NFL Player News

Minnesota’s starting nose tackle, Guion is in danger of missing the Vikings’ next two preseason games. Coach Leslie Frazier fully expects him to be ready for Week 1. Guion is backed up by veteran Fred Evans and seventh-round rookie Trevor Guyton.

Whelp, the team made it all of one game with all three starting cornerbacks on the field together, with Diggs’ absence placing the team in the familiar territory of missing a top corner. The Panthers aren’t expected to pass a ton against the Cowboys, but Diggs’ absence is a big hit to the Dallas defense, nonetheless.

Swift failed to practice on Thursday and Friday before logging a limited sessions Saturday as he tends to a groin injury. The Bears already ruled out fellow back Roschon Johnson with a concussion, meaning Swift could be in line for another robust workload after seeing 16 opportunities on a 79% snap rate against the 49ers in Week 14, assuming he can play through his ailment. The Bears will be extremely thin at the position if Swift can’t go, likely forced to turn to Travis Homer and recent addition Darrynton Evans.

It’ll mark the second consecutive missed game for the young running back as he works his way through the league’s concussion protocol. Johnson was injured after just two offensive snaps in Week 13. Expect D’Andre Swift, assuming health, to serve in a workhorse role in his absence after seeing 16 opportunities on a robust 79% snap rate in the team’s Week 14 loss to the 49ers.

Wright was a serviceable replacement while the Chiefs had multiple kickers on injured reserve in Harrison Butker and Spencer Shrader. He was waived because Butker was activated, but with Shrader still on injured reserve, it wouldn’t be surprising for the Chiefs to re-sign Wright to the practice squad assuming he clears waivers.

Matthew Wright was waived in a corresponding move. The Chiefs designated Butker, who missed a month with a knee injury, to return from injured reserve earlier this week and deemed him good to go after logging three limited practices. He has plenty of time to shake off the rust before the playoffs, but may be difficult to trust in his first game back in the fantasy playoffs.

Stefanski is the reigning Coach of the Year and continues to keep the Browns competitive despite Watson’s ineffectiveness and injuries over the last two seasons. Keeping Stefanski isn’t much of a surprise as he and Berry both signed extensions last offseason. While Watson is said to be returning, his future is a little murkier. Jones’ sources have indicated that the Browns won’t release Watson as a post-June 1 release would result in a record $119 million in dead money. They also aren’t relying on Watson being healthy for Week 1 next year and it remains unclear if he’ll even resume starting when healthy.

Not a big surprise here as Mayo is in his first year with New England. It would’ve been a pretty bad look for the organization to make him a one-and-done coach. The Patriots have struggled with a 3-10 record this season, but the team is breaking in rookie quarterback Drake Maye and has limited weapons at the offensive skill positions. New England would have the third pick in the draft if the season ended today and it’s expected that Mayo will still be in charge when they make that selection.

Rapoport initially qualified his report on Hall’s Week 15 availability, saying “it seems like we are likely to see him” before ultimately declaring that the team does, indeed, expect Hall to play. Whether Hall can play effectively and remain setback-free is a concern but his injured knee has responded positively to his Friday practice participation thus far. He would be a volatile RB1 if active.

Brown’s SC joint has evidently responded well to his September surgery. The Chiefs reportedly expect him to play in the playoffs and intend to get him live repetitions, late in the regular season, to make sure Brown is “fully acclimated” ahead of his team’s playoff run. Rapoport indicated Brown’s return could come in either Week 17 or 18.

Shepard missed the first two practices of the week and was upgraded to a limited session on Friday. That’s not abnormal for a veteran wideout, so he appears to be on the right side of questionable heading into the weekend. Should he be forced to sit on Sunday, rookie wideout Jalen McMillan would have a better shot at keeping the ball rolling after his two-score breakout in Week 14.