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Cowboys Offered Micah Parsons, 1st-Rounder For Quinnen Williams During Training Camp

November 28th, 2025 at 8:03pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones recently revealed that he offered Micah Parsons plus a first-round pick to the Jets in exchange for Quinnen Williams during training camp.

“I wanted a one and Parsons for Williams,” Jones said on 103.5 The Fan. That seems like an absurd offer, but Jones left little up to interpretation.

“A one and Parsons for Williams,” he repeated. Later, he added that the deal did not go through because the Jets “did not have the cap room to pay [Parsons].”

Jones also said something similar to WFAA’s Ed Werder: “We tried at training camp with the Jets to basically make an exchange that was ready to go, heads up, with Quinnen and Micah and a 1, and we didn’t get it done.”

Parsons, of course, was instead sent to the Packers for defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two first-round picks. The Cowboys later acquired Williams before the trade deadline for a package including a 2027 first-rounder, a 2026 second-rounder, and defensive tackle Mazi Smith.

Jones has slowly revealed more and more information about the Parsons trade since it was completed. During a September radio appearances on ESPN New York, Jones said that called the Jets regarding Williams when he was shopping Parsons before the season. The Jets were not interested, he claimed, because they “didn’t have the resources to entertain [the] conversation,” similar to his pronouncement on 103.5.

If Jones’ latest revelation is true, that means two things. First, he was willing to sacrifice a massive amount of value to move Parsons and acquire Williams. Second, the Jets made a huge mistake in not accepting the deal.

Though Williams is an excellent defensive tackle, Parsons is undoubtedly a better and more valuable player, even at a higher price point. This year, Williams has 2.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss this season; per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), he ranks fifth among interior defenders with 40 pressures but 38th with a 12.1% pass rush win rate.

Parsons, meanwhile, has 12.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss, plus 67 pressures and a 24.3% pass rush win rate, both top-three marks among NFL edge rushers. In his career, he has averaged 0.89 sacks and one tackle for loss per game; Williams’ per-game numbers are 0.41 sacks and 0.60 tackles for loss.

Those numbers may not tell the complete story of either player, but it seems like the Jets should have taken Jones’ offer. Sure, they would have had to pony up for Parsons’ mega-extension, but they were already prepared to move on from Williams. Adding an extra first-round pick on top would also give the Jets an opportunity to add another starter – if not a star – on a rookie contract. That would help to offset the financial cost of acquiring Parsons.

But Jones’ words should also be taken with a grain of salt. He has spent a lot of time trying to retroactively justify trading away Parsons, especially after using some of the resulting draft capital to acquire Williams. Claiming that the Jets were not interested in Parsons and a first-rounder for Williams serves to downplay the former’s value and boost the latter’s.

The idea that the Jets could not afford to pay Parsons does not hold water, either. After his extension, the All-Pro edge rusher’s cap hit in 2025 is just $9.97MM. New York certainly could have designed a similar contract structure and absorbed

Perhaps the Jets did want to commit so much money to Parsons as they were clearly contemplating a rebuild. Parsons would still be a cornerstone for that effort, but he may not have wanted to weather any losing seasons in the hopes of a future turnaround. But again, adding another first-round pick would have accelerated that process, and a core of Parsons, cornerback Sauce Gardner, and wide receiver Garrett Wilson seems like a solid foundation for the Jets to build from. That is an expensive trio, but having elite players at three of the sport’s most important positions is a good problem to have.

Instead, the Jets declined the Cowboys’ initial offer for Williams before moving him and Gardner at the deadline as part of what appears to be a full-on franchise reset.

Colts QB Daniel Jones Playing Through Fractured Fibula?

November 28th, 2025 at 7:36pm CST by Adam La Rose

NOVEMBER 28: After being limited in practice on Wednesday, Jones followed up yesterday’s full participant status with a second straight practice with full participation, and despite his reported fibula injury, he is expected to play this Sunday, per Joel A. Erickson of the IndyStar.

