Minor NFL Transactions: 1/7/26
Wednesday’s midweek minor moves:
Green Bay Packers
- Activated from IR: LB Nick Niemann
- Placed on IR: WR Bo Melton
- Reverted to season-ending reserve/PUP: G John Williams
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Reverted to season-ending IR: LB Jalen McLeod
Los Angeles Chargers
- Designated for return from IR: FB Tucker Fisk
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed from practice squad: LB Eric Kendricks
- Placed on IR: LB Tatum Bethune (story)
Seattle Seahawks
- Designated for return from IR: TE Elijah Arroyo
In Green Bay, head coach Matt LaFleur relayed that Melton doesn’t have a torn ACL, per Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, but his knee injury is just going to take some time to recover. Meanwhile, the Chargers and Seahawks look to return two role players to offenses as they ready for their first playoff games.
The 21-day practice windows have come and gone for McLeod and Willams. Without an activation, both players will return to their respective injured lists.
49ers To Sign LB Kyzir White
Battling a slew of injuries at linebacker as they prepare for a first-round playoff matchup against the Eagles on Sunday, the 49ers are adding veteran insurance at the position. They have agreed to a practice squad deal with Kyzir White, insider Jordan Schultz reports.
The 49ers went through most of the regular season without their best linebacker, four-time All-Pro Fred Warner, who broke and dislocated his ankle in Week 6. Tatum Bethune stepped in as his replacement, but he suffered a season-ending groin injury in Week 18. Meanwhile, the statuses of fellow banged-up linebackers Dee Winters (ankle) and Luke Gifford (quadriceps) are uncertain as San Francisco’s trip to Philadelphia draws closer.
Warner may return if the 49ers advance a couple of rounds in the playoffs. In the meantime, they have another much-needed healthy option in White, though a hamstring injury shelved him for most of 2025.
After signing a practice squad deal with the Titans in early September, White’s only appearance of the regular season came in Week 3. The Titans waived him Dec. 5. The 29-year-old hoped to land with a contender when Tennessee cut him. A month later, he’ll get his wish.
White, who now has 93 games and 73 starts on his resume, entered the NFL as a fourth-round pick of the Chargers in 2018. Also a former Cardinal and Eagle, White has gone over the 100-tackle mark on three occasions and logged two 17-start seasons. He was a full-time starter in 2024 in Arizona, where he finished with 137 tackles and 2.5 sacks.
Although White has barely played since his two-year Cardinals tenure ended, he could factor into the 49ers’ postseason plans at linebacker. Eric Kendricks (currently on the practice squad), Curtis Robinson and Garret Wallow are among the injury-riddled team’s other options.
Cardinals Request HC Interviews With Robert Saleh, Anthony Weaver
Jonathan Gannon was among the head coaches fired yesterday. That leaves the Cardinals as one of six teams in the market for a replacement.
A second target regarding potential hires has now emerged in Arizona’s case. The Cardinals have requested an interview with 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reports. This comes shortly after Broncos DC Vance Joseph was named as a candidate expected to interview with Arizona. Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver has also received a slip from the Cardinals, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Saleh joins Joseph as a former NFL head coach whose first shot didn’t go well. After a previous run as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator from 2017-20, Saleh took over as the Jets’ head coach in 2021. He lasted three-plus seasons and finished 20-36 with no playoff appearances.
The Jets fired Saleh after a 2-3 start last year. It didn’t spark a turnaround for the Jets, who lost nine of 12 under interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich. That led to the end of the failed Aaron Rodgers era and the beginning of a new GM/HC regime with Darren Mougey and Aaron Glenn grabbing the reins.
Saleh, who closed the 2024 season as an offensive consultant with the Packers, rejoined Kyle Shanahan‘s staff in San Francisco last January. Now one of the game’s highest-paid D-coordinators, Saleh will earn more head coaching looks after helping the 49ers overcome a slew of key injuries en route to a 12-5 season and a playoff spot. The 49ers have gone most of the season without their two best defenders, the injured Fred Warner and Nick Bosa. They ended the regular season just 20th in total defense as a result, but the 49ers ranked a much better 13th at keeping points off the board.
