Ja’Marr Chase Injury Update: Will Chase Play in Week 10? Fantasy Impact and More

Derek Tate
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Ja’Marr Chase Injury Update: Will Chase Play in Week 10? Fantasy Impact and More

The Cincinnati Bengals‘ offense has been turning the corner over the past couple of games, but they could take a significant step backward if superstar WR Ja’Marr Chase is unable to play in Week 10 against the Houston Texans due to a back injury.

Let’s take a closer look at the most recent injury updates we have for Chase and the potential fantasy football fallout for the Bengals’ offense.

Latest Injury Update on Ja’Marr Chase

According to a recent report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Chase was a non-participant in Wednesday’s practice with the team. An additional report from Ben Baby spotted Chase walking out to the practice field on Thursday with a jersey and going to stretch. His official practice participation for Thursday has not yet been determined.

Will Ja’Marr Chase Play This Week?

Chase fantasy managers are holding out hope he will be able to take the field against the Texans after sustaining a back injury last week against the Buffalo Bills. Chase did play 90% of the offensive snaps, so he proved he’s capable of battling through the injury, but his failure to practice on Wednesday caught the eye of many fantasy managers.

Fortunately, if Chase is indeed practicing on Thursday in some capacity, that can definitely be seen as a big step in the right direction toward playing on Sunday. If he participates again on Friday, I would say the chances are pretty good that he’ll be on the field against the Texans.

What Does This Mean for Tee Higgins’ Fantasy Ranking?

This is the part where I need to remind you that Higgins is also on the injury report right now while dealing with a hamstring injury. If he’s not practicing today, his reduction in practice participation from limited on Wednesday to non-participant on Thursday would put his status for Sunday in serious jeopardy.

In theory, if Chase is unable to play against the Texans and Higgins is available, then Higgins would get a huge boost into top-12 consideration at the WR position. We simply don’t have enough information to determine what the most likely outcome is, but the fact that both players are banged up heading into this matchup could certainly open the door for other Bengals pass catchers to make a fantasy impact in Week 10.

MORE: PFN Consensus Rankings

The first name that comes to mind would be WR Tyler Boyd, who caught three passes for 56 yards against the Bills last week. Other names to keep an eye on would be WR Andrei Iosivas, TE Drew Sample, TE Tanner Hudson, and TE Irv Smith Jr.

If Chase is active against Houston, he’s still a top-five wide receiver in Week 10. If he’s inactive, then look for Higgins to potentially be the biggest beneficiary.

Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer, Start/Sit Optimizer, and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!

Dallas Cowboys Practice Report: Did KaVontae Turpin Practice on Thursday?

Jess Nevarez
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Dallas Cowboys Practice Report: Did KaVontae Turpin Practice on Thursday?

FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys are preparing for Sunday’s matchup with the New York Giants, but new injuries popped up on Wednesday to keep a close eye on.

Dallas Cowboys Injury Report

Thursday’s official practice report is as follows:

  • Tyron Smith (illness) and KaVontae Turpin (shoulder) did not participate.
  • Markquese Bell (calf) and Osa Odighizuwa (hamstring) were limited.
  • Tyler Biadasz (ankle) and Jayron Kearse (toe) were full participants.

Cowboys Practice Report Ahead of Week 10

The Cowboys are two weeks removed from their bye week and played a physical game against the Philadelphia Eagles this past Sunday.

Their schedule returned to normal on Thursday and was held indoors at the Ford Center at The Star because of rainy weather.

KaVontae Turpin

During practice, KaVontae Turpin didn’t take any returner reps and was talking with Deuce Vaughn while Vaughn was taking reps. Ahead of practice, Mike McCarthy said Turpin’s level of involvement on Thursday would be questionable.

Turpin was on Wednesday’s injury report with a shoulder injury he sustained during Sunday’s game against the Eagles.

MORE: How Many Viewers Tuned Into Eagles vs. Cowboys? Sunday’s Contest Drew Record Numbers

Although Turpin was questionable to return during the game, he returned after seven minutes and scored a touchdown. Initial reports said that he was dealing with a rib issue, but it was later clarified that Turpin was dealing with a shoulder injury.

Tyron Smith

Tyron Smith was seen on the sidelines during practice, which isn’t shocking considering he typically takes veteran rest days during the week and because of the team’s unusual schedule on Wednesday.

This time, however, Smith did not participate in Wednesday’s practice because of an illness.

Although the All-Pro tackle played on Sunday, he was inactive the week prior because of a neck injury he sustained at practice.

Markquese Bell

At practice on Thursday, Markquese Bell was seen working with Britt Brown and doing exercises with the ropes.

