NFL Player News

Duggan signed with the Chargers' practice squad Wednesday.

Duggan has bounced between the Chargers' practice squad and active roster since the team drafted him in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft. The rookie out of TCU suited up for last Saturday's 24-22 loss to the Bills, then got waived Monday before joining the practice squad Wednesday after passing through waivers unclaimed. Will Grier has since been added to the 53-man roster to replace Duggan as the backup to starting quarterback Easton Stick.

Stroud (concussion) was present for practice Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Stroud, who suffered a concussion in the Texans' Week 14 loss to the Jets, has missed two straight games, but the quarterback's return to the field for the first practice of the week bodes well for his chances of returning to the lineup Sunday against the Titans. The extent of Stroud's practice participation won't be known until Houston releases its first Week 17 injury report later Wednesday.

Wilson will serve as the backup quarterback in Sunday's game against the Chargers while Jarrett Stidham takes over as the team's starter, Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com reports.

The Broncos plan to bench Wilson for the final two games of the season to avoid any potential injuries and thus preserve the option to cut him before March, when his $37 million salary for 2025 becomes guaranteed. Wilson won't be inactive for the final two contests, however, so he could still wind up taking the field if Stidham gets hurt. Head coach Sean Payton could provide further insight into the team's quarterback situation when he speaks to the media after Wednesday's practice. While starting each of the team's first 15 games and playing all but four snaps on offense, Wilson has completed 66.4 percent of his passes for 6.9 yards per attempt, 26 touchdowns and eight interceptions to go with 80 carries for 341 yards and three scores.

Stidham is slated to start Sunday's game against the Chargers, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

According to Rapoport, the 7-8 Broncos plan to hold Russell Wilson out for the remaining two games of the 2023 season in order to preserve financial flexibility this offseason. Stidham thus represents a fantasy option for those who had been considering using Wilson in Week 17 lineups, or who might otherwise scrambling for quarterback help down the stretch. Though he's been active for all 15 of Denver's games to date, Stidham has thus far taken just four offensive snaps while Wilson has been healthy all season. Stidham's last extended NFL action came late in the 2022 season, when he made two starts for the Raiders and completed 45 of 70 pass attempts (64.3 percent) for 584 yards (8.4 YPA) and a 4:3 TD:INT to go with 84 yards on 14 carries.

The Broncos plan to hold Wilson out for the final two games of the season, with an eye toward preserving financial flexibility for the upcoming offseason, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Per Rapoport, Wilson has $37 million in 2025 salary that vests in March, and if the quarterback were to suffer a serious injury before the end of this season, it would complicate the Broncos' financial outlook. Even though Denver hasn't been eliminated from postseason contention heading into Week 17 action, the team sits at 7-8 and would need to not only win its next two games but also receive considerable help to secure a playoff berth. With that in mind, the Broncos will hold out Wilson and instead turn the reins of the offense over to Jarrett Stidham, who has played just four snaps in 2023 behind a healthy Wilson after joining Denver on a two-year, $10 million deal this past offseason.

DeVito will move into a backup role for Sunday's game against the Rams with head coach Brian Daboll announcing Wednesday that Tyrod Taylor will start Week 17.

DeVito had started New York's previous six games but was benched for Taylor at halftime of Monday's 33-25 loss to the Eagles. The undrafted rookie has a solid 8:3 TD:INT and has showed some scrambling ability (36 carries for 195 yards and a touchdown), but he's averaging a middling 6.2 yards per attempt and has taken 36 sacks on 212 dropbacks (a league-worst 17 percent rate). Assuming Taylor escapes Week 17 unscathed and turns in a decent showing versus the Rams, DeVito should remain in a backup role for the Week 18 rematch with Philadelphia.

Head coach Jonathan Gannon said that Murray won't practice Wednesday due to an illness, but the Cardinals aren't concerned about the quarterback's availability for Sunday's matchup against the Eagles, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.

Gannon implied that Murray will likely be back on the practice field Thursday, and added that there are no real worries of an absence due to the "holiday bug." Murray is coming off a solid performance in a loss to Chicago this past Sunday, when he threw for 208 yards and two touchdowns despite not having wide receiver Marquise Brown (heel) available. The signal-caller added five carries for 32 yards.

Giants head coach Brian Daboll said Wednesday that Taylor will start Sunday's game against the Rams, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Taylor replaced Tommy DeVito to begin the second half of the Giants' Christmas Day loss to the Eagles. He proceeded to complete seven of 16 passes for 133 yards, one touchdown and one interception, while also rushing twice for 21 yards. With the undrafted rookie DeVito having struggled to move the offense in both of his past two starts, the Giants will presumably finish the campaign with the more battle-tested Taylor under center, provided the veteran turns in a capable showing Sunday and also avoids injury. Over his nine appearances (three starts) thus far in 2023, Taylor has completed 61.7 percent of his passes for 6.8 yards per attempt and three touchdowns to go with 119 yards on 24 carries while turning the ball over just once (an interception) on 221 total snaps.

Commanders head coach Ron Rivera said Wednesday that Howell won't start Sunday's game against the 49ers, with Jacoby Brissett set to lead Washington's offense moving forward, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Howell has started each of Washington's first 15 games, but he's unraveled over the last three outings. In losses to the Dolphins, Rams and Jets, Howell has been pulled early in favor of Brissett on two occasions and completed just 29 of 71 attempts (40.8 percent) for 285 yards (4.0 YPA) while throwing for one touchdown against four interceptions and taking five sacks. Brissett, meanwhile, nearly led the Commanders to a come-from-behind win after entering in the third quarter of this past Sunday's 30-28 loss to the Jets, and the coaching staff now looks ready to give him a look in the starting role for the final two games of the season. Unless Howell is used off the bench, he'll finish the 2023 campaign with a 63.2 percent completion rate for 6.5 YPA and a 19:17 TD:INT to go with 265 rushing yards and five scores on the ground.

Commanders head coach Ron Rivera said Wednesday that Brissett will start Sunday's game against the 49ers, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

After coming on to replace the struggling Sam Howell in the third quarter of this past Sunday, Brissett came close to leading Washington to a comeback win before the Commanders ultimately fell to the Jets, 30-28. He made enough of an impression in relief to replace Howell as the team's starting quarterback, with Brissett completing 10 of 13 passes for 100 yards and a touchdown. With only two games left in the regular season, Brissett will presumably start Week 18 against the Cowboys, provided he acquits himself well enough versus San Francisco.