Tag: NFL Week 16

Bengals rookie Kris Jenkins Jr. fought through flu during big game

It turns out a Bengals rookie had a huge day while coming back from an illness.

Cincinnati Bengals rookie Kris Jenkins Jr. had a huge game as his team overcame the Cleveland Browns in Week 16 to keep playoff dreams alive.

The second-round pick apparently did it while fighting through the flu, too.

Bengals head coach Zac Taylor seemed to reveal as much during the postgame locker room session provided by the team.

“Two sacks, Kris Jenkins,” Taylor said. “Flu game, Chris. Flu game, love it.”

It’s just that time of year and hitting the Bengals locker room. Offensive tackle Cody Ford missed a game with an illness this month, and defensive lineman Sheldon Rankins has missed more than a month with what the team has only called an “illness,” too.

As for Jenkins, he’s a key part of the future only just now starting to blossom. That he put up such a strong showing while sick is impressive, to say the least.

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Amarius Mims talks injury, sideline encounter with Frank Pollack

The Bengals rookie opens up about the headline items from the Week 16 game against the Browns.

Cincinnati Bengals rookie offensive tackle Amarius Mims was one of the top items of discussion from the team’s Week 16 win over the Cleveland Browns.

There, the standout rookie suffered an ankle injury and had a dustup with a coach on the sideline in the process.

Exiting the injury that had him tagged as questionable to return and the heated exchange with line coach Frank Pollack, Mims had plenty to say after the game.

Mims told WLWT’s Olivia Ray that the ankle issue was a matter of pain management and had this to say about Pollack: “We’re good. Tempers flare on the sidelines. This is a game of love and passion. He’s passionate about the game; I’m passionate about the game. Things happen, but I promise you we’re good, we talked about it, hugged it out.”

Onlookers might never get the full details, but one can presume the Bengals probably wanted to play it safe with Mims given his attendance history in college and the short turnaround to Saturday’s must-win game against the Denver Broncos.

Given how things have cooled on both topics so soon after the game ended, all seems well on the Mims front ahead of the short week.

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Fantasy football inactives, injuries and weather: NFL Week 16

Week 16 weather, injury updates and gameday inactives for the fantasy football lineup decisions.

Sunday updates will begin when teams start releasing official pregame inactives and starter information to the league. This is typically around 90 minutes prior to the kickoff of their game.

Weather forecasts are courtesy of The Football Database.

Week 16 gameday inactives, weather and notes

KEY GAME-TIME DECISIONS

Early games: TE David Njoku (active), RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (active), RB Tony Pollard (active), TE Zach Ertz (active)
Afternoon games: WR Tyreek Hill (active)
Sunday night:
Monday night:

Early games

New York Giants at Atlanta Falcons (1:00 p.m. ET)

Kickoff Weather: 42°F, mostly clear (retractable-roof dome)

Giants

Inactives: OT Aaron Stinnie, DL Casey Rogers, QB Tim Boyle, CB Greg Stroman, WR Dee Williams and CB Divaad Wilson

Lineup notes: LB Bobby Okereke (back) is out. RB Tyrone Tracy Jr., (ankle) is active after being deemed questionable. WR Malik Nabers (knee, foot), QB Tommy DeVito (concussion), and WR Wan’Dale Robinson (shoulder) are good to go.

Falcons

Inactives: WR Dylan Drummond, OT Brandon Parker, DE Brandon Dorlus, OT Elijah Wilkinson, RB Carlos Washington Jr. and WR Casey Washington

Lineup notes: PK Younghoe Koo (hip) was placed on IR, and PK Riley Patterson will handle the duties. WR Drake London (knee) was limited Friday, but he’ll play, as will RT Kaleb McGary (knee), who practiced all week. QB Kirk Cousins was benched this week in favor of rookie QB Michael Penix Jr.

Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears (1:00 p.m. ET)

Kickoff Weather: 33°F, clear, S 12 mph

Lions

Inactives: RB David Montgomery, LB Kwon Alexander, DL Brodric Martin, OT Giovanni Manu, DE Jonah X. Williams, OG Graham Glasgow and OT Colby Sorsdal

Lineup notes: DT Alim McNeill (knee) and CB Carlton Davis (jaw) were placed on IR. RB David Montgomery (knee) is out and likely done for the season with a torn MCL. S Ifeatu Melifonwu was activated from IR and will play.

Bears

Inactives: OT Kiran Amegadjie, CB Ameer Speed, LB Noah Sewell, RB Travis Homer, C Doug Kramer and DT Gervon Dexter

Lineup notes: C Ryan Bates (concussion) went on IR. LG Teven Jenkins (calf), LT Braxton Jones (concussion), and RB Roschon Johnson (concussion) will play.

Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals (1:00 p.m. ET)

Kickoff Weather: 32°F, partly cloudy, calm

Browns

Inactives: QB Jameis Winston, TE Brenden Bates, DE Cameron Thomas, DT Shelby Harris, WR Cedric Tillman, CB Chigozie Anusiem and CB Kahlef Hailassie

Lineup notes: RB Nick Chubb (foot) had his season end on IR again with a broken foot. TE David Njoku (hamstring) will give it a whirl. WR Cedric Tillman (concussion) was questionable but downgraded to out on Saturday. WR Jerry Jeudy (knee) practiced all week, and DE Myles Garrett (back) was limited Friday, but they’ll both play. QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson will start.

Bengals

Inactives: DE Sam Hubbard, QB Logan Woodside, DL Sheldon Rankins, TE Tanner Hudson, WR Charlie Jones and OT Orlando Brown

Lineup notes: DE Sam Hubbard (knee) is out. LT Orlando Brown (leg) is inactive after drawing a questionable tag.

Tennessee Titans at Indianapolis Colts (1:00 p.m. ET)

Kickoff Weather: 32°F, partly cloudy (retractable-roof dome)

Titans

Inactives: LB Jerome Baker, LB Luke Gifford, WR Jha’Quan Jackson, CB Gabe Jeudy-Lally, RB Joshua Kelley, CB Tre Avery and PK Nick Folk

Lineup notes: RB Tony Pollard (ankle) and LB Kenneth Murray (hamstring) will give it a try. PK Nick Folk (abdomen) is out. PK Brayden Narveson was signed to the active roster from the practice squad. WR Tyler Boyd (foot) and WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (ankle) are good to go after a full practice Friday.

Colts

Inactives: WR Alec Pierce, OL Dalton Tucker, OG Atonio Mafi, LB E.J. Speed, LB Isaiah Land, DB Chris Lammons and QB Sam Ehlinger

Lineup notes: WR Alec Pierce (concussion) and LB E.J. Speed (knee) are out. C Ryan Kelly (knee) was activated from the Reserve/Injured list. PK Matt Gay (neck), TE Mo Alie-Cox (hip), and WR Michael Pittman Jr. (back) will play.

Los Angeles Rams at New York Jets (1:00 p.m. ET)

Kickoff Weather: 19°F, clear, calm

Rams

Inactives: RB Cody Schrader, QB Stetson Bennett, C Dylan McMahon, CB Emmanuel Forbes, WR Tyler Johnson and OT Warren McClendon

Lineup notes: TE Tyler Higbee (knee) Friday and is poised to make his season debut. WR Demarcus Robinson (shoulder) practiced Friday and will play.

Jets

Inactives: CB Jaylin Simpson, S Michael Carter II, OG Xavier Newman, C Jake Hanson, DT Quinnen Williams and CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse

Lineup notes: RB Braelon Allen (back) is active despite being deemed questionable. DT Quinnen Williams (hamstring) will not be available.

Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Commanders (1:00 p.m. ET)

Kickoff Weather: 28°F, clear, calm

Eagles

Inactives: OG Darian Kinnard, QB Tanner McKee, CB Eli Ricks, WR Britain Covey, OL Nick Gates and OG Trevor Keegan

Lineup notes: TE Dallas Goedert (knee) is on IR and out until at least Week 18. QB Jalen Hurts (finger) and WR DeVonta Smith (back) practiced all week and will be in there. WR A.J. Brown (knee) was limited Thursday and Friday, but he’ll play.

Commanders

Inactives: QB Jeff Driskel, CB Michael Davis, S Dominique Hampton, WR K.J. Osborn, OT Chris Paul and DT Phidarian Mathis

Lineup notes: RB Austin Ekeler (concussion) and WR Noah Brown (kidney) are on IR. TE Zach Ertz (concussion, shoulder) is active.

Arizona Cardinals at Carolina Panthers (1:00 p.m. ET)

Kickoff Weather: 37°F, clear, calm

Cardinals

Inactives: S Jammie Robinson, LB Mack Wilson, TE Travis Vokolek, RB Trey Benson, WR Xavier Weaver, OT Christian Jones and OT Paris Johnson Jr.

Lineup notes: RB Trey Benson (knee) and PK Matt Prater (knee) are out. PK Chad Ryland will handle the kicking chores. LT Paris Johnson Jr. (knee) was declared inactive.

