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Colts Activate CB Charvarius Ward From IR

November 22nd, 2025 at 11:36am CST by Connor Byrne

Indianapolis is getting a major defensive piece back ahead of a crucial Week 12 showdown with the Chiefs. The Colts announced that they have activated cornerback Charvarius Ward from IR.

After the Colts opened Ward’s practice window on Wednesday, he’ll play Sunday for the first time since he suffered a concussion in warmups in Week 6. It was the second concussion of the year for Ward, who has missed six of 10 games during the Colts’ 8-2 start.

Ward, 29, revealed earlier this week that he had doubts that he’d play again after his latest concussion (via James Boyd of The Athletic). However, Ward said he’s back to normal, no longer experiencing dizziness, and “ready” to return.

Ward, whom the Colts signed to a three-year, $60MM contract last March, has held his own over four starts this season. The former Chief and 49er has recorded 13 tackles and three passes defensed. Pro Football Focus rated him as the game’s second-best corner before he went on IR.

With Ward unavailable at the time, the Colts pulled off a stunning trade with the Jets for cornerback Sauce Gardner on Nov. 4. He debuted with the Colts in a Week 10 win over the Falcons, leading their corners in snaps. Mekhi Blackmon acted as the Colts’ other starting boundary CB, but Ward will now slot into that spot to give the Colts an imposing duo as they come off their bye. Along with Gardner and Ward, the Colts boast an outstanding nickel corner in Kenny Moore.

While the Colts are staring at a tough remaining slate featuring matchups with several playoff contenders, having the Gardner-Ward-Moore corner trio in place should be a significant advantage. The AFC South-leading Colts will enter Sunday third in the conference, but their hope is that a shutdown secondary will help propel them to the No. 1 spot and a first-round bye in the playoffs.

With Ward returning, the Colts waived cornerback Cameron Mitchell on Saturday. The 24-year-old began the season with the Browns, but they waived him in late September. Mitchell caught on with the Colts’ practice squad and wound up appearing in four games before they cut him. He played 100 defensive snaps and picked up five tackles with Indianapolis.

Rams To Sign LB Nate Landman To Extension

November 22nd, 2025 at 11:07am CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Rams are signing linebacker Nate Landman to a contract extension, per an announcement from his agency, SportsTrust Advisors.

The deal is worth $22.5MM over three years with $15.6MM guaranteed, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, a solid payday for the fourth-year linebacker, especially after signing a one-year deal to come to Los Angeles this offseason. Landman has started every game this year with a 93% snap share and a team-high 91 tackles in the middle of the Rams defense. He also leads the NFL with four forced fumbles.

More to come.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/21/25

November 21st, 2025 at 8:30pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are today’s practice squad moves as we head into the weekend:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

A three-time All-Pro special teamer over seven years in New Orleans, Gray landed on Baltimore’s practice squad this year after failing to make the Saints’ initial 53. He was signed off Baltimore’s taxi squad to the Broncos’ active roster, where the veteran appeared in one game before getting waived with an injury designation.

This marks the fourth time Barnhart, an undrafted free agent last year, has been signed to and cut from a practice squad after twice going through that cycle with the Chargers then lasting a week in October with the Broncos.

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/21/25

November 21st, 2025 at 8:12pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are Friday’s minor moves:

Cincinnati Bengals

Miami Dolphins

Foskey joins Cincinnati’s 53-man roster after appearing in two games off the practice squad. After failing to make the initial 53-man roster for the Saints, who drafted him in the second round two years ago, Foskey gets an opportunity in Cinci, where the Bengals have four defensive ends on the injury report with two already ruled out for the weekend.

Colbert suffered a stinger in this weekend’s game in Madrid. His time on the 53-man roster comes to an end after a short month and a half.

Broncos, K Wil Lutz Agree To Extension

November 21st, 2025 at 5:13pm CST by Adam La Rose

Wil Lutz has enjoyed a strong tenure with the Broncos. The veteran kicker will remain in the Mile High City for the foreseeable future.

Lutz and the Broncos have agreed to a three-year extension, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network report. As a result of the deal, the 31-year-old will be on the books through 2028. Lutz (who was on track for free agency) has been with Denver since 2023, head coach Sean Payton‘s first year with the Broncos.

The former Saints reunited after Lutz spent a total of six seasons with New Orleans. The former UDFA had by far the worst campaign of his career in 2022, sparking a trade from the Saints to the Broncos. Things have gone much better in Denver, with Lutz posting field goal success rates of 88.2% and 91.2% during his first two seasons there.

In 2025, the Georgia State product has remained one of the league’s most consistent kickers. Lutz has only missed three of his 20 field goal attempts; he has also gone 24-for-24 on extra point tries. With four game-winning kicks so far this season, Lutz leads the league in that regard. He has served as a key factor in the Broncos’ 9-2 record, and expectations will remain high moving forward.

After playing out the final year of his deal during his debut Broncos season, Lutz inked a two-year pact averaging $4.2MM per season. It will be interesting to see where this newest contract checks in from a financial perspective. The kicker market now includes 10 players attached to an AAV of $5MM or more and two averaging at least $6MM annually. Lutz should not be expected to move to the top of the pecking order, but a small raise would come as little surprise.

