Falcons Not Benching Kirk Cousins
Kirk Cousins endured one of the worst games of his career on Sunday, throwing four interceptions in a Falcons loss. Atlanta will continue with the veteran under center, however. 
“That guy has carried us this season,” head coach Raheem Morris said of Cousins, via The Athletic’s Josh Kendall (subscription required). “He has done such a marvelous job that it’s hard to throw that guy under the bus after what he’s done for us. We will bounce back, we will bring him back and we’ll be ready to go.”
The Falcons are currently riding a three-game losing streak. Over that span, Cousins has not thrown a touchdown pass while continuing to struggle with turnovers. The big-ticket free agent now leads the NFL in interceptions (13) and his 90.8 passer rating is his lowest mark since 2014. Atlanta sits in a tie atop the NFC South at 6-6, but remaining ahead of the Buccaneers will require improved play down the stretch.
Cousins signed a four-year, $180MM deal on the open market in a move which marked the end of his six-year Vikings tenure. The 36-year-old has been healthy this season, a welcomed development after his 2023 campaign ended with an Achilles tear. Cousins entered the year with assurances he would remain atop the depth chart for his first Falcons season even in the event of struggles like those he has endured lately.
Given Atlanta’s decision to select Michael Penix Jr. with the No. 8 pick in the draft, however, questions have lingered about when any potential QB swap could take place. Penix – who was not the team’s initial target on draft night – has made two regular season appearances late in lopsided games to date. The Washington product is under team control through at least 2027 (with the potential for an additional season via the fifth-year option).
Cousins, meanwhile, is owed a fully guaranteed $27.5MM base salary for next season, ensuring he will be on the roster through at least the end of the 2025 campaign. If the Falcons continue their current slide, further questions will no doubt be asked with respect to the four-time Pro Bowler’s status atop the depth chart. For now, though, no move on that front is being considered.
Giants Place Dexter Lawrence, Theo Johnson On IR; Cory Durden Signed Off Rams’ Practice Squad
Both Dexter Lawrence and Theo Johnson suffered notable injuries during the Giants’ Thanksgiving loss. Neither player is in line to suit up again this season. 
Lawrence and Johnson are now on injured reserve, per a team announcement. An absence of at least four games is thus in store, but Lawrence in particular is not expected to come back for the regular season finale. The two-time Pro Bowler is dealing with a dislocated elbow, and his attention will turn to rehab in advance of the 2025 campaign.
In his absence, the Giants will look for short-term replacements along the defensive interior. That could prove to be challenging given the other D-line injuries the team dealt with on Thanksgiving. In a move aimed at providing depth at that spot, Cory Durden has been signed off the Rams’ practice squad. The 25-year-old made four appearances last season but has yet to see any game action in 2024.
Lawrence led the league in sacks (nine) through seven games this season, demonstrating his status as New York’s most important defensive player and one of the league’s top interior linemen. The 27-year-old inked a big-ticket extension last offseason, so it comes as no surprise the team will avoid attempting to rush him back into the fold during the closing stages of the campaign. Sitting at 2-10 on the year, the Giants are officially out of postseason contention.
Johnson’s absence will be notable as well. The fourth-round rookie has handled a notable role in the wake of Darren Waller‘s retirement, posting 334 yards and one touchdown on 29 receptions. A foot injury threatened to shut Johnson down for the rest of the campaign, and today’s news all-but guarantees he will indeed be sidelined until 2025. His presence will be missed on a low-output New York passing attack.
The Giants are among the teams which could wind up with the No. 1 pick in April’s draft. Given their lack of a franchise quarterback, securing the top spot in the order would be critical. Playing without Lawrence and Johnson will lessen New York’s chances of adding further wins over the closing weeks of the season.
Dolphins’ Bradley Chubb, Cameron Goode To Return To Practice
The Dolphins’ front seven is set to receive a pair of reinforcements in the near future. Both Bradley Chubb and Cameron Goode could be back in the lineup as early as Week 14. 
Chubb and Goode will return to practice Wednesday, head coach Mike McDaniel said (via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald). That will start their respective 21-day activation windows; provided both players are moved to the active roster within that span, they will be eligible to suit up down the stretch. Chubb and Goode are on the reserve/PUP list, so bringing them back will not affect Miami’s remaining injured reserve activations.
Chubb suffered an ACL tear last December, making him one of several key defenders who was unavailable to the Dolphins during the playoffs. McDaniel recently expressed optimism the former Bronco would be able to play at some point in 2024, and today’s update is an encouraging one in that respect. Goode, meanwhile, was believed to be further ahead of Chubb in his rehab from a torn patellar tendon, but he will see his practice window opened at the same time.
