NFL Player News

Watson was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week for Week 4, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Watson completed 25 of 34 passes for 283 yards, tossed four touchdowns and ran for another in Houston's 57-14 win over Tennessee last weekend. The rookie's big game put him among legendary NFL company. Watson's the first rookie quarterback since Fran Tarkenton in 1961 to have at least four touchdown passes and another rushing in one game. His five touchdowns tied for second most by a rookie since Chicago's Gale Sayers in 1965. Watson can't rest on his Week 4 accomplishments, though, as he and the Texans have a Week 5 encounter with the league's only undefeated team, the 4-0 Kansas City Chiefs.

Titans head coach Mike Mularkey said the team is being cautious with Mariota (hamstring), who wasn't asked to do much at Wednesday's practice, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.

Per Wyatt, Mularkey also said he's hopeful Mariota can play Sunday in Miami, but added that the Titans aren't willing to risk further injury to their franchise signal caller. Wyatt also reports that Mariota doesn't necessarily need to log a full practice before playing in a game, though doing so undoubtedly would create a higher level of confidence in his health. While practicing in a limited capacity puts him off to a good start this week, Mariota still seems no better than a coin flip to suit up against the Dolphins. Matt Cassel is next in line to start, and Brandon Weeden was signed Tuesday to potentially serve as Cassel's backup.

Hoyer will remain the team's starter for Week 5 against the Colts, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Hoyer hasn't impressed over the first four games of the season -- throwing for two touchdowns compared to four interceptions -- but head coach Kyle Shanahan remained content with Hoyer during his Monday press conference when the announcement was made. If Shanahan changes his mind at some point later in the season, rookie C.J. Beathard would be in line to take over.

Cousins completed 14 of 24 attempts for 220 yards and two touchdowns and added 38 rushing yards on seven attempts in Monday's 29-20 loss to the Chiefs.

Cousins was firing on all cylinders to open the game, tossing a 44-yard touchdown to Terrelle Pryor in the first quarter, which helped give the Redskins an earlier 10-0 advantage. While the offense was limited in the second half, Cousins did show off his rushing ability late in the game. He picked up two key first downs with his feet on the Redskins' final drive, ending the night as the team's leading-rusher. A drop by Josh Doctson in the end zone on a well-delivered ball would of given the Redskins the lead and left Cousins with his third passing touchdown of the game, but the team instead had to settle for a field goal. The veteran quarterback performed admirably on Monday night, but is still building chemistry with his new wideouts - something the team will look to improve moving forward.

Head coach Jack Del Rio said Monday that Carr has a fracture in his back and will miss 2-to-6 weeks, Vic Tafur of The Athletic San Francisco reports.

In the aftermath of Sunday's 16-10 defeat at Denver, Del Rio relayed Carr was dealing with back spasms, but the quarterback himself said he was dealing with a significant amount of pain. With the diagnosis of a transverse process fracture, Carr has been ruled out for Sunday's outing against the Ravens, at least. While he'll seemingly be a week-to-week prospect thereafter, the Raiders will turn to EJ Manuel to direct the offense in the meantime.

Titans coach Mike Mularkey said Monday that Mariota is considered day-to-day with a hamstring strain, Paul Kuharsky of 104.5 The Zone reports.

Mariota was removed from Sunday's 57-14 loss in Houston at halftime and never returned, but it seems he escaped without a major injury. Mularkey compared Mariota's hamstring injury to the one recently suffered by DeMarco Murray, who has yet to miss a game this season. Mularkey also said the team will prepare game plans for both Mariota and Matt Cassel, with the decision on a Week 5 starter potentially not being made until hours before Sunday's game in Miami. Mularkey already seems to be hinting at a 'questionable' tag and possible game-time decision for his starting quarterback. Per ESPN.com's Cameron Wolfe, Mularkey said Mariota doesn't necessarily need to practice during the week in order to play in Sunday's game.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said Bradford (knee) remains day-to-day and could return for Week 5 against the Bears on Monday Night Football, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

This isn't particularly informative, considering Zimmer has essentially been saying the same thing since the beginning of Week 2. The team ruled Bradford out for Week 4 on Thursday, after waiting until Friday the previous week. The quarterback is still recovering from a bone bruise -- a diagnosis that Dr. James Andrews confirmed during a Sept. 22 visit. With no ligament or muscular damage, Bradford should eventually be able to play once the pain subsides. He got in some practice work Weeks 2 and 3, but was then held out entirely last week. A return to practice in the upcoming days would mark a significant step in the right direction. The Vikings will have a tough time moving the ball if they have Case Keenum at quarterback without the help of Dalvin Cook (torn ACL).

The Bears will start Trubisky in Week 5 against the Vikings, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

With Mike Glennon coming off a dreadful Thursday night performance that dropped the Bears to 1-3, this decision doesn't exactly register as a surprise. Trubisky gets extra time to prepare for his first start, which will come on Monday Night Football against a tough Minnesota defense. The No. 1 overall draft pick will be playing with a lackluster group of downfield targets, but his mobility will add another element to a dangerous rushing attack led by Jordan Howard. With Trubisky, Howard and Tarik Cohen playing behind a strong offensive line, the Bears may be able to hide their deficiencies in the receiving corps. Trubisky should probably be viewed as a bottom-10 quarterback for fantasy purposes until/unless he proves otherwise.

Brissett completed 16 of 29 passes for 157 yards, one touchdown and one interception during Sunday's 46-18 loss to the Seahawks. He added 33 rushing yards on three totes.

Brissett got the Colts off to a relatively strong start Sunday, leading the team to a 15-10 halftime lead after connecting with Donte Moncrief for an 18-yard score with 25 seconds to go in the second quarter. However, the wheels fell off shortly thereafter as the Seahawks clearly made some adjustments and Brissett couldn't get anything going offensively the rest of the game. Fortunately, he has a more favorable matchup in Week 5 at home against the 49ers.

Wilson completed 21 of 26 passes for 295 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions during Sunday's 46-18 win over the Colts. He added 38 yards and a rushing touchdown on four carries.

Wilson entered Sunday's game having not thrown a single interception on 130 dropbacks but tossed two of them before night's end. Those miscues were hardly a concern in the grand scheme of things, though, as the Seahawks ultimately buried the Colts behind a stout defense, Wilson's legs and a running game that finally has a pulse. The Wisconsin product has now put together two decent performances in back-to-back weeks after stumbling out of the gate and will look to keep it going against a surging Rams squad on the road in Week 5.