NFL Player News
-
Will Levis QB | TEN
Titans' Will Levis: Expected to be active as backup
Levis (shoulder), who is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Colts, is expected to be active and serve as the backup to starter Mason Rudolph, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Levis was added to the injury report Friday, getting in a limited session. Coach Brian Callahan already had announced Rudolph as the team's starting quarterback for Week 16.
-
Russell Wilson QB | PIT
Steelers' Russell Wilson: Key mistakes in loss to Ravens
Wilson completed 22 of 33 passes for 217 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in Saturday's 34-17 loss to the Ravens. He added three rushes for 27 yards while also losing a fumble.
Wilson's stat line was mediocre, perhaps forgivable considering he remained without George Pickens (hamstring). He was able to get rid of the ball quickly on several occasions, allowing Jaylen Warren and others to pick up yards after the catch while also connecting on deep shots of 44 and 21 yards to Calvin Austin and Van Jefferson, respectively. However, two key mistakes overshadowed the positives, the first of which was when he lost a fumble deep in Baltimore territory after a 19-yard scramble early in the second quarter. Wilson then threw a pick-six early in the final quarter in what turned out to be the decisive sequence of the game. Wilson has now failed to throw for at least 225 yards in his last three matchups -- all of which have come without Pickens.
-
Lamar Jackson QB | BAL
Ravens' Lamar Jackson: Tosses three TDs in win
Jackson completed 15 of 23 passes for 207 yards and three touchdowns with one interception in Saturday's 34-17 win over the Steelers. He added 22 rushing yards on nine carries.
Baltimore never trailed in the game as it moved back into a tie with Pittsburgh atop the AFC North. Jackson tossed his TDs to three different targets -- Isaiah Likely in the first quarter, Rashod Bateman in the second and Mark Andrews in the third -- while also leading Zay Flowers to a 100-yard performance. It was the QB's fourth straight multi-TD game, a stretch in which he's posted a scintillating 12:0 TD:INT. Jackson will look to keep rolling in Week 17 on the road against the Texans.
-
Jaren Hall QB | SEA
Seahawks' Jaren Hall: Signed to active roster
The Seahawks signed Hall to the active roster from the practice squad Saturday.
Hall has been elevated from the practice squad to serve as the Seahawks' emergency third quarterback in each of the last two games. Starting quarterback Geno Smith is coming off a knee injury suffered during last week's loss to the Packers, so it appears that Seattle wants some extra depth for this Sunday's matchup against Minnesota. Smith doesn't have an injury designation heading into this contest, but Hall and Sam Howell will be on standby in case the starter has to come out any point versus the Vikings.
-
C.J. Stroud QB | HOU
Texans' C.J. Stroud: Two TDs, two INTs in Week 16 loss
Stroud completed 23 of 39 passes for 244 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in Saturday's 27-19 loss to the Chiefs. He added two rushing attempts for 23 yards.
Stroud bounced back from an interception on the opening drive by driving the Texans into the red zone before settling for a field goal on the second possession and finally breaking through for a 10-yard touchdown pass to Dalton Schultz on the third drive. He was picked off again late in the first half, which helped the Chiefs take a 17-10 lead into the locker room. Stroud then threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Tank Dell in the third quarter, on which Dell suffered a serious knee injury, which left the quarterback visibly distraught. Houston's offense seemed shaken the rest of the way and didn't get particularly close to tying the game down the stretch despite it being a one-score game the entire fourth quarter. Stroud will have to get by with limited talent at wide receiver behind Nico Collins on Christmas against a beatable Baltimore secondary.
-
Patrick Mahomes QB | KC
Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes: Rushing TD proves ankle is fine
Mahomes completed 28 of 41 passes for 260 yards and one touchdown in Saturday's 27-19 win over the Texans. He also rushed five times for 33 yards and a touchdown.
Mahomes quickly demonstrated that the ankle sprain he suffered in the Week 15 win over the Browns isn't inhibiting his ability to run, as he scrambled for a 12-yard gain on Kansas City's eighth offensive play and added a 15-yard rushing touchdown three plays later. The star quarterback tacked on an eight-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Worthy in the third quarter as Kansas City improved to 14-1. The Chiefs need one win over their last two games or a Buffalo loss to clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC and a first-round bye. Unless the Bills lose to the 3-11 Patriots on Sunday, Mahomes won't be rested against the Steelers on Christmas.
-
Spencer Rattler QB | NO
Saints' Spencer Rattler: Officially starting for Carr
Rattler will start Monday at Green Bay due to Derek Carr (left hand) ruled out for the contest, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Interim coach Darren Rizzi implied as much Thursday but still left the door open for Carr to prove his health as the week went on. However, Carr hasn't made enough progress in his recovery, allowing Rattler his fourth career start. In five appearances overall in his rookie campaign, Rattler has completed 69 of 120 passes (57.5 percent) for 706 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, recorded nine carries for 61 yards and committed three fumbles (two lost). Jake Haener will serve as Rattler's backup Monday.
-
Derek Carr QB | NO
Saints' Derek Carr: Ruled out for Week 16
Interim coach Darren Rizzi said Saturday that Carr (hand) "hasn't progressed enough" and has been ruled out for Monday's game in Green Bay, Matthew Paras of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.
In particular, Carr still is regaining strength in his left, non-throwing hand that sustained a fracture back in Week 14 at the Giants, per Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football. With Carr out for a second game in a row, the Saints will turn to Spencer Rattler under center Monday, while Jake Haener will serve as his backup. Carr's next opportunity to suit up is Sunday, Dec. 29 versus the Raiders.
-
Kirk Cousins QB | ATL
Falcons' Kirk Cousins: Expected to be cut in offseason
Cousins is expected to be cut by the Falcons before his $10 million roster bonus is due March 17, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports.
Cousins has been demoted to the backup role behind rookie first-round pick Michael Penix ahead of Atlanta's Week 16 game against the Giants. The veteran quarterback lost his starting role after posting a 1:9 TD:INT in his last five starts. Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million contract with the Falcons prior to the 2024 season, but Atlanta appears ready to move forward with Penix while eating the remainder of Cousins' $100 million guarantee.
-
Drew Lock QB | NYG
Giants' Drew Lock: Set for Week 16 start
Lock (heel/left elbow) doesn't have a designation for Sunday's game in Atlanta.
Coach Brian Daboll told Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com on Wednesday that Lock was set to regain the Giants' starting quarterback job for Week 16 after serving as the emergency third QB behind Tommy DeVito and Tim Boyle in a Week 15 loss to the Ravens. Lock followed up Wednesday's limited session with back-to-back full practices this week, thereby locking him in to another start. Meanwhile, DeVito, who suffered a concussion against Baltimore, cleared concussion protocol Friday and will settle into the No. 2 role this weekend, per Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post. While operating as the starter Weeks 13 and 14, Lock completed 42 of 81 passes (51.9 percent) for 405 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions, adding nine carries for 116 yards and one TD along with a lost fumble.