The final injury reports of the week are out for both the Minnesota Vikings and the New York Giants ahead of this Sunday’s contest at MetLife Stadium. Let’s see which players have been given injury designations for this week, shall we? Minnesota Vikings Hargrave is the only one who will definitely be sitting this one […] The final injury reports of the week are out for both the Minnesota Vikings and the New York Giants ahead of this Sunday’s contest at MetLife Stadium. Let’s see which players have been given injury designations for this week, shall we? Minnesota Vikings DL Javon Hargrave – OUT (thigh) TE Gavin Bartholomew* – QUESTIONABLE (back) RB Ty Chandler* – QUESTIONABLE (knee) OT Brian O’Neill – QUESTIONABLE (heel) Hargrave is the only one who will definitely be sitting this one out. The Vikings also had Christian Darrisaw listed as “out” for this one, but shortly after that they placed him on injured reserve. Both Bartholomew and Chandler are in their 21-day windows to return to the active roster. The team has to make a decision on Chandler by 24 December, while Bartholomew’s window opened just a couple of days ago. It’s worth noting that the Vikings have three open spots on the 53-man roster, as they haven’t made any moves yet to fill the spots that opened up when they placed Darrisaw, Jonathan Greenard, and Joshua Metellus on injured reserve. They’ll be filling those spots when they make their final moves of the week tomorrow afternoon, so we’ll be keeping an eye out for those. New York Giants WR Beaux Collins – OUT (concussion/neck) OL Evan Neal – OUT (hamstring/neck) DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches – OUT (ankle) OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux – OUT (shoulder) OL Joshua Ezeudu – QUESTIONABLE (calf) LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles – QUESTIONABLE (illness) CB Art Green – QUESTIONABLE (illness/hamstring) CB Rico Payton – QUESTIONABLE (back) It will be a fifth straight missed game for Thibodeaux, which will benefit a Vikings team that will definitely be without Darrisaw and could potentially be without O’Neill. Neal has not played a snap this season for the Giants and is in his window to return to the roster after being designated to return from injured reserve. If he does come back, it won’t be this week against the Vikings. Those are the final injury reports for this week, folks. We’ll see what moves the Vikings make to round out the roster on Saturday afternoon before they depart for the East Coast. See More:
Minnesota Vikings at New York Giants: Final Injury Reports
Chiefs News 12/19: Jaylen Watson knows that his draft class is about to be separated
The latest Business of Football: End of Chiefs’ Run Is How the NFL Works | SI And from a business point of view, the future does not look bright. Mahomes carries a $78.2 million cap charge for next year, one that will obviously be restructured to push a large chunk of those cap charges into the […] The latest And from a business point of view, the future does not look bright. Mahomes carries a $78.2 million cap charge for next year, one that will obviously be restructured to push a large chunk of those cap charges into the future. They have the second-worst cap table in the league next year, better than only the Cowboys, and Travis Kelce’s future is uncertain. This could be the end of an era. Having been around the NFL for decades, I was constantly reminded of the one overriding feature that the league prides itself on: competitive balance. It is baked into the system with the salary cap, draft, free agency restraints and equal revenue sharing, creating an atmosphere where bad teams can improve faster and good teams have a hard time staying good. While we didn’t make a Super Bowl in my decade in Green Bay, we won our division four times, which I am very proud to be a part of. I know how hard that sustained success was then, and is now; thus my continued admiration and fandom for the Packers. But at some point circumstances, fortune and the pull of competitive balance overtake teams. That happened to the Chiefs this year. Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman George Karlaftis spoke with reporters on Wednesday, commenting on practice without quarterback Patrick Mahomes. “Yeah, absolutely, he’s (Patrick Mahomes) one of the things that makes this thing go,” said Karlaftis. “Definitely different without him being here, just like with any other position, it’s next man up, and I know Gardner’s (Minshew) going to do a great job. But yeah, it’s for sure different. I got here today, (and) it was the first time since I’ve been here that I haven’t seen him or his car here. It was different.” The Chiefs will likely be using players from the practice squad or those with limited experience as they play out the rest of the 2025 schedule. Karlaftis described what he’s seen from the younger guys this season. He’s part of a heralded group — the Chiefs’ draft class of 2022 — that is likely to split apart this offseason while facing free agency for the first time. “Those