NFL Player News

Schefter cites the speed with which Mahomes got his torn ACL and LCL repaired — Monday, the day after it happened — as a major reason behind this. He also notes the timeline of nine months would put Mahomes in line to play in Week 2. “You know he’s going to have the absolute finest resources, care, attention, to bring him along,” Schefter continues. “He’s already set in to motion the chain of events that will bring him back sooner.” We wouldn’t be surprised if Mahomes is playing that early — see how quickly Joe Burrow came back this year from his turf toe against the initial diagnosis — but we also wouldn’t be surprised if Mahomes wasn’t quite the same player from the jump, especially as a scrambler, while he re-acclimates to what he can trust with his surgically-repaired knee.

Carter remains sidelined after undergoing surgery on both shoulders two weeks ago. His timetable was week-to-week, but he is not back practicing yet. The Commanders’ running game will have an easier time attacking the middle of the Eagles’ defense if Carter cannot return for Week 16.

Barkley popped up with a new listing on the injury report, getting a DNP designation due to a stinger. It is unclear yet how serious the injury is, as stingers indicate some kind of head/shoulder nerve pain. He starts out the week with a DNP and practice reports later in the week will tell how serious the issue is. Should Barkley miss Week 16 against the Commanders, Tank Bigsby would be next man up. Bigsby was limited on Tuesday with an illness, but is still tracking to play on Saturday.

Tunsil suffered an oblique injury in Week 15 and his status for Week 16 is in flux. Commanders head coach Dan Quinn on Monday that Tunsil will play “if he can”, but the left tackle starts out the week not practicing. Practice reports later in the week will tell if Tunsil is good to go for Saturday against the Eagles.

Rodriguez missed the Commanders’ Week 15 game against the Giants after going DNP-limited-limited in practice with the groin injury last week. Starting out the week as a full participant bodes well for his return. Rodriguez likely cuts back into Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s workload in his return, demoting both to RB3 fantasy plays at best in Week 16 against the Eagles.

Tom suffered a knee injury in Week 15 against the Broncos, but seems to have avoided a major absence. Still, the Packers’ right tackle begins the week with a DNP designation. Practicing later in the week will give him a better chance to play Saturday against the Bears.

Watson was injured in Week 15 against the Broncos and is now listed with both chest and shoulder injuries to open the week. His injury is not believed to be serious, but on a short week ahead of a Saturday game, it may be difficult for Watson to practice enough to play in Week 16. The Packers’ report is merely an estimate with a walkthrough practice, but Watson and Dontayvion Wicks (ankle) did not practice. The Packers’ deep passing game may be hampered if Watson and Wicks cannot play Saturday against the Bears, leaving rookie Matthew Golden some opportunities on the outside.

After Ben Johnson called him day-to-day coming out of the Bears’ Week 15 game, where he left in the third quarter, Burden did not exactly assuage concerns he’d miss Saturday’s game with this DNP. Burden still has time to turn it around, and this was only an estimation, but it’s not an auspicious start to the week.

It’s a walk-thru and an estimated report today, but this isn’t surprising after Ben Johnson’s ominous words for Odunze’s situation on Monday. Odunze is closer to doubtful than questionable based on Johnson saying the Bears may “need to protect him from himself” with this injury after he re-aggravated it right before game time in Week 15.

With Matt Prater injured and unlikely to go this week, Badgley will be a solid streamer kicker in Week 16 as Buffalo takes on the Browns.

He’ll join an interior line room that has watched Kevin Zeitler and Lloyd Cushenberry miss games over the past month. Dellinger was a seventh-rounder in the 2025 Draft by the Ravens. He might get a look down the stretch as the Titans wrap up the season.