NFL

YouTube is in "advanced talks" with the NFL for the exclusive rights to Sunday Ticket, per Joe Flint of the Wall Street Journal.

A deal could reportedly be reached as soon as Wednesday.

Sunday Ticket is a subscription streaming package that allows fans to watch NFL games that are out of market.

Last week, Puck's Dylan Byers and Julia Alexander reported that Amazon and Google, which owns YouTube, were the final two companies in the running for the rights to NFL Sunday Ticket.

Apple was involved in negotiations but dropped out of the race because it didn't "see the logic" in adding the package, according to Byers and Alexander.

If Google agrees to a deal, games would be streamed on YouTube TV. The alternative would be Amazon's Prime Video streaming service.

The NFL is already in business with Amazon, which purchased the rights to Thursday Night Football.

With three weeks remaining in the 2022 NFL regular season, it's no surprise the league is trying to get things secured for 2023 and beyond.

After his release by the Green Bay Packers on Monday, veteran wide receiver Sammy Watkins has quickly found a new home, albeit a familiar one.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported Tuesday that Watkins was claimed off waivers by the Baltimore Ravens, whom he played for during the 2021 season.

Watkins failed to make much of an impact during his short time in Green Bay. He recorded 13 catches for 206 yards in nine games this season as he ceded playing time to Packers rookie receivers Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs.

The move to add Watkins comes after the Ravens reportedly suffered another blow to their already depleted receiving corps. Pelissero noted that wideout Devin Duvernay left Tuesday's practice because of a foot injury and "there is concern it could be significant." He's been placed on injured reserve.

Baltimore is already without Rashod Bateman, who is on injured reserve after season-ending foot surgery.

In his lone year with the Ravens, Watkins appeared in 13 games and caught 27 passes for 394 yards and a touchdown. However, his familiarity with Baltimore star quarterback Lamar Jackson, when he returns from a knee sprain, should benefit the team's offense.

The No. 4 overall pick by the Buffalo Bills in 2014, Watkins has not proved himself as a consistent No. 1 receiver. Having also spent time with the Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs, he recorded over 1,000 yards just once in 2015. Since that year, the 29-year-old has not reached 700 receiving yards in a season.

The Ravens (9-5) will have to hope that Watkins can produce as they try to hold on to their spot in the playoffs. Baltimore will host the Atlanta Falcons (5-9) at M&T Bank Stadium on Christmas Eve.

The Philadelphia Eagles were so appreciative of the Jacksonville Jaguars' 40-34 overtime win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday that they sent 35 cheesesteaks and 25 large fries to Jags head coach Doug Pederson and his staff.

That news is per John Shipley of Jaguars Report, who spoke with Jacksonville-based Philly's Finest restaurant owner Jeff Harris about the transaction.

"So on Tuesday, we answer the phone that by somebody saying they were from the organization and want to send, want to buy Doug Pederson lunch for beating Cowboys, to celebrate beating the Cowboys," Harris said. "They love Doug Pederson and they love him in Philly so they want to send them a taste of Philadelphia."

Pederson coached the Eagles from 2016 to 2020 and led the franchise to its first-ever Super Bowl victory in Feb. 2018. He and the Eagles parted ways after the 2020 season, and he's in his first year coaching a Jaguars team that has already doubled its win total (three to six) from last season and has three games left.

The Eagles entered last Sunday with a two-game lead over the Cowboys for the NFC East crown, but Philadelphia now needs just one win (or one Dallas loss) in the final three games to clinch the division title after the Jags overcame a 27-10 deficit to earn the upset victory. An Eagles win would also clinch home-field advantage through the NFC playoffs.

Philadelphia can take care of all that itself by beating the host Cowboys on Saturday afternoon.

The NFL announced the rules and regulations for the revamp of the 2023 Pro Bowl on Tuesday, which will be highlighted by a series of skill competitions and three flag football games.

Renamed the Pro Bowl Games, the new format will see the NFC and AFC battle for supremacy over a full weekend of events.