are my brothers for life,” Watson told The Athletic on Wednesday. “We’ve been through so much — just blood, sweat and tears and hard work together. It’s gonna be tough, everyone going in their different paths. But I enjoyed the time we had together.” Watson, a seventh-round pick, is one of many pending free agents who remain on the Chiefs’ roster as part of a draft class that reshaped it. Others include second-round safety Bryan Cook, third-round linebacker Leo Chenal, fourth-round cornerback Joshua Williams, seventh-round running back Isiah Pacheco and seventh-round cornerback Nazeeh Johnson. The group won championships in its first two years before also reaching the Super Bowl last season. That was all before a disappointing 2025, as K.C. has struggled to a 6-8 record and is already eliminated from playoff contention. Why Dan picked the Chiefs: My, how things have changed in the last week. For the first time in a decade, I have no grasp of what to expect from the Chiefs. They’ve lost Patrick Mahomes for at least the rest of the season and have already been eliminated from playoff contention. After such a monstrous buzzkill, I’m interested to see if they can muster the energy to go on the road and beat a Titans team that should be hungry to kick the reigning AFC champions when they’re down. It doesn’t help matters for Andy Reid that Rashee Rice is in concussion protocol as of this writing. The only thing keeping me from picking Tennessee is Kansas City’s defense. It’s still playing relatively well, despite the team’s downturn, and Steve Spagnuolo should have a plan to make life difficult on rookie Cam Ward. If Mahomes’ replacement, Gardner Minshew, gets loose with the ball — he has more interceptions than touchdown passes in his last 13 games dating back to last season — the upset will absolutely be in play. Around the NFL The Colts are opening Richardson’s 21-day practice window, coach Shane Steichen announced Thursday. “As I mentioned last week, Anthony returned for physical activity, but he still has some vision limitation in his eye,” Steichen explained. “So we’re gonna get him back on the practice field, get him throwing, doing some scout team reps. It’s just something that he’ll have to manage through the process.” Richardson’s return to practice does not indicate he’s nearing a return to the lineup in any of the Colts’ remaining three games. When asked if Richardson would start at quarterback if healthy, Steichen replied succinctly: “Right now, Philip’s our starter.” On Thursday night, the Seattle Seahawks beat the Los Angeles Rams 38-37 in overtime to clinch a spot in the playoffs. Through the first 15 weeks, the Seahawks looked like one of the best teams in the NFL while compiling an 11-3 record. On Thursday night, with so much on the line in one of the biggest regular-season games in recent memory, they looked like a team of destiny. The story was all but written about how Seattle would have to take the long road in the playoffs, with two losses to the Rams all but ending its hopes of winning the NFC West and claiming the conference’s top seed, with the first-round bye and home-field advantage that comes with it. But the Seahawks are now in the driver’s seat for both after an utterly improbable comeback. Seattle erased a 16-point deficit in the fourth quarter, after the game was turning into a blowout following two Sam
PFF grades: Poona Ford dominant against former team
Still shocked and stung by the Los Angeles Rams’ 37-38 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday Night Football? It might take some time for the wounds to heal. The Rams are in danger of losing the NFC West division race and losing their grip on first place in the NFC conference, though they still […] Still shocked and stung by the Los Angeles Rams’ 37-38 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday Night Football? It might take some time for the wounds to heal. The Rams are in danger of losing the NFC West division race and losing their grip on first place in the NFC conference, though they still have time to take both accolades. Let’s take a step back and look at the game through an objective, data-driven lens. These are the Pro Football Focus (PFF) grades and metrics from the game. Top five grades on offense 1 – Puka Nacua, WR: 92.5 Puka Nacua was a one-man show on offense. He was the engine that tore through a very good Seattle defense. Nacua caught 12 of 16 targets for 225 yards and two scores. He was busy on Thursday in light of Davante Adams’ absence. There’s simply not much more to say about the Rams’ star receiver. 