Dolphins’ Grant DuBose Hospitalized With Head Injury
DECEMBER 16: In a Monday update on DuBose’s condition, the Dolphins announced he has movement in his extremities and added initial tests on his status produced “positive results.” While DuBose remains in hospital at this point, the worst-case scenario has been avoided.
DECEMBER 15: A frightening scene took place during Sunday’s Dolphins-Texans contest. Miami receiver Grant DuBose took a hard hit from Houston safety Calen Bullock and was on the field for several minutes afterwards.
DuBose’s uniform was cut off and his facemask was unscrewed as medical personnel tended to him. A neck brace was put in place before the 23-year-old was stretchered off the field. The Dolphins announced shortly thereafter that he had been ruled out of the game with a head injury. The team revealed DuBose has been taken to hospital for further evaluation.
Fortunately, the Dolphins’ announcement also notes DuBose is currently in stable condition. When speaking after the game, head coach Mike McDaniel said DuBose will remain in hospital overnight. The 2023 seventh-rounder was making his third appearance of the season and first since September; his injury took place after Jaylen Waddle was forced to exit the contest with a knee ailment. Bullock was issued an unnecessary roughness penalty on the play.
DuBose did not make any appearances during his rookie season, and he was waived by the Packers during roster cutdowns this summer. The Dolphins claimed him off waivers, giving him a fresh start in Year 2. The Charlotte product played in two games early in the year before landing on injured reserve; he was activated yesterday. Now, the possibility remains he will miss the rest of the campaign depending on the nature of his prognosis.
By virtue of losing on Sunday, the Dolphins dropped to 6-8. Miami’s playoff chances took a major hit in the process, and DuBose may not have a role to play over the final three games of the campaign. In the immediate term, his recovery outlook from today’s injury will be important for team and player.
Marcus Freeman Agrees To Notre Dame Extension
Marcus Freeman‘s name has been mentioned in advance of the 2025 NFL coaching cycle, but he has a new deal in place to keep him at the college level. Freeman has agreed to an extension with Notre Dame, ESPN’s Heather Dinich reports. 
Freeman’s deal is believed to be a four-year extension, meaning he will remain under contract for six seasons, per Dinich. He has been in place as head coach of the Fighting Irish since the end of the 2021 season when he took over from Brian Kelly. Freeman has enjoyed a successful run since then, albeit one which included losses in his first three games at the helm (an unprecedented feat in the program’s history).
Overall, Notre Dame has gone 30-9 under Freeman, including an 11-1 mark in 2024. That performance earned the team a spot in the College Football Playoff; the Fighting Irish will play Indiana in the first game under the new 12-team CFP format on Friday. In advance of that contest, Freeman’s future with the program has been assured.
The 38-year-old was listed as one of the coaches from the college ranks worth keeping an eye on with respect to NFL interest as early as this offseason. In particular, the Bears’ vacancy was considered one Freeman might have found himself on the radar for. Instead, Chicago will look elsewhere for Matt Eberflus replacement candidates.
As Jim Harbaugh‘s Michigan tenure showed, the future of college coaches linked to NFL opportunities can change in short order and remain in limbo on an extended basis. It will be interesting to see if Freeman continues to draw interest at the pro level over the coming years as expectations will remain high for Notre Dame moving forward. As things stand now, however, he is set to remain in his current position for years to come.
49ers Suspend LB De’Vondre Campbell
DECEMBER 16: The 49ers will indeed move forward with a suspension, Rapoport reports; the move is now official. Campbell will be out for the final three contests of the season, and he will forfeit his game checks for that period in addition to any potential lost signing bonus money. Given San Francisco’s decision not to waive Campbell, he will turn his attention to free agency this spring where his value will have obviously taken a notable hit.
DECEMBER 15: The 49ers signed De’Vondre Campbell to work as a stopgap during Dre Greenlaw‘s recovery from Achilles surgery. That run lasted 13 games, with the longtime starter not making his season debut until Thursday. But Greenlaw did not make it through his opener unscathed, leading to one of the stranger situations any team has encountered this season.
