December 2014 4for4 Player News Articles

All involved with the Giants are breathlessly awaiting the pairing of Odell Beckham Jr. and Victor Cruz as 2015 targets for Eli Manning, but general manager Jerry Reese has sounded the alarm that he cannot unequivocally count on vintage Cruz next season.

“You’ve got to prepare as if, ‘What if Victor Cruz doesn’t come back?’ ’’ Reese said Tuesday. “If you are a personnel guy, or a general manager, that is always in the back of your head. What if this guy doesn’t come back and be the player that we think he is?’’

Cruz had surgery to repair a torn patella tendon in his right knee suffered Oct. 12 in Philadelphia and the estimated recovery time was put at nine months. Cruz has vowed to return to his past form, but Reese spoke of him in a tone similar to the one Reese took a year ago when running back David Wilson was dealing with a neck injury that ultimately forced him to retire.

If quarterback Drew Stanton wants to play in Arizona's Wild Card game Saturday at Carolina, he has to practice at least one day this week, coach Bruce Arians said.

That’s it. Just one. It doesn’t matter if it happened Tuesday or comes Wednesday or Thursday. That's all Arians wants to see from Stanton before he hands him the ball against the Panthers.

But time is running out on Stanton. He wasn’t on the field during the part of Arizona’s practice Tuesday open to the media. Since an injury report wasn’t required to be distributed, it's unknown if he participated after practice was closed. Arians said there wasn’t a change in Stanton’s status, meaning Stanton continues to recover from a right knee injury suffered against the St. Louis Rams in Week 15.

The Cardinals will go through a walk-through in Charlotte on Friday, but Stanton would need to go through a full practice in order for Arians to consider playing him. Arizona changed their travel plans to fly to Charlotte on Thursday instead of Friday, as was initially scheduled.

Panthers HC Ron Rivera was coy about the running back rotation before the Week 17 win at Atlanta, as well. DeAngelo Williams was listed as probable, but was held out for the fourth straight game with a broken bone in his right hand.

Jonathan Stewart has rushed for 486 yards over the past five games, beginning with the Nov. 30 loss at Minnesota when Williams was hurt. Rivera said he didn't want Williams to aggravate the injury against the Falcons last week.

"I decided we're in a good spot right now," Rivera said. "We've got guys that are 100 percent healthy, and why expose an injury that's something as simple as a nick that could turn into something worse?"

Williams played in only six regular-season games, while a healthy Stewart had his best season since 2009. But Rivera said he's not worried about disrupting the offensive chemistry by working Williams back in the rotation. "No, he's part of our chemistry," Rivera said, according to the story. But Stewart has excelled as the lead back without Williams around, so it remains to be seen if Rivera reverts back to both RBs. It's not a friendly matchup against the Cards, which could tempt Rivera to change things up.

Robert Griffin III did not do enough to warrant heading into the offseason with the Washington Redskins' starting quarterback job. You can say the same thing about Kirk Cousins and Colt McCoy as well. Which is why head coach Jay Gruden said in his season-ending press conference that, as of now, there’s a competition for the starting job.

That’s how it should be given the lack of success by all three passers.

“I’d like to pick one as soon as I could so we could try to work and grind on him and develop him,” Gruden said. “But until that position is earned, you have to have a competition. I anticipate us having a competition at a lot of spots, and quarterback is no different next year.”

The big disappointment is that Griffin did not emerge as the starter considering what the Redskins surrendered for him. Also, the expectation was that he’d improve given a full offseason and one year further removed from his knee surgery. Dislocating his left ankle and missing five games did not help. But even before the injury, there were concerns among the coaching staff about his (lack of) development, the story said. It would also seem to mean Cousins will stick around for a bit. He recently said he wanted to be traded if there wasn't at least a competition for the starting QB job.

The Rams have ended the last two seasons with quarterback Sam Bradford on injured reserve because of torn ACLs, but that hasn’t soured them on having Bradford back in 2015.

They aren’t going to hand him the starting job, however. On Tuesday, Rams coach Jeff Fisher said, via Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, that the team wants to have Bradford compete for the starting job with a player “not in the building now” this offseason.

It’s not clear whether Shaun Hill and/or Austin Davis, the two quarterbacks who started after Bradford’s injury, would also be invited to take part, the story mentioned. Bradford also spoke to the media and said that he thought about giving up the game immediately after suffering the second tear, but has gotten back on the rehab track. He’s running and said that he has no issues with the Rams making any moves at quarterback, the story added.

Even with three days off this week, there's a good chance Aaron Rodgers won't be ready to practice when the Green Bay Packers reconvene on Friday.

Rodgers said Tuesday on his ESPN Milwaukee radio show that he has been getting treatment on his injured left calf muscle "around the clock" and indicated he may not practice until next week.

"I'm going to want to get some on-the-field reps starting next week when we get into our preparation when we figure out who our opponent is," Rodgers said on his show. "So I'm going to need to be on the field doing that, but it's a significant injury so you can't really say either way what percentage it's going to be in the game. I just don't know. But I hope it's going to be feeling better than it was this weekend."

Because they have the bye and don't play until Jan. 11 in the divisional round of the playoffs, the Packers won't have to file an official injury report until next week, so there's a good chance they will be vague about Rodgers' participation in practice on Friday and Saturday.

If there was any doubt, consider it extinguished. Teddy Bridgewater will be the Vikings starting quarterback in 2015.

Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer made that clear, as part of his season-ending press conference Tuesday at the team's practice facility. Zimmer said the team was fortunate to learn as much as it did about Bridgewater, and his improvement throughout the year should be a sign of encouragement. Zimmer was asked if he'd talked to veteran Matt Cassel, who has one year remaining on his contract, about the possibility of taking a backup role.

He said that he hadn't, and then he gave the rookie his endorsement.

"Teddy is the quarterback, there's no doubt in my mind," Zimmer said.

Bridgewater finished with the third-highest completion percentage for a rookie quarterback, surpassing Russell Wilson's strong 2012 rookie season. Bridgewater also finished 10th in the NFL in deep-pass accuracy. And more than 75 percent of his passes found their target when he was under pressure this season, the best rate in the league. Bridgewater will be on the QB2 radar when 2015 drafts come around.

Ndamukong Suh won his appeal; now allowed to play vs. Dallas.

It's a huge break for Detroit and their defense. Suh will be fined 70,000, but should be a major force in defending RB DeMarco Murray and getting pressure on QB Tony Romo.

Head coach Mike Zimmer said today that he will push for the Vikings to bring back Adrian Peterson whenever the running back’s suspension ends this offseason.

“Well, as I’ve said many, many times, Adrian was always great with me,” Zimmer said. “I think he’s a good person. I think obviously he’s a great running back and if it works out that way and things work out and he gets his life in order — that’s the most important thing, he gets his life in order, he gets the opportunity to come back — then I will be in his corner whenever the decision is made.”

“I think he would add value to any team, to be honest with you,” Zimmer said. “I think the kid’s a heck of a football player. I just was watching our offensive tape, I was starting to go back right now with evaluating our players and I was starting with the offense in St. Louis, so it was a good recollection on my mind right now of him.”

Zimmer hopes there is a quick resolution from the league regarding Peterson so the Vikings can determine whether the former league MVP is someone they can build their offense around in 2015.

Peterson was suspended by the NFL after he pleaded no contest to recklessly injuring his 4-year-old son last May. If he stays out of further legal trouble and completes the terms of his suspension set by the league, he will be eligible for reinstatement on April 15. But Peterson will carry a cap number of $15.4 million in 2015 if he does not restructure his contract with the Vikings, something he told ESPN he feels no need to do. The front office will then have to decide whether it’s worth paying Peterson, but Zimmer thinks he can still bring value to the Vikings, the story stated.

Despite significant contributions from three rookie receivers this season, the Jacksonville Jaguars are hoping Justin Blackmon will return in 2015.

General manager Dave Caldwell said Tuesday he's "hearing good things" about Blackmon, who is suspended indefinitely for repeated violations of the NFL's substance-abuse policy.

"We hope he comes back because we know he's talented," Caldwell said. "But we know he's also a good person that's fighting a tough battle. I think we have to treat it as a luxury. If he comes back, that's great. If he doesn't, we can't count on it."

Caldwell said in April he didn't expect Blackmon to play in 2014. He responded by drafting Marqise Lee and Allen Robinson in the second round and adding Allen Hurns as an undrafted free agent. The trio combined to catch 136 passes for 1,647 yards and nine touchdowns as rookies.

Blackmon certainly would bolster the unit, especially if veteran Cecil Shorts III hits free agency as expected. Blackmon voluntarily checked into a 90-day treatment facility earlier this season, and coach Gus Bradley said back then that updates from Blackmon's agent were positive. Blackmon was suspended without pay in November 2013 for at least a year for his latest violation. NFL rules prohibit coaches and general managers from having contact with players suspended indefinitely. Blackmon has already proved he has the talent, but would be a risky fantasy pick aside from a safer spot in the middle of the draft.

Will the Steelers face the Ravens on Saturday minus the services of running back LeVeon Bell?

"It's too early to tell, but it doesn't look good," one source inside the organization told NFL Media's Aditi Kinkhabwala.

