Team news: Denver Broncos | Page 24

Patriots QB Jarrett Stidham is in line to start Week 5 if Cam Newton cannot because of his positive COVID-19 diagnosis, according to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports.

Stidham is a quarterback who plays in the NFL. Outside of 2 QB and Superflex leagues, it is tough to imagine the second year QB as a viable fantasy option this week.

After an offseason in which Jarrett Stidham had the inside track to be Tom Brady's heir apparent at quarterback, a plan later knocked off course when Cam Newton officially joined the New England Patriots in early July, it would be understandable if many figured that this is Stidham's time to step in.

So it's next man up. And that next man is ... Brian Hoyer?

That is the expectation after Hoyer has served as the No. 2 quarterback for the first three games of the season and Stidham -- who had beaten out Hoyer for that job in 2019 -- was a game-day inactive each of the first three weeks.

The story said after Newton signed, the No. 2 job still was well within Stidham's reach, however, until everything changed Aug. 20, the fourth day of training camp. After a shaky practice that day, Stidham visited a Boston hospital for tests on his leg, which came back negative. While Stidham was on the field for practice the next day, his repetitions were scaled way back. He never really recovered and never really made a strong charge.

With Courtland Sutton out, Tim Patrick will see more targets alongside rookies Jerry Jeudy, K.J. Hamler and Tyrie Cleveland. Additionally, third-year pro DaeSean Hamilton and second-year pro Diontae Spencer, a former CFL star who is the Broncos’ punt returner, will also need to elevate. The depth in the receivers’ room has Patrick still feeling confident about the unit’s potential, even minus its injured Pro Bowler.

Even with a young, talented group of WRs, the story said the onus is on Patrick after spending his offseason training with Sutton and Hamilton in Miami and Atlanta, where Patrick sought to bring more refinement to his game. Patrick is a name to keep an eye on but probably isn't on a lot of radars this week, and, the QB situation isn't ideal as either Jeff Driskel or Blake Bortles will be under center until Drew Lock comes back.

Wide receiver Courtland Sutton suffered a torn ACL in Sunday's 26-21 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers and will miss the remainder of the season. Sutton had missed the season opener with a right shoulder injury suffered Sept. 8 in practice and had been limited in practice in the days leading up to Sunday's game.

Additionally, Broncos quarterback Drew Lock will miss 3 to 5 weeks with a severe strain of the rotator cuff in his throwing shoulder, an injury he suffered in the first quarter Sunday.

Related players: Jerry Jeudy, Jeff Driskel, K.J. Hamler, Tim Patrick, DaeSean Hamilton

Sutton missed Week 1 with a shoulder injury and the news wasn't looking good after he suffered a knee injury in Week 2. That news was confirmed today as Sutton will now miss the remainder of the season. Meanwhile, QB Lock will miss 3-5 weeks with Driskel taking over in that time. With Sutton out, Jeudy, Hamler, Patrick and Hamilton take over. They are certainly talented names, but will take a bit of a hit with Driskel at QB. Perhaps RB Melvin Gordon sees and increase in workload.

Wide receiver Courtland Sutton made his 2020 debut against the Steelers on Sunday after missing the opener with a shoulder injury, but he was limited to 31 snaps due to a knee injury.

Mike Klis of KUSA reports that the concern is that Sutton’s injury is a significant one.

He is going for an MRI on Monday for a better understanding of the injury and how long it might keep him out of action. We will update, but it looks like Sutton owners should be prepared for him to miss some time. The Broncos also lost QB Drew Lock, perhaps for multiple weeks, making a lot of their offense a much-less desired one in the fantasy world going forward.

Patriots RB James White (personal reason) will not play Sunday against the Seahawks and is inactive.

New England Patriots inactives, SNF

OLB Josh Uche
OT Korey Cunningham
QB Jarrett Stidham
RB James White
TE Dalton Keene
DB Myles Bryant

In tragic news, White’s father was involved in a car crash and did not survive and his mother was also in that accident and is in critical condition. White was made aware of the news and made the decision not to play, which is completely understandable. Sony Michel and Rex Burkhead will help lead the running back room in Seattle.

Courtland Sutton (knee/leg cramping) won't return to Sunday's game against the Steelers, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Related players: Jerry Jeudy, K.J. Hamler, Tim Patrick, DaeSean Hamilton.

Sutton had been dealing with a shoulder issue as well. Jeudy, Hamler, Patrick and Hamilton would be next up if Sutton has to miss more time. He was out for Week 1.