Currently in his first stint as a coordinator, Weaver’s defense in Miami finished a lackluster 22nd in yards and 24th in points in 2025. However, the unit was top 10 in both categories in his first year at the helm last season. The former Ravens and Texans defensive lineman earned head coaching interviews with the Bears and Saints a year ago, but those teams went in other directions.
While the Dolphins wrapped up a disappointing season on Sunday, the 45-year-old Weaver is again garnering outside consideration for a promotion. Along with the Cardinals, the HC-needy Falcons have requested a meeting with Weaver.
Connor Byrne contributed to this post.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/5/26
Today’s minor moves:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Extended: DE Isaiah Foskey, LB Joe Giles-Harris, TE Cam Grandy, LB Shaka Heyward, S PJ Jules, WR Mitchell Tinsley
Denver Broncos
- Signed from practice squad: QB Sam Ehlinger
- Waived: OT Geron Christian, TE Marcedes Lewis
Detroit Lions
- Extended: OL Michael Niese, RB Jacob Saylors, CB Nick Whiteside
Indianapolis Colts
- Extended: LB Austin Ajiake
- Claimed off waivers (from Buccaneers): LB John Bullock
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed from practice squad: DE Larrell Murchison
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Waived: CB Tre Flowers
San Francisco 49ers
- Practice window opened: WR Jacob Cowing
Each of the players who were extended today received deals that last through the 2026 campaign. These contracts differ from reserve/futures contracts, which don’t count towards the team’s active list until after the Super Bowl.
The Bengals were especially active with these extensions today, handing out deals to a handful of players who could be in line for larger roles next season. Journeyman Joe Giles-Harris got into a career-high 10 games for Cincinnati this season, compiling 27 tackles while serving as a key special teamer. Shaka Heyward (16 tackles) and PJ Jules (18 tackles) saw similar roles for the 2025 Bengals. Mitchell Tinsley got some run on the Cincy offense this season, hauling in eight catches for 116 yards in 17 games.
49ers LB Tatum Bethune Out For Playoffs; Latest On Fred Warner
The 49ers’ Week 18 loss to the Seahawks prevented them from securing the No. 1 seed in the NFC and a division title. To worsen matters, the 49ers’ banged-up defense took more shots in the regular-season finale.
Linebacker Tatum Bethune will miss the postseason after suffering a groin injury, head coach Kyle Shanahan announced (via Nick Wagoner of ESPN). Fellow linebackers Dee Winters (ankle) and Luke Gifford (quadriceps) are also dealing with injuries from the Seattle game. Their statuses for the wild-card round are uncertain, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
As a 2024 seventh-round pick, Bethune barely factored into the 49ers’ defense as a rookie. The former Florida State Seminole played 11 games and logged 165 of his 216 snaps on special teams.
Bethune remained a relatively anonymous member of the 49ers’ roster early this season, but he took on a far bigger role when all-world linebacker Fred Warner broke and dislocated his ankle in a Week 6 win over the Buccaneers.
Warner’s injury opened up playing time for Bethune, who wound up starting in eight of 14 appearances and totaling 94 tackles. While Pro Football Focus ranked Bethune’s performance an unspectacular 69th among 88 qualifying linebackers, he earned a respectable 73.2 grade against the run.
Warner hasn’t played in almost three months, though there’s hope he’ll return if the 49ers make a deep playoff run. Shanahan said Monday that Warner may come back if the 49ers reach the NFC Championship Game (via Matt Barrows of the The Athletic). In the meantime, sixth-seeded San Francisco will have to go on the road to beat Philadelphia this weekend and then knock off another opponent in the divisional round.
The 49ers’ defense will face more adversity if Winters and Gifford can’t go Sunday. Winters finished second among 49ers defenders with a 91.5% snap share, trailing only cornerback Deommodore Lenoir, and picked up 101 tackles, five passes defensed and an interception. Gifford’s a lesser presence on defense, but he earned his first Pro Bowl nod for his work on special teams. He led the 49ers’ ST unit with an 80.9% snap share in 2025.
