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NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/15/25

September 15th, 2025 at 7:52pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad moves:

San Francisco 49ers

Tennessee Titans

  • Signed: OT Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, TE Joel Wilson
  • Released: TE Drake Dabney

The 49ers brought back a familiar face in Robert Beal Jr.. The 26-year-old has appeared in 18 career games with San Francisco, compiling 22 tackles and one sack. The majority of that playing time came last year, when he got into 14 contests. Beal made the initial 53-man roster this season before getting waived last week. The 49ers already had an open spot on their taxi squad after linebacker Curtis Robinson was signed to the active roster the other day.

NFL Minor Transactions: 9/15/25

September 15th, 2025 at 7:35pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Dallas Cowboys

Houston Texans

Las Vegas Raiders

Philadelphia Eagles

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Commanders

As expected, Cowboys center Cooper Beebe landed on injured reserve today after suffering an ankle and foot injury during yesterday’s win over the Giants. The lineman suffered a lateral sprain in his ankle along with a bone fracture in his foot, an injury that’s expected to keep him sidelined for six to eight weeks. During an appearance on 105.3 The Fan, Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones expressed optimism that the injury timeline is “on the shorter end of that” (per Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk.com).

Chargers Place LB Denzel Perryman On IR

September 15th, 2025 at 5:18pm CST by Adam La Rose

Denzel Perryman suffered a high ankle sprain in Week 1, ensuring he would miss time. To little surprise, the veteran linebacker now finds himself on injured reserve.

Perryman was moved to IR on Monday, per a team announcement. Tonight’s matchup against the Raiders will mark the first of at least four games he will be required to miss.

The linebacker was limited to only eight defensive snaps in Week 1 before exiting the contest with his injury. The team kept the door open to a quick return, although the writing was on the wall when Perryman didn’t practice during the lead up to tonight’s matchup with the Raiders.

A former Chargers second-round pick, Perryman signed on for his second stint with the organization ahead of the 2024 campaign. He was limited to 11 games last year thanks to a handful of injuries, but he still managed to compile 55 tackles and one sack.

Troy Dye is likely to reprise his role as a starter at the second level of the team’s defense after filling in for Perryman in Week 1. The veteran started five games in 2024, and he finished his first season in Los Angeles with 57 tackles and 1.5 sacks. Marlowe Wax and Del’Shawn Phillips could also see an uptick in playing time while their teammate is sidelined.

The Chargers made a handful of additional moves ahead of their Week 2 contest. The team signed long snapper Rick Lovato to the 53-man roster, and they elevated both safety Tony Jefferson and linebacker Kana’i Mauga from the practice squad.

Ben Levine contributed to this post.

Rams Place CB Ahkello Witherspoon On IR

September 15th, 2025 at 4:40pm CST by Adam La Rose

4:40pm: Head coach Sean McVay said (via ESPN’s Sarah Barshop) surgery is not expected to be needed in this case. Witherspoon is nevertheless facing a recovery timeline of roughly 12 weeks, so he is in store to miss a large portion of the campaign.

1:34pm: The Rams’ secondary will be shorthanded for a notable period. Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon was placed on injured reserve Monday, per a team announcement.

Witherspoon is dealing with a broken clavicle. Today’s move ensures he will miss at least the next four games. A return could take place as early as Week 7, although that contest will be followed by the Rams’ bye week. It would come as no surprise if Witherspoon were to only be back in the fold after that point.

Losing the 30-year-old for any period will deal a blow to Los Angeles’ defense. Witherspoon has proven to be a key presence at the cornerback spot during his Rams tenure. After being released by the Steelers in 2023, the former third-rounder signed with the Rams. That move saw him serve as a full-time starter during his debut Los Angeles campaign.

A pair of one-year deals have followed, allowing Witherspoon to remain in place. His snap share fell to 58% in 2024, a season in which he was limited to 13 games. Missed time will again be in store this season. Witherspoon has started each of the Rams’ first two contests in 2025, but a new setup will now be needed at the CB position moving forward.

