NFL Player News
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Easton Stick QB | ATL
Easton Stick: Back with practice squad
Stick reverted to the Falcons' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's official transaction log.
Stick operated as the team's backup quarterback behind Kirk Cousins in Sunday's 34-10 loss to Miami, failing to enter the game. The quarterback could be elevated to the active roster again in Week 9 versus the Patriots if Michael Penix (knee) remains unavailable.
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Lamar Jackson QB | BAL
Ravens' Lamar Jackson: Listed as full Monday
Jackson (hamstring) was a full participant at Monday's walkthrough.
Jackson's listed activity level to begin Week 9 prep backs up language from coach John Harbaugh earlier Monday, when he told Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, "I feel very confident about it. I expect him to be out there Thursday." Jackson thus appears to have a good chance to put an end to a three-game absence due to a right hamstring injury for the Ravens' Week 9 contest at Miami.
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Mac Jones QB | SF
49ers' Mac Jones: Day-to-day due to knee contusion
Coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday that Jones suffered a bruised knee during Sunday's 26-15 loss at Houston and is "day-to-day," David Lombardi of SFStandard.com reports.
At the same time, Shanahan relayed to Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com that he doesn't "think it's a long shot" for No. 1 QB Brock Purdy (toe) to return to action this coming Sunday at the Giants. As such, the signal-caller situation in San Francisco will be watched closely as the week goes on. In Week 8, Jones fell shy of 200 yards passing for a second straight game, but he tossed two touchdowns versus one interception and rushed twice for 23 yards. Undrafted rookie Adrian Martinez is third on the depth chart for the Niners should the unthinkable happen, and both Purdy and Jones are declared unavailable for Week 9.
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Brock Purdy QB | SF
49ers' Brock Purdy: May return in Week 9
Purdy (toe) has a chance to return to action Sunday at the Giants, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports. "It's too early to say," coach Kyle Shanahan said Monday. "I don't think it's a long shot. We'll see how he's doing on Wednesday."
One week removed from Shanahan saying it was a "stretch" for Purdy to play this past Sunday in Houston, the coach was more optimistic in his phrasing, indicating that the 49ers are keeping the door open for the fourth-year pro to see his first game action since Week 4. Shanahan also told David Lombardi of SFStandard.com that fill-in QB Mac Jones emerged from Week 8 action with a knee contusion and is "day-to-day." Should the worst-case scenario come to pass and both QBs get ruled out for the road contest against the Giants, undrafted rookie Adrian Martinez might be in line to make his first NFL start.
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Lamar Jackson QB | BAL
Ravens' Lamar Jackson: Coach confident in imminent return
Coach John Harbaugh said Monday that he's "very confident" Jackson (hamstring) will return to action in Week 9 at Miami, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic reports. "I expect him to be out there Thursday," Harbaugh added.
The Ravens have yet to produce their first injury report of the week, but Jackson appears on course to end a three-game absence due to a right hamstring injury. Should he have a setback and end up missing Thursday's contest, Tyler Huntley would get another start after leading the Ravens to a win over the Bears in Week 8.
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Carson Wentz QB | MIN
Vikings' Carson Wentz: Slated for season-ending surgery
Wentz is expected to undergo season-ending surgery to address his left shoulder injury, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Wentz played the majority of snaps in Minnesota's last five games with J.J. McCarthy (ankle) working his way back from a multi-week injury, but the veteran was clearly playing through pain during last Thursday's 37-10 loss to the Chargers. Per Dane Mizutani of the St. Paul Pioneer Press, the Vikings have officially placed Wentz on IR. The transaction confirms that McCarthy will start Sunday's road matchup against the Lions, if healthy, and leaves Max Brosmer in position to handle No. 2 quarterback duties for Minnesota.
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Michael Penix Jr. QB | ATL
Falcons' Michael Penix: Labeled 'day-to-day'
Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said Monday that Penix (knee) is "day-to-day," Terrin Waack of the team's official site reports.
Morris said the same of top wideout Drake London (hip), who joined Penix on the sideline during Atlanta's loss to the Dolphins in Week 8. Veteran backup Kirk Cousins struggled to move the offense in place of Penix, completing 21 of 31 passes for 173 yards with no touchdowns (or interceptions) during the 34-10 loss while also rushing twice for two yards. It will bode well for the Falcons offense if both Penix and London are able to get back on the field as the team prepares for a Week 9 road matchup against New England. Penix was limited in practice all of Week 8 due to a bone bruise in his knee, so he may need to resume handling full reps before being cleared to return to the starting lineup.
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Joe Milton III QB | DAL
Cowboys' Joe Milton: Tosses garbage-time TD
Milton completed three of four passes for 58 yards and a touchdown in relief of Dak Prescott during Sunday's 44-24 loss to the Broncos.
With the game well out of reach, Milton took over for the Cowboys' final two drives of the game and punctuated the first by launching a perfect deep ball to Jalen Tolbert for a 35-yard TD. It was Milton's second late-game appearance of the season, but it likely won't be the last even if Prescott stays healthy given the state of the Dallas roster, as the combination of an elite offense and abysmal defense is a recipe for blowouts.
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Joe Flacco QB | CIN
Bengals' Joe Flacco: Dealing with shoulder injury
Bengals coach Zac Taylor said Monday that Flacco is day-to-day due to a shoulder injury, Ben Baby of ESPN.com reports.
Flacco appears to have injured his shoulder during Cincinnati's dramatic 39-38 loss to the Jets in Week 8 in which the veteran signal-caller completed 21 of 34 passes for 233 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing twice for 14 yards and another score. Taylor said Flacco is "sore" Monday. In three starts since being traded to the Bengals, Flacco has rejuvenated Cincinnati's offense, throwing multiple touchdowns and compiling over 200 passing yards in all of those contests. His health will need to be closely monitored as the Bengals prepare to host the Bears in Week 9 on Sunday, Nov. 2. If Flacco is limited, or if backup Jake Browning is thrust into the lineup, it will represent a blow to the fantasy value of all of WRs Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins and RB Chase Brown.
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Riley Leonard QB | IND
Colts' Riley Leonard: Debuts for final two drives
Leonard took the field for the Colts' final two possessions of Sunday's 38-14 win over the Titans, throwing incompletions on two pass attempts and rushing once for one yard.
A healthy inactive for the Colts' first five contests, Leonard handled backup quarterback duties for the third game in a row after Anthony Richardson suffered a fractured orbital in a pregame workout prior to the team's Week 6 win over the Cardinals. Though Brett Rypien looms on the practice squad as a potential alternative for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart, Leonard looks poised to stick around as Daniel Jones' top backup until Richardson is ready to return from injured reserve. The rookie out of Notre Dame got the chance to make his NFL debut in garbage time of Sunday's blowout win, going three-and-out on both of the drives he directed.