Texans wide receiver Tank Dell sustained a significant left knee injury during his 30-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday and was set to remain hospitalized overnight.

• While Dell made a diving catch of a C.J. Stroud pass, Texans receiver Jared Wayne tumbled into Dell as both went to the ground. Dell maintained possession of the ball but was removed from the game by emergency personnel via cart with his leg immobilized in a brace.

  According to multiple reports, Dell has a dislocated kneecap and was undergoing examinations for additional knee injuries.

  Stroud was visibly emotional as Dell departed. Both were selected during the 2023 draft.

  The touchdown catch, with 11:40 remaining in the third quarter, brought the Texans within a point at 17-16 after the extra point failed. Houston scored just three points the rest of the way in a 27-19 loss.

  Texans safety Jimmie Ward left the game in the first half via cart with a foot injury.

  --Field Level Media

The Atlanta Falcons are expected to release Kirk Cousins before the March 17 due date for the currently demoted quarterback's $10 million roster bonus, ESPN reported Saturday.

• The Falcons announced Tuesday that Cousins was benched and Michael Penix Jr., the No. 8 pick in the 2024 draft, would be their starting quarterback "moving forward."

  Cousins, 36, had one touchdown pass Monday to snap a four-game losing streak at Las Vegas. He leads the NFL with 18 turnovers, 16 interceptions.

  Cousins was signed as a free agent in March to a four-year, $140 million contract that includes a no-trade clause. On March 17 he's due a $10 million roster bonus for the 2026 season.

  Sources told ESPN it's unlikely that either side would want a trade, with Cousins unlikely to want to do the Falcons any favors given his benching, and the Falcons unlikely to want to absorb any further costs for a player they've already paid $90 million for 14 games.

  For his part, Cousins appears to be putting up a good front in the wake of his benching.

  Cousins said he called Penix after talking to Falcons coach Raheem Morris to let him know he is "in his corner," and would help him any way he can.

  "It's pro football and there's a standard that I have for myself, that the team has for me that, unfortunately, I wasn't playing up to that standard consistently enough. And so, it is what it is, and you roll with it and now you still get ready -- one play away kind of a thing," Cousins said Wednesday. "And support Mike and just try to help our team be able to find a way to win these last three to get in the playoffs, and that's what it's all about."

  Morris credited Cousins for taking the demotion as a professional.

  "Any time you take a step down, and demotion, whatever the case may be, it's not going to be met with great appreciation," Morris said. "But Kirk was a professional. He's a pro, he's a man, he's great human, great father, he's a great football player. He's done a lot of great things for us this year. He handled it with class. He's an absolute professional. I can't say enough good things about who the man is. Obviously, it comes with some disappointment when you lose your job."

  Atlanta (7-7) trails the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6) in the NFC South race. The Falcons play the Washington Commanders (9-5) on "Sunday Night Football" in Week 17 and playoff position could be on the line if the Falcons beat the Giants and the NFC-East leading Eagles beat the Commanders this week.

  Cousins played for Washington (2012-17) and Minnesota (2018-23) before joining the Falcons.

  A four-time Pro Bowl selection, Cousins is 83-74-2 over 159 career starts. He has thrown for 42,979 yards with 288 touchdowns and 126 interceptions.

  --Field Level Media

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Marquise "Hollywood" Brown will make his season debut on Saturday afternoon against the visiting Houston Texans.

• Brown, who was listed as active for the game, has worked his way back after being placed on injured reserve on Sept. 13 with a sternoclavicular joint injury sustained in the preseason opener.

  Quarterback Patrick Mahomes also was active for the Chiefs (13-1) against the Texans (9-5). Mahomes was a full participant in practice on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday despite nursing a high right ankle sprain he suffered during the fourth quarter of last Sunday's 21-7 victory over the Cleveland Browns.

  Brown, 27, signed a one-year, $7 million contract with the Chiefs in March after three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens (2019-21) and two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals (2022-23).

  Brown has 313 catches for 3,644 yards and 28 touchdowns in 72 career games (65 starts). He posted a 1,000-yard season with the Ravens in 2021.

  The Chiefs opened up a roster spot for Brown earlier this week when they released veteran running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire.

  While Brown will play on Saturday for Kansas City, the team listed the following players as inactive: defensive ends Joshua Uche and Malik Herring, defensive tackle Marlon Tuipulotu, defensive back Chamarri Conner, offensive tackles D.J. Humphries and Ethan Driskell and offensive lineman C.J. Hanson.

  As for the Texans, guard Nick Broeker, defensive tackle Folorunso Fatukasi, defensive end Jerry Hughes, wide receiver John Metchie, center Juice Scruggs, tight end Cade Stover and inside linebacker Devin White were listed as inactive for Saturday's game.

  --Field Level Media

The Baltimore Ravens waived wide receiver Diontae Johnson following a short stint with the team.

• Johnson reeled in just one catch for 6 yards and received a one-game suspension for what the team said was refusing to enter a game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Dec. 1.

  The Ravens activated fellow wideout Anthony Miller from the practice squad in a corresponding move on Friday.

  Johnson, 28, was with his third team in 2024 after he was traded from the Pittsburgh Steelers to Carolina in March and then moved from the Panthers to the Ravens in October.

  A third-round draft pick in 2019 out of Toledo, Johnson had 30 receptions for 357 yards and three touchdowns in seven games (all starts) for the Panthers earlier this season.

  In six career seasons, the 2021 Pro Bowl selection has 422 receptions for 4,726 yards and 28 TDs for the Steelers (2019-23), Panthers and Ravens.

  --Field Level Media

Miami Dolphins receivers Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill are both ailing as the team prepares for Sunday's home game against the San Francisco 49ers.

• Waddle (knee) was listed as doubtful on Friday's injury report after missing all three practices this week. He was injured in the second quarter of last weekend's 20-12 loss to the Houston Texans.

  Hill is listed as questionable with a wrist injury that has bothered him all season. Hill has said he will consider getting the wrist surgically repaired after the season.

  Hill has 67 receptions for a team-best 805 yards in 14 games this season. He has caught five touchdown passes.

  Waddle has 54 catches this season for 700 yards and two touchdowns.

  Miami ruled out long snapper Blake Ferguson (non-football illness) and listed receiver D'Wayne Eskridge (knee) as doubtful.

