Minor NFL Transactions: 2/18/26
Here are Wednesday’s minor moves from around the NFL…
Cincinnati Bengals
- Re-signed: WR Kendric Pryor
Denver Broncos
- Re-signed: WR Michael Bandy
Los Angeles Rams
- Re-signed: OL David Quessenberry
San Francisco 49ers
- Re-signed: OL Nick Zakelj
The 35-year-old Quessenberry, by far the most experienced player in this quartet, has 97 games and 30 starts on his resume. Quessenberry was a sixth-round pick of the Texans in 2013, but a foot injury and then a three-year battle with Lymphoma kept him off the field in his first four seasons. He beat cancer to make his long-awaited NFL debut in 2017. Quessenberry has since gotten into games with the Titans, Bills, Vikings and Rams. In 2025, his first season as a Ram, he made 13 appearances and totaled 91 snaps (73 on special teams, 18 on offense).
Zakelj, 26, has been a career-long 49er since they chose him in the sixth round in 2022. The former Fordham Ram has come off the bench in 27 of 29 appearances, including three last season. Zakelj picked up his only two starts in 2024, his lone 17-game season.
Minor NFL Transactions: 2/17/26
One minor move to pass along:
Atlanta Falcons
- Waived: QB Emory Jones
Emory Jones initially made a name for himself at Florida in 2021, and he later spent time at Arizona State (2022) and Cincinnati (2023) before trying to make it as a professional. The QB caught on with the Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2024, and after not making the roster, he briefly joined the DC Defenders of the UFL.
He subsequently signed with the Falcons and stuck on their offseason roster in 2025. He was waived/injured after suffering a concussion during the 2025 preseason and eventually reverted to injured reserve. He ended up spending the entire season there.
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 2/17/26
A handful of reserve/futures deals:
New England Patriots
- CB Brandon Crossley
Tennessee Titans
- DE Earnest Brown IV, OT Ryan Hayes
Earnest Brown IV brings the most experience of the bunch, as the defensive end has appeared in 15 games (three starts) through five seasons in the NFL. The former fifth-round pick out of Northwestern spent the first chunk of his career with the Rams, where he compiled 14 tackles. He also earned a Super Bowl ring during his tenure in Los Angeles. Since his Rams stint came to an end, he’s spent time with the 49ers, Buccaneers, and Cowboys. Now, he’ll look to revive his career in Tennessee.
Panthers Re-Sign LS J.J. Jansen
Once again, J.J. Jansen has agreed to continue his career. The longtime Panthers long snapper signed another new deal on Tuesday, per a team announcement. 
To no surprise, this is the latest in a long line of one-year pacts. Jansen has been operating on a year-to-year basis since 2021, and that will no doubt continue until his career ends. Now 40, Jansen will extend his lead in terms of the franchise’s games player leader list by playing his 18th NFL season.
Acquired via trade in 2009, the Notre Dame product has yet to miss a contest in his career. Jansen played out a five-year deal during the middle stages of his Carolina career, but he has been a special teams mainstay far beyond the expiration of that pact. The one-time Pro Bowler has played 277 games in the regular season, good for 27th in NFL history. Only Marcedes Lewis and Calais Campbell have played more among active players.
Jansen already leads the way in terms of games played by long snappers, and he will now extend his advantage in that regard. A move into the top 20 in league history (at all positions) will take place provided he manages to play a full campaign in 2026. As Carolina’s wild-card game approached, Jansen expressed a willingness to continue his career. Today’s news thus comes as no surprise.
Carolina relied on another veteran in the form of Sam Martin to handle punting duties in 2025. He is a pending free agent, so change could be seen at that position this offseason. Rookie Ryan Fitzgerald served as the team’s kicker this past season, and that can be expected to continue into 2026. Jansen will provide stability to the Panthers’ special teams battery yet again as he adds further to his career totals.
Dolphins Release WR Tyreek Hill
As expected, Tyreek Hill‘s tenure with the Dolphins is ending. The All-Pro wideout is among the veterans being let go on Monday. 
Hill is being released, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. This marks an end to his four-year run in Miami. As Hill continues to recover from the season-ending knee injury he suffered in Week 4, he will now become a free agent. The Dolphins have since confirmed the news.
[RELATED: Hill Plans To Play 11th NFL Season]
2026 was set to include $36MM in compensation in this case. Hill was due to collect a $5MM roster bonus as part of that figure in March, but many expected a release to take place well before that point. Miami has been busy on Monday, with the team’s list of veteran cuts including edge rusher Bradley Chubb and others. His release, along with that of Hill, will substantially alter the Dolphins’ cap situation.
