Steelers LB Cole Holcomb left in the first half of Thursday night's game against the Titans with a left knee injury. He needed to be carted off. Afterward, play-by-play man Al Michaels called it an injury that didn't need to be shown again. Pittsburgh quickly ruled Holcomb out for the game, and this seems likely to be a season-ender. We'll watch for more details. Kwon Alexander and Elandon Roberts would lead the position if Holcomb is out. Roberts has topped 44% playing time just once through seven games. Alexander has played more, with five games of 54% snap share or more. But he has yet to reach 70% in a game. Alexander looks like the better bet for more playing time while Holcomb is out.
Colts LB Zaire Franklin missed his second Thursday with a knee injury he sustained in Sunday's loss to the Saints. He returned quickly, though, and missed just two of Indy's defensive snaps for the game. That makes his practice absences a bit surprising. Friday should tell us whether they were more maintenance days of if Franklin is in danger of missing Sunday's clash with the Panthers. E.J. Speed would likely pick up more playing time if Zaire Franklin can't go and makes sense as a stash right now in deeper IDP leagues.
Chargers WR Josh Palmer (knee) did not practice on Thursday. He battled through this injury last week but managed just three catches for 24 yards on a deflated 68% snap rate. Between the knee and a matchup vs. the Jets' top-ranked WR defense, Palmer is shaping up as a shaky Week 9 fantasy play.
Chargers TE Gerald Everett (hip) was a full participant in Thursday's practice. He's on track to return for Monday night's game vs. the Jets. Everett ranks 18th among TEs in PPR points per game.
Bills QB Josh Allen (shoulder) returned to a full practice on Thursday. It's confirmation that he'll be good to go for Sunday night's showdown with the Bengals.
Colts WR Josh Downs was added to Thursday's injury report with a knee and was limited in practice. That likely means that Downs was injured in practice today. We'll look for further updates on his status and get Indianapolis' final injury report tomorrow.
Panthers WR D.J. Chark (elbow) returned to a limited practice on Thursday. That should put him on track to play vs. the Colts this weekend, but we'll see how Chark is listed on tomorrow's final injury report.
Browns QB Deshaun Watson (shoulder) remained limited in Thursday's practice. He said afterward that his participation in practice is part of his rehab plan and doesn't necessarily mean that he's playing vs. the Cardinals this weekend. We're still projecting QB P.J. Walker to start that one but will update Watson's status again tomorrow.
Cardinals WR Michael Wilson (shoulder) missed his second straight practice on Thursday. His absence vs. the Browns this weekend would leave Zach Pascal as Arizona's No. 2 outside WR -- and potentially mean more targets for WR Marquise Brown, WR Rondale Moore, and TE Trey McBride.
Cardinals RB Emari Demercado (toe) missed his second straight practice on Thursday. He's seemingly in danger of missing this weekend's game vs. the Browns. RB Damien Williams was placed on IR earlier this week, leaving Keaontay Ingram and Tony Jones as Arizona's healthy RBs. We'll update Demercado's status again tomorrow.
Seahawks WR D.K. Metcalf (hip) did not practice on Thursday. That follows a full practice on Wednesday. It's unclear if Metcalf just got the day or suffered a setback. Check back tomorrow to see how Metcalf is listed on the final injury report for Sunday's game vs. the Ravens.
Seahawks WR Tyler Lockett (hamstring) returned to a limited practice on Thursday. It's an upgrade over last week, when he didn't practice at all on Thursday. Lockett should be ready for his usual role in this weekend's game vs. the Ravens.
Ravens RB Gus Edwards (toe) returned to a full practice on Thursday. He'll be ready to rock for this weekend's game vs. the Seahawks.
Falcons WR Drake London (groin) remained sidelined on Thursday. We'll see if he hits the field for Friday's practice, but fantasy owners should not be banking on London playing vs. the Vikings this weekend.
Chiefs RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire (illness) will not travel with the team to Germany and is out for Sunday's game vs. the Dolphins. CEH has averaged only 2.2 carries and 0.6 targets over the last five games, so his absence leaves just a few touches behind for RBs Isiah Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon.
Dolphins RB Raheem Mostert (ankle) returned to a limited practice on Thursday. He confirmed afterward that he fully expects to play vs. the Chiefs on Sunday morning. We'll see how Mostert is listed on the final injury report tomorrow, but he can stay penciled into Week 9 fantasy lineups.
Titans WR DeAndre Hopkins (toe) is active for tonight's game vs. the Steelers. He was listed as questionable after missing practice on Wednesday, but we've heard nothing to suggest that the toe will be a significant issue tonight. We're expecting Hopkins to play his usual role. See where he sits in the Week 9 WR Rankings.
Bengals Edge Trey Hendrickson returned for a limited practice Thursday after sitting out Wednesday with a foot injury. Hendrickson saw a normal workload in the win over San Francisco and doesn't seem to be in danger of missing this week's game against the Bills. But we'll certainly be checking his status in Friday's practice and heading into the game.
Bears LB Tremaine Edmunds has missed practice Wednesday and Thursday after leaving Sunday night's loss to the Chargers with a knee injury. That doesn't bode well for Edmunds chances of playing Sunday against the Saints. We've knocked him down the Week 9 LB rankings and given Jack Sanborn a big boost. Sanborn should see a full-time role if Edmunds is out. New Orleans enters as a neutral scoring matchup for LBs. Sanborn delivered strong tackle production across six starts late in his rookie season before finishing the year on IR. He averaged 11.8 total tackles per game over the four outings in which he played 90%+ snap shares.
Giants K Graham Gano is expected to undergo knee surgery and will land on IR, according to insider Art Stapleton. The Giants are signing K Randy Bullock to replace Gano. Bullock has been out of the league this year but made 17 of 20 FGs and all 28 XPs for the Titans last year. Gano is sitting 30th among kickers in fantasy points, so Bullock is not someone to be messing with in fantasy lineups.
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