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  • Jake Haener QB | KC

    Saints' Jake Haener: Elevated as potential backup

    The Saints elevated Haener from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday ahead of Sunday's game against the Falcons, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.

    Haener has spent most of the season on the Saints' practice squad. Due to backup quarterback Spencer Rattler (finger) being listed as questionable for Sunday's game, Haener will likely be the replacement if needed. The 26-year-old would be set to back up rookie Tyler Shough if Rattler ends up being inactive for Week 18.

  • Buccaneers' Connor Bazelak: Emergency QB once again

    Bazelak (coach's decision) is inactive for Saturday's game against the Panthers but will serve as the Buccaneers' emergency third quarterback, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports.

    Bazelak is set to play his usual role as the No. 3 quarterback behind Baker Mayfield and Teddy Bridgewater. The QB will be able to enter the game only if both quarterbacks on the active roster must exit due to injury, illness or ejection.

  • Seth Henigan QB | IND

    Colts' Seth Henigan: Elevated from practice squad

    The Colts elevated Henigan from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday.

    Henigan joined the Colts' practice squad Monday, and head coach Shane Steichen relayed to reporters Friday that Henigan would serve as Riley Leonard's backup for Week 18 against the Texans, per James Boyd of The Athletic. It remains to be seen whether 44-year-old Philip Rivers will be active Sunday or serve as the team's inactive emergency third quarterback, the latter of which would prohibit him from playing unless both Leonard and Henigan were to leave the game due to injury, illness or ejection. Henigan signed with the Jaguars in May as an undrafted free agent before being cut at the end of training camp in late August. He played four collegiate seasons with Memphis, and in 2024 he completed 64.8 percent of his passes for 3,502 yads, 25 touchdowns and six interceptions while turning 80 carries into 190 yards and a score across 13 games.

  • Kenny Pickett QB | CAR

    Raiders' Kenny Pickett: To be in rotation with O'Connell

    Pickett and Aidan O'Connell will be the Raiders' available quarterbacks Sunday against the Chiefs with Geno Smith (ankle) ruled out for the contest, Levi Edwards of the Raiders' official site reports.

    Coach Pete Carroll told Edwards on Wednesday that Pickett likely would start Week 18 while working in a rotation with O'Connell, but Carroll wouldn't commit to a starter as of Friday, instead saying the duo will work in a rotation. Pickett has received run in five games (one start) this season, completing 27 of 41 passes for 185 yards, one touchdown and one interception, turning four carries into 13 yards and losing his only fumble. Meanwhile, O'Connell last played Week 18 of the 2024 campaign.

  • Justin Herbert QB | LAC

    Chargers' Justin Herbert: Not slated to play Sunday

    Herbert (left hand/rest) doesn't carry an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Broncos but is not in line to play in the contest, Eric Smith of the Chargers' official site reports.

    Herbert, who has been managing a left hand injury, was rested in practice Thursday and Friday, and the Chargers intend to rest the QB on Sunday as well. Per Omar Navarro of the team's official site, Trey Lance is slated to start in place of Herbert this weekend, with DJ Uiagalelei on track to be elevated from the practice squad in order to back up Lance, a scenario that should land Herbert on the team's Week 18 inactive list.

  • Geno Smith QB | NYJ

    Raiders' Geno Smith: Officially ruled out for Sunday

    Smith (ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's season finale against the Chiefs.

    With Smith out for the contest, coach Pete Carroll noted Friday (without naming a QB starter) that Kenny Pickett and Aidan O'Connell would be in a rotation Sunday, Levi Edwards of the Raiders' official site reports. In his first season with the 2-14 Raiders, Smith threw for 3,025 yards to go along with 19 TDs and 17 picks in 15 games. Though the veteran signal-caller currently is under contract with Las Vegas through the 2027 season, it's very possible that the team will be using one of the top picks in the 2026 NFL Draft on a QB.

  • Saints' Spencer Rattler: Questionable for Sunday

    Rattler (finger) is listed as questionable ahead of Sunday's game against the Falcons, Jeff Nowak of WWL Radio reports.

    Rattler has been fulfilling his role as the Saints' backup quarterback since rookie Tyler Shough was named the starter for Week 9 and beyond. The backup has not practiced since Week 16 due to a thumb injury on his throwing hand, which has left the Saints with just Taysom Hill healthy as a depth option as they end the season. Rattler's inability to practice with the injury for consecutive weeks means Hill could potentially play a role at quarterback in Sunday's contest if Shough were to need to leave the game for any reason.

  • Tyrod Taylor QB | NYJ

    Jets' Tyrod Taylor: Officially questionable for Week 18

    Taylor (knee) was limited in practice Friday and is officially listed as questionable for Sunday's season finale against the Bills, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.

    Taylor will figure to act as the primary backup to Brady Cook if cleared to suit up Week 18, while if he's unable to play, Hendon Hooker will stand to be elevated from the practice squad and handle the No. 2 role. While Taylor initially avoided an injury designation for New York's loss to the Patriots in Week 17, he was ultimate made inactive for the contest due to a personal issue and the knee injury he's been nursing since mid-December.

  • Malik Willis QB | MIA

    Packers' Malik Willis: Status in question for Sunday

    Willis (right shoulder/hamstring) is listed as questionable for Sunday's contest in Minnesota, Wes Hodkiewicz of the Packers' official site reports.

    Coach Matt LaFleur announced Thursday that Clayton Tune will be Green Bay's starting QB in Week 18 at the same time that he relayed that Jordan Love cleared the concussion protocol. The decision makes sense considering the Packers are locked into the No. 7 seed in the NFC side of the playoffs, but who will be Tune's backup remains to be seen. Willis himself was listed as limited on all three of the team's practice reports this week due to right shoulder and hamstring injuries, and his fate for Sunday's game could become more clear if Desmond Ridder is elevated from the practice squad Saturday. In that scenario, Willis may be the emergency third quarterback, at best, behind Tune and Ridder with Love not expected to play, per Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com.

  • Rams' Matthew Stafford: Will start regular-season finale

    Rams head coach Sean McVay said Friday that he will play his starters, including Stafford, during Sunday's regular-season finale against the Cardinals, Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com reports.

    Los Angeles' postseason position may already be locked into place by the time Sunday's matchup against Arizona kicks off, as the team will be guaranteed the No. 6 seed on the NFC side of the playoffs if the 49ers emerge victorious over the Seahawks on Saturday night. Should Seattle win that contest, however, the Rams would have a chance to earn the No. 5 seed by defeating the Cardinals. That said, and though McVay has confirmed that the Rams' starters will play in either scenario, it's entirely plausible that Stafford and other key veterans won't be tasked with playing a full assortment of snaps Week 18, especially if the outcome of Sunday's game doesn't have any impact on playoff seeding.

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