Cutting Hill immediately would generate a slightly higher dead money charge ($28.25MM) than the cap savings it would create ($22.89MM). Like in Chubb’s case, a post-June 1 designation would be much more beneficial for the Dolphins. Taking that route would yield over $35MM in savings against while spreading out the dead cap charges across the next two years. In either case, Miami is well into cost-shedding season given the team’s actions today.
Hill is free to join another team, but since his injury there have been questions raised about his future. It will be interesting to see how much of a market forms in this case given the eight-time Pro Bowler’s health status. Hill is also the subject of an NFL investigation into domestic violence allegations. His history regarding other off-the-field issues represents another factor which could hinder Hill’s value.
The Dolphins received notable trade interest in Jaylen Waddle leading up to the 2025 deadline. To little surprise, Miami retained him. Waddle – who is under contract through the 2028 campaign – is now in line to handle WR1 duties moving forward. The rest of the team’s depth chart at the receiver position could see several changes this offseason.
Hill established himself as one of the league’s most productive players over the course of his Chiefs tenure. The former fifth-rounder was named a member of the 2010s All-Decade team based on his showings in Kansas City, and expectations were high upon arrival in Miami. The 2022 blockbuster deal which saw the Dolphins acquire Hill brought about five picks for the Chiefs and helped them reset their core. With the Dolphins, Hill proved to be a highly productive contributor.
In 2022, he broke the 1,700-yard threshold. Hill matched that feat the following season, leading the league in yards and touchdowns. A drop-off was suffered in 2024, a year in which the Dolphins dealt with quarterback injuries. Hill could be seen as a viable target in certain cases if suitors consider him a bounce-back candidate. Otherwise, his health status and intentions with respect to his future will be a major storyline.
The Dolphins are in position to usher in a new, young core during the opening year of the Jon-Eric Sullivan-Jeff Hafley era. Further changes can be expected, but several veteran contracts are already coming off the books in a sign of the wide berth granted by owner Stephen Ross. Inexpensive receivers will be targeted during the spring for Miami, while Hill will weigh his options.
Dolphins Release OLB Bradley Chubb
Bradley Chubb‘s time in Miami is coming to an end. The veteran edge rusher is being released by the Dolphins, as first reported by NFL insider Jordan Schultz. 
Chubb’s deal had one season remaining on it. However, none of his base pay for 2026 was guaranteed, leaving the door open to a release. It comes as little surprise Miami’s new regime is moving forward with this cut prior to March 12, when Chubb was due to collect a roster bonus. The Dolphins have since confirmed the move.
Roughly one year ago, Chubb agreed to a restructure which reduced his base salary for 2025. That move increased his cap hit for next year to over $31.5MM, though. Instead of attempting to work out another restructure or an extension, a release loomed as a logical direction for Miami. This move will generate a considerable dead money charge if it is processed immediately. On the other hand, a post-June 1 designation would create $20.23MM in savings for the Dolphins, one of the teams with work to do over the coming weeks to become cap compliant.
Chubb established himself as a productive sack artist during his time with the Broncos. Upon being acquired by the Dolphins via trade in 2022, the two-time Pro Bowler inked a five-year, $110MM extension. Chubb’s first full Miami campaign was stellar, as he racked up 11 sacks and six forced fumbles. An ACL tear suffered late in the season kept him sidelined for all of 2024, though.
Upon returning to full health, Chubb managed to remain in place for all 17 games in 2025. He recorded 8.5 sacks and 22 pressures while handling a full-time starting role. The Dolphins received considerable interest leading up to the trade deadline on multiple fronts, and Chubb was among the top targets for suitors. In the end, fellow pass rusher Jaelan Phillips was dealt while Chubb was retained. Both are now on track for free agency.
Entering his age-30 season, Chubb will be among the top edge rushers on the market. Interested teams could be cautious given his injury history, but the former No. 5 pick has shown an ability to produce when healthy. A contract similar to the one he landed in 2022 should not be expected, of course. Nevertheless, a strong market could emerge prior to the start of free agency.
The Dolphins, meanwhile, will remain a team to watch over the coming weeks. The new tandem of general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley is in line to move on from a number of expensive contracts. The fate of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa remains unclear, but other veterans could soon join Chubb in being on the move.
Jaguars Re-Sign RB DeeJay Dallas
The Jaguars have kept a pair of veterans in the fold with today’s moves. In addition to Matt Dickerson, DeeJay Dallas will be in place for the offseason.
