NFL Player News

Rodgers (Achilles) said Tuesday on "The Pat McAfee Show that he's aiming to return to practice before his 40th birthday on Dec. 2, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported over the weekend that Rodgers was targeting the Jets' Dec. 24 against Washington in Week 16 for his return to game action, so Dec. 2 would seemingly represent his target date for being designated for return from injured reserve. The Jets' quarterback situation during Rodgers' absence has grown even more dire following the benching of Zach Wilson in the team's Week 11 loss to Buffalo, with the loss dropping the team's record to 4-6. With Wilson having since been dropped to third on the depth chart, the Jets will turn to Tim Boyle as their new starter with the hope that he can keep the team's playoff hopes afloat on the remote chance that Rodgers is possibly healthy enough to return for a late-season playoff push. If Rodgers -- who recently resumed jogging on an anti-gravity treadmill -- is improbably cleared to play Week 16, it would represent a remarkable three-and-a-half-month recovery from Achilles surgery.

Heinicke (hamstring) will be a limited participant at Wednesday's practice, D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Heinicke practicing in any capacity can be viewed as positive news after Joe Patrick of 92-9 The Game Atlanta reported Monday that the quarterback was unlikely to take part in practice leading up to Sunday's game against the Saints. Before the team's Week 11 bye, Heinicke drew starts Week 9 against Minnesota and Week 10 against Arizona, but he left the latter game due to a hamstring injury. Desmond Ridder has been named the starting quarterback for Week 12, so even if Heinicke is ultimately healthy enough to suit up Sunday, he would be available strictly in a backup capacity.

Smith (elbow) was listed as limited on Tuesday's injury report, John Boyle of the Seahawks' official site reports.

After opening Week 12 prep with a DNP listing Monday, Smith was able to mix into drills one day later as he deals with a bruise to the tendon on the bottom of his right triceps. Officially, the Seahawks are calling it a right elbow injury, and the quarterback told Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times on Tuesday that he feels "a little bit better after a couple of days." Per Brady Henderson of ESPN.com, coach Pete Carroll seems optimistic about Smith's chances to play in Week 12, but that may not be confirmed until closer to Thursday's 8:20 p.m. EST kickoff.

Watson underwent surgery on the displaced fracture in his right throwing shoulder Tuesday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

Watson sat out Weeks 4 and 6 due to a shoulder injury before playing in three of the Browns' next four games. After a Week 10 matchup with the Ravens though, testing revealed a season-ending issue. With the procedure in the rearview mirror, Watson will focus on being ready for the start of the 2024 campaign. For now, Cleveland has put the offense in the hands of rookie quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, with PJ Walker backing him up and Joe Flacco on the practice squad.

Head coach Robert Saleh said Tuesday that Wilson will be inactive Friday against the Dolphins but will serve as the Jets' emergency third quarterback, Al Iannazzone of Newsday reports.

Tim Boyle takes over No. 1 duties and Trevor Siemian will be the backup signal-caller in Wilson's place. If the second overall pick in the 2021 Draft doesn't see the field again this season, he'll finish it with 1,944 yards, six touchdowns and seven interceptions on 59 percent passing, plus 33 carries for 199 rushing yards, while getting sacked 38 times and committing nine fumbles (five lost).

Zappe was the second quarterback to handle drills at Tuesday's unofficial practice behind Mac Jones (undisclosed), Mark Daniels of The Providence Journal reports.

Zappe has stepped in for Jones three times this season, including in the Patriots' last game Week 10 against the Colts in Germany. Both QBs tossed horrid interceptions in that contest, and afterward coach Bill Belichick wouldn't commit to a starter with a Week 11 bye on tap. After the respite, Belichick again relayed to Evan Lazar of the team's official site Tuesday, "I've told all the players the same thing: be ready to go." Tuesday's practice rotation may offer a clue as to who will be under center Sunday against the Giants, but the decision may not be officially announced until later in the week.

Jones (undisclosed) handled the initial QB reps at Tuesday's unofficial practice, Mark Daniels of The Providence Journal reports.

After the Patriots' last game Week 10 against the Colts in Germany, coach Bill Belichick was non-committal on who would be under center following a Week 11 bye, and he remained that way Tuesday, telling Evan Lazar of the team's' official site, "I've told all the players the same thing: be ready to go." The fact Jones mixed into drills first Tuesday, followed by Bailey Zappe, perhaps is the first indication that the former will continue to operate as New England's starting quarterback Sunday at the Giants. Still, given Belichick's comments the last few weeks, a decision may not be apparent until game day, or close to it.

The Jets signed Siemian from their practice squad to the active roster Tuesday, Ethan Greenberg of the team's official site reports.

The veteran quarterback joined the Jets a little more than two weeks after Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles in the season opener, but Siemian remained on the practice squad until now. After another dismal effort from Zach Wilson on Sunday though, coach Robert Saleh has opted to go with Tim Boyle as the team's starting quarterback, with Siemian set to serve as the No. 2 signal-caller in Week 12 and Wilson moving to third-string status. Siemian made two appearances (one start) for the Bears last season, completing 15 of 26 passes for 184 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Jones is slated to undergo surgery on the torn ACL in his right knee Wednesday, Art Stapleton of The Bergen Record reports.

Prior to his season ending in Week 9, Jones sat out the previous three games due to a neck injury, limiting him to just six appearances during the 2023 campaign. Overall, he completed a respectable 68 percent of his passes, but he also posted a career-low 5.7 yards per attempt, notched a 2:6 TD:INT and fumbled four times (one lost). Undrafted rookie Tommy DeVito will continue to direct the Giants offense, with Matt Barkley backing him up until Tyrod Taylor (ribs) comes off IR. Jones is expected to face an 8-to-10-month recovery from surgery, so while he likely won't be available for OTAs, he could be fully cleared ahead of Week 1 of the 2024 season.

Speaking with the media Tuesday, coach Bill Belichick refused to name Jones (undisclosed) or any other teammate a starting quarterback for Sunday's game against the Giants, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. "I've told everybody to be ready to go," Belichick said.

Belichick is trying to keep things close to the vest and said he'd announce a starter Sunday morning. All three of Jones, Bailey Zappe and Will Grier have taken first-team reps in practice since the Week 10 loss to the Colts. Jones, who suffered a bruise in the team's Week 10 loss in Germany, has not progressed as expected under offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien, throwing 10 touchdowns and 10 interceptions across 10 starts while averaging a career-low 203.1 passing yards per game. Zappe would be the most logical option to start if it's not Jones. Neither is a recommended fantasy bet for the foreseeable future.