Titans Place Safeties Kevin Winston, Xavier Woods, Mike Brown On IR
The Titans placed safeties Kevin Winston, Xavier Woods, and Mike Brown on injured reserve on Tuesday, per team writer Jim Wyatt.
All three went down in the Titans’ loss to the 49ers on Sunday and will be out for the rest of the season. Winston and Woods suffered hamstring injuries, while Brown hurt his ankle.
Winston and Woods combined for 16 starts and 839 snaps on defense this year and are the team’s sixth- and eighth-leading tacklers. Winston, a third-round rookie, had emerged as a full-time starter in the second half of the season, while Woods’ role has varied. Their absences will force Tennessee to start a different safety alongside Amani Hooker.
Brown could have fit the bill had he not been injured on Sunday, too. He played special teams almost exclusively this season, but last year, he occupied a 37% defensive snap share with 250 snaps at free safety, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). This is Brown’s second stint on IR this year; he previously suffered a knee injury in October and missed five games.
Kendell Brooks finished Sunday’s game at safety for the first significant defensive workload of his career. He could be tapped to start with Hooker in the next few weeks. Another option is former Seahawk Jerrick Reed, who has played a handful of defensive snaps in the last three years, but has primarily featured on special teams.
The Titans also added two safeties to their 53-man roster after placing Winston, Woods, and Brown on IR. 2023 sixth-rounder Erick Hallett, who started two games for the Lions amid their safety injuries this year, was signed off Detroit’s practice squad and could see playing time immediately. Tennesee also signed Sanoussi Kane off the Ravens’ practice squad; the 2024 seventh-rounder spent his rookie season as a core special teams contributor in Baltimore but was waived earlier this season in favor of undrafted rookie standout Keondre Jackson.
Chargers Reunite With S Marcus Maye
The Chargers reunited with veteran safety Marcus Maye on Tuesday by signing him to their practice squad, per a team announcement.
Maye, 32, started the 2024 season with the Dolphins but was claimed off waivers by the Chargers at the end of November. He appeared in four games (one start) in Los Angeles before an ankle injury forced him on injured reserve.
The eight-year veteran hit free agency but was not connected with any team until a November workout with the Commanders. Maye did not earn a gig in Washington, but he is now needed in Los Angeles after multiple injuries in the Chargers’ safety room. Veteran Elijah Molden missed Sunday’s matchup with the Chiefs and rookie RJ Mickens went down during the game.
Last year, and for much of his career, Maye has been a steady if unspectacular safety who was a full-time starter through 2023. Despite his experience, he remained a free agent for most of the 2025 season, which could indicate that he was more selective about a new opportunity or needed more time for his ankle to fully heal.
Along with Maye, Chargers also signed undrafted rookie offensive lineman Josh Kaltenberger to their practice squad. In two corresponding moves, they released running back Royce Freeman and tight end Tanner McLachlan.
Jets, C Josh Myers Agree To Extension
DECEMBER 16: Myers received a $1.8MM signing bonus and his 2026 base salary ($3.14MM) is fully guaranteed, per Over the Cap. Of his $4.94MM 2027 salary, $1MM is already guaranteed for injury. Myers’ new pact also contains annual workout bonuses along with per-game roster bonuses worth up to $510K per season.
DECEMBER 12: Josh Myers will not reach the open market in March. The veteran center has a new deal in place with the Jets, as first reported by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. 
Team and player have agreed to a two-year, $11MM extension, per Fowler. He adds this new pact contains $6MM in guaranteed money. Myers was on course for free agency after signing a one-year pact with New York this past spring. Instead, he will remain in place as the team aims for stability up front. This contract places Myers 13th in terms of AAV for centers.
A second-round pick of the Packers in 2021, Myers played out his rookie contract with Green Bay. During that time, he started all 56 of his appearances and – aside from his debut season – avoided any lengthy absences. Nevertheless, inconsistent showings on the field resulted in the Ohio State product only securing a $2MM deal from the Jets during his first trip to free agency. Myers has now landed a notable raise on his third NFL contract.
PFF has not graded any of Myers’ five seasons favorably, and his 53.6 mark for 2025 is the lowest of his career. The 27-year-old has remained consistent in that regard, however, and he will be expected to maintain his current level of play through the 2027 season. As a result of this agreement, the Jets have four of their cuttent starting offensive linemen under contract through at least next year.
That includes tackles Olu Fashanu and Armand Membou, taken in the first round of the past two drafts. Left guard John Simpson is a pending free agent, so it is unclear if he will continue playing alongside Myers beyond the final four games of the current season. Another projected vacancy up front for next year is at the right guard spot, as Alijah Vera-Tucker is set to see his rookie contract expire this spring. The oft-injured blocker is currently set to reach the market after missing the entire 2025 season.
That will deal a major blow to Vera-Tucker’s value, and it remains to be seen if he will remain in New York or move on in March. Regardless of what happens on that front, though, Myers will be counted on to continue operating as a full-time starter up front for a Jets team seeking improvements on offense for 2026 and beyond.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/15/25
Just one practice squad move to pass along:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: DL C.J. Brewer
- Released: WR Brandon Johnson
Brandon Johnson has seen time in 23 career games. He had his best showing with the Broncos in 2023, when he hauled in 19 catches for 284 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games. He’ll be replaced on Tampa Bay’s practice squad by C.J. Brewer, who’s collected 2.5 sacks with the Buccaneers across the past two seasons.