Miami’s pass rush has been shorthanded all year, and Chubb’s absence has been key in that regard. The two-time Pro Bowler amassed 11 sacks last season, his first full one with the Dolphins. Expectations were high that he and Jaelan Phillips would be able to remain productive upon returning to health from their respective 2023 injuries. Phillips went down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 4, though, which exacerbated Chubb’s absence.
The Dolphins sit 29th in the NFL with only 21 sacks on the year. Getting Chubb back in particular will help in that department (although expectations in his case will be tempered given his long time out of the fold), especially since Tyus Bowser is on injured reserve. Miami could have added a veteran presence along the edge in the form of Shaquil Barrett, but the team declined to activate him from the reserve/retired list last week.
Goode 26, was selected in the seventh round of the 2022 draft but he did not make his regular season debut until last year. The Cal product played 17 games in 2023, handling a heavy special teams workload. That will likely remain the case for the closing stages of the campaign once he is activated.
Missouri WR Luther Burden III To Enter Draft
Luther Burden III will turn pro this spring. The Missouri wideout confirmed on Monday he will declare for the 2025 NFL draft, foregoing the team’ bowl game in the process. 
“I feel like this is the best time to enter the draft,” Burden said (via ESPN’s Pete Thamel). “I’m confident in myself and what I can do at the next level. I’m ready for the next step.”
Burden made an impact as a true freshman in 2022. He recorded 375 yards on 45 catches, scoring eight total touchdowns (six receiving, two rushing). Last season saw him take a notable step forward with a statline of 86-1,212-9. That production earned him first-team All-SEC honors and helped Burden enter the 2024 campaign as one of the top draft-eligible receivers.
While the Tigers went 9-3 this season, their offense took a step back compared to 2023. Burden’s reception (61), yardage (676) and touchdown (six) totals all regressed, as did his efficiency (11.1 yards per catch). Still, the 5-11, 208-pounder should find himself squarely on the Day 1 radar come April’s draft.
Burden is seen as a top-five receiver prospect by ESPN’s draft analysts, with Matt Miller slotting him at the top of the board at the WR spot. The title of No. 1 option at that position may well belong to two-way Colorado star Travis Hunter, who as expected will also be in the 2025 class. It remains to be seen if Hunter will play on offense or defense at the NFL (if not both), though, and in terms of pure receivers Burden is joined by the likes of Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona), Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State) and Isaiah Bond (Texas) as prospects who will not need to wait long to hear their names called.
Given his size and skillset – which entails plenty of production after the catch – Burden has drawn comparisons to Deebo Samuel. Teams in need of pass-catching help would certainly welcome the possibility of Burden enjoying a similar career to the 49ers All-Pro. In any case, he will be one of the top prospects to follow over the course of the pre-draft process.
Ravens Remain Committed To Justin Tucker
Week 13 marked a continuation of Ravens kicker Justin Tucker‘s struggles. Questions were once again raised about a change at the position, but nothing on that front is imminent. 
Tucker missed two field goals and an extra point during the Ravens’ five-point loss to the Eagles. It marked the first time in the five-time All-Pro’s decorated career he missed three kicks in a single contest, and it represented another poor outing in 2024. Tucker’s field goal accuracy now sits at 70.4% on the year, easily the lowest of his NFL tenure.
“If you’re asking me, ‘Are we going to move on from Justin Tucker?’ I’m not really planning on doing that right now,” head coach John Harbaugh said after the game (via ESPN’s Jamison Hensley). “I don’t think that’d be wise.”
In place with Baltimore since 2012, Tucker has spent much of his career as one of the league’s top kickers. His resume includes a Super Bowl title, a spot on the 2010s All-Decade team, seven Pro Bowl nods and the all-time record for the longest made field goal in league history (a 66-yarder from 2021). At the start of the season, the 35-year-old’s career accuracy mark of 90.2% was the highest in NFL history.
On multiple occasions in 2024, however, Tucker’s misses have proven costly in close Ravens losses. Overall, he has gone only 9-for-17 on field goals beyond 40 yards while remaining perfect within that distance. The Texas product’s two missed extra points match the most he has had on that front in a single campaign. Baltimore’s bye comes in Week 14, giving Tucker and the team time to reset before the final stretch of the campaign.
Tucker signed a $6MM-per-year extension in 2022; at the time, that made him the league’s highest-paid kicker. Jake Elliott (Eagles) and Harrison Butker (Chiefs) have since matched and surpassed that figure, respectively, but expectations understandably remain high in Tucker’s case given his track record and his contract. He is due $4.2MM in 2025 and ’26, with an increase in pay to $5.15MM for the final year of the pact. No base salary is guaranteed beyond the current season, something which could lead to increased speculation about a kicker change relatively soon. For now, though, Tucker is set to remain in his current role.
