NFL Player News

The Patriots claimed Rourke off of waivers from the Jaguars on Monday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Just a couple days after being waived by Jacksonville, Rourke has already found another opportunity in New England. He still hasn't made his regular-season NFL debut, but with the Patriots eliminated from playoff contention and looking for answers at the quarterback position, it wouldn't be a huge surprise to see him check in before season's end.

Coach Kevin O'Connell confirmed Monday that Mullens will start Sunday's game against the Lions.

As expected, Mullens will make a second consecutive start. He threw for 303 yards and two touchdowns in Saturday's 27-24 overtime loss to the Bengals but had a pair of interceptions in Cincinnati territory. The 7-7 Vikings are in the playoff hunt and believe Mullens gives them the best chance to win over fellow quarterbacks Joshua Dobbs and Jaren Hall.

The Chargers waived Duggan on Monday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

In a corresponding move, the Chargers signed Will Grier from New England's practice squad. Duggan is now set to become a free agent unless he's claimed by another team during the current waiver period.

Coach Arthur Smith said Monday that he's mulling a change in quarterback from Desmond Ridder to Heinicke, but the Falcons have yet to name a starter for Sunday's game against the Colts, D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Heinicke has made two starts this season, but Ridder had reclaimed the starting job prior to this past Sunday's 9-7 loss to the Panthers. Poor weather conditions played a part in the game's low-scoring nature, but Ridder contributed to the losing result with a red-zone interception. Smith added that third-stringer Logan Woodside isn't in contention to start Week 16 against the Colts. How the practice reps are divided between Heinicke and Ridder could provide a clue as to which quarterback will be named the starter.

Coach Mike Tomlin said Monday that Pittsburgh plans to start Mason Rudolph over Trubisky against the Bengals on Saturday, ESPN.com reports.

Tomlin added that Kenny Pickett (ankle) will reclaim the starting role whenever he's healthy enough to do so, which could be as soon as Saturday's game. Trubisky entered in relief of Pickett in Week 13, then started the next two games, all of which the Steelers lost. He'll presumably drop to third on the quarterback depth chart once Pickett's healthy, but Trubisky could remain in a backup role behind Rudolph against the Bengals if Pickett doesn't gain clearance to play.

The Steelers plan to start Mason Rudolph against the Bengals on Saturday, but coach Mike Tomlin said Monday that the team is leaving "the door ajar" for Pickett (ankle) if Pickett proves healthy enough to play, ESPN.com reports.

Tomlin didn't rule Pickett out for Saturday and said the quarterback's ankle injury is improving, per Bridget Condon of NFL Network. Pickett has missed the last two games, and the Steelers have dropped three straight with mostly Mitch Trubisky under center. The team's endorsement of Rudolph suggests Pickett most likely won't be ready to play Saturday, but Pickett's participation level in practice will be worth monitoring, as he remains Pittsburgh's top quarterback option when healthy.

Coach Mike Vrabel said Monday that Levis (ankle) is dealing with a sprained ankle and compared the injury to the pair of ankle sprains Ryan Tannehill suffered last season, John Glennon of the Nashville Post reports.

Levis was injured on Tennessee's final offensive snap in Sunday's 19-16 overtime loss to the Texans. Tannehill missed two games after spraining his ankle Week 7 of the 2022 season and sat out the remainder of that campaign due to his Week 15 injury. If Levis' ankle sprain is of comparable severity, he'd be unlikely to suit up Week 16 against the Seahawks, ironically opening the door for Tannehill to reclaim the starting quarterback role. Levis' participation level in practice Wednesday through Friday should help clarify his potential availability for Sunday's game.

The Chargers signed Grier to their active roster from New England's practice squad Monday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

The first major move by new interim general manager JoJo Wooden comes on the heels of a Week 15 game in which Easton Stick turned the ball over three times. The Chargers are in the midst of a major shakeup going into the home stretch of the season after the departures of former general manager Tom Telesco and coach Brandon Staley, so it's not clear what the team has planned for the quarterback position for the rest of the year.

Coach Mike Tomlin said Monday that the Steelers are currently planning for Rudolph to start Saturday's divisional matchup against the Bengals, though Kenny Pickett (ankle) hasn't been ruled out, Teresa Varley of the team's official site reports.

Rudolph has surpassed Mitch Trubisky, whom he took over for in the fourth quarter of Saturday's loss to the Colts, on Pittsburgh's depth chart. Still, the team reportedly is holding out hope for the chance that Pickett could prove healthy enough to return to the lineup. In limited action versus Indianapolis, Rudolph completed two of three passes for three yards.

Levis (ankle) is believed to have suffered a right ankle sprain during Sunday's 19-16 overtime loss to the Texans, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Levis will receive an MRI on Monday to confirm the severity of his injury, but he said after Sunday's divisional loss: "I'm all right. It could have been a lot worse." He was able to leave the field under his own power Sunday, but Levis' chances of suiting up Week 16 versus the Seahawks likely won't become clear until the results of his MRI are revealed. Ryan Tannehill and Malik Willis are the healthy options on the QB depth chart in the event that Levis needs to miss any time.