MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK

Brian Daboll likes him... “It’s his job,” head coach Brian Daboll said in his postgame press conference. “Third game of over a hundred quarterback rating. He made good decisions, took care of the ball, used him in the run game. Just keep developing him. He’s improving. Still got stuff to work on, but like I said two or three times last week, I think he’s a young player that’s doing the right things and making the most of his opportunity. He earned the right to play today, and he earned the right to play the next week. The kid’s done a good job.”

 

He might just get his boys to pull off the hit and save Daboll’s job.

 

Joe Flacco’s deal includes $4 million in incentives, half of which comes winning the Super Bowl

The Browns have finally signed starting quarterback Joe Flacco to the active roster. And the prorated one-year contract isn’t just for the veteran minimum salary.

Flacco has incentives. More than $4 million in incentives.

Via ESPN.com, the deal includes up to $4.05 million that Flacco can earn between now and the time the confetti falls in Las Vegas.

The formula goes like this: $75,000 for each regular-season win; $250,000 for a wild-card win, $500,000 for a divisional-round win, $1 million for an AFC Championship, and $2 million for a Super Bowl victory.

Nearly 75 percent of the money requires making it to the Super Bowl. Half of the money comes from winning it.

On one hand, it’s a fair deal for Flacco, who was unemployed until November 20. On the other hand, winning a Super Bowl will mean a lot more than $4 million to the Browns.

If that happens, of course, Flacco would be in line for a reward on the back end, as a free agent who likely would not be ignored until mid-November in 2024.

PFT

 

Kyler Murray “good to go” despite being on injury report because of thumb

Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is on the team’s injury report this week, but there’s nothing to be worried about as far as his availability against the 49ers on Sunday.

Murray has been a full participant in practice despite a thumb issue that landed him on the report. The Cardinals are coming off their bye week and there was no sign of an injury when the team was last on the field in Week 13.

On Friday, Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said that Murray is “good to go” and called his appearance on the injury report a “maintainence” issue.

Murray is 79-of-130 for 864 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions in four starts since returning from last season’s torn ACL. He has also run 23 times for 106 yards and three touchdowns.

PFT

 

Texans rule C.J. Stroud out for Sunday

 

Case Keenum, not Davis Mills, will start in place of C.J. Stroud

C.J. Stroud is out, due to a concussion. And Case Keenum is in. Not Davis Mills.

With a postseason berth still within reach, the Texans will entrust Sunday’s game at Tennessee to someone who has played in a few high-stakes games.

Per multiple reports, which PFT has confirmed, Keenum will get the start on Sunday. The move means that he’ll leapfrog Mills on the depth chart.

It will be Keenum’s 65th career start and his first since Week 18 of the 2021 season, with the Browns.

Keenum, 35, last started a game for the Texans back in 2014. In 2017, he started 14 regular-season games for the Vikings, along with two playoff games. He threw the desperation pass to receiver Stefon Diggs that became the Minneapolis Miracle.

Keenum started 16 games for the Broncos in 2018. He has also played for the Rams, Commanders, and Bills.

The 7-6 Texans play the 5-8 Titans in Nashville on Sunday. The Titans will be dressed as the Houston Oilers. Which should give the Houston Texans a little extra motivation.

The bulk of the motivation should come from the fact that the Texans remain very much alive for an unlikely playoff berth.

PFT

 

Was ching highlights during one.of the games and the big question how did some.guys get so wide open today. There were plays where Cooper Kupp, CMC, and Debo.Samual where all completely uncovered. Now I get when playing the 49ers they have a lot of weapons but who do you leave CMC uncovered? Same with Kupp I get he's in a injured down season and Puka has been the monster but he was so wide open you would have thought that he was just doing receiver drills with Stafford.

 

Jacksonville was rolling, now they have lost 3 straight. Trevor Lawrence suffered his 2nd injury in 3 weeks. Lawrence is now in 'concussion protocol' after sustaining a concussion, probably in the 4th quarter although he finished the game. If Lawrence cant go Christmas eve, CJ Beathard is up... he's 2-10 as a starter. Getting gloomy in JAX.

 

He was shaking his arm out at one point in the hame too. Never went to the sideline though or had it looked at as far as i know.

 

The steelers have a grand total of 20 offensive TDs with 3 games to go they are currently tied with CMC and Mostert. There have also been 12 QBs to throw at least 20 TDs. Wonder how many will end up throwing more TDs than the Steelers score. Also wonder just out of curiousity what kind of odds you could get on CMC having more TDs than the Steelers offense. They have the advantage though because he likley doesnt play 3 more games.

 

Correct, I seen that also.

 

David Njoku: Joe Flacco threw great balls, nothing else to say

The Browns trailed by 10 points heading into the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game against the Bears, but anyone who thought that they were on the road to a loss wound up disappointed.

