The Eagles’ QB played with a knee brace after suffering an injury in the divisional round win over the Rams.
The conference championship games are set in the NFL. In the AFC, the Chiefs are back on the doorstep of the Super Bowl for the seventh-straight season and taking on the Bills in what’s become one of the preeminent rivalries in the NFL this decade. In the NFC, the Eagles are looking to get back to a second Super Bowl in three years, and they’ll host the Commanders, who are in their first NFC title game since the 1991 season.
Bumps and bruises are the name of the game at this time of the season, and while some teams aren’t dealing with many — at least that’s what Andy Reid said coming out of the divisional round — others are waiting for some news from the trainer’s room.
Meanwhile, with the Texans, Lions, Rams and Ravens eliminated, some coaching searches may pick up. The Bears made a move to land Johnson on Monday afternoon, which took him off the table. The Jets, Jaguars, Saints, Raiders and Cowboys are still in the interview process for their head coaching vacancies.
Jalen Hurts’ knee injury
The Eagles quarterback, who missed the final two weeks of the regular season with a concussion, injured his knee in the third quarter of the 28-22 win over the Rams in the divisional round. He was able to finish the game, but he was wearing a knee brace. After the win, Hurts declined to say anything other than he “finished the game” when asked by NBC Sports’ Melissa Stark if he was OK following the injury.
In his postgame press conference, Hurts did said he expects to be ready to play next week. The Eagles did not say anything about the injury — the team injury reports will be out later in the week ahead of the NFC title game on Sunday in Philadelphia.
Jalen Hurts (knee) says yes, he feels confident he’ll play next week in NFC Championship https://t.co/1JNoNbyYBl
— Jori Epstein (@JoriEpstein) January 20, 2025
Commanders starting guard out for the season
Sam Cosmi, who signed a 4-year, $74 million contract before the season as one of the top-10 highest-paid guards in the league, will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL he suffered in the team’s 45-31 win over the Lions. He’s started every game for the Commanders over the past two seasons and is in his fourth season. Backup Trent Scott is likely to have the first crack at replacing Cosmi. He finished the divisional round win at right guard and had his biggest highlight of the season catching a touchdown pass in a win earlier this year over the Bengals.
Stay tuned with Yahoo Sports as we track all the playoff injury and NFL coaching news this week:
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FeaturedMon, January 20, 2025 at 3:38 PM ESTRyan Young
Bears hire Lions OC Ben Johnson
The Chicago Bears have their next head coach. The franchise announced on Tuesday that former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is their guy. The move came just a f days after the Lions were knocked out of the playoffs.
Johnson, fresh off a dominant run as the Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator, was one of the most sought-after candidates this coaching cycle. He spent the last three seasons in that role with the Lions, and helped them to back-to-back playoff appearances — which is something the franchise hasn’t seen in decades.
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FeaturedMon, January 20, 2025 at 9:11 AM ESTYahoo Sports Staff
NFL playoff bracket and conference title game schedule
The NFL’s final four is set. Here’s the conference championship Sunday schedule:
Sunday, Jan. 26
NFC championship: Washington Commanders at Philadelphia Eagles
Time: 3 p.m. ET
AFC championship: Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs
Time: 6:30 p.m. ET
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Tue, January 21, 2025 at 2:16 PM ESTYahoo Sports Staff
Bears make it official with Ben Johnson
Johnson made his first appearance at Halas Hall on Tuesday and will met the media on Wednesday.
📍 Chicago pic.twitter.com/1LZKUd86LN
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) January 21, 2025
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Tue, January 21, 2025 at 10:28 AM ESTSean Leahy
Giants OC Mike Kafka gets second interview with Saints today
Giants offensive coordinator and assistant head coach Mike Kafka has a second interview today with the Saints, per source. Kafka came close to landing the Seahawks HC job last year. Considered a strong candidate again this year in NO.
— Jordan Raanan (@JordanRaanan) January 21, 2025
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Tue, January 21, 2025 at 10:12 AM ESTSean Leahy
Cowboys to speak to OC Brian Schottenheimer for head coaching job
The #Cowboys are expected to interview their own OC Brian Schottenheimer for their vacant head coaching job, per me and @SlaterNFL.
