HEADLINES

Texans QB C.J. Stroud, S Jalen Pitre To Return In Week 13

November 28th, 2025 at 1:59pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans announced on Friday (via Jonathan Alexander of the Houston Chronicle) that quarterback C.J. Stroud and safety Jalen Pitre cleared concussion protocol and will return from their multi-game absences in Week 13 against the Colts.

Stroud suffered a concussion in Week 9 and missed two games before returning to practice in Week 12. He only participated on Tuesday, and Houston’s short week before a Thursday night matchup with the Bills kept him sidelined for another game. Stroud was a full participant for all three of the Texans’ practice this week and will start on Sunday, likely without an injury designation.

Pitre has been in a similar situation to Stroud. His concussion also happened in Week 9, though it was not spotted during the game. He also returned to practice in a limited capacity last week, but was absent on Friday. He was upgraded to full participation on Wednesday, and now that he is no longer in concussion protocol, he may not have an injury designation for Sunday’s game, either.

Backup quarterback Davis Mills struggled in relief of Stroud in Week 9, resulting in an 18-15 loss to the Broncos. But in their three full games without Stroud or Pitre, Houston has gone 3-0. As a starter, Mills averaged 240 yards per game with five touchdowns, one interception, and a 88.25 passer rating. Those numbers are comparable to Stroud’s performance over the last two years, which is significantly below the standard he set as a rookie.

Pitre’s replacement, Myles Bryant, has also held up in the last three games. He has capably filled Pitre’s versatile role with 42 snaps in the slot, 31 as a free safety, and 82 at nickel, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). He has made 14 total tackles and missed only two, and though he has allowed catches on nine of his 12 targets, he has limited those receptions to just 45 yards. Like Mills, those are comparable numbers, if not better numbers, relative to the Texans’ usual starter. Pitre has 45 tackles this season, an average of 5.6 per game, with a 16.7% missed tackle rate. He has also allowed 7.7 yards per target. Bryant has averaged 4.6 tackles in the last three weeks with a 12.5% missed tackle rate to go along with only 3.75 yards per target.

Pitre will return to his starting role in Week 13, but Bryant may have earned himself a role in some dime packages. Mills, however, will be on the bench for the rest of the season with the Texans hoping Stroud can bounce-back from a quiet first half and make a late-season playoff push. Houston is currently 6-5 – meaning that Mills and Bryant helped keep their postseason hopes alive – but they trail the Colts and the Jaguars in the AFC South. Their best path to the playoffs is likely a wild card berth, but that may be difficult with the Bills, Ravens, Steelers, Chargers, and Chiefs also angling for those three spots.

Stroud’s return will come against a Colts defense that has allowed 245.5 passing yards per game this season, the fifth-most in the league. However, their 7.2 yards per attempt allowed and 33 sacks rank 10th and sixth, respectively. In the last two weeks, Indianapolis has only given up 377 passing yards, which coincides with the addition of Sauce Gardner and the return of Charvarius Ward from injured reserve. It’s also worth noting that the Colts have faced the second-most passing attempts in the NFL as a result of consistently leading games. Therefore, there is some reason to believe that the Colts’ pass defense has not struggled as much as it seems and may not be as porous for the rest of the year.

Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers To Return In Week 13

November 28th, 2025 at 12:47pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin announced (via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor) that quarterback Aaron Rodgers will return from a one-game absence and start on Sunday against the Bills.

“Full participant today, no injury designation Sunday. All systems go,” Tomlin said.

Rodgers went down in the Steelers’ Week 11 win over the Bengals with a fracture in his left (non-throwing) wrist. He was hoping to suit up in Week 12, but ultimately sat out to avoid further damage to his wrist. Mason Rudolph got the start instead and could not get the win over the Bears. A strong Pittsburgh running game racked up 186 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, but Rudolph only passed for 171 yards despite completing 24 of his 31 passes. To be fair to Rudolph, the Steelers defense allowed 31 points, but they also produced a score of their own, so the offense was only responsible for 21 of the team’s 28 points.

The Steelers will hope that Rodgers’ return will help them against the Bills’ top-ranked pass defense. Buffalo has allowed just 168.2 passing yards per game this year, the lowest in the league, though they have struggled against the run. Between Rodgers’ injury and a Steelers offense that has been stronger on the ground, they may lean on their rushing attack on Sunday.

