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.
Commanders To Start QB Josh Johnson In Week 17
With Jayden Daniels shut down for the season and Marcus Mariota dealing with hand and quad injuries, the Commanders will call on Josh Johnson to start on Christmas, per The Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala.
Johnson, 39, has appeared in three games this year, though he threw his first pass of the season on Saturday night against the Eagles. After Mariota went down on Saturday night, Johnson completed five of his nine passes for 43 yards and an interception to close out the game. He will, undoubtedly, be looking for better results in a full game.
Jeff Driskel, who re-signed with the Commanders on Monday, will back up Johnson, while Sam Hartman will be signed from the practice squad to serve as the emergency third quarterback on game day. (A quarterback elevated from the practice squad cannot be the emergency QB3, so Hartman had to be signed to the active roster to fill that role.)
In theory, Dallas’ bottom-ranked pass defense could be a relatively welcoming matchup for Johnson’s first start since 2021. However, the Commanders’ passing offense has been one of the league’s worst, due in large part to injuries that are still taking their toll. Johnson will be Washington’s third different starting quarterback this year with a short-than-usual week between games, so success is no guarantee.
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
Commanders Make 30 Cuts, Place G Sam Cosmi On PUP
The Commanders made a massive wave of roster moves this afternoon, releasing 30 players and placing starting right guard Sam Cosmi on the reserve/physically unable to perform list, per a team announcement.
Cosmi, 26, was viewed as a long shot to be ready for Week 1 after tearing his ACL in January. The fifth-year lineman will be sidelined for at least four games with veteran Nick Allegretti likely to start in the interim.
Here are the rest of Washington’s moves:
Waived
- RB Kazmeir Allen
- LB Kam Arnold
- DT Ricky Barber
- WR Ja’Corey Brooks
- TE Lawrence Cager
- RB Demetric Felton
- QB Sam Hartman
- DE Andre Jones Jr.
- WR Jacoby Jones
- DE T.J. Maguranyanga
- WR Tay Martin
- S Rob McDaniel
- G Timothy McKay
- S Ben Nikkel
- T Foster Sarell
- TE Cole Turner
- CB Car’lin Vigers
Released
- WR River Cracraft
- DT Carl Davis
- DT Sheldon Day
- C Michael Deiter
- DE Clelin Ferrell
- T Bobby Hart
- CB Antonio Hamilton
- DE Jalyn Holmes
- WR Chris Moore
- WR K.J. Osborn
- CB Bobby Price
- LB Duke Riley
- S Daryl Worley
Hartman, who signed with the Commanders as an undrafted free agent in 2024, was never going to make the roster ahead of veterans Marcus Mariota and Josh Johnson. He is likely to return to Washington’s practice squad if he clears waivers, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Felton is another practice squad candidate, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic. He hasn’t appeared in a regular-season game since 2022 and most recently played for the UFL’s Birmingham Stallions.
Headlining Washington’s veteran cuts is Ferrell, who started 10 games for the Commanders in 2024. He never lived up to his draft billing as the No. 4 pick in 2019 and will now be looking for his fourth team in as many years. H0lmes and Day both had rotational defensive line roles last season, while Deiter started two games as the backup center but lost his spot this year.
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/28/25
Today’s reserve/futures contracts:
Atlanta Falcons
Buffalo Bills
- WR Tyrell Shavers, WR Jalen Virgil
Cleveland Browns
Washington Commanders
- RB Kazmeir Allen, DT Viliami Fehoko Jr., G Julian Good-Jones, QB Sam Hartman, TE Tyree Jackson, DE Andre Jones Jr., WR Chris Moore, S Ben Nikkel, TE Cole Turner
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/11/24
Friday’s practice squad moves in the NFL:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: WR Chris Moore
- Released: WR Dan Chisena
New England Patriots
- Signed: LS Tucker Addington, DT Marcus Harris
Washington Commanders
- Signed: QB Sam Hartman
Both Moore and Hartman were released/waived from their respective 53-man rosters this week. Other teams would’ve had the opportunity to claim Hartman off of the waiver wire, but ultimately unclaimed, he returns to Washington on the practice squad.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/10/24
Thursday’s minor moves, including elevations for the opening game of Week 6:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed to active roster: CB Tony Brown
Green Bay Packers
- Signed (off Falcons’ practice squad): TE John FitzPatrick
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed to active roster: DT Matthew Butler
New England Patriots
- Signed (off Raiders’ practice squad): C Ben Brown
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: DT Evan Anderson, S Jaylen Mahoney
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed to active roster: CB Artie Burns
- Activated from PUP list: DT Cameron Young
- Placed on IR: OLB Uchenna Nwosu (story)
- Waived: G McClendon Curtis
- Elevated: OLB Jamie Sheriff, S Ty Okada
Washington Commanders
- Waived: QB Sam Hartman
Commanders Place QB Marcus Mariota On IR
The Commanders will be starting rookie No. 2 overall pick Jayden Daniels at quarterback to open the season in Tampa Bay tomorrow. Behind Daniels, though, Washington had to make a couple of roster moves at quarterback. Prior to tomorrow’s game, the Commanders announced that they would place Marcus Mariota on injured reserve while signing practice squad passer Sam Hartman to the active roster. 
