The final week of the 2025 NFL regular season is here and while many teams are out of it, there are a number of meaningful games with playoff spots, seeding and division crowns on the line.
Let’s begin at the end with the final game of the regular season featuring the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens.
Advertisement
It’s all on the line in this one as if the Ravens win, they’re the AFC North champion and the No. 4 seed. If they lose or tie, they’re out of the playoff race. Should the Steelers win or tie, they’re the AFC North champion and the No. 4 seed. If they lose, they’re out of the playoff hunt.
The Ravens got good news on Thursday when quarterback Lamar Jackson told reporters he “100 percent” will be playing after missing Week 17 due to a back contusion. On the Steelers side, linebacker T.J. Watt said he is looking forward to playing after having missed nearly the past month due to a lung injury.
“I feel pretty good. Honestly, I don’t know if I could say that a week ago, but I feel really good,” Watt said. “I feel really confident about the week of practice, and I’m excited to play.”
It’s unclear how much Josh Allen the Buffalo Bills are going to get on Sunday, but it should be enough to keep a notable streak going.
Advertisement
Bills head coach Sean McDermott told WGR 550 on Friday that Allen will play in this weekend’s regular-season finale against the New York Jets after missing practice on Wednesday and Thursday due to a foot injury. Allen was a limited participant Friday and carries no injury designation for the game.
Allen has been dealing with the foot injury for a couple of weeks, with X-rays coming back negative last weekend after he briefly left a game. McDermott painted the time off from practice as more about rest for the 2024 MVP.
The No. 1 seed in the AFC is on the line for the Denver Broncos when they take on the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. If Denver wins, they grab the top spot heading into the postseason. They can still head the conference with a tie or a New England Patriots tie or loss. If they fall to the Chargers, they would need the Patriots to lose and the Jacksonville Jaguars to lose or tie in order to get the No. 1 seed.
Defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers (hip) is questionable, while linebackers Dre Greenlaw and Karene Reid have been ruled out with hamstring injuries for the Broncos.
Advertisement
For LA, they could end up with the fifth, sixth or seventh seed in the AFC depending on any one of 64 playoff scenarios.
The Chargers will be without running back Omarion Hampton (ankle) and cornerback Nikko Reed (hamstring). Running backs Hassan Haskins (concussion) and Kimani Vidal (neck) are questionable, as is cornerback Benjamin St-Juste (shoulder).
Follow along with the latest NFL news and injury updates ahead of Week 18.
Live coverage is over65 updatesSun, January 4, 2026 at 9:41 AM PST
Yahoo Sports Staff
The Los Angeles Chargers have little to play for in Week 18. The team can move around in the AFC playoff seeding, but would still go on the road for every one of its first-round matchups.
Because of that, quarterback Justin Herbert is expected to sit, along with running back Omarion Hampton, pass rusher Khalil Mack and safety Derwin James. Herbert, Mack and James aren’t battling injuries and are expected to miss the game against the Denver Broncos due to rest.
Herbert turned in another solid season with the Chargers. The 27-year-old finished the year with 3,727 yards and 26 touchdowns.
Hampton missed a significant amount of time as a rookie thanks to an ankle injury. He played in just nine games, rushing for 545 yards and four touchdowns.
Hampton will miss Week 18 due to an ankle injury as well. He did not practice all week, and was ruled out for the game after the Friday practice report. His absence — unlike Herbert’s or Mack’s shouldn’t come as a major surprise.
Hampton is hoping to play in the team’s first playoff game, so the injury isn’t expected to be serious.
Sun, January 4, 2026 at 6:34 AM PST
Chris Cwik
With the Houston Texans already in the playoffs, wideout Nico Collins will reportedly get a rest. The star wideout is not expected to play in Week 18 as the team looks to give him a breather before the postseason.
Collins is coming off a season in which he hauled in 71 catches for 1,117 yards and six touchdowns. He remains a favorite target for Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud.
The Texans enter the week in the No. 5 seed in the AFC. The team is subject to a lot of variability in Week 18, and could move as high as the No. 3 seed depending on how things shake out in the final week of the regular season.
Sun, January 4, 2026 at 6:30 AM PST
Chris Cwik
Two of the biggest names of the Miami Dolphins’ offense reportedly won’t play in Week 18. Wideout Jaylen Waddle and running back De’Von Achane will reportedly sit during the final week of the regular season, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
At 7-9, the Dolphins aren’t playing for anything in Week 18.