2 – Matthew Stafford, QB: 79.9 The production Matthew Stafford had against Seattle was eye-popping. He threw for 457 yards and three scores. According to PFF, this was a below average game for the veteran QB in terms of his output this season. This was his second outing with five big-time throws (season-high of six) and he managed only one turnover-worthy play. But even after adjusting for four drops by pass catchers, Stafford’s adjusted completion rate was just 71.7. He’s at 74.3% on the season. Three percent doesn’t sound like much, except for Stafford threw 49 passes. There were a few big plays missed in the passing game that ultimately could have turned this into a win for the Rams, especially in the fourth quarter. Did Stafford leave meat on the bone, even with his monster production in mind? 3 – Jordan Whittington, WR: 72.3 Whittington was only targeted one time and he caught the pass for 19 yards. His positive receiving grade of 73.0 tells us he was separating. He didn’t make too strong of a mark in the run game with a blocking grade of 56.4. 4 – Kevin Dotson, RG: 71.7 Do the Rams win if Kevin Doston doesn’t get hurt? We’ll never know the answer but it’s a worthwhile question to contemplate. We watched Justin Dedich negate a Terrance Ferguson touchdown shortly after replacing Doston, though he mostly held his own for the remainder of the game. Dotson is one of the best guards in the NFL. Let’s hope he doesn’t miss extended time into the playoffs. 5 – Xavier Smith, WR: 70.9 Smith caught both of his targets for 57 yards. He was wide open and could have possibly scored a touchdown on his 48-yard reception with a better throw. Smith has effectively replaced Tutu Atwell (who was healthy and occasionally on the field) in this offense. He also contributed with a couple longer punt returns. Other notes on offense Related to leaving meat on the bone offensively, Rams receivers were guilty of four drops: Colby Parkinson: 2 Blake Corum: 1 Davis Allen: 1 Top five grades on defense 1 – Poona Ford, DT: 89.6 Ford did everything he could to help the Rams beat his former team. Braden Fiske came into the game with a questionable tag and played only 21 snaps (15 against the pass). This expanded Ford’s role to 43 plays. He notched four pressures as a pass rusher and led the Los Angeles defense with a 75.2 run grade. 2 – Jared Verse, OLB: 80.0 It’s been the case for most of the season, but Jared Verse has taken a step back in run defense and it also was true in this game. He finished with a grade in this facet of 55.6. On a positive note, he fared better as a pass rusher with a grade of 82.0 and a team-leading seven pressures. Verse pressured Sam Darnold on what became an interception by Kobie Turner. 3 – Kobie Turner, DT: 79.2 Turner also had a nice day rushing the passer. He finished with two sacks (PFF does not credit half sacks) and was second in pressures with five. His run defense was less than stellar at 54.7. 4 – Josh Wallace, SCB: 75.4 The Rams defense has been up and down since Quentin Lake was injured. Wallace seems to be good one week and then down the next. This game was a positive outing. Wallace did not miss a tackle (something he’s struggled with recently). In coverage he allowed catches on both of his targets for 37 yards with an interception. The pick was great defensive scheme by coordinator Chris Shula. 5 – Omar Speights, MLB: 70.2 Speights was also stingy in coverage. He allowed catches on all three of his targets for just 22 yards. His coverage grade of 70.3 was his most positive contribution. He also recorded a key pressure on Darnold that resulted in a dropped interception by Nate Landman. Other notes on defense Rookie Ty Hamilton continues to grade poorly. He earned a mark of just 37.2 in this game and played a (bad) role in Kenneth Walker’s long touchdown run. Hamilton has been a gameday inactive (healthy scratch) in recent weeks. The Rams should reconsider why he’s even on the roster at all. On other negative notes, Kamren Kinchens received a PFF defensive grade of 29.3 with a run grade of 30.4. In coverage he was targeted three times, allowing three catches for 64 yards (long of 26) with a touchdown and a perfect passer rating of 158.3. Fiske, as mentioned, came into this game banged up and earned a defensive grade of 26.7. He struggled in run defense (only six plays) with
Pair of NFL insiders weigh in on Philip Rivers performance from league buzz
According to ESPN NFL Insiders Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano, the feedback from league circles regarding unretired longtime veteran quarterback Philip Rivers’ first return performance in nearly five years was largely positive (relatively speaking) following this past Sunday’s tough road loss to the Seattle Seahawks: Fowler: The overall feedback was that he was reasonably good, all […] Fowler: The overall feedback was that he was reasonably good, all things considered. “He played about as well as he could have,” an NFL offensive coach said. And that’s the challenge of playing a 44-year-old off the couch — “as well as he could have” equals 120 passing yards. And he had to strain for that 120. The football wasn’t exactly popping out of his right hand. The Colts were never expecting fireworks from Rivers. But he ran a clean operation against an elite Seahawks defense on the road and seemed to get the Colts in the proper plays. He was ready to dirt the ball when pressure collapsed and made a few timely throws. That’s all Colts coach Shane Steichen can ask at this stage. Driving the ball deep downfield