Raiders Place Brock Bowers, Jeremy Chinn On IR
The 2025 season is ending early for Raiders tight end Brock Bowers and safety Jeremy Chinn. Both players are going on injured reserve, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com. Bowers has a knee injury, while Chinn has recently dealt with a back issue.
After starring at Georgia, Bowers entered the NFL as the 13th overall pick in the 2024 draft. He immediately became the Raiders’ best offensive weapon during a prolific rookie campaign. Bowers amassed 112 receptions, 1,194 yards, and five touchdowns en route to first-team All-Pro honors.
Bowers mostly worked with quarterbacks Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell during his first season. The Raiders added a new starter in Geno Smith last offseason, but he hasn’t carried his Seattle success to Las Vegas. It hasn’t helped Smith that Bowers hasn’t been fully healthy. His knee has been a problem since Week 1. Bowers, who missed three games earlier in the season, will wrap up 2025 with 64 catches, 860 yards, and seven scores in 12 contests.
Chinn, a former Panther and Commander, joined the Raiders on a two-year deal worth up to $16MM last offseason. He wound up starting in all 15 of his games this year and missing just one defensive snap out of 997. The 27-year-old notched 114 tackles, two forced fumbles, two passes defensed, and a sack. Pro Football Focus ranks Chinn a solid 31st among 100 qualifying safeties.
The Raiders went a miserable 2-13 with Bowers and Chinn available for most or all of that stretch. With those two done for the season, the Raiders’ odds of landing the No. 1 pick in the draft will likely increase. The Raiders will enter Week 17 on track to pick second, but they’ll face the Giants, who own the No. 1 selection as of now. The loser of that game will go into the season finale in the driver’s seat for the first choice in 2026.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/24/25
NFL minor moves this Christmas Eve:
Arizona Cardinals
- Activated from IR: DE L.J. Collier
Atlanta Falcons
- Designated for return from IR: CB Clark Phillips
Cincinnati Bengals
- Designated for return from IR: C Matt Lee
Cleveland Browns
- Signed off Steelers’ practice squad: G Kendrick Green
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed to active roster: CB Corey Ballentine
- Elevated: LB Justin Barron
Detroit Lions
- Elevated: OL Kingsley Eguakun, TE Giovanni Ricci
Indianapolis Colts
- Designated for return from IR: WR Ashton Dulin
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed to active roster: S Terrell Edmunds, WR Shedrick Jackson
Los Angeles Rams
- Designated for return from IR: CB Roger McCreary
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed to active roster: G Henry Byrd
- Elevated: LB Sione Takitaki
- Placed on IR: TE Gavin Bartholomew, C Ryan Kelly
New York Jets
- Claimed off waivers (from Rams): S Chris Smith
Washington Commanders
- Signed to active roster: QB Sam Hartman
- Elevated: DT Ricky Barber, WR River Cracraft
A month after coming off injured reserve, Kelly is headed right back to the injured list. Kelly was initially placed on IR after two concussions limited him to only three games in the early stages of the season. It is unfortunately a third concussion this season — and the sixth of his career — that will end his 2025 campaign. This will conclude the first half of Kelly’s two-year deal with the Vikings, who will once again turn to backup Michael Jurgens in his absence.
Also in Minnesota, Byrd’s contract to join the 53-man roster will not just be a two-week deal. According to a post from the X account of his agency, JL Sports, Byrd is joining the active roster on a two-year contract.
In Detroit, these will be the third and final standard gameday elevations for Eguakun and Ricci. If the Lions want to see them in the regular season finale, they will need to sign them to the 53-man roster. That’s what Dallas is doing with Ballentine, who exhausted his third elevation last week.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/24/25
Here are today’s practice squad transactions:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: QB Logan Woodside
- Released: S Patrick McMorris
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: OL Richard Gouraige
Chicago Bears
- Signed: TE Thomas Gordon
- Placed on practice squad/injured list: TE Qadir Ismail
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: LS Luke Elkin, T Joshua Miles
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: C Josh Kaltenberger
- Released: TE Tanner McLachlan
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: WR Brandon Johnson
- Released: DT Kyler Baugh
Colts Open QB Anthony Richardson’s Practice Window
DECEMBER 24: Steichen said (via Chappell) this morning that Richardson will remain sidelined this week. The door is still open to an activation for Week 18, though.
DECEMBER 18: Anthony Richardson may not play again in 2025, but he will at least see time on the practice field late in the year. The Colts have designated Richardson for return from injured reserve, Shane Steichen announced on Thursday. 
Steichen said (via Fox59’s Mike Chappell) the orbital bone fracture which left Richardson sidelined has now healed. However, the third-year quarterback has still not regained full vision. Richardson will not be available for Week 16 regardless of how things go at practice over the coming days, Steichen added.
Philip Rivers is set to remain the Colts’ starter after unretiring to become the team’s QB1 last week. The 44-year-old nearly helped lead Indianapolis to a win in Week 15, and he will look to keep the team’s postseason chances alive with a victory against the 49ers. Rookie Riley Leonard will once again handle backup duties in Week 16.
