NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/5/25
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: G Nick Leverett
Detroit Lions
- Signed: OL Chris Hubbard, OL Netane Muti
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: LS Peter Bowden
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: K Harrison Mevis
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: DT Coziah Izzard
New York Jets
- Signed: S Jarius Monroe
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: DL Andrew Farmer
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: OL Karsen Barnhart
- Placed on IR: OL Tyler McLellan
Washington Commanders
- Signed: CB Tre Hawkins, S Daryl Worley
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/5/25
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: TE Josiah Deguara
Atlanta Falcons
- Waived: DL Ta’Quon Graham
Chicago Bears
- Activated from IR: LB Amen Ogbongbemiga
Detroit Lions
- Signed from practice squad: LB Ty Summers
- Placed on IR: OL Christian Mahogany
Los Angeles Chargers
- Designated for return from IR: DT Da’Shawn Hand
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed from practice squad: RB Ronnie Rivers
Miami Dolphins
- Signed off Lions’ practice squad: DE Andre Carter II
New Orleans Saints
- Signed from practice squad: RB Audric Estime
New York Jets
- Signed from practice squad: S Dean Clark
- Placed on IR: S Andre Cisco (story)
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed off Chiefs’ practice squad: DT Brodric Martin
Tennessee Titans
- Claimed off waivers (from Seahawks): S Jerrick Reed
Washington Commanders
- Signed from practice squad: WR Treylon Burks, DT Sheldon Day
2025 NFL Trades
The modern NFL features four clear trade windows. While the Cowboys and Steelers’ George Pickens swap showed moves can be made at other points on the NFL calendar, early March, the draft, the late-August 53-man roster-setting date and the November deadline reside as the primary points trades occur around the league. On that note, it is a good time to check in on what has transpired on the trade market ahead of today’s deadline.
Excluding pick-for-pick trades, here are the moves NFL teams have made thus far in 2025:
March 1
- Commanders acquire WR Deebo Samuel from 49ers for No. 147
49ers chose running back Jordan James at 147
March 4
- Bears obtain G Jonah Jackson from Rams for No. 202
Rams traded pick to Vikings, moving up to No. 172 for linebacker Chris Paul Jr.
March 5
- Bears form new guard duo, acquiring Joe Thuney from Chiefs for 2026 fourth-round pick
March 6
- Intra-AFC South swap sends Texans Christian Kirk, Jaguars 2026 seventh-round pick
March 7
- Pete Carroll–Geno Smith reunion sends No. 92 from Raiders to Seahawks
Seahawks chose quarterback Jalen Milroe at 92
March 9
- Steelers acquire WR D.K. Metcalf, No. 185 from Seahawks in exchange for Nos. 52, 223
Seahawks used No. 52 to trade up (via the Titans) 17 spots for safety Nick Emmanwori, drafted running back Damien Martinez at 223; Steelers selected quarterback Will Howard at 185
March 10
- Saints land DT Davon Godchaux from Patriots for 2026 seventh-round pick
- Commanders add LT Laremy Tunsil, No. 128 from Texans for Nos. 79, 236, along with 2026 second-, fourth-round picks
Texans added wide receiver Jaylin Noel at 79, sent 236 to Jaguars in Day 2 trade; Commanders chose wideout Jaylin Lane at No. 128
- Browns acquire QB Kenny Pickett from Eagles for QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, No. 164
Eagles used No. 164 to climb one spot (via Chiefs) in first round for linebacker Jihaad Campbell
March 11
- Texans bring in S C.J. Gardner-Johnson, 2026 sixth-round pick from Eagles for G Kenyon Green, 2026 fifth-rounder
March 12
- Cowboys obtain CB Kaiir Elam, No. 204 from Bills in exchange for No. 170, 2026 seventh-round choice
Bills took Ohio State cornerback Jordan Hancock at 170; Cowboys chose guard Ajani Cornelius at No. 204
