MINNEAPOLIS — Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy is in the concussion protocol after reporting symptoms during the Vikings’ travel home from Green Bay, Wis., on Sunday, coach Kevin O’Connell announced at his news conference Monday.

McCarthy’s availability for the Vikings’ trip to Seattle to face the Seahawks next Sunday is unclear.

O�...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Former Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker was scheduled for a tryout with the New Orleans Saints on Monday, according to multiple media outlets.

It is said to be the first tryout for the six-time Pro Bowl player since serving a 10-game suspension at the start of this season for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy.

...Read more

LOS ANGELES — A crescendo is building, and the Los Angeles Rams might be best to ignore it.

So much can happen from week to week in the NFL — check out Philadelphia’s loss to Dallas— that the Rams can’t get too comfortable, even with the way they’re playing.

In the last five games, culminating with their 27-point stomping of Tampa ...Read more

MIAMI — The NFL bye week isn’t just a time for players to rest their bodies and get their minds off football. It’s also a time for each team’s front office and coaching staff to do a thorough self scout, an evaluation of their team, seeing what changes can be made to improve the season’s outcome in what’s left on the schedule. The ...Read more

LAS VEGAS — The Las Vegas Raiders fired offensive coordinator Chip Kelly after Sunday’s 24-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns at Allegiant Stadium.

The dismissal of their play-caller comes on the heels of another lackluster performance when the Raiders struggled to score and protect quarterback Geno Smith.

It was a continuation of the Raiders...Read more

ARLINGTON, Texas — For the first 30 minutes, the Philadelphia Eagles did everything necessary to win a key game in a hostile stadium. They looked like a team worthy of a title defense.

For the next 30 minutes, they did everything necessary to give it away. They looked like a team unworthy of even a division title.

Two lost fumbles.

Two huge...Read more

The New Orleans Saints were just the medicine the Atlanta Falcons needed to end their five-game losing streak.

Kirk Cousins was in command and led the offense on some good drives, and the defense held the Saints’ offense out of the end zone in a 24-10 victory Sunday at Caesars Superdome.

The Falcons (4-7) ended their skid and the defense had...Read more

CHICAGO — The Pittsburgh Steelers had one last chance Sunday, taking over at their 20-yard line with 1:29 remaining.

Needing a field goal to tie, quarterback Mason Rudolph marched the Pittsburgh offense to midfield, but his fourth-down pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage by Chicago Bears safety Jaquan Brisker and fell incomplete.

The ...Read more

CINCINNATI — The New England Patriots extended their win streak to nine games in a 26-20 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, but at what cost?

The Patriots saw the left side of their offensive line and their special teams captain leave Sunday’s win with injuries.

Rookie left tackle Will Campbell (knee) and rookie left guard Jared Wilson (...Read more

DETROIT — The Detroit Lions trailed by 10. The opposing third-string quarterback had just scored a 33-yard receiving touchdown. It felt like the season — let alone the game — was on the verge of spiraling out of control.

And then Jahmyr Gibbs happened.

With 11:01 left in the fourth quarter Sunday, Gibbs took a handoff from quarterback ...Read more

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Indianapolis Colts 23-20 in overtime Sunday afternoon at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.

With the win, the Chiefs snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 6-5 this season.

Here are some immediate observations from the Chiefs’ Week 12 NFL victory:

Turning point: Mahomes and ...Read more

GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Minnesota Vikings’ two-game win streak at Lambeau Field ended Sunday, in the kind of defeat where no phase of the team could be spared from critique.

In their 23-6 loss to the Green Bay Packers, they gained 145 yards (their second-fewest ever at Lambeau Field), including just four in the second half. They turned the ...Read more

The NFL schedule makers, in their infinite, algorithmic wisdom, have given us a Monday night curiosity.

The 49ers, I get — big brand, big names, big ratings for ESPN.

But the Carolina Panthers? I’m not even sure if noted superfan Steph Curry has watched a full Panthers game this season.

And was this supposed to be a breakthrough campaign ...Read more

DENVER — These are no longer the days of whine and turned-up noses.

The Broncos perch atop the AFC West with a 9-2 record. The No. 1 postseason seed, while complicated by a schedule tougher than New England’s, remains in reach. Everything Broncos Country wanted has returned.

Well, not everything. There is the issue of the red dot on the ...Read more

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Coach Kyle Shanahan got peppered Saturday with 23 questions about injured wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk’s darkening future with the 49ers, two days before they host a prime-time game with playoff implications against Carolina.

Shanahan confirmed the 49ers voided Aiyuk’s 2026 guaranteed money of $25 million-plus, and ...Read more

CHICAGO — Like most of his teammates, long snapper Scott Daly wasn’t around when Aaron Rodgers bossed around the Chicago Bears.

But he gets it.

Daly grew up in Downers Grove, attended Downers Grove South and played college ball for Chicago’s adopted team, Notre Dame.

He knows that when Rodgers, now a Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, ...Read more