HEADLINES

Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes Suffers Torn ACL

December 14th, 2025 at 10:19pm CST by Ely Allen

It looked bad when it occurred, but definitive news wasn’t expected quite this soon. The Chiefs have officially announced that star quarterback Patrick Mahomes has suffered a torn ACL in his left knee. His season has come to an end as the team explores surgical options.

This is unprecedented territory the 30-year-old quarterback. Mahomes has damn near been an ironman since entering the NFL. He has only ever missed two games with injury. After only appearing in one game of his rookie season behind starter Alex Smith, Mahomes’ next absences occurred over a two-week stretch in 2019, when he dislocated his patella. After that, the only games Mahomes missed were the final regular season contests in 2020, 2023, and 2024 as he rested for the playoffs in each campaign.

The injury occurred today as Mahomes was rolling out right for a pass and, after releasing it, was tripped up by Chargers defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand. The two-time MVP immediately grabbed at his knee and did not return to the game. After the loss, head coach Andy Reid told reporters what he knew, that Mahomes had “injured his left knee and will get an MRI either tonight or tomorrow morning,” per ESPN’s Jeff Darlington. Asked about the degree of severity, Reid told the media, “I don’t know. It didn’t look good.”

About 90 minutes later, Mahomes himself took to X with a message. He told fans that he didn’t “know why this had to happen” and that “it hurts.” He ended his message with an ominous promise, saying, “I will be back stronger than ever,” insinuating that an absence was to come. About half an hour later, the team account delivered the results of the MRI that did, in fact, take place tonight.

Following Mahomes’ early exit, backup quarterback Gardner Minshew entered only his third game this season and did so, for the first time, not in garbage time. In fact, Kansas City was trailing when Mahomes exited, and Minshew failed to bring the team back. The Chiefs would go on to lose their third game in a row, and adding insult to injury, the team was officially eliminated from playoff contention, as a result. This is the first time Kansas City will not participate in the postseason since 2014, three years before Mahomes was drafted.

With nothing left to play for, Minshew will likely take Kansas City the rest of the way. Practice squad passer Chris Oladokun stands a strong chance at taking Mahomes’ spot on the 53-man roster as Minshew’s backup. Mahomes, though, will continue exploring surgical options with the team as they begin the long road back to what they hope will be a return in 2026.

The Chiefs have been able to count on Mahomes’ durability since his stratospheric 2018 debut, gliding to seven straight AFC championship games since the 2017 first-rounder debuted as the starter. Matt Moore was in place as his backup during the 2019 season — one that ended the franchise’s then-50-year Super Bowl drought. Moore was brought in for the ’19 season due to a Chad Henne injury, but Henne became needed when Mahomes suffered a concussion in the 2020 divisional round. Mahomes then played the 2022 playoffs with a high ankle sprain, needing to leave a divisional-round game for a short period in the first half. The future Hall of Fame QB also suffered an ankle injury late last season but did not miss any time.

Kansas City has toggled through backups since Henne’s February 2023 retirement, moving from Blaine Gabbert to Carson Wentz to Minshew. Dropped after one season as the Raiders’ primary starter, Minshew signed with the Chiefs on a one-year, $1.17MM deal. The Raiders are still footing some of the bill after giving him a two-year, $25MM contract in 2024. Minshew will have a three-game audition, as a potential 2026 raise — from the Chiefs or another team — will be in play.

As for the Chiefs, they were trending toward missing the playoffs with Mahomes. That represents a shocking development based on their finishes with the Missouri icon at the controls. Entering the season seventh in scoring defense, the team did not have issues comparable to the 2024 Bengals or the Saints during their absences amid Drew Brees‘ prime. While the Chiefs held the Chargers to 16 points, a Mahomes INT denied a potential go-ahead fourth-quarter drive. His injury occurred soon after, signaling a voyage into uncharted waters for Kansas City.

Kansas City’s defense did not quite meet its level of recent seasons, though, cutting into a bounce-back Mahomes slate. The ninth-year passer ends his season fifth in QBR, closing the campaign with 22 touchdown passes, 11 interceptions and 3,587 passing yards.

Mahomes’ MRI will help shape his timetable. More damage being discovered potentially would put the PUP list in play to open the 2026 season. The Chiefs will obviously hope for a Week 1 return; their 2026 backup search will be more important regardless of when Mahomes is expected back, however.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post.

