Jets Fire DC Steve Wilks
In the wake of another poor outing on defense, the Jets have made a late-season change on the sidelines. Head coach Aaron Glenn announced on Monday that defensive coordinator Steve Wilks has been fired. 
“I thought it was time to make a change,” Glenn said when speaking to the media to address the move (video link). “I’m going to make the decision that’s best for this organization at all times.”
Pass-game coordinator Chris Harris will handle DC duties for the remainder of the year. Glenn added (via ESPN’s Rich Cimini) Harris will also call plays for the unit. The Jets have been eliminated from playoff contention, but as they spend their final three games attempting to bring about needed improvements on defense Wilks will not play a role.
As part of the Jets’ sweeping changes on the sidelines and in the front office this past offseason, Glenn (a rookie head coach) hired a veteran in the form of Wilks to lead the defense. Things have not gone according to plan on that side of the ball, however. New York sits 30th in the NFL in points allowed, and the last two weeks in particular have seen the team regress defensively. The Jets have yet to record an interception through 15 games.
Of course, the trade deadline saw major subtractions made on defense in the team’s case. Cornerback Sauce Gardner and defensive tackle Quinnen Williams were dealt to the Colts and Cowboys, respectively. New York landed a notable haul in the case of both swaps, but expectations were tempered for the second half of the season. Nevertheless, the early portion of the campaign also included subpar performances on defense.
As the Jets plan for the 2026 offseason, today’s news confirms Wilks will not be in the organization for next year. The veteran staffer’s NFL tenure dates back to 2005 and it includes three stints as a DC. Wilks, 56, was also the Cardinals’ head coach in 2018 and he took over the Panthers in 2022 following Matt Rhule‘s dismissal.
Carolina did not retain Wilks on a full-time basis, and he spent the 2023 campaign leading the 49ers’ defense. San Francisco reached the Super Bowl that year, but reported tension with head coach Kyle Shanahan underscored Wilks’ time there. Upon being fired, the latter spent 2024 out of coaching. Wilks received another coordinator opportunity in the form of this Jets gig, but it has now ended after less than one season.
Harris will now receive a brief audition period in a coordinator role for the first time in his career. As Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated notes, Harris’ coaching stock has surged in recent years. It will be interesting to see how he fares in an elevated role down the stretch. Glenn added to no surprise he will assist in defensive game-planning while Harris becomes a play-caller for the first time.
The 3-11 Jets will finish the year with games against the Saints, Patriots and Jets. The team will look for a rebound on defense during that stretch. Meanwhile, Wilks – who remains one of the plaintiffs in Brian Flores‘ lawsuit against the NFL and multiple teams – will once again find himself on the lookout for a new opportunity during the 2026 hiring cycle.
Franchise Tag Candidate: Kyle Pitts
The Falcons have only used the franchise tag three times since the NFL introduced it in 1993. With tight end Kyle Pitts a pending free agent, he could become the fourth Falcon to receive the tag during the upcoming offseason. Pitts’ late-season surge has turned it into a possibility, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com says.
Pitts entered the league with great fanfare as the fourth overall pick of the 2021 draft. The former Florida Gator became the highest-drafted tight end in league history, an honor he continues to hold. Although Pitts only caught one touchdown as a rookie, he hauled in 68 receptions for 1,026 yards. That was enough for the 6-foot-6, 250-pounder to earn a Pro Bowl nod, but he was unable to build on that during his next three seasons.
Hamstring and knee injuries limited to Pitts to 10 games and 28 catches in his second year. Pitts bounced back to notch consecutive 17-game seasons from 2023-24, though his numbers were more decent than great. He averaged 50 catches, 635 yards, and approximately four touchdowns per year during that span.
The Falcons picked up Pitts’ fifth-year option after 2023, but they weren’t willing to commit to an extension entering this season. That left Pitts to play out 2025 for $10.88MM, a price tag he has justified.
With 73 catches through 14 games, Pitts has already posted a career high. He has also tied a personal best with four scores. Having amassed 797 yards with three games left, Pitts has a chance to reach 1,000 for the second time.
Thanks largely to a scintillating stretch over the past few weeks, Pitts ranks second among tight ends in yards and third in catches. The 25-year-old has piled up 24 catches and 338 yards in his past three games. He was at his best in a Week 15 upset over the Buccaneers, whom he torched for 11 receptions, 166 yards, and three touchdowns.
Pitts’ late-season dominance is what Terry Fontenot expected when he used his first draft pick as a general manager on the pass catcher. It hasn’t worked out as hoped for the Falcons, who haven’t made the playoffs since 2018. Fontenot, in charge for a half-decade, isn’t a sure bet to return in 2026 as a result.
