Raiders tight end Brock Bowers’ 2026 season is over.
Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports that the Raiders are going to put Bowers on injured reserve ahead of Sunday’s game against the Giants. Bowers injured his knee in Week 1 and played through it for several weeks before missing three games in October. He’s played in the rest of the team’s games, but the 2-13 Raiders are shutting him down with eyes on next season.
Bowers had 64 catches for 680 yards and seven touchdowns this season.
Pelissero adds that the Raiders will also place safety Jeremy Chinn on injured reserve. He has been dealing with a back injury. Chinn had 114 tackles, a sack and two forced fumbles while starting all 15 games this season.
The absence of both players won’t help the Raiders’ chances of beating the Giants this week or the Chiefs in Week 18. If the Raiders do lose out, they will have the first overall pick in the 2026 draft.
Giants Clips
The NFL couldn’t have known when scheduling the Giants and Raiders to face each other in Week 17 that it was setting up a very big game between two very bad teams. But that’s exactly what happened, at least if your idea of a big game is one that could determine the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft.
The Giants and Raiders are currently both 2-13, tied for the worst record in the NFL. The loser will drop to 2-14 and have the inside track for the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft.
Neither team would actually be assured of the first overall pick with a loss on Sunday, as there’s still a chance that the team that loses on Sunday could win its season finale the following week, move back up into a tie for the worst record in the NFL, and then lose the tiebreaker. The tiebreaker is strength of schedule, with the team that faced the weaker schedule picking first. The Giants have a weaker schedule than the Raiders, but the 3-12 Browns have a weaker schedule than either of them and could still get the first overall pick if the Browns, Giants and Raiders all finish 3-14.
Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza is currently the favorite to go first overall. He has a New Year’s Day game against Alabama in the College Football Playoff to prepare for, but we imagine he’ll be watching Giants-Raiders with interest.
The AFC and NFC rosters for the 2026 Pro Bowl Games were announced on Tuesday morning.
Votes from fans, coaches and players were used to select the teams. Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce led the fan vote and was named to his 11th Pro Bowl. Bills quarterback Josh Allen, Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, and Bears safety Kevin Byard were the other leaders in that vote, but Williams is not on the initial NFC roster.
Chargers tackle Joe Alt did make the AFC roster despite playing in only six games before being shut down with an ankle injury.
Three teams — the Jets, Saints and Vikings — have no Pro Bowlers. The Broncos, 49ers, Ravens, and Seahawks each had six players selected.
The Pro Bowl Games will be held in San Francisco on February
The full rosters appear below with starters indicated by an asterisk.
AFC
Quarterback: Josh Allen*, Buffalo Bills; Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers; Drake Maye, New England Patriots
Running back: De’Von Achane, Miami Dolphins; James Cook, Buffalo Bills; Jonathan Taylor*, Indianapolis Colts
Fullback: Patrick Ricard*, Baltimore Ravens
Wide receiver: Ja’Marr Chase*, Cincinnati Bengals; Nico Collins*, Houston Texans; Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens; Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos
Tight end: Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders*; Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs
Offensive tackle: Joe Alt*, Los Angeles Chargers; Garett Bolles*, Denver Broncos; Dion Dawkins, Buffalo Bills
Offensive guard: Quinn Meinerz*, Denver Broncos; Quenton Nelson*, Indianapolis Colts; Trey Smith, Kansas City Chiefs
Center: Creed Humphrey*, Kansas City Chiefs; Tyler Linderbaum, Baltimore Ravens
Defensive end: Will Anderson Jr.*, Houston Texans; Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas Raiders; Myles Garrett*, Cleveland Browns
Interior linemen: Zach Allen, Denver Broncos; Chris Jones*, Kansas City Chiefs; Jeffrey Simmons*, Tennessee Titans
Outside linebacker: Nik Bonitto*, Denver Broncos; Tuli Tuipulotu, Los Angeles Chargers; T.J. Watt*, Pittsburgh Steelers
Inside/middle linebacker: Azeez Al-Shaair, Houston Texans; Roquan Smith*, Baltimore Ravens
Cornerback: Christian Gonzalez, New England Patriots; Derek Stingley Jr.*, Houston Texans; Pat Surtain II*, Denver Broncos; Denzel Ward, Cleveland Browns
Free safety: Jalen Ramsey*, Pittsburgh Steelers
Strong safety: Kyle Hamilton*, Baltimore Ravens; Derwin James Jr., Los Angeles Chargers
Long-snapper: Ross Matiscik*, Jacksonville Jaguars
Punter: Jordan Stout*, Baltimore Ravens
Place-kicker: Cameron Dicker*, Los Angeles Chargers
Return specialist: Chimere Dike*, Tennessee Titans
Special-teamer: Ben Skowronek*, Pittsburgh
NFC
Quarterback: Matthew Stafford*, Los Angeles Rams; Sam Darnold, Seattle Seahawks; Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys
Running back: Jahmyr Gibbs*, Detroit Lions; Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco 49ers; Bijan Robinson, Atlanta Falcons
Fullback: Kyle Juszczyk*, San Francisco 49ers
Wide receiver: Puka Nacua*, Los Angeles Rams; Jaxon Smith-Njigba*, Seattle Seahawks; George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys; Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit Lions