After the defense stopped Bears quarterback Justin Fields short of a first down at the Bears’ 33-yard-line, quarterback Joe Flacco hit tight end David Njoku with a couple of passes to set up a field goal. Njoku had another catch before wide receiver Amari Cooper tied the game with a 51-yard touchdown catch and the defense got the ball right back into Flacco’s hands.

Flacco hit Njoku for gains of 31 and 34 yards to set up Dustin Hopkins’ go-ahead field goal with 36 seconds left to play and the Browns held on for a 20-17 win. Njoku ended the day with 10 catches for 104 yards and a touchdown in the first half and Flacco called the 34-yard gain play that moved the Browns into field goal range “incredible” in his postgame press conference. Njoku had similar praise for the guy running the offense.

“I just thank God,” Njoku said, via the team’s website. “I am not going to question him or complain about it. Joe Flacco threw great balls. Nothing more to say.”

Flacco starting a playoff game this season was on nobody’s radar in September, but Njoku helped move it closer to reality on Sunday and it’s hard to imagine anyone counting the Browns out of any situation as their improbable run continues on a weekly basis.

PFT

 

Steelers plan to start Mason Rudolph in Week 16, but Kenny Pickett may return

Santa Claus isn’t the only one looking to Rudolph to provide a spark on Christmas weekend.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said the team is preparing to start quarterback Mason Rudolph against the Bengals on Saturday afternoon. But there’s a possibility Kenny Pickett will be available to play after missing the last two games with an ankle injury.

“It’s our intention, as we sit here today, to give Mason Rudolph an opportunity to start,” Tomlin said at his Monday press conference. “He’s a veteran guy. he’s a backup, but he’s also a veteran guy. He’s been in our program a long time. he’s here for those reasons. We’ve got a great deal of comfort with him.”

Mitch Trubisky has started at QB for the last two games but he was replaced by Rudolph late in Saturday’s loss to the Colts.

“Man, we don’t like what we’re looking at and the consistency of it,” Tomlin said of the reason for the change. “What I mean is, we’re not scoring enough points. Particularly as you move into December football, man, you’ve got to score more than 12, 14, 16 points in games this time of year. You better assume that others are doing the same. The engineering of victory is not going to be fluid if you’re not doing those things. And obviously, by nature of the position, the guy that has the ball at the quarterback position, that’s a catalyst for change and opportunity. So, we want to give him some snaps from a preparation standpoint, some in-helmet perspective.

“Not dumping the outcome of the game at Mitch’s feet — I’m not saying that. But I am saying the guy at that position is at the controls and does have a big say in how some things unfold. And it’s more about, really, Mason Rudolph being deserving of an opportunity and us trying to change the trajectory of what’s been transpiring.”

Trubisky was 16-of-23 for 169 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions against the Colts. He also scored a rushing touchdown.

Saturday was Rudolph’s first game action since 2021. He threw three passes, completing two of them for 3 yards.

Rudolph has started 10 games in his career, compiling a 5-4-1 record. He’s completed 61.5 percent of his throws for 2,369 yards with 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

As for Pickett, Tomlin said the 2022 first-round pick had a good rehab workout on Monday. Pickett underwent surgery to repair his high ankle sprain the day after suffering the injury in Pittsburgh’s Week 13 loss to Arizona.

“His availability is not out of question this week,” Tomlin said. “But at the front part of the week, our intention and emphasis will be on Mason Rudolph and we’ll leave the door ajar and see how Kenny responds to the work that he did today, the limited work that we’re probably going to give him tomorrow, and, again, establishing a position in terms of a pecking order the closer that we get [to the game].

“But, again, as I stand here today, Mason Rudolph is the guy with the ball. We’re going to support him and ready him.”

PFT

 

Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield becomes first opposing QB to post perfect passer rating at Lambeau Field

Two quarterbacks have posted perfect passer ratings at Lambeau Field: Aaron Rodgers against the Raiders in 2019 and Baker Mayfield on Sunday.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback diced up Joe Barry's defense to the tune of 381 yards on 22 of 28 passing with four touchdowns for a perfect 158.3 passer rating in the 34-20 win over the hometown Packers. It marked the most points the Buccaneers have ever scored at Lambeau Field.

After the win that kept the 7-7 Bucs atop the NFC South, Mayfield downplayed the perfect passer rating accomplishment.

"I'll be honest. December games are all important," Mayfield said, via ESPN's Jenna Laine. "This one was very important, but this one won't matter unless we hit the reset button and move on to next week. It can't be more special than any other. It is the most important one now, but enjoy it, and then we will move on to next week. That is the mentality we have to have as a unit."

Sunday marked Mayfield's fourth career game with four-plus TD passes and third with a quartet of TD tosses without an INT. It was the first perfect passer rating of his career and the first 158.3 passer rating allowed by Green Bay since 1980 -- first at home -- per NFL Research.

NFL.com

 

Report: C.J. Stroud unlikely to play Sunday

The Texans are expected to play a second game without starting quarterback C.J. Stroud.

