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 took the first-team reps at practice Thursday. 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.”
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“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. Rodgers was a limited participant in practice Thursday, and appeared to be wearing a stabilizer on his wrist.
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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.
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Andy Backstrom
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson sat out a Wednesday practice for the second week in a row, this time because of an ankle injury.
But he was once again back for Thursday’s practice, and the Ravens listed him as a full participant ahead of a Week 12 game against the New York Jets.
Jackson missed three games earlier this season with a hamstring injury. Last week, he was dealing with knee soreness.
Thu, November 20, 2025 at 1:42 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
The NFL is making changes to its scheduling lineup late in the season, the league announced today.
The Week 14 game between the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers will be played at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday, Dec. 7, on FOX. The Cincinnati Bengals and Buffalo Bills game will be played at 1 p.m. ET.
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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow was a full participant in practice on Thursday for the second day in a row. Burrow has been out with a toe injury since Week 2. The Bengals started the season 2-0 and have won just one game since Burrow has been sidelined.
Thu, November 20, 2025 at 1:28 PM PST
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The Houston Texans waived running back Dameon Pierce on Thursday, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
The move was made to make room for CB Ajani Carter on the 53-man roster. Pierce had 10 carries for 26 yards in four games played with the Texans this season. He has struggled to replicate his rookie season, when he had 220 carries for 939 yards and five touchdowns from scrimmage.
Waiving Pierce leaves the Texans with almost a bare cabinet in the running back room. On Thursday, it was announced that running back Joe Mixon is also not expected to play this season. The Texans will move forward with rookie Woody Marks and veteran Nick Chubb at the running back position.
The 5-5 Texans take on the 7-3 Buffalo Bills on Thursday Night Football.
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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones was limited in Thursday’s practice with a calf injury.
This is the first time he’s landed on the injury report this season, per The Athletic’s James Boyd. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on X, “Sounds like the Colts are being cautious. Still worth keeping an eye on…”
The Colts are playing the Kansas City Chiefs on the road Sunday.
Thu, November 20, 2025 at 1:01 PM PST
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Cleveland Browns quarterback Dillon Gabriel, tight end David Njoku and defensive end Alex Wright did not practice on Thursday, according to ESPN’s Cleveland Browns reporter Daniel Oyefusi.
The Browns have already named Shedeur Sanders the starting quarterback for this week, with Gabriel still in concussion protocol. Gabriel went down in last week’s game against the Baltimore Ravens. Sanders struggled, completing 4 of 16 passes for 47 yards and an interception. Gabriel has thrown for 937 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions since taking over for Joe Flacco in Week 5.
Njoku is dealing with a knee injury. He missed Week 7 against the Miami Dolphins because of it. He has 30 catches for 288 yards and three touchdowns this season.
Wright remains out with the quad injury that kept him out of last week’s game against the Ravens. Wright has had 16 tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble this season. The Browns recently re-signed him to a three-year, $33 million extension.
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Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson was upgraded to a full participant in Thursday’s practice ahead of a Week 12 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Johnson, a two-time Pro Bowler, hasn’t played since Week 2. After missing all of training camp and preseason with a groin issue, he suffered a new injury against the Detroit Lions while diving to break up a pass.
That core muscle injury required surgery. Johnson’s 21-day practice window was opened last week, during which he was a limited participant in practice.
Thu, November 20, 2025 at 12:37 PM PST
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers took individual reps from the gun, according to ESPN’s Pittsburgh Steelers reporter Brooke Pryor. Rodgers is dealing with a left wrist fracture that he suffered in Week 11 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Although it did not require surgery, Rodgers was held out of practice on Wednesday but returned today. Pryor reported that he practiced with a stabilizer on his left wrist.
Rodgers has 1,969 yards, 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Mason Rudolph and rookie Will Howard are the quarterbacks behind him. The Steelers are 6-4 this season. This week, they face the 7-3 Bears, who are on a four-game winning streak.
Thu, November 20, 2025 at 12:14 PM PST
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Sean Tucker isn’t the only one pleased with his performance this season. Tampa Bay Bucs offensive coordinator Josh Grizzard is increasing Tucker’s role on offense, according to Bucs Gameday writer River Wells.
With Bucky Irving out with a foot and shoulder injury since Week 4, Tucker’s carries have increased over the last three games. Last week, he had 140 yards from scrimmage and an NFL career high of three total touchdowns.
Tucker’s increased usage could signal Rashard White getting fewer carries. Last week, White had 12 touches for 62 scrimmage yards. On Sunday, the Bucs will take on the 8-2 Los Angeles Rams.
Criss Partee
Green Bay Packers head coach basically confirms that wide receiver Jayden Reed and running back MarShawn Lloyd will not return from injured reserve this week.
Reed hasn’t played since he suffered a broken collarbone in the Packers’ Week 2 win over the Commanders. Lloyd hasn’t played since Week 2 of his rookie campaign, last season, when he suffered an ankle injury against the Colts. He played in Green Bay’s second preseason game this year and ended up leaving the game with a hamstring injury. That game was also against the Colts. Lloyd is yet to step on the field this season.
Thu, November 20, 2025 at 11:51 AM PST
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Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Xavier Worthy, Isiah Pacheco and left guard Kingsley Suamataia practiced in some capacity on Thursday, according to Kansas City Star Chiefs beat reporter Pete Sweeney.
Worthy is dealing with a recurring ankle injury. He sat out of practice last week before suiting up against the Broncos. His ankle issue was also included on the Chiefs’ injury report in Weeks 5 and 6.
The speedy receiver has struggled to break out in his second season. He has multiple games under 40 yards, including last week’s three catches for 25 yards. Worthy has 27 catches for 281 yards and one touchdown in eight games this season.
Pacheco returned to practice on Wednesday and has missed the last two games with a PCL sprain. Pacheco has 78 carries for 329 yards and a touchdown this season.
Suamataia suffered a concussion in last week’s 22-19 loss to the Denver Broncos. This week, the Chiefs face the AFC South-leading Indianapolis Colts. The Chiefs are 5-5.
Thu, November 20, 2025 at 10:28 AM PST
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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.
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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.
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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)
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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.
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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)
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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.
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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.