Minor NFL Transactions: 10/11/25
Here are the minor moves and standard gameday practice squad elevations heading into the sixth Sunday of the NFL season:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed from practice squad: DT C.J. Okoye
- Elevated: QB Tyler Huntley, S Keondre Jackson
- Waived: S Reuben Lowery
Carolina Panthers
- Elevated: CB Keion Crossen, G Brandon Walton
Cincinnati Bengals
- Elevated: G Jaxson Kirkland
Cleveland Browns
- Elevated: CB Tre Avery
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed from practice squad: WR Jalen Cropper
- Elevated: WR Parris Campbell
- Placed on IR: RB Miles Sanders (story)
Detroit Lions
- Signed from practice squad: S Erick Hallett, DT Quinton Jefferson, CB Nick Whiteside
- Elevated: T Devin Cochran, CB Arthur Maulet
- Placed on IR: T Giovanni Manu (story)
- Waived: C Kingsley Eguakun, DT Chris Smith
Indianapolis Colts
- Elevated: RB Ameer Abdullah, CB Cameron Mitchell
Los Angeles Rams
- Elevated: CB A.J. Green, LB Elias Neal
Miami Dolphins
- Elevated: LB Quinton Bell, CB Isaiah Johnson
New England Patriots
- Elevated: RB Terrell Jennings, DE Truman Jones
New Orleans Saints
- Elevated: LB Nephi Sewell
New York Jets
- Elevated: WR Brandon Smith, WR Isaiah Williams
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed from practice squad: WR Ke’Shawn Williams
Seattle Seahawks
- Elevated: CB Shaquill Griffin, S Jerrick Reed II
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Elevated: RB Owen Wright
Tennessee Titans
- Signed from practice squad: TE Thomas Odukoya
- Elevated: LB Curtis Jacobs, K Matthew Wright
- Waived: T John Ojukwu
Manu was ruled out for this week with a knee injury after making the first start of his career with Detroit. Unfortunately, he’ll miss the team’s next three games, as well, after being placed on injured reserve.
Wright will fill in as placekicker for the Titans in Week 6. Regular kicker Joey Slye has been ruled out with a calf injury after missing practice all week.
Avery in Cleveland and Walton in Carolina are both being called up as standard gameday practice squad elevations for the third time this year. If either of their respective teams want them to be active for another game, they will need to sign them to the 53-man roster.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/10/25
Today’s minor moves as we head into the sixth weekend of the regular season:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: P Pat O’Donnell
Carolina Panthers
- Waived (with injury settlement): WR Dalevon Campbell
Miami Dolphins
- Released (with injury settlement): CB Cornell Armstrong
New England Patriots
- Placed on IR: RB Antonio Gibson (story)
Tennessee Titans
- Signed from practice squad: S Kendell Brooks
Cardinals punter Blake Gillikin appeared on the injury report with a back injury in Week 2 but has been otherwise healthy without missing any game time throughout the season so far. Gillikin showed back up on Arizona’s injury report yesterday with his back ailing him once again. He didn’t participate in practice at all today, and it doesn’t look good for his chances on Sunday that the team signed O’Donnell.
Following the Colts’ signing of Michael Badgley on Tuesday, O’Donnell becomes the second veteran specialist out of Miami (FL) to get signed out of free agency this week. O’Donnell punted for the Bears for eight years after Chicago drafted him in the sixth-round in 2014. He spent one year after Chicago with the Packers but remained a free agent throughout the 2023 season. Last year, he got a similar call from the 49ers, who held on to him for eight games after Mitch Wishnowsky was sidelined for the second half of the season with a back injury.
