The Steelers Now post, updated Oct. 22, breaks down the Pittsburgh Steelers’ two‑deep depth chart for Week 7’s matchup against the New Orleans Saints in Paris. Quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers starts, with Mason Rudolph as the primary backup and third‑string Drew Allar listed for emergencies. The backfield features RB Jaylen Warren alongside Rico Dowdle (questionable) and Travis Homer. Wide receivers include DK Metcalf, Michael Pittman Jr., and Isaiah Hodgins, while Ben Skowronek is noted as out. Tight ends Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington lead the unit. The defensive roster lists starters like Cameron Heyward, T.J. Watt, and Asante Samuel Jr., with injury and status markings (red for injured, maroon for IR/PUP/NFI). The chart combines official data, team sources, and the site’s analysis, highlighting rookies, returning starters, and practice‑squad elevations.
Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski praises defensive lineman Cameron Thomas after his contract extension, noting his consistent effort. Panthers defensive coordinator Todd Wash explains rookie DT Lee Hunter’s limited snaps last week, pledging more reps to unlock his Texas Tech‑honed explosiveness, while offensive coordinator Brad Idzik looks forward to WR Xavier Legette’s return to stretch defenses. Saints offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga suffers a knee sprain but is expected to avoid a serious injury, according to team reports.
Panthers safety Zakee Wheatley receives a $5,626 fine for a hit on a defenseless player during a first‑and‑10 Broncos play with 19 seconds left in the first quarter of the Panthers' 26‑21 Week 9 loss to Denver. The penalty, his second of the 2026 season (he was also fined for taunting the Eagles in Week 6), follows an uncalled infraction, while Broncos players escape fines. NFL fine revenue supports retired‑player programs and youth sports initiatives. Carolina next travels to New Orleans for its Week 11 matchup against the Saints.
Former Saints quarterback Drew Brees, now passing‑game coordinator for Santa Fe Christian High, denies cursing after his team fell 21‑13 to top‑seeded Carlsbad in the CIF San Diego Section Open Division semifinals on Nov. 14, 2026. A viral sideline clip sparked claims Brees swore at the rival, but he clarified his frustration was aimed at officials and clock management, not Carlsbad players. Carlsbad’s Darian Webb ran for 175 yards and three touchdowns, while Santa Fe Christian’s unbeaten season (11‑1) ended, setting up Carlsbad’s championship matchup on Nov. 21. Brees’ comment, “No cussing. Good try though,” quells the rumor.
The Cleveland Browns’ quarterback battle intensifies as insider Mary Kay Cabot reports the team may draft a quarterback in the 2027 NFL Draft, casting doubt on Shedeur Sanders’ long‑term role. Sanders showed promise last week, completing 19‑of‑31 passes for 297 yards and two TDs against the Saints, but analysts Dan Labbe and Cabot suggest the franchise questions his viability as a starter. With two first‑round picks and a scouting binge on college QBs, Cleveland must decide Sanders’ future before the 2027 draft.
The Packers, fresh off a 45-27 win over the Patriots, face a Week 10 showdown with the Vikings while star RB Josh Jacobs recovers from a broken right ring finger. Jacobs, who left the game after four carries, underwent successful surgery on Nov. 13 and could be back in 2‑3 weeks, avoiding IR thanks to the upcoming bye. He may return by Week 12 against the Rams or Week 13 versus the Saints. In his absence, second‑year back Kaleb Johnson stepped up with 68 yards and a touchdown, and coach Matt LaFleur has several other backs—including MarShawn Lloyd, Pierre Strong Jr., and Chris Brooks—to keep the offense balanced.
The Carolina Panthers activate wide receiver Xavier Legette from injured reserve ahead of Sunday’s Week 10 showdown with the New Orleans Saints. Legette, sidelined since a Grade 1 knee sprain on Sept. 20 (Week 2), returns after a 21‑day practice window, while cornerback Mike Jackson, lineman Brady Christensen, and RB Jonathan Brooks stay on IR. The 23‑year‑old has logged just two catches for 64 yards this season after a 2025 campaign of 35 receptions, 363 yards and three TDs. The Panthers sit 3‑5 but lead the NFC South.
The Cleveland Browns shuffle their roster ahead of Week 10 against the Houston Texans, signing tight ends Carsen Ryan (7th‑round rookie) to the active roster and promoting practice‑squad Zaire Mitchell‑Paden. Fullback Michael Burton lands on IR with a calf injury, sidelining him for four games. Ryan, who appeared in eight games mainly on special teams, and Mitchell‑Paden, a former undrafted free agent with stints at the Ravens and Saints, bolster the tight end depth. Meanwhile, the Texans list RB David Montgomery, CB Jaylin Smith and OT Braden Smith as questionable, while activating LB Jake Hummel and elevating Chad Muma and Dare Ogunbowale.