Tight end: Trey McBride*, Arizona Cardinals; George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
Offensive tackle: Penei Sewell*, Detroit Lions; Tristan Wirfs* Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Trent Williams, San Francisco 49ers
Offensive guard: Tyler Smith*, Dallas Cowboys; Joe Thuney*, Chicago Bears; Chris Lindstrom, Atlanta Falcons
Center: Drew Dalman*, Chicago Bears; Cam Jurgens, Philadelphia Eagles
Defensive end: Aidan Hutchinson*, Detroit Lions; Micah Parsons*, Green Bay Packers; DeMarcus Lawrence, Seattle Seahawks
Interior linemen: Jalen Carter*, Philadelphia Eagles; Leonard Williams*, Seattle Seahawks, Quinnen Williams, Dallas Cowboys
Outside linebacker: Brian Burns*, New York Giants, Jared Verse*, Los Angeles Rams; Byron Young, Los Angeles Rams
Inside/middle linebacker: Jack Campbell*, Detroit Lions; Zack Baun, Philadelphia Eagles
Cornerback: Jaycee Horn*, Carolina Panthers; Devon Witherspoon, Seattle Seahawks
Free safety: Kevin Byard III*, Chicago Bears; Antoine Winfield Jr., Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Strong safety: Budda Baker*, Arizona Cardinals
Long-snapper: Jon Weeks*, San Francisco 49ers
Punter: Tress Way*, Washington Commanders
Placekicker: Brandon Aubrey*, Dallas Cowboys
Return specialist: Rashid Shaheed*, Seattle Seahawks
Special-teamer: Luke Gifford*, San Francisco 49ers
Late in the first half of Sunday’s game against the Giants in New Jersey, Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy suffered a right hand injury on a sack/fumble caused by linebacker Brian Burns. McCarthy exited the game and did not return.
Per a source with knowledge of the situation, X-rays were negative. However, imaging tests will be performed in Minnesota to determine the extent of the injury.
With two games left in a lost season, the question becomes whether the Vikings should shut McCarthy down and keep him healthy. But the Vikings have two spoiler games at home remaining, against the Lions on Christmas and against the Packers to end the season. With three wins in a row and a chance to complicate things for a pair of divisional rivals, the Vikings may be inclined, if it’s close, to let McCarthy try to finish the season with another victory or two.
If McCarthy can’t go, undrafted rookie Max Brosmer will get his second career start in four days.
For now, the imaging tests will be important. Especially since the injury is to the hand with which he throws the ball.
The Vikings were devastated by injuries today against the Giants. But they still won 16-13 on a day when Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart could not do anything.
Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy was knocked out of the game with a hand injury. Running back Jordan Mason was carted off with an ankle injury. And center Ryan Kelly exited with a concussion.
But with the offense beaten up, the defense stepped up. Brian Burns forced a McCarthy fumble that Tyler Nubin returned for a touchdown just before halftime, and the combination of that and three Will Reichard field goals gave the Giants all the points they needed.
Dart was awful. He completed just seven of 13 passes for 33 yards, with no touchdowns, one interception and that costly fumble. He also lost 20 yards on five sacks, giving the Giants a grand total of 13 passing yards on the game.
Giants interim head coach Mike Kafka has done nothing to indicate that he’s developing Dart properly, and the Giants face major questions heading into the offseason about whether they have the right quarterback, and where they’ll find the right coach for him.
The Vikings also have major questions about McCarthy. And Kelly’s concussion is a major concern, given that it’s the sixth of his career. A lot went wrong for Minnesota today.
But enough went right that they pulled out a win.
Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy is injured again.
McCarthy suffered a hand injury when he was strip-sacked by Giants pass rusher Brian Burns just before halftime and was ruled out for the rest of the game at the start of the second half.
It continues a disturbing pattern for McCarthy, who has not been able to stay healthy in his first two NFL seasons. Today’s game was just the ninth start of McCarthy’s career, and if his hand injury is as bad as it looked, he will miss the final two games of the season and still have just nine starts in his career at the end of his second NFL season.
The Vikings need to know whether McCarthy, their 2024 first-round draft pick, is their franchise quarterback of the future. But the reality is he hasn’t played enough, and hasn’t played well enough when healthy, to give the Vikings any confidence that they can build around him going forward.
Undrafted rookie Max Brosmer is now in at quarterback for the Vikings.
Vikings center Ryan Kelly has also been ruled out with a concussion. That’s alarming because of Kelly’s history; this is the sixth diagnosed concussion of his NFL career.
The Vikings’ top two running backs, Jordan Mason and Aaron Jones, were both injured on the first drive of today’s game against the Giants.
Both players were initially listed as questionable with ankle injuries. Mason was later ruled out for the rest of the game, while Jones returned.
Mason looked worse than questionable: He went to the locker room on a cart and had the demeanor of a player who thought he had suffered a serious injury.
