NFL Player News

Coach Bruce Arians said that Winston (thumb) will play in Sunday's game against the Lions, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports. "He threw fine [Friday]," Arians said. "He'll be ready to go."

Winston was held out of practice Wednesday and only threw tennis balls Thursday, but he apparently threw footballs Friday without suffering any setbacks with his fractured right thumb. He thus is on track to make the Week 15 start against a porous Detroit defense, though it's unclear whether he'll enter the contest with a questionable listing or avoid a designation entirely.

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

Jones returned to practice Wednesday as a limited participant, but he never seemed to have much chance at avoiding a second straight absence. Eli Manning will draw another start, while Jones will aim to return to action Week 16 at Washington.

Winston (thumb) was spotted throwing passes at Friday's practice, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports.

Winston was limited to throwing tennis balls at Thursday's practice while working through a fractured right thumb, but the Buccaneers cleared him to use a football in the final session of Week 15. Winston's status for Sunday's game against the Lions is still uncertain, however, and it's possible a final call on his availability isn't made until game day. Ryan Griffin is the next man up on the depth chart at quarterback.

Darnold completed 18 of 32 passes for 218 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in the Jets' 42-21 loss to the Ravens on Thursday. He also rushed once for 11 yards and lost a fumble.

Darnold put together a serviceable fantasy night while playing under less-than-ideal circumstances against an aggressive Ravens defense. The second-year quarterback's two turnovers certainly didn't help the Jets' cause in a game in which they already faced long odds, but from a fantasy perspective, Darnold's fourth multi-touchdown effort over the last five games certainly had to please managers who rostered him in their playoff contests. Darnold will look to continue putting together a strong finish to his sophomore campaign in a Week 16 battle against the Steelers a week from Sunday.

Jackson (quadriceps) completed 15 of 23 passes for 212 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions in the Ravens' 42-21 win over the Jets on Thursday. He also rushed eight times for 86 yards -- breaking Michael Vick's single-season rushing record for a quarterback in the process -- and committed a fumble but recovered.

Jackson couldn't have drawn up a better script for his milestone night, as he also tied his career high with his five touchdown tosses in addition to surpassing Vick for the rushing mark. Just as impressive was the fact all five of Jackson's scoring throws went to different pass catchers -- Miles Boykin (five yards), Mark Andrews (one yard), Marquise Brown (24 yards), Seth Roberts (33 yards) and Mark Ingram (10 yards). Jackson has now thrown five touchdown passes on three separate occasions in what has been a stellar sophomore campaign, while his rushing tally Thursday pushed his season total to an eye-popping 1,103 yards on the ground. Jackson lines up for another start a week from Sunday in a Week 16 divisional matchup versus the Browns, but Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported earlier Thursday that Robert Griffin III, who saw action late against the Jets, is expected to start Week 17 versus the Steelers if Baltimore has locked up its playoff seeding by that point.

Jackson (quadriceps) is listed as active Thursday against the Jets.

The Ravens listed Jackson as a limited practice participant Monday and Tuesday before upgrading him to full participation Wednesday. The quarterback was never in danger of missing Thursday's game, but it's possible his quad injury inspires a game plan with fewer designed runs for the quarterback. Even so, Jackson is well positioned for another productive outing with the Ravens heavily favored to win.

Winston (thumb/knee) was a limited practice participant Thursday, Carmen Vitali of the Buccaneers' official website reports.

Spotted with a cast over his fractured right thumb the day prior, Winston progressed to throwing tennis balls during Thursday's session. The Bucs intend for him to throw footballs Friday, at which point the team should have a better read on Winston's availability for Sunday at Detroit. Reports at the beginning of the week said he would play through the injury, but a cautious approach to practice suggests it's no sure thing. Ryan Griffin is next up at quarterback if Winston isn't cleared to make the Week 15 start.

Jones (ankle) remained limited at practice Thursday, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

Per Ralph Vacchiano of SportsNet New York, Eli Manning seems likely to draw another start at QB on Sunday against the Dolphins, but the Giants are not yet ready to dismiss the possibility that Jones could be medically cleared in advance of the contest. Look for added clarity on that front no later than Friday, when the team's final Week 15 injury report is issued.

Winston (right thumb/knee) has yet to resume throwing a football, but he was spotted doing so with a tennis ball at Thursday's practice, Jenna Laine of ESPN.com reports.

That represents an upgrade from Wednesday, when Winston was restricted to simulated throws in practice. Laine adds that come Friday, the QB should progress to working with a football, "unless (the Buccaneers) wait to do that Saturday before they head to Detroit." At this stage, Winston appears to be trending in the right direction as Sunday's game against the Lions approaches, with added clarity on that front hopefully on tap after Friday's practice.

Stafford (hip/back) didn't take part in Wednesday's walk-through practice.

Stafford hasn't played or practiced since he was diagnosed with multiple fractures in his back prior to a Week 10 game in Chicago. A week ago, Stafford told Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press that the injury is healing "as it should," and he expects to suit up when he's cleared to do so, whether it's in one of the final three games of this season or in 2020. While Stafford remains embedded in rehab, the Lions will roll with David Blough under center, with Kyle Sloter the backup quarterback due to Jeff Driskel's (hamstring) presence on injured reserve.