Cards Beat: 'Best guess' is that Logan Thomas will start at QB

Oct 10, 2014

Cardinals beat writer Josh Weinfuss on the team's Week 6 QB situation: I think Arizona will try to get Carson Palmer as ready as he can be and make a game-time decision. But the nature of his nerve injury is so fickle that it could flare up at any point. Backup Drew Stanton was in rough shape after the game Sunday. He wore sunglasses in the locker room and looked to have trouble putting on his tie, so the only way he can play this weekend is if he goes through the concussion protocol and is symptom-free. He threw in Wednesday’s practice even though he still hasn’t finished the protocol. My best guess is Logan Thomas will start. He is taking all the reps with the first team this week, and the game plan will be built around him. If, in fact, he does go, I don’t think Bruce Arians will open up a lot of the playbook for him. He had one really good preseason game and one really bad one. Getting a quarter and a half with the first team in live game action helped Thomas understand what Sundays in the NFL are really like, so expect a lot of short plays. Arians will tailor the playbook to what Thomas likes, knows and can do. There will be some running plays called to take advantage of Thomas’ athleticism and a few deep throws because he has a strong arm, but expect the offense to be bland and basic because it would still be the kid’s first NFL start.

Fantasy Impact:

Palmer and/or Stanton could still get healthy enough to play, but neither is looking good for Week 6. Thomas has a big arm, which might mean a deep ball or two to Michael Floyd, but it's hard to count on an inexperienced quarterback coming in and running the offense efficiently. The good news is that a matchup with a not-so-good Washington pass defense will make life easier.

yesterday

49ers RB Isaac Guerendo (foot) listed as DNP Tuesday

Pro Football Talk

yesterday · 6:31 PM EST

49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan shared his team’s pre-practice injury report at a Tuesday press conference and it was the same as Monday’s estimated one, so several key players are on the sideline ahead of Thursday’s game against the Rams.

Among them was RB Isaac Guerendo.

Related players: Patrick Taylor, Israel Abanikanda

Fantasy Impact:

Guerendo had a great game in Week 14, but left with a sprained foot. Guerendo said afterward he felt great and it was just precautionary. However, we know by now we can't always trust when a player talks about his status for the following week. The DNPs for both Monday and Tuesday are not a great sign for Guerendo's chances to play in Week 15, which is a short week against the Rams on Thursday Night Football. Guerendo's practice status for Wednesday will hopefully will give us a better idea. Taylor would likely be next up for the 49ers if Guerendo can't go.

Moore: Eagles want to 'increase the likelihood' WR A.J. Brown gets the ball

Pro Football Talk

yesterday · 4:49 PM EST

Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown’s comment that the team’s passing offense needs to improve in the wake of Sunday’s 22-16 win over the Panthers has been the biggest topic of conversation of the week in Philadelphia and offensive coordinator Kellen Moore got his chance to weigh in on it Tuesday.

Moore said he speaks to Brown and other members of the offense every week and said “the flows of seasons” call for weekly conversations about how to get the most out of the passing offense. Part of that process for this week is working on ways to get the ball to Brown after he was targeted four times against Carolina.

“I’m going to focus more on trying to find different ways of increasing the likelihood of the ball going to him,” Moore said, via a transcript from the team.

Fantasy Impact:

Brown came out and criticized the passing game after just getting by the Panthers in Week 14. The Eagles, thanks to Saquon Barkley, have been a run-first team this year, and it's largely worked, thanks also to an improved defense. DeVonta Smith has also voiced frustration recently. The Eagles aren't likely to stop giving Barkley the ball, but we've had a few stories in the news this week featuring unhappy WRs, and there can often be a bit of a change in the game plan to keep players happy. The Eagles host the Steelers this week, so things may not come easy again for the offense.

Steelers call WR George Pickens doubtful, outside chance to play

Pro Football Talk

yesterday · 12:37 PM EST

The Steelers did not have receiver George Pickens for their Week 14 victory over the Browns and they are likely to be without him again against the Eagles on Sunday.

Head coach Mike Tomlin said in his Tuesday press conference that Pickens could be characterized as doubtful for Week 15, but there is still an outside chance he’ll play.

Fantasy Impact:

The Steelers thought Pickens would play last week but was eventually ruled out. After Sunday’s contest, Pickens underwent an MRI, which revealed the injury was more significant than initially believed, the story said. Reports from those who follow the team on Monday mentioned it was unlikely Pickens would play, and that's certainly looking like the case.