NFL Player News

Stafford completed 20 of 29 passes for 323 yards and three touchdowns during Sunday's 35-11 victory over Green Bay. He also caught a two-point conversion while rushing twice for two yards.

Stafford capped off another statistically-strong season in Detroit by putting together one of his most masterful games in recent memory, as his 140.4 passer rating was his highest mark since 2015. The Georgia product ended the campaign in style, too, sneaking behind the Packers defense to catch a two-point conversion on a trick play in the fourth quarter. Stafford will now finish the season with a fantastic stat line that includes 4,446 yards passing, a 65.5 completion percentage, 7.9 YPA mark and 29:10 TD:INT ratio -- while being sacked 47 times, the second-highest total in the league. He'll now proceed into the second year of the massive extension he signed last summer expecting to have the same underrated but potent nucleus of wideouts back at his disposal -- one that includes a pair of 1,000-yard receivers in Golden Tate and Marvin Jones, along with an ascending deep threat in 2017 third-rounder Kenny Golladay. If the Lions can finally find an answer at the running back position this offseason, Stafford could realistically improve upon his 2018 numbers if opposing defenses are forced to station more players closer to the line of scrimmage. However, it's possible the Lions move on from head coach Jim Caldwell this offseason, which could signal the start of an adjustment period for the entire team.

Dobbs was active but did not take the field in Sunday's win over the Browns.

Selected in the fourth round (135th overall pick) of the 2017 draft, Dobbs never took an offensive snap this season, with Ben Roethlisberger throwing all but two of Pittsburgh's 563 passes entering Week 17. Landry Jones got the start in the season finale, but has been unimpressive in his career. Roethlisberger has hinted about retiring in the recent past, which could create an opportunity for Dobbs. Should Big Ben return for the 2018 season, Dobbs would likely compete with Jones for the backup job.

Trubisky completed 20 of 36 passes for 178 yards while adding two yards on one rushing attempt in the Bears Week 17 loss to the Vikings, finishing his rookie season with 2193 passing yards to go with seven touchdowns and seven interceptions in 12 games.

Trubisky also added 248 yards and two touchdowns as a rusher during his rookie campaign. Working with one of the weakest wide receiver groups in the NFL, the coaching staff typically implemented conservative weekly game plans to keep their franchise quarterback from having too much on his plate, which limited both his upside and downside as a fantasy performer. With Cameron Meredith expected to make a full recovery for the 2018 season, he'll immediately have at least one outstanding weapon at receiver, and with another off-season to continue his development, he could find himself with a chance to become a borderline starting fantasy option as he enters the second season of his four-year rookie deal.

Cousins completed 20 of 37 pass attempts for 158 yards and three interceptions during Sunday's 18-10 loss to the Giants. He also scored a 12-yard touchdown on his lone carry of the game.

Cousins just 54 percent of his passes and threw three interceptions for the first time this season, including one in his own end on the first possession that led to a Giants touchdown. He was enjoying a tremendous campaign as recently as Wee 12 but finished with just two games over 200 passing yards and an 8:8 touchdown-turnover ratio over his final five contests. While he enjoyed a career year in 2016, Cousins regressed dramatically in terms of yardage this season and slightly so in terms of turnovers. He'll now become a free agent once again, and it remains to be seen if Washington wishes to sign him to a big contract, apply the franchise tag once again or explore other options under center.

Goff, who is active for Sunday's contest at Philadelphia, isn't expected to see the field, Kristen Lago of the Rams' official site reports.

Teams are limited to placing a maximum of seven players on inactive lists, so the Rams deactivated absolute certainties like Todd Gurley, Aaron Donald and Andrew Whitworth. Nonetheless, head coach Sean McVay will hand backup QB Sean Mannion the keys to the offense Week 17, meaning Goff will be toting a clipboard for the entirety of this contest.

Smith (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Redskins.

As expected, Smith has yielded backup duty to Davis Webb, but interim head coach Steve Spagnuolo was noncommittal during the week about an appearance for the rookie signal caller. No matter how the QB situation plays out Week 17, Smith may have played his last snap for any squad based in New York City due to his status as a unrestricted free agent in the offseason.

Sudfeld is expected to make his NFL debut Sunday against the Cowboys, Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The Eagles, who have locked up home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs, have little to play for in Week 17 other than staying sharp heading into the postseason. With that in mind, head coach Doug Pederson wants starting quarterback Nick Foles, who has started the last two games after Carson Wentz (knee) suffered a season-ending injury, to play about one quarter before Sudfeld enters the game. The lack of a full four quarters -- in addition to his inexperience at the NFL level -- renders Sudfeld little more than a fantasy dart.

Heinicke (concussion) was a full participant at the Texans' practice Thursday.

Heinicke was unable to return to Monday's loss to the Steelers after sustaining the concussion and was a limited participant at practice Wednesday. The full session hardly means the 24-year-old has cleared the concussion protocol, however, and Friday's practice should provide clarity to the situation.

Heinicke (concussion) was a limited participant in practice Wednesday.

Heinicke sustained a concussion during Monday's loss to the Steelers while starting signal caller T.J. Yates was being evaluated for a head injury of his own. While Yates was cleared to return to the game, Heinicke was not. The Texans expressed concern over the latter's availability for Sunday's season finale by bringing back quarterback Josh Johnson, who spent time with the Texans in November.

Goff will be held out for Sunday's regular-season finale against the 49ers, Rich Hammond of the Los Angeles Daily News reports.

Rams head coach Sean McVay suggested as much Tuesday and confirmed it Wednesday, also ruling out running back Todd Gurley, left tackle Andrew Whitworth, center John Sullivan and defensive tackle Aaron Donald. The reality of 53-man rosters is that it's nearly impossible to rest each of the 22 starters, but it won't come as any surprise if others players are either held out or extremely limited. Prime candidates include wideouts Robert Woods, Sammy Watkins and Cooper Kupp (knee), along with linebackers Alec Ogletree, Mark Barron and Robert Quinn. Sean Mannion will start at quarterback, with Malcolm Brown likely replacing Gurley as the lead runner.