Much-needed Dolphins reinforcements arrive right as pressure ramps up
The Miami Dolphins are hoping that the top teams in the AFC will continue to beat each other up and give them a real opening to enter the race for the seventh seed. Miami will face the Saints on Sunday in Week 13, hoping they can gain some ground in that department.
Currently, the Dolphins have a wild outside shot at making the playoffs, but if they are going to win out, they need to be healthy. That too is coming at the right time.
The Dolphins have activated Darren Waller and Austin Jackson from injured reserve just in time for the playoff chase. It might be a little late, but it's still better than never.
Dolphins activate two off injured reserve and release two in a corresponding move
On Saturday, the Dolphins announced that Waller and Jackson were coming back to the active list. To make room for them, they released tight end Hayden Rucci and offensive lineman Kion Smith.
Of the two, Rucci could get poached off the waiver wire. He has good upside, but has yet to get a consistent opportunity with the Dolphins. Smith has filled in as needed, but he is a depth player, and the Dolphins need to get better in the offensive trenches. Both are eligible to land on the practice squad if they clear waivers.
Waller has been a talking point all season. From his absence from training camp to starting the season on and off the injury reports, he made an immediate impact when he was finally ready to play. It didn't last long, however, as he inevitably ended up on IR.
Jackson knows the IR game quite well. He has spent most of his career bouncing off it and then back on. After a solid training camp, Jackson went down in week one and has spent the entire season on the reserve roster.
His return will be interesting. The Dolphins need his physicality and leadership, but on the other hand, his body isn't made to play football, and it may just be a matter of time before he gets banged up again. For now, it's excellent news for a team holding onto slim hope and a slimmer chance of making their season worth talking about.
In addition, Mike McDaniel said that Rasul Douglas will return from his absence against the Saints. This is likely as healthy as they will be moving forward, so making it count against an overmatched opponent is an absolute must.
Caleb Williams & Bears Get Great News Before Packers Game
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Bears quarterback Caleb Williams.
The Chicago Bears have received some great news about their NFL playoff bid ahead of Week 14’s consequential showdown with the Green Bay Packers — thanks to a surprising NFC upset that unfolded in Week 13’s latest games.
During the Thanksgiving holiday, the Bears did their part to keep themselves in the running for a spot in the 2025 NFL Playoffs when they seized a 24-15 statement win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Black Friday that moved them to 9-3 on the season.
The win also ensured the Bears would retain possession of first place in the NFC North heading into their first of two regular-season games against the Packers (8-3-1), who can claim the top spot in the division themselves with a win over Chicago in Week 13.
Things got even better for the Bears after the early slot of games in Week 13, though.
On November 30, the Carolina Panthers pulled off a 31-28 upset victory over the Los Angeles Rams that had massive implications on the NFL playoff race. Not only did the win keep the Panthers in the race to win the NFC South, but it also bumped the Rams out of the top spot in the conference, making the Bears the new No. 1 seed in the NFC.
In other words, Caleb Williams and the Bears now have a direct path to clinching the first-round bye in the conference for the NFL playoffs, gift-wrapped for the holiday.
Can Bears Continue Winning & Claim the No. 1 Seed?
In years past, a technical slide into first place in the conference may not have resonated much with a long-tortured Bears fandom. Many fans likely still have reservations about their final five-game stretch, during which they will battle the Packers twice, travel to face the playoff-contending San Francisco 49ers (9-4) and host the Detroit Lions (7-5).
For these self-assured Bears, though, the path to victory is realistically attainable.
The Bears have a few things working in their favor after needing to fight tooth and nail — and tying for an NFL-most five fourth-quarter comebacks — over their first 12 games. For one, they are leaving plenty on the table that, with better execution, can make them a better football team, whether it is missed throws, sloppy coverage lapses or penalties.
The Bears showed improvement on that last category in their Black Friday win over the Eagles. While Gervon Dexter Sr. had a frustrating roughing-the-passer call against him that sparked a Philadelphia touchdown drive, they committed just four total penalties.
