, will be out for the season with an ankle injury, per Justin Rodgers of the Detroit Football Network. Safety Daniel Thomas, meanwhile, is planning to play through a broken hand, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
- The Texans‘ offense has taken another hit with center Jake Andrews sustaining a high ankle sprain, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. The veteran starter has an unclear return timeline with backup Jarrett Patterson set to take his place.
- Eagles running back Will Shipley sustained a fractured rib in Week 1, according to 97.5 The Fanatic’s Derrick Gunn, partially explaining the team’s recent acquisition of Tank Bigsby from the Jaguars. In addition to replacing Shipley as Saquon Barkley‘s primary backup, Bigsby will also be able to contribute as a returner on special teams.
- The Colts could be without multiple pieces of their secondary in Week 2, per Joel Erickson of the Indianapolis Star. Starter Charvarius Ward is still in concussion protocol, and third-year corner Jaylon Jones could land on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. Head coach Shane Steichen said that Jones would be “out for a while” and declined to put a timeline on his return.
- The Packers will be without a pair of starting offensive linemen on Thursday night against the Commanders. Left guard Aaron Banks and right tackle Zach Tom were both ruled out with 2024 first-round pick Jordan Morgan and rookie third-rounder Anthony Belton taking their respective places.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/6/25
With our first slate of Sunday games tomorrow, we’ll see our first slew of standard gameday practice squad elevations. Here are today’s minor transactions:
Atlanta Falcons
- Elevated: WR David Sills, RB Carlos Washington Jr.
Baltimore Ravens
- Elevated: TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: G Kendrick Green, K Matt Prater
Carolina Panthers
- Signed to active roster: DT Jaden Crumedy
- Placed on IR: CB Damarri Mathis (story)
Cincinnati Bengals
- Elevated: DT Mike Pennel
Denver Broncos
- Elevated: FB Adam Prentice, LB Levelle Bailey
Detroit Lions
- Signed to active roster: RB Jacob Saylors
- Elevated: LB Anthony Pittman
- Placed on IR: T Jamarco Jones
Green Bay Packers
- Elevated: CB Micah Robinson
Houston Texans
- Elevated: FB Jakob Johnson
Indianapolis Colts
- Elevated: LB Austin Ajiake, RB Ulysses Bentley IV
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Elevated: T Ricky Lee
Las Vegas Raiders
- Elevated: WR Alex Bachman, S Terrell Edmunds
Los Angeles Rams
- Elevated: RB Cody Schrader
Miami Dolphins
- Elevated: K Riley Patterson, RB Jeff Wilson
New England Patriots
- Signed to active roster: DT Cory Durden
- Elevated: CB Corey Ballentine, LB Mark Robinson
- Released: DT Jeremiah Pharms
New Orleans Saints
- Signed to active roster: DE Fadil Diggs
- Elevated: TE Jack Stoll, DE Jonah Williams
- Waived: QB Jake Haener
New York Giants
- Elevated: DT Elijah Garcia
New York Jets
- Elevated: WR Tyler Johnson
- Placed on IR: G Alijah Vera-Tucker (story)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Elevated: CB James Pierre
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: WR Russell Gage, LB Curtis Robinson
Seattle Seahawks
- Elevated: CB Shaquill Griffin, DT Quinton Bohanna
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Elevated: DT Adam Gotsis, G Michael Jordan
Tennessee Titans
- Elevated: C Corey Levin, DT Carlos Watkins
Washington Commanders
- Elevated: C Michael Deiter, WR Chris Moore
Each NFL team is granted up to two standard gameday practice squad elevations each game, allowing them to call up two members of their practice squad who are able to play in that weekend’s game. After the game is played, the elevated players revert back to the practice squad with no transaction required. This differs from the situation with somebody like Crumedy in Carolina. With Mathis’ placement on injured reserve opening a spot on the 53-man roster, Crumedy has been promoted from the practice squad to the active roster, where he will remain until he is cut or his contract expires.
