Rams Activate TE Tyler Higbee
The Rams needed to activate Tyler Higbee from the reserve/PUP list this week, and rather than ensure the veteran tight end missed the whole season, the team is moving him back to the 53-man roster.
Down with an ACL tear sustained in a 2023 wild-card game, Higbee has spent the season on the PUP list. The Rams designated the ninth-year player for return on November 27, giving them until Wednesday to activate him before a move to season-ending IR would have commenced. Higbee, however, is back and would be moving toward debuting.
Los Angeles also placed linebacker Nick Hampton on IR and added veteran edge rusher Rashad Weaver to its practice squad. Higbee, of course, is the lead news item here. With Aaron Donald retired, Higbee is the team’s second-longest-tenured player — behind only right tackle Rob Havenstein.
Sean McVay said in late November that Higbee was still several weeks away from coming back. The Rams designating him for return when they did, however, gave him three weeks of practice in advance of this point. Higbee, 31, would end up with four weeks of practice ahead of L.A.’s Week 16 game. That provides a lengthy onramp, and it will be interesting to see if the Rams have him in uniform Sunday.
Drafted in the 2016 fourth round, Higbee joins Havenstein as the only Rams to predate McVay’s arrival. Higbee, however, has signed two Rams extensions. The most recent — a two-year, $17MM deal — runs through the 2025 season. Higbee secured $2MM of his $4.5MM 2025 base salary guaranteed, which will make him a bit harder to jettison next year. He could be a nice bonus for this year’s Rams, who have rallied from 1-4 to the NFC West lead.
The 8-6 team has used free agency addition Colby Parkinson as its top pass-catching tight end. The former Seahawk has 288 yards on 29 receptions. Hunter Long, acquired in the 2023 Jalen Ramsey trade, has just seven grabs for 60 yards. Higbee has been an integral part of McVay’s passing attack, averaging at least 51 yards per game in each of the past six seasons. Chosen as the team’s long-term tight end over Gerald Everett years ago, Higbee has a 734-yard season on his resume and three more 500-plus-yard years. Missing two games last season, Higbee still totaled 47 catches for 495 yards. This came after he amassed 621 yards on a career-high 72 receptions.
Los Angeles played an extended stretch without both Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, with each impact receiver joining Higbee in picking up injuries. The trio could be back together soon, as the Rams attempt to secure their first division title since 2021.
Lions’ Alim McNeill Suffers Torn ACL; Carlton Davis Facing Multi-Week Absence
DECEMBER 17: Davis, Dorsey and McNeill are now on IR. The Lions have several players in their IR-return equation and still have five activations remaining. Davis joins Aidan Hutchinson, Alex Anzalone, Derrick Barnes and John Cominsky among regulars who are in play to come back later this season.
The Lions will also have two more activations to use once in the playoffs, giving the injury-decimated team more avenues to bring players back. It is not known who will return just yet, but Davis and Hutchinson are in play to come back should the team advance to the NFC championship game. Anzalone, Barnes, Cominsky and others stand to have a chance to return before that point. However, McNeill, Dorsey and David Montgomery are done for the season.
DECEMBER 16: The Lions were dealt several more blows on defense during their loss on Sunday. Defensive tackle Alim McNeill will not play again in 2024, while a postseason run will be needed for cornerback Carlton Davis to return to action. 
[RELATED: Lions Remain Hopeful For Super Bowl Aidan Hutchinson Return]
McNeill suffered an ACL tear, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Davis, meanwhile, is dealing with a fractured jaw. As a result, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports he will be out for the next six weeks.
Both players exited Sunday’s game with their respective injuries, and head coach Dan Campbell expressed doubt that either of them would be available the rest of the way. That has been confirmed in McNeill’s case, and the news of his injury deals a significant blow to Detroit’s defensive front (a unit which is already highly shorthanded along the edge). The 24-year-old posted 3.5 sacks this season, meaning he would have had a chance at surpassing his previous career high of 5.0 – set last year – had he remained healthy. This is the first major injury of his career.