  Also listed questionable were left tackle Terron Armstead (knee), right tackle Kendall Lamm (back) and linebackers Bradley Chubb (knee) and Cameron Goode (knee).

  San Francisco will be without left tackle Trent Williams (ankle) and running back Isaac Guerendo (foot/hamstring). Questionable for the contest are defensive end Nick Bosa (hip/oblique), linebacker Dre Greenlaw (Achilles, knee) and defensive end Robert Beal Jr. (ankle).

  --Field Level Media

With 12 games on the schedule for Sunday featuring many of the NFL's best teams, fans will have hundreds of player props to choose from for their betting pleasure in Week 16.

• Rather than take hours of your day to research and figure out which are the best, see if any of our top ten picks inspire you. (These will be in no specific order. Odds are from FanDuel unless otherwise indicated.)

  Eagles vs. Commanders

  --Jalen Hurts, O/U 191.5 Passing Yards at -113/-113

  --Hurts to throw for 200+ yards at +108

  Hurts is averaging right around 200 yards per game this season. While he had 290 his last time out against a good Steelers defense, he had less than 180 in his previous three. His numbers against the Steelers have to be taken with a grain of salt since Saquon Barkley missed time with an injury.

  Washington controlled the game for three quarters a few weeks ago in Philly, only to lose after Barkley and the Eagles dominated the fourth quarter. I don't see the passing game working as well as it did last time, but I doubt it will struggle as it did vs. Carolina, Baltimore and the Rams.

  The Washington pass defense has held teams to less than 190 yards per game this season, but 209 ypg over the last three. Hurts will probably have a day similar to the one he had in the previous game vs. Washington (18-28 for 221 yards).

  Take the OVER on his passing yards.

  Giants vs. Falcons

  --Michael Penix Jr., O/U 228.5 Passing Yards at -115/-115 (via DraftKings)

  The Falcons will want to see their young quarterback spread his wings, but they'll also want to protect him as much as they can. To that end, they'll lean hard on the run in this game to draw the Giants' defense in and then pass when his receivers are in single coverage.

  They will not need to throw much against this Giants team and will probably let Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier carry most of the load.

  Take the UNDER.

  --Tyler Allgeier, O/U 36.5 Rushing Yards at -110/-110 (via bet365)

  --Allgeier to rush for 50+ yards +165 (via BetMGM)

  The Falcons may let Penix air it out in the first quarter but will otherwise have him throw just enough to keep the Giants' defense honest. Robinson, of course, will carry the bulk of the load. But Allgeier will see the ball more than he usually does.

  He had fewer than 10 carries in 10 of 14 games; look for him to get closer to 15 Sunday. With the Giants' defense allowing 4.9 yards per carry, Allgeier should easily go over this total.

  Take the OVER.

  Lions vs. Bears

  --Sam LaPorta, O/U 41.5 Receiving Yards at -115/-115 (via BetMGM)

  Losing David Montgomery for the immediate future stings, but the Lions do still have Jahmyr Gibbs. But they'll likely try to find other ways to move the ball to keep from overworking Gibbs. LaPorta has had a quiet season but has seen his target share go up in the last two weeks.

  Big, pass-catching tight ends like LaPorta are great for moving the chains, and the Lions will probably use LaPorta more in that capacity going forward.

  Take the OVER.

  Browns vs. Bengals

  --Chase Brown, O/U 74.5 Rushing Yards at -110/-110 (via bet365)

  --Brown, O/U 17.5 Rushing Attempts at -130/+100 (via DraftKings)

  Cincinnati has been all over the place with Brown's touches this season. He had 25 last week vs. Tennessee but 12 to 14 in three of the previous four games. But teams have averaged 32 rushing attempts and 119.3 yards against the Browns in the last three weeks.

  With the Browns starting Dorian Thompson-Robinson at quarterback, the Bengals will probably want to run a little more often to keep the clock moving. It will be the Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase show in the first half, but Brown will take over in the second.

  Take the OVER for both.

  --Jerry Jeudy, O/U 62.5 Receiving Yards at -110/-110 (via bet365)

  --Jeudy, O/U 5.5 Receptions at +125/-165

  Jeudy has gone over this yardage total in his last seven games, but bettors may want to mute expectations with Thompson-Robinson at quarterback. While DTR is a tremendous athlete, he struggles to connect with his receivers. He has completed just 44.1 percent of his passes this season (15-for-34) and 51.4 percent in his career (75-for-146).

  As for his receptions total, Jeudy is one of Cleveland's better playmakers. They'll eventually settle for short throws to the flats that DTR can complete just to get the ball in Jeudy's hands. Since those throws will be relatively easy to complete, Jeudy will see the ball enough to go over this total.

  Take the UNDER for his yardage but the OVER for his receptions.

  --Field Level Media

Indianapolis Colts receiver Alec Pierce will miss Sunday's game against the visiting Tennessee Titans due to a concussion.

• Starting linebacker E.J. Speed (knee) also will miss the AFC South contest.

  Pierce was injured during last weekend's 31-13 loss to the Denver Broncos when his head hit the turf in the end zone after a fall. He leads the Colts with 645 receiving yards and is averaging a league-best 22.2 yards per catch.

  Pierce has 29 catches with five going for touchdowns.

  Speed is third on the Colts with 129 tackles, seven for loss, along with one interception. Speed had 12 stops against Denver.

  Star center Ryan Kelly (knee) is expected to be activated for the contest. He has missed the past five games.

  The Colts (6-8) need a win to keep their AFC playoff hopes alive.

  --Field Level Media

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Nelson Agholor has been ruled out of Saturday's pivotal AFC North matchup with the visiting Pittsburgh Steelers.

• Agholor had worked out on a side field but did not practice Thursday while dealing with the lingering effects of a concussion, but on Friday the Ravens reportedly downgraded him to out.

  The Ravens (9-5) could also be without fellow wideout Rashod Bateman against the Steelers (10-4). He was seen wearing a walking boot in the locker room and did not participate in practice Thursday.

  Agholor, 31, has 14 receptions for 231 yards and two scores in 14 games this season, his second in Baltimore.

  The 2015 first-round draft pick by Philadelphia is in his 10th season in the NFL. In 149 career games (105 starts), Agholor has 389 receptions, 4,858 yards and 37 touchdowns in 149 games (105 starts) with the Eagles (2015-19), Las Vegas Raiders (2020), New England Patriots (2021-22) and Ravens.

