Three more teams officially clinched playoff berths on Sunday, leaving just a handful of open spots left across the board for teams as the NFL regular season starts to wrap up.
The Houston Texans, Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings all earned postseason spots on Sunday despite the Steelers actually losing to the Philadelphia Eagles and the Vikings not playing. The Vikings then rolled over the Bears in one of two games on Monday night to officially end Week 15.
While the playoff picture is starting to come together, some teams — including both the Detroit Lions and Seattle Seahawks — may be in trouble.
Trevor Lawrence has shoulder surgery
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence had shoulder surgery earlier this week, head coach Doug Pederson announced on Wednesday. The surgery was to repair an injury to the AC joint in his non-throwing shoulder, and he’s expected to be ready to go sometime in spring 2025.
Lawrence was placed on injured reserve on Dec. 4, but not due to his shoulder. In Week 13 he sustained a major concussion after taking a brutal hit from Houston Texans linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair. Lawrence left the game immediately and Al-Shaair was ejected and subsequently suspended three games for the hit. Lawrence was able to have surgery after he cleared concussion protocol on Sunday.
Pederson said the surgery was successful and that Lawrence “is on the road to recovery.”
Geno Smith’s knee ‘structurally’ intact
Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald was optimistic Monday when discussing quarterback Geno Smith’s knee injury from Sunday night. Smith left with the injury in the third quarter and didn’t return to the game that the Packers won, 30-13.
MacDonald didn’t offer clarity on a specific diagnosis, but said that “structurally, it’s all there.” He believes that Smith will practice this week and has a chance to play in Week 16 against the Vikings.
“A lot of positive, optimistic signs coming out of the tests, Macdonald said. “Geno’s a beast, man. He’s in here working out in the morning, working through it. I know he’s still feeling it. But this guy’s tough as nails.
“Hopefully we’ll see him practice throughout the week. Optimistic that he’ll be ready for the game.”
Smith suffered the injury on an awkward hit to his lower leg while he was in the air.
Geno Smith went down with what looks to be a lower leg injury after this play. He was able to walk off of the field with help from trainers. pic.twitter.com/0Hgv7YK4WK
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulliNFL) December 16, 2024
Smith didn’t return to the game, and the Seahawks went with Sam Howell the rest of the way. Smith’s status is key as the Seahawks dropped into a first-place tie with the Rams in and NFC West where the second-place team isn’t projected to make the playoffs.
Lions facing even more injuries
The Detroit Lions lost a shootout to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, which snapped an 11-game win streak for what could very easily be the best team the city has seen in decades.
But it wasn’t the loss that was the tough part for the Lions. It was the injuries that kept piling up. The Lions lost both cornerbacks Carlton Davis III and Khalil Dorsey to injuries in the game. Davis went down with a jaw injury that will have him out six weeks, and defensive lineman Alim McNeill tore his ACL, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Running back David Montgomery is out for the season, according to head coach Dan Campbell, with a torn MCL that will require surgery.
Those injuries come after a string of injuries elsewhere that have already plagued their defense, including to defensive end Aiden Hutchinson, defensive tackle Mekhi Wingo, linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez and linebacker Alex Anzalone, to name just a few.
The team, whether Campbell wants to admit it’s a factor or not, is incredibly beaten up. With the regular season winding down and the Lions vying for the top spot in the NFC, injuries just keep coming.
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Chiefs confident in Carson Wentz if Patrick Mahomes (ankle) can’t play vs. Texans
The Chiefs expect Patrick Mahomes to be healthy enough to play on Saturday against the Houston Texas as he deals with a “mild” high-ankle sprain. But should the two-time NFL MVP be unable to go, they are prepared to have Carson Wentz start.
“We have full confidence in Carson,” head coach Andy Reid said on Tuesday. “If he has to step in and play, then I think everybody, coaches and players, has full confidence that he can go in and do a nice job. “He’s started in the league and been successful. He’s got a great feel for this offense. Very smart, big arm. I like the way he carries himself. I like everything about him. He should be starting in this league somewhere, so he’s a heck of a player.”
With a busy schedule featuring Saturday’s game against Houston and then the Steelers on Christmas Day, there was some belief the Chiefs would choose to rest Mahomes for the matchup with Pittsburgh. While Mahomes said the injury is not as severe as the one he suffered in the 2022 divisional round game against the Jaguars, he’s pleased with his progress so far,
“I’m not going to put our team in a bad position,” Mahomes said. “If I feel like I can play and go out there and win a football game, I’ll play. And if I don’t feel like that’s the best-case scenario, I’ll let guys like Carson play. He’s a guy that’s winning this league as well, so it’s just about pushing it this week, seeing where I’m at and making the best decision.”
CLEVELAND, OHIO – DECEMBER 15: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs throws a pass against the Cleveland Browns during the third quarter at Huntington Bank Field on December 15, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) -
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Cowboys CB Trevon Diggs could miss eight months following knee surgery
The Cowboys are hoping cornerback Trevon Diggs’ recovery will allow him to return for the start of the 2025 season.
Diggs will miss the rest of this season with a knee injury and according to executive vice president Stephen Jones it’s “a new injury that has to do with cartilage.”
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that recovery time could be around eight months.
Diggs will need surgery and he’s not expected to take part in training camp, Jones said.
“I don’t think he’ll be a player during training camp. I think his timeline is going to be right about the start of the season.”
Dallas Cowboys defensive back Trevon Diggs (7) during a Monday night NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Matt Patterson) -
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Detroit RB David Montgomery reportedly out indefinitely with MCL injury
The Lions can’t catch a break: After a slew of defensive injuries, Detroit has added running back David Montgomery to the list of players who were hurt in Sunday’s loss to the Bills.
Montgomery will reportedly be out indefinitely after suffering an MCL tear on Sunday. The 27-year-old running back will undergo additional testing and will get a second opinion about the injury, but it’s possible that his season is over.
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