NFL Player News
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Cooper Rush QB | BAL
Cowboys' Cooper Rush: Dealing with illness
Rush (illness) is questionable for Sunday's game versus the Packers, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.
The specifics of Rush's ailment aren't known at this point, but his availability for the wild-card round is now in doubt. If he can't suit up Sunday, 2021 first-rounder Trey Lance would probably step in as the primary backup to Dak Prescott.
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Andy Dalton QB | PHI
Panthers' Andy Dalton: Makes three appearances
Dalton finished the regular season with 34 completions on 58 attempts for 361 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions in three games.
Dalton's passing production all came in Week 3 while starting in place of the injured Bryce Young. Although the Panthers lost that game, it was their highest output in passing yardage all season. At 36 years old, Dalton remains under contract for next season, when he could remain one of the league's best backups while Young attempts to advance his development under a new coaching staff.
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Jaren Hall QB | SEA
Vikings' Jaren Hall: Plays 46 snaps as rookie
Hall appeared in three games games during the 2023 season, completing 13 of 20 passes (65 percent) for 168 yards, zero touchdowns and one interception while adding six carries for 14 scoreless yards.
The fifth-round rookie started Week 9 after Kirk Cousins suffered a season-ending torn Achilles' tendon Week 8. Hall lasted all of 11 offensive snaps versus Atlanta before he was concussed and replaced by trade pickup Joshua Dobbs. Dobbs then started the next four games before giving way to Nick Mullens. Coach Kevin O'Connell, trying to find an offensive spark, went back to Hall as the Week 17 starter but pulled him at halftime against the Packers after he went just 5-for-10 passing for 67 yards and one interception with a lost fumble. Hall likely won't be guaranteed a spot on the 53-man roster next season after his lackluster first season as a pro. He'll be competing for a backup job.
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Joshua Dobbs QB | NE
Vikings' Joshua Dobbs: Tosses 13 TDs across 12 starts
Dobbs appeared in 13 games during the 2023 season, completing 262 of 417 pass attempts (62.8 percent) for 2,464 yards, 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while adding 77 carries for 421 yards and six more touchdowns.
Coming into 2023, Dobbs had started just two NFL games since being taken in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft by the Steelers. After ending 2022 as the Titans' starter, Dobbs signed with the Browns as a free agent but was traded to the Cardinals just ahead of Week 1. He started the first eight games of the season for Arizona but was acquired by the Vikings near the trade deadline after Minnesota lost Kirk Cousins to a season-ending Achilles' tear. Dobbs appeared in five games (four starts) for the Vikings before being benched in favor of Nick Mullens to close out the year. Dobbs had a turnover problem in 2023, giving the ball away 17 times across 13 games. He's scheduled to be a free agent in March and will likely only attract backup work.
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Baker Mayfield QB | TB
Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield: Tending to pair of injuries
Mayfield missed Thursday's walkthrough due to ankle and rib injuries.
Mayfield was seen limping around for much of this past Sunday's win at Carolina, a contest in which he completed 20 of 32 passes for just 137 yards. He didn't toss a touchdown or commit a turnover, though, in the Buccaneers' 9-0 win. Now that Mayfield's health concerns are known, his status will be one to monitor ahead of Monday's wild-card game against the Eagles to make sure he's available to direct his team's offense.
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Jalen Hurts QB | PHI
Eagles' Jalen Hurts: Officially limited Thursday
Hurts (right finger) practiced in a limited capacity Thursday.
Hurts' Week 18 was abbreviated due to a dislocated right middle finger that he attempted to play through before he was pulled for backup Marcus Mariota ahead of halftime. X-rays were returned negative after the Eagles' loss at the Giants, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, and Hurts spoke of the injury Thursday, telling EJ Smith of The Philadelphia Inquirer that it was "probably not, physically, the best idea" to return Sunday. Hurts also noted that "everything is progressing in the right way" as the Eagles prepare for Monday's wild-card contest at Tampa Bay, but he likely will wear a glove on his right hand, as he did at Thursday's session, according to Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer. As for the rest of Philadelphia's skill group, WR A.J. Brown (knee) didn't practice Thursday, while RB D'Andre Swift (illness) and WR DeVonta Smith (ankle) were full participants.
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Jalen Hurts QB | PHI
Eagles' Jalen Hurts: Seen at practice Thursday
Hurts (finger) was present at the media-access portion of Thursday's practice, Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Hurts missed a handful of plays in the second quarter of this past Sunday's loss at the Giants to have his dislocated right middle finger taped up, but he ultimately was pulled before halftime in an eventual 27-10 loss. On Monday, it was revealed by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network that X-rays were returned negative on the appendage in question. Prior to reconvening for practice Thursday, Hurts said that it was "probably not, physically, the best idea" to return to action Sunday, and he also had yet to throw since the game, but "everything is progressing in the right way," per EJ Smith of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Hurts was donning gloves on both of his hands Thursday, which may be his reality for as long as he's dealing with the injury.
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Russell Wilson QB | NYG
Broncos' Russell Wilson: Future uncertain in Denver
Wilson is expected to be released by the Broncos before the new league year begins in March, but no final decision on his future with the organization has been made, Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com reports.
After just two seasons in Denver, Wilson looks like he could be headed towards a split with the Broncos. According to Legwold, the veteran quarterback's potential release would result in an $85 million dead-money charge for the Broncos, the largest for a single player since the salary cap was instituted. Despite the sense that Wilson will be released this offseason, head coach Sean Payton said Tuesday that no formal decision on the quarterback has been made, according to Zac Stevens of TheDNVR.com. Meanwhile, general manager George Paton went as far to say that "the door is open" for the 35-year-old signal-caller to return in 2024. Wilson finished the 2023 campaign with 297 completions on 447 pass attempts for 3,070 yards, 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 15 games. In addition, he was used more as a rusher this season, carrying 80 times for 341 yards and three touchdowns. Overall, the season was a step in the right direction for the Broncos offense after a disappointing start to Wilson's time in Denver in 2022. His potential for future fantasy success hinges on him finding a fitting landing spot on a team in need of experienced quarterback play.
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Mac Jones QB | SF
Patriots' Mac Jones: Logs 2,120 passing yards in 2023
Jones appeared in 11 games during the 2023 season, completing 224 of 345 pass attempts (64.9 percent) for 2,120 passing yards, 10 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while adding 96 rushing yards on 26 carries.
Jones, who was supplanted as the Patriots' starting quarterback in Week 13 by Bailey Zappe, finished his third NFL season as a healthy inactive in the Patriots' Week 18 loss to the Jets. Per Evan Lazar of the team's official site,, Jones is unlikely to have his fifth-year contract option exercised by New England this offseason. Jones will still remain on the Patriots' books through 2024, but it's unclear if he'll be given a chance to compete for the starting gig during the upcoming season. Lazar suggests that the signal-caller could be dealt this offseason and thus get a fresh start in a new locale.
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Jeff Driskel QB | WAS
Browns' Jeff Driskel: Will be backup Saturday
Offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt said Wednesday that Driskel will be the top backup to starting quarterback Joe Flacco in Saturday's wild-card game at Houston, Jake Trotter of ESPN.com reports.
While filing in as the starter for a resting Flacco in Week 18, Driskel had an uninspiring performance in Sunday's 31-14 loss at Cincinnati. The journeyman signal-caller completed 13 of 26 attempts for 166 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, with both scores coming in the fourth quarter when the outcome was all but decided. The Browns apparently saw enough from Driskel to keep him ahead of No. 3 quarterback PJ Walker as the team opens its playoff run.