Team news: Arizona Cardinals | Page 6

Arizona announced on Tuesday that defensive lineman Bilal Nichols and kicker Matt Prater on IR.

Related players: Chad Ryland

Prater has been dealing with a knee injury, missing the last two games. With Prater out, Chad Ryland has been signed to the 53-man roster from the club’s practice squad. He’s connected on 5-of-6 field goal attempts and 2-of-2 extra points this season, the story said.

The Cardinals have activated WR Zay Jones to the 53-man roster.

Relaetd players: Marvin Harrison Jr., Michael Wilson, Greg Dortch

The Cards suspended Jones for five games but he didn't return in Week 6 due to a hamstring injury. With Harrison dealing with a concussion, the Cards could possibly welcome the return of Jones to the lineup rather quickly. The WR group didn't do much for the Cardinals in Week 6 as Dortch went for 3-36-0 and Wilson 2-21-1. Jones is worth a pickup with the hope he climbs the depth chart and perhaps carves out a WR2 role.

With the season getting away from them, the Patriots are turning to Drake Maye.

Related players: Jacoby Brissett

There were feelings among those who follow the Pats a change at QB could occur this week, and sure enough it has. As the post pointed out, Brissett has been underwhelming to say the least, and, the team has no true road games for the next three weeks, even though they will play in London in Week 7. So a change now does make some sense as the team was likely looking for the best window possible. Maye and NE will host the Texans this week and then home again in Week 8 against the Jets. The hope is Maye will bring a spark to the offense but it doesn't change the fact the Patriots offensive line is a struggle.

Opinion/analysis: Notable shift in Jerod Mayo's answers regarding QB situation in his day-after-game video conference compared to past weeks. Mayo said last week the way the team won its only game was "unsustainable" and he seems to strongly be considering switch to Drake Maye.

Related players: Jacoby Brissett

A big reason for the Pats not wanting to put Maye in at QB is the struggles of the offensive line. But at this point, given the struggles of the entire offense, a change has to at least be considered - and Reiss feels maybe the team is starting to feel the same way. Maye will likely have his struggle as well, but at this point there doesn't seem to be a lot of reason to stick with Brissett.

Cardinals TE Trey McBride was downgraded Saturday to questionable for Sunday’s game against the 49ers with an injury to his ribs.

McBride missed Week 4 with a concussion and had just came back from the concussion protocol. Elijah Higgins has three targets and just two catches in the 42-14 Week 4 loss to Washington.

Gannon injury update:
TE McBride good to go Sunday.
DL Tonga and K Prater “we will see.”
CB Garrett Williams “probably not” going to play

Related Players: Elijah Higgins

With McBride ready to go, he needs to be in lineups, having accrued 14-122-0 on 20 targets through three games. Higgins can readily be dropped back into waiver wires.

Gannon:

Trey McBride will be back at practice.

No Darius Robinson this week for practice.

Related Players: Elijah Higgins

If McBride's ready to go, he needs to be in lineups, having accrued 14-122-0 on 20 targets through three games. Higgins can readily be dropped back into waiver wires.

The Cowboys will be without WR Brandin Cooks for at least this week vs. Pittsburgh and potentially longer after an infection developed in his right knee following a procedure he had after remaining in NY following the win against the Giants, according to multiple sources.

Related Players: Jalen Tolbert, Jalen Brooks, Ryan Flournoy, KaVontae Turpin

Cooks looked as if he were set up to get a ton of work in this pass-heavy option, but it never came to fruition, as he turned 19 targets into a 9-91-1 stat line. The aging speed merchant might not return to his role if either of the Jalens can step up, and is now a drop candidate who we can aim for later in the year if he does happen to regain the de facto WR2 role.

For this week, consider Tolbert a deep Flex play, while CeeDee Lamb and Jake Ferguson should be started everywhere.

Jerod Mayo says "Jacoby Brissett is 100% our starter, and that's how we're going to look at this going forward."

Related players: Drake Maye

The Patriots are sitting at 1-3 on the season, and it's pretty obvious if that trend continues the Pats will have to turn the ball over to Maye. Those who follow the team indicated most of the summer that sticking Maye behind an offensive line that was expected to struggle probably wouldn't end well. At this point, Brissett has been sacked 15 times. Still, at what will likely be a more opportune time in the schedule decided by the coaching staff, Maye should get his shot this season.

Gannon: TE Trey McBride will not play Sunday after concussion.

Related Players: Elijah Higgins

Elijah Higgins (4-41-1) is the only other tight end who has caught a pass this season, so he would presumably be the next man up, though some sort of rotation with third-round rookie Tip Reiman is likely in the cards. It would be nice to see Reiman carve out a bit of a role here for Dynasty managers in deep leagues, but no reason to start either of them in Week 4.