NFL Player News

Heinicke (hamstring) isn't expected to practice this week, Joe Patrick of 92-9 The Game Atlanta reports.

While making his second consecutive start in the Falcons' Week 10 loss to the Cardinals, Heinicke was knocked out of the game early due to a hamstring strain and is still in recovery mode following a Week 11 bye. Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com reported over the weekend that the Falcons were planning on restoring Desmond Ridder as their starting quarterback coming out of the bye week, so Heinicke will be limited to a backup role Sunday against the Saints even if he gets the green light to suit up this weekend. The hamstring strain might have been a factor in Heinicke being demoted to the backup role, though he didn't help his case for hanging onto the starting job by completing 29 of 53 pass attempts for 323 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in Falcons losses to the Vikings and Cardinals.

The Jets will start Boyle at quarterback during Friday's divisional matchup against the Dolphins, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Boyle replaced Zach Wilson in the second half of Sunday's 32-6 loss to the Bills, and though he completed just seven of 14 passes for 33 yards and one interception, the veteran journeyman will receive an opportunity to command New York's offense. Wilson, for his part, completed seven of 15 passes for 81 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Boyle started three of his five appearances for Detroit back in 2021, per Pelissero, and over the past two seasons he played once for the Bears and then in Sunday's contest for the Jets. In those games, Boyle has thrown for an unimpressive three touchdowns compared to nine interceptions, but this is an offense desperate for any kind of spark. If Boyle again struggles versus Miami's secondary and Jalen Ramsey, who has recorded three interceptions in his last three appearances, it's possible another quarterback change could come quick.

Wilson will move into a backup role for Friday's game against the Dolphins, with the Jets turning to Tim Boyle as their Week 12 starting quarterback, per Rich Cimini of ESPN.com.

The writing appeared to be on the wall for Wilson's removal from the starting role, as he was benched during Sunday's 32-6 loss to the Bills before head coach Robert Saleh said after the game that he was undecided on a Week 12 starter. Since taking over for the injured Aaron Rodgers (Achilles) early in the first quarter of a Week 1 win over the Bills, Wilson completed just 59.2 percent of his passes for 6.1 yards per attempt, six touchdowns and seven interceptions, and he also lost five fumbles. Boyle doesn't have a previous track record of success at the NFL level and presumably will be on a short leash, but even if Boyle ends up being pulled from the starting job at some point, the Jets still could turn to a free agent or a member of another team's practice squad rather than giving Wilson another look.

Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said Monday that he expects Smith (triceps/elbow) to suit up for Thursday's game against the 49ers, Brady Henderson of ESPN.com reports.

Smith suffered a contusion to the tendon at the bottom of his triceps on his right arm, per Henderson, but the quarterback is expected to play through the issue Week 12. Any negative impact to Smith's accuracy against San Francisco's stout defense could, of course, prove significant, especially on a short week. As such, it will be worth monitoring Smith's status closely in practice.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday that Thompson-Robinson will start Sunday's game versus Denver, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Thompson-Robinson is set for another week as Cleveland's starter, after he successfully led the team to a 13-10 win over the Steelers while completing 24 of 43 passes for 165 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. He also logged three carries for 20 yards. The rookie fifth-round pick will get another chance to show what he can do Week 12, albeit against a Broncos defense that has improved down the stretch. Still, Thompson-Robinson's rushing abilities provide him fantasy upside even in less favorable matchups.

Stroud was replaced by Davis Mills for one play during Sunday's 21-16 win over Arizona in Week 11.

Stroud took a hit from the Cardinals' Jalen Thompson on a blitz early in the third quarter and stayed down briefly. Despite the quarterback's protestations, Houston trainers took him to the sideline, but Stroud returned one play later and threw a bullet to Tank Dell for 18 yards on third-and-17. Stroud appeared to be okay and finished the game without incident, but after the offense amassed 333 yards and scored three touchdowns in the first half, Houston was shut out in the second half and gained just 65 yards following the hit. Don't be surprised if Stroud is handled with care by the Texans during practice ahead of a Week 12 meeting with the Jaguars that could have a big impact on the race for the AFC South title.

Mills completed his lone pass attempt for two yards in Sunday's 21-16 win over the Cardinals in Week 11.

Mills was needed for one play after starting quarterback C.J. Stroud was drilled by safety Jalen Thompson. Stroud tried to wave off trainers, who took him to the sideline for evaluation. He returned one play later and completed at 18-yard pass to Tank Dell.

Allen completed 20 of 32 passes for 275 yards and three touchdowns with one interception in Sunday's 32-6 win over the Jets. He added 15 rushing yards on five carries.

New offensive coordinator Joe Brady had an immediate positive impact on Allen's play, as the quarterback tossed at least three TDs for the first time since Week 4 and posted a YPA above 8.0 for the first time since Week 5. He also set a Bills record by throwing at least one touchdown for the 19th straight game, breaking the mark set by Jim Kelly, but Allen also got picked off at least once for the seventh straight contest, so the issues in the passing game may not have been completely fixed by the coaching change, though it's worth noting that the pick came on what was pretty much a desperation attempt as the first half came to a close. The sixth-year QB will at least take some momentum into a Week 12 trip to Philadelphia.

Wilson completed 27 of 35 pass attempts for 259 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's 21-20 win over the Vikings.

Wilson was efficient in spreading his 35 pass attempts around to eight different receivers Sunday, but he still found himself needing a touchdown with minutes left in the eventual win. The 35-year-old completed a methodical two-minute drill that ended with a touch pass that wideout Courtland Sutton wrangled in for the game-winning score. After a horrific start to his career in Denver, Wilson and new head coach Sean Payton have got the Broncos back to a .500 record heading into next Sunday's tilt against the Browns. Fantasy managers rostering multiple QBs may want to explore their alternative options, as the Browns' defense presents a tough matchup in what projects to be a low-scoring affair in Week 12.

Dobbs completed 20 of 32 passes for 221 yards with one touchdown and one interception and rushed eight times for 21 yards and another score in the Vikings' 21-20 loss to the Broncos on Sunday night. He also committed three fumbles, losing one and recovering the other two.

Dobbs turned in another serviceable performance from an overall production standpoint, but his ball security issues Sunday night stood out. The journeyman signal-caller's two turnovers led to Broncos field goals, and after leading the Vikings to three points on a marathon 14-play drive in the fourth quarter, Dobbs couldn't help Minnesota answer Denver's go-ahead touchdown, throwing four straight incompletions to close out his team's final possession. Nevertheless, Dobbs has job security and the possible return of Justin Jefferson (hamstring) on his side as he looks ahead to a Week 12 divisional home clash with the Bears on Monday night, Nov. 27.