NFL Player News

Per a team statement, “Jefferson will be re-evaluated next week.” Jefferson exited practice early yesterday, citing tightness in his legs. He described the decision as precautionary. Apparently, it was a little more than that. Jefferson has plenty of time to rehab his left leg’s hamstring, so this news should not instill panic, though soft tissue strains can be finicky. Setbacks are possible. Jefferson dealt with a hamstring strain in his right leg in 2023 that required an in-season stint on injured reserve. Both he and the team can be expected to prioritize a complete recovery over participation in training camp, and even the preseason. We’ll see what the team says when he is re-evaluated next week. O’Connell added in a later statement that “he has no questions about Justin for the opener against the Bears.”

Per Ruiz, Herbert is expected to play while wearing a padded glove on his surgically repaired left hand. The veteran quarterback was seen warming up with the glove about two hours prior to kickoff for Monday Night Football. Herbert will remarkably play after breaking his non-throwing hand in Week 13, having undergone surgery to address the issue Monday.

Beat writer Greg Auman reports that the Buccaneers may be without Bredeson “for multiple weeks” after the sixth-year tackle suffered a knee injury in Week 14’s loss to the Saints. Auman said the absence could be long enough to warrant Bredson landing on injured reserve, which would end his season. Bredeson has started all 11 games he’s appeared in this season, earning a PFF grade of 53.7 while allowing 20 pressures and one sack. Elijah Klein is listed behind Bredeson on the depth chart and will presumably draw the start on Thursday night against the Falcons.

JPP hasn’t played an NFL snap since 2023. The 36-year-old pass rusher spent four seasons with the Buccaneers from 2018 to 2021 and split time with the Saints and Dolphins in his last season. If he’s elevated to the active roster, JPP wouldn’t serve as anything more than a situational pass rusher.

Morris suffered a gruesome knee injury early in the first quarter of Sunday’s game against the Texans and was ruled out shortly after. The third-year tackle was replaced by rookie UDFA Esa Pole, who allowed three pressures on 42 pass-blocking snaps against one of the top pass-rushing defenses in the league. It’s yet another massive blow to a Chiefs offensive line that was already missing its two starting tackles prior to Morris going down. Pole will likely draw the start in Week 15’s game against the Chargers.

The Bengals and Dolphins were initially slated to play on Sunday night in Week 16. They will now move to a standard 1:00 PM EST slot, while the Ravens and Patriots will prepare to play under the lights in a game that could still carry major playoff implications for both teams. As is the case with every Sunday night game on NBC, we will be waiting all day for this game.

Mayfield continues to be listed with the same left shoulder injury he has played through each of the last two weeks. We’ll assume he’s good to go for Thursday night’s game against the Falcons unless we hear otherwise.

The 25-year-old receiver has a career 31/308/3 slash line in 37 games with the Packers and can be involved on special teams. The Falcons are at a point where they’re relying on David Sills every weekend. The waiver claim makes some sense.

Irving has been playing through the same shoulder injury since returning in Week 13, which may become the norm for the remainder of the season. The team listing him as a full participant on Monday’s report is a good sign for his Week 15 availability against the Falcons.

It’s an estimated report, but it’s a new listing for Tampa’s tight end. He’s not been particularly fantasy relevant since Tampa got Chris Godwin back, but this would seem to suggest there’s a chance he misses Week 15. Payne Durham is behind Otton in the pecking order at tight end.

It’s a new listing, and the first we’ve heard of a knee injury for the tight end after a 6/90 performance on Sunday. But given the fact that he was limited and not fully resting, we don’t think this is a serious concern for his Week 15 status just yet. Pitts figures to be the de facto Falcons WR1 if Drake London, as expected, remains sidelined on Thursday night. That hasn’t translated to more than TE1 PPR volume yet.