Whether it’s Fontenot or a different GM running the show, that individual will have to decide whether to tag Pitts for approximately $15.88MM. David Mulugheta, Pitts’ agent, “hates the franchise tag,” according to Rapoport. He’d surely prefer a long-term pact. However, the Falcons may have higher priorities in running back Bijan Robinson and wide receiver Drake London. The team could lock up either or both of them on mega-deals during the upcoming offseason.
A sub-$16MM cost for one year of Pitts doesn’t look unreasonable, but the Falcons are projected to have just under $1MM in spending space in 2026, per Over the Cap. They could tag Pitts and then try to find a taker in a trade. Otherwise, they’ll need to clear more room to keep Pitts and meaningfully address other areas of their roster, potentially including quarterback.
While Pitts and backup QB Kirk Cousins have formed an excellent rapport lately, that wasn’t the case when the latter started over a larger sample in 2024. Cousins, who has taken over since Michael Penix Jr. suffered a partially torn ACL in Week 11, is a clear release candidate heading into the offseason.
Cutting Cousins would open up a sizable chuck of cap for Atlanta. It would also lead to more uncertainty under center for the Falcons, who may not have Penix at the beginning of next season. Cousins and Penix are part of an unspectacular group of starting QBs who have worked with Pitts during his time in Atlanta. Matt Ryan (at the twilight of his career), Marcus Mariota, and Desmond Ridder are the others. Not pairing up with a high-level passer has likely held Pitts back to some degree. Nevertheless, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Falcons place the franchise tag on him in a couple of months.
If the Falcons don’t tag or re-sign Pitts, he could wind up as the most appealing tight end on the open market. Travis Kelce, Dallas Goedert, David Njoku, and Zach Ertz are also scheduled to reach free agency. Pitts is by far the youngest member of the group. Kelce, who’s likely in Kansas City-or-retirement mode, Goedert, and Ertz are all on the wrong side of 30. Njoku will turn 30 in July, and Ertz will enter 2026 off a recent ACL tear. That’s assuming the 35-year-old continues his career next season.
Colts To Start QB Philip Rivers In Week 16; Latest On Anthony Richardson
Philip Rivers and the Colts nearly managed an upset win yesterday. The recently unretired passer will receive at least one more look atop the depth chart. 
To little surprise, head coach Shane Steichen confirmed on Monday that Rivers will start in Week 16 against the 49ers. The 44-year-old returned to the NFL five years after his retirement to fill in for Daniel Jones. With Jones recovering from a torn Achilles and rookie Riley Leonard dealing with a PCL sprain, Rivers could finish the year in the QB1 spot. Anthony Richardson could be nearing a return, however.
At the time Rivers signed with the Colts, Richardson had yet to be cleared for football activities. That has now changed, though, as Mike Chappell of Fox59 reports. The former No. 4 pick has been on injured reserve since suffering an orbital bone fracture during warmups in October. The latest update on this situation indicated it was still unclear whether or not a return to action would take place by the end of the season.
On that note, Steichen said (via Joel A Erickson of the Indy Star) it is yet to be determined if Richardson’s practice window will open this week. In the event that were to take place, his 21-day activation period would begin. A return to the fold in Richardson’s case would at least provide Indianapolis with a depth option under center. It could also allow the Florida product – whose future is very much in doubt – to provide a slight boost to his value late in the campaign.
For now, the Colts’ focus will be aimed at preparing Rivers for another start. Taking the reins one week after being contacted by Steichen and Co., he completed 18 of 27 pass attempts for 120 yards against the Seahawks. Indianapolis connected on a go-ahead field goal late in the fourth quarter, but Seattle managed to match it moments later. Rivers then threw an interception on the Colts’ final possession, ending the team’s chances of winning.
Indianapolis now sits at 8-6 as a result. With the Jaguars and Texans both winning yesterday, top spot in the AFC South is increasingly getting out of reach. The Chargers and Bills also won in Week 15, meaning a wild-card berth will challenging to attain as well. In any case, Rivers will look to build off his performance from yesterday as the Colts contemplate their options under center.
Updated 2026 NFL Draft Order
Sunday’s action provided more clarity on a number of fronts relating to the playoff pushes in each conference. The list of teams still in contention for the top pick in the 2026 draft remains long, however.
Week 15 saw the Broncos and Rams clinch a postseason berth. Meanwhile, the Chiefs, Bengals and Vikings have each officially been eliminated from the playoffs. They will join the group of teams turning their attention to offseason planning. That of course includes extensive evaluation of the top prospects in this year’s class; several have already turned pro (with some exceptions).
