| NFC NORTH |
| DETROITIf RB JAHMYR GIBBS breaks this Barry Sanders record, he will also be breaking the NFL record: Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs has tied an accomplishment previously achieved only by another Lions running back, Barry Sanders. With three touchdowns on Thursday night, Gibbs now has 47 touchdowns in his career. Gibbs is 23 years old, and with 47 touchdowns before turning 24, he has tied Sanders’ record for the most touchdowns ever before a player’s 24th birthday. Gibbs won’t turn 24 until the offseason and the Lions still have four more games this season, so it’s highly likely that Gibbs will surpass Sanders’ mark and have the record for most touchdowns before age 24 all to himself. Sanders was one of the greatest running backs in NFL history. Gibbs is not there yet, but in his third NFL season he appears to be well on his way to a great career of his own. |
| MINNESOTAThe Vikings see no choice but to send QB J.J. McCARTHY, fresh out of concussion protocol, out to face the Commanders. Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com: Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy cleared concussion protocol Thursday, his final step in returning to the starting lineup in time for Sunday’s game against the Washington Commanders. McCarthy suffered the concussion during a 23-6 loss in Week 12 to the Green Bay Packers and missed last week’s 26-0 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Speaking Thursday with local reporters, he couldn’t specify a play that caused the injury. “Every single game kind of feels like you get kicked in the face by a donkey,” McCarthy said amid a season in which he has missed as many games (six) because of injuries as he has played. The Vikings hope McCarthy can remain in the lineup for their final five regular season games as they look ahead to 2026 roster decisions. Coach Kevin O’Connell said this week that he has abandoned his seasonlong focus on McCarthy’s mechanics and instead wants him to concentrate on decision-making and avoiding the kind of open-field contact that have caused his two major injuries this year — a high right ankle sprain in Week 2 and the concussion. “There will be time to fundamentally focus on things and continue building this layer and a foundation that will be important for him into the future,” O’Connell said. “But now it feels like he’s got enough experience. He knows a lot of these principles that we’ve talked about. I want him to have a clear head and a clear mind to just go play, but play with an understanding of the decisions that I make with the ball in my hand, the decisions that I make as a passer, and as we’ve learned, very important as a runner to protect himself and make sure that we can keep him in there.” McCarthy said Thursday that he’s a “natural overthinker.” While making clear that he does not blame the coaching staff for pushing him hard on mechanics and footwork during the season, he said his concern about it falls “into the bucket” of overthinking. “Just worrying about things,” he said of how the focus on mechanics might have affected him. “Like on the 12th hole, you’re not going to switch up your golf swing and stuff like that. But there’s always ways to refine it. There’s always little mental cues that you’re going to take throughout that game. But yeah, the mechanics thing … it’s always going to be a continued process to grow and be as efficient as possible.” Credit WR JUSTIN JEFFERSON with seeing the big picture after a season without competent quarterbacking. Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com: With his team mired in a 4-8 record, Minnesota Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson is facing yet another year without making a playoff run. That realization sunk in during Sunday’s 26-0 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, as Jefferson spent part of the fourth quarter sitting despondently on a water cooler and then skipping his postgame news conference for the first time in his career. Speaking Thursday to local reporters, Jefferson said that “the frustration and the emotions definitely were high after the game,” but he stopped well short of indicating that he is concerned about the team’s long-term direction. Amid six starts from second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy and one from rookie Max Brosmer, Jefferson is set to finish his sixth season without a playoff win. But he demurred Thursday when asked whether he is worried that the Vikings are wasting the prime of his career. “No, I wouldn’t say wasted,” Jefferson said. “Obviously it’s a difficult season. It’s probably one of the most difficult seasons just off of the circumstances, having a young quarterback, having a different team, having young players on the team. So it’s just one of those years. Not every year is going to be a top-tier year for me. It’s really a part of the game, so it’s just all on me to expect a lot from these guys and to improve on anything that we need to improve on as an offense.” Jefferson entered the season with an average of 96.5 receiving yards per game in his career, the highest in NFL history among qualified players. But in his seven games with