NFL Player News

Leal (6'4/290) is one of the top defensive linemen in the nation and is ranked as the 12th overall prospect on Mel Kiper’s recent big board. He was a force to be reckoned with this season posting 12.5 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks and 58 tackles, which led all SEC defensive linemen. He also recorded 37 total pressures and 32 stops while lining up all over the defensive formation, with 415 snaps coming on the edge and 173 in the B-Gap. His 16.7 percent missed tackle rate could use some work, but you don’t find many 290 pounders who have the speed to handle edge work on the SEC and wreak havoc in the manner that Leal did over the past two seasons. He is a surefire first-round selection with the potential to land in the top half of the round if he has a good showing in the post-season evaluation process.

Ferguson is eligible to come off injured reserve next week, but Schefter reports that a source told him Ferguson’s recovery “will take some time.” The Rams placed Davante Adams on injured reserve this week and are in desperate need of pass-catching help behind Puka Nacua. Ferguson is a rising receiving tight end for the Rams, but has been on injured reserve since suffering an ankle injury in Week 3. Though he is a good IR stash for fantasy purposes, Ferguson is going to take longer than the minimum four weeks to return. Without a good timeline for return, he can be released from fantasy rosters in dire need of more immediate help during bye weeks.

It was an upgrade from an estimated Monday DNP. Davis has missed Week 2, Week 3, Week 5 and Week 6 to the neck listing so far. Perhaps he’ll try to give it a go on Thursday night, but we’d be surprised if he did better than a questionable tag on Wednesday.

It’s been a stunningly quick recovery from what looked to be a high-ankle sprain that could sideline him. Henderson has practiced in full both days this week. We’re not concerned that he won’t play, but after fumble problems struck last week and Corey Kiner closed out the Jets in the fourth quarter, we do have slightly lowered expectations for his Thursday night stat line.

Brown spoke with the media today and there’s no reason to believe he’ll actually miss this game, but he was regarded as “limited” in both sessions this week and it’s fair to wonder if he’s 100 percent just yet after his drop-filled, rough Week 6. He’s best-treated as a WR2 this week — you’re still probably starting him regardless of what the ranking is.

Matt Pryor and Walter Rouse stepped in for the two guards towards the end of last week’s offensive line apocalypse and would likely be in line to start in Week 7. Neither Vera-Tucker nor Brown practiced on Monday or Tuesday.

Jackson left Sunday’s game with the injury, playing 64.9 percent of the snaps with Luke Newman spelling him. This is a good sign for his availability for Week 7 after Jackson did not practice on Monday, but he’s likely trending towards a questionable tag without a full listing on Wednesday.

He hasn’t practiced yet this week and appears very unlikely to go on Thursday night. It would seem to be trending towards another week with Roschon Johnson as the backup runner for the Bears.

Brown had two rushes for 12 yards against the Titans in Week 2 (not receptions) and has been inactive in every other week of the season. So, yeah, we guess he could be had. As could any of the several veteran receivers on losing teams who actually have caught a pass this year.

This time, they mean it. Mitchell has a decent chance to be elevated for Week 7 based on what we know today, which is that the Eagles waived Ian Wheeler from the practice squad and have only Saquon Barkley and Dameon Pierce on the active roster. This appears to be quite a fluid situation.

They tacked on a waived/injured listing for Carson Steele, leaving the backfield with just Saquon Barkley and Dameon Pierce on the active roster. Blue did not officially get into a game with the Eagles after signing at the end of August. He’ll look to catch on elsewhere.