Bucs Place CB Zyon McCollum On IR
The Buccaneers have enjoyed a recent return to health for a number of key offensive players. Their defense will be without a full-time starter to close out the season, however. 
Zyon McCollum has been moved to injured reserve, the team announced on Monday. The fourth-year corner is dealing with a hip injury suffered during Tampa Bay’s Thursday night loss. As a result of this move, McCollum will be sidelined for at least four weeks.
That ensures he will be absent for the Buccaneers’ three remaining regular season contests. As the team continues to pursue the NFC South title, McCollum’s absence will be acutely felt. The 26-year-old has operated as a full-time starter for each of the past two seasons. Over that span, he has recorded three interceptions and 23 pass deflections.
Missed time of any length in the case of the former fifth-rounder will deal a blow to Tampa Bay given the $48MM extension he signed this past spring. For now, all attention will be on the Buccaneers and their push to reach the postseason. The team’s efforts on that front will see veteran Jamel Dean continue to handle a starting role on the perimeter. The other will likely be handled by rookie Benjamin Morrison, who has not played since mid-November. Morrison has yet to start any of his seven appearances when healthy.
That could soon change, provided he steps in as McCollum’s primary replacement. Tampa Bay has struggled in several areas since the bye week, including on defense. The team currently sits 30th in the NFL against the pass. Rebounding in that regard will be challenging without McCollum, but it will likely be necessary if the Buccaneers are to top the NFC South. The team’s fate on that front will be decided over the coming weeks, with two games against the Panthers (also 7-7) still to be played.
In a corresponding roster move, the Buccaneers have officially signed linebacker Anthony Walker. The veteran had been on the Colts’ practice squad, but earlier today it became clear he would join Tampa Bay – the team he signed with this past offseason prior to being cut in August for the stretch run. Walker will provide experienced depth at the linebacker spot as the Bucs seek to manage a notable absence in the secondary.
Texans DL Mario Edwards Out For Season
The Texans’ defense was dealt an injury blow yesterday. Head coach DeMeco Ryans announced Mario Edwards is dealing with a pectoral tear. 
Edwards will miss the remainder of the season as a result. The journeyman defensive tackle’s second straight Texans campaign has come to an abrupt end. Today’s news comes after Tim Settle underwent season-ending foot surgery earlier this month. Depth on the D-line could become an issue for Houston down the stretch.
In 2024, Edwards started 12 of his 13 appearances and logged a defensive snap share of 55%. His workload saw a notable decline this year, with the 31-year-old not making any starts and seeing the field for 33% of Houston’s defensive plays. Nevertheless, losing him will leave Houston thin along the defensive interior the rest of the way.
Edwards enjoyed a productive campaign last year, notching three sacks and 11 quarterback pressures. That earned him a two-year pact in March. Edwards landed $9.5MM in total and $4.5MM guaranteed to remain in Houston through 2027. His recovery over the coming months will be key given the fact he is also under contract for next season.
Recent waiver claim Naquan Jones is a candidate to take on an increased workload in Edwards’ absence. As KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson notes, the Texans’ practice squad also includes the likes of Junior Tafuna, Marlon Davidson and Haggai Ndubuisi. Another addition via waivers or free agency could be in store depending on how the team views that group of potential replacements.
The Texans won their sixth straight game on Sunday, improving them to 9-5. The team’s defense will need to remain one of the best in the NFL if a division title is to be won, but that unit will be shorthanded moving forward.
Packers’ Micah Parsons Suffers Torn ACL
DECEMBER 15: An MRI has confirmed an ACL tear in Parsons’ case, as first reported by NFL insider Jordan Schultz. His season is indeed over, and a lengthy rehab process will begin once surgery takes place. The Packers will proceed without their blockbuster trade acquisition available down the stretch and into the playoffs.
DECEMBER 14: Stars are falling on both sides of the ball this evening. Shortly following news of an identical injury to Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the Packers fear star pass rusher Micah Parsons has suffered a torn ACL. Parsons will undergo further testing with the team in order to confirm the diagnosis. 