  Bateman, 25, has 38 catches for 654 yards and seven touchdowns in 14 games this season. His receiving yardage total trails only Zay Flowers (916) on the team, while his TD catches are one shy of tight end Mark Andrews (eight).

  --Field Level Media

Saturday

• Houston Texans (9-5) at Kansas City Chiefs (13-1), 1 p.m. ET, NBC

  After the Texans clinched the AFC South division title for the second consecutive season last week, they can breathe a little easier about the rough road ahead. It's the same schedule the Chiefs are on with a Saturday game before playing again Wednesday in the NFL's Christmas Day spotlight games. Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes (ankle) was hobbled and Carson Wentz finished the 21-7 win at Cleveland last week, but he'll answer the bell for Kansas City on Saturday. There's some concern about the health and performance of the offensive line safeguarding Mahomes after he was hit 12 times last week. The Texans boast the only tandem of defenders with 10-plus sacks - Danielle Hunter with 12 and Will Anderson Jr. at 10.5 - and Houston's secondary has playmaking chops starting with CB Derek Stingley Jr. With the AFC West title in hand plus a two-game lead over the Buffalo Bills in the race for the top seed in the conference, the Chiefs still are playing for something: a win couple with a Buffalo tie or loss vs. New England gives Kansas City a first-round playoff bye and homefield through the conference title game.

  Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4) at Baltimore Ravens (9-5), 4:30 p.m. ET, FOX

  The Steelers clinched a playoff berth for the fourth time in the past five seasons but Saturday's game will go a long way toward determining the AFC North champion, which will get a home game in the playoffs. The Ravens are coming off a 35-14 beatdown of the Giants, their league-leading sixth game with at least 35 points. There are some sweaty palms in Baltimore over the recent accuracy issues of PK Justin Tucker, who went 1-for-3 in the 18-16 loss at Pittsburgh last month. Two weeks later in a home loss against the Eagles (24-19), Tucker missed an extra point and two more FG attempts. QB Lamar Jackson has done his part, but still is searching for answers against the Steelers. He had his worst game of the season - 16 of 33, 207 yards, TD, INT - at Pittsburgh in a year he had otherwise dominated at every turn. He has nine games with two-plus TD passes and zero interceptions, a streak only Tom Brady (11, 2010) and Aaron Rodgers (three times) have pushed to 10 games in a single season. Pittsburgh is 5-2 all-time against Jackson, who has five TDs and eight INTs against the Steelers, forcing him to contend with edge pressure from T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith.

  Sunday

  Detroit Lions (12-2) at Chicago Bears (4-10), 1 p.m. ET, FOX

  The last undefeated team on the road this season, the Lions are 6-0 and driven to prove injuries and last week's loss won't derail their season. Having the NFL's highest-scoring offense (32.8 points per game) helps their cause. The Lions have work to do with the Eagles riding a 10-game winning streak and the Vikings also tied with Detroit for the NFC's best record. Bears interim head coach Thomas Brown is 0-2 since he replaced Matt Eberflus one day after Chicago's bungled clock management in the final minute of a 23-20 loss at Detroit. Chicago returns home trying again to end a losing streak that stands at eight games. Brown says the Bears are still fighting. Lopsided losses at San Francisco, 38-13, and Minnesota, 30-12, aren't helping Brown's case. Chicago has been outscored 53-0 in the first half of its past three contests.

  Philadelphia Eagles (12-2) at Washington Commanders (9-5), 1 p.m. ET, FOX

  Ground-and-pound Philly went to the air last week to hush concerns over the working relationship between QB Jalen Hurts and WR A.J. Brown. But the recipe for success this season for the Eagles has been an unstoppable ground game. With a single-season franchise-record 10 consecutive wins, the Eagles streak into Washington behind Hurts and NFL leading rusher Saquon Barkley. Barkley leads the NFL with a franchise-record 1,688 rushing yards and 1,964 total yards. He also owns Washington, averaging 136.2 yards per scrimmage against the franchise dating to his days with the Giants. But Barkley destroyed the Commanders in the first meeting this season, racking up 198 total yards and two rushing TDs. He has 1,362 total yards and 10 touchdowns (six rushing, four receiving) in 10 career games against Washington. The Commanders are in playoff position with three games to go. A loss to the Eagles would set up a critical matchup with the Falcons (7-7) next week. Washington's Jayden Daniels is the fourth rookie quarterback in league history with at least 3,000 passing yards and 500 rushing yards.

  Arizona Cardinals (7-7) at Carolina Panthers (3-11), 1 p.m. ET, FOX

  The Cardinals are flirting with NFC playoff position after halting a three-game losing streak with a 30-17 victory over the visiting New England Patriots last weekend. But the margin is thin in an overcrowded wildcard race. The Panthers have lost four games in a row entering the home finale and closer to the top of the 2025 draft than the playoffs. There are signs of life from the Panthers despite growing pains. Carolina lost tight games to divisional leaders Kansas City, Tampa Bay and Philadelphia before dropping a 30-14 decision to the Dallas Cowboys last Sunday. Running backs are critical to the success of both teams. Cardinals RB James Conner has rushed for a team-high 973 rushing yards and had 110 yards to beat New England for his second-highest total of the season and his fifth 100-yard game this season. Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark earlier this month, but he was held to the second-lowest total of the season with 32 yards on the ground last week.

  New York Giants (2-12) at Atlanta Falcons (7-7), 1 p.m. ET, FOX

  Quarterback changes are commonplace for the Giants this season and New York turns to Drew Lock for his third start in 2024 after Tim Boyle and Tommy DeVito split the chores in Week 15. There's no split in Atlanta where rookie Michael Penix Jr. is ticketed for his debut. The Falcons made the move knowing time is short to find the passing lane with the playoffs still within reach but their offense skidding and erratic behind Kirk Cousins. Penix was a Heisman Trophy finalist and took Washington to the national championship game last season. The 24-year-old receives high marks from teammates for maturity and accuracy. But this week's practices represented his first extended work with top targets, pointing to a plan of pounding Bijan Robinson and Tyson Allgeier against New York's injury-riddled defense. The Giants are allowing 4.9 yards per carry and the Ravens gained 170 rushing yards last week.

