Cleveland Browns wide receiver Cedric Tillman exited Thursday night's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers late in the third quarter due to an apparent head injury.

• Tillman hauled in a 4-yard reception on the final play of the third, but he took a big hit to the side of the head near the end of the play. Since Cleveland was facing a third-and-5, Tillman shrugged off the hit to try and get a first down, but he still came up short.

  When Tillman tried to stand up after he was tackled, his legs wobbled and he lost his balance, and team trainers quickly took him into the blue medical tent.

  Tillman had two catches for 28 yards prior to his departure. He also lost a fumble.

  Entering Thursday, the 24-year-old Tillman had 27 catches for 311 yards and three touchdowns in 10 games (five starts) this season.

  --Field Level Media

Brock Purdy participated in the start of Thursday's practice with the 49ers but the San Francisco starting quarterback was not on the field for the majority of the workout, casting doubt over his availability to play Sunday at Green Bay.

• Purdy is dealing with a right shoulder injury and the 49ers are also potentially without left tackle Trent Williams and Nick Bosa due to injuries. Bosa was listed as out of Thursday's practice with an oblique injury. Williams also didn't suit up Thursday. He played through an ankle injury last week after being listed as questionable.

  Purdy's typical Thursday post-practice media session was scrapped until Friday as the 49ers did not make any quarterback available. Kyle Allen would step in for Purdy as the starter if he can't play against the Packers.

  Run game coordinator Chris Foerster said the 49ers aren't where they want to be at 5-5 because they haven't won close games, not because of injuries.

  "Seven games left is like an eternity," Foerster said. "So much can happen. Do the math. What was our record last year? It was 12-5. I was on a 13-win team that was nowhere near as good as the team last year."

  With or without Purdy, Foerster said the challenge for the 49ers is not to give up the ball to a defense that has 19 takeaways.

  The 49ers have 13 giveaways this season.

  --Field Level Media

The Pittsburgh Steelers take on what is typically an unenviable task -- traveling on a short week for a Thursday night primetime game.

• However, a few things are playing in Pittsburgh's favor as Week 12 of the NFL regular season kicks off. Namely, the "trip" to Cleveland is a little more than two hours by road and when the Steelers arrive there, they'll be facing a backup quarterback at the helm of a massively underwhelming 2-8 Browns team.

  The Steelers (8-2) are coming off a huge win over Baltimore to stay atop the AFC North. And Pittsburgh is beginning to set its sights on potential home-field advantage come playoff time.

  ODDS AND TRENDS

  The Steelers are a consensus 3.5-point favorite. That includes at BetRivers, where they have been backed by 80 percent of the spread-line money. Pittsburgh's -195 moneyline to simply win the game has been even more popular, drawing 95 percent of all money wagered.

  The Browns enter Thursday night having failed to cover the spread in nine of their past 12 games. Meanwhile, the Steelers have covered the spread in every game during their five-game win streak.

  The 37.0 total points line has seen the Over backed by 65 percent of the money and 70 percent of the total bets. Each of Cleveland's past eight November home games has gone under the total points line.

  PROP PICKS

  --Steelers WR George Pickens Over 50 Receiving Yards (-195 at DraftKings): Russell Wilson has thrown six touchdowns in the four games since he took over as the starting quarterback. Two of those have gone to Pickens, who has at least 74 receiving yards in each of those games. There is some concern that Pittsburgh gains a big early lead and turns to a run-heavy attack, but Wilson throws an excellent deep ball and that plays into Pickens' strength. This is the most popular player prop at the book.

  --Steelers RB Najee Harris Anytime TD (+100 at BetRivers): That potential for a run-heavy approach should benefit Harris, who found the sledding tough against Baltimore with 63 yards on the ground. He was also held out of the end zone for the second time in three games. Keep in mind that Cleveland has allowed only three touchdowns on the ground all season, but the Browns have allowed 12 through the air. Harris has a trio of scores on the ground and receiving through 10 games.

  KEY STAT

  The Browns have won the first quarter in five consecutive home games against the Steelers.

  THE NEWS

  The Steelers have certainly been locked in. They are currently riding a five-game winning streak, most recently edging the Baltimore Ravens 18-16 on Sunday.

  Chris Boswell booted six field goals against Baltimore, while Wilson completed 23 of 36 passes for 205 yards and an interception.

  Meanwhile, Cleveland continues to go through the wringer. The Browns ended up on the wrong end of a 35-14 blowout while facing the host New Orleans Saints on Sunday, marking their seventh loss in the past eight games.

  Cleveland now has to go up against one of the most unforgiving defenses in the league. Browns quarterback Jameis Winston is determined to direct a fundamentally sound performance against Pittsburgh, which allows the second-fewest points per game in the NFL (16.2).

  "It's precision passing. Getting the ball out on time. Elite operation and just doing our job. It's the simple things," Winston said. "This team (the Steelers) is not going to try and fool you. They're going to line up and say, 'Give us your best, we're going to give you our best.'"

  Winston threw for 395 yards and two touchdowns on 30-for-46 passing in the setback against New Orleans, with Jerry Jeudy hauling in six catches for 142 yards and a score. Star running back Nick Chubb continued to struggle since his return from a knee injury that cut his 2023 season short, finishing with 50 yards on 11 carries.

