Bills Place WR Josh Palmer On IR
Josh Palmer‘s debut Bills season is over. The free agent wideout has been moved to injured reserve, the team announced on Saturday. 
The rule for players missing a minimum of four games while on IR continues through the playoffs. As a result, any which are placed on injured reserve now are ineligible to return the rest of the way. An ankle injury will keep Palmer unavailable for the duration of Buffalo’s postseason.
Palmer played in 12 games – including Week 18 – this season. The 26-year-old Canadian was in position to handle a key role on offense with his new team upon arrival from the Chargers, but despite making eight starts he registered just 303 scoreless yards on 22 catches. Nevertheless, losing Palmer (who is under contract through 2027) will deal a blow to a Buffalo passing game which has struggled with inconsistency this year.
In a corresponding move, linebacker Baylon Spector has been signed from the practice squad to the active roster. Spector has made three appearances this season, with the most recent coming in December. The fourth-year Bill will be expected to contribute on special teams in addition to providing depth on defense.
In other roster news, the Bills have elected not to elevate kicker Matthew Wright from the practice squad. Wright was signed earlier this week as insurance with Matt Prater‘s status uncertain due to a quad injury. Based on the team’s actions today, though, Prater is in line to handle kicking duties on Sunday against the Jaguars.
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/10/26
Here are Saturday’s moves around the NFL as the first day of wild-card weekend continues:
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: DE Andre Jones Jr., RB Frank Gore Jr.
Denver Broncos
- Designated for return from injured reserve: LB Drew Sanders
Green Bay Packers
- Elevated: WR Isaiah Neyor
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Elevated: WR Tim Jones
Los Angeles Chargers
- Activated from IR: TE Tucker Fisk
- Placed on IR: WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith
- Elevated: WR Dalevon Campbell, CB Isas Waxter
New England Patriots
- Elevated: DT Leonard Taylor, WR Jeremiah Webb
Philadelphia Eagles
- Elevated: LS Charley Hughlett, DB Andre’ Sam
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: LB Jalen Graham, WR Malik Turner
Sanders was limited to four games last season due to an Achilles tear. The 25-year-old then suffered a foot injury in training camp which kept him sidelined for the entire regular season in 2025. As Mike Klis of 9News notes, Sanders will not be available in the divisional round but a return deeper into the postseason will be at least a faint possibility with him now on the practice field.
Bears Activate CB Kyler Gordon From IR
The Bears activated cornerback Kyler Gordon from injured reserve, per a team announcement, setting him up to play in Saturday night’s wild card matchup with the Packers.
Gordon, 26, only appeared in three games in the regular season due to a variety of injuries. He did not play until Week 6 due to a hamstring injury suffered in training camp. Calf and groin issues quickly forced him back on the sidelines, this time accompanied by a move to injured reserve. He returned to the field in late November and landed right back on IR after his first game back, again due to a groin injury. After missing the last four games of the regular season, Gordon was able to recover in time for the Bears’ first playoff game since 2020.
The injury-riddled season has been a disappointment for both player and club, especially considering the three-year, $40MM extension Gordon signed in April. The 2022 second-round pick emerged as a reliable, if not elite, nickel in his first three years in the NFL, earning him a deal at the top of that specific market. But injuries were an issue; Gordon missed nine games across those three seasons and has more than doubled his total this year.
Chicago has primarily relied on C.J. Gardner-Johnson in the slot with Nick McCloud also getting some snaps. Neither has performed particularly well – their Pro Football Focus grades (subscription required) both hover around 50.0 – so it will be interesting to see how the Bears handle Gordon’s return. Given his health struggles – especially two groin issues – they may want to ease him back into full-speed and -contact action to avoid another re-injury.
The Bears also announced a few other moves for Saturday’s game. Tight end Nikola Kalinic and linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin were both elevated from the practice squad to face the Packers, while offensive tackle Braxton Jones was downgraded to out and will not be activated from IR.