McNeill’s ACL tear comes shortly after he agreed to a four-year extension, a deal which made him one of several impact players who have landed a new Lions contract recently. The former third-rounder was on track to hit free agency this spring prior to that deal being worked out; his market value no doubt would have been lower given this injury had he and the team waited until the end of the campaign to negotiate. Instead, McNeill (who is under contract through 2028 with an AAV $24.25MM) will be unavailable during Detroit’s closing regular season games and postseason run.
Schefter notes Davis will undergo surgery, and his rehab after that procedure will be key in determining if he is able to play again this season. Rapoport’s six-week timeline would line Davis up exactly with the NFC title game if it were to hold true (and if, of course, the Lions were to progress to that point). In the meantime, the team will move forward with a shorthanded secondary while attempting to earn the top seed in the conference and the much-needed bye which would accompany it.
Davis was acquired via trade as part of Detroit’s efforts to produce improved play at the CB spot. The former Buccaneer has delivered a pair of interceptions, 11 pass defections and two fumble recoveries in his debut Lions campaign, making him a key figure on defense. His absence will be felt over the closing weeks of the regular season on a unit which already sits only 26th in the league against the pass (and which lost Khalil Dorsey for the season on Sunday). The struggles in that department could very well continue with Davis not in the picture.
The Lions have been atop the NFC for most of the year, but they have been unable to generate a cushion given the strength of the NFC North and the play of the Eagles. Detroit’s loss leaves the team even at 12-2 with Philadelphia; Minnesota would match that record with a win on Monday night. The race for the top seed in the conference will therefore remain tight through to the end of the regular season, but the Lions’ defense will increasingly rely on backups over that span.
Woody Johnson Unlikely To Leave Jets For Trump Administration Role?
The first Donald Trump presidential administration featured Jets owner Woody Johnson as the ambassador to the United Kingdom. This led to Johnson not being directly involved with the Todd Bowles firing or the hires of Joe Douglas and Robert Saleh. As the decks are being cleared in New York, Johnson may be playing the lead role as the team retools.
Johnson is not set to be the next UK ambassador; investment banker Warren Stephens is on track to serve in that post. While Johnson could be in line for a separate role during Trump’s second term, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones notes the Jets are not expecting the owner be part of this administration.
[RELATED: Jets Attempted To Set Up Johnson-Bill Belichick Meeting]
This route taking shape would keep Johnson with the Jets during what will be an eventful period. The Jets fired Saleh after Week 5, with Johnson going around Douglas to make that move, and the owner then canned Douglas last month. The Saleh firing did not key a boost for the Jets, who have slunk to 4-10 (2-7 under interim HC Jeff Ulbrich), and they are believed to be prioritizing experience this time. Since Bill Belichick‘s abrupt resignation in 2000, the Jets have primarily hired first-time head coaches; Adam Gase was the only exception during Johnson’s 24-year ownership tenure.
Woody Johnson, 77, leaving the team in 2017 left brother Christopher Johnson in place as acting owner. The less seasoned Jets leader led the Douglas and Saleh hires, firing Bowles in 2018 and GM Mike Maccagnan in 2019. Christopher Johnson is expected to play a role in the upcoming hires, with Jones adding Jets president Hymie Elhai will be part of the process as well. But this set of hires will feature Woody Johnson as the final decision-maker.
The prospect of Woody Johnson being the point man is also interesting due to the increased role he has taken on in recent months. Johnson has meddled in personnel matters significantly in 2024, with Jones indicating he has taken on a greater role as the year has progressed. The offseason involved Johnson impeding Douglas on a Bryce Huff offer while also nixing a trade for Jerry Jeudy. Johnson also appeared more resistant to a Haason Reddick extension than Douglas was, though the owner did step in — with Douglas effectively stripped of power — to finalize the agreement to bring him in.
Reports of a rift between Woody Johnson and Aaron Rodgers emerged as well. Johnson called for Rodgers’ benching after a Week 4 loss to the Broncos and may well have done so again at a different point in the season. While the future Hall of Fame quarterback — believed to be on his way out of New York — attempted to downplay those reports, it is clear Johnson has become a more prominent presence with regards to roster say than he has in the past. With Johnson potentially staying put, this will be a key component as the Jets attempt to hire HC and GMs. Mike Vrabel, who is viewed as an early frontrunner, will need to take potential Johnson input into consideration.
