NFL Player News

Keenum is likely to make a second consecutive start Sunday against the Browns while C.J. Stroud (concussion) is expected to remain sidelined, DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN.com reports.

Keenum started in Week 15 and guided the Texans to a 19-16 overtime win over the Titans with Stroud in concussion protocol. Stroud has yet to be officially ruled out for the Week 16 contest, but with the rookie quarterback having yet to make enough progress through the five-step protocol to be available to play, Keenum looks poised for another start. Houston also has Davis Mills in its quarterback room but is unlikely to shift away from Keenum, who threw for 229 yards, one touchdown and one interception in the win over Tennessee.

Head coach Mike Vrabel said Wednesday that Tannehill will start Sunday against the Seahawks if Will Levis (ankle) is unable to play, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.

After sustaining the ankle injury on Tennessee's final offensive play of this past Sunday's overtime loss to the Texans, Levis didn't practice Wednesday, per Wyatt. Since making a recovery from a right high-ankle sprain suffered in mid-October, Tannehill has served as Levis' top backup over the last four games and will get the starting nod over Malik Willis if Levis isn't cleared to play this weekend. Tannehill started Tennessee's first six games of the season and posted an ugly 2:6 TD:INT.

Levis (ankle) won't practice Wednesday, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.

Levis suffered a right ankle sprain during this past Sunday's 19-16 overtime loss to the Texans, and as a result, his status for this weekend's contest against the Seahawks is uncertain. If Levis ends up missing the Week 16 contest, head coach Mike Vrabel confirmed Wednesday that Ryan Tannehill would step in as the Titans' starting signal-caller, per Wyatt.

Head coach Robert Saleh said Wednesday that the Jets plan to activate Rodgers (Achilles) from injured reserve, but the veteran quarterback won't be cleared to play for any of the team's final three games of the season. for the veteran QB to continue to practice as part of his injury rehab process.

Though Rodgers will be added back to the 53-man roster for the first time since Week 1, he'll likely be inactive now that New York has been eliminated from playoff contention. The Jets are activating Rodgers solely for the purpose of allowing him to continue practicing with the team as part of his rehab process for his surgically repaired left Achilles' tendon. Saleh has yet to confirm a starting quarterback for this Sunday's game against the Commanders, but if Zach Wilson is unable to clear the NFL's five-step concussion protocol, Trevor Siemian would be in store for his first start with the Jets.

Wilson (concussion) won't practice Wednesday and remains in the NFL's concussion protocol, Brian Costello of the New York Post reports.

Head coach Robert Saleh said Wednesday that the Jets are "not closing the door yet" on Wilson being available for Sunday's game against the Commanders, per Rich Cimini of ESPN.com. If he's able to clear the five-step protocol, Wilson would be in line to start against Washington. Should Wilson sit out the Week 16 contest, however, Trevor Siemian -- who replaced the third-year signal-caller in the first half of a 30-0 loss to Miami last Sunday -- would make his first start of 2023.

Head coach Arthur Smith announced Wednesday that the Falcons plan to have Heinicke serve as their starting quarterback for the remainder of the 2023 season, Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reports.

Assuming Heinicke doesn't lose the job due to injury, he'll wrap up the regular season with starts against the Colts, Bears and Saints, with Desmond Ridder presumably operating as his backup. In Heinicke's only full game this season -- a Week 9 loss to the Vikings -- he completed 21 of 38 pass attempts for 268 yards, one touchdown and one interception. For fantasy purposes, Heinicke finds himself as an emergency option in leagues that include multiple lineup spots for quarterbacks, and his presence doesn't move the needle too significantly in either direction for key skill-position players such as Bijan Robinson, Drake London and Kyle Pitts.

Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said Wednesday that Lawrence remains in the NFL's concussion protocol, but is "progressing well," Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com reports.

Pederson didn't clarify whether the progress Lawrence has made will result in him practicing in some capacity Wednesday. If Lawrence is unable to clear the five-step protocol ahead of Sunday's game against the Buccaneers, C.J. Beathard would be in line to fill in for Lawrence this weekend. Meanwhile, the Jaguars bolstered their signal-caller depth in advance of the Week 16 game by adding E.J. Perry to their practice squad.

Stidham played the Broncos' final four offensive snaps of Saturday's 42-17 loss to the Lions, attempting no passes during his time on the field.

Stidham handed the ball off four times after taking the field for the Broncos' last possession in place of starter Russell Wilson, who was held out for rest while the game's outcome was already decided. Up until exiting the contest, Wilson had played every offensive snap this season, so Saturday's game marked Stidham's 2023 and Broncos debuts.

Allen played Buffalo's final seven snaps on offense in Sunday's 31-10 win over the Cowboys, attempting no passes and kneeling down twice for minus-two yards.

Allen checked into the game with 10:37 remaining in the fourth quarter, when Buffalo held a commanding 31-3 lead. The Bills didn't ask Allen to do anything more than to keep the clock moving, as the team ran the ball on all seven of his plays. Allen has yet to attempt a pass this season despite coming off the bench on six occasions this season, usually in garbage-time scenarios.

Luton was cut from the Panthers' practice squad Wednesday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.

Luton was previously let go by the Panthers and then brought back earlier in December. However, with the season getting closer to its end, the 27-year-old may not get that opportunity this year.