Team news: Arizona Cardinals | Page 9

The Jags may be even more short-handed, as stellar rookie Brian Thomas Jr. will have an MRI on his ribs to determine his status for the week, source said.

Related players: Gabe Davis, Parker Washington, Devin Duvernay, Tim Jones

Thomas wasn't able to get back on the field after putting up a line of 3-60-1 last week. The Jags are already with Christian Kirk heading into a game with the Eagles. The bit of good news is the Eagles-Jags game was flexed out of Sunday night, so owners will have a little bit more time to figure out a backup plan should Thomas come down to a game-time call. The game is now in the later Sunday window. Rib injuries can be tricky, so owners will want to monitor this all week.

Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reports that the Raiders will sign Desmond Ridder off of Arizona’s practice squad. Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew are the only other quarterbacks on the active roster and they have rookie Carter Bradley on the practice squad.

The Raiders didn’t confirm that quarterback O’Connell will be placed on injured reserve with a fractured thumb on Monday, but they are making a roster move that makes it clear they are short of healthy quarterbacks this week, the story pointed out. Ridder is probably best left on wires in typical leagues, but of course in deeper two QB or superflex leagues, any quarterback is worth stashing away on your roster.

Raiders QB Aidan O’Connell now is expected to miss four to six weeks with a broken thumb, per sources. He is getting a second opinion today to confirm the initial diagnosis.

Related players: Gardner Minshew

Pro Football Talk is reporting O'Connell will be placed on IR. Minshew takes back over as the starting QB after O'Connell recently replaced him, but Minshew hasn't been great this season and threw three interceptions after taking over against the Rams. The Raiders will have to make a move for another QB to be added to the roster.

Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said Saturday WR Marvin Harrison Jr cleared concussion protocol and will play Monday against the Chargers.

Harrison ends up not missing any time. He suffered the injury in Week 6 but was a full participant in practice Friday. The Chargers are a top-ten passing defense but as the top receiver for Kyler Murray, Harrison is still worthy of a WR2/WR3 spot.

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.

Raiders HC Antonio Pierce said Aidan O'Connell will be the starting QB against the Steelers this Sunday.

Related Players: Gardner Minshew

Do not, under any circumstance, start O'Connell in Week 6.

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.

If the Raiders are going to make a quarterback switch this week, head coach Antonio Pierce wasn’t ready to say so during his Monday news conference.

“Yeah, just keep evaluating the film, evaluating everything from scheme, players — everything,” Pierce said. “So, we’re still doing that upstairs, currently.”

Related players: Gardner Minshew, Aidan O’Connell

Minshew was benched for O’Connell late in the third quarter. Minshew finished the game 12-of-17 for 137 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions — one of which was returned 100 yards by Pat Surtain for a pick six, the story went on to say.

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.