A Monday morning MRI on Bell's hyperextended right knee revealed no ligament damage, per ESPN's Adam Schefter, who reported that it will be "difficult" for Pittsburgh's star running back to suit up for this weekend's AFC playoff bout with Baltimore.

Jason La Canfora is also reporting Bell is 'likely out' for this weekend's game. Josh Harris is next up for the Steelers at RB, in what is a very tough matchup against the Ravens who are ranked third in allowing fantasy points to RBs. Dri Archer could also see more work, and the team is very close to signing free agent Ben Tate. Teams have had success throwing against the Ravens so that may be how Pittsburgh attacks this week if Bell is in fact out.

Rookie running back Andre Williams put together a productive season, leading the Giants in rushing with 721 yards, and there is much improvement ahead.

Especially catching the football. He worked hard in that department, getting maximum use out of the Jugs machine, but now it’s a mental game.

“I feel like I have a different set of hands,’’ Williams said of his 18 receptions, good for 130 yards after not catching a pass his senior year at Boston College. “I feel like I have a better grasp on how the catching mechanism is supposed to work.’’

Now comes Step 2.

“It’s not really anything physical, it’s mental,’’ Williams said. “You come into the league and it’s like, ‘I was catching passes from college quarterbacks, but now this is Eli Manning, a two-time Super Bowl MVP, who is throwing balls to Odell Beckham who has something crazy going on with his hands. He can catch them with one hand and I couldn’t even begin to think of how to accomplish that. It’s definitely a mental game, just having confidence that you are capable of it. Once you have that then you can really start working on actually catching the ball.’’

The story added that Williams is an intelligent player and is going to pick the brains of veteran running backs like Frank Gore and LeSean McCoy this offseason, along with his continuing dialogue with Giants’ veteran back Rashad Jennings. Any improvement in the pass-catching game could give Williams the edge to a more significant role next year. Jennings is approaching old age in terms of RBs (will be 30 in March) and was banged up in 2014.

Whether he was benched or benched himself on Sunday, Mike Wallace left a bitter taste with the Miami Dolphins heading into this offseason.

Fellow wideout Brandon Gibson told reporters that Wallace was frustrated with "not being involved as much as he wanted" in the offense. But will he be involved at all going forward?

Wallace told reporters Monday that he wants to return after signing a five-year, $60 million contract in 2013, but he isn't certain the team wants him around.

"I'm not the general manager or anything, or the head coach," Wallace said, per the South Florida Sun Sentinel. "I'm not sure."

Coach Joe Philbin -- who will be back -- was noncommittal about the future of his top pass-catcher, saying Monday: "Nothing has changed right now. I haven't spent one second thinking about 2015 yet."

Wallace enjoyed his best season in Miami under play-caller Bill Lazor, piling up 73 catches for 930 yards with five touchdowns. He went out of his way, though, to voice displeasure with the scheme after calling out Mike Sherman's attack the previous season.

In desperate need of a feature back with Le'Veon Bell's immediate future uncertain, the Steelers are working out former Texans, Vikings and Browns running back Ben Tate, ESPN reported Tuesday morning.

If the visit goes well, they are expected to sign the 26-year-old, once thought to be the best running back on the open market back in March.

Some inside the Steelers organization are doubtful that Bell will make an appearance on Saturday in prime time against the Ravens, which would make the need for an all-purpose back like Tate that much greater, the story said. The piece went on to say that in some respects, this is the ideal opportunity Tate has been waiting for. Just like former Steelers running back LeGarrette Blount knows, strong playoff performances can change perception, and after getting cut by two teams in less than a year, Tate is longing for that opportunity. The Ravens do present a tough matchup however, as they are ranked third in allowing fantasy points to RBs.

The talk nationally before the season started was San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates was done. At 34 years old, Gates had slowed down, was injury prone and could no longer consistently create separation as he did in his younger years.

Gates rightly took offense to those comments, using them as fuel in putting together one of the most productive seasons in his 12-year career. The Kent State product finished with 69 receptions for 821 yards and 12 touchdowns – the most TDs since his second season in 2004.

“It’s hard to finish your career that way – in Arrowhead not playing your best football,” Gates said. “I’m definitely trying to win a championship. I think more important than that, this coaching staff and the organization has built the foundation where we have an opportunity to win a championship.”

Those are Pro Bowl numbers, but Gates finished as a first alternate for the annual all-star game, the story said. Gates is scheduled to make $5.9 million in 2015, the final year of a six-year, $40 million deal he signed in 2010. Gates played a full, 16-game season for a second straight year, and for the sixth time in his 12-year career. Gates was a top TE plays most weeks, and for the most part produced solid fantasy numbers for owners.

LeVeon Bell slowly hobbled to and from the Steelers locker room on Monday, a little more than 12 hours after hyperextending his right knee in the third quarter of the Steelers' 27-17 AFC North-clinching win over Cincinnati.

Coach Mike Tomlin said Bell suffered no structural damage to the knee from the hit from Bengals safety Reggie Nelson, meaning there is a possibility that the Steelers team MVP could be ready to play Saturday night against Baltimore in a wild card playoff game.

“If he suffered no structural damage (ACL, PCL), then yes, he can play,” said Dr. David Geier, an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist in Charleston, S.C. “He would just have to work through discomfort, stiffness and weakness.”

Geier said pain killers toradol and cortisone are popular treatments to allow players to get back on the field quickly after suffering injuries similar to Bell's.

The Steelers won't have an update on Bell's status until Tuesday, and Bell's agent, Adisi Bakari, did not return a message.

It's going to be a short week for Bell, so he has that working against him. But according to the doctor quoted in the story, it's just a matter of playing through any discomfort. The Ravens don't present a great matchup, ranked third in allowing fantasy points to RBs. Bell had a 10-20-0 line in Week 9 when the teams last met and then an 11-59-0 line back in Week 2.

The Detroit Lions and Ndamukong Suh have been informed that the defensive tackle will be suspended for Sunday's wild-card playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys.

Suh's punishment comes a day after he stepped on the leg of Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Suh "unnecessarily stepped on [the] opponent's unprotected leg as he lay on the ground unable to protect himself," according to a statement released by the NFL.

Lions center Dominic Raiola, who himself returned from a one-game suspension Monday, defended Suh's actions.

"He was getting pushed back, you know," Raiola said. "... There's no way at that point in the game that he did something like that on purpose."

Lions safety James Ihedigbo said missing Suh will create a large void on defense.

"I don't know if you can put it into words," Ihedigbo said. "He's a dominant force in our defense. He's kind of the key centerpiece. We have faith in guys that can step up and fill that void and do the best job they can to get this win and help us out.

Cordarrelle Patterson repeatedly said today that he plans to take “full advantage of the offseason,” although he couldn’t provide a clear explanation of what exactly that entails.

Big things were expected of the second-year wide receiver in 2014, but he disappointed in the first half of the season, lost his starting spot in the second and finished with just 33 catches for 384 yards and one touchdown. Now Patterson must prove himself all over again in 2015.

“It wasn’t the year I wanted, like I had last year,” Patterson said. “I feel like last year was a good year for me and I felt like I was going to come back and capitalize off that. Week 1, you know, things was good. But after that, it just started going downhill. I blame myself for everything. I need to just take full advantage of the offseason and get better.”

What exactly will you do to take “full advantage” of the offseason?

“Just resting at first, getting the body healthy. Spending time with the family. And just take full advantage of the offseason, just training and get the offense down pat,” he said. “Just learn it, try to take on the playbook and all the stuff we worked on throughout the year and just try to learn from that, man. Like I said, this isn’t the year I thought it was going to be. It was a bad year for me. So this offseason, it’s going to be a challenge for me to make sure I come back ready to go next year.”

As the story points out, it’s obvious that Patterson knows — or has been told — that his offseason preparation needs to change for him to ever live up to expectations. The story went on to say that Zimmer has a plan for Patterson and "it's up to Cordarrell." However, based on Patterson's comments, Patterson may not be aware of the plans yet. Patterson was a fantasy bust this year and probably scarred a lot of owners for life. He will fall in drafts next year, but certainly still has potential. This will be a key offseason for him.

Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins wants a shot at the starting job.

The third-year quarterback said Monday that if Robert Griffin III is named the starter during the offseason he'll ask for a trade, per NBC Washington's Diana Russini.

"Isn't it obvious I couldn't stay here?" Cousins told Russini.

Cousins started five games this season after RGIII was injured before being replaced by Colt McCoy. In his six appearances this year, Cousins completed 61.8 percent of his 204 passing attempts for 1,710 yards, 10 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He lost four straight starts before being replaced at halftime of Week 7.

Cousins explained that if there is no quarterback competition, there is no point to staying in Washington, the story went on to say. The signal caller added that he would approach the season as 16 games until free agency if RGIII is made the starter. There are plenty of teams who could be looking for help at the QB position for 2015: Buffalo, NY Jets, Houston, Tennessee, Chicago and Tampa Bay are among them.

Tom Coughlin has been told that he will return to Giants in 2015, but still has a meeting with John Mara today about potential staff changes.

The Giants have played much better in the second half and have been aided by WR Odell Beckham Jr. and his bust-out rookie season. QB Eli Manning and the rest of the offense seem to have a much better grasp of OC Ben McAdoo's system than they did in preseason and in the early part of 2014. Perhaps the fall comes on the defensive side.

