It seems clear that the reason the Ravens-Steelers game is in jeopardy lies with Baltimore.  And really, without LAMAR JACKSON would the Ravens want to go through with it, why not just take a forfeit?  Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com has some thoughts:

If you thought that Steelers players were upset by the postponement of their Week 12 game from Thursday to Sunday, wait to see how they’d respond to a possible decision that the Ravens have forfeited the game.

The vague threat of a forfeited game has loomed over the 2020 season, and plenty have argued that teams should be held responsible for their own inability to control the virus by taking an automatic L. Financial realities make the situation far more complicated than that.

A forfeit would spark a fight over money between the league and the union. Although some in the media are parroting the league’s position that the players for both teams wouldn’t be paid, the agreement struck by the NFL and the NFL Players Association prior to the opening of training camps does not cover forfeited games. It provides only for non-payment of players in the event that games are cancelled or suspended.

A forfeited game isn’t a cancelled or suspended game. It’s a forfeited game. There’s a winner (by the score of 2-0, per the league’s official rulebook) and a loser. It goes into the standings. It counts as an official game.

In any other year, a forfeit never would have resulted in the forfeiture of player pay. If the league wanted forfeited games to fall within the parameters of the no-play, no-pay arrangement, the league should have included that specific term in the agreement with the union.

Really, why should the Steelers not be paid if the game can’t be played for reasons unrelated to them? They spent the week practicing, they spent the week preparing. They spent most of the week in limbo. If the game can’t be played and if the league tries to pick their pockets for their game checks, the Pittsburgh players would have every right to scream and shout and tweet streams of profanities regarding their displeasure with the situation.

Besides, it’s hard to make the Ravens solely responsible for the potential inability to play. As explained earlier today, the league allowed the Ravens to gather at the facility on Monday and Tuesday despite obvious evidence of an ongoing outbreak. The league wanted to preserve the Thanksgiving night game if it could. That calculated risk apparently backfired; if it keeps the Ravens from playing on Sunday, the Ravens can’t solely be faulted for that.

Far better than a forfeit, the worst-case scenario should entail bumping the game to Week 18. Although that would give both teams no further leeway when it comes to any other COVID-19 issues involving them or their future opponents, it may be the only path to chicken salad.

But, do we really want the entire league to sit around in Week 18 while the 15-0 Steelers, perhaps assured of a top seed, play the Ravens, who find out after Week 17 that they are out of the playoffs?

We continue to say that Week 17 should become Week 18 – and that any postponed games be made up in Week 17, so everyone plays in the final week.

More from Florio:

If the Ravens hadn’t been scheduled to play until Sunday in the first place, this week’s outbreak possibly would had been less severe. The fact that they were preparing to play on Thursday night exacerbated the situation — and quite possibly will keep the Week 12 game against the Steelers from being played at all.

Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the league allowed the Ravens to hold walk-through practices on Monday and on Tuesday before shutting down the facility for good. The Monday gathering happened even though the Ravens learned late Sunday night of positive positive player results, based on samples collected on Sunday morning. Ditto for the Tuesday gathering; the players and coaches were in the building on Tuesday morning despite more Monday positives.

Although the team announced late Tuesday morning that the Ravens would work virtually, they actually had completed most of another walk-through practice, and they had conducted in-person meetings on Tuesday, before the facility closed. The league shut things down and sent everyone home as a result of a new round of point-of-care tests.

The unnamed staff member, reportedly a strength and conditioning coach, tested positive last Thursday, per the source. The four player positives from Sunday, the day of the game against the Titans, showed that the virus was spreading at a time when players and coaches were the most vulnerable to further transmission, given the unavoidable proximity of bodies and absence of masks.

If the Ravens weren’t due to play until Sunday in the first place, few if any players would have been in the facility on Monday and Tuesday, limiting the possibility that the virus would further spread. Instead, the fact that players and coaches gathered on Tuesday, combined with indications that the virus continues to spread and the normal incubation period, makes it difficult to conclude with any degree of confidence that the cycle won’t continue, with another wave of positives emerging on Sunday, when the Ravens and Steelers are currently due to play.

That’s why a Sunday game currently seem unrealistic. Moving the game to Monday or Tuesday would reduce the risk of further spread, but it would leave the Ravens woefully unprepared for the game. If they can return to the facility on Monday, they could conduct a walk-through before the Tuesday game.

Such an approach would represent a calculated risk that any and all exposures from last Tuesday would have resulted in positives before Monday, and it assumes that the maximum incubation period is five days. If that estimation were to be incorrect, gathering on Monday could spark a new wave of infections.

As it stands, according to the source, someone in almost every job capacity in Ravens football operation has tested positive, including strength coaches and trainers. Most people, per the source, didn’t feel safe going into the building after the Sunday positives or the Monday positives, and no one feels safe going in now.

Players, per the source, generally don’t want to return to the building until next Wednesday at the earliest. That would allow for a five-day incubation period from Tuesday the 24th and two consecutive days of negative tests.