The Games will begin Thursday, Feb. 2, with five skills competitions, and the winner of the competitions will earn three points for his conference. Three more skills competitions will take place Sunday, Feb. 5, putting a total of 24 points on the line.

An additional 12 points (six for each game) will be up for grabs in the first two flag football competitions held Sunday during the Pro Bowl Games broadcast. The total points earned by the AFC and NFC will be the starting score for a third and final flag football game, which will use standard flag football scoring.

The Pro Bowl Games Shorthand

• Eight total skills competitions; winners receive three points for their conference
• Two flag football competitions, winners receive six points for their conference. 
• Total of 36 points on the line before the third and final flag football game, which will be added to all other events to determine the final score of the weekend. 

Pro Bowl Games Flag Football Rules

• Seven-on-seven featuring skill players
• Each team may have one center
• 50-yard field with 10-yard end zones
• No Run Zone beginning at the opponent's 5-yard line
• 20-minute games (two 10-minute halves)
• 25-second play clock
• Running clock besides the final two minutes of each half
• Clock stops on an incomplete pass, score, timeout, penalty or change of possession in the final two minutes of each half
• Touchdowns worth six points; teams can then do a one-point conversion from the 3-yard line or a two-point conversion from the 10-yard line

The score from the third flag football game will be added to the scores from the other events to determine a final victor.

The NFL announced a revamping of the Pro Bowl in September after years of fan complaints regarding the quality of play in the contest. Players would regularly pull out of the event, citing injuries from a long season, which would lead to diluted rosters and a game that rarely felt worth watching.

This revamped format should help enliven the festivities for fans and players alike, leading to a celebration of the best from the 2022 NFL season.

Full rosters for the Pro Bowl Games are set to be announced Wednesday.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said during his weekly Pat McAfee Show appearance Tuesday that his injured right thumb is "a lot better" since he returned from the team's bye week.

Rodgers suffered an avulsion fracture in his right thumb while attempting a Hail Mary pass during his team's 27-22 loss against the New York Giants on Oct. 9.

He said Oct. 26 that his thumb was "hurt" when asked if it was broken. However, he admitted to reporters Nov. 23 that the thumb was indeed broken.

"It doesn't make a difference with me playing," Rodgers said. "It doesn't make a difference. You saw the tape on my thumb. Didn't make a difference."

The Packers had 15 days off between their 28-19 road win over the Chicago Bears on Dec. 4 and their 24-12 home victory against the Los Angeles Rams on Monday.

Rodgers went 22-of-30 with 229 yards, one touchdown and one interception against L.A. to lead the 6-8 Packers to their second successive win.

Rodgers hasn't missed any games this year, but he suffered an injury to his ribs during his team's 40-33 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Nov. 27 and was forced to leave the game.

He later said the injury occurred in the second quarter and he tweaked the ailment in the third quarter, which is when he departed the matchup for backup Jordan Love.

However, he was well enough to start against the Bears the following week and has remained in the lineup.

Rodgers is focused on getting the Packers to the playoffs. The 7-6-1 Washington Commanders hold the NFC's final wild-card spot, and the 7-7 Seattle Seahawks and 7-7 Detroit Lions sit between them and the Packers at 6-8.

Green Bay will need to win all three of its final games (at the Miami Dolphins and home versus the Minnesota Vikings and Lions) to have a shot at getting that final playoff spot.

Up first are the Dolphins, and that game will take place in Miami on Christmas Day at 1 p.m. ET.

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor's 2022 season is over, as the AFC South team placed him on injured reserve Tuesday, per Daniel Popper of The Athletic.

Taylor suffered a high-ankle sprain during the Colts' Week 15 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported it was "highly unlikely" he would return during the 2022 campaign given the timing of the setback and the team's 4-9-1 record.

The Wisconsin product missed time throughout the season with ankle concerns and posted 861 yards and four touchdowns on 192 carries to go with 28 catches for 143 yards in 11 games.

It was a far cry from his 2021 season when he was an MVP candidate with 332 carries for 1,811 yards and 18 touchdowns, which were all league-high marks. He also added 40 catches for 360 yards and two scores.

