NFL Injuries

New York Jets quarterback Mike White left Highmark Stadium in an ambulance after Sunday's 20-12 loss to the Buffalo Bills, per Heather Prusak of News 4 Buffalo.

The move is considered a precautionary measure to "make sure he is fine internally," per Mike Giardi of NFL Network.

#Jets coach Robert Saleh told reporters that QB Mike White is headed to the hospital as a precaution. They announced two rib injuries and tests are for potential internal injuries.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 11, 2022

White took several hard hits during the game, including three sacks and a big shot from Bills linebacker Matt Milano. He was initially ruled as questionable to return with a rib injury before coming back in the game two drives later.

Flacco fumbled on his first play after replacing White in the third quarter before leading a three-and-out on his only full possession. The veteran had also entered the game for two plays in the first half, throwing one incomplete pass before the starter returned.

White was more productive, leading one touchdown drive in the third quarter and a late field-goal drive to keep it a one-possession game. The quarterback finished 27-of-44 for 268 passing yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.

The toughness White showed to keep coming back into the game despite the hard hits also seemed to endear himself to fans and the coaching staff.

Head coach Robert Saleh said after the game White would "for sure" be the starter next week if he is healthy.

The 27-year-old had just four NFL appearances before this season, but he has impressed in three starts with 952 passing yards and three touchdowns.

Former starter Zach Wilson, who has been inactive the last three games after being benched, could return to the lineup if White is unable to play.

The Baltimore Ravens were already without star quarterback Lamar Jackson for Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and now they're down another signal-caller.

The Ravens announced that Tyler Huntley, who started under center in place of Jackson, has been ruled out with a concussion. He was replaced by rookie quarterback Anthony Brown.

Huntley was injured midway through the third quarter on a designed quarterback run after a huge hit from Steelers star safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. He had completed eight of 12 passes for 88 yards and added 31 rushing yards.

An undrafted free agent out of Oregon, Brown hadn't seen the field prior to being thrust into action Sunday. He threw for just 16 yards, but the Ravens managed to hold on for a 16-14 victory to improve to 9-4. Baltimore totaled 215 yards on the ground with a rushing attack led by J.K. Dobbins, who ran for 120 yards and a touchdown in his first game back from injured reserve after knee surgery in October.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Sunday that the Ravens are expected to be without Jackson for at least next week's game against the Cleveland Browns. The 25-year-old is reportedly dealing with a sprained PCL that typically requires 1-3 weeks of recovery time.

If Jackson were to miss another week, his next chance to return to the field would come on Christmas Eve against the Atlanta Falcons. The 2019 NFL MVP is set to test free agency this offseason, so he undoubtedly hopes to be at full strength going forward.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Tyler Huntley is reportedly preparing to make one or two starts in the absence of injured star Lamar Jackson.

Appearing Saturday on SportsCenter, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler explained Jackson's injury situation and what it means for Huntley:

Updating Lamar Jackson, Saquon Barkley, Trevor Lawrence and Deebo Samuel injuries with @KevinNegandhi @SportsCenter pic.twitter.com/fGhZShWrs4

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) December 10, 2022

Fowler noted that Huntley has "loosely prepared" to play one or two weeks, with three weeks likely being the worst-case scenario for Jackson, who suffered a sprained PCL in his knee against the Denver Broncos last week.

After Jackson left last week's game, Huntley stepped in and completed 27 of 32 passes for 187 yards with no touchdowns and one interception, plus he rushed for 41 yards and the game-winning score in the fourth quarter of a 10-9 victory.

The 24-year-old was an undrafted free agent out of Utah in 2020, and he firmly established himself as the Ravens' top backup under center last season.

Jackson missed four games because of injury last season and missed some time in others, resulting in Huntley appearing in seven contests and making four starts. He went only 1-3 as a starter but often succeeded in keeping the Ravens competitive.

He finished 2021 with a 64.9 completion percentage, 1,081 yards, three touchdowns and four interceptions. Like Jackson, his greatest strength was his ability to do damage with his legs, as he rushed for 294 yards and two touchdowns.

While Huntley is capable, Jackson is one of the most dynamic quarterbacks in the game and already has two Pro Bowl selections and the 2019 NFL MVP Award in five campaigns.

