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Vikings Designate Aaron Jones For Return

October 21st, 2025 at 1:35pm CST by Sam Robinson

Aaron Jones has been out of the picture for the Vikings since suffering a hamstring injury in Week 2, but the veteran running back has a chance to return to action when first eligible.

The Vikings are designating Jones for return from IR, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports. This will give the ninth-year vet a chance to return for the team’s Thursday-night game against the Chargers. Minnesota has used Jordan Mason as its primary starter, after the trade acquisition had formed a committee with Jones in Weeks 1 and 2.

Activating Jones ahead of Week 8 would represent the Vikings’ fourth IR activation used this season. Teams have eight at their disposal, before two more emerge in the playoffs, and Minnesota has been at work reassembling its roster. The team has not seen J.J. McCarthy play since Week 2, either, but the second-year quarterback did not land on IR and can return at any time.

A role as Mason’s 1-B back would be a step down for Jones, who has worked as a primary starter for most of his career. This included a full-season run in that role in Minnesota last year. The ex-Packers standout posted a career-high 1,138 rushing yards last season, adding 408 through the air and totaling seven touchdowns.

Jones did not miss a game in 2024, but he did miss six in 2023. That led the Packers, even after the running back’s late-season resurgence keyed a run to the divisional round, to ask for another pay cut (Jones had accepted a slash in 2023). Jones declining led him to Minnesota, and the Vikings re-signed him this offseason.

The Vikes gave the dual-threat performer a two-year, $20MM deal — one that came with $11.5MM guaranteed at signing. Another $2MM will lock in on Day 3 of the 2026 league year, giving Jones an incentive to reemerge from this early-season setback and play well down the stretch. The Vikings having him ready for a short week would point to the RB being healthy, but Minnesota could give the 30-year-old option a mini-bye by holding him out from its Los Angeles trip.

Through six games, Mason is at 380 rushing yards (4.5 per carry) and four touchdowns. With Mason not much of a receiving threat, Jones would be a big upgrade in a pass-down role. Still, the Vikings effectively demoting their highest-paid RB and turning to Mason — extended on a two-year, $10.5MM deal following a March trade with the 49ers — would be an interesting move. How the team reintegrates Jones will be a storyline to follow in the coming weeks. If Jones returns in Week 8, he will be working with Carson Wentz for the first time.

Panthers To Add QB Mike White To Practice Squad

October 20th, 2025 at 9:37pm CST by Ben Levine

As Bryce Young nurses a high ankle sprain that’s expected to sideline him for at least Week 8, the Panthers are adding some quarterback depth. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Panthers are signing Mike White to their practice squad.

[RELATED: Panthers QB Bryce Young Dealing With High Ankle Sprain]

After being drafted by the Cowboys in the fifth round of the 2018 draft, White embarked on a tour of the AFC East. He had a notable stop in New York, where he went 2-5 in seven starts with the Jets. That stint still represents the majority of his career tape, and he ended his stint with the team having completed 62.2 percent of his passes for 2,145 yards, eight touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.

He spent the 2023 campaign serving as the QB2 in Miami behind Tua Tagovailoa, but after getting leaped on the depth chart by Skylar Thompson, he was cut loose at the end of the 2024 preseason. He ended up catching on with the Bills practice squad, where he’d spend the majority of the 2024 campaign.

White was among Buffalo’s final cuts at the end of this past preseason. He had a brief stop on the Bengals practice squad following Joe Burrow‘s injury, but he was cut loose a few weeks after signing.

Now, he’ll resurface in Carolina, where Young’s injury carries a recovery timeframe of two to four weeks. Andy Dalton will be the stopgap, and the Panthers will be counting on the veteran to carry the momentum from their active three-game winning streak. White will be an option to serve as the temporary QB2, although the Panthers are also rostering Hendon Hooker on their practice squad.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/20/25

October 20th, 2025 at 6:14pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad moves:

Baltimore Ravens

Indianapolis Colts

San Francisco 49ers

David Long Jr. brings some experience to Indy’s practice squad, as the veteran defensive back has seen time in 79 career games. This included a 13-game showing with the Colts in 2024, although all but nine of his 117 snaps came on special teams. If he finds his way to the active roster, he’ll likely be eyeing a similar role this time around.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/20/25

October 20th, 2025 at 6:11pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

New England Patriots

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

It didn’t take long for Arthur Maulet to earn a full-time spot on the Lions active roster. The veteran cornerback just joined the organization earlier this month, and he already had one promotion in Week 6. He’ll likely continue seeing a rotational role in Detroit’s secondary moving forward, although his addition is partly due to absences from Terrion Arnold and D.J. Reed.

The Patriots snagged a linebacker from the Chargers today. Caleb Murphy has some familiarity with Mike Vrabel, as the former Titans coach added the linebacker as an undrafted free agent back in 2023. Murphy has gotten into 14 games in stints with the Titans and Chargers, compiling 17 tackles and 0.5 sacks.

