Transactions News & Rumors

Eagles Designate S Marcus Epps To Return From IR

December 2nd, 2025 at 6:53pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Eagles designated safety Marcus Epps to return from injured reserve on Tuesday, per a team announcement.

Epps, 29, landed on IR at the beginning of November with an undisclosed injury. He appeared in Philadelphia’s first eight games of the season, primarily playing special teams with a handful of snaps on defense.

The eight-year veteran is in the middle of his second stint with the Eagles. Epps started his career in Minnesota as a sixth-round pick in 2019, but he made his name in Philadelphia. The Eagles claimed him off waivers during his rookie year and he immediately stepped into a core role on special teams and a rotational one on defense. His snap share in both phases ticked up over the next two years, which included eight starts on defense, culminating in a full-time time job in 2022. Epps started every game that year and played all but 10 of the Eagles’ defensive snaps. His 94 tackles were a career-high and ranked third on the team.

Epps parlayed his contract-year success into a two-year deal with the Raiders. He started 17 games in 2023 but tore his ACL early in the following season. He hit free agency this year and spent the summer with the Patriots before returning to Philadelphia shortly before the regular season.

Epps has 21 days to practice with the team before he must be activated or revert to season-ending injured reserve.

Ravens Designate OLB Tavius Robinson, S Ar’Darius Washington To Return

December 2nd, 2025 at 5:58pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Ravens designated outside linebacker Tavius Robinson (injured reserve) and safety Ar’Darius Washington (non-football injury list) to return to practice on Tuesday.

Robinson broke his foot in Week 6 and was placed on IR shortly after. Washington suffered a torn Achilles during offseason training and has been on the non-football injury list since the start of training camp. The two defenders could provide a late-season boost to a Ravens defense that has turned things around after a rough start to the season.

Robinson, 26, started the first six games of the season and saw a substantial increase in playing time after Kyle Van Noy went down in Week 2. The Ravens were hoping the 2023 fourth-round pick would take a third-year leap after a promising campaign last season, but it has not quite materliazed. Robinson made a few highlight plays, including a strip-sack of then-Browns quarterback Joe Flacco in Week 2, but like the rest of Baltimore’s edge rushers, he struggled to make a consistent impact.

Robinson’s return will nonetheless give the Ravens another option off the edge. After trading Odafe Oweh in October, they have relied on 2022 second-rounder David Ojabo and veteran Carl Lawson to fill the back end of their outside linebacker rotation. Ojabo has not performed well, while Lawson held up but did not excel in his 2025 debut as a practice squad elevation in Week 13.

Washington tore his Achilles in May with the hope of returning late in the regular season. His return to practice puts him on track to hit that goal. His 21-day practice window will expire at the beginning of Week 17, by which time he must be activated or revert to season-ending IR.

The severity of Washington’s injury may require a lengthy ramp-up period, and the Ravens can ease him into action even after he’s activated. The team currently has three safeties playing nearly full-time, so Washington will not fill an immediate need. Instead, he will provide another versatile option with the ability to line up as a free safety and in the slot.

Texans Waive G Laken Tomlinson

December 2nd, 2025 at 3:54pm CST by Connor Byrne

Laken Tomlinson opened the season as the Texans’ starting left guard, but the team is moving on three months later. The Texans waived Tomlinson on Tuesday. The 33-year-old will be free to sign anywhere if he clears waivers.

Tomlinson joined the Texans on a one-year, $4.25MM contract last March after dividing the first 10 seasons of his career among the Lions, 49ers, Jets, and Seahawks. He was a consistent and durable starter during that span, coming off the bench in just eight of 163 contests. Tomlinson didn’t miss a game between 2018-24.

Tomlinson was Houston’s top option at left guard during most of his time there, starting in seven of 10 games. However, the Texans replaced him with Jarrett Patterson in Week 10, and Tomlinson was inactive in back-to-back games before they cut him. Pro Football Focus ranks Tomlinson’s 2025 performance a below-average 51st among 79 qualifying guards.

