NFL Week 17 schedule, playoff positioning and draft order: Live updates, standings, injury report
and news
The Athletic’s NFL experts and insiders run through all the latest news, storylines and more.
Dianna Russini, Jeff Howe, Mike Jones, Mike Sando and The Athletic NFL Staff
30 December 2023 at 17:45 GMT
NFL Week 17 schedule, playoff positioning and draft order: Live updates, standings, injury report and news
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The Athletic NFL Staff
NFL Week 17: Live coverage, playoff standings, injury news, schedule and odds
Week 17 kicked off with the Browns steamrolling the Jets and a full slate awaits this weekend! Check in with The Athletic for all the latest NFL news, game previews, injury updates and analysis.
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21h ago
Zac Jackson
·
Staff Writer, Browns
Browns sign QB Jeff Driskel off Cardinals’ practice squad
Browns sign QB Jeff Driskel off Cardinals’ practice squad
USA Today Sports
The Browns have signed quarterback Jeff Driskel off of Arizona’s practice squad.
The Browns were down to two quarterbacks after placing rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson on injured reserve earlier in the week. P.J. Walker was then signed from the practice squad, but Walker remains on the active roster with the addition of Driskel. The Browns waived defensive lineman Sam Kamara to create a roster spot.
Driskel has been in the NFL since 2016 and has appeared in 23 career games. He also played some tight end for the Texans in 2021-22. Kamara spent the season on the practice squad and was signed to the active roster earlier this month.
Needing a third quarterback is how the Browns landed on Joe Flacco six weeks ago. Driskel figures to be part of the scout team and preparation for the Browns going forward, and he could even be active next week in Cincinnati if the Browns end up playing what amounts to an exhibition game.
If the Ravens win Sunday, the Ravens will win the AFC North and lock the Browns into the No. 5 seed in the AFC Playoffs. That would make Cleveland’s Week 18 game in Cincinnati meaningless for the Browns.
Injuries have forced the Browns into a bunch of December transactions, and the roster shuffling probably isn’t done. Friday, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski didn’t offer an update on kicker Dustin Hopkins (hamstring) or punter Corey Bojorquez (calf), but Stefanski said Bojorquez is probably closer to being able to return than Hopkins is.
The Browns called up kicker Riley Patterson and punter Matt Haack from the practice squad for the playoff-clinching win over the Jets Thursday night. The Browns would probably like more positional flexibility from their two allowed practice squad spots next week regardless of what’s at stake, so we’ll see how the injury list looks late next week.
Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr. clears concussion protocol for second time, may play against Raiders
Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr. clears concussion protocol for second time, may play against Raiders
Kianna Pittman knew something was off. Her husband, Colts star receiver Michael Pittman Jr., had cleared concussion protocol and planned to play last week at Atlanta, but he wasn’t fully himself.
He still needed more time.
“My wife was actually the one who pointed out that I hadn’t been acting normal yet, and I just thought about it like, ‘You know what? You’re right,’” Pittman said Friday. “It just wasn’t gonna happen. It just wasn’t time, and I’m feeling a lot better this week.”
Last week, after heeding his wife’s observations and self-reporting his reoccurring concussion symptoms, Pittman was ruled out less than 24 hours before the Colts were dismantled at Atlanta.
It hurt to watch from the sideline after making the trip, Pittman insisted, but fortunately for him, it should only be a one-game absence, barring any setbacks. Colts head coach Shane Steichen announced Friday that Pittman, who spent another week in concussion protocol, has once again cleared it and should be available to play Sunday against the Raiders.
Indianapolis is 8-7 and currently holds the final AFC playoff spot. With two games left in the regular season, Pittman said the Colts are “basically playing in the playoffs now,” and he’s determined to make sure they extend their campaign.
“This is basically what we spend 365 days on,” Pittman said of his team’s postseason push. “ … Everything has led us to this point, and we have everything that we want. So, we just gotta keep on winning, and I think everything will take care of itself.”
Pittman, who is in the final year of his rookie contract, is having the best year of his career. The 26-year-old ranks sixth in the NFL with 99 receptions for 1,064 yards and four TDs. His return would be a welcome sign for Indianapolis, which managed just 170 passing yards last week, marking its second-lowest output of the season.
Backup linebacker Segun Olubi told The Athletic he’ll play against the Raiders after missing the last two games due to a hip injury. Backup running back Zack Moss will miss his second straight game due to a right forearm injury, Steichen announced, but he did not rule out Braden Smith. The Colts’ starting right tackle was sidelined the last three games due to a knee injury, and he missed four games earlier this year due to wrist and hip injuries. Asked if he’ll play against the Raiders, Smith was optimistic but not definitive.
“You just gotta be patient, obviously, and go through each day making sure you’re making progress and working at it as hard as you can to get back on the field,” Smith said. “Obviously, it sucks having to watch. I’ve watched a lot of games this year from the sideline, so it’s been frustrating. But all you can do is do as much as you can to get better.”
22h ago
Kevin Fishbain
·
Staff Writer, Bears
Bears WR Darnell Mooney (concussion) will not play vs. Falcons
Bears WR Darnell Mooney (concussion) will not play vs. Falcons
The Bears will be without wide receiver Darnell Mooney in Sunday’s game against the Falcons. He was ruled out with a concussion.
It’s the first game Mooney has missed this season. He’s had a frustrating campaign heading into free agency, with only 31 catches for 414 yards and one touchdown.
Without Mooney, rookie receiver Tyler Scott will likely see more snaps, along with Equanimeous St. Brown, who will return this week from a pec injury. We’ve seen Velus Jones getting extra work at receiver as well, and last week, the Bears called up Collin Johnson from the practice squad, who played 13 snaps at wideout against Arizona.
Tight end Cole Kmet (knee) was limited in practice Friday and is questionable, along with center Lucas Patrick (knee). Head coach Matt Eberflus said both are trending positively toward Sunday. If Kmet can’t go, it’ll be Robert Tonyan and Marcedes Lewis, likely with Stephen Carlson called up from the practice squad. Kmet has yet to miss a game in his NFL career. If Patrick is inactive, or limited, the Bears would turn to Dan Feeney at center.
Left guard Teven Jenkins cleared concussion protocol and has no injury designation. He’s set to make his return to the starting lineup after leaving the Week 15 game in Cleveland.