Mariota was set to enter the season as the veteran backup option behind the team’s rookie starter. Today’s transaction, though, means that the former No. 2 overall pick in 2015 will be out for at least the next four games. With Mariota out, the new veteran backup with starting experience is Jeff Driskel.
A former sixth-round pick for the 49ers back in 2016, Driskel has never entered the season as a starter, but he has notched 12 starts in 24 game appearances over his eight years in the NFL coming off the bench. Over that time, Driskel has a record as a starter of 1-10, but he has shown some efficiency with a 16-10 touchdown-to-interception ratio in his career.
Behind Driskel, the newly promoted Hartman will serve as the emergency QB3. A six-year college quarterback who transferred from Wake Forest to Notre Dame for his final year of collegiate ball, Hartman overcame a nagging injury history to become a successful starter for both the Demon Deacons and the Fighting Irish. He signed with Washington as an undrafted free agent and failed to make the initial 53-man roster but was signed to the practice squad shortly after being waived.
Joining Hartman off the practice squad, linebacker Nick Bellore and defensive tackle Sheldon Day will be promoted as standard gameday practice squad elevations for tomorrow. Unlike Hartman, Bellore and Day will revert back to the practice squad after the team’s matchup with the Buccaneers.
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 Commanders, Cowboys, Eagles and Giants moves are noted below.
Dallas Cowboys
Signed:
Claimed:
Signed to practice squad:
- T Josh Ball, CB Josh Butler, WR Jalen Cropper, RB Malik Davis, DT Denzel Daxon, TE Princeton Fant, CB Kemon Hall, WR Kelvin Harmon, LB Darius Harris, S Emany Johnson, DE Carl Lawson, LB Brock Mogensen, OL Dakoda Shepley, LB Nick Vigil
New York Giants
Signed:
Claimed:
Waived:
Waived/injured:
- DT Ryder Anderson, CB Mario Goodrich, EDGE Ovie Oghoufo
Placed on IR:
Signed to practice squad:
- WR Miles Boykin, CB Art Green, WR Isaiah Hodgins, FB Jakob Johnson, C Jimmy Morrisey, LB Ty Summers
Philadelphia Eagles
Signed:
Claimed:
Signed to practice squad:
- OL Nick Gates
Washington Commanders
Signed:
Claimed:
Signed to practice squad:
- RB Kazmeir Allen, CB Chigozie Anusiem, G Julian Good-Jones, QB Sam Hartman, DE Andre Jones Jr., DT Haggai Ndubuisi, RB Chris Rodriguez, OL Max Scharping, WR Mitchell Tinsley, WR Brycen Tremayne, TE Cole Turner, DE Carlos Watkins, RB Michael Wiley
Commanders Cut Five 2023 Draftees, Move Down To 53
Here is how Adam Peters‘ first Commanders offseason concluded. The Commanders are moving on from a 2023 Day 2 pick; their roster is now at 53.
Released:
- C Cameron Tom
- DE Justin Hollins
- QB Trace McSorley
- CB James Pierre
- S Sheldrick Redwine
Waived:
- WR Kaz Allen
- CB Chigozie Anusiem
- S Kendell Brooks
- CB Tariq Castro-Fields
- T Braeden Daniels
- WR Davion Davis
- G Julian Good-Jones
- DE Jalen Harris
- QB Sam Hartman
- DE K.J. Henry
- DE Andre Jones
- RB Austin Jones
- CB Kyu Blu Kelly
- DT Haggai Ndubuisi
- T David Nwaogwugwu
- LB Anthony Pittman
- DT Benning Potoa’e
- RB Chris Rodgriguez
- WR Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint
- LB Chapelle Russell
- T Armani Taylor-Prioleau
- C Ricky Stromberg
- WR Mitchell Tinsley
- WR Brycen Tremayne
- TE Cole Turner
- CB Nick Whiteside
- RB Michael Wiley
- CB AJ Woods
Placed on reserve/PUP list:
- DE Efe Obada
Placed on IR:
Placed on IR/return designation:
- LB Jordan Magee
This represents an early exit for Stromberg, whom Washington drafted in last year’s third round. The former No. 97 overall pick only played in four games as a rookie, logging just 26 offensive snaps. Washington brought in ex-Dallas center Tyler Biadasz this offseason, and the team also kept four guards on its 53-man roster. Other personnel staffs around the league may be intrigued here, as this is a quick hook for a Day 2 O-lineman.
Five of the seven Commanders 2023 draftees are part of this cut continent, with Daniels, Rodriguez, Henry and Andre Jones joining Stromberg in being waived. Daniels, a fourth-rounder, spent last season on IR. Rodriguez, a sixth-rounder, rushed for 247 yards. Jones (Round 7) played 171 defensive snaps, while Henry (Round 5) started three games and registered 1.5 sacks. It will be interesting to see if any of these second-year players end up on Washington’s practice squad, as this does not reflect well on Ron Rivera‘s final draft in charge — especially after the team just traded 2022 first-rounder Jahan Dotson to a division foe.
The Commanders attempted to trade both Turner and defensive tackle John Ridgeway, per the Washington Post’s Nicki Jhabvala. The latter ended up making the team. Magee suffered an MCL injury recently. While it required surgery, the rookie fifth-rounder is not expected to miss the full season. He already counts toward the Commanders’ eight injury activations, however. The Hartman and McSorley cuts leave only Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota on the 53-man roster.