NFL News

Pickett played for the Super Bowl champion Eagles in 2024, backing up Jalen Hurts and starting one game, a 41-7 win over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 17.

Regular starter Geno Smith has been nursing a right shoulder injury and couldn't practice this week after sustaining the injury in the Raiders' 24-17 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

Pickett, 27, received first-team reps in practice this week after relieving Smith in the Broncos game, going 8 of 11 for 97 yards with a touchdown pass.

The Raiders (2-11) acquired Pickett from the Browns after training camp was completed in August. Cleveland previously acquired Pickett from the Eagles but ran out of room at the position.

Pickett has completed 481 of 769 passes (62.5%) for 4,870 yards, 16 TDs and 14 picks in 33 games (25 starts) for the Pittsburgh Steelers (2022-23), Eagles (2024) and Raiders. He is 15-10 as a starter.

The Steelers selected him 20th overall in the 2022 draft out of the University of Pittsburgh.

The Raiders have lost seven straight heading into Sunday against the Eagles (8-5).

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: Jaguars -13.5, Total 41.5

Series Rewind: The Jets have won two of the last three games over the Jaguars, including a 32-25 road win on Dec. 15, 2024. The all-time series is tied 9-9.

The Jacksonville Jaguars are riding high, entering the week on a four-game win streak and in sole possession of first place in the AFC South after last week's 36-19 win over the Indianapolis Colts. QB Trevor Lawrence appears to have turned a corner when it comes to turnovers. After he had 11 interceptions in the team's first 11 games this season, he's been interception free the last two weeks, throwing for 473 passing yards and four touchdowns vs. the Colts and Titans. Lawrence (ankle) was limited in practice Wednesday, but returned to full participation Thursday. He faces a Jets defense still looking for its first interception of the season. It appears likely New York will start its third different quarterback this season on Sunday after Tyrod Taylor (groin) left early in last week's game. Taylor and Justin Fields (knee) have both missed each of the first two practices of the week, likely lining up rookie Brady Cook for his first career start. Thrown into his first NFL action last week, Cook struggled as the Jets limped to a 34-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins. He completed 14 of 30 passes for 163 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions. If Taylor and Fields are out, the Jets signed Adrian Martinez to the practice squad this week and he would step into the backup role.

Washington Commanders (3-10) at New York Giants (2-11)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: Giants -2.5, Total 46.5

Series Rewind: With a 107-73-5 record all-time, the Giants own this storied division rivalry that dates to 1932. But the Commanders have won three straight meetings, including a 21-6 home victory back in Week 1.

Barring a tie, one of these teams will go home happy for the first time since early October, as Washington has dropped eight straight games -- the longest active losing streak in the NFL -- and New York has lost its last seven. The first matchup between young franchise quarterbacks Jayden Daniels and Jaxson Dart will have to wait. The Commanders have already ruled out the oft-injured Daniels, who fell hard on his previously dislocated left elbow and departed the 31-0 loss at Minnesota last Sunday. Instead, Marcus Mariota will make his seventh start of the season. Dart returned from a concussion in Week 13 and threw for 139 yards and a touchdown in a 33-15 loss to the Patriots. Despite similar records, New York and Washington have managed to lose in different ways. The Giants have lost five games in which they led in the fourth quarter while Washington's defeats have tended to be more definitive. The Commanders have lost by more than 20 points five times, including last week, when their 30th-ranked defense gave up 25 first downs and 313 yards to a Vikings team that had been shut out the previous week. The Giants rank 31st in total defense and yielded 34 and 33 points in their past two losses to the Lions and Patriots.

Baltimore Ravens (6-7) at Cincinnati Bengals (4-9)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: Ravens -2.5, Total 51.5

Series Rewind: Cincinnati's 18-point victory last month ended a four-game skid against the Ravens. Baltimore's two victories last season were by a combined four points.

The Ravens have lost back-to-back games and fell to the Pittsburgh Steelers 27-22 last week in the battle for the AFC North lead. Making the situation more dire is that Baltimore also stands two games out of the last AFC wild-card spot. The Ravens finish with three of four on the road, beginning with the visit to Cincinnati, where bone-chilling temperatures are in the forecast. The Bengals roughed up host Baltimore 32-14 on Thanksgiving as Cincinnati's Joe Burrow returned from a toe injury to pass for 261 yards and two touchdowns. Ravens-killer Ja'Marr Chase had seven receptions for 110 yards and has 28 catches for 567 yards and five touchdowns in his last three games against Baltimore. If the Bengals lose, they will be eliminated from playoff contention. Baltimore's Lamar Jackson passed for 246 yards and committed three turnovers (one interception, two fumbles) in the recent meeting with the Bengals. Jackson threw one TD pass against Pittsburgh after failing to throw one in three consecutive games. Assorted leg injuries this season also have prevented him from being a running force. He had 307 yards and two scores. Derrick Henry has 1,025 rushing yards, marking the seventh time he has topped 1,000 in his superb 10-year career. Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith has reached 100 tackles in all eight seasons of his career. Safety Jordan Battle leads the Bengals with three interceptions and 101 tackles.

Arizona Cardinals (3-10) at Houston Texans (8-5)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: Texans -9.5, Total 42.5

Series Rewind: The Texans and Cardinals have played just six times and are tied 3-3 in the series. Two of those games have been in the last four seasons, with Houston winning 21-16 at home in 2023 and Arizona cruising to a 31-5 home win in 2021.

No team may be hotter at the moment than the Houston Texans, who won their fifth straight game Sunday night at Kansas City to rise into the playoff picture as the No. 7 seed entering Week 15. They're positioned at the moment to be just the seventh team in NFL history to make the playoffs after an 0-3 start. The Texans' defense has played a huge part in this surge, ranking No. 1 in the NFL in scoring defense (16.0 points per game) and total defense (266.3 yards). And yet, it could be CJ Stroud and the offense who lead the charge this week against an Arizona defense which has allowed 40-plus points in three of the last five games. Houston could be without running back Nick Chubb (ribs) this week after he missed Wednesday and Thursday's practices. The Cardinals have been eliminated from playoff contention since Nov. 30 and enter on a five-game losing streak fresh off a 45-17 home loss to the Rams. While the defense has been consistently gouged of late, QB Jacoby Brissett has been putting up numbers in place of Kyler Murray, who it was announced last week was done for the season with a foot injury. Brissett has passed for 2,459 yards with 15 touchdowns and five interceptions in eight games as a starter. He has Trey McBride, who is tied for the NFL lead with 93 receptions and leads all tight ends with 937 yards. However, it appears Arizona will be without receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (heel) will miss another game this week after missing the first two practices.

Las Vegas Raiders (2-11) at Philadelphia Eagles (8-5)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: Eagles -11.5, Total 38.5

Series Rewind: The teams have split the 14 previous meetings, including the Raiders' 27-10 victory in Super Bowl XV. The Raiders haven't won in Philadelphia since 2001.

Las Vegas brings a seven-game losing streak to Philadelphia to face an Eagles team trying to avoid a repeat of 2023. The last time the Eagles lost three in a row was in December two years ago, part of an epic 1-5 collapse following a 10-1 start. Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts has turned the ball over seven times in his last two games, including a career-high four interceptions in Monday's overtime loss to the Chargers. Eagles wideout A.J. Brown is tied for the longest active streak in the NFL with three straight 100-yard games. With Raiders signal-caller Geno Smith dealing with a right shoulder injury and Kenny Pickett gets the start against his former team. Pickett won a ring with the Eagles in February, got traded to Cleveland in March and got dealt again to Las Vegas in August. He was 14-10 as a starter for the Steelers from 2022-23 and 1-0 last season. Maxx Crosby needs one sack to reach double figures for the fourth time.

Buffalo Bills (9-4) at New England Patriots (11-2)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: Bills -1.5, Total 49.6

Series Rewind: New England beat Buffalo 23-20 on Oct. 5 and eyes its first season sweep of the Bills since 2019, when Tom Brady was the team's quarterback.

