Giants Place OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux On IR, Activate CB Art Green
Kayvon Thibodeaux will not return in 2025. The fourth-year edge rusher has been placed on injured reserve, the Giants announced on Saturday. 
A shoulder sprain has kept Thibodeaux sidelined for the past three games. He has yet to practice during that period, meaning today’s move comes as little surprise. A stint on IR requires at least a four-week absence, and (having been eliminated from playoff contention) the Giants only have three games remaining.
With Thibodeaux now out for the remainder of the campaign (one in which he posted just 2.5 sacks and 11 pressures), attention will turn to his upcoming contract year. The former No. 5 pick had his fifth-year option picked up, leaving him in place for 2026. He is due to collect $14.75MM next year as a result.
The Giants already have one big-money pass rusher on the books in the form of Brian Burns. Abdul Carter – drafted third overall in April – profiles as a potential Thibodeaux replacement in the long term, although his rookie season has not gone as planned. Carter (who, in a recent uptick, has posted one sack in each of his past two games) should continue to see an elevated role to close out the year.
In a corresponding move, the Giants have activated Art Green from IR. The second-year corner returned to practice last week, and he will now be available to play tomorrow. Green has yet to play on defense this season; that will likely remain the case down the stretch, but he can be expected to reprise his role as a key figure on special teams.
Today’s news means New York has three IR activations remaining for the year. The Giants will close out their schedule with games against the Vikings, Raiders and Cowboys.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/20/25
Here are Saturday’s minor moves around the NFL, including gameday elevations for tomorrow’s Week 16 slate:
Arizona Cardinals
- Elevated: CB Jaden Davis, WR Steven Sims
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed from practice squad: CB C.J. Henderson
- Waived: WR/KR Jamal Agnew
- Elevated: WR Chris Blair, OLB Khalid Kareem
Baltimore Ravens
- Elevated: DT Josh Tupou, LB William Kwenkeu
- Placed on IR: LB Teddye Buchanan (story)
Buffalo Bills
- Activated from IR: WR Mecole Hardman
- Elevated: K Michael Badgley, DE Andre Jones Jr.
Carolina Panthers
- Elevated: LB Isaiah Simmons, OL Saahdiq Charles
Cincinnati Bengals
- Elevated: DT Howard Cross, CB Bralyn Lux
Dallas Cowboys
- Elevated: CB Corey Ballentine
Denver Broncos
- Elevated: QB Sam Ehlinger, S Delarrin Turner-Yell
Detroit Lions
- Elevated: OL Kingsley Eguakun, TE Giovanni Ricci
Houston Texans
- Elevated: DT Marlon Davidson, CB Alijah Huzzie
Los Angeles Chargers
- Elevated: S Marcus Williams, G Branson Taylor
Miami Dolphins
- Signed from practice squad: CB Ethan Robinson
- Placed on IR: DB Elijah Campbell
- Elevated: OL Kion Smith, WR Theo Wease
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed from practice squad: CB Dwight McGlothern
- Elevated: LB Sione Takitaki
New York Giants
- DT Elijah Chatman, K Ben Sauls
New York Jets
- Elevated: DB Tre Brown
New Orleans Saints
- Elevated: T Easton Kilty, TE Moliki Matavao
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Elevated: CB Daryl Porter Jr., T Jack Driscoll
San Francisco 49ers
- Placed on IR: LB Nick Martin
Tennessee Titans
- Signed from practice squad: DT Cam Horsley
- Waived: DT Shy Tuttle
- Elevated: CB Kamon Hall
Agnew’s time in Atlanta has come to an end after 11 appearances with his third career team. The veteran did not see any usage on offense, but he handled 45 total returns between kickoffs and punts this season. Agnew totaled 855 yards in that capacity, but he will now hit the waiver wire. Provided he clears, the 30-year-old will become a free agent.
