Johnson is trending toward making his first start of the season Thursday against the Cowboys after Marcus Mariota (hand/quadriceps) was a non-participant in Tuesday's walk-through practice, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

With the Commanders shutting down Jayden Daniels (elbow) for the season and with Mariota unlikely to be ready to play on a short week, Johnson is the next man up at quarterback. The journeyman signal-caller's last NFL start came back in 2021, when he filled in for Lamar Jackson in Week 17 during his second of three stints in the Ravens organization. Johnson has flashed some upside as a runner in his limited playing time over his previous stops during his long career, but given that he's now 39 years old, he probably can't be counted on to replicate the rushing production of Daniels or Mariota.

The Vikings claimed Rypien off waivers Tuesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Rypien was cut by the Colts on Monday and lands in a familiar place after he spent the offseason with the Vikings. With J.J. McCarthy (hand) out for Saturday's game against the Lions, Rypien is a veteran backup option to undrafted rookie Max Brosmer. Rypien last attempted a regular-season pass in 2023 with the Rams.

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed Tuesday that the Browns will not activate Watson (Achilles) from the reserve/PUP list this season, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.

Watson tore his right Achilles tendon in October of last season, then subsequently re-ruptured the tendon and required another surgery Jan. 9. The veteran quarterback had made enough progress in his recovery for the Browns to clear him to practice Dec. 3, but Watson was always viewed as a longshot to be activated at any point in 2025. With his 21-day evaluation window officially coming to a close Tuesday, Watson wasn't reinstated and won't be eligible to practice with the team over the final two weeks of the season. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Cleveland is expected to keep Watson on the roster in 2026, the final year of his five-year, $230 million deal. Watson hasn't played in a game since Week 10 of the 2024 campaign, and it's unclear if the Browns will seriously consider him for a starting role if he's indeed on the team next season.

Colts head coach Shane Steichen suggested Tuesday that Richardson (orbital) is unlikely to be activated from injured reserve this week while Riley Leonard continues to back up Philip Rivers, who will make a third straight start at quarterback Sunday against the Jaguars, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.

Richardson made enough progress in his recovery from the fractured orbital bone he suffered in his right eye during an Oct. 12 pregame for the Colts to clear him to practice last week, but the third-year signal-caller didn't advance beyond limited participation. As Boyd notes, Richardson hasn't regained full vision in the eye despite returning to practice, so until that happens, the Colts will likely be reluctant to activate him. Pending the results of Saturday's Chargers-Texans game as well as Sunday's action, the Colts could be eliminated from playoff contention heading into Week 18, in which case Steichen could be motivated to go in a different direction at quarterback. Leonard would still appear to be more likely than Richardson to draw a start in the regular-season finale at Houston.

Colts head coach Shane Steichen said that Leonard will remain in a backup role Sunday against the Jaguars while Philip Rivers makes a third straight start at quarterback, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.

The Colts will be eliminated from playoff contention if the Texans beat the Chargers on Saturday, but Steichen confirmed that Rivers will continue to direct the offense regardless of the outcome of that contest. More specifically, Steichen said that it wouldn't be "fair" to ask rookie Leonard to start on 24 hours' notice if Rivers takes first-team reps throughout the week, which he has been doing since signing with the Colts in Week 15. Though the Colts have suffered losses to the playoff-bound squads in the Seahawks and 49ers in Rivers' two starts, the 44-year-old has given Indianapolis some stability under center following Daniel Jones' season-ending Achilles surgery. Rivers won't be part of the Colts' long-term plans, however, so if the team does get eliminated in Week 17, Steichen could entertain the idea of starting Leonard or third-year quarterback Anthony Richardson (orbital) -- if available -- in the regular-season finale against the Texans.

Head coach Shane Steichen confirmed Tuesday that Rivers will remain the Colts' starting quarterback for Sunday's game against the Jaguars, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.

