NFL Player News

The training staff has yet to determine the injury’s severity but the Broncos are already in a tough spot at safety. The front office released four-time second-team All-Pro S Justin Simmons this offseason and both S Caden Sterns (patellar tendon) and S Delarrin Turner-Yell (ACL) are currently on the active/physically unable to perform (PUP) list. P.J. Locke is the only active Broncos safety who logged triple-digit defensive snaps last year, though he worryingly earned a 55.2 PFF coverage grade.

Jalen McMillan was also activated. Both players are technically still listed as questionable, though the designations are largely a procedural matter. We fully expect both wideouts to suit up versus Atlanta tomorrow. Evans could be on a pitch count in his first game back, but the Bucs will make the most of the reps he is on the field for. He will be a WR3 for Week 15.

Pipkins entered the Chargers’ Week 14 game against the Eagles with a back injury and exited with an ankle injury. When asked if Pipkins, along with WR Derius Davis (ankle) and S Elijah Molden (hamstring), could play after sitting out practice all week, Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said only, “we’ll see how the week goes.” Having Pipkins on the field would be extremely helpful for QB Justin Herbert (hand).

Jennings’ role has declined in recent weeks with Rhamondre Stevenson healthy once again. Jennings did not touch the ball before the Pats’ bye in Week 14. His likely absence this week will keep New England’s backfield at a two-man committee.

McMillan suffered a neck injury during the preseason and hasn’t played this year. He remains on injured reserve, meaning the team will have to officially activate him if he is going to suit up. With Mike Evans also expected to return, McMillan won’t have much of a role in his first game of the season.

Otton failed to practice on Monday or Tuesday. He managed a limited session today, but the doubtful tag makes it highly unlikely that he suits up versus Atlatna. Payne Durham will see an uptick in routes with Otton out, though there won’t be many targets for him to handle with Mike Evans expected to make his return.

The Bucs are getting healthy just in time for a playoff push. Wirfs practiced in full today and is good to go. Mike Evans appears to be on the right side of his questionable tag as well. Baker Mayfield and the Bucs’ offense have repeatedly flopped over the past month. If they are ever going to turn things around, tomorrow’s game against Atlanta would be the time to do it.

Evans was limited in practice throughout the week. Head coach Todd Bowles told reporters this morning that Evans “has shown everything he needed to show” to play in Week 15. It sounds like fantasy managers can plan on having him back in the fold this week. In his first game back, Evans should be treated as a high-variance WR3, though he could be back in the WR2 ranks as soon as Week 16.

Jacobs worked with Packers trainers on Wednesday, as he continues to work through the bone bruise he suffered in Week 11 against the Giants. We expect Jacobs to resume practicing tomorrow. He should handle his typical high-volume workload, but he faces the Broncos’ elite defense, potentially pushing him into the high-end RB2 tier.

Lamb was spotted at practice today. He suffered the brain injury on Thursday versus the Lions. Lamb was ruled out shortly after exiting the game and immediately entered the league’s protocol. It sounds like he is trending toward playing in Week 15, but there are certain benchmarks he has to clear before being given the green light. If he does sit, Ryan Flournoy, who went for 115 yards and a touchdown versus the Lions, would be the next man up in Dallas.

The Lions were without their top three tight ends last week. Sam LaPorta and Brock Wright were—and remain—on injured reserve while Zylstra missed the game with a knee issue. His return to practice today puts him on track to start for Detroit in Week 15. In a potential shootout with the Rams, Zylstra will be a touchdown-or-bust TE2.