NFL Player News

Luton will be in the mix to start Week 9 against the Texans if Gardner Minshew (thumb) is unavailable, John Oehser of the Jaguars' official site reports.

Minshew is dealing with multiple fractures and a sprained ligament in his right thumb, putting his availability in doubt coming out of the bye week. Luton has been a healthy scratch all seven games this season as the team's No. 3 quarterback after being selected during the sixth round of the 2020 draft, but he could pass backup Mike Glennon on the depth chart if Minshew is sidelined.

Taylor (chest) is questionable for Sunday's game versus the Broncos.

Taylor practiced fully all week, but he followed the same course last week and was ultimately inactive, as he's still working his way back from the punctured lung he sustained when a team doctor misplaced a pain-killing injection ahead of a Week 2 loss to the Chiefs. It wouldn't be surprising if Taylor is inactive once again, which would make Easton Stick the backup to Justin Herbert on Sunday.

With Andy Dalton (concussion) listed as doubtful, DiNucci is expected to get the start Sunday night in Philadelphia, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.

The rookie seventh-round pick won't lack for receiving weapons, but he will be playing behind a shaky O-line against an above-average Eagles pass rush. DiNucci looked overwhelmed when he replaced Dalton in last week's 25-3 loss to Washington, taking sacks on three of his six dropbacks.

Dalton (concussion) is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Eagles, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.

Dalton was held out of practice all week, setting the table for seventh-round rookie Ben DiNucci to make his first NFL start. Anyone counting on DiNucci for a fantasy lineup will want to keep tabs on the situation, as the decision to list Dalton as 'doubtful' rather than 'out' might be taken as a hint that he has some tiny chance to play. The Cowboys and Eagles are playing in the Sunday night game, with the opening kickoff scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET.

Coach Mike McCarthy said Dalton (concussion) needs to practice Saturday to have a chance of playing against the Eagles on Sunday, and "as of now, he's not scheduled to practice, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.

The veteran quarterback remains in the concussion protocol and is an unlikely bet to be available for the Week 8 divisional matchup. Assuming Dalton's outlook remains unchanged, rookie seventh-rounder Ben DiNucci is expected to receive the first start of his career for the Cowboys.

Bridgewater completed 15 of 23 passes for 176 yards with one touchdown and one interception in the Panthers' 25-17 loss to the Falcons on Thursday night. He also rushed five times for 30 yards.

It was ultimately a forgettable night all the way around for Bridgewater, albeit one that started off with plenty of promise. The seven-year veteran led the Panthers on a pair of first-half scoring drives that were capped off by Curtis Samuel touchdowns, but he all but disappeared in the second half while also briefly missing time due to a neck injury. Bridgewater would ultimately have one late opportunity to get Carolina in position to tie up the game with a touchdown and two-point conversion, but he threw an interception at the Falcons' nine-yard line with 1:04 remaining to snuff out any hopes of a comeback. Bridgewater's passing yardage total was his lowest of the season by far, but he'll have to quickly put the hiccup behind him with a high-powered Chiefs squad on tap in a Week 9 road interconference matchup on Sunday, Nov. 8.

Bridgewater (neck) has retaken the field in the fourth quarter Thursday, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

Bridgewater was forced out of action Thursday after suffering a late hit to the head during the third quarter. He was initially listed as questionable after clearing the concussion protocol, and P.J. Walker began the Panthers' subsequent offensive drive, but Bridgewater managed to sprint back on the field with just under nine minutes remaining in the game. He'll attempt to lead the Panthers out of a 25-17 deficit.

Bridgewater has been forced out of Thursday's divisional match against the Falcons after taking a hit to the head in the third quarter, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

Bridgewater was tripped by Falcons defensive end Dante Fowler before then suffering a hit to the head from Charles Harris, who was subsequently ejected from the game. The QB was able to walk off the field under his own power before entering the blue medical tent. P.J. Walker, the Panthers' only other active quarterback for Thursday night, will slot in under center as long as Bridgewater remains sidelined.

Darnold (shoulder) was a full participant in Thursday's practice.

The Jets capped Darnold's reps in Wednesday's session, but those limitations were likely just maintenance-related after he returned to game action in last Sunday's loss to the Bills on the heels of a two-game absence. With Darnold reporting no setbacks with his right shoulder coming out of that contest, he'll be in the clear to make his sixth start of the season this weekend against the Chiefs. The young signal-caller may have to make do without a couple of weapons in the passing game, as both Jamison Crowder (groin) and Breshad Perriman (concussion) have yet to practice fully this week and could be at risk of sitting out in Kansas City.

DiNucci took all the Cowboys' first-team reps at quarterback during practices Wednesday and Thursday, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.

While Dallas hasn't ruled out Andy Dalton (concussion) from starting this weekend in Philadelphia, the signal-caller has been a non-participant in the first two practices of Week 8. According to Gehlken, Dalton's involvement in Dallas' quarterback meeting Thursday morning marks a step forward for the veteran as he navigates the concussion protocol, but he'll almost certainly need to get some on-field reps in Friday to have a shot at playing against the Eagles. Barring a major turnaround in Dalton's condition in the next day, DiNucci looks poised to make his first career start Sunday after he played 12 snaps in relief of the concussed Dalton in last week's loss to Washington. At this time, little buzz has emerged suggesting that the Cowboys plan to bring in a more experienced option at the position beyond journeyman Garrett Gilbert, who was recently poached from Cleveland's practice squad to serve as the clear No. 2 behind DiNucci.