NFL notebook: QB Daniel expected to start for Bears

Quarterback Chase Daniel is expected to be under center when the Chicago Bears visit the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving, multiple media outlets reported on Wednesday. Starting quarterback Mitchell Trubisky officially was listed as doubtful after sustaining an injury to his throwing shoulder following a late hit by safety Harrison Smith during the fourth quarter of Sunday night's 25-20 win over the Minnesota Vikings. Trubisky, 24, has an AC sprain in his throwing shoulder and not a labrum issue, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported. Daniel hasn't started an NFL game since the 2014 season. He has completed 51 of 78 passes for 480 yards with a touchdown and an interception during his nine-year career. The 32-year-old Daniel is familiar with head coach Matt Nagy's offensive scheme. The two were together with the Kansas City Chiefs from 2013-15 before reuniting in Chicago during the offseason. --Quarterback Marcus Mariota of the Tennessee Titans, who left last Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts because of what originally was called an elbow injury, was limited in practice on Wednesday. Head coach Mike Vrabel said this week that Mariota actually sustained a stinger when he was sacked late in the second quarter by Colts defensive lineman Tyquan Lewis. Mariota did not return against the Colts in the second half and Blaine Gabbert replaced him at quarterback as the Titans (5-5) went down to a 38-10 defeat. Mariota told reporters after practice on Wednesday that that he was able to grip the football without any problem despite the injury and that he expects he will be able to play against the Houston Texans even without a full week of practice. "I was able to go through individual (drills), and I am taking it one day at a time, but it felt pretty good today," Mariota said. --Quarterback Joe Flacco of the Baltimore Ravens, who has not played or practiced since sustaining a hip injury in Week 9 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, did not practice again on Wednesday. After a week to heal because of the Ravens' bye week, Flacco was unable to play against the Cincinnati Bengals, even though coach John Harbaugh said if was healthy he could play even without practicing all week. Harbaugh is singing a different tune this week, saying: "Yes, it will be tough for him this week coming." The Ravens might not need him when they host the Oakland Raiders (2-8) on Sunday because rookie Lamar Jackson replaced Flacco last Sunday and was impressive in his first NFL start. Jackson, the 2016 Heisman Trophy winner from Louisville and the Ravens' No. 1 draft choice this year, passed for 150 yards and rushed for another 117 on 27 carries in a 24-21 victory over the Bengals. --New York Jets rookie quarterback Sam Darnold dressed for practice and stretched with his teammates on Wednesday, but did then did not take part in the workout because of a lingering right foot injury. During the practice, he was limited to light throwing and jogging. Darnold, the No. 3 overall pick in this year's draft out of USC, has not practiced or played since sustaining the injury in a Week 9 loss to the Miami Dolphins, missing a blowout loss to the Buffalo Bills in Week 10. Even though he shed the walking boot he was wearing during the Jets' bye week, it is starting to seem unlikely that he will play on Sunday against the New England Patriots. If Darnold can't play, Josh McCown will make his second start of the season against the Patriots. "He's getting better, he's progressing along," Jets head coach Todd Bowles told reporters on Wednesday. "We'll see how he is by Friday." --The Tampa Bay Buccaneers placed tight end O.J. Howard on injured reserve, the team announced. Howard sustained ankle and foot injuries when he was tackled from behind in the second half of Sunday's 38-35 loss to the New York Giants. Cameron Brate will see an uptick in snaps in the absence of Howard, who recorded 34 receptions for 565 yards and a team high-tying five touchdowns. The 24-year-old's receiving yards rank fifth among tight ends while his touchdown total is tied for the third-most in the league. Howard has collected 60 catches for 997 yards and 11 touchdowns in 24 career contests since being selected by Tampa Bay with the 19th overall pick of the 2017 draft. Brate, 27, has 17 catches for 159 yards and three touchdowns this season for the Buccaneers (3-7), who host the San Francisco 49ers (2-8) on Sunday (1 p.m. ET). Tampa Bay signed defensive back Josh Shaw to the available roster spot and added defensive end Demone Harris to the practice squad. --Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley was limited by a mild ankle injury during Monday's wild 54-51 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Rams coach Sean McVay told reporters that Gurley had his ankle rolled early in the contest. "It wasn't anything that's going to like prevent him from playing or anything like that," McVay said during a teleconference. "But you could just see. "And he's so tough, he's not going to say anything, but it bothered him a little bit." Gurley finished with a season-low 15 touches for 94 yards (55 rushing, 39 receiving) and didn't find the end zone in a game that featured 14 touchdowns. The reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year had scored at least one touchdown in every game this season prior to Monday's shootout. With Los Angeles (10-1) on its bye this week, McVay said that Gurley, who leads the league in rushing (1,043 yards) and total touchdowns (17), should be fine to face the Detroit Lions on Dec. 2. --Cincinnati