  INJURY REPORT

  The Browns could be without standout defensive end Myles Garrett, who missed practice on Tuesday because of a hip injury. Wide receiver Elijah Moore (shoulder), guard Joel Bitonio (pectoral) and cornerbacks Denzel Ward (ribs/ankle) and Greg Newsome II (shoulder) were among those limited during the session.

  Linebacker Alex Highsmith is dealing with an ankle issue and was ruled out by the Steelers along with cornerback Cory Trice Jr. (hamstring).

  THEY SAID IT

  Wilson is starting to feel like he might be part of something special, but he also doesn't want Pittsburgh to get ahead of itself.

  "I definitely think that we have a chance (to make a deep playoff run)," said Wilson, who has played in two Super Bowls. "I think the biggest thing for us is continuing to just take each week as the most important week of it all.

  "I think that it's not really even just the week, it's just the day, it's just the moments in between. I think the greatest teams, the greatest players, in any sport, especially the teams I've been on, is the moment -- it's never too far away. It's right here, right now. And you're just locked into that."

  PREDICTION

  Divisional road games on short weeks typically shape up as a daunting task. That's not the case for the Steelers, who will be hyper-focused to put this one out of reach early before enjoying 10 days ahead of a trip to Cleveland. With a second game against the Browns before a huge game at Philadelphia, this is not an under-manned opponent Pittsburgh will look past. --Steelers 27, Browns 19

  --Field Level Media

Quarterback Sam Darnold kickstarted the Vikings' offense on Thursday as he has most of the 2024 season, and plans to play Sunday in a meaningful NFC North road game at Chicago.

• Darnold returned to practice after being listed as a limited participant on Wednesday because of a foot injury.

  The Vikings (8-2) are anticipating another close matchup with the Bears (4-6), who won a field-goal battle at Minnesota last season while head coach Kevin O'Connell was shuttling quarterbacks in and out of the lineup to replace the injured Kirk Cousins.

  That's not a problem these days.

  After Cousins left for greener pastures in Atlanta, the Vikings signed Darnold to a one-year deal and drafted Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy in the first round. Darnold already has eight wins, beating the 7-10 mark the Vikings cobbled together with a QB room that spun on fast forward from Cousins, Jaren Hall, Nick Mullens, and Joshua Dobbs.

  "What we're trying to get from Sam is play the best football of his career," O'Connell said.

  Darnold is delivering and the Vikings have a three-game winning streak in tow when they arrive at Soldier Field on Sunday.

  He has posted a 100.0 passer rating in 10 starts. He has completed a career-best 67.9 percent of his passes for 2,387 yards, 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

  The next touchdown pass will mark a career high for Darnold, who sputtered with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers before serving as the San Francisco 49ers' backup last season.

  "I just feel like, you know -- not talking about past experiences at all -- but I think here it's the detail that we've had ever since OTAs, ever since April," Darnold said. "We've been able to lock in our progressions. Just our feet, our eyes, where they're supposed to be. And just being on time with the concepts.

  "If you play like that, it makes the quarterback position a little bit easier."

  --Field Level Media

Current No. 3 quarterback Daniel Jones lined up as a scout team safety in Thursday's practice in the surest sign to date that he's done with the New York Giants.

• Jones read a prepared statement, saying he wanted to make sure he clearly shared the words and sentiment he felt needed to be aired after losing the starting job to former undrafted free agent Tommy DeVito.

  In his first public comments on the decision made by head coach Brian Daboll after a team meeting on Monday, Jones spoke in the past tense about his time with the Giants (2-8), a strong signal that a professional divorce is imminent.

  "The opportunity to play for the New York Giants was truly a dream come true and I am extremely grateful ... for the chance to play here," Jones said Thursday. "The Giants are truly a first-class organization and I have nothing but genuine respect and appreciation for the people who built it and who help carry on the tradition. I've met so many special people and created relationships that will truly last a lifetime. Thank you to all my teammates, coaches and staff that have done so much for me these past six years. There have been some great times, but of course we all wish there had been more of those."

  Ranked 32nd among all qualified quarterbacks in passer rating this season, Jones has eight touchdowns and seven interceptions in 2024. He also carries an injury guarantee worth $23 million for this season that the Giants likely don't want to risk paying only to cut ties with him in the offseason.

  Jones, 27, was a first-round pick in 2019 and signed a four-year, $160 million contract in 2023. He suffered a season-ending ACL tear last season but returned in time to start the season as the No. 1 quarterback. He was benched with a record of 3-13 over his past 16 starts.

  The remainder of Jones' contract can be partially wiped off the books if he's released before March 2025.

  "I take full responsibility for my part in not bringing more wins. No one wanted to win more games worse than me and I gave everything I had on the field and in my preparation," Jones continued. "Of course, this season has been disappointing for all, and of course I wish I could've done more. I'm 100 percent accountable for my part. I did not play well enough, consistently enough help the team get the results. The reality of the NFL is it's hard to win games and requires consistent performance from everyone involved. We didn't do that well enough so the idea to change something happens, and I understand.

  "I love the game, I love being part of a team and I'm excited for the next opportunity. I know that there's a lot of good football in front of me and I'm excited about that," Jones said. "To all fans, I have deep respect and appreciation for your passion and love for the Giants. The fans are huge part of what makes playing for the Giants so special."

  Asked about his statement being written past-tense, Jones said he's still processing the bigger picture.

