Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up
Odds by

    Texans confirm torn ACL for Graham Mertz

    Link copied to clipboard!

    HOU Quarterback #18
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Texans HC DeMeco Ryans said Graham Mertz suffered a torn ACL in Thursday’s preseason game against the Chargers.

    This one was expected after the team said it feared Mertz suffered a torn ACL shortly after the game. Mertz joined the Texans as a rookie UDFA in 2025. He made the roster as the team’s third-string QB but did not attempt a pass. He will now be placed on injured reserve, ending his 2026 season. In a corresponding move, the Texans signed veteran QB Brett Rypien to the roster.
Are Browns competitors or contenders now 3-1?
Dan and the Danettes debate if the Cleveland Browns are "competitors or contenders" after their Week 4 win and discuss the heated exchange between Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy.

Related Player News

  • TB Quarterback #16
    Personalize your Rotoworld feed by favoriting players
    The Bucs add Rypien to Easton Stick on the practice squad to create a tandem a third preseason game hates to see coming. Stick will likely be elevated or signed to the active roster this week.
  • FA Quarterback #16
    Rypien was signed shortly after Graham Mertz suffered a torn ACL in the middle of August. The 30-year-old seems likely to make the practice squad, unless Houston finds a signal-caller they like more for that spot.
  • MIN Quarterback #4
    Rypien was with the Vikings in training camp and arguably would be as deserving of a start as anybody in Minnesota given how Max Brosmer has played so far. Perhaps that’s a Week 18 possibility. For now, he’ll serve as a backup.
  • IND Defensive Tackle #99
    As a procedural move to activate Buckner, the Colts also waived QB Brett Rypien. It was reported before the weekend that Buckner was expected to play in Week 16’s game, but the Colts made it official on Monday with his activation. Buckner has been sidelined with a neck injury since Week 9 and should provide an immediate boost to a defense that ranks 22nd in total yards allowed but has been a top-10 run-stopping unit.
  • IND Quarterback #15
    Leonard has a knee injury that was diagnosed after the game that Steichen said he is “working through.” He played to the very end of the Colts snaps against the Jaguars, so either he played on it or injured it on his final run to the end zone. The lone remaining quarterback on the roster is, you guessed it, Brett Rypien. We’ll probably get a better sense of how much urgency the Colts have based on how many quarterback workouts get scheduled this week, but this is getting dire in a hurry.
  • IND Quarterback #11
    The Colts worked out several quarterbacks in the wake of the injury to Anthony Richardson, but it appears Rypien has won that spot. He’ll likely be the third quarterback behind Daniel Jones and Riley Leonard with Richardson on injured reserve due to his orbital fracture.
  • CIN Quarterback #11
    Rypien seems likely to take the role on the practice squad left behind by Mike White now that Joe Flacco has come aboard the good ship Bengals.
  • CIN Quarterback #6
    The question about Taylor’s belief in Browning came following Taylor’s postgame remarks in which he said the team will “look at all personnel to make sure we’re doing the right thing.” Browning hasn’t been great in place of Joe Burrow. The backup has done most of his stat padding in meaningless garbage time, but the options behind him, which include journeymen Brett Rypien and Mike White, are unlikely to be much better. This felt like an inevitable problem the Bengals would face the moment Burrow (toe) went down in Week 2, but the Bengals’ offense has imploded in quick fashion. Since Week 3, the Bengals rank last in EPA per play, 31st in dropback success rate, and 29th in offensive success rate. It’s not good, folks. We’ll see if a change comes down the line, but as far as fantasy is concerned, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins will be more inconsistent than usual no matter who is starting next week.
  • CIN Quarterback #11
    He’ll be the third quarterback in Cincinnati this year behind Joe Burrow and Jake Browning. Also joining the Cincinnati practice squad are: RB Gary Brightwell, S Russ Yeast, OT Devin Cochran, OT Andrew Coker, CB Jalen Davis, LB Joe Giles-Harris, G Jaxson Kirkland, CB Bralyn Lux, C Seth McLaughlin, RB Kendall Milton, WR Jordan Moore, LB Maema Njongmeta, DE Isaiah Thomas and WR Isaiah Williams.
  • FA Quarterback #11
    That means the Vikings are moving forward with J.J. McCarthy, recent signee Carson Wentz, and undrafted free agent rookie Max Brosmer for the 2025 season. Since reaching free agency with the Broncos after 2023, Rypien has played for the Rams, Seahawks, Jets, Bears, and Vikings, only reaching NFL snaps with the Rams. He’ll look to continue catching on elsewhere.