- Cowboys acquire LB Kenneth Murray, No. 239 from Titans for No. 188
Titans drafted running back Kalel Mullings at No. 188; Cowboys chose running back Phil Mafah at 239
March 13
- Texans add G Ed Ingram from Vikings in exchange for 2026 sixth-round pick
March 15
- Vikings acquire RB Jordan Mason, No. 187 from 49ers for No. 160, 2026 sixth-round pick
Vikings packaged No. 187 in trade-down move (via Texans); 49ers drafted safety Marques Sigle at 160
April 3
- Cowboys obtain QB Joe Milton, No. 217 from Patriots in exchange for No. 171
Patriots traded down from No. 171 (via Lions) to draft kicker Andres Borregales; Cowboys chose defensive tackle Jay Toia at 217
April 26
- Vikings acquire QB Sam Howell, No. 172 from Seahawks in exchange for 142
Seahawks selected defensive lineman Rylie Mills at No. 142; Vikings traded No. 172 to Rams
May 7
- Cowboys add WR George Pickens, 2027 sixth-round pick from Steelers for 2026 third-round pick, 2027 fifth-rounder
June 2
- 49ers land DE Bryce Huff from Eagles in exchange for conditional 2026 fifth-round pick
Pick could upgrade to fourth-rounder if performance-based conditions are met
June 30
- Steelers add CB Jalen Ramsey, TE Jonnu Smith, 2027 seventh-round pick from Dolphins for S Minkah Fitzpatrick, 2027 fifth -round pick
July 1
- Dolphins to acquire TE Darren Waller, conditional 2027 seventh-round pick from Giants in exchange for 2026 sixth-rounder
August 4
- Eagles to acquire CB Jakorian Bennett from Raiders in exchange for DT Thomas Booker
August 17
- Eagles land WR John Metchie, 2025 fifth-round pick from Texans in exchange for TE Harrison Bryant, 2026 sixth-rounder
- Saints acquire C Luke Fortner from Jaguars in exchange for DL Khalen Saunders
August 20
- Jets add DT Jowon Briggs, 2026 seventh-round pick from Browns for 2026 sixth-rounder
- Jets obtain DL Harrison Phillips, 2027 seventh-round pick from Vikings for 2026, 2027 sixth-rounders
- Saints land WR Devaughn Vele from Broncos for 2026 fourth-round pick, 2027 seventh-rounder
- 49ers acquire WR Skyy Moore, 2027 seventh-round pick from Chiefs for 2027 sixth-rounder
August 22
- 49ers bring in RB Brian Robinson from Commanders in exchange for conditional 2026 sixth-round pick
August 24
- Eagles acquire QB Sam Howell, 2026 sixth-round pick from Vikings for 2026 fifth-rounder, 2027 seventh
- Chiefs add DT Derrick Nnadi, conditional 2027 seventh-round from Jets for conditional 2027 sixth-rounder
- Eagles bring back T Fred Johnson from Jaguars in exchange for 2026 seventh-round pick
- Packers obtain OL Darian Kinnard from Eagles for 2027 sixth-round pick
August 25
- Raiders acquire QB Kenny Pickett from Browns for 2026 fifth-round pick
- Colts add CB Mekhi Blackmon from Vikings for 2026 sixth-round pick
August 26
- Browns acquire T KT Leveston from Rams for 2028 seventh-round pick
- Falcons add T Michael Jerrell from Seahawks for conditional 2027 seventh-round pick
- Saints bring in T Asim Richards, 2028 seventh-round pick from Cowboys for 2028 sixth-rounder
- Chargers acquire T Austin Deculus from Texans in exchange for conditional 2027 seventh-round pick
August 27
- Jaguars obtain WR Tim Patrick from Lions for 2026 sixth-round pick
- Vikings land WR Adam Thielen, conditional 2026 seventh-round pick, 2027 fifth-rounder from Panthers for 2026 fifth-round choice, 2027 fourth
August 28
- Packers acquire DE Micah Parsons from Cowboys for DT Kenny Clark, 2026, 2027 first-round picks
September 8
- Eagles add RB Tank Bigsby from Jaguars in exchange for 2026 fifth-, sixth-round picks
2026 fifth-round pick (from Bryce Huff trade) could upgrade to fourth-rounder, which would be sent to Jacksonville if 49ers DE meets those conditions
September 14
- Saints obtain WR Ja’Lynn Polk, 2028 seventh-round pick from Patriots for 2027 sixth-rounder
September 23
- Jets acquire CB Jarvis Brownlee, 2026 seventh-round pick from Titans for 2026 sixth-rounder
September 29
- Browns add LT Cam Robinson, 2027 seventh-round pick from Texans for 2027 sixth-rounder
