Transactions News & Rumors

Titans Sign QB Trevor Siemian, Release QB Tim Boyle

The Titans have not looked to add a quarterback in the wake of losing Will Levis for the season. The team has nevertheless made a change at the position.

Trevor Siemian was signed by Tennessee on Monday, per a team announcement. In a corresponding move, Tim Boyle was released. Siemian will now receive an opportunity to compete with Brandon Allen for the backup gig (or at least solidify the QB3 spot) over the remainder of the offseason. Boyle will hit free agency in a bid to find another opportunity before roster cuts.

The Titans selected Cam Ward first overall in this year’s draft, and the Levis injury further ensured he will handled starting duties right away during his rookie campaign. The free agent departure of Mason Rudolph has led to a number of moves for the team this offseason, though. That included signing Boyle in March; the journeyman has made 23 appearances and five starts in the NFL and played in Tennessee’s preseason opener. Boyle completed four of 13 attempts with one interceptions against the Buccaneers.

In the wake of that performance (plus his showings in practice, of course), the Titans have decided to move on. Siemian will now join the fold in time for the team’s final two preseason games. The 33-year-old has made 33 starts in his career, including three with the Jets in 2023; that doubles as his most recent regular season game action. Siemian spent much of last year with the Titans on their practice squad, being elevated to the gameday roster three times but never seeing the field.

The former seventh-rounder is thus a familiar face to head coach Brian Callahan and Co. The same is also true, however, of Allen based on his time with Callahan in Cincinnati. Both veterans will offer experience to Ward provided they survive roster cuts. If Siemian is released later this month, he will obviously be a practice squad candidate.

To no surprise, the Titans also activated center Lloyd Cushenberry from the active/PUP list today. The 2024 free agent signing has been rehabbing the Achilles tear which cut his debut Tennessee campaign short, but Callahan recently noted a return to practice was likely in store. Cushenberry will use the coming weeks to prepare himself for starting duties on an offensive line which has undergone a number of changes this offseason.

Commanders Sign CBs Antonio Hamilton, Essang Bassey; T Lucas Niang Out For Season

A set of Sunday workouts for the Commanders quickly resulted in a deal being worked out for linebacker Duke Riley. More signings have taken place on Monday.

The Riley deal is now official, per the team. It was also announced that cornerbacks Essang Bassey and Antonio Hamilton have been signed. Both of them took part in yesterday’s workout, as noted by The Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala.

Bassey has spent his entire career in the AFC West to date, bouncing between the Chargers and Broncos. The 26-year-old has 43 appearances and five starts to his name, and he will spend the coming weeks looking to carve out a special teams role. Hamilton, like Bassey, joined the NFL as an undrafted free agent but he has managed to stay in the league for nine years. Hamilton has made 18 starts (nine of which came with the Cardinals in 2023) but with 190 games to his name he will add experience to Washington’s secondary.

In corresponding moves, edge rusher Viliami Fehoko, cornerback Allan George and linebacker Dominique Hampton have been waived. Hampton was a fifth-round pick last year, so even though he made just one appearance as a rookie it is somewhat surprising to see him let go at this point. All three players will now hit the waiver wire; provided they go unclaimed, each will become a free agent.

The Commanders also placed offensive tackle Lucas Niang on injured reserve, ending his season. Head coach Dan Quinn announced yesterday (via JP Finlay of NBC Sports) that Niang suffered an ACL tear. The former Chief signed with Washington this spring and was set to handle a backup role along the offensive line. Now, that unit’s depth will take a hit behind Laremy Tunsil, Andrew Wylie and first-round rookie Josh Conerly Jr. Veteran cornerback/special teamer Kevon Seymour was also moved to IR on Monday. Unless he is released via an injury settlement, his season is over as well.

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/10/25

Here are the latest minor moves from around the NFL:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

  • Placed on IR: CB Robert Longerbeam

Buffalo Bills

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

New England Patriots

  • Signed: RB Deneric Prince, DE Jereme Robinson
  • Waived: S Josh Minkins
  • Placed on IR: RB Lan Larison

New Orleans Saints

  • Waived/injured: WR Chris Tyree

Larison suffered a foot injury during a promising preseason debut against the Commanders on Friday night. He will undergo surgery and spend the season rehabbing, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss, with the hope of renewing his 53-man roster push next summer.

Jets Activate Jermaine Johnson From PUP List

Jets edge rusher Jermaine Johnson has taken another step in his return to the field after missing most of last season with a torn Achilles.

Johnson passed his physical and was activated from the active/physically unable to perform list on Sunday, per senior team reporter Eric Allen. For the first time since he was knocked out of the Jets’ Week 2 matchup against the Titans 11 months ago, Johnson will be available to join his teammates at practice on Monday.