  "I think I'm still processing and, for now, I'm doing the best I can to help (quarterback) Tommy (DeVito) prepare, help the team prepare. That's what I'm going to do right now. So, processing that," Jones said.

  "Obviously, a decision was made and I'm not playing. That's what that was framed as."

  --Field Level Media

New York Jets linebacker Quincy Williams won his appeal of a $45,020 fine for his hit on Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren in Week 7, NFL Network reported Thursday.

• The fine was rescinded in full by NFL appeals officer Derrick Brooks, a former linebacker and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

  Williams tackled Warren with the Steelers facing first-and-goal at the Jets' 3-yard line with 8:40 left in the third quarter of Pittsburgh's 37-15 home victory on Oct. 20. Williams was not penalized on the play, but the league later fined him for unnecessary roughness/use of helmet.

  Williams, 28, has 80 tackles, one sack, six tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in starting all 11 games.

  The Jacksonville Jaguars selected him in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Murray State. Williams has 494 career tackles, eight sacks, 45 tackles for loss, 15 quarterback hits, one interception, eight forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries in 77 games (63 starts) for the Jaguars (2019-20) and Jets (2021-present).

  Williams signed a three-year, $18 million contract before the 2023 season.

  --Field Level Media

The NFL's security division is warning players to be aware of professional burglars targeting the homes of pro athletes.

• The Athletic reported Thursday that the NFL sent a memo to teams that outlines the threat.

  "The homes of professional athletes across multiple sports leagues have become increasingly targeted for burglaries by organized and skilled groups," read the memo, which was obtained by The Athletic. "Law enforcement officials have noted these groups appear to exploit team schedules to target athletes' homes on game days."

  NBC News reported Wednesday that law enforcement is working to figure out whether an international crime syndicate is involved.

  The Athletic reported that the memo includes tips for home security and also gives recommendations about the use of social media, such as not posting photos of items that would attract thieves. Players also learned via the memo how homes are targeted and how burglars enter.

  Mahomes hasn't said much about the burglary, other than to call it "disappointing" and "frustrating."

  "I can't get into too many of the details because the investigation is still ongoing," he said. "But obviously something that you don't want to happen to really anybody, but obviously yourself."

  It's not clear what was stolen from Mahomes' home in Belton, Mo., during the Oct. 6 incident. But Kelce apparently lost $20,000 in cash in the burglary at his home in Leawood, Kan., the following day when the Chiefs played the New Orleans Saints on "Monday Night Football," according to a police report.

  The burglary at the home of Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis in River Hills, Wis., occurred Nov. 2 during the Bucks' home game against the Cleveland Cavaliers. He said the perpetrators "took most of my prized possessions" and is offering a reward for the return of his property.

  "Any info that leads to the return of any of my belongings will be rewarded handsomely," Portis said. "Let me know, thank you."

  --Field Level Media

A stickler for details, Thomas Brown wants to rebuild Caleb Williams' confidence through a simplification of the Chicago Bears' offensive scheme.

• Brown, promoted to offensive coordinator last week after Shane Waldron was fired, found some success last Sunday when Williams drove the Bears into position for a game-winning field goal that was blocked in a 20-19 loss to the Green Bay Packers.

  What showed up on film when Williams and Brown huddled to review Week 11 was a tad different from the on-field results.

  Williams -- the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft still feeling his way through the gradual progression of a franchise quarterback -- said the "simplified" offense isn't one that was whittled down to aid understanding. Rather, Brown brought such a finite degree of detail and thought to each play that his call sheet eventually will become a reference point with tens of dozens of subcontext for Williams to sort in real time.

  "We didn't reinvent the wheel for those three or four days that Thomas became the offensive coordinator and play caller," Williams said. "I think the decisiveness, all of that came from our meetings and how we're going to do things. It came from being able to get play calls in faster and being able to get up there and not feel like you're rushed or not feel like you need to hurry up and get the ball snapped.

  "All of these small things -- details of routes, details of the blocking, details of the path of running backs and how we're going to do things -- I think that led into all of what happened last week. We didn't come out with the win, but how we played efficiently and physically, that leads into it."

  Fellow rookie and top-10 pick Rome Odunze felt like he was back at Washington for moments because of the rapidity with which Brown got calls to Williams, who relayed them to the huddle and hurried the team to the line of scrimmage with a newfound command.

  There was a different type of clarity and confidence eminating from Brown down through the offensive chain of command on the field.

  "As wide receivers, we're kind of looking at the defense as well and reading those things along with Caleb. So understanding what kind of coverage look we're getting and what technique the DBs are playing on us allows us to kind of build a plan for that snap. Same thing with Caleb," Odunze said. "He just has to do it at a higher level. So it helps us all."

  Veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen said that in hindsight, the wheels started coming off for the Bears in training camp. In his opinion, Waldron was "too nice," and he allowed mistakes and lack of detail and focus to become accepted.

  "That's football and that's life," Odunze said. "Doing the little things right will eventually show on a bigger stage."

  --Field Level Media

The Indianapolis Colts brought back guard Mark Glowinski, signing the nine-year veteran to the practice squad.

• Glowinski, 32, started 55 of his 59 games with the Colts from 2018-21.

  He has played 124 games (96 starts) with the Seattle Seahawks (2015-17), Colts and New York Giants (2022-23).

  The Seahawks drafted Glowinski in the fourth round in 2015. The Giants released him during the 2024 offseason.

