NFL Player News

Ehlinger will operate as Indianapolis' top backup to Garner Minshew beginning with Sunday's game against the Jaguars after Anthony Richardson (shoulder) was placed on injured reserve Wednesday, Stephen Holder of ESPN.com reports.

Ehlinger has been inactive for four of the Colts' first five games, with the lone time he's dressed coming in Week 3 at Baltimore while Richardson was sidelined with a concussion. After suffering an AC joint sprain to his throwing shoulder in the Week 5 win over the Titans, Richardson is projected to miss 4-to-8 weeks, setting Ehlinger up for an extended run as the No. 2 quarterback. The Colts also signed Kellen Mond to their practice squad Wednesday to provide the organization with further depth at quarterback.

Mannion signed with Minnesota's practice squad Wednesday, Craig Peters of the Vikings' official site reports.

Mannion joins the organization after the Vikings placed fellow quarterback Nick Mullens' (back) on injured reserve earlier Wednesday. The Vikings still have Kirk Cousins and rookie fifth-round draft pick Jaren Hall on the 53-man roster, but it's possible that Mannion could be elevated from the practice squad to supplant Hall as the top backup.

Mullens (back) was placed on injured reserve Wednesday, Craig Peters of the Vikings' official site reports.

Mullens will be sidelined until at least Week 10 against the Saints. Rookie Jaren Hall will likely step in as Kirk Cousins' backup while Mullens is sidelined, and Minnesota also signed quarterback Sean Mannion to its practice squad Wednesday.

Walker, who is currently on the Browns' practice squad, will work as the team's No. 2 quarterback ahead of Sunday's game against the 49ers, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Meanwhile, starter Deshaun Watson (shoulder) won't practice Wednesday coming out of the Browns' Week 5 bye, and his status for Sunday's game against the 49ers is unclear. If Watson is unavailable this weekend, Walker would be in line to start in his place ahead of Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who struggled while starting in place of Watson in the Browns' Week 4 loss to the Ravens.

Thompson-Robinson has been surpassed on the depth chart by PJ Walker, and head coach Kevin Stefanski announced Wednesday that Walker would start Sunday against the 49ers if Deshaun Watson (shoulder) is unable to play, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Thompson-Robinson looked overwhelmed in his first NFL start with Watson sidelined Week 4, as the rookie fifth-round pick threw for just 121 yards on 36 passes with three interceptions in a 28-3 loss to Baltimore. Cleveland's coaching staff didn't do him any favors, as Thompson-Robinson was not prepped during the practice week with a start in mind. Head coach Kevin Stefanski and others expected Watson to start, and Thompson-Robinson was merely taking practice reps in an offensive scheme that was to be executed by the No. 1 quarterback against the Ravens. A well-timed Week 5 bye still may not have provided enough time for Watson to recover, as Watson didn't practice Wednesday. If Watson can't go this Sunday, the Browns will elevate Walker from the practice squad rather than roll with Thompson-Robinson again. Walker has seven NFL starts under his belt, all of which came with Carolina from 2020 through 2022.

Watson (shoulder) won't practice Wednesday, Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Per Cabot, Watson -- who suffered a right rotator cuff contusion Sept. 24 against the Titans and then sat out the Browns' Oct. 1 loss to the Ravens -- is considered day-to-day as Sunday's contest against the 49ers approaches. With a Wednesday absence on tap, Watson now has two more chances to practice ahead of Sunday's game, but his lack of activity isn't the most encouraging sign coming off a missed game and then a bye week. If Watson remains sidelined this weekend, Dorian Thompson-Robinson -- who started versus Baltimore -- and practice squad member PJ Walker would be candidates to pick up the Week 6 start.

The Colts signed Mond to their practice squad Wednesday, JJ Stankevitz of the team's official site reports.

With Anthony Richardson (shoulder) on injured reserve and set to miss at least four games, Mond gives the Colts some added quarterback depth in the meantime. In Richardson's absence, Gardner Minshew is set to handle starting duties, with Sam Ehlinger in line to serve as the team's No. 2 signal-caller.

Giants head coach Brian Daboll said Wednesday that Jones (neck) won't participate in practice, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Daboll said Jones is feeling sore and is considered "day-to-day" due to a neck injury sustained in the Giants' loss to the Dolphins in Week 5. According to Dan Salomone of the Giants' official site, Daboll said that a decision on Jones' status for Sunday's game against the Bills won't be made until later in the week. Tyrod Taylor took the first-team reps at practice Wednesday and would be in line to start versus Buffalo if Jones can't.

Head coach Bill Belichick confirmed Wednesday that Jones remains the Patriots' starting quarterback ahead of Sunday's game against the Raiders, Mike Reiss of ESPN.com reports. "Yeah, we're not making any changes," Belichick said, when asked about the Patriots' quarterback situation.

Over the last two weeks, the Patriots have been outscored by a count of 72-3, with Jones being removed in both contests once the games got out of hand. Belichick has been clear about not blaming the offense's slide solely on Jones, and it's probably helped Jones' cause that backup Bailey Zappe hasn't impressed in mop-up duty the past two weeks. Either way, until or unless he picks up the pace, Jones will remain a speculative fantasy lineup option.

Richardson (shoulder), who was officially placed on injured reserve Wednesday, is expected to miss 4-to-8 weeks and may require surgery, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

The Colts could be without Richardson until as late as early December, depending on the pace of his rehab and whether the rookie first-round pick ultimately requires surgery to address the AC joint sprain to his throwing shoulder. Gardner Minshew will step in as the Colts' new starting quarterback in the interim and should provide some stability behind center, but the longer Richardson remains on IR, the more his development could be affected. The earliest possible date Richardson can return will be Week 10 against the Patriots, though the Colts could opt to hold him out through their Week 11 bye, if not longer.