Packers Fear Micah Parsons Tore ACL

December 14th, 2025 at 10:18pm CST by Ely Allen

Stars are falling on both sides of the ball this evening. Shortly following news of an identical injury to Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the Packers fear star pass rusher Micah Parsons has suffered a torn ACL. Parsons will undergo further testing with the team in order to confirm the diagnosis.

While Parsons and Mahomes both suffered the injury on their left knee, Parsons’ came without contact as he collapsed in the midst of a pass rush and went down holding the injured limb. Green Bay ruled him out shortly after, and in the postgame proceedings, head coach Matt LaFleur told reporters, “It doesn’t look good, I’ll leave it at that,” per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

It’s been a frustrating year for Parsons. As soon as the calendar changed to March and the 2025 NFL season, Parsons began negotiating with the Cowboys for a long-term extension. What followed was a novel’s worth of updates, how the two sides were far apart, how the team hadn’t even submitted an offer yet, how Parsons was asking for big money, and how the Cowboys were willing to make him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.

Things got serious when Organized Team Activities took place without Parsons in attendance, indicating that Parsons’ negotiations were set to follow in the difficult footsteps of former teammates CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott. Parsons eased tensions by returning for minicamp as negotiations continued, but things soured when Parsons felt he had been cornered to negotiate without his agent. Negotiations started going in the wrong direction after that, and Parsons requested a trade from Dallas.

After a good amount of tumult, Jerry Jones and the Cowboys finally caved, trading Parsons to Green Bay just a week and a half before the start of the regular season. The trade came along with a four-year, $188MM extension, providing Parsons with the raise he desired. In return, Parsons has given the team his usual brilliance. In just 14 games, Parsons has continued his streak of seasons with at least 12.0 sacks, something he’s done in all five years of his career. With three games left to go, he even had a chance to challenge his career-high sack number of 14.0.

Before Parsons’ arrival, the Packers defense was no liability. The 2024 unit ranked sixth in points allowed and fifth in yards allowed behind a seventh-ranked rush defense and 13th-best pass defense. With Parsons in tow, the defense once again ranks sixth in points allowed and fifth in yards allowed. This time, though, Parsons has helped the pass defense improve to seventh in the NFL with an eighth-ranked run defense.

The Packers have a number of injuries throughout the defensive line aside from Parsons. Without Parsons, Green Bay will likely turn to Kingsley Enagbare and Lukas Van Ness to pick up the yoke across from Rashan Gary. They almost certainly will not be able to fully match his output, but they’ll need to try to minimize his absence as much as possible as the team just holds on to a Wild Card spot after today’s loss.

In addition to losing Parsons tonight, the Packers saw recently returned wide receiver Christian Watson depart today’s game with a chest injury. According to James Palmer of The Athletic, Watson left the stadium in an ambulance, but he ended up traveling home with the team after getting a scan, per another writer at The Athletic, Matt Schneidman.

Bengals QB Joe Burrow Not Seeking Trade, Not Considering Retirement

December 14th, 2025 at 10:10pm CST by Rory Parks

10:10pm: When speaking to the media after today’s shutout loss, Burrow confirmed (via Dehner) his recent comments were tied to “football” rather than “Cincinnati” specifically. Burrow reiterated his belief in the organization – one which has now officially been eliminated from the playoffs for the third year in a row – to make the needed improvements during the offseason.

10:56am: In Week 13, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow returned from injured reserve much earlier than originally expected and led his club to a victory over the division-rival Ravens, thus keeping Cincinnati’s slim playoff hopes alive. A week later, he threw an interception in consecutive fourth-quarter possessions – one of them a pick-six – in a heartbreaking loss to the Bills. 

The defeat all but eliminated the Bengals from playoff contention, and during a press conference on Wednesday, a typically-contemplative Burrow offered a few comments that raised eyebrows about his future in the league (or at least in Cincinnati).

“If I want to keep doing this, I have to have fun doing this,” Burrow said (via Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic (subscription required)). “I have been through a lot. If it’s not fun, then what am I doing it for? That is the mindset I am trying to bring to the table.”

When asked what was bothering him, Burrow said, “[t]here are just a lot of things going on right now. A lot of things going on.”

He was then asked if he was referring to personal or football matters, and he succinctly replied, “all of the above.”

