NFL Player News

Garoppolo is expected to have thumb surgery soon and likely will need 4-to-6 weeks to recover, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Garoppolo started 15 of San Francisco's 17 regular-season games in 2021, missing one contest in October with a calf injury and one in December with a thumb ligament injury. He also was bothered by his shoulder late in the season, yet came one drive away from reaching a second Super Bowl in the past three years. Of course, Garoppolo has been more game manager than franchise QB, and he's now looking at an uncertain future with only one season remaining on his contract and the Niners able to clear up more than $25 million in cap space if he's released. With 2021 first-round pick Trey Lance waiting in the wings, it won't come as any surprise if Garoppolo is traded or released this offseason, though his recovery from surgery could be a minor complicating factor -- at least in terms of the timing. It does sound like he'll be healthy before training camp and possibly for the start of the offseason program, be it in San Francisco or elsewhere.

Love appeared in six games during the 2021 season and completed 36 of 62 passes for 411 yards. He registered two touchdowns and three interceptions and also ran 12 times for 27 yards.

Of Love's six appearances, two were simply to kneel out the clock, and two others were brief cameos late in games when the outcome already had been determined. He did play one full game against the Chiefs in Week 9 and played the second half of the Packers' Week 18 loss to the Lions, and he was unspectacular in those contests, completing just 56.9 percent of his passes and averaging 6.4 YPA. After seeing no snaps in his 2020 rookie campaign, the 2021 season essentially was Love's first as a pro. His prospects for 2022 will hinge significantly on whether or not fellow quarterback Aaron Rodgers remains with Green Bay. If Rodgers returns, Love is looking at another season in the backup role. If Rodgers does not, though, Love will be the favorite to take over as the Packers' starting quarterback.

Garoppolo completed 16 of 30 pass attempts for 232 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in Sunday's 20-17 loss to the Rams.

Garoppolo technically performed better from a fantasy perspective this week compared to his previous two games where he failed to eclipse 200 passing yards and threw zero combined touchdowns. That said, the product fans saw on the field was horrific at times, with the veteran quarterback airmailing wide-open receivers and throwing some dangerous passes into coverage. Despite his struggles, the 49ers reached the NFC Championship Game and were one potential possession away from reaching the Super Bowl for the second time in three years with Jimmy G under center. As for the signal-caller's prospects moving forward, he still is under contract with San Francisco in 2022, but $25.5 million of his $26.9 million cap hit can be eliminated due to the front-loaded nature of his deal. That means that the 49ers could save just over $25 million in cap space if they cut the veteran and hand the keys over to Trey Lance in 2022. This move makes sense from a strategic and economic standpoint, but we will have to wait and see what GM John Lynch decides to do at the position once the dust from this loss settles.

Stafford completed 31 of 45 passes for 337 yards with two touchdowns and one interception during the Rams' 20-17 win over the 49ers in their NFC Championship Game matchup Sunday. He also rushed five times for eight yards.

The long-suffering veteran finally punched a ticket to the Super Bowl in his 13th season, playing a critical role by generating his second straight 300-yard postseason effort. Stafford's afternoon certainly didn't start off on the right foot, however, as he missed an open Odell Beckham to end the Rams' first possession and was then intercepted by Jimmie Ward at the goal line on Los Angeles' second drive. Stafford found his stride in the second half despite having to navigate a pair of sacks and persistent pressure, connecting with his starting wideout duo of Cooper Kupp and Beckham for 20 of his completions, 255 of his yards and both of his touchdowns, with Kupp garnering the scores. Stafford now will set his sights on trying to cap off a Cinderella debut Rams campaign with a victory in Super Bowl LVI on his home turf of SoFi Stadium on Sunday, Feb. 13.

Burrow completed 23 of 38 passes for 250 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in Sunday's 27-24 overtime win over Kansas City in the AFC Championship Game.

