Minor NFL Transactions: 12/24/25
NFL minor moves this Christmas Eve:
Arizona Cardinals
- Activated from IR: DE L.J. Collier
Atlanta Falcons
- Designated for return from IR: CB Clark Phillips
Cincinnati Bengals
- Designated for return from IR: C Matt Lee
Cleveland Browns
- Signed off Steelers’ practice squad: G Kendrick Green
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed from practice squad: CB Corey Ballentine
- Elevated: LB Justin Barron
Detroit Lions
- Elevated: OL Kingsley Eguakun, TE Giovanni Ricci
Indianapolis Colts
- Designated for return from IR: WR Ashton Dulin
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed from practice squad: S Terrell Edmunds, WR Shedrick Jackson
Los Angeles Rams
- Designated for return from IR: CB Roger McCreary
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed from practice squad: G Henry Byrd
- Elevated: LB Sione Takitaki
- Placed on IR: TE Gavin Bartholomew, C Ryan Kelly
New York Jets
- Claimed off waivers (from Rams): S Chris Smith
Washington Commanders
- Signed from practice squad: QB Sam Hartman
- Elevated: DT Ricky Barber, WR River Cracraft
A month after coming off injured reserve, Kelly is headed right back to the injured list. Kelly was initially placed on IR after two concussions limited him to only three games in the early stages of the season. It is unfortunately a third concussion this season — and the sixth of his career — that will end his 2025 campaign. This will conclude the first half of Kelly’s two-year deal with the Vikings, who will once again turn to backup Michael Jurgens in his absence.
Also in Minnesota, Byrd’s contract to join the 53-man roster will not just be a two-week deal. According to a post from the X account of his agency, JL Sports, Byrd is joining the active roster on a two-year contract.
In Detroit, these will be the third and final standard gameday elevations for Eguakun and Ricci. If the Lions want to see them in the regular season finale, they will need to sign them to the 53-man roster. That’s what Dallas is doing with Ballentine, who exhausted his third elevation last week.
Wednesday NFL Transactions: NFC East
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 Cowboys, Commanders, Giants and Eagles moves are noted below.
Dallas Cowboys
Signed:
- OL Hakeem Adeniji, CB C.J. Goodwin
Claimed:
- DB Twikweze Bridges (from Chargers), DB Reddy Steward (from Vikings)
Waived:
- CB Andrew Booth, CB Zion Childress
Placed on IR:
- RB Phil Mafah (story), Caelen Carson
Signed to practice squad:
- LB Justin Barron, WR Jalen Brooks, DT Earnest Brown, G Saahdiq Charles, T Geron Christian, S Alijah Clark, WR Jalen Cropper, RB Malik Davis, TE Rivaldo Fairweather, TE Princeton Fant, QB Will Grier, CB Kemon Hall, WR Traeshon Holden, LB Buddy Johnson, DE Dayo Odeleye, CB Robert Rochell
New York Giants
Claimed:
- DB Beau Brade (from Ravens), DB Rico Payton (from Saints)
Released:
Signed to practice squad:
- DL Elijah Chatman, OLB Trace Ford, OLB Tomon Fox, DL Elijah Garcia, OL Bryan Hudson, WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey, OL Jake Kubas, S Raheem Layne, K Jude McAtamney, RB Dante Miller, DL Jordon Riley, WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette, CB Dee Williams
Philadelphia Eagles
Signed:
Claimed:
- C Willie Lampkin (from Rams)
Waived:
Signed to practice squad:
- LB Chance Campbell, WR Elijah Cooks, RB Audric Estime, G Kenyon Green, TE E.J. Jenkins, CB Brandon Johnson, OLB Patrick Johnson, TE Cameron Latu, WR Terrace Marshall, QB Kyle McCord, CB Parry Nickerson, T Hollin Pierce, OLB Antwaun Powell-Ryland, CB Eli Ricks, S Andre Sam
Washington Commanders
Signed to practice squad:
