NFL Player News

Coach Kliff Kingsbury said Tuesday that Murray has made "quite a bit" of progress with his hamstring injury, Tyler Drake of ArizonaSports.com reports.

Murray has missed back-to-back games, and even though he was listed as questionable ahead of Monday's game against the 49ers, he apparently wasn't considered a real option to suit up, per Josina Anderson of CBS Sports. Kingsbury indicated the Cardinals want Murray to be "full throttle" before clearing him to return. The team plays Sunday versus the Chargers, which is followed by a Week 13 bye, so if Murray ends up sitting out this weekend, he won't have a chance to play again until Monday, Dec. 12 against the Patriots at the earliest, leaving backup Colt McCoy under center for another start.

Mayfield will move back to a reserve role after interim coach Steve Wilks named Sam Darnold as the Panthers' Week 12 starting quarterback Tuesday, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.

With PJ Walker currently sidelined due to a high-ankle sprain, Mayfield got the nod under center this past Sunday at Baltimore, completing 21 of 33 passes for 196 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions in a 13-3 loss. Wilks evidently saw enough and will move on to a third No. 1 QB in as many games Sunday versus the Broncos. Mayfield thus will have to wait for another chance to direct Carolina's offense.

Interim coach Steve Wilks announced Tuesday that Darnold will start Sunday's game against the Broncos, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

With Darnold swapping in for Baker Mayfield, Carolina will be on its third starting quarterback in as many contests. PJ Walker is currently dealing with a high-ankle sprain, the same injury that caused Darnold himself to spend the first 10 weeks of the season on IR, but he'll now get his chance to direct the offense. In 12 appearances (11 starts) for the Panthers during the 2021 campaign, Darnold completed 60 percent of his passes, averaged 210.6 yards per game and tossed nine touchdowns versus 13 interceptions while fumbling nine times, losing four of them.

Allen (elbow) practiced in a limited capacity Tuesday.

Despite his listing on the Bills' second Week 12 practice report, Allen appears to be putting his right elbow injury further in the rearview mirror. According to Josh Reed of WIVB-TV, the quarterback was spotted without a sleeve on his throwing arm during the open portion of Tuesday's session. Assuming he logs another capped practice Wednesday -- or, better yet, gets back to full participation -- Allen should be good to go for Thursday's game at Detroit.

Houston head coach Lovie Smith suggested changes are coming, which could involve Allen replacing Davis Mills as quarterback, Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports. "We're not pleased with where we are. Do we need to do some things differently? Yes. We will," Smith said.

The coach's comments struck a different tone than the previous week when he was asked about making a change at quarterback. "Made some decisions on how we're going to go forward. Like all changes, anything that we do from week to week, we've got to talk to the players before we talk to you," Smith added Monday. Mills had just 22 passing yards and a pick-six in the first half of Sunday's loss to the Commanders, one week after he had just 35 yards in the first half against the Giants. It's been two years since Allen started a game in the NFL, but the Texans need to shake up an offense that ranks last in yards per game and 30th in points per game.

Houston head coach Lovie Smith hinted Monday that Mills could lose his starting job, Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle reports. "Made some decisions on how we're going to go forward. Like all changes, anything that we do from week to week, we've got to talk to the players before we talk to you," Smith said.

The coach faced questions about Mills after Sunday's loss to the Commanders, just like he did following a Week 10 loss to the Giants. Smith wasn't ready to comment immediately following Sunday's game, but his words Monday implied Kyle Allen could take over under center. "Kyle can make all of the throws," Smith said. "He has a history of good play in the NFL. And he's a veteran, he's been in this situation. He gets rid of the ball quickly. There's a lot of good to like about what Kyle has done." Expect the Texans to formally announce their plans at quarterback for Sunday's game in Miami based on how the next few practices unfold.

McCoy completed 24 of his 34 passes for 218 yards, no touchdowns and one interception in Monday's 38-10 loss to San Francisco.

McCoy got his second straight start with Kyler Murray (hamstring) sidelined. He began the performance in promising enough fashion, as he led Arizona to 10 points across its first five possessions while relying heavily on DeAndre Hopkins. However, things fell apart rapidly in the second half, with the result being an abysmal performance from both an individual and team perspective. Murray has been a game-time decision each of the last two weeks, which makes it realistic for him to return in Week 12 against the Chargers, though the team could also play it safe and hold him out until Week 14 following its Week 13 bye.

Garoppolo completed 20 of 29 passes for 228 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions in Monday's 38-10 win over Arizona.

Garoppolo topped two passing touchdowns in a regular season game for the first time since Week 6 of the 2020 campaign. He found Brandon Aiyuk and George Kittle each for a pair of scores, which came from seven, 39, 13 and 32 yards. Garoppolo was denied a bigger game from a yardage perspective by game script, as he attempted only eight passes in the second half and was held out for a majority of the fourth quarter. While this was an outlier performance for Garoppolo, he does have multiple touchdown throws in five of his last six games.

Coach Sean McVay said Monday that Wolford is "trending in the right direction" with the neck injury that sidelined him Sunday at New Orleans, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.

When Matthew Stafford didn't play Week 10 against the Cardinals due to a concussion, Wolford started at quarterback for the Rams and completed 24 of 36 passes for 212 yards, one touchdown and one interception. While Stafford was able to clear the protocol for head injuries for Week 11 action versus the Saints, Wolford sat out due to a stiff neck that still allowed him to practice Thursday (limited) and Friday (full). Wolford's ability to increase his activity level in each session last week likely inspired McVay's comment Monday, and he could get a chance to start again Sunday in Kansas City with a decision pending on whether Stafford will re-enter the concussion protocol. If, for some reason, both Stafford and Wolford are inactive this weekend, Bryce Perkins is the next QB up for L.A.

Allen (right elbow) was listed as limited on Monday's practice estimate, Chris Brown of the Bills' official site reports.

Allen continues to manage a right elbow issue that he's been playing through, so his listed limitations Monday presumably are indicative of that trend. There's nothing to suggest that the QB's availability for Thursday's game against the Lions is in any danger, and chances are that Allen will approach the contest minus a Week 12 injury designation.