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49ers Release K Matt Gay From Practice Squad, Add WR Javon Baker

December 9th, 2025 at 4:53pm CST by Connor Byrne

After a two-game run as their kicker, the 49ers announced that they have released Matt Gay from their practice squad. The team also parted with taxi squad quarterback Adrian Martinez.

Gay began the season with Washington, which cut him after he converted just 13 of 19 field goals in 10 games. The 31-year-old quickly caught on with the 49ers, who needed a temporary replacement for the injured Eddy Pineiro. Gay went on to perform well for San Francisco, hitting all four field goals and each of his four extra points in a pair of victories.

The 49ers will now turn back to Pineiro, who was out with a hamstring strain. Pineiro opened 2025 without a team, but the 49ers scooped him up after Jake Moody went 1 for 3 on field goals in a Week 1 win over the Seahawks. The 49ers cut Moody for Pineiro, which has worked out well for the club.

While Pineiro has only connected on 18 of 22 extra points this season, he has converted all 22 of his field goals. That includes six from 50-plus yards. If Pineiro keeps that up, it could help the 49ers (9-4) chase down the 10-3 Rams and Seahawks in the ultra-competitive NFC West.

Martinez, a 2023 undrafted free agent from Kansas State, appeared in one of the 49ers’ games this season. They had a greater need for Martinez, who briefly spent time on the active roster, when starter Brock Purdy was on the shelf for several weeks with a toe injury. Purdy returned in Week 11, Mac Jones remains in the fold as the backup, and the 49ers opened rookie seventh-round signal-caller Kurtis Rourke‘s practice window on Monday. They’re now the only QBs left in the organization.

With Gay and Martinez on their way out, the 49ers signed wide receiver Javon Baker to their practice squad. The Patriots used a fourth-rounder on Baker in 2024, but he caught just one pass in 11 games as a rookie. The former Alabama and UCF wideout didn’t make the Patriots’ roster out of camp this year. He briefly caught on with the Eagles’ practice squad, but they released him in mid-October.

Ravens Sign Laken Tomlinson To Practice Squad, Release Carl Lawson

December 9th, 2025 at 3:32pm CST by Connor Byrne

One week after the Texans waived him, guard Laken Tomlinson has found a new home. The Ravens signed Tomlinson to their practice squad on Wednesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports. They released defensive end Carl Lawson from their taxi squad to make room for Tomlinson.

Now 33 years old, Tomlinson entered the NFL as the Lions’ first-round pick (28th overall) in 2015. He has since started in a combined 162 of 173 appearances with the Lions, 49ers, Jets, Seahawks, and Texans. Known for his durability, Tomlinson has logged a full schedule in nine of his 11 seasons.

Having appeared in 10 contests this year, Tomlinson won’t put together his fifth straight 17-game slate. He started in seven games with the Texans before they bumped him from the lineup and later cut him. Tomlinson is Pro Football Focus’ 52nd-ranked guard among 80 qualifiers.

The addition of Tomlinson comes a day after the Ravens lost guard Ben Cleveland to a three-game suspension for a violation of the NFL’s Substances of Abuse policy. Cleveland has come off the bench in 10 games this season. Andrew Vorhees and Daniel Faalele have served as full-time starters. With Cleveland unavailable for the next few weeks, Tomlinson will join Emery Jones in giving the Ravens another depth option at guard.

Lawson appeared in 15 games and picked up five sacks with the Cowboys last season, but his impact in Baltimore was minimal. He played in one game with the Ravens – a Week 13 loss to Cincinnati, one of his ex-teams – before they cut him. Lawson totaled 26 defensive snaps and made one tackle in that contest.

Giants Designate LB Darius Muasau, CB Art Green For Return From IR

December 9th, 2025 at 2:01pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Giants could have a pair of defenders back in the fold in time for their Week 15 game. Linebacker Darius Muasau and cornerback Art Green have been designated for return from injured reserve, per a team announcement.

