Cardinals To Place DT Walter Nolen, CB Garrett Williams On Injured Reserve
The Cardinals are placing defensive tackle Walter Nolen and cornerback Garrett Williams on injured reserve, head coach Jonathan Gannon (via team reporter Darren Urban).
Both defenders went down in Arizona’s loss to the Falcons in Sunday. Nolen suffered a non-contact injury to his left knee, while Williams is believed to have suffered an Achilles tear. Gannon only confirmed the areas that were injured for each player but did not elaborate on the specifics.
Nolen, 22, was drafted in the first round of April’s draft (No. 16 overall), but spent the first eight weeks of the season on the PUP list with an calf issue. He debuted in In Week 12, Nolen went down with a knee injury early in the game and missed the next two contests. It is unknown if he injured the same knee on Sunday afternoon.
Nolen has only played 169 snaps this year, so the Cardinals defense is used to playing without him. They have five other defensive tackles on the roster who could fill the rotation for the rest of the year, thought they could call on Zachary Carter or Wyatt Bowles from their practice squad.
Williams, 24, took over the Cardinals’ slot cornerback job midway through his 2023 rookie season. He carried that role into 2024 and allowed completions on just 56.5% of his targets. He also finished as the league’s 10th-ranked cornerback with 5.3 yards per target.
That performance built hype for his third-year effort, but he landed on injured reserve after just two games with a knee injury. Williams missed five games and returned to the field in November, but he has not been able to replicate last season’s results. He has allowed a 79.3% completion rate and 8.3 yards per target as part of a Cardinals defense that has generally struggled to stop opposing offenses this year.
Arizona moved safety Jalen Thompson into the slot during Williams’ absence earlier this year and brought Dadrion Taylor-Demerson in to fill Thompson’s snaps. The Cardinals could use the same approach or reconfigure their secondary to give younger defensive backs some playing time at the end of the season.
League Insiders Differ On Mike McDaniel’s Future In Miami
Despite a recent report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport claiming that the Dolphins will keep Mike McDaniel at the end of the year, the team may not have finalized that decision yet.
“I know people are saying [Mike McDaniel] is safe,” said ESPN’s Adam Schefter on the Pat McAfee Show. “I don’t think they have made any decisions there yet about his future. He might be safe, but he might not. That is still playing out in real-time, and nothing has been decided there. We’ll see how that plays out over time.”
“Nothing has been decided there,” he repeated.
Between the two reports was a blowout loss to the Bengals. The Dolphins got out to a 14-10 lead in the second quarter before their defense allowed touchdowns on five straight drives. Here’s how Miami’s corresponding drives on offense ended: punt, fumble, interception, turnover on downs, and another fumble.
That is an embarrassing enough performance for Dolphins owner Stephen Ross to at least reconsider his decision on McDaniel. His job security has been a topic of discussion all season with the pendulum swinging back and forth between firing and retaining him. His decision to bench Tua Tagovailoa for Quinn Ewers seemed to be an indicator that he was still in good standing, but Schefter’s latest report is leaning the other way.
McDaniel’s fate may be decided by the Dolphins’ next two games. First, they will face a 7-8 Buccaneers team still fighting to win the NFC South. Next will be the Patriots who may still be battling for their division and/or a first-round bye. Those are both tough games, – especially going up to New England in Week 18 – and given how Miami has played this season, both seem like they could get out of hand.
If McDaniel can find a way to lose more gracefully than he did on Sunday, he might stay in good enough standing to keep his job. But getting blown out could be the last straw for his tenure in Miami.
49ers Activate Yetur Gross-Matos From IR
The 49ers’ edge rush group has received a boost in time for tonight’s game. Yetur Gross-Matos has been activated from injured reserve, per a team announcement. 
Gross-Matos returned to practice on December 10. He was not activated in time to play in Week 15, but enough progress has been made during the past few days for a return to action to take place tonight. The 27-year-old has been sidelined since Week 5 due to a hamstring injury.
When Gross-Maros aggravated the ailment, his return timeline was set back. That led to his IR placement and left the former second-rounder unavailable for an extended period. Getting him back in the fold will be a welcomed development on a San Francisco team which has been hit hard by injuries in 2025. The defensive end spot in particular has been thinned out over the course of the year.