The other thing going for the Bears is their improving roster health. Cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon returned to action against the Eagles and made an impact, but both played less than 70% of defensive snaps after so much time away. As they get their legs back under them, their playing time — and impact — should only improve.
The Bears will also expectedly get back all three of their starting linebackers — including veterans Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards — before the end of the regular season.
That’s all conducive to the Bears playing their best football in December and January.
Caleb Williams’ Development Could Define 2025 Run
The Bears have begun turning doubters into believers following their massive win over the reigning Super Bowl champions, but how far their run goes — and whether it even extends to the playoffs — could largely hinge on Williams’ continued development.
Williams has been a better quarterback for the Bears in 2025, looking more settled in the NFL environment and finding better rhythm in a system like Ben Johnson’s, which aims to establish the run game and play to Williams’ strengths. That said, there are still some issues for him to iron out that, if he can do so quickly, can help Chicago’s chances.
Accuracy is a big one. Williams said he wanted to complete 70% of his passes before the season began, but he is currently nowhere close to that mark at 58.2% — which is much worse than the 62.1% he managed as a rookie. Some of that is Williams adjusting to the demands of his new system, while another portion is the team’s 18 dropped passes (tied for sixth-most in the NFL). But Williams, for all his gifts, has also just missed some.
If Williams can correct his issues and start firing passes closer to the 70% standard that he set for himself, though, it could go a long way for the offense’s efficiency as they try to retain control of the No. 1 seed on the NFC down the stretch of the 2025 season.
Commanders release inactive list with major offensive news
LANDOVER, Md. – The Washington Commanders won’t have quarterback Jayden Daniels in action Week 13 against the Denver Broncos, but there are reinforcements coming back to help them get off their six-game losing streak on Sunday Night Football.
Going up against a tough Broncos defense, one of the best in the league, the Commanders are getting receiver Terry McLaurin back into the mix, even more important given the return of cornerback Patrick Surtain II on the other side of this matchup.
Shortly before kickoff, Washington and Denver announced each side’s list of inactive players, with Daniels headlining the group for the home team.
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Washington Commanders Inactive Players for Week 13
Washington Commanders Inactive Players for Week 13
QB Jayden Daniels
LS Tyler Ott
S Darnell Savage
LB Ale Kaho
OT Trent Scott
OT George Fant
DE Jalyn Holmes
Denver Broncos Inactive Players for Week 13
TE Nate Adkins
OLB Jonah Elliss
OT Geron Christian
DL Jordan Jackson
DE Sai'vion Jones
Broncos outside linebacker Jonah Elliss entered the weekend with a questionable designation due to a hamstring injury.
On the Commanders’ side, safety Will Harris (ankle) and long-snapper Tyler Ott (illness/back) were both questionable.
Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images
Special Teams Shakeup
While Harris was expected to play Sunday night, the team did go out and add long-snapper Zach Triner to the practice squad, elevating him prior to the game, further indicating that Ott might not be available for the game.
Defensive end T.J. Maguranyanga was also elevated from the Washington practice squad for the first time this season.
Ott’s questionable status and Triner’s elevation opened the door for two of the three parts of the Commanders’ field goal and extra point operation being new on Sunday, with punter/holder Tress Way being the only player returning from the bye week since leaving Madrid after a Week 11 loss to the Miami Dolphins.
Kicker Matt Gay was released after returning from Spain and has since signed with the San Francisco 49ers. Meanwhile, Washington added kicker Jake Moody to its roster, a former kicker for the 49ers.
McLaurin's Impact
In his return, McLaurin is hoping to add another layer of dynamic ability we haven’t seen much from the Commanders’ offense since he last appeared in a game in Week 8 against the Kansas City Chiefs. In total, McLaurin has been able to play in just four games this season, suffering injuries in two of them.
However, as much as he’s missed, the veteran receiver has also proven his value, reaching near career-highs in both catch and successful reception percentages.
Washington and Denver kick off at 8:20 p.m. ET inside Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland, as the nightcap to the NFL’s Sunday schedule of games.
