NFL Player News

David supplied nine tackles (six solo) in the Buccaneers' 28-23 loss to the Patriots on Sunday.

David paced the Buccaneers in tackles for a second straight game after also setting the pace in the Week 8 win over the Saints before the bye. The veteran linebacker has consistently shaken off a lingering knee issue this season to play up to his usual standards, posting at least six tackles in five straight games and accruing 66 stops (31 solo), including 2.5 sacks, two passes defensed, including one interception and one fumble recovery over nine contests.

The Browns plan on waiting until at least Week 12 to potentially open the 21-day practice window for Watson (Achilles), Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

On Monday, head coach Kevin Stefanski noted that Watson was progressing well in his recovery from Jan. 20 surgery and didn't dismiss the possibility of the quarterback could practice this week, but a return to the field will instead be delayed by at least one more week. Given that he hasn't practiced in more than a year, he'll likely need close to the full 21-day window to fully ramp up before the Browns would consider activating him from the PUP list. Despite having been out all season, Watson has attended all meetings and has filled a mentorship role for Cleveland's two rookie quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel and backup Shedeur Sanders. The 30-year-old remains under contract with the Browns through next season after inking a five-year, $230 million extension with Cleveland shortly after he was acquired from the Texans in March 2022.

The Panthers signed White to the practice squad Tuesday, Joe Person of The Athletic reports.

White will rejoin the team and serve as organizational quarterback depth behind Bryce Young and Andy Dalton in Carolina.

Payne's one-game suspension was upheld on appeal Monday, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reports.

Payne was suspended one game for punching Amon-Ra St. Brown during the Commanders' loss to the Lions on Sunday. With Payne out for Week 11 against the Dolphins in Madrid, look for Eddie Goldman, Jer'Zhan Newton and Sheldon Day to see increased playing time up front on the defensive line.

Durham failed to catch his only target, his first since Week 2, in Sunday's 28-23 loss to the Patriots.

Durham saw a drop in snaps to 19 (28 percent) after having played on at least 30 percent of plays in each of the previous four contests. The third-year tight end surprisingly has been a complete nonfactor in the air attack through nine contests after posting a 16-173-2 career line on 21 targets over his first pair of seasons, and even the Buccaneers' perpetually injury-hampered receiving corps has done nothing to expand Durham's involvement beyond his role as a blocker.

Hooper (concussion) isn't in attendance for Tuesday's practice, Evan Lazar of the Patriots' official site reports.

Though the Patriots aren't expected to hold a rigorous practice Tuesday, the fact that Hooper hasn't even been seen working out off to the side suggests he's not likely to suit up Thursday against the Jets. Assuming the veteran tight end is ruled out for the Week 11 contest, the Patriots could have fullback Jack Westover serve as the main backup to starting TE Hunter Henry. New England could also elevate one of Thomas Odukoya or CJ Dippre from the practice squad.

Johnson rushed once for 11 yards, failed to bring in his only target, returned two kickoffs for 48 yards and ran back two punts for 12 yards in the Buccaneers' 28-23 loss to the Patriots on Sunday.

Johnson was back to serving as the full-time returner after running back Sean Tucker vultured both of the kickoff-return opportunities in the Buccaneers' Week 8 win over the Saints before the bye. The second-year pro also logged his second career carry in addition to seeing his sixth target of the season, all which have come within the last four games with Tampa Bay's receiver corps working short-handed. Johnson remains exclusively an option for those playing in very deep formats that also count return yards and touchdowns.

The Broncos are viewing Dobbins as a potential candidate for injured reserve after he sustained a left foot injury in Thursday's 10-7 win over the Raiders, Chris Tomasson of The Denver Gazette reports.

Dobbins suffered the injury on an apparent hip-drop tackle in the third quarter, and the team is waiting for a second opinion on it before making any roster decisions. Though the Broncos have a longer turnaround than normal in advance of Sunday's game against Kansas City, Dobbins is at significant risk of being sidelined for the first time all season. Rookie RJ Harvey is the next man up for touches and snaps in the Denver backfield, while Tyler Badie and Jaleel McLaughlin would be candidates for increased roles as well.

Shepard brought in three of four targets for 20 yards in the Buccaneers' 28-23 loss to the Patriots on Sunday.

The veteran wideout's impact was limited despite the ongoing absences of Mike Evans (IR, collarbone/concussion) and Chris Godwin (fibula), and even though Shepard garnered a solid 65 percent snap share (45 snaps). Since posting a season-high 80 receiving yards back in Week 3 against the Jets, Shepard has a modest 19-142-1 receiving line on 25 targets over six subsequent games, so his appeal will remain limited to deep leagues and large-field DFS tournaments in a Week 11 road matchup against a usually stingy Bills secondary.

Hunter underwent season-ending surgery Tuesday to repair an isolated LCL injury to his right knee, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Hunter was placed on injured reserve Oct. 31, one day after he suffered a non-contact knee injury while playing cornerback during practice. Though the Jaguars relayed that initial tests on Hunter's knee revealed that his ACL was intact, the 22-year-old evidently sustained other ligament damage that required a procedure. Hunter is expected to be ready to resume football activities in six months, so the two-way player should be back to full health well in advance of training camp in late July, if not the start of the Jaguars' offseason program in the spring. The No. 2 overall pick in 2025 will finish his rookie season with a 28-298-1 receiving line on 45 targets to go with 15 tackles and three passes defensed over seven games.