Oakland Raiders rookie quarterback Connor Cook will make his first career NFL start in Saturday’s wild-card playoff game against the Houston Texans, coach Jack Del Rio announced Wednesday.
The 23-year-old Cook has a total of 30 snaps in his NFL career, all in the regular-season finale when he replaced Matt McGloin, who left Sunday’s 24-6 loss to the Denver Broncos with a shoulder injury.
Cook was 14 of 21 for 150 yards with a touchdown, an interception and a lost fumble against the Broncos.
Cook will become the first quarterback in NFL history whose first start comes in the playoffs. The Raiders had no other choice with Pro Bowler Derek Carr out with a broken leg and McGloin’s shoulder injury causing him to miss practice. Cook, a fourth-round pick from Michigan State, was the Raiders’ No. 3 quarterback for 15 games this season.
Quarterback Tom Savage remains in the NFL’s concussion and will not back up Brock Osweiler in Saturday’s wild-card playoff game against Oakland. O’Brien said there was still a chance Savage could play but confirmed Brandon Weeden will be active as the backup quarterback at NRG Stadium.
Weeden was active for only two games this season when Savage missed time with an elbow injury. Texans coach Bill O’Brien named Osweiler as the starter on Tuesday over Savage, who sustained a concussion in Sunday’s 24-17 loss to the Tennessee Titans.
Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill did not practice Wednesday because of his left knee injury but still could return for Sunday’s wild-card game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Tannehill has been sidelined since the Dec. 11 game against the Arizona Cardinals with a sprained ACL and MCL in his left knee. Coach Adam Gase said the staff will decide later if Tannehill will practice Thursday.
Gase said starting Tannehill without any practice reps “would be hard for us to do. I need to see him move around with traffic around him, how his escapability is.” Matt Moore has started in Tannehill’s place.
The Detroit Lions will keep coach Jim Caldwell through at least next season, ending speculation as the team prepares for Saturday’s wild-card game.
The Lions put any rumours to rest by confirming Caldwell will return for a fourth season in 2017 no matter what happens in the playoff game on the road against the Seattle Seahawks.
Caldwell is 27-21 in three seasons since taking over in 2014, guiding the Lions to the playoffs in two of the last three campaigns. Detroit sprinted to a 9-4 record and a two-game lead in the NFC North but stumbled to three straight losses — still enough to earn a wild-card spot at 9-7.
New England Patriots offensive co-ordinator Josh McDaniels is expected to interview with three NFL teams this weekend for their head-coaching openings.
McDaniels has officially scheduled interviews Saturday in Foxborough, Mass., with the Los Angeles Rams, Jacksonville Jaguars and San Francisco 49ers for their vacancies, a league source confirmed to The Boston Globe.
The 40-year-old McDaniels went 8-8 in his first season with the Denver Broncos but was fired the following season after a 3-9 start. He served one season as offensive co-ordinator and quarterbacks coach with the Rams in 2011 before returning to the Patriots in 2012.
Defensive coordinator Matt Patricia is expected to be on a similar schedule Saturday as he is set to interview with the San Diego Chargers and Rams for their head-coaching vacancies. Patricia, 42, has been the defensive co-ordinator in New England since the 2012 season.
Oakland Raiders rookie quarterback Connor Cook.