The final decision will be made by the league. As the source put it, the league truly cares about safety, but the league also cares about the bottom line. By allowing the Ravens to gather on Monday (despite a wave of positives from Sunday) and Tuesday (despite a wave of positives from Monday), the league made a decision to try to keep on the Thanksgiving schedule one of the biggest games of the year. Ultimately, that decision made things worse.

“The league really wanted to play that game, which is understandable,” the source said. “Unfortunately, we suffered for it.”

The regular-season schedule is now potentially suffering for it, with a Sunday game between the Ravens and Steelers unlikely, a short-term postponement potentially impractical, and the contest quite possibly destined to become the first game of an eighteenth week.

The league has resisted for nearly 12 weeks the periodic temptation to bump a game into an eighteenth week. Ravens at Steelers could still be the first one to land there. The problem becomes that, for the two teams involved, there would be no margin for error when it comes to their remaining games, since there would be no opportunity to make up a second game for either team that can’t be played in the scheduled week.

The game is still on for Sunday as we go to press.

NFC EAST

DALLAS

The Cowboys had surprise on their side when they attempted their fake punt on Thursday.  Surely, no one would expect the fake on 4^th and 10 in their own territory in a close game with time remaining?  Jeremy Bergman of NFL.com:

With the Dallas Cowboys trailing their rivals from Washington by just four points early in the fourth quarter on Thanksgiving, coach Mike McCarthy made what could be the consequential call of the 2020 NFC East race.

On fourth-and-10 from their own 24 with just over 12 minutes left in the game, the Cowboys trotted out the punt team after their third scoreless drive of the half. But instead of attempting to flip field position, McCarthy, special teams coordinator John Fassel and Dallas tried to fake out Washington with a double-reverse sweep to Cedrick Wilson. However, Wilson’s circuitous route behind the formation allowed Washington to recover, locate and tackle him one yard behind the line of scrimmage.

On the very next play, Washington rookie running Antonio Gibson took a handoff 23 yards to the house to put the Football Team up 10 and put Thursday’s clash “atop” the NFC East out of reach.

Following Dallas’ 41-16 loss — yes, it got out of hand quickly after McCarthy’s failed fake — the embattled Cowboys coach defended the decision to attempt a fake punt down four points with plenty of time to go in the fourth quarter.

“You won’t get anywhere if you’re thinking about negatives all the time,” McCarthy said. “Obviously it was a solid play call, it’s a good play design. Their gunner made a good play, came off of it. He put us in a high-low read for Cedrick.

“You never convert them obviously if you don’t call them and if you don’t believe in them. I clearly understood the situation when it was called.”

McCarthy’s power of positivity did not take hold Thursday evening, though he can’t be blamed for lack of trying.

At the tail end of what has been a traumatic 72 hours for the Cowboys — strength and conditioning coordinator Markus Paul died Wednesday after suffering a medical emergency at Dallas’ facility — McCarthy attempted to light a spark under his team on a national stage. The Cowboys had just wasted a golden opportunity on their prior drive after Jaylon Smith was tackled four yards short of a pick-six and Dallas’ offense could only convert his effort into three points.

Perhaps feeling the game and Dallas’ opportunity to win or at least take a lead in the division slipping away, McCarthy weighed his options and went with his gut on Thanksgiving night.

The Cowboys coach insists the in-game situation was ripe for such a gutsy call.

“There’s obviously film study that goes into the call, when to call it, but when you call it, you’re obviously looking to convert it,” McCarthy said. “You obviously understand on fourth-down calls what your options are: You either convert or you don’t convert. You always know that going into… There’s flow of the game. All those things are factored into that decision. I’m very confident in our players and put them in position to make big plays.”

Dallas was not so aggressive to convert on its next drive when, on a fourth-and-11 10 yards upfield from its last fake attempt, and this time down two scores, the Cowboys did punt. Washington marched right down the field, made the affair a three-score game, then pick-sixed Andy Dalton on the very next drive and leaped to the top of NFC East.

McCarthy and the Cowboys, meanwhile, sunk to the bottom of the very worst division in football.

Looking at the play, it seemed to rely on a block from the punter or a pass to the punter.  The punter appears singularly incapable of the block.  The ballcarrier never looked for the pass.

WASHINGTON

RB ANTONIO GIBSON has been a very good rookie all year and now the nation knows it after he had a big day against Dallas.

Anyone unaware of Antonio Gibson’s burgeoning potential got a heaping helping along with their Thanksgiving turkey Thursday afternoon.

The Washington Football Team’s rookie running back galloped all over the Dallas Cowboys in a 41-16 blowout win. Gibson rushed for 115 yards on 20 carries with three TDs. He also added five catches for 21 yards, second-most for Washington on the day.

With a national audience tuning in for the annual Thanksgiving affair in Dallas, Gibson’s star shined the brightest.

“Story of my life,” Gibson said, via the Washington Post. “Every time the spotlight come on, it seems like God’s always watching down on me. … To be able to come out on national TV and do this is an amazing feeling.”

The rookie has progressively improved, earning back-to-back weeks averaging 5.75 yards per carry or better. The 22-year-old was a combo receiver/ running back in college, known more for catching passes than running between the tackles.