Bell was on Wednesday’s injury report with a calf issue and was listed as a limited participant in Wednesday’s practice. It’s unclear how or when he got injured.

Jayron Kearse

On Thursday, Kearse was seen in team stretches and working in position drills during the time allotted to the media. Kearse was listed as a full participant on Wednesday, as this is the second week he is working through a toe injury.

Although his toe didn’t impact his playing time on Sunday against the Eagles, it’s worth watching since it is a reoccurring injury.

From the current NFL standings to team depth charts to coverage of every game in the 18-week NFL schedule, we have all the news from around the league to keep you up to speed!

Drake London Injury Update: Will London Play in Week 10? Fantasy Impact and More

Derek Tate
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Drake London Injury Update: Will London Play in Week 10? Fantasy Impact and More

Fantasy football managers hope to get their first look at Atlanta Falcons WR Drake London with new QB Taylor Heinicke under center in Week 10 against the Arizona Cardinals. Will he be able to return to the starting lineup this Sunday while dealing with a groin injury?

Latest Injury Update on Drake London

According to a recent report from Maria Martin, London was back on the practice field for Wednesday’s practice with the team.

Will Drake London Play This Week?

London making an appearance on the practice field to start the week is very encouraging, considering he missed last week’s game against the Minnesota Vikings. This doesn’t make him a lock to play in Week 10 by any stretch, but it gives him plenty of time to ramp up to full participation over the two practices heading into the weekend.

Fantasy managers will need to monitor his participation in practice as the week progresses.

What Does This Mean for KhaDarel Hodge and Mack Hollins’ Fantasy Ranking?

In the one game without London in the lineup in 2023, KhaDarel Hodge and Mack Hollins both managed to make modest contributions to the Falcons’ passing game in an expanded role.

Hodge caught three balls for 60 yards, while Hollins caught three passes for 36 yards. Neither player scored, but both tallied between 5-10 fantasy points in PPR formats, which may have helped a few fantasy managers in deeper leagues get by for a week.

MORE: PFN Consensus Rankings

The biggest fantasy performance came from TE Jonnu Smith of all people, who posted a career-high 100 yards on five receptions with a score. His breakout fantasy performance is a sore subject for shareholders of Bijan Robinson and Kyle Pitts, who combined for just six receptions and 64 yards through the air against the Vikings.

This is only a one-game sample size with Heinicke under center, but ultimately London’s workload and production are a bit unknown. There’s no denying that he’ll still be a focal point of Atlanta’s passing game, but the move to a veteran QB under center doesn’t guarantee the needle moving drastically in one direction or the other moving forward.

If anything, London appeared to finally be gelling with QB Desmond Ridder over his last four starts. Despite not finding the end zone during this four-game stretch, London did a fantasy floor of five receptions for 54 yards before getting injured.

If London can return to the lineup against the Cardinals, a fantasy-friendly matchup will be waiting and would put him firmly in the low-end WR2 conversation for Week 10.

However, if London misses a second straight game, then a combination of Hodge and Hollins will soak up more snaps and targets available in London’s absence, while Pitts, Smith, and Robinson will also see work as well.

Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer, Start/Sit Optimizer, and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision.

NFL Week 10 Predictions from Pro Football Network: Can the Bengals, Ravens, and Steelers Keep Rolling?

Dalton Miller
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NFL Week 10 Predictions from Pro Football Network: Can the Bengals, Ravens, and Steelers Keep Rolling?

After a Week 9 slate that was a heavy hitter on paper but underwhelmed outside of one game, Week 10 is interesting. Although the afternoon and prime-time windows are underwhelming, there are multiple big games in the early window. What do PFN’s NFL Week 10 predictions look like?

Pro Football Network’s Week 10 NFL Predictions

How did the selection committee fair in Week 9, and who is the new leader in the clubhouse throughout the season?

Year to Date

  • Dalton Miller: 88-48
  • Dallas Robinson: 88-48
  • David Bearman: 84-52
  • Adam Beasley: 82-54
  • Jay Morrison: 78-58

Last Week

  • Bearman: 11-3
  • Robinson: 10-4
  • Beasley: 9-5
  • Miller: 9-5
  • Morrison: 9-5

Remember, these predictions are simply deciding between winners and losers. There are no point spreads here. For that, head over to our Week 10 betting predictions.

Carolina Panthers at Chicago Bears

  • Beasley: Bears
  • Bearman: Bears
  • Miller: Bears
  • Morrison: Bears
  • Robinson: Bears

There may not ever be a game that captures the energy of Thursday Night Football quite like this one. Two teams vying for the top pick in the NFL Draft with their records, except the Bears are in a no-lose situation because they own the Panthers’ first-round pick in 2024.

