NFL Player News

General manager Ryan Pace said Tuesday that the Bears will proceed with Trubisky (shoulder) as their starting quarterback entering 2020, Rich Campbell of the Chicago Tribune reports.

While Pace's comments seem positive enough for Trubisky's standing in the organization coming off a tough season, the GM wasn't willing to commit to the Bears picking up the estimated $20-plus-million fifth-year option on the quarterback's rookie contract, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. As Biggs notes, the Bears likely wouldn't keep Trubisky in the fold as a lame-duck starter for the upcoming season if they decline his 2021 option, so their decision on that front this spring will prove more telling for their plans for the 25-year-old. Trubisky completed a respectable 63.2 percent of his passes in 2019, but his career-low 6.1 yards per attempt made the Chicago offense one of the NFL's least-productive units. Per Jeff Dickerson of ESPN.com, Pace also relayed that Trubisky may need to undergo surgery on his left (non-throwing) shoulder to address a partially torn labrum during the offseason, but any procedure wouldn't impact his availability for training camp.

McCoy did not return to Washington with the team after Sunday's 47-16 loss in Dallas, Michael Phillips of Richmond Times-Dispatch reports.

This may just be a matter of convenience for a player with roots in Texas, but it could also be taken as a sign that McCoy either plans to retire or will join a new team for 2020. The 33-year-old made his lone appearance of 2019 in a 33-7 loss to the Patriots back in Week 5, completing 18 of 27 passes for 122 yards, with no touchdowns, an interception and six sacks. McCoy's contract will expire at the start of the new league year unless he signs an extension beforehand. His overall track record hints at a competent No. 2 quarterback, though his three starts within the past five years were somewhat less promising.

Watson dressed but did not play in Sunday's 35-14 loss to the Titans.

By the time the Texans kicked off Sunday, they knew their playoff fate, so head coach Bill O'Brien took it easy on several skill position players. Locked in as the No. 4 seed in the AFC, O'Brien started backup quarterback AJ MCarron and let him play the entire game. Watson, who was nursing a back injury while preparing for Week 17, is expected to start Houston's wild-card game Saturday against the Bills, who ranked fourth in passing defense during the regular season.

White signed a reserve/future contract with the Jets on Monday, Ethan Greenberg of the team's official site reports.

White signed with the Jets' practice squad in September after being selected in the fifth-round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Cowboys. White threw for 61 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in 27 games for the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers while completing 66.4% of his passes.

Murray concluded his rookie season completing 64.4 percent of his passes for 3,722 yards, 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while turning 93 carries into 544 yards and four more TDs in 16 games.

With such a stat line, Murray joined Cam Newton from 2011 as the only rookie signal-callers to surpass 3,500 yards through the air and 500 yards as a rusher. Murray also had eight contests with two or more passing touchdowns, five 300-yard performances and a streak of 211 passes in a row without an interception. The skill positions for the Cardinals may experience a change in 2020, as veteran wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and midseason acquisition Kenyan Drake are unrestricted free agents. However, considering the foundation Murray has laid to kick off his career, he'll be trending up in advance of his sophomore season with coach Kliff Kingsbury at the controls of the offense.

Rypien signed a reserve/future contract with the Broncos on Monday, Mike Klis of 9News Denver reports.

The 23-year-old spent most of November on the 53-man roster but was waived and rejoined the practice squad once Drew Locke (thumb) came off injured reserve. Joe Flacco's return from a neck injury isn't guaranteed, which could leave Rypien and Brandon Allen to fight for the backup job behind Locke.

Stafford (back/hip) said Monday that he'll be back to full health for the start of the Lions' offseason program in April, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports.

Stafford was sidelined for the Lions' final eight games of the season after fracturing multiple bones in his back in a Nov. 3 loss to the Raiders. The quarterback said he's "pretty close to being back to normal" and won't require offseason surgery for his back or a lingering hip issue, putting him on pace to enter the 2020 campaign with few restrictions. Prior to getting shut down, the 31-year-old looked on his way to turning in the best season of his career, as he completed 64.3 percent of his passes for 8.6 yards per attempt and a 19:5 TD:INT through his eight starts.

Jackson has the flu, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports.

It doesn't seem to be a serious case, considering Jackson was on the sideline for most of Sunday's 28-10 win over the Steelers. He and a few other key players were held out of the regular-season finale, with Baltimore preparing for a divisional-round playoff matchup against the Texans, Bills or Titans on Jan. 11. Coach John Harbaugh expects Jackson to participate in practice Tuesday, per Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com.

Coach Bruce Arians said Monday that a decision on Winston's status with the organization heading into the 2020 season will likely be made within the next couple of weeks, though the Buccaneers aren't expected to publicly announce their plans for the quarterback until March, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

After completing his first year on the job for Tampa Bay, Arians didn't exactly offer up a ringing endorsement for Winston, who became the first player in NFL history to throw for 30 touchdowns and 30 interceptions in a season. According to Stroud, Arians told the media that Winston is "bright" and "hard working," but on the other hand noted the Buccaneers also could win with another quarterback. With Tampa Bay expected to make inking wideout Chris Godwin to an extension a priority this offseason, Winston -- if retained -- would be a more logical choice for the Bucs' franchise tag rather than a candidate to re-sign on a long-term deal. If the organization determines Winston isn't the answer for 2020, expect the team to turn its attention to the trade market or free agency for a starting quarterback and/or address the position with the No. 14 overall pick in April's draft.

Grier (foot) is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Monday, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.

Offensive coordinator Scott Turner noted that Grier isn't believed to have fractured his left foot in Sunday's 42-10 loss to the Saints, but the rookie signal-caller will don a walking boot as a precaution for now. The MRI should provide clarity on the extent of his injury and allow the Panthers to put an estimated timeline on his return to activity. Grier started the final two games for the Panthers but looked far from NFL ready, completing 28 of 52 attempts (53.8 percent) for 228 yards, zero touchdowns and four interceptions.