Bucs Place CB Zyon McCollum On IR
The Buccaneers have enjoyed a recent return to health for a number of key offensive players. Their defense will be without a full-time starter to close out the season, however. 
Zyon McCollum has been moved to injured reserve, the team announced on Monday. The fourth-year corner is dealing with a hip injury suffered during Tampa Bay’s Thursday night loss. As a result of this move, McCollum will be sidelined for at least four weeks.
That ensures he will be absent for the Buccaneers’ three remaining regular season contests. As the team continues to pursue the NFC South title, McCollum’s absence will be acutely felt. The 26-year-old has operated as a full-time starter for each of the past two seasons. Over that span, he has recorded three interceptions and 23 pass deflections.
Missed time of any length in the case of the former fifth-rounder will deal a blow to Tampa Bay given the $48MM extension he signed this past spring. For now, all attention will be on the Buccaneers and their push to reach the postseason. The team’s efforts on that front will see veteran Jamel Dean continue to handle a starting role on the perimeter. The other will likely be handled by rookie Benjamin Morrison, who has not played since mid-November. Morrison has yet to start any of his seven appearances when healthy.
That could soon change, provided he steps in as McCollum’s primary replacement. Tampa Bay has struggled in several areas since the bye week, including on defense. The team currently sits 30th in the NFL against the pass. Rebounding in that regard will be challenging without McCollum, but it will likely be necessary if the Buccaneers are to top the NFC South. The team’s fate on that front will be decided over the coming weeks, with two games against the Panthers (also 7-7) still to be played.
In a corresponding roster move, the Buccaneers have officially signed linebacker Anthony Walker. The veteran had been on the Colts’ practice squad, but earlier today it became clear he would join Tampa Bay – the team he signed with this past offseason prior to being cut in August for the stretch run. Walker will provide experienced depth at the linebacker spot as the Bucs seek to manage a notable absence in the secondary.
Buccaneers To Sign LB Anthony Walker Off Colts’ Practice Squad
Anthony Walker was set to spend the 2025 season in Tampa Bay. The veteran linebacker was cut in August, but he now is in line to finish the season there. 
The Buccaneers are signing Walker off the Colts’ practice squad, per his agent (h/t Ian Rapoport of NFL Network). Walker initially signed with Tampa in March, but an injury kept him on the active/NFI list through all of training camp. The Bucs then made him one of their roster cuts in August.
Walker quickly lined up a visit with the Colts upon being released. The 30-year-old began his career in Indianapolis, and he returned in September via a practice squad deal. Walker has yet to play in 2025, however. Instead of residing on the taxi squad through the end of the season, he will take on an active roster spot in Tampa Bay. It will be interesting to see how much playing time this move yields in his case.
Lavonte David leads the Buccaneers in tackles with 95. Fellow starting linebacker SirVocea Dennis ranks third in that regard. Both will be counted on to remain key contributors through the closing stages of the campaign as Tampa Bay aims for another NFC South title. As a veteran of 99 appearances (including 83 starts), Walker will certainly provide plenty of experience behind those two on the depth chart.
The former fifth-rounder has played on a string of one-year deals since his Colts rookie contract expired. Walker will no doubt be in store for another pact of the same length when he reaches the open market in March. His value could nevertheless receive a slight boost if he manages to carve out a depth role with the Buccaneers over the coming weeks.
49ers Place WR Brandon Aiyuk On Reserve/Left Squad List
If there were any chance at reconciliation between the 49ers and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk before today, it’s likely gone now. Today, San Francisco placed the former first-round pick on the reserve/left squad list, per Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports. As a result, he will be ineligible to play for the remainder of the season, making an offseason departure all the more likely. 
Aiyuk hasn’t played since tearing his right ACL, MCL, and meniscus in Week 7 of 2024. The injury came a couple of months after he signed a four-year, $120MM extension with the 49ers. The relationship between the two sides has fallen apart since then.
[RELATED: Aiyuk On Commanders’ Radar?]
Aiyuk didn’t attend offseason appointments to rehab his knee in the offseason, leading the 49ers to void his 2026 guarantees last July. And while Aiyuk had a 50-day window to file a grievance through the NFLPA, he didn’t take any action during that span. He lost out on over $26MM as a result.
Still recovering from last year’s injury, Aiyuk spent the season on the reserve/PUP list before today. Earlier this month, general manager John Lynch expressed hope that the team would open Aiyuk’s practice window at some point soon. Doing so would have given the playoff-contending 49ers 21 days to evaluate Aiyuk. That will not happen, though, and this will go down as a lost season for Aiyuk.
The placement on reserve/left squad list is a unique one, usually reserved for players who plan to retire or quit on their team. In addition to all of the money Aiyuk has already lost throughout this season-long saga, Jason Fitzgerald of Overthecap.com claims that the 49ers may be allowed to go after Aiyuk’s signing and option bonus money in the wake of how things have now played out.