The Colts will be eliminated from playoff contention if the Texans beat the Chargers on Saturday, but Steichen confirmed that Rivers will continue to direct the offense regardless of the outcome of that contest. More specifically, Steichen said that it wouldn't be "fair" to ask rookie Riley Leonard to start on 24 hours' notice if Rivers takes first-team reps throughout the week, which he has been doing since signing with the Colts in Week 15. Though the Colts have suffered losses to the playoff-bound squads in the Seahawks and 49ers in Rivers' two starts, the 44-year-old has given Indianapolis some stability under center following Daniel Jones' season-ending Achilles surgery. Rivers won't be part of the Colts' long-term plans, however, so if the team does get eliminated in Week 17, Steichen could entertain the idea of starting Leonard or third-year quarterback Anthony Richardson (orbital) -- if available -- in the regular-season finale against the Texans.

Bills head coach Sean McDermott said that Allen (foot) won't participate Tuesday in the team's unofficial walk-through practice, Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com reports.

Allen is tending to a sore right foot in the aftermath of the Bills' 23-20 win over the Browns on Sunday, when the quarterback took a back seat as a passer (12 completions on 19 attempts for a season-low 130 yards and no touchdowns) but continued to be involved as a ball carrier (seven totes for 17 yards). McDermott noted that Allen is still hurting two days after the game, but the Bills fully anticipate that the 29-year-old will suit up this Sunday against the Eagles. For his part, Allen told Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com that he was still sore Tuesday but "feels good" and "ready to go" for Sunday, despite walking with a limp as he moved about the Buffalo locker room.

Head coach Matt LaFleur said that Willis (shoulder) will be a limited participant in Tuesday's practice, Weston Hodkiewicz of the Packers' official site reports.

After Jordan Love (concussion) was forced out of this past Saturday's loss to the Bears, Willis completed nine of 11 passes for 121 yards and one touchdown while adding 44 yards on 10 carries. The dual-threat signal-caller appears to still be banged up after landing hard on his throwing shoulder late in the fourth quarter, however. Love appears to be making some progress through the NFL's concussion protocol and will join Willis as a limited participant at Tuesday's practice, but LaFleur noted that the presence of both quarterbacks on the field doesn't necessarily make him more confident that either will be available for a Week 17 game against the Ravens, per Zach Jacobson of 247Sports.com. For his part, Willis told Hodkiewicz on Tuesday that he expects to be ready to play Saturday, if needed to start in place of Love.

Head coach Matt LaFleur said that Love (concussion) will be a limited participant in Tuesday's practice, Wes Hodkiewicz of the Packers' official site reports.

Though Love was diagnosed with a concussion just three days earlier after being forced out of Saturday's 22-16 overtime loss to the Bears, he already appears to be making some progress through the league's five-step protocol. That being said, LaFleur doesn't necessarily feel any better about Love's chances of playing Saturday against the Ravens than he did 48 hours ago, with the coach noting that the Packers need to see how the quarterback progresses over the next few days, per Zach Jacobson of 247Sports.com. LaFleur offered similar sentiments about backup Malik Willis' odds of playing Saturday, as he will also be limited Tuesday after sustaining an injury to his throwing shoulder after coming on in relief of Love in Week 16. At this stage, practice-squad member Clayton Tune is the only quarterback in the organization who's fully healthy.

Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell announced that Brosmer will start at quarterback in Thursday's game against the Lions.

O'Connell revealed that J.J. McCarthy has been diagnosed with a hairline fracture on his throwing hand, and while the second-year quarterback hasn't been ruled out from returning for the Vikings' Week 18 game against the Packers, he won't be able to play through the injury on a short week. Brosmer came on in relief for an injured McCarthy in Week 16 and will be picking up his second start of the season Thursday. Through five total appearances on the season, the undrafted rookie out of Minnesota has completed 31 of 47 pass attempts for 220 yards (4.7 YPA), zero touchdowns and four interceptions while adding no positive rushing yardage. Even against an injury-ravaged Detroit defense, Brosmer doesn't profile as much more than a desperation fantasy play in Week 17.