NFL Player News

Siemian and Taysom Hill (concussion) are the candidates to start in place of Jameis Winston (knee) on Sunday against the Falcons and beyond, Katherine Terrell of The Athletic reports.

Following Winston's season-ending ACL tear, the Saints will move forward with a new starting quarterback, but a decision has yet to be made. Hill returned to practice this week for the first time since suffering a concussion back in Week 5, being limited Wednesday before logging every practice rep Thursday. But it's likely that Hill hasn't been cleared to play via an independent neurologist, which also may be holding up an announcement from coach Sean Payton. If Siemian ultimately ends up getting the call this weekend, he'll be doing so after stepping in for Winston this past Sunday and leading the Saints to victory over the Bucs en route to 16-for-29 passing for 159 yards and one touchdown.

Tagovailoa (ribs/finger) was a limited participant in Thursday's practice, Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN.com reports.

Though Tagovailoa's practice reps were capped for the second straight day as the Dolphins prepare for Sunday's game against the Texans, head coach Brian Flores hasn't suggested that the quarterback's status for the weekend is in any peril. While Tagovailoa's Week 6 return from a three-game absence due to fractured ribs hasn't translated to any wins, he's been productive from a fantasy standpoint while the Dolphins have been forced to play from behind. In his three starts following his activation from injured reserve, Tagovailoa has completed 68.3 percent of his pass attempts for 825 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions while tacking on 61 yards and another score on the ground.

Prescott (calf) was a full practice participant Thursday, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.

Prescott was on the precipice of returning to action Week 8 at Minnesota, but the Cowboys ultimately played it safe and made him inactive, instead rolling with Cooper Rush under center. Dallas opened Week 9 prep with Prescott as limited, as he was all of last week, but coach Mike McCarthy relayed to Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that Prescott was slated to have no limitations Thursday. Prescott followed up on that statement and now is poised to start Sunday's game against the Broncos.

The Jets have elevated Johnson from their practice squad in advance of Thursday night's game against the Colts.

Per Rich Cimini of ESPN.com, it looks like Johnson is in line to be the Jets' No. 2 QB against the Colts on Thursday behind starter Mike White, with top signal-caller Zach Wilson (knee) having been ruled out for the contest.

Rush is expected to serve as the Cowboys' backup quarterback Sunday against the Broncos after head coach Mike McCarthy said Dak Prescott (calf) is on track to start Week 9 upon returning to full participation in practice Thursday, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.

Prescott appeared close to playing last week leading up to the Cowboys' eventual 20-16 win over the Vikings, so it comes as little surprise that he's on track to return to the lineup after he participated in both of the Cowboys' first two Week 9 practices. Barring a setback over the next day or two, Prescott will take back the reins of the offense from Rush, who performed capably against Minnesota in the first extended NFL action of his five-year career. He completed 24 of 40 pass attempts for 325 yards and two touchdowns in the victory, though he committed a pair of turnovers (an interception and a lost fumble).

Darnold (concussion/right shoulder) was limited at Thursday's practice, Darin Gantt of the Panthers' official site reports.

This marks Darnold's second consecutive capped session on the heels of suffering a concussion and hurting his right shoulder Week 8 in Atlanta. The duel injuries didn't allow him to return to that contest, and he merely stood with the coaching staff during the media-access portion of practice Thursday. Darnold still seems to have multiple steps remaining to gain clearance from the concussion protocol and be able to play Sunday against the Patriots. In the event he can't go this weekend, Darnold will yield quarterback duties to backup P.J. Walker.

Mills' teammate, Tyrod Taylor (hamstring), is in line to start Sunday's game against the Dolphins, The Athletic reports.

Mills had been handling the team's QB duties since Taylor was injured Week 2, and since then he's passed for 1,357 yards, with seven TDs and eight picks. The 2021 third-rounder will revert to a backup role now that Taylor is in line to come off IR, while Jeff Driskel will serve as the team's No. 3 signal-caller. Deshaun Watson remains on Houston's roster but has been made inactive on game days by the team all season.

Coach David Culley confirmed Thursday that Taylor (hamstring) will start Sunday's game against the Dolphins, Deepi Sidhu of the Texans' official site reports.

Culley noted that Taylor has suffered no setbacks with his hamstring injury, which sets the stage for the veteran QB to be officially activated off IR in advance of Sunday's contest. As a result, Davis Mills, the starter in Taylor's place, will revert to a backup role. In his looming return to action, Taylor, who last suited up Week 2, will be facing a 1-7 Miami defense that has allowed an average of 291.1 passing yards per game to date. Only the Ravens (296.1) have allowed more.

Murray (ankle) wasn't in attendance for Thursday's practice and is expected to be listed as a non-participant on Arizona's official report for the second straight day, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.

Even with the benefit of a longer turnaround for the Cardinals' Week 9 matchup Sunday in San Francisco after the team played Thursday night Week 8, Murray hasn't been able to move past a medial sprain of his left ankle. Though head coach Kliff Kingsbury described Murray as "day-to-day" earlier in the week, the star quarterback's consecutive absences from practice doesn't offer much reassurance that he'll be ready to go by Sunday. Murray will likely need to practice in some capacity Friday for fantasy managers to feel good about his chances of starting Sunday, and even if he suits up, there's a good possibility that the Cardinals look to limit his designed runs. Colt McCoy will work with the first-team offense in practice once again Thursday and would be in line to start this weekend if Murray can't go.

Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy said Prescott (calf) is expected to practice fully Thursday and is on track to play Sunday against the Broncos, Clarence E. Hill Jr. of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.

Following a Week 7 bye, Prescott sat out last week's win over the Vikings while he continued to tend to a strained right calf. Because Prescott missed most of last season with a severe injury to the ankle of the same leg, the Cowboys may have just been taking some extra precautions by holding him out Week 8. Prescott took a positive step forward to begin Week 9 prep by practicing on a limited basis Wednesday, and if he does in fact upgrade to full activity Thursday, there's a good chance he'll enter the weekend without an injury designation. The Cowboys will release their official injury report shortly after Thursday's practice concludes, at which point it will be revealed whether Prescott did in fact take part in full or if he remained limited for the second day in a row.