October 7
- Bengals obtain QB Joe Flacco, 2026 sixth-round pick from Browns for 2026 fifth-rounder
- Chargers land OLB Odafe Oweh, 2027 seventh-round pick from Ravens for S Alohi Gilman, 2026 fifth-rounder
October 8
- Browns acquire CB Tyson Campbell, 2026 seventh-round pick from Jaguars for CB Greg Newsome, 2026 sixth-rounder
October 27
- Rams add CB Roger McCreary, 2026 sixth-round pick from Titans for 2026 fifth-rounder
October 28
- 49ers bring in DE Keion White, 2026 seventh-round pick from Patriots for 2026 sixth-rounder
- Steelers acquire S Kyle Dugger, 2026 seventh-round pick from Patriots for 2026 sixth
October 29
- Eagles add CB Michael Carter II, 2027 seventh-round pick from Jets for WR John Metchie, 2027 sixth-rounder
November 1
- Eagles acquire CB Jaire Alexander, 2027 seventh-round pick from Ravens for 2026 sixth-rounder
November 3
- Eagles obtain OLB Jaelan Phillips from Dolphins in exchange for 2026 third-round pick
- Ravens land OLB Dre’Mont Jones from Titans for conditional fifth-round pick
November 4
- Cowboys acquire LB Logan Wilson from Bengals for 2026 seventh-round pick
- Jaguars bring in WR Jakobi Meyers, sending 2026 fourth-, sixth-round picks to Raiders
- Colts obtain CB Sauce Gardner from Jets, who collect WR Adonai Mitchell, 2026, 2027 first-round picks
- Seahawks add WR Rashid Shaheed from Saints for 2026 fourth-, fifth-round picks
- Bears acquire DE Joe Tryon-Shoyinka, 2026 seventh-round pick from Browns for 2026 sixth-rounder
- Cowboys land DT Quinnen Williams from Jets for DT Mazi Smith, 2026 second-round pick, 2027 first-rounder
Higher of Cowboys’ two 2027 firsts will go to Jets in Williams trade
- Chargers add OL Trevor Penning from Saints in exchange for 2027 seventh-round pick
- Jets acquire CB Ja’Sir Taylor from Chargers for conditional 2028 seventh-round pick
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/4/25
With lots of roster movement surrounding the trade deadline, practice squads needed rearranging, as well. Here are today’s practice squad updates:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: LS Zach Triner
- Released: K Ben Sauls
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: TE Scotty Washington
Buffalo Bills
- Released: LB Jimmy Ciarlo, WR Kristian Wilkerson
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: G Ja’Tyre Carter, RB DeeJay Dallas, S Israel Mukuamu
- Released: OLB Boogie Basham, QB Hendon Hooker, T Michael Tarquin
Chicago Bears
- Signed: G Kyle Hergel
- Placed on practice squad/injured list: C Ricky Stromberg
Detroit Lions
- Signed: G Jack Conley
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: TE McCallan Castles, TE Drake Dabney, LB Kristian Welch, WR Michael Woods
- Released: G Lecitus Smith
Houston Texans
- Signed: K Matthew Wright
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: LB Chad Muma, S Trey Washington
- Released: CB David Long Jr.
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: DE Malik Herring
- Released: WR Jimmy Holiday
Los Angeles Chargers
- Released: CB Myles Purchase
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: LS Jake McQuaide
- Released: G Wyatt Bowles
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: CB Clarence Lewis
New England Patriots
- Signed: WR Brenden Rice
- Released: RB Jonathan Ward
Philadelphia Eagles
- Released: WR Terrace Marshall
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: LB Mark Robinson, S Daequan Hardy
- Released: DE K.J. Henry, WR John Rhys Plumlee
San Francisco 49ers
- Released: LB Stone Blanton
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: WR Mac Dalena
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: CB Keydrain Calligan
- Released: CB Alex Johnson
The Texans are bringing Wright on as an emergency option as regular kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn works through an injury. Wright has plenty of experience in this role as this will be his fourth team this year alone.
