NFL Player News

Rodgers, who doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Eagles, has been playing through an avulsion fracture in his right thumb since injuring the finger in an Oct. 9 loss to the Giants, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Though he has yet to miss any games this season, Rodgers has been listed on Packers injury reports for seven straight weeks with the right thumb issue. The extent of the injury wasn't fully known until Rodgers quietly disclosed Wednesday that his thumb was fractured when Giants defender Oshane Ximines hit the quarterback's hand on a Hail Mary attempt on the final play of the Week 5 contest. Rapoport's report confirms that Rodgers is dealing with an avulsion fracture, an injury that results in a torn ligament that creates joint instability in the thumb. Though Rodgers said he'll continue to play and isn't considering surgery to address the injury either during the season or after the season, the avulsion fracture may in part explain why the reigning NFL MVP's performance has taken a step back in 2022. In the six games since he suffered the injury, the Packers have gone 1-5 while Rodgers has completed 62 percent of his throws for 6.7 yards per attempt and an 11:4 TD:INT.

The Rams are uncertain when Stafford (neck/concussion protocol) will be available to play again this season, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reports.

After he entered the concussion protocol for the second time in less than a month following his early exit from the Rams' Week 11 loss to the Saints, Stafford didn't practice in any fashion this week before being ruled out ahead of Sunday's game in Kansas City. As Schefter notes, Stafford suffered a strained neck in the game against the Saints, but he hasn't yet been diagnosed with his second concussion of the season, despite his inclusion in the protocol. However, with head coach Sean McVay noting that Stafford was experiencing some numbness in his legs after taking a hit in the game against the Saints, the 3-7 Rams could be inclined to take a cautious approach with the 34-year-old. Despite their unfavorable position in the NFC playoff picture, the Rams aren't yet planning to shut Stafford down completely, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. With that in mind, Stafford looks like he'll avoid being placed on injured reserve for the time being and will be evaluated on a game-by-game basis.

Watson has complied with the terms of his 11-game suspension and will be officially reinstated by the NFL on Monday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

After being handed the ban Aug. 18, Watson was placed on the reserve/suspended list at the conclusion of the preseason and had been away from the Browns for about a month and a half before he was cleared in mid-October to resume working out at the team facility and attending meetings. Watson was then cleared to resume practicing Nov. 14, and once he gets another week of practice under his belt during the upcoming week, he'll unseat Jacoby Brissett as the Browns' new starting quarterback beginning with the team's Dec. 4 game in Houston. Watson's return to the lineup against his former Texans squad will mark his first regular-season appearance in 700 days, as he last took the field in Houston's Week 17 game in 2020.

Siemian appears on track to start at quarterback in Sunday's game against the Jets with Justin Fields (shoulder) listed as questionable but not expected to play, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

Before making an official call on Fields' status when it releases its Week 12 inactive list 90 minutes before the 1 p.m. ET kickoff, Chicago will give Fields an opportunity to warm up early Sunday as he attempts to prove his health. However, after Fields was limited in practices all week due to what's been described as an AC joint sprain in his non-throwing shoulder, the second-year signal-caller is considered a "long shot" to play, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The Bears seemingly telegraphed Fields' expected absence by elevating Nathan Peterman from the practice squad Saturday, with Peterman likely to serve as Siemian's backup. Siemian has made only one appearance off the bench in 2022, but the 30-year-old has previously picked up 29 starts since entering the NFL in 2015. Four of those starts came last season with the Saints, with Siemian completing 83 of 144 attempts (57.6 percent) for 924 yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions in those outings. For as long as the game plan allows for it Sunday, expect the Bears to adopt a more conservative offensive approach under Siemian, who could struggle to help Chicago continue their streak of four consecutive games with at least 24 points.

Fields (shoulder), who is listed as questionable, will get a chance to warm up before Sunday's game at the Jets, but he doesn't seem likely to be available, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Adam Schefter of ESPN backed up Rapoport's assessment, which will be confirmed, one way or another, about 90 minutes before Sunday's 1 p.m. ET kickoff. Assuming Fields doesn't gain clearance to play through the separated shoulder with partially torn ligaments that he sustained in his non-throwing arm near the end of last Sunday's loss in Atlanta, the Bears will turn to Trevor Siemian under center, with the recently elevated Nathan Peterman backing him up. In that scenario, Fields' next chance to suit up will arrive Dec. 4 against the Packers.

The Bears elevated Peterman to their active roster from their practice squad Saturday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

The bigger picture here is that Peterman's elevation could mean that Justin Fields (shoulder) may be held out of Chicago's Week 12 road game against the Jets. If that's the case, Peterman would likely serve as the team's No. 2 quarterback behind Trevor Siemian. Peterman has attempted only five NFL passes since 2018, all of which came in a single contest while with the Raiders in 2020.

The Bears elevated third-string quarterback Nathan Peterman on Saturday, which would seem to signal Fields' (shoulder) eventual absence ahead of the Week 12 matchup, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

It's important to note the Bears did not rule out Fields as of now, but NFL teams typically do not carry three active quarterbacks on the gameday roster, so this elevation is especially noteworthy. The dynamic dual-threat quarterback was a limited participant in practice all week, but should he eventually be ruled inactive ahead of the 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff, Trevor Siemian would likely get the start.

McSorley did not practice Friday due to an illness and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Chargers, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.

McSorley was a full participant in practice Wednesday and Thursday before popping up on Friday's injury report. While the severity of this ailment is still unclear, the 27-year-old will have just one more day to overcome this issue before Sunday's contest. McSorley went 6-for-10 passing for 59 yards and an interception after stepping in for Colt McCoy during Monday's loss to San Francisco. However, both signal callers figure to fall back into their normal backup roles Week 12, as starting quarterback Kyler Murray is expected to return after missing the last two games with a hamstring injury.

McCoy (elbow) was listed as a full participant on Friday's injury report and should be available to suit up Sunday versus the Chargers, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.

McCoy made his second straight start in place of injured quarterback Kyler Murray (hamstring) during Monday's game against San Francisco, though he came out of this game with a right elbow injury. The 36-year-old backup was then limited during practice Wednesday and Thursday before logging a full session Friday. As a result, McCoy should slot back in behind Murray, who does not carry an injury designation and is expected to be a full go against the Chargers.

Bridgewater (knee) is considered questionable to play Sunday against the Texans, Daniel Oyefusi of the Miami Herald reports.

Bridgewater was sidelined with a knee injury during the Dolphins' Week 9 win over the Browns, and he remained a limited participant in practice coming off the team's Week 11 bye. With the veteran's status still uncertain Friday, rookie Skylar Thompson could be set to step in as Miami's No. 2 quarterback behind Tua Tagovailoa in Week 12.