NFL Player News

Kmet (ankle) was a limited practice participant Wednesday.

The Bears also listed Kmet as limited after Tuesday's walk-through. He handled his normal role during Sunday's blowout win over Cleveland, playing 72 percent of snaps on offense while catching two of four targets for 28 yards.

Watson (chest/shoulder) said Wednesday that he's "feeling pretty good" and expects to be "alright for the game" against Chicago on Saturday, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic reports.

Watson was down on the ground for a while after an awkward fall during Saturday's 34-26 loss to the Broncos. He didn't rejoin the game, and was even sent to the hospital briefly, but he flew home with his teammates Sunday night before managing limited practice participation Wednesday.

Burden (ankle) was a non-participant at practice Wednesday.

Burden filled in for an absent Rome Odunze (foot) this past Sunday versus the Browns, hauling in six of seven targets for 84 yards before exiting in the third quarter with an ankle injury. On Monday, coach Ben Johnson called Burden "day-to-day," per Chris Kwiecinski of Fox 32 Chicago, but both he and Odunze have yet to mix into any drills this week. Thursday's practice report will reveal Burden's odds to suit up Saturday against the Packers.

Odunze (foot) didn't participate in Wednesday's practice.

Odunze sat out a Week 14 loss at Green Bay due to a stress fracture in his foot, and while he was listed as active this past Sunday against the Browns, he was a late scratch due to a setback suffered during pregame warmups. On Monday, coach Ben Johnson told Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com that "all options are on the table" for Odunze's recovery, but the second-year pro now has missed both Week 16 sessions, putting his availability in question ahead of Saturday's game versus the Packers.

Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said Wednesday that Tagovailoa will act as the emergency No. 3 quarterback during Sunday's game against the Bengals, Omar Kelly of the Miami Herald reports.

Tagovailoa will not only be benched in favor of rookie seventh-round pick Quinn Ewers versus Cincinnati in Week 16, but he's positioned to be inactive while Zach Wilson remains in the backup role. In that case, Tagovailoa would only be eligible to take the field if both Ewers and Wilson end up forced out of action. Based on the timing of his benching, it won't be surprising if Tagovailoa remains in the No. 3 role for Miami's remaining three regular-season games. Across 14 appearances this year, Tagovailoa has thrown a career-high and league-leading 15 interceptions. If he doesn't take another snap in 2025, Tagovailoa with end the season with a 68 percent completion percentage, 2,660 passing yards and 20 touchdowns, in addition to the aforementioned INTs. He's also rushed 20 times for 43 yards and fumbled eight times, losing one.

Swift was limited at Wednesday's practice due to a groin injury.

Swift was added to the Bears' Week 16 injury report midweek, which often indicates a health concern suffered on the practice field. How he's listed Thursday will provide a sense of his ability to suit up Saturday against the Packers, but Kyle Monangai is on hand in the event Swift is inhibited or sidelined.

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Wednesday that Wilson will remain the No. 2 quarterback behind new starter Quinn Ewers during Sunday's matchup against the Bengals, while Tua Tagovailoa will act as the emergency No. 3 quarterback, Alain Poupart of SI.com reports.

Wilson signed a one-year, $6 million contract with Miami this offseason and has acted as the team's backup quarterback for almost all of the 2025 campaign, but it's Ewers, a rookie seventh-round pick, who has looked more impressive at practice and now gets the starting nod with Tagovailoa benched. That said, Ewers likely won't have much margin for error if he struggles to move the offense early, so it's not inconceivable that Wilson gets a chance to show what he can do under center across the course of the Dolphins' final three regular-season games.

Barkley (stinger) is participating in Wednesday's practice, Andrew DiCecco of InsideTheBirds.com reports.

Barkley was held out of Tuesday's walk-through session due to the stinger he picked up during Philadelphia's blowout win over the Raiders in Week 15, so it's encouraging to see him back on the practice field. The veteran running back has scored in back-to-back games and handled 20 or more carries in four of six games since the Eagles' bye, and he's set for a favorable matchup against Washington's vulnerable run defense Saturday. If he's able to upgrade to full practice reps Thursday, Barkley could avoid an injury designation entirely for Week 16.

Matlock played 36 of the Chargers' 66 snaps on offense and recorded two catches for nine yards in Sunday's 16-13 win over the Chiefs.

Listed at 6-foot-4 and 296 pounds, Matlock began his career as a defensive lineman but has played primarily as a fullback since Jim Harbaugh took over as the Chargers' head coach in 2024. He's typically been deployed mainly as a lead blocker and pass protector, but Matlock ended up seeing a couple of short-yardage targets from quarterback Justin Herbert in Sunday's win. Matlock's last reception had come back in Week 9, when he hauled in a two-yard pass for his first NFL touchdown in a 27-20 win over the Titans.

Fields (knee) won't start Sunday's game at New Orleans but could be active as the backup if he's healthy, Al Iannazzone of Newsday reports.

Brady Cook will start, with the backup situation apparently depending on who of Fields or Tyrod Taylor (knee) is healthier.