NFL Player News

Allen (coach's decision) is inactive for San Francisco's game against the Vikings on Monday but is designated as the emergency quarterback, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.

Allen will be eligible to play only if both Brock Purdy and Sam Darnold suffer in-game injuries. The 31-year-old last played in a regular-season contest for the Bengals last season, when he completed all three of his passes for 22 yards.

Walker reverted to the Browns' practice squad Monday, per the NFL's transaction report.

Deshaun Watson returned from a two-game absence Sunday at Indianapolis but lasted only 12 plays before undergoing a concussion check. He cleared the protocol for head injuries, but out of an abundance of caution, the Browns opted not to risk the existing strained rotator cuff in his right throwing shoulder. The team considers Watson day-to-day moving forward, as coach Kevin Stefanski told Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal on Monday. In Watson's stead, Walker completed 15 of 32 passes for 178 yards, no touchdowns and one interception against the Colts, and the latter could be in line for another start if Watson isn't able to gain medical clearance ahead of Sunday's game at Seattle.

Mayfield was listed as a non-participant on the Buccaneers' first Week 8 practice report due to a knee injury Monday.

Mayfield has fared modestly in his first campaign in Tampa Bay, completing 65 percent of his passes for 1,363 yards, eight touchdowns and four interceptions while also racking up 99 more yards on the ground through six games. With a short week to prepare for Thursday's contest at Buffalo, he'll have two more opportunities to handle some on-field work before the Buccaneers potentially give him a designation for Week 8 action.

Hurts (knee) is not expected to miss any game action, and there's a good chance he doesn't even miss practice this week, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Hurts was sporting a brace on his left knee after hurting it during Sunday night's 31-17 win over the Dolphins but was adamant after the game that he is "fine." This seems to confirm that. Hurts' eight interceptions are already two more than he threw all of last season, and his touchdown rate has dropped in 2023. Hurts gets a juicy Week 8 date with the flailing Commanders. He tossed two touchdowns and threw for a season-high 319 yards versus Washington back in Week 4.

Coach Ron Rivera said Monday he is committed to Howell as the Commanders' starter but left the door open for a change at some point in 2023, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post reports.

After starting the season 2-0 with wins over the Cardinals and Broncos, the Commanders have dropped four of their last five, and Howell is on pace to absorb a record-breaking 97 sacks. The current record is 76 taken by David Carr in his 2002 rookie season with the Texans. Howell is simply holding onto the ball too long and led the Commanders to just seven points in Sunday's seven-point loss to the Giants and backup QB Tyrod Taylor. If the losses keep piling up and Howell doesn't show improvement, Washington could turn to veteran Jacoby Brissett to stabilize the offense.

Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski said Monday that Watson will undergo additional medical testing to ensure the quarterback isn't dealing with any further damage to the right rotator cuff he strained Week 3, Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal reports. "We'll continue to take that day to day," Stefanski said, in regards to both Watson's availability for next Sunday's game in Seattle or whether the signal-caller will require a stint on injured reserve.

After missing two games over the past three weeks due to the shoulder injury, Watson practiced fully Friday and was given the green light to start in the Browns' Week 7 game against the Colts. However, Watson took just 12 snaps and completed one of five pass attempts for five yards and an interception before exiting in the first quarter and not returning to the eventual 39-38 win. Cleveland never officially ruled Watson out for the game after he passed all concussion testing, but Stefanski said at halftime that he wasn't willing to expose Watson to any further injury to his shoulder, resulting in PJ Walker finishing out the contest. Assuming Watson's upcoming tests reveal nothing concerning, the Browns presumably will continue to evaluate him in practice this week before deciding whether he's fit to return to the starting role Sunday in Seattle.

Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said Monday that Bagent will remain the team's starting quarterback for Sunday's game against the Chargers, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Per Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com, Eberflus noted that there is "no change" in the status of No. 1 quarterback Justin Fields, who sat out the Week 7 win over the Raiders with a dislocated right thumb and is being classified as "doubtful" at the early stages of Week 8. Based on Eberflus' comments, Fields doesn't look as though he'll be available as even an emergency backup, leaving Nathan Peterman in the No. 2 role behind Bagent. The undrafted rookie out of Division II Shepherd managed the game effectively in the Bears' convincing 30-12 win over Las Vegas, completing 21 of 29 pass attempts for 162 yards and a touchdown while adding 24 yards on the ground and committing no turnovers. Because the Bears are likely to rely on a ground-heavy game plan once again Week 8 while limiting Bagent's opportunities to the throw downfield, the 23-year-old profiles as a low-end fantasy option in leagues that start two quarterbacks or have a QB flex spot available.

Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said Fields (thumb) is being classified as "doubtful" for Sunday's game against the Chargers, Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com reports.

Eberflus relayed that while Fields' condition is improving, there is "no change" in his status while the third-year signal-caller continues to recover from the dislocated right thumb he sustained in the Bears' Week 6 loss to the Vikings on Oct. 15. The Bears have already named Tyson Bagent as their Week 8 starter after the undrafted rookie out of Division II Shepherd completed 21 of 29 pass attempts for 162 yards and a touchdown to go with three carries for 24 yards in Chicago's 30-12 win over Las Vegas in Week 7. According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, Fields is regaining grip strength and is expected to require 2-to-3 weeks to make a full recovery from the injury, so it's still possible that he may be able to practice in some capacity Week 8. Fields will turn his focus to making a potential return to game action for the Bears' Nov. 5 matchup with the Saints in Week 9.

Hurts is believed to have sustained a knee injury during Sunday night's 31-17 win over Miami but said, "I'll be fine," after the contest, Tim McManus of ESPN reports.

Hurts also responded, "I hope not," when asked whether his knee will bother him going forward. Though the quarterback had to play the second half of Sunday's win over the Dolphins with a brace on his left knee, three of his 11 carries came after halftime, and he still displayed his usual elite mobility in the pocket. It doesn't appear that Hurts is in serious danger of missing time heading into Week 8's road matchup against the Commanders. Backup QB Marcus Mariota warmed up on the sidelines to begin the second half versus Miami but wasn't needed.

Tagovailoa completed 23 of 32 pass attempts for 216 yards, one touchdown and one interception in Sunday's 31-17 loss to the Eagles.

Tagovailoa had a down game by the lofty standards he set in the six games leading up to Sunday's dud. The 25-year-old's only turnover came late in the fourth quarter as the Dolphins were trying to even the score, down 24-17. Tagovailoa was pressured to throw into coverage on third and long to keep the drive alive, resulting in an errant throw that was picked off for his sixth interception of the season, which helped contribute to Miami's third loss. In the quarterback's defense, this was a road game against a tough opponent looking to rebound from an ugly loss in Week 6. Tagovailoa will look to bounce back in his own right as the Dolphins attempt to get back into the win column against New England next Sunday.