NFL Player News

Gibson missed Week 11’s contest against the Giants after being listed as doubtful heading into the week. The veteran running back didn’t suit up for practice last week, but a limited designation on Monday suggests he’ll have a chance to play on Thanksgiving Day against the Cowboys. The Commanders will hold their first official practice of the week on Tuesday, but another limited designation for Gibson would be a positive sign early in the week.

Kirk will miss at least four weeks while on IR. He injured his core during Monday night’s loss to the Bengals and could require surgery, according to head coach Doug Pederson. Fantasy managers should expect to be without Kirk for the remainder of the 2023 season. Parker Washington will operate as the team’s primary slot wideout in Kirk’s absence. Washington caught six passes for 61 yards and a touchdown in Week 13 against the Bengals.

A Friday practice — even a limited session — is good news for Cooper’s Week 14 availability against the Jaguars. He had not practiced all week after being put into the league’s concussion protocol following his Week 13 brain injury. Cooper would be a high-end WR3 play against the Jags if he can suit up.

The team had given Njoku rest days for his lingering knee issue on Wednesday and Thursday. A return for Friday’s practice should mean Njoku plays his usual role in the Cleveland offense this week against the Jaguars. He was second on the team with six targets in Joe Flacco’s first start in Week 13 against the Rams.

The team opened Knox’s 21-day practice Window on Tuesday. Knox has been out since October with a wrist injury. His absence created more snaps and routes both Dalton Kincaid and Khalil Shakir. Kincaid’s fantasy prospects will take a major hit if the Bills revert to their prior tight end usage in Week 14 and beyond.

Lawrence, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, has to “prove a lot” to the Jacksonville coaching staff before he gets the starting nod against the Browns this Sunday. Even if he plays, Lawrence will likely be hobbled and far less than 100 percent. C.J. Beathard, battling a left shoulder injury he sustained Monday night against the Bengals, would start for the Jaguars if Lawrence can’t go.

Rapoport reiterated that Lawrence’s ankle injury — sustained on Monday night against the Bengals — is “not a small injury” and will inhibit him if he’s able to suit up in Week 14. Lawrence is going to have to prove to Jaguars coaches that he can operate at something resembling full capacity or the team will start C.J. Beathard, who is dealing with a left shoulder injury. A gimpy Lawrence would not be startable in 12-team formats if he plays against Cleveland.

It was a no-show performance considering Thornton, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Jalen Reagor were the Patriots’ only three healthy wideouts. With just 11 catches for 68 yards all season, Thornton’s 53-man roster spot is beginning to look in danger for 2024.

It will surprise no one that Smith-Schuster’s 90 yards were by far his most as a Patriot. They were badly needed with the Pats down to three healthy wideouts. The biggest play was a 37-yard gain on the Patriots’ opening drive where Smith-Schuster made a tough grab in traffic. Like the rest of the Pats’ offense, Smith-Schuster did essentially nothing after the break — one grab for eight yards — but he did enough in quarters one and two to help eke out the victory. Regardless of DeVante Parker and Demario Douglas’ Week 15 health, Smith-Schuster won’t be a viable WR4 for his second straight “revenge game,” this one against the Chiefs.

Out there for the first play, Harris seemed unbothered by his knee issue as he out-snapped and out-touched Jaylen Warren (again). Unfortunately, neither back could get anything going vs. a Patriots defense that knew the play was to put the game on Mitch Trubisky’s shoulders. The backup quarterback responded by playing horrendously. Despite his continued grip on 1A duties, Harris isn’t scoring enough or catching enough passes to move the needle as an RB2 heading into Week 15 vs. Indianapolis.

Freiermuth did manage to draw a DPI penalty in the end zone to set the Steelers up at the Pats’ one-yard line for a touchdown, but he now has just six grabs for 47 yards on 12 targets in two games since his random 9/120 blowup against the Bengals. It’s not surprising the bulk of Freiermuth’s non-production has come with inept backup Mitch Trubisky under center. With all 32 teams active for Week 15, Freiermuth will be out of the TE1 mix vs. the Colts.