Sunday’s results mean there are nine teams with two, three or four wins. Each of them remain candidates to secure the No. 1 selection, although victories by the Saints and Commanders yesterday will greatly hinder their chances of moving to the top of the order. Jockeying amongst teams like the Raiders, Jets and Cardinals (each on track to pursue a new quarterback this spring) will be a storyline worth following closely down the stretch.
For non-playoff teams, the draft order is determined by the inverted 2025 standings plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule. Playoff squads are slotted by their postseason outcome and the reverse order of their regular season record.
Here is an updated look at the first-round order:
- New York Giants (2-12)
- Las Vegas Raiders (2-12)
- Tennessee Titans (2-12)
- Cleveland Browns (3-11)
- New York Jets (3-11)
- Arizona Cardinals (3-11)
- New Orleans Saints (4-10)
- Washington Commanders (4-10)
- Cincinnati Bengals (4-10)
- Los Angeles Rams (via Falcons)
- Miami Dolphins (6-8)
- Kansas City Chiefs (6-8)
- Minnesota Vikings (6-8)
- Dallas Cowboys (6-7-1)
- Baltimore Ravens (7-7)
- Carolina Panthers (7-7)
- Detroit Lions (8-6)
- New York Jets (via Colts)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6)
- Philadelphia Eagles (9-5)
- Houston Texans (9-5)
- Dallas Cowboys (via Packers)
- Buffalo Bills (10-4)
- Chicago Bears (10-4)
- Los Angeles Chargers (10-4)
- San Francisco 49ers (10-4)
- Cleveland Browns (via Jaguars)
- New England Patriots (11-3)
- Seattle Seahawks (11-3)
- Los Angeles Rams (11-3)
- Denver Broncos (12-2)
Russell Wilson Expected To Play In 2026
Giants quarterback Russell Wilson is set to become a free agent in March. It appears the 37-year-old will look for another contract then. Wilson “still seems like a quarterback intent on playing more,” Jordan Raanan of ESPN writes.
A high-end starter with the Seahawks for most of his time in Seattle from 2012-21, Wilson has gone on a nomadic and far less successful run over the past few years. The 10-time Pro Bowler spent two seasons with the Broncos and one with the Steelers before signing a one-year, $10.5MM contract with the Giants last March. Nine months later, it’s fair to say his Giants stint will go down as a second straight one-off.
The Wilson addition was part of a major offseason shakeup at quarterback for New York. Along with signing Wilson, the team inked fellow veteran Jameis Winston to a two-year, $8MM pact. The Wilson and Winston pickups came roughly a month before the Giants traded up to select Jaxson Dart 25th overall in the draft.
With the goal of easing Dart into action, the Giants named Wilson their starter to open the season. However, it didn’t take long for Dart to wrest the job away from Wilson.
After the Giants stumbled to an 0-3 mark under Wilson, now-former head coach Brian Daboll made the switch to Dart ahead of Week 4. Dart has missed two games with a concussion since then, but Winston started over Wilson in those contests. With Dart healthy again, interim head coach Mike Kafka has designated Wilson as the Giants’ emergency No. 3 QB in back-to-back games. In six appearances this season, Wilson has completed 58% of passes with 7.0 yards per attempt, three touchdowns, and three interceptions.
Regardless of who assumes the reins as their head coach in 2026, the Giants are poised to continue with Dart and Winston as their top two QBs. That will leave Wilson to seek employment elsewhere, though he’ll do so with his stock at a low point. With that in mind, starting offers may be difficult to come by for the former Super Bowl champion and potential Hall of Famer.
Rams WR Davante Adams In Danger Of Missing Week 16
DECEMBER 15: At least a one-game absence is likely in store for Adams. He’s considered week-to-week after aggravating his previous hamstring injury, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
DECEMBER 14: Early on in the season, Rams wide receiver Davante Adams sustained a mild hamstring strain. While the injury put him on the practice injury report, he didn’t miss any time because of it. In today’s big win over the Lions, though, Adams seemed to aggravate the injury into a higher severity. 
For what it’s worth, per Sarah Barshop of ESPN, Adams is “optimistic” about the injury. He played through it in the early weeks of the season, and though it’s resurfaced over the last few weeks, limiting him in practice, Adams has been able to tough it out and play his way through it. Trainers do sometimes have to call out injuries players refuse to respect and pay heed to, but Adams know his body better than anybody else.
That being said, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, head coach Sean McVay told reporters that Adams’ hamstring injury “didn’t look good,” communicating that the veteran wideout’s status could be in doubt for Week 16. The Rams play on a short week of rest next week with a Thursday night road trip to Seattle next on the docket. Hamstring injuries don’t typically subside quickly after aggravation, so McVay’s concern is well warranted.
