We’re down to the final three weeks of the 2025 NFL regular season, with each bit of news across the league becoming more and more critical.
Who’s hurt? Who’s practicing? Who’s starting? Who’s on the hot seat?
Here’s the latest on what’s happening around the league entering Week 16:
Packers star RB is active
Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs is active against the Chicago Bears. Jacobs has been managing a knee injury for the past few weeks, but this week was especially dire. Jacobs reportedly was on crutches on Monday and didn’t practice at all during a short week. Nonetheless, he’ll suit up in Green Bay’s most significant game of the season.
Dolphins made trade offer for Joe Burrow
The Miami Dolphins reportedly made a trade offer for quarterback Joe Burrow. Before the 2020 NFL Draft, the Dolphins offered the Cincinnati Bengals four first-round draft picks in exchange for the top pick. Clearly, the Bengals declined the offer and used the selection on Burrow. After having their trade turned down, the Dolphins used the fifth overall pick on quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. The Dolphins and Bengals will meet on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
Colts getting DeForest Buckner back
Buckner will return for the Colts’ Monday night home matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, per ESPN. The star defensive tackle hasn’t played since Nov. 2 due to a neck injury. Buckner, a one-time All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler, has totaled four sacks and 42 combined tackles in nine games this season.
Buccaneers elevating JPP ahead of NFC South matchup
A week after signing Jason Pierre-Paul, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are planning to elevate the veteran defensive lineman to the active roster for Week 16. Pierre-Paul, who last played in 2023, joined Tampa’s practice squad on Dec. 9, and will now have an opportunity to help the Bucs in their quest for a fifth-straight NFC South title.
The Bucs can clinch the division with two in their next three games, starting with Sunday’s road matchup against the Carolina Panthers.
A 2010 first-round pick by the New York Giants, JPP previously played for Tampa Bay from 2018 to 2021 and was a member of the club’s Super Bowl LV-winning defense in 2021. Pierre-Paul has 94.5 sacks, 632 tackles and 21 forced fumbles in 180 career games.
Cowboys getting Trevon Diggs back
Dallas is expected to activate Diggs off injured reserve for its home matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers, per NFL Media. Diggs has missed the Cowboys’ last eight games due to a concussion and a knee injury. In the six games that he has appeared in this season, Diggs, a 2021 All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowler, has totaled 18 combined tackles. Diggs is in the second season of a five-year, $97 million contract.
Chiefs WR Rashee Rice out, TE Travis Kelce to play out season
The Kansas City Chiefs will be without Rashee Rice for Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans as the wide receiver is in concussion protocol. He did not practice all week and was ruled out on Friday.
With Rice’s absence, the Chiefs are now down arguably their top two offensive players as quarterback Patrick Mahomes tore his ACL last Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Despite the big losses, however, the offense will, at least, deploy one of its remaining best players in tight end Travis Kelce. The 13-year veteran reportedly intends to play in Kansas City’s final three games despite the team falling out of playoff contention following last week’s loss to the Chargers; it’s unclear at this time if Kelce will return in 2026.
Rams fire special teams coordinator after TNF collapse
The Los Angeles Rams fired special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn on Saturday in the aftermath of Thursday’s loss to the Seahawks, per ESPN. The decision to move on from Blackburn, who was in his third season at the helm, marks the first in-season coaching change of head coach Sean McVay’s nine-year tenure.
Thursday’s defeat saw Blackburn’s unit surrender a punt-return touchdown to Rashid Shaheed and miss a field goal that would’ve given L.A. the lead late in the fourth quarter.
Bills sign veteran DE Judon to practice squad
The Buffalo Bills are reportedly signing free-agent pass rusher Matthew Judon to the practice squad. The 4-time Pro Bowler will join the Bills (10-4) in time for their playoff push, with a chance to potentially contribute as soon as Week 16.
Judon, who will now join his fourth team in three seasons, was waived by the Dolphins on Dec. 17 after appearing in 13 games (three starts). He has recorded 19 total tackles and 3 QB hits, but has yet to record a sack—though that could change should he suit up in Buffalo’s final three games.
NFL suspends Hall for unnecessary roughness
Seattle Seahawks linebacker Derick Hall has been suspended one game without pay for an act of unnecessary roughness and unsportsmanlike conduct in a 38-37 overtime win against the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night.
