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Steelers Plan to Pare Down the Playbook for Aaron Rodgers
Following a 20-3 loss to the New England Patriots on Sunday, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy hinted at paring down the playbook for quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the offense, according to Mike DeFabo of The Athletic. "If it's not clean, you cut the volume down," McCarthy said. "We're not clean on offense, so the volume's getting cut down. ... We've got a quarterback that could play with any volume of game plan, but at the end of the day, it's a team game." Rodgers finished Sunday's loss by completing 23 out of 39 passes (59%) for 187 yards with zero touchdowns and an interception. He was also sacked four times. The Steelers tallied just 235 total yards on the day and never led against the Patriots. Rodgers, a 42-year-old veteran and multi-time NFL MVP, plans to retire following the 2026 season. He can safely stay out of lineups and on the waiver wire right now.
Source: Mike DeFabo - The Athletic
Source: Mike DeFabo - The Athletic
More Recent News
Jaylen Wright Suffers Neck Injury Against 49ers
Miami Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright (neck) exited Sunday's 35-13 loss to the San Francisco 49ers with a neck stinger he suffered in the first half. The Dolphins designated Wright's status as questionable, but he did not appear to return to the game. Following the loss, Miami head coach Jeff Hafley said that he did not have an update on Wright, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald. Wright finished his day with two carries for 11 yards. He was not targeted in the passing game. As expected, De'Von Achane led the Dolphins in rushing with 20 carries for 74 yards, while adding three receptions for 19 yards. Ollie Gordon II saw three carries for seven yards and is the name to watch for a slight uptick in usage should Wright miss any time.
Source: Miami Dolphins
Source: Miami Dolphins
Alec Pierce Will Not Return Against Chiefs with Heel Injury
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Alec Pierce (heel) will not return to the Sunday Night Football Game with a heel injury he suffered in the first half, as the team downgraded him from questionable to out. According to James Boyd of The Athletic, Pierce was carted off the field and went back to the locker room. It appeared that Pierce was not able to walk on it. Pierce caught his lone target for 11 yards before exiting. The Colts will rely on wide receivers Josh Downs, Keenan Allen, and Tyquan Thornton, and tight end Tyler Warren, among others, while Pierce is out.
Source: Indianapolis Colts
Source: Indianapolis Colts
Brock Bowers Was "Very Close" to Playing in Week 2 Against Chargers
Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak said that star tight end Brock Bowers (knee) was "very close" to playing in Week 2, according to Ryan McFadden of ESPN. Bowers was inactive for the second consecutive week, sitting out the Raiders' 26-14 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers. Bowers underwent a meniscus trim in his left knee on Sept. 8. Bowers did log a limited practice session on Friday and had a doubtful designation ahead of Sunday's game with the Chargers, but he was ultimately ruled out. The fact that Bowers was able to get a limited session in recently and Kubiak saying he was close to playing are all positive signs, but the Raiders appear to be approaching the situation with caution. It is not out of the realm of possibility that Bowers plays in Week 3 on the road against the New Orleans Saints, but it is something to monitor. If Bowers remains out, fellow tight end Michael Mayer will continue to benefit in his absence.
Source: Ryan McFadden - ESPN
Source: Ryan McFadden - ESPN
Sam Darnold is Ahead of Schedule
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (glute) is ahead of schedule in his recovery process. Head coach Mike Macdonald said Darnold could return to practice this upcoming week, per Curtis Crabtree. He continued by saying that the timetable for Darnold has shifted quite drastically. If everything goes right, Darnold could be back under center for the Week 3 matchup against the Washington Commanders. Darnold was injured during the opening drive of the season and hasn't played since then. Drew Lock has led the team to a 2-0 start, but Darnold will replace him once he's healthy enough to play.
Source: Curtis Crabtree
Source: Curtis Crabtree
Bears "Optimistic" That Caleb Williams Avoided Severe Injury
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (hamstring) suffered a non-contact injury to his right hamstring during the fourth quarter of Sunday's game against the Minnesota Vikings. Williams was in visible pain and needed to be carted off the field. While riding off on the cart to the trainer's room, Williams had a towel over his head and appeared to be crying. He will undergo further imaging on Monday, but the Bears believe that Williams has avoided a significant injury, per NBC. The organization is hopeful it's only a Grade 1 hamstring injury, which likely wouldn't require a lengthy absence. If Williams misses time, backup Tyson Bagent would be in line to play the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 3, which would be a massive downgrade for the entire Bears offense against a strong defense.
Source: NBC
Source: NBC
Jadarian Price's X-Rays Come Back Negative
Seattle Seahawks running back Jadarian Price (chest) was removed during the second half of Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals. He was pulled from the game in the fourth quarter and didn't return. Head coach Mike Macdonald said the X-rays came back negative on Price, Curtis Crabtree reports. Price rushed the ball 13 times for 52 yards, while hauling in one reception for eight yards. It remains to be seen if Price will miss any time from this injury. Emanuel Wilson rushed for a team-high 92 yards in the win over the Cardinals. He could be looking at an expanded role during the Week 3 matchup against the Washington Commanders. UPDATE: The Ringer's Tom Pelissero reports that Price will have more tests on Monday, but there is optimism that the rookie avoided a significant injury.
