NFL Player News

Rodgers (toe) returned to practice Friday as a limited participant and doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Vikings.

Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com notes that Rodgers' practice participation is a sign of progress, following back-to-back weeks with nothing but absences. The veteran quarterback seems to have avoided further aggravations of his toe injury since Week 14, and he's the frontrunner for NFL MVP after tossing 16 touchdowns (and zero interceptions) over the past five games. Four of those were Green Bay wins, with the exception being Week 11 at Minnesota when Rodgers' 385 passing yards and four touchdowns weren't quite enough to get the job done. A similar stat line Sunday night should do the trick, however, with the Packers playing at home against Sean Mannion, who is filling in for regular starting quarterback Kirk Cousins (reserve/COVID-19 list).

Boyle is expected to receive his second straight start Sunday against the Seahawks after head coach Dan Campbell acknowledged that Jared Goff (knee) is doubtful to be available to play, Justin Rogers of The Detroit News reports.

While Goff was on the reserve/COVID-19 list last week after testing positive for the virus, Boyle picked up his second start of the season and of his career. Boyle fared far better last week in the Lions' 20-16 loss to Atlanta than he did in his Detroit debut Week 11 in Cleveland, completing 24 of his first 33 attempts for 187 yards and a touchdown before throwing a game-ending interception at the goal line in the final minute. Though Goff was restored from the list Monday and was expected to take back the reins of the Detroit offense this week, he was unable to practice Wednesday through Friday while he remained troubled by the knee injury he suffered late in the first half of the Lions' Week 15 win over Arizona. Boyle was thus able to take all the first-team reps in practice to keep himself prepared for the assignment, but he may have to make do without his starting tight end (Brock Wright) and two starting receivers (Josh Reynolds and Kalif Raymond). All three pass catchers were placed on the COVID-19 list between Monday and Thursday and aren't guaranteed to be cleared prior to Sunday's game.

Hurts (ankle) was a full practice participant Thursday and Friday and doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game at Washington.

Hurts has scaled back his practice workload since returning from the ankle injury, but that hasn't stopped him from scoring five total touchdowns in two straight wins, including a 27-17 win over Washington in Week 15. He'll be on the road for a rematch two weeks later, with Philadelphia again having the advantage in terms of injury/COVID-19-related absences, though not quite to the same extent as last time.

Fields (ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Giants, but he's unlikely to be available after head coach Matt Nagy said Andy Dalton will start the contest and Nick Foles will serve as the No. 2 quarterback, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Fields was a limited participant in all three of the Bears' practices this week, but the rookie apparently didn't demonstrate enough progress to make Nagy feel comfortable with having him start. Look for Fields to be included on the Bears' Week 17 inactive list for the second straight week, allowing Dalton to claim the starting job from Foles as he returns from a one-game absence due to a fractured non-throwing hand. According to Biggs, Nagy said Fields is "going to do everything he can to get back next week," which seems to suggest the Bears aren't planning on shutting him down for the Jan. 9 season finale in Minnesota.

Dalton will start Sunday's game against the Giants, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Justin Fields (ankle) is listed as questionable, but coach Matt Nagy said Nick Foles will serve as the No. 2 quarterback Sunday. While it's possible the plan changes for the season finale, Nagy did say earlier this week that Fields would need to be "extremely healthy" in order to play. Chicago's offense is otherwise in good shape from a health standpoint, while the Giants have two or three potential injury/virus absences on the defensive line, plus CB Adoree' Jackson (quad/illness) listed as questionable.

Coach John Harbaugh noted Friday that Jackson (ankle) "has a chance to play on Sunday (against the Rams), we'll have to see."

Harbaugh's words imply that Jackson, who didn't practice Thursday or Friday, is likely to be listed as questionable on the Ravens' final Week 17 injury report. If Jackson is unable to play this weekend, however, Tyler Huntley is available to fill in at QB now that he's off the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Jackson (ankle) wasn't spotted at Friday's practice, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports.

While it remains to be seen how the Ravens will officially list Jackson on Friday's final injury report, Zrebiec suggests that at this stage Tyler Huntley seems likely to start at QB for Baltimore against the Rams on Sunday.

Minnesota placed Cousins on the reserve/COVID-19 list Friday.

As Adam Schefter of ESPN reported earlier Friday, Cousins tested positive for the virus and thus will be subject to an automatic five-day isolation period before he's eligible to rejoin the Vikings if asymptomatic. Cousins' move to the reserve/COVID-19 list officially rules him out for Sunday night's matchup with the Packers and paves the way for Sean Mannion -- who was activated from the list Friday -- to pick up his first start as a member of the Vikings. Kellen Mond and Kyle Sloter are on hand as depth options behind Mannion. Assuming Cousins isn't dealing with any overly severe symptoms while in quarantine, he could be ready to rejoin Minnesota and reclaim the starting role for the regular-season finale Sunday, Jan. 9 versus Chicago.

Cousins tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday and will be unavailable for Sunday's game against the Packers because he's unvaccinated, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Even with the updated league protocols that include a reduced quarantine period for positive test results, Cousins -- who is in line to land on the reserve/COVID-19 list -- will be out for Sunday's divisional matchup. It's a tough blow for the Vikings, who are one game behind the 49ers and Eagles for the final two playoff spots in the NFC. Kellen Mond and Kyle Sloter currently are the quarterbacks available on Minnesota's roster for this weekend, unless Sean Mannion (illness) is able to return from the COVID-19 list.

Coach Dan Campbell said Friday that Goff (knee) is "doubtful" to play Sunday against the Seahawks, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Goff has been unable to practice this week due to the knee issue after missing last week's loss to the Falcons while on the reserve/COVID-19 list. The 27-year-old's outlook will be updated later Friday when the Lions release their official injury report for Week 17, but it appears Tim Boyle is poised to make his second straight start under center this weekend.