Jets To Start Brady Cook In Week 16, Sign Hendon Hooker
Despite impending returns from Justin Fields and/or Tyrod Taylor, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn announced on Wednesday that undrafted rookie quarterback Brady Cook will make his second straight start in Week 16.
Fields began the season as the starter and seemed to be headed for the bench midway through the season. An injury to Taylor kept Fields in the lineup for a few more weeks, but Taylor eventually took over in Week 12.
With Fields nursing a knee injury in Week 14, Cook stepped into the backup role. Then, when Taylor went down with a knee injury of his own, Cook finished the game, albeit with a 46.7% completion percentage and two interceptions. With neither of the veterans available in Week 15, Cook made his first career start with Adrian Martinez serving as the backup.
Cook completed 22 of his 33 passes against the Jaguars last Sunday, but they only went for 176 yards (5.3 yards per attempt) and one touchdown. He also threw three interceptions after two in his NFL debut the week before. Overall, Cook has completed just 57.1% of his passes with 5.4 yards per attempt and a 44.3 passer rating.
Regardless, the Jets are sticking with the Missouri product for Week 16. Taylor and Fields were limited participants in practice on Wednesday and Thursday, but even if one is ready to play on Sunday, they will back up Cook.
Martinez was re-signed by the 49ers earlier this week, so the Jets signed former Lions quarterback Hendon Hooker to their practice squad. The 2023 third-round pick will be elevated to the game day roster if neither Fields nor Taylor are available for Sunday’s matchup with the Saints.
Commanders DE Drake Jackson Will Make 2025 Debut In Week 16
Commanders defensive end Drake Jackson will make his 2025 debut on Saturday against the Eagles, per The Athletic’s Tashan Reed.
Jackson, 24, has not played since 2023 due to a torn patellar tendon that sidelined him for 2024, as well. The 2022 second-round pick was waived by the 49ers in May and took visits with other teams in October. Jackson eventually signed with the Commanders but was moved to injured reserve as soon as he arrived in Washington to continue his rehab.
Jackson made his practice debut a month later and was activated just before his 21-day practice window expired. He still needed a few more weeks to ramp up, but he is finally ready for his first in-game action of the season.
The former USC standout only appeared in 23 games in his first two seasons, but he did flash some potential before his knee injury, Jackson recorded six sacks and five tackles for loss while playing a rotational role on the 49ers defensive line. After such a major injury and an extensive recovery process, though, a return to his previous form is no guarantee.
Those factors may also cause the Commanders to be cautious with Jackson on Saturday. Their defensive end room has been ravaged by injuries this year, but the group has found some stability in recent weeks after the acquisitions of Clelin Ferrell and Keion White. A number of minor injuries have continued to plague the unit, so Jackson will provide reinforcements for the next few weeks. Washington has already been eliminated from the playoffs and may give him some more run if his debut goes well so they can evaluate him for next year.
Jets Place S Tony Adams On IR
The Jets placed veteran safety Tony Adams on injured reserve, per a team announcement.
Adams, 26, suffered a groin injury in New York’s Week 15 loss to the Jaguars. With only three games left in the regular season and the Jets eliminated from the playoffs, the fifth-year safety will not return this year. He appeared in 12 games this season with a 61% snap share, representing a drop from bigger roles in 2023 and 2024. He still ranks sixth on the team with 49 tackles and five passes defended.
Andre Cisco underwent season-ending shoulder surgery in November and Isaiah Oliver was placed on IR earlier this week, so the Jets will have to look elsewhere to fill their safety snaps next to rookie Malachi Moore. That wil likely be undrafted rookie Dean Clark, as the team’s other two safeties, Jarius Monroe and Keidron Smith have yet to play a defensive snap this season.
Adams was playing on a $3.26MM RFA tag this season and will hit free agency this offseason for the first time. The mid-level safety market has not been especially strong in recent years, so Adams may not see a significant pay increase on his next contract.
In a corresponding move, the Jets signed defensive tackle Payton Page from their practice squad. The undrafted rookie was elevated to the game day roster in Weeks 8 and 10 but only played five snaps on defense and nine on special teams. He will be the sixth defensive tackle on the 53-man roster, but the Jets could give him some playing time as they evaluate their young players heading into the offseason.
