NFL Player News
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Dorian Thompson-Robinson QB | PHI
Browns' Dorian Thompson-Robinson: Confirmed to start Week 16
Thompson-Robinson confirmed Tuesday that he's been named the Browns' starting quarterback for Sunday's game in Cincinnati, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports. "Obviously excited for the opportunity," Thompson-Robinson said, while speaking to media at a charity event. "Still going to prepare and study the same way I do every week, and looking to go out there and get a win."
Head coach Kevin Stefanski will presumably address the change at quarterback when he speaks to the media Wednesday, but the Browns will turn the offense over to Thompson-Robinson after Jameis Winston went 2-5 over seven starts and threw eight interceptions over the last three games alone. Thompson-Robinson, who came on for the final two possessions of Sunday's 21-7 loss to Kansas City, has made 12 career appearances (three starts) in two seasons, rushing 20 times for 125 yards and completing 51.4 percent of his passes for 540 yards, one touchdown and seven interceptions. While Thompson-Robinson brings more mobility to the table, he hasn't shown much aptitude as a passer, and the Browns could opt for a more conservative, run-heavy game plan as a result. Even in a favorable matchup against a Bengals defense that has routinely surrendered big yardage and point totals all season, Thompson-Robinson still represents a low-end fantasy option at quarterback.
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Kirk Cousins QB | ATL
Falcons' Kirk Cousins: Loses starting QB job
Head coach Raheem Morris announced Tuesday that Cousins has been removed as the team's starting quarterback in favor of Michael Penix, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports. "After review we have made the decision Michael Penix will be the Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback moving forward," Morris said in a statement. "This was a football decision and we are fully focused on preparing the team for Sunday's game against the New York Giants."
Cousins struggled over the Falcons' past five games, posting a 1:9 TD:INT while the team went 1-4. Though the squad snapped a four-game losing streak Monday against the Raiders, Cousins didn't do well, completing 11 of 17 passes for 112 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Morris was non-committal about the veteran quarterback continuing to start under center for the squad earlier Tuesday, and the Falcons later made the announcement that Penix will be taking over as the team's starting signal-caller. It's unclear what Cousins' future in Atlanta will look like beyond 2024 after he signed a four-year, $180 million contract in the offseason. Cousins is fully guaranteed $27.5 million in 2025, and he carries a cap hit of $40 million for next season.
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Michael Penix Jr. QB | ATL
Falcons' Michael Penix: Taking over as starting QB
Head coach Raheem Morris announced Tuesday that Penix will replace Kirk Cousins as the team's starting quarterback, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports. "After review we have made the decision Michael Penix will be the Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback moving forward," Morris said in a statement. "This was a football decision and we are fully focused on preparing the team for Sunday's game against the New York Giants."
A change at quarterback in Atlanta had been brewing since Morris expressed frustration over Cousins' performance following Monday's 15-9 win over the Raiders. Cousins has struggled mightily over the Falcons' past five games, posting a 1:9 TD:INT while the team has gone 1-4. Penix has gotten into just two games this season, completing three of five passes for 38 yards after being drafted eighth overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Washington product was always going to be the Falcons' quarterback of the future given his lofty draft selection, but his time to shine is coming sooner than expected, as Cousins was slated to lead the team this season after signing a four-year, $180-million contract in March. Atlanta is currently 7-7 and one game behind Tampa Bay in the NFC South, so Penix will be playing with the aim of leading the team into the postseason. His first start will come in a soft matchup versus the 2-12 Giants.
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Justin Herbert QB | LAC
Chargers' Justin Herbert: Limited in practice Tuesday
Herbert (ankle) was a limited participant in Tuesday's practice session.
Herbert's limited participation Tuesday followed his designation as limited in Monday's walkthrough. The star quarterback is still dealing with an ankle injury he suffered in Week 14 against Kansas City, though the issue didn't prevent him from suiting up this past Sunday in a loss to Tampa Bay. Barring a setback, Herbert seems to be in line to play against Denver on Thursday Night Football this week.
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Davis Mills QB | HOU
Texans' Davis Mills: Dealing with illness
Mills (illness) was estimated as a DNP for Tuesday's walkthrough.
Mills appears to be under the weather, which prevented him from participating in Tuesday's walkthrough. He'll have two more chances this week to return to practice ahead of Saturday's game against the Chiefs. Mills has appeared in three regular-season games while serving as the Texans' backup quarterback behind C.J. Stroud.
