As NFL Week 12 kicks off Thursday, there’s no shortage of notable injury news.
Joe Burrow returned to practice Wednesday for the Bengals, and if he plays Sunday it would represent a remarkably fast return from a serious toe injury for which he had surgery earlier this season. But that’s still an “if.”
Advertisement
“I’m not there yet,” Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said when asked about Burrow playing on WLW radio. “One day at practice isn’t going to lead to that decision yet.”
Elsewhere in the AFC North — which appears to be the epicenter of quarterback news this week — Lamar Jackson returned to Ravens practice Thursday after missing Wednesday with an ankle injury. That’s a new ailment for Jackson, who’s battled knee and hamstring injuries as well this season, but he appears in line to start Sunday against the New York Jets as Baltimore tries to claw back atop the division.
The buzziest news of the week is Shedeur Sanders being named the Browns’ Week 12 starter at the Raiders, with fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel still in concussion protocol. Sanders struggled in his NFL debut agains the Ravens last Sunday, and we’ll see what full week of preparation as the starter can do for him.
Let’s finish off the AFC North whiparound with Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who’s battling a fractured left wrist. Rodgers said Wednesday that whether or not he starts against the Bears on Sunday isn’t a matter of pain tolerance, but rather safety. We’ll see if he practices Thursday.
Advertisement
In New York, quarterback Jaxson Dart appears close to clearing concussion protocol, having participated in practice Thursday. Dart missed the Giants’ loss to the Packers with a concussion he suffered against the Bears two weeks ago.
Lastly, Packers running back Josh Jacobs will go through individual drills at practice Thursday, per ESPN, to gauge how his knee is feeling after he left Sunday’s win over the Giants with an injury. Jacobs missed practice Wednesday but avoided long-term damage, per reports earlier this week.
Follow along with Yahoo Sports for all of the latest NFL news and updates coming out of Week 10.
Live69 updatesThu, November 20, 2025 at 10:28 AM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
Lamar Jackson popped up on the Ravens’ injury report Wednesday with an ankle injury, a new ailment in a season during which he’s already battled knee and hamstring injuries.
Jackson is back at practice on Thursday, however, and still in line to start against the New York Jets on Sunday. Jackson missed Wednesday’s practice last week too before playing in a win over the Cleveland Browns.
Criss Partee
Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said that running back Josh Jacobs will go through individual drills at practice on Thursday to gauge where he is with the left knee injury, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN. Jacobs did not participate in practice on Wednesday.
Criss Partee
The San Francisco 49ers are signing kicker Matt Gay, according to his agents, as reported by Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. San Francisco’s current kicker, Eddy Piñeiro, is dealing with a hamstring injury. Gay is a veteran and former Pro Bowl kicker who was a fifth-round draft pick in 2019 by Tampa Bay.
Sean Leahy
A 2022 third-round draft pick out of UAB, Wright is in his fourth season with the Browns and has 9 career sacks and 18 tackles for loss in 46 games played.
The 25-year-old Wright was set to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
Sean Leahy
Burrow was a full participant in Wednesday’s Bengals practice for the first time since undergoing toe surgery to repair a Grade 3 turf toe injury sustained in Week 2. His injury replacement, Joe Flacco, meanwhile, was listed as limited with a shoulder injury.
When asked by Thom Brennaman on Cincinnait’s 700WLW Thursday morning, head coach Zac Taylor said “we don’t know yet” when it came to whether Burrow would play Sunday against the Patriots.
“I’m not there yet. We will use the time we have and come up with the best decision,” Taylor added.
The Bengals designated Burrow to return from injured reserve last week, opening up a 21-day practice window in which they can promote him to the active roster. He could return this week against the Patriots or in Week 12 against the Ravens on Thanksgiving if Cincinnati ultimately determines that it’s worth bringing him back this season.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow stands on the sidelines during the game against the Chicago Bears. (Photo by Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Sean Leahy
About 20 Buccaneers players and coaches missed Wednesday’s walk-through due to an illness, head coach Todd Bowles revealed.
Quarterback Baker Mayfield, wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, center Graham Barton, tackle Luke Goedeke, defensive lineman Logan Hall, and guard Dan Feeney were among those under the weather.
“Unfortunately, this Wednesday, a lot of people have taken ill,” Bowles said. “There is a bug going around the building. We had about five coaches and about 15 players down, so that helped aid in this walk-through. There’s nothing we can really do about that today.”
In a battle of first-place teams, the 6-4 Buccaneers visit the 8-2 Rams on Sunday Night Football.
Sean Leahy
Ahead of a celebration of his career this Sunday, former Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald told reporters that he knew the 2023 season would be his last as a player.
“That’s why, my last year, I just tried to enjoy every moment of it, taking it all in, even the bad games, the good games,” Donald told reporters on Wednesday. “Just trying to take it in like a kid playing all over again, and I felt like I did that, and I had a lot of fun my last season. To be with a young group that had a lot of success and to see them guys grow over the years, it’s pretty cool to watch them now.”
The Super Bowl champion, three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, 10-time Pro Bowler, and eight-time NFL All-Pro is a future Hall of Famer. And while Donald is no longer player, he’s keeping busy in retirement.
