NFL Player News
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Will Levis QB | TEN
Titans' Will Levis: Logs full practice
Levis (shoulder) was a full practice participant Wednesday, Ben Arthur of FoxSports.com reports.
A Week 5 bye apparently gave Levis plenty of time to recover from the right shoulder injury he suffered in a Week 4 win at Miami. He should be back under center this Sunday against the Colts, facing a defense that's been arguably the worst in the NFL through the first month-plus of the season. Levis, of course, has been one of the worst starting quarterbacks, and he may even be a few bad outings away from getting replaced by Mason Rudolph.
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Anthony Richardson QB | IND
Colts' Anthony Richardson: Remains limited in practice
Richardson (oblique) was a limited practice participant Wednesday.
Richardson was a limited participant all last week, with reports suggesting he didn't do much on the field and didn't appear likely to play. The Colts listed him as questionable on their final Week 5 injury report, before downgrading him to doubtful and then making him inactive for Sunday's loss to Jacksonville. Richardson said Wednesday that he was never close to playing last weekend, but he completed a pregame workout and now has a real shot to play this coming Sunday against the Titans, per Nate Atkins of The Indianapolis Star. Head coach Shane Steichen confirmed Monday that Richardson will be the starting quarterback as soon as he's healthy, even though the offense has performed well under the guidance of veteran Joe Flacco.
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Russell Wilson QB | NYG
Steelers' Russell Wilson: Logs full practice
Wilson (calf) was a full practice participant Wednesday, Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com reports.
Wilson took part in his first full practice since he aggravated his calf injury Sept. 5. The veteran signal-caller took reps with the second-team offense, but head coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that he will leave the door open for the 35-year-old to get some first-team work later this week. While quarterback Justin Fields seems highly likely to make another start this Sunday at Las Vegas, it won't come as any surprise if Wilson takes over at some point before the end of the season after winning the starting job coming out of the preseason.
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Gardner Minshew QB | KC
Raiders' Gardner Minshew: Benched for O'Connell
Head coach Antonio Pierce said Wednesday that Minshew has been demoted to a backup role, with Aidan O'Connell named the Raiders' starting quarterback for Sunday's game against Pittsburgh, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Minshew kept the starting job for five weeks, going 2-3 while completing 70.7 percent of his passes for 7.2 yards per attempt with four touchdowns and five interceptions. His two worst statistical games were the most recent two outings, for which No. 1 wide receiver Davante Adams (hamstring) was inactive. O'Connell may also end up playing without Adams, who is still recovering from a hamstring injury and remains a frequent subject in trade rumors.
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Aidan O'Connell QB | LV
Raiders' Aidan O'Connell: Taking over starting job
Head coach Antonio Pierce said Wednesday that O'Connell will replace Gardner Minshew as the Raiders' starting quarterback for Sunday's game against the Steelers, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Minshew is being demoted to the backup role after starting the first five games of the season. Pierce said he doesn't anticipate going back to Minshew, but the coach did leave the door open to make another change if he eventually feels one is needed, per Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com. O'Connell will start off with a home game against Pittsburgh, leading an offense that played its past two games without wideout Davante Adams (hamstring), tight end Michael Mayer (personal) and right tackle Thayer Munford (knee).
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Trevor Siemian QB | TEN
Trevor Siemian: Joins Titans practice squad
Tennessee signed Siemian to its practice squad Wednesday, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.
Siemian previously spent some time on Tennessee's practice squad back in 2020, though that came under a different coaching staff. The journeyman signal-caller is still familiar with head coach Brian Callahan's offensive concepts, as Siemian was with the Bengals for training camp and the preseason in 2023 while Callahan served as Cincinnati's offensive coordinator. The status of top quarterback Will Levis (shoulder) hasn't yet been determined for Sunday's game against the Colts, so Siemian could be elevated from the practice squad to back up Mason Rudolph is Levis is ruled out for Week 6.
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Jacoby Brissett QB | ARI
Patriots' Jacoby Brissett: Move to backup role confirmed
Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo confirmed Wednesday that that Brissett will move into the backup role while rookie Drake Maye starts Sunday's game against the Texans.
From the moment the Patriots selected Maye third overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, it was inevitable that he would eventually claim the starting job. However, to begin the season, the team turned to the experienced Brissett rather than rushing the rookie into action. With New England sitting on a 1-4 record entering Week 6 and averaging just 12.4 points per game, Maye will now be given the opportunity to help spark the team's struggling attack while Brissett moves into the No. 2 role.
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Anthony Richardson QB | IND
Colts' Anthony Richardson: Set to practice Wednesday
Richardson (oblique) is slated to practice Wednesday, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Richardson was listed as a limited practice participant all of last week prior to being deemed inactive ahead of the Colts' 37-34 loss to the Jaguars, with Joe Flacco picking up the start in his stead. The team's first Week 6 injury report will be released later Wednesday and will reveal whether Richardson is able to upgrade his participation level. In any case, head coach Shane Steichen confirmed Monday that Richardson will reclaim starting duties for the Colts once healthy enough to play, per James Boyd of The Athletic.
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Drake Maye QB | NE
Patriots' Drake Maye: QB switch confirmed
Head coach Jerod Mayo confirmed Wednesday that Maye will start Sunday's game against the Texans, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site reports.
Mayo noted that the team's decision to switch starting quarterbacks from Jacoby Brissett to the rookie first-round pick was based on the belief that Maye gives the Patriots the best chance to win. Maye thus assumes the starting role for the 1-4 Patriots, who head into Week 6 action averaging just 12.4 points per game, ahead of only the Dolphins for the worst mark in the NFL. While the No. 3 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft will be working behind an offensive line with question marks and throwing to a wide-receiver corps that ranks last in the NFL in catches (39) and receiving yards (342), Maye does possess the sort of arm talent and mobility that could help spark New England's stagnant offense. His running ability in particularly could give him a degree of fantasy utility in deeper formats, especially those with lineups featuring two quarterbacks or a QB flex spot.
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Spencer Rattler QB | NO
Saints' Spencer Rattler: Could start for injured Carr
Rattler is viewed as a "strong candidate" to start Sunday against the Buccaneers with Derek Carr (oblique) expected to miss multiple games, Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network report.
A rookie fifth-round pick out of South Carolina, Rattler has yet to make his NFL debut, and he's been inactive as the Saints' No. 3 quarterback behind Carr and Jake Haener through the team's first five games. Though it was Haener who entered in relief of Carr during Monday's 26-13 loss to Kansas City, the Saints may be inclined to turn the offense over to Rattler, who possesses strong arm talent but at times played recklessly during his five-year collegiate career. During his three preseason appearances, Rattler completed 20 of 38 pass attempts (52.6 percent) for 202 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions while rushing seven times for 26 yards and one touchdown as well as a lost fumble.