NFL Player News

Jones will start Sunday's game against the Vikings due to Trevor Lawrence (shoulder) being listed as questionable but slated to be inactive for the contest, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Even though Lawrence was listed as a limited practice participant Wednesday through Friday, Pelissero notes that Jones took all the first-team reps and will be in line for his first extended action of the season with Jacksonville, as his prior two appearances had come at the tail end of blowout losses. Jones -- who previously started 42 games with the Patriots over the past three seasons -- could be headed for additional starts beyond Sunday, with Ian Rapoport of NFL Network noting that Lawrence is dealing with a significant AC joint sprain to his non-throwing shoulder that likely puts him in the week-to-week rather than the day-to-day category. While surgery is considered a possibility for Lawrence, the Jaguars' plan for the time being is to have him treat the injury through rest and rehab. The Jaguars play the Lions in Week 11 before going on bye Week 12, so it may make sense for the team to have Jones start in place of Lawrence for the next two games before reassessing its quarterback situation following the bye week.

Lawrence is officially listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Vikings, but he's not in line to play and could be at risk of missing the rest of the season due to a serious AC joint sprain to his left (non-throwing) shoulder, Dianna Russini and Mike Silver of The Athletic report.

Jacksonville listed Lawrence as a limited practice participant throughout the week while he managed the injury, but Tom Pelissero of NFL Network notes that Mac Jones handled all the first-team reps in practice and is on track to make his first start with the Jaguars. Whether Jones starts any games beyond Sunday is still to be determined, as Ian Rapoport of NFL Network notes that Lawrence is weighing his options while he recovers from a "significant" injury that he suffered on a hit during the second quarter of last week's loss to the Eagles. Though Lawrence didn't miss any snaps in that game, he'll be officially made inactive ahead of Sunday's game before the Jaguars determine his next steps after he receives further medical opinions on his injury. Rapoport notes that surgery is a possibility for Lawrence, though the Jaguars' current plan is to have him treat the injury through rest and rehab. Lawrence previously underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in the same shoulder following his junior season at Clemson prior to being selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

In an effort to provide better protection for Stroud, the Texans are moving center Juice Scruggs to left guard, Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston reports. Jarrett Patterson will step in as the starting center.

Stroud was sacked a season-high eight times and suffered another 11 hits in last week's loss to the Jets. For the season, the quarterback has absorbed 30 sacks, second most in the NFL. To prevent more chaos from defensive lines after the team placed starting left guard Kenyon Green (shoulder) on injured reserve, the Texans feel Scruggs can better focus on his blocking assignments without having to make line calls on protection adjustments. That duty now falls to Patterson, a 2023 sixth-round pick out of Notre Dame, who is regarded as a cerebral, technique-strong lineman with a keen understanding of pass-rush schemes.

Lawrence (shoulder), who is officially questionable for Sunday's matchup against Minnesota, isn't likely to play, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

The report comes after Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson said Friday that Lawrence was "trending toward not playing." Per Schefter, it's uncertain at this point if Lawrence will return for next Sunday's game with Detroit, or if Jacksonville will instead opt to give him another week off with the team's bye following one week later. With Lawrence likely out at least this Sunday, Mac Jones is in line to make his first start of the campaign.

Prescott is expected to undergo season-ending surgery in the near future to repair the partial avulsion to his right hamstring, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

A recovery timeline for the procedure would range from 4-to-5 months, meaning the quarterback would miss the rest of the season, and his availability for the start of OTAs could also be affected. The Cowboys didn't place Prescott on injured reserve Saturday, but the team could be saving the additional roster spot for another time. Cooper Rush will take over as the team's immediate starter Sunday versus the Eagles, but it's possible Trey Lance will be worked into the mix if the Cowboys fall out of playoff contention.

Executive vice president Stephen Jones said Friday on 105.3 The Fan Dallas that the Cowboys likely will place Prescott (hamstring) on injured reserve, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.

An IR stint for Prescott has been bandied about since Tuesday and the ensuing diagnosis of a partial avulsion of his right hamstring became known one day later. Earlier Friday, team owner Jerry Jones expressed uncertainty on 105.3 The Fan Dallas about Prescott going on the reserve list, stating, "He doesn't want surgery. He wants to be on the field and go for it. We'll see how it goes here." But Stephen Jones was more forthright Friday afternoon. "I think it's probably no way he can be back in the four-week timeframe, so we'll put him over there, and we'll have that roster spot to use in terms of the next four weeks and go from there." While the move isn't official yet, it'll need to be by 4:00 p.m. ET on Saturday in order to clear a roster spot ahead of Sunday's game against the Eagles. As long as Prescott is sidelined, Cooper Rush will start Week 10 and beyond, with Trey Lance backing him up and perhaps even getting a chance to start himself at some point.

Mayfield (toe) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against San Francisco, Jennifer Lee Chan of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Mayfield was held out of practice earlier in the week before returning Friday. Bucs RB Bucky Irving (toe) and WR Sterling Shepard (hamstring) also avoided injury designations, while WR Mike Evans (hamstring) has been ruled out, and WR Jalen McMillan (hamstring) is listed as questionable.

Lawrence (shoulder) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Vikings, but coach Doug Pederson said Friday that the quarterback "is trending toward not playing," according to Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com.

Lawrence hurt his left, non-throwing shoulder during this past Sunday's loss in Philadelphia but didn't miss any of the Jaguars' 54 offensive snaps. Pederson revealed the injury to be soreness Wednesday, and Lawrence followed it up with three consecutive capped practices this week. On Thursday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that Lawrence was unlikely to be available Sunday, and Pederson's comments back up that report. If Lawrence ultimately is ruled out or is deemed inactive about 90 minutes before a 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff, Mac Jones will be Jacksonville's starting QB, with C.J. Beathard serving as the backup.

Coach Brian Callahan announced Friday that Levis (right shoulder) will start Sunday's game against the Chargers, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.

Levis, who has missed three straight contests, returned to a full practice Thursday, paving the way for him to see his first game action since Week 6. As a result, Mason Rudolph -- who had started in place of Levis -- will move back to backup duties Sunday. In his return to the Titans' lineup, Levis offers a Week 10 option for those in deeper fantasy leagues or who are otherwise seeking help this weekend due to injury or bye week issues.

With Will Levis (shoulder) announced as the Week 10 starter Sunday against the Chargers, Rudolph will head back to the bench as Tennessee's QB2, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.

Rudolph started the Titans' past three games, going 1-2 as a starter while completing 67 of 111 passes (60.4 percent) for 721 yards (6.5 yards per attempt), four touchdowns and four interceptions. He added a 13-61-1 rushing line.