Rotoworld

  • Personalize your Rotoworld feed by favoriting players
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Seahawks owner Vinod Khosla said he has “no current plans to change anything about the team, including the coach, president, operation or Lumen Field.”

    Axios’ Dan Primack reminded Khosla of his stated desire to preserve what Paul Allen built before asking him if he would commit to keeping the Seahawks in Seattle long term. Khosla first responded by saying he would “never say never,” and then rhetorically wondered aloud whether this team would be in Seattle “500 years from now,” before making his “no current plans” remarks. Primack helpfully refocused the conversation on the Lumen Field lease’s 2032 end date, prompting Khosla to say that he doesn’t think he’ll “do anything but learn for a while.” Seriously entertaining a move seems unlikely, but Khosla would do well to provide a more concrete answer to a city that once saw its NBA team relocated after new ownership took over. His comments can be ignored for now. Perhaps this is just an early negotiation tactic for future stadium renovations.
  • LA Running Back #24
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    The Athletic’s Nate Atkins believes the Rams need more from Blake Corum in the coming weeks.

    Atkins believes Puka Nacua’s (groin) impending return will lighten the box, in turn making life easier on the run game and preventing the opposition from blitzing as frequently as the Broncos did last week. Corum has not established himself as a reliable weekly contributor in fantasy. Perhaps positive impacts from Nacua’s return trickle down to the Rams’ No. 2 running back. Kyren Williams remains a locked-in starter. Keep Corum stashed for now.
  • LA Defensive Tackle #99
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that Aaron Donald is dealing with a “mild” back injury.

    Rapoport also said Donald’s absence is more than just a precautionary measure, and compared his sidelining to the way the Rams handled Myles Garrett’s knee injury, with a long-term view in mind. Check back next week to see if Donald is feeling well enough to resume practicing.
  • CHI Quarterback #17
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that QB Tyson Bagent is expected to start for the Bears in Week 4 against the Jets.

    Bagent signed a two-year, $10 million contract extension in August 2025 to serve as the Bears’ No. 2 quarterback. He took the majority of first-team reps this week despite QB3 Case Keenum’s Week 3 heroics. Bagent can be started in Superflex leagues against the Jets, assuming he is officially named the starter this weekend.
  • Link copied to clipboard!

    Derwin James (hamstring) is questionable to play in Week 4 against the Seahawks.

    James sandwiched a Thursday absence with two limited sessions. The veteran safety plays through injuries whenever possible, and the Chargers will need all hands on deck to get their season back on track.
  • SEA Running Back #26
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said the team is making sure Zach Charbonnet (knee) “feels great when the time comes for him to come back.”

    The Seahawks opened Charbonnet’s practice window on Thursday, but he is not yet ready to return. Charbonnet’s left quad is noticeably thinner than his right quad, and Macdonald explained that there is “a process to get him physically and mentally ready to go.” That said, Macdonald also said the veteran running back “looks fantastic.” Stash him now.
  • Link copied to clipboard!

    Chiefs ruled out LT Josh Simmons (back) for Week 4 against the Raiders.

    Earlier this week, Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Simmons is dealing with a bulging disc in his lower back. Brutal. On the plus side, CB Chamarri Conner (knee) will make his return.
  • DEN Wide Receiver #19
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Marvin Mims (foot) was removed from the injury report and will play in Week 4 against the 49ers.

    Mims aggravated his foot injury back in Week 1 and has been inactive on game day since. The Broncos’ volatile performer is back, but is not on the FLEX radar in 12-team formats.
  • DEN Running Back #27
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    J.K. Dobbins (hip) was removed from the injury report and will play in Week 4 against the 49ers.

    Dobbins practiced in full this week, so he should be ready to handle his typical workload against the 49ers this week. The Broncos’ lead rusher has played very unproductively this season, failing to hit 7.0 PPR points each week. The Broncos’ defensive line has been hit hard by injuries. Perhaps Dobbins can steady himself in the RB2/FLEX ranks against them.
  • DEN Wide Receiver #17
    Player Stats
    Link copied to clipboard!

    Jaylen Waddle (foot) is not on the injury report for Week 4 against the 49ers.

    Waddle gave folks a fright, sporting a walking boot after the Broncos’ Week 3 win over the Rams. He practiced in full all week, though, so there are no concerns about his availability. Waddle is a WR2 against the 49ers in what should be a fantasy-friendly game environment.