The presser took place on Burrow’s 29th birthday, which is the same age that Andrew Luck was when he suddenly announced his retirement in 2019. However, multiple reporters subsequently made it clear Burrow is not considering that route, nor does he want to leave the Bengals (he is currently under contract through 2029).

One source told Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports that the retirement/trade demand speculation that grew out of Burrow’s comments was “blown out” of proportion and simply “crazy.”

“He was emotional on his birthday and pissed that for as much as he’s worked, he’s still not able to win,” the source said. “That’s all he wants to do. … If he cannot win he’s miserable.”

Burrow has missed significant time due to injury in three of his six professional seasons, and though fully-healthy campaigns in 2021 and 2022 led to a Super Bowl appearance and a run to the AFC Championship game, respectively, Cincinnati is on track to miss the playoff field for the third straight year. It would not be surprising if the health woes and the on-field losses have taken a mental toll.

Even if that’s the case, Dianna Russini of The Athletic (subscription required) hears that the two-time Pro Bowl passer has not so much as hinted at retirement, nor does he want out of Cincinnati. Although he previously has expressed frustration with some aspects of the franchise’s operation – such as the fact that the Bengals employ the NFL’s smallest coaching and scouting staffs – those concerns were not behind his Wednesday remarks.

A source close to Burrow said, “[w]hen was the last time Joe made two mistakes to lose a game for any team he’s been on? He knows he has to be perfect for this team to win, and he wasn’t perfect.”

Another source familiar with Burrow’s thinking said, “[e]veryone is being a little dramatic. This isn’t mental health, this isn’t depression, this is ‘I want to win.'”

Jones reports that, the Bengals’ history with unhappy players like QB Carson Palmer notwithstanding, there is no panic within the organization about Burrow’s future in the Queen City. Team sources tell ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that Burrow had an excellent week of practice, and they believe he wants to be there. Even so, ESPN colleague Adam Schefter said on his podcast that rival clubs did take note of Burrow’s words.

“I could tell you this: other teams in the league took notice of [Burrow’s presser],” Schefter said (h/t Charlie Baduini of The Sporting News). “I could tell you that for a fact, I know that because I was texting with some of them.”

Most teams in the league would be interested in acquiring Burrow if he were to become available. At the moment, however, it seems the former Heisman Trophy winner and CFP national champion was merely expressing his frustrations over another lost season in the pros and will remain in tiger stripes for the long haul.

Indeed, Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase has seen no change in, or negativity from, his longtime friend and teammate, per ESPN’s Ben Baby. Meanwhile, Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network (video link) echoed the Jones and Russini reports and said Burrow’s comments stemmed solely from his frustration with on-field results.

Assessing Browns QB Shedeur Sanders’ Chances Of Starting In 2026

December 14th, 2025 at 10:08pm CST by Ely Allen

Rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders came into the season with plenty to prove. Once projected to be a top draft pick, Sanders entered the NFL as a fifth-round pick and the fourth in line at his position in Cleveland. Finally getting his chance to start, Sanders has been a mixed bag so far in his efforts to prove he belongs.

His NFL debut came in the exact manner the Browns had feared it might, as an injury replacement in an offense designed for another passer. Some ugly stats on the box score discredit the reality, which was that Sanders put his team in a decent position for a late-game tying score against the division rival Ravens.

The next week, in Las Vegas, Sanders logged both his first NFL start and his first NFL win. Working under a gameplan designed completely around him, Sanders showed small improvements. Browns coaches kept the gameplan simple, focusing on quick reads and easy completions. In his second start, against the 49ers, Sanders had a more efficient performance, sporting a higher completion percentage while being interception-free for the first time, but the offense ultimately struggled to create and Sanders took a few too many sacks.

Last week, he dueled with a fellow rookie, No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward. Though Ward walked away with the win, Sanders owned the superior stat line. With Cleveland’s staff incrementally injecting more and more each week into the offensive gameplan, Sanders looked comfortable for much of the game as he put up a career-high 364 passing yards. Today, against the Bears, felt like a major regression, though. A blowout loss with three interceptions and five sacks had Sanders looking very much the part of the fifth-round rookie.

