NFL Player News

Colts head coach Shane Steichen suggested Tuesday that Richardson (orbital) is unlikely to be activated from injured reserve this week while Riley Leonard continues to back up Philip Rivers, who will make a third straight start at quarterback Sunday against the Jaguars, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.

Richardson made enough progress in his recovery from the fractured orbital bone he suffered in his right eye during an Oct. 12 pregame for the Colts to clear him to practice last week, but the third-year signal-caller didn't advance beyond limited participation. As Boyd notes, Richardson hasn't regained full vision in the eye despite returning to practice, so until that happens, the Colts will likely be reluctant to activate him. Pending the results of Saturday's Chargers-Texans game as well as Sunday's action, the Colts could be eliminated from playoff contention heading into Week 18, in which case Steichen could be motivated to go in a different direction at quarterback. Leonard would still appear to be more likely than Richardson to draw a start in the regular-season finale at Houston.

Colts head coach Shane Steichen said that Leonard will remain in a backup role Sunday against the Jaguars while Philip Rivers makes a third straight start at quarterback, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.

The Colts will be eliminated from playoff contention if the Texans beat the Chargers on Saturday, but Steichen confirmed that Rivers will continue to direct the offense regardless of the outcome of that contest. More specifically, Steichen said that it wouldn't be "fair" to ask rookie Leonard to start on 24 hours' notice if Rivers takes first-team reps throughout the week, which he has been doing since signing with the Colts in Week 15. Though the Colts have suffered losses to the playoff-bound squads in the Seahawks and 49ers in Rivers' two starts, the 44-year-old has given Indianapolis some stability under center following Daniel Jones' season-ending Achilles surgery. Rivers won't be part of the Colts' long-term plans, however, so if the team does get eliminated in Week 17, Steichen could entertain the idea of starting Leonard or third-year quarterback Anthony Richardson (orbital) -- if available -- in the regular-season finale against the Texans.

Head coach Shane Steichen confirmed Tuesday that Rivers will remain the Colts' starting quarterback for Sunday's game against the Jaguars, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.

The Colts will be eliminated from playoff contention if the Texans beat the Chargers on Saturday, but Steichen confirmed that Rivers will continue to direct the offense regardless of the outcome of that contest. More specifically, Steichen said that it wouldn't be "fair" to ask rookie Riley Leonard to start on 24 hours' notice if Rivers takes first-team reps throughout the week, which he has been doing since signing with the Colts in Week 15. Though the Colts have suffered losses to the playoff-bound squads in the Seahawks and 49ers in Rivers' two starts, the 44-year-old has given Indianapolis some stability under center following Daniel Jones' season-ending Achilles surgery. Rivers won't be part of the Colts' long-term plans, however, so if the team does get eliminated in Week 17, Steichen could entertain the idea of starting Leonard or third-year quarterback Anthony Richardson (orbital) -- if available -- in the regular-season finale against the Texans.

Bills head coach Sean McDermott said that Allen (foot) won't participate Tuesday in the team's unofficial walk-through practice, Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com reports.

Allen is tending to a sore right foot in the aftermath of the Bills' 23-20 win over the Browns on Sunday, when the quarterback took a back seat as a passer (12 completions on 19 attempts for a season-low 130 yards and no touchdowns) but continued to be involved as a ball carrier (seven totes for 17 yards). McDermott noted that Allen is still hurting two days after the game, but the Bills fully anticipate that the 29-year-old will suit up this Sunday against the Eagles. For his part, Allen told Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com that he was still sore Tuesday but "feels good" and "ready to go" for Sunday, despite walking with a limp as he moved about the Buffalo locker room.

Head coach Matt LaFleur said that Willis (shoulder) will be a limited participant in Tuesday's practice, Weston Hodkiewicz of the Packers' official site reports.

After Jordan Love (concussion) was forced out of this past Saturday's loss to the Bears, Willis completed nine of 11 passes for 121 yards and one touchdown while adding 44 yards on 10 carries. The dual-threat signal-caller appears to still be banged up after landing hard on his throwing shoulder late in the fourth quarter, however. Love appears to be making some progress through the NFL's concussion protocol and will join Willis as a limited participant at Tuesday's practice, but LaFleur noted that the presence of both quarterbacks on the field doesn't necessarily make him more confident that either will be available for a Week 17 game against the Ravens, per Zach Jacobson of 247Sports.com. For his part, Willis told Hodkiewicz on Tuesday that he expects to be ready to play Saturday, if needed to start in place of Love.

