Lions HC Dan Campbell didn’t sound optimistic about the prospects of Joseph, who is dealing with a potentially career-threatening knee cartilage issue, helping the Lions this year. In two separate media appearances in the last week, Campbell said that there wasn’t anything he could say about Joseph that would make anyone “feel good.” Pelissero reported Saturday morning that Joseph, who missed all of training camp and hasn’t played since last year’s Week 6 loss to the Chiefs, is hopeful he’ll be available to help the Lions down the stretch. While that may be the case, whether Joseph is able to return to play this year remains an open question. Without Joseph and S Brian Branch (Achilles), the Lions are severely shorthanded in the backend heading into Week 3’s home matchup against the Jets.
Flowers missed Week 2’s loss to the Saints with a hamstring injury after catching five passes for 150 yards and a touchdown in the Week 1 victory over the Colts. Rashod Bateman stepped up as the Ravens’ leading receiver with Flowers out in Week 2. That would likely be the case again if Flowers is held out. As Fowler reports, Flowers would likely be on a snap count if he’s active against the Cowboys in Week 3, which would seem to muddy things for both his and Bateman’s fantasy prospects against the Cowboys. Baltimore takes on Dallas Sunday afternoon at Maracaná Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
According to Pelissero, Giants GM Joe Schoen is “working the phones” and a trade could be done as soon as Monday. The Giants gave Dart’s backup Jameis Winston a two-year contract extension just before the start of the regular season. While the Giants are looking to add to their quarterback depth, it seems unlikely that whoever they acquire at this point would be able to unseat Winston as the starter immediately. New York takes on Tennessee in Week 3 at MetLife Stadium on Sunday.
The Chiefs kept Jones limited in all three practices this week, so this injury isn’t totally behind him yet. Regardless, he should have a productive day against the Dolphins’ offense this week.
Lions LG Christian Mahogany (hip) will also make his return after a week-long absence, and RG Tate Ratledge (elbow) is good to go after two limited sessions early in the week. The Lions’ starting offensive line’s health is improving. Backup OG Ben Bartch (foot) has been ruled out.
Bell upgraded to full participation on Friday after two limited sessions. The rookie wide receiver has been bothered by fluid and soreness in his surgically repaired knee since Week 1, so the Dolphins have limited his snaps in-game. With fellow rookie WR Caleb Douglas (ankle) sidelined for Week 3, the coaching staff could draw up a couple of extra plays with Bell in mind, though he can only be viewed as a WR4.
Bosa strained his calf while going through his pre-practice warm-up routine on Thursday. The team has not yet identified Bosa’s expected return timeline, but the 49ers’ pass rusher will be out for some time. The 49ers also ruled out EDGE Romello Height (hand) for Week 3 against the Cardinals as well.
Dallas and starting RB Aaron Jones (knee) both practiced in full on Friday. Jones will handle the majority of the backfield’s touches while Dallas takes a few carries and plays some on passing downs.
Frankly, this report comes off as more of a recap than breaking news. The Commanders do not yet know when Daniels will return, though they are optimistic that he will miss fewer than four games. According to Rapoport, the goal is to get him back “as soon as possible” and “as safe as possible.” Backup QB
Marcus Mariota
will start in his stead.
Rapoport made the statement, and then immediately referenced 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan’s comments earlier this week, when he said Evans had a “good” chance to play this week, so it is unclear if Rapoport is actually breaking news. That said, no news is good news. If the NFL Network star had learned something contradictory, we would have heard about it. Evans returned to practice in a limited capacity today. Stay tuned for updates and treat him as a WR2 for the time being.
Barkley told reporters after practice that he is confident in his rehab program and plans to play in Week 3 against the Bears. His backups, RB Tank Bigsby (abdomen) and RB Will Shipley (foot), both resumed practicing today as limited participants. Expect Barkley to handle his normal workload in what should be a run-heavy game plan.
Smith was back at practice, logging a limited session, after sitting out yesterday. The Eagles’ WR1 is on track to play, but hamstring injuries can be finicky. This is worth tracking closely. The Bears have fielded a very fantasy-friendly pass defense thus far, making this a favorable matchup for the Eagles’ passing attack.
The Packers largely played in a trailing game script last night. Lloyd does not have meaningful access to passing down snaps, logging just one snap on third down and none in the two-minute drill, making him mostly dependent on decent rushing workloads. He played 45.5 percent of the red zone snaps and took the lone snap inside the five-yard line, but was held out of the end zone. Lloyd’s six touches led the backfield, but are hardly enough to keep him locked in 12-team FLEX spots.
Evans did not practice on Wednesday and Thursday, but was in uniform and warming up during the open portion of Friday’s practice. When asked whether Evans was limited or full, he declined to say. If Evans was full, we have almost no concerns about his ability to play this week, though he likely would have been removed from the injury report if that were the case. Evans must be treated as truly questionable to play, so make a backup plan, but he is the type of player who does not necessarily need to practice fully before practicing. If active, he is a WR2.
This was the expected outcome for Week 3. Reports on Robinson’s injury indicate this could be a multi-week issue. With WR1 Mike Evans (hip) questionable, WR Deebo Samuel and TE George Kittle could take on sizable workloads, though the team will likely still try to limit Kittle’s snap count.
Wright was unable to practice on Friday. He is very unlikely to play, although his absence may only be felt in the return game. Dolphins RB
Ollie Gordon
will serve as the top backup.
The Cardinals lost their top perimeter CB Will Johnson (neck) to injured reserve this week. Fellow perimeter CB Max Melton (toe) is questionable to play. Williams suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon rupture last year, and returns this week to man the slot.
Brissett practiced fully all week, despite the hip injury. Brissett is not quite hitting the peaks he produced last year and is too tough to trust in 12-team leagues. Consider him a QB2 against the 49ers this week.
Ferguson is set to handle No. 2 pass-catcher duties with WR Puka Nacua (hip) sidelined this week. The young tight end posted a 6/54/1 receiving line in Week 2 and can be viewed as a TE1 in this matchup.
Stanley didn’t practice at any point this week and is clearly worse off than he was last week, when he at least made it to the questionable line. Carson Vinson replaced Stanley towards the end of Baltimore’s Week 2 loss to the Saints and would seem to be the fill-in.
It feels like an aggressive questionable as Burns officially missed all three days of practice this week, but it’s likely a good sign for his availability for Week 4. Joining Burns as questionable are CB Deonte Banks (calf) and S Tyler Nubin (calf) as the Giants try to right the ship with Jameis Winston under center.
It sure didn’t seem like he had great chemistry with Jameis Winston on Monday night, leaving Nabers feeling more like a mid-range WR2 than someone you’d really want to count on to carry you to victory in what will be a windy Week 3 game against the Titans. Still, he’s fully healthy and got in full practices in each of the last two days of the week to clear the injury report.
Kahlil Benson draws another start. Simmons has not been spotted at practice since the regular season started.
Jets coach Aaron Glenn said Mitchell got his finger caught in a jersey on Thursday, but he shared no further details. ESPN’s Rich Cimini reported that there is “some concern” regarding the injury, and Mitchell was seen practicing with some sort of all-encompassing wrap around his hand, index finger and middle finger. The speedy wide receiver is firmly in the questionable camp. If active, he must be viewed as a boom-bust WR3/FLEX, though this matchup against the Lions is very favorable.
Fitzpatrick did not practice at all this week. Starting EDGE Joseph Ossai (foot) is questionable to play, though rookie EDGE David Bailey (elbow) is good to go. This looks like a potentially high-scoring game.