Michigan has told its biggest boosters that a deal for Jim Harbaugh to become its next head coach is done and that a news conference is scheduled for Tuesday, a source close to Michigan told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

Interim athletic director Jim Hackett and other officials from the school met with Harbaugh in California Sunday night after he officially parted ways with the San Francisco 49ers. The agreement reached ended a nearly month-long coaching search in which virtually any conclusion other than landing Harbaugh would have been deemed a disappointment in Ann Arbor.

Harbaugh came close to taking the Michigan job in 2011, but decided to jump to the NFL and the Wolverines hired Brady Hoke. Hoke's record went steadily downhill during his four seasons at Michigan. Hoke was fired after a Nov. 29 loss to Ohio State that guaranteed the program would not play in a bowl game. Harbaugh was reportedly high on the Raiders and Jets lists of head coaching candidates.

He was a late signing at the conclusion of the preseason, a veteran presence that Bills head coach Doug Marrone felt had to be on the roster at the most important position. Come season’s end Kyle Orton made 12 starts going 7-5 for the Bills. On Monday he announced this season would be his last in the NFL.

“I just have been going at it for 10 years and it’s just a family decision and I’ve decided to get home and be a dad and call it a day,” said Orton.

Orton, who was contemplating retirement this past offseason signed with the Bills and had a player option to return for the 2015 season, but wanting to be close to family again has his mind made up.

“I think I’ve been away from my parents since going to college, so 14 years,” he said. “Anytime you have a chance to end on a good note and go home and spend time with family that’s really important to me and my wife and we’re just excited to move on.”

He also said there is no NFL scenario that will change his mind to retire at this time.

Orton’s retirement leaves the Bills without a veteran at the quarterback position. E.J. Manuel and Jeff Tuel were the only other quarterbacks on the roster. The time Orton spent with Manuel this season however, has him optimistic about the former first-round pick’s future with Buffalo, the story said. However it remains to be seen if the team will turn back to Manuel and give him another chance.

Cardinals General Manager Steve Keim made his usual appearance on Arizona Sports 98.7 Monday morning, and had a positive tone when asked about the possibility of Drew Stanton making Saturday’s playoff game with the Panthers.

“At this point it’s day-to-day, but we’re hopeful,” Keim said.

The Cardinals would still likely be underdogs on the road Saturday, but would have a more compelling chance against a suddenly hot Panthers Defense.

Getting Stanton back would be a huge boost to the Cardinals, who have floundered badly under third-choice Ryan Lindley, the story said. Stanton was recovering well from his previous knee injury when he had to be treated for an infection last week, an infection the team believes was picked up outside its facilities.

Just minutes after news first broke that the Bears have fired General Manager Phil Emery, news also broke that head coach Marc Trestman was fired. Jay Glazer of FOX Sports first broke the Trestman news.

Now the Bears will attempt to pick up the pieces, with a new coach and a new general manager inheriting the mess that Emery and Trestman have left behind.

Trestman was a surprising, outside-the-box choice as the Bears’ head coach, coming as he did from the Canadian Football League. But in his first season as the head coach of the Bears, he showed a lot of promise as an offensive innovator. Unfortunately, Trestman’s second season was a disaster, as the Bears appeared to quit on the season, the story pointed out. One positive out of Trestman's time was re-establishing RB Matt Forte in the passing game, something previous HC Lovie Smith got away from. Forte broke the record for RB receptions in a season with 102 this year, one better than Larry Centers' mark of 101 set back in 1995.

LeSean McCoy lay on the turf with the medical staff checking his left knee late in the fourth quarter of the Eagles' 34-26 win over the New York Giants on Sunday.

McCoy initially feared it was something serious, based on the way he went down. Other players knelt around him, hoping it wasn't. McCoy eventually arose and limped off the field on his own power. He wanted to go back into the game, but the clock was winding down by that point.

The Eagles' Pro Bowl running back avoided a scare. The question now is whether that was his final carry with the team.

That question might seem absurd considering that McCoy, 26, rushed for 99 yards on Sunday to finish with 1,319 yards this season. It was the second-highest rushing total of his career, with both seasons coming under Chip Kelly. He was named to his third Pro Bowl in six seasons last week.

But McCoy is due to be paid $9.75 million with a salary-cap number of $11.95 million in 2015. That's a hefty price for a running back, and McCoy admitted that his future goes through his mind sometimes - especially after the Eagles jettisoned DeSean Jackson last offseason.

McCoy said he wants to stay and seems open to restructuring his contract after a down year. HC Chip Kelly came out Sunday and said he wants Shady back in the fold for 2015, so a departure seems unlikely at this point.

Coach Mike Smith was fired by the Atlanta Falcons, the team announced Monday morning.

"Smitty's contributions to our club, team and city over the last seven years are numerous," owner Arthur Blank said in a release. "His accomplishments on the field made him the most successful coach in the 49-year history of the Falcons, and we are grateful for the foundation he has laid for us for the future."

Smith's firing did not come as a surprise, as multiple media outlets have reported on Blank's frustration with the Falcons' shortcomings over the last two seasons. Smith finished with a 1-4 postseason record despite going 66-46 in the regular season. The Falcons reached the playoffs four times in Smith's seven seasons with the team.

The writing has been on the wall for a long time, and now it's reality: the Jets have fired Rex Ryan. Second-year general manager John Idzik was also let go.

The pair was informed of their fate early Monday morning, the team announced.

The popular head coach brought the Jets out of relative obscurity in the world's biggest market back in 2009. He led New York to the AFC title game twice in his first two seasons and even scored a book deal and contract extension. But he never reached the playoffs again.

The defensive-minded coach's time was marred by inconsistent quarterback play, a knock on his resume that he was never able to overcome despite going through several different coordinators. The team drafted two quarterbacks in the first or second round -- Mark Sanchez and Geno Smith -- neither of whom could buoy an offense strong enough to complement Ryan's dominant defenses. Ryan leaves the Jets with a 46-50 record.

Jets owner Woody Johnson issued a statement following the news.

"Both Rex and John made significant contributions to the team, and they have my appreciation and gratitude for their efforts and commitment. Over the years, Rex brought the Jets a bold confidence and a couple of great post-season runs, which all of us will remember. I am beginning our search for new football leadership, effective immediately, with guidance and support from respected football experts, including Charley Casserly and Ron Wolf, two Super Bowl winners with decades of valuable experience."

As NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport noted on Sunday, Johnson is searching for a candidate with more of a personnel background. As Rapoport also noted, Ryan will search for another head coaching opportunity. Potential openings in Chicago, Oakland and Atlanta would certainly be appealing. If not, Ryan will go into television -- he retained a media agent in the event that he would move in front of the camera.

The Steelers received a major scare on the way to winning their first AFC North title since 2010.

Running back LeVeon Bell left the Steelers' 27-17 win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday night in the third quarter after taking a direct shot on his right knee and did not return.

Coach Mike Tomlin said after the Steelers finished 11-5 and secured the No. 3 seed in the AFC playoffs that Bell hyperextended his knee and did not appear to suffer a serious injury. Bell was one of the last people out of the Steelers locker room, and he had his right knee wrapped in ice and walked slowly to a cart that took him to the players' parking lot at Heinz Field.

"We'll gather more significant information as we proceed through the week," Tomlin said. "We're thankful that it's not anything major."

It's still way too early, but Bell is no sure thing to play in the Wild Card game at home against Baltimore. Bell did not have a brace on his injured knee or walk with the aid of crutches and overall the injury isn't considered serious. Backup Josh Harris carried five times for just seven yards.

Bengals A.J. Green has entered the league's concussion protocol, per ESPN's Coley Harvey and Paul Dehner of The Cincinnati Enquirer, after sustaining a blow to the head from Steelers safety Mike Mitchell late in the fourth quarter of the Bengals' 27-17 loss.

The hit came less than a second after Green hauled in a 17-yard pass and was wrestled down toward the ground by Antwon Blake, forcing a fumble. The result was a pivotal recovery by the Steelers, ending the Bengals' drive.

The blow to the head prematurely ended Green's night, in which the receiver caught six passes for 67 yards over his final two drives after a sluggish start. His status for Sunday's Wild Card game against the Indianapolis Colts is in jeopardy, depending upon his progression during the week. Mohamed Sanu would move back to the WR1 role but he had just one catch for 16 yards in Week 17. Giovani Bernard had a 7-56-1 receiving line in Week 17 and will likely continue to be a major factor in the passing game while Jeremy Hill gets the carries.

After Dolphins TE Charles Clay scored with 2:49 left in first half, Mike Wallace came off the field and told HC Joe Philbin he no longer wanted to play in the game.

Wallace was seen on the sidelines by himself in the second half. This turn of events put a question mark on whether he'll be with the Dolphins in 2015. Wallace finished 2014 with 67 catches for 862 yards and 10 TDs.

After months of speculation, the Jim Harbaugh era in San Francisco is over.

NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Sunday night that Harbaugh and the 49ers are parting ways, according to a source involved in the situation.

The 49ers quickly released a statement confirming the news:

"Jim and I have come to the conclusion that it is in our mutual best interest to move in different directions,"€ team CEO Jed York said. "We thank Jim for bringing a tremendous competitive nature and a great passion for the game to the 49ers. He and his staff restored a winning culture that has been the standard for our franchise throughout its history. Their commitment and hard work resulted in a period of success that should be looked back on proudly by our organization and our fans. We wish Jim and his family all the best."