McCarthy and Brosmer, he has averaged 46 yards. Overall this season, he ranks No. 12 in the NFL in receptions (60) and receiving yards (799), while catching only two touchdowns. He’ll need 601 receiving yards during the final five games to avoid setting a career low for a full season’s play. “You have to have a lot of patience,” Jefferson said. “I mean, we’re 4-8. That’s definitely a difficult thing to go through. It’s definitely not exciting to lose games, and especially in front of our fans at home. Those are definitely things that I hate doing. I always was a kid that was a competitor at the highest level. I hated losing, hated losing board games. Those are all things that I hated losing. So of course I hate being in this situation and losing these games, but there’re going to be better times and there’s going to be a time where people cut on that TV and they’re talking all about us and they jumped on our bandwagon.” Earlier this week, coach Kevin O’Connell said the team is well aware that it’s not performing to Jefferson’s standard. “He obviously wants to win football games,” O’Connell said. “He’s as competitive as anybody I’ve ever been around, and he’s a leader on our team. Nobody is accepting any of the outcomes that we’re facing right now, regardless of the reason, regardless of the current state of where we’re at, nobody’s accepting that. And Justin certainly will never be asked to accept that. But he always … shows up with energy, and he’s going to have an impact on our organization at a really high level. And we’ve got to find ways to allow players just like Justin and Jordan [Addison] and some of our other players to have a chance to impact the game. And then, when they get those chances, we know that good things will happen. “But it takes much more than just calling plays for them or having sequences in the games where they can have a high level of impact, because this game requires 10 other guys to operate at a standard to allow that to happen. And that’s what we’ve got to strive to have happen. And Justin plays a huge role in that as one of our captains.” |
| NFC EAST |
| NEW YORK GIANTSIan O’Connor of the Athletic believes explains why keeping GM Joe Schoen, even after this fine 2025 draft, hinders the Giants: The Giants embarrassed themselves before the (Patriots) game (thanks to Abdul Carter), during the game (thanks to Younghoe Koo) and after the game (thanks to Mike Kafka). They were 2-11 for a second straight season, and losers of seven straight games and 13 straight road games. The next day, the man most responsible for that body of work had to stand before a mob carrying pitchforks and torches — I mean, iPhones and notebooks — and respond to all of their allegations. Joe Schoen, beleaguered general manager, took it like a trouper. From the other side of their electronic devices, fans were cheering on the working press. When’s the last time that ever happened? Here’s a better question: Why was Schoen even there in the first place? Temperature risingOn Nov. 10, when Giants owners John Mara and Steve Tisch fired head coach Brian Daboll, they kept the GM who had hired him. Schoen had the same 20-40-1 record as Daboll but did not meet the same fate. Three more losses later, that decision looks very much like a mistake. Schoen has become a toxic figure among a fan base that Mara cares dearly about. He’s not at Nico Harrison levels, but close enough. And speaking of the fired Dallas Mavericks GM, the Giants could have done what the Mavericks did and named co-interim GMs to maintain a semblance of front-office stability throughout the season. They could’ve appointed assistant GM Brandon Brown and longtime Giants executive Kevin Abrams or just made Brown the front office’s Kafka. That would’ve lowered the paying customers’ temperature while also taking a quick look at a fresh face in the big chair. It’s too late for that now. Schoen will survive a bye week that, according to a Giants Nation Show poll, nearly 93 percent of 17,370 voting fans hoped would be a bye-bye week, and then he’s expected to face a final judgment at season’s end. “Have I screwed up, and have I made mistakes? Absolutely,” Schoen said Tuesday. Meanwhile, Schoen is now busy working the back channels, identifying coaching candidates, and sharing that information with Mara and Tisch, who will make the final call on Daboll’s/Kafka’s replacement. The Giants cannot possibly strike out again on this hire. They cannot hire another Daboll, Joe Judge, Pat Shurmur or Ben McAdoo. They cannot hire another novice, or another head coach who was 9-23 with the likes of the Cleveland Browns. (In a shocker, Shurmur was also 9-23 with the Giants.) They have to hire a candidate with credible head-coaching experience, which is why Brian Flores made more sense than Daboll did in 2022. Flores had won 49 percent of his games with the Dolphins and had delivered two winning seasons out of three. Daboll, a first-timer, went on to win 33.6 percent of his games with the Giants and delivered one winning season out of four. So here’s problem No. 2 with Schoen still being on the job. The Giants need to hire the best available coach, not the one who happens to have no issues working with Joe