Ex-Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum and ex-Vikings GM Rick Spielman are playing central roles in the Jets’ hiring process as well, being brought in by Woody Johnson to run the interview process. This has already brought GM interviews with Thomas Dimitroff and Jon Robinson. GM and HC candidates not tied to teams are free to interview now, but clubs conducting searches must wait until divisional-round week to meet with candidates who are on other staffs. As the Jets attempt to reverse course after their NFL-long playoff drought has reached 14 seasons, it seems Woody Johnson will see this process to the end this time.
Browns To Start Dorian Thompson-Robinson In Week 16
Jameis Winston‘s INT spree will produce a benching. The Browns are going with Dorian Thompson-Robinson in Week 16, Brad Stainbrook of the Orange and Brown Report notes.
Kevin Stefanski, who parked Winston during what became a six-turnover Browns performance against the Chiefs, will take another look at a second-year player over one that is on an expiring contract. Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot confirms Winston will take a seat after making seven starts this season. Indicating Winston will be DTR’s backup, Stefanski refused to commit to the younger passer beyond Week 16.
Despite this low start count, Winston is already tied for fourth in INTs (12). Only Kirk Cousins (16), Baker Mayfield (14) and Geno Smith (13) have more. All three have started every game for their respective teams this season. Winston has been unable to curb a turnover habit that defined his Buccaneers tenure, one that infamously ended with the QB throwing an astounding 30 interceptions in 2019. Winston threw three picks against Kansas City, a game that came two weeks after another three-INT game in Denver.
With the Browns now 3-11, they are fully in evaluation mode. Thompson-Robinson is under contract through the 2026 season, being chosen in the 2023 fifth round. Although the Browns have needed to make changes based on the UCLA product’s lack of readiness at multiple points during his first two seasons, it appears he will close the show for this year’s disappointing team.
Thompson-Robinson, who impressed the Browns to the point they traded would-be 2023 backup Josh Dobbs to the Cardinals just before last season, has made three starts. He has completed just 51.4% of his passes as a pro, adding three more interceptions — including one against the Chiefs — to his TD-INT ratio this season. That ratio sits at 1:7 right now. The Browns are expected to pursue another starter-caliber quarterback in 2025, albeit one who will compete with Deshaun Watson, but the team will see how Thompson-Robinson fares ahead of a high-stakes offseason.
Winston, 30, is playing out a one-year, $4MM deal. The Browns preferred him to 2023 Comeback Player of the Year Joe Flacco, not making the latter an offer. Winston has produced highs and lows, continuing an inconsistent career. He threw for a Browns-record 497 yards against the Broncos, giving Jerry Jeudy a revenge game for the ages. Winston tossed two pick-sixes in that matchup. That came after Winston had helped the Browns beat the Ravens in the first game after Watson’s Achilles tear; the former No. 1 overall pick followed it up with a three-pick showing in a one-sided loss to the Chargers.
The Browns cannot realistically drop Watson due to two fully guaranteed seasons remaining on his five-year, $230MM contract. They are also expected to complete a third restructure with the struggling QB, which will make it more difficult to cut him in 2026. The restructure will, however, allow a bit more breathing room as the Andrew Berry-Kevin Stefanski duo — widely expected to stay — conducts a search for a potential Watson replacement. At this point, it appears unlikely Winston will heavily factor into that pursuit.
Updated 2025 NFL Draft Order
This NFL season saw several teams slip out of contention quicker than usual, slimming wild-card races and expanding the pursuit for the No. 1 overall pick. Two teams now lead that race.
While no prospect on the Caleb Williams level is dangling for the Raiders and Giants, an interesting showdown has formed. With three weeks to go, the Giants would currently hold the top 2025 draft choice. But based on projected strength of schedule, the Raiders would win the tiebreaker if the results held. The team with the weaker overall strength of schedule would win that. The Giants still have a game against the 12-2 Eagles, while the Raiders’ upcoming matchup with the 3-11 Jaguars works in their favor.