This was pretty obvious if you watched the end of the 49ers-Cardinals game. Most links to Harbaugh involve him going back to Michigan. One report from Sunday said Harbaugh's family is already on it's way to Michigan and an announcement will come early this week.

Broncos Inactives
Paul Cornick T
Dominique Jones TE
Brandon Marshall OLB
Michael Schofield T
Juwan Thompson RB
Mitch Unrein DT
T.J. Ward SS

Sanders is good to go for an important game.

Panthers Inactives
James Dockery DB
David Foucault T
A.J. Klein OLB
Robert Lester SS
Kyle Love DT
Amini Silatolu G
DeAngelo Williams RB

Williams is inactive despite a probable tag. Jonathan Stewart should produce big numbers in a great matchup against the Falcons. Stewart has the most rushing yards in the league over the last four weeks.

Falcons Inactives
Ricardo Allen CB
Charles Godfrey FS
Steven Jackson RB
Stansly Maponga DE
Sean Renfree QB
Jonathan Scott T
Tyler Starr OLB

Jacquizz Rodgers and Devonta Freeman should split the work, with Freeman having more upside. Julio Jones active, as expected.

Cowboys HC Jason Garrett practiced his starters this week as if he were playing them in regular role, with no extra reps for Dallas backups.

It's hard to imagine someone like Tony Romo playing a full game in Week 17 with very little to play for as Dallas is pretty much locked into the third seed. Garrett is at least giving the impression his guys are going the distance, but they should still be considered risky fantasy starts for fear they realistically don't see a full workload.

The Cleveland Browns have suspended wide receiver Josh Gordon for an unspecified violation of team rules one day before their season finale against the Baltimore Ravens.

The Browns announced the suspension in a release Saturday. Wide receiver Phil Bates has been promoted from the practice squad to replace Gordon on the active roster.

The story went on to say that Gordon and rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel were absent from the Browns' walk-through Saturday morning, and the team had trouble locating them, a source close to the team told ESPN's Pat McManamon. It officially ends a very disappointing season for Gordon and his owners. Gordon appeared in only five games this season. He missed the first 10 games while serving a league-issued suspension for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy. Reports this year out of Browns camp said Gordon appeared lost on the field upon returning from his 10 game suspension. He's got a long way to go in terms of staying out of trouble before the start of the 2015 season and he's going to continue to be a risky own because of that.

Gordon also was late getting onto the practice field Friday and emerged from the team's facility for the outdoor workout wearing teammate Travis Benjamin's jersey.

Pats beat writer Ben Volin tweeted he thinks Patriots QB Tom Brady plays a half in Week 17.

Brady is listed as probable with an ankle issue, but we don't think it will limit him. But with nothing to play for, Volin thinks Brady gets about a half worth of action in Week 17. Any Patriot will be a risky fantasy start as the team already has the top seed wrapped up.

Pats beat writer Ben Volin tweeted he thinks Patriots TE Rob Gronkowski gets little-to-no playing time in Week 17.

This is just Volin's opinion but there's probably something to it. There's no need to risk your best offensive weapon with nothing to play for this week. With a bye next week to open the playoffs, perhaps Gronk gets a series or two but he's probably not a safe fantasy option to start.

Falcons RBs Devonta Freeman and Jacquizz Rodgers took over against the New Orleans Saints after Steven Jackson left the game with a quadriceps injury. Freeman, a fourth-round pick from Florida State, provided some big plays, including a 31-yard touchdown run.

Rodgers will likely get the bulk of the carries because he’s still considered a better pass protector.

Freeman has been significantly better but admits that he's not good enough in pass protection. Rodgers may start, but we expect that Freeman will get enough touches to make him a worthwhile play in daily formats.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith has a lacerated spleen and will miss Sunday's game against the San Diego Chargers, trainer Rick Burkholder said Friday.

Chase Daniel will start in Smith's place against the the Chargers, who can clinch a playoff berth with a victory.

Daniel has one career start, which came last season in Week 17 and also was against the Chargers. The Chiefs lost the game but Daniels played well, throwing for 200 yards and a touchdown, completing 21 of his 30 pass attempts.

Daniel also rushed seven times for 59 yards in his start against the Chargers, so he was the #13 QB that week. We're not expecting Daniel to run the offense as efficiently as Smith does, so we're projecting a reduction in passing yards, which will impact TE Travis Kelce and the other Kansas City receivers.

Packers beat writer Rob Demovsky on the team's willingness to stick with the run against the Lions:

Coach Mike McCarthy isn't going to bang his head against the wall and run, run, run if it's not working. If you think that means he's too quick to abandon the running game, then so be it. So it probably will depend on how Eddie Lacy fares early. If Lacy can rip off a few good runs in the first couple of series, like he has done of late, McCarthy might be more inclined to go back to it later. But here's one thing to look for: If Aaron Rodgers ends up throwing a bunch of dump-off passes or screens, it's probably a sign they don't think they can run the ball, so they'll use the short passing game to simulate the run. There's no shame in admitting you can't run the ball against the Lions. Who has this season?

Lacy has proven that he has the ability to make plays in the passing game, so his owners shouldn't bench him due to an unfavorable matchup. Just don't expect a 100-yard day against a great Lions rush defense that is yielding just 63.8 yards on the ground.

Giants beat writer Dan Graziano on rookie WR Odell Beckham:

It's not exaggerating to say there's no one in the league playing the receiver position better than Beckham is playing it at the moment. He runs great routes, has great speed, catches everything and offers the ability to run trick plays where he lines up in the backfield because he can run with the ball or even throw it. He had only two catches for 28 yards in the Week 6 whitewashing in Philadelphia in which Victor Cruz went down. But since that game, Beckham has 1,048 yards and 10 touchdowns in only nine games. He can be as good as he wants to be. Remember, he's doing this after missing almost all of the offseason program, all of training camp and the first four games of the season due to a hamstring injury. In the grand scheme of things, at the NFL level, he has barely even practiced.

Don't be surprised if Beckam's ADP lands in the late 1st/early 2nd when 2015 fantasy drafts get rolling.

Running back Mark Ingram is wrapping up the final year of his contract with the team and preparing to head into free agency after his best NFL season. Ingram missed three games early in the season, but has since held up well under a heavy workload caused by injuries other backs. Ingram has set career highs in attempts, yards, receptions and touchdowns and thinks he’s sold himself well in the process.

“Yeah, I think that’s a good thing, seeing that I could carry the ball and be out there doing whatever they ask me to do for a stretch of time and be healthy,” Ingram said, via the New Orleans Times-Picayune.

Running backs have not found a friendly market in free agency in recent years, so Ingram will have to buck that trend to land a big contract. That will be tough in a year when DeMarco Murray, Ryan Mathews, C.J. Spiller and Frank Gore are also set to make up a crowded free agent market at the position, but coming off his best pro season shouldn’t hurt when it comes time for Ingram to talk contract.

Ingram's 75.6 rushing yards per game are the 7th-highest this season. He's not going to land a big contract due to how the position has been devalued in recent years, but he should be able to match the three-year, $10.5 million that Toby Gerhart got in Jacksonville. If Ingram leaves, Khiry Robinson figures to take over the role as the team's primary between-the-tackles runner. Robinson is signed through the 2015 season.

Latavius Murray might be the Raiders feature back of the future, and it’s not based on one great night. He’s averaging 5.4 yards per carry, largely over the course of three games as a feature back.

It’s the gritty work that deserves acclaim, and it proves he’s no flash in the pan.

“Early in the season, it took us a while to figure that part of it out,” interim head coach Tony Sparano said during an interview with Sirius XM radio. “He’s a guy that was hurt all year last year. Latavius has really come into his own, and I think he can handle the workload of being a No. 1 guy.”

Dynasty and keeper owners should take note -- Murray's arrow is pointing up, though a regime change could alter his trajectory significantly.

The Arizona Cardinals might have lost quarterback Drew Stanton for the rest of the season.

NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport first reported Friday, per two sources informed of the situation, the team discovered an infection Wednesday which required arthroscopic surgery. The infection was believed to have been caused by an outside medical procedure, Rapoport added.

It appears Ryan Lindley will start against the 49ers. Bruce Arians toyed with the idea of starting Logan Thomas, but changed his mind again earlier in the week.

Dolphins beat writer James Walker on OC Bill Lazor:

Lazor, in some ways, has been Miami’s MVP this season. His system works. Miami’s points per game have gone up from 19.8 to 24.3 with pretty much the same skill players. Lazor also pushed Ryan Tannehill to set career highs in touchdowns (26) and passer rating (93.2). Last week’s performance (396 yards, four touchdowns) was as good as I’ve seen Tannehill play in three seasons. He has certainly solidified his case to be Miami’s starting quarterback next season, and I expect the Dolphins to at least pick up his fifth-year option for 2016. Lazor is direct and a clear communicator, and that is what the players needed. I expect Miami’s offense to be pretty good next season with another offseason of drafting and signing players who better fit Lazor's scheme.