Washington made him a third-round pick and viewed the Memphis product as a potential full-time RB. Thus far, Gibson is proving the club’s evaluation prescient.

“He’s still growing,” coach Ron Rivera said. “The thing about him is he’s got so much potential and ability.”

Teammates are in awe of how fast Gibson has adapted to his position in the NFL.

“He’s very special,” receiver Terry McLaurin said. “I don’t think he knows how good he can be.”

Gibson became the only rookie since at least 1948 with three rushing TDs on Thanksgiving, per NFL Research. He also became the first rookie in Washington history to have a rush TD in five straight games, and the first rookie overall to do so since the Browns’ Nick Chubb in 2018.

The Thanksgiving performance marked Gibson’s first career three-TD day. He became the league’s first rookie since Jordan Howard in 2016 to run for three touchdowns in a game, and the first Washington player with three rushing TDs since Rob Kelley in Wek 11 of that same year.

Gibson’s 11 rushing TDs this season pair him with Alfred Morris (13, in 2012) as the only rookies in franchise history with 10-plus rush TDs.

Thursday’s breathtaking performance was capped by two fourth-quarter long TD runs, the first of which Gibson waved goodbye to the Cowboys’ chances of a comeback.

As the weeks progress, Gibson is getting more and more comfortable in his position, and his production is proving he can be a foundational piece in Washington.

Thursday’s win vaulted the Football Team into first place in the NFC East with five weeks to go. The slate gets tougher with the currently undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers on tap in Week 13, but spearheaded by Gibson, McLaurin and the steady hand of QB Alex Smith, Washington believes it can keep hold of the division lead.

“Our record isn’t the best; our conference isn’t the best; but we’re still in it,” Gibson said. “That gives us hope. If we can make the playoffs, why not?”

Credit to Ron Rivera and his staff.  With a good defense, decent offensive balance and consistent effort and cohesion, the WFT is no longer a “bad” football team.  Not sure they are “good” but they may be good enough to win the NFC East.

The schedule is somewhat daunting:

13        AT PITTSBURGH

14        AT SAN FRANCISCO

15        SEATTLE

16        CAROLINA

17        AT PHILADELPHIA

If they can go 2-2 in the next four, they would be 6-9 going into the Eagles game.

NFC SOUTH

TAMPA BAY

Center A.Q. SHIPLEY may have a career-threatening injury.  Jenna Laine of ESPN.com:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers center A.Q. Shipley, who has been filling in as a starter over the past two weeks, may not only be done for the season but also for his career with a neck injury, according to coach Bruce Arians.

“A.Q. Shipley appears to have had a career-ending injury,” Arians told SiriusXM NFL Radio on Wednesday. “And I feel bad because I love A.Q. He’s one of my favorite players of all time and was playing good for us. But I think it was a previous injury that might have just got aggravated in his neck.”

Shipley left Monday night’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams late in the fourth quarter, just before quarterback Tom Brady was intercepted on the final drive. Arians initially believed the injury was a stinger. It turns out it’s much worse for the veteran signed specifically to help protect Brady should injuries affect the offensive line.

After three epic games, Round 4 of Patrick Mahomes vs. Tom Brady could be the last

The Buccaneers are already without starting left guard Ali Marpet, who has missed three games with a concussion. That injury prompted Shipley to be inserted into the lineup the past two games while starting center Ryan Jensen was moved over to left guard, after Joe Haeg struggled at guard against the New Orleans Saints. Left tackle Donovan Smith has also missed practice this week with an ankle injury.

NFC WEST

ARIZONA

No WR LARRY FITZGERALD in New England on Sunday as Covid claims another victim.  NFL.com:

The Arizona Cardinals will play a game without Larry Fitzgerald for the first time since the 2014 season when they face the New England Patriots this Sunday.

The future Hall of Fame wide receiver has tested positive for COVID-19, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero reported Thursday.

Arizona placed Fitzgerald and fellow wideout Trent Sherfield on the reserve/COVID-19 list later Thursday.

Fitzgerald is coming off one of his most productive games of this season when he posted eight receptions for 62 yards with a season-high 10 targets in the Cardinals’ 28-21 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

For the season, Fitzgerald has 43 receptions for 336 yards, and his 43 catches rank second on the team behind DeAndre Hopkins, who leads the way with 72 receptions for 912 yards with four touchdowns.

LOS ANGELES RAMS

The Rams defense, among the best in the NFL, has taken a hit per Lindsey Thiry ofESPN.com:

The Los Angeles Rams have placed starting inside linebacker Micah Kiser on injured reserve, the team announced Thursday.

Kiser, who leads the Rams with 77 tackles this season, suffered a knee injury late in the fourth quarter of Monday’s win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Backup Troy Reeder, who started eight games last season and had three sacks in his lone start this season, is expected to start in Kiser’s absence.

The Rams (7-3) host the San Francisco 49ers (4-6) on Sunday.

AFC WEST

DENVER

COVID ALERT!

Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com:

The Denver Broncos have canceled Friday’s practice and the players and coaches will meet virtually after one player and two staff members tested positive for COVID-19.

The Broncos were informed of the test results early Friday morning. That is addition to quarterback Jeff Driskel, who was moved to the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday. It is not known if Driskel tested positive for the coronavirus or was designated as a close contact of someone who was.

The Broncos are scheduled to face the New Orleans Saints on Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High.

The Broncos were cleared to practice on Thanksgiving by the NFL’s medical staff after moving Driskel to the reserve/COVID-19 list.

When asked Thursday morning if he had concerns other players, including any of the team’s other quarterbacks would show up as positive tests, Broncos coach Vic Fangio said: “No, the other quarterbacks were only on there minimal amounts (as contact traces with Driskel), like two minutes and some seconds, four minutes. That’s over a three- or four-day period. They thoroughly checked those guys that were on the two minutes, three minutes, four minutes, and they came back and said nobody else needs to go on the list and they cleared us to have normal activities and normal practice (Thursday).”

It is the third time the Broncos have canceled practices and other on-site activities at their facility this season. The first was after guard Graham Glasgow tested positive in late October and then earlier this month after defensive end Shelby Harris tested positive.

Glasgow has returned to the team while Harris had recently returned to work with the team’s strength and conditioning staff, but had not yet returned to practice.

Defensive coordinator Ed Donatell has missed the last four games with an extended battle with the virus that linebacker Alexander Johnson said required Donatell to be hospitalized. Running backs coach Curtis Modkins and offensive line coach Mike Munchak have also missed time this season due to the virus.

– – –

Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com ponders how much the Broncos should use RB PHILLIP LINDSEY:

For much of this season, the questions surrounding Denver Broncos running back Phillip Lindsay have been: How can the Broncos get him the ball more, and what would that look like if they did?

The answers aren’t easy, but the gold standard for how a team can get its running back involved in the offense will be on display Sunday when the New Orleans Saints and running back Alvin Kamara visit Empower Field at Mile High (4:05 p.m. ET, Fox).

Lindsay is not Kamara. Few, if any, teams this side of Christian McCaffrey and the Carolina Panthers have anyone like the 5-foot-10, 215-pound Kamara, who last week became the first player in NFL history to record at least 500 yards rushing and at least 500 yards receiving in each of his first four seasons in the league.

Saints backup quarterback Jameis Winston has described Kamara, a third-round pick in the 2017 draft, simply as “an incredible talent, person and teammate.” The Saints use Kamara in a wide variety of ways to influence defenses and to create first downs, touchdowns and repetitive migraines in defensive coordinators. He leads the Saints in carries (117), rushing yards (531), receptions (67), receiving yards (648) and total touchdowns (12).

Lindsay is nowhere near that workload, nor should he be with Melvin Gordon also on the roster. But getting Lindsay a little more involved might spice things up for an offense that is currently 27th in scoring, 22nd in yards per games and 15th in rushing yards per game. Lindsay has had just two games this season with more than 10 carries and three games in which he has not been targeted at all in the passing game.

“You can’t sit here and cry over it,” Lindsay said in recent weeks. “You’ve just got to take advantage of the reps you’re getting. The fact is that when you get an opportunity, take advantage of it. When you sit there and wait for your opportunity, you can’t do nothing about it. You’ve got two really good running backs, and hopefully they find ways to get us more involved. If not, you just have to wait for your time.”

Lindsay has missed three games and the second halves of two others with injuries this season (a toe injury to go with the concussion), which hasn’t helped matters. The Broncos have also been apt to check out of the run game when they’ve gotten behind — and they have gotten behind plenty, having not held the lead in five of their six losses.

And, as some opposing personnel evaluators have pointed out, Lindsay has dropped a pass or three.

But it’s also clear the Broncos are better when Lindsay gets the ball. In the two games in which he had more than 10 carries, the Broncos won. Despite missing 14 quarters of action, Lindsay still has 11 of team’s 31 carries of at least 10 yards, including three in the Broncos’ win last Sunday over the Miami Dolphins. His 55-yard touchdown run was the first spark of their comeback win over the Los Angeles Chargers, and it was one of just six carries in the game.

“You can hand it to him, obviously, that’s one, and then there’s opportunities for him to catch the ball, either as a check down or as a primary,” is how Broncos offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur has put it. “… I think it’s good if Phillip touches the ball, and we’ll keep trying to get it to him.”

The Broncos’ win over the Dolphins on Sunday was as close to the blend Denver has hoped for this season when it comes to Lindsay, Gordon, the team’s run game and the edge it would like to play with on offense. With an array of power run plays, often with left tackle Garett Bolles and left guard Dalton Risner pulling out in front, the Broncos pounded out a season-high 189 rushing yards. Gordon rushed for 84 yards on 15 carries as Lindsay rushed for 82 yards on 16 carries. It was the first game since the Broncos’ Week 5 win over the New England Patriots, and only the second time of the season, that they held a lead for at least 70% of the game.

