NFL Week 17 buzz: What we’re hearing on Joe Burrow, the red-hot Jaguars and Pro Bowl rosters
Jeremy FowlerCloseJeremy Fowlersenior NFL national reporterJeremy Fowler is a senior national NFL writer for ESPN, covering the entire league including breaking news. Jeremy also contributes to SportsCenter both as a studio analyst and a sideline reporter covering for NFL games. He is an Orlando, Florida native who joined ESPN in 2014 after covering college football for CBSSports.com.Dan GrazianoCloseDan Grazianosenior NFL national reporterDan Graziano is a senior NFL national reporter for ESPN, covering the entire league and breaking news. Dan also contributes to Get Up, NFL Live, SportsCenter, ESPN Radio, Sunday NFL Countdown and Fantasy Football Now. He is a New Jersey native who joined ESPN in 2011, and he is also the author of two published novels.Dec 24, 2025, 09:45 AM ETThings are getting real in the 2025 NFL season.Playoff races are heating up with two weeks left, teams are starting to think about the future, and fantasy league championships are upon us. So with all that in mind, insiders Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano have been calling sources around the NFL for the latest news and buzz on key situations heading into Week 17.This week, we asked around on Joe Burrow and his Bengals outlook. Could the star quarterback want out of Cincinnati? Should we read into his recent comments? And which other QBs could theoretically be looking at changes this offseason?Jeremy and Dan also poked around on the Jaguars, who are in the middle of a six-game win streak and are in the AFC 1-seed mix. They also gathered reaction to Pro Bowl rosters, which were announced Tuesday morning. It’s all here, as our national reporters answer big questions and empty their notebooks heading into Week 17.Jump to:Burrow’s situation | New QB1s next seasonJaguars’ legitimacy | Pro Bowl reactionMore notes on Week 17What are you hearing on Joe Burrow? Could he actually want out of Cincinnati?Graziano: I think it’s unlikely he wants out. People have been trying to get him out of Cincinnati since before the Bengals even drafted him, and he has never expressed any desire to not be there. Theories about what was bothering him at that news conference a couple of weeks ago are wide-ranging, with some believing he was going through something difficult off the field, and others believing he’s sick of the way the Bengals operate. We don’t know for sure, but I don’t get the sense the Bengals are worried he’s going to force his way out.Editor’s Picks2 RelatedFowler: Same, Dan. My sense is the Bengals have not received any indication that Burrow wants out of Cincinnati. One team source believed that Burrow was simply having a “bad day” two weeks ago at that initial news conference that sparked the consternation, saying, “I truly think he wants to be here,” and that he has been great in game prep. Assuming the Bengals will run it back with coach Zac Taylor, whose contract runs through the 2027 season, then all signs point to Burrow staying with the franchise next season.But it feels like a crucial year for both the direction of the franchise and Burrow’s place within it. Would Burrow like to see improvements to the roster and the overall strength of the team? Most likely. But even then, league executives I’ve spoken to see no chance Cincinnati ever considers trading him. He’s under contract for four more seasons.Graziano: That’s the thing, right? He has been vocal in the past about decisions he’d like to see the team make, most prominently last year when he openly lobbied for new deals for Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Trey Hendrickson. I don’t think he’s shy about expressing these sentiments in private, either, and if there are things he’d like the front office to do better, I’m confident the front office knows about them. A big part of the issue with Burrow at this point is whether he can stay healthy, but other than that weird Week 15 no-show against the Ravens, the Bengals have been an awfully good offense when Burrow has been healthy. They need to fix the other side of the ball.Fowler: Correct. The question is really pretty simple: Can the defense improve its personnel over the next four to five months? If it struggles mightily for another year, I could see Burrow being more forceful. There’s simply not enough talent on that side to make a run at the AFC North. A few draft picks — defensive end Myles Murphy and corners DJ Turner and Dax Hill — look like keepers. But that’s not enough. The Bengals will need to get creative in free agency and the draft to properly support Burrow and the offense.What’s the over/under on new QB1s in 2026?Fowler: Let’s set the line at six. The list of possibilities include the Jets, Dolphins, Browns, Vikings, Colts, Raiders, Cardinals, Falcons, Saints and Steelers. Several of these teams could keep their current starter, most notably the Colts, who are aiming to retain Daniel Jones. The Vikings must decide on whether to bring in competition for J.J. McCarthy, and the Steelers will await Aaron Rodgers’ plans. Multiple teams could stick with their rookies, too; Tyler Shough in New Orleans is