NFL Player News

Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie indicated that his team's franchise quarterback is not currently on the roster. He all but dismissed Terrelle Pryor and Matt McGloin, who both failed to assume control of the position in 2013.

"We've got two young players who played this year (and) from an experience standpoint there wasn't any, so neither of them stepped up and said, 'I'm the frachise quarterback,'" he told ESPN. "So absolutely, we're going to always continue to upgrade and find that guy. Now how we find them, we'll figure that out in the next few months."

The Raiders own the No. 5 pick in the 2014 draft, but top three college quarterbacks Teddy Bridgewater, Johnny Manziel and Blake Bortles could be off the board by the time they select. That leads to speculation that the Raiders are open to trading up to get their quarterback.

The Seahawks play the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday, and quarterback Russell Wilson is in need of a big game in this matchup. Based on his recent level of play, it might not happen against San Francisco's defense.

Wilson has struggled of late, and he could have another tough week against the 49ers defense. From Week 14 through the Divisional round of the playoffs he is averaging just 11.2 Fantasy points, and he hit a new low last week against the Saints with just five points.

Wilson struggled against the 49ers in both meetings this year with 12 Fantasy points in Week 2 and 11 points in Week 14. He was awesome against San Francisco at home in 2012 with a four-touchdown performance, but he's been held under 200 passing yards in four career meetings with an interception in each outing.

The 49ers also come into this game having held Aaron Rodgers and Cam Newton to a combined 31 Fantasy points the past two games, and it's hard to trust Wilson right now in any Playoff Challenge league.

Eagles rookie Matt Barkley threw zero touchdowns and committed five turnovers in three games. But coach Chip Kelly remains high on Barkley, who figures to be the No. 2 quarterback if Michael Vick leaves via free agency.

"Matt was awesome," Kelly said, via the Philadelphia Inquirer. "I'm excited to get a full offseason with Matt in here to really get a chance to work with him because I think he's got a skill set that's exciting when you see him, how the ball comes out of his hands, the decisions that he makes, and that's part of this whole deal."

Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford threw 11 interceptions and lost two fumbles in the final six games as Detroit collapsed and missed the playoffs, costing coach Jim Schwartz his job. New coach Jim Caldwell will be judged in large part on how Stafford performs the next couple years.

Tony Dungy, the Super Bowl-winning coach turned TV analyst, noted Caldwell was in his first year as quarterbacks coach in Indianapolis when Peyton Manning broke out in 2004 with 49 touchdowns and 10 picks.

"I know what we talked about when we got to Indianapolis is they had a very, very explosive offense and we talked about keeping that explosiveness but not being a high-risk team and taking care of the football and knowing how to manage the end of the game," Dungy told the Lions' website.

"Once Peyton (Manning) really understood what Jim was trying to do, he went from a very explosive player to a guy in 2004 who threw 49 touchdowns and (10 interceptions) and that's what I think you're going to see from Matthew.

"You're going to see him learn that you can be explosive and not be high risk and that there are times when you manage the game and win the game, by not only what you do, but by what you don't do. I just think for a young quarterback, he'll really blossom under Jim."

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson was pressured on 43.8 percent of his dropbacks this season, the highest rate in the league, according to Pro Football Focus. In contrast, 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick was pressured on 34.7 percent of his dropbacks, right about average.

The two square off in Sunday's NFC Championship Game in Seattle.

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is averaging 157.6 passing yards with a 78.0 rating over his last five games, but coach Pete Carroll said the second-year pro is "doing great."

"I think he's doing what we need to do in these games," Carroll said, via ProFootballTalk.com. "We can always do better. We're always looking for more and he is too and all that. But as long as our football team is playing well and we're playing within the formula and we're playing good defense, we're running the football, we're playing on teams, and we're taking care of the ball and getting it, we're going to have a really good chance to win and that's what's most important to us.”

Wilson said he needs to improve but "we're winning a lot of football games and that's the best thing. I think that I can always do better, I've always thought that. So there's a lot of room for improvement and that the exciting about it.”

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson didn't have to throw much for his team to beat the Saints. But Seattle actually has been in a passing funk for five games.

In that span, Seattle has gone 3-2 with Wilson completing 57 percent of his throws for an average of 157.6 yards. He's averaged 6.6 yards per attempt, with four touchdowns, three interceptions and a 78.0 passer rating.

The Chargers listed guard Jeromey Clary (shoulder), defensive lineman Sean Lissemore (shoulder), quarterback Brad Sorenson, receiver Lavelle Hawkins, cornerback Marcus Cromartie, offensive tackle Kenny Wiggins and safety Brandon Taylor as inactive for the playoff game at Denver.

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson didn't have to do much Saturday against the Saints. Sticking the ball into the gut of featured back Marshawn Lynch and watching his defense perform pretty much sufficed.

Wilson wilted after a strong start in which he completed his first four passes. He finished 9 of 18 for 103 yards, but avoided picks. He also threw a perfect 24-yard pass to wideout Doug Baldwin on 3rd and 3 with just under three minutes remaining in the game to set up a Lynch touchdown that clinched the victory.

That was about all Wilson did right after intermission. He completed no passes in the third quarter, though the windy, rainy conditions played a role in his inconsistency.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford met with one candidate to be the Lions' head coach, Ravens offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell, and will meet with more, reports the team's website. However, there's no indication Stafford will have a say in the hiring process.

"It’s something, however much they ask me to be a part of it, I’ll be a part of it," Stafford said in a radio interview on the Albom Show. "I’m not knocking on the door. They asked me to sit in on that one, and as more and more interviews happen, whether I’m in town to sit with them and talk or whether we talk on the phone, I’m sure I’ll have some involvement in that process."

Stafford said he and Caldwell did not discuss the quarterback's performance, which declined dramatically toward the end of the year.

"Actually, none of that happened," Stafford said on the show. "Honestly, it was just he and I sitting down and talking. He told me he watched basically every play of our season. He picked my brain about our team, and I picked his about his philosophy in coaching and all that kind of stuff."