NFL Player News
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Desmond Ridder QB | GB
Raiders' Desmond Ridder: Will remain backup
Ridder will remain the Raiders' backup quarterback in Sunday's game against the Dolphins after head coach Antonio Pierce announced Wednesday that Gardner Minshew will retain starting duties, Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com reports.
Though Minshew was pulled early for performance-related reasons for the third time in seven starts in the Raiders' Week 9 loss to the Bengals, Pierce said coming out of a Week 10 bye that Minshew gives the team the best chance to win. Ridder came on in relief of Minshew versus Cincinnati and wasn't overly impressive, as he completed 11 of 16 passes for 74 yards (4.6 YPA) and a touchdown, but he also lost a fumble. While Minshew will keep the job for now, he remains a weekly candidate to be benched if he struggles to move the offense, so it may not be long before Ridder gets another opportunity.
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J.J. McCarthy QB | MIN
Vikings' J.J. McCarthy: Undergoes another surgery
McCarthy underwent a procedure on his right knee this week after an increase in his rehab work caused some swelling, Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com reports.
In the wake of a successful preseason debut back on Aug. 10, McCarthy reported soreness in his right knee, and he eventually was diagnosed with a torn meniscus, which required surgery Aug. 14. Considering he was placed on injured reserve before Week 1, the rookie first-round pick isn't eligible to play this season, so getting him healthy will be a priority for the Vikings as he heads into his first full offseason. In the meantime, the Vikings will continue to entrust the offense to quarterback Sam Darnold.
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Gardner Minshew QB | KC
Raiders' Gardner Minshew: Keeping starting job for Week 11
Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce said that Minshew will remain the team's starting quarterback for Sunday's game against the Dolphins, Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com reports.
Following the Raiders' 41-24 loss to the Bengals in Week 9, Pierce said that he would evaluate the team's quarterback situation during the Week 10 bye, according to Vic Tafur of The Athletic. Pierce has ultimately decided to stick with Minshew, with Pierce telling Gutierrez that Minshew gives the team "the best opportunity to move forward, and he has every opportunity to go out there and help us get to a win." Desmond Ridder will thus remain in a backup role behind Minshew, who had opened the season as Oakland's starter before losing the job to Aidan O'Connell in Week 6 and then regaining it after O'Connell suffered a fractured thumb in a Week 7 loss to the Rams.
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Joe Flacco QB | CIN
Colts' Joe Flacco: Returning to No. 2 role
Colts head coach Shane Steichen announced Wednesday that Flacco will return to a backup role with Anthony Richardson having been named the team's starting quarterback for the rest of the season, JJ Stankeviz of the team's official site reports.
After Richardson was benched following the Colts' Week 8 loss to the Texans, Flacco started both of the past two contests. However, he struggled to protect the ball in losses to the Vikings and Bills, as Flacco completed 67.7 percent of his throws for a respectable 7.3 yards per attempt between the two games but tossed four interceptions (one of which was returned for a touchdown) and lost two fumbles. Despite Flacco's struggles, Steichen previously said Monday that the 39-year-old veteran would continue to direct the offense in Week 11, only to change course on that decision two days later. Richardson has had his own issues with both accuracy (44.4 percent completion rate) and turnovers (seven interceptions, two lost fumbles) over his six starts this season, but the 4-6 Colts are hoping that the two-week benching will have the 22-year-old in a better position to succeed as he returns to the lineup this Sunday against the Jets. Meanwhile, Flacco will stay ready in the event Richardson misses time with an injury over the final seven games of 2024 before heading into free agency this offseason.
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Anthony Richardson QB | IND
Colts' Anthony Richardson: Reclaims starting role
Head coach Shane Steichen announced Wednesday that Richardson will serve as the Colts' starting quarterback, beginning with Sunday's game against the Jets, JJ Stankevitz of the team's official site reports.
The Colts turned to Joe Flacco as their starting quarterback for the past two games, but after losing both contests while Flacco turned the ball over six times, the team will hand the keys to the offense back over to Richardson, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Though Richardson's struggles in the passing game led to the prior change, the 22-year-old carries enough upside a rusher to merit fantasy lineup consideration, especially with four teams on bye in Week 11. Steichen cited the strides the young quarterback has made over the last couple of weeks in terms of attention to detail led to the decision to reinstall him as starter, according to James Boyd of The Athletic.
