NFL Player News

Mayfield (6'5/320) started 15 games in college, winning the right tackle job in 2019 and ultimately getting knocked out for the year with a high-ankle sprain two games into Michigan’s snake-bitten 2020 campaign. Mayfield detonates off the snap in the run game, striking with speed and ferocious power that uncoils out of his hips and sustains through contact because of his fabulous leg drive. But at this time in his development, Mayfield is more comfortable moving forward than settling back into a pass-pro base. He plays with less power in this phase, negating the advantage of his get-off. With average foot speed and a lack of ideal length, Mayfield cannot afford the technical gaffes we occasionally saw in Big 10 play, leading to power rushers getting into his pads or speed rushers taking the corner when he over-extended on the punch. If Mayfield can clean that up, he’ll have the potential to move to tackle down the road. Even if he doesn’t, he’ll be a run-blocking unit at guard. He has a very similar profile to Dion Dawkins coming out of Temple. The Falcons announced Mayfield as a guard so we’ll assume that’s where he’ll play if he gets to start in his rookie season. Atlanta lost two of their starting interior lineman in free agency so Mayfield will get the chance to start in Week 1 if he shows well in camp.

Brown’s hamstring injury appears to be much worse than initially reported this week, going from questionable to out in Week 2 before Salters reported that the All-Pro wide receiver is now expected to miss multiple weeks with the ailment. DeVonta Smith will serve as the team’s top pass-catcher while Brown is out, with tight end Dallas Goedert also expected to see additional opportunities. Rookie Johnny Wilson, newcomer Jahan Dotson, and Britain Covey also figure to see more opportunities.

Bentley was a mainstay in the Patriots’ linebacking corps, amassing more than 100 tackles in each of the previous three seasons in addition to being a defensive captain. It’s a massive blow to a Patriots team that derives its identity from the defensive side of the ball. Bentley departed from the team’s Week 2 game against the Seahawks with what was then being called a shoulder injury, although further testing revealed the torn pectoral. Bentley was playing the 2024 season on the first year of a new two-year contract that that keeps him tied to the Patriots through 2025, although the team does have an out at the end of this season $5.5 million in cap space.

No real surprises here after the list of inactives almost exactly mirrors the team’s Week 1 inactives list. The Falcons remain one of the healthier on-paper teams heading into Week 2.

This was expected after he was ruled out on Monday, but is worth a reminder considering his high pedigree. Also inactive for the Eagles are QB Tanner McKee, CB Eli Ricks, LB Devin White, OL Darian Kinnard, OG Trevor Keegan, and DT Byron Young. McKee will serve as the team’s emergency quarterback.

Samuel picked up a calf strain at some point in the 49ers’ Week 2 loss to the Vikings and is expected to miss time. It’s a massive blow to a team already without Christian McCaffrey due to Samuel’s increased rushing workload and schemed usage through the air in the absence of the All-Pro running back. George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk, and Jordan Mason will be asked to step up in their collective absence, while Jauan Jennings is likely to see a slight uptick in offensive snaps.

Landman had been rehabbing a quad injury that has plagued him for the previous month and the team recently added a calf injury to his designation. He will now miss the next four games, at minimum. The Falcons signed DB Kevin King in a corresponding move Monday.

It sounds like Jackson is going to end up on injured reserve, which would sideline him until at least Week 8. The Rams’ left guard missed most of training camp with a shoulder issue. It’s a brutal, brutal blow for an already decimated and under-performing Rams offensive line. It’s frankly looking like a lost season in Los Angeles.

It was the expected development after Kupp departed in the second quarter against the Cardinals Sunday. It’s at least his fourth ankle issue since 2022, and just the latest injury to keep him off the field since his historic 2021. We would definitely plan on Kupp landing on injured reserve later in the week, which would mean the earliest he could return would be Week 8 against the Vikings. Things are falling apart fast for the Rams. With Puka Nacua already on I.R., the Rams’ top pass catchers are now DeMarcus Robinson, Tutu Atwell, Tyler Johnson and TE Colby Parkinson. Robinson is the only one we would be “counting on” right now, and that’s as a WR4 in this injury-ravaged offense.

Johnson will be placed on injured reserve after suffering the injury in the Week 2 loss to the Cardinals. The safety was re-signed by the Rams over the summer, and was starting at free safety prior to the injury. Kamren Kinchens — the Rams third-round pick of 2024 — will likely see the reps there with Johnson out.

The Giants are going to be without Graham Gano for a few weeks, so the team needs a short-term fill-in. Bullock served as a replacement for the Giants last year, so it would seem he would have a leg up — pun kind of intended — for the gig.