Packers TE John FitzPatrick Suffered Torn Achilles
John FitzPatrick‘s season has come to an end. The Packers announced today that they’ve placed their tight end on injured reserve.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, tests revealed that FitzPatrick suffered a torn Achilles during Saturday’s loss to the Bears. The tight end suffered the injury while blocking in the fourth quarter. He was carted to the sideline before exiting to the locker room.
This is a tough break for an injury-riddled Packers squad. The team was already down their starting TE in Tucker Kraft, who suffered a torn ACL in early November. FitzPatrick was arguably the main beneficiary of that injury, as he soaked up most of Kraft’s reps and occasionally outsnapped fellow tight end Luke Musgrave.
A former sixth-round pick by the Falcons, FitzPatrick joined the Packers last October. He was limited reps during his first season in Green Bay, but he’s seen a much larger role in 2025. In 15 games (four starts), the 25-year-old has hauled in 12 catches for 72 yards and one touchdown. However, he’s truly earned his playing time with his blocking prowess; Pro Football Focus ranks him 14th at his position for pass blocking and 20th in run blocking.
Musgrave will continue leading the depth chart for the time being, but the Packers will need to add an extra body to the roster in the coming days. Josh Whyle is currently sidelined with a concussion, so the team will surely turn to at least one of McCallan Castles or Drake Dabney from the practice squad.
The injury also comes at a poor time for FitzPatrick, who is hitting unrestricted free agency after this season. The Achilles injury will surely require a lengthy rehab, and there’s a chance he may not return to the field until late in the 2026 season.
Two Teams Have Expressed Interest In Bill Belichick
Bill Belichick‘s return to football as head coach at North Carolina could not have gone much worse. Despite an underwhelming product on the field and an unusual amount of news off the field, Belichick is still apparently attracting some interest from the NFL.
[RELATED: Bill Belichick Expected To Draw Interest From Multiple Teams]
According to Josina Anderson, two unidentified NFL teams have recently expressed interest in the future Hall of Fame coach. This follows a report from last month that Belichick was expected to receive interest from multiple organizations.
While Anderson doesn’t mention any definitive suitors, she does note that “upper-level personnel” with the Falcons, Giants, and Browns are “still fond” of Belichick. It’s only natural to connect the Giants to the iconic head coach, as Belichick had a long and successful stint as the team’s defensive coordinator, a stretch in which he earned a pair of Super Bowl rings.
After the Giants moved on from coach Brian Daboll in November, there were some rumblings that the organization could take another look at Belichick. The coach was quick to deny any interest in the opening while restating his commitment to the Tar Heels. Similarly, there were reports that Belichick wasn’t included in the team’s “shortlist of candidates.” Either way, depending on the results of the Giants’ initial survey of coaching candidates, it wouldn’t be completely unfounded for the team to land back on Belichick.
Browns ownership doesn’t have any connection to the coach; in fact, Belichick coached the iteration of the Browns that ultimately transformed into the Baltimore Ravens franchise. The 73-year-old still represents a major “what if” for the city of Cleveland. Belichick never had the same success as he would later have in New England. In five seasons with the Browns, he only had a single winning season, and he finished his tenure with a 36-44 record. The coach did help lay the groundwork for the franchise’s future success in Baltimore, and there’s been a sentiment that he would have continued with the Art Modell-iteration of the organization had they stayed in Cleveland.
The Falcons’ lone connection to Belichick is a public flirtation back in 2024. Atlanta appeared to be the lone serious suitor for the coach following his ouster with the Patriots, but the Falcons ended up opting for Raheem Morris instead. There’s already been whispers that Morris could be on his way out in Atlanta, and perhaps Arthur Blank ends up turning back to one of his main alternatives from several years ago.
Belichick hasn’t done much in 2025 to help his case for a future NFL gig. He had a dreadful first season as North Carolina’s head coach, guiding his squad to a 4-8 record. The Tar Heels also failed to qualify for a bowl game for the first time in seven years. At the same time, Belichick was embroiled in a number of off-the-field stories. From his continued pettiness with the Patriots to his handling of recruits and incumbents to his his very-public dalliance, Belichick’s legacy would have done better had the coach stayed off the field (and out of the headlines).
