NFL Player News

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that Lamar Jackson (hamstring) may not be ready to return from a two-game absence against the Bears on Sunday, which would put Huntley in position to make his first start of the season.

Although Jackson managed to log a full practice Friday, Rapoport relays that the star quarterback worked exclusively with the scout team, which indicates that he may not be ready to return from a hamstring injury that he sustained in Week 4 against the Chiefs. Huntley was signed off the practice squad to the Ravens' active roster Friday, and head coach John Harbaugh noted that Huntley would be in line to start Sunday against Chicago if Jackson was not cleared to play, with Cooper Rush -- who started in Weeks 5 and 6 -- serving as the backup. Huntley had a 2-3 record across five starts with the Dolphins during the 2024 regular season and completed 64.7 percent of his passes for 829 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions while turning 26 carries in 135 yards and two scores.

Penix (knee) was limited in practice all week and is trending toward being inactive for Sunday's game against the Dolphins, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

With Penix's practice snaps limited, it was Kirk Cousins who worked with the first-team offense during the Falcons' Week 8 prep. Penix is recovering from a bone bruise in his knee that he sustained in Week 7 against the 49ers, and while head coach Raheem Morris expressed optimism Friday about the second-year quarterback's chances of playing Sunday, it appears that it will be the veteran Cousins under center against Miami. Official word on Penix's status for Week 8 may not be known until the Falcons announce their list of inactive players approximately 90 minutes prior to Sunday's 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff.

With Michael Penix recovering from a bone bruise in his knee, Cousins is "highly likely" to start against the Dolphins on Sunday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

While Penix had his practice reps limited all week, Cousins was the one who worked with the first-team offense, which puts the veteran quarterback in line to make his first start of the 2025 regular season. Cousins started in the first 14 games of the 2024 regular season before Penix took over for the final three contests of the year. Cousins' lone appearance in 2025 came during the Falcons' Week 3 blowout loss to the Panthers, when he took over under center in the fourth quarter and completed five of seven passes for 29 yards.

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network relays that Jackson (hamstring) may not be ready to return against the Bears on Sunday.

Jackson was able to practice in full Friday after opening the week with back-to-back limited sessions. However, Rapoport notes that the eighth-year quarterback ran the scout team during Friday's practice, an indication that Jackson may not be ready to return from a hamstring injury until the Ravens' Week 9 road clash against the Dolphins on Thursday. Official word on Jackson's status for Week 8 should be closely monitored prior to Sunday's 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff; if he's inactive, then Tyler Huntley -- who was signed from the practice squad to the Ravens' active roster Friday -- would start against Chicago while Cooper Rush serves as the backup.

The Ravens signed Huntley to their active roster Friday, Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reports.

Huntley had been on the team's practice squad, but his signing comes as no surprise after coach John Harbaugh revealed Friday that Huntley would get the starting QB nod over Cooper Rush on Sunday against the Bears in the event that Lamar Jackson (hamstring) is deemed unable to play. Jackson is officially listed as questionable for the contest after practicing fully Friday.

Jones will start Sunday's game at Houston after coach Kyle Shanahan ruled out Brock Purdy (toe), Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Jones gets his sixth start in the past seven contests in place of Purdy, who is still bothered by a turf toe injury. Jones has averaged 280.8 yards per game on 67.0 percent passing while tossing six touchdowns versus four interceptions. Jones will have RB Christian McCaffrey, WRs Jauan Jennings and Kendrick Bourne and TE George Kittle as his primary targets for Week 8.

Purdy (toe) has been ruled out for Sunday's game at Houston, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.

Mac Jones took the first-team reps in practice again and will make at least one more start. For his part, Purdy worked on a limited basis Wednesday through Friday, as he did last week, with coach Kyle Shanahan noting that the QB has been progressing, albeit slowly. Purdy's next chance to see game action will arrive Nov. 2 against the Giants.

Head coach Aaron Glenn declined to declare a starter Friday between Fields or Tyrod Taylor (knee) for Sunday's game against the Bengals, Rich Cimini of ESPN.com reports.

Glenn has made a decision but refuses to publicly announce it, so a starter for Sunday's game may not be revealed until shortly prior to the 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff in Cincinnati. Fields, who was benched for Taylor at halftime of the Jets' Week 7 loss to the Panthers, could get the job by default if Taylor's knee injury keeps the veteran sidelined against the Bengals. Taylor's listed as questionable.

Coach John Harbaugh said Friday that Tyler Huntley, rather than Rush, would start Sunday's game against the Bears if Lamar Jackson (hamstring) doesn't play.

Jackson's listed as questionable but is trending toward returning after practicing without limitations Friday. Rush started Weeks 5 and 6 while Jackson was sidelined, but the Ravens scored only 13 points in those two games combined. Huntley's more mobile than Rush and could run an offense more comparable stylistically to the one Baltimore runs with Jackson.

Jackson (right hamstring) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Bears after practicing fully Friday.

Jackson, who last played Sept. 28 against the Chiefs, was limited Wednesday and Thursday before returning to a full session Friday. While his participation level is encouraging, the QB's official questionable designation makes his status worth monitoring ahead of Sunday's 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff. Look for added intel regarding his Week 8 status to arrive before then via national reporters like ESPN's Adam Schefter and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, but if Jackson remains sidelined this weekend, Tyler Huntley, rather than Cooper Rush, would step in as Baltimore's starting signal-caller.