NFL Player News

Stafford (thumb) didn't practice Wednesday.

The Lions are optimistic that Stafford will be able to play through a partial ligament tear in his right thumb, but he'll likely need to practice prior to Sunday's game in Carolina in order to suit up. The 32-year-old will have two more opportunities to prove in practice that his throwing ability won't be compromised by the injury.

The Cowboys activated Dalton (concussion/illness) from the reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday.

A report from the Cowboys' official site Monday relayed Dalton cleared the concussion protocol and the necessary testing to come off the COVID-19 list, but the second one was a premature assessment. Now officially cleared from the COVID-19 list, he can gear up for Sunday's visit to Minnesota, where he'll likely retake the reins of the offense for the first time since Week 7. Expect the Cowboys to confirm as much in the near future.

Lock (ribs) isn't "expected to do much, if anything" in practice Wednesday, but the Broncos are hopeful that he'll be able to increase his activity in workouts by the end of the week, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Though he played every snap Sunday in the Broncos' 37-12 loss to the Raiders, Lock emerged from the game with a muscle strain and bruising near his ribs. The core injury has prompted the Broncos to label Lock as day-to-day, and Rapoport predicts the signal-caller will be in line for more of a rest day Wednesday as the team begins Week 11 prep. The Broncos' first injury report of the week will reveal whether Lock was a limited or non-participant, but his involvement in practices Thursday and Friday will prove more telling with regard to his status for the game against the Dolphins this weekend. On a positive note, Rapoport notes that Lock is "feeling a lot better" in the days since the Raiders game, but Brett Rypien and Jeff Driskel will be on hand as starting options in the event Lock can't gain clearance for the Week 11 contest.

Updating a previous report, Dalton (concussion) wasn't activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday, but the quarterback remains on track to return to action in the Cowboys' Week 11 game at Minnesota, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Dalton was ruled out ahead of the Cowboys' Week 9 loss to the Eagles while recovering from a concussion before he was moved to the reserve/COVID-19 list on Nov. 3 after contracting the coronavirus. The quarterback has since cleared the NFL's five-step concussion protocol, and he's believed to be fully recovered from COVID-19 after being asymptomatic following his positive test. That said, Dalton's continued presence on the list suggests he still has to pass a few more phases of the NFL's COVID-19 protocol, though it shouldn't prevent him from suiting up Sunday. Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy has yet to name a Week 11 starter, but Dalton is expected to get the nod over Garrett Gilbert if he gains clearance to practice within the next few days.

Bridgewater (knee) is slated to be a limited practice participant Wednesday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Coach Matt Rhule expressed hope that Bridgewater would be on the field Wednesday, and now the quarterback's activity has been forecast. The MCL sprain in Bridgewater's right knee isn't considered to be significant, so taking part in drills to start Week 11 prep seemingly would set him on a path to suit up Sunday against the Lions. If the Panthers are forced to go a different direction, though, Bridgewater's replacement will be either P.J. Walker or Will Grier.

Stafford suffered a partial tear in a ligament in his right thumb, but he's expected to play in this Sunday's game versus the Panthers, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Stafford picked up this injury during last week's win over Washington, and he finished the game without missing a snap. He'll likely be closely monitored during the practice week to see if the injury hinders his throwing ability, but the Lions are entering Week 11 under the assumption that Stafford will start under center. If Stafford's health takes a turn during the practice week, however, Chase Daniel is the next man up at quarterback.

Coach Kyle Shanahan is hoping Garoppolo (ankle) returns at some point "later in the season," Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Shanahan noted Garoppolo has ditched the walking boot he's been wearing since suffering his second high-ankle sprain of the season back in Week 8. The 49ers return to action Sunday, Nov. 29 against the Rams following their Week 11 bye, which lines up with the front end of his 4-to-6-week rehab timeline. That said, the team likely will be cautious with Garoppolo's recovery, which instead would mean he'd return -- if cleared -- for one of the final five contests of the campaign.

Lock is dealing with a "pretty severe strain and bruising" to his ribs and is considered day-to-day, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Schefter adds that Lock avoided broken bones, but the Broncos are still uncertain if the 24-year-old quarterback will be ready for this Sunday's game against the Dolphins. Lock was clearly playing through pain in last week's loss to the Raiders, and his performance suffered, as he completed just 49 percent of his passes and threw four picks. It could simply be a matter of pain tolerance yet again, and Lock's practice status Wednesday will be the best indicator of his health. Brett Rypien and Jeff Driskel will prepare to start at quarterback in the event that Lock can't play.

Coach Matt Nagy may consider a QB change in the wake of Nick Foles (hip/glute) getting injured during Monday's loss to the Vikings, Stacey Dales of NFL Network reports. "Everything's on the table," Nagy said.

The Bears don't believe Foles' injury is as bad as initially thought, and Nagy considers the quarterback to be day-to-day as the team enters its bye week. During the respite from playing, Nagy intends to look into the situation at QB to determine who is best suited to start Sunday, Nov. 29 in Green Bay. Trubisky has missed the last two games due to an unspecified right shoulder injury, but if he gains clearance to play before Foles, there seems to be a chance Nagy will turn to the fourth-year signal-caller.

Cousins completed 25 of 36 passes for 292 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in Monday night's 19-13 win over the Bears.

Cousins played well while finally winning his first Monday night start in 10 career tries. The veteran began by tossing a 17-yard touchdown to Adam Thielen, and although the wideout dropped a pass that was then intercepted shortly afterward, Cousins went back to him for the game-winning, six-yard touchdown during the fourth quarter. In doing so, Cousins brought his season tally to 17 touchdowns -- nine of which have gone to Thielen -- and is now gifted with a Week 11 matchup against a Cowboys secondary that's allowed the second-most passing scores this season.