The latest roundup of Minor NFL Transactions for 9/23/26, compiled from Pro Football Rumors, lists practice‑squad signings, practice‑window openings and injured‑reserve moves across the league. This quick update summarizes the day’s moves, explains the roster timing rules that affect short‑term availability, and highlights the Patriots’ entries.
Minor NFL Transactions — 9/23/26 snapshot
Per Pro Football Rumors, Wednesday’s minor moves included multiple practice‑squad promotions, a handful of signed veterans and several injured‑reserve placements. Below is a rapid snapshot of the transactions reported on Sept. 23, 2026.
Quick list: notable moves by team
- Arizona: Starling Thomas V signed from practice squad; Will Johnson placed on IR (report of a potential season‑ending injury; unconfirmed).
- Atlanta: Robert Longerbeam signed off the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad.
- Carolina: Isaiah Simmons signed to the 53‑man roster after practice‑squad elevations.
- Detroit: Seth McLaughlin signed from the practice squad.
- Houston: M.J. Stewart’s 21‑day practice window opened.
- LAC: Marquez Valdes‑Scantling signed from the practice squad.
- Rams: Maximus Pulley signed; Ronnie Rivers placed on IR.
- New England: Jose Ramirez signed from the practice squad; Brenden Schooler had his practice window opened; Dell Pettus placed on injured reserve.
Patriots notes: what changes in New England
The Pro Football Rumors digest lists three Patriots‑related transactions on Sept. 23. Each action primarily affects short‑term roster flexibility and game‑day availability rather than long‑term contract or cap planning. Below are conservative, source‑grounded notes on each entry and what it means for the Patriots’ immediate depth.
Jose Ramirez — signed from Patriots practice squad
PFR reports that Jose Ramirez was moved from the Patriots’ practice squad to the active roster. That type of signing is typically used to add a rostered body for depth — often to cover special teams or to give a chance to a player in game prep. The move immediately fills a 53‑man roster spot and allows the team to use that player in games once he is active on gameday. Expect the team to list Ramirez on its official transaction wire and the league transaction feed; the PFR item acts as the primary report here.
Brenden Schooler — 21‑day practice window opened
The report shows the Patriots opened Schooler’s 21‑day practice window. Opening a window gives the team a three‑week evaluation period to reintegrate a player into team practices and determine whether to activate him to the 53‑man roster. During that window the player can practice freely; if activated within 21 days he returns to the active roster. If not activated he remains on his reserve list for the season. This is primarily a short‑term roster management tool that lets New England evaluate health and readiness without committing a long‑term roster spot until the activation occurs.
Dell Pettus — placed on injured reserve
PFR lists Dell Pettus as placed on injured reserve. An IR placement removes the player from the active roster and triggers league timing rules that govern return eligibility. Practically, the team opens a roster spot that can be used for active replacements or additional depth. The move does not by itself specify injury severity; readers should treat any injury‑severity language as unconfirmed unless the team provides medical details. The timing rules described below determine when Pettus could become eligible to return.
Taken together, these moves show a typical in‑season pattern: promote a practice‑squad player for depth (Jose Ramirez), open a measured evaluation window for a player coming back from a list (Brenden Schooler), and place an unavailable player on IR to free a roster spot (Dell Pettus). The short‑term impact is roster flexibility and an immediate need to monitor practice reports and the team’s official transaction wire for follow‑ups.
How practice windows and IR timing work (brief explainer)
The Pro Football Rumors post includes a useful recap of current NFL return rules; the items below summarize the rules that matter to these transactions. See the original PFR post for the source list of moves and initial context: ProFootballRumors.com.
- Teams have a limited number of activations off injured reserve and reserve/non‑football injury lists across a season. That limit constrains how many players can be returned after being placed on reserve lists.
- Players on reserve/PUP and reserve/NFI lists may begin practicing after missing a minimum number of games (commonly two), but they are not eligible to play until a later week (for PUP/NFI this has been Week 5 under recent rules). Check the team’s PUP/NFI designation to confirm timing.
- Players placed on injured reserve must typically miss a minimum of four full games before a club can open that player’s 21‑day practice window. Once a club opens the 21‑day window, the player may practice for up to 21 days; the team must either activate the player during that window or leave him on the reserve list for the remainder of the season.
- Opening a 21‑day window is a procedural decision that allows teams to evaluate health in a controlled timeframe without immediately using up an activation slot for return. The PFR digest flags windows and IR moves because they directly affect short‑term roster planning.
These rules mean that even when a player’s 21‑day window is opened, he may not be eligible to play immediately if other list rules apply; and an IR placement does not automatically indicate a long‑term absence. Always cross‑check team injury reports and the official NFL transaction feed for final confirmation and eligible return dates.
Minor NFL Transactions snapshot (9/23/26)
Verification and uncertainty
Pro Football Rumors provides a transactions digest that is a useful first read. However, some items — especially injury severity and timelines — need official confirmation from teams or the NFL. The PFR entry correctly flags Will Johnson’s situation as a possible season‑ending injury; that characterization remains unconfirmed until the Cardinals or the league release medical or roster details.
For practice‑window openings and IR placements, official verification is available via the team’s transaction wire and the NFL’s daily transaction feed. Follow the Patriots’ official announcements for final roster moves and any activation dates tied to opened practice windows.
Why this matters now
Minor transactions like these drive game‑week availability and special‑teams decisions. Adding a practice‑squad player to the active roster gives a team depth and flexibility for the next game. Opening a 21‑day window is a low‑risk way to evaluate a returning player without committing long‑term roster resources. Placing a player on IR frees a roster spot but requires the team to manage its limited activation slots if it hopes to return that player later in the season.
For Patriots fans, the key near‑term items are whether Jose Ramirez contributes immediately on game day and whether Brenden Schooler’s window results in an activation. Dell Pettus’s IR placement will factor into how the team uses the practice squad and whether additional signings or promotions follow.
Quick takeaways
- Minor transactions are the primary way teams shuffle depth during the season. These moves rarely change long‑term plans but matter for short‑term availability.
- The Patriots added a rostered body (Jose Ramirez), opened a short evaluation window (Brenden Schooler), and placed a player on IR (Dell Pettus). Monitor official team and league reports for follow‑up dates and activations.
- Treat injury‑severity language with caution until the team confirms medical details; PFR flags unconfirmed season‑ending reports when applicable.
Source: Pro Football Rumors, “Minor NFL Transactions: 9/23/26.” For the original PFR post and the full transaction list, see: https://www.profootballrumors.com/2026/09/minor-nfl-transactions-9-23-26.
