In a game that mattered only to the 2025 NFL draft order, the Titans won by losing.
The Jaguars beat the Titans 20-13, which improves the Jaguars’ record to 4-12 and drops the Titans to 3-13. The Titans remain in contention for the first overall pick heading into Week 18.
Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones played reasonably well, outplaying Titans quarterback Mason Rudolph. Neither team appeared to be tanking in the sense of actually trying to lose, but neither of these teams needs to tank to look bad. They’re two of the worst teams in the league, and for their fans, the biggest question is whether they can address their major needs this offseason and put a competitive team on the field in 2025.
Next week both teams will close out their disappointing 2024 seasons, and begin the process of preparing for the 2025 NFL draft. When the Titans may be looking for a franchise quarterback, and today’s loss may have helped in that quest.
Every week we bring you all the inactives from the 1 p.m. ET games in one post, constantly updated with the latest information.
The Bills’ bid to clinch the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs will unfold without safety Damar Hamlin.
Hamlin is inactive for Sunday’s home game against the Jets because of a rib injury. Hamlin was listed as questionable on the team’s final injury report and will miss his third straight game.
Buffalo will also be without wide receiver Curtis Samuel, who was questionable due to a rib injury. The Bills will have cornerback Rasul Douglas and linebacker Matt Milano back in the lineup for the divisional matchup.
Jets at Bills
Jets: K Anders Carlson, CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse, DE Braiden McGregor, S Jaylin Simpson, CB Kendall Sheffield, CB Qwan’tez Stiggers
Bills: WR Curtis Samuel, OL Tylan Grable, DT Austin Johnson, S Lewis Cine, LB Nicholas Morrow, CB Kaiir Elam, S Damar Hamlin
Titans at Jaguars
Titans: K Nick Folk, S Amani Hooker, WR Jha’Quan Jackson, T Nicholas Petit-Frere, RB Tony Pollard, LB Otis Reese, G Dillon Radunz
Jaguars: S Darnell Savage, LB Ventrell Miller, OL Walker Little, DT Esezi Otomewo, DT Tyler Lacy
Panthers at Buccaneers
Panthers: CB Jaycee Horn, T Taylor Moton, LB Josey Jewell, S Jordan Fuller, WR Deven Thompkins, QB Jack Plummer
Buccaneers: TE Cade Otton, WR Sterling Shepard, S Antoine Winfield Jr., LB Shaq Barrett, G Royce Newman, LB Jose Ramriez, QB Micheal Pratt
Raiders at Saints
Raiders: QB Carter Bradley, LB Kana’i Mauga, LG Jordan Meredith, DT Matthew Butler, DB Chris Smith, CB Darnay Holmes
Saints: QB Derek Carr, RB Jordan Mims, RB Alvin Kamara, LB Anfernee Orji, WR Mason Tipton, DT John Ridgeway, DT Khristian Boyd
Cowboys at Eagles
Cowboys: RB Deuce Vaughn, CB Kemon Hall, G T.J. Bass, T Matt Waletzko, TE Princeton Fant, DE Tyrus Wheat, DT Justin Rogers
Eagles: QB Jalen Hurts, RB Will Shipley, LB Nakobe Dean, QB Ian Book, OL Nick Gates, OL Darian Kinnard, OL Trevor Keegan
Colts at Giants
Colts: QB Anthony Richardson, DE Isaiah Land, G Dalton Tucker, TE Will Mallory, DT Adetomiwa Adebawore
Giants: CB Greg Stroman, CB Dee Williams, LB Micah McFadden, C John Michael Schmitz, DL Cory Durden, QB Tim Boyle
The Titans downgraded running back Tony Pollard (ankle/illness) and safety Amani Hooker (shoulder) to out for Sunday’s game against the Jaguars, the team announced.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports that it’s the flu that will keep Pollard out.
Pollard has 238 carries for a career-high 1,017 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games.
The Titans also announced they promoted kicker Matthew Wright from the team’s practice squad for Sunday’s game. The team already ruled out veteran kicker Nick Folk.
Wright has made 11-of-12 field goals and all five extra point opportunities this season in one game with San Francisco and two games with Kansas City.
The Titans also signed guard Arlington Hambright and linebacker Raekwon McMillan to the active roster. They released defensive backs Tre Avery and Gabe Jeudy-Lally from the active roster in corresponding moves.
Offensive tackle Chandler Brewer and defensive back Gervarrius Owens will be gameday elevations from the practice squad.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the modern-era finalists for induction in the class of 2025 and it includes five players who can be elected in their first year of eligibility.
Former Giants quarterback Eli Manning is at the head of that group. The two-time Super Bowl winner would join his brother and Manningcast co-host Peyton as a member of the Hall of Fame if he is elected by the selection committee.
Manning is joined in that group by former Ravens, Cardinals and Chiefs edge rusher Terrell Suggs, former Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly, former Ravens guard Marshal Yanda, and former Patriots and Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri.
Former Panthers and Ravens wideout Steve Smith is a first-time finalist in his fourth year of eligibility. Cornerback Eric Allen, tight end Antonio Gates, guard Jahri Evans, defensive end Jared Allen, wide receiver Reggie Wayne, running back Fred Taylor, wide receiver Torry Holt, tackle Willie Anderson, safety Darren Woodson, and cornerback Eric Allen are all returning finalists.
The selection committee may elect up to five players from this group and they must receive 80 percent of the vote. They will also vote on seniors category finalists Maxie Baughan, Sterling Sharpe and Jim Tyrer; coach finalist Mike Holmgren, and contributor finalist Ralph Hay in a separate vote. Up to three of those men may be selected and the Hall of Fame bylaws mandate a class be made up of between four and eight selections.
