NFL BUZZ - SEPTEMBER 23rd RAPID FIRE

Here’s all your NFL news from around the league for 9/23, pulled together from some of the most reliable sources in the game. Everything you need in one snapshot, so you don’t have to spend your night searching for it yourself. My mission is simple: make your life easier and leave the hard work to me. Now enjoy!

🦬 Buffalo Bills

• Keon Coleman did not practice Wednesday because of an ankle injury.
• DJ Moore was limited with his shoulder injury.

🏈 New England Patriots

• Mike Reiss observed that Drake Maye is not processing as confidently as last season, which has affected his footwork. Reiss pointed to limited recent game action and significant personnel turnover as possible contributing factors. (Mike Reiss)

🐦‍⬛ Baltimore Ravens

• Zay Flowers did not practice Wednesday because of the hamstring injury that kept him out in Week 2. (Jamison Hensley)

⚡️ Los Angeles Chargers

• Charlie Kolar underwent forearm surgery, but LA does not plan to place him on injured reserve. (Eric Smith)

🐅 Cincinnati Bengals

• Andrei Iosivas was placed on injured reserve with a thumb injury.
• Usage note: Tee Higgins has produced a 27% target-per-route rate and 2.57 yards per route while leading Cincinnati in play-action targets through two games. (Jacob Gibbs)

🟡 Pittsburgh Steelers

• Aaron Rodgers said Pittsburgh needs to involve Pat Freiermuth as much as possible. Freiermuth has received five targets in each of the Steelers’ first two games. (Brooke Pryor)
• Michael Pittman was limited Wednesday with a foot injury.
• Jaylen Warren was limited with a shoulder injury.

🐂 Houston Texans

• Nico Collins did not practice Wednesday because of his hamstring injury and is not expected to return this week. (Aaron Wilson)
• Houston has thrown on 45 of its 50 offensive snaps while trailing by seven or more points, a potentially valuable volume trend for the Texans passing game when they fall behind.

🐎 Indianapolis Colts

• Alec Pierce was placed on injured reserve because of his heel injury. Indianapolis hopes he misses approximately 4–6 weeks, although a longer absence remains possible. (Adam Schefter, Jeremy Fowler)
• Darius Slayton could make his Colts debut in Week 3. (Stephen Holder)

⚔️ Tennessee Titans

• Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears both missed Wednesday’s practice with ankle/soreness issues.
• Spears appeared to favor his left leg during Week 2, according to Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT. That is a medical observation and not a team-confirmed diagnosis.

🏔️ Denver Broncos

• Jonah Coleman has a sprained ankle and did not practice Wednesday. (Adam Schefter)
• J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey were both limited, meaning Denver’s entire primary backfield appeared on Wednesday’s injury report.
• Denver’s official report listed Dobbins with a hip injury and Harvey with a hamstring injury.
• This is suddenly one of the most important backfields to monitor heading into the remainder of the practice week.

☠️ Las Vegas Raiders

• Brock Bowers returned to practice on a limited basis.
• Las Vegas continues to classify Bowers as day-to-day while evaluating his Week 3 availability. (Sam Warren)

🪖 Washington Commanders

• Jayden Daniels sought another specialist’s opinion and will not play Sunday. (John Keim)
• Marcus Mariota remains positioned to start in Daniels’ absence.
• Chig Okonkwo did not practice Wednesday because of his hamstring injury.

🗽 New York Giants

• Jaxson Dart will undergo knee surgery and miss the remainder of the regular season. His ACL is intact, and the Giants have left open the possibility of a postseason return. (Ian Rapoport, Mike Garafolo, Jordan Raanan)
• Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT believes the injury presentation points toward MCL and meniscus damage with possible PCL involvement. He believes Dart could resume throwing around February or March if the PCL does not require surgery. This is a medical interpretation, not a team-confirmed diagnosis or timetable.
• Jameis Winston is now the Giants’ starting quarterback, although New York could explore the trade market. (Jordan Raanan)
• Malik Nabers was limited in Wednesday’s walkthrough because of the shoulder injury he played through Monday night.

🦅 Philadelphia Eagles

• Offensive coordinator Sean Mannion praised Makai Lemon’s development and said Philadelphia intends to find additional ways to get him involved.

🐻 Chicago Bears

• Kyle Monangai was not seen participating in Wednesday’s practice.
• Luther Burden’s groin issue may have contributed to his slow start, but the underlying usage is much more encouraging than the production.
• Burden’s 31.3% first-read target share ranks 13th among wide receivers, suggesting Chicago is looking toward him more frequently than the box score indicates.
• Any connection between the groin issue and his performance is a medical interpretation from Jeff Mueller, not a team-confirmed explanation.

🟣 Minnesota Vikings

• Aaron Jones did not practice Wednesday because of his knee injury but still has a chance to play in Week 3. (Kevin Seifert)
• Deejay Dallas operated as Minnesota’s RB2 last week, although the replacement workload could become a committee if Jones is unable to play.

🧀 Green Bay Packers

• Green Bay has an increased need for Tucker Kraft with Jayden Reed sidelined.
• The problem for fantasy is that the Packers’ depleted offensive line may require Kraft to take on additional blocking and protection responsibilities, potentially limiting the receiving boost managers would otherwise expect.

🐾 Carolina Panthers

• Jonathon Brooks underwent surgery for a significant core/groin injury and was placed on injured reserve.
• His expected absence is approximately 6–8 weeks. (Ian Rapoport, Dave Canales)
• Austin Ekeler worked out for Carolina as a possible backfield addition, although he was not expected to sign Wednesday. (Aaron Wilson, Mike Kaye)
• Jalen Coker was limited with an ankle injury.

🏴‍☠️ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• Bucky Irving has firmly established himself as Tampa Bay’s lead back.
• Jeremy Fowler described Irving as rejuvenated, a notable development after preseason expectations that Kenny Gainwell could threaten his workload. (Jeremy Fowler)

🌵 Arizona Cardinals

• Jacoby Brissett practiced fully despite carrying a hip designation.
• Marvin Harrison Jr. acknowledged the recent criticism surrounding his play, saying everyone is entitled to an opinion. (Bo Brack)

🐏 Los Angeles Rams

• Puka Nacua did not practice Wednesday.
• Sean McVay said Nacua does not have a hernia and that Los Angeles is exercising caution while allowing the hip/groin issue time to heal. (Sarah Barshop)

🌉 San Francisco 49ers

• Mike Evans did not practice Wednesday because of his hip injury. (Vic Tafur)

🌊 Seattle Seahawks

• Sam Darnold returned to practice and was officially limited as he ramps back up from his glute injury.
• Darnold remains a candidate to return in Week 3.
• Jadarian Price was limited because of his chest/shoulder injury.
• Seattle does not plan to open Zach Charbonnet’s knee practice window this week.
• That keeps Emmanuel Wilson firmly on the fantasy radar if Price’s injury limits him or forces him to miss time.

⚜️ New Orleans Saints

• Travis Etienne was limited Wednesday because of a hamstring injury.