NFL Player News

Jackson won't play in Saturday's game against the Steelers, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports.

With the Ravens having secured the top seed in the AFC playoffs, Jackson will be rested in the team's regular-season finale. In his stead, Tyler Huntley will draw the start at quarterback this weekend, with Josh Johnson backing him up. Jackson -- the presumptive frontrunner for the NFL's MVP award -- will get an extended breather before the Ravens' postseason opener in the divisional round.

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said Huntley will start Saturday's game against the Steelers.

Baltimore has clinched the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs and will rest MVP frontrunner quarterback Lamar Jackson, paving the way for Huntley to make his first start of the season. Huntley will face a motivated Pittsburgh defense, as the Steelers have almost no path to the postseason without a win Saturday. The mobile backup has a 3-5 record over eight previous career starts, but Huntley has been effective in limited relief action this season, completing six of nine passes for 57 yards and two touchdowns while adding 15 rushing yards on seven attempts.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday that Purdy won't play in Sunday's game against the Rams, David Lombardi of The Athletic reports.

On Monday, Shanahan ruled out Christian McCaffrey for Week 18 due to the strained right calf that he suffered this past Sunday at Washington. Two days later, Shanahan did the same with the 49ers' starting quarterback, telling Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News, "Brock's the only guy for sure I don't plan on playing." With the team locked into the No. 1 seed in the NFC, Purdy thus will yield quarterback duties to backup Sam Darnold this weekend. Purdy next will take the field in the divisional round of the postseason.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed Wednesday that Darnold will serve as the 49ers' starting quarterback for Sunday's regular-season finale versus the Rams, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.

The 49ers have already clinched the No. 1 seed in the NFC with a 12-4 record, so they will give starting quarterback Brock Purdy a breather before the playoffs. Star running back Christian McCaffrey (calf) has already been ruled out, and it's possible that Darnold won't have Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel or George Kittle at his disposal either against a Rams team that's also in rest mode prior to the postseason and will start Carson Wentz at quarterback.

Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said Wednesday that Mullens will start Sunday's season finale against the Lions.

As Minnesota's quarterback carousel continues to spin, it has landed back on Mullens for the season finale. Mullens played the entire second half of the team's Week 17 loss to the Packers after the Vikings' curious decision to start rookie Jaren Hall backfired. In two previous starts this season, Mullens threw for an impressive 714 yards and four touchdowns but also had six interceptions.

Wentz will start at quarterback in Sunday's regular-season finale against the 49ers, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

Matthew Stafford will get a week off for the Rams, who are locked into a wild-card spot in the NFC. Wentz will make the 93rd start of his career and his first start since Week 17 of the 2022 season, when he was with Washington. Over stops with the Eagles, Colts and Commanders, Wentz owns a 151:66 career TD:INT.

Stafford won't play Sunday against the 49ers, as the Rams will rest him in preparation for the postseason and start Carson Wentz at quarterback in Week 18, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

The Rams have clinched a playoff berth at 9-7 but have no chance at claiming the NFC West crown, which belongs to the 49ers. Stafford finishes the regular season with 3,965 passing yards and a 24:11 TD:INT to go with 65 rushing yards on 21 attempts across his 15 appearances.

Allen (neck/finger) was listed as a full participant on Wednesday's estimated injury report.

Allen had some soreness in his neck after Sunday's 27-21 win over the Patriots, but his full participation in Wednesday's walkthrough suggests he isn't in danger of sitting out this weekend's regular-season finale in Miami. His presence under center Sunday will be pivotal, as the Bills would win the AFC East with a victory but could miss the postseason altogether with a loss, depending on how things unfold in other Week 18 games. Since the Bills and Dolphins will kick off at 8:20 p.m. ET in the final game of the regular season, Buffalo will already know where it stands in the playoff picture before the game begins.

Taylor (back) was listed as a limited participant on Wednesday's estimated injury report, Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports reports.

Earlier Wednesday, head coach Brian Daboll named Taylor the starting quarterback for Sunday's game against the Eagles, suggesting that the Giants don't anticipate the back injury hindering the signal-caller's availability for the season finale. Nonetheless, Taylor's participation level in practice Thursday and Friday will be worth monitoring as the Giants prepare for a rematch with a reeling Philadelphia defense against whom Taylor threw for 133 yards in one half of action two weeks ago.

Brissett (hamstring) was a limited participant in practice Wednesday, John Keim of ESPN.com reports.

Though he was initially named the Commanders' starting quarterback for Week 17, Brissett was ultimately inactive for Sunday's 27-10 loss to the 49ers due to the hamstring injury he suffered in practice last Thursday. While the fact that Brissett is practicing in some capacity to kick off Week 18 prep is a positive sign, he'll be stuck in a backup role if he's cleared to play in this Sunday's season finale versus the Cowboys. Head coach Ron Rivera has already announced that Sam Howell will retain starting duties for Week 18.