Neither today’s practice report nor the comments of head coach Shane Steichen acknowledged the rumors of a fracture in Jones’ lower leg, according to ESPN’s Stephen Holder, but in his comments to the media, Steichen said, “We would never put (Jones) out there if we thought something could go wrong.” The only hint reporters could glean came during an observable portion of practice in which Jones appeared to have a slight limp (video courtesy of James Boyd of The Athletic).

NOVEMBER 27: The Colts have cooled off in recent weeks, losing two of their last three games and only scoring 20 points in both of those contests. The health of quarterback Daniel Jones has also emerged as a talking point.

Jones has been dealing with a lower leg issue recently, and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports it is a fracture in his fibula. Rapoport adds Jones intends to continue playing through the injury, citing a source who states the fracture is not a concern. The Colts have neither confirmed nor denied Jones’ reported diagnosis.

Nevertheless, ESPN’s Stephen Holder reports Jones will be listed as a full participant for today’s practice. He echoes the sentiment that this ailment is not expected to result in missed game time. Jones was listed as limited once in practice last week, and the same was true for yesterday’s practice report. Otherwise, the standout free agent signing has managed to log full sessions recently.

When speaking to the media, Jones himself said (via James Boyd of The Athletic) he first realized the issue last week but added he is unsure when exactly it occurred. The former first-rounder noted the ailment is affecting his fibula but also declined to confirm whether or not any fractures have taken place.

Jones won out a training camp competition with Anthony Richardson and he has started every game so far for his newest team. The ex-Giant has set new career highs in several categories this year, giving his market value a considerable boost. A new Indy deal will bring with it a considerable raise, but negotiations on that front are not expected to begin until the offseason.

As a result, Jones’ play down the stretch will be make for a compelling storyline. The 28-year-old struggling during the closing stages of the season would likely still leave the Colts in a playoff spot, but that could have a notable impact on his valuation. Jones took a one-year pact worth $14MM, nearly all of which was guaranteed. Both a franchise tag and a long-term deal will be far more expensive from the Colts’ perspective if either route ends up being taken.

Richardson remains on injured reserve at this point. That leaves sixth-round rookie Riley Leonard as the Colts’ backup. Leonard has not seen any game action since Jones suffered the injury, and it appears that will continue to be the case moving forward.

Lions WR Amon-Ra St. Brown To Miss ‘A Week Or Two’

November 28th, 2025 at 7:00pm CST by Ely Allen

NOVEMBER 28, 7:00pm: Confirming speculation over the last 24 hours, MRI and other medical tests show a low ankle sprain for St. Brown with no structural damage, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. This is mostly good news, as it means a quick return for the 26-year-old. The injury is still depicted as a one- to two-week ailment, but with so much to play for at this point in the season, it’s thought that St. Brown will push hard to get back on the field for his team.

NOVEMBER 28, 9:46am: St. Brown is believed to be dealing with a low ankle sprain, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports. That points further in direction of only a short-term absence, and Pelissero adds to little surprise an IR stint is not expected in this case. The Lions will only play one game between now and December 14.

NOVEMBER 27: The Lions have persevered through several injuries throughout the season to remain in the thick of the playoff race. But currently sitting outside of the postseason with only five games remaining, Detroit has an uphill battle on its hands. That battle will be made a bit more difficult as the Lions could be without leading wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown for the next two games.

St. Brown was knocked out of today’s game against the Packers when left guard Kayode Awosika rolled up on his ankle from behind while the receiver was blocking. St. Brown was able to limp off the field, but he went straight to the locker room and was quickly ruled out for the remainder of the game. Without a diagnosis just yet, head coach Dan Campbell informed the media of the situation.

“I don’t feel like this is long, long-term, so that’s the good news,” Campbell said (per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press). “But that doesn’t mean it won’t be here for — it could be a week or two, maybe, if we’re lucky.”