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Kirk Cousins QB | ATL
Falcons' Kirk Cousins: Not yet confirmed for Week 16 start
Head coach Raheem Morris was non-committal Tuesday when asked if Cousins will remain the Falcons' starting quarterback for Sunday's game against the Giants, Josh Kendall of The Athletic reports. "We just got back [from Las Vegas]. We still have to go through that process," Morris said. "All those things will happen over the course of the week. We didn't play well enough at the quarterback position."
Though the Falcons snapped their four-game losing streak Monday with a 15-9 win over the Raiders, Cousins' play didn't inspire much confidence. After he turned in a disastrous 0:8 TD:INT during the previous four games, the Falcons leaned heavily on their ground attack in Week 15. Cousins was unable to do much with his 20 dropbacks, taking three sacks and completing 11 of 17 pass attempts for 112 yards, one touchdown and his NFL-leading 16th interception of the season. Though a soft home matchup against the 2-12 Giants awaits in Week 16, the 7-7 Falcons may view the game as a good opportunity to see if rookie first-round pick Michael Penix can provide an upgrade as Atlanta looks to stay in the thick of the NFC South race. Expect Morris to provide an update on the Falcons' plans at quarterback when the team resumes practicing Wednesday.
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Justin Fields QB | NYJ
Steelers' Justin Fields: Logs DNP on Tuesday
Fields (abdomen) did not participate in Tuesday's walkthrough session, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.
Fields suffered an abdominal injury on an eight-yard rush in the second quarter of Sunday's loss to the Eagles. He'll have two more chances this week to return to practice ahead of Saturday's AFC North showdown against the Ravens. If Fields is not cleared for that game, Kyle Allen would be the next man up to serve as the Steelers' backup quarterback behind Russell Wilson.
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Patrick Mahomes QB | KC
Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes: Opens week with full practice
Mahomes (ankle) was listed as a full participant in Tuesday's practice.
Kansas City didn't hold a rigorous practice session to kick off Week 16 prep just two days after Sunday's 21-7 win over the Browns, but Mahomes' full listing nonetheless suggests that he's on track to play Saturday against the Texans. The quarterback was diagnosed with a mild right high-ankle sprain following his early exit from Sunday's win in Cleveland, but Mahomes told Sam McDowell of The Kansas City Star prior to Tuesday's session that he has responded "better quicker" to his latest injury than to the high-ankle sprain he sustained in the divisional round of the AFC playoffs two years ago.
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Mason Rudolph QB | PIT
Titans' Mason Rudolph: Poised to step in as starter
Rudolph is expected to take over as the Titans' starting quarterback in Sunday's game against the Colts, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Fowler's report merely notes that Tennessee is "planning to make a switch at quarterback," but unless the Titans elect to install practice-squad member Trevor Siemian as their starter, Rudolph is the logical candidate to step in for Will Levis. Though the 25-year-old Levis has youth and his status as a recent second-round draft pick working in his favor, the Titans may have already determined that he's not their long-term answer at quarterback after he turned the ball over 17 times (12 interceptions, five lost fumbles) through 11 starts this season. Rudolph brings more experience to the table but hasn't built upon the late-season success he enjoyed as Pittsburgh's starter in 2023. Over his five appearances with Tennessee -- including three starts from Weeks 7 through 9 while Levis was out with a shoulder injury -- Rudolph has completed 63 percent of his passes for 6.6 yards per attempt and a 6:5 TD:INT to go with 75 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries.
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Will Levis QB | TEN
Titans' Will Levis: Expected to lose starting gig
Levis is expected to move into a backup role for Sunday's game at Indianapolis, with Mason Rudolph likely in line to replace him as the Titans' starting quarterback, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Unless the team elects to award the start to practice-squad member Trevor Siemian, Rudolph represents the logical candidate to replace Levis. The second-year signal-caller will head to the bench after he endured another tough outing in this past Sunday's 37-27 loss to the Bengals, when he completed eight of 12 pass attempts for 89 yards and three interceptions while also losing a fumble before being pulled midway through the third quarter. Through 11 starts this season, Levis has completed 63.7 percent of his passes for 6.3 yards per attempt and 12 touchdowns, but turnovers have been a major issue. He's lost five fumbles and has thrown 12 interceptions, including an NFL-high four pick-sixes. Levis' lack of development will likely prompt the Titans to pursue an upgrade at quarterback through the draft or free agency this offseason.