NFL Player News

The move was an inevitable no-brainer for Baltimore, which remains interested in signing Rice to a long-term extension, but is unwilling to meet the 25-year-old’s alleged Adrian Peterson-type asking price. Rice set career highs in rushing yards (1,364) and all-purpose touchdowns (15) in 2011 while leading the NFL in yards from scrimmage. Rice’s fantasy value received a welcomed boost when he was officially named the Ravens’ new goal-line back. After excelling in the role, he won’t struggle to retain those duties in 2012.

Sounds like a good sign for Nick Folk’s return this week. Narveson missed his only field-goal attempt for the Titans in Week 16.

Pickens is on track to return in Week 17 against the Chiefs after missing the last three games with a hamstring injury. Pickens attempted to suit up for last week’s game against the Ravens but was ruled out before the weekend. Now, with one practice left to go before Wednesday’s game against the Chiefs, Pickens has been upgraded to a full participant and should be good to go, barring any setbacks. When asked about his potential return, Pickens said, “I feel good, but I don’t make the decision. It is the coaches and doctors. Whatever they tell me to do, I’m doing.” It’s safe to say that on Monday, those coaches and doctors decided Pickens was well enough to be a full participant in practice, which is a good sign for the Steelers and his fantasy managers. Pickens will profile as a fringe WR2/WR3 against a stout Chiefs defense if active.

Canales did call him “day to day” rather than “week to week,” but Legette didn’t practice at all this past week. Until we see him on the practice field, it will be hard to believe the Panthers would put him out there for a game. Week 18 is probably a more realistic possibility for Legette’s return.

This was to be expected after Hurts was knocked from Week 16’s game against the Commanders. Hurts will need to clear protocol in time to play in Week 17’s game against the Cowboys in a game that still bears significant weight on seeding in the NFC playoff race. If Hurts can’t go, Kenny Pickett will draw his first start of the season. In relief of Hurts, Pickett threw for 143-1-1 while completing 58.3 percent of his passes. The Eagles would lean on the run as much as they can in the event of Pickett starting, but as we saw against the Commanders, the offensive ceiling was capped with Pickett under center.

His 21-day window will open today. Dobbins has missed Los Angeles’ last four games on injured reserve. That’s not exactly a promise that Dobbins will come back this week, but he could cut into Gus Edwards’ work as soon as this week against the Patriots. Practice reports will tell the rest of the tale on Dobbins’ recovery.

Agholor suffered a concussion in Week 15’s game against the Giants and subsequently missed the Ravens’ Week 16 game against the Steelers. Now more than a week removed from his brain injury, there’s a chance Agholor will miss at least one more game if he’s not able to get on the practice field on Tuesday. We’ll have a better sense of his availability when the team releases its final injury report, then.

Hill suffered a concussion in Saturday’s win over the Steelers and feels like a long shot to play on Wednesday against the Texans, given the short week. Barring a surprise development, there’s a good chance Rasheen Ali and Keaton Mitchell will play backups to Derrick Henry in Week 17.

Flowers has now been a DNP for two straight days. A DNP on Tuesday would be a bad look for his Week 17 availability, but it’s possible the Ravens are exercising additional precautions for some of their players as they prepare for a short rest week ahead of Christmas Day’s game against the Texans. Head coach John Harbaugh was “pretty optimistic” that Flowers would play, so we wouldn’t press the panic button just yet.

“I’m expecting to get everything from Waddle that he can do... I’ve [talked to] the trainer to make sure we protect him from himself. We will see how the week progresses,” McDaniel said. Waddle rosterers should be prepared for another bumpy week heading into Sunday’s game against the Browns. He sure doesn’t sound like an especially likely bet to play.

Rodgers remains undecided on whether or not he wants to play in 2025, but the 41-year-old quarterback continues to talk as if he’s open to staying with the Jets if he does return next year. It goes without saying that Rodgers’ tenure with the Jets has been an unmitigated disaster. It’s hard to imagine either side wanting to re-up together for another season, but the Jets would take a $49 million dead cap hit next season if they opted to outright release Rodgers. Rodgers taking a pay cut and remaining with the Jets as a bridge to a quarterback of the future would likely be the best financial decision for the team, but a complete split feels inevitable if Rodgers doesn’t opt for retirement.