NFL Player News

Browning completed 32 of 37 passes for 354 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions in the Bengals' 34-31 overtime win over the Jaguars on Monday night. He also rushed twice for 22 yards and another score and brought in his only target for minus-7 yards.

Browning was near perfect in a performance no one could have seen coming, with the fourth-year pro averaging 9.6 yards per attempt and connecting with eight different targets on the night. His one touchdown toss, a 76-yard pass to Ja'Marr Chase down the left sideline early in the third quarter, broke a 14-14 tie at the time, and the emerging signal-caller added a one-yard rushing touchdown early in the fourth before eventually calmly leading a game-winning 12-play drive in overtime. Browning has completed a jaw-dropping 81.0 percent of his passes over his first two starts while compiling three total touchdowns and only one interception in those contests, affording him an avalanche of momentum heading into a Week 14 home matchup against the Colts.

Beathard completed nine of 10 passes for 63 yards and rushed once for seven yards, without a touchdown or turnover, after replacing the injured Trevor Lawrence (ankle) in the fourth quarter of Monday's 34-31 overtime loss to the Bengals.

Beathard immediately put the ball on the ground at the end of a scramble on his first play after entering the game with 2:28 remaining, but a teammate managed to jump on top of it and keep alive a drive that culminated in a game-tying 40-yard field goal. The Jaguars won the overtime coin toss and got the ball, but that drive stalled out before the Bengals kicked a game-winning field goal on their ensuing possession. Lawrence hasn't missed a game since being drafted first overall in 2021, but that streak's in jeopardy of ending Week 14 against the Browns, so Beathard could be called upon to make his first start since he started the final two games of 2020 for the 49ers.

Larence (ankle) will undergo an MRI on Tuesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Lawrence exited Monday's game due to a left ankle sprain that he sustained when Jaguars tackle Walker Little (hamstring) stepped on the quarterback's right ankle, which was followed not long after by a Bengals defender bending him backward. No further information on the severity of the injury is expected until Lawrence is evaluated Tuesday. C.J. Beathard replaced Lawrence under center after the latter exited the contest and presumably will do so going forward if needed.

Lawrence is questionable to return to Monday's game against the Bengals due to an ankle injury, John Oehser of the Jaguars' official site reports.

Lawrence was helped to the locker room by Jacksonville's training staff after Jaguars tackle Walker Little stepped on the quarterback's right ankle and he was bent backward by a Bengals defender in quick succession. It remains to be seen if Lawrence will be available to reenter the game. C.J. Beathard will fill in under center as long as Lawrence is sidelined.

DiNucci reverted to the Broncos' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.

DiNucci served as the emergency No. 3 quarterback option in Sunday's loss to the Texans, but his services were ultimately not required. His next chance to get elevated to the active roster will come in Week 14.

Flacco reverted to the Browns' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction log.

Flacco was serviceable in his Browns debut Sunday at the Rams, completing 23 of 44 passes for 254 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He even had Cleveland in striking distance for a win, with the score sitting at 20-19 after he threw his second TD of the contest with 8:49 remaining in the fourth quarter. However, Flacco's interception two minutes later opened the floodgates for the Rams in an eventual 36-19 victory. Rookie quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson remains in the concussion protocol as of Monday, but even when he's cleared, the team may stick with Flacco under center considering his experience and the fact the Browns are still in the postseason mix.

The Giants waived Barkley on Monday, Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site reports.

With Tyrod Taylor (ribs) expected to return from the injured reserve list soon, per Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post, the Giants decided to part ways with Barkley. He's now set to become a free agent unless he's claimed by another team during the current waiver period, but he's also a candidate to be re-signed to the Giants' practice squad if he's not picked up.

Cunningham reverted to the Patriots' practice squad Monday.

Cunningham was active for Sunday's 6-0 loss to the Chargers but didn't log any snaps in the game, per Evan Lazar of the team's official site. Leading up to the contest, it was reported that the Patriots had a package of plays drawn up for Cunningham in their Week 13 game plan, but he ultimately wasn't called upon, either as a quarterback or as a wide receiver. Given the ongoing uncertainty surrounding New England's signal-caller situation, Cunningham is a candidate to be elevated once again ahead of Thursday night's game against the Steelers.

The Bengals signed McCarron to their active roster Monday.

As the only other quarterback on the active roster, McCarron figures to step in as the backup to Jake Browning at Jacksonville. Browning has actually played relatively well for a backup in his two games with extended action this season, so it's reasonable to expect Cincinnati will stick with him unless he regresses or gets hurt.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said Monday that Trubisky will start at quarterback Thursday against the Patriots, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.

Trubisky will step in for his first start of the season as a replacement for Kenny Pickett, who exited Sunday's 24-10 loss to the Cardinals with a high right-ankle sprain and underwent surgery Monday. Though Tomlin clarified that the injury won't end Pickett's season, the second-year signal-caller is expected to miss "a couple weeks," according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Trubisky thus could be in line for an additional start or two beyond Thursday's game, which features a matchup of two teams who both rank in the bottom third in the league in both points and yards per game. Though Trubisky has shown flashes of fantasy relevance in the past thanks to his scrambling ability, he hasn't been particularly impressive over roughly five quarters of work while filing in for a banged-up Pickett this season. Across those three appearances, Trubisky completed 29 of 49 passes (59.2 percent) for 273 yards (5.6 YPA), two touchdowns and two interceptions while carrying six times for 23 yards.