  The Colts released veteran cornerback Tre Flowers from the practice squad in a corresponding transaction.

  Flowers, 29, was signed on Oct. 29 after being released by Jacksonville after four games this season.

  He has 286 tackles and four interceptions in 94 games (44 starts) for the Seahawks (2018-21), Cincinnati Bengals (2021-22), Atlanta Falcons (2023) and Jaguars.

  Indianapolis (5-6) hosts the Detroit Lions (9-1) on Sunday.

  --Field Level Media

The NFL's television ratings remained strong in the wake of the recent election season.

• An average of 17.5 million viewers have tuned in to an NFL game this season, which does not count international games carried by NFL Network or other exclusive broadcasts streamed on ESPN+ and Peacock. The league reported it is the highest average viewership through Week 11 since the 2015 season.

  The increased ratings come after speculation that viewership might decline during the election season. That's what happened in 2016, when the ratings dipped 8 percent from the previous year, according to Front Office Sports. Viewership also fell across multiple sports leagues during the COVID-impacted 2020 election season.

  That changed this year, as ratings remained steady around the election window.

  Late Sunday afternoon games aired on CBS and Fox, along with primetime games shown on Amazon Prime Video, NBC and ESPN, averaged 18.48 million viewers in the two weeks before the Nov. 5 election, according to Nielsen data. That average fell slightly to 18.18 million viewers in the two weeks after Election Day.

  Week 11 featured the NFL's top-rated game so far this season, with the Buffalo Bills' 30-21 win over Kansas City, the Chiefs' first defeat of the year, drawing 31.2 million viewers.

  The two-time defending champion Chiefs have now played in four of the five most-watched games this season:

  --Chiefs vs. Bills, Week 11: 31.2 million viewers

  --Ravens vs. Chiefs, Week 1: 28 million

  --Bengals vs. Chiefs, Week 2: 27.9 million

  --Ravens vs. Cowboys, Week 3: 27.3 million

  --Chiefs vs. 49ers, Week 7: 27.1 million

  The NFL also drew its largest Week 11 "Monday Night Football" TV audience since 2006, as 17 million viewers tuned in for the Houston Texans' 34-10 win over the Dallas Cowboys.

  --Field Level Media

Kansas CIty Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco could make his return from injured reserve and play Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.

• But he and fellow return-from-IR candidate Charles Omenihu have some work to do, head coach Andy Reid said Wednesday.

  "We'll see. Kind of go through the practice week, see where we're at the end of this week, and we'll go from there," Reid said. "But yeah, just have to see. (It's a) day-by-day type thing."

  Pacheco had 34 carries for 135 yards when he fractured the fibula in his right leg in a Week 2 meeting with the Cincinnati Bengals.

  While the Chiefs opened the 21-day window for Pacheco and Omenihu last week, Reid immediately ruled out playing either one at Buffalo. He's keeping the door open for one or both to show they're ready to play in the Week 12 game in Charlotte, but he's not going to let Pacheco determine his return date without medical input.

  "He's a spark plug now, emotionally," Reid said. "He's something that way and he's worked his tail off to get to the point that he's at now. We've got to keep an eye on him that way. He would have played three weeks ago if he had his choice, but that's sometimes how it goes. I appreciate that mentality. That's what's helped him get to this point."

  Omenihu remains on the physically unable to perform list and is working toward a comeback from an ACL tear in the AFC Championship game.

  Reid said injured wide receiver Hollywood Brown, who caused a stir by posting a clock emoji on his X account, isn't ready to practice.

  "Making very good progress, (I) can't tell you when he'll be back," Reid said. "He's another one who is excited to get back out here and get going. So, I appreciate the way he's approached the whole thing."

  Brown suffered a dislocation of the sternoclavicular joint that sent him to the hospital from a preseason game in August.

  --Field Level Media

Chicago Bears running back and leading rusher D'Andre Swift missed practice Wednesday with a groin injury, but his head coach is hopeful he'll be ready for Week 12.

• Swift rushed for 71 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 20-19 loss to the Green Bay Packers but was limited to 57 percent of the team's offensive snaps.

  Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said he's hopeful Swift will be ready to play Sunday against the visiting Minnesota Vikings (8-2).

  Eberflus also said offensive lineman Ryan Bates (concussion protocol) and defensive back Elijah Hicks (ankle) did not practice Wednesday.

  Swift, 25, has rushed for 635 yards and five touchdowns in 10 starts this season, his first in Chicago. He also has 28 catches for 243 yards.

  Swift earned his first Pro Bowl nod in 2023 with Philadelphia, rushing for 1,049 yards and five TDs.

  --Field Level Media

Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans participated in parts of practice on Wednesday and is planning to suit up Sunday for the first time since a Week 7 hamstring injury.

• Evans and Chris Godwin (ankle) were injured in the same 41-31 loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Oct. 21. Godwin, still the team leader with 50 receptions, is out for the year.

  Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield said Evans looked good and is positive about his chances of getting back in the lineup this week when the Buccaneers (4-6) play at the New York Giants (2-8).

  "You guys know: Mike's a pro. He's going to do everything he can to get back out there with us and fight for this team as we take it one game at a time," Mayfield said Wednesday.

  Evans jumps back into the lineup as the team's leader with six touchdown receptions. However, his 10-season streak of 1,000-yard campaigns is in peril.