Week 10 NFL injury roundup hits the fantasy market hard. Rams rookie WR Puka Nacua lands on IR with a sprained MCL, PCL and turf toe, likely missing four games while the team remains shorthanded without Davante Adams. Dolphins QB Malik Willis also goes on IR (groin), handing the reins to Kyle McCord and dampening Dolphin pass‑catcher value. Chiefs RB Kenneth Walker is ruled out (groin), opening a plug‑and‑play slot for Emmett Johnson. Patriots RB Rhamondre Stevenson’s knee injury is now questionable but may suit up, offering a low‑end RB2. Additional hits include IR designations for Cardinals WR Michael Wilson (fractured vertebra), Cowboys TE Jake Ferguson, Texans RB David Montgomery, Packers RB Josh Jacobs, and Saints RB Travis Etienne’s hamstring return. Quick notes: Marvin Harrison Jr. out, George Pickens back.
The Dawgs By Nature fan confidence meter shows Cleveland’s support slipping to 57% after a 5‑4 start, with highs following wins over the Buccaneers, Steelers, and Ravens and lows after back‑to‑back losses to Pittsburgh and New Orleans. Fans were polled on the Week 10 quarterback choice against the Texans: 59% favored starter Deshaun Watson over Shedeur Sanders. The Browns enter a crucial four‑game home stretch as 4.5‑point underdogs with a 40.5 over/under, while only 24% of Texans fans feel confident.
New Orleans Saints running back Travis Etienne Jr.'s five-game absence reportedly may come to an end Sunday.
The New Orleans Saints are set to activate running back Travis Etienne ahead of Week 10, ending his hamstring layoff that began in Week 3. Etienne, a former Clemson star and 2021 first‑round pick, has logged 30 rushes for 128 yards (4.3 YPC) and 11 receptions for 51 yards in three games this season. After testing free agency, he signed a four‑year, $52 million contract with New Orleans. The team opened a three‑week practice window before moving him to the active roster.
The New Orleans Saints are set to activate running back Travis Etienne Jr. from injured reserve on Saturday, making him eligible for the Week 10 showdown against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. Etienne, who missed the season since a Week 3 hamstring injury, has logged 128 rushing yards on 30 carries (4.3 avg) and 51 receiving yards in three games. His return adds depth alongside Alvin Kamara and Audric Estime as the 3‑5 Saints look to climb toward .500 against a Panthers team with the same record.
The NFL reshuffles its Week 10 officiating crews after an FAA‑wide ground stop disrupts air travel, forcing officials to work games near their hometowns. Backup referees Duane Heydt (Panthers‑Saints), Barry Anderson (Jaguars‑Titans), and Don Willard (Dolphins‑Colts and Steelers‑Bengals) step into lead roles for four Sunday matchups. The league cites trained backup crews as ready for such emergencies, but Willard’s double assignment raises scheduling questions. The changes underscore how the nationwide aviation crisis—lasting over four hours on Nov. 13—impacts professional sports logistics beyond players and teams.
The NFL reshuffles its Week 10 officiating crew after a nationwide air‑travel shutdown forces referees to miss their assignments. Three backup officials—Barry Anderson, Duane Heydt and Don Willard—step in as head referees for four games: Panthers‑Saints (Heydt), Jaguars‑Titans (Anderson), Dolphins‑Colts and Steelers‑Bengals (Willard). The league moved officials to matchups within driving distance of their hometowns, keeping the game schedule intact. No changes affect the Detroit‑Patriots game in Munich or other matchups. Each of the 17 crews has a trained backup ready for such emergencies, NFL insider Adam Schefter confirmed on X.
The Saints finish their final Week 10 practice with five players ruled out for Sunday’s clash against the Carolina Panthers, including RB CJ Donaldson, OT Taliese Fuaga, C Erik McCoy and DT Christen Miller, while RB Travis Etienne Jr. is listed as questionable. The Panthers also face injuries, with LB Bobby Okereke out and WR Xavier Legette, CB Will Lee III, LB Jaelan Phillips and OL Brady Christensen listed as questionable. Both teams will adjust their lineups ahead of the showdown at the Caesars Superdome.
