NFL Player News

Varga is retiring. The reason is unclear, but Varga dealt with a nasty, lingering concussion as a rookie. Varga made three appearances in 2015, notching one carry. Even in a woefully-thin backfield, he wasn’t expected to be a 2016 factor.

Franklin logged three straight limited sessions this week. It is tough to say whether he will be active against the Patriots. He departed early last week. Over his last two games, he has earned just one target. Even if he is active, he is unlikely to operate as a featured player.

Dobbins is not yet ready to resume playing. He remained limited throughout all three practices this week after the Broncos opened his 21-day practice window on Monday. With Dobbins out, rookie RB RJ Harvey will again lead the backfield. He totaled 11 touches last week. Broncos RB Jaleel McLaughlin handled four and RB Tyler Badie had one.

Bryant opened the week with a limited session on Wednesday and closed it by practicing fully two days in a row. Before suffering a concussion, the Broncos’ third-round rookie was a featured player on the team’s opening drive last week, catching three passes for 32 yards. He could operate similarly this week.

The Rams will have their lynchpin defensive back on the field this weekend. He sat out Wednesday’s practice before practicing fully on Thursday and Friday. Lake is up to eight pass breakups, one interception, one forced fumble, 54 tackles and one sack.

Orr had been interviewed by the Cowboys earlier this offseason before they settled on Christian Parker as their defensive coordinator. There’s been some smoke linking him to the Giants with former Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, but that has yet to be realized. Thus, this is Orr’s only live lead for a defensive coordinator role. He had a somewhat disappointing season in 2025, but the 2024 Ravens defense finished highly in several categories, including first in yards per rush attempt allowed.

The Seahawks cleared Darnold for action just as their Friday practice session was beginning, so we do not yet know his participation level. He was limited on Wednesday and Thursday after playing through the injury last weekend. Promisingly, no setbacks have been reported. He will also have LT Charles Cross (foot) active on Sunday.

Despite not practicing either of the first two sessions of the week, Cross will start against the Rams. Backup T Josh Jones (knee/ankle) is questionable, and third-string left tackle Amari Kight (knee) is doubtful. Cross would appear to be on the spot to play through the pain if neither of his backups were cleared.

Pelissero noted that this wouldn’t be the Steelers “trying to lure” Rodgers to come back, but instead frames it as “a bonus” that might not be available if Pittsburgh hired a different head coach with no previous relationship with Rodgers. Given how the Steelers seem locked into a mindset of trying to win games rather than rip it down to the studs, you can squint and understand how they’d come to McCarthy as a good option compared to the more unproven coaches in this hiring class. We will be writing blurbs about Aaron Rodgers until the end of time.

Rivers, who has no professional head coaching experience, would seem to be a massive longshot to get this job on paper. But you never know. The 44-year-old did complete 63 percent of his passes for four touchdowns and three interceptions in three starts last year, our latest sign yet that anything is possible. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero told Rich Eisen that he “doesn’t get the sense” that we’ll wake up tomorrow and Rivers is the next head coach of the Bills.

This is Williams’ second interview with the Falcons, though it is his first for this specific role. He previously interviewed for the Falcons’ recently-created president of football position, now occupied by Matt Ryan. Williams is believed to be a “front runner” for the general manager role, as is Bears assistant general manager Ian Cunningham, who interviewed for the same role earlier today.