Bears To Place CB Kyler Gordon On IR
Kyler Gordon‘s regular season is over. The Bears are placing the cornerback on injured reserve, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
This is the second IR stint of 2025 for Gordon, who’s dealing with a groin injury. A hamstring injury sidelined Gordon for the first four games of the season. Groin and calf issues then forced Gordon to IR for the first time on Oct. 25.
After establishing himself as one of the league’s premier nickel corners from 2022-24, Gordon signed a three-year, $40MM extension in April. Gordon missed nine games during his first three years in the league. He’ll add another 14 to the total this season. In three appearances, Gordon picked up seven tackles and a sack.
Despite minimal contributions from Gordon, the Bears are 9-4 and in possession of the last playoff spot in the NFC. The team has little room for error over the final four weeks of the season, though, and losing Gordon again is an unwelcome development. He missed the Bears’ loss to the NFC North rival Packers last Sunday after injuring himself in pregame warmups.
Fortunately for Chicago, it has a capable and battle-tested in-house replacement in veteran C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Since joining the Bears in late October, Gardner-Johnson has chipped in 33 tackles, three sacks, a forced fumble, and an interception in six games.
Along with announcing Gordon’s return to IR, the Bears elevated running back Brittain Brown and linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin from the practice squad ahead of their Week 15 matchup with Cleveland. Both players have now reached the maximum of three standard elevations this season. The Bears will have to sign either player to their active roster if they want to use them again.
Rams Activate WR Tutu Atwell From IR
DECEMBER 13: Los Angeles officially made the move today to activate Atwell from injured reserve. After sitting out the last seven weeks, the speedy wideout will return for the closing stretch of the regular season in time for a nice runup to a likely postseason run.
Additionally, the Rams have announced that they will call up safety Tanner Ingle as a standard gameday practice squad elevation for tomorrow’s game.
DECEMBER 11: The Rams have one of the league’s best receiver tandems in Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. The team will soon be even healthier at the position. 
Tutu Atwell had his 21-day practice window opened on November 26. He is now set to suit up in time for Sunday’s contest against the Lions. Head coach Sean McVay said (via ESPN’s Sarah Barshop) Atwell will be activated from injured reserve this week.
The fifth-year Ram landed on IR in late October due to a hamstring injury. There was initial optimism Atwell would only miss the minimum four games while recovering and then return to the lineup in Week 13. Instead, he has been absent for the past six contests. During that span, Los Angeles has gone 5-1 to remain in strong contention for the NFC’s No. 1 seed.
Nevertheless, getting Atwell back in the fold will give the Rams a boost on offense. The former second-rounder posted a career high in catches (42) and yards (562) last season. That resulted in a one-year, $10MM pact being worked out in March. With the deal being guaranteed in full, expectations were high in the case of a player who had previously been linked to trade speculation.
To date in 2025, Atwell has only managed four receptions in six games. The Louisville product will look to serve as a complementary option in the passing game down the stretch and into the postseason while he approaches free agency. The Rams, meanwhile, will continue to reply heavily on Nacua (who leads the league with 93 catches) and Adams (who is pacing the NFL with 14 receiving touchdowns).
Having only brought back Ahkello Witherspoon so far this season, Los Angeles still has seven IR activations remaining at this point. That figure will drop to six in the near future when Atwell is officially returned to the active roster.
Colts Place RT Braden Smith On IR
In his first game back from four-plus seasons in retirement, Colts quarterback Philip Rivers will not have a fully healthy offensive line on Sunday in Seattle. The Colts have placed starting right tackle Braden Smith on injured reserve, per a team announcement.
At 8-5 and fighting for its playoff life, Indianapolis will go the rest of the regular season without Smith. The 29-year-old suffered a concussion and a neck injury in a loss to Jacksonville last Sunday.
Along with the Seahawks, Smith will miss games against three other playoff hopefuls in the 49ers, Jaguars, and Texans in the next four weeks. He’ll be eligible to return if the Colts make the playoffs, but they’re on the outside looking in at the moment.
