NFL Player News

Starting safety Budda Baker won’t play this week after undergoing surgery to repair a ligament in his thumb. Jalen Thompson, the team’s other safety, was placed on IR last month with an ankle injury. And backup Chris Banjo has been hobbled by a hamstring injury that could keep him out of this week’s game against the Panthers. The Cardinals are considering deploying first-round draft pick LB Isaiah Simmons at safety, according to the team’s website. Simmons this season has been targeted four times, resulting in four receptions, 94 yards, and two touchdowns. Teddy Bridgewater and the Carolina receivers could be in for a nice day against this Arizona secondary.

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.

The 34-year-old was released in March by the Lions and has not had any visits up to this point. He had a 56.8 PFF blocking grade in 873 snaps with the Lions last year, missing time due to a knee injury. Baltimore lost their first- and second-string centers in Brazil last week and are looking to find help there.

The former All-Pro spent last year with the Titans and 2024 with the Lions. He’s been unsigned and had no visits to this point. The Packers, of course, are desperate to find better offensive line play. It makes some sense for them to turn to the 36-year-old.

Neither player has played a snap for the Vikings this year. They’ll both look to catch on elsewhere.

Should Woody Marks feel subtweeted here? The Texans have a long history with the veteran back, who has played 53 games over the last four seasons with Houston. It is possible he rejoins the third-down back mix in Houston, which could conceivably cost Marks and David Montgomery some snaps.

The 2025 sixth-rounder was waived from injured reserve with a settlement at last cuts. Still just 23, Neal has a non-zero shot of resurfacing for a real role here.

He’ll miss at least the next four weeks. Bech had five catches for 48 yards and a touchdown in the first two weeks of the season, but played just 11 snaps in Week 3 before fracturing his forearm. The Raiders signed Cody White — he of the three touchdowns in the last two weeks — to the active roster as his replacement.

Sanders somehow won the kicking job over Blake Grupe despite Grupe being on the active roster and Sanders falling to the practice squad. Sure. Well, anyway, Grupe is being waived. Sanders will continue to kick for the Jets.

Sports Illustrated’s John Shipley believes that Cameron’s usage (23 snaps) could make it “stand[s] to reason Thomas could quickly become the fourth option instead” in a column that says he believes a “new start would be best for both parties.” It sounds like there’s a non-zero chance that Thomas is on the trade block at the deadline, as weird as that seems given how good the Jaguars have been on offense. Thomas isn’t necessarily someone who has to be rostered in shallow leagues given how things are trending.

Carter joins what is now a five-man RB room of Tony Pollard, Tyjae Spears, Julius Chestnut, and Nicholas Singleton. It’s an interesting move in the sense that perhaps it portends a follow-up, or perhaps one of Pollard or Spears are in real danger of missing this week’s game after Spears was questionable and Pollard spent time on the injury report in Week 3. Spears wound up playing 28 snaps despite seeing just three touches against the Giants.