Team news | Page 5

Jeremiyah Love is expected to make his NFL debut against the Chargers after practicing on a limited basis this week. He has been recovering from the high-ankle sprain he suffered during the preseason.

Related Players: Tyler Allgeier, Zonovan Knight

Love can return to fantasy lineups as an RB2/Flex, but Arizona may manage his workload coming off the ankle injury. Allgeier remains likely to handle a meaningful share of the backfield work and was listed first on the team’s unofficial depth chart.

Todd Bowles said Jalen McMillan and Sean Tucker are doubtful against Cincinnati despite both practicing on a limited basis Friday. Neither experienced a setback, but the Buccaneers expect to proceed without them. Emeka Egbuka is “full-go.”

Related Players: Chris Godwin, Ted Hurst, Bucky Irving, Kenneth Gainwell, Josh Williams

Egbuka can be started without injury concerns and gains additional target stability with McMillan unlikely to play. Rookie Ted Hurst should receive more reps as Tampa Bay’s third receiver. Tucker’s expected absence consolidates the active backfield around Irving and Gainwell, while practice-squad back Josh Williams could be elevated.

Tua Tagovailoa did not practice Friday and has officially been ruled out against Pittsburgh with the oblique injury he suffered Thursday. Michael Penix Jr. practiced fully but will also be inactive, putting Cooper Rush in line to start.

Related Players: Michael Penix Jr., Drake London, Kyle Pitts, Jahan Dotson, Olamide Zaccheaus, Zachariah Branch

Rush will make his 17th career start against a strong Pittsburgh defense. The quarterback change lowers the ceiling of London and Pitts, although both remain usable at their respective positions. Bijan Robinson’s workload remains secure and could increase if Atlanta adopts a more conservative offensive approach.

Breece Hall said Thursday that he is ready for Sunday’s opener against Tennessee after recovering from an August groin strain. He practiced fully for the second consecutive day and said he can handle a full workload.

Offensive coordinator Frank Reich indicated that Hall will be used normally unless the medical staff recommends otherwise. Braelon Allen and Isaiah Davis will remain available behind him.

Hall’s consecutive full practices and expected normal workload remove the remaining concern surrounding his Week 1 availability. He can be started as an RB2 against Tennessee. Allen remains the preferred backup but does not appear likely to receive an injury-related workload boost.

An MRI confirmed that A.J. Brown suffered a high-ankle sprain during Wednesday night’s loss to Seattle, and is expected to miss at least four weeks.

Related Players: Drake Maye, Romeo Doubs, Demario Douglas, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams, Efton Chism, Hunter Henry, Eli Raridon

Brown should miss multiple games and can be moved to an injured-reserve spot where available. Williams is expected to receive more work as New England’s primary X receiver, while Hollins should remain heavily involved. Doubs and Douglas are the more established fantasy options, but this could become a dispersed target tree rather than producing one direct replacement. Henry should also remain prominent after avoiding a significant injury of his own Wednesday.

Nabers practiced fully Thursday but declined to confirm that he will play Sunday night against Dallas. The receiver said the Giants are leaving the decision to him and emphasized that he will not jeopardize his career if his surgically repaired knee does not feel ready.

Related Players: Isaiah Likely, Malachi Fields, Darnell Mooney, Odell Beckham, Theo Johnson

Nabers’ upside makes him difficult to bench if active, but the Sunday-night kickoff creates quite the contingency problem. Likely is the safest alternative beneficiary across positions, while Fields and Mooney would receive the clearest wide receiver boosts if Nabers sits. Even if Nabers plays, the possibility of a self-imposed pitch count adds volatility to his WR2 projection.

During the open media portion of practice, Falcons QB Tua Tagovailoa touched his back and sat down on the grass briefly during individual drills Thursday. It was unclear exactly what had happened. He didn’t seem to throw again after, but media only gets to watch a small portion of practice.

Related Players: Cooper Rush, Michael Penix Jr.

Tagovailoa was named Atlanta’s Week 1 starter, but his availability now warrants monitoring through Friday. Rush is positioned to start if Tagovailoa cannot play because Penix is expected to be inactive while completing his return from ACL surgery. A Rush start would lower the passing-game ceiling for Drake London and Kyle Pitts, although Bijan Robinson’s elite workload projection should remain largely intact.

Josh Jacobs pleads no contest to misdemeanor battery and criminal damage to property.

Related Players: MarShawn Lloyd, Chris Brooks, Kaleb Johnson, Pierre Strong Jr.

The plea resolves an important portion of Jacobs’ legal case but provides no immediate clarity about NFL discipline. Jacobs remains on the Commissioner’s Exempt List and cannot practice or play until the league changes his status.

The NFL may now be in a better position to determine a suspension, but its timing and length remain unknown. Lloyd remains Green Bay’s leading fantasy option for Sunday against Minnesota, with Brooks and Johnson providing deeper backfield depth.

Sam Darnold is expected to miss next week's game, but he should be back sooner, rather than later, sources say. Could be just a few weeks.

With 17 days from Wed. until their Week 3 game against the Commanders, Darnold gets a schedule break, as well.

Related Players: Drew Lock, Jalen Milroe, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Rashid Shaheed, Cooper Kupp, AJ Barner, Jadarian Price

Lock is positioned to start Week 2 and becomes relevant in two-quarterback and superflex formats. Darnold’s apparent avoidance of a major injury reduces the likelihood that Lock develops into a long-term waiver option.

Smith-Njigba remains a strong weekly start after Lock successfully funneled the passing game through him Wednesday night. The quarterback change creates more concern for Seattle’s secondary pass-catchers and could allow opponents to devote additional attention to the running game.

Patriots WR A.J. Brown, who left last night’s opener because of an injury, is believed to have suffered a high-ankle sprain, per me and @MikeGarafolo.

X-Rays were negative for a fracture. Brown has an MRI today to determine how much time he’ll miss.

Related Players: Romeo Doubs, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams, Demario Douglas, Hunter Henry, Eli Raridon

High-ankle sprains frequently produce multi-game absences, although Brown’s precise timetable remains unconfirmed. New England has a helpful 10-day break before hosting Pittsburgh on Sept. 20.

Doubs should presumably receive the cleanest target increase despite his shaky Week 1, while Hollins and Williams are the most direct candidates to replace Brown’s perimeter snaps. Henry could also benefit from additional intermediate targets.