will be a struggle, and I’m curious to see how Rivers responds physically after back-to-back games. Do you have the Colts sneaking into the playoffs with Rivers? Graziano: I do not, largely because of the way the teams in front of them are playing. The Jaguars and Texans have turned it on in the latter half of the season and look considerably better than the Colts right now. I understand what Indianapolis is trying to do with Rivers, and I’m hearing the same things you are about how pleased the Colts were with his ability to get them in and out of the right looks, change protections and all those things he needs to do to manage a game. But it does not appear as if he will elevate them, and they’re going to need some help to get in — even if they can run the table. That won’t be easy, as they need to beat the 49ers this week and win their head-to-head matchups against the Jags and Texans to finish the regular season. The 44-year-old veteran quarterback’s biggest contributions to the Colts offense may have come before the snap. The now 18-year veteran consistently got the Colts in the right play call, picked up the opposing pass rush and coverage, and was able to progress through his passing reads quickly against an elite NFL defense in one of the toughest and loudest road environments in the game. While Rivers showed considerable shortcomings with his limited arm strength, he was able to deliver the ball fairly accurately—albeit the Colts receivers were forced to make more contested catches than usual. Now, with the San Francisco 49ers defense fully understanding those limitations with a week of film, as well as a better idea of the Colts new offensive identity and game plan, and it’ll be interesting to see if Rivers can replicate the same degree of success on primetime come Monday night at home. The Colts offense didn’t exactly light up the scoreboard in Seattle against a stingy unit, but their offense avoided turnovers and bad plays, controlled the ball, and largely won the field position battle. The grizzled veteran and 8x NFL Pro Bowler is very much in the game manager and quarterback caretaker mold at this laaaaaaaaate stage of his renewed borderline future Hall of Fame playing career. That being said, with no timetable for Anthony Richardson’s return after being medically cleared for physical activity, and the Colts clearly believing that rookie Riley Leonard isn’t ready, and Rivers remains their best bet… For now. Whether that holds true for the Colts final three games, we’ll just have to see, but Indianapolis clearly brought Rivers back to start, not sit on the bench, as Indianapolis head coach Shane Steichen indicated earlier this week. See More: Indianapolis Colts News
2026 Las Vegas Raiders Draft Scouting: Rueben Bain
Position: EDGE Rusher Height: 6’3 Weight: 275 Stats: 2025 (12 games) – 37 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks, INT, PBU, 2 FF | 58 pressures, 11 QB Hits, 27 stops, 19.8% win rate Class/Age: Junior, 20 Team: Miami (FL) Positives: Bain has an exceptional first step where he consistently explodes into the rep and engages […] Position: EDGE Rusher Height: 6’3 Weight: 275 Stats: 2025 (12 games) – 37 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks, INT, PBU, 2 FF | 58 pressures, 11 QB Hits, 27 stops, 19.8% win rate Class/Age: Junior, 20 Team: Miami (FL) Positives: Bain has an exceptional first step where he consistently explodes into the rep and engages with the tackle immediately creating pass rush nightmare matchups for offensive coordinators. Bain’s movement skills continue to show within the rep where he has exceptional ankle flexibility and hip movement that allows him to bend the edge and explode laterally or horizontally to pressure the pocket. Bain moves well in space as well showing the ability to get through a block and chase down backside runners or a scrambling QB. Bain pairs his athleticism and explosive playstyle with good natural raw strength allowing him to convert speed to power while also winning with a variety of moves. Bain has heavy strong hands at the POA which allow him to make lethal contact quickly and violently. As a smaller framed pass rusher, Bain does understand leverage and utilizes it well while also having an ability to stay low and play outside of his frame at the same time. He’s demonstrated a variety of pass rush moves which include a swim, club, chop swipe, and some bull rush technique. Bain isn’t going to be overmatched athletically or physically in the NFL with elite anchor ability and a strong thick lower half that allows him to anchor back and drive through the rep or contain the edge in run support as well. His handwork is active and quick with strength as well and he dices the run game just as well as he does the pass game showing consistent stack, shed, and readjustment techniques. Bain worked well when lined up at 7/9 tech but also showed the ability to work at a 4/5 tech and be an effective stunt loop player in the NFL with above average lateral movement. Bain has shown consistent progression with his technique