  Cleveland Browns (3-11) at Cincinnati Bengals (6-8), 1 p.m. ET, CBS

  Joe Burrow might be on the road to the greatest 9-8 - perhaps worse - season in league history and his top target is right there with him. Ja'Marr Chase, 43 yards shy of the franchise mark for single-season receiving yards, leads the NFL with 102 receptions, 1,413 receiving yards and 15 touchdown receptions and can become the third player in NFL history with at least 100 catches, 1,500 yards and 15 TD receptions in his first 15 games in a season, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Randy Moss (2003) and Jerry Rice (1995). Burrow had two TD passes in the Week 7 matchup with the Browns. He leads the NFL with 3,977 pass yards and 36 TD passes. Cleveland is turning to Dorian Thompson-Robinson at quarterback. He makes his fourth career start with Jameis Winston benched and RB Nick Chubb (knee) placed on IR this week. WR Jerry Jeudy has been the best playmaker on the Browns' roster since the last game against Cincinnati, ranking second in the NFL with 786 receiving yards since Week 8.

  Tennessee Titans (3-11) at Indianapolis Colts (6-8), 1 p.m. ET, CBS

  Anthony Richardson survived the QB yoyo earlier in the season but the Titans still are trying to find the right fit behind center entering Week 16. Mason Rudolph was named the starter following another turnover-filled showing by Will Levis. Levis tossed three interceptions and coughed up a fumble in 2 1/2 quarters, getting the hook after giving up a pick-six that helped sink the Titans to a 3-11 mark. If the Titans don't win this game and stack a few more losses, they should be in position to look for a new face of the franchise at QB should first-year coach Brian Callahan decide to start over. Turnovers hurt the Colts last week in a loss at Denver that erased playoff aspirations. Richardson has three consecutive home starts without an INT. Richardson has made just 14 NFL starts due to injuries that cost him most of last year, is completing only 47 percent of his passes for 1,683 yards with seven touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 2024.

  Los Angeles Rams (8-6) at New York Jets (4-10), 1 p.m. ET, CBS

  Rams rookie DE Kobie Turner and LB Jared Verse are helping turn the Los Angeles defensive into a surging strength. Turner had 2.0 sacks last week and Verse leads all rookies with 11 tackles for loss. Resurgent QB Aaron Rodgers and the Jets know all too well that protection has been a pain point. Rodgers and WR Davante Adams are fully reconnected. Adams had nine catches for 198 yards and two TDs in Week 15 and the Rams have allowed 23 TD passes. Rodgers gets another matchup with former division rival Matthew Stafford. Stafford was with the Lions and in the NFC North during most of Rodgers' run with the Packers. His targets are big-play threats, too. Cooper Kupp was held without a reception last Thursday at San Francisco but Puka Nacua had seven grabs. If he gets 100 receiving yards Sunday, Nacua would join Justin Jefferson and Odell Beckham Jr. as the only players with 12 games of 100-plus receiving yards in their first two seasons.

  New England Patriots (3-11) at Buffalo Bills (11-3), 1 p.m. ET, CBS

  Josh Allen appears to be on a one-way path to his first NFL MVP award, long removed from offseason worries the Bills would take a step back without a defined No. 1 receiver. By beating the Lions 48-42 last week, Buffalo became the fifth team to score 30 points in eight consecutive games in a single season and first since the 2013 Denver Broncos. Allen has 36 combined passing and rushing touchdowns (25 passing, 11 rushing) and can join Aaron Rodgers (six seasons) as the only players in NFL history with five career seasons with at least 40 combined passing and rushing touchdowns. All of those accomplishments are window dressing to Buffalo's search for the No. 1 seed in the AFC, which requires two wins over the Patriots in the next three weeks and a little luck given Kansas City's 13-1 record. Sunday marks the first game for Patriots QB Drake Maye in the AFC East rivalry. A win Sunday would be No. 75 in the regular season for Allen, tying Russell Wilson for the most in league history for a quarterback through his first seven seasons.

  Minnesota Vikings (12-2) at Seattle Seahawks (8-6), 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX

  A seven-game winning streak is the tailwind for the Vikings as they touch down in Seattle, but neither team is locked into playoff positioning. Minnesota clinched a postseason bid but shares the NFC's best record with the Eagles and Lions. If the Vikings can survive the Seahawks, Packers and Lions unscathed and finish 15-2, they'll have the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Vikings WR Justin Jefferson would become the third player in league history to start his career with five consecutive 1,300-yard seasons with just 57 yards in the next three weeks. The Seahawks are back in chase mode. Seattle had a four-game winning streak snapped by the Packers in Week 15 and coughed up the NFC West lead last week. The Seahawks fell behind the Rams (8-6) but can set up a meaningful Week 18 date with Los Angeles. Geno Smith (knee) is pushing through an injury and leading rusher Kenneth Walker III (calf) is expected to play after missing the past two games.

  Jacksonville Jaguars (3-11) at Las Vegas Raiders (2-12), 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS

  Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said the franchise is measuring effort and intensity in the final games of the 2024 season to determine which players are worth keeping around. Backup-turn-QB1 Mac Jones set season highs had 294 passing yards, 29 rushing yards, 31 completions and two TD passes last week. Leaning on rookie WR Brian Thomas Jr., who had 10-105-2 last week, Jones has found a rhythm the offense lacked in previous weeks. Not much has gone according to plan for either team and the Raiders are starting a third different quarterback in four games with former Jaguars starter Gardner Minshew out for the season and Desmond Ridder back to the bench with Aidan O'Connell returning from a knee bruise. The Raiders are down top talent elsewhere, too, placing DE Maxx Crosby on IR this week. Las Vegas is leaning into its own first-round receiver, TE Brock Bowers, to put up points. Bowers is tied for fourth in NFL with 90 catches and ranked No. 8 in the league with 968 receiving yards.

  San Francisco 49ers (6-8) at Miami Dolphins (6-8), 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS

  Brock Purdy doesn't seem to mind hitting the road and has 23 touchdowns and two interceptions in his past 10 starts away from home. The 49ers beat Miami in 2022 in Purdy's first career start on a run to the NFC Championship game but fortunes are down on both sides of this matchup. Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa looks to rebound from a rough outing against the Texans last week. He leads the NFL in completion percentage at 75.6 and is second in the NFL with 2,169 passing yards since Week 8. Injuries are a running theme for both teams. San Francisco likely is to be down to its fourth starting running back with rookie Isaac Guerendo out, leaving Patrick Taylor and Isreal Abanikanda to fill the role. Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill is dealing with multiple ailments but is expected to play.

  Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6) at Dallas Cowboys (6-8), 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC

  Armed with a four-game winning streak and desperate to hold a one-game lead in the NFC South over the Atlanta Falcons, the Buccaneers enter playoff mode early. Dallas has three wins in the past four games, but the Cowboys are three games behind Washington. The Commanders (9-5) hold the final wild-card spot in the NFC entering Week 16 and the Cowboys are given a 1 percent chance of qualifying for the playoffs by NFL.com playoff predictor. Their last two wins came against teams long eliminated from the playoff picture, Carolina (3-11) and the New York Giants (2-12). Tampa Bay's voluminous offense looms as troubling for a Dallas defense that has allowed 380 points to carry a worrisome minus-82 point differential. The Buccaneers lead the NFL with eight games of 400-plus total yards and four games with both 300-plus yards passing and more than 100 rushing. The Los Angeles Chargers were the NFL's best scoring defense before the Bucs arrived last week and delivered a 40-17 thrashing led by QB Baker Mayfield tossing four TDs to add to his career-high 32.

  --Field Level Media

The New Orleans Saints likely will have a third starting quarterback in as many weeks on Monday.

• Spencer Rattler is in line to draw the start if Derek Carr is ruled out as expected for the contest at Green Bay, Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi said on Thursday.

  Carr hurt his left (non-throwing) hand in New Orleans' 14-11 win over the New York Giants on Dec. 8. He sat out the Saints' 20-19 defeat against the Washington Commanders on Sunday, and he didn't practice on Thursday.

  Rizzi said of Carr, "If he was done for the season, we would've put him on (injured reserve) by now and we would've shut him down. It's just not the case. ... He had one of his best days (Thursday), so as soon as he's able to function and as soon as he's able to go out there and get some functionality back in his hand, we'll do that."

  Jake Haener got his first NFL start in Carr's place against Washington and was pulled after completing just 4 of 10 passes for 49 yards with an interception.

  Rattler took over and connected on 10 of 21 passes for 135 yards, hitting Foster Moreau for a 1-yard touchdown pass as time expired. His pass on the subsequent two-point-conversion attempt was incomplete, and the Saints lost.

  When Carr was sidelined from Week 6 through Week 8, Rattler got the starts and lost all three contests while completing 59.6 percent of his passes for a total of 571 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.

  Also missing the Saints' Thursday practice was running back Alvin Kamara, who has a groin ailment that leaves him doubtful for Monday, according to Rizzi. The coach listed Kamara's status as week-to-week.

  "The initial tests were, it wasn't really going to be that bad, and it's just a little bit more significant, so a little bit more missed time," Rizzi said.

  Kamara leads the Saints with 950 rushing yards, and he has six touchdowns on the ground this year.

  The Saints (5-9) are still technically in the playoff race ahead of their Monday game against the Packers (10-4).

  --Field Level Media

There's hope in Detroit that injured Lions running back David Montgomery, who suffered a torn MCL in his right knee on Sunday, could return in the postseason, ESPN reported Thursday.

• Montgomery had been ruled out for the season on Monday and slated for surgery, but for now, he won't be placed on injured reserve following a third medical opinion.

  Per the report, the sixth-year running back "might have avoided season-ending surgery" after going down in Sunday's 48-42 loss to the visiting Buffalo Bills.

  On Wednesday, Lions coach Dan Campbell wasn't ready to rule out Montgomery, who leads the team this season with 12 rushing touchdowns.

  "It is one of these injuries that's unique because you need to know is it stable? OK, is it fixed, or will it scar? And then be certainly stable for now and for later, and then you've got to rely on him, like, ‘Hey man, I'm good. I can do this,'" Campbell told reporters.

  "So, it's a combination certainly the doctors then him as well, where he thinks he can go with it and can he protect himself and play at a high level. So, we're in a holding pattern, which as of right now is a positive."

  Montgomery, 27, has rushed for 775 yards in 14 games this season, forming a dynamic duo with Jahmyr Gibbs (1,047 rushing yards, 11 touchdowns).

  Taking over for now as Detroit's workhorse, Gibbs won't change his outlook or game plan while preparing for Sunday's game against the rival Bears in Chicago.

  "Basically, the same, it's nothing different," the 22-year-old second-year running back said. "I've been doing this my whole life, so I don't look at it any differently."

  --Field Level Media

Pittsburgh Steelers star linebacker T.J. Watt was noncommittal about his playing status for Saturday's game against the host Baltimore Ravens.

• "We'll see Sunday -- or Saturday I guess I should say -- but I felt pretty good this week," Watt said Thursday in regard to his recovery from an ankle injury. "Obviously it's a short week but felt pretty good."

  Watt rolled his left ankle with 4:46 left in the fourth quarter of the Steelers' 27-13 loss to the host Philadelphia Eagles last Sunday. He didn't participate in Tuesday's walk-through session, was a limited participant Wednesday and a full participant on Thursday. He does not carry an injury designation into the contest against the Ravens.

  "There's not a lot of things you do on practice in a short week like this to push it, so I want to see how it feels on Saturday," Watt said. "But I feel pretty good right now."

  Watt, 30, had two sacks and a forced fumble to go with seven tackles on Sunday. He has 11 1/2 sacks this season to reach double digits for the sixth time in his eight-year career.

  A six-time Pro Bowl selection, Watt has 108 career sacks in 118 games with Pittsburgh. He was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 when he had a career-high 22.5 sacks to match the official league record (since 1982).

  Wide receiver George Pickens will miss his third straight game due to a hamstring injury. He joined quarterback Justin Fields (abdomen) in being ruled out while safety DeShon Elliott (hamstring) is doubtful after being limited in practice on Thursday.

  Cornerback Donte Jackson (back) and defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi (groin) are questionable to play against the Ravens.

  --Field Level Media

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes "most likely" will start Saturday's game against the visiting Houston Texans, coach Andy Reid said on Thursday.

• Mahomes was a full participant in practice on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday despite nursing an ankle sprain he suffered during the fourth quarter of last Sunday's 21-7 victory over the Cleveland Browns.

  "We'll most likely end up playing him," Reid said on Thursday.

  Reid added that he liked what he saw from Mahomes during practice.

  "He did look good out there," Reid said. "He moved around pretty good. So, you're always looking to make sure they can get out the way, not to further any harm to them. So that's what I look at.

