Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford underwent a procedure Tuesday to clean up his knee, according to Chris Mortensen of ESPN. The surgery was performed by Dr. James Andrews to ease pain and discomfort, Mortensen adds. Reports surfaced earlier Tuesday that the Vikings are considering placing Bradford on injured reserve when they activate Teddy Bridgewater.Bradford hasn't played since Oct. 9, when he left a game against the Chicago Bears due to the ailment.The Vikings have overcome the loss of Bradford and the absence of Bridgewater by winning their past four games with Case Keenum behind center.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

theScore's Justin Boone is coming off his fourth top-10 finish in FantasyPros' Most Accurate Expert Competition. Follow the links below to see his early rankings for Week 10.Updated rankings (including PPR) will be released Thursday, with the final version coming down Sunday morning.Standard

Jacksonville Jaguars rookie running back Leonard Fournette apologized Tuesday for breaking team rules that caused him to be deactivated Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals:

The NFL invited Colin Kaepernick to meet with commissioner Roger Goodell one-on-one, but has yet to hear back from the free-agent quarterback, league spokesman Joe Lockhart told Jim Trotter of ESPN on Tuesday.NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent extended the invitation to Kaepernick at the end of a text message in which he updated him on the ongoing talks about social issues between players and owners.Players have reportedly requested a formal mediation session with the league over the protesting of social issues during the national anthem, and Kaepernick has apparently agreed to attend the meeting.Lockhart added that the NFL would welcome involving Kaepernick further in the discussions between players, owners, and league representatives over social justice reforms.Kaepernick - who was the first player last season to protest during the anthem - has filed a collusion grievance against the NFL after failing to find a new team following his departure from the San Francisco 49ers in March.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Just over fourteen months ago, Teddy Bridgewater was rushed from the Minnesota Vikings' practice field to a hospital after suffering a devastating non-contact knee injury.Not only was the quarterback's career in jeopardy, his leg was too. It's amazing enough that Bridgewater can walk and run without any limitations; the fact he's a day away from being activated to Minnesota's 53-man roster and will soon suit up for an NFL game is a miracle.Related - Report: Vikings to activate Bridgewater this week, could put Bradford on IRBut the next chapter in this feel-good story - one the NFL desperately needed during what may be the most depressing season in recent memory - shouldn't be Bridgewater sitting on a bench while Case Keenum leads the Vikings.With Aaron Rodgers likely done for the year, Minnesota, sitting 6-2, has a great chance to win the NFC North and contend for a first-round bye. And Keenum is a big reason for the Vikings' success this season.The journeyman pivot exceeded expectations after taking over for Sam Bradford, who's been hurt since Week 1 and may be headed to injured reserve. Keenum has been efficient, poised, and careful with the football - everything you want in a relief starter.But Minnesota will need more than a steady hand come playoff time. The NFC is stacked this year. Despite the Vikings' elite defense, with Keenum at the helm, does anyone believe they can beat more than one team at the level of the Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, or Philadelphia Eagles in the postseason?(Photo courtesy: Getty Images)Yes, Bridgewater hasn't played in a game since January 2015 and is no lock to return to form. But in his two seasons as the starter, he displayed composure beyond his years, along with special accuracy and pocket presence. Anything close to his previous level of performance would still be an upgrade for Minnesota.He'd also get to work with the most talented receiving options of his career, as Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs have both vastly improved since Bridgewater last threw them the football.And the move to Bridgewater isn't just about short-term gain; the Vikings desperately need to figure out their long-term quarterback situation, as all three pivots are out of contract after this season.With significant long-term concerns about Bradford's knee injury, the Vikings likely aren't comfortable committing to him again. Keenum has done more than enough to earn a longer deal, but Minnesota would be taking a big risk by only retaining him, tying their championship-caliber roster to a career backup with equally good chances of regressing in 2018 or maintaining his current level of play.That brings us back to Bridgewater, who's in the last year of his rookie contract. Because the Vikings were uncertain about his playing future in May, they decided against taking up his fifth-year option - an understandable choice, but one that means they risk losing him this offseason.Before his injury, Bridgewater looked set to seal his status as Minnesota's franchise quarterback. The most important question for the Vikings' present and future is whether he can still be that guy, and they need to roll with him and find out the answer as soon as possible.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers star wide receiver Mike Evans' one-game suspension for a hit after the whistle on New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore has been upheld on appeal, the team announced Tuesday.Evans is now officially out for Tampa Bay's Week 10 game against the New York Jets.The pass-catcher expressed his regret for the hit on Lattimore, which came after the cornerback shoved Jameis Winston in response to the quarterback poking him in the back of the helmet."I want to sincerely apologize for my actions during Sunday's game," said Evans in a statement Tuesday. "I saw my quarterback getting shoved and I let my emotions get the better of me. My response was not appropriate and not a true indication of who I am as a player and a person. I take pride in playing the game the right way and I realize it was unprofessional and hurt my team."Rookie Chris Godwin should see expanded snaps with Evans sidelined.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Josh Gordon returned to the Cleveland Browns facility Tuesday for the first time since he was conditionally reinstated by the NFL, and the receiver sounds raring to go after a lengthy hiatus from football."The first day back in the building went great," Gordon said in a video posted on Instagram around 12 p.m. ET. "The real work begins now. Let y'all know where I'm at. Let's go."