O’Donnell won out in a punting competition with fellow free agents Jack Browning and Matt Haack.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/9/25
Several NFL teams made minor roster moves on Thursday. Among them were the Giants, who signed two players from their practice squad to the active roster and promoted two more for their matchup with the Eagles on Thursday Night Football. Here is the full list:
New York Giants
- Signed from practice squad: LB Neville Hewitt, K Jude McAtamney
- Elevated from practice squad: LB Zaire Barnes, WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey
Tennessee Titans
- Waived: OL Brant Banks
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed from practice squad: NT Brandon Pili
- Released: WR Cody White
The Giants are dealing with injuries to multiple linebackers and wide receivers, as well as a groin injury that forced starting kicker Graham Gano onto injured reserve. Hewitt and Barnes will offer depth on defense and special teams, while Humphrey will reinforce a a depleted receiving corps.
McAtamney will take on the Giants’ kicking duties for a third week in a row. Including one appearance last season, he has made all three of his field goal attempts and all four of his extra points, though none of his kicks have come beyond 40 yards. He may get a chance to test his leg from a longer distance on Thursday night against a tough Eagles defense.
Traded Draft Picks For 2026
Many clubs have made moves to acquire 2026 draft capital. Headlined by the seven trades where first-round picks have changed hands, here are the 2026 picks to have changed hands thus far. When more deals involving picks are made (or conditions on moves already completed become known), that information will be added.
Round 1
- Giants obtained No. 10 from Bengals for DT Dexter Lawrence
- Rams acquired No. 13 from Falcons, sliding down from No. 26 to 46 in deal that sent OLB James Pearce Jr. to Atlanta
- Jets added No. 16 from Colts in trade for CB Sauce Gardner
- Cowboys obtained No. 20 from Packers in trade sending DE Micah Parsons to Green Bay
- Browns added No. 24 from Jaguars, agreeing to move down from No. 2 to No. 5 in swap for WR/CB Travis Hunter
- Chiefs snared No. 29 from Rams in deal sending CB Trent McDuffie to Los Angeles
- Dolphins acquired No. 30 from Broncos in trade sending WR Jaylen Waddle to Denver
Round 2
- Texans added No. 38 from Commanders in four-pick package that re-routed LT Laremy Tunsil to Washington
- Jets acquired No. 44 from Cowboys in trade involving DT Quinnen Williams
- Bears obtained No. 60 from Bills in trade involving WR D.J. Moore
Round 3
- Eagles picked up No. 68 from Jets in March 2024 deal sending OLB Haason Reddick to New York
- Serving as gateway on QB Jaxson Dart‘s New York path (at No. 25 overall), Texans acquired No. 69 from Giants
- Trade for WR George Pickens sent Steelers No. 76 from Cowboys in deal involving three draft choices between 2026 and ’27
- Jaguars hold No. 81 due to Lions climbing 32 spots (to No. 70) in 2025 draft for WR Isaac TeSlaa
- Dolphins added No. 87 from Eagles in trade for OLB Jaelan Phillips
- Dolphins acquired No. 90 from Texans, who moved pick in package for No. 116 in 2025 (RB Woody Marks)
- Cowboys landed No. 92 from 49ers in trade involving DT Osa Odighizuwa
- Dolphins obtained No. 94 from Broncos third in Waddle trade
- Jaguars snagged No. 100 from Lions via Detroit’s 2025 Isaac TeSlaa trade-up maneuver
Round 4
- Tunsil trade also sent Texans No. 106 from Commanders
- Broncos added No. 108 from Saints, sending WR Devaughn Vele to New Orleans
