NFL Player News

Hall (concussion) was listed as a limited participant on Wednesday's estimated practice report.

Hall is still in the NFL's five-step concussion protocol after he missed Sunday's Week 10 win over New Orleans. The Vikings didn't hold an official practice Wednesday, but his estimated status as a limited participant is a step in the right direction given that he was unable to practice at all last week. Joshua Dobbs has been impressive in leading Minnesota to a pair of wins since stepping in for Hall early in Week 9 against Atlanta, so Hall will likely serve as Dobbs' backup when he's able to return to the field.

The Browns placed Watson (shoulder) on injured reserve Wednesday.

The move is merely procedural after the Browns announced earlier Wednesday that Watson -- who also suffered a left high-ankle sprain in this past Sunday's win over the Ravens -- was slated for season-ending surgery to address a displaced fracture in his right throwing shoulder. He'll thus end his second campaign in Cleveland having completed 105 of 171 passes (61 percent) for 1,115 yards, seven touchdowns and four interceptions and rushing 26 times for 142 yards and another score in six appearances. There's an expectation that Watson will be healthy by the start of the 2024 season, but in the meantime, the Browns will entrust the offense in rookie fifth-round pick Dorian Thompson-Robinson on Sunday against the Steelers, with veteran PJ Walker serving as his backup.

Tannehill (ankle) was a full practice participant Wednesday, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.

Tannehill is ready to return but will be serve in a backup role behind rookie Will Levis, who struggled the past two weeks after throwing four touchdown passes in his regular-season debut Week 8. Levis presumably would have to see his performance take even more of a turn for the worse to lose the job in December or January, as continued struggles also would have the effect of removing the Titans from playoff contention and making it less advantageous to go back to Tannehill, who likely isn't viewed as part of the organization's long-term plans at this point.

Mayfield (thumb) wasn't listed on the Buccaneers' first Week 11 injury report Wednesday.

Mayfield suffered a right thumb injury during the tail end of this past Sunday's win against the Titans. On Monday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that the Bucs' training staff checked out the appendage and ruled that Mayfield wouldn't miss any practice reps this week. Just two days later, that has come to pass, meaning Mayfield is good to go for Sunday's road matchup with the 49ers, whose defense ranks 15th against the pass (221.4 yards per game).

Stafford (thumb) will take part in practice Wednesday, Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.

Head coach Sean McVay said he doesn't expect Stafford to have any limitations in terms of taking snaps from under center versus the shotgun. Whether the Rams list Stafford as a full or limited participant in practice Wednesday won't be known until the team releases its first Week 11 injury report later in the day, but either way, he's on the right track to return after a bye week to face the Seahawks this Sunday.

DeVito was a limited participant at Wednesday's practice by a left shoulder injury, Dan Duggan of The Athletic reports.

DeVito has appeared in three consecutive games for the Giants, including his first career start this past Sunday in Dallas. The results have been mixed, as he's completed 31 of 54 passes (57.4 percent) for 260 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions and rushed 15 times for 70 yards and one more score. With a health concern in tow, DeVito now will have two more chances this week to get back to full participation before the team potentially gives him a designation ahead of Sunday's game at Washington. At the moment, Matt Barkley is the only other quarterback on New York's active roster, while Jacob Eason resides on the practice squad with Daniel Jones (knee) and Tyrod Taylor (ribs) on injured reserve.

Fields (thumb) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice.

A dislocated right thumb has kept Fields from playing in the Bears' last four games, but after putting in a full practice Wednesday for the first time since Week 6, he appears on track to end his streak of absences this Sunday in Detroit. According to Larry Mayer of the Bears' official site, head coach Matt Eberflus said earlier Wednesday that Fields is "progressing well" and the team plans to have him start against the Lions, though formal confirmation on the matter may not be made until after Chicago's final practice of the week Friday. Over his first six starts before exiting midway through a Week 6 loss to the Vikings with the injury, Fields completed 61.7 percent of his passes for 7.4 yards per attempt and 11 touchdowns against six interceptions while accounting for 237 yards and another score as a runner.

Walker won't start Sunday's game against Pittsburgh, with the Browns instead turning to Dorian Thompson-Robinson after Deshaun Watson (shoulder) was ruled out for the season, Jake Trotter of ESPN.com reports.

Thompson-Robinson drew a start when Watson missed time earlier this season due to a rotator cuff strain, but the Browns turned the offense over to Walker in the other full two games Watson missed after the rookie tossed three interceptions in a 28-3 loss to the Ravens in Week 4. Walker wasn't much better in the ensuing weeks, continuing the trend of frequent interceptions (five in three extended appearances) even as the Browns won twice under his direction of the offense. Walker offers mobility and arm strength but not much else, having thrown six touchdown passes and 16 picks on 326 career attempts (54.9 percent completion rate, 6.4 YPA). It's nonetheless possible he makes more starts before the end of the season, given that Thompson-Robinson looked unready for the NFL the last time he saw extended action.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed Wednesday that Thompson-Robinson will serve as the Browns' starting quarterback Sunday against the Steelers, Jake Trotter of ESPN.com reports.

Thompson-Robinson is getting the starting assignment after the Browns announced earlier Wednesday that top quarterback Deshaun Watson will miss the rest of the season due to a shoulder injury that will require season-ending surgery. Though Thompson-Robinson was designated the team's No. 3 quarterback for this past Sunday's 33-31 win over the Ravens, he's now overtaken PJ Walker, who previously made a pair of starts while Watson missed time with the shoulder injury. Thompson-Robinson also picked up a start in place of Watson in Week 4, though he didn't have the benefit of a full slate of practice reps with the first-team offense leading up to that contest and struggled mightily in a 28-3 loss to Baltimore, completing just 19 of 36 passes for 121 yards and three interceptions while adding 24 yards on four carries. The rookie fifth-round pick out of UCLA has nowhere to go but up Sunday, and he could even represent a worthy lineup option in leagues that start two quarterbacks or have a QB flex spot. At least for fantasy purposes, Thompson-Robinson's above-average rushing ability might be enough to offset his lack of accuracy as a passer.

Giants head coach Brian Daboll said Wednesday that DeVito will start Sunday's game against the Commanders, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

DeVito was severely outmatched during New York's 49-17 loss to the Cowboys in Week 10, a game in which he threw for just 86 yards and two touchdowns with one interception. On a positive note, DeVito put some scrambling ability on display (seven carries for 41 yards), and with few attractive alternatives on hand, the Giants will give the undrafted rookie out of Illinois at least one more chance to start. Fantasy managers won't want to consider DeVito more than an emergency pivot option in leagues that start multiple quarterbacks, however.