NFL Player News

Mariota was forced out of Saturday's game against the Jaguars with an ankle injury.

Mariota, who completed eight of 20 passes for 99 yards and a TD prior to suffering his injury, was replaced by veteran QB Matt Cassel. Mariota was carted off the field with an air cast on his right ankle, so this has the look of an injury that could sidelined the QB beyond Saturday.

Keenum is inactive for Saturday's contest versus the 49ers, Myles Simmons of the Rams' official site reports.

With a losing record assured and former head honcho Jeff Fisher out of the picture, there are no illusions remaining for the Rams in their debut season in Los Angeles. Keenum is this expendable on game day with the future in mind, allowing the QB depth chart to be headed be a rookie (Jared Goff) and second-year pro (Sean Mannion).

Petty was forced out of Saturday's game against the Patriots in the first half with a left shoulder injury.

With Petty having headed to the team's locker room to be checked out, Ryan Fitzpatrick took over at QB for the Jets on Saturday.

Tannehill (knee) is officially inactive for Saturday's Week 16 tilt versus the Bills, the team's official site reports.

The designation is a mere formality, as Tannehill had already been declared out, with a return date this season still far from a certainty. Matt Moore will once again line up behind center in a pivotal matchup for the Dolphins.

Prescott and the other Cowboys starters will be in the lineup for the final two games of the regular season despite the fact the Cowboys have already clinched the No. 1 seed in the NFC, The Ft. Worth Star-Telegram reports.

Both coach Jason Garrett and owner/GM Jerry Jones indicated this week that Dallas would stick to business as usual despite having no team goals left to play for. Prescott could lose some snaps in the second half of one or both games though, if the team decides to get Tony Romo and/or Mark Sanchez some game action to shake off any rust prior to the playoffs, just in case they are needed in an emergency.

Rodgers (calf) does not have an injury designation in advance of Saturday's game against the Vikings.

Rodgers was a full participant during each day of practice this week, seemingly putting his calf issue behind him. With no question regarding his status, Rodgers can be locked into lineups ahead of Saturday's matchup, when he'll look to build on his 10 touchdowns and no interceptions over Green Bay's past five outings.

Goff received clearance from the concussion protocol Thursday and will be the Rams' starting quarterback Saturday against the 49ers, Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times reports.

The announcement from interim head coach John Fassel was more or less expected due to Goff's listing as a full participant on the Rams' past two injury reports. Directing the offense for a sixth consecutive game, Goff will be followed on the depth chart by Sean Mannion rather than veteran Case Keenum in the final two outings of the regular season, per Fassel. Although Goff has managed just four touchdowns versus five interceptions to date, his upcoming opponent, the 49ers, has conceded multiple touchdown passes in 10 of 14 games this season, improving his potential slightly from previous matchups.

Goff (concussion) was listed as a full participant on the Rams' estimated injury report Wednesday, Myles Simmons of the team's official site reports.

If practice had been held Wednesday, Goff would have taken part without restrictions for the second consecutive day. The rookie quarterback is thus on the brink of clearing the concussion protocol, with only the approval of an independent neurologist to come. Having said that, Goff could receive the all-clear for Saturday's game against the 49ers as early as Thursday.

Rodgers (calf) practiced fully Wednesday, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports.

Rodgers didn't require a single practice rep last week in order to direct the Packers' offense with his normal amount of aplomb Sunday in Chicago. In particular, he displayed his arm strength on the game-winning drive, hooking up with Jordy Nelson on a pass that traveled more than 60 yards through the air in temperatures hovering around zero degrees Fahrenheit. Head coach Mike McCarthy relayed Monday that Rodgers emerged from Sunday's game feeling better than he did heading into the weekend, and the signal-caller backed up McCarthy's assessment by handling every snap in Wednesday's session. With no doubts surrounding his upcoming availability, he'll attempt to strike Saturday versus a Vikings defense that has allowed multiple touchdown throws in four of the last seven outings.

The Patriots have activated Brissett (thumb) from IR.

Brissett, who was placed on IR on Oct. 7, returns to the team's depth QB mix, where he'll slot behind starter Tom Brady and No. 2 signal-caller Jimmy Garoppolo. Prior to landing on IR, Brissett played in three games and started two of them in the wake of Brady's suspension to open the season and a shoulder injury that Garoppolo sustained in Week 2.