NFL Player News

Vera-Tucker’s 2025 season could be over before it begins after sustaining an arm injury days before the Jets’ Week 1 opener against the Steelers. Vera-Tucker missed much of the 2022 and 2023 seasons due to injuries before returning and playing 15 games for the Jets in 2024. The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt said Vera-Tucker “was a standout in camp, dominant in the run game and appeared to be finally fully healthy” headed into the regular season. His injury is a massive blow to the Jets offense, expected to be predicated on the run. Pro Football Focus graded Vera-Tucker as the 33rd best run blocking offensive lineman in the NFL last season out of 148 qualifying players. This news is certainly a blow to Breece Hall and Braelon Allen, and perhaps the whole New York offense.

Fowler said Penix, still recovering from his 2025 ACL injury, “wants to be fully confident before stepping onto the field. And my understanding is the Falcons are leaving the comfort level part of his recovery up to him.” That would leave Tua Tagovailoa as the team’s presumed starter if Tua can play through the oblique strain that sidelined him in Week 1 against the Steelers. If Tua can’t go, the Falcons could be forced to start Cooper Rush for another game or two. Rush, who had the lowest drop back EPA of any QB in Week 1, makes Drake London and Kyle Pitts iffy starts in 12-team fantasy formats.

It’s a very different report than the one we got from Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio, who said Darnold — injured on the first drive of the regular season — could be sidelined for 4-6 weeks. In any case, Drew Lock is set to start for Seattle this week against the Cardinals. In Week 3 the Seahawks will face off against the Commanders. Expect the Seattle offense to be among the run-heaviest units for as long as Lock is under center. The Seahawks in Week 1 produced 176 total team air yards, the third fewest of the week.

Allen was arrested for DWI in late August and could face a suspension from the NFL. When that suspension could come down is anyone’s guess. For now Allen will continue playing significant snaps for the Colts. In Week 1 against the Ravens, Allen caught all six of his targets for 32 yards while running a route on 73 percent of the team’s drop backs.

Green suffered the elbow injury in Sunday’s win over the Browns and will miss at least the next four weeks. Meanwhile, the Jaguars added DE BJ Ojulari to the team’s practice squad ahead of their Week 2 matchup against the Broncos.

Valdes-Scantling worked out with the Chargers earlier Tuesday and now signs with the team’s practice squad. The 31-year-old spent the offseason with the Cowboys and has been a journeyman since his first four seasons with the Packers, also spending time with the Chiefs, Bills, Saints, 49ers, and Steelers over his career. The Chargers add Valdes-Scantling as depth with Ladd McConkey dealing with a rib injury and KeAndre Lambert-Smith (hamstring) heading to injured reserve.

Murray is a former first-round pick of the Chargers, spending four seasons in Los Angeles before splitting the last two seasons with the Titans and Cowboys. He has started 83-of-90 career games and brings experience to the middle of a Texans defense that just placed Henry To’o To’o on injured reserve. Murray will start out on the practice squad but it would not be a surprise to see him get some regular season snaps soon.

Luvu left the Commanders’ Week 1 loss to the Eagles with an apparent groin injury. Fowler reports the veteran linebacker is not expected to have a long-term absence, but the fact that avoiding injured reserve was even mentioned indicates Luvu is in danger of missing Week 2. Rookie first-rounder Sonny Styles will pair with Leo Chenal in the middle of the Washington defense while Luvu misses time.

With Jake Tonges dealing with an MCL injury, the 49ers added Stoll to the practice squad for depth. Stoll spent last season with the Saints, catching six passes for 46 yards in 15 games. He initially signed with the Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2021 and has not surpassed 200 yards receiving in a single season over the course of his career. Stoll’s specialty is blocking and we could certainly see him contribute for the 49ers’ run game if Tonges is out for a while and George Kittle still working his way back to a full workload.

Lane fractured his wrist in the Ravens’ Week 1 victory over the Colts, catching one pass for 11 yards in his rookie debut. The 22-year-old operated as a top-three receiver in the Ravens offense and was set for a sizeable role prior to the injury. He was seeking multiple opinions on the injury as of Monday, but Zenitz now reports Lane is expected to have surgery on his wrist very soon. Zenitz adds that the hope is for the rookie to be able to return in a month. Injured reserve will be a consideration for Lane, which would be a four-game absence at the minimum.

He was cut by the Cowboys at the end of training camp and has been looking for his next opportunity. Valdes-Scantling’s appearance here probably doesn’t bode overly well for Ladd McConkey’s status for Week 2, though obviously that’s just trying to read the tea leaves.