In a game that was meaningless in the playoff race but meaningful in the 2025 NFL draft order, the Jaguars beat the Titans 10-6 in Tennessee today.
That could be big for the race to get the first overall pick in the draft, as the Jaguars headed into today’s game at 2-10 and in the driver’s seat to pick first overall, while the Titans were 3-9 and projected for the seventh pick in 2025.
Now both the Jaguars and the Titans are 3-10, and the race for the first pick is wide open, with the Raiders and Giants currently having the best chance. Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders is the betting favorite to go first overall.
The game itself wasn’t particularly notable, as neither quarterback, Jacksonville’s Mac Jones or Tennessee’s Will Levis, did much of anything. It was as ugly as you’d expect from two bad teams.
But someone had to win, and that someone was the Jaguars. Which is a loss, if you’d rather get a higher pick than win a December game between two bad teams.
Every week we bring you all the inactives from the 1 p.m. ET games in one post, constantly updated with the latest information.
A report on Sunday morning indicated that wide receiver George Pickens would play for the Steelers against the Browns on Sunday afternoon, but things turned out differently.
Pickens is inactive due to the hamstring injury that led to his addition to the injury report on Friday. Pickens was listed as questionable and his absence will be a significant one for the Steelers as they try to take another step toward winning the AFC North title.
Mike Williams, Van Jefferson, Calvin Austin, Scotty Miller, and Ben Skowronek will be the wideouts for Pittsburgh.
Browns at Steelers
Browns: QB Bailey Zappe, WR Cedric Tillman, RB D’Onta Foreman, CB Chigozie Anusiem, WR Jamari Thrash, DT Sam Kamara, DE James Houston
Steelers: QB Kyle Allen, WR George Pickens, DB Cory Trice, G Max Scharping, DL Dean Lowry
Saints at Giants
Saints: QB Spencer Rattler, WR Mason Tipton, RB Jordan Mims, LB Jaylan Ford, DT Khristian Boyd
Giants: CB Deonte Banks, CB Dru Phillips, LB Bobby Okereke, T Chris Hubbard, T Jermaine Eluemunor, DL Rakeem Nunez-Roches, CB Dee Williams
Falcons at Vikings
Falcons: RB Jase McClellan, CB Natrone Brooks, LB Rashaan Evans, OL Elijah Wilkinson, T Brandon Parker, WR Casey Washington
Vikings: LB Patrick Jones II, CB Stephon Gilmore, DL Levi Drake Rodrgiuez, C Dan Feeney, T Walker Rouse, QB Brett Rypien
Raiders at Buccaneers
Raiders: RB Zamir White, RB Alexander Mattison, CB Nate Hobbs, G Cody Whitehair, WR Ramel Keyton, TE Harrison Bryant, DT Matthew Butler
Buccaneers: LB K.J. Britt, DL Earnest Brown, TE Devin Culp, S Mike Edwards, CB Josh Hayes, LB J.J. Russell, EDGE Joe Tryon-Shoyinka
Panthers at Eagles
Panthers: LB Jadeveon Clowney, WR Jalen Coker, S Jammie Robinson, CB Shemar Bartholomew, CB Akayleb Evans, CB Caleb Farley, OL Jarrett Kingston
Eagles: QB Tanner McKee, OL Darian Kinnard, G Trevor Keegan, OL Nick Gates, WR Britain Covey, S Reed Blankenship, S Sydney Brown
Jaguars at Titans
Jaguars: DL Myles Cole, T Anton Harrison, DT Jordan Jefferson, RB D’Ernest Johnson, DT Esezi Otomewo, WR Josh Reynolds
Titans: WR Jha’Quan Jackson, LB Kenneth Murray, CB Roger McCreary, LB Jerome Baker, RB Joshua Kelley, CB Gabe Jeudy-Lally, OL Leroy Watson
Jets at Dolphins
Jets: RB Breece Hall, CB Sauce Gardner, CB Qwan’Tez Stiggers, WR Malachi Corley, OL Xavier Newman, EDGE Braiden McGregor
Dolphins: QB Skylar Thompson, CB Ethan Bonner, RB Raheem Mostert, OL Andrew Meyer, TE Jack Stoll, WR River Cracraft
The Titans will not have one of their depth pieces along the offensive line for the rest of the season.
