NFL Player News

Breer writes that “my sense is that’s still the direction this is going in.” Breer also notes that the Rams have interviewed former Colts OC Marcus Brady and Eagles QBs coach Brian Johnson for the job as well. This is the first real mention we’ve seen about the Rams candidates for this job after Sean McVay finally opted in to returning next season. LaFleur could restore some luster for his future prospects under McVay, though it’s unlikely he’d get quite as much credit if things went right under McVay’s watch.

Legette was listed as a full participant on Wednesday, so Thursday’s limited designation is technically a downgrade. That said, Legette has been playing through his wrist injury for years, per Legette, but the hip injury is likely related to the groin issue that sidelined him in Week 16’s win over the Cardinals. We’ll have a better sense of Legette’s Week 17 availability when the team releases its final injury report on Friday, but if he’s unable to play, both Adam Thielen and Jalen Coker would stand to benefit from his absence.

Hubbard being listed as limited is an upgrade from Wednesday’s DNP. The Panthers’ do-it-all back should be good to go for Week 17’s game against the Buccaneers, but we’ll see how things look when the final injury report is released on Friday. If he can’t play, the Panthers could be looking at Mike Boone as their starter, with Miles Sanders still on injured reserve.

Richardson has not practiced this week, but according to Holder, the team says Richardson “has made consistent progress and is responding to treatment” to the injuries currently sidelining him. If he can’t start, Joe Flacco will make his fifth start of the season and his first since Week 10 when he threw for 272-2-3 in a loss to the Bills. We’ll see how things go for Richardson in the team’s final tune-up of the week, but despite his two DNPs, his chances of playing are greater than we would be left to assume.

When LaFleur was asked whether Alexander had better odds of suiting up this week, after missing five straight games, LaFleur responded, “I’d say probably not.” It’s a tough absence for the Packers to game plan around, with the Vikings’ efficient passing attack up next.

This was expected after Greenlaw reported some discomfort in his surgically repaired Achilles following his return to action in Week 15. Greenlaw totaled nine tackles on 34 defensive snaps and will look to continue strengthening his Achilles in hopes of a complete return in 2025.

The Rams’ banged-up offensive line cannot catch a break. Havenstein’s Week 17 status is completely unknown at this point but beat reporter Stu Jackson adds “Joe Noteboom would start at RT if Havenstein can’t go.” The likely playoff-bound Rams will need their offensive line intact to make a run.

Earlier this week Matt LaFleur seemingly reassured reporters about Watson’s knee injury, saying “it’s more just a bruise.” Though the statement is undoubtedly a net positive, the qualifying language perhaps leaves a little wiggle room regarding the full diagnosis. Watson is currently trending toward sitting out Week 17 though he still has one more day to get right. Playing in Week 18 does seem likely, however.

Dissly was forced from play in Week 14, facilitating two top 15 PPR finishes for Stone Smartt over the last three weeks. With Dissly back in the lineup, Smartt returns to dynasty-bench-stash mode and can be dropped from re-draft rosters. Hayden Hurst (illness) is questionable to play but his status is only mildly impactful. Dissly is a low-end TE1 streaming option.

Take this with a grain of salt. Nabers was a DNP on Wednesday and Thursday and said he would try to practice on Friday. Regardless of what Nabers says, the Giants will ultimately decide whether or not their rookie first-rounder will play through an injury in what is, by all accounts, a meaningless regular season game in yet another lost season for Big Blue.