NFL Player News
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Bailey Zappe QB | NYJ
Patriots' Bailey Zappe: Terrible numbers in Week 18 loss
Zappe completed 12 of 30 passes for 88 yards with two interceptions while adding three rushing attempts for 13 yards in Sunday's 17-3 loss to the Jets.
Zappe actually had more passing yards than Trevor Siemian (70) in this snowy defensive battle, but Siemian didn't turn the ball over as the Jets snapped their 15-game losing streak against New England. Zappe posted a 6:9 TD:INT in 10 appearances on the season, including a 6:7 TD:INT in six starts after replacing Mac Jones atop the depth chart. New England will have the third overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and could opt for a quarterback with that selection.
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Dak Prescott QB | DAL
Cowboys' Dak Prescott: Tosses four TDs in Week 18 win
Prescott completed 31 of 36 passes for 279 yards and four touchdowns with one interception in Sunday's 28-10 rout of the Commanders.
The Cowboys finally put together a strong performance on the road, and Prescott led the way with four red-zone TD strikes, two to CeeDee Lamb and one each to Jalen Tolbert and Brandin Cooks. In the process, Prescott became the first Dallas quarterback to ever lead the NFL in touchdown passes, tossing 36 in 17 games. The Cowboys locked up the NFC East title and the No. 2 seed in the NFC with the victory, setting Prescott up to face a ragged Packers secondary on his home turf in the wild-card round next weekend.
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Taysom Hill QB | NO
Saints' Taysom Hill: Fills stat sheet Week 18
Hill logged six rushes for 51 yards and caught all four of his targets for 28 yards during Sunday's 48-17 win over the Falcons.
Hill returned to form in the Saints' regular-season finale. The 33-year-old was inactive Week 14 with foot and hand injuries, and he totaled just eight touches across the previous three games. However, nothing slowed Hill down Week 18, as he logged his second-most total yards of any game this season. He didn't register any passing attempts Sunday, though this may have been due to a big night for starting quarterback Derek Carr, who completed 22 of 28 passing attempts for 264 yards and four touchdowns. Since the Saints were eliminated from playoff contention Week 18, Hill finishes the 2023 campaign with 81 carries for 401 rushing yards and four rushing scores. He also tallied career highs as a receiver with 33 catches (on 40 targets) for 291 yards and two touchdowns.
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Jarrett Stidham QB | DEN
Broncos' Jarrett Stidham: Throws touchdown
Stidham completed 20 of 34 passes for 272 yards, a touchdown and an interception in Sunday's 27-14 loss to the Raiders. He also rushed three times for two yards and recovered a fumble of his own.
Stidham found Jerry Jeudy for a 24-yard touchdown during the second quarter. In two games after becoming the Broncos' starter to end the season, Stidham completed 40 of 66 passes for 496 yards and two touchdowns versus one interception. Although he's currently under contract with Denver for the 2024 campaign, it will be surprising if the team doesn't add a starting-caliber quarterback in front of him this offseason.
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Tyrod Taylor QB | NYJ
Giants' Tyrod Taylor: Nearly reaches 300 yards in win
Taylor completed 23 of 32 passes for 297 yards and a touchdown with an interception in Sunday's 27-10 win over the Eagles. He added 38 rushing yards on eight carries.
The veteran quarterback might have topped 300 yards for the second straight game, but he briefly left late in the first quarter to get his thumb checked out, and Tommy DeVito completed a five-yard pass in his absence. Taylor, who has played for five teams over the last seven seasons alone, will be a free agent in the offseason and isn't likely to return to the Giants with DeVito and Daniel Jones (knee) on the depth chart, but the 34-year-old showed in 2023 he can still be effective and likely won't have much trouble landing elsewhere.
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Skylar Thompson QB | PIT
Dolphins' Skylar Thompson: Inactive for SNF
Thompson (coach's decision) is inactive and will serve as Miami's emergency third quarterback against Buffalo on Sunday.
Thompson hasn't yet been active this season but will be available as the Dolphins' third quarterback behind Tua Tagovailoa and Mike White if necessary Sunday. However, Sunday's primetime matchup will decide the AFC East champion, so Tagovailoa is unlikely to exit the game outside of an injury or disqualification.
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Aidan O'Connell QB | LV
Raiders' Aidan O'Connell: Finishes with win
O'Connell completed 20 of 31 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 27-14 win over the Broncos. He also rushed four times for one yard.
O'Connell found Davante Adams from three yards and Jakobi Meyers from 33 yards on his pair of touchdown passes. The fourth-round rookie had a respectable introductory NFL campaign, completing 213 of 343 attempts for 2,218 yards and 12 touchdowns versus seven interceptions while starting in nine of 11 appearances. However, it will be surprising if the Raiders don't add a quarterback this offseason, leaving O'Connell's outlook for the 2024 campaign to be determined.
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Jordan Love QB | GB
Packers' Jordan Love: Shepherds team to playoff berth
Love completed 27 of 32 passes for 316 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in Sunday's 17-9 win over the Bears. He carried three times for minus-1 yard and lost a fumble.
Love and the Packers' offense got off to a relatively slow start in the must-win contest, but he led a few key drives to clinch a playoff berth. The first was an 11-play, 92-yard possession that began early in the second quarter, which was capped by a 10-yard pass to Dontayvion Wicks. On the opening drive of the second half, Love hit Wicks again, this time for a 12-yard score. Love now has multiple touchdown passes in four straight games to close the season, and he also surpassed 300 passing yards in a game for the second time in the campaign thanks to long completions of 59 and 32 yards to Jayden Reed. He'll look to keep his current form going in an upset bid against the Cowboys in the wild-card round.
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Marcus Mariota QB | WAS
Eagles' Marcus Mariota: Comes on in relief
Mariota completed 13 of 20 passes for 148 yards and a touchdown with an interception after replacing Jalen Hurts late in the second quarter of Sunday's 27-10 loss to the Giants. He added 46 rushing yards on six carries.
The veteran QB entered the game with the Eagles already in a 24-0 hole, and Mariota promptly threw a pick on his first pass attempt before halftime. He did lead a couple scoring drives in the second half, but Philly never seemed close to staging a real rally. It's the most action Mariota has seen all season, and while the 30-year-old is a free agent in the offseason, he seems to be a good fit with the Eagles as Hurts' backup and could return on another affordable contract.
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Justin Fields QB | KC
Bears' Justin Fields: Ends season on low note
Fields completed 11 of 16 passes for 148 yards while adding 27 yards on four rushing attempts in the Bears' 17-9 loss to the Packers on Sunday.
Aside from a hot streak in Weeks 4 and 5 when Fields threw eight touchdown passes, he failed to throw more than one scoring strike in any of his other 10 starts. In 13 games played, he passed for 2,562 yards with 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Fields also rushed 120 times for 657 yards and four scores. Chicago will need to make some decisions this offseason in regards to their quarterback. First, the franchise has the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, so they can choose to start over at the position or go with Fields. Also, the team will need to decide whether to pick up the quarterback's fifth-year option.