NFL Player News

Mason has been invisible as a pass catcher while working as the Niners’ lead back over the past five weeks with Christian McCaffrey (Achilles) sidelined. Mason has run a pass route on about 60 percent of the team’s drop backs and has seen a target on just 7 percent of his routes. “Some running backs ... have quickly created that connection [with the quarterback],” Barrows said. “I’d say Mason is building that connection.” Unless or until Mason is more involved in the pass game, he’ll be game script sensitive.

A longtime ally of Aaron Rodgers, Hackett’s play calling and scheming has once again failed to produce. Rodgers, according to SNY TV’s Connor Hughes, is “on board” with the switch to Downing following a miserable start to the season for New York’s offense. The Jets through Week 5 are 18th in yards per play (4.5), 22nd in first downs, and 24th in EPA per play. They have used pre-snap motion at one of the lowest rates in the NFL. Downing was most recently offensive coordinator for the Titans from 2021 to 2022. In his final season in Tennessee, Downing’s Titans offense ranked 26th in points and 29th in yards.

Schefter said on ESPN’s “Get Up” that head coach Mike Tomlin has not “crowned” Justin Fields as the team’s full-time starter despite a solid start to the season. Schefter suggested Tomlin could make the quarterback switch if the Steelers — who have dropped two straight games — lose to the miserable Raiders in Week 6. Wilson, Schefter said, is “within an arm’s length” of Fields as the Steelers’ starter. A poor outing for Fields, who completed just 55 percent of his throws last week against Dallas, and Wilson could end up under center for Pittsburgh.

Reynolds did not practice with an apparent hand issue to start Week 6. He has 12 catches for 163 yards and a touchdown this season, with much of his production coming in Weeks 1 and 2. Reynolds has little fantasy relevance, but if he misses Week 6, more opportunities could open up for Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Troy Franklin, and Devaughn Vele.

Despite talks Njoku would practice Wednesday, the Browns listed him as DNP on the practice report. He suffered a knee injury in the Browns’ Week 5 loss to the Commanders after dealing with an ankle injury for much of the season. Starting out the week without practicing will make a Week 6 return difficult for Njoku.

Ward suffered a hamstring injury during the Browns’ Week 5 loss to the Commanders. He was reported to undergo an MRI earlier this week, and his inclusion on the injury report is the first update on him since then. Myles Garrett (Achilles) was another key Browns defender missing practice, though expect some load management through practice with Garrett suiting up Week 6 like he did previous weeks. Ward, however, will have a more difficult path to playing Week 6.

Nabers did not practice Wednesday as he continues to recover from a concussion suffered in Week 4. It has been nearly two weeks since he suffered the injury, so Daboll’s update provides some clarity but still concern over Nabers not practicing yet. Working with trainers at practice, Nabers is day-to-day and genuinely questionable for Week 6.

Chubb began practicing last week and is in the second week of his 21-day return window. Head coach Kevin Stefanski was non-committal on whether Chubb would play in Week 6. The Browns could use Chubb in what looks to be a banged-up running back room. D’Onta Foreman (ankle) did not practice Wednesday, while Pierre Strong (hamstring) and Nyheim Hines (knee) were limited. If Chubb does return, it will take a few games for him to get back to fantasy relevance.

Beachum has been dealing with a hamstring injury for much of the early season. Fellow OL Evan Brown (hamstring) was limited in practice while OL Isaiah Adams (thumb) and Christian Jones (ankle) were both full participants. Beachum will likely continue to manage the hamstring injury and play Week 6 after playing through it Weeks 4 and 5.

DL Calijah Kancey (calf) also returned to practice, getting in a full participation. Winfield has been sidelined since Week 1 with a foot injury and has a chance to return Week 6 after getting in a limited practice Wednesday. Safety Jordan Whitehead (groin) was also limited while DB Christian Izien (elbow/groin) did not practice.

Musgrave was active in Week 5 but did not log an offensive snap. Tucker Kraft, meanwhile, was on-field for 50 of Jordan Love’s 59 offensive snaps and caught 4-of-5 targets for 88 yards and two touchdowns. Kraft has asserted himself as the Packers’ No. 1 TE. Musgrave does not need to be rostered at this time.