Stroud still is dealing with sensitivity to light and other common concussion symptoms, Aaron Wilson of KPRC reports. Stroud is not medically cleared to return to practice yet, which makes it unlikely he will complete the steps necessary to clear concussion protocol before Sunday.

The Texans are preparing Case Keenum to make a second consecutive start in place of Stroud.

Keenum supplanted Davis Mills on the depth chart last week, with Davis serving as the backup.

The Texans signed Tim Boyle to the practice squad Tuesday, which was a sign that Stroud isn’t ready to return yet.

Coach DeMeco Ryans said Monday that Stroud remained in concussion protocol, where the rookie landed after his head bounced off the turf on a hit from Jets defensive lineman Quinnen Williams. Williams was not fined for the hit.

Stroud remains the favorite to win offensive rookie of the year, having passed for 3,631 yards with 20 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also has run for 143 yards and three touchdowns.

PFT

 

Meanwhile, Scott Fitterer (the Carolina GM who let both Mayfield and Sam Darnold walk away) watches his team lead the race for the #1 overall draft pick - which he won't even get because he already traded it to Chicago.

It's surprising that he hasn't been fired already.

 

Lamar Jackson dismisses talk of Ravens-49ers being a Super Bowl preview: We’re in December

The teams that are tied with the best record in the NFL will face off on Monday night when the Ravens face the 49ers, so it’s only natural to think of the game as a potential Super Bowl preview.

But Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson doesn’t want to hear it.

Asked about people saying it’s a Super Bowl preview, Jackson said his focus is just on one game at a time, not looking ahead to the Super Bowl, which is almost two months away.

“The Super Bowl is in February. We’re in December right now. We’ve got to focus on Monday night. I’m not worried about what people say,” Jackson said.

For fans, the Christmas night game will be a great game to wrap up Week 16, but Jackson is right not to let the game get too big for himself and his teammates. Win or lose, the bigger games lie ahead.

PFT

 

Kenny Pickett ruled out, Mason Rudolph to start for Steelers vs. Bengals

Mason Rudolph will be the Steelers’ starting quarterback for Saturday’s game against the Bengals.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin confirmed today that Kenny Pickett has been ruled out with an ankle injury. Rudolph will start and Mitchell Trubisky will back him up.

This will be the third straight game Pickett has missed since suffering a high ankle sprain. The Steelers are 0-2 without Pickett and will have to hope that Rudolph can do what Trubisky has not and help them win with a backup quarterback.

The 7-7 Steelers and 8-6 Bengals are both in AFC playoff contention, but the Bengals have looked good with backup quarterback Jake Browning filling in for starter Joe Burrow. The Steelers haven’t won a game with Rudolph as their starting quarterback since 2019, but they need him to play well on Saturday.

PFT

 

Trevor Lawrence remains out of practice on Thursday

It’s looking like C.J. Beathard will be behind center when the Jaguars take on the Buccaneers this weekend.

According to multiple reporters on the scene, Trevor Lawrence (concussion protocol) is not on the field for Thursday’s portion of practice open to media. That makes it more likely that Lawrence will miss the first game of his NFL career.

Beathard almost had to start Jacksonville’s Week 14 loss to Cleveland and the Week 7 win over the Saints on Thursday night, as Lawrence was dealing with injuries before those contests. But Lawrence was still able to play in those games.

Beathard has completed 12-of-14 passes for 77 yards in five appearances this season. He hasn’t started a game since 2020 when he was with the 49ers.

Multiple reporters also noted receiver Zay Jones was not practicing as he deals with a hamstring injury.

Jacksonville’s full Thursday injury report will be released later in the day.

PFT

 

Joe Flacco returns to full participation at Thursday’s practice

Browns quarterback Joe Flacco was estimated as a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice, which was a walkthrough. He got in full work Thursday when the team returned to practice.

Flacco has a calf injury.

He has passed for 939 yards with seven touchdowns and five interceptions, and he’s lost a fumble.

Sunday’s game between the Browns and Texans was supposed to be the first matchup between Deshaun Watson and C.J. Stroud, but neither starter will play. Watson is out for the year, and Stroud will miss a second consecutive game with a concussion.

Case Keenum is expected to start for Houston.

The Browns had six other changes to their practice report.

Linebacker Anthony Walker (knee) went from limited work Wednesday to sitting out Thursday, and tight end David Njoku (not injury related/resting player, knee) and guard Wyatt Teller (not injury related/resting player, ankle) returned to practice on a limited basis.

Defensive end Myles Garrett (not injury related/resting player, shoulder) and running back Jerome Ford (wrist) had full participation.

Guard Joel Bitonio (back, knee), linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk (calf), , defensive end Ogbonnia Okoronkwo (pectoral) and safety Juan Thornhill (calf) remained out of practice.

Tackle Geron Christian (shoulder), running back Kareem Hunt (groin) and center Ethan Pocic (stinger) again were limited.

Defensive end Za’Darius Smith was added to the report with a limited practice for personal reasons.

PFT