NFL Player News
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Brandon Allen QB | SF
49ers' Brandon Allen: Named as Week 12 starter
Allen will replace Brock Purdy (shoulder) as the starting quarterback Sunday at Green Bay, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan made the announcement Friday afternoon, revealing that the team was surprised by the degree of pain in Purdy's throwing shoulder when he attempted to practice Thursday. Purdy was listed as a limited participant for that session, which followed Wednesday's capped session and preceded Friday's absence. San Francisco GM John Lynch said Friday morning that MRIs on the shoulder didn't suggest a long-term injury, but it nonetheless seems possible at this point that Allen will make multiple starts. Beyond Sunday, the 49ers play at Buffalo in Week 13 (Dec. 1), at home against Chicago in Week 14 (Dec. 8) and at home against the Rams in Week 15 (Dec. 12, TNF). The game in Green Bay this Sunday will mark Allen's first NFL start since 2021 (with Cincinnati). He's gone 2-7 as a starter, with a career 56.7 completion percentage, 6.1 YPA, 10 TD passes and six INTs, adding 34 rush attempts for 63 yards and no TDs.
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Brock Purdy QB | SF
49ers' Brock Purdy: Ruled out for Week 12
Purdy (shoulder) has been ruled out for Sunday's game at Green Bay, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan announced Friday that Brandon Allen will be the starting quarterback for Week 12. General manager John Lynch downplayed Purdy's quick departure from Thursday's practice, but Shanahan acknowledged Friday that things didn't go well during the session, noting that the level of pain in Purdy's right shoulder surprised both team and player, according to David Lombardi of SFStandard.com. Shanahan hasn't commented on expectations for Purdy beyond this weekend, with the quarterback's next chance to play being a Week 13 contest at Buffalo on Dec. 1.
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Brock Purdy QB | SF
49ers' Brock Purdy: Not spotted at practice
Purdy (shoulder) isn't participating at the start of practice Friday afternoon, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
Purdy was very limited Wednesday, threw only a few passes Thursday and may be missing practice Friday. The 49ers seem to be hoping rest will do the trick, but GM John Lynch acknowledged to Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News on Friday morning that the quarterback's Week 12 status is "tenuous" even after MRI results suggested he doesn't have a serious injury. Purdy injured his throwing shoulder during Sunday's loss to the Seahawks and now seems to be dealing with considerable soreness/discomfort.
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Daniel Jones QB | NYG
Daniel Jones: Gets cut by Giants
The Giants announced Friday that they're waiving Jones.
The team's statement says Jones asked to be released and was granted his request. He'll now be subject to waivers, although his large contract presumably ensures nobody will put in a claim, which means he'll soon be a free agent and able to sign with any team. Offset language in the contract means Jones has no immediate incentive to sign for more than the veteran's minimum, much like Steelers QB Russell Wilson this past offseason. As such, Jones should find work soon enough if he so desires, be it as a backup for a contender or a potential late-season starter for a non-contender with QB woes. The Giants, meanwhile, are moving forward with Tommy DeVito as their starting quarterback and Drew Lock in the backup role.
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Brock Purdy QB | SF
49ers' Brock Purdy: Uncertain despite encouraging MRI
GM John Lynch said Friday morning that the 49ers feel good about Purdy's right shoulder after seeing results from an MRI, but Lynch acknowledged the quarterback's status is "tenuous" for Sunday at Green Bay, Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News reports.
In other words, the 49ers are confident Purdy doesn't have a long-term injury but aren't sure he'll be able to play this week. Coach Kyle Shanahan said Thursday that he was "hopeful" the QB would play, following Purdy doing a bit more Thursday than he did Wednesday. He didn't throw many passes Thursday before going inside to do rehab work, with Lynch telling reporters afterward that Purdy's light workload was planned all along (rather than being a response to pain/discomfort). QB Brandon Allen is expected to start Sunday's game at Green Bay if Purdy doesn't play.
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Justin Fields QB | PIT
Steelers' Justin Fields: Plays seven snaps in primetime
Fields failed to complete his lone pass attempt while rushing three times for 26 yards during Thursday's 24-19 loss to the Browns.
Fields was out with the offense for three snaps during last week's win over the Ravens, and his snap count increased slightly Thursday, with most of his action coming in the second half, when the snow made passing conditions difficult. He's been efficient during his limited action over the last two games, averaging 8.6 yards per carry on five rushing attempts, but he remains firmly in the No. 2 role behind Russell Wilson and is unlikely to have much of a fantasy impact as long as he continues to see minimal snaps.
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Jameis Winston QB | CLE
Browns' Jameis Winston: Gutsy performance in gritty win
Winston completed 18 of 27 passes for 219 yards with no touchdowns and one interception and rushed three times for seven yards and a touchdown in the Browns' 24-19 win over the Steelers on Thursday night. He also lost a fumble and threw a two-point conversion pass.
Winston braved increasingly deteriorating weather conditions throughout the hard-fought victory, and he ultimately led the Browns to an upset with the help of his leaping two-yard fourth-down touchdown run and subsequent two-point conversion pass to David Njoku early in the fourth quarter. Then, after subsequently losing a fumble that led to a Steelers touchdown and throwing an interception in Pittsburgh territory on the next two possessions, Winston responded by driving the Browns for a game-winning score with a nine-play, 45-yard march through the snow. While he finished with his lowest passing yardage total yet over his four starts, that was understandable given the weather, the fact he lost wide receiver Cedric Tillman to a concussion in the second half and a matchup against one of the league's most talented defenses. It doesn't get any easier for Winston and the Browns, as they travel to face the Broncos in a Week 13 Monday night matchup on Dec. 2.
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Russell Wilson QB | PIT
Steelers' Russell Wilson: Impressive numbers in loss
Wilson completed 21 of 28 passes for 270 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions and rushed three times for 10 yards in the Steelers' 24-19 loss to the Browns on Thursday night. He also lost a fumble and recovered another.
Wilson put up his second-highest passing yardage total of the season in a game that was played in significantly inclement winter weather as it unfolded. Wilson was able to get the Steelers within striking distance of a potential game-winning score on the final drive before throwing an incompletion on a Hail Mary as time expired. Prior to that, the veteran signal-caller connected with Calvin Austin for a 23-yard touchdown pass with 6:15 remaining, but he'd also lost a fumble at the Steelers' 31-yard line late in the first half that led to a Browns' field goal. Wilson's numbers were still encouraging within the context of the weather conditions the game was played in, and he'll now have extra time to prepare for a key divisional Week 13 road clash against the Bengals on Sunday, Dec. 1.
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Bailey Zappe QB | CLE
Browns' Bailey Zappe: Tabbed as emergency QB in Week 12
Zappe (coach's decision) in inactive for Thursday's game against Pittsburgh but will serve as Cleveland's emergency third quarterback, Kelsey Russo of the Browns' official site reports.
Zappe was signed to the Browns' active roster from Kansas City's practice squad Oct. 22 and has been working as Cleveland's emergency third quarterback since then. He'll be able to enter Thursday's contest only if both Jameis Winston and Dorian Thompson-Robinson become unable to play due to injury, illness, or disqualification.
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Kyle Allen QB | PIT
Steelers' Kyle Allen: Emergency QB versus Cleveland
Allen (coach's decision) is inactive for Thursday's game against Cleveland, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official website reports.
Allen will operate as the team's emergency quarterback for the second time in three weeks Thursday. He will only enter the game if both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields are knocked out with injuries.