Via multiple reporters, Tennessee head coach Brian Callahan said on Friday that Logan Bruss is out for the season after tearing his ACL.
Bruss suffered the injury during a one-on-one drill during Thursday’s practice.
A Rams third-round pick in 2022, Bruss was claimed off waivers by the Titans in November. He appeared in three games for Tennessee, playing exclusively on special teams.
The NFL’s in-house justice system regarding punishment for on-field infractions lacks transparency. Except when the NFL wants transparency.
The information released by the league regarding the three-game suspension of Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair operated like a flying elbow from the top rope, painting him as a villain and citing multiple different grounds for the punishment — his history, the hit on Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence, Al-Shaair’s actions during the first fight after the play, and his actions during the second fight, after he was ejected.
As to the hearing conducted by former NFL offensive lineman Ramon Foster, there has been no transparency. By all appearances, there was nothing more than an up or down from Foster, with no reasoning or explanation.
Appearing on his radio show aired by 104.5 The Zone in Nashville, Foster declined to explain the basis for his decision.
“My job is to see the tape, evaluate the tape, and move on to how I proceed to evaluate the cases,” Foster said, via Cody Stoots. “There is no emotion or involvements that goes on behind it.”
It would be nice to have something more than that. One of the goals of punishment is deterrence. How can a player be deterred if there’s no clarity as to the connection between the conduct, the punishment, and the decision on appeal?
“Don’t do what Al-Shaair did” isn’t enough. Players have a right to know the line between what will and won’t get them suspended.
Foster also downplayed the fact that he’s employed by the Titans Radio Network, as the game day sideline reporter. On that point, Foster mentioned that Derrick Brooks, one of the other hearing officers, works for the Buccaneers. (According to the Buccaneers, Brooks has no formal role with the team; he’s treated like any other “alumni legend.”)
“This was not an issue,” an NFL spokesperson told PFT via email regarding Foster’s employment by the Titans Radio Network. “The four appeals officers, all former players, are jointly considered, selected and compensated by the NFLPA and the league.”
It should be an issue. While, as Foster said, the NFL and NFL Players Association want former players in the role of hearing officer, there are many former players who don’t work directly or indirectly for teams.
Anyone charged with resolving matters that entail the exercise of discretion should avoid not only impropriety but the appearance of it. The Titans and Texans are AFC South rivals. Someone who works for the Titans Radio Network shouldn’t be handling a disciplinary appeal regarding a player from the Texans. He shouldn’t want to.
But it’s part of the basic NFL reality. Conflicts of interest are everywhere, starting with the league’s obsession to have the Commissioner control and resolve any legal claims involving the teams, the league, and the Commissioner himself — and continuing with Tom Brady being allowed to own a team and serve as the top game analyst at Fox.
Looking at the issue more broadly, it’s just another day in post-standards paradise.
The NFL has announced this year’s nominees for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award.
Each NFL team nominates one player for the award, which recognizes players who excel both on the field and in their communities.
“The Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award celebrates Walter’s enduring legacy of excellence on the field and compassion off it,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “This award is the league’s most prestigious honor, and we are proud to recognize these 32 outstanding men for the positive impact they make in their communities every day.”
Steelers defensive lineman Cam Heyward won the award last year. This year’s nominees are:
Cardinals tight end Trey McBride
Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jarrett
Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith
Bills tackle Dion Dawkins
Panthers wide receiver Adam Thielen
Bears defensive lineman Andrew Billings
Bengals tackle Orlando Brown Jr.
Browns cornerback Denzel Ward
Cowboys guard Zack Martin
Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton
Lions quarterback Jared Goff
Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark
Texans safety Jalen Pitre
Colts cornerback Kenny Moore
Jaguars defensive tackle Arik Armstead
Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce
Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby
Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker
Rams running back Kyren Williams
Dolphins fullback Alec Ingold
Vikings fullback C.J. Ham
Patriots defensive lineman Deatrich Wise
Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan
Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton
Jets defensive lineman Solomon Thomas
Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham
Steelers defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi
49ers linebacker Curtis Robinson
Seahawks linebacker Uchenna Nwosu
Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans
Titans defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons
Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner
