NFL Player News

Tagovailoa (finger) will serve as the Dolphins' emergency backup quarterback Thursday against the Ravens if he's unable to start the game, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports.

Similar to this past weekend's game against the Texans, Tagovailoa would be on hand as a backup if he doesn't make enough progress in the next couple of days to give it a go. Jacoby Brissett was serviceable in a spot start last week and would be in line to face Baltimore if Tagovailoa isn't cleared.

Fields completed 17 of 29 passes for 291 yards, one touchdown and one interception in Monday night's 29-27 loss to the Steelers. He also rushed eight times for 45 yards.

Fields was only effective using his legs and finding tight end Cole Kmet in the first half, but he was excellent while nearly engineering a comeback victory in the second. Besides a 50-yard bomb to begin the third quarter, Fields found top wideout Allen Robinson for a 39-yard gain on a third-and-two play with two minutes remaining. He then connected with Darnell Mooney for a 15-yard touchdown on the very next play to put the Bears ahead. Although Fields' late-game heroics were spoiled by Chicago subsequently allowing a field goal, the quarterback at least showed great flashes as he now enters the Bears' bye week.

Taylor will be the starting quarterback when the Texans resume their season Week 11 against the Titans, Brooks Kubena of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Houston head coach David Culley will stick with Taylor despite a rusty performance in Sunday's loss to the Dolphins in the quarterback's first action since Week 2. Rookie Davis Mills filled in for Taylor while he was sidelined with a hamstring injury, but the Texans were outscored 206-68 in six straight losses. Culley stressed the need to be competitive and feels the veteran Taylor gives Houston its best chance at breaking an eight-game losing streak. Taylor is coming off one of the worst performances of his career, during which he threw three interceptions, failed to get the Texans into the end zone on three red-zone trips and posted a 42.8 quarterback rating.

Stafford sprained his ankle during Sunday's 28-16 loss to the Titans, Stu Jackson of the Rams' official site reports.

Stafford suffered the injury while attempting to evade pressure midway through the fourth quarter, and coach Sean McVay called the issue a "mild kind of ankle sprain" Monday. "He was sore today, but expect him to be able to take it a day at a time," McVay said. "But I think he'll be good to go." That's a mishmash of coach speak, and as such Stafford's activity level will be watched closely as the week goes on to get a sense of his odds to play Monday in San Francisco.

Wilson (finger) participated in Monday's practice, Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times reports. "He threw the ball all over the place, so he did really well for the first time out in a limited amount of plays," coach Pete Carroll said.

The Seahawks designated Wilson for return from injured reserve Monday, and because they're coming off a Week 9 bye, he and his teammates were allowed to hold practice. He's attempting to make a return on the front end of his 4-8-week timeline after Oct. 7 surgery to repair a fracture-dislocation and extensor tendon rupture, and one week removed from having the pin removed from his right middle finger he was back on the field, albeit in a "limited" capacity. Carroll also noted the team intends to clear him to start Sunday in Green Bay if he meets the requirements to play. The Seahawks will have until 4:00 p.m. EST on Saturday to make such a decision, but if Wilson is unable to suit up, Geno Smith will get another start at quarterback.

Tagovailoa (left finger) is listed as limited on the Dolphins' practice estimate Monday, Daniel Oyefusi of the Miami Herald reports.

The fact that Tagovailoa only has one injury next to his name versus the two he dealt with last week indicates he finally may be past the fractured ribs that sidelined him Weeks 3 through 5. He was unable to play Week 9 against the Texans due to a small fracture in the middle finger on his left hand though, despite being active on the gameday roster. The Dolphins held a walkthrough Monday, during which Tagovailoa was expected to resume throwing. Considering he wasn't a non-participant, he may have done just that, but his status nonetheless bears watching as the Dolphins get ready for Thursday's matchup with the Ravens. If the second-year signal-caller doesn't start Week 10, Tagovailoa again will yield QB duties to Jacoby Brissett.

Head coach Robert Saleh hinted Monday that White (forearm) is likely to make a third straight start in the Jets' Week 10 game against the Bills, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.

Following a two-week absence, No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson (knee) is expected to resume practicing Wednesday, but Saleh suggested that the rookie signal-caller isn't fully healthy and likely will need an additional week of practice time before reclaiming starting duties for the Jets. White exited the Jets' Week 9 loss to the Colts with a right forearm injury of his own, but he's dealing with a much less serious health concern than Wilson and should be able to get in a full week of practice to put himself in position to play against Buffalo. Though veteran journeyman Josh Johnson was impressive in relief of an injured White against Indianapolis, the 26-year-old White offers more developmental upside for the 2-6 Jets and was instrumental in engineering the team's upset win over the Bengals in his first NFL start Week 8.

The Panthers view Darnold as day-to-day after he underwent an MRI on his right shoulder Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

The same injury rendered Darnold a game-day decision heading into Sunday's matchup with the Patriots, but the Carolina coaching and training staff felt comfortable enough with the quarterback's health coming out of a pregame workout to clear him to start. Darnold proceeded to deliver another rotten performance in the Panthers' 24-6 loss, completing just 16 of 33 passes for 172 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions, with two of the picks being a result of poorly thrown balls. Head coach Matt Rhule didn't attribute the injury to Darnold's struggles, but the 24-year-old still doesn't look to be in optimal health entering Week 10. Rhule was evasive when asked whether Darnold would start again this weekend in Arizona, so how he performs in practice over the next few days may dictate whether he or P.J. Walker gets the nod.

Arizona head coach Kliff Kingsbury wouldn't commit to Murray (ankle) being available for Sunday's game against the Panthers, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports. "I don't have a feel for it yet," Kingsbury said Monday regarding Murray's Week 10 status.

Before Murray was inactive for Sunday's 31-17 win over the 49ers, Kingsbury termed him as a "game-day decision" leading into the contest. The coach's comments a day after the game seemingly hint that Murray wasn't that close to suiting up at San Francisco, and a clearer picture of the quarterback's outlook for Week 10 likely won't come until Arizona resumes practicing Wednesday. Because Murray didn't practice in any fashion last week, he may need to get back on the field as at least a limited participant by Friday to put himself in a position to play. For what it's worth, backup Colt McCoy -- who completed 22 of 26 attempts for 249 yards and a touchdown in his Week 9 spot start -- said Monday in an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show that he expects Murray to be back in action versus Carolina.

Jets head coach Robert Saleh said Wilson (knee) likely will resume practicing this week, but he cautioned the rookie signal-caller won't be rushed back into action, suggesting Wilson is unlikely to play Sunday against the Bills, Andy Vasquez of The Bergen Record reports.

More specifically, Saleh said it would be "irresponsible" to push Wilson to play just over two weeks removed from suffering a PCL sprain of his right knee, an injury that requires around four weeks to make a full recovery. Though Saleh said he's hopeful Wilson is able to advance to full participation in practice at some point this week, the 22-year-old presumably will need an additional slate of practices next week before he's considered 100 percent. With that in mind, Mike White appears in line to receive his third straight start this weekend against Buffalo, provided he's able to quickly move past a more minor forearm injury of his own. On a more positive note for Wilson, Saleh dispelled any notion of a quarterback controversy, telling Rich Cimini of ESPN.com that the No. 2 overall pick will "for sure" start when "fully healthy."