UNDATED (AP) — While no team has clinched a postseason spot in the jam-packed AFC, there never have been more teams alive in the playoff hunt this late in a season.
Only Chicago, Detroit, Jacksonville, Houston and the New York Jets have been eliminated so far, with 27 teams still with at least a sliver of a postseason chance, tied for the most ever with three weeks left in the season.
The only team that has clinched a spot is the Green Bay Packers, who have won the NFC North after beating Baltimore on Sunday.
Elsewhere around the NFL:
— Browns second-year coach Kevin Stefanski cleared COVID-19 protocols Wednesday and returned to the team after missing Monday’s home loss to Las Vegas, a 16-14 setback that damaged Cleveland’s playoff hopes. Jets coach Robert Saleh tested positive for COVID-19 after feeling symptoms in the morning in the latest in what has been a surge of coronavirus cases on the team. Eagles coach Nick Sirianni also tested positive.
— Drew Lock is preparing for his first — and maybe final — start of 2021 for the Denver Broncos. Coach Vic Fangio ruled out starter Teddy Bridgewater, who has a concussion, for their game Sunday against the Raiders but said it’s possible he’ll return next week against the Chargers if he’s medically cleared: “Whatever’s best for his health moving forward is what we’ll do.”
— Pittsburgh has placed linebackers Devin Bush and Marcus Allen and offensive tackle Zach Banner on the COVID-19 list.
— With a surge of COVID-19 cases threatening to disrupt the NFL season, the league discussed canceling three games last week for the first time since the pandemic began. Two player reps said canceling was never a No. 1 plan. Instead, the games were moved from the weekend to Monday and Tuesday.
— Panthers coach Matt Rhule said Cam Newton will start Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and have a big role in the game. And Sam Darnold also is set to get playing time at quarterback. Darnold is 4-5 as the team’s starter this season, while Newton is 0-4. Darnold hasn’t played since injuring his shoulder and going on injured reserve Nov. 12. He was cleared medically to practice Wednesday with the Panthers. Kicker Zane Gonzalez is on injured reserve. Lirim Hajrullahu was signed off Washington’s practice squad to replace him.
— The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have addressed the need for experienced depth at running back by signing former All-Pro Le’Veon Bell. With starter Leonard Fournette out after suffering a hamstring injury, there’s an opportunity for Ronald Jones to move back into a role he lost to Fournette late last season. Bell is a three-time 1,000-yard rusher who was attractive to the Bucs because of his experience.
— The Jacksonville Jaguars signed running back Ryquell Armstead off Green Bay’s practice squad. The move reunites the 2019 fifth-round pick with the team that drafted him and later cut him. Armstead fills Carlos Hyde’s spot on the 53-man roster. Jacksonville placed Hyde on injured reserve for a concussion.
— While he wanted to play again this season, Daniel Jones said his sprained neck caused him discomfort in certain positions and made it impossible for him to play quarterback for the New York Giants. Jones says he felt he made progress in his third season but admitted the Giants did not win enough games. He doesn’t think the injury will affect his play next season, other than he may be more willing to get down sooner to avoid hits.
