Chiefs’ Eric Berry To Play Vs. Chargers
Finally, Eric Berry is ready to take the field. The Chiefs’ three-time All-Pro safety will play on Thursday night vs. the Chargers, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter). 
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Berry has not seen the field since Week 1 of the 2017 season when he ruptured his left Achilles. Then, this year, he developed a heel problem on his right foot. Berry was diagnosed with Haglund’s deformity, an issue that causes pain in the Achilles area. In late November, Berry was finally cleared to practice with his teammates for the first time since training camp. On Wednesday, he got the long-awaited go-ahead to play.
The Chiefs have enjoyed a phenomenal year, even without their star safety. The 11-2 squad will be only stronger with Berry back out on the field and could push the defense closer to the unreal production of the offensive unit.
The Chiefs’ defense has allowed the third most total yards of any team in the NFL (5,325) while surrendering the most passing yards (3,663). Berry, who has three All-Pro nods and five Pro Bowl selections to his credit, could go a long way towards tamping down those numbers.
Unfortunately for the Chiefs, they still won’t be at full strength for their big game against the Chargers. Running back Spencer Ware is doubtful, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter), and wide receiver Sammy Watkins has been officially ruled out. Running back Damien Williams is in line to start in place of Ware and the Chiefs will once again rely heavily on Tyreek Hill to pick up the slack at wide receiver.
Saints Waive WR Brandon Marshall
The Saints have released wide receiver Brandon Marshall, a source tells Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The move will create room for tight end Erik Swoope, who has been claimed off waivers from the Colts (Twitter link via Mike Florio of PFT). 
It was a short stay in New Orleans for Marshall, who was signed in November when Dez Bryant tore his Achilles just hours after inking his contract. Despite spending a full month with the team, Marshall never saw the field. Instead, he was used as a scout team receiver and was unable to leapfrog the team’s top five of Michael Thomas, Tre’Quan Smith, Austin Carr, Keith Kirkwood, and Tommylee Lewis.
The fact that Marshall could not crack the rotation in spite of injuries to Bryant, Cameron Meredith, and Ted Ginn Jr. probably doesn’t bode well for his NFL future. The transaction could also be a sign that Ginn still has a chance to return from IR this year, but there’s no word on that front just yet.
Marshall is a six-time Pro Bowler, but he hasn’t played at an elite level since the 2015 season in which he posted 109 receptions, 1,502 yards, and a league-leading 14 touchdowns for the Jets. Injuries have limited his effectiveness and overall production, and it’s fair to wonder if this will mark his last stop in the league.
Swoope, meanwhile, joins the club just hours after being discarded by the Colts. He was largely eclipsed by Eric Ebron and Jack Doyle this year, but he still managed three touchdown grabs in 2018. Swoope – for the moment – is one of four TEs on the roster along with Ben Watson, Josh Hill, and Dan Arnold.
Seahawks’ Mychal Kendricks Done For Year
Mychal Kendricks‘ tumultuous season will end on a down note. The Seahawks linebacker suffered a broken tibia on Monday night and will miss the rest of the season, sources tell ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link). Kendricks will be placed on injured reserve this week, opening up a spot on the 53-man roster. 
Kendricks, of course, has bigger things to worry about than football. After pleading guilty to federal insider trading charges, Kendricks will face sentencing in January. He faces between 30 and 37 months in prison, meaning that Monday night’s game could mark his last in the NFL. If he is imprisoned for the full 37 months, he’ll be 31 years old at the time of his release and three years removed from the game.
Kendricks made his Seahawks debut in Week 2 against the Bears, but after some back-and-forth with the league, he was hit with an eight-game suspension in October. His 2018 season ends with 20 tackles and two sacks over the course of four games.
The loss of Kendricks stings for Seattle as they’ll have a thinner group of LBs to draw from in the playoffs. Moving forward, they project to start Barkevious Mingo, Bobby Wagner, and K.J. Wright, assuming that Wright’s knee is stable enough to play. Late round rookies Jake Martin and Shaquem Griffin are also on hand to sub in at outside linebacker and Villanova product Austin Calitro can contribute in the middle.
Bears Place CB Bryce Callahan On IR
Bryce Callahan‘s season is over. On Wednesday, the Bears placed the slot cornerback on injured reserve. 
Callahan broke a bone in his foot during Sunday’s huge win over the Rams. Initially, the Bears were keeping their fingers crossed for a quick recovery, but further tests revealed that he’ll need more time to heal.
Callahan isn’t a household name, but he has been stellar for Chicago this year. Through 14 weeks, he ranks as Pro Football Focus’ No. 11 ranked corner in the league, thanks to his strong scores in both coverage and the pass rush. Callahan has two sacks and five total QB hits, showing that his speed can be used for more than just neutralizing receivers.
To take Callahan’s place on the roster, the Bears signed defensive back Marcus Williams. Williams, who previously played for the Texans and Jets, spent two games with the Bucs this season before being waived from IR with a settlement in October.
Without Callahan, the Bears will likely turn to Sherrick McManis as the third corner. He’s a bit unproven, but he has played well in a limited sample of snaps this season. With a bit of luck, and help from the Bears’ linebacker group, McManis could be a decent replacement for Callahan in the postseason.
49ers’ Kentavius Street Cleared To Practice
The 49ers have opened the practice window for rookie defensive end Kentavius Street. Street remains on the PUP list but may have an opportunity to see the field before the year is through. 
The Niners selected Street in the fourth round of this year’s draft after he suffered a torn ACL. Prior to the injury, the N.C. State product had some second/third round buzz, so the Niners were happy to take the patient approach with the 21-year-old.