Emmanuel Forbes has been a key presence early in the campaign. The former Commanders first-rounder has handled a 77% snap share to date, and that figure could increase with Witherspoon not in the picture for the time being. Cobie Durant and Darious Williams are also candidates to take on a larger workload after seeing part-time usage so far. Los Angeles will look to remain undefeated beginning with a Week 3 game against the Eagles.

That effort will not include Witherspoon, though. The Colorado product is a pending free agent, so missing a significant stretch will hinder his market value next spring in addition to leaving the Rams shorthanded in the secondary.

Commanders To Sign RB Chase Edmonds

September 15th, 2025 at 3:58pm CST by Adam La Rose

In the wake of losing Austin Ekeler for the season, the Commanders have added backfield depth. Veteran Chase Edmonds has a deal in place with Washington, as first reported by Fox Sports’ Greg Auman.

Prior to reaching this agreement, the Commanders looked into other free agent options. As Tom Pelissero of NFL Network notes, Demetric Felton, Khalil Herbert and Nyheim Miller-Hines also visited Washington. Each member of that trio remains unsigned, however.

To no surprise, this will be a practice squad arrangement. The Commanders still have Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Chris Rodriguez Jr. in the mix as healthy backfield options. Edmonds will offer the team with a veteran presence if he receives a gameday elevation, though.

The 29-year-old last played in 2023 with the Buccaneers. Edmonds split his time the previous season with the Dolphins and Broncos. Prior to that, he played out his rookie contract as a member of the Cardinals. That span overlapped with then-head coach Kliff Kingsbury, who is now the Commanders’ offensive coordinator. Edmonds thus represents a familiar face for his new team.

Over his six NFL seasons, the former fourth-rounder primarily worked as a rotational option in the backfield. In 2021, Edmonds started 11 of 12 games and handled a career-high 116 carries; that resulted in a personal best in terms of rushing yards (592). Similar numbers should not be expected after an absence this long and with a third-string role (at the most) in place, of course.

Still, Edmonds could handle part-time duties upon returning to NFL action. The Fordham product has racked up 158 receptions during his career, so he could look to compensate for Ekeler’s loss in the pass-catching department. Finding success in that capacity could help his value next offseason and lead to a market strong enough to avoid remaining unsigned into the 2026 regular season.

Panthers To Place G Robert Hunt, C Austin Corbett On IR

September 15th, 2025 at 3:08pm CST by Adam La Rose

As expected, the Panthers will be shorthanded up front for a lengthy period. Guard Robert Hunt and center Austin Corbett are both headed to injured reserve, head coach Dave Canales confirmed on Monday.

Hunt suffered a torn left biceps during yesterday’s game. Surgery will be required as a result, meaning he could very well be lost for the season. The shift to IR ensures a four-game absence at a minimum, but for both Hunt and Corbett a much longer absence is in store.

Corbett suffered an MCL injury during Carolina’s Week 2 contest. Canales noted the extent of the ailment was initially unclear (with a sprain being a possibility), but he later specified (via ESPN’s David Newton) this is a case of a Grade C injury. That represents a complete tear, meaning surgery will also be required for Corbett. Canales has left the door open for a late-season return in both cases, but it would come as a surprise if either were to be available again in 2025.

The Panthers made continuity a priority along the O-line this offseason. Corbett and fellow center Cade Mays were retained, while longtime right tackle Taylor Moton inked a two-year extension shortly before the start of the campaign. Left tackle Ikem Ekwonu is still in the fold, as is left guard Damien Lewis. With a number of depth options returning as well, Carolina’s top nine contributors up front in terms of snaps from 2024 are in the fold.

Given today’s injury news, that depth and familiarity will be called upon early. Mays is set to take over from Corbett at center after falling short in this year’s training camp competition for the gig. Canales said Chandler Zavala, meanwhile, will receive the first opportunity to take on the right guard position. The 2023 fourth-rounder made seven total starts across his first two seasons with Carolina, and that figure is now set to increase.

Hunt remains under contract through 2028, so the Pro Bowler’s future with the team is not in questions. Corbett, on the other hand, missed considerable time in each of the past two years. Yet another significant injury will hurt the pending free agent’s chances of being retained this spring along with his market value for any outside teams which show interest.

