NFL Player News

After rupturing his Achilles again, Watson underwent another surgery Thursday to address the injury, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network and Adam Schefter of ESPN report.

As a result of the setback, Watson's 2025 season could now be in jeopardy. Look for further details regarding Watson's estimated recovery timeline to emerge in the coming days and weeks, but the Browns figure to fortify their depth at the quarterback position this offseason, via free agency, trade or through the 2025 NFL Draft in which Cleveland holds the No. 2 overall selection.

Speaking with the media Friday, Colts GM Chris Ballard said Richardson (back) will face competition at the quarterback position next season, Stephen Holder of ESPN.com reports.

"We knew when we took him it was going to be a roller coaster," Ballard said of Richardson. "The number one thing we have to figure out and have to work through is he's got to stay healthy. That, to me, is the biggest question. We have to have competition at the position because competition makes you better and because he's not proven he can stay healthy for 17 games." Joe Flacco was signed to be Richardson's backup last offseason, but his one-year deal is set to expire in March, and at 40 years old (next week) he's not realistic competition. The Colts hold the No. 14 overall pick in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft, and the roster has needs all over. Whichever way Ballard tries to find that quarterback competition, it's become clear that Richardson's leash is tightening in Indianapolis after he's started just 15 of a possible 34 games across his first two seasons.

Pickett (ribs) practiced on a limited basis Thursday.

Pickett maintained his activity level from Wednesday due to the rib injury that has plagued him since a Week 16 loss in Washington. Meanwhile, No. 1 QB Jalen Hurts practiced fully Thursday, but there's been no word regarding whether he's cleared the concussion protocol. As a result, the situation under center remains unsettled for the Eagles ahead of Sunday's wild-card game against the Packers.

Hurts (concussion/left finger) practiced in full Thursday.

Martin Frank of The Delaware News Journal notes that Hurts led quarterback drills for a second practice in a row Thursday, upgrading from limited to all activity in the process. Per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, Hurts still awaits clearance from an independent neurologist from the concussion that he suffered in the first quarter of a Week 16 loss at Washington, but he has two days left to do so ahead of Sunday's wild-card contest against the Packers.

Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot said Thursday that Cousins will head into the 2025 season as the No. 2 quarterback behind Michael Penix, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports. "Kirk is a great man and he's been great support for Mike, a great teammate, great support for everybody in the building, so we're very confident moving forward with him as the backup," Fontenot said.

Shortly after the Falcons benched Cousins in favor of Penix in Week 16, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that the expectation in league circles was that Atlanta would cut Cousins before March 17, when the 36-year-old quarterback is due a $10 million roster bonus. Fontenot pushed back on that report during his press conference Thursday, noting that Atlanta signed Cousins to a four-year, $180 million deal last March with the expectation that they would "get high-level quarterback play for two seasons." That didn't come to fruition, as Cousins completed 66.9 percent of his passes for 3,508 yards and 18 touchdowns while committing 18 turnovers (16 interceptions, two lost fumbles) in 14 starts before Atlanta turned the offense over to the rookie Penix. While Fontenot acknowledged that Cousins didn't perform as well as anticipated, the GM reiterated that the Falcons are comfortable with him as a backup heading into the upcoming season, though that won't preclude the organization from trading him if the right deal emerges. Atlanta would almost certainly have to absorb some of the $27.5 million on Cousins' base salary for 2025 to facilitate any trade.

Willis (thumb) was a full practice participant Thursday, Bill Huber of SI.com reports.

One day removed from being limited due to a right thumb injury Wednesday, Willis didn't have any restrictions on his practice reps. The same can be said for No. 1 QB Jordan Love, who "looked good," per coach Matt LaFleur. With Love seemingly past the right elbow injury that he sustained this past Sunday against the Bears, Willis will settle back into his backup role for Sunday's wild-card game in Philadelphia.

Coach Matt LaFleur said Love (elbow) practiced fully Thursday, Bill Huber of SI.com reports.

LaFleur added that Love "looked good" after kicking off the week as limited. Love relayed Wednesday that his right hand didn't have any lingering numbness, but his right elbow still had some soreness, per Matt Schneidman of The Athletic. With an uncapped session under his belt, Love is good to go for Sunday's wild-card game at Philadelphia, against whom he went for 260 yards, two touchdowns and one interception on 17-for-34 passing back in Week 1.

The Eagles re-signed Book to the practice squad Thursday.

Philadelphia had waived Book on Tuesday, but he now reunites with the team as an emergency depth option at quarterback. With Jalen Hurts (concussion) and Kenny Pickett (ribs) unavailable for the Eagles' regular-season finale, Book got a chance to work as the team's top backup behind Tanner McKee against the Giants, though he didn't play any snaps. Hurts and Pickett are both working to gain clearance in time for Sunday's wild-card contest versus the Packers.

Howell completed five of 14 passes for 24 yards and an interception and rushed once for two yards across three games during the 2024 season.

Howell played just 25 snaps this season, 24 of which were in relief of an injured Geno Smith in Week 15 against the Packers. Howell's numbers are unappealing, but he should still be considered a formidable backup moving forward, as he posted 3,946 passing yards, 21 touchdowns and 21 interceptions in 2023 for the Commanders. Smith and Howell both have one year remaining on their respective contracts, so as long as Smith isn't cut as a cap casualty, Howell's two years removed from being able to compete for a starting job.

Winston (shoulder) finished the 2024 season having completed 181 of 296 pass attempts for 2,212 yards, 13 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while carrying 25 times for 83 yards and a touchdown in 12 appearances. He also lost two fumbles.

Winston injected life into the Cleveland passing attack after Deshaun Watson suffered a season-ending Achilles injury Week 7, but the short-term boost eventually wore off. A three-game stretch in which he threw eight interceptions -- including multiple pick-sixes -- ended Winston's run as the starter by Week 16. He ended up being inactive as the emergency No. 3 quarterback for the final three games of the season due to a right shoulder injury, but the issue doesn't seem serious and enabled the Browns to turn the offense over to younger signal-callers in Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Bailey Zappe down the stretch. Winston will enter the offseason as a free agent and could draw interest as a backup quarterback, though he's unlikely to find a team willing to enter the 2025 season with him as its starter, even as a bridge to a rookie or second-year signal-caller.