Practice squad players can be called up a maximum of three times under a single practice squad contract. If a team wants to call up a player who’s been called up three times already, the team will usually sign the player to their active roster for a game, cut them after, and then sign them to a new practice squad contract. Under the new contract, the player would be eligible to be elevated for three more games.
As the Dolphins await Jason Sanders‘ return from IR, Patterson was named the winner of a kicking audition with three other veteran kickers. Miami will be able to elevate him three times but will have to promote him to the active roster for any games between that and Sanders’ activation. Similarly, Prater will likely be on the same plan in Buffalo.
Haener’s stint on the Saints’ active roster was short-lived as the team decides to move forward with only two quarterbacks. Spencer Rattler will handle starting duties to begin the campaign with second-round rookie Tyler Shough serving as his backup.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/20/25
Here are the latest reserve/futures deals from around the league:
Detroit Lions
- LB Abraham Beauplan
- C Kingsley Eguakun
- QB Jake Fromm
- LB Daron Gilbert
- S Erick Hallett
- OT Jamarco Jones
- WR Tom Kennedy
- DT Chris Smith
- S Loren Strickland
- CB Stantley Thomas-Oliver
- DE Isaac Ukwu
Houston Texans
- RB J.J. Taylor
Los Angeles Rams
- OL AJ Arcuri
- WR Quintez Cephus
- ILB Tony Fields II
- CB A.J. Green
- DT Jack Heflin
- S Tanner Ingle
- CB Shaun Jolly
- CB Cam Lampkin
- ILB Elias Neal
- DT David Olajiga
- WR Drake Stoops
- OLB Keir Thomas
- CB Charles Woods
Pittsburgh Steelers
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: 11/9/24
Today’s minor moves, including standard gameday practice squad elevations:
Arizona Cardinals
- Elevated: CB Divaad Wilson
Atlanta Falcons
- Elevated: WR Chris Blair, OLB Khalid Kareem
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: WR Tyrell Shavers, WR K.J. Hamler
- Placed on IR: LB Baylon Spector
Chicago Bears
- Activated from IR: G Ryan Bates (story)
- Elevated: T Jake Curhan, LB Carl Jones Jr.
Dallas Cowboys
- Elevated: CB Josh Butler, WR Jalen Cropper
Denver Broncos
- Activated from IR: C Luke Wattenberg
- Elevated: FB Michael Burton, LB Zach Cunningham
Detroit Lions
- Signed to active roster: LB Abraham Beauplan, OLB Al-Quadin Muhammad, TE Shane Zylstra
- Elevated: T Jamarco Jones, LB Zeke Turner
- Placed on IR: LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin
- Waived: DE Isaiah Thomas
Houston Texans
- Elevated: DT Tommy Togiai
Indianapolis Colts
- Elevated: WR Laquon Treadwell
Kansas City Chiefs
- Elevated: LB Cole Christiansen, WR Justyn Ross
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed to active roster: TE Tucker Fisk
- Elevated: CB Eli Apple, OLB Caleb Murphy
Miami Dolphins
- Waived: DT Brandon Pili
Minnesota Vikings
- Elevated: LS Jake McQuaide
New England Patriots
- Elevated: LB Joe Giles-Harris, TE Mitchell Wilcox
New Orleans Saints
- Elevated: WR Kevin Austin, WR Dante Pettis
New York Giants
- Elevated: LB Curtis Bolton, WR Isaiah Hodgins
New York Jets
- Elevated: K Spencer Shrader
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: S Tashaun Gipson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Activated from IR: LS Evan Deckers
- Elevated: WR Marquez Callaway, LB Vi Jones
- Waived: LS Zach Triner
Tennessee Titans
- Elevated: C Corey Levin, S Daryl Worley
Washington Commanders
- Signed to active roster: RB Chris Rodriguez Jr.