The same is true of Tuttle. A veteran of 105 games, he has made just one start so far this season. Tuttle has only handled a 25% snap share on defense, so he is unlikely to generate much interest as a free agent. Nevertheless, a depth role could await him on a contender down the stretch.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/20/25
Saturday’s taxi squad moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Released: DL Morgan Fox
Denver Broncos
- Signed: G Calvin Throckmorton
Fox’s release is the corresponding move to the Bills signing Matt Judon. Throckmorton, meanwhile, became a free agent upon clearing waivers this week. He has elected to remain in Denver via a practice squad agreement.
Broncos Activate G Ben Powers
The Broncos’ offensive line will receive a boost in time for Week 16. Left guard Ben Powers has been activated from injured reserve, per a team announcement. 
Powers suffered a biceps injury in Week 5, and he has been sidelined since. Denver opened his practice window on December 10, however, signaling a return was imminent. After remaining absent last week, Powers will be able to suit up tomorrow against the Jaguars.
During Powers’ absence, the Broncos have used a pair of replacements at the left guard spot. Matt Peart filled in for one game before suffering his own injury, which paved the way for Alex Palczewski to handle a full-time starting gig. The latter could still see at least a rotational role down the stretch. Head coach Sean Payton said (via 9News’ Mike Klis) Powers will be eased back into action.
In any event, being back to full strength up front will be key for the top team in the AFC. Each of Denver’s other four starters up front (left tackle Garrett Bolles, center Luke Wattenberg, right guard Quinn Meinerz and right tackle Mike McGlinchey) have played in every game this season. That run of availability has been key to the team’s offensive success in 2025.
Powers, 29, has delivered on expectations as a run blocker in particular during his time with the Broncos. The 2023 free agent signing did not miss a game during his first two seasons in the Mile High City, and he is on the books through next year. A trade or release aimed at shedding costs along the offensive line could be entertained during the offseason, but for now Powers will look to reprise his role as a first-team figure up front while Denver seeks the No. 1 seed in the conference.
With Powers back in the fold, the Broncos have three IR activations remaining for the regular season. Another two will become available once the playoffs begin.
Lions Place Kerby Joseph On IR, Activate Christian Mahogany
Kerby Joseph‘s regular season is over. The Lions announced that they’ve placed the safety on IR with a knee injury. The team activated left guard Christian Mahogany from IR in a corresponding move.
Joseph hasn’t played since a loss to the Chiefs in Week 6, which will go down as his last appearance of the regular season. He’ll miss the Lions’ final three games. In the event the 8-6 club makes a successful charge for a playoff spot, Joseph won’t be eligible for its first-round matchup.
After leading the NFL with nine interceptions and earning first-team All-Pro honors in 2024, Joseph inked a four-year, $86MM extension last April. Although the 25-year-old ballhawk only played in six games this season, he still managed to pick off three passes. Joseph had finally been progressing toward a return, but a setback suffered in practice last week forced the Lions to shut him down.
The Lions entered the season with arguably the league’s best safety tandem in Joseph and Brian Branch. They’ll finish the regular season (and perhaps the playoffs) without either.
Branch tore his Achilles in a Week 14 win over the Cowboys. The Lions’ weakened defense then struggled in a 41-34 loss to the Rams in Week 15. The Rams amassed 519 total yards, including 368 through the air. With Joseph, Branch, and the concussed Thomas Harper unavailable, Avonte Maddox and Erick Hallett got the majority of playing time at safety. Hallett is now out of the organization after the Titans signed him off the Lions’ practice squad on Tuesday, but Harper has cleared concussion protocol and will play against the Steelers on Sunday.
Mahogany, a second-year man who has started in all eight appearances this season, has missed six games in a row with a fractured fibula. He’s now active again 10 days after Detroit opened his 21-day practice window, though Mahogany is still listed as questionable for Week 16. Three other Lions offensive linemen (Graham Glasgow, Taylor Decker, and Trystan Colon) are also questionable. Detroit’s banged-up line will face a shorthanded Pittsburgh pass rush, though, with T.J. Watt (lung) and Nick Herbig (hamstring) set to miss the game.