Campbell refused a fourth-quarter assignment to come in on defense, instead walking to the 49ers’ locker room during the team’s 12-6 loss to the Rams. This obviously angered teammates, and Kyle Shanahan confirmed Campbell is done with the team. The 49ers, however, are not expected to waive the veteran defender immediately. Instead, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport indicates a suspension will likely come first.
If the 49ers suspend Campbell, they can recover part of his $3.35MM signing bonus. A refusal to play constitutes a forfeitable breach of contract, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio notes, opening the door to San Francisco going after part of the bonus. This avenue will make it somewhat costly for Campbell, who signed a one-year, $5MM deal in March — after Eric Kendricks backtracked on a 49ers commitment to join the Cowboys.
This action would only lead to Campbell losing $234K, per Florio, should the 49ers ban him for one game. Four void years are included in Campbell’s contract, spreading out the bonus. That will limit what the 49ers can go after, but they look likely to do what is possible to reduce Campbell’s compensation. This move will also prevent him from catching on elsewhere and bouncing back immediately. Considering the anger Campbell’s refusal to play caused in the locker room, the team preventing a smooth exit makes sense here.
Campbell, 31, having to pay back a portion of a bonus already sent to him would mark an ignominious ending for him in San Francisco — and perhaps as an NFLer altogether. The Falcons drafted Campbell during Shanahan’s second season as their OC, giving the current 49ers HC some familiarity with a player who had started for Atlanta, Arizona and Green Bay. The Packers re-signed Campbell to a five-year, $50MM deal after his first-team All-Pro season in 2021.
Campbell made it through two years of that contract, as Green Bay moved on this offseason. Considering the way it ended for him in San Francisco, it would not surprise if other teams pass on allowing the former second-rounder the opportunity to end his career on a better note.
Browns Likely To Complete Another Deshaun Watson Restructure
With the Browns in a historically unique spot regarding Deshaun Watson, they are not in a good position to release a player who has flopped after a blockbuster trade. Even though both Kevin Stefanski and Andrew Berry stopped short of indicating Watson would be the Browns’ starting quarterback in 2025, he is expected to stay in Cleveland beyond this season.
Not only will Watson be staying despite his mostly woeful play, the high-priced passer will be given another chance to vie for the Browns’ starting job. The team still believes the eighth-year veteran can play at a high level, per the Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Mary Kay Cabot, who adds that another restructure is likely on tap.
Two previous restructures have ballooned Watson’s 2025 cap hit to $72.9MM, which would shatter the NFL record. Kyler Murray‘s $49.2MM 2024 number represents the NFL high for a single player, and the Browns are not keen on having Watson smash that record by staying on that lofty number next year. Of course, if/once the Browns complete another restructure with Watson, it will complicate their eventual exit route from what currently resides as the worst contract in NFL history.
The most recent woman to accuse Watson of sexual assault settled her civil suit with the embattled QB, and her attorney confirmed no talks with the NFL commenced. The league closed its investigation without a second suspension coming to pass. This keeps the Browns on the hook for Watson’s guaranteed salaries, as part of a fully guaranteed deal (five years, $230MM), in 2025 and ’26. Had the Browns not restructured Watson’s contract in 2023 and 2024, the QB’s cap number would have settled in south of Murray’s record-setter in 2025, at least putting a release in play. The adjustments that created cap space over the past two years are currently hindering the Browns here.
Cleveland cannot realistically cut Watson in 2025. The August restructure Berry completed would create $172MM in dead money in that event. While that could be spread out over two years, that sum would make it untenable — even in a world in which the Broncos cut Russell Wilson to spur a dead cap avalanche — for the Browns to operate. Instead, the sides will be stuck with each other for at least one more season.
