NFL Player News

Darnold (shoulder) said Monday that he's "very confident" he will retake the field before the end of the 2020 season, Connor Hughes of The Athletic reports.

Per Al Iannazzone of Newsday, Darnold is nursing an AC joint sprain in his right shoulder, the severity of which will cause him to sit out Sunday's game against the Chargers. That will represent Darnold's second straight missed game and his fourth absence of the year. Rich Cimini of ESPN.com notes that the Jets don't consider Darnold a candidate for IR and that the team has labeled him week-to-week. In the meantime, Joe Flacco will command the Jets offense.

Coach Matt Rhule is hopeful that Bridgewater (knee) will be able to practice Wednesday, Steve Reed of the Associated Press reports.

Bridgewater underwent an MRI to address a knee injury which forced him out in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 46-23 loss to the Buccaneers, the results of which revealed an MCL sprain. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that the Panthers consider Bridgewater day-to-day, and Reed notes that Rhule said his quarterback "does not have a significant injury." If he's able to resume practicing quickly, it sounds like Bridgewater could have a solid shot to suit up against Detroit in Week 11. In the event that he misses time, on the other hand, Alaina Getzenberg of The Charlotte Observer reports that Will Grier and P.J. Walker will compete for the chance to start.

Lock (ribs) may not be able to suit up against the Dolphins on Sunday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Lock managed to stay on the field for the entirety of Sunday's 37-12 loss to the Raiders despite playing with obvious discomfort, but it sounds like his chances of playing Week 11 truly are up in the air. Coach Vic Fangio said Monday that Lock is "pretty sore" and may not practice Wednesday, per Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com. Fangio also said that he wants Lock to "have a good week of preparation" before facing Miami's stout defense, so if the second-year signal-caller is indeed forced to miss significant practice time, Brett Rypien could be in line to start.

Darnold (shoulder) won't suit up in Sunday's game versus the Chargers, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

The Jets are exercising caution as the 23-year-old quarterback recovers from a shoulder injury that he picked up Week 8. According to Rich Cimini of ESPN.com, coach Adam Gase said the team is "cautiously optimistic" that Darnold will return Week 12 against the Dolphins, adding that he's week-to-week and IR is not on the table at this time. Until Darnold returns, Joe Flacco is expected to start under center for the Jets.

Coach Vic Fangio called Lock "questionable" to practice Wednesday due to soreness in his ribs, Nick Kosmider of The Athletic reports.

Lock showed obvious discomfort during Sunday's 37-12 loss to the Raiders in which he threw one score and four interceptions, but he managed to play through his injury the entire contest. Fangio also said there's "a chance" Lock misses Week 11, per Zac Stevens of TheDNVR.com, but the second-year quarterback hasn't yet been ruled out. Brett Rypien remains on hand as the team's top backup.

Coach Doug Marrone said Monday that Minshew won't be available to face the Steelers but may "throw a little" this week, John Shipley of SI.com reports.

Minshew looks set to miss his third straight game while working to recover from multiple fractures and a sprained ligament in his thumb, but it would at least represent a notable step forward if he's cleared to resume throwing. Jake Luton thus is bound for another chance to showcase his skill set under center, though Pittsburgh's defense will present a challenge for the rookie sixth-round pick. As Shipley has reported, Marrone previously has stated that Luton could hold on to the starting gig even when Minshew returns to full health, depending on the quality of his play.

Lock played through an oblique/abdomen injury during Sunday's 37-12 loss to the Raiders, Mike Klis of 9News Denver reports.

Lock had a miserable 1:4 TD:INT ratio during Sunday's loss, but it's possible that at least some amount of his performance issues can be blamed on playing through core pain. The second-year signal-caller dealt with obvious discomfort against the Raiders, but the fact that he managed to remain in the game for all four quarters provides reason to be optimistic that he won't be forced to miss time. On the other hand, Lock may need to be at 100 percent Week 11 if he's going to overcome a stalwart Miami secondary led by Xavien Howard (who boasts five interceptions) and Byron Jones.

Bridgewater (knee) suffered a sprained MCL during Sunday's 46-23 loss to the Buccaneers and is considered day-to-day, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Bridgewater was forced out of the game in the fourth quarter, and the results of his MRI have now revealed an MCL sprain in his right knee, leaving him with a chance to play in Week 11, per Rapoport. The Panthers stand to subject Bridgewater to a number of trials at practice this week in order to determine when he might be able to retake the field. If he requires a stint on the sideline to get healthy, however, P.J. Walker would likely step up under center for Carolina, with Will Grier as the backup.

Walker replaced the injured Teddy Bridgewater (knee) in the fourth quarter and completed two of four passes for 12 yards in Sunday's 46-23 loss to the Buccaneers.

Walker was forced into the fray after Bridgewater was sacked on a third-down play with just over five minutes left in Sunday's contest. With Bridgewater unable to continue, Walker conducted an unsuccessful fourth-down attempt before leading the Panthers on their final offensive drive, which ended in a punt. After the game, it was revealed Bridgewater would undergo an MRI on his knee to determine the extent of his issue. Although some reports suggest the injury isn't believed to be overly serious, if Bridgewater is slowed at all, Walker and Will Grier would figure to command more snaps in the buildup to Week 11's game against the Lions.

The Lions are optimistic Stafford's thumb injury isn't serious, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

After X-rays came back negative, he'll have more tests Monday to make sure there's no structural damage. The Lions don't expect him to miss any games, but it's possible the outlook changes if the tests reveal something significant. Stafford was sharp in Sunday's 30-27 win over Washington, completing 24 of 33 passes for 276 yards. Next up is a road matchup with the Panthers on Sunday afternoon.