NFL Player News

Slovis (6'3/205) didn’t blow expectations out of the water in 2021 the way some anticipated he might ahead of last season, but it’s important to note the external factors -- including the firing of head coach Clay Helton early on in the season -- that created a difficult environment for Slovis to find success in. Crissy Froyd of NBC Sports EDGE and Sports Illustrated recently caught up with Slovis, who said he felt he was adjusting to a pro-style Pitt offense that features a complex run game element at a quick pace. The change in schemes could serve Slovis, who comes from an offense filled with Air Raid concepts, well. " feel like I can run this offense pretty well and do it pretty perfectly,” he said. “I try not to let other people dictate where I’m at or how good I am because I know how good I am, my coaches know how good I am and my teammates know how good I am. At the end of the day, that’s going to come to fruition and show up on the field.”

Brown has missed six of the Bengals’ last seven games with knee/fibula injuries but was upgraded to a full participant in Wednesday’s practice. Now, the veteran left tackle will make his much-anticipated return against a top-flight Broncos defense while the Bengals’ playoff hopes hang in the balance. Winners of three-straight games, the Bengals need to win out and get extra help along the way if they hope to avoid missing the postseason for the second straight season.

Harris signed a one-year contract extension with the Browns this offseason after a productive 2023 campaign in which he totaled 28 tackles and 1.5 sacks in 17 games. Harris totaled 37 tackles and another 1.5 sacks in the 14 games he appeared in this season, but an elbow injury will sideline him for the final two weeks of the 2024 campaign. Still under contract through next season, Harris, 33, can be let go this offseason but does carry a $2.224 million dead cap hit.

DTR suffered a calf injury on the opening drive of the Browns’ Week 16 loss to the Bengals and was listed as limited in Wednesday’s practice. Despite this injury, he appears to be trending in the right direction, with Dorsey already confirming him as the team’s Week 17 starter with one more practice left to go in the week. Those still stashing Jameis Winston or one of several Browns receivers in hopes of Winston returning as the starter appear to be out of luck. It’s still early enough for something to change, but DTR appears locked in as the starter barring an unexpected development.

Joe Flacco was seen taking first-team reps during the media portion of practice while Richardson (back/foot) continues to be sidelined. Flacco has a chance to start in Week 17’s game against the Giants, which should come as music to the ears of any Josh Downs manager still battling for a fantasy championship. Downs has averaged 9.7 targets per game and 17.7 PPR points per game in games Flacco has appeared in this season. He would profile as a high-end WR2 if Flacco gets the nod.

This news comes from head coach Brian Daboll. Nabers also missed Wednesday’s practice with a toe injury and is trending toward missing Sunday’s game against the Colts if he can’t get on the field in some capacity on Friday. The rookie receiver has dealt with a number of injuries this season, limiting him to 13 games. If Nabers can’t go this week, Darius Slayton could prove to be a valuable sleeper in deeper leagues.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport was first. Bridgewater, who is fresh off coaching Miami Northwestern High School to a Class 3A state championship in his first season with the team, is now back to help the Lions with a postseason run that they hope ends with an NFL championship. The former first-rounder spent last season with the Lions after stints with the Panthers, Broncos, and Dolphins in previous seasons but did not attempt a pass in his lone year with the team. He will presumably join the Lions’ practice squad but could eventually be promoted to the QB2 over Hendon Hooker after a few weeks.

Gannon said he may not know the official status of Conner or fellow running back Trey Benson when the team boards the plan on Friday to head to Los Angeles to take on the Rams, but it sounds like Conner will have an outside shot to play if he continues to progress through his knee injury. Conner was listed as a limited participant in each of the team’s first two practices to start the week and will presumably log another limited session on Thursday. If both Conner and Benson are held out of Saturday’s contest, practice squad back Michael Carter figures to see a busy day after seeing 10 opportunities in last week’s loss to the Panthers.

Hurts was listed as a DNP for Wednesday’s practice and is at risk of missing Week 17’s game against the Cowboys if he can’t get on the field before the weekend. Kenny Pickett was also listed as limited with a rib injury, and the team signed quarterback Ian Book to its practice squad on Thursday. Signs are pointing toward Hurts missing at least one game, but we’ll see how things go over the next two days of practice.

Barrett will be waived from the Reserve Retired list and can be picked up by any team. If he clears waivers, he will be free to sign with any team of his choosing. Barrett applied for reinstatement to the league last month after announcing his retirement in July, but the Dolphins said they had no plans to waive the veteran linebacker or activate him at that time. Now, with an apparent change of heart, Barrett hopes to join a contender and compete in the postseason for a third NFL championship after winning two rings with the Broncos and Buccaneers.

Stevenson, who was benched earlier this season for fumbling issues, lost another fumble in Week 16 against Buffalo. “I think everyone understands how important the football is. We’re a team that we just can’t turn the ball over,” Mayo said when asked about Stevenson’s ongoing fumbling issues. “I thought Gibby, when he got in there, did a great job. We gotta go back and talk about it as a staff, but that’s definitely still a possibility.” Gibson last week had ten rushes for 28 yards and two grabs for eight yards in a loss to the Bills. He could figure more prominently in the New England backfield this week against the Chargers if Mayo is intent on sending a message to Stevenson. It makes Stevenson a shaky option in fantasy leagues.