Prior to tearing an Achilles tendon, Watson performed poorly enough Stefanski regularly received questions about why he remained the Browns’ starter and whether higher-ranking members in the organization were mandating that remain the case. Stefanski denied anyone beyond him was making that call, and other Browns coaches agreed he was the team’s best option. Jameis Winston, his high-variance style notwithstanding, has proven to be a more effective QB this season. The Browns were playing without multiple O-line starters for most of Watson’s run this season, though the former Texans Pro Bowler has been a shell of his Houston version during most of his Cleveland stay.
The Browns are also planning to add another starter-caliber QB for 2025, Cabot notes, indicating the injured incumbent is still in a walking boot but on schedule in his recovery from a second season-ending surgery in two years (after his 2023 shoulder operation). This follows a report that indicated a competition is at least coming, though Watson’s contract will limit the Browns’ options in finding a potential replacement.
That said, Cleveland restructuring Watson’s deal would allow for help in that area. As of now, it would cost the Browns $99MM-plus to cut Watson in 2026; that number would be defrayed over two offseasons. A third restructure, though, would bump a 2026 dead money total well north of $100MM. As it stands, the Browns appear prepared to deal with that when the time comes.
While it would stand to reason the Browns would strongly look into dismissing Berry after he proposed this contract, Jimmy Haslam backed his HC-GM combo earlier this week. They will be tasked with finding what could be a job-saving solution at quarterback soon.
Poll: Who Will Earn NFC’s No. 1 Seed?
The final four weeks of the season will see a number of playoff spots decided, along with the top seed in each conference. While the Chiefs have a degree of breathing space for the No. 1 slot in the AFC, the lone first-round bye in the NFC could come down to the last slate of regular season contests. 
The Lions have stood atop the conference for much of the season, something which comes as no surprise give the expectations the team faced entering the campaign. Given the strength of the NFC North, however, Detroit has not been able to generate a cushion in the standings. An 11-game winning streak placed the team at 12-1 on the year — prior to a Week 15 loss to the Bills — but plenty of work remains to secure the top seed.
The final stretch of the campaign will see the Lions host the Bills in a clash of the league’s two highest-scoring offenses. Detroit then has road contests against the Bears and 49ers, teams which are on track to fall short of the postseason. The regular season will conclude with the Lions and Vikings playing what could be a critical head-to-head matchup, although other results may have decided the No. 1 seed by that point.
Injuries on defense have led many to wonder if the Lions will be able to remain atop the conference but to date they have done so. Aidan Hutchinson will not be available down the stretch, but a return by the Super Bowl continues to be mentioned as a possibility. Before that hypothetical point, maintaining their run of success (which could include welcoming back other injured players) will be crucial in the Lions’ bid for the top seed.
The Eagles sat at 2-2 entering their bye week, leading to questions about their status as genuine Super Bowl contenders. The team has not lost since returning to action in Week 6, thanks in no small part to the performance of Saquon Barkley during his debut Philadelphia season. The former Giants Pro Bowler already holds the single-season franchise rushing record, and his 1,623 yards represent a career high while also leading the league. Remaining his production will be key for an offense which has not been consistent or efficient through the air for much of the campaign.
Of course, the Eagles’ strong play on the other side of the ball has played a central role in their 10-game winning streak and 12-2 record. Philadelphia leads the league in total defense and has allowed the second-fewest points per game (18), making Vic Fangio’s first season a stark contrast to where the unit sat late in the campaign in 2023. While the loss of Brandon Graham for the season represents a blow to the Eagles’ edge rush, the team could remain strong in that respect en route to (at least) the No. 1 spot in the NFC East standings.
Philadelphia’s remaining schedule includes a cross-state matchup with Pittsburgh, followed by a road matchup with the Commanders. While both of those teams figure to represent challenging opponents, the same cannot be said of the Cowboys and Giants. The Eagles will close out the season with home games against those divisional rivals, both of which are out of contention and missing several key players. A path exists for Philadelphia to make a late run past Detroit to secure the first-round bye.
