NFL Player News

Tagovailoa (thumb) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Jets.

After being listed as doubtful for the Week 12 contest Friday following three consecutive limited practices due to the left thumb injury, Tagovailoa never looked like a good bet to suit up Sunday. Perhaps more troubling for the rookie signal-caller is that he's continuing to experience weakness and swelling in the thumb on his throwing hand, an issue that the Dolphins fear could keep the rookie sidelined beyond Week 12, per Mike Garafolo of NFL Network. Ryan Fitzpatrick will start Sunday's game and any additional contests Tagovailoa might be forced to sit out.

Minshew (thumb) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Browns.

Minshew was considered questionable for Sunday's contest but won't be available for the fourth straight contest due to the thumb issues. Even if he suited up, the 24-year-old wasn't yet cleared to start and would have served as the backup to Mike Glennon. Instead, Jake Luton will operate as Jacksonville's No. 2 quarterback versus Cleveland. Minshew's return to practice this week potentially puts him in good position to reclaim the starting role against the Vikings next Sunday.

Tagovailoa, who is listed as doubtful for Sunday's road game against the Jets, doesn't have a fracture in his left thumb, but he's experiencing swelling and weakness, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. As a result, Tagovailoa may miss multiple contests.

Tagovailoa injured his throwing hand during practice this week, limiting his reps and resulting in an initial questionable designation. Coach Brian Flores downplayed the situation most of the week, but the Dolphins proceeded to downgrade the rookie signal-caller Saturday. With Tagovailoa slated to sit Sunday and potentially beyond, Miami will roll out graybeard Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback.

Driskel's placement on the reserve/COVID-19 list Thursday was the result of a positive COVID-19 test, Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com reports.

At the time Driskel was placed on the list, it wasn't immediately clear whether he tested positive himself or was considered a close contact of someone who did. After the Broncos confirmed Driskel was infected, fellow quarterbacks Drew Lock, Brett Rypien and Blake Bortles were added to the list Saturday, when all three were pulled off the practice field and told to self-isolate since they were discovered to have not worn masks at one point during contact with Driskel in recent days. With the NFL opting not to postpone Sunday's Broncos-Saints game, Denver will be without its top four quarterbacks, forcing the team to turn to practice squad receiver Kendall Hinton -- who previously played quarterback early in his college career at Wake Forest -- as its starter under center. As of Sunday, Lock, Rypien and Bortles continued to test negative for COVID-19 and should be activated by Tuesday, but Driskel looks poised to remain out through the Broncos' Week 13 game in Kansas City while he's still infected.

Lock continued to test negative for COVID-19 on Sunday, but he'll remain ineligible to play in the Broncos' Week 12 game against the Saints after being deemed a high-risk close contact of No. 3 quarterback Jeff Driskel, who tested positive Thursday, Troy Renck of Denver 7 News reports.

Along with Lock, top backup Brett Rypien and practice squad quarterback Blake Bortles were also added to the reserve/COVID-19 list Saturday, leaving all three players ineligible to play Sunday. According to Renck, Rypien and Bortles also remain negative for the coronavirus, so all three likely would have cleared the NFL's COVID-19 protocols by Tuesday had the league chosen to move the game back two days like the Broncos requested. Instead, the game will be held Sunday as originally scheduled, forcing Denver to turn to practice squad receiver Kendall Hinton -- who previously played quarterback early in his college career at Wake Forest -- as its starting signal-caller in his NFL debut. Assuming he continues to test negative, Lock should check back into the lineup for the Broncos' Week 13 matchup with the Chiefs on Dec. 6.

Hurts is expected to see increased playing time at quarterback behind starter Carson Wentz in Monday's game against the Seahawks, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

The Eagles have mostly deployed Hurts as a gadget player through their first 10 games, but this week, Rapoport notes that "unlike previous snaps, Wentz won't be on the field" when Hurts is out there. In preparation for Hurts taking on an expanded role, the Eagles have handed the rookie second-round pick increased reps with the first-team offense during recent practices, per Tim McManus of ESPN.com. According to Rapoport, the added usage with the first team is expected to result in Hurts seeing his "most significant snaps yet," likely "two or three plays at a time" rather than entire series. The Eagles' approach at quarterback could of course be altered based on the flow of Monday's game, but at this stage, the team looks poised to give Hurts added opportunities in Week 12 to provide the offense with the sort of spark Wentz has struggled to provide in recent weeks.

Rypien was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Saturday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Starting quarterback Drew Lock was also placed on the list, joining Jeff Driskel and practice squad member Blake Bortles. All of the quarterbacks were considered high-risk close contacts to an infected person. According to Mike Klis of 9News Denver, Royce Freeman is an option to play quarterback Sunday against the Saints, while the Broncos will need to get creative nonetheless.

Lock will be placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list and is ineligible to play Sunday against the Saints, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Schefter relayed that Lock, Brett Rypien and Jeff Driskel were all considered high-risk close contacts to an infected person, along with practice squad quarterback Blake Bortles. None of the players were wearing masks at that time. In turn, they won't be available for Week 12. According to Mike Klis of 9News Denver, Kendall Hinton will elevated from the practice squad to start at quarterback Sunday.

Lock was pulled from practice Saturday out of abundance of caution stemming from Jeff Driskel's positive COVID-19 test Thursday, Mike Klis of 9News Denver reports.

Klis goes on to suggest that Lock, along with backups Brett Rypien and Blake Bortles (on practice squad), was pulled from Saturday's practice in an effort to maintain NFL protocols regarding COVID-19 contract tracing. All players have been repeatedly tested since Driskel's positive test and every test has come back negative, reinforcing the fact each player has been asymptomatic. Considering the Broncos seem to be taking all the necessary precautions, it seems as if fantasy managers should feel comfortable relying on Lock come Sunday, but it still might be worth checking in on his status closer to the 4:05 p.m. ET kickoff.

The Dolphins elevated Sinnett to the active roster Saturday.

With Tua Tagovailoa (thumb) listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Jets, Sinnett was called up to serve as the backup to Ryan Fitzpatrick. An undrafted rookie out of San Diego, Sinnett will suit up for his first NFL game Sunday.