NFL Player News

Keenum is expected to start Sunday's game against the Titans with C.J. Stroud (concussion) listed as doubtful for the Week 15 contest, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports.

Head coach DeMeco Ryans was non-committal on a Week 15 starter following Friday's practice, noting that both Mills and Keenum "have prepared this [whole] week, just like every position." However, Wilson's report suggests the Texans are planning on turning the offense over to Keenum -- who reportedly took the majority of the first-team snaps during practices this week -- over Mills. Though the 35-year-old Keenum has been inactive as the Texans' emergency No. 3 quarterback for each of the team's first 13 games of the season, he possesses a larger body of NFL experience than Mills, a third-year signal-caller. Over his 11 seasons spanning stops with the Texans, Rams, Vikings, Broncos, Washington, Browns and Bills, Keenum has completed 62.3 percent of his passes for 6.8 yards per attempt and 78:48 TD:INT.

Smith (groin) was limited at Friday's practice, Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic reports.

Smith was sidelined this past Sunday at San Francisco after injuring his groin in practice three days prior. When the Seahawks opened Week 15 preparations Thursday, coach Pete Carroll told Brady Henderson of ESPN.com that Smith "feels really good" and described him as day-to-day. The extra day to rest ahead of Monday's matchup with the Eagles likely helped with the cause, and Smith now has managed back-to-back capped sessions. He'll be afforded Saturday's practice to potentially get back to full, but he also seems destined to receive a designation on the team's next injury report. If Smith isn't able to suit up Monday, Drew Lock again will direct Seattle's offense.

If Stroud (concussion), who is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Titans, isn't available this weekend, either Davis Mills or Case Keenum could start in his place, DJ Bien-Aime of ESPN reports.

When Stroud -- who didn't practice this week -- was forced out of last Sunday's 30-6 loss to the Jets in the fourth quarter, Mills closed out the contest for the Texans. However, Bien-Aime indicates that Mills and Keenum split practice reps this week, and when asked Friday if Mills would start if Stroud can't, coach DeMeco Ryans replied, "Both guys have prepared this (whole) week, just like every position, everybody's prepared." In any case, look for added context regarding Stroud's status (and his potential Week 15 fill-in, if necessary) to arrive closer to Sunday's 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff.

Rodgers (Achilles) has been ruled out for Sunday's game at Miami, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.

Since Rodgers was designated for return from injured reserve Nov. 29, he's been listed as limited on six of nine Jets practice reports, including both Thursday and Friday this week. The team will need to make a decision on activating him from IR by the middle of next week, which may be contingent on winning Sunday's key AFC East matchup. In the end, it seems highly unlikely that Rodgers will complete his quick rehab from the torn Achilles that he sustained back in Week 1 and be able to play before season's end, but there's still a small chance of that coming to pass. New York will continue to roll with Zach Wilson under center moving forward.

Hill (foot/left hand) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's contest against the Giants, Brooke Kirchhofer of NewOrleans.Football reports.

Hill failed to practice at all before sitting out Week 14 versus the Panthers due to a combination of foot and left hand injuries. This time around, he opened the week with back-to-back capped sessions before getting back to all activity Friday, clearing the path for his return to action. Hill thus is slated to take on his usual gadget role in the Saints offense, which has amounted to 90 touches, eight passes, 647 yards (from scrimmage plus through the air) and six touchdowns overall in 12 appearances this season.

Stroud (concussion) is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Titans.

The Texans are leaving the door slightly ajar for Stroud to make a miraculous late recovery after missing practice throughout the week. The much more likely scenario entails Stroud being listed as inactive ahead of Sunday's 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff, with Davis Mills then stepping in as the starter and Case Keenum taking the backup QB role.

Stroud (concussion) wasn't spotted during the media-access portion of Friday's practice, Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Stroud, who is in the NFL's concussion protocol, didn't practice Wednesday or Thursday, so at this stage it appears as though Davis Mills is trending toward starting Sunday's game against the Titans. In any case, the Texans' upcoming injury report will reveal whether the door is open at all for Stroud to potentially play Week 15.

Stick completed 23 of 32 passes for 257 yards with three touchdowns and one interception in the Chargers' 63-21 loss to the Raiders on Thursday night. He also rushed twice for 11 yards and lost two fumbles.

Stick's stat line was highly deceptive when taken in the context of the Chargers' 42-point loss, with the first-time starter piling up a bulk of his numbers when the game was already well out of reach. The North Dakota State product, who's in the top job due to Justin Herbert's season-ending finger injury, did have to play without top target Keenan Allen (heel), and he was able to complete passes to nine different players overall. Stick hit Alex Erickson and Quentin Johnston for late touchdown passes of 13 and six yards, respectively, but the highlight of his night was a 79-yard scoring strike to Joshua Palmer early in the third quarter. However, Stick's one interception was a pick-six, and one of his two fumbles also was returned for a touchdown by John Jenkins on the final play of the third quarter. Despite the utterly forgettable team outcome Thursday, Stick is expected to remain the starting quarterback in a Week 16 Saturday night home matchup against the Bills on Dec. 23.

O'Connell completed 20 of 34 passes for 248 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions in the Raiders' 63-21 win over the Chargers on Thursday night.

O'Connell was thought to be in danger of potentially losing his job coming into Thursday, considering interim head coach Antonio Pierce declined to confirm his starter all week. However, the rookie bought himself another game, to say the least, racking up a new career high in touchdown passes while connecting with Tre Tucker (30 yards), Jakobi Meyers (22 yards), Michael Mayer (11 yards) and Tre Tucker (20 yards) in the first half. O'Connell didn't have to do much in the second half, and he'll now have some extra time to relish his first career multi-touchdown game before facing off with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs on the road in a Week 16 Christmas Day matchup.

Hooker (knee) has been ruled out for Saturday's game against the Broncos.

The third-string quarterback remains on the reserve/non-football injury list despite being listed as a full participant in practice on eight straight injury reports. Since the Lions designated Hooker to return Nov. 29, he would have to be added to the 53-man roster in Week 16 in order to play this season.