Injuries continue to mount around the NFL, and with Thanksgiving in the rearview mirror — and playoff berths already clinched — the push is on to get healthy for the stretch run. But a couple of teams that were thought to be among the playoff contenders at the start of the year have had their seasons derailed by trips to the trainer’s table.
The 49ers — who were already without Trent Williams, Nick Bosa and Deommodore Lenoir — saw Christian McCaffrey leave their blowout Sunday night loss to Buffalo early after a non-contact injury that didn’t look good. He didn’t return, and now the fear is his season — which was already shortened because of Achilles tendonitis in both legs — may be over. Also, in Jacksonville, the Jaguars are bracing for more news about franchise quarterback Trevor Lawrence, who took an ugly, illegal hit on Sunday which led to him being carted off the field and Azeez Al-Shaair being ejected.
Christian McCaffrey suffers PCL injury that likely ends his season
Christian McCaffrey’s 2024 season could be over almost as quickly as it started. He checked himself out of his team’s Sunday Night Football loss to the Bills — a game he was putting up big numbers in, with seven rushes for 53 yards in the early going — with what wound up being a PCL injury, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan. On Monday, the 49ers put McCaffrey back on IR, and with five games left in the season, we’ve likely seen the last of the running back this year.
McCaffrey missed the first eight games of the season with tendonitis in both Achilles. All of the 49ers’ key skill players on offense — Deebo Samuel, Jauan Jennings, Brandon Aiyuk (who is on IR), Brock Purdy, George Kittle and McCaffrey — have missed time on the injured list this season, in addition to All-Pro tackle Trent Williams and key stars on defense being out right now. San Francisco will now need a minor miracle, at 5-7 and 1-3 in the NFC West, to sneak into the playoffs after appearing in the last three NFC championship games.
Azeez Al-Shaair suspended 3 games, will appeal
The ugly hit on Jacksonville quarterback Trevor Lawrence is sure to be talked about at length this week, and on Tuesday, the league announced a three-game suspension for Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair. He will appeal. On Monday morning, Al-Shaair apologized to Lawrence in a post on social media. But the 2-10 Jaguars — who were 9-8 last year and have underperformed expectations in 2024 — had to finish up without their franchise signal caller.
Lawrence, who is in the first year of a five-year, $275 million extension, didn’t return to the game after displaying the fencing response on the field after the hit — although after the game, he posted on social media that he was feeling better and resting at home. With the Jags going nowhere fast this season and now Lawrence’s season is likely over after he was placed on injured reserve on Wednesday.
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NFL upholds Al-Shaair’s suspension
Texans LB Azeez Al-Shaair’s suspension stands. The NFL upheld its decision on Wednesday night after his appeal.
Click the photo to read more about Al-Shaair’s suspension after the hit that concussed Trevor Lawrence on Sunday.
Click the photo to read more about Azeez Al-Shaair’s suspension. (Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Trevor Lawrence set for season-ending surgery
And just like that, a few hours after he landed on IR, Trevor Lawrence’s season is over.
#Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence is expected to have surgery to repair his significant AC joint injury in his left shoulder in the coming weeks, sources say. His season is over.
Thursday Night Football: Packers, Lions injury report
The Packers have ruled out cornerback Jaire Alexander (knee), receiver Romeo Doubs (concussion), linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (hamstring) and cornerback Corey Ballentine (knee)
Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence heading to IR
Lawrence’s season looks to be over after suffering a concussion following a hit by Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair during Sunday’s game.
Al-Shaair has since been suspended three games by the NFL, but is appealing.
We have placed QB Trevor Lawrence on the Reserve/Injured list.
Ravens suspending WR Diontae Johnson for 1 game after he refused to enter loss to Eagles
The Baltimore Ravens have suspended wide receiver Diontae Johnson for one game due to “conduct detrimental to the team,” the team announced on Wednesday afternoon.
Johnson will serve the suspension during their game against the New York Giants on Dec. 15, which comes after their bye week this week. He’ll be eligible to return for their game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Dec. 21.
The issue, the team said in a statement, came after Johnson refused to enter their game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
Read the full story here.
QB Drew Lock will start again for Giants vs. Saints
The Giants plan to start Drew Lock at quarterback on Sunday against the Saints, per coach Brian Daboll.
Micah Hyde originally signed with the Bills back in 2017 and played with them through 2023. He’s now back on the team after signing with the practice squad.
QB Trevor Lawrence in concussion protocol
Lawrence is in concussion protocol after Sunday’s ugly hit by the Texans’ Azeez Al-Shaair, who received a three-game suspension on Tuesday.
#Jaguars coach Doug Pederson tells reporters that QB Trevor Lawrence is in the NFL’s concussion protocol and won’t practice today.
