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In other words, if an NFL team wants Aiyuk to learn their system this offseason, they can trade for him. “Why would the 49ers do a team that they compete with a favor by handing Aiyuk over for free now? Perhaps they’ll release him after the draft if they can’t find a suitor by then. But San Francisco can wait much longer if it wants to,” write the pair of Athletic 49ers beat writers. From the outside, it sure seems like a way to punish a player that essentially quit on the team last season as well. 49ers owner Jed York said that he would like to see Aiyuk play for the 49ers on Monday, but both beats note “York was speaking more in general terms about Aiyuk’s talent, perhaps not realizing Shanahan and general manager John Lynch have shown zero interest in bringing Aiyuk back. Furthermore, there is no space for him anymore in the budget.”

As Schefter notes, this is the second time these two teams have faced each other on Thanksgiving in the past three years. The game will be played in Detroit as the first of the usual three-game setup on Thanksgiving. With both teams eying an NFC North title, this game will almost certainly have considerable playoff implications. It will also be another installment in Ben Johnson’s grudge match with his former team.

The Dolphins secure their franchise running back, making Achane the NFL’s third-highest paid running back. NFL Insider Jordan Schultz adds that the contract includes $32 million guaranteed; it’s the most guarantees and average salary per year ($17 million) for a running back coming off a rookie contract. The 24-year-old was set to enter the final year of his rookie deal coming off his first career 1,000-yard rushing season. Totaling 1,838 all-purpose yards and making a Pro Bowl last season, Achane cemented himself as a cornerstone piece for a Dolphins offense entering a rebuilding phase. Speed and pass-catching are two of his most valuable traits, making him a high-end RB1 for fantasy purposes. With a deal making him one of the highest-paid running backs in football, Achane figures to see another 200-carry, 80-target season in 2026.

Jones joins the Raiders after completing a two-season stint with the Dolphins. The 28-year-old has primarily been a rotational defensive lineman through his NFL career so far. He tallied two tackles for loss, including a sack, in 14 games last season. The Raiders will add Jones as rotational depth for a defensive line needing experienced production.

The Seahawks will reportedly begin their title defense at home with a rematch against the Patriots. Seattle won the Super Bowl matchup handily, cruising to a 29-13 victory to hoist the Lombardi trophy. The teams will look mostly the same, with some key differences. The Pats won’t have 2025 leading wide receiver Stefon Diggs, while Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker left the Seahawks for the Chiefs. Still, the NFL is starting strong with an immediate Super Bowl rematch.

The Lions traded Patrick to Jacksonville last offseason. He caught 15 passes for 187 yards and three scores. Patrick is nothing more than a depth option at this point in his career, but the Jets could use some more experience in their receiver room. Aside from Garrett Wilson, Adonai Mitchell and Omar Cooper Jr. appeared to be penciled in for starting roles this year. Even if he doesn’t see the field much, Patrick brings some floor to this young group of players.

Rice was originally drafted by the Chargers in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He did not make the team’s final roster and has since spent time on several practice squads. His most recent stop was a short-lived stay in Vegas. Rice is a long-shot to make the Packers’ roster this summer.

The procedure removed scar tissue that was causing stiffness in his knee. Per Duggan, “This second surgery isn’t expected to impact Nabers’ recovery timeline.” Still, it’s not a great sign for Nabers, who the team is “hopeful” will be ready for Week 1, to need another procedure this late in his rehab, even if it’s minor. He suffered a torn ACL in Week 4 of the 2025 season and underwent his first surgery roughly a month later. Our first concrete indication of his progress will come at the start of training camp, when the Giants could opt to put him on the PUP list until he is ready to practice.

The match will be broadcast by Netflix. Per usual, the NFL is quietly claiming more territory outside of the standard Thursday, Sunday, and Monday contests. Week 12 will still have the normal three-game run on Thanksgiving. So far, only a matchup between the Cowboys and Eagles has been announced. The full schedule will be released on Thursday, with plenty of leaks between now and then. The Thanksgiving Eve game could ultimately be a preview of a postseason matchup, given that both the Packers and Rams made the NFC playoffs last year.

The Patriots released a statement saying, “We are aware of the report involving Quintayvious Hutchins. We take these matters very seriously and are in the process of gathering additional information.” Hutchins pleaded not guilty. He was the No. 247 pick in the draft this year. The league will likely let the legal situation play out before stepping in.

Moss went undrafted this year and signed with the Dolphins as a UDFA. He broke out at Texas A&M in 2024 with 765 yards and 10 scores on the ground, but a multi-ligament knee injury cut his season short. Then, in 2025, he missed six games with an ankle issue, cratering his draft stock. His departure will leave the Dolphins with Ollie Gordon and Jaylen Wright competing for the RB2 gig once again.