Player Notes

RB Ezekiel Elliott has been ruled inactive for Sunday's game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Elliott was given a well-deserved day off with the NFC East champion Cowboys (9-6) locked in as the No. 4 seed for the upcoming playoffs. The 23-year-old Elliott (1,434 rushing yards) should finish as the league's leading rusher for the second time in three years, barring ...

K Matt McCrane kicked three field goals, including the winner from 35 yards out, in Sunday's 16-13 victory over Cincinnati. McCrane was signed Friday after Chris Boswell was placed on injured reserve. "A couple days ago I was at home playing golf and preparing to get a call," McCrane said. "It's been a month since I kicked in an NFL game. To get out and make the first field goal was big. And to go ...

QB Ben Roethlisberger went 31 of 45 for a 287 yards and one touchdown in Sunday's 16-13 victory over Cincinnati. Roethlisberger finished with 5,129 passing yards, becoming the seventh quarterback to surpass the 5,000 mark.

WR Antonio Brown missed Sunday's game with a knee injury.

RB Joe Mixon rushed for 105 yards in Sunday's 16-13 loss at Pittsburgh. Mixon finished with 1,168 yards -- the most for the team since Cedric Benson's 1,251 in 2009.

S Shawn Williams returned an interception 58 yards for a touchdown in Sunday's 16-13 loss at Pittsburgh.

WR JuJu Smith-Schuster caught an 11-yard touchdown pass in Sunday's 16-13 victory over Cincinnati.

QB Jameis Winston is expected to be the Buccaneers' starting quarterback for the 2019 season, according to a published report Sunday. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported, citing sources, that the Buccaneers believe that Winston still represents the future of the franchise. The team also doesn't see a better option than Winston either in the expected free-agent market or the 2019 NFL Draft. Winston is due ...

WR Julian Edelman is $63,504 lighter in the wallet after being fined by the NFL for three separate incidents of unnecessary roughness in last week's game versus the Buffalo Bills. Edelman was fined $26,739 for each of his two illegal crack-back blocks and $10,026 for blocking safety Siran Neal after calling for a fair catch. The total sum of the fines is more than half of Edelman's weekly pay, which ...

WR Jordy Nelson is expected back with the Oakland Raiders next season. Nelson was among three Oakland players to receive 2019 roster bonuses, according to a report by ESPN. Such a move is an indication that the team plans on retaining the player, Raiders coach Jon Gruden said. In four December games, Nelson has come alive with 29 catches for 308 yards, although he has not reached the end zone since ...