Jets Rule Out QB Justin Fields For Week 14
The Jets ruled out quarterback Justin Fields due to knee soreness, per ESPN’s Rich Cimini.
Head coach Aaron Glenn said that Fields reported the issue on Wednesday. He was a limited practice participant on Thursday, but his knee did not respond well enough to play this weekend.
Fields began the season as the Jets’ starting quarterback but was demoted to the backup job after several disappointing performances. Tyrod Taylor has started the last two games and is expected to do so for the rest of the season.
With Fields sidelined, rookie Brady Cook will back up Taylor on Sunday. He has been elevated from the practice squad for the same role twice this season but has not played a snap. The undrafted free agent out of Missouri will likely use up his third elevation on Sunday. The Jets could also clear a spot on their 53-man roster and sign Cook from the practice squad.
This is the second injury to sideline Fields this year. He missed Week 3 with a concussion, but has otherwise stayed healthy enough to play.
His performance, however, has not been up to par for a starter. He is averaging just 139.9 passing yard, the third-lowest mark among qualified starters. He has protected the ball through the air with only one pick and a league-low 0.5% interception rate, but he also fumbled the ball four times.
Fields’ tenure in New York is poised to end after a disappointing debut year. The Jets have been willing to eat a massive amount of dead cap space in the last few years and could do so again with the $10MM in guarantees remaining on Fields’ deal. He will then look for a new team, but after two attempts as a reclamation project, he may not get another chance at a starter. At a minimum, he will likely need to fight for a starting job in training camp.
Lions S Brian Branch Suffers Torn Achilles
The Lions fear that star safety Brian Branch suffered a torn Achilles in the team’s Thursday night win over the Cowboys, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
It was reported earlier this morning (via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero) that Branch had been diagnosed with an Achilles injury pending further tests, stirring fears of a tear that would end his season. That will indeed be the case, as it is far too late in the season for Branch to rush back to the field.
The third-year safety limped off the field late in Thursday’s game and was carted back to the locker room. The Lions initially announced that Branch injured his ankle. After the game, he was seen in a walking boot and crutches (via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press), and head coach Dan Campbell confirmed that the injury was believed to be serious.
Branch’s absence will be a huge loss for the Lions defense, especially considering the myriad of other injuries in their secondary. Cornerback Terrion Arnold is out for the season after shoulder surgery and safety Kerby Joseph has not played since Week 6. Two other cornerbacks, D.J. Reed and Ennis Rakestraw, have also missed a significant amount of time.
Branch was one of the few reasons the unit stayed afloat as long as it did. Though the Lions have given up at least 325 passing yards twice in their last three games, they also held their previous three opponents to under 200 yards through the air. Detroit only won three of those six games, putting them at 8-5 and in third place in the NFC North. They trail the Bears (9-3) and Packers (8-3-1) with one win against the former and two losses against the other. The Lions will go to Chicago in Week 18 for a game that could have huge playoff implications.
They will have to make that trip without Branch, who has started all but one game this year. Here are his ranks on the Lions defense: second in passes defended (nine), third in tackles (75) and fifth in sacks (2.5) and tackles for loss (five). In addition to his official counting stats, Branch also has a career-low 4.9% missed tackle rate, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), and he has done all of this playing a demanding, versatile role with 282 snaps as a free safety, 236 in the box, and 149 in the slot.
With all of that in mind, it is clear that no one player can replace Branch’s multidimensional contributions. The Lions will have to do so in the aggregate, but with so many other defensive backs missing, it could get complicated. Second-year safety Thomas Harper took on Joseph’s more traditional free safety role for six games before he was supplanted by Avonte Maddox on Thursday night. Branch’s injury will likely bring Harper back into the mix. The Lions can use more three-linebacker looks to take care of Branch’s box snaps, and Amik Robertson could slide into the slot when needed. However, with Arnold down, Detroit would then need a No. 2 outside cornerback for nickel looks. That will likely be Rock Ya-Sin.
Branch will now face a long road to recovering, likely with the hopes of returning by the start of the 2026 season. Achilles recoveries have gotten shorter and shorter in recent years with some players opting for a SpeedBridge procedure to accelerate their return timeline. But a major December injury could make it difficult for an athletic, physical player like Branch to get back to full strength in time for the regular season.
Lions Place TE Brock Wright On Injured Reserve
The Lions placed tight end Brock Wright on injured reserve after an injury to his trachea, per a team announcement.
The move comes three weeks after Sam LaPorta went down with a back injury that is expected to end his season. Wright already had a 51% snap share before LaPorta’s injury; in the last two weeks, that number has been over 80%. The fifth-year tight end has not been able to replace LaPorta’s receiving production, or even come close. On 11 targets in his last two games, Wright only has five catches for 37 yards and zero touchdowns. He is still a reliable presence in the run game and earned the two highest run-blocking grades of the season in those matchups.
