NFL Player News

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.

Mixon was seen at Houston practice for the first time in almost two weeks after possibly suffering a setback to the ankle injury he picked up in Week 2. Even a couple limited practices to end the week would likely put Mixon on track to start in Week 6 against the Patriots. Cam Akers could mix in if Mixon is not 100 percent recovered from his injury.

Pederson dismissed questions about whether Tank Bigsby, with his 101-yard, two-touchdown Week 5 performance against the Colts, had taken over as Jacksonville’s lead back. “Travis is our guy. Tank had a good game. That’s just the way games go,” Pederson said. “Happy for Tank. Great for the offensive line, obviously, in some of those situations there. Travis is our guy.” Etienne, meanwhile, has struggled with a lingering shoulder injury. Etienne told reporters this week he would “find ways to continue to push through” the discomfort of the shoulder ailment. It’s hard to believe Bigsby, the most efficient running back in the NFL this season, won’t take on the early-down role while Etienne continues as the team’s pass catching back. In Week 6 they’ll take on a Bears defense that ranks 17th in rush EPA.

The Eagles released the veteran tight end in late August. He’ll slot in as an occasional blocker behind Dallas Goedert. Uzomah had eight catches for 58 yards and a touchdown in 2023.

The move comes as Luke Musgrave continues to struggle through an ankle injury that has limited him for weeks. Musgrave, who has five receptions on the season, could be on his way to an extended absence with the FitzPatrick signing. Tucker Kraft is locked in as the Green Bay TE1. Kraft has ten catches for 141 yards and three scores over his past two games.

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.

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.