In the event Winters and Gifford are unavailable this week, the 49ers will go into the playoffs with Eric Kendricks (currently on the practice squad), Curtis Robinson and Garret Wallow as their top options at linebacker, Barrows notes. Kendricks is a former Pro Bowler with 143 starts on his resume, but the 33-year-old amassed just 46 defensive snaps in three games with the 49ers during the regular season. Robinson has only started three games (all in 2025) during his five-year career, while Wallow’s most recent start came with the Texans in 2022. The 49ers claimed him off waivers from the Broncos on Dec. 6. A month later, defensive coordinator Robert Saleh may have to rely on Wallow in the playoffs.
Saleh’s defense overcame long-term injuries to Warner and Nick Bosa, who tore his ACL in Week 3, during a 12-win campaign. As injuries continue to mount ahead of the postseason, Saleh’s job isn’t getting any easier.
Three 49ers Execs Among Dolphins’ Six GM Interview Requests
More than two months after letting Chris Grier go, the Dolphins are at work with GM interview requests. Six have gone out for an AFC East franchise that has not parted with HC Mike McDaniel.
While McDaniel is not a lock to stay, the next Dolphins GM may well begin a tenure working with the long-tenured leader. The Dolphins have sent requests to Tariq Ahmad (49ers), Alec Halaby (Eagles), Jon-Eric Sullivan (Packers), John McKay (Rams) and Josh Williams (49ers), according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport along with ESPN’s Adam Schefter. They have since submitted a request to meet with 49ers assistant GM R.J. Gillen, per Pelissero.
The three 49ers execs would be interesting here, as both were in San Francisco when McDaniel was working under Kyle Shanahan. Ahmed is in place as the 49ers’ VP of player personnel, being in his first year in that role. Ahmed has been with the team since 2014, coming up through the scouting ranks. The former 49ers college scouting director received a request from a Dolphins team eyeing a GM with a scouting background.
Williams has a similar background, serving as the 49ers’ current director of scouting and football operations. He has come up as a name to watch on this year’s carousel, and the Dolphins were connected to him recently. The 49ers have lost a few execs to GM roles, with John Lynch‘s staff seeing Martin Mayhew, Ran Carthon and Adam Peters take top front office jobs. Williams, who was a finalist for last year’s Jaguars GM gig, could be next.
Gillen climbed to the AGM level in San Francisco in 2025, coming up through the scouting ranks to become the team’s player personnel director in 2023. Gillen has been with the 49ers since before Lynch and Shanahan’s arrivals, being hired during Trent Baalke‘s GM tenure. Gillen being included in Miami’s list further points to McDaniel staying.
A 49ers exec being hired certainly could give the embattled HC a new lease on life in Miami, as persistent rumblings have emerged pointing to ownership being fond of the offense-based leader and ready to give him a fifth year. That is not a lock, however.
McKay’s time with the 49ers’ California rival has spanned 10 years now. He arrived a year before Sean McVay, joining Les Snead‘s front office as a scouting assistant. McKay has worked his way up to assistant general manager. This position certainly has been known to launch GM candidacies, with Halaby serving in this role for the Eagles. Halaby does not come from the scouting side, however, being a Harvard graduate who spent five-plus years as the Eagles’ director of football operations and strategy.
Sullivan, who serves as Green Bay’s VP of player personnel, was on last year’s GM carousel and emerged as a possible Dolphins candidate hours after Grier’s dismissal. Sullivan has only worked in Green Bay, being with the Packers since 2003. The former Ted Thompson lieutenant has climbed the ladder under Brian Gutekunst, climbing to his current post through the scouting ranks. Sullivan has been in the VP role since 2022.
Updated 2026 NFL Draft Order
With the AFC North now settled (in rather dramatic fashion), the 2025 regular season is in the books. Following their decisions to shelve Brock Bowers and Maxx Crosby, the Raiders secured the No. 1 overall pick. After entering Week 17 in that slot, the Giants — as they did in 2024 — slipped out of the top two thanks to a late-season win.