The NFL announced the suspension on Friday.
Hall, 24, stepped on the leg of Rams guard Kevin Dotson at the end of a play in the first quarter while he was on the ground. The NFL said that was in violation of Rule 12, Section 2, Article 8, which prohibits unnecessary roughness and Rule 12, Section 3, Article 1, which applies to unsportsmanlike conduct, including “any act which is contrary to the generally understood principles of sportsmanship.”
Hall will be eligible to return on Dec. 29, a day after Seattle’s game against the Panthers. Under the Collective Bargaining Agreement, Hall may appeal the suspension.
The third-year pro out of Auburn was selected 37th by the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL draft. He has appeared in 13 games and started three for Seattle this season. He has 29 total tackles and one sack.
Saints sign Charlie Smyth to 3-year deal
Saints kicker Charlie Smyth, a former Gaelic football player from Northern Ireland who made his NFL regular-season debut last month, now has a three-year contract with New Orleans, according to Smyth’s agent, Paul Sheehy. Sheehy announced the contract in a social media post on Friday but did not discuss financial terms.
Smyth, 24, has made four of his five field-goal attempts. His longest so far was from 56 yards and he hit a game-winner from 47 yards in the final seconds of last week’s 20-17 victory over Carolina. His only miss miss was a 48-yarder in rainy conditions at Tampa Bay.
The contract was somewhat of a formality because the Saints had elevated Smyth three times from the practice squad before each of their past three games. The NFL currently limits practice squad elevations to three per season.
Smyth, who was training to be a primary school teacher, came to the NFL through the International Player Pathway. Unlike many other NFL kickers from abroad, and with a background in other kicking sports, Smyth never played American college football.
Jets shut down star WR Wilson
New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson will sit out the final three games of the season as he continues to recover from a knee injury.
Coach Aaron Glenn said Friday that Wilson is progressing well, but the team doesn’t want to take any unnecessary risks with the star receiver. Wilson has missed five games while on injured reserve after getting hurt against Cleveland on Nov. 9. The Jets (3-11) are out of the playoff hunt as they prepare to face the Saints (4-10) in New Orleans on Sunday.
“He’s doing really, really well as far as his rehab,” Glenn said. “We just want to be smart with him because he’s a key cog in what we’re doing here. To be able to get him back in the offseason program, fully healthy, ready to go, we feel like that was the best decision for all of us.”
Glenn added that the 25-year-old Wilson was “on board” with the decision after talking to doctors and the team. “He will be ready to go as the offseason program starts up,” Glenn said, “and I’m excited about that.”
Wilson signed a four-year, $130 million contract extension in July after finishing with 1,000 yards receiving in each of his first three NFL seasons since being selected with the No. 10 pick in the 2022 draft out of Ohio State. He was the AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and immediately developed into one of the league’s most productive wide receivers.
Jaguars, Jakobi Meyers agree to extension
The Jacksonville Jaguars and wide receiver Jakobi Meyers agreed to a three-year contract extension. The Jaguars traded for Meyers from the Las Vegas Raiders before the NFL trade deadline, and he’s provided immediate production. He has 27 catches for 355 yards and three touchdowns in six games since coming to Jacksonville.
Meyers was set to be a free agent at the end of this season, but the Jaguars have now locked him down through the 2028 season. He can make up to $60 million with his new deal, and is guaranteed $40 million.
Anthony Richardson cleared to practice
The Indianapolis Colts cleared Richardson to start practicing on Dec. 18, but Philip Rivers will remain the starter for Monday night’s crucial matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. This move opens the door for Richardson to return from injured reserve before the end of this season, but coach Shane Steichen said Thursday that Richardson would not be activated this week.
Richardson has been out since mid-October after fracturing an orbital bone near his eye during a freak accident while stretching with a band in the locker room during pregame warmups. Steichen said Richardson was cleared because the bone has healed, though Richardson continues to have vision limitations.
Jets to start QB Brady Cook again on Sunday
Book will start for the second game in a row for the Jets on Sunday against the Saints. Head coach Aaron Glenn announced his decision Wednesday, saying he wants to give the undrafted rookie more experience and playing time. “I want to continue to evaluate him and see exactly how he’s going to operate on a consistent basis,” he said.