MORE: Carolina Panthers vs. Chicago Bears Predictions

But with injuries up and down the Panthers’ defensive roster, even Chicago’s underwhelming depth chart should be able to get a win, just as long as their own defense can get to Bryce Young a few times along the way.

Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots

  • Beasley: Colts
  • Bearman: Colts
  • Miller: Colts
  • Morrison: Colts
  • Robinson: Colts

Much like the Panthers, maybe the Patriots could compete in this game were they healthy. However, most of New England’s defensive playmakers are on injured reserve. Arguably their best receiver, Kendrick Bourne — a statement that sounds more like a cruel joke than a reality — is also on IR.

The Colts haven’t found much offensive firepower over the past few weeks, particularly in the passing game. But they’ve proven the much more consistent team so far this season.

Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens

  • Beasley: Ravens
  • Bearman: Ravens
  • Miller: Ravens
  • Morrison: Ravens
  • Robinson: Ravens

The Cleveland Browns’ defense is special. Last week, albeit against a bad Cardinals team, Deshaun Watson played well in his first full start back from injuring his shoulder. But from an analytical perspective, it’s hard to look at the Ravens as anything lower than the third-best team in the NFL. And they might be the best.

Cleveland’s pass rush could cause problems for a somewhat fumble-prone Lamar Jackson. However, the Browns’ trump card, their defense, is nearly matched by Mike Macdonald’s unit on the other side.

Houston Texans at Cincinnati Bengals

  • Beasley: Bengals
  • Bearman: Bengals
  • Miller: Bengals
  • Morrison: Bengals
  • Robinson: Bengals

C.J. Stroud is coming off one of the most impressive rookie performances of all time. His 470-yard game against the Buccaneers may have been more impressive on tape than it was on the stat sheet. However, Lou Anarumo’s defense will provide a different challenge entirely.

If this game had been scheduled in the first quarter of the year, Houston might take it. But the Bengals are on a roll, and Joe Burrow is back at 100%. Even without a healthy Ja’Marr Chase, the Bengals’ offense will likely do enough to overcome the young and talented Texans’ roster.

San Francisco 49ers at Jacksonville Jaguars

  • Beasley: 49ers
  • Bearman: Jaguars
  • Miller: Jaguars
  • Morrison: Jaguars
  • Robinson: 49ers

The 49ers are coming out of their bye week after losing three consecutive games. In those outings, Brock Purdy has looked more like Mr. Irrelevent than the quarterback who hadn’t lost a regular-season game before their three-game skid.

But San Francisco’s defensive slide could be even more disparaging. The addition of Chase Young could prove to be the medicine that the unit needed, though.

MORE: Pro Football Network’s NFL Midseason Awards 2023

Jacksonville’s defense ranks just below Cleveland and Baltimore in EPA. They’re seventh in success rate as well, so it’s not like the Jaguars’ defense provides Purdy the opportunity to get back into a groove at his own pace.

However, Jacksonville’s offense has been relatively underwhelming. Still, Trevor Lawrence gets rid of the ball quickly, which could help take away the 49ers’ greatest strength — their pass rush.

New Orleans Saints at Minnesota Vikings

  • Beasley: Saints
  • Bearman: Saints
  • Miller: Saints
  • Morrison: Vikings 
  • Robinson: Vikings 

Joshua Dobbs wasn’t supposed to even play a week ago against the Falcons, but he ended up being the reason Minnesota won the game. The veteran journeyman turned the ball over twice and took a safety, but he played well enough otherwise to post the best QBR of the week.

Although the Saints’ defense proved somewhat susceptible to Tyson Bagent’s legs, they remain one of the best defenses in the NFL. But it’s their offensive performance that is making them more trustworthy over the past few weeks.

Green Bay Packers at Pittsburgh Steelers

  • Beasley: Steelers
  • Bearman: Steelers
  • Miller: Steelers
  • Morrison: Steelers
  • Robinson: Steelers

The Steelers are incredibly difficult to feel good about, even though they’re 5-3. Their defense has seen good results, but their secondary is a liability against a talented receiving corps.

Luckily for them, T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith exist, and Cameron Heyward is back from IR. Pittsburgh’s offense is a tough watch because of missed opportunities, undisciplined play, and bad structure.

Yet, Pittsburgh consistently finds ways to win games. Many believed their roster was incapable of keeping Mike Tomlin’s streak of consecutive winning seasons safe, but the reality has flipped.

