NFL Player News

Mayfield (reserve/COVID-19 list) and the Browns will reportedly no longer play the Raiders on Saturday, with the NFL expected to reschedule the game for Monday at 5 p.m. ET, pending official confirmation, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Due to ongoing COVID-19-related issues within the Cleveland organization, the NFL is hopeful that by delaying the game two days, the Browns will restore enough players from the reserve/COVID-19 list to alleviate depth concerns on the roster. Even with the delay, Mayfield, who was placed on the list Wednesday as the result of a positive test, isn't a safe bet to clear the necessary protocols ahead of Monday's game. Neither is top backup Case Keenum after testing positive for the virus Thursday, so the Browns could turn to practice-squad call-up Nick Mullens to make a spot start in the event Mayfield and Keenum aren't available.

Jones (neck) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against Dallas, Art Stapleton of The Bergen Record reports.

Jones continues to log limited practices but still doesn't have medical clearance to play in a game or take contact. Mike Glennon will make another start for the Giants this Sunday, with Jones hoping to return for Week 16 against the Eagles.

Hurts (ankle) was a full practice participant Friday but will be listed as questionable for Sunday's game against Washington, Jimmy Kempski of PhillyVoice.com reports.

It sounds like the upgrade in practice participation won't necessarily equate to active status come Sunday, with Eagles coach Nick Sirianni essentially leaving it up in the air when he talked with the media Friday afternoon. Hurts has clearly made progress, but the team can afford to be cautious given that Gardner Minshew is one of the better backup QBs in the league and would be facing a thinned-out Washington team that's dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak.

Barkley was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Friday after testing positive for the virus, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Barkley has been serving as Carolina's No. 3 quarterback since Cam Newton was brought in, but Barkley likely will be unavailable for Sunday's matchup with the Bills. Barkley's absence shouldn't affect the Panthers' game plan if Newton and P.J. Walker remain clear of the protocols.

Jackson (ankle) didn't participate at Friday's walk-through practice, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports.

With Jackson not practicing for the third consecutive day, his availability for Sunday's matchup with the Packers isn't looking promising. Head coach John Harbaugh labeled the 24-year-old "day-to-day" earlier this week, but added clarity on Jackson's status won't come until later Friday, when Baltimore releases its final Week 15 injury report. Tyler Huntley is poised to start under center if Jackson is unable to play Sunday.

Bills head coach Sean McDermott said Friday that Allen (toe) will practice fully Friday and is expected to start this Sunday against the Panthers, Chris Jenkins of the Bills' official site reports.

Allen injured his toe in the second half of Sunday's overtime loss to Tampa Bay, but his expected return to full participation in practice bodes well for his chances of not only suiting up Sunday, but also entering the weekend without a designation. The Bills' final Week 15 injury report will be released later Friday and will reveal whether Allen avoids the questionable tag. Even in a losing effort, Allen made NFL history last week, when he became one of three players in league annals to throw for 300 yards, run for 100 and throw multiple touchdown passes in a game.

Heinicke will be placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Friday after testing positive for the virus and is unlikely to be available for Sunday's game against the Eagles, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Heinicke joins backup quarterback Kyle Allen in the COVID-19 protocols. According to John Keim of ESPN.com, Heinicke is vaccinated and therefore has a chance to test out of the protocols before Sunday, though that's viewed as a long shot. Since Allen is also vaccinated and landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday, he would have a more realistic chance of gaining clearance for the Week 15 matchup. If neither Heinicke nor Allen can play, however, Washington will likely turn to either practice squad signal-caller Kyle Shurmur or the newly signed Garrett Gilbert -- whom the team added from New England's practice squad -- to step in as the Football Team's starter this week.

Herbert completed 22 of 38 passes for 236 yards and two touchdowns to go along with one interception in Thursday's 34-28 overtime loss to the Chiefs. He also carried the ball five times for 16 yards and another score.

The Chargers offense wasn't particularly explosive, but fantasy managers certainly have to be happy with the outcome regardless. Despite Herbert tallying three total touchdowns for the fourth time in the last five games, the biggest story will be the missed opportunities as the Chargers dropped sure-fire touchdown passes on two separate first-half drives, not to mention a slightly overthrown deep pass to Keenan Allen on the team's final possession which could have dramatically altered the contest. With a playoff spot still in full view, expect the Chargers and Herbert to pull no punches in Week 16's matchup against the hapless Texans.

Mahomes completed 31 of 47 passes for 410 yards with three touchdowns and one interception in the Chiefs' 34-28 overtime win over the Chargers on Thursday night. He also rushed three times for 32 yards and lost a fumble.

Mahomes completed all three of his scoring throws in the fourth quarter and overtime, the last a 34-yard game-winner to Travis Kelce to cap off an OT-opening five-play drive. The 2018 NFL MVP's passing yardage total was also a season high, and perhaps most encouraging for fantasy managers, his prolific connections with Kelce and Tyreek Hill were alive and well to the tune of 22 completions for 339 yards and three total touchdowns. The performance was an especially timely one for Mahomes considering the context of the fantasy playoffs, especially when factoring in he'd disappointed in multiple games since Week 6. The stellar all-around night gives Mahomes plenty of momentum heading into a Week 16 home matchup against the Steelers a week from Sunday.

Dalton (hand) did not practice Thursday ahead of the Bears' Monday night contest against the Vikings.

The quarterback came into the week with the expectation that he'd be available for Monday's game, but his inability to participate Thursday complicates the situation a little. Dalton will still have three more days to prove his health prior to the matchup with the Vikings and slot back in as the backup to Justin Fields.