NFL Player News
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Joe Flacco QB | CIN
Colts' Joe Flacco: Could start at Minnesota
Flacco could be a candidate to start Sunday's game against the Vikings after Colts head coach Shane Steichen was non-committal Monday when asked whether Anthony Richardson would remain atop the depth chart for Week 9, Stephen Holder of ESPN.com reports. "We're evaluating everything," Steichen said.
Flacco played one snap on offense in Sunday's loss at Houston while Richardson pulled himself from the game due to the need for rest, which drew criticism Monday from his teammates. Flacco filled in admirably with a 7:1 TD:INT in three games (two starts) when Richardson was injured earlier in the season. The Colts may decide that Flacco gives the team a better chance to win while they still have chance at the playoffs, though a change under center would delay the 22-year-old Richardson's development and bring more questions about his long-term future in the organization. The Colts may not formally settle on a starting quarterback for Sunday's game until later in the week.
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Anthony Richardson QB | IND
Colts' Anthony Richardson: Starting role in flux for Week 9
Colts head coach Shane Steichen was non-committal when asked Monday whether Richardson will start Sunday's game against the Vikings, Stephen Holder of ESPN.com reports. "We're evaluating everything," Steichen said.
Steichen clarified that Richardson remains Indianapolis' starting quarterback as of Monday, according to James Boyd of The Athletic, but the coaching staff is evaluating at least a temporary shift under center for Week 9. Richardson once again struggled with efficiency during the team's 23-20 loss to the Texans in Week 8, as he completed just 10 of 32 passes for 175 yards with one touchdown and an interception. The second-year signal-caller added 45 rushing yards on six carries, but he also fumbled twice, losing one. His development as a passer hasn't lived up to expectations through six appearances this season, while Joe Flacco performed admirably in his three-game stretch under center from Weeks 4 through 6. Heading into a difficult Week 9 road matchup, the Colts' quarterback position needs to be considered up in the air until further notice.
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Derek Carr QB | NO
Saints' Derek Carr: Expected to return Week 9
Saints head coach Dennis Allen said Monday he expects Carr (oblique) to return to the starting lineup for Sunday's divisional contest against the Panthers, Ross Jackson of WWL Louisiana reports.
Carr has missed three straight games due to a left oblique injury, but Allen said he logged another throwing session Monday and expressed optimism about his chances of retaking the field Week 9. Allen also said he expects Carr to be on the practice field Wednesday. Spencer Rattler has been ineffective across his three consecutive appearances, culminating in him getting pulled early from New Orleans' 26-8 loss to the Chargers in Week 8 in favor of Jake Haener finishing out the contest. Getting Carr back under center would promise a notable boost for the Saints offense.
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Jordan Love QB | GB
Packers' Jordan Love: Day-to-day with groin strain
Love is considered day-to-day after an MRI on Monday revealed a groin strain, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
The injury forced Love out of this past Sunday's 30-27 win over the Jaguars, but with the groin strain seemingly of the mild variety, the Packers have optimism that their franchise quarterback may not have to miss a crucial matchup with the division-leading Lions in Week 9. During the victory over Jacksonville, Love was visibly hobbled during the second quarter and the left the game for good early in the second half, after which point Malik Willis took over under center. Green Bay will benefit from a Week 10 bye after this Sunday's game versus Detroit, so if the team has any lingering concern about Love's injury, the decision could be made to hold him out as a matter of caution. Love will likely get every chance to demonstrate his health during practice, though, with Green Bay scheduled to hold its first Week 9 session Wednesday.
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Jameis Winston QB | NYG
Browns' Jameis Winston: Entrenched as starter
Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday that Winston will continue to start at quarterback heading into a Week 9 matchup against the Chargers, Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram reports.
Stefanski praised Winston's ability to go through progressions in his first start of the 2024 campaign, an upset 29-24 win over the Ravens on Sunday. Winston completed 27 of 41 passes for 334 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions versus Baltimore, a stat line superior in terms of both yards and TDs to any of the seven starts that Deshaun Watson (Achilles) logged for the Browns prior to going down with a season-ending injury. Winston connected with Cedric Tillman on a pair of touchdowns Sunday, as well as one to tight end David Njoku, with all three of his scores coming on passes of 20-plus yards. Winston's aggressive tendencies and willingness to push the ball downfield will place him on the fantasy radar for the remainder of the season, though he faces a tough matchup against Los Angeles in Week 9.
