Vikings To Start Nick Mullens In Week 18
Still alive for a postseason berth, the Vikings have once again made a change to their quarterback depth chart. Head coach Kevin O’Connell announced on Wednesday that Nick Mullens will start in the season finale. 
Rookie Jaren Hall got the nod for last week’s primetime game against the Packers, one with major playoff implications for both teams. Minnesota’s offense struggled with Hall at the helm, however, and Mullens finished the 33-10 loss. With the Vikings still in contention for a wild-card berth, the latter will once again return to first-team duties.
Minnesota has cycled through three signal-callers since Kirk Cousins‘ Achilles tear. An injury to Hall opened the door to Josh Dobbs taking over immediately upon arrival, but his impressive run was short-lived. Mullens offered a spark in terms of offensive yardage when in place for starts against the Bengals and Lions. However, his combined six interceptions in those contests led O’Connell to entrust Hall with the all-important start in Week 17. In spite of the loss in that game, the Vikings have a narrow path to a playoff spot.
Both a win against the Lions and help from other results will be needed for Minnesota to reach the wild-card round. In the event that were to happen, the team would once again face a signficant QB decision, although a Mullens win would certainly help his cause in that regard. The former UDFA has amassed 910 passing yards and five touchdowns this season, but turnover issues have led to hesitancy with respect to giving him a longer run in the No. 1 role.
As ESPN’s Kevin Seifert notes, no decision on a backup has been made as of yet. Hall and Dobbs represent O’Connell’s options, although he will obviously hope to avoid needing to use either of them on Sunday. Attention will turn to Cousins’ impending free agency once the Vikings’ season is over, but for now their fate will rest in Mullens’ hands.
Sean McVay To Remain With Rams Through 2024 Season
Sean McVay has been the subject of speculation in recent years with respect to his coaching future, but he provided another update in that regard on Tuesday. The seventh-year Rams head coach confirmed he will remain with the team for the 2024 season (video link). 
The news comes as little surprise given the success McVay has enjoyed in general with the organization and in particular this campaign. In the midst of a financial reset, Los Angeles entered the 2023 season with limited expectations. McVay has instead guided the team to a postseason berth and a 9-7 record so far.
Interest in the 37-year-old from TV networks has been present over several years, but McVay put those concerns to rest on at least a temporary basis when committing to the Rams this past January. Plenty of changes have taken place on the field and the sidelines since that decision, but Los Angeles’ unexpected degree of success have proven it to be a sound one. When elaborating on his status, McVay said in March that he wished to avoid his future being a year-to-year talking point.
McVay has posted a 69-45 regular season record in the regular season, and he now sits in a tie for second in franchise history in wins. The top spot – currently occupied by John Robinson, who coached the franchise from 1983-91 and recorded 75 wins – is very much within reach for next season. McVay has guided the Rams to the postseason for the fifth time in his tenure, and his attention will of course remain on their upcoming playoff matchup.
Beyond that, the organization will have much more flexibility in terms of cap space and draft capital than previous years. Given the impressive showing from the Rams’ 2023 rookie class, expectations will be high next fall if the transition to a younger core continues in the offseason. General manager Les Snead signed an extension in 2022, providing the Rams with stability in the front office. The same will now hold true on the sidelines.
McVay entered the 2023 campaign as the league’s seventh-longest tenured head coach, and his ability to oversee this year’s impressive run will allow him to continue his run in Los Angeles. A third Super Bowl appearance this winter would come as a surprise, but his postseason track record (which includes one championship) will give him a solid footing heading into 2024. Many questions amongst the Rams’ players will need to be answered in the coming months, but McVay’s future is not uncertain.
Latest On Falcons HC Arthur Smith
Questions continue to swirl regarding the fate of head coaches around the NFC South. In Atlanta’s case, Arthur Smith‘s job security has appeared to change on a number of occasions recently. 
