1:39 PM ET PITTSBURGH — A day after activating their top wide receiver, the Pittsburgh Steelers also got their starting center and a cornerback off the reserve/COVID-19 list. The Steelers activated center Kendrick Green and cornerback Joe Haden from the reserve list Saturday but placed wide receiver James Washington on it. Under return-to-play protocols adopted
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11:21 AM ET The Carolina Panthers are planning to keep head coach Matt Rhule for the 2022 NFL season, and he will begin a thorough search for an offensive coordinator next week, sources told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler on Saturday. Rhule, 46, has a career record of 10-22 heading into Sunday’s season finale against the Tampa
12:51 PM ET Associated Press Cleveland Browns Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward has been placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list and will miss Sunday’s season finale against the Cincinnati Bengals. Ward was already questionable with a groin injury suffered in Monday’s loss at Pittsburgh. The fourth-year cornerback had three interceptions this season, including a 99-yard return
6:00 AM ET PITTSBURGH — An hour and a half before the Steelers’ penultimate regular-season home game on Dec. 19, Ryan Smith held a glass bottle of Redd’s Angry Ale in a parking lot outside Heinz Field. With yellow, black and gray camouflage pants, a white No. 7 Ben Roethlisberger jersey and a gold beanie
6:00 AM ET BALTIMORE — On Sept. 19, 2004, a lean, clean-shaven Ben Roethlisberger came off the Pittsburgh Steelers bench at M&T Bank Stadium, making an impromptu NFL debut with no idea of what his future held. Eighteen years later, a more rugged and grizzled Roethlisberger is set to play his final game at quarterback
6:04 PM ET TAMPA, Fla. — Fresh off his release from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, wide receiver Antonio Brown had a lot to say Friday, airing out his frustrations on everything from how the Buccaneers handled his ankle injury last Sunday to his relationship with Tom Brady not being one he felt was genuine, but
6:29 PM ET SANTA CLARA, Calif. — True to his word, San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan declined to name a starting quarterback for Sunday’s win-and-in regular-season finale against the Los Angeles Rams. The past three days, a variety of comments from Shanahan and other 49ers and Friday’s injury report at least made clear that
6:39 PM ET Brady HendersonESPN SEATTLE — The Seattle Seahawks have ruled out All-Pro middle linebacker Bobby Wagner for their season finale Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals. Wagner did not practice this week because of the knee sprain he suffered on the first play of Seattle’s blowout win over the Detroit Lions last week. “He’s
4:05 PM ET GREEN BAY, Wis. — Don’t tell Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur that Sunday’s regular-season finale at the Detroit Lions is a meaningless game even though his team wrapped up the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs last week. His decision to play quarterback Aaron Rodgers confirms as much. While it’s
3:46 PM ET HOUSTON — The Houston Texans have signed running back Rex Burkhead to a contract extension through the 2022 season, sources told ESPN on Friday. Burkhead, 31, was playing on a one-year, $1.5 million deal after joining Houston in June. In 15 games this season, Burkhead has run for 403 yards and three