Well-respected in the building, Schottenheimer has been an OC for more than a decade. Intriguing option to take the next step. pic.twitter.com/1Kz3txHFZL
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 21, 2025
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Tue, January 21, 2025 at 10:12 AM ESTSean Leahy
Jets hoping to end Monday with Aaron Glenn as their new head coach
A monumental day: Top target Aaron Glenn visits the #Jets & the goal is to keep him from leaving the building, sources say.
The deal isn’t done & there are still some particulars to discuss. But if all goes well, he could end today as HC of the NYJ. If not, the #Saints await. pic.twitter.com/70yHBb5Rel
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 21, 2025
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Mon, January 20, 2025 at 10:38 PM ESTRyan Young
Cooper Kupp ‘would love to be in LA’
Cooper Kupp wants to play football again next season. But whether he returns to the Los Angeles Rams, he said on Monday, isn’t up to him.
“I feel like I’ve got a lot of good football left in me,” Kupp said, via ESPN’s Sarah Barshop. “I’ll be playing football next year. That much I know … Obviously would love to be in L.A., but I don’t know what that’s going to look like.”
Kupp, who was the subject of trade rumors before the deadline this past season, has two years left on his deal with the Rams. He had five catches for 61 yards in their loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
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Mon, January 20, 2025 at 5:27 PM ESTRyan Young
Robert Saleh interviewing with the Jags again
Since the first interview in Jacksonville went well, Robert Saleh is headed back to talk with the Jaguars about their open job later this week.
Former #Jets head coach Robert Saleh has a second interview with the #Jaguars scheduled for Friday, per sources.
Saleh acquitted himself well in first interview and gets a longer look. pic.twitter.com/PlbsdjAfah
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) January 20, 2025
The Jaguars are also expected to meet with Raiders DC Patrick Graham and Buccaneers OC Liam Coen this week, too.
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Mon, January 20, 2025 at 4:45 PM ESTRyan Young
Cowboys interview Leslie Frazier
The Cowboys continue their search to replace Mike McCarthy. Frazier, who was the Bills’ defensive coordinator for years, spent last season as an assistant with the Seahawks.
We have completed an in-person interview with Leslie Frazier for our Head Coach position.#DallasCowboys | 🗞️: https://t.co/Lu0Uk2HffP pic.twitter.com/4wZP6y6TqF
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) January 20, 2025
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Mon, January 20, 2025 at 3:49 PM ESTRyan Young
Colts hire Lou Anarumo as next DC
The Indianapolis Colts have their next defensive coordinator. The Colts are hiring ex-Bengals DC Lou Anarumo, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Anarumo spent the last six seasons with the Bengals, but they fired in him earlier this month after missing the playoffs.
For more on the Colts’ move, click here.
Colts are hiring former Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo as their defensive coordinator, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 20, 2025
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Mon, January 20, 2025 at 1:55 PM ESTYahoo Sports Staff
Report: Lions DC Aaron Glenn to get 2nd interview with Jets
#Lions DC Aaron Glenn, one of the top coaching candidates, is set for an in-person, second interview with the #Jets, per me and @MikeGarafolo.
Glenn will have options and electing to do his first visit to the team that drafted him, where he was an All-Pro, is significant. pic.twitter.com/5H9odk33Qp
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 20, 2025
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Mon, January 20, 2025 at 1:40 PM ESTFrank Schwab
Brian Schottenheimer is the new betting favorite to be the Cowboys’ next head coach
Brian Schottenheimer’s name hasn’t been mentioned often in this head-coaching cycle. Tennessee State coach Eddie George has created more buzz.
But the betting market seems to believe Schottenheimer will be the next head coach of the Dallas Cowboys.
Schottenheimer suddenly became the favorite in the market for the next Cowboys head coach at DraftKings. He’s a pretty large favorite too, at -250 odds (bet $250 to win $100). Kellen Moore, who was the favorite, went back to +250 odds.