NFL Reviewing Texans LB Azeez Al-Shaair For Potential Suspension
Azeez Al-Shaair was ejected from the Texans’ Week 13 win after his hit on Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence. To no surprise, a suspension could be on the table. 
The NFL is reviewing the play in question, Mark Maske of the Washington Post reports. Al-Shaair made contact with Lawrence’s head while the latter was sliding, and it resulted in him being carted off the field. Lawrence is now in concussion protocol. ESPN’s Adam Schefter adds a ban is currently “anticipated,” with the matter of length being the only remaining question.
Al-Shaair has never been suspended in his career, but the sixth-year linebacker could be in line for supplemental discipline pending the outcome of the league’s review. Houston’s bye week is upcoming, so plenty of time remains for a decision on that front to be made before Al-Shaair would next be in line to suit up. The 27-year-old issued a statement on Monday addressing the matter.
“I’ve always played the game as hard as I could. Never with the intent to harm anyone and anybody that knows me knows that,” Al-Shaair said in part. “My goal is to hit you as hard as I can then I pray you’re still able to get up and play the next play… I genuinely didn’t see [Lawrence] sliding until it was too late. And it all happens in the blink of an eye. To Trevor I genuinely apologize to you for what ended up happening.”
The Texans secured a 23-20 win yesterday, bringing their record to 8-5 on the year. The AFC South leaders have relied heavily on Al-Shaair at the second level of their defense, with the former UDFA starting evert game he has played in to date. Al-Shaair spent last year with the Titans, but during the offseason he inked a three-year, $34MM deal which allowed him to reunite with head coach DeMeco Ryans after their time spent together with the 49ers.
The FAU product has amassed 68 tackles this season, which ranks second on the team. Al-Shaair has also matched his personal best with two sacks in 2024, and losing him for any period would deal a blow to Houston’s defense. That unit could be shorthanded depending on how the NFL proceeds.
Jaguars’ Trevor Lawrence Carted Off, Ruled Out With Concussion
Trevor Lawrence‘s return to the lineup has come to an abrupt end. Jacksonville’s quarterback was carted off the field following a hit from Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (video link via ESPN’s Adam Schefter). 
Lawrence has since been ruled out of the game with a concussion. Al-Shaair was ejected from the contest, and the matter of whether or not he faces supplemental discipline will be worth watching closely over the coming days. In the meantime, the Jaguars will move forward without their starting quarterback once again.
By the start of the current campaign, Lawrence had only missed one game due to injury. The former No. 1 pick suffered an AC joint sprain in his non-throwing shoulder during Jacksonville’s Week 9 contest, though, and that left him sidelined through to Jacksonville’s bye week. As expected, Lawrence managed to return to action today, but a head injury suffered in the closing weeks of a 2-9 season may represent his last action in 2024.
Prior to suiting up for Sunday’s contest, Lawrence acknowledged that surgery on his shoulder was a possibility (albeit one he preferred to avoid given how it would shut him down for the remainder of the season). Jacksonville is not in playoff contention, so taking a cautious approach would not have come as a surprise with respect to his shoulder. Now, the team may opt to keep the Clemson product on the sidelines for the rest of the year. At a minimum, more missed time should be expected.
Lawrence joined the growing list of quarterbacks attached to monster extensions this offseason, signing a five-year, $275MM deal. Given the nature of Jacksonville’s commitment to him, it would come as no surprise if a stint on injured reserve were to be explored. That would entail at least a four-game absence, something which could in turn lend itself to Lawrence remaining unavailable until 2025.
Jacksonville will once again turn to backup Mac Jones at quarterback. The former Patriots first-rounder did not impress during his two starts when Lawrence was previously sidelined, but this latest injury will give him another opportunity to deliver a strong showing. Doing so would help Jones’ value as a pending free agent.
Lions’ Ray Agnew Expected To Receive GM Interviews
As the 2024 season has shown, Lions general manager Brad Holmes has enjoyed a successful run in charge of the franchise. One of his top assistants might soon receive opportunities to lead a front office of his own, however.
[RELATED: OC Ben Johnson Open To Remaining With Lions In 2025]
Ray Agnew – who has served as an assistant GM under Holmes since 2021 – is expected to be on the interview radar of interested teams during the 2025 cycle, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reports. Agnew followed Holmes from the Rams to the Lions. He has remained a key front office figure ever since.