Both Waddle and Achane have played in all 16 Dolphins games so far this season.
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 12:36 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
The season is over for New York Jets running back Breece Hall. Hall is out against the Buffalo Bills with a knee injury.
Hall is scheduled to become a free agent this off-season.
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 12:02 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin Jr. was a late addition to the team’s injury report due to an illness.
Goodwin is still expected to play in Saturday’s must-win game against the Carolina Panthers.
Goodwin also missed multiple games this season with leg injuries.
If Goodwin can’t go expect Bucs wide receiver Mike Evans, Jalen Mcmillan and Emeka Egbuka to get more targets.
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 11:47 AM PST
Tarohn Finley
Despite Rams head coach Sean McVay’s plans to play the starters against the Cardinals in Week 18, the team is expected to be without tight end Terrance Ferguson.
Ferguson is doubtful with a hamstring injury. Ferguson has 11 catches for 231 yards and 3 touchdowns this season. Rams tight end Tyler Higbee is also questionable with an ankle injury.
If Ferguson and Higbee can’t go, expect Colby Parkinson and Davis Allen to get more reps at tight end.
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 11:32 AM PST
Tarohn Finley
The Dallas Cowboys placed running back Javonte Williams on IR, according to the team’s injury report.
Williams missed practice this week with a shoulder and neck injury.
Williams broke out in his first season with the Cowboys. The 25-year-old running back rushed for 1,201 yards and 11 touchdowns. Williams signed a one-year, $3 million contract last offseason.
Malik Davis has also been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the New York Giants with a calf and knee injury.
Rookie RB Jaydon Blue and fullback Hunter Luepke are expected to be next up for carries. At 7-8-1, the Cowboys are eliminated from playoff contention.
Sat, January 3, 2026 at 6:18 AM PST
Sean Leahy
The Rams take on the Cardinals and Adams (hamstring) and Williams (ankle) are questionable, according to head coach Sean McVay.
The Rams need to win (and need the Seahawks to win) to have any shot at the No. 5 seed, which they’d get in 25% of the remaining NFC scenarios. Otherwise they’ll be the sixth seed.
Fri, January 2, 2026 at 3:31 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
The Las Vegas Raiders ruled out quarterback Geno Smith in Week 18’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Smith suffered a significant high ankle sprain in Week 17’s 34-10 loss to the New York Giants. The Raiders will reportingly play a combination of Kenny Pickett and Aidan O’Connell.
Smith struggled this season before he went down. The 35-year-old quarterback threw 3,025 yards, 19 touchdowns and led the NFL with 17 interceptions.
The 2-14 Raiders will secure the No. 1 with a loss to the Giants on Sunday.
Fri, January 2, 2026 at 1:55 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
The Philadelphia Eagles rule out defensive tackle Jalen Carter, linebacker Nakobe Dean, tight end Dallas Goedert and offensive tackle Lane Johnson against the Washington Commanders, according to their injury report.
Carter is dealing with a hip injury and has previously battled a shoulder injury this season. Dean is nursing a hamstring injury.
Goedert has a knee injury. Johnson has not played since Week 11 with a foot injury. Eagles edge rusher Jaelan Phillips and safety Marcus Epps have also been ruled out.
At 11-5, the Eagles have clinched the NFC East.
Fri, January 2, 2026 at 1:42 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
The Los Angeles Chargers rule out running back Omarion Hampton for Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos, according to the team’s injury report. Hampton missed practice this week with an ankle injury.
Running backs Hassan Haskins and Kimani Vidal are also questionable after being limited in practice for parts of the week.
Benjamin St-Juste, RJ Mickens and Bradley Bozeman are questionable, while Jamaree Salyer and Elijah Molden are doubtful. Chargers cornerback Nikko Reed has been ruled out with a hamstring injury.
At 11-5, the Chargers are locked in to a wild card spot.
Fri, January 2, 2026 at 1:08 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
The New York Giants ruled out wide receiver Wan’dale Robinson, cornerback Cor’Dale Flott and tight end Theo Johnson, according to the team’s injury report.
Robinson is dealing with a rib injury. Robinson finished the season with 92 catches for a career-high 1,014 yards and four touchdowns.
Flott and safety Jevon Holland are battling knee injuries. Flott had 38 tackles, 11 pass breakups and 1 interception this season. Holland has 63 tackles, 5 pass breakups and 1 interception.
