NFL Player News

Watson (shoulder) is inactive for Sunday's game against the Ravens.

Though reports heading into Sunday suggested that Watson was on track to play through his bruised right shoulder, the quarterback will ultimately sit out after his throwing didn't go as well as the Browns had hoped during pregame warmups, per Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Rookie fifth-round pick Dorian Thompson-Robinson will pick up his first NFL start in place of Watson, while PJ Walker -- whom the Browns elevated from the practice squad Saturday -- serves as Thompson-Robinson's backup. Cleveland is on bye Week 5, so Watson will have some extended time to rest his shoulder before the Browns return to action Oct. 15 versus the 49ers.

Thompson-Robinson is slated to start at quarterback in Sunday's game against the Ravens in place of the injured Deshaun Watson (shoulder) Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Per Cabot, the Browns had optimism that Watson would be able to start Sunday despite carrying a questionable tag into the weekend, but he'll end up sitting out the Week 4 contest after he was still experiencing discomfort while throwing in pregame warmups. Watson's absence paves the way for Thompson-Robinson, a rookie fifth-round pick out of UCLA, to make his first NFL start. Thompson-Robinson put his dual-threat skill set on display during the preseason, completing 37 of 58 attempts for 440 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions while carrying 14 times for 69 yards over four contests. Though Watson is likely to be back in action following the Browns' Week 5 bye, Thompson-Robinson could make for an appealing cost-relief option in Week 4 DFS contests or as a lineup option in season-long leagues with a QB flex spot.

Watson (shoulder) is not in line to play Sunday against the Ravens, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

As a result, Dorian Thompson-Robinson is expected to start at QB for the Browns on Sunday. Watson will thus target a potential return to the starting lineup against the 49ers on Oct. 15.

Peterman is expected to be a healthy inactive for Sunday's matchup against the Broncos and has lost the backup quarterback spot to Tyson Bagent, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports.

Peterman was the No. 2 quarterback for the first three weeks of the season, but Bagent continues to impress during practice and has been rewarded with a promotion. Peterman appeared in three games for the Bears in 2022, completing 14 of 25 passes for 139 yards, a touchdown and an interception across 44 offensive snaps.

Winston is expected to remain the Saints' backup quarterback Sunday against the Buccaneers with Derek Carr (shoulder) listed as questionable but in line to start the Week 4 game, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Carr suffered an AC joint sprain in his throwing shoulder after he was slammed to the turf by the Packers' Rashan Gary in the third quarter of the Saints' Week 3 loss to Green Bay. Winston came on in relief of Carr and completed 10 of 16 pass attempts for 101 yards, but he didn't produce any scoring drives as the Saints squandered a 17-0 lead. Though Carr initially appeared in line to miss at least one game due to the injury, he returned to practice in a limited capacity Friday and took all the first-team reps during Saturday's walk-through. Barring a late setback in pregame warmups, Carr looks poised to start without limitations, keeping Winston in his usual No. 2 role.

Carr (shoulder), who is listed as questionable, is expected to suit up and start in Sunday's game against the Buccaneers, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

After injuring his right shoulder in the Saints' Week 3 loss to Green Bay, Carr returned to a limited practice participation Friday. The quarterback reportedly checked out well while taking the first-team reps Friday and during a walk-through session Sunday, so he seems to be trending toward playing through his AC joint sprain Sunday. Official confirmation of Carr's availability is slated to arrive approximately 90 minutes prior to Sunday's 1 p.m. ET kickoff, when the team releases its inactive list.

Bagent will be active as the Bears' No. 2 quarterback Sunday against the Broncos and is expected to serve as Justin Fields' top backup moving forward, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Rapoport notes that Bagent's move up the depth chart has nothing to do with Fields' standing with the organization amid an 0-3 start to the season; instead, the undrafted rookie has apparently made enough of an impression over his first four weeks of regular-season practices to jump veteran Nathan Peterman on the depth chart. Peterman remains on the 53-man roster but will likely be a healthy inactive for the foreseeable future so long as both Fields and Bagent are available.

Hoyer is set to remain the Raiders' No. 2 quarterback Sunday against the Chargers with rookie Aidan O'Connell expected to start the team's Week 4 matchup in place of Jimmy Garoppolo (concussion), Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

With 77 appearances and 40 starts on his NFL resume, the 37-year-old Hoyer brings far more experience to the table, but O'Connell -- a rookie fourth-round pick out of Purdue -- offers more upside at this stage of his career. Even though O'Connell had been a healthy inactive for the Raiders' first three games while Hoyer served as Garoppolo's backup, the 25-year-old signal-caller impressed in the preseason and will now get the chance to show that he can replicate that success in the regular season. O'Connell could still have a short leash if he struggles early on Sunday, however, so Hoyer may end up seeing action despite remaining in the No. 2 role.

O'Connell is expected to start Sunday's matchup against the Chargers with Jimmy Garoppolo (concussion) ruled out, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

In somewhat of a surprise, O'Connell, a rookie fourth-round pick out of Purdue is set to get the starting nod over an established veteran with ample NFL experience in Brian Hoyer, who had been active as Garoppolo's top backup through the first three games of the season. Though he'll be making his regular-season debut Sunday, O'Connell was one of the top-performing quarterbacks in the preseason, as he completed 43 of 62 pass attempts (69.3 percent) for 482 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Even so, O'Connell's presence under center rather than Garoppolo's still likely amounts to at least a slight downgrade to the fantasy prospects of receivers Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers. O'Connell will get a favorable matchup Sunday, taking on the Chargers' league-worst pass defense.

The Saints are optimistic that Carr (shoulder) can suit up for Sunday's matchup against the Buccaneers, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Carr, who is officially listed as questionable for Week 4 due to an AC Joint sprain, appears to have a solid chance to take the field Sunday as long as he can demonstrate an ability to protect himself in pre-game workouts. The veteran signal-caller practiced in a limited capacity Friday. Official word on Carr's status will come roughly 90 minutes prior to Sunday's 1:00 p.m. ET kickoff. If he ultimately can't go, Jameis Winston would be in line to start for New Orleans.