NFL Player News
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Joe Flacco QB | CIN
Bengals' Joe Flacco: Not practicing Wednesday
Flacco (shoulder) won't practice Wednesday, Kelsey Conway of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Flacco continues to manage a shoulder issue, but Conway notes that the veteran QB will throw Thursday. Meanwhile, fellow signal caller Joe Burrow, who is working his way back from a toe injury, is slated to get some 11-on-11 work in Wednesday. Per Ben Baby of ESPN, Burrow appears to be targeting a return to action as soon as the Bengals' Thanksgiving Day game against the Ravens, a context that puts Flacco in a position to draw at least one more start, barring any setbacks. Cincinnati hosts New England for a 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff Sunday.
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Kyle Trask QB | TB
Kyle Trask: Joins Falcons' practice squad
Trask signed with the Falcons' practice squad Wednesday, Terrin Waack of the team's official site reports.
The 2021 second-round pick from Florida was cut by Tampa Bay in late August after failing to make the team's initial 53-man roster, but he's since found work in Atlanta. Trask is now expected to operate as the Falcons' emergency third quarterback, playing behind Kirk Cousins and Easton Stick.
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Easton Stick QB | ATL
Falcons' Easton Stick: Serving as No. 2 quarterback
Atlanta signed Stick off its practice squad Wednesday, Terrin Waack of the Falcons' official site reports.
Head coach Raheem Morris confirmed Wednesday that Stick will step in as Atlanta's new No. 2 quarterback, with Kirk Cousins elevating into the starting role after Michael Penix (knee) was officially placed on injured reserve after sustaining a season-ending partial tear of his ACL in this past Sunday's 30-27 overtime loss to Carolina. Stick's last NFL action came with the Chargers in 2023, when he appeared in five games and threw for 1,129 yards, three touchdowns and one interception while adding 144 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground.
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Justin Fields QB | NYJ
Jets' Justin Fields: Will back up Taylor on Sunday
Coach Aaron Glenn confirmed Wednesday that Fields will be the Jets' No. 2 QB on Sunday against the Ravens, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.
Brady Cook is on the Jets' practice squad, but at this stage Glenn notes that the 24-year-old signal caller is still developing, per Eric Allen of the team's official site. As a result, Fields -- who went 2-7 over his nine starts for the 2-8 Jets -- will back up Tyrod Taylor, who has officially been named the starter versus Baltimore this weekend.
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Kirk Cousins QB | ATL
Falcons' Kirk Cousins: Taking over for rest of season
The Falcons announced Wednesday that Cousins will take over as their starting quarterback beginning with Sunday's game at New Orleans after a second opinion confirmed that Michael Penix (knee) will require season-ending surgery to address a partially torn left ACL, Terrin Waack of the team's official site reports.
Cousins already looked to be in line to start at least four games after the Falcons relayed Monday that Penix would be headed to injured reserve, but now that the 25-year-old quarterback has been confirmed to need season-ending surgery, Cousins' run atop the depth chart will be extended. Per Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com, head coach Raheem Morris said Wednesday that Easton Stick will be signed to the 53-man roster to work as Cousins' backup, while Kyle Trask will replace Stick on the team's practice squad. Cousins hasn't been productive in limited opportunities this season, as the Falcons have scored just one touchdown across the 17 offensive drives he's led so far (not counting kneel-downs). Though he draws a favorable matchup for his second start of the season against the 2-8 Saints, Cousins will have to make do without one of his top pass-catching options in Drake London (knee), who is week-to-week with a PCL injury.
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Dillon Gabriel QB | CLE
Browns' Dillon Gabriel: Won't start Sunday
With Gabriel still in concussion protocol, per Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram, Shedeur Sanders will draw the start at quarterback for the Browns on Sunday against the Raiders.
When asked what the Browns' QB plans are after Week 12, coach Kevin Stefanski noted that at this stage he won't look beyond Sunday's contest. In any case, Gabriel is not in line to practice Wednesday, while Sanders is poised to make his first career regular-season start this weekend.
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Michael Penix Jr. QB | ATL
Falcons' Michael Penix: Needs procedure to repair ACL
The Falcons confirmed Wednesday that Penix sustained a partially torn ACL in his left knee during the team's Week 11 loss to Carolina, and he will require full reconstructive surgery to address the injury, Terrin Waack of the team's official site reports. Atlanta officially placed Penix him on injured reserve.
Penix will face, at a minimum, a nine-month recovery upon going under the knife. As a result, Penix is unlikely to be a full participant in the Falcons' offseason program, and his status for Week 1 of the 2026 campaign could also be in jeopardy. In addition to damaging his ACL, Penix also aggravated the pre-existing bone bruise in the knee. Even before going down with the injury Sunday, the 2024 first-round pick already had a checkered medical history, as he required surgeries to repair the ACL in his right knee in 2018 and 2020, and he also had college seasons end early in 2019 and 2021 due to shoulder injuries. Kirk Cousins will lead Atlanta under center for the remainder of the 2025 season, and the team will likely enter the offseason with additional incentive to secure a capable backup option behind Penix. The 25-year-old will finish his second professional campaign having completed 166 of 276 pass attempts (60.1 percent) for 1,982 yards (7.2 YPA), nine touchdowns and three interceptions to go with 70 yards and another score on 21 carries over his nine starts.
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Shedeur Sanders QB | CLE
Browns' Shedeur Sanders: Set to start Sunday
Sanders will draw the start at quarterback for the Browns on Sunday against the Raiders, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.
Per Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram, coach Kevin Stefanski noted Wednesday that Dillon Gabriel remains in concussion protocol, which sets the stage for Sanders -- who stepped in at QB after Gabriel exited the Browns' Week 11 loss to the Ravens -- to make his first career NFL regular-season start this weekend. When asked whether Sanders might hold on the the starting assignment beyond Week 12, Stefanski said that he won't look beyond Sunday. In any case, Sanders represents a lineup option for those in need of signal-caller help, especially with four teams on bye.
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Jaxson Dart QB | NYG
Giants' Jaxson Dart: Expected to practice Wednesday
Dart (concussion) is in line to participate in Wednesday's practice, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports.
Dart didn't practice in any capacity en route to being ruled out for the Giants' loss to the Packers in Week 11, so it will represent a notable step in the right direction if he's able to handle even limited reps Wednesday. Of course, to be eligible for a return to action Sunday versus the Lions, the rookie first-round pick would need to gain full clearance from the concussion protocol, including from an independent neurologist. Jameis Winston will be in line to draw another start in the event that Dart isn't cleared in time to suit up Week 12.
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Bailey Zappe QB | NYJ
Bailey Zappe: In line as No. 2 QB
Zappe could serve as the backup quarterback for Cleveland in Sunday's game against Las Vegas, Zac Jackson of The Athletic reports.
Cleveland's quarterback carousel took another turn last week when then-starter Dillon Gabriel suffered a concussion and was replaced by Shedeur Sanders. The practice week begins Wednesday with Sanders expected to take reps with the first-team offense while Gabriel remains in the NFL's concussion protocol. That means Zappe could be in line for his second activation from the practice squad and become the No. 2 to Sanders.