NFL Player News
-
Ryan Tannehill QB | TEN
Titans' Ryan Tannehill: Dealing with ankle sprain
Head coach Mike Vrabel said that Tannehill (ankle) will probably be limited at practice Wednesday, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.
Per Wyatt, Tannehill -- who wasn't wearing a walking boot when he spoke to the media Wednesday -- noted that he has a right ankle sprain and is improving as Sunday's game against the Texans approaches. While the veteran signal-caller appears to be trending in the right direction, if Tannehill ends up sitting out this weekend, Malik Willis would be next up for reps.
-
Russell Wilson QB | NYG
Broncos' Russell Wilson: Trending in right direction
Wilson (hamstring) said Wednesday that he is "ready to roll" as Sunday's game against the Jaguars in London approaches, Aric DiLalla of the Broncos' official site reports.
Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, Wilson was a limited participant at Wednesday's practice, but the quarterback looks to be trending toward returning to action this weekend, barring any setbacks. Per DiLalla, head coach Nathaniel Hackett also suggested Wednesday that he expects Wilson back under center this weekend, though the veteran signal-caller will likely need to practice fully by the end of the week in order to avoid taking an injury designation into the contest.
-
Russell Wilson QB | NYG
Broncos' Russell Wilson: Begins week with limited practice
Wilson (hamstring) will practice on a limited basis Wednesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Wilson was also limited in practices Week 7, when he was ultimately inactive for the Broncos' loss to the Jets while Brett Rypien picked up the start under center. According to Troy Renck of Denver 7 News, Wilson displayed more mobility during the open portion of Wednesday's practice than he had at any point last week, so he appears to have made some progress, even if his "limited" listing represents no tangible change. Head coach Nathaniel Hackett said that Wilson is trending toward a Week 8 return, but the Broncos may still need to monitor how the quarterback's left hamstring looks during practice the next three days before a determination is made on his status for Sunday's game against the Jaguars in London.
-
Jameis Winston QB | NYG
Saints' Jameis Winston: Status for Week 8 to be determined
Coach Dennis Allen said Monday that the Saints have yet to make a decision regarding who will start between Winston and Andy Dalton on Sunday against the Raiders, Mike Triplett of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Winston has been active the last two games, but Dalton still started and logged most of the first-team reps in practice with the former available only in case of emergency. "I do think Jameis is getting healthier," Allen noted. "Both of those guys will have themselves ready to play." Winston hasn't practiced in full since Week 1 as he's been tending to a number of health concerns including four small fractures in his back, an ankle issue and a hip flexor injury. Only the back and ankle injuries were noted on the team's Week 7 practice reports, but returning to full activity at some point this week may be the tell that Winston is ready to resume his starting role.
-
Mac Jones QB | SF
Patriots' Mac Jones: Week 8 QB plans TBD
Coach Bill Belichick declined to confirm either Jones or Bailey Zappe as his starting QB for Week 8 following Monday's 33-14 loss to the Bears, ESPN's Mike Reiss reports.
In his return from a three-game absence, Jones completed only three of six passes for 13 yards and a pick and ran three times for 24 yards before giving way to Zappe. Reiss indicates the Patriots planned to play both QBs on Monday, with Jones' recovery from a high-ankle sprain factoring into that approach. Meanwhile, Belichick suggested that the 2021 first-rounder would have returned to the contest in the second half had the score been closer. Until there's added clarity here via practice reports, Jones looks like a risky fantasy option ahead of Sunday's kickoff against the 5-2 Jets.
-
Justin Fields QB | KC
Bears' Justin Fields: Improved form continues
Fields completed 13 of 21 passes for 179 yards, one touchdown and one interception in Monday's 33-14 win over the Patriots. He added 14 carries for 82 yards and a touchdown.
Fields led the Bears' offense to a big performance with both his arm and legs. He found Darnell Mooney for several big gains in the first half and connected with Cole Kmet for 26 yards midway through the second quarter on a drive that ultimately ended in a field goal. With both a passing and rushing score, Fields managed only his second multi-touchdown performance of the season. Most importantly from a fantasy perspective, Fields remained aggressive on both designed runs and scrambles and has now tallied at least 50 yards on the ground in three of his last four contests. After a slow start to the season, Fields has become the focal point of Chicago's offense in recent weeks.
-
Bailey Zappe QB | NYJ
Patriots' Bailey Zappe: Enters in relief in loss
Zappe completed 14 of 22 passes for 185 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in Monday's 33-14 loss to the Bears.
Zappe entered the game early in the second quarter in relief of the benched Mac Jones and immediately jumpstarted the New England offense, throwing for a 30-yard touchdown on his first possession while connecting on a 43-yard completion to DeVante Parker to set up another score on New England's next drive. However, Zappe cooled off considerably in the second half, completing only nine of his 16 passes for 76 yards to go along with both of his picks. Even so, he appears to have performed well enough to be considered for a Week 8 start against the Jets, and he may have created a genuine quarterback controversy in New England.
-
Mac Jones QB | SF
Patriots' Mac Jones: Benched early in loss
Jones completed three of his six passes for 13 yards and an interception in Monday's 33-14 loss to the Bears. He added three rushes for 24 yards.
Jones returned from a three-game absence caused by a high-ankle sprain and got off to a lackluster start. He was ultimately benched after throwing an interception deep in Bears' territory early in the second quarter. Bailey Zappe entered in his place and immediately led the Patriots' offense to two scoring drives, though he cooled down quite a bit across the final two quarters of the game. Jones managed to hold onto his starting role while rehabbing his high ankle sprain, but there may now be a true quarterback controversy in New England. At a minimum, it's unclear whether Jones or Zappe will get the call as the starter in a pivotal Week 8 matchup against the Jets.
-
Bailey Zappe QB | NYJ
Patriots' Bailey Zappe: Returns to backup role
Coach Bill Belichick told Scott Zolak of 98.5 The Sports Hub that Mac Jones (ankle) will start for the Patriots on Monday against the Bears, relegating Zappe to backup duties.
While Jones is back following a three-game absence due to a high left-ankle sprain, it isn't out of the question that Zappe will be a part of the game plan in Week 7, according to Evan Lazar of the team's official site. Leading the Patriots to a 2-1 record in place of Jones, Zappe completed 73 percent of his passes for 596 yards, four touchdowns and one interception. If he mixes into the offense Monday though, Zappe seems likely to have a limited snap count, if any.
-
Mac Jones QB | SF
Patriots' Mac Jones: Slated to start Monday
Coach Bill Belichick confirmed that Jones (ankle) is slated to start Monday night's game against the Bears, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.
Jones thus is back as the Patriots' starting quarterback following a three-game absence due to a high left-ankle sprain, though Evan Lazar of the team's official site relays that there's been some speculation backup Bailey Zappe could also potentially take some snaps in the contest. In any case, those who waited things out on Jones all the way up to Monday's kickoff are slated get some level of Week 7 fantasy production from the 2021 first-rounder.