NFL Player News

Peterman is expected to serve as the Bills' starting quarterback Sunday against the Bears, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

With Josh Allen (elbow) sidelined for another week and Derek Anderson embedded in the concussion protocol and uncertain to be available Sunday, it appears the keys to the offense will now be in Peterman's hands once again. The second-year signal-caller relieved Anderson with about a minute left in the fourth quarter of Monday's loss to the Patriots, completing both of his pass attempts against soft coverage before the final whistle sounded. Peterman has been notoriously turnover-prone in his NFL action to date and won't make for an appealing fantasy option in Week 9 while matching up with a quality Bears defense.

Coach Sean McDermott has already ruled out Allen (elbow) for this week's game against the Bears, Chris Brown of the Bills' official site reports.

Given the team's 2-6 record and the awful play of Derek Anderson and Nathan Peterman subbing in, this would have been the perfect no-pressure game to insert the rookie back into the lineup, but his long-term health will take priority here. Allen's next chance to play will come in Week 10 against the Jets, while it's worth noting if the team really wants to play it safe, the Bills have their bye in Week 11.

Coach Kyle Shanahan said Mullens will start Thursday versus the Raiders if C.J. Beathard (wrist) is unable to play, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.

After Beathard was listed as a non-participant on Monday's estimated injury report, he had trouble holding a football Tuesday as a result of a sore right wrist. With no practice yet this week, his status could come down to a game-time decision Thursday. In the event Beathard is inactive, Mullens and his zero NFL snaps would be given the nod over veteran third-stringer Tom Savage.

Coach Kyle Shanahan said Tuesday that Beathard (wrist) is struggling to hold a football, which is threatening his availability for Thursday's game against the Raiders, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Beathard emerged from Sunday's loss at Arizona with a wrist injury. A decision on Beathard likely will come down to the wire, per Shanahan, but the quarterback is missing back-to-back practices to kick off Week 9 prep, according to Inman. Nick Mullens is the next man up at quarterback in San Francisco.

Peterman completed both of his pass attempts for 23 yards Monday on the Bills' final drive of the game after Derek Anderson took a hit that sent him to the locker room.

While the Patriots were playing soft coverage and happy to let the clock run out with underneath stuff, we suppose the fact that Peterman didn't throw an interception is some small victory. Josh Allen (elbow) may not be ready to return for Week 9 against the Bears while Anderson's status is currently murky, so it could be the Peterman Show one more time.

Allen was signed to the Panthers' practice squad Tuesday, Max Henson of the Panthers' official site reports.

The Houston product is back with the Panthers after he was signed, and then subsequently cut, by the team earlier this season. To make room for Allen, the Panthers cut Dezmen Southward from their practice squad.

Watson will fly with the Texans to Sunday's game at Denver, Sarah Barshop of ESPN.com reports.

Watson emerged from a Week 5 win at Dallas with cracked ribs and a partially collapsed lung, a combination of injuries that forced him to take a 12-hour bus ride to Jacksonville in Week 7. He's recovered enough in the meantime to allay concerns about traveling via plane, so Week 9 will be business as usual for the Texans' starting quarterback. Watson's upcoming matchup will bring him face-to-face with a Broncos defense that was torched by Patrick Mahomes for 303 yards and four touchdowns this past Sunday in Kansas City.

Beathard (wrist) was listed as a non-participant on the 49ers' estimated injury report Monday, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

There was no word of an injury to Beathard in the aftermath of Sunday's 18-15 loss at Arizona, but he'll enter Week 9 prep with a wrist issue in tow. After tossing for at least 245 yards and two touchdowns in each of his three starts this season, he's been stymied by the Rams and Cardinals in the last two, totaling 360 yards while recording two TDs versus two interceptions. It's unclear if Beathard's status is in peril for Thursday's game against the Raiders, but Nick Mullens and Tom Savage are the other quarterbacks on the 49ers' 53-man roster.

Ryan Fitzpatrick will get the starting nod over Winston for Sunday's game against the Panthers, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.

Winston was pulled from Sunday's 37-34 loss to the Bengals after throwing his fourth interception of the afternoon, paving the way for Fitzpatrick to tie up the game with 18 consecutive points. Winston hasn't had too much trouble moving the Tampa offense downfield, but his strong marks for completion percentage (64.9) and yards per attempt (8.0) have been negated by the worst INT rate (6.8 percent) in the league. It still won't be surprising if Tampa Bay turns back to the 2015 first-round pick at some point before the end of the season, especially if playoff contention is no longer a consideration.

Goff isn't expected to miss any time after taking some hard hits during Sunday's 29-27 win over the Packers, ESPN.com's Lindsey Thiry reports.

Goff may show up on the Week 9 injury report, but there isn't any reason at the moment to worry about his availability for Sunday's game in New Orleans. He'll hope to get top red-zone threat Cooper Kupp (knee) back in the lineup, after completing 19 of 35 passes for 295 yards and three touchdowns in a narrow win over the Packers in Week 8. Goff was spotted entering the X-ray room after the game, but it isn't clear if he actually had any tests done.