Bengals starting middle linebacker Preston Brown was placed on injured reserve, the team announced. Brown sustained a knee injury in the third quarter of the Bengals' 51-14 loss to the New Orleans Saints on Nov. 11. The 26-year-old Cincinnati native sat out Sunday's 24-21 setback to the Baltimore Ravens. Brown, who tied for the NFL lead with 144 tackles in 2017, has recorded 42 tackles and two interceptions in seven games this season. He missed two contests after sustaining an ankle injury in the season opener, marking the first time in his five-year career that an injury kept him out of a contest. Hardy Nickerson filled in for Brown last week and registered 11 tackles against the Ravens. The Bengals (5-5) have placed nine players on injured reserve this season: Brown, defensive linemen Ryan Glascow (knee) and Carl Lawson (knee), defensive back Trayvon Henderson (arm), offensive lineman Rod Taylor (knee) and tight ends Mason Schreck (knee), Tyler Eifert (ankle), Tyler Kroft (foot) and Cethan Carter (shoulder). --Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers announced that he will donate $1 million to aid those affected by the wildfires in California. The situation in the Golden State hits home for Rodgers, who is a native of Chico (Calif.), and attended Butte College and the University of California. "The California wildfires have devastated countless communities," the 34-year-old Rodgers said in a video posted on Twitter. "In Northern California, where I was born and raised, the city of Paradise burned to the ground, and many of the residents who got out are now displaced to my hometown of Chico, and across the north state. I personally reached out to my friends and the mayor of Chico to find out how to be of the most help. And raising money for both immediate needs and the long-term recovery is what is needed most right now. "This is why I'm partnering with the North Valley Community Foundation and donating $1 million to help with recovery and eventual rebuild of these communities." One of Rodgers' long-time corporate partners, State Farm, will also donate $1 up to $1 million for every retweet of his post through Sunday -- using the hashtag #retweet4good. --Rookie wide receiver Michael Gallup is expected to play for the Dallas Cowboys in Thursday's game versus the Washington Redskins. Gallup took part in meetings as well as the walkthrough on Wednesday, three days after learning of the death of his brother. The 22-year-old Gallup was informed of his brother's passing in the locker room by his sister following the Cowboys' 22-19 win against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. Dallas improved to 5-5 on the season heading into a tilt with the NFC East-leading Redskins (6-4) on Thursday (4:30 p.m. ET). Gallup expressed his appreciation toward the organization over social media on Tuesday. "I want to thank my teammates, the Cowboys family, friends & fans for their love and support. It means so much that y'all are here for me and my family during this time," Gallup wrote on Twitter. Gallup has recorded 16 receptions for 285 yards and one touchdown in 10 games since being selected by the Cowboys in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He had three catches for 81 yards and a score in Dallas' 20-17 loss to Washington on Oct. 21. --The Cleveland Browns designated cornerback Terrance Mitchell to return from injured reserve, the team announced. Mitchell started four games before fracturing his wrist in the second quarter of Cleveland's 45-42 overtime loss to the Oakland Raiders on Sept. 30. He underwent surgery on the wrist the day after the game. The 26-year-old Mitchell returned to the practice field on Wednesday, but is not eligible to play until Week 14 against the Carolina Panthers on Dec. 9. Mitchell joined the Browns in March as an unrestricted free agent. He recorded 19 tackles, one interception, three passes defensed, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery before being injured. E.J. Gaines, who was Mitchell's replacement, is out for the season after sustaining a second concussion during a 37-21 setback to the Kansas City Chiefs on Nov. 4. The 26-year-old Gaines finished with 13 tackles and one interception. --Los Angeles Rams linebacker Samson Ebukam was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week, the NFL announced Wednesday. Ebukam scored two touchdowns on turnovers in the Rams' 54-51 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night. Denver Broncos linebacker Von Miller was tabbed as the AFC Defensive Player of the Week after he recorded an interception and returned the ball 42 yards to set up a score in Sunday's 23-22 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. New York Giants rookie running back Saquon Barkley was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week after rushing for 142 yards and two touchdowns and adding a receiving score in Sunday's 38-35 triumph over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck was tabbed as the AFC Offensive Player of the Week after throwing for 297 yards and three touchdowns in Sunday's 38-10 romp over the Tennessee Titans. Luck has tossed at least three scoring strikes in seven straight games. Chicago Bears kicker Cody Parkey was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week after kicking three field goals in Sunday night's 25-20 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. Oakland Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson was tabbed as the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week after making a 35-yard field goal as time expired in Sunday's 23-21 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.