and football IQ through three years instead of relying solely on his natural athleticism and power. Bain is a high IQ run defender, knowing opposing rushing plays well with good discipline and strength to set and hold an EDGE. He’s able to defeat blocks in space and has true sideline to sideline motor consistently breaking down plays backside or chasing defenders far downfield. Weakness: Bain isn’t lack weight/muscle wise but height wise he does fall below NFL averages and his arm length is also just about average which could limit his ability to plant his arm into a tackles chest and turn the corner while also being outmatched by similar height athletic tackles. Additionally, he suffered an elbow and calf injury that caused his 2024 season to essentially be over before it could start due to lingering issues. Bain does get washed out in the run game at times due to his lack of length and over aggression where he constantly attempts to make up for his physical profile by extending himself too far and having clips of over pursuit in OZ run or true IZ situations. Bain also struggles at times to utilize his strength vs double teams getting washed out despite his anchor ability and becoming a non factor. Bain will win every rep off the LOS but he does struggle when tackles are able to plant on his inner shoulder causing him to have to adjust to his non dominant hand where he’s not as refined with his pass rush technique. Bain takes consistent bad angles in space and will whiff a good bit of tackles outside the tackles or TE in the NFL till he’s able to adjust better into space laterally and understand pursuit angles. Multiple clips of Bain making the wrong read, failing to set the edge, or getting washed out result in him making a play near the LOS due to his athletic ability but that will be exposed more in the NFL where Bain does struggle making the right read in option concepts or RPO instances. Bain is listed at 6’3, but there’s a real world he’s barely 6’2 or just over the mark which will cause some concerns into the NFL. From a pure box score line in three seasons, Bain has registered 104 tackles, 25.5 TFL, and 15.5 sacks with just 9 sacks in the last two seasons which is below average for a prospect his level though his pressure rate and win rate are highly above average to counter that. Grade: 1.41- Mid Round 1 Pro-Comp: Tuli Tuipulotu (LAC) Bain is going to be a fascinating prospect. he’s got the athletic traits and strength to blow anyone away and should be dominant the combine if he chooses to participate. The true junior will be knocked for his very below average height and questionable arm length but he does showcase the ability to make up for this vs NFL caliber competition though how often he’ll be able to do the same things he does at Miami in the NFL are going to be a massive question. Bain is a high motor, high effort edge rusher with natural strength and advanced technique for his age, the main point is to not overthink how effective, efficient, and impactful he is due to measurables. Teams will have to “risk” things when considering him but he will reward that risk and likely go on to have a multi 10+ sack stretch a few points in his career. The Raiders need to get a running mate with Maxx Crosby, as Malcolm Koonce and Tyree Wilson have struggled and Bain
Rams on Draft: Players to watch during College Football Playoff
The Los Angeles Rams have clinched a playoff spot, but the NFL draft process is getting started with bowl games already beginning. With over 40 games to be played over the next month, there will be plenty to watch in preparation for the NFL Draft. This list could change with players opting to stay in school or not to play […] The Los Angeles Rams have clinched a playoff spot, but the NFL draft process is getting started with bowl games already beginning. With over 40 games to be played over the next month, there will be plenty to watch in preparation for the NFL Draft. This list could change with players opting to stay in school or not to play in the game at all. This is simply a potential list players to keep an eye on throughout the draft process. Most of these players will be from the consensus top-300. This is a good starting point to get us ready for draft season. As a note, this list will get updated with more bowl games over the coming weeks. Oklahoma vs. Alabama (Dec. 19) QB Ty Simpson, Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama EDGE L.T. Overton, Alabama WR Germie Bernard, Alabama LB Deontae Lawson, Alabama CB Domani Jackson, Alabama iOL Parker Brailsford, Alabama S Keon Sabb, Alabama DL Tim Keenan III, Alabama S Bray Hubbard, Alabama iOL Jaeden Roberts, Alabama TE Josh Cuevas, Alabama RB Jamarion Miller, Alabama EDGE R Mason Thomas, Oklahoma WR Deion Burks, Oklahoma QB John Mateer, Oklahoma DL Gracen Halton, Oklahoma RB Jaydn Ott, Oklahoma TE Jared Kanak, Oklahoma Ty Simpson is going to be an interesting one to watch. With a solid College Football Playoff, the Alabama quarterback may decide to declare for the draft. This is expected to be a thin