Tyrod Taylor (groin) and Justin Fields (knee) sat out last week, giving Cook his first regular-season start. He had an uneven performance in the 48-20 loss, going 22-for-33 for 176 yards and one touchdown with three interceptions.
Glenn said the team will see how Taylor and Fields progress from their injuries this week to determine who will back up Cook in New Orleans. “I want to make sure that we get the person that’s going to be the most healthiest and be able to operate as the (No.) 2,” Glenn said.
Dolphins bench veteran QB Tua Tagovailoa
The Dolphins were officially knocked out of playoff contention when they lost to the Steelers on Monday. Now, there’s a quarterback change. Tagovailoa is being benched for 2025 seventh-round pick Quinn Ewers, per ESPN. Head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters on Tuesday that “everything is on the table” when he was asked if Tagovailoa would be benched over the final three weeks of the season.
This move could potentially mark the end of Tagovailoa’s time with the Dolphins. We’ve seen other teams in recent years bench their starting quarterbacks in the final weeks of the regular season before releasing them (Raiders with Derek Carr in 2022, Broncos with Russell Wilson in 2023). It’s typically a move meant to prevent the team from having to pay an injury guarantee down the line.
Tagovailoa has three years remaining on the four-year, $212.4 million extension he signed in 2024. If the Dolphins were to cut him this offseason, they would just have over $99 million in dead cap, per OverTheCap.com. Ewers gets the starting nod over former No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson.
Jets release WR Allen Lazard
Lazard and the Jets “mutually” parted ways after the wide receiver requested his release, per SNY. Lazard was in the third season of a three-year, $44 million deal, which the veteran signed after spending the first five seasons of his career with the Packers (2018-22); Lazard took an $8.5 million pay cut before the 2025 season. Through 10 games played for New York this season, the now-30-year-old Lazard totaled 10 receptions for 70 yards and one touchdown and tallied a combined 70 receptions for 911 yards and eight touchdowns over 36 games played for the Jets.
Cardinals lose starting RB Bam Knight for season
The Cardinals announced Knight has been placed on season-ending IR due to an ankle injury he sustained in Week 15. Knight exited Arizona’s 40-20 loss to the Texans after getting injured on the first play from scrimmage. The veteran back has played a key role since the Cardinals lost James Conner (ankle) in Week 3, logging 82 carries for 269 yards and four touchdowns in 12 games played (eight starts).
Commanders QB Jayden Daniels done for the season
Daniels won’t be taking the field for the rest of the 2025 campaign. The quarterback will be sidelined for Washington’s final three games, head coach Dan Quinn told reporters on Monday. Quinn said the decision was partly made by the team’s medical staff and partly made by the organization as a whole. Daniels has dealt with multiple injuries this season, as the Commanders have failed to repeat the magic they had in their run to the NFC Championship Game last year. His most recent ailment was an elbow injury that initially sidelined him for three games before reaggravating the injury in Week 14. Daniels has missed three other games this season due to hamstring and knee injuries.
Vikings lose Pro Bowler Jonathan Greenard to shoulder surgery
The Vikings’ edge rusher will have season-ending surgery on a left shoulder injury, head coach Kevin O’Connell announced Monday. The Vikings were eliminated from playoff contention before Sunday’s win over the Cowboys. Greenard missed two games last month with the injury before returning for the last two games. The 2024 Pro Bowl pick had a sack and three hits on Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott before he was hurt again in the fourth quarter during a fourth-down stop by the Vikings.
Though Greenard’s sack total dropped from 12.0 last season to just 3.0 this year, his ability to generate quarterback pressure and stop the run continually set the tone for the defense. O’Connell called the 28-year-old Greenard a “foundational player.”
Left tackle Christian Darrisaw, who was inactive on Sunday for his fourth game missed this season, is still being assessed on a daily basis, with no plans to shut him down, O’Connell said. Swelling in his surgically repaired left knee last week kept Darrisaw from practicing.
WR Drake London could return for Falcons’ final three games
Head coach Raheem Morris offered hope that London could return after missing four games with a knee injury. Morris said on Monday that London remains “day to day but more hopeful.” Morris said London could return for Sunday’s game against the Cardinals if he has “a good practice week. We’ll get a chance to do that Wednesday and Thursday.”
London has 60 catches for 810 yards and six touchdowns. Those totals still lead Atlanta’s wide receivers, and his receiving yards lead all players on the team despite London missing four games.
