HEADLINES

Raiders To Start Kenny Pickett In Week 15

December 12th, 2025 at 2:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

DECEMBER 12: Pickett will start on Sunday, Carroll announced (via Rapoport).

DECEMBER 10: Geno Smith‘s Raiders debut has not gone as expected, something that could be applied to the Las Vegas situation as a whole. The Smith-Pete Carroll floor-raising hopes are dashed, and the Super Bowl-winning HC is in danger of being a one-and-done — for a franchise that has failed to find stability this decade.

The Raiders lost Smith to a shoulder injury in Week 14, a loss to the Broncos, and the well-paid starter is not expected to return to face the Eagles in Week 15. Kenny Pickett is on track to start against one of his former teams, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport notes. This injury comes weeks after Smith suffered a quad contusion; the latter ailment did not force him to miss any starts.

Philadelphia traded Pickett after one season, marking the second of the former first-rounder’s three trade transactions to occur since March 2024. Philly sent Pickett to Cleveland this past March, leading to rumblings he would be the favorite to start for the Browns to open the season. A significant hamstring injury sidetracked any Pickett-QB1 hopes in Cleveland, and the Browns dealt him to the Raiders — who were looking for an Aidan O’Connell injury replacement — just before the season.

Although O’Connell is back off IR, the Raiders turned to Pickett to replace Smith on Sunday. Pickett threw a touchdown pass in garbage time, completing 8 of 11 passes for 97 yards. The Eagles installed the ex-Steeler draftee as their backup last season, acquiring him in a trade package headlined by a third-round pick, but decided Tanner McKee was ready to move up this offseason. Pickett facing a reeling Philly squad would certainly be interesting given both sides’ familiarity, though the Raiders’ current form makes them heavy underdogs regardless of QB.

Who the Raiders start in Week 15 is obviously less significant than their post-2025 plans, given their 2-11 record. Smith’s extension stood to buy the team some time in its quest for a true answer at QB. The team did not want Sam Darnold and joined the Giants in striking out on Matthew Stafford. One of the QB-needy teams to pass on Shedeur Sanders, the Raiders still profile as a team interested in a first-round addition here.

Smith’s two-year, $75MM extension runs through 2027 and carries $18.5MM in guaranteed salary for 2026. That would be the only dead money the Raiders would need to eat in the event of a release. Smith’s form this season certainly makes his Vegas future unstable, particularly if Carroll is out after one year.

Smith, 35, angled for a Seahawks extension and declined an offer similar in value to Darnold’s three-year, $100.5MM deal. He expected to be a Raider after Carroll was hired but has struggled for most of the season. Smith’s 14 interceptions lead the league, and only Cam Ward sits behind him (among 31 qualified passers) in QBR.

A return to the backup level may well be in the cards — via a Raiders demotion after a first-round investment or elsewhere — for 2026. For now, it will be interesting to see if Smith reclaims his job. Carroll has backed his former Seattle pupil this year, but concern about Smith’s form emerged as early as October. What is clear is the Raiders, who had Derek Carr in place as QB1 for nine seasons, will be looking hard at QBs for a fourth straight offseason.

Todd Bowles Addresses Job Security Questions; Bucs HC’s Future Uncertain?

December 12th, 2025 at 12:35pm CST by Adam La Rose

Last night’s collapse resulted in the Buccaneers losing to the Falcons. As a result, Tampa Bay’s playoff outlook has continued to take a turn for the worse.

The Bucs were 6-2 and comfortably atop the NFC South when they entered their bye week. Since then, very little has gone according to plan. Tampa Bay has gone 1-5 since the bye, and the team’s defense in particular has regressed. That unit ranks 31st in the NFL in points allowed over the past six weeks (h/t Fox Sports’ Greg Auman).

Especially given head coach Todd Bowles‘ defensive background, criticism of his 2025 performance has steadily increased. In charge of the team since Bruce Arians stepped aside in 2022, Bowles and the Buccaneers have won the division every year in that span. With another NFC South crown seriously in doubt, though, the matter of job security was something Bowles was asked about in the wake of yesterday’s game.