Lazor has helped Tannehill post top 10 fantasy numbers this season. He's averaging 251 yards passing, 1.7 TD (and just 0.8 INT) to go along with a total of 317 yards rushing, which is the 5th-highest total by a quarterback this year.

Bears beat writer Michael C. Wright:

I think the relationship between Jay Cutler and Marc Trestman is broken. So Cutler will be invested, but he’ll also probably be out there doing his own thing as opposed to playing within the confines of Trestman’s system. My expectation is Cutler will play a backyard brand of ball in this last outing.

Oh, this should be good. Trestman is likely on his way out, and Cutler was understandably miffed by being benched, and now the two are in the awkward situation of preparing for a meaningless Week 17 game against a division rival. We like the Minnesota defense as a streaming defense play with Cutler in full "I don't give a s&*t" mode.

Patriots beat writer Mike Reiss on the possibility that the team rests its starters: I view this game as being similar to a fourth preseason contest when the third preseason game doesn’t go as well as planned. I could envision a scenario where the Patriots want to develop a little momentum on offense, and if that comes early, they start making some personnel changes such as Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski taking a seat. On defense, key players such as cornerback Darrelle Revis and linebackers Jamie Collins and Dont'a Hightower, among others, figure to be "protected" as well. The team also has the luxury of allowing some of its injured players extra time to recover, which I’d expect them to do. So their approach preparation-wise won’t change, but I do believe their personnel-related approach will be different than the norm. How significant, and if Brady and Co. play at all, is obviously something we'll be watching closely.

New England has locked up the #1 seed, but the offense isn't exactly clicking, so they may want their starters to play extensively to see if that momentum returns. It's a guessing game as to how long they'll play. At this point were expecting 2-3 quarters from Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski.

Cardinals HC Bruce Arians uses the "quick hook" with Logan Thomas. Will go back to Ryan Lindley as starter for Sunday's game, per source.

Arians said he will keep an eye on Rams/Seahawks score on Sunday. Adjust personnel after half if that game is decided.

Logan Thomas was supposed to get the start but Arians has apparently changed his mind. Arians also said that he's going to adjust his personnel based on the score of the Rams/Seahawks game. If Seattle is winning big by halftime, then the Cardinals can't improve their situation, and starters may rest.

Barring an early injury, Buccaneers WR Mike Evans likely will gain the three yards he needs to become the second Buccaneers rookie to reach the 1,000-yard receiving plateau.

"I've grown a lot," Evans said. "I can read coverages better. Early on, I knew the offense well, but not as well as when I was in a couple of games and then, I started playing fast. Now I know cornerback tendencies and things like that, so next year, it's going to be a lot of fun."

Not only is Evans closing in on 1,000 yards, but he's also tied for 4th in receiving touchdowns (11), making him the #12 WR in standard formats and #14 in PPR leagues.

Colts WR Reggie Wayne says he is dealing with the triceps injury that has plagued him. Says he will have surgery after the season.

Wayne has had a disappointing season and is a 2015 free agent. He said that he'll keep playing as long as it doesn't feel like a job.

Cardinals RB Andre Ellington feels good.

The running back, on injured reserve, had surgery in early December for what the team officially describes as a “core muscle injury,” bringing to a close a difficult sophomore season.

These days, Ellington has been spending some time on the stationary bike. On IR, there is no pressure to go fast, since Ellington cannot return this season. The surgery, Ellington said, “is what I needed.” He said he will be fine by the time the Cardinals begin offseason work in the spring.

Ellington had the #13 per game average among running backs, so he may be a good value depending on his average draft position heading into the 2015 season.

Jason Garrett said Monday that he had no plans of sitting key players Sunday against Washington.

With the Cowboys having already secured the NFC East title, it’s unlikely that a win over Washington will do much in terms of playoff seeding.

The Cowboys will likely host the loser of Sunday’s game between Green Bay and Detroit.

But Jerry Jones is on the same page as the team’s head coach.

“I feel strongly about going all out against the Redskins,” the Cowboys owner and general manager said Tuesday on 105.3 The Fan [KRLD-FM]. “There’s several reasons, but No. 1, I think there’s a bigger concern about losing your edge than there is ever about some of those other issues that are involved. There will be opportunities enough as the game goes along to see if anybody needs to be resting. But we need that win. We could really need it. It could really make a difference. And, so, that’s that.”

The Cowboys' game against the Redskins only matters in the event of a Packers/Lions tie, so the conventional wisdom would be that Dallas would rest its key players at some point on Sunday. But it sounds as if Jones wants to play to win the game.

Ben Tate is back on the street.

The Vikings have released the veteran running back less than a month after claiming him off waivers from the Cleveland Browns, per the league's transaction wire.

Tate was cut free after amassing just 38 yards off 13 attempts over three appearances for Minnesota. His 2.9 yards per carry were even lower than the paltry 3.1 yards per tote he accounted for in eight games with the Browns, who surprised many by releasing the former Texans runner after Week 11.

The story points out that it's not a good sign that Tate has been shipped out of town by two teams in less than a month. Whispers of a bad attitude in Cleveland don't help, but even more concerning is the apparent on-field decline for a runner still just 26 years old. Tate hasn't been healthy this season, which has contributed to his ugly play. If the playoff-bound Colts and Cardinals don't come calling, a team may take a long look this offseason in order to find out if Tate is worth keeping around for 2015.

Philip Rivers practiced on Tuesday this week, a sign that his back is in better shape heading into Sunday’s final regular-season game against AFC West rival Kansas City.

Rivers did not practice on Tuesday or Wednesday of last week in order to rest a bulging disk in his back. Chargers head coach Mike McCoy said earlier this week Rivers is expected to play on Sunday.

“I definitely feel better than last week,” Rivers said.

Rivers said last week that he had to take the time off so that he could physically be ready to play against San Francisco. But that’s not the case this week. Rivers may be a go for Week 17, but as of Tuesday RB Ryan Mathews and WR Keenan Allen remain question marks.

The Chargers began preparation for Sunday's showdown with the Chiefs minus two of their offensive centerpieces.

Running back Ryan Mathews and wideout Keenan Allen both missed Tuesday's practice, according to Michael Gehlken of U-T San Diego.

Mathews hasn't played since injuring his ankle in Week 14, while Allen remains week-to-week with the broken collarbone he sustained in a Week 15 loss to the Broncos. While coach Mike McCoy says it's possible Mathews will suit up Sunday against the Chiefs, it's fair to wonder if Allen will even play again this season, the story went on to say. Eddie Royal seemed to benefit the most without Allen in the lineup as did TE Antonio Gates. Dontrelle Inman also had a nice game at WR for the Chargers last week.

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers (calf) practicing Tuesday.

Hard to imagine there's any chance Rodgers misses this contest, a game with the Lions at home that will determine the NFC North Division.

Colts WR T.Y. Hilton back practicing.

The team said they are expecting Hilton to play in Week 17 and reports have said the Colts will also play other healthy starters in the game. It remains to be seen how long into the game they go, but at least early on it looks like the Colts will go with their first-teamers.

Sunday's win against the Indianapolis Colts served as a reminder that tight end Jason Witten remains a threat in the passing game.

As the Dallas Cowboys racked up rushing yards during the season, most of Witten's praise has been for his blocking. He has played a big part in DeMarco Murray becoming the NFL's leading rusher.

"When you know your team is going a different direction and the thought is that it's going to be better for the football team, it's easy to buy into that but as the season unfolds there's tough times in there," Witten said. "You don't have as many opportunities. You take on a different role. You embrace that and buy into that. You still play a critical role in doing things, setting the edge in the run game, and being a complete tight end but at different times, it is hard."

In the last two weeks Witten has been a focal point through the air. He has caught 14 passes for 159 yards and a touchdown. He had a season-high 90 yards on seven catches against the Colts that included a 25-yard touchdown. On the opposite end of that, Witten has five games with two or fewer catches this season. The last time he had that many came in 2005, his third year in the league. His 14-catch run in the last two games is his best two-game total since Week 12-13 in 2012 when he caught 15 passes for 182 yards against the Washington Redskins and Philadelphia Eagles.

Broncos QB Peyton Manning blamed himself and wound up with four interceptions overall for the first time since he joined the Broncos. Manning labeled his performance “not good” and said, via ESPN.com, it was the product of poor play rather than injury.

Manning said no when asked if his thigh was affecting him on the field in Cincinnati, an answer that’s as comforting as it is worrisome with the playoffs right around the corner, the story pointed out. Manning did play well against the Chargers in Week 15, but it’s been a choppy stretch for him and an injury would at least suggest an explanation other than slowing down at the end of another long season, the story went on to say. Denver has a Week 17 home game to try and end the regular season on a positive note.

A.J. Green is planning on playing Sunday, when the Cincinnati Bengals travel to Pittsburgh for a prime-time contest hailed as the unofficial AFC North title game.

Green told ESPN minutes after Monday night's 37-28 win over the Denver Broncos that he had a bruised right biceps following a hard shot he suffered on the Bengals' second drive of the game.

As we always like to point out, it's tough to trust a player when he says he's going to play. But it's at least a bit of good news if you need Green Week 17. Cameras caught Green grimacing multiple times as trainers tried to work on his arm on the sideline. At one point, he even went into the locker room for X-rays. Green said the tests were negative.