The third-year head coach was first thought to be on the hot seat in November, due in large part to the team’s offensive struggles. Multiple quarterback changes have taken place this year, and 2022 third-rounder Desmond Ridder has not managed to establish himself as a starting-caliber option. In spite of that, a report from last month pointed to Smith being retained for at least one more year.
The Falcons went 7-10 in each of his first two campaigns, and he is on the verge of posting an identical mark in 2023. Atlanta finishes the regular season schedule against New Orleans, the other team with a chance of surpassing the Buccaneers for top spot in the NFC South. Tampa Bay would be required to lose to Carolina for that to be possible, however, and the Falcons cannot claim a wild-card berth.
With Atlanta’s playoff drought likely to extend to seven years, owner Arthur Blank has declined to offer a public commitment for or against retaining Smith. The latter’s job status will likely be influenced by the way in which the Falcons finish the year, but some around the league feel his fate is already sealed. Two general managers told Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post Smith will be fired after the end of the current season.
Three head coaches were let go midseason, and a number of other dismissals are likely to take place on or around Black Monday. It would come as little surprise if Smith were to be let go; the Falcons’ offense has been a sore spot despite a strong offensive line and a sustained investment of draft capital at the skill positions. The team used its top pick on tight end Kyle Pitts in 2021, followed by wideout Drake London in 2022 and running back Bijan Robinson in 2023.
Owing in large part to sub-par play under center, the Falcons rank 26th in the league in scoring (19 points per game). That will no doubt lead to a quarterback pursuit in the offseason, but it could very well prompt a new face being brought in on the sidelines as well. Smith will have at least one more opportunity to stake his claim to the 2024 position on Sunday when the regular season wraps up.
49ers RB Christian McCaffrey, CB Ambry Thomas Out For Week 18
The 49ers have locked up the NFC’s top seed, making their regular season finale a game with no impact on the standings. That is a welcomed development given the team’s injury situation at a few key positions. 
Running back Christian McCaffrey exited Sunday’s win with a calf injury, and it will lead to an absence to close out the campaign. The NFL’s rushing and scrimmage yards leader is dealing with a mild calf strain, per head coach Kyle Shanahan. To no surprise, therefore, McCaffrey will sit out the 49ers’ season finale against the Rams.
Since arriving via trade in San Francisco last year, the two-time Pro Bowler has been a vital component of the team’s vaunted skill-position group. McCaffrey has posted 2,205 yards and 20 touchdowns on the ground in 27 games with the 49ers, keeping himself in the MVP conversation through the 2023 season. Any missed time in the postseason would be crippling to the team’s offense, but an extra week of recovery (coupled with the first round bye) should have him healthy in time for the divisional round.
The same is expected to be true of cornerback Ambry Thomas. The 2021 third-rounder is set to undergo hand surgery today, as noted by ESPN’s Nick Wagoner. The procedure will keep him sidelined for Week 18, which will leave San Francisco shorthanded in the secondary. Fortunately, however, Thomas is on track to suit up for the team’s first postseason contest.
The 24-year-old has only logged a 49% snap share on defense this season, but he has established himself as a key member of the 49ers’ backend. Thomas has seen a career-high workload in 2023, spending almost all of his time on the perimeter. He has posted 43 tackles, seven pass deflections and one interception while recording a new personal best in PFF grades along the way. Thomas’ performance did not stop the 49ers from exploring a CB addition at the trade deadline, but any missed postseason action would be acutely felt on defense.
San Francisco will be shorthanded both by necessity and by choice to close out the regular season, but the team will face substantial expectations once their playoff journey begins. The health of both McCaffrey and Thomas will be important factors in the 49ers’ postseason success, so their respective recoveries will be worth watching over the next several days.
Latest On Raiders’ HC Vacancy
After moving on from Josh McDaniels and Dave Ziegler, the Raiders created another opening on the sideline and in the front office owner Mark Davis is now tasked with filling. The team’s interim options have impressed in their respective audition periods, but they are not assured of the permanent gig as of now. 