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Justin Fields QB | KC
Steelers' Justin Fields: Will test hamstring pre-game
Fields (hamstring) will test out his hamstring during pre-game warmups before the Steelers make a decision on his status for Monday's contest against the Giants, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Fields, who officially is listed as questionable for Monday Night Football, looks like he'll be a game-time decision for Week 8. If Fields is unable to go, Pittsburgh would be forced to turn to Kyle Allen as Russell Wilson's backup versus New York. Rapoport notes that Fields' injury isn't considered overly severe, but with the Steelers slated for a Week 10 bye, the team could opt for caution. Official word on Fields' status will arrive no later than 90 minutes prior to Monday's 8:15 p.m. ET kickoff.
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Bo Nix QB | DEN
Broncos' Bo Nix: Produces four TDs in win
Nix completed 28 of 37 passes for 284 yards and three touchdowns while adding four more yards and a TD on five carries in Sunday's 28-14 win over the Panthers.
The rookie QB put together his best performance of the season, leading the Broncos to touchdowns on three straight drives in the second quarter before capping his day with a nine-yard scoring toss to Jaleel McLaughlin in the third. Nix's 284 passing yards also were a career high, and while the quality of the opposition Sunday has to be taken into account, the Oregon product still has completed 66.7 percent of his passes over the last four games while generating nine touchdowns (seven through the air, two on the ground) against only one interception. Nix will take on a Ravens defense Week 9 that just allowed Jameis Winston to hang 334 yards and three TDs on them in his first start of the season.
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Bryce Young QB | CAR
Panthers' Bryce Young: Tosses first TDs of season
Young completed 24 of 27 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions in Sunday's 28-14 loss to the Broncos. He added six rushing yards on three carries.
In his return to the starting lineup, the second-year quarterback put together his best performance of the season. Young connected with Xavier Legette on a six-yard score in the first quarter for his first TD pass of the year and then found Jalen Coker for a 15-yard strike in the fourth quarter. His 224 passes yards also were a season high. Young's two INTs highlight how far he has to go to be viewed as a reliable option under center, but Sunday's effort at least was something he'll be able to build on if he gets another start for the injured Andy Dalton (thumb) in Week 9 against the Saints.
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Mason Rudolph QB | PIT
Titans' Mason Rudolph: Fades after hot start
Rudolph completed 22 of 38 passes for 266 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in Sunday's 52-14 loss to the Lions. He added four rushes for 29 yards and an additional touchdown.
Rudolph looked prepared to match Jared Goff and the Lions, as he overcame an early interception to lead the Titans to a pair of touchdown drives by early in the second quarter. He found himself in the end zone to conclude both, first on an 11-yard scramble and then with a five-yard toss to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. Rudolph and the Titans faded quickly from there, however, as he competed nine of 15 passes for only 46 yards across the final two quarters. He has offered a modest improvement in production for Tennessee's skill-position players, but it seems likely that the Titans will turn back to Will Levis (shoulder) once the latter is healthy.
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Dak Prescott QB | DAL
Cowboys' Dak Prescott: Two TDs in failed comeback bid
Prescott completed 25 of 38 passes for 243 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in Sunday's 30-24 loss to the 49ers. He also rushed once for minus-1 yard.
Prescott's first-half numbers weren't pretty (110 passing yards and an interception), but the Cowboys nonetheless took a 10-6 lead into the locker room. San Francisco's offense woke up in the third quarter while Dallas' remained dormant, as the 49ers scored 21 unanswered third-quarter points while Prescott threw for only six yards and his second interception of the night. He finally heated up in the fourth quarter with touchdown passes of seven and 20 yards to CeeDee Lamb before logging four consecutive incompletions on Dallas' final possession. After throwing a league-high 36 touchdowns compared to nine interceptions last season, Prescott has a pedestrian 10:8 TD:INT heading into a Week 9 road game against the Falcons.