Team news | Page 24

While the Colts are benching Anthony Richardson for Joe Flacco, they’re not planning for this to be permanent.

That’s according to Stephen Holder of ESPN, who noted on Tuesday that a team source explained that Indianapolis wants Richardson to take a step back, take a break from the day-to-day pressures of being the starter, and try to grow.

“We are not quitting on Anthony,” Holder’s source told him. “That will be the story, but that is not the case.”

The story added that Richardson was pretty devastated by the news, so it remains to be seen how he takes things going forward. The Colts feel Flacco gives them the best chance to win at this point as they sit at 4-4 on the season and certainly in the think of the playoff race as things stand now.

Trade: Carolina is sending wide receiver Diontae Johnson to the Baltimore Ravens, sources tell ESPN.

Related players: Zay Flowers, Mark Andrews, Rashod Bateman, Adam Thielen, Xavier Legette, Jonathan Mingo

The Panthers get a 5th round pick. It didn't take the Panthers long after rumors were starting to circulate Johnson was in play. The landing spot in Baltimore is interesting to say the least. The big question is will the Ravens consistently throw the ball enough with Travis Henry and Lamar Jackson for Johnson, Flowers and Andrews to keep their fantasy value. It remains to be seen who takes the biggest hit to their value, but the odds seem to favor Flowers here. Meanwhile in Carolina, Thielen is about to return but it's likely time to see what Legette and Mingo can do for the Panthers and the future of their offense.

Wide receiver Stefon Diggs’s first season with the Texans is reportedly over.

Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans announced on Tuesday that Diggs has been diagnosed with a torn ACL. Diggs left Sunday’s win over the Colts with a knee injury and went for further tests over the last couple of days.

Related players: Nico Collins, Tank Dell, John Metchie, Xavier Hutchinson, Robert Woods, Steven Sims, Dalton Schultz

Diggs had been ruled out of Thursday's game with the Jets but the hope was he'd be able to come back after that. As for the Texans offense, the injury comes at a time when Collins is on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, so a once-deep Texans receiving corps has been thinned out considerably, the story pointed out. Dell, Metchie, Hutchinson, Woods and Sims are the remaining receivers on the 53-man roster until Collins can make his return. Schultz, the TE, should be move involved at least in the short term. The hope is Collins is back in Week 10 as reports say he's been trending in the right direction.

A QB change for the Colts: Indianapolis is benching former first-round pick Anthony Richardson and turning to veteran Joe Flacco.

Schefter added the Colts coaches met this morning and made the decision. The signs were there after HC Shane Steichen said everything will be evaluated. Reports Monday said the team also met privately with Richardson after he took himself out of the game this past week because of needing a break. It's not really clear if this is a one-week benching or more long term. The Colts are in the thick of things sitting at 4-4 and likely feel that Flacco gives them a better chance to win and remain in the hunt for a playoff spot.

The 2-6 Giants are not yet making a quarterback change.

Coach Brian Daboll told reporters on Tuesday that Daniel Jones remains the starting quarterback going forward.

Related players: Drew Lock, Tommy DeVito

The Giants host the Commanders on Sunday. The story mentioned that at some point, the Giants will likely bench Jones in order to avoid his $23 million injury guarantee for 2025. They’re apparently not at that point yet, the story added. The other options behind Jones are Lock and DeVito.

The Jacksonville Jaguars received some good news on Monday. They may not be without their best receiver for very long -- and maybe not even at all.

Brian Thomas Jr. suffered a chest contusion in Sunday's loss to the Green Bay Packers, but an MRI showed no additional damage.

Coach Doug Pederson said on Monday that there's a chance the rookie could play in Sunday's game at Philadelphia, the story said. Thomas leads the team in receiving yards (573) and touchdowns (five). Thomas' play will come down to pain tolerance, but he's listed as day to day, which gives him a shot to suit up. It was previously reported Thomas could miss 2-4 weeks.

Losing Christian Kirk means a bigger role for Parker Washington, a sixth-round pick in 2023. Last season, Washington didn't capitalize on the opportunity when he had to replace an injured Kirk as the Jaguars' primary slot receiver, but the team has no doubt he can now.

Washington was up and down last season when having a chance to get regular snaps. He had two TDs but also missed a route adjustment that led to Trevor Lawrence getting injured. Washington did have a great offseaosn, according to the story, and the team is confident Washington can step up with Kirk out for the season. Those needing help at WR may want to take a gamble on at least stashing Washington.

Giants rookie running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. told me as he was exiting the locker room that he is in the concussion protocol, so he was unavailable to answer questions due to the protocol's policy.

Related players: Devin Singletary

Tracy Jr. had a career night with 145 yards and a TD in losing effort, the post went on to say. Tracy has looked like the real deal and was running head of veteran Singletary on Monday night. The trend has been for players to miss their next game when in protocol, so Tracy's status for Week 9 is certainly in doubt at this point. But, he looks to have taken over as the Giants RB1, so when he returns he will likely remain a solid fantasy play in lineups again. The Giants host the Commanders in Week 9 in an earlier Sunday contest so owners should have plenty of time to adjust lineups if Tracy's status comes down to the wire.

Sources: There’s a growing belief around the NFL that the Panthers are increasingly likely to trade WR Diontae Johnson before the trade deadline.

Related players: Adam Thielen, Xavier Legette, Jonathan Mingo, Jalen Coker

Multiple contending teams are interested, though determining Johnson’s value has been challenging with him in the last year of his contract, the post went on to say. There isn't much reason to keep Johnson in Carolina. He's certainly flashed this year, but it was only with Andy Dalton under center. The Panthers would be able to give the snaps and targets to Legette and Mingo, who were early picks each of the last two seasons in the NFL Draft. Johnson going to a potential contender with a veteran QB would be a huge boost to his fantasy value.

After Greg Zuerlein missed two kicks in Sunday’s loss to the Patriots, Jets interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich said that he had no regrets about sticking with Zuerlein despite several other missed kicks that have played major roles in several of the team’s losses this season.

Ulbrich’s lack of regret isn’t keeping the team from looking at other options as they head into Thursday night’s game against the Texans, the story said. Ulbrich said at a Monday press conference that the team is “going to bring the kickers in for a workout” on Tuesday and then decide who will handle the duties. Zuerlein owners may want to take notice. At the very least, this is just a possible wake-up call for Zuerlein, but it's also possible the team makes a switch before Thursday's game.