While Parsons and Mahomes both suffered the injury on their left knee, Parsons’ came without contact as he collapsed in the midst of a pass rush and went down holding the injured limb. Green Bay ruled him out shortly after, and in the postgame proceedings, head coach Matt LaFleur told reporters, “It doesn’t look good, I’ll leave it at that,” per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
It’s been a frustrating year for Parsons. As soon as the calendar changed to March and the 2025 NFL season, Parsons began negotiating with the Cowboys for a long-term extension. What followed was a novel’s worth of updates, how the two sides were far apart, how the team hadn’t even submitted an offer yet, how Parsons was asking for big money, and how the Cowboys were willing to make him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
Things got serious when Organized Team Activities took place without Parsons in attendance, indicating that Parsons’ negotiations were set to follow in the difficult footsteps of former teammates CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott. Parsons eased tensions by returning for minicamp as negotiations continued, but things soured when Parsons felt he had been cornered to negotiate without his agent. Negotiations started going in the wrong direction after that, and Parsons requested a trade from Dallas.
After a good amount of tumult, Jerry Jones and the Cowboys finally caved, trading Parsons to Green Bay just a week and a half before the start of the regular season. The trade came along with a four-year, $188MM extension, providing Parsons with the raise he desired. In return, Parsons has given the team his usual brilliance. In just 14 games, Parsons has continued his streak of seasons with at least 12.0 sacks, something he’s done in all five years of his career. With three games left to go, he even had a chance to challenge his career-high sack number of 14.0.
Before Parsons’ arrival, the Packers defense was no liability. The 2024 unit ranked sixth in points allowed and fifth in yards allowed behind a seventh-ranked rush defense and 13th-best pass defense. With Parsons in tow, the defense once again ranks sixth in points allowed and fifth in yards allowed. This time, though, Parsons has helped the pass defense improve to seventh in the NFL with an eighth-ranked run defense.
The Packers have a number of injuries throughout the defensive line aside from Parsons. Without Parsons, Green Bay will likely turn to Kingsley Enagbare and Lukas Van Ness to pick up the yoke across from Rashan Gary. They almost certainly will not be able to fully match his output, but they’ll need to try to minimize his absence as much as possible as the team just holds on to a Wild Card spot after today’s loss.
In addition to losing Parsons tonight, the Packers saw recently returned wide receiver Christian Watson depart today’s game with a chest injury. According to James Palmer of The Athletic, Watson left the stadium in an ambulance, but he ended up traveling home with the team after getting a scan, per another writer at The Athletic, Matt Schneidman.
Buccaneers To Sign LB Anthony Walker Off Colts’ Practice Squad
Anthony Walker was set to spend the 2025 season in Tampa Bay. The veteran linebacker was cut in August, but he now is in line to finish the season there. 
The Buccaneers are signing Walker off the Colts’ practice squad, per his agent (h/t Ian Rapoport of NFL Network). Walker initially signed with Tampa in March, but an injury kept him on the active/NFI list through all of training camp. The Bucs then made him one of their roster cuts in August.
Walker quickly lined up a visit with the Colts upon being released. The 30-year-old began his career in Indianapolis, and he returned in September via a practice squad deal. Walker has yet to play in 2025, however. Instead of residing on the taxi squad through the end of the season, he will take on an active roster spot in Tampa Bay. It will be interesting to see how much playing time this move yields in his case.
Lavonte David leads the Buccaneers in tackles with 95. Fellow starting linebacker SirVocea Dennis ranks third in that regard. Both will be counted on to remain key contributors through the closing stages of the campaign as Tampa Bay aims for another NFC South title. As a veteran of 99 appearances (including 83 starts), Walker will certainly provide plenty of experience behind those two on the depth chart.
The former fifth-rounder has played on a string of one-year deals since his Colts rookie contract expired. Walker will no doubt be in store for another pact of the same length when he reaches the open market in March. His value could nevertheless receive a slight boost if he manages to carve out a depth role with the Buccaneers over the coming weeks.
Bengals QB Joe Burrow Not Seeking Trade, Not Considering Retirement
10:10pm: When speaking to the media after today’s shutout loss, Burrow confirmed (via Dehner) his recent comments were tied to “football” rather than “Cincinnati” specifically. Burrow reiterated his belief in the organization – one which has now officially been eliminated from the playoffs for the third year in a row – to make the needed improvements during the offseason.
10:56am: In Week 13, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow returned from injured reserve much earlier than originally expected and led his club to a victory over the division-rival Ravens, thus keeping Cincinnati’s slim playoff hopes alive. A week later, he threw an interception in consecutive fourth-quarter possessions – one of them a pick-six – in a heartbreaking loss to the Bills.