The extent of Wright’s injury remains unclear. He was listed with a neck injury on this week’s practice report and described the injury as similar to Frank Ragnow‘s fractured cartilage in 2020, per Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Ragnow only missed two games, but Wright’s absence will be at least four.
That will force the Lions to go to the next man up once again. Ross Dwelley and Anthony Firkser are listed as the second- and third-team tight ends on the depth chart, but they have only played 100 and 18 offensive snaps this year, respectively. Dwelley saw a huge bump in playing time in Week 13, but does not offer much as a pass-catcher with just three receptions in his last three seasons and 10 in his last five.
Detroit uses plenty of offensive formations with two tight ends, so they may call on undrafted rookie Zach Horton or four-year veteran Giovanni Ricci to take on some game day action. That will not be the case in Week 14, as the Lions did not elevate either from the practice squad for Thursday’s game. They may be planning to reduce their usage of two-tight end sets and/or call on sixth offensive lineman Dan Skipper as an extra blocker.
Rather than use Horton or Ricci this week, the Lions opted to sign cornerback Nick Whiteside and elevate wide receiver Malik Cunningham from the practice squad. Whiteside has appeared in five games this season, while Cunningham will be making his Lions debut to add depth to their depleted receiving corps.
Commanders Activate DE Drake Jackson From IR
The Commanders activated defensive end Drake Jackson from injured reserve, per a team announcement.
The team released safety Darnell Savage earlier in the day to clear a 53-man roster spot for Jackson. Savage appeared in three games this season with a rotational role in Washington’s secondary.
Jackson, 24, was a second-round pick by the 49ers in 2022. He appeared in 15 games as a rookie with decent production on a 33% snap share. He was on pace for better numbers in 2023 before a torn patellar tendon in Week 8 prematurely ended his season. The injury also sidelined him for all of 2024, and he was waived in May as San Francisco turned their attention to other edge rushers.
The third-year defensive end continued his recovery in 2025. Once he neared a return, he took visits with the Commanders, Jets, and Ravens in early October. He ultimately signed in Washington but was immediately placed on injured reserve to finish his rehab.
Jackson was designated to return to practice as soon as his minimum IR stint was up and is now set to make his 2025 debut on Sunday against the Vikings. He will add depth to an EDGE room that lost Dorance Armstrong to a season-ending injury in October. The Commanders will hope Jackson can reinforce a pass rush that has generated the fifth-fewest pressures in the NFL this season, though their sack and quarterback knockdown totals rank closer to the middle of the pack.
Texans DT Tim Settle Out For Season
Texans defensive tacke Tim Settle will undergo surgery to address a foot injury and miss the rest of the 2025 season, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.
Settle, 28, has been a core part of Houston’s defensive line this season with 12 starts and a 53% snap share. His statistical production – 15 tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack – are not especially impressive, but the success of the unit as the whole is undeniable.
The Texans lead the NFL in points allowed and total defense with top-five ranks against the pass and the run. Settle may not be putting up big numbers, but he does rank third on the team with a 78.0 pass rushing grade and fourth with 17 pressures, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
The Texans have several players who can help fill Settle’s snaps. Either Tommy Togiai and Mario Edwards will get the starting nod, but both will see an uptick in playing time. Folorunso Fatukasi is eligible to be activated from injured reserve, but that has been the case for a month without any updates on his status. As a result, veteran Marlon Davidson and undrafted rookie Junior Tafuna could factor into the D-line rotation, whether that is via a practice squad elevation or a promotion to the active roster. Neither has appeared in a game this year.
As for Settle, he will spend the rest of the season recovering from surgery and is expected to be “recovered well ahead of the 2026 season,” per Garafolo. He is set to hit free agency in the offseason and should earn a raise on his current $3MM APY.
Eagles DT Jalen Carter To Miss Time After Procedures On Both Shoulders
Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter underwent procedures on both of his shoulders to address lingering injuries and will miss one week as a result, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
It is important to note that Carter had a medical procedure, but not a surgery, according to Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer. He is considered week-to-week, but is expected to return at some point this season.
After last week’s loss to the Bears, Carter revealed that he had been dealing with his shoulder issues since the spring. He played through it up to this point and has done so with an impressive 85% snap share, which is a lot for his position even without the injuries. The 2023 first-rounder has not been as dominant in the trenches with only two sacks and four tackles for loss in 12 games, a step back from last year’s production. He still has 36 pressures, 10th-most among defensive tackles, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
Carter, 24, opted to have the procedures now in order to get back to 100% before the playoffs. The Eagles are currently leading the NFC East and are expected to qualify for the postseason, but the conference race is much tighter. Five other teams have a record equal to or better than Philadelphia’s, with three teams one game back. Having Carter at full strength in the playoffs is more important than having him below 100% in the next five games.