With the four-year, $72MM extension Smith signed in 2021 set to expire after the season, it’s possible he has played his last game with the Colts. The 6-foot-6, 312-pounder has spent his entire career with the franchise since it chose him 37th overall out of Auburn in 2018. Smith has started in 105 of 107 regular-season games, including all 13 in 2025. Pro Football Focus ranks Smith’s performance 45th among 81 qualifying tackles this year.
Looking to protect the immobile Rivers as he returns at age 44, the Colts will count on rookie Jalen Travis to fill in for Smith. Travis, a fourth-rounder from Iowa State, has taken just 73 offensive snaps in his first 13 games. In his starting debut, Travis will face a Seattle defense that ranks fourth in the league in sacks.
In addition to the Rivers and Smith transactions, the Colts elevated defensive tackle Chris Wormley and wide receiver Coleman Owen from the practice squad. It’s the third standard gameday elevation for Wormley, who has picked up five tackles and a sack in two games. If the Colts want to use Wormley again after Week 15, they’ll have to sign him to their active roster. Owen, an undrafted rookie from Ohio, is in line for his NFL debut.
Colts QB Philip Rivers Expected To Start In Week 15
Quarterback Philip Rivers shockingly ended his retirement this week to rejoin the Colts on a practice squad deal. After the 44-year-old showed well in practice, the Colts signed him to their active roster on Saturday. The move put an end to his 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame candidacy. A semifinalist before returning to Indianapolis, Rivers will have to wait until 2031 to regain eligibility for enshrinement.
The Colts have not officially named Rivers as their starter for Week 15. He will indeed get the nod, though, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports.
Rivers, who has spent most of his career with the Chargers, is set to take the reins for the first time since he quarterbacked the Colts to the playoffs during the 2020 season. His most recent start came on Jan. 9, 2021, in a wild-card round loss in Buffalo.
Exactly 1,800 days later (h/t: Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports), Rivers will face another significant test on the road against the 10-3 Seahawks and their second-ranked scoring defense on Sunday. No QB 40 or older has experienced that large of a gap between games, Jones notes.
Nobody envisioned a Rivers reunion taking place at the beginning of the week. However, the Colts are in desperation mode after No. 1 quarterback Daniel Jones tore his Achilles in a loss to the Jaguars last Sunday. After a 7-1 start, the Colts’ latest defeat dropped them to 8-5. They’ve spiraled from first place in the AFC to eighth over the past month and a half. They’ll pay Rivers, who has earned $242MM in the NFL, the prorated veteran minimum, per Mike Chappell of FOX59.
Thanks to Rivers’ familiarity with head coach Shane Steichen and their offense, the Colts have more confidence in the eight-time Pro Bowler running the show than their other options. Rookie Riley Leonard, a sixth-round pick from Notre Dame, may have been in line for his first career start had Rivers stayed retired. Leonard sprained his PCL in Jacksonville, but he’s now healthy. He joined Rivers in taking first-team practice reps this week. Journeyman backup Brett Rypien is also in the fold.
Already among the league’s least mobile QBs before his initial retirement, Rivers will become the sixth signal-caller to play at 44-plus, Mike Chappell of FOX59 points out. The group currently consists of George Blanda, Steve DeBerg, Warren Moon, Vinny Testaverde, and Tom Brady.
Rivers hopes to join Testaverde and Brady as passers to win at least one game at his age, though the Colts are staring down a brutal season-ending slate. Rivers helping the Colts rally for a playoff berth would make for an incredible story, but with the Seahawks, 49ers, Jaguars, and Texans left on their schedule, the odds are heavily against it.
Kerby Joseph Could Land On IR After Setback
Safety Kerby Joseph was among the Lions’ many standouts during a 15-win season in 2024. After Joseph intercepted an NFL-best nine passes and earned first-team All-Pro honors, the Lions awarded him a record-setting extension worth $86MM over four years.
Detroit was a top-tier team last year, but it hasn’t experienced nearly as much success this season. At 8-5, the Lions are just outside the NFC playoff picture. Various key injuries, including to Joseph, have contributed to the Lions’ decline.
