NFL Player News

Cunningham is listed as active for Sunday's game against the Chargers.

Meanwhile, Bailey Zappe is expected to start Sunday's contest, while Mac Jones is also on hand. With the versatile Cunningham in uniform Sunday, the undrafted rookie could potentially see some QB snaps in designed packages and offer the team some WR depth, with both Demario Douglas (concussion) and Kayshon Boutte (shoulder/illness) out. In that context, Cunningham remains a speculative fantasy option in Week 13.

Zappe is expected to start Sunday's game against the Chargers, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site and Zack Cox of NESN.com report.

Though coach Bill Belichick declined to publicly confirm New England's starting quarterback, the signs leading up to the game pointed to Zappe getting the nod after having taken over for Mac Jones (who is in uniform Sunday) in the second half of a 10-7 loss to the Giants in Week 12. With Demario Douglas (concussion) and Kayshon Boutte (shoulder/illness) both out, Zappe is on track to be working with a thinned-out WR corps. Given the overall state of the team's offense, plus potentially rainy conditions, it wouldn't surprise us to see the Patriots lean toward a run focus as long as the flow of the Sunday's contest permits. Additionally, it's been speculated that the team has prepared a package of plays designed to get practice-squad elevation Malik Cunningham some snaps versus Los Angeles.

DiNucci (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Texans.

DiNucci was elevated from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday, sparking speculation that Russell Wilson and/or Jarrett Stidham were dealing with injuries. However, that doesn't appear to be the case, so DiNucci has been made inactive.

Woodside (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's matchup against the Jets, but he'll dress and serve as the Falcons' emergency quarterback, Tori McElhaney of the Falcons' official site reports.

Woodside will handle his usual role as an emergency option. He won't count against the 53-man roster but will be available if Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke are both forced out of the game.

Rodgers remains unlikely to play again this season, despite experiencing no setbacks with his surgically repaired Achilles' tendon during his return to practice this past week, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Rodgers' ability to get back on the practice field just 77 days after undergoing Achilles surgery Sept. 13 was already unprecedented for any player attempting to return from a similar injury, but since he's still facing significant limitations and isn't close to 100 percent healthy, the expectation remains that he'll be sidelined for the rest of the season, especially if the 4-7 Jets continue to fade from the playoff picture. The Jets will have until Dec. 20 to formally activate Rodgers or keep him on IR for the rest of the season, and even if the team's playoff standing hasn't improved by that point, Rapoport suggests that New York could still keep the 40-year-old on the 53-man roster as an emergency third quarterback. In such a scenario, Rodgers would continue to remain inactive on game days, though having him on the roster would help him stay connected and more involved with the Jets. While Rodgers remains on IR for now, however, the Jets will go with Tim Boyle as their starting quarterback for the second straight game Sunday against the Falcons, with Trevor Siemian and Zach Wilson on hand as the Nos. 2 and 3 signal-callers, respectively.

Denver elevated DiNucci to its active roster Saturday, Chris Tomasson of The Denver Gazette reports.

DiNucci has been with the Broncos organization for the majority of 2023, and he'll likely serve as the team's emergency No. 3 quarterback Sunday. The James Madison product hasn't appeared in an NFL game since 2020, when he saw playing time amongst a Cowboys QB room that was depleted with injuries.

Cunningham was elevated to the Patriots' active roster Saturday, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.

Cunningham could wind up as the top backup behind Bailey Zappe given the coaching staff has seemingly lost faith in Mac Jones, but the Patriots have been coy in terms of ways in which the rookie quarterback could be incorporated into the offense. Cunningham has been active for one game this season, serving as a backup to then starter Jones in Week 6.

Flacco was elevated from the practice squad and will start Sunday's contest against the Rams, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

This was simply a procedural move, as the Browns had already announced Friday the 38-year-old would start ahead of PJ Walker. Flacco last played five games with the Jets in 2022, and while his counting stats were relatively solid given the expectations (1,051 passing yards, five touchdowns), he also attempted a shockingly high 191 passes, good for a bottom-level 5.5 yards per completion. It remains to be seen if the veteran's efficiency will be dramatically better after not seeing meaningful action on the field in over a year.

Though coach Bill Belichick hasn't confirmed the Patriots' Week 13 starting QB, Evan Lazar of the team's official site notes that all signs still point to Bailey Zappe starting over Jones in Sunday's game against the Chargers.

Jones has started all 11 of the 2-9 Patriots' games to date this season, but he's been pulled early in four of those contests, including after halftime in the team's 10-7 loss to the Giants in Week 12. On Sunday, it appears as though the team plans to turn to Zappe, and in that context Jones is not a fantasy lineup option this weekend.

Hooker (knee) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's game against the Saints, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.

Hooker remains on the reserve/non-football injury list even though he was able to log a full practice session both Thursday and Friday. The 2023 third-round pick tore his ACL in late November of 2022, and once he's ready to return to the field, he could challenge Teddy Bridgewater for Detroit's No. 2 quarterback spot.