Panthers

Inactives: CB Akayleb Evans, CB Shemar Bartholomew, OT Brandon Walton, OG Cade Mays, RB Velus Jones Jr., WR Xavier Legette and S Jordan Fuller

Lineup notes: WR Xavier Legette (hip) is out. WR Jalen Coker (quadriceps) and WR David Moore (concussion) are active after being declared questionable.

Late-afternoon window

Minnesota Vikings at Seattle Seahawks (4:05 p.m. ET)

Kickoff Weather: 46°F, 90% chance of rain, SSE 10 mph

Vikings

Inactives: DL Jalen Redmond, OG Dan Feeney, QB Brett Rypien, DB Fabian Moreau, TE Nick Muse, OT Walter Rouse and S Harrison Smith

Lineup notes: S Harrison Smith (foot) couldn’t get right in time.

Seahawks

Inactives: QB Jaren Hall, TE Brady Russell, OT Mike Jerrell, CB Nehemiah Pritchett, LB Patrick O’Connell and WR Cody White

Lineup notes: RB Zach Charbonnet (oblique), TE Noah Fant (knee), WR DK Metcalf (shoulder), QB Geno Smith (knee) and RB Kenneth Walker III (calf) all practiced Friday and will play.

New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills (4:25 p.m. ET)

Kickoff Weather: 11°F, cloudy, calm

Patriots

Inactives: RB JaMycal Hasty, OG Lecitus Smith, CB Marcus Jones, QB Joe Milton III, OG Tyrese Robinson and SS Jabrill Peppers

Lineup notes: OG Cole Strange (knee) and SS Kyle Dugger (ankle, illness) were all limited all week and questionable but will give it a go. The same cannot be said for FS Jabrill Peppers (hamstring). LT Vederian Lowe (shoulder) practiced Friday and will play.

Bills

Inactives: S Taylor Rapp, DT DeWayne Carter, CB Rasul Douglas, OT Tylan Grable, WR Curtis Samuel, LB Matt Milano and S Damar Hamlin

Lineup notes: LB Matt Milano (biceps, groin) and WR Curtis Samuel (ribs) won’t be available. TE Dalton Kincaid (knee) and WR Amari Cooper (wrist) practiced Friday and will play.

Jacksonville Jaguars at Las Vegas Raiders (4:25 p.m. ET)

Kickoff Weather: Dome stadium

Jaguars

Inactives: OT Javon Foster, DT Jordan Jefferson, DE Esezi Otomewo and CB Ronald Darby

Lineup notes: TE Evan Engram (shoulder) was placed on season-ending IR and underwent surgery.

Raiders

Inactives: LB Kana’i Mauga, CB Sam Webb, DT Matthew Butler, QB Carter Bradley, CB Nate Hobbs and OG Jordan Meredith

Lineup notes: DE Maxx Crosby (ankle) and RB Sincere McCormick (ankle) were placed on IR. RB Alexander Mattison (ankle), WR Jakobi Meyers (ankle) and QB Aidan O’Connell (knee) all practiced Friday and will play.

San Francisco 49ers at Miami Dolphins (4:25 p.m. ET)

Kickoff Weather: 73°F, clear, calm

49ers

Inactives: DL Robert Beal Jr., CB Rock Ya-Sin, DT Khalil Davis, TE Jake Tonges, OT Trent Williams and RB Isaac Guerendo

Lineup notes: RB Christian McCaffrey (knee) and RB Jordan Mason (ankle) are on IR. LT Trent Williams (ankle) and RB Isaac Guerendo (foot, hamstring) also are out. DE Nick Bosa (hip, oblique) and LB Dre Greenlaw (Achilles, knee) are active despite being limited all week. RB Ke’Shawn Vaughn was elevated from the practice squad.

Dolphins

Inactives: C Andrew Meyer, WR Dee Eskridge, WR Jaylen Waddle, LB Mohamed Kamara, DB Ethan Bonner and LB Channing Tindall

Lineup notes: LB Bradley Chubb (knee) was downgraded to out. WR Jaylen Waddle (knee) wont play, as expected WR Tyreek Hill (wrist) and LT Terron Armstead (knee) are active, however. RB De’Von Achane (groin) and QB Tua Tagovailoa (hip) practiced Friday and will play.

