NFL Player News
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Brock Purdy QB | SF
49ers' Brock Purdy: Two more TDs and another win
Purdy completed 22 of 35 pass attempts for 284 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in Sunday's 37-34 overtime win over the Raiders.
Purdy was faced with adversity for the first time in his young NFL career, having to bring his team back from a fourth-quarter deficit against a team fighting to keep its playoff hopes alive. The impressive rookie was up to the task, producing his fifth win with at least two touchdowns in as many tries. The Iowa State product did throw an ugly interception on a mistimed deep ball in the second half, but the overall results were positive yet again. Purdy will look to keep building confidence in a plus matchup against the Cardinals on Sunday as the 49ers inch closer to the start of the playoffs.
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Jarrett Stidham QB | DEN
Raiders' Jarrett Stidham: Gaudy totals in first career start
Stidham completed 23 of 34 pass attempts for 365 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions in Sunday's 37-34 overtime loss to the 49ers. He added 34 rushing yards on seven attempts.
Stidham was presented with a brutal matchup for his first career start, but the Raiders' new starter performed well despite the narrow loss. The 2019 fourth-round pick put his arm strength on display, routinely connecting on deep balls to Davante Adams (7-153-2) and Darren Waller (3-72-1). Stidham -- an unrestricted free agent in 2023 -- figures to start the regular-season finale against the Chiefs after a strong debut under center. If Las Vegas' offense is going to adopt this vertical passing game following its change at quarterback, then Stidham could produce big fantasy totals again with a plethora of receiving weapons at his disposal.
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Deshaun Watson QB | CLE
Browns' Deshaun Watson: Throws three touchdowns
Watson completed nine of 18 passes for 169 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in Sunday's 24-10 win over the Commanders.
Watson attempted his fewest passes of the season, though it was by far his most efficient performance. He averaged 9.4 yards per attempt and also managed his first multi-touchdown performance of the campaign on strikes from 46, 13 and 33 yards away. Watson still appears to be working on finding a rhythm with his new team, though Sunday's performance was his most encouraging in a Browns uniform.
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Justin Herbert QB | LAC
Chargers' Justin Herbert: Pair of touchdowns in blowout win
Herbert completed 21 of 28 passes for 212 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in Sunday's 31-10 win over the Rams.
Herbert and the Chargers moved the ball with ease against the Rams, scoring four total offensive touchdowns. His pair came on tosses of six and three yards in the middle of the third and late fourth quarters, respectively. Herbert managed to throw for multiple touchdowns for the first time in his last four games, and he could have had a bigger game if he hadn't been pulled with a comfortable lead early in the final quarter. It remains to be seen whether Herbert will start the Chargers' Week 18 matchup against the Broncos, which will likely be dependent on whether playoff seeding is at stake.
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Teddy Bridgewater QB | DET
Dolphins' Teddy Bridgewater: Broken finger likely
Bridgewater likely sustained a broken finger on his right hand during Sunday's loss at Miami, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
With Tua Tagovailoa out indefinitely due to a concussion, Bridgewater got the start at quarterback for the Dolphins on Sunday, completing 12 of 19 passes for 161 yards, one touchdown and one interception while gaining six yards on his only carry before his exit in the second half. It's unclear if Bridgewater will be able to play through the injury, but Skylar Thompson is on hand in the event the former joins Tagovailoa on the sideline.
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Mike White QB | CAR
Jets' Mike White: Rough performance in loss
White completed 23 of 46 passes for 240 yards with two interceptions and a lost fumble in Sunday's 23-6 loss to the Seahawks.
Making his first start since Week 14, White didn't look fully recovered from his rib injury and made a number of awkward throws that were well off the mark, although a Seattle pass rush that sacked him four times was also a factor. With the Jets now eliminated from playoff contention and White having posted a 0:4 TD:INT over his last three games, it's not clear who coach Robert Saleh will name his starting QB for a Week 18 trip to Miami.
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Baker Mayfield QB | TB
Rams' Baker Mayfield: Takes step back in loss
Mayfield completed 11 of 19 passes for 132 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions in the Rams' 31-10 loss to the Chargers on Sunday. He also rushed three times for eight yards and lost a fumble.
Fresh off a near-perfect Christmas Day showing against the Broncos in Week 16, Mayfield turned in a lackluster showing much more reminiscent of his Week 15 performance against the Packers. The 2018 first overall pick is clearly just a stop-gap measure for the Rams to play out the string with, and he could be in for another tough afternoon in a Week 18 road clash versus an incentivized Seahawks team that boasts a stingy pass defense.
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Davis Mills QB | HOU
Texans' Davis Mills: Struggles badly again
Mills completed 22 of 40 passes for 202 yards against Jacksonville on Sunday.
It's been a brutal season for Mills, who once again rotated with Jeff Driskel (3 of 4 passing for nine yards, two carries for seven yards). When he took the snaps, Mills just couldn't get the ball downfield. The Texans play the Colts in Week 18, so Mills will look to get on track against the team he threw for 240 yards and two touchdowns against in Week 1.
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Mac Jones QB | SF
Patriots' Mac Jones: Pair of touchdowns in big win
Jones completed 20 of 33 passes for 203 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in the Patriots' 23-21 win over the Dolphins on Sunday. He also rushed three times for one yard.
Jones was able to put together a clean performance to help the Patriots even their record at 8-8 and remain in contention for a postseason spot. Forced to operate without both DeVante Parker (concussion) and Jonnu Smith (concussion), Jones spread the ball around to six targets overall, with 11 of his 20 completions going to Hunter Henry and Jakobi Meyers. The second-year signal-caller hit Tyquan Thornton (seven yards) and Meyers (one yard) for his two touchdowns, the second capping off a clutch 11-play, 89-yard march that took over five minutes off the clock in the fourth quarter and extended a thin 16-14 lead at the time. Jones heads into a critical Week 18 road matchup against the Bills with back-to-back two-touchdown-pass tallies for the first time all season.
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Sam Ehlinger QB | DEN
Colts' Sam Ehlinger: Serviceable in emergency duty
Ehlinger replaced an injured Nick Foles (ribs) to open the second half of the Colts' 38-10 loss to the Giants on Sunday and completed nine of 14 passes for 60 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions. He also rushed once for 12 yards.
The second-year signal-caller's final numbers were respectable and mistake-free, and he even facilitated Indianapolis' only touchdown of the afternoon with a six-yard pass to Michael Pittman late in the third quarter. Ehlinger could be in line for his third start of the season in a Week 18 home matchup against the Texans if Foles is unable to suit up and interim head coach Jeff Saturday opts to keep Matt Ryan as a backup.