Here’s this week’s instalment of our weekly around-the-horn column, Thirty Thirties on Thursday.
That is, 30 words — fast, fun, feisty, informative — to update you on each of the league’s 30 teams not playing Thursday night.
Week 13’s then:
AFC
BENGALS: Ja’Marr Chase, returning after a month-long recovery from a hairline hip fracture. “It’s been like COVID. I’ve been trapped at home,” he said Wednesday, adding he has no pain.
BILLS: at the Patriots Thursday night. Also, set to meet with flight-risk WR Odell Beckham Jr. on Friday.
BRONCOS: QB Russell Wilson on reports and inferences he’s unliked by teammates — “I’ve got great relationships in that locker room. Whoever is trying to tear that down, they can’t.”
BROWNS: Deshaun Watson makes his 2022 debut in Houston with 10 of his accusers watching from a suite … NFL is mostly limiting the game to just home TV markets.
CHARGERS: S Derwin James is AFC defensive player of the month … Calgary rookie CB Deane Leonard hasn’t played on defence but still takes most special-teams snaps, 70% vs. Cardinals.
CHIEFS: New dad Patrick Mahomes? AFC offensive player of the month … Andy Reid said Bengals in AFC title game “dropped eight, (played man) and had a thief rolling around.”
COLTS: Interim coach Jeff Saturday to his players, as 4-7-1 season plays out: “This will be a defining moment in your life. Do you love ball? Because it’ll show up.”
DOLPHINS: LT Terron Armstead’s pecs don’t require surgery. He and coach Mike McDaniel aren’t even ruling him out at San Fran … Team will stay out west before playing Chargers.
JAGUARS: RB Travis Etienne (foot) practised Wednesday, limited. “There’s no doubt I’ll be ready (for Detroit),” he vowed … Trevor Lawrence in November: 77%, 815 yards, six TDs, zero picks.
JETS: Robert Saleh says to limit Kirk Cousins you must make him “hitch” in the pocket. “If he can sit back there and make pizza, it’ll be a long day.”
PATRIOTS: vs. the Bills Thursday night.
RAIDERS: No Raider — not even Bo Jackson, who turned 60 Wednesday — had ever rushed for 229 yards, as Josh Jacobs did at Seattle. Nor had 303 scrimmage yards.
RAVENS: CB Marcus Peters, free-agent-to-be, says he wants to remain in Baltimore … TheAthletic.com says Ravens have scored TDs on just 38.46% of their red-zone trips over last three games.
STEELERS: Road favourite for the second straight week (-1 at Atlanta) … Mike Tomlin is 19-3 on Monday nights … RB Najee Harris’ abdominal injury isn’t serious, per NFL Network.
TEXANS: Kyle Allen, still starting QB, was a Texas A&M teammate of Browns’ star pass rusher Myles Garrett … Rookie RB Dameon Pierce is 69 scrimmage yards shy of 1,000.
TITANS: PK Randy Bullock (right calf) and C Ben Jones (concussion) were full practice participants Wednesday … DLs Denico Autry (knee) and Jeffery Simmons (ankle) did not practise at all.
NFC
BEARS: S Eddie Jackson suffered a Lisfranc foot injury, per reports … Signed QB Tim Boyle off Detroit’s practice squad. Uh-oh … Justin Fields was limited Wednesday and remains day-to-day.
BUCCANEERS: DB Logan Ryan (foot) designated for return off IR … Todd Bowles is still getting hammered for indefensible non-use of timeouts in last 32 seconds before OT at Browns.
CARDINALS: Kyler Murray on ex-teammate Patrick Peterson’s claim he’s all about himself: “This isn’t true. You on some weird s*** … You supposed to” tell me in private, if true.”
COMMANDERS: This week? Play the Giants. Next week? Bye. Week after? Play the Giants … Joey Slye is NFC special-teams player of the month after making all 10 field goals.
COWBOYS: Set to meet with flight-risk WR Odell Beckham Jr. Monday … CB Trevon Diggs, WR Michael Gallup latest to catch locker-room bug. Both are expected to play vs. Indy.
EAGLES: Can make playoffs with a win and help … WR A.J. Brown on facing his old team, Tennessee: “I’ve got (to) keep my emotions down and just play.”
FALCONS: Arthur Smith said Kyle Pitts had season-ending knee surgery Tuesday. Reports said the TE has a torn MCL. The injury won’t prevent Pitts from playing in 2023, Smith said.
49ers: Over last four, defence has allowed 40 points — to Rams, Chargers, Cardinals, Saints … Miami brings ex-Niners Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr. (RBs) and WR Trent Sherfield.
GIANTS: Set to meet flight-risk WR Odell Beckham Jr. on Thursday … Saquon Barkley averaging 141 scrimmage yards and Daniel Jones two TD passes, each in five games vs. Commanders.
LIONS: One-point home underdog to the Jaguars, who have one road win this decade (at Chargers in September) … DE Aidan Hutchinson leads all rookie defenders with 33 QB pressures.
PACKERS: Aaron Rodgers says he “got good news with the scans” on his ribs “so I plan on playing” at Chicago. Head coach Matt LaFleur confirmed that that’s the plan.
PANTHERS: Since trading Christian McCaffrey, they’ve emphasized running the ball. D’onta Foreman and Edmonton’s Chuba Hubbard have delivered: 143 yards per game. Hubbard: “It’s a part of our identity now.”
RAMS: More disastrous news. DT Aaron Donald (ankle) will miss his first career game. QB Matthew Stafford won’t return this week. And WR Allen Robinson (foot surgery) is on IR.
SAINTS: Tied for last in the NFC South (4-8). But win at Tampa Bay on Monday, and after next week’s bye Saints could be in first with four weeks left.
SEAHAWKS: Seattle’s former six-time all-pro LB Bobby Wagner plays against his old team for the first time this week, with the Rams. “We miss everything about him,” Pete Carroll said.
VIKINGS: Clinch NFC North with a win and Detroit loss or tie, or a tie and Lions loss … WR Justin Jefferson is the NFC offensive player of the month.
John Kryk writes a weekly newsletter on NFL matters. That’s where you can first see his straight-up picks each week. You can have the newsletter automatically dropped into your email inbox on Wednesdays simply by signing up — for free — at https://torontosun.com/newsletters/
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