The Giants have not held the No. 1 pick in the common draft era (1967-present), last making a choice atop a draft in 1965 (running back Tucker Frederickson). Their Eli Manning trade occurred after the Chargers had chosen the quarterback to start the 2004 draft. The Raiders have held the top pick once in the common draft era, famously choosing JaMarcus Russell to start the ’07 draft. Both teams have coaches fighting for their jobs, but each also has seen All-Pros (Dexter Lawrence, Maxx Crosby) removed from equations. Losers of 10 straight, the Raiders follow their Jaguars matchup with games against the Saints and Chargers. The Giants, who have dropped nine consecutive games, go Falcons-Colts-Eagles to close the season.
Five 3-11 teams sit behind the Raiders and Giants presently, with the NFL having nine teams who have already lost double-digit contests. If a Giants or Raiders win occurs, there are candidates to move toward pole position in what could be races for Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward. Though, a non-Giants or Raiders team finishing in the top two creates a bit more intrigue, as both those clubs are in dire need of QB help.
With an eye on teams’ projected strength of schedule based on current records, here is how the draft order looks with three games to go:
- Las Vegas Raiders (2-12)
- New York Giants (2-12)
- New England Patriots (3-11)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (3-11)
- Carolina Panthers (3-11)
- Tennessee Titans (3-11)
- Cleveland Browns (3-11)
- New York Jets (4-10)
- Chicago Bears (4-10)
- New Orleans Saints (5-9)
- Miami Dolphins (6-8)
- Indianapolis Colts (6-8)
- Cincinnati Bengals (6-8)
- Dallas Cowboys (6-8)
- San Francisco 49ers (6-8)
- Atlanta Falcons (7-7)
- Arizona Cardinals (7-7)
- Seattle Seahawks (8-6)
- Los Angeles Chargers (8-6)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6)
- Los Angeles Rams (8-6)
- Washington Commanders (9-5)
- Denver Broncos (9-5)
- Baltimore Ravens (9-5)
- Houston Texans (9-5)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4)
- Green Bay Packers (10-4)
- Minnesota Vikings (12-2)
- Buffalo Bills (11-3)
- Philadelphia Eagles (12-2)
- Detroit Lions (12-2)
- Kansas City Chiefs (13-1)
Saints QB Derek Carr Unlikely To Return In 2024
Derek Carr is out of the lineup for the time being, and the Saints have yet to place him on injured reserve. The veteran quarterback is nevertheless unlikely to play again this season. 
Further evaluation of the injury to Carr’s non-throwing hand – which is fractured in two places – has made it clear a return is not imminent, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Only three games remain in the Saints’ season, so while surgery is still not required it would come as a surprise at this point if he were to see any further game time in 2024. Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football notes the door is still open to Carr playing, but he is not in the picture for now.
Carr’s absence – provided it covers the final three weeks of the season – will mark an end to his second campaign in New Orleans. The former Raider provided capable play at points last year (during the second half of the season in particular), and expectations were high for improved efficiency with new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak in place. Like the Saints in general, Carr was unable to maintain a high level of play following a strong start to the season, though, and a postseason berth is not realistic at this point. The 33-year-old thus faces a strong possibility of not playing again until the start of the 2025 season.
Carr’s pact calls for a $30MM base salary next year. $10MM of that figure is guaranteed already, and the remainder will vest on March 17. As a result, a release before or after June 1 during the upcoming offseason would not yield cap savings barring a notable restructure being worked out by then. With no guarantees in place after 2025, though, Carr’s contract could set up next season as his final one in New Orleans.
The Saints have Jake Haener and Spencer Rattler in place as healthy quarterback options for now. The former started Sunday’s loss to the Commanders, but he was benched in favor of the latter. Rattler helped lead New Orleans to a rebound on offense during the second half of that game, and it would come as no surprise if he were to get the nod for Week 16. The Saints close out the season with games against the Packers, Raiders and Buccaneers, and that stretch could allow Rattler to boost his stock in the organization while Carr continues to rehab.