Cardinals Waive DT Justin Jones From IR
The Cardinals waived defensive tackle Justin Jones from injured reserve on Wednesday, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson. The move came without an injury settlement, according to Howard Balzer of CardsWire.
Jones, 29, was placed on injured reserve before the regular season due to a knee injury suffered in training camp. He will now go on waivers and can be claimed by any team except the Cardinals, though his interest will depend on the state of his knee. Even if he is healthy, Jones has barely played in the last two seasons, so he may be a better fit on a practice squad as he gets up to speed.
Despite an injury to first-round pick Walter Nolen, the Cardinals’ defensive line has largely remained healthy this year otherwise. Dante Stills, Dalvin Tomlinson, and Calais Campbell have all played more than 400 snaps, while Darius Robinson has chipped in 382 of his own. That rotation has not thrived, though, as Campbell leads the group with 5.5 sacks and eight tackles for loss. The other three have combined for just one sack and five tackles for loss.
Jones began his career as a Chargers third-round pick in 2018 and emerged as a starter in his second year, though he did not play a full season on his rookie contract. He signed a two-year deal with the Bears in 2022 and played in every game over the next two seasons with the best statistics of his career. That earned him plenty of interest in free agency last offseason, culminating in a three-year deal from the Cardinals worth just over $30MM.
The seven-year veteran was only three games into his Cardinals tenure when he suffered a season-ending torn triceps. A parting of ways between player and team was expected in the offseason, but the team decided to make the move before the end of the 2025 season. He will leave Arizona after playing just 100 snaps after earning just over $20MM.
By waiving Jones, the Cardinals freed up $8.8MM in 2026 cap space with $3.25MM in dead money, per OverTheCap.
Browns LB Devin Bush Found Not Guilty Of Simple Assault, Harassment Chargers
Browns linebacker Devin Bush was found not guilty of simple assault and harassment charges, per ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi.
Bush, 27, was arrested and charged in May after an altercation with his girlfriend, Shkurte Leka. He pled not guilty and scheduled a bench trial for December. A judge ruled on Tuesday that Bush was not guilty, though Leka could pursue civil action.
The incident came two months after Bush re-signed in Cleveland on a one-year, $3.25MM deal. After a rotational role in 2024, he has stepped up as a starter this season. Bush ranks second on the Browns in tackles (93) and third on passes defended (seven).
Bush’s arrest obviously created the potential for discipline from the NFL. Presumably, his acquittal will reduce the chances of punishment, but the NFL may conduct their own investigation into the incident.
Bush entered the pros as the Steelers’ No. 10 pick in the 2019 draft. He never lived up to his draft billing – due partially to a torn ACL in his second year – and was not retained after his rookie contract expired. He signed a one-year deal with the Seahawks in 2023 before joining the Browns in the following offseason.
Packers S Evan Williams Could Miss Time With MCL Sprain
Packers safety Evan Williams could miss time with an MCL sprain suffered in Sunday’s loss to the Broncos.
Williams went down on the same play on Micah Parson‘s ACL tear, per ESPN’s Rob Demovsky. Williams’ injury is not thought to be severe, according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, but the team would rather ensure that he is healthy for the playoffs rather than risk a re-aggravation.
The 2024 fourth-round pick earned a starting role as partway through his rookie season, though he missed four games due to hamstring and quad injuries. This year, he has a 91% snap share and ranks third on the team in tackles (92) and passes defended (five).
The Packers have used Williams and Xavier McKinney for virtually all of their safety snaps this year. Third on the team is Javon Bullard with 34 snaps, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). The 2024 second-rounder has primarily lined up in the slot this season, but he does have plenty of experience as a free safety after splitting time with Williams last year.
If Green Bay puts Bullard in Williams’ role, they will likely move Nate Hobbs or Keisean Nixon into the slot. Both players have plenty of experience there, though not this season. Hobbs began the year as a starter on the outside but was replaced by Carrington Valentine by the end of October. Hobbs then missed four games due to injury; upon his return, he resumed his participation in the Packers’ dime packages. Nixon, meanwhile, has started on the boundary all year. It would make sense for him and Valentine to stay put with Hobbs returning to his past role as the Raiders’ nickel.