Cowboys, Jadeveon Clowney Agree To Deal

September 14th, 2025 at 10:10pm CST by Adam La Rose

10:10pm: Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Clowney’s new contract is a one-year, $3.5MM pact. If the veteran defender can maximize the value of the deal, he could earn up to $6MM in 2025.

4:08pm: Jadeveon Clowney will, in fact, be heading to Dallas for the 2025 season. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said after the team’s Week 2 game (via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero) the veteran edge rusher has a deal in place.

Clowney visited Dallas on Wednesday, a clear indication an interest existed between team and player. No deal was reached, and in the immediate aftermath of the visit it was reported a signing was not expected. Instead, Clowney has indeed managed to line up his next opportunity.

Shortly after the visit, Bryan Broaddus of 105.3 The Fan reported (h/t Pro Football Talk’s Charean Williams) Dallas preferred a signing, with Clowney electing to wait. In the aftermath of a wild overtime win, the Cowboys have now added a veteran presence along the edge. The team’s post-Micah Parsons setup will see Clowney take on at least a part-time role.

Th3 32-year-old has bounced around the league since his Texans tenure ended. Following a five-year spell in Houston, Clowney has played for the Seahawks, Titans, Browns, Ravens and Panthers. Only his Cleveland tenure (2021-22) lasted longer than one season. Carolina preferred to open up playing time for the team’s younger options along the edge, something which informed the team’s decision to release Clowney.

A lengthy free agent tenure ensued, and the three-time Pro Bowler drew interest from a number of teams. Despite aiming to have a deal in place before Week 1, Clowney (who has posted nine sacks in a season three times, including 2024) remained on the market through to today. Now, his attention will turn to joining a 1-1 team aiming for an improvement compared to its defensive showing in Week 2. The Giants scored 37 points (including a go-ahead touchdown inside the final minute of the contest) before ultimately falling short against Dallas.

The Cowboys notched two sacks on Sunday, one of which was recorded by defensive tackle Kenny Clark (acquired in the Parsons trade). Only James Houston managed one amongst the team’s edge rushers. As Dallas looks to add production in that respect, Clowney will join a group featuring Houston, Dante Fowler, Sam Williams, Marshawn Kneeland and second-round rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku. It will be interesting to see when Clowney will make his debut and how much of an impact he will be able to make on his seventh career team.

Cowboys, G Tyler Smith Agree To Record-Setting Extension

September 13th, 2025 at 10:16pm CST by Ely Allen

The Cowboys continue to make deals after fumbling the big one in the dying days of the preseason. Dallas has agreed to an extension with starting left guard Tyler Smith that will make him the highest-paid player at his position, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

The terms show a four-year, $96MM agreement that includes $81.2MM in guarantees, $16.4MM of which will be in the form of a signing bonus, according to ESPN’s Todd Archer. Smith’s $24MM annual average value is the highest for an offensive guard in NFL history.

As a result of failing to act quickly on past extensions for key contributors like quarterback Dak Prescott, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, and pass rusher Micah Parsons, Cowboys owner/team president/general manager Jerry Jones ended up reacting to huge market changes at all three positions. This left Dallas paying more than it might have needed to on extensions for Prescott and Lamb and trading away Parsons to a team with whom he was willing to negotiate.

With any potential Parsons deal taken off their plate, the Cowboys immediately shifted their attention to where else they might dedicate their money. Actually, they knew where to look, as they had keyed in on Smith, cornerback DaRon Bland, tight end Jake Ferguson, and kicker Brandon Aubrey as players they wanted new deals for early in the offseason. Ferguson was the first to get his deal in July. Bland was next to sign his deal, and fullback Hunter Luepke got a surprise extension, as well, to open September in the days after Parsons’ departure.

This time, it’s Smith’s turn. After letting it be known that they had their eyes on an extension for the fourth-year guard, Dallas picked up his fifth-year option. It didn’t seem likely that the Cowboys would allow Smith to play out Year 5 on the option. Because all offensive line positions are grouped together when calculating the fifth-year option salaries, guards and centers rarely see their options picked up as prices are driven up by offensive tackles.

