NFL Player News
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Deshaun Watson QB | CLE
Browns' Deshaun Watson: Trending toward Week 7 start
Watson (shoulder) remains listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Colts but is on track to start the contest, barring a setback prior to the 1 p.m. ET kickoff, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Rapoport notes that Watson took first-team reps during Saturday's walkthrough, which comes on the heels of the quarterback having returned to a full practice Friday. Though head coach Kevin Stefanski wasn't yet willing to commit to Watson making his return from a two-game absence this weekend, Stefanski relayed that the signal-caller looked good in his return to full activity Friday. Assuming the rotator cuff injury presents no unexpected complications while he throws in pregame warmups, Watson should be back under center Sunday. Through three appearances on the season, Watson has completed 63.7 percent of his passes for 678 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions while adding 83 yards and a score on 15 carries.
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Tommy DeVito QB | NE
Giants' Tommy DeVito: Promoted Saturday
DeVito was elevated to the Giants' active roster ahead of Sunday's game against the Commanders, Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com reports.
DeVito's elevation hints that quarterback Daniel Jones won't be available for the second consecutive week. The 25-year-old DeVito signed with the Giants after going undrafted this past offseason, and he'll likely back up Tyrod Taylor during Sunday's contest.
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Nathan Rourke QB | ATL
Nathan Rourke: Dropped by Jacksonville
Rourke was waived by the Jaguars on Saturday, Michael DiRocco of ESPN.com reports.
Rourke was elevated from Jacksonville's practice squad to the active roster ahead of Thursday night's game against the Saints, and he served as the team's emergency quarterback. The Ohio product has since been waived and could very well end up on the Jaguars' practice squad if he clears waivers.
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Daniel Jones QB | IND
Giants' Daniel Jones: Likely to sit Sunday
Jones (neck), who is listed as questionable for Sunday's matchup versus the Commanders, is considered a long shot to play, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Fowler's report seems to echo one given Friday by Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, who relayed that Jones was "on the wrong side of questionable." As of Saturday, Jones has yet to be cleared for contact, making it unlikely that he suits up Sunday despite turning in a trio of limited practices this week. As a result, Tyrod Taylor appears likely to make his second consecutive start for Big Blue after throwing for 200 yards on 36 pass attempts in a 14-9 loss to the Bills last week.
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P.J. Walker QB | SEA
Browns' PJ Walker: Elevated to active roster
The Browns elevated Walker from the practice squad Saturday.
The transaction doesn't necessarily indicate that Walker is in store to make a second straight start, as he could be working ahead of Dorian Thompson-Robinson as the No. 2 quarterback behind Deshaun Watson (shoulder). The Browns are listing Watson as questionable for the Week 7 contest, but he may be on track to put an end to his two-game absence after practicing fully Friday. Expect more information on the Browns' quarterback situation to arrive prior to Sunday's 1 p.m. ET kickoff.
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Aidan O'Connell QB | LV
Raiders' Aidan O'Connell: Likely backing up Hoyer on Sunday
O'Connell is in line to serve as Brian Hoyer's backup this Sunday at Chicago with Jimmy Garoppolo (back) ruled out for the Week 7 contest, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
O'Connell previously got the nod for Garoppolo when the latter missed Week 4 due to a concussion, completing 24 of 39 passes for 238 yards, no touchdowns and one interception, rushing three times for three yards and a TD and fumbling three times (two lost). With Garoppolo now sidelined due to a back injury, Hoyer will get the first chance to step in after leading the Raiders to a 19-17 win against the Patriots this past Sunday. In the end, though, O'Connell is just one play away from seeing his next game action.
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Kyler Murray QB | MIN
Cardinals' Kyler Murray: Won't debut Week 7
Murray (knee), a limited practice participant throughout the week, has been ruled out for Sunday's game in Seattle, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.
Head coach Jonathan Gannon already said that Joshua Dobbs would get at least one more start, even though Murray took some of the first-team reps in practice this week, per Weinfuss. The quarterback's return to practice Wednesday started a 21-day window in which he can be activated to the roster before defaulting back to injured reserve for the rest of the season, and the Cardinals haven't ruled out the possibility of Murray starting Week 8 against the Ravens or Week 9 at the Browns.
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Brian Hoyer QB | LV
Raiders' Brian Hoyer: Expected to start Sunday
The Raiders have yet to confirm whether Hoyer or Aidan O'Connell will start Sunday's game against the Bears in place of Jimmy Garoppolo (back), but Hoyer is expected to draw the assignment, Dianna Russini of The Athletic reports.
Though O'Connell drew the start when Garoppolo was sidelined Week 4 against the Chargers due to a concussion, it was Hoyer who stepped in for Garoppolo after he exited this past Sunday's win over the Patriots. This time around, the Raiders appear set to proceed with the more experienced option in Hoyer, and assuming that's confirmed, the veteran signal-caller will represent a lineup option for those who roster Garoppolo or are otherwise scrambling for a quarterback in Week 7.
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Brian Hoyer QB | LV
Raiders' Brian Hoyer: Possible starter with Jimmy G out
Either Hoyer or Aidan O'Connell will start Sunday against the Bears, as Jimmy Garoppolo (back) was ruled out Friday.
O'Connell got the starting nod when Garoppolo missed Week 4 due to a concussion, but Hoyer has been working as Garoppolo's primary backup, and the veteran came on in relief after Garoppolo hurt his back Week 6. Coach Josh McDaniels said both available quarterbacks have enjoyed a strong week of practice, but he has yet to name a starter for Sunday's battle of backup quarterbacks against a Bears team that's expected to deploy Tyson Bagent under center with Justin Fields (thumb) unavailable.
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Jimmy Garoppolo QB | LAR
Raiders' Jimmy Garoppolo: Won't play in Week 7
Garoppolo (back) has been ruled out for Sunday's game in Chicago, Rachel Gossen of the Raiders' official site reports.
Garoppolo was forced out of the Raiders' Week 6 win against the Patriots with a back injury in the second quarter and took an ambulance to a local hospital. After failing to practice at all Wednesday through Friday, he'll miss at least one contest as a result. The Raiders have yet to make a decision on their Week 7 starting quarterback, but coach Josh McDaniels told Tashan Reed of The Athletic that they'll know for sure who's getting the call between veteran Brian Hoyer and rookie fourth-round pick Aidan O'Connell after Friday's session. Garoppolo's next chance to play comes Oct. 30 at Detroit.