Brandon Graham Could Return If Eagles Reach Super Bowl
When Brandon Graham suffered a triceps tear in November, it became clear he would not play again during the regular season. His Eagles tenure and NFL career may very well be over as a result, but the veteran defensive end has not completely shut the door to a return this winter. 
Graham has spent his entire 15-year tenure in Philadelphia, and he said in July he would retire following the 2024 campaign. Triceps tears come with lengthy recovery timetables, and the 36-year-old said in the aftermath of the game in which his took place he would out for the rest of the year. During a Tuesday appearance on WIP 94, though, Graham was asked about playing in the Super Bowl should the Eagles make it to the championship game.
“Anything is possible, so that’s how I’m gonna feel,” he replied. “Just know we workin’ trying to see what happens. We got to get there. Guess I’ll be ready to tell you when we get there.”
With their winning streak currently sitting at 10, the Eagles are 12-2 on the year. That record leaves the team level with the Lions and Vikings for the best mark in the NFC, and the final three weeks of the season will determine which one will secure the No. 1 seed. If they continue their strong performances through the postseason, the Eagles could very well find themselves in the Super Bowl for the third time in Graham’s career.
Philadelphia won the title in 2017, one of the years in which he served as a full-time starter along the edge. The former first-rounder has remained durable through much of his Philadelphia tenure, although in recent years he has seen his workload decline with the team bringing in younger options along the edge. Graham’s presence has nevertheless been missed as the Eagles have dealt with other injuries at the position.
Bryce Huff is on injured reserve while recovering from wrist surgery, a procedure which interrupted his debut Philadelphia campaign. The high-priced free agent pickup did not live up to expectations prior to suffering the injury, but he could return before the end of the regular season and handle at least a part-time pass rushing role. If the Eagles manage to put together a deep postseason run, Graham’s recovery status will become a storyline worth following.
Diontae Johnson Will Not Rejoin Ravens This Week
As the Ravens prepare for their Steelers rematch, Diontae Johnson will not take part in a revenge game. Although Johnson played against the Steelers as a Raven previously, he has made next to no impact with his current team. The shifty wide receiver remains without a role in Baltimore.
The Ravens suspended Johnson for a game for refusing to enter the team’s Week 13 matchup against the Eagles. That suspension took effect in Week 15, and Johnson is eligible to return to the Ravens. He will not do so this week, the team announced. The Ravens are not classifying this as an extension of the wideout’s ban but rather a mutual agreement between the parties to remain separate. The sides are “working through their options,” per NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo.
It would seem the Ravens are aiming to avoid cutting Johnson and making him available to another contending team on waivers. The 49ers have gone through with a three-game suspension for De’Vondre Campbell for refusing to enter their Week 15 game. At this stage of his career, Campbell would not make the kind of difference to a contender Johnson would. As such, it appears Baltimore is stashing the former Pittsburgh WR1 right now.
“There are reasons for doing things, front office-type reasons,” John Harbaugh said (via The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec) when asked why the team is not releasing Johnson. “I want to think about Pittsburgh and the guys who are going to be here getting ready to play Pittsburgh. That’s my focus 100%.”
Johnson has gone from the Steelers’ most targeted wideout to a player who showed flashes with the Panthers to a non-factor as a Raven. Baltimore let Odell Beckham Jr. walk this year and did not make significant additions at the position this offseason, bringing back its Zay Flowers–Rashod Bateman–Nelson Agholor trio. Beckham did secure his release from the Dolphins; he is available on waivers today. As of now, the Ravens are not letting Johnson go that easily.
A strong route runner who has consistently created separation (albeit with drop trouble mixed in at points), Johnson would have conceivably brought an interesting chess piece in Todd Monken‘s offense. No such role emerged, as Johnson has catch for six yards in four games with Baltimore. This comes after Johnson caught 30 passes for 357 yards with Carolina this season. Not exactly viewing receiver as a need, the Ravens still acquired Johnson due to the cheap price the Panthers ended up setting. Although the Ravens added Johnson in a pick-swap deal that saw Baltimore and Carolina exchange fifth- and sixth-rounders, this has been a troublesome partnership.