Sunday Night Football

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Dallas Cowboys (8:20 p.m. ET)

Kickoff Weather: 52°F, clear (retractable-roof dome)

Buccaneers

Inactives: S Antoine Winfield Jr., DE Jose Ramirez, LB K.J. Britt, TE Cade Otton, DE Earnest Brown and OG Royce Newman

Lineup notes: S Antoine Winfield Jr. (knee) is out again, and TE Cade Otton (knee) was downgraded to out on Saturday. LB K.J Britt (ankle) is inactive, as expected. S Mike Edwards (hamstring) will give it a go, however. RB Bucky Irving (hip, back), S Tykee Smith (knee), QB Baker Mayfield (knee) and WR Trey Palmer (illness) all practiced Friday and will go.

Cowboys

Inactives: OG T.J. Bass, WR Jalen Brooks, LB Tyrus Wheat, RB Deuce Vaughn, S Juanyeh Thomas, DT Justin Rogers and LB Eric Kendricks

Lineup notes: CB Trevon Diggs (knee) is out. After being listed as questionable, LB Eric Kendricks (personal, calf) will join him. WR CeeDee Lamb (shoulder) and RB Rico Dowdle (knee) had full sessions Thursday and Friday. They’ll play.

Monday Night Football

New Orleans Saints at Green Bay Packers (8:15 p.m. ET)

Kickoff Weather: 30°F, 15% chance of flurries, calm

Saints

Lineup notes: WR Chris Olave (concussion) remains on IR. QB Derek Carr (hand) and RB Alvin Kamara (groin) have been ruled out. WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (chest, illness) have yet to practice this week but somehow is questionable. TE Juwan Johnson (foot) has no injury designation.

Packers

Lineup notes: LB Quay Walker (ankle) and S Javon Bullard (ankle) have been ruled out. CB Jaire Alexander (knee), CB Corey Ballentine (knee), and S Evan Williams (quad) are questionable.

Marshon Lattimore exits Commanders game with a familiar injury

Hamstring injuries plagued Marshon Lattimore in New Orleans, and they continue to be an issue with the Commanders:

Marshon Lattimore can’t seem to escape hamstring injuries this season. The former New Orleans Saints cornerback missed the Saints’ second game of the season versus the Dallas Cowboys due to a hamstring injury.

That was only a one game absence. Lattimore missed his last game in a Saints uniform due to a hamstring injury before being traded to the Washington Commanders. The cornerback missed his first four games as a Commander.

Lattimore returned to action against his former team last week. In his second game as a Commander, however, the cornerback had to exit due to another hamstring injury.

Washington was in the midst of a pivotal game versus the Philadelphia Eagles. On an individual level, Lattimore was tasked with matching up against A.J. Brown.

Hamstring injuries have a knack for being difficult to shake at times. This is an unfortunate break for a highly talented cornerback. The injury occurred late in the fourth quarter. Despite Lattimore’s absence, the Commanders were able to pull out a close win and clinch a playoff berth.

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Dan Campbell got the two things he wanted in Lions win over the Bears

Detroit head coach Dan Campbell got the two things he wanted in the Lions 34-17 win over the Bears

Dan Campbell didn’t ask for too much from his Lions team for the weekend before Christmas. Coach Campbell kept it simple for his players in their Week 16 road trip to Chicago to play the Bears.

“The two most important things for me was, I wanted to see us play Detroit football and I wanted to win,” Campbell said in his postgame press conference. “That was it. I gave no other stipulations.”

Mission accomplished. The Lions controlled the game from the opening possession, a quick 3-and-out forced by the Detroit defense followed by a Jake Bates field goal on the Lions’ ensuing drive. The Lions gained 475 yards with a balanced offensive attack full of some explosive plays.

“We had all the–offensively, defensively–we had the keys to victory,” Campbell continued. “But basically that’s what I saw; I wanted to see our identity take shape, and I wanted to win this game. And we did that.”

The Lions won 34-17, improving to 13-2 on the season and sweeping the Bears in the process.

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Bengals injury updates immediately after Week 16 vs. Browns

Bengals injury updates after the team’s Week 16 game.

The Cincinnati Bengals entered the Week 16 game against the Cleveland Browns with three starters out injured.

During the 24-6 win, the team suffered a few more notable injury setbacks to varying results.

Here’s a quick injury updates rundown from right after kickoff.

 

OT Amarius Mims

The stellar rookie left the game, got in a spat with line coach Frank Pollack and was eventually declared questionable to return due to an ankle injury. He was in and out of the lineup attempting to play through it.

 

WR Tee Higgins

After appearing on the injury report a few times this week, Higgins walked off the field with trainers after a pause in the game due to what appeared to be an ankle injury. He later returned.

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Instant analysis after Bengals beat Browns, stay alive in playoff hunt

Instant analysis after Browns vs. Bengals in Week 16.