If the Lions are to be unseated over the final month of the season, the Vikings could very well play a large role. The aforementioned Week 18 matchup represents Minnesota’s best opportunity to make up ground and in doing so claim the No. 1 seed or at least the top spot in the division (ensuring home-field advantage during the first two rounds of the playoffs). Over the next three weeks, the Vikings will host the Bears and Packers with a road game against the Seahawks in between. 
That schedule certainly represents a challenge with respect to maintaining Minnesota’s current six-game winning streak, something which will likely be necessary if overtaking Detroit is to remain possible on the final day of the season. In any event, the 2024 campaign has exceeded expectation in the Vikings’ case, with the play of Sam Darnold being one of the league’s top storylines. The former No. 3 pick is on track to be the top quarterback in this offseason’s free agent class, and a lucrative deal from an outside suitor would come as no surprise.
Of course, Darnold’s strong performance is a testament to head coach Kevin O’Connell’s work. The latter has not discussed an extension to date, but a new deal could be coming his way in the near future, ensuring stability on the sidelines. The more immediate attention of O’Connell and his team, though, will be aimed at the pursuit of the No. 1 seed.
Of the three contenders for the NFC’s top spot, which will ultimately secure it? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and have your say in the comments section.
Who will earn the NFC's No. 1 seed?
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Detroit Lions 40% (785)
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Philadelphia Eagles 38% (736)
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Minnesota Vikings 22% (424)
Total votes: 1,945
Browns RB Nick Chubb Suffers Broken Foot
Nick Chubb‘s return to action in 2024 has proven to be short-lived. The Browns running back left Sunday’s game on crutches while wearing a walking boot, and now, he will not be available for the final three games of the campaign. 
Head coach Kevin Stefanski said Chubb suffered a broken foot during the Browns’ Week 15 loss that will shut him down for the remainder of the season, one which offered optimism from a health perspective given his return to action in October. While the four-time Pro Bowler managed to heal from the major knee injury he suffered in 2023, his display upon being activated was not in line with his previous production.
Chubb had handled a notable workload heading into Sunday’s game, handling double-digit carries all but once in his seven appearances on the year. He managed to score three touchdowns on the ground over that span, but his 3.1 yards per attempt average represented by far the lowest of his career. That inefficiency is understandable given the nature of Chubb’s injury and the absences Cleveland has dealt with up front, but it could have an impact on his future with the organization.
While the immediate damage is to the Browns’ 2024 season, a season in which they’ve already been eliminated from the postseason, the eventual damage could come as Chubb seeks a new contract. After missing most of 2023, Chubb was heading into 2024 on the last year of a three-year extension. In fact, Chubb even accepted a pay cut in order to remain in Cleveland this season.
With free agency on the horizon and the injuries starting to compound, Chubb could find difficulty getting a new deal. Any team that signs him will want to do so on a reduced deal because of his recent injury history.
His best chance may be to re-sign with the Browns, a team that knows what he can do and may be more willing to work with him as he comes back from injury. Cleveland, though, may be looking to get new, young talent in the running backs room, along with a hometown discount in order to retain Chubb. The 28-year-old has already expressed interest in re-signing with the Browns and may be open to getting creative in order to make a reunion happen.
For now, though, the focus will be on recovery. Chubb will get off his feet, which should help make sure that by the time his foot is healed his knee may be closer to full health, as well. His free agency will depend upon just how healthy he can get, so his future in the NFL starts tomorrow with healing.
Ely Allen contributed to this post.
Michigan TE Colston Loveland Declares For Draft
As a sophomore last year, tight end Colston Loveland was celebrating a national championship victory with the rest of his Wolverine teammates. A year later, after a disappointing team effort out of Ann Arbor, Loveland is looking to join a number of those former teammates in the NFL. It was on Instagram that Loveland authored a post announcing that he would forgo his senior year and leave for the 2025 NFL Draft. 
