NFL Player News

The Texans have placed Savage (concussion) on IR.

As a result, T.J. Yates will continue to start at QB for the Texans for the team's final two games. Savage thus finishes the 2017 season with a 56.1 completion percentage and 1,412 passing yards to go along with five TDs and six picks over the course of eight appearances. Savage is eligible to become a free agent this offseason, but it's possible that the Texans will look to keep him around to provide depth behind franchise QB Deshaun Watson, who is bouncing back from a torn ACL that he suffered Nov. 2.

Lynch (ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against Washington after practicing fully Friday.

Coach Vance Joseph noted Friday that Lynch is at "about 90 percent" at this stage. Meanwhile, Joseph did not indicate whether Lynch or Brock Osweiler would draw the start at QB for Denver on Sunday, with a decision on that front slated to arrive following meetings later Friday.

Tannehill was in attendance for the Dolphins' practice Thursday and went through his own workout, with the team's coaching staff impressed with how he's recovered since undergoing reconstructive surgery on his left knee four months ago, Adam H. Beasley of the Miami Herald reports. "It was good seeing [Tannehill] bouncing off those knees and jumping. His feedback is that he really feels good and that he's on pace and on the timeline he needs to be on. So that's really encouraging," offensive coordinator Clyde Christensen said.

Tannehill was ruled out for the season after tearing the knee during the Dolphins' second week of training camp, prompting the team to lure Jay Cutler out of retirement to serve as the starting quarterback. Though the Dolphins could consider bringing Cutler back in 2018 if he's interested in keeping his career going, it's still believed that a healthy Tannehill is viewed as the team's starter heading into next season. Since signing a six-year contract extension with the Dolphins in the spring of 2015, Tannehill has appeared in 29 games, posting a 43:24 TD:INT ratio and completing 64 percent of his passes.

Packers head coach Mike McCarthy said Thursday that Rodgers won't require any further procedures on his surgically-repaired right collarbone, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports. "Aaron's in rest and recovery mode," McCarthy said. "He has a distinct rehab plan as he moves forward."

The Packers' medical staff signed off on Rodgers to return from a seven-game absence and start in the Week 15 loss to the Panthers, even though the quarterback's collarbone wasn't 100 percent healed. Though Rodgers didn't suffer a setback with his throwing shoulder during the outing, McCarthy relayed that the two-time MVP was a little sore afterward. With Green Bay eliminated from postseason contention in the aftermath of Week 15, the team elected to move Rodgers back to injured reserve for the second time this season and shut him down for the final two contests of 2017. Brett Hundley is slated to start Saturday against the Vikings and Week 17 against the Lions.

The Rams placed Allen (back) on injured reserve Wednesday, Myles Simmons of the team's official site reports.

Allen was added to the injury report ahead of the Week 15 victory over Seattle, though the exact severity of his condition isn't certain. As the Rams' No. 3 signal caller, Allen hasn't been active all season with starting quarterback Jared Goff maintaining health. The Rams signed outside linebacker Kasim Edebalie to take Allen's spot on the 53-man roster.

Lynch (ankle) was listed as a limited participant at Wednesday's practice and split first-team reps with Brock Osweiler, Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com reports.

The Broncos seemingly prefer to take another look at the 2016 first-round pick before the season winds down, but they first need to determine if he's healthy enough to play Sunday in Washington. If not, Osweiler will get the nod in Week 16, with Lynch then targeting Week 17 against the Chiefs for his second start of the year (and fourth of his career). The Chiefs might be resting starters at that point, as there's a decent chance they'll be locked in as the No. 4 seed in the AFC. Per Legwold, Lynch still appeared to be favoring his ankle Wednesday, when he practiced for the first time since he suffered the sprain in a Nov. 26 loss to the Raiders. He was utterly ineffective in that contest, completing nine of 14 passes for only 41 yards while taking four sacks and throwing an interception. A decision on the Week 16 starter likely will be made before the weekend.

The Texans are expected to place Savage (concussion) on injured reserve this week, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports.

The development isn't particularly surprising given that Texans head coach Bill O'Brien admitted Monday that Savage wasn't likely to play again in 2017 after suffering a serious concussion in a Dec. 9 loss to the 49ers that briefly resulted in the quarterback's hands twitching uncontrollably. With Savage generally having failed to impress in his seven starts and finishing the campaign with a 5:6 TD:INT ratio and 56 percent completion mark, it seems unlikely that he'll draw interest from teams as anything more than a backup candidate when he becomes a free agent after the season.

Watson (knee) said Tuesday that his rehab is "on the right track" following his Nov. 8 surgery to repair a torn ACL, Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com reports.

The Texans projected Watson would need eight to nine months to rehab his right knee, which he injured on a non-contact play during practice a little under a week before he had the procedure. Though he's only six weeks removed from surgery, Watson has already said that he plans on returning to the field shortly after the Texans' Organized Team Activities that run from mid-April through mid-June, likely meaning that he's planning on being ready for the start of training camp in July. While players are notoriously optimistic about their ability to recover from injuries, perhaps Watson has more insight into his situation than most, given that he previously suffered an ACL tear in his left knee during his freshman year of college. Watson was able to complete his rehab for that injury in just five months. Even if the Texans' initial projection proves to be a more accurate timetable for the signal caller, Watson is expected to be cleared to play for the start of the 2018 season.

The Packers released Evans from their practice squad Tuesday.

The timing of Evans' dismissal from the practice squad is curious after the Packers promoted fellow quarterback Joe Callahan to the 53-man roster, but it appears Green Bay is content to explore other developmental quarterback options to fill out the practice squad. Evans, a dual-threat signal caller out of Virginia Tech, first signed with the Packers in October following a brief stint with the Eagles during the offseason.

The Packers placed Rodgers (collarbone) on injured reserve Tuesday, ending his season.

Per Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, Packers head coach Mike McCarthy noted that Rodgers was "sore" following his return from a seven-game absence in Sunday's 31-24 loss to the Panthers, but it's not believed that he experienced a setback with his surgically repaired collarbone. Instead, Rodgers' move back to IR for the second time this season likely has more to do with the Packers officially being eliminated from postseason contention following the Falcons' win over the Buccaneers on Monday. With Green Bay not eager to risk the two-time MVP aggravating the injury to his throwing shoulder during what amounts to two meaningless games to end the season, Rodgers will be shut down for further rest, likely meaning that Brett Hundley will take over as the team's signal caller Sunday against the Vikings.