Starters Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams are each recovering from ACL tears. Neither will be able to return in 2025, something which has led to the likes of Bryce Huff, Sam Okuayinonu and Clelin Ferrell taking on increased roles. The team was linked to Trey Hendrickson ahead of the trade deadline, but the only acquisition on that front was Keion White. Getting Gross-Matos back in the fold will provide depth along the edge, although the Penn State product has starting experience dating back to his Panthers tenure.
A 2024 free agent addition, Gross-Matos played 11 games during his debut San Francisco campaign. He notched four sacks in that span, the second-highest total of his career. Chipping in down the stretch and into the playoffs would be key for the 49ers; it would also help boost Gross-Matos’ value on the open market for 2026.
Given today’s move, San Francisco has three IR activations remaining for the regular season. The team will receive another two once the playoffs begin.
Chiefs QB Gardner Minshew To Miss Remainder Of Season
DECEMBER 22: Minshew’s ACL is intact, although he will not be able to play again this season. A non-displaced tibial plateau fracture has been revealed through further testing, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The injury will not require surgery, but Minshew is set to and on injured reserve.
DECEMBER 21: Sunday’s action represented the second straight game in which a Chiefs quarterback exited due to a knee injury. Gardner Minshew was unable to finish Kansas City’s Week 16 contest, and he will not be expected to return this season. 
The Chiefs fear Minshew tore his ACL, as first reported by Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com. He and ESPN’s Adam Schefter report further testing will take place, including an MRI. Based on the initial indications, though, Minshew seems to be on track for a lengthy recovery just like Patrick Mahomes.
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Late last week, Mahomes suffered his own ACL tear during the game which ensured Kansas City’s playoff elimination. That set up Minshew to handle QB1 duties the rest of the way, but instead he is now in store for a lengthy spell out of the picture. Mahomes is of course not in danger of having his Chiefs tenure come to an end any time soon, but Minshew is a pending free agent.
Following a brief Jacksonville stint and two years as a backup in Philadelphia, Minshew spent one year with the Colts and another with the Raiders. He totaled 22 starts over that period, but upon reaching the open market this past spring the 29-year-old was viewed as a high-floor backup option. That was confirmed when he became Kansas City’s latest veteran QB2. Presuming further tests confirm an ACL tear, Minshew’s value for 2026 will obviously take a serious hit.
Chris Oladokun handled quarterback duties after Minshew went down. The former seventh-round pick will presumably continue to do so for the Chiefs’ two remaining games this season. Oladokun is also a pending free agent, so Kansas City’s QB room could look much different by the start of the 2026 campaign. Mahomes’ progress in recovery will of course be a major storyline for the team over the coming months, but Minshew is in danger of finding himself in the same situation for the offseason.
Colts Activate DT DeForest Buckner
DECEMBER 22: As expected, Buckner has been activated in time for tonight’s game. The Colts announced that move, along with the corresponding transaction of waiving quarterback Brett Rypien. That suggests Riley Leonard will be healthy as a backup option for Rivers’ second start of the year.
DECEMBER 20: A neck injury forced Colts defensive tackle DeForest Buckner to IR on Nov. 7. After a five-game absence, Buckner will return Monday against the 49ers, head coach Shane Steichen announced (via Adam Schefter of ESPN).
The Colts were 7-2 and vying for the No. 1 seed in the AFC when Buckner went down. Major injuries to Buckner, quarterback Daniel Jones, and cornerbacks Sauce Gardner and Charvarius Ward have knocked their season off course over the past month and a half.
Now 8-6, the Colts suffered their fourth straight loss in a nail-biter in Seattle last Sunday. That spoiled Philip Rivers‘ comeback start and dealt another blow to the Colts’ fading playoff hopes. They’re eighth in the conference with tough contests remaining against San Francisco (Buckner’s ex-team), Jacksonville, and Houston. Those clubs have gone a combined 29-13.
A playoff berth looks unlikely for the Colts, but getting Buckner back should better their chances of a miraculous rally. That’s assuming the herniated disc in Buckner’s neck doesn’t hinder him during the next few weeks. He had to consider his long-term health before deciding to return, per Mike Chappell of FOX59. Buckner traveled for treatment in Panama City, Panama, where he received stem cell injections.
