MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK

Browns HC Kevin Stefanski, QB Baker Mayfield expected to be available for game vs. Packers

Monday's loss to the Las Vegas Raiders could be the extent of Mike Priefer's step-in as acting Browns head coach.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski told reporters Tuesday that his 10th day in quarantine under the NFL's COVID-19 protocols, which falls on Christmas Day when the Browns play the Green Bay Packers, won't prevent him from returning to the Browns sideline, per Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal. Stefanski added that he expects to have quarterback Baker Mayfield available for Week 16, as well.

However, he might be required to travel on his own to Green Bay if he doesn't test out of protocols by the time the team makes the trip on Friday. The coach added that separate travel also might be necessary Mayfield, depending on test results, according to Ulrich.

With two consecutive negative tests coming 24 hours apart, the coach and quarterback could test out of protocols before then. Stefanski said he's hopeful that some players on the reserve/COVID-19 list could return to practice as early as Wednesday.

Mayfield and Stefanski tested positive for COVID-19 last Wednesday, part of a rash of positive tests on the team last week that also included key players such as Jedrick Wills, Wyatt Teller and Jarvis Landry.

Stefanski helped the team prepare for the Raiders last week through virtual participation in team meetings. The Browns (7-7) fell to last place in the AFC North following the loss but are still alive for a playoff berth with three games left to play.

Beating the Packers with a head coach unavailable and key personnel unable to practice for part of this week, if not all of it, won't be easy. Stefanski declined to say whether Mayfield would even start if he's available to play but unable to be with the team until game day.


"We're all hopeful we test out sooner," Stefanski said, per the Beacon Journal.

It's a precarious situation, to be sure, but Stefanski is at least confident he'll be back to lead his team under whatever circumstances arise.

NFL.com

 

Garrett Gilbert set to start for Washington Tuesday night



Garrett Gilbert called himself the “next, next, next man up” at quarterback for the Washington Football Team last Friday and postponing their game against the Eagles until Tuesday night didn’t change that outlook.

Washington head coach Ron Rivera was hopeful about Taylor Heinicke and/or Kyle Allen testing off the COVID-19 reserve list in time to play, but NFL Media reports that neither player got the test results they needed in order to return to the active roster.


Gilbert has made one other NFL start. He was 21-of-38 for 243 yards, a touchdown, and an interception while running three times for 28 yards while playing for the Cowboys in a 24-19 loss to the Steelers last season.

Kyle Shurmur and Jordan Ta’amu are on the practice squad and one will serve as Gilbert’s backup in Philly.

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Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson remained out of practice Wednesday. He has not practiced since injuring his ankle against the Browns on Dec. 12.

On Sunday, Jackson missed the first game of his career due to injury as the Ravens lost to the Packers 31-30. Backup quarterback Tyler Huntley started and threw two touchdowns and ran for two.


Ravens coach John Harbaugh offered no update on Jackson on Wednesday, saying the team is in “wait and see” mode.

“I’m hopeful for him, and I know he’s doing everything he can to get back and play for us,” receiver Marquise Brown said, via Clifton Brown of the team website.

Defensive lineman Calais Campbell (thigh) returned to practice on a limited basis Wednesday after missing Sunday’s game.

Right tackle Patrick Mekari (hand), who has missed the past two games, also practiced on a limited basis.

Left guard Ben Powers (toe), guard/tackle Tyre Phillips (knee), cornerback Tavon Young (concussion) and receiver/returner Devin Duvernay (ankle) did not practice.

Fullback Patrick Ricard (knee) and tight end Nick Boyle (knee) were limited.

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Broncos rule out Teddy Bridgewater, Drew Lock will start



The Broncos officially have ruled out quarterback Teddy Bridgewater for the Week 16 game against the Raiders.

Head coach Vic Fangio said “it’s possible” Bridgewater could return in Week 17. The Broncos, though, will do “whatever’s best for his health moving forward” after Bridgewater’s head injury kept him in the hospital overnight Sunday.


Bridgewater is in concussion protocol for the second time this season.

Drew Lock will start for the Broncos this week, but the job remains Bridgewater’s when he returns, Fangio said.

“Teddy’s our quarterback, and if Teddy’s healthy, he’ll be the quarterback,” Fangio said, via Aric DiLalla of the team website.

Bridgewater has started all 14 games for the Broncos this season.