The Cincinnati Bengals kept slim playoff hopes alive with a 24-6 win over the Cleveland Browns in Week 16.

There, Joe Burrow willed an offense battling injuries to do enough to win, while a struggling defense created a few key turnovers to swing the outcome.

Here’s a look at some quick notes, numbers to know and takeaways from the game.

 

Quick thoughts

  • Bengals defense didn’t inspire confidence early. The unit coughed up a 66-yard run on the opening drive, then forced coaches to burn a timeout because it couldn’t get the subs in properly.
  • Vonn Bell, though, forced a fumble at the one-yard line on what appeared to be a Browns touchdown.
  • Joe Burrow proceeded to drive the Bengals down the field for a score with one of the wildest touchdown throws of his career.
  • Burrow was once again displaying why he’s the best quarterback in the league at navigating pockets for most of the day.
  • Chase Brown quietly put up 70-plus yards by the fourth quarter on just 13 carries, once again putting on a huge showing to keep a strong season going.
  • Understandably, the line play collapsed without Amarius Mims, the rookie who suffered an ankle injury.
  • Defense was passable for most of the day, but hinged heavily on big plays in the redzone.

 

Key stat

2: Redzone turnovers forced the defense. One on the forced fumble, the other a Jordan Battle pick, creating a minimum of a 10-point swing.

 

Game balls

QB Joe Burrow: Just another day for Burrow, who continues to play MVP-worthy ball.

WR Tee Higgins: After a stint on the injury report earlier in the week, Higgins caught eight passes for 58 yards and a score, including some really tough grabs over the middle.

 

Top takeaway

Alive: The Bengals did what they had to do to stay alive in the playoff race — just keep in mind they relied heavily on redzone turnovers against a third-string quarterback to survive. Alas, they live to fight next week and need to win out, plus get some major help to actually make the playoffs.

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Bengals WR Tee Higgins suffers injury vs. Browns

Tee Higgins suffered an injury in Week 16.

(This story has been updated to add new information) 

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins suffered an injury during the second half of his team’s Week 16 game against the Cleveland Browns.

After catching his eighth pass of the day in a 17-6 game favoring the Bengals, Higgins remained down as trainers came out.

Not long after, Higgins walked off under his own power. He’d caught eight passes for 58 yards and a score by that point.

Higgins had been on the injury report earlier in the week while the team managed his reps, but was completely off it on the final injury report. He had previously suffered two different soft-tissue injuries this year that cost him stretches of the season.

Update: Higgins returned to the game after getting checked out on the sidelines.

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Bengals QB Joe Burrow just threw a touchdown pass from the ground

Another all-timer of a Joe Burrow highlight.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has a highlight reel with about as much variety as it gets.

Sunday, with the Cleveland Browns in town, he added to his immense library of incredible highlights by…throwing a touchdown from the ground.

In the first quarter of the Week 16 matchup, Burrow evaded pressure, tripped on his own lineman’s feet (hence no review to see if he was down) and proceeded to throw a touchdown to Tee Higgins from the ground.

All Burrow and the Bengals could do in the aftermath was laugh. It’s just another highlight that will go toward his possible MVP candidacy as he attempts to keep the Bengals’ slim playoff hopes alive.

 

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Commanders-Eagles inactives: Who’s in, who’s out for Week 16

Which players are in for the Commanders in Week 16? Who is out? The Week 16 inactive list is here.

Today, the Washington Commanders (9-5) host the Philadelphia Eagles (12-2) in an NFC East showdown from Northwest Stadium. The Commanders received some good news ahead of kickoff, as tight end Zach Ertz and safety Jeremy Chinn are active and will play.

Ertz and Chinn suffered concussions in last week’s win over the Saints and were in the NFL’s concussion protocol. Ertz is Washington’s second-leading receiver and Chinn is the team’s second-leading tackler.

Last week, the Commanders had a surprise inactive on gameday. Starting center Tyler Biadasz was sick and ruled out just before kickoff. Biadasz is healthy and will play. Fortunately for Washington, there were no surprises this week.

As for the rest of the inactives, here’s the Commanders’ list for Week 16:

  • QB Jeff Driskel
  • DT Phidarian Mathis
  • G Chris Paul
  • WR K.J. Osborn
  • LB Dominique Hampton
  • CB Michael Davis

Osborn was claimed off waivers less than two weeks ago and has been inactive for his first two games for the Commanders.

Here are the Eagles’ inactives for Week 16:

  • WR Britain Covey
  • QB Tanner McKee
  • CB Eli Ricks
  • OL Nick Gates
  • OL Darian Kinnard
  • G Trevor Keegan