Dallas split his time between the Panthers and Jags in 2025. The veteran running back wound up making three appearances with each team, continuing in his familiar role as a special teams presence. Dallas will be counted on to remain a core piece in the third phase for Jacksonville in 2026, with the team announced on Monday that he has been re-signed.
During his time with the Seahawks (2020-23) and Cardinals (2024), Dallas did not manage to establish himself as a regular on offense. His career high in carries for one season is 35, and it is unlikely that will change with the Jags. Today’s news will ensure depth in the backfield as the team contemplates its options with Travis Etienne.
Etienne is not expected to receive the franchise tag, meaning a trip to free agency looms. Etienne topped 1,000 rushing yards for the third time in his career in 2025, and he could be one of the top backs on the market provided no Jacksonville agreement is reached. The Jaguars also have 2025 draftees Bhayshul Tuten and LeQuint Allen in place, and they are likely to once again have a role on offense next year.
The same will likely not be true of Dallas, 27, even if he manages to survive roster cuts this summer. Nevertheless, he could carve out a role for himself as a kick returner. Dallas has amassed 2,254 yards in that regard over the course of his career, and that figure could increase during his first full season in Jacksonville.
Dolphins Release G James Daniels, WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
Monday is shaping up to be an important day for the Dolphins with respect to veteran cuts. James Daniels is also on the way out. 
The veteran guard is being released, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports. Daniels was under contract for the next two seasons, but it comes as little surprise he is being cut given the way 2025 played out. Daniels suffered a pectoral injury in Week 1, and he wound up missing the remainder of the season. The news is now official, per a team announcement.
Instead of Miami’s new regime keeping the 28-year-old in place and hoping for a healthy bounce-back season, a release will take place. The Dolphins will be hit with a dead money charge of $4.8MM by cutting Daniels right away. If a post-June 1 designation is used, Miami will generate $2.42MM in savings against $1.2MM in dead cap. Teams can use the post-June 1 option when processing releases on up to two players per year.
The Dolphins are in position to move on from several veterans this offseason. New general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley will have a number of key decisions to make ahead of the new league year opening in March. Miami was one of several NFL teams which entered Monday projected to be over the cap. In addition to necessary cost-shedding moves, a rebuild will be sought out this spring.
Daniels is a veteran of 91 games and 85 starts in the NFL. The former Bear and Steeler signed a three-year, $24MM pact last offseason to join Miami. That move was set to give the Dolphins a guard starter for 2025 and beyond, but things did not go according to plan due to the injury. A tepid free agent market is likely in store.
The Dolphins are also cutting wideout Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, per Pelissero. He was also added on the open market last year. The former Titan proved to be an effective secondary contributor on offense earlier in his career, but he posted just 11 receptions with Miami in 2025. Instead of remaining in place for the final year of his deal, Westbrook-Ikhine will also turn his attention to the open market.
Miami’s roster reset is well underway in advance of free agency. Other veteran cuts will remain something to watch for over the coming days.
Jaguars Re-Sign DL Matt Dickerson
Matt Dickerson saw the heaviest workload of his career in 2025, his first season with the Jaguars. The veteran defensive lineman will remain in place for next year. 
Dickson has re-signed with the Jags, per a team announcement. Instead of exploring the market next month, he will continue his time in Jacksonville. A journeyman across several years in the NFL, Dickerson managed to work his way from the practice squad to the active roster with the Jags in 2025.
The 30-year-old wound up making eight appearances this past season. That included the first four starts of his career. Dickerson logged a defensive snap share of 39%, comfortably the highest of his NFL tenure. He also chipped in on special teams at a higher rate than his previous stops around the league.
Dickerson saw sparse usage with the Titans, Falcons, Chiefs and Dolphins during a stretch from 2018-24. The former undrafted free agent has totaled 48 games in his career during the regular season, although he did not see any time during the 2022 campaign. A Super Bowl winner dating back to his lone year in Kansas City, Dickerson will offer plenty of experience to Jacksonville’s defensive line as he looks to continue carving out a regular role for himself.
The UCLA product was attached to a veteran minimum deal in 2025. This latest pact will no doubt be similar. Jacksonville entered Monday as one of the teams projected to be over the cap, but keeping Dickerson in the fold will not require a notable financial commitment.
RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 2/14/26
Saturday has brought about the first of what will be many tender decisions around the NFL:
ERFAs
- Tendered: T Austen Pleasants (49ers)
Pleasants made 15 appearances and logged 125 offensive snaps in 2025. Both of those were career highs, making it an easy decision for the 49ers to retain him. The tender will be worth just over $1MM since Pleasants has only accrued one season in the NFL to date.