  With 336 yards in 2024, he'll need to average 95 yards per game in the final seven games.

  "The streak, yeah, it's important to us, but he cares about winning," Mayfield said. "He's a huge part of this offense when he's there, so I think that'll come naturally. But I've been in the situation where you're trying to force-feed the ball to a guy and that's not how this offense works especially.

  --Field Level Media

Tennessee Titans wide receiver Calvin Ridley (illness) and running back Tyjae Spears (concussion) missed practice Wednesday.

• Titans head coach Bill Callahan also said Wednesday that cornerback L'Jarius Snead (quad) has been ruled out for a sixth straight game.

  The Titans (2-8) are preparing for their game at the Houston Texans (7-4) on Sunday.

  Ridley, 29, had four catches for 58 yards last week, giving him 36 catches for 541 yards and three touchdowns on the season.

  Spears was injured late in Sunday's loss to the Minnesota Vikings. He'll have to be cleared from the concussion protocol to play against the Texans.

  Spears, 23, rushed three times for 0 yards and caught 2 passes for eight yards on Sunday. In seven games this season, he has 161 yards one touchdown on 43 carries and 17 receptions for 88 tards.

  Callahan also said that tackle Leroy Watson (back) is not expected back this week and that the team will open the practice window for cornerback Chido Awuzie (groin) next week.

  Sneed, 27, hasn't played since an Oct. 13 loss to visiting Indianapolis. He has 23 tackles in five games (all starts) this season.

  He is in his first season with the Titans after a March trade from the Chiefs. Kansas City had picked him in the fourth round of the 2020 draft out of Louisiana Tech.

  --Field Level Media

The New York Giants are considering shutting down Daniel Jones entirely and making Tim Boyle their emergency third-string quarterback.

• Boyle, signed by the Giants to their practice squad on Tuesday, took snaps ahead of Jones during Wednesday's practice. Head coach Brian Daboll told reporters he hasn't decided whether Jones or Boyle will be QB3 this week.

  Daboll on Monday announced that Tommy DeVito will start for the Giants (2-8) on Sunday against the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Drew Lock will be his backup, demoting Jones to third string.

  At play is a $23 million injury guarantee should Jones play and get hurt. It all but foreshadows that Jones has played his last game in a Giants uniform.

  This season, Jones has completed 63.3 percent of his passes for 2,070 yards and eight touchdowns against seven interceptions. The 27-year-old is in the second year of a four-year, $160 million contract. He is due to earn $30 million in base salary in 2025, with $12 million fully guaranteed on the fifth day of the league season.

  Boyle, 30, has appeared in 22 career games, going 0-5 as a starter. He's thrown for 1,087 yards with four touchdowns against 12 interceptions.

  --Field Level Media

The Arizona Cardinals activated right tackle Jonah Williams off injured reserve on Wednesday.

• In a corresponding move made in advance, the team waived OL Charlie Heck on Monday, then re-signed him to the practice squad on Tuesday.

  Williams, 27, who signed a two-year contract worth $30 million with the Cardinals in March, was injured early in his first game with the club in Week 1 against the Bills. He played 22 offensive snaps in the loss at Buffalo before sustaining the injury on the final play of the first quarter.

  Kelvin Beachum started at right tackle in eight of the nine games Williams missed, missing Week 3 himself with an injury.

  Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon has not determined if Williams will return to the starting lineup on Sunday.

  A first-round pick (No. 11 overall) in 2019, Williams has started all 60 games he's played with the Cincinnati Bengals and Cardinals.

  --Field Level Media

Eagles edge rusher Bryce Huff is out for an undetermined recovery period because of a procedure scheduled for Thursday on his injured left wrist.

• Head coach Nick Sirianni said Huff should be able to return before the end of the regular season.

  He's been bothered by a wrist issue since Nov. 3, hurt during pregame warmups ahead of Philadelphia's win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. He tried to play but was limited to six snaps.

  "I can't say enough of how he battled through all those different things. I really admire the way he battled through and played with that cast on," Sirianni said Wednesday.

  Huff signed a $51 million deal to join the Eagles in free agency after a career-best 10 sacks with the New York Jets in 2023.

  The Eagles (8-2) haven't lost since September and have 28 sacks this season with 2.5 from Huff and stronger contributions from his competition at the position. Josh Sweat leads the team with 6.0 sacks and Nolan Smith has 3.5.

  Rookie Jalyx Hunt played a season-high 25 snaps at Dallas. He was the 94th pick in the 2024 draft and could be in line for a larger role while Huff recovers.

  "We really like our room," Sirianni said of divvying out Huff's reps. "They've been playing at a really high level. We obviously drafted Jalyx because we liked his skill set. He's been doing a lot of good things on special teams."

  --Field Level Media

First-time nominees Eli Manning, Adam Vinatieri and Luke Kuechly are among the 25 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025 with former Rams wide receiver Torry Holt hoping a 12th time is the charm.

• Vinatieri, Kuechly, Manning, Terrell Suggs, Earl Thomas and Marshal Yanda are the first-time candidates who last played in 2019 in the pool of semifinalists, which will be reduced to 15 by the end of the current season.

  Holt is a semifinalist for the 12th time and nine-time semifinalists Hines Ward and Darren Woodson have been debated by Selection Committee the second-longest. Woodson was first a semifinalist in 2015; Ward joined the list in 2016.