The defeat all but eliminated the Bengals from playoff contention, and during a press conference on Wednesday, a typically-contemplative Burrow offered a few comments that raised eyebrows about his future in the league (or at least in Cincinnati).
“If I want to keep doing this, I have to have fun doing this,” Burrow said (via Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic (subscription required)). “I have been through a lot. If it’s not fun, then what am I doing it for? That is the mindset I am trying to bring to the table.”
When asked what was bothering him, Burrow said, “[t]here are just a lot of things going on right now. A lot of things going on.”
He was then asked if he was referring to personal or football matters, and he succinctly replied, “all of the above.”
The presser took place on Burrow’s 29th birthday, which is the same age that Andrew Luck was when he suddenly announced his retirement in 2019. However, multiple reporters subsequently made it clear Burrow is not considering that route, nor does he want to leave the Bengals (he is currently under contract through 2029).
One source told Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports that the retirement/trade demand speculation that grew out of Burrow’s comments was “blown out” of proportion and simply “crazy.”
“He was emotional on his birthday and pissed that for as much as he’s worked, he’s still not able to win,” the source said. “That’s all he wants to do. … If he cannot win he’s miserable.”
Burrow has missed significant time due to injury in three of his six professional seasons, and though fully-healthy campaigns in 2021 and 2022 led to a Super Bowl appearance and a run to the AFC Championship game, respectively, Cincinnati is on track to miss the playoff field for the third straight year. It would not be surprising if the health woes and the on-field losses have taken a mental toll.
Even if that’s the case, Dianna Russini of The Athletic (subscription required) hears that the two-time Pro Bowl passer has not so much as hinted at retirement, nor does he want out of Cincinnati. Although he previously has expressed frustration with some aspects of the franchise’s operation – such as the fact that the Bengals employ the NFL’s smallest coaching and scouting staffs – those concerns were not behind his Wednesday remarks.
A source close to Burrow said, “[w]hen was the last time Joe made two mistakes to lose a game for any team he’s been on? He knows he has to be perfect for this team to win, and he wasn’t perfect.”
Another source familiar with Burrow’s thinking said, “[e]veryone is being a little dramatic. This isn’t mental health, this isn’t depression, this is ‘I want to win.'”
Jones reports that, the Bengals’ history with unhappy players like QB Carson Palmer notwithstanding, there is no panic within the organization about Burrow’s future in the Queen City. Team sources tell ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that Burrow had an excellent week of practice, and they believe he wants to be there. Even so, ESPN colleague Adam Schefter said on his podcast that rival clubs did take note of Burrow’s words.
“I could tell you this: other teams in the league took notice of [Burrow’s presser],” Schefter said (h/t Charlie Baduini of The Sporting News). “I could tell you that for a fact, I know that because I was texting with some of them.”
Most teams in the league would be interested in acquiring Burrow if he were to become available. At the moment, however, it seems the former Heisman Trophy winner and CFP national champion was merely expressing his frustrations over another lost season in the pros and will remain in tiger stripes for the long haul.
Indeed, Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase has seen no change in, or negativity from, his longtime friend and teammate, per ESPN’s Ben Baby. Meanwhile, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network (video link) echoed the Jones and Russini reports and said Burrow’s comments stemmed solely from his frustration with on-field results.
Assessing Browns QB Shedeur Sanders’ Chances Of Starting In 2026
Rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders came into the season with plenty to prove. Once projected to be a top draft pick, Sanders entered the NFL as a fifth-round pick and the fourth in line at his position in Cleveland. Finally getting his chance to start, Sanders has been a mixed bag so far in his efforts to prove he belongs.
His NFL debut came in the exact manner the Browns had feared it might, as an injury replacement in an offense designed for another passer. Some ugly stats on the box score discredit the reality, which was that Sanders put his team in a decent position for a late-game tying score against the division rival Ravens.
The next week, in Las Vegas, Sanders logged both his first NFL start and his first NFL win. Working under a gameplan designed completely around him, Sanders showed small improvements. Browns coaches kept the gameplan simple, focusing on quick reads and easy completions. In his second start, against the 49ers, Sanders had a more efficient performance, sporting a higher completion percentage while being interception-free for the first time, but the offense ultimately struggled to create and Sanders took a few too many sacks.
