Minor NFL Transactions: 10/3/25
Here are Friday’s minor moves:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Claimed off waivers (from 49ers): DT Jordan Jefferson
- Waived: DT Howard Cross III
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed from practice squad: WR Alex Bachman
- Placed on IR: OLB Brennan Jackson
The Bengals are the second team to claim Jefferson this year. A 2024 fourth-round pick out of LSU, Jefferson couldn’t make it to Year 2 in Jacksonville and was waived in final roster cuts. Cincinnati tried to claim him then, badly needing improved depth on their defensive line at the time, but San Francisco had higher priority. When the Niners waiving him yesterday, the Bengals got a second chance to claim him.
Jackson is dealing with a foot injury that will take at least four weeks to come back from, making him an easy candidate for injured reserve.
49ers Sign QB Adrian Martinez From Practice Squad
The 49ers signed quarterback Adrian Martinez to their active roster from the practice squad on Thursday, per Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area.
For the third time in four weeks, Martinez will serve as the backup to Mac Jones, who is starting once again in place of an injured Brock Purdy.
Martinez was elevated from the practice squad in Weeks 2 and 3, and the 49ers had the option to use up his third and final elevation for Thursday’s game. Instead, they signed him to the 53-man roster, which will ensure he is available to play as long as Purdy is sidelined after his recent setback.
Jones played every snap in his two starts, winning both games with a total of 563 passing yards and four touchdowns. Turnovers are somewhat of a concern – Jones threw one interception and fumbled twice (one lost) – but he would have to implode for the 49ers to put in Martinez for his NFL debut. Instead, the team will be hoping that Martinez only takes the field if they have built up a massive lead.
A former starter at Nebraska, Martinez spent his senior year at Kansas State, where he tossed six touchdowns vs. one interception. He also had a standout performance while running the ball, collecting another 627 yards and 10 touchdowns. He joined the Lions after going undrafted in 2023, and he later won UFL MVP before winning the league championship with the Birmingham Stallions. He spent the 2024 season on the Jets practice squad and was among the team’s final cuts following the 2025 preseason. He caught on with the 49ers practice squad in late August.
The 49ers offense will also be without wide receivers Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings on Thursday night, giving them an uphill battle against a strong Rams defense on a short week.
Joining Martinez from the practice squad will be defensive end Trevis Gipson and wide receiver Malik Turner, who have been called up as standard gameday practice squad elevations. To make room for Martinez on the 53-man roster, defensive tackle Jordan Jefferson was waived, and to fill Martinez’s open spot on the practice squad, the team signed cornerback Derrick Canteen.
Failed Waiver Claims Following Roster Cut Deadline
Following every team’s efforts to get down from a 90-man training camp roster to a 53-man active roster for the regular season, waiver wire claims were processed on non-vested players that were cut. There were a few players who drew more interest than others. We’ve already seen the breakdown of claims for former Ravens cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis and former Cardinals cornerback Jaylon Jones, so here’s a look at a couple more. 
The Ravens also waived Beau Brade, an undrafted safety out of nearby Maryland who made the team as a rookie last year. Mostly a special teamer throughout his year in Baltimore, Brade fell victim to an influx of unexpected talent from the team’s new undrafted class as rookie free agents as Keyon Martin and Reuben Lowery earned spots over Armour-Davis and himself. Per ESPN’s Field Yates, the Jaguars were interested in bringing Brade to Duval, but the Giants had the higher waiver priority.
Armour-Davis wasn’t the only player the Titans were awarded off waivers. Tennessee also ended up claiming cornerback Samuel Womack fresh off his dismissal from Indianapolis. A fifth-round pick out of Toledo in 2022, Womack started eight games for the Colts last year after getting waived by the 49ers in 2024’s final roster cuts. Tennessee was awarded the 26-year-old this year, although the Browns also put in a claim, according to Garafolo.
Garafolo pointed out one more such instance with former Jaguars defensive tackle Jordan Jefferson. A fourth-round pick out of LSU last year, Jefferson was waived by Jacksonville after being inactive for nine games his rookie year. The Bengals, who desperately need improvement on the defensive line this season, put in a claim for Jefferson to come to Cincinnati, but the 49ers held a higher waiver priority and claimed him for themselves.
Yates also brought up another, noting that linebacker Cam Jones had a claim from the Colts before being awarded to the Jets, while ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that former Eagles offensive guard Trevor Keegan was awarded to the Cowboys due to their waiver priority over the Chargers.
Similarly, when the Giants waived fan favorite backup quarterback Tommy DeVito, they hoped that they would be able to bring him back to their practice squad, per Geoff Magliocchetti of Sports Illustrated. Instead, the Patriots claimed him off waivers, and now Paul Schwartz of The New York Post reports that the Giants will not sign a quarterback to practice squad, as a result. It’s just as well, considering the team is carrying three passers on the active roster.
