HEADLINES

Commanders TE Zach Ertz Suffers ACL Tear

December 8th, 2025 at 2:55pm CST by Adam La Rose

DECEMBER 8: Quinn confirmed on Monday (via ESPN’s John Keim) Ertz did indeed tear his ACL yesterday. Ertz will move to season-ending IR as a result while he begins a lengthy rehab process ahead of free agency.

DECEMBER 7: The Commanders dealt with a number of new injuries on offense during their Sunday game. Among the players who exited was tight end Zach Ertz. 

Ertz was carted off the field after injuring his knee. Shortly thereafter, the three-time Pro Bowler was ruled out for the remainder of the contest. When speaking to the media after the game, head coach Dan Quinn said (via Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic) there is concern about an ACL tear. Concerningly, he added “the early signs aren’t good.”

Further testing, including an MRI, will no doubt take place in the near future. Provided the team’s fears wind up being confirmed, however, Ertz’s season will be over. The 35-year-old was emotional as he made his way off the field, a further indication he will be in store for a lengthy recovery process.

Ertz joined the Commanders on a one-year deal in 2024. The former Eagle and Cardinal played a key role in quarterback Jayden Daniels‘ stellar rookie campaign, scoring seven touchdowns and totaling 654 yards. To little surprise, another pact was worked out in March to ensure Ertz remained in Washington. He posted 493 yards and four touchdowns in 12 games entering today’s action.

The Commanders lost 31-0 against the Vikings on Sunday during a game in which Daniels suffered a new injury. The second-year passer had just returned from an elbow ailment, but Quinn indicated he will be able to play again this season. It remains to be seen if the same will also be true for Ertz, who has been in the NFL since 2013.

The Stanford product has not been linked to a retirement decision in the past, but a major injury such as an ACL tear could of course change his thinking on that front. Ertz is a pending free agent, so his outlook from a health standpoint will be critical in determining his future. The Commanders are now 3-10 on the year, and their attention will turn to preparing for 2026. In Ertz’s case, testing will determine if is able to play again this season.

Bengals Waive WR Jermaine Burton

December 8th, 2025 at 2:33pm CST by Adam La Rose

Jermaine Burton‘s Week 14 Bengals suspension invited questions about how much longer he would remain on the team. A parting of ways is now taking place.

Burton has been waived, head coach Zac Taylor announced on Monday. This marks a rather unceremonious end to the wideout’s two-year tenure in Cincinnati. Burton has not played yet this season, and despite being healthy he did not travel with the team to Buffalo for yesterday’s game.

Coming out of college, Burton was regarded as a highly talented prospect. Character concerns hurt his stock, though, and the Georgia and Alabama product fell to the third round of last year’s draft. Making 14 appearances, Burton’s rookie season saw him receive only 14 targets and make just four catches. Instead of developing into a depth option in the passing game this season, he has remained a non-factor through to today.

Taylor declined to specify the details behind Burton’s suspension (h/t ESPN’s Ben Baby). In any event, that has proven to be the final chapter in his brief Cincinnati tenure. The 24-year-old will now hit the waiver wire. In the event he clears – which can certainly be expected, given the circumstances – Burton will become a free agent. It will be interesting to see where his next NFL opportunity will come from.

In the meantime, the Bengals will move forward with a receiving group led now and for years to come by Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Andrei Iosivas has remained a complementary No. 3 option at the position in 2025, and tight end Mike Gesicki represents another pass-catching presence for the closing stages of the season. Burton will not feature in that group moving forward.

Several positions on defense have been labeled as logical targets regarding offseason moves for the Bengals. Given Burton’s dismissal (and the fact Iosivas is a pending 2027 free agent), though, receiver could be seen as a secondary priority as well.

Raiders CB Kyu Blu Kelly Out For Season

December 8th, 2025 at 2:03pm CST by Adam La Rose

Kyu Blu Kelly‘s first season with the Raiders has come to an end in unwanted fashion. The third-year cornerback suffered a knee injury yesterday and he will not return in 2025.

Kelly was carted off the field during Vegas’ Week 14 loss to Denver. That suggested a lengthy absence could be in store, and testing has confirmed that is indeed the case. Kelly suffered a torn patellar tendon, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

As Garafolo adds, no ligament damage was suffered in this case. That represents only a small consolation in the near term, of course, but it means Kelly should be able to recover in time for the start of next season. Doing so would be critical given his emergence as a key figure in the Raiders’ secondary over the course of this year’s campaign.

A sixth-round pick of the Ravens in 2023, Kelly was placed on waivers during roster cutdowns that summer. The UCLA product was claimed by the Seahawks, although that move did not result in a lengthy stint in Seattle. Kelly found himself on waivers twice more as a rookie, spending time with the Packers and Commanders along the way. Since September of last year, however, the Vegas native has been with his hometown team.