The highs and lows in this short sample of his rookie campaign rightfully has fans asking: does he deserve a chance at the starting job in 2026? Or should the Browns continue in their presumed plans to draft a quarterback with one of their two first-round picks next year? Mike Sando, Jeff Howe, and Zak Keefer of The Athletic touched on the topic in a round table yesterday.

Even without the knowledge of today’s brutal performance, the consensus was much more short-sighted. Essentially, The Athletic staffers asserted that Sanders hasn’t quite earned anything that far in the future just yet, but he has earned the right to keep proving himself this season. With more games like he had against the Titans, Sanders could absolutely show the Browns he’s worthy of strong consideration. Any more performances like today, though, and Sanders may rule himself out quicker than expected.

Another consideration they discussed was the fact that potential leadership changes in the offseason could even alter who is making the decision to give Sanders a chance next year. Regardless, whoever is making decisions when the draft comes around will be highly encouraged to draft a quarterback if they like that prospect more than Sanders. The current rookie has not yet done enough to prevent that from being a priority next year, but he’ll continue to get every opportunity for now.

Rams WR Davante Adams In Danger Of Missing Week 16

December 14th, 2025 at 10:05pm CST by Ely Allen

Early on in the season, Rams wide receiver Davante Adams sustained a mild hamstring strain. While the injury put him on the practice injury report, he didn’t miss any time because of it. In today’s big win over the Lions, though, Adams seemed to aggravate the injury into a higher severity.

For what it’s worth, per Sarah Barshop of ESPN, Adams is “optimistic” about the injury. He played through it in the early weeks of the season, and though it’s resurfaced over the last few weeks, limiting him in practice, Adams has been able to tough it out and play his way through it. Trainers do sometimes have to call out injuries players refuse to respect and pay heed to, but Adams know his body better than anybody else.

That being said, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, head coach Sean McVay told reporters that Adams’ hamstring injury “didn’t look good,” communicating that the veteran wideout’s status could be in doubt for Week 16. The Rams play on a short week of rest next week with a Thursday night road trip to Seattle next on the docket. Hamstring injuries don’t typically subside quickly after aggravation, so McVay’s concern is well warranted.

So far this season, Adams has been one half of a two-headed monster in the Rams passing game across from Puka Nacua. Coming into the week, both players boasted triple-digit targets while the next most-targeted player was running back Kyren Williams with 35. After taking out Williams and tight ends, second-year receivers Jordan Whittington (23) and Xavier Smith (14) and rookie seventh-rounder Konata Mumpfield (8) made up the rest of the receivers target share entering the week. The team did return Tutu Atwell from injured reserve this weekend, and he may stand a better chance a dipping into the target share.

Ultimately, per ESPN’s Lindsey Thiry, McVay concluded vaguely, “We will see what’s going on with Davante.” An optimistic Adams and skeptical McVay will navigate the short week ahead of them before making any official decisions for Thursday.

Rams To Prioritize WR Puka Nacua Extension This Offseason

December 14th, 2025 at 4:58pm CST by Adam La Rose

Puka Nacua has remained one of the league’s top receivers in 2025. The coming offseason will be the first during which a Rams extension will be possible, and signs are pointing to one being worked out.

The Rams view a new Nacua contract as a priority, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports (video link). That comes as little surprise, of course. The 2023 fifth-rounder has been a star since arriving in the league. Nacua has increased his yards per game average every year in his career; entering today’s action, it stands at 98.8 for 2025.

Given that elite level of production, a central question in this case will be tied to finances. Nacua certainly has a case to become the league’s top earner at the receiver spot, especially given the expectation the salary cap will see another notable jump in 2026. For now, the position’s market includes nine contracts averaging $30MM or more per season.

Justin Jefferson led the way with an AAV of $35MM until Ja’Marr Chase finalized his Bengals extension this past spring. Chase’s pact averages $40.25MM per year and includes just under $110MM in total guarantees (with a large portion of that fully locked in). It will be interesting to see if Nacua, 24, can approach the top spot in the WR pecking order once his second Rams contract is worked out.

On that note, ESPN’s Dan Graziano writes the Nacua talks will be closely monitored around the NFL. Many in the league feel the receiver market has surged at too high of a pace, and a leveling off period could be in store as a result. If not, Nacua is among the wideouts who could move the bar even higher. In any case, negotiations between Los Angeles and the Pro Bowler will make for one of the team’s top storylines during the 2026 offseason.

