Team news: Minnesota Vikings | Page 4

The Vikings may be turning to Max Brosmer at quarterback in Week 13.

Head coach Kevin O’Connell announced on Monday that J.J. McCarthy is in the concussion protocol. O’Connell said that McCarthy reported having concussion symptoms on the flight home after Sunday’s loss to the Packers in Green Bay.

Brosmer will take the first-team reps while McCarthy is working his way through the protocol and will start against the Seahawks if McCarthy is not cleared for the game. It's typical once a player in is protocol, they will miss the follow week's game. The undrafted rookie is 5-of-8 for 42 yards in four appearances this season, but has never started an NFL game, the story pointed out. The Vikings have said to love Brosmer's skillset, however, he gets a tough test should he start in Week 13 against Seattle.

Vikings upgraded JJ McCarthy from limited practice on Wednesday to full practice today, putting him on track to start Sunday.

Related Players: Max Brosmer, John Wolford

Looks like McCarthy should get the start here in a good matchup against the Bears defense. Consider him a streaming option and put him in top-15 consideration with a nice rushing floor.

But Justin Jefferson’s lack of energy cannot be ignored. He is the face of this franchise. His consistent brilliance has set a standard of expectation much higher than what he delivered Sunday.

The numbers Jefferson is putting up this season are nowhere near what he is used to. In his first five seasons in the league, he averaged 95.5 receiving yards per game and eight touchdowns per season. This season, with a young J.J. McCarthy and Carson Wentz as his two quarterbacks, he is averaging 76.2 yards and has scored only two touchdowns in nine games.

The story pointed to some instances where Jefferson would normally bring in a catch for a big play or even a touchdown, but it didn't happen in Week 10. Jefferson finished with four catches for 37 yards against the Ravens. The author said you can probably count the number of bad games Jefferson has had in his career on one hand, but unfortunately this past week was one of them. The author also pointed to a lack of sharp routes run and a lack of pursuit after an interception. It could be frustration as McCarthy was up and down. The author even said the Ravens were clutching and grabbing him a bit, too. No matter, fantasy owners have likely been disappointed with Jefferson's overall fantasy production this season for where he was drafted. Hopefully there is some emphasis by the Vikings to get Jefferson more involved going forward.

49ers will start Mac Jones at QB vs Rams

OUT
WR Ricky Pearsall
QUESTIONABLE
QB Brock Purdy
DT Alfred Collins
DT Kalia Davis
LB Dee Winters
LB Tatum Bethune
DL Keion White

Related Players: Jauan Jennings, Kendrick Bourne, Demarcus Robinson, Jordan Watkins

Jones is once again in SuperFlex starting range, but can be looked over for better plays in typical leagues.

Jennings is in WR3 range, but George Kittle is the only other pass-catcher we should trust in fantasy.

Cardinals are placing QB Kyler Murray on injured reserve due to his foot injury, meaning he now will miss a minimum of four games.

Cardinals say this will give Murray the chance to focus on rehabbing his foot injury and that he is committed to getting back as soon as possible.

Related Players: Jacoby Brissett

We have to wonder if we see Murray for the rest of the season, and going even further, he could legitimately get moved to another team at season's end.

This isn't even necessarily a bad thing for Marvin Harrison Jr. or Trey McBride, who are still safe fantasy plays here in Week 10 and beyond.

Sources: The AZCardinals are naming Jacoby Brissett as their starting QB.

Related players: Kyler Murray

There seems to be some mixed reports out there on just how long Brissett will be the starter, especially since HC Rich Gannon just said Murray is still the starter, when healthy. PFT is reporting Murray will continue to work on the health of his foot and he may be active for Week 10, but Brissett will start. Murray's timeline for his foot injury is now said to be 4-8 weeks, so it's still even possible Murray ends up on IR. If Brissett comes out and upsets the Seahawks this week, after knocking off Dallas this week, it's hard to imagine the Cards going back to Murray. Mike Florio of PFT believed the Cardinals and Murray would part ways after the season in an article Monday, and that certainly seems like it will happen. Murray is not "the guy" of the current regime, so it would make sense the coaching staff wants to move in a different direction. While Brissett will at least start in Week 10, it seems possible Brissett could start the rest of the season as well.

Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett has played very well in place of the injured Kyler Murray, but head coach Jonathan Gannon says Murray will return to the starting lineup as soon as he is cleared.

Asked if he would reconsider and keep Brissett at quarterback, Gannon insisted he wouldn’t.

“Nothing’s changed on that,” Gannon said. “That’s how I feel.”

Brissett completed 21 of 31 passes for 261 yards, with two touchdowns and no interceptions in Monday night’s 27-17 win over the Cowboys. Statistically, Brissett has been better than Murray this season, the story pointed out, and if you've watched any Cardinals games, the offense just looks better under Brissett. In a story we posted yesterday, PFT's Mike Florio believes Murray's days in Arizona could be numbered, and while he doesn't expect a trade before today's deadline, he feels an offseason move could be likely.

Could Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray be traded?

So I poked around. And I learned there are too many moving parts for a Murray trade to happen now. Not many teams would be willing to even consider it. Murray, even without a no-trade clause, would have to be willing to embrace the change of venue. His contract would be an issue. Having fewer suitors would reduce any leverage he’d possibly have for a through-the-door extension. So, despite the current existence of an awkward vibe between Murray and the Cardinals (dating back to the ill-advised “homework” clause in his 2022 extension), he won’t be going anywhere this season.

That said, an offseason trade is very realistic. If not likely.

This is just the opinion of PFT's Mike Florio, of course. But perhaps the best point made is this isn't the current regime's choice for QB, and when a new regime takes over they tend to want their guys in place. As the story said, HC Rich Gannon is already in his third year and likely won't make the playoffs again. Florio said teams like the Dolphins, Jets, Steelers, Browns, Raiders, Vikings, and Saints could all be looking for new QBs for next season. Florio said a trade before Tuesday's deadline appears to be too complicated, which makes an offseason move more likely in Florio's opinion.

The Arizona Cardinals are preparing quarterback Kyler Murray to start Monday night against the Dallas Cowboys, coach Jonathan Gannon said Thursday. Murray missed Arizona's past two games with a foot injury and was able to rest it longer during the Cardinals' bye last week.

Related Players: Jacoby Brissett

Murray's in a great spot to come into fantasy relevance against a Cowboys defense that ranks dead last in QB aFPA. Even if Murray doesn't scramble around a ton with a rehabbing foot, he should still be in easy consideration as a QB1.

49ers WR Ricky Pearsall (knee) will not practice again today, per Kyle Shanahan.

Others not practicing today: DE Bryce Huff (hamstring), C Jake Brendel (hamstring), DL Yetur Gross-Matos (hamstring), DT Alfred Collins, LB Dee Winters.

Related Players: Jauan Jennings, Kendrick Bourne, Demarcus Robinson

San Francisco is waiting with bated breath for the eventual Brandon Aiyuk return, but as it stands, it looks like Jennings should be considered a WR3 and Bourne a WR4 as we head into Week 4.