NFL Player News

Mahomes (ankle) is listed as doubtful for Sunday's contest at Denver.

Speaking to the media Friday, coach Andy Reid effectively ruled out Mahomes for Week 18 action, per Charles Goldman of AtoZSports.com. Having said that, the Chiefs may not make it official until about 90 minutes before Sunday's 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff. In any case, Carson Wentz is set to lead Kansas City's offense this weekend, but with RB Isiah Pacheco (ribs) also sidelined and TE Travis Kelce and RB Kareem Hunt listed as doubtful (meaning they'll likely be healthy scratches), Wentz will be working without a few key skill-position players. As for Mahomes, he'll turn his focus to the divisional round on either Jan. 18 or 19.

Trubisky is expected to play in Sunday's game against the Patriots once starter Josh Allen exits the game, but Trubisky may end up also ceding some snaps to Mike White, whom Buffalo signed off its practice squad Friday, Alec White of the Bills' official site reports. "We hope we can get him in the game," head coach Sean McDermott said of White.

Though Allen will open the game under center to extend his streak of regular-season starts to 104, he's likely to play only a possession or two while the Bills are locked in as the No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs. The Bills are thus expected to essentially treat Week 18 as a preseason game, meaning that Trubisky should get a good look once Allen leaves the game, but Trubisky may also yield snaps to White at some point in the second half. While Trubisky is a capable backup who has displayed some rushing ability during his career, his fantasy appeal in Week 18 will be limited by the fact that he won't start and because he may not be guaranteed to see the overwhelming majority of snaps if the Bills elect to use White.

Pickett (ribs) is listed as questionable for Sunday's contest versus the Giants.

Despite not practicing this week due to a rib injury, Pickett has been given a chance to be available, at the very least, for the Eagles' regular-season finale. With Jalen Hurts (concussion/left finger) out for a second consecutive game, a healthy Pickett likely would be getting the nod under center Week 18, but fellow reserve Tanner McKee relayed to Eliot Shorr-Parks of Sports Radio 94 WIP Philadelphia on Friday that he's preparing for his first NFL start. As a result, Pickett may be McKee's direct backup Sunday or even inactive as the emergency third QB behind McKee and Ian Book, assuming Pickett suits up.

Hurts (concussion/left finger) has been ruled out for Sunday's contest against the Giants.

Hurts hasn't practiced since sustaining a concussion while taking a big hit in the first quarter of a Week 16 loss at Washington. He thus will miss a second game in a row to end the regular season, and his backup Kenny Pickett (ribs), who also didn't practice this week, is listed as questionable for Week 18. Even if Pickett is active for Sunday's 1 p.m. ET matchup, he may be no more than the No. 2 quarterback to Tanner McKee, who told Eliot Shorr-Parks of Sports Radio 94 WIP Philadelphia on Friday that he's preparing for his first NFL start. As for Hurts, he'll turn his focus to getting ready for the wild-card round against the to-be-determined No. 7 seed in the NFC.

Rattler will remain the starting quarterback Sunday against the Buccaneers, as Derek Carr (hand) has been ruled out, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.

Rattler will make his sixth NFL start, having lost the first five. Including one relief appearance, the rookie fifth-round pick has posted a 3:5 TD:INT. The banged-up Saints will face an uphill battle Sunday on the road against a Buccaneers team that would clinch a playoff berth with a win.

Carr (hand) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against Tampa Bay, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.

Reports suggested Carr was unlikely to play again this season after he suffered a concussion and broken left hand during a Week 14 win over the Giants. Interim coach Darren Rizzi decided to treat it as a week-to-week matter, at least publicly, but Carr never even returned to practice. Spencer Rattler will make another start Sunday, with Carr then having plenty of time to recover this winter and get back to full strength before OTAs. Carr doesn't currently have any guaranteed money for the final two seasons of his four-year contract, but it'll be difficult for the Saints to move on and absorb a huge dead cap hit given their unusual salary-cap situation/management. Carr's $30 million base salary and $10 million roster bonus for 2025 both become guaranteed in mid-March, which means there will be some kind of renegotiation/restructure before then even if the Saints plan to keep him around as their starting QB for 2025. Carr will turn 34 shortly thereafter, at the end of March.

Carr (left hand) isn't present for the start of Friday's practice, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.

It isn't yet clear if the Saints will rule Carr out Friday or further extend the charade of him possibly returning this season to play through a broken hand for a 6-11 team. Either way, Spencer Rattler likely will be under center for Sunday's game at Tampa Bay.

Maye (right hand) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Bills, Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald reports.

Despite being limited in practice all week and listed as such for Week 18 action, Maye is expected to be under center this weekend, as coach Jarod Mayo told Mike Reiss of ESPN.com on Wednesday and offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt relayed to Ben Volin of The Boston Globe on Thursday. The Patriots will post their list of inactives about 90 minutes before Sunday's 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff, so a decision on Maye's status should become known by that point. Jacoby Brissett and Joe Milton are the other signal-callers on New England's active roster.

Coach Andy Reid said Friday that Mahomes (ankle) won't play Sunday at Denver, Charles Goldman of AtoZSports.com reports.

Reid relayed Wednesday that Mahomes wouldn't start the Chiefs' regular-season finale, instead yielding starting QB duties to Carson Wentz in Week 18 with the No. 1 seed in the AFC locked up, per Matt McMullen of the team's official site. Mahomes also continues to deal with the residual effects of the mild high-ankle sprain that he suffered Week 15 in Cleveland, so he'll get two weeks to rest and rehab before Kansas City next takes the field in the divisional round on either Jan. 18 or 19.

McKee is preparing to start Sunday's game against the Giants, Eliot Shorr-Parks of Sports Radio 94 WIP Philadelphia reports.

The Eagles are locked in as the NFC's No. 2 seed and thus have no reason to rush Jalen Hurts (concussion) or Kenny Pickett (ribs) back from their respective injuries. McKee fared well in his Week 17 cameo, completing three of four passes for 54 yards and two TDs after replacing an injured Pickett. Things will be tougher this week, with McKee presumably throwing to backups rather than A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.