The Eagles will hope Moro Ojomo and Jordan Davis can step up in terms of their performance in Carter’s absence, but both are already at a 60% snap share and will not be able to fill their teammate’s snaps. The team will instead ask Byron Young and Ty Robinson to take on a bigger role in the defense. Young, a Raiders third-rounder in 2023, has not produced much this season, while Robinson is a fourth-round rookie who has only played 35 snaps this year.
Philadelphia’s D-line will have to hold the line over the next few games until Carter returns. If he can come back with a vengeance at last year’s level of play, he could be a crucial difference-maker in the playoffs.
Panthers Expected To Pick Up Bryce Young’s Fifth-Year Option, Wait On Extension
In the last 15 season, the Panthers have won more than seven games only three times. They are already at seven wins in 2025 with four games to go after their Week 14 bye, putting them on pace for their best finish since 2017.
Carolina’s success is primarily due to a defense that has improved from dead-last in 2024 to middle of the pack this year, but clutch play from third-year quarterback Bryce Young has been a major factor. He has led four fourth-quarter comebacks and five game-winning drives.
However, he is not exactly setting the world on fire statistically, averaging fewer than 200 passing yards per game and ranking 23rd in passer rating (87.9) and QBR (45.6). Young has also thrown nine interceptions already; last season, he threw nine picks in 14 games, and in 2023, he threw 10 in 16 games.
His performance this season has set up an interesting two years for the Panthers and their young quarterback. Young will be eligible for an extension this offseason, and a decision on his fifth-year option will be due on May 1.
The latter situation is simpler than the former. Young’s fifth-year option is projected by OverTheCap to be $26.5MM, though that could rise to $39.7MM if he makes the Pro Bowl this season. That feels unlikely, but a surprise playoff berth on the back of Young’s clutch performances could garner him some consideration. He does have to be selected on the original ballot to upgrade his fifth-year option, according to the NFL’s CBA; a 2022 Tyler Huntley situation (filling in for an injured original selection) would not qualify. A Pro Bowl bump would make Young’s fifth-year option a much tougher decision, but for now, the team is expected to pick it up, per ESPN’s Dan Graziano.
Picking up the fifth-year option ensures that Young is under contract at an affordable price for a starter. It would also allow the Panthers to wait on an extension. They are not expected to pursue one this offseason, as Young has not quite cemented himself as the future of the franchise. Another, more significant leap in 2026 may do so, at which point the Panthers would likely try to finalize an extension before the 2027 season.
As a result, the cost of an extension may be substantially lower this offseason as opposed to the next. That sets up a clear dichotomy for the Panthers. Do they want to bet on Young now in the hopes of continue development and a contract that looks like a steal a few years from now? Or do they want to wait and see if he is really their long-term starter.
It is worth noting that Panthers head coach Dave Canales came in the year after the team selected Young with the No. 1 overall pick. As a result, he had to give Young a chance for at least a year or two. The 24-year-old quarterback has responded with some development, but it is hard to argue that he is even a mid-tier starter.
If Young cannot reach or eclipse that level next season, Canales may want to handpick his next quarterback himself. He may already have designs to do so. As the saying goes, NFL stands for Not For Long. Coaches can have extremely short leashes, especially under owners whose teams are struggling and/or are too involved in day-to-day operations. Both could be said of Panthers owner David Tepper, so if Canales wants to be in Carolina for the long haul, he may want to choose the quarterback that will give him the best chance.
The rest of the 2023 class becomes eligible for an extension next offseason. C.J. Stroud is the only quarterback that looks like the future of his franchise, so the Texans are considered more likely to pay him than the Panthers are to pay Young, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Bills DE Joey Bosa To Miss Time
Bills defensive end Joey Bosa is expected to miss time with a hamstring injury, according to NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe.
Bosa went down in Buffalo’s Week 13 victory over the Steelers. The team hopes he only misses a game or two, but an extended absence is possible. It seems likely that Bosa will miss the Bills’ next game against the Bengals after he was a non-participant in Wednesday’s practice. He is also dealing with a wrist injury, per the team’s official injury report.
Bosa’s absence could be a significant loss for the Bills. He leads the team with five sacks – no other player has more than three – and eight tackles for loss. Those numbers represent somewhat of a resurgence for Bosa after he only managed five sacks and five tackles for loss in 14 games last season.
Bosa’s bounce-back campaign is also reflected in his stats and grades from Pro Football Focus (subscription required). His 41 pressures, 16.0% pass rush win rate and 90.1 pass rushing grade all lead the Bills; the last number ranks fifth among all NFL edge rushers.
