NFL Week 12: Burrow, Daniels Injury Updates & Coaching Hot List

As the lead-up to Week 12 of the 2025 NFL season occurs, Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano are consulting with their contacts across the league for the most up-to-date information and opinions on important matters – along with some details relevant to fantasy football.

This week, they discovered the most recent updates on the potential returns of quarterbacks Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels, who are attempting to rejoin their teams before the season concludes. Burrow has been inactive since Week 2 because of an injury to his toe, and Daniels has been sidelined since Week 9 because of a left elbow injury. Jeremy and Dan also looked into the situation with the Vikings’ quarterback, J.J. McCarthy, who has had a challenging first five starts. Are there concerns within Minnesota about his development?

In addition, they have the most recent information on the changes happening among head coaches. The Titans and Giants have already made changes, but who else is at risk with seven weeks left in the season? Who are the most talked-about individuals being considered for interviews? It’s all covered, as our national reporters delve into important topics and share what they’ve learned as Week 12 approaches.

Jump to:
Will Burrow, Daniels return?
Is Minnesota concerned about McCarthy?
Which coaches are on the hot seat?
Who are the top coaching candidates?

What are you hearing on potential returns for Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels this season?

Graziano: The Bengals intend to increase Burrow’s practice participation this week compared to last week. He has stated his goal is to play in the Thanksgiving Day game against the Ravens, next Thursday. How his toe reacts to the training will largely determine the outcome. However, based on the information I’ve received, things are going well thus far. If he isn’t able to return for Thanksgiving, the Bengals would still have some time within his 21-day practice window to activate him for the Week 14 game in Buffalo.

Fowler: It is quite evident that Burrow desires to play football, regardless of the record. Whether he will actually play remains to be determined, as the team will have a say in the matter, but he currently has that mindset. The AFC North has provided a slight opening for the 3-7 Bengals if they can somehow improve their defense to a reasonable level. Stranger things have occurred than Cincinnati making a strong comeback, particularly given their offensive capabilities.

Graziano: I anticipate he will play as soon as he is given medical clearance. The Bengals will likely regret losing the leads in the fourth quarter against the Jets and Bears in Weeks 8 and 9, respectively, as they could potentially be 5-5 and only one game away from the top spot in their division. I still believe they will bring him back onto the field, as the coaching staff may need to secure some victories to feel assured about their positions. Furthermore, the team had high expectations for this season. I don’t anticipate the Bengals giving up until it’s mathematically impossible for them to advance.

Fowler: Burrow performs at an exceptional level when healthy; however, he has also missed a significant portion of three seasons since 2020. Returning to play, even if the playoffs are unattainable, could help build confidence and momentum for both the player and team. The Bengals might choose to save him for 2026, but I could still see him playing this season. With Cincinnati at risk of missing the playoffs for a third consecutive season, coach Zac Taylor would welcome Burrow’s return. After all, the Bengals’ management may thoroughly assess the operation in the offseason if a promising season turns sour. With owner Mike Brown turning 90 in August, it is anticipated that executive vice president Katie Blackburn will play a crucial role in determining the direction of the franchise.

Graziano: Regarding Daniels, the Commanders have a bye this week and will evaluate all aspects. They’ve experienced six consecutive losses, bringing their record down to 3-8 after what initially seemed like a promising season. There has been external discussion about whether it is wise to bring back Daniels at all this season. I’ve been informed that the plan in Washington remains for Daniels to rejoin the starting lineup once doctors have cleared him from his elbow injury.

Fowler: In my opinion, Washington’s situation with Daniels is more complicated. Sources have stated that while Daniels could potentially return as soon as three weeks after the injury (meaning Week 13 against Denver), the team has generally prepared for a five-to-six-week absence as a precaution. This indicates that shutting him down is still a possibility, based on his durability this season (three separate injuries) and the team’s current performance. Comprehensive discussions on how to proceed will take place in the coming days, providing clarity one way or the other.

Graziano: I am quite certain that the way this season has played out has surprised the Commanders. They did not foresee a 3-8 record. Thus, this bye week offers an opportunity to reassess and make decisions with a broader perspective, without the immediate need to prepare for a game. Daniels will push to return to the field as soon as possible, and the fact that his current injury is not to his legs or throwing arm is encouraging.

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What’s the buzz on J.J. McCarthy through five starts? Are the Vikings concerned?

Fowler: The accuracy is an area of concern. There is no denying that. Passes are missing their targets, which has an impact on the entire offense. McCarthy needs to complete the easier throws. The Vikings will be working to help him improve his throwing consistency. From a development standpoint, the team still has confidence in his work ethic and skill set; he’s “made of the right stuff,” as coach Kevin O’Connell mentioned Monday. Minnesota essentially has no other option than to work through this and help McCarthy deal with the difficulties that come with being a rookie. Carson Wentz had season-ending shoulder surgery, and Max Brosmer shows promise but is an undrafted free agent. Brosmer might have an opportunity if McCarthy were a middle-round pick, but I do not see that happening in the near future.