Sage Rosenfels is a former 12-year NFL quarterback who writes, does radio, and podcasts about the NFL and college football. Find him on Twitter @SageRosenfels18.With quarterbacks from the 2016 draft class now a season-and-a-half into their NFL careers, it's a good time to evaluate which ones are on the track to stardom - and which ones are still spinning their wheels. Here's a look at the first eight QBs taken in 2016, in order of when they were drafted.Jared Goff, Los Angeles RamsNo player in the NFL has improved more since last year than Goff, the No. 1 overall pick in 2016.In his rookie season, Goff sat behind Case Keenum for the first nine games. When he finally began starting games in Week 10, Goff looked like a bust. He completed only 54 percent of his passes with five touchdowns and seven interceptions. Head coach Jeff Fisher was fired and Washington Redskins offensive coordinator Sean McVay was hired.What a difference a year makes. Or, I should say, what a difference a good coach makes.When the Rams brought in McVay, many in NFL coaching circles were perturbed that a 31-year-old received the reins of an NFL franchise while other worthy candidates have waited decades to get a head job - and many were skeptical that McVay and Goff would succeed. But in only nine weeks, the Rams have become a legitimate NFC contender.McVay's system is a perfect match for Goff. The offense - similar to those that have been run in Washington and Atlanta the last few years - puts a premium on a quarterback executing within the system. Goff is smart, throws accurately, and has a strong enough arm to execute McVay's play-action attack.Most importantly, Goff has an old-school football team he can rely on. The Rams don't need him to make spectacular plays in order to win. As has been the case for several years, the Rams have a top-10 defense. On offense, they're finally utilizing Todd Gurley, one of few franchise running backs in today’s NFL.The defense and running game allow Goff to play to his strengths. He isn’t nearly as physically talented as Wentz, Dak Prescott, Deshaun Watson, or other quarterbacks drafted in the last few years. But Goff manages his offense, stays away from turnovers, completes key passes on third downs, and knows when to take a shot down the field. That's a key aspect of McVay's scheme: a quarterback who can accurately throw the deep ball.In Sunday's win versus the Giants, Goff waited until Pro Bowl safety Landon Collins became too aggressive in the running game. After coming out of a play-action fake, he found Sammy Watkins with a perfectly thrown deep post for a touchdown.Goff’s improvement makes complete sense, since the table was set for a Rams quarterback to step in and succeed. L.A. had all the ingredients for a well-balanced team, but lacked good offensive coaching. McVay was the Rams' biggest acquisition last offseason, and Goff's reaping the rewards.Carson Wentz, Philadelphia EaglesBefore the 2016 draft, I was asked to compare Goff and Wentz dozens of times, as they seemed to be the best of a deep class at quarterback.While most tabbed Goff as the No. 1 pick, I believed Wentz had more upside. So, as former backup quarterbacks like to do, I'm going to give myself a pat on the back. Good job, Sage.In a one-week span, Wentz went from the third quarterback on the Eagles' roster (behind Sam Bradford and Chase Daniel) to starting the opening game of the season. Though Philadelphia went 7-9 and missed the playoffs, Wentz and the Eagles beat five teams that made the playoffs last year.That's impressive for any rookie quarterback, and if Wentz could eliminate some of his mistakes (he threw 14 interceptions), it looked like he could become elite.It didn't take long for him to prove that was true. With the Eagles at 8-1, Wentz is the midseason favorite for NFL MVP.On a list of important qualities for a franchise quarterback, Wentz checks off every single one. He is much bigger than people realize, extremely strong, and he's a great athlete with a huge arm. Most importantly, he has a magnetic personality that's made him popular within the Eagles organization.He is a winner through and through, and that's the most difficult quality for NFL scouts and coaches to evaluate when quarterbacks come out of college. Tim Tebow had it, but lacked many of the other attributes needed to play quarterback. Many quarterbacks have talent, and some have "it," but it's rare for a player to have a lot of both.Head coach Doug Pederson took a risk trading up to get Wentz. It's paying huge dividends for Philadelphia, which now has the best young quarterback in the NFL.Paxton Lynch, Denver BroncosLynch was the rawest of the first-round quarterbacks drafted last year. He reminded me of Ryan Leaf coming out of Washington State. He was a big, strong athlete with a big arm and playmaking ability. His college film showed he had talent, but he'd need time to sharpen nearly every aspect of his craft.As with Wentz, it's rare for a college quarterback to be this large and athletic, and the Broncos drafted him because of his huge upside.Eighteen months later, that upside has not been tapped. He started two games for Denver as a rookie, and performed like one. Though he made some plays that gave Broncos fans a glimpse of his potential, he also showed his lack of refinement as an NFL pocket passer.Though playing quarterback in the NFL is much more than statistics, he had a respectable year in those terms, ending the season with a 79 quarterback rating and a 59 percent completion rate, with two touchdowns and one interception.The biggest concern about Lynch is not what we know about him, but what Broncos president John Elway knows. After spending an entire offseason splitting reps with Trevor Siemian, who has half the physical talent, Siemian beat him out for the starting job. Since the preseason, Lynch has been sidelined with a right shoulder injury, which means he hasn't been able to get the practice and game reps he desperately needs at this point in his career.That could change soon; Elway's said he would like to see Lynch get some games under his belt this season, and with the Broncos' hopes for this year beginning to sink, Lynch will get his opportunity. Though it's only his second season, those starts could go a long way in deciding if he's the long-term solution in Denver.The Broncos are already sure Siemian and Brock Osweiler are not franchise quarterbacks. Lynch is the biggest unknown on the roster, and they need to figure him out soon - this defense, which is getting older by the week, needs to make another Super Bowl run before the window closes.Christian Hackenberg, New York JetsHackenberg's always had talent. He was a five-star recruit who went to Penn State after receiving offers from nearly every major school in the country. He followed a successful freshman year playing for Bill O'Brien with subpar sophomore and junior seasons, but when he entered the draft, the same tangible skills that made him a five-star also made him a second-round pick.And just like he underperformed at Penn State, he's underperforming as an NFL quarterback.Even though the Jets were starved for quality quarterback play in 2016, Hackenberg was fourth on the roster - behind Ryan Fitzpatrick, Geno Smith, and Bryce Petty.This season, he's behind 38-year-old Josh McCown and third-year pro Petty, who was a fourth-round pick in 2015. Since Hackenberg has no regular-season NFL stats, the fact he's the No. 3 quarterback in his second season may be the only number we need to know.Jacoby Brissett, Indianapolis ColtsBrissett got a bit lost in the shuffle among the other big names from the 2016 draft. Bill Belichick found Brissett out of NC State and selected him in the third round, when many draft experts had him going much later.Learning from Belichick, Tom Brady, and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has been a huge advantage for Brissett. He was thrown into action early in his rookie season with Brady suspended and Jimmy Garoppolo injured, and performed respectably in those appearances.The Colts, starting Scott Tolzien as Andrew Luck's recovery from a shoulder injury dragged on, knew Tolzien wasn't the solution for a full season. They traded for Brissett, who was again the third-stringer in New England, and he became their starting quarterback a week later.Brissett is making the most of the opportunity. Though it's a huge challenge to perform at a high level while learning an entirely new offense, Brissett has played admirably. He's completed over 60 percent of his passes, and owns a 1.75-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio - not bad for a young player still learning the NFL game.Luck's injury is a huge question mark for the franchise, and Brissett's future is up in the air too. He has seven games left to show the Colts, and every other NFL team, whether he's just a good backup or a potential starter. One must assume that if Luck returns healthy next season, and Brissett continues to improve, QB-hungry franchises may be calling Indy.Cody Kessler, Cleveland BrownsCleveland selected Kessler in the third round, and at the beginning of his rookie season, he was the third-string quarterback behind Robert Griffin III and Josh McCown.After Griffin and McCown were injured, Kessler played well for the worst team in the NFL. He finished his rookie campaign with a solid 92.3 QB rating over his eight starts and a 3-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio, having completed 65 percent of his passes.In 2017, the Browns are winless and Kessler has spent most of the season on the bench. He was thrown into Week 7's matchup with the Titans after rookie starter DeShone Kizer was ineffective, but failed to ignite the Browns' attack, and headed back to the bench after the loss.Any rookie that posts a QB rating over 90 on a bad team can play in the NFL, and Kessler is one of the top 64 quarterbacks in the league. He was drafted as a backup, and in only his second season, he has shown himself to be a backup. This isn't terrible news for him. His work ethic and belief in his own abilities will be key to his longevity, though his chances at a long career greatly improve if he can get away from the mess that is the Cleveland Browns.Connor Cook, Oakland RaidersCook was a fourth-round pick by the Raiders, drafted in hopes he'd be Derek Carr’s backup. Many NFL franchises are implementing this approach, since the backup quarterback is a team's insurance policy. Having a good one is extremely valuable, and if a team finds a diamond in the rough, it can turn a fourth-round pick like Cook into someone's franchise QB, like Kirk Cousins or Dak Prescott.Cook's size and arm strength made him a project with great upside, but that potential has yet to be realized.After spending the vast majority of his rookie year as the third-string quarterback behind Carr and Matt McGloin, Cook was unexpectedly thrown into the fire versus the Broncos. Life isn't always fair. Then, in an NFL first, Cook got his first career start the following week in a playoff game at Houston. In back-to-back games, he had to play against two of the NFL's best defenses.Cook didn't show much in either game and played conservatively for the most part. That may have worked on a different team, but Oakland wins because of Carr's ability to push the ball down the field. Last year, the Raiders weren't good enough to beat anybody with their quarterback throwing for only 150 yards, like Cook did in their loss to the Texans.As with Lynch, my concern with Cook's future has more to do with his position on the depth chart than his rookie stats. He currently sits behind Carr and EJ Manuel, who was unimpressive in his game-and-a-half of action earlier this year. Being placed behind Manuel makes me believe Cook hasn't earned his coach's trust during practice, and Cook's next regular-season performance will likely have to wait until he does.Dak Prescott, Dallas CowboysNo player drafted in 2016 has been a bigger surprise than Prescott. After watching his first 25 starts in Dallas, I'm shocked nobody took him in the first round.Prescott, like Wentz, checks off every requirement to be a big-time NFL starter. He is built like a linebacker, he can run like a tight end, and he can make every throw. More importantly, he is extremely mature for a 23-year-old. Can you imagine how crazy it must feel to be a young superstar quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys? A lot of people would struggle in that role, but Prescott's handled the responsibility like a 10-year vet.Despite putting up shockingly good statistics last season, the question on the field was whether Prescott could take that next step as a sophomore. The story in Dallas last year, other than Prescott, was the dominant play by Dallas' offensive line and running back Ezekiel Elliott. It almost seemed like Prescott's rookie performance had an asterisk attached.Prescott has made that second-season jump. He is on pace to throw for 32 touchdowns after passing for 23 as a rookie. His completion percentage is slightly off this year, but he is noticeably pushing the ball down the field for the Cowboys.Watching Prescott play, I am reminded of a young Donovan McNabb. Dak's lower-body strength is comparable to McNabb's, and his throwing motion is also very similar.Crucially, though, Dak is more accurate than the former Eagles All-Pro. He rarely misses open receivers, and does a great job keeping his rhythm in the pocket. Both players are dangerous running or throwing when the pocket breaks down. The biggest difference is that the Cowboys are loaded with offensive weapons, a luxury McNabb lacked in Philadelphia.Though he hasn't finished his second season in the NFL, Prescott has become a household name. Part of this is because he entered a QB-friendly situation, but most of the credit goes to Prescott. He should be Dallas' starter for a decade or longer. Not bad for a fourth-round pick.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll says safety Earl Thomas will be a game-day decision for Thursday's matchup with the Arizona Cardinals, according to NFL Network's Omar Ruiz.With Thomas sidelined by a hamstring injury, backup safety Brad McDougald received the start in the Week 9 loss to the Washington Redskins, recording five combined tackles. McDougald has played in every game this season, but has made just the one start.Thomas started the Seahawks' first seven games of the season, recording 38 total tackles with two interceptions - one returned for a touchdown - and one forced fumble.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Though Tom Coughlin's known as a strict disciplinarian, he has no problem with the way Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey conducted himself in Sunday's game against the Cincinnati Bengals, despite the fact Ramsey was ejected.Ramsey and Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green were involved in a fight during the second quarter that ended both of their afternoons early. Neither of them will be suspended, and the Jaguars executive vice president of football operations said Tuesday that his player behaved appropriately.