The Steelers’ defense might be overachieving slightly, but their offense consistently leaves yards and points on the field. They’re winning ugly, but that might not be the case for long if they start converting more on offense.

Tennessee Titans at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

  • Beasley: Buccaneers
  • Bearman: Buccaneers
  • Miller: Buccaneers
  • Morrison: Buccaneers
  • Robinson: Buccaneers

Tampa Bay’s defense was embarrassed a week ago against the Texans, but the Titans don’t have the same offensive firepower as their AFC South counterparts. Will Levis was outstanding in his first start, but Pittsburgh got the best of him (and missed some opportunities) on a short week.

Meanwhile, Baker Mayfield is coming off his own stellar performance against Houston. He was excellent, particularly in the fourth quarter when the offense needed points to keep pace with the Texans’ offense.

Atlanta Falcons at Arizona Cardinals

  • Beasley: Falcons
  • Bearman: Cardinals
  • Miller: Falcons
  • Morrison: Cardinals
  • Robinson: Falcons

This decision could have been very simple, but Kyler Murray is back in action for the first time in 2023. There’s no telling exactly how ready the former No. 1 pick will be in his first action since tearing his ACL on Dec. 13 of last season.

MORE: NFL Injuries Week 10

The Falcons haven’t yet faced a quarterback as naturally gifted as Murray, so it’s hard to know how good their defense truly is. Yet, they rank 12th in EPA and fifth in defensive success rate. Taylor Heinicke might be a better option than Desmond Ridder, but his first outing as Atlanta’s starter wasn’t exactly memorable.

Detroit Lions at Los Angeles Chargers

  • Beasley: Lions
  • Bearman: Lions
  • Miller: Lions
  • Morrison: Chargers
  • Robinson: Lions

The Chargers need a win much more than the Lions do at the moment, but necessity has never been the deciding factor in a win or loss. L.A.’s defense had a great day against the Jets on Monday Night Football, but that probably says more about New York’s offense than the Chargers’ defense.

Justin Herbert hasn’t been playing as sharply as we’ve become accustomed to seeing since injuring his non-throwing thumb, and the Lions are incredibly well-rounded. They’re currently hovering at 11th in offensive EPA and eighth in defensive EPA, although both numbers are skewed by their drubbing at the hands of the Ravens.

New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys

  • Beasley: Cowboys
  • Bearman: Cowboys
  • Miller: Cowboys
  • Morrison: Cowboys
  • Robinson: Cowboys

We’ve seen the Cowboys’ pass rush. We’ve watched the Giants try to pass protect. And we’ve seen how bad New York’s offense is with Tommy DeVito forced into starting action.

Dallas already lost to the Cardinals this season, but they’ve regularly handled business against lesser opponents in the Mike McCarthy era.

Washington Commanders at Seattle Seahawks

  • Beasley: Seahawks
  • Bearman: Seahawks
  • Miller: Seahawks
  • Morrison: Seahawks
  • Robinson: Seahawks

The Seahawks suffered a catastrophic setback a week ago against the Ravens and will look to correct their course against the Commanders. Washington beat the Patriots by a field goal a week ago, but Sam Howell will face a much sterner test against Seattle’s talented secondary.

New York Jets at Las Vegas Raiders

  • Beasley: Jets
  • Bearman: Raiders
  • Miller: Jets
  • Morrison: Raiders
  • Robinson: Raiders

The Jets have found a way to tread water, much like they had a season ago. However, it remains quite clear that their offense simply is not good enough with Zach Wilson to truly be contenders in the AFC.

Meanwhile, the Raiders are coming off a win after firing their head coach. Aidan O’Connell and the Raiders offense looked revived, and the defense dominated the DeVito-led Giants offense.

Denver Broncos at Buffalo Bills

  • Beasley: Bills
  • Bearman: Bills
  • Miller: Bills
  • Morrison: Bills
  • Robinson: Bills

The Bills’ defense might be cooked. They’ve produced at a near league-worst level since losing Matt Milano, Tre’Davious White, and DaQuan Jones. But Buffalo’s offense is still excellent, particularly because Josh Allen is incredible.

Meanwhile, the Broncos are coming off of their bye after winning consecutive games, one of which was an incredible performance against the Chiefs.

From the current NFL standings to team depth charts to coverage of every game in the 18-week NFL schedule, we have all the news from around the league to keep you up to speed!

How the 2022 Tua Tagovailoa Concussion Saga Is Still Impacting the NFL

Adam H. Beasley
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How the 2022 Tua Tagovailoa Concussion Saga Is Still Impacting the NFL

It’s been more than a year since Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa became the face of the NFL‘s concussion problem.