Muasau has been on IR for one month due to an ankle injury. Green, meanwhile, has been sidelined one week longer while recovering from a hamstring ailment. Both players now have up to 21 days to practice before they must be brought back onto the active roster.

[RELATED: IR Return Tracker]

In the case of Muasau in particular, having him available for the closing stages of the season would be a welcomed development. The 2024 sixth-rounder made seven starts as a rookie, and he remained a first-team presence through the current campaign before being injured. Muasau has logged a 56% snap share in 2025, totaling 32 tackles and one sack in eight games. He will look to resume that level of production upon returning to action.

Bobby Okereke has remained a starter this season, his third in New York. Fellow linebacker Micah McFadden has not played since undergoing foot surgery in September, though, something which has created a vacancy in the Giants’ starting lineup. Muasau, 24, finishing strong would help his chances of securing his spot as a defensive regular for 2026.

Green will not be expected to see the field on defense when he returns. The former UDFA is also in his second season with New York, but he has strictly contributed on special teams to date. Having logged a snap share of 78% in that regard prior to his injury, Green will no doubt reprise his role as a key third phase presence once he is activated.

Lions To Bring Back CB Arthur Maulet

December 9th, 2025 at 12:35pm CST by Connor Byrne

Two weeks after waiving Arthur Maulet, the Lions are reuniting with the cornerback. Maulet will rejoin the Lions’ active roster, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports.

A veteran of several teams, including the Ravens from 2023-24, the well-traveled Maulet first joined the Lions’ practice squad on Oct. 8. They were dealing with injuries to cornerbacks D.J. Reed, Terrion Arnold, and Khalil Dorsey at the time. Maulet went on to appear in six games after that, tallying 14 tackles and an interception.

With Reed, Arnold, and Dorsey healthy heading into a Week 13 Thanksgiving showdown with Green Bay, the Lions moved on from Maulet. However, the playoff contenders’ secondary has taken a beating since then.

Arnold is done for the season as a result of a shoulder injury that bothered him throughout the year. The Lions suffered an even worse blow when star safety Brian Branch tore his Achilles in a Week 14 win over the Cowboys.

Detroit addressed its safety depth to some degree with the signing of veteran Damontae Kazee to its practice squad on Monday. The team is now making a more aggressive move in committing an active roster spot to the 32-year-old Maulet ahead of a Week 15 meeting with the high-flying Rams, currently the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Maulet will rejoin Reed, Dorsey, Amik Robertson, and Rock Ya-Sin to comprise the 8-5 Lions’ cornerback group as they attempt to rally for a playoff berth.

Colts, QB Philip Rivers Agree To Deal

December 9th, 2025 at 11:59am CST by Adam La Rose

After a successful workout, Philip Rivers has lined up an unexpected comeback. The 44-year-old quarterback is set to finish the 2025 season with the Colts.

Team and player agreed to a practice squad deal on Tuesday, as first reported by Ian Rapoport, Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. Indianapolis thus has an experienced (to say the least) option at the quarterback spot as the team looks to reach the playoffs. This move comes in the aftermath of Daniel Jones suffering an Achilles tear.

Rivers’ workout took place last night, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes. He adds things went well, which has of course been confirmed by today’s signing. As the Colts plan their immediate future under center, they could find themselves relying on a passer whose last NFL game was played on January 9, 2021 relatively soon. Of course, that final Rivers contest came as a member of the Colts.

Following a storied Chargers career (which included time spent with current Colts head coach Shane Steichen), the eight-time Pro Bowler played his last NFL campaign with Indianapolis. That 2020 season produced a record of 11-5 and it marked the last time the Colts made the playoffs. If another postseason berth is to be possible this time around, Rivers could find himself playing a part.

Jones – added this past spring on a one-year free agent deal – enjoyed career highs in several categories prior to going down. A long-term Colts commitment may well have been on the horizon, but as his attention turns to recovery it remains to be seen if that will still come to bear. Meanwhile, backup Anthony Richardson is still on IR as he continues to deal with an orbital bone fracture. This Rivers signing is a strong indication Indianapolis feels Richardson will not be cleared to return any time soon.