Minor NFL Transactions: 11/4/25
Here are Tuesday’s minor transactions after a busy trade deadline:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: TE Josiah Deguara
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: G Andrew Stueber
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed from practice squad: S Keondre Jackson
- Waived: S Sanoussi Kane
Chicago Bears
- Placed on IR: DE Dayo Odeyingbo (story)
Dallas Cowboys
- Waived: RB Malik Davis
Denver Broncos
- Waived (with injury designation): S J.T. Gray
Detroit Lions
- Released (with injury settlement): TE Kenny Yeboah
- Released: OL Justin Herron
Green Bay Packers
- Signed from practice squad: DT Arron Mosby, TE Josh Whyle
- Placed on IR: TE Tucker Kraft (story)
Los Angeles Chargers
- Placed on reserve/retired list: LS Rick Lovato
Philadelphia Eagles
- Released: OLB Patrick Johnson
Seattle Seahawks
- Waived: S Jerrick Reed II
Washington Commanders
- Placed on IR: CB Marshon Lattimore, WR Luke McCaffrey (story)
Usually when a player retires in the middle of the season, it’s a free agent who hoped they’d find a home due to the attrition of the regular season but never do. Rarely do we see active players like Lovato retiring partway through a campaign like this. Lovato is choosing to go out on his own terms, though, as it appears he was close to being released. Los Angeles only signed Lovato just before the season because its regular long snapper, Josh Harris, got hurt and placed on the team’s injured reserve with a designation to return. Harris returned to practice last week, so seeing the writing on the wall, Lovato is saving the Chargers the trouble of releasing him.
Kane had been a core special teamer for the Ravens since getting drafted out of the seventh round last year but had been made a healthy scratch in each of the team’s past two games. Jackson, though, has emerged as a standout on the unit over three practice squad elevations. The Ravens wanted Jackson to keep playing, so he’ll take Kane’s spot on the 53-man roster.
Reed’s time on Seattle’s active roster was short-lived. They’ll likely plan for him to sign back to the practice squad, but he’ll have to clear waivers before they can bring him back. The same is expected of Davis in Dallas.
Jets Acquire CB Ja’Sir Taylor From Chargers
The Jets pulled off the two biggest trades of deadline day in the NFL on Tuesday, sending cornerback Sauce Gardner to the Colts and defensive lineman Quinnen Williams to the Cowboys. They also made a small addition before the deadline, acquiring cornerback Ja’Sir Taylor from the Chargers for a conditional seventh-round pick in 2028. Both teams have announced the move.
Now 26 years old, Taylor joined the Chargers as a sixth-round pick from Wake Forest in 2022. Taylor has since appeared in 57 regular-season games, including all nine of the Bolts’ contests this year, and picked up 11 starts and an interception.
Before the trade, Taylor spent 2025 working almost exclusively on special teams. He amassed 175 snaps on the Chargers’ ST unit and just 16 on defense.
Taylor is now heading back to his native New Jersey to join a Jets team that lost its best corner on Tuesday. Gardner’s departure came less than a week after the Jets traded fellow CB Michael Carter II to the Eagles. With Gardner and Carter gone, Taylor may have a shot at playing time in what’s now a shorthanded New York secondary.
Saints To Send OL Trevor Penning To Bolts
Minutes before the trade deadline, the Chargers struck a deal to address their depleted offensive line. They are acquiring Trevor Penning from the Saints, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The Bolts will send the Saints a 2027 sixth-rounder, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport adds.
Penning has logged extensive time at three positions along the Saints’ O-line, spending full seasons at both tackle positions before kicking inside to guard this year. New Orleans is moving on from its left guard starter after not picking up his fifth-year option this offseason.