The Patriots can win their first AFC East title this decade by taking down the Bills, who have won the division five consecutive years. New England is seeking its 11th straight victory and is gunning to be the No. 1 seed for the AFC postseason. The Patriots were just 4-13 last season but have enjoyed a memorable campaign in coach Mike Vrabel's first season and quarterback Drake Maye's second with the club. Maye has emerged as an NFL MVP candidate. The 23-year-old has completed a league-best 71.5 percent of his passes and is on track to break Brady's franchise record of 68.9 percent set in 2007. Maye has thrown for 3,412 yards, 23 touchdowns and six interceptions. Of course, the reigning MVP is employed by the Bills. Josh Allen has passed for 3,083 yards and 22 touchdowns against 10 interceptions, while completing 70.1 percent of his throws. He also has rushed for 12 scores. In the first meeting, Maye passed for 273 yards while Allen threw for 253 yards and two touchdowns and was intercepted once. Buffalo has won five of its past seven games but a loss will leave the team battling for a wild-card berth. Bills running back James Cook (1,308) is second in rushing yardage but was held to 49 yards on 17 carries by the Patriots in the first meeting.

Cleveland Browns (3-10) at Chicago Bears (9-4)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: -7.5, Total 38.5

Series Rewind: This is the teams' 19th meeting. Cleveland leads the all-time series 11-7, and the home team has won 10 of the past 11 games. In the most recent meeting, the Browns eked out a 20-17 home win on Dec. 17, 2023.

The forecast calls for single-digit temperatures along the shores of Lake Michigan. The Bears lost at Green Bay and forfeited the top spot in the NFC North last week. Cleveland has lost two straight and five of its past six, but the recent play of rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders has given the franchise reason for optimism. Sanders passed for 364 yards, three touchdowns and one interception last week in a 31-29 home loss against the Tennessee Titans. The Browns hope to see defensive end Myles Garrett make history. He enters the weekend with a league-high 20 sacks in 13 games. He is 2.5 sacks shy of the NFL's single-season record of 22 1/2, which Michael Strahan set in 2001 and T.J. Watt matched in 2021. Bears quarterback Caleb Williams knows that Garrett will be tough to stop. Williams wants no part of becoming the answer to a trivia question: Which quarterback did Garrett take down to break the sack record? "I'm going to try and make sure that he doesn't get the sack record on us and on me," Williams said. "... As a game plan ... everything is not allowing them to wreck the game.

Los Angeles Chargers (9-4) at Kansas City Chiefs (6-7)

Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: Chiefs -5.5, Total 41.5

Series Rewind: The Chargers beat the Chiefs in Brazil in Week 1, their first win in the past eight games in the series. Kansas City leads the all-time series 71-58-1.

A decade-long streak of playoff appearances is in dire jeopardy for the Chiefs will try to ignite their long-shot postseason chances when they play host to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. The last time Kansas City was not a playoff participant was 2014, when Alex Smith was the quarterback. Patrick Mahomes has led each of the past seven playoff runs and not only has helped win three Super Bowls, but he has also never missed an AFC Championship Game as a starting QB. The Chiefs are on the outside of the playoff field, two games behind the Houston Texans, who hold the third and final AFC wild-card spot. The Chargers are playoff eligible as a wild-card qualifier. While Kansas City's defense was much better over the second half last week, dropped passes held Mahomes to a paltry 160 yards through the air while completing just 14 of his 33 throws in the Chiefs' third consecutive loss. Quarterback Justin Herbert had just 139 yards passing Monday and rookie first-round running back Omarion Hampton returned to the lineup.

Green Bay Packers (9-3-1) at Denver Broncos (11-2)

Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: Packers -2.5, Total 42.5

Series Rewind: The home team has won nine of the past 10 meetings.

The Packers pack for Denver after plucking away the NFC North division lead from the Bears in Week 14. The Broncos are baffled that they are still considered to be on proving ground as underdogs in Sunday's home game. With a 10-game winning streak and two-game lead in the division the Broncos are still eyeing the top seed in the AFC. The Broncos (11-2) are two wins clear of the Los Angeles Chargers in the AFC West and can clinch a playoff berth with a win. The Packers have won four in a row, the last two against NFC North rivals Detroit and Chicago. Bo Nix has kept the Broncos on the right side of eight-one score victories this season. He has completed 63.2 percent of his passes for 2,954 yards, 19 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He is also third on the team in rushing (244 yards). The Broncos have leaned on their strong defense in more than a supporting role. Denver ranks fourth in the NFL in points allowed per game (18.1), second in rushing (89 yards), third in total yards per game (282) and first in total sacks (55). Green Bay can win a game with quarterback Jordan Love's deep and talented groups of wide receivers. The Packers also can throw a knockout punch defensively. They rank sixth in points allowed (19 per game) and fifth in total yards per game (287.2). Micah Parson leads the team with 12.5 sacks and Rashan Gary has 7.5. Love, in his third year as Green Bay's starter, has a career-high 67.1 completion percentage and has thrown 22 TD passes while only being intercepted four times. He has been sacked 18 times. Injuries the first two months of the season were a setback to strong protection, but not many blocking schemes are built to stonewall Denver's pressure defense. Nik Bonitto has a team-best 12.5 sacks but the Broncos' other three starters up front have 19 more combined, led by Jonathon Cooper (7.5).

Tennessee Titans (2-11) at San Francisco 49ers (9-4)

Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: 49ers -12.5, Total 44.5

Series Rewind: The 49ers hold a 9-6 lead in the series, including a 4-3 record at home. Eight of the last 10 meetings dating back to 1987 have been one-score games.

The last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft goes head-to-head with the first pick in the 2025 NFL Draft when Brock Purdy and the 49ers host rookie Cam Ward and the Titans. Purdy won three straight starts before San Francisco's bye last week and has thrown at least one TD pass in all five games this season. Teammate Christian McCaffrey is on pace for his second season with 1,000 rushing and 1,000 receiving yards with 849 and 806, respectively, while 49ers WR Jauan Jennings has touchdowns in four of his last five games. Ward leads all first-year QBs in passing yards (2,468) and had his first game with multiple TD passes in last week's win at Cleveland. The Titans rank last in the NFL in total offense (246.2 yards per game) and 31st in scoring (15.5 points per game). Tennessee DT Jeffery Simmons will try to slow down a 49ers offense that ranks No. 2 in third-down conversions (48.2%).

Carolina Panthers (7-6) at New Orleans Saints (3-10)

Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: Panthers -2.5, Total 40.5

Series Rewind: New Orleans earned its second win of the season and snapped a four-game losing streak with a surprising 17-7 win at Carolina on Nov. 9. The Saints have won four of the last five over the Panthers to lead the all-time series 33-29.

The Panthers benefited greatly during their bye week, watching the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lose to New Orleans to fall into a tie atop the NFC South at 7-6. Seeing that may have caused some deja vu for Carolina's players and staff after the Saints stunningly upset the Panthers back in Week 10. Avenging that loss on the road this time feels close to essential for Carolina's chances at snapping the franchise's seven-year playoff drought as the NFC South co-leaders are two games back of a wild-card spot. The Panthers' last five games have been hard to get a read on, with wins at Green Bay and over the Rams last time out, but also with that home loss to New Orleans. Carolina comes out of the bye exceptionally healthy, with every active player fully participating in Thursday's practice. All that's left for New Orleans this season is the chance to play spoiler and continue to build for 2026 under rookie quarterback Tyler Shough. The Carolina game was Shough's second start and first win and saw him throw for what remains a career-high 282 yards and two touchdowns. In last week's win at Tampa Bay, Shough completed just 13 of 20 passes for 144 yards and an interception. However, he ran the ball seven times for 55 yards and a pair of rushing touchdowns. Shough may be without one or two of his top running backs this week. Alvin Kamara (knee/ankle) appears poised to miss his third straight game after not practicing Wednesday or Thursday while rookie RB Devin Neal (abdomen) has been limited this week due to an injury he sustained in last week's game.

Indianapolis Colts (8-5) at Seattle Seahawks (10-3)

Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: Seahawks -13.5, Total 42.5

Series Rewind: The Seahawks can even the all-time series at 7-7 by registering a third straight win against the Colts, who haven't won a game in Seattle since the 2000 season. One of the big stories in the NFL this week was the Colts' signing of 44-year-old quarterback Philip Rivers after Daniel Jones' season-ending Achilles injury. Sixth-round rookie Riley Leonard replaced Jones in last weekend's loss at Jacksonville and could be in line for his first career start if Rivers isn't ready for his first game since Jan. 9, 2021. Indy's Jonathan Taylor leads the NFL in rushing yards (1,356) and TDs from scrimmage (18) but faces a Seattle defense that ranks No. 4 against the run. The game also features the NFL's No. 1 receiver in Seahawks star Jaxon Smith-Njigba (1,428 yards). Two of Seattle's three losses have come at home this season, but the team pitched a 26-0 shutout against the Vikings in their most recent game at Lumen Field in Week 13.

