Bengals Place Geno Atkins On IR
The Bengals placed defensive tackle Geno Atkins on injured reserve, per a club announcement. The veteran has played through his right shoulder injury all year long, but he’ll need surgery and time off in order to fully recuperate. 
The injury may also mark the end of Atkins’ time with the Bengals. Atkins played in just eight games and, even when he was healthier earlier in the season, he voiced frustration about his role. The Bengals have the perennial Pro Bowler under contract through 2022, but his $14.8MM cap hit for 2021 might not make sense for Cincy.
Atkins has eight Pro Bowls to his credit to go along with the second-highest sack total in franchise history. Earlier in the year, he watched his longtime counterpart Carlos Dunlap — the No. 1 all-time Bengals sack leader — get shipped out to the Seahawks. The Bengals are clearly in need of another reboot and the 33-year-old probably wouldn’t fit the budget.
Atkins’ forgettable 2020 will end with zero sacks and zero starts. He’ll look to add to his 75.5 career sacks in 2021 — perhaps in another uniform.
Eagles’ Jack Driscoll Done For Year
Eagles right tackle Jack Driscoll will miss the rest of the season with a significant MCL sprain, sources tell NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero (on Twitter). Driscoll — who played through the pain to finish out Sunday’s game against the Saints — will be officially placed on injured reserve today or tomorrow.
Lane Johnson‘s October injury opened the door for Driscoll and the fourth-round pick has made the most of the opportunity, especially in recent weeks. The Eagles’ front five allowed Jalen Hurts to thrive against New Orleans last week with solid pocket protection and ample room to run. Hurts finished with 17-of-30 passes completed, plus 106 yards off of just 18 carries. Only a handful of other Eagles quarterbacks — including Michael Vick, Donovan McNabb, and Randall Cunningham — have rushed for 100+ yards in the modern era.
The 4-8-1 Eagles still have a 12% chance of reaching the playoffs, per the New York Times, but those odds will drop drastically if they can’t get past the Cardinals this week. The Birds need a 3-0 finish to have a puncher’s chance, but they’ll have to do it with yet another missing piece on the front line.
Packers’ Aaron Jones Chooses Drew Rosenhaus
Aaron Jones doesn’t want to wait much longer for a deal. With contract negotiations at an impasse, the Packers running back fired his agent and hired Drew Rosenhaus as his new representative (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com). He’ll make the move along with his brother, Alvin Jones, a former UTEP and Ravens linebacker. 
[RELATED: Packers Place Tyler Ervin On IR]
Jones is in the final year of his rookie deal and the former fifth-round pick is in line for a serious pay bump. After averaging 5.5 yards per carry in a limited sample through his first two years, Jones has proven that he can produce as a primary back. Last year, he notched 1,084 yards on the ground with 4.6 yards per tote. This year, he’s got 800+ yards across eleven games with an average of 5.1 yards per touch. He’s a receiving threat, too, having already snagged 38 passes for 285 yards and two scores in 2020.
The fourth-year pro won’t top Christian McCaffrey‘s contract, but he’ll aim high as he looks to secure the bag. In the meantime, he’ll keep the focus on the field as the Packers look to wrap up the conference.
Texans’ Justin Reid Done For Year
The season is over for Justin Reid. The Texans are set to place the safety on the injured reserve list with a hand injury, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. 
It’s familiar territory for Reid, who has undergone surgery in each of the last two offseasons. Before the 2019 season, he went under the knife for a wrist injury. Last year, it was a torn labrum. It’s not immediately clear whether Reid will require surgery this time but, at minimum, he’ll need some time to rest and recover.
Reid’s season ends with 83 stops, two sacks, six tackles for a loss, and four quarterback hits. Despite the roadblocks, the former 2018 third-round pick from Stanford has quietly established himself as one of the game’s better young safeties. He’s also shown that he can play through the pain. Up until this year, Reid missed only regular season game with a concussion. Last year, he started in every one of the club’s other 15 games, picking up two interceptions to go along with 78 total tackles. He was also on the field for every defensive snap in both of the Texans’ postseason contests.
It was a rough Sunday for everyone in Houston as the Texans lost to the Bears, dropping their second straight game in lopsided fashion. They’ll wrap the season against the Colts, Bengals, and Titans before embarking on a pivotal offseason.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/14/20
The latest practice squad moves from around the NFL:
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: CB Lafayette Pitts
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: WR Ventell Bryant
- Waived: K Lirim Hajrullahu
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: TE Isaac Nauta
Houston Texans
- Released: K Brett Maher
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed:L OT J’Marcus Webb
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: TE Bug Howard, LB Aaron Patrick
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: DT Niles Scott
- Released: DT Lee Autry
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: P Lachlan Edwards
- Released: WR Manasseh Bailey
Los Angeles Rams
- Placed on COVID-19 list: TE Kendall Blanton
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: WR Isaiah Ford
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: RB Khalfani Muhammad
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/14/20
We’ll keep track of the latest minor moves here:
Baltimore Ravens
- Promoted from practice squad: TE Eric Tomlinson
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: CB Lafayette Pitts
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted: WR Ja’Marcus Bradley
- Waived: RB Dontrell Hilliard
Denver Broncos
- Signed: CB Parnell Motley
- Placed on COVID-19 list: K Brandon McManus
Indianapolis Colts
- Placed on COVID-19 list: LB Jordan Glasgow
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Waived: LB Reggie Gilbert
Las Vegas Raiders
- Waived: G Patrick Omameh
New York Giants
- Waived: DB JaQuarius Landrews
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed off Washington’s practice squad: C Ross Pierschbacher
Cowboys: We’re Keeping Mike McCarthy
Despite speculation about his job security, Cowboys VP Stephen Jones says Mike McCarthy will “absolutely” be the head coach in 2021. In an interview with 105.3 The Fan, Jones placed more of the onus on injuries than McCarthy’s coaching. 