Big Blue’s victories over the Raiders and Cowboys dropped them to No. 5, with today’s win allowing the Jets, Cardinals and Titans to leapfrog them. The Giants, who fell out of the No. 1 spot last year thanks to a Drew Lock-led win over the Colts in Week 17, will still hold a top-five pick — just not the one most expected two weeks ago. The Jets saw the Colts’ collapse, which dropped them from 8-2 to 8-9, give them two picks in the top 16.
The Cardinals started 2-0 but managed to close the season with 14 losses over their final 15 games. This will give Arizona a top-four pick for the third time in the Monti Ossenfort era. The GM traded out of that slot in 2023 before drafting Marvin Harrison Jr. in 2024; Ossenfort is expected to be retained for a fourth season, providing another opportunity. This will be the third straight year the Titans will hold a top-seven pick.
The Buccaneers beat the Panthers on Saturday, but thanks to a three-way NFC South tie, Tampa Bay’s draft slot will land out of the playoff positions for the first time since 2020. Because Atlanta defeated New Orleans today, Carolina’s first-round pick will slide into the bottom 14 despite its 8-9 finish — one that secured playoff entry for the first time since 2017.
Although the draft order is not fully set due to the upcoming playoffs, the first 18 picks are. Here is how the order looks after Week 18:
- Las Vegas Raiders (3-14)
- New York Jets (3-14)
- Arizona Cardinals (3-14)
- Tennessee Titans (3-14)
- New York Giants (4-13)
- Cleveland Browns (5-12)
- Washington Commanders (5-12)
- New Orleans Saints (6-11)
- Kansas City Chiefs (6-11)
- Cincinnati Bengals (6-11)
- Miami Dolphins (7-10)
- Dallas Cowboys (7-9-1)
- Los Angeles Rams (via Falcons)
- Baltimore Ravens (8-9)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-9)
- New York Jets (via Colts)
- Detroit Lions (9-8)
- Minnesota Vikings (9-8)
- Carolina Panthers (8-9)
- Dallas Cowboys (from Packers)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)
- Los Angeles Chargers (11-6)
- Philadelphia Eagles (11-6)
- Buffalo Bills (12-5)
- Chicago Bears (11-6)
- San Francisco 49ers (12-5)
- Houston Texans (12-5)
- Cleveland Browns (from Jaguars)
- Los Angeles Rams (12-5)
- New England Patriots (14-3)
- Denver Broncos (14-3)
- Seattle Seahawks (14-3)
49ers’ Trent Williams Out For Week 18; George Kittle Plans To Play
5:40PM: As the 49ers prepare to take on the Seahawks for the No. 1 seed in the NFC, they will officially be doing so without Williams. San Francisco listed him as one of their inactive players for tonight’s game.
10:59AM: It appears the 49ers will go without future Hall of Fame left tackle Trent Williams in their pivotal regular-season finale against the Seahawks on Saturday. Williams, who suffered a hamstring injury in a win over the Bears last Sunday, did not practice this week. That suggests he won’t take the field with the NFC West and the No. 1 seed in the conference on the line, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network says.
If Williams sits Saturday, it’ll prevent the 37-year-old from logging his first 17-game campaign. A career-long starter since entering the NFL as a first-round pick (No. 4) with Washington in 2010, Williams has earned his 12th Pro Bowl nod this season. He’s Pro Football Focus’ third-ranked tackle out of 86 qualifiers.
It’s obviously less than ideal for the 49ers to go without Williams, but they pulled off a thrilling 42-38 win in Week 17 despite his absence. Williams played one snap before exiting, leaving Austen Pleasants to take over for the rest of the game. The fourth-year man will make the first start of his career Saturday if Williams is unavailable. It’ll be a tall order against a Seattle defense that ranks second in scoring, fifth in yards and eighth in sacks.
In better news for the 49ers, seven-time Pro Bowl tight end George Kittle said he “absolutely” plans to play in Week 18 (via Nick Wagoner of ESPN). Kittle, a limited participant in practice this week, missed the Chicago game with an ankle issue, continuing an injury-riddled year for him.