- Broncos acquired No. 111 from Dolphins fourth in trade for Waddle
- Eagles obtained No. 114 from Falcons in trade involving S Sydney Brown
- October 2024 trade for LT Cam Robinson sent Jaguars conditional fourth-rounder from Vikings
- Raiders obtained higher of Jaguars‘ two fourths (No. 117) in trade involving WR Jakobi Meyers
- Falcons added No. 122 from Eagles in Brown trade
- Chiefs added fourth from Bears in swap that sent G Joe Thuney to Chicago
- Patriots snagged selection (No. 125) from Chiefs in 2025 deal that gave Kansas City No. 85 (CB Nohl Williams)
- Lions added No. 128 from Texans in trade for RB David Montgomery
- Bears snared No. 129 from Rams in deal that gave Los Angeles No. 148 (DL Ty Hamilton)
- Waddle swap sent Dolphins No. 130 from Broncos
- Saints acquired No. 132 from Seahawks in trade for WR Rashid Shaheed
Round 5
- Browns collected Raiders fifth in trade involving QB Kenny Pickett
- Texans obtained pick (No. 141) from Browns in trade sending OL Tytus Howard to Cleveland
- Ravens added Jets fifth by moving out of No. 176 (DE Tyler Baron)
- Titans obtained Ravens pick (No. 142) in trade for OLB Dre’Mont Jones
- August 2024 Ernest Jones trade — the first of the two swaps involving the LB last year — sent Rams pick from Titans
- Titans obtained pick (No. 144) back from Rams in trade involving CB Roger McCreary
- Browns added Bengals fifth (No. 149) in trade for QB Joe Flacco
- Eagles acquired fifth from Falcons by dealing No. 96 to Atlanta (S Xavier Watts)
- Packers added No. 153 from Eagles in trade involving WR Dontayvion Wicks
- Panthers obtained No. 158 from Vikings in trade sending WR Adam Thielen back to Minnesota
- Ravens collected Chargers fifth (No. 162) in trade involving OLB Odafe Oweh, S Alohi Gilman
- Vikings acquired Eagles fifth (No. 163) in trade involving QB Sam Howell
- Moore trade sent Bills fifth (No. 165) from Bears
- Trade for DE Bryce Huff positioned to send Eagles conditional fifth from 49ers
- Jaguars obtained Eagles conditional fifth (No. 166) in trade involving RB Tank Bigsby
- In deal that sent G Kenyon Green to Eagles and S C.J. Gardner-Johnson to Texans, Philadelphia obtained Houston’s fifth
- Texans reacquired pick (No. 167) in trade that sent TE Harrison Bryant from Eagles in exchange for WR John Metchie
- McDuffie trade sent Chiefs No. 169 from Rams
- Shaheed trade sent Saints No. 172 from Seahawks
Round 6
- Browns added sixth from Jets, trading DT Jowon Briggs to New York
- Jaguars obtained sixth from Browns in trade involving CBs Tyson Campbell, Greg Newsome
- Raiders added sixth from Jaguars in Jakobi Meyers swap
- Bills added No. 182 from Raiders in trade for CB Taron Johnson
- Raiders added sixth from Jaguars in Jakobi Meyers swap
- Jaguars obtained sixth from Browns in trade involving CBs Tyson Campbell, Greg Newsome
- Nick Harris pick-swap trade sent Seahawks sixth back from Browns
- Jaguars acquired pick from Seahawks in trade involving DT Roy Robertson-Harris
- Isaac TeSlaa terms sent No. 188 to Lions from Jaguars
- Jaguars acquired pick from Seahawks in trade involving DT Roy Robertson-Harris
- October 2024 trade for DE Josh Uche sent Patriots No. 191 from Chiefs
- Giants acquired No. 192 from Dolphins in exchange for retired TE Darren Waller‘s rights
- Intra-NFC East swap involving DT Jordan Phillips brought Giants No. 193 from Cowboys
- Phillips being on Cowboys’ gameday roster for two games finalized trade
- Trade-up move involving K Tyler Loop (at No. 186) sent Jets sixth from Ravens
- Titans obtained No. 194 from Jets in trade involving CB Jarvis Brownlee
- Vikings collected No. 196 from Colts in deal for CB Mekhi Blackmon
