NFL Player News
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Tyler Higbee TE | LAR
Rams' Tyler Higbee: Likely to practice this week
Rams head coach Sean McVay said Higbee (knee) is likely to resume practicing this week, but the tight end is unlikely to play in Sunday's game at New Orleans, Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com reports.
Los Angeles is expected to formally open Higbee's 21-day evaluation window Wednesday, when the team begins Week 13 prep. Higbee has been on the PUP list since late August after he suffered an ACL and MCL tear in his right knee in a Jan. 14 playoff loss to the Lions. After a lengthy recovery from surgery, the 31-year-old is finally ready to take reps in practice, but he could require a multi-week ramp-up period before he's deemed ready for game action. Once he's added back to the 53-man roster, Higbee will likely take over as the Rams' starting tight end, though he could be deployed in a timeshare with Colby Parkinson and Davis Allen as the coaching staff looks to keep Higbee's snap counts in check coming off the major knee injury.
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Christopher Brooks RB | GB
Packers' Chris Brooks: Finishes with five touches
Brooks had four carries for 11 yards and one reception for 15 yards in Sunday's 38-10 victory over the 49ers.
Brooks finished second among Packers running backs in snaps for the fourth time in as many chances, but he was the third Green Bay running back to get a touch in Week 12, and he finished with five touches compared to Emanuel Wilson's nine. Both running backs figure to continue working in behind starter Josh Jacobs, who is handling the lion's share of the work in Green Bay's backfield.
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Malik Heath WR | GB
Packers' Malik Heath: Hauls in touchdown pass
Heath was targeted twice and had two receptions for 15 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 38-10 victory over the 49ers.
Heath capitalized on the lopsided score and the departure of Romeo Doubs (concussion) in the third quarter to record both his first reception since Week 5 and his first touchdown of the season. He will bump up the pecking order if Doubs is unable to play Thursday against the Dolphins, but even in that scenario he would be facing a stingy pass defense as the fifth option at his position.
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Justin Tucker K | BAL
Ravens' Justin Tucker: Makes lone field-goal try Monday
Tucker made his only field-goal attempt and converted all three of his extra-point tries during Monday's 30-23 win against the Chargers.
Not much could stop the Ravens from finding the end zone in Week 12, resulting in a relatively quiet day for their kicker. Tucker did avoid missing a kick Monday after doing so in three of Baltimore's previous four contests, however. He'll perhaps see more chances in Week 13 versus the Eagles.
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Aidan O'Connell QB | LV
Raiders' Aidan O'Connell: Trending toward Week 13 start
The Raiders are preparing for O'Connell (thumb) to start Friday's game at Kansas City, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
O'Connell remains on injured reserve, but the Raiders set in motion his potential return for Week 13 by opening his 21-day practice window Monday. According to Pelissero, O'Connell took all the first-team reps during Monday's unofficial practice session, while Desmond Ridder worked with the second team after coming on to replace the injured Gardner Minshew (collarbone) in Sunday's 29-19 loss to the Broncos. With Minshew out for the season, O'Connell should have the opportunity to start for the Raiders over the final six contests, provided his fractured right thumb doesn't present any complications in practice leading up to Friday's game. O'Connell profiles as a low-end fantasy option after he completed 62.4 percent of his passes for 6.3 yards per attempt and a 14:9 TD:INT while offering little production as a runner (11 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries) over his first 15 NFL appearances (12 starts).
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Cameron Dicker K | LAC
Chargers' Cameron Dicker: Flawless in loss
Dicker made all of his three field-goal tries and converted both of his extra-point attempts during Monday's 30-23 loss versus the Ravens.
Dicker has now kicked multiple field goals without a miss in three straight games. Two of his kicks in Week 12 came from 50-plus yards out, including a 52-yarder as time expired in the first half. He'll be looking to build on his recent success when the Chargers travel to Atlanta in Week 13.
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Dontayvion Wicks WR | GB
Packers' Dontayvion Wicks: Back in box score
Wicks was targeted twice and had one reception for 25 yards in Sunday's 38-10 victory over the 49ers.
Wicks was shut out in back-to-back appearances leading up to Sunday's contest, but he got back on the board with a long reception in the fourth quarter of the game. Opportunities have been lacking for Wicks, who has just three 20-yard receptions in 2024 after racking up 11 of those across 15 regular-season games in 2023. He could see a boost in targets in Week 13 if Romeo Doubs (concussion) is unable to play, but he will enter with just three receptions for 36 yards across his last four appearances, and he will take on a Miami defense that has shut down wideouts as well as anyone.
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Aaron Rodgers QB | NYJ
Jets' Aaron Rodgers: Won't be shut down
Interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich said Monday that Rodgers will "absolutely" start Sunday's game against the Seahawks, while noting that the Jets have had no internal discussions of shutting the veteran quarterback down for the season, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.
Though the 3-8 Jets are close to being mathematically eliminated from playoff contention coming out of a Week 12 bye, Rodgers looks poised to continue directing the offense, even while he's probably operating at less than full health after having contended with knee, hamstring and ankle injuries in September and October. Rodgers' condition looked as though it might have improved after he was a full participant in practices ahead of both of the Jets' past two games, but it wasn't evident in his performance, as he threw for under 200 yards in losses to the Cardinals and Colts heading into the bye week. Rodgers, who will turn 41 years old next week, recently said he plans to keep playing in 2025, but a return to the Jets could be unlikely in light of how the season has transpired. Rodgers remains under contract with the Jets through 2025, but since none of his salary is guaranteed, the organization would be able to easily move on from him this offseason.
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Christian Watson WR | GB
Packers' Christian Watson: Contained in Week 12
Watson had one carry for four yards in Sunday's 38-10 victory over the 49ers.
Watson entered Sunday's contest on the heels of a career-best 150-yard performance, but he was targeted only three times in Green Bay's lopsided win, and a drop on a potential 49-yard touchdown pass right before halftime proved particularly costly for fantasy players. Watson did lead Packers receivers in snaps for the first time all season in Week 12, and he could be busier than usual again if Romeo Doubs (concussion) is unable to go Thursday against the Dolphins. Either way, Watson will be facing a Miami defense that has contained wide receivers as well as any team in the league.
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Brandon McManus K | GB
Packers' Brandon McManus: Perfect in victory
McManus made a 51-yard field goal and all five extra points he attempted in Sunday's 38-10 victory over the 49ers.
McManus was perfect for the fourth time in five chances since joining Green Bay in late October, and the eight points he recorded were his second-most over that span. He and the Packers will next face the Dolphins, a team that held the Patriots without a field goal in Week 12 but allowed opponents to average three made field goals per game over its prior five contests.