With the playoff-contending Texans parting with Tomlinson, they’re left with Patterson, Juice Scruggs, and Jarrett Kingston as reserves along the interior. Tytus Howard, who has lined up at multiple spots this year, and Ed Ingram are operating as their starting guards.

Colts Add K Blake Grupe To Practice Squad

December 2nd, 2025 at 3:33pm CST by Adam La Rose

3:33pm: The Colts are signing Grupe to their practice squad, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com.

10:27am: Michael Badgley missed an extra point for the third time this season on Sunday. In response, the Colts are looking into potential kicking replacements.

When asked about the possibility of moving on from Badgley yesterday, head coach Shane Steichen did not specify what the team’s plan was. He instead deferred to general manager Chris Ballard (h/t ESPN’s Stephen Holder). Holder predicted on Monday that the Colts would look into alternatives, and that has proven to be the case.

Kicker workouts are taking place today in Indianapolis. Joel A. Erickson of the Indy Star reports Blake Grupe is among those who are auditioning. This comes shortly after Grupe was cut by the Saints during his third season with the team. Grupe was relatively consistent for his first two Saints campaigns, but in 2025 he has connected on just 18 of 26 field goal attempts. It thus came as little surprise when the Saints moved on.

It would be interesting if the Colts elected to sign Grupe given his struggles this season. Badgley has endured an unwanted run of inconsistency on extra points in 2025, but in seven games he has gone 10-for-11 on field goal tries. At a minimum, Indianapolis is looking into the possibility of using another new kicker to close out the campaign.

Spencer Shrader was available for the first five games of the season, but ACL and MCL tears suffered in October brought his campaign to an abrupt end. The Colts turned to a familiar face in the form of Badgley as his replacement. A veteran of five NFL teams, Badgley kicked for Indianapolis in 2021. His current stint with the team could be in jeopardy, though, depending on how the next few days play out.

After starting 7-1, the Colts have lost three of their last four games. They are no longer the lock to top the AFC South they once appeared to be, and improvement on offense down the stretch will be key. Efforts on that front could include a new kicker being added in the near future.

Steelers Claim WR Adam Thielen

December 2nd, 2025 at 3:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

Adam Thielen found a taker on the waiver wire. The Steelers, who did not end up trading for a wide receiver at the deadline, are claiming the veteran, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports. Thielen had asked to be waived, but he did not end up making it to free agency — or too far down the wire.

This opportunity came about after the Vikings cut ties with the Minnesota native Monday. The Vikes had acquired Thielen from the Panthers just before the season. At the time, that move was framed as a way for Thielen to help out a hopeful contender. That did not end up happening, with the Vikings struggling (as the Panthers have reawakened). Now, Thielen will have a shot — in what looks set to be his final stretch of NFL action — to aid the Steelers’ quest to hang on in the AFC North.

A team already housing the likes of T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward did not shy away from adding aging talent this year, having signed Darius Slay and Aaron Rodgers while trading for Jalen Ramsey. The Steelers waived Slay earlier today, but Thielen — at 35 — will be brought in to help a scuffling passing attack. The NFL’s oldest active wideout, Thielen did not make much of an impact during his second Vikings stint. But he should have a better chance to do so with the Steelers.

Thielen caught eight passes for 69 yards in 11 Vikings games, operating as an afterthought in a Vikings receiving corps featuring Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and Jalen Nailor. The Steelers have not seen a D.K. Metcalf complementary option emerge.

Metcalf has 605 yards on the season; no other Steeler has more than 300. This, of course, comes as George Pickens has erupted in a contract year — following a May trade with the Cowboys. Pickens’ 1,142 yards in 12 games already set a new career-high mark. Pittsburgh developed an earned reputation for developing a host of wide receivers, but Roman Wilson has not caught on late in Year 2. The 2024 third-round pick has just 166 yards this season, after he missed almost all of his rookie year.