Broncos Inactives
Tony Carter CB
Paul Cornick T
Ronnie Hillman RB
Dominique Jones TE
Brandon Marshall OLB
Michael Schofield T Inactive
Quanterus Smith DE

Both Peyton Manning (thigh) and Emmanual Sanders (illness) were questionable coming into this game, but reports all week said there was little doubt both would play and both are indeed active and can be safely started for Week 16. Ronnie Hillman is inactive meaning C.J. Anderson will again carry the load in what is a great matchup on paper.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy on RB Eddie Lacy: "Every indication is he's fine. Went through workout today. I have no concerns about Eddie."

Lacy left the game in Week 16 after piling up a TD and 99 rushing yards. It appears he'll be good to go in a tough matchup against the Lions at home that will determine the NFC North winner. Lacy is shaping up to get a full workload.

Colts are going to, generally speaking, play to win vs. Tennessee despite having nothing to gain.

The tweet added they need to build some 'steam' after a not-so-great performance against the Cowboys. Holder also added in another tweet the team is expecting to get WR T.Y. Hilton back for Week 17. In an article from Dec. 15, Holder quoted Pagano as saying the team is going to play 16 games, and he may rest starters who have been banged up, but indicated everyone else would play. All that said, it doesn't necessarily mean the starters will play the entire game in Week 17, but it could mean Colts offensive players can be considered fantasy options if your league has playoffs into Week 17.

Johnny Manziel will miss the Cleveland Browns' season finale at Baltimore with the hamstring injury that sidelined him in Sunday's 17-13 loss to the Carolina Panthers.

Manziel's season ends with 18 completions on 35 passes for 175 yards on 15 drives and roughly seven quarters of NFL play.

Now the problem for the Browns is Brian Hoyer is questionable with a shoulder injury suffered in the second half Sunday, prompting the Browns to elevate undrafted rookie Connor Shaw from the practice squad. Shaw will get significant first-team reps this week, coach Mike Pettine said, and the Browns also could sign a backup, the story said. The article went on to say the Browns called Rex Grossman about joining the team for one week, but that move is unlikely, as Grossman said the two sides couldn't work out business logistics during Christmas week.

Chargers coach Mike McCoy said that quarterback Philip Rivers is expected to play on Sunday against the Chiefs. Rivers has been dealing with a bulging disk in his back that was injured against the Baltimore Ravens. McCoy said whether Rivers will continue playing with the injury is a group decision, and that it’s not career threatening.

“If that was the case and we didn’t think he could play this Sunday, we wouldn’t put him in there,” McCoy said. “We have plenty of medical advice, not just with Philip, but with everyone in this organization and in the NFL. Everyone has had some form of injury that they deal with at some point of the year. Philip will play on Sunday.”

Rivers did not practice on Monday and Tuesday last week to rest his ailing back. The Chargers could take a similar tact with Rivers this week.

Jay Cutler is once again the starting quarterback for the Chicago Bears. Just like that.

In yet another surprise twist in a season full of unpredictability, the Bears announced Monday afternoon that Cutler would start their regular-season finale Sunday against the Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. The move came in concert with the team’s announcement that Jimmy Clausen has been ruled out for the finale after being diagnosed with a concussion.

Clausen took a vicious helmet-to-helmet shot from Lions defensive end Ziggy Ansah on the Bears’ final drive of Sunday’s 20-14 loss at Soldier Field. And while Clausen remained on the field for four more plays – three incompletions and a loss-sealing interception – the Bears said in a news release Monday that the 27-year-old experienced delayed symptoms as a result of the collision.

Adding another layer to the Browns QB situation, Brian Hoyer picked up a shoulder injury Sunday.

The tweet added that Hoyer will be evaluated and is day-to-day. There's been no more word on the seriousness of Johnny Manziel's hamstring issue. The Browns don't have a third QB on their active roster but Connor Shaw is on their practice squad.

Logan Thomas looks like he’ll get his first NFL start at quarterback.
Cardinals coach Bruce Arians reserved the right to alter his thinking as the week goes on, but Monday he said he was “leaning to” giving the rookie out of Virginia Tech the start over Ryan Lindley in the season finale at San Francisco while Drew Stanton continues to heal from his knee injury.

“I think we need to find out what he can do for the future and the playoffs, if it would come to that,” Arians said. “It’s my job to cover every base.
“In no way is it a reflection of the way Ryan played. It’s a chance for Logan to show he could do something.”

The thing that could derail it would be a shaky week of practice for Thomas, Arians said, according to the story. There will be a “quick hook” for Thomas even in the game if he plays – the Cardinals know they still have a chance to win the NFC West, the story went on. As the story also pointed out, the Cardinals’ offense did not do well with Lindley at the helm. Lindley completed 18-of-44 passes for 216 yards and an interception. Most of the night, his passes were off the mark. The Cardinals have just two touchdowns total in their past five games.

The career year for Baltimore Ravens running back Justin Forsett is ending on a down -- and unfortunately predictable -- note.

In the past two games, Forsett has totaled 68 yards rushing and has been held under three yards per carry, an indication that the heaviest workload of his seven-year career is taking a toll. There have been signs of the NFL's fifth-leading rusher wearing down, from a knee injury a couple of weeks ago to an ankle injury on Sunday which forced him to miss the final nine minutes of the game.

"I'm fine. I'm ready to go," Forsett said after being held to a season-low 19 yards. "The defense did a great job, stopping us and stopping the run. Sometimes it's like that. We have to find a way to execute and win games. We just didn't do that today."

Forsett has taken on a huge workload compared to the rest of his career. As the story points out, he has now carried the ball 218 times, which ranks 10th-most in the NFL this season. That's also 100 more carries than he's received in any of his previous six seasons. Teams are beginning to figure out that stopping the Ravens' run game throws everything out of whack for the Ravens' offense. The Ravens are 8-1 when they rush for over 120 yards, and they're 1-4 when they are held under 100 yards. Bernard Pierce had just one carry in Week 16, but has averaged six over the last five games. In that same span Forsett has averaged 19 carries per game.

Not only do the Cardinals intend to keep Larry Fitzgerald next season, they want to keep him much longer than that.

Cardinals General Manager Steve Keim said he hopes it’s a much longer-range relationship.

“We have to make good business decisions,” Keim told Arizona Sports 98.7, via Darren Urban of the team’s official website. “I don’t think it’s any secret that we said all along that it is our intent to have Larry Fitzgerald retire a Cardinal. I don’t want to get into it too deep, but with planning purposes and financially, from a cap standpoint and all those sort of things, we have Larry’s [cap] number already baked into our numbers.

“Now, any kind of business decisions moving forward, renegotiations with Larry and that sort of thing, we’ve had ongoing talks with [agent] Eugene Parker and we will continue to have ongoing talks. But again, the best I can tell you is that it is our intent to keep Larry and make sure he stays a Cardinal the rest of his career.”

Reports say the Cards are prepared to carry the veteran wide receiver next year even with his $23.6 million cap hit. Fitzgerald has the Cards in a unique position, the story went on to say. If they’re intent on not releasing him, he can sit tight on the big number by refusing to take a pay cut or restructure. Of course, if there’s something in it for him to do a longer deal, then Keim may get his wish. Assuming QB Carson Palmer can emerge healthy next season, Fitzgerald will be part of a nice group of WRs which include Michael Floyd and John Brown, but Fitz is no longer an elite, top fantasy WR.

Speaking Monday morning on 94WIP, head coach Chip Kelly stood behind quarterback Mark Sanchez, who has yet to lead his team to a victory this month.

"Mark's our quarterback," Kelly said.

Since taking over for an injured Nick Foles, Sanchez has been average at best, throwing for 2,126 yards and 12 touchdowns in eight games. What has killed both the team and Sanchez has been the turnovers. With 10 interceptions and three fumbles, Sanchez has turned the ball over 13 times this season.

His inability to take care of the ball was the final nail in the Eagles' coffin this weekend. The Eagles were driving for a game-winning field goal, and had the ball in Washington Redskins' territory. With pressure in his face, Sanchez tried to get the ball to receiver Jeremy Maclin, but the ball was low and behind the receiver. Outside of that, Sanchez did produce some nice fantasy numbers and was at least back on track in that department after three down weeks.

Aaron Rodgers was stunned that he pulled a calf muscle in his left leg early in Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He figured all the liquids he drank to combat the flu in the days before the game would've protected him from any muscle pulls.

Aaron Rodgers says he suffered a calf injury early during the Packers' win Sunday, but does not think it will be a factor going forward. But Rodgers felt it on the second series of the Green Bay Packers' 20-3 win on Sunday, and it impacted him the rest of the game.

"I battled the flu the last couple of days pretty bad, and that's why I was surprised I hurt my calf because I hydrated like no other," Rodgers said. "I had a great hydration test this week and was drinking a ton of water before the game. Unfortunately the calf kind of gave up on me there."

Rodgers walked out of the locker room slowly on Sunday afternoon after the game but did not think the injury would be a factor in next Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field, where the NFC North title will be decided. Rodgers said: "It's too early to give a 100 percent guarantee, but it would definitely take a lot to hold me out of that game."

Jets WR Percy Harvin injured his ribs.

Harvin was originally listed as questionable to return but was later downgraded to out.

Saints RB Pierre Thomas suffered a rib injury.

