Bengals’ Orlando Brown Jr. Dealing With Broken Leg; Chase Brown Suffers Ankle Sprain
The Bengals came out on top in an overtime thriller Saturday and in doing so kept their playoff chances alive. Two key members of their offense are far from healthy, however. 
Left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. played all 90 offensive snaps for Cincinnati during tonight’s game, one which marked his return to the lineup. Brown had been sidelined since Week 13, and his availability was welcomed by a Bengals team needing to win out to have a chance at a wild-card spot. Brown said after the contest, however, that his fibula is broken in two spots (h/t ESPN’s Ben Baby).
That is a rather notable disclosure given the severity of broken bones and the missed time such injuries often cause. Brown was not charged with a sack or pressure allowed in pass protection by PFF, though, a sign of how effective he was able to be on Saturday despite the injury. Having him available for another must-win contest would be critical up front for Cincinnati in Week 18 against the Steelers.
The Bengals’ backfield could be shorthanded for that contest, however. Running back Chase Brown was injured late in the fourth quarter and he did not return to the game. Head coach Zac Taylor said (via Tom Pelissero of NFL Network) the ailment is an ankle sprain, but the severity is unknown at this point. Missing Brown for the regular season finale would deal a notable blow to Cincinnati’s rushing attack.
Since Zack Moss was lost for the year in November due to a neck injury, Brown has taken on lead back duties. The second-year rusher produced at least 94 scrimmage yards in each contest since the one Moss was injured in heading into Saturday’s action. Brown has scored 11 total touchdowns in 2024 after recording only one as a rookie. The 24-year-old Canadian’s absence would thus be sorely missed if he were to be sidelined for Week 18.
If Brown cannot play against Pittsburgh, Cincinnati would turn to trade acquisition Khalil Herbert to handle RB1 duties. Of course, being shorthanded at the running back spot would also lead to an increased reliance on quarterback Joe Burrow and the team’s dynamic passing attack. In any case, updates on both Orlando and Chase Brown will be worth watching for closely given the Bengals’ status as a postseason hopeful.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/28/24
Saturday’s minor moves, including gameday elevations for Week 17:
Arizona Cardinals
- Elevated: RB Michael Carter, S Andre Chachere
Atlanta Falcons
- Placed on IR: S Antonio Hamilton
- Signed to active roster: LB Josh Woods
- Elevated: CB Lamar Jackson, OL Tyrone Wheatley Jr.
Buffalo Bills
- Elevated: S Lewis Cine, WR Tyrell Shavers
Carolina Panthers
- Placed on IR: DB Chau Smith-Wade
- Signed to active roster: RB Mike Boone, QB Jack Plummer
- Elevated: DT DeShawn Williams
Dallas Cowboys
- Placed on IR: WR CeeDee Lamb (story), CB Amani Oruwariye
- Activated from IR: T Asim Richards
- Signed to active roster: LB Darius Harris
- Elevated: CB Troy Pride Jr., OL Dakoda Shepley
Green Bay Packers
- Elevated: S Omar Brown
New Orleans Saints
- Placed on IR: C Erik McCoy, G Lucas Patrick
- Signed to active roster: OL Kyle Hergel, LB Isaiah Stalbird
- Elevated: T Austin Deculus, RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire
New York Giants
- Placed on IR: S Raheem Layne (story)
- Activated from IR: OL Austin Schlottmann, DL Armon Watts
- Elevated: OLB Carlos Basham
New York Jets
- Activated from IR: K Greg Zuerlein
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Activated from IR: WR Kameron Johnson, S Jordan Whitehead
- Signed to active roster: P Jack Browning
- Elevated: LB Deion Jones, QB Michael Pratt
- Waived: LB Vi Jones
Tennessee Titans
- Signed to active roster: G Arlington Hambright, LB Raekwon McMillan, K Matthew Wright
- Elevated: T Chandler Brewer, DB Gervarrius Owens
- Released: DB Tre Avery, DB Gabe Jeudy-Lally
It was already known Lamb would be out for the remainder of the year, but the same will now be true of Oruwariye. The latter made seven appearances in 2024, his debut Cowboys season. That included four starts and a defensive snap share of 62%, making him a notable contributor on a Dallas defense which has dealt with a number of injuries. Oruwariye, 28, is a pending free agent.
