Cardinals Place DT Walter Nolen, CB Garrett Williams On Injured Reserve
JANUARY 1: Both Nolen and Williams have undergone surgery, Gannon said (via Urban). Gannon declined to confirm whether or not Nolen suffered an ACL tear, but in any case his attention will be focused on rehabbing during the offseason.
DECEMBER 30: Nolen underwent surgery on his left knee, according to ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss. Neither the severity nor extent of the injury have yet to be reported.
DECEMBER 22: The Cardinals are placing defensive tackle Walter Nolen and cornerback Garrett Williams on injured reserve, head coach Jonathan Gannon (via team reporter Darren Urban).
Both defenders went down in Arizona’s loss to the Falcons in Sunday. Nolen suffered a non-contact injury to his left knee, while Williams is believed to have suffered an Achilles tear. Gannon only confirmed the areas that were injured for each player but did not elaborate on the specifics.
Nolen, 22, was drafted in the first round of April’s draft (No. 16 overall), but spent the first eight weeks of the season on the PUP list with an calf issue. He debuted in In Week 12, Nolen went down with a knee injury early in the game and missed the next two contests. It is unknown if he injured the same knee on Sunday afternoon.
Nolen has only played 169 snaps this year, so the Cardinals defense is used to playing without him. They have five other defensive tackles on the roster who could fill the rotation for the rest of the year, thought they could call on Zachary Carter or Wyatt Bowles from their practice squad.
Williams, 24, took over the Cardinals’ slot cornerback job midway through his 2023 rookie season. He carried that role into 2024 and allowed completions on just 56.5% of his targets. He also finished as the league’s 10th-ranked cornerback with 5.3 yards per target.
That performance built hype for his third-year effort, but he landed on injured reserve after just two games with a knee injury. Williams missed five games and returned to the field in November, but he has not been able to replicate last season’s results. He has allowed a 79.3% completion rate and 8.3 yards per target as part of a Cardinals defense that has generally struggled to stop opposing offenses this year.
Arizona moved safety Jalen Thompson into the slot during Williams’ absence earlier this year and brought Dadrion Taylor-Demerson in to fill Thompson’s snaps. The Cardinals could use the same approach or reconfigure their secondary to give younger defensive backs some playing time at the end of the season.
Ravens ‘Very Optimistic’ That Lamar Jackson Plays In Week 18
JANUARY 1: Jackson said on Thursday that he will “100%” play in Pittsburgh on Sunday night. He will likely take the field with extra protection for his back.
DECEMBER 31: Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was a full participant in the team’s first practice of Week 18, an extremely encouraging sign for his availability for Sunday’s win-or-go-home matchup with the Steelers.
Jackson went down in Week 15 with a severe back contusion that held him out of practice last week. He was listed as doubtful and did not play on Saturday night against the Packers. Backup Tyler Huntley filled in and confidently commanded the offense to a 41-24 victory. Most of the credit goes to Derrick Henry, who finished with 36 carries for 216 yards and four touchdowns, but Huntley made plays whenever they needed to be made. He completed 80% of his passes, converted a number of key first downs through the air, and added 60 yards on eight rushing attempts.
Head coach John Harbaugh said that he was “very optimistic” about Jackson’s status, adding that the two-time MVP’s status improved throughout last week. He was seen at Wednesday’s practice wearing some kind of protective equipment, per Brian Wacker of The Baltimore Sun.
Obviously, Jackson taking the field would be a major boost for the Ravens offense. Though they can continue to lean on Henry, Jackson is undoubtedly a better passer than Huntley and his availability would open up the offense to its full complement of plays. The Ravens rushed for 217 yards in their first meeting with the Steelers a few weeks ago, so offensive coordinator Todd Monken should be motivated to stick with the run either way.
Huntley’s success against the Packers on Saturday and the Bears in Week 8 indicates that Baltimore’s offense would still be in good hands if Jackson cannot go. That would be Jackson’s fourth absence of the season and Huntley’s third start.
Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers Not Committed To Retirement
Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers entered the 2025 season believing it would be in last, but his comments on Wednesday indicate that he is still open to playing in 2026.