“I don’t think I worry about it at all,” the 62-year-old said when speaking about his status with the Bucs (video link). “It doesn’t creep into the locker room. Players play and coaches coach. I got more years behind me than I do ahead of me. I think we’re in a situation where we’re right back in it and our only focus is on winning a ball game.”

Bowles served as Tampa Bay’s defensive coordinator for three years before Arians retired from the sidelines. Since then, the Buccaneers have gone 34-31. Tampa Bay’s three straight playoff appearances have only produced one postseason win, and it remains to be seen if reaching (let alone advancing past) the wild-card round will be possible in 2025.

With that in mind, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times states Bowles can indeed be counted as one of the coaches currently on the hot seat. A firing this late in the season should not be expected, of course, especially considering the fact the Buccaneers are still in contention for top spot in their division. Still, Stroud’s assertion is noteworthy given the investment the team recently made on the sidelines.

In June, Bowles and general manager Jason Licht each received contract extensions. Bowles is on the books through 2028 as a result, so a dismissal in his case would have a financial impact for many years. Nevertheless, it will no doubt be something mentioned throughout the coming weeks if Tampa Bay falls short of a playoff spot in 2025.

Steelers OLB T.J. Watt Hospitalized With Lung Injury

December 12th, 2025 at 11:46am CST by Nikhil Mehta

DECEMBER 12: Testing at the Steelers’ facility revealed a “tiny hole” in one of Watt’s lungs, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports (video link). That led to his hospitalization, and the issue has been addressed. A final determination for Week 15 has not yet been made, but Pelissero deems it unlikely that Watt – who merely needs time to recover at this point – will be available for Monday.

DECEMBER 11: Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt has been hospitalized due to a lung injury, per a team announcement.

The injury happened while Watt was receiving medical treatment at the Steelers’ facility on Wednesday, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Head coach Mike Tomlin said on Thursday (via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor) that Watt is still in the hospital undergoing additional testing which will determine his status for their Week 15 matchup against the Dolphins.

Watt, 31, has started all 13 of the Steelers’ games this season with an 82% snap share. He is having another excellent season with seven sacks and 10 tackles for loss, which rank first and second on the team. He has also been credited with 43 pressures, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required) which lead the Steelers and rank 19th in the NFL.

In other words, an absence from Watt would be a major blow to Pittsburgh’s defense, though they are positioned to withstand it in the short-term. The four-time All-Pro almost exclusively lines up on the left side of the defense with Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig splitting snaps on the right side. One of the two – likely Herbig – can fill some of Watt’s snaps off the left edge

Rookie Jack Sawyer will also be in line for some more opportunities. The second-round pick has appeared in every game this year but played just 182 snaps (19.4% snap share) without much production. Sawyer has primarily rotated in for Watt on the left side and should see an uptick if he cannot play. That could also result in a practice squad elevation for fourth-year defensive end DeMarvin Leal.

The Steelers will be monitoring Watt’s condition carefully over the next few days to evaluate his availability for Monday night’s game.

Jets To Start QB Brady Cook In Week 15

December 12th, 2025 at 10:37am CST by Adam La Rose

The Jets’ quarterback injuries will result in a third different passer receiving a start in 2025. Brady Cook will get the nod for Week 15, head coach Aaron Glenn announced on Friday.

Both Tyrod Taylor and Justin Fields have been sidelined during practice this week. As they recover, Cook will make his first career start on Sunday. The undrafted rookie has been able to participate in practice in recent days, with the same also being true of Adrian Martinez (h/t ESPN’s Rich Cimini).

As such, a Cook-Martinez tandem will be in place at the QB spot on Sunday against the Jaguars. Cook replaced Taylor last week, allowing him to see his first regular season game action. For at least one week, Cook will now be tasked with handling quarterback duties during a full contest. Sunday’s game does not carry playoff implications for New York but it will for Jacksonville.

The 9-4 Jags are competing for top spot in the AFC South down the stretch. The Jets, meanwhile, are one of eight teams entering Week 15 with either two or three wins. Where the team winds up in the first-round draft order will of course be critical given New York’s need for a long-term quarterback investment.

