NFL Player News
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Joshua Dobbs QB | MIN
Vikings' Joshua Dobbs: O'Connell considering QB change
Minnesota head coach Kevin O'Connell said the team will evaluate Dobbs' four-game performance at quarterback before naming a starter for Week 14 after a bye week, Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
O'Connell mentioned that he debated putting Nick Mullens into Monday's game after Dobbs struggled and threw four interceptions, so the Vikings could be serious about considering a quarterback change. Dobbs would still likely be the favorite to start over Mullens or Jaren Hall, but it doesn't sound like a given.
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Joshua Dobbs QB | MIN
Vikings' Joshua Dobbs: Done in by turnovers Monday
Dobbs completed 22 of 32 passes for 185 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions in the Vikings' 12-10 loss to the Bears on Monday night. He also rushed twice for 11 yards.
Dobbs ultimately cobbled together a decent completion rate, but he averaged just 5.8 yards per attempt and constantly short-circuited drives with his interceptions. Improbably, only one of Dobbs' four picks led to any Bears points, and only a field goal at that. However, the first three came in Chicago territory, which was particularly costly in a game decided by two points. Dobbs did manage to pull the Vikings ahead just past the midway point of the fourth quarter with a 17-yard touchdown pass to T.J. Hockenson, but Justin Fields ultimately one-upped him by leading a game-winning drive. Dobbs takes a 13:10 TD:INT (4:5 in four games with Minnesota) into a Week 14 road matchup against the Raiders on Sunday, Dec. 10 following a Week 13 bye.
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Justin Fields QB | CHI
Bears' Justin Fields: Overcomes mistakes in win
Fields completed 27 of 37 passes for 217 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions and rushed 12 times for 59 yards in the Bears' 12-10 win over the Vikings on Monday night. He also lost two fumbles.
Fields opened the game red-hot from an efficiency standpoint, completing his first 12 passes before one of his throws hit the ground for the first time at the 14:24 mark of the second quarter. The dynamic signal-caller went on to connect with a narrow pool of five targets, and his chemistry with DJ Moore was on display throughout the night to the tune of 11 completions and 114 yards. Fields' first fumble, which came on a Danielle Hunter sack early in the fourth quarter, led to the only touchdown of the night for either club, but Fields atoned for it by putting Chicago into position for what would prove to be the game-winning field goal on a drive in which he hit Moore for gains of 16 and 36 yards. The Bears remain extreme long shots for the postseason at 4-8, but Fields heads into the Week 13 bye with some momentum and gets a rematch with a shaky Lions secondary in his Week 14 return to action Sunday, Dec. 10.
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Joe Burrow QB | CIN
Bengals' Joe Burrow: Has surgery on wrist Monday
Burrow underwent surgery to repair the torn ligament in his right wrist Monday.
The Bengals released the following statement regarding the surgery: "The procedure went as planned and he is expected to make a complete recovery. Joe will return to Cincinnati this week to be with the team and begin the recovery and rehab process." Burrow is in line to miss the rest of the campaign, capping him to 2,309 yards, 15 touchdowns and six interceptions in parts of 10 games. There's an expectation that he'll be healthy well in advance of the 2024 season.
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AJ McCarron QB | CIN
AJ McCarron: Reverts to practice squad
McCarron reverted to the Bengals' practice squad Monday.
McCarron was active for Sunday's loss to Pittsburgh but didn't see any playing time. The 2014 fifth-round pick served as the backup to Jake Browning with Joe Burrow (wrist) out, and McCarron should have another opportunity to do so versus the Jaguars next week.
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Jaren Hall QB | MIN
Vikings' Jaren Hall: Serving as No. 3 QB on Monday
Hall (coach's decision) is inactive for Monday's Week 12 game against Chicago, though he will serve as Minnesota's emergency third quarterback.
Hall missed the Vikings' past two games while in the league's five-step concussion protocol. Though he was cleared to play Monday against the Bears, Joshua Dobbs has ascended to the role of the team's lead signal-caller and will be backed up by Nick Mullens. As such, Hall will be able to play in the contest only if both Dobbs and Mullens get injured.
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Baker Mayfield QB | TB
Buccaneers' Baker Mayfield: Encouraging MRI results
Coach Todd Bowles said Monday that MRI results on Mayfield's ankle came back negative but that the quarterback is feeling sore after Sunday's 27-20 loss to the Colts, Scott Smith of the Buccaneers' official site reports.
Mayfield injured his ankle while converting a quarterback sneak on Tampa Bay's opening drive, causing Kyle Trask to fill in for two plays. He ultimately completed 20 of 30 passes for 199 yards with two touchdowns and one interception, plus three carries for 14 yards. Mayfield also fumbled twice, with Indianapolis recovering one. It's encouraging that the veteran quarterback's MRI showed no ligament damage, but it still will be worth monitoring Mayfield's practice status as he works to get healthy in time to face the Panthers in Week 13.
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Daniel Jones QB | NYG
Giants' Daniel Jones: Still has commitment from Giants
Jones (knee) still is expected to be the Giants' starting quarterback when healthy, but that won't stop the team from making moves at the position during the 2024 offseason, Art Stapleton of The Bergen Record reports.
Jones underwent successful surgery to address a right ACL tear Nov. 22 and is now facing an 8-to-10 month recovery timeline, which gives him a realistic chance to be ready for Week 1 of the 2024 season. The Giants are sitting on a 4-8 record after beating the Patriots on Sunday and have recorded back-to-back wins with UDFA Tommy DeVito under center, and any further victories could result in the team's first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft not being high enough to realistically target a top QB prospect such as Drake Maye or Caleb Williams without trading up. That scenario would lend credence to the verbal commitment Jones got Monday from GM Joe Schoen, even after a disastrous 2023 campaign. DeVito will be under contract next season and figures to back up Jones barring any additions to the depth chart, as veteran backup Tyrod Taylor (ribs) is scheduled for free agency.
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Will Levis QB | TEN
Titans' Will Levis: Not asked to do much in victory
Levis completed 18 of 28 passes for 185 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions in Sunday's 17-10 win over the Panthers.
Levis did the majority of his work in the first half, as he attempted only 10 passes across the final two quarters while the Titans attempted to preserve a victory. As a result, he was held under 200 passing yards for the third consecutive game, and he's now failed to throw for a touchdown in three of his starts. Positively, Levis was willing to push the ball down the field, with one-third of his completions going for more than 15 yards. Tennessee has been willing to rely on its defense and ground attack to win games this season, and that's unlikely to change down the stretch, thus limiting Levis' upside.
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Justin Herbert QB | LAC
Chargers' Justin Herbert: Suffers injury scare on SNF
Herbert completed 29 of 44 pass attempts for 217 yards, a touchdown and an interception while rushing four times for 47 yards and losing a fumble in Sunday's 20-10 loss to the Ravens.
Herbert had to be evaluated for a concussion after getting strip-sacked by Jadeveon Clowney in the fourth quarter, as reported by FOX Sports' Eric Williams. The Chargers' star quarterback was eventually cleared to return and did not miss a snap as he unsuccessfully attempted to mount a late comeback. As for his performance on the field, Herbert wound up being responsible for two of the four turnovers that helped contribute to his team's third straight loss. Barring any lingering issues stemming from Sunday's physical battle, it appears as if Herbert avoided injury and should be ready for next Sunday's road matchup in New England.