NFL Player News

Pickett (ribs) was listed as a full participant for Wednesday's practice and doesn't carry an injury designation for Thursday's game against the Titans, Teresa Varley of the Steelers' official site reports.

Pickett, who was forced out of this past Sunday's 20-10 loss to the Jaguars due to a rib injury, previously stated that he planned to play Thursday. His availability for Week 9 has now been confirmed upon the release of Wednesday's injury report. Now that Pickett's availability has been confirmed, he'll be working with a fully healthy wideout corps that includes Diontae Johnson, who logged 14 targets Week 8 in his second game back from a stint on injured reserve.

Garoppolo has been demoted from the starting quarterback role, with Las Vegas interim head coach Antonio Pierce announcing Wednesday that Aidan O'Connell will serve as the team's new top signal-caller beginning with Sunday's game against the Giants, Rachel Gossen of the Raiders' official site reports. "We just feel like he gives us the best chance," Pierce said of O'Connell.

After being appointed as the interim coach following the firing of Josh McDaniels earlier in the day, Pierce didn't wait long to make his first major personnel change. Pierce didn't clarify whether Garoppolo or Brian Hoyer will serve as the No. 2 quarterback Week 9, but the 3-5 Raiders appear set to give the rookie O'Connell an extended evaluation in what's shaping up to be a non-contending season. Garoppolo's move down the depth chart comes after he turned in a dismal performance in his return from a one-game absence due to a back injury in a 26-14 loss to the Lions on Monday, when he completed just 10 of 21 pass attempts for 126 yards and an interception while also taking six sacks. Despite missing two of the Raiders' eight games -- he also sat out Week 4 due to a concussion -- Garoppolo leads the NFL with nine interceptions at the halfway point of the season and has regressed mightily from an efficiency standpoint over his past three starts, completing just 62.2 percent of his passes for 6.7 yards per attempt. Garoppolo signed a three-year deal with the Raiders in the offseason that contains $33.75 million guaranteed, but Las Vegas could look to move on from him by next March, when he'll be due a $11.25 million bonus if he's still on the roster on the fifth day of the new league year, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

Rams head coach Sean McVay said Stafford (thumb) won't practice Wednesday, adding that the quarterback remains "day-to-day," Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic reports.

Stafford missed the entire second half of this past Sunday's loss at Dallas due to a right thumb injury that he suffered just before halftime. On Monday, McVay termed the issue a UCL sprain, and as of Wednesday, he noted he'll give Stafford "right up before the game" this Sunday at Green Bay to determine whether or not he'll be available. Such comments indicate Stafford doesn't necessarily need to practice Thursday or Friday to be able to suit up. Instead, his availability (or lack thereof) will come down to reduced swelling in his right hand and also grip strength. If Stafford ultimately is unable to go this weekend, Brett Rypien will direct the Rams offense.

Interim head coach Antonio Pierce confirmed Wednesday that O'Connell has been named the Raiders' starting quarterback going forward, Rachel Gossen of the team's official site reports. "We just feel like he gives us the best chance," Pierce said of O'Connell.

The rookie's promotion to the top of the depth chart sends struggling veteran Jimmy Garoppolo into a backup role. In two appearances (one start) this season, O'Connell has accounted from three yards and a touchdown on the ground and has completed 34 of his 52 passing attempts for 313 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Now that he's been installed as Las Vegas' starter, the 2023 fourth-round picks profiles as a lineup option in deeper leagues or in formats that start two quarterbacks or have a QB flex spot. A classic pocket passer who didn't show much scrambling ability during his collegiate career at Purdue, O'Connell appears to have a limited fantasy ceiling, though he'll at least have some capable pass-catching weapons to work with in wideouts Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers and running back Josh Jacobs.

Hill was a limited participant in practice Wednesday due to a hip injury, John Hendrix of SI.com reports.

Despite dealing with a chest issue during Week 8 prep, Hill had a season-best performance this past Sunday at Indianapolis, notching nine carries for 63 yards and two touchdowns, hauling in his only target for 14 yards and completing one of two passes for 44 yards. Now that he's tending to a new health concern, his status will be one to monitor as the weekend approaches to get a sense of his odds to suit up Sunday versus the Bears.

Levis will start Thursday's game against the Steelers with Ryan Tannehill (ankle) having been officially ruled out for the Week 9 contest.

Titans head coach Mike Vrabel had already said Tuesday that Levis was trending toward a second straight start, and with Tannehill having remained a spectator for Wednesday's practice while tending to a right high-ankle sprain, the rookie second-round pick will remain atop the depth chart for at least one more week. In his NFL debut this past Sunday against the Falcons, Levis looked more seasoned than anticipated. In addition to playing turnover-free football and taking just two sacks, Levis completed 19 of his 29 pass attempts for 238 yards and four touchdowns while adding 11 yards on the ground. Though replicating the Week 8 performance will be a tough task, Levis at least gets a somewhat favorable draw in matching up with a Steelers pass defense that has given up 245.4 passing yards per game, good for 24th in the NFL.

Tannehill (ankle) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Steelers, Jim Wyatt of the Titans' official site reports.

As expected, Tannehill will miss his second straight game after he hasn't been able to practice in any fashion coming out of the Titans' Week 7 bye while he recovers from a right high-ankle sprain. Will Levis will draw another start in place of Tannehill and will be looking to build on his four-touchdown performance in his NFL debut this past Sunday against Atlanta. Tannehill's next chance to return to game action will come Nov. 12 against the Buccaneers, but if Levis submits another strong outing Thursday, it's conceivable that the rookie could settle atop the depth chart on a more permanent basis even if Tannehill is deemed fully healthy for Week 10.

Allen (right shoulder) was listed as a non-participant in practice Wednesday.

Per Maddy Glab of the Bills' official site, Allen was originally in line to open Week 9 prep as a limited participant, but that ultimately didn't come to his pass. For what it's worth, Allen told Glab that he took it easy Wednesday with an eye toward being in a better position for Sunday's contest against the Bengals, adding that he hopes to practice in some capacity Thursday.

Fields (thumb) was projected as a non-participant for Wednesday's walk-through practice.

The Bears haven't officially ruled out Fields for their Week 9 game in New Orleans, but the signal-caller appears headed for a third straight absence with head coach Matt Eberflus having already confirmed that Tyson Bagent will pick up another start at quarterback Sunday. Fields hasn't been able to practice in any fashion since dislocating his right thumb in the Bears' Week 6 loss to the Vikings, but Ian Rapoport of NFL Network relays that Eberflus has optimism that Fields will be able to practice in some capacity this week. At this stage, Fields' primary obstacle in returning to game action is regaining grip strength with his thumb. If he shows meaningful progress in practice this week, Fields could have a shot at starting the Bears' Week 10 game against the Panthers next Thursday.

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said that Watson (shoulder) will be a limited practice participant Wednesday, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

At this stage, the Browns' plans at quarterback for Sunday's game against the Cardinals have yet to be solidified, but Stefanski said Wednesday that PJ Walker will make a second straight start this weekend if Watson isn't available, per Cabot. Watson -- who was inactive for Cleveland's Week 8 loss to Seattle -- has been dealing with a rotator cuff strain in his throwing shoulder and has made just one brief appearance over the Browns' last four games while managing the injury.