A win on Sunday would put Pittsburgh one game ahead of Baltimore in the AFC North after the Ravens’ loss to the Bengals on Thursday night. But a more severe injury to Rodgers’ wrist could put the rest of their season in jeopardy. The Bills have a 25.1% pressure rate, a 10.6% knockdown rate, and a 7.9% sack rate, all top 10 marks in the league, while the Steelers’ 21 sacks allowed are the ninth-fewest in the league. Their offensive line will need to continue their success on Sunday afternoon to keep Rodgers safe.

George Pickens Expected To Seek Long-Term Deal; Cowboys Likely To Use Franchise Tag?

November 28th, 2025 at 12:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

George Pickens‘ first season with the Cowboys has exceeded expectations. His first trip to free agency will be something to watch closely as a result, in the event he manages to reach the open market.

After another productive game yesterday, Pickens sits second in the NFL in receiving yards (1,142), third in touchdowns (eight) and seventh in catches (73). A strong desire exists on the part of the Cowboys to keep the 24-year-old in the fold, but doing so will of course require a major financial investment. Pairing Pickens with fellow wideout CeeDee Lamb is something owner Jerry Jones remains open to.

During an appearance on 105.3 The Fan, Jones said (via ESPN’s Todd Archer), “at this time we’ve got two No. 1 receivers and that’s just exceptional right at the time when – guess what – our quarterback is probably the best he’s ever been and there’s more there.”

Indeed, Dak Prescott has enjoyed a highly productive campaign in 2025. He and Lamb are attached to big-ticket contracts, leading many to wonder if fitting a Pickens one into the Cowboys’ financial plans will be feasible. To no surprise, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano write Pickens will be seeking a long-term pact this spring. No talks on a Cowboys extension have taken place, but it is clear at this point any multi-year commitment will move the former second-rounder near the top of the WR market in terms of compensation.

The alternative to a long-term Pickens contract would be the franchise tag. The ESPN duo as well as NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport note (video link) the tag is a distinct possibility in this case. Using the one-year tender on Pickens would set him up for roughly $28MM in 2026 compensation. It would also prevent the Georgia product from being able to gauge interest from free agent suitors.

Jones and the Cowboys have not been shy about using the franchise tag over the years, so it would come as little surprise if that were to be the outcome in Pickens’ case. Dallas has won three straight games to move to 6-5-1 on the year. If the Cowboys manage to reach the playoffs, a strong finish from Pickens and the offense will no doubt prove to be a major factor.

That could help his case for a monster contract from the Cowboys or another team. For now, though, the franchise tag looms as an option to at least ensure Pickens will spend two seasons in Dallas.

Packers DT Devonte Wyatt Suffers Fractured Ankle

November 28th, 2025 at 11:41am CST by Adam La Rose

NOVEMBER 28: Further testing has revealed an ankle fracture, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network report. As a result, Wyatt is expected to miss the remainder of the season.

NOVEMBER 27: The Packers came away with a critical division win during 2025’s first Thanksgiving game. Their defense appears to have been dealt a major blow in the process, however.

Defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt suffered an ankle injury during the second half of this afternoon’s game against the Lions. He was carted off the field without being able to put any weight on his left leg. Shortly thereafter, Wyatt was ruled out for the remainder of the contest. No firm timeline is in place at the moment, but head coach Matt LaFleur‘s initial remarks are far from encouraging.

“It doesn’t look good, guys,” LaFleur said when speaking to the media after the game (via ESPN’s Rob Demovsky). “I’m sick for him. I’m sick for us. I mean, that’s a critical loss for our football team, for our defense, obviously.”

A first-round pick for the Packers out of Georgia back in 2022, Wyatt has been working as a full-time starter in Green Bay for the first time this season. Wyatt played a pretty minor role as a rookie, buried on the depth chart behind veterans Kenny Clark, Jarran Reed, and Dean Lowry. With Reed and Lowry out the next year, T.J. Slaton took over an open starting slot, while Wyatt got a bit more run in his sophomore campaign as a rotational third interior defender. At times he proved to be a bit of a liability in the run game, but Wyatt excelled as a pass rusher, logging 5.5 sacks, six tackles for loss, and 11 quarterback hits in 2023.

In Clark’s final year with the team last year, Wyatt and Karl Brooks, a sixth-round addition in 2023, worked as the main rotational options behind starters Clark and Slaton. Wyatt continued to excel as an interior pass rusher — five sacks, nine tackles for loss, and nine quarterback hits — but still struggled as a run stopper.