So far this season, Adams has been one half of a two-headed monster in the Rams passing game across from Puka Nacua. Coming into the week, both players boasted triple-digit targets while the next most-targeted player was running back Kyren Williams with 35. After taking out Williams and tight ends, second-year receivers Jordan Whittington (23) and Xavier Smith (14) and rookie seventh-rounder Konata Mumpfield (8) made up the rest of the receivers target share entering the week. The team did return Tutu Atwell from injured reserve this weekend, and he may stand a better chance a dipping into the target share.
Ultimately, per ESPN’s Lindsey Thiry, McVay concluded vaguely, “We will see what’s going on with Davante.” An optimistic Adams and skeptical McVay will navigate the short week ahead of them before making any official decisions for Thursday.
Eagles OT Lane Johnson Expected To Return To Practice This Week
The Eagles are set to get some major reinforcement on their offensive line. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, offensive tackle Lane Johnson is expected to return to practice this week.
[RELATED: Eagles Won’t Place RT Lane Johnson On IR With Lisfranc Sprain]
Johnson has been sidelined for the past month with a Lisfranc sprain. The veteran ended up avoiding surgery on his foot, and as a result, the Eagles opted against placing him on injured reserve. Johnson has missed the team’s past four games, so perhaps the organization was a bit too optimistic about the recovery timeline. Either way, the lineman should be back in the lineup sooner than later, with Rapoport noting that Johnson is eyeing a return in either Week 16 or Week 17.
A former fourth-overall pick, Johnson has emerged as one of the league’s premier right tackles during his decade-plus in Philadelphia. The veteran has earned four-straight All-Pro nods, but it remains to be seen if his injury will prevent him from keeping that streak going. For what it’s worth, Pro Football Focus currently has Johnson ranked 19th among 82 qualifying offensive tackles; he ranked no lower than 13th during his active All-Pro stretch.
The Eagles have turned to Fred Johnson during his teammate’s absence, with the veteran backup not missing an offensive snap over the past four games. Pro Football Focus has never been particularly fond of the fill-in’s ability, although they have been relatively bullish on his pass-rush skills in 2025. Johnson’s run-block grade, meanwhile, ranks among the bottom-20 at the position.
The Eagles will be especially happy to insert Johnson back into the starting lineup. When the lineman went down with his injury, the Eagles were 8-2. Since then, the team has gone 1-3, with the lone victory coming against the lowly Raiders this past weekend. While Philly still seems like a lock to secure the NFC East, Johnson could help the offense find their footing before the postseason begins.
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes Suffers Torn ACL
TODAY: The Chiefs announced that Mahomes underwent successful surgery in Dallas this evening, with the team adding that the quarterback will begin his rehab process immediately.
Meanwhile, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that Mahomes also tore his LCL yesterday. While that could potentially complicate his recovery, Rapoport says it won’t necessarily extend Mahomes’ nine-month timeline.
DECEMBER 14: It looked bad when it occurred, but definitive news wasn’t expected quite this soon. The Chiefs have officially announced that star quarterback Patrick Mahomes has suffered a torn ACL in his left knee. His season has come to an end as the team explores surgical options. 
This is unprecedented territory the 30-year-old quarterback. Mahomes has damn near been an ironman since entering the NFL. He has only ever missed two games with injury. After only appearing in one game of his rookie season behind starter Alex Smith, Mahomes’ next absences occurred over a two-week stretch in 2019, when he dislocated his patella. After that, the only games Mahomes missed were the final regular season contests in 2020, 2023, and 2024 as he rested for the playoffs in each campaign.
The injury occurred today as Mahomes was rolling out right for a pass and, after releasing it, was tripped up by Chargers defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand. The two-time MVP immediately grabbed at his knee and did not return to the game. After the loss, head coach Andy Reid told reporters what he knew, that Mahomes had “injured his left knee and will get an MRI either tonight or tomorrow morning,” per ESPN’s Jeff Darlington. Asked about the degree of severity, Reid told the media, “I don’t know. It didn’t look good.”
About 90 minutes later, Mahomes himself took to X with a message. He told fans that he didn’t “know why this had to happen” and that “it hurts.” He ended his message with an ominous promise, saying, “I will be back stronger than ever,” insinuating that an absence was to come. About half an hour later, the team account delivered the results of the MRI that did, in fact, take place tonight.