Minnesota Vikings (5-8) at Dallas Cowboys (6-6-1)

Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET

FanDuel odds: Cowboys -5.5, Total 48.5

Series Rewind: The Cowboys have won five of the past six meetings with Minnesota, including a 40-3 road victory in 2022 in the most recent matchup.

Both the Cowboys and Vikings face long playoff odds and a loss will eliminate Minnesota. Dallas has been receiving help from the NFC East-rival Philadelphia Eagles, who have lost three straight games to keep Dallas in the mix in the division race. The Cowboys have won three of their past four games as they ride the arm of Dak Prescott, the NFL leader with 3,637 passing yards. He also is tied for second with 26 passing touchdowns. Prescott has outputs of 354, 320 and 376 yards over the past three games. Standout receiver CeeDee Lamb (865 receiving yards) hasn't cleared concussion protocol but should do so by Sunday night. Cowboys running back Javonte Williams has career highs of 1,022 yards and nine touchdowns in his first season with the club. The Vikings staved off elimination last weekend with a 31-0 shellacking of the Washington Commanders but can't lose again and needs help from other teams to make the playoff field. J.J. McCarthy threw a career-high three touchdown passes against Washington and didn't throw an interception for the first time in his seven NFL starts. Star receiver Justin Jefferson had just two catches for 11 yards against the Commanders one week after having two receptions for 4 yards in a 26-0 road loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

According to J.J. Watt, the Steelers' star linebacker sustained the injury during a dry needling session Wednesday at the team's practice facility.

"Recovery timeline is still TBD, but all went well and he is being released from the hospital today," J.J. Watt wrote on X. "He and his family are very appreciative of everyone's kind words and well wishes."

The team confirmed that the three-time NFL sacks leader had to be hospitalized on Wednesday. He underwent the surgical procedure on Thursday.

Dry needling is a procedure used to increase blood flow and raise oxygen levels in overused and sore muscles.

Head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters on Thursday that Watt's availability for Monday night's game between the AFC North-leading Steelers (7-6) and visiting Miami Dolphins (6-7) will be determined later.

Signed to a three-year, $123 million contract with $108 million guaranteed in July, Watt has recorded seven sacks and 53 tackles in 13 games (all starts) this season. The seven-time Pro Bowl selection has not missed a game since the 2022 season.

Watt, 31, has 115 career sacks in 134 games (all starts) since being selected by Pittsburgh with the 30th overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft. He was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 when he had a career-high 22.5 sacks to match the official league record (since 1982) held by Michael Strahan.

Cook, 24, is being given the opportunity with fellow quarterbacks Tyrod Taylor and Justin Fields ruled out due to their respective injuries. Taylor is dealing with a groin issue that forced him to leave the 34-10 loss to the Miami Dolphins last Sunday, while Fields is being plagued by knee soreness.

"Tyrod will be out, Justin will be out," Glenn said. "That means Brady will be our starting quarterback this week."

Adrian Martinez, who signed with the Jets (3-10) on Wednesday, will serve as Cook's backup on Sunday versus the Jaguars (9-4).

Cook made his NFL debut in relief of Taylor last Sunday, completing 14 of 30 passes for 163 yards with two interceptions and six sacks.

"Now this week, he has had a chance to get all the reps with the (starters), get a chance to communicate with the O-Line, with the receivers, with the tight ends, with the coaching staff on exactly how we want to play this game," Glenn said of Cook.

"I have all the confidence in the world. That's something I've stated from the very beginning. He'll be a good player in this league and he'll have his opportunity again this week."

On the season, the Jets have completed 223 of 370 pass attempts (60.3%) for 1,904 yards with 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions. New York is the only NFL team not to have eclipsed the 2,000-yard passing mark.

The team did not announce contract details, but ESPN reported Myers' deal is for two years and $11 million and keeps him with the Jets through the 2027 season.

Myers, 27, has started all 13 games this season and played every offensive snap. The Jets are the only NFL club to start the same offensive line in every game this season, according to the team.

He was taken in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers and spent his first four NFL seasons there. He signed a one-year, $2 million free-agent deal with New York in March.

"Really pumped to be staying in the green and white. Let's run it back," he said in a video posted Friday to the Jets' official page on X.

Myers has played in 69 NFL games -- all starts.

After Atlanta, which trailed by 14 in the fourth quarter, forced a Tampa Bay punt at the two-minute warning, the Falcons took over at their own 30-yard line. Kirk Cousins completed a 21-yard pass to David Sills V on fourth-and-14 with 30 seconds left, moving the ball to the Tampa Bay 36.

The Falcons (5-9) then picked up 11 more yards before Gonzalez struck the game-winner.

Cousins completed 30 of 44 passes for 373 yards and three touchdowns for Atlanta, which had dropped seven of its previous eight games. Kyle Pitts Sr. amassed 166 yards and three touchdowns on 11 receptions in the win.

The Falcons prevailed despite committing a franchise-record 19 penalties for 125 yards.

Baker Mayfield threw for 277 yards, two touchdowns and an interception for Tampa Bay (7-7), which dropped a critical NFC South game. The Buccaneers have lost five of their past six to fall a half-game behind the Carolina Panthers (7-6) for the division lead.

After trailing by a point at halftime, Tampa Bay scored on a 90-yard drive that was aided by three Atlanta penalties. Mayfield's 6-yard touchdown pass to Devin Culp gave the Buccaneers a 20-14 edge with 6:22 left in the third.

After Jacob Parrish recovered Bijan Robinson's fumble on the Atlanta 25, the Buccaneers tacked on with Mayfield's 3-yard touchdown pass to Chris Godwin. The duo connected on the ensuing two-point conversion, pushing the lead to 28-14 with 13:34 remaining in the final quarter.

The Falcons sliced their deficit to eight as Robinson ran in a 6-yard touchdown. Atlanta was unsuccessful on the two-point-conversion attempt with 9:37 remaining.

Mayfield was then intercepted at the Atlanta 33-yard line by Dee Alford. The Falcons scored again after Pitts hauled in his third touchdown of the game, this time a 7-yarder with 3:34 remaining. Again, the Falcons' two-point-conversion try failed, leaving the deficit at 28-26.

Tampa Bay struck first on Sean Tucker's 1-yard touchdown rush with 1:38 left in the first quarter.

Cousins hit Pitts for a 8-yard touchdown on the next drive, tying the score at 7-7 with 12:11 remaining in the first half.

Tampa Bay grabbed a 10-7 lead on Chase McLaughlin's 49-yard field goal at the 2:04 mark.

Cousins then connected with Pitts for a 17-yard touchdown, giving the Falcons a four-point edge with 38 seconds left. McLaughlin's 52-yarder cut Tampa Bay's deficit to one as time expired in the first half.

The Dolphins (6-7) are riding a four-game winning streak and need to extend that run to keep their slim playoff hopes intact.

The Steelers (7-6) hold first place in the AFC North and are ahead of the Ravens by one game after ending a two-game losing skid with a 27-22 win at Baltimore last week. Pittsburgh also faces pressure to keep winning since its best route to the postseason is to win the division.

But if the Steelers are to string together consecutive wins, they might have to do it without star linebacker T.J. Watt.

According to a Pittsburgh team spokesman, Watt was hospitalized for "medical evaluation of his lung." The spokesman said Watt experienced discomfort during Wednesday's practice.

"He has a lung situation that's being addressed," Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin said. "I think he has some testing and so forth ahead of him this afternoon, and that's all I know at this juncture."

Watt, who played 70 snaps in last week's win over the Ravens, leads Steelers defenders with seven sacks and 18 quarterback hits, while also adding two fumble recoveries and an interception this season.

Besides Watt, Pittsburgh also has multiple players either dealing with injuries or in concussion protocol, including offensive lineman Andrus Peat (concussion) and defensive tackle Derrick Harmon (knee), who did not practice on Thursday.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers (broken left wrist) did practice a week after throwing for a season-high 284 yards and a touchdown against Baltimore. The Steelers' pass protection has improved in recent weeks as Rodgers has been sacked only twice over his past three starts.

For the Dolphins, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is expected to face a situation that's been unfavorable to him during his career. Tagovailoa is 0-5 all-time in games where the temperature is below 40 degrees at kickoff. The temps Monday night in Pittsburgh are expected to be in the low 20s.

Fortunately for the Dolphins, their running game has been the driving force behind their winning streak, and De'Von Achane appears to be good to go.

