NFL Player News

The Dolphins list Bridgewater as questionable for Sunday's game against the Vikings due to his placement in the concussion protocol in addition to a right pectoral injury.

Though Bridgewater passed all concussion tests after exiting in the first quarter of last week's loss to the Jets, the league's recently revised policy for addressing head injuries resulted in the veteran quarterback's placement in the protocol. He wasn't able to resume practicing fully until Friday, as he was a limited participant Wednesday and Thursday before taking every rep in the Dolphins' final Week 6 practice. The pec injury isn't believed to be a concern for Bridgewater and the expectation is that he'll formally exit the concussion protocol before Sunday's game, but because he didn't practice fully until Friday, the Dolphins won't ask him to serve as anything more than a backup. Rookie Skylar Thompson is on track to make his first NFL start Sunday while Bridgewater likely serves as the No. 2 option both this weekend and for the foreseeable future, as top signal-caller Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) also practiced fully Friday and tentatively looks on pace to end his two-game absence from the lineup Oct. 23 against the Steelers.

Tagovailoa (concussion/ankle), who is listed as out for Sunday's game against the Vikings, was a full participant in Friday's practice.

Miami decided early in the week that Tagovailoa will miss his second game in a row, and while the quarterback remains in the concussion protocol, his advancement to full participation in practice suggests he's on the doorstep of gaining full medical clearance. Assuming Tagovailoa maintains full practice activity during the upcoming week and receives the green light from an independent neurologist to return to the field, he could be on track to reclaim the Dolphins' starting quarterback duties Oct. 23 against the Steelers. As for this week, the Dolphins plan to have third-stringer Skylar Thompson make his first career NFL start while No. 2 option Teddy Bridgewater (concussion/pectoral) -- who is listed as questionable -- likely handles backup duties since he didn't resume practicing fully until Friday.

Jones (ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Browns after practicing in a limited capacity this week, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site reports.

After sitting out the Patriots' last two games due to a left high-ankle sprain, Jones has a chance to return to action this weekend. If the Patriots elect to play it safe with their top quarterback, however, Bailey Zappe would draw a second straight start Sunday. Look for added context with regard to Jones' Week 6 status to arrive late Saturday or early Sunday, when national reporters like Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport provide their weekly pregame updates.

Prescott (thumb) is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Eagles, Patrick Walker of the Cowboys' official site reports.

Comments from team president Jerry Jones and head coach Mike McCarthy suggest Prescott is unlikely to start, with McCarthy previously telling Walker that the quarterback would need a full week of practice before returning to games. Prescott didn't manage it this week, sitting out Wednesday and then logging limited sessions Thursday and Friday. McCarthy mentioned that the quarterback increased his activity level Friday, and Jones said Prescott was throwing the ball with zip again. Another start for Cooper Rush is still the most likely outcome, but the Cowboys certainly have given fans and fantasy managers something to think about, especially with their NFC East battle against the Eagles scheduled for Sunday at 8:20 p.m. ET.

Winston (back/ankle) won't start Sunday's game against the Bengals but may be active, with the Saints listing him as questionable on their final Week 6 injury report, Luke Johnson of The New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

It's an upgrade after Winston was listed as doubtful last week and ultimately made inactive for the Saints' win over the Seahawks. Andy Dalton is set for another start at quarterback, with Taysom Hill likely poaching some direct snaps in key spots. Winston seems to be making progress and could be back as the starter as soon as Week 7, when the Saints travel to Arizona for a Thursday night game.

Saints head coach Dennis Allen said Dalton will start Sunday's game against the Bengals, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Jameis Winston (back/ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday after being a limited participant in practice this week and might be available as the backup, but Dalton will get at least one more start. Dalton will be presiding over an offense that's without Michael Thomas (foot) for a third straight game and Jarvis Landry (ankle) for a second straight, while rookie Chris Olave (concussion) is listed as questionable but could be at risk of missing the game. Dalton has only 52 pass attempts and two touchdowns through two starts, with the Saints opting for a run-heavy approach that has often featured Taysom Hill getting a lot of direct snaps, especially in the red zone. The depleted state of the wideout corps furthers the case for a run-first offense, though Cincinnati's solid front seven might have something to say about it.

Broncos head coach Nathaniel Hackett said that Wilson (shoulder) will be a full practice participant Friday, confirming the quarterback is on track to start Monday's game in Los Angeles against the Chargers, Nick Kosmider of The Athletic reports.

Wilson was limited in both of the Broncos' first two workouts of the week, one of which was unofficial since Denver didn't need to submit its first Week 6 practice report until Thursday due to the Monday night game. According to Jeff Legwold of ESPN.com, Wilson's reps were capped to begin the week to afford him more recovery time from an injury to his latissimus dorsi near his right shoulder, which he initially sustained Week 4 in the Broncos' Oct. 1 loss to the Raiders. Wilson received a platelet-rich plasma injection in the shoulder last Friday, one day after the Broncos' 12-9 overtime loss to the Colts in a Thursday night game. The procedure and the extra recovery time ahead of the Week 6 matchup with the Chargers has Wilson feeling "better every day," though that doesn't necessarily guarantee that he'll immediately show improvement after a slow start to his tenure with the Broncos. Through five games, Wilson has completed a career-low 59.4 percent of his passes for 7.4 yards per attempt and a 4:3 TD:INT.

Cowboys president Jerry Jones said Friday that Prescott (thumb) has made a lot of progress and is "throwing the ball with zip," but Jones declined to answer if he expects the QB back for Week 7 against the Lions, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.

Coach Mike McCarthy added that Prescott increased his activity level at Friday's practice and felt some soreness afterward, but nothing out of the ordinary, putting him on track for a pregame workout before Sunday night's game against the Eagles. While Cooper Rush appears destined for at least one more start, Prescott could get back under center as soon as Week 7 against Detroit or Week 8 at Chicago. After that, the Cowboys have a Week 9 bye, followed by a crucial stretch of games against NFC playoff hopefuls (GB, MIN, NYG in Weeks 10-12).

Interim head coach Steve Wilks confirmed Friday that Walker will start Sunday's game against the Rams, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Meanwhile, Baker Mayfield (ankle) is listed as doubtful for the contest, but the Panthers haven't ruled out the possibility that he could suit up Sunday as a backup. Additionally, the team could elevate Jacob Eason from the practice squad ahead of Sunday's game. Walker thus represents a short-term fantasy option for those who roster Mayfield, are scrambling for a bye week plug-in, or are simply looking to add depth in two-quarterback or superflex leagues.

Mayfield (ankle) is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Rams after not practicing Friday, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

Per Gantt, interim head coach Steve Wilks said that Mayfield "had a great workout" earlier Friday, but the Panthers will start P.J. Walker at quarterback on Sunday against the Rams. Mayfield could serve as Walker's backup, but if he isn't available to do so, Jacob Eason will be elevated for the team's practice squad to handle the No. 2 role.