NFL Player News

Fields (thumb) is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game at New Orleans.

On a positive note, Fields was able to practice in a limited capacity Friday. Still, considering his designation for Week 9 action, he's poised to miss a third consecutive contest due to a dislocated right thumb. Once Fields' lack of availability is confirmed approximately 90 minutes before Sunday's 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff, Tyson Bagent will serve as the Bears' starting quarterback yet again.

Dobbs will be Minnesota's backup quarterback behind Jaren Hall against the Falcons on Sunday, Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune reports.

Dobbs will make his Vikings debut after starting eight games for the Cardinals, but he isn't ready to run the offense yet after having been acquired in a trade Tuesday. Hall will make his first NFL start after entering Minnesota's previous game in relief following Kirk Cousins' season-ending Achilles tear. Dobbs could be an option to start as soon as Week 10 against the Saints, though Hall and Nick Mullens (back) are also candidates to ascend to the top of the depth chart in Cousins' absence.

Coach Sean McVay relayed that Stafford (thumb) won't practice Friday, but the quarterback will be listed as questionable for Sunday's game in Green Bay, Adam Grosbard of The Orange County Register reports.

Stafford was knocked out of the Rams' Week 8 loss at Dallas late in the second quarter and was unable to return after injuring his right thumb. He eventually was diagnosed with a sprained UCL in the appendage, which didn't allow him to practice Wednesday through Friday. McVay has considered Stafford day-to-day all along, and the coach even added Friday that he's willing to "take it all the way up until game time" before making a decision on the quarterback's availability for Sunday, per Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times. With a 1:00 p.m. kickoff on tap, Stafford's status will have clarity before the early slate of games, and if he ends up inactive, the Rams will roll with Brett Rypien under center.

Walker will return to a backup role Sunday against the Cardinals, as head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed Friday that Deshaun Watson (shoulder) will start Week 9.

Watson will make just his second start since Week 3. The last time Watson played Week 7 against the Colts, he aggravated the injury and didn't return for the final three quarters, resulting in Walker playing most of that game. Barring another injury to Watson, Walker is likely to see limited snaps the rest of the season.

Allen (right shoulder) doesn't carry an injury designation for Sunday night's game against the Bengals after practicing fully both Thursday and Friday.

Allen was listed as a non-participant Wednesday but returned to a full practice Thursday, and with another uncapped session under his belt to end the week, the QB's Week 9 availability has been confirmed to the relief of fantasy managers, given the Bills' 8:20 p.m. ET kickoff Sunday. In the team's Week 8 win over the Buccaneers, Allen completed 31 of 40 passes for 324 yards with two TDs and one interception while adding seven carries for 41 yards and a rushing score. Through eight games overall, Allen has thrown for 2,165 yards (fifth in the league) and compiled a 17:8 TD:INT.

Coach Mike Vrabel wouldn't commit to Levis being the starter moving forward but said Friday that the team would evaluate the depth chart and name a starting quarterback Tuesday, Turron Davenport of ESPN.com reports.

Levis has started the last two games in place of Ryan Tannehill (ankle), posting a 1-1 record. After throwing four touchdowns in the Week 8 win over Atlanta, Levis failed to throw a touchdown in Thursday's loss to Pittsburgh. Tannehill's health, the short-term playoff chances of the 3-5 Titans, and the long-term implications of Levis' development are all factors that will go into the equation of naming the team's starter for Week 10 against the Buccaneers.

Watson (shoulder) will start Sunday's game against the Cardinals.

Per Scott Petrak of the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram, Watson -- who doesn't carry a Week 9 injury designation -- won't have any limitations as he returns from his shoulder injury, according to head coach Kevin Stefanski. With Watson set to return from a one-game absence, PJ Walker will revert to a backup role Sunday. While Cleveland's starting signal-caller has been determined, the Cardinals have yet to announce whether Kyler Murray (knee) or Clayton Tune will get the assignment this weekend.

Pickett completed 19 of 30 passes for 160 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions and added one carry for minus-1 yard in the Steelers' 20-16 win over the Titans on Thursday night.

Pickett remained free of both turnovers and sacks, but he put together his second sub-200-yard performance in a non-injury-shortened game this season. However, the second-year signal-caller did come up big when it mattered most, leading an 11-play, 92-yard fourth-quarter drive that he capped off with a three-yard touchdown pass to Diontae Johnson that proved to be the game-winning score. Pickett had also completed a 32-yard strike to Johnson down the right side earlier in the drive, and he didn't appear inhibited by the rib injury that had forced his early exit from the Week 8 loss to the Jaguars at any point in the night. Pickett next takes aim at the Packers in a Week 10 home matchup Nov. 12.

Levis completed 22 of 39 passes for 262 yards with no touchdowns and one interception and rushed once for two yards in the Titans' 20-16 loss to the Steelers on Thursday night.

Levis went a long way toward proving his Week 8, four-touchdown pro debut against the Falcons wasn't a fluke with Thursday's productive performance on a short week against an aggressive Steelers defense. The rookie showed plenty of grit while taking four sacks and withstanding significant pressure throughout the night, connecting with eight different targets in the process. Levis nearly drove the Titans to a game-winning touchdown late as well before throwing an interception in the end zone with six seconds remaining. Given his body of work over his first two games, it's likely safe to assume there will at least be an internal debate about whether Levis or Ryan Tannehill (ankle) draws the start for a Week 10 road matchup against the Buccaneers on Nov. 12.

Stafford (thumb) was a non-participant at Thursday's practice, Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com reports.

After he wasn't spotted during the media-access portion of the session, Stafford logged a second DNP to begin Week 9 prep. Because coach Sean McVay considers Stafford day-to-day, the quarterback may not need to log any practice reps this week in order to suit up Sunday at Green Bay. In the end, Stafford's status could come down to reduction of the swelling in his right thumb caused by his sprained UCL. Look for Brett Rypien to get the start in place of Stafford if the latter is unable to gain clearance to play this weekend.