Richardson, meanwhile, will return to practice in the hopes of being activated late in the campaign. The former No. 4 pick has been limited to two games – and as many pass attempts – in 2025. Free agent Daniel Jones was enjoying a career year before suffering an Achilles tear. With Richardson still sidelined at the time, Rivers was auditioned and signed last week following discussions involving Steichen and a number of Colts veterans. It will be interesting to see if the team’s depth chart undergoes any further alterations down the stretch.
Richardson was handed the reins right away as a rookie, but he played in only four games before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery. Injuries and poor play remained an issue in 2024, prompting the Colts to add Jones in advance of a training camp competition. Retaining Jones for at least next season is, understandably, a team priority. Provided that happens, Richardson’s situation will be worth watching closely.
The 23-year-old could become a trade candidate if team and player opt for a fresh start. A Day 3 pick represents the expected value in a return for such a swap, an indication of how Richardson’s stock has plummeted during his brief NFL tenure. A small period of time to potentially offer a small boost to his value by returning to practice has now begun, though.
Cowboys Place T Tyler Guyton On IR
Tyler Guyton‘s second NFL season has come to an end. He has been placed on injured reserve, the Cowboys announced on Wednesday. 
Guyton last played in Week 12 and has been dealing with an ankle injury since. Having been eliminated from the playoffs, the Cowboys have only two games remaining in their season. IR stints at least four weeks, so today’s move ensures Guyton will now turn his attention to 2026.
Selected 29th overall in last year’s draft, Guyton was tasked with immediately taking on starting duties at the left tackle spot. Tyron Smith‘s replacement struggled as a rookie, with PFF charging him with six sacks allowed in pass protection. That resulted in Guyton grading out 73rd among 81 qualifying offensive tackles.
The Oklahoma product operated as a full-time starter in 10 appearances this season. He did not showcase much in the way of improvement, however, receiving an overall PFF grade of just 57.8 (ranking 65th among offensive tackles). Guyton’s future could include a position change, something which will no doubt be considered next year. For the remainder of the season, meanwhile, the Cowboys will once again slide guard Tyler Smith to the blindside.
Smith landed a monster extension (four years, $96MM) this year as an indication of his importance to the Cowboys’ O-line moving forward. The three-time Pro Bowler has thrived at left guard, which he has indicated is his preferred position. In the event of Guyton losing his gig on the blindside, though, moving Smith there permanently will be something the Cowboys consider.
“I’m an All-Pro guard, bro,” Smith said (via The Athletic’s Jon Machota). “That’s the simple truth. … We’ll see what happens. We’ll have those conversations. Gotta see where everybody’s head is at.”
The Cowboys could try Guyton at right tackle, but during this week’s appearance on 105.3 The Fan owner Jerry Jones said (h/t Machota) the team has not considered that option yet. In any case, how Dallas’ offensive line takes shape through the offseason will be a key storyline. The team will take on the Commanders tomorrow before finishing the season against the Giants.
Chiefs Place Trent McDuffie, Rashee Rice, Jaylen Watson, Tyquan Thornton On IR
The Chiefs will be notably shorthanded for the final two games of the season. A quartet of players have been moved to injured reserve, per a team announcement. 
Cornerbacks Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson, along with wide receivers Rashee Rice and Tyquan Thornton have each been place on IR. Kansas City’s season includes just two more games, beginning with tomorrow’s Christmas contest against the Broncos. As such, each of the four players will not return in 2025.
McDuffie last played in Week 14. Kansas City’s next contest was the Chargers loss which ensured the team would not be able to reach the playoffs. Instead of pushing to return late in the campaign, McDuffie will now turn his attention to 2026. The Pro Bowler remained a full-time starter this season, one in which he posted seven pass deflections and one interception but also some of the worst coverage statistics of his career.
As things stand, McDuffie is set to earn $13.63MM next season on his fifth-year option. If an extension is to be worked out, it could move him to the top of the pecking order in terms of compensation at the CB position. The Chiefs do not have a history of making such commitments at that spot, though, so McDuffie’s future will be something to monitor closely during the offseason.
Likewise, Watson is on track to have his rookie contract expire shorty. He too may have played his final game as a member of the Chiefs. The 27-year-old was identified last month as a player Kansas City is unlikely to re-sign, pointing to a free agent departure during the spring.
Rice’s 2025 season was of course defined by the suspension he served at its outset. The former first-rounder has avoided any major injuries like the ACL he suffered last year, however, and doing so has allowed him to serve as a key figure in the passing game (53-571-5 statline) when on the field. Losing Rice and Thornton will deal a blow to a Chiefs offense which will already be without quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Gardner Minshew for the rest of the year.
In a corresponding roster move, Kansas City has activated corner Nazeeh Johnson from injured reserve. This comes one week after Johnson’s practice window was opened. He was one of the two Chiefs designated for return from IR during roster cutdowns, so his activation has already been accounted for. Meanwhile, defensive end Ethan Downs, cornerback Melvin Smith and tight end Tyreke Smith have each been signed from the practice squad to the active roster.
Commanders To Start QB Josh Johnson In Week 17
With Jayden Daniels shut down for the season and Marcus Mariota dealing with hand and quad injuries, the Commanders will call on Josh Johnson to start on Christmas, per The Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala.