“It’s one of those injuries that’s very serious,’’ Buckner said. “It’s definitely a heavy burden on myself making the decision.’’
Before that issue cropped up, the three-time Pro Bowler continued to produce stellar results. He logged 42 tackles (including nine for loss), 18 quarterback hurries, 11 QB hits, and four sacks in his first nine games this year. Pro Football Focus ranks his 2025 performance 11th among 126 qualifying interior D-linemen.
While the Colts’ front is welcoming back Buckner, their secondary will continue to go without Gardner. A calf injury will shelve Gardner for the third game in a row, but Steichen said he’ll play again this year (via James Boyd of The Athletic).
General manager Chris Ballard made an ultra-aggressive move in sending two first-round picks and wide receiver Adonai Mitchell to the Jets for Gardner at the Nov. 4 trade deadline. The Colts had designs on Gardner and Ward forming an elite corner duo. Injuries have prevented it from happening, though, as they’ve played in just two games together (losses to the Chiefs and Texans).
After Ward suffered his third concussion of 2025, the Colts placed him on IR on Dec. 10. Ward’s regular season is over, but the Colts are holding out hope Gardner will return in Week 17 or 18.
Commanders Sign QB Jeff Driskel Off Cardinals’ Practice Squad
As they prepare to play on a short week, the Commanders are adding depth under center. Jeff Driskel is being signed off the Cardinals’ practice squad, per veteran reporter Ben Standig. The move is now official. 
Driskel was Washington’s third-string passer in 2024, so he represents a familiar face. With the team known to be seeking out depth at the QB spot, today’s move comes as little surprise. Marcus Mariota is dealing with a hand injury, and the Driskel addition suggests he will not be able to suit up for Week 17.
Dan Quinn said it remains unclear at this point if Mariota will be able to play on Christmas against the Cowboys. He added (via JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington) that Josh Johnson will receive the majority of first-team reps during practice. The 39-year-old took over for Mariota against the Eagles in Week 16, completing five of nine pass attempts and throwing one interception. Second-year Commanders QB Sam Hartman resides as another option, with the same now being true of Driskell.
A former sixth-round pick, Driskell has made a total of 25 appearances and 12 starts in the NFL. The 32-year-old logged just one snap during the regular season with the Commanders last year, but depending on how things play out his workload with the team could soon change. With Driskell departing Arizona, a Cardinals team which is already without Kyler Murray for the remainder of the season will be thin at the QB spot barring a move of its own.
In a corresponding transaction, the Commanders have placed guard Sam Cosmi on injured reserve. The fifth-year blocker suffered a concussion against the Eagles, and this move ensures he will not return in 2025. Cosmi has been limited to just nine games this season as he recovered from an ACL tear. That resulted in an absence until mid-October, but not long after returning to action his attention will now turn to 2026.
NFL Suspends Seahawks OLB Derick Hall For One Game
DECEMBER 22: Following Hall’s appeal, the one-game suspension has been upheld, per a league announcement. That confirms he will be unavailable for Week 17 as the Seahawks look to maintain their lead in the NFC West and continue competing for the top seed in the conference.
DECEMBER 19: The NFL suspended Seahawks outside linebacker Derick Hall for “an act of unnecessary roughness and unsportsmanlike conduct” during Thursday night’s game against the Rams, per a league announcement.
Hall is planning to appeal, according to ESPN’s Brady Henderson. If the suspension is upheld, the 2023 second-round pick would miss the Seahawks’ Week 17 matchup with the Panthers on December 28. He would also forfeit just under $88k in salary, per OverTheCap.
The suspension notice specifically referenced a first-quarter play after which Hall appeared to intentionally step on the leg of Rams guard Kevin Dotson. Dotson went down after a teammate crashed into him from behind and Hall stepped on his left leg after the play ended. No flag was thrown; though another Ram saw Hall and gave him a shove, the game’s attention was still on Dotson, who had to be carted off with a left ankle injury and did not return. The veteran offensive lineman was in a boot and on crutches after the game, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
Dotson’s injury appeared to happen before Hall’s post-play aggression, though him unnecessarily stepping on his leg have made it worse. Regardless, the incident clearly drew a swift response from the league office.
