NFL Player News

The Browns’ Week 17 inactives feature a familiar cast of characters. The only player to enter the week with a questionable tag was EDGE Jadeveon Clowney, who will suit up for this week’s matchup after clearing concussion protocol.

Minshew was initially believed to have suffered a torn ACL in Week 16. The issue would have sidelined him for much of 2026, if not the entire season. Per Schefter, it was just a bone bruise that did not require surgery. Minshew did not suffer any long-term damage from the injury. Minshew will head into free agency with a clean bill of health. At just 29 years old, Minshew should have no issues finding another backup gig in the spring.

Babich will also hold the title of secondary coach. He joins the Packers after serving two years as the Bills’ DC. Babich previously interviewed for the Packers’ DC opening but chose to stay in Buffalo for a promotion. He will work under Jonathan Gannon in Green Bay.

Pelissero said Ventrone, widely seen as one of the NFL’s best special teams coaches, is not expected to stay on with new Cleveland head coach Todd Monken, who will presumably clean house and bring in his own coaches for 2026. The Rams in 2025 had what was by most measures the worst special teams unit while the Steelers were mostly middle of the pack in special teams metrics. Ventrone’s Browns allowed the seventh most yards per kickoff return and the fifth most yards per punt return in 2025.

Former Ravens OC Todd Monken got the Browns head coaching job on Wednesday after an extensive search, and after it appeared the Browns were set to promote Schwartz to the top job. Rapoport said the Browns “would like to retain Schwartz, who is under contract. The respected DC may have other plans. He’s coveted.” It looks like Schwartz will coach elsewhere in 2026 after being passed over, though there’s a chance he stays with Cleveland under Monken. Schwartz’s Browns offense in 2025 allowed the league’s fourth lowest success rate and third lowest EPA per play.

A dark horse to land the New York DC job, Duker, 36, will take over one of the NFL’s worst defenses in 2026 after a season of coaching the Miami secondary. Duker worked with Jets head coach Aaron Glenn when both were in Detroit from 2021 to 2023. Duker will be tasked with improving a New York defense that last year became the first defense in NFL history to not record a single interception. The Jets in 2025 allowed the league’s third highest EPA per play. No team was worse against the pass.

Monken, after coaching one of the NFL’s most efficient offenses over the past three seasons, will take over as Cleveland’s head coach after the team had several coaching candidates withdraw their name from consideration in recent days. Monken, 59, was the Browns offensive coordinator back in 2019, when the team ranked 22nd in most yards and points. He’s also served as OC for the Bucs. “By choosing Monken,” Russini said, “the Browns select a respected offensive mind with experience.” It’s not known whether Monken will retain Browns defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who was a candidate for the top job.

Leonhard, a former Bills safety, has spoken to Buffalo about the team’s defensive coordinator opening. Now he’s getting interest from Jim Harbaugh and the Chargers, who lost defensive coordinator Jesse Minter to the Ravens this month. In LA, Leonhard would take over a stellar defensive group that last year allowed the league’s seventh lowest yards per play and the fifth lowest offensive success rate. Only three defenses allowed a lower EPA per rushing attempt than the Bolts.

Webb has been interviewing around the head coaching circuit this cycle and is now getting offensive coordinator requests with head coaching jobs filling up. The Ravens interviewed him for head coach and are now interested in bringing him back in to call plays for Lamar Jackson’s offense. John Harbaugh’s Giants may pivot from Todd Monken at offensive coordinator if Monken takes the Browns’ head coaching job, while the Eagles have yet to fill their offensive coordinator position. With the Broncos parting ways with Joe Lombardi, Webb is a candidate for his current employer’s offensive coordinator role as well. Webb is a highly coveted offensive mind who will likely find an offensive coordinator role this offseason and will be a name we hear again in future coaching cycles.

Gruden, however, “wasn’t interested in the job.” Jets head coach Aaron Glenn is turning over much of his coaching staff after a less-than-ideal first year on the job. Rosenblatt reports the team apparently contacted Gruden, who did not have interest in taking on a role under Glenn. Gruden has not coached since resigning from the Raiders after a scandal involving emails using bigoted language during the 2021 season. He consulted with the Saints in 2023 but has been out of the league since. The Jets’ staff turnover will decidedly not include Gruden.

Rivera, 64, is currently the general manager for the University of California’s football program. He was head coach of the Panthers from 2011-2019, leading the team to a Super Bowl appearance and winning NFL Coach of the Year twice. Rivera then coached the Commanders form 2020-2023 to more lackluster results, failing to finish with a winning record across four seasons. The Cardinals are continuing to search for the right head coaching candidate and Rivera, who has been out of the NFL for two years, is the latest on the interview list.