  Offensive linemen Richmond Webb, who retired following the 2002 season, is also a first-time semifinalist.

  2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame Modern-Era nominee semifinalists:

  Eric Allen, CB -- 1988-1994 Philadelphia Eagles, 1995-97 New Orleans Saints, 1998-2001 Oakland Raiders

  Times as a Semifinalist: 5 -- 2021-25

  Jared Allen, DE -- 2004-07 Kansas City Chiefs, 2008-2013 Minnesota Vikings, 2014-15 Chicago Bears, 2015 Carolina Panthers

  Times as a Semifinalist: 5 -- 2021-25

  Willie Anderson, T -- 1996-2007 Cincinnati Bengals, 2008 Baltimore Ravens

  Times as a Semifinalist: 5 -- 2021-25

  Anquan Boldin, WR -- 2003-09 Arizona Cardinals, 2010-12 Baltimore Ravens, 2013-15 San Francisco 49ers, 2016 Detroit Lions

  Times as a Semifinalist: 4 -- 2022-25

  Jahri Evans, G -- 2006-2016 New Orleans Saints, 2017 Green Bay Packers

  Times as a Semifinalist: 3 -- 2023-25

  Antonio Gates, TE -- 2003-2018 San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers

  Times as a Semifinalist: 2 -- 2024-25

  James Harrison, LB -- 2002-2012, 2014-17 Pittsburgh Steelers, 2013 Cincinnati Bengals, 2017 New England Patriots

  Times as a Semifinalist: 3 -- 2023-25

  Rodney Harrison, S -- 1994-2002 San Diego Chargers, 2003-08 New England Patriots

  Times as a Semifinalist: 4 -- 2021, 2023-25

  Torry Holt, WR -- 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars

  Times as a Semifinalist: 11 -- 2015-2025

  Luke Kuechly, LB -- 2012-19 Carolina Panthers

  Times as a Semifinalist: 1 -- 2025

  Eli Manning, QB -- 2004-2019 New York Giants

  Times as a Semifinalist: 1 -- 2025

  Robert Mathis, DE/LB -- 2003-2016 Indianapolis Colts

  Times as a Semifinalist: 4 -- 2022-25

  Steve Smith Sr., WR -- 2001-2013 Carolina Panthers, 2014-16 Baltimore Ravens

  Times as a Semifinalist: 4 -- 2022-25

  Terrell Suggs, LB/DE -- 2003-2018 Baltimore Ravens, 2019 Arizona Cardinals, 2019 Kansas City Chiefs

  Times as a Semifinalist: 1 -- 2025

  Fred Taylor, RB -- 1998-2008 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2009-2010 New England Patriots

  Times as a Semifinalist: 6 -- 2020-25

  Earl Thomas, DB -- 2010-18 Seattle Seahawks, 2019 Baltimore Ravens

  Times as a Semifinalist: 1 -- 2025

  Adam Vinatieri, PK -- 1996-2005 New England Patriots, 2006-2019 Indianapolis Colts

  Times as a Semifinalist: 1 -- 2025

  Hines Ward, WR -- 1998-2011 Pittsburgh Steelers

  Times as a Semifinalist: 9 -- 2016-2025

  Ricky Watters, RB -- 1992-94 San Francisco 49ers, 1995-97 Philadelphia Eagles, 1998-2001 Seattle Seahawks

  Times as a Semifinalist: 5 -- 2020, 2022-25

  Reggie Wayne, WR -- 2001-2014 Indianapolis Colts

  Times as a Semifinalist: 6 -- 2020-25

  Richmond Webb, T -- 1990-2000 Miami Dolphins, 2001-02 Cincinnati Bengals

  Times as a Semifinalist: 1 -- 2025

  Vince Wilfork, DT -- 2004-2014 New England Patriots, 2015-16 Houston Texans

  Times as a Semifinalist: 4 -- 2022-25

  Steve Wisniewski, G -- 1989-2001 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders

  Times as a Semifinalist: 2 -- 2014, 2025

  Darren Woodson, S -- 1992-2003 Dallas Cowboys

  Times as a Semifinalist: 9 -- 2015, 2017, 2019-2025

  Marshal Yanda, G/T -- 2007-2019 Baltimore Ravens

  Times as a Semifinalist: 1 -- 2025

  --Field Level Media

The New York Jets fired head coach Robert Saleh on Oct. 8, and they fired general manager Joe Douglas on Tuesday.

• Yet team owner Woody Johnson reportedly sought another huge move that didn't happen: the benching of quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

  The Athletic reported Tuesday that Johnson advocated a QB change in a Sept. 29 meeting.

  Per the report, Johnson brought together a group of coaches and front office staffers in the wake of a 10-9 home loss to the Denver Broncos that dropped the Jets' record to 2-2.

  Johnson advocated installing Tyrod Taylor at quarterback in place of Rodgers, according to The Athletic. Douglas and the coaches, including Saleh, offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett and Jeff Ulbrich, then the defensive coordinator, now the interim head coach, reportedly were shocked by the suggestion, with one participant asking Johnson if he was being serious.

  The meeting ended with the idea being dismissed.

  Rodgers, a 40-year-old veteran who is a four-time NFL Most Valuable Player, has started every game this season for the 3-8 Jets. He has completed 63.4 percent of his passes for 2,442 yards and 17 touchdowns with seven interceptions.