Rookie defensive tackle T.J. Sanders will likely see more time at defensive end in Bosa’s absence, though he has been part of that rotation for the last several weeks. The second-round pick did not typically line up off the edge in college, but his athleticism makes it feasible in Buffalo’s 4-3 defensive scheme. In fact, two of Sanders’ last three games have featured his best PFF grades of the year. In those matchups, he lined up just once as a defensive tackle with 37 snaps at defensive end.
2024 fifth-rounder Javon Solomon, who has primarily featured on special teams this year, should also see an uptick in defense playing time. Buffalo may also consider calling up one of their three practice squad defensive ends – Morgan Fox, Andre Jones, and Shaq Lawson, but none have seen any in-game action this year. One could replace Bosa on the game day roster, but Sanders and Solomon will likely take on the lion’s share of the available snaps.
The Bills’ optimism about Bosa’s return timeline indicates that he is not a candidate to be placed on injured reserve, which would mandate a four-week absence not only from games, but also from practices.
Seahawks Designate S Julian Love, 2 Others To Return From IR
The Seahawks designated safety Julian Love, defensive tackle Jarran Reed, and wide receiver Dareke Young to return from injured reserve on Wednesday, per ESPN’s Brady Henderson.
Love was placed on IR on November 1 after a setback in his recovery from an early-season hamstring injury. Reed and Young joined him a week later, Reed with wrist and thumb issues, while Young with a quad strain.
Love has only played three games this season, though he played all of Seattle’s defense snaps in those contests. Third-year safety Ty Okada has stepped up in Love’s absence with a solid all-around performance. He ranks 19th among NFL safeties (min. 100 snaps) with a 74.3 overall grade from Pro Football Focus (subscription required). He also earned grades of at least 70.0 for his run defense, pass rushing, and coverage. As a result, Okada could maintain a role in the Seahawks defense even after Love returns to the field.
Reed, a 10-year veteran, appeared in Seattle’s first eight games with a 47% snap share, a notable decrease from 72% in 2023 and 60% last year. His production has dipped accordingly; he only recorded 17 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and one tackle for loss at the start of the season. The Seahawks have primarily called on Brandon Pili to fill Reed’s snaps, though Mike Morris and Quinton Bohanna have also seen an uptick in playing time.
Young occupied a core special teams role to start the year with only 34 snaps on offense in his six appearances. The fourth-year wideout had a similar snap distribution during his first three seasons in the NFL. A number of Seahawks saw additional playing time in Young’s absence, including outside linebacker Connor O’Toole and wide receiver Cody White.
Love, Young, and Reed will all have 21 days to practice before they must be activated or placed on season-ending IR.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/2/25
Twenty-one different teams made practice squad transactions on Tuesday. Here are the latest updates:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released: RB Montrell Johnson, RB Sincere McCormick
- Signed: LB Eku Leota
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: LB William Kwenkeu, RB Jonathan Ward
- Placed on practice squad IR: LB Chandler Martin
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: DE Andre Jones
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: CB Jalen Kimber
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DT Simeon Barrow, G Jack Conley, RB Ahmani Marshall, LB Mark Robinson
- Placed on practice squad IR: DE Julian Okwara
- Released: LB Eugene Asante
Denver Broncos
- Released: WR Kyrese Rowan
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: CB Shemar Bartholomew
- Released: CB Tyron Herring, WR Michael Woods
Houston Texans
- Signed: OLB Xavier Thomas
Las Vegas Raiders
- Released: K Greg Joseph
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: C Josh Kaltenberger, OT Foster Sarell
- Released: WR Luke Grimm, OT David Sharpe
Los Angeles Rams
- Released: OL Wyatt Bowles
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: OL Kion Smith
- Released: OL Braeden Daniels
Minnesota Vikings
- Released: QB Desmond Ridder
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: CB Beanie Bishop
- Released: RB Ian Wheeler
New York Jets
- Signed: CB Samuel Womack
- Released: WR Brandon Smith
Philadelphia Eagles
- Released: DB Parry Nickerson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: DB Daequan Hardy
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: OLB Ja’Markis Weston
- Released: C Doug Kramer, WR Brenden Rice
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: RB Owen Wright
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: WR Kristian Wilkerson
Washington Commanders
- Signed: WR Robbie Chosen
- Released: LS Zach Triner
With J.J. McCarthy close to a return from his concussion, the Vikings parted ways with Ridder. He was signed last week after McCarthy entered concussion protocol, but was not elevated to back up Max Brosmer in Week 13. That responsibility instead went to John Wolford, who remains in Minnesota.
Bishop was released by the Steelers at the beginning of November. After appearing all 17 games last year with a 50% snap share, he did not make the 53-man roster this season and remained on the practice squad. He will now join the Saints in the hopes of making his 2025 debut in New Orleans.