August 26, 2025
Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson (leg) will open the season on the team's 53-man roster, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. Johnson missed all of training camp and the preseason after injuring himself while training away from the team. There's been plenty of mystery surrounding his status, including his timetable to return to the field. Biggs notes that the cornerback is targeting a Week 1 return, but he hasn't been able to practice yet. At the very least, the Bears' decision to leave Johnson on their initial 53-man roster indicates that he should return for one of the first few games, if not the season opener.
--Andersen PickardSource: Brad Biggs
August 26, 2025
Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer told the media that he expects linebacker Micah Parsons (back, personal) to play in Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Schottenheimer noted that the star defender will likely be on limited reps for the first game because he hasn't practiced in a while and has also been dealing with back tightness. This remains consistent with what Schottenheimer has previously said about his expectations for Parsons. However, it's unclear if the 26-year-old linebacker is on the same page. He requested a trade on August 1 while proclaiming that he didn't want to play for the Cowboys anymore, and it seems as though his stance hasn't changed since then.
--Andersen PickardSource: Clarence Hill
August 26, 2025
Kansas City Chiefs tight end
Robert Tonyan was released on Tuesday, the team announced. The move leaves
Travis Kelce,
Noah Gray, and
Jared Wiley as the Chiefs' three rostered tight ends. Tonyan has spent seven seasons in the NFL, and he made waves with 52 catches, 586 yards, and 11 touchdowns as a Green Bay Packer in 2020. Outside of that campaign, he has been unexceptional, as his reception count dwindled to 11 in 2023 and zero in 2024. It remains to be seen whether Tonyan will land on another 53-man roster or if he'll have to settle for a practice squad spot.
--Andersen PickardSource: Kansas City Chiefs
August 26, 2025
Denver Broncos quarterback
Sam Ehlinger was released on Tuesday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The move comes as Denver trims down its roster to 53 players, and it leaves the team with just
Bo Nix and
Jarrett Stidham in its quarterback room. Ehlinger appeared in all three preseason games, completing 42 of 57 pass attempts for 415 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. He also took four sacks. The former sixth-round pick hasn't appeared in a regular season game since the 2022 campaign with the Colts. He's a candidate to join the practice squad in Denver or elsewhere, but his path to playing time includes numerous obstacles. He should be left on waivers in all fantasy leagues.
--Andersen PickardSource: Adam Schefter
August 26, 2025
Atlanta Falcons quarterback
Easton Stick was released on Tuesday, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. The move helped the Falcons trim their roster down to 53 players, and it leaves Atlanta with only
Michael Penix Jr. and
Kirk Cousins in its quarterback room. Stick appeared in all three preseason games, completing 54 of 78 pass attempts for 520 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. He also took five sacks. The former fifth-round pick spent his first six NFL seasons with the Chargers before inking a deal with Atlanta in April. Now, he'll look for a new landing spot as Week 1 approaches. NewOrleans.Football's Mike Triplett reported that the Saints looked into signing Stick before he wound up with Atlanta, so perhaps they'll continue to show interest now that he's a free agent again. Regardless of where the veteran quarterback ends up, he should be avoided in all fantasy leagues.
--Andersen PickardSource: Ian Rapoport
August 26, 2025
Houston Texans wide receiver
Tank Dell (knee) was placed on the PUP list Tuesday, according to DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN. This was merely a procedural move to get Dell off the 53-man roster ahead of the 2025 NFL season. Placement on the PUP list comes with the requirement that a player misses at least four games, which won't be a problem for Dell given that he's expected to be sidelined for most or all of the season while he recovers from a dislocated knee and torn ACL, MCL, and LCL.
Nico Collins and
Christian Kirk will operate as
C.J. Stroud's primary targets in the passing game, while tight end
Dalton Schultz and rookies
Jayden Higgins and
Jaylin Noel also look to get involved.
--Andersen PickardSource: DJ Bien-Aime
August 26, 2025
The San Francisco 49ers released wide receiver
Robbie Chosen on Tuesday despite a productive preseason. After he signed with the 49ers earlier this month, the 32-year-old appeared in all three of the team's exhibition games and racked up nine catches for 117 yards. Chosen was a factor earlier in his career, especially when he amassed 95 receptions for 1,096 yards and three touchdowns with the Carolina Panthers in 2020. His numbers have dropped off considerably since then, though, and he combined for just five catches in 11 games with the Miami Dolphins from 2023-24.
--Connor ByrneSource: San Francisco 49ers
August 26, 2025
The Tennessee Titans released quarterback
Trevor Siemian on Tuesday. However, they'd like to bring him back as a member of their practice squad, according to Paul Kuharsky. The 33-year-old journeyman yo-yoed between the Titans' active roster and practice squad in 2024, but he didn't appear in any games. He rejoined the Titans as a free agent earlier this month and went on to complete 8 of 11 passes for 68 yards in two preseason games. The Titans will head into the season with rookie starting QB
Cameron Ward, the No. 1 pick in this year's draft, and veteran backup
Brandon Allen.
