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Saints Trade DT Khalen Saunders To Jaguars For C Luke Fortner

August 17th, 2025 at 8:43pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Saints are trading veteran defensive tackle Khalen Saunders to the Jaguars, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. The swap is now official.

In exchange, fourth-year center Luke Fortner will be heading to New Orleans, per Pelissero. Though they didn’t match up on the field, both players appeared in the Saints-Jaguars preseason game earlier on Sunday in what turned out to be auditions for their new teams.

Saunders, 29, started 27 games for the Saints over the last two seasons. He was not viewed as a good fit for the 3-4 scheme imported by new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, according to Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football and Jeff Duncan of NOLA.com. With plenty of defensive line depth in New Orleans, the six-year veteran was deemed surplus to requirements and sent to Jacksonville to shore up their depth in the trenches.

Saunders will join veteran starters DaVon Hamilton and Arik Armstead in the Jaguars’ defensive line room. He can add some veteran experience to a backup rotation that currently features young defensive tackles Jordan Jefferson, Maason Smith, and Tyler Lacy.

Fortner, originally a Jaguars third-round pick in 2022, will likely push for the Saints’ backup center job right away with Will Clapp sidelined for the season with a Lisfranc injury. The Saints have been evaluating their options behind Erik McCoy since Clapp went down; undrafted rookie Torricelli Simpkins got the start against the Jaguars with second year lineman Kyle Hergel handling the rest of the snaps. Neither did enough to lock down the backup job, as evidenced by Fortner’s arrival after the game.

Fortner, 25, started every game at center in his first two seasons but lost his spot to veteran signing Mitch Morse last year. Rather than go back to Fortner, the Jaguars opted to sign former Liam Coen Buccaneer charge Robert Hainsey in free agency. They also added Patrick Mekari, who is competing to start at right guard but has plenty of center experience from his time in Baltimore. Even if Mekari wins the right guard battle, he can still provide depth at center, as can seventh-round rookie Jonah Monheim.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/17/25

August 17th, 2025 at 8:28pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Here are the latest minor moves from around the NFL:

Carolina Panthers

Denver Broncos

Tennessee Titans

  • Waived: DL Philip Blidi

Perkins, the reigning UFL MVP, will add some depth to the Panthers’ quarterback room with Andy Dalton sidelined by an elbow injury, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Perkins appeared in five games for the Rams between 2020 and 2022, but has not played in the last two NFL seasons.

The Broncos were looking to add another fullback after a hamstring injury to starter Michael Burton, per Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette. They auditioned Prentice, Khari Blasingame, and Troy Hairston on Saturday, according to KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, with Prentice earning a roster spot. This will be his second stint in Denver after starting his career there as an undrafted rookie in 2021.

Commanders Activate Terry McLaurin Off PUP List; No Progress On Contract

August 16th, 2025 at 10:07pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Commanders have activated wide receiver Terry McLaurin off the active/physically unable to perform list, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, but the move is not an indicator of progress in extension negotiations.

Head coach Dan Quinn said (via NBC4 Sports) that McLaurin’s activation is “definitely separate” from his contract talks. “This is about his getting ready to play,” continued Quinn.

However, McLaurin’s activation did come a day after offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury indicated that he wanted his star wide receiver to get back on the practice field as soon as possible.

“Time on task together on the grass is really the only way you can continue to build,” said Kingsbury (via 106.7 The Fan’s Grant Paulsen).

McLaurin did not practice on Saturday, per The Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala, though that’s not necessarily an indicator of a hold-in. Quinn and Kingsbury both indicated that McLaurin had been spending time with trainers and other medical staff, so he may be going through workouts out of view of the media.

Still, the 29-year-old’s willingness to practice will be a situation worth monitoring over the next week. There is still a “sizable gap” between McLaurin and the Commanders, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, and the two-time Pro Bowler is “dug in” and “remains frustrated.” Despite his trade request and some interest from other teams, the Commanders still believe that they can get a deal done before the season.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/15/25

August 15th, 2025 at 7:13pm CST by Adam La Rose

Friday’s minor moves around the NFL:

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

Denver Broncos

Houston Texans

Los Angeles Chargers

  • Reverted to IR: CB Jordan Oladokun, WR Dez Fitzpatrick
  • Released from IR via injury settlement: TE Jordan Petaia

San Francisco 49ers

Dwelley’s second stint in the Bay Area has ended before roster cuts, let alone the start of the regular season. The 30-year-old spent his first six NFL seasons with the 49ers, serving as a special teams presence while chipping in offensively. After a single Atlanta campaign in 2024, Dwelley will now hit the open market in mid-August and seek out his next opportunity.