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Browns are still without Baker Mayfield



In two days, the Browns face the Packers at Lambeau Field. The Browns still don’t have starting quarterback Baker Mayfield in the building.

Mayfield landed on COVID reserve last Wednesday with a positive test despite being vaccinated. Although the NFL and NFL Players Association agreed on Thursday to change the protocols to make it easier to return, Mayfield still hasn’t been cleared.


On Sunday, Mayfield posted on social media that he has no symptoms and that he was praying for a negative test, so that he could play on Monday against the Raiders. Four days later, he and the Browns are still waiting.

By rule, he’ll return on Saturday at the latest. That’s the same day, however, that the Browns play the Packers at Lambeau Field. If not cleared before Saturday, he’ll have to travel separately to Green Bay and await the automatic green light for his return on the same day as game day. Obviously, it will become harder for him to perform at a high level without the benefit of practice.

Obviously, the Browns need him. At 7-7, another loss could end up being fatal to what once seemed to be a certain playoff appearance.

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This isnt looking good for the Browns. Going to Lambeau in the Winter is difficult enough for any team and the Browns need a 'W' in the worst way... without Baker it looks even more dire.

 

Washington activates QB Taylor Heinicke from reserve/COVID-19 list ahead of Cowboys game

The Washington Football Team can officially thank Garrett Gilbert for his service and resume the time of Taylor Heinicke.

Washington activated Heinicke from the reserve/COVID-19 list on Thursday, the team announced. Linebacker David Mayo and tight end Temarrick Hemingway were also activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list, and quarterback Jordan Ta'amu was released.

Heinicke missed Washington's rescheduled Week 15 game due to his stay on the reserve/COVID-19 list, meaning the Football Team had to quickly find a replacement for him. With Kyle Allen also on the reserve/COVID-19 list at the time, Washington was left with no other choice than to sign Gilbert off New England's practice squad and play him in the Tuesday night loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

It wasn't the best experience, as Philadelphia outgained Washington 519 to 237 and won by 10 points despite committing two turnovers. But Gilbert wasn't horrible, completing 20 of 31 passes for 194 yards.

Washington will be glad to have Heinicke back, though, with the belief he can jump-start a desperate push for the final wild-card spot in the NFC. Heinicke has seemed to improve as the year has progressed and he's grown more comfortable as the team's full-time starter, posting a 90-plus passer rating in four of his last five outings.

He'll need a few more performances like that if he hopes to get the Football Team back to the postseason for a second straight year. At 6-8 and a game out of the final wild-card opening heading into Sunday's game against the Dallas Cowboys, Washington has no room for error.

NFL.com

 

Saints preparing to start rookie QB Ian Book vs. Dolphins; Taysom Hill, Trevor Siemian on COVID list

The Saints are among the latest teams to be heavily impacted by COVID-19.

Both Trevor Siemian and Taysom Hill are among the New Orleans players who have landed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport and NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported. The team is preparing former Notre Dame quarterback Ian Book to start in the Saints' Monday night game against the Dolphins, per Rapoport and Pelissero.

Book was selected in the fourth round of the 2021 draft and has yet to appear in a regular-season game in his first NFL season. Book did see the field in the preseason, but has been buried on a depth chart that has also included Jameis Winston, Siemian and Hill.

After starting four straight games following Winston's season-ending knee injury, Siemian has since been relegated to the role of backup behind Hill in recent weeks. New Orleans likely will have neither this weekend in the first of three games that will be crucial to its hopes of making the postseason as a wild-card team.

At 7-7, New Orleans is just outside the playoffs as the current No. 9 team in the NFC. Minnesota and Philadelphia are ahead of the Saints with an identical record of 7-7 and tiebreaker advantages.

The Saints will meet a Miami team that is in a similar position at 7-7 but trails the current seventh-seeded Buffalo Bills by one game. The going will be difficult for the Saints, who will likely lean on their fresh-faced rookie to lead them to a home victory on a national stage.

NFL.com

 

♫ It's starting to look a lot like Christmas ♫
In other words.....
A long cold winter.

 

Nick Foles to start for Bears



After spending the entire season on the bench, Nick Foles is moving into the starting lineup for the Bears.

Bears head coach Matt Nagy announced today that Foles is the Bears’ starting quarterback for Sunday’s game against the Seahawks.


