NFL Player News

The 2021 fourth-rounder has played just 146 offensive snaps over the past two years despite Tampa’s wideout situation being extremely injury-riddled in both years. He also offers kick return ability and between that and his early draft reports we wouldn’t be surprised if another team claimed him to kick the tires.

Per Garafolo, McPherson doesn’t need surgery and it’s not a season-ending injury, but McPherson will miss “some time.” The Bengals worked out a few veteran kickers today and landed on Cade York as a temporary replacement for McPherson. Normally an ace kicker, McPherson has struggled this year en route to a 73 percent hit rate on his field goals compared to 84 percent last year. The majority of his misses have come from 50 or more yards out.

The journeyman kicker made four of his five field goal tries last week in a win against the Raiders and will get at least one more start before Harrison Butker returns from a knee injury that landed him on injured reserve. The Chiefs put K Spencer Shrader on IR this week. Wright is a solid fantasy option with the Chiefs sporting an implied Vegas total of 23.5 points against LA.

Tommy DeVito will remain sidelined with a forearm injury he suffered two weeks ago. Lock on Thanksgiving Day against the Cowboys passed for 178 yards and an interception while rushing for 57 yards and a touchdown in a seven-point loss. Lock was 15th out of 32 qualifying QBs in completion rate over expected in Week 13, averaging a meager 6.4 air yards per attempt. Look for Lock to again target Malik Nabers heavily with the Giants underdogs against the visiting Saints. Nabers saw 13 targets last week against Dallas.

Hyde, 33, who played for Buffalo from 2017 to 2023, has a chance to join the team for a championship run after deciding not to retire or sign elsewhere this fall. The two-time Second-team All-Pro — who has struggled mightily with neck injuries during his NFL career — totaled 54 tackles and two interceptions last season. He’ll join a Buffalo secondary graded by PFF as the league’s 19th best.

Lazard could return to action as soon as this week against Miami. He’s been on injured reserve since late October with a chest injury the Jets have described as “strange” in nature. His return to the New York lineup would mean a reduced role for rookie Malachi Corley, who has five targets over the team’s past three games. Lazard likely won’t be fantasy relevant in 12-team leagues.

Lawrence is in the NFL’s concussion protocol after sustaining a brain injury in Week 13 against the Texans on a dirty, late hit. There’s next to no chance Lawrence suits up this week against the Titans, leaving Mac Jones to get another start for Jacksonville. Jones has completed 62 percent of his passes for two touchdowns and three interceptions in 2024.

The Eagles are expected to be without Dallas Goedert (knee) this week and perhaps for a while thereafter. Uzomah should be active for Week 14 against the Panthers while Grant Calcattera operates as the team’s No. 1 tight end. Calcaterra has been somewhat productive in his 2024 starts and profiles as a desperation fantasy option in the run-heavy Eagles offense.

Reader picked up the shoulder injury last week and appears iffy for Thursday night’s game against the Packers. He’s one of several Detroit defensive starters in doubt for Week 14. DL Josh Pascal (knee) missed Tuesday’s practice, as did DL Levi Onwuzurike (hamstring). The Lions’ defensive injuries could be a boon for Jordan Love and the Green Bay offense on a short week.

Jacobs was limited during Tuesday’s practice. The injury, per Rapoport, is “nagging more than anything else” and should not sideline him for Thursday’s crucial matchup against the Lions. “As of right now, it’s not something to get worked up about,” Rapoport said. Jacobs, who has a whopping 71 touches over his past three games, will be a volume-based RB1 against Detroit, one of the toughest run defenses in the NFL.

“Ekeler doesn’t remember walking off the field or anything until getting into the ambulance going to the hospital. The veteran RB said he had similar memory loss after Week 3 concussion at Cincy,” writes The Athletic’s Ben Standig. Ekeler added: “Am I more susceptible to a third now that I’ve had two and the severity of mine? It’s a learning process for me because I’ve never had anything this bad and twice in the same season.” Ekeler will remain on injured reserve until Week 18 at the earliest. He’s talking like a man who isn’t sure he’ll come back even for a potential Commanders playoff game.