Source: Curtis Crabtree
Source: Curtis Crabtree
Jayden Daniels Suffers Dislocated Left Elbow
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow) was carted off the field during the first half of Sunday's game against the Dallas Cowboys. Daniels sustained a dislocated left elbow while attempting to prevent himself from falling on the final play of the first half. Commanders head coach Dan Quinn confirmed the injury, but said there's no fracture, per Tashan Reed. Before leaving, Daniels completed 11-of-17 passing attempts for 96 yards and a touchdown. He also added 69 additional yards on the ground on seven rushing attempts. The Commanders haven't given a timetable for Daniels yet, but he'll likely miss some time. Marcus Mariota is in line to take over under center going forward.
Source: Tashan Reed
Source: Tashan Reed
Mike Evans Believed to Be "Fine" After Suffering Hip Injury
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan believes wide receiver Mike Evans (hip) is "fine" after he suffered a hip injury in the fourth quarter of San Francisco's 35-13 victory over the Miami Dolphins, according to Vic Tafur of The Athletic. Evans finished the game by catching all three of his targets for 54 yards. Evans' 54 yards was second on the team in receiving yards to tight end George Kittle, who caught four balls for 80 yards and a touchdown. With Evans' injury happening in the fourth quarter and the game well in the 49ers' control, it seemed to be more of a cautionary move to keep Evans out. Meanwhile, fellow San Francisco wideout Demarcus Robinson is believed to have suffered a high-ankle sprain, according to Tafur. Keep a close eye on how things work out for the 49ers' wide receiver group throughout the practice week.
Source: Vic Tafur - The Athletic
Source: Vic Tafur - The Athletic
Caleb Douglas Suffers Ankle Injury, in Boot After the Game
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Caleb Douglas (ankle) was removed during the fourth quarter of Sunday's game against the San Francisco 49ers. He was pulled out in the fourth quarter and didn't return with the game already being a blowout. Douglas was seen leaving the locker room with a boot on his right leg, according to Omar Kelly. The hope is that the boot is precautionary, but fantasy managers should know more information soon. Douglas was impressive during his NFL debut, but posted a dud in Week 2. He finished with two receptions on three targets for 19 yards. Malik Washington and Chris Bell are likely to see expanded roles in the receiving game if Douglas is forced to miss time.
Source: Omar Kelly
Source: Omar Kelly
David Njoku Leaves Game Against Raiders with Knee Injury
Los Angeles Chargers tight end David Njoku (knee) was carted off the field in the second quarter against the Las Vegas Raiders and did not return to the game. Njoku finished the 26-14 loss to the Raiders with one catch on three targets for nine yards. Following the game, Los Angeles head coach Jim Harbaugh said he did not have an update on Njoku, according to Alex Insdorf of Bolts Breakdown. Fellow L.A. tight end Charlie Kolar (forearm) also exited the game with a forearm injury after recording three receptions for 21 yards. Meanwhile, Oronde Gadsden caught each of his two targets for 18 yards. The severity of the injuries to Njoku and Kolar is something to monitor.
Source: Los Angeles Chargers
Source: Los Angeles Chargers
Charlie Kolar Suffers Forearm Injury in Loss to Raiders
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Charlie Kolar (forearm) suffered a forearm injury in the second half of a 26-14 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders and was deemed questionable to return. It did not appear that Kolar was able to return. He finished the game with three receptions for 21 yards. In Week 1, Kolar did not record an offensive statistic despite playing 30 offensive snaps. The Chargers also lost fellow tight end David Njoku (knee), who was carted off the field, to a knee injury earlier on Sunday. If Kolar and Njoku both miss time, tight end Oronde Gadsden could see more targets coming his way. L.A.'s tight end situation is one to monitor closely.
Source: Los Angeles Chargers
Source: Los Angeles Chargers
Pat Freiermuth Maintains Steady Role in Loss to Patriots
Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Pat Freiermuth hauled in four of his five targets for 32 yards in a 20-3 loss to the New England Patriots in Week 2. The entire Steelers offense struggled on Sunday, but Freiermuth made the most of his opportunities and continued to build on his early-season chemistry with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Though it remains to be seen whether wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (foot), who missed this week's game, will miss additional time, Freiermuth should have a featured role in Pittsburgh's passing attack moving forward. Fantasy managers may have a hard time trusting any of the team's pass-catchers in starting lineups, but Freiermuth looks like an enticing streaming option against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Jadarian Price Suffers Chest Injury Against Cardinals
Seattle Seahawks rookie first-round running back Jadarian Price (chest) suffered a chest injury against the Arizona Cardinals and did not return, according to the Seahawks' PR team. Price was injured during the fourth quarter of the Seahawks' 31-7 win and did not return to the game. He was spotted with trainers walking to the locker room with his shoulder pads off. The Seahawks had a healthy lead over the Cardinals when the injury happened in the fourth quarter and ruled him out shortly afterward, so it is unclear if Seattle was being cautious with no real reason to put him back in the game or if it is more serious. Price finished Sunday's game with 13 carries for 52 yards and one catch (two targets) for eight yards. Emanuel Wilson led Seattle's backfield with 21 carries for 92 yards, while George Holani amassed 13 yards on four carries. Fantasy managers will need to keep a close eye on Price's status moving forward.