After suffering a right hamstring tear in a Week 1 victory in Seattle, Kittle spent over a month on IR. The 32-year-old has appeared in just 10 of 16 games this season, but when healthy enough to play, he has continued to post superb production. Kittle has hauled in 52 of 62 targets for 599 yards and seven touchdowns. Adding in Kittle’s blocking prowess, he’s PFF’s No. 1-ranked tight end among 75 qualifiers.
The 49ers have overcome a slew of notable injuries this year en route to a 12-4 record. While the team remains banged up, there’s only one more hurdle to clear to ensure homefield advantage through the playoffs. If the 49ers complete the season sweep of the Seahawks at home, they won’t go on the road again. That includes the Super Bowl, where the 49ers will host the AFC champion at Levi’s Stadium if they survive the NFC onslaught in January.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/3/26
After the final standard gameday practice squad elevations of the 2025 regular season, the three-game elevation limit resets for the postseason, so only players getting signed to the 53-man roster because of the limit will be noted today. Saturday’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed from practice squad: WR Tejhaun Palmer
- Elevated: CB Jaden Davis, WR Steven Sims
Atlanta Falcons
- Elevated: P Trenton Gill
Baltimore Ravens
- Elevated: WR Keith Kirkwood, CB Amani Oruwariye
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: LB Keonta Jenkins, DE Matt Judon
Chicago Bears
- Elevated: TE Nikola Kalinic, LB Ty Summers
Cincinnati Bengals
- Elevated: DT Howard Cross III, CB Bralyn Lux
Cleveland Browns
- Signed from practice squad: LB Edefuan Ulofoshio
- Elevated: TE Sal Cannella
- Placed on IR: LB Carson Schwesinger
Dallas Cowboys
- Activated from IR: RB Phil Mafah
- Activated from reserve/PUP: CB Josh Butler
- Signed from practice squad: LB Justin Barron
- Elevated: G Nick Leverett
- Placed on IR: G T.J. Bass, RB Malik Davis, RB Javonte Williams
Denver Broncos
- Elevated: LB Levelle Bailey
Detroit Lions
- Elevated: TE Zach Horton, OL Chris Hubbard
- Placed on IR: OL Trystan Colon
Green Bay Packers
- Signed from practice squad: WR Jakobie Keeney-James, G Lecitus Smith
- Elevated: TE Drake Dabney, LB Jamon Johnson
- Placed on IR: OL Donovan Jennings, WR Savion Williams
Houston Texans
- Elevated: DT Leki Fotu, S Kaevon Merriweather
Indianapolis Colts
- Elevated: QB Seth Henigan, TE Sean McKeon
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Elevated: TE Patrick Herbert
Kansas City Chiefs
- Elevated: WR Jason Brownlee, WR Jimmy Holiday
Las Vegas Raiders
- Elevated: LB Jamin Davis, T Dalton Wagner
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed from practice squad: S Marcus Maye
- Elevated: G Branson Taylor, QB DJ Uiagalelei
- Placed on IR: CB Nikko Reed
Miami Dolphins
- Elevated: LB Derrick McLendon, RB Jeff Wilson
Minnesota Vikings
- Elevated: WR Jeshaun Jones, LB Sione Takitaki
New Orleans Saints
- Signed from practice squad: TE Treyton Welch
- Elevated: QB Jake Haener, RB Nyheim Miller-Hines
New York Giants
- Signed from practice squad: CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse, WR Xavier Gipson, RB Dante Miller
- Elevated: TE Tanner Conner, DT Casey Rogers
- Placed on IR: CB Cor’Dale Flott, DT Rakeem Nunez-Roches Sr., WR Wan’Dale Robinson
New York Jets
- Signed from practice squad: QB Hendon Hooker, DE Kingsley Jonathan, G Kohl Levao
- Elevated: RB Raheem Blackshear, CB Samuel Womack III
- Placed on IR: RB Isaiah Davis, OL Xavier Newman-Johnson, TE Mason Taylor
Philadelphia Eagles
- Elevated: LS Charley Hughlett, S Brandon Johnson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Elevated: CB D’Shawn Jamison
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: LB Eric Kendricks, T Brandon Parker
Seattle Seahawks
- Elevated: RB Cam Akers, CB Tyler Hall
Tennessee Titans
- Activated from IR: OLB Ali Gaye, WR Bryce Oliver
- Signed from practice squad: CB Kemon Hall
- Elevated: TE Cole Turner
- Placed on IR: CB Jalyn Armour-Davis (story), WR Van Jefferson
Washington Commanders
- Elevated: DT Ricky Barber, WR River Cracraft
The Browns made it known yesterday that they were shutting down Schwesinger and tight ends David Njoku and Harold Fannin Jr. for the final week of the season, but the Defensive Rookie of the Year-favorite is the only one to land on IR.