Fields began the season atop the depth chart, but his struggles in the passing game resulted in Taylor taking over. Fields was surprised by his benching, and he has expressed an expectation for future starting opportunities. The free agent addition is under contract for 2026, but a parting of ways would not surprise many in his case. Taylor, 36, is set to reach the open market this spring.

The Jets’ new HC-GM combo of Glenn and Darren Mougey will therefore have the opportunity to rebuild at the quarterback position this offseason. Part of their planning at the position, of course, will be dictated by how Cook and – if he manages to see the field – Martinez perform late in the campaign. At least one could provide depth under center for 2026 depending on how the next several months play out.

Signed to a futures contract in January, Martinez was waived by the Jets during roster cutdowns. The former UDFA wound up joining the 49ers and making one appearance with them. Earlier this week, Martinez returned to New York via a practice squad deal to give the team a healthy option. That will see him dress for Week 15, but it will be Cook leading the offense on Sunday.

Jets, C Josh Myers Agree To Extension

December 12th, 2025 at 8:02am CST by Adam La Rose

Josh Myers will not reach the open market in March. The veteran center has a new deal in place with the Jets, as first reported by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

Team and player have agreed to a two-year, $11MM extension, per Fowler. He adds this new pact contains $6MM in guaranteed money. Myers was on course for free agency after signing a one-year pact with New York this past spring. Instead, he will remain in place as the team aims for stability up front. This contract places Myers 13th in terms of AAV for centers.

A second-round pick of the Packers in 2021, Myers played out his rookie contract with Green Bay. During that time, he started all 56 of his appearances and – aside from his debut season – avoided any lengthy absences. Nevertheless, inconsistent showings on the field resulted in the Ohio State product only securing a $2MM deal from the Jets during his first trip to free agency. Myers has now landed a notable raise on his third NFL contract.

PFF has not graded any of Myers’ five seasons favorably, and his 53.6 mark for 2025 is the lowest of his career. The 27-year-old has remained consistent in that regard, however, and he will be expected to maintain his current level of play through the 2027 season. As a result of this agreement, the Jets have four of their cuttent starting offensive linemen under contract through at least next year.

That includes tackles Olu Fashanu and Armand Membou, taken in the first round of the past two drafts. Left guard John Simpson is a pending free agent, so it is unclear if he will continue playing alongside Myers beyond the final four games of the current season. Another projected vacancy up front for next year is at the right guard spot, as Alijah Vera-Tucker is set to see his rookie contract expire this spring. The oft-injured blocker is currently set to reach the market after missing the entire 2025 season.

That will deal a major blow to Vera-Tucker’s value, and it remains to be seen if he will remain in New York or move on in March. Regardless of what happens on that front, though, Myers will be counted on to continue operating as a full-time starter up front for a Jets team seeking improvements on offense for 2026 and beyond.

NFL Mailbag: Mayfield, Titans, Patriots, QBs

December 11th, 2025 at 9:40pm CST by Adam La Rose

This week's edition of the PFR mailbag covers questions about the pending extension between the Buccaneers and their franchise quarterback, along with the Titans' and Patriots' respective outlooks and some of the top QB prospects for 2026.

Rick asks:

Baker Mayfield was in the MVP conversation in the first half of the season but has cooled off. The Buccaneers will probably still extend him; what do you think his deal will look like?

Mayfield first arrived in Tampa Bay on a one-year deal in 2023. That $4MM contract came at a time when his future as an NFL starter was in question, to say the least. He has surpassed expectations by a wide margin since then.

The Buccaneers made a three-year, $100MM investment in Mayfield last March. The returns on that deal have been strong as well, so the widespread expectation another pact will be finalized after the season makes plenty of sense. I would agree Mayfield’s value has (if anything) taken a slight dip in recent weeks – a stretch where the Bucs have been decimated by injuries, to be fair – but he should still be in store for a major payday.

