Sports
Sources: QB Watson set for Browns return in ’26
Though quarterback Deshaun Watson is unlikely to play this season, the Cleveland Browns are planning to have him on their roster next season, league sources told ESPN.
The Browns opened the practice window on Watson on Wednesday, but they did so in order to give him his first practices this season so that he would not be away from football until next spring.
Their plan still is to get an extended look at both of their rookie quarterbacks, Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel. Sanders will start his third NFL game Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, and Gabriel played throughout the first half of the season. In a perfect world, the Browns rookies will play out this season and get as many reps as possible.
Cleveland’s goal always has been to get an extended look at its quarterbacks to see what it has, especially ahead of the 2026 NFL draft in which it is currently scheduled to have two first-round picks.
There are varied reasons the team expects Watson back next season, with money being a factor. Moving on from him would be costly, as the Browns would incur a dead salary cap charge of close to $135 million if they released him before June 1 and a $53 million cap charge if he were designated a post-June 1 cap casualty.
The record for dead cap money is the Denver Broncos with Russell Wilson at $85 million that was split into $53 million and $32 million charges over two years. Cutting ties with Watson could cost Cleveland substantially more.
As it is, Watson has a salary cap charge of $81.7 million in 2026, which will be highest number in NFL history.
The Browns believe Watson has contributed to their quarterback room and provided a veteran presence that has had value for their rookie quarterbacks. That’s another reason he was back at practice last week and is expected back with the team next season.
Indiana, Ohio State, Georgia and Texas Tech received first-round byes, and James Madison earned the last automatic bid in the 12-team tournament that begins Dec. 19.
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The Notre Dame Fighting Irish announced on Sunday the team will forgo playing in a bowl game after it was left out of the College Football Playoff field.
Notre Dame was chosen as the first team out as the College Football Playoff Committee revealed the bracket for the tournament. The Miami Hurricanes skipped over Notre Dame to get into the Playoff while the James Madison Dukes and Tulane Green Wave were also deemed worthier of spots ahead of the Fighting Irish.
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Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback CJ Carr (13) and Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive lineman Donovan Hinish (41) after the game against the Boston College Eagles at Alumni Stadium on Nov. 1, 2025. (Edward Finan/Imagn Images)
Hours after the selections were revealed, Notre Dame decided to opt out of bowl games.
“As a team, we’ve decided to withdraw our name from consideration for a bowl game following the 2025 season,” the school announced.
“We appreciate all the support from our families and fans, and we’re hoping to bring the 12th national title to South Bend in 2026.”
Notre Dame finished the season 10-2 with its losses to Miami and the Texas A&M Aggies. Both defeats came early in the season. The Fighting Irish were ranked ahead of Miami in the penultimate release.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback CJ Carr (13) calls an audible at the line of scrimmage against the Pittsburgh Panthers during the fourth quarter at Acrisure Stadium on Nov. 15, 2025. (Charles LeClaire/Imagn Images)
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF COMMITTEE SPARKS FRENZIED DEBATE AS NOTRE DAME KEPT OUT OF FINAL FIELD
While college football fans debated whether Notre Dame should have gotten into the final field, CFP Committee Chair Hunter Yurachek opened up about the decision on ESPN.
“You look at those two teams on paper and they were almost equal in their schedule strength, their common opponents, the results against their common opponents, but the one metric we had to fall back on was the head-to-head,” he said. “I charged the committee members to go back and watch that game because it was so far back and we got some interesting debate from our coaches on what that game looked like.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback CJ Carr (13) celebrates his touchdown with teammates in the second half at Notre Dame Stadium on Oct. 18, 2025. (Trevor Ruszkowski/Imagn Images)
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“With that in mind, we gave Miami the nod over Notre Dame into that 10 spot.”
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Sunday’s Week 14 slate wraps up with the Kansas City Chiefs hosting the Houston Texans on “Sunday Night Football.”
Both teams are trying to claw their way into the playoffs. The Texans are right back in the thick of things after winning four straight. At 7-5, they are a game back of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Indianapolis Colts in the AFC South and -150 to make the playoffs. The 6-6 Chiefs, who were the Super Bowl favorite as recently as Week 11, are now +120 to even reach the playoffs.
The Texans and Chiefs met twice last season, once in the regular season and again in the divisional round, with Kansas City winning both games.
The Chiefs head into Sunday night’s matchup as 3.5-point favorites.
