HEADLINES

Buccaneers WRs Mike Evans, Jalen McMillan Out For Week 14

December 5th, 2025 at 1:21pm CST by Connor Byrne

DECEMBER: 5: Bowles said on Friday (via Fox Sports’ Greg Auman) both Evans and McMillan have made progress this week during practice. However, neither of them will play in Week 14.

DECEMBER 3: Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said Monday that injured wide receivers Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan could return to practice this week. It’s official in Evans’ case, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. The Buccaneers are also expected to open McMillan’s practice window on Wednesday, Rapoport adds. The team has 21 days to activate the wideouts from IR.

Evans entered the season tied with the legendary Jerry Rice with 11 consecutive 1,000-yard showings, but injuries will prevent him from claiming the all-time record for himself. After missing time with a hamstring issue earlier this season, Evans broke his clavicle in a Week 7 loss to the Lions. The future Hall of Famer has played in just four games this year and logged 140 yards on 14 catches.

McMillan, meanwhile, has been unable to contribute at all in 2025 after suffering a severe strain and three fractures in his neck during the preseason. As a rookie in 2024, the third-round pick from Washington was a force toward the end of the season. McMillan caught an eye-opening seven touchdowns in his last five games, averaging five catches and 63 yards per contest during that span.

Evans and McMillan were key factors in the NFL’s third-ranked passing offense a year ago. With minimal help from those two and Chris Godwin, who has missed eight games with injuries, the Bucs’ Baker Mayfield-led attack has dropped to a pedestrian 19th. That figures to improve with Evans and McMillan joining Godwin and rookie sensation Emeka Egbuka as Tampa Bay’s top options at receiver.

Despite the myriad injuries they’ve dealt with, the 7-5 Buccaneers are on track to win the NFC South for the fifth year in a row. The 7-6 Panthers are nipping at their heels, though, and the rivals still have to face each other in Weeks 16 and 18. If Evans and McMillan are back for those matchups, it should bolster the Buccaneers’ chances of holding off the Panthers.

Commanders QB Jayden Daniels To Return In Week 14

December 5th, 2025 at 12:36pm CST by Adam La Rose

Jayden Daniels has continued to make progress in his recovery from a dislocated left elbow. Despite the Commanders finding themselves out of playoff contention, their starting quarterback will return to action this week.

Daniels has been able to practice this week, logging a limited session on Wednesday and a full one yesterday. The reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year was recently cleared for full contact, so it comes as no surprise he will be in place against the Vikings on Sunday. This will mark Daniels’ first game action since Week 9.

Questions were raised in the wake of that blowout loss about why head coach Dan Quinn kept Daniels and other starters on the field as long as he did. Since then, the Commanders have continued what is now a seven-game losing streak. Marcus Mariota has generally played well as a fill-in QB starter, but Daniels’ return will certainly be welcomed by all involved.

Washington’s offense has been beset by injuries through much of the 2025 campaign. Ending things on a high note would mark a positive for a team which has fallen well short of its performance from last year. Daniels will look to remain on the field for the closing weeks of the campaign and in doing so resume his strong connection with wideout Terry McLaurin. The latter returned to action during Monday night’s overtime loss to the Broncos, posting 96 yards and one touchdown along the way. Finishing the year with Daniels under center will help McLaurin’s chances of maintaining that production.

Daniels was never placed on injured reserve, but discussions did take place between team and player about shutting him down for the remainder of the campaign. Nevertheless, the 24-year-old is set to return to action for a Washington team which currently sits at 3-9 on the year.

In other injury news, Quinn said (via Tashan Reed of the Washington Post) that receiver Noah Brown and linebacker Bobby Wagner are trending toward playing this week as well. Both players have missed practice time in recent days, but their availability will be key. Brown remains on IR at this point, so having him in the lineup for Sunday will require an activation in his case either today or tomorrow.

Lions S Brian Branch Suffers Torn Achilles

December 5th, 2025 at 9:48am CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Lions fear that star safety Brian Branch suffered a torn Achilles in the team’s Thursday night win over the Cowboys, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

It was reported earlier this morning (via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero) that Branch had been diagnosed with an Achilles injury pending further tests, stirring fears of a tear that would end his season. That will indeed be the case, as it is far too late in the season for Branch to rush back to the field.