There was already plenty of speculation that Aiyuk’s time in the Bay Area was coming to an end, but this all but confirms it. Whether through offseason trade or an outright release, it’s just hard to picture Aiyuk playing in red and gold again.
In addition to the transaction that effectively ended Aiyuk’s tenure in San Francisco, the 49ers also announced that linebacker Jalen Graham and defensive tackle Sebastian Valdez would serve as standard gameday practice squad elevations for tomorrow’s game. This will be Graham’s third and final elevation of the season. If the team wants to see him play in another game this year, they’ll need to sign him to the 53-man roster.
Connor Byrne contributed to this post.
Ravens, DT Travis Jones Agree To Extension
DECEMBER 12: Jones secured a signing bonus worth just over $9MM, as detailed by Over the Cap. His guarantee figure includes his $1.22MM base salary for next season and a $6.5MM option bonus. Jones’ cap hit will spike to $16.35MM in 2027 and remain the same the following year. A $1MM roster bonus is due on the fifth day of the league year in 2028.
DECEMBER 11: Travis Jones loomed as one of the Ravens’ top pending free agents for 2026. The fourth-year defensive tackle will not be reaching the open market, however. 
Jones and the Ravens have agreed to a three-year extension, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports. As a result, Jones will be under contract through the 2028 campaign. This news – which is now official, per a team announcement – means one of the league’s top pending free agents at the position will not become available in March.
The Jones pact is worth $40.5MM, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. That works out to an average annual value of $13.5MM, a sharp increase in the former third-rounder’s compensation compared to his rookie contract. Given the nature of the DT market, however, this deal will be viewed as a team-friendly one provided Jones can maintain his current level of play against the run. Jones will receive $25MM in guarantees, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network adds.
A rotational presence during his first two seasons in the NFL, Jones became a starter in 2023. The 26-year-old set a new career high with 42 tackles last year, a figure he has a strong chance of surpassing this campaign. Jones has only posted five sacks and 21 quarterback pressures to date in his career, and as such expectations will remain low regarding his future production against the pass. Still, his run-stopping presence will be welcomed in Baltimore for years to come.
The context leading up to this agreement helps explain its timing. As Zrebiec notes, a CBA issue meant Jones had actually been on track for restricted free agency this spring with one of his previous seasons not accruing for contract purposes. A grievance was filed on his behalf by the NFLPA, with a hearing scheduled for today. The outcome of that process would have determined Jones’ future regarding his free agent status. Being an RFA would have likely set him up for a second-round tender only covering the 2026 season.
Instead, that has now become a moot point. Negotiations between the Ravens and Jones’ agent prior to the hearing finalized this agreement, one which will ensure stability along the defensive interior for the foreseeable future. This extension comes amidst questions regarding fellow defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike‘s status. The All-Pro landed on IR in September due to a neck injury, and it was learned shortly thereafter that he would not return this season. Madubuike is on the books through 2027 on a pact averaging $24.5MM per season, so his recovery outlook will be critical moving forward.
In any case, Jones’ future is no longer in doubt. The UConn product was one of several pending free agents whom the Ravens viewed as high priorities for new deals. Another was tight end Mark Andrews, and team and player recently worked out a three-year deal in that case as well. As the 6-7 Ravens continue to push for top spot in the AFC North, it will be interesting to see if other agreements such as this one wind up being finalized prior to free agency.
Seahawks Activate C Jalen Sundell, TE Eric Saubert From IR
Jalen Sundell has been sidelined for the Seahawks during each of the team’s past four games. Seattle’s starting center will be available for Week 15, however. 
Sundell has been activated from injured reserve. The 26-year-old suffered a knee injury, prompting his shift to IR. Encouragingly, though, he has managed to recover after missing the minimum number of games.
On Monday, it became clear Sundell would return to practice this week. With no setbacks having been encountered, he will be in the lineup tomorrow against the Colts. It remains to be seen if the former UDFA will immediately reprise his role at center, the position he earned during training camp. Head coach Mike Macdonald declined to say how Sundell would be handled upon activation.
Olu Oluwatimi has served as the Seahawks’ starting center since Sundell went down. With both now healthy, Macdonald will need to decide to move Oluwatimi back to the bench or contemplate playing Sundell at right guard. Taking the latter route would see Anthony Bradford lose his first-team spot.
In any case, the Seahawks will have healthy depth up front for the closing stages of the campaign. At the tight end position, meanwhile, Eric Saubert is back in the fold. The journeyman has also been activated from IR on the day he and the team agreed to a one-year contract extension. Saubert has played a rotational role as a run blocking presence this season, but with rookie Elijah Arroyo now on IR himself, he could see a slight uptick in usage for a brief stint.