Achane, who suffered a rib injury in the first half of last week's 34-10 win over the New York Jets and did not return, practiced in limited fashion on Thursday. An MRI revealed Achane did not suffer any fractures.

Achane is averaging 5.8 yards per carry and has rushed for 1,126 yards this season, trailing only Jonathan Taylor and James Cook III entering this week. Achane still ran for 92 yards on just seven carries before his injury last week, and he had more than 100 rushing yards in each of his previous three games.

"The good news is that how he makes a living is avoiding tacklers," Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said. "And that's what he'll have to do. The bumps and bruises in the National Football League -- If you don't have something in December, you're probably playing football wrong."

For Miami, cornerback Elijah Campbell (ankle/knee) and linebacker Caleb Johnson (shoulder) were the only players who did not practice Thursday. Besides Achane, long snapper Joe Cardona (hamstring), cornerback Rasul Douglas (foot), safety Ifeatu Melifonwu (thumb/groin), offensive lineman Andrew Meyer (tricep), linebacker Chop Robinson (oblique) and tight end Darren Waller (rest) were limited.

For Pittsburgh, receiver Ben Skowronek (hand) and cornerback James Pierre (calf) also did not practice. Linebacker Malik Harrison and tight end Darnell Washington were limited with concussions.

Upset by New Orleans last week, Tampa Bay is now tied atop the NFC South at 7-6 with the Carolina Panthers. Meanwhile, the 4-9 Falcons are trying to reverse a skid that has seen Atlanta drop seven of its past eight games.

ODDS AND TRENDS

The Bucs are consensus 5.5-point favorites. That includes at BetMGM, where Tampa Bay has been backed by 78% of the spread-line bets and 63% of the money. The Bucs' -225 moneyline has been even more popular, drawing 67% and 87% of the action, respectively.

The total points line at the book has shifted from 44.5 to 44.0, with the Over supported by 56% of the bets and 61% of the money.

PROP PICKS

--Falcons RB Bijan Robinson Over 38.5 Receiving Yards (-115 at BetMGM): Robinson caught just two passes for 8 yards in Seattle last week but has generally been an integral part of the Falcons' passing game with 602 receiving yards this season. Before the Seahawks game, Robinson had at least 37 receiving yards nine times this season, and at least 39 in eight of those. This is the most popular player prop at the book for this matchup.

--Bucs RB Bucky Irving 3+ Receptions (-178 at DraftKings): Irving has a pair of catches in both games since returning from a seven-game absence. However, he had 4+ catches in each of his four games before getting injured and his workload figures to only increase. Larger potential payouts are available for 4+ (+106) and 5+ (+252) receptions.

INSIDE EDGE

Falcons running backs have averaged 10.3 yards after the catch this season, second best in the NFL, according to Inside Edge's Remarkable engine. Meanwhile, the Bucs are second-worst in the league in allowing an average of 11.5 yards after catch per reception to running backs.

KEY STAT

In two outings since injuring his left shoulder, Bucs quarterback Mayfield is averaging just 158 passing yards per game and completed a season-low 46.7% (14 of 30) of his passes against the Saints. The veteran quarterback isn't using the injury as an excuse, but understands the offense needs to find a rhythm. The Buccaneers are averaging just 15.7 points across their last three games.

"It's the little things," Mayfield said of what needs improvement. "Whether it's me being on time with my footwork, getting the protection aligned, the depths of the routes, it all comes down to executing. It's not just one thing you can point to, it's a culmination of things. We'll get it fixed."

THEY SAID IT

--"For me, that's the cost of doing business. You don't put yourself in positions to worry about those things. As a leader, you've got to stand up in front of people and answer the hard questions, and you've also got to stand up and be a good example for your guys in how you go and finish things." --Falcons coach Raheem Morris on questions about his job status

--"I think saying things has merit. I think doing things has probably more merit. It's more about how you practice, how you prepare, how you play on Thursday night is really what it comes down to." --Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins, who has thrown for 192 yards per game in four starts in place of the injured Michael Penix Jr. The oldest player in the Atlanta locker room, Cousins acknowledges the need for a vocal leader during the team's rough stretch, but also knows the on-field performance is paramount.

INJURY REPORT

Falcons wide receiver Drake London hasn't played since Nov. 16 as he deals with a knee injury. London was a non-participant all week in practice and ruled out on Wednesday.

Tight end Kyle Pitts (knee), edge rusher Jalon Walker (quad) and defensive linemen Brandon Dorlus (groin) and David Onyemata (foot) were listed as questionable on Wednesday.

Mayfield could benefit from the return of six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Mike Evans. He has been out with a broken collarbone since Oct. 20 but the Bucs activated Evans from injured reserve on Wednesday along with wide receiver Jalen McMillan, who has yet to play this season because of a neck injury sustained in an Aug. 26 preseason game.

Evans and McMillan were listed as questionable to play, while tight end Cade Otton (knee) and safety Tykee Smith (neck/shoulder) are doubtful and linebacker SirVocea Dennis (hip) and safety Rashad Wisdom (quad) were ruled out for Thursday's game.

PREDICTION

Mayfield has struggled since injuring his shoulder and is playing on a short week. But he's doing it against a reeling Falcons team, with the Bucs at home and getting some reinforcements in their passing game. --Bucs 23, Falcons 20

Loya was initially charged with first-degree rape, five counts of first-degree sexual abuse and one count of third-degree sexual abuse after an arrest warrant was issued in May 2023 for an alleged incident at parties at his home in Louisville in 2022.

Loya accepted a misdemeanor charge of "harassment with intent to annoy" in 2024 and seven sexual assault charges against him were dropped.

"In March 2024, Texans minority owner Javier Loya entered an Alford plea in the commonwealth of Kentucky," the NFL said in a statement. "With the full support and cooperation of the Texans, the league has subsequently conducted an investigation, following which the commissioner determined Mr. Loya's actions violated the NFL's personal conduct policy. Mr. Loya has been suspended indefinitely from the League and will be eligible to apply for reinstatement no earlier than June 2026. He also has been fined $500,000. Mr. Loya has no involvement with the club or league affairs since being charged in the spring of 2023."

Loya issued a statement disagreeing with the NFL's punishment, indicating he had hoped a self-imposed punishment would be recognized as sufficient.

"Although I voluntarily stood down from all team and league activities for more than two and a half years, I respectfully disagree with the NFL's decision. I have always conducted myself with integrity, and I am grateful that the legal process ultimately resulted in the dismissal of all charges," Loya said in a statement issued through a public relations firm. "I will continue to cooperate to address any remaining questions directly with league leadership, and I look forward to seeking reinstatement and returning my full focus to supporting my family and the Houston community."

The Texans have not welcomed Loya at any team activities or sponsored league events since charges were initiated in Kentucky.

"The Texans cooperated with the NFL's investigation and fully support the suspension of Javier Loya, one of our outside limited partners," the Texans wrote in the statement. "This behavior has no place in our organization or our community. Since charges were first filed, Mr. Loya has been prohibited from participating in any club or league activities. That will continue indefinitely in accordance with the NFL's decision."

Lamb is wearing a protection Guardian cap over his helmet and remains optimistic he'll be cleared to play Sunday night when Dallas welcomes the Minnesota Vikings. His level of participation was an uptick from a limited workout Wednesday.

Lamb said he believes he's ready to play in what sets up as a veritable must-win for the Cowboys (6-6-1) in a tightly packed NFC playoff race.

"It's not like you are thinking about what if," Lamb said.

Tight end Jake Ferguson (calf) went from limited Wednesday to not practicing Thursday, raising concern about his availability on Sunday. Left tackle Tyler Guyton (ankle) also missed Thursday's practice.

Lamb left the Cowboys' loss to the Lions in the third quarter last Thursday with a concussion only after catching six passes for 121 yards, his second consecutive 100-yard game.

He has 57 catches for 865 yards and three touchdowns in 2025 in 10 games. Lamb missed three games -- against the Packers, Jets and Panthers -- with a high ankle sprain.

Smith is nursing a right shoulder injury and did not practice Wednesday or Thursday, ceding first-team snaps in practice to Pickett, who replaced Smith after he was hurt in a 24-17 home loss to the Denver Broncos last Sunday.

Smith was injured during the third quarter. Pickett entered the game in the fourth quarter and threw a TD pass, going 8 of 11 for 97 yards.

Raiders coach Pete Carroll described Smith's injury as a "jammed" throwing shoulder. Imaging of the shoulder showed no structural damage, Carroll said.

