NFL Player News

One season after going unsigned until November, Smith gets a soft landing with the only team he’s ever known. Coming off another injury-checkered campaign, he received no other known interest in free agency. Smith was effective and versatile when he managed to get on the field in 2011, but less so after severely spraining his ankle on Thanksgiving. If all goes according to plan for the Lions, he’ll join Jahvid Best (concussions) and Mikel Leshoure (Achilles) in a three-man, rotational backfield. Smith’s injury history and the presence of Best and Leshoure greatly curb his fantasy upside in both dynasty and redraft formats.

At this point, fantasy managers should not be alarmed by Thomas’ limited practice participation. This is how the Jaguars handle injured players. Fantasy managers should, unfortunately, be alarmed by Mac Jones once again starting for the Jaguars this week. Thomas is now just a volatile WR4.

While Davis is technically dealing with a shoulder injury, we expect him to suit up after repeatedly practicing in a limited capacity, as is standard with the Jaguars. The volatile downfield wide receiver is not a recommended start with Mac Jones under center.

Whatever ankle injury Harris is dealing with appears to be minor, judging by the leap he made from a DNP on Wednesday to a full participant on Thursday. Even with Friday’s practice still to go, it appears Harris will be set to play in Week 11’s matchup against the Ravens. Harris will see plenty of volume on Sunday, but his fantasy success will largely hinge on whether or not he can find the end zone against the Ravens’ stout run defense.

The move appears to be long overdue. Brisker suffered the concussion in Week 5 and has been unable to practice ever since. Hopefully, the talented safety can spend the rest of the season healing up while focusing on his long-term health.

Not great, folks. It’s bad enough to be added to the injury report on a Thursday, but it’s even worse to be listed as a DNP. Warren can put some concerns to rest regarding his Week 11 availability if he’s able to practice in some capacity on Friday, but this is something worth monitoring over the next 24 hours as we prepare to head into the weekend. If Warren can’t go, Cordarrelle Patterson would see an uptick in touches while Najee Harris remains cemented in his high-volume role against the Ravens.

Decker is now firmly on track to face the Jaguars in Week 11 which should make life far easier on Jared Goff, who has struggled to play effectively when pressured in recent weeks.

LaPorta could still play if he is able to practice on Friday but at this point, fantasy managers need to make a reliable backup plan. Tight ends from teams that were recently on bye may be available in free agency. Move swiftly.

Thursday marked Milano’s second practice since he suffered a torn biceps during training camp. A staple of the Bills’ defense, Milano was expected to return at some point in the season, but when he would return was always up in the air. With the Bills officially opening his 21-day return window, they now have three weeks to activate him from injured reserve, which means the latest we could see him would be Week 14 against the Rams. Milano has been listed as a limited participant in both practices this week.

The 8-2 Bills are in a tricky situation. They currently sit second in the AFC playoff picture, trailing only the 9-0 Chiefs, their Week 11 opponent. While the game can only be viewed as a must-win contest, it is important to note that the Bills are on bye in Week 12. Resting Kincaid for two weeks could give him the time he needs to be at full strength for a Super Bowl run.

The report comes from The Minnesota Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling, who clarified a previous report regarding McCarthy’s latest knee-related developments. Per Goessling, “McCarthy had a biologic injection to deal with intermittent swelling in his knee. No change to his recovery timeline.” While previous reports suggested McCarthy required a second surgery to address an issue with his repaired meniscus, Goessling’s source told him “it was just an injection... No second surgery.” Confusion likely arose over the “exploratory procedure” that was used to help diagnose the cause of the intermittent swelling but McCarthy’s “recovery and timetable remain on course.” He should be good to go in 2025.