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Per Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, veterans such as Davante Adams, Josh Jacobs and Maxx Crosby are likely to show their support for interim head coach Antonio Pierce. That would come as little surprise given the latter’s success after taking over. While the Raiders are out of postseason contention, Pierce has strengthened his case to have the interim tag removed based on the team’s record and improved play.
Breer adds, however, that Davis “may have a big swing in him” with respect to his next coaching hire. When the organization was in a similar position, Jon Gruden replacement Rich Bisaccia was not retained on a full-time basis. Davis now regrets bringing in McDaniels instead of keeping Bisaccia in place, and the 2024 offseason will provide him the opportunity to take a different path by rewarding Pierce with the full-time position. Other candidates with more pedigree will be available in the upcoming hiring cycle, though.
Pierce’s NFL coaching career began just last season when he was hired as the Raiders’ linebackers coach. The 45-year-old is thus lacking in experience compared to a candidate such as Jim Harbaugh. The latter has again been linked to an NFL return following the end of the college season, and the Raiders have been floated as a potential landing spot. Harbaugh – who recently hired an agent – had a successful run with the 49ers before his current stint at Michigan, which has produced three consecutive CFP playoff appearances and a trip to this year’s national title game.
Bill Belichick represents another veteran staffer whose addition would certainly constitute a notable hiring. His standing with the Patriots has remained uncertain throughout the season, and it would come as little surprise at this point if he were to find himself coaching elsewhere in 2024. Despite the recent firings of Gruden and McDaniels, finances are not expected to be an issue for Davis as he considers his net hire.
Harbaugh and Belichick are two of the veteran staffers who may be soon the market soon, but others with a lengthier resume than Pierce will be options as well. For that reason, Breer notes he may be considered the Raiders’ backup plan at this point if a hiring of the preferred candidate does not work out. Still, Pierce has generally impressed in his interim capacity, so his future will be worth watching closely.
Raiders, Panthers Made Offseason Lamar Jackson Inquiries
The events of Week 17 significantly boosted Lamar Jackson‘s chances of winning his second career MVP award. The level of play the Ravens signal-caller has showcased in 2023 has led to a new round of questions regarding the apathy shown around the league with respect to acquiring him in the offseason. 
The Ravens used the non-exclusive franchise tag on Jackson, a move which opened the door to offer sheets being at the disposal of teams interested in attempting to sign him (or at least make Baltimore’s efforts to do the same more difficult). Very quickly, however, several teams with question marks under center bowed out and Jackson eventually inked a five-year, $260MM deal.
While no teams are known to have submitted an offer sheet, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the Raiders and Panthers both made inquiries into adding Jackson. Vegas faced the challenge of replacing Derek Carr in the offseason, while Carolina was one of several teams in position to add a new passer by means of the draft or another avenue. The former left open the possibility of a Jackson pursuit, though nothing materialized to a serious extent. The latter, meanwhile, was among the large contingent which backed out in lieu of focusing on the draft.
As Schefter notes, teams around the league expressed concern about Jackson’s injury history when considering an offer sheet. The 26-year-old missed the end of the 2021 and ’22 seasons due to knee ailments, something which would have needed to be considered when authorizing a monster contract upon arrival (and which would have included an independent medical evaluation with his new team). Adding the price of two first-round picks for Jackson signing an unmatched offer sheet, the fact he remained in Baltimore comes as little surprise.
Still, the Louisville alum’s play this year (and that of the Ravens as a whole) has proven the lack of desire on the part of QB-needy teams to be noteworthy. Vegas added a short-term Carr replacement in the form of Jimmy Garoppolo, though he struggled when on the field before losing his staring gig midway through the campaign. The Raiders are now evaluating fourth-round rookie Aidan O’Connell as a No. 1 option, though they can be expected to be in the market for an addition of some kind in the new league year.
The Panthers have likewise endured an underwhelming season under center. Looking to stop the cycle of stop-gap additions at the QB spot, the team acquired the top pick in the draft by sending the Bears a haul involving two first- and second-round selections as well as wideout D.J. Moore. Bryce Young‘s debut campaign has not gone according to plan, and his and the team’s offensive struggles led to the firing of head coach Frank Reich among other staffers.