Working against the Lions is the fact that, unlike every other team playing on Thanksgiving Day, Detroit and Dallas don’t get a 10-day rest as they play each other for Thursday Night Football next week. The Lions will get a 10-day rest the following week, though, before they head out for a tough trip to Los Angeles.

The Lions have already lost star tight end Sam LaPorta for, likely, the rest of the season, and wide receiver Kalif Raymond (ankle) and tight end Brock Wright (neck) were ruled out for today’s game. Without St. Brown on the field, Jameson Williams took over the WR1 role and put up big numbers as Jared Goff‘s main weapon. Rotational receiver Isaac TeSlaa and practice squad elevation Tom Kennedy were asked to step up into complimentary roles and delivered a combined six catches for 71 yards and a touchdown.

If the Lions are going to be without St. Brown for two weeks, they may look to add a body or two. Raymond may be able to play next week, and the team also has Georgia seventh-round rookie Dominic Lovett on the 53-man roster, but Lovett has mostly been a special teamer. In addition to Kennedy, Detroit also rosters Malik Cunningham and undrafted rookie Jackson Meeks on the practice squad.

Whatever route they choose, the Lions have a tough road ahead of them. Depending on the results of the Bears’ trip to Philadelphia tomorrow night, the Detroit could be as many as two games behind the current division-leader. They already are essentially two games behind the second-place Packers, since Green Bay swept the season series and would win a one-on-one tiebreaker. They would need some help to move into a Wild Card spot, as well. And that doesn’t mention the fact that the Lions have two current playoff teams remaining on the schedule, and a Week 17 trip to Minnesota is the only time they’ll see a sub-.500 team for the rest of the year.

The schedule ahead is hard enough by itself for the Lions. Opening up this difficult closing stretch without their top receiving weapon will make the road that much steeper. St. Brown will likely have some testing done in the coming days to determine the severity of his injury and give the team an idea of just how long they’ll be without him.

Cardinals Release Xavier Thomas, Baron Browning To Return In Week 13

November 28th, 2025 at 6:46pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Cardinals will have outside linebackers Baron Browning and BJ Ojulari on the field together for the first time this season in Week 13.

Browning is returning from a two-game absence due to a concussion, while Ojulari missed Arizona’s first nine games as he recovered from last year’s knee injury. With both players back in the fold, the Cardinals waived 2024 fifth-rounder Xavier Thomas, per team reporter Darren Urban.

Despite playing 54% of the team’s defensive snaps in his nine appearances, Browning has just 26 tackles, two sacks, and three tackles for loss on the season. However, he has been credited with 22 pressures and a 12.5% pass rush win rate, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), which both rank third among the Cardinals’ pass rushers. Based on those numbers, he is due for some better production for the rest of the season.

Thomas only appeared in four games this season with 15 snaps on defense and 42 on special teams. As a rookie, Thomas played 208 snaps with 2.5 sacks and two tackles for loss, but the addition of Josh Sweat this offseason and the return of Ojulari in Week 11 pushed him out of the rotation. Thomas will hit waivers and leave a dead cap hit of $93k in 2025 and $186k in 2026.

NFL Mailbag: Vikings, Maye, HC Candidates

November 28th, 2025 at 6:15pm CST by Adam La Rose

This week's PFR mailbag explores the Vikings' QB outlook, Drake Maye's MVP case, some of the top 2026 head coaching candidates and more.

Jordan asks:

The Vikings look to have made the wrong bet on J.J. McCarthy. With a few reclamation-project QBs having success in recent years, what options do you think will be there for in-house competition in Minnesota come 2026?

I should probably start this by stating the obvious: it is way too early to fully declare McCarthy a bust this early into his career. He has made just six regular-season starts to date after not seeing the field at all as a rookie.

That will rightfully give McCarthy a bit of leeway overall, but it’s undeniable he hasn’t developed as hoped so far. I had relatively high expectations in his case entering the season based not on his college career but rather head coach Kevin O’Connell’s track record of getting the most out of his quarterbacks. In that sense, there’s plenty of time for things to turn around.