Joseph sustained a knee injury in a Week 6 loss to the Chiefs on Oct. 12. Although Joseph has missed seven straight games since then, the Lions haven’t put him on injured reserve. However, that may change soon. Joseph suffered a setback in practice this week and “could be” an IR candidate, head coach Dan Campbell said (via Tim Twentyman of the team’s website).
With four games left, an IR placement would end Joseph’s regular season. He’d be eligible to return during the playoffs, but the Lions would first have to earn a spot for that to matter.
Joseph’s ongoing injury issues mean Detroit will have to continue without either member of its all-world safety tandem. Brian Branch is done for the year after suffering a torn Achilles in a win over the Cowboys in Week 14.
Down their two best safeties, the Lions are set to face old friend Matthew Stafford and the Rams’ explosive passing attack on Sunday. That’s the last major test of the season for Detroit’s secondary, which will take on Pittsburgh, Minnesota, and Chicago over the final three weeks. The Bears’ passing game ranks a middle-of-the-road 16th, while the Steelers (27th) and Vikings (28th) check in toward the bottom of the league in that category.
It flew under the radar in the wake of Branch’s catastrophic injury, but fellow safety Thomas Harper left the Dallas game early with a concussion. Harper’s questionable for Week 15, but Campbell is optimistic he’ll suit up. Claimed off waivers from the Raiders in August, Harper has been a terrific scrapheap pickup for the Lions. With 27 tackles, four passes defensed, and an interception in 10 games (seven starts), Harper has helped fill Joseph’s void. Pro Football Focus ranks him 23rd among 90 qualifying safeties this year.
If Harper clears concussion protocol, he’ll continue filling an important role on Sunday. Campbell pointed to Avonte Maddox, Erick Hallett, and Daniel Thomas as other safety options “getting valuable reps” in practice. While Campbell insists he’s confident in that group, it’s fair to say he’d rather have Joseph and Branch patrolling the Lions’ defensive backfield.
Commanders To Pursue WR Brandon Aiyuk In Offseason?
Earlier this month, 49ers general manager John Lynch expressed hope that wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk would come off the reserve/PUP list to play sometime this season. Almost two weeks later, optimism on that front “seems to have run out,” Dianna Russini of The Athletic writes.
Aiyuk hasn’t played in a game since he tore his right ACL, MCL, and meniscus in Week 7 of 2024. He suffered the injury a couple of months after landing a four-year, $120MM extension.
After Aiyuk failed to attend offseason appointments to rehab his knee, the 49ers made the eye-opening move to void his 2026 guarantees last summer. Barring an unforeseen turnaround in their relationship, the two sides are likely headed for a divorce in the offseason.
The 49ers could attempt to find a trade partner for Aiyuk, but with his stock way down, it may be difficult. Whether the 49ers trade or release Aiyuk before June 1, they’d be left with $29.85MM in dead money. Parting with him after June 1 would allow San Francisco to spread the dead cap over two years. Aiyuk would count $13.25MM against the team’s cap in that scenario.
As for where Aiyuk might play next, Washington is a team to monitor. The belief is that Aiyuk would like to reunite with Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, Dan Graziano of ESPN reports. The two formed an excellent combination at Arizona State in 2019. Aiyuk caught 65 passes for 1,192 yards and eight touchdowns en route to First-Team All-Pac-12 honors that year. The 49ers drafted him 25th overall during the ensuing spring.
Not only is Aiyuk familiar with Daniels, but it’s worth noting Commanders general manager Adam Peters was a key figure in the 49ers’ front office during the first four years of the wideout’s career. Peters is likely to hunt for offensive weapons in the wake of a disappointing season for the Commanders, which could lead to interest in Aiyuk. After advancing all the way to the NFC championship game last season, the injury-plagued Commanders will miss the playoffs this year. At 3-10, they’re on pace to draft in the top 10 next spring.
Terry McLaurin will return as Washington’s No. 1 receiver next year. However, Deebo Samuel (a former Aiyuk teammate in San Francisco) and Noah Brown are scheduled to reach free agency. Tight end Zach Ertz, one of the team’s leading receivers this year, is also unsigned beyond this season. The 35-year-old tore his ACL last week, further clouding his future.