The third-year safety limped off the field late in Thursday’s game and was carted back to the locker room. The Lions initially announced that Branch injured his ankle. After the game, he was seen in a walking boot and crutches (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press), and head coach Dan Campbell confirmed that the injury was believed to be serious.

Branch’s absence will be a huge loss for the Lions defense, especially considering the myriad of other injuries in their secondary. Cornerback Terrion Arnold is out for the season after shoulder surgery and safety Kerby Joseph has not played since Week 6. Two other cornerbacks, D.J. Reed and Ennis Rakestraw, have also missed a significant amount of time.

Branch was one of the few reasons the unit stayed afloat as long as it did. Though the Lions have given up at least 325 passing yards twice in their last three games, they also held their previous three opponents to under 200 yards through the air. Detroit only won three of those six games, putting them at 8-5 and in third place in the NFC North. They trail the Bears (9-3) and Packers (8-3-1) with one win against the former and two losses against the other. The Lions will go to Chicago in Week 18 for a game that could have huge playoff implications.

They will have to make that trip without Branch, who has started all but one game this year. Here are his ranks on the Lions defense: second in passes defended (nine), third in tackles (75) and fifth in sacks (2.5) and tackles for loss (five). In addition to his official counting stats, Branch also has a career-low 4.9% missed tackle rate, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), and he has done all of this playing a demanding, versatile role with 282 snaps as a free safety, 236 in the box, and 149 in the slot.

With all of that in mind, it is clear that no one player can replace Branch’s multidimensional contributions. The Lions will have to do so in the aggregate, but with so many other defensive backs missing, it could get complicated. Second-year safety Thomas Harper took on Joseph’s more traditional free safety role for six games before he was supplanted by Avonte Maddox on Thursday night. Branch’s injury will likely bring Harper back into the mix. The Lions can use more three-linebacker looks to take care of Branch’s box snaps, and Amik Robertson could slide into the slot when needed. However, with Arnold down, Detroit would then need a No. 2 outside cornerback for nickel looks. That will likely be Rock Ya-Sin.

Branch will now face a long road to recovering, likely with the hopes of returning by the start of the 2026 season. Achilles recoveries have gotten shorter and shorter in recent years with some players opting for a SpeedBridge procedure to accelerate their return timeline. But a major December injury could make it difficult for an athletic, physical player like Branch to get back to full strength in time for the regular season.

NFL Mailbag: Jones, Lions, Carroll, QBs

December 4th, 2025 at 10:59pm CST by Adam La Rose

This week's edition of the PFR mailbag looks at questions related to the Colts' pending QB investment, the Lions' upcoming extension decisions, Pete Carroll's future in Vegas and more.

Thomas asks:

Are the Colts going to have to franchise tag Daniel Jones? With the Vikings potentially circling and Indy having traded away two first-round picks, this gives him leverage despite an inconsistent career. Do you think a tag will be necessary, and won't the cost of that tag shape his asking price like it did with the Giants in 2023?

A long-term pact certainly can’t be ruled out at this point, especially if Jones can rebound from his recent dip in production (although doing so will be difficult, given his injury situation). But if negotiations on that front stall, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where the Colts willingly let him test the open market.

Right now, Jones is on track to be by far the top QB available in free agency. Other options will consist of veterans such as Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson (if they continue playing) or upside gambles like Malik Willis or Trey Lance. Someone like Tua Tagovailoa or Kyler Murray could be on the move, but even if so Jones would be a target for several suitors (one of which could be the Vikings, ironic as that would be).

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Darius Slay Will Not Report To Bills; CB’s Future Uncertain

December 4th, 2025 at 10:58pm CST by Adam La Rose

The end of the 2025 season will not see Darius Slay play for the Bills after all. Buffalo claimed him off waivers yesterday, but that will not actually lead to a Bills stint.

Slay is not reporting to the team, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. At this time, it is unclear if Slay will play again in the NFL. 2025 is widely believed to be his final season, one which did not include a full campaign spent with the Steelers as intended. Buffalo still retains Slay’s rights.

“Slay is honored that a first-class organization like the Bills claimed him, but he is going to take some time away from football right now and decide in the next few days if he wants to keep playing,” a statement from agent Drew Rosenhaus reads.

So far this season, Slay has made nine starts and 10 appearances. He fell out of the Steelers’ plans for the closing weeks of the campaign, however, and in the wake of Asante Samuel Jr.‘s arrival he was a healthy scratch this past week. Slay was positioned to provide Buffalo with CB depth down the stretch, but that will not be the case. Instead, attention will now turn to the possibility of an Eagles reunion.

Philadelphia put in a waiver claim, a sign of how willing the team would be to bring the six-time Pro Bowler back into the fold. Indeed, Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports a “mutual interest” exists for another Eagles stint in this case. Slay would not be counted on to reprise his role as a starter in the event he were to play once again for the defending Super Bowl champions, but he could serve as a backup option the way trade acquisition Jaire Alexander was set to before he stepped away from football.

Slay has now elected to do the same, and it will be interesting to see what happens next in this case. The Bills will presumably place him on the reserve/retired list to avoid having him take up a roster spot. If Slay were to then be released, he could wind up signing with the Eagles in time for the stretch run. For now, though, it is unclear if the veteran of 198 combined regular season and playoff games will suit up again in the NFL.

Poll: Will Chiefs Make Postseason?

December 4th, 2025 at 10:57pm CST by Connor Byrne

It would have been hard to fathom entering the 2025 campaign, but the Chiefs are on the outside of the AFC playoff bracket heading into Week 14. Owners of a mediocre 6-6 record, the perennial Super Bowl contenders are in 10th place in the conference with five games left in the regular season.

The Chiefs are in serious jeopardy of missing the playoffs for the first time since 2014, the second year of head coach Andy Reid‘s brilliant run with the franchise. Patrick Mahomes, now one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the sport, was a freshman at Texas Tech then.

The Chiefs haven’t won fewer than 11 games in a season since Mahomes took the reins in 2018. One more loss would be a career-worst total for Mahomes, and it could be a near-knockout punch for the Chiefs.

Kansas City will enter this Sunday’s game against Houston (7-5, eighth in the AFC) with a 35% chance to rally for a postseason berth, per Next Gen Stats (via Ali Bhanpuri of NFL.com). A win would increase the odds to 49%, while that figure would plummet to 11% with a loss.

The good news for the Chiefs is that they’ll play at home, where they’ve gone a dominant 63-14 in the Mahomes era. On the negative side, they’ll battle the league’s No. 1 defense with what could be a patchwork offensive line. Left tackle Josh Simmons will miss the game with a wrist injury. Meanwhile, right tackle Jawaan Taylor (triceps/knee) and right guard Trey Smith (ankle) haven’t practiced this week. Going without as many as three starting linemen may prove too much to overcome against a pair of superb pass rushers in Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter.

Looking beyond their showdown with the Texans, the Chiefs’ remaining schedule includes games against the bottom-feeding Titans (Week 16) and Raiders (Week 18). However, they’ll also face formidable opponents in the Chargers (Week 15) and Broncos (Week 17), both division rivals.

The Chiefs already lost to the Chargers (8-4) in Week 1 and the Broncos (10-2) in Week 11. It’s hard to imagine Kansas City making up enough ground on Denver to rally for its 10th division title in a row. A wild-card spot, something the Chiefs have never settled for with Mahomes at the helm, presents the more realistic path to a playoff berth.

While the Chiefs rank near the top of the league in offense (fifth), point differential (seventh), and defense (10th), coming out on the wrong end of one-score games has left them in an unenviable position. After finishing a stunning 11-0 in one-score affairs last year, regression in that department has haunted the Chiefs this season. Kansas City is 1-6 in one-score games, which isn’t lost on future Hall of Fame tight end Travis Kelce.

“I’m sure everyone is sick of us saying it, but we’re a few plays away from being a one seed in my mind,” Kelce said this week on his “New Heights” podcast with brother Jason Kelce (via Jaclyn Hendricks of the New York Post). He added that “all of the losses are within one score, and there’s a handful of plays within those games that are determining the outcome.”

The 36-year-old Kelce has been one of the faces of the Chiefs’ dynasty, joining Reid and Mahomes to win three Super Bowls and five AFC titles. Kelce, who could retire after 2025, will decide his future in the offseason. In the meantime, he and the Chiefs have little margin for error as they seek their 11th straight playoff berth.

Do you expect the Chiefs to reach the postseason? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section.

Shedeur Sanders Not Guaranteed QB1 Role In 2026, Deshaun Watson Unlikely To Play In 2025

December 4th, 2025 at 10:56pm CST by Ben Levine

Shedeur Sanders hasn’t looked completely hopeless through the first two starts of his career, but the Browns aren’t ready to hand him the reins. As ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano write, the rookie quarterback will be afforded a long leash through the end of the 2025 season, but Sanders is unlikely to be guaranteed the QB1 role for 2026 unless he “lights it up.”

[RELATED: Browns Open Deshaun Watson’s Practice Window]

As Fowler notes, Sanders has reinforced the coaching staff’s belief that he’s able to limit turnovers; the rookie has only thrown a pair of picks this season, although one of those was during a relief appearance in Week 11. And, while Sanders had a reputation for taking an unsustainable amount of sacks during his college career, he’s only been sacked four times in his two starts.

At the same time, the Browns understand that the fifth-round pick may not be their answer at the position, especially since the team could easily pursue an alternative via free agency or the draft this offseason. The team also has Dillon Gabriel on the roster, although Fowler notes that the rookie third-round pick projects as more of a capable QB2. Rival coaches opined that Gabriel is further along in his development than Sanders, but there’s also a belief that Sanders has a higher upside with his arm strength and larger frame.

Either way, the Browns will use the final stretch of the season to see if Sanders or Gabriel may be their answer for the 2026 season. The team already gave Gabriel six starts, and it appears the coaching staff is determined to give Sanders a similar amount of reps before the season is through. As Fowler notes, it’s pertinent that the franchise knows whether their 2026 starter is currently on the roster.

Of course, Deshaun Watson‘s recent return to practice slightly complicates things. However, sources told Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports that the highly paid quarterback only has a slim chance of seeing the field in 2025. The veteran will continue to take limited practice reps, but Jones estimates that Watson will only have 10 practices under his belt by the time the Browns have to make a decision on his activation for Week 17.

Taking into account the player’s lengthy rehab of a torn Achilles, it seems the organization simply wants to give Watson some practice reps ahead of the 2026 offseason. Considering the quarterback’s release would leave the organization with a record-breaking $80MM in dead cap for the 2026 season, it’s all but certain that Watson will remain on the roster next year. If neither Sanders nor Gabriel establish themselves as a sure-thing starter heading into the offseason, the Browns seem destined to have at least a four-man competition for the QB1 spot during next year’s training camp and preseason.

Titans HC Rumors: Nagy, McCarthy, Minter

December 4th, 2025 at 10:41pm CST by Connor Byrne

After finishing with an NFL-worst three wins in 2024, the Titans’ 1-5 start this year was enough to cost Brian Callahan his job. Tennessee became the the first team of the season to fire its head coach when it gave Callahan his walking papers on Oct. 13.

Almost two full months since Callahan’s ouster, the Titans have logged even worse results. They’re 0-6 under interim head coach Mike McCoy, who likely has little to no chance of earning a full-time promotion after the season. That should put president of football operations Chad Brinker and first-year general manager Mike Borgonzi in position to find a new sideline leader from outside the organization.

With the hiring cycle still weeks from getting underway, Brinker and Borgonzi probably won’t make their pick until sometime in January. If they prioritize hiring an experienced candidate, Albert Breer of SI.com points to Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy and former Packers and Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy as names to watch.

Nagy has an obvious connection to Borgonzi, previously a longtime member of Kansas City’s front office. He also has some past success as an NFL head coach, having gone 34-31 with the Bears from 2018-21. Nagy took the Bears to the playoffs twice in that span.

McCarthy coached the Packers from 2006-18, winning one Super Bowl along the way, and Brinker was in their front office for most of that span. With a career .608 winning percentage over 18 seasons, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see someone give McCarthy a third opportunity.

As established coaches on the offensive side of the ball, either Nagy or McCarthy could aid in the development of quarterback Cam Ward. The first overall pick in last spring’s draft, Ward is the most important player in the organization. If Ward eventually lives up to his draft stock, it would go a long way in helping the Titans orchestrate a turnaround. Ward’s career has gotten off to a rough start, though, which isn’t a shock when considering the lack of coaching stability and the Titans’ dearth of talent.

While the Titans need more from Ward, they aren’t necessarily locked in on hiring an offensive choice or someone with head coaching experience. Two defensive coordinators, the Chargers’ Jesse Minter and the Rams’ Chris Shula, are among the “wide array of candidates” the Titans have considered so far, Breer reports. PFR’s Sam Robinson previously highlighted Minter and Shula as ascending defensive coaches to monitor during the hiring cycle, which will lack obvious slam-dunk picks on the offensive side.

