HEADLINES

Bills Place Curtis Samuel On IR, Promote WR Gabe Davis

November 28th, 2025 at 6:00pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Bills swapped wide receivers on their active roster on Friday by placing Curtis Samuel on injured reserve and signing Gabe Davis from the practice squad to the 53-man roster.

Samuel was sidelined with knee and elbow injuries in Week 12, his fifth absence of the season after missing Weeks 1 through 4. He has only logged 81 receiving yards in six games despite a 40% snap share when active. This is his second disappointing campaign in a row after signing in Buffalo during the 2024 offseason. His three-year, $24MM contract has not aged well and he will likely be released as a cap casualty in the offseason. A pre-June 1 cut would save $6.275MM against the Bills’ 2026 salary cap with $3.45MM in dead money, per OverTheCap. A release after June 1 would save $8MM in 2026 with $1.725MM of dead money in 2026 and 2027.

Davis reunited with the Bills just before the start of the regular season, but did not see the field until second-year wideout Keon Coleman was benched in Week 11. Davis has started the last two games and caught four of his six targets for 62 yards on 59 snaps. His promotion to the 53-man roster indicates that he will continue to feature in Buffalo’s passing game for the rest of the season.

The Bills will also be without a number of key starters for their Week 13 matchup against the Steelers. Left tackle Dion Dawkins, right tackle Spencer Brown, and linebacker Terrel Bernard will all be sidelined on Sunday, according to the team’s injury report.

Dawkins briefly left last week’s game against the Texans to be checked for a concussion, but was cleared to return. After the game, however, symptoms reappeared, forcing the nine-year veteran into concussion protocol. He did not participate in practice this week.

Brown also went down in Week 12. His shoulder injury happened after Dawkins returned to the game; both tackles were replaced by swing tackle Ryan Van Demark in their respective absences. Van Demark will likely start at left tackle, which will set up rookie Chase Lundt to make his first career start at right tackle. The sixth-round pick has made one appearance this season, a three-snap effort in Week 4.

Bernard suffered an elbow injury in Houston, which will likely result in an uptick in work for Shaq Thompson and Dorian Williams. Bernard is tied for the most solo tackles and tackles for loss on the Bills defense.

Though Brown and Bernard could miss multiple games with their injuries, they are not expected to land on injured reserve, per Joe Buscaglia of The Athletic.

Baker Mayfield “Trending To Play” In Week 13; Bucky Irving To Return From Injury

November 28th, 2025 at 5:30pm CST by Adam La Rose

NOVEMBER 28: Bowles said (via team writer Scott Smith) that the Buccaneers had made a decision at quarterback, indicating Mayfield will start. Bowles added that the veteran quarterback “looked good” in Friday’s practice and is “trending to play.” Mayfield was upgraded to full participation after practicing in a limited capacity on Thursday; he is listed as questionable on the team’s injury report.

Bowles also revealed (via Laine) that Irving would make his return from a seven-game absence caused by foot and shoulder injuries, adding that Tampa Bay would “go with the hot hand” at running back. Rachaad White got the majority of the Buccaneers’ backfield work immediately after Irving went down, but Sean Tucker has received more touches over the last four games.

NOVEMBER 27: A loss against the Rams on Sunday dropped the Buccaneers to 6-5. The team faces a number of questions on the injury front entering Week 13, but there are a number of positive developments in that regard.

Baker Mayfield was unable to finish the game in Week 12 after injuring his left (i.e. non-throwing) shoulder. An MRI revealed Mayfield suffered a low-grade AC joint sprain, and as such he could be an option to play against the Cardinals in Week 13. Much of his availability for the game will come down to pain management.

“If it’s gonna hinder how I play, then I probably won’t go,” the third-year Buccaneer said (via ESPN’s Jenna Laine). “But I won’t know that until later in the week of getting practice reps and see how that goes.”