Even if the Commanders bring any of their soon-to-be free agent pass catchers back, outside additions are likely. Daniels should be in position to rebound in 2026 if he stays healthy, which he hasn’t done this year, and has more talent surrounding him. Partnering with Aiyuk again could lead to a bounce-back campaign for both players, which would boost the Commanders’ chances of returning to playoff contention after a forgettable 2025.
Colts Sign QB Philip Rivers To Active Roster
DECEMBER 13: The Colts officially signed Rivers to their active roster from their practice squad, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. They could have used practice squad elevations for the next three games – after this week’s drama, no team would dare poach him – but he seems poised to start for the rest of the season. If that is the case, adding him to the active roster now makes sense.
The move also cements one of the most ironic aspects of Rivers’ decision to come out of retirement. He was a semi-finalist to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year; now, he will not be eligible until 2031.
DECEMBER 12: Once Philip Rivers‘ deal with the Colts was officially in place, attention turned to the matter of when he would play. The now-unretired passer looks to be on course to make his NFL return this Sunday. 
Rivers has practiced each of the past two days, and ESPN’s Stephen Holder notes it is clear which quarterback the Colts are preparing to get the nod for Week 15. Barring an unforeseen development, Rivers will be in place against the Seahawks. Provided that proves to be the case, it will add further to one of the NFL’s most interesting and unexpected stories in recent memory.
Daniel Jones‘ Achilles tear ended his impressive debut season in Indianapolis and left the Colts thin on the QB depth chart. Backup Anthony Richardson remains on injured reserve, while sixth-round rookie Riley Leonard suffered a PCL sprain in Week 14 upon taking over from Jones. Brett Rypien is on the active roster after spending time on the practice squad, but Rivers is viewed as a better option for leading the Colts back into a playoff spot down the stretch.
Comebacks have been considered on more than one occasion in the 44-year-old’s case, but this is the first which has come to bear. Rivers immediately expressed interest in a second Colts stint upon being contacted by the team this past Sunday, as detailed by Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. Rivers and head coach Shane Steichen (who worked together during their shared time with the Chargers) have remained in contact since their time together ended, with the former using the latter’s offense on the high school team he coaches.
Rivers will presumably reprise his role as the head coach of his eldest son’s HS team next fall. Before that point, however, he is in line to briefly resume his NFL playing career. Doing so will restart the eight-time Pro Bowler’s five-year waiting period with respect to eligibility for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In the meantime, Rivers will aim to guide the Colts to a win against a Seahawks defense which ranks near the top of the NFL in several categories.
Indianapolis sits at 8-5, an illustration of how far the team has fallen from a hugely successful start to the campaign. With the Jaguars (9-4) and Texans (8-5) firmly in contention for the AFC South title, a home playoff game is far less certain than it once looked. Securing a wild-card spot will be a strong challenge in its own right, and if the Colts are to achieve that feat it appears Rivers will be tasked with handling QB1 duties right away.
Steelers’ T.J. Watt Undergoes Surgery On Partially Collapsed Lung
DECEMBER 13: Dry needling is a common treatment for NFL players to relieve muscle pain, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. Watt felt “extreme pain” after his dry needling session on Wednesday and was quickly sent to the hospital for treatment and further evaluation.
DECEMBER 12: Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt was admitted to the hospital with a lung injury on Wednesday. Watt has since undergone successful surgery to stabilize and repair a partially collapsed lung, his brother J.J. Watt announced. He’ll be released from the hospital on Friday.
While Watt is expected to make a full recovery, head coach Mike Tomlin announced that he will not play on Monday against the Dolphins (via Brooke Pryor of ESPN). The seven-time Pro Bowler is expected to return this season, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
Watt’s collapsed lung came as a result of a dry needling procedure he underwent at the team facility. The NFLPA has been in contact with Watt and his representation since then, per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. It’s unclear if Watt or the union will take any action against the Steelers. Then-Chargers quarterback Tyrod Taylor suffered a punctured lung while receiving a pain-killing injection in September 2020. Two years later, he sued the Chargers’ doctor for medical malpractice.