WR Tyler Lockett Granted Release By Titans

October 20th, 2025 at 5:51pm CST by Ben Levine

Tyler Lockett‘s stint in Tennessee has unceremoniously come to an end. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the veteran wideout asked for and was granted his release by the Titans today. The move allows Lockett to sign with another team after 4pmET on Wednesday.

After spending 10 seasons in Seattle to begin his career, Lockett was released by the Seahawks this past offseason. He quickly caught on with the Titans via a one-year, $4MM deal. The hope was that the receiver would provide another experienced target for Cam Ward, but the acquisition clearly wasn’t clicking with his new offense.

Through seven games, Lockett has hauled in 10 of his 21 targets for 70 yards. While he’s garnered the third-most snaps among Titans receivers, his role has been trending downwards in recent weeks. This seemed to culminate yesterday, when the 33-year-old was firmly playing as the WR4 despite Calvin Ridley being sidelined with a hamstring injury.

This move should now work out for both sides. The 1-6 Titans will get an opportunity to get a longer look at their younger wideouts, including Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike, who hauled in his first-career touchdown during yesterday’s loss. Paul Kuharsky wonders if the Titans may also lean more into two tight end sets, which would presumably consist of Chig Okonkwo and Gunnar Helm.

For Lockett, the veteran will have an opportunity to catch on with a more competitive squad, although he may be hard pressed to find a significant role with a new team. Lockett’s numbers dropped a bit during his final seasons in Seattle, including a 2024 campaign where he finished with 49 receptions for 600 yards and two touchdowns.

This was a far cry from the four-straight 1,000-yard campaigns he put up between 2019 and 2022, and his recent role in Tennessee could indicate that he doesn’t have a whole lot left in the tank. At the very least, the veteran can now ride off into the sunset with a team that’s perhaps destined for the postseason.

Bills Designate CB Maxwell Hairston For Return

October 20th, 2025 at 4:57pm CST by Adam La Rose

Maxwell Hairston is moving closer to his NFL debut. The first-round rookie had his practice window opened by the Bills on Monday, per the transactions wire.

Last week, head coach Sean McDermott indicated a return to practice would be coming shortly. As such. today’s news comes as little surprise. The Bills now have 21 days to activate Hairston and avoid having him revert to season-ending injured reserve.

During roster cutdowns, Buffalo moved Hairston to IR with a return designation. That used up one of the team’s IR activations, meaning another will not be needed once the 22-year-old is officially brought back into the fold. More importantly, having Hairston available will provide a boost to Buffalo’s secondary – a unit which may be without fellow rookie Dorian Strong the rest of the way – as early as Week 8 as the team returns from its bye.

The Bills sit second in the NFL in pass defense, but their play against the run has been an issue so far. Buffalo has surrendered an average of 156 yards per game on the ground, the second-worst figure in the league. Adding Hairston to the mix is unlikely to make much of a different against the run, but the Kentucky product could certainly help a defense which has posted just two interceptions to date.

Over the course of his college career, Hairston posted six interceptions. Five of those came in 2023, although his lone pick from last season was returned for a touchdown. The 5-11, 183-pounder will look to add a playmaking element to Buffalo’s cornerback room early and often in his career. The Bills have Christian Benford and Tre’Davious White atop the depth chart for perimeter corners; Hairston will look to compete with the latter for playing time upon being activated.

Lions DT Alim McNeill To Make Season Debut In Week 7

October 20th, 2025 at 3:52pm CST by Connor Byrne

OCTOBER 20: With no setbacks having taken place in recent days, McNeill is indeed set to make his debut tonight. The Lions have activated him from the reserve/PUP list, per a team announcement.

OCTOBER 15: After returning to practice earlier this month, Lions defensive tackle Alim McNeill is nearing his long-awaited season debut. Head coach Dan Campbell told 97.1 The Ticket on Wednesday that McNeill will suit up against the Buccaneers in Week 7 in a showdown between NFC contenders (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press).

“Barring something happening this week, Alim’s fricking playing, man,” Campbell said.

McNeill, now in his fifth season, has emerged as an integral piece of Detroit’s defensive line since the team chose him in the third round of the 2021 draft. After mostly working as a reserve as a rookie, the 6-foot-2, 310-pounder has started in all 44 appearances since his second year. McNeill totaled 25 tackles and 3.5 sacks in 14 games last season before suffering a torn ACL in a mid-December loss to the Bills.

Now 10 months removed from his injury, the 25-year-old McNeill is ready to return to action. Notably, Wednesday marks the one-year anniversary of McNeil landing a four-year, $97MM contract extension. Considering the Lions’ investment in McNeil, they may ease him back in upon his return. The Lions have a bye following their matchup with the Buccaneers, which will give McNeill a week to rest after his first game back.