This season, Jackson is 8-4 as a starter and has completed 62.3 percent of his passes for 2,242 yards, 17 touchdowns and seven picks while also rushing for 764 yards and three scores.

Although there is never a good time for a star quarterback to get injured, the Ravens do have the benefit of an easy schedule down the stretch.

Of their five remaining games, the only one against a team with a winning record is their Week 18 road clash with the Cincinnati Bengals that could be a contest for the AFC North title.

Jackson should be back by then, but there is uncertainty regarding which of the next few games he will be able to play in.

He is doubtful to play Sunday against the 5-7 Pittsburgh Steelers and may not be able to go against the 5-7 Cleveland Browns the following week.

If Fowler's timeline of missing one or two weeks holds true, Jackson should be able to step back into the starting lineup against the 5-8 Atlanta Falcons in Week 16.

Carolina Panthers defensive end Henry Anderson told reporters that he suffered a minor stroke in October due to a blood clot in his brain.

Carolina Blitz relayed remarks from Anderson, who noted he went to the hospital after experiencing numbness and a loss of feeling in his extremities:

Henry Anderson reveals that he was placed on IR because he had a stroke. pic.twitter.com/7h0qjEA36o

— Carolina Blitz (@KeepBlitzin) December 7, 2022

Anderson also noted that his speech became slurred as well. His wife eventually took him to the hospital, and he said the issue was "resolved pretty quickly."

"I didn't know much about strokes but I found out more about them and realized I got pretty lucky avoiding anything serious and long term," Anderson said, per Steve Reed of the Associated Press. "I am glad that I was kind of oblivious when it happened because I would have been a little more panicked had I realized what was going on. But like I said, I got pretty lucky."

Doctors could not find what may have caused the blood clot despite running a battery of tests.

"Every test we looked at came negative," Anderson said. "I think it was something that I got unlucky because they ran a ton of tests and everything was good. There wasn't anything that showed up or they could point to that they said could have caused it."

Anderson said that he's undergone numerous blood tests to ensure he doesn't have any lingering effects from the stroke.

The Panthers designated Anderson to return from the reserve/non-football injury list on Wednesday, which starts a 21-day window for him to return to the 53-man roster. Anderson said he's hoping to play Sunday at the Seattle Seahawks. He initially landed on the NFI list on Oct. 25.

The 31-year-old has played eight NFL seasons for the Indianapolis Colts (2015-2017), New York Jets (2018-2020), New England Patriots (2021) and Panthers (2022). He's posted 12 tackles (six solo) for the Panthers in six games this year and notably amassed a career-high seven sacks for the Jets in 2018.

Even if Odell Beckham Jr. signs with a new team within the next few days, it could still be some time before the free-agent wide receiver is back on the field.

The Dallas Morning News' David Moore reported Tuesday that Beckham's rehab from a torn ACL may "extend into the postseason." Moore added that if the Dallas Cowboys ultimately sign the 30-year-old, "it will be with the understanding that the veteran receiver is unlikely to play before the regular season is done."

ESPN's Ed Werder and Calvin Watkins of the Dallas Morning News echoed Moore's reporting:

Source: The #Cowboys have concerns after Odell Beckham Jr.’s physical that his recovery from torn left ACL in Super Bowl has not progressed enough to ensure he would play before mid-January and possibility exists signing him would have no benefit until 2023 season.

— Ed Werder (@WerderEdNFL) December 6, 2022

A person with knowledge of the OBJ talks said there was a low expectation he would workout but when he didn’t it just confirmed to the club he’s not ready to play.

— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) December 6, 2022

Fresh off visiting with Beckham on Monday, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said on 105.3 The Fan's Shan & RJ the team was well aware of the risk presented by the move. He explained the inability to see the three-time Pro Bowler work out left him "not confident, at all," but clarified Dallas has enough information to feel good about a possible partnership:

It's not like a draft pick coming at you, we've got a lot of history here and you take a good look at everything. Not only the obvious, and that's his performance, but also any issues regarding health. So, all of this, we've got to come in with our eyes wide open and it has to be addressed and that’s when you see if you can make a deal or not.

Beckham's free agency has certainly garnered plenty of attention, but Moore's report underlines how he may not tilt the balance of power in the NFL this year.

