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  • Chiefs' Blaine Gabbert: Week 18 start on tap

    Head coach Andy Reid confirmed that Gabbert will start Sunday's game against the Chargers, Matt McMullen of the Chiefs' official site reports.

    With the Chiefs secure as the No. 3 playoff seed in the AFC playoffs, star quarterback Patrick Mahomes will be rested this weekend, with an eye toward keeping him healthy for the wild-card round. Gabbert will thus step in for his first extended action with the Chiefs, as his lone appearance this season came in the second half of a blowout win over the Bears in Week 3. The 34-year-old Gabbert has made 48 career NFL starts, though Sunday's will be his first since the 2018 season.

  • Jeff Driskel QB | WAS

    Browns' Jeff Driskel: Set to start Sunday

    Driskel will serve as the Browns' starting quarterback for Sunday's game against the Bengals, Jake Trotter of ESPN.com reports.

    Given that the Browns are locked in as the No. 5 playoff seed in the AFC playoffs, veteran starter Joe Flacco is slated to be rested in Week 18. As a result, Driskel will get the nod in Sunday's regular-season finale and will be backed up by PJ Walker. Driskel represents a lineup option -- albeit a risky one -- for those inclined to take a chance in DFS contests on a quarterback with some rushing upside. The 30-year-old signal-caller has completed just 59.2 percent of his passes for 6.1 yards per attempt over 23 games (11 starts) in parts of five seasons with the Bengals, Lions, Broncos and Texans, but he's carried 73 times for 384 yards (5.3 average) and three touchdowns.

  • Joe Flacco QB | CIN

    Browns' Joe Flacco: Set to sit out Sunday

    Flacco won't start Sunday's game against the Bengals, Jake Trotter of ESPN.com reports.

    With the Browns locked into the No. 5 playoff seed in the AFC playoffs, Flacco will be rested in Week 18. As a result, Jeff Driskel will start Sunday's game, with PJ Walker backing him up. Flacco's next game action will come during the wild-card round the following weekend.

  • Chiefs' Patrick Mahomes: Will be rested in Week 18

    Head coach Andy Reid said Wednesday that Mahomes won't play in Sunday's regular-season finale versus the Chargers, Nate Taylor of The Athletic reports.

    The Chiefs are locked in as the No. 3 seed in the AFC playoffs regardless of how all the Week 18 games play out, so Mahomes and some other key starters will be rested while little is at stake in the regular-season finale. Blaine Gabbert is slated to make his first start of the season Sunday in Mahomes' stead, but he may not have his full complement of weapons available.

  • Zach Wilson QB | NO

    Jets' Zach Wilson: Won't play in season finale

    Head coach Robert Saleh said Wednesday that Wilson hasn't cleared the NFL's concussion protocol and won't play in Sunday's season finale against the Patriots, Eric Allen of the Jets' official site reports.

    With Wilson unavailable for Week 18, Trevor Siemian will make a third straight start under center. Meanwhile, Saleh was non-committal Wednesday regarding Wilson's future with the franchise, noting that he believed that the signal-caller has a long career ahead of him, but whether that will be with the Jets or elsewhere remains to be seen. In any case, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft finishes up his 2023 campaign with 2,271 passing yards and 211 rushing yards to go along with eight touchdowns and seven interceptions in 12 games.

  • Trevor Siemian QB | ATL

    Jets' Trevor Siemian: Will start again Week 18

    Jets head coach Robert Saleh said Wednesday that Siemian will start Sunday's season finale against the Patriots with Zach Wilson (concussion) having been ruled out for Week 18, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.

    Siemian will make a third consecutive start to close out the season. Across two previous starts and two relief appearances, Siemian has produced a 2:4 TD:INT while averaging a paltry 4.9 yards per pass attempt. With Siemian and Bailey Zappe at quarterback for the Jets and Patriots, respectively, Sunday's game is unlikely to feature much offensive firepower.

  • Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield: Ribs still bothersome Wednesday

    Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said Mayfield (ribs) wouldn't have participated if the Buccaneers held practice Wednesday, Greg Auman of Fox Sports reports.

    Tampa Bay has a walk-through scheduled Wednesday, and Mayfield will likely be listed as a non-participant when the Buccaneers release their estimated injury report later in the day. Bowles added that Kyle Trask will likely get more reps in practice Thursday in anticipation of a possible absence from Mayfield on Sunday against the Panthers. The Buccaneers would clinch the NFC South crown with a win in Carolina, so Mayfield will do all he can to be available by Sunday. However, Bowles seemed less sure about Mayfield's availability for the regular-season finale than he did when asked about the quarterback's injury Monday.

  • Falcons' Taylor Heinicke: In line for limited practice

    Heinicke (ankle) will be a limited participant at practice Wednesday, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports.

    The fact that Heinicke is slated to practice in any capacity to open Week 18 prep offers hope that the quarterback could play in Sunday's regular-season finale against the Saints. However, ift Heinicke is deemed unavailable this weekend while he tends to a left ankle injury, Desmond Ridder would draw the start in the Falcons' must-win contest.

  • Tyrod Taylor QB | NYJ

    Giants' Tyrod Taylor: Getting Week 18 start

    Giants head coach Brian Daboll said Wednesday that Taylor will remain the team's starting quarterback for Sunday's season finale versus the Eagles, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports.

    Though the Giants have been eliminated from playoff contention, Daboll will stick with the veteran signal-caller in Week 18 rather than pivoting back to undrafted rookie Tommy DeVito. While making his fourth start and 10th appearance of the season in this past Sunday's 26-25 loss to the Rams, Taylor completed 27 of 41 passes for 319 yards, one touchdown and one interception while adding 40 yards on six rushing attempts.

  • Jaguars' Trevor Lawrence: Will practice on limited basis

    Lawrence (shoulder) is scheduled for limited practice participation Wednesday, Mia O'Brien of 1010 XL 92.5 FM Jacksonville reports.

    Head coach Doug Pederson referred to Lawrence as day-to-day at the beginning of the week and again Wednesday when he spoke to the media. The quarterback missed Sunday's 26-0 win over Carolina with an injury to his throwing shoulder, but the Jaguars seemingly have some hope of getting both Lawrence and wideout Christian Kirk (groin) back in the lineup for Sunday's all-important game against the Titans. A win would make the Jaguars the No. 4 seed, while a loss would leave them needing help to land the seventh and final spot in the AFC playoffs.

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