Tagovailoa, fortunately, has so far avoided any head injuries in 2023 after two diagnosed concussions in 2022 — plus a third situation that would have put him in the concussion protocol had the rules that were changed because of him been in place.

Tua’s high-profile medical issues led to a new standard that mandates that any player who exhibits ataxia (or gross motor instability) — as Tagovailoa did in the Dolphins’ Week 4 game against the Bills last fall — be immediately ruled out of the game, regardless of the results of any sideline or locker room tests.

That no-go standard has been in place for 13 months now, and while the application of the very specific rule is rare, it has happened in the time since, NFL chief medical officer Allen Sills told reporters on a conference call Thursday.

The NFL’s Tua Tagovailoa Concussion Rule

“I think it’s accurate to say [that potential concussions] would have been handled very differently this year as a result of that protocol change,” Sills said. “That’s why we made the change. And we have seen situations where players were diagnosed with a concussion because of ataxia.

Sills added: “Thankfully, it’s not super common, it’s just not a common sign for that. We’re grateful, but we have seen it used to make the diagnosis of concussion this year.”

Sills added that the NFL in the past year has made a concerted effort to educate the league’s concussion spotters, the unaffiliated neurotrauma consultants, team physicians, and athletic trainers this year on the signs of ataxia. The league wants uniformity in the application of the rule.

Ataxia symptoms include abnormal gait, lack of coordination, slurred speech, deterioration of fine motor skills, poor balance, and tremors, per the National Ataxia Foundation.

Sills’ comments came during a broader conversation about the league’s concussion protocol.

MORE: Why Doesn’t the Miami Dolphins Offense Travel?

During which, NFL EVP of communications and public affairs Jeff Miller stressed that the league does not want to outlaw the kickoff, even though the return rate is significantly down this year with the new fair catch rule (which was instituted for player safety reasons).

A couple of other interesting stats that they shared during the Zoom call:

  • The median time spent in the concussion protocol is nine days, and 37% of concussed players return a week after the games concussions.
  • Between 30 and 40% of players placed in the protocol self-report symptoms.
  • No player has suffered a concussion on Sunday and played on Thursday in at least the last seven years. (Tagovailoa exhibited ataxia on Sunday but was allowed to return to the game and play four days later when he suffered a scary, diagnosed concussion in prime time.)

From the current NFL standings to team depth charts to coverage of every game in the 18-week NFL schedule, we have all the news from around the league to keep you up to speed!

NFL World Reacts After Jets Respond to Peyton Manning’s Jab at Team’s Attendance

John Fields
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NFL World Reacts After Jets Respond to Peyton Manning’s Jab at Team’s Attendance

The New York Jets clapped back at Peyton Manning on Wednesday after the legendary former NFL quarterback took a jab at the franchise’s attendance.

Manning and country music singer/songwriter Luke Bryan co-hosted the Country Music Association’s annual awards show on the night and put their own comedic spin on the night’s festivities. One of their jabs was targeted at the Jets.

Jets Keep Receipts From Peyton Manning Barb

During a portion of the night’s festivities, Manning set Bryan up to take a jab at New York’s typical fan presence for the franchise’s games.

“You know the difference between the New York Jets and Taylor Swift?” Manning asked.

“Uh, Taylor can sell out a stadium,” Bryan said.

“You nailed it,” Manning replied. “I had you do that punchline, Luke, so I wouldn’t get in trouble.”

MORE: Quinnen Williams Addresses Comments Troy Aikman Made About Him During Monday Night Football

The Jets responded by posting a clip of Manning and Bryan’s comments to X (commonly known as Twitter) alongside a picture of a soldout crowd at MetLife Stadium for a game against the Buffalo Bills earlier this season.

The Jets rank third in the NFL by average attendance at their home games this season at a mark of just over 80,000, according to ESPN. They have played in front of a total of 656,602 fans across their eight games this season, including 403,159 at the five home games.

Fans React to New York’s Response

One Twitter commenter used some colorful language to describe Manning and called back to his 41-0 playoff loss to the Jets back in 2003 when he was still with the Indianapolis Colts. The Wild Card Round showdown was played in front of a reported crowd of more than 78,000 people.

Manning went 1-2 all-time in playoff games against the Jets. He and the Colts took a 30-17 win in 2009 on their way to losing in the Super Bowl to the New Orleans Saints before the Manning-led Colts fell 17-16 to New York in 2010.

Another Jets fan recalled Manning’s involvement in the franchise hiring Adam Gase as its head coach back in January 2019.

Gase was an assistant coach with the Denver Broncos from 2012-2014, when Manning spent the latter years of his career with the franchise and helped deliver a Super Bowl to Denver.

