NFL flexes Colts-Vikings to ‘SNF’ in Week 9

The Nov. 3 game between the host Vikings and Colts was originally scheduled as a 1 p.m. ET kickoff. The Jaguars-Eagles will kick off at 4:05 p.m. on CBS.

Indianapolis is also scheduled as the “Sunday Night Football” game two weeks later at the New York Jets in Week 11.

The Colts are 4-3 entering Week 8 and the Vikings are 5-1.

Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa returns from latest concussion

Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is set to return from his latest concussion, ushered back from injured reserve after clearing NFL protocol for head injuries.

Neurologists and head injury experts were sounding boards for Tagovailoa to “effortlessly make this decision,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Monday.

McDaniel said he will ensure Tagovailoa is “properly protected” but also admitted all parties know he cannot control all aspects of the game.

“Anytime you have a teammate that you grow together with, it feels a little off when he’s not in the mix as much. He’s not — we’re not calling plays for him. It’s meaningful for the whole team considering he’s been captain every year since we’ve been here. He’s been captain every year since I’ve been here. I can’t remember the number but he continues to grow his vote total every year.

“What I just finished talking to the team about: He’s not the savior either. There’s a lot that has been to looked at in an individual’s game. It’s not, ‘Tua’s here. He’s going to fix the issues.'”

The Dolphins (2-4) went 1-3 without Tagovailoa, including Sunday’s loss at Indianapolis. McDaniel said he showed maturity and growth as a leader by pouring support into teammates while unable to get on the field himself.

“He’s taught a lot of his teammates about himself and how much he’s along for the ride with them,” McDaniel said.

McDaniel emphasized medical professionals took the lead on the decision to bring back the 26-year-old for Week 8 against the Arizona Cardinals. He missed five games in 2022 because of a pair of concussions.

Tagovailoa was placed on injured reserve in September because medical experts advised he needed “time” to heal, McDaniel said. Now that he has the green light to return, the coaching staff will not make many noticeable changes from the last time he was on the field Sept. 12.

“I wouldn’t say from a schematic standpoint things would change that much,” McDaniel said. “Him being smart. Using his football IQ and acumen as the quarterback of the team, being able to protect himself with his skills as the team needs him to.”

The Dolphins are not permitted to mandate Tagovailoa wear a guardian cap, the cushioned helmet overlay permitted this season, but McDaniel said the team has worked to make “all available options” known to the quarterback. He reiterated no coaches or staff impacted Tagovailoa’s decision to return to the active roster.

“The reason why he’s coming back now is medical experts deemed it safe for him to come back,” McDaniel said.

Tyler Huntley (shoulder) is still being evaluated, according to McDaniel, who said the overall play wasn’t good enough at the position without Tagovailoa.

Chiefs rule out JuJu Smith-Schuster, Jaylen Watson for Week 8

The Kansas City Chiefs already have ruled out wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster for their Week 8 game due to a hamstring injury.

Coach Andy Reid also ruled out starting cornerback Jaylen Watson on Monday. Watson, 26, reportedly suffered a fractured ankle and could be done for the season.

Smith-Schuster, 27, left Sunday’s 28-18 win over the San Francisco 49ers in the first quarter after aggravating the hamstring he first injured Thursday in practice. He was not targeted prior to exiting.

Smith-Schuster has nine catches for 147 yards and a touchdown in six games (three starts) this season.

Watson was on crutches and wearing a cast after the game. He was having tests Monday to determine the severity of the injury and whether he could return this season.

Watson has recorded six passes defensed and 32 tackles through six starts.

The Chiefs (6-0) visit the Las Vegas Raiders (2-5) on Sunday.

Giants coach: Daniel Jones remains QB1

New York Giants coach Brian Daboll confirmed Monday that Daniel Jones will remain the starting quarterback in Week 8 despite benching him in Sunday’s loss.

Daboll said after Sunday’s 28-3 setback against the NFC East rival Philadelphia Eagles that he removed Jones in the fourth quarter to “create a spark,” but added Jones would be the starter moving forward.

Daboll reiterated Monday that Jones will be under center when the Giants (2-5) visit the Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2) next Monday night.

“He’s the starter,” Daboll said. “He gives us the best chance.”

Daboll yanked Jones and inserted Drew Lock on Sunday, a move Jones admitted he “didn’t like.” Jones finished 14-of-21 passing for 99 yards and was sacked seven times. Lock didn’t fare much better, going 3 for 8 for 6 yards.

Jones, 27, has completed 62.5 percent of his passes for 1,442 yards with six touchdowns and four interceptions in seven starts this season, his sixth with the Giants.