The top prospect coming out of the state of Idaho, the Gooding HS alumnus was considered a top 10 tight end as a recruit. Loveland fielded a range of offers from some of the best schools, including Alabama, Auburn, and LSU out of the SEC and Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon State, Colorado, UCLA, and Utah out of what was then the Pac-12. He also pulled obvious offers from in-state Idaho State and Boise State, but ultimately, he opted for the only Big Ten school to offer him, signing with Michigan.
As a true freshman, Loveland played second fiddle to Luke Schoonmaker as TE2. He took over TE1 duties in his sophomore year and was the second-leading receiver on the offense for the national champion Wolverines, finishing behind only Roman Wilson in receiving yards (649) and receiving touchdowns (4) while finishing third in receptions (45). This season, Loveland took over as Michigan’s top receiving option. Despite failing to reach his yardage total from 2023, Loveland led the team in receptions (56), receiving yards (582), and receiving touchdowns (5) by a wide margin.
Those numbers also aren’t near the production put up by some of the more productive tight ends in the NCAA, but that hasn’t stopped draft pundits from listing Loveland as one of the top options, if not the top option, for tight ends coming into the NFL next year. This is reflected in analytics, where Pro Football Focus (subscription required) lists Loveland as the fifth-best tight end in college football this year.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper lists Loveland as the 21st-best overall prospect and the second-best tight end, behind only Penn State’s Tyler Warren, the NCAA’s Mackey Award winner for best tight end in college football this year. Kiper’s colleagues — Jordan Reid, Matt Miller, and Field Yates — rank Loveland at first, second, and first, respectively, flip-flopping spots with Warren. Dane Brugler of The Athletic has Loveland as the 13th-best overall prospect and the top tight end, with Warren slotting in as the 26th-best overall prospect.
It’s clear that Loveland and Warren are viewed as TE1 and TE2 in whichever order for this year’s draft class. The only thing left to determine is where they will fall in the draft come April. Brugler and Kiper seem to be of the mindset that both players are deserving of a first-round pick, but as always, it will be up to general managers around the league to set the draft stock for the tight end position. If any tight ends are going on Day 1, expect to hear one or both of Loveland and Warren’s names.
NFL Injury Updates: Lions, Nubin, Stover
The Lions spent Sunday afternoon going blow-for-blow with the Bills, combining for the highest-scoring performance in the NFL this season. They ended up falling just short of Buffalo, and that loss compounded with a number of injuries to make this a rough day for Detroit.
The first such injury occurred when cornerback Khalil Dorsey appeared to suffer a serious leg injury. He was carted off the field with the injured leg in an air cast. Per ESPN’s Eric Woodyard, head coach Dan Campbell told the media after the game that Dorsey’s injury was similar to what happened to Aidan Hutchinson. In short, Dorsey is not expected to play again in the 2024 NFL season.
Additionally, today’s game saw defensive tackle Alim McNeill and cornerback Carlton Davis depart with injuries, as well. McNeill left the field with a knee injury and, after a visit in the blue medical tent, was carted off to the locker room, while Davis suffered a jaw injury. According to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, Campbell relayed that “he doesn’t feel good about the chances” of either player returning this year.
If all three players are placed on injured reserve, they would join 18 other players on IR. They would up the number of defensive players on IR from 13 to 16. The Lions have overcome incredible adversity so far this year and still currently hold the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
Here are some updates on a couple other injuries around the NFL:
- We mentioned earlier this week that Giants rookie starting safety Tyler Nubin would miss the rest of the season on IR with an ankle injury. Per Ryan Dunleavy of New York Post Sports, head coach Brian Daboll believes that Nubin’s injury will probably require ankle surgery. This means that Nubin will likely spend most of the offseason working to recover in time for the 2025 season.
- The Texans needed to elevate practice squad tight end Irv Smith today as rookie fourth-round tight end Cade Stover was a surprise scratch from today’s game. Stover logged the first absence of his NFL career due to an emergency appendectomy performed last night, according to Kimberley A. Martin of ESPN. Stover is expected to make a full recovery.