Gase, who had previously coached the division-rival Miami Dolphins to a 5-1 record against New York, reportedly had Manning put in a good word for him with the Jets before he was hired.

The hire ultimately backfired on New York as they went 7-9 in Gase’s first season at the helm, then 2-14 in 2020 before firing him less than two years after the date that his hiring was announced.

Ultimately, it’s clear there is plenty of tension between Manning and the Jets’ fan base, and perhaps even the organization itself, given their history.

From the current NFL standings to team depth charts to coverage of every game in the 18-week NFL schedule, we have all the news from around the league to keep you up to speed!

Tyreek Hill and Andy Reid’s Wholesome Interaction Before Chiefs-Dolphins Game

John Fields
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Tyreek Hill and Andy Reid’s Wholesome Interaction Before Chiefs-Dolphins Game

Tyreek Hill played his first game against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday after he was dealt to the Miami Dolphins in a 2022 trade between the franchises.

Hill did not appear to harbor any ill will toward Kansas City or his now former head coach Andy Reid on Sunday when the two interacted pregame. The two expressed their appreciation for one another despite their somewhat tense separation.

Tyreek Hill and Andy Reid’s Wholesome Pregame Interaction

Hill was mic’d up for Miami’s 21-14 loss to the Chiefs, and highlights of his interactions during and after the game were posted to the Dolphins’ YouTube channel on Wednesday.

Among the many clips in the video is a pregame interaction between Hill and Reid. Hill approached Reid, and after they exchanged pleasantries, Reid told the star wide receiver that he’s “doing great.” Hill, in turn, thanked Reid.

“I just want to say thank you for everything, coach,” Hill said. “Love you.”

Hill and Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes also chatted briefly afterward.

Kansas City ultimately got the last laugh on the night as they held on after jumping out to a 21-0 halftime lead that was helped by a Hill fumble that was recovered and lateraled by the Chiefs on the way to being returned for a touchdown just before the break.

Why Did Hill and the Chiefs Split?

Hill spent the first six years of his NFL career with the Chiefs after he was selected by the franchise in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

The speedster burst onto the scene in Kansas City, earning Pro Bowl honors in each of his seasons there. His most productive campaign there yardage-wise came in 2018 when he hauled in 87 passes for 1,479 yards and 12 touchdowns.

MORE: PFN’s 2023 Miami Dolphins Midseason Awards

Disagreements over his utilization and a potential contract extension came to a head after the 2021 season, though, and ultimately led to Hill being dealt to the Dolphins in a blockbuster 2022 trade.

Miami sent five draft picks across the 2022 and 2023 drafts to Kansas City in exchange for Hill. He proceeded to post perhaps his most productive season in 2022 with 119 catches for 1,710 yards and seven touchdowns.

Hill has continued to produce in 2023 with 69 catches for 1,076 yards and eight touchdowns through the first nine games of the season.

Both sides look to have come out of the deal just fine since the Chiefs won last year’s Super Bowl, and the Dolphins got the star wide receiver they had been searching for.

It seems Hill and his former franchise are on good terms, too.

From the current NFL standings to team depth charts to coverage of every game in the 18-week NFL schedule, we have all the news from around the league to keep you up to speed!

Tyson Bagent Adds to a Record-Setting Number of NFL Rookie QBs To Play in 2023

Tony Catalina
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Tyson Bagent Adds to a Record-Setting Number of NFL Rookie QBs To Play in 2023

The 2023 NFL season has been the year of the rookie quarterback. In some instances, such as Bryce Young in Carolina and C.J. Stroud in Houston, rookies won the job right out of training camp. In other cases, it’s rookies being thrust into action due to injury and circumstance.

Such is the case for the Chicago Bears undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent. Bagent is set to make his fourth start of the season less than a year removed from playing his games for DII Shepherd University. Starting quarterback and former first-round pick Justin Fields has been dealing with a thumb injury on his throwing hand that has opened the door for Bagent.

Indeed, it has been a record-tying amount of rookies starting in the NFL this season, with nine rookies getting their first start through nine games. However, as we enter Week 10 of the season, it looks as if the record will be broken on Sunday with another rookie set to make his starting debut.

Another NFL Rookie QB Makes His First Start

The New York Giants are fresh off a tough beatdown at the hands of the Las Vegas Raiders. However, the game wasn’t the only thing they lost on Sunday. Starting QB Daniel Jones reportedly tore his ACL and is out for the season. Backup QB Tyrod Taylor is already on injured reserve with a rib injury, setting the stage for another rookie to command the huddle.