“I’ve got four kids and a wife, man. That, doing a lot of other things,” Donald said while speaking to local media Wednesday afternoon. “Obviously with my Ready Nutrition company, our development company, a couple of things we working on in the film space, my (AD99) foundation. So a little bit of everything, honestly, man, just really staying busy. I always tell people, ‘I feel like I retired and got more busy!’ But it’s good to be busy, good to have things in place for life after football. So I’ve been enjoying it.”
Rams DT Aaron Donald stands on the sidelines during the national anthem prior to an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Detroit Lions. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
(Kevin Sabitus via Getty Images)
Sean Leahy
Joe Flacco would like to play a 19th NFL season and he’s hoping that what he’s done in 2025 with the Bengals helps him earn a job for 2026.
“Hopefully it reinforces it in somebody’s mind that I can do it,” Flacco said, via ESPN’s Ben Baby. “I do still want to do it. I still feel like I can do it. This obviously does help with the confidence of being able to do it and all that stuff.
“I would like an opportunity, but you just never know.”
Since being traded to Cincinnati, the 40-year-old Flacco has 1,453 passing yards, 12 touchdowns, 3 interceptions and a 63.4 completion percentage in five games.
Andy Backstrom
The Los Angeles Rams placed three players on injured reserve Wednesday. Along with safety Quentin Lake (elbow) — who had been enjoying a breakout season, thanks to a career-high 10 passes defended — tight end Tyler Higbee (ankle) and right tackle Rob Havenstein (ankle) are headed to IR.
Rams head coach Sean McVay said he hopes all three starters will return this season.
McVay confirmed that Lake had surgery Tuesday to repair a dislocated elbow.
Jason Owens
Cincinnati’s playoff hopes are slim. But signs are pointing to the return of Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow from toe surgery.
Burrow was a full participant in Wednesday’s Bengals practice for the first time since undergoing toe surgery to repair a Grade 3 turf toe injury sustained in Week 2. His injury replacement, Joe Flacco, meanwhile, was listed as limited with a shoulder injury.
It’s not immediately clear if Burrow will play in Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots. But his practice status is a positive update regarding his health.
For more, read here.
Criss Partee
Kansas City Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco returned to practice on Wednesday after missing the last two games with a PCL sprain. He did participate while wearing a knee brace. Wide receiver Xavier Worthy (ankle) and Kingley Suamataia (concussion) did not participate in Wednesday’s practice.
Wed, November 19, 2025 at 1:17 PM PST
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Divine Deablo was activated on Wednesday and made his return to practice from injured reserve, as he was dealing with a fractured left forearm. Deablo had his left forearm heavily bandaged in practice on Wednesday.
Jason Owens
Aaron Rodgers isn’t practicing with his fractured left wrist. But the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback is not ruling out playing in Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears.
A day after head coach Mike Tomlin said that Rodgers would not need surgery, Rodgers spoke about his injury for the first time with reporters since sustaining the injury in Sunday’s win over the Bengals.
He said that he’s working on getting fitted for a brace and hopes to return to the practice field on Thursday. And when it’s time to make a decision about Sunday’s game, it will come down to safety rather than pain management.
For more, read here.
Criss Partee
Despite having a partial tear in his ACL, Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. will need a full reconstruction, according to Marc Raimondi of ESP
Criss Partee
Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Cam Jurgens did participate in Wednesday’s practice. Jurgens left Sunday’s game in the fourth quarter and did not return. He missed time earlier in the season due to a knee injury.
Criss Partee
The Indianapolis Colts have designated cornerback Charvarius Ward (concussion) and linebacker Jaylon Carlies (ankle) to return from injured reserve. Ward was placed on IR just before the Colts’ Week 7 matchup with the Chargers. Carlies was placed on IR during roster cutdowns with a designation to return and has not played a snap this season.
Criss Partee
Chicago has designated defensive back Kyler Gordon to return, opening his 21-day practice window. Gordon has only played in two games this season and has been out since October, dealing with groin and calf injuries. In his two appearances this season, Gordon has six tackles, 1 tackle for loss, and 1 sack.
Criss Partee
The Las Vegas Raiders have activated quarterback Aidan O’Connell from injured reserve, opening his 21-day practice window. O’Connell was a fourth-round pick for the Raiders in 2023 and has made 17 career starts (20 total games). He has a career record of 7-10 and has passed for 3,830 yards with 20 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while completing 62.6% of his passes.
Jason Owens
The surging Los Angeles Rams have suffered a blow.
Per NFL Network, starting safety Quentin Lake underwent elbow surgery this week. Lake injured his elbow in Sunday’s win over the Seattle Seahawks. The precise nature of the injury was not reported. Per the report, Lake could return before or during the playoffs, but that is not clear.
A fourth-year pro, Lake is in the midst of his best season in the NFL. In 10 starts, Lake has a career-high 10 passes defended in addition to 61 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble and 1 fumble recovery.
For more, read here.
Sean Leahy
Diggs revealed to reporters on Wednesday that he has been playing with a broken finger.
“Least of my worries,” said Diggs, who has three games this season where he’s recorded at least seven receptions and 100 receiving yards.
Diggs, who has not missed a game in 2025, has 659 receiving yards on 59 receptions this season with three touchdowns.