McCoy and Patrick suffered injuries during the Saints’ Week 16 loss, and today’s move confirms they will both miss the remainder of the season. New Orleans’ offensive line has been dealt a number of blows in 2024, and that will continue through the final two games of the season. McCoy appeared in just seven games this year, but plenty of term remains on his pact. Patrick, by contrast, is set to hit the open market this spring.
Whitehead returned to practice earlier this week, so it comes as no surprise he will be available to the Buccaneers tomorrow. He will be expected to reprise his role as a defensive starter as Tampa Bay looks to seal the NFC South over the final two games of the campaign. Bringing back Whitehead and Johnson will leave the team with two IR activations.
Vikings Activate LB Ivan Pace, Waive LB Jamin Davis
Ivan Pace had his practice window opened earlier this week, indicating he could be available to the Vikings in Week 17. The second-year linebacker has indeed been activated, per a team announcement. 
Pace was moved to injured reserve one month ago as a result of a hamstring injury. That ensured he would miss at least four games, but at the first opportunity to do so he will return to the lineup. The 24-year-old will not carry an injury designation into tomorrow’s game against the Packers, so he will reprise his starting role on defense. In a corresponding move, fellow linebacker Jamin Davis was waived.
A UDFA last spring, Pace appeared in every game as a rookie and made 11 starts. His snap share (62%) has essentially been matched in 2024, allowing him to remain a key figure for Minnesota. Despite the missed time, Pace has already set a new career high in sacks with three; he has added 59 tackles and a fumble recovery which was returned for a touchdown. His return will be welcomed by the NFL’s No. 3 scoring defense.
Davis was on the Packers’ practice squad before he made the intra-divisional move to the Vikings’ active roster in the wake of Pace’s injury. The former Commanders first-rounder saw his time in Washington come to an end this season, ending his underwhelming tenure in the nation’s capital. Davis’ move from inside linebacker to edge rusher did not last long, and during his four games with the Vikings he reverted back to his original position. With Pace back, it will be interesting to see if Minnesota retains Davis on the practice squad provided he clears waivers.
Pace’s activation leaves the Vikings with two for the remainder of the regular season. Like all teams, though, Minnesota will receive an additional two activations for the postseason. For now, attention will turn to Pace’s ability to return to his pre-injury form as the team looks to compete for the top seed in the NFC.
Eagles Activate Bryce Huff From IR
The Eagles have activated defensive end Bryce Huff from injured reserve, per a team announcement.
Huff landed on IR on November 22 with a wrist injury that required surgery. He was designated to return on December 18 and suffered no setbacks in his two weeks of practice, setting him up to return to the lineup on Sunday against the Cowboys.
The Eagles will be hoping that Huff can be more effective heading towards the playoffs than he was to start the year. After a career-high 10.0 sacks in 2023 earned him a three-year, $51MM deal in free agency, Huff only recorded 2.5 sacks over his first 10 games in Philadelphia. His snap count already began to decrease before his injury, but fellow edge rusher Brandon Graham has since gone down with a triceps tear. Huff’s veteran teammate might be able to return deep in the playoffs, but until then, the Eagles will need Huff to recapture some of his 2023 form.
Huff’s activation was one of several Eagles roster moves on Saturday; the team also waived defensive end Charles Harris to make room for Huff on the 53-man roster. With Jalen Hurts sidelined, the Eagles promoted Ian Book from the practice squad to the active roster so he can serve as the team’s emergency third quarterback.
Wide receiver Britain Covey was placed on injured reserve for the second time this year, ending his regular season. Covey will be eligible to return in the playoffs if the Eagles make the NFC Championship game. Running back Tyrion Davis-Price and linebacker Dallas Gant were also elevated from the practice squad for Sunday’s matchup with the Cowboys.
Commanders Activate Jonathan Allen Off IR
The Commanders have activated defensive tackle Jonathan Allen from injured reserve, per a team announcement.
Allen landed on IR in October after a pectoral injury that was originally thought to be season-ending. Optimism grew after doctors discovered during surgery that his pectoral was only partially torn. He was able to return to practice on December 18, giving him enough time to ramp up and return to the field before the end of the season.
The two-time Pro Bowler was off to a slightly slower start than previous years, notching just 15 tackles and 2.0 sacks in his first six games. Washington’s run defense still suffered without him; the Commanders have surrendered 2,061 rushing yards so far this season, the fifth-most in the NFL.