- DT Ricky Barber, WR Ja’Corey Brooks, TE Lawrence Cager, DT Sheldon Day, C Michael Deiter, CB Antonio Hamilton, QB Sam Hartman, DE Jalyn Holmes, WR Jacoby Jones, DE T.J. Maguranyanga, S Rob McDaniel, G Timothy McKay, WR Chris Moore, CB Car’lin Vigers
Deuce Vaughn, La’el Collins Among Cowboys’ Cuts; Shavon Revel Lands On NFI List
Here are the Cowboys’ moves to pare their roster down to 53:
Released:
- OL Hakeem Adeniji
- DL Earnest Brown
- T Saahdiq Charles
- T Geron Christian
- OL La’el Collins
- CB C.J. Goodwin
- QB Will Grier
- CB Kemon Hall
- LB Darius Harris
- LB Buddy Johnson
- CB Israel Mukuamu
- CB Michael Ojemudia
- CB Robert Rochell
Waived:
- DT Tommy Akingbesote
- LB Justin Barron
- WR Jalen Brooks
- S Alijah Clark
- WR Jalen Cropper
- RB Malik Davis
- TE Rivaldo Fairweather
- TE Princeton Fant
- WR Traeshon Holden
- CB Troy Pride
- S Mike Smith
- RB Deuce Vaughn
- DE Tyrus Wheat
Placed on IR (return designation):
- DE Payton Turner
- WR Jonathan Mingo
Placed on reserve/PUP list:
Placed on reserve/NFI list:
- CB Shavon Revel
Revel’s timetable has remained murky, but this placement offers some clarity. The third-round rookie cornerback will miss at least four games after being transferred from the active/NFI list to the reserve/NFI list. While the Cowboys had aimed for Revel to play in September, his father’s comment about the ACL rehab effort pointed to a slightly lengthier recovery timetable. Revel suffered the tear in September 2024; he will now be out more than a year since the injury.
Vaughn has been with the Cowboys since they drafted him in the 2023 sixth round, but the team overhauled its backfield this offseason. Dallas signed Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders before drafting two RBs (Jaydon Blue, Phil Mafah). Vaughn could be retained on a practice squad deal, but teams cannot begin assembling their taxi squads until Wednesday.
Overshown is espected to miss most of the season after suffering a major knee injury in Week 14. Turner suffered broken ribs, per ESPN’s Todd Archer. While Turner and Mingo will count against Dallas’ in-season injury activations, dropping the number to six, Mafah will be carried on the active roster and then placed on IR.
Cowboys Add Nine UDFAs
The Cowboys’ rookie minicamp began on Friday. The group of players taking part included these undrafted free agents:
- Justin Barron, LB (Syracuse)
- Zion Childress, DB (Kentucky)
- Alijah Clark, DB (Syracuse)
- Rivaldo Fairweather, TE (Auburn)
- Bruce Harmon, DB (Stephen F. Austin)
- Traeshon Holden, WR (Oregon)
- Josh Kelly, WR (Texas Tech)
- Tyler Neville, TE (Virginia Tech)
- Mike Smith, DB (Eastern Kentucky)
Clark received a notable commitment from the Cowboys to take part in their offseason program. Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports his deal contains a $25K signing bonus in addition to $234K in guaranteed base salary. A transfer from Rutgers following his freshman season, Clark racked up 183 tackles and nine pass breakups during his time at Syracuse.
Barron began his college career as a receiver before transitioning to defense in 2020. Over the remainder of his time with the Orange, he saw time at safety and slot corner in addition to linebacker. The 6-5, 224-pounder posted at least 90 tackles over each of the past two years and his special teams experience will give him a strong chance to earn a roster spot.
Before and after the draft, receiver has been named as a position of need for the Cowboys. Holden saw his production increase every year during his college career, which included time at Alabama from 2020-22. At 6-2, he will look to provide the Cowboys with size at the WR spot if he makes the team. Kelly – who played at Fresno State and Washington State before his single campaign with the Red Raiders – topped 1,000 yards in 2024 and will aim to parlay that production into a roster spot this summer.