NFL Player News

Rams head coach Sean McVay said Wednesday that it's "safe to say" Stafford (concussion/neck) isn't in line to play Sunday against the Seahawks, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.

McVay relayed that tidbit after telling Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com that Stafford still is in the concussion protocol and will be held out of practice Wednesday. Stafford hasn't made any noticeable progress through the protocol, and assuming he's eventually ruled out for Sunday's game, McVay will have to choose between John Wolford and Bryce Perkins as the Rams' starting quarterback this weekend.

Garoppolo (knee) is practicing without limitations Wednesday, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Listed as full participant to start the week, Garoppolo will make the start this Sunday against Miami in a game that should be a higher-scoring one than the 49ers' norm. The big injury question for San Francisco this week is at running back, where Elijah Mitchell (knee) is out for the next couple months and Christian McCaffrey (knee) is uncertain to play. If McCaffrey is sidelined, it could work in Garoppolo's favor from a fantasy perspective, though head coach Kyle Shanahan typically isn't one to completely write off his running game.

Rodgers (ribs/thumb) isn't practicing Wednesday, but head coach Matt LaFleur said he expects the quarterback to practice at some point before Sunday's game in Chicago, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports.

The Packers are known for being cautious with injured players, but that doesn't necessarily apply to Rodgers, who will turn 39 this week and needs to win at least four of his final five games (and probably all five) to have a shot at the playoffs. He's been playing through a thumb injury -- reportedly an avulsion fracture -- since Week 6 and was removed from Sunday's loss to the Eagles after hurting his ribs. Rodgers said Tuesday that he was encouraged by the results from a scan on his ribs Monday and thus expects to play this Sunday against the Bears. If not, Jordan Love will start for Green Bay.

The Bears signed Boyle to their active roster from Detroit's practice squad Wednesday ahead of Sunday's game versus Green Bay, Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

With both Justin Fields (shoulder) and Trevor Siemian (oblique) listed as questionable for Week 13, Chicago saw fit to add Boyle as a short-term insurance policy. There's a shot Boyle could be thrust into a starting role immediately, but as long as one of the aforementioned signal callers is available Sunday, Boyle should fill a reserve role.

Siemian won't practice Wednesday due to an oblique injury, Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Siemian injured his oblique during pregame warmups ahead of Sunday's 31-10 loss to the Jets, though he managed to play through the issue while filling in as the starter in place of the injured Justin Fields (shoulder). He wasn't especially effective, however, completing 14 of 25 attempts for 179 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Fields is practicing in a limited capacity Wednesday and hasn't been ruled out for the Bears' matchup with the Packers in Week 13, though his availability looks truly uncertain. With their top two quarterbacks managing injuries, the Bears were motivated to add another healthy signal-caller to the mix and did so by signing Tim Boyle off Detroit's practice squad Wednesday.

Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said Wednesday that Fields (shoulder) will practice in a limited capacity, and added that the quarterback's status for Sunday's game against the Packers remains unclear, Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Eberflus called Fields day-to-day, per Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. Though Fields is dealing with a sprain of his non-throwing shoulder, the Bears likely want to ensure the dual-threat signal-caller isn't hindered by the injury as both a runner and passer before clearing him to play. Meanwhile, backup Trevor Siemian (oblique) -- who started for Chicago in the Week 12 loss to the Jets -- isn't practicing Wednesday, perhaps prompting the Bears' signing of Tim Boyle from the Lions' practice squad to provide extra depth to the position group.

Rodgers (ribs) said Tuesday during an appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show" that he was encouraged by the results of the scans he underwent Monday and plans to play in Week 13 against Chicago, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports.

The veteran quarterback suffered a rib injury during last Sunday's loss to Philadelphia, which forced Jordan Love into his first game action of the season. However, Rodgers was cleared of a punctured lung soon after exiting the contest, and his optimistic outlook about his health likely implies that he avoided any major structural damage to his ribs. He added that he may sit out the first practice of Week 13 prep, but that shouldn't be overly concerning, as he's missed Wednesday sessions for nearly two months straight while nursing an avulsion fracture to his right thumb. Love will stay prepared to start in the event Rodgers' condition takes a turn for the worse as the weekend approaches.

Pickett completed 20 of 28 passes for 174 yards without a touchdown or turnover in Monday's 24-17 win over the Colts. He also threw a two-point conversion and rushed six times for 32 yards.

Pickett had George Pickens open in the end zone on third down with the Steelers looking to take a 20-3 lead late in the first half, but the rookie quarterback overthrew the rookie wide receiver, who almost made a spectacular one-handed grab to bail Pickett out. That miscue aside, Pickett looked composed and in command as the Steelers took a 16-3 halftime lead. He went quiet in the third quarter but heated up in the fourth after Pittsburgh fell behind 17-16, leading a game-winning drive that featured a two-yard Benny Snell touchdown run followed by a Pickett-to-Pickens two-point conversion. Pittsburgh's defense held for the final 9:55 to hand Pickett his third win in seven starts. He'll have a decent shot at win No. 4 against Atlanta on the road in Week 13.

Peterman reverted to the Bears' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's official transaction log.

Peterman received the bump up for Sunday's loss to the Jets with Justin Fields (shoulder) out. He was expected to back up Trevor Siemian, but Peterman almost drew the start when Siemian strained his oblique during warmups. However, Siemian went on to play and Peterman filled the No. 2 role while remaining on the sideline throughout the game. If Fields is unable to play Week 13 against the Packers, Peterman will likely once again find his way to the active roster and serve as Siemian's backup.

Coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday that Garoppolo (knee) made it out of Sunday's win against the Saints "OK" and will be able to practice Wednesday, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.

Garoppolo endured one sack and six quarterback hits Sunday, one of which resulted in a roughing the passer penalty when he took a shot to his left knee early in the third quarter. He didn't miss a snap and completed 26 of 37 passes for 222 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions while rushing four times for four yards. Afterward, Garoppolo told Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle that he was dealing with soreness in the knee in question, which Shanahan reiterated Monday. Still, it appears Garoppolo will be fine for Week 13.