  Last year, his first with New York, Rodgers sustained a season-ending torn right Achilles tendon early in the opening game.

  In his career, largely with the Green Bay Packers (2005-22), Rodgers has a 151-83-1 record as a starter with 61,497 passing yards, 492 passing touchdowns and 112 interceptions.

  Taylor, 35, went 2-3 as a starter for the Jets last year. A former Pro Bowl performer with the Buffalo Bills who also has played for the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Los Angeles Chargers, Houston Texans and New York Giants, Taylor owns a career 28-28-1 record in a starting role.

  This season, Taylor has completed 6 of 8 passes for 36 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions.

  --Field Level Media

Arizona Cardinals linebacker Markus Bailey was suspended six games without pay for violating the performance-enhancing substances policy, the NFL announced on Tuesday.

• A member of the Cardinals' practice squad, Bailey, 27, has appeared in one game this season, a 17-15 home win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Oct. 21. He played 73 percent (16) of the special teams snaps and none on defense.

  The Cincinnati Bengals selected Bailey in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft out of Purdue. He played in 60 games (four starts) for the Bengals and had 73 tackles, 0.5 sacks, two tackles for loss and four passes defended.

  Arizona re-signed offensive lineman Charlie Heck, who had been released from the active roster, to the practice squad to fill Bailey's spot on Tuesday. Starting right tackle Jonah Williams (knee) is expected to be activated from injured reserve by Wednesday, his deadline for returning to the active roster to play this season.

  --Field Level Media

The NFL does not plan to crack down the "Trump Dance" and in fact has "no issue" with its players incorporating the dance into their on-field celebrations.

• San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa celebrated a sack of Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield in Week 10 by performing President-elect Donald Trump's signature dance that has gone viral.

  He was joined this past weekend by Las Vegas tight end Brock Bowers, Tennessee wide receivers Calvin Ridley and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Detroit defenders Za'Darius Smith and Malcolm Rodriguez showing off their renditions following big plays.

  "There's no issue with a celebratory dance such as what took place (Sunday) or the previous week with the 49ers on November 10," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told Front Office Sports. "It's up to the networks to cover them as they see fit."

  NFL rules allow for players to celebrate so long as they're not excessive and don't feature violent or sexually suggestive acts. Players are also not allowed to wear printed hats or clothing that promote their political opinions, and Bosa was fined $11,255 for wearing a "Make America Great Again" hat on the field.

  However, the "Trump Dance" is not considered a political statement by the league.

  Stars in other sports have also displayed the dance since the election two weeks ago, including UFC champion Jon Jones and U.S. Men's National Team soccer player Christian Pulisic, who celebrated with the dance following a goal against Jamaica on Monday night.

  Bowers said he came up with the idea to celebrate a touchdown on Sunday with the "Trump Dance" after seeing Jones do it during the UFC event the previous night.

  "I've seen everyone do it," Bowers said, per USA Today. "I watched the UFC fight last night and Jon Jones did it. I like watching UFC, so I saw it and thought it was cool."

  On Tuesday, the President-elect posted a message to his Truth Social account reading, "TRUMP DANCE SWEEPS THE NATION," accompanied by a video compilation of NFL players doing their celebrations.

  --Field Level Media

The Denver Broncos are the No. 7 seed and the final team in the AFC playoff picture entering Week 12 of the regular season.

• A stranger to the postseason since last securing a spot in the 2015 season, the Broncos (6-5) are ahead of the Indianapolis Colts (5-6) and Miami Dolphins (4-6) in the conference wild-card race. Denver is effectively two games behind the current No. 6 seed because of a head-to-head loss to the Baltimore Ravens (7-4).

  Denver's most recent postseason appearance came in Super Bowl 50 in 2016, when Peyton Manning -- in his final career game -- and the Broncos defeated the Carolina Panthers.

  Resurgent Washington, led by first-year head coach Dan Quinn, holds the No. 7 seed in the NFC through 11 weeks.

  To move up from that spot, the Commanders (7-4) would need to overtake the Green Bay Packers (7-3) and Minnesota Vikings (8-2), who trail NFC North-leading and NFC No. 1 seed Detroit (9-1).

  Washington last won a playoff game after the 2005 regular season and has lost four straight postseason games since (following the regular seasons of 2007, 2012, 2015 and 2020), all in the wild-card round.

  Current NFL playoff picture:

  AFC

  1. Kansas City Chiefs (9-1)

  2. Buffalo Bills (9-2)

  3. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-2)

  4. Houston Texans (7-4)

  5. Los Angeles Chargers (7-3)

  6. Baltimore Ravens (7-4)

  7. Denver Broncos (6-5)

  NFC

  1. Detroit Lions (9-1)

  2. Philadelphia Eagles (8-2)

  3. Arizona Cardinals (6-4)

  4. Atlanta Falcons (6-5)

  5. Minnesota Vikings (8-2)

  6. Green Bay Packers (7-3)

  7. Washington Commanders (7-4)

  --Field Level Media

If the 2024 season ended today, the Jacksonville Jaguars would hold the No. 1 overall pick for the third time in five years.

• Jacksonville enters its bye week at 2-9 with a tiebreaker edge over the Cleveland Browns (2-8).

  Cleveland is No. 2 in the current draft order by a slim margin over a pack of teams with the same record: the New York Giants, Las Vegas Raiders and Tennessee Titans.

