NFL Player News

Darnold (shoulder) remains questionable and is viewed as a game-time call ahead of Sunday's game against the Patriots, but the Panthers are optimistic that he'll be available to serve as a backup even if he's not cleared to start, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Darnold was listed with a concussion and the right shoulder injury on the Panthers' initial Week 9 report, but the latter issue is his only concern at this juncture after he cleared the NFL's five-step protocol for head injuries Saturday. That said, Darnold never advanced beyond limited participation in practice this week, so the Panthers will want to see how his shoulder checks out in pregame warmups before a decision on his status is made leading up to the 1 p.m. ET kickoff. The fact that Carolina didn't add a third quarterback to the roster for Week 9 seemingly backs up the notion that he'll at least be available as a backup, and Rapoport adds that the Panthers have hope that Darnold will be able to play the full game if he does in fact start. P.J. Walker took reps with the first-team offense in practice this week and would be ready for the starting assignment if the Panthers elect to play it safe with Darnold.

Murray, who (ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's contest in San Francisco, is expected to test his injury in pre-game warmups before Arizona makes a final decision on his status, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.

Schefter notes that the Cardinals want to be careful with his injury and could start Colt McCoy if he isn't ready to play. Murray failed to practice in any capacity Wednesday through Friday, which is usually an ominous sign. However, head coach Kliff Kingsbury has said the quarterback doesn't need to practice in order to play. Still, there looks to be a real risk Murray sits and his late 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff time will make navigating his status for fantasy managers even more difficult.

Trubisky was added to the reserve/COVID-19 list Saturday.

Trubisky joins practice squad players Tanner Gentry and Jake Fromm on the team's reserve/COVID-19 list. It's unclear what protocols the 2017 first-round pick will fall under in terms of his vaccination status. Davis Webb is set to back up Josh Allen come Sunday.

Winston (knee) was placed on injured reserve Saturday, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.

This was simply a procedural move after it was announced Winston had indeed torn his ACL in the divisional win over the Buccaneers last Sunday. Trevor Siemian is slated to start this week against the Falcons, though Taysom Hill also looms in the background as a possible option should the Northwestern product struggle to produce.

Darnold cleared the NFL's concussion protocol Saturday but remains listed as questionable and is viewed as a game-time decision for Sunday's game against the Patriots while he tends to a right shoulder sprain, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Though the concussion seemed to the greater obstacle for Darnold to overcome heading into Week 9 action, the right shoulder injury he suffered in the fourth quarter of last week's win over the Falcons is apparently still bothering him. Fortunately for those considering Darnold in Week 9 lineups, the Panthers kick off among the early wave of games at 1 p.m. ET, so clarity on his status one way or the other should arrive when Carolina releases its inactive list 90 minutes prior to kickoff. If Darnold is unable to go, P.J. Walker would pick up his first start at quarterback since Week 11 of the 2020 season.

Taylor (hamstring) was activated off injured reserve Saturday.

This was just a procedural move considering coach David Culley confirmed Thursday the veteran quarterback would start Sunday's contest against the Dolphins. Taylor was a surprisingly effective quarterback through his first two starts this season, totaling 416 yards and a 3:0 TD:INT ratio while completing 70 percent of his passes prior to injuring his hamstring. He'll face off against a Miami defense that allows the second-most passing yards per game through eight weeks.

Watson (not injury-related) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Dolphins.

Watson wasn't traded ahead of the NFL's Nov. 2 trade deadline, and now he's poised to remain a fixture on the Texans' inactive list in the coming weeks. As for Week 9, Tyrod Taylor (hamstring) is slated to come off IR and reclaim the team's starting QB assignment, which had been held by Davis Mills since Taylor was injured in Week 2.

Stafford (back) returned to practice Friday as a limited participant and doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Titans.

The Rams withheld Stafford from practices Wednesday and Thursday due to the back issue, but head coach Sean McVay never expressed much doubt about the veteran signal-caller's ability to play this weekend. Even though he had his reps capped in his return to practice, Stafford still looked good enough in the workout for the Rams to give him the green light for Sunday. He'll look to strengthen his MVP bid while facing off against a Tennessee pass defense that has surrendered 267.4 passing yards per game, which ranks 24th in the NFL.

Murray (ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's contest in San Francisco and is being viewed as a game-day decision by head coach Kliff Kingsbury, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.

Despite having a longer turnaround for the Week 9 contest after the Cardinals played Thursday against the Packers in Week 8, Murray wasn't able to demonstrate much progress in his recovery from the medial sprain of his left ankle he sustained in the loss to Green Bay. Murray failed to practice in any capacity Wednesday through Friday, though Kingsbury has said the quarterback doesn't need to practice in order to play. Arizona plans to re-evaluate Murray on Sunday morning with the hope that an extra two days of rest will be enough for the pain in his ankle to subside, but it's uncertain if a report on his status -- one way or the other -- will arrive before the first wave of games kick off at 1 p.m. ET. Regardless, a final word on Murray's availability or lack thereof will arrive no later than 90 minutes prior to the 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff, when Arizona releases its inactive list. Veteran Colt McCoy has taken reps with the starters all week and will be prepared to step in under center if Murray can't go.

Tagovailoa (finger/ribs) is questionable for Sunday's game against the Texans, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.

Tagovailoa has some swelling on a finger on his (left) throwing hand, but the team ultimately expects him to play through it. The finger is the bigger concern for Tua at this point compared to the fractured ribs that led to a stint on injured reserve earlier in the season. If Tagovailoa plays, he'll be without one of his top usual targets in DeVante Parker, who has been placed on IR as he recovers from shoulder and hamstring injuries.