Who’s starting, who’s hurt, and who’s on the move?
NFL news is nonstop, and we’re breaking it all down week by week this season.
Here’s the latest on what’s happening around the league entering Week 12:
Cleveland promoted Zappe to the active roster for its Week 12 road matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders. Zappe will back up rookie Shedeur Sanders, who’s making his first career NFL start with fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel in concussion protocol. The 26-year-old Zappe started Cleveland’s Week 18 game in 2024 and has made nine starts across his four-year NFL career.
Cowboys make roster tweak
Dallas waived cornerback Kaair Elam and signed running back Malik Davis to its active roster, per ESPN. Elam appeared in each of the Cowboys’ first 10 games this season, totaling 29 combined tackles and one pass defended. Davis, who was previously on the Cowboys’ practice squad, has appeared in four games for Dallas this season. The Cowboys are 4-5-1 and host the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
Cincinnati isn’t activating Burrow for its home matchup against the New England Patriots, per ESPN. Burrow hasn’t played since Week 2 due to turf toe, but the star quarterback has progressed to the point where he has been participating in practice. Since Burrow got hurt in Week 2, the Bengals are 1-6, primarily starting veteran Joe Flacco, and are 3-7 on the year. Burrow led the NFL with 4,918 passing yards and 43 passing touchdowns last season.
Pacheco has been ruled out for Sunday’s week 12 game against the Colts because of a lingering knee injury, though coach Andy Reid said that he’s making progress. He was able to practice in some capacity most of this week. “It was literally just to see where he was at,” Reid said. ‘I think he’s coming out and feeling pretty good right now, and that’s a plus.” Pacheco last played on Oct. 27 against the Commanders when he ran for 58 yards on 12 carries. The fourth-year back has appeared in eight games in 2025, amassing 329 yards with a rushing touchdown. Worthy (ankle) could play Sunday. He has also played in eight of the Chiefs’ games, with 27 receptions for 281 receiving yards.
The 41-year-old Rodgers could still play Sunday against the Bears despite having a fractured left wrist. Head coach Mike Tomlin said Rodgers, who suffered a wrist injury in Week 11, is questionable for their Week 12 road matchup against the Bears, per NFL Media. The veteran quarterback was a limited participant at practice on Nov. 21. Rodgers has totaled 1,969 passing yards, 19 passing touchdowns, seven interceptions and a 97.7 passer rating this season, while completing 66.4% of his passes. If Rodgers sits out, backup Mason Rudolph would start for the AFC North-leading Steelers when they face the NFC North-leading Bears this week.
New England head coach Mike Vrabel said on Nov. 21 that wide receiver Kayshon Boutte (hamstring) and running back Rhamondre Stevenson (toe) are cleared to return to action, per The Athletic. Both players are expected to be active for the Patriots’ Week 12 road matchup against the Bengals. Boutte, who has totaled 23 receptions for 431 yards and five touchdowns, hasn’t played in three weeks. Stevenson, who has rushed for 279 yards and three touchdowns on 3.4 yards per carry, hasn’t played in four weeks.
Reed practiced on Nov. 21 for the first time since suffering foot and collarbone injuries in Week 2, per The Athletic. His 21-day practice window is now open. Last season, Reed totaled 55 receptions for 857 yards and six touchdowns.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell announced on Nov. 21 that LaPorta had a back procedure and will miss the rest of the season, per ESPN. LaPorta was previously placed on injured reserve due to a back injury. This season, LaPorta, a Pro Bowler in his 2023 rookie campaign, has totaled 40 receptions for 489 yards and three touchdowns in nine games.
Giants QB Jaxson Dart remains in concussion protocol
Dart will miss a second consecutive game because of a concussion. Interim coach Mike Kafka said the rookie quarterback will not play Sunday against the Lions. Journeyman Jameis Winston is set to start again in Dart’s absence, with Russell Wilson backing up. Dart missed the Giants’ game last weekend against the Packers, a 27-20 loss that Winston started, after getting concussed Nov. 9 in a loss to the Bears.