While the Colts can't realistically expect to run the ball as well with Taylor sidelined, they will likely turn toward the combination of Deon Jackson and Zack Moss in the meantime.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts hasn't yet been ruled out for Saturday's crucial matchup with the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium despite a sprained shoulder.

"I'm feeling fine," Hurts told reporters Tuesday. "We're keeping this business as usual."

He also said there is "definitely a chance" he'll take the field against Philadelphia's NFC East rivals.

On Monday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Hurts' status for the matchup was up in the air because of a sprained shoulder:

"It wasn't the first time I've been slow [to get up]. It won't be the last," Hurts told reporters regarding the play in which he was hurt. "I did play a really physical game, and it was real cold too. So happy we were able to find a win and in the end find a way."

While a victory would clinch the NFC East for the Eagles (13-1), a loss wouldn't be all that detrimental. The Eagles only need to win one more contest this season or have the Cowboys (10-4) lose one more game to guarantee a division crown.

Likewise, the Eagles currently have a two-game lead over the Minnesota Vikings (11-3) atop the NFC playoff picture and hold the head-to-head tiebreaker.

Hurts, 24, is having a superb third season and is arguably neck-and-neck with Patrick Mahomes in the MVP conversation. Along with throwing for 3,472 yards, 22 touchdowns and just five interceptions, completing 67.3 percent of his passes, he's rushed for 747 yards and 13 scores.

If Hurts is sidelined, Gardner Minshew will step into the starting role for Philadelphia. He has thrown just four passes this season, completing two of them for 34 yards. He started two games for the Eagles in 2021, throwing for 439 yards, four touchdowns and one interception in four total appearances.

It appears Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett will start Saturday's game against the Las Vegas Raiders after clearing concussion protocol, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

In the first quarter of a Week 14 matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, Pickett was sacked by Roquan Smith and was slow to get up. He walked off the field and went into the medical tent for further evaluation before being cleared to return.

He missed the Week 15 victory over the Carolina Panthers.

The 2022 first-round pick out of Pitt did not take over as the Steelers' starting QB until Week 5 against the Buffalo Bills, after beginning the year as backup to Mitchell Trubisky.

In 10 games this season, Pickett has completed 65 percent of his passes for 1,797 yards and four touchdowns against eight interceptions. He has also rushed for 225 yards and three scores.

The Steelers are 6-8 overall and 4-5 in games Pickett starts.

If he misses any more time, the Steelers would turn back to Trubisky to lead the offense. The former Chicago Bears quarterback is 2-3 as a starter this season.

It's looking increasingly like Odell Beckham Jr. will not be a Dallas Cowboy.

Owner Jerry Jones made his weekly appearance Tuesday on Shan & RJ on Audacy's 105.3 The Fan, saying the chances of Beckham signing in Dallas diminish every day.

"I don't have an assessment of that, but as of this morning we don't have anything," Jones said. "I don't have an assessment. The reality is, though, that time is moving down the road relative to playing in the playoffs, and so every day diminishes our chances of going forward."

Beckham met with the Cowboys, New York Giants and Buffalo Bills this month as he explored his options for a return from a torn ACL. The three-time Pro Bowler said he does not plan to play during the regular season.

"I haven't made a decision, and for me, I would like to be in a stable environment, get up at 6 a.m., leave at 6 p.m. for four weeks, and then let's talk about it," Beckham said this month on TNF in the Shop. "I've played football for a long time. I'm not saying that I couldn't step in and play regular season, but I don't see the point. I really don't. I would rather play when the pressure is on."

The longer the situation plays out, the more likely it is Beckham sits out the entire 2022 season and reenters the free-agency pool this offseason. Sitting out would allow Beckham to be fully recovered from the ACL tear suffered in Super Bowl LVI—his second in as many seasons—while increasing the suitor pool and driving up his potential asking price.

Still, Beckham is a 30-year-old who has not made a Pro Bowl since 2016 and has a questionable knee. His name value is much higher than his expected production value.

With the Cowboys signing T.Y. Hilton last week as well, there's no real reason for urgency in Dallas.