In a surprising development, Eagles star running back Saquon Barkley has been added to the injury report due to a knee issue. Barkley missed practice on Monday, raising concerns among fans and analysts alike. However, according to reports from NFL Network, the injury is attributed to general soreness, and he is expected to participate in the upcoming game against the New York Giants on Thursday. This news comes after the Eagles suffered their first defeat of the season, a close 21-17 loss to the Denver Broncos, where Barkley impressively scored a 47-yard catch-and-run touchdown.
In other NFL news, Commanders head coach Dan Quinn expressed optimism regarding the potential return of wide receiver Terry McLaurin for Week 6 against the Chicago Bears. McLaurin has been sidelined for the past two games due to a quad injury. Quinn stated, "We're optimistic, and we'll have more information as the week goes on." Alongside McLaurin, players like Noah Brown and Sam Cosmi are also trending positively regarding their injuries. With the extra day of rest before the Monday Night Football game, the team hopes to make informed decisions on their injury status.
The New England Patriots faced a significant setback during their thrilling 23-20 victory against the Buffalo Bills, as running back Antonio Gibson suffered a torn ACL. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that Gibson will miss the remainder of the season following the injury, which occurred during a kickoff return. This unfortunate development forces the Patriots to reevaluate their running back depth chart, as Gibson had been part of a three-man committee alongside Rhamondre Stevenson and rookie TreVeyeon Henderson. Expect both Stevenson and Henderson to see an increase in their carries as the team adapts to this significant loss.
In a positive update, 49ers safety Malik Mustapha could make his return to the field as early as this weekend against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Mustapha has been recovering from a torn ACL that sidelined him for the first five games of the season. The 49ers have officially opened his practice window, allowing them 21 days to activate him from the PUP list. Mustapha made a notable impact in his rookie season, and his return could bolster San Francisco's secondary that has been relying on rookie Marques Sigle and Jason Pinnock in his absence.
While the Lions celebrated their fourth consecutive victory, they also faced a significant loss. Coach Dan Campbell confirmed that cornerback Terrion Arnold will be sidelined for an extended period due to a shoulder injury sustained during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals. The No. 24 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft had been making a strong impact, recording 22 combined tackles and four passes defensed in just five games. With Arnold likely heading to injured reserve, the Lions will need to adjust their defensive strategy while also managing the absence of cornerback D.J. Reed, who is already on IR with a hamstring injury.
In a disappointing turn of events for the Indianapolis Colts, kicker Spencer Shrader is expected to miss the remainder of the season due to a severe knee injury. The injury occurred during the Colts' dominant 40-6 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, when Raiders special-teamer Tristin McCollum collided with Shrader's kicking leg during a PAT attempt. This injury is a significant blow for Shrader, who had just been named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for September. The Colts are now in search of a replacement, having relied on punter Rigoberto Santos to handle kickoffs in Shrader's absence.