What picking up his option did, though, was show Smith they were serious about keeping (and paying) him and add an extra year of time for a deal to get done. It also allowed Smith to go into the regular season — after failing to get a new deal secured before the season opener — feeling secure that a deal was on its way. The 24-year-old switched up his representation shortly after his option was picked up in anticipation of the deal getting done.

The two sides clearly didn’t let the start of the regular season keep them from working out a contract, and there was plenty of anticipation for it to be a record-setting one. Because they had picked up his fifth-year option, Smith became the first Cowboy since former running back Ezekiel Elliott to sign an extension with multiple years left on his contract, per Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports.

In only three full years of play, Smith already has three accolades to his name as a two-time Pro Bowler and a second-team All-Pro, all earned during the two seasons in which he started at guard. In his rookie season, his sole season not at guard, Smith stepped in for an injured Tyron Smith to start every game of the season but one at left tackle.

In that rookie campaign, during which he unexpectedly started as Prescott’s blindside blocker, Pro Football Focus (subscription required) graded Smith as the league’s 25th-best tackle out of 81 players graded at the position. When he bumped back in to guard in his sophomore campaign, PFF slotted him in at 11th of 79. He followed that up last year with a ranking of 15th out of 77 guards. Despite the varying relative position rankings, Smith’s overall grades have been consistently strong and have improved year after year.

Not only is Smith among the cream of the crop at his normal position, but the 24-year-old has also proven he can play at a high level as a tackle if need be. Smith is young and talented and likely has room to grow yet. The deal secures Smith as the key cog of the offensive line through the 2030 NFL season as Dallas continues use the money not spent on Parsons to hold on to every other player that it intended to pay.

Patriots Trade WR Ja’Lynn Polk To Saints

September 13th, 2025 at 10:04pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Patriots are trading second-year wideout Ja’Lynn Polk and a 2028 seventh-round pick to the Saints for a 2027 sixth-round pick, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini.

Polk suffered a shoulder injury during the preseason and was placed on season-ending injured reserve during final roster cuts. He still won’t suit up this year, so New Orleans is betting on his ability to recover and live up to his draft billing in 2026 and beyond.

The Saints were interested in Polk during the 2024 draft, per Jeff Duncan and Luke Johnson of The Times-Picayune, but he was taken by the Patriots at No. 37, four picks before New Orleans was on the clock. (The Saints ended up using their second-rounder on cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry.)

The 23-year-old disappointed as a rookie, reeling in only 12 of his 37 targets for 87 yards and two touchdowns. He was thought to be on the roster bubble entering training camp after New England revamped their receiver room this offseason. His shoulder surgery pre-empted a release, but the Patriots still found a way to move on when the Saints came calling.

Per OverTheCap, the Patriots trading Polk will leave $2.9MM in dead money, which can be spread across the team’s 2025 and 2026 salary caps. That assumes that the Saints pick up the entirety of his remaining salary, worth just under $5MM over the next three years. 2025 and 2026 are fully guaranteed, while $637k of Polk’s $2.11MM salary in 2027 is guaranteed.

In terms of both finances and draft capital, acquiring Polk is a low-cost move by the Saints, though it does not come without risk. The first two year of his NFL career have essentially been a wash, and he’ll be coming off shoulder surgery entering his third.

Polk is now the second receiver from the 2024 draft class that New Orleans has added in the last month. In August, they sent two Day 3 picks to the Broncos in exchange for former seventh-round pick Devaughn Vele. Neither move seems to be about upgrading their offense this year. Instead, they’re further indicators – along with the team’s plan to start Spencer Rattler for as long as possible – that the team has finally decided to undergo a rebuild, per Nick Underhill of New Orleans.Football.

The Patriots, meanwhile, have jettisoned yet another player from their 2024 draft class under new head coach Mike Vrabel. First-round quarterback Drake Maye and third-round offensive lineman Caedan Wallace are the only remaining selections on the roster, (h/t Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald). While Maye seems to be the future of the team, Wallace spent part of his rookie year on IR and could only carve out a backup guard role entering this season.