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Cardinals HC Jonathan Gannon’s Job Security Still Uncertain

December 11th, 2025 at 9:32pm CST by Adam La Rose

After beginning the season with a series of close losses, the Cardinals have struggled for much of their time after the bye week. Especially if things continue the way they have in recent games, head coach Jonathan Gannon‘s job security will become even more of a talking point.

Arizona missed the playoffs during each of the first two years with Gannon and general manager Monti Ossenfort at the helm. Still, a four-win improvement took place from 2023 to last season. As such, expectations for further improvement in 2025 were reasonable. Instead, the Cardinals find themselves well out of playoff contention with a 3-10 record.

The closing month of the current campaign could prove to be critical with respect to how owner Michael Bidwill approaches the head coaching spot. As ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler writes, Gannon and the Cardinals may need to win one or two games down the stretch for him to “reach solid footing” for 2026. Arizona’s season will end with games against Texans, Falcons, Bengals and Rams.

Once that slate of contests is over, a decision will need to be made regarding Gannon and Ossenfort’s future. Last month, Fowler and colleague Dan Graziano reported that pair was likely to be retained for at least one more season. The thinking behind that approach would be to allow the Gannon-Ossenfort regime to identify a new franchise quarterback beginning in the 2026 offseason. Kyler Murray will not return this year, and many expect a parting of ways to take place in his case.

Indeed, the latest ESPN piece includes Graziano predicting the Cardinals will allow the current HC-GM combo to remain intact. In that event, the team’s QB approach would be one of the league’s top offseason storylines. Murray is already owed $36.8MM in guarantees for next season, with a portion of his 2027 compensation currently scheduled to vest on March 22. By that date, there will likely be clarity regarding his future. A trade will be difficult to pull off given the finances of this situation, while veteran backup Jacoby Brissett (under contract for next year) could be viewed by suitors as an affordable bridge option.

If a new quarterback is to be drafted in April, it will mark the first time since Gannon and Ossenfort’s arrival that a rookie is added. The Cardinals are among the teams within reach of securing the No. 1 pick, although the final four weeks of the season leave plenty to be determined. The list of unanswered questions includes whether or not it will fall to Arizona’s current regime to decide on the team’s future under center.

Ravens, DT Travis Jones Agree To Extension

December 11th, 2025 at 9:30pm CST by Adam La Rose

Travis Jones loomed as one of the Ravens’ top pending free agents for 2026. The fourth-year defensive tackle will not be reaching the open market, however.

Jones and the Ravens have agreed to a three-year extension, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports. As a result, Jones will be under contract through the 2028 campaign. This news – which is now official, per a team announcement – means one of the league’s top pending free agents at the position will not become available in March.

The Jones pact is worth $40.5MM, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. That works out to an average annual value of $13.5MM, a sharp increase in the former third-rounder’s compensation compared to his rookie contract. Given the nature of the DT market, however, this deal will be viewed as a team-friendly one provided Jones can maintain his current level of play against the run. Jones will receive $25MM in guarantees, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network adds.

A rotational presence during his first two seasons in the NFL, Jones became a starter in 2023. The 26-year-old set a new career high with 42 tackles last year, a figure he has a strong chance of surpassing this campaign. Jones has only posted five sacks and 21 quarterback pressures to date in his career, and as such expectations will remain low regarding his future production against the pass. Still, his run-stopping presence will be welcomed in Baltimore for years to come.

The context leading up to this agreement helps explain its timing. As Zrebiec notes, a CBA issue meant Jones had actually been on track for restricted free agency this spring with one of his previous seasons not accruing for contract purposes. A grievance was filed on his behalf by the NFLPA, with a hearing scheduled for today. The outcome of that process would have determined Jones’ future regarding his free agent status. Being an RFA would have likely set him up for a second-round tender only covering the 2026 season.

Instead, that has now become a moot point. Negotiations between the Ravens and Jones’ agent prior to the hearing finalized this agreement, one which will ensure stability along the defensive interior for the foreseeable future. This extension comes amidst questions regarding fellow defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike‘s status. The All-Pro landed on IR in September due to a neck injury, and it was learned shortly thereafter that he would not return this season. Madubuike is on the books through 2027 on a pact averaging $24.5MM per season, so his recovery outlook will be critical moving forward.