Schoen. Those are very different things. As there’s no margin for error in this search, Schoen’s presence is an unnecessary complication, and one a prominent and experienced head coach with options might not want to deal with. The GM has lost 28 of his last 34 games, and he’s supposed to fill out Mike Tomlin’s roster? Listen, in fairness, Schoen is not without his redeeming qualities. He does deserve total credit for moving up and drafting Dart, full stop. On his two most important hires, head coach and quarterback, Schoen went 1-for-2. He has acquired some ballers in key playmaking and line positions, and he has modernized Dave Gettleman’s office, though that’s a bit like replacing your grandfather’s window unit with central air. Oh, and Schoen isn’t John Dillinger. His worst crime is being an earnest, hard-working guy who is not good at his current job. And there have been league GMs who survived a lousy coaching hire and made amends the second time around. Chicago’s Ryan Poles made it from Matt Eberflus to Ben Johnson and, at 9-3, the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Of course, there are also examples of executives swinging and missing multiple times, such as Schoen’s predecessor. Gettleman hired Shurmur and Judge, who talked and coached himself out of a job in the 2021 season with an angry news conference rant and a couple of clown-show quarterback sneaks. As much as Mara hates to lose, he hates to be embarrassed even more. Carter’s second benching over persistent tardiness became a national story on national TV, as did Koo’s tragicomedy of an attempted kick. These are Schoen’s players, and the GM would be wise to make sure his final four games are free of any more foolishness. Can Schoen actually save himself by going 3-1, or by going 2-2 with a punctuating victory over the Cowboys? I don’t believe Mara will learn anything new over the next month about his GM’s ability (or lack thereof) to identify and acquire talent, or his ability to assemble a quality staff. I do believe Mara will consider fan sentiment, and that’s why these meaningless games have meaning. Schoen needs victories to calm the masses and inspire ownership to convert him from the guy who “will lead the search for a new head coach” into the guy who “will finish the search for a new head coach.” The GM didn’t win anything in his rip-roaring news conference, other than a few effort points for hanging in there and playing better defense than a lot of his free agents and draft picks. But in their search for somewhat solid footing and the desperately needed superstar coach, the Giants would’ve been better off with someone other than Joe Schoen leading the way. Score it as their 12th loss of the season. |
| PHILADELPHIADT JALEN CARTER has undergone surgery on not one, but two, shoulders. But he’s only week-to-week. Myles Simmons of ProFootballTalk.com: The Eagles likely will not have one of their top defensive players when they face the Chargers on Monday night, but he could return sooner than later. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports defensive tackle Jalen Carter underwent a procedure earlier this week to repair both of his shoulders. Carter is now undergoing treatment and is considered week-to-week. At least for now, the team is not considering placing him on injured reserve. The plan is for Carter to be as close to 100 percent as possible for the postseason. Multiple reporters on the Eagles beat note that Carter was not playing to his usual level during Philadelphia’s loss to Chicago on Black Friday and alluded to an injury situation postgame. “That’s my problem to deal with,” Carter said, via EJ Smith of PHLY Sports. “I’m not finna tell everybody what I’m going through.” The No. 9 overall pick of the 2023 draft, Carter has registered 32 total tackles with four tackles for loss, 11 quarterback hits, and 2.0 sacks in 10 games so far in 2025 |
| AFC WEST |
| LAS VEGASRun out of Vegas, Chip Kelly may be heading to the Bluegrass. Alex Weber of SI.com: Kentucky decided late Sunday night to part ways with longtime head coach Mark Stoops, opening yet another gig in the south. Well, after word of Stoops’ axing spread across the social media streets, Mike Florio wrote on his site, Pro Football Talk, that he’s heard Chip Kelly could be a name to watch for Kentucky’s new opening. “Word is circulating among Kentucky players that Kelly could be the team’s next head coach,” Florio wrote. “That doesn’t mean he will be. It doesn’t even mean he’s an official candidate. It means only that Kentucky players have somehow developed the impression that Kelly could be the new coach.” What interesting and tricky wording there by Florio. He doesn’t say the news comes from any official source, rather that Kentucky’s players have “somehow developed the impression” that former Oregon and NFL head coach Chip Kelly could break ground on a new coaching adventure in Lexington. As for the Raiders, it may assuage some of the buyout they’re paying him over the recent firing. His previous job, OC at Ohio State, is now open with Brian Hartline taking the head coaching job at South Florida. |