With Slaton making his way to Cincinnati in free agency over the offseason and Clark getting traded to Dallas in the Micah Parsons-trade, two new starting spots became available on the Packers defensive line. Wyatt claimed one spot while Colby Wooden, another 2023 draft addition, claimed the other. Brooks, though not running as a full-time starter, has actually surpassed both starters in snap count as a main rotational piece on the interior defensive line. With Wyatt seemingly out for the foreseeable future, Brooks is likely to step into the starting role next to Wooden, but without Wyatt, the pass rushing potential of the interior line takes a big hit.

The other aspect of today’s injury concerns Wyatt’s contract. Green Bay picked up the former Bulldog’s fifth-year option on his rookie deal, but expectations were in place for extension talks to occur. If the two sides are unable to reach an agreement on a second contract, the fifth-year option would give them more time to work things out. In his fourth year of play, Wyatt had shown more of the same for the Packers defense with four sacks, five tackles for loss, and seven quarterback hits in a starting role. That being said, his struggles in the run game continued, as well.

If this injury ends Wyatt’s 2025 campaign, this leaves the Packers with a few options. They may try to work out an extension that rewards Wyatt for his pass rushing prowess without giving him top-end money due to the injury or his run-stopping struggles. They may try to make it a more incentive-laden deal to safe-guard against future struggles coming back from injury. They also might just let him play out his fifth-year option and make a determination on how to proceed off of his 2026 performance.

Regardless, it sounds like any plans for Wyatt may be a thought for the offseason. While testing will be done in the days to come, and his prognosis may change, at the moment, LaFleur’s comments seem to indicate that we’ve seen the last of Wyatt in 2025.

Ely Allen contributed to this post.

Jets QB Justin Fields Anticipates Future Starting Opportunities

November 28th, 2025 at 10:32am CST by Adam La Rose

Justin Fields did not meet expectations during his tenure atop the depth chart with the Jets. The free agent addition was benched in favor of Tyrod Taylor for Week 12, casting doubt over his future in New York.

Fields has only thrown one interception through nine starts in 2025, although he has done so while averaging a career-low 6.2 yards per attempt and completing less than 63% of his passes. The 26-year-old has added 383 yards and four touchdowns on the ground, but that did not quell speculation about Taylor taking over weeks before he received the QB1 spot. In spite of that, Fields believes he will receive another look as an NFL starter.

“Of course. Yes, sir,” he said when speaking to the media for the first time since being demoted to backup duties (via ESPN’s Rich Cimini). “I mean, I just know who I am as a person, as a football player, as a hard worker. I think I know I have the mindset and the skill to attain that. I just feel like I need to do it on a more consistent basis, but that’s just what it is.”

Fields added he “did not anticipate it whatsoever” when asked about his benching. The Jets went 2-7 with him at the helm, and the former first-rounder led a passing attack which drew public criticism from owner Woody Johnson and currently ranks last in the NFL. The absence of wideout Garrett Wilson has played a role in New York’s struggles on that front, but Fields’ performances have certainly left plenty to be desired.

After being traded away by the Bears last offseason, an injury to Russell Wilson allowed Fields to serve as the Steelers’ starter for the first six weeks of the campaign. Pittsburgh went 4-2 in that period, but Wilson operated as the team’s QB1 the rest of the way. On the open market, Fields secured $30MM guaranteed on a two-year Jets contract, one which seemed to put him on track to spend at least one season atop the depth chart.

Instead, Taylor is expected to remain the Jets’ starter for the rest of the campaign. Especially if that proves to be the case, it will be interesting to see how things proceed between Fields and the team. The Ohio State product is owed $20MM in base salary for 2026, half of which is already guaranteed. As such, the possibility exists he could be retained as a backup behind a rookie added early in April’s draft. Fields declined to comment on that hypothetical situation.

Of course, there are plenty of unanswered questions at this point with respect to the 2026 QB market. Other openings will no doubt exist around the league, but it will be interesting to see if Fields receives serious consideration for a starting spot given how 2025 has played out.

Commanders WR Terry McLaurin To Return In Week 13; Latest On QB Jayden Daniels

November 28th, 2025 at 8:59am CST by Adam La Rose

The Commanders are not in position to contend for a playoff spot in 2025, but they could be much closer to full strength on offense down the stretch. Receiver Terry McLaurin is in line to make his return on Sunday.

“I plan to play as much as I can and as much as they’ll allow me to,” McLaurin said (via ESPN’s John Keim). “It’s really encouraging to hear from my teammates and coaches that they don’t feel like I’ve missed a step. I just have a confidence about myself.”

McLaurin was available for the first three games of the season before suffering a quad injury. His next game action came in Week 8, and he aggravated the issue. That has resulted in by far the most missed time in the seven-year veteran’s career while dealing a blow to Washington’s offense. The Commanders sit at 3-8 on the year ahead of a primetime matchup with the Broncos.