Although Thielen was not much help in J.J. McCarthy‘s debut, he does have a recent history of making significant contributions. Even in a 2024 season that saw him land on IR and miss seven games due to a hamstring injury, the former UDFA totaled 615 yards and five touchdowns. In his Carolina debut in 2023, Thielen posted his third 1,000-yard season — a 1,014-yard showing that included 103 catches. Maintaining quality form into his mid-30s, Thielen will attempt to help Rodgers in what is expected to be his final season.

Rodgers and Thielen have been friends for years, with the Minneapolis Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling noting earlier today this fit would make sense. The duo had discussed playing together in the past. That will come together for a Steelers team that has struggled, limping to 6-6 and hearing a cascade of boos rain down during a one-sided Week 13 loss to the Bills. Tied with the Ravens atop the AFC North, the Steelers are in jeopardy of squandering a big lead and perhaps finishing with a losing record for the first time in Mike Tomlin‘s 19-year tenure.

One of the NFL’s better possession receivers during this period, Thielen had teamed with Jefferson and Stefon Diggs before him to form quality receiving tandems in Minnesota. On Vikings teams competing with Rodgers for NFC North supremacy, Thielen eclipsed 1,200 yards in 2017 and ’18, earning Pro Bowl nods each year. Thielen collected a second-team All-Pro accolade in 2017, helping the Vikings to the NFC championship game. Thielen’s 64 touchdown catches rank eighth among active players.

He earned two Minnesota extensions and, following a 2023 release, caught on with the Panthers on a three-year, $25MM deal. Thielen reworked that pact this summer, accepting a pay cut to facilitate a trade to his home-state team. He is attached to a $3MM base salary this season. The Steelers will be responsible for $882K via this claim. They entered the day with just less than $4MM in cap space.

Colts Waive K Michael Badgley

December 2nd, 2025 at 2:49pm CST by Connor Byrne

After a costly missed extra point in Week 13, the Colts are moving on from kicker Michael Badgley. The team waived him on Tuesday.

Badgley’s PAT miss last Sunday proved crucial in a 20-16 defeat against the AFC South rival Texans. The four-point deficit prevented the Colts from potentially tying the game with a late field goal and sending it to overtime. They fell to 8-4 and into second place in the division behind the Jaguars, while the Texans improved to 7-5.

A Colt back in 2021, Badgley reunited with the team after starter Spencer Shrader tore his ACL and MCL in Week 5. Badgley hadn’t kicked in the regular season since 2023, but the 30-year-old went on to make 10 of his 11 field goal attempts in seven games with the Colts. However, Badgley hit a less impressive 18 of 21 extra points, which ultimately cost him his job.

The Colts have not lined up a replacement for Badgley, but that seems imminent after they worked out kickers on Tuesday. Former Saint Blake Grupe was among those to audition. It’s up for debate whether Grupe would be an upgrade over Badgley, though. While Grupe did convert all 15 extra points with the Saints this year, he connected on a paltry 69.2% of field goals (18 of 26). New Orleans waived him on Nov. 25 as a result.

Whether they sign Grupe or someone else, the Colts will turn to their third kicker of 2025 in a critical meeting with the Jaguars on Sunday. It will be the first time in franchise history that the Colts have used at least three kickers in a season, Kevin Bowen of 107.5 The Fan notes. That’s not ideal for an Indianapolis team that’s now clinging to a playoff spot after dropping three of its past four games.

Steelers To Waive CB Darius Slay

December 2nd, 2025 at 2:44pm CST by Sam Robinson

The rare modern cornerback to play an age-34 season, Darius Slay will see his time with the Steelers end earlier than expected. Pittsburgh is moving on from the veteran defender.

This is being described as a mutual parting, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Pittsburgh will sign fellow corner Asante Samuel Jr. from the practice squad to fill Slay’s roster spot. Slay was a healthy scratch for the Steelers’ Week 13 game against the Bills, foreshadowing this decision.