NFL Minor Transactions: 12/15/25
Today’s minor moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: WR Jamari Thrash
- Waived: G Garrett Dellinger
Houston Texans
- Placed on IR: DT Mario Edwards Jr. (story)
Miami Dolphins
- Signed to active roster: LB Quinton Bell
- Elevated: OL Kion Smith
- Waived: LB Andre Carter II
New England Patriots
- Waived: LB Caleb Murphy
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed to active roster: WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling
- Elevated: OL Jack Driscoll, DE DeMarvin Leal
- Waived: WR Ke’Shawn Williams
Jamari Thrash is already back on Cleveland’s active roster after getting waived the other day. The former fifth-round pick has only seen time in a single game since the beginning of November. Before that, he tallied 10 receptions for 107 yards.
In other receiver news, Marquez Valdes-Scantling made his way to the active roster for tonight’s game against the Dolphins. The veteran got into 16 offensive snaps during his Steelers debut in Week 14. Before that, he hauled in four catches for 40 yards in five appearances for the 49ers.
Jets Place DB Isaiah Oliver On IR
Isaiah Oliver‘s season has come to an end. The Jets placed the defensive back on injured reserve today, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Oliver suffered a knee injury during the second quarter of yesterday’s loss to the Jaguars. While the safety was initially deemed questionable, he didn’t end up returning to the game. Now, his season has effectively ended with his placement on IR.
Oliver joined the Jets ahead of the 2024 campaign and got into about half of his team’s defensive snaps last season, finishing with 57 tackles, a sack, and three passes defended. He’s started only two of his 14 appearances in 2025 while seeing a drop in his defensive reps. Still, he’s been a mainstay on special teams, and his season will end with him having compiled 55 tackles and three passes defended.
The Jets have shuffled Oliver around the defense this season, with the veteran spending time at safety, cornerback, and in the box. With Tony Adams nursing a groin injury, the Jets may need to get creative with their secondary in Week 16. Qwan’tez Stiggers (62), Jordan Clark (45), and Dean Clark (31) all saw season-highs in snaps during yesterday’s loss, and that trio will likely be in line for an expanded role on Sunday.
To help make up for the lost depth, the Jets did add a healthy body today. ESPN’s Rich Cimini reports that the team signed defensive back Keidron Smith off the Broncos practice squad. The former UDFA got into nine games for Denver last season, collecting seven tackles while seeing the majority of his playing time on special teams.
Broncos Place S Brandon Jones On IR
Brandon Jones will not be available to the Broncos for the closing stages of the regular season. The veteran safety was placed on injured reserve Monday, per a team announcement.
Jones suffered a chest injury on Sunday, and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports a pectoral ailment is believed to have occurred. It remains to be seen if that is indeed the case for Jones. At a minimum, today’s transaction ensures he will miss the next four weeks. That means the Broncos will be shorthanded in the secondary for their final three regular season games.
Since signing with the Broncos in free agency last year, Jones has operated as a full-time starter. The 27-year-old has proven effective in Denver’s post-Justin Simmons setup at the safety spot, notching 193 tackles, four interceptions and 17 pass breakups with his new team. Jones’ absence will be felt down the stretch as Denver looks to win the AFC West and potentially clinch top spot in the conference.
In the meantime, P.J. Locke will return to first-team duties with Jones sidelined. The veteran started a career-high 15 games for Denver last season, but he’s been limited to only 46 defensive snaps in 13 appearances in 2025. The Broncos could also turn to the likes of JL Skinner and/or Devon Key to play opposite Talanoa Hufanga in the secondary. The Broncos are down another safety after the Jets snagged Keidron Smith off Denver’s practice squad today.
The Broncos weren’t done making moves today, as the team announced that they claimed running back Cody Schrader from the Texans. Schrader spent most of this season in Jacksonville but was waived earlier this month. He was subsequently claimed by Houston, who ended up waiving him days later.
Ben Levine contributed to this post.
Bears Designate LB Tremaine Edmunds For Return From IR
The Bears could have a key defensive figure back in the fold in time for Week 16. Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds has returned to practice, the team announced on Monday. 
Edmunds remains on injured reserve at this point as he recovers from a groin injury. Having missed the minimum four games, though, it is certainly an encouraging sign he has managed to suit up for practice at the first opportunity. Head coach Ben Johnson recently expressed optimism about Edmunds’ chances of playing again this season, and today’s news is a strong sign in that direction.
After playing out his rookie contract and fifth-year option in Buffalo, Edmunds signed with the Bears in free agency. The two-time Pro Bowler has operated as a full-time starter since then, missing only two games prior to the 2025 campaign during that stretch. After a notable absence, Edmunds will look to reprise his role as one of the top producers on a Chicago defense which has navigated numerous injuries to starters all season.
The Bears lead the league in interceptions but they have plenty of room for improvement in other areas. Getting Edmunds back could offer a boost down the stretch. The 27-year-old has posted 89 tackles, four interceptions, nine pass deflections and one interception so far in 2025. The former first-rounder will add to those figures if Chicago is able to activate him in time for Saturday’s critical matchup with the Packers.
Chicago currently has three IR activations remaining for the regular season. Bringing Edmunds back into the fold this week (or sometime later within his practice window) will use up one of those. Provided he does manage to return, however, the 10-4 Bears will welcome back an impact presence late in the campaign as their efforts to clinch top spot in the NFC North continue.
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.