The Washington Commanders put receiver Terry McLaurin on injured reserve on Wednesday, October 28, a week after coach Dan Quinn said McLaurin needed knee surgery and would miss the rest of the season. The Kansas City Chiefs signed five-time All-Pro kicker Justin Tucker to their practice squad, and the first waiver results after Tuesday’s Colts trades sent guard Christian Haynes to the Miami Dolphins, defensive tackle Jonah Laulu to the Tennessee Titans and running back Emari Demercado to the Houston Texans.
The San Francisco 49ers also made the DeForest Buckner trade official, and Colts receiver Josh Downs asked to be traded. The trade deadline is Tuesday, November 10, at 4 p.m. ET.
Wednesday, October 28 NFL transactions
This table covers roster moves announced or filed on Wednesday, October 28. Tuesday’s moves, including the Quenton Nelson and Buckner trades, are in our Tuesday roundup, and every roundup is on our transactions page.
| Club | Player | Pos. | Move |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona Cardinals | Kingsley Eguakun | C | Signed to the active roster from the practice squad |
| Arizona Cardinals | Zay Jones | WR | Signed to the practice squad |
| Arizona Cardinals | Jameson Geers | TE | Cleared waivers, now a free agent |
| Baltimore Ravens | Adam Randall | RB | Designated to return from injured reserve |
| Buffalo Bills | Tyrell Shavers | WR | Designated to return from the physically unable to perform list |
| Cleveland Browns | Carsen Ryan | TE | Signed to the practice squad |
| Dallas Cowboys | Emari Demercado | RB | Claimed off waivers by Houston |
| Dallas Cowboys | D.J. Rogers | TE | Cleared waivers, now a free agent |
| Detroit Lions | Kerby Joseph | S | Designated to return from the physically unable to perform list |
| Houston Texans | Emari Demercado | RB | Claimed off waivers from Dallas |
| Houston Texans | Jaylin Noel | WR | Placed on injured reserve |
| Indianapolis Colts | DeForest Buckner | DT | Trade to San Francisco for a 2027 fourth-round pick made official |
| Kansas City Chiefs | Justin Tucker | K | Signed to the practice squad |
| Kansas City Chiefs | Omarr Norman-Lott | DT | Designated to return from the physically unable to perform list |
| Las Vegas Raiders | Bralen Trice | DE | Signed to the practice squad |
| Las Vegas Raiders | Jonah Laulu | DT | Claimed off waivers by Tennessee |
| Los Angeles Rams | Joshua Karty | K | Signed to the practice squad |
| Los Angeles Rams | Jake McQuaide | LS | Signed to the practice squad |
| Los Angeles Rams | Austin Blaske | OL | Released from the practice squad |
| Miami Dolphins | Christian Haynes | G | Claimed off waivers from Seattle |
| Miami Dolphins | DJ Campbell | G | Waived |
| Minnesota Vikings | Devin Culp | TE | Signed to the practice squad |
| Minnesota Vikings | Bryson Nesbit | TE | Signed to the practice squad |
| Minnesota Vikings | Michael Briscoe | WR | Placed on practice squad injured reserve |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Jaydon Blue | RB | Signed to the active roster from the practice squad |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Dameon Pierce | RB | Placed on injured reserve |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Evan Beerntsen | G | Signed to the practice squad |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Quentin Skinner | WR | Signed to the practice squad |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Shaun Wade | DB | Signed to the practice squad |
| San Francisco 49ers | DeForest Buckner | DT | Acquisition from Indianapolis made official |
| San Francisco 49ers | Jack Jones | CB | Released |
| Seattle Seahawks | Christian Haynes | G | Claimed off waivers by Miami |
| Seattle Seahawks | Ben Sims | TE | Signed to the practice squad |
| Tennessee Titans | Jonah Laulu | DT | Claimed off waivers from Las Vegas |
| Tennessee Titans | Thomas Morstead | P | Signed to the practice squad |
| Tennessee Titans | Timmy Horne | NT | Released |
| Washington Commanders | Terry McLaurin | WR | Placed on injured reserve |
| Washington Commanders | Van Jefferson | WR | Signed to the active roster from the practice squad |
| Washington Commanders | Kyle Kennard | OLB | Signed to the practice squad |
| Washington Commanders | Jer’Zhan Newton | DT | Designated to return from injured reserve |
The moves that matter
McLaurin’s season is officially over. McLaurin was hurt on Washington’s opening drive of the Week 6 Monday night loss to the 49ers, after catching a 27-yard pass. Quinn announced the surgery the next day, as our Commanders story from that day explains, and the move to injured reserve makes it formal. Washington promoted veteran receiver Van Jefferson from the practice squad to fill the spot and signed outside linebacker Kyle Kennard to the practice squad. The Commanders also opened the 21-day practice window for defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton, whose return Quinn discussed in our bye-week press conference story.
