NFL Player News

Things were already trending in this direction after the Panthers placed Brooks on the NFI list to open training camp. Brooks suffered a torn ACL late in his final season at Texas and has been on the mend ever since. Despite early hopes that he would be ready by the start of training camp, those hopes quickly faded after Brooks failed to get much work in during OTAs and minicamp. As long as he remains out, the Panthers figure to lean heavily on Chuba Hubbard and Miles Sanders, with Hubbard expected to operate as the lead back. Canales has put emphasis on the running game all offseason and utilized Rachaad White heavily last season in Tampa Bay. Hubbard could have some nice value as a late-round fantasy pick that figures to see plenty of work in both the running and passing game.

Scrambling past the chains for a critical conversion on a fourth down in the red zone, Tagovailoa failed to slide and took a big hit from Bills S Damar Hamlin. He immediately appeared to go into the “fencing position,” a tell-tale sign of a concussion. We, of course, are not doctors. Tagovailoa remained down for several moments before making his way to the sideline, then locker room, unassisted. Skylar Thompson is in the game at quarterback and should play the final 1.5 quarters. Tagovailoa was struggling mightily before going down, tossing three picks and failing to challenge down the field. The only good news is that he has 10 days to get cleared for Week 3 against the Seahawks. Considering his injury history, however, Tagovailoa will probably miss multiple weeks if he is indeed concussed.

Uh oh. The Bills’ defensive captain and leading tackler went down early in the first half and was ruled out after the break. He could be dealing with a torn pec, which would be a multi-month issue. He’s been replaced by 2022 seventh-rounder Baylon Spector. Stay tuned.

It means Fant is ready to rock for Sunday against the Patriots. Something of a Week 1 disappointment, Fant is looking like a shaky TE2 for as long as the Seahawks are still feeling out their new Ryan Grubb-coordinated attack.

Oh dear. The Seahawks initially tried to project optimism on Walker’s status, but back-to-back DNPs definitely have him on the wrong side of questionable. Even a “limited” return on Friday would have Walker in much better shape to suit up vs. the Pats, but for now it’s looking like it will be the Zach Charbonnet show.

It’s a quiet list for the Bills, who thankfully lost their Week 2 injury drama when Josh Allen was proclaimed good to go on Monday. Johnson’s absence could definitely be felt in Miami, however.

After being a healthy scratch for what would have been his NFL debut in Week 1 against the Jaguars, Wright is up since Raheem Mostert (chest) is down. Jeff Wilson figures to mix in for most of Mostert’s vacated between-the-tackles work, but ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques believes Wright could handle a few touches.

After some early-week intrigue and talk of a potential game-time decision, Achane never seemed particularly close to sitting. That’s great news for a Dolphins team missing Raheem Mostert (chest), and even better news for fantasy managers who took the Achane plunge on the Round 2/3 borderline. There is definitely some increased risk of Achane not finishing tonight’s contest, but if you drafted Achane, we never heard a good reason to bench him this week. Joining Mostert on the shelf are CB Ethan Bonner, EDGE Mohamed Kamara, C Andrew Meyer, LB Channing Tindall and WR Malik Washington.

This was the expectation all along after Jordan Love was injured Week 1 in Brazil, but coach Matt LaFleur has done what head coaches do and tried to confuse the issue heading into Sunday against the Colts. There has been zero actual indication Love could start this Sunday, and fantasy managers should indeed continue to plan on a multiple-week absence.

As he should. “I just don’t understand why fans think I’m faking an injury, when for me to get an extension for a contract, the deadline is over,” Higgins told ESPN Thursday. “I just don’t understand why they think I’m faking an injury. It doesn’t make sense to me.” The Higgins “chatter” is related to the poor timing of his latest ailment, which popped up Sept. 5, the same day he opened by raving about how good he felt heading into the regular season. The problem for Higgins has remained that his injuries are all too real. Four months shy of his 26th birthday as he plays on the franchise tag, he’s becoming a more questionable long-term commitment by the day as he prepares to hit free agency in March.