quarterback class at the top. If Simpson garners some first-round buzz, he should declare. The Rams may not need a starting offensive tackle, but Kadyn Proctor is a top name to watch. On the Oklahoma side, Deion Burks is an electric player. Miami vs. Texas A&M (Dec. 20) EDGE Rueben Bain, Miami OT Francis Mauigoa, Miami EDGE Akheem Mesidor, Miami QB Carson Beck, Miami CB Keionte Scott, Miami WR CJ Daniels, Miami DL Ahmad Moten Sr., Miami EDGE Cashius Howell, Texas A&M WR Kevin Concepcion, Texas A&M iOL Chase Bisontis, Texas A&M CB Will Lee III, Texas A&M LB Taurean York, Texas A&M S Dalton Brooks, Texas A&M OT Dametrious Crownover, Texas A&M OT Trey Zuhn III, Texas A&M DL Albert Regis, Texas A&M RB Le’Veon Moss, Texas A&M Carson Beck is another player that will have a lot to prove during the College Football Playoff. If he can lead Miami to a National Championship, it would prove a lot. Francis Mauigoa is a prototypical left tackle and one of the best tackles in the class. Will Lee III is a day two cornerback with good size and length. That size makes him one of the better man corners in the draft class. Tulane vs. Ole Miss (Dec. 20) DL Zxavian Harris, Ole Miss LB Suntarine Perkins, Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss, Ole Miss Zxavian Harris is a player I’ll be watching throughout the draft process. He’s an intriguing prospect because of his size and versatility. He can line up inside. Ole Miss will use him as an edge rusher because of his explosiveness off the ball. We’ll see how Ole Miss performs without their head coach. James Madison vs. Oregon QB Dante Moore, Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon EDGE Matayo Uiagalelei, Oregon DL A’Mauri Washington, Oregon iOL Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon OT Isaiah World, Oregon S Dillon Thieneman, Oregon iOL Iapani Laloulu, Oregon DL Bear Alexander, Oregon OT Alex Harkey, Oregon TE Jamari Johnson, Oregon The Oregon player that I’ll be watching is Dante Moore. This is one of the two quarterbacks that I would be fine with the Rams drafting in the first-round, even in a trade-up scenario. My comparison for him is CJ Stroud and that’s a quarterback worth building around. He’s only 20 years old and the perfect option to sit behind Stafford. With the Rams running more 13 personnel, Kenyon Sadiq can’t be ruled out as an option for the Rams. However, if the Rams do go tackle, Isaiah World may be one to watch. Bye Week Teams: Indiana, Ohio State, Georgia, Texas Tech Indiana Ohio State Georgia Texas Tech QB Fernando Mendoza LB/EDGE Arvell Reese LB CJ Allen EDGE David Bailey WR Elijah Sarratt S Caleb Downs DL Christen Miller EDGE Romello Height OT Carter Smith WR Carnell Tate WR Zachariah Branch iOL Sheridan Wilson CB D’angelo Ponds LB Sonny Styles CB Daylen Everette LB Jacob Rodriguez WR Omar Cooper Jr DL Kayden McDonald TE Oscar Delp DL Lee Hunter S Amare Ferrell OT Austin Siereveld OT Monroe Freeling TE Terrance Carter EDGE Mikail Kamara TE Max Klare P Brett Thorson WR Caleb Douglas LB Aiden Fisher EDGE Kenyatta Jackson TE Lawson Luckie CB Davison Igbinosun OT Earnest Greene S Keenan Nelson Jr. QB Gunner Stockton EDGE Beau Atkinson CB Jermaine Matthews EDGE Caden Curry Ohio State is probably the most talented team in the country and that’s seen by how many players they have in the consensus top-300. If the Rams are picking inside the top-10, Caleb Downs could be the most ‘sure thing’ at safety. The Rams do a good job developing safeties, but Downs provides exactly what they need if they can’t bring back Quentin Lake. Austin Siereveld is a day two tackle with guard versatility who consistently finds ways to win his matchups. Indiana wide receiver Elijah Sarratt is a big-bodied wide receiver that I could see the Rams liking. Lastly, Lee Hunter may end up being one of my favorite players in this class. He’s a nose tackle, but does a lot of underappreciated dirty work. See More: Los Angeles Rams Draft
Bengals vs. Dolphins Friday Injury Report: Tee Higgins questionable; Shemar Stewart good to go
The Cincinnati Bengals are getting some help on the defensive line this week, but will still be missing a couple of key pieces, per the teams’ injury report. Rookie defensive end Shemar Stewart will be back in the lineup Sunday after missing time with what has just been revealed to be a torn PCL. The […] The Cincinnati Bengals are getting some help on the defensive line this week, but will still be missing a couple of key pieces, per the teams’ injury report. Rookie defensive end Shemar Stewart will be back in the lineup Sunday after missing time with what has just been revealed to be a torn PCL. The rookie missed time with an ankle injury earlier in the season, but is now back in the fold and able to prove himself in the final three games. Wide receiver Tee Higgins (concussion) practiced on Friday, but remains in the NFL’s concussion protocol, per Head Coach Zac Taylor. It seems that Higgins intends to play, but it would all be dependent on clearing concussion protocol. He is listed as questionable. Per Taylor, Defensive tackle B.J. Hill (ankle) will attempt to play and is listed as questionable, while Kris Jenkins Jr. (ankle) will head to injured reserve, ending his season. Pass rusher Joseph Ossai (ankle) will be out, as will Noah Fant (ankle), Charlie Jones (ankle) as ankle injuries seem to ravage the Bengals’ roster. For Miami, safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (calf ) is out, sidelining one of their best defensive players. After a lengthy injury report on both sides, Miami has Fitzpatrick out, five other players questionable and the rest of the players have no game designation. Full Bengals vs. Dolphins Injury Report: See More: Cincinnati Bengals injuries