Schottenheimer has been on the Cowboys’ staff the past three seasons, the last two as offensive coordinator. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has always put a priority on coaches he is familiar with, so that fits.
But it would be a surprising hire, and likely not to be very popular among Cowboys fans.
Read more here.
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Mon, January 20, 2025 at 12:48 PM ESTCharles Robinson
Lamar Jackson on Ravens’ latest playoff frustration: ‘Tired of this s***’
As Lamar Jackson spoke Sunday night, the Baltimore Ravens quarterback kept smacking his hands together as though he were awake, but trying to snap himself out of a bad dream.
“I tried to squeeze the ball, it slipped”…SMACK ... “out of my hand.”
“Tonight, the turnovers, we can’t have that s***”… SMACK …”you know?”
“It’s hold on to the f***ing ball. I’m sorry for my language”… SMACK …”but this s*** annoying. I’m tired of this s***.”
It seemed like a momentary physical tick born out of angry energy. Or disappointment. Maybe some combination of disbelief and frustration. And it was unquestionably fitting. Almost any of those emotions — and maybe all of them — painted the proper picture of the Ravens after a 27-25 AFC playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills that was nothing if not a summary of mistakes and missed chances in the divisional round.
Read the full story here.
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Mon, January 20, 2025 at 10:48 AM ESTIan Casselberry
Saints bringing Giants OC Mike Kafka for 2nd interview
Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka is getting a second interview with the Saints for their head coaching opening, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
The #Saints are flying in #Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka today for a second interview for their head coaching job on Tuesday, per sources.
Kafka has been a finalist for three jobs in the past two cycles. Now, a longer look in New Orleans. pic.twitter.com/wLRQ4NVOnP
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) January 20, 2025
Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver will also get a second interview with New Orleans, according to eporter Mike Triplett.
Kafka first interviewed with the Saints on Jan. 9, while Weaver spoke with team officials on Jan. 8.
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Mon, January 20, 2025 at 10:21 AM ESTIan Casselberry
Lions’ Dan Campbell expects to lose Ben Johnson, Aaron Glenn
With the Lions’ playoff loss, offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn are free to take head coaching positions that are offered. Detroit coach Dan Campbell says he expect to lose both coordinators, though he hasn’t heard of any hirings.
Coach Campbell on potentially replacing coordinators pic.twitter.com/iH5uPlNdpj
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) January 20, 2025
However, Campbell intends for the team to keep doing what’s led to success.
“This train rolls on,” he said. “I’ll find the next best guys for us.”
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Mon, January 20, 2025 at 10:01 AM ESTYahoo Sports Staff
Ravens support Mark Andrews after critical fumble, drop on 2-point conversion
Mark Andrews is a seven-year NFL veteran and one of the best Baltimore Ravens players of his generation.
He had one of the worst games of his career Sunday at a brutal time. The three-time Pro Bowl tight end dropped a ball in the first half, then made two critical mistakes late in Baltimore’s playoff loss to the Buffalo Bills.
Read more here.
John Harbaugh: “We wouldn’t be here without Mark Andrews.” pic.twitter.com/eD1QVQcnf0
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) January 20, 2025
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Mon, January 20, 2025 at 8:50 AM ESTJori Epstein
Is this the Eagles’ secret weapon?
Sighs of relief canvassed the Philadelphia Eagles’ postgame locker room.
“Thank God for our defense,” left tackle Jordan Mailata said when asked about the win.
“That’s a big part of why we’re in here celebrating now — because of that defense,” wide receiver DeVonta Smith added from another section of cubbies.
Even running back Saquon Barkley, fresh off 232 scrimmage yards but nonetheless part of an offense that failed to reach the end zone for more than 41 minutes in the middle of the game, joined the chorus.
“Man, our defense is special, making plays for us,” said Barkley, who rushed for a franchise playoff-record 205 yards. “We’re going to go back and see what we can do better on offense.”
In some ways, the concern floating over Philadelphia’s offense felt dramatic. The Eagles had just won their 16th game of the season, playoffs included, and will host the Washington Commanders in the NFC championship game after powering past the Los Angeles Rams, 28-22.
Read the full story here.