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes to seek second opinion on torn ACL
Mahomes will get a second opinion on his torn left ACL before having surgery, head coach Andy Reid said Monday, and it remains unclear whether the two-time MVP quarterback could be available by the start of next season.
Mahomes tore the knee ligament when he was spun to the ground while trying to keep Kansas City’s postseason hopes alive late in a 16-13 loss to the Chargers on Sunday. Mahomes is scheduled to see Dr. Dan Cooper, a highly regarded orthopedist and the team physician of the Cowboys, before the procedure to repair the ligament. The decision to seek a second opinion is merely to confirm what will be done.
“I’ve had a good visit with him, a couple of different times. He’s in a good place,” Reid said on a Zoom call Monday. “You know, he always feels like he let people down, but he comes back and he’s ready for the challenge ahead, which is what is real right now. He’s just got to get through surgery, whenever it might be, and then move on from there.”
There are a number of factors that go into how long the recovery time will be, including the severity of the ACL tear and whether any other damage occurred within the knee. Most players cam return to the field in six to 12 months.
Colts QB Philip Rivers to start Monday
Rivers made the start for the Colts on Sunday against the Seahawks in his surprise return to the NFL, and the 44-year-old quarterback will do it again on Monday night against the 49ers, per head coach Shane Steichen. Rivers went 18-for-27 pass attempts for 120 yards with one touchdown and interception each against Seattle in the 18-16 loss.
Rivers, who retired from the NFL after the 2020 season and was eligible for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, unretired to play for the Colts, as they had lost starting quarterback Daniel Jones to an Achilles tear, and rookie quarterback Riley Leonard was dealing with a knee injury. Anthony Richardson, who competed with Jones for the starting spot in preseason camp, has spent the season on Injured Reserve due to an orbital fracture. While Richardson has now been cleared to return, per the Indianapolis Star, Rivers was given the nod to start once more.
Bears open injured LB Tremaine Edmunds’ practice window
After landing on IR on Nov. 22, Edmunds appears to be inching closer to a return. The team announced Friday that he has been designated for return and will have his 21-day practice window opened. Edmunds has been out of action since suffering a groin injury in a Week 11 win over the Vikings. In his starts this season, the 8-year pro has recorded four interceptions, 89 combined tackles, nine pass deflections and 1.0 sacks across 10 starts.
Ravens LB Teddye Buchanan reportedly tore his ACL
Buchanan has torn his ACL and will miss the rest of the 2025 season, per ESPN. He’s set to undergo an MRI to confirm the extent of the injury. The rookie defender injured his leg during punt coverage on Sunday against the Bengals and was then carted off of the field before returning to the sidelines later in the game. Buchanan eventually replaced Trenton Simpson as a starting linebacker for Baltimore, and started in 13 of the 14 games that he’s played in while registering 93 combined tackles, the second-most on the Ravens in 2025.
Jets fire defensive coordinator Steve Wilks
Following a 48-20 loss to the Jaguars on Sunday, Jets head coach Aaron Glenn has made a shakeup to his coaching staff for the final few weeks of the regular season. The team has moved on from Wilks, it announced Monday.
“I thought it was time to make a change,” Wilks told reporters. “I’m going to make the decision that’s best for this organization at all times.”
In addition to giving up 48 points to the Jags, the Jets allowed 438 in the loss. New York ranks 20th in total defense and 30th in scoring defense following Sunday’s games. It also ranked 30th in defensive DVOA ahead of Week 15. Just as noteworthy, the Jets have only forced three turnovers this year and have yet to record an interception.
Rams experienced travel delay
The Rams’ team flight heading to Seattle for Thursday Night Football was supposed to take off Wednesday night but experienced significant delays due to an equipment issue with the plane, per ESPN. Players are coaches had to get on a new plane that was scheduled for 5: 25 p.m. PT, according to ESPN, and the remainder of the Rams’ staff will leave later on another plane.
Rams listed WR Davante Adams as doubtful
Wide receiver Davante Adams was officially listed as doubtful for the Rams’ game against the Seahawks on Thursday night. Adams sustained a hamstring injury on Sunday and did not practice this week, but Los Angeles wanted to leave the possibility open that he’d play. It was a tall ask in a short week. While Adams isn’t expected to play, it’s a good indication that he’ll be available before the end of the regular season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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