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NFL News

Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.

Sunday, December 28, 2025

Jackson Expected to Return for Crucial Week 18 Matchup

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Ravens QB Lamar Jackson (back) is considered likely to return for the team's pivotal Week 18 game against the Steelers, which will decide the AFC North champion. Jackson bruised his back in Week 16 and was inactive for Week 17, with Tyler Huntley starting. With the Ravens' playoff hopes still alive, Jackson's return is crucial for the regular-season finale. Despite reported friction with coach Harbaugh and ongoing contract speculation, the team's Super Bowl window remains open if he plays and performs.

Pickett Relieves Injured Smith, Expected to Start Week 18

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Raiders QB Kenny Pickett completed both of his passes for 16 yards in Sunday's 34-10 loss to the Giants, relieving Geno Smith who exited with an ankle injury. Head coach Pete Carroll confirmed Smith suffered a high-ankle sprain, setting Pickett up for a Week 18 start against the Chiefs. Pickett completed short passes on his final possession, which resulted in a turnover on downs.

Barkley Held to 68 Rushing Yards, Not Targeted in Eagles' Win

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Eagles RB Saquon Barkley rushed 19 times for 68 yards and was not targeted as a receiver in Sunday's 13-12 win over Buffalo. He failed to break away from the Bills' linebackers, averaging 3.6 yards per tote, and did not extend his modest scoring streak. This was also the first time this season Barkley did not receive a target, though he commanded 19 of Philadelphia's 23 backfield carries. He will attempt to finish a solid, yet underwhelming, regular season against the Commanders in Week 18.

Marks Reclaims Backfield Lead, Handles 19 Carries in Win

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Texans RB Woody Marks returned Saturday after missing Week 16 with an ankle injury. He handled 19 of 28 running back carries for 71 yards (3.7 per rush) in the win over the Chargers. Marks also ran all 16 backfield pass routes and drew the only two running back targets, catching one for 4 yards, indicating he has reclaimed the lead role in the backfield.

Shough Nearly Perfect with 333 Yards, Two TDs in Saints' Win

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Saints QB Tyler Shough completed 22 of 27 passes for 333 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions, adding six rushing yards, in Sunday's 34-26 win over the Titans. He also committed a fumble recovered by New Orleans. Shough stuck to a tight circle of six targets and operated shorthanded in his pass-catching corps. He brought the Saints back from an early 13-0 deficit with 19- and 10-yard touchdown passes to Chris Olave and Kevin Austin. This marks his first two career 300-yard performances, and he'll aim to close out a promising rookie season in Week 18 against the Falcons.

DeJean Earns Tom Brady's LFG Player of the Game for Shutting Down Allen

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Eagles CB Cooper DeJean was awarded Tom Brady's LFG Player of the Game for his performance in the Eagles' win over the Bills. DeJean helped power an Eagles defense that successfully shut down Bills QB Josh Allen, proving his value to the team's defensive efforts.

Brady's Week 17 Broadcast Assignment Revealed, 2025 Schedule Detailed

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Details regarding Tom Brady's broadcasting schedule for Week 17 have been released, along with a comprehensive look at his full 2025 season schedule, providing clarity on his upcoming commitments in the broadcast booth. Brady also awarded Eagles CB Cooper DeJean with the LFG Player of the Game after his performance against the Bills.

Hurts Struggles with Accuracy, Salvages Day with TD Pass in Win

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Eagles QB Jalen Hurts completed 13 of 27 passes for 110 yards and a touchdown, adding five rushing yards on three carries, in Sunday's 13-12 win over Buffalo. He struggled with accuracy in wet conditions, completing less than 50% of his passes for the first time this season. Hurts salvaged his fantasy performance by tossing his career-best 25th touchdown pass to TE Dallas Goedert. With the NFC East title secured, the Eagles may limit or rest Hurts in Week 18.

49ers All-Pro Trent Williams Exits Game with Hamstring Injury

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49ers All-Pro offensive tackle Trent Williams left Sunday's game against the Bears with a hamstring injury after just one snap and was later downgraded to out. He was noticeably limping and removed his gear. Coach Kyle Shanahan is unsure of the severity, noting Williams has never pulled a hamstring before. The injury, sustained while chasing an interception, has potential multi-week implications, impacting the 49ers' pursuit of the NFC's No. 1 seed and their playoff run. Austen Pleasants replaced him, performing well. Williams' status for the crucial Week 18 game is uncertain.

Egbuka Held Out of End Zone, Fourth in Targets in Loss

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Buccaneers WR Emeka Egbuka caught three of five targets for 20 yards in Sunday's 20-17 loss to the Dolphins. He was held out of the end zone for the seventh straight game and failed to exceed 64 receiving yards in those contests. Egbuka finished fourth among wide receivers in targets, behind Jalen McMillan (9), Chris Godwin (8), and Mike Evans (7), which doesn't inspire confidence for Week 18 against the Panthers.