- Elevated: K Zane Gonzalez, DE Efe Obada
- Placed on IR: TE Colson Yankoff
Spector will miss at least the next four games as a result of the Bills’ move. He has remained a mainstay on special teams this year, having also done so in 2022 and ’23. The former seventh-rounder has made three starts on defense, however, so his absence will be felt moving forward. Linebacker has been a position hit hard by injuries this season, and Buffalo’s depth at the second level will now be tested even further.
Wattenberg had his 21-day practice window opened by the Broncos earlier this week, paving the way for today’s activation. The 27-year-old operated as the team’s starting center prior to going down after having won a summer competition for the gig with Alex Forsyth. Forsyth handled first-team duties over the past four games, drawing a superior PFF evaluation and therefore potentially playing his way into an extended look atop the depth chart. At a minimum, having Wattenberg back will give Denver – a team with three IR activations left – depth up front.
Wednesday NFL Transactions: NFC North
Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These Bears, Lions, Packers and Vikings moves are noted below.
Chicago Bears
Signed:
Claimed:
Placed on IR:
Signed to practice squad:
- LB Micah Baskerville, OL Theo Benedet, TE Stephen Carlson, DL Byron Cowart, OL Jake Curhan, LS Scott Daly, WR Collin Johnson, DB Quindell Johnson, LB Carl Jones, DL Jamree Kromah, DL Dashaun Mallory, DB Tarvarius Moore, QB Austin Reed, DB Reddy Stewart, DB Ro Torrence, WR Samori Toure
Detroit Lions
Signed:
Claimed:
- LB Trevor Nowaske,
Signed to practice squad:
- LB Mitchell Agude, C Kingsley Eguakun, QB Jake Fromm, RB Jermar Jefferson, T Jamarco Jones, WR Tom Kennedy, TE James Mitchell, S C.J. Moore, DL Pat O’Connor, WR Tim Patrick, DL Kyle Peko, WR Allen Robinson, DL Chris Smith, DL Isaac Ukwu, TE Shane Zylstra
Green Bay Packers
Signed:
Claimed:
Signed to practice squad:
- DL Deslin Alexandre, QB Sean Clifford, DL James Ester, K Alex Hale, WR Julian Hicks, OL Donovan Jennings, CB Kalen King, RB Nate McCrary, RB Ellis Merriweather, CB Robert Rochell, G/C Lecitus Smith
Minnesota Vikings
Signed:
Claimed:
Signed to practice squad:
- G Henry Byrd, DE Andre Carter II, RB Myles Gaskin, LB Dallas Grant, TE N’Keal Harry, WR Lucky Jackson, WR Jeshaun Jones, DeWayne McBride, S Bobby McCain, LB Bo Richter, OL Tyrese Robinson, WR Thayer Thomas, TE Robert Tonyan, CB Jaylin Williams, DL Jonah Williams, CB Nahshon Wright
Lions Get Down To 53 Players
The Lions used a couple of different methods to get their active roster to 53 players:
Released:
- CB Essang Bassey
- WR Daurice Fountain
- CB Javelin Guidry
- LB Joel Iyiegbuniwe
- T Jamarco Jones
- WR Tom Kennedy
- TE Sean McKeon
- S C.J. Moore
- DL Pat O’Connor
- DL Kyle Peko
- LB Ty Summers
Waived:
- OLB Mitchell Agude
- WR Maurice Alexander
- LB Abraham Beauplan
- DL Mathieu Betts
- G Jake Burton
- WR Jalon Calhoun
- OL Duke Clemens
- LS Scott Daly
- WR Kaden Davis
- C Kingsley Eguakun
- QB Jake Fromm
- RB Jake Funk
- S Chelen Garnes
- CB Steven Gilmore
- C Bryan Hudson
- RB Jermar Jefferson
- RB Zonovan Knight
- TE James Mitchell
- DL Chris Smith
- DL Isaac Ukwu
- CB Rachad Wildgoose
- TE Shane Zylstra
Waived/injured:
- DL David Bada
Placed on IR (designated for return):
Placed on reserve/PUP list:
The Lions released a lot more vested veterans than we typically see at this time in the year, perhaps a sign of the young talent on the roster. Peko seemed like a sure thing to make the roster after starting 10 games for the Titans in 2023.