At 10-3, Seattle is still in contention to land the top seed in the NFC. The team now has two IR activations remaining for the stretch run of the regular season.
Seahawks, Eric Saubert Agree To Extension
Eric Saubert‘s tenure in Seattle will continue beyond the closing stages of the season. The veteran tight end has agreed to a Seahawks extension, veteran insider Jordan Schultz reports. 
This is a one-year deal, per Schultz. Saubert was on track for free agency this spring, but that will no longer be the case. Seattle is the eighth team Saubert has played for over the course of his career (and the 11th he has been a member of), and this news means it will be the third with which he has spent more than one year.
The Seahawks released Saubert in October. At that time, he was attached to a veteran salary benefit contract. Players on deals of that kind cannot receive in-season extensions, something which was a team goal in this case. As ESPN’s Brady Henderson explains, Seattle’s decision to immediately re-sign Saubert to a standard contract was based on the desire to keep him in place for 2026.
The Seahawks also have third-year tight end AJ Barner and second-round rookie Elijah Arroyo in place on the depth chart. Those two have combined to make 55 catches this season, and they will remain key elements of Seattle’s offense moving forward (although the latter has landed on IR). Saubert, as expected, has chipped in as a blocking presence when on the field. The 31-year-old has registered only one reception in seven games this season.
Nevertheless, Saubert has contributed on special teams in addition to his work as a run blocker. The former fifth-rounder will be tasked with continuing in that role through the end of this season but also into next year. With Barner and Arroyo attached to their rookie contracts, Saubert will round out a cost-effective TE trio through at least next season.
Giants Designate CB Art Green For Return From IR, Activate LB Darius Muasau
DECEMBER 13: Green remains on IR at this point but Muasau has been activated, per a team announcement. That will allow him to return to action in Week 15.
DECEMBER 9: The Giants could have a pair of defenders back in the fold in time for their Week 15 game. Linebacker Darius Muasau and cornerback Art Green have been designated for return from injured reserve, per a team announcement. 
Muasau has been on IR for one month due to an ankle injury. Green, meanwhile, has been sidelined one week longer while recovering from a hamstring ailment. Both players now have up to 21 days to practice before they must be brought back onto the active roster.
In the case of Muasau in particular, having him available for the closing stages of the season would be a welcomed development. The 2024 sixth-rounder made seven starts as a rookie, and he remained a first-team presence through the current campaign before being injured. Muasau has logged a 56% snap share in 2025, totaling 32 tackles and one sack in eight games. He will look to resume that level of production upon returning to action.
Bobby Okereke has remained a starter this season, his third in New York. Fellow linebacker Micah McFadden has not played since undergoing foot surgery in September, though, something which has created a vacancy in the Giants’ starting lineup. Muasau, 24, finishing strong would help his chances of securing his spot as a defensive regular for 2026.
Green will not be expected to see the field on defense when he returns. The former UDFA is also in his second season with New York, but he has strictly contributed on special teams to date. Having logged a snap share of 78% in that regard prior to his injury, Green will no doubt reprise his role as a key third phase presence once he is activated.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/13/25
Here are Saturday’s only taxi squad moves:
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: RB Cam Akers, CB Shaquill Griffin
- Released: RB Myles Gaskin, WR Jimmy Holiday
Akers and Griffin are staying in Seattle days after getting waived by the Seahawks. After having cleared waivers, the two have returned to the team on p-squad deals.
NFL Minor Transactions: 12/13/25
Here are today’s minor moves and standard gameday practice squad elevations for Week 15’s Sunday slate of games:
Arizona Cardinals
- Activated from IR: T Christian Jones
- Elevated: WR Jalen Brooks, WR Trent Sherfield
- Placed on IR: DT Bilal Nichols
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: CB Dane Jackson, DE Andre Jones Jr.
