Browns QB Baker Mayfield is considering sitting out Sunday's finale vs. the Bengals. He's dealt with a plethora of injuries this season, including a torn labrum in his left shoulder that will require surgery this offseason. "I'm an extremely competitive guy," Mayfield said after taking 9 sacks in Monday night's loss to the Steelers. "Now it's time for me to start looking at what's in the best interest of me and my health. ... Right now, I'm pretty damn beat up, to be honest with you. There's no way around it." QB Case Keenum figures to start for Cleveland this weekend if Mayfield doesn't.
Eagles HC Nick Sirianni said Monday that he's hoping to get RB Miles Sanders (hand) back for the 1st round of the playoffs. In other words, he won't play in the regular-season finale. With RBs Boston Scott and Jordan Howard landing on the COVID list on Monday, rookie Kenneth Gainwell might be left standing as the Eagles' top RB in Saturday night's game vs. the Cowboys.
Browns RB Kareem Hunt (ankle) is inactive for tonight's game vs. the Steelers. He put in 2 limited practices this week, so he seemingly has a good shot to be back for next weekend's finale vs. the Bengals. Nick Chubb will dominate work in Cleveland's backfield tonight.
Bucs HC Bruce Arians said Monday that he'll play his starters in Sunday's finale vs. the Panthers. Tampa has clinched the NFC South but can move from the #3 seed to #2 with a win and a Rams loss to the 49ers. "You play to win," Arians said. "You play to get that second seed, that’s huge. We’re not resting anybody. We’re playing to win.”
Despite locking up the NFC's #1 seed with their win on Sunday night over Minnesota, Packers HC Matt LaFleur said Monday that he plans to play his staters vs. the Lions this weekend. "Right now the mindset is we're going to play our guys, and we're going to approach it like any other game," LaFleur said. Color us skeptical -- especially when it comes to QB Aaron Rodgers, who's still playing through that toe injury. We'll look for further updates on Rodgers, WR Davante Adams and RBs Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon.
Titans WR Julio Jones has been activated from the COVID list. He should be back for Sunday's game vs. the Texans, which Tennessee needs to win to lock up the AFC's #1 seed. Jones, of course, can't be trusted in fantasy lineups. He's topped 59 yards just once all season.
Giants QB Mike Glennon needs surgery for a wrist injury and will miss Week 18, HC Joe Judge said Monday. That'll put Jake Fromm back under center for Sunday's finale vs. Washington.
Raiders interim HC Rich Bisaccia said Monday that TE Darren Waller is expected back for Sunday night's game vs. the Chargers. We haven't seen Waller since he suffered knee and back injuries in Week 12. He was placed on the COVID list on Wednesday and remains there as of Monday night. We'll see when Waller is cleared and then what he does in practice this week.
Lions WR Josh Reynolds and TE Brock Wright were activated from the COVID list on Monday. Both guys should be available for this weekend's finale vs. the Packers. WR Kalif Raymond remains on the COVID list for now.
Broncos K Brandon McManus landed on the COVID list on Monday. He has a chance to be cleared in time for Saturday's finale vs. the Chiefs, but you should be lining up another option if you were hoping to use McManus in Week 18 fantasy lineups.
Cowboys HC Mike McCarthy said Monday that his team will play its starters in Saturday night's regular-season finale at Philadelphia. "We're going to line up to do what we need to do to win the game," McCarthy told reporters, according to The Athletic's Jon Machota. We wouldn't be shocked if RB Ezekiel Elliott gets the night off to rest his knee, or if the Eagles decide to rest starters and thus present a light challenge. For now, though, you should assume that any active Cowboys on your fantasy football roster will be going in Week 18.
Eagles LB Alex Singleton was among a sizable group of Philly players to test positive for COVID on Monday. We'll see whether he can return to the active roster in time to face the Cowboys on Saturday night.
Vikings LB Eric Kendricks landed on the COVID list Monday. He'll have time to return before Sunday's season finale, but we'll see how his situation develops.
Eagles RBs Boston Scott and Jordan Howard joined a slew of teammates in testing positive for COVID on Monday. There's time for each player to return to the active roster ahead of Saturday night's game against the Cowboys. We'll see how this situation develops.
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that "roughly a dozen" Eagles players tested positive for COVID on Monday, including TE Dallas Goedert, C Jason Kelce and DT Fletcher Cox. Last week's change to the league protocol gives all the players time to get back ahead of Saturday's game against the Cowboys. But the virus might also help nudge Philly coaches toward sitting these starters. The Eagles have little to gain in playoff positioning by beating Dallas in Week 18. We'll see what the team says on that front this week.
Monday's MRI confirmed the torn ACL in Cowboys WR Michael Gallup's left knee. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport hears that it was a "clean" tear and that Gallup is expected to make a full recovery. Still, the timing of the injury means that Gallup isn't a lock to be ready for the start of the 2022 season. We'll track his rehab.
Seahawks MLB Bobby Wagner sprained the MCL and PCL in his right knee in Sunday's win over the Lions, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Wagner will miss the regular-season finale, but the injury is not expected to affect him beyond that.
Patriots S Adrian Phillips sustained a wrist injury in Sunday's win over the Jaguars. We'll see about his status for Week 18.
Texans S Justin Reid came away from Sunday's loss to the 49ers with "slight" ankle and knee injuries, according to Aaron Wilson of Sportstalk 790 in Houston. DE Jonathan Greenard also left the game with a shoulder injury. We'll see about the status for each player this week.
Seahawks MLB Bobby Wagner suffered a knee injury early in Sunday's win over the Lions and did not return. We'll see about his outlook for Week 18, but Seattle has nothing to play for in the finale -- other than potentially damaging Arizona's playoff seed.
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