NFL Player News

Young completed 24 of 35 passes for 266 yards with two touchdowns and one interception and rushed twice for minus-1 yard in the Panthers' 16-14 loss to the Buccaneers on Saturday. He also committed a fumble recovered by Carolina.

Young finished with an exponentially more aesthetic stat line than in his forgettable 54-yard performance against the Seahawks in a Week 17 loss, but the end result was still the same for his team. The third-year signal-caller spread the ball around plenty, connecting with nine different targets. Young hit Tommy Tremble and Jalen Coker for his pair of eight-yard scoring tosses, while his one interception came on the first play after the two-minute warning in the first half at Tampa Bay's 42-yard line and led to a Bucs field goal. Young's passing yardage total was his second highest since Week 3, and he wraps up the 2025 regular season with career highs in completion percentage (63.6), passing yardage (3,011), touchdown passes (23) and interceptions (11) across 16 games. Young and his teammates will pull for the Falcons to defeat the Saints on Sunday and make the Panthers the NFC South champions in the process, thereby allowing them to continue their season in next weekend's wild-card round.

Mayfield completed 16 of 22 passes for 203 yards with a touchdown and an interception and rushed four times for 31 yards in the Buccaneers' 16-14 win over the Panthers on Saturday. He also fumbled once but recovered.

Mayfield averaged an impressive 9.2 yards per attempt while connecting with both Mike Evans and Cade Otton for passes of 20-plus yards. The veteran signal-caller's only touchdown toss came early on, as he connected with Otton from 18 yards out to cap off a nine-play game-opening drive. Mayfield repeatedly focused on Otton throughout the afternoon for several more productive gains, although his one interception in the second quarter at his own 39-yard line did lead to a Panthers touchdown. Mayfield wraps up the 2025 regular season with the lowest completion percentage (63.2) and passing yardage total (3,693) of his three-year Buccaneers tenure, but he and his teammates will be pulling for the Saints to defeat or tie the Falcons on Sunday in order to be able to continue playing in next weekend's wild-card round as the NFC South champions.

Milroe (coach's decision) is inactive but will serve as the emergency third quarterback for Saturday night's game against the 49ers, John Boyle of the Seahawks' official site reports.

Milroe will be the reserve quarterback behind Sam Darnold and Drew Lock for Saturday Night Football. Milroe will be allowed to enter the game only if both Darnold and Lock must leave the game due to injury, illness or ejection.

The Chargers elevated Uiagalelei from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday ahead of Sunday's game against the Broncos.

With Justin Herbert (left hand/rest) set to sit for Week 18, Uiagalelei will get his first elevation of the season to back up starting quarterback Trey Lance. If Lance must exit the contest for any reason, Uiagalelei will see his first NFL regular-season reps in Sunday's game.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.