The Philadelphia Eagles announced Saturday that they interviewed former running back Duce Staley for their head coaching job.
Staley, who is the team’s running backs coach, was interviewed Friday. The job opened up after the team fired Chip Kelly earlier this week.
Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur is the Eagles’ interim coach for Sunday’s finale against the New York Giants. Team owner Jeffrey Lurie said after firing Kelly that Shurmur is a candidate for the permanent job.
Staley, 40, is believed to be a favorite to become the head coach. He played seven seasons with the Eagles. By interviewing Staley, the team also fulfilled the NFL’s Rooney Rule, which requires including a minority among head coaching candidates.
In 10 NFL seasons, Staley ran for 4,807 yards. He retired as an Eagle in 2007 and joined the team’s coaching staff in 2010. He has been the running backs coach since 2013.
—Cleveland Browns head coach Mike Pettine has received no assurances from owner Jimmy Haslam about his future and could be coaching his final game Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers
NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported that Pettine asked Haslam whether he would be back after Sunday and the owner refused to answer.
Haslam said in training camp he would not “blow it up” after this season, but a 3-12 campaign has led to speculation about Pettine’s future.
Browns staffers emerged from a meeting with Pettine on Friday and felt like he would be fired after the season, multiple sources told Cleveland.com.
According to Cleveland.com sources, Pettine talked to Haslam about the coaching staff and was told that a decision would not be made until after the game and after a possible move in the personnel department on Monday.
General manager Ray Farmer is also on the hot seat. In their two years together, Pettine and Farmer have gone 10-21, including losses in 17 of their last 20 games after the Browns started 7-4 a year ago.
—The Miami Dolphins placed wide receiver Rishard Matthews on injured reserve and signed linebacker Mike Hull off the practice squad.
Matthews had missed the past four games with a rib injury. The fourth-year player started 11 games this season and set career highs in receptions (43), receiving yards (662) and touchdowns (four).
—Green Bay Packers cornerback Sam Shields (concussion) has been downgraded for Sunday night’s clash with the Minnesota Vikings.
The change in status leaves Shields in danger of missing his third consecutive game.
The Packers also upgraded nose tackle B.J. Raji (concussion) and linebacker Mike Neal (hip) to probable. Raji suffered the concussion in last Sunday’s loss to the Arizona Cardinals, and Neal was also hurt in that contest.
The winner of the game will be the NFC North champions and the losing team will land a wild-card berth.
—Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch, who will miss his seventh straight game following hernia surgery, is expected to return to practice Monday as the team prepares for the playoffs.
Head coach Pete Carroll indicated Friday that Lynch should be rejoining the Seahawks next week.
“I have an expectation of that,” Carroll said of Monday’s return. “Let me say I’m anticipating that.”
Lynch has missed the past six games after undergoing surgery to repair an abdomen injury on Nov. 25. He will not play Sunday in the regular-season finale against the Arizona Cardinals.
Lynch has not returned to the team’s facility and continues to work through his rehabilitation in the San Francisco Bay Area.
—The San Francisco 49ers placed linebacker Michael Wilhoite on injured reserve.
Wilhoite started the first 12 games of the season before injuring an ankle. He finished the season with 86 tackles, one interception and one pass breakup.
The 49ers activated running back Mike Davis from injured reserve/designated for return to the 53-man roster.
—St. Louis Rams running back Todd Gurley is a candidate for NFL Rookie of the Year, but it appears he won’t have the chance to add to his numbers in Sunday’s season finale against the San Francisco 49ers.
Gurley didn’t practice this week because of a foot injury suffered late in last Sunday’s win over the Seahawks, and he has been in a boot all week.
Gurley would finish the season with 1,108 yards rushing on 229 carries (4.8-yard average) and 10 touchdowns. He added 21 receptions for 188 yards. His combined yards from scrimmage of 1,296 yards currently accounts for 29.5 percent of the team’s total yards.