The Raiders (2-11) acquired Pickett, 27, from the Browns after training camp was completed in August. Cleveland acquired Pickett from the Eagles, where he was the backup to Jalen Hurts for the Super Bowl champions last season. But the Browns didn't have a need at the position after drafting two quarterbacks in a span of 50 picks -- Shedeur Sanders in the fifth round, Dillon Gabriel in the third -- and signing Joe Flacco in free agency.

With the Raiders, Pickett is 10 of 14 for 105 yards and one touchdown in three games as a reserve this season.

"He came in with some good energy. He was able to put some points on the board -- just execution," Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty said of Pickett. "He practices well. Whether he goes or not (Sunday), I know he'll work hard and be ready."

Pickett has completed 481 of 769 passes (62.5%) for 4,870 yards, 16 TDs and 14 picks in 33 games (25 starts) for the Pittsburgh Steelers (2022-23), Eagles (2024) and Raiders. He is 15-10 as a starter.

The Steelers selected him 20th overall in the 2022 draft out of the University of Pittsburgh.

The Raiders have lost seven straight games heading into Sunday against the Eagles (8-5).

Smith, 35, has passed for 2,648 yards and 16 touchdowns and is tied for the NFL lead with 14 interceptions. He is in his first season with the Raiders after being acquired from the Seattle Seahawks in the offseason.

The two-time Pro Bowl selection (2022, 2023) and 2022 NFL Comeback Player of the Year, Smith has thrown for 21,791 yards, 121 touchdowns and 86 interceptions in 12 seasons for the New York Jets (2013-16), New York Giants (2017), Los Angeles Chargers (2018), Seahawks (2020-24) and Raiders.

The Jets selected him in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft out of West Virginia University.

Jacobs told reporters on Thursday that an MRI on his knee came back clean earlier in the week. The three-time Pro Bowl selection also said he did not aggravate the injury during Green Bay's 28-21 victory over the Chicago Bears last weekend.

"I didn't get hit on it last game, but toward the second half of the game last week it started to get stiff," Jacobs said. "Just running around, casual swelling. That's the main thing. Just trying to get the fluid out of there."

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur expressed concern about Jacobs' status prior to Thursday's practice.

"Any time a guy doesn't practice there's always concern. We'll see," LaFleur said. "He's been battling through. He's doing everything in his power to get ready to go."

Jacobs initially sustained the injury in Green Bay's 27-20 win over the New York Giants on Nov. 16.

Emanuel Wilson would be in line for a bigger workload should Jacobs be limited or ruled out for the Packers (9-3-1) in their game versus the Broncos (11-2).

Wilson rushed for 107 yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries when Jacobs sat out Green Bay's 23-6 win over the Minnesota Vikings on Nov. 23.

Jacobs, 27, has rushed for 817 yards and 12 touchdowns in 12 games this season.

Signed to a four-year deal in March 2024, Jacobs has 7,691 rushing yards and 73 rushing touchdowns in 102 career games with the Oakland/Las Vegas Raiders and Packers.

When the Browns wake up Sunday morning at their team hotel a few blocks from the stadium, the temperature is expected to be below zero. Wind chills are forecast for a range between 20-below and 30-below zero, increasing to the teens before the 1 p.m. ET kickoff.

Cleveland is anticipating a focus on running the ball on Sunday. The Bears are second in the NFL, averaging 152.6 rushing yards per game. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski called Chicago's ground game a "great rushing attack" but doesn't want to ignore the playmaking ability of quarterback Caleb Williams.

"He can make a ton of plays both on schedule and off schedule, has elite arm talent to throw the ball around the field," Stefanski said. "He's very elusive, extremely elusive. He can get out of the pocket to the left, to the right, vertical in the pocket. He's a hard guy to bring down and that adds another element to their team and in this case their run offense."

If the air temperature without regard to wind chill is in the single digits on Sunday, the game would be one of the five coldest at Soldier Field, the Bears' home stadium since 1971. The Bears' record for coldest temperature at kickoff in a home game was Dec. 22, 2008. The Bears and Packers played on a frozen field when the kickoff temperature was 2 degrees and wind chill was minus-13.

Medlin, head equipment manager of the Bears since 1997 following 10 years serving the organization prior to taking on that title, entered the league with the team after a phone interview with an administrator assisting the league office named Roger Goodell.

Jackson has missed at least one practice for five consecutive weeks due to a variety of reasons.

The two-time NFL MVP threw for a touchdown and rushed for another in Baltimore's 27-22 setback to the Pittsburgh Steelers last Sunday. He is expected to be under center for the Ravens (6-7) this Sunday against the host Cincinnati Bengals (4-9).

Injuries have limited Jackson for more than two months. He missed three games with a hamstring injury following a 37-20 loss at Kansas City on Sept. 28.

Jackson, 28, has completed 63.4 percent of his passes for 2,060 yards with 16 touchdowns and five interceptions in 10 games this season. He's also rushed for 307 yards with two scores.

Leonard, a sixth-round pick, had thrown only two passes -- a pair of fourth-quarter incompletions against the Tennessee Titans on Oct. 26 -- before Jones' injury shoved him into the thick of a game with first place in the AFC South on the line.

"It's very difficult, but that's the nature of the game. Obviously, your first thought is to pray for Daniel and hope he's great because that's not how you envision getting snaps, right?" Leonard detailed after Sunday's game. "I always envision myself working and working and developing into a starter, (a position) that I earned. Whether I earned it or not is kind of irrelevant. Daniel went down; my turn was up. It's super unfortunate to see that, but hopefully everything works out. We'll be praying for him for sure."

The Colts lost Jones, and 2023 first-round pick Anthony Richardson is on injured reserve, so when Indianapolis lost Sunday's game and Leonard left the stadium limping on his knee, head coach Shane Steichen gave 44-year-old Philip Rivers a ring. Rivers was at the team facility by Monday night and officially signed to the practice squad, studying the call sheet for Week 15. He was reviewing calls, plays and checks for the game at Seattle with Leonard, who was born a few days after Rivers threw five touchdown passes on 10 completions against Navy as a junior at North Carolina State.

Both quarterbacks practiced Wednesday and Thursday.

Last week, Leonard played the final three quarters and rushed for a 6-yard TD. His touchdown pass to Michael Pittman Jr. was taken off the board on an offensive pass interference call, but he completed 18 of 29 passes for 145 yards with an interception.

Leonard remains optimistic his first career start is coming this week. Steichen, though, did not rule out turning to Rivers instead in his 245th career game but first since 2021.

"As far as I know, I'm going to go out there and give it my best," Leonard said.

Steichen, a former assistant coach with the Chargers, crossed over with Rivers for eight seasons, and they were in regular contact long after he joined the Philadelphia Eagles and took over as a first-time head coach with the Colts prior to last season.

When Steichen told of how the call to Rivers came about, it was clear he's still a believer.

"He's one of the most passionate players I've ever been around," Steichen said. "The obsession for the game is off the charts."

The Colts dropped to 8-5 last week and already lost to the Houston Texans (8-5) during the current three-game losing streak.

With four games to play, Indianapolis already has entered "playoff mode" and the schedule is relentless starting at Seattle on Sunday. The Colts are home on "Monday Night Football" against the San Francisco 49ers (9-4) next week and close the regular season at Houston on Jan. 4.

"He will not be at practice on Thursday, and his status for Monday night's game vs. Miami is in question," the Steelers said in a statement on Thursday. "Coach (Mike) Tomlin will provide more updates at the appropriate time."

The Steelers (7-6) did not divulge the severity of the lung issue.

Signed to a three-year, $123 million contract with $108 million guaranteed in July, Watt has recorded seven sacks and 53 tackles in 13 games (all starts) this season. The seven-time Pro Bowl selection has not missed a game since the 2022 season.

Watt, 31, has 115 career sacks in 134 games (all starts) since being selected by Pittsburgh with the 30th overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft. He was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 when he had a career-high 22.5 sacks to match the official league record (since 1982) held by Michael Strahan and has been a first-team All-Pro four times.

Financial terms were not disclosed by the team, however multiple media outlets reported the deal is worth $40.5 million. NFL Network added that the contract includes $25 million in guaranteed money.

Jones, 26, has recorded 34 tackles and 1.5 sacks in 12 games (all starts) this season. He has played 67% of the defensive snaps.

"'Big Trav' is an ascending player and having him continue to man the middle of our defense is very exciting," said Eric DeCosta, Ravens general manager, according to the official team website.

