NFL News and Notes for December 14

With just four weeks left in the regular season, the NFL playoff push is in full swing as teams around the league try to find a way into the playoffs. While the focus over the weekend was on the play on the field, let’s take a look at some of the news off the field.
Titans Get Good News On Star Running Back
At 9-4, the Tennessee Titans will enter Week 15 with a two-game lead over the Indianapolis Colts. While that is already excellent news for the organization, it appears there is more reason to celebrate for Titans’ fans.
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network is reporting that Derrick Henry is in good shape to return to the team for the playoffs. He even mentioned there is a chance that Henry could even return towards the end of the regular season if it was necessary. Henry had to have surgery towards the beginning of November due to a broken bone in his foot.
Prior to his injury, he had rushed for 937 yards on 219 carries and ten touchdowns in eight games. He also had 18 receptions for 154 yards.
Tennessee is currently -4000 to win the AFC South, and they have the ninth-best odds of winning Super Bowl LVI at +1900.
Thankfully, Lamar Jackson Not Seriously Hurt
It was a rough day on Sunday for Baltimore Ravens’ fans. Not only did they lose to the Cleveland Browns 24-22, but they also lost their star quarterback Lamar Jackson to injury.
Jackson had to be carted off the field with an ankle injury, but it appears that it is nothing more than a sprain. According to head coach John Harbaugh, the Ravens hope that he will be able to play in their next matchup against the Green Bay Packers.
With the Ravens’ loss, their AFC North lead has shrunk to just one game over the Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Ravens are still the favorites to win the division at +165, but there is a whole lot less room for comfort these days. Baltimore is also +3000 to win Super Bowl LVI.
COVID-19 Rearing Its Ugly Head Again
Monday was not a kind day to the NFL in regards to the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, there was a record high positive cases reported Monday as 36 players were found to be positive. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, that was the highest single-day record for positive cases since the beginning of the pandemic.
Monday Night Football was affected by the outbreak as the Rams lost tight end Tyler Higbee, cornerback Jalen Ramsey, and Don’t’e Deayon to Covid protocols.
Luckily for Rams’ fans, it did not matter as their team was able to take down the division-leading Arizona Cardinals 30-23. In the win, Matthew Stafford threw for 287 yards and three touchdowns.
The Cardinals have the fifth-best odds of winning the Super Bowl at +1000, while the Rams have the sixth-best odds at +1100.
Trade Rumors Regarding Wilson Heat Up Again
While the Seattle Seahawks have struggled to a 5-8 record, good for last in the NFC West, that hasn’t kept them out of the headlines. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, it appears that trade rumors are starting back up in regards to quarterback Russell Wilson.
Last offseason, there were expectations that he could be moved, and it appears this offseason will follow suit. In fact, according to Jordan Schultz and Rapoport, it appears that Wilson would be interested in landing with the Broncos, Saints, or Giants.
In 10 games this season, Wilson has thrown for 2,302 yards, 16 touchdowns, and four interceptions. He has also rushed for 141 yards and another score.
Seattle is not mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, but they are just +23000 to win it all.