“I’d always like the early lead, that’s for damn sure,” said Broncos coach Vic Fangio. “… When you’re running it decently and you’re playing good defense, the whole complexion of the game is different. You’re not feeling like offensively, ‘If we don’t score, we’re in trouble’ or you have to throw it every play.”

AFC NORTH

BALTIMORE

Sunday’s re-scheduled game with the Steelers is hanging by a thread as QB LAMAR JACKSON falls victim to the Covid outbreak. NFL.com:

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has tested positive for coronavirus.

A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed Jackson’s positive COVID-19 test to USA TODAY Sports’ Mike Jones. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the issue.

NFL Network was the first to report the positive test.

The Ravens reported additional positive tests earlier Thursday, the day their game against the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers was originally scheduled to be played. The contest has been postponed to Sunday at 1:15 p.m. ET on NBC. All signs point to backup Robert Griffin III starting behind center with Jackson out.

Griffin took to Twitter late Thursday to express support for his teammates and to say that dealing with “this outbreak within the team is bigger than football.”

On Wednesday, the team disciplined strength and conditioning coach Steve Saunders for failing to report coronavirus symptoms and not consistently wearing his mask or tracking device while inside the facility. The team did not name Saunders, though The Athletic reported it was Saunders. Earlier this week, Ravens running backs J.K. Dobbins and Mark Ingram tested positive for COVID-19.

As the story indicates, Steve Saunders has been revealed as the culprit despite the Ravens’ efforts to obfuscate.

AFC SOUTH

INDIANAPOLIS

Covid has claimed one of the Colts’ best defenders.

The Indianapolis Colts will battle the Tennessee Titans for the AFC South lead without playmaking defensive lineman DeForest Buckner.

Buckner, who was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Wednesday, tested positive and will not play Sunday, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported.

It was unclear earlier in the week whether Buckner had tested positive for COVID-19 or was placed on the reserve list as a high-risk close contact. Rapoport’s report closes the door on any chances of Buckner possibly being cleared by Sunday. A player who tests positive for COVID-19 can’t return to the team until at least 10 days after the start of symptoms, per league protocol.

The loss is a massive blow to the Colts’ sturdy defense as it prepares to slow Derrick Henry and the Titans offense. Buckner has generated 40 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 16 QB hits, one safety, forced a fumble and recovered a fumble as a key cog in the middle of the defense. More than counting stats, Buckner’s presence crumbles pockets and commands attention, freeing up others to make plays.

The winner of Sunday afternoon’s Colts-Titans rematch will take the lead in the AFC South. An Indy victory would mean a season sweep for the Colts over their division rival.

AFC EAST

MIAMI

Keep an eye on QB TUA TAGOVAILOA’s thumb.  This from the Palm Beach Post:

Dolphins coach Brian Flores downplayed the severity of a thumb injury Tua Tagovailoa has on his left (throwing) hand, limiting him in practice.

“He got banged up a little bit,” Flores said Thursday morning before practice. “He’s a tough kid. He’s going to do everything he can from a treatment standpoint, so we’ll see. I don’t think this is something that we’re too, too worried about. I think we’re just going to continue to treat it. As far as how accurate the report is, yeah, he got dinged up in practice. He’s getting treatment and it’s better today, so we’ll see how it goes.”

Tagovailoa played in last weekend’s loss at Denver despite a foot injury.

If Tagovailoa is unable to play Sunday against the New York Jets, the Dolphins would call upon Ryan Fitzpatrick, who relieved Tagovailoa for the final two series against the Broncos, driving the team to a field goal and narrowly missing a touchdown that could have forced overtime.

Fitzpatrick played for the Jets in 2015, leading them to a 10-6 record, and 2016, when he went 3-8.

Sunday’s forecast calls for a sunny afternoon, avoiding issues Tagovailoa might have gripping a wet football.

Asked how concerned he was that Tagovailoa might not be available Sunday, Flores said, “I don’t think we’re at that point yet. He’s getting treatment, he’s rehabbing. We’ll see how this goes. It’s sore but he’s a tough kid. He’s played through some things before.”

NEW YORK JETS

He’s back.  Tyler Sullivan of CBSSports.com:

Sam Darnold will snap his two-game absence and return as New York’s starter when the Jets host the Miami Dolphins in Week 12. Darnold was able to practice fully on Thursday and will do so again on Friday, which has helped pave the way for head coach Adam Gase to make the call on his status, albeit with the caveat of there being no setbacks in practice.

“It’s been a good week for Sam,” Gase told reporters, via Ralph Vacchiano of SNY. “It just looks a lot different from the last time he tried to make a run at going in a game.”

Darnold originally suffered his right shoulder injury in Week 4 against the Broncos and missed two games, including New York’s first matchup with the Dolphins in Week 6. Darnold returned to action in Week 8 against the Bills, but later aggravated the injury again against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 8. That sidelined Darnold for the Jets’ previous two games that were sandwiched around their Week 10 bye.

In Darnold’s absence, Joe Flacco got the nod under center. Over the previous two games, Flacco has completed 60% of his passes for 467 yards, five touchdowns, and two picks. New York was winless in both of those most recent starts by Flacco, adding to their 0-10 record entering Sunday.

