NFL Player News

Dalton completed 10 of 18 passes for 136 yards in Sunday's 23-7 loss to the Jaguars.

Dalton came up against a vaunted Jaguars pass defense and lost his go-to target, A.J. Green, to ejection in the second quarter. Green's ouster from the contest put Dalton in a bind, as he has relied on the Pro Bowl wideout for 35.6 percent of his passing yards this season. Assuming Green is back next week, Dalton is a decent play against a middle-of-the-road Titans pass defense. He's still managed to throw multiple touchdown passes in four of six games coordinated by Bill Lazor.

Winston was forced out of Sunday's game against the Saints with a shoulder injury.

With Winston nursing a shoulder issue, Ryan Fitzpatrick took over at QB for the Bucs on Sunday. Prior to his exit from the contest, Winston had completed seven of 13 pass attempts for 67 yards.

Sources close to the Vikings indicate that the team intends to activate Bridgewater from the Physically Unable to Perform list ahead of their Week 10 game against the Redskins, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports.

Since returning to practice a couple weeks ago, Bridgewater's surgically repaired left knee has responded well to the increased activity, which has apparently made the Vikings confident enough in his health to activate him shortly before the 21-day window to do so expires next week. Bridgewater is expected to be a full participant in practices throughout the upcoming week before dressing for the game against the Redskins, though he'll likely serve as the team's backup with Case Keenum acquitting himself well in the No. 1 role since Sam Bradford aggravated a knee injury in Week 5. If Keenum should struggle in his subsequent outings, however, Bridgewater could be called upon for his first game action since the 2015 campaign at some point later this season.

Rodgers had two plates inserted into his fractured right collarbone during his Oct. 19 surgery, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. While Rapoport notes that it is "theoretically possible" for Rodgers to come off injured reserve in Week 15 or later this season, the Packers "do not expect" him to play again in 2017.

According to Rapoport, Rodgers' collarbone was displaced when he was driven into the ground by the Vikings' Anthony Barr in an Oct. 15 game, resulting in a more complex procedure than the one he required on his left (non-throwing) collarbone back in 2013. Rodgers missed seven games as a result of that injury, but he'll be sidelined for at least eight weeks this time around by virtue of being placed on IR. Rapoport also notes that the 13 screws Rodgers revealed he required for the procedure during a recent interview with Conan O'Brien on the TBS late-night talk show "Conan" wasn't an exaggeration, and could result in a lengthened recovery timetable for the franchise signal caller. Due to the extensiveness of Rodgers' surgery, the Packers appear prepared to proceed with Brett Hundley as their starting quarterback the rest of the season.

Winston (shoulder) is active for Sunday's Week 9 tilt against the Saints, Scott Smith of the team's official site reports.

As expected, Winston will play through the AC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder for the third straight game. He's produced markedly different results over the first two contests in which he's been affected by the injury, and the Buccaneers and fantasy owners will certainly hope his Week 9 effort doesn't resemble last Sunday's 210-yard, two-interception afternoon against the Panthers in any way.

Lynch could be named the Broncos' starting quarterback as early as Week 10 against the Patriots, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports.

Due to struggles on offense, the Broncos swapped Trevor Siemian for a familiar face in Brock Osweiler, but the QB experiment may be short-lived if Lynch makes the requisite progress in the upcoming week of prep. Granted, a sprained right shoulder prevented Lynch from practicing until Oct. 25, a reality that's expected to ensure inactive status Sunday at Philadelphia. Working in his favor is management's desire to see returns on the investment made in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft. His workload in the coming days will ultimately determine if the Broncos will roll with a third starting quarterback in as many games.

Watson's recovery from a torn ACL in his right knee is expected to last 8-to-9 months, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Watson's exciting rookie campaign came to an unexpected end at Thursday's practice, when he suffered the second ACL tear of his football career. During the previous occurrence, he managed to achieve full health in an unheard-of five months, so the Texans are holding out hope he'll be available at some point during the 2018 offseason program. Even if he requires the full nine months, Watson will return in the midst of training camp, giving him plenty of time to regain his bearings in advance of next season. In the meantime, though, the Texans will turn to Tom Savage as the starting quarterback.

Winston (shoulder) will start at quarterback Sunday against New Orleans, a source informed Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Winston is listed as questionable on the Buccaneers' official injury report. He was a limited participant in practice Wednesday and Thursday before being upgraded to a full participant Friday. He may still have a bit of soreness due to the AC joint sprain he suffered in Week 6, but there's never been much question regarding Winston's availability for Sunday, considering he had played through the injury the last two weeks. He'll take aim at an improved Saints defense that has surrendered just one 200-yard passing game since Week 2.

The Texans placed Watson (knee) on injured reserve Friday.

With Watson out for the season with a torn right ACL suffered at practice Thursday, the Texans shuttled him on IR to open a roster spot for one of the two quarterbacks the team signed Friday, Matt McGloin and T.J. Yates. It's expected that Watson wil make a full recovery from injury and be ready to go for the start of the 2018 campaign, but for the current season, the Texans' playoff hopes will rest on the arm of Tom Savage, who is set to take over as the team's starter in the Week 9 matchup with the Colts.

Winston (shoulder) was a full practice participant Friday and is listed as questionable for Sunday's game in New Orleans, Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Winston was a limited participant Wednesday and Thursday, coming off of an ugly performance in last week's 17-3 loss to the Panthers. He may still have a bit of soreness due to the AC joint sprain he suffered in Week 6, but there's never been much question Winston will start Sunday in New Orleans. He'll take aim at an improved Saints defense that's surrendered just one 200-yard passing game since Week 2. Matchups have played a role in the defense's solid production, but the Saints did a nice job against Matt Stafford (Week 6) and Cam Newton (Week 3), in addition to shutting down the likes of Jay Cutler, Brett Hundley and Mitchell Trubisky.