The Ravens may also look to tack games onto Johnson’s suspension, with the 49ers’ Campbell move serving as an eerie parallel given how rare an instance of a player refusing to enter a game is. It is safe to say this season has brought tremendous damage to Johnson’s 2025 free agency stock, as he sought exits from the Panthers and Steelers this year. The former third-round find is limping to the finish line on a Steelers-designed two-year, $36.7MM extension.
Patrick Mahomes Dealing With Ankle Sprain
Patrick Mahomes exited the Chiefs’ Week 15 win an ankle injury, and his status will be a key storyline for the team over the coming days. The worst-case scenario appears to have been avoided, but further testing will take place on Monday. 
“Patrick, his right ankle has been hurt. It’s not broken, but it’s sore,” Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said after the game (via NFL.com). “He’ll get started on the rehab part of it as we go, and then we’ll just have to see how he does down the road here.”
Mahomes is dealing with a high ankle sprain, as first reported by Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. As a result, he is considered week-to-week at this point; that is particularly significant given the Chiefs’ upcoming schedule. Kansas City is among the teams set to play on Saturday and then again on Christmas Day. That short turnaround could be a factor in determining Mahomes’ availability. As NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport adds, the chance remains that the three-time Super Bowl MVP will manage to practice this week.
Kansas City’s win on Sunday leaves the team with a 13-1 record. The Chiefs are on track to secure the No. 1 seed in the AFC as a result, although their loss earlier in the year to the 11-3 Bills leaves the door open to a change at the top of the conference’s standings. Playing one or both of their upcoming games without Mahomes would be a major development for the Chiefs, although it remains to be seen if that will be necessary. Florio notes the team is aware the situation could be worse, although swelling could be an issue over the coming days.
Carson Wentz took over for Mahomes, and he would get the nod in the event the latter’s ankle injury were to keep him sidelined. Wentz has bounced around since the end of his Eagles tenure, and after finding himself on the Chiefs’ radar last offseason, he took a one-year pact to serve as their backup. Wentz’s most recent start came with the Rams in last year’s regular season finale, bringing his total to 93 in that regard. He could add further to that figure soon depending on Mahomes’ prognosis.
Cowboys Waiting Until After Season To Determine Mike McCarthy’s Fate
Considering Mike McCarthy‘s lame-duck status and underwhelming 2024 output, there have been plenty who have questioned the head coach’s future in Dallas beyond the 2024 campaign. While speculation continues to swirl, it sounds like there’s still a chance McCarthy could be back with the organization in 2025.
Per Josina Anderson, the team’s decision makers have yet to have “earnest discussions or planning on the future” in regards to their head coaching position. Diana Russini of The Athletic has heard similarly, with some sources opining that the final stretch of this season could determine McCarthy’s future with the franchise.
Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones effectively confirmed that the organization would use the next few games to evaluate their head coaching position. When asked by Russini about McCarthy’s future with the team, Jones said the organization has yet to make “any decisions” and intends to judge “the full body of work after the season.”
McCarthy helped guide the Cowboys to the playoffs each season between 2021 and 2023, but he only had a single playoff win to show for his efforts. Following another one-and-done appearance in 2023, the Cowboys made it clear that they’d be sticking with their head coach for the 2024 campaign…but with lame-duck status. The organization was unwilling to give McCarthy a contract extension, and with 2024 representing the final year of his contract, the coach found himself coaching for his job this season.
The Cowboys are set to miss the playoffs for the second time in McCarthy’s tenure, although the coach could easily point to injuries as a reason for the team’s underwhelming showing. The Cowboys have been hit hard by the injury bug, with key contributors like defensive ends DeMarcus Lawrence and Sam Williams, cornerback Trevon Diggs, guard Zack Martin, and, of course, quarterback Dak Prescott currently sitting on IR. That’s not to mention players like DaRon Bland, wide receiver Brandin Cooks, and defensive end Marshawn Kneeland, who recently found their way off of IR.
McCarthy is in the midst of one of the longest Cowboys HC stints in recent memory. Other than Jason Garrett‘s nine-plus seasons at the helm, McCarthy’s five-year run is only rivaled by Jimmy Johnson‘s five-year stint in the post-Tom Landry era.