Schefter notes that questions remain around the league with respect to why no serious efforts were made to pursue a Jackson offer sheet. Prevailing theories point to the Ravens simply matching any offers which were submitted, but it remains a talking point through the close of the campaign that Baltimore – the team which secured the AFC’s top seed on Sunday – was able to retain him with relative ease.
Eagles WR DeVonta Smith Suffers High Ankle Sprain
The Eagles’ chances of winning the NFC East were dealt a major blow on Sunday when they suffered an upset loss to the Cardinals. Philadelphia also has a notable injury situation to monitor ahead of Week 18 and the start of the postseason. 
Wideout DeVonta Smith was in a walking boot when exiting yesterday’s game while dealing with what was initially determined as a high ankle sprain. While confirming the nature of the injury, head coach Nick Sirianni also said Smith is still wearing a walking boot and using crutches. No firm declarations have been made either way with respect to his game status, but that development certainly does not bode well.
Unless the Cowboys fail to beat the Commanders during the final day of regular season play, the Eagles will be locked into the fifth seed in the NFC playoff bracket. As a result, Sirianni admitted decisions will need to be made regarding whether or not the team’s starters should be rested. Smith’s central nature to the Eagles’ passing attack qualifies him as a key player for their playoff matchup, so a cautious approach would come as little surprise.
Still, missing the former Heisman winner would deal a blow to Philadelphia’s offense in the event the team opted to play its starters against the Giants on Sunday. Smith has had another impressive season working in tandem with A.J. Brown, posting a strong statline (81-1,066-7). New career highs in yards and touchdowns could be within reach if he were to play, but Sirianni said “we’ll see” when asked about the 25-year-old’s ability to suit up (h/t Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports).
A win over New York would keep Philadelphia in contention for the No. 2 seed in the conference; it would also help generate momentum heading into the postseason for a team which has lost four of its last five games. The defending NFC champions have experienced signficant issues on the defensive side of the ball in recent weeks in particular, but their offense would be notably shorthanded in the postseason if Smith were unable to play. His status will be worth watching over the coming days.
Saints RT Ryan Ramczyk Facing Uncertain Future Over Knee Injury
Ryan Ramczyk will likely be sidelined for the remainder of the 2023 season, having been placed on injured reserve this weekend. His future in 2024 and beyond is uncertain given the nature of his knee injury, however. 
After missing a pair of games, the veteran right tackle was moved to IR on Saturday. That guaranteed a four-week absence, meaning a deep playoff run would be required for him to be eligible to return. Based on Ramczyk’s remarks on the subject of his health, though, signficant improvement will need to be made over the course of the offseason for him to continue playing at his consistent high level.
The 29-year-old said, via ESPN’s Katherine Terrell, that he is dealing with a cartilage defect in his knee, something which has been a nagging issue for years. The 2023 season in particular has proven to be challenging, and Ramczyk added he has been managing the injury since Week 1. Of particular concern is the fact not much cartilage remains in the affected knee, something which could limit the number of surgical options he has in the offseason.
“I don’t know,” the former All-Pro responded when asked about his next course of action. “I think those are the discussions we are going to have, that need to be had, and we’ll go from there… I’ll talk with surgeons, doctors, get as much as information as I can and then just make the best decision.”
Ramczyk’s contract runs through 2026, and (like many other Saints pacts of recent years) it has been restructured multiple times. As a result, he is due to count at least $25.23MM against the cap in each of the next three seasons; a void year (which carries a $2.58MM cap figure) also exists for 2027. A bonus of just over $10MM is in place from 2024-26, and moving on from the Wisconsin alum would create an annual dead cap charge of that amount in the event he were to be released.
Such action would only become feasible if little to no progress were to be made with respect to Ramczyk’s recovery, however. Long regarded as one of the league’s top right tackles, the former first-rounder has been a mainstay at his position throughout his seven-year career. Aside from the 2021 campaign, availability has not been a major concern. That could change in the near future, although Ramczyk remains hopeful he will be able to maintain his career for years to come.