He has totaled 136 tackles, five sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 61 career games (30 starts) since being selected by the Ravens in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of UConn.

That's fine with the Cowboys, who can apply more pressure on the Eagles if they can knock off the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night in Arlington, Texas.

Philadelphia (8-5) has lost three consecutive games. Dallas (6-6-1) won three straight contests before dropping a 44-30 road decision to the Detroit Lions on Dec. 4.

The Cowboys are a long shot in the wild-card race, so the NFC East crown is the club's best route to the postseason.

"At the end of the day, we're focused on beating Minnesota," Dallas coach Brian Schottenheimer said. "We're going to do what we got to do, and if you start looking too far ahead of, 'OK, if this happens, if that happens,' you're going to drive yourself crazy. And I'm not going to do that."

Minnesota (5-8) faces an even tougher chore than the Cowboys.

The Vikings staved off elimination last weekend with a 31-0 shellacking of the visiting Washington Commanders. Minnesota has to win its final four games and see multiple other teams collapse down the stretch to have a chance to make the playoffs.

Quarterback J.J. McCarthy threw a career-high three touchdown passes against Washington. He completed 16 of 23 passes for 163 yards and didn't throw an interception for the first time in his seven NFL starts.

"It's definitely reassuring," McCarthy said. "I always knew I had that and I always knew the potential is there. But I'm looking at it right now, and there's so many ways I could get better. I'm so far from where I want to be, so it's just great to get the win and grow in this game."

Still, McCarthy hasn't been able to feature the skills of star receiver Justin Jefferson.

The four-time Pro Bowler receiver had just two catches for 11 yards against the Commanders one week after having two receptions for 4 yards in a 26-0 road loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

Overall, Jefferson has just 64 catches for 810 yards and two touchdowns in 13 games. Those are skimpy numbers for a receiver who posted 1,400 or more receiving yards in four of his first five seasons.

"I've tried to say this as many times as I possibly can, he has been elite from a leadership standpoint, character standpoint, being one of our captains and guys that drives this organization," Minnesota coach Kevin O'Connell said. "That's no matter what the look on his face has been, that's no matter what the statistical columns say."

Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott has been thriving with outputs of 354, 320 and 376 yards over the past three games. He leads the NFL with 3,637 passing yards and is tied for second with 26 passing touchdowns.

The Cowboys are also getting a boost from running back Javonte Williams, who has set career highs of 1,022 yards and nine touchdowns in his first season with the club.

"Yeah, it's a good milestone," Williams said of topping 1,000 for the first time in his five-year career. "After all the hard work I put in, to finally reach it, it's a blessing. But I know I still have work to do. We still got a lot of games left and a lot of football left for ourselves."

Minnesota left tackle Christian Darrisaw (knee) and tight end T.J. Hockenson (shin) sat out practice on Wednesday. Six players were limited due to injuries, including running back Aaron Jones (shoulder), receiver Jordan Addison (Achilles) and safety Josh Metellus (shoulder).

Tackle Tyler Guyton (ankle) was the lone Dallas player to sit out on Wednesday due to injury. Receiver CeeDee Lamb (concussion) was limited but had yet to clear protocol. Among the other six limited participants were defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (hamstring) and tight end Jake Ferguson (calf).

The Cowboys have won five of the past six meetings with Minnesota, including a 40-3 road victory in 2022 in the most recent matchup.

The game matches teams coming off wins in Cleveland a week apart, with the Titans having ended a seven-game losing streak with a 31-29 win last Sunday, while the 49ers, who had a bye last week, were last seen extending their run of consecutive wins to three with a 26-8 victory in Week 13.

The first overall pick in the April draft, Ward threw two touchdown passes for the first time despite unfavorable weather conditions last week in Cleveland. He also had an interception, giving him nearly as many (seven) this season as TD passes (nine).

The win was just the Titans' second of the season, which drew different reactions from their players. Shortly before veteran defensive lineman Arden Key was getting on the airplay intercom and encouraging his teammates to enjoy the success, Ward was telling reporters he thought playing just three good quarters -- the Titans were outscored 12-0 in the final 4:27 -- shouldn't be celebrated.

Titans interim coach Mike McCoy found himself looking for common ground as he began preparations for a tougher opponent, the 9-4 49ers.

"You want to enjoy every win in this business," he told the media. "But he's a competitor and Cam wants to be great. He wants to play great every week. And there's times where if you don't play (well), he's not going to sugarcoat what he says."

Ward threw for just 117 yards in the win, completing only half his 28 passes. His passing yardage was trumped by running back Tony Pollard's 161-yard effort on 25 carries.

This week, the Titans will see a Niners team that has allowed just four of 13 opponents to rush for a total of more than 100 yards. Only Jacksonville's Travis Etienne (124) has gone over 100 yards individually against San Francisco this season.

The 49ers have held the Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers and Browns to an average of 13.0 points during their winning streak that coincides with Purdy's return from a toe injury.

The final pick of the 2022 draft, Purdy engineered five wins his rookie season despite not having started a game until December that year. He's gone 27-14 as a starter.

As the now fourth-year quarterback has been regaining his footing, Christian McCaffrey has been relied upon heavily of late, getting an average of 19.0 carries and 5.3 receptions, which he has turned into 337 total yards in the last three games.

The nine-year veteran hasn't shown any sign of slowing down, and if he needed it, the 49ers figure to benefit from a late-season bye.

San Francisco has won each of its first games following a bye the last three seasons, beating the Los Angeles Chargers, Jaguars and Tampa Bay Buccaneers by a combined 79-39.

San Francisco coach Mike Shanahan was asked this week to disclose the secret to his post-bye success.

"I think most of that's just a coincidence," he insisted. "It's always good when we get to rest; you always come in feeling better. The key is how to keep that freshness and feeling better, but yet still get at least two hard days of practice in so you can knock off all that rust."

The teams haven't met in California since December 2017, when Ward and Purdy were both in high school.

For the Titans, defensive end C.J. Ravenell (toe) and linebacker James Williams Sr. (illness) did not practice Wednesday. Cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis (Achilles) and center Lloyd Cushenberry III (foot) returned to practice on a limited basis.

Niners linebackers Tatum Bethune (ankle) and Nick Martin (concussion) and defensive linemen Kevin Givens (personal) and defensive Sam Okuayinonu (ankle) did not practice Wednesday. Fullback Kyle Kyle Juszczyk (ribs) was limited.

Rivers, 44, an eight-time Pro Bowl participant and Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinalist, was signed to the practice squad by Indianapolis on Wednesday, and coach Shane Steichen didn't rule out the possibility Rivers could play Sunday when the Colts visit the Seattle Seahawks.

No matter that Rivers, a grandfather, hasn't played since the 2020 season.

"Something about it excited me, and it's kind of one of those deals, the door opens and you either walk through it and find out if you can do it or you run from it," Rivers said. "I know there's risk involved, what may or may not happen, but the only way to find out is going for it."

Colts starter Daniel Jones sustained a season-ending torn right Achilles tendon last weekend in a 36-19 loss at Jacksonville, and rookie backup Riley Leonard injured his right knee later in the game.

With Anthony Richardson, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 draft, still on injured reserve with a fractured orbital bone, the Colts promoted Brett Rypien, who hasn't started since 2023, from the practice squad to the active roster. They then signed Rivers, who spent his final NFL campaign with the Colts after 16 seasons with the San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers.

Rivers had been coaching the St. Michael Catholic High School team in Fairhope, Ala., for the past five years.

Steichen said the Colts (8-5) gave Rivers a call over the weekend.

"He said, 'Heck yeah, I'm interested,'" Steichen said. "So he slept on it, and then we called him back Monday morning and he said, 'I need to get up there and throw in that building.' So he came in here, and he didn't forget how to throw a football."

Rivers admitted he might be a few pounds over his playing weight.

"It's not what it was when I walked away," Rivers said. "I follow up with (the fact) that I never ran away from anybody anyway."

Leonard was a full participant in practice on Wednesday, so the former Duke and Notre Dame standout might get his first NFL start on Sunday. He has completed 18 of 31 passes for 145 yards with no touchdowns and one interception in two appearances off the bench.

"We'll see how the week goes," said Steichen, whose team has taken three straight losses to drop a game behind the division-leading Jaguars in the AFC South. "We'll get to the end of the week and make that decision."

The Seahawks (10-3) have won three in a row, including a 37-9 victory last Sunday at Atlanta, and are tied with the Los Angeles Rams atop the NFC West.

