NFL Player News
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Dillon Gabriel QB | CLE
Browns' Dillon Gabriel: Taking over as starter
The Browns announced that Gabriel will start Sunday's game against the Vikings in London, Kelsey Russo of the team's official site reports.
Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, the rookie third-round pick will take over the top job from Joe Flacco, who will move into the No. 2 role, who led the Browns to a 1-3 record through the first four games of the season. Fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders, meanwhile, will remain third on the depth chart. Gabriel possesses more mobility than Flacco, who had been hit 19 times over the last two games according to Cleveland.com. The signal-caller's ability to provide some scrambling ability could prove to be helpful behind an offensive line that's been without both its starting tackles of late. That said, Gabriel could preside over a run-based attack headlined by rookie running back Quinshon Judkins, which could limit the quarterback's passing volume and his overall fantasy appeal.
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Mac Jones QB | SF
49ers' Mac Jones: Full participant at walkthrough
Jones (knee) was listed as a full participant at the 49ers' walkthrough Tuesday, Vic Tafur of The Athletic reports.
Jones appears to have moved past the PCL sprain that he suffered in Week 3 versus Arizona, and he looks to be all set to play in Thursday night's contest versus the Rams. General manager John Lynch stated earlier in the week that the team will take "every precaution" to make sure that starting quarterback Brock Purdy (toe) is all right, per Matt Barrows of The Athletic. Purdy was considered a non-participant at Tuesday's walkthrough, and if he can't go in Week 5, Jones would garner his third start of the season.
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Brock Purdy QB | SF
49ers' Brock Purdy: Sitting out practice Tuesday
Purdy (toe) will be a non-participant in Tuesday's walk-through practice, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Earlier Tuesday, 49ers general manager John Lynch classified Purdy as questionable for Thursday's game against the Rams after the quarterback experienced renewed soreness in his previously sprained toe, which kept him out of action for two games before he started this past Sunday's 26-21 loss to Jacksonville. With Purdy having now gone down as a non-participant on the 49ers' first two Week 5 practice reports, the signal-caller could struggle to gain clearance ahead of Thursday's contest. Backup Mac Jones would be in line to make his third start of the season if Purdy isn't able to make enough progress.
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Carter Bradley QB | JAC
Carter Bradley: Catches on with Jacksonville
The Jaguars signed Bradley (undisclosed) to the practice squad Tuesday.
Bradley suffered an undisclosed injury during training camp in late August, but he was able to avoid an IR stint for the entire 2025 season by reaching an injury settlement with the 49ers in early September. The 25-year-old quarterback has seemingly recovered from his undisclosed issue and will now serve as the Jaguars' scout team quarterback after Seth Henigan was cut from the practice squad. Bradley has yet to see regular-season action since signing with the Raiders as an undrafted free agent in April of 2024.
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Dillon Gabriel QB | CLE
Browns' Dillon Gabriel: Looks headed for Week 5 start
Gabriel is expected to replace Joe Flacco as the Browns' starting quarterback beginning with Sunday's game against the Vikings in London, Matt Zenitz of CBSSports.com reports.
After limping to a 1-3 start to the season while failing to score more than 17 points in any game under Flacco's direction, the Browns look set to turn the offense over to Gabriel. The FBS career leader with 155 touchdown passes over a six-year collegiate career that included stops at UCF, Oklahoma and Oregon, Gabriel beat out fellow rookie Shedeur Sanders for the top backup role coming out of training camp. Gabriel -- who has completed three of four pass attempts for 19 yards and a touchdown between appearances at the tail end of blowout losses in Weeks 2 and 4 -- brings far more mobility to the table than Flacco, which could be important behind an offensive line dealing with injuries at both tackle spots. The 2025 third-round pick boasts only average arm strength and may not be asked to direct a high-volume passing attack, however. The Browns have yet to officially confirm any change at quarterback for Week 5, but expect head coach Kevin Stefanski to address the matter when he speaks to the media Wednesday.
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Joe Flacco QB | CIN
Browns' Joe Flacco: Likely headed to bench
The Browns are expected to bench Flacco and turn to rookie Dillon Gabriel to serve as their starting quarterback, beginning with Sunday's game against the Vikings in London, Matt Zenitz of CBSSports.com reports.