“There will be absolutely no change with coach McCarthy, and I am surprised that someone would question Mike, these unprecedented situations that everyone’s been in on top of that,” Jones said. “No one is making excuses, but we have had some real challenges in the injury category. If you look at his track record and his pedigree, he’s consistently won year in and year out. We have the utmost confidence that this ship is going to be righted quickly, and Mike is going to be the leader of this group. He’s certainly a great head coach and I think we’re going to see that going forward. He’s a great head coach in this league, he’s accomplished a lot, and he’s going to accomplish a lot more before it’s all said and done.”
Jones’ vote of confidence comes on the heels of a morale-boosting 30-7 win over the Bengals. The competition had something to do with it, but the Dallas D gave McCarthy their best performance of the year. That definitely helps the coach’s case, but it probably won’t save defensive coordinator Mike Nolan. In his first DC role since 2014, the Cowboys D has been a total flop in 2020. The Cowboys — in the NFL’s cellar for points allowed – are expected to make some serious changes this spring, even though McCarthy will be spared.
Sam Darnold Wants To Stay With Jets
It’s not easy being green. Apparently, Sam Darnold doesn’t want to take the easy way out. On Monday, the Jets quarterback said that he wants to stay put. 
“I love it here…I love living here,” Darnold said (Twitter link via Connor Hughes of The Athletic) “I’ve always said I want to be a Jet for life, but that decision isn’t up to me. I believe in myself as a quarterback and a player in this league.”
Darnold would remain in New Jersey if he had his druthers, but, as he mentioned, he does not. The Jets lead the Trevor Lawrence sweepstakes by a wide margin and it would be a surprise to see them draft anyone besides the Clemson star with the No. 1 overall pick.
Darnold — hardly grizzled at the age of 23 — has gone 11-24 as the Jets’ starting QB with 41 touchdowns and a near-equal 37 interceptions. He hasn’t been handed the best of situations, given the team’s constant chaos, coaching changes, and penny pinching, but the Jets may be done with him all the same.
Even though Darnold is saying the right things today, it’s hard to imagine the former No. 3 overall pick holding the clipboard for a younger, fresher face.
Jim Harbaugh: I’m ” 100% Committed” To Michigan
Rumblings about Jim Harbaugh and the University of Michigan parting ways have put the coach back on the NFL radar. For what it’s worth, Harbaugh says he remains “100% committed” to the Wolverines and his incoming class. 
“Yeah, that question does come up and I tell ’em, my plan is, committed to Michigan,” Harbaugh said, referring to his conversations with recruits. “Have been, am and will remain. As far as the (contract), [athletic director Warde Manuel] and I will talk at the end of the season on the current contract. That’s the truth. That’s where it stands.”
Harbaugh is under contract through the end of the 2021 season, the final year of his lucrative seven-year pact. The former Niners head coach has reportedly explored a return to the pros, and a number of clubs are already doing their homework on him.
NFL teams are already well aware of Harbaugh’s name and history. The energetic coach led the 49ers to three straight NFC championship games in his first three years as their head coach. And, since moving to Michigan, he’s rebuffed multiple offers from NFL teams.
Jaguars To Start Gardner Minshew
It’s the return of Minshew Mania in Jacksonville. On Monday, Doug Marrone named Gardner Minshew as his starting quarterback moving forward. 
Marrone gave Mike Glennon the hook in the third quarter of their loss to the Titans. It was too-little-too-late, as the Jags went on to lose 31-10, but Minshew made an early statement with a touchdown on his first drive and 178 passing yards to close out the game. Still, Marrone was hesitant to anoint Minshew as the No. 1 QB in the immediate aftermath.
“As far as moving forward, I haven’t spoken to both guys so just out of respect for them, obviously I have in my mind what I want to do but I’m actually going to make sure I speak to them first, before I do something through the media,” Marrone said (via ESPN.com). “[Glennon] threw some good balls and we left some plays out there and he had some drops. I think it’s not on one person. I mean, I think everyone can see that. ”
Minshew — who is now fully or mostly recovered from his injured thumb — will be fighting for his future. The Jaguars may look to draft a passer in the first round, though they’re also second in the Trevor Lawrence sweepstakes.