ESPN’s Kevin Seifert summarized it well on Monday: The Vikings’ two objectives – competing for championships and developing a young quarterback – are undermining each other.

Graziano: Indeed, as Kevin accurately points out, and one can observe the frustration from the other offensive players. Justin Jefferson’s act of throwing his helmet on the sideline is not a common occurrence. I think this is a significant concern for the Vikings – maintaining harmony around McCarthy as he goes through the growing pains. I don’t think they’ve seriously considered switching to Brosmer, who, as you mentioned, likely needs even more development than McCarthy. The Wentz injury has essentially eliminated any viable alternative, even if they desired to bench McCarthy to allow him to recover.

I also agree that Minnesota continues to have faith in him, and they point to his fourth-quarter efforts in the games against the Bears as evidence that he possesses the right qualities. However, he is clearly missing too many throws by a significant margin. A scout from another team informed me this week that McCarthy is only throwing at one speed – all fastballs – and attributed it to his attempts to be a hero in a situation where he knows his team relies on him to assist them in winning. The general consensus, both within and outside the Vikings’ organization, is that he simply requires time and practice. The issue, as Kevin writes, is that the intention was to compete this year while McCarthy developed, and his slow development is hindering their ability to do so.

Fowler: Most NFL narratives pale in comparison to the Vikings’ recent quarterback situation. They could have had variations of Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones, and Aaron Rodgers leading the team. Those quarterbacks have a combined record of 21-9 this season. The Vikings’ strategy – which is typically correct when a rookie quarterback is involved – is to load the roster with talent on both sides of the ball, with the hope of competing for a Super Bowl with the starter on a rookie-scale contract. As a result, the Vikings have the highest payroll in the league at $344.9 million. However, all of this relies on the young quarterback showing improvement. Minnesota has the next seven games to capitalize on that investment – or potentially change course.

Graziano: That is what I am wondering about as we look ahead. The schedule lightens up a bit, and McCarthy should have the chance to demonstrate improvement in the final seven weeks of the season (and beyond, if they bounce back and make the playoffs). However, if he does not, what will they do in the offseason? Will they bring in a veteran mentor? Will they bring in a veteran to compete, similar to what the Colts did with Jones for a struggling Anthony Richardson Sr. this past offseason? Will they look to draft a potential replacement?

The Vikings’ quarterback decision next spring will reveal everything we need to know about their actual assessment of McCarthy, who still has over one-third of the season remaining to persuade the team that they were correct in placing their trust in him.

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Which coach has the hottest seat at the moment?

Graziano: The usual disclaimer applies here. A lot of the “hot seat” speculation this time of year comes from observers around the league monitoring these situations, and in reality, few individuals know what the team owners will ultimately decide. Having said that, the team owner in Atlanta anticipated the Falcons being competitive this season, but they are not. This raises concerns about the possibility of a change there, even though Raheem Morris is a personal favorite of Arthur Blank and is only in his second season as head coach.

Individuals I speak with are also keeping an eye on the situations in Cincinnati with Taylor, and potentially Cleveland with Kevin Stefanski (who I believe would be a strong candidate elsewhere if the Browns were to decide to part ways with him). A few weeks ago, the obvious answer would have been Mike McDaniel, but he survived the dismissal of GM Chris Grier, and the Dolphins are playing with determination for him. Do you feel McDaniel can still salvage his position?

Fowler: I do. I wouldn’t consider it probable, but I can envision a scenario in which he remains in Miami. The team is coming off consecutive wins, and the overall atmosphere seems positive. The Dolphins are responding to McDaniel rather than disregarding him, which often happens when players become tired of the message. As one NFL executive recently stated in a conversation, if you are searching for a coach with an offensive mindset, McDaniel is still a better option than the majority of the candidates available this cycle, which is seen as less strong. Therefore, while a complete overhaul seems quite possible, McDaniel is at least making the situation interesting.

Graziano: One additional point regarding McDaniel. He accomplished something similar last season, when the team started 2-6 and then won six of its next eight games to fight its way back into playoff contention. He may still end up leaving, but he has demonstrated that he can maintain control of the locker room even when things are not going well, which is a quality that ownership will undoubtedly take into account when making its decision.

Fowler: Jonathan Gannon of Arizona is also being watched by those in the league who follow these matters, although opinions differ on whether Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill will take action. The Cardinals are noticeably the odd team out in a competitive NFC West. Bidwill cannot be pleased with that situation. However, the idea of paying Gannon and Kyler Murray significant sums of money to leave (Murray has nearly $40 million in guaranteed money for 2026) cannot be appealing either. Gannon has a record of 15-29 midway through Year 3, but he has also not had the chance to personally select a young quarterback to develop.

