NFL Player News

Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said Thompson will start Sunday's game against the Jets, Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN.com reports.

Per Louis-Jacques, the Dolphins hope that Teddy Bridgewater (finger/knee) will be available in a backup role Sunday after making "unbelievable" progress in his recovery from a dislocated finger this week, but with Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) still out, Thompson is on track to make his second start of the season. Despite the rookie seventh-round pick's limited track record at the NFL level, he represents a lineup option for fantasy managers in a week in which various teams could be limiting or holding out their regular signal-callers as the postseason approaches. Miami needs both a win and a New England loss to earn a playoff spot.

Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said Bridgewater (finger/knee) has a chance to be active Sunday against the Jets, but he would be available only in a backup capacity behind starter Skylar Thompson, Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN reports.

McDaniel confirmed that Thompson will draw his second start of the season Week 18 with Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) ruled out and with Bridgewater having been limited in practice this week while he recovers from a dislocated pinky finger on his throwing hand. Bridgewater has reportedly made substantial progress in his recovery, but he clearly isn't 100 percent healthy, given that he almost certainly have gotten the starting nod over Thompson for this must-win game if that were the case. If Bridgewater isn't cleared to handle the backup role, the Dolphins will likely elevate Mike Glennon from the practice squad to serve as Thompson's understudy.

Tagovailoa (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Jets, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.

Head coach Mike McDaniel said that Skylar Thompson will draw his second start of the season this weekend as the Dolphins chase down a playoff berth, with Miami needing to beat the Jets and hope the Bills defeat the Patriots in order to punch its ticket to the postseason. Tagovailoa has yet to resume practicing, while Teddy Bridgewater (finger/knee) was limited in practice throughout the week and will be available only in a backup role Sunday if he's cleared to play. If Miami is able to secure a playoff spot, Tagovailoa could be an option to start in the wild-card round if he clears the five-step concussion protocol, but it's not clear where he currently stands in his recovery from the brain injury.

Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said Friday that Hurts (shoulder) is "trending in the right direction" as this weekend's game against the Giants approaches, Zach Berman of The Athletic reports.

Hurts has opened Week 18 prep with two straight limited practice sessions, and unless he upgrades to full activity Friday, the quarterback could carry a questionable designation into the regular-season finale. Even in that scenario, Hurts would still appear to be on track for the start, given that he hasn't experienced any reported setbacks in his recovery from the right shoulder sprain that sidelined him for the past two games. The Eagles will secure the NFC's No. 1 overall seed with a win over the Giants, so expect Hurts to attempt to play through the injury even if he's less than 100 percent.

Wilson will be active in Sunday's game against the Dolphins as the backup to starting quarterback Joe Flacco, Brian Costello of the New York Post reports.

Earlier in the week, Jets head coach Robert Saleh said Wilson would remain a healthy inactive for the season finale, but the Jets opted for a change in plans while Mike White continues to tend to four fractured ribs. White was able to play through the injury in last week's loss to the Seahawks that ended the Jets' playoff hopes, and with little at stake in Week 18, the coaching staff won't take any chances with the injured signal-caller. Wilson will thus get one chance to suit up again before the season comes to a close, but the Jets likely won't plan to have him take any snaps Sunday unless Flacco exits early with an injury or performs poorly. The Jets are still likely to re-evaluate Wilson's future with the franchise this offseason after the 2021 No. 2 overall pick failed to show much notable improvement in his second NFL season.

White (ribs) has been ruled out for Sunday's road matchup against the Dolphins, Brian Costello of the New York Post reports.

White was initially set to make his second consecutive start to close out the season, but with the team having been eliminated from postseason contention with a Week 17 loss to the Seahawks, the Jets won't take any chances with the banged-up signal-caller in the finale. Joe Flacco is now in line to start Sunday with Zach Wilson dressing as his top backup, per Costello. White, who is still recovering from four broken ribs suffered in the Jets' Week 14 loss to the Bills, will finish the 2022 season with a 58.9 percent completion rate for 1,192 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions to go with nine rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground over his four appearances.

Purdy (oblique/ribs) was a limited practice participant Thursday.

After putting in an uncapped session Wednesday, Purdy again resumed with practice restrictions as he did Weeks 15 and 16, which resulted from him injuring his oblique Week 14 against the Buccaneers. Despite the health concern, he's completed 54 of 83 passes (65 percent) for 735 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions over the last three games. Friday's injury report will unveil whether or not Purdy goes into the weekend with a designation for Sunday's contest versus the Cardinals.

Huntley (shoulder/wrist) was a limited participant at practice Thursday.

Meanwhile, Lamar Jackson (knee) missed practice again and seems to be trending toward a fifth straight absence Sunday against the Bengals. Per Jonas Shaffer of The Baltimore Sun, Huntley didn't appear to throw a pass in individual and team drills during the media-access portion of Thursday's session, which puts the focus on what he's able to do on the field Friday. If neither Jackson nor Huntley are available this weekend, Anthony Brown or practice-squad member Brett Hundley would be the remaining candidates to start at quarterback in the regular-season finale.

Hurts (right shoulder) practiced on a limited basis Thursday.

During the media-access portion of Thursday's session, Hurts went through a ball-security drill that he was absent from a week ago, according to Josh Tolentino of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Hurts also made throws with good velocity across his body while running to his left and again was the first quarterback to work in individual drills, per Tim McManus of ESPN.com. Still, Hurts logged a second consecutive capped session to kick off Week 18 prep, leaving his status up in the air for Sunday's contest against the Giants. His listing on Friday's injury report will be telling for his chances to put an end to a two-game absence due to a sprained right throwing shoulder.

White (ribs), who was listed as a full practice participant in Wednesday's walkthrough, was limited during Thursday's session, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.

White's status thus is worth monitoring ahead of this weekend's game against the Dolphins, but unless the QB returns to a full practice Friday, he figures to carry an injury designation into the Jets' season finale. Earlier this week, coach Robert Saleh acknowledged that White was dealing with some rib soreness after Week 17 action but added that the signal-caller should be ready for Sunday's contest.