Team news | Page 25

Head coach Dennis Allen said in his Monday press conference that he’s optimistic about Derek Carr’s potential return this weekend.

“Derek Carr had a throwing session again today, looked good in the throwing session,” Allen said. “I would expect him to be back out at practice again on Wednesday. And then we’ll go from there and see what his availability is this week. But I’m optimistic about it.”

Related players: Spencer Rattler, Jake Haener

Carr has been out since suffering an oblique injury against the Chiefs in Week 5. Rattler started the last three games for New Orleans, though he was benched in the second half of Sunday’s loss to the Chargers for Haener. The Saints looked dominant over their first two games but have since dropped six-straight. In five games this year, Carr has completed 70.3 percent of his throws for 989 yards with eight touchdowns and four interceptions, the story said.

Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson asked to come out of Sunday’s loss to the Texans for a play because he “needed a break” after doing a lot of running on the two previous plays.

Shane Steichen was asked at his press conference if Anthony Richardson will be the starting quarterback against the Vikings this week.

“We’re evaluating everything,” Steichen said, via multiple reporters.

Related players: Joe Flacco

Richardson reportedly needed a break during Week 8 action. Richardson missed two games with an oblique injury earlier this year and has completed 44.4 percent of his passes with four touchdowns and seven interceptions in his six starts, the story said. Flacco would presumably return to the starting lineup if the Colts decide that it is time to make a change, the story added.

Titans quarterback Will Levis is getting closer to returning from his shoulder injury — and there’s a chance it could happen this week.

“We’ll see where he’s at. I’m optimistic he’s in a better place after some rest,” head coach Brian Callahan said in his Monday press conference. “He’s probably going to take another day or two of some rest and we’ll see what he looks like Wednesday. So, I can’t comment with any certainty what’ll be the case."

Related players: Mason Rudolph

The Titans will need to see what they have in Levis and give him as much time as they can the rest of the season, especially sitting at 1-6 so far this year. The team just traded WR DeAndre Hopkins to Kansas City and will again look toward the future. Rudolph filled in the last two weeks with Levis sidelined, but won't be more than a backup option going forward. Levis hasn't been great and the Titans will likely have some decisions to make heading into next year. In his five starts this season, Levis has completed 66.4 percent of his throws for 699 yards with five touchdowns and seven interceptions.

Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr. could miss 2-4 weeks with a chest/rib injury suffered Sunday, per sources.

Related player: Evan Engram, Gabe Davis, Parker Washington, Devin Duvernay, Travis Etienne

Scans today will determine full extent and next steps, though. Thomas is also getting a second opinion, Fowler went on to say. It's not good news for Trevor Lawrence and the Jags who also just lost Christian Kirk for the season. With Thomas looking likely to be sidelined, it means Engram is probably the team's top target with Davis and Washington highly in the mix. It could also mean Etienne is involved much more in the passing game until Thomas can return. The Jags are also at 2-6 and there have already been talk of the team unloading some of their talent, and Etienne specifically has been mentioned in rumors.

Packers QB Jordan Love is dealing with a groin injury that is considered minor, however, Love's status for Week 9 is in doubt.

Related players: Malik Willis

If Love sits out Week 9, and with the bye in Week 10, he could hopefully be ready to go for Week 11, which is a big game at the Bears in the early slate of games that Sunday. Willis played well filling in for Love earlier this season, so it would seem to make sense the Packers wouldn't push Love to play this week, instead opting to give him two weeks off. Love's status should still be monitored this week, but given the way this sets up, Love owners may want to start planning ahead now.

Ian Rapoport is reporting the 49ers are still targeting Week 10 for RB Christian McCaffrey's return.

Related players: Jordan Mason, Isaac Guerendo

The Niners have a bye in Week 9 and we reported last week it was looking positive for CMC to return to the field for Week 10, which is an early Sunday game at the Buccaneers. Rapoport has said CMC has been ramping up and so far there have been no setbacks, and that continues to be a target date. It's possible CMC is heavily involved in the pass game with all the injuries to the Niners WRs up to this point.

Bryce Young started because of Andy Dalton's sprained thumb, and after the game, Panthers head coach Dave Canales said he wanted to wait a few days and gauge Dalton's ability to grip and throw a football before making any decisions on next week's starter for the home rematch against the Saints.

"We will look at all the information," Canales said when asked who would start next week. "We'll look at Andy's health over the next couple of days, and we'll make that decision, and we'll have an answer for you."

Dalton was involved in a car accident in the days leading up to the game, which kept him out of action. Young got the call and was a mix of good and bad, throwing for two TDs but also throwing two interceptions as well. He was without his best WR in Diontae Johnson as well. The Panthers host the Saints in Week 9 in what will be a favorable matchup for whoever gets the start. It does seem like Dalton's injury and his ability to grip the ball will be a big factor in the team's decision, but the Panthers may be best to see what Young can do against a struggling Saints team. It will be worth monitoring Dalton's injury status this week. The teams play an early Sunday game in Week 9.

The Jags may be even more short-handed, as stellar rookie Brian Thomas Jr. will have an MRI on his ribs to determine his status for the week, source said.

Related players: Gabe Davis, Parker Washington, Devin Duvernay, Tim Jones

Thomas wasn't able to get back on the field after putting up a line of 3-60-1 last week. The Jags are already with Christian Kirk heading into a game with the Eagles. The bit of good news is the Eagles-Jags game was flexed out of Sunday night, so owners will have a little bit more time to figure out a backup plan should Thomas come down to a game-time call. The game is now in the later Sunday window. Rib injuries can be tricky, so owners will want to monitor this all week.

Jaguars WR Christian Kirk suffered a broken collarbone during Sunday’s game against the Packers.

Kirk is expected to miss the rest of the season as a result. Kirk had become the No. 2 wide receiver behind rookie Brian Thomas. He had two catches for 59 yards in the loss. Gabe Davis also left the game with a shoulder injury so Parker Washington saw more work while the Jags involved both of their top tight ends, Evan Engram and Brenton Strange — the two combined for eight catches for 95 yards. The Jaguars visit Philadelphia next week.

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur said there is “obviously a high level of concern” regarding the groin injury for quarterback Jordan Love.

Love left in the middle of Green Bay’s 30-27 win over the Jaguars. He went 14-of-23 for 196 yards with an interception before leaving. He has already missed time this season with a knee injury. Malik Willis finished the game and led the drive that resulted in the game-winning field goal. The Packers host the Lions next week before their bye in Week 10.