Vikings to Place OT Christian Darrisaw on Injured Reserve
Another day, another one of the Minnesota Vikings’ bigger names being placed on injured reserve. . .and this one ends one of the stranger and more disappointing sagas of the 2025 season for our favorite team. Head coach Kevin O’Connell just announced that the team will be placing offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw on injured reserve, […] Another day, another one of the Minnesota Vikings’ bigger names being placed on injured reserve. . .and this one ends one of the stranger and more disappointing sagas of the 2025 season for our favorite team. Head coach Kevin O’Connell just announced that the team will be placing offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw on injured reserve, a move that will end his 2025 season with three games remaining. Darrisaw tore his ACL midway through the 2024 season and spend the offseason rehabbing that injury. He did not wind up on the Physically Unable to Perform List at the start of Training Camp, but wound up missing the first two games of the regular season. He has had several games this season that have seen him leave early and has missed at least a couple of other games as well as he has worked back from the injury. He had not practiced all week this week leading up to Sunday’s game against the New York Giants, and now the speculation about his status for the rest of the season is officially over. Given that none of us are in the Vikings’ locker room or training room or anything like that, it’s hard to judge from the outside whether or not Darrisaw’s injury was mishandled or anything like that, or whether he may have come back too early from his 2024 injury. Hopefully any lingering issues that still exist will be addressed during the offseason and Darrisaw will be 100% and ready to go for the start of the 2026 season. Presumably this means that Justin Skule will start at left tackle for the final three games of the season, though the team could elect to use Blake Brandel at that spot as well. The team could even, potentially, give some opportunities to Walter Rouse, who has been inactive for a number of games this season and could use some evaluation time with the Vikings’ playoff prospects officially at zero. We’ll be along with the final injury report for Sunday’s game later on today, but you won’t see the name Christian Darrisaw on that list, because his 2025 season is officially over because the team will be placing him on injured reserve. See More:
Phinsider Victory Of The Week Open Thread Vol. 659
It’s Friday, which means it’s time for our Victory of the Week (VOTW) post! This evening’s conversation prompt is straightforward: What was your victory this week? Did something remarkable happen? Is there a small achievement worth celebrating? This could relate to the Miami Dolphins, your professional life, or your personal life. We all experience victories, […] It’s Friday, which means it’s time for our Victory of the Week (VOTW) post! This evening’s conversation prompt is straightforward: What was your victory this week? Did something remarkable happen? Is there a small achievement worth celebrating? This could relate to the Miami Dolphins, your professional life, or your personal life. We all experience victories, big or small, and we want to hear about yours. This post is for you, our site members, who are part of our Phinsider family. This is your opportunity to share your successes from the past week. Your triumphs can be significant, such as the birth of a new child or grandchild, or finally landing that job or promotion you’ve been working hard for. They can also be smaller victories, like winning $100 on a lottery scratch-off ticket, or any other positive experience you’d like to share. This is your post to celebrate your achievements, so feel free to share them in the comments section below. See More: Miami Dolphins News
Lions, Steelers injury designations: Graham Glasgow Questionable in Week 16