Graziano: Agreed, but my understanding is that Cardinals ownership is likely to stick with Gannon and GM Monti Ossenfort and allow them to select that QB. (They inherited Murray.) The way Jacoby Brissett is performing in Drew Petzing’s offense gives the team reason to believe the structure is relatively solid and that more consistent QB play could unlock some potential. Of course, despite Brissett’s strong performance, the Cardinals have still lost seven of their last eight games, and sometimes the record gets so bad that the team feels compelled to make a change.

What are your thoughts on a couple of first-year head coaches who are struggling? I don’t anticipate the Jets firing Aaron Glenn after just one year, regardless of how difficult things become. However, Pete Carroll only received a three-year contract in Las Vegas. Do you think there is any chance of a one-and-done situation with any of the hires from this past offseason?

Fowler: Agreed on Glenn. Carroll is a name to watch because the Raiders are clearly in a rebuilding phase from a roster/talent perspective. At 74, he is focused on winning now and proving that he is capable of turning an organization around. Those objectives are not aligning. I don’t necessarily see him walking away, although he is clearly not experiencing what he signed up for in January. Therefore, it is worth considering whether the Raiders should reset and continue the rebuild with a different coach. At the very least, the Raiders have promising players such as Brock Bowers, Maxx Crosby, and Ashton Jeanty to help with a potential turnaround in 2026.

Either way, the offense and playcaller Chip Kelly need to change something, as his name could once again come up for college coaching jobs. The 30th-ranked offense is difficult to watch, especially when it involves handing off the ball.

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Who is the hottest name on the head coaching market right now?

Fowler: This cycle seems different from the previous one, which featured two clear standouts in Ben Johnson and Mike Vrabel. Those two quickly turned around Chicago and New England, respectively. This cycle is much more open.

The group of “formers” – coordinators with head coaching experience – will be a factor. Vance Joseph’s defense in Denver might break the NFL record for sacks in a single season, and he has ties to Miami and Cincinnati if those jobs become open. On the defensive side, Robert Saleh of San Francisco and Brian Flores of Minnesota were highly sought after during last offseason’s hiring cycle, and Jeff Hafley of Green Bay – who served as the head coach at Boston College for four seasons – has been impressive in his two seasons with the Packers. On offense, Matt Nagy, offensive coordinator for the Chiefs, has connections in Tennessee. Also, the former coach of the Cowboys/Packers, Mike McCarthy, Kliff Kingsbury, offensive coordinator for the Commanders, has less momentum than last time around but teams are still interested. Arthur Smith, offensive coordinator for the Steelers, may receive consideration.

Graziano: I think the offensive coordinator names to watch are Joe Brady (Bills), Smith, Nagy and maybe Kingsbury, though Washington’s season has gone off the rails and that could dampen interest from teams in him. Otherwise, the OC pool has kind of thinned out in recent years, as so many of them have gotten head coach jobs and been fired within two or three years. I’m curious to see how Mike Kafka does the rest of the way with the Giants. He has been a finalist in Arizona and Seattle in recent years, and I think he’ll get a legitimate look from the Giants.

But there aren’t a ton of places right now where a playcalling offensive coordinator – who isn’t also the head coach – is having the kind of success that lands interviews. Could teams start looking beyond the coordinator positions to position coaches with potential, such as Josh McCown in Minnesota. He has been on head coach interviews in the past and is well regarded. McCarthy turning it around in these final weeks of the season would help his case.

Fowler: Yes, this seems like the ideal year to explore young change-of-pace options beyond the trendy coordinator names. McCown’s a good one. And Broncos quarterbacks coach Davis Webb, Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski, Panthers offensive coordinator Brad Idzik and Rams passing game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase come to mind in that mold.

The thinned-out offensive pool helps Kafka, who should have opportunities leaguewide and could push for the Giants job full time with a strong finish. Klint Kubiak of Seattle has made an impression with the Seahawks attack, as have Jim Bob Cooter of Indianapolis and Josh Grizzard of Tampa Bay. Todd Monken of Baltimore has interviewed for several jobs in recent years.

To me, though, Dan, the emerging defensive pool is really intriguing. I expect Jesse Minter, defensive coordinator for the Chargers, to be on teams’ radar, as well as Chris Shula, DC for the Rams. A name to file away: Aden Durde of Seattle, a British minority candidate. I also wouldn’t be shocked to see Lou Anarumo of Indy interview in New York, which showed interest in him in 2022.

Graziano: It’d be great to see Anarumo get another look after he got close in Arizona three years ago and then things fell apart for him in Cincinnati last season. He has bounced back nicely in Indianapolis, to no one’s surprise. I do hear a lot about Minter as a potential candidate in a couple of places. But to bring this back to where you started it, I was in Denver last week and got an up-close look at that Vance Joseph defense. I continue to think he might just end up being the guy at the top of a bunch of these lists.