Football

Ahead of Monday night's game between the Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams, the NFL announced that each team had a player selected to the 2023 Pro Bowl Games.

Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald and Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander were the first players revealed to be members of the NFC side. The full Pro Bowl Games rosters will be unveiled Wednesday.

Donald will not play Monday because of an ankle injury. He has recorded 49 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, five sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 11 games.

Donald has been selected to nine Pro Bowls, earning the honor every year since he was drafted No. 13 overall in 2014. He didn't participate in the 2022 Pro Bowl because the Rams made it to Super Bowl LVI, and they defeated the Cincinnati Bengals for their second Super Bowl championship in franchise history.

Alexander will make his second Pro Bowl appearance thanks to a bounce-back performance. After an injury-marred 2021, the 25-year-old has returned to form with 48 tackles, 12 passes defended and a career-high four interceptions through 12 games.

The 2023 Pro Bowl will be unlike any other, as it will feature a flag football game with squads coached by Peyton and Eli Manning. Leading up to the contest, the 2023 Pro Bowl Games will include various challenges and competitions among players.

The Pro Bowl game will be held Feb. 5 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

During an appearance on Serge Ibaka's show How Hungry Are You?, Aaron Rodgers revealed his list of the top five quarterbacks of all time.

The Green Bay Packers star initially said he would not include himself, but Ibaka convinced him to do so. Rodgers then named the other four: Hall of Famers Joe Montana, Steve Young, Brett Favre and Tampa Bay Buccaneers signal-caller Tom Brady.

Rodgers also revealed he would pick Brady as the greatest ever because of his seven championship rings.

"I mean I think, greatest quarterback? I think you gotta go by championships, probably. So that'd be Tom," he said.

Despite his initial refusal to put himself in the top five, Rodgers also told Ibaka he considers himself to be the best Packers quarterback of all time above Favre. It's clear that the four-time NFL MVP knows where he stands among the greats in league history.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers recently appeared on the How Hungry Are You? show hosted by Milwaukee Bucks forward Serge Ibaka to answer some hard-hitting questions.

When asked what team he would've wanted to play for if he didn't return to the Packers for the 2022 season, Rodgers initially said the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL. When pressed further, he jokingly answered, "the Oakland Raiders." Rodgers is obviously aware that the franchise no longer resides in the Bay Area, so it seems he was having some fun with Ibaka.

While Rodgers may have been facetious in his answer, naming the Raiders is an interesting choice considering his favorite wide receiver Davante Adams was traded to the team this past offseason. The five-time All-Pro has thrived in Las Vegas, tying for first in the NFL with 12 receiving touchdowns to go with team-highs of 86 receptions and 1,275 receiving yards.

In Adams' absence, Rodgers has not been as dominant as he was in recent years. The back-to-back reigning NFL MVP has struggled to develop chemistry with an unproven crop of receivers, many of whom are rookies. Veteran Sammy Watkins, who signed with Green Bay as a free agent, was released on Monday after failing to make an impact.

Rodgers has thrown nine interceptions so far this season after throwing a total of nine picks in 2020 and 2021 combined. In 13 games, he's racked up 2,864 yards and 22 touchdowns while completing 64.3 percent of his passes.

The Packers are 5-8 entering Monday night's game against the 4-9 Los Angeles Rams. While Green Bay has a slim chance of making the postseason this year, Rodgers has indicated that he doesn't want to take the last weeks of the 2022 season off. However, if the Packers are eliminated from playoff contention, it could open the door for third-year quarterback Jordan Love to get a chance to start.

Los Angeles Chargers cornerback J.C. Jackson reportedly was arrested on Monday afternoon.

According to Julianna Lima of Boston 25 News, Jackson was booked at the Bristol County Jail and House of Correction in connection to what was described as a "family issue."

Lima reported Jackson had been making an appearance at probate court before he was detained by Fall River police.

The Chargers released a statement to reporters addressing the matter, saying, "We are aware of media reports this afternoon pertaining to J.C. Jackson. We will continue to gather information on the matter and will refrain from further comment at this time."

Jackson was placed on injured reserve after suffering a dislocated kneecap against the Seattle Seahawks on Oct. 23, ruling him out for the remainder of the season. He totaled 15 tackles and two passes defended in five games. The 27-year-old signed a five-year, $82.5 million contract with Los Angeles this past offseason after playing the first four years of his career with the New England Patriots.

In 2021, Jackson established himself as one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL when he led the league with 23 passes defended while adding 58 total tackles and eight interceptions. He earned his first career Pro Bowl selection and was named second-team All-Pro.