Under center for the Giants on Sunday will be rookie QB Tommy DeVito. DeVito is a New Jersey native who played his college ball at Syracuse University and is in line to make his first career start against the tenacious Dallas Cowboys defense. A tough task for anyone, but it’s a spot that several of his draft classmates have gone through already this season.

MORE: NFL Offense Rankings 2023

DeVito will be the 10th rookie QB to make his debut this season. The nine that came before him were: Bagent (Chicago Bears), Stroud (Houston Texans), Anthony Richardson (Indianapolis Colts), Will Levis (Tennessee Titans), Aidan O’Connell (Las Vegas Raiders), Dorian Thompson-Robinson (Cleveland Browns), Bryce Young (Carolina Panthers), Clayton Tune (Arizona Cardinals), and Jaren Hall (Minnesota Vikings).

2023 Set To Break 2019 Rookie QB Record

The last time the NFL had this many rookie quarterbacks make their first appearance in a season came back in 2019 when the season finished with nine total. That group was headlined by Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray and the Giants’ Jones.

The other seven to have made an appearance that year were David Blough (Cleveland Browns), Ryan Finley (Cincinnati Bengals), Will Grier (Carolina Panthers), Dwayne Haskins (Washington Commanders), Devlin Hodges (Pittsburgh Steelers), Gardner Minshew II (Jacksonville Jaguars), and Drew Lock (Denver Broncos).

What will come of the 2023 rookie QB class is still to be written, but what is clear is that no matter what, it will be a record-breaking year for the group. With eight more weeks to play this season, it is fair to assume we may see more rookies get their chance as the weeks go on.

From the current NFL standings to team depth charts to coverage of every game in the 18-week NFL schedule, we have all the news from around the league to keep you up to speed!

Why Did the Panthers Draft Bryce Young Over C.J. Stroud?

Ryan Broyles
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Why Did the Panthers Draft Bryce Young Over C.J. Stroud?

The NFL can be a fickle place for young players. One minute, you’re the new hotness, and the next, you’re old and busted. A few months ago, Alabama QB Bryce Young was the bell of the ball, viewed by many media outlets as the consensus No. 1 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft. Any team with quarterback aspirations would have lined up for him.

Fast forward a few months, and the unwavering support for the former Heisman Trophy-winning signal-caller has died down to a faint whisper.

The Carolina Panthers rookie QB has struggled his first season in the league, as many rookie quarterbacks have before him. However, the early-season struggles wouldn’t be particularly alarming if not for C.J. Stroud.

Why Bryce Young Over C.J. Stroud?

The Houston Texans surprised many when they selected Ohio State’s Stroud No. 2 overall. Many had them pegged for a defender, but ultimately, the franchise wanted to turn the page in the post-Deshaun Watson era.

Stroud has been other-worldly and has NFL fans — and front-office personnel — thinking Carolina picked the wrong QB.

The Panthers and owner David Tepper were desperate to make a splash at quarterback. Think back to the previous QB entanglement. Carolina attempted to trade for veteran signal-caller Matthew Stafford when he wanted out from Detroit. The Lions would eventually deal their franchise QB to the Rams, however, where he would hoist the Lombardi Trophy.

Carolina was also involved in the Watson sweepstakes, attempting to convince him that they were the best fit. Watson spurned their efforts, eventually whittling down his list to the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints before the Cleveland Browns swooped in with an offer he couldn’t refuse.

The Panthers resorted to retread options like Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield. When those options failed miserably, Carolina was once again on the search for its franchise QB.

Entering the offseason, the Panthers had the ninth overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft and knew if they wanted to make their splash, they had to make a deal to move up.

With teams like Houston and Indianapolis lingering with the second and fourth overall selections, respectively, Carolina had to leapfrog to the top of the draft to select their choice of quarterbacks. The Panthers’ front office discussed trade options with Chicago, and on March 12, Carolina made a trade with the Bears to shake up the draft.

Carolina dealt WR DJ Moore, its 2023 first-round pick (ninth overall), a 2023 second-round pick, a 2024 first-round pick, and a 2025 second-rounder to Chicago for the rights to No. 1 overall.

Once the deal was announced, NFL media outlets and draft analysts began to speculate — which QB would Carolina choose?

MORE: How Long Did DJ Moore Play for the Panthers?

Rampant rumors speculated that Carolina would consider Florida QB Anthony Richardson, given his similarities to former Panthers franchise QB Cam Newton. While the similarities are striking, those rumors died down fairly quickly.

Word began to make its rounds in NFL circles that the organization, particularly head coach Frank Reich, preferred the gunslinger Stroud. Draft pundits connected the dots to Reich’s preference for vertical passing and suitable size as to why.

