Players Removed from the Injury Report
Note: The following players with lingering injuries are no longer listed on the injury report.
RB Miles Sanders (knee)
RB Nick Chubb (knee-MCL grade-2)
RB Mark Ingram (ankle)
RB Aaron Jones (calf strain grade-1)
WR Tim Patrick (hamstring)
WR T.Y. Hilton (groin)
WR Adam Thielen (shoulder)
WR Jamison Crowder (groin)
WR Michael Thomas (high ankle, hamstring strain-grade 1)
WR Bryan Edwards (foot, high ankle)
WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (knee)
Notes from around the NFL on selected games:
PHI-CLE
Weather note: This is the only game that looks to be impacted by weather for the Week 11 slate: rain 99-100% for the entire game, temps in the low 40s, but marginal wind (9-11 mph).
Eagles
TE Zach Ertz (high ankle) began practicing this week, but was not ready to play, so the team did not activate him. He should be able to play against the visiting Seahawks next Monday night.
The Eagles will get back starting LG Isaac Seumalo (knee) in the lineup for the first time since Week 2, so hopefully he'll be able to help solidify their pass protection, which has been an ongoing issue.
RB Miles Sanders looked great last week, which is a really good sign for the stretch run. The Eagles play a bunch of good teams coming up after today (vs SEA, at GB, vs NO, at ARI), but none have what you would call a good defense. However, the Saints have a great run defense.
Browns
The team will be without star DE Myles Garrett (reserve/COVID-19), who might just be the NFL's best defensive player this season. They'll go with veteran DE Adrian Clayborn in his place.
The Eagles have done relatively well against RBs against the run, but have struggled mightily against opposing QBs on the ground (see Lamar Jackson, Daniel Jones twice).
I have to think that HC Kevin Stefanski, knowing this, will get the bad Eagles LBs on RPOs or zone reads. The Eagles clearly have the NFL's worst group of LBs in the NFL.
ATL-NO
Falcons
Starting WR Calvin Ridley (mid-foot sprain) is expected to be in the lineup despite being limited in practice this week.
Saints
By now everyone knows that Taysom Hill will be at QB and you can expect HC Sean Payton to use him on plays that they have not put on tape during his time with the team.
Hill only has 18 pass attempts in his career, but I'm told he actually has a stronger arm than veteran QB Drew Brees. Hill throws with very good velocity, but does not have the touch Brees has on downfield throws.
Brees was placed on IR this week, so the earliest he can return by rule is in Week 14 at the Eagles.
CIN-WAS
Bengals
Starting RB Joe Mixon (right foot) was placed on IR this week, so he can't return until Week 14 (vs DAL) at the earliest.
Last week, the team projected Mixon to start practicing this week and they felt he would have a chance to play, but all he did is rehab work on his injured foot.
Veteran RB Gio Bernard starts and former 4th-round pick Samaje Perine backs him up.
DET-CAR
Lions
With rookie RB D'Andre Swift (concussion) out, 3rd-year RB Kerryon Johnson will resume his passing down role and veteran RB Adrian Peterson is expected to handle the primary 1st and 2nd down role with Johnson mixed in behind him.
Because the team has a short week coming up, Swift will have to make significant progress in order to play at home against the Texans on Thursday.
The Lion passing game gets a break with Panthers starting CB Donte Jackson (turf toe-doubtful) not expected to play. Johnson has been dealing with his lingering injury since Week 1.
TEN-BAL
Titans
The team has all sorts of injury issues, as they're down several key players:
Starting G Rodger Saffold (ankle) is out. And keep in mind starting LT Taylor Lewan (ACL) is out for the rest of the season and versatile backup T/G Dennis Kelly is starting at RT this season since first-round pick OT Isaiah Wilson has not been ready to play. Kelly (knee) will play, but is known in scouting circles as a quality backup, but not a guy who you want starting for a prolonged period of time.
Their OL issues are clearly impacting QB Ryan Tannehill.
And they have issues on defense as well:
DE/OLB Jadeveon Clowney (knee) was placed on IR. S Kenny Vaccaro (neck, concussion) was not feeling well on Saturday and was downgraded to out.
CB Adoree' Jackson (knee) remains out and has not practiced in months. He's their fastest player at the position.
Ravens
The team is expected to be down two key starters on defense: DT Brandon Williams (ankle-doubtful) and DE Calais Campbell (calf strain-doubtful). Williams is one of the best run defenders at DT in the NFL, so the Titans will catch a break here, but their OL is so banged up that you can't count on anything at this point.
NE-HOU
Patriots
The team activated oft-injured RB Sony Michel (quadriceps) off IR, but his role going forward isn't clear. At the very least, I'd still play RBs Rex Burkhead and Damien Harris (ankle, chest-questionable), but keep an eye on their usage. Their rotations at RB have been maddening over the years, but Harris has been really good in his role and the same goes for Burkhead of late. If they make this an RBBC, then adjust your lineups accordingly in Week 12 and beyond.
Veteran RB James White, however, seems to be the odd man out this season.
GB-IND
Packers
Starting CB Kevin King (quadriceps) was all set to play, but was added to the injury report as questionable (Achilles). He's their tallest CB (6-3 1/4).
They will get their other starting CB Jaire Alexander (concussion, hand) back this week after missing last week's game.
Colts
Veteran TE Jack Doyle (concussion) was upgraded from questionable on Saturday and has been cleared to play. He has no injury status for the game.
NYJ-LAC
Jets
As if things couldn't get any worse for their defense…
They cut starting CB Pierre Desir recently, placed slot CB Brian Poole (shoulder surgery) on IR, and their other starting CB Bless Austin (neck) was placed on IR this weekend. Great news for Justin Herbert owners.
KC-LVR
Chiefs
2nd-year WR Mecole Hardman came off the reserve/COVID-19 list, but starting WR Sammy Watkins (hamstring), who was on target to play to start the week, was downgraded to out on Saturday due to the calf injury that he suffered in practice this week.
Keep in mind that veteran WR Demarcus Robinson saw more snaps (189) than Hardman did (138) when both were playing with Watkins out previously (weeks 6-9).
Raiders
The team got several key defensive players off the reserve/COVID-19 list on Saturday, but two starters remain on it: DE Clelin Ferrell and WLB Cory Littleton
