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.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/16/24
Today’s practice squad moves:
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: LS Jake McQuaide
- Released: LS Zach Triner
The Dolphins used up their three practice squad elevations on Zach Triner, so the team will now turn to a new face to keep the seat warm. Jake McQuaide brings 194 games of experience to Miami, and he’ll serve as the team’s regular long snapper until Blake Ferguson is ready to be activated from NFI.
Minor NFL Transactions: 12/16/24
Today’s minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Claimed off waivers (from Panthers): S Jammie Robinson
Atlanta Falcons
- Elevated: LB Josh Woods
- Placed on IR: LB Troy Andersen
Chicago Bears
- Elevated: RB Darrynton Evans
Detroit Lions
- Signed off Jaguars’ practice squad: LB Anthony Pittman
Tennessee Titans
- Designated to return from reserve/PUP: WR Colton Dowell
Anthony Pittman is back in Detroit after the Lions snagged the linebacker off the Jaguars’ practice squad. Pittman was once a special teams mainstay for the Lions, appearing in every game for the organization between 2021 and 2023. Over that time, he was limited to 134 defensive snaps (vs. 1,099 ST snaps), and he’ll likely see a similar role during his current stint with the squad.
Colton Dowell will return to practice this week after being designated for return from the PUP list. The wideout suffered a torn ACL last December, and coach Brian Callahan told reporters that they wanted to give a look at the player after he worked so hard during rehab (via the team’s website). A 2023 seventh-round pick, Dowell got into 10 games as a rookie.
Raiders Expected To Start Desmond Ridder In Week 15
6:10pm: Desmond Ridder will indeed be starting for the Raiders tonight. Aidan O’Connell is inactive and has been labeled as the team’s emergency third QB.
1:10pm: Aidan O’Connell suffered a knee injury in Week 14 which was originally feared to end his season. The second-year Raiders quarterback is actually facing a much less serious timeline, but he is still not expected to play tonight. 
As O’Connell rehabs his bone bruise, Vegas is set to turn elsewhere under center. The Raiders are expected to start Desmond Ridder in Week 15, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. O’Connell will take part in a pre-game warmup, but at this point Ridder is positioned to get the nod.
Provided that turns out to be the case, Ridder’s first start as a Raider will come against one of his former teams. The 25-year-old spent his first three seasons with Atlanta, Vegas’ Monday night opponent. In the wake of the Falcons’ reset at the QB spot this spring, Ridder was traded to the Cardinals in a swap for Rondale Moore. Arizona waived him during roster cutdowns, however, a move which opened the door to a departure. Ridder remained with the Cardinals on their practice squad until October.
O’Connell’s thumb injury led him to injured reserve at that time, creating the need for additional QB depth. Ridder was added as a backup option to Gardner Minshew, although the latter has since suffered a season-ending broken collarbone. With O’Connell now on the mend once again, Ridder is in line to see at least one start before the end of the campaign. The Raiders sit at 2-11 on the year, and Maxx Crosby‘s upcoming ankle surgery adds further to the extent to which 2024 is a lost season.
For Ridder, however, a run of starts would allow him to audition for either a depth role in Vegas for 2025 or a deal from another team. The Raiders are widely expected to pursue a quarterback this offseason via free agency and/or the draft (particularly if they land the No. 1 pick). Ridder should not be considered a contender for the starting gig in Vegas or on any other team, but his chances of securing a backup role could be boosted by his performance down the stretch.
Jets Interview Thomas Dimitroff For GM
Thomas Dimitroff is back on the NFL’s GM radar. After not interviewing for a job during the past three hiring periods, the former Falcons front office boss is in the mix for the Jets’ now-available position.
The Jets announced Monday they interviewed Dimitroff for the job. This marks the team’s first meeting with a candidate. They are set to follow this up with a Jon Robinson interview, and a Louis Riddick meeting is on tap as well. The Jets can interview candidates not employed by teams at any point, but they must wait until divisional-round week to talk with candidates attached to clubs.
[RELATED: Jets Attempted To Arrange Bill Belichick-Woody Johnson Meeting]
Dimitroff served as Atlanta’s GM from 2008-20, overseeing a run of playoff berths during Matt Ryan‘s tenure. Taking over the Falcons in the aftermath of the Michael Vick dogfighting scandal, Dimitroff chose Ryan third overall in his first draft at the helm and built rosters that booked playoff byes in 2010, 2012 and 2016. The ’16 season famously produced a commanding Super Bowl lead that ultimately disappeared during an infamous collapse.
The Falcons fired Dimitroff and HC Dan Quinn in October 2020. The team had journeyed to the playoffs six times during Dimitroff’s tenure, reaching the NFC championship game twice. The first instance featured a narrow loss to the 49ers, the second a dominant win over the Packers during Ryan’s 2016 MVP season. Although the Falcons pushed the Carson Wentz-less Eagles in a narrow 2017 divisional-round loss, they could not keep the momentum they established with the core that blew a 28-3 lead in Super Bowl LI. After back-to-back postseason absences in 2018 and ’19, the Falcons retooled in 2020.
Dimitroff, 58, last interviewed for a GM post in 2021, having met with the Lions about the gig that went to Brad Holmes. Dimitroff had attracted the Falcons’ attention after a run with the Patriots; he was the Pats’ scouting director from 2003-07, collecting two Super Bowl rings. The veteran exec worked in the NFL from 1993-2020 but has not held a position since. GMs receive second chances at a much lower rate than HCs, as only two second-chance GMs — Trent Baalke (Jaguars), Tom Telesco (Raiders) — are currently in place. Woody Johnson did hand his search over to two former GMs (Mike Tannenbaum, Rick Spielman), and Robinson also being on the radar would stand to keep the door open to a second-chance hire.