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Bills Place Curtis Samuel On IR, Promote WR Gabe Davis

November 28th, 2025 at 6:00pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Bills swapped wide receivers on their active roster on Friday by placing Curtis Samuel on injured reserve and signing Gabe Davis from the practice squad to the 53-man roster.

Samuel was sidelined with knee and elbow injuries in Week 12, his fifth absence of the season after missing Weeks 1 through 4. He has only logged 81 receiving yards in six games despite a 40% snap share when active. This is his second disappointing campaign in a row after signing in Buffalo during the 2024 offseason. His three-year, $24MM contract has not aged well and he will likely be released as a cap casualty in the offseason. A pre-June 1 cut would save $6.275MM against the Bills’ 2026 salary cap with $3.45MM in dead money, per OverTheCap. A release after June 1 would save $8MM in 2026 with $1.725MM of dead money in 2026 and 2027.

Davis reunited with the Bills just before the start of the regular season, but did not see the field until second-year wideout Keon Coleman was benched in Week 11. Davis has started the last two games and caught four of his six targets for 62 yards on 59 snaps. His promotion to the 53-man roster indicates that he will continue to feature in Buffalo’s passing game for the rest of the season.

The Bills will also be without a number of key starters for their Week 13 matchup against the Steelers. Left tackle Dion Dawkins, right tackle Spencer Brown, and linebacker Terrel Bernard will all be sidelined on Sunday, according to the team’s injury report.

Dawkins briefly left last week’s game against the Texans to be checked for a concussion, but was cleared to return. After the game, however, symptoms reappeared, forcing the nine-year veteran into concussion protocol. He did not participate in practice this week.

Brown also went down in Week 12. His shoulder injury happened after Dawkins returned to the game; both tackles were replaced by swing tackle Ryan Van Demark in their respective absences. Van Demark will likely start at left tackle, which will set up rookie Chase Lundt to make his first career start at right tackle. The sixth-round pick has made one appearance this season, a three-snap effort in Week 4.

Bernard suffered an elbow injury in Houston, which will likely result in an uptick in work for Shaq Thompson and Dorian Williams. Bernard is tied for the most solo tackles and tackles for loss on the Bills defense.

Though Brown and Bernard could miss multiple games with their injuries, they are not expected to land on injured reserve, per Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic.

Baker Mayfield “Trending To Play” In Week 13, Bucky Irving To Return From Injury

November 28th, 2025 at 5:30pm CST by Adam La Rose

NOVEMBER 28: Bowles said (via team writer Scott Smith) that the Buccaneers had made a decision at quarterback, indicating Mayfield will start. Bowles added that the veteran quarterback “looked good” in Friday’s practice and is “trending to play.” Mayfield was upgraded to full participation after practicing in a limited capacity on Thursday; he is listed as questionable on the team’s injury report.

Bowles also revealed (via Laine) that Irving would make his return from a seven-game absence caused by foot and shoulder injuries, adding that Tampa Bay would “go with the hot hand” at running back. Rachaad White got the majority of the Buccaneers’ backfield work immediately after Irving went down, but Sean Tucker has received more touches over the last four games.

NOVEMBER 27: A loss against the Rams on Sunday dropped the Buccaneers to 6-5. The team faces a number of questions on the injury front entering Week 13, but there are a number of positive developments in that regard.

Baker Mayfield was unable to finish the game in Week 12 after injuring his left (i.e. non-throwing) shoulder. An MRI revealed Mayfield suffered a low-grade AC joint sprain, and as such he could be an option to play against the Cardinals in Week 13. Much of his availability for the game will come down to pain management.

“If it’s gonna hinder how I play, then I probably won’t go,” the third-year Buccaneer said (via ESPN’s Jenna Laine). “But I won’t know that until later in the week of getting practice reps and see how that goes.”