Jones went into the medical tent and then came out, put on his helmet and was seen jogging on the sideline, so his injury does not appear to be as serious.
Zavier Scott came in at running back for the Vikings when Mason and Jones exited.
The Bills will try to wrap up a playoff berth without the help of wide receiver Keon Coleman on Sunday.
Coleman is inactive for Buffalo’s game in Cleveland. Coleman was not on the injury report at all this week, but will miss his third game of the season. Coleman was scratched for disciplinary reasons earlier this year, but Cameron Wolfe of NFL Media reports Sunday’s deactivation is solely a coach’s decision. Coleman was a 2024 second-round pick and he has 36 catches for 355 yards and four touchdowns this season.
Mecole Hardman, who was activated from injured reserve this week, is active.
The Bills need a win and a loss by either the Texans or Colts in order to book a playoff berth. A win will also help their chances of ending the season as the AFC East champs for the sixth straight season.
Bills at Browns
Bills: WR Keon Coleman, WR Gabe Davis, DT Jordan Phillips, K Matt Prater, OL Tylan Grable, DB Darnell Savage, DT Larry Ogunjobi
Browns: CB Denzel Ward, RB Dylan Sampson, DT Mike Hall Jr., G Wyatt Teller, WR Jamari Thrash, TE David Njoku, DT Sam Kamara
Buccaneers at Panthers
Buccaneers: QB Connor Bazelak, TE Devin Culp, G Elijah Klein, WR Sterling Shepard, DL Elijah Simmons, LB Anthony Walker, S Rashad Wisdom
Panthers: WR Hunter Renfrow, LB Trevin Wallace, S Demani Richardson, DT Jared Harrison-Hunte, OT Ikem Ekwonu, TE James Mitchell, DT Tershawn Wharton
Jets at Saints
Jets: QB Justin Fields, TE Mason Taylor, DT Mazi Smith, LB Kiko Mauigoa, DT Payton Page, DE Eric Watts
Saints: RB Alvin Kamara, OL Cesar Ruiz, OL Asim Richards, TE Zaire Mitchell-Paden, S Ugo Amadi, CB Rejzohn Wright, DT Khristian Boyd
Chiefs at Titans
Chiefs: WR Rashee Rice, CB Trent McDuffie, OT Jaylon Moore, WR Tyquan Thornton, RB Dameon Pierce, OL CJ Hanson, DT Derrick Nnadi
Titans: OL Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, OL Garrett Dellinger, OL Drew Moss, DL Cam Horsley, LB Cedric Gray, S Erick Hallett
Chargers at Cowboys
Chargers: WR Derius Davis, S RJ Mickens, EDGE Bud Dupree, OL Branson Taylor, OT Trey Pipkins, TE Tyler Conklin
Cowboys: DT Quinnen Williams, WR Jalen Tolbert, CB Caelen Carson, RB Jaydon Blue, DT Jay Toia, OT Tyler Guyton
Vikings at Giants
Vikings: LB Austin Keys, DT Javon Hargrave, OT Walter Rouse, QB John Wolford
Giants: LB Caleb Murphy, WR Ryan Miller, WR Jalin Hyatt, LB Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, G Jon Runyan, DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches, QB Russell Wilson
Bengals at Dolphins
Bengals: QB Jake Browning, WR Charlie Jones, DB Brayln Lux, S P.J. Jules, DE Joseph Ossai, TE Noah Fant, DT Jordan Jefferson
Dolphins: S Minkah Fitzpatrick, WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, CB Isaiah Johnson, T Kendall Lamm, WR Tahj Washington, DT Matthew Butler, QB Tua Tagovailoa
The Vikings will play the Giants in New Jersey on Sunday. If they get there.
Minnesota’s team plane left before returning to the airport, due to an issue with the aircraft.
“Shortly after departing, the team plane experienced mechanical issues that required a return to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport,” a team spokesman said, via Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “The team will board a second plane momentarily and is expected to arrive at Newark International Airport later tonight.”
Goessling’s tweet was posted at 5:20 p.m. ET. “Momentarily” has proven to be more malleable than usual.
As of this posting, at 8:00 p.m. ET, the second plane has not departed.
Via Goessling, the initial plane turned around at 3:05 p.m. ET, landing at 4:04 p.m. ET.
The end result is a lengthy delay that will interrupt significantly the team’s Saturday night schedule.
Despite being eliminated from playoff contention, the 6-8 Vikings have won two games in a row, and by all appearances are doing whatever they can to finish the season on a high note.
Giants edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux’s season is over.
The Giants placed Thibodeaux on injured reserve on Saturday because of the shoulder injury that has kept him out of the team’s last four games. Thibodeaux had 25 tackles and 2.5 sacks in the 10 games he did play this season.
The Giants exercised their option on Thibodeaux’s contract for the 2026 season. He’s set to make a fully guaranteed salary of $14.751 million.
Cornerback Art Green was activated from injured reserve to fill Thibodeaux’s roster spot. The Giants also elevated defensive lineman Elijah Chatman and kicker Ben Sauls from the practice squad for their game against the Vikings.