Rodgers spoke about his future this week and acknowledged the obvious: he is 42 years old and is not under contract for next season. This is a change from his previous stance in June – after he signed with the Steelers – when Rodgers was “pretty sure” he would retire after the season. He also noted that he signed a one-year deal in Pittsburgh for that reason. His words on Wednesday indicate, at at minimum, that he has not made up his mind.
If Rodgers were to play in 2026, the main question would be where. He believes that he would have options if he decides to keep playing, which could include the Steelers. He expressed his satisfaction with the organization on Wednesday, which could play a factor in his decision.
“I’ve enjoyed this experience, and everybody in Pittsburgh has been fantastic to me on and off the field,” Rodgers said (via ESPN’s Brooke Pryor). “And it’s really what I was hoping for this experience was, it’s been even better than I was hoping.”
Running it back with the Steelers would, of course, mean that the team wants to continue the partnership as well. They appear to be open to the idea. Otherwise, it is hard to know which teams, if any, would be interested in Rodgers.
Rodgers mentioned a few other factors in his decision, including his wife’s insight and his physical ability to keep playing. He may also want to end his career on a better note, especially if the Steelers miss the playoffs with a loss to the Ravens on Sunday night. In general, he putting up similar stats to last season’s numbers with the Jets, but he is also on pace for his fewest yards per game as a starter.
“Anytime you’re in a first-year offense, there’s always some growing pains within the offense,” Rodgers said. “It’s always like, you feel like, if you had another year, what you could do.”
The Steelers offense has been middling at best this year, but it is their first year with Rodgers under center and D.K. Metcalf out wide. The running game has not thrived, and Rodgers has not had a reliable No. 2 receiver to target. Pittsburgh is always interested in wide receivers and the prospect of adding one or two this offseason could inspire Rodgers to come back.
It is also worth noting the past media circuses around Rodgers’ decisions about if and where he will play in the future. If he does decide to return for the 2026 season – his 22nd in the NFL – the process could drag out as it has in years past.
Patriots DT Christian Barmore Facing Domestic Assault Charge
Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore faces one misdemeanor domestic assault charge, court documents from Attleborough District Court (Mass.) revealed on Wednesday. 
Barmore faces one count of assault and battery on a family/household member, as detailed by Emily Maher of WCBV. The charge stems from an alleged incident which took place on August 8, 2025 at a home in Mansfield. Barmore was in a relationship with the alleged victim, a woman with whom he engaged in an argument on the day in question.
According to the charging documents, Barmore grabbed the woman’s phone out of her hand while she was attempting to leave the house. He is alleged to have grabbed the woman before she could leave and “[thrown] her to the floor.” Barmore then grabbed her by the by the shirt “in the area of the neck” before eventually letting go, per the documents.
“The New England Patriots are aware of reports regarding a pending February arraignment involving Christian Barmore, which stems from an alleged domestic incident that occurred in August,” a team statement reads. “The Patriots were made aware at the time of the incident and informed the NFL in a timely manner. The matter remains part of an ongoing legal process. We will respect that process, continue to monitor the situation closely, as we have over the past few months, and cooperate fully with the league. We will have no further comment at this time.”
Court records reveal that on December 4, the alleged victim sent an email to police indicating her desire not to proceed with charges. A criminal complaint then emerged on December 16. Barmore is now scheduled to be arraigned on February 3.
A second-round pick in 2021, Barmore has been a regular contributor during his tenure in New England and a full-time starter this season. The 26-year-old has posted 26 tackles and one sack while playing an important role on the 13-3 Patriots. Barmore – who was limited to four games last season due to blood clot issues – is attached to a $21MM-per-year deal. His contract runs through 2028.