Of course, Belichick’s illustrious resume will always keep him in the NFL coaching cycle. It’s hard to blame teams from being enticed by Belichick’s eight Super Bowl rings, including six as the head coach of the Patriots. Even if he doesn’t garner a job this offseason, this surely won’t be the last we hear his name connected to open jobs.
USC WR Ja’Kobi Lane To Declare For NFL Draft
One of the best vertical threats in college football is heading to the NFL. According to ESPN’s Jordan Reid, USC wideout Ja’Kobi Lane is declaring for the 2026 draft.
Lane played sparingly as a freshman before bursting onto the scene in 2024, finishing with 12 touchdowns. He put himself firmly on the NFL map with a standout performance during the Las Vegas Bowl, where he finished with seven catches for 127 yards and three touchdowns. He carried that production into 2025, as the wideout hauled in 49 catches for 745 yards and four touchdowns.
While Lane didn’t have as much luck finding the end zone in 2025, scouts have still lauded the prospect for his scoring ability. At six-foot-four, the receiver is a natural red zone target, but he’s also known for his big-play ability, as he averaged 13.8 yards per reception throughout his Trojans career.
Considering his size and skillset, Lane is currently projected to be a Day 2 pick, with some pundits estimating that he could hear his name in the second round. Even a strong combine and/or Pro Day showing likely won’t be enough to elevate him in the same tier as receivers like Ohio State’s Carnell Tate, Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson, or even teammate Makai Lemon. However, he could easily emerge in that second tier of wide receivers.
That somewhat underwhelming draft projection had many scouts believing Lane would ultimately head back to USC, per Reid. The Trojans are also set to have some definitive subtractions from the WR room (including Lemon), perhaps opening the door for Lane to emerge as a true WR1. Instead, the prospect will look to begin his professional career as soon as possible.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/18/25
Today’s practice squad moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: LB Jamil Muhammad
Houston Texans
- Signed: S Kaevon Merriweather
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: TE Tanner McLachlan
- Released: C Josh Kaltenberger
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: WR Elijah Cooks, RB Nyheim Miller-Hines
New York Giants
- Signed: TE Tanner Conner
With Devin Neal landing on IR today and Alvin Kamara still sidelined with a sprained MCL, the Saints have added a veteran running back to their practice squad. Nyheim Miller-Hines was released by the Bills after missing the 2023 campaign following a watercraft accident, and the RB has bounced around the league since. He spent most of the 2024 campaign in Cleveland, and he spent the first chunk of the 2025 season with the Chargers, appearing in two games.
The former fourth-round pick made a name for himself as a pass catcher with the Colts, including a pair of seasons where he hauled in 60-plus receptions. While he may eventually work his way to the Saints active roster, he may be hard pressed to pass the likes of Audric Estime and Evan Hull on the depth chart.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/18/25
Today’s minor moves:
Denver Broncos
- Waived: G Calvin Throckmorton
Indianapolis Colts
- Designated for return from IR: S Daniel Scott
Los Angeles Rams
- Elevated: LB Nick Hampton
New Orleans Saints
- Signed from practice squad: WR Kevin Austin
- Waived: K Cade York
- Placed on IR: RB Devin Neal
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed from Panthers’ practice squad: LB Jeremiah Moon
- Waived: DT Brodric Martin
Seattle Seahawks
- Activated from IR: WR Dareke Young
- Elevated: RB Cam Akers, OT Amari Kight
After earning the first three starts of his career, Devin Neal‘s rookie season has come to an end. The Saints running back landed on injured reserve today with a hamstring injury, ending his season early. The sixth-round pick filled in for Alvin Kamara recently, with the rookie compiling 185 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns in his three starts.
Elsewhere in New Orleans, Cade York‘s stint with the team has come to an end. The veteran joined the Saints practice squad last month as a potential replacement for Blake Grupe. The team ended up opting for Charlie Smyth to take over as their primary kicker, with the second-year pro converting four of his five field goal attempts and all five of his extra points in three appearances.
