NFL Player News
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Jordan Love QB | GB
Packers' Jordan Love: Sits out practice Wednesday
Love (knee) didn't practice Wednesday, Wes Hodkiewicz of the Packers' official site reports.
When speaking with the media Monday, head coach Matt LaFleur didn't outright rule Love out for a Week 2 matchup with the Colts, per Ryan Wood of USA Today. However, Love is expected to miss 3-to-6 weeks due to the Grade 1-to-2 MCL sprain that he suffered in his left knee last Friday against the Eagles in Brazil. LaFleur also noted Monday that Malik Willis will start as long as Love can't suit up, with Sean Clifford slated to be elevated from the practice squad and back up Willis on game days.
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Lamar Jackson QB | BAL
Ravens' Lamar Jackson: Returns to practice
Jackson (undisclosed) was spotted practicing Wednesday, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports.
Jackson was held out of practice Monday after a 27-20 loss to the Chiefs on Thursday, and while he may be listed on the Week 2 injury report, his presence on the field Wednesday suggests that he'll be ready to play this Sunday against the Raiders. He played every snap in the season opener, piling up 273 passing yards and 122 rushing yards against the Kansas City defense.
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Deshaun Watson QB | CLE
Browns' Deshaun Watson: Facing civil lawsuit
The NFL is not expected to place Watson on the commissioner's exempt list after a civil lawsuit was filed Monday accusing him of sexual assault and battery in October 2020, Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN.com reports. "We are reviewing the complaint, and we will look into the matter under the personal conduct policy. Not looking at commissioner's exempt list as there's been no formal charges and the league's review has just begun," league spokesperson Brian McCarthy said Tuesday.
Watson previously served an 11-game suspension, paid a $5 million fine and was ordered to undergo mandatory evaluation by behavioral experts and follow their suggested treatment program in 2022, after more than two dozen women accused him of sexual assault and inappropriate conduct during massage sessions. The lawsuit filed Monday represents a new complaint that the league will investigate and is one of two pending lawsuits filed against Watson, who had previously settled 23 of the 24 civil suits related to accusations of sexual misconduct.
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Russell Wilson QB | NYG
Steelers' Russell Wilson: Likely to miss out on another start
Head coach Mike Tomlin said that Wilson won't be a full practice participant Wednesday, adding that the Steelers are preparing Justin Fields for a second consecutive start Sunday in Denver, Alan Saunders of SteelersNow.com reports.
After reporting tightness in his calf during practice last Thursday, Wilson was a limited participant in Friday's practice and took a questionable tag into the Steelers' season opener versus the Falcons. He ultimately didn't show enough improvement leading up to Sunday to gain clearance to play, with the Steelers making Wilson inactive while Fields guided Pittsburgh to an 18-10 win in Atlanta. According to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Tomlin noted that while Wilson is feeling better than he did over the weekend, the veteran signal-caller won't be ready to take meaningful practice reps until Thursday. Per Brooke Pryor of ESPN.com, Tomlin said that the Steelers will "ponder" Wilson's inclusion in the game plan for Sunday's contest in Denver depending on how he progresses as the week rolls along, but Fields is still likely to take most or all of the first-team reps in practice.
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Justin Fields QB | NYJ
Steelers' Justin Fields: Preparing for another start
Head coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that the Steelers are preparing as though Fields will start Sunday's game in Denver, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.
Russell Wilson was named the Steelers' starter coming out of the preseason, but he was inactive for the team's Week 1 win over the Falcons after experiencing calf tightness in practice Thursday and managing only limited participation Friday. Tomlin noted that Wilson isn't on track to resume practicing fully until Thursday at the earliest, so the Steelers will have Fields take all the first-team reps to begin preparations for the Week 2 contest. In his Steelers debut this past Sunday in Atlanta, Fields completed 17 of 23 pass attempts for 156 yards while adding 57 yards on 14 carries and committing no turnovers.
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Lamar Jackson QB | BAL
Ravens' Lamar Jackson: Expected to be fine for Week 2
Jackson is a "little bit sore" but is fully expected to be available for Sunday's game against the Raiders, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
After suffering a 27-20 loss to the Chiefs last Thursday in Week 1, the Ravens reconvened for an unofficial practice session Monday, but Jackson didn't participate. Due to the longer turnaround the Ravens will face for Week 2, Jackson's absence Monday looks to be mostly maintenance-related, as the coaching staff likely just wanted to give his body some more recovery time after he carried the ball 16 times in the season opener. The Ravens will release their first Week 2 practice report Wednesday, and Jackson will most likely be listed as a full participant, if he's even included on the report at all.
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Brock Purdy QB | SF
49ers' Brock Purdy: Modest numbers in comfortable win
Purdy completed 19 of 29 pass attempts for 231 yards and added 11 yards on one rushing attempt but did not score any touchdowns in Monday's 32-19 win over the Jets.
Purdy didn't put up strong fantasy numbers due to the lack of touchdowns in Monday's victory. The 25-year-old was without the services of star running back Christian McCaffrey (calf) for the 49ers' home opener, but the rest of the offensive unit picked up the slack behind a strong defensive effort in the decisive victory. Purdy threw a clean game that featured a pair of rushing touchdowns from Jordan Mason and Deebo Samuel and six field goals from kicker Jake Moody. Expect San Francisco's star quarterback to put up bigger performances, with the next opportunity coming against the Vikings on Sunday.
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Aaron Rodgers QB | PIT
Jets' Aaron Rodgers: Rusty in return
Rodgers completed 13 of 21 passes for 167 yards, one touchdown and one interception in Monday's 32-19 loss to the 49ers. He also rushed once for minus-1 yard.
Rodgers had just 64 passing yards in the first half, 62 of which came on a 12-play, 70-yard touchdown drive on the Jets' third possession, which was capped by a three-yard Breece Hall touchdown run. The veteran quarterback was picked off on a tipped ball on the Jets' first drive of the second half, but Rodgers bounced back with a 36-yard touchdown pass to Allen Lazard on a free play on the following drive. New York couldn't get any closer, though, and Tyrod Taylor mopped up with a touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter after the game got out of reach. Overall, Rodgers gave the Jets two vintage drives and looked like a 40-year-old quarterback coming off an Achilles tear the rest of the game. Perhaps he'll sustain a higher level of play longer once he settles in, and Rodgers should benefit from facing the Titans in Week 2 rather than a vaunted 49ers defense coming off a Super Bowl appearance.
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Joshua Dobbs QB | NE
49ers' Joshua Dobbs: Will be emergency quarterback
Dobbs (coach's decision) is designated as San Francisco's emergency third quarterback for Monday's game versus the Jets, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
While technically inactive, Dobbs would be available for the 49ers in the event that both Brock Purdy and backup Brandon Allen went down due to injury. He appeared in 13 games last year with the Cardinals and the Vikings.
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Sean Clifford QB | CIN
Sean Clifford: Likely backup Week 2
Head coach Matt LaFleur stated Clifford will operate as the Packers' backup to Malik Willis on Sunday against the Colts if Jordan Love (knee) is ruled out, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reports.
Clifford is currently on the team's practice squad after failing to secure the No. 2 quarterback job during training camp. Instead, the team traded for Willis, who is now in line to get the start in Week 2. Although LaFleur seemed to leave open the possibility that Love could play against the Colts, he's expected to miss at least three weeks after suffering an MCL sprain Friday against the Eagles.