NFL Player News

The Falcons intend for Heinicke to start over Desmond Ridder in Sunday's game against the Colts, Josh Kendall of The Athletic reports.

Heinicke is usurping Ridder on the depth chart for the second time this season, a change that could well last the remainder of the 2023 campaign. The move comes following Ridder's game-sealing red zone interception during Atlanta's loss to Carolina in Week 15, a mistake which put a dent in the Falcons' playoff hopes. Heinicke has been serviceable if unimpressive in limited action this season, having completed 41 of 74 pass attempts for 498, three touchdowns and one interception across three appearances.

Lock completed 22 of 33 pass attempts for 208 yards and a touchdown in Monday's 20-17 win over Philadelphia.

Lock got the nod under center Monday even though Geno Smith (groin) was able to complete his usual pregame warmup. The move was likely a precautionary one made by head coach Pete Carroll, given the slick conditions at Lumen Field and the lower-body nature of Smith's injury. Lock wound up leading the Seahawks to victory by completing two-thirds of his passes without committing a turnover over the now 10-4 Eagles. The backup's strong play Monday could earn him another start for Seattle when the club visits Tennessee on Sunday.

Hurts (illness) completed 17 of 31 passes for 143 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions in the Eagles' 20-17 loss to the Seahawks on Monday. He also rushed 13 times for 82 yards and two touchdowns.

Hurts was a game-time decision due to an illness that worsened over the weekend and required the star signal-caller to travel to Seattle separately from the rest of the team. He looked his usual self as a runner, where he racked up a season-high rushing yardage tally and posted his third two-score effort on the ground in the last five games. However, Hurts' three- and one-yard touchdown runs couldn't quite make up for his poor passing effort, which included a season-low 54.9 completion percentage and an average of just 4.6 yards per attempt. Hurts also had a particularly ineffective last quarter-plus, leading the Eagles to just 27 yards on 10 plays across two drives that ended in punts and short-circuiting two other possessions with interceptions, including a game-ending one with 13 seconds remaining. Monday night's loss kept Philadelphia tied with the Cowboys atop the NFC East and was the Eagles' third straight defeat, but Hurts could be primed for a resurgent effort in a Christmas Day home matchup against the Giants next Monday.

DiNucci reverted to Denver's practice squad Monday.

DiNucci will return to the practice squad after being a healthy scratch in Saturday's loss to Detroit. The 27-year-old will now wait for another opportunity to be called up for action.

Smith (groin), who is active for Monday's contest versus the Eagles, isn't expected to start, with Drew Lock instead slated to lead the Seahawks offense, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Smith sat out Week 14 at San Francisco due to a groin injury that he suffered just three days before the game. After being deemed a limited participant on all three Week 15 practice reports, he was listed as questionable for Monday. He then completed a pregame workout and was considered active, but Lock handled all the work with the Seahawks' first-team offense in a subsequent warmup. Smith thus appears to be yielding QB duties to Lock for a second consecutive contest, and it's unclear if Smith is an option to play if anything befalls either Lock or fellow signal-caller Sean Mannion.

Lock is in line to start Monday's contest against the Eagles, even with Geno Smith (groin) being deemed active by the Seahawks, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Smith was able to complete a pregame workout as he tested out his balky groin, but after Seattle posted its list of Week 15 inactives that didn't include his name, he didn't make an appearance during warmups. Lock proceeded to work with the team's first-team offense, with Sean Mannion mixing in behind him. Assuming he gets the nod after Monday's 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff, Lock will get his second start in a row in place of Smith.

Lock was spotted warming up with the Seahawks' first-team offense ahead of Monday's game versus the Eagles, despite Geno Smith (groin) being active, Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic reports.

In fact, Smith hasn't been seen on the field during pregame warmups since completing an earlier workout in which he looked like his normal self. The Seahawks have declined to name a starting quarterback with less than 30 minutes to go before Monday's 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff, but Lock may be the favorite to do so over Smith considering the current situation.

McKee (coach's decision) is inactive for Monday's game versus the Seahawks but will serve as Philadelphia's emergency quarterback.

McKee will once serve as the team's third-string quarterback and will only be eligible to enter the game if both Jalen Hurts and Marcus Mariota suffer injuries. The rookie sixth-round pick has yet to play a snap this season through the first 13 games.

Smith (groin) is active for Monday's game against the Eagles

After sitting out a Week 14 loss at San Francisco due to a groin injury that he suffered in a Dec. 7 practice, Smith was able to log limited sessions Thursday through Saturday and head into a second consecutive contest with a questionable designation. Speaking about Smith on Saturday, coach Pete Carroll told John Boyle of the Seahawks' official site that the quarterback again will be a game-time call, with his status contingent on a pregame workout. Jay Glazer then reported on Fox NFL Sunday that Smith was facing an "uphill battle" to suit up Monday. During aforementioned warmups, though, Smith was going through his typical routine, signaling that he may be able to play, and that's been confirmed upon the team posting its inactive list. It's unclear if he'll resume starting duties over Drew Lock, but that'll likely be confirmed, one way or another, ahead of an 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff.

Hurts (illness) is active for Monday's game at Seattle.

Hurts joined the Eagles' Week 15 injury report Saturday as a non-participant due to an illness, but the team didn't give him a game designation at the time. As of Sunday morning, though, he was downgraded to questionable, and he even took the precaution of traveling to Seattle separately from his teammates in order to avoid getting anyone else sick. Hurts seemingly was subject to a pregame workout to determine if he can play with the ailment, and he's been deemed able to direct Philadelphia's offense as he normally does. He'll thus be taking on a Seahawks defense that has conceded the ninth-most touchdown passes (19) but only one rushing score (tied for 26th) to opposing quarterbacks in 13 games this season.