Last week, he dueled with a fellow rookie, No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward. Though Ward walked away with the win, Sanders owned the superior stat line. With Cleveland’s staff incrementally injecting more and more each week into the offensive gameplan, Sanders looked comfortable for much of the game as he put up a career-high 364 passing yards. Today, against the Bears, felt like a major regression, though. A blowout loss with three interceptions and five sacks had Sanders looking very much the part of the fifth-round rookie.
The highs and lows in this short sample of his rookie campaign rightfully has fans asking: does he deserve a chance at the starting job in 2026? Or should the Browns continue in their presumed plans to draft a quarterback with one of their two first-round picks next year? Mike Sando, Jeff Howe, and Zak Keefer of The Athletic touched on the topic in a round table yesterday.
Even without the knowledge of today’s brutal performance, the consensus was much more short-sighted. Essentially, The Athletic staffers asserted that Sanders hasn’t quite earned anything that far in the future just yet, but he has earned the right to keep proving himself this season. With more games like he had against the Titans, Sanders could absolutely show the Browns he’s worthy of strong consideration. Any more performances like today, though, and Sanders may rule himself out quicker than expected.
Another consideration they discussed was the fact that potential leadership changes in the offseason could even alter who is making the decision to give Sanders a chance next year. Regardless, whoever is making decisions when the draft comes around will be highly encouraged to draft a quarterback if they like that prospect more than Sanders. The current rookie has not yet done enough to prevent that from being a priority next year, but he’ll continue to get every opportunity for now.
Rams To Prioritize WR Puka Nacua Extension This Offseason
Puka Nacua has remained one of the league’s top receivers in 2025. The coming offseason will be the first during which a Rams extension will be possible, and signs are pointing to one being worked out. 
The Rams view a new Nacua contract as a priority, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports (video link). That comes as little surprise, of course. The 2023 fifth-rounder has been a star since arriving in the league. Nacua has increased his yards per game average every year in his career; entering today’s action, it stands at 98.8 for 2025.
Given that elite level of production, a central question in this case will be tied to finances. Nacua certainly has a case to become the league’s top earner at the receiver spot, especially given the expectation the salary cap will see another notable jump in 2026. For now, the position’s market includes nine contracts averaging $30MM or more per season.
Justin Jefferson led the way with an AAV of $35MM until Ja’Marr Chase finalized his Bengals extension this past spring. Chase’s pact averages $40.25MM per year and includes just under $110MM in total guarantees (with a large portion of that fully locked in). It will be interesting to see if Nacua, 24, can approach the top spot in the WR pecking order once his second Rams contract is worked out.
On that note, ESPN’s Dan Graziano writes the Nacua talks will be closely monitored around the NFL. Many in the league feel the receiver market has surged at too high of a pace, and a leveling off period could be in store as a result. If not, Nacua is among the wideouts who could move the bar even higher. In any case, negotiations between Los Angeles and the Pro Bowler will make for one of the team’s top storylines during the 2026 offseason.
The Rams moved on from Cooper Kupp in March, ending his decorated eight-year run with the team. Fellow veteran Davante Adams was signed as a replacement on a two-year, $44MM contract. That investment has paid major dividends, with Adams scoring 14 touchdowns and counting in 2025. Tutu Atwell was retained on a one-year pact, but it would come as little surprise if he were to depart in free agency after the season.
Without any long-term deals at the receiver spot, Los Angeles should be in line for a massive commitment in Nacua’s case. The BYU product hopes to retire by the age of 30, meaning he may only play on two NFL contracts in his career. The second one could be in place relatively soon, depending on the progress of extension talks.
Cardinals WR Andre Baccellia Hospitalized With Neck Injury
During today’s Cardinals-Texans game, Andre Baccellia suffered a neck injury. The Arizona receiver will not return as further testing takes place. 
Baccellia was taken off the field on a stretcher, and he was quickly ruled out for the remainder of the contest. The 28-year-old has been transported to a hospital for further evaluation. Per an update from the team, Baccellia is alert and has movement in all of his extremities.
