Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Here are the players who will be inactive during the #Dolphins vs. #Chiefs AFC wild card game | From @EdEastonJr
The Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins have released their lists of inactive players ahead of their AFC wild card matchup.
Here are the inactive players for the Chiefs:
Here is the inactive list for the Dolphins:
From @Cdburnett7: The Cowboys are without starting linemen Zack Martin and Tyler Smith in Week 18, while Jonathan Hankins returns. The Commanders are thin.
The Dallas Cowboys can secure the NFC East title with a win over Washington, but it’ll have to be done without two of its best up front. Starting left guard Tyler Smith is out after the plantar fascia tear he suffered in Week 17. TJ Bass took the first-team reps during the week and he’ll start at FedEx Field.
All-Pro right guard Zack Martin is also a surprise inactive after an illness has swept through Dallas yet again. That leaves a void in both guard spots for the Cowboys to work through on the road. The good news for Week 18 comes on the defensive front as Johnathan Hankins makes his return from a knee and ankle injury.
For the Washington Commanders, the biggest absence is two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jonathan Allen. He’s been dealing with a knee injury, and Washington also put three players on IR during the week leading up. Cornerback Kendall Fuller was among that group. Starting safety Kam Curl is also inactive.
Cowboys-Commanders kicks off with a chance for Dallas to secure the divisional title at 3:25 p.m., televised on FOX. Here’s a look at the full list of inactives before the matchup.
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Here are the players who will be inactive during the #Chiefs vs. #Chargers Week 18 game | From @EdEastonJr
The Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers have released their lists of inactive players ahead of their Week 18 matchup.
Here are the inactive players for the Chiefs:
Here is the inactive list for the Chargers:
Brock Purdy is resting – everyone else who’s healthy is suiting up for the #49ers.
The 49ers didn’t have any surprises on their list of Week 18 inactives. Quarterback Brock Purdy has been ruled out and he will not be designated as the emergency third QB. Sam Darnold will start, and Brandon Allen is his backup.
Here’s who won’t suit up for San Francisco:
QB Brock Purdy
DT Arik Armstead (foot, knee)
RB Christian McCaffrey (calf)
SS Tashaun Gipson (quad)
FS Ji’Ayir Brown (knee)
CB Ambry Thomas (hand)
WR Jauan Jennings (concussion)
Fullback Kyle Juszczyk, center Jake Brendel and left tackle Trent Williams were all listed as questionable with an illness, but they’ll all dress for the game. It’s unclear how sizable their roles will be, along with the other starters playing against the Rams.
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Broncos inactives vs. Raiders today: Art Green, Thomas Incoom, Alex Forsyth, Michael Bandy, Chris Manhertz and Elijah Garcia.
The Denver Broncos have announced their list of six inactive players for Sunday’s showdown with the Las Vegas Raiders, their final game of the 2023 NFL season.
Broncos cornerback Art Green, outside linebacker Thomas Incoom, center Alex Forsyth, wide receiver Michael Bandy, tight end Chris Manhertz (illness) and defensive lineman Elijah Garcia won’t suit up today.
These six players are members of the 53-man roster who are not eligible to play against the Raiders.
Elsewhere on the roster front, the Broncos promoted Green from the practice squad to the 53-man roster, activated offensive tackle Alex Palczewski from injured reserve and elevated safety Devon Key from the practice squad to the game-day roster on Saturday.
Sunday’s AFC West clash will begin at 2:25 p.m. MT and will be regionally televised on select Fox networks. In-market fans can stream the game on fuboTV (try it free). Denver is considered a road underdog.
See photos of each of the team’s inactive players below.
Mac Jones is a healthy scratch for the Patriots in Sunday’s game against the Jets
After beginning the season as the starter for the New England Patriots, Mac Jones will finish as a healthy scratch in Sunday’s finale against the New York Jets.
Jones was listed as inactive in the lead-up to the Week 18 matchup, which means Nathan Rourke will serve as the primary backup for Bailey Zappe.
There are questions regarding Jones’ future with the Patriots in 2024, and this roster move only thickens the plot with the team likely looking to move in a different direction at quarterback after the season.
The Patriots are expected to approach Sunday’s matchup as any other game with the typical starters being in the lineup. Along with Jones, wideout Tyquan Thornton and offensive tackle Trent Brown were also listed as inactive.