Matt Williamson is a former scout for the Cleveland Browns and spent 10 years at ESPN as a scout and co-host of "The Football Today Podcast." Find him on Twitter @WilliamsonNFL.Where do the Denver Broncos go from here?The Broncos have to go to Paxton Lynch as soon as the young quarterback is healthy. They just have to. Lynch didn't look particularly strong in his first two starts, but we can’t forget no one believed him to be close to “NFL Ready” as a draft prospect. We all thought this young man was going to need a lot of time before he is ready.Well, Lynch has now had time, and Denver absolutely has to find out what it hsas in the former first-round pick. It's safe to say Trevor Siemian and Brock Osweiler are not the answers. These two are NFL backups. Denver might also be wise to feature Devontae Booker as its lead running back.This might sound harsh, but after watching the Broncos give up 51 points in Philadelphia, it is time to think about tomorrow. The crime here would be if Denver enters this upcoming offseason and knows no more about Lynch than it does now. Lynch has to play and the Broncos need to structure their offense around him now to the best of their coaching abilities.Which second-year QB is the best of the bunch?Oh, it's Carson Wentz.I am very biased on this one because I have been smitten with Wentz since day one. In fact, on many occasions (even before the 2017 season began), I said that if I got my choice of one player - age is important here - to start an NFL franchise with, I would pick Wentz.That isn’t the slightest knock whatsoever on Jared Goff or Dak Prescott. Both Wentz and Goff’s supporting cast has been greatly improved since last year, but Goff’s more so than Wentz’s. The Eagles, Rams, and Cowboys have all done a great job of building around their young quarterback’s strengths and weaknesses. Goff doesn’t even resemble the player he was in his rookie season and is playing great and efficient football.Prescott was the best of the three in his rookie season, but also had the most optimal conditions around him. While it hasn’t been publicized as much, Prescott too has taken a huge step forward in his second season. In fact, while Prescott used to be a complementary piece of Dallas’ offense, he is now in complete control and the Cowboys offense goes through him.Wentz, Goff, and Prescott are all extremely impressive and are playing some of the best football of all of the league’s quarterbacks, but Wentz is playing the best. He has really shined on third downs and with his deep passing. Wentz’s skill set is superb, but his best asset just might be his mind.Are the Atlanta Falcons in trouble?In terms of making the playoffs, Atlanta is in huge trouble.If the Falcons were in the AFC, this wouldn’t be as big of a deal, but in terms of pecking order in the NFC, they are not only third in their division, but are also behind either the Rams or Seahawks in the West, as well as Dallas in the East for a wild-card spot. Washington, Detroit, and Arizona are all on the Falcons' level.The change of offensive coordinators has been targeted as the Falcons' main problem - and there is some merit to that. There are fewer big plays on offense and Matt Ryan has struggled to find the rhythm he was in last season. But other aspects of this team are also to blame. The young defense isn’t moving forward as quickly as Atlanta would like, and more than any team in the league, the Falcons are starting drives with terrible field position.The NFC is too difficult for the Falcons to coast into the playoffs, but it also wouldn’t be surprising if the second half of the season was more favorable than the first eight games for this club either. But yes, they are in trouble.Are the L.A. Rams the best team in the NFC West?Yes. Seattle is still a team to be reckoned with and it certainly has a lot of winning experience. It is not going away any time soon. However, the Seahawks defense doesn’t have quite the flair and explosiveness that they once had. And Seattle has bigger problems than that.First off, after missing three crucial kicks on Sunday, the Seahawks' kicker situation is really worrisome. As usual, that is also the case with the offensive line. Russell Wilson is under constant pressure and is running for his life far too often.But it is the running game, or lack thereof, that is paralyzing this team. Defenses rightfully don’t fear Seattle’s ground game and far too much is asked of Wilson.Meanwhile, the Rams are improving on defense and have one of the league’s best offenses. We shall see how this plays out down the stretch, but right now, Los Angeles is the top team in the NFC West.(Photos courtesy: Action Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Disgruntled receiver Martavis Bryant was back working with the Pittsburgh Steelers' first-team offense at practice Monday and he will slot back into the lineup when the team faces the Indianapolis Colts in Week 10.Bryant was benched in the Steelers' last game before their Week 9 bye for social-media outbursts due to his low usage. Head coach Mike Tomlin told reporters he plans to play the fourth-year pro on Sunday."He did a nice job of dealing with the suspension and working hard at his craft," Tomlin said, according to Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL Network."He just came to work with a good attitude, like everyone else," Tomlin added, Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.Bryant ranks fifth on the team in catches with 18 and third in receiving yards with 234. He has been passed on the depth chart by ascending rookie JuJu Smith-Schuster, who has 24 catches for 424 yards and four touchdowns.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Minnesota Vikings will activate quarterback Teddy Bridgewater from the physically unable to perform list in advance of Wednesday's deadline and add him to the 53-man roster, sources told ESPN's Chris Mortensen.The team is also reportedly discussing whether to place quarterback Sam Bradford on injured reserve.Bridgewater missed all of the 2016 season and the first nine weeks of this campaign after suffering a horrible knee injury in a preseason practice last year.He's expected to serve as the backup to Case Keenum for the Week 10 game against the Washington Redskins.Bradford has made just one start since suffering his own knee injury in a fantastic Week 1 performance against the New Orleans Saints. He was pulled from Week 5's game against the Chicago Bears after going 5-for-11 for 36 yards. Keenum then led the Vikings to a 20-17 comeback victory.Despite their injury issues at quarterback, the Vikings sit atop the NFC North with a record of 6-2, two wins clear of both the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers.Bradford will be a free agent at the end of the season, and the IR designation would end a contract campaign that began with so much promise in his 27-for-32, 346-yard, three-touchdown performance against the Saints.Bridgewater, who hasn't played since his sophomore 2015 campaign, owns a career completion percentage of 64.9, with 28 passing touchdowns, four rushing scores, and 21 interceptions (though 12 of those came in his rookie year).Keenum was signed to be Bradford's backup in the offseason. He's completed 63.9 percent of his 233 passing attempts - a career-best completion percentage - for 1,610 yards, seven touchdowns, and three interceptions.Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer has said Keenum's earned the right to start, but the team will likely jump at the opportunity to get a healthy Bridgewater back into games in preparation for a potential playoff run.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Green Bay Packers right tackle Bryan Bulaga suffered a torn ACL in Monday's loss to the Detroit Lions, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports, citing a source.Bulaga sustained a knee injury late in Monday's contest.The veteran had already missed three games this season with other ailments. He had committed just one penalty and allowed but one sack in his five games played.The losses of Bulaga and quarterback Aaron Rodgers weaken the 4-4 Packers' offensive unit substantially.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The New York Giants reinstated star corner Janoris Jenkins on Tuesday. He was suspended indefinitely last week for violating team rules.Like teammate Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who faced similar discipline in Week 6, Jenkins' was only a one-game ban.Without Jenkins on Sunday, the Giants gave up 311 passing yards and four touchdowns in a 51-17 blowout loss to the Los Angeles Rams that dropped New York to 1-7 on the season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Every Tuesday during the season, theScore's NFL editors run down the recommended waiver wire pickups.Ownership percentages are based on Yahoo! leagues. FAAB bids are set at a $100 budget.QuarterbackTeddy Bridgewater, VikingsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Redskins5%$12Bridgewater's expected to return this week, but early indications point to the Vikings limiting him to backup duties, claiming Case Keenum has earned more starts. While this may be true, the leash should be extremely short with Bridgewater healthy and looming over his shoulder. They should make the switch at Keenum's first sign of trouble.Jay Cutler, DolphinsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Panthers14%$9Cutler attempted 42 passes in the first game for the Dolphins' new-look offense. With running back Jay Ajayi gone and wide receiver DeVante Parker finally healthy, this should continue to be a pass-first system, allowing Cutler plenty of opportunities in favorable matchups. He'll face the Buccaneers' and Patriots' in Weeks 11 and 12, respectively.Blake Bortles, JaguarsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Chargers30%$8Bortles was again "good enough" in the Jaguars' 23-7 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, without running back Leonard