A return to the postseason in 2025 is not in store as a result, but Washington’s outlook for the coming weeks would receive a boost with McLaurin back in the fold. The two-time Pro Bowler topped 1,000 yards every year from 2020-24, something which helped land him a $29MM-per-year extension in August. Expectations for the McLaurin-Jayden Daniels connection will remain high for the foreseeable future, and that duo could be back on the field together shortly.

Daniels is set to miss Week 13, but his recovery from an elbow injury is ongoing. The 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year has returned to practice, setting up a potential return for next week. The possibility of shutting Daniels down for the remainder of the season has been raised, and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler confirms team and player have engaged in “big-picture conversations” about returning this late in a lost season. For now, though, a return as early as Week 14 can be expected.

Both Daniels and receiver Noah Brown – who was designated for return from IR on Monday – were full participants in yesterday’s practice. As such, they could soon rejoin McLaurin in game action, something which would give the Commanders a rare instance of offensive availability in 2025.

Giants Expected To Retain GM Joe Schoen?

November 27th, 2025 at 10:52pm CST by Adam La Rose

The 2025 season has seen the Giants fire head coach Brian Daboll and, shortly thereafter, defensive coordinator Shane Bowen. Joe Schoen remains in place as general manager, and signs point to that continuing in 2026.

The team statement issued in the wake of Daboll’s dismissal offered praise for the roster Schoen has built during his tenure. Schoen will also lead the team’s search for a new head coach, an indication his standing with ownership remains strong. On that point, Fox Sports’ Ralph Vacchiano reports there is an “internal expectation” the Giants will maintain the status quo at the GM spot beyond the 2025 season.

Schoen has been in place since 2022. His and Daboll’s first year in charge resulted in a surprise run to the divisional round of the playoffs, but since then the Giants have managed just 11 wins. In Week 12, New York became the first team eliminated from postseason contention for 2025, and a third straight season with double-digit losses has been clinched. Especially with Daboll and now Bowen out of the picture, the case for a complete housecleaning is easy to see.

As Vacchiano notes, however, instability on the sidelines and in the front office has been a defining characteristic of the Giants during the post-Tom Coughlin period. Over the past 10 years, four general managers and six head coaches have been in place. Retaining Schoen and pairing him with a veteran coach would allow for New York’s core (featuring the likes of quarterback Jaxson Dart, receiver Malik Nabers, left tackle Andrew Thomas, defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence and edge rusher Brian Burns) to move forward with consistency in terms of organizational direction.

Per Vacchiano, hiring a head coach who has previously held that role in the NFL is considered a “high priority” for some in the Giants’ building. That comes as little surprise, given the team’s struggles under first-time head coaches dating back several years. Candidates such as Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo have not worked as an NFL HC before, but they will no doubt receive a look as well.

Schoen’s stock with ownership has received a boost based on the decision to trade back into the first round and select Dart, Vacchiano adds. Other Day 1 draft additions in recent years such as offensive lineman Evan Neal and cornerback Deonte Banks have certainly not paid off, something which has helped split outside opinions on the matter of whether or not Schoen will (or should) be retained. Factors such as cap management and the financial situation Schoen inherited from Dave Gettleman will also be taken into consideration.

As things stand, the only GM opening in the NFL is that of the Dolphins. More vacancies are likely to open by the time the regular season has ended, but it would come as a surprise to many if the Giants were to find themselves in the market for a Schoen replacement.

Brandon Aiyuk Trade Viewed As Possible; Latest On 49ers’ WR Outlook

November 27th, 2025 at 10:21pm CST by Adam La Rose

Before the start of the current season, the 49ers voided a 2026 option bonus for Brandon Aiyuk. That has fueled speculation a parting of ways will take place after the current campaign.

Further details have emerged regarding the team’s decision to void Aiyuk’s guarantees. As ESPN’s Fowler writes, the sixth-year receiver declined to attend appointments for his knee rehab during the offseason. That is believed to be among the reasons San Francisco proceeded with voiding Aiyuk’s guarantees, a move he chose not to contest by means of an NFLPA grievance.

Aiyuk’s 2024 campaign ended when he suffered ACL, MCL and meniscus tears. He has yet to play since, despite a number of updates before and during this season pointing to him being cleared at some point. There is still optimism the 27-year-old will be cleared, although that would in turn lead to an interesting question of whether or not Aiyuk would be willing to play given where things stand at this point.