However, the 2022 first-rounder will likely ramp up his participation as the regular season approaches. He has a little under a month to get back to game-ready condition, though the Jets have no intention of rushing him back.

“We want to make sure we have him for the long haul,” said Jets head coach Aaron Glenn (via Allen).

Before going down last year, Johnson was expected to take another leap after his Pro Bowl campaign in 2023. He recorded 7.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss while also knocking down seven passes and returning an interception for a touchdown. Micheal Clemons started in Johnson’s place in 2024 but only registered 4.5 sacks and four tackles for loss.

The Jets will be hoping that Johnson can quickly return to his 2023 form and pair with Will McDonald to form a dangerous edge-rushing duo after the latter’s breakout with 10.5 sacks and 11 tackles for loss.

Commanders To Sign LB Duke Riley

Sunday saw the Commanders host seven linebackers on a free agent visit. That effort has produced at least one signing.

Duke Riley has a deal in place with Washington, his agents told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The news comes not long after it was revealed Riley was among the veterans who took part in a workout today (h/t Mike Garafolo of NFL Network). With 124 appearances in the NFL, he will certainly add experience to the position in the nation’s capital.

The Commanders’ depth linebackers have not stood out in the preseason, according to ESPN’s John Keim, and 2024 fifth-rounder Jordan Magee has also missed time. At a minimum, Riley is a trusted camp body who can absorb preseason snaps as needed, but his extensive experience as a special teams ace could give him a chance at a roster spot.

Riley, 31, appeared in all but one game for the Dolphins over the last four years. He was a core special teams contributor with a rotational role on defense until last year, when his defensive snap count plummeted to 42 under new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver. It was clear that Riley would not receive another short-term contract in Miami, and he drew little interest on the free agent market this spring.

In Washington, the veteran linebacker will reunite with head coach Dan Quinn, who held the same position in Atlanta when the Falcons drafted Riley in 2017. The former third-round pick started 16 games across his first two seasons before an October 2019 trade to the Eagles, where he initially played special teams before taking over a starting role in 2020. A pre-existing relationship with Quinn and familiarity with his scheme should allow Riley to settle in quickly.

The Commanders’ group of workouts also included linebackers Amare Barno, Nicholas Morrow, Tanner Muse, Ronnie Perkins, Sione Takitaki, and Oshane Ximines, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic.

Nikhil Mehta contributed to this post.

49ers To Bring Back RB Jeff Wilson

Jeff Wilson‘s recent workout for the 49ers did not result in a deal. With his original team dealing with a number of injuries in the backfield, though, a signing will now take place.

Wilson is headed back to San Francisco, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The former UDFA was with the 49ers from 2018 to the midway point of the 2022 campaign. A trade from the 49ers to the Dolphins allowed him to work with Mike McDaniel, a familiar face given his previous work under Kyle Shanahan.

During his time in Miami (which wound up lasting 27 games), Wilson managed an average of 4.5 yards per attempt; that equals his career mark. The 29-year-old only received 141 carries during that span, though, so it came as no surprise when the Dolphins elected not to re-sign him in the spring. Wilson remained on the open market well into training camp, and he and Ameer Abdullah visited the 49ers late in July. Abdullah landed a deal following his workout.

At the moment, however, Abdullah has a ribs injury. As Matt Barrow of The Athletic notesIsaac Guerendo and Jordan James are also on the mend. As a result, Wilson should be able to handle a role in the backfield rotation during upcoming practices as well as San Francisco’s two remaining preseason contests. Sorting out the depth chart behind Christian McCaffrey will be a team priority over the coming weeks.

Wilson’s most productive full 49ers season came in 2020 when he amassed 733 scrimmage yards and scored 10 total touchdowns. A repeat of those figures would come as a surprise, of course, but the North Texas product could carve out a spot on the 53-man roster depending on other running back situations on the health front. San Francisco entered Sunday with nearly $47MM in cap space, so this reunion will not impact any other moves the team makes leading up to Week 1.

Raiders, S Terrell Edmunds Agree To Deal

Terrell Edmunds recently visited the Raiders, and that workout clearly went well. The veteran safety has an agreement in place, Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports. The team has since announced the move.

Lonnie Johnson Jr.‘s broken fibula has left the Raiders short on depth in the secondary. A return at some point during the regular season is expected, but the Edmunds visit was arranged knowing Johnson will be unavailable for a stretch. Now, Edmunds will have the remainder of training camp and the preseason to audition for a roster spot.

The former first-rounder operated as a full-time starter from 2018-22 with the Steelers. Since then, Edmunds has not managed to earn much in the way of defensive playing time. A return to Pittsburgh took place last season, following a run of backup gigs with the Eagles, Titans and Jaguars. Second-team action should also be in store upon arrival in Vegas.