| LOS ANGELES CHARGERSOC Greg Roman is thinking he will have QB JUSTIN HERBERT Monday night against the defending Super Bowl champs. Myles Simmons of ProFootballTalk.com: Though Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert just had surgery to repair a fracture in his left hand, the team remains bullish on Herbert’s chances to play against the Eagles on Monday night. In his Thursday press conference, offensive coordinator Greg Roman also noted that the team is planning to have Herbert available for Week 14. “For this game in particular, we’re really optimistic Justin is going to play,” Roman said, via Daniel Popper of TheAthletic.com. Herbert missed only 10 snaps during Sunday’s victory over the Raiders before going back in the game. But, Herbert operated exclusively out of shotgun. If Herbert is unavailable for Monday, Trey Lance will make his first start for Los Angeles. In 12 games this season, Herbert has completed 66.9 percent of his passes for 2,842 yards with 21 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. The Chargers’ first injury report of the week is due out later on Thursday. |
| AFC SOUTH |
| INDIANAPOLISQB DANIEL JONES has turned to the Duke Alumni Network for help with his broken fibula. Sean Leahy of YahooSports.com: The Indianapolis Colts are chasing the AFC South title and are hoping their quarterback with a fractured fibula can help deliver a top playoff seed. That’s why Daniel Jones has consulted with a pair of his college teammates who have created a special 3D-printed pad to better protect his injured leg. “I’m lucky to have smart friends,” Jones joked to reporters on Wednesday. “It’s pretty low-profile and fits to my leg pretty well. I don’t really notice it.” Clark Bulleit, a former Duke center, and Kevin Gehsmann, an ex-linebacker for the Blue Devils, have helped Jones before in a similar situation. In 2018, they created a pad for Jones after he fractured his collarbone during a game against Northwestern. Bulleit and Gehsmann majored in mechanical and biomedical engineering and now run Protect3D, a company that makes custom-printed 3D braces and orthotics. After Jones suffered the fracture in his lower leg last month, his former Duke teammates created a thin pad that goes under the left leg of his football pants. He’s worn it in each of the past two weeks. All Bulleit and Gehsmann needed to create the pad was a 60-second scan that led to a 90-minute design process. A day and a half later, the pad was delivered to Jones the night before the Colts’ 23-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. “I think they had the idea before [the collarbone injury], but I was the first pad that they printed that was played with,” Jones said Wednesday. “They were starting up that business and had had the idea about it my last year at Duke. “And since then, they’ve built a pretty good business, 3D printing those devices and pads. Kinda funny that I’m using one of them again, but they’re smart guys. I’m lucky to have smart friends.” The Colts have five games remaining in the regular season, three of them against AFC South foes — two against the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Houston Texans in Week 18. Tied with the Jaguars atop the division at 8-4 and just ahead of the 7-5 Texans, earning one of the AFC’s top four seeds will be a tough assignment. Missing out on a division crown could result in missing the playoffs entirely. Jones is having a bounce-back season and Jonathan Taylor has played his way into the NFL MVP conversation. The Colts need a healthy Jones in order to not waste what could be a breakthrough season after not having made the playoffs since 2020. |
| TENNESSEENate Tice of YahooSports.com says QB CAM WARD has actually done okay for the 1-11 Titans: The Titans are bad. They have one win, a miracle comeback against the Arizona Cardinals, a fellow team going through its own circle of hell this season. They’re currently the lead horse in the race (plummet?) for the No. 1 draft pick in 2026. They’ve fired their head coach. Their offense ranks at or near the bottom of essentially every conceivable metric. They may have had more fights during games recently than points. It’s bad. It’s really bad. They’re bad. It hasn’t been fun. Cam Ward, this year’s No. 1 overall selection (yes, that happened, although the broadcasts may have been distracted) has been out of sight, out of mind for the general NFL consciousness and media ferocity that we generally see with the top picks of the draft. With the Titans not having a single island game this season, not even a Thursday night slopfest to bore Al Michaels, the Titans losing game after game, and Ward not putting up stellar statistics to excite fantasy football managers or move the needle highlight-wise, Ward and the rest of the Titans have been an afterthought for this particular season. But, even amid the weekly blowouts and embarrassing lapses and weekly fights and coaching firings, there is a quarterback showing glimpses of sprouting. And that growth can continue to blossom if given just a little bit of light to help him out. Any quick glance at the statistics involving Ward and the Titans this season could be harmful to your retinas (the goggles do nothing). He’s last in classic quarterback rating, last