During his redshirt freshman season at Florida in 2015, Jackson was arrested in connection with an armed robbery and faced multiple charges. He was eventually found not guilty on all counts. After his acquittal, he transferred to a local community college for a year before transferring to Maryland in 2016.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is dealing with a sprained shoulder that could jeopardize his status for a Week 16 clash against the Dallas Cowboys, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Schefter added the team doesn't expect this to be a long-term issue for its starting signal-caller, though Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported he could be out for Philly's next two games.

John Clark of NBC Sports Philadelphia added that the injury is "not serious" and that Hurts is expected to be ready for the playoffs.

PhillyVoice.com's Jimmy Kempski initially reported Hurts underwent X-rays for an undisclosed injury following Sunday's 25-20 win over the Chicago Bears.

The Eagles handed Hurts the keys to the offense when they traded Carson Wentz to the Indianapolis Colts. Hurts proceeded to guide Philadelphia into the playoffs, while Wentz's Week 18 performance helped cost Indianapolis a postseason berth.

In his first full season as the starter, Hurts threw for 3,144 yards, 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions and ran for 784 yards and 10 scores.

The 2020 second-round pick proved Philadelphia right in moving on from Wentz and looked like he might be a long-term solution at quarterback.

Hurts' performance in the Wild Card Round (23-of-43 for 258 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions) showed he still has some improvements to make, though, in order to take the next step up.

He appears to have done just that with 3,472 passing yards and 747 rushing yards through 14 games.

The Eagles acquired Gardner Minshew from the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021 to serve as Hurts' backup, and he was pressed into duty twice a season ago.

Minshew has a clear ceiling, hence Jacksonville's decision to select Trevor Lawrence with the No. 1 overall pick in 2021, but the fourth-year signal-caller if needed is a solid stopgap who has performed well enough when given starting opportunities.

Playoff spots will be on the line during Week 16 of the NFL season.

The league released the various playoff-clinching scenarios for the upcoming slate Monday:

AFC

• Buffalo Bills: Clinch AFC East with win over Chicago Bears OR Miami Dolphins loss (to Green Bay Packers)
• Cincinnati Bengals: Clinch playoff berth with win over New England Patriots OR New York Jets loss (to Jacksonville Jaguars)
• Baltimore Ravens: Clinch playoff berth with either 1. win over Atlanta Falcons paired with losses by the Jets and Patriots OR 2. win over Falcons paired with losses by the Jets and Dolphins OR 3. win over Falcons paired with losses by the Patriots and Dolphins
• Los Angeles Chargers: Clinch playoff berth with win over Indianapolis Colts paired with losses by the Jets, Patriots and Las Vegas Raiders (to Pittsburgh Steelers)

NFC

• Philadelphia Eagles: Clinch NFC East and NFC's No. 1 seed with win over Dallas Cowboys
• New York Giants: Clinch playoff berth with either 1. win over Minnesota Vikings paired with losses by the Detroit Lions (to the Carolina Panthers) and Seattle Seahawks (to Kansas City Chiefs) OR 2. win over Vikings paired with losses by Lions and Washington Commanders (to San Francisco 49ers) OR 3. win over Vikings paired with losses by Seahawks and Commanders

There are a number of games with playoff implications that stand out, but the headliner is the showdown between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys.

It is a marquee matchup whenever these two rivals square off, and Philadelphia can send a message by clinching the top seed with a head-to-head victory. Fortunately for the Eagles, they will likely end up with the No. 1 seed even with a loss since they would still be two games ahead of the Cowboys and at least one game ahead of the Minnesota Vikings.

As if the rivalry and playoff stakes weren't enough, Cowboys pass-rusher Micah Parsons added another layer to this contest with comments he made during a discussion with Von Miller on The Voncast:

Parsons suggested Philadelphia's "system and team" is more responsible for Jalen Hurts' MVP candidacy than the quarterback's individual talents.

There is something to be said about Hurts benefiting from a strong offensive line while throwing to the likes of A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, but the comments will be framed as bulletin-board material for Hurts and the Eagles as they look to clinch a division crown.

And Parsons will be under plenty of pressure to perform well for a Cowboys team looking to bounce back from a loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera said Monday the team will not bench Taylor Heinicke after Sunday's 20-12 loss to the New York Giants.

"The biggest thing more than anything else is sticking with Taylor and what we're trying to accomplish," Rivera told reporters.

The coach indicated a quarterback change could still come if things don't improve for the 7-6-1 squad.

"It is something to be quite frank, I do have to think about at some point," Rivera added. "But if we get back on track and play the way we've played and do the things we've done, then we'll stick where we are."

Carson Wentz, who started the first six games of the season, was activated from injured reserve last week after dealing with a finger injury.

The Commanders acquired Wentz in an offseason trade with the Indianapolis Colts, although he struggled in the new location with 10 passing touchdowns and six interceptions in six games, producing an 84.1 passer rating.

Washington was just 2-4 in his starts.

The team has fared better with Heinicke under center, going 5-2-1 in his eight eight games, although the last two starts resulted in a tie and loss to the New York Giants.

Heinicke also hasn't been much better on an individual level, totaling 10 touchdowns with five interceptions and an 87.7 rating.

He ranks 27th in the NFL in Total QBR, while Wentz is 31st of 33 qualified players.

The Commanders have been good enough to overcome mediocre quarterback play this year, ranking fourth in the NFL in total yards allowed and ninth in points allowed. It's kept them in playoff position entering Week 16, half a game ahead of the Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions for the last wild-card spot.

Heinicke will keep his starting job ahead of next Saturday's game against the San Francisco 49ers, but he might have a short leash if he continues to struggle.

Perhaps there was a time in the NFL when quarterbacks were given more time before they were expected to be franchise cornerstones, but New York Jets signal-caller Zach Wilson was thrown into the big-market spotlight as soon as the AFC East team selected him with the No. 2 overall pick of the 2021 draft.

Head coach Robert Saleh wishes that wasn't the case.

"The frustrating thing is that this kid is going to be a good quarterback, but the NFL and this new instant-coffee world that we're in just doesn't want to give people time," Saleh said of Wilson, per Rich Cimini of ESPN. "So, we look at him and he's just nitpicked with a fine-tooth comb."

Saleh benched Wilson this season, although the BYU product was back under center for Sunday's loss to the Detroit Lions because Mike White was sidelined with fractured ribs. It remains to be seen whether White will return for Thursday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Wilson went 18-for-35 for 317 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in the loss to Detroit.

Saleh said he was "pumped" for the quarterback because he took the "big step" of overcoming some adversity during the game and leading a touchdown drive in the fourth quarter.

Whichever quarterback is under center for the 7-7 Jets will need to get them back on track after three straight losses if they are going to make the postseason. New York is one game behind the Los Angeles Chargers and Miami Dolphins for the final two AFC wild-card spots.

The Green Bay Packers face the Los Angeles Rams on Monday, but they reportedly made a move ahead of the contest at Lambeau Field.

According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the NFC North team released wide receiver Sammy Watkins. The Clemson product will go on waivers as a result.

Green Bay signed Watkins to a one-year deal this offseason as it overhauled the wide receiver position.

Its most notable move was trading Davante Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders, but it also lost Marquez Valdes-Scantling to free agency and drafted Christian Watson in the second round. Watson has emerged in the second half of the season with eight total touchdowns in his last four games.

As for Watkins, he went on injured reserve in September with a hamstring setback and has not been much of a factor all year.

He has just 13 catches for 206 yards and zero touchdowns in nine games, and the Week 2 win over the Chicago Bears before his injury was the only time he went over 47 yards in a single game.

The lack of production comes after the 29-year-old posted career-low numbers across the board in 2021 for the Baltimore Ravens with 27 catches for 394 yards and one touchdown.

Perhaps another team will take a chance on Watkins considering there was a time when he was a dangerous offensive weapon. His best individual season came in 2015 when he tallied 60 catches for 1,047 yards and nine touchdowns as a member of the Buffalo Bills.

Yet he hasn't been able to replicate those totals in subsequent stops on the Los Angeles Rams, Kansas City Chiefs, Ravens and Packers and heads to waivers as the 2022 season approaches the final push ahead of the playoffs.

The Indianapolis Colts may target Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh to be their next head coach.

Zak Keefer of The Athletic reported multiple league sources are "convinced" Colts owner Jim Irsay has Harbaugh at the top of his wishlist. It looks likely that Jeff Saturday, Irsay's unconventional midseason hire, will not get the job on a full-time basis after the Colts blew a 33-point lead to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 15.

Harbaugh interviewed for the Vikings' head-coaching position last offseason before recommitting to Michigan. It was the closest he has gotten to leaving his alma mater since taking the job before the 2015 season.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported in February that Harbaugh informed the university that NFL flirtations would not be a yearly issue. Michigan signed Harbaugh to a new five-year contract two weeks after his Vikings interview.

"I called Warde [Manuel, the Michigan athletic director] and I asked him if he wanted me to be the head coach. And he said, 'Yes, 100 percent.' And I said, OK then. That's what I want to do.' And I told him, 'Warde, this will not be a reoccurring theme every year. This was a one-time thing," Harbaugh told Mitch Albom of the Detroit Free Press.

Harbaugh has led Michigan to the College Football Playoff in the last two seasons. The Wolverines' 13-0 mark in 2022 is their first undefeated regular season since 1997, and their 13 wins are the most in a season in program history.

While it would be a surprise to see Harbaugh do an about-face less than a year after he recommitted to Michigan, he has significant ties to the Colts organization. He played for the team from 1994 to 1997, winning Comeback Player of the Year and making the Pro Bowl in 1995.

The Colts inducted Harbaugh into their Ring of Honor in 2005.