Cook Held in Check by Eagles, Fails to Hit Century Mark

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Bills RB James Cook took 20 carries for 74 yards and had one reception on four targets for three yards in Sunday's 13-12 loss to Philadelphia. He reached the 20-carry mark for the sixth time this season but failed to hit 100 rushing yards and was held below 4.0 yards per carry for only the fourth time. Despite a quiet receiving day, Cook has had an incredible overall campaign (307-1,606-12) and will look to finish strong against the Jets in Week 18.

Edwards Records Pick-Six, Gives Bears Early Lead on Purdy's First Pass

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Bears LB T.J. Edwards intercepted Brock Purdy's first pass, tipped by Jaylon Johnson, and returned it 34 yards for a game-starting pick-six, giving the Bears an early 7-0 lead. This was Edwards’ seventh career interception and his first pick-six of the 2025 season. The Bears have already clinched the NFC North and still have a shot at the NFC’s No. 1 seed.

Baun Explains Eagles' Defense Sacking Josh Allen Five Times

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Eagles LB Zack Baun explained how the Philadelphia defense managed to sack Bills QB Josh Allen five times in their narrow victory. Baun was also noted for stopping Allen just short of the end zone on a fourth-and-goal scramble in the third quarter, highlighting his direct impact on containing the Bills' star quarterback.

Robinson Records Third 100-Yard Game, Surpasses 1,000 Receiving Yards

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Giants WR Wan'Dale Robinson recorded 11 receptions on 14 targets for 113 yards in Sunday's 34-10 win over the Raiders. He accounted for 14 targets on 30 pass attempts from Jaxson Dart, primarily working in short and intermediate areas. Robinson topped 100 yards for the third time this season and surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in a season for the first time in his career. This timely breakout comes ahead of his pending free agency this offseason.

Smith Suffers High-Ankle Sprain, Out for Week 18; Pickett to Start

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Raiders QB Geno Smith suffered a high-ankle sprain in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 34-10 loss to the Giants and has been ruled out for the remainder of the game. He was injured while attempting to tackle safety Dane Belton after throwing his second interception. Smith completed 20 of 28 passes for 176 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions before his exit. With a high-ankle sprain typically requiring multiple weeks to recover, Kenny Pickett is expected to start in Week 18 against the Chiefs, with the Raiders now in position for the No. 1 overall pick.

Gainwell Limited to 38 Yards, Maintains Pass-Catching Role in Loss

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Steelers RB Kenneth Gainwell rushed seven times for 26 yards and caught three of four targets for 12 yards in Sunday's 13-6 loss to the Browns. The entire Steelers' offense struggled, impacting Gainwell's production. Positively, he maintained his role as Pittsburgh's primary pass-catcher out of the backfield, finishing with only two fewer touches than Jaylen Warren. However, he recorded his fewest scrimmage yards since Week 10, heading into a pivotal Week 18 showdown with the Ravens.

Kittle Officially Inactive for Week 17 Due to Ankle Sprain

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49ers TE George Kittle is officially inactive for Sunday night's game against the Bears due to a mid-to-low ankle sprain. He missed all practices this week, and while initially a game-time decision, reports indicated he was "highly unlikely" to play. Jake Tonges and Luke Farrell will split tight end duties in his absence, with Tonges expected to be the primary pass-catching threat. Ricky Pearsall is active despite his own ankle/knee issues.

Ewers Earns First Career Win, Throws Two TDs in Encouraging Showing

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Dolphins rookie QB Quinn Ewers earned his first regular-season win in a 20-17 victory over the Buccaneers, notching a handful of milestones. He completed 14 of 22 passes for 172 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions, adding five rushing yards. Ewers flashed with a 63-yard TD to Theo Wease and an 11-yard score to Greg Dulcich, avoiding turnovers. Through two starts, he has completed 65.0% of passes for 485 yards with a 2:2 TD:INT, crediting the defense for the win. He faces the Patriots in Week 18.

Warren Limited to 12 Touches, Efficient Rushing in Steelers' Loss

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Steelers RB Jaylen Warren rushed 12 times for 64 yards in Sunday's 13-6 loss to the Browns, maintaining his role as the primary rusher but losing out on passing opportunities. He made the most of his carries with long rushes of 15 and 13 yards, achieving 5.3 yards per attempt. However, in a split backfield, Warren is reliant on finding the end zone for strong fantasy performances. He is expected to have double-digit carries in the pivotal Week 18 matchup against the Ravens.

Moore Active for Sunday Night Game Despite Illness Concern

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Bears WR DJ Moore is active for Sunday night's game against the 49ers, despite being added to the injury report with an illness. While his status was questionable, he will play, though there's some risk to his fantasy outlook. Fellow wideout Olamide Zaccheaus is inactive due to illness, and Rome Odunze is also out, potentially leading to increased targets for Moore, who combined for a 10-162-3 line on 15 targets in the prior three games without Odunze.