NFL Player News

Rodgers (thumb) doesn't have a designation for Thursday's game against the Titans, Wes Hodkiewicz of the Packers' official site reports.

Rodgers' right thumb has been the cause for practice limitations for the last six weeks, but it has yet to affect his availability for games. He'll again be without rookie wide receiver Romeo Doubs, who is dealing with a high-ankle sprain. However, other skill-position players such as running back Aaron Jones (shin) and wideouts Allen Lazard (shoulder) and Christian Watson (ankle) will be available, and another familiar target in Randall Cobb (ankle) may be activated from injured reserve for the Week 11 game. As a result, Rodgers could have as close to a full complement of offensive weapons available to him Thursday as he has all season.

Saints head coach Dennis Allen said Wednesday that Winston may not be 100 percent healthy at any point the rest of this season, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.

Winston has been able to practice fully for weeks, but Allen continues to stick with Andy Dalton as the Saints' starting quarterback, even though the latter has compiled a 2-5 record in his nods this season. As such, Winston is poised to be the team's No. 2 option and may not get a chance to regain the top spot on the depth chart without an absence from Dalton.

Head coach Dennis Allen said Wednesday that Dalton will be the Saints' starting quarterback Sunday against the Rams, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.

During Dalton's seven previous starts this season, the Saints have gone 2-5 to fall to 3-7 overall. Dalton had perhaps his worst performance of the campaign this past Sunday at Pittsburgh, where he completed 17 of 27 passes for 174 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in a 27-17 loss. Still, Allen will continue to roll with Dalton under center, even though Jameis Winston is seemingly healthy enough to play.

Panthers interim head coach Steve Wilks said Wednesday that he would like to give Darnold some snaps in a game before giving him another chance to start, David Newton of ESPN.com reports.

Baker Mayfield will start Sunday's game in Baltimore, with Darnold serving as the backup and P.J. Walker (ankle) missing the first of what likely will be multiple games. The possibility of Darnold getting some snaps hurts Mayfield's already-limited value, and an in-game benching is in play with any starting quarterback for Carolina this season.

Head coach Sean McDermott said that Allen (elbow) will be a limited participant at practice Wednesday, Chris Brown of the Bills' official site reports.

McDermott previously told Alaina Getzenberg of ESPN.com that the quarterback came out of this past Sunday's 33-30 overtime loss to the Vikings in a "good spot" in terms of his right elbow injury. However, since the UCL issue is likely to be a lingering concern for Allen, he's expected to have his practice reps managed ahead of Sunday's game against the Browns. Barring any setbacks, Allen is in line to start this weekend, but he may need to practice fully by Friday in order to avoid an injury designation.

Colts interim head coach Jeff Saturday confirmed Wednesday that Ehlinger will remain in a backup role for Sunday's game against the Eagles with Matt Ryan set to make a second straight start, Zak Keefer of The Athletic reports.

Shortly after being appointed as the Colts' new coach last week following the firing of Frank Reich, Saturday indicated that Ehlinger would pick up a third consecutive start. However, once Sunday's matchup with the Raiders arrived, it was Ryan who took the reins of the offense. Ryan completed 21 of 28 attempts for 222 yards and a touchdown while adding 38 yards and another score on the ground as the Colts claimed a 25-20 victory, putting an end to a three-game losing streak. Though the mobile Ehlinger, a 2021 sixth-round pick, has more theoretical upside than the 37-year-old Ryan at this stage of his career, the 4-5-1 Colts aren't yet ready to wave the white flag on the season and will stick with the veteran, who likely gives the team a better chance at remaining competitive.

Rodgers (thumb) was listed as a limited participant in Tuesday's walk-through practice.

The Packers are facing a quick turnaround for Week 11 with a Thursday night game against the Titans, but Rodgers is now more than a month removed from the right thumb injury he suffered on a Hail Mary attempt in an Oct. 9 loss to the Giants. In the five weeks since sustaining the injury, he has had his practice reps managed to some degree, but he's yet to take a designation into game day. Even if Rodgers' reps are capped again Wednesday, he still appears likely to avoid a questionable tag heading into Thursday's contest.

Tannehill (ankle) was listed as a full participant at Tuesday's practice, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.

Following a two-game absence due to the ankle issue, Tannehill returned to the lineup for last Sunday's 17-10 win over the Broncos and completed 19 of 36 pass attempts for 255 yards and two touchdowns to go with 12 rushing yards on two carries. Tennessee listed Tannehill as a limited participant on the estimated practice report the team released Monday, but the quarterback's return to full activity Tuesday suggests he'll be ready to go for a quick Week 11 turnaround when the Titans travel to Green Bay for a Thursday night game.

Rams head coach Sean McVay said Tuesday that Stafford remains in the NFL's concussion protocols, Eric Williams of FoxSports.com reports.

McVay wouldn't confirm that Stafford has been diagnosed with a concussion in the aftermath of the Rams' Week 9 loss to the Buccaneers, but the fact that the quarterback has now been stuck in the protocols for seven days suggests strongly he's dealing with one. The team should have a better idea regarding Stafford's availability for Sunday's game in New Orleans later Tuesday or Wednesday, but John Wolford -- who started in place of Stafford in a Week 10 loss to the Cardinals -- may continue to see first-team reps at quarterback to begin prep for the Week 11 matchup. Even if Stafford clears the protocols in advance of the game against the Saints, he'll be working behind a depleted offensive line and won't have top target Cooper Kupp (ankle) available, with the standout receiver undergoing surgery Wednesday that will keep him sidelined for at least the next four games.

Although Allen and the Bills had a rough outing in Sunday's overtime loss to the Vikings, coach Sean McDermott and offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey stated Monday that the quarterback didn't have any throws he was incapable of making due to his elbow sprain, Alec White of the Bills' official site reports.

It wasn't Allen's arm that cost the Bills the game Sunday, as the star QB threw for 330 yards and ran for another 84, but some costly decisions by both Allen and his teammates handed the team a devastating loss, the second straight game in which the Bills have blown a double-digit lead. While the staff did mention it cut designed run plays for Allen out of Sunday's game plan, fantasy managers should be able to deploy him as normal. While his elbow is not 100 percent, he may not be able to do much more damage to it by playing through the pain. If there's any consolation to Allen's sloppy play of late -- he has six interceptions over the last three weeks -- it might be that Buffalo could have to play its starters all the way through Week 18 as it fights for playoff positioning, instead of just coasting to a playoff bye.