NFL teams are gearing up full bore for Week 14, and a couple big names are returning to the practice field.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans is expected to return to practice Wednesday after breaking his clavicle in October. Evans reportedly healed faster than expected and will have his 21-day practice window opened, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
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The Cleveland Browns, meanwhile, are designating Deshaun Watson to return to practice. This designation opens Watson’s 21-day window for the team to decide whether or not he’s healthy enough to be activated. Since being traded to Cleveland from Houston, Watson has played in just 19 games, primarily due to an 11-game suspension handed down by the NFL following multiple sexual misconduct allegations and injuries.
The Kansas City Chiefs revealed some rough news Wednesday as left tackle Josh Simmons is going on injured reserve after having surgery on his left wrist, head coach Andy Reid told reporters. Simmons, whom the Chiefs selected in the first round of this year’s draft, previously missed four games this season because of an undisclosed family matter.
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Green Bay has signed defensive lineman Jordon Riley off the New York Giants’ practice squad, and he will go directly to the 53-man roster. Riley is a third-year pro who was a seventh-round draft pick of the Giants. He’s played in 21 career games and has 20 total tackles, 4 tackles for loss, and 1 QB hit.
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The Minnesota Vikings are opening the 21-day evaluation window for running back Ty Chandler. The fourth-year running back has been out since suffering a knee injury in Week 1 against Chicago. Chandler was selected in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft by Minnesota and has played in 38 games, rushing for 663 yards and three touchdowns.
Minnesota has also signed undrafted rookie free agent wide receiver Joaquin Davis to the practice squad.
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The Jacksonville Jaguars have signed defensive lineman Matt Dickerson to the team’s active roster from the practice squad. Dickerson has played with five teams and is now in his seventh NFL season.
Jacksonville also signed wide receiver Austin Trammell to the practice squad.
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Kansas City Chiefs left tackle Josh Simmons is going on injured reserve after having surgery on his left wrist, head coach Andy Reid told reporters Wednesday.
Simmons, whom the Chiefs selected in the first round of this year’s draft, previously missed four games this season because of an undisclosed family matter.
Additionally, according to ESPN’s Nate Taylor, right tackle Jawaan Taylor (left tricep) and right guard Trey Smith (right ankle) aren’t expected to practice Wednesday.
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The Green Bay Packers signed cornerback Shemar Bartholomew to the practice squad on Tuesday and released cornerback Tyron Herring and wide receiver Michael Woods from the practice squad.
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The Minnesota Vikings released quarterback Desmond Ridder from the practice squad on Tuesday. Ridder was selected in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons.
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson has been designated to return to practice by the team. This designation opens Watson’s 21-day window for the team to decide whether or not he’s healthy enough to be activated. Since being traded to Cleveland from Houston, Watson has played in just 19 games, primarily due to an 11-game suspension handed down by the NFL following multiple sexual misconduct allegations and injuries.
Upon being traded to the Browns during the 2022 offseason, Watson signed a fully guaranteed five-year $230 million contract.
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Aiyuk has spent all season on the physically unable to perform list with a knee injury, which goes back to October 2024. Per The Athletic, the Niners have voided the guaranteed money in Aiyuk’s four-year, $120 million contract for 2026 over frustrations with his lack of communication and attendance while remaining out with the injury.
Aiyuk has reportedly told the NFLPA he did not want to fight the move via a grievance, clearing the way for his release after the season.
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Badgley took over for Spencer Shrader, who is out for the season after tearing his ACL and MCL in early October.
Badgley was waived this week and the Colts held workouts for kickers, which included Maddux Trujillo and Justin Tucker. Grupe won the competition and was signed this week to the practice squad.
Grupe played 11 games with the Saints this season and went 18-for-26 on field goals and 15-for-15 on extra points.
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Evans is expected to return to practice Wednesday after breaking his clavicle in October. Evans reportedly healed faster than expected, and will have his 21-day practice window opened, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Evans, 32, was out to a bit of a slow start prior to the injury. In four games, the veteran had 14 catches for 140 yards and a touchdown. Evans also missed time earlier in the year with a hamstring injury.
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Gardner suffered a calf strain during Sunday’s loss to the Texans. After undergoing an MRI, he reportedly will likely not land on injured reserve, meaning he could get back to action within four weeks.
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The Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers game on Saturday, Dec. 20, has been flexed into the primetime slot at 8:20 p.m. ET for Week 16. They’ve swapped time slots with the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders, who will now play at 4:00 p.m. ET that afternoon.
Chicago and Green Bay’s matchup will likely have huge division and NFC playoff implications.
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Houston has waived veteran guard Laken Tomlinson as the two sides came to this final decision on Tuesday. Once Tomlinson clears waivers, he’ll be a free agent and able to sign with any team in the league. He appeared in 10 games for Houston this season and started seven.
Tomlinson was a first-round pick for the Detroit Lions in 2015. He’s played with five different NFL teams and is a one-time Pro Bowl selection.
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Green Bay has designated defensive end Brenton Cox Jr. to return to practice after being on injured reserve since September. Cox played in the season opener against Detroit and has been out ever since, dealing with a groin injury.
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It was a scary sight Monday night in Foxborough when New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. had to be carted off for a hip injury.
But Tracy said Tuesday that he has a hip contusion/stinger and is fine, according to The Athletic’s Dan Duggan.
It sounds like the 2024 fifth-round pick avoided the worst.
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The Denver Broncos have signed former Buffalo Bills (also Browns & Jets) wide receiver Elijah Moore to the practice squad. Moore appeared in nine games for the Bills this season, catching nine receptions for 112 yards and one rushing touchdown.
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The Indianapolis Colts are working out multiple kickers on Tuesday, according to Joel A. Erickson of the IndyStar. Among those kickers working out with the team, former Saints kicker Blake Grupe is part of that grou
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Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown suffered an ankle injury during the first quarter of a Thanksgiving Day loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Five days later, head coach Dan Campbell said that St. Brown is doing “better,” but Campbell doesn’t see the three-time Pro Bowler practicing Tuesday.
The Lions play on Thursday again this week, as they host the surging Dallas Cowboys.
“If he can play, he’ll play,” Campbell said, via ESPN’s Eric Woodyard.
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San Francisco 49ers veteran fullback Kyle Juszczyk has fractured ribs and will be evaluated following the bye week. The Niners enter the Week 14 bye with a 9-4 record and currently hold the final playoff spot in the NFC. Juszczyk has started all 13 games this season and has 187 rushing yards and one touchdown.
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers apparently recovered well enough after playing Week 13 with three fractures in his left wrist. While Rodgers will be limited in practice early in the week, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin expects the veteran quarterback will ramp up as the week goes on.
Rodgers, 42, put up mediocre numbers in Week 13, throwing for just 117 yards in a 26-7 loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Despite the fractures, Rodgers wants to continue playing. If Tomlin’s comments are any indication, it appears Rodgers is on track to start for the Steelers again in Week 14, when they’ll take on the Baltimore Ravens.
Through 11 games, Rodgers has thrown 19 touchdowns against seven interceptions.