The Insiders Podcast: Jalen Hurts OUT with blood clot + Lamar Jackson OUT Sunday vs Browns

Questionable for Sunday. Had only three catches in the Patriots season opener, signaling limited involvement early in the season.

A.J. Brown could potentially be returning from a high ankle sprain this week for the Jets against the Patriots. There is at least a chance he could play on Sunday, but it is for sure not guaranteed.

A.J. Brown is dealing with a high ankle sprain originally diagnosed as a six-week injury; he is approximately four weeks into recovery and has not yet had a full practice. While he has been pushing to return and wants to practice with teammates, the lack of a full practice session before potential activation suggests he is unlikely to play Sunday. A firm decision will come Saturday morning depending on whether the Patriots activate him.

Adonai Mitchell is expected to be out for the Jets this weekend against the Patriots.

Baker Mayfield is ruled out for the third straight week with a dislocated thumb. He tried to grip a football and throw to beat the three-week minimum timeline but was unable to practice once this week. The injury is primarily a functionality issue rather than pain tolerance—the question is whether he can throw effectively. Around this time he should be able to start gripping and throwing, but he remains unavailable.

Breece Hall is expected to be out for the Jets this weekend against the Patriots.

Young and the Panthers face an Eagles team that is under .500 for the first time in five years, with significant offensive and defensive issues. Philadelphia has given up more long drives than any other team in the league this season and is struggling to get to the quarterback and get off the field. This presents a favorable matchup for Young coming out of the bye week.

Prior to their bye week, Young was leading the league in passing yards and ranked third in passing touchdowns this season. Canales envisioned this level of performance, noting Young's increased comfort and vocal presence. Young still leads the league in passing yards per game, with his offense averaging 30 points per game. He comes out throwing and the offense has responded well, a stark turnaround from his benching a couple of seasons ago.

Listed as questionable after practicing in full all week with a hamstring injury. Stacey Dales expects him to play unless something odd happened in the last 24 hours, and Kevin Stefanski also expects him to play. However, the question remains whether the Bears will cut him loose or ease him back given his mobility is a key part of his game and he was injured while carrying the ball. The Bears face a quick turnaround with a Thursday night game against the Patriots.

Cam Ward is 0-7 in his career against division opponents and faces another division opponent this week. If he loses on Sunday, he would tie Colt McCoy and Chris Wankie for the third longest losing streak against division opponents since the merger. In year two under coach Robert Sala, the Titans have just three wins. Despite the poor record, the organization continues to stand behind Ward, believing he is the franchise quarterback, though the talent level of the Titans is far below some of the teams they're playing.

Despite a 3-win season in year two under Robert Sala, the Titans organization continues to stand behind Cam Ward, believing he is the franchise quarterback. There is no indication of a Bryce Young-style benching coming. The organization continues to hope for and key up Ward's development, though the talent level of the Titans on the offensive side is far below teams like the Colts (2-3 record but with far more superstars).

Questionable due to illness. Olave is third in the NFL in receptions, so his absence would impact the Saints' passing game.

DJ Moore, the Bills' star wide receiver acquired this offseason, missed Monday night's overtime thriller against the Rams due to a shoulder issue. He did not practice much on Wednesday and Thursday (DMP status), but was out on the practice field Friday, which could be a good sign. The team is hopeful to get him back but knew he needed rest for the last two weeks.

The Ravens will get the ball to Henry in creative ways this week to simplify the game for backup QB Tyler Huntley. Henry will be a focal point of the offense alongside Zay Flowers.

Deshaun Watson has a huge opportunity to lead the Browns to a 4-2 record against the Ravens without Lamar Jackson. The Browns are 3-2 and the winner takes sole possession of first place in the AFC North—the first time the Browns could be in sole possession at week six or beyond since 2014. Watson's legs have been key in all three comeback victories, and the team is excited about his mobility. Todd Munkin, the offensive coordinator, gives Watson significant leeway at the line of scrimmage, similar to his approach in Baltimore.

The Browns offense has struggled mightily, giving up more sacks than any other NFL team (19 total, with 8 coming last week against the Jets). The team has two rookie starters on the offensive line and has struggled to run the football. Despite Watson's potential with his legs and the team's belief in him, the offensive line issues present a significant challenge.

Returning to the lineup after healing from a hamstring issue. Will be one of Tanner McKee's primary targets alongside Dallas Goddard as the Eagles try to move the ball without much of a running game.

Seahawks' backup quarterback. Mike McDonald noted that Drew is a tremendous, starting-level quarterback and that the team did not turn the ball over when he played. This suggests confidence in Lock as a contingency option.

Fernando Mendoza is currently learning from the bench for the Raiders behind Kirk Cousins. There was a chunk of games in the middle of the season identified as very difficult; if a losing streak develops, management could open the door to thinking about making a quarterback change and potentially inserting Mendoza. The Raiders have already lost two in a row and face a brutal stretch against Bills, Rams, Jets, 49ers, Seahawks, and Broncos.

Ruled out for Sunday's game against the Panthers after a blood clot was discovered in his calf. The Eagles are operating with an abundance of caution; medical considerations are the top priority, with questions remaining about blood thinner treatment duration and timeline for return. The seriousness of the situation means Tanner McKee will likely play multiple weeks.

Jalen Daniels is looking for win number two, coming off momentum from a Thursday night victory against the Cowboys. With Baker Mayfield sidelined for the third straight week, Daniels continues as the Buccaneers' starting quarterback. The question is whether Daniels can keep the Bucs afloat long enough for Baker to return and have a shot.

No longer with the Seahawks; now running for Kansas City. His departure has left the Seahawks without a strong running game, contributing to offensive struggles. The team is not running the ball at all.

Kenneth Walker has been spectacular and was the Chiefs' top free agent target last offseason; he is leading the league with 234 rush yards per game, the most in the NFL. The Seahawks were concerned about tagging him due to his MVP-caliber Super Bowl performance, but the Chiefs prioritized him to add explosive runs and create more pass-game opportunities through play action.

Kenneth Walker has changed the game for the Chiefs in terms of explosive runs; the team has seen more stacked boxes as a result, which makes the pass game that much better. The Chiefs are fifth in the NFL in play action usage, and Walker's presence has created more opportunities for eligibles in the passing game.

Keon Coleman has been a revelation for the Bills this year, even when DJ Moore has been out. Through early season games, he has 18 targets, 15 catches, 224 yards, and two touchdowns. He is good to go for this weekend and will be a key player for Buffalo regardless of Moore's availability.

Kirk Cousins and the Raiders offense are hoping for a bounce back. The Raiders have lost two in a row and face a brutal stretch: Bills, Rams, Jets, 49ers, Seahawks, Broncos—a long stretch of very good opponents and defenses. While the Raiders still want Cousins to be the starting quarterback with Fernando Mendoza learning from the bench, if the losing streak grows much longer, management will at least think about making a quarterback change.

Missing his second straight game with an ankle sprain suffered in a win over the Titans. The sprain is rare—neither high nor low—and he has not returned to the practice field. Initial optimism he would play this week did not materialize; if he had played, he would have been at less than 100%. Ruled out for the second straight week.

Lamar Jackson will not play Sunday against the Browns due to a high ankle sprain suffered against the Titans. This marks his second straight game missed. Despite his 10-4 all-time record against Cleveland, the injury sidelines him for this critical AFC North divisional matchup.

Matthew Stafford has demonstrated late-game execution capability, leading game-winning drives against Philadelphia in consecutive weeks and a late touchdown drive to tie against Buffalo on Monday night; Stafford noted that tape review shows minimal difference in tempo and play calls between first and second halves, with execution being the primary differentiator in close games.

Matthew Stafford acknowledged the challenge of facing Mike LaFleur, who spent three years as the Rams' offensive coordinator and knows the offense intimately, but emphasized trusting players to execute in the moment rather than worrying about what the opposing coordinator knows.

Cleared to play after suffering a rib injury in the fourth quarter of the loss to the Ravens. He did not finish that game when it went to overtime, but practiced fully all week and responded well to treatment. The Falcons dodged a bullet and are elated he's ready to go. Penix was adamant about not missing time and is tired of missing games due to injuries over his career. He loves big moments and hostile environments.

Mahomes is on pace for 38 touchdowns this season, mirroring his MVP season from a few years ago; the Chiefs offense is averaging over 400 yards per game and ranks second in total offense in the NFL.

Puka Nakua emphasized the Rams' need to execute and perform under pressure throughout the entire 60 minutes of the game, not just in late-game situations when their backs are against the wall; this reflects a broader team focus on consistency rather than relying on clutch moments.

Rasheed Rice is out this week due to injury, impacting the Chiefs' receiving corps as they face the winless Chargers.

Despite winning the Super Bowl last season, Darnold is struggling with turnovers in week six. He threw seven interceptions in his last four games—already more than half his total of 14 for all of last season. He was sacked five times and hit 17 times in the overtime loss to the Broncos, throwing two interceptions including a pick-six in overtime. Coach Mike McDonald had to defend keeping Darnold as the starter, signaling ongoing questions about his performance. The Seahawks' three losses have all been by three or fewer points, with turnovers costing them in close games.

Out this week against the Panthers. The Eagles are without both Barkley and Jalen Hurts, compounding offensive challenges. Will Shipley, the third-string back, is on IR, leaving the Eagles with minimal running back depth.

Getting his third career start with Jalen Hurts sidelined. Nick Sirianni expressed confidence in McKee after reviewing his previous game film. McKee is a true pocket passer without Hurts' mobility; the Eagles may limit design runs and instead distribute to Dallas Goddard and DeVonta Smith. He will have at least multiple weeks to operate as the starter.

Leading the Jaguars against the Houston Texans in London at Wembley Stadium on Sunday at 9:30 ET on NFL Network and ESPN.

Trevor Lawrence is playing with incredible confidence and anticipation heading into the Jaguars-Texans matchup in London; Houston's defensive coordinator D'Amico Ryans emphasized the need for tight, sticky coverage to take away Lawrence's first read, indicating the Texans view him as a significant threat requiring specific defensive adjustments.

Starting for the second straight week against the Browns after leading the Ravens to an overtime victory against the Falcons. He earned all first-team reps this week, giving the Ravens confidence that Lamar Jackson can return at full health. Huntley is part of the Ravens' organizational fabric with a 6-6 regular season record as a starter.

The Ravens will get the ball to Flowers in creative ways this week, using motions and shifts to deploy him almost as a running back as well as a wide receiver. This approach was successful against Atlanta and will continue with Tyler Huntley starting.