Kelly played sparingly while only making four appearances in 2024. This season has been much different, as shuffling in the secondary helped pave the way for a larger workload. Taking on a starting role through much of the campaign, Kelly set career highs across the board with 40 tackles, three interceptions and six pass deflections. The 24-year-old will certainly have a degree of momentum heading into the offseason.

Kelly is set to be an exclusive rights restricted free agent this spring. Given his level of play in 2025, it would come as no surprise if the Raiders were to tender him and by doing so ensure he remains in the fold for next season. Week 1 of 2026 is the earliest point at which Kelly will be able to resume his promising Vegas tenure.

Lions Sign S Damontae Kazee

December 8th, 2025 at 1:17pm CST by Adam La Rose

In need of safety depth, the Lions have found a veteran late in the year. Damontae Kazee is set to join Detroit for the stretch run.

Kazee is signing with the Lions on their practice squad, Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network report. If all goes well, he will be on the team’s active roster in short order. Detroit lost Brian Branch to an Achilles tear on Thursday, ending his season. The Kazee signing has since been announced by head coach Dan Campbell.

Of course, Kazee will not be tasked with replacing Branch’s production or his place in the starting lineup. Nevertheless, he could provide the Lions with veteran depth in the secondary and on special teams. Kazee has made 111 regular season appearances in the NFL, including four earlier this season with the Browns.

Last month, Cleveland released Kazee. He remained on the open market since then, but this Detroit deal will allow for the ninth-year veteran to carve out a role on his latest team. The Lions are currently 8-5, good for third in the NFC North. Detroit is on the outside of the playoff picture right now, and inconsistent play on defense (fueled in no small part by injuries, just like in 2024) has played a key role.

The Lions rank mid-pack in a number of defensive categories this year, and they are 19th in the NFL in terms of passing yards allowed. Losing Branch will hinder the team’s ability to improve in a number of areas down the stretch, but managing to replace him represents a major goal for the next four games. Kazee – who has made 63 starts, many of which came early in his career – will look to contribute in some capacity. Doing so would provide a boost to his chances of landing a deal relatively soon in free agency come the spring.

Colts QB Daniel Jones Suffers Achilles Tear

December 8th, 2025 at 12:37pm CST by Adam La Rose

By the end of last night, it was widely expected testing on Daniel Jones would confirm he suffered an Achilles tear. To no surprise, that has proven to be the case.

An MRI has now been completed, and veteran insider Jordan Schultz reports Jones has indeed torn his Achilles. Today’s confirmation means surgery will be required as Jones turn his attention to 2026. As a pending free agent, his situation could now become complicated compared to where things previously stood. Surgery will take place within the next week, per head coach Shane Steichen (via ESPN’s Stephen Holder).

Jones enjoyed a stellar start to the campaign, helping lead the Colts to a 7-1 record. The free agent signing played a key role in that success, and it appeared as though he was setting himself up for a notable payday from the Colts. Things have taken a major turn since then, however, with Indianapolis’ playoff chances taking several hits in recent weeks. Jones will need to focus on recovering as the Colts contemplate how to proceed under center.

Team and player have not yet conducted serious contract negotiations. Jones signed for a base value of $14MM (with nearly all of that figure guaranteed) to join the Colts in March, but he was in store for a substantial raise provided he managed to continue his level of play through December. Already dealing with a fractured fibula, the former No. 6 pick was unable to do so, suffering his Achilles tear in the form of a non-contact injury. Even if Jones can suit up for the start of next season, this will no doubt alter his financial situation.

The Colts are also without backup quarterback Anthony Richardson as he continues to reside on IR. The team is unsure whether or not a return will be possible this season. As such, it will be sixth-round rookie Riley Leonard leading the way for the final four games of the campaign. Indianapolis’ loss yesterday dropped the team to 8-5 on the year.

After holding a comfortable lead in the AFC South, therefore, the Colts now occupy the No. 7 seed in the conference. A fall out of the playoffs altogether would not surprise many given the team’s injury situation. Regardless of what happens on that front, Jones’ surgery and his subsequent rehab process will be a major storyline through the offseason.

Browns C Ethan Pocic Suffers Achilles Tear

December 8th, 2025 at 12:15pm CST by Ely Allen

DECEMBER 8: Stefanski confirmed on Monday (via Easterling) Pocic has indeed torn his Achilles. His season is over as a result, and free agency will no doubt produce little in the way of strong offers while Pocic recovers.

DECEMBER 7: It was a difficult scene in Cleveland this afternoon, where, despite a big statistical day for rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders, the Browns were officially eliminated from postseason contention. In addition to that loss, Cleveland’s already banged up offensive line experienced another loss as center Ethan Pocic was carted off the field early in the fourth quarter of today’s game, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.

