Cardinals notes: Why does Michael Wilson practice with broken ribs?
A Cardinals notebook with details on Michael Wilson playing through broken ribs, Trey McBride jokingly offering to play running back and more.
Latest blog entries about NFL
A Cardinals notebook with details on Michael Wilson playing through broken ribs, Trey McBride jokingly offering to play running back and more.
Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer owns the team's late‑game collapse after a 33‑30 overtime loss to Arizona, where a 14‑point fourth‑quarter lead vanished. He cites execution—not effort—as the root issue, acknowledging his role in the 3‑5 start to the 2026 season. The defeat matched the franchise’s largest blown fourth‑quarter lead, dropping win probability from 98.3% to a loss. Quarterback Dak Prescott and owner Jerry Jones defend Schottenheimer, stressing collective responsibility as the Cowboys, still within NFC East contention, aim to fix execution flaws in their remaining nine games.
On Thursday Night Football, the Jacksonville Jaguars (5-2) host the Baltimore Ravens (4-4) in the first NFL matchup since the Seahawks fell to the Bears. Trevor Lawrence looks like an MVP contender, backed by a defense featuring Travis Hunter, Travon Walker and Josh Hines‑Allen. The Ravens are shorthanded without Lamar Jackson (thumb injury) and Tyler Huntley (turf toe), prompting a trade for Jacoby Brissett that won’t take effect until the weekend, leaving third‑string UConn rookie Joey Fagnano to start on a short week. First‑year Ravens coach Jesse Minter faces a tough test.
It's easy for GMs to convince themselves their situations aren't dire. These ones need to be nudged — now.
After a 28-24 loss to the Denver Broncos, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes confronts head coach Andy Reid’s doubts about using quarterback sneaks. Mahomes, who has thrown for 1,795 yards and 12 TDs in seven games, says he’s willing to run the sneak but wants it to work, recalling his 2019 knee injury on a similar play. The Broncos’ comeback highlighted Kansas City’s short‑yardage woes – the Chiefs convert 20 of 34 two‑yard situations but have only two rushing TDs inside the 5‑yard line. With the Chiefs now 5‑2 and trailing Denver in the AFC West, the debate over Mahomes’ role in goal‑line attacks heats up ahead of their next game against the New York Jets.
Dianna Russel — the former top NFL insider at The Athletic who resigned in April after scandal‑laden photos with Patriots coach Mike Vrabel surfaced — is set to re‑enter sports media next week, according to Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio. While Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy had called hiring her a “no‑brainer” earlier this year, insiders now say her new gig will not be at Barstool. Details on the outlet or role remain vague, sparking speculation about a podcast, Substack, or a gambling‑related position, but a Front Office Sports source confirms Barstool is off the table.
After helping the Jacksonville Jaguars get off to an early AFC South lead, two-way star Travis Hunter took some time to support his family during the team's Week 7 bye.
Christian McCaffrey returns to limited practice on Thursday, signaling progress on a mild left hamstring strain that sidelined him Wednesday. The 49ers hope his comeback boosts an offense already missing WRs Christian Kirk (knee), Mike Evans (ribs/Achilles) and Deebo Samuel (hamstring) ahead of their Week 9 home game against the Las Vegas Raiders (kickoff 1:25 p.m. PT). McCaffrey, who logged 100 scrimmage yards and a rushing TD in the loss to Atlanta, remains a key playmaker for the 6‑1 49ers as they seek to stay unbeaten.
Six Seattle Seahawks starters missed Thursday practice ahead of their Week 9 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals, raising concerns for the defending champions' NFC West fate. The absent players are QB Sam Darnold, WR Rashid Shaheed, LT Charles Cross, LG Quenton Nelson, DT Leonard Williams, and LB Derick Hall, with Uchenna Nwosu also out and Ernest Jones and Drew Lock limited. Meanwhile, Anthony Bradford, Nick Emmanwori and Jaxon Smith‑Njigba returned to full participation after previous restrictions.
Ahead of the Bears’ Week 9 clash with the Buccaneers, rookie cornerback Malik Muhammad publicly tells veteran Jaylon Johnson he must improve after ranking near the bottom of PFF’s cornerback grades (96th of 103). Muhammad, a fourth‑round pick with one interception and five pass breakups in seven games, lauds Johnson’s attitude but stresses the difficulty of the position. The critique comes as Chicago rides a 7‑2 record, led by QB Caleb Williams and a strong defense anchored by recent addition Jeffery Simmons, while the secondary struggles.