Williams will hope to recover quickly, if not before the end of the season, then by the playoffs. The 9-4 Packers currently sit in second place in the NFC North and own the third wild card spot in the NFC.
The Packers are expected to have Christian Watson on the field for Saturday night’s face-off with the Bears. Watson suffered chest and shoulder injuries in Week 15, but said (via Matt Schneidman of The Athletic) that he is “feeling pretty good for everything considered.”
“I think it’ll be alright for the game,” Watson added. “We’re at the point in the season where you gotta fight through some stuff, so should be good.”
Cowboys CB Trevon Diggs Says He Is Healthy Enough To Play
Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs was a surprise inactive for Sunday’s game against the Vikings, sparking questions about his future in Dallas.
Diggs, 27, has not played since Week 6 due to a concussion and a knee injury, though it was not the knee that required surgery in 2023 and 2024. He was placed on injured reserve on October 25 and returned to practice at the end of November.
After two weeks of practice, Diggs appeared ready to play against the Vikings and said he was expecting to do so. Instead, he will have to wait another week before being activated from IR and returning to in-game action. Even when he does, he does not seem guaranteed to have a role in the defense.
“Trevon and I sat down and we had a very detailed conversation on Saturday,” Schottenheimer said on Monday (via ). “I told him not only the reasons why but also the standards and expectations.”
Diggs said (via ESPN’s Todd Archer) that he was “upset” and did not know why he was inactive despite a Saturday sit-down with head coach Brian Schottenheimer.
““This week, I showed them what they wanted to see in practice and it’s still the same result,” Diggs said. “I don’t know what else I need to do or what to show. At this point I feel like it’s not even, it’s not up to me or what I do. It’s really up to them, and what they want to do. I’m just showing up every day. I’m going to go to work.”
Diggs, a 2020 second-round pick, took over a starting cornerback job as soon as he arrived in Dallas, but spent four games on injured reserve due to a foot fracture. He broke out in 2021 with 21 passes defended and a league-high 11 interceptions, though he also had a tendency to give up big plays. Diggs did not have as much ball production the following year, but his overall coverage improved substantially. That earned him a five-year, $97MM extension; since signing it, he has only played in 19 games.
Between the injuries and a seemingly strained relationship between player and team, Diggs could be on his way out of Dallas this offseason. He is owed $47MM over the next three years, per OverTheCap; a post-June 1 cut would save the Cowboys $15.5MM in 2026 cap space with $2.9MM in dead money in 2026 and 2027.
The Cowboys signed DaRon Bland to an extension to a four-year, $90MM extension – a far better value than Diggs’ deal – just before the season started. In addition to making outside additions, Dallas could also roll with 2024 fifth-rounder Caelen Carson and 2025 3rd rounder Shavon Revel, who have both seen plenty of playing time amid Diggs’ absence.
Giants Waive K Younghoe Koo, Claim LB Caleb Murphy
The Giants made a flurry of roster moves on Tuesday, including the release of kicker Younghoe Koo and the addition of linebacker Caleb Murphy via waivers, per NFL insider Jordan Schultz and KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson.
Koo, 31, took over the Giants’ kicking job after Graham Gano suffered a herniated disk that forced him onto injured reserve for the second time this season. Gano previously missed Weeks 4 though 7 with a groin injury, during which time Jude McAtamney kicked in his place. He made both of his field goals but only nine of his 12 extra point tries. McAtamney returned to the practice squad when Gano came back in Week 8 and was later released altogether.
When Gano’s neck injury popped up in early November, the Giants signed Koo and undrafted free agent Ben Sauls to their practice squad. Koo won the starting job and made his first 12 kicks across four games, but failed to convert his two field goal attempts in Week 15. Though both misses came from outside of 50 yards, New York opted to waive the veteran and give Sauls a chance.