Slay is interested in continuing his career, but he will need to wait a bit before being allowed to pick his next destination. Although Slay is on a one-year, $10MM deal, the two-time Super Bowl starter’s base salary is the veteran minimum (for his service time) at $1.26MM. That would not put a waiver claim off the table for a corner-needy club. If Slay is unclaimed by 3pm CT on Wednesday, he will head back to free agency.

The NFL’s oldest active corner, Slay had viewed this as most likely his final season. The 13th-year cover man reunited with ex-Lions DC Teryl Austin in Pittsburgh and started nine games. Pro Football Focus viewed Slay on the fringes of the middle class at the position, slotting him 71st out of 110 qualified options.

Slay has certainly played much better, as he enjoyed a quality prime. As evidenced from a free agency deal requiring $10MM, Slay generated interest when the Eagles cut him this offseason. It would not shock if he landed elsewhere to close one of the better CB careers in this era.

As we discussed in a Trade Rumors Front Office piece this offseason, the Steelers have not been shy about deploying aging corners. They traded for Jalen Ramsey this offseason, doing so two years after being Patrick Peterson‘s last stop; the future Hall of Famer played an age-33 season in Pittsburgh. The Mike Tomlin tenure has also seen Joe Haden, William Gay and Ike Taylor play into their 30s. With the Steelers residing at a crossroads following a one-sided loss to the Bills — a game that brought steady boos and calls for Tomlin’s ouster — they are shaking up their secondary.

The Steelers have experimented with Ramsey at safety, but Slay has continued to work in the boundary corner position — one that brought him considerable success since being a 2013 Lions draftee. Slay logged 422 outside CB snaps during a 10-game Steelers stint. The six-time Pro Bowler broke up three passes and did not log an interception. Slay did allow a 75% completion rate and a 108.0 passer rating as the closest defender. While he is charged with only one touchdown allowed as a Steeler, his performance fell short of expectations ahead of the healthy scratch.

Tuesday’s transaction also blocks other teams from making sales pitches to Samuel, who could have been poached from Pittsburgh’s practice squad. Added after an extensive visit tour last month, Samuel debuted for the Steelers — as a practice squad elevation — in Week 13. He played 28 defensive snaps in a backup role.

With teams seeing Samuel healthy, interest may well have come after he reverted back to the practice squad. But the 26-year-old CB is now on the 53-man roster, ending such speculation. The team will hope the four-year Chargers starter, whose free agency stalled because of neck surgery, can help out a pass defense ranking 28th.

Broncos, WR Elijah Moore Agree To Deal

December 2nd, 2025 at 11:05am CST by Adam La Rose

Elijah Moore visited the Broncos yesterday. That workout obviously went well, as the sides have agreed to terms on a deal.

Moore is signing to Denver’s practice squad, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. He will look to find playing time on his latest team down the stretch. For the Broncos, this move will provide depth at the receiver spot as they look to earn the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

Buffalo’s Brandin Cooks addition led to a mutual decision with Moore’s camp to part ways. After clearing waivers, Moore became a free agent. In relatively short order, he managed to line up a Broncos visit and now a contract. It will be interesting to see if he receives a look on the active roster or finds himself as one of Denver’s gameday elevations over the near future.

A second-round pick of the Jets in 2021, Moore spent just two years in New York. He was traded to the Browns ahead of the 2023 season, the first of two he spent in Cleveland. The Ole Miss product totaled 25 starts during his tenure with the Browns. That included a career-high 640 yards in his first Cleveland season. Moore’s Buffalo signing did not result in a productive outing, though, as he managed only nine scoreless catches while handling a rotational role.

To no surprise, the Broncos have been led in receiving by Courtland Sutton this season. Wideouts Troy Franklin, Pat Bryant and Marvin Mims have chipped in on offense, but Denver sits just 17th in the NFL in passing yards per game. Moore, 25, will of course not be expected to make a major impact for the 10-2 team upon arrival. He could nevertheless serve as a depth option in the slot for Denver down the stretch and through the playoffs.

