NFL Player News

The Vikings released Vannett on Tuesday.

Veteran tight ends Vannett and Giovanni Ricci were let go by the Vikings on cutdown day. Vannett finished the preseason with three receptions for 22 yards. The 32-year-old played all 17 games with the Titans last season and posted 17 receptions for 135 yards and three touchdowns. His experience makes him a strong practice-squad candidate if he can't latch on elsewhere.

The Jets placed Charles (knee) on the reserve/PUP list Tuesday.

Charles will be required to miss a minimum of four games to start the 2025 season after being placed on the reserve/PUP list. The 28-year-old wideout tore his ACL in Week 14 last season and is not ready to return to the field as he continues to recover.

The Vikings released Ricci on Tuesday.

Ricci caught one pass for 11 yards during the preseason. The 28-year-old tight end hasn't played an NFL game since the 2023 season with the Panthers. He could be a practice squad candidate with the Vikings.

Smith-Marsette was released by the Giants on Tuesday, Dan Salomone of the team's official website reports.

Smith-Marsette re-signed with the Giants in March after spending the 2024 campaign with the team, serving as the team's primary return man. The wide receiver recorded two catches for seven yards, a six-yard run, three punt returns for 30 yards and 46 yards on two kickoff returns over two preseason games in 2025. Considering his ability as a special-teams asset, Smith-Marsette will likely find another suitor in the near future.

The Bengals released Brightwell on Tuesday.

Brightwell opted to stay in Cincinnati on a futures contract in January after finishing the 2024 regular season on the team's practice squad. He entered training camp gunning for a depth backfield spot on the Bengals' 53-man roster, but he wasn't able to separate himself from the competition after logging nine carries for 31 yards while adding a nine-yard catch and 93 yards on three kickoff returns. The 2021 sixth-rounder will look to catch on with a team in need of a running back who can also serve on special teams.

Gray was moved to the reserve/PUP list by the Giants on Tuesday, Dan Salomone of the team's official website reports.

Gray has been sidelined since the beginning of training camp as he continues to nurse an undisclosed injury. The running back will now be forced to miss at least the first four games of the regular season while on the PUP list.

The Vikings waived Thomas on Tuesday.

Thomas spent the past two seasons on the Vikings' practice squad and could be headed for the same role in 2025. The 27-year-old caught five passes for 27 yards this preseason.

The Chiefs placed Briningstool (hamstring) on injured reserve Tuesday with a designation to return, per the NFL's transaction log.

Briningstool has been working through a hamstring injury since the start of training camp, and the issue is severe enough for him to start the season on IR. He'll be required to miss the first four games of the regular season, making Week 5 against the Jaguars on Monday, Oct. 6 his first opportunity to make his 2025 debut. Briningstool signed with the Chiefs in late April as an undrafted free agent following a four-year college career at Clemson.

The Vikings waived Jackson on Tuesday.

Jackson was targeted 11 times through three preseason games but turned in just five receptions for 49 yards. Despite dealing with multiple injuries at wide receiver, the Vikings cut Jackson loose in favor of Tim Jones and undrafted rookie Myles Price. Jackson is a candidate for the practice squad where he spent the 2024 season.

Burton was placed on injured reserve by the Broncos on Tuesday, Aric DiLalla of the team's official website reports.

Burton suffered a hamstring injury during training camp, and he will now be forced to miss the entirety of the 2025 campaign as a result of being on IR. The fullback would be eligible to return to action this season if he reaches an injury settlement with Denver, otherwise he'll shift his focus to 2026.