In other news, Giants linebacker and first-round pick Abdul Carter denies reports that he slept through a team practice last week and was benched during the opening series of Sunday’s game against the Packers because of that, per ESPN. Instead, Carter says that it was simply a scheduling snafu. “My mistake was an honest mistake,” he said.
What’s more, Kafka is not planning to make any staff changes following another blown fourth-quarter lead that caused the Giants a fifth consecutive loss this week. Status quo means Shane Bowen remains in his role as defensive coordinator. His unit allowed 27 points to Green Bay, which had scored 20 combined over the previous two weeks, including a seven-play, 65-yard touchdown drive in just over three minutes that provided the final margin of defeat.
The Browns signed Wright, a third-round pick in 2022, to a three-year, $33 million extension with $21 million guaranteed, per ESPN. Through nine games, he has totaled 3.0 sacks, one forced fumble and 24 combined tackles.
Mixon, who’s recovering from an offseason foot injury, isn’t expected to play this season, per NFL Media. Last season, the two-time Pro Bowler rushed for 1,016 yards and 11 touchdowns on 4.1 yards per carry, while totaling 36 receptions for 309 yards and one touchdown. Houston ranks 23rd in the NFL with 107.6 rushing yards per game this season.
In other news, Texans QB C.J. Stroud and safety Jalen Pitre both remain in concussion protocol and will sit out this week against the Bills. Davis Mills has been the Texans’ QB for the past two games, with Houston winning both times. He threw for 274 yards on 26-for-41 passing with one touchdown on Sunday against the Titans. That was Mills’ third consecutive appearance, as Stroud injured himself in Week 9 against the Broncos and has not played since.
Jackson was absent from the portion of practice open to reporters for the second consecutive week. This time, it was his ankle that was the problem. While it’s possible that was largely precautionary, the fact that the team listed a new ailment for its star quarterback is notable. Jackson has already missed three games this season with a hamstring injury. A knee injury kept him out of one practice last week, but he was able to play in Sunday’s win over the Browns.
The Bills are reportedly benching Coleman for their Thursday Night Football matchup for the second consecutive week. He doesn’t carry an injury tag but is being held out because of multiple disciplinary reasons — primarily for being late to team meetings. It’s unclear when Buffalo will reactivate its second-year pass-catcher.
Bengals QB Joe Burrow fully participates at practice
Burrow was already ahead of schedule for returning to action after undergoing toe surgery in September, and he might have expedited his return process even further. He was a full participant in Wednesday’s practice, marking the first time he has practiced fully since he was sidelined with the aforementioned toe injury. Burrow’s practice window was opened last week, giving the Bengals 21 days to either activate him or rule him out for the season.
Burrow told FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer earlier this month that he was targeting to return for the Bengals’ Thanksgiving Day tilt against the Ravens. The Bengals face the Patriots next. If Burrow plays Sunday, he’ll be without his top WR Ja’Marr Chase, who’s serving a one-game suspension.
Penix will have season-ending surgery to repair a partially torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, the team announced. That leaves veteran Kirk Cousins as the starter for the remainder of the season, as the Falcons prepare to take on the Saints on Sunday. Penix had two ACL surgeries on his right knee during his college career. It is not known how another surgery will affect his status for the start of the 2026 season. Penix had started nine games for Atlanta in 2025, throwing for 1,982 yards with none touchdowns against three interceptions, while posting an 88.5 passer rating.
Sanders will make his first pro start this weekend in Las Vegas, as Cleveland turns to the high-profile signal-caller while fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel recovers from a concussion. Sanders replaced an injured Gabriel for the second half of the Browns’ 23-16 loss to the Ravens last week. It was a shaky debut as Sanders, a fifth-round pick in this year’s draft, completed just 4 of 16 passes with an interception. He also was sacked twice and fumbled once.
Find more on this developing story here.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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