NFL Player News

Head coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that Pickett (ankle) is "in the same position" with his injury as last week, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

Tomlin stopped short of guaranteeing that Mason Rudolph will make a second straight start, but the Steelers appear set to go with Rudolph again while Pickett's health remains something of a question mark. After missing the previous two games while recovering from right ankle surgery, Pickett was cleared to resume individual work last week but didn't make enough progress to attain active status. Tomlin noted that the Steelers will see where Pickett is at from a mobility standpoint by the end of the practice week before determining his status or role for Sunday's game. Even if Pickett isn't able to mix into drills with the first-team offense this week, it's possible that he could still be active as Rudolph's backup over Mitch Trubisky if the Steelers feel comfortable with Pickett's ability to move around the pocket.

Head coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that Rudolph is "scheduled to be" the team's starting quarterback for Sunday's game in Seattle, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

Tomlin stopped short of confirming that Rudolph would direct the offense, as the Steelers will wait and see what kind of progress Kenny Pickett (ankle) makes as the week rolls along. Rudolph made his first start since 2021 in last Saturday's contest against the Bengals and made the most of the opportunity, completing 17 of 27 pass attempts for 290 yards and two touchdowns with no turnovers in the Steelers' 34-11 win, with his yardage total marking a season high for any Pittsburgh quarterback.

DiNucci reverted to Denver's practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.

DiNucci was elevated for Sunday's 26-23 loss to the Patriots, but he ultimately remained inactive as an emergency QB option. He's unlikely to see the field for the Broncos this season unless one of Russell Wilson and/or Jarrett Stidham end up missing time. He hasn't appeared in a game since 2020 with Dallas.

Wilson (concussion) remains in the NFL's five-step concussion protocol Tuesday and his status for Thursday's game against the Browns is up in the air, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.

Wilson was listed as a non-participant on Monday's estimated practice report due to a concussion sustained just before halftime of the Jets' Week 15 divisional loss to the Dolphins. Coach Robert Saleh said Monday that Wilson is "progressing," but unless he's able to get back on the practice field in at least a limited capacity, it will be difficult for the quarterback to gain clearance in time for Thursday Night Football. Trevor Siemian will get a second straight start if Wilson is unable to play.

Darnold completed eight of 14 pass attempts for 81 yards, a touchdown and an interception while adding nine rushing yards on one attempt in Monday's 33-19 loss to the Ravens.

Darnold entered the contest well into the second half after Brock Purdy threw four interceptions and then exited with a neck injury. The veteran backup threw his first touchdown pass of the 2023 season -- and also as a member of the 49ers -- to rookie wideout Ronnie Bell in garbage time of Monday's defeat. Initial reports out of San Francisco indicate that Purdy should be good to go against the Commanders in Week 17, which would leave Darnold in his usual role holding a touchscreen on the sideline.

San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan said he's confident Purdy will be available Week 17 against Washington after leaving in the fourth quarter of Monday's 33-19 loss to Baltimore with a neck stinger, NFL.com reports.

After exiting the contest, Purdy was spotted with his helmet on and looked ready to check back into the game, but the 49ers stuck with backup Sam Darnold at quarterback for the remainder of the contest. Shanahan said he didn't consider putting Purdy back in the game given his injury, along with the fact that the 49ers had three key offensive linemen out. Even before departing with the stinger, Purdy endured his worst start of the season, completing 18 of 32 pass attempts for 255 yards, no touchdowns and a career-high four interceptions.

Jackson completed 23 of 35 passes for 252 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in Monday's 33-19 win over the 49ers. He added seven rushes for 45 yards.

Baltimore ran a pass-heavy offense by their standard, as Jackson reached 30 pass attempts for only the seventh time this season despite playing from ahead for nearly the entire game. He responded with an efficient performance and his sixth multiple-passing touchdown effort of the campaign, which he connected on from six and nine yards away. While Jackson didn't need to use his rushing ability as much given the game script, he still narrowly missed out on 300 total yards. Given Brock Purdy's (neck) struggles on the opposite end of the contest, Jackson may have become the MVP favorite with his performance.

Purdy is questionable to return to Monday's game against the Ravens after suffering a stinger, Josh Dubow of The Associated Press reports.

Purdy jogged to the medical tent early in the fourth quarter and had a conversation with coach Kyle Shanahan after exiting. Purdy's replacement, Sam Darnold, remained on the field with the 49ers offense following that conversation. Thus, it looks like the team is erring on the side of caution with the MVP candidate. Purdy completed 18 of 32 passes for 255 yards and zero touchdowns, while also throwing four interceptions before his departure.

Purdy exited Monday's matchup with the Ravens in the fourth quarter due to an undisclosed injury, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports

Purdy left the game and headed straight towards the blue medical tent. He jogged off the field under his own power, so it is unclear what issue he is dealing with. The MVP candidate was subsequently replaced under center by Sam Darnold.

Hurts completed 24 of 38 passes for 301 yards and a touchdown with an interception in Monday's 33-25 win over the Giants. He added 34 rushing yards and another TD on eight carries.

On the Eagles' first possession of the game, Hurts rode a brotherly shove from the one-yard line to his 15th rushing touchdown of the season, breaking the previous NFL record of 14 for single-season rushing touchdowns by a quarterback, set by Cam Newton in 2011. Hurts then got busy producing his first 300-yard passing game since Week 8 while hitting DeVonta Smith for a 36-yard score in the second quarter. However, Hurts hasn't thrown multiple TDs in four straight games, as Philadelphia's passing attack has hit a lull at perhaps the worst possible time. The Eagles can still lock up the NFC East title if they win their final two games, giving Hurts incentive to crank it up Week 17 against the Cardinals.