Ben Roethlisberger criticizes Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy for underutilizing running back Jaylen Warren in the red zone after Warren’s 143‑yard, one‑touchdown effort in the 27‑6 win over Cleveland. Warren is averaging 6.9 yards per touch and has amassed 704 yards in eight games, yet has only two rushing TDs, prompting questions about play‑calling near the goal line. The Steelers sit 6‑2, lead the AFC North, and aim to improve their 37.9% third‑down conversion rate. Roethlisberger argues more short‑yardage carries could boost Warren’s scoring as Pittsburgh prepares for a Week 9 matchup with Cincinnati.
Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson returns after a year‑long eye injury, playing 14 snaps in a Week 8 loss to Jacksonville. The team’s WR Josh Downs, reportedly seeking a trade, draws interest from the Chiefs and Steelers, though insiders doubt Indianapolis will receive a third‑round pick. Jacksonville’s Brian Thomas Jr. is also rumored to be on the move, with the 49ers mentioned as a possible destination. Houston’s defense sits 19th in points allowed, prompting head coach DeMeco Ryans and GM Nick Caserio to blame execution, not scheme, while DE Will Anderson claims opponents have figured out their approach. RB David Montgomery remains a week‑to‑week groin injury and will miss Week 9.
Former Jets wideout Allen Lazard, who logged 530 yards and six TDs in 2024 before a 2025 dip and release, now alleges the team slashed its player food budget by $1 million after his rookie season. He says the cut forced him to cook his own meals, causing stomach issues during practice. The NFLPA’s 2025 report card ranks the Jets’ dining program near the bottom (C‑, 29th of 32) and gives owner Woody Johnson the league’s lowest ownership grade. The report notes a budget cut and loss of the longtime dietitian, though it doesn’t verify Lazard’s exact figure.
The article pits Patriots rookie Drake Maye against Packers quarterback Jordan Love, weighing advanced metrics over raw stats. Maye posts a higher EPA per play (.279 vs. Love’s .15) and still leads in CPOE, though his volume and CPOE have slipped from last year. Love leads the league in passing yards and attempts, but suffers from a weak offensive line, a poor 2.9‑yard rushing attack, and a league‑worst 7% drop rate. While Maye appears objectively better per play, Love’s higher volume adds more overall value. The piece concludes Maye is the stronger individual performer, yet the comparison remains nuanced.
The Los Angeles Rams drafted quarterback Ty Simpson 13th overall to future‑proof the position, but after eight weeks he remains a healthy scratch behind Matthew Stafford and Stetson Bennett. Despite a solid preseason, Simpson’s lack of game reps is prompting debate: with Stafford battling an elbow injury and Bennett likely headed for free agency, the Rams could promote Simpson to the primary backup now. Coach Sean McVay’s plan to develop the rookie is clear, though the timing remains uncertain, possibly aligning with the upcoming bye week.
The Iowa Hawkeyes women’s basketball team, ranked No. 10, opens its season with a 73-45 win over Towson, highlighted by guard Dani Carnegie’s 21 points, five rebounds and five assists. Coach Jan Jensen now has a reliable scoring option and will use the upcoming Nov 5 matchup against the Eastern Illinois Panthers at Carver‑Hawkeye Arena to test new lineups before a crucial Sunday game versus UConn. The article provides game details—7 p.m. CST on B1G+—and invites fans to watch and discuss the contest.
As the Nov. 10 trade deadline looms, the Dallas Cowboys—sitting 3‑5 after a 33‑30 OT loss to Arizona—are eyeing Cardinals edge rusher Josh Sweat. Sweat, a Super Bowl‑winner with the Eagles, is in the second year of a four‑year, $76 million deal and could demand a raise on his $18.1 million 2026 salary, complicating a trade. Dallas, already heavy on draft‑pick expenditures for players like Broderick Jones and Joey Porter Jr., must balance adding a pass‑rusher against remaining draft capital and lingering needs at cornerback and linebacker.
