NFL Player News

Mayfield is scheduled to undergo surgery to repair the torn labrum in his left shoulder Jan. 19, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

The 26-year-old has already been ruled out for Sunday's season finale against the Bengals after being placed on injured reserve earlier Wednesday, and he won't wait too long into the offseason before undergoing surgery. Mayfield should have enough time to make a full recovery in time for training camp after playing through the injury during 2021, though the nature of his procedure makes it unlikely he'll be a full participant for OTAs this spring. Case Keenum is set to start under center for the Browns in Week 18 versus the Bengals, with Nick Mullens serving as the backup quarterback.

McCoy (migraine) wasn't included Wednesday on Arizona's initial Week 18 injury report, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.

A late addition to the Cardinals' injury report Week 17, McCoy was ultimately active as Kyler Murray's backup in Arizona's win over Dallas. As per usual, McCoy didn't play any snaps, but his omission from the Week 18 injury report implies that he's healthy heading into the regular-season finale against the Seahawks.

Lock (shoulder) was listed as a limited practice participant Wednesday, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.

With Teddy Bridgewater (concussion) on injured reserve, Lock is expected to start Saturday's game against Kansas City, provided he can overcome his own health concern. Thursday's injury report will reveal whether or not the quarterback heads into the weekend with an injury designation.

The Browns signed Mullens to their active roster Wednesday, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Mullens was activated from the practice squad COVID-19 list Tuesday and will be on the active roster for the team's Week 18 matchup against Cincinnati. He'll serve as the backup to Case Keenum on Sunday after Baker Mayfield (shoulder) was placed on injured reserve Wednesday.

Jackson (ankle) didn't practice Wednesday.

Jackson's continued absence from practice isn't a great sign for his Week 18 availability, though head coach John Harbaugh said Monday that the quarterback still has a chance to make it back for Sunday's season finale against the Steelers. A return to practice Thursday or Friday would give the Ravens a chance to evaluate Jackson before making that decision, though there may also be some sentiment toward caution with Baltimore's long-shot playoff hopes riding on a Jacksonville upset of Indianapolis, among other things.

Burrow (knee/rest) didn't practice Wednesday.

Per Ben Baby of ESPN.com Burrow plans to practice at some point this week. Though the quarterback's sore right knee isn't considered a major issue, head coach Zac Taylor already acknowledged that Burrow will be rested Sunday against the Browns, while Brandon Allen draws the starting assignment for Cincinnati. Since the Bengals don't have any other quarterbacks on the roster at the moment, Burrow could still be active this weekend as Allen's backup.

Goff (knee) was a limited participant at Wednesday's practice.

Goff has missed two straight games, first due to a bout with COVID-19 and then with a knee injury. On Wednesday, he labeled his injury as a bone bruise and said his availability for Week 18 will come down to pain management, according to Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site. Goff told Kyle Meinke of MLive.com that his knee is "progressing," but he's also uncertain whether he'll gain clearance to play Sunday against the Packers. Wednesday's limited session is a step in the right direction, and Goff has two more chances to prove his health before the Lions either tab him with a designation or remove it entirely for Week 18. Tim Boyle is poised to start at quarterback again if Goff is unable to direct the offense.

Dalton is set to return to a backup role with Justin Fields (ankle) named the Bears' starting quarterback for Week 18 against Minnesota, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

The season has been disappointing overall for both Dalton and Fields, but the former has shown some promising signs with the campaign nearing its end. In what might have been his last taste of action as a member of the Bears in Week 17, Dalton started in place of an injured Fields and completed 18 of 35 attempts for 173 yards, a touchdown and an interception. The 34-year-old is scheduled for unrestricted free agency in the offseason, and there's no guarantee of another shot at a Week 1 starting job no matter where he lands.

Allen is expected to serve as the Bengals' starting quarterback Sunday against the Browns after Joe Burrow (knee/finger) acknowledged that he plans on serving as the backup for the Week 18 contest, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Burrow (knee/finger) said he's healthy enough to play but nonetheless will be rested as the Bengals look to preserve his health ahead of the playoffs. Allen didn't show much in five starts last season in place of an injured Burrow, throwing for only 925 yards and five touchdowns. He would theoretically have a better group of pass catchers to work with this time around, if not for the possibility of the Bengals resting other key skill-position players besides Burrow. Of course, there's also some chance the Browns will be missing a number of key players, with quarterback Baker Mayfield (shoulder) having already been placed on injured reserve and a slew of others missing Wednesday's practice. Allen and Cleveland's Case Keenum are expected to be the starting signal-callers.

The Browns placed Mayfield on injured reserve Wednesday.

Mayfield's move to IR was fully expected, as head coach Kevin Stefanski had already ruled out the signal-caller for Sunday's season finale against the Bengals. In a corresponding move, Nick Mullens was added to Cleveland's active roster from the practice squad to serve as the backup to fill-in starter Case Keenum in Week 18. Mayfield is soon expected to undergo surgery to address the torn labrum in his left shoulder, an injury he had been playing through since Week 2.