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/9/26
A few more reserve/futures deals trickled in today:
Cleveland Browns
Miami Dolphins
- DT Keith Cooper Jr., T Braeden Daniels, TE Cole Turner, T Carter Warren
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/9/26
Here are Friday’s minor moves as we head into the first weekend of the 2025-26 postseason:
Los Angeles Rams
- Elevated: OLB Nick Hampton, S Tanner Ingle
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Designated for return from IR: DE Isaiahh Loudermilk
The Rams calling up practice squad elevations in anticipation of the NFL’s opening playoff games tomorrow, while the Steelers are looking to add some defensive line depth for their own attempt at a playoff run.
Panthers Activate G Robert Hunt From IR
The Panthers are big underdogs to the Rams in the wild-card round, having finished 8-9. But the home team will have a key offensive line presence available. Robert Hunt is coming off IR, where he has resided since a Week 2 injury.
Carolina announced Friday Hunt is now activated, and the high-priced guard will start against Los Angeles. A biceps tendon tear has kept Hunt out for nearly four months, but the Panthers will have their two guard starters — Hunt and Damien Lewis — ready for the franchise’s first playoff game in eight years.
[RELATED: Injured Reserve Return Tracker]
Hunt returned to practice on Christmas Eve but was given a ramp-up period despite the Panthers not being on firm playoff footing. The patience ultimately will be rewarded, and Hunt will have a chance to close out his season on a high note. The former Dolphins second-round pick is finishing out the second season of a five-year, $100MM contract.
The Panthers, who have four injury activations remaining, have used Austin Corbett as their other guard. Corbett has yoyoed between guard and center in Carolina. Cade Mays has become the Panthers’ primary center. Hunt, 29, started 16 games last season and had built considerable momentum during his final years in Miami.
ESPN’s run block win rate metric slotted Hunt second among all interior offensive linemen last season. The Panthers have deployed a middling run game this season, despite some quality earlier Rico Dowdle work. They rank 19th in rushing and 27th in scoring offense.
Carolina has been maddeningly inconsistent on offense in Bryce Young‘s third season; Young’s development (or lack thereof at the time) was the key driver for Hunt and Lewis to be given big-ticket FA contracts in 2024. The Panthers will not be expected to beat the Rams twice in one season — well, Vegas certainly doesn’t think this will happen — but they should have a better shot with a key offensive starter back.
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/8/26
A handful of teams continued adding to their reserve/futures stashes today:
Cincinnati Bengals
- WR Dohnte Meyers
Indianapolis Colts
- CB Robert Carter Jr.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- OT Marshall Foerner, WR Garrett Greene, WR Dennis Houston, LB Mohamed Kamara
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 1/8/26
A handful of playoff teams shuffled their practice squads today. We’ve listed all of the moves below:
Carolina Panthers
- CB Michael Reid
Chicago Bears
- Signed: LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin
- Placed on IR: LB Ty Summers
Houston Texans
- Placed on IR: S Kaevon Merriweather
New England Patriots
- Signed: OT Sebastian Gutierrez
- Released: CB Miles Battle
Minor NFL Transactions: 1/8/26
One minor move to pass along:
Houston Texans
- Designated for return from IR: S Jaylen Reed
A rookie sixth-round pick, Reed has spent half of the 2025 season on the sideline. He started the season on PUP thanks to a knee injury, but he managed to make his NFL debut in late October. He ended up getting into seven games (one start) for Houston, collecting 14 tackles (12 of which came in one game) in 73 defensive snaps. He landed on injured reserve in December after suffering a forearm injury that required surgery. The Texans will be able to use him as an extra practice body for much of the postseason.
NFL Reserve/Futures Deals: 1/7/26
Today saw four teams establish reserve/futures deals for next year:
Cincinnati Bengals
- WR Dohnte Meyers
Minnesota Vikings
- DT Jaylon Hutchings, LB Jacob Roberts
New Orleans Saints
New York Giants
San Francisco 49ers
- LB Milo Eifler
Washington Commanders