Minor NFL Transactions: 1/2/26
Friday’s minor moves and a couple standard gameday practice squad elevations for Saturday’s lineup:
Arizona Cardinals
- Placed on IR: WR Marvin Harrison Jr.
Carolina Panthers
- Elevated: CB David Long, LB Jacoby Windmon
Miami Dolphins
- Signed off Commanders’ practice squad: RB Donovan Edwards
- Placed on IR: TE Darren Waller
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed from practice squad: DT Taki Taimani
New Orleans Saints
- Signed from practice squad: WR Ronnie Bell, DE Fadil Diggs, WR Samori Toure
- Placed on IR: CB Michael Davis, TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden, TE Jack Stoll, WR Mason Tipton
After missing several games down the stretch of the season as he dealt with appendicitis, Harrison returned to play in the Cardinals’ past two games with far fewer snaps than his usual starter’s share. Ahead of the team’s regular season finale, Arizona has shut last year’s No. 4 overall pick down for the small remainder of the regular season.
The same is being done for Waller in Miami. The veteran tight end was able to make his return from retirement with the Dolphins after sitting out in 2024, but injury limited him to only nine contests. He was extremely effective in the short time he played (six touchdowns), but the injuries that bookended his short stints of activity will certainly be brought up in any contract negotiations for him in the future.
The Panthers are choosing not to activate guard Robert Hunt or wide receiver David Moore for tomorrow’s game. If Carolina is able to get into the postseason, an activation could still happen next week.
Diggs had already been elevated three times for New Orleans this season, so the team needed to sign him to the 53-man roster in order for him to appear in the regular season finale.
Saints Sign 16 UDFAs
After adding seven rookies in last weekend’s draft, the Saints have added a long list of undrafted free agents to their roster. The team announced the signing of 16 UDFAs:
- Kyler Baugh, DT (Minnesota)
- Millard Bradford, S (TCU)
- Matthew Hayball, P (Vanderbilt)
- Sincere Haynesworth, C (Tulane)
- Kyle Hergel, G (Boston College)
- Dallin Holker, TE (Colorado State)
- Jermaine Jackson, WR (Idaho)
- Trajan Jeffcoat, DE (Arkansas)
- Lawrence Johnson, DB (SE Missouri St.)
- Jacob Kibodi, RB (LA Lafayette)
- Nate Latu, DE (Oklahoma State)
- Nouri Nouili, G (Nebraska)
- Rico Payton, CB (Pittsburgh State)
- Kyle Sheets, WR (Slippery Rock)
- Isaiah Stalbird, LB (South Dakota State)
- Mason Tipton, WR (Yale)
Jermaine Jackson got $160K in guaranteed money to catch on with the Saints, per Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football. After finishing the 2022 campaign with more than 1,000 receiving yards, the Idaho product was limited to only 593 yards in 2023. However, he took on a larger special teams role, returning 18 kickoffs and 18 punts (including two punt returns for touchdowns). He’ll join a rookie receiver class that also includes fifth-round pick Bub Means and UDFA Kyle Sheets.
Isaiah Stalbird also got a significant payment from the Saints. Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston reports that the linebacker got a $10K signing bonus plus $100K in guaranteed salary. The SDSU standout finished his college career with 80 tackles, three sacks, and five pass breakups in 2023, and he also drew the eye of scouts during his Pro Day (which likely explains the lofty guarantees). The Saints used a fifth-round pick on Texas LB Jaylan Ford.