making a compelling case.The most fascinating situation has to be Miami, which must decide whether to pay Tua Tagovailoa $54 million to walk away (assuming no trade) and start a cost-effective option in his place.play2:06Schefter to McAfee: Tua benching the first step in Miami moving onAdam Schefter joins Pat McAfee to break down the Dolphins’ options after benching Tua Tagovailoa.Graziano: Miami has a problem. The $99 million dead money hit that would result from releasing Tagovailoa would be tough to manage, even if spread over two years. Denver has been just fine absorbing the $80 million dead money charge for Russell Wilson over the past two years, but part of that is because it has an elite defense and an elite offensive line and was able to find a rookie QB in Bo Nix to start right away and keep the team competitive. I’m not sure the Dolphins are in position to have any of those things in 2026.I’ve brought this up a few times, and I’m still not sure how likely it is that there’s a change here, but the Ravens have to do something with Lamar Jackson’s contract or move on. He has two years left at $51.25 million per year in base salary, but none of his remaining money is guaranteed — and the cap hit for next year balloons to $74.5 million. The Ravens need to extend him to get that cap hit down, or else they need to trade him, which obviously would open up yet another QB1 position for next season. Jackson has a no-trade clause, so he’d have some say in this if the Ravens decided to explore options.They wouldn’t be replacing him with a better player, because there really aren’t any better players. But given that Jackson and coach John Harbaugh have won a total of three playoff games together since Jackson was drafted in 2018, it might be worth it for the Ravens to examine whether a new extension in excess of $60 million per year is the best way for them to build their team moving forward.Fowler: Good call, Dan. It’s clearly a situation Baltimore must handle with care. From that lens, it’s worth noting that Jackson isn’t exactly having his best “contract year.” At the very least, his play is below his normal MVP standards. He has sat out three games and could sit out a fourth with his latest injury, a back contusion. Baltimore probably will miss the playoffs for the second time in his career. Such contract decisions are easier for the front office when the player and team are peaking at season’s end, not declining.Like with the coaching carousel, one or two surprises will surface at some point. Last offseason featured 10 quarterback changes. Yes, 10! And that’s with only one rookie starter in Week 1 of 2025 (the Titans’ Cam Ward). The veteran market was booming, and there were six new starters via either free agency or the draft. Derek Carr’s retirement and Geno Smith’s move to Las Vegas via trade was not in the forecast a year ago.Perhaps Kansas City should be on the list, with an asterisk? Patrick Mahomes faces a lengthy recovery from his torn ACL, and given the team’s struggles this season, the Chiefs might need steady reinforcements for Week 1. Joe Flacco is the kind of QB who would make some sense. (Also: At one point I started to wonder whether Philadelphia would be looking at a change eventually, but Jalen Hurts is weathering that storm.)NFL Playoff MachineSimulate your own scenarios and check the latest playoff picture. Playoff Machine »• Playoff picture » | Standings » | More »
Graziano: Kansas City is very much worth watching, because if nothing else, it is going to need quarterbacks to operate its offseason program. Even if Mahomes is back in time for the regular season, there are going to be a lot of practice reps, training camp reps and preseason game reps to go around. Do the Chiefs bring in a veteran who can start if Mahomes isn’t ready right away? Do they draft a developmental QB with upside and offer him a chance at a full offseason of first-team reps to accelerate that development? Do they do some combination of both? The Chiefs’ QB moves this offseason could give us some clue about Mahomes’ recovery timetable.What are people around the NFL saying about the Jaguars? Are they buying this run?Graziano: To some extent, yes. Multiple people have texted me since Sunday to say Liam Coen should be Coach of the Year because of the team’s 11-4 record and the apparent improvement in Trevor Lawrence’s play. First-year defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile is also getting a lot of praise around the league for the way his unit has performed. And the trade deadline acquisition of Jakobi Meyers has been a difference-maker and allowed them to evolve an offense that’s averaging 33 points since the start of November.I think there is some skepticism — as there would be with any contender new on the scene — about how the Jaguars will perform in playoff games. But Lawrence does have a playoff win on his résumé, and the versatility of the Jaguars’ offense combined with how tough they are up front on defense definitely has the attention of other teams.Fowler: I’ve heard people say Coen is right there with Ben Johnson and Mike Vrabel in first-year coaches at their respective spots who are vying for Coach of