NFL Player News

Lock will return to a backup role for Sunday's game at Washington after coach Mike Macdonald said Friday that Sam Darnold (glute) is "going to play," John Boyle of the Seahawks' official site reports.

After Darnold suffered a right glute injury on Seattle's first possession of the season Week 1 against the Patriots, Lock directed the offense for the next seven-plus quarters, leading the team to two victories while completing 35 of 48 passes (73 percent) for 422 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions and rushing twice for 13 yards. With Darnold back in action this weekend, though, Lock's time as the starter is over for now.

O'Connell (personal) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Saints, Ryan McFadden of ESPN.com reports.

O'Connell wasn't available against the Chargers in Week 2, and he was absent from all three practices during Week 3 prep while attending to a personal matter. He hasn't been ruled out for Sunday's game in New Orleans, but if isn't cleared to play, then Fernando Mendoza would be the lone backup to Kirk Cousins.

Lance was a limited participant in Friday's practice due to a groin injury and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Bills.

Lance presumably tweaked his groin during Friday's practice, given that he wasn't listed on the injury report Wednesday nor Thursday. DJ Uiagalelei is the Chargers' QB on the practice squad, and he would likely serve as the team's backup to Justin Herbert if Lance is not cleared to play against Buffalo.

Coach Mike Macdonald said Friday that Darnold (glute) is "going to play" Sunday at Washington, Curtis Crabtree of Fox 13 Seattle reports.

Darnold thus will miss only seven-plus quarters after initial reports indicated that he could be out up to one month due to the right glute injury he picked up in the Seahawks' Week 1 victory against the Patriots. Considering he logged a full practice Thursday, he'll supplant Drew Lock in the starting lineup this weekend, looking to build upon his one completion on two pass attempts for 13 yards so far this season.

Bagent (concussion) didn't take part in practice Friday.

The Bears placed Bagent in the concussion protocol Tuesday, and he remained away from the team's facility until Friday, when he rejoined his teammates, per Courtney Cronin of ESPN. It's a sign of progress as Bagent makes his way through the protocol, but his lack of activity indicates he's trending toward not being available Monday against the Eagles. Both No. 1 QB Caleb Williams and Bagent have been listed DNPs so far this week, and if neither player is cleared to play Week 3, Case Keenum will get the call under center for Chicago.

Williams (hamstring) was a non-participant at Friday's practice.

Williams has yet to mix into drills this week in the wake of the right hamstring injury that he sustained during a Week 2 loss to the Vikings. While the Bears haven't ruled out either Williams or his direct backup Tyson Bagent (concussion) just yet for Week 3 action, it appears that the team is trending toward starting 38-year-old Case Keenum on Monday versus the Eagles.

Daniels (elbow) won't be placed on injured reserve and is considered week-to-week, per Commanders head coach Dan Quinn.

Commanders GM Adam Peters said Friday morning that surgery isn't currently on the table. The team won't have Daniels for Week 3 against Seattle but apparently hopes to get him back under center within the next few weeks. Fantasy managers are right to be skeptical, given that Daniels injured and re-injured the same left elbow last season, missing Weeks 10-13 and then Weeks 15-18. In any case, Marcus Mariota will start against Seattle this Sunday.

Commanders GM Adam Peters, via JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington, said Friday morning that "as of right now surgery is not on the table" for Jayden Daniels (elbow) and that the team "has not discussed" placing him on injured reserve.

Head coach Dan Quinn said earlier in the week that Daniels would miss Week 3 due to the elbow injury he sustained in Sunday's loss to the Cowboys, and he could miss more time, but the comments from Peters indicate the Commanders are confident Daniels will be back within four weeks. Marcus Mariota is slated to be the quarterback for Washington until Daniels returns to the field.

Penix completed 18 of 25 passes for 256 yards with one touchdown and one interception while rushing twice for minus-2 yards in the Falcons' 35-14 win over the Packers on Thursday. He also threw a two-point conversion pass.

Playing in his first game since Week 11 of last season, Penix started off sluggishly Thursday before finding a rhythm and putting together a near-flawless performance. Penix threw his one interception four plays into the night on a pass intended for Jahan Dotson, but he went on to record only five more incompletions the rest of the way while connecting with Austin Hooper for a five-yard touchdown pass just before halftime. Penix's chemistry with Drake London was also in fine form over the last three quarters, and he hit his No. 1 target for gains of 68 and 40 yards in the fourth quarter to help close out the upset victory. Penix should only get more comfortable the further removed he is from the third ACL surgery of his playing career, and he'll look to carry over the considerable momentum from his season debut into a Week 4 road divisional showdown against the Saints on Monday, Oct. 5.

Love completed 28 of 53 passes for 312 yards with two touchdowns and one interception and rushed once for no gain in the Packers' 35-14 loss to the Falcons on Thursday. He also committed a fumble recovered by Green Bay.

While Love's final line was certainly a fantasy-friendly one, it was largely the byproduct of Green Bay being playing catch-up in the fourth quarter and the Falcons showing a willingness to give up some yardage while in prevent mode. Love spread the ball around to nine different targets on the night, and he connected with Christian Watson (four yards) and Matthew Golden (15 yards ) -- who were his two most prolific options by far -- for his pair of touchdown passes. Love's one interception closed out the Packers' final drive with the game already out of reach, but the embattled veteran signal-caller does head into a Week 4 road matchup against the Buccaneers on Sunday, Oct. 4 averaging 281.3 passing yards per game while sporting a 6:2 TD:INT.