NFL Player News

McDougle missed his entire rookie season after blowing out his left knee in a training camp practice. He was the No. 80 overall pick of last year’s draft. Per reporter Rich Cimini, McDougle has been getting work in the slot behind Buster Skrine this spring. Reserve nickel duties is McDougle’s ceiling for Week 1.

X-rays on McCarthy’s hand reportedly came back negative for a broken bone. McCarthy will undergo an MRI to determine the exact nature of the injury that knocked him out of Week 16’s game against the Giants, but if the MRI doesn’t reveal anything severe, we would expect him to have a chance to suit up in Week 17 against the Lions. If McCarthy is unable to go, Max Brosmer would make his second career start.

Love suffered a head injury in the second quarter of the Packers’ Week 16 loss to the Bears. He took a hard helmet-to-helmet shot on the play and was visibly shaken up afterward, and was ruled out shortly after leaving the field. Love will have to clear concussion protocol if he hopes to play in Saturday’s game against the Ravens. If he is unable to go, Malik Willis (shoulder) would be next in line to draw the start, with Clayton Tune being the third man up if both players are sidelined.

Speaking with the media on Sunday, LaFleur discussed the health of both his quarterbacks and said Willis’ injury is “a legitimate deal that he’s dealing with.” While Willis is dealing with a shoulder injury, Jordan Love suffered a concussion in Saturday’s win and will be in concussion protocol to start the week. If both quarterbacks are unable to go this week, 2023 fifth-rounder Clayton Tune would draw the start against the Ravens.

Metcalf was seen jawing with a Lions fan in the first half of Sunday’s game, and appeared to throw a punch in the direction of the fan. The fan involved in the incident spoke with a member of the Detroit Free Press after the game, and said Metcalf came over to him after he called him by his full name. Metcalf will almost certainly be fined for his involvement with the fan, but a suspension could also be on the table. We would expect to hear a final decision on this later in the day.

According to ESPN’s Jeff Legwold, Bryant was diagnosed with a concussion “but cleared of other major injuries” after leaving on a stretcher in Week 16’s loss to the Jaguars. Bryant was also tested for a neck injury, but those tests came back negative, per Legwold. Bryant is probably a long shot to clear concussion protocol in time to be ready for Week 17’s game against the Chiefs, but it sounds like he avoided all serious injuries.

The big-footed Little continues to be one of the NFL’s most reliable kickers. He’s missed just four kicks this season — making 88 percent of his kicks — while making 43 of 44 extra point tries. Little has benefited from the neutral and positive game script created by a red hot Jacksonville offense. He’ll be a solid option in Week 17 against the Colts.

The back injury Jackson suffered in the second quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Patriots ended up sidelining him for the remainder of the game, but it sounds like he’ll have a chance to return in Week 17 against the Packers. The Ravens are hanging onto their playoff hopes by a thread, needing to win out over the final two weeks of the season while also needing the Steelers to lose their final two games. Facing a true do-or-die scenario next week, the Ravens will hope Jackson can return under center come Saturday. If he’s unable to go, Tyler Huntley would draw the start in his absence.

The Ravens are never a high pass volume offense, but things got worse in this one following the departure of starting quarterback Lamar Jackson in the second quarter. The team shifted to a heavier emphasis on Derrick Henry in the second half, which appeared to be working until they allowed the Patriots to overcome an 11-point fourth quarter deficit to steal the win. Now at the tail end of his career, Andrews rarely returns fantasy utility if he is held out of the end zone.

Not one of Hopkins’ four catches was routine as the veteran receiver made several spectacular grabs throughout. Arguably the most impressive was a ball down the sideline that deflected off the defenders hands, which he corralled in time to drag the trailing foot as he headed to the ground. Hopkins doesn’t play enough snaps for the low volume Ravens to warrant weekly fantasy consideration.

Flowers was the main cog of the offense through the air on a night starting quarterback Lamar Jackson departed in the second quarter with a back injury. His departure contributed to the team attempting only 20 passes, seven of which were directed to the veteran speedster. His returns were sparkling until a game-sealing fumble with just over two minutes remaining cost the Ravens the game and lowered their chances of reaching the playoffs. Flowers gets another difficult matchup against the Packers in Week 17.