PHI win + ATL loss or tie + ARI loss + LAR loss or tie
PHI win + ATL loss or tie + ARI loss + DET win or tie
PHI win + TB loss or tie + SEA-ARI tie
PHI win + TB loss or tie + ARI loss + LAR loss or tie
PHI win + TB loss or tie + ARI loss + DET win or tie
PHI tie + ATL loss + SEA-ARI tie
PHI tie + ATL loss + ARI loss + LAR loss or tie
PHI tie + TB loss + SEA-ARI tie
PHI tie + TB loss + ARI loss + LAR loss or tie
Vikings WR Jordan Addison pleads not guilty to DUI charges
Minnesota Vikings receiver Jordan Addison pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanor DUI charges in a Los Angeles County court on Tuesday, according to the The Minnesota Star Tribune.
Addison was charged for allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol and driving with .08% blood alcohol content after police say they found him asleep at the wheel of his car near the Los Angeles International Airport in August.
Addison has played this season without discipline from the NFL amid the pending charges. In 10 games, Addison has tallied 36 catches for 575 yards and four touchdowns for the 10-2 Vikings.
#Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison pleaded not guilty today in LA County court to two misdemeanor DUI charges stemming from his July 12 arrest. A pre-trial conference hearing is scheduled for Jan. 9.
Titans rookie Julius Wood suspended 6 games for substance violation
The NFL has suspended rookie Titans safety Julius Wood six games for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substances policy.
The NFL announced the discipline on Tuesday. Details of the violation are unclear. The ban will sideline Wood for the remainder of the season through the first game of next season.
An undrafted rookie, Wood has seen limited action in nine games this season. He’s played 115 snaps on special teams and five on defense with two total tackles.
Dak Prescott shares his hope for Mike McCarthy’s Cowboys future
Five guaranteed games remain on Mike McCarthy’s contract.
Dak Prescott hopes the Dallas Cowboys keep his coach for more.
The Cowboys quarterback can’t meaningfully impact his team’s performance as he recovers from season-ending surgery to repair his hamstring tear. That bothers him.
“Your coach seems like he’s playing on his last contract and [I’m] almost feeling helpless like I can’t help him in this situation, especially a guy you believe in so much and you believe in being your head coach,” Prescott told Yahoo Sports during a Tuesday afternoon Zoom call. “Control what I can control, help and support Mike to every extent that I can.”
Read the full story here.
Alex Highsmith expected back for Steelers’ game vs. Browns
Highsmith has been out since Oct. 28 with an ankle injury.
Mike Tomlin said today OLB Alex Highsmith should be available for the Browns on Sunday.
Packers WR Romeo Doubs remains in concussion protocol
The Packers visit the Lions on Thursday. Doubs has not played since Nov. 24.
NFL suspends Titans DB Julius Wood
.@Titans DB Julius Wood has been suspended six games without pay for violating the NFL’s Performance-Enhancing Substances Policy, the league announced today.
These finalists will be considered for election into the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025 alongside 15 modern-era players.
Voting will take place in January and the class will be inducted in August.
Al-Shaair reportedly appealing his three-game suspension
Source: Texans LB Azeez Al-Shaair is appealing his three-game suspension by the NFL.
His appeal will be heard by one of the appeals officers jointly appointed by the NFL and NFLPA: Derrick Brooks, Ramon Foster, Kevin Mawae or Jordy Nelson.
Azeez Al-Shaair suspended 3 games for hit that concussed Trevor Lawrence
The NFL has announced that Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair has been suspended three games for the hit that concussed Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence on Sunday and the subsequent brawl he sparked and engaged in.
NFL VP of football operations Jon Runyan, who knows a thing or or two about illegal plays, issued the suspension.
“Your lack of sportsmanship and respect for the game of football and all those who play, coach, and enjoy watching it, is troubling and does not reflect the core values of the NFL…Your continued disregard for NFL playing rules puts the health and safety of both you and your opponents in jeopardy and will not be tolerated.”
Read the full story here.
Bears CB Jaylon Johnson confirms that he confronted Matt Eberflus after Thanksgiving loss to Lions
Details continue to trickle out from Chicago’s disastrous Thanksgiving loss to the Detroit Lions and the aftermath that ultimately led to the dismissal of Bears coach Matt Eberflus.
On Monday, cornerback Jaylon Johnson confirmed previous reports that he confronted Eberflus in the postgame locker room. Fox’s Jay Glazer reported on Sunday that Johnson interrupted Eberflus’ postgame talk to the team and used “colorful language” in a 10-plus minute speech of his own that overrode Eberflus’. The next day, Eberflus was fired.
Johnson told reporters on Monday that he’d got to the point of being “fed up.”
“I don’t really give a damn about too much of it. At some point, enough is enough. …. I was not some major part of him getting fired. That’s not on me. But there was frustration and words that I expressed just from losing.
“Hearing certain things and seeing things these past few weeks — you could say ‘last few weeks,’ but for me it’s the last five years of my career. I’m used to winning, and I haven’t done that since I’ve been in a Bears uniform.”