Even if he's back in time for the playoffs, it's fair to question how effective he'll be. Beyond having to learn a new playbook on the fly, there's always a level of rust when a player has missed nearly a full year of action.

A final decision for Beckham could be imminent. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Sunday the unsigned pass-catcher planned to speak with his family and might pick a team by mid-week.

Fans of whatever team wins the OBJ sweepstakes are likely to celebrate, but it could be 2023 before he starts paying meaningful dividends.

The Baltimore Ravens ruled quarterback Lamar Jackson out for the remainder of Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos with the knee injury he suffered in the first half.

Head coach John Harbaugh told reporters after the 10-9 victory that the injury will not end Jackson's season but may take "days to weeks" to heal. He will undergo further testing Monday.

While Jackson was wearing a protective sleeve on his right arm ahead of a Week 3 game against the New England Patriots that he ultimately played in and missed five games last season, he has been fairly durable for much of his career given his playing style as a quarterback who uses his arm and legs.

The Louisville product played at least 15 games in each of his first three seasons in the league.

When healthy, the 25-year-old is an electrifying playmaker with an NFL MVP and two Pro Bowl selections on his resume. He led the league in touchdown passes (36) in 2019 and has completed 62.1 percent of his passes for 2,231 yards, 17 touchdowns and seven interceptions to go with 755 yards and three scores on the ground.

Baltimore turned to Tyler Huntley with Jackson sidelined by this latest setback. The Utah product completed 27 of 32 passes for 187 yards and ran in for a two-yard touchdown as part of a 10-carry, 41-yard rushing performance.

Huntley appeared in seven games for the Ravens last season, going 1-3 as a starter and completing 64.9 percent of his passes for 1,081 yards, three touchdowns and four picks.

Like Jackson, the 24-year-old can also use his legs to make plays or escape pressure in the pocket, and he could keep the team afloat in the short term.

Still, Baltimore's Super Bowl chances will take a significant hit if its starter cannot return.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase has huge expectations for himself ahead of his return to the lineup against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

Chase, who has missed the past four games with a hairline hip fracture, said the following about his return Thursday when speaking to reporters: "I don't think I can be stopped, if I'm being honest. I'm out there playing football, playing my game. So when I'm in a rhythm, on a roll and I'm just playing, you know the timing's there and I'm just playing football."

During a Week 6 win over the New Orleans Saints, Chase suffered the injury, but he returned during that game and also played the following week in a win over the Atlanta Falcons.

Despite being less than 100 percent, Chase combined for 15 receptions for 262 yards and four touchdowns in those contests. He landed on the shelf, but the Bengals were able to stay afloat with a 3-1 record while he was out.

Now, Chase says he is feeling "great," which is potentially bad news for a Chiefs defense he torched twice last season.

In a 34-31 regular-season win over KC in Chase's rookie year, he went off to the tune of 11 receptions for 266 yards and three scores, marking one of the signature performances of his Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign.

Then, in a 27-24 win by Cincinnati over Kansas City in the AFC Championship Game, Chase had a more modest six catches for 54 yards, but he once again scored a touchdown.

Chase is perhaps the biggest key to the Bengals beating the Chiefs for the third time in two seasons and improving Cincinnati's overall record this season to 8-4.

Quarterback Joe Burrow is at his best when he has his full allotment of weapons, and on Sunday he will have the benefit of throwing to Chase, Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd.

The Chiefs have the best record in the AFC this season at 9-2, but if Chase has one of his typical performances, it will open the door for the Bengals, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins and other teams to vie for the No. 1 seed.

Green Bay Packers star quarterback Aaron Rodgers was forced to exit Sunday night's game against the Philadelphia Eagles early after sustaining an injury to his ribs, but head coach Matt LaFleur offered an optimistic prognosis on Monday.

LaFleur told reporters that Rodgers is "feeling better," but he added that they will continue to learn more over the next few days. LaFleur declared that if Rodgers is healthy, he will play Sunday against the Chicago Bears.

Rodgers entered the locker room in the third quarter against the Eagles as the Packers went on to suffer a 40-33 loss and fall to 4-8 this season. According to ESPN's Rob Demovsky, there was "an initial fear" that Rodgers had suffered a punctured lung. He underwent X-rays at the stadium that showed he didn't have a punctured lung, but it was "hard to tell" if he had any fractured ribs.

