Kerby Joseph Could Land On IR After Setback
Safety Kerby Joseph was among the Lions’ many standouts during a 15-win season in 2024. After Joseph intercepted an NFL-best nine passes and earned first-team All-Pro honors, the Lions awarded him a record-setting extension worth $86MM over four years.
Detroit was a top-tier team last year, but it hasn’t experienced nearly as much success this season. At 8-5, the Lions are just outside the NFC playoff picture. Various key injuries, including to Joseph, have contributed to the Lions’ decline.
Joseph sustained a knee injury in a Week 6 loss to the Chiefs on Oct. 12. Although Joseph has missed seven straight games since then, the Lions haven’t put him on injured reserve. However, that may change soon. Joseph suffered a setback in practice this week and “could be” an IR candidate, head coach Dan Campbell said (via Tim Twentyman of the team’s website).
With four games left, an IR placement would end Joseph’s regular season. He’d be eligible to return during the playoffs, but the Lions would first have to earn a spot for that to matter.
Joseph’s ongoing injury issues mean Detroit will have to continue without either member of its all-world safety tandem. Brian Branch is done for the year after suffering a torn Achilles in a win over the Cowboys in Week 14.
Down their two best safeties, the Lions are set to face old friend Matthew Stafford and the Rams’ explosive passing attack on Sunday. That’s the last major test of the season for Detroit’s secondary, which will take on Pittsburgh, Minnesota, and Chicago over the final three weeks. The Bears’ passing game ranks a middle-of-the-road 16th, while the Steelers (27th) and Vikings (28th) check in toward the bottom of the league in that category.
It flew under the radar in the wake of Branch’s catastrophic injury, but fellow safety Thomas Harper left the Dallas game early with a concussion. Harper’s questionable for Week 15, but Campbell is optimistic he’ll suit up. Claimed off waivers from the Raiders in August, Harper has been a terrific scrapheap pickup for the Lions. With 27 tackles, four passes defensed, and an interception in 10 games (seven starts), Harper has helped fill Joseph’s void. Pro Football Focus ranks him 23rd among 90 qualifying safeties this year.
If Harper clears concussion protocol, he’ll continue filling an important role on Sunday. Campbell pointed to Avonte Maddox, Erick Hallett, and Daniel Thomas as other safety options “getting valuable reps” in practice. While Campbell insists he’s confident in that group, it’s fair to say he’d rather have Joseph and Branch patrolling the Lions’ defensive backfield.
Commanders To Pursue WR Brandon Aiyuk In Offseason?
Earlier this month, 49ers general manager John Lynch expressed hope that wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk would come off the reserve/PUP list to play sometime this season. Almost two weeks later, optimism on that front “seems to have run out,” Dianna Russini of The Athletic writes.
Aiyuk hasn’t played in a game since he tore his right ACL, MCL, and meniscus in Week 7 of 2024. He suffered the injury a couple of months after landing a four-year, $120MM extension.
After Aiyuk failed to attend offseason appointments to rehab his knee, the 49ers made the eye-opening move to void his 2026 guarantees last summer. Barring an unforeseen turnaround in their relationship, the two sides are likely headed for a divorce in the offseason.
The 49ers could attempt to find a trade partner for Aiyuk, but with his stock way down, it may be difficult. Whether the 49ers trade or release Aiyuk before June 1, they’d be left with $29.85MM in dead money. Parting with him after June 1 would allow San Francisco to spread the dead cap over two years. Aiyuk would count $13.25MM against the team’s cap in that scenario.
As for where Aiyuk might play next, Washington is a team to monitor. The belief is that Aiyuk would like to reunite with Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, Dan Graziano of ESPN reports. The two formed an excellent combination at Arizona State in 2019. Aiyuk caught 65 passes for 1,192 yards and eight touchdowns en route to First-Team All-Pac-12 honors that year. The 49ers drafted him 25th overall during the ensuing spring.