Fournette. The schedule is heavily slanted in his favor, with the Browns, Cardinals, and Colts following the Chargers.Josh McCown, JetsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Buccaneers34%$2McCown saw his streak of four consecutive games with multiple touchdown passes snapped in Week 9's Thursday night matchup with the Bills, but he draws the inept Buccaneers defense in a game when the opposition will be missing quarterback Jameis Winston and wide receiver Mike Evans. The script will be in the Jets' favor once again.Running BackKenyan Drake, DolphinsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Panthers53%$29Drake topped 100 total yards in the Dolphins' victory, but he needed a 42-yard rush to total 69 yards on nine attempts. He still received two more touches than Damien Williams, with the extra work coming on the ground. A lost fumble in the first half didn't have much effect on his role for the rest of the game.Damien Williams, DolphinsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Panthers33%$25Williams scored the lone touchdown out of the backfield, coming on one of his six receptions. He averaged just 2 yards per carry on his seven attempts, but a sustained role in the passing game will keep him fantasy relevant.Danny Woodhead, RavensNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidBYE27%$21Woodhead is expected to return after the Week 9 bye, with the expectation for him to immediately take back passing-down work from Javorius Allen while Alex Collins maintains the majority of ground work. Allen has seen much of his usage and best plays come with the Ravens trailing in second halves, while the steadier Woodhead would make the team more competitive.Rex Burkhead, PatriotsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Broncos8%$17Burkhead and Dion Lewis (51 percent owned) have separated themselves from Mike Gillislee and James White for fantasy purposes, and in the Patriots' usage. While either is a worthy add, Burkhead outperformed Lewis in Week 8 prior to their bye, catching seven passes for 68 yards, while Lewis finished with just two for 10 yards.Orleans Darkwa, GiantsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat 49ers63%$13Darkwa continues to perform well despite a lack of help from the Giants' passing game. He rushed 16 times for 71 yards in a 34-point Week 9 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. He lacks touchdown potential, but he'll continue to provide steady yardage totals with a high usage.Devontae Booker, BroncosNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Patriots4%$9The Broncos' backfield was split pretty evenly between Booker, C.J. Anderson, and Jamaal Charles, though it's Booker who's been trending upward. He's worthy of a hold in the event the team finally elects to cut ties with Charles.Marlon Mack, ColtsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Steelers49%$8Mack has received a total of 20 rushing attempts over the past two weeks, though he went without a catch in Week 9 after racking up seven over his previous two games. Frank Gore continues to lead the way, but Mack provides significantly more by means of big-play ability.D'Onta Foreman, TexansNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Rams9%$6Foreman received one more rushing attempt than Lamar Miller in Week 9, with the twosome combining for 21 carries in the Texans' first game without Deshaun Watson. They'll make fewer trips to the red zone with Tom Savage leading the offense, but there will be more work for the two to split.Matt Forte, JetsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Buccaneers42%$5Forte's best game of the season came by surprise Thursday when the Jets faced the tough Buffalo Bills defense in Week 9. The Jets are faced with another nice matchup in Week 10, but fantasy managers should keep expectations in check with this likely being a one-off showing from Forte.Samaje Perine, RedskinsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Vikings9%$3Rob Kelley was only allowed to plod his way to 18 yards on 14 attempts in Week 9, but he somehow managed to fall into the end zone twice to help the Redskins to a 17-14 win. Perine was somehow limited to just two carries despite Kelley's utter lack of efficiency. Both players are averaging near identical marks in yards per attempt on the season, but it might be time to see how Perine handles a larger role.Corey Clement, EaglesNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidBYE1%$1Clement was the breakout star of Week 9, and under normal circumstances he'd by a much higher priority. The Eagles' poorly timed Week 10 bye will allow them to get recently acquired Jay Ajayi fully caught up with the playbook, allowing him to play an even larger role than he did in his debut. Clement may be worth a minimum claim and a stash, but he'll be tough to use without a set independent role.Wide ReceiverCorey Davis, TitansNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Bengals45%$26Davis caught just two of his five targets in his return to play, but his usage should continue to rise as he gets re-incorporated into the offense. The Titans' favorable schedule for the rest of the season begins with Week 10's date with a Bengals defense that's allowed 10 receiving touchdowns on the year.Robert Woods, RamsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Texans34%$21Woods' five targets were his fewest since Week 2. Still, his 70 yards tied his second-best total of the season and he also scored his first two touchdowns. The Rams are dispersing the ball evenly among their receivers, with plenty of usage allowing for several fantasy-relevant options.Danny Amendola, PatriotsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Broncos49%$17Amendola's usage has dwindled over the past couple weeks, but he's in for a big boost with Chris Hogan expected to miss multiple games. He's still a much better option in PPR formats, but his high catch rate could earn him some red-zone work.Cooper Kupp, RamsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Texans55%$17Kupp has topped 50 yards in each of his past two games, and he hasn't gone more than two contests between touchdowns this season. He has made a 20-plus-yard play in half of his games, offering quality bonuses to his managers.Jeremy Maclin, RavensNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidBYE62%$13With Maclin close to full health Sunday, he caught eight of a season-high nine targets for 98 yards, with his longest catch a reasonable 19 yards. The Ravens' offense is slowly getting back on track and showing more signs of competence, making Maclin a viable WR3 in most matchups.Marqise Lee, JaguarsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Chargers37%$12Lee has usurped Allen Hurns as the Jaguars receiver to own, as he has topped 10 targets in two of his past three games, scoring his first touchdown of the season in Week 9.Josh Doctson, RedskinsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Vikings29%$9Doctson recorded a season-high 59 yards, but 38 of those came on a single play. He was stopped just inches from the end zone, preventing him from truly rewarding fantasy managers, but he continues to be Kirk Cousins' focus when plays need to be made.Robby Anderson, JetsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Buccaneers54%$7Anderson has scored touchdowns in three consecutive weeks, catching 13 of 16 targets over that stretch. He's much more dynamic than teammate Jermaine Kearse, and he'll have an expansive ceiling yet again against the Buccaneers.Dede Westbrook, JaguarsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Chargers28%$5Westbrook wasn't activated from the IR in time for Week 9, but he should be able to get into the lineup this week, and he'll have another favorable matchup to allow for immediate rewards.Terrance Williams, CowboysNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Falcons10%$3While Cole Beasley hauled in two touchdowns and Dez Bryant was left on his own, Williams set season highs with nine targets, nine receptions, and 141 yards against the Kansas City Chiefs. He's never been able to string together games like this before, so fantasy managers should keep him as a low priority, as they've likely missed on their one shot.Josh Gordon, BrownsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Lions35%$1Gordon will only be of use to managers already with a playoff spot booked and the luxury of leaving him idle on the bench until his Week 13 return. Even then, he'll be returning to the Browns' uninspiring passing attack, but it can't be worse than the offenses in which he's found previous success.Tight EndCharles Clay, BillsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidvs. Saints12%$15Clay is expected to return in Week 10, even if it's at less than full health. He's the one member of the Bills' offense likely to suffer from the addition of wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin, but he's thrust right back to tier one of the tight end ranks.Tyler Kroft, BengalsNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidat Titans41%$9Kroft caught both of just two targets but still managed to rack up 79 yards in a tough matchup. He's improved as the season's gone on, and is as reliable as anyone in the position's middle tier.Benjamin Watson, RavensNext UpOwnershipFAAB bidBYE5%$1Watson remains the No. 2 option in the Ravens' passing game and is worth a stash for playoff-bound managers with Week 15 and 16 games against the Browns and Colts, respectively.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Oakland Raiders are refuting claims from Miko Grimes - wife of Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Brent Grimes - that the team fought with Derek Carr over the quarterback's views on the anthem protests before the team's Week 3 game against the Washington Redskins.Grimes goes on to allege the Raiders' offensive line allowed Carr to take the hit that sidelined him for the following week's game with a back injury.