- Eagles acquired No. 197 from Falcons in Sydney Brown trade
- Texans added sixth from Vikings in October 2024 RB Cam Akers swap
- Vikings reacquired choice from Texans in deal for G Ed Ingram
- Pick-swap deal centered around RB Jordan Mason sent choice to 49ers
- Patriots netted No. 198 from 49ers in trade involving DE Keion White
- Pick-swap deal centered around RB Jordan Mason sent choice to 49ers
- Vikings reacquired choice from Texans in deal for G Ed Ingram
- Deadline deal involving OLB Za’Darius Smith gave Browns sixth from Lions
- Bengals obtain No. 199 from Browns in deal for QB Joe Flacco
- Patriots landed No. 202 from Steelers in trade that sent S Kyle Dugger to Pittsburgh
- Trade involving Gardner-Johnson, Green sent Texans sixth from Eagles
- Eagles obtained sixth, TE Harrison Bryant from Texans in exchange for WR John Metchie, 2025 fifth
- Tank Bigsby trade sent Jaguars No. 203 from Eagles
- Eagles obtained sixth, TE Harrison Bryant from Texans in exchange for WR John Metchie, 2025 fifth
- Lions added No. 205 from Jaguars in deal for WR Tim Patrick
- Browns acquired No. 206 from Bears in trade for DE Joe Tryon-Shoyinka
- Rams obtained sixth from Texans in swap that sent WR Ben Skowronek to Houston
- Titans acquired pick from Rams in Ernest Jones trade
- Rams reacquired No. 207 from Titans sixth in trade involving CB Roger McCreary
- Titans acquired pick from Rams in Ernest Jones trade
- In intra-AFC East deal for CB Brandon Codrington, Jets received sixth from Bills
- Raiders acquired No. 208 from Jets in trade involving QB Geno Smith
- Commanders nabbed No. 209 from 49ers in exchange for RB Brian Robinson
- McDuffie trade sent Chiefs No. 210 from Rams
- Trade involving DL John Franklin-Myers, agreed to on Day 3 of 2024 draft, sent Jets sixth from Broncos
- Vikings acquired pick from Jets in deal involving DL Harrison Phillips
- Eagles added choice from Vikings in trade for Sam Howell
- Ravens obtained No. 211 from Eagles in trade involving CB Jaire Alexander
- Eagles added choice from Vikings in trade for Sam Howell
- Vikings acquired pick from Jets in deal involving DL Harrison Phillips
- Seahawks added sixth from Browns in deal that sent C Nick Harris back to Cleveland
- Jaguars snared pick from Seahawks in October 2024 deal for DL Roy Robertson-Harris
- Lions obtained No. 213 from Jaguars in pick-swap deal for Isaac TeSlaa
- Jaguars snared pick from Seahawks in October 2024 deal for DL Roy Robertson-Harris
- Colts obtained No. 214 from Steelers in trade involving WR Michael Pittman Jr.
- Falcons obtained No. 215 from Eagles in Brown deal
Round 7
- Cowboys added No. 218 from Titans in trade involving DT Solomon Thomas
- Brandon Codrington trade sent Bills No. 220 from Jets
- Cowboys added seventh from Giants in Jordan Phillips trade
- Bengals added No. 221 from Cowboys in trade involving LB Logan Wilson
- Za’Darius Smith pick-swap trade brought Lions No. 222 from Browns
- Patriots acquired seventh from Saints in deal involving DT Davon Godchaux
- Steelers acquired No. 224 from Patriots in trade involving Kyle Dugger
- Cowboys collected conditional seventh from Chiefs for TE Peyton Hendershot
- Titans grabbed No. 225 from Cowboys in trade for DT Solomon Thomas
- Bills snagged seventh from Cowboys in exchange for CB Kaiir Elam
- Raiders acquired pick from Bills in trade involving CB Taron Johnson
- Jets added No. 228 from Raiders in trade for QB Geno Smith
- Raiders acquired pick from Bills in trade involving CB Taron Johnson
- Steelers obtained No. 230 from Colts in trade for WR Michael Pittman Jr.
