NFL Player News

Purdy practiced with the starters on Friday, indicating the team expected him to suit up at the time. As Schefter notes, Purdy didn’t suffer any setbacks over the weekend and should be good to go for a Sunday night date with the Bills. Having already missed a game with what was initially described as shoulder soreness, we fully expect the 49ers to take a run-heavy approach this week. Traveling to Buffalo for a windy, snow-covered game will also encourage Kyle Shanahan to lean on his ground game. Purdy will spend a game at the top of the QB2 ranks for Week 13.

Schwesinger has not been ruled out for Week 6’s game against the Ravens, and attempted to play through the injury at one point. With a big AFC North matchup on tap for this week, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Browns gave Schwesinger every opportunity to play. His practice status will be one to keep an eye on throughout the week. The 2025 Defensive Rookie of the Year has totaled 43 tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble this season.

The Eagles’ running backs room continues to take hits. After losing Tank Bigsby (core) last week to a multi-week injury, the team is now preparing to be without Shipley for multiple weeks. Saquon Barkley, who missed Week 5 with a hamstring injury, could be back as early as Week 6 against the Panthers, but if he’s unable to play, the Eagles could be looking at Dameon Pierce and Jaydon Blue as their top two backs. Shipley totaled 13 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown on six touches before going down yesterday.

Head coach Ben Johnson said on Sunday that Williams would be “close” to suiting up for Week 6, and he reportedly had a good workout before Week 5’s game against the Packers. Williams has missed the last three games with the hamstring injury he suffered in Week 2, but the Bears have managed to go 2-1 over that span. Williams logged one limited practice last week, after being a DNP on Wednesday and Thursday. If he can get on the practice field multiple days this week, it would be a good sign for his availability for next week’s game against the Falcons.

(The Aristocrats voice) The Lions defense! Quitoriano, Arizona’s No. 2 tight end, remains outside of the fantasy TE2 discussion. These were his first touchdowns since the 2022 season, doubling his career total to four.

Gadsden had another disappointing outing for the Chargers and his fantasy managers on Sunday. He’s now been held without a catch in two of his last three games and has yet to exceed 36 receiving yards in any game this season. Playing in one of the worst offenses in the league certainly doesn’t help things, but Gadsden can’t be trusted by fantasy managers at this point and won’t be on the fantasy radar in Week 6 when the Chargers visit the Chiefs.

According to Rapoport, Jackson was “closer than people realized” to playing in Week 5 against the Falcons, which is an encouraging sign as the Ravens enter a pivotal matchup against the Browns. Jackson’s injury didn’t appear too severe when it initially happened in the second quarter of Week 4’s win over the Titans, so it’s not too surprising to hear that he nearly suited up for Sunday night’s game. That said, Jackson’s injuries have lingered in the past, so we’ll be monitoring his status throughout the week. If he’s not able to go, Tyler Huntley would make a second straight start for the Ravens, who currently lead the AFC North with a 4-1 record.

The MRI will help determine the severity of Samuel’s injury, but the 30-year-old receiver is likely looking at a multi-week absence after he was quickly ruled out of Sunday’s game. Samuel has caught 16 passes for 206 yards and three touchdowns this season for the Niners while adding another 78 yards on nine carries. He seems unlikely to play in Week 6 against the Commanders, which means we could see an increased role for either Jacob Cowing or Brandin Cooks, who scored in Week 5’s win over the Seahawks.

According to Fowler, Wilson is seeking a second opinion on his injury. He was initially diagnosed with a dislocated finger, but given today’s report, it sounds like this may be more severe than initially expected. Wilson entered Week 5 with back-to-back 60-plus-yard games and had been targeted six times in each of his first four games. Rookie Germie Bernard, who caught 6-of-9 targets for 80 yards in Week 5’s win over the Colts, will be worth a claim on waivers this week and profiles as a WR4/FLEX option in PPR leagues for Week 6 against the Buccaneers.

Penix will undergo an MRI on Monday to confirm the severity of his injury, but it doesn’t sound like he’s at risk of missing much time. Penix exited in the fourth quarter of Sunday night’s game against the Ravens and was forced to stay on the sideline in overtime to watch Tua Tagovailoa throw the game-losing interception shortly after the Ravens scored the go-ahead touchdown. Penix threw for 240 yards and a touchdown and has been solid in his three games since returning from injury. If he’s not able to start in Week 6, Tagovailoa would presumably draw the start at home against the Bears.

Andrews dropped a would-be touchdown on the team’s opening possession on a ball that went through his hands in the end zone. He would then fumble on the following possession, which Jessie Bates returned for a touchdown to force the Ravens into catch-up mode for the remainder of the game. Luckily for him, late heroics from Tyler Huntley and Derrick Henry had the team escaping with a victory. Andrews has not looked great to start the 2026 season, having not eclipsed 50 yards through five games. He’ll remain a shaky fantasy start in Week 6 when the Ravens host the Browns.