“I feel like I’m not done yet. I feel like I still want to play,” he said. “I feel like I’m still passionate about the game. When you think about it like that, my mind frame is, ‘I want to play, and I want to keep doing it, so what can I do to get better, to not have this happen in-season?'”
Rams Waive K Lucas Havrisik, To Bring Back K Brett Maher
3:05pm: A new face may not handle kicking duties in the postseason after all. When addressing the latest switch, head coach Sean McVay announced the Rams intend to bring Maher back. He has not played since being let go by Los Angeles earlier in the year, and now he will have the opportunity to reclaim his old gig. Given Maher’s struggles in his first Rams stint (along with his extra point issues in the playoffs with the Cowboys last year), however, it will be interesting to see if competition is brought in over the coming days.
1:36pm: In the wake of their continued struggles at the position, the Rams are set to make another change at the kicker spot. The team announced on Monday that Lucas Havrisik has been waived. 
Los Angeles began the season with Brett Maher in place, but he missed six field goals (along with one extra point) in seven games. That required a change to be made, and Maher was let go. Havrisik was signed off the Browns’ practice squad to take his place. However, the Rams also auditioned a number of more experienced options, leaving the door open to a third option seeing game time.
Havrisik had a nine-game run with the Rams, but he was unable to lock down the kicking gig on a permanent basis. The 24-year-old went 15-for-20 on field goal attempts, including four misses from inside 50 yards. He also missed three extra points in his tenure with Los Angeles; two of those occurred in Week 17’s narrow win over the Giants. That victory secured a playoff spot for the Rams, but their special teams situation is once again uncertain with the postseason looming.
Los Angeles briefly added Mason Crosby, but Havrisik remained in place long enough to lead the veteran elsewhere. Crosby (who missed a 54-year game winner on Sunday) is set to finish out the season with the Giants. While New York’s campaign will come to an end in Week 18, the same is not true for the Rams. As a result, their actions in the coming days will be worth watching.
No other kicker currently resides on the team’s roster or practice squad, so an addition will need to be made soon. It would come as little surprise if the Rams were to again host several options on the free agent market as they look to solidify the kicker position ahead of the playoffs. Havrisik will now be available to all teams via waivers; he will become a free agent if no team puts in a claim.
Jaguars WR/KR Jamal Agnew Suffers Fractured Leg
The Jaguars are one of three teams still in contention to win the AFC South, but their special teams have been dealt a blow. Head coach Doug Pederson announced on Monday that receiver/returner Jamal Agnew suffered a fractured lower leg in Week 17. 
As a result of the injury, he will miss the remainder of the season. The news leaves Jacksonville without a complementary option in the passing game for Week 18 and any postseason games the team plays. The Jaguars will also be without their primary kick and punt returner, though.
Agnew has handled return duties in each of his three seasons in Duval County. He recorded a 102-yard kick return in 2021, and he followed that up with another strong season last year. The 28-year-old earned a Pro Bowl nod by totaling 1,025 scrimmage yards and averaging 26 yards per kick return. He has matched the latter figure in 2023, making him an integral member of Jacksonville’s special teams unit.
The former Lions fifth-rounder has also chipped in on offense, retaining a secondary pass-catching role this season. Agnew posted 14 receptions for 225 yards (the second highest total of his career) and one touchdown, production which will especially be missed in the event Christian Kirk is unable to play again in 2023. The latter is on injured reserve due to core muscle surgery, and his return to the lineup is in the air at this point.
Sitting at 9-7, the Jaguars are currently atop their division. They will finish the campaign against the Titans knowing they will need to keep pace with the winner of the Week 18 Colts-Texans matchup to clinch a playoff berth. Jacksonville will be forced to do so without Agnew in the fold. Given his status as a pending free agent, the injury could hinder his market in the offseason on a new Jags pact or one sending him elsewhere.