Not only will Darnold return to action, but it also looks like he’ll have his full complement of weapons at receiver with Breshad Perriman (shoulder), Jamison Crowder, and rookie Denzel Mims all in line to play this week. Gase noted that this could be a chance for everyone to “see what maybe it could have been” with everyone healthy at the same time.

THIS AND THAT

THE STATE OF QBs

Mike Sando of The Athletic with a deep dive on how the QB situation shakes out at all 32 teams.

Before we look at it, let’s make a list of teams that we would expect with some certainty to have the same starting QB 18 months from now –

Rams, 49ers, Seahawks, Chiefs, Chargers, Raiders (?), Bengals (if Burrow healthy), Ravens, Vikings (?), Texans, Titans (?), Panthers (?), Giants (?), Bills, Dolphins (?).

So more than half the league could turn over.  Let’s see what Sando says:

Drew Brees has 40 touchdown passes with four interceptions in his past 16 starts. His New Orleans Saints have a 13-3 record in those games, with a 30-point scoring average. Those are incredible numbers for a quarterback who could be finished as a viable full-season starter if he decides to play past this season. In New England and Indianapolis, high-profile quarterback rentals face uncertain futures. In Atlanta and Detroit, well-established starters with Pro Bowl pedigrees appear likely to return unless changes in team leadership spur other plans. Rumors always seem to swirl around the San Francisco 49ers’ Jimmy Garoppolo and the Minnesota Vikings’ Kirk Cousins. Elsewhere, once-rising younger QBs could be playing their way out of town.

“I think Minnesota sticks with Kirk,” an NFL team exec said, “but I think the caveat is, there will be immense quarterback movement this coming offseason. Once you are outside the teams that are set at the position, who knows what opportunities may come your way that you cannot say ‘no’ to?”

There are more playoff races to watch as the regular season heads into December. Roughly one-third of the league’s teams could pursue new starting quarterbacks for 2021, injecting another kind of drama into the next six weeks. With input from NFL execs, I’ve placed all 32 teams into one of five buckets based on their current quarterback situations.

Priority watch list

What happens down the stretch could affect how these teams proceed. In every case, the teams could escape their quarterbacks’ contracts easily, adding a level of flexibility.

Indianapolis Colts

Current QBs: Philip Rivers, Jacoby Brissett, Jacob Eason

Projected draft order: No. 24

The Colts are competitive in the AFC more because of improved defense and special teams than because of their offseason signing of Rivers to a one-year, $25 million deal. The offense has provided 22.5 expected points added (EPA) through 10 games, the same figure as last season through 10 games. The defense and special teams are a combined 47 EPA better year over year, helping to produce a one-game improvement in the standings from this point in 2019. Rivers turns 39 in December. If he heats up and leads Indy deep into the playoffs, it could feel better about signing him for another season. But the prevailing view among evaluators holds that Rivers is too near the end for Indy to bet on him past this season. There will be other options. Coach Frank Reich has a history with Carson Wentz. The Colts might have selected Sam Darnold in 2018, but they traded out of the No. 3 slot because Andrew Luck was their man at the time. Might they have interest now?

 “To me, Rivers is a complete unknown and if you are Indy, you know it is year to year,” an exec said. “If they made a run, Rivers could retire. Or, you could be like, ‘Oh, Indy is fine with Rivers,’ but now Indy is like, ‘Well, wait, we can get Sam Darnold for $4 million this year, Frank will coach him up and we have a high grade on him,’ or maybe Frank wants Carson Wentz or whatever. That is where the wrong domino sends everything in a different way.”

New England Patriots

Current QBs: Cam Newton, Jarrett Stidham, Brian Hoyer

Projected draft order: No. 13

Newton started this season decently, fell off after contracting COVID-19, then stabilized in recent weeks. An especially strong finish from him could give New England some incentive to explore continuing the relationship beyond this season, although coaches and execs are skeptical of the Patriots’ interest. Newton, a bargain on a one-year deal worth $1.75 million, has so far avoided the injuries that precipitated his exit from Carolina. Three factors seem relevant to any evaluation: Newton’s physical outlook, the Patriots’ unusually poor supporting cast of receivers and how New England wants to structure its offense for the long term.

 “I know they are singing his praises, but he is up and down,” an evaluator said. “Is Bill (Belichick) really going to hang his hat and pay him?”

Newton, over the Patriots’ past four games, ranks fifth in EPA per pass attempt, including No. 1 when targeting wide receivers. He ranks fourth over that span in yards per attempt but is tied for last with two touchdown passes.

New Orleans Saints

Current QBs: Drew Brees (IR), Taysom Hill, Jameis Winston, Trevor Siemian

Projected draft order: No. 31

Brees missed five games to injury in 2019, and now he’s out again, this time with 11 fractured ribs and a collapsed lung. Betting markets favor Brees retiring after this season. Coaches and evaluators who watched the tape from Hill’s initial start saw a player who was inaccurate on deep passes, failed on the one play where he had to read the defense and completed a series of well-schemed shorter passes. They see Hill as a player who expands the playbook for coach Sean Payton when used in tandem with a conventional quarterback but limits that playbook when he’s the primary quarterback. Brees and Winston do not have contracts past this season. Hill’s deal carries more than $7 million in guarantees in 2021.