In any case, Jones’ future is no longer in doubt. The UConn product was one of several pending free agents whom the Ravens viewed as high priorities for new deals. Another was tight end Mark Andrews, and team and player recently worked out a three-year deal in that case as well. As the 6-7 Ravens continue to push for top spot in the AFC North, it will be interesting to see if other agreements such as this one wind up being finalized prior to free agency.

Jaguars DC Anthony Campanile Should Garner “Serious Look” HC Jobs

December 11th, 2025 at 8:57pm CST by Ben Levine

Anthony Campanile isn’t even through his first season as a defensive play-caller, and the 43-year-old is already generating head coaching buzz. Dianna Russini of The Athletic mentions the Jaguars defensive coordinator among assistant coaches who should “garner serious looks” during the upcoming hiring cycle. Albert Breer of SI.com also implies that Campanile could wind up being “a legit candidate” for a head coaching job this offseason.

As Breer notes, new Jaguars head coach Liam Coen took “a bit of a gamble” when he decided to hire Campanile to lead Jacksonville’s defense. The defensive coach took on run game coordinator duties during his lone season with the Packers in 2024, but Campanile otherwise only served as a linebackers coach at the NFL level (in stops with Green Bay and Miami). He also had a brief stint as co-defensive coordinator during his 2018 campaign at Boston College, but the coach had otherwise never been responsible for running the entire defensive operation.

Fortunately for Coen and the Jaguars, Campanile has run with the job. As Breer notes, Jacksonville’s defense has seen major improvements across the board in 2015, with the organization bumping their ranks in points allowed (27th to 11th), total defense (31st to 11th), and takeaways (32nd to 2nd). Breer adds that the Jaguars defense has also earned a reputation for their energetic play, a “sort of play-style and cohesion” that suitors would hope Campanile could bring to his next stop.

“He’s been awesome,” edge rusher Josh Hines-Allen said of his DC (via Breer). “He lights us up every single day, every time he speaks. He speaks with confidence, he speaks with love that he has for the players and coaches. He makes my job a lot of fun.”

It’s certainly not unprecedented for a coach to make the leap from first-year coordinator to head coach. While Campanile is the potential candidate with the least amount of experience on Russini’s list, the reporter also included second-year coordinators like Anthony Weaver, Chris Shula, and Jeff Hafley. The Jaguars performance down the stretch and in the playoffs could go a long way in helping Campanile take another step in his career.

Seahawks Waive CB Shaquill Griffin, RB Cam Akers

December 11th, 2025 at 7:18pm CST by Ben Levine

The Seahawks moved on from a pair of veterans today. Per the NFL’s daily transaction log, the team has waived cornerback Shaquill Griffin and running back Cam Akers.

Griffin joined the Seahawks on a one-year, $3MM deal this past offseason. The former third-round pick spent the first four seasons of his career in Seattle, but this second stint with the organization didn’t last nearly as long. In fact, this is the third time this year that the veteran has been cut by the Seahawks.

He was among the team’s final preseason cuts back in August, and after joining the team’s practice squad, he was signed to the active roster in early September. He was cut again the following week before re-joining the taxi squad. He was promoted to the active roster in late November but hasn’t seen any playing time recently. In total, Griffin has appeared in a pair of games this season, collecting seven tackles.

Akers has bounced around a bit in 2025. He spent the preseason with the Saints but didn’t make the team, and he later caught on with the Vikings for his third stint with the franchise. He got into three games with the Vikings before getting cut, and he subsequently joined the Seahawks in late November. He didn’t end up making an appearance with his new squad.

These two moves were likely done in anticipation of players being activated from injured reserve. All of defensive lineman Rylie Mills, receiver Dareke Young, offensive lineman Jalen Sundell, and tight end Eric Saubert were recently designated for return. As Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times passes along, Sundell and Saubert seem to have the best chance of suiting up this Sunday against the Colts.

Both Griffin and Akers will have to clear waivers before they can choose their next squad. There’s a chance the veterans simply land on Seattle’s practice squad.

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