Washington has relied on two recent second-round picks – Phidarian Mathis and Jer’Zhan Newton – to fill the void left by Allen’s absence. The Commanders waived Mathis earlier on Saturday, signaling that Allen would soon be headed back to the active roster. He will rejoin fellow Pro Bowler Daron Payne on the interior of Washington’s defensive line. Payne has started all 15 games, though his 68% snap share is a career-low.
Allen and Payne will hope to anchor the Commanders defense against the Falcons on Sunday night. A win would clinch Washington’s first playoff appearance since 2020, an impressive outcome after an organizational overhaul resulted in a new owner, head coach, and rookie quarterback.
Chargers’ Elijah Molden Out For Season
The Chargers clinched a playoff berth with a 40-7 romp of the Patriots on Saturday, but their victory came at a price. Defensive back Elijah Molden suffered a broken fibula that will end his 2024 season, per FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz.
Molden was inactive in Week 16 due to a knee injury but returned to the lineup on Saturday with no injury designation. The former Washington Husky went down in the third quarter against New England and had to be carted off the field.
Molden joined the Chargers in August via trade from the Titans. Tennessee received a 2026 seventh-round pick in exchange for their 2021 third-rounder, who appeared in 33 games with 16 starts in his first three seasons, mostly as a slot corner.
Molden switched to safety in Los Angeles and emerged as a solid contributor on defense, playing 729 snaps over the team’s first fourteen games. He already reached career-highs with three interceptions and seven passes defended heading into Week 16, and his four tackles on Saturday brought him to 75 on the season, another personal record.
Now, Molden will have to watch the Chargers’ playoff run from the sidelines as he begins the recovery process for his broken leg. That rehab will also impact his market as an unrestricted free agent after this season. A return to Los Angeles would make sense after he smoothly acclimated to Jesse Minter’s defense despite joining the team just before the regular season started.
Colts Rule Out Anthony Richardson For Week 17; Joe Flacco To Start
The Colts have ruled out Anthony Richardson for their Week 17 matchup with the Giants, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Joe Flacco will make his fourth start of the season in Richardson’s absence with Sam Ehlinger serving as the backup quarterback. Sunday will be Flacco’s seventh appearance and fourth start of the season. He has completed 66.5% of his passes for 1,167 yards and nine touchdowns along with five interceptions this year.
Richardson has been dealing with back and foot soreness all week, which sidelined him from practice, per Rapoport. Specifically, Richardson’s mobility and movement have been limited by back spasms, according to Joel Erickson of the Indianapolis Star. There was optimism earlier in the week that the second-year quarterback could play on Sunday, per ESPN’s Stephen Holder, but his lack of participation in Friday’s practice indicated otherwise.
Sunday’s game will be Richardson’s fifth absence of the season, and it could not come at a worse time for the Colts, who could be eliminated from playoff contention this week. If that happens, Indianapolis may opt to shut down their young quarterback altogether to give him a head start on healing up and preparing for the 2025 season.
Richardson’s durability has been a concern since he entered the league due to his physical playing style. He played in just four games as a rookie in 2024 before landing on injured reserve with a grade three AC joint sprain. This year, an oblique injury sidelined him in Weeks 5 and 6 before trouble arose with his back and foot later int he season.
Richardson admitted on Tuesday that his 86 rushing attempts (fifth-most among quarterbacks) have taken a toll on him physically.
“From the start of the season, you’re going to feel those hits the next day,” Richardson said (via Holder). “In college I didn’t really get sore. But the NFL, it’s a different breed, different game. You have some grown men out there playing football, so it’s always a little different getting tackled by those guys.”
Richardson’s durability isn’t the only concern surrounding his lack of availability. He was considered a raw quarterback prospect when the Colts selected him with the fourth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. With just 13 starts and a 54.7% completion rate in college, most evaluators believed that Richardson would need consistent playing time to kickstart his development in the pros. As he approaches the end of his second NFL season, the former Florida standout has played in just 15 games with a 50.6% completion rate and a 11:13 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
Commanders Waive DL Phidarian Mathis
The Commanders are moving on from a former second-round pick. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the team is waiving defensive lineman Phidarian Mathis. Rapoport hints that the third-year player has a chance of catching on with a new squad via the waiver wire.