Though head coach Kevin Stefanski evaded questions about a change at quarterback following Sunday's 34-10 loss to the Lions, the Browns appear set to turn the reins of the offense over to Gabriel after getting off to a 1-3 start to the season and failing to score more than 17 points in any game. Flacco ranks last in the NFL in passer rating (60.3), completion percentage (58.1) and yards per attempt (5.1), and the relatively immobile veteran has thrown at least one interception in all four contests while working behind an offensive line that's been missing both its starting tackles. The Browns have yet to provide confirmation that Flacco will be headed to the bench, but expect Stefanski to address the matter when he speaks to the media Wednesday.
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Cooper Rush QB | BAL
Ravens' Cooper Rush: Looks poised for Week 5 start
Rush appears likely to start Sunday's game against the Texans with Lamar Jackson (hamstring) expected to be sidelined, Brian Wacker of The Baltimore Sun reports.
The Ravens haven't provided official word on Jackson's status for Week 5 after he exited midway through the third quarter of Sunday's 37-20 loss to Kansas City with a hamstring issue, but a source familiar with the quarterback's injury said that he could be out 2-3 weeks. Jackson plans to try and play this coming Sunday, but in the likely event that he can't, Rush would step in to make his 15th career NFL start and his first with Baltimore. While coming on in relief of Jackson in Week 4, the former Cowboy completed nine of 13 pass attempts for 52 yards. Rush has proven to be a competent game manager in the past, but since he lacks rushing ability and has averaged a middling 6.3 yards per pass attempt for his career, he doesn't profile as an especially enticing fantasy option.
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Lamar Jackson QB | BAL
Ravens' Lamar Jackson: Expected to sit out Week 5
Jackson (hamstring) is likely to miss Sunday's game against the Texans and could be out for 2-to-3 weeks, two sources tell Brian Wacker of The Baltimore Sun.
The Ravens have been mum regarding the severity of the hamstring concern that forced Jackson out in the third quarter of Sunday's 37-20 loss to Kansas City, but the quarterback appears in line to miss his first game for injury-related reasons since 2022. According to the report, Jackson still plans to try and play through the injury this Sunday, but if he doesn't show enough improvement during the week, Cooper Rush would direct the offense against Houston. The expected loss of Jackson would be a major hit to the 1-3 Ravens in their matchup with the Texans' top-ranked scoring defense, which has allowed just 12.8 points per game through the first four weeks.
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Lamar Jackson QB | BAL
Ravens' Lamar Jackson: Severity of injury not yet known
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said Monday that the severity of the right hamstring injury Jackson sustained in Sunday's 37-20 loss to the Chiefs remains uncertain, Brian Wacker of The Baltimore Sun reports. "There's nothing that looks like it's season-ending by any stretch," Harbaugh said, though he acknowledged Jackson wouldn't have returned to the Week 4 contest even if the game had been more competitive.
Jackson took his final snap with 8:10 left in the third quarter, when he was sacked by George Karlaftis before the Ravens finished off the drive with a field goal to cut their deficit to 14 points. Harbaugh said that he was unsure which play resulted in Jackson tweaking his hamstring, adding that the quarterback may have suffered the injury on an accumulation of plays. Jackson is likely to be sent in for further medical testing before the Ravens have a better idea regarding the extent of his hamstring injury and a potential timeline for his return. Cooper Rush finished the Week 4 loss under center and would be in line to start this Sunday against the Texans in the event Jackson is unable to play. Jackson hasn't missed a game due to injury since 2022, when a knee issue kept him out for the final five contests of the regular season as well as the Ravens' wild-card round loss to the Bengals.
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Brock Purdy QB | SF
49ers' Brock Purdy: Iffy for Week 5
San Francisco general manager John Lynch said Tuesday that he expects Purdy (toe) to be listed as questionable for Thursday's game against the Rams, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports. "We will take every precaution to make sure Brock's all right, Lynch said. "I think he is. Now it's just a matter of, can he turn it around on a short week?"
After missing Weeks 2 and 3 due to a turf toe variant as well as a left shoulder injury, Purdy started the 49ers' 26-21 loss to the Jaguars in Week 4. However, he dealt with a recurrence of the soreness in his toe coming out of Sunday's contest, with Lynch noting that the 25-year-old quarterback was sent for follow-up MRIs. Though Purdy doesn't appear to be dealing with a major setback, the 49ers may not feel comfortable having him play Thursday night. The quarterback was listed as a non-participant on Monday's estimated practice report, and it's unclear if the signal-caller will be ready to take reps during Tuesday's walk-through session, which will represent the team's only on-field workout in advance of Thursday's game. Backup Mac Jones would be in line to make his third start of the season if Purdy isn't cleared to play.