Wednesday NFL Transactions: NFC West
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 49ers, Cardinals, Rams and Seahawks moves are noted below.
Arizona Cardinals
Signed to practice squad:
- WR Andre Baccellia, LB Elliott Brown, OL Jeremiah Byers, RB Michael Carter, OL Jake Curhan, TE Josiah Deguara, WR Simi Fehoko, DL Anthony Goodlow, CB Darren Hall, OL Sincere Haynesworth, OL Nick Leverett, T Roy Mbaeteka WR Tejhaun Palmer, DL Elijah Simmons
Los Angeles Rams
Signed to practice squad:
- OL A.J. Arcuri, OL Wyatt Bowles, WR Tru Edwards, CB A.J. Green, DT Jack Heflin, S Tanner Ingle, CB Cam Lampkin, OL Dylan McMahon, OLB Jamil Muhammad, ILB Elias Neal, DT Bill Norton, WR Brennan Presley, TE Mark Redman, RB Ronnie Rivers, RB Cody Schrader, S Nate Valcarcel
San Francisco 49ers
Signed:
- WR Russell Gage
Claimed:
- DT Jordan Jefferson (from Jaguars)
Released from IR (via settlement):
- RB Corey Kiner
Signed to practice squad:
- CB Eli Apple, WR Junior Bergen, DL William Bradley-King, DB Derrick Canteen, WR Robbie Chosen, DL Trevis Gipson, LB Jalen Graham, OL Drake Nugent, LB Curtis Robinson, WR Malik Turner, DL Sebastian Valdez, TE Brayden Willis, OL Nick Zakelj
Seattle Seahawks
Signed:
Claimed:
- CB Derion Kendrick (from Rams)
Released:
Signed to practice squad:
- DT Quinton Bohanna, WR Tyrone Broden, DT Anthony Campbell, DE Jalan Gaines, WR Courtney Jackson, CB Shemar Jean-Charles, T Amari Kight, G Sataoa Laumea, C Federico Maranges, QB Adrian Martinez, RB Damien Martinez, LB Patrick O’Connell, NT Brandon Pili, S Jerrick Reed, LB Jamie Sheriff, DT J.R. Singleton, RB Anthony Tyus III, WR Ricky White, RB Jacardia Wright
Jaguars Work Roster Down To 53
Here are the transactions that set the initial 53-man roster for the Jaguars’ new rookie head coach/general manager duo in 2025:
Released:
- OL Tremayne Anchrum
- WR Trenton Irwin
- TE Quintin Morris
- S Daniel Thomas
- QB John Wolford
Waived:
- TE Shawn Bowman
- WR Chandler Brayboy
- WR Cam Camper
- DT James Carpenter
- OL Jerome Carvin
- DE Myles Cole
- LB Branson Combs
- TE John Copenhaver
- DE Ethan Downs
- OL Javon Foster
- RB Kevin Harris
- QB Seth Henigan
- TE Patrick Herbert
- RB Ja’Quinden Jackson
- DT Jordan Jefferson
- DT Tyler Lacy
- WR Darius Lassiter
- T Ricky Lee
- CB Keni-H Lovely
- CB Jabbar Muhammed
- LB Chad Muma
- CB De’Antre Prince
- DT Keivie Rose
- S Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig
- WR Dorian Singer
- CB Doneiko Slaughter
- CB Aydan White
- OL Sal Wormley
Waived/injured:
- WR Eli Pancol
Placed on IR (designated for return):
- LB Jalen McLeod
Placed on IR:
The placement of Ransaw on injured reserve is definitely a shock. The third-round rookie out of Tulane switched from cornerback to safety in Jacksonville and was in a crowded group of defenders vying for a roster spot. Even though Ransaw was working through a lower-body injury throughout training camp, he was still expected to make the 53-man roster. Instead, his rookie season is over before it got a chance to begin. His placement on IR also didn’t end up helping Thomas or Silmon-Craig, who were both in that group pushing for the active roster.
Sixth-round pick McLeod also found his way to an injured list, but unlike Ransaw, McLeod will be able to return at some point into the season, after missing at least four games. He’s also dealing with a nondescript lower-body injury.
This cut day was a rough one for the 2024 NFL Draft class in Jacksonville. Cole, Foster, Jefferson, and Prince were all taken in last year’s class and have been waived before their sophomore campaigns. Muma and Lacy are other recent draft picks that new general manager James Gladstone didn’t keep around.
