NFL Player News
-
Justin Herbert QB | LAC
Chargers' Justin Herbert: Ready for Week 15
Herbert (ankle/thigh) doesn't have a designation for Sunday's game versus the Buccaneers.
Herbert missed one play during this past Sunday's loss at Kansas City with what eventually was termed a thigh contusion. Coach Jim Harbaugh then revealed Wednesday that Herbert also was dealing with a left ankle injury from that game, per Daniel Popper of The Athletic. Herbert proceeded to open Week 15 prep with an absence before being limited Thursday and a full participant Friday. He'll be taking on a Tampa Bay defense Sunday that has given up the 10th-most touchdown passes (21) to opposing quarterbacks in 13 contests this season.
-
Derek Carr QB | NO
Saints' Derek Carr: Officially doubtful, won't start
Carr (hand/concussion) is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Commanders, Matthew Paras of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.
Carr hasn't practiced this week, and while it's possible he clears concussion protocol by Sunday, the Saints have already named Jake Haener as their Week 15 starter. If anything, Carr likely would just be available as the emergency No. 3 QB, behind both Haener and Spencer Rattler.
-
Joe Burrow QB | CIN
Bengals' Joe Burrow: Set to play Sunday
Burrow (right wrist/knee) doesn't have a designation for Sunday's game at Tennessee.
On Wednesday, coach Zac Taylor said Burrow was dealing with a sore knee, but the issue wouldn't hold him out of any practices, per Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer. Burrow logged limited sessions Wednesday and Thursday before capping Week 15 prep with full participation Friday, paving the way for him to continue to lead the Bengals offense. He'll be taking on a Titans defense Sunday that has allowed the third-fewest YPA (6.57) to opposing quarterbacks this season.
-
Jake Haener QB | KC
Saints' Jake Haener: Named as Week 15 starter
Saints coach Darren Rizzi said Friday that Haener will start Sunday's game against the Commanders.
Rizzi hinted at the outcome a day earlier, choosing Haener over Spencer Rattler while Derek Carr recovers from a concussion and hand fracture. The Saints hope to get Carr back within the next few weeks, but it won't be surprising if Haener ends up making multiple starts in an injury-riddled offense that's currently without WR Chris Olave (concussion), WR Rashid Shaheed (knee) and TE Taysom Hill (knee).
-
Drew Lock QB | SEA
Giants' Drew Lock: Doubtful for Sunday
Lock (heel/left elbow) is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game versus the Ravens, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.
Lock emerged from this past Sunday's loss to the Saints with a heel injury that required a walking boot. As the week went on, coach Brian Daboll conceded that Tommy DeVito would start in place of Lock, but the latter still had a chance to be the emergency third quarterback Sunday, per Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com. Considering Lock now is doubtful to suit up, though, practice-squad member Tim Boyle will presumably be elevated to the active roster Saturday to serve as the backup.
-
Aidan O'Connell QB | LV
Raiders' Aidan O'Connell: Not practicing Friday
Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce said Friday that O'Connell (knee) is not participating in practice, Tashan Reed of The Athletic reports.
O'Connell now has missed back-to-back practices since participating in Wednesday's walkthrough. The second-year quarterback is nursing a bone bruise to his left knee sustained during Las Vegas' loss to Tampa Bay in Week 14. His final chance to get back on the practice field prior to Monday's game will come Saturday. Desmond Ridder will enter the Raiders' starting lineup versus Atlanta in the event that O'Connell can't suit up.
-
Drew Lock QB | SEA
Giants' Drew Lock: May be emergency QB
Lock (heel/elbow) is no longer using a walking boot and may be available as the emergency No. 3 quarterback for Sunday's game against the Ravens, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports.
Giants coach Brian Daboll said Wednesday that Tommy DeVito is expected to start Sunday's game, although Lock still is considered the starter when he's healthy. Tim Boyle likely will be elevated from the practice squad as the No. 2 QB, with Lock only available on an emergency basis but then potentially returning to the starting job Week 16 or 17.
-
Brock Purdy QB | SF
49ers' Brock Purdy: Miserable showing in loss
Purdy completed 14 of 31 passes for 142 yards with no touchdowns and one interception and rushed once for three yards in the 49ers' 12-6 loss to the Rams on Thursday night.
Purdy was able to engineer a short 39-yard drive on the 49ers' second possession that culminated in a field goal, but San Francisco punted the other six times it had the ball in the first half. After another modest 34-yard march that led to three more points to open the second half, Purdy scuffled throughout most of the rest of the contest and also threw an interception on a deep shot to Jauan Jennings with just over five minutes remaining in the game. The Rams would subsequently embark on a marathon 13-play drive that left Purdy with just 11 seconds to try and get the 50 yards necessary for a potential game-winning score, but he threw incomplete and took a sack on the final two plays. Purdy now has thrown for 159 yards or fewer in three of his past four games heading into a Week 16 road trip to face the Dolphins on Sunday, Dec. 22.
-
Matthew Stafford QB | LAR
Rams' Matthew Stafford: Perseveres in inclement weather
Stafford completed 16 of 27 passes for 160 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions and rushed four times for 18 yards in the Rams' 12-6 win over the 49ers on Thursday night.
Stafford didn't look anywhere near as sharp as he had just four days earlier in a track meet against Josh Allen and the Bills, but wet conditions throughout the night certainly played a role. However, the veteran persevered through less-than-ideal circumstances and continued to display a prolific connection with Puka Nacua, with whom he connected on seven occasions for 97 yards. The biggest offensive play of the night also transpired between the two, as Stafford hit the standout receiver for a 51-yard completion to open a late fourth-quarter drive that culminated in a field goal. The veteran signal-caller did see a four-game streak of multiple touchdown passes come to an end, but he has the Rams in solid shape at 8-6 heading into a Week 16 road battle against the Jets on Sunday, Dec. 22.
-
Spencer Rattler QB | NO
Saints' Spencer Rattler: Likely No. 2 QB in Week 15
Rattler appears to be set to operate as the No. 2 quarterback behind starter Jake Haener on Sunday versus the Commanders, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Rattler will handle backup duties as Haener will draw his first start of the year, stepping in for injured starter Derek Carr (head/hand) in Week 15. Rattler has completed 59 of 99 passes this season for 571 yards and a touchdown while throwing an interception over three games, and he'll be the next man up Sunday against Washington if Haener suffers an injury during the contest.