Head coach Matt LaFleur said that Love (concussion) will be a limited participant in Tuesday's practice, Wes Hodkiewicz of the Packers' official site reports.

Though Love was diagnosed with a concussion just three days earlier after being forced out of Saturday's 22-16 overtime loss to the Bears, he already appears to be making some progress through the league's five-step protocol. That being said, LaFleur doesn't necessarily feel any better about Love's chances of playing Saturday against the Ravens than he did 48 hours ago, with the coach noting that the Packers need to see how the quarterback progresses over the next few days, per Zach Jacobson of 247Sports.com. LaFleur offered similar sentiments about backup Malik Willis' odds of playing Saturday, as he will also be limited Tuesday after sustaining an injury to his throwing shoulder after coming on in relief of Love in Week 16. At this stage, practice-squad member Clayton Tune is the only quarterback in the organization who's fully healthy.

Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell announced that Brosmer will start at quarterback in Thursday's game against the Lions.

O'Connell revealed that J.J. McCarthy has been diagnosed with a hairline fracture on his throwing hand, and while the second-year quarterback hasn't been ruled out from returning for the Vikings' Week 18 game against the Packers, he won't be able to play through the injury on a short week. Brosmer came on in relief for an injured McCarthy in Week 16 and will be picking up his second start of the season Thursday. Through five total appearances on the season, the undrafted rookie out of Minnesota has completed 31 of 47 pass attempts for 220 yards (4.7 YPA), zero touchdowns and four interceptions while adding no positive rushing yardage. Even against an injury-ravaged Detroit defense, Brosmer doesn't profile as much more than a desperation fantasy play in Week 17.

Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell said Tuesday that McCarthy has been diagnosed with a small hairline fracture in his right hand following an MRI and has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Lions.

According to Ben Goessling of The Minnesota Star Tribune, O'Connell said that McCarthy's injury is "similar to a bone bruise," adding that the Vikings don't view the issue as significant enough to send the second-year quarterback to injured reserve, leaving the door open for the QB to play in their season finale Jan. 4 versus the Packers. Minnesota will turn to Max Brosmer to make his second start of the season, after the undrafted rookie came on in relief for an injured McCarthy in this past Sunday's 16-13 win over the Giants.

Mariota (hand/quadriceps) was a non-participant in Tuesday's walk-through practice.

With Mariota going down as a non-participant on the second consecutive Commanders practice report, he would appear unlikely to be available to play Thursday against the Cowboys. In preparation of a potential Mariota absence for Week 17, the Commanders signed Jeff Driskel off the Cardinals' practice squad Monday to bolster their depth at quarterback, but Josh Johnson is trending toward making his first start of the season and his first since 2021, per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. Johnson came on in relief of a banged-up Mariota in this past Saturday's 29-18 loss to the Eagles.

Rivers completed 23 of 35 passes for 277 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in the Colts' 48-27 loss to the 49ers on Monday night. He also committed a fumble recovered by Indianapolis.

An extra week of practice following a five-year layoff did wonders for Rivers, who looked appreciably sharper most of the night as compared to his season debut against the Seahawks in Week 15. Rivers led a crisp nine-play, 72-yard drive to open the game that he capped off with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Alec Pierce, and he followed it up with another 16-yard scoring strike to the fleet-footed receiver in the second quarter. Rivers' momentum slowed in the second half, but he did lead a 12-play, 65-yard march that culminated with a Jonathan Taylor one-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter. The veteran signal-caller ultimately sealed the Colts' loss via a pick-six at the 49ers' 26-yard line with 3:26 remaining, but Rivers displayed impressive command of the offense while connecting with eight different targets overall. Indianapolis' quest for a wild-card berth gets another tough obstacle in Week 17, however, as the division-leading Jaguars pay a visit to Indianapolis on Sunday afternoon.