NFL Player News

Rodgers (right thumb/knee) returned to practice Thursday, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports.

It remains to be seen how the Packers list Rodgers' participation level, but his return to the field after missing Wednesday's session supports the QB's expectation that he'll be available for Sunday's game against the Vikings.

The Titans are expected to start Josh Dobbs rather than Willis in Thursday's game against the Cowboys, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

With Ryan Tannehill (ankle) already ruled out for the contest and likely done for the regular season, the Titans will get their first look at Dobbs, who was signed off the Lions' practice squad last week. Though the Titans are set to hold out a number of key players with an eye toward being as healthy as possible for a Week 18 matchup with the Jaguars that will decide the AFC South champion, Willis' expected absence may have more to do with his poor performance in place of Tannehill this season. Through the first eight appearances (three starts) of his rookie campaign, Willis has completed 31 of 61 attempts (50.8 percent) for 276 yards, zero touchdowns and three interceptions. He's also lost two fumbles, which has negated some of the value he's provided as a runner (123 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries). With that in mind, Dobbs could put himself in consideration to start the regular-season finale if he acquits himself well Thursday.

Dobbs is expected to serve as the Titans' starting quarterback Thursday against the Cowboys, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

With Ryan Tannehill (ankle) ruled out for a second straight game and likely to miss the rest of the season, the Titans will get an evaluation on Dobbs while Malik Willis, takes a seat along with a number of other key players as Tennessee attempts to enter the Week 18 showdown with the Jaguars for the AFC South title in optimal health. According to Joe Rexrode of The Athletic, the 27-year-old Dobbs -- who will be making his first career NFL start -- could put himself in the mix to start Week 18 with a respectable showing against the Cowboys. Willis hasn't looked like an NFL-ready quarterback through his first eight appearances (three starts) of his rookie campaign, completing 31 of 61 attempts (50.8 percent) for 276 yards, zero touchdowns and three interceptions.

McSorley will serve as Arizona's backup quarterback Sunday at Atlanta after head coach Kliff Kingsbury said Wednesday that Colt McCoy cleared the concussion protocol and is on track to start this weekend, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.

After coming on in relief for a concussed McCoy in the Week 15 loss to the Broncos, McSorley drew his first career start Week 16 against the Buccaneers. He proved to be mistake-prone in the Cardinals' 19-16 overtime loss, committing three turnovers (one interception, two lost fumbles) while completing just 24 of 45 passes for 4.8 yards per attempt. Even though the 27-year-old McSorley has more theoretical upside of the two quarterbacks at this stage of his career and the 4-11 Cardinals have little on the line in the final two games, Kingsbury will turn the offense back over to the more battle-tested McCoy as Arizona looks to end the season on a high note.

Carr will step away from the Raiders for the remainder of the regular season in order to avoid being a distraction to the team, Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com reports.

Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Carr, who will be replaced as the Raiders' starting quarterback by Jarrett Stidham, isn't slated to participate in practices over the final two weeks and his absence will be listed as "not-injury related" on official injury reports. With Carr slated to be inactive for Weeks 17 and 18, Chase Garbers will be elevated from the practice squad and is set to back up Stidham in games against the 49ers and Chiefs to close out the season.

Wolford (neck) didn't practice Wednesday, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.

Wolford hasn't logged any notable on-field work since playing the first three offensive snaps of the Rams' Week 14 win against the Raiders, which also marked Baker Mayfield's first game action with Los Angeles. A lingering neck issue is to blame for Wolford's continued absence, and as long as he's sidelined, Bryce Perkins will remain the direct backup quarterback to Mayfield.

Rodgers didn't practice Wednesday due to right thumb and knee injuries.

While the thumb issue likely is a residual one due to the fracture that Rodgers played through for a good portion of the campaign, the knee concern stems from a hit he took this past Sunday at Miami. He told Matt Schneidman of The Athletic that he isn't concerned about his potential to play Sunday against the Vikings, calling Wednesday's absence a veteran's day off. Rodgers thus should get back on the practice field in some capacity both Thursday and Friday as the Packers prepare for a Week 17 NFC North matchup that contains massive playoff implications for both squads.

Lawrence (toe) didn't practice Wednesday.

The toe injury has affected Lawrence's practice participation since Week 14 but hasn't stopped him from playing and leading the Jaguars to three straight wins while accounting for nine total touchdowns against three turnovers. Fumbles remain a problem with his 10 being fourth-most in the league, though the extent has probably been exaggerated on account of his bad luck in losing eight of them. As for Week 17, head coach Doug Pederson said he'll play to win and won't rest starters this Sunday against the Texans, even though the game is essentially irrelevant to the playoff picture, per Adam Stites of USA Today. The Jaguars will follow the Week 17 game with a winner-take-all bout with the Titans in Week 18 to determine the AFC South champion.

Willis is in line to start Thursday's game against Dallas with Ryan Tannehill (ankle) ruled out for a second straight contest, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.

Tannehill won't return until the playoffs, if at all this season, and Willis' performance through the first three starts of his career doesn't inspire confidence in the Titans making it beyond Week 18. The Titans' game this Thursday is all but meaningless in terms of the AFC playoff picture, which probably explains why Derrick Henry (hip) and a slew of other key players are either listed as doubtful or out. With that in mind, the Titans could let Willis take more shots -- even against a tough Dallas defense -- as their playoff fortunes are almost certain to depend on the result Week 18 at Jacksonville and nothing else.

Fields (foot) isn't listed on Chicago's Week 17 injury report ahead of Sunday's game in Detroit.

Fields has been playing through a left shoulder injury since Week 13 and had his foot stepped on in Saturday's loss to Buffalo, with the quarterback noting Wednesday that the latter injury is "fine" after he dealt with some swelling the past few days, per Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times. Head coach Matt Eberflus said Monday that he won't shut Fields down for the season so long as he's healthy enough to play, and that's apparently the case for Week 17 in a potential shootout with the Lions.