The NFL reshuffles its Week 10 officiating crew after the FAA’s nationwide ground stop on Friday forced many travel changes. Backup referees Barry Anderson, Duane Heydt and Don Willard are stepping in as heads officials for four games: Carolina‑New Orleans (Heydt), Jacksonville‑Tennessee (Anderson), Miami‑Indianapolis and Pittsburgh‑Cincinnati (Willard). The league says each of its 17 crews has a trained backup for emergencies, a protocol now put to the test as air travel disruptions persist across the country.
The Saints face the Panthers in Week 10 and could finally see a breakout offensive performance. Carolina’s defense has struggled all season, prompting a recent defensive coordinator change, while New Orleans adds new weapons on offense. Key points include three special‑teams priorities, the urgent need to get RB Travis Etienne back from injury, and the ongoing hamstring woes of Jordyn Tyson, who was sent to Wisconsin for treatment. The article also poses a draft dilemma—whether the Saints should prioritize a defensive or offensive lineman.
The Browns aim to snap their losing streak in Week 10 against the Texans on November 14, 2026, after recent defeats to the Steelers and Saints. Key to victory: protecting QB against a potentially dangerous Houston pass rush led by Will Anderson Jr. (questionable), containing CJ Stroud’s deep‑ball threat and limiting big plays from receivers Tank Dell and Nico Collins, and winning the turnover battle. A strong offensive‑line performance and a disciplined secondary will be crucial for Cleveland to capitalize on home‑field advantage and secure the win.
Browns analyst Anthony Lima questions Deion Sanders' glowing praise of his son, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, calling the repeated "mature" label a PR move. While head coach Todd Monken backs Shedeur’s progress after an impressive start to the 2026 season—including a strong showing against the New Orleans Saints—Lima points to recent media missteps and a contested backup battle with Watson. Ken Carman adds that the praise may mask a dysfunctional environment, making any maturity more noteworthy. The debate centers on whether Deion’s narrative will help Shedeur cement his NFL reputation.
A recent SB Nation Reacts poll shows Detroit Lions fan confidence wobbling after a quiet trade deadline. The survey, sponsored by FanDuel, tracked confidence from a high of 89% pre‑season to a dip this week, despite an 8‑2 run (wins over the Saints, Jets, Packers, Vikings, Dolphins, etc.). Fans cite the lack of trades, not on‑field performance, as the cause. Meanwhile, FanDuel sets the Lions as 2.5‑point favorites against the Patriots in Week 10, a prediction many fans back.
Former Browns wide receiver Jarvis “Juice” Landry opens up about a post‑NFL “midlife crisis” despite earning $66.55 million. On Ryan Clark’s The Pivot, Landry describes feeling isolated in a hotel balcony, lacking a Plan B after his career ended in 2022 with the Saints. He credits LSU teammate Leonard Fournette, who visited him and later co‑hosted the podcast 4th and South (debuted March 11, 2026), for helping him rebuild. The interview also revisits Landry’s on‑field milestones—112 catches in 2017, five Pro Bowls, 713 career receptions—and his sudden transition to quiet life after football.
FOX host Dan Dakich slams Browns head coach Todd Monken for publicly rebuking rookie quarterback Shedeur Sanders after the Week 9 loss to the New Orleans Saints on Nov. 8. Monken tried to downplay the exchange—where Sanders suggested plays not in the playbook—as harmless banter, but Dakich argues the coach should protect a young QB instead of airing criticism. Sanders threw for 297 yards, two TDs and no interceptions in a 23‑22 defeat, yet remains behind Deshaun Watson on the depth chart. The controversy adds to existing doubts about Sanders' film study and maturity, raising questions about whether Monken’s comments help or hurt his development.
The Steelers announce key injury updates ahead of Week 7 in Paris. Strong safety DeShon Elliott is cleared from IR and expected to suit up against the New Orleans Saints, while running back Rico Dowdle remains questionable with a left toe/knee issue after limited practice participation. Cornerback Brandin Echols and wide receiver Ben Skowronek are ruled out and will not travel. Other notable statuses: T.J. Watt is resting, Alex Highsmith is active, and several players remain on IR or out. The roster changes set the tone for Pittsburgh’s matchup with the Saints on Oct. 27.
The Panthers head into Week 10 against the New Orleans Saints with several key injury updates and roster moves. Guard Brady Christensen remains questionable after a near return, while fellow guard Damien Lewis looks set to play after limited practice. Outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips, cornerback Will Lee and wide receiver Xavier Legette are also questionable; cornerback Mike Jackson and running back Jonathon Brooks are doubtful, and linebacker Bobby Okereke is out. Transactions include practice‑squad signings of LB Claudin Cherelus, DT Cam Horsley and WR Ihmir Smith‑Marsette (injured), plus WR David Moore being waived and re‑signed to the practice squad.