It took him until he turned 20, but JuJu Smith-Schuster finally has a reason to ditch his bike.The rookie Pittsburgh Steelers receiver revealed Tuesday that he passed driving school.

Trevor Siemian and Brock Osweiler combined to throw five interceptions in the Denver Broncos' last two games. So many are hoping the team turns to Paxton Lynch.Lynch missed the first five weeks of the season as he nursed a shoulder injury sustained in the preseason. He only resumed throwing on Oct. 11. As a result, head coach Vance Joseph is wary about throwing him into game action."He's missed so much time, so to put him in an NFL game Week 10 wouldn't be fair to our football team or fair to Paxton," Joseph said, according to Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post.Desperate times may call for desperate measures, however. The Broncos have lost four in a row and the latest defeat came in embarrassing fashion; a 51-23 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday.The Broncos rank last in the league in turnover differential. Siemian and Osweiler have combined to throw 12 interceptions. Right now, Lynch is the third option, and he said he's "close" to making his return."I feel like right now if I was needed to play, obviously I'm going to help the team however I can," the 2016 first-round pick said."But that's up to the training staff to decide. ... I think they've done a good job with me so far in the training room and my reps and what not. I know they wanted to ease me into it, so it's what they're doing."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Green Bay Packers cornerback Damarious Randall was not happy with his team's performance against the Detroit Lions in their 30-17 Monday night loss."We just shitted the bed. Point blank. Period," Randall said following the contest, according to Michael Cohen of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.On the field, Randall was a part of the problem, allowing Marvin Jones Jr. to pluck a pass right over the cornerback's head in the end zone for a fourth-quarter score.The Packers were noticeably lost without Aaron Rodgers for the second straight game. Brett Hundley struggled throughout, converting just two of nine third-down opportunities, but was able to throw for 245 yards with one rushing score and no turnovers.The performance was good enough for head coach Mike McCarthy to give the backup a vote of confidence following the game."I believe in Brett, and that's not just a press-conference statement," said McCarthy, according to ESPN's Jason Wilde.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) Matthew Stafford passed for 361 yards and two touchdowns to Marvin Jones, and the Detroit Lions snapped a three-game losing streak with a 30-17 win on Monday night over the offensively challenged Green Bay Packers.Stafford was 26 of 33, including 12 of 14 in the first half with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Jones. Ameer Abdullah added a 4-yard touchdown run for Detroit (4-4).Green Bay (4-4) finally got in the end zone on Brett Hundley's 1-yard quarterback sneak with 9:52 left.The Lions answered with Stafford's 11-yard touchdown pass to Jones with 8:06 remaining, putting the game out of reach with a 17-point lead. Jones had seven catches for 107 yards.The Packers have lost three straight games. Their once-potent offense has struggled since star quarterback Aaron Rodgers broke his right collarbone on Oct. 15 at Minnesota.Brett Hundley finished 26 of 38 for 245 yards. Cornerback Darius Slay blanketed Jordy Nelson when the Packers did try to throw long while the game was still competitive.Abdullah fumbled the ball away in the third quarter, but the Packers went three-and-out on the ensuing drive. Familiar problems in the red zone popped up for the Lions when they were stopped on three plays at the Packers 1, forced to settle for a field goal for a 17-point lead with 12:25 left.But without Rodgers, the Packers couldn't keep up with the accurate, rocket-armed Stafford.CRITICAL PENALTYThe Lions' opening score was set up by an unnecessary roughness penalty on Mike Daniels, after the defensive lineman appeared to head-butt Detroit center Travis Swanson. The flag negated an incompletion on third-and-15 that would have forced the Lions to punt from their own 25. Stafford connected with Jones for the touchdown pass five plays later.MILESTONEThe first scoring strike to Jones was the 200th touchdown pass in 117 career games for Stafford, the sixth-quickest in NFL history to reach the milestone. Stafford, who turns 30 in February, is also fourth in NFL history for career touchdown passes before age 30 behind Dan Marino, Peyton Manning and Brett Favre.NOT SPECIALSpecial teams didn't help the Packers.Working in their third long snapper of the season because of injuries, Green Bay had a 38-yard field goal blocked in the first quarter on a play that started with a low snap. Trevor Davis didn't get past the 22 on three kickoff returns in the first half.STAT LINES:Lions: WR Golden Tate joined Jones over the 100-yard mark with seven receptions for 113 yards. ... Abdullah had 21 carries for 48 yards.Packers: The team's playmaking receivers did have more opportunities, though most came on short passes. Randall Cobb finished with 58 yards on five receptions, including a catch-and-run for a 46-yard gain that set up Hundley's TD run. Davante Adams had seven catches for 53 yards.INJURIESPackers S Morgan Burnett left in the third quarter with a groin injury. He had returned from a two-game absence with a hamstring injury. RT Bryan Bulaga left in the fourth quarter with a knee injury.ANTHEMIt appeared that all members of both teams stood for the national anthem, with many players and coaches locking arms on their respective sidelines.UP NEXTLions: Host the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.Packers: Visit the Chicago Bears on Sunday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