Nagy indicated that it’s unclear whether Justin Fields, who is battling an ankle injury, will be active as the backup, or not dress for the game at all. Andy Dalton has already been ruled out with a groin injury.

If neither Fields nor Dalton is active, the Bears would presumably promote quarterback Ryan Willis from the practice squad to the active roster to serve as Foles’ backup.

Foles started seven games for the Bears last year but has not played at all this year. In two stints with the Eagles Foles had one Pro Bowl season and one Super Bowl MVP-winning performance, but he’s had significantly less success in other stints with the Rams, Chiefs and Jaguars.

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The Browns made several moves in advance of their matchup against the Packers on Saturday and they’ll officially have their starting quarterback.

Cleveland has activated quarterback Baker Mayfield, the team announced on Friday. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski previously mentioned that he expected Mayfield to clear the COVID-19 protocols in time to start on Saturday.


Mayfield was one of several players who missed Monday’s game against the Raiders. The quarterback has completed 63 percent of his passes for 2,603 yards with 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions this season.

Mayfield will have his top receiver back, too, as Jarvis Landry was also activated off the COVID-19 list. Backup QB Case Keenum, cornerback A.J. Green, and defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo were activated off COVID reserve, too.

But Cleveland announced that defensive tackle Jordan Elliott and kicker Chase McLaughlin have been placed on the COVID-19 list, so the team’s troubles with the virus aren’t quite over. Safety Cedric Thompson was also placed on the practice squad COVID-19 list.

With several players still out due to COVID-19, the Browns activated safety Adrian Albert, guard Hjalte Froholdt, defensive end Joe Jackson, cornerback Herb Miller, safety Javonte Moffatt, quarterback Nick Mullens, kicker Chris Naggar, and defensive end Curtis Weaver as COVID-19 replacements.

Safety Cedric Thompson has been released from the practice squad/COVID-19 list.

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Saints rookie QB Ian Book aims to seize 'unbelievable opportunity' vs. Dolphins

Left as the only quarterback on the Saints' roster after Taysom Hill and Trevor Siemian landed on the reserve/COVID list, Ian Book didn't have to think long and hard to know who was next in line.

"I did the math there pretty quickly," quipped Book on Friday, via the Associated Press.

The Saints are preparing to start Book on Monday night versus the Dolphins, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport and NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported on Thursday. Though there is a chance either Hill or Siemian could test out of COVID-19 protocols in time to be activated by Monday's game, the third-string rookie is preparing himself mentally.

"I'm planning on playing," said Book. "You can't just flip that switch on Monday morning, trying to get ready. It doesn't work like that, especially at the quarterback position."

Book was a fourth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft by the Saints and the 23-year-old has plenty of big-game experience during his three years as a starter at Notre Dame. Book's 30 total wins are the most in the program's rich history, and his 72 touchdown passes are second-most for the Irish behind Brady Quinn (95).

In what would be his first NFL action, not to mention his first start, Book will be fortunate to have Sean Payton calling plays in his ear after the Saints head coach was forced to miss last week's game due to a positive COVID-19 test. Payton was cleared to return to the team on Friday.

"He's played in real big games and he's done it consistently -- if you're measuring wins and losses -- better than any quarterback in Notre Dame history," Payton said on Friday. "Obviously, there's a transition to this level, but I think he's up for the challenge."


While Payton shows confidence in Book, he maintains that the coaching staff and a total team effort will be necessary for a squad dealing with several other absences due to to COVID-19, including key players such as linebacker Demario Davis, tackle Ryan Ramczyk and safety Malcolm Jenkins. Veteran QB Blake Bortles was signed by the Saints on Friday as a would-be backup to Book.

"He's going to do fine. He's excited about the opportunity," Payton added. "It's up to us to give him the right things relative to the game and where we're at offensively."

Said Book: "I've got this whole team behind me. I feel like all these guys got my back and just to hear everyone, how excited they are that I get a chance, is pretty cool."

Book will be the fourth starting QB for New Orleans in 2021, a tumultuous season for an offense that endured Jameis Winston tearing his ACL in Week 8, wideout Michael Thomas' season-long absence due to a long-lasting ankle injury, star running back Alvin Kamara (knee) out for an entire month, and Pro Bowl tackles Ryan Ramczyk and Terron Armstead unavailable for a fair share of games due to injury.