the Year. The job Coen has done with the roster and especially with Lawrence has been impressive. From footwork to decisiveness, Lawrence looks like a different quarterback, and Coen deserves credit for that.Keep in mind, this was an attractive job during the carousel. If GM Trent Baalke wasn’t in the picture early in the process, I think Jacksonville luring Johnson was a possibility. Jacksonville realized that it had a good job on paper and had to pivot off Baalke to get a prime candidate, making Coen an offer he couldn’t refuse. So from a talent standpoint, Coen was not walking into a rebuild. But what he has done with that talent on the roster is commendable.play1:36How Liam Coen has galvanized the Jaguars this seasonPeter Schrager tells Pat McAfee how Liam Coen has brought an “us against the world” mentality to Jacksonville.Graziano: It wasn’t a rebuild, but it’s still a team that won only four games last season. And I think what’s most impressive about Coen’s performance is the methodical way he has gone about it. Lawrence was not playing this well early in the season, and Coen would have told you he was still learning the new offense and building chemistry with his receivers in that new scheme.Brian Thomas Jr. struggled to find his spot in all of it, and No. 2 pick Travis Hunter was injured, as was tight end Brenton Strange. So the Jags leaned into their run game early behind Travis Etienne Jr. and got by for a while with a defense that was generating turnovers at a high level. The 4-1 start bought them time for Lawrence to get more comfortable in the offense, and Coen has been steady and consistent through the hot start, the midseason lull and the current six-game win streak. I would say people around the league are absolutely taking all of this seriously.Fowler: How Jacksonville structures its future will be interesting in light of Meyers’ three-year, $60 million extension signed last week. He has been lights-out since joining the team at the trade deadline. But Jacksonville has multiple standouts it could choose to pay, including Etienne, pass rusher Travon Walker and linebacker Devin Lloyd. Those players have performed well but were not selected by first-year general manager James Gladstone. Either way, Jacksonville’s pass-catching nucleus will be loaded with Meyers, Thomas, Hunter, Strange and Parker Washington.What is one thing you’ve heard about the Pro Bowl rosters?Fowler: Heavy chatter around the Eagles and the snubbing of defensive tackle Jordan Davis. Teammate Jalen Carter got the Pro Bowl nod among NFC defensive tackles, but if you ask the Eagles who has been their most dominant force up front this season, it’s Davis without debate. And Chargers left tackle Joe Alt making the Pro Bowl off six games raised some questions. It’s a weaker tackle pool in the AFC, but Indianapolis’ Bernhard Raimann was a surer bet.Graziano: The Packers thought Jordan Love would have a good chance. He’s third in the NFL in QBR. Sam Darnold, who made the NFC roster, is 12th and has more than twice as many interceptions as Love has this season.Breaking news from Adam SchefterDownload the ESPN app and enable Adam Schefter’s news alerts to receive push notifications for the latest updates first. Opt in by tapping the alerts bell in the top right corner. For more information, click here.
Fowler: Cornerback is of interest, because even though the position is loaded with top-shelf stars and the recipients were deserving, a few younger corners made compelling cases — including a pair of 2023 second-round picks out of the AFC North in Pittsburgh’s Joey Porter Jr. and Cincinnati’s DJ Turner II. And it feels as if several teams had too many Pro Bowl players; Dallas and Baltimore have losing records but boast five and six recipients, respectively.Graziano: Maybe if we’d run the Jaguars’ section of this notebook a week or so ago, it might have helped them get someone into the Pro Bowl besides their long-snapper, Ross Matiscik, who is their only representative. In particular, the Jags would have liked to see Josh Hines-Allen get that recognition. Or Devin Lloyd and his five interceptions.What else are you hearing this week?Graziano’s notes:• It’s a good sign for Packers quarterback Jordan Love that he was a limited participant in Tuesday’s practice. Love remains in the concussion protocol, which means he still has to clear several steps and continually be monitored for a possible recurrence of symptoms. But being on the field in any capacity in what was effectively a Wednesday practice (because the Packers play on Saturday this week) means he’s making progress through the protocol and can’t yet be ruled out for Week 17.Backup Malik Willis, who suffered a shoulder injury in Saturday’s overtime loss to the Bears, was also on the practice field and limited. So the Packers opened the week with some encouraging updates on their potential to have one — if not both — of their top two QBs for a critical game against the Ravens this Saturday night at Lambeau Field.• Speaking of Willis, he’s a very intriguing free agent to watch next spring. He was the 86th pick in the 2022 draft, which means he’s playing on the fourth and final year of his rookie deal. He is 26 years old and has now spent basically two full seasons being coached by Matt LaFleur, Adam Stenavich and the Packers’ offensive coaching staff, and he has played well when he has had to fill in for Love because of injury. As we discussed above, there are a lot of teams that are going to be in the QB market this offseason. Not all of them will be able to address the position via the draft, and several have their eyes on Willis as a potential solution given what he has been able to do in Green Bay. The Packers like him a lot and could try to keep him, but if he has a chance to go somewhere else and compete for a starting job, that might be tough to do.Weekly NFL game expert picks• Game picks from our NFL experts »• Betting notes » | More NFL coverage »