After Sunday's embarrassing 51-17 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, New York Giants head coach Ben McAdoo has decided to stick with quarterback Eli Manning as his starter."He's our quarterback. I have a lot of confidence in Eli," McAdoo said Monday, according to Bob Glauber of Newsday Sports. "That hasn't changed."However, McAdoo didn't rule out the possibility of another quarterback replacing Manning and ending his regular season games-started streak, currently at 207. While McAdoo clarified the veteran hasn't lost his job, he left the door open that backups Davis Webb or Geno Smith could see playing time."Eli, he's our quarterback. That doesn't mean at some point we won't throw another guy in to get a look at," said McAdoo.Next week, the Giants play the winless San Francisco 49ers, who opened as betting favorites.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Recently reinstated Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Gordon is still in the early stages of returning to NFL action for the first time since December 2014.It's likely his last chance to resurrect a football career that's been derailed by addiction issues, and for things to work out, he'll have to stay away from his former game-day routine."I used to make a ritual of it before every game. ... We would stay at the team hotel and then players are allowed to go back home, get what they need, and then go to the game," Gordon explained to Clay Skipper of GQ in a tell-all interview. "So I'd leave the hotel early morning, go home, eat breakfast, do my little ritual, whatever it may be, some weed, some alcohol, and then go to the game. And then, I'd definitely be partying after every game, win or lose. Every game."Asked to estimate how many games he played with drugs or alcohol in his system, Gordon answered, "Probably every game of my career" and "definitely" in college.Under these circumstances, Gordon still managed to turn in back-to-back performances of 200 yards in 2013."I would have these little premade shots. I used to love Grand Marnier. ... But if it wasn't that, it might be a whiskey or something. And I would drink probably like half a glass, or a couple shots, to try and warm my system up, basically. To get the motor running. That's what I would do for games," Gordon said.Gordon is scheduled to report to the team's facility Tuesday, according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.His first chance to return to the active roster will be Week 13, under the terms of his conditional reinstatement.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Covers.com is the biggest and best source for sports betting information, providing unrivaled and original content sports bettors cannot live without.Each week during the pro football season, Covers Expert Art Aronson of AAA Sports looks at the NFL odds and tells you which spread to bet now, which one to bet later, and which total to watch as the week plays out.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green and Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey won't be suspended for their fight Sunday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, per a league official.Both players were ejected from the contest after Green wrestled his counterpart to the ground and threw punches. Green said after the game he'd been provoked by Ramsey throughout the afternoon, claiming the Jags star repeatedly threw cheap shots his way.Green also apologized for losing control of his emotions, but Ramsey went down a different path."He was mad because I was locking him up," he said.Green and Ramsey are still subject to fines from the league.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Mike Evans has been suspended one game for violating the league's rules against unsportsmanlike conduct and unnecessary roughness, the NFL announced Monday.Evans hit New Orleans Saints cornerback Marshon Lattimore after the whistle during Sunday's game.The 24-year-old raced to the sideline to deliver the hit as quarterback Jameis Winston and Lattimore were exchanging words, but he wasn't ejected. Evans will be appealing the decision, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.This news leaves the Bucs' offense severely shorthanded for Sunday's game against the New York Jets, as Winston's already been ruled out with a shoulder injury.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Kelvin Benjamin getting dealt at the deadline came as a surprise to many, but not the new Buffalo Bills receiver.Benjamin spoke to reporters Monday and noted that he wasn't caught off-guard when the Carolina Panthers traded him."To tell you the truth, I kind of really wasn't surprised," Benjamin said, according to Mike Rodak of ESPN. "I could kind of feel that the offense was kind of going toward another direction. But this is a great opportunity for me. I'm excited - brand-new city, brand-new team. When I got here, man, they had open arms. I'm loving it. I'm excited."The former first-round pick was productive in Carolina when healthy, but a torn ACL cost him the entire 2015 season. Although Benjamin wasn't surprised, he couldn't pinpoint a specific reason for the deal and is ready to move on."It could have been multiple reasons," Benjamin said. "Money issues. Who knows? At the end of the day, I'm here, I'm happy, I'm excited. Right now, I'm just moving forward."Benjamin should hit the field for the Bills for the first time this week when Buffalo hosts the New Orleans Saints. Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are shutting down quarterback Jameis Winston for "a couple weeks" to rest his ailing shoulder, head coach Dirk Koetter announced Monday, according to Trevor Sikkema of Pewter Report.A sprain of the AC joint in Winston's shoulder has been bothering him for the past few weeks, and he was pulled from Sunday's loss to the New Orleans Saints because of the ailment.The 23-year-old underwent an MRI and X-rays following the contest and doctors recommended the team shut Winston down, according to Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times.Ryan Fitzpatrick came on in relief for Winston and figures to get the start Sunday when the Bucs host the New York Jets.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Browns executive vice president Sashi Brown refuted a report that said some of Cleveland's coaches believed he intentionally "sabotaged" the trade for AJ McCarron, calling it "wholly untrue" during a press conference Monday, according to Pat McManamon of ESPN.Brown asserted the idea that the front office would nix the move "doesn't make any sense," arguing the actual problem was that the Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals agreed to the parameters of the trade too late in the process.Cleveland reportedly agreed to send a second- and third-round pick to the Bengals for McCarron, but a supposed miscommunication between the teams led to the Browns failing to send the league the required paperwork before the trade deadline.Asked about the reported disconnect between the coaching staff and the front office, Brown said, "In these moments there is a lot of adversity. We have to stay united," according to Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com.The Browns come off their bye week still seeking their first win of the season.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Houston Texans head coach Bill O'Brien confirmed Monday that his team talked about the possibility of signing Colin Kaepernick after Deshaun Watson was lost for the season, but emphasized it was part of the team's usual discussions about available free agents.Related - Report: Texans have discussed idea of signing Kaepernick"Everybody gets discussed," O'Brien said, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle. "Is that a problem? Don't most teams do it like that? We talk about the roster and what's out there every day, (general manager) Rick (Smith) and I."O'Brien added, "Colin Kaepernick is a good football player, hasn't played in a while. These things are going to continue to be discussed."O'Brien also said he expects Tom Savage to remain the starter for Week 10 despite a terrible performance in Sunday's loss to the Indianapolis Colts.The quarterback was 9-for-28 passing for 96 yards in the first half and ended the game with a 43.2 percent completion percentage and an average of 5 yards per attempt."Right now, I do expect him to be the starter," O'Brien said. "We've got to get Tom playing better. I think he has the ability to play better."Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Covers.com is the biggest and best source for sports betting information, providing unrivaled and original content sports bettors cannot live without.The marquee matchup of Week 10 in the NFL features two teams that should be of playoff caliber, but only one actually playing that way right now. Covers takes a look at opening lines on a quartet of next weekend’s contests, with insights from Scott Cooley, odds consultant for offshore sportsbook Bookmaker.eu.

The Minnesota Vikings are expected to activate Teddy Bridgewater from the physically unable to perform list to the 53-man roster by Wednesday's deadline, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.Rapoport added that Bridgewater will likely act as the backup to Case Keenum, whose solid play has helped the Vikings to a 6-2 record in the absence of Sam Bradford.Bridgewater has made a near-miraculous recovery from a devastating knee injury suffered in August 2016.Vikings general manager Rick Spielman said the team will be patient with Bridgewater's return to the field; however, calls for him to start, even with Keenum's impressive performances, are likely to follow.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The Giants were meant to be Super Bowl contenders in 2017; instead, New York has gone 1-7 and hit a new low Sunday when it was blown out 51-17 by the Los Angeles Rams in embarrassing fashion.Giants co-owner John Mara didn't have much to say when he left the game with seven minutes to go, according to Steve Politi of NJ Advance Media, but his brief comments spoke volumes about the sorry state of the franchise."No," Mara replied when asked if he had anything to say about the team's performance. "I think it speaks for itself, doesn't it?"Significant changes could be afoot in New York. After the loss, head coach Ben McAdoo wouldn't rule out giving some of his younger players a more significant role with the season lost, including at quarterback.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

The 5-3 Dallas Cowboys have won three fewer games than their division rival Philadelphia Eagles - whose 8-1 mark leads the league - while seven other teams have a superior record.But after Dallas took it to Kansas City in Week 9, winning 28-17, Chiefs linebacker Tamba Hali said he believes the Cowboys are the best the NFL has to offer."I think that's the best team in the league," Hali said, according to Jori Epstein the Dallas Morning News. "Apart from us, that team is really good."The Eagles' only loss this season came at the hands of the 6-3 Chiefs, and when asked specifically if Dallas is better than Philadelphia, Hali didn't back off his hot take."Yeah," Hali said. "My personal opinion."It won't be long until Dallas gets its chance to prove Hali right, as the Cowboys and Eagles face off on Sunday Night Football in Week 12.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant was forced from Sunday's win against the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth quarter after hurting his ankle, but the injury is "not serious," a source told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.Bryant downplayed the ailment after the game, saying the ankle was just sore and bruised.With Ezekiel Elliott likely to be sidelined once more due to his suspension, the Cowboys couldn't afford for their other main offensive weapon to miss time.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Warning: Story contains coarse languageAfter rushing for two touchdowns in Sunday night's win, Marshawn Lynch got a little too excited when joining Hall of Famers Deion Sanders and LaDainian Tomlinson on NFL Network, dropping a "motherf---ers" on live television as well as a racial term, though he clearly did not mean to offend with it.

