NFL Player News

The Packers opened the 21-day window for Savage, who will begin practicing this week. The veteran safety can be activated from injured reserve as early as Thursday for Week 12’s matchup against the Lions, but the Packers may opt to give him at least one more full week of recovery. Savage has managed 34 tackles and one TFL in six games this season and will be re-joining a Packers defense that’s ranked in the top half of the league in pass coverage grades per PFF.

The 5-8 Chargers’ season continues to go from bad to worse as they fight through innumerable injuries to key contributors. Schefter adds that the team will know more regarding their franchise quarterback’s potential return date following the surgery, keeping the door slightly ajar for a return before the end of the season. Considering the Chargers currently reside outside of the playoff picture in the AFC and now have to play the coming games with backup quarterback Easton Stick, it appears likely Herbert’s season has come to an end in Los Angeles.

Fluker has drawn interest from various teams over the last several months. The former No. 11 overall pick has lost over 50 pounds since last suiting up for the Ravens in the 2020 regular season and looked shredded at Alabama’s pro day earlier this year. The Raiders have four games left to go in the regular season. It’s possible they will give him a chance to start at some point in the year to see where he’s at heading into the 2024 offseason. Set to turn 33 next year, it’s possible Fluker has something left to offer if he’s able to stay in playing shape.

This is only an estimated injury report, so it’s possible Jacobs gets upgraded to limited when the team holds its first real practice of the week. Jacobs suffered the injury in Week 14’s loss to the Vikings and is on a short week to get ready for Thursday night’s contest against the Chargers. If he’s not able to go, backup Zamir White could step into a lead role against a Charges run defense that’s struggled to slow its opponents. White could have some fantasy upside in deeper leagues if Jacobs is unable to go.

With Rodgers’ 21-day window open, he would need to be activated by Week 16 or be ruled out for the season. A Week 14 win over the Texans kept the Jets somewhat in the playoff conversation. A Week 15 win over the Dolphins would only strengthen what little chances they have at making the postseason, which could spur the team into starting Rodgers if he’s healthy enough to play. The idea of Rodgers playing again this season feels highly unlikely, especially if the Jets lose next week. With that said, Saleh will continue to answer these questions until a final decision has been made on Rodgers’ 2023 season.

Looking to make his way back from injured reserve, Palmer was listed as limited ahead of last week’s game, so getting listed as a full participant to kick off this week is a good sign for his return. With Keenan Allen (heel) opening the week as a DNP, it’s possible Palmer’s return will carry even more weight if Allen is unable to go. Palmer isn’t a lock to be activated before Thursday’s game, but he’s trending in the right direction.

A limited practice to open the week should be of little concern for Everett and his fantasy managers. The veteran tight end didn’t appear to have suffered any injury of note in the team’s Week 14 loss to the Broncos and should be good to go on the short week. Everett saw eight targets in a game that featured more than a half of football from Easton Stick. It’s possible Stick could look to Everett as a short-yardage security blanket in Week 15 against the Raiders, giving him some upside as a TE2.

This heel injury is a new one for Allen, who didn’t appear slowed in Sunday’s Week 14 loss to the Broncos. With Justin Herbert out for at least one week and the Chargers’ season all but over, it’s hard to know what Allen would play through at this point in the year. A DNP on Monday certainly makes him a player to watch heading into Tuesday. It’s possible he takes the field for the team’s first official practice of the short week.

Taylor was trending toward being activated after logging a full week of practices. He’s expected to serve as the backup to Tommy DeVito, who has started each of the Giants’ last three games while throwing for 523 yards, six touchdowns, and one interception in those starts. It’s possible Taylor takes the field again at some point in the season, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Giants had DeVito the keys the rest of the way if he is healthy and playing well enough.

After back-to-back disastrous outings by Joshua Dobbs, it’s hard to imagine O’Connell turning things back over to him without giving Nick Mullens or rookie Jaren Hall a shot. Mullens came on in relief of Dobbs in the fourth quarter and wound up throwing for 83 yards on 9-of-13 passing. The journeyman has bounced around the league since catching on with the 49ers as a UDFA in 2017, spending time with the Eagles, Browns, Raiders, and Vikings. A serviceable quarterback in a pinch, it’s hard to know how reliable Mullens can be for the Vikings, who are in the midst of a playoff push, but Dobbs isn’t instilling much confidence at this point.

Jefferson was sent to a local hospital for further evaluation after suffering his injury in Sunday’s win over the Raiders but was released in time to travel back to Minnesota with the team. His return from a hamstring injury was underwhelming, as he managed just two catches for 27 yards in his first game with Josh Dobbs under center. It didn’t help that the injury limited him to just one-half of football. The Vikings have a situation to figure out at quarterback, but Jefferson should still be on the WR1 radar in Week 15 if active.