NFL Player News

While it's unlikely Stafford (back/hip) will play again in 2019, his fractured back is healing "as it should" and the injury is not a long-term concern, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports. "It's something that was kind of a freak deal that happened and obviously got to take it in stride and listen to the doctors, my body, coaches, everybody, kind of figure out what's best," Stafford said Wednesday.

Head coach Matt Patricia said earlier this week that Stafford hasn't been placed on injured reserve "out of respect for Matthew and his competitiveness," but it seems unlikely the franchise QB will return to action this season given Stafford's history with back injuries and the fact the Lions have already fallen out of playoff contention. David Blough therefore seems likely to continue on as Detroit's interim signal caller and it will be hard to trust any of the Lions skill players to consistently produce down the stretch.

The Giants have ruled Jones (ankle) out for Monday's contest against the Eagles, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports.

Per Art Stapleton of The Bergen Record, Jones is no longer wearing a walking boot over his sprained ankle, but his inability to participate in practice this week ended any hope he had of suiting up Monday. As a result, Eli Manning will take over behind center, though the Giants are hopeful that Jones will be ready to return to action at some point over the team's final three games of the season.

Prescott suffered a sprained left hand and an injury to the right index finger on his right hand during Thursday's 31-24 loss at Chicago, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Prescott had a season-low completion percentage (55.1) Thursday, but by sheer volume he accounted for 334 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions on his 49 official throws. He also didn't fumble, so awry passes were the only indication that he may have been dealing with an injury (or injuries). Coach Jason Garrett expects Prescott to be available for the Cowboys' next game Sunday, Dec. 15 versus the Rams, but the quarterback's practice reps will be interesting to watch in the interim.

Stafford (back/hip) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against Minnesota, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.

Stafford still hasn't returned to practice but hopes to avoid injured reserve. His hip injury is believed to be far less of an issue than the fractures in his back. David Blough will get the Week 14 start.

Coach Freddie Kitchens said after Friday's practice that Mayfield likely won't require a wrap or a glove to protect his bruised right hand in this weekend's game against the Bengals, Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal reports.

Mayfield opened the week as a limited participant in practice while tending to rib and hand injuries, the latter of which prevented him from throwing Wednesday. The signal-caller was back on the field in full capacity Thursday and Friday, however, performing all of his normal throwing drills without any apparent complications. He'll now look to bounce back from a poor showing last weekend in Pittsburgh, where he completed just 18 of 32 attempts for 196 yards, a touchdown and an interception to go with a lost fumble in Cleveland's 20-13 loss.

Coach Pat Shurmur said that Jones (ankle) won't practice Friday and added that quarterback is "very likely to miss" Monday's game against the Eagles.

Jones' status for the game has been in doubt since Wednesday, and Shurmur's comments ahead of the Giants' penultimate practice of the week increase the likelihood the rookie will be sidelined in Philadelphia. Eli Manning is in line to see his first action under center since Week 2 with Jones on track to sit out.

Prescott completed 27 of 49 passes for 334 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions in the Cowboys' 31-24 loss to the Bears on Thursday. He also rushed three times for one yard.

Prescott once again satisfied fantasy managers with his performance, but as has increasingly been the case lately, his aesthetically pleasing numbers came attached to a loss. The fourth-year quarterback connected with Amari Cooper from 19 yards out for his one touchdown pass, while exceeding the 300-yard threshold for the second consecutive game and fourth time in the last five overall. The Cowboys' playoff hopes remain alive due to the overall mediocrity of the NFC East, and Prescott will look to snap a three-game losing streak versus the Rams in a Week 15 matchup a week from Sunday.

Trubisky completed 23 of 31 passes for 244 yards with three touchdowns and one interception in the Bears' 31-24 win over the Cowboys on Thursday. He also rushed 10 times for 63 yards and another score.

It may have taken about three-quarters of the season, but Trubisky is finally playing like many had expected the mobile signal-caller to in his second year in coach Matt Nagy's offense. The third-year pro turned in his third consecutive impressive performance and did so against a defense that had consistently limited production for opposing air attacks. Trubisky connected with Allen Robinson on touchdown passes of five and eight yards in the second quarter, and he was responsible for two more scores in the second half courtesy of a 14-yard toss to Anthony Miller and a nifty 23-yard scoring scamper of his own. Now boasting nine total touchdowns over his last three contests, Trubisky will look to keep Chicago's postseason hopes alive once again in a Week 15 showdown against the Packers a week from Sunday.

Mayfield (right hand/ribs) practiced fully Thursday, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Per Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal, coach Freddie Kitchens indicated Thursday that Mayfield will be fine for Sunday's game against the Bengals, adding that the QB didn't throw Wednesday because he rested his hand, with his listed rib injury not a factor on that front. Mayfield is thus on track to take aim this weekend at an 1-11 Cincinnati squad, fresh off its only win of the season, a 22-6 triumph over the Jets in Week 13.

Stafford (back/hip) was a non-participant in Thursday's practice.

Though he's listed with two injuries on the Lions' official report, the multiple fractured bones in Stafford's back remain his primary concern at this juncture. Stafford hasn't given up hope on playing again this season, but he'll almost certainly be in store for a fifth straight absence Week 14 in Minnesota. David Blough will work as the Lions' starting quarterback until Stafford is deemed ready to reclaim those duties.