NFL Player News

Harrison (6’4/315) enters the 2023 NFL Draft having played 34 games in Norman, with the majority at left tackle. In that span, he allowed only four sacks and three QB hits, earning a grade of 72.6 from PFF for the 2022 season while being named First Team All-Big-12. The DC native has the aptitude to be yet another NFL-ready offensive tackle that Oklahoma has produced in recent years. At first glance, he may seem a bit undersized, but cutting one’s teeth in the Big 12 leads to the development of a certain savviness that only comes when producing in the wide open offenses of the Great Plains region. Harrison lacks a plus tool when it comes to both strength and lateral movement, which is why he didn’t bench or do agility drills at the Combine despite posting a rock-solid 1.71s 10-yard split (96th%). However, he seeks to offset those deficiencies with a keen understanding of proper positioning and how to use the play call to leverage his strengths and minimize his limitations. Harrison actively searches for work and is able to hold his ground just long enough or get just enough of a speed rusher that his pass sets are simply effective. These weaknesses are slightly harder to mask in the run game, but he can make up for his physical makeup with additional technical development in timing and leverage. Harrison bears a resemblance to Tulsa OT Tyler Smith who slid into the late first-round to the Cowboys last year.

“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.

Vaughn had already been on the 49ers practice squad earlier this year, so it’s not surprising they went back to him with their two main backs suddenly on injured reserve. There is no reason to jump the gun on adding Vaughn to your fantasy team. The 27-year-old veteran has not had an NFL carry this season yet.

The Broncos had to either activate Reynolds off IR or end his season, so instead they let him go free. Reynolds’ two-year contract makes it unlikely he’ll be claimed off waivers. The 29-year-old will be free to sign with whoever he wants if he makes it off waivers. His short-lived Broncos career ends with a 12/183/1 line in five games.

Abanikanda will join Issac Guerendo as a healthy member of the San Francisco 49ers running back room. The Pittsburgh product had a 22/70/0 rushing line in six games last season and will probably be worked in slowly behind Guerendo and perhaps practice-squad back Patrick Taylor. No reason to go wild on Abanikanda off waivers, Guerendo is the one you want for fantasy purposes.

Merriweather was lost in a roster crunch in November, and the Buccaneers are bringing him back with Jordan Whitehead and Mike Edwards dealing with injuries. He has two career starts and 24 tackles in 25 games with the Bucs so far in his career.

He did not escape the protocol, per Matt LaFleur. This is likely headed towards a questionable tag for Doubs tomorrow as he races to clear protocol. He’d be a FLEX play against the Lions on Thursday night if he managed to get on the field. If not, his absence will raise target shares and expectations for Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, and Christian Watson.

He did speak with the media, which is usually a likely sign that a player will be suiting up. We expect Jacobs to be more likely to carry no status on Wednesday than be on the questionable line. Jacobs will make the RB1 line against the Lions on Thursday Night Football assuming he is able to play.

The wideout — not to be confused with the cornerback DJ Turner of the Bengals — likely finishes his age-27 season with a career-high 16/158/1 triple slash line. (The Raiders could technically bring him back for Week 18, we don’t expect them to.) The 2021 UDFA out of Pittsburgh will be a restricted free agent in 2025. It is hard to predict what the Raiders will do with him given the fact that we’re not sure who will sit in the head coach or general manager chair in 2025, but Turner has been a Raider long enough to have played for Jon Gruden.

“He’s been a strong presence in the locker room but the production these past two seasons in Dallas have fallen well short of the expectation,” Yousuf writes. Cooks produced a 54/657/8 season in 2023, but has missed much of this year with a knee infection and has just a 12/107/2 line in five starts. Cooks is a free agent at the end of the season and, entering his age-32 season, is likely closer to not being a big part of an NFL offense ever again than he is of a rebound year in 2025.

Highsmith has missed three games with the ankle injury, matching the three games he missed from Weeks 4-6 with a groin injury. He somehow avoided injured reserve both times. Highsmith has three sacks in six games, along with 10 quarterback hits, and should be a boost for Pittsburgh’s pass defense against Jameis Winston.