NFL Player News

The Giants placed Jones (neck) on injured reserve Monday, ending his season.

Minutes after Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reported that Jones would be shut down for the season due to his strained neck, the Giants made the news official. Mike Glennon had started the past three games in place of Jones, but his lackluster production in those contests could prompt the Giants to give Jake Fromm a longer look Week 16 in Philadelphia, or at some point before the season ends. Jones concludes his third NFL campaign with a 64.3 percent completion rate, 6.7 YPA and 10:7 TD:INT to go with 62 carries for 298 yards and two touchdowns. The Giants are confident that Jones' injury isn't a long-term concern, and while he should be back to full health for OTAs and open the spring atop the depth chart, the organization could bring in competition for the starting job before training camp.

The Giants plan to shut Jones down for the remainder of the season, though the organization is optimistic that his strained neck isn't a long-term concern, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports.

Since sustaining the injury Week 12 against the Eagles, Jones has been able to practice on a limited basis, but he hasn't been available to play in either of the Giants' past two games because doctors haven't cleared him to take contact. The Giants apparently don't expect Jones to get a clean bill of health at any point during the final three weeks of the season, so he'll likely head to injured reserve in the coming days as New York proceeds with Mike Glennon and Jake Fromm as its quarterbacks the rest of the way. The third-year signal-caller demonstrated progress in the Giants' first five games of the campaign by committing just two turnovers (one interception and one lost fumble), but he regressed over his final seven games before suffering the season-ending injury. He'll wrap up the campaign with a 64.3 percent completion rate for 6.7 yards per attempt and 10:7 TD:INT over 11 games, numbers roughly in line with what he posted in 2020. The Giants will have to decide in the spring whether to exercise his fifth-year option for 2023, with any decision likely signaling if the organization views him as its long-term solution under center.

Coach John Harbaugh said Monday that he's "hopeful" Jackson (ankle) will be able to practice Wednesday, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports.

Jackson was unavailable for Sunday's loss to the Packers due to an ankle injury. Harbaugh didn't confirm the weekend report that the 24-year-old is dealing with a bone bruise in his right ankle, but Jackson apparently is feeling better Monday. He should have a chance to return Sunday against the Bengals if he's able to participate in practice this week.

Lock is in line to serve as Denver's starting quarterback Sunday against Las Vegas, Troy Renck of Denver 7 News reports.

Lock is the next man up for Denver after head coach Vic Fangio said Monday taht Teddy Bridgewater is feeling better but "highly unlikely" to play Week 16 after suffering a concussion in the Broncos' loss to the Bengals over the weekend. The 2019 second-round pick had lackluster results in relief of Bridgewater on Sunday, completing six of 12 passes for 88 yards and a touchdown.

Broncos head coach Vic Fangio said Monday that Bridgewater (concussion) is "highly unlikely" to play Week 16 against the Raiders, George Stoia III of The Denver Gazette reports.

Although Fangio said that Bridgewater is doing "much better" Monday after he was carted off the field in Sunday's loss to the Bengals, it appears as though the quarterback will be forced to miss at least one game after landing in the concussion protocol. Assuming Bridgewater is held out against Las Vegas, Drew Lock is in line to start under center.

Darnold (shoulder) has been cleared Monday to resume taking contact reps, Jonathan M. Alexander of The Charlotte Observer reports.

Coach Matt Rhule said Monday that he won't make a decision about a Week 16 starter until evaluating Darnold at practice, a hint that the signal-caller could be nearing a recovery from his right shoulder injury. Rhule also noted that he'd like to get Darnold more opportunities on the field this season, per David Newton of ESPN.com, perhaps lending credence to the idea that the 2018 first-round pick would reclaim the starting job were he to return to full health. For the time being, Darnold remains on IR, but if the Panthers believe he's made enough progress to return to action he could be activated ahead of Week 16's matchup against Tampa Bay.

The Broncos announced Monday that Bridgewater was placed in the league's concussion protocol after he was discharged from a hospital earlier in the day.

According to the team's official statement, Bridgewater is "doing well" one day after he was carted off the field in Sunday's loss to the Bengals and shuttled to a local hospital for further evaluation. Bridgewater will now enter the league's five-step concussion protocol, which he will need to fully clear before returning the field. Denver will undoubtedly take a cautious approach with Bridgewater's recovery, potentially setting the stage for Drew Lock to draw the start under center Week 16 in Las Vegas.

Bridgewater (head) is expected to be released from the hospital Monday, Troy Renck of Denver 7 News reports.

Bridgewater was taken to the hospital via ambulance after he sustained a head injury in Sunday's loss to the Bengals, but he's now regained consciousness and has movement in all his extremities. He was kept overnight at the hospital as a precautionary measure but will be able to head home Monday. His status for Sunday's Week 16 matchup against the Raiders isn't yet clear, but Drew Lock will likely draw the start if Bridgewater is unavailable.

Keenum (illness) has yet to clear all protocols and won't be activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list ahead of Monday's game against the Raiders, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Even with the NFL pushing back its Week 15 game two days, Cleveland will be without both of its top signal-callers, as Keenum remains on the reserve/COVID-19 list along with regular starter Baker Mayfield. Their absences pave the way for practice-squad call-up Nick Mullens to make his Browns debut Monday, directing a shorthanded Browns offense that will also be without top wideout Jarvis Landry (illness), who is also on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Kyle Lauletta, whom Cleveland recently signed off Jacksonville's practice squad, will serve as the No. 2 option behind Mullens. Both Keenum and Mayfield will now work to gain clearance in time for Saturday's upcoming road matchup Week 16 in Green Bay.

Mullens is in line to start Monday's game against the Raiders with neither of Cleveland's top two quarterbacks -- Baker Mayfield (illness) and Case Keenum (illness) -- able to clear the league's COVID-19 protocols, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Though he'll be making his Browns debut Monday, Mullens has 16 games' worth of starting experience in the NFL, all of which came with the 49ers between the 2018 and 2020 seasons. He's completed a respectable 64.5 percent of his throws for 7.9 yards per attempt and a 25:22 TD:INT for his career, but he could struggle to replicate that sort of production while working with a shorthanded Browns pass-catching corps that will be missing top receiver Jarvis Landry (illness) and tight end Austin Hooper (illness), as both remain on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Kyle Lauletta appears set to serve as Mullens' backup.