Tucker gets another chance in Kansas City. Tucker has not kicked in a regular-season game since 2024. The Baltimore Ravens released him in 2025, and he then served a 10-game suspension under the league’s personal conduct policy after allegations of sexual misconduct, which he denied. The Chiefs worked out several kickers on Tuesday, and Tom Pelissero said Tucker made all 30 of his kicks. He is insurance for Harrison Butker, who remains on the active roster after a run of misses. Asked about the signing, Chiefs coach Andy Reid said, “He’s done his suspension, you know, and took care of that business there. But I’ll leave it at that.” Kansas City also opened the practice window for second-year defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott.
A waiver mix-up over Haynes. The Ravens announced on Wednesday that they had claimed Haynes, whom the Seattle Seahawks waived on Tuesday to make room for Nelson. But Miami had also claimed him, and the Dolphins had higher waiver priority because of their worse record, so Haynes goes to Miami. The 2024 third-round pick made five starts for Seattle this season. The Dolphins waived guard DJ Campbell to make room.
Noel goes on injured reserve, and Houston adds Demercado. Texans receiver Jaylin Noel hurt his toe in Sunday’s overtime loss to the New York Giants, as our Texans injury update reported. He will miss at least four games, and Houston expects him to have surgery that could end his season. Noel had 19 catches for 331 yards and two touchdowns. In his place, Houston claimed Demercado, whom the Dallas Cowboys waived on Tuesday. Demercado ran for 834 yards in three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. Laulu, waived by the Las Vegas Raiders on Tuesday, was claimed by Tennessee, which also signed veteran punter Thomas Morstead to its practice squad and released nose tackle Timmy Horne.
The Eagles lose another running back. Philadelphia put Dameon Pierce on injured reserve after he left Monday night’s game against the Cowboys in the fourth quarter. He is the fourth Eagles running back to go on injured reserve this season, and Saquon Barkley did not practice on Wednesday. Jaydon Blue, a 2025 fifth-round pick of the Cowboys, was promoted from the practice squad for his second stint on the active roster this season.
Buckner is official in San Francisco. The 49ers announced the trade for Buckner, which costs them a 2027 fourth-round pick, and released cornerback Jack Jones to make room on the 53-man roster. In Indianapolis, Downs asked for a trade on Wednesday. He is in the last year of his rookie contract and has 26 catches for 307 yards this season. “I’m open to whatever,” Downs said. “Whatever comes my way, comes my way and we go from there.” Coach Shane Steichen said running back Jonathan Taylor has not asked to be traded. Quarterback Daniel Jones’ reaction to the first two trades is in our Colts story.
Kerby Joseph is back at practice. The Detroit Lions opened the 21-day practice window for Joseph, who has not played since he hurt his knee in October 2025. The Buffalo Bills did the same for receiver Tyrell Shavers, and the Ravens opened the window for rookie running back Adam Randall. Our Wednesday injury roundup has more on each return.
Elsewhere. The Los Angeles Rams brought kicker Joshua Karty back on the practice squad along with long snapper Jake McQuaide. Coach Sean McVay did not rule out carrying two kickers on game day after Blake Grupe’s torn ACL left the job to Brandon McManus. The Cardinals promoted center Kingsley Eguakun and put receiver Zay Jones, who agreed to join them on Tuesday, on the practice squad. The Cleveland Browns brought tight end Carsen Ryan back on the practice squad a day after he cleared waivers, and the Minnesota Vikings signed tight ends Devin Culp and Bryson Nesbit to their practice squad.
What comes next
The Carolina Panthers host the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night, so both clubs will file any final moves on Thursday afternoon. The Packers listed receiver Matthew Golden and defensive tackles Devonte Wyatt and Anthony Campbell as questionable. The Los Angeles Chargers said safety Derwin James had a setback with his hamstring and may go on injured reserve. The Colts still have Taylor and Downs drawing interest before the deadline, and any Thursday moves will be in our next roundup.
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