Matt Bowen, Liz Loza, Pamela Maldonado and Eric Moody offer their picks, prop bets, DFS plays and analysis to help you bet the game.
Note: Odds provided by DraftKings and subject to change.
Jump to:
Picks | Props | DFS tips | Trends
Game bet
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Texans team total UNDER 19.5 (-120)
Maldonado: Houston is one of the worst red-zone offenses, finishing drives at a bottom-tier rate, exactly the trait that K.C. exploits. C.J. Stroud has struggled in both prior Arrowhead trips, and I expect no difference this time around. The Chiefs defense is top 10 in points per play allowed at home. The Texans can move the ball, but they also consistently stall.
Notable player props, bets
Patrick Mahomes OVER 0.5 interceptions (-102)
Loza: Mahomes has thrown seven picks (T-13) on the season, including two over his last three contests. Meanwhile, the Texans have flourished at creating takeaways, forcing 12 interceptions on the season (tied for the fourth most). Given the significant number of injuries along the Chiefs’ offensive line and Houston’s ability to bring pressure, Mahomes is likely to make a few errant throws. I’m betting on Matt Burke’s unit capitalizing on at least one of those opportunities.
C.J. Stroud OVER 229.5 passing yards (-110)
Moody: The Chiefs’ run defense has stifled opponents in recent weeks, allowing the seventh-fewest rushing yards per game over their last three contests. With Woody Marks dealing with an ankle injury, the Texans will likely need to lean on Stroud and the passing game to move the ball. Stroud has cleared this line in four of his past six games. Kansas City’s defense also ranks near the bottom of the leagues in sacks, which should give Stroud ample time to deliver the football to his playmakers.
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Jayden Higgins OVER 3.5 receptions (+114)
Bowen: Higgins has four or more receptions in each of his last four games. Using his frame and foot quickness to create separation back to the ball, Higgins can produce from both slot and boundary alignments. I like the over to hit here.
Daily Fantasy tips for DraftKings Captain Showdown
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Daniel Dopp: Rashee Rice has been unbelievable
Daniel Dopp reacts to Rashee Rice’s stellar fantasy performance in Week 13.
Bowen’s recommendations
Captain (scores 1.5x fantasy points): Nico Collins ($14,700) has seen 10 or more targets in five of his last six games with at least 90 yards receiving in three. He’s a consistent and dependable option in the Texans route tree. Smart play in any matchup.
Also in my lineup: Travis Kelce ($8,800) has a touchdown reception in three of his last five games, and we know he can uncover late in the down on second-reaction throws from Patrick Mahomes. Find open grass here. And that leads to explosive-play receptions.
Loza’s recommendations
Captain (scores 1.5x fantasy points): Patrick Mahomes ($16,200). Houston has an elite defense, but Mahomes still has that magic. He ranks inside of the top five in passing yards and passing scores and averages 29 rushing yards per game (QB13). With the Texans sending pressure, I expect Mahomes to pick up some extra points via the ground.
Also in my lineup: Dalton Schultz ($5,400) is a solid volume play at a reduced cost. He has drawn at least eight looks in four of his last five games, working as an essential safety valve over the middle. C.J. Stroud should look to him frequently with the Chiefs’ pass rush attacking regularly.
Maldonado’s recommendations
Captain (scores 1.5x fantasy points): Rashee Rice ($16,500). He is the volume anchor. He avoids Houston’s elite boundary coverage, lives in the slot, owns massive red-zone equity and has the safest path to receptions in a low-scoring game.
Also in my lineup: Nico Collins ($9,800). He is Houston’s entire passing heartbeat, commanding double-digit targets and producing even when the offense is stale. Collins is the last working flashlight in a power outage; everything else around him is fading, but he stays bright because he has to.
Moody’s recommendations
Captain (scores 1.5x fantasy points): Nico Collins ($14,700) enters this game with momentum, surpassing 75 yards in four of his last five games while averaging 9.8 targets per outing. Houston will need him in this high-stakes matchup with the Chiefs. His volume, paired with elite efficiency, makes him an appealing DFS play, even against a tough Kansas City secondary.
Betting trends
Courtesy of ESPN Research
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The Chiefs are 0-4 ATS in their last four games, tied for the longest active ATS losing streak in the NFL.
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The Chiefs are 1-7 ATS against teams with winning records this season.
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Unders are 9-3 in Texans games this season, tied for the highest under rate in the NFL. Unders are 6-1 in the Chiefs’ last seven games.
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