NFL Player News

Ansley was tasked with calling the Chargers’ defensive plays for the final three weeks of the season after the dismissal of head coach Brandon Staley. During that stretch, Ansley’s defense allowed 17.7 points per game — well below their season average of 23.4 and ranked 16th in EPA per play. He was promoted from defensive backs coach to defensive coordinator by the Chargers last offseason and was reportedly a “highly sought after” coach during last year’s coaching cycle. His move to the Giants would be a lateral one, but there’s no guarantee the Chargers’ new head coach keeps Ansley on staff once hired.

Palmer sat out Week 3 but will be good for Sunday against the Chiefs, barring a setback. The question is whether he will have Justin Herbert or Taylor Heinicke delivering him the football. No matter who it is, Palmer has struggled to look like a wideout who deserves to crack the top 60 so far this season.

Speaking Thursday, Kittle said he is “very excited to play football” and “feeling fantastic.” The 49ers and coach Kyle Shanahan partake in as much injury report shenanigans as anyone, but Kittle has now practiced back-to-back days. It seems like his Week 3 absence was more precautionary than anything else after he tightened up late in the week. If he does indeed go against the Pats, there is a threat he’s on a snap count in a game that frankly should not be competitive.

The Cowboys remain healthy by NFL standards heading into the short-week matchup. Hopefully that remains the case for Week 5.

Slayton was spotted warming up with a brace. Slayton is the Giants’ No. 2 receiver, but it’s not amounting to much with rookie first-rounder Malik Nabers commanding biblical target shares. Slayton is not a recommended WR5 against the Cowboys’ run-funnel defense. Inactive for the G-Men are QB Tommy DeVito, CB Adoree Jackson, CB Dru Phillips, S Anthony Johnson, EDGE Benton Whitley, EDGE Boogie Basham and OG Jake Kubas.

We have yet to see any actual concern about MHJ’s Week 4 status. With Trey McBride (concussion) trending toward inactive, Harrison is probably headed for another double-digit targets total. He’s a high-end WR1 against the Commanders’ leaky pass defense.

Even a limited Friday practice would put McBride on track to be cleared, but it’s not looking likely at this point. McBride’s absence would funnel ever more looks Marvin Harrison’s way and likely trickle down to Greg Dortch and Michael Wilson, as well. No. 2 TE Elijah Higgins wouldn’t be worth a fantasy stream because the 2023 sixth-rounder’s résumé is just so thin.

We don’t yet know Walker’s official status, but it’s his first practice of any kind since going down late in the Seahawks’ Week 1 victory over the Broncos. Especially with the Seahawks getting an extra day to prep for Monday Night Football, it bodes well for Walker’s Week 4 return, but Pete Carroll’s mysterious injury report ways seem to have transferred to Mike Macdonald. We aren’t taking anything for granted yet. With Zach Charbonnet ineffective during Walker’s absence, we would expect an immediate Walker return to every-down status.

After not being spotted during the portion of practice open to media, Herbert later took to the field and was officially listed as limited on the team’s injury report. Herbert was also limited on Wednesday. With a big divisional matchup against the Chiefs on tap for Week 4, it’s possible Herbert will try to gut out the game ahead of the team’s Week 5 bye. If he does play, he’ll be a risky bet for fantasy after head coach Jim Harbaugh pulled him in the third quarter of last week’s game once Herbert was noticeably limping.

Slayton has seven receptions for 66 scoreless yards on the season. While he doesn’t have any week-to-week fantasy upside, he’s at least an intriguing option for DFS players on the showdown slate. As has been the case for much of his career, Slayton is a boom-or-bust option against the Cowboys, and is at higher risk of busting with Malik Nabers now in town.

Oh dear. It leaves Adams genuinely questionable for Sunday’s projected slog with the Browns, though it’s possible the Raiders are merely exercising an abundance of caution with a 31-year-old veteran. Friday, obviously, will tell the tale. Adams’ absence would mean more “easy” targets for Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers and potentially more down-field looks for Week 3 star Tre Tucker.