  New England (3-8) and the New York Jets (3-8) are slotted sixth and seventh in front of the Carolina Panthers (3-7), Dallas Cowboys (3-7) and Cincinnati Bengals (4-7) in the top 10.

  The Titans and Jaguars play each other twice, including Week 17, and the Jets are at Jacksonville on Dec. 15, one week before Raiders-Jaguars in Las Vegas.

  All 32 teams play 17 regular-season games, meaning the 2024 season is more than 50 percent complete for every club but all teams have at least six games remaining on the schedule.

  The Jaguars selected No. 1 in 2020, drafted Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence, and again in 2021. Jacksonville's surprise pick was defensive end Travon Walker in a decision that came down to two pass rushers. They passed on Michigan defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, who went No. 2 to the Lions.

  The Browns last held the top pick in 2018 and chose Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield. Cleveland's draft class that year also featured another first-rounder in Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward (No. 4 overall) and 35th overall pick Nick Chubb.

  The Giants picked in the top six -- LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers was picked No. 6 -- in 2024 for the third time since drafting offensive tackle Andrew Thomas fourth in 2020. Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux (fifth, 2022) and offensive lineman Evan Neal (seventh, 2022) are New York's other recent top-10 selections.

  --Field Level Media

In-season coaching changes are a thing of the past for the Dallas Cowboys, owner Jerry Jones said.

• "You don't need to worry about anybody in that locker room giving everything they've got and more and how bad they feel when they get beat on a play or get beat in a quarter or the whole game, at all," Jones said Monday following the Cowboys' seventh loss of the season. "I don't ever worry about that."

  Jones said he regrets pulling the plug too soon on head coaches in the past, including firing Wade Phillips after a 1-7 start in 2010.

  "I've regretted that. That's the music I'm listening to," Jones said.

  There are no plans for an in-season move involving head coach Mike McCarthy in Dallas, where the Cowboys (3-7) are winless at home by a league-worst margin of minus-118.

  McCarthy said "it's frustrating for everybody" to accumulate losses, but he knows the only thing that might save his job when his contract runs out in January is ending the season with a string of wins.

  "There is good coming out of this," McCarthy said Monday night. "You don't see it because we're not winning games, but there's young men that are getting an opportunity to do more and I do believe it'll pay forward. It needs to hurry the hell up, because we need it in six days."

  The Cowboys went 12-5 last season and discussed a path to the Super Bowl throughout the offseason. Expectations did not match the current reality.

  Jones said he's counting on the Cowboys sticking together through what he described as tough times, similar to Dallas going 1-15 his first year as owner in 1989.

  "And we've had other tough years. And this one, we didn't anticipate the record. And the way we're playing right now, we wouldn't have anticipated that," Jones said. "But, not, this isn't -- y'all have heard me tell these old stories until you're sick -- but not, you stay in this league long enough, you'll have times like this."

  Jones, of course, could change his mind with the Cowboys in the midst of three games in 11 days. Their 34-10 loss in primetime to the Texans on Monday night was the third consecutive home loss by a margin of at least three touchdowns. The Cowboys also suffered a 34-6 loss to the NFC East-leading Eagles and began their current five-game losing streak with a 47-9 spanking at the hands of the Detroit Lions.

  Dallas has a quick turnaround for Week 12 against former defensive coordinator Dan Quinn, who quickly righted the ship with the Washington Commanders (7-4).

  "This is it, man. We got seven losses. We've got to go. Backs against the wall. We got to fight, scratch and claw. We've got to do everything we can to go win the next game," McCarthy said. "That's where my mind's at. That's what I'm going to coach and that's the expectation. We've got to win."

  The Cowboys are in the spotlight for their traditional Thanksgiving Day game in what is set up as a matchup of backup quarterbacks -- Cooper Rush for Dallas and Tommy DeVito for the New York Giants -- and play again on "Monday Night Football" 11 days later against the Cincinnati Bengals.

  --Field Level Media

The New York Jets' season of upheaval continued Tuesday with the firing of general manager Joe Douglas.

• The Jets (3-8) fired head coach Robert Saleh on Oct. 8 and are 1-5 under interim coach Jeff Ulbrich.

  The GM spot also will be filled on an interim basis by Phil Savage, who was senior vice president and general manager of the Cleveland Browns from 2005-08. He is in his sixth season as a senior adviser.

  "Today I informed Joe Douglas he will no longer serve as the general manager of the Jets," team owner Woody Johnson said in a statement. "I want to thank Joe for his commitment to the Jets over the last six years and wish him and his family well."

  Johnson said the search for a permanent successor to Douglas will begin "immediately."

  New York headed into its bye week with a 28-27 loss at home against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.

  Douglas, 48, signed a six-year contract to become the Jets GM in June 2019. Since then, New York has compiled a record of 30-64 with zero playoff appearances, continuing a drought that dates back to 2010.

  This season began with Super Bowl aspirations as four-time NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers returned from an Achilles injury. Instead, the offense ranks 26th in the NFL in scoring (18.5 points per game) and yards (294.4).

  Savage, 59, was a Browns assistant coach and scout from 1991-95 and has also worked in player personnel for the Baltimore Ravens and Philadelphia Eagles. He served as GM of the former Arizona Hotshots of the now defunct Alliance of American Football in 2019 and also as executive director of the Senior Bowl (2012-18).

  --Field Level Media