  "I've been through it with him before and he amazed me every time he does it. The guy, he's been so mentally tough and just puts it into a mindset that he has going into it (from) where he was a few days ago.''

  Mahomes and the Chiefs (13-1) can clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC with a win over the Texans (9-5) and a loss or tie by the Buffalo Bills (11-3) against the visiting New England Patriots (3-11).

  Carson Wentz is the No. 2 quarterback for the Chiefs and would get his 94th career start if Mahomes sits. Wentz played the final two possessions last week.

  --Field Level Media

On a season-best four-game winning streak, the Denver Broncos enter a battle for playoff seeding holding the upper hand when they face the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday night in Inglewood, Calif.

• The Broncos (9-5) last reached the playoffs in 2015, when they won the Super Bowl behind quarterback Peyton Manning. Rookie QB Bo Nix has brought hopes of a brighter future, guiding Denver from a middling 5-5 start to the cusp of a double-digit wins for the first time since the Manning days.

  There is even an outside chance the Broncos could clinch a playoff spot this week. If Denver wins or ties on Thursday, and the Miami Dolphins, Cincinnati Bengals and Indianapolis Colts follow with losses or ties over the weekend, the Broncos would be playoff bound.

  Denver currently holds the No. 6 playoff seed in the AFC, while the Chargers (8-6) have dropped to No. 7.

  The No. 7 seed could be facing a wild-card round matchup against the Buffalo Bills, while the No. 6 seed likely will meet the champion of the AFC North, where the Pittsburgh Steelers hold a one-game lead on the Baltimore Ravens.

  ODDS AND TRENDS

  The Chargers are a consensus 2.5-point favorite at home. The line opened at 3.0 at BetMGM, where the spread-line money has been evenly split while the Broncos have a slight edge with 51 percent of the total bets backing them.

  The moneyline action has been interesting. While the Broncos have been backed by 75 percent of the total bets at +120, it's the Chargers who have drawn 56 percent of the money at -145.

  The total points line has shifted down from 42.5 to 41.5, with the Over heavily supported with 63 percent of the bets and 72 percent of the money.

  PROP PICKS

  --Bo Nix Over 20.5 Rushing Yards (-115 at DraftKings): While Nix is mobile, he is not a dual-threat quarterback in the traditional sense of the term. He did rush for 23 yards last week after not scrambling for more than 5 in any of the previous four games. However, he did rack up 61 yards on the ground in the first meeting, contributing to this being the most popular prop bet at the book for this game.

  --Kimani Vidal Over 1.5 Receptions (-175 at BetMGM): Bettors are banking on Vidal's increased involvement in the passing game, making this the second most bet-on prop at the book. That "increased involvement" entails last week specifically, when Vital caught two of three targets for a mere 13 yards. But with Gus Edwards' spotty production, Vidal was in on a season-high 67 percent of the offensive snaps last Sunday.

  THE NEWS

  While Nix threw three touchdown passes in a 31-13 home victory over the Colts on Sunday, he also had a career-high three interceptions.

  "I thought I saw the game well, (but) I have to keep from turning the ball over," Nix said.

  Nix and the Broncos could have fashioned a four-game winning streak earlier this season, but the Chargers came into Denver and earned a 23-16 victory in Week 6.

  Nix threw two fourth-quarter touchdown passes in that game and wound up with 216 yards in the air. Even so, he lost the duel against Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, who threw for a touchdown and had 237 yards passing.

  On Sunday against the Colts, Nix had just 130 passing yards, but Denver cashed in another strong defensive performance by putting up 24 second-half points, including 21 in the fourth quarter.

  "Later in that game, when we needed it, man, there's a maturity and a moxie about him, which I love," Broncos coach Sean Payton said of Nix. "I think it's contagious to the team. When you have that at the quarterback position, your team knows that you're in every game."

  If there was a moment when the Broncos gained their footing this season, it might have been in the second half against the Chargers. Trailing 23-0, Denver scored 16 fourth-quarter points while blanking Los Angeles to charge back and make it a game.

  Since then, the Broncos have gone 6-2 to bypass the Chargers in the AFC West.

  The Chargers have lost consecutive games and three of the past four after falling 40-17 at home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. More than just the Los Angeles defense struggled, with the offense gaining only 32 rushing yards and Herbert throwing an interception for the first time in 12 games.

  Not only did the Chargers give up the most points they have allowed this season, but they also yielded a season-high 506 yards, including a season-high 223 yards on the ground.

  The Chargers still have a two-game lead on their closest wild-card pursuer with three games to play, so their situation is not dire. They also would clinch a playoff spot under a nearly identical scenario to the Broncos, with games still remaining against the New England Patriots and Las Vegas Raiders, who have five combined wins.

  INJURY REPORT

  Herbert (sprained ankle) was limited at practice Tuesday but is expected to play. Los Angeles tight end Will Dissly (shoulder), guard Zion Johnson (ankle), defensive lineman Otito Ogbonnia (pelvis) and defensive backs Cam Hart (concussion) and Elijah Molden (knee) did not practice on Tuesday.

  The only Broncos player to miss practice on Tuesday was defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers (foot).

  THEY SAID IT

  "It's just up to us as an offense and us as a team to go out and execute and play the way we need to. Obviously, they're all important games in December and January. This is where we want to be." --Herbert

  PREDICTION

  While both teams are in excellent position to reach the playoffs, there is plenty on the line Thursday night in terms of seeding and potential playoff opponents. If Nix can avoid multiple turnovers, the Broncos are trending in the right direction and Denver's strong defense will be taking aim at a gimpy Herbert. --Broncos 26, Chargers 23

  --Field Level Media

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman was seen wearing a walking boot in the locker room and did not participate in practice on Thursday.

• Bateman was limited in practice on Wednesday, three days after reeling in a pair of touchdown receptions in Baltimore's 35-14 victory over the New York Giants.

  Also on Thursday, fellow wideout Nelson Agholor worked out on a side field as he deals with the lingering effects of a concussion.

  The Ravens (9-5) could be shorthanded among the receiver ranks when they host the Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4) on Saturday.

  Bateman, 25, has 38 catches for 654 yards and seven touchdowns in 14 games this season. His receiving yardage total trails only Zay Flowers (916) on the team, while his TD catches are one shy of tight end Mark Andrews (eight).

  Agholor, 31, has 14 receptions for 231 yards and two scores in 14 games this season.