Here’s the full list of inactives for both teams:
Patriots inactives. pic.twitter.com/rzM1qvxqak
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) January 7, 2024
Jets inactives. pic.twitter.com/pFTLCMkQFN
— New England Patriots (@Patriots) January 7, 2024
Jones will serve as the emergency No. 3 option for the Patriots, if Zappe and Rourke both somehow get injured. Unless something crazy happens, Jones has officially played his final snap of the season.
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Jaycee Horn is up and expected to play in the Panthers’ regular-season finale.
If the Carolina Panthers need a third walk-off field goal to capture their third win of the 2023 campaign, it won’t be coming from the foot of Eddy Piñeiro.
As expected, Piñeiro (hamstring) will not play in today’s regular-season finale against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Instead, it’ll be kicker Matthew Wright, who signed to the team’s practice squad this past Tuesday, in uniform for the Panthers this afternoon.
Wright spent part of the summer with Carolina and kicked in all three preseason contests. Over his three-year NFL career, the 27-year old has booted through 40 of his 46 field goal attempts and 35 of his 37 extra point tries.
Also up is cornerback Jaycee Horn, who did not play in last week’s loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars despite being ruled as active. Per Joe Person of The Athletic, Horn—who has played in 21 of a possible 50 games since being drafted with the eighth overall pick in 2021—is expected to play.
Here’s who won’t be active for the Panthers to close out the season:
And as for the visiting Buccaneers:
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The Detroit Lions inactives for Week 18 vs. Vikings include WR Jameson Williams
The Detroit Lions close out the regular season with some players returning from injuries injected into the lineup. The returns of DT Alim McNeill and DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson and the roster moves made to activate them from injured reserve have shaken up the Week 18 inactive player list.
Wide receiver Jameson Williams and tight end Brock Wright were previously ruled out with injuries. Defensive tackle Benito Jones was listed as questionable, and he will play.
Healthy scratches:
DL John Cominsky
CB Steven Gilmore
DE Charles Harris
QB Hendon Hooker (3rd QB)
DT Brodric Martin
All of the regular offensive line is set to play.
Here are the inactive players for the Colts and Texans in Week 18.
The Indianapolis Colts (9-7) and Houston Texans (9-7) released their lists of inactive players ahead of the Week 18 matchup at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Here are the inactive players for the Colts in Week 18:
| Name | Position | Injury |
| Chris Lammons | CB | Ankle |
| Trey Sermon | RB | — |
| Henry Black | S | — |
| Jack Anderson | C | — |
| Adetomiwa Adebawore | DT | — |
Here are the inactive players for the Texans in Week 18:
| Name | Position | Injury |
| Robert Woods | WR | Hip |
| Jonathan Greenard | DE | Ankle |
| Noah Brown | WR | Back |
| Kris Boyd | CB | — |
| Nick Broeker | G | — |
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The Packers will be without rookie WR Dontayvion Wicks and WR Christian Watson on Sunday night against the Vikings.
The Green Bay Packers will be without Christian Watson and rookie Dontayvion Wicks at wide receiver for Sunday night’s must-win game against the Minnesota Vikings. Watson, who was listed as doubtful, and Wicks, who was questionable, are both among the Packers’ inactives for Week 17.
There is good news: defensive lineman T.J. Slaton and safety Darnell Savage, two starters on defense dealing with injuries, are active.
Can the Packers score enough points on offense without two top options at receiver?
Wicks suffered a chest injury during last week’s win over the Carolina Panthers. He didn’t practice this week and was likely closer to doubtful than truly questionable to play on Sunday night.
Watson will miss his fourth consecutive game since injuring his hamstring against the Kansas City Chiefs on Dec. 3.
Without Watson and Wicks, the Packers will have Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Malik Heath, Samori Toure and Bo Melton available at wide receiver.
Veteran linebacker De’Vondre Campbell is also inactive. He is missing his second straight game with a lingering neck issue. Isaiah McDuffie will start next to Quay Walker.
The other two inactives are healthy scratches: outside linebacker Brenton Cox Jr. and offensive tackle Caleb Jones.
The Packers and Vikings are scheduled for a 7:20 kickoff from U.S. Bank Stadium.
Christian Watson
Dontayvion Wicks
Brenton Cox Jr.
De’Vondre Campbell
Caleb Jones
CB Byron Murphy Jr.
QB Josh Dobbs
S Theo Jackson
G Chris Reed
OT Hakeem Adeniji
WR Jalen Nailor
DL Jaquelin Roy