That leaves sixth-round rookie Riley Leonard and practice squad veteran Brett Rypien as the Colts’ other QB options. The team could stick with Leonard for at least one start, but with a record of 8-5 there is little (if any) margin for losses over the final month of the season. Deciding Rivers – who is now a grandfather – is the best path to a playoff berth would certainly represent an interesting choice on the part of Indianapolis. At a minimum, he will make for a notable taxi squad addition.

Whether or not the former NFL passing leader finds his way onto the active roster will be worth monitoring for a number of reasons. Rivers is currently in his first year of eligibility for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and he is among the 26 semifinalists for the 2026 class. As Rapoport notes, that will not change if Rivers remains on the practice squad. Should a promotion to the active roster take place, however, his five-year waiting period for HOF eligibility will reset. That will be the case regardless of if Rivers sees any playing time or not.

The Colts face a daunting schedule over the final stretch, with games remaining against the Seahawks, 49ers, Jaguars and Texans. Finding offensive success against each of those opponents will be challenging, but a comeback attempt from an unlikely passer could become part of Indianapolis’ 2025 season.

Buccaneers Place G Ben Bredeson On IR

December 9th, 2025 at 11:01am CST by Adam La Rose

The Buccaneers’ offensive line has been dealt another blow late in the year. Ben Bredeson will not be able to play again during the regular season.

The veteran guard was placed on injured reserve Tuesday, per a team announcement. That means Bredeson will be sidelined for at least Tampa Bay’s four remaining games until the playoffs. If the Bucs manage to reach the postseason, getting Bredeson back would be key for an O-line which has dealt with several injuries throughout the year.

A knee injury suffered on Sunday caused Bredeson to exit Tampa Bay’s upset loss against New Orleans. Yesterday, Fox Sports’ Greg Auman noted how the sixth-year blocker was already in line to miss the Buccaneers’ upcoming Thursday night game. He indicated an IR stint was a possibility in this case. As such, today’s move comes as little surprise.

Nevertheless, Bredeson’s absence will be acutely felt. Tampa Bay has already been without starting right guard Cody Mauch since September, and he will not return this season. Graham Barton missed time at the start of the year, and Bredeson replaced him at center until his return. The latter has totaled 11 appearances in 2025, his second straight season as a full-time Buccaneers starter. Bredeson, 27, is under contract through 2027.

In his absence, Auman predicts Tampa Bay will continue with a guard tandem of Michael Jordan and Dan Feeney moving forward. In other words, the 7-6 team will need to rely on a far different setup at that position than it envisioned at the start of the year. The struggling Buccaneers are tied with the Panthers for top spot in the NFC South as things stand, so a playoff berth is far from assured.

In a corresponding move, linebacker Nick Jackson has been signed from Tampa’s practice squad to the active roster. Jackson made a pair of appearances in September, and he will now be in position to contribute on special teams down the stretch.

Buccaneers Bring Back Jason Pierre-Paul

December 8th, 2025 at 10:57pm CST by Adam La Rose

Jason Pierre-Paul is making an NFL comeback. The veteran edge rusher worked out for the Buccaneers on Monday, and things went well on that front.

Pierre-Paul has a deal in place with Tampa Bay, Ian Rapoport, Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network report. Pelissero noted earlier today that a workout had been arranged. Now, the Bucs will seek out a pass-rush boost in the form of a familiar face. This practice squad pact is now official, per a team announcement.

Pierre-Paul’s first stint with the organization spanned four seasons, as the pass rusher collected 33 sacks across 54 games. The veteran also added another 2.5 sacks in six playoff appearances with Tampa Bay, including two sacks en route to the Buccaneers championship in 2020.

Since leaving the franchise after the 2021 campaign, JPP has bounced around the NFL. He started 13 of his 14 appearances for the Ravens in 2022 but finished with only three sacks. He then split the 2023 season between the Saints and Dolphins, when he was limited to only a pair of tackles in three games. The veteran has been pushing for an NFL return since getting cut by Miami two years ago, and he’s finally found that opportunity in Tampa Bay.

Considering the layoff, the Buccaneers shouldn’t expect a whole lot from their newest acquisition. Still, JPP will represent a healthy body on the defensive line as the organization makes a late-season push towards the postseason. The Buccaneers have relied on each of their edge defenders in 2025, with YaYa Diaby, Haason Reddick, Elijah Roberts, Anthony Nelson, and Chris Braswell all garnering at least 200 defensive snaps this season. Reddick is currently nursing an ankle injury, so perhaps Pierre-Paul could be a short-term stopgap for the defense.

When the Buccaneers are fully healthy, JPP may be forced to accept a practice squad role. If he could discover the fountain of youth, he could theoretically provide some pass-rush prowess to a unit that doesn’t have any one standout edge rusher. Diaby currently paces the team with only six sacks.

Ben Levine contributed to this post.

NFL Minor Transactions: 12/8/25

December 8th, 2025 at 7:09pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Baltimore Ravens

Houston Texans

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

The Ravens announced today that offensive lineman Ben Cleveland was slapped with a three-game suspension for violating the NFL’s Substances of Abuse Policy. While it’s uncertain if it’s related, Cleveland was arrested this past offseason on DUI chargers (per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic). The veteran has appeared in 10 games this season, with the majority of his reps coming on special teams.

The 49ers got some good news today, as seventh-round QB Kurtis Rourke had his practice window opened. The Indiana product continues to recover from offseason surgery on his torn ACL. While the 49ers realistically have 21 days to activate the quarterback to their active roster, Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group says the rookie is still expected to be redshirted for the 2025 campaign.

Justin Herbert Active For MNF; Chargers Make Handful Of Roster Moves

December 8th, 2025 at 6:53pm CST by Ben Levine

Justin Herbert‘s status for tonight’s game was still in doubt as of this morning. Well, the Chargers quarterback is officially active for Monday Night Football, per the team.

[RELATED: Chargers QB Justin Herbert’s Status Uncertain For Week 14]

NFL Network’s Omar Ruiz reported earlier that Herbert was expected to play tonight. After undergoing surgery to repair a fracture in his non-throwing hand, the quarterback will wear a padded glove for the time being. ESPN’s Kris Rhim notes that Herbert admitted that gripping the football was his biggest issue, and the reporter spotted the QB practicing handoffs and play-action sequences while gripping the ball with his left hand.

The Chargers were afforded a bit of extra time to evaluate Herbert’s progress thanks to their MNF showdown with the Eagles. The quarterback participated in both seven-on-seven drills as well as 11-on-11 work this week, although there were reports that he’s struggled to receive snaps from under center. This limitation will certainly require some watching tonight.

The Chargers made a handful of additional moves in anticipation of tonight’s game. Most notably, the team activated running back Omarion Hampton from injured reserve, a move that was reported last week. The team will also be welcoming back running back Hassan Haskins and defensive lineman Otito Ogbonnia from injured reserve.

Haskins suffered a hamstring injury in Week 7 that landed him on IR. In the two games preceding that injury, Haskins garnered 11 carries as the Chargers navigated a depleted RBs room following the injuries to Hampton and Najee Harris. While Haskins has been sidelined, Kimani Vidal ran with the starting RB job. Now, both backs are expected to serve as reserves behind Hampton. Ogbonnia hasn’t played since October thanks to an elbow injury. The former fifth-round pick has collected a single tackle in his four appearances this season.

The Chargers weren’t done making moves. Wide receiver Dalevon Campbell was elevated from the practice squad for tonight’s contest. To make room on the roster for all these moves, the Chargers placed tight end Tucker Fisk on IR and waived both defensive lineman Naquan Jones and running back Jaret Patterson.

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