The Giants also ruled out Rakeem Nunez-Roche with an ankle and toe.
Giants linebacker Abdul Carter, wide receiver Jalin Hyatt and defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence were not given an injury designation for Sunday’s game.
Fri, January 2, 2026 at 12:55 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
The Dallas Cowboys will be without their top two running backs against the New York Giants. The Cowboys have ruled out running backs Javonte Williams and Malik Davis, according to the team’s injury reports.
Williams has been dealing with a shoulder and neck injury, while Davis has dealt with a calf and eye injury.
Rookie RB Jaydon Blue and fullback Hunter Luepke are expected to be next up for carries.
At 7-8-1, the Cowboys are eliminated from playoff contention.
Fri, January 2, 2026 at 12:51 PM PST
Andy Backstrom
Marvin Harrison Jr. has recorded only one catch since the start of December. His second season with the Arizona Cardinals has been full of setbacks, the latest a heel injury on one leg and a foot issue on the other.
The Cardinals placed Harrison on injured reserve Friday, and he won’t play in their regular-season finale Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams.
Harrison, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 draft, will clock out with just 608 receiving yards in Year 2.
Fri, January 2, 2026 at 12:47 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
The Los Angeles Rams have listed running back Kyren Williams as questionable but he is expected to play, according to head coach Sean McVay.
The Rams are also expecting to activate tight end Tyler Higbee off of IR before Sunday’s game against the Cardinals.
Williams has been limited this week with an ankle injury. Higbee has been on IR since Week 11 with an ankle injury. The Rams are locked into a wild-card spot heading into their last regular season game.
Fri, January 2, 2026 at 12:27 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze is questionable, according to their injury report. Odunze has missed the last four games with a foot injury.
Odunze reportingly felt good at Friday’s practice but did not say when he is coming back. Odunze also said he did not think he would need foot surgery.
The Bears also ruled out defensive end Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and listed defensive backs Jaquan Brisker and Nick McCloud as questionable.
Fri, January 2, 2026 at 12:10 PM PST
Tarohn Finley
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy has no injury designation and will start on Sunday against the Packers, according to head coach Kevin O’Connell.
McCarthy has missed the last two games with a hairline fracture in his right hand. Max Brosmer started the last two games at quarterback for the Vikings.
After missing time with an ankle injury and a concussion, McCarthy has only played in nine games this season. He missed all of his rookie season with a torn meniscus.
At 8-8, the Vikings are eliminated from playoff contention.
Fri, January 2, 2026 at 11:59 AM PST
Tarohn Finley
The Cleveland Browns will be without two of their standout rookies in the regular season finale.
Browns tight end Harold Fannin Jr. and linebacker Carson Schwesinger have been ruled out in Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals, according to ESPN’s Daniel Oyefusi.
Fannin finished with 72 receptions, 731 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns. Schwesinger had 157 total tackles, 11 TFLs and 2.5 sacks. Both were named Pro Bowl alternates.
Browns tight end D.avid Njoku has also been ruled out. He finished with 33 catches for 293 yards and 4 touchdowns in 12 games.
Browns defensive end Myles Garrett and quarterback Dillon Gabriel were also removed from the injury report. Garrett is one sack away from breaking the NFL’s single-season record.
Fri, January 2, 2026 at 11:46 AM PST
Tarohn Finley
The Indianapolis Colts ruled out cornerback Sauce Gardner and tight end Will Mallory for Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans.
Gardner has been dealing with a calf injury and has only been able to play four games for the Colts since being traded by the Jets at the trade deadline.
Gardner was traded for two first-round picks and second-year wide receiver Adonai Mitchell. Mallory is dealing with a lung injury. Mallory played in two games this season and finished with one catch for 16 yards.
The Colts were eliminated from playoff contention in Week 17. The Colts lost the last six games after starting the season 8-2.
Fri, January 2, 2026 at 11:37 AM PST
Tarohn Finley
Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown is expected to play and offensive tackle Penei Sewell was ruled out for the regular season finale against the Chicago Bears, according to the team’s injury report.
Sewell’s availability will not impact whether quarterback Jared Goff plays, according to head coach Dan Campbell.
Sewell has missed practice time this week due to an ankle injury. This is the first game that he will miss in the NFL.
St. Brown did not practice on Wednesday and was limited on Thursday because of knee and ankle injuries. The Lions were eliminated from playoff contention in Week 17.