Despite not coming up in trade rumors, Penning loomed as a logical candidate to be moved thanks to his starting experience at premium positions and walk-year status. The Saints did not see Penning become the left tackle mainstay they hoped when they drafted him in 2022, and passing on his 2026 guarantee made him a free agent-to-be. Now, the Chargers will evaluate him. Though, their situation points to Penning still making it to the market come March.
Los Angeles has lost both its starting tackles — Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt — to season-ending injuries. Alt has battled a high ankle sprain for much of the year, and the fast-emerging tackle aggravating it in Week 9 prompted the Chargers to shut him down. The 2024 top-five pick is set for season-ending ankle surgery, creating a glaring void on Justin Herbert‘s blind side. It appears the Saints will ask Penning to shift back to his original NFL position.
The Saints bailed on the Penning-at-LT plan in 2024, drafting Taliese Fuaga in the first round and moving the Oregon State product from right tackle to Derek Carr‘s blind side. Penning then slid to right tackle and started 17 games there. After being quickly benched at LT in 2023, the Northern Iowa alum fared better at RT. But the Saints did not view him as a keeper there, either, using their No. 9 overall pick on Kelvin Banks. The Texas product kicked Fuaga to RT and Penning to yet another position. The Saints had him train at left guard this offseason, and he won the job — before temporarily ceding it after a turf toe bout.
L.A. is in decent shape on its interior, despite Mekhi Becton missing time recently. Becton is not on IR, and Zion Johnson is healthy at LG. The team could use immediate help at tackle, and Penning has started 23 tames at those spots in his pro career. The 26-year-old blocker has made six guard starts this season.
Pro Football Focus rates Penning’s guard work 64th at guard this season; the advanced metrics site graded Penning 60th among tackles during his RT experiment year. The underwhelming first-rounder did not grade well during his five-game LT sample in 2023. Being asked to move around the line certainly is not an easy task, but Penning could have an immediate chance to create some free agency value by providing decent LT work as a stopgap.
The Chargers have primarily been using summer trade pickup Austin Deculus at left tackle when Alt has missed time. He has been one of the Bolts’ blockers to look overmatched this season. PFF has graded Deculus, emergency add Bobby Hart and Trey Pipkins outside the top 65 at tackle this season.
This has left the Bolts scrambling, as they have been unable to field a healthy O-line. The team also has ex-Slater LT fill-in Jamaree Salyer, but Jim Harbaugh has opted for Deculus instead. While Penning may not be plugged in immediately, it would surprise if the Division I-FCS product was not seeing tackle work fairly soon given the Chargers’ status as a playoff contender.
Chargers T Joe Alt Out For Season
Bitten by injuries in many recent seasons, the Chargers have run into tremendous trouble along their offensive line in this one. Playing the full season without left tackle Rashawn Slater, the Bolts will now be without his replacement the rest of the way.
Being carted off with an ankle injury Sunday, Joe Alt is not returning this year. The Chargers announced the standout blocker is set to undergo season-ending surgery on his right high ankle sprain — an injury that has given him trouble at multiple points during his second NFL campaign.
The Chargers quickly slid Alt to left tackle to replace Slater for this season. They had lost Slater to a torn patellar tendon during training camp, seeing that development unfold days after reaching an extension agreement. The Bolts had a prime option to fill in, as Alt had earned two All-American honors while playing left tackle at Notre Dame. But Alt’s season on Justin Herbert‘s blind side has been bumpy due to this injury.
Alt first went down in Week 4 and missed the next three games. He returned in Week 8, and the Bolts dominated the Vikings. The team eked out a win over the woeful Titans on Sunday, and its tackle situation now looks dire.
When Alt was healthy, backup tackle Trey Pipkins filled in at right tackle. When Alt went down in September, backup tackle Austin Deculus was called up to the first-team offense. Pipkins went down in Week 5, and Jamaree Salyer finished the game at right tackle, but a practice squad addition, Bobby Hart, ended up making the subsequent start opposite Deculus. When Pipkins returned from his injury, however, Hart remained in the starting lineup across from Alt in his return last week.