A former UDFA signed by Kansas City, each of Baccellia’s 17 regular season appearances have come with the Cardinals. He operated on a part-time offensive and special teams basis for 2022 and ’23. After not seeing the field last year, Baccellia was among Arizona’s roster cuts following training camp. To little surprise, he was immediately retained via a practice squad deal. In November, Baccellia was signed to the Cards’ active roster.
Since then, he has once again chipped in as a depth option on offense. Baccellia also saw the field for 24 special teams snaps heading into today’s game. The Washington product is under contract through 2026, so his status will have an impact not only on the closing games of this season but also next year.
Injuries have been a major issue across the board for the Cardinals in 2025. The team entered Sunday’s game with a record of 3-10, and the receiver depth chart has been thinned out with Marvin Harrison Jr.‘s heel injury. Losing Baccellia will not have as large of an effect on Arizona’s offense, but his absence will still be felt. For all involved, attention will now turn to Baccellia’s prognosis.
NFL Approves Funding For Flag Football League
In October, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed the league’s intention of starting a professional flag football league. A key step in that direction recently took place. 
During this past week’s virtual league meeting, owners approved a proposal to fund a flag league. Specifically, the “32 Equity” investment entity has now been cleared to join with a to-be-announced partner with the aim of getting a new league off the ground. Up to $32MM in funds can be invested by the NFL.
“[This] vote represents a critical step in establishing flag football as a premier global sport,” a statement from NFL executive VP of football operations Troy Vincent reads. “We are developing the infrastructure to accelerate the game’s growth to new heights by creating a clear pathway for aspiring athletes to progress from youth and high school programs through college and now to the professional level.
“We look forward to forming a partnership to bring this vision to life and deliver a world-class professional flag football experience for elite athletes and fans alike.”
Flag football’s popularity has seen a sharp increase in the United States and abroad during recent years. The NFL has played a leading role in the growth of the game at the high school and collegiate levels, something which is set to continue for the foreseeable future. A pro league represents a logical next step in the overall development of flag football, and it comes as little surprise the NFL will be heavily involved.
This latest development comes against the backdrop of flag football making its Olympic debut in Los Angeles in 2028. The league was instrumental in ensuring that would be the case, and NFL players have been cleared to participate. Before that takes place, a pro football league will likely be in operation.
Jaguars OC Grant Udinski To Be Popular HC Candidate?
Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski will not turn 30 until next month. Nonetheless, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reports the promising coach may be a popular name in the upcoming HC cycle.
Since the Rams hired Sean McVay as their head coach just a few days shy of his 31st birthday in 2017, other teams around the NFL frequently have sought candidates in the same mold: a young, creative offensive mind who can provide fresh energy and engineer a high-scoring outfit. Clubs seeking the “next McVay” have found varying degrees of success, but Udinski could be the next such coach to try and replicate the sustained stretch of competitiveness Los Angeles has enjoyed under its former wunderkind.
When Jacksonville’s first-year HC, Liam Coen, hired Udinski in February, he called his new staffer a “rising star,” and he was not the only one to notice. Udinski started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Baylor in 2019 and followed Matt Rhule from Waco to the Panthers in 2020. Rhule’s tenure with Carolina did not go well, and Udinski jumped ship after the 2021 season to join Kevin O’Connell’s first staff with the Vikings in 2022.
Udinski became Minnesota’s assistant quarterbacks coach the following year, and he added the role of assistant offensive coordinator last season. As Jones notes, the Pennsylvania native had a hand in two strong Kirk Cousins-led years with the Vikes – though one of them was shortened by injury – and he was also heavily involved in Sam Darnold’s surprising 2024 campaign.
Jones likewise credits Udinski with helping Jags QB Trevor Lawrence’s “resurgence” this season. While Jacksonville is 9-4 and in first place in the AFC South, Lawrence’s bottom-line stats are just as pedestrian as they have been throughout most of his pro career. Still, the success the team as a whole is having has kept Udinski’s stock on the rise.
His cause could also be helped by the dearth of other offensive-minded candidates who have stood out in 2025. Jones appears to acknowledge that Udinski’s youth will give HC-needy teams pause, and the fact that he does not call the Jaguars’ offensive plays – Coen holds that responsibility – may also be a cause for concern (though that is merely speculation).
Even if he does not land a head coaching post in 2026, Udinski could become a fixture in HC rumors in future years, just as he was on the OC circuit in 2025 (he interviewed for the offensive coordinator position with five different clubs).