Commanders Sign WR River Cracraft, DB Daryl Worley

August 14th, 2025 at 7:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

Daryl Worley has reached an agreement to join a 10th NFL team. The veteran defensive back, whom the Titans turned to as a fill-in starter last season, is joining the Commanders, per The Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala.

Washington, which also added wide receivers River Cracraft and Mike Strachan (via Jhabvala), is bringing in Worley after a recent workout (h/t KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson). Worley, who spent three seasons with the Ravens, will return to the mid-Atlantic region as a Commanders DB option.

None of Worley’s previous stops involved Dan Quinn or GM Adam Peters, though Worley did stop through Dallas in 2020. Worley, 30, has seen action for the Panthers, Raiders, Cowboys, Bills, Lions, Ravens and Titans. This nomadic career also included brief Eagles and Cardinals stopovers.

This is not quite Josh Johnson pace, but the double-digit team club is certainly a milestone in journeyman lore. Perhaps some discussions can commence on this topic, as the quarterback joined the Commanders this offseason.

While Worley (54 starts from 2017-20) found himself a regular Ravens practice squad callup — en route to being a PFR “Minor NFL Transactions” staple in those years — he logged seven starts for the Titans last season. A former cornerback in his regular starter days, Worley has transitioned to safety. He spent most of his Tennessee stint as a free safety or in the box for the struggling team, making 52 tackles, notching a forced fumble intercepting a pass. With Washington, the ex-third-round pick joins Will Harris, Quan Martin, Percy Butler and special teams ace Jeremy Reaves at safety.

Cracraft, 30, served as a minor Dolphins receiving contributor over the past three seasons. Following Mike McDaniel from San Francisco to Miami, Cracraft caught 25 passes for 289 yards and three TDs in Miami from 2022-24. The former UDFA, whose 49ers stint came during Peters’ time in San Francisco, has now seen game action in each of the past seven seasons. He will vie for a backup job with Washington.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/14/25

August 14th, 2025 at 7:36pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Thursday’s minor moves:

Atlanta Falcons

Buffalo Bills

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars

Los Angeles Chargers

New Orleans Saints

Seattle Seahawks

  • Signed: FB Wesley Steiner
  • Waived: LB Michael Dowell

Tennessee Titans

49ers Place T Andre Dillard On IR

August 14th, 2025 at 7:30pm CST by Sam Robinson

The 49ers look to have moved to a swing tackle decision; an injury will lead to an easier call. San Francisco placed Andre Dillard on IR on Thursday. Barring a belated return after an injury settlement, this move will keep Dillard out of the picture for the 49ers this season. This comes days after the team activated Dillard from the active/PUP list; not much practice time ensued for the six-year veteran.

After a season with the Packers, the former first-round pick joined the 49ers on a vet-minimum deal. Flaming out as the Titans’ left tackle starter, Dillard was competing for the swing tackle role Jaylon Moore‘s Chiefs defection vacated. As it stands, it looks like converted guard Spencer Burford will slide into that role, The Athletic’s Matt Barrows notes.

[RELATED: Assessing 49ers’ 2025 Offseason]

Burford began taking tackle reps early last season, even as Moore held the role. The 49ers may have been grooming the former guard starter for that gig, as Moore eventually drew a two-year, $30MM offer — a rate that surprised even John Lynch — from the Chiefs. Burford had been squarely in the mix to take over, and with Dillard officially out of the equation, it looks like the contract-year blocker will assume one of the NFL’s most important swing roles. The 49ers were rumored to have a deal in place with D.J. Humphries this offseason, but it never came to fruition. Humphries is now with the Rams.

