NFL Player News

Dobbs (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Rams, but he will serve as the emergency third quarterback, David Lombardi of The Athletic reports.

Dobbs will only see the field Sunday if starter Brock Purdy and backup Brandon Allen are both injured.

Lance (coach's decision) is inactive but available as the emergency third quarterback for Sunday's Week 3 matchup against the Ravens.

It's more of the same for Lance, who's slotted into the emergency quarterback role as a healthy scratch in each of the first three games of the season. As customary, Lance will only be able to enter Sunday's game against Baltimore if both Dak Prescott and Cooper Rush suffer injuries that force their exit from the contest.

Hill (chest) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Eagles due to a bruised lung, Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reports.

Hill was forced out of this past Sunday's 44-19 win over the Cowboys with what the Saints labeled as a chest injury, with the issue prompting a brief hospitalization before he was released shortly thereafter. The 34-year-old sat out practice Wednesday and managed limited participation in sessions Thursday and Friday before the Saints initially deemed him questionable heading into Sunday's matchup with the Eagles. However, Hill was then downgraded to doubtful Saturday and downgraded again to out earlier Sunday, with the Saints apparently choosing to err on the side of caution with the versatile playmaker while he was still experiencing some difficulty breathing because of the injury, according to Glazer. The Saints will hope that with some extra time to rest up and recover, Hill will be good to go for their next game Sept. 29 versus the Falcons in Week 4.

Stick is active along with Taylor Heinicke as options at quarterback behind starter Justin Herbert (ankle) in Sunday's game against the Steelers.

Herbert didn't take any first-team reps during Week 3 prep while nursing a high-ankle sprain, managing just one limited practice Wednesday through Friday. Despite the lack of practice activity, Herbert convinced the coaching and training staffs that he is able to start after completing a pregame warmup. Herbert should take every snap Sunday so long as the game is competitive and he doesn't suffer a setback with the ankle, but Stick might be first in line to get reps if Herbert should exit the contest. Per Daniel Popper of The Athletic, head coach Jim Harbaugh said Monday that Stick would have been first in line to start Week 3 if Herbert couldn't, though the coach backed off that stance a bit by Friday, telling Eric Smith of the Chargers' official site that he has "a lot of faith" in both Stick and Heinicke being capable of stepping in for Herbert, if necessary.

Mullens is active for Sunday's game against the Texans.

For the third week in a row to open the season, Mullens will suit up as the No. 2 quarterback ahead of Brett Rypien, who is inactive as an emergency third option. With rookie first-round pick J.J. McCarthy (knee) lost for the season, Mullens should continue to dress as the top backup to starter Sam Darnold throughout the 2024 campaign.

Wilson (coach's decision) is designated as the Broncos' emergency third quarterback for Sunday's game at Tampa Bay.

Wilson is technically listed as inactive for Week 3, but he'll be available for action if both Bo Nix and Jarrett Stidham go down to injury. In that unlikely case, he'd be inheriting an offense that's been dysfunctional to start the season.

Rattler (coach's decision) is inactive Sunday against the Eagles, but he'll still suit up as the team's emergency third quarterback.

Rattler will once again be technically available as the No. 3 quarterback behind starter Derek Carr and No. 2 Jake Haener. However, Rattler will only be able to enter the game if the other two quarterbacks get injured.

McKee (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Saints, but he will be available as the team's emergency third quarterback.

McKee will only see the field Sunday should both Jalen Hurts and Kenny Pickett get hurt. McKee lost out to Pickett for the backup quarterback job during training camp.

Wilson (calf) is inactive as the Steelers' emergency No. 3 quarterback for Sunday's game against the Chargers.

Wilson was listed as a limited practice participant throughout the week, but since that represented no change in his level of activity from the week prior, the Steelers are electing to hold him out for a third consecutive game to begin the season. Justin Fields will once again start at quarterback for the Steelers, and he could hang on to the job if he's able to guide Pittsburgh to a 3-0 start to the season with another win Sunday. Head coach Mike Tomlin noted earlier in the week that he wouldn't commit to a permanent starter at quarterback until Wilson is fully healthy, however.

Herbert (ankle) is active for Sunday's game against the Steelers and is expected to start, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Coming out of the Chargers' Week 2 win over the Panthers, Herbert has been tending to a right high-ankle sprain, which kept him from practicing Wednesday and Friday. The Chargers apparently saw enough from Herbert during his limited practice Thursday and during pregame warmups Sunday to sign off on him playing, though the fact that the team is keeping both of his backups (Easton Stick and Taylor Heinicke) active for Week 3 suggests that there still may be some level of concern about his health. In any case, Herbert should play through the ankle sprain so long as he's able to tolerate the pain, though his mobility in the pocket might be compromised to some degree. Expect the Chargers to continue to lean heavily on the run game, with backs J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards having combined for 56 carries through the first two weeks of the season.