Cabot’s early report noted Pocic grabbing his ankle, and the team’s associate editor & staff writer Kelsey Russo called it a calf injury shortly after he left the field of play. According to Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal, though, head coach Kevin Stefanski told the media following the game that “it’s likely an Achilles injury.” The 30-year-old veteran will undergo further testing to determine the extent of the injury.

Once the first center (and fifth offensive lineman) taken in the 2017 NFL draft out of LSU, Pocic played out his rookie contract in Seattle, not earning a full-time starting role until his final year with the team, though he did start 16 games over his first three seasons as an injury replacement. The Seahawks were unwilling to commit to Pocic long-term but signed him for an additional, fifth year. He ended up losing the starting job to Kyle Fuller, who handed the job right back eight weeks into the season.

After that year, Pocic decided to test the free agent waters and landed himself in Cleveland on a veteran minimum one-year deal. Starting 13 games for the Browns that year, Pocic played the best football of his career, with Pro Football Focus (subscription required) ranking him as the 3rd best center in the NFL that season. Cleveland rewarded Pocic with a three-year, $18MM commitment, and though he hasn’t quite played to the same level over the course of that deal, he’s been a mostly dependable presence on the offensive line.

In truth, Pocic has not played in every game of a season since his rookie year, be it due to injury or benching. His last three years in Cleveland have been his most consistent, seeing him only miss three games from the start of the 2023 season to today, but if this truly is an Achilles injury that sidelines him, he’ll fall five games short of a full season this year, continuing the streak of incomplete campaigns.

As a result, it will be interesting to see what the future brings for Pocic. This was a contract year for the nine-year veteran, and it looks like he’ll be limping into free agency. Cleveland will likely look to get younger across the line as they move forward, and Pocic will have a long road to recovery, if his Achilles tendon has indeed ruptured, as suspected. It will be a long time before he’s able to start working out for teams again.

When Pocic exited the game today, the Browns turned to Luke Wypler, a sixth-round pick out of Ohio State two year ago. Earlier this year, Wypler got a start against the Dolphins as a sixth offensive lineman, eventually subbing in to replace Cornelius Lucas at right tackle. Despite a fumbled snap that cost the team a two-point conversion today in their two-point loss to the Titans, Wypler will likely be the man in the middle for what’s left of the Browns’ season. If right guard Wyatt Teller and right tackle Jack Conklin, who missed today’s game with injury, are unable to play again next week, left guard Joel Bitonio will be the only Day 1 starter left standing in Cleveland.

Colts QB Anthony Richardson Uncertain To Return In 2025

December 8th, 2025 at 12:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

With Daniel Jones suffering what has widely been reported as an Achilles tear yesterday, the Colts are set to rely on other options under center. It is unclear if the team’s backup from early in the season will be one of them.

Anthony Richardson suffered an orbital bone fracture during warmups in October. That led to an injured reserve stint, one which has continued without any clear signs of when it will end. The Colts have left the door open to Richardson returning to action late in the campaign, but there is still nothing imminent on that front.

The former No. 4 pick was not able to take part in football activities last week, as noted by Fox59’s Mike Chappell. Meanwhile, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reports Richardson remains sidelined at this point. He adds the Colts are still unsure of whether or not a return at any point this season will be possible. If Richardson does not return to practice, he will close out the campaign on IR.

That would deal another blow to the 23-year-old’s value, something which has steadily sunk since his arrival in the NFL. Richardson’s Indianapolis future is unclear, and the possibility of a trade allowing for a fresh start has been raised. Of course, the Colts appeared to be positioned for a long-term Jones commitment before his injury took place. It will be interesting to see if the team’s QB planning changes moving forward.

In the meantime, Riley Leonard is set to receive his first NFL start next week. The Colts have dropped to 8-5, and their playoff chances will now hinge in large part on the sixth-round rookie’s ability to guide the offense successfully. Brett Rypien resides on the practice squad, and he can be expected to sign to Indianapolis’ active roster in the near future. Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports points to a quarterback acquisition being likely (video link). He names Sam Ehlinger – who began his career with the Colts and is currently with the Broncos – as a target on that front.

Richardson would be tasked with handling QB1 duties in the event he were to return for any or all of the Colts’ remaining four games. As things stand, however, it does not appear as though he will be able to do so.

Chargers QB Justin Herbert’s Status Uncertain For Week 14

December 8th, 2025 at 11:06am CST by Adam La Rose

Since Justin Herbert underwent surgery to repair a fracture in his non-throwing hand, his availability for Week 14 has been in question. That remains the case as of early Monday.

The Chargers have expressed optimism in recent days about Herbert being able to play through the injury tonight against the Eagles. The Pro Bowler has logged limited sessions in practice, but head coach Jim Harbaugh noted (h/t ESPN’s Kris Rhim) Herbert has managed to participate in seven-on-seven as well as 11-on-11 work this week. He is therefore still a candidate to suit up.