• The Chargers have a much tougher matchup this Saturday against Houston’s fearsome defense than they did Sunday in Dallas. That Cowboys matchup was a breath of fresh air for a Chargers offense that has struggled with consistency while playing without both of its starting tackles and its two top running backs for most of the season. One of those running backs, Omarion Hampton, is back and running well. He told me after the game that Sunday was the best he has felt since his return from an ankle injury earlier in the season.Again, though, this week is going to be tougher for Hampton, Justin Herbert and the whole Chargers offense. They’ve been all about finding a way in spite of everything they’ve had to deal with this season. “As a receiver, I’d love for us to throw the ball 50 times and all of us go for 200,” Chargers wideout Ladd McConkey told me. “Like, that would be sick. But that’s not the situation we’re in right now, and at the end of the day, we’re winning football games, so there’s not too much to complain about.”• The Cowboys’ defense has been extremely permissive all season, and defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus’ seat could be getting hot even after just one year. As ESPN’s Todd Archer pointed out, every time the Cowboys have allowed 400 or more points in a season since Jerry Jones has owned the team, they had either a new coordinator or a new defensive scheme the following season. They’ve already allowed 454 this season.There could be a lot of changes on that side of the ball, where cornerback Trevon Diggs is coming off a disappointing season and has no guaranteed money left on his contract. Dallas would save about $12.5 million against its 2026 cap if it cut Diggs and another $21.5 million by releasing defensive tackle Kenny Clark, who was a big part of the return in the Micah Parsons trade but might now be expendable since the team has Quinnen Williams.• Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is doing it differently every week during Pittsburgh’s three-game winning streak. In Week 14 against Baltimore, Aaron Rodgers threw for a season-high 284 yards and DK Metcalf had 148 of them while the Steelers ran for just 34 yards on 17 carries. In Week 15 against the Dolphins, it was the tight ends who drove the offense. And Sunday against the Lions, running backs Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell combined for 279 scrimmage yards and three touchdowns.The Steelers would tell you they’re encouraged by the week-to-week malleability of the offense but that they need to keep improving. Losing Metcalf to suspension for the final two weeks of the regular season is going to affect a lot of things because Metcalf contributes as a blocker in the run game and is a focal point for opposing defenses in the passing game. Pittsburgh clinches the division with a win in either of its final two games or a Ravens loss Saturday, but it would like the offense to be clicking a bit better once the postseason starts. Playing the final two games without Metcalf is going to make that a challenge.play1:24RC: ‘DK Metcalf has to have higher level of emotional intelligence’Ryan Clark reacts to Steelers wideout DK Metcalf getting suspended two games for getting into an altercation with a fan in Detroit.Fowler’s notes:• Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman’s name has been heavily circulated in recent weeks. Here’s what I know. Yes, the Giants are expected to have interest in him when the carousel kicks off. But the Titans have done their research, too. And so have a few teams that will either have an opening or potentially could have one. No teams have officially requested to speak with Freeman as of the last time I checked, but if Freeman wants to at least explore the possibility of the NFL via conversations with teams, he will have opportunities to do that. Freeman will take the next few weeks to make that decision.Remember, he has no NFL coaching experience, so if he does partake in interviews, he’ll be in a position to discover whether the nuances of the game are something he wants to entertain. I’ve talked to a few coaches with ties to Freeman who believe he will stay in college. So his name isn’t going away, but that’s the latest based on what I’ve heard.