Street appeared in 51 games (35 starts) during his collegiate career, compiling 9.5 sacks. He had one of his best seasons as a senior in 2017, finishing with 38 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and one forced fumble in 13 games.
If activated for the 49ers’ final games, the rookie figures to support starters Arik Armstead and Solomon Thomas along with rotational players Cassius Marsh and Ronald Blair. Depending on team needs elsewhere, activating Street may require waiving seventh-round rookie Jullian Taylor.
Giants To Activate Cody Latimer
Cody Latimer will return for the Giants’ final games in 2018. The wide receiver will be activated for Week 16, allowing him to play him against the Colts and Cowboys, as Matt Lombardo of NJ.com writes. 
The Giants designated Latimer for return in late November, opening up a three-week window for activation. So far, he’s looked healthy on the practice field, and doctors have given him clearance to play again.
The Giants aren’t playing for much at this point, but this will be an opportunity for Latimer to play his way on to the 2019 roster. For now, he’s scheduled to reach unrestricted free agency in March after the expiration of his one-year, $2.5MM contract.
Latimer, 26, was enjoying an expanded role in the Giants’ offense against the Eagles on Oct. 11 before he went down with a hamstring injury. The wide receiver had six catches for 108 yards across four games before being sidelined.
The Giants will not have Latimer for Sunday’s game against the Titans and it remains to be seen whether they’ll have Odell Beckham Jr. for the contest. OBJ has been sidelined with a quad injury and did not practice on Wednesday morning.
Steelers To Work Out Kickers
The Steelers are giving serious thought to moving on from kicker Chris Boswell. On Wednesday, the club flew in free agent kickers Kai Forbath and Matt McCrane to compete with the incumbent kicker, sources tell Tom Pelissero of NFL.com (on Twitter). 
Days after Boswell missed two field goals, including a game tying try, against the Raiders, head coach Mike Tomlin admitted that he would consider alternatives. He also noted the general lack of quality options in the free agent pool and he was therefore undecided on whether to audition other kickers. After some consideration, the Steelers opted to open up a competition.
Boswell’s miss at the end of Sunday’s game can be attributed to the bad turf in Oakland, but the rest of his struggles this year cannot be written off. Of course, this comes just months after the Steelers gave him a four-year, $19.2MM extension with a $6MM roster bonus, which may complicate the final decision.
The division-leading Steelers finish out the year against the Patriots, Saints, and Bengals. Thanks to a three-game losing streak, they lead the Ravens by just 0.5 games for the AFC North crown.
NFL Makes Changes To Rooney Rule
On Wednesday, league owners agreed to make adjustments to the Rooney Rule. The rule, which stipulates that NFL teams must interview at least one minority candidate before hiring a new head coach or GM, will now require clubs to interview one minority candidate who is not employed by the team or on the league’s list of suggested minority candidates.
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Ostensibly, the rule is being changed in order to force teams to consider minority candidates in good faith, rather than interviewing a minority coach or executive in order to fulfill an obligation. There’s no guarantee that the adjustment will accomplish that, however – teams are still liable to lock in on a candidate before the interview process starts.
Although the NFL won’t come right out and say it, the rule change is likely in response to the Raiders’ hiring of Jon Gruden in the last coaching cycle. The Raiders technically interviewed two minority candidates for the job in Oakland tight ends coach Bobby Johnson and USC offensive coordinator Tee Martin, but all indications are that Gruden reached verbal agreement with owner Mark Davis before those interviews took place.
Dolphins Place C Jake Brendel On IR
The Dolphins placed center/guard Jake Brendel on injured reserve, according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald (on Twitter). Brendel was activated from IR a little over a month ago, so his season will end after just four appearances. 
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Brendel, 26, joined the Dolphins’ practice squad in 2016 after going undrafted out of UCLA. He went to appear in all 16 games for Miami in 2017, although he didn’t see much action on the field. Brendel played 67 snaps on offense and 87 snaps on special teams, serving in a backup role for the entire campaign. Brendel suited up for the first time this year in Week 9 and started for Miami in Weeks 10, 12, and 13. A knee injury kept him off the field for Sunday’s win (and miraculous finish) over the Patriots, and it’s apparently serious enough to end his season.
Without Brendel, the ‘Fins may need to sign another interior lineman to support Ted Larsen, Travis Swanson, and Jesse Davis. The banged up unit, which previously lost Daniel Kilgore and Josh Sitton to injury, will close out the year against the Vikings, Jaguars, and Bills. The Dolphins do not control their own destiny, but they are still alive in the Wild Card hunt and even have a slim, but technically possible, path to the AFC East crown.
Ravens To Start Lamar Jackson On Sunday
Joe Flacco is healthy, but he’s not getting his old job back. On Wednesday, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh confirmed that Jackson will start for a fifth consecutive game when the Ravens take on the Buccaneers.
Jackson took the reins when Flacco was diagnosed with a slight tear in his hip. Since then, the Ravens have gone 3-1 in Jackson’s starts and nearly made it 4-0 before the Chiefs topped them in overtime on Sunday. The Ravens have been saying all the right things about Flacco so far, but keeping him on the bench when he’s fully healthy could signal the beginning of the end for him in Baltimore.
The Ravens can cut Flacco after the season and save some money against the cap, though they would also have a dead money hit to contend with. Many expect that Baltimore will go that route, assuming Jackson continues to do enough to prove that he is fully ready for the starting gig moving forward. The Ravens may also be able to trade the veteran signal-caller to a QB-needy team.
Jackson, 21, has been a bit inconsistent in his four starts, but they apparently feel that he gives them the best chance to win moving forward. The Ravens currently have a 55% change of reaching the postseason, according to FiveThirtyEight, and they’re virtually guaranteed a spot in the playoffs if they win out.