NFL Player News

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Carr is expected to miss multiple games due to the left oblique injury he sustained in Monday's 26-13 loss to Kansas City, Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network report.

Though the Saints haven't released the results of the MRI that Carr underwent Tuesday, his oblique injury appears to be significant. While he has played through injuries in the past, the Saints' athletic training staff plans to take the decision out of the quarterback's hands, according to Garafolo. After Sunday's game against the Buccaneers, the Saints will host the Broncos in a Thursday night game Week 7, so Carr is at risk of missing at least those two contests, and possibly additional time beyond that. Jake Haener came on in relief for the final drive Monday and would seem to be the top candidate to start in place of Carr, though Garafolo relays that rookie fifth-round pick Spencer Rattler is also under consideration to start.

Brissett is expected to move into a backup role with the Patriots planning to start Drake Maye in Sunday's game against the Texans, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Though he won the starting job coming out of the preseason, Brissett never looked to be in line for a long-term stay atop the depth chart after the Patriots selected Maye with the No. 3 overall pick in April's draft. After Brissett presided over an offense that ranks 31st in the league with averages of 250.8 yards and 12.4 points per game, not to mention a 1-4 record, the Patriots are now ready to turn the keys over to Maye. Brissett will slide back into the familiar No. 2 role he's occupied across multiple stops in his NFL career, and if Maye stays healthy and provides a lift to the offense, the Patriots could even explore moving the 31-year-old veteran to a quarterback-needy team ahead of the Nov. 5 trade deadline. Brissett is on an expiring contract and carries a modest cap number of $7.88 million.