  --Field Level Media

San Francisco 49ers running back Isaac Guerendo is unlikely to play in Sunday's game against the host Miami Dolphins, ESPN reported Thursday.

• Guerendo is nursing a foot injury sustained in the 49ers' 12-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams last Thursday.

  The rookie was pressed into the lead role following season-ending injuries to Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason. The 24-year-old Guerendo has 73 carries for 381 yards and a team high-tying four touchdowns in 14 games this season.

  Patrick Taylor and Israel Abanikanda would be in line for larger workloads for the 49ers (6-8) should Guerendo sit out against the Dolphins (6-8).

  Taylor has rushed 14 times for 50 yards in 10 games this season, while Abanikanda does not have a carry this season.

  --Field Level Media

Dodgeball, tug-of-war and a trivia contest are among the events that will make up the 2025 Pro Bowl Skills competition, the NFL announced Thursday.

• AFC and NFC players selected for the Pro Bowl will compete in a 7-on-7 flag football game, which has replaced the traditional Pro Bowl game, on Feb. 2 in Orlando, Fla. But the weekend will be filled with a variety of fun and games.

  On Jan. 30, the events begin with Passing the Test, which combines passing accuracy with player trivia. The Pro Bowl quarterbacks will try to hit as many targets as they can in 40 seconds. Before that, each will pair with a teammate to try to answer five questions about current players. For each right answer, the quarterback gets an additional 10 seconds to hit targets and score points.

  Other contests throughout the weekend include Satisfying Catches, with a receiver, tight end and defensive back from each conference trying to navigate an obstacle course that includes football moves; a Relay Race, in which players take part in a 40-yard relay dash that requires them to hand the football to a teammate; and dodgeball, a three-round tournament with six teams participating, AFC vs. NFC style.

  The Great Football Race features six players from each conference going relay-style to finish five challenges, including the sled push. And the Tug-of-War features five players on each side trying to pull the other team into a foam pit. The competition is best-of-three.

  --Field Level Media

Wide receiver Marquise "Hollywood" Brown reportedly will make his Kansas City Chiefs debut on Saturday, barring any setbacks.

• ESPN reported Thursday that the Chiefs (13-1) are planning to activate Brown ahead of their home game against the Houston Texans (9-5).

  Kansas City opened Brown's 21-day practice window last Friday. He has been on injured reserve since Sept. 13 with a sternoclavicular joint injury sustained in the preseason opener.

  "He's done a nice job," Chiefs head coach Andy Reid said on Thursday. "Mentioned earlier -- it wasn't his legs, so he was able to run, keep himself in running shape. But the rest of it, where the surgery was and that, it looked good. He was doing fine, yeah."

  Brown, 27, signed a one-year, $7 million contract with the Chiefs in March after three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens (2019-21) and two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals (2022-23).

  Brown has 313 catches for 3,644 yards and 28 touchdowns in 72 career games (65 starts). He posted a 1,000-yard season with the Ravens in 2021.

  The Chiefs opened up a roster spot for Brown earlier this week when they released veteran running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire.

  --Field Level Media

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield did not participate in Wednesday's walkthrough because of a knee issue and would not have practiced if the team had "gone full speed," the team announced.

• Mayfield was among a long list of Bucs who didn't practice: linebacker K.J. Britt (ankle), tight end Cade Otton (knee), wide receiver Sterling Shepard (foot), safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (knee) and offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs (foot/knee).

  Star wide receiver Mike Evans had a day of rest.

  Mayfield, 29, has started all 14 games for the NFC South-leading Bucs (8-6) and has completed 328 of 463 passes (70.8 percent) for 3,617 yards, 32 touchdowns and 14 interceptions with a 104.1 passer rating.

  He was announced Wednesday as the NFC Offensive Player of the Week after completing 22 of 27 passes for 288 yards, four touchdowns and a 135.3 passer rating in a 40-17 win over the host Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.

  Mayfield has completed 63.2 percent of his career passes for 23,949 yards, 162 TDs and 88 picks in 103 regular-season games (100 starts) for the Cleveland Browns (2018-21), Carolina Panthers (2022), Los Angeles Rams (2022) and Bucs.

  The Browns made him the first overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft out of Oklahoma.

  Tampa Bay players listed Wednesday as limited participants were running back Bucky Irving (back/hip), defensive lineman Logan Hall (shoulder/wrist) and safeties Mike Edwards (hamstring), Christian Izien (groin) and Tykee Smith (knee).

  --Field Level Media

All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams, who has missed the last four San Francisco games because of an ankle injury, is likely done for the season, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday.

• "I mean, if he gets back to healthy, we'd play him," Shanahan said. "But it's not like that right now, so it's getting closer to being that way."

  San Francisco (6-8) has regular-season games remaining at Miami on Sunday, at home against Detroit on Dec. 30 and at Arizona on a day to be determined.

  Williams, 36, has not played since the 20-17 home loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Nov. 17. He has started all 10 games he has played this season and played 98 percent (649) of the offensive snaps in those games.

  Jaylon Moore has stepped in for Williams, who was not expected to practice on Wednesday. Moore, 26, was a fifth-round pick of the 49ers in the 2021 NFL Draft out of Western Michigan.

  Williams is an 11-time Pro Bowl selection (2012-18, 2020-23) and three-time first-team All-Pro (2021-23). Washington selected him fourth overall in the 2010 draft out of Oklahoma.

  Shanahan also said Wednesday that rookie running back Isaac Guerendo, who sustained a hamstring injury in the loss last Sunday to the Los Angeles Rams, will not practice.

  Linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who returned to action last week from an Achilles injury in last season's Super Bowl, will be limited at practice, Shanahan said. Greenlaw left the game against the Rams in the third quarter with soreness in that area and his knee. All-Pro defensive end Nick Bosa (hip/oblique) also will be a limited participant.

  --Field Level Media

Pittsburgh Steelers star linebacker T.J. Watt was a limited practice participant Wednesday, three days after injuring his left ankle during a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

• Watt's status for Saturday's game against the Baltimore Ravens has yet to be determined.

  He missed practice on Tuesday and then made progress while taking part in individual drills on Wednesday.

  Watt injured the ankle with 4:46 left in Pittsburgh's 27-13 road loss to the Eagles.

  The 30-year-old Watt had two sacks and a forced fumble to go with seven tackles on Sunday. He has 11 1/2 sacks this season to reach double digits for the sixth time in his eight-year career.