Trent Williams has not played a full season since 2013. Moore helped gain free agency interest because Williams missed seven games last season. The future Hall of Fame tackle has missed at least two games due to injury in each of his five 49ers seasons; an ankle injury kept him off the field during last season’s second half. A former fourth-round pick who drew scrutiny for missing a key block that stalled the 49ers’ overtime drive in Super Bowl LVIII, Burford made 29 guard starts from 2022-23 but spent the ’24 season on the bench. Burford did log 31 left tackle snaps last season. He started the 49ers’ preseason opener at LT.

Dillard, 29, has considerably more time there but has never justified his first-round pedigree. The Titans gave him a three-year, $29MM deal but demoted him during the 2023 season and cut him months later. Dillard, who drew trade interest as Jason Peters‘ backup in Philly, spent the 2024 season as a Packers second-stringer. He could resurface elsewhere via an injury settlement, but for the time being, he is on San Francisco’s IR list.

The 49ers also signed defensive linemen William Bradley-King and Demone Harris while also waiving D-lineman Michael Dwumfour.

Falcons To Sign CB C.J. Henderson

August 14th, 2025 at 9:45am CST by Adam La Rose

C.J. Henderson‘s recent Falcons workout has produced an agreement. The former first-round corner is set to sign with Atlanta pending a physical, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

[RELATED: Recapping Falcons’ Offseason]

Henderson’s brief Jaguars stint did not go as planned, and the No. 9 selection in 2020 was traded after playing just 10 games for Jacksonville. The move allowed him to spend two-plus seasons in Carolina. During that time, Henderson handled a varied workload but consistently struggled in coverage, hindering his free agent market.

A Steelers deal saw Henderson on the move once again last year, but he did not see any playing time before landing on injured reserve. To little surprise, then, it has taken until well into training camp for the 26-year-old to line up his next opportunity. On the other hand, Henderson worked out with Pittsburgh last week, and Rapoport notes he drew interest from “several suitors.”

In any case, Henderson will quickly turn his attention to competing for a roster spot in Atlanta. The Falcons have AJ Terrell atop the cornerback depth chart once again for 2025, with Mike Hughes being added via free agency. He will be counted on to handle a starting role, while Dee Alford and Clark Phillips are still in place from last year. Henderson will look to spend Atlanta’s remaining practices and preseason games carving out a depth spot in the secondary.

The Falcons entered Thursday with less than $5MM in cap space, ranking them near the bottom of the league in terms of available funds. Henderson’s pact will not be a costly one, though, so Atlanta should still have the flexibility to make other roster moves in the coming weeks if needed.

Dolphins Place OL Germain Ifedi On IR

August 14th, 2025 at 8:59am CST by Adam La Rose

Earlier this month, the Dolphins signed Germain Ifedi as depth along the offensive line. His time working with Miami has come to a quick end, however.

[RELATED: Mike McDaniel Candidate For 2025’s First HC Firing?]

Ifedi was placed on injured reserve Thursday, per a team announcement. As a result, he is set to miss the 2025 campaign in its entirety unless a release by means of an injury settlement takes place. The 31-year-old’s absence will leave the Dolphins short on options at the tackle spots as well as, potentially, depth at guard. Head coach Mike McDaniel said (via David Furones of the Sun Sentinel) Ifedi suffered a triceps tear.

A veteran of 90 starts and 117 appearances, Ifedi’s most recent action came with the Browns. The former first-rounder handled work on the blindside while filling in along Cleveland’s injury-plagued offensive line. His recent Miami signing came in the wake of Austin Jackson enduring a setback in his rehab process and facing a multi-week absence as a result. Jackson is expected to be healthy in time for Week 1, something which would be key for Miami up front.

In a corresponding move, the Dolphins signed Yodny Cajuste. That comes as little surprise, as Cajuste was among the group of veteran O-linemen who worked out for Miami prior to the Ifedi signing. A third-round pick of the Giants in 2021, Cajuste’s 17 regular season appearances to date have come with the Patriots. The 29-year-old could add to that total soon if he manages to survive roster cuts at the end of the month.

Entering Thursday, the Dolphins had just over $11.5MM in cap space. Signing Cajuste will lower that figure slightly, but his pact will no doubt be worth the veteran minimum. His arrival will offer depth up front as the team looks to sort out its pecking order along the offensive line. Ifedi, meanwhile, will turn his attention to recovery in anticipation of the 2026 campaign.

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