NFL Player News
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Jimmy Garoppolo QB | LAR
Rams' Jimmy Garoppolo: Logs single start in backup role
Garoppolo completed 24 of 41 passes for 334 yards, two touchdowns and an interception during the 2024 regular season, adding two rushing attempts for five yards.
In his lone appearance of the season Week 18, Garoppolo showcased his abilities to potential suitors and performed well, completing touchdown passes to Tyler Higbee and Tyler Johnson with mostly backups on the field for the Rams. Head coach Sean McVay may be inclined to bring the 31-year-old Garoppolo, an unrestricted free agent, back for another round as the primary backup to Matthew Stafford if the price is right, as third-stringer Stetson Bennett has yet to take a snap in a regular-season game and had a miserable preseason with five interceptions and a lost fumble over two starts.
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Daniel Jones QB | IND
Vikings' Daniel Jones: Headed for free agency
Jones didn't play any snaps in the Vikings' 27-9 loss to the Rams on Jan. 13 in the wild-card round Minnesota signed him off its practice squad.
After completing 216 of 341 passes (63.3 percent) for 2,070 yards, eight touchdowns, and seven interceptions through 10 games for the Giants, Jones was released by the team and subsequently signed with the Vikings' practice squad. Though he was added to the roster for the playoffs, he was inactive for the wild-card round as the team's emergency No. 3 quarterback behind Sam Darnold and Nick Mullens. Jones is set to become a free agent this offseason, and while a return to Minnesota may be unlikely, the Vikings could receive a compensatory draft pick if he ends up signing elsewhere.
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Nick Mullens QB | JAC
Vikings' Nick Mullens: Plays seven snaps in 2024
Mullens completed two of two pass attempts for 38 yards and zero touchdowns across four games during the 2024 regular season.
The veteran backup quarterback played a total of seven offensive snaps across the four contests, and he rushed three times for negative two yards on top of the limited pass attempts. Mullens turns 30 years old in March and is scheduled to be a free agent this offseason. The Vikings' quarterback picture is unclear, with both Sam Darnold and Daniel Jones also slated to be free agents. J.J. McCarthy (knee) is coming off a serious injury and missed his entire 2024 rookie campaign.
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Shane Buechele QB | BUF
Bills' Shane Buechele: Inks future deal with Buffalo
The Bills signed Buechele (neck) to a reserve/future contract Wednesday, Alec White of the team's official site reports.
Buechele spent the entire 2024 season on injured reserve due to a neck injury that he suffered during the preseason in mid-August. By signing a futures deal, Buechele will be eligible to participate in OTAs, minicamp and training camp in the hopes of making the Bills' 53-man roster for the 2025 campaign.
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Malik Willis QB | MIA
Packers' Malik Willis: Shines in relief role
Willis recorded 550 passing yards, three passing touchdowns, 138 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown over seven appearances in 2024.
The Packers acquired Willis from the Titans less than two weeks before the regular season began, and that proved to be a pivotal move, as he led the Packers to victory in both Weeks 2 and 3 while filling in for an injured Jordan Love. The sample size was small, but Willis posted a sterling 124.8 quarterback rating in 2024, which put him back on the map after a nondescript start to his career. Willis has one year remaining on his rookie contract, so barring a trade to a team that may be interested in him as a starter, he will be back in Green Bay for another go-around.
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Sam Hartman QB | WAS
Commanders' Sam Hartman: Inks future deal with Washington
The Commanders signed Hartman to a reserve/future contract Tuesday.
Hartman signed with the Commanders in late April as an undrafted free agent following six years in college (five with Wake Forest, one with Notre Dame). He spent most of the year on Washington's practice squad after failing to make the 53-man roster at the end of training camp, but he had a brief stint on the Commanders' active roster due to Marcus Mariota landing on injured reserve in early September with a chest injury. Hartman would have a better chance at making Washington's 53-man roster for the 2025 campaign if Mariota opts to sign elsewhere in free agency.
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Marcus Mariota QB | WAS
Commanders' Marcus Mariota: Does well with limited chances in 2024
Mariota completed 34 of 44 passes for 364 yards and four touchdowns during the 2024 regular season, then took two rush attempts for one yard in two playoff games.
Mariota never made a start but got the majority of playing time in two regular-season games and led the Commanders to victory both times. He then got two snaps in short-yardage situations during the playoffs, converting one and getting stuffed on the other. The 31-year-old isn't under contract for 2025, but it won't come as any surprise if he re-signs with the Commanders to back up Jayden Daniels again.
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Justin Fields QB | KC
Steelers' Justin Fields: Pittsburgh to bring back one QB?
Steelers owner and president Art Rooney II said Monday that it's his "preference" and will be "a priority" to re-sign one of Fields or Russell Wilson this offseason, Mike DeFabo of The Athletic reports.
Rooney II said it's "probably unlikely" that both Wilson and Fields will return to Pittsburgh for the 2025 campaign, per Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com, but it sounds like a strong possibility that one of the two signal-callers will get another opportunity to prove themselves as the team's long-term starter during the 2025 campaign. Fields led the Steelers to a 4-2 record to kick off the regular season, though upon being replaced by Wilson under center Week 7 he never got another chance to compete for the starting gig, even though the veteran closed out the year with five straight losses. Pittsburgh's choice between re-signing Fields or Wilson figures to be heavily influenced by the relative interest both receive from other teams on the free-agent market.
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Russell Wilson QB | NYG
Steelers' Russell Wilson: Competing with Fields to re-sign?
Steelers owner and president Art Rooney II said Monday that it's "probably unlikely" the team brings back both Wilson and Justin Fields this offseason, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Pryor reports that Pittsburgh likely will work to bring back one of Wilson or Fields on a one-year contract this offseason, but it sounds like the team isn't considering re-signing both players. The comments made by Rooney II don't necessarily preclude both Wilson and Fields walking as free agents, though Mark Kaboly of 93.7 The Fan Pittsburgh reports the team owner said re-signing one of the two signal-callers ""will give us the best opportunity to move forward." As the leader of Pittsburgh's offense, Wilson closed out the season with five consecutive losses, including a wild-card round playoff exit versus Baltimore. The interest he draws as a free agent relative to Fields could ultimately be the deciding factor in dictating which quarterback gets another chance to prove themselves with the Steelers during the 2025 campaign.
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Hendon Hooker QB | TEN
Lions' Hendon Hooker: Used sparingly in 2024
Hooker completed six of nine passes for 62 yards while adding five carries for two yards over three games in 2024.
Hooker operated as Jared Goff's primary backup option in 2024, ultimately seeing marginal action with Goff starting all 17 regular-season contests. Hooker was demoted to the No. 3 option at quarterback when Detroit signed Teddy Bridgewater in late December after Bridgewater had previously retired prior to the year. Nonetheless, with Bridgewater entering free agency, Hooker will presumably enter the 2025 campaign as Goff's top backup.