Although the Dimitroff years produced the most sustained success in Falcons history, his having been out of the NFL for more than four years will probably introduce a high hurdle in his path to this Jets position. The Jets are expected to conduct a thorough search to replace Joe Douglas, and that will surely include several execs currently employed by teams. That will stand to drag this process well into January.
Chiefs Waive RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire
With Isiah Pacheco back, the Chiefs have stuck with Kareem Hunt as a key player on offense. Hunt’s Chiefs reunion continued a season of inactivity for Clyde Edwards-Helaire. The former first-round pick is now off the team’s roster entirely.
The Chiefs cut Edwards-Helaire on Monday, the fifth-year running back announced. This will clear a roster spot in Kansas City, as Marquise Brown ramps up toward a possible Week 16 debut with the team.
Edwards-Helaire had begun his career as a starter for the team, but he was unable to deliver on expectations that came with a No. 32 overall draft slot. Pacheco, a former seventh-round pick, had usurped him; the Chiefs had Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon playing ahead of Edwards-Helaire last season. Despite the team not re-signing McKinnon, it did not find room for CEH on its gameday rosters. Since being activated off the reserve/non-football illness list, Edwards-Helaire has been a healthy scratch.
It is possible Edwards-Helaire could be brought back on a practice squad deal, but the LSU alum’s message certainly does not point to that happening. If this is it for the 5-foot-7 back in Kansas City, he will close his Missouri run with 32 starts, 1,845 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns.
The Chiefs used one of their activations to return Edwards-Helaire to the 53-man roster, doing so after having placed him on the NFI list to start the season. Once Pacheco suffered a broken leg in Week 2, however, Hunt quickly reentered the fray as the team’s primary back. Hunt remains on Kansas City’s roster, with UDFA Carson Steele still around as a third-stringer and Samaje Perine as a pass-down specialist. Teams do not make a habit of carrying five RBs, so the roster math makes sense here — especially with the Chiefs needing a spot for Brown.
Hosting J.K. Dobbins on a free agent visit April 2, the Chiefs instead chose to re-sign Edwards-Helaire to a one-year, $1.7MM deal. This release will leave the team on the hook for just less than $200K in dead money. Having neared a recovery from the shoulder injury that has sidelined him throughout the season, Brown is on track to be activated soon.
Debuting with a 138-yard, two-touchdown performance, Edwards-Helaire could not consistently display the pass-game chops that led to his first-round arrival. He also struggled with injuries, having missed time in each of his four seasons before this year’s NFI stint. Counting hte playoffs, Edwards-Helaire missed 24 games from 2020-23. Still, he profiles as an option for a running back-needy team on waivers. Clubs have until 3pm CT on Tuesday to submit a claim.
Dolphins, Odell Beckham Jr. Part Ways
DECEMBER 16: Beckham has indeed cleared waivers, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. Although it only would have taken a roughly $200K payment to carry Beckham for the rest of the season, the NFL’s other 31 teams passed. For a second time, Beckham is now a free agent in-season.
DECEMBER 15: Pelissero reports Beckham has a shortlist of teams he is interested in joining for the closing weeks of the season (video link). That would of course become a moot point if he were to be claimed off waivers tomorrow. If Beckham clears and reaches free agency, though, he could look to join one of the teams he is targeting an agreement with.
DECEMBER 13: Odell Beckham Jr. entered 2024 with the expectation of serving as a complementary option in the Dolphins’ offense, but his role has still be smaller than anticipated. The veteran wideout will now see his Miami tenure come to an end. 
Beckham asked to be let go, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. The Dolphins will grant the request, he adds, meaning a move to the waiver wire will be forthcoming. Beckham is seeking an increased role on his next team, while playoff contenders may show interest in him as an insurance option for the stretch run. The Dolphins have now officially placed Beckham on waivers, where he will remain until Monday.
That will give teams plenty of time to contemplate putting in a claim; failing that, Beckham will become a free agent. The 32-year-old has made nine appearances since being activated from the PUP list in October. Over that span, however, he has registered only nine catches for 55 scoreless yards while handling a 20% snap share. Those figures could lead to several teams steering clear with respect to a waiver claim, although as Pelissero’s colleague Mike Garafolo notes, Beckham is only owed roughly $200K for the rest of the campaign and is not on track to hit any incentive thresholds.
The three-time Pro Bowler had a lengthy free agency spell this past offseason as he recovered from a knee operation. He took on a one-year Dolphins deal with a base value of $3MM in anticipation of handling WR3 duties on his latest team. With that not being the case, team and player will move on as Miami seeks to remain in contention for a wild-card berth. The Dolphins’ offense has generally been less reliant on Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle in 2024 than in years past, although over the past two games that pairing has served as the focal point of the offense.
Beckham had a one-and-done stint with the Ravens last season, one in which he posted a career-high 16.1 yards per catch. It came as no surprise that he was unable to secure anywhere near the $15MM he received in 2023 on his most recent pact, but this campaign can nevertheless be considered a disappointment. A small window of opportunity will exist for Beckham to rebuild his value to an extent if he manages to catch on with a team for the closing stages of the season, though.
The former Rams Super Bowl winner said ahead of the 2023 campaign he was giving thought to retirement. He has managed one more contract since then, but his status following the current season (regardless of if it includes an opportunity with another team) will be worth watching with respect to his career outlook.