The Broncos have a number of starters on both sides of the ball who are still on track to see their contracts expire at the end of the season. At least one notable piece of business has now been taken care of on that front, however, and Denver could look to handle more pending free agents over the coming weeks.

Texans Waive RB Dameon Pierce

November 21st, 2025 at 3:15pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

NOVEMBER 21: Pierce may clear waivers today due to the timing of when his Texans tenure ended, but Wilson reports there are multiple teams interested in him. If/when Pierce reaches free agency, a new deal could be lined up in short order.

NOVEMBER 20: The Texans waived fourth-year running back Dameon Pierce on Thursday, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. To fill his spot on the active roster, cornerback Ajani Carter was signed from the practice squad.

Pierce, 25, once seemed like he could be the future of the Texans’ backfield before injuries derailed his time in Houston. The former Florida Gator was drafted in the fourth round of the 2022 draft and earned a starting job as a rookie. Pierce racked up 939 yards in 13 games – 72.2 yards per game, the eighth-most in the league – before a high ankle sprain landed him on injured reserve and ended his season.

The Texans signed veteran Devin Singletary during the 2023 offseason and handed him the lead back role. Pierce struggled behind him, averaging just 2.9 yards per carry and missing three games due to another ankle sprain. Houston then got Joe Mixon, reducing Pierce’s workload further. Another injury, this time to his hamstring, sidelined him at the start of the 2024 season and limited his work for the rest of the year. He finished with just 40 carries for 293 yards, though 92 of those came on a single rush. Without that play, he still averaged a solid 5.15 yards per carry, but again, Houston looked elsewhere in the offseason, signing Nick Chubb and draft Woody Marks with a fourth-round pick.

With Mixon sidelined by a foot injury to start the 2025 season, Chubb and Marks have led the backfield with just 10 carries for Pierce. Mixon is now expected to miss the rest of the season, which was reported hours before Pierce’s release hit the NFL’s transaction wire, making it a somewhat surprising move. If anything, it speaks volumes about how much Pierce fell out of favor under DeMeco Ryans‘ regime. Despite a promising rookie season, Pierce’s opportunities undeniably plummeted after Ryans was hired. Other teams will now have a chance to claim him off waivers; if that does not happen, he will be free to sign with any team (or their practice squad) as a free agent.

Carter, an undrafted rookie out of the University of Houston, signed with the Texans’ practice squad in September and saw his first NFL action against the Titans last week. His special teams work must have satisfied the coaches, earning him a 53-man roster spot and a role on game days for the foreseeable future.

The Texans also elevated veteran safety Jalen Mills and undrafted rookie linebacker Jackson Woodard to the active roster for Thursday night’s matchup with the Bills.

Bengals Activate TE Mike Gesicki From IR

November 21st, 2025 at 2:30pm CST by Adam La Rose

On Wednesday, Mike Gesicki returned to practice. No setbacks have taken place since, and the veteran tight end is set to suit up this week as a result.

Gesicki was activated from injured reserve by the Bengals on Friday, per a team announcement. He is therefore in line to play in Week 12 against the Patriots. Cincinnati will be without Ja’Marr Chase on Sunday due to his one-game suspension. Getting Gesicki back will help compensate for his absence.

[RELATED: IR Return Tracker]

It remains to be seen if Joe Burrow will be able to play on Sunday. Even if that is not the case, the team’s offense will be closer to full strength with Gesicki back in the fold. The 30-year-old made six appearances in 2025 before landing on IR due to a pectoral injury. Prior to going down, he managed just eight scoreless catches.

An uptick in production could be in store down the stretch, though, especially once Burrow is on the field. Gesicki posted a 65-665-2 statline in 2024, his debut Bengals season. That made the former second-rounder a strong complementary option in the passing game behind Chase and fellow receiver Tee Higgins. Things have not been the same this season, but a rebound will be targeted over the closing stages of the season in this case.

Gesicki initially joined the Bengals on a one-year deal. His strong showing led to a $25.5MM contract being worked out this past offseason, and the Penn State product is owed a $2MM roster bonus next spring. With plenty of money still owing on his contract, Gesicki’s performances down the stretch will be worth watching closely.

In a corresponding roster move, cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt has been moved to IR. That comes as little surprise since the pending free agent is in danger of missing the remainder of the season due to a Lisfranc injury. Taylor-Britt will be sidelined for at least the next four games, but that absence could extend much longer.

Packers Open WR Jayden Reed’s Practice Window

November 21st, 2025 at 12:59pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Packers are still without tight end Tucker Kraft. Their receiving corps could receive a boost in the near future, though.

Jayden Reed returned to practice on Friday, as noted by The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman. His 21-day activation window is now open as a result. Reed has been on injured reserve since undergoing foot and clavicle surgeries in mid-September.

The 25-year-old’s absence has limited him to just two games in 2025. Reed led the team in receiving yards during each of his first two seasons in the league. As a result, his return will give the Packers a notable boost in the passing game. That is especially true, of course, with Kraft’s standout campaign having come to an abrupt end due to an ACL tear.

