1. Colts hoping for some Luck: The Colts were hoping they would get franchise quarterback Andrew Luck back for the final three games of the 2015 season, but now his return is in doubt.
According to ESPN, Luck's return is in question following a lacerated kidney he suffered during the team's Nov. 8 game against the Broncos. The initial recovery timeline was set at two to six weeks, but people in the Colts' organization don't see a Luck return close to happening.
The 26-year-old quarterback told reporters that he expects to practice this week, but that he isn't at 100 percent yet. However, he did say that he would play again this season.
But there's a strong possibility that Luck does not return this season given the nature of his kidney injury. The Colts have limited Luck's activities because increasing his heart rate would pump more blood to his kidneys which would delay the healing process.
Meanwhile, backup quarterback Matt Hasselbeck injury questions of his own. The 40-year-old has been dealing with back, rib and shoulder injuries that were worsened during Sunday's loss to the Jaguars. While Hasselbeck is banged up, the Colts expect the seasoned veteran to be available for their Week 15 match up against the Texans.
At 6-7, the Colts are tied with the Texans atop the AFC South.
2. Dalton won't need thumb surgery: The Bengals received some good news Monday when it was revealed that quarterback Andy Dalton would not need surgery to repair the broken thumb he suffered during the team's Week 14 loss to the Steelers.
The news is a big break for the Bengals, as surgery would've kept Dalton out for the rest of the regular season and possibly a number of playoff games.
AJ McCarron will assume duties as the team's starting quarterback for next Sunday's game against the 49ers. After next week's game, Dalton will be evaluated before the Bengals' Week 16 match up with the Broncos.
"That's about as good an outcome right now that we could expect," Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis said, via ESPN.
3. Desperate Ravens sign QB Mallett: After losing both Joe Flacco and Matt Schaub to injury, the Ravens signed former Texans quarterback Ryan Mallett. The signing is expected to be confirmed Tuesday.
The move comes 12 days after Mallett auditioned for the Ravens, who have had three different starting quarterbacks over the last four weeks. The move could indicate that the Ravens are looking to place Schaub on season-ending IR, which would leave Jimmy Clausen and Bryn Renner as the only healthy quarterbacks on Baltimore's roster. The addition of Mallett would help stabilize the position for the remainder of the season.
While all signs point to the signing, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh refused to confirm the move while addressing reporters on Monday.
"No, I can't confirm it. I haven't been informed of that. We worked him out a couple of weeks ago," Harbaugh said, via ESPN. "He had a good workout. He had some personal things that he had to work through. If [the signing] happens in the near future, that would be great. If it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen. But that's not something I've been told that we've done to date."
Mallett battled Brian Hoyer for the starting quarterback job in Houston, but he was cut on Oct. 27 after being late for team activities following the announcement that Hoyer would be the team's starter.
The Ravens could be grooming Mallett to be Flacco's backup in 2016, as the team likely realizes that Hasselbeck, especially at age 40, is not a long-term option as a backup quarterback.
According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, Mallett will sign a deal that could earn him up to $2.5 million in 2016.
After deciding last night to join #Ravens over a push from QB-needy teams, Ryan Mallett will sign today a deal with up to $2.5M in 2016
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 15, 2015
In his career, Mallett has completed 53.1 percent of his passes for 1,187 yards, five touchdowns and seven interceptions.