--Connor ByrneSource: Paul Kuharsky
August 26, 2025
The Dallas Cowboys waived running back
Deuce Vaughn on Tuesday, but he could return as a member of the team's practice squad, according to Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News. Now 23 years old, Vaughn joined the Cowboys as a sixth-round pick from Kansas State in 2023. He appeared in 14 games in his first two seasons and totaled 110 yards on 40 carries. In his bid for a roster spot this summer, Vaughn played in all three of the Cowboys' preseason games and ran for 64 yards on 17 attempts. It wasn't enough to convince Dallas to put Vaughn on its roster. The team will instead open the season with
Javonte Williams,
Jaydon Blue,
Miles Sanders, and
Phil Mafah as its running back quartet.
--Connor ByrneSource: Calvin Watkins - Dallas Morning News
August 26, 2025
Chicago Bears quarterback
Case Keenum (leg) has made the 53-man roster and will open 2025 as the team's third-string signal-caller. Keenum has been dealing with a minor leg injury this month, but it won't be enough to keep him off the roster. The well-traveled 37-year-old joined the Bears in free agency in April after a second stint with the Houston Texans. He didn't play at all last year after suffering a foot injury and hasn't attempted 100-plus passes in a season since 2019, which he spent with Washington. With
Caleb Williams entrenched as QB1 and
Tyson Bagent locked into the No. 2 role, Keenum shouldn't see any meaningful action this season unless things go catastrophically wrong for the Bears.
--Connor ByrneSource: Sean Hammond - Chicago Tribune
August 26, 2025
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers placed wide receiver
Jalen McMillan (neck) on Injured Reserve with a return designation on Tuesday. The move means that McMillan will be eligible to come back in Week 5, but he may have to miss more time than that as he recovers from a sprained neck. The 23-year-old suffered the injury in a preseason win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Aug. 16. McMillan, a third-round pick from Washington in 2024, impressed with 37 catches, 461 yards, and eight touchdowns in 13 games as a rookie. He hauled in seven of those scores in the Buccaneers' final five games of the season, but he won't be able to build on that performance until at least October. The Bucs will also open the year without
Chris Godwin (ankle), which will give first-round rookie
Emeka Egbuka a prime opportunity to step up as the team's No. 2 receiver after
Mike Evans.
--Connor ByrneSource: Scott Smith - Buccaneers.com
August 26, 2025
Baltimore Ravens tight end
Isaiah Likely (foot) has avoided the Injured Reserve and will open the season on the team's 53-man roster. Likely underwent surgery on his foot after suffering a small fracture on July 29, but he has recovered quickly enough that he'll be available early in the season. The 25-year-old set career highs in receptions (42), yards (477), and touchdowns (six) last season, providing the Ravens a solid pass-catching option at the position behind
Mark Andrews (undisclosed). While Andrews is dealing with an undisclosed injury, indications are that he'll be ready for the Ravens' Week 1 matchup against the Buffalo Bills on Sept. 7. Likely may not be a sure thing for that game, but he will make his 2025 debut sometime in September.
--Connor ByrneSource: Brian Wacker - Baltimore Sun
August 26, 2025
New York Jets wide receiver
Xavier Gipson (shoulder) is expected to make the team's initial 53-man roster, according to Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic. Gipson missed New York's final preseason game with a shoulder injury and is questionable for Week 1. The 24-year-old's primary utility through his first two NFL seasons has been on special teams, as he has 27 career catches in 34 games played. New York is looking for wide receivers to step up behind top wideouts
Garrett Wilson and
Josh Reynolds, so Gipson could theoretically earn some playing time in the slot once he's able to get back on the field. Still, he should remain off the radar of fantasy managers.
--Will BradySource: The Athletic - Zack Rosenblatt
August 26, 2025
The Seattle Seahawks have released veteran wide receiver
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, per Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic. Dugar writes that Valdes-Scantling opened training camp with the first-team offense, but was surpassed by rookie wide receiver
Tory Horton over the course of the preseason. Horton (ankle) is dealing with a minor ankle issue, but is expected to be fine for Week 1, which apparently made Valdes-Scantling superfluous. The 30-year-old deep-ball specialist had one of the best stretches of his career to finish 2024, recording 17 catches for 385 yards and four touchdowns in eight games with the New Orleans Saints. Valdes-Scantling will likely be able to find a new home, but he should remain off the radar of fantasy managers.
--Will BradySource: The Athletic - Michael-Shawn Dugar
August 26, 2025
The San Francisco 49ers are releasing running back
Jeff Wilson Jr., according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The 29-year-old signed with San Francisco just over two weeks ago, but will now be looking for a new home. The 49ers improved their running back depth quite substantially by acquiring
Brian Robinson Jr. from the Washington Commanders on August 21, which likely sealed Wilson Jr.'s fate with the team. The release of Wilson Jr. could also be a positive sign for the health of second-year back
Isaac Guerendo (shoulder), who has been battling a shoulder injury throughout the preseason. Assuming Guerendo is ready for the start of the season, San Francisco has two solid contenders for the RB2 role behind superstar
Christian McCaffrey.
--Will BradySource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
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