The Detroit Lions (8-6) and Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6) have declared their injury designations ahead of their Week 16 matchup in downtown Detroit. There are a lot of moving parts along the Lions’ interior offensive line right now, as several starters are dealing with injuries or attempting to return from one. Let’s take a look at […] The Detroit Lions (8-6) and Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6) have declared their injury designations ahead of their Week 16 matchup in downtown Detroit. There are a lot of moving parts along the Lions’ interior offensive line right now, as several starters are dealing with injuries or attempting to return from one. Let’s take a look at the latest injury report and get you up to date with what we know. Note: Any changes from the last injury report will be bolded. Ruled OUT OT Giovanni Manu (knee, still on IR) — Days remaining in injury evaluation clock: 19 S Kerby Joseph (knee) Manu returned to practice this week, but with only two practices under his belt, he’s not ready to return to action just yet. He still has over two weeks remaining in his injury evaluation window, so the Lions are in no rush to return him quicker than necessary. Joseph has now missed five practices since coach Dan Campbell noted that the All-Pro safety had a setback last week, and he looks no closer to returning than he did two months ago. It may be just a matter of time before he is placed on injured reserve. Questionable C Graham Glasgow (knee) LT Taylor Decker (shoulder) LG Christian Mahogany (fibula, still on IR) — Days remaining in injury evaluation clock: 11 OL Trystan Colon (wrist) CB Amik Robertson (hand) Glasgow was estimated to have been able to practice on Wednesday during the Lions walkthrough, but he showed up as a non-participant on Thursday, was still unable to practice on Friday, and has been listed as questionable. If he is downgraded or ruled inactive for this game, the Lions will most likely turn to Trystan Colon—as they have done previously—but he is also dealing with an injury and is listed as questionable. If Colon is unable to play, the Lions will likely turn to Michael Niese (who was the Lions’ backup center last season) or practice squader Kingsley Eguakun. “We’ve obviously worked Colon because he’s been there. I know he’s got the wrist, but he was out there working with it yesterday,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said on Friday. “Just trying to get Graham off his feet. But I mean, we’ve worked Niese, we’ve worked Kingsley. We’ve kind of just hit all around, and we’re rolling the guards, too. So, it’s really been a little bit of a revolving door trying to get a number of guys ready because there’s a lot of flex going into this game right now.” Decker missed practice on Wednesday and Friday, but got in a Thursday practice, which is more than he was able to do in Week 15. He’s been getting considerable rest as the season has progressed, so this pattern is not unusual, and he is expected to start at left tackle on Sunday. Mahogany has made steady progress toward returning from injured reserve, and he’ll have a chance to see that happen this weekend. If he is activated, expect him to jump back into his starting left guard role, but there’s still a chance he will need another week before he’s ready. “Yesterday, I thought he looked pretty good. Wasn’t perfect, but I thought he looked pretty good,” Campbell said of Mahogany. “And some of it’s going to be, I know he’s a little sore today, and how he feels in today’s practice. That’s what a lot of it’s going to come down to.” Colon has been limited in practice this week, but he’s been present and participating in all three. If he’s able to play through his wrist injury, he’ll potentially have a chance to fill a big role against the Steelers. Robertson has been practicing with a club/brace on his hand, and he has suggested that he will have a chance to play in this game with its protection. Robertson has previously played with a club on his hand (in college) and has noted he is familiar with its limitations. Not listed with an injury designation RB Sione Vaki (thumb) LG Kayode Awosika (foot) S Thomas Harper (concussion) Vaki has been playing through a thumb injury for several weeks now, but he was fortunately able to return to a full level of participation this week, suggesting he is very close to putting the injury behind him. Awosika missed the previous two games with a foot injury, but he’s been practicing in full this week and looks ready to return to the game day roster. Depending on how things shake out with the rest of the interior offensive line, there’s a chance Awosika could be called upon to start at left tackle this week. Harper was unable to clear the NFL’s concussion protocols last week, but he’s been practicing in full this week and appears close to being able to return to game action. If cleared, he’ll return to the starting free safety role, likely starting alongside Avonte Maddox. Steelers’ injury designations Ruled OUT: LG Isaac Seumalo (triceps) EDGE T.J. Watt (lung) CB James Pierre (calf) Doubtful: EDGE Nick Herbig (hamstring) – started for Watt last week Questionable: LS Christian Kuntz (knee) Not listed with an injury designation: QB Aaron Rodgers (left wrist) WR Ben Skowronek (illness/hand) LT Andrus Peat (concussion) C Zach Frazier (triceps) DL Cam Heyward (rest) DT Keeanu Benton (ankle) DT Derrick Harmon (knee) S Jabrill Peppers (illness) See More: