The Insiders Podcast: Rams cut kicker Harrison Mevis after MNF loss + Lamar Jackson optimistic to return Sunday

Baker Mayfield is pushing to make his return this Sunday versus the Steelers after suffering a thumb injury in week three against the Vikings; like Caleb Williams, he wants to get back on the field as soon as possible, and the timeline appears realistic for a near-term return.

Purdy has the top QBR in the fourth quarter this season; he has not been sacked and has not turned the ball over in those situations, demonstrating elite end-of-game management. He led an eight-play, 43-yard drive in five minutes to set up the game-winning field goal in the 49ers' 32-29 win over the Seahawks.

Bryce Young is leading the NFL with 317 passing yards per game this season, representing a significant step forward in his development; the Panthers' passing attack is now a very real threat that the Eagles will have to contend with.

Caleb Williams has missed the last three games for the Bears. The team suffered their first loss without him this week to the Packers, with Case Keenum and Tyson Baygent both seeing time in Williams' absence.

Caleb Williams is pushing to return to the playing field after missing three games with a hamstring injury; he got practice in last week, felt good, and told the team he could push farther and have a realistic shot at returning. There is optimism he is on the right track and could be back on the field this week, though hamstring injuries carry tweaking risk. The Bears need him back as soon as possible, with Ben Johnson making it clear the timeline could be Atlanta or shortly after, though a quick Thursday turnaround against the Patriots limits the extra recovery window.

Despite posting three touchdowns and three interceptions with 187 total yards in a loss to the Texans—the second time this season the Titans have been under 200 total yards on offense—the organization remains committed to Cam Ward as the starter. The Titans believe his best football is still ahead of him, see progress and momentum, and expect a breakthrough at some point.

Case Keenum has seen time at quarterback for the Bears in Caleb Williams' absence over the last three games, with the Bears suffering their first loss without Williams this week to the Packers.

Cupp was targeted in the 49ers' game-winning drive against the Seahawks, diving shy of the line to gain yards in a critical late-game situation.

Giants offensive coordinator John Harper indicated the team will employ more up-tempo, no-huddle looks going forward with James at the helm, which means putting the ball in James's hands more frequently. This shift worked in the second half against the Commanders after the offense struggled in the first half; Harper told reporters they probably need to do more of that with James.

DeVonta Smith missed the Eagles' London game but the team is expecting him back, with optimism heading into the work week for his return; he is one of the two most important offensive weapons for Jalen Hurts, though hamstring injuries require monitoring throughout the week to avoid re-aggravation.

Cook scored the go-ahead touchdown in regulation to tie the game 27-27 late in the fourth quarter, then had a forced fumble punched out by Nate Landman early in the game; he was also involved in the Bills' overtime drive that led to their 37-34 victory over the Rams.

Jaden Daniels is mentioned alongside Caleb Williams and Baker Mayfield as a quarterback with injury considerations and a thought that maybe he could wait another week before returning, though the full context is cut off in the transcript.

Jaden Daniels deviated from the intended play call on the Rams' final offensive play; the original play was designed as a pass to the left sideline, but Daniels decided to do something else, contributing to a critical loss. This decision, combined with the offense's apparent lack of awareness of the game situation, reflects negatively on both the quarterback's decision-making and the coaching staff's communication.

Allen led the Bills to a 37-34 overtime victory against the Rams, his first overtime win of his career; he had a 19-yard run to get the Bills inside field goal range in overtime, setting up Tyler Bass's game-winning field goal.

Josh Allen recorded his first overtime win of his career, breaking a 0-7 overtime record that included three postseason losses. This is a significant monkey off his back and demonstrates that things can go his way. Allen also rushed for 121 yards in the game, which is strong production.

Allen rushed for 121 yards in the Bills' overtime win, marking his first postseason overtime victory. While the performance is impressive in isolation, the broader concern is that the Bills' success remains heavily dependent on Allen's individual contributions rather than a balanced offensive attack; the team needs to develop more consistent supporting production to sustain playoff momentum.

Williams had a big catch on third down inside the five-yard line and scored the touchdown to tie the game 27-27 in the Rams' late fourth-quarter drive against the Bills.

Lamar Jackson is optimistic to return from his ankle injury this week against the Browns after missing Sunday night's game against the Falcons. Ian Rappaport reports the Ravens are hopeful Jackson will be available; he did not practice last week but was closer to playing than initially assumed. Jackson has been extremely diligent in his recovery work at the facility. Rappaport expects Jackson to be on the field this weekend, though he notes Jackson has historically taken longer to recover from ankle injuries over the past couple of years.

Malik Nabers is one of the Giants' two best playmakers and is expected to see increased involvement as the team shifts toward more up-tempo, no-huddle offensive looks with Daniel James at quarterback.

Stafford expertly guided the Rams down the field in the final moments of regulation, orchestrating a touchdown drive that tied the game 27-27 against the Bills; he was one of the last two MVPs in the NFL alongside Josh Allen.

Stafford returned as an MVP-caliber quarterback with significant offensive firepower around him on the Rams, but the team has not lived up to high preseason expectations despite these additions. The Rams were expected to win many games handily with Aaron Donald rejoining the defense and Stafford leading the offense, yet they have been good but not great so far this season.

Michael Penix Jr. is considered day to day with a rib injury suffered in Sunday night's game against the Dolphins in overtime; he was playing well before the injury tightened up and got cold on the sideline, forcing him out. There is optimism the injury won't keep him from playing again this Sunday versus the Bears, and if he is able to practice, there is a pretty good chance he will be able to play and continue the really strong play he has shown since returning from his knee injury.

Nacua recorded a first down on second and five during the Rams' late fourth-quarter touchdown drive that tied the game 27-27 in regulation against the Bills.

Saquon Barkley missed the Eagles' London game but the team is expecting him back, with optimism heading into the work week for his return; he is one of the two most important offensive weapons for Jalen Hurts, though hamstring injuries require monitoring throughout the week to avoid re-aggravation.

Tua Tagovailoa came on in relief when Michael Penix Jr. was unable to continue with a rib injury in overtime against the Dolphins and eventually lost the game with an interception.

Tyson Bagent has seen time at quarterback for the Bears in Caleb Williams' absence over the last three games, with the Bears suffering their first loss without Williams this week to the Packers.