The coming days will be worth watching closely in this case. Tampa Bay has lost three straight games and four of five. The team still sits atop the NFC South, but the 6-6 Panthers loom as a threat to win the division. Having Mayfield – who has a track record of playing through injuries – on the field during the closing stages of the season would be key for the Bucs. They could have reinforcements coming soon as well.

Receiver Chris Godwin returned to the lineup in Week 12, and it was known at that point running back Bucky Irving was close to suiting up as well. Tampa’s lead back has not played since Week 4, but ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports he is expected to play this week. Head coach Todd Bowles has since confirmed (via team reporter Scott Bair) Irving will make his return barring any setbacks during practice. As a rookie, the 23-year-old topped 1,500 scrimmage yards; Irving was also productive early this year before going down.

A return to action in that case will thus provide a notable boost to Tampa Bay’s offense. Meanwhile, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo notes (video link) receivers Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan are close to being able to play. Evans has been sidelined since October due to a broken clavicle, while McMillan has yet to suit up in 2025. Having a WR at full strength (including standout rookie Emeka Egbuka, of course) would give the Buccaneers plenty of options in the passing game. Per Garafolo, starting defensive tackle Calijah Kancey is ahead of schedule in his rehab from a torn pec. He could manage to play late in the regular season as a result.

Tampa Bay could have several key contributors back in the fold by the end of the campaign. Mayfield’s status will remain uncertain for the time being, but no more than a short absence in his case appears likely. The Bucs’ health down the stretch will make for an interesting story to follow as they look to bounce back from how the past few weeks have gone.

Rams Waive K Joshua Karty

November 28th, 2025 at 4:56pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Los Angeles Rams waived Joshua Karty on Friday, per a team announcement, meaning that Harrison Mevis will take over the team’s kicking job for the rest of the season

The Rams signed Mevis to their practice squad at the beginning of November after some early season struggles from Karty. Mevis won a practice competition ahead of a Week 10 matchup with the 49ers. He his six extra points in that game and three in the next, enough to earn a spot on the active roster and another game as the team’s kicker.

In Week 12, he was finally tested on field goals, and he hit both of his attempts from 40 and 52 yards. He made another four extra points, too, enough to earn the confidence of the Rams’ coaching staff moving forward, at least enough for the team to move on from Karty.

Karty will go on waivers, though he seems unlikely to be claimed given his struggles this season. His performance as a rookie in 2024 – with an 88.3% make rate and five conversions on six attempts from over 50 yards – indicates he has the talent and leg strength to be a kicker in the NFL. An injury to another kicker could give him another chance this season, and he will likely seek an opportunity to compete for a starting job in 2026.

Vikings Rule Out QB J.J. McCarthy; Max Brosmer To Make First Start

November 28th, 2025 at 2:59pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Vikings have ruled out quarterback J.J. McCarthy for Sunday’s game against the Seahawks, per a team announcement, setting undrafted rookie Max Brosmer up for his first NFL start.

The Vikings will also elevate former Rams quarterback John Wolford from the practice squad to serve as Brosmer’s backup.

McCarthy was placed in concussion protocol after symptoms popped up on the Vikings’ flight home from their Week 12 loss to the Packers. He was a limited participant in practice this week but did not receive clearance to play on Sunday against the Packers. This will be McCarthy’s sixth absence this season after suffering a high ankle sprain in Week 2. He returned in Week 9 and started the next four games before going down once more.

As a result, Brosmer will make the first start of his career. He went undrafted in April and signed with the Vikings to compete with veteran Brett Rypien for the team’s QB3 job. Brosmer won and made the 53-man roster behind McCarthy and Carson Wentz, who was signed after prospective backup Sam Howell was traded to the Eagles.

Brosmer has played in three games this season amid the injuries to McCarthy and Wentz. He has taken only 19 snaps and thrown eight passes, five of which were completed for a total of 42 yards. Getting in a full week of practice with the Vikings’ starting offense may help the 24-year-old perform better in his first start.