Titans To Waive LB Kyzir White

December 2nd, 2025 at 9:39am CST by Adam La Rose

Kyzir White‘s time in Tennessee is set to come to an end. The veteran linebacker has come to a mutual agreement with the Titans for the sides to part ways.

As NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports, Tennessee has agreed to allow White a change of scenery in time for the stretch run. The 29-year-old has been limited to just one game so far in 2025 due to a hamstring injury. Per Schultz, White (who was set to hit free agency at the end of the year anyway) is now healthy.

That could make him an attractive option to contending teams. White will hit the waiver wire once he is officially cut by Tennessee. In the event he clears, the former fourth-rounder will become a free agent. White has made 93 appearances and 73 starts over the course of his eight-year NFL career. That experience would no doubt be welcomed by any number of teams seeking depth at the second level in time for a playoff run.

White increased his production every year while playing out his rookie contract with the Chargers. The West Virginia product took a one-year deal with the Eagles in free agency, then inked a two-year Cardinals pact. In total, White has eclipsed 100 tackles three times in his career; he nearly reached that figure in 2023 as well despite only playing 11 games.

Having been sidelined since September, White will likely have a tepid market as he becomes available. Nevertheless, the former fourth-rounder could easily be seen as an upgrade for at least some teams as they look for defensive reinforcements to close out the year. It will be interesting to see where he lands over the coming days. The 1-11 Titans, meanwhile, will move forward with other options at the linebacker spot as they look to 2026.

Vikings Waive Adam Thielen; WR To Retire Following 2025 Season

December 1st, 2025 at 10:58pm CST by Adam La Rose

Adam Thielen‘s second stint with the Vikings has come to an end. The veteran receiver was waived on Monday, per a team announcement.

Thielen was inactive for yesterday’s loss despite being healthy. Instead of finishing the season buried down the depth chart on a Minnesota team in line to miss the playoffs, he will now seek out a new situation for the stretch run. Thielen will hit the waiver wire and, provided he clears, become a free agent.

“Last week Adam’s representation approached the team and asked if we would be willing to release Adam, expressing his desire to play a bigger role in the remaining weeks of what he has indicated will be his final NFL season,” a team statement reads in part. “Following discussions through the weekend and out of respect for Adam, we have agreed to give him the opportunity to pursue more playing time elsewhere.”

Thielen spent his first 11 years and 10 NFL seasons with Minnesota. The former UDFA emerged as a key figure on offense for the Vikings, but a downturn in production ultimately led to his release in 2023. Thielen joined the Panthers in free agency, and during two years in Carolina he served as a full-time starter.

Amidst questions regarding a potential retirement decision, Thielen committed to playing one more season. The Panthers traded him back to the Vikings shortly before the start of the campaign. During his second run with his hometown team, the Minnesota State product has made just eight scoreless catches while handling a snap share of only 29%. The Vikings have struggled mightily on offense all season, something punctuated during yesterday’s shutout loss.

While the team looks for answers under center for 2025 and beyond, Thielen will look for a suitable fit over the closing weeks of the season. The two-time Pro Bowler hinted in May that this year would likely be his last. To no surprise, Thielen has since confirmed in a statement of his own that he will indeed be hanging up his cleats after the year comes to an end. It will be interesting to see if he lands with a contender and in doing so sets up a potential run at a first career Super Bowl.

The Panthers-Vikings trade included a conditional pick, but today’s news confirms its status. The final tally on the swap is Thielen, a 2026 seventh-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder in exchange for fifth- and fourth-round selections in the next two drafts. Thielen accepted a pay cut to facilitate the move.

Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison are in line to remain atop the Vikings’ WR depth chart for years to come. The team will not have Thielen in place for the final few games of his career, however.

Load More Posts