Following Mahomes’ early exit, backup quarterback Gardner Minshew entered only his third game this season and did so, for the first time, not in garbage time. In fact, Kansas City was trailing when Mahomes exited, and Minshew failed to bring the team back. The Chiefs would go on to lose their third game in a row, and adding insult to injury, the team was officially eliminated from playoff contention, as a result. This is the first time Kansas City will not participate in the postseason since 2014, three years before Mahomes was drafted.
With nothing left to play for, Minshew will likely take Kansas City the rest of the way. Practice squad passer Chris Oladokun stands a strong chance at taking Mahomes’ spot on the 53-man roster as Minshew’s backup. Mahomes, though, will continue exploring surgical options with the team as they begin the long road back to what they hope will be a return in 2026.
The Chiefs have been able to count on Mahomes’ durability since his stratospheric 2018 debut, gliding to seven straight AFC championship games since the 2017 first-rounder debuted as the starter. Matt Moore was in place as his backup during the 2019 season — one that ended the franchise’s then-50-year Super Bowl drought. Moore was brought in for the ’19 season due to a Chad Henne injury, but Henne became needed when Mahomes suffered a concussion in the 2020 divisional round. Mahomes then played the 2022 playoffs with a high ankle sprain, needing to leave a divisional-round game for a short period in the first half. The future Hall of Fame QB also suffered an ankle injury late last season but did not miss any time.
Kansas City has toggled through backups since Henne’s February 2023 retirement, moving from Blaine Gabbert to Carson Wentz to Minshew. Dropped after one season as the Raiders’ primary starter, Minshew signed with the Chiefs on a one-year, $1.17MM deal. The Raiders are still footing some of the bill after giving him a two-year, $25MM contract in 2024. Minshew will have a three-game audition, as a potential 2026 raise — from the Chiefs or another team — will be in play.
As for the Chiefs, they were trending toward missing the playoffs with Mahomes. That represents a shocking development based on their finishes with the Missouri icon at the controls. Entering the season seventh in scoring defense, the team did not have issues comparable to the 2024 Bengals or the Saints during their absences amid Drew Brees‘ prime. While the Chiefs held the Chargers to 16 points, a Mahomes INT denied a potential go-ahead fourth-quarter drive. His injury occurred soon after, signaling a voyage into uncharted waters for Kansas City.
Kansas City’s defense did not quite meet its level of recent seasons, though, cutting into a bounce-back Mahomes slate. The ninth-year passer ends his season fifth in QBR, closing the campaign with 22 touchdown passes, 11 interceptions and 3,587 passing yards.
Mahomes’ MRI will help shape his timetable. More damage being discovered potentially would put the PUP list in play to open the 2026 season. The Chiefs will obviously hope for a Week 1 return; their 2026 backup search will be more important regardless of when Mahomes is expected back, however.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.
Jaguars RB Bhayshul Tuten To Undergo Surgery On Injured Finger
Bhayshul Tuten is set to go under the knife, but the surgery isn’t expected to end his rookie season prematurely. According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the Jaguars running back will undergo surgery to repair a finger injury that he suffered during yesterday’s win over the Jets.
It’s uncertain when the rookie suffered his injury, but he didn’t return to the game after returning a kickoff for 26 yards in the third quarter. While surgery is apparently necessary, it isn’t expected to end Tuten’s season. Per Garafolo, the running back will likely miss a few weeks but should be back in time for the playoffs.
The Jaguars used a fourth-round pick on the Virginia Tech product in this past year’s draft, and it didn’t take long for him to carve out a modest role on Jacksonville’s offense. Travis Etienne‘s bounceback season has prevented the rookie from garnering significant reps, but Tuten has still managed to collect 363 yards and six touchdowns on 88 touches. He’s also tied for the team lead with 19 kick returns, which he’s returned for a team-leading 539 yards.
Tuten was garnering around 20 snaps per game starting around mid-October. However, he was limited to a season-low three offensive snaps in Week 14 after fumbling twice (losing one). That’s opened the door for LeQuint Allen to see a bit more playing time on offense, although the rookie seventh-round pick has been limited to a combined seven touches over the past two weeks.
Still, with Tuten injured and Tank Bigsby having been dealt earlier this season, the Jaguars may have to rely on Allen a bit more down the stretch. The team could also take a look at practice squad RB Ja’Quinden Jackson.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/15/25
Just one practice squad move to pass along:
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: DL C.J. Brewer
- Released: WR Brandon Johnson
Brandon Johnson has seen time in 23 career games. He had his best showing with the Broncos in 2023, when he hauled in 19 catches for 284 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games. He’ll be replaced on Tampa Bay’s practice squad by C.J. Brewer, who’s collected 2.5 sacks with the Buccaneers across the past two seasons.