NFL Player News
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Aidan O'Connell QB | LV
Raiders' Aidan O'Connell: Plays three quarters in finale
O'Connell completed 10 of 22 passes for 102 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions in Sunday's 14-12 win over the Chiefs. He added one rush for seven yards.
O'Connell was set to rotate with Kenny Pickett, though he ultimately played the final three quarters of the game after Pickett struggled. O'Connell wasn't exceptional in relief, but he did manage to complete a pair of passes for more than 20 yards while also avoiding significant mistakes. He'll remain under contract with the Raiders in 2026 and could be set to compete for the backup role, with the team almost certain to draft a quarterback first overall in the upcoming draft.
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Kenny Pickett QB | LV
Raiders' Kenny Pickett: Plays first quarter
Pickett completed one of four passes for three yards, no touchdowns and an interception in Sunday's 14-12 win over the Chiefs. He added one rush for nine yards.
The Raiders planned to rotate Pickett and Aidan O'Connell at quarterback in the season finale. While Pickett drew the start, he played only the first quarter after being picked off and otherwise struggling to move the offense. After having the fifth-year option on his rookie contract declined, Pickett will be a free agent this offseason and will likely be set to compete for a backup role.
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Lamar Jackson QB | BAL
Ravens' Lamar Jackson: Throws three TDs in crushing loss
Jackson (back) completed 11 of 18 pass attempts for 238 yards, three touchdowns and one interception while taking four carries for nine yards in Sunday's 26-24 loss to the Steelers.
Jackson performed valiantly after returning from a one-game absence due to injury, throwing three touchdown passes to give his team a shot at victory and the AFC North title on Sunday Night Football. Unfortunately for Jackson and the Ravens, his effort fell in vain after Tyler Loop shanked the potential game-winning field goal as time expired in regulation. Injuries plagued the dual-threat superstar's 2025 season, and he produced pedestrian passing totals (2,549 yards, 21 TDs and seven INTs) across 13 starts. The biggest drop in production came in the rushing department, as Jackson finished the campaign with a career-worst 67-349-2 rushing line. The 28-year-old remains under contract with Baltimore in 2026 and will look to return to his MVP form following an offseason of rest and recuperation.
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Chris Oladokun QB | KC
Chiefs' Chris Oladokun: Benched at halftime
Oladokun completed 11 of 17 passes for 58 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions in Sunday's 14-12 loss to the Raiders. He added one rush for zero yards and two lost fumbles.
Oladokun started his second consecutive game in the absence of both Patrick Mahomes (knee) and Gardner Minshew (knee). He led one field-goal drive midway through the first quarter, though he lost a pair of fumbles in the second quarter and was benched at halftime. Oladokun remains under contract with the Chiefs in 2026, but he's very unlikely to get another opportunity at starting, even if Mahomes is sidelined to begin the year.
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Josh Johnson QB | WAS
Commanders' Josh Johnson: Passable in win
Johnson completed 14 of 22 passes for 131 yards, one touchdown and one interception in Sunday's 24-17 loss to the Eagles. He added nine rushes for 45 yards with an additional score and a lost fumble.
Johnson drew his second consecutive start in the absence of both Jayden Daniels (elbow) and Marcus Mariota (hand). He effectively managed the offense for most of the game and orchestrated a pair of touchdown drives in the fourth quarter, which he capped off with a two-yard passing score and a one-yard rushing touchdown, to give the Commanders the win. Johnson will become a free agent this offseason, though retirement is also a possibility as he just concluded his 11th season and is set to turn 40 in May.
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Tanner McKee QB | PHI
Eagles' Tanner McKee: Inconsistent in Week 18 loss
McKee completed 21 of 40 passes for 241 yards, one touchdown and one interception in Sunday's 24-17 loss to the Commanders. He added two rushes for three yards.
Jalen Hurts was active for the game but did not play, leaving McKee with the chance for a spot start. McKee was unsurprisingly inconsistent, leading an impressive 80-yard scoring drive that he capped off with a 15-yard throw to Grant Calcaterra (ankle/knee) early in the second quarter. However, he otherwise largely struggled, with the Eagles' only other touchdown coming on a short field due to a Washington turnover. McKee will return to a reserve role for Philadelphia's playoff run and for the foreseeable future.
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Trey Lance QB | LAC
Chargers' Trey Lance: Makes impact with legs Sunday
Lance completed 20 of 44 pass attempts for 136 yards and an interception while gaining 69 yards and losing a fumble on nine carries in Sunday's 19-3 loss to Denver.
QB Justin Herbert was a healthy scratch in Week 18 with the Chargers having little to play for regarding playoff seeding. This afforded Lance to make his first start of the season, and the results were mediocre as expected against one of the league's top defensive units. The No. 3 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft was able to put his athleticism on display by gaining 69 rushing yards. That's where the good feedback ends, as Lance completed less than half of his 44 pass attempts, with his only touchdown pass going to the other team via a pick-six in the one-sided loss. Lance will resume his backup role behind Herbert when the Chargers visit the Patriots next Sunday for the wild-card round of the playoffs.
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Bo Nix QB | DEN
Broncos' Bo Nix: Win clinches first-round bye
Nix completed 14 of 23 pass attempts for 141 yards while taking eight carries for 49 yards in Sunday's 19-3 win over the Chargers.
Nix put his athleticism on display against the Chargers by rushing for his most yards (49) in a single game this season. The 25-year-old fell short as a passer when he was held without a touchdown pass for the third time in 17 starts. The surging sophomore leaned on his defense and special teams to secure victory Sunday, a win that earned Denver the AFC's No. 1 seed and a first-round bye for the upcoming playoff schedule. Nix finishes the regular season completing 63 percent of his pass attempts for 3,931 yards, 25 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while producing a 83-356-5 line on the ground. The Broncos will now await the results of the wild-card round before preparing for their opponent in the divisional round on either Jan. 17 or 18.
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Jacoby Brissett QB | ARI
Cardinals' Jacoby Brissett: Career year in Arizona
Brissett completed 22 of 31 pass attempts for 243 yards, two touchdowns and an interception while gaining 19 yards and losing a fumble on three carries in Sunday's 37-20 loss to the Rams.
Brissett rallied Arizona in the second half with touchdown passes to WR Michael Wilson and TE Josiah Deguara to give his club a 20-16 lead. That woke up Matthew Stafford and the Rams' offense, who then responded with three touchdowns to hand the Cardinals their ninth straight loss to end the year. Brissett was one of the few bright spots for Arizona in a forgettable 2025 campaign. The journeyman backup took over for an injured and struggling Kyler Murray back in Week 6 and played so well that head coach Jonathan Gannon named Brissett the starter for the rest of the year. The 32-year-old Brissett became a hot fantasy add while posting career highs in passing yards (3,367) and touchdown passes (23) across 12 starts. Both Murray and Brissett are under contract with the Cardinals for the 2026 season, so it will be interesting to see how the franchise handles its QB situation this upcoming offseason.
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Cam Ward QB | TEN
Titans' Cam Ward: May have Grade 3 sprain
Ward (shoulder) is believed to have a Grade 3 AC joint sprain in his right shoulder, Jeff Howe of The Athletic reports.
Ward could face a multi-month recovery process if the diagnosis of a Grade 3 sprain is confirmed by further tests. The first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft was injured in the first quarter of the Titans' 41-7 loss to the Jaguars in Sunday's regular-season finale and had his right shoulder in a sling after the game. Further clarification on Ward's recovery timeline will come after he undergoes additional testing on the injury.