The 42-year-old Minter and Shula, 39, don’t have head coaching experience at any level. However, they’ve drawn rave reviews in coordinator roles, which will lead to interest from other organizations.

Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh brought Minter with him to LA after a national championship-winning season with the Michigan Wolverines in 2023. The move has worked out for the Chargers, who have boasted upper-echelon defenses under Minter.

Shula, the grandson of legendary head coach Don Shula and the son of former Bengals HC Dave Shula, is also in his second year as a coordinator. Playing its first season of the post-Aaron Donald era, the Rams’ defense ranked an underwhelming 17th in scoring and 26th in yards in 2024. It’s a far more impressive second and 13th in those categories this year.

While Nagy, McCarthy, Minter, and Shula all seem like reasonable possibilities to end up as the Titans’ next sideline leader, there are surely more choices under consideration. The Titans are working to narrow down the list by season’s end, per Breer.

The next hire will bring in a new staff, but management will “likely” ask that individual to strongly consider retaining first-year sspecial teams coordinator John Fassel, according to Titans reporter Paul Kuharsky. Fassel previously led ST units for the Raiders, Rams, and Cowboys. He was on McCarthy’s staff in Dallas from 2020-24. It could work in Fassel’s favor if the Titans hire McCarthy. 

Jets, Raiders, Browns Among Suitors For First-Round QBs

December 4th, 2025 at 9:35pm CST by Ben Levine

While there’s still five weeks to go in the regular season, a handful of teams are already eyeing the 2026 campaign. These bottom dwellers will have a quarterback atop their list of offseason needs, and these franchises will also be primed to pursue the position via the first round of the draft.

A recent ESPN article took an early look at the 2026 draft and identified three organizations that could turn to first-round quarterbacks: the Jets, Raiders, and Browns.

The Jets are an obvious suitor for a quarterback. However, with the front office now armed with multiple first-round picks in both 2026 and 2027 (thanks to the Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams trades), Rich Cimini says there’s a chance the Jets decide to kick the can down the road a bit. Both coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey will naturally feel some pressure to improve the team’s outlook ASAP, but Cimini notes that they’d only pursue the position if they have “conviction” in a particular player.

The Raiders are another obvious landing spot for a quarterback considering Geno Smith‘s struggles in 2025. Ryan McFadden says that even if Smith is leading the depth chart in 2026, the front office will strongly consider “a succession plan.” Plus, with Ashton Jeanty and Brock Bowers in place, it’s in the organization’s best interest to add a young signal caller to the mix sooner than later.

The Browns’ situation is a bit more complex. Deshaun Watson will surely be back considering his hefty dead cap hit, and the team is also evaluating rookies Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel as potential options at the position. Daniel Oyefusi notes that the front office may find themselves behind a handful of QB-needy teams in the draft, but with two first-round picks in their possession (and 10 picks overall), the Browns will be well positioned to move up if necessary.

Two other teams were mentioned as suitors for quarterbacks, although reporters weren’t as convinced that those front offices would actually pull the trigger. Sarah Barshop acknowledged that Matthew Stafford‘s retirement is rapidly approaching, and the team will be well positioned to select a QB since they have a pair of first-round selections. Considering the Rams’ contender status, Barshop is ultimately skeptical if the franchise will pursue the position in the first round. Even if they do, the reporter doesn’t believe the hypothetical QB would start as a rookie.

Meanwhile, Field Yates lists the Cardinals as a franchise that could pursue the position, and the reporter points to the fact that the front office could easily get out of the Kyler Murray contract. Yates believes the Cardinals may be a better fit for a veteran signal caller, although the reporter says the front office will at least “do its quarterback homework in the draft.”

A handful of highly touted quarterbacks like Arch Manning, LaNorris Sellers, and Cade Klubnik have slipped a bit in 2025, leading to some question marks atop the positional draft class. ESPN’s Jordan Reid believes there will be three QBs with first-round grades: Oregon’s Dante Moore, Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, and Alabama’s Ty Simpson.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/4/25

December 4th, 2025 at 6:15pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s practice squad moves:

Las Vegas Raiders

Miami Dolphins

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

Dolphins practice squad receiver A.J. Henning was hit with a suspension today for violating the league’s policy on performance enhancing substances, per ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques. It’s uncertain how long the ban will last. The UDFA out of Northwestern hasn’t gotten into a game this season. He joined the Dolphins back in May and hauled in three catches during the preseason.

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