The Saints' 311.7 total yards per game rank 26th in the NFL. After a 5-2 start to the season before Winston's season-ending knee injury, New Orleans sits at 7-7 entering Monday night after winning their last two.

Entering Week 16, the Saints are on the bubble in the NFC playoff picture and face a red-hot Dolphins (7-7) team looking to win their seventh straight. With Book raring to go, the table is set for a rocking prime-time game in New Orleans with major playoff implications for both teams.

"It's an unbelievable opportunity," Book said. "I don't know what it's going to feel like. I've played in big games, but I think this is the biggest, obviously. We're professionals now and this is Monday Night Football."

NFL.com

 

Tyler Huntley lands on COVID-19 reserve



A day after Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley missed practice due to illness, that illness has become a COVID-19 diagnosis. According to NFL Media, he has been placed on the COVID reserve list.

This means that Josh Johnson will get the start for the Ravens, if Lamar Jackson can’t play due to an ankle injury. He’s currently listed as questionable.


Johnson, who has eight starts in a season that dates back to 2009 (and includes stints in the AAF and XFL) got extended duty for the Jets earlier this year, after Mike White suffered an injury during a Thursday night game against the Colts. Johnson completed 27 of 41 passes for 317 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception.

The Ravens face the Bengals in a critical battle of 8-6 teams. The absence of Huntley and likely inability of Jackson to play will make it easier for Cincinnati to complete the sweep and essentially knock the Ravens out of contention for the AFC North crown.

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Jake Fromm will start for Giants vs. Eagles today



Officially, the Giants have declined to say who their starting quarterback is today. But it’s going to be Jake Fromm.

Fromm will get the first start of his career today against the Eagles, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.


The Giants have ruled Daniel Jones out for the season, and Mike Glennon has been a disaster as his replacement. Fromm arrived off the Bills’ practice squad and played part of last week’s game, completing six of 12 passes for 82 yards.

The 4-10 Giants are going nowhere this year, but it will be helpful to evaluate whether Fromm should be a part of their quarterback room in 2022.

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Report: Jimmy Garoppolo has chipped bone, torn ligament in thumb



Since Kyle Shanahan revealed at his Monday media availability that Jimmy Garoppolo sprained his right thumb, the news continues to get worse. Shortly after the 49ers coach made his announcement, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported Garoppolo had a “more significant injury” than a sprain.

Now comes a report from Ian Rapoport of NFL Media that Garoppolo has a chipped bone and torn ligament in his throwing thumb.


Garoppolo did not practice Monday.

Rookie Trey Lance will start if Garoppolo can’t go against the Texans on Sunday. The third overall choice has not thrown a pass since his Oct. 10 start against the Cardinals when he injured a knee.

The last time he played was Nov. 21 when Lance took five snaps in mop-up duty against the Jaguars.

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Colts place Carson Wentz on COVID-19 list



With the Colts recent cluster of positive COVID-19 tests, keeping quarterback Carson Wentz off of COVID reserve became a high priority.

Unfortunately for Indianapolis, that didn’t happen.


The Colts announced on Tuesday that Wentz, who is unvaccinated, has been placed on the COVID-19 list. If Wentz tested positive, under the league’s current protocols, he is out for 10 days. That means he’ll miss the Week 17 contest against the Raiders but has a chance to play in the season finale against the Jaguars — though he would have little practice time for that contest.

But if Wentz is a close contact, he is out for only five days if he continues to produce negative tests.

Wentz has completed 63 percent of his passes for 3,230 yards with 25 touchdowns and six interceptions this season.

Rookie Sam Ehlinger is Indianapolis’ backup and presumably would start against Las Vegas if Wentz is out.

The Colts now have 13 players on their COVID-19 list, including seven starters. Linebacker Darius Leonard, one of the team’s most important defensive players, is out for Sunday’s game against the Raiders after testing positive late last week because he is unvaccinated.

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Eagles keeping quarterbacks separated for meetings as COVID precaution



The Eagles placed three active roster players on the COVID-19 reserve list on Monday and head coach Nick Sirianni told reporters during his press conference that the team is taking extra steps to try to make sure they don’t get wiped out at quarterback by continued positive tests this week.