in touchdown rate (and has thrown nearly as many interceptions, 6, as touchdowns, 7), and ranks 30th in QBR. Advanced stats point to the same thing for this season or even when comparing Ward to other rookie quarterbacks over the past decade-plus. Among 37 rookie quarterbacks with 250 or more pass attempts since 2013 (which is as far back as TruMedia’s data reliably goes for some metrics and nearly aligns with the 2011 collective bargaining agreement that drastically changed rookie pay structure, team practice times and work hours), the company that Ward keeps with his underlying metrics are, quite frankly, pretty bad! Ward ranks 34th among that group in sack rate at 10.4%, about the same as Bryce Young, Blake Bortles, Zach Wilson, and most notably considering what has happened this season, Caleb Williams. He also ranks 34th in dropback success rate, sandwiched in between DeShone Kizer and Young, and topping only Zach Wilson and Josh Rosen. I could keep listing off more stats, but you get the gist. It’s a who’s who of “oh, no.” Alas, this wouldn’t be a very engrossing article if I just pointed at Ward’s numbers, dusted off my hands, and said “welp, that’s that, he’s done” with Ward and his career. That’s what makes football players, especially quarterbacks, so entertaining to study, analyze and discuss. Who is making their situation better? Who is being propped up by their surroundings? Is it a little bit of both? How bad is Ward’s supporting cast?Rookie quarterbacks who have to play early are generally joining teams that picked highly in the draft. That broadly means they’re joining situations that range from surprisingly OK to bad to more bad to absolutely abysmal. It’s a sliding scale of impact on situation and being impacted by situation for players, especially at quarterback. Especially rookie quarterbacks. This is why, when discussing Ward, there has to be a kilogram of salt taken regarding his numbers. I’m not saying completely ignore the numbers, but context is so, so important for the hardest position in sports. ESPECIALLY when they were playing at Syracuse’s Carrier Dome (or “JMA Wireless Dome”) just a year ago. Before getting into Ward, let’s talk about his situation. His head coach/play-caller, Brian Callahan, was fired after a 1-5 start to the season. The Titans’ offense has faced the hardest-ranked schedule, according to FTN’s DVOA statistic (which isn’t going to get any easier going against Myles Garrett and the Browns in Week 14. The over/under total for that game has been set for 33.5, in case you were curious). His offensive line is filled with highly drafted young players and highly paid veterans. The Titans’ offensive line has been, by my estimation, disappointing this season. The Titans rank 31st in rushing success rate and 29th in yards before contact per rush. They’ve had stretches of doing more than enough in protection but I would consider them in the below-average tier of o-lines despite the highly priced unit and encouraging play of left guard Peter Skoronski. (And the Titans’ defense isn’t much better, outside the heroics of Jeffery Simmons, who is having an absolutely dominant year but might not even get a Pro Bowl nod out of it). Offensive line and protection, although extremely important, is only one variable to consider when talking “situation.” A fired head coach, who also happened to be the play-caller (and son of the offensive line coach, too) doesn’t really need much further illustration of a situation being less than ideal for a rookie quarterback. But, let’s get to the players catching the football for the Titans this season. Rookies drafted on Day 3 are generally not asked to take on a large role in their first seasons. Special teams and depth players, with perhaps more of a role in future seasons, are generally the path of most late-round draft picks to start their careers. With exceptions, of course. Why am I bringing up players drafted in Rounds 4-7 in an article about the No. 1 overall pick? Well, who Ward is throwing the football to is a key variable in this whole mess of an equation. So far this season, three of the players who have received the most targets on the Titans are rookies. Elic Ayomanor (who leads the team in targets) was drafted in the fourth round, Chimere Dike (third in targets with 47) was a fellow fourth-round selection, tight end Gunnar Helm (fourth in targets with 44) was another fourth-round selection. (Chig Okonkwo is second in targets. He was drafted in 2022 in, you guessed it, the fourth round). That is not to say these players are outright bad and will never become something (all have actually had some moments, with Helm and Ward showing some real chemistry). But, all three rookies are being tasked to perform in outsized roles for the round that they were selected, especially on a team that lacks so much talent to begin with. There are nine rookie wide receivers or tight ends who were either undrafted or drafted in Rounds 4-7 in the 2025 NFL Draft and have run 190 or more routes this season. Three of those players are Titans, with Dike, Ayomanor, and Helm ranking 1-2-3 in touches (targets and designed rushes) per snap among those nine Day 3/undrafted rookies. This is not a