NFL Player News

Winston is expected to remain in a backup role for Sunday's game against the Panthers after the Saints announced Saturday that quarterback Derek Carr (concussion/rib/shoulder) was cleared to start the Week 14 contest, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

In addition to exiting this past Sunday's loss to the Lions with a non-displaced rib cartilage fracture and an injury to his throwing shoulder, Carr was also diagnosed with a concussion, marking the second time in less than a month that he was subject to the five-step protocol for head injuries. Winston, who completed two of five pass attempts for 41 yards over his nine snaps in relief of Carr in Week 13, ended up taking some first-team reps in practice this week to keep himself prepared for a potential start against the Panthers. However, with Carr demonstrating enough progress in his recovery from the three injuries to turn in a full practice Friday, he was then cleared from the concussion protocol later that day before the Saints officially removed him from their Week 14 injury report Saturday. Winston hasn't started a game since Week 3 of the 2022 season and will once again have to wait on another chance to direct the New Orleans offense with Carr getting the green light to play.

Flacco appears to be in line to start Sunday's game against the Jaguars, though the Browns haven't formally announced their plans at quarterback, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson had made two straight starts before missing the Browns' Week 13 game against the Rams with a concussion, paving the way for Flacco to direct the offense following his elevation from the practice squad. Though the Browns ultimately lost to the Rams, 36-19, Flacco was reasonably effective in moving the offense, as he completed 23 of 44 pass attempts for 254 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Thompson-Robinson cleared concussion protocol and turned in a full practice to close out the week to erase any concerns about his availability for Sunday, but head coach Kevin Stefanski continued to play coy with the Browns' quarterback situation when he spoke to the media Friday, noting that either Thompson-Robinson or Flacco would serve as the team's Week 14 starter. Given that he's coming off a decent showing in his Browns debut and still took most of the first-team reps in practice this week before being elevated from the practice squad once again Saturday, Flacco appears more likely than Thompson-Robinson to get the nod, but official confirmation on a starting quarterback may not come until closer to the game's 1 p.m. ET kickoff.

Carr (rib/right shoulder) was upgraded to available Saturday and doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Panthers, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Carr cleared the concussion protocol late Friday, but he had listed as questionable on the Saints' final Week 14 injury report after he aggravated a right shoulder injury from earlier in the season and suffered a non-displaced rib cartilage fracture when he took a hard hit from edge rusher Bruce Irvin in last week's loss to the Lions. Though Carr has now been in concussion protocol twice within the past month, the Saints were evidently comfortable enough with his health after he turned in a full practice Friday. The Saints aren't expected to have do-it-all playmaker Taysom Hill (foot/hand) and Rashid Shaheed (thigh) available, but Carr should have top wideout Chris Olave (illness) on the field. That said, with 230.1 passing yards per game and 11 touchdown passes through 12 outings this season, Carr hasn't been anything more than a mid-level fantasy quarterback, and the fact that he's probably not entering Sunday's game at 100 percent health won't help matters.

Lock has been staying prepared to start Sunday's game against the 49ers while Geno Smith (groin) is listed as questionable for the contest but viewed as a game-time decision, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Lock took the majority of Seattle's first-team reps during Friday's practice after Smith tweaked his groin during Thursday's session. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Smith is dealing with what is "roughly considered a two-week injury," but Seattle's top signal-caller remains hopeful to play Sunday at well below 100 percent health. Before the Seahawks make a decision on a Week 14 starting quarterback, the coaching and medical staffs will see how Smith fares in pregame warmups. Confirmation on whether Smith or Lock will start Sunday's contest will likely come with the release of the Seahawks' inactive list approximately 90 minutes prior to the 4:05 p.m. ET kickoff. If Lock is indeed called upon to start Sunday, it will be his first start since joining Seattle in a trade from Denver back in March 2022.

Hill (foot/hand) isn't expected to play Sunday against the Panthers, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Hill entered the weekend listed as questionable despite not being able to take part in practice at all this week. As such, it's not especially surprising that Hill isn't trending toward playing, and if he ends up sitting out Sunday, it would mark his first missed game of the campaign. Hill's versatile role will be tough to replace, but his probable absence could be softened to some extent by the expectation that fellow tight end Juwan Johnson (quadricep) will be able to play.

Taylor (ribs), who remains on injured reserve, doesn't have a designation for Monday's game against the Packers.

After the Giants designated him for return from IR on Monday, Taylor proceeded to log full practices Thursday through Saturday. Along the way, coach Brian Daboll called Tommy DeVito the team's starting quarterback for Week 14, thus relegating Taylor to backup duties, assuming he's activated. New York has until 4:00 p.m. ET on Monday to make such a transaction and get Taylor back on the active roster.

Smith is officially listed as questionable and is hopeful to play through a groin injury Sunday against San Francisco, but Seattle isn't expected to make a decision on his availability until after he complete pregame warmups, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Schefter notes that Smith's groin issue is "considered a two-week injury," which highlights the challenge the signal-caller faces in trying to take the field against the 49ers. Head coach Pete Carroll said Friday that Smith would be a game-time decision for the contest, so the quarterback would appear to have a legitimate chance at missing his first game since becoming Seattle's starting quarterback in 2022. Official word on Smith's status will arrive with the release of the Seahawks' inactive list approximately 90 minutes before Sunday's 4:05 p.m. ET kickoff. If Smith can't play, Drew Lock would take the reins behind center for Seattle.

The Jaguars are planning for Lawrence (ankle) to start Sunday against Cleveland, but he's viewed as a game-time call leading up to the 1 p.m. ET kickoff, and a final decision on his status will be made after he goes through pregame warmups, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Lawrence suffered a right high-ankle sprain in Monday's overtime loss to Cincinnati, so his ability to suit up six days later would be an impressive feat considering that the injury often results in a multi-week absence. The star quarterback finished Week 14 prep with a pair of limited practices following a missed session Wednesday and entered the weekend with a questionable designation, so it's not yet a certainty that he'll be cleared to play if things don't get well in warmups. If Lawrence does suit up, it will be a big boost to the entire Jaguars pass-catching corps, which will be without Christian Kirk (groin) for the first time this season.

Mannion was elevated to the Seahawks' active roster Saturday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

It's perhaps a bad sign for the status of Geno Smith (groin) who didn't practice all week. The Seahawks already have backup Drew Lock on the roster and ready to play in case of Smith's absence, so Mannion would be the backup quarterback in that scenario. The 31-year-old last recorded a snap with Minnesota in 2021, when he completed 22 of 36 attempts for 189 yards and a touchdown.

Carr (ribs/right shoulder) was upgraded to available and doesn't carry an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Panthers, John Hendrix of SI.com reports.

Carr cleared concussion protocol late Friday, but he had still been listed as questionable on the Saints' final Week 14 injury report after a non-displaced rib cartilage fracture to go with a right shoulder injury resulted in him turning in just one full practice this week. Though Carr is now officially cleared for Sunday's game, it's fair to wonder how healthy he truly is, given the litany of injuries he's battled this season along with the fact that he's now been in the concussion protocol twice in the past month alone. Even while playing in each of the Saints' last three contests, Carr has totaled just 640 passing yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Though the 1-11 Panthers represent a favorable matchup on paper, Carolina's defense has gotten some reinforcement in recent weeks thanks to the returns of defensive backs Jaycee Horn and Jeremy Chinn and star edger rusher Brian Burns from injuries.