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/13/24
Front offices around the NFL continue to chip away at their draft pick signings. That was no exception today, as a number of teams inked players to rookie contracts:
Cincinnati Bengals
- DE Cedric Johnson (sixth round, Mississippi)
Indianapolis Colts
- OT Matt Goncalves (third round, Pittsburgh)
- C Tanor Bortolini (fourth round, Wisconsin)
Jacksonville Jaguars
- CB Jarrian Jones (third round, Florida State)
- OT Javon Foster (fourth round, Missouri)
- DT Jordan Jefferson (fourth round, LSU)
- CB Deantre Prince (fifth round, Ole Miss)
- RB Keilan Robinson (fifth round, Texas)
- K Cam Little (sixth round, Arkansas)
- DE Myles Cole (seventh round, Texas Tech)
New York Jets
- RB Braelon Allen (fourth round, Wisconsin)
- QB Jordan Travis (fifth round, Florida State)
- RB Isaiah Davis (fifth round, South Dakota State)
- CB Qwan’tez Stiggers (fifth round, Toronto Argonauts)
- S Jaylen Key (seventh round, Alabama)
Philadelphia Eagles
- EDGE Jalyx Hunt (third round, Houston Christian)
- RB Will Shipley (fourth round, Clemson)
- WR Ainias Smith (fourth round, Texas A&M)
Seattle Seahawks
- TE AJ Barner (fourth round, Michigan)
- CB Nehemiah Pritchett (fifth round, Auburn)
- G Sataoa Laumea (sixth round, Utah)
- CB DJ James (sixth round, Auburn)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- TE Devin Culp (seventh round, Washington)
NFC South Notes: Bucs, Panthers, Saints
The NFL is a grown man’s league, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have taken notice.
First-round receiver Mike Evans and second-round tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins both stand 6 feet 5, imposing figures amongst their defensive counterparts. Both players have basketball backgrounds. As the Tampa Bay Times’ Rick Stroud writes, the Bucs and coach Lovie Smith like their basketball players.
“My experience is that anybody can’t go out there and play basketball,” Smith said. “It takes a good athlete with quickness, size, vertical (jump). Normally, that translates to getting good production on the football field.”
Stroud points out a number of former hoopsters who excelled in pro football, including Tony Gonzalez, Antonio Gates and Jimmy Graham. Getting position on your defender in football is similar to boxing out for a rebound in basketball, and it looks like the Bucs are hoping to cash in on the trend.
More from the NFC South below…
- With a potential opening at punt returner, Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times reports the Bucs gave third-round pick Charles Sims, sixth-round pick Robert Herron and undrafted receiver Solomon Patton a shot to impress coaches at Saturday’s minicamp.
- The Panthers are expected to sign 6-foot-8, 320-pound tackle David Foucault, says Joseph Parson of the Charlotte Observer. The University of Montreal product impressed during the two-day rookie minicamp and figures to be the second Canadian lineman to sign with the team after coming to camp on a tryout basis.
- The signing of former Browns receiver Greg Little has been discussed by Panthers brass, but the team is not planning to sign him at this point, two sources told Person.
- There’s no denying the talent of Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy, says Jonathan Jones of the Observer. But, his recent actions have his future in question.
- In a heartwarming story, Saints coach Sean Payton announced the team signed former Tulane safety Devon Walker, who was paralyzed from the neck down in 2012, Andrew Lopez of The Times-Picayune writes.
- After spending 2013 in the Arena Football League, former LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson was on hand at Saints minicamp Saturday as a tryout invitee, Lopez reports.
Saints Notes: Cooks, Walker, LSU Players
The Saints traded up in the first round to acquire Oregon State wide receiver Brandin Cooks, and the receiver sees himself fitting well into the team’s offense. Cooks speaking to the media can be seen in this video from NOLA.com. Cooks compares the Saints’ spread offense to his college system, and talks about his desire to compete and bring added value on special teams.
Here are some other notes from the Saints:
- Saints’ defensive coordinator Rob Ryan spoke highly of the team’s top pick Cooks, writes Larry Holder of NOLA.com (via Twitter). “Anytime a player is hand picked by [head coach] Sean Payton that’s a receiver, you better believe he’s going to be something,” said Ryan.
- The Saints have announced that they have signed former Tulane safety Devon Walker, according to the team’s official Twitter account. Walker was a four-year player at Tulane, before he injured his neck making a tackle in the second game of his senior season, according to NewOrleansSaints.com.“When Devon got hurt, his football career was just starting to take off after three years of hard work,” Payton said. “Despite the devastating injury he suffered, Devon refuses to let that define him. He is an outstanding young man, who is not only an inspiration to his coaches and teammates at Tulane, but to all of us. Devon’s character, determination, intelligence and work ethic are everything that we look for in a New Orleans Saint when we sign a player. This is the least we can do to recognize Devon and these attributes that we want all of our players to have.”
- Aside from all of the rookies, the Saints have invited former LSU standouts Jordan Jefferson and Jacob Hester to try out for the team, according to Christopher Dabe of NOLA.com. Jefferson went undrafted as a quarterback in 2012. Hester was a running back and fullback for the Chargers and Broncos, last playing a game in 2012. The 29-year old former Tiger was part of LSU’s 2007 national championship team.