Browns Activate RB Quinshon Judkins

September 13th, 2025 at 10:03pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Browns have activated rookie running back Quinshon Judkins, setting him up to make his NFL debut on Sunday against the Ravens.

Judkins was arrested in July on charges of battery and domestic violence that were later dropped. The NFL is still investigating the incident, but for now, Judkins is eligible to play. He was a full-time participant in practice with the Browns on Thursday and Friday this week and will likely have a limited role this week, if he sees the field, as he gets up to speed with the offense.

Judkins’ arrest initially led to significant uncertainty regarding his future. At the time, the No. 36 pick had yet to officially sign with the Browns as second-rounders around the league were holding out for fully guaranteed rookie deals. The two sides agreed to put contract talks aside as Judkins’ legal issues played out, but he finally put pen to paper the day before Cleveland’s regular season opener.

The former Ohio State and Ole Miss rusher met with the NFL representatives on Wednesday in New York before returning to Cleveland. He’s on the Browns’ roster as a standard roster exemption at the moment, making him eligible to play as the league opted not to put him on paid leave via placement on the commissioner’s exempt list.

Before the Ohio State rookie’s legal troubles began, the Browns’ offensive backfield looked to feature the veteran leadership of a 40-year-old Joe Flacco juxtaposed heavily against a healthy dose of youth with two rookie rushers. Though Jerome Ford returned as the incumbent starter, having finished each of the past two seasons as Cleveland’s leading rusher, Judkins and fellow rookie Dylan Sampson looked too talented to be kept off the field early. The added fact that Ford was asked to take a pay cut in the days immediately following the draft seemed to hint at a decreased role for the 26-year-old.

With Judkins unavailable, though, the Browns leaned on Ford’s experience to open the season. While Sampson got the start, Ford played a slightly heavier snap count with 41 snaps to Sampson’s 33. In terms of production, though, Sampson dominated out of the backfield. Neither back saw much success running the ball, but Sampson’s 12 carries for 29 yards were slightly more effective than Ford’s six carries for eight yards. In the passing game, Sampson caught all eight targets from Flacco for 64 yards, while Ford’s only target resulted in a three-yard loss.

The gameplan isn’t likely to be too different against the Ravens tomorrow. Especially after watching Baltimore’s defense give up a league-worst 389 yards through the air in Week 1, Cleveland may attempt to let Flacco cut it loose in his old home stadium, which would mean a lot of checkdowns and screens for Sampson. Moving past Week 2, though, Judkins could find a lot of success working alongside Sampson, considering he’s more than used to sharing a backfield from his time at Ole Miss and Ohio State.

In their running styles, Judkins and Sampson seem like a perfect fit. Judkins runs with more of a decisive, one-cut style, attempting to get to his top speed by the time he hits the second-level defender. He’s not afraid of lowering the shoulder for contact with his strength and balance, making him difficult to bring down. Sampson plays with a bit more quickness and agility, finding his desired angle and cutting with speed. He certainly fights for every yard, but rather than lowering the boom, he’s more effective when he’s using small cuts and shakes to avoid getting hit head-on to eke out a couple more yards. Neither back was much of a receiver in college, but Sampson has clearly picked up that role quickly.

While it remains to be seen just how ready Judkins is for NFL play, just how much the Browns will be willing to utilize him, even just how long they’ll be waiting to hear on potential punishments levied by the league, tomorrow could be the start of something exciting for the Browns offense. It’s a lofty measuring stick, but visions of a 2020 Nick Chubb–Kareem Hunt duo don’t feel entirely out of reach for the two rookies’ ceilings together. While expectations for contention this year aren’t plentiful in Cleveland, if Sampson and Judkins can establish a strong rushing game for the Browns moving forward, the team’s two 2026 first-round picks could be instrumental in initiating a quick rebuild on the road back to the playoffs.

In order to make room for Judkins on the active roster, the Browns waived wide receiver Gage Larvadain.

Ely Allen contributed to this post.

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