As the playoffs take shape and the regular season winds to a close, Im taking a look at?players with captivating storylines.From players who could affect the playoff picture to veterans who have questions about their futures to rookies making impacts, here are the most intriguing players down the stretch:Players who could affect the playoff raceKhalil Mack, OLB | Oakland RaidersMack, who has had nine sacks and a pick-six in his past seven games, is making a case to be the Defensive Player of the Year. His closing ability?down the stretch could push the Raiders to the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Imagine the Raiders defense if?Mario Edwards Jr.?(hip injury) and Aldon Smith?(suspension) return soon to help Mack rush passers.Thomas Rawls, RB | Seattle SeahawksRawls running style fits perfectly in an offense that has missed power running while?Rawls has been out. But thats the problem: His battering style leads to injuries, so the week-to-week question is whether he can consistently stay healthy and give the Seahawks the running game they will need to get to?Super Bowl LI. Zach Duke Indians Jersey . But now that hes in the NHL, the Calgary Flames centre showed big improvement in that department by scoring the winner in the eighth round of a 5-4 shootout victory over the Winnipeg Jets on Monday. Joe Carter Indians Jersey . -- Vincent Lecavalier got everything but the desired result in his return to Tampa Bay. http://www.indianssale.com/indians-satchel-paige-jersey/ . -- The boos poured down on Tom Brady and the New England Patriots at the end of a horrible first half. Kenny Lofton Indians Jersey . Perhaps Carroll was so prepared for a break because he believes there is very little the Seattle Seahawks need heading into the off-season. "I dont see anything that we need to add. We just have to get better," Carroll said. Corey Kluber Indians Jersey .875,000, avoiding arbitration. Clippards deal Monday means all eight Nationals players who filed for arbitration wound up settling before a hearing. LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler is undergoing tests to determine the severity of a shoulder injury he suffered in Sundays 22-16 loss to the New York Giants, a source confirmed.The Chicago Tribune was the first to report that Cutlers shoulder injury could be season-ending.Cutler was sacked four times by the Giants, including a vicious hit by New York defensive end Olivier Vernon on the Bears second play from scrimmage. That hit resulted in a 15-yard roughing the passer penalty.Team medical personnel examined Cutlers shoulder on the sidelines, but the veteran quarterback ended up finishing the game.Matt Barkley, Chicagos No. 2 quarterback, is preparing to start if Cutler misses time.Barkley completed six of 15 pass attempts for 81 yards and two interceptions in one appearance this year.In another sign that Cutler could miss time, the team is bringing back quarterback David Fales, according to multipple reports.ddddddddddddFales, a 2015 sixth-round draft pick by the Bears out of San Jose State, has been on and off the practice squad several times over the past two seasons and has never taken a snap in the NFL.He had most recently been on the Ravens practice squad.Cutler, 33, suffered a thumb injury that forced him to leave Week 2s prime-time game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Cutler sat out five weeks before returning to the starting lineup after Brian Hoyer broke his forearm at Green Bay on Oct. 20.In five games in 2016, Cutler has thrown five interceptions and lost two fumbles.Cutlers contract runs out of guaranteed money after the season. The Bears would take a $2 million cap hit if they trade or release Cutler in the offseason, but the move would open up $13 million worth of space. ' ' '