Johnson, 39, has appeared in three games this year, though he threw his first pass of the season on Saturday night against the Eagles. After Mariota went down on Saturday night, Johnson completed five of his nine passes for 43 yards and an interception to close out the game. He will, undoubtedly, be looking for better results in a full game.
Jeff Driskel, who re-signed with the Commanders on Monday, will back up Johnson, while Sam Hartman will be signed from the practice squad to serve as the emergency third quarterback on game day. (A quarterback elevated from the practice squad cannot be the emergency QB3, so Hartman had to be signed to the active roster to fill that role.)
In theory, Dallas’ bottom-ranked pass defense could be a relatively welcoming matchup for Johnson’s first start since 2021. However, the Commanders’ passing offense has been one of the league’s worst, due in large part to injuries that are still taking their toll. Johnson will be Washington’s third different starting quarterback this year with a short-than-usual week between games, so success is no guarantee.
Panthers Designate Robert Hunt For Return From IR
Carolina has gone through most of 2025 without starting right guard Robert Hunt, but a late-season return from IR is on the table. The Panthers opened his 21-day practice window on Wednesday, per Darin Gantt of the team’s website.
After spending his first four NFL seasons with the Dolphins, Hunt joined the Panthers in March 2024 on a five-year, $100MM agreement. Hunt, who became the fourth guard in history to sign for $20MM-plus per year, started in 16 games and earned his first Pro Bowl nod last season.
This year has been a lost campaign for Hunt, who hasn’t played since suffering a torn biceps in Week 2. The Panthers have still managed an 8-7 record, and they’re holding a slim lead over the Buccaneers in the NFC South with two games left. Carolina won the first meeting between the two teams last Sunday. A rematch in Week 18 could decide the division. It’s unclear whether Hunt will be ready by then.
Hunt’s injury has led to the Panthers using several different options at right guard. Chandler Zavala, Jake Curhan, Brady Christensen, and Austin Corbett have all seen time there in Hunt’s absence. Zavala is now on IR with a knee injury, while Christensen tore his Achilles in late October.
Although Hunt is considered a better run blocker than pass blocker, Carolina ranks a respectable 11th in rushing. Lead back Rico Dowdle has already eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark, but his production has declined since early November. Hunt’s return would aid his cause and perhaps boost the Panthers’ chances of winning the division and making noise in the playoffs.
Buccaneers Open Calijah Kancey’s Practice Window
Having lost six of seven, the once-thriving Buccaneers are sitting at 7-8 and out of the playoff picture. Still with a chance to win the NFC South, the Buccaneers may welcome defensive tackle Calijah Kancey back from IR soon. They opened his 21-day practice window on Wednesday, per Scott Smith of the team’s website.
Kancey, the 19th overall pick in the 2023 draft, started in all 26 appearances in his first two seasons. He hoped to build on a 7.5-sack showing from 2024, but a pectoral tear has limited him to two games. Kancey underwent surgery after Week 2, his most recent appearance.
While Kancey missed five games last year, he still finished second among Buccaneers defensive linemen in snaps. Standout nose tackle Vita Vea led the way then, and that remains the case this season.
With Kancey out of commission for most of 2025, Logan Hall, Elijah Roberts, and Greg Gaines have logged the most playing time alongside Vea. Those three have combined for just 4.5 sacks, three fewer than Kancey posted a year ago.
The Bucs rank a respectable 11th in total defense, but they’re 16th in sacks and 24th in points allowed. A potential Kancey return, whether in the regular season or playoffs, should improve the unit. However, it may not happen until next season if Tampa Bay doesn’t rally for a playoff berth.
With a 23-20 loss to Carolina last week, the Buccaneers fell behind the 8-7 Panthers in the division race. Nevertheless, Tampa Bay still controls its own destiny. If the Bucs beat the Dolphins this Sunday and defeat the Panthers in a Week 18 rematch, they’ll win the NFC South for the fifth straight year.
Vikings Activate RB Ty Chandler From IR
The Vikings will welcome back Ty Chandler for the final two weeks of the season. The team announced that they’ve activated the running back from injured reserve.
Chandler suffered a knee injury way back in Week 1 that ultimately kept him off the field for several months. He returned to practice earlier this month, and now he’ll be activated to the active roster for the final stretch of the season.
The former fifth-round pick has seen an inconsistent offensive role through his three-plus seasons in the NFL. He got his most work as a sophomore in 2023, when he finished with 620 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns on 123 touches. In his other three professional seasons, Chandler has been limited to 244 yards on 68 touches.
The 27-year-old has also earned himself some playing time with his special teams work. Chandler returned 12 kickoffs between 2023 and 2024, averaging 25.2 yards. He appeared to have the full-time KR gig in 2025, as he returned three kickoffs for 84 yards in the season opener.
Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason have led the depth chart this season, meaning Chandler would have been limited to backup reps even if he was healthy. The Vikings have also given looks to C.J. Ham, Zavier Scott, and Cam Akers. Chandler is set to hit free agency after this season, so he’ll have a final chance to show suitors that he’s fully healthy.