Taylor received medical clearance to return to action a month after he punctured his lung. It seems Watt will come back quicker than that, though even a one-game absence is unwelcome news at this stage of the season. With four weeks remaining, the 7-6 Steelers are trying to hold off the Ravens (6-7) and Bengals (4-9) for the AFC North title. It’ll be more difficult to do so without Watt, who will miss his 12th career game in Week 15. The Steelers have gone 1-10 without him, Armando Salguero of OutKick notes.
The 31-year-old Watt has continued serving as one of Pittsburgh’s most effective players this season. He has racked up 53 tackles, 10 TFL, a team-high seven sacks, and three forced fumbles in 13 games. The Steelers have two other strong edge rushers in Alex Highsmith and Nick Herbig, who have totaled 6.5 sacks apiece. They and fourth-round rookie Jack Sawyer, who has notched one sack while playing under 20% of defensive snaps, will have to pick up the slack while Watt’s out.
Poll: Who Will Win NFC West?
It only took 10 wins to earn the NFC West title a year ago. Two of the division’s four teams have already reached that total 14 weeks into 2025. The 10-3 Rams are in first place and on track to win the division for the second straight season, but the Seahawks share the same record. Meanwhile, the 49ers (9-4) are right on their tails. At 3-10, the Cardinals are the only non-contender in the division, leaving the other three clubs to battle for the title over the next four weeks.
The Rams rank second in the NFL in point differential, trailing only the Seahawks in that category. However, the Rams got the better of the Seahawks in their first matchup of the season in Week 11. Playing at home, the Rams took advantage of four Sam Darnold interceptions to eke out a 21-19 win. Those two will meet again in Seattle in Week 16. The Seahawks also lost their previous meeting with the 49ers, who took a 17-13 decision on the road in Week 1. Seattle will seek revenge in San Francisco in Week 18, potentially with the division at stake. Having already split their season series, the Rams and 49ers are done with each other unless a rubber match occurs during the playoffs.
Despite Darnold’s disastrous showing against the Rams last month, the 28-year-old has been terrific for the second season in a row. Between his one-off with the Vikings and his first 13 games as a Seahawk, Darnold has gone 24-6 as a starter since 2024. He’s in the MVP running this year, but Stafford is the favorite in his age-37 season.
Both Stafford and Darnold have benefited from immensely talented receivers. The Rams have a stellar one-two punch in Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. Nacua leads the NFL in catches (93), and Adams is atop the league in receiving touchdowns (14). Meanwhile, the Seahawks’ Jaxon Smith-Njigba is easily pacing the league in yards (1,428). He has a shot to break Calvin Johnson‘s single-season record of 1,964.
While their offenses have gotten most of the headlines, the Rams and Seahawks have also prevented scoring at an elite clip. The Seahawks have given up 17.4 points per game to the Rams’ 17.5. Only the Texans (16.0) have done a better job keeping points off the board than those two clubs. Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula and Seahawks DC Aden Durde could soon draw head coaching interest as a result of their work this year.
The Rams’ Sean McVay and the Seahawks’ Mike Macdonald will likely earn Coach of the Year consideration. The same should be true for the 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan, who has kept his team in the hunt despite an absurd number of notable injuries.
The 49ers survived an extended period without starting signal-caller Brock Purdy and tight end George Kittle, who have returned from the shelf in recent weeks. They’ve also had to get by for most of the year without their two best defensive players, linebacker Fred Warner and end Nick Bosa. Warner suffered a fractured and dislocated ankle in Week 6. Bosa tore his ACL in Week 3. Without Bosa coming off the edge, the 49ers rank last in the league in sacks. Nevertheless, coordinator Robert Saleh has still cobbled together the game’s eighth-ranked scoring defense. Despite a failed run with the Jets, Saleh’s performance this season could earn him a second shot as a head coach in 2026.
The NFC West is setting up as a three-way fight to close out the season, but ESPN’s Football Power Index pegs the Rams as overwhelming favorites. They have a 56.3% chance to win the division. The Seahawks (27.5) and 49ers (16.3) are lagging well behind. How do you think it will play out? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section.
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