Not only is Aiyuk familiar with Daniels, but it’s worth noting Commanders general manager Adam Peters was a key figure in the 49ers’ front office during the first four years of the wideout’s career. Peters is likely to hunt for offensive weapons in the wake of a disappointing season for the Commanders, which could lead to interest in Aiyuk. After advancing all the way to the NFC championship game last season, the injury-plagued Commanders will miss the playoffs this year. At 3-10, they’re on pace to draft in the top 10 next spring.
Terry McLaurin will return as Washington’s No. 1 receiver next year. However, Deebo Samuel (a former Aiyuk teammate in San Francisco) and Noah Brown are scheduled to reach free agency. Tight end Zach Ertz, one of the team’s leading receivers this year, is also unsigned beyond this season. The 35-year-old tore his ACL last week, further clouding his future.
Even if the Commanders bring any of their soon-to-be free agent pass catchers back, outside additions are likely. Daniels should be in position to rebound in 2026 if he stays healthy, which he hasn’t done this year, and has more talent surrounding him. Partnering with Aiyuk again could lead to a bounce-back campaign for both players, which would boost the Commanders’ chances of returning to playoff contention after a forgettable 2025.
Colts Sign QB Philip Rivers To Active Roster
DECEMBER 13: The Colts officially signed Rivers to their active roster from their practice squad, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. They could have used practice squad elevations for the next three games – after this week’s drama, no team would dare poach him – but he seems poised to start for the rest of the season. If that is the case, adding him to the active roster now makes sense.
The move also cements one of the most ironic aspects of Rivers’ decision to come out of retirement. He was a semi-finalist to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year; now, he will not be eligible until 2031.
DECEMBER 12: Once Philip Rivers‘ deal with the Colts was officially in place, attention turned to the matter of when he would play. The now-unretired passer looks to be on course to make his NFL return this Sunday. 
Rivers has practiced each of the past two days, and ESPN’s Stephen Holder notes it is clear which quarterback the Colts are preparing to get the nod for Week 15. Barring an unforeseen development, Rivers will be in place against the Seahawks. Provided that proves to be the case, it will add further to one of the NFL’s most interesting and unexpected stories in recent memory.
Daniel Jones‘ Achilles tear ended his impressive debut season in Indianapolis and left the Colts thin on the QB depth chart. Backup Anthony Richardson remains on injured reserve, while sixth-round rookie Riley Leonard suffered a PCL sprain in Week 14 upon taking over from Jones. Brett Rypien is on the active roster after spending time on the practice squad, but Rivers is viewed as a better option for leading the Colts back into a playoff spot down the stretch.
Comebacks have been considered on more than one occasion in the 44-year-old’s case, but this is the first which has come to bear. Rivers immediately expressed interest in a second Colts stint upon being contacted by the team this past Sunday, as detailed by Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. Rivers and head coach Shane Steichen (who worked together during their shared time with the Chargers) have remained in contact since their time together ended, with the former using the latter’s offense on the high school team he coaches.
Rivers will presumably reprise his role as the head coach of his eldest son’s HS team next fall. Before that point, however, he is in line to briefly resume his NFL playing career. Doing so will restart the eight-time Pro Bowler’s five-year waiting period with respect to eligibility for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In the meantime, Rivers will aim to guide the Colts to a win against a Seahawks defense which ranks near the top of the NFL in several categories.
Indianapolis sits at 8-5, an illustration of how far the team has fallen from a hugely successful start to the campaign. With the Jaguars (9-4) and Texans (8-5) firmly in contention for the AFC South title, a home playoff game is far less certain than it once looked. Securing a wild-card spot will be a strong challenge in its own right, and if the Colts are to achieve that feat it appears Rivers will be tasked with handling QB1 duties right away.
Steelers’ T.J. Watt Undergoes Surgery On Partially Collapsed Lung
DECEMBER 13: Dry needling is a common treatment for NFL players to relieve muscle pain, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Watt felt “extreme pain” after his dry needling session on Wednesday and was quickly sent to the hospital for treatment and further evaluation.
DECEMBER 12: Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt was admitted to the hospital with a lung injury on Wednesday. Watt has since undergone successful surgery to stabilize and repair a partially collapsed lung, his brother J.J. Watt announced. He’ll be released from the hospital on Friday.
