NFL Player News

Hooker (coach's decision) is inactive for Saturday night's game against the Cowboys.

Hooked was activated from the NFI list ahead of Week 16 but will be inactive for the second straight week. He's only available as the emergency third quarterback behind Jared Goff and Teddy Bridgewater.

The Commanders signed Fromm from their practice squad to their active roster Saturday.

Fromm had been on Washington's practice squad all season, and he hasn't gotten into a regular-season NFL game since 2021. The Commanders announced a quarterback change from Sam Howell to Jacoby Brissett mid-week, but Brissett has since picked up a hamstring injury and is a game-time call for Sunday's contest versus San Francisco. If Brissett is unable to suit up in the Week 17 matchup, Fromm figures to serve as Howell's backup.

Brissett (hamstring) is trending toward being a game-time decision for Sunday's game against the 49ers, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.

Per Zach Selby of the Commanders' official site, Brissett, who had been named the team's Week 17 starting QB on Wednesday, was added to the injury report Friday as questionable after dealing with hamstring tightness. If Brissett is unavailable for Sunday's 1:00 p.m. ET contest, Sam Howell will step back in as Washington's starter.

Coach Mike Vrabel said Friday that Levis (ankle) is "in line to start" Sunday at Houston, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.

Levis was sidelined this past Sunday against the Seahawks due to a sprained right ankle that contained him to one limited session during Week 16 prep. As the Titans reconvened this week, he opened it with a full practice Wednesday and maintained that activity level thereafter, clearing him to resume his standing as Tennessee's starting quarterback. Levis thus will push veteran QB Ryan Tannehill to the No. 2 job and face a Texans defense that contained him to 199 yards, no touchdowns and one interception on 17-for-26 passing and four carries for 25 yards and a touchdown in his last appearance in Week 15.

Murray (illness) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game at Philadelphia, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.

Murray returned to practice Friday as a limited participant after missing the previous two sessions. He'll now have another 45 hours or so to recover ahead of a 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff, with Clayton Tune on hand to fill in if Murray experiences a setback Saturday or Sunday morning. Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon said Friday morning that he expects Murray to play, per Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com.

Beathard will be the Jaguars' starting quarterback Sunday against the Panthers with Trevor Lawrence (shoulder) ruled out for that contest, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Lawrence emerged from a Week 16 loss at Tampa Bay with an AC joint sprain in his right throwing shoulder, which kept him off the practice field Wednesday through Friday. Now that Lawrence won't be available Sunday, Beathard is poised for his first start since Week 17 of the 2020 season for the 49ers. In six appearances subbing in for Lawrence this season, Beathard has completed 23 of 29 passes for 171 yards and one touchdown and also rushed five times for 11 yards.

Lawrence (right shoulder) won't play Sunday against the Panthers, Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com reports.

With Lawrence set to miss the first regular-season game of his NFL career, C.J. Beathard will start at QB for the Jaguars on Sunday. Lawrence will now target a potential return to action Week 18 versus the Titans.

Pickett (ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Seahawks, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.

While Pickett, who is dealing with an ankle injury, is questionable for the contest, coach Mike Tomlin confirmed Friday that Mason Rudolph will start at quarterback for the Steelers in Week 17. As a result, Pickett could serve in a backup capacity Sunday, but if he's made inactive, Mitch Trubisky would be Pittsburgh's No. 2 QB versus Seattle.

Howell would start Sunday's game against the 49ers if Jacoby Brissett (hamstring) -- who is listed as questionable -- doesn't play, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Brissett was added to the injury report Friday due to hamstring tightness. Howell started Washington's first 15 games of the season but was set to move to a backup role after being benched mid-game in both of his last two outings. If Brissett is unable to play this weekend, Howell will make his 16th start of the season, though the second-year signal-caller is unlikely to bounce back against the tough 49ers defense after posting a 2:8 TD:INT over his last five starts.

The Browns signed Driskel to their active roster from the Cardinals' practice squad Friday, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

With Deshaun Watson (shoulder) and Dorian Thompson-Robinson (hip) both likely out for the rest of the season, Cleveland saw fit to add some depth at quarterback ahead of the postseason. Over twenty passes with Houston last year, Driskel averaged a dismal 5.4 yards per attempt. It should be noted that the Texans also used Driskel as a gadget player who had 20 rush attempts in 2022. The Broncos before the Texans used Driskel in a similar fashion, not unlike how the Browns used Thompson-Robinson after Joe Flacco assumed the starting role.