Press conferences are happening all around, with coaches shedding light on who will or won't be playing in Week 18. Here's some of the biggest absences that coaches are making official so far.
Nick Sirianni says the team will be resting starters in Week 18. First and foremost, Saquon Barkley will not be breaking Eric Dickerson's record for rushing yards, because he won't be playing. This is kind of a downer, I guess, but I'm in the camp that some of these season-long records don't have quite the same gravity with the season continuing to get longer. That is, Dickerson set his record in 16 games, Barkley (if he did it) would do it in 17 games, and what happens when the league goes to 18 games, as is inevitable?There will be more 2,000-yard rushers and the record will eventually fall, and it won't seem as such a big deal. In my opinion, many will disagree, that's cool. Anyhoo, no Barkley on Sunday, and no Jalen Hurts, DeVonta Smith or A.J. Brown either.
Carson Wentz will start at quarterback for Kansas City, at Denver. Not surprising. No Patrick Mahomes, no Isiah Pacheco, no Travis Kelce, no whatever other starters they deem to have value. Denver had still better show up to ready to play an NFL game, but their matchup is clearly more advantageous than it would have been.
The Rams won't be playing any starters. No surprises there. Do not start Stafford, Kyren, Puka or Kupp. No way, no how.
Josh Allen will "start" to keep his consecutive games streak, which is going on six seasons. (Side note, I was confused initially because he only played 16 games in 2022, but that was the Damar Hamlin season, when Buffalo's full schedule was 16 games.) But look for Allen to hand the ball off for a series and take a seat.
Titans are reportedly planning to play both of their quarterbacks, Will Levis and Mason Rudolph. I assume no one needed encouragement not to use either player, now you definitely don't.
Brock Purdy (elbow) won't play for San Francisco.
Mike McDaniel says the Dolphins are preparing to start Tyler Huntley with Tua Tagovailoa (hip) unlikely to play.
If your league plays its Super Bowl in Week 18, my sympathies.
--Andy Richardson