While Watt is expected to make a full recovery, head coach Mike Tomlin announced that he will not play on Monday against the Dolphins (via Brooke Pryor of ESPN). The seven-time Pro Bowler is expected to return this season, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
Watt’s collapsed lung came as a result of a dry needling procedure he underwent at the team facility. The NFLPA has been in contact with Watt and his representation since then, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. It’s unclear if Watt or the union will take any action against the Steelers. Then-Chargers quarterback Tyrod Taylor suffered a punctured lung while receiving a pain-killing injection in September 2020. Two years later, he sued the Chargers’ doctor for medical malpractice.
Taylor received medical clearance to return to action a month after he punctured his lung. It seems Watt will come back quicker than that, though even a one-game absence is unwelcome news at this stage of the season. With four weeks remaining, the 7-6 Steelers are trying to hold off the Ravens (6-7) and Bengals (4-9) for the AFC North title. It’ll be more difficult to do so without Watt, who will miss his 12th career game in Week 15. The Steelers have gone 1-10 without him, Armando Salguero of OutKick notes.
The 31-year-old Watt has continued serving as one of Pittsburgh’s most effective players this season. He has racked up 53 tackles, 10 TFL, a team-high seven sacks, and three forced fumbles in 13 games. The Steelers have two other strong edge rushers in Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig, who have totaled 6.5 sacks apiece. They and fourth-round rookie Jack Sawyer, who has notched one sack while playing under 20% of defensive snaps, will have to pick up the slack while Watt’s out.
Poll: Who Will Win NFC West?
It only took 10 wins to earn the NFC West title a year ago. Two of the division’s four teams have already reached that total 14 weeks into 2025. The 10-3 Rams are in first place and on track to win the division for the second straight season, but the Seahawks share the same record. Meanwhile, the 49ers (9-4) are right on their tails. At 3-10, the Cardinals are the only non-contender in the division, leaving the other three clubs to battle for the title over the next four weeks.
The Rams rank second in the NFL in point differential, trailing only the Seahawks in that category. However, the Rams got the better of the Seahawks in their first matchup of the season in Week 11. Playing at home, the Rams took advantage of four Sam Darnold interceptions to eke out a 21-19 win. Those two will meet again in Seattle in Week 16. The Seahawks also lost their previous meeting with the 49ers, who took a 17-13 decision on the road in Week 1. Seattle will seek revenge in San Francisco in Week 18, potentially with the division at stake. Having already split their season series, the Rams and 49ers are done with each other unless a rubber match occurs during the playoffs.
Despite Darnold’s disastrous showing against the Rams last month, the 28-year-old has been terrific for the second season in a row. Between his one-off with the Vikings and his first 13 games as a Seahawk, Darnold has gone 24-6 as a starter since 2024. He’s in the MVP running this year, but Stafford is the favorite in his age-37 season.
Both Stafford and Darnold have benefited from immensely talented receivers. The Rams have a stellar one-two punch in Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. Nacua leads the NFL in catches (93), and Adams is atop the league in receiving touchdowns (14). Meanwhile, the Seahawks’ Jaxon Smith-Njigba is easily pacing the league in yards (1,428). He has a shot to break Calvin Johnson‘s single-season record of 1,964.
While their offenses have gotten most of the headlines, the Rams and Seahawks have also prevented scoring at an elite clip. The Seahawks have given up 17.4 points per game to the Rams’ 17.5. Only the Texans (16.0) have done a better job keeping points off the board than those two clubs. Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula and Seahawks DC Aden Durde could soon draw head coaching interest as a result of their work this year.
The Rams’ Sean McVay and the Seahawks’ Mike Macdonald will likely earn Coach of the Year consideration. The same should be true for the 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan, who has kept his team in the hunt despite an absurd number of notable injuries.
