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.
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.
As it turns out, linebacker David Long Jr. will not be rejoining Tennessee.
The Titans announced on Thursday that the club failed Long’s physical after claiming him off waivers from the Lions.
Long, 28, was waived after playing five games with Detroit, starting one. He began the season with Miami, playing eight games with six starts.
The Titans selected Long in the sixth round of the 2019 draft and he played his first four seasons with the club.
Additionally, the Titans signed kicker Matthew Wright to the practice squad and released offensive tackle Kellen Diesch from the practice squad.
Linebacker David Long is back with the Titans.
The team announced on Wednesday that they have claimed Long off of waivers. The Lions let Long go on Tuesday.
Long began his career as a Titans sixth-round pick in 2019 and played 50 games for the team before moving on to the Dolphins in 2023. He played 25 games in Miami and moved onto the Lions after being waived in November.
Long has 388 tackles, a sack, four interceptions, 15 passes defensed, three forced fumbles, and a fumble recovery for his career.
The Titans opened a roster spot for Long by placing linebacker Kenneth Murray on injured reserve. Murray has a team-high 95 tackles this season.
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 Colts did what they had to do today to keep their playoff hopes alive, however slim. They took a big lead and then held on a for a 38-30 win over the Titans.
Indianapolis improved to 7-8 and still needs help to reach the postseason, while Tennessee fell to 3-12.
The Colts set a single-game franchise rushing record with 335 yards, topping the 318 that the Baltimore Colts ran for in a 1956 game. Jonathan Taylor ran for 218 yards and three touchdowns on 29 carries. His touchdown runs were for 65, 70 and 1.
He holds the single-game franchise record of 253 yards and might have had a chance at it had the Colts not taken a 38-7 lead in the third quarter.
The Titans, though, came back with touchdowns on three consecutive drives on Tyjae Spears’ runs of 11 and 2 and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine’s catch of 6 yards. The Titans then didn’t get the ball back until 3 seconds were left, and Kenny Moore had his second interception of the day. Samuel Womack also had a pick of Mason Rudolph, who was 23-of-34 for 252 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions.
The Colts outgained the Titans 458 to 307.
Anthony Richardson rushed for 70 yards and a touchdown on nine carries and threw for 131 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He completed 7 of 11 passes.
Josh Downs had three catches for 61 yards and a touchdown.
The Colts scored 24 unanswered points after falling behind 7-0 as they seek to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Jonathan Taylor rushed for 119 yards in the first half, leading the Colts to a 24-7 halftime lead over the Titans.
The Colts have outgained the Titans 274 to 141, and they used Kenny Moore’s pick of Mason Rudolph for a touchdown on a short field before the half.
Moore returned the interception 12 yards to the Tennessee 33 on a pass intended for Tyler Boyd. Three plays later, Anthony Richardson hit Josh Downs for a 27-yard touchdown.
Richardson is 5-of-8 for 90 yards with a touchdown and an interception and has rushed for 56 yards and a touchdown on six carries. Taylor has 15 carries, one of which he took 65 yards for a touchdown.
Rudolph is 10-of-16 for 111 yards with a touchdown and an interception, with Calvin Ridley catching two for 57 yards and a touchdown.
Jonathan Taylor made a mistake last week when he dropped the football in celebration before he had crossed the goal line. Instead of a 41-yard touchdown, he had a 40-yard touchdown and a fumble for a touchback.
The Colts running back took himself and the football all the way up the tunnel Sunday after a 65-yard touchdown run.
The Colts lead 14-7, having scored 14 unanswered points.
Taylor already is over 100 yards, with 11 carries for 112 yards.
Anthony Richardson is only 3-of-6 for 27 yards and an interception, so Taylor literally has carried the offense.