Sirianni, who missed time last week after his own positive test, said that the team will do “some different things that weren’t mandated a couple weeks ago” once players are back in the building on Wednesday to prepare for the Week 17 game against the Washington Football Team. One of the things that they will be doing is having quarterbacks Jalen Hurts, Gardner Minshew, and Reid Sinnett stay in different rooms during meetings in order to limit their exposure to one another.


“I talked to a couple other head coaches and tried to figure out what they’re doing because we all know — to win this game this week, we’re going to need all hands-on deck,” Sirianni said. “And so, what is the best course of action? And, obviously, we’re talking to our doctors and our trainers to figure out the best course of attack. And we’re going to make some adjustments. I’m not there 100 percent yet because I don’t have to be quite yet with the players not being back yet, but we’re going to definitely make even more adjustments than what we need to just to keep everybody safe. And the quarterbacks, yes, the quarterbacks will be in separate rooms. We’re going to be even more safe with them being in separate rooms.”

After seeing quarterbacks like Nick Mullens, Garrett Gilbert, Josh Johnson, and Ian Book start games for teams in the playoff race in the last couple of weeks, it would be a surprise if other teams don’t follow a similar plan to the one the Eagles are taking over what’s left of the 2021 season.

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Ben Roethlisberger says Monday night is likely his last game at Heinz Field



Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is getting ready to say goodbye to Pittsburgh.

Roethlisberger said today that Monday night’s game against the Browns is likely his final game at Heinz Field.


“I don’t ever speak in definites or guarantees, that’s just not what I’ve ever done or who I am,” he said. “But looking at the bigger picture, I would say that all signs are pointing to this could be it. Regular season, that is — I know we still have a chance to potentially get a playoff game there if things fall our way and we take care of business and things have to happen. But in the grand scheme of things, in terms of regular season, signs are pointing that way, this could be it.”

It has been widely believed that this would be Roethlisberger’s final season with the Steelers, but that’s as close as Roethlisberger has come to confirming it publicly.

It’s possible that Roethlisberger would try to keep playing beyond this season, but the Steelers appear ready to move on, and it’s doubtful that any other team would be eager to hand him a starting job, given that he’s struggling through one of his worst seasons and will turn 40 in March.

And so Roethlisberger is probably stepping onto Heinz Field for the last time on Monday night, where Steelers fans will salute him for a long and successful career.

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Lamar Jackson not practicing on Thursday



Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson may have hit a snag in his return from an ankle injury.

According to multiple reporters, Jackson was not present for the portion of Baltimore’s practice open to media. Jackson was a limited participant in Wednesday’s session, though video of the practice showed Jackson visibly limping while moving from one drill to the next.


Jackson has not played since injuring his ankle during the first half of Baltimore’s loss to Cleveland in Week 14. Tyler Huntley, who came off the COVID-19 list on Thursday and returned to practice, started the club’s Week 15 loss to Green Bay. Josh Johnson started last week’s loss to Cincinnati.

Huntley would be in line to start Sunday’s game against the Rams if Jackson is unable to play.

Baltimore’s full injury report will be released later on Thursday.

The Ravens have lost four games in a row to fall to 8-7 and the AFC’s No. 8 seed.

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Baker Mayfield on recent death threats: It’s not like it’s anything new



Baker Mayfield‘s wife, Emily, revealed this week on her Instagram story that the Browns quarterback received death threats after his four-interception game Christmas Day. Mayfield confirmed the threats on social media, adding “it’s not like it’s anything new to us.”

“We’re in a society where there’s a lot of keyboard warriors and a lot of it is ignorance,’’ Mayfield said, via Mary Kay Cabot of cleveland.com.


Mayfield indicated Browns’ security did not feel the threats were credible enough to investigate. Nontheless, they were hateful enough for Emily Mayfield to express her exasperation.

“It’s crazy how much negativity is amplified via social media,” she wrote. “I’m still a believer that there’s more good people out there than bad, but WOW does social media make me think otherwise sometimes. Which plays into why I love to spread positivity. Our world needs more of it.

“The death threats, lies being told about my husband, and blatant DISRESPECT never ceases to amaze me. For the record — I pray for those of you who even think those thoughts, let alone type them out. I hope you can find some happiness so you stop trying to steal it from others.”

Baker Mayfield tried to downplay the haters on Thursday.

“A bigger deal will be made of it on the outside,’’ he said.

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said he was aware of Emily’s post and noted “there is a lot of noise out there.”

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