Brosmer was a three-year starter for the New Hampshire Wildcats and led the FCS in 2023 with 3,464 yards and 29 touchdowns through the air. He transferred to the University of Minnesota in 2024 and put together a solid but unspectacular season, leading the Golden Gophers to a 8-5 record as a starter without notable individual stats. A strong showing in Week 13 (as well as any other appearances for the rest of the season) should position him to compete for the backup quarterback job next season.

McCarthy has struggled enough this year that Brosmer pushing him for the starting gig in 2026 feels within the realm of possibility, too. Vikings head coach Kevin McConnell‘s former boss, Kyle Shanahan, went to an unheralded young quarterback to replace his handpicked top-10 selection once it became clear that Brock Purdy offered more than Trey Lance. It’s not inconceivable that McConnell could find himself in the same position next year.

Texans QB C.J. Stroud, S Jalen Pitre To Return In Week 13

November 28th, 2025 at 1:59pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans announced on Friday (via Jonathan Alexander of the Houston Chronicle) that quarterback C.J. Stroud and safety Jalen Pitre cleared concussion protocol and will return from their multi-game absences in Week 13 against the Colts.

Stroud suffered a concussion in Week 9 and missed two games before returning to practice in Week 12. He only participated on Tuesday, and Houston’s short week before a Thursday night matchup with the Bills kept him sidelined for another game. Stroud was a full participant for all three of the Texans’ practice this week and will start on Sunday, likely without an injury designation.

Pitre has been in a similar situation to Stroud. His concussion also happened in Week 9, though it was not spotted during the game. He also returned to practice in a limited capacity last week, but was absent on Friday. He was upgraded to full participation on Wednesday, and now that he is no longer in concussion protocol, he may not have an injury designation for Sunday’s game, either.

Backup quarterback Davis Mills struggled in relief of Stroud in Week 9, resulting in an 18-15 loss to the Broncos. But in their three full games without Stroud or Pitre, Houston has gone 3-0. As a starter, Mills averaged 240 yards per game with five touchdowns, one interception, and a 88.25 passer rating. Those numbers are comparable to Stroud’s performance over the last two years, which is significantly below the standard he set as a rookie.

Pitre’s replacement, Myles Bryant, has also held up in the last three games. He has capably filled Pitre’s versatile role with 42 snaps in the slot, 31 as a free safety, and 82 at nickel, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). He has made 14 total tackles and missed only two, and though he has allowed catches on nine of his 12 targets, he has limited those receptions to just 45 yards. Like Mills, those are comparable numbers, if not better numbers, relative to the Texans’ usual starter. Pitre has 45 tackles this season, an average of 5.6 per game, with a 16.7% missed tackle rate. He has also allowed 7.7 yards per target. Bryant has averaged 4.6 tackles in the last three weeks with a 12.5% missed tackle rate to go along with only 3.75 yards per target.

Pitre will return to his starting role in Week 13, but Bryant may have earned himself a role in some dime packages. Mills, however, will be on the bench for the rest of the season with the Texans hoping Stroud can bounce-back from a quiet first half and make a late-season playoff push. Houston is currently 6-5 – meaning that Mills and Bryant helped keep their postseason hopes alive – but they trail the Colts and the Jaguars in the AFC South. Their best path to the playoffs is likely a wild card berth, but that may be difficult with the Bills, Ravens, Steelers, Chargers, and Chiefs also angling for those three spots.

Stroud’s return will come against a Colts defense that has allowed 245.5 passing yards per game this season, the fifth-most in the league. However, their 7.2 yards per attempt allowed and 33 sacks rank 10th and sixth, respectively. In the last two weeks, Indianapolis has only given up 377 passing yards, which coincides with the addition of Sauce Gardner and the return of Charvarius Ward from injured reserve. It’s also worth noting that the Colts have faced the second-most passing attempts in the NFL as a result of consistently leading games. Therefore, there is some reason to believe that the Colts’ pass defense has not struggled as much as it seems and may not be as porous for the rest of the year.

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