The Facts: Following up on this week's Team Notes. ... Rodgers made it clear on Tuesday that he is not healthy enough to play at this point in his recovery from a torn Achilles tendon, but that is not going to keep the Jets from activating him from injured reserve. HC Robert Saleh shared the team’s plans during a Wednesday press conference. Saleh was clear that Rodgers is “not playing,” but will come off injured reserve because that will allow him to continue practicing with the team over the final weeks of the season.

Diehards Line:“We’re still gonna keep him on the active,” Saleh said. “We’ve got the roster flexibility with all the different things that have happened over the course of the last couple of weeks. It’s all part of his rehab and just having him out on the football field is a plus for everybody. It’s a plus for him, it’s a plus for his teammates so we’re gonna keep him on the 53. ...” Rodgers also said on Tuesday that he plans to play for the Jets beyond the 2024 season, so the next few weeks will be a way to start the process of building what all involved hope will be a better second year with the team.

The Facts: Stroud, who missed Sunday's win over the Tennessee Titans and remains in the concussion protocol, is likely to miss a second straight game this coming Sunday against the Cleveland Browns, sources told ESPN.com's DJ Bien-Aime. "He should miss another game," one source said Tuesday, adding that the Texans will continue to monitor Stroud's progress before making a final decision.

Diehards Line: Stroud, who suffered a concussion in the Texans' 30-6 loss to the New York Jets on Dec. 10, isn't expected to practice Wednesday as he continues to work through the protocol. Case Keenum is the expected starter if Stroud, the No. 2 pick of the 2023 draft, cannot play. Keenum filled in for Stroud in Week 15 and went 23-of-36 for 229 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception as the Texans won 19-16 in overtime to move to 8-6.

The Facts: A report on Tuesday morning said that the Falcons will be starting Heinicke at quarterback against the Colts on Sunday and the team has now confirmed those plans. The team released an updated depth chart for Week 16 on Tuesday and it shows Heinicke on the top rung at quarterback. Desmond Ridder is now the No. 2 and Logan Woodside remains in the third position.

Diehards Line: Ridder was benched in favor of Heinicke earlier this season, but he returned to the job in Week 12. The Falcons won two games after his return, but they’ve lost back-to-back games to the Buccaneers and Falcons to fall to 6-8 on the season. The Falcons were adamant this offseason that Ridder, who was a 2022 third-round pick, was their quarterback of the future. That won’t be the case in the 2024 offseason and the next three weeks will likely determine how many other changes are coming to Atlanta.

The Facts: Chase is likely to miss some time, sources tell NFL Network's Ian Rapoport after the MRI on his separated shoulder today.

Diehards Line: The expectation is that he is sidelined for this week’s game against the Steelers, and it could extend beyond that, as well. ... We'll follow up as needed.

The Facts: Lock is expected to start tonight against the Eagles despite the fact that Geno Smith is active.

Diehards Line: While it's surprising that Smith (questionable, groin) is active but not playing, that's where we're at. Lock fared reasonably well in Smith's place last week and tonight's matchup against a generous Eagles pass defense is favorable. Again, you can access the full inactive lists for all today's games on our Inactives Page.

The Facts: Smith, dealing with a groin injury, is active for tonight's game against the Eagles.

Diehards Line:The Seahawks will dress three QBs tonight, and Smith will be among them. That's a good sign. The team has not yet announced who is starting. But Smith is active. ... You can access the full inactive lists for all today's games on our Inactives Page.

The Facts: Hurts, questionable with an illness, will play tonight against the Seahawks, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo.

Diehards Line: According to the report, Hurts, who was downgraded to questionable due to illness, is feeling well enough to give it a go. ... You'll want to check the inactive list prior to kickoff to verify; but expect the best-case outcome.

The Facts: Pacheco will be back in the Chiefs' lineup for their Week 16 game after sitting out the past two weeks because of shoulder surgery, coach Andy Reid said Monday. "He'll be good to go this week unless there's further setback,' Reid said. "Right now, everything's positive for him to go and he really had a clearance last week from the fellow that did the surgery to go, so it was just a matter of being [cautious] on it.'

Diehards Line: he Chiefs will play in Week 16 against the Las Vegas Raiders on Christmas Day at Arrowhead Stadium. Reid referred to Pacheco's surgery as a cleanup procedure. He had surgery on the same shoulder during the offseason. Pacheco was with the Chiefs last week for walk-through practices and meetings. Before missing the last two games Pacheco was fifth in the NFL in rushing with 779 yards. He also has caught 33 passes and scored seven touchdowns. Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Jerick McKinnon shared the featured back position in Pacheco's absence. Each caught a touchdown pass and McKinnon also threw for a touchdown in Sunday's 27-17 victory over the New England Patriots.

The Facts: Rudolph will get his first start since the 2021 season when the Steelers play host to the Bengals on Saturday afternoon at Acrisure Stadium. Head coach Mike Tomlin said he made the decision based on the performance of Mitch Trubisky in his two starts since starter Kenny Pickett went out with an ankle injury. “We’re not going to sit on our hands and hope for a different outcome,” Tomlin said Monday.

Diehards Line: Tomlin termed Pickett questionable to begin the week. He will practice and has not been ruled out for Saturday’s game. Pickett had surgery to repair his high ankle sprain after the Steelers lost to the Cardinals earlier this month. Rudolph’s most recent start came against the Lions in the middle of the 2021 season when Ben Roethlisberger was injured. That game ended in a tie. He is 5-4-1 as a starter since being drafted out of Oklahoma State in the third round of the 2018 draft. All five of his victories came during the 2019 season when he took over for Roethlisberger after he suffered a season-ending elbow injury.