NFL Player News

Schrager puts Monken at the top of the list. Earlier today, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported that Monken is “among the leading candidates” for the role. He should probably be considered the favorite. However, the four remaining candidates are Giants interim head coach Mike Kafka, Rams pass game coordinator Nate Scheelhaase, former Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury and Browns OC Tommy Rees.

Samuel went down after being tripped up on a run play and remained down for an extended period of time after the play. It was hard to tell exactly what happened on the play, but Samuel was able to make his way to the sideline and could be seen sitting on the bench while being evaluated by trainers. We will provide an update on his status when we receive one.

Sanders also lost a few snaps to Jaleel McLaughlin. 4-5 touches have been Sanders’ weekly norm, but that could change for Week 6 against the Ravens after Quinshon Judkins was spotted with his right foot in a boot following today’s contest. There have not been any indications Judkins is dealing with something serious, but it’s a situation worth monitoring ahead of Tuesday evening’s waiver wire run.

With KC Concepcion lost to a first quarter concussion, second-year pro Bond was the next man up. His 74 yards were the second most of his career after he entered today with just 12 yards all season under new head coach Todd Monken. He notched gains of 20, 24 and 30 yards, which will undoubtedly catch the attention of the coach and quarterback. So will the shaky hands Bond displayed on a number of other targets. Bond is at best the No. 4 weapon when this offense is at full health, and Concepcion could easily be cleared for Week 6 against the Ravens. Bond is not worth a 12-team league flier at this time.

Fannin’s worst game of the season came in rainy New Jersey conditions. That obviously held down the Browns’ passing-game production, but it’s confusing they weren’t drawing up more manufactured, chain-moving looks for their YAC-focused tight end. Fannin established a 2026 ceiling the past two weeks, but today’s effort reminds of just how low his floor can be with Deshaun Watson under center and more target competition in the skill corps.

Boston’s score was his third in five games as a pro. This one was a 29-yard strike down the left sideline where Boston won a 1-on-1 matchup with CB Brandon Stephens. Boston’s yardage totals are not popping off the page in this limited offense, but his play-making ability has been. He has also reached at least 40 yards all five times out, giving him a non-zero floor. The rookie second-rounder continues to press his WR3 case heading into Week 6 against the Ravens.

Not a great day in the rain, one that got worse when Judkins was spotted in the Browns’ locker room after the fact with his right foot in a walking boot. Boots are frequently precautionary, but they are always noteworthy. Also noteworthy is that Judkins finished the game without an injury announcement. Hopefully he’s just managing a little something ahead of Week 6 against the Ravens. If not, the Browns’ backfield is a mess behind Judkins, with Raheim Sanders and Jaleel McLaughlin the next backs up.

Everyone’s favorite breakout tight end is now sitting on an unseemly 110 yards receiving through five games played. It’s an inconceivable outcome after Loveland’s stretch-run and postseason dominance last season, but now very much a trend. Loveland’s “rates,” while good, just haven’t been good enough, and he is not compensating with the off-the-charts efficiency he would need to produce on that kind of usage, a la a Dalton Kincaid-type. It’s hard to throw in the TE1 towel since Loveland has only finished one game alongside QB Caleb Williams, but Williams’ likely Week 6 return against the Falcons could be something of a “last stand.” If Loveland can’t get it going with Williams back in the lineup, we might have to accept Loveland’s TE2 fate.

Although the Bears were already losing 31-7, Odunze’s fourth quarter giveaway was an ill-advised decision on a fourth down catch-and-run where he had already secured a new set of downs. Odunze seemed to be extending the ball forward. Unnecessary. Like every Bears pass catcher, Odunze is treading fantasy water waiting for the return of Caleb Williams (hamstring). It appears that will be Week 6 against the Falcons, but Odunze’s returns have been uneven enough that not even Williams’ re-insertion under center will be enough to get Odunze above the mid-range WR3 ranks.

Burden “led” the Bears in receiving, but the fact that 47 yards was the team’s high-water mark tells you all you need to know about their offensive effectiveness this afternoon. Today was actually the first time in three games without Caleb Williams that Burden finished under 60 yards receiving, but he is still in dire need of his starting quarterback’s return. It appears that will be Week 6 against the Falcons, keeping Burden in the low-end WR2 mix despite his lack of spiked weeks through the season’s first five contests.

Swift was the only Bear to find the end zone in a throwaway performance where Tyson Bagent was benched for the fourth quarter. It was still a disappointing statline with Kyle Monangai (toe) on the shelf, but there just wasn’t much Swift could do with Bagent failing to threaten the Packers’ defense and the Bears’ D struggling mightily. Swift also lost a ton of passing-game work and targets to fill-in No. 2 RB Roschon Johnson. That’s a potentially disturbing development heading into Week 6 against the Falcons, with or without Monangai in the lineup. Thankfully, Caleb Williams (hamstring) should be back, shoring up Swift’s value in the RB10-14 range.