Marshall Edge Rusher Mike Green Declares For Draft
With the collegiate regular season having come to an end, it’s become time for the elite at their positions to declare their intentions to enter the 2025 NFL Draft. Right on schedule, Marshall’s Mike Green, the leader of the nation in sacks this season, has announced that he will forgo his remaining eligibility and head to the NFL, per ESPN’s Jordan Reid.
Green was not the most sought-after recruit coming out of Lafayette HS (VA). As a three-star athlete, Green fielded offers from schools like Ole Miss, Kentucky, Pittsburgh, and in-state colleges Virginia and Virginia Tech. He committed to the in-state Cavaliers, a short, two-hour drive away. After minimal use in Charlottesville as a true freshman, Green hit the transfer portal and found his way to Marshall.
At 6-foot-4 and nearly 250 pounds, Green was a physical specimen as a college athlete, but he needed time to develop his skills. Through his first 20 games, Green only managed a total of 5.5 sacks and 10.0 tackles for loss. This season, Green broke out for an incredible 17.0 sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss, leading the FBS in both categories as a redshirt sophomore. Green graded out well analytically, as well. Per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), Green ranked as the top pass-rusher in college football.
Reid and ESPN’s Field Yates each ranked Green in their top eight pass rushers with Reid placing Green at seven and Yates ranking him fourth. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler slotted Green in as the eighth best edge rusher and the 37th best prospect overall.
Green obviously possesses the pass-rushing talent to be a Day 1 or 2 pick. With impressive performances at the NFL Scouting Combine and Marshall’s Pro Day, along with some strong interviews, there’s a chance that Green can convince a team to take a chance on him in the first round.
Stephen Jones Addresses Cowboys’ Upcoming Micah Parsons Negotiations
Just as the 2024 offseason was largely defined by high-profile extension negotiations, the Cowboys will again have a major contract matter to attend to this spring. Edge rusher Micah Parsons is on track to play on his fifth-year option in 2025, but a long-term deal will be the central aim of team and player once negotiations begin. 
Parsons was eligible for a monster second contract this past offseason, but the cases of quarterback Dak Prescott and wideout CeeDee Lamb took precedence. Both players landed new deals to avoid a potential free agent spell, but by making major commitments in each case the Cowboys continued their trend of authorizing big-ticket contracts to players at the top of the depth chart. A busy spring in terms of outside spending should not be expected, and retaining Parsons will require signficant cap resources.
“Obviously we’re totally all in on Dak and CeeDee,” Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones said (via NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport) when asked about Parsons talks. “But after that, then you still shape things, including Micah. But Micah’s a great player. You don’t do well in this league letting guys like Micah, usually, leave the house.”
Parsons has remained productive in 2024 before and after the high ankle sprain he suffered midway through the campaign. He currently has 6.5 sacks, giving him a chance to reach double-digits in that regard for the fourth consecutive season. The three-time Pro Bowler has long been connected to a deal making him the league’s highest-paid edge rusher, and he could wait for the market to move when the likes of Myles Garrett (Browns) and T.J. Watt (Steelers) negotiate new pacts before engaging in serious Cowboys talks. Nick Bosa‘s 49ers pact carries an annual average value of $34MM per year, a figure which Parsons might not be entirely set on surpassing on his second contract.
While Jones did not offer a public guarantee Parsons will be retained beyond 2025 (when he is scheduled to collect $21.32MM), he added he “can’t imagine there’s a scenario” in which the 25-year-old would play for a team other than Dallas. Parsons has expressed a desire to stay with the Cowboys through the remainder of his career, and reaching agreement on a long-term accord will go a long way toward ensuring that.
Dallas’ commitments to Prescott and Lamb will lead to major cap implications for years to come, and other major financial decisions will be tied to new deals for pending free agents Zack Martin and DeMarcus Lawrence or pacts for their replacements. Cornerback Trevon Diggs (who is out for the year) is on the books through 2028, and his salary for next season is set to vest early in the new league year. Adjustments and cuts will take place between now and then, but Parsons’ status will remain a situation worth watching closely.