NFL Player News

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Wednesday that Wilson will remain the No. 2 quarterback behind new starter Quinn Ewers during Sunday's matchup against the Bengals, while Tua Tagovailoa will act as the emergency No. 3 quarterback, Alain Poupart of SI.com reports.

Wilson signed a one-year, $6 million contract with Miami this offseason and has acted as the team's backup quarterback for almost all of the 2025 campaign, but it's Ewers, a rookie seventh-round pick, who has looked more impressive at practice and now gets the starting nod with Tagovailoa benched. That said, Ewers likely won't have much margin for error if he struggles to move the offense early, so it's not inconceivable that Wilson gets a chance to show what he can do under center across the course of the Dolphins' final three regular-season games.

Fields (knee) won't start Sunday's game at New Orleans but could be active as the backup if he's healthy, Al Iannazzone of Newsday reports.

Brady Cook will start, with the backup situation apparently depending on who of Fields or Tyrod Taylor (knee) is healthier.

Jackson missed Wednesday's practice due to flu-like symptoms, Cordell Woodland of 105.7 The Fan Baltimore reports.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh didn't sound too concerned, but it's perhaps worth noting that Jackson has missed an unusual amount of time (mostly practices) due to illnesses throughout his career. The good news for Baltimore is that Jackson got sick early in the week, giving him at least four full days to recover before the Ravens face the Patriots on Sunday night.

Taylor (groin) won't start Sunday's game at New Orleans but could be active as the backup if he's healthy, Al Iannazzone of Newsday reports.

Jets coach Aaron Glenn named Brady Cook as his Week 16 starter, with the backup situation depending on injuries to Taylor and Justin Fields (knee). Either way, Taylor isn't assured of seeing the field again this season.

Smith (shoulder/back) is returning to practice Wednesday, Ryan McFadden of ESPN.com reports.

Smith didn't practice at all last week, yet Raiders coach Pete Carroll said the veteran QB had "a really good chance to be back" for Week 16 against the Texans. It's arguably a matchup between the NFL's best defense and worst offense, but Smith's presence would at least be good news for fantasy managers that are relying on TE Brock Bowers or RB Ashton Jeanty.

The Chiefs placed Mahomes (knee) on injured reserve Wednesday.

Mahomes underwent surgery Monday to address ACL and LCL tears in his left knee, with the Associated Press reporting afterward that his procedure went well and Mahomes hopes to be ready for Week 1 next season. QB Gardner Minshew will start Week 16 against the Titans while Mahomes begins his journey to be ready for Week 1 next season.

Cook will start Sunday's game at New Orleans, Al Iannazzone of Newsday reports.

Jets coach Aaron Glenn made the announcement Wednesday afternoon, telling reporters that his Week 16 backup will be whichever of Tyrod Taylor (groin) or Justin Fields (knee) is healthy enough to play. Glenn's decision coming this early in the week could be taken as a hint that he wants Cook to finish out the season, though things can change in a hurry if the rookie continues to struggle (he tossed three interceptions Sunday in a 48-20 loss at Jacksonville).

Jackson (undisclosed) wasn't spotted at Wednesday's practice, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports.

Jackson was rested last Wednesday before returning to a full session Thursday, and there's a solid chance that pattern will be be repeated this time around. The Ravens' upcoming injury report will note whether or not that's case or if the QB is managing an injury issue ahead of Week 16 action.

McKee rushed once for nine yards and completed all three of his pass attempts for 33 yards in Sunday's 31-0 win over the Raiders.

With the Eagles building a comfortable lead by the early part of the fourth quarter, head coach Nick Sirianni opted to hold Jalen Hurts out for the final possession of the afternoon and turned over the offense to McKee. The backup signal-caller proceeded to lead a 17-play drive that chewed up 11:22 of game time but ultimately stalled out deep in Raiders territory on a failed 4th-and-goal run by Tank Bigsby. The appearance was just the second of the campaign for McKee, who is unlikely to get extended run over the final three games of the regular season unless Hurts misses time due to injury or is rested in Week 18 if the Eagles' playoff positioning is secure.

Ewers will start Sunday's game against the Bengals with the Dolphins having decided to bench Tua Tagovailoa, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Ewers, a rookie seventh-round pick, will get the chance to draw his first NFL start in place of Zach Wilson, who has operated as Miami's backup for the majority of the 2025 campaign. Per Rapoport, Ewers' opportunity comes as the result of his simply looking more impressive than Wilson in practices. The former Texas standout compiled significant experience as a starter in college and would doubtless have come off the board earlier in the 2025 NFL Draft had it not been for injury concerns, and he now gets a favorable matchup against Cincinnati's vulnerable defense. It's conceivable Ewers may be playing for more than just short-term opportunity, as the Dolphins' decision to bench Tagovailoa with three games left in the regular season signals potential long-term uncertainty despite his having signed a four-year, $212.4 million contract last summer.