Tempers reportedly did not cool after A.J. Green and Jalen Ramsey were ejected from the Cincinnati Bengals-Jacksonville Jaguars game on Sunday.Following their ejections for fighting, Ramsey had to be restrained from entering the Bengals' locker room by Jaguars personnel and stadium security as players left the field at halftime, sources told ESPN's Katherine Terrell and Michael DiRocco.Ramsey was heard yelling at Bengals players, looking for Green, but did not enter the room.After the game, Green regretted his decision and apologized to his teammates, but Ramsey had other thoughts.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Less than a week has gone by since the NFL experienced it's wildest trade deadline ever, and the effects are already showing.With most players involved suiting up in Week 9, teams got an early chance to asses their deals.Here's a look at the early results of the top five trades produced just prior to the deadline:Jay Ajayi to EaglesAjayi certainly appears to be worth the fourth-round pick, as he came off the bench to rush for 77 yards on only eight carries - including a 46-yard touchdown run - against the Broncos' supposed top-notch defense.The London native split carries with three other backs, leading to a 197-yard team performance.For the Dolphins, Ajayi's absence was a storyline but not a major nuisance as Kenyon Drake filled the downhill-rusher role with 69 yards on nine attempts. Damien Williams performed well as a receiver while working out of the backfield, catching six passes for 47 yards and a touchdown in Sunday night's loss to the Raiders.Duane Brown to SeahawksIt may have been too much to ask for Brown to immediately fix all the issues that have been troubling the Seahawks' offensive line for years in one game, but he did what he could for Russell Wilson. Brown handled Redskins pass rusher Preston Smith throughout the game, regularly pushing the linebacker down the field to allow Wilson to step up and scramble.His performance didn't equal a win, nor did his play influence the other blockers, but after less than a week with the team, he seems to be making a positive difference.The Texans lost Sunday without Brown, though it's unfair to blame the defeat on the left tackle, as the injury to rookie phenom Deshaun Watson derailed Houston's year.Marcell Dareus to JaguarsDareus went from an unwanted asset in Buffalo to an ace rotational player in Jacksonville in just over a week.Though he wasn't used much, Dareus tied for third in tackles against the Bengals, making three stops while playing just 12 of 59 defensive snaps.Dareus will work as a part of a talented group on the Jacksonville defensive line with Calais Campbell, Dante Fowler, Malik Jackson, and Yannick Ngakoue and is expected to be playing more than 12 snaps going forward.Kelvin Benjamin to BillsBenjamin didn't have enough time to assimilate the Bills' offense in just two days, as Buffalo played Thursday night.The early reaction on Benjamin lives with his former team, as Cam Newton has expressed his dislike for the move a few times in the first week without his 6-foot-6 target, despite winning his Week 9 matchup against the Falcons.Jimmy Garoppolo to 49ersIt was no surprise to see Garoppolo manning the sidelines in his new uniform as the team announced rookie C.J. Beathard will be the starter until further notice.The 49ers lost another ugly game to the Cardinals and showed signs that it might be best to keep Garoppolo out of harm's way until the team becomes a more competitive product.(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Seattle Seahawks running back Eddie Lacy may miss Thursday's game against the Arizona Cardinals due to a groin injury, head coach Pete Carroll told Bob Condotta of The Seattle Times. Lacy suffered the injury during Sunday's game against the Washington Redskins, where he carried the ball six times for 20 yards.The Seahawks have used a multitude of running backs this season due to injuries and if Lacy can't go Thursday, Thomas Rawls could get the bulk of the carries.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant suffered an ankle sprain during Sunday's 28-17 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, head coach Jason Garrett revealed postgame.Bryant left the contest during the fourth quarter and limped off the field.The wide receiver downplayed the severity of the injury, telling reporters his ankle is merely sore and bruised.Prior to leaving the game, Bryant caught six passes for 73 yards.The Cowboys square off against the Atlanta Falcons next Sunday.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