Hart actually left today’s game with an injury before Alt, getting replaced by Pipkins early in the contest. Deculus — a late-summer trade pickup — had already been ruled out with an ankle injury before the game. The Chargers called upon Salyer, this time to play left tackle across from Pipkins. This came as right guard Mekhi Becton missed another game. Because of the timing here, the Bolts may have a decision to make. Pro Football Focus ranks Alt 11th among tackles; Hart, Pipkins and Deculus are all outside the top 60.
Los Angeles has managed to reach 6-3 despite myriad O-line issues, but Alt’s return had been a silver lining previously. The prospect of playing without their best two blockers changes the equation, and the Bolts have until 3pm CT Tuesday to make a trade. Although Salyer and Pipkins have extensive starting experience, with both players seeing extended stretches at tackle and guard, they entered the season as backups for a reason. Will the Chargers try to trade for an Alt replacement by the deadline?
It took only a swap of conditional sixth-round picks for the Vikings to add Cam Robinson following Christian Darrisaw‘s injury last year, providing some optimism the Chargers could complete a deal without giving up too much. Robinson now resides in Cleveland, following a trade with Houston; Cornelius Lucas (34) is his backup. Chukwuma Okorafor, who left the Patriots one week into last season, resides as a Jets swing tackle. Injury-prone Trent Brown is stationed behind the Texans’ starting tackles.
One interesting solution could reside in Washington, where Andrew Wylie is available. The Commanders’ right tackle starter in 2023 and ’24, Wylie previously played right tackle for the Chiefs. He does not have nearly as much LT experience, however. But the Bolts have been rearranging their O-line since Slater’s injury. It will take more of that moving forward, as the Slater-Alt duo will not be back together until next season.
Trade Rumors: Dolphins, Jennings, Sweat, Patriots, Chargers, Bills
We’ve seen a bit of a change of trade deadline strategy in Miami since the departure of former general manager Chris Grier. With Grier, the Dolphins were not planning on being very active at the trade deadline. There was some thought that interim GM Champ Kelly would be a bit more open to hearing offers, and after some initial refusal of that notion, the team has changed its tune.
We’ve seen this a bit in rumors, as edge rushers Jaelan Phillips, Bradley Chubb, and Matt Judon have been the subject of some calls, and the Dolphins have even seemed more open to the idea of trading wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. According to Armando Salguero of OutKick, team owner Stephen Ross “approved of” — and even encouraged — Kelly selling off valuable players, if he could.
Additionally, per Salguero, Ross informed head coach Mike McDaniel that his job was safe for the season and would continue to be safe “if he can rally the team.” It’s anyone’s guess how McDaniel is expected to improve the team’s performance as the front office auctions off its best players, but that appears to be the challenge posed to the fourth-year head coach. This challenge puts particular stress on McDaniel’s handling of the quarterback position moving forward, following rumors that Tua Tagovailoa could face a demotion from his starting role.
Here are a few other rumors as we have under 48 hours remaining until the trade deadline:
- 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings has worked his way up from the practice squad in his rookie season to a full-time starting role in his fifth year with the team. Jennings sought an extension in the offseason, and he threatened a trade request in order to gain leverage in negotiations. Some teams reportedly called at the time, but with so many injuries at the position already, San Francisco rebuffed them. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, those same teams appear to be interested again. Head coach Kyle Shanahan has claimed he “would be very surprised” if Jennings gets dealt, mostly because they’ve yet to see the return from injury this year of Brandon Aiyuk. Rapoport suggests that, aside from that, Jennings wouldn’t be off the table.
- We’ve already reported that the Titans appear to be open for business in the trade market with every player except rookie No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward and starting defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. Any other player is seemingly available. Some have been surprised that this apparently includes last year’s second-round defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat, but Terry McCormick of TitansInsider.com sees the reasoning. Per McCormick, the team has “not been enamored with him” so far. If someone with interest in the 24-year-old out of Texas comes with the right price, it sounds like Tennessee would be willing to part with him.
