Team news | Page 30

Giants quarterback Tyrod Taylor is getting closer to a return.

Taylor is being designated for return from injured reserve and his 21-day practice window is being opened, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. Taylor has been on injured reserve for the last four weeks after suffering a rib injury.

Related players: Tommy DeVito

The story expects Taylor to eventually be activated. However, the team has gone 2-1 over the last three games with DeVito as the starter so it would seem to make more sense for the Giants to stick with DeVito and evaluate him for the rest of the season.

Titans’ RB Derrick Henry, who left Sunday’s game in the fourth quarter to be checked for a concussion, is in concussion protocol.

Related players: Tyjae Spears, Julius Chestnut

That will leave his status for this week's game in Miami in doubt. The trend this year is players tend to miss a week after entering protocol, but it isn't always the case. If Henry has to miss the game, Spears would seem to be a solid replacement option. He could benefit in the passing game if the Titans fall behind against a powerful Dolphin offense. Spears had 20 touches against the Colts, including 16 carries and four receptions.

Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett suffered an ankle injury during Sunday's loss to the Cardinals and may miss a couple of weeks.

Mitch Trubisky will take over as the quarterback in the meantime. The Steelers have a short week coming up as they host the Patriots on Thursday. Pickett may also miss Week 15 against the Colts. Pickett left the game early, throwing just 10 passes and completing seven of them for 70 yards. Trubisky went 11/17 for 117 yards and a touchdown in the 24-10 loss. Pittsburgh is now in a four-way tie at 7-5 with the Browns, Colts and Texans atop the wild card race.

Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson suffered a sprained ankle during Sunday's loss to the Chargers.

The Patriots have a short week coming up, so it's probably safe to assume Stevenson will not play Thursday against the Steelers, meaning Ezekiel Elliott will be in line to start. An MRI Monday will help determine how much time Stevenson will miss. It's the latest in what's been an extremely miserable season for New England, who fell to 2-10 after their 6-0 loss to the Chargers.

Texans WR Tank Dell suffered a fractured fibula during Sunday's win against the Broncos, ending his season.

A very unfortunate piece of news for the Texans who are right in the playoff hunt at 7-5 after their 22-17 win over Denver. Nico Collins stepped up in a big way with 191 yards and a touchdown on 9 catches. He'll lead the charge with Noan Brown and John Metchie among those behind him. The Texans face the Jets in Week 14.

Saints QB Derek Carr left Sunday's game against the Lions with a potential concussion and a shoulder injury.

It sounds like a similar injury to what Carr suffered in Week 10 but was able to avoid missing time thanks to the bye week the following week. That likely won't be the case here. Jameis Winston is in the game and could see more playing time while Carr likely will miss time. Tayson Hill has also been getting more involved as the Saints' Swiss Army knife.

Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson (ankle) and Commanders RB Brian Robinson Jr. (hamstring) both left the field Sunday.

Stevenson was injured on a hip-drop tackle against the Chargers, a tackle the NFL may look to ban next offseason and the tackle that took out Ravens TE Mark Andrews. The Patriots were shutout 6-0 by the Chargers to fall to 2-10 on the year. Robinson left the game against the Dolphins in the second quarter after seven rushes for 53 yards, which still led the team in their 45-15 loss to Miami to fall to 4-9.

Jaguars running back Travis Etienne is expected to play Monday against the Bengals.Etienne

Etienne had been limited with a rib injury but head coach Doug Pederson believes he'll be on the field Monday against Cincinnati. As long as Etienne is out there, he is a top fantasy option. The Bengals have been pedestrian against the run, so Etienne should be in line for a pretty good week.

Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins will play Monday against the Jaguars.

Higgins missed the last three games with a hamstring injury but will make his return Monday night. The Bengals need all the help they can get after falling to 5-6 and are obviously without Joe Burrow for the rest of the way. Higgins has had a bit of a down year with just 27 catches for 328 yards and two touchdowns in seven games this season. Higgins is a deeper-league flex option this week, just above Tyler Boyd.

Browns’ QB Joe Flacco will start Sunday vs. the Rams.

Related Players: P.J. Walker

We last saw Flacco in New York when he started four games for the Jets last season. He threw five touchdowns (four coming in one game), three interceptions and completed 57.6% of his pass attempts for 5.5 yards per attempt.
There should be a better option on your waiver wire, but he's not taking off with the ball, which adds a little bit of a fantasy floor for David Njoku and Amari Cooper.