NFL Player News

Chiefs coach Andy Reid said that he expects full practice participation by Mahomes (elbow) on Wednesday, Charles Goldman of AtoZSports.com reports.

Mahomes played through some elbow discomfort during the Chiefs' Week 9 win over the Jets, but Reid indicated Monday that the star QB was considered day-to-day as this Sunday's game against the Falcons approaches, per Sam McDowell of The Kansas City Star. Assuming Mahomes indeed logs a full session Wednesday, he'll be in line to play this weekend, and if so, will be working with a WR corps bolstered by Tuesday's trade deadline acquisition of Josh Downs from the Colts.

Though Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley said Wednesday that he doesn't have a timetable for the potential return of Willis (abdomen), he does expect the QB back at some point this season, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.

What is known is that the earliest Willis is eligible to be activated from IR is ahead of Miami's Week 14 game against the Bears. Of course, with the team's record at this stage standing at 1-7, there's no compelling reason to rush Willis back. In his absence, Kyle McCord is next in line for QB1 duties, with Brady Cook a candidate to be summoned from the practice squad leading up to this weekend's game against the Colts.

Fields carried twice for minus-1 yard and lost a fumble while logging five snaps on offense in Sunday's 35-12 win over the Jets.

The Chiefs' backup quarterback saw the field for just the second time this season, after he had previously played one snap in a Week 1 win over the Broncos. Due to head coach Andy Reid's reluctance to use starter Patrick Mahomes on quarterback sneaks, Fields subbed into the game for a third-and-1 play in the first quarter. Fields ended up coughing the football, with the Jets making the recovery. The Chiefs went on to build enough of a lead to rest Mahomes for the final possession of the game with just over two minutes left in the fourth quarter, when Fields proceeded to hand the ball off three times before kneeling to run out the clock.

Mills completed one of two pass attempts for seven yards and lost two yards on two carries in Sunday's 44-22 win over the Chargers.

Since the Texans had built their lead to 19 with less than five minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, head coach DeMeco Ryans opted to pull starting quarterback C.J. Stroud from the game and handed the offense over to Mills. In what marked his first playing time of the season, Mills directed two possessions. He led the Texans to a field goal with 2:20 remaining, then knelt the ball twice to run out the clock when Houston got the ball back with 1:07 left. With Stroud enjoying a bounce-back campaign, Mills' opportunities will likely be limited to garbage-time situations so long as Stroud stays healthy.

Sanders will return to a backup role for Sunday's game against the Texans after the Browns announced Wednesday that Deshaun Watson (concussion) will draw the Week 10 start, Kelsey Russo of the team's official site reports.

Watson led the Browns to a 5-3 record over their first eight games before developing concussion symptoms and being placed in the NFL's five-step protocol last week. Though Watson cleared protocol last Saturday, his lack of on-field reps during the week prompted the Browns to keep him inactive for Sunday's matchup with the Saints. Sanders stepped in under center and overcame a slow start to finish with 297 passing yards, 28 rushing yards, two passing touchdowns and no turnovers in a 23-22 overtime loss, with his performance drawing praise from head coach Todd Monken. Though the Browns will go back to a healthy Watson for Week 10, Sanders' strong outing in New Orleans could put Watson on shakier ground atop the depth chart.

The Browns announced Wednesday that Watson (concussion) will start Sunday's game against the Texans, Kelsey Russo of the team's official site reports.

Watson cleared the NFL's five-step concussion protocol this past Saturday, but because he managed just one limited practice during Week 9 prep, the Browns opted to make him inactive for their matchup with the Saints. Shedeur Sanders drew his first start of the season and threw for 297 yards and two touchdowns in the 23-22 overtime loss in New Orleans, but he'll return to the No. 2 role this week while a healthy Watson reclaims the starting job. While the Browns have gone 5-3 with Watson under center this season, he hasn't been without his flaws (six turnovers, 33 sacks taken). As such, Watson may need a strong showing against the Texans to hold off Sanders for the starting job in the weeks to come.

Watson (concussion) will serve as the Browns' starting quarterback in Sunday's game against the Texans, a source tells Mary Kay Cabot of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports.

Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com first reported Monday that Watson was in line for the Week 10 start, after his placement in concussion protocol during Week 9 kept him from playing in this past Sunday's 23-22 overtime loss to the Saints. Head coach Todd Monken then said later Monday that he wasn't ready to name a Week 10 starter between Watson and Shedeur Sanders, the latter of whom performed respectably in the loss to New Orleans. Ultimately, the Browns look like they'll go back to Watson, who cleared protocol Saturday and will be able to get in a full week of practice leading up to the matchup with the Texans. Watson guided the Browns to a 5-3 record through the first eight games while completing 65.5 percent of his passes and accounting for eight touchdowns (seven throwing, one rushing).

Brosmer completed six of seven attempts for 58 yards in Monday night's 23-6 loss to the Bills.

Brosmer replaced Carson Wentz in the fourth quarter of Monday night's game after the offense failed to produce a touchdown drive. Week 9 was Brosmer's first appearance in a 2026 regular-season game. He will likely play a similar backup role behind newly acquired Kirk Cousins as the season progresses, at least until Kyler Murray returns from a hamstring injury.

The Cardinals placed Minshew (elbow) on injured reserve Tuesday, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports.

While the Cardinals have yet to confirm that Minshew sustained a torn UCL in his throwing elbow during Sunday's loss to the Seahawks, Adam Schefter of ESPN relays that the veteran signal-caller is unlikely to play again this season. With Minshew out of commission, rookie third-round pick Carson Beck will step in as the Cardinals' new starting quarterback beginning with Sunday's game against the Rams. Across two appearances (one start) with Arizona before sustaining the elbow injury, Minshew completed 38 of 53 passes for 354 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions while adding four yards on his lone carry.

McCord will step in as the Dolphins' starting quarterback beginning with Sunday's game at Indianapolis after Miami placed Malik Willis (core) on injured reserve Tuesday, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports.

A 2025 sixth-round pick of the Eagles, McCord will be making his NFL debut Sunday, after he had been active for each of the 1-7 Dolphins' first eight games but didn't see any playing time behind Willis. Before landing with the Dolphins in a trade prior to Week 1, the 24-year-old signal-caller looked sharp during preseason action as a member of the Packers, completing 46 of 70 passes for 446 yards and a 4:0 TD:INT while adding 16 yards on five carries over three games. Expectations should still be held in check for McCord in his first regular-season action, especially while he'll be working with one of the NFL's weaker collections of skill-position players. The Dolphins are optimistic that Willis will be able to return from IR before the end of the season, but McCord should be primed for at least a four-game run as the team's starter while Willis is sidelined.