San Francisco 49ers

Current QBs: Jimmy Garoppolo (IR), Nick Mullens, C.J. Beathard

Projected draft order: No. 15

The 49ers cannot be certain whether Garoppolo will play for them again this season. The long-term future is also a little murky. Garoppolo, sidelined by a high ankle sprain, has missed games to injury in three of the four seasons he’s had opportunities to start.

“I would put the 49ers in this group solely because it depends on the options,” an exec said. “Do I see them moving on from Garoppolo? No. Could they if they had the right option? This whole category, it is likely these teams wind up shaking it up and switching between each other.”

Garoppolo’s deal has a no-trade clause, so shipping him to another team would require his approval. The 49ers have generally won with Garoppolo in the lineup, but if they cannot count on him to play and if a shrinking salary cap in 2021 leads San Francisco to consider reallocating resources, the $24.1 million in base salary scheduled for Garoppolo might be better spent another way. The 49ers would gain that full amount in cap room by releasing Garoppolo while eating less than $3 million in dead money. But there are no guarantees they could find a superior and cost-effective alternative. They might prefer Garoppolo to potential free-agent alternatives such as Brissett, Mitch Trubisky, Tyrod Taylor, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Andy Dalton, Newton, Winston and Joe Flacco. They might be selecting a little late to choose their preferred quarterback in the draft. Acquiring Cousins, a known Shanahan favorite, from Minnesota would require that the Vikings be a willing trade partner. They might not be one.

Denver Broncos

Current QBs: Drew Lock, Brett Rypien, Jeff Driskel

Projected draft order: No. 12

Execs debated whether the Broncos belonged in this category or the next one.

“I think Lock is there (as the starter in 2021),” an exec said. “If you are them, Courtland Sutton is out. I think Lock may be up and down, but I don’t see (general manager John) Elway moving on.”

Lock is one of 36 quarterbacks to make more than 10 starts since the start of last season. He ranks last among them in EPA per pass attempt and passer rating. Denver plays the third-toughest remaining schedule in terms of opponent winning percentage. If Lock goes from statistically bad to worse over those remaining games and Denver slips further in the standings, it’s easier to envision the Broncos considering alternatives — especially if there are any leadership changes for a franchise navigating ownership issues.

“I put them in (the) intriguing bucket,” another exec said. “The good thing for them is, they took (Lock) in (the) second round, so the spotlight is not overly bright.”

Probably set, with some questions

It’s likely these teams’ quarterbacks will return to start in Week 1, but there are some questions worth addressing.

Philadelphia Eagles

Current quarterbacks: Carson Wentz, Nate Sudfeld, Jalen Hurts

Projected draft order: No. 14

The Eagles’ financial commitment to Wentz all but assures his place on the team next season. If there are significant organizational changes, execs suspect those changes would affect the coaching situation more than they would the quarterback.

Carolina Panthers

Current quarterbacks: Teddy Bridgewater, P.J. Walker, Will Grier

Projected draft order: No. 8

Bridgewater’s deal carries $10 million in guarantees next season. The Panthers seem happy with him. Their immediate future would seem to include Bridgewater as the 2021 Week 1 starter.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Current quarterbacks: Tom Brady, Blaine Gabbert, Ryan Griffin

Projected draft order: No. 23

Brady isn’t going anywhere next season. His contract is fully guaranteed, including $25 million in 2021. If the Buccaneers’ season falls apart, the quarterback won’t be the scapegoat.

“Brady sells tickets and makes them relevant,” an exec said. “They are not moving on from Tom.”

Cleveland Browns

Current quarterbacks: Baker Mayfield, Case Keenum

Projected draft order: No. 19

The current coach and general manager were not involved in drafting Mayfield first in 2018. They could be less invested in him as a result. But with the Browns on pace for their first winning season since 2007, a change at quarterback would come as a surprise.

“I think Mayfield is set there,” an exec said. “Mayfield is so cheap. Why wouldn’t you just do it another year? Maybe they put him on notice next year, but I just don’t see this year.”

Minnesota Vikings

Current quarterbacks: Kirk Cousins, Sean Mannion

Projected draft order: No. 16

Cousins’ 2021 salary ($21 million) is already guaranteed. His 2022 salary ($35 million) becomes guaranteed in March. The Vikings could trade him. The 49ers would be natural suitors based on Shanahan’s known affinity for Cousins. There are few indications that might actually happen, however.

New York Giants

Current quarterbacks: Daniel Jones, Colt McCoy

Projected draft order: No. 11

The Giants might jump into the first group of teams if they hire a new general manager or if Jones craters over the final six games.

“If there is a new GM, then I think there’s a greater chance it’s over or it’s one year and they draft another guy,” an evaluator said. “There are a lot of teams that had (Jones) as a backup.”