This will be the third straight week in which the Seahawks will face a backup quarterback. They blanked Minnesota and rookie QB Max Brosmer 26-0 two weeks ago before limiting the Falcons and Kirk Cousins to three field goals last weekend.

Seattle exploded for 31 second-half points at Atlanta to get its offense untracked.

"I feel like we're in a good spot," Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold said. "We've just got to continue to harp on the details of everything. We know that in the locker room, and we'll do a good job of that throughout the week."

The Colts practiced on Wednesday without cornerback Sauce Gardner (calf), wide receiver Anthony Gould (foot), defensive end Tyquan Lewis (ankle) and offensive tackle Braden Smith (concussion/neck). Tight end Elijah Arroyo (knee) was the only member of the Seahawks to sit out entirely on Wednesday.

The Texans (8-5) are inside the playoff bubble as a wild-card team entering Week 15 after beating Jacksonville, Tennessee, Buffalo, Indianapolis and most recently Kansas City during their streak, hurtling their way toward a third straight AFC South title. Houston is one game behind the first-place Jaguars.

"This is what we are supposed to do," Houston coach DeMeco Ryans told his team after a 20-10 road victory over the Chiefs last week.

"We just keep going, one game at a time. Everybody remain focused on the task in front of you. We continue to do what we need to do, we (are) going to do some special things."

The Cardinals (3-10) were eliminated from postseason contention on Nov. 30. Their losing streak reached five games last week in a 45-17 blowout against the visiting Los Angeles Rams, who produced 35 unanswered points and 530 total yards.

The Cardinals have given up 40-plus points in three of the past five games, forcing coach Jonathan Gannon to face questions about his team's effort level.

"No, no," Gannon said, disagreeing with the premise and citing "lack of execution" for the squad's defensive failures.

Said linebacker Josh Sweat: "I think everybody's head is in the right place, but I mean, it's over and over and over, so it's only so much we can do."

Houston may not reach the 40-point plateau against Arizona simply because it might not need to. The Texans rank No. 1 in the NFL in scoring defense (16.0 points per game) and total defense (266.3 yards) and are third in passing yards allowed (172). They are second in turnover margin (+12) and fourth in takeaways (1.7).

Houston intercepted Patrick Mahomes three times and stopped the Chiefs on two fourth-down attempts in the fourth quarter.

"We have a special group," said Ryans, whose team hosts the Las Vegas Raiders (2-11) next week.

Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud has beaten Indianapolis and Kansas City since returning from a three-game absence caused by a concussion. He threw for 479 yards, one touchdown and one interception in those two contests, taking a conservative approach that plays to Houston's defensive strength.

Texans running back Nick Chubb (ribs) left last week's game in the first half and did not return. Woody Marks has grown into a workhorse running back, producing 206 yards on 61 carries the past three weeks.

The Cardinals have the offensive weapons to potentially give Houston's defense problems. Quarterback Jacoby Brissett has passed for 2,459 yards with 15 touchdowns and five interceptions in eight games as a starter, with three 300-yard games and a 452-yarder in a 41-22 loss to San Francisco on Nov. 16.

Trey McBride is tied for the NFL lead with 93 receptions and leads all tight ends with 937 yards. If he notches five receptions against the Texans, he would set a tight end record with 16 consecutive games of hitting that mark after tying Travis Kelce last week.

Wide receiver Michael Wilson, who has blossomed since Brissett took over and Marvin Harrison went out due to an appendectomy and later a heel injury, has 39 receptions for 481 yards and two touchdowns in his past four games. Both scores came against the Rams.

"He does everything right," Brissett said.

Cardinals offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. (knee) will not play on Sunday, Gannon said. Johnson left the Rams game in the third quarter, and NFL Network reported that he sustained a sprained MCL.

Also, Arizona did not activate running back Trey Benson (knee) this week at the end of his 21-day practice window, ending his season. He was injured in Week 4.

Eleven Cardinals did not practice on Wednesday, including Harrison, left guard Evan Brown (personal); safeties Budda Baker (thumb), Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (ankle) and Jalen Thompson (hamstring) and wide receiver Xavier Weaver (hamstring). Running back Emari Demercado (ankle) was among five players limited at practice.

Houston's Chubb, Marks (knee), cornerback Kamari Lassiter (foot), linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair (ankle) defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins (elbow/shoulder), offensive tackle Trent Brown (hand) and defensive end Denico Autry (knee) did not practice on Wednesday. Lassiter and Al-Shaair had interceptions against Kansas City.

While they were resting and recharging for the final four games of the season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were losing to the New Orleans Saints and dropping into a tie with the Panthers (7-6) for first place in the NFC South.

Carolina can stay in first place by beating the Saints on Sunday in New Orleans.

"Every game is a championship opportunity," Panthers coach Dave Canales said. "We have one right in front of us on the road against a familiar opponent."

Even though the Saints (3-10) are tied for the fourth-worst record in the NFL, no one knows better than Carolina that New Orleans shouldn't be overlooked.

Not only did the Saints beat the Bucs last week, but they went into Charlotte and beat the Panthers on Nov. 9 after Carolina had won four of its last five games.

The Panthers drove for a touchdown on the first possession of the game but didn't score again. New Orleans had 122 rushing yards, while the Panthers had 73.

"They beat us at our own game," Canales said, referring to his preference for being the more physical team in the run game on both sides of the ball.

Bryce Young passed for just 124 yards with an interception and no touchdowns. But the Panthers are 2-1 since that game, with Young passing for 448 and 206 yards in wins against the Falcons on Nov. 16 and Rams on Nov. 30, respectively. He had three touchdown passes and no interceptions in each contest.

"We haven't had the consistency I would like to see from the entire (offensive) group, and certainly Bryce is a part of that," Canales said. "That's the challenge that we have in front of us, and that's what we've been attacking for weeks now."

The Saints' victory against the Panthers started their best stretch of the season, as they have split their last four games after starting 1-8.

"We're getting better," New Orleans head coach Kellen Moore said. "We're playing cleaner football. We're executing better on first and second down, and that's making things easier on third down. The defense is creating turnovers, and we're taking care of the football."

In the rain against the Bucs, rookie quarterback Tyler Shough had the fewest passing yards of his five starts (144), but he had a season-high 55 rushes on seven carries and ran for two touchdowns.

"There's a lot to continue to build upon," Shough said. "It's the NFL. Whether you're fighting for a (playoff) spot (or not), what you put on film matters. That's the mindset of everybody, and myself specifically. We feel like we're building and continuing to get better. You want to play your best against division opponents."

Two Saints starters -- running back Alvin Kamara, who has missed the last two games because of knee and ankle injuries, and safety Justin Reid, who missed last week's game because of a knee ailment -- missed practice Wednesday. Devin Neal, who replaced Kamara, was limited because of an abdominal injury suffered against the Bucs.

Another starter, right tackle Taliese Fuaga (ankle), returned to practice on a limited basis after missing the last game. Asim Richards, who started in Fuaga's place last week, did not practice because of an ankle injury suffered against Tampa Bay.

Two Carolina starters -- center Cade Mays (ankle) and linebacker Christian Rozeboom (hip/hamstring) -- were full participants Wednesday after missing the last two games. Starting cornerback Jaycee Horn, who missed the game against the Rams, remained in concussion protocol but did participate on a limited basis.

They can clinch a postseason berth with a victory over the visiting Detroit Lions on Sunday. With a loss, the Rams (10-3) could find themselves tied for second place in their own division.

"Our focus is solely on the game in front of us," quarterback Matthew Stafford said. "As far as what kind of implications that has, to be honest with you, we haven't talked about it one bit."

What has been talked about around the league is Stafford's candidacy for NFL Most Valuable Player honors. If the Rams keep winning, he could be the favorite for the award.

"I don't want to speak in too many hypotheticals to be honest with you," he said. "I am a fan of this game and have been for a long time. Anytime you get honored, for whatever award in any kind of way in whatever position in this league, it's something that I don't take for granted. Just to be in the conversation is something that's humbling to me."

Puka Nacua earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors by making seven receptions for 167 yards and two touchdowns in a 45-17 road win over Arizona on Sunday. The Rams' dynamic wide receiver duo of Nacua and Davante Adams will be facing a banged-up Lions secondary that lost playmaking safety Brian Branch to a torn Achilles tendon in Detroit's 44-30 victory over Dallas on Thursday.