The rookie out of Pitt signed, fittingly, with the Steelers after the draft. Though he had virtually no chance of overtaking longtime starter Chris Boswell, he performed well in the preseason with a five-for-six mark on field goals and a perfect six-for-six showing on extra points. Sauls is now in line to make his NFL debut on Sunday against the Vikings.
Murphy, 26, will join his third team of the season after stints with the Chargers and the Patriots. He primarily featured on special teams and will likely continue in a similar role in New York.
The Giants also designated fourth-year offensive lineman Evan Neal to return from injured reserve. The former first-rounder’s mid-November hamstring injury and subsequent IR placement seemed to signify the end of his time in New York, but Neal may come back this season after all. The Giants do not necessarily need reinforcements along their offensive line, though, and Joshua Ezeudu returned to practice last week. If he is activated to the 53-man roster, there may not be room for Neal, so today’s move could have been a formality to give him some more practice reps before the year’s end.
Cardinals Place RB Zonovan Knight On IR
The Cardinals placed running back Zonovan Knight on injured reserve on Tuesday, per a team announcement.
Knight, 24, suffered a season-ending ankle injury in Sunday’s loss to the Texans. He emerged as a key part of Arizona’s backfield this season after injuries to James Conner and Trey Benson in September. The Cardinals initially tapped Michael Carter and Emari Demercado as the next running backs up, but Knight quickly established his own footing in the committee. With just 3.3 yards per carry, he has not been particularly efficient on the ground, but he has been one of the team’s few players to consistently reach the end zone. He leads the Cardinals with four rushing touchdowns – no other player has more than one – and ranks second on the offense with five total scores.
With Knight out for the year, Carter and Demarcado will likely get more playing time and touches. Demarcado has been significantly more efficient with 7.6 yards per carry, but he missed almost a month with a high ankle sprain. Carter has only 221 rushing yards on 67 carries for a career-low 3.3 yards per attempt, but he has been more effective through the air with 28 catches for 232 yards. The Cardinals also signed Corey Kiner off the Vikings’ practice squad at the beginning of December and can give him some more work on game day.
Arizona also placed wide receiver Andre Baccellia on injured reserve due to a neck injury, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson, which will also end his season. Baccellia had a peripheral role in the Cardinals offense in 2022 and 2023 and played more in 2024 after injuries in the team’s wide receiver room. To fill his spot on the 53-man roster, third-year wideout Jalen Cooks was signed from the practice squad.
Titans Place Safeties Kevin Winston, Xavier Woods, Mike Brown On IR
The Titans placed safeties Kevin Winston, Xavier Woods, and Mike Brown on injured reserve on Tuesday, per team writer Jim Wyatt.
All three went down in the Titans’ loss to the 49ers on Sunday and will be out for the rest of the season. Winston and Woods suffered hamstring injuries, while Brown hurt his ankle.
Winston and Woods combined for 16 starts and 839 snaps on defense this year and are the team’s sixth- and eighth-leading tacklers. Winston, a third-round rookie, had emerged as a full-time starter in the second half of the season, while Woods’ role has varied. Their absences will force Tennessee to start a different safety alongside Amani Hooker.
Brown could have fit the bill had he not been injured on Sunday, too. He played special teams almost exclusively this season, but last year, he occupied a 37% defensive snap share with 250 snaps at free safety, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). This is Brown’s second stint on IR this year; he previously suffered a knee injury in October and missed five games.
Kendell Brooks finished Sunday’s game at safety for the first significant defensive workload of his career. He could be tapped to start with Hooker in the next few weeks. Another option is former Seahawk Jerrick Reed, who has played a handful of defensive snaps in the last three years, but has primarily featured on special teams.
The Titans also added two safeties to their 53-man roster after placing Winston, Woods, and Brown on IR. 2023 sixth-rounder Erick Hallett, who started two games for the Lions amid their safety injuries this year, was signed off Detroit’s practice squad and could see playing time immediately. Tennesee also signed Sanoussi Kane off the Ravens’ practice squad; the 2024 seventh-rounder spent his rookie season as a core special teams contributor in Baltimore but was waived earlier this season in favor of undrafted rookie standout Keondre Jackson.