The Raiders lost Tre’von Moehrig and Marcus Epps during free agency while signing Jeremy Chinn as a new safety starter. Isaiah Pola-Mao was also retained, allowing him to remain a first-team contributor as well. Thomas Harper and Christopher Smith are also in the mix, and Edmunds will look to compete with those two for a role ahead of roster cuts at the end of the month.

In a corresponding move, receiver Seth Williams has been waived with an injury designation. The 25-year-old will revert to injured reserve once he goes unclaimed. After that, a release by means of an injury settlement will likely take place.

Texans Sign DB Jalen Mills

The Texans have signed veteran defensive back Jalen Mills, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Houston brought Mills in for a workout last week, and with some uncertainty surrounding several members of its safety depth chart, the club has found an experienced reinforcement.

Mills, 31, entered the NFL as a seventh-round pick of the Eagles in 2016, and he spent most of his first few seasons in the league at cornerback. In 2020, however, Philadelphia moved him all over the secondary, and he turned in one of the best seasons of his career (74 tackles, 1.5 sacks, one interception, 68.9 Pro Football Focus grade). That performance earned him a four-year, $24MM deal from the Patriots in 2021.

New England deployed him primarily as a cornerback over his first two years in Foxborough, but after the team cut and re-signed him in 2023, he was utilized more as a safety. As of last offseason, he was no longer in the club’s plans, and when a Giants contract failed to produce a roster spot in 2024, he caught on with the Jets’ taxi squad. He ultimately appeared in nine games (eight starts) for Gang Green, spending most of his time at safety and recording 44 tackles and a pick.

Veteran C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who was acquired via trade with the Eagles in March, recently suffered a knee injury in practice. He did not tear his ACL, as was initially feared, but it is unclear when he will return to the field. Dianna Russini of The Athletic (subscription required) said the injury was not a season-ender, and both ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via ESPN colleague DJ Bien-Aime) and Aaron Wilson of KPRC2.com indicated CJGJ could be available for Week 1 (with Wilson adding rest and rehab, or perhaps a PRP injection, could do the trick).

Fellow safety Jimmie Ward  – who remains on the PUP list due to offseason foot surgery – is facing a felony domestic violence charge. His next court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday. And as Wilson observes in a separate piece, rookie safety Jaylen Reed is dealing with an ankle injury and is expected to miss about three weeks.

The Texans were clearly in need of some cover at the safety position, and Mills, a Super Bowl champion and veteran of 115 NFL appearances (including 91 starts), will at least help the club get through the rest of camp and the preseason schedule. The Dallas native’s spot on the roster is hardly assured, but it would not be surprising to see him stick around as tested and versatile depth. 

Minor NFL Transactions: 8/9/25

Saturday’s minor moves around the NFL:

Baltimore Ravens

Jacksonville Jaguars

Los Angeles Chargers

San Francisco 49ers

Gaskin worked out for Baltimore on Saturday, NFL insider Jordan Schultz reports. The 28-year-old is far removed from his most productive days, which came with the Dolphins. Since the start of the 2022 season, Gaskin has handled just 13 carries. He will offer the Ravens depth in the backfield through their two remaining preseason games.

One week ago, the Jags signed Wallace in a move which allowed him to compete for a depth spot in their secondary. The 30-year-old has 96 appearances and 72 starts to his name, but an injury has quickly ended his chances of making Jacksonville’s roster. White was waived when Wallace arrived, so he will simply continue in his bid to earn a special teams role ahead of roster cutdowns later this month.

Chargers Sign T David Sharpe

In the wake of Rashawn Slater‘s season-ending knee injury, the Chargers are taking the free agent route to add offensive tackle depth. David Sharpe has a deal in place with Los Angeles, as first reported by KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. The move is now official, per a team announcement.

Sharpe’s last regular season action came in 2023 when he made eight appearances off the bench with the Panthers. He recently visited the Dolphins without an agreement being worked out. In the case of the Chargers, though, Slater’s absence created the need for veteran depth.

With 45 appearances to his name, Sharpe will offer experience to the Bolts provided he survives roster cuts. The 29-year-old has only made six starts in the NFL, with the most recent one coming in 2020. Los Angeles will move forward with Joe Alt filling in for Slater on the blindside with Trey Pipkins taking on a starting gig at right tackle. The team’s depth chart behind those two will be sorted out over the coming weeks.

Sharpe spent time with the Ravens in 2021 and ’22. As a result, he is a familiar face for Chargers general manager Joe Hortiz and offensive coordinator Greg Roman. The former fourth-rounder will look to earn a swing tackle role during the remainder of the offseason.

Sharpe has rarely been attached to a contract worth more than the veteran minimum, and given his absence from regular season action in 2024 that should be expected to continue with this Bolts pact. The team entered Saturday with roughly $31.5MM in cap space, so the Sharpe addition will not impact any other moves being planned as a return to the postseason is sought out in 2025.