NFL Player News

Winston is nursing some soreness with his right shoulder, but is set to practice Wednesday, Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

During preparations for both of the Buccaneers' last two games, Winston hadn't practiced until Friday while nursing the shoulder injury, so even if he ends up going down as a limited participant Wednesday, his involvement in the team's first session of the week suggests he may be showing some improvement on the health front. Winston struggled mightily in Sunday's loss to the Panthers, completing 21 of 38 passes for 210 yards and tossing two interceptions, but since he shredded the Bills for 384 passing yards and three touchdowns a week earlier, his poor play probably can't be attributed solely to the shoulder injury. Even in times of better health, Winston's production has proven quite volatile from game to game, and the high variance in his performance will likely only continue in the second half of the season.

Hoyer signed a three-year contract with the Patriots on Wednesday, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports.

With the team having traded Jacoby Brissett to the Colts prior to the start of the season and Jimmy Garoppolo to the 49ers earlier this week, the Patriots had a pressing need for a backup quarterback heading into their Week 9 bye. Hoyer, who played for New England from 2009 to 2011, brings familiarity with the organization -- as well as NFL starting experience -- to the table, thus giving the Patriots a viable insurance option in the event of an injury to starter Tom Brady. Moreover, the duration of the 32-year-old's deal creates a scenario that could possibly lead to the franchise drafting a young quarterback this spring to develop behind Brady.

Broncos head coach Vance Joseph informed the team Wednesday that Siemian would be removed as the starting quarterback for the Week 9 matchup against the Eagles, with Brock Osweiler instead receiving the nod, Mike Klis of 9 News Denver reports.

Siemian got off to a nice start to the season by tossing six touchdown passes against two interceptions and completing 65 percent of his passes over the Broncos' first two contests, but things have gone downhill ever since for the third-year signal caller. In the subsequent five contests -- during which the Broncos have gone 1-4 -- Siemian has turned the ball over nine times, with his three-interception showing in Monday's loss to the Chiefs representing the nadir. Considering he tossed 16 interceptions in 15 games with the Texans last season, Osweiler might not prove much more capable than Siemian in protecting the ball, but Siemian won't necessarily be first in line to take back the starting role if Osweiler falters. Instead, 2016 first-round pick Paxton Lynch, who is still easing back in after a shoulder injury kept him inactive for the Broncos' first seven games of the season, may rank as the top alternative in the event Osweiler is unable to guide the offense effectively.

Hoyer is slated to visit the Patriots on Wednesday, Field Yates of ESPN reports.

Hoyer, who was released by the 49ers earlier this week following the team's acquisition of Jimmy Garoppolo from the Patriots, began his NFL career in New England, where he played from 2009 through 2011. Assuming Hoyer signs with the Patriots, he'll serve as Tom Brady's new backup at quarterback.

Taylor will have a new teammate to throw to after the Panthers traded Kelvin Benjamin to the Bills on Tuesday for two draft picks.

The only negative whatsoever to this trade is that it comes in the week the Bills play the Thursday game, meaning Benjamin may not have much time to get ready for a new offense. Other than that, this is nothing but a blessing for Taylor, who hasn't had much to work with all season outside of LeSean McCoy and Charles Clay, but Clay is now injured, and the wide receivers haven't done much. Taylor ranks 23rd among quarterbacks in standard scoring, though the Bills have been hitting their stride more effectively on offense lately, and with a legitimate starter like Benjamin on board, it could be a decent time to pick up Taylor if you need bye-week help, etc.

Head coach Vance Joseph said Tuesday that Lynch won't replace Trevor Siemian if the Broncos make a change at quarterback, Lindsay Jones of USA Today reports.

Lynch only recently got over his right shoulder sprain, which ensured inactive status every game this season through Monday's 29-19 defeat at Kansas City. Because Siemian has committed seven turnovers during the Broncos' three-game losing streak, Joseph appears to be contemplating a change under center. Lynch isn't among those candidates, though, meaning Siemian may have to fend off Brock Osweiler in advance of a trip to Philadelphia this weekend.

If the Broncos make a change at quarterback, Lynch is the likely candidate to supplant Trevor Siemian as the starter, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

In the midst of a three-game losing streak, head coach Vance Joseph hinted after Monday's 29-19 loss to the Chiefs that Siemian's job may not be safe. "I'm not sure," Joseph told Nicki Jhabvala of The Denver Post. "But losing three games in a row and having five turnovers tonight, anything's possible." Siemian was responsible for three of those giveaways while averaging 5.5 yards per attempt and getting sacked three times. Granted, playing without Emmanuel Sanders (ankle) makes the offense even more predictable than normal, but Lynch (and not Brock Osweiler) may soon earn his first playing time since Week 13 of last season.

Beathard is expected to remain the starting quarterback for Sunday's game versus the Cardinals, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Clearly, Beathard will be handing off the gig to the recently acquired Jimmy Garoppolo in the near future, but the turnaround between Monday's trade and the 49ers' next matchup doesn't lend itself to a change. In three appearances (two starts) to date, Beathard has been underwhelming, to say the least, completing 58 of 110 passes for 647 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. With the prospect of his last significant playing time on the mind, though, he could take advantage of the Cardinals' 23rd-ranked pass defense.

Garoppolo isn't expected to start Sunday's game against the Cardinals, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

The shocker of the trade deadline to date, Garoppolo's move from New England to San Francisco brings with it a coveted starting gig. That said, his lack of familiarity with head coach Kyle Shanahan's playbook will likely contain him to clipboard duty behind rookie signal caller C.J. Beathard, at least for one contest. Assuming the preceding comes to pass, Shanahan and company will prepare Garoppolo for a Week 10 matchup with the Giants on Sunday, Nov. 12.

Broncos head coach Vance Joseph said he would review film from Monday's 29-19 loss to the Chiefs before determining if Siemian would remain the starting quarterback for Denver's Week 9 matchup with the Eagles, Nicki Jhabvala of The Denver Post reports. "I'm not sure," Joseph said, regarding who would start at quarterback against Philadephia. "But [after] losing three games in a row and having five turnovers [Monday], anything's possible."

Though Siemian had turned the ball over six times while Denver had dropped three of its last four games entering Monday, Joseph remained steadfast in his commitment to the signal caller, who had previously thrown for six touchdowns in the team's first two contests of the season. However, with the Broncos suffering their third consecutive loss Monday while Siemian sunk to a new low by throwing three interceptions -- including one on an ill-advised, across-the-field throw that was particularly reckless -- it wouldn't be surprising if Joseph decided to go with a different option behind center in Week 9. Brock Osweiler dressed as the backup quarterback against the Chiefs, but given the team's greater long-term investment in Paxton Lynch, who was inactive Monday while having recently recovered from a shoulder injury, it's conceivable that the 2016 first-round pick would be first in line to replace Siemian. Regardless of whether Joseph decides to stick with Siemian as his starter or give Osweiler or Lynch a look, expect the coach to announce his plans when the Broncos reconvene for practice Wednesday.