It’s bad enough we have to deal with a painful bye week, but plenty of other things are happening around the league that could have a major impact on Week 7.
Here are some of the NFL news & notes to be aware of heading into the weekend.
Quarterbacks
Rumors flew this week that the Miami Dolphins were on the verge of acquiring Houston Texans’ star DeShaun Watson by the end of the week and potentially sending former first-round pick Tua Tagovialoa to the Washington Football Team. It’s the same story we’ve been hearing since March. Rumors came out of Houston and Miami denied any deal was in the works. The week is over and Watson is in Houston and Tua is in Miami.
The San Francisco 49ers have ruled out Trey Lance with a knee injury and Jimmy Garoppolo will get the start. Lance didn’t exactly set the world on fire while he was in the lineup so expectations are that Garoppolo will probably retain the job. One major thing to be aware of ahead of San Francisco’s Sunday night game: weather looks awful, with wind and rain being a factor. Looks like a situation to decrease expectations for all 49ers and Colts.
Baker Mayfield was not able to start for the Cleveland Browns on Thursday Night Football. Case Keenum got the start and led the team to victory. Mayfield is now dealing with a fracture in his often dislocated non-throwing shoulder along with his already torn labrum. He hopes to be back in Week 8.
New Orleans Saints backup Taysom Hill is expected to miss Sunday’s game with a concussion.
Tyrod Taylor will not make his return this week and Davis Mills will get another start.
Seattle Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll says the team has reached out to former MVP Cam Newton but the Seahawks signed Jacob Eason instead.
Running Backs
Alex Collins is looking unlikely to play on Monday Night Football with a core injury but is yet to be ruled out. There is a chance he is a game-time decision. Rashaad Penny has been activated off of injured reserve and is ready to play this week. This may not be situated until hours before game time.
JaMycal Hasty is likely to be activated off IR prior to Week 7.
The Baltimore Ravens have ruled out Latavius Murray with an ankle injury this week. Devonta Freeman and Le’Veon Bell should be in a timeshare, but don’t rule out Ty’Son Williams from also contributing.
Tevin Coleman popped up on the injury reports for the Jets on Friday and is now looking very questionable with a hamstring injury.
The New York Giants have once again ruled out Saquon Barkley with an ankle injury. He is yet to practice since sustaining the gruesome-looking injury.
Antonio Gibson is struggling with a shin injury and is questionable for Week 7. However, he believes he will be out there.
Damien Williams has yet to be activated off of Covid/IR as of Saturday morning but is not eligible to come off until Saturday so monitor the situation.
Both Samaje Perine and Chris Evans have been limited this week and aren’t a lock to play Sunday. The backup situation for the Cincinnati Bengals is unclear.
Malcolm Brown has been limited in practice this week with a rib injury and is questionable.
The Saints have signed Lamar Miller. Miller hasn’t had much left in the tank for a while.
The Los Angeles Rams have placed Jake Funk on IR with a hamstring injury.
Wide Receivers
Jerry Jeudy did not return to the Denver Broncos on Thursday Night Football but has now been medically cleared and is fully expected to play Week 8.
DeVante Parker and Preston Williams are both questionable again this week after ultimately being ruled out last week. Both should be considered game-time calls.
Sammy Watkins will not play this week.
Parris Campbell is heading to season-ending IR for the Indianapolis Colts with a foot fracture and T.Y. Hilton is questionable at best this week with a quad injury.
Deonte Harris has been able to practice all week due to a hamstring injury. He has not been ruled out yet. Michael Thomas will not be activated off the PUP list and is still expected to miss multiple weeks
The Carolina Panthers have ruled out rookie Terrace Marshall with a concussion and sent Brandon Zylstra to IR.
A.J. Brown missed Tennessee Titans practice all week due to food poison but is expected to give it go. Julio Jones looks less likely to play with a hamstring injury.
The Giants have ruled out Kadarius Toney and Kenny Golladay this week, while Sterling Shepard, Darius Slayton, and John Ross are all questionable. Shepard looks likely to play, the other two are iffy.
Curtis Samuel is once again out…
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have ruled out Antonio Brown with an ankle injury.
Donovan Peoples-Jones tweaked his groin warming up for TNF and did not play. Jarvis Landry injured his knee during the game and did not return.
Tight Ends
The Bucs have ruled out Gronk once again this week and O.J. Howard is questionable, but trending in the right direction with an ankle injury.
Evan Engram was downgraded to questionable mid-week with a calf injury.
Jimmy Graham has been placed on the reserve/Covid list and will not play this week.
Dallas Goedert has been activated off the reserve/Covid list and will play this week without restrictions.
Zach Ertz is expected to make his debut with the Arizona Cardinals.
Dawson Knox had surgery on his hand this week and there is no specific timeline for his return, but it’s not expected to be a lengthy recovery. The Buffalo Bills are on a bye this week.