The 24-year-old has appeared in 13 of Seattle’s 15 games with a 46% snap share when active. After breaking out with eight sacks and six tackles for loss in 2024, Hall has just one sack and two tackles for loss this year. However, he is posting career-highs in pass rush win rate (16.1%) and pressure rate (14.8%), both of which lead the Seahawks defense, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
The Seahawks have a number of ways to deal with a one-game absence from Hall. Rookie outside linebackers Jared Ivey and Connor O’Toole could see some more playing time in Week 17. Head coach Mike Macdonald has also been creative with his deployment of rookie safety Nick Emmanwori and could ask the first-round pick to take on some more work off the edge.
Commanders To Explore QB Addition
With Jayden Daniels out of the lineup, Marcus Mariota handled starting duties for the Commanders on Saturday. He was unable to finish the game, however, meaning a short-term QB addition could be coming. 
Mariota cleared concussion protocol upon exiting Washington’s Week 16 loss to Philadelphia. The veteran also suffered a laceration on his throwing hand, however. That puts Mariota’s availability for the final two weeks of the season in question. To little surprise, then, head coach Dan Quinn said (via JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington) the team will look into a quarterback addition.
Daniels has been shut down for the remainder of the year, and Quinn confirmed he will not play regardless of the Commanders’ situation under center. As a result, attention will turn to Mariota’s ability to heal in time for Week 17. Washington will host Dallas on Christmas Day in a game featuring two teams already eliminated from playoff contention.
Josh Johnson took over QB duties once Mariota went down. The 39-year-old has thus made 48 regular season appearances in the NFL as part of his incredibly nomadic football career. That figure could increase depending on how the next few days play out.
Mariota, 32, remained in the nation’s capital this past offseason by signing another one-year pact. He is a pending free agent as a result, so his availability for the closing stages of the campaign will be key in determining his value. It remains to be seen if Mariota will be able to add further to his list of 2025 appearances with Daniels staying on the sidelines. Johnson could make his 10th career start, but in that case Washington will look to bring in depth for the end of the season.
Ravens QB Lamar Jackson Suffers Back Injury
The Ravens’ playoff hopes were dealt a massive blow on Sunday. The team’s loss – along with a win by the Steelers – leaves Baltimore in a must-win situation for Week 17. 
It is unclear if the team’s starting quarterback will be available for that game, however. Lamar Jackson exited yesterday’s contest late in the second quarter due to a back injury and he did not return. Head coach John Harbaugh described the ailment as “a bruise of some kind.” He added (via ESPN’s Jamison Hensley) it is unclear at this point if Jackson will miss Baltimore’s next game.
The two-time MVP made it clear when speaking to the media that his goal is to suit up against Green Bay on Saturday. Jackson said (via Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic) he is set to undergo a CT scan today. The results of further testing will go a long way in determining whether or not another missed contest will be in store in this case. Jackson missed three full games earlier in the season, one which has been marred by several injuries.
Since returning to the lineup upon recovering from a hamstring ailment, Jackson has dealt with knee, ankle and toe injuries over an extended period. The 28-year-old has sat out practice time every week since he came back into the fold, an indication of his health status even before last night’s latest injury. Jackson’s situation over the coming days will be worth monitoring closely.
Of course, the same is also true of Packers starter Jordan Love. A concussion knocked him out of Green Bay’s Week 16 loss, and Love remains in the protocol at this time. As a result, there is a possibility the upcoming matchup between the teams will feature backups Malik Willis and Tyler Huntley under center.
Huntley led the Ravens to a win earlier this season, and he came close to doing so again yesterday. Nevertheless, the Ravens’ preference would obviously be to have Jackson available on Saturday. A win against Green Bay followed by a Steelers loss the following day will be necessary for Baltimore to remain in playoff contention in Week 18. Whether or not the team’s starting QB will suit up remains to be seen.
Joe Burrow Comments Aimed At Applying Pressure On Bengals?
