QLuther Burden WR CHI (5) Wed 12/24/25 3:25 PM
QLuther Burden
WR CHI (5)
Burden (ankle) practiced in a limited capacity Wednesday.
EDGE Analysis
This marks Burden's first official on-field work since he suffered an ankle injury Week 15 against the Browns. He may need to upgrade to full participation Thursday or Friday in order to avoid a designation ahead of Sunday's game at San Francisco, but he appears to be a better bet to return to action Week 17 than fellow WR Rome Odunze (foot), who remained sidelined at practice Wednesday.
IRTyquan Thornton WR KC (10) Wed 12/24/25 3:24 PM
IRTyquan Thornton
WR KC (10)
The Chiefs placed Thornton (concussion) on injured reserve Wednesday.
EDGE Analysis
Thornton entered the league's concussion protocol following the Chiefs' Week 15 loss to the Chargers, which prevented him from playing against the Titans in Week 16. Since the Chiefs are eliminated from playoff contention, Thornton's placement on IR means he will not return in 2025 and not play in the Kansas City's last two regular-season games. The 2022 second-rounder signed a one-year contract with the Chiefs in February after being cut by the Patriots in November in 2024, and he finished his first year in Kansas City with a 19/438/3 receiving line (on 36 targets) while turning 18 kickoff returns into 475 yards (26.4 yards per return). With Thornton and Rashee Rice (concussion) both on IR, the Chiefs' wide receiver corps will be led by Xavier Worthy, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Hollywood Brown.
IRRashee Rice WR KC (10) Wed 12/24/25 3:20 PM
IRRashee Rice
WR KC (10)
The Chiefs placed Rice (concussion) on IR on Wednesday.
EDGE Analysis
The same goes for fellow WR Tyquan Thornton (concussion), with both players shut down for the Chiefs' last two games, as the team is out of playoff contention. Rice thus finishes his 2025 campaign with 53 catches (on 78 targets) for 571 yards and five TDs in eight games to go along with five carries for 20 yards and a rushing score. Kansas City's top wideout remains under under contract with the team through 2026. In his looming absence, Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Nikko Remigio (knee, questionable) and Jalen Royals are in line to handle the Chiefs' WR duties Thursday against the Broncos.
QRome Odunze WR CHI (5) Wed 12/24/25 3:19 PM
QRome Odunze
WR CHI (5)
Odunze (foot) didn't practice Wednesday.
EDGE Analysis
Odunze hasn't been able to practice in any capacity since Dec. 12 as he tends to a stress fracture in his foot. He's missed the last three games as a result and appears in danger of stretching it to four absences, unless he's able to mix into drills Thursday and/or Friday. Fellow WR Luther Burden (ankle) practiced in a limited capacity Wednesday, so the Bears may get back at least one of their key pass catchers for Sunday's contest at San Francisco.
Tanner McLachlan TE FA Wed 12/24/25 3:18 PM
Tanner McLachlan
TE FA
The Chargers cut McLachlan from the practice squad Wednesday.
EDGE Analysis
The move corresponds with the Chargers signing center Josh Kaltenberger to the practice squad. McLachlan has spent time with the Chargers and Bengals on their respective squads this season, and the 2024 sixth-rounder will aim to catch on with a team in need of depth at tight end.
QAnthony Nelson EDR/LB TB (9) Wed 12/24/25 3:17 PM
QAnthony Nelson
EDR/LB TB (9)
Nelson (knee) did not participate in Wednesday's practice.
EDGE Analysis
Nelson was diagnosed with a knee sprain Monday after playing just three defensive snaps in last Sunday's loss to the Panthers before departing with injury. The linebacker was unable to practice Wednesday and will likely not be able to for the remainder of the week, leaving Chris Braswell and Jason Pierre-Paul to fill the hole at outside linebacker.
QJared Wilson NE (14) Wed 12/24/25 3:14 PM
QJared Wilson
NE (14)
Wilson (concussion) did not participate in Wednesday's practice, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site reports.
EDGE Analysis
Wilson entered the league's concussion protocol following the Patriots' Week 16 victory over the Ravens. Even if he were to return to practice over the next two days, the rookie third-rounder would be prohibited from playing against the Jets on Sunday unless an independent neurologist clears him from the league's protocol. Ben Brown and Caedan Wallace would be the top candidates to start at left guard if Wilson were to miss time.
Lavonte David LB TB (9) Wed 12/24/25 3:13 PM
Lavonte David
LB TB (9)
David (rest) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice.
EDGE Analysis
David is not listed with the knee injury he overcame before the Week 16 Sunday loss to the Panthers, but the veteran linebacker had an easier day as he rests for Sunday's matchup with the Dolphins. The 35-year-old will likely upgrade to a full participant by Friday, but regardless of his Week 17 practice status, he will probably suit up for Sunday's game barring any sudden injury.
Aaron Jones RB MIN (6) Wed 12/24/25 3:11 PM
Aaron Jones
RB MIN (6)
Jones (ankle) doesn't have a designation for Thursday's game against the Lions.
EDGE Analysis
Jones played through an in-game ankle injury this past Sunday at the Giants and paced the Vikings backfield with 23 touches for 93 yards from scrimmage. His season-high touch count was aided by the fact that fellow RB Jordan Mason was knocked out with an ankle issue of his own, and Mason won't be available to the offense Thursday. As a result, Jones is in line to handle a workhorse role again in Week 17, with Zavier Scott and Ty Chandler serving as the options at the position behind him.
Michael Mayer TE LV (8) Wed 12/24/25 3:09 PM
Michael Mayer
TE LV (8)
The Raiders placed Brock Bowers (knee) on injured reserve Wednesday, which means Mayer will serve as the Raiders' No. 1 tight end for the final two games of the regular season, beginning with Sunday's game against the Giants.
EDGE Analysis
Mayer has operated as the backup tight end for most of the campaign, though his best outing of the season -- five catches for 50 yards and a touchdown in a Week 6 win against the Titans -- came when Bowers was sidelined. With Bowers done for the year, Mayer will operate as the Raiders' top tight end in Week 17 and 18 while Ian Thomas and Carter Runyon provide depth at the position.