Jones was the sixth pick in 2019. Among 36 qualifying quarterbacks, only Winston has committed turnovers on a higher percentage of passing and rushing plays than Jones since the start of last season.

“I think they are probably set, but it depends on, is there anybody they can get that they know right now is better?” an exec said. “I presume that answer is no.”

Dallas Cowboys

Current quarterbacks: Dak Prescott (IR), Andy Dalton, Garrett Gilbert, Ben DiNucci

Projected draft order: No. 9

The Cowboys keep saying Prescott is their guy for the future, but there’s at least some uncertainty until the sides reach an agreement on a contract. Prescott’s ankle injury is another variable.

“Does he still play hardball for $35-40 million?” an exec asked. “What if they said, ‘We are trading for (Matthew) Stafford or some vet that has produced but has not had much around him’? What if they moved on and got a compensatory third (for Prescott)? They are committing to him, but why couldn’t they get a deal done?”

Probably set, unless new coach/GM combos want to start over

The Falcons are looking for a new coach and GM. The Lions could be in the near future.

Atlanta Falcons

Current quarterbacks: Matt Ryan, Matt Schaub

Projected draft order: No. 5

Ryan is still productive, seems to enjoy the support of ownership and has a contract that would be difficult to move from a salary-cap standpoint. All signs point to his return as the starter, but until the Falcons hire a new coach and GM, there is some uncertainty.

Detroit Lions

Current quarterbacks: Matthew Stafford, Chase Daniel, David Blough

Projected draft order: No. 10

Stafford’s contract would be much easier to trade than Ryan’s. Unlike Ryan, who has taken his team to a Super Bowl as a league MVP and has a winning record as a starter, Stafford could be generally associated with his team’s sustained futility. Those factors could more plausibly lead a new regime to seek sweeping changes that included a switch at quarterback.

Obviously must address the position

These teams almost certainly need to seek new quarterbacks.

Chicago Bears

Current quarterbacks: Nick Foles, Mitch Trubisky

Projected draft order: No. 17

Trubisky is down to the final games of his rookie contract. The Bears owe money to Foles in the future, but not enough to prohibit them from investing in another starter. Only the Jets average fewer offensive points per game than the Bears. Only the Jets and Broncos average fewer EPA per pass attempt.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Current quarterbacks: Gardner Minshew, Mike Glennon, Jake Luton

Projected draft order: No. 2

Blaine Gabbert and Blake Bortles are the only quarterbacks Jacksonville has drafted in the first five rounds over the past 10 years. They’ve drafted four others in the sixth round, including Minshew and Luton. That presumably changes in 2021, even though Minshew has provided an upgrade. The Jaguars have gone 7-12 while averaging 19.1 offensive points per game in 19 starts by Minshew. They were 2-17 while averaging 13.3 offensive points per game in their past 19 starts with other quarterbacks in the lineup.

New York Jets

Current quarterbacks: Sam Darnold, Joe Flacco, James Morgan

Projected draft order: No. 1

There’s still time for Darnold to return from injury and get something going before the season’s end, but for the Jets, the opportunity cost of holding the No. 1 choice (most likely) and not using it for a quarterback could be too great.

“The only exception I put on the Jets is, if they hire a new coach who comes in and is like, ‘I’d rather have four first-round picks and Sam Darnold than Trevor Lawrence,’ that is the only thing that could change it,” an exec said.

Washington Football Team

Current quarterbacks: Alex Smith, Dwayne Haskins, Kyle Allen (IR)

Projected draft order: No. 7

Washington obviously does not think Haskins is the answer. Allen projects as a backup. Smith will be 37 next season, and it’s unclear how much of his pre-injury form he might recapture.

All set for 2021

These teams’ starting quarterbacks appear set for next season.

Arizona Cardinals: Kyler Murray’s future appears bright. The present isn’t bad, either.

Baltimore Ravens: Lamar Jackson will be 24 heading into next season.

Buffalo Bills: Josh Allen’s production has improved every season.

Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Burrow could be back from his knee injury in time for the opener.

Green Bay Packers: Aaron Rodgers’ play this season pushes back the Jordan Love alternative.

Houston Texans: Deshaun Watson’s contract and performance leave no doubt about the future in Houston.

Kansas City Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes is signed through the 2031 season.

Los Angeles Chargers: Justin Herbert is the betting favorite for NFL rookie of the year.

Los Angeles Rams: Jared Goff’s contract, performance and team success ensure his status for next season.

Las Vegas Raiders: Derek Carr has hit stride in his third season with coach Jon Gruden.

Miami Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa’s recent benching doesn’t change anything for next season. He’s the presumed starter.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Drafting a potential successor could make sense, but it should be Ben Roethlisberger’s team in 2021.

Seattle Seahawks: Russell Wilson’s deal runs through 2023, his age-34 season.

Tennessee Titans: Ryan Tannehill’s $24.5 million salary for 2021 is guaranteed. The Titans have averaged 27.8 offensive points per game in his starts, up from 20.6 in Marcus Mariota’s starts.

Sando has 14 teams as all set, 9 either “priority watch list” or “must address” and 9 others somewhere in the middle.