Detroit will dismiss a couple of young rushers in Jefferson and Knight after the two failed to develop a significant role on the roster. Fromm was easily outshined in the preseason by an electric Hendon Hooker, who will take the backup job behind Jared Goff. Fromm continues to search for his place in the NFL after nearly winning it all at the collegiate level.
Martin, like Mahogany, will be able to return after four weeks, thanks to a new NFL rule that allows each team to place two players on IR before or at the roster cut deadline and designate them to return. Cornerback Emmanuel Moseley has the other designation.
Mahogany is the only drafted rookie not to make the initial 53, but he’ll stick around in Detroit. On the other side of things, the Lions kept three undrafted rookie signees on their active roster to start the season. Most notably Hogan Hatten will come in and operate as the team’s new long snapper. Safety Loren Strickland from Ball State and wide receiver Isaiah Williams from Illinois are the other two undrafted rookies to make the initial roster.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/11/24
Today’s minor transactions to wrap up the weekend:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: RB Spencer Brown, QB John Paddock
- Placed on IR: CB Harrison Hand, OLB Bralen Trice
- Waived: QB Nathan Rourke
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: P Jack Browning, WR Anthony Miller (story)
- Waived: G Tykeem Doss, LS Randen Plattner
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: G Jack Anderson, DT Walter Palmore, WR Tayvion Robinson, T Tyler Smith
- Waived (with injury designation): WR Deven Thompkins
- Waived: CB Willie Drew, K Harrison Mevis, RB Jaden Shirden
Chicago Bears
- Signed: DT Jaylon Hutchings
- Waived: RB Demetric Felton
Detroit Lions
- Signed: LB Abraham Beauplan, T Jamarco Jones
- Placed on IR: DL Nate Lynn
- Waived (with injury designation): T Connor Galvin
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Released: LB Ty Summers
New York Giants
- Waived: RB Jacob Saylors
New York Jets
- Signed: TE Neal Johnson
- Waived (with injury designation): LB Jimmy Ciarlo
Trice will unfortunately see his rookie season come to an end before it began. The third-round pick out of Washington exited Atlanta’s first preseason game with a knee injury that was later confirmed to be a torn ACL. Trice had been working his way into to outside linebacker rotation with the Falcons.
With Mevis getting cut, it seems the Panthers’ kicking battle has been decided. The rookie kicker, known as the “Thicker Kicker” at Missouri, was brought in to provide incumbent kicker Eddy Pineiro with competition for the job. Mevis’ departure leaves Pineiro as the only remaining kicker on the roster, putting an end to any competition.
Titans Release OL Jamarco Jones
The right tackle situation in Tennessee remains in flux, with one competitor for the starting role being let go. The Titans announced on Thursday that Jamarco Jones has been released. 
The 27-year-old was involved in a pair of scuffles during training camp practices this week, as noted (on Twitter) by ESPN’s Turron Davenport. Jones took part in a confrontation with Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons on Tuesday, then executed a crackback block earlier today. The dust-ups caused by his actions will see his time in Nashville cut short with one year remaining on his contract.
Jones was due $2.45MM this season, but moving on post-June 1 will allow the Titans to see $2MM in cap savings. That financial benefit will be balanced against the loss of a potential right tackle starter to open the season. The gambling suspension handed down to Nicholas Petit-Frere will leave him unavailable for the first six weeks of the campaign. Jones, who started seven of his 36 career games with the Seahawks, had been receiving first-team reps during practice as a contender to fill in for Petit-Frere in the short term.