In Dallas, Williams failed to practice this week as he dealt with shoulder and neck issues. With Davis also being placed on IR, the Cowboys will rely on rookie fifth-rounder Jaydon Blue and the recently activated Mafah, a seventh-round rookie, in Week 18. The team used their eighth and final IR activation to bring Mafah back for a potential NFL debut.
Because Green Bay didn’t elevate recently signed practice squad quarterback Desmond Ridder, it appears either Malik Willis will be healthy enough to back up Clayton Tune or Jordan Love will serve as the potential QB2 for the Packers in Week 18.
Judon is set to make his Bills debut in the team’s regular season finale after signing to their practice squad two weeks ago.
With Saints backup quarterback Spencer Rattler not practicing this week with a finger injury, Haener gets the call to back up rookie Tyler Shough.
Hall in Tennessee had already been called up as a standard gameday practice squad elevation three times this season. In order for him to appear in the Titans’ regular season finale, the move to the 53-man roster was necessary.
Dolphins Seeking GM With Scouting Background; Latest On Mike McDaniel
With newly hired consultant Troy Aikman aiding the Dolphins’ search for a general manager, the team is expected to appoint a GM with a scouting background, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. The Dolphins want someone whose “expertise is in team building,” Pelissero says.
Having gone without a full-time GM since parting with Chris Grier on Halloween, Miami is poised to move quickly in its hunt for a replacement, per Pelissero. Interim GM Champ Kelly will reportedly interview, but Packers vice president of player personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan and 49ers director, scouting and football operations Josh Williams are among outside names to watch, Albert Breer of SI.com relays.
This is the second time Sullivan has come up in connection to Miami’s GM vacancy since Grier’s exit. The 50-year-old has worked for the Packers since he began as a training camp intern in 2003.
Sullivan has garnered extensive experience as a scout in Green Bay, which may make him an ideal fit for the Dolphins. After interviewing for multiple GM openings last offseason, Sullivan should be well prepared for the process.
Williams joined Sullivan in interviewing for Jacksonsville’s GM role twice last winter, though the job ultimately went to James Gladstone. A year later, expectations are Williams will parlay a strong scouting resume into further interest from GM-needy teams.
Now in his 14th season in San Francisco, Williams is familiar with Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, who was on the 49ers’ coaching staff from 2017-21. With the 7-9 Dolphins set to miss the playoffs for the second year in a row, McDaniel’s future is in question.
If the Dolphins select Williams as their GM, it could boost McDaniel’s odds of returning for a fifth season. However, the Dolphins are not prioritizing hiring someone based on how that individual meshes with McDaniel, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports. Rather, they want “the best fit in general.”
Although McDaniel has an important fan in owner Stephen Ross, that doesn’t mean he’s a lock to keep his job. Ross will listen to his high-ranking front office members before deciding the coach’s fate, according to Breer.
Miami’s next GM will likely join McDaniel (or a different head coach) and senior VP of football and business administration Brandon Shore in forming the team’s power structure on the football side, Breer notes. Shore has taken on a larger role since Grier’s ouster. He’ll work alongside Ross and president Tom Garkfinkel as Miami searches for its next GM, per Breer.