Week 7 MNF: Chargers-Cardinals Preview, Props, Prediction

Week 7 of the NFL regular season concludes with the Los Angeles Chargers traveling to Arizona to face the Cardinals on Monday night.

The Chargers (3-2) are seeking to stay within shouting distance of undefeated Kansas City after beating Denver 23-16 last Sunday. Meanwhile, the Cardinals (2-4) are looking to climb out of the basement of the NFC West and stay in the thick of the wild card picture.

THE ODDS

The Chargers are consensus 3.5-point favorites on the road despite entering with one of the least productive offenses in the NFL five games into the Jim Harbaugh era.

Despite Los Angeles’ anemic offense, the Chargers have been backed by 69 percent of the spread-line money since the line opened at 1.5 points at BetRivers. Their -118 moneyline has drawn 69 percent of the money as well.

The Cardinals enter Monday night 14th in total offense while the Chargers are 29th, but the Over has still remained highly popular, drawing 83 percent of the money at 44.0 total points.

PROP PICKS

–Chargers QB Justin Herbert Over 18.5 Completions (-109 at BetRivers): This has drawn 7.3 percent of all player prop money wagered on this game even though Herbert has topped 17 completions just once this season. That did come in the team’s most recent outing in which Herbert completed 21-of-34 passes for 237 yards.

–Chargers LB Daiyan Henley Under 0.25 Sacks (-750 at DraftKings): This has been the most popular player prop at the book for this game despite the small payout. The second-year linebacker doesn’t have a sack through his first 20 career NFL games and is highly unlikely to register his first one against the Cardinals’ extremely slippery quarterback Kyler Murray.

THE NEWS

Los Angeles’ highly-paid quarterback Justin Herbert is averaging just 163 passing yards per game.

Could Arizona’s defense prove to be the cure?

The Cardinals are tied for 27th in scoring defense by allowing 27.2 points per game. Arizona has allowed 34 or more points on three occasions, including last week’s 21-point loss to the Green Bay Packers.

So perhaps the opportunity is there for Los Angeles to get its offense moving. The Chargers are tied for 26th in scoring offense at 18.2 points per game and sit 29th in total offense at 281 yards per game during Harbaugh’s first season with the club.

As for Herbert, he topped 200 passing yards for the first time all season when he threw for 237 in last weekend’s 23-16 road victory over the Denver Broncos.

The scoring output is the Chargers’ second most of the season.

“I’d like to win every game by 60 points, but this is the NFL,” said Herbert, who has thrown for 815 yards this season, 28th most in the league entering Week 7. “You have to go out there and give your best effort every week. We’re exactly where we are right now, and we have to find a way to keep getting better and keep moving forward.”

Arizona needs to start stacking wins after a start that includes a 42-14 home loss to the Washington Commanders and last week’s 34-13 road setback to Green Bay.

The Cardinals fell behind 24-0 to the Packers in the first 25-plus minutes of the contest and later lost three second-half fumbles to sabotage any chance of a comeback. They committed 13 penalties for 100 yards.

Murray understands it was a shaky performance but said Thursday that a turnaround is possible.

“I don’t think anyone has given up on what we can accomplish,” Murray said.

Murray included a vow that he has “full faith” in the players and coaches.

“It’s a long season,” Murray said. “I’ve been on teams that started off hot and finished not where you want to, but I also understand the mindset and mentality that we have to have going into each week and moving forward.”

INJURY REPORT

Rookie receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. sustained a second-quarter concussion Sunday and missed the rest of the game. Harrison cleared concussion protocol on Thursday, practiced in full the next two days and is expected to play Monday night.

Harrison, the fourth overall pick of the 2024 draft, has 17 catches for team highs of 279 yards and four touchdowns.

Meanwhile, Harbaugh will wear a heart monitor during this contest after briefly leaving last week’s game against the Broncos due to arrhythmia. It was Harbaugh’s second in-game heart incident as a coach, the other coming in 2012 with the San Francisco 49ers.

Harbaugh said that he passed tests performed by his cardiologist.

“Got some test results back. ‘The heart of an athlete’ is a direct quote from my cardiologist,” Harbaugh said Thursday. “That made me feel good. … Back in rhythm, hopefully that sticks. Got the monitor on.”

Chargers star pass rusher Joey Bosa (hip) did not practice this week and is in danger of missing his third consecutive game. He is officially listed as doubtful.

Cornerbacks Kristian Fulton and Deane Leonard, both with hamstring injuries, also did not practice for Los Angeles this week. The same was true for tight end Hayden Hurst (groin) and wideout Quentin Johnston (ankle).

Leonard was officially ruled out, Hurst and Johnston are doubtful and Fulton is questionable.

Also questionable are wide receivers DJ Chark Jr. (groin), Derius Davis (hamstring) and Simi Fehoko (shoulder/groin), wide receiver Ladd McConkey (shoulder) and cornerback Ja’Sir Taylor (fibula).

Gannon also said that defensive tackle Bilal Nichols is done for the season. He sustained a neck stinger in each of the past two games.

PREDICTION

The Chargers are significantly more banged-up than the Cardinals. Los Angeles’ depth will be strenuously tested, especially on the defensive side of the ball while attempting to keep Murray penned in. –Cardinals 27, Chargers 23

Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy shakes off Aikman critique

Troy Aikman’s comments “don’t carry weight” with Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy.

Last week Aikman, a Super Bowl-winning quarterback in Dallas who calls “Monday Night Football” games for ESPN, told regional radio station 96.7 FM The Ticket that wide receivers running lazy or inconsistent routes are hurting the offense and quarterback Dak Prescott.

“I think the routes are terrible. I think they run terrible routes,” Aikman said. “And I’ve thought that beyond this year. I think CeeDee (Lamb) has got to improve in his route running. As a quarterback, if you’re not certain where guys are going to be consistently, it’s hard to play the position. That’s what I see. I see guys lazy coming off the line of scrimmage. Sometimes they run, usually if they do, it’s because they’re anticipating they’re going to get the football on that play, but if they’re not, they don’t. And it all ties together. I’m not impressed with that part of it. “

McCarthy said Monday morning as the Cowboys (3-3) return from their bye week that Aikman is wrong.

“They don’t carry any weight with me, because I watch all the tape, I get to go to the meetings, I’m at practice, I’m part of the games,” McCarthy said. “So I have a clear understanding of what and where. Troy’s statement in particular — I don’t agree with the word selection. There is definitely need for improvement in every position, not just one position that he commented on.”

The Cowboys went into the open week on the schedule licking their wounds due to injuries and a blowout loss at home to the Detroit Lions in Week 6.

Questions and criticism about work ethic are off-base, according to McCarthy.

“(The team’s) work ethic is high,” McCarthy said, noting GPS readings used to measure effort and intensity are higher this season than the past two seasons.

“The effort and energy is there. But the details and attention needs to go up. That’s going to be a big part of the message (to players at practice on Monday).”

McCarthy said pass rusher Micah Parsons is improving but his status for practice and Week 8 are not yet clear. Parsons is dealing with a high ankle sprain and missed the past two games.

Winless at home this season, the Cowboys are headed to San Francisco (3-4) this week for a Sunday night game with the 49ers. The Kansas City Chiefs provided a blueprint for beating the 49ers on Sunday, coming out of their Week 6 bye to take down San Francisco 28-18. The Chiefs intercepted Brock Purdy three times.

The 49ers have won three consecutive games against the Cowboys, most recently a 42-10 decision last October when Purdy threw four TD passes (three to tight end George Kittle).

Report: Deshaun Watson mulling Achilles surgery options

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson will soon undergo surgery on the ruptured Achilles he suffered on Sunday, and the signal caller is mulling two surgical options, Cleveland.com reported Monday.

Watson sustained the injury on a non-contact play during Sunday’s 21-14 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.

Watson is deciding between conventional surgery and the “speed bridge” procedure that New York Jets quarter Aaron Rodgers underwent last year, per the report. Rodgers was able to return about four months sooner than with the conventional surgery.

Further, primary backup QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson is also awaiting MRI results on the middle finger of his throwing hand, which he injured after replacing Watson in Sunday’s loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. X-ray results were negative, and MRI results were forthcoming, per reports Monday morning.

On a running play late in the second quarter Sunday, Watson’s right knee buckled, causing the three-time Pro Bowl selection to fall to the ground in obvious pain. Once he was loaded into the back of the cart, Watson, with a towel over his head, was visibly emotional as he was brought back to the locker room.

Before the injury, Watson was 15-of-17 passing for 128 yards against the Bengals. Watson, 29, entered Sunday with 1,020 passing yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions through six games (all starts) this season.

In his third season with Cleveland after four seasons with Houston, Watson entered Sunday’s start having thrown for 17,776 yards, 123 touchdowns and 48 interceptions in 72 games (71 starts) since entering the league in 2017 as the Texans’ first-round pick (No. 12 overall).

Thompson-Robinson, a 2023 fifth-round pick by Cleveland, took over for Watson in his first appearance in 2024. Thompson-Robinson, 24, played in eight games (three starts) last year, completing just 60 of 112 passes for 440 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions.

