NFL Player News

Rodgers (Achilles) was a limited participant Wednesday in his return to practice and remains hopeful to make his return to game action Week 16 against the Commanders on Dec. 24, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.

The Jets designated Rodgers for return from injured reserve earlier Wednesday, opening a 21-day window that he can be added back to the roster before defaulting back to the IR for the rest of the season. Both outcomes remain possible at this point, with Rodgers having noted multiple times that his return would depend on both his health and the Jets having a shot to make the playoffs. He's been cleared for "functional football activity" but not contact, and his return to practice Wednesday didn't include participation in 11-on-11 drills. The Week 16 contest Rodgers is targeting will be played three and a half months after his injury, which would make him the first NFL player to suit up for a game less than five months after suffering an Achilles' tendon tear.

Jones wasn't seen attempting passes during the media-access portion of Wednesday's practice, while Bailey Zappe logged multiple reps at quarterback and was followed in drills by practice-squad member Malik Cunningham, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.

Head coach Bill Belichick has declined to name a starting quarterback for this weekend's game against the Chargers, but based on what transpired during the initial stages of Wednesday's practice, Zappe -- who replaced Jones after halftime during the Patriots' 10-7 loss to the Giants on Sunday -- may be the frontrunner for the assignment. Jones has started all 11 games for the 2-9 Patriots this season, but he's been pulled early in four of those contests.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday that Walker has been surpassed by Joe Flacco on Cleveland's quarterback depth chart, Jake Trotter of ESPN.com reports.

Walker struggled in relief in Week 12 against the Broncos after starter Dorian Thompson-Robinson left the 29-12 loss early due to a concussion. Thompson-Robinson remains in concussion protocol, and even if he isn't cleared in time to play Sunday against the Rams, Flacco would get the start, with Walker backing up the 38-year-old. Flacco will presumably be elevated from the practice squad prior to Sunday, regardless of Thompson-Robinson's status.

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday that Flacco is now considered the top backup to starting quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who suffered a concussion during Sunday's loss to Denver, Jake Trotter of ESPN.com reports.

In other words, Flacco may end up starting Sunday's game at the Rams if Thompson-Robinson is unable to clear the five-step protocol this week. P.J. Walker filled in after Thompson-Robinson exited against Denver and once again struggled with to limit turnovers. Based on his track record, Flacco would at least likely do a better job than Walker at avoiding interceptions, even if he had no more success sustaining drives and scoring points. The 38-year-old signal-caller joined Cleveland's practice squad last week.

Zappe took multiple reps under center during the media-access portion of Wednesday's practice and was then was followed by practice-squad member Malik Cunningham, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.

Reiss adds that neither Mac Jones nor the Patriots' other practice-squad quarterback (Will Grier) threw during the early portion of the session. While head coach Bill Belichick has declined to name a starting quarterback for this Sunday's game against the Chargers, the way Wednesday's practice transpired hints at Zappe potentially getting the nod this weekend. During the Patriots' 10-7 loss to the Giants in Week 12, Zappe replaced Jones after halftime and completed nine of 14 passes for 54 yards with no touchdowns and one interception.

Mayfield (ankle) was a full participant at Wednesday's walkthrough.

Mayfield injured his ankle near the end of the Buccaneers' opening possession this past Sunday at Indianapolis, missing two snaps in the process. He was able to play with the ankle heavily taped thereafter on his way to 199 yards, two touchdowns and one interception on 20-for-30 passing, three carries for 14 yards and two fumbles (one lost). On Monday, an MRI on Mayfield's ankle returned negative, and as of Wednesday, head coach Todd Bowles told Brianna Dix of the Buccaneers' official site that the quarterback felt much better and was in line to suit up Sunday against the Panthers. With a full listing on the team's first Week 13 practice report, Mayfield appears on pace to do exactly that, but it wouldn't surprise if he endures some on-field restrictions before week's end to manage the issue.

Thompson-Robinson (concussion) won't practice Wednesday, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

The Browns were forced to turn the offense back over to P.J. Walker after Thompson-Robinson suffered a concussion in the third quarter of Sunday's loss to the Broncos. The rookie hasn't performed much better than his veteran counterpart, but Thompson-Robinson seems more likely than not to be the starter again once he exits concussion protocol. Head coach Kevin Stefanski said Wednesday that Joe Flacco is now Thompson-Robinson's backup, suggesting that the 38-year-old will start Sunday's game at the Rams -- rather than Walker -- in the event Thompson-Robinson isn't cleared to play.

Detroit designated Hooker (knee) to return from the reserve/non-football injury list Wednesday, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.

The rookie quarterback is now eligible to practice, with the Lions having a 21-day window to place him on the active roster before he defaults back to the NFI list for the remainder of the season. Hooker suffered an ACL tear last November during his final collegiate season at Tennessee, which resulted in him dropping out of the first-round discussion before the Lions selected him early in the third round at No. 68 overall. He isn't likely to play this season given that Jared Goff and Teddy Bridgewater both are healthy, but the Lions are keeping the door open for Hooker to return to the roster if his knee responds well to practice activity.

Jets head coach Robert Saleh announced announced Wednesday that Rodgers (Achilles) has been designated for return from injured reserve.

The transaction officially opens up a 21-day window in which Rodgers can participate in practices while the Jets evaluate him for a return from IR. According to Rich Cimini of ESPN.com, Saleh noted that while Rodgers has been cleared for functional football activity, the veteran quarterback is not yet ready to take contact just over two and a half months after undergoing surgery to repair a torn left Achilles' tendon. Rodgers is thus slated to be a limited participant in practices, and he's uncertain to be activated from IR once the evaluation window closes in three weeks. In any case, Wednesday's move is at least another step forward in Rodgers potentially playing again this season, though the 39-year-old has suggested that any return will hinge on the 4-7 Jets remaining in playoff contention in the weeks to come.

Head coach Bill Belichick declined Wednesday to name either Jones or Bailey Zappe the Patriots' starting quarterback for Sunday's game against the Chargers, Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald reports.

Jones has started all 11 games for the Patriots this season, but he's been pulled early in both of the team's last two contests. After completing 12 of 21 passes for 89 yards and two interceptions in the first two quarters of this past Sunday's 10-7 loss to the Giants, Jones was benched at halftime in favor of Zappe. Over the final two quarters, Zappe didn't fare dramatically better than Jones, completing nine of 14 passes for 54 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. Jones and Zappe still profile as the top starting candidates for Week 13, but if Belichick elects to go in a different direction, the Patriots have Will Grier and Malik Cunningham available on the practice squad, though Cunningham has seen more of his reps at receiver of late.