normal situation for any quarterback, much less a rookie quarterback! The only other time three Day 3/undrafted rookies received this much playing time since 2013 was the 2017 49ers with Trent Taylor, George Kittle and Kendrick Bourne during Kyle Shanahan’s first season as 49ers head coach. And it was pretty apparent why Kittle and Bourne deserved that playing time (on top of the obvious situation of a rebuilding 49ers team). Van Jefferson, a player who can safely be called a journeyman at this point, is the veteran stalwart on this team. Jefferson was a player that even the wide receiver-needy Steelers were OK letting go. The 31-year-old Calvin Ridley made only six starts as he’s battled injuries. And he was inconsistent when he was on the field this season anyway (Ridley’s $28 million salary cap hit this season is $5 million more than the rest of the Titans’ skill players — wide receivers, tight ends, and running backs — combined). Ward shows flashes of brillianceThe Titans show off their youth and pedigree on a constant basis. There are times when Ward is letting a throw go with anticipation, but the ball falls aimlessly to the ground because a wide receiver is stuck to a defender on his route. Or even times when a receiver collides so hard with a defender he not only gets knocked off of his route, but ends up disrupting another Titans wide receiver, too. When Ward is kept clean, and his teammates actually get to the right spots, there is some really good stuff in regard to Ward’s processing and ball placement. Just like in college, Ward is willing to be aggressive and has the arm talent and understanding of timing to rip off chunk plays.– – –Ward is like a jazz player who knows how to read sheet music. He has also shown glimpses of real advanced quarterback play in the pre-snap operation on top of his post-snap progressing and execution. He can hold onto the ball too long at times, but he also understands where his potential threats are in protection and tries to find quick answers to mitigate immediate pressures or potential “hot” situations.– – –Ward hasn’t been faultless. He has, at times, eaten sacks as he attempts to work from the pocket rather than attempting to create or get rid of the football. He can try a bit too much, testing the limits of what he can and can’t get away with. He can have an issue with fumbling when he is hit (his nine fumbles is tied with Daniel Jones for most among quarterbacks this season), something that has continued since college and an issue he might always have considering his knack for improv and 9-inch hand size. Cam Ward’s team is bad. Cam Ward’s offense is bad. Cam Ward’s stats are bad. Cam Ward’s receivers are green as grass. But, there really is something here for a Titans franchise desperately needing anything to give it a spark of life and hope for a future of winning football. Ward shows the intelligence, aggressiveness, competitiveness, arm talent and even downright toughness (and he’s morbidly hilarious as a quote to the media, too) to be the guy for a franchise that needs something. As the Titans warm their seat for the coaching carousel, one that features an incumbent general manager and an owner who has yet to show any vision of a plan, much less execution of anything resembling competent, Ward should still be a huge selling point for whoever ends up taking the position in Nashville. And I think a proper coach pairing should pay dividends quickly. The statistics aren’t there yet and the situation still needs time, perhaps a long time, to improve to something resembling average, but Ward is still worth believing in for a Titans fan base and whoever ends up heading this team. And he’s worth noticing for a national audience that seems so keen on looking anywhere else, including his opponent this weekend, but at the talented gunslinger playing for the Titans. |
| AFC EAST |
| BUFFALOPossible good news for the health of Bengals QB JOE BURROW. The Eagles likely will not have one of their top defensive players when they face the Chargers on Monday night, but he could return sooner than later. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports defensive tackle Jalen Carter underwent a procedure earlier this week to repair both of his shoulders. Carter is now undergoing treatment and is considered week-to-week. At least for now, the team is not considering placing him on injured reserve. The plan is for Carter to be as close to 100 percent as possible for the postseason. Multiple reporters on the Eagles beat note that Carter was not playing to his usual level during Philadelphia’s loss to Chicago on Black Friday and alluded to an injury situation postgame. “That’s my problem to deal with,” Carter said, via EJ Smith of PHLY Sports. “I’m not finna tell everybody what I’m going through.” The No. 9 overall pick of the 2023 draft, Carter has registered 32 total tackles with four tackles for loss, 11 quarterback hits, and 2.0 sacks in 10 games so far in 2025.– – -The Bills offered a haven for CB DARIUS SLAY, but he hasn’t warmed to the idea of Buffalo in December. Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com: Veteran cornerback Darius Slay, who was claimed by the Bills on waivers Wednesday, is unsure whether he wants to continue playing and will not be reporting to Buffalo. “Slay is honored that a first-class organization like the Bills claimed him, but he is going to take some time away from football right now and decide in the next few days if he wants to keep playing,” Slay’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Thursday. The Bills did not list Slay on the team’s injury report after he did not report for a physical and he was not on the league’s daily transaction wire in any capacity. He remains on the team’s 53-man roster. In the process of claiming Slay on waivers, the team waived cornerback Ja’Marcus Ingram in a corresponding move. The Houston Texans, however, took advantage of the opportunity and claimed Ingram on waivers Thursday. The Texans placed former Bills defensive tackle Tim Settle on injured reserve. If Slay does not play for Buffalo, the team has now lost important depth in the secondary in the final month of the regular season with no real gain. Ingram was a key backup and special teams player. Bills coach Sean McDermott does not speak with the media on Thursdays. Slay, 34, was released by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday after the sides mutually agreed to part ways. He was a healthy scratch in the Steelers’ loss to the Bills on Sunday as Pittsburgh opted instead to elevate Asante Samuel Jr. to the active roster for the game. Slay played in 10 games for Pittsburgh this season, starting nine. He recorded 3 passes defensed, 1 fumble recovery, 36 total tackles and 1 tackle for loss. He won a Super Bowl with the Eagles last season, capping a five-year tenure in Philadelphia. The Eagles also put in a waiver claim for Slay, a source told ESPN, confirming a report by NFL Network. The Bills had the higher priority in the waiver process, however. |
| THIS AND THAT |
| BEST TRAITSMatt Bowen of ESPN.com picks out the players who have the best traits at each position, 100 overall, here. Below is how he chose at quarterback: Most accurate passer: Dak Prescott, CowboysOf quarterbacks who have played at least 10 games this season, Prescott’s 9.6% off-target rate is the lowest, and he has completed 69.3% of his passes. He is playing some of the best football of his career. Strongest arm: Josh Allen, BillsWith his elite physical tools — frame, arm length and hand size — Allen can rip the ball to every level of the field. Best deep-ball thrower: Sam Darnold, SeahawksHis 12 completions on passes of 30 or more air yards leads the league, and he has completed 70.6% of those throws. In coordinator Klint Kubiak’s offense, Darnold is set up on schemed shot plays to target the third level. Best touch and timing: Drake Maye, PatriotsMaye can put touch on the ball to find open voids versus zone coverage. Plus, Maye will deliver a “runner’s ball” to beat man schemes. On throws of 10 to 20 air yards, Maye is completing a league-best 68% of his passes. Best passing mechanics: Joe Burrow, BengalsHis season has been limited due to a toe injury, but he remains the model for pocket mechanics. From his footwork to consistent eye level, Burrow sets the bar. Every young quarterback should study his game. Best pocket mobility: Dak Prescott, CowboysI’ve really been impressed with Prescott’s ability to find space and reset his throwing window inside the pocket. His 80.9 QBR on pocket throws tops the league. Quickest throw release: Aaron Rodgers, SteelersRodgers is still getting the ball out with speed, using his quick release to attack tight windows. His average time to throw of 2.67 seconds is the second lowest in the league. Best QB field vision: Matthew Stafford, RamsStafford is seeing plays progress extremely fast from the pocket in coach Sean McVay’s system, using his post-snap vision to identify coverage and target the open voids. Stafford has thrown 27 touchdowns from the pocket this season, tied for most in the league. Most instinctive passer: Patrick Mahomes, ChiefsMahomes’ ability to find open targets — especially late in the down — creates consistent conflict for opposing defenses. On attempts averaging a time to throw of four or more seconds, he leads the league with 36 completions. Best decision-maker: Matthew Stafford, RamsStafford owns a TD-INT ratio of 8-1. He’s producing MVP-level numbers while protecting the football. Best pocket poise: Drake Maye, PatriotsMaye has shown a strong sense of calm inside the pocket, with subtle movements to shift his platform and climb. On pocket throws this season, Maye has 19 touchdown passes compared to four interceptions. Most creative passer/off-platform: Caleb Williams, BearsWilliams brings a natural playmaking element when creating outside of structure as a runner and as a thrower. Plus, he has the arm strength to throw rockets on the move. Top dual threat: Josh Allen, BillsAllen’s 409 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns lead all quarterbacks, and his 2,832 passing yards rank ninth. He has continued to make game-changing plays for the Bills this season. Best scrambler: Patrick Mahomes, ChiefsMahomes averages 28.8 rushing yards per game on scramble attempts, while converting 23 first downs. Both of those numbers lead the league. |