The Bengals are not expected to fire Zac Taylor or de facto GM Duke Tobin. A second Taylor extension (in 2023) is believed to have taken place, moving his contract through the 2027 season. That offers the former Super Bowl coach some protection, as does the Bengals’ conservative way of doing business. But the team may have a Joe Burrow problem on its hands.
Cincinnati is set to miss the playoffs for the third straight season. That occurring in Burrow’s prime is an indictment of the team’s roster, though Burrow injuries in 2023 and ’25 have contributed heavily to the team’s struggles since the 2022 AFC championship game. Still, the 2024 season showed the burden Burrow has needed to carry. With defensive improvement not exactly coming this season, the Bengals did not reenter the AFC North race when their superstar quarterback came off IR last month.
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The sixth-year quarterback’s comments about his happiness (or lack thereof) playing football drew leaguewide attention, and while Burrow stopped short of saying he expected to be elsewhere in 2026, he did not do the same regarding a post-Cincinnati career chapter when asked that specific question. In Burrow’s mind, the Bengals have to “play perfect” to win, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport offers, noting the passer’s comments this week look to be aimed at applying some pressure on the organization.
Burrow went to this well last year, launching a campaign for the team to keep Tee Higgins despite previous rumors pointing the high-end No. 2 wide receiver out of town. Burrow also campaigned for Trey Hendrickson to be paid, but the All-Pro defensive end — after an injury-marred season — is likely to walk in free agency.
Powerful players applying pressure on teams is not new, of course. Cavaliers and Lakers fans have seen LeBron James operate this way over the past decade, but Burrow does not have a contract set to expire now or in the near future to use as leverage. He signed a five-year, $275MM Bengals extension that runs through the 2029 season. Cincinnati can hold this over its franchise centerpiece, though the team does have a history with a player effectively forcing his way out despite being contracted long term.
Carson Palmer chose the nuclear option in 2011, staging a quasi-retirement as a way to have the Bengals trade him. An eight-year Bengal, Palmer became frustrated with the franchise’s thriftiness and eventually got his way when the Raiders — who lost then-starter Jason Campbell to injury before the 2011 trade deadline — gave up first- and second-round picks for the disgruntled QB. Palmer did not pan out with the Raiders, finding his form later with the Cardinals, but the Bengals landed starters Dre Kirkpatrick and Giovani Bernard with the picks while Andy Dalton performed well enough for several seasons. This reality playing out again, however, would be damning for the franchise; that would stand to make Burrow’s tactics worth monitoring closely.
The Bengals are known to play hardball with irritated players, as trade requests — like those from Higgins and Jonah Williams, to name two recent examples — are routinely batted down. Cincinnati brass can also point to listening to Burrow on Higgins, who joined Ja’Marr Chase in signing a lucrative extension this past offseason, and being active in free agency — far more so compared to their spending during Palmer and Dalton’s tenures — with Burrow in town.
Burrow, 29, can also point to shortcomings. The Bengals saw the 2020 No. 1 pick put up MVP-caliber numbers last season, returning from a major wrist injury, only to see the team go 9-8 and miss the playoffs. Taylor’s teams, this season’s 2-0 start notwithstanding, also started 0-2 in 2022, ’23 and ’24 with Burrow at the helm. Cincy has not fielded an above-average defense since 2022, with Al Golden not turning that unit around post-Lou Anarumo this year, and its offensive lines have not been confused with upper-crust units during Burrow’s career.
Burrow disillusionment comes as Josh Allen is set to lead the Bills to their seventh straight playoff field. Lamar Jackson may reach his seventh career postseason as well. Patrick Mahomes played in seven straight AFC championship games before the Chiefs’ disappointing 2025 season. Meanwhile, the Broncos and Patriots have rebuilt their operations behind younger quarterbacks. Those teams join the Chargers as status quo challengers to have emerged during the Bengals’ downturn.
How Burrow proceeds will be a defining 2026 offseason storyline, as numerous clubs would line up monster offers if he seriously pursued a Palmer-like path. We are still a ways away from that, it appears, but Burrow putting pressure on the Bengals does represent another stage in this relationship; the extension years have not gone well. A franchise not known to cave on player demands did appear to do so after Burrow pushed for Higgins to stay; will there be more specific Burrow passion projects in this coming offseason?