NFL Player News
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Justin Herbert QB | LAC
Chargers' Justin Herbert: Gutsy performance in loss
Herbert completed 21 of 32 passes for 236 yards with a touchdown and an interception and rushed six times for 37 yards in the Chargers' 20-16 loss to the Texans on Saturday. He also committed two fumbles but recovered both.
Herbert's busy stat line and the five sacks he took all speak to the unsurprisingly tough day he endured against a talented Texans defense. In fairness, the sixth-year signal-caller's one interception was costly but also not truly his fault, as a pass intended for Oronde Gadsden near the goal line bounced off the rookie tight end's hands and into those of the Texans' Azeez Al-Shaair to short-circuit a surefire scoring opportunity. Herbert also appeared to have aggravated his preexisting left-hand injury after a first-half sack, per Kris Rhim of ESPN.com, but he never saw a trainer. Herbert and the Chargers were unable to capitalize on an opportunity to move toward a better playoff seed, adding additional importance to their Week 18 road game against the Broncos.
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Tyler Huntley QB | BAL
Ravens' Tyler Huntley: In line to start for Jackson
With Lamar Jackson (back) inactive, Huntley is slated to start Saturday night's game against the Packers, Ryan Mink of the Ravens' official site reports.
Huntley will be making his second start of the season, with Cooper Rush in line to back him up Saturday. While filling in for Jackson in Week 8, Huntley completed 17 of 22 passes for 186 yards and a touchdown and added 53 yards on eight carries in a 30-16 win over the Bears. This time around, in a game the Ravens need to win in order to keep their playoff hopes alive, the veteran signal-caller offers an alternative for those who would normally rely on Jackson in their fantasy lineups, are in Superflex formats or are otherwise in need of QB help in Week 17.
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Malik Willis QB | GB
Packers' Malik Willis: Spot start confirmed
Willis (right shoulder/illness) is listed as active Saturday against the Ravens and will start in place of Jordan Love (left shoulder/concussion), Mike Spofford of the Packers' official site reports.
After he sustained a concussion last Saturday at Chicago, Love wasn't able to clear the protocol for head injuries in time to suit up in Week 17, as the Packers ruled him out Friday. Willis remained listed as questionable due to the right shoulder injury he suffered late in the Week 16 loss to the Bears and also the illness that kept him out of Wednesday's practice, but he was the favorite to start Saturday, assuming he was active. Now that that has been confirmed, Willis will direct an offense headlined by RBs Josh Jacobs and Emanuel Wilson, WRs Christian Watson (shoulder/illness), Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Matthew Golden and Dontayvion Wicks and TE Luke Musgrave. Green Bay also elevated QB Clayton Tune from the practice squad to serve as Willis' backup.
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Lamar Jackson QB | BAL
Ravens' Lamar Jackson: Officially inactive Saturday
Jackson (back) is inactive for Saturday's game against the Packers.
After being deemed a non-participant in practice Tuesday through Thursday, Jackson was listed as doubtful for the contest. Now that Jackson has been made inactive, Tyler Huntley will draw the start in a game that the 7-8 Ravens need to win in order to keep their playoff hopes alive. Jackson's next chance to see game action will arrive in a Week 18 matchup against the Steelers that could decide the AFC North title, pending this weekend's results.
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Hendon Hooker QB | NYJ
Jets' Hendon Hooker: Elevated Saturday
Hooker was elevated from the practice squad to the Jets' active roster Saturday.
The 2023 third-round pick from Tennessee signed with the Jets' practice squad Dec. 18 and has already joined the active roster. Hooker appeared in three games with the Lions in 2024, completing six of nine pass attempts for 62 yards. He's expected to operate as the Jets' No. 3 quarterback during Sunday's matchup against the Patriots, playing behind Brady Cook and Tyrod Taylor.
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Clayton Tune QB | GB
Packers' Clayton Tune: Likely serving as No. 2 QB
Tune was elevated from the practice squad to the Packers' active roster Saturday.
With Jordan Love (concussion) set to miss Saturday's matchup against the Ravens, Tune is expected to operate as the Packers' No. 2 quarterback, playing behind Malik Willis (shoulder, questionable). Tune, a 2023 fifth-round pick from Houston, last played with the Cardinals in 2024, when he completed both of his pass attempts for eight yards across 31 offensive snaps.
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Bailey Zappe QB | CLE
Browns' Bailey Zappe: Elevated for Week 17
Zappe has been elevated from the practice squad Saturday in advance of Sunday's game against the Steelers.
Zappe will stand to either handle third-string QB duties versus Pittsburgh or act as the No. 2 option behind Shedeur Sanders in the event that Dillon Gabriel (shoulder), who is listed as questionable, can't play. The last time Zappe saw the field was to make a single start for Cleveland in 2024, in which he completed 16 of 31 pass attempts for 170 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
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Kurtis Rourke QB | SF
49ers' Kurtis Rourke: Won't return Week 17
Rourke (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against Chicago, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Rourke is in the final stages of his recovery from a torn ACL that he suffered during his final collegiate season at Indiana. He's not quite ready to return, but given his 21-day practice window opened Dec. 8, he would need to be activated from the NFI list ahead of the 49ers' Week 18 tilt against the Seahawks. If Rourke is not activated, then he would not be available for the 49ers' regular-season finale or their postseason run.
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Malik Willis QB | GB
Packers' Malik Willis: In line to start in place of Love
Willis (right shoulder/illness) is expected to start Saturday against the Ravens after the Packers ruled out Jordan Love (left shoulder/concussion) for that contest.
Willis himself is listed as questionable for Week 17 action due to a right shoulder injury and an illness, but his status will receive clarity about 90 minutes before Saturday's 8:00 p.m. ET kickoff. In two spot starts for Love last season, Willis went 2-0 while completing 25 of 33 passes for 324 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions and turning 12 carries into 114 yards and another TD. Clayton Tune likely will be elevated from the practice squad to back up Willis this weekend.
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Jordan Love QB | GB
Packers' Jordan Love: Out for Week 17
Love (left shoulder/concussion) has been ruled out for Saturday's contest against the Ravens.
Love thus will miss his first game of the season due to the concussion that he suffered last Saturday in Chicago, yielding the offense to backup Malik Willis (right shoulder/Illness). Love will turn his focus to getting healthy ahead of a Week 18 road matchup with the Vikings.