Source: Seattle Seahawks
Source: Seattle Seahawks
Germie Bernard Flashes Despite Costly Mistake in Week 2 Loss
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Germie Bernard led the team with 35 receiving yards on four receptions in a 20-3 loss to the New England Patriots. Bernard stepped up with veteran Michael Pittman Jr. (foot) sidelined, earning eight targets from quarterback Aaron Rodgers, good for second among Steelers pass-catchers. Unfortunately, things weren't all positive for the rookie, as a costly red-zone drop resulted in an interception with Pittsburgh attempting to mount a comeback in the fourth quarter. Nonetheless, with DK Metcalf off to a slow start, it wouldn't be surprising if Bernard continues to see opportunities, especially if Pittman misses additional time. The 22-year-old will look to build on this performance in a Week 3 clash with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Jayden Daniels Ruled Out in Week 2 With Elbow Injury
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow) has been ruled out for the rest of the game against the Dallas Cowboys. Daniels injured his left elbow on the last play of the first half. He was carted off the field and quickly ruled out for the third quarter. Before the injury, Daniels completed 11 out of his 17 passes for 96 yards and a touchdown pass, while adding seven carries for 69 yards. Marcus Mariota took the reins of Washington's offense following Daniels' injury. Athan Kaliakmanis is the emergency option at quarterback for Washington.
Source: Washington Commanders
Source: Washington Commanders
DK Metcalf's Fantasy Value Takes Another Hit in Week 2
Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf secured four of his nine targets for 27 yards in a 20-3 loss to the New England Patriots. Metcalf wasn't the only Steeler to struggle on Sunday, but his performance unfortunately stood out for the wrong reasons, as he had multiple drops in the second half. Through two games this season, Metcalf has been the clear favorite target of quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Still, he was unable to capitalize on a significant opportunity with Michael Pittman Jr. (foot) sidelined and was out-produced by rookie wide receiver Germie Bernard and third-year pro Roman Wilson. Until the Steelers' offense shows signs of life, Metcalf will be difficult to trust in fantasy lineups. He'll look to get back on track in Week 3 against a surging Cincinnati Bengals defense.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Mike Evans Suffers Hip Injury on Sunday, Questionable to Return
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Mike Evans (hip) is listed as questionable to return to Sunday's contest against the Miami Dolphins, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic. Before exiting, Evans caught all three of his targets for 54 yards. According to Matt Lively of KPIX TV, Evans was seen hobbling on his final play but was not receiving any personal medical attention on the sidelines. Managers should keep a close eye on his status in case he has to miss a longer period of time. With Demarcus Robinson (ankle) also exiting early, managers should expect Deebo Samuel Sr. and George Kittle to draw much of the targets for the remainder of this contest.
Source: Matt Barrows
Source: Matt Barrows
Jaylen Warren Gains 77 Yards in Blowout Loss
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren handled 11 carries for 43 yards and brought in two of his four targets for 34 yards in a 20-3 Week 2 loss to the New England Patriots. While Warren's numbers won't jump off the page, he actually posted the best fantasy performance of any player on the Steelers' offense. Just like in Week 1, Warren shared a near-even split of the backfield with Rico Dowdle (toe) until the latter exited with a toe injury in the third quarter. Through two weeks, Pittsburgh hasn't shown much to get excited about from a fantasy perspective, but Warren has been productive. Fantasy managers will want to monitor Dowdle's status ahead of a Week 3 divisional clash with the Cincinnati Bengals, as Warren's fantasy outlook would receive a notable boost if he takes on an expanded role.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
J.K. Dobbins Questionable to Return on Sunday with Hamstring Injury
Denver Broncos running back J.K. Dobbins (hamstring) is questionable to return to Sunday's contest due to a hamstring injury. The veteran running back was seen walking off the field on his own power but eventually went into the medical tent. Before exiting, Dobbins led the backfield (with RJ Harvey not playing) as he took 10 carries for 36 yards. While he remains on the shelf, managers should expect Jonah Coleman and Tyler Badie to operate as the top options on the depth chart. If he were to miss a lengthy period of time, Coleman would be a top waiver wire target.
Source: Sam Jane
Source: Sam Jane
Aaron Rodgers Struggles in Week 2 Loss
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed 23 of 39 pass attempts for 187 yards and an interception in a 20-3 loss to the New England Patriots. He added five rushing yards on one carry and lost one of his two fumbles. It was an afternoon to forget for the entire Pittsburgh offense, which totaled just 235 yards, while Rodgers was sacked four times for a loss of 43 yards. Although Rodgers' interception wasn't necessarily his fault, as rookie wideout Germie Bernard bobbled the pass into the hands of a defender, the 42-year-old missed on multiple throws throughout the contest. Next week's divisional showdown with the Cincinnati Bengals should present a more favorable matchup, but Cincinnati's defense has been impressive through two weeks. Rodgers remains off the fantasy radar in all single-quarterback leagues.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
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