Team news: Tennessee Titans | Page 23

The New Orleans Saints will be without TE Nick Vannett (knee) for 2-4 weeks, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. He joins Adam Trautman on the sidelines for the immediate future.

Related Player: Juwan Johnson

Bad news for Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill. Trautman was/is expected to be the main catching tight end, while Vannett the main blocking tight end. Word out of camp has Juwan Johnson as a wild card following an impressive showing the past few weeks and could be the starting tight end to open 2021. The converted wide receiver saw a snap increase during New Orleans's Week 2 preseason game following injuries to Trautman and Vannett.

Falcons WR Olamide Zaccheus has been the standout wide receiver for the Falcons with Calvin Ridley and Russell Gage leading the depth chart, according to Kevin Knight of 'The Falcoholic' of SB Nation. "Zaccheaus has also notably been lined up both in the slot and outside, so there’s a chance he could be the starting outside WR opposite Calvin Ridley when the Falcons are in 12 personnel packages," wrote Knight.

The last line is important to note as Russell Gage has worked best from the slot. Zaccheus could also line up opposite another Falcons receiver if Atlanta wants Ridley to get looks inside away from potential shadow coverage. The Falcons may have to throw more unless RB Mike Davis can impress similarly as he did with Carolina in 2020. That could mean more snaps and targets for Zaccheus after showing signs of talent when injuries took away some of Atlanta's receiver depth last season.

Calvin Ridley apparently accomplished that on a foot he called “not good last year.” But after offseason surgery, Ridley said this week that his foot is “totally, definitely fixed.”

“In the offseason, I was really worried about myself,” Ridley said, via Michael Rothstein of ESPN. “But now, the best thing I could have did was get the surgery and it really helped.”

Ridley started 15 games, making 90 catches for 1,374 yards with nine TDs last season.

Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger will not back up Mason Rudolph Sunday, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.

Steelers are throwing in the towel this week.

Bengals WR Tyler Boyd is expected to play Sunday, according to Bengals head coach Zac Taylor.

Boyd looks to end the season on a high note. Brandon Allen looks to have his receiver trio available for the season finale.

Steelers Mike Tomlin just announced in his press conference that Mason Rudolph will start in place of Ben Roethlisberger against the Browns on Sunday.

The Steelers don't have a lot to play for in Week 17, and even a loss would keep them as a three-seed, while still hosting a playoff game. The Steelers are a game behind the Bills but the Bills won head to head and obviously hold the tiebreaker as a result.