• The Commanders are “trending” toward starting Josh Johnson for the first time this season. Marcus Mariota hasn’t practiced yet because of a hand injury, and recently signed Jeff Driskel (off the Cardinals’ practice squad) could serve as a No. 2 on game day. The tight Thursday turnaround makes it tough for Mariota in what’s becoming a season to forget for Washington.• Vikings QB2 Max Brosmer’s debut in Seattle in Week 13 was uninspiring, with four interceptions. But Brosmer has big fans in the Minnesota building because of his mental approach to the game, and he settled down when given another chance, completing 7 of 9 passes for 52 yards to help beat the Giants in relief of the injured J.J. McCarthy. We’re not saying Brosmer is the next Brock Purdy, but Minnesota could have something here, and a start Thursday in Detroit will be another big showcase for him. Teams I talked to were impressed with his preseason tape.• The Rams very well could shut down Davante Adams (hamstring) for the final two regular-season games. Coach Sean McVay already declared Adams doubtful for Monday night vs. Atlanta, and a team source told me that it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Adams miss Week 18 vs. Arizona, another game the Rams can win without their star receiver. The goal is to ensure Adams is 100 percent for the first week of the playoffs. Technically, he’s week-to-week with an injury that hampered him weeks before he aggravated it vs. Detroit on Dec. 14.• 49ers tight end George Kittle is dealing with a “mid-to-low ankle sprain” suffered Monday night in Indianapolis, per a source. It’s unclear yet what that means for Week 17, but I’m told he at least has a chance, depending on how the week goes. Kittle suspected he avoided a high-ankle sprain postgame and that is indeed the case, which is relatively good news. The 49ers are accustomed to playing without Kittle, who missed five games early in the season with a hamstring issue, but it’s all systems go for the playoff push now.All of ESPN. 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• Vikings running back Jordan Mason is considered a long shot for Thursday night vs. Detroit, per a source. The Vikings aren’t ruling him out yet, but playing on a Thursday night following an ankle injury is tough sledding. The Vikings activated Ty Chandler off injured reserve, which could be good timing for him.• Could one of the greatest left tackles of all time enter free agency in March? Trent Williams is healthy this season, and it’s showing. The 49ers think Williams, 37, is having one of his best months in recent memory. But his massive 2026 cap hit of $38.8 million is approaching. That’s second on the team behind pass rusher Nick Bosa ($42 million), who is 28 and unlikely to go anywhere. Meanwhile, Williams — who’s a 2027 free agent — has said he’s open to playing until age 40. If that’s still the case, the 49ers have a decision to make: Give an elite but aging player a market deal (hint: it’s not a small market), stand pat and ride out the cap hit, or entertain a player release or trade. Williams is a fixture in San Francisco, so perhaps it can work something out. But it’s not lost on the player that this decision is looming and something most likely must be done. Williams’ current contract includes $22.2 million in base salary and a $10 million option bonus due April 1.• Debate about Derrick Henry’s usage late in Baltimore’s Week 16 loss to New England is nothing new, internally or externally. The Ravens have struggled to find balance on offense. The challenge is clear: The team has a bevy of playmakers who need the ball, but their best option is quite often giving Henry the ball and loading up with blockers and hammering defenses.I know that getting away from that formula has frustrated some people in the building at times. He’s averaging 16.7 carries per game, well below last season’s 19.1. Henry’s four fumbles haven’t helped, to be sure, but the Ravens are still dangerous if they can somehow get in the playoffs. This is largely the same unit that ranked first in total offense in 2024 under coordinator Todd Monken, yet it ranks 18th this year. Henry will be a factor in that push.• Seattle GM John Schneider hasn’t won Executive of the Year since taking over the Seahawks’ personnel operation in 2010. This feels like his year. Seattle has done a masterful job of roster building without the support of a generational passer. Schneider’s Russell Wilson trade in 2022 helped replenish the roster with several impact players. Dealing Geno Smith and DK Metcalf in March were bold moves that paid off. The Sam Darnold acquisition proved to be an upgrade while saving millions compared to what Smith earned in Las Vegas. And Seattle’s past three drafts have produced at least five bona fide or emerging stars: Jaxon Smith-Njigba (2023), Devon Witherspoon (2023), Byron Murphy II (2024), Grey Zabel (2025) and Nick Emmanwori (2025).Schneider also made one of the best hires of the most recent coaching cycles with Mike Macdonald, who can match wits with Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay in the NFC West. It’s hard to ignore what Seattle has done. In addition, Schneider’s assistant general manager, Nolan Teasley, could garner GM interest during this cycle.
已发布: 2025-12-24 20:57:00
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