NFL Player News

Huntley is expected to start Sunday's game against the Browns after the Dolphins downgraded Tua Tagovailoa (hip) from questionable to doubtful, Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN reports.

Unless Tagovailoa shows dramatic improvement leading up to Sunday's 4:05 p.m. ET kickoff, he looks as though he'll be sidelined for the first time since Week 7. In such a scenario, Huntley would be in line for his fourth start of the season, with Skylar Thompson serving as his backup. While Huntley thus represents a possible lineup option for fantasy managers who are still playing in Week 17, his presence under center would amount to a downgrade to all of Miami's pass catchers. In his previous three starts, Huntley accounted for 67 rushing yards and a score on the ground but struggled as a passer, throwing one touchdown against one interception while completing 59.1 percent of his throws for 5.7 yards per attempt.

The Panthers signed Plummer to the active roster Saturday, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

Plummer was elevated to the Panthers' active roster in Week 8 for a one-game stint and has been with the practice squad since. The No. 1 overall pick of 2023, Bryce Young, is expected to be under center and backed up by veteran Andy Dalton. Thus, Plummer will serve as the No. 3 option under center.

Miami elevated Thompson to the active roster Saturday.

Thompson was waived by the Dolphins earlier in the month and subsequently landed on the practice squad. With Tua Tagovailoa (hip) listed as doubtful, Thompson looks on track to back up Tyler Huntley under center. Thompson last saw the field for two offensive plays in Week 12.

Flacco is in line to start Sunday's game against the Giants after the Colts downgraded downgraded Anthony Richardson (back/foot) to out.

Richardson had been listed as questionable for the contest, but after failing to practice in any fashion this week, the Colts ultimately weren't comfortable with having him direct the offense Sunday. Flacco will thus step in for his fifth start of the season in Week 17, making him a lineup option in fantasy leagues that start two quarterbacks or have a QB flex spot available. Over his six appearances (four starts) to date, Flacco has completed 113 of 170 pass attempts (66.5 percent) for 1,167 yards, nine touchdowns and five interceptions while adding 25 yards on eight carries.

Maye (head) has returned to Saturday's game against the Chargers.

Maye, who was forced out the contest due to a head injury and had been replaced by Jacoby Brissett, was subsequently cleared to return to action and is now back in at QB for the Patriots versus Los Angeles.

Richardson (back/foot) has been downgraded to out for Sunday's game against the Giants.

After failing to practice in any fashion Wednesday through Friday, Richardson had taken a questionable tag into the weekend, but the Colts ultimately weren't confident enough in his ability to play through the pair of injuries. Joe Flacco will draw the Week 17 start in place of Richardson, whose injuries aren't viewed as serious enough to prevent him from playing in the Colts' regular-season finale versus the Jaguars next weekend, per Stephen Holder of ESPN.com.

Tagovailoa (hip) has been downgraded to doubtful for Sunday's game against the Browns, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.

Tagovailoa, who was listed as a limited participant on the Dolphins' practice reports this week, had been listed as questionable, but the downgrade in his status suggests he's on track to being sidelined for the first time since missing four games from Week 3 through 7 with a concussion. Per Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network, if Tagovailoa is inactive versus Cleveland, Tyler Huntley would be in line to start at quarterback, with Skylar Thompson serving as the backup. The presence of Huntley under center rather than Tagovailoa would represent a downgrade to the fantasy projections of all of Miami's pass catchers.

Maye was forced out of Saturday's game against the Chargers with a head injury.

Prior to his first-quarter exit from the contest, Maye completed his only pass attempt for one yard. In his absence, Jacoby Brissett is next up at quarterback for the Patriots.

Watson (Achilles) and the Browns agreed to a restructured contract Friday, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.

The restructured contract doesn't alter Watson's pay or salary structure, but it spreads out the financial impact of the deal by adding two void years. The quarterback still is under contract, will be paid the next two seasons and then become a free agent in 2027. The restructure does not necessarily mean Watson will be the team's quarterback in 2025, and the state of his injured ankle is not the only unknown. The Browns are expected to revamp the roster, which could impact Watson's status.

Rattler will start Sunday's game against the Raiders, as Derek Carr (hand) has been ruled out.

Rattler will make the fifth start of his career and second in a row. The rookie fifth-round draft pick has looked overwhelmed at the NFL level, throwing just one touchdown pass against three interceptions as a starter and most recently getting shut out by the Packers on Monday, though Rattler also tossed a touchdown pass in relief in Week 15. A potential silver lining for Rattler could be the possible return of top wide receiver Chris Olave (head), who is listed as questionable and has a chance to come off IR prior to Sunday's game after practicing without limitations all week.