NFL Player News

Haskins is expected to lead the Chargers backfield Sunday against the Dolphins, with Kimani Vidal also slated to mix in, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

That said, offensive coordinator Greg Roman told Kris Rhim of ESPN.com on Thursday that the Chargers weren't planning on leaning on a lead back in Week 6 with Omarion Hampton (ankle) landing on injured reserve. Instead, Roman noted that Haskins and Vidal are both "gonna be big factors in the game, how it's gonna unfold from snap count standpoint...can go a bunch of different ways in that regard." Even if Haskins draws the start, both backs should contribute versus Miami as the team adjusts to being without Hampton for at least four weeks, with Garafolo suggesting that the running back's absence could extend beyond that timeframe. Meanwhile, Garafolo indicates that it's also possible that the Chargers add backfield depth ahead of the Nov. 4 trade deadline. Either way, Haskins and Vidal both represent lineup options for fantasy managers who had been leaning on Hampton or are otherwise looking for backfield help this week.

McDonald is being evaluated for a possible concussion and is questionable to return to Sunday's game against the Broncos.

McDonald sustained a head injury during the first half of Sunday's game, and he is being evaluated by medical staff to determine whether he can return. Micheal Clemons and Braiden McGregor will see more snaps at defensive end for as long as McDonald is out of the game.

Matlock has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Dolphins due to a personal matter.

Matlock is the only active fullback on the Chargers' roster, so offensive coordinator Greg Roman could deploy tight ends Tucker Fisk, Tyler Conklin and rookie fifth-rounder Oronde Gadsden in the backfield to serve as additional blockers. Matlock's next opportunity to play is Week 7 against the Colts on Sunday, Oct. 19.

McCarthy (ankle) was able to get in some "good work" on the field during the Vikings' Week 6 bye, but he's still not considered 100 percent healthy and is uncertain to be available for the team's Week 7 game against the Eagles, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Peliserro notes that McCarthy will reclaim starting quarterback duties for the Vikings once he's considered ready for game action, but the second-year signal-caller still has a few hurdles to clear before stepping back in under center for Minnesota. McCarthy is expected to be ready to practice in some fashion during the upcoming week for the first time since suffering a right high-ankle sprain in a Sept. 14 loss to Atlanta, but he'll need to prove that his mobility isn't affected by the injury and that he's "comfortable from an operational perspective" in order to gain clearance to play, according to Pelissero. Meanwhile, Carson Wentz -- who started each of the past three games -- could be limited in practice this week while he tends to an injury to his non-throwing shoulder, leaving the Vikings' quarterback situation unsettled coming out of the bye.

McLaurin (quadriceps) will remain out for Monday's game against the Bears but has avoided any setbacks in his recovery thus far and has a chance at returning to action Week 7 versus the Cowboys, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Since exiting the Commanders' Week 3 win over the Raiders due to the quad injury, McLaurin hasn't practiced in any fashion and is set to miss a third straight game Monday, though he's reportedly moved through his rehab program as expected thus far. While the Commanders remain hopeful that McLaurin will be ready to go for a divisional matchup in Week 7, he'll still likely need to take reps in at least one or two practices from next Wednesday through Friday in order to gain clearance to play. With McLaurin in street clothes for another game and with Noah Brown (groin) also sidelined Week 6, Deebo Samuel is expected to serve as the Commanders' top passing-game target for another game, assuming he's able to play through the heel injury that has resulted in him taking a questionable tag into Monday.

Hampton, who was placed on injured reserve Wednesday due to a left ankle injury, isn't expected to be out for the season but is on track to be sidelined for more than the four-game minimum, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

Earlier in the week, Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh didn't provide many details about the injury Hampton sustained in the Week 5 loss to the Commanders, but the fact that the promising rookie is expected to need more than four weeks to make a full recovery points to him likely nursing a high-ankle sprain. A target date for Hampton's return has yet to be established, but because the Chargers have a bye coming up in Week 12, the team could be motivated to hold him out through that period to give him ample time to heal. Garafolo notes that Hassan Haskins is likely to serve as the Chargers' lead back Sunday in Miami while practice-squad signee Kimani Vidal also sees work, but Los Angeles is expected to be in the market for a running back ahead of the Nov. 4 trade deadline to compensate for the long-term injuries to Hampton and Najee Harris (Achilles).

Lamb (ankle) remains out for Sunday's game at Carolina, but he's getting closer to a return to action and "has a chance" to play Week 7 versus the Commanders, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Since sustaining a left high-ankle sprain early in a Week 3 loss to the Bears, Lamb hasn't logged any practice activity and will wind up missing a third consecutive game Sunday. However, Lamb seemed to show some improvement over the past week, with the wideout appearing to amp up the intensity of his resistance training off to the side during the portions of practice that were open to the media. At this stage, Lamb is still looking like far from a lock to play next Sunday versus Washington, with one source describing the wideout as "50-50" for that contest, per Pelissero. Lamb will almost certainly need to return to practice during the upcoming week as at least a limited participant in order to put himself on a path to playing against the Commanders.

Smith will remain the Raiders' starting quarterback for Sunday's game against the Titans after Las Vegas had "no serious discussion" about benching the signal-caller following the team's four-game losing streak, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Much of the team's struggles over the past four games have fallen on Smith's shoulders, as the veteran quarterback has thrown eight interceptions and has taken 12 sacks over that stretch. Poor offensive line play hasn't helped Smith, and he'll be further handicapped Sunday by the continued absence of star tight end Brock Bowers (knee), who is set to miss a second straight game. Though the Raiders aren't yet prepared to turn the offense over to backup Kenny Pickett, the idea of a change under center could gain some momentum if Smith is unable to deliver a clean outing against the Titans, who rank in the bottom 10 of the league in both yards and points allowed per game.

Bowers (knee), who has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Titans, is considered unlikely to be available for the Raiders' Week 7 contest at Kansas City, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Since sustaining a bone bruise and PCL injury in his knee in the Raiders' Week 1 win over the Patriots, Bowers had been noticeably slowed by the issue over Las Vegas' subsequent three contests before he ended up sitting out this past Sunday's 40-6 loss to the Colts. Since Bowers needs rest to fully move past the injury, he was held out of all three Week 6 practices before being ruled out two days in advance of the matchup with Tennessee. Pelissero notes that the Raiders plan to give Bowers "a chance" to play next Sunday against the Chiefs if his knee is feeling better than anticipated after two weeks off from playing in games, but Las Vegas "wants to be smart" with the star tight end before its bye in Week 8. With that in mind, fantasy managers should prepare to have another option available at tight end in place of Bowers until at least Week 9.

Avery was elevated from the practice squad to the active roster ahead of Sunday's game against the Steelers in Week 6.

This is the third elevation for Avery since he was signed to the practice squad after being waived by the Buccaneers in September. He's played on special teams only during his first two games on the active roster. In addition to a role on special teams, Avery will provide depth at cornerback, an area that's undergone recent change when the Browns traded Greg Newsome (hamstring) to the Jaguars for Tyson Campbell.