Buccaneers Elevate Jason Pierre-Paul
On the eve of a pivotal game against the NFC South rival Panthers, the Buccaneers are elevating edge rusher Jason Pierre-Paul from their practice squad, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. Pierre-Paul will play in his first game since Dec. 11, 2023, when he was a member of the Dolphins.
Now 36 years old, Pierre-Paul entered the NFL as a first-round pick of the Giants in 2010. He’s now in his second stint with the Buccaneers, whom he played with from 2018-21. Pierre-Paul amassed 33 sacks during that 54-game span and was part of the franchise’s most recent Super Bowl-winning team in 2020.
Between his Tampa Bay and Miami tenures, Pierre-Paul spent time with the Ravens and Saints. He was out of football until the Buccaneers surprisingly signed him to their practice squad on Dec. 8. Pierre-Paul impressed the team during a workout, and he’s now in line to suit up just two weeks later.
Pierre-Paul will join YaYa Diaby, Haason Reddick, Elijah Roberts, Anthony Nelson, and Chris Braswell as the Bucs’ options at edge rusher against the Panthers. Tampa Bay and Carolina, both 7-7, will meet twice over the final three weeks of the season. One of them will win the division, while the other is likely to miss the playoffs.
Along with elevating Pierre-Paul, the Buccaneers are calling up defensive lineman Adam Gotsis from their taxi squad, per Greg Auman of FOX Sports. Gotsis has played in one game and logged eight defensive snaps this year.
Saints Sign Charlie Smyth To Multiyear Deal
Northern Ireland native Charlie Smyth took over as the Saints’ kicker in late November. Three weeks later, the Saints are clearly satisfied with the results. They’ve signed Smyth to a three-year contract, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
This is the second three-year pact for Smyth, who joined the Saints in March 2024 as part of the NFL’s international player pathway program. He played Gaelic football before immigrating to the United States.
Smyth spent all of last season and most of this year on the Saints’ practice squad. Blake Grupe, who’s now a Colt, served as New Orleans’ kicker until the team waived him on Nov. 25. The Saints brought in veteran Cade York on a practice squad deal at the time, but they instead turned to Smyth as Grupe’s replacement.
While it’s a small sample of work, Smyth has been more accurate than Grupe. The Saints cut ties with Grupe after he made just 18 of 26 field goals over 11 games this year. Smyth has connected on 4 of 5 field goals and all five extra point tries through three games.
The 24-year-old immediately made his mark in his debut in Week 13. Although the Saints lost to the Dolphins, Smyth hit a 56-yarder and also pulled off a successful onside kick. He went on to nail a game-winning 44-yarder in an upset over the Panthers last Sunday. The Saints waived York on Thursday, leaving Smyth as the only kicker in the organization.
Chiefs Place OT Jawaan Taylor, LB Leo Chenal On IR
The Chiefs made a flurry of roster moves on Saturday ahead of their Week 16 matchup with the Titans, per a team announcement.
Right tackle Jawaan Taylor and linebacker Leo Chenal were placed on injured reserve, ending their seasons. Taylor started the first 12 games in the season but has been absent for the last three weeks due to a triceps injury. He is the second Chiefs starting offensive lineman to land on injured reserve this month, joining left tackle Josh Simmons. Jaylon Moore has taken over the right tackle job in Taylor’s stead and will likely continue in that capacity.
Chenal commanded a 53% snap share in the first 14 games of the season before going down with a shoulder injury. He was the Chiefs’ third inside linebacker behind Nick Bolton and Drue Tranquill; the trio have taken virtually all of the team’s snaps at the position. Chenal’s absence will likely put fourth-year linebacker Jack Cochrane into a bigger role, though Kansas City could also give rookies like Cooper McDonald and Jeffrey Bassa some opportunities.