Reports: Raiders QB Aidan O’Connell (thumb) headed for IR

Las Vegas Raiders Aidan O’Connell, who had only recently ascended to starting quarterback, is headed to injured reserve with a fractured right thumb, ESPN and NFL Network reported Monday.

He’s expected to miss 4 to 6 weeks with a chance to return this season. ESPN reported O’Connell will get a second opinion on Monday. He was injured in Sunday’s 20-15 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

O’Connell was named QB1 on Oct. 9, supplanting Gardner Minshew II, who won the job in the preseason.

O’Connell’s throwing hand was hit by Rams safety Kamren Curl, who was blitzing on a pass attempt in the first quarter. O’Connell was replaced by Minshew to begin a Raiders drive with 2:33 remaining in the period.

O’Connell was 6-of-10 passing for 52 yards in the early going against the Rams. He took over the starting spot from Minshew in Week 6 and entered after completing 63.9 percent of his passes for 403 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in three games (one start).

Minshew, 28, started the first five games, completing 70.7 percent of his passes for 1,014 yards, four TDs and five interceptions.

The Raiders (2-5) host the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs in Week 8.

Russell Wilson accounts for 3 TDs in Steelers debut, fuels comeback over Jets

Russell Wilson passed for two touchdowns and rushed for one in his Pittsburgh debut as the Steelers rallied for a 37-15 victory over the visiting New York Jets on Sunday night.

Wilson missed the first six games with a calf injury before being chosen to start over Justin Fields during the week. Acquired from the Denver Broncos in the offseason, he completed 16 of 29 passes for 264 yards to help Pittsburgh (5-2) win its second straight game.

Najee Harris rushed for 102 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries, George Pickens caught five passes for 111 yards and one touchdown and Van Jefferson also had a touchdown reception for the Steelers. Rookie Beanie Bishop Jr. recorded his first two career interceptions and Dean Lowry blocked a field-goal attempt for Pittsburgh, which finished the game with 31 unanswered points.

Aaron Rodgers completed 24 of 39 passes for 276 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions for New York (2-5), which lost its four consecutive game. Davante Adams caught three passes for 30 yards in his Jets debut after being acquired from the Las Vegas Raiders on Tuesday.

New York’s Breece Hall rushed for a touchdown and caught six passes for a career-best 103 receiving yards. Tyler Conklin caught a touchdown pass for the Jets.

Jets offensive lineman Xavier Newman-Johnson was carted off the field with a serious neck injury midway through the third quarter.

The Steelers trailed 15-6 before eventually setting a season high in points. Pittsburgh moved ahead at 16-15 on Chris Boswell’s 21-yard field goal with 7:49 left in the third quarter.

Bishop then intercepted Rodgers’ pass for the second time when the ball bounced off the chest of Garrett Wilson and into Bishop’s arms. He returned it 41 yards to the 1. Russell Wilson scored on a quarterback sneak on the next play to give the Steelers a 23-15 lead with 7:15 left in the period.

Russell Wilson connected with Jefferson on a 4-yard scoring pass to give Pittsburgh a 30-15 lead with 12:09 left in the game.

The Steelers later dominated New York’s defense during a 13-play, 75-yard drive that took nearly 7 1/2 minutes. Harris finished it with a 10-yard scoring run with 26 seconds to play.

Boswell started the scoring with a 46-yard field goal, but the Jets took a 7-3 lead on Hall’s 13-yard run with 2:27 left in the first quarter.

Boswell booted a 29-yard field goal with 8:20 left in the first half to bring the Steelers within one. New York increased its lead to 15-6 less than three minutes later on Rodgers’ 1-yard pass to Conklin and the ensuing two-point conversion toss to Garrett Wilson.

The Steelers began their turnaround on Wilson’s 11-yard scoring pass to Pickens with 27 seconds left in the half.

Jets OL Xavier Newman-Johnson (neck) carted off field

New York Jets offensive lineman Xavier Newman-Johnson was carted off the field with a serious neck injury midway through the third quarter of the Jets’ road game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night.

Newman-Johnson was taken to a nearby hospital and had movement in his limbs, according to NBC.

Newman-Johnson was hurt on an interception return when Pittsburgh’s Patrick Queen blocked him. He tumbled down to the ground near the sideline and then was unable to move.

He was attended to for several minutes and was strapped to a spine board and taken off via stretcher with 7:22 left in the quarter.

Newman-Johnson, 25, was playing in his seventh game of the season and 18th of his three-year career.

He originally was an undrafted free agent out of Baylor in 2022 and signed with the Tennessee Titans. Newman was released by the Titans in October 2023 and subsequently signed to the Jets’ practice squad.