The Alabama product was selected with the 47th-overall pick in the 2022 draft. He suffered a torn meniscus in his NFL debut that kept him off the field for most of his rookie campaign. A calf injury forced him out of the lineup for the start of his sophomore season, and he got into about a third of his team’s defensive snaps once he returned in October.
Mathis saw a similar role in 2024, appearing in 257 defensive snaps in 12 appearances. When Jonathan Allen went down with an injury, Mathis initially saw an uptick in snaps opposite Daron Payne or Jer’Zhan Newton. However, Mathis has been inactive for each of the past three games, with the likes of Sheldon Day, Jalyn Holmes, and Carl Davis earning snaps at defensive tackle.
This move could ultimately be a precursor to the Commanders activating Allen from IR. The veteran has been working his way back from a pectoral injury suffered in mid-October. Allen returned to practice earlier this month and was a full participant this week.
Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill Playing Through Torn Ligament In Wrist
While Tyreek Hill hasn’t missed any games this season due to a lingering wrist injury, he’s missed significant practice time. After dropping a couple of passes on Sunday, Hill attributed the struggles to his lack of practice reps with Tua Tagovailoa (per Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com).
However, it sounds like Hill may also be selling his injury short. As C. Isaiah Smalls II of the Miami Herald writes, the wideout suffered a torn ligament in his wrist during the preseason. Dolphins WRs coach also recently revealed to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald that Hill has been dealing with an ankle issue.
When you consider the growing list of injuries and Miami’s inconsistent QB play during Tagovailoa’s absence, it makes sense why Hill has put up some of the worst numbers of his career. After finishing the 2023 campaign with a mind-numbing 112.4 yards per game, Hill has seen that number drop to only 55.6 yards in 2024. His 63.1 catch percentage also represents a career-low. Still, the wideout has been unwilling to use any of these factors as an excuse for his performance.
“I have a certain standard that I want to set for my family and that standard is to never quit, never back down no matter what you’re going through in life because adversity hits us all,” Hill told Smalls. “My mindset is like ‘suck it up, wait til the end of season and continue to battle with my brothers’ because you never know when it’s going to end.”
The five-time All-Pro agreed to a restructured deal this offseason which has a base value of $90MM over three years. The pact includes $65MM in practical guarantees, meaning his health should be of particular importance to the organization.
Hill isn’t the only Dolphins offensive weapon to play through an injury. Per Jackson, running back Raheem Mostert has been playing through a fractured sternum. After finishing last season with a league-leading 21 touchdowns, the veteran has taken a step back behind De’Von Achane in 2024.
Panthers Place RB Chuba Hubbard On IR
Chuba Hubbard‘s standout season has come to a premature end. The Panthers are placing the running back on injured reserve, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Hubbard is coming off a Week 16 performance where he rushed for 152 yards and two touchdowns en route to NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors. The RB popped up on the injury report this week with a knee injury, and there was some optimism that he’d play tomorrow. However, the RB underwent an MRI after experiencing more pain during Friday’s practice, and he was ultimately diagnosed with a Grade 2 calf strain (per the team).
The former fourth-round pick started his career as a backup to Christian McCaffrey, but it didn’t take long for the fill-in to work his way into the starting lineup. Hubbard ended up starting 10 of his 17 appearances as a rookie, but he finished with only 786 yards from scrimmage. When McCaffrey was traded during the 2022 season, Hubbard found himself behind D’Onta Foreman on the depth chart, and the team brought in Miles Sanders in 2023 to help split the positional reps.
Hubbard ended up emerging as the preferred RB in 2023, but he still only finished with 1,135 yards from scrimmage while averaging 4.1 yards per touch. When the Panthers drafted Jonathon Brooks in the second round of this year’s draft, it seemed likely that Hubbard would keep the seat warm until the rookie was ready to return from a torn ACL.
Instead, Hubbard ended up running with the starting gig. The fourth-year RB has started all 15 games for Carolina this season, and he’s already set career-highs in yards from scrimmage (1,366) and touchdowns (11). Thanks to this production, the Panthers handed him a four-year, $33.2MM extension ($15MM guaranteed) in November.
Brooks tore the same ACL earlier this month, leaving his status for 2025 in doubt. Hubbard should be back to lead the depth chart next season, but the Panthers could use the next few weeks to evaluate their backup options. Raheem Blackshear could temporarily slide to the top of the depth chart, with Velus Jones Jr. and practice squad RB Mike Boone also around as depth.