NFL Player News

The Jets and Steelers are reportedly interested, to varying extents, in acquiring Adams before the NFL’s trade deadline in Week 9. The Chiefs, having lost Rashee Rice (knee) possibly for the rest of the season, are going to try to get by with Xavier Wothy, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Justin Watson as their top three wideouts going forward. Travis Kelce will likely be the focal point of the low-octane Chiefs passing offense.

Archer said Cooks could miss time beyond Week 5 due to an infection stemming from a knee procedure he underwent last week. Cooks is second on the team with 19 targets through Week 4, though he only has nine catches for 91 yards and one score. Jalen Tolbert should take on a bigger role with Cooks sidelined. KaVontae Turpin could also see an increased role for as long as Cooks is out.

“That’s definitely under consideration... We can’t preach ball security is job security and still have him out there the majority of the time,” Mayo said of Stevenson, who has four fumbles on the season, the most in the league. This could be Mayo’s attempt to light a proverbial fire beneath Stevenson after a rough start to the season. Stevenson is averaging 4.1 yard per carry on 65 rushes, but hasn’t done much since a Week 1 explosion (126 total yards, one touchdown) against the Bengals. Gibson, meanwhile, is averaging 5.3 YPC and has 87 yards on just seven receptions through Week 4. Gibson could at least take over pass-catching duties while Stevenson remains the between-the-20s banger.

Steichen said Richardson has a shot to practice Wednesday after leaving Week 4’s game against the Steelers with an abdominal injury. If Richardson is able to practice in any capacity over the next few days, he should be a go for Week 5 against the Jaguars. If not, Joe Flacco would make a spot start and Michael Pittman and Josh Downs would be solid fantasy options.

Andrews will undergo surgery and is done for the season. He sustained the shoulder injury in Week 4’s loss to the 49ers and reportedly considered playing through the ailment before opting for surgery. New England’s offensive line, graded by PFF as the NFL’s third worst pass blocking unit, could get even worse with Andrews out.

With Rice sidelined for a while, Fowler sees Smith-Schuster — who has two catches for 17 yards on the season — will become a starter in the KC offense. The team, Fowlers said, wants to “use Smith-Schuster in the short and midrange areas of the field, where Rice was doing his damage.” Fowler added that “Smith-Schuster knows the offense from having played in it two seasons ago, and Patrick Mahomes looked to him in key spots during that Super Bowl run.” Smith-Schuster, 27, could suffice as a low-ceiling fantasy option while Travis Kelce functions as the Chiefs’ de facto WR1.

Fowler said Irving’s skillset is “hard to ignore” and added that his “shifty running style and big-play potential will keep him in the lineup, and when Tampa Bay needs to grind out wins with the run, there will be plenty of carries to go around.” Irving in Week 4 against the Eagles matched Rachaad White with 10 rushes for 49 yards. Irving has been the more efficient runner and pass catcher out of the Bucs backfield, and could eventually elevate as the team’s clear No. 1 back. White is unlikely to be phased out entirely, however.

With Cordarrelle Patterson and Jaylen Warren banged up, Shampklin could operate as the team’s No. 2 running back behind Najee Harris in Week 5 against the Cowboys. Shampklin, an undrafted player out of Harvard in 2022, had one carry for five yards last week against the Colts. Look for Harris to see a heavy workload if Patterson and Warren are once again sidelined in Week 5.

Well, that’s settled. Reports emerged this week that Jaguars players had lost confidence in their head coach after the team’s 0-4 start, which includes a humiliating Week 3 Monday night beatdown at the hands of the Bills. Jacksonville’s offense, using pre-snap motion at one of the lowest rates in the NFL, ranks 23rd in yards per play (4.8), 20th in first downs (71), and 30th in offensive drives ending with a score. Trevor Lawrence has been among the most inaccurate QBs in football through the season’s first month. It wouldn’t be surprising if the Jaguars move on from Pederson if the team loses another few games to start the season.

The Jets, quarterbacked by longtime Adams friend Aaron Rodgers, are also reportedly interested in acquiring the disgruntled receiver. We’re still about a month away from the NFL’s trade deadline, and chatter about Adams leaving Las Vegas for a contending team will continue throughout that time. It’s hard to imagine Adams, supposedly struggling with a hamstring issue, staying with the Raiders. Both sides appear ready to finally move on. Adams landing with the Steelers would tank George Pickens’ target share in the run-first Pittsburgh offense.

Simmons suffered the injury to his left elbow and missed the Titans’ Week 4 win over the Dolphins. He did not need surgery, but needed to wear a brace and will get a Week 5 bye to recover. Simmons has a 12-tackle season through three games and aims to return for Week 6.