NFL Player News

Steichen said center Ryan Kelly has a “good chance” to return after the team’s bye week but was non-committal on Downs’ return. The second-year receiver missed Sunday’s game against the Patriots due to a shoulder injury he suffered in Week 12, but may need more time to recover before returning to the field. The Colts’ passing game was slowed by the absence of Downs, as their wide receivers combined to catch just seven passes for 58 yards and a touchdown on 15 targets. Alec Pierce wound up leading the team in snaps from the slot, with eight, but that’s not where he’s been best utilized over his career. Downs’ return in Week 15 would be a welcomed one as the Colts make a postseason push. We’ll see how things look at the start of next week.

Again, in theory, Johnson could be activated ahead of Week 18. But it seems unlikely that the Giants would do that so let’s call it a wrap on his season. The rookie made in-roads to a No. 3/No. 4 receiver role in his first season, closing with five or more targets in each of his last four games. Unfortunately for Johnson, the uncertainty with the Giants at head coach and general manager portends a possible trip through the “Greg Dulcich Zone,” where a player that was otherwise effective comes down with a case of Not New Management’s Guy. Johnson is a weak dynasty hold at best right now, but this was a fairly promising rookie season.

In theory, Lawrence could return in Week 18 if the club wanted. But with nothing to play for, and Adam Schefter literally saying it is “season-ending,” we’ll close up the ledger for Lawrence’s 2024 season. Lawrence finished with an 89.9 PFF grade and has been the best pass rusher at his position — perhaps the only player of his size period capable of doing what he does as a rusher — as he ends the year with 10 sacks in 551 snaps. Lawrence’s cap number balloons to $24.13 million next year. There aren’t many non-quarterbacks we’d say can carry that number and be worth it, but Lawrence is one of them.

This comes a day after Harbaugh declined to comment on Johnson’s availability immediately after the loss when he said, “I’m not really ready to comment on that right now. I will be, but I don’t have enough information right now.” Whatever “information” Harbaugh needs is a mystery to most, but maybe he’ll gather that intel during the team’s Week 14 bye. Since being acquired by the Ravens’ at the trade deadline, Johnson has run 19 routes while playing on 39 offensive snaps. Johnson didn’t see the field in Sunday’s loss despite Rashod Bateman exiting early with a knee injury. Bateman’s injury isn’t believed to be long-term, but it will be interesting to see if Johnson sees an increase in playing time should Bateman miss a game or two.

The Ravens will head into their Week 14 bye, so it is possible that Bateman misses no additional time at all if this optimistic report from their head coach is correct. Bateman being an unreliable target in a Ravens passing game that seems to have a new focal point every week means you could probably sneak him through the waiver wire in most shallow leagues if you need the roster spot this week.

The club downgraded him to out hours before game time. Reynolds only has until Wednesday to be activated before his 21-day window closes. The wideout hasn’t played since Week 5. The Marvin Mims and Devaughn Vele show will roll on unimpeded for the Broncos should the club not activate Reynolds.

Lawrence was placed on injured reserve back on October 1st and is eligible to return at any time. Jones noted that while Lawrence is a “long shot” to play on Monday night, that his return is “not out of the question.” The Cowboys are 5-7 and have no real reason to rush Lawrence back onto the field. The team has yet to hope his 21-day return window, which will be the first sign of them planning to activate him from injured reserve.

Alexander was spotted at practice by reporters earlier today for a second-straight day, but the Packers apparently want to do a full assessment of how he looks in practice before they decide if he’ll play on Thursday night. Alexander has missed three of the last four games and only played 10 snaps against the Bears in the game he started before LaFleur sat him back down. It sounds like Alexander has a chance to be a game-time decision for Week 14.

Doubs is still in protocol, but has progressed to the point where he could possibly play against the Lions on Thursday. We’d expect the Packers to do everything they can to field their best team for that game considering the stakes, but you can’t rush someone through the NFL’s concussion protocol just because you want to. Doubs was spotted at practice today and we’d take an optimistic view on him playing at the moment.

According to Fowler, the Jets should know more about the severity of Gardner’s injury later in the week and will wait to see how he responds to treatment. The third-year corner has missed just one game in his career and has earned a PFF coverage grade of 74.4 while playing on 407 coverage snaps. Gardner had one of his best games of the season in the Jets’ Week 13 loss to the Colts. His absence in Week 14 would be good for Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins’ passing game.

He will practice this week, per Mike McDaniel. Ditto Cameron Goode. Chubb tore his ACL in Week 17 of the 2023 season and McDaniel has previously referred to this injury as “an ACL plus” because of additional damage. It would be a nice boost to the fading Dolphins hopes if Chubb could come in and be the 2023 version of himself right away. A more likely outcome is that he takes some time to return to form. It’s good to see him on the practice field at all after nearly a full calendar year away.