Meanwhile, the Seahawks will welcome back Dareke Young for tonight’s game against the Rams. The fourth-year receiver landed on injured reserve in early November thanks to a quad injury. Known mostly for his special teams prowess, Young has had an occasional role on offense during his stint in Seattle, hauling in four catches for 72 yards.
Cowboys CB DaRon Bland May Undergo Foot Surgery, Likely Destined For IR
DaRon Bland is facing yet another foot surgery. According to ESPN’s Todd Archer, the Cowboys cornerback is seeking a second opinion on a foot injury that may ultimately require surgery.
[RELATED: Cowboys CB Trevon Diggs Says He Is Healthy Enough To Play]
Bland missed 10 games in 2024 thanks to a stress fracture in his foot. The fourth-year player also missed a pair of games earlier this season with a foot issue, and he’s popped up on the injury report a few times this year with the same injury.
According to Archer, Bland hasn’t scheduled a surgery yet. Still, it sounds like the injury will likely sideline the defensive back for the rest of the 2025 campaign. Archer opines that Bland is likely destined for the injured reserve, which would keep him off the field for the rest of the regular season.
The former fifth-round pick emerged as a starter during his rookie campaign before having a prolific sophomore season. Bland finished that 2023 season with nine interceptions, five of which were returned for touchdowns (an NFL record). Unfortunately, the cornerback has been limited to only 19 appearances since that time. After grading Bland as the second-best CB in the NFL in 2023, Pro Football Focus has ranked the former All-Pro in the middle of the pack at his position in 2024 and 2025.
The Cowboys will be especially cautious with Bland’s injury after the team handed him a lucrative extension this past offseason. The cornerback inked a four-year, $92MM deal, including $50MM in guaranteed money. That extension has yet to kick in, and the Cowboys will surely want Bland to get past this persistent foot issue before he sees a significant jump in his cap hit.
As the Cowboys look to keep their slim playoff hopes alive, it will be interesting to see how the coaching staff manages their CB depth chart. Trevon Diggs was a surprise inactive for Sunday’s game against the Vikings, but the cornerback later revealed that he was healthy enough to play. After moving on from Kaiir Elam earlier this season, the Cowboys are currently eyeing a cornerback grouping that consists of Shavon Revel, Reddy Steward, and Caelen Carson.
Bengals To Activate Shemar Stewart From IR
While the Bengals are already eliminated from postseason contention, the team will be getting some defensive reinforcement for the stretch run. According to ESPN’s Ben Baby, defensive end Shemar Stewart will be activated from injured reserve for this weekend’s game against the Dolphins.
[RELATED: Bengals Designate Shemar Stewart To Return From IR]
Stewart returned to practice earlier this month but wasn’t activated in time for Week 15. The first-round pick apparently made enough progress at practice over the past few days to earn his activation from injured reserve.
The defensive end suffered a knee injury back in Week 9 that ended up shelving him for more than a month. According to Baby, Stewart suffered a torn PCL, although it wasn’t severe enough to require surgery. The Texas A&M product’s rookie campaign has been derailed by injuries. He missed a chunk of games early in the season thanks to an ankle sprain, and after returning for three contests, he was sidelined again with the PCL injury.
This has been a tumultuous season overall for Stewart, who was engaged in a publicized dispute over his rookie contract that kept him off the field for offseason workouts and the first week of training camp. Considered a raw prospect coming out of college, the absences have had a natural impact on the player’s on-field performance. In five games this season, Stewart has been limited to only six stops and a QB hit. Still, the edge rusher is confident he can make a mark on the organization before the 2025 campaign is through.
“I just want to go out there and make an impact — whether it’s doing my job or all the extraordinary stats,” Stewart said today (via Baby).
The Bengals have been without Trey Hendrickson for the past month-plus, opening the door for Joseph Ossai and Myles Murphy to earn the bulk of the snaps at defensive end. That duo will likely continue to lead the depth chart even with Stewart back on the field, but the rookie should earn more than a cameo on defense over the season’s final few weeks.
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.
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.