The 49ers survived an extended period without starting signal-caller Brock Purdy and tight end George Kittle, who have returned from the shelf in recent weeks. They’ve also had to get by for most of the year without their two best defensive players, linebacker Fred Warner and end Nick Bosa. Warner suffered a fractured and dislocated ankle in Week 6. Bosa tore his ACL in Week 3. Without Bosa coming off the edge, the 49ers rank last in the league in sacks. Nevertheless, coordinator Robert Saleh has still cobbled together the game’s eighth-ranked scoring defense. Despite a failed run with the Jets, Saleh’s performance this season could earn him a second shot as a head coach in 2026.
The NFC West is setting up as a three-way fight to close out the season, but ESPN’s Football Power Index pegs the Rams as overwhelming favorites. They have a 56.3% chance to win the division. The Seahawks (27.5) and 49ers (16.3) are lagging well behind. How do you think it will play out? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section.
Pro Football Rumors Front Office Subscriber Chat: 12/12/25
Pro Football Rumors' Sam Robinson will be holding a live chat at 2pm Central today, exclusively for Trade Rumors Front Office subscribers!
Dolphins Part Ways With OLB Coach Ryan Crow
The Dolphins parted ways with an assistant coach on defense today. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reported the dismissal after Sports Illustrated’s Alain Poupart sighted the absence of outside linebackers coach Ryan Crow on the team website.
Crow had been arrested in late-August on domestic battery charges. Shortly after his arrest, head coach Mike McDaniel announced that Crow had been placed on indefinite administrative leave while his case played out.
Crow has only been with Miami for two years, coming over from Tennessee after defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver was hired away from Baltimore. Crow started as a defensive assistant with the Titans in 2018, working the role for two years before moving to assistant special teams coach.
After just a year with that title, Crow earned his first position coaching gig as Tennessee’s outside linebackers coach. In his first year on the job, in 2021, Crow coached outside linebacker Harold Landry to his first and only Pro Bowl season, in which he led the team with 12.0 sacks. Injury held Landry out for the entire next season, though, and Bud Dupree, Rashad Weaver, and Monty Rice were not able to replace his production. Landry returned for another double-digit sack season in 2023, and Arden Key stepped up as a potential new weapon beside him.
Crow’s first year in Miami forced some extreme challenges onto him as starters Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb were both dealt long-term injuries. Veteran Emmanuel Ogbah and rookie first-rounder Chop Robinson did a decent job leading the pass rush for the rest of the season, combining for 11.0 sacks. He was set to return Chubb and Phillips back this year, but his leave kept him from getting to work with the starters.
In Crow’s absence, senior defensive assistant Sean Ryan began to work with the position group. Ryan, 53, is only in his second year coaching on the defensive side of the ball after coaching quarterbacks and wide receivers for the Giants, Texans, Lions, and Panthers from 2007-22. Phillips eventually was traded to Philadelphia after only logging three sacks in nine games. Through 13 games this year, Chubb currently leads the team with 6.5 sacks, while Robinson and veteran Matt Judon have attempted to fill the hole left by Phillips. With Crow now gone, Ryan will finish out the season in his position.
Possibilities For QB Daniel Jones Post-Injury
Just when it seemed like everything was finally working out for Colts veteran quarterback Daniel Jones, a torn Achilles tendon has thrown a wrench in things. It was only two years ago that the Giants signed Jones to a four-year, $160MM extension just to bench him by November the next season. Now heading to free agency with a long-term recovery in front of him, there are several possibilities for how Jones’ future could play out. 
ESPN’s Dan Graziano laid out a few theories earlier this week. The first and most obvious option is that the Colts simply re-sign Jones, putting together another one- or two-year deal with some lucrative incentives, serving both parties. With how late in the year this injury has come, Jones is likely to still be rehabbing into the regular season next year. Indianapolis won’t know what to expect upon Jones’ eventual return, so they might not be willing to commit big money on a long-term deal, but they would guarantee a smaller amount in a shorter window, with a possibility for Jones to make a lot more if he can return with some amount of success.
This kind of deal would also benefit Jones, especially if he doesn’t quite like the value of the deals he ends up hearing in free agency. Some teams may lowball his value, giving him a long-term commitment while attempting to get a discount off of the injury and lock him in at a lower rate. The lower, shorter deal with incentives gives Jones a chance at hitting big money bonuses but also provides him the opportunity to renegotiate something better once he gets his sea legs back under him.