- Rams acquired No. 232 from Ravens in 2024 Tre’Davious White deadline deal
- May 2023 trade gave Jaguars conditional seventh (No. 233) from Lions in exchange for K Riley Patterson
- Adam Thielen clearing 10-game mark in 2025 sent Vikings No. 235 from Panthers
- Titans obtained seventh from Chargers in exchange for DB Elijah Molden
- Jets added seventh from Titans in Jarvis Brownlee trade
- Dolphins acquired No. 238 from Jets for S Minkah Fitzpatrick
- Jets added seventh from Titans in Jarvis Brownlee trade
- Jaguars snared seventh from Eagles in deal sending T Fred Johnson back to Philadelphia
- Browns obtained pick from Jaguars in Greg Newsome trade
- Bears pried No. 239 from Browns in Joe Tryon-Shoyinka swap
- Browns obtained pick from Jaguars in Greg Newsome trade
- Browns–Bills‘ trade involving WR Amari Cooper sent Cleveland seventh
- In Jowon Briggs trade, Jets added No. 242 from Browns
- Deadline deal involving DT Khalil Davis gave Texans No. 243 from 49ers
- Vikings acquired No. 244 from Texans in trade involving RB Cam Akers
- Texans added seventh from Rams in Ben Skowronek trade
- Jaguars collected No. 245 from Texans in trade for WR Christian Kirk
- Nick Harris trade sent Browns No. 248 from Seahawks
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/8/25
Today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: TE Nick Muse
- Released: S Patrick McMorris
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: CB Dee Williams
- Placed on IR: CB Ameer Speed
Detroit Lions
- Signed: CB Arthur Maulet
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: LB Jamin Davis
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: DL Bruce Hector
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: S Maxen Hook
- Placed on IR: G Shane Lemieux
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: K Matthew Wright
With starting cornerbacks D.J. Reed and Terrion Arnold both sidelined (along with backup Khalil Dorsey), the Lions have brought in some veteran reinforcement at the position. Arthur Maulet brings 85 games of experience to Detroit, although he’s struggled to carve out a starting role throughout his career. The cornerback has mostly served as a depth piece in stops with the Saints, Colts, Jets, Steelers, and Ravens. He spent the past two seasons in Baltimore, where he compiled 42 tackles and a pair of sacks in 17 appearances.
Titans Move WR Treylon Burks Off IR List
OCTOBER 8: As expected, Burks cleared waivers Wednesday, Garafolo tweets. Several weeks after initially being informed he would be waived, the former first-round pick is a free agent.
OCTOBER 7: Although Treylon Burks is trending upward in terms of health, he will not factor into the Titans’ plans. Tennessee is cutting the veteran wide receiver from its IR list, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo reports.
This will be an injury settlement-generated divorce, but with Burks receiving medical clearance (after a 2024 ACL tear), it would surprise if he lingered in free agency for too long. A second chance appears likely for the former first-round pick. Burks will need to clear waivers, as a non-vested veteran, but his resume and first-round contract should ensure he does so.
Tennessee waived Burks well before the August roster-setting deadline, and he reverted to IR. That made him unable to return to the team this season on his current contract. Although teams occasionally circle back to players placed on season-ending IR following injury settlements, that is highly unlikely here. Burks was a Jon Robinson-era draftee, chosen after the draft-night A.J. Brown trade, who did not live up to expectations. With the Titans two GMs removed from Robinson, Burks will be leaving Nashville soon.
The Titans fired Robinson months after his Burks pick, axed Mike Vrabel barely a year later and then canned Ran Carthon in January. Chad Brinker, Carthon’s former lieutenant, is now president of football ops; Brinker hired Mike Borgonzi as GM. Brinker was not with the Titans when they drafted Burks.
Burks, who has just a 53/699/1 line across three seasons, has battled injuries in multiple years. He played in five games last season, catching just four passes for a 3-14 Titans team. He caught Robinson and Co.’s attention with two quality seasons at Arkansas. Burks totaled 66 receptions for 1,104 yards and 11 touchdowns in his final Razorbacks season (2021) and was viewed, perhaps unfairly, as a big-bodied Brown replacement. Obviously, those hopes came nowhere close to transpiring.