The coming days will be worth watching closely in this case. Tampa Bay has lost three straight games and four of five. The team still sits atop the NFC South, but the 6-6 Panthers loom as a threat to win the division. Having Mayfield – who has a track record of playing through injuries – on the field during the closing stages of the season would be key for the Bucs. They could have reinforcements coming soon as well.

Receiver Chris Godwin returned to the lineup in Week 12, and it was known at that point running back Bucky Irving was close to suiting up as well. Tampa’s lead back has not played since Week 4, but ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports he is expected to play this week. Head coach Todd Bowles has since confirmed (via team reporter Scott Bair) Irving will make his return barring any setbacks during practice. As a rookie, the 23-year-old topped 1,500 scrimmage yards; Irving was also productive early this year before going down.

A return to action in that case will thus provide a notable boost to Tampa Bay’s offense. Meanwhile, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo notes (video link) receivers Mike Evans and Jalen McMillan are close to being able to play. Evans has been sidelined since October due to a broken clavicle, while McMillan has yet to suit up in 2025. Having a WR at full strength (including standout rookie Emeka Egbuka, of course) would give the Buccaneers plenty of options in the passing game. Per Garafolo, starting defensive tackle Calijah Kancey is ahead of schedule in his rehab from a torn pec. He could manage to play late in the regular season as a result.

Tampa Bay could have several key contributors back in the fold by the end of the campaign. Mayfield’s status will remain uncertain for the time being, but no more than a short absence in his case appears likely. The Bucs’ health down the stretch will make for an interesting story to follow as they look to bounce back from how the past few weeks have gone.

Rams Waive K Joshua Karty

November 28th, 2025 at 4:56pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Los Angeles Rams waived Joshua Karty on Friday, per a team announcement, meaning that Harrison Mevis will take over the team’s kicking job for the rest of the season

The Rams signed Mevis to their practice squad at the beginning of November after some early season struggles from Karty. Mevis won a practice competition ahead of a Week 10 matchup with the 49ers. He his six extra points in that game and three in the next, enough to earn a spot on the active roster and another game as the team’s kicker.

In Week 12, he was finally tested on field goals, and he hit both of his attempts from 40 and 52 yards. He made another four extra points, too, enough to earn the confidence of the Rams’ coaching staff moving forward, at least enough for the team to move on from Karty.

Karty will go on waivers, though he seems unlikely to be claimed given his struggles this season. His performance as a rookie in 2024 – with an 88.3% make rate and five conversions on six attempts from over 50 yards – indicates he has the talent and leg strength to be a kicker in the NFL. An injury to another kicker could give him another chance this season, and he will likely seek an opportunity to compete for a starting job in 2026.

Vikings Rule Out QB J.J. McCarthy; Max Brosmer To Make First Start

November 28th, 2025 at 2:59pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

The Vikings have ruled out quarterback J.J. McCarthy for Sunday’s game against the Seahawks, per a team announcement, setting undrafted rookie Max Brosmer up for his first NFL start.

The Vikings will also elevate former Rams quarterback John Wolford from the practice squad to serve as Brosmer’s backup.

McCarthy was placed in concussion protocol after symptoms popped up on the Vikings’ flight home from their Week 12 loss to the Packers. He was a limited participant in practice this week but did not receive clearance to play on Sunday against the Packers. This will be McCarthy’s sixth absence this season after suffering a high ankle sprain in Week 2. He returned in Week 9 and started the next four games before going down once more.

As a result, Brosmer will make the first start of his career. He went undrafted in April and signed with the Vikings to compete with veteran Brett Rypien for the team’s QB3 job. Brosmer won and made the 53-man roster behind McCarthy and Carson Wentz, who was signed after prospective backup Sam Howell was traded to the Eagles.

Brosmer has played in three games this season amid the injuries to McCarthy and Wentz. He has taken only 19 snaps and thrown eight passes, five of which were completed for a total of 42 yards. Getting in a full week of practice with the Vikings’ starting offense may help the 24-year-old perform better in his first start.