To replace Taylor and Chenal on the active roster, the Chiefs signed offensive tackle Chukwuebuka Godrick and quarterback Chris Oladokun from their practice squad. Godrick will provide tackle depth amid the team’s current O-line injuries and Oladokun will back up Gardner Minshew for the rest of the year. Linebacker Cole Christiansen and offensive tackle Matt Waletzko were also elevated from the practice squad to provide depth at the Chiefs’ injured positions.
The Chiefs also waived running back Elijah Mitchell and replaced him with Dameon Pierce. Mitchell signed in Kansas City this offseason but has only appeared in one game during the regular season. Pierce was waived by the Texans in November and signed with Kansas City’s practice squad shortly after. Sunday will be Pierce’s Chiefs debut, and his promotion to the active roster suggests he’ll be in line for some touches during the game.
Cowboys Activate Trevon Diggs, Place DaRon Bland On IR
1:03pm: The Cowboys have activated Diggs and placed Bland on IR, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic. Bland may require foot surgery.
11:17am: The Cowboys are expected to activate cornerback Trevon Diggs from injured reserve on Sunday, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
The move will clear the path for Diggs to return from a two-month absence caused by a lingering knee injury and a concussion. However, he is unlikely to return to the starting role he occupied at the beginning of the year.
Diggs’ recovery and return to the field has been somewhat of a saga. He was designated to return from IR at the end of November and practiced for two weeks in a limited capacity. Diggs said he was expecting to play in Week 15 but was not activated ahead of the game. He clarified this week that he was healthy enough to play and still did not know why he was not activated, though he still was a limited participant in practice.
The Cowboys will make the procedural move to activate Diggs so that he does not revert to season-ending injured reserve, but that is no guarantee of a game day role. Recent updates have indicated a disconnect between player and team with some believing that the two sides will part ways this offseason. Diggs and the Cowboys have both stated that they envision their partnership extending into 2026, but most teams and players give that kind of an answer to such questions.
Starting cornerback DaRon Bland has been ruled out for Sunday’s matchup against the Chargers, so the Cowboys might need Diggs at some point during the game. He appears to be ready to play, but may no longer be a core part of defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus‘ plans for this season. With Dallas eliminated from the playoffs and Diggs’ injury history, the team may be hoping that he can avoid a re-aggravation this season that could affect him into 2026.
Browns Place RT Jack Conklin On IR
The Browns will finish 2025 without starting right tackle Jack Conklin. The two-time first-team All-Pro is going on injured reserve, the Browns announced.
Conklin hasn’t played since he suffered his second concussion of 2025 in a loss to the 49ers on Nov. 30. The 31-year-old will end up sitting out the Browns’ last five games of the season. KT Leveston is expected to fill in for Conklin for the rest of the year.
Conklin, who has also dealt with eye, elbow, and knee injuries this year, will end 2025 with eight starts in as many appearances. The sixth-year Brown has been a full-time starter over 57 games with the team, but durability has long been an issue. Conklin has missed between five and 16 games in four of his seasons with the Browns, whom the ex-Titan joined on a three-year, $42MM contract in March 2020.
Conklin scored a second lucrative pact with Cleveland – a four-year, $60MM extension – in December 2022. He would have been under club control through 2026, but Conklin agreed to restructure the deal last March. He’ll be a free agent in the offseason as a result.
The Browns are primed for major offseason changes up front with left tackle Cam Robinson (who has filled in for the injured Dawand Jones for most of 2025), guards Wyatt Teller and Joel Bitonio, and center Ethan Pocic also unsigned past this season. Both Conklin and Pocic (Achilles) endured injury-ruined campaigns, which won’t do either any favors on the market.
To take Conklin’s roster spot, the Browns signed safety Chris Edmonds to their active roster. Primarly a special teamer, he’ll make his seventh appearance of the season in a Week 16 meeting with Buffalo. Defensive tackles Keith Cooper Jr. and Maurice Hurst will join Edmonds on Sunday. The Browns elevated Cooper and Hurst from the practice squad.