"When you get to see the guy up close and go against him, you realize how big and strong he is," Lions coach Dan Campbell said of Nacua. "He's got good range, he's faster than I think people realize. He runs well, and then he blocks. He gets after it. So, you've got to fight this guy all the way to the catch point."

Detroit has won two of the last three matchups with Los Angeles since the two teams famously swapped quarterbacks. In last season's meeting, the Lions won in overtime, 26-20. Stafford threw for 317 yards, 100 more than Jared Goff, and both quarterbacks had a touchdown pass and an interception.

Goff says his days with the Rams are fading in his memory.

"It feels like a long time ago," he said.

He's focused on the challenges the Rams present now.

"I think we're both really good teams, I've got so much respect for those guys over there and how well they're playing, how well they're coached," he said. "Certainly, the film I'm watching, their defense is really impressive. (Rams defensive coordinator) Coach (Chris) Shula is doing a great job, and, obviously, we know what they're doing on offense."

The Lions (8-5) are still on the outside of the playoff picture and may need to win out to nab a spot.

Jahmyr Gibbs scored three rushing touchdowns in the win over the Cowboys, moving him into second place for overall touchdowns (13) behind Indianapolis' Jonathan Taylor (16).

"He's a weapon for us, we've said that all along," Campbell said. "I mean, this guy serves many roles, and he gives us a lot of flexibility with what we can do."

The Lions rank first in the league in points per game at 30.3. The Rams aren't far behind in fourth at 29.2.

Detroit offensive tackle Taylor Decker (shoulder) and linebacker Alex Anzalone (illness) didn't practice Wednesday. Adams (hamstring) sat out Los Angeles' practice, but McVay called it a rest day.

The Broncos (11-2) are two wins clear of the Los Angeles Chargers in the AFC West and can clinch a playoff berth with a win against Green Bay (9-3-1). The Packers have won four in a row, the last two against NFC North rivals Detroit and Chicago, to take control of the division.

To keep an angle on conference playoff positioning and avoid losing traction in the division, neither team wants to drop the ball Sunday.

Despite not having lost since Week 3 and an 11-game home winning streak dating back to last season, the Broncos enter Sunday as underdogs. Part of that is having a young quarterback in Bo Nix and rookie running back RJ Harvey leading the offense.

"The dude's a freak," left tackle Garett Bolles said of Harvey. "I mean, there's a reason why we drafted him the way we drafted him. He's just getting better and better."

Harvey took over lead back duties because J.K. Dobbins hasn't played since Week 10 due to a foot injury that required surgery. Denver has kept winning without Dobbins, and Nix has delivered in the clutch. Eight of the wins during the streak have been by one score and the Broncos are 9-2 this season in games decided by seven points or less.

Nix has completed 63.2 percent of his passes for 2,954 yards, 19 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He is also third on the team in rushing (244 yards).

The Broncos have leaned on their strong defense in more than a supporting role. Denver ranks fourth in the NFL in points allowed per game (18.1), second in rushing (89 yards), third in total yards per game (282) and first in total sacks (55).

Green Bay can win a game with quarterback Jordan Love's deep and talented groups of wide receivers. The Packers also can throw a knockout punch defensively.

They rank sixth in points allowed (19 per game) and fifth in total yards per game (287.2). Micah Parson leads the team with 12.5 sacks and Rashan Gary has 7.5.

Broncos coach Sean Payton said he had his head down in August when his one-time boss Jerry Jones pulled the plug on contract talks and dealt Parsons from the Cowboys to the Packers. Now that he's trying to stop him from spoiling Denver's streak and line on the AFC's top seed, Payton had a few deeper thoughts.

"He's extremely explosive. He has unique bend and balance for someone at that position, so he's a handful. He's a rare type player," said Payton, who has his offensive linemen on alert to know where Parsons might align on a given snap. "... He lines up to the right, to the left. You try to chart it, you try to track it. They do a good job looking at their own tendencies, self-scouting. We just have to understand where he's at."

The Broncos are 10th in total yards per game (342) and the Packers are 13th at 340.3 but the separation in the tale of the tape of these offenses comes at quarterback.

Love, in his third year as Green Bay's starter, has a career-high 67.1 completion percentage and has thrown 22 TD passes while only being intercepted four times. He has been sacked 18 times. Injuries the first two months of the season were a setback to strong protection, but not many blocking schemes are built to stonewall Denver's pressure defense.

"There's not really a weak link out there," Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said of the Broncos. "The sack numbers are really crazy. Their run defense is pretty crazy."

Nik Bonitto has a team-best 12.5 sacks but the Broncos' other three starters up front have 19 more combined, led by Jonathon Cooper (7.5).

"It's a little bit different than a team that maybe only has one solid edge rusher that you make sure you get chips and lock down that side," Love said.

Green Bay has eight total turnovers, tied for lowest in the NFL, and its turnover differential is plus-four.

Despite their strong defense the Broncos have just 10 takeaways (seven interceptions, three fumble recoveries).

Denver wide receiver Pat Bryant (hamstring) did not practice Wednesday and tight end Nate Adkins (knee) and guard Ben Powers (biceps) were limited.

Packers running back Josh Jacobs (knee) did not practice Wednesday but Love (left shoulder) practiced in full.

Bears safety Kevin Byard III has an idea: Fans might stay warm by standing up and screaming at the top of their lungs.

"Be as loud as possible, especially on third downs," Byard said when asked for his message to Chicago fans. "Like I said, the offense has to communicate a lot more. I know, especially against Cleveland, having a young quarterback, having to communicate in a very loud hostile environment can be huge for us on defense."

The Bears (9-4) know they cannot afford a letdown against the Browns (3-10) as the postseason approaches. Chicago held the No. 1 spot in the NFC going into last weekend, but a narrow loss against the Green Bay Packers dropped the Bears into a potential wild-card spot heading into Week 15.

Cleveland has lost two straight and five of its past six, but the recent play of rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders has given the franchise reason for optimism. Sanders passed for 364 yards, three touchdowns and one interception last week in a 31-29 home loss against the Tennessee Titans.

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski praised Sanders for improving throughout the season.

"In terms of a light turning on, those types of things, I just think he's committed to getting better every single week," Stefanski said. "And that's what you want."

The Browns also want their best player to make history.

Defensive end Myles Garrett enters this weekend with a league-high 20 sacks in 13 games. He is 2 1/2 sacks shy of matching the NFL's single-season record of 22 1/2, which Michael Strahan set in 2001 and T.J. Watt matched in 2021.

Bears quarterback Caleb Williams knows that Garrett will be tough to stop. Williams wants no part of becoming the answer to a trivia question: Which quarterback did Garrett take down to break the sack record?

"I'm going to try and make sure that he doesn't get the sack record on us and on me," Williams said. "... As a game plan ... everything is not allowing them to wreck the game.

"That's something he can do. That's something that he's done throughout his whole career. So we're excited for the challenge. We're excited for this week. We're excited to try and get back into the win column."

This is the teams' 19th meeting. Cleveland leads the all-time series 11-7, and the home team has won 10 of the past 11 games.

In the most recent meeting, the Browns eked out a 20-17 home win on Dec. 17, 2023.

The teams are in much different positions now in terms of their playoff trajectory, but Byard said he and his teammates were treating the Browns as equals.

"Some people will call this a classic trap game or whatever it may be," Byard said. "I don't really believe in trap games in the league. I think every single week, you have to bring your best ball regardless of records.

"This is the National Football League, and every team and everybody is playing for something regardless of what the record is."

The Bears did not practice on Wednesday, instead holding a walkthrough, meaning their participation report was an estimation. Rome Odunze (foot), who sat out the loss to the Packers, was listed as a limited participant, along with fellow wide receiver wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus (hamstring) and cornerback Tyrique Stevenson (hip). Cornerback Kyler Gordon (groin), who was injured in warmups before the Green Bay game, was listed as a non-participant.

For the Browns, 10 players did not practice Wednesday: left guard Joel Bitonio (knee/back), right tackle Jack Conklin (concussion), strong safety Grant Delpit (illness/groin), defensive tackles Mason Graham (rib) and Adin Huntington (quad), tight end David Njoku (knee), running back Dylan Sampson (calf/hand), right guard Wyatt Teller (calf), wide receiver Cedric Tillman (concussion/rib) and cornerback Denzel Ward (calf).

Cleveland quarterback Deshaun Watson, who had his 21-day practice window opened, took part in individual drills. He has been sidelined since twice tearing his right Achilles tendon last season.