Titans running back Tony Pollard did not practice all week but he still may be able to play in Sunday’s game against the Jaguars.
Tennessee has listed Pollard (ankle) as questionable.
Receiver Tyler Boyd (foot) is in the same boat, as he’s listed as questionable despite not practicing all week.
Kicker Nick Folk, however, is out with his abdominal injury. He will be replaced by practice squad kicker Matthew Wright — who just finished up a stint with the Chiefs.
Safety Amani Hooker (shoulder) and receiver Bryce Oliver (knee) are also questionable.
Receiver Colton Dowell (knee), linebacker Otis Reese (ankle), and offensive lineman Dillon Radunz (shoulder) are out.
Mason Rudolph will continue to guide Tennessee’s offense in Week 17.
Titans head coach Brian Callahan told reporters on Tuesday that Rudolph will start at quarterback against the Jaguars on Sunday.
“I think he’s earned himself another shot to play,” Callahan said in his press conference. “He did a lot of good things in the game.”
Rudolph started last week after Callahan benched Will Levis. Rudolph completed 23-of-34 passes for 252 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions in the 38-30 loss to the Colts in Week 16.
In six games with four starts this season, Rudolph has completed 64 percent of his throws for 1,267 yards with eight touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Having lost four straight, the Titans will be on the road to play the Jaguars before finishing the season at home against the Texans.
The Raiders defeated the Jaguars 19-14, ending a 10-game losing streak.
Las Vegas, which hadn’t won since Sept. 29 against the Browns, and the Jaguars are both 3-12. The Giants now are the only two-win team in the battle for the No. 1 overall pick.
The Raiders had two takeaways, though they scored no points off them.
Tight end Brock Bowers continued his pursuit of the rookie receiving records. He now has 101 catches for 1,067 yards and four touchdowns after catching 11 passes for 99 yards Sunday.
Mike Ditka has the rookie tight end record with 1,076 receiving yards for the Bears in 1961, and Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua has the overall catches (105) and receiving yards (1,486) for a rookie regardless of position.
Aidan O’Connell went 24-of-38 for 257 yards.
The Jaguars gained 308 yards, but running back Tank Bigsby and tight end Brenton Strange both lost a fumble.
Mac Jones completed 25 of 39 passes for 247 yards and a touchdown, with Brian Thomas catching nine for 132 yards and a touchdown.
The Jaguars’ last chance ended at the Jacksonville 46 when D’Ernest Johnson gained 8 yards on a pass from Jones on fourth-and-11.
A game between two of the worst teams in the NFL who are in the running for the No. 1 overall pick has gone as expected.
The Raiders and Jaguars, who have a total of five wins between them, have combined for seven punts, nine penalties and two turnovers. At one point, the teams had four consecutive penalties — two on each team.
Las Vegas leads 13-7 at halftime.
Tank Bigsby scored the Jaguars’ touchdown on a 1-yard run to give his team a 7-0 lead in the first quarter before Alexander Mattison’s 1-yard run for the Raiders tied it only 55 seconds into the second quarter.
The Raiders have 182 yards but have had to settle for Daniel Carlson field goals of 49 and 37 yards after stalling at the Jacksonville 31 and the 19 respectively.
Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell has completed 10 of 17 passes for 155 yards and has rushed for 19 yards on three carries. Rookie tight end Brock Bowers has three catches for 45 yards.
Bigsby and tight end Brenton Strange both have lost a fumble for the Jaguars, with Strange’s coming with 9 seconds left in the first half after a 9-yard catch to the Las Vegas 34.
Mac Jones is 11-of-21 for 92 yards as the Jaguars have only 146 yards.
It sounds like the Raiders should have quarterback Aidan O’Connell back for Sunday’s game against the Jaguars.
“He looks like he’s good to go,” head coach Antonio Pierce said in his Friday press conference. “Yesterday, he had another good day, so he should be good to go on Sunday.”
O’Connell suffered a bone bruise in his knee during Las Vegas’ Week 15 loss to Tampa Bay. Desmond Ridder started the Monday night loss to the Falcons.
In six games this year, O’Connell has completed 63.2 percent of his passes for 899 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions.
Pierce also noted that left guard Jordan Meredith (ankle) is not looking good to play, saying he’s doubtful. If that is the case, Jackson Powers-Johnson would move over to left guard, with Andre James starting at center.
Las Vegas’ full injury report with game statuses will be released later on Friday.
While Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence and tight end Evan Engram are not slated to play again this season, head coach Doug Pederson delivered a positive update on both players during his Wednesday press conference.
Pederson noted Lawrence cleared concussion protocol on Sunday and underwent successful surgery to repair his left AC joint on Tuesday.
“He’s on the road to recovery,” Pederson said.
Engram also had surgery on Monday to repair the torn labrum in his left shoulder.
“Everything was positive in both players’ cases and just now looking forward to recovery time,” Pederson said.
While Pederson did not give a specific recovery timeframe for either Lawrence or Engram, he did note that both should be OK during the offseason program.
“I guess the thing is, too, in both cases, they’re not long-term, lengthy surgeries, recovery time,” Pederson said. “So, at some point in the spring, they’ll be ready to go.”
Lawrence completed 60.6 percent of his passes for 2,045 yards with 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 10 games this season.
Engram played nine games, catching 47 passes for 365 yards with one TD.