The Rams moved on from Cooper Kupp in March, ending his decorated eight-year run with the team. Fellow veteran Davante Adams was signed as a replacement on a two-year, $44MM contract. That investment has paid major dividends, with Adams scoring 14 touchdowns and counting in 2025. Tutu Atwell was retained on a one-year pact, but it would come as little surprise if he were to depart in free agency after the season.

Without any long-term deals at the receiver spot, Los Angeles should be in line for a massive commitment in Nacua’s case. The BYU product hopes to retire by the age of 30, meaning he may only play on two NFL contracts in his career. The second one could be in place relatively soon, depending on the progress of extension talks.

Cardinals WR Andre Baccellia Hospitalized With Neck Injury

December 14th, 2025 at 2:36pm CST by Adam La Rose

During today’s Cardinals-Texans game, Andre Baccellia suffered a neck injury. The Arizona receiver will not return as further testing takes place.

Baccellia was taken off the field on a stretcher, and he was quickly ruled out for the remainder of the contest. The 28-year-old has been transported to a hospital for further evaluation. Per an update from the team, Baccellia is alert and has movement in all of his extremities.

A former UDFA signed by Kansas City, each of Baccellia’s 17 regular season appearances have come with the Cardinals. He operated on a part-time offensive and special teams basis for 2022 and ’23. After not seeing the field last year, Baccellia was among Arizona’s roster cuts following training camp. To little surprise, he was immediately retained via a practice squad deal. In November, Baccellia was signed to the Cards’ active roster.

Since then, he has once again chipped in as a depth option on offense. Baccellia also saw the field for 24 special teams snaps heading into today’s game. The Washington product is under contract through 2026, so his status will have an impact not only on the closing games of this season but also next year.

Injuries have been a major issue across the board for the Cardinals in 2025. The team entered Sunday’s game with a record of 3-10, and the receiver depth chart has been thinned out with Marvin Harrison Jr.‘s heel injury. Losing Baccellia will not have as large of an effect on Arizona’s offense, but his absence will still be felt. For all involved, attention will now turn to Baccellia’s prognosis.

NFL Approves Funding For Flag Football League

December 14th, 2025 at 1:42pm CST by Adam La Rose

In October, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed the league’s intention of starting a professional flag football league. A key step in that direction recently took place.

During this past week’s virtual league meeting, owners approved a proposal to fund a flag league. Specifically, the “32 Equity” investment entity has now been cleared to join with a to-be-announced partner with the aim of getting a new league off the ground. Up to $32MM in funds can be invested by the NFL.

“[This] vote represents a critical step in establishing flag football as a premier global sport,” a statement from NFL executive VP of football operations Troy Vincent reads. “We are developing the infrastructure to accelerate the game’s growth to new heights by creating a clear pathway for aspiring athletes to progress from youth and high school programs through college and now to the professional level.

“We look forward to forming a partnership to bring this vision to life and deliver a world-class professional flag football experience for elite athletes and fans alike.”

Flag football’s popularity has seen a sharp increase in the United States and abroad during recent years. The NFL has played a leading role in the growth of the game at the high school and collegiate levels, something which is set to continue for the foreseeable future. A pro league represents a logical next step in the overall development of flag football, and it comes as little surprise the NFL will be heavily involved.

This latest development comes against the backdrop of flag football making its Olympic debut in Los Angeles in 2028. The league was instrumental in ensuring that would be the case, and NFL players have been cleared to participate. Before that takes place, a pro football league will likely be in operation.

Jaguars OC Grant Udinski To Be Popular HC Candidate?

December 14th, 2025 at 12:32pm CST by Rory Parks

Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski will not turn 30 until next month. Nonetheless, Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports reports the promising coach may be a popular name in the upcoming HC cycle.

Since the Rams hired Sean McVay as their head coach just a few days shy of his 31st birthday in 2017, other teams around the NFL frequently have sought candidates in the same mold: a young, creative offensive mind who can provide fresh energy and engineer a high-scoring outfit. Clubs seeking the “next McVay” have found varying degrees of success, but Udinski could be the next such coach to try and replicate the sustained stretch of competitiveness Los Angeles has enjoyed under its former wunderkind.

