NFL Player News

Hooker, who visited Dallas earlier this offseason, will sign with the Cowboys as long as his health checks out. The 25-year-old’s free agent market was delayed as he recovered from September Achilles surgery. It’s a high upside signing for the Cowboys, with Hooker giving them a ballhawking safety opposite Donovan Wilson. The ex-Colts first-rounder is entering a make-or-break 2021 after missing 17 games the past two seasons.

It’s unclear how much time Etienne will miss, but it wouldn’t be surprising if this became an injured reserve stint. Alvin Kamara could find himself in a more elevated role next week, perhaps with Kendre Miller joining him in a committee. Etienne exited Week 3’s loss to the Raiders with the injury after rushing for 57 yards on 13 carries. It had already been a tough scene for Etienne-reliant fantasy managers this year just based on how the results on the field were going; this won’t help.

According to Rapoport, Hall received “good news after the MRI” he received after he suffered a thigh injury in the Jets’ Week 3 loss to the Lions. It doesn’t sound like Hall will be in line to suit up for Week 4’s game against the Bears, but he could avoid being placed on IR if the Jets believe he can return in less than four weeks. Braelon Allen will presumably take over as the Jets’ lead back during Hall’s absence, while Isaiah Davis could also see some work on offense after playing primarily on special teams through the first three weeks of the season. Allen has rushed 19 times for 61 yards and a touchdown this season while also tallying four receptions for 11 yards. He will border on the RB2/RB3 range in Week 4 against the Bears.

Irving was spotted on the sideline for the majority of the fourth quarter. It’s possible that Irving just did something that irked Bowles rather than actually suffering an injury, but given how Irving’s injuries quickly manifested last season, we’re going to want to see that on the official injury report on Wednesday before we dial the status down to “unconcerned.” This news does seem to leave Kenny Gainwell as a lower-priority waiver claim.

According to Fowler, the Panthers are expecting Horn to miss “approximately six-to-12 weeks.” We’ll hopefully get a more accurate timeline from the Panthers in the coming days, but it’s safe to assume Horn will head to injured reserve with a chance to return later in the season. Horn has been solid for the Panthers this season, allowing just five receptions on 10 targets for 63 yards.

It’s likely a season-ending injury for Oliver, although there is some hope he could return late in the season if the Vikings are still in contention. The 29-year-old tight end has been used mostly as a run blocker and has totaled just three receptions for 46 yards this season.

Parsons is nearing a return, but the star pass-rusher isn’t ready to get on the field just yet. LaFleur did say that Parsons has not suffered any setbacks in his recovery, while adding that this is “just part of the process.” Parsons’ return window can be opened at any time, which would then give the Packers a 21-day window to ramp him up before activating him from IR.

As expected, Bateman was reduced back to a lightly used WR2 with Zay Flowers back in the lineup. After going for 7-88-1 on nine targets last week against the Saints, Bateman saw just three targets in Sunday’s win, with one of those resulting in a 31-yard gain. Bateman’s 20 routes run led the Ravens’ in Sunday’s win, but he offers nothing of fantasy value as long as Flowers is in the lineup. Fantasy managers who added him after his Week 2 breakout can send him back to waivers ahead of Week 4’s game against the Titans.

Canales didn’t want to get specific about Young’s status after he took a cleat to the leg, but deferred also to the idea of “other things.” It’s never incredible news to be looking down the barrel of imaging, but Young was able to return and play through the injury on Sunday and this has the feel of an “out of an abundance of concern” test for the 25-year-old quarterback.

In other words, he’s headed to injured reserve. The Cowboys safety room has been besieged by injuries this year, with Malik Hooker also missing time. They don’t have another safety on their practice squad so they may be hunting the tryout circuit on Tuesday.

McMillan suffered a knee injury in the first quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Vikings and did not return to the game. The 24-year-old receiver has played in two games this season but has yet to register a catch on the nine offensive snaps he has played. It’s been a rough two seasons for McMillan, who missed nearly all of last season with a serious neck injury that sidelined him until Week 15.