It happened in the second quarter. Mark Ingram ended up with three catches in the loss. Travaris Cadet was inactive in Week 16 but if Thomas can't play in a meaningless Week 17 game, Cadet could end up as a factor in the passing game.

Falcons RB Steven Jackson has a quad injury and did not return to the game.

An ESPN report on Monday said the Falcons don't believe the injury is serious and that Jackson will play in Week 17. Jacquizz Rodgers had 11 carries but collected just 29 yards. Devonte Freeman ran for a 5-36-1 line and added three catches for 48 yards. The Falcons play for the NFC South title against the Panthers next week. If Jackson can't go Freeman and Rodgers would likely split up the workload with Freeman having more upside.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel left Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers late in the first half with a hamstring injury and did not return.

Panthers safety Colin Jones hit Manziel by the sideline on a designed quarterback run. Manziel got up and headed back toward the huddle but quickly fell back down. Trainers examined his hamstring for a few minutes on the field and a few minutes on the sideline before taking him into the locker room for halftime.

Manziel said he first hurt himself on a play from the previous drive, a third-and-1 slant route to Josh Gordon that was reviewed and overturned. Manziel fell on the throw and "felt a little tight in my hamstring" when he got up. The injury worsened after the first-down run on the next series.

Manziel is considered questionable for Sunday's finale against Baltimore. Coach Mike Pettine said after the loss he wasn't sure of the severity of the injury.

Brian Hoyer took over at quarterback and finished with 134 yards on 7 of 13 passing with one touchdown and one interception. The scoring pass was an 81-yard bomb to tight end Jordan Cameron that put the Browns ahead 13-10 in the fourth quarter. The Panthers, however, emerged with a 17-13 victory. Manziel came out after halftime with a towel over his head. Hoyer would play in Week 17 if Manziel is unable to go. The game is at Baltimore.

Cowboys Inactives
Kenneth Boatright DE
Doug Free T
Jakar Hamilton DB
Donald Hawkins T
Dustin Vaughan QB
Dekoda Watson OLB

DeMarco Murray's workload may be limited somewhat to avoid hits on that left hand. He should be able to run to the right effectively, though his stiff-arm in either direction may not be available. When he runs to the left, he may have to carry the ball in his right hand, increasing the likelihood of a fumble. The defense will certainly be aware of his injury and try to force a fumble. The Cowboys would be wise to utilize Joseph Randle a bit more in the running game and especially Lance Dunbar in the passing game since Murray's ability to catch the ball may be somewhat limited. But if he's active, he's pretty much a must-start given his production this season and the favorable matchup against Indianapolis (#21 in RB aFPA).

Colts Inactives
Jalil Brown DB
Gosder Cherilus T
T.Y. Hilton WR
Montori Hughes DT
Sheldon Price CB
Joe Reitz G
Hugh Thornton G

With Hilton inactive, Donte Moncrief draws the start and is a fantasy WR2 start with Reggie Wayne (PPR) and Hakeem Nicks having Sneaky Start appeal. Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen also get a bump. Andrew Luck's ranking takes a slight hit with Hilton out, but he has enough weapons and should be able to manufacture plenty of fantasy points against Dallas.

Bills Inactives
Bryce Brown RB
Ross Cockrell CB
Larry Dean LB
Chris Gragg TE
Randell Johnson OLB
Cyrus Kouandjio T
Deonte Thompson WR

C.J. Spiller is active, but is not a fantasy option. Fred Jackson remains the play and should continue to see the bulk of the RB touches.

Cam Newton will start for the Panthers on Sunday.

Just two weeks after walking away from a massive car accident in Charlotte and sustaining a pair of transverse process fractures in his back, the Pro Bowl quarterback will return to the field against the Browns in a make-or-break game at Bank of America Stadium, NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Saturday, per team sources.

The fourth-year signal-caller cleared the final medical hurdle on Saturday, per Rapoport. Newton is playing with an injury similar to that of Tony Romo, which means there will be some degree of pain management. Newton's mobility may be impacted a bit, especially if Mike Pettine loads the box and forces Newton to throw.

LeGarrette Blount (shoulder) was also downgraded to out. Jonas Gray time.

Jonas Gray and Shane Vereen both get a bump, but Gray figures to benefit more since he and Blount were splitting between-the-tackles carries for the Patriots.

Chargers Inactives
Keenan Allen WR
Ryan Carrethers DT
Greg Ducre DB
Cordarro Law DE
Ryan Mathews RB
Mike Scifres P
Damion Square DE

Malcom Floyd, Eddie Royal and Seyi Ajirotutu will see a bump with Allen sidelined. Ajirotutu played 62 percent of the snaps in Week 15, which was the first time all year that he cracked the 35 percent mark. Floyd and Royal seem to be the best fantasy bets, however. With Mathews sidelined last week, Branden Oliver led the team in touches (16) and yards (70), but Donald Brown actually played more snaps due to his role in the passing game.

49ers Inactives
Tramaine Brock CB
Ahmad Brooks OLB
Carlos Hyde RB
Josh Johnson QB
Steve Johnson WR
Joe Looney G
Andrew Tiller G

Frank Gore and Michael Crabtree are active as expected. Gore should see a good workload with Carlos Hyde out.

Julian Edelman (concussion, thigh) did not travel with the Patriots today and will not play tomorrow vs. the Jets, according to two sources.

Owners in a pinch could try their luck with Danny Amendola, who should start alongside Brandon LaFell.

49ers RB Frank Gore (concussion) will play tonight vs. Chargers, source said.

Gore should see a few extra carries with Carlos Hyde out this week. He's our #23 RB in standard formats.

BRONCOS
Probable
Christopher Clark (T, back), Cortrelle Anderson (RB, ankle), Cody Latimer (WR, concussion), Jacob Tamme (TE, ribs), Demaryius Thomas (WR, ankle), Julius Thomas (TE, ankle), Will Montgomery (C, knee).

Questionable
Ryan Clady (T, thigh), Ronnie Hillman (RB, foot), Peyton Manning (QB, thigh), Juwan Thompson (RB, hip), Kayvon Webster (CB, shoulder), Emmanuel Sanders (WR, illness)

Out
Paul Cornick (T, toe), Brandon Marshall (LB, foot).

BENGALS
Probable
Brandon Tate (WR, illness), Jermaine Gresham (TE, toe), Margus Hunt (DE, ankle), Terence Newman (CB, ankle), Mike Pollak (G, knee), Carlos Dunlap (DE, calf), D'Andre Kirkpatrick (CB, Achillies).

Questionable
QB A.J. McCarron (illness)

Doubtful
Emmanuel Lamur (LB, hamstring), James Wright (WR, knee).

Manning is listed as questionable with his thigh injury, however he's expected to play on Monday night against the Bengals despite the official 50-50 tag. Hillman is also questionable, but C.J. Anderson is expected to get lead-back work in this game once again.

Redskins Inactives
Leonard Hankerson WR
Jason Hatcher DE
Roy Helu RB
Josh LeRibeus G
Gabe Miller LB
Chibuikem Okoro DB
Keenan Robinson ILB

This is a bit of a surprise as we reported Helu as probable all week with a toe injury. This mean Chris Thompson will continue to get more looks. He impressed the coaches last week.

Broncos WR Emmanuel Sanders misses practice with flu-like symptoms. He was a little under the weather yesterday.

Renck also tweeted that there's no reason to expect Sanders not to play in Week 16. Sanders will get some extra time since the game is Monday night in Cincy.

It was pointed out to Colts HC Chuck Pagano that players who don't practice at all during a game week almost never play on Sunday. But Pagano was adamant he's not ruling T.Y. Hilton out.

"For some," Pagano responded. "This guy is pretty special. Don't count him out."

As we reported yesterday, those around the team consider him doubtful even though his official status is questionable. If he’s out, Donte Moncrief becomes a fantasy WR2 with Reggie Wayne (PPR) and Hakeem Nicks having Sneaky Start appeal. Coby Fleener and Dwayne Allen would also get a bump. Andrew Luck’s ranking takes a slight hit with Hilton out, but he has enough weapons and should be able to manufacture plenty of fantasy points against Dallas.

Last week, the Falcons waited until Sunday morning to decide whether receiver Julio Jones would play despite a hip injury. This week, it’ll be the same routine.

Per a source with knowledge of the situation, Jones’ availability for Sunday’s showdown with the Saints will hinge on the Sunday morning pre-game workout.

Jones wants to play and the Falcons sure need him. In his last two games played, Jones generated 448 receiving yards, with a whopping 259 yards coming in a Monday night loss to the Packers. Between the performances with Jones and the team’s struggles without him, the fourth-year wideout from Alabama is laying the foundation for a major payday at some point during the 2015 offseason, the story said. If Jones can't go, Harry Douglas would shape up to be a very good option again.

Coach Jim Harbaugh said on Thursday that Gore is passing through the concussion protocol and is on pace to play Saturday night against the San Diego Chargers. Gore missed the entire second half of Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks with a concussion.

Gore may see a bigger than usual workload with Carlos Hyde out. Alfonso Smith should serve as Gore's primary backup.

Officially listed as questionable, unofficially Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray is determined to play on Sunday against the Colts.

