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NFL News

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

Sunday, December 28, 2025

Pearsall Active for Week 17 Despite Ankle/Knee Injuries

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49ers WR Ricky Pearsall (ankle/knee) is active for Sunday night's game against the Bears, despite missing last week and being limited in practice all week. He is not expected to be at 100% but made enough progress to suit up. With TE George Kittle "highly unlikely" to play, Pearsall could be in line for extra targets, making him a volatile but potentially valuable fantasy option for Week 17 matchups. He will return to action after sitting out Week 16 due to a sprained ankle and an aggravation of his previous PCL injury.

Rodgers Struggles in Loss, Steelers Miss Division Title

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Aaron Rodgers completed 21 of 39 passes for 168 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions in the Steelers' 13-6 loss to the Browns. Playing without DK Metcalf and Calvin Austin, Rodgers averaged only 4.31 yards per attempt, with 58 yards coming on the final drive. He avoided being sacked by Myles Garrett, who claimed the Steelers were more focused on preventing his record than winning. Rodgers expressed full confidence the Steelers will beat the Ravens in Week 18 for the AFC North title, despite the team's conservative game plan and out-of-sync offense in Week 17.

Zaccheaus Inactive for Sunday Night Game Due to Illness

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Bears WR Olamide Zaccheaus is inactive for Sunday night's game against the 49ers due to an illness. He was added to the injury report as questionable earlier in the day, along with fellow wideout DJ Moore, who is active. With Rome Odunze also out, the Bears will be shorthanded at receiver, forcing them to rely on other options.

McMillan Active But Ineffective with Illness in Loss

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Panthers WR Tetairoa McMillan caught one of four targets for five yards in Sunday's 27-10 loss to the Seahawks. Despite being active for Week 17 after a late addition to the injury report with an illness, the star rookie did not look 100 percent and set a season low in receiving yards. He still sits 71 yards short of 1,000 for the year and could be very busy in Week 18 in a winner-take-all clash with the Buccaneers for the NFC South title and a playoff spot.

Bengals OL Ford Catches 21-Yard Pass, 'Dream Come True' on Birthday

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Cincinnati offensive lineman Cody Ford pulled off a 21-yard reception from QB Joe Burrow in the Bengals' 37-14 victory over the Cardinals. In a moment of fun during a blowout, Ford, celebrating his 29th birthday, caught the ball, broke a tackle, and gained significant yardage, calling it a "dream come true."

Burrow Tops 300 Yards, Throws Two TDs in Bengals' Rout of Cardinals

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Bengals QB Joe Burrow completed 24 of 31 passes for 305 yards and two touchdowns (both to Ja'Marr Chase), adding two rushing yards, in Sunday's 37-14 win over the Cardinals. He started the rout with a 13-yard TD to Chase in the first quarter and another 8-yard score before halftime. Burrow has now topped 300 passing yards in back-to-back games with a 6:0 TD:INT ratio. He'll look to finish the season strong in Week 18 against the Browns, aiming to avoid Myles Garrett setting the all-time sack record against him.

Willis Delivers Strong Week 17 Performance, Remains Backup to Love

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Packers QB Malik Willis (shoulder/illness) delivered a strong Week 17 performance, completing 18 of 21 passes for 288 yards and a touchdown, adding 60 rushing yards and two scores on nine carries. He exited briefly with a shoulder aggravation but was available to return. Despite his play, head coach Matt LaFleur is non-committal on Willis starting Week 18, emphasizing that Jordan Love is the "franchise quarterback" and Willis will return to his backup role when Love clears concussion protocol. Willis is scheduled for free agency in March.

Love Expected to Sit Week 18 as Packers Rest Starters, Remains Franchise QB

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Packers QB Jordan Love, who was inactive for Week 17 due to concussion protocol, is now expected to sit out part or all of the regular-season finale against the Vikings. The Packers, locked into the NFC's No. 7 seed, plan to rest starters. Head coach Matt LaFleur confirmed that Love is the team's "franchise quarterback" and will return as the starter when healthy, despite Malik Willis's strong Week 17 performance. Love has $49.9 million guaranteed for 2026.

Jets QB Cook Fails to Throw TD, Career TD:INT Drops to 1:7 in Loss

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Jets QB Brady Cook completed 19 of 33 passes for 152 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception in Sunday's 42-10 loss to the Patriots. He also added one rushing yard on two carries. Cook's career TD:INT ratio dropped to 1:7 through four regular-season appearances (three starts), as he continues to look overmatched at the NFL level. The 3-13 Jets will likely give Cook one more chance to start in Week 18 against the Bills.

Dowdle Falls Short of 60 Rushing Yards, Nears Career High

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Panthers RB Rico Dowdle carried the ball 12 times for 59 yards and caught three of five targets for four yards in Sunday's 27-10 loss to the Seahawks. The Panthers' offense struggled, and Dowdle fell short of 60 rushing yards for the seventh straight game. Despite a late-season slump, he is just 14 rushing yards short of setting a new career high (1,079 yards in 2024). Dowdle may need to find another gear in Week 18 against the Buccaneers, with the NFC South title and a playoff spot on the line.