Green Bay sits mid-pack in the NFL in a number of offensive categories. Becoming more efficient through the air would be key for the team down the stretch, and Reed’s return could prove to be pivotal in that regard. The timing of this news comes as little surprise, with the Packers’ Thanksgiving game against the Lions previously being viewed as a target for him to suit up.

Indeed, it would come as a surprise if Reed were to be available this Sunday after just one practice. The former second-rounder’s status will nevertheless be worth watching closely as Green Bay’s Thanksgiving contest approaches. Schneidman predicts Week 14 could be a realistic return date in Reed’s case given the length of his absence depending how things progress over the coming days.

Romeo Doubs has led the way for Green Bay in terms of receiver production (499 yards, four touchdowns on 39 catches) and he is averaging a career-best 50 yards per game in 2025. Christian Watson is now healthy, and he has joined first-round rookie Matthew Golden as an option in the passing game. Reed will look to do so as well in the near future while the 6-3-1 Packers continue jockeying for position in the NFC North.

Reed is approaching the first offseason in which he will be eligible for an extension. Green Bay’s young pass-catching group is highly affordable, but long-terms investments in some of its members will be needed shortly. Reed could help his chances of securing an extension with a strong showing late in the year once he returns to game action.

Cardinals RT Jonah Williams To Undergo Season-Ending Surgery

November 21st, 2025 at 12:20pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Cardinals right tackle Jonah Williams will miss the rest of the 2025 season after undergoing shoulder surgery, head coach Jonathan Gannon announced on Friday (via ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss).

Williams, 28, started the Cardinals’ first nine games of the season before going down in Week 10. Kelvin Beachum closed out the game, but picked up a groin injury. He still started in Week 11, but had to be replaced by Josh Fryar. Beachum has missed practice all week, which will likely position Fryar, an undrafted rookie, for his first career start.

Williams is set to hit free agency this offseason, and he seems like a long shot to re-sign in Arizona. The Cardinals gave him a two-year, $30MM contract in 2024 after four years in Cincinnati, but since then, Williams has only started 15 games. He was excellent in 2024, allowing just seven pressures and zero sacks in six games, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). This year, he took a step back this year with 21 pressures and three sacks allowed through nine games. Williams’ contract will void on February 20, per OverTheCap, which will leave $7MM in dead money on the Cardinals’ salary cap.

The Cardinals seem headed towards a major shake-up this offseason after hopes of a 2025 bounce-back quickly gave way to disappointment over a losing record. Among their needs will be a new right tackle. No obvious long-term candidate is on the roster, though Fryar or Demontrey Jacobs could both have opportunities to audition this year.

Arizona also signed practice squad running back Jermar Jefferson to the active roster and filled his spot with running back Sincere McCormick, per team reporter Darren Urban. Those moves suggest that Trey Benson, who is on injured reserve with his practice window opened, is not ready to be activated and will not play on Sunday against the Jaguars.

Browns Extend DE Alex Wright

November 20th, 2025 at 9:23pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Browns are signing defensive end Alex Wright to a three-year, $33MM extension, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The deal also includes $21MM in guaranteed money, and it has since been made official.

Wright, 25, is in the final year of his rookie contract and will now stay in Cleveland through 2028. He has emerged as an impact run defender this season with nine tackles for loss, a career-high and tied for the eighth-most among all NFL defenders. Wright is also on pace to record the most tackles of his career and could put up his best pass-rushing numbers, too, though that part of his game is far less impactful.

Wright was a somewhat surprising third-round pick in 2022 after solid but unspectacular production at UAB, almost all of which came against Conference USA opponents. He started four games in placed of an injured Za’Darius Smith as a rookie, but did not flash until his second season when he put up five sacks and six tackles for loss on a 38% snap share. In 2024, he suffered a season-ending triceps injury in Week 4, but had a smooth recovery and was able to participate in the Browns’ offseason program.

Wright’s $11MM APY is in the same range of what Malcolm Koonce, Dorance Armstrong, and DeMarcus Lawrence have received in the last two years, per OverTheCap. His pass-rushing production has not hit the same peaks, but he is younger and just as good of a run defender as his similarly-paid contemporaries.

All in all, it’s not a bad deal for the Browns to lock down an inexpensive starter opposite Myles Garrett, who has the fourth-biggest contract of any defender in the league. Keeping Wright does not break the bank for Cleveland, who are projected to be over the 2026 salary cap with just 44 players under contract. There are ways to clear up more space, but paying $11MM per year for a high-end run defender with the league’s best pass rusher on the other side of the line seems to be a logical roster management strategy. It also makes sense for the Browns to use some of their 2025 cap space on a signing bonus for an extension rather than having all the new money kick in next year.

Cleveland’s other pending free agents include all five of their starting offensive linemen, tight end David Njoku, linebacker Devin Bush, and safety Ronnie Hickman. It seems unlikely they will move on from their entire O-line, but rookie Harold Fannin appears set to take over for Njoku. Bush and Hickman could also be seeking more substantial paydays in free agency after signing ‘prove it’ deals this offseason and doing so thus far this year.

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