In the event Herbert does play, though, his mechanics will be something to monitor closely. Throughout his preparation in recent days, he has not been able to receive snaps from under center. Shotgun operations have been normal, as noted by Daniel Popper of The Athletic. Managing to handle snaps of all kinds without issue will of course be critical in determining whether or not Herbert will be able to finish (or even start) the Bolts’ Week 14 game.

Entering tonight, the Chargers sit at 8-4. Catching the Broncos for top spot in the division will be difficult even with a win, but Los Angeles is in a strong position to secure a wild-card berth. The 8-5 Colts are set to finish the season without quarterback Daniel Jones, while the Chiefs, Ravens and Dolphins all sport records of 6-7. Needless to say, Herbert’s health will be critical down the stretch.

The Chargers will have running back Omarion Hampton in place tonight. The first-round rookie will be counted on to handle a large workload in his first game action since late October. A run-based approach will be key especially if Herbert is limited or if he winds up being unable to play.

Trey Lance will be tasked with guiding Los Angeles’ offense in the event Herbert is ruled out for tonight. The former No. 3 pick has made three appearances so far this season, attempting just 13 passes. Those figures will increase if Herbert is ruled out later today, but it remains to be seen if that will be the case.

Ravens Received Trade Interest In RB Keaton Mitchell

December 8th, 2025 at 9:39am CST by Adam La Rose

Keaton Mitchell has flashed potential when on the field, something which has caught the eye of interested teams. The third-year running back was the subject of trade calls ahead of last month’s deadline.

Teams reached out to the Ravens to discuss a Mitchell trade, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reports. To little surprise, he adds Baltimore (a team which was involved in three in-season swaps) turned down interest on that front. Instead of changing teams at the deadline, Mitchell remained in place for the closing stages of the 2025 season.

After entering the league as a UDFA, Mitchell was unused for the beginning of his rookie season. Things changed when he found himself in the lineup, though, as he totaled 489 scrimmage yards on just 56 touches while scoring a pair of touchdowns. An ACL tear ended his standout showing in 2023, and the 23-year-old only made five appearances last year upon returning to game action.

As expected, Derrick Henry – who signed an extension this past offseason – has continued to lead the way in Baltimore’s backfield in 2025. The future Hall of Famer has received at least 10 carries all but once this season, and a heavy workload will no doubt continue down the stretch. Henry has endured rough patches multiple times in 2025, and especially with Justice Hill residing on IR due to a neck injury, Mitchell is in position to operate as Baltimore’s change-of-pace option at the RB spot.

Mitchell scored a touchdown during the Ravens’ Thanksgiving loss, and his performance yesterday included a 55-yard run. The East Carolina product has only handled 93 carries to date in his brief NFL career, but he has averaged 7.0 yards per attempt. Maintaining that level of efficiency over time will obviously be difficult, but Mitchell will look to remain an effective contributor through the remainder of his Baltimore tenure.

Henry and Hill are both under contract for next season. Mitchell, by contrast, is a pending restricted free agent. Given the fact teams were interested in exploring a trade, suitors could emerge in short order provided he is non-tendered and reaches the open market. A more likely scenario would be a decision on the Ravens’ part to tender Mitchell; that would leave an unmatched offer sheet (or trade, of course) as the only means by which a change of scenery could be possible in this case.

Texans, TE Brevin Jordan Agree To Extension

December 8th, 2025 at 8:44am CST by Adam La Rose

Brevin Jordan has not played in 2025, but he will not be changing teams this offseason. The veteran tight end remains in the Texans’ plans for next year.

Jordan and the Texans have agreed to a one-year extension, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. As a result, he will not reach free agency during the spring. Instead, Jordan will be able to compete for a role upon returning to full health.

A 2024 ACL tear limited the former fifth-rounder to just two games that season. Jordan managed to recover in time for training camp this past summer, but a torn patellar tendon suffered in practice resulted in the Texans placing him on injured reserve. The timing of that move ensured he would be sidelined for the entire campaign. Houston is confident Jordan will be able to contribute in 2026, however. Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 reports the recovery process has gone to plan so far.

Jordan, 25, played out his rookie contract with the Texans, logging a rotational role on offense during that time. The Miami product did not serve as a consistent presence in the passing game, but his work as a run blocker helped lead to a one-year extension being worked out almost exactly one year ago. That 2024 pact was worth $2.1MM and included $850K guaranteed. It certainly stands to reason this new deal will be worth less on both counts.

Injuries at the tight end spot have been an issue for Houston during much of this season, although Dalton Schultz and Cade Stover are healthy at the moment. Those two will be counted on to lead the way at the position as the Texans aim to continue their five-game winning streak. Top spot in the AFC South is possible despite the team’s 0-3 start to the year. Regardless of what happens the rest of the way, Jordan will remain in the fold through to 2026.

Load More Posts