SEATTLE (AP) Kirk Cousins drove Washington 70 yards in 35 seconds, capped by Rob Kelley's 1-yard touchdown run with less than a minute remaining, and the Washington Redskins rallied late to stun the Seattle Seahawks 17-14 on Sunday.Seattle took a 14-10 lead with 1:34 remaining after Russell Wilson found Doug Baldwin for a 30-yard touchdown pass after the Seahawks had scuffled on offense all day. But Cousins had an unexpected answer.Taking over at his 30-yard line, Cousins hit Brian Quick for 31 yards and Josh Doctson for 38 on consecutive throws to get to the Seattle 1 with 1:02 left. Doctson beat rookie Shaquill Griffin down the sideline and made an impressive diving catch. Kelley bulled his way in from the 1 on the next play.Kelley finished with two touchdown runs, while Cousins was 21 of 31 for 247 yards. He was responsible for a fumble in the first half, but otherwise took care of the ball against Seattle's standout defense. He also withstood six sacks and a number of other quarterback hits behind a makeshift offensive line of backups and rookies.Wilson couldn't match his magic from last week against Houston, when he threw for a franchise-record 452 yards and put together a winning touchdown drive in the final minute. Wilson was 24 of 45 for 297 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He got Seattle to the Washington 38 in the final minute. Instead of spiking the ball, Wilson tried to run a play and was sacked by Terrell McClain back to the Redskins 46. After a lengthy review, Seattle had the ball with 4 seconds left after Washington called time out to get organized.Wilson's desperation toss on the final play in the direction of Jimmy Graham and Tanner McEvoy fell incomplete and Seattle saw its four-game win streak snapped.SEAHAWKS ERRORSSeattle was undone by its mistakes. The Seahawks committed 16 penalties, failed to find much rhythm on offense and saw kicker Blair Walsh miss three first-half field goals inside 50 yards. Walsh was 12 of 13 on the season, but missed from 44, 39 and 49 yards, the last on the final play of the first half.Those misses and two failed 2-point conversion attempts got the better of the Seahawks thanks to Cousins' heroics at the end.UNDERMANNEDWashington was minus six starters, including three on the offensive line, yet became the first non-NFC West team to win in Seattle since Week 6 of the 2015 season, when Carolina beat the Seahawks.INJURIESWhile Washington had a larger quantity of key injuries, Seattle was without three very important pieces. Safety Earl Thomas (hamstring) and defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson (oblique) were inactive because of injuries. The Seahawks lost running back Eddie Lacy in the first quarter to a groin injury after Lacy was expected to be the featured back Sunday.UP NEXTRedskins: Washington returns home to host Minnesota.Seahawks: Seattle has a short week and faces division foe Arizona on the road on Thursday night---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) Ezekiel Elliott ran for the go-ahead touchdown after another reprieve from his six-game suspension and the Dallas Cowboys overcame Tyreek Hill's improbable last-play touchdown in the first half, beating the Kansas City Chiefs 28-17 on Sunday.Elliott's 2-yard plunge in the third quarter came after the Chiefs turned a 14-3 deficit into a 17-14 advantage, sparked by Hill's weaving 57-yard catch with the first-half clock expired and seven Dallas defenders inside their 25 trying to prevent the score.Last year's NFL rushing champion as a rookie, Elliott had 93 yards, ending a streak of three straight 100-yard games but outgaining Kareem Hunt, this year's rushing leader in his first season entering the game.Hunt matched a season low with nine carries, finishing with 37 yards as a club record-tying nine-game road winning streak ended for the Chiefs (6-3) in their third loss in four games since a 5-0 start.Elliott got an emergency stay from a New York court Friday, stopping the suspension over alleged domestic violence for the third time.With former quarterback Tony Romo calling his first Dallas game as lead analyst for CBS, Dak Prescott had two touchdown passes to Cole Beasley and ran for another score in a third straight win for the Cowboys (5-3).Terrance Williams had a career-high nine catches for 141 yards, including a 56-yarder from a scrambling Prescott to set up Prescott's 10-yard TD run with 13 seconds left in the first half.Trailing 14-3, the Chiefs were at their 43 with 2 seconds left when the Cowboys used three linemen and a linebacker near the line of scrimmage and dropped everyone else back.Hill caught an easy toss from Alex Smith at the Cowboys 42 and started toward the goal line with three blockers in front.The speedy Hill motored around Orlando Scandrick at the 25, cut behind two blocks from Demarcus Robinson inside the 10 and sidestepped overpursuing linebacker Anthony Hitchens to finish the stunning TD.The Chiefs got the ball to start the second half with great field position after Byron Jones was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct after Hill's score. Kansas City went in front on Travis Kelce's 2-yard scoring catch, which sparked a sack-race celebration with Hill and Robinson.The Cowboys answered with drives of 75 and 87 yards that took more than 12 minutes combined. Beasley capped the latter with a 7-yard TD and after a 6-yarder in the first half.Prescott was 21 of 33 for 249 yards, with Beasley getting 24 yards receiving and Dez Bryant 73.Down by 11 for the second time, Kansas City's best chance ended on Smith's first interception of the season on a fourth down throw. It ended a streak of 293 passes without a pick for Smith, who was 25 of 34 for 263 yards and two TDs.`WELCOME HOME 9'On the Cowboys' video tribute to Romo, there was an inset shot of Romo watching the highlight tape as the crowd cheered, and he responded by applauding toward them as the video ended. When the giant board switched to a full shot of Romo, he shook his head briefly as if touched by the gesture as he was putting on his headset.The franchise leader in passing yards and touchdowns lost the job last season when Prescott replaced him after a back injury and led the Cowboys to a club-record 11 straight wins. Romo took the CBS job rather than chase an elusive Super Bowl with another franchise.INJURIESCowboys: Bryant left with an ankle injury in third quarter, and defensive tackle Brian Price was helped off the field after an apparent knee injury in the fourth quarter.UP NEXTChiefs: Bye next week, at New York Giants on Nov. 19.Cowboys: At Atlanta, with the defending NFC champs having lost four of their past five.---More AP NFL: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFLCopyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Adrian Peterson must be a happy man.Peterson appears to be in the role he wanted when he was traded to the Arizona Cardinals, as the running back broke his career high for carries in a single game with 37 for 159 yards against the San Francisco 49ers.His previous high was 35, set in December 2013.Peterson had a total of 27 carries in four games with the New Orleans Saints before being traded to the Cardinals. He's now amassed a total of 74 carries over his first three games with Arizona.Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Apparently, Week 9 is the time for fighting in the NFL.After a brawl ignited by a late hit on San Francisco 49ers quarterback C.J. Beathard by Arizona Cardinals safety Antoine Bethea, officials ejected three players - 49ers running back Carlos Hyde, Cardinals linebacker Haason Reddick, and defensive lineman Frostee Rucker - for fighting late in the fourth quarter, according to Arizona's team writer Darren Urban. Bethea was given a penalty on the play, but not ejected.

The NFL saw a handful of team's seasons take a turn for the worse in Week 9.While the Houston Texans could see their troubles coming when Deshaun Watson was lost for the season ahead of their matchup with the Indianapolis Colts, three teams almost certainly watched their playoff hopes disappear in unraveling fashion on Sunday.Tampa Bay BuccaneersEntering the season as a supposed dark horse Super Bowl contender, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looked nothing close to the offensive juggernaut they were expected to be.After being dominated by the New Orleans Saints through the first half, team captains Mike Evans and Jameis Winston had their frustrations boil over as rookie corner Marshon Lattimore flustered their passing attack. Winston, who exited the game with a reported shoulder injury, stepped on the field and initiated an incident that subsequently caused Evans to lose his mind.

Andy Reid is one of the most innovative offensive minds in the NFL, and the Kansas City Chiefs coach provided the latest electrifying example in Sunday's game against the Dallas Cowboys.After the Cowboys scored a touchdown with 13 seconds left, Dallas was flagged for unnecessary roughness on the kickoff, giving the Chiefs the ball at their own 37-yard-line. After a quick 12-yard pass moved the ball to the Chiefs' 44, they were faced with 56 yards to the end zone with only two seconds left.It was Hail Mary time, right?Wrong.Reid realized it was a tall ask for Alex Smith to heave the ball over 60 yards in the air to a pack of people, so he called a brilliant alternative that would provide one of the highlights of the year.Prior to the passDallas opted to rush three linemen, and keep a linebacker right around the line of scrimmage as well, leaving them seven men in coverage. Realizing the defense would post those players near the end zone, Reid saw the opportunity to get Tyreek Hill, arguably the fastest player in the league, the ball with a ton of space to go. Looking at the above shot, the distance between the four Dallas defenders at the line of scrimmage and the rest of the defense is staggering.After the catchHill caught the short pass and followed his blockers down the middle of the field. While the Cowboys clearly have the numbers advantage, with at least five defenders coming against two blockers, notice the amount of space to Hill's left for him to still exploit. For a man who has run a 10.19-second 100-meter dash, a tiny bit of space is all he needs.Hill in spaceThanks to that space on the left from the previous shot, Hill holds the advantage despite Dallas having seven defenders in the picture to just two Chiefs blocking. Hill is hard enough to slow down from a standstill, but with a head of steam he's damn near impossible. This picture shows how Hill crossed the 15-yard line with a clear look at the improbable touchdown.One final moveOne final cutback to evade a desperate tackle attempt was all Hill needed to waltz into the end zone and stun the packed AT&T Stadium with no time left in the first half. It was an absolutely stunning play, and while the defense can certainly be blamed for a very poor setup, Reid showed yet again that he's a master of using his talent in perfect situations.(Photos courtesy: NFL/Twitter)Copyright © 2017 Score Media Ventures Inc. All rights reserved. Certain content reproduced under license.

Julio Jones didn't hide from a key drop on a would-be touchdown against the Carolina Panthers. The Atlanta Falcons receiver was wide open in the end zone in the fourth quarter, but inexplicably let the ball bounce out of his hands. Carolina would go on to win 20-17.

Sunday's marquee matchup between Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green and Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jalen Ramsey ended prematurely when both players were ejected prior to halftime.Green was responding to what he called repeated cheap shots from Ramsey, and tried to finish off the sophomore defender.Here's a look at where the spat between two of the best players at their respective positions ranks among some of the league's most notable disputes.5. Terrell Owens vs. George TeagueThis would be higher on the list if it were a little less one sided. Owens, not once, but twice, ran with the ball to the center of the Dallas Cowboys' prestigious logo for a post-touchdown celebration.After placing the ball on the logo for his second show of self appreciation, Cowboys safety George Teague came bursting onto the scene to let Owens know of his displeasure. Owens would get up without much further ado, and would later be embraced by Cowboys fans when joining the team from 2006 to 2008.4. Josh Norman vs. Odell Beckham Jr.Norman has developed a rivalry with most No. 1 receivers he's typically charged with covering, including Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant.While Norman and Bryant have kept their dislike for each other mostly to verbal jabs, while occasionally letting on to even appreciate the other's abilities, Norman and Beckham have shown few niceties. As divisional rivals, these shows are likely to continue for the foreseeable future.3. A.J. Green vs. Jalen Ramsey