Today’s news comes one day after it was learned Patriots receiver Stefon Diggs faces strangulation and assault charges. Neither player spoke to the media on Wednesday.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/31/25
Several teams made practice squad moves on the final day of the 2025 calendar year. Here are the latest updates:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: DT Patrick Jenkins
Chicago Bears
- Activated from practice squad/injured list: TE Nikola Kalinic
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: G Karsen Barnhart, CB Tyron Herring, QB Desmond Ridder
Houston Texans
- Signed: DE Solomon Byrd
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: RB Sincere McCormick
New Orleans Saints
- Activated from practice squad/injured list: QB Hunter Dekkers
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: LS Charley Hughlett
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: TE Jaheim Bell
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: RB Josh Williams
Washington Commanders
- Signed: G Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, DE D.J. Johnson
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/31/25
Several NFL teams completed minor transactions on New Year’s Eve to prepare their rosters for Week 18. Here are the latest updates:
Atlanta Falcons
- Designated for return from IR: S DeMarcco Hellams
Chicago Bears
- Placed on IR: LB Noah Sewell
Cleveland Browns
- Signed from the Lions’ practice squad: C Kingsley Eguakun
- Placed on IR: G Wyatt Teller
Green Bay Packers
- Signed from practice squad: S Johnathan Baldwin, QB Clayton Tune
- Placed on IR: S Zayne Anderson
Minnesota Vikings
- Waived: LB Austin Keys
New England Patriots
- Designated for return from IR: CB Alex Austin
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed from practice squad: OL Jack Driscoll
- Placed on IR: TE Darnell Washington (story)
Washington Commanders
- Placed on IR: C Tyler Biadasz
- Signed from practice squad: OL Julian Good-Jones
Sewell suffered a torn Achilles in Sunday night’s loss to the 49ers, ending his 2025 season and starting a length rehab process for the third-year linebacker.
Teller aggravated a calf injury on Sunday against the Steelers. He will miss the Browns’ last game of the season and is set to hit free agency this offseason. After seven years in Cleveland, Teller may need to find a new home this offseason.
Washington underwent surgery on his broken arm on Tuesday, per The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo. The third-year tight end will not be able to return in the playoffs if the Steelers qualify.
Ravens Could Consider Coaching Changes This Offseason
The Ravens’ disappointing 2025 season has sparked speculation about the future of their coaching staff, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
While some fans believe that head coach John Harbaugh should be on his way out – especially if the Ravens miss the playoffs with a loss to the Steelers on Sunday night – the team may also consider changing out their coordinators.
Defensive coordinator Zach Orr has come under fire for a second year in a row. At the start of last season, his defense struggled to stop opposing quarterbacks, but bounced back after moving Kyle Hamilton back to a traditional safety role and inserting Ar’Darius Washington into the starting lineup alongside him. This year, Orr’s unit had a similarly rough start, including on run defense, which was not a problem for the Ravens in 2024 or years past. Injuries to key players like Marlon Humphrey, Roquan Smith, and Nnamdi Madubuike compounded the issues, but the defense improved with better health after their Week 7 bye. The Ravens also acquired safety Alohi Gilman from the Chargers and moved Hamilton closer to the line of scrimmage, which tightened their run defense, improved their pass rush, and increased their turnover production. Orr deserves credit for those and other adjustments.
In their last five games, though, Baltimore’s defense has allowed at least 27 points four times with particularly rough showings against quarterbacks Drake Maye and Malik Willis in the last two weeks. Though the secondary deserves their share of the blame for their lapses in coverage, the Ravens’ pass rush has been a problem all year. Trading for Gilman required giving up Odafe Oweh, arguably the team’s best edge rusher, and Madubuike’s season-ending injury deprived the defensive line of its best player.
In the middle of those five games, however, the Ravens pitched a dominant shutout against the Bengals that showed what their defense is capable of at its best. They should be able to contain Rodgers in Week 18, but a loss as the result of a poor defensive performance could raise some tough questions about Orr this offseason.
Offensive coordinator Todd Monken is in a more complicated situation. He led the offense to very successful seasons in 2023 and 2024, which led to head coaching interviews and a contract extension in Baltimore. This year, his unit has clearly regressed. Lamar Jackson injuries have played a factor, but so have an inconsistent offensive line and some confounding decisions about Derrick Henry‘s usage. If Monken’s offense struggles in Pittsburgh and/or fizzles out in the playoffs, his future could be a topic of discussion in Baltimore as well.
Panthers Claim D’Anthony Bell, Place Ja’Tavion Sanders On IR
Entering a must-win showdown with NFC South rival Tampa Bay on Saturday, Carolina made a couple of notable roster moves on Wednesday. The Panthers claimed safety D’Anthony Bell off waivers from the Seahawks and placed tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders on injured reserve, per Joe Person of The Athletic.
Bell, a fourth-year man and a former Brown, played 14 games and started two with the NFC-leading Seahawks this season. He totaled 15 tackles and a half-sack while mostly working as a special teamer. Bell ranked third among Seahawks in ST snaps (251) before they waived him on Tuesday.
Seattle’s hope was that Bell would clear waivers and re-sign with its practice squad, but the team will instead lose him to Carolina. It’s a bit of payback for the Panthers after they fell to the Seahawks in Week 17. The defeat prevented the Panthers from clinching the NFC South. Their game against the Buccaneers in Week 18 will decide the division.
No matter how far they go, the Panthers will likely finish the season without Sanders after he broke his fibula last Sunday. The 2024 fourth-round pick from Texas will wrap up his second NFL season with 29 catches, 190 yards and a touchdown in 13 games. Sanders ranks second among Panthers tight ends in snap share (38.9%), trailing only Tommy Tremble (58.4). With Sanders out of commission, Mitchell Evans and James Mitchell could log more playing time.
Rams Open TE Tyler Higbee’s 21-Day Practice Window
Over a month after placing Tyler Higbee on injured reserve, the Rams have opened the tight end’s practice window, Sarah Barshop of ESPN reports. They’ll have 21 days to activate Higbee.
Higbee suffered an ankle injury in a Week 11 win over the Seahawks, forcing the Rams to shelve him on Nov. 19. Safety Quentin Lake (elbow) and right tackle Rob Havenstein (ankle) joined Higbee in going on IR that day. Nobody from that trio has returned to game action since then, and the Rams have fallen from 8-2 to 11-5 without them.
Once the favorites to land the No. 1 seed in the NFC, the Rams will enter a Week 18 meeting with Arizona sixth in the conference. The Rams will secure the fifth seed if they beat the Cardinals and the 49ers lose to the Seahawks.
Now in his 10th season since the Rams took him in the fourth round of the 2016 draft, Higbee played a role in their hot start this year. Higbee led Rams tight ends with 318 offensive snaps at the time of his injury, hauled in 20 passes for 190 yards, and scored two touchdowns.
Despite Higbee’s absence, LA’s top-ranked scoring offense has continued to rely heavily on its tight ends. With head coach Sean McVay frequently deploying three-TE sets, Colby Parkinson and Davis Allen have each played upward of 50% of offensive snaps. Second-round rookie Terrance Ferguson has logged a 33.6% snap share in his own right. Higbee at least has a change to rejoin that group in the next three weeks.
Eagles Expected To Rest Jalen Hurts, Other Starters In Week 18
With the NFC East champion Eagles unable to secure a first-round bye in the playoffs, head coach Nick Sirianni is likely to give most of his starters an opportunity to rest in Week 18, according to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer. That includes quarterback Jalen Hurts.
Third-year backup signal-caller Tanner McKee is expected to start against the Commanders on Sunday, Tim McManus of ESPN reports. It’s familiar territory for McKee, who filled in for a concussed Hurts in the lone start of his career in a Week 18 victory over the Giants last year. The former sixth-round pick from Stanford took advantage of his opportunity in completing 27 of 41 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns.
Assuming Hurts doesn’t play Sunday, he’ll wrap up his sixth regular season with a 64.8% completion rate, a career-low 7.1 yards per attempt, 25 touchdowns and six interceptions in 16 games. The 27-year-old ranks 11th in the league in traditional passer rating (98.5) and 20th in QBR (55.3).
After amassing at least 139 carries, 600-plus yards and double-digit rushing touchdowns in each of the previous four seasons, Hurts has done less running this year. His attempts (105), yards (421) and TDs (eight) are his lowest since he became the Eagles’ full-time starter in 2021.
After Hurts helped lead the Eagles to a Super Bowl championship last winter, McKee drew trade interest in the offseason, per McLane. Philadelphia was “reluctant” to deal him then, but it stands to reason he’ll generate interest again during the upcoming offseason. In the meantime, he and his team have something to play for in the regular-season finale.
The 11-5 Eagles can’t finish any worse than third in the NFC, but they can climb to the second seed with a win over the 4-12 Commanders and a Bears loss. On paper, the 11-5 Bears have a more difficult matchup against the 8-8 Lions, who won a 52-21 rout over Chicago in Week 2. Plenty has changed for both teams over the past three-plus months, though. The NFC North-winning Bears have gone 11-3 since an 0-2 start, and the Lions are out of the playoffs a year after winning 15 games and earning the conference’s top seed.