Burrow and the entire Bengals offense got off to a slow start, as they managed only three points through the first 29 minutes of game time. However, he connected with Samaje Perine on a screen pass that went for a 41-yard touchdown just before halftime. Burrow then led the team to three scoring drives in four possessions spanning the third and fourth quarters, highlighted by a two-yard touchdown toss to Ja'Marr Chase. That scoring spree gave the team the chance to seal the upset win in overtime. In addition to scoring plays, Burrow added two completions of more than 20 yards, one to Chase and the other to Tee Higgins. Burrow will look to complete his incredible postseason run with a Super Bowl victory over either the Rams or 49ers on Sunday, Feb. 13.

Mahomes completed 26 of 39 passes for 275 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions in Sunday's 27-24 overtime AFC Championship Game loss to the Bengals. He added 19 yards on three rushing attempts.

Mahomes was unstoppable early on, capping Kansas City's first three drives with touchdown passes to Tyreek Hill (10 yards), Travis Kelce (five yards) and Mecole Hardman (three yards) en route to a 21-3 lead. He had an opportunity to build on a 21-10 lead from Cincinnati's one-yard line just before halftime but made an ill-advised throw to Hill short of the end zone, running out the clock. Momentum shifted to the Bengals after that, and the visitors took a 24-21 lead before Mahomes led Kansas City to a game-tying field goal with three seconds left in the fourth quarter. The Chiefs then got an opportunity to secure a second consecutive postseason overtime win when they won the coin toss in overtime, but Mahomes threw his second interception of the day after a pair of incomplete passes, and the Bengals kicked the game-winning field goal on the ensuing drive. Despite failing to reach the Super Bowl this year, Mahomes remains the gold standard of quarterback play -- both on the field and in fantasy -- as he's led his team to the AFC Championship Game in each of the past four seasons while throwing at least 37 regular-season touchdowns in three of those years.

Sudfeld was elevated to the 49ers' active roster from their practice squad Saturday ahead of Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the Rams, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Sudfeld was elevated to the active roster several times during the regular season but didn't appear in any games. He'll serve as the No. 3 quarterback behind starter Jimmy Garoppolo and backup Trey Lance on Sunday.

Garoppolo (thumb) practiced fully Wednesday, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Since sitting out Week 17 due to a sprained thumb on his throwing hand, Garoppolo has led the 49ers to three consecutive wins, but he was banged up in the team's playoff opener at Dallas, emerging with a right shoulder sprain that affected his practices reps last week. He isn't being listed with the second injury on this week's practice report, and neither issue is affecting his activity level on the field. Garoppolo, who will face the Rams for a third time this season Sunday in the NFC Championship Game, totaled 498 passing yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions between the first two meetings with Los Angeles.

Bills general manager Brandon Beane said the team would like to re-sign Trubisky if the quarterback doesn't get the contract he's hoping for elsewhere, Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com reports.

After signing with the Bills for 2021 and serving as Josh Allen's backup, Trubisky will try to find a chance to compete for a starting job. He's thus unlikely to re-sign with the Bills before the start of free agency, but he might consider returning as a backup if he doesn't find a favorable opportunity elsewhere. Trubisky attempted only eight passes in 2021 with Allen enjoying a healthy, productive season.

Giants team president John Mara said Wednesday that he maintains faith in Jones (neck) and views him as New York's starting quarterback heading into 2022, Ralph Vacchiano of SportsNet New York reports. "We've done everything possible to screw this kid up since he's been here," Mara said. "We certainly have not given up on Daniel Jones."

That said, Jones may be looking at a make-or-break season in Year 4, even if the Giants end up exercising his fifth-year option for 2023 before the May 2 deadline. He'll have to adjust to a new coaching staff once again, but Jones should at least be healthy for the start of the offseason program, considering he's been lifting, running and throwing since at least Jan. 10 after missing the end of the season with a neck injury. Also working in his favor is a talented group of skill position players, though all of the key pass catchers are coming off injury-plagued seasons, and the offensive line remains a question. Mara ruled out the possibility of trading for Deshaun Watson and said the Giants need to give Jones more help before making an "intelligent evaluation" on his future, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network.