When Jacksonville’s first-year HC, Liam Coen, hired Udinski in February, he called his new staffer a “rising star,” and he was not the only one to notice. Udinski started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Baylor in 2019 and followed Matt Rhule from Waco to the Panthers in 2020. Rhule’s tenure with Carolina did not go well, and Udinski jumped ship after the 2021 season to join Kevin O’Connell’s first staff with the Vikings in 2022.

Udinski became Minnesota’s assistant quarterbacks coach the following year, and he added the role of assistant offensive coordinator last season. As Jones notes, the Pennsylvania native had a hand in two strong Kirk Cousins-led years with the Vikes – though one of them was shortened by injury – and he was also heavily involved in Sam Darnold’s surprising 2024 campaign. 

Jones likewise credits Udinski with helping Jags QB Trevor Lawrence’s “resurgence” this season. While Jacksonville is 9-4 and in first place in the AFC South, Lawrence’s bottom-line stats are just as pedestrian as they have been throughout most of his pro career. Still, the success the team as a whole is having has kept Udinski’s stock on the rise.

His cause could also be helped by the dearth of other offensive-minded candidates who have stood out in 2025. Jones appears to acknowledge that Udinski’s youth will give HC-needy teams pause, and the fact that he does not call the Jaguars’ offensive plays – Coen holds that responsibility – may also be a cause for concern (though that is merely speculation).

Even if he does not land a head coaching post in 2026, Udinski could become a fixture in HC rumors in future years, just as he was on the OC circuit in 2025 (he interviewed for the offensive coordinator position with five different clubs). 

Packers Unlikely To Retain WR Romeo Doubs; OLB Rashan Gary A Cut Candidate?

December 14th, 2025 at 11:40am CST by Rory Parks

In early October, we heard the Packers were interested in extending contract-year wideout Romeo Doubs. Now, multiple outlets are reporting that Doubs is unlikely to be back with Green Bay in 2026.

Earlier this week, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler said the Packers are expected to let Doubs walk, and just a day later, Matt Schneidman of The Athletic (subscription required) said the same thing. Schneidman views Christian Watson and Jayden Reed, both of whom are under contract through 2026, as the veteran wideouts who are more likely to land an extension from Green Bay.

The Packers also have rookie receivers Matthew Golden and Savion Williams on the books through 2028, and, like Watson and Reed, Dontayvion Wicks is not presently eligible for free agency until 2027. While Doubs is presently leading the team with 45 receptions and 542 receiving yards, that is largely due to injuries suffered by other players.

Watson did not make his 2025 debut until Week 8 as he rehabbed a January ACL tear – and he has played very well since his return – and Jayden Reed only recently got back on the field after sustaining a broken collarbone in Week 2. Tight end Tucker Kraft, meanwhile, saw his promising season cut short by an ACL tear of his own in Week 9.

Fowler previously had opined that Doubs could be eyeing a contract worth $15MM per year. Though the ESPN scribe did not offer a prediction as to contract value in his latest report, he did say Doubs will do well if and when he hits free agency. Given Green Bay’s WR situation, it stands to reason the club would be disinclined to pay market value for the Nevada product.

Another player who could be nearing the end of his Packers tenure is outside linebacker Rashan Gary. Under club control through 2027 by virtue of the four-year, $96MM extension he signed in October 2023, Gary has already tallied 7.5 sacks this season, which matches his output from his Pro Bowl showing in 2024.

That said, he has not tallied a sack since Week 7, and as Schneidman observes, Gary’s pressure percentage since Week 9 is tied for 38th in the league. Even in 2024, 4.5 of Gary’s 7.5 sacks came in a six-game span, so what Schneidman refers to as “stretches of futility” are not a new phenomenon for the 28-year-old edge defender.

However, with Micah Parsons in the fold to take pressure off Gary, those stretches are less excusable. As such, Schneidman believes the Packers could release Gary this offseason, though he concedes that will be more difficult if 2023 first-rounder Lukas Van Ness – who has missed extensive time this year with a foot injury – does not quickly start playing like a Day 1 draftee. Cutting Gary prior to June 1 would net roughly $11MM in cap savings, though it would come with a dead money charge in excess of $17MM. A post-June 1 release would be more palatable in that regard.

Schneidman echoes another prior Fowler report in saying that Green Bay will likely allow left tackle Rasheed Walker to sign elsewhere in the upcoming offseason.

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