NFL Player News

Wilson adds that Fairbairn’s status for Week 10 is “still being determined” and the 31-year-old is receiving treatment for a lower body injury. He knocked down five kicks in the Texans’ Week 9 loss to the Broncos and is averaging 11.5 fantasy points per game this season, best among kickers. If Fairbairn misses times, fantasy managers will have a legitimate hole in their roster with his production matching that of a low-end RB2. The Texans signed Matthew Wright to the practice squad; Wright is likely to kick in place of Fairbairn if he is out Week 10.

Presumably those discussions will take place after the season. Murray was benched in favor of Jacoby Brissett after seven seasons as the starting quarterback with the Cardinals and then placed on injured reserve with a foot injury. Murray is eligible to return from injured reserve in Week 14. The Cardinals will have to act fast this offseason as $19.5 million of Murray’s 2027 base salary becomes guaranteed on the fifth day of the new league year, which will come in mid-March. Schefter passes along that many sources believe Murray will be on a new team next year with one source saying a separation is imminent. Murray won’t turn 29 until next August, but his market could be limited due to a lackluster track record. While head coach Jonathan Gannon and GM Monti Offenfort weren’t part of the Cardinals organization when Murray was drafted and signed to an extension, they’ll incur a dead-cap hit of upwards of $50 million in 2026 if Murray is released.

The 49ers also listed LB Tatum Bethune (thigh), DL Alfred Collins (hip), DL Kalia Davis (ankle) and DL Keion White (groin) as questionable and are expected to place DL Mykel Williams (knee) on injured reserve. Williams’ expected injured reserve placement, after suffering a torn ACL, will make him the fourth San Francisco pass rusher to be moved there this season. Williams’ 19 quarterback pressures rank second on the team. 49ers LB Fred Warner was placed on injured reserve after suffering a season-ending dislocated ankle injury in Week 6, yet Warner still accounts for the team’s second-highest tackle total (39). Winters leads the way with 53. Rams QB Matthew Stafford should have comfortable pockets this weekend, and RB Kyren Williams could have fairly easy sledding on runs up the middle, 49ers’ questionable statuses pending.

The Seahawks listed WR Cooper Kupp (heel /hamstring) as questionable, WR Tory Horton (groin/shin) as doubtful, while ruling out WRs Jake Bobo (calf) and Dareke Young (hip) on Friday. Fortunately, “Shaheed’s transition to the Seahawks should be streamlined thanks to his familiarity with [OC] Klint Kubiak’s scheme,” and Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald said the team has “a plan for him” this weekend. Horton also serves as the team’s primary punt returner, while Young is one of the two primary kickoff returners. Shaheed is expected to contribute in both special teams roles as well, having notably earned first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors in 2023 as a punt returner. Shaheed can be started right away as a WR3, regardless of Kupp’s game-day availability.

Wicks could need another week to rehab the calf injury that he picked up in Week 8, but his continued participation is at least positive. That said, Wicks’ inconsistent play makes him extremely difficult to trust in 12-team re-draft formats, even with WR Matthew Golden (shoulder) having been downgraded to a DNP on Friday.

This is a bad sign for Golden’s availability on Monday night. With Packers TE Tucker Kraft (knee) out for the year and WR Jayden Reed (foot/collarbone) on injured reserve, the team’s notoriously deep pass-catching corps could be operating as a condensed, fantasy-friendly unit led by WRs Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson, and fill-in starting TE Luke Musgrave. Stay tuned.

The Rams’ No. 1 wide receiver would never leave a fantasy squad in the lurch. The team gave Nacua a half-day on Wednesday before upgrading him to full participation on Thursday and Friday. The No. 5 wide receiver in half-PPR per-game scoring (18.7) is ready to rock in a divisional tilt against the 49ers on Sunday. He is an elite WR1.

Pearsall will now miss his sixth game of the season. The extremely unfortunate saga continues. Pearsall’s PCL sprain, suffered in Week 4, has kept him sidelined for weeks now. Hopefully, Pearsall can at least resume practicing next week, though we have received no indications from the team or beat reporters as to when he might return.

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters on Thursday that a decision on whether Purdy will “suit up” would be made this afternoon. Apparently, that decision is a “maybe,” though only as the backup, if active. 49ers QB Mac Jones will once again serve as the team’s starter. He profiles as a high-end QB2 against the Rams’ tough defense.

Neither will (inhale): CB Max Melton (concussion), LB BJ Ojulari (knee), or LB Mack Wilson (ribs) — the good news is that Budda Baker (hamstring) upgraded to full today and has been removed from the injury report. Arizona’s defense looked good against the Cowboys on Monday night, but their cornerback depth will be tested against Jaxson Smith-Njigba and Rashid Shaheed.

Long has been filling in for TE Brenton Strange (hip/quad), but has yet to earn more than three targets in a game, so his absence is hardly consequential. Jaguars TE Johnny Mundt is the next man up, though he should not be considered for TE1 purposes.