Young Shut Down by Seahawks Defense, Salvages Fantasy with Rushing TD

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Panthers QB Bryce Young completed 14 of 24 passes for a season-low 54 yards and an interception in Sunday's 27-10 loss to the Seahawks. He salvaged some fantasy value with 27 rushing yards and a 10-yard rushing touchdown on nine carries in the fourth quarter. Young now has a 21:10 TD:INT ratio on the year, plus two rushing scores, heading into a critical Week 18 winner-take-all clash with the Buccaneers for the NFC South title and a playoff spot.

Johnson Continues Ascent with 95 Yards, TD in Saints' Win

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Saints TE Juwan Johnson brought in all four targets for 95 yards and a touchdown in the Saints' 34-26 win over the Titans, continuing a multi-week run of productive performances. He tied for second in receptions and was runner-up in receiving yards. Johnson has at least four receptions in seven straight games and at least 89 receiving yards in three of those contests. He heads into Week 18 against the Falcons with career highs of 74 catches and 828 receiving yards.

Ward Throws 2 TDs, 251 Yards in Loss; Fumble Returned for TD

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Titans QB Cam Ward completed 21 of 40 passes for 251 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions in Sunday's 34-26 loss to the Saints. He also rushed twice for 10 yards but committed two fumbles, losing one which was returned 33 yards for a touchdown. Ward crossed the 250-yard mark for the fifth time and threw two TDs for the fourth straight game, but his late first-half fumble was costly. He'll aim to keep his connection with targets Chig Okonkwo and Elic Ayomanor going in Week 18 against the Jaguars.

Smith-Njigba Dominates Targets with Nine Grabs in Seahawks' Win

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Seahawks WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba caught nine of 12 targets for 72 yards in Sunday's 27-10 win over the Panthers, dominating looks from Sam Darnold as no other Seattle player saw more than three targets. While he's fallen short of Calvin Johnson's single-season receiving yards record, he'll take a 113-1,709-10 line on 154 targets into a Week 18 meeting with the 49ers, where the No. 1 seed in the NFC could be on the line for the Seahawks.

Zach Charbonnet explodes for 110 rushing yards, two touchdowns

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Seahawks RB Zach Charbonnet delivered a season-high performance in Sunday's 27-10 win over the Panthers, rushing 18 times for 110 yards and two touchdowns, adding two catches for 12 yards. He scored a 2-yard TD to give Seattle a 10-3 lead and later a 1-yard score, marking his second two-TD game of the season. Charbonnet's impactful day earned him a season-high 25.2 fantasy points, with both scores coming in goal-line situations. He has gotten into the end zone six times in his last eight games.

Estime Rushes for Career-High 94 Yards, Scores TD in Saints Win

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Audric Estime rushed 14 times for a career-high 94 yards and a touchdown, adding four receiving yards, in the Saints' 34-26 win over the Titans. After ceding work to Taysom Hill last week, Estime was the primary beneficiary of a more traditional ground attack, outpacing other backs. He sealed the win with a 32-yard touchdown run late in the fourth quarter. The 2024 fifth-round pick looks poised to helm the running game again in Week 18 against the Falcons.

Henry Catches 13-Yard TD, Scores Seventh of Season in Patriots' Win

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Patriots TE Hunter Henry caught all three of his targets for 49 yards and a 13-yard touchdown in Sunday's 42-10 win over the Jets. This was his seventh receiving touchdown of the season and the fourth of Drake Maye's five touchdown passes. Henry will look to build on his season totals of 55 catches, 712 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns in Week 18 against the Dolphins, as New England can clinch the top seed in the AFC with a win and a Broncos loss.

Sanders Throws 28-Yard TD, Leads Browns to Win Despite Two Picks

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Browns QB Shedeur Sanders completed 17 of 23 passes for 186 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions, adding four rushes for 20 yards, in Sunday's 13-6 win over the Steelers. He was sharp early, completing five of seven passes for 101 yards and a 28-yard touchdown to Harold Fannin Jr. across the first two possessions. Despite two costly picks, the Steelers couldn't capitalize. Sanders showed ability to play on time, though he likely endured struggles due to Fannin's early departure (groin). The win denied Steelers an AFC North clincher.

McMillan Sets Career-High with 114 Receiving Yards in Loss

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Buccaneers WR Jalen McMillan secured seven of nine targets for a career-high 114 yards in Sunday's 20-17 loss to the Dolphins. He co-led the team in receptions and set the pace in receiving yards and targets. This performance came in only his third game back from a serious neck injury. McMillan could play a key role again in a critical Week 18 home matchup against the Panthers that will decide the NFC South title and a playoff spot.

Godwin Tops 100 Yards, Catches TD in Buccaneers' Loss

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Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin caught seven of eight targets for 108 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 20-17 loss to the Dolphins. He tied Jalen McMillan for the team lead in receptions and was runner-up in receiving yards and targets. Godwin compiled over half his yardage on a 59-yard catch-and-run and secured a four-yard touchdown with under a minute remaining. He will look for similar production in a critical Week 18 home matchup against the Panthers that will decide the NFC South title.