NFL Player News

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.

Coach Robert Saleh indicated Monday that if Wilson is able to clear the NFL's concussion protocol ahead of Sunday's game against the Commanders, he'll remain the Jets' starting QB, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.

The report adds that if Wilson is unable to fully advance through the protocol, Trevor Siemian would be in line to start in his place. Meanwhile, per Eric Allen of the Jets' official site, the team has until Wednesday to decide whether to activate Aaron Rodgers (Achilles) from IR. It remains to be seen how the Jets -- who have been eliminated from playoff contention -- will approach the veteran QB's situation, but at this stage Cimini suggests that it seems unlikely Rodgers will see action over New York's final three games.

Hurts (illness) is in line to play Monday night against the Seahawks, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network report.

Per the report, Hurts, who had been downgraded to questionable for the contest, is feeling well enough to give it a go versus Seattle. Official confirmation of the QB's Week 15 status thus is set to arrive once the Eagles' inactives are posted ahead of Monday's 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff.

Seattle elevated Mannion from its practice squad to the active roster for Monday's game versus the Eagles, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

The move would suggest that the Seahawks are not confident that starting quarterback Geno Smith (groin) is going to be ready to play in Week 15, an outcome that would leave Mannion as the primary backup to Drew Lock. Mannion hasn't played a regular-season snap since 2021 with Minnesota.

The Patriots claimed Rourke off of waivers from the Jaguars on Monday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Just a couple days after being waived by Jacksonville, Rourke has already found another opportunity in New England. He still hasn't made his regular-season NFL debut, but with the Patriots eliminated from playoff contention and looking for answers at the quarterback position, it wouldn't be a huge surprise to see him check in before season's end.

Coach Kevin O'Connell confirmed Monday that Mullens will start Sunday's game against the Lions.

As expected, Mullens will make a second consecutive start. He threw for 303 yards and two touchdowns in Saturday's 27-24 overtime loss to the Bengals but had a pair of interceptions in Cincinnati territory. The 7-7 Vikings are in the playoff hunt and believe Mullens gives them the best chance to win over fellow quarterbacks Joshua Dobbs and Jaren Hall.

The Chargers waived Duggan on Monday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

In a corresponding move, the Chargers signed Will Grier from New England's practice squad. Duggan is now set to become a free agent unless he's claimed by another team during the current waiver period.

Coach Arthur Smith said Monday that he's mulling a change in quarterback from Desmond Ridder to Heinicke, but the Falcons have yet to name a starter for Sunday's game against the Colts, D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Heinicke has made two starts this season, but Ridder had reclaimed the starting job prior to this past Sunday's 9-7 loss to the Panthers. Poor weather conditions played a part in the game's low-scoring nature, but Ridder contributed to the losing result with a red-zone interception. Smith added that third-stringer Logan Woodside isn't in contention to start Week 16 against the Colts. How the practice reps are divided between Heinicke and Ridder could provide a clue as to which quarterback will be named the starter.

Coach Mike Tomlin said Monday that Pittsburgh plans to start Mason Rudolph over Trubisky against the Bengals on Saturday, ESPN.com reports.

Tomlin added that Kenny Pickett (ankle) will reclaim the starting role whenever he's healthy enough to do so, which could be as soon as Saturday's game. Trubisky entered in relief of Pickett in Week 13, then started the next two games, all of which the Steelers lost. He'll presumably drop to third on the quarterback depth chart once Pickett's healthy, but Trubisky could remain in a backup role behind Rudolph against the Bengals if Pickett doesn't gain clearance to play.

The Steelers plan to start Mason Rudolph against the Bengals on Saturday, but coach Mike Tomlin said Monday that the team is leaving "the door ajar" for Pickett (ankle) if Pickett proves healthy enough to play, ESPN.com reports.

Tomlin didn't rule Pickett out for Saturday and said the quarterback's ankle injury is improving, per Bridget Condon of NFL Network. Pickett has missed the last two games, and the Steelers have dropped three straight with mostly Mitch Trubisky under center. The team's endorsement of Rudolph suggests Pickett most likely won't be ready to play Saturday, but Pickett's participation level in practice will be worth monitoring, as he remains Pittsburgh's top quarterback option when healthy.