The Stroud-Reich connection and speculation made more sense than the Richardson rumors. For weeks, NFL Draft pundits chased the tail of this rumor, projecting Stroud to go No. 1 in NFL mock drafts. As the draft neared, though, the Stroud speculation faded, and it was Young who stood above the rest for Carolina.

From the top down, the Panthers organization felt that Young would lead the franchise in the future. Tepper provided glaring insight into their decision-making process.

“We felt so strongly about the quarterback this year, right? Like, even in our February meetings, where every scout had the same opinion on this guy. It never really changed.”

The decision to go with Young made sense. The former Crimson Tide signal-caller won the Heisman Trophy in 2021, looking the part of a future NFL franchise QB, throwing for 4,872 passing yards and 47 touchdowns.

MORE: Who Are Carolina Panthers QB Bryce Young’s Parents?

Young’s critics quickly pointed out his lack of stature, standing 5’10”, 200 pounds, as deterrents for his NFL future. While the criticism was just the NFL has a specific brand of physicality, Young showed he could perform at the highest level against the best competition in college football in the SEC.

Young had the mind for the game, a quick processor of onfield information. Outside of his lack of prototypical NFL size, there was little criticism otherwise. As we enter the second half of the NFL season, however, the media tune around Young has changed.

Will Carolina Regret Passing on Stroud?

Early returns suggest the Panthers made the wrong decision with the first pick, but that’s what it is — early returns. These two signal-callers will be compared to one another for their entire NFL careers, so fans and analysts have plenty of time to evaluate and compare the two over the course of a larger sample size.

We live in the social media era where every game is larger than life and under the microscope. Not to evaluate the two against each other so far would be foolhardy. Let’s take a look.

Bryce Young’s 2023 Statistics:

  • Passing Yards: 1,375
  • Passing TDs: 8
  • INTs: 7
  • Completion %: 63.9
  • QB Rating: 77.1

CJ Stroud’s 2023 Statistics:

  • Passing Yards: 2,270
  • Passing TDs: 14
  • INTs: 1
  • Completion %: 62
  • QB Rating: 102.9

When compared side by side, it’s hard not to suggest the Panthers made the incorrect decision on draft day. Whether their career arcs continue on this trajectory remains to be seen, but for now, Carolina may regret passing on Stroud, whether they admit it or not.

From the current NFL standings to team depth charts to coverage of every game in the 18-week NFL schedule, we have all the news from around the league to keep you up to speed!

How Long Has Panthers Long Snapper J.J. Jansen Played in the NFL?

Tony Catalina
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How Long Has Panthers Long Snapper J.J. Jansen Played in the NFL?

For many football players, the goal is to one day play in the NFL. Players work their whole lives in the hope of getting a chance at playing in an NFL game. Just that alone is an achievement in itself. But some are lucky and talented enough to find stability and longevity in the NFL and can make a lucrative career.

When it comes to the case of Carolina Panthers long snapper J.J. Jansen, he was able to find something he was really good at and parlay that skill into a long, fruitful career in the NFL. Let’s take a closer look at how long Jansen has been able to stay in the NFL, as well as the impressive streak of games he’s been able to play with one franchise.

J.J. Jansen’s NFL Career

Jansen came into the NFL in 2008 as an undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame. Although he wasn’t drafted that year, he signed a deal with the Green Bay Packers shortly after.

Oddly enough, Jansen never played a game for the Packers and was actually traded to the Panthers for a conditional pick in the 2011 NFL Draft on April 13, 2009. Trading an undrafted player who never played a game for your franchise is already a peculiar move. But the fact that Jansen was able to then turn that trade into the best move of his career is even more fascinating.

MORE: Carolina Panthers Depth Chart

Jansen has been with the Panthers ever since, a time that included him being selected as a Pro Bowler in 2023. Jansen is now in his 15th season in the NFL, all with the Panthers. He’s not only become a staple for the Panthers franchise, but he is in the record books as well.

Jansen Owns Panthers’ Record for Consecutive Games

On November 27, 2022, Jansen tied former longtime Panthers kicker John Kasay for most games played for the franchise with 221 games and has since broken that record. Jansen is set to play his 235th consecutive game for the franchise Nov. 9 against the Chicago Bears.

To be a long snapper in the NFL, you need to be meticulous, consistent, and reliable. There is zero question that Jansen has been all of that and more for the Panthers from Day 1 and continues to be so well into his second decade with the team.

From the current NFL standings to team depth charts to coverage of every game in the 18-week NFL schedule, we have all the news from around the league to keep you up to speed!

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