NFL Player News

Savage and backup quarterback T.J. Yates both took reps with the first-team offense Wednesday, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Head coach Bill O'Brien stressed there was nothing abnormal about the No. 2 quarterback getting some time with the starting unit, but it does suggest Savage will not have a long leash. He didn't play very well in Week 9's loss to the Colts, and the coach has a history of yanking an ineffective starter.

San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan expects C.J. Beathard to start Sunday's game versus the Giants, relegating Garoppolo to backup duties for the second straight week, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Following his trade from New England to San Francisco last week, Garoppolo is eventually expected to get a look as the team's starting quarterback, but a change under center looks like it will be delayed until after the 49ers' Week 11 bye. Shanahan seemingly hinted Wednesday that a change would be afoot, stating that he wants Garoppolo to play "hopefully sooner than later." In the meantime, though, Garoppolo will continue to brush up on the playbook in preparation for eventually unseating Beathard atop the depth chart.

San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan said he expects Beathard to start Sunday's game against the Giants, Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The 49ers acquired Jimmy Garappolo from the Patriots last week, setting in motion a changing of the guard at quarterback. Shanahan appears to be playing it safe until Garappolo has a better understanding of the offense, but he also would like to see the new signal caller take the field "hopefully sooner than later." Until Shanahan decides to pull the plug on Beathard, the rookie will prepare for the Giants, who have given up the fourth-most passing yards per game (265.3) this season.

Winston met with Dr. James Andrews on Tuesday for further evaluation on his injured right shoulder, Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The team has yet to issue an update on Andrews' findings from his meeting with Winston, so at this time, it's still expected that the quarterback will remain on a two-week shutdown period before he's reevaluated. Winston has been nursing an AC joint sprain in the shoulder since first suffering the injury Week 6 against the Cardinals, but was also diagnosed with a rear deltoid injury after exiting early in Sunday's loss to the Saints. The Buccaneers plan to go with Ryan Fitzpatrick as their starting signal caller for at least the next two games.

The Vikings placed Bradford (knee) on injured reserve Wednesday.

Though the arthroscopic procedure Bradford required on his left knee Tuesday wasn't expected to sideline him for more than a handful of weeks, the Vikings weren't comfortable playing the waiting game and opted to replace him on the 53-man roster with former starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, who is back to full health after suffering a devastating knee injury in training camp last year. Case Keenum has performed admirably while Bradford has missed all but two games this season due to chronic knee pain and will remain the starter for Sunday's game against the Redskins, but Bridgewater is now next in line should Keenum falter or succumb to an injury of his own. Bradford is set to become a free agent this offseason and seems unlikely to be retained by the Vikings if the team is satisfied with Bridgewater's health heading into 2018.

The Vikings activated Bridgewater (knee) from the Physically Unable to Perform list Wednesday.

Bridgewater's lengthy recovery from a severe non-contact injury to his left knee suffered in training camp last August has finally reached its conclusion, with the Vikings bringing him back to the active roster after he endured no setbacks during practice the last three weeks. The Vikings likely weren't counting on Bridgewater to contribute this season, but with Sam Bradford (knee) landing on injured reserve in a corresponding move following an arthroscopic procedure Tuesday, the 2014 first-round pick is now next in line at quarterback behind incumbent starter Case Keenum. While Keenum isn't the Vikings' long-term answer behind center, he's been serviceable while Bradford has missed all but two games this season, so it may take an injury to Keenum or decline in performance before Bridgewater sees snaps in 2017.

The Vikings are expected to place Bradford (knee) on season-ending injured reserve Wednesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. Bradford underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Tuesday.

Minnesota will likely make the transaction official later Wednesday, when fellow quarterback Teddy Bridgewater (knee) is slated to get activated from the Physically Unable to Perform list in a corresponding move. Bradford's knee scope is only expected to keep him sidelined for a few weeks, but the Vikings determined the impending return of Bridgewater and the solid play of fill-in starter Case Keenum left their quarterback situation in good enough hands to justify shutting down the 2010 No. 1 overall pick. Bradford is hopeful that the procedure will clear up the chronic knee pain that had been plaguing him since Week 1, but given the litany of health issues he's endured throughout his career, the veteran could be hard pressed to earn significant guaranteed money during the offseason, when he's set to become a free agent.

Watson (knee) underwent successful surgery Wednesday to repair his right ACL, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Doctors detected no additional ligament damage beyond the ACL tear while performing the procedure, so Watson's recovery timetable is expected to remain at 8-to-9 months. The rookie quarterback was enjoying a star-making campaign prior to suffering the injury in practice last week, but the Texans fully expect Watson to return to form by the start of the 2018 season. The knee surgery was the second of Watson's career; he previously required a procedure during his freshman year of college to repair a torn left ACL.

Bradford had surgery on his left knee Tuesday performed by Dr. James Andrews, who "cleaned up" the knee in hopes of easing pain and discomfort, Chris Mortensen of ESPN reports.

Even if this was a minor procedure, it doesn't sound like Bradford is coming back anytime soon, and the Vikings may decide to put him on injured reserve. With Case Keenum thriving in Bradford's stead as the Vikings' starting quarterback and Teddy Bridgewater (knee) set to return from the Physically Unable to Perform list this week to provide additional insurance at the position, Minnesota may not have much incentive to waste a roster spot on Bradford while his return timeline remains murky.

The Texans released McGloin on Tuesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

McGloin's prior relationship with head coach Bill O'Brien, who previously coached the quarterback at Penn State, wasn't enough to keep the 27-year-old around for more than a week. The Texans signed veteran quarterback Josh Johnson to take McGloin's spot on the roster and act as the team's third-string option at the position.