Team news: Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Page 18

It’ll be Nick Mullens starting today against the Raiders, per sources.

Related players: Baker Mayfield, Case Keenum

Browns QBs Mayfield and Keenum didn’t test out of COVID protocols heading into the first of two Monday night games in Week 15, even needing just one negative test now. One would think it should be a heavy dose of Nick Chubb and then D'Ernest Johnson in the passing game and passing situations for the Browns tonight.

Bucs’ HC Bruce Arians on the decision to bring back WR Antonio Brown and S Mike Edwards after they misrepresented their vaccination status: “Yeah, it’s in the best interest of our football team. Both of those guys have served their time and we’ll welcome them back.”

Related players: Chris Godwin, Mike Evans

Those who kept Brown around all this time, through injury and suspension, could be greatly rewarded as we enter the fantasy semifinals and finals. The Bucs lost Evans and Godwin on Sunday night this past week and both could be looking at missing multiple weeks. The team also lost top pass-catching RB Leonard Fournette, so Brown could be in store for a lot of targets over the next few weeks.

The early thought on Chris Godwin’s injury is he sprained his MCL during Sunday’s game against the Saints.

Godwin will miss time and will undergo an MRI to determine a timetable for his return. It’s possible he could be out until the playoffs wit just three weeks left in the season. The Bucs could just choose to rest him. They still have the division in their grasp, but will likely be playing on Wild Card Weekend. The Bucs’ remaining schedule is the Panthers, Jets and then the Panthers again.

Buccaneers WR Mike Evans (hamstring) is doubtful and WR Chris Godwin (knee) is questionable to return to Sunday’s game against the Saints. We could continue to see a lot of Leonard Fournette, who already has six catches tonight.

Update: Both have been ruled out for the rest of the game.

Tough news on top of what’s already been a fairly quiet day for the Buccaneers offense, as they trail at the half, 6-0. Godwin was the leading receiver for Tampa in the first half with 49 yards on six catches. Evans has one catch for 14 yards.

Giants WR Sterling Shepard suffered a torn Achilles during Sunday’s loss to the Cowboys and is done for the season.

Very unfortunate for Shepard, who had been battling injury all season and now is not only lost for the rest of 2021, but almost certainly will miss the start of the 2022 season. Shepard is still under contract with the Giants for two more seasons but will have missed 20 games in the last three seasons.

The activation will generate a committee in the backfield for Arizona. James Conner is dealing with an ankle injury of his own and should allow Edmonds a workload that is serviceable for fantasy against a exploitable Detroit run defense.

Edmonds could see RB1 usage of Conner ends up with an inactive tag. Monitor the status of the starting running back before confidently inserting Edmonds into your lineup.

The activation will generate a committee in the backfield for Arizona. James Conner is dealing with an ankle injury of his own and should allow Edmonds a workload that is serviceable for fantasy against a exploitable Detroit run defense.

Edmonds could see RB1 usage of Conner ends up with an inactive tag. Monitor the status of the starting running back before confidently inserting Edmonds into your lineup.

Cardinals RB James Conner (ankle) and TE Zach Ertz (hamstring) are questionable for Week 15's game at the Detroit Lions.

Related Players: Chase Edmonds, Eno Benjamin

Edmonds reportedly looked good at practice and could be activated for the game against Detroit. Ertz popped up on the injury report Friday so his status is one to watch carefully Sunday.

Giants WR Sterling Shepard (calf) is questionable for Week 15's game against the Dallas Cowboys.

The Giants are thinner at receiver with Kadarius Toney and John Ross out for COVID protocols. His insertion in the starting lineup would go a long way to giving the Giants a shot at scoring against Dallas.