Agnew’s playing career lasted from 1990-2000, and it included time with the Rams for their Super Bowl XXXIV-winning team. He first worked with the Jets on the personnel side before spending time with the Rams from 2017-20. He held the title of pro personnel director during that span, and his success in that role made him a logical candidate to take on increased responsibilities under Holmes in Detroit.
The Lions have built one of the league’s top rosters over recent years, with one of the key moves in that regard of course being the Matthew Stafford–Jared Goff swap. Detroit has a number of other foundational players on both sides of the ball, many of whom received extensions during the offseason (or during the year, in the case of running back David Montgomery). Defenders like Aidan Hutchinson and Brian Branch have been added through the draft, and they represent future extension priorities. Replacing Agnew’s contributions during the Holmes era would represent a notable challenge for the Lions if he were to depart.
One general manager vacancy is in place for now, with the Jets having moved on from Joe Douglas. New York has brought in Mike Tannenbaum and Rick Spielman to assist with the process of finding his replacement. It will be interesting to see if the team looks into first-year GM candidates, something which could leave Agnew as an option. If not, the 56-year-old could still be a name to watch for other openings this winter.
Bengals Demote G Cordell Volson
Cordell Volson had served as a full-time starter up to this point in his Bengals career. The third-year left guard is no longer a first-team option along the interior, however. 
Cincinnati has replaced Volson with Cody Ford at the left guard spot beginning with today’s contest against Pittsburgh. Volson was healthy for each game during the 2022 and ’23 campaigns, logging every offensive snap during that span. He remained a first-team option this year through the team’s first 11 games, but Ford recently had the opportunity to handle left tackle duties in place of Orlando Brown Jr.
Ford’s PFF grades during that stretch left much to be desired, but he did not allow a sack while stepping in at left tackle. Brown is now healthy, leaving the Bengals with the option of returning Ford to backup duties or demoting Volson. The latter path has been taken for the time being as Cincinnati looks to remain productive on offense as part of a playoff push.
Selected in the fourth round of the 2022 draft, Volson graded out as PFF’s 64th-ranked guard during his rookie campaign. The following season saw a step forward (42nd out of 79 qualifiers), but it certainly left plenty of room for improvement. To date in 2024, Volson sits just 53rd in PFF grade with a 58.4 mark. Ford has not delivered demonstrably better figures over the course of his career – one in which he has seen time at both tackle spots as well as left and right guard – but he will get a look for at least a short-term stretch.
In Volson’s case, this demotion is notable from a financial perspective. The 26-year-old will first be eligible for an extension this offseason, and continuing his run of logging every snap would have have helped his chances of landing a new deal. Instead, his play once he is next on the field will be key in determining his value.
Ford, meanwhile, is a pending free agent since he is playing on his second straight one-year Bengals pact. The former second-rounder is attached to the veteran minimum for his base salary this season, but holding onto a full-time starting spot down the stretch would help his ability to secure a raise in 2025.
Trevor Lawrence To Return To Jaguars’ Lineup In Week 13
DECEMBER 1: Lawrence is indeed active for today’s matchup against the Texans.
NOVEMBER 29: The first game after Jacksonville’s bye week was floated as a possible return date for quarterback Trevor Lawrence. As things stand, it appears that will indeed be the point at which he next takes the field. 
Lawrence resumed practicing this week while continuing to deal with an AC joint sprain in his non-throwing shoulder. Surgery is under consideration, but the former No. 1 pick’s preference is to return to action over the closing weeks of the season. The 2-9 Jaguars are set to face the Texans on Sunday, and Lawrence is on track to be in the lineup for that contest.
“He’s had a good week,” head coach Doug Pederson said (via Demetrius Harvey of the Florida Times-Union). “Done some really good things this week. I would say as of right now, yes, he will play.”
A postseason berth is not in the cards for Jacksonville, but having Lawrence back in the picture could offer a needed boost on offense. In two games with Mac Jones at the helm, the team has amassed only 313 yards and 13 points. Lawrence has not enjoyed a stellar campaign in his own regard, with his passer rating (87.9) being the worst mark since his rookie season. Still, he could give the Jags a higher floor in the passing game he if manages to avoid aggravating his shoulder injury.
Lawrence is attached to the $275MM extension he signed this offseason, so his long-term health is an obvious priority for the franchise. Pederson noted there will be no restrictions for the Clemson product provided he is on the field Sunday, though, so the team’s offense will look to operate as usual with its top signal-caller back in the fold. Should Lawrence encounter a setback in the immediate future, Jones would be in position to see playing time once again; it would currently come as a surprise if that were to become necessary, however.