Brosmer was a three-year starter for the New Hampshire Wildcats and led the FCS in 2023 with 3,464 yards and 29 touchdowns through the air. He transferred to the University of Minnesota in 2024 and put together a solid but unspectacular season, leading the Golden Gophers to a 8-5 record as a starter without notable individual stats. A strong showing in Week 13 (as well as any other appearances for the rest of the season) should position him to compete for the backup quarterback job next season.

McCarthy has struggled enough this year that Brosmer pushing him for the starting gig in 2026 feels within the realm of possibility, too. Vikings head coach Kevin McConnell‘s former boss, Kyle Shanahan, went to an unheralded young quarterback to replace his handpicked top-10 selection once it became clear that Brock Purdy offered more than Trey Lance. It’s not inconceivable that McConnell could find himself in the same position next year.

Texans QB C.J. Stroud, S Jalen Pitre To Return In Week 13

November 28th, 2025 at 1:59pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans announced on Friday (via Jonathan Alexander of the Houston Chronicle) that quarterback C.J. Stroud and safety Jalen Pitre cleared concussion protocol and will return from their multi-game absences in Week 13 against the Colts.

Stroud suffered a concussion in Week 9 and missed two games before returning to practice in Week 12. He only participated on Tuesday, and Houston’s short week before a Thursday night matchup with the Bills kept him sidelined for another game. Stroud was a full participant for all three of the Texans’ practice this week and will start on Sunday, likely without an injury designation.

Pitre has been in a similar situation to Stroud. His concussion also happened in Week 9, though it was not spotted during the game. He also returned to practice in a limited capacity last week, but was absent on Friday. He was upgraded to full participation on Wednesday, and now that he is no longer in concussion protocol, he may not have an injury designation for Sunday’s game, either.

Backup quarterback Davis Mills struggled in relief of Stroud in Week 9, resulting in an 18-15 loss to the Broncos. But in their three full games without Stroud or Pitre, Houston has gone 3-0. As a starter, Mills averaged 240 yards per game with five touchdowns, one interception, and a 88.25 passer rating. Those numbers are comparable to Stroud’s performance over the last two years, which is significantly below the standard he set as a rookie.

Pitre’s replacement, Myles Bryant, has also held up in the last three games. He has capably filled Pitre’s versatile role with 42 snaps in the slot, 31 as a free safety, and 82 at nickel, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required). He has made 14 total tackles and missed only two, and though he has allowed catches on nine of his 12 targets, he has limited those receptions to just 45 yards. Like Mills, those are comparable numbers, if not better numbers, relative to the Texans’ usual starter. Pitre has 45 tackles this season, an average of 5.6 per game, with a 16.7% missed tackle rate. He has also allowed 7.7 yards per target. Bryant has averaged 4.6 tackles in the last three weeks with a 12.5% missed tackle rate to go along with only 3.75 yards per target.

Pitre will return to his starting role in Week 13, but Bryant may have earned himself a role in some dime packages. Mills, however, will be on the bench for the rest of the season with the Texans hoping Stroud can bounce-back from a quiet first half and make a late-season playoff push. Houston is currently 6-5 – meaning that Mills and Bryant helped keep their postseason hopes alive – but they trail the Colts and the Jaguars in the AFC South. Their best path to the playoffs is likely a wild card berth, but that may be difficult with the Bills, Ravens, Steelers, Chargers, and Chiefs also angling for those three spots.

Stroud’s return will come against a Colts defense that has allowed 245.5 passing yards per game this season, the fifth-most in the league. However, their 7.2 yards per attempt allowed and 33 sacks rank 10th and sixth, respectively. In the last two weeks, Indianapolis has only given up 377 passing yards, which coincides with the addition of Sauce Gardner and the return of Charvarius Ward from injured reserve. It’s also worth noting that the Colts have faced the second-most passing attempts in the NFL as a result of consistently leading games. Therefore, there is some reason to believe that the Colts’ pass defense has not struggled as much as it seems and may not be as porous for the rest of the year.

Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers To Return In Week 13

November 28th, 2025 at 12:47pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin announced (via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor) that quarterback Aaron Rodgers will return from a one-game absence and start on Sunday against the Bills.

“Full participant today, no injury designation Sunday. All systems go,” Tomlin said.

Rodgers went down in the Steelers’ Week 11 win over the Bengals with a fracture in his left (non-throwing) wrist. He was hoping to suit up in Week 12, but ultimately sat out to avoid further damage to his wrist. Mason Rudolph got the start instead and could not get the win over the Bears. A strong Pittsburgh running game racked up 186 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, but Rudolph only passed for 171 yards despite completing 24 of his 31 passes. To be fair to Rudolph, the Steelers defense allowed 31 points, but they also produced a score of their own, so the offense was only responsible for 21 of the team’s 28 points.

The Steelers will hope that Rodgers’ return will help them against the Bills’ top-ranked pass defense. Buffalo has allowed just 168.2 passing yards per game this year, the lowest in the league, though they have struggled against the run. Between Rodgers’ injury and a Steelers offense that has been stronger on the ground, they may lean on their rushing attack on Sunday.

A win on Sunday would put Pittsburgh one game ahead of Baltimore in the AFC North after the Ravens’ loss to the Bengals on Thursday night. But a more severe injury to Rodgers’ wrist could put the rest of their season in jeopardy. The Bills have a 25.1% pressure rate, a 10.6% knockdown rate, and a 7.9% sack rate, all top 10 marks in the league, while the Steelers’ 21 sacks allowed are the ninth-fewest in the league. Their offensive line will need to continue their success on Sunday afternoon to keep Rodgers safe.

George Pickens Expected To Seek Long-Term Deal; Cowboys Likely To Use Franchise Tag?

November 28th, 2025 at 12:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

George Pickens‘ first season with the Cowboys has exceeded expectations. His first trip to free agency will be something to watch closely as a result, in the event he manages to reach the open market.

After another productive game yesterday, Pickens sits second in the NFL in receiving yards (1,142), third in touchdowns (eight) and seventh in catches (73). A strong desire exists on the part of the Cowboys to keep the 24-year-old in the fold, but doing so will of course require a major financial investment. Pairing Pickens with fellow wideout CeeDee Lamb is something owner Jerry Jones remains open to.

During an appearance on 105.3 The Fan, Jones said (via ESPN’s Todd Archer), “at this time we’ve got two No. 1 receivers and that’s just exceptional right at the time when – guess what – our quarterback is probably the best he’s ever been and there’s more there.”

Indeed, Dak Prescott has enjoyed a highly productive campaign in 2025. He and Lamb are attached to big-ticket contracts, leading many to wonder if fitting a Pickens one into the Cowboys’ financial plans will be feasible. To no surprise, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano write Pickens will be seeking a long-term pact this spring. No talks on a Cowboys extension have taken place, but it is clear at this point any multi-year commitment will move the former second-rounder near the top of the WR market in terms of compensation.

The alternative to a long-term Pickens contract would be the franchise tag. The ESPN duo as well as NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport note (video link) the tag is a distinct possibility in this case. Using the one-year tender on Pickens would set him up for roughly $28MM in 2026 compensation. It would also prevent the Georgia product from being able to gauge interest from free agent suitors.

Jones and the Cowboys have not been shy about using the franchise tag over the years, so it would come as little surprise if that were to be the outcome in Pickens’ case. Dallas has won three straight games to move to 6-5-1 on the year. If the Cowboys manage to reach the playoffs, a strong finish from Pickens and the offense will no doubt prove to be a major factor.

That could help his case for a monster contract from the Cowboys or another team. For now, though, the franchise tag looms as an option to at least ensure Pickens will spend two seasons in Dallas.

