Practice squad moves are the NFL's quietest roster decisions, but the week before Week 1 they're the only decisions left. They don't move betting lines or sell tickets, but they decide whether a team is still breathing in December. Here's what this round actually means.
New York signed center Geno VanDeMark to the practice squad and released defensive back J.T. Woods from it. The Giants get another center to take practice reps when the starters need a rest. Woods is the one who loses a spot and now waits for another team's phone call. VanDeMark's real job is to be there if the offensive line gets banged up. Depth at the bottom matters more than the name at the top.
Pittsburgh signed safety Bishop Fitzgerald to the practice squad. The Steelers didn't make this move for a headline. They added a defensive back who can contribute on special teams and as emergency depth. Fitzgerald helps the Steelers if injuries hit the secondary; he hurts no one worth pitying. The likely next step is that he stays anonymous until a coverage unit needs a fresh set of legs.
Los Angeles made the most aggressive swap of the day, signing corner Kaiir Elam, defensive lineman Jordan Jefferson and receiver Theo Wease while releasing defensive lineman Jahmeer Carter, receiver Devonte Ross and corner Isas Waxter. Three-for-three churn is the sign of a front office that isn't settling. Elam is the reclamation project to watch; the Chargers are betting that a change of scenery unlocks something. Carter, Ross and Waxter become the losers, hoping another practice squad opens before the season starts.
Baltimore signed tight end Nick Vannett to the practice squad. This helps the Ravens add depth at a physical position and gives the scout team an experienced set of hands. It hurts a younger tight end who lost the roster squeeze. Vannett is here as insurance, not as an impact player.
Houston signed defensive tackle Junior Tafuna to the practice squad. Defensive tackles absorb more punishment than just about anyone, so stashing another one now is a smart bet. Tafuna helps the Texans' rotation depth and hurts any undrafted interior lineman with a similar skill set. If an injury or two pile up inside, he's the phone call. Not the most exciting addition, but one of the more practical ones.
ESPN's NFC East preview is out, with the Cowboys, Eagles, Giants and Commanders all put under the same microscope. The popular take is about quarterbacks and highlights. The contrarian view is that the division will be decided by protection: whichever offensive line holds up against its own rivals gets the cleaner path. All four rosters are close enough that the biggest arm won't matter more than the blockers in front of him.
NFL executives predicted the 2026 award winners, including MVP and top rookies. Anonymity doesn't make them clairvoyant. Execs always lean toward the established favorite, and the actual MVP usually comes from a team that outperforms its own hype. I'm fading the safest picks in that poll. Watch the team nobody has on the list yet.
Prisco's first power rankings are out, with the Jaguars and Cowboys getting some attention and the Rams' super team treated as too good to be true. The Rams doubt is the right call. A roster of stars is not a team, and Los Angeles has been running on thin margins for a while. Week 1 rankings are basically engagement bait, but Prisco made the most sensible contrarian point of the day.
The verdict from this roundup: all practice squad moves are fliers, but some fliers are smarter than others. The Chargers and Ravens are moving like teams that understand depth. The teams that churn with a plan are the ones that last until January.