The Titans have overhauled their WR room otherwise, adding veterans DeAndre Hopkins and Calvin Ridley since the Burks pick. The team traded Hopkins last year, and Ridley’s guarantees wrap after this season. The team has Tyler Lockett, Van Jefferson and fourth-round rookies Elic Ayomanor and Dike Chimere as other options.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/7/25
Today’s practice squad moves in the NFL:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: S Patrick McMorris
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: CB Jalen Kimber, LB Baylon Spector
- Released: LB Otis Reese
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: CB Keion Crossen, G Darrian Dalcourt
- Released: S Israel Mukuamu, G Aiden Williams
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: S Julius Wood
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: CB Troy Pride Jr.
- Released: CB Mike Hilton
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: WR Tim Jones
- Released: WR Erik Ezukanma
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: P Brad Robbins
Minnesota Vikings
- Released: T Matt Waletzko
New England Patriots
- Signed: RB Jashaun Corbin
- Released: G Royce Newman
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: WR Ronnie Bell, TE Moliki Matavao
- Released: T Sataoa Laumea, WR Tommy Mellott
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Released: LB Ja’Whaun Bentley
San Francisco 49ers
- Released: S Jaylen Mahoney
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: RB Owen Wright
- Released: G Sua Opeta
Tennessee Titans
- Released: CB Alex Johnson
Titans WR Treylon Burks Receives Medical Clearance
Treylon Burks‘ latest injury has kept him sidelined through the beginning of the 2025 campaign. The former first-round receiver could be on the field soon, though. 
Burks – who suffered a broken collarbone during training camp – has received medical clearance to return to football activities, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. As a result, interest could pick up in the near future in this case. That will depend on how the Titans proceed, however.
In the wake of his most recent ailment, Burks was waived with an injury designation by Tennessee in late July. To little surprise, the 25-year-old went unclaimed. That resulted in Burks reverting to injured reserve. Players in that situation are often released via an injury settlement, but ESPN’s Turron Davenport notes that has yet to happen. As such, Burks is still in place with the Titans.
Per Davenport, a termination (which would lead Burks to free agency) could take place at any time. For now, though, no communication between team and player has taken place indicating a release is imminent. Of course, that could change in short order if the Chad Brinker-Brian Callahan regime – which was not in place when Burks was drafted – decides to move forward with its other options at the receiver position. That group includes veterans Calvin Ridley, Tyler Lockett and Van Jefferson, along with rookies Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike.
Burks faced massive expectations upon arriving in the NFL based on his draft status but also because the pick used to select him was acquired from the Eagles in the A.J. Brown trade. While Brown has cemented his status as one of the league’s premier receivers during his time in Philadelphia, Burks has played just 27 games to date. The Arkansas product posted 444 yards as a rookie, but since then he has been unable to remain healthy or build off that output.
Regardless of what plays out in 2025, Burks will not be viewed as an impact addition based on the way his NFL career has unfolded up to this point. Still, it will be interesting to see if the Titans proceed with a release and a market is generated soon after.
Titans Activate Tyjae Spears From IR
A prominent member of the Titans’ backfield is returning in time for a Week 5 meeting with the Cardinals. The Titans have activated running back Tyjae Spears from injured reserve, according to Jim Wyatt of the team’s website. They placed safety Mike Brown on IR in a corresponding move.
Spears missed the first four games of the season with an ankle injury, depriving Tennessee of its No. 2 back behind starter Tony Pollard. A third-round selection from Tulane in 2023, Spears appeared in 29 games in his first two seasons and picked up 184 carries for 765 yards (4.2 YPC) and six touchdowns. He also chipped in 82 receptions for 609 yards and another two scores, giving the Titans an effective pass catcher out of the backfield.
During an 0-4 start this season, the Titans have rushed for 348 yards – the fourth-lowest total in the league. Pollard has accounted for 261 of those yards, though he has averaged a career-low 3.8 per tote. Without Spears, the Titans couldn’t find a legitimate complement to Pollard. Rookie quarterback Cam Ward ranks second on the team in both rushes (nine) and yards (42). Julius Chestnut has totaled just five carries, meanwhile, and rookie sixth-rounder Kalel Mullings went on IR on Sept. 26 after receiving zero touches in his first two NFL games.