Packers DT Devonte Wyatt Suffers Fractured Ankle

November 28th, 2025 at 11:41am CST by Adam La Rose

NOVEMBER 28: Further testing has revealed an ankle fracture, Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network report. As a result, Wyatt is expected to miss the remainder of the season.

NOVEMBER 27: The Packers came away with a critical division win during 2025’s first Thanksgiving game. Their defense appears to have been dealt a major blow in the process, however.

Defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt suffered an ankle injury during the second half of this afternoon’s game against the Lions. He was carted off the field without being able to put any weight on his left leg. Shortly thereafter, Wyatt was ruled out for the remainder of the contest. No firm timeline is in place at the moment, but head coach Matt LaFleur‘s initial remarks are far from encouraging.

“It doesn’t look good, guys,” LaFleur said when speaking to the media after the game (via ESPN’s Rob Demovsky). “I’m sick for him. I’m sick for us. I mean, that’s a critical loss for our football team, for our defense, obviously.”

A first-round pick for the Packers out of Georgia back in 2022, Wyatt has been working as a full-time starter in Green Bay for the first time this season. Wyatt played a pretty minor role as a rookie, buried on the depth chart behind veterans Kenny Clark, Jarran Reed, and Dean Lowry. With Reed and Lowry out the next year, T.J. Slaton took over an open starting slot, while Wyatt got a bit more run in his sophomore campaign as a rotational third interior defender. At times he proved to be a bit of a liability in the run game, but Wyatt excelled as a pass rusher, logging 5.5 sacks, six tackles for loss, and 11 quarterback hits in 2023.

In Clark’s final year with the team last year, Wyatt and Karl Brooks, a sixth-round addition in 2023, worked as the main rotational options behind starters Clark and Slaton. Wyatt continued to excel as an interior pass rusher — five sacks, nine tackles for loss, and nine quarterback hits — but still struggled as a run stopper.

With Slaton making his way to Cincinnati in free agency over the offseason and Clark getting traded to Dallas in the Micah Parsons-trade, two new starting spots became available on the Packers defensive line. Wyatt claimed one spot while Colby Wooden, another 2023 draft addition, claimed the other. Brooks, though not running as a full-time starter, has actually surpassed both starters in snap count as a main rotational piece on the interior defensive line. With Wyatt seemingly out for the foreseeable future, Brooks is likely to step into the starting role next to Wooden, but without Wyatt, the pass rushing potential of the interior line takes a big hit.

The other aspect of today’s injury concerns Wyatt’s contract. Green Bay picked up the former Bulldog’s fifth-year option on his rookie deal, but expectations were in place for extension talks to occur. If the two sides are unable to reach an agreement on a second contract, the fifth-year option would give them more time to work things out. In his fourth year of play, Wyatt had shown more of the same for the Packers defense with four sacks, five tackles for loss, and seven quarterback hits in a starting role. That being said, his struggles in the run game continued, as well.

If this injury ends Wyatt’s 2025 campaign, this leaves the Packers with a few options. They may try to work out an extension that rewards Wyatt for his pass rushing prowess without giving him top-end money due to the injury or his run-stopping struggles. They may try to make it a more incentive-laden deal to safe-guard against future struggles coming back from injury. They also might just let him play out his fifth-year option and make a determination on how to proceed off of his 2026 performance.

Regardless, it sounds like any plans for Wyatt may be a thought for the offseason. While testing will be done in the days to come, and his prognosis may change, at the moment, LaFleur’s comments seem to indicate that we’ve seen the last of Wyatt in 2025.

Ely Allen contributed to this post.

Jets QB Justin Fields Anticipates Future Starting Opportunities

November 28th, 2025 at 10:32am CST by Adam La Rose

Justin Fields did not meet expectations during his tenure atop the depth chart with the Jets. The free agent addition was benched in favor of Tyrod Taylor for Week 12, casting doubt over his future in New York.