Fowler adds that some teams around the league see an Aiyuk trade as being possible, especially with his contract being easier to move in the absence of guaranteed compensation for next season. The former first-rounder’s deal still runs through 2028, however, so a release allowing him to choose his next destination is still a more realistic outcome. That would leave Aiyuk in the same situation as Christian Wilkins, after the Raiders voided his guarantees and moved forward with a release.

Aiyuk topped 1,000 yards for the first time in 2022. The following season, he set a career high in yards (1,342) and yards per catch (17.9), helping lead the 49ers to the Super Bowl along the way. The process of working out an extension was far from smooth, to say the least, and even with a long-term deal in hand Aiyuk’s future is once again a talking point.

Elsewhere at the receiver position, Matt Barrows of the Athletic writes (subscription required) the 49ers are likelier to retain Kendrick Bourne this offseason than Jauan Jennings. The latter was in the team’s long-term plans as of September, but as a pending free agent he could depart on the open market this spring. Jennings landed a two-year pact in 2024, the season in which he comfortably posted career-best numbers. Things have not been the same in 2025 for the former seventh-rounder.

Bourne’s second San Francisco stint has seen him make seven starts with the team dealing with several injuries. He has posted 482 scoreless yards while serving as an experienced secondary option in the passing game. Retaining Bourne, 30, will likely come at a lesser cost than re-signing Jennings once more. Of course, Aiyuk will play a large role in determining how the team operates at the WR spot once his situation becomes clearer.

Chiefs LT Josh Simmons Suffers Dislocated, Fractured Wrist

November 27th, 2025 at 9:31pm CST by Ely Allen

An already banged up offensive line in Kansas City may have taken a big hit today as Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that the team’s starting left tackle, Josh Simmons, suffered a dislocated and fractured wrist today and “is out indefinitely.” Simmons was seen leaving the locker room with a cast on his left wrist after today’s game, per ESPN’s Nate Taylor, and he’ll undergo an MRI tomorrow before determinations are made on treatment.

Depending on the resulting prognosis following the testing and treatment, this could be the second extended absence of Simmons’ rookie campaign. Earlier in the year, Simmons sat out the four-game stretch before the Chiefs’ bye week as he dealt with a mysterious personal issue. Disappearing after the first five starts of his career, Simmons finally returned in Week 11 to take his starting job back.

In his first absence, swing tackle Jaylon Moore filled in at left tackle for Kansas City. It’s a role Moore is extremely familiar with after filling in several games for 49ers star left tackle Trent Williams over the course of his rookie contract. The Chiefs paid Moore handsomely over the offseason to come in and do more of the same in Kansas City.

Unfortunately, the Chiefs could be dealing with injuries to multiple tackles. Right tackle Jawaan Taylor was also hurt in today’s game, leaving the contest with an elbow injury and getting ruled out shortly after. There’s been much less information about Taylor’s status since the game ended, so any further inference would only be speculation. That being said, any absence Taylor may be faced with could take things from bad to worse for a team fighting to stay above .500 and in the playoff race.

If Taylor is forced to miss game time and Moore is already subbing in for Simmons, Wanya Morris is the next man up on the depth chart. Morris started 11 games for the Chiefs at left tackle last year, but his struggles at the position were part of what prompted Kansas City to use their Day 1 pick on Simmons this year.

Updates on this situation will follow as the results of testing and treatment unfold in the coming days. The Chiefs closing stretch of the regular season sees their toughest remaining opponents (Texans, Chargers, Broncos) at home with their only remaining road trips coming against the lowly Titans and Raiders. A playoff berth isn’t impossible by any means for a team well experienced in playing a high level of football this late in the season, but they’ll want to find a way to field a healthy offensive line in order to make this push to the postseason a bit more manageable.

NFL Minor Transactions: 11/27/25

November 27th, 2025 at 7:23pm CST by Ely Allen

Happy Thanksgiving! Here are the holiday’s minor NFL transactions and some standard gameday elevations for today’s night game and tomorrow’s Black Friday game:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Philadelphia Eagles

Newman and Brown were removed from the Bears’ 53-man roster as corresponding moves to make room for their two activations off injured reserve today.

Martin is being called up as a standard gameday practice squad elevation for the third time this year. If the Ravens would like him to play in any more games after this week, they’ll need to sign him to the 53-man roster.

Lampkin was designated to return from IR back on November 6, and his 21-day practice squad window has come and gone without an activation by the Eagles. The undrafted rookie out of North Carolina will spend the rest of his rookie season on IR, as a result of not being activated.

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