The New York Giants are actively scouting trade options before the Nov. 10 deadline, with Indianapolis Colts RB Jonathan Taylor emerging as a top target after injuries sidelined Cam Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy Jr. Coach John Harbaugh and GM Joe Schoen are also eyeing defensive‑line help, reportedly probing DT Vita Vea and Jeffery Simmons. The Colts demand high draft compensation, and the Giants lack their 2027 fourth‑ and fifth‑round picks, complicating a deal. Meanwhile, the team has extended CB Greg Newsome II, released Najee Harris and added rookie Greg Desrosiers to bolster depth.
Seattle’s quarterback Sam Darnold, a Super Bowl hero, must elevate his play before contract talks for the 2027 season get underway. Through seven games in 2026 he’s 127‑of‑211 for 1,478 yards, 10 TDs and nine INTs with a 60.2% completion rate and a 79.4 passer rating, down from his 2025 numbers. Injuries have limited him, and the Seahawks face a $10 million roster bonus on the first day of the new league year, after which guarantees expire. If Darnold doesn’t improve, Seattle could move on despite his $100.5 million deal.
The Jaguars, now 5-2 after a 42-7 rout of the Colts, travel to Baltimore on Thursday, Nov. 5, for a Week 10 showdown against the 4-4 Ravens, who are without starter Lamar Jackson and coming off a 36-10 loss to Buffalo. The game starts at 8:15 PM EST at M&T Bank Stadium and streams on Amazon Prime and NFL+. Betting lines favor Jacksonville at -9.5 points with a 39.5 total and a -550 moneyline, while Baltimore sits at +410. This preview covers the teams' recent form, key injuries, and where to watch.
Thursday Night Football pits the Jacksonville Jaguars against the Baltimore Ravens on November 5, 2026, at 8:15 PM ET. The game streams nationally on Amazon Prime Video and locally on Fubo, with over‑the‑air options on WMAR (Baltimore) and FOX30 (Jacksonville). The Jaguars arrive in Week 9 with a 5‑2 record, fresh off a 42‑7 win over Indianapolis, led by Trevor Lawrence and coach Liam Coen. The Ravens sit 4‑4 after three straight losses and face quarterback woes, as starters Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley are out and rookie Joe Fagnano is slated to start. Fans can watch the clash without cable via free‑trial streams on Prime or Fubo.
The Ravens will enter Thursday Night Football against the Jacksonville Jaguars without defensive back Nate Wiggins, who is listed as inactive due to an illness/stinger. Alongside Wiggins, the team also sidelines wide receiver Elijah Stewart, safety Jaylin Hawkins, guard Emery Jones, defensive tackle Aeneas Peebles and quarterback Kedon Slovis. Wiggins, a 2024 first‑round pick from Clemson, has recorded four passes defended and 24 tackles in eight games this season. Jacksonville, now fifth in the league, averages 28.0 points and 227.4 passing yards per game. The Ravens must adjust their defense while already coping with injuries to quarterbacks Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley.
The Seattle Seahawks’ October 5, 2010 trade for Marshawn Lynch from the Buffalo Bills proves the franchise’s most impactful in‑season acquisition. Sending a 2011 fourth‑round and a conditional 2012 fifth‑round pick, the Seahawks gained a power runner whose 67‑yard "Beast Quake" TD in the January 2011 wild‑card win sparked a 41‑36 upset over New Orleans. Lynch rushed for 1,204 yards in 2011, a career‑high 1,590 in 2012, and helped Seattle win Super Bowl XLVIII and reach Super Bowl XLIX, earning four Pro Bowls and two All‑Pro honors. The trade reshaped Seattle’s identity and remains a benchmark for mid‑season moves.
The Game Haus breaks down its Week 9 fantasy wide receiver rankings as the 2026 NFL season reaches its midpoint. Jaxon Smith‑Njigba (WR1) and Puka Nacua (WR2) earn Must‑Start tags, while stars Ja’Marr Chase, CeeDee Lamb, and Justin Jefferson sit at WR3‑WR5. The list continues through deep‑league options like Rome Odunze and Marvin Harrison Jr., and flags several question‑mark players (Garrett Wilson, A.J. Brown, Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, DeVonta Smith) as Status Uncertain. Bye weeks for DK Metcalf, Carnell Tate and Germie Bernard mean managers must tap bench talent. Readers get a clear hierarchy of starters, low‑end and deep‑league WRs for Week 9 decisions.
Jacoby Brissett won't be on the Baltimore Ravens in time to start Thursday's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars with Lamar Jackson (thumb) and Tyler Huntley (toe) injured, but the plan is reportedly for him to take the field in Week 10.