That will no longer be the case, but Tennessee does have recent signing Chris Hubbard available to win the RT job. The former Steeler and Brown could have a clear path to the starting spot with first-round rookie Peter Skoronski being used at guard and Jones now no longer in the picture. The latter will need to move quickly to find a new home with training camps well underway.
Jones did not play in 2022, after spending much of the season on IR. That missed action, coupled with the reason for his Titans release, will surely hinder his market as a free agent. Finding an opportunity as a swing tackle will likely be the best-case scenario for the former fifth-rounder. The Titans, meanwhile, will move forward with what they hope will be more orderly practice sessions and a sufficient number of contingences regarding their offensive line situation.
Latest On Peter Skoronski, Titans’ O-Line
Entering Week 1, the Titans will have four new offensive line starters. The team’s plan was only to make three changes up front, but Nicholas Petit-Frere‘s six-game gambling suspension will force a temporary change at right tackle.
Andre Dillard is expected to start at left tackle, seeing as the ex-Eagles first-round pick signed a three-year, $29MM deal. Tennessee will also return 17-game guard starter Aaron Brewer, but the fourth-year blocker — who received a second-round RFA tender — confirmed earlier this offseason the team is planning to slide him to center. This will leave three spots open, with two likely starters’ positions to be determined.
UFA addition Daniel Brunskill has experience at both guard and tackle, and TennesseeTitans.com’s Jim Wyatt notes the ex-49er starter/swingman will be an option to start the season at right tackle. First-round pick Peter Skoronski also fits this profile, though he has less experience at guard. But the acclaimed Northwestern tackle is also in the mix to fill in for Petit-Frere to start the season.
The plan for Skoronski appeared to be a shift to guard. The No. 11 overall pick spent most of his offseason working at guard, per Wyatt, though the Titans have also gave him tackle reps during their offseason program. A number of NFL evaluators viewed Skoronski as a clear-cut guard candidate, but the former Big Ten blocker did not play guard in college.
It would be an interesting assignment for Skoronski to start the season at right tackle before kicking inside. Tennessee might aim to simplify the top prospect’s rookie-year workload by stationing him at guard only during training camp, but for now, an O-line configuration with Dillard and Skoronski as the bookends remains in play. Regardless of where Skoronski lines up, the team expects him to start immediately.
Jamarco Jones, sixth-round pick Jaelyn Duncan and 2022 UDFA Andrew Rupcich as other options to fill in for the suspended Petit-Frere, per Wyatt. A former Seahawk, Jones has made seven NFL starts over his three-year career. He spent time at tackle in Seattle but did not play last season. After Jones lost the Titans’ left guard competition to Brewer, he spent most of last season on IR. Duncan spent most of his time in College Park at the Terrapins’ left tackle, while Rupcich would be a long shot here, as he joined Jones in not seeing any game action last season.
Tennessee has struggled to fill its right tackle post over the past few seasons. After not picking up Jack Conklin‘s fifth-year option and then letting him walk in 2020, the team has used three different primary starters there over the past three years. Isaiah Wilson became one of this era’s biggest draft busts, playing all of four career snaps, while 2021 second-round pick Dillon Radunz was unable to win the job during the 2021 or ’22 offseasons. (Dennis Kelly and David Quessenberry, respectively, were the Titans’ right tackle starters in 2020 and ’21.) Radunz, who has also spent time at guard with the Titans, would have seemingly been an option to step in for Petit-Frere. But the North Dakota State alum is still rehabbing the ACL tear he suffered in December. Radunz did not participate in the team’s offseason workouts, Wyatt adds.
The Titans released cornerstones Taylor Lewan and Ben Jones this offseason, doing so a year after cutting Rodger Saffold. Tennessee let four-year guard starter Nate Davis walk in free agency in March. Skoronski will be the linchpin of GM Ran Carthon‘s overhaul effort, though the team will not have a chance to see the unit at full strength until Petit-Frere’s October return.