Although he missed the Lions’ last three regular-season games, McNeil still led their defensive tackles in snaps in 2024. D.J. Reader has paced the group this year, while first-round rookie Tyleik Williams has received the second-most snaps. Roy Lopez, Pat O’Connor, and Tyler Lacy have also gotten a good chunk of playing time in depth roles during McNeill’s absence.

Despite going without McNeill this season, Detroit’s defense still ranks fourth in the NFL in sacks and ninth in yards per game, though it’s a middle-of-the-pack 15th in points per contest. With the 4-2 Lions looking to bounce back from a loss to the Chiefs and down a few key defenders in their secondary (D.J. Reed, Terrion Arnold, and Brian Branch if his one-game suspension holds up), McNeill will be a welcome reinforcement against the Bucs (5-1), the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

Texans Activate Denico Autry, Jaylen Reed

October 20th, 2025 at 2:46pm CST by Adam La Rose

Shortly before their 21-day activations windows closed, both Denico Autry and Jaylen Reed are back in the fold. Both defenders were activated by the Texans on Monday, per a team announcement.

Autry was moved to the reserve/PUP list during roster cutdowns. Reed, meanwhile, was classified as injured reserve-designated for return at that time. In both cases, an absence of at least the first four games of the season was guaranteed. Both players returned to practice at the beginning of October, opening their three-week activation windows.

Most of that time has been used up, but the timing of today’s move ensures Autry and Reed will be in the fold moving forward. They are both on the active roster in time to play in tonight’s contest against the Seahawks. Houston already has the league’s No. 1 defense in terms of points allowed per game (12.2), and that unit will now have reinforcements.

Autry dealt with a lingering knee injury dating back to last season while preparing for the current campaign. Upon returning from suspension last year, the 35-year-old posted three sacks in 10 games. That marked a notable decline relative to his highly productive Titans stint prior to arriving in Houston. Still, the 12th-year veteran will offer solid depth to the pass rush tandem of Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr.

Reed was taken in the sixth round of April’s draft. He will look to provide depth at the safety spot, something which would be welcomed after the decision to move on from C.J. Gardner-Johnson during the season. A large special teams workload could await Reed during his rookie campaign. The Texans still have seven of their eight allotted IR activations for the season since designating Reed for return in August used one.

In a corresponding move, cornerback Zion Childress has been waived. The undrafted rookie made a pair of appearances with Dallas before signing to Houston’s active roster. That did not result in further playing time, though, and Childress will now hit the waiver wire.

Titans Activate DT T’Vondre Sweat From IR

October 18th, 2025 at 8:43pm CST by Adam La Rose

T’Vondre Sweat is in line to make his return in Week 7. The second-year defensive tackle was activated from injured reserve Saturday, per a Titans announcement.

[RELATED: IR Return Tracker]

Sweat had his 21-day practice window opened on Wednesday. As a result, today’s move comes as little surprise. After suffering an ankle injury in Week 1, Sweat was unsuccessful in his efforts to return to action. That resulted in an IR stint, but he has been activated after missing the required four games.

As a rookie, Sweat played in all 17 games and logged a 66% snap share. The Texas product has only played 29 snaps so far this season due to the injury, but he will be expected to reprise his role as a starter upon return. Sweat, 24, entered the league known as a run-stopping presence and topped 50 tackles last season. Managing to remain a consistent presence at least on early downs will be key in his second year.

Having moved on from head coach Brian Callahan and replaced him internally with Mike McCoy, plenty of attention will be paid to the Titans over the coming weeks. The team’s offense in particular will be under scrutiny, with quarterback Cam Ward‘s development obviously the top priority. Tennessee’s defense has plenty of room for improvement as well, though, as it sits near the bottom of the NFL in many categories. The Titans rank 25th against the run entering Sunday’s action.

Sweat will particularly look to help in that regard moving forward. With a 1-5 record, Tennessee is seen as a strong seller’s candidate ahead of the trade deadline with postseason contention not expected. As McCoy makes his return to an NFL head coaching gig and begins to audition for the full-time role, Sweat will be back in the fold.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/18/25

October 18th, 2025 at 7:57pm CST by Ely Allen

Here are today’s minor moves and practice squad elevations as we head to the seventh Sunday of the regular season:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Chicago Bears

Green Bay Packers

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

San Francisco 49ers

Tennessee Titans

As injured reserve activations start to dominate the headlines, a couple teams are making minor additions off their injured lists. In Homer, the Bears are getting a veteran special teamer and some running back depth. Monk adds depth to Green Bay’s offensive line. And Weston will do the same for a linebacking corps in New York that has seen rookie fifth-round pick Francisco Mauigoa starting in place of an injured Quincy Williams.

Ford in Chicago, Sewell in New Orleans, and Jacobs in Tennessee are all being called up as standard gameday practice squad elevations for the third time this year. In order to appear in any more games after this weekend, their respective teams will need to sign them to the 53-man roster.

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