Fields has only thrown one interception through nine starts in 2025, although he has done so while averaging a career-low 6.2 yards per attempt and completing less than 63% of his passes. The 26-year-old has added 383 yards and four touchdowns on the ground, but that did not quell speculation about Taylor taking over weeks before he received the QB1 spot. In spite of that, Fields believes he will receive another look as an NFL starter.

“Of course. Yes, sir,” he said when speaking to the media for the first time since being demoted to backup duties (via ESPN’s Rich Cimini). “I mean, I just know who I am as a person, as a football player, as a hard worker. I think I know I have the mindset and the skill to attain that. I just feel like I need to do it on a more consistent basis, but that’s just what it is.”

Fields added he “did not anticipate it whatsoever” when asked about his benching. The Jets went 2-7 with him at the helm, and the former first-rounder led a passing attack which drew public criticism from owner Woody Johnson and currently ranks last in the NFL. The absence of wideout Garrett Wilson has played a role in New York’s struggles on that front, but Fields’ performances have certainly left plenty to be desired.

After being traded away by the Bears last offseason, an injury to Russell Wilson allowed Fields to serve as the Steelers’ starter for the first six weeks of the campaign. Pittsburgh went 4-2 in that period, but Wilson operated as the team’s QB1 the rest of the way. On the open market, Fields secured $30MM guaranteed on a two-year Jets contract, one which seemed to put him on track to spend at least one season atop the depth chart.

Instead, Taylor is expected to remain the Jets’ starter for the rest of the campaign. Especially if that proves to be the case, it will be interesting to see how things proceed between Fields and the team. The Ohio State product is owed $20MM in base salary for 2026, half of which is already guaranteed. As such, the possibility exists he could be retained as a backup behind a rookie added early in April’s draft. Fields declined to comment on that hypothetical situation.

Of course, there are plenty of unanswered questions at this point with respect to the 2026 QB market. Other openings will no doubt exist around the league, but it will be interesting to see if Fields receives serious consideration for a starting spot given how 2025 has played out.

Commanders WR Terry McLaurin To Return In Week 13; Latest On QB Jayden Daniels

November 28th, 2025 at 8:59am CST by Adam La Rose

The Commanders are not in position to contend for a playoff spot in 2025, but they could be much closer to full strength on offense down the stretch. Receiver Terry McLaurin is in line to make his return on Sunday.

“I plan to play as much as I can and as much as they’ll allow me to,” McLaurin said (via ESPN’s John Keim). “It’s really encouraging to hear from my teammates and coaches that they don’t feel like I’ve missed a step. I just have a confidence about myself.”

McLaurin was available for the first three games of the season before suffering a quad injury. His next game action came in Week 8, and he aggravated the issue. That has resulted in by far the most missed time in the seven-year veteran’s career while dealing a blow to Washington’s offense. The Commanders sit at 3-8 on the year ahead of a primetime matchup with the Broncos.

A return to the postseason in 2025 is not in store as a result, but Washington’s outlook for the coming weeks would receive a boost with McLaurin back in the fold. The two-time Pro Bowler topped 1,000 yards every year from 2020-24, something which helped land him a $29MM-per-year extension in August. Expectations for the McLaurin-Jayden Daniels connection will remain high for the foreseeable future, and that duo could be back on the field together shortly.

Daniels is set to miss Week 13, but his recovery from an elbow injury is ongoing. The 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year has returned to practice, setting up a potential return for next week. The possibility of shutting Daniels down for the remainder of the season has been raised, and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler confirms team and player have engaged in “big-picture conversations” about returning this late in a lost season. For now, though, a return as early as Week 14 can be expected.

Both Daniels and receiver Noah Brown – who was designated for return from IR on Monday – were full participants in yesterday’s practice. As such, they could soon rejoin McLaurin in game action, something which would give the Commanders a rare instance of offensive availability in 2025.

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