Team news | Page 21

Browns TE David Njoku missed practice today with his ankle injury. He missed 3 games with it earlier this season.

Related Players: Cedric Tillman, Jerry Jeudy, Jordan Akins

It would be a huge bummer if Njoku were forced to miss time after putting up great back-to-back performances sans Watson at quarterback. Jordan Akins would be interesting for deep leagues in this scenario, though he only crested 9.0 half-PPR points in one game during Njoku's absence.

DT Jalen Carter (shoulder) and G Landon Dickerson (knee) are at Eagles practice. Neither practiced on Wednesday.

TE Dallas Goedert (hamstring) and CB Darius Slay (groin) are still absent.

Related Players: Grant Calcaterra

It's looking like another Calcaterra week, which can be ignored in nearly all fantasy formats. Calcaterra crested 50 yards last week but delivered a 1-5-0 line back in Week 7. If Goedert is cleared before Week 9, he is very startable against a soft Jaguars defense.

Ravens QB Lamar Jackson (back/knee) is not practicing for a second straight day. Ravens HC John Harbaugh described yesterday as a “rest” day for Jackson, but he’s not out there again today. With two games in five days, Jackson’s status obviously becoming a storyline.

Related Players: Josh Johnson

After John Harbaugh announced it was a "rest day" yesterday, it was revealed that he was dealing with a "back/knee" ailment, so this might be turning into something a little more worrisome for his Week 9 availability. All pass-catchers would receive a downgrade if Jackson is out of the lineup, though Derrick Henry could be tasked with a larger workload. We'll keep an eye on the situation as we head toward the weekend.

Bengals WR Tee Higgins (quad) not practicing for the second day but is here for rehab work.

Related Players: Ja'Marr Chase, Andrei Iosivas, Trenton Irwin, Mike Gesicki

If Higgins misses more time, expect Chase's target share to skyrocket, while Iosivas would once again be an interesting deep-league Flex play option, while Gesicki returns to TE streamer range.

Rookie RB Tyrone Tracy has progressed in the concussion protocol and is practicing in a red jersey. Will be a limited participant, per Brian Daboll.

“Trending in the right direction.”

Related Players: Devin Singletary, Eric Gray

He was reported as "in the early stages" just yesterday, so this is obviously much better news 24 hours later. Singletary should be considered a fringe RB2/3 if Tracy misses, but the rookie would be a locked in RB2 if he goes.

Patriots OC Alex Van Pelt says the team is going into the week open-minded about the QB situation.

Van Pelt says he's very hopeful that things keep going the way they're progressing with rookie QB Drake Maye in concussion protocol.

Otherwise, Van Pelt won't discuss injuries.

Related Players: Jacoby Brissett

Looks like they're going to run this down to the wire after it was announced that Maye is in "phase three" of the five-phase protocol yesterday. If Brissett gets the start, all New England fantasy options get a downgrade.

Per Mike Macdonald, DK Metcalf won't practice for Seahawks today, but he's optimistic receiver will have a shot to practice tomorrow.

Related Players: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Tyler Lockett

This is a tough matchup against the Rams' secondary, but there's also a chance for a shootout not that L.A.'s pass-catchers are back to health. JSN remains an interesting Flex play, while Lockett can't be trusted at this point.

Derek Carr was on a "little bit" of a pitch count for Wednesday's practice, but is still expected to start Sunday, Dennis Allen said.

Related Players: Spencer Rattler, Jake Haener

Good news for the Saints as they try to claw their way back into playoff talks. This would be great for Chris Olave, who has a very cushy matchup against the Panthers secondary this week.

Even with Andy Dalton healthy, the Panthers will stick with Bryce Young as their starting quarterback Sunday against the Saints.

This is a downgrade for all Carolina pass-catchers, while Young is also a stay-away for your lineups.

Raiders TE Brock Bowers had an X-ray after Sunday's game but coach Antonio Pierce said the rookie checked out fine and there are no worries there.

Related Players: Harrison Bryant

Bowers, the team's de facto WR1, should be jammed into any and all lineups in Week 9.