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Mac Jones QB | SF
Jaguars' Mac Jones: Starting for Lawrence again Sunday
Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said Jones will start Sunday's game against the Lions in Detroit, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
With Pederson ruling Trevor Lawrence out for a second straight game, Jones will get another opportunity to direct the offense, despite struggling to lead productive drives in his first extended action with the Jaguars in Week 10. Jones completed 14 of 22 passes for 111 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions in last Sunday's 12-7 loss to the Vikings, committing three turnovers in total after also losing a fumble. The matchup with a Lions defense that hasn't been as strong against the pass (6.5 yards per attempt allowed) or in generating pressure (24 sacks in nine games) as Minnesota is a slightly more favorable one for Jones, but he still profiles as a low-end fantasy option, given his lack of rushing ability and the relatively muted passing production he's shown over his 43 career starts between New England and Jacksonville. Per Demetrius Harvey of The Florida Times-Union, Pederson said Tuesday that he has optimism Lawrence will be able to return following the Jaguars' Week 12 bye, so Jones' run as a starter could come to an end after Sunday.
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Trevor Lawrence QB | JAC
Jaguars' Trevor Lawrence: Ruled out for Week 11
Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said that Lawrence (shoulder) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Lions, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Mac Jones will draw a second straight start in place of Lawrence, who is nursing an AC joint sprain to his left (non-throwing) shoulder. Though surgery on the shoulder could be a possibility at some point, for now, Lawrence looks to be planning on treating the injury with rest and rehab. After Sunday's contest, the Jaguars are on bye Week 12, and Pederson told Demetrius Harvey of The Florida Times-Union that he has optimism that Lawrence might be ready to return to action Week 13 against the Texans. The Jaguars aren't likely to provide another update on Lawrence's condition until the team resumes practicing coming out of the bye week.
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Will Grier QB | DAL
Will Grier: Joining Cowboys' practice squad
Dallas signed Grier to its practice squad Tuesday, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.
Grier was cut from the Eagles' practice squad less than a week ago, but now he's getting a chance to make an impression with their division rival. Assuming both Cooper Rush and Trey Lance stay healthy, though, it's unlikely Grier will join the active roster anytime soon.
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Dak Prescott QB | DAL
Cowboys' Dak Prescott: Season-ending surgery confirmed
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said that Prescott will undergo season-ending surgery in New York on Wednesday to address a partial avulsion of his right hamstring, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.
After seeking one final medical opinion on his hamstring Monday, Prescott has elected to proceed with surgery rather than treating the injury through rest and rehab. According to Jones, Prescott's long-term prognosis is "wonderful," and while the quarterback will miss the remainder of the season, he should be ready to go for training camp, if he isn't fully cleared for OTAs. Cooper Rush started under center in Sunday's loss to the Eagles and will again direct the offense in Week 11 against the Texans, though it wouldn't be surprising if the Cowboys also gave an extended look to Trey Lance at some point. Prescott will conclude his ninth NFL campaign with a 64.7 percent completion rate on 286 pass attempts for 1,978 yards, 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions to go with 54 yards and a touchdown on 13 rushing attempts over his eight appearances.
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Dorian Thompson-Robinson QB | PHI
Browns' Dorian Thompson-Robinson: Remains backup
Thompson-Robinson will remain the Browns' backup quarterback Sunday against the Saints after head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed Monday that Jameis Winston will remain the team's starter, Kelsey Russo of the team's official site.
Winston, who started the last two games following the season-ending injury to Deshaun Watson (Achilles), will get the nod once again in Week 11, but his leash may not be long. He threw three interceptions and was sacked six times in a Week 9 loss to the Chargers, and Stefanski mentioned keeping turnovers in check being a point of emphasis as the Browns return from a Week 10 bye. With Watson's long-term future with the Browns murky at best and Winston scheduled for free agency this offseason, Cleveland may want to get an extended look at Thompson-Robinson at some point later on this season. Through his first nine NFL appearances over two seasons, Thompson-Robinson has completed 71 of 136 pass attempts (52.2 percent) for 522 yards (3.8 YPA), one touchdown and six interceptions while carrying 17 times for 109 yards.