Carolina Panthers
- Elevated: LB Isaiah Simmons
Cleveland Browns
- Signed to active roster: OL Garrett Dellinger
- Elevated: S Chris Edmonds, DT Maurice Hurst
- Waived: WR Jamari Thrash
Denver Broncos
- Signed to active roster: LB Jordan Turner
- Elevated: WR Michael Bandy, QB Sam Ehlinger
Detroit Lions
- Activated from IR: TE Shane Zylstra
- Elevated: S Erick Hallett, TE Giovanni Ricci
- Placed on IR: S Brian Branch (story)
Green Bay Packers
- Elevated: RB Pierre Strong
Houston Texans
- Activated from IR: TE Harrison Bryant
- Elevated: RB Jawhar Jordan, S K’Von Wallace
- Waived: RB Cody Schrader
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed to active roster: G C.J. Hanson
- Elevated: T Chukwuebuka Godrick, DT Zacch Pickens
- Placed on IR: T Wanya Morris (story)
Las Vegas Raiders
- Elevated: WR Shedrick Jackson, G Atonio Mafi
Los Angeles Chargers
- Elevated: WR Dalevon Campbell, S Marcus Williams
Los Angeles Rams
- Elevated: S Tanner Ingle
New England Patriots
- Signed to active roster: RB D’Ernest Johnson
- Elevated: DT Leonard Taylor
- Placed on IR: RB Terrell Jennings
New Orleans Saints
- Elevated: WR Kevin Austin, K Charlie Smyth
New York Giants
- Signed to active roster: WR Dalen Cambre, OLB Tomon Fox
- Elevated: DT Elijah Chatman, P Cameron Johnston
- Placed on IR: OLB Victor Dimukeje, CB Nic Jones
- Waived: CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse
New York Jets
- Activated from IR: LB Cam Jones
- Elevated: CB Tre Brown, QB Adrian Martinez
- Placed on IR: CB Azareye’h Thomas
Philadelphia Eagles
- Elevated: S Andre’ Sam
Seattle Seahawks
- Activated from IR: DE Rylie Mills
- Elevated: RB Velus Jones
- Placed on IR: TE Elijah Arroyo
Tennessee Titans
- Elevated: T John Ojukwu
Washington Commanders
- Elevated: CB Darius Rush
Nichols began the year on the reserve/PUP list. The eight-year veteran has been hampered by injuries since signing with the Cardinals in 2024. After playing just six games last year, Nichols’ 2025 campaign will end after only four appearances.
Bryant makes his return to the Texans’ offense to replenish a thinned out tight ends group, while in Seattle, the Seahawks place their second-round rookie tight end, Arroyo, on injured reserve with a knee injury.
In Buffalo, this will be Jackson’s third and final standard gameday practice squad elevation. If the team wants to see him in another game this season, they’ll need to sign him to the 53-man roster. The same is true for Strong in Green Bay, Jackson and Mafi in Las Vegas, Smyth in New Orleans, Sam in Philadelphia, and Jones in Seattle.
On the flip side of that, in Denver, Turner has been signed to the 53-man roster after running out of elevations last week.
Thomas suffered a shoulder injury in Week 14 and it will end his season. The third-round rookie confirmed on social media today he is set to undergo surgery in the near future. Thomas made five starts in 2025, totaling 22 tackles and seven pass deflections.
Ravens Activate S Ar’Darius Washington, OLB Tavius Robinson to 53-Man Roster
The Ravens are getting some defensive reinforcements for the closing stretch of the regular season. Baltimore is activating veteran safety Ar’Darius Washington from the reserve/physically unable to perform list and third-year pass rusher Tavius Robinson from injured reserve. Both players held starting roles before being placed on their respective injured lists. 
It was seven months ago, to the day, that Washington suffered an Achilles tear that was expected to hold him out for the entirety of the 2025 NFL season. A former undrafted free agent out of TCU, Washington started out as a strong special teamer and a role player on defense. When Baltimore’s defense was struggling throughout defensive coordinator Zach Orr‘s first season, the team jettisoned veterans Marcus Williams and Eddie Jackson and placed Washington as a starter next to star Kyle Hamilton.
With Washington and Hamilton manning the defensive outfield, the Ravens defense rebounded, becoming one of the league’s strongest in the back half of the season. Shortly after suffering the offseason injury, Washington made a late-season return the target of his recovery. By arriving with four weeks left in the regular season, he’s more than met that goal. In Washington’s shorter-than-expected absence, the Ravens have become accustomed to fielding a three-safety defense. At any one time, the team will usually have rookie first-rounder Malaki Starks and trade acquisition Alohi Gilman in the secondary as the versatile, All-Pro Hamilton roams to places of greatest need.
With so many assets in the secondary, the Ravens may slow-play Washington’s return to the field. Alternatively, they may attempt to utilize him in a similar role to Hamilton. In the past, they’ve moved Washington back and forth between nickel and safety, so he holds a versatility of his own that the team could easily utilize out of their talent-rich safeties room.
Robinson has missed the last eight weeks after suffering a broken foot. Logging two sacks in his first six games of the season, Robinson led the team in that statistic before landing on IR. The Ravens have attempted to make improvements to their pass rush this season, giving Robinson a starting job across from Kyle Van Noy, drafting Mike Green in the second round, and making two trades that saw Odafe Oweh sent to Los Angeles (in exchange for Gilman) and Dre’Mont Jones arrive in Baltimore.
It hasn’t amounted to much, considering the Ravens currently rank 30th in the league with only 19 sacks this season. They’ll hope that adding Robinson back to the fold will help in that regard. The Ravens have been working with 51 players on their active roster since placing running back Justice Hill and defensive tackle Taven Bryan on IR in late-November, so no corresponding moves were needed to activate Washington and Robinson.