NFL Player News

Starting right tackle Doug Free (ankle) heads the Cowboys' list of inactives for Sunday's showdown against the Colts. Also sitting out are quarterback Dustin Vaughan, defensive back Jakar Hamilton, linebacker Dekoda Watson (hamstring), offensive tackle Tony Hills, offensive tackle Donald Hawkins, defensive end Kenneth Boatright and defensive tackle Josh Brent.

According to NFL Network, Free has a stress fracture in his foot. Jermey Parnell will start in his place.

The Raiders have listed the following players as inactive for Sunday's Week 16 matchup with the Bills:  wide receivers Vincent Brown (groin) and Denarius Moore (knee, ankle), tight end Brian Leonhardt (concussion), cornerback Chimdi Chekwa (hamstring), guard Tony Bergstrom, tackle Menelik Watson and defensive tackle Stacy McGee.

Brown, Moore, Leonhard and Chewka were previously ruled out on the team's final injury report for Week 16. Bergstrom, Watson and McGee are healthy scratches.

The team will have cornerback D.J. Hayden (back) and defensive tackle C.J. Wilson (knee) available after both players were listed as questionable to play. Also active are quarterback Derek Carr (thumb) and cornerback T.J. Carrie (ankle), both of whom were deemed probable.

The Raiders are a 6 1/2-point underdog at home against the Bills.

Browns ballyhooed rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel has been knocked out of the Sunday game at Carolina late in the second quarter.

Manziel took a hard hit to the shoulder after sprinting for no gain to the left sideline. He was down for a bit before trainers took him to the sideline, then to the locker room. They were checking his left leg. He has been deemed questionable to return with a hamstring injury

Previous starter Brian Hoyer replaced him.

Manziel struggled again during his stint against the Panthers. He completed just 3 of 8 for 32 yards.

Which quarterback would start Sunday for the Texans was answered when Case Keenum took the field with the starters to open Sunday’s game against the Ravens. 

Keenum was competing with quarterback Thad Lewis for the starting role after quarterbacks Ryan Mallett and Ryan Fitzpatrick were lost for the season and Tom Savage was ruled out with a knee injury.

The Texans announced their inactives for Sunday’s game against the Ravens and wide receiver Andre Johnson (concussion) and running back Arian Foster (hip) are active.

The following players are inactive: Tom Savage, Mike Mohamed, Xavier Su'a-Filo, Garrett Graham, DeVier Posey, Josh Aubrey and Jason Ankrah.

The Texans are 6 1/2-point underdogs.

The 49ers have listed the following players as inactive for Saturday's Week 16 matchup against the Chargers: running back Carlos Hyde (ankle), wide receiver Steve Johnson (knee), cornerback Tramaine Brock (hamstring), linebacker Ahmad Brooks (thumb), quarterback Josh Johnson and guards Andrew Tiller and Joe Looney.

Hyde, Johnson and Brock were all ruled out for Saturday's game on the team's final report, but Brooks joins them on the inactive list after being deemed questionable. The team will have running back Frank Gore and wide receiver Michael Crabtree active for the game.

The 49ers are a 1-point favorite for the Saturday night showdown with the Chargers.

The Raiders released their final injury report for the Week 16 game against the Bills and listed quarterback Derek Carr (thumb) and cornerback T.J. Carrie (ankle) as probable.

The only players listed as questionable are defensive lineman C.J. Wilson (knee) and cornerback D.J. Hayden (back).

The Raiders listed the following players as out: Vincent Brown (groin), Tarell Brown (foot), Chimdi Chekwa (hamstring), Brian Leonhardt (concussion), Menelik Watson (foot) and Denarius Moore (knee).

The Raiders are 6 1/2-point underdogs.

The Texas listed wide receiver Andre Johnson (concussion) and running back Arian Foster (hip) as probable for Sunday’s game against the Ravens.

Both Johnson and Foster were able to fully participate in Friday’s practice.

The following players are also listed as probable: Tyson Clabo, Brian Cushing, Akeem Dent, Kareem Jackson, Johnathan Joseph, Whitney Mercilus, DeVier Posey and Jeff Tarpinian .

The Texans listed Garrett Graham (ankle), Mike Mohamed (concussion), Tom Savage (knee) and Xavier Su’a-Filo (back) as out.

The Texans are 5-point underdogs.

Titans quarterback Charlie Whitehurst tossed one touchdown on Thursday against the Jaguars.

Whitehurst completed 24 of 35 passes for 287 yards and a touchdown. He did not turn the ball over during the contest. Whitehurst looked to attack Jacksonville down the field, averaging 8.2 yards per completion. This sometimes came back to bite him, as he wound up taking four sacks. Whitehurst's only score came on the team's first drive. On the 13th play of the drive, Whitehurst found running back Leon Washington for the 8 yard score. Whitehurst also picked up 12 rushing yards on three attempts.

Depending on the team's injury situation at quarterback, Whitehurst may be in line to start next week against the Colts.

Raiders rookie Derek Carr is hoping to play well in the last two games for his current coach and perhaps the coach of the future.

Carr has been a rare bright spot on a 2-12 team. He has played for the dismissed Dennis Allen and for current coach Tony Sparano. The Raiders are expected to make plenty of changes in the offseason, but Carr hopes Sparano is not a casualty.

"Right now, I am focused on playing my heart out for [Sparano] because I love him," Carr told ESPN. "I love him to death. I love playing for him. He pushes the heck out of me, and I love it. That's how I like to be coached. ... Not knowing [what the future holds] is hard, but I am grateful that I do get to play for him now."