After the game, Rodgers dismissed the notion of shutting it down for the remainder of the season. Green Bay has a slim chance of making the playoffs, but the two-time reigning MVP said he intends to play as long as the team is mathematically alive.

"We've got to win all five and probably need a little bit of help," said Rodgers, who also revealed last week that he's been playing with a broken bone in his thumb since Week 5.

Rodgers was replaced by Jordan Love against Philadelphia, and the third-year quarterback opened some eyes with a solid performance. Love finished with 113 yards and a touchdown on six-of-nine passing and helped Green Bay turn what could have been a blowout into a close game down the stretch.

Some are wondering if the Packers will give the 24-year-old more playing time if they are eliminated from playoff contention later this season. For now, it sounds like Rodgers intends to be under center as long as his body allows him.

Shaquille Leonard's injury-plagued 2022 season has come to an end.

Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Indianapolis Colts linebacker had season-ending back surgery on Tuesday with the hope this "procedure fixes his issue for good."

Leonard only played in three games this season because of injuries. He missed the first three games with a back issue. The 27-year-old made his 2022 debut in Week 4 against the Tennessee Titans but left in the second quarter with a concussion.

After missing three weeks, Leonard returned against the Washington Commanders on Oct. 30. He only played a combined 58 snaps in the next two games combined. The Colts ruled him out of Sunday's win over the Las Vegas Raiders with back and ankle injuries.

Tuesday's procedure marks the second back surgery for Leonard in five months. He had one in June to address two of his spinal discs that were putting pressure on the nerves leading into his left leg.

The procedure didn't work as expected, causing him to keep having issues that limited his availability during the season.

"The past two games, I see myself moving around better, but it’s still not there," Leonard told The Athletic's Jason Boyd last week. "That nerve still isn’t firing into my calf, so it’s just a lot of film study. I think that’s the reason why I can play today is because of how much film that I’ve watched, and I gotta put myself into position to make a play because I know I’m a step behind."

Leonard has been one of the NFL's best linebackers over the past four seasons. He was a second-round pick by the Colts in 2018 and was named Defensive Rookie of the Year after recording 163 combined tackles, 12 tackles for loss and seven sacks.

The South Carolina State product was named to the All-Pro team in each of his first four seasons, including three first-team selections. He signed the richest deal for a linebacker in the NFL in August 2021 when the Colts gave him $98.5 million over five years.

Sam Darnold could be in line to play for the first time this season when the Carolina Panthers take on the Baltimore Ravens in Week 11.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported quarterback PJ Walker will be sidelined with a high ankle sprain, which prompted head coach Steve Wilks to say Baker Mayfield will start.

Yet Darnold is expected to suit up as the backup after missing the first 10 games with his own high ankle sprain. If Mayfield struggles, the Panthers could look toward the USC product under center.

It should be noted that Darnold hasn't lived up to the expectations that came with being selected No. 3 overall by the New York Jets in the 2018 draft.

The 25-year-old has completed 59.8 percent of his 1,625 career throws with a lackluster 54-52 touchdown-to-interception ratio. He threw more INTs than TDs each of the past two years.

Darnold is coming off a 2021 season in which he ranked 29th in ESPN's Total QBR and received a poor 54.7 overall grade from Pro Football Focus. It was his first campaign in Carolina after three with New York.

His future with the Panthers first came into question when the front office selected fellow quarterback Matt Corral in the third round of this year's draft, and then the Mayfield trade in July ensured an even more difficult path to playing time.

Ahead of training camp, Darnold said he was ready to fight for the top spot on the depth chart.

"It's always fun to compete and to be able to have someone to compete with," he told reporters. "At the same time, in our eyes, we're both the starting quarterback for this team right now, and that's how we're going to view it."

Trade rumors started to pop up as Mayfield surged ahead in the competition, in part because Darnold carried a $18.9 million salary-cap hit in the final year of his rookie contract, which is a significant amount to pay a backup. Meanwhile, Corral suffered a season-ending foot injury in preseason.

Yet the ankle injury delayed the situation, and now he will be the team's backup with Walker sidelined.