Coach Kevin Stefanski said Tuesday that the Browns will not activate Watson (Achilles) from reserve/PUP this season, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Watson tore his right Achilles tendon in October of last year, and the Browns opened his 21-day practice window three weeks ago. That window closed Tuesday afternoon with the Browns opting against activating the quarterback. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Cleveland is expected to keep Watson on the team in 2026, the final year of his fully-guaranteed five-year, $230 million deal. His current $80.7 million cap number for 2026 is the highest in the NFL. Watson hasn't played in a game since Week 10 of last season. It's unclear if the Browns will seriously consider starting Watson if he's indeed on the team next year.

Colts head coach Shane Steichen suggested Tuesday that Richardson (orbital) is unlikely to be activated from injured reserve this week while Riley Leonard continues to back up Philip Rivers, who will make a third straight start at quarterback Sunday against the Jaguars, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Richardson made enough progress in his recovery from the fractured orbital bone he suffered in his right eye during an Oct. 12 pregame for the Colts to clear him to practice last week, but the third-year signal-caller didn't advance beyond limited participation. As Boyd notes, Richardson hasn't regained full vision in the eye despite returning to practice, so until that happens, the Colts will likely be reluctant to activate him. Pending the results of Saturday's Chargers-Texans game as well as Sunday's action, the Colts could be eliminated from playoff contention heading into Week 18, in which case Steichen could be motivated to go in a different direction at quarterback. Leonard would still appear to be more likely than Richardson to draw a start in the regular-season finale at Houston, barring Richardson making more significant strides in his recovery from the eye injury.

Colts head coach Shane Steichen said that Leonard will remain in a backup role Sunday against the Jaguars while Philip Rivers makes a third straight start at quarterback, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Colts will be eliminated from playoff contention if the Texans beat the Chargers on Saturday, but Steichen confirmed that Rivers will continue to direct the offense regardless of the outcome of that contest. More specifically, Steichen said that it wouldn't be "fair" to ask rookie Leonard to start on 24 hours' notice if Rivers takes first-team reps throughout the week, which he has been doing since signing with the Colts in Week 15. Though the Colts have suffered losses to the playoff-bound squads in the Seahawks and 49ers in Rivers' two starts, the 44-year-old has given Indianapolis some stability under center following Daniel Jones' season-ending Achilles surgery. Rivers won't be part of the Colts' long-term plans, however, so if the team does get eliminated in Week 17, Steichen could entertain the idea of starting Leonard or third-year quarterback Anthony Richardson (orbital) -- if available -- in the regular-season finale against the Texans.

The Vikings activated Chandler (knee) from injured reserve Tuesday.

EDGE Analysis

With Jordan Mason (ankle) listed as a non-participant in Monday's practice, Chandler's return and full practice participation could lead to a role in Thursday's game against the Lions. The running back has played just one game this year, logging zero offensive snaps and 13 special teams snaps that resulted in 84 kick return yards. If Mason is unable to go, the 2022 fifth-rounder could see rotational snaps behind the starter, Aaron Jones.

Head coach Shane Steichen confirmed Tuesday that Rivers will remain the Colts' starting quarterback for Sunday's game against the Jaguars, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Colts will be eliminated from playoff contention if the Texans beat the Chargers on Saturday, but Steichen confirmed that Rivers will continue to direct the offense regardless of the outcome of that contest. More specifically, Steichen said that it wouldn't be "fair" to ask rookie Riley Leonard to start on 24 hours' notice if Rivers takes first-team reps throughout the week, which he has been doing since signing with the Colts in Week 15. Though the Colts have suffered losses to the playoff-bound squads in the Seahawks and 49ers in Rivers' two starts, the 44-year-old has given Indianapolis some stability under center following Daniel Jones' season-ending Achilles surgery. Rivers won't be part of the Colts' long-term plans, however, so if the team does get eliminated in Week 17, Steichen could entertain the idea of starting Leonard or third-year quarterback Anthony Richardson (orbital) -- if available -- in the regular-season finale against the Texans.

Head coach Sean McDermott said that Prater (quadriceps) won't take part in Tuesday's unofficial walk-through practice, and the Bills don't yet have clarity regarding whether the veteran kicker will be available for Sunday's game agains the Eagles, Sal Capaccio of WGR Sports Radio 550 Buffalo reports.

EDGE Analysis

Through the first 15 weeks of the campaign, Prater had been serving as Buffalo's kicker after Tyler Bass sustained a hip/groin injury late in the preseason to ultimately required season-ending surgery. Prater has performed capably while knocking down 18 of 20 field-goal tries and 43 of 46 extra-point attempts, but he emerged from a Week 15 win over New England with a quad injury that he's yet to fully move past. The Bills signed Michael Badgley to the practice squad and elevated him to the roster to handle kicking duties in the Week 16 win over the Browns, with Badgley nailing a 41-yard field goal but missing one of his three point-after tries.

Bills head coach Sean McDermott said that Allen (foot) won't participate Tuesday in the team's unofficial walk-through practice, Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Allen is tending to a sore right foot in the aftermath of the Bills' 23-20 win over the Browns on Sunday, when the quarterback took a back seat as a passer (12 completions on 19 attempts for a season-low 130 yards and no touchdowns) but continued to be involved as a ball carrier (seven totes for 17 yards). McDermott noted that Allen is still hurting two days after the game, but the Bills fully anticipate that the 29-year-old will suit up this Sunday against the Eagles.

Burden (ankle) wasn't spotted on the field Tuesday during the Bears' unofficial practice, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

Burden was listed as a non-participant on all three of the Bears' practice reports in Week 16 before sitting out Saturday's 22-16 overtime win over the Packers. Rome Odunze (foot) was also sidelined for a third straight game, and with neither wideout logging any activity in an unofficial session Tuesday, both could be trending in the wrong direction for Sunday's game at San Francisco. If Burden and Odunze are both held out again in Week 17, DJ Moore would have a clearer path to added volume in the passing game after he contributed a 5-97-1 receiving line on seven targets in the win over Green Bay.

Odunze (foot) isn't participating in Tuesday's unofficial practice session, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

The Bears won't have to submit their next injury report until Wednesday, but if his lack of activity Tuesday is any indication, Odunze looks poised to remain a non-participant in practice to begin Week 17 prep. Earlier Tuesday, head coach Ben Johnson told Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com that Odunze is in a "good spot" in his recovery and remains on track to play again this season, but the wideout doesn't look to be pushing for a return for this Sunday's game in San Francisco. Odunze hasn't taken the field for any of the Bears' last three games due to a stress fracture in his foot, which he aggravated again while warming up prior to a Week 15 game against the Browns.

Johnson (foot) was absent from Tuesday's practice, Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

EDGE Analysis

If it is indeed a non-participation day for Johnson, it would mark the sixth week that the offensive tackle could not participate to start the week. The left tackle missed the last five games that started with this pattern and, as such, is on pace to miss Sunday's matchup against the Bills. Even if Johnson can practice this week, he may not start Sunday's game, as the Eagles have already clinched a playoff spot by winning the NFC East.