Brown, who’s dealing with a knee issue, hasn’t factored in on defense this season. Instead, the fourth-year man has played all 93 of his snaps on special teams. He’ll be unavailable for at least four games.
Along with their IR moves, the Titans elevated wide receiver James Proche and defensive back Kendell Brooks from the practice squad for Sunday’s contest. Proche, formerly with the Ravens and Browns, hasn’t seen any game action this year. The same is true of Brooks, who played in five games for the Titans in 2024.
Titans’ Coaching Staff Growing Uneasy?
The Titans have nosedived since their 2021 divisional-round appearance brought nine Joe Burrow sacks but a Bengals win. Since, the team has finished 7-10, 6-11 and 3-14. This season shows no signs of that trend reversing, as Tennessee is 0-4 and coming off a shutout loss.
Houston blanked its division rival in a 26-0 Week 4 result, and Tennessee has lost three of its four games by at least 14 points. The Titans rank 32nd in offense and 28th defensively. Finding bright spots is difficult here, leading to natural speculation Brian Callahan is coaching for his job. Some internal buzz further points to that.
Entering Week 5, moderate concerns exist among the Titans’ coaching staff the front office may not be as patient as initially believed, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes. Although Titans brass came into the season confident Callahan could turn the ship around and did not set a win-loss benchmark for its coach to keep his job, per Fowler, team brass obviously wants to see an improving squad. That has not happened, and Fowler indicates the feeling around the league points to the temperature rising here.
Deck chairs are already being rearranged. Callahan benched himself as play-caller, going around his OC (Nick Holz) to give the duty to QBs coach Bo Hardegree. This reminds of an ill-conceived 2022 Broncos setup, when Nathaniel Hackett turned to QBs coach Klint Kubiak over OC Justin Outten due to the former’s play-calling experience. (Denver fired Hackett after Week 16; Outten was in Tennessee weeks later.) Holz’s lack of play-calling experience compared to Hardegree, the Raiders’ interim OC during the second half of the 2023 season, influenced Callahan’s call.
Hardegree’s debut with the call sheet did not go well, and Cam Ward then criticized his play and the performance of the team as a whole postgame. The Titans’ minus-69 point differential is the league’s worst, and a defense that ranked second in yardage in Dennard Wilson‘s debut (as Will Levis‘ poor play contributed to the team’s 30th-place scoring defense ranking) now sits 25th.
Callahan is also in the interesting position of being a second-year coach for a team that made another power-structure shift this offseason. Ran Carthon hired Callahan last year, but Amy Adams Strunk fired Ran Carthon in January, promoting assistant GM Chad Brinker to president of football operations. Brinker was in Nashville when Callahan was hired, but he had been operating as Carthon’s top lieutenant at the time. Brinker being promoted to control the Titans’ roster was somewhat eyebrow-raising after a 3-14 season, but he and new GM Mike Borgonzi are not tied to Callahan in the way Carthon was.
In a normal circumstance, offensive line coach Bill Callahan‘s past as a head coach (with the Raiders and at Nebraska) would make him a candidate as an interim option. Bill Callahan served in that capacity after Washington fired Jay Gruden in 2019. Bill being Brian’s father would certainly make it shocking if he stuck around, however, leaving an experience void for the Titans were they to can the younger Callahan (and likely lose Bill from the staff as well).
Neither Wilson nor Holz has conducted a head coaching interview previously. Senior offensive assistant Mike McCoy served as Chargers HC for four years; he could be an emergency option.
Even if Brian Callahan shows some improvement, he is certainly a long-odds candidate to be given a third season. Game management issues have cropped up during the former Bengals OC’s tenure as well, and Ward would need to show major improvement to convince Adams Strunk — who has acted rather impulsively in the past, with the Mike Vrabel and Jon Robinson firings preceding Carthon’s two-and-done stint — to stay the course beyond 2025.

