NFL Player News

Jones got the start before giving way to C.J. Beathard in the second half, but then was forced back into action after Beathard left with a groin injury. His first touchdown was a 25-yarder on what appeared to be a coverage miscommunication to Parker Washington, and the second was a 31-yard connection with Brevin Easton. Jones has played well so far while battling for the backup job with Beathard, but this competition will all but assuredly last until the end of camp — assuming Beathard doesn’t have a long-term injury, of course.

Hockenson saw his 21-day practice window opened almost two weeks ago but did not do enough this week to warrant activation from the physical unable to perform list. The Vikings are on a short week in Week 8 with a game on Thursday night, which presents the veteran tight end with the next opportunity to make his season debut. In his absence, expect alpha wide receiver Justin Jefferson to continue soaking up a large portion of the pass game usage in a prime matchup with the most pass-funnel defense in the league.

Campbell will make his long-awaited return to the starting roster after suffering a significant hamstring injury in Week 1 that required a stint on injured reserve. The Jaguars began the season playing the highest rate of man coverage in the league before injuries derailed their plans, with Campbell’s return coming at the perfect time amidst a league-worst 276.7 pass yards allowed per game.

Palmer has missed the previous two games after sustaining a concussion in Week 4 but upgraded to a full participant on both Friday and Saturday, making it likely he makes his return against the Ravens. The fact that he is listed as questionable and not off the team’s injury report entirely likely means he has to clear the final step of the league’s concussion protocol, something that fantasy managers in deep leagues will want to see happen Sunday to feel well enough about inserting him back into starting lineups.

Evans failed to log any practice reps on Thursday or Friday before upgrading to a limited participant Saturday, evidently showing enough to head into the team’s Week 7 showdown with the Ravens off the injury report. The Bucs will have their full compliment of pass-catching weapons for a matchup with a Ravens team allowing the second most pass yards per game while functioning as one of the top pass-funnel defenses in the league.

Vea was added to the team’s injury report Saturday after missing practice with a hamstring injury, placing his status for the team’s Week 7 showdown with the Ravens in question. Vea has struggled through multiple injuries this season but has missed just one game, although a late-week addition to the injury report with a new injury is never a good sign for a player’s chances of suiting up. Considering Vea remains one of the better run-stoppers in the league, his potential absence is meaningful with a matchup against Derrick Henry and the Ravens on tap.

Burks had been splitting time to DeAndre Hopkins through the season’s first six weeks, potentially paving the way for Hopkins to increase his route participation rate. That is, as long as his knee cooperates. Burks will now miss the next four games, at minimum, after injuring his knee in the team’s Week 6 loss to the Colts.

Well then. Evans practiced for the first time on Saturday. Reports this week expected Evans not to practice much, but to ultimately play in the matchup against the Ravens on Monday Night Football. He could still end up playing, but that seems like a riskier proposition now with his coach making him a game-time decision. It’s an especially tricky situation for fantasy managers, who won’t have other options if Evans is ruled out just before the game on Monday. While Chris Godwin could see more targets if Evans were to miss the game, the offense as a whole would suffer without Evans to the point where him missing the game isn’t beneficial for anyone in fantasy.

The Browns also activated S Juan Thornhill and elevated WR Jaelon Darden from the practice squad. While it remains to be seen what kind of workload Chubb will have in his first game in about a year, Jerome Ford has already been ruled out, which opens up some opportunity in the running game. Chubb is not quite an RB2 in Week 7, but certainly in the mix as a flex option for fantasy managers.

Harrison Jr. was upgraded to full practice on Friday. Now with him clearing the protocol, he’s set to play against the Chargers. Harrison Jr. left Week 6’s game against the Packers after he hit his head on the knee of a defender in the second quarter. He’s a WR2 against the Chargers in Week 7.

Rapoport notes that both Wilson and Justin Fields will play with Wilson taking the bulk of the snaps. This not only confirms George Pickens’ report on Friday, but also the idea that Wilson was the teams’ presumptive starter in training camp before he suffered a calf injury. Sunday Night Football on NBC just got even more interesting with Wilson now set to make his first start for his third team in four years.