There are other options that see Jones leaving Indiana, especially considering that before the injury, he was expected to be one of the top passers on the open market. There are 30 quarterbacks set to hit free agency at the end of this season, and the only ones with talent comparable to what the 27-year-old Jones has displayed this year are Aaron Rodgers (41), Russell Wilson (36), Joe Flacco (40), and maybe Tyrod Taylor (34). Reestablishing himself as a capable starter had set Jones up for a potentially nice payday, but the injury may have altered that trajectory.
If he were to leave, Graziano’s first thought is that he could return to Minnesota. After getting cut by the Giants last year, Jones finished his season with the Vikings, backing up another resurgent veteran in Sam Darnold. Minnesota wanted to retain him but couldn’t guarantee him the starting job with first-round rookie J.J. McCarthy returning from injury. McCarthy has struggled in his first year as the Vikings’ starter, and introducing Jones back into the equation could spur his competitive instincts after he was essentially handed the job this year. It could also give McCarthy some time to sit and develop behind Jones, assuming losing the starting job doesn’t kill the 22-year-old’s confidence.
There are also plenty of options foreign to the three teams Jones has already played for. With projected cuts and contracts coming to an end after this season, the Cardinals, Falcons, Browns, Raiders, Dolphins, Saints, Jets, and Steelers are all expected to be looking at passers in the offseason. There’s also a chance Jones doesn’t even get that far in the process. Before the injury, there was a popular rumor that a franchise tag might keep him in Indianapolis. Checking in at a projected value of about $46MM, a franchise tag has become a bit less attractive of an option with the injury, but Jeremy Fowler of ESPN offered that it’s not completely off the table.
Fowler and Graziano also pointed out the possibility that, whatever the preference of Colts head coach Shane Steichen and general manager Chris Ballard, their opinions might not matter. New team owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon has been seen all season taking diligent notes, and many speculated that Steichen and Ballard were on the hot seat coming into the season. An 8-2 start that saw the team atop the AFC seemed to indicate that their seats had cooled off a bit, but the staff has seen the team lose four of their last five, and without Jones, a seven-game losing streak is certainly on the table. It’s a long shot given the success the team saw when fully healthy, but there’s a chance decision makers could be changing in Indy before the quarterback does.
Ultimately, all we can do for now is speculate and keep a close eye on how things pan out over the next four weeks to close out the regular season. This injury has been a devastating setback for a resurgent Jones campaign, but the young passer still has plenty of road ahead of him. Much remains to be seen before we find out just where that road will lead.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/12/25
Today’s NFL practice squad transactions:
Cleveland Browns
- Released from practice squad/injured list: LB Cameron McGrone
Denver Broncos
- Signed: TE Marcedes Lewis
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: TE Hayden Rucci
Ever the quintessential veteran, Lewis serves as the perfect example of how we explain the standard gameday practice squad elevation each year. Denver signed Lewis to their taxi squad just before November and was called up as a gameday elevation three weeks in a row. In order to get him into another game this past weekend, the Broncos signed Lewis to their 53-man roster. They waived him yesterday and have now signed him back to the p-squad after he cleared waivers. Under a new practice squad deal, Lewis’ three-elevation limit soul
NFL Minor Transactions: 12/12/25
Here are Friday’s minor moves:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Activated from IR: LB Shaka Heyward
Miami Dolphins
- Signed to active roster: CB Isaiah Johnson
- Placed on IR: LB Caleb Johnson
Philadelphia Eagles
- Activated from IR: LS Charley Hughlett
The Eagles had already waived Hughlett’s injury replacement, Cal Adomitis, when they opened Hughlett’s practice window, so this was a fully expected move in Philadelphia. Shortly after returning to practice, Hughlett resumes his role as the team’s primary long snapper.
In Miami, Isaiah takes Caleb’s spot on the 53-man roster. This is convenient for the Dolphins because Isaiah had run out of standard gameday practice squad elevations back in early-November. With his promotion today, the three-game limit will no longer restrict his ability to suit up.