Murray, per a source with knowledge of the situation, declared even before having surgery to repair a broken bone in his hand on Monday that he will play in Week 16. At this point, it’s believed to be primarily a matter of pain tolerance and management.

His workload may be limited somewhat to avoid hits on that left hand, but he should be out there for fantasy owners. Murray is averaging 28.9 touches per game this season. We currently project him for 19.1 touches (including 16.3 carries) with Randle getting 9.4 carries in a larger-than-usual backup role. If Murray is active, he's pretty much a must-start given his production this season and the favorable matchup against Indianapolis (#21 in RB aFPA).

Panthers HC Ron Rivera said RB DeAngelo Williams would likely only be used in an emergency situation.

This means that owners can dial up Jonathan Stewart with confidence for the third straight week. He has averaged 21.5 touches in the last two weeks with Williams sidelined, and the matchup against the Browns is favorable (#25 in RB aFPA).

Falcons beat writer Vaughn McClure: I anticipate Julio Jones will be ready for the Saints, based on everything I'm hearing... If Jones indeed plays Sunday, I will be curious to see if his speed and ability to get down the field is hampered at all by the injury.

This isn't a ringing endorsement of Jones's availability for Sunday, but it is encouraging. We'd like to see Jones return to practice on Friday before penciling him into our lineups.

Cowboys beat writer Todd Archer: I believe DeMarco Murray plays Sunday even with his broken hand. It's just a gut feeling. Do I expect 20-25 carries from Murray? No. I think you'll see a closer split between him and Joseph Randle this week.

Murray is averaging 28.9 touches per game this season. We currently project him for 19.1 touches (including 16.3 carries) with Randle getting 9.4 carries in a larger-than-usual backup role. Given his production this season and a favorable matchup, Murray owners pretty much have to start him if he's active and expected to see a decent amount of touches.

Sight is a fairly important sense, especially when your job is finding holes and blasting through them.

Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy has had a tad bit of trouble with that aspect of life the past few days, limiting him in the last two practices because of eye irritation due to a contact lenses problem.

Saying he's "very blind" and displaying his inability to see across the room without the contacts, Lacy told reporters Thursday that his eye started bothering him after wearing his contacts past their normal 30-day shelf life.

The bulldozing runner said he would use the contacts again this weekend and rebuffed a suggestion he go with goggles.

"I refuse," Lacy said before backtracking slightly, per ESPN.com. "I don't want to say I refuse because I might, because I think it will be better than wearing contacts, but that's kind of old school."

Let this be a lesson -- don't wear 30-day contacts past their shelf life. Lacy's vision problems should be worked out by the weekend, but this is something to monitor. His vision is crucial to his ability to know when to cutback or use his patented spin move.

Titans Inactives
Zaviar Gooden ILB
Terren Jones T
Taylor Lewan T
Mike Martin DE
Zach Mettenberger QB
Dontay Moch LB

Charlie Whitehurst will get the start in what is shaping up to be one of the worst Thursday Night Football games of all time. Kendall Wright is active after missing a couple of games with a hand injury, and apparently won’t be wearing a splint or a cast on his hand. He’s not a great start, but he’s been pretty solid when active and with Justin Hunter out, he should get plenty of targets. We prefer Nate Washington, who had a strong Week 15. The matchup against Jacksonville (#4 in WR aFPA) is not favorable.

Panthers beat writer Steve Reed: Cam Newton getting the bulk of first-team reps today at practice during the session that was open to the media... Looking more and more like Cam Newton will start against the Browns based off what I saw at practice today.

It appears that Newton is on track to face the Browns, who are #3 in QB aFPA.

Giants beat writer Dan Graziano on WR Odell Beckham: ...what we're watching with Beckham on a weekly basis (a daily one, in fact, when you take into account his practice antics) is a player gifted with such raw athleticism that he stands out on a field whose other occupants are also world-class athletes. He's impressive in all facets. He runs great routes. He has great hands. He plays bigger than his 5-foot-11 size would indicate, because he has the ability to outjump defenders and locate the ball in the air before they do. He has the blazing speed you've seen. Really, from a raw talent standpoint, he's the total package. What he's doing is even more incredible due to the facts that he missed all of training camp and the first four games of the season with a hamstring injury, and that he and Victor Cruz played only two games together. Eli Manning is targeting Beckham pretty much all the time, and it's working. Expect to see a lot of him.

Since his season started in Week 5, Beckham is the #2 fantasy receiver, averaging 7.1 catches for 97 yards and 0.9 TD. He will be drafted in the 1st or 2nd round in 2015 fantasy drafts.

Texans HC Bill O'Brien is delaying an official announcement as long as possible but every expectation Case Keenum starts vs. Ravens on Sunday.

Andre Johnson averaged 6.9 catches for 100 yards and 0.6 TD (on nearly 12 targets) in the eight games in which Keenum played last season. DeAndre Hopkins' numbers were relatively unchanged with Keenum under center.

After averaging 27.48 yards per catch from Weeks 5-9, Redskins WR DeSean Jackson has cooled off. Since that time, he's averaged 12.36 yards on 14 catches -- though he was missed on two deep balls vs. Tampa Bay in Week 11.

His knee injury hasn't helped.

"Just trying to get back to 100 percent," Jackson said. "Last week I was 85, 90 percent so hopefully this week I'll feel better."

What he doesn't feel like doing is talking about the Eagles.

"I just don't really care too much for it," he said. "The first game was the first time playing them. Now a whole season went on. They're playing and I'm playing here. I don't put too much energy into that and outside of that I don't care too much about it."

His owners are hoping for a repeat of the 5-117-1 line he posted on 11 targets back in Week 3, but Jackson has had one good game since the team's bye in Week 10. His comments make it sound as if he's not too focused on the revenge factor, but we find that a little hard to believe. The Redskins have a chance to knock the Eagles out of the playoff hunt, so they should be plenty motivated even in the middle of a dysfunctional season.

Houston Texans coach Bill O'Brien isn't revealing who will start at quarterback Sunday against the Ravens.

The Texans can go with Case Keenum, who was signed this week off of the St. Louis Rams practice squad and went 0-8 as a starter for the Texans last season, or they can start mobile former Buffalo Bills quarterback Thaddeus Lewis.

"We're not going to publicly name who's starting," O'Brien said during a conference call with Baltimore reporters Wednesday. "We'll let everybody see that when the game starts."

The Texans don't hold much of an advantage in this situation, but they do have the element of surprise. We would guess that Thaddeus Lewis gets the nod since he has been with the team longer, but Case Keenum had some success with Andre Johnson in 2013 and knows the offense well.

He was practicing with his teammates on Wednesday, much as he had for each of the past two weeks. The only difference now is he’s been medically cleared for contact. C.J. Spiller has not yet been added to the 53-man roster from his I-R Designated to return status, but it’s anticipated that will take place later in the week.

Bills head coach Doug Marrone liked the way Spiller performed in practice Wednesday.

“I’m not going to sit up here and see he didn’t look good. He looked good, but he’s still working his way back into the football part of it,” Marrone said.

The Bills are still alive in the playoff hunt, but they'll need some help to make the postseason. If Spiller does play, he probably won't have a big role in his first game back, though he could take over most of the touches that Anthony Dixon and Bryce Brown have been getting in the last few weeks. They have combined for 12.0 touches in the last four weeks, so we would expect that would be Spiller's ceiling with Fred Jackson continue to carry the load as the team's primary back.

The New Orleans Saints have added a second kicker and stowed him on the practice squad, an unusual move that raises questions about the future of starter Shayne Graham.

The Saints signed Dustin Hopkins and placed him on their 10-man practice squad on Wednesday. That could mean the Saints are considering Hopkins as an active-roster option in the final two games of 2014 or are giving him an extended tryout with an eye toward 2015.

This doesn't have significant fantasy impact, but Graham owners should be aware that his job may be in jeopardy. It wouldn't be shocking if the Saints decided to use Hopkins as their kicker as soon as Week 16.

Baltimore Ravens tight end Owen Daniels remembers receiving the sheet of paper from the Houston Texans informing him of his release. Recounting the situation Wednesday, Daniels said there was a check mark by "wasn't good enough" on why the Texans were releasing him.

"I have [the sheet] with me in the house," Daniels said. "I don't have it up in my locker. I can see it. I have a decent memory."

"Obviously, when you work somewhere for so long and they say you're not good enough to play there anymore and you get a chance to play them that following season, you definitely want to prove to them that they made a mistake," Daniels said. "But I've been trying to do that all season with my play, and not just in this one game."

This is the #OldTeamTheorem that Senior Editor John Paulsen always discusses on Twitter. It doesn't always pan out, but when looking for streaming/desperation options, it never hurts to start a player who is motivated to stick it to his old team.

Enough is finally enough for the Chicago Bears.

After weeks of offensive futility, the team has benched starting quarterback Jay Cutler in favor of backup Jimmy Clausen prior to Sunday's contest against the Detroit Lions, NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Wednesday, according to two sources informed of the situation.

Cutler owners who are still alive are going to have to find another option this week, and Clausen isn't an attractive start. He has a career 5.2 YPA and it's a difficult matchup against the Lions. It's a downgrade for the entire offense, including Alshon Jeffery, Marquess Wilson, Martellus Bennett and Matt Forte. On the flip side, the Lions defense is still a very strong play in Week 16.