Team news: Denver Broncos

The Saints suddenly have a major QB question: Starter Derek Carr is now dealing with a shoulder injury that threatens his availability for this season, sources say.

Carr is weighing options, including the possibility of surgery.

Related Players: Spencer Rattler, Jake Haener, Ben DiNucci

If Carr is legitimately questionable for the 2025 season, the Saints' first and second round picks could go in far different directions than they are currently projected. As it stands before the NFL Draft, we would assume that Rattler is going to be the temporary name atop the depth chart as we wait to see how this plays out for Carr and his shoulder.

Broncos are signing two-time Pro-Bowl TE Evan Engram to a two-year deal. Denver has been seeking TE help in recent seasons and now finally has found some.

Related Players: Adam Trautman, Lucas Krull

Much like in his college years, Bo Nix checked the ball down at a massive rate, which just so happens to be where Engram makes most of his noise. Though he's never been a huge run-after-catch option, Engram could find himself with enough volume to flirt with another 10-top fantasy season.

TE Evan Engram out for the season. Surgery coming on labrum in shoulder.

Related Players: Brenton Strange, Luke Farrell, Josiah Deguara

Bummer for Engram, who will finish the season as the TE16 with 7.3 half-PPR PPG in nine weeks.

It's unlikely that Strange pops up as a TE streamer through the remainder of the season, with no more byes on the horizon.

Broncos HC Sean Payton on rookie WR Devaughn Vele:

"Very quickly, we've seen his growth. He's been really good. The strengths for him certainly are his hands."

The post went on to say Payton added, "He's a guy that plays well over the middle. He reminds me a lot of Marques Colston." Vele is a rookie but is already 26 so he's an older prospect. He finished last week with a line of 6-80-0 and had a 4-66-0 line on Nov. 17 before a 4-39-1 line Nov. 10 against the Chiefs, marking three-straight weeks Vele has been fantasy worthy and produced double-digit weeks in PPR. He should be scooped up if he's still on your wire in any format.

After the rookie dominated the backfield touches last week, we assumed Audric Estime might be the Broncos new starting running back going forward.

Related players: Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin

But, back came Williams in Week 11. It has been a frustrating year for Williams' owners. Williams led the way in carries with nine and rushed for 59 yards and also added a touchdown this past week after all signs pointed to Estime keeping the role he had in Week 10. In Week 10, Williams ran just one time for one yard against the Chiefs while Estime carried 15 times for 53 yards. Estime did carry six times for 16 yards and added three catches for nine yards this past week. The reporter suggested this may be a "hot hand" approach going forward, which doesn't do fantasy owners any good. It's tough to tell when to safely put Williams in lineups, because his low weeks have been pretty low. We'll continue to monitor in hopes for any signs from the team as to how they may handle this situation going forward.

Audric Estime will "continue to get more reps," per Sean Payton.

Related players: Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin

Payton was encouraged with Estime's play against the Chiefs, the post added, and he was the clear lead back. Williams had just one carry while adding two catches and McLaughlin had two rushes for 12 yards. Estime can be added in any format at this point if he's still on your wire. Payton has continued to say positive things about Estime for a few weeks now, including last week when he said he'd see an increased workload.

Broncos coach Sean Payton said he expects to use RB Audric Estime more down the stretch.

Related players: Javonte Williams, Jaleel McLaughlin

After his big performance a couple of weeks ago, Williams hasn't really been able to produce consistent results. Now the Broncos are saying Estime could see more work. It seems like the Broncos are looking for hot hand at RB, it's just that no one is really stepping up. It looked like Williams was going to be that guy but he struggled in Week 9 with 42 yards on 12 carries. Williams did get 42 yards on two catches as well. Estime will still be a risky fantasy play until we see more consistent work, however.

Doug Pederson says Brian Thomas Jr is a game-time decision vs. Eagles.

"He's not going to be 100%, but no one is at this time... we also don't want any set backs."

Travis Etienne is "another one who is probably a game-time decision."

Related Players: Tank Bigsby, Parker Washington, Tim Jones, Evan Engram

In a follow-up tweet, O'Brien mentions that Gabe Davis is also a game-time decision, so the Jaguars offense is in abject ruin right now. Engram might very well get 12-15 targets in Week 9, while Tank Bigsby should have a locked-in workload as well.

Jaguars WR Brian Thomas Jr. could miss 2-4 weeks with a chest/rib injury suffered Sunday, per sources.

Related player: Evan Engram, Gabe Davis, Parker Washington, Devin Duvernay, Travis Etienne

Scans today will determine full extent and next steps, though. Thomas is also getting a second opinion, Fowler went on to say. It's not good news for Trevor Lawrence and the Jags who also just lost Christian Kirk for the season. With Thomas looking likely to be sidelined, it means Engram is probably the team's top target with Davis and Washington highly in the mix. It could also mean Etienne is involved much more in the passing game until Thomas can return. The Jags are also at 2-6 and there have already been talk of the team unloading some of their talent, and Etienne specifically has been mentioned in rumors.

After suffering a hamstring injury in the season opener, tight end Evan Engram may be back on the field for the Jaguars when they play the Bears in London on Sunday.

Head coach Doug Pederson provided a positive update on Engram during his Monday news conference, saying he was close to playing in Week 5.

“He got himself into practice a little bit,” Pederson said. “I would anticipate him doing more this week and seeing where he’s at at the end of the week. But I think the chances of him getting back in here this week are pretty good.”

Related players: Brenton Strange

Engram had one 5-yard catch in the season-opening loss to Miami before he had to exit the contest. He was a limited participant in practice all three days last week, the story pointed out.