- With Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson dealing with his recent toe injury, and with New England’s rushers underwhelming so far this year overall, rumors have made the rounds that the team could be looking at the position in the trade market. Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels attempted to silence those rumors, per Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald, telling the media, “I think we have all the answers we need.” With Stevenson out today, the Patriots leaned on rookie second-round pick TreVeyon Henderson and RB3 Terrell Jennings against Atlanta. They also recently signed veteran D’Ernest Johnson to the practice squad and called him up for the game. Despite no single back averaging more than 35 rushing yards per game this season, McDaniels is apparently comfortable with his stable.
- On Saturday, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reported that the Chargers were “exploring potential offensive line additions” on the trade market. If they weren’t before, they sure are now. Already dealing with a season-ending injury to left tackle Rashawn Slater and injuries this week to right guard Mekhi Becton and backup tackle Austin Deculus, Los Angeles saw its other original starter Joe Alt and replacement starter Bobby Hart exit today’s game with injuries. Down to their third options at both tackle spots, the Chargers may need to get active if they plan on continuing their push for the playoffs.
- In regard to the Bills‘ pursuit of wide receiver help through the trade market, while a specific name to add hasn’t yet emerged, another name seemingly has. According to Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic, if Buffalo makes an addition via trade and a corresponding move is needed to fit them on the 53-man roster, depth cornerback Brandon Codrington would be the likeliest cut candidate.
Chargers Fear Repeat Injury For LT Joe Alt
The Chargers knew they would face additional challenges this season when newly paid left tackle Rashawn Slater suffered a torn patellar tendon injury that would take him out for the year. Then usual right tackle Joe Alt, who had moved over to Justin Herbert‘s blindside in place of Slater, suffered a high ankle sprain four weeks into the season, leaving Los Angeles without its top bookend on the line. Alt returned from injury last week but may face a longer absence after a potential reinjury today. 
Alt came back into the lineup last weekend despite limited participation in practice throughout the week. Still, he looked strong in his first game back, hardly showing any signs of the injury that held him out for three weeks. In fact, he didn’t even appear on the team’s injury report this week. Late in the first half of today’s game in Nashville, though, Alt was carted off the field, holding the same ankle that had sidelined him four weeks prior.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Alt is “believed to have suffered another high ankle sprain.” To make matters worse, this time, the injury may require a medical procedure to repair. In order to determine exactly what needs to be done, Alt will undergo an MRI tomorrow to confirm the diagnosis and determine the severity.
When Alt was healthy, it was backup tackle Trey Pipkins III filling in for Alt at right tackle as Alt covered the blindside. When Alt got hurt, backup tackle Austin Deculus was called up to the first-team offense. Pipkins got hurt in Week 5, and Jamaree Salyer finished the game at right tackle, but a practice squad addition, Bobby Hart, would get the subsequent start across from Deculus. Even when Pipkins came back healthy, Hart remained in the starting lineup across from Alt in his return last week.
Hart actually left today’s game with an injury before Alt, getting replaced by Pipkins early in the contest. And Deculus, who had filled in for Alt in his previous absences, had already been ruled out with an ankle injury before the game. So, when Alt went down, Salyer was called upon once again, this time to play left tackle across from Pipkins. In addition to the injuries at tackle, right guard Mekhi Becton missed his second game of the season today. Foster Sarell started in his place.
An extended absence for Alt could spell trouble for Los Angeles. In games that Alt has started, the Chargers have gone 5-1; in games without him, they’re 1-2. Throw in the additional injuries across the line, and it becomes hard to field a competent, cohesive offensive line. Los Angeles is still two weeks away from a bye week, and their next two games are against playoff hopefuls Pittsburgh and Jacksonville. The Steelers defense, in particular, poses a threat as they came into the week boasting the fifth-most pressures in the NFL.
Tomorrow’s diagnosis will provide further details as to what the Chargers are facing. They may just need to weather another three-week absence, but if a procedure is necessary, any resulting extended absence for Alt could be detrimental to the team’s postseason aspirations. If the team falls far enough out of contention without its two starting tackles, a decision might be made to ensure Alt remains fully healthy for an eventual return alongside Slater in 2026. Whatever the case, we should know more tomorrow.

