Hopkins visiting Patriots, considering coaching

John Harbaugh is making the switch after a historic fourth quarter from “NINE”. McCarthy threw for 243 yards and a score in 11 minutes of action as the Giants mounted a frantic comeback against the Saints. Though he came up short in the end, McCarthy gave the Giants’ offense life after three dreadful quarters from James Winston. Now he’ll get the first snap versus a Houston defense that has been surprisingly ineffective this year. McCarthy is a high-risk QB2 for his first start as a Giant. He should at least be added in all Superflex formats.

Monken sounded like Judkins and Dylan Sampson will be active and ready to go against Tennessee. Judkins had been the locked-in lead back for Cleveland before his Week 5 ankle injury, seeing 71 percent of the team’s designed rushing attempts. The potential return of Sampson, a good pass catcher, could complicate things for Judkins’ involvement in the pass game going forward. Judkins will be a touchdown-dependent flex play against a Titans defense allowing the NFL’s ninth lowest rushing success rate in 2026.

With the Bucs’ 2026 season circling the drain, Vea, 31, could be dealt in the coming weeks to a contending team looking to beef up their defensive line for a second half run to the postseason. In coming to a contract compromise with Vea before the regular season, the Bucs “didn’t act as if he was part of their long-term future, and if teams come looking for a big, run-stuffing defensive tackle, Tampa would be silly not to listen,” Graziano said. Vea through Week 6 has a 17 percent pass rush win rate, which ranks 15th among defensive tackles.

Kirk has been on injured reserve with a calf injury but could return to the Niners’ injury-ravaged receivers room this Sunday against the pass-funnel Falcons defense. “He had two good practices (last week). It was just his first two practices of the year,” Shanahan said of Kirk, who last year had 239 yards and a touchdown in 13 regular season games for the Texans. “We were down on wideouts, so it was still something we discussed, but we decided to give it another week.” If Kirk returns and plays something close to a full complement of snaps against Atlanta, he could function as the team’s No. 1 receiver with Mike Evans (Achilles) seemingly unlikely to suit up. Kirk should be rostered in most 12-team leagues and all deeper formats.

Loomis said Tyson is “improving” in his long rehab from a major preseason hamstring injury. Tyson, who traveled with the Saints to France for their Week 7 game against the Steelers, could still be a couple weeks away as the team takes a cautious approach to his recovery. In the meantime, Bryce Lance will operate as the Saints’ No. 2 wideout behind Chris Olave. Lance over the past two weeks has a 13 percent target share and a 20 percent air yards share in the pass-first New Orleans offense.

Franklin, who was seen spitting on a Raiders player late in the fourth quarter of the Bills’ Week 6 win, will not receive pay during his one-game suspension. Franklin will be able to appeal the NFL’s decision in the coming days. The Bills on are bye in Week 7.

Justin Herbert and the flailing Chargers skill position players have appeared almost comically confused about all the pre-snap motion OC Mike McDaniel uses. That came through in the team’s embarrassing Week 6 loss to the Chiefs when players were bumping into each other during pre-snap motion calls from Herbert. Head coach Jim Harbaugh acknowledged the team is considering narrowing the offensive playbook during their bye week. “Definitely looking at volume and where you can make it to where the players can understand,” Harbaugh said when asked about how Chargers players were adjusting to McDaniel’s complex offense. The Chargers have used pre-snap motion on 74 percent of their snaps, the fourth highest rate in the NFL. Last year they used motion on 56 percent of their snaps. Hopefully these adjustments lead to some production for the NFL’s worst offense.

Morstead spent 12 years punting for the Saints before making stops with the Jets, Falcons, Dolphins, and 49ers over the last five seasons. The 40-year-old veteran averaged 43.6 yards per punt for San Francisco last year. Current Colts punter Rigoberto Sanchez was injured during a blocked punt in the Colts’ Week 6 loss to the Titans. Morstead joins the Colts’ practice squad as insurance in case Sanchez cannot play Week 7 against the Vikings.

Ferguson is eligible to come off injured reserve next week, but Schefter reports that a source told him Ferguson’s recovery “will take some time.” The Rams placed Davante Adams on injured reserve this week and are in desperate need of pass-catching help behind Puka Nacua. Ferguson is a rising receiving tight end for the Rams, but has been on injured reserve since suffering an ankle injury in Week 3. Though he is a good IR stash for fantasy purposes, Ferguson is going to take longer than the minimum four weeks to return. Without a good timeline for return, he can be released from fantasy rosters in dire need of more immediate help during bye weeks.

It was an upgrade from an estimated Monday DNP. Davis has missed Week 2, Week 3, Week 5 and Week 6 to the neck listing so far. Perhaps he’ll try to give it a go on Thursday night, but we’d be surprised if he did better than a questionable tag on Wednesday.