  Watt, a six-time Pro Bowl selection, has 108 career sacks in 118 games with Pittsburgh. He was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2021 when he had a career-high 22.5 sacks to match the official league record (since 1982).

  Backup quarterback Justin Fields (abdominal), receiver George Pickens (hamstring), cornerback Donte Jackson (back) and safety DeShon Elliott (hamstring) missed Wednesday's practice for Pittsburgh.

  Pickens has missed the past two games. He leads the Steelers with 55 receptions and 850 yards. He has caught three touchdown passes.

  --Field Level Media

Former first-round draft pick Clyde Edwards-Helaire is set to join the New Orleans Saints' practice squad after being released by the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday, according to multiple reports Wednesday.

• The move brings Edwards-Helaire back to a familiar place, with the 25-year-old having played three seasons at LSU.

  The running back led the Chiefs in rushing yards his rookie year after being selected with the 32nd pick of the 2020 NFL Draft, bursting onto the scene with 803 yards and four touchdowns.

  Edwards-Helaire struggled to match that statistical production afterward, however, rushing for fewer yards in each subsequent season. After starting 13 games as a rookie, he started 10 in 2021, six in ‘22 and three in ‘23.

  He had managed to remain productive, averaging at least 4.3 yards per carry every year until his average dipped in ‘23 (3.2).

  Edwards-Helaire had yet to see the field in 2024, getting buried on the depth chart behind Isiah Pacheco, Kareem Hunt, Samaje Perine and Carson Steele.

  Over the summer, Edwards-Helaire revealed that he has experienced symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder for over 5 1/2 years. He acknowledged experiencing flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety.

  "Sometimes I'm admitted into the hospital, something like I can't stop throwing up and it's just, I (don't) know (anything) pretty much to stop it," Edwards-Helaire said.

  "... Real bad dehydration ... but it's really just mentally just not being there. It is one of those things where early on guys who kind of pay attention like Travis (Kelce) and Kadarius (Toney) at times, they can even, they'll know ahead of time like, ‘OK, Clyde's not laughing, he's not giggling, he's not himself.'"

  --Field Level Media

The Dallas Cowboys are optimistic that linebacker DeMarvion Overshown might be able to return late next season after undergoing successful knee surgery, Fox Sports reported Wednesday.

• Overshown underwent surgery to repair three ligaments in his right knee, an injury that Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy at first said realistically could sideline Overshown for the entire 2025 season.

  The Cowboys are now eyeing mid-to-late 2025, per the report.

  Overshown tore the anterior cruciate ligament, the medial collateral ligament and the posterior cruciate ligament in the Cowboys' Week 14 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.

  Overshown, 24, was having a breakout campaign after missing out on his rookie season when he tore the ACL in his left knee during a preseason game. He started all but one game this season and had been a bright spot in a rather disappointing season for the Cowboys.

  Overshown recorded 90 tackles (56 solo), eight tackles for loss, five sacks, a fumble recovery and an interception in 13 games (12 starts) this season.

  --Field Level Media

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers told reporters Wednesday he'll take some time after the season ends to consider his playing future but added the caveat, "Unless I get released right away."

• Rodgers is under contract with the Jets for next season but speculation about his future has been rampant amid the 41-year-old's struggles leading the Jets to a 4-10 record.

  The Jets came away with a 32-25 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in their most recent game, with Rodgers finishing 16-of-30 passing for 289 yards and three scores. They lost in overtime to the Miami Dolphins the week before, when Rodgers went 27-for-39 for 339 yards.

  Asked by a reporter whether his recent performances changed his feelings about his future, Rodgers said, "No, I'm going to take some time after the year -- unless I get released right away -- but I'll still take some time whether or not I want to play."

  Rodgers returned this year after missing all but four plays of his first season in New York in 2023, when he tore his left Achilles tendon in the season opener.

  His comeback season hasn't gone according to plan, though. Rodgers has completed 62.5 percent of his passes for 3,255 yards and 23 touchdowns with eight interceptions -- with his completion percentage, yards per completion and touchdown rate ranking among the lowest of his 20-year career.

  In a late November appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show," the veteran quarterback said he has yet to decide if he'll play in 2025 -- however if he does, he'd like to play for the Jets.

  "I'm gonna wait and see what happens at the end of the season and if they want me back, and what happens with (interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich) and what happens with the offensive staff and obviously the GM at the time, and then they just fired Joe (Douglas). There's a lot of things out of my control when it comes to that. But I really have enjoyed my time in New York.

  "... I don't even know if I wanna play yet, but New York would be my first option."

  Rodgers is under contract for next season with a $2.5 million base salary plus a $35 million option bonus.

  --Field Level Media

Patrick Mahomes was a full participant in practice Wednesday, taking all of his usual reps for the second consecutive day to mute conversations about the Chiefs' quarterback sitting out Kansas City's game Saturday against the Houston Texans.

• Mahomes hurt an ankle in the fourth quarter of Sunday's win at Cleveland but said Tuesday his dedicated treatment plan was paying off.

  Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy took a cautious angle on Wednesday saying the workouts the past two days were light in comparison to usual practices because of the shorter week and games four days apart. The Chiefs (13-1) play Christmas Day -- Wednesday -- at Pittsburgh.

  "I thought for him, it's a lighter day for us with the schedule that we have. So I thought, all things considered, he did well," Nagy said.

  Head coach Andy Reid outlined a plan for making decisions on player gameday participation later this week. That includes Mahomes and possibly wide receiver Hollywood Brown, who hasn't played since a training camp shoulder injury forced him to injured reserve in September.

  Mahomes and the Chiefs can clinch the No. 1 seed in the AFC with a win over the Texans and a Buffalo Bills' loss or tie against the Patriots.

  "We know our schedule this week, a little bit of a shorter week, so there's a balance there to that," Nagy said. "But so far, I think his mindset is to do everything he can. But at the same time, you still have to be able to see how he does throughout the week."

  Carson Wentz is the No. 2 quarterback for the Chiefs and would get his 94th career start if